《I Pioneered Scientific Magic》


 Chapter 1: The Wizard Apprentice and Magic

    Chapter 1: The Wizard Apprentice and Magic


    Lynn embarks on a fantastical journey to a realm reminiscent of medieval Europe, yet infused with extraordinary magical abilities. Here, the very fabric of reality is governed by the enigmatic theory of magic, which harnesses and maniptes fundamental particles.


    In this world, wizards, who are essentially scientific spellcasters, find themselves locked in a relentless battle against the oppressive Church.


    However, when Linn arrives, a harbinger of an otherworldly Renaissance, the tides of change are set in motion, unveiling a thrilling tale of discovery, intrigue, and the struggle for enlightenment.


    ----------------------------------------


    Thirsty, sweltering, and weary...


    Under the influence of a strong sense of difort, Lynn slowly opened his eyes.


    What met his gaze was a ceiling covered in cobwebs, and the unfamiliar surroundings further bewildered Lynn''s dazed mind.


    This was a room of less than thirty square meters, probably in a state of disrepair due to its age. The wooden walls around him appeared decrepit, with a dusty and ant-eaten frame.


    The interior of the room was equally chaotic, with various odds and ends strewn about, and a heap of garbage in the corners. On the ground, there were dozens of unbound pages, leaving only a narrow path to navigate.


    Where am I? Could it be that I''ve been kidnapped?


    Lynn rubbed his somewhat dizzy head and struggled to sit up, mentally preparing for the worst.


    He was certain that this ce was nowhere he recognized, and Lynn had to brace himself for the possibility that he had likely been kidnapped.


    "071, show me my current location!" Lynn instinctively inquired in his mind, but after several seconds, he received no response.


    Is even the auxiliary intelligence blocked?


    Lynn''s heart sank, and he subconsciously rolled out of bed to search for an escape n. It was then that he unexpectedly discovered a sharp dagger ced at the head of his bed, with a crumpled parchment scroll in his right hand.


    Lynn instinctively gripped the dagger, finally feeling a bit more secure. After some hesitation, he opened the crumpled parchment scroll, which was covered in intricate symbols and strange markings. What puzzled him even more was that he could understand the writing on the parchment!


    [Time is running out. The priests of the Inquisition have discovered our trail. Meet at the agreed-upon location in the town of Ur at moonrise. Bring seventeen Sekas copper coins and follow the markings. Please be cautious¡ªJonny.]


    At the moment Lynn understood the text, an inexplicable sense of fear suddenly welled up, and memories began to surface in his mind.


    [In a spacious square, a frenzied crowd gathered, their expressions fanatical and excited, shouting something unintelligible.


    In the center of the square, there stood a massive tform, and a bishop in a white silk robe stood before it, raising a staff high above his head as the crowd''s frenzied cheers echoed.


    The next moment, crimson mes leaped high into the sky, and Lynn could vaguely see several figures struggling and writhing in the fire. The agonizing cries were deafening...]


    What is this? Is this a movie?


    The gruesome images that surfaced in Lynn''s mind sent shivers down his spine.


    Why do I have these inexplicable memories in my head? And who is this Jonny mentioned at the end of the letter?


    Suddenly, as if realizing something, Lynn hurried over to arge water basin in the room, gazing at the reflection on the water''s surface. His trembling fingers, a result of excitement, created ripples on the water''s surface, but Lynn could still see his own appearance clearly.


    He was a young man, around eighteen or neen years old, wearing a tattered bup robe with patches. His figure appeared somewhat slender, his pale face covered in dust, and his unruly brown short hair was messy. His jet-ck eyes were filled with fear...


    Could it be that I''ve been transported to another world?


    Lynn took in a deep breath, and the notion of crossing over hit him, albeit absurd. However, he couldn''t find any other exnation.


    Even though, before his crossing, the Federation had made significant progress in brain domain development and neuronal research, and brain chip transntation technology was well-advanced, the idea of transferring one''s consciousness into another body for rebirth was purely a fantastical concept.


    He also couldn''t fathom why anyone would go through such trouble to deceive him.


    As he realized this, Lynn had no more room for wishful thinking. He sat down on the ground, his mind filled with astonishment, and a flood ofplex memories surged back to him.


    After spending half an hour sorting through the sudden influx of memories, Lynn finally managed to grasp his current situation.


    He had crossed over to a ce that resembled medieval Europe, a world of multiple kingdoms constantly at odds with each other. The most powerful of these kingdoms was the Sekas Empire, where Lynn currently found himself.


    Above the earthly monarchy, there existed an institution known as the Inquisition, devoted to the worship of a deity called "A," a monotheistic faith based on divine creationism.


    Apart from spreading their faith and convincing people, the Inquisition had another important agenda¡ªhunting wizards!


    What made Lynn particrly uneasy was that the youth he had seemingly be was, in fact, an apprentice wizard.


    No, to be precise, he was a wanted wizard apprentice!


    Lynn stared at the crumpled parchment in his hand, feeling rather distressed. What was all of this? Crossing over to this world was one thing, but not receiving any proper treatment, and being on the run from the very beginning, it was as if he could end up on a burning stake any day now.


    Looking back, his previous self was quite reckless.


    He was originally a bastard son of a certain viscount within the Sekas Empire, known as Karl Sten.


    Although he wasn''t particrly well-regarded in his daily life, he had, at the very least, never worried about food and clothing. In this chaotic world of constant warfare among the various nations, having enough to eat and clothes to wear was already a form of happiness!


    With his noble lineage, rtively stable environment, and knowledge from his otherworldly experiences, he believed that within a few years, he could rise to power and perhaps even spark an industrial revolution that would overthrow the Church.


    But unfortunately, this guy got conned by a wizard named Kora. Instead of enjoying afortable life, he ended up bing the other''s apprentice, forced to run around, with no stable source of ie.


    Just four days ago, his mentor, Kora, attempted to kidnap the Duke''s daughter, but this time, they didn''t manage to deceive her. The next day, the Inquisition received a tip-off, and they apprehended Kora before he could escape.


    Upon receiving this information, Karl went into hiding in this secret hideout, living in constant fear and anxiety.


    During these six months of following his mentor, Karl had witnessed wizard apprentices being burned alive at the stake. He feared that the priests from the Inquisition would suddenly storm in and capture him, so he had spent several days without sleep. In the end, in a state of despair and fear, he lost consciousness and woke up in his current situation.


    "This is troublesome..." Lynn murmured, remembering the circumstances. He even contemted whether it was better to betray his mentor and testify against him since he knew the names and appearances of the other six apprentices who hadn''t been caught yet. Perhaps pretending to convert to the Church would be a way out.


    But after some thought, Lynn firmly pushed aside these dark thoughts. He couldn''t trust those individuals who propagated their faith day in and day out, eager to capture and burn all wizards. Even if he voluntarily surrendered, there was a good chance he would be subjected to interrogation.


    Betraying hisrades was not an option...


    He wasn''t that kind of person!


    Setting aside these unrealistic fantasies, Lynn calmed down and focused on nning how to escape the Inquisition''s pursuit.


    In a world without cameras, relying on disguises for covert escape might be a good approach. Once he left the Duke''s territory, it would be extremely difficult for the Inquisition to capture him again.


    Fortunately, his original self seemed to have received some training in swordsmanship. A few years ago, he had garnered his viscount father''s attention when he single-handedly dealt with several bandits who were raiding their territory.


    Of course, this depended on him keeping a low profile and not openly revealing his magical knowledge, to avoid attracting the Inquisition''s attention...


    Wait a minute... Magic?


    Lynn suddenly paused, then concentrated, searching his memory continually. Subsequently, his expression became increasingly perplexed.


    Because he realized that, ording to his memories, he appeared to possess magical abilities!


    This wasn''t somemon sleight of hand or cheap tricks to deceive people...


    It was real magic!


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 Chapter 2: Magic is Science!

    Chapter 2: Magic is Science!


    Did I somehow find myself in a magical world? Lynn quickly regained hisposure after the initial shock. After all, in a world where you''ve crossed over, nothing seems impossible.


    Lynn was naturally intrigued by the wonders of magic. The strong desire to explore it briefly overcame the fear of being pursued by the Church. As an apprentice wizard with just over half a year of training, he had limited knowledge of magic, only five basic spells.


    Among them, "Elementary Material Deconstruction," "Water Conjuring," and "Mage''s Hand" were the most basic zero-tier magics. They were essential butcked offensive capabilities.


    The more advanced "Fireball" required specific magical materials, and as for the other zero-tier magic, "Icy de," Lynn hadn''t mastered it yet.


    Lynn reached down to his waist pouch and took out his limited resources.


    Two red firestones, three Sekas silver coins, over ten copper coins, seven scrolls withplex magic forms, a yellowed book titled "Elemental Analysis," and a small bag of gray powder¡ªthis was the spellcasting material for "Fireball," known as "Crimson Embers."


    Lynn pinched a small amount of fine powder and felt a tingling excitement. Carl''s memories contained theplete casting steps for "Fireball."


    First, use "Elementary Material Deconstruction" to analyze the spellcasting material, then use "Mage''s Hand" to make "Crimson Embers" vibrate at a specific frequency to activate the magic.


    The whole process sounded cumbersome, but the time-consuming material analysis could be done in advance. If one was proficient enough, "Fireball" could be cast in just one second.


    Lynn couldn''t wait to experience this supernatural power, but he ultimately restrained himself. This small amount of "Crimson Embers" was worth five Sekas silver coins and was only enough to cast "Fireball" three times. It couldn''t be wasted carelessly, so it was better to start with something simpler for the first attempt.


    After some contemtion, Lynn chose "Water Conjuring" as his first spell.


    As one of the essential zero-tier magics, "Elementary Material Deconstruction" was the key to using magical materials, and "Mage''s Hand" was the best aid for a wizard. "Water Conjuring" was a fundamental lesson for apprentices.


    This basic magic didn''t require pre-prepared spellcasting materials like the higher-tier "Icy de." It could directly extract water elements from the elemental world.


    Following the method provided in his memories, Lynn closed his eyes and began to meditate. Carl had given him a solid foundation, and within a short two to three seconds, Lynn sessfully opened the door to this new world.


    With his eyes closed, Lynn entered an incredibly magical world. With the power of his mental senses, he could "see" the room filled with countless softly glowing magical elements.


    Billions, hundreds of billions, thousands of billions? No, these numbers couldn''t even begin to count the vast quantity of these elements. They shimmered like stars in the dark universe, blindingly bright.


    Most of these elements were highly active, constantly changing their positions. Among them, "Sylu" was the most abundant element, ounting for about seventy percent of the total. Carl''s mentor, Kora, had called it a useless element.


    This spectacr sight left Lynn in awe. After a while, he focused his mind on using magic.


    The steps to cast "Water Conjuring" were not tooplicated. It required merging two types of water-rted elements in a two-to-one ratio.


    The first element was rtively abundant in the elemental world, making up about twenty to thirty percent. The second element was rarer and required more effort to find.


    However, there was an easier way. The elemental world naturally contained a small amount of ready-made water elements. By drawing them out and reassembling them using "Elementary Material Deconstruction," you could easily manipte them.


    Thanks to Carl''s obsession with magic, Lynn had practiced these basic spells hundreds of times. His foundation was solid, and he quickly mastered the method after oveing the initial difort.


    But this so-called elemental world felt oddly familiar to him.


    When Lynn opened his eyes again, a bead-sized water droplet floated gently in his palm, cradled by "Mage''s Hand."


    "Very good, it worked!" A slight smile formed on Lynn''s lips. However, the momentary distraction caused the water droplet to disintegrate and drip through his fingers.


    It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and Lynn quickly snapped out of his momentary celebration. As an apprentice wizard, he was still being pursued by the Church. He couldn''t afford to becent because of this small achievement.


    Not to mention, this bead-sized water droplet would be of little use in a battle.


    It probably wouldn''t even quench someone''s thirst!


    Lynn had seen Carl, his previous self, use "Water Conjuring" as a prelude to casting a second-tier spell, "Group-Icy de," against bandits. In an instant, more than ten fist-sized water droplets had gathered and transformed into sturdy diamond-shaped ice des, shooting down the attackers like a swarm of locusts.


    One strike had wiped out all the iing enemies.


    With that in mind, Lynn decided to sense the elemental world and give it another try.


    Perhaps due to the integration of memories after the crossover, Lynn''s mental power was much more abundant than the original Carl''s, allowing him to harness more magical energy.


    When Lynn used "Water Conjuring" earlier, it cost him very little. He had a premonition that he could achieve even more.


    Lynn closed his eyes again and entered the elemental world. This time, he didn''t rush to cast "Water Conjuring" but attempted to influence every kind of element around him with his mental power.


    These elements had diverse appearances, giving Lynn a sense of familiarity, and some felt unbelievably "heavy," making him mentally exhausted with the slightest effort.


    Fully immersed, Lynn suddenly noticed a strange phenomenon.


    The elements drifting in front of him were inexplicably drawn into his body at a peculiar frequency and then expelled, repeatedly cycling.


    Did wizards need to regrly ingest these magical elements?


    A doubt suddenly popped into Lynn''s mind, and upon closer observation, he made a remarkable discovery. This phenomenon was precisely linked to his breathing.


    Wait... this is oxygen, isn''t it?


    Lynn was dumbfounded, continuously taking deep breaths. In his eyes, the towering and mystical forms of magical elements suddenly crumbled.


    He hadn''t recognized this earlier because he didn''t directly see these "elements." He had sensed them in a highly mystical way through his mental power and then manipted them using magic.


    Moreover, the chemical elements in the air of this world differed from his previous life. This was why Lynn hadn''t considered this possibility before.


    But now, with this insight, the process of capturing elements to create a water flow had a new exnation.


    What is water? It''s an inorganicpoundposed of two chemical elements, hydrogen and oxygen.


    The air indeed contained a small amount of water vapor, perhaps what wizards called water elements.


    So, he hadn''t been using magic earlier; he had been conducting a chemistry experiment?


    Were wizards essentially chemists?


    This conclusion momentarily stunned Lynn. However, he quickly shook his head. In this world, there was a mysterious force called "magic." From his earlier spellcasting, it seemed that magic could manipte matter on a microscopic level. If there were no restrictions, wizards were essentially gods.


    ording to his past scientific knowledge, everything in the world was made up of atoms. If magic could manipte matter on that level, it could create or destroy anything.


    Lynn quickly got lost in his thoughts, realizing how terrifying thebination of his past scientific and magical knowledge could be. If in his previous life, scientific theories were used to create various machines to change the world, wizards could transform these theories directly into magic, harnessing immense power.


    Lynn extended his hand once more, and the hydrogen and oxygen in the surrounding air were separated, forming a small water droplet that floated in his palm.


    Then another question crossed his mind. When hydrogen and oxygenbined to form water, it typically involved abustion reaction, creating high temperatures and energy. Where did that energy go?


    Could it have been absorbed by magic? Magic, this unknown field, seemed capable of anything. Lynn couldn''t be sure, but he knew he would need to conduct experimentster to find out.


    Lynn shifted his focus to other spells. If his conjecture was correct, then the key to the first-tier spell "Icy de" was transforming the water from a liquid to a solid state, increasing its lethality.


    To achieve this, Lynn would need to lower the temperature of the water.


    Lynn thought back to the principles of physics from his previous life. Temperature was a manifestation of the average kic energy of particles within an object. In other words, molecules collided and produced heat.


    In this case, he needed to slow down the movement of water molecules. With a thought, he used his magical influence, causing the water molecules in his palm to slow down and cluster together tightly. In an instant, the small water droplet solidified into a transparent ice crystal.


    Just as Lynn was amazed at his sessful theory, a notification sound suddenly echoed in his mind.


    "Special energy detected... Source unknown... No records in the database... Would you like to create a relevant file?"


    Lynn was momentarily stunned. He couldn''t believe it. This sound was all too familiar to him.


    But wasn''t he in a different world now? His body had changed, and the auxiliary chip that had been imnted earlier should no longer exist.


    "071, do you know how we crossed over here? Is there any relevant information in the system?" Lynn asked anxiously.


    Due to unknown reasons, the system has undergone a shutdown and restart. There are no records during the entire process.


    Lynn furrowed his brows, feeling a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, he quicklyposed himself and asked, "How long can the remaining energy supply the system to operate?"


    Since he had already arrived in this other world and was constantly at risk of being hunted by the Church, Lynn needed to find a way to survive. The apanying AI was an unexpected blessing. While personal imnted auxiliary chips had limited AI capabilities due to federal regtions, 071 held extensive technological knowledge from Lynn''s previous life.


    In this unique world where science and magic coexisted, this information was invaluable.


    Energy remaining: 37.6%. Special energy detected, avable for system operation.


    Was this special energy referring to magic?


    Lynn contemted. The various characteristics disyed by magic left him incredibly astonished. If he were still in his previous world, he might have rushed straight into aboratory for experiments.


    But now, he was just an apprentice wizard with no money, no power, and being pursued by the Church. Whether he would see the sun rise tomorrow was uncertain.


    Lynn sighed and then spoke solemnly, "071, create a new file and name this special energy ''Magic.''"


    "Loading database..."


    During this moment, Lynn turned to look at the diamond-shaped ice de floating in the palm of his hand. Due to the infusion of magic, this ice de was different from what he had seen before. It constantly emitted a chilling aura, had a sharp conical head, and a streamlined overall shape.


    Although it was called an "ice de," describing it as an "ice arrow" might be more appropriate.


    This form was called the "Kora Configuration," designed to minimize air resistance.


    Clearly, his mentor, Kora, had a significant background in fluid dynamics...


    Lynn couldn''t help but mutter inwardly. Then, his expression turned somewhat peculiar because,pared to the memory of Kolu unleashing "Icy de," the one in his hand seemed a bit smaller.


    Even though the air in this world contained more hydrogen than in his previous life, collecting it all still wouldn''t generate enough water flow.


    Thinking about this, Lynn couldn''t help but wonder how his mentor was able to cast the second-tier spell, "Massive Icy de."


    It couldn''t possibly involve extracting hydrogen, oxygen, and water vapor from hundreds of meters around in an instant, could it? With such a power, Kolu wouldn''t need to cast "Multiple Icy des"; the enemies would probably suffocate due to ack of oxygen.


    Unable to figure it out in the short term, Lynn didn''t dwell on it. He simply focused on the floating ice de in front of him and had a thought.


    "071, retrieve relevant information about ''Armor-Piercing Arrows'' and ''Barbed Arrows,''" Lynn silently requested.


    In the next moment, an abundance of data streams shed through his retinas. Countless images, information, and simted 3D models left Lynn somewhat overwhelmed.


    "Rece the crafting material with ice. Aim for stability, reduced air resistance, and maximum lethality. Optimize and restructure!" Lynn mused, stroking his chin, and spoke again.


    The images disyed on his retina rapidly faded, and after a mere second, apletely new 3D model appeared before him.


    Lynn firmly memorized the new 3D image. With a light grip of his right hand, the floating ice de instantly disintegrated.


    Zero-tier spell ¨C "Basic Material Deconstruction."


    The disintegrated ice de reverted to its most basic elemental form,pressed in his palm under the influence of magic. It continuously changed shape to align with the image stored in Lynn''s retina, quickly stabilizing.


    The reconstituted ice de was narrower than before, and its conical head was altered into a more armor-piercing and bloodletting triangr shape. It also sported two long barbs at the base. Lynn could imagine that once this ice de struck its target, it would leave them speechless with pain.


    The sessful improvement of the spell experiments gave Lynn hope for survival. However, the power of "Icy de" was still limited, and no amount of optimization would result in a significant increase. Therefore, Lynn quickly shifted his focus to the second-tier spell that Carl mastered, "Fireball."


    Unlike the process of extracting "raw materials" from the air while using "Icy de," "Fireball" required the use of a magical substance called "Crimson Ember."


    Lynn spected that this substance was highly mmable, rapidly expanding and igniting under the friction and heating imposed by magic.


    If his assumption was correct, could he use other mmable materials to cast this spell?


    "071, search for information on the production and usage of white phosphorus," Lynn silently thought.


    White phosphorus was a colorless or pale yellow, semi-translucent waxy substance with a low ignition point. Upon contact with oxygen, it would ignite fiercely, reaching temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius.


    What made it even more terrifying was that white phosphorus fires were challenging to extinguish and had a strong adherence. Once in contact with a person''s body, it would quickly burn through the skin, muscles, and even reach the bone marrow, producing highly toxic gases.


    As a data storage officer in his past life, Lynn had witnessed the horrific effects ofunching new white phosphorus munitions by the federation. It was an unforgettable and horrifying sight.


    When the missile exploded in the air, a continuous rain of fire fell, igniting an unquenchable ze within a few kilometers.


    The scorching heat, persistent nature, and the lethal toxicity of the resulting gases meant that even those taking cover had no escape from the clutches of death.


    Because of the terrifying nature of white phosphorus munitions, they had been banned as inhumane weapons early in thest century. Various regions in the federation only dared to research them secretly.


    However, the manufacturing process for white phosphorus was not particrlyplex, and the auxiliary AI contained detailed records. As long as he could find the necessary materials, even without instruments, he could produce it.


    Just as Lynn was pondering, a dull knocking sound suddenly echoed from behind him.


    Lynn''s expression suddenly changed.


    He was currently hiding in the slums of the Nordend territory. Under normal circumstances, no one would dare to disturb him unless...


    The Witch Hunters dispatched by the Inquisition had arrived!


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 Chapter 3: Witch Hunter Blaine

    Chapter 3: Witch Hunter ine


    As evening fell in the Sekas Empire, in the slums outside the Nornd territory, two unexpected visitors arrived.


    The leader of the two was a man in his early thirties. He wore tight-fitting leather armor, had a longsword at his waist, and his dark golden hair flowed freely behind him. They stood out in the dpidated and decaying slums, immediately drawing numerous hostile nces their way.


    Hungry mobs and thieves lurked in the shadows, their sharp, dagger-like gazes scanning the two figures.


    However, when they noticed the holy sigils on their clothes, those prying eyes quickly retreated.


    In the Sekas Empire, perhaps some people didn''t recognize the empire''s g, but no one was unaware of the holy sigils. They were the symbol of the messengers of the gods!


    Other than the clergy in their temple robes, those bearing holy sigils were none other than Witch Hunters!


    Rumors had it that every Witch Hunter was blessed by the gods, possessing abilities far beyond ordinary individuals. No one was willing to cross paths with such targets.


    Noticing the hidden figures disappearing into the shadows, Andrei sneered and then wrinkled his nose as the faint, putrid stench of the dpidated alleyways wafted over him.


    "As Archbishop Anluke said, these wizards are like rats, hiding in these dark, foul corners," Andrei said, covering his nose andining.


    "We should stay vignt, Andrei. We''re not dealing with ordinary individuals this time," the leading man warned, clearly annoyed by Andrei''s brash attitude.


    A few days ago, a significant event had urred in the Duchy of Nornd. A wizard named Coru had attempted to bewitch the Duke''s second daughter. Fortunately, the vignt guards had discovered it in time, preventing the Duke''s young daughter from being ensnared by the devil.


    The memory of the fierce siege was still fresh in their minds.


    To capture this audacious wizard, Duke Nornd had dispatched tworge squads of guards, and even then, they had suffered heavy losses. If it hadn''t been for the arrival of the Church''s Bishop, Duke Nornd''s reputation would have been tarnished.


    Their current target was the wizard''s apprentice, another sorcerer.


    "Don''t worry, ine," Andrei chuckled. "This time, we''re dealing with a mere apprentice who''s only been studying magic for a few months. These people usually only know a couple of parlor tricks. Trust me, a farmer swinging a hoe is more challenging to deal with than them."


    In the half-year since he joined the Witch Hunters, Andrei had participated in several witch-hunting operations. At the beginning, he had been filled with dread about these supposed devil-summoning wizards.


    However, after encountering them, Andrei realized that these wizards weren''t as terrifying as he had imagined. Most of them posed no real threat; their magical powers were limited, and some were even less reliable than swords and shields.


    As for the inexperienced apprentices, they could only be described as useless. Once they were distracted, they couldn''t cast magic in battle and were easy prey.


    What pleased Andrei the most was that the bounties for capturing these wizards were quite substantial. Duke Nornd had been even more generous, offering six whole Sekas gold coins for capturing a single apprentice. That would be enough to live in luxury for quite some time!


    Of course, killing them would only be worth half the price.


    ine nced at Andrei but didn''t argue, though he didn''t let his guard down.


    In his experience, Witch Hunters who relied too much on intelligence often didn''t live long.


    The slums outside Nornd''s territory weren''trge, and there was very little foot traffic. With their identities as Witch Hunters, Andrei managed to obtain information about their target''s hiding ce through a bit of intimidation from a homeless man.


    The building before them was difficult to describe as a house. The red brick walls were covered in green vines, and the door seemed ready to fall apart with the slightest push.


    Their target was right in front of them, but neither of them made an immediate move.


    Andrei shot his partner a disdainful look, silently cursing in his mind. He took the initiative and ced his palm on the door, his calloused fingertips gripping the doortch. Though the door appeared rickety, it didn''t budge, indicating something was blocking it from the inside.


    Andrei gritted his teeth and forcefully kicked the door.


    A deafening crash echoed as the door gave way, revealing the interior of the room.


    The narrow room was a mess, cluttered with heaps of garbage piled up in the corners.


    A candle on a wooden table at the side flickered for a moment, then extinguished due to the violent entrance, leaving the room shrouded in darkness. Only a faint glimmer of light filtered through the wide-open window, barely illuminating the tattered nket dragged from the bed to the window''s edge.


    ine, who followed inside, scanned the room. His attention was quickly drawn to a piece of paper that had fallen on the floor.


    Andrei also noticed this as he entered, and he bent down to pick up the crumpled paper. After reading its contents, his expression soured.


    "Damn, it looks like we''rete. This kid has already gone to meet up with other apprentices!" Andrei eximed in frustration. Taking into ount the room''s state and the message on the paper, he pieced together what had happened.


    Their target, the apprentice wizard, had received word of their arrival before they got here and had left without packing up.


    However, judging by the candle that hadn''tpletely burned out and the lingering warmth on the bed, it seemed the target hadn''t gone too far.


    With this in mind, Andrei grew impatient. He was determined to pursue their quarry. After all, it was six Sekas gold coins on the line, and he couldn''t let the opportunity slip away.


    Once their target joined up with other wizard apprentices, it would be much harder to capture them. However,pared to that, Andrei was more concerned about the possibility of other bounty hunters beating them to the punch.


    "Wait a moment¡­"


    Just as Andrei was about to hurry to the window to give chase, ine stopped him with a raised hand and pointed to the desk.


    Andrei turned to look, and aside from the extinguished candle, there were more than a dozen copper coins scattered about, as well as sheets of paper covered with strange characters and symbols.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Andrei quickly understood hispanion''s meaning. If the apprentice wizard had left after receiving a warning, they wouldn''t have left behind easily carried coins or these "precious" magical manuscripts.


    With his experience in hunting wizards, Andrei knew most wizards would rather die than let their so-called research notes bepromised.


    In other words, their quarry was likely still hiding in this very room.


    Andrei sneered, and the telltale signs on the floor¡ªdragged nkets, open windows, and the fallen note¡ªall suggested that their quarry had fled.


    It was evident that the apprentice had yed a clever trick, attempting to mislead them to another location. It could even be a trap, and Andrei almost fell for it.


    At this moment, hidden in the darkness, Lynn was breaking into a cold sweat. His mental state was increasingly frenzied in this life-threatening situation, his dispersed energy expanding in all directions under the influence of magic.


    He could even influence the airflow to a certain extent, which had extinguished the candle without making a sound. This unique ability allowed him to remain hidden from the two witch hunters.


    ine paid no attention to the now-aware Andrei. His gaze swept around the room, eventuallynding on the dark red cab beside the tall window.


    The cab was only as high as his shoulders, covered in dust, and unassuming in the drafty, dpidated room. But it had enough space for a curled-up adult male to hide within...


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 Chapter 4: Recklessness Leads to Ruin

    Chapter 4: Recklessness Leads to Ruin


    In his mind, Lynn imagined that if he were to search the cab without the other two knowing, they could easilyunch a sudden attack from behind the cover of clothing. If the attack failed, they could jump out of the window to escape.


    This was undoubtedly the best hiding spot in the entire room!


    Realizing this, Lynn didn''t hesitate for a moment. Without any warning, he drew his sword.


    The de slid out of the scabbard, creating a soft, resonant hum in the room.


    In just an instant, the silvery de sliced through the wooden cab as if it were cutting through butter, and the closed cab doors fell apart.


    Wood splinters and torn fabric filled the air, but the expected gush of blood did not follow.


    Furrowing his brows, Lynn was somewhat surprised. Had he made a mistake in his judgment? Was their target simply careless and left these things in the room?


    Andr¨¦, who was standing nearby, was startled by Lynn''s sudden unsheathing of his sword. He was about to mock Lynn for his erroneous judgment when, from the narrow gap between the bookshelf and the wall, a short sword suddenly extended out of the darkness, heading straight for Andr¨¦''s neck!


    The oneunching the attack was Lynn.


    As soon as Lynn saw the coins and manuscripts on the table, he knew he couldn''t avoid this confrontation.


    The narrow gap he had hidden in offered no cover at all. He relied solely on shadows and visual distortion to remain hidden. It was undoubtedly a very dangerous ce, but Lynn and Andr¨¦ had arrived too quickly. They were still reeling from their time travel experience, and Lynn''s mind was in turmoil, leaving him no time to find a better hiding ce or set up a proper ambush. He hadn''t even had time to pick up the dropped parchment scrolls on the floor.


    If the two of them discovered that there was no one in the cab and started searching the room carefully, they would quickly find him. So, Lynn acted without hesitation.


    Considering the lethality of the situation, Lynn refrained from using his partially mastered and improved "Frostde." The short sword he wielded was much more reliable within arm''s reach.


    The moment Andr¨¦ saw the splintered wood flying and rxed his guard, a strong sense of impending danger washed over him.


    Before joining the Witch Hunters, Andr¨¦ had been a renowned mercenary, constantly teetering on the edge between life and death. He was intimately familiar with this deeply ingrained feeling. It had saved him once again. Just as the sharp short sword was about to descend, Andr¨¦ managed to twist his body and narrowly avoid a gruesome fate of decapitation.


    However, Lynn''s surprise attack had been lightning fast, and even though Andr¨¦ had made an evasive move, he couldn''t avoid it entirely. The sharp short sword left a deep gash on his neck.


    Crimson blood flowed from the wound, and Andr¨¦, feeling a mixture of shock and anger, was well aware that he had narrowly escaped death.


    "You bastard!" Andr¨¦ shouted, his rage surging. He swung his longsword downward, intending to cut Lynn in half.


    His strike was swift and heavy, and Lynn barely had time to react. Nevertheless, his body instinctively made a parrying motion, and the sh of their des filled the room.


    Before this, Lynn had never wielded a sword to harm another person, but thanks to the previous owner, Carl, he had a well-trained muscle memory.


    It was Carl''s impressive swordsmanship that had deterred the unfriendly neighbors in the slums.


    However, this time, Lynn was up against a Witch Hunter who was notcking in training. Andr¨¦, empowered by the Elixir of Divinity, possessed abilities far beyond the ordinary. He was a merciless opponent.


    Andr¨¦''s swordsmanship was unorthodox but ruthlessly efficient. In just three shes, Lynn''s wrist was sore, and he could barely hold onto the short sword.


    "Die!" Andr¨¦ roared, lifting his longsword to push away Lynn''s short sword, and with his left hand, he reached for Lynn''s throat.


    Lynn, gasping for breath, his face turning red, quickly lost consciousness.


    <strong>Warning, Covenant target under severe life threat. In ordance with Federal Intelligence Management Act, Article 37, the nearestw enforcement personnel will be automatically contacted...</strong>


    The sudden reminder in his mind pulled Lynn''s consciousness back from the abyss of despair, filling him with a glimmer of hope.


    <strong>Warning... no signal... Warning... not connected to thework... Please proceed to the nearest elevated location to search for satellite signals and call for federal assistance promptly...</strong>


    Lynn muttered a curse under his breath. He had forgotten that he had already crossed over and couldn''t be certain if he was in the same universe anymore.


    Damn it! He should have saved the money he used to buy a new spaceship and upgraded its intelligence. How was he going to find a satellite signal now?


    Even if he could, did he expect federal officers to fly over to rescue him?


    But at this moment, Lynn had no time for regrets. The hand tightening around his neck was like a death grip, slowly but relentlessly choking the life out of him.


    <strong>Warning... no signal. Initiate emergency protocol. Highest probability of survival analysis. In ordance with the user agreement, connect to the neuralwork...</strong>


    The prompt in his mind became more urgent, but Lynn couldn''t hear it anymore. He felt as though his brain had exploded, and his soul seemed to detach from his body, examining the world in a strange state.


    Lynn''s dispersed mental power expanded like ripples in water, and his perception of the elements became clearer...


    ...


    "Brte, ck eyes, looks like we''ve got the right person." Seeing Andr¨¦ easily subduing their target, ine rxed his grip on his sword and turned his attention to Lynn.


    "You''re quite capable, little mouse. If you''re so good at hiding, why not cut off a hand and a leg..." Andr¨¦ sneered.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt like he was struggling to breathe, and his anger continued to rise.


    If it weren''t for thest-minute realization that a live person was worth more than a dead one, Andr¨¦ would have wanted to kill Lynn immediately.


    ine, on the other hand, was unfazed by hispanion''s cruel suggestion and casually chimed in, "Just cut off a hand; otherwise, you''ll have to carry him back yourself. Remember to be quick and make sure he doesn''t bleed out on the way."


    With his back turned to ine, Andr¨¦ had no time to respond. His face turned purple, and the longsword he held in his left hand crashed heavily to the ground. Hisbored breathing, previously irregr, had now be increasingly rapid. He resembled a fish out of water, with his heart and lungs on the verge of bursting.


    Ten years ago, when he was swallowed by a massive vortex in the Sea of Mist, Andr¨¦ had experienced this suffocating near-death feeling. Breathing was nothing more than a luxury, and if he hadn''t been exceptionally lucky, he might have already been buried at the bottom of the sea.


    But this time, he wasn''t underwater, and Lynn''s recent attack had clearly not severed his windpipe.


    Andr¨¦ gasped for air, but his condition showed no improvement. Instead, it worsened, and his grey eyes seemed on the brink of popping out of their sockets.


    What kind of magic was this? Andr¨¦ immediately realized that the young wizard''s apprentice in front of him was up to something, but the overwhelming suffocation response had caused him to miss the opportunity to counterattack. The hand gripping Lynn''s neck grew weaker.


    At the same moment, Lynn, with his head hanging low, suddenly made a move. His tightly shut eyes snapped open, and simultaneously, the oxygen in the surrounding air was instantly vacuumed away. A short sword thrust upward, piercing Andr¨¦''s throat from below!


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 Chapter 5: Lynn - Since I dont need to breathe, why doesnt everyone stop!

    Chapter 5: Lynn - Since I don''t need to breathe, why doesn''t everyone stop!


    Just a dozen breaths before, Lynn, whose neck was mped tightly, entered a bizarre state. All the pain seemed to rapidly fade away, reced by a significant increase in brain activity.


    At that moment, Lynn couldn''t help but wonder if he had already departed for the afterlife.


    However, he hadn''t. He could still clearly perceive the flow of blood and oxygen being forcibly cut off from his brain, and his body was gradually losing vitality.


    Before long, he would truly die!


    Faced with such a dire situation, Lynn surprisingly couldn''t muster any feelings of panic.


    How to fight back when one is being strangled and suffocated?


    Of course, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!


    Since I don''t need to breathe, why doesn''t everyone stop! Lynn sensed the vast elements in the void, and with a thought, he used his mental power as a web to instantly extract the active oxygen molecules.


    What happens when a person continues to breathe in a low-oxygen environment?


    Andrei was the best example!


    Arge amount of ineffective gas rushed into his lungs, and his blood pressure rapidly increased. In just a few breaths, signs of hypoxia had already appeared. Lynn keenly noticed the signs of weakness in the hand that was gripping his neck.


    Now is the time!


    Lynn suddenly opened his eyes. Based on his previous memories, the positions and reactions of everyone in the room were transformed into data in his mind. He could even perform a detailed force analysis on his neck based on the angle at which Andrei raised his arm.


    Countlessplex data were sorted in an instant, and Lynn constructed a 100% urate three-dimensional image in his mind, deducing the best sword-fighting n.


    <b>(Raise the hand and thrust directly at a 47-degree angle!)</b>


    Lynn''s arm raised in sync, and he thrust out a short sword. The iron tower-like man in front of him, under the strong hypoxia reaction, hadpletely lost the ability to resist. He could only watch as the tip of the sword pierced his neck.


    The fragile neck couldn''t withstand the sharp short sword. Crimson blood sprayed out like a fountain, sttering on Lynn''s clothes and face.


    Andrei''s eyes widened, his mouth unconsciously gaping open. His hands clung tightly to the gaping wound in his neck, and he fell down in fear and unwillingness.


    Lynn didn''t hesitate. At the moment he broke free from the stranglehold, he kicked Andrei''s body aside, sending it towards the stunned ine. Lynn, on the other hand, quickly moved out of the low-oxygen area using the rebounding force.


    ine hadn''t expected the situation on the field to suddenly reverse, and a look of shock instantly appeared on his face. His reaction was a beat slower, and he instinctively took Andrei''s body when he saw the lifeless state he was in. After examining the gruesome sight, his pupils shrank, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to his heart.


    The greenish-purpleplexion, the ck-red lips, and the dted pupils all proved that Andrei had suddenly fallen into suffocation, resulting in his neck being pierced without any defenses! How was that possible?


    ine was filled with fear. Just a moment ago, it was clear that Andrei had been strangling Lynn''s neck, but now he was inexplicably suffocated. Could this be some strange curse, enemy using self-injurious magic?


    Lynn breathed heavily in a regr rhythm, quickly regaining the vitality of his limbs. Being locked in a stranglehold for a full minute,bined with forcibly manipting arge amount of oxygen elements, had left his brain throbbing slightly.


    Despite using the principle of suffocation to kill one of them by chance, Lynn didn''t dare to rx in the slightest. The brief encounter had made him realize the gap between both sides.


    ording to his memory, these witch hunters were all elite individuals with exceptional skills. The swordsmanship of the original body could deal with a few bandits, but when faced with the witch hunters sent by the Church, it was clear that it was insufficient.


    Various thoughts shed through Lynn''s mind, and then a warning sound rang out.


    <b>(Warning: In overload mode, system energy is rapidly depleting, and forced shutdown is expected in two minutes and thirty seconds.)</b>


    Lynn''s body paused involuntarily, only then realizing that the sudden increase in his control over the elements was thanks to the assistance of the smart brain.


    So... let''s try magic! Lynn''s gaze sharpened as he tightly held the blood-stained short sword in his hand. His mental power once again spread out into the air, frantically capturing the ''water elements''...


    A ball of water appeared in the void, quickly condensing into shape...


    A first-level spell - Frost de!


    The icy de, carrying a bone-chilling cold, shot like an arrow from the bowstring. ine''s expression changed, and he didn''t choose to confront it head-on. He angled his longsword, deflecting the spell off its course.


    However, this momentary pause meant that Lynn had alreadypleted his spell preparation. Gray powder floated in Lynn''s palm, then explosively transformed into a scorching fireball...


    That was another first-level spell Lynn had mastered - Fireball!


    The room''s temperature rose suddenly. Both being first-level spells, Fireball was much more powerful than Frost de.


    The most critical part was that there was no way to escape in this small room!


    ine smelled the scent of death, so he suddenly kicked a broken cab, sending it hurtling towards the raging fireball. Then, he flipped Andrei''s body over and used it as a human shield.


    In the next moment, the fireball collided with the shattered cab, exploding with intense heat, filling the entire room.


    Lynn stared intently at the scattering smoke and dust, struggling to catch his breath. He didn''t have an exact idea of the power of a first-level spell, but from the effect, it seemed no weaker than abination of a hand grenade and an incendiary device. If he had faced it head-on, he would have been gravely injured or worse.


    Just as he was thinking this, a sharp longsword cut through the hazy smoke, its de illuminated by the fire. It was aimed straight at Lynn!


    The speed of this strike was astonishing, and by the time Lynn realized it, the sharp longsword was nearly at his throat!


    Fortunately, at this moment, thanks to the connection between his neuralwork and the smart brain, Lynn''s reaction speed had increased several times, and his body''s coordination had greatly improved. He held the sword horizontally with his right hand, left hand pressed against his right wrist, and his body crouched slightly, with the sword tip supported against the uneven wall.


    ng!


    A sharp, harsh ng echoed in the narrow room. Upon contact, Lynn felt a sharp pain in his hand, and the sword tip, supported against the wall, had deeply embedded itself in the wall. A long, slender crack had appeared on the de.


    So heavy...


    Lynn''s mind was left with only this one thought. He then let go of the sword with both hands, sank to the ground, and narrowly evaded a kicking leg with a few tumbles.


    A fierce wind passed over his head, followed by another dull sound. Lynn turned to look, and the fragmented wall had been dented by the kick.


    <b>(Wall structure under force approximately 1.75 tons, 65% chance of a North American bison collision...)</b>


    In an instant, a data analysis shed through his mind, and Lynn''s pupils shrank. If he had taken a direct kick, his internal organs would have definitely burst open.


    Body modification? Cyborg? Qi cultivation?


    Lynn was well aware that a normal person, even after the most scientific professional training, could never kick with such terrifying force.


    Thispletely surpassed the limits of the human body!


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 Chapter 6: This is My Final Magic!

    Chapter 6: This is My Final Magic!


    Is a character like this just a witch hunter? Are they really used to capture weak wizard apprentices like me? Lynn found it hard to believe, but in reality, the arena ofbat wasn''t fair. There was no matching opponents in terms of strength, and surrendering or begging for mercy held no meaning here. It was a fight for survival!


    [Frosty de]


    Lynn raised his left hand, aiming it at ine. His mastery of Water Conjuring had be increasingly adept, and in an instant, another ice de materialized in the air.


    However, his mental energy had reached its limit, and the nearby "water element" had been almost depleted. The ice des he created were no longer a significant threat to his opponent.


    Lynn was acutely aware of this, but he had a strong desire.


    He needed more water...


    The moment this thought crossed his mind, Lynn felt as if his brain had been struck hard, as though countless silver needles had pierced him, followed by a rapid consumption of his magical power, which was converted into arge amount of hydrogen and oxygen elements and bined" into a stream of water.


    At the same time, a strange rune was deeply imprinted in his mind.


    Intermediate-level magic - [Multiple Frosty des]


    In just a second, several sharp ice des appeared in front of him, raining down like arrows!


    Lynn''s sudden burst of power exceeded ine''s expectations. In haste, ine switched from offense to defense, but even with a rapid response, one [Frosty de] managed to bypass the sword''s protection and pierced his abdomen.


    ine immediately felt a piercing coldness, and the crystalline ice rapidly spread along his abdomen.


    Fully aware of the mysterious nature of magic, ine did not dare to be negligent. He clenched the ice de and forcefully pulled it out. Due to the unique structure of the [Frosty de], its barbs were embedded deeply in his flesh. As he removed it, crimson blood gushed out.


    The intense pain made ine shiver uncontrobly, and the wound in his abdomen became a gruesome mess. More dangerously, the cold spread so rapidly that the area around the wound lost all sensation.


    However, ine''s ruthlessness took Lynn by surprise. Realizing that the wound in his abdomen would affect the uing battle, ine grabbed the burning doorknob and pressed it directly against his abdomen.


    "Ah! Ah!" The scorching mes intertwined with the blurred flesh and blood. Veins popped on ine''s forehead, and he let out a series of angry roars.


    Thin wisps of smoke emanated from the contact point, and the muddled flesh and blood had be partially cauterized. There was no more bleeding, and the bone-chilling cold had disappeared under the searing heat.


    This horrific sight left Lynn profoundly shocked. Whether it was ine''s merciless use of apanion''s corpse as a shield or his use of fire to cauterize the wound, it made Lynn realize that this was not an opponent to be underestimated!


    Taking advantage of ine''s distraction, Lynn wasted no time and burst through the room''s door, leaving behind his short sword. In the confined space of the room, he had no chance of winning.


    ine nced at Andre''s charred body, clenched his sword tightly, and pursued.


    ...


    Evening fell over the slums outside of Nornd''s borders, where two figures chased and fled through the narrow, dpidated streets.


    As the day grew darker, one after another, [Frosty des] whizzed through the air, striking the ground and walls without any pattern.


    Every time Lynn cast a spell, his brain would throb with pain. But at this point, he couldn''t afford to think about it. If he stopped casting, his pursuer would strike him down with a sword through his head!


    On the other hand, ine, who was chasing behind, seemed to handle the situation with ease. His sharp eyes tracked the flying ice des, and he skillfully dodged them, maintaining a calcted distance behind Lynn.


    ine was cautious. After all, this apprentice wizard had disyed an unusual level of cunning, using deceptive notes within the room, the sudden burst of ice des and fireballs, and the mysterious magic that killed Andre. ine was deeply impressed by Lynn''s abilities.


    So, even though Lynn appeared exhausted, ine didn''t dare to act recklessly. He was like the most patient of hunters, slowly wearing down Lynn''s strength until his prey fell!


    During this chase, the two had moved farther and farther from the city, and a foul stench filled the area. ine realized that Lynn had inadvertently led him to the long-abandoned Lower City.


    Nornd''s region sloped from the south to the north, with the main city built along the banks of the Yen River to the north.


    Over a decade ago, the Duke of Nornd, who had returned from the Holy City, was dissatisfied with the chaotic, foul-smelling appearance of the main city. He ordered craftsmen to dig a small canal to divert all the city''s waste downstream into the Yen River.


    This, however, proved to be a great inconvenience for the impoverished people living in the Lower City, who relied on the Yen River for water.


    But the Duke of Nornd cared little for the lives of thesemoners, and over time, the entire Lower City fell into disuse, with only a very small number of scavengers choosing to linger in the area.


    ine couldn''t help but worry that other apprentice wizards might be hiding here. Just as he was determined to resolve the situation quickly, Lynn, who had been fleeing all along, suddenly stopped in a maze of alleys.


    The concentration should be enough...


    Lynn double-checked onest time, and the strange rune in his mind was activated in an instant. Seven [Frosty des] materialized out of thin air, glittering in the twilight...


    Forcing the conversion of arge amount of magical power into hydrogen and oxygen, the side effects became increasingly severe. Lynn felt like his brain was about to explode.


    His magical power had been squeezed to its limit. This was his final magic!


    In the next moment, the ice des automatically split into two groups, shooting in random directions, sealing off all of ine''s escape routes.


    ine''s expression turned serious as he stared ahead.


    Even he couldn''tpletely block such arge number of attacks, but if he had to endure some injuries...


    Fortunately, these ice des seemed to lose their uracy, mostly passing by him. Only three were aimed directly at him...


    Is this a desperate struggle?


    A hint of mockery appeared on ine''s face. During their earlier pursuit, he had noticed that Lynn''s spellcasting wasn''t conjuring something out of thin air. There was a significant mental toll...


    Clearly, Lynn was nearing his limit.


    A slight smile curled on ine''s lips as he precisely parried each iing [Frosty de] with his longsword. However, he failed to notice a red sphere mixed in with the ice des.


    ng!


    The de and the sphere collided, creating a dazzling burst of sparks.


    The peculiar sensation of the impact made ine pause for a moment, and then he realized that he had struck a piece of flint...


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 Chapter 7: I Shall Reveal the Truth of This World to You!

    Chapter 7: I Shall Reveal the Truth of This World to You!


    As the sword and stone shed, brilliant sparks scattered in all directions like a spider''s web.


    A sudden and inexplicable palpitation filled ine''s mind. Before he could react, everything in front of him was engulfed by the leaping mes.


    Boom!


    A violent explosion resounded in the quiet lower district. Nearby, Lynn was thrown to the ground by the shockwave of the explosion. At the same time, the sound of the AI interface chimed in.


    "(Energy depleted, overload mode terminated...)"


    Coughing, Lynn scrambled to his feet from the ground. He felt a profound emptiness; consecutive spellcasting had drained his magical energy.


    Compared to Lynn, who had been affected by the st, ine, at the center of the explosion, looked much worse.


    When the dust settled, Lynn couldn''t help but gasp. ine, at the epicenter of the explosion, no longer resembled a human. His right arm, holding the sword, had been blown off halfway. The exposed skin was ck and red, and his chestte was shattered, revealing the mangled flesh and pale bones underneath.


    What was even more horrifying was that the intense explosion had instantly depleted the surrounding oxygen. ine''s piercing screamssted for a dozen seconds before abruptly ceasing.


    Lynn felt a chill. He had heard of the power of methane gas explosions in news reports, but seeing it firsthand was an entirely different experience, especially since he had caused it himself.


    If ine hadn''t been so far away and if the trajectory of his "Fireball Spell" hadn''t been easy to predict, he wouldn''t have risked using the methane gas explosion to lure and kill him. It was also thanks to the magical ability to manipte the flow of air to some extent, coupled with the abundance of "materials" in the lower district, that he managed to achieve the required concentration for the explosion.


    Lynn picked up the fallen sword from the ground and cautiously checked ine''s condition.


    Despite the severity of his injuries, ine had somehow not died immediately. Both of his eyes, stripped of their skin, stared intensely at Lynn, and he made a gurgling sound from his damaged vocal cords.


    "Let me send you on your way. No need to thank me," Lynn said coldly. He couldn''t help but harbor a deep resentment for ine, who had intruded into his home and forced him into a corner, but he had no intention of torturing him. In this state, ine was unlikely to reveal any useful information.


    In this way, death would be the best oue for him.


    Lynn raised his sword and urately pierced ine''s heart. He watched as ine''s body trembled violently and then fell silent.


    Perhaps it was the influence of his hatred, or maybe it was the remnants of his original self, but Lynn felt surprisingly little difort about ending a life. Instead, it was the aftereffects of his previous spellcasting that asionally caused his brain to throb.


    Confirming that ine was truly dead, Lynn''s tense expression finally rxed. He staggered and leaned on his sword to avoid falling to the ground.


    "071..." Lynn called out in his mind, but received no response. Recalling the earlier notification sound, he understood that the AI interface had likely shut down temporarily due to energy depletion.


    With no clear solution to this, Lynn could only wait for 071 to replenish its energy. At this moment, he was filled with confusion.


    What exactly was the magic used by wizards, and how could it manipte chemical elements? And those strange runes that had inexplicably appeared in his mind just now...


    What left Lynn in deep contemtion was the fact that in the AI interface''s overload mode, he could directly convert magic into hydrogen and oxygen.


    Did that mean magic could be converted into any other element?


    If that were the case, the mystical nature of this phenomenon would likely surpass his expectations.


    "Come with me! I shall reveal the truth of this world to you!"


    Recalling the words his mentor, Coru, had spoken six months ago, Lynn couldn''t help but shudder. Perhaps that old wizard had not been deceiving him back then.


    It''s no wonder that the original person, Karl, would abandon a stable life with food and clothing to be a wizard''s apprentice.


    The only regret was that Karl''s time learning magic had been too short, and with Coru having more than one apprentice, the teaching time was limited, and Lynn couldn''t delve into more secrets.


    The aftereffects of excessive magic consumption had left Lynn quite apprehensive. When he cast hisst spell, he had thought his brain was about to explode, and his body felt as weak as if he had been seriously ill, longing for a good rest.


    However, Lynn knew that now was not the time to rest. Although he had dealt with two enemies, themotion caused by the battle in the slums was considerable. It wouldn''t be long before it reached the local Inquisition, and they would likely dispatch more people to capture him.


    The top priority was to find a ce to hide and figure out a way to contact another wizard.


    Lynn looked down at ine''s corpse and poked it with his sword. He then cut open the damaged pouch at his waist, and a small pile of coins spilled out.


    One Secas gold coin, seven silver coins, and over ten copper coins.


    Seeing these well-made coins that hadn''t been destroyed by the explosion, Lynn''s mood improved slightly.


    As a noble''s illegitimate child, Karl hadn''t been particrly wealthy, and with half a year of running away from home, asionally supporting his mentor''s research, he could barely afford to eat...


    With this windfall, he wouldn''t have to risk returning to that dpidated house. Going back now would likely be a death trap.


    "Hmm." Lynn bent down to gather the coins when he unexpectedly found a rolled parchment of parchment among the coins.


    Under the scorching heat, most of the writing had be illegible. Lynn could barely make out characters like "Ur Town," "Moonshine Day," "Jonny," and "Seventeen Copper Coins."


    "Ur Town?" Lynn murmured to himself. Out of caution, he didn''t destroy the parchment on the spot. Instead, he decided to keep the burnt parchment.


    He needed someone who could answer his questions, and going to Ur Town to find other apprentices seemed like a good choice.


    At least it would be much more reliable than searching for the hidden wizards on his own.


    As Lynn contemted his next steps, he reached down and grabbed ine''s ankle, dragging the body toward the nearby foul-smelling Inlet River.


    In a world where magic and sorcery existed, even the dead could not be trusted. In case the Inquisition of this world possessed resurrection magic, there was a risk of his information being revealed.


    The safest method was to dispose of the body along with it!


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 Chapter 8: Blasphemy against the Gods!

    Chapter 8: sphemy against the Gods!


    "Bishop Ansluc, this is it! I saw that wizard and the Witch Hunter Lorde out of the house a while ago, and they fought all the way here..."


    A quarter of an hourter, in the lower town, a ragged scavenger, covered in dirt, hunched over and cautiously recounted everything he had seen to the clergy of the Church.


    Ansluc remained silent, his gaze lowered to the scorched marks on the ground. The bright red blood, vaporized by the high temperature, had turned into a dark red hue. The upturned earth and the scattered remains of flesh and bone bore witness to the ferocity of the battle.


    The cause of such severe destruction was likely the second-tier magic spell, meburst!


    "Where''s the body?" Ansluc suddenly inquired. There were clear signs of a battle on the ground, but Braine''s body was conspicuously absent.


    The scavenger swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty. "After the Witch Hunter Lord died, the wizard threw him... threw him into the Yir River..."


    "This is sphemy against the gods!"


    Before Ansluc could respond, a middle-aged priest behind him vehemently rebuked.


    In recent years, thanks to the Duke of Nornd''s "enlightened" actions, the entire downstream of the Yir River had be a true cesspool.


    Braine''s identity was not merely that of a Witch Hunter; he was also a member of the Church''s divine punishment force and had even consumed the Elixir of the Gods in advance, making him an emissary of the gods in the mortal realm.


    Participating in Witch Hunts so frequently was only to enhance his resume.


    But the corrupted wizard, who had brutally killed him and tossed his body into the polluted Yir River, was undoubtedly a challenge to the Church''s authority!


    The scavenger''s body trembled uncontrobly, and he lowered his head in fear.


    Ansluc tightened his grip on his staff, his anger simmering. He turned to the trembling scavenger and questioned him once again.


    "Did you get a clear look at the wizard who killed Braine? Did anyone else intervene during the fight?"


    "I only saw glimpses from a distance, Bishop. There didn''t seem to be another wizard involved... That person appeared to be just of age, with brown hair, about your height."


    "Carl..." Ansluc muttered to himself as he contemted the information. Until now, he had paid little attention to this obscure wizard apprentice. After all, ording to the information he had obtained, Carl had only been studying magic for about half a year and was not particrly valued by Mage Coru. He was considered the least threatening among all the targets.


    But it seemed that the reality might be different.


    Releasing a second-tier magic spell like meburst, and killing two Witch Hunters in quick session, was not something a novice in magic could achieve! Unless he possessed a powerful alchemical artifact, or... was a full-fledged wizard like Coru!


    Several dayster, on the border of Nornd, inside an inn in the town of Urr.


    Lynn awoke abruptly from a nightmare and jumped out of the hard wooden bed. He quickly moved to the window, peering outside to assess the situation.


    Seeing everything was normal, with no oneing to besiege him, Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Ever since he had killed those two Witch Hunters in the slums five days ago, he had been constantly worried about being pursued by the Inquisition. His journey to Urr had taken him through a deliberately circuitous route, and he had even fabricated some false traces to throw off any potential pursuers.


    Perhaps his half-hearted counter-surveince techniques had worked, or maybe the Inquisition simply didn''t have time for a mere apprentice wizard. So far, Lynn had not encountered any pursuit teams.


    Nevertheless, he could only describe his journey as grueling.


    ustomed to the conveniences of modern life, Lynn almost felt overwhelmed by the sudden transition to a ce reminiscent of medieval Europe.


    After all, here, there were no cell phones, noputers, no familiar family or friends, and no hot breakfast to start the day. He had to make do with a bite of unappetizing ck bread along with water...


    The only saving grace was that he possessed all of Karl''s memories. He understood thenguage and script of this world, and he had decentbat skills to deter any would-be thieves, ensuring he didn''t meet an untimely demise on the road.


    After enduring several days of hardships, Lynn had reluctantlye to terms with the fact that he had been transported to this world. This was already his second day in the town of Urr.


    Out of caution, Lynn didn''t hastily search for the whereabouts of other wizard apprentices. Instead, after discovering the marks left behind, he had discreetly returned and spent a day familiarizing himself with the terrain. He also purchased a dozen new pieces of flint and a bag of ck bread.


    These few days of life on the run had made Lynn increasingly wary. However, after gaining a preliminary understanding of Urr, he immediately realized why Johnny had chosen this ce for their gathering.


    As a small trading town on the border of Nornd, it saw a mix of people, with merchant caravansing and going. A few unfamiliar faces now and then wouldn''t attract too much attention.


    As Lynn contemted this, he reached for a nearby mortar and ced the blocky flint stones inside. With a small wooden rod, he began grinding them into fine powder.


    During his time in Urr, apart from looking for marks and familiarizing himself with the terrain, the rest of his time had been dedicated to the creation of white phosphorus.


    White phosphorus was a chemical element with the form P4, appearing as a white or pale yellow translucent solid.


    There were twomonly used methods to produce it.


    The first involved mixing calcium phosphate, silica sand, and carbon powder into a mixture, heating it to temperatures between 1400 and 1600 degrees Celsius, and then passing the resulting phosphorus vapor through cold water to solidify it into white phosphorus.


    The second method was to heat red phosphorus to 416 degrees Celsius while excluding air, causing it to sublimate and cool, forming white phosphorus.


    However, in this world without industrial systems, simr to ancient Europe, gathering these raw materials in a short period wasn''t an easy task.


    Though 071 had shown him some ancient and "convenient" methods for extracting raw materials, Lynn didn''t n to use them unless absolutely necessary.


    Fortunately, Lynn soon stumbled upon a pleasant surprise. The surface of the flint he had used was interspersed with traces of red phosphorus!


    Considering that red phosphorus had been used as an efficient me retardant in the previous century for the manufacture of matches to enhance their safety, this wasn''t entirely surprising.


    It seemed that the indigenous people of this world had already discovered the element phosphorus, though their application was quite rudimentary.


    As Lynn continued to grind the flint with the wooden rod, the chunks of flint gradually broke down, removing impurities until only clusters of red powder remained.


    He didn''t have professional equipment on hand, but the magical power at his disposal was much more convenient than scientific instruments!


    Mage''s Hand!


    With a thought, the fine red phosphorus seemed to respond to some kind of call, floating up on its own, and then, with the aid of Basic Material Deconstruction, it broke down into its basic molecr state.


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 Chapter 9: White Phosphorus Fire and Spell Slots

    Chapter 9: White Phosphorus Fire and Spell Slots


    Lynn waspletely focused, simultaneously emptying the air around the red phosphorus as much as possible while utilizing the principle of elerating molecr movement to increase the temperature.


    After about ten seconds, wisps of white mist scattered into the air, gathered under the constraints of magic, and quickly cooled, solidifying into a semi-transparent yellow powder.


    This was white phosphorus!


    Lynn was well aware of the terror this substance held and dared not touch it with his hands. Throughout the process, he held his Mage''s Hand spell, carefully cing the collected white phosphorus into a bag meant for storing magical materials, which had an excellent istion effect to prevent spontaneousbustion.


    Completing this intricate procedure was quite a challenge for Lynn, who was still an apprentice wizard. If it weren''t for the significant improvement in his control over magic due to the fusion of his spirit during the crossing, this attempt might have ended in failure.


    Fortunately, everything went as he had nned.


    Lynn secured the storage bag and remembered the horrifying scene of white phosphorus igniting the earth from his memories, sending a shiver down his spine.


    He hoped he wouldn''t need to use it.


    As a modern-day person who had grown up in a time of peace, Lynn held great reverence for life. However, in this world where human life was as fragile as a de of grass, he understood that, for self-preservation, he might have to make difficult choices.


    "071!" Lynn silently called out in his mind afterpleting all the tasks. Since the shutdown of his smart brain five days ago, this had be his daily routine.


    Clearly, this time, too, there was no response.


    If it weren''t for the slow drain of magic within his body, which was used to supply energy to the smart brain, Lynn would have suspected that 071 had disappearedpletely.


    The smart brain was his essential tool for survival in this unfamiliar world. Just by connecting to the neuralwork, it significantly enhanced his cognitive abilities, allowing him to ovee many crises.


    Not to mention that, in that special state, he could convert magic into elements, releasing magic without having to prepare materials in advance.


    Thinking of his mentor, Koro, using the Tier 2 spell, "Group Icy des," Lynn had a hunch. Being able to convert magic into elements was likely the key difference between an apprentice wizard and a full-fledged wizard.


    He was sure that Carl, as an apprentice, couldn''t achieve this. There were no rted memories in his brain. Most likely, it was the fusion of his spirit after the crossing,bined with the help of the smart brain, that briefly broke through this limitation.


    Lynn meditated, and the extraordinary elemental world once again unfolded before his "eyes."


    However, his attention was now focused on the peculiar rune floating in his mind.


    Inside the peculiar rune were countless tiny dots and lines arranged in a highly unique way, appearing intricate and aesthetically pleasing.


    Lynn tentatively touched it with his spiritual power, and the rune instantly lit up.


    Immediately, Lynn felt his magical energy decrease by one-tenth. When he opened his eyes, a rhombus-shaped "Icy de" appeared in his palm.


    "This seems to be... a spell slot?" Lynn stroked his chin and quickly recalled the spell slots mentioned in the book "Elemental Analysis."


    This was also an ability possessed only by full-fledged wizards, significantly increasing casting speed.


    Overall, the process of constructing spell slots felt somewhat like programming in a past life. You set various parameters in advance, and when needed, you press the confirm button to immediately produce the desired oue.


    So, the arrangement of this rune probably meant: one part oxygen + two parts hydrogen + reduced molecr movement + special configuration = Icy de?


    Hmm, it had to be said, this was quite scientific!


    Lynn curiously attempted a few other spells, but unexpectedly, no new spell slots formed.


    After some thought, Lynn quickly guessed the reason. To construct the corresponding spell slots, he probably needed to cast a Tier 1 spell without the use of casting materials.


    With that in mind, Lynn temporarily abandoned his n to continue solidifying spell slots. Without the aid of his smart brain, he still had quite a gap between him and the full-fledged wizards.


    Lynn nced outside and realized it was time to meet the other wizard apprentices.


    Today was Monday, the agreed-uponst day!


    The Drunken Spirit Tavern was located in the most bustling part of Ur Town.


    If it weren''t for following the secret mark all the way here, Lynn couldn''t have imagined that Jonny would choose this ce for their meeting.


    And seventeen coppers for a single ss of ancient Roan wine? Wasn''t that a bit steep?


    Lynn muttered to himself inwardly, but as soon as he pushed the door open, his brow furrowed involuntarily.


    The interior of the Drunken Spirit Tavern, a gathering ce for lower-ss folks, was quite lively. The warmth of the roaring hearth dispelled the night''s chill, and the cramped space of less than a hundred square meters was packed to the brim. The wooden floor was covered in wine stains and vomit, and the overpowering stench nearly overwhelmed Lynn.


    At the long table near the entrance, a drunken halfling spotted Lynn as soon as he entered. Seeing his young age and unfamiliar face, he boisterously shouted, "Kid, care to join us for a drink?"


    Lynn turned his head, examining the drunken halfling with a curious gaze.


    Halflings were a unique species on this continent. Their name didn''te from having half a body but from their diminutive stature, roughly half the height of an average adult. They resembled dwarves from fantasy tales in Lynn''s previous world.


    However, Lynn didn''t know much about the physical structure and gic makeup of these halflings or how they differed from humans.


    Lynn''s instincts as a data storage clerk were itching...


    Under Lynn''s scrutinizing gaze, the inebriated halfling shivered uncontrobly, as if a cold breeze had traveled from the soles of his feet to his head.


    Five years ago, in the Nornd, Lynn had once met the infamous decapitator, Luke. He was a ruthless thug who took delight in dismembering people into pieces.


    The gaze of the halfling resembled that of Luke at the time, as if Lynn were a cadaver awaiting dissection...


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 Chapter 10: Karl, Why Betray Us?

    Chapter 10: Karl, Why Betray Us?


    Caw...


    Suddenly, a crisp crow''s cry interrupted their gaze. Lynn, somewhat regretfully, redirected his attention and looked in the direction of the sound. There, a palm-sized gray crow stood on the counter, staring intently at him.


    The owner of the "Drunken Spirit" tavern was a true Gewet merchant, exuding a shrewd and pragmatic air. Upon hearing the crow''s cry, he momentarily paused in wiping a ss and grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, and warmly greeted Lynn.


    "A rare face indeed. Wee to the ''Drunken Spirit'' tavern. Is there something you need, my guest?"


    "I''ll have a ss of ancient Roh wine, four vintages if I''m not mistaken. It should be seventeen Sas copper coins," Lynn walked straight up to the counter and ced the copper coins neatly in stacks of five and seven on the table.


    The tavern owner scrutinized Lynn, and his gaze lingered for a moment on the longsword at Lynn''s waist, but his expression remained unchanged. "That wasst year''s rate. Now it''s... twenty-one copper!"


    Lynn hesitated for a moment, yet before he could respond, a stunning female patron at the bar pursed her lips and yfully said, "Old Hawk, are you trying to fool the neer? I don''t recall Roh wine suddenly getting more expensive here."


    As she spoke, the young woman looked with curiosity at Lynn. Seventeen copper coins for a ss of ancient Roh wine, while not extravagantly priced, was indeed a generous order for the "Drunken Spirit" tavern. Especiallying from a young and handsome man with a well-built physique, he didn''t seem like the type to spendvishly for no reason.


    Old Hawk paid no mind to the woman''s interjection and grinned, "Two ships capsized in the harbor this year, and the ingredients for Roh wine are scarce. It''s only natural the price goes up."


    Lynn furrowed his brow and said, "But I only have seventeen Sas copper coins."


    The young female patron''s interest in Lynn suddenly waned. It seemed he was just another pauper spending his savings for a taste of good wine.


    "In that case, I suggest you change your taste..." Old Hawk shrugged, "Of course, if you''re interested in earning some extra money, I can help you with that. Lame Laut is currently in need of someone to do private jobs for him. He''s always generous with his payments."


    Lame Laut? Lynn raised an eyebrow. During his time investigating in Urn Town, he had heard that name more than once.


    The rumors about him weren''t ttering...


    "Very well, I''m in need of suitable work," Lynn said after a moment of thought and nodded in agreement.


    Old Hawk swept the copper coins on the table into his pocket, asked one of the tavern''s servers to temporarily take over his duties, and then turned to Lynn, speaking once more.


    "Follow me. Your Roh wine is stored in the cer. I''ll take it and then bring you to meet him."


    As Lynn followed Old Hawk without any suspicion, the onlookers in the tavern couldn''t help but disy a smug smile.


    Everyone in Urn Town knew that while Lame Laut was generous with his payments, he was also known for his ruthlessness. Many people who worked for him mysteriously disappeared, sometimes not even leaving a corpse behind.


    You could have money but not life...


    In the meantime, as the tavern patrons watched with amusement, Old Hawk led Lynn through the kitchen and into a storage room filled with flour and barrels. He stopped in front of a dirty, massive wine barrel.


    Click...


    Old Hawk pressed down on the lid of the barrel, and with a rush of liquid, the barrel slowly rotated, revealing a half-person tall secret passage beneath it.


    "Follow this path. The person you want to meet is inside," Old Hawk whispered, lowering his voice. He handed the lit candlestick to Lynn and impatiently warned, "Be careful on your own. Don''t cause trouble for me!"


    Lynn expressed his thanks, picked up the oilmp, and proceeded into the dark passage. As soon as he stepped in, the massive barrels stained with wine once again rotated back into ce, and the sound of the liquid being refilled echoed.


    The faint light from outside vanished, and the passage was plunged into darkness. Lynn could only see a dim path ahead, and the air still carried the scent of inferior-quality wine.


    Lynn continued down the dim corridor, his guard up and his mind constantly reviewing information about several fellow apprentices.


    Due to his mentor, Coru, who had been constantly on the move over the years, there was no fixed ce for him to stay, and he wouldn''t keep all the apprentices close by.


    After all, having too many unfamiliar faces suddenly appearing in a city would draw unwanted attention and hinder their ability to conceal their identities.


    So, the original Karl''s knowledge of these individuals was quite limited. He had only met them a few times and knew their names and faces to some extent.


    The only one he was somewhat familiar with was Jonny, who had sent him letters before.


    Of course, this familiarity was one-sided.


    To put it simply, the original Karl had some teenage infatuation towards Jonny.


    As one of Coru''s most promising students with high magical talent, Jonny was just one step away from bing a full-fledged wizard. After Coru''s death, he had be the de facto leader of their group of apprentices.


    However, this one-sided infatuation wasn''t likely to be of any help to Karl.


    As Lynn continued to ponder, the narrow dark passage ahead gradually widened. With the dim candlelight, Lynn suddenly realized that this dark passage was leading to a dense forest outside Urn Town.


    Even though it was deep into the night, the sky wasn''t as dark as expected. Silver moonlight filtered through the leaves of the forest, casting a soft glow on the solid earth, making it appear as though it was covered with a sheer veil. Lynn felt the magic within him be more active.


    This must be a Monday, he thought.


    Through the dense trees, Lynn could faintly see the sparkling stars in the sky and the massive moon. ording to Karl''s memories, this unique celestial event urred only once a year andsted for about three to five days.


    But Karl''s memories didn''t mention that moonlight could affect magic.


    That made sense; Karl had only be a wizard six months ago.


    As Lynn was thinking about this, a series of hurried noises suddenly echoed through the area. More than a dozen solidified Magic Missiles shot out from the dense trees surrounding him, blocking his escape routes.


    A trap?


    That thought immediately crossed Lynn''s mind. In the next moment, he reacted swiftly. With his left hand free, he flipped it over, and a gray powder fell into his palm. It was the remaining material for his spell, the Ember of Red me!


    Lynn threw it with force, and the tiny particles ignited instantly, creating a scorching wall of fire in front of him.


    However, his hastily used spell, the Lesser Fire Wall, couldn''t withstand thebined effort of several apprentice wizards. The Magic Missiles almost instantly prated the wall of fire.


    But Lynn had already achieved his goal. The heat and chaos caused by the fire disrupted their aim, and their Magic Missiles scattered, striking the trees and the earth behind him.


    Seeing four figures in dark robes closing in on him in a semicircle, Lynn silently drew his longsword, while simultaneously opening a pouch containing phosphorus. He was ready for a fight.


    His preparation for battle involved using a small amount of phosphorus, and he didn''t have much of it, but now wasn''t the time to hold back.


    However, before Lynn could make a move, a cold voice spoke ahead of him.


    "Karl, why did you betray us?"


    ...


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 Chapter 11: The Land of Wizards

    Chapter 11: The Land of Wizards


    The sudden question left Lynn momentarily puzzled.


    As a few figures approached, Lynn immediately recognized the leader, the person he had been searching for ¨C Jonny.


    The young woman, cloaked in ck robes, appeared to be around twenty years old. She had unique silver-gray hair and bright, gem-blue eyes.


    Jonny had grown thinner since theirst meeting, a result of constant evading and hiding. A sickly paleness now marred herplexion.


    "I don''t understand what you mean, Jonny!" Lynn''s tone was unwavering, his memories confirming that Karl had not betrayed them in any way.


    At most, Karl might have harbored some thoughts, but that shouldn''t have necessitated hiding in the slums, fearing for his life.


    "Where did you get that sword?" the gray-haired witch continued her questioning, her eyes fixed on the longsword Lynn held.


    Lynn then noticed that Jonny had been staring at the hunter''s longsword in his hand. He realized where the problemy.


    "This is a weaponmonly used by witch hunters!" a burly wizard apprentice named Buck eximed, his emotions running high.


    "Of course, it''s my trophy. Is there a problem, Buck?" Lynn replied calmly, though he was breaking into a cold sweat.


    He had unwittingly been carrying around what was essentially a ticking time bomb for days. But it was understandable; he had left his personal short sword back at the slum''s hideout, and it wasn''t wise to just throw away a readily avable weapon.


    More importantly, Karl''s memories contained no information about "witch hunters carrying standard weapons." Considering that Lynn had encountered no trouble in recent days, it seemed that very few people knew about this detail. However, it evidently didn''t escape the old Hawk from the "Drunken Ghost" tavern.


    No wonder they had hesitated and offered excuses when he tried to buy Galroth wine. The information about him possessing a witch hunter''s longsword was probably passed on by old Hawk to Jonny''s group.


    "Your trophy? Are you saying you killed a witch hunter and took his sword?" Buck sneered. "Karl, if I remember correctly, you couldn''t even master the most basic elemental spell, Frostde. You''d be better off with a more usible excuse."


    Asckeys of the Church, witch hunters were the cream of the crop, highly skilled and usually operating in small teams. Even seasoned wizards found them formidable opponents.


    For Lynn and the other apprentices, simply surviving an encounter with a witch hunter was considered a stroke of luck.


    "Sometimes strength isn''t everything, Buck," Lynn shook his head. "Besides, thest time we met was four months ago, right?"


    As he spoke, Lynn extended his hand, manipting the hydrogen and oxygen in the air to swiftly create a diamond-shaped ice de, a bizarre yet strangely beautiful form.


    The other wizard apprentices present were taken aback, not by the unfamiliar shape of the ice de, but by the incredible speed at which Lynn had cast the spell. In their world, before bing full-fledged wizards and gaining ess to memory slots, rapidly performingplex spells presented a significant challenge.


    Realbat didn''t wait for you to finish casting your spells, and most apprentices were considered good if they could prepare a spell within two seconds. Lynn hadpressed the entire process into about a second, opting for pure speed, even if the shape of the ice de wasn''t the perfect Kro''ah configuration. Nevertheless, it was enough to capture everyone''s attention.


    "Furthermore, I don''t think the Church would make a wizard a witch hunter and provide them with such a weapon," Lynn continued before the others could recover from their surprise.


    Buck was left speechless. The Church had a strict policy of not letting any wizard they suspected of "demon corruption" be a witch hunter, let alone equipping them with a witch hunter''s weapon. This was seen as sphemy against the gods.


    The other apprentices also realized the gravity of Lynn''s argument and softened their hostility.


    Jonny, however, remained vignt. She turned to one of the apprentices, Dove, and asked, "Have you checked the surroundings, Dove?"


    Dove, her voice trembling, responded, "No one has surrounded this ce..."


    With the confirmation, Jonny then turned to Lynn and apologized, "I''m sorry, Karl, but the situation is urgent, and we had to be cautious."


    "So you''re only suspicious of me and ready to kill without evidence?" Lynn questioned.


    "I assure you, the magic I used was just a test. No one would want to harm theirrade," Jonny exined earnest


    Lynn was briefly taken aback, then rummaged through his memories to recall that Kent was Kora''s third disciple, the only one of the wizard apprentices who was absent. He couldn''t believe that Kent had met his end.


    "On the same day our teacher was captured by the Church, the guards of the Nornd territoryunched an attack on Kent''s hiding ce. Afterward, Buck, Barton, and Will were also pursued. Only Dove, with her unique abilities, managed to evade the attack beforehand," Jonny exined.


    "Unique abilities?" Lynn asked, raising an eyebrow.


    He instinctively nced at Dove, who seemed incredibly young, probably around thirteen or fourteen. She was considerably shorter than him, her face adorned with sparse freckles, her hair disheveled. She was feeding a few gray crows in a corner.


    Lynn quickly recalled the crow cries he had heard in the tavern and guessed that she possessed some kind of animal-controlling magic.


    "I suspect someone has leaked our information. That''s the only way the Church could have found our hiding ce so precisely," Jonny said with a worried expression.


    "How many people are supposed to know our hiding ce? It should be just a handful of us, right?" Lynn asked, getting to the core of the matter.


    Jonny pondered for a moment and then shook her head. "In normal circumstances, only a few of us should know."


    "Could it be our teacher..." Buck hesitated and asked.


    "Absolutely not!" Jonny shot back firmly.


    Buck immediately fell silent. Lynn didn''t dwell on this issue too much. Instead, he asked the second question that had been on his mind.


    "So, what''s our n from here?"


    Lynn was starting to regret seeking out these apprentice wizards. He had hoped that, even though they were pursued by the Church, they would have a stable internal organization. He believed that even if he couldn''t find another full-fledged wizard to join him, they would still be a valuable asset. However, it didn''t seem so now.


    If Jonny didn''t have a reliable n to evade the Church''s pursuit, he would look for an opportunity to leave the group. Solo action was much safer than sticking with a group of rookies.


    Buck and Will also looked at Jonny, and even Dove paused her feeding of the crows in the corner.


    During the time they had been pursued by the Church, they had asked the same question multiple times, but Jonny had always evaded giving a clear answer, insisting they wait until everyone was present.


    Jonny didn''t hide this time and answered promptly, "We will take a boat to cross the Misty Sea and head to the Wizard''s Land - Greenrill!"


    "Does Wizard''s Land actually exist?" Will, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked. "I''ve heard that beyond the Misty Sea is a deadnd, and those who set sail never return."


    "Yes, I''ve been there with my mentor. It''s and exclusively for wizards, with no presence of the Church or witch hunters. Everyone can freely study magic there!" Jonny stated firmly.


    "That sounds as wonderful as the Holy Land of A," Barton muttered softly. He couldn''t imagine a world where wizards weren''t hunted and could practice magic freely. It was like a dream.


    "Just so you know, A doesn''t like wizards..." Dove, who had been squatting in the corner, spoke softly, interrupting Barton''s fantasies.


    "So, how do we get there?" Will asked eagerly.


    Jonny hesitated for a moment but then replied honestly, "The town of Uhl is close to the Nornd territory''s port. We can take a boat from there. I believe... Lame Loude will help us."


    "Loude?"


    Lynn was somewhat surprised. The owner of the "Drunken Goblin" tavern, Old Hock, had also mentioned this name. Rumors had it that Loude had been a pirate in his youth, earning quite a reputation, until he lost a leg in an attempt to raid a merchant ship. He had narrowly escaped death by pretending to be dead. However, this event turned his fortunes, and Loude had surprisingly be a legitimate businessman. He now controlled the liquor trade in Uhl and the port, making him the biggest kingpin west of the Nornd territory.


    Lynn immediately realized that the so-called liquor trade was just a cover. Loude''s true business was likely to maintain contact between the Wizard''s Land and the outside world.


    "Anyway, we have to act quickly. The road to the Wizard''s Land will only be open for five days this year, as indicated by the stars," Jonny said as she outlined the n. Lynn and the others listened carefully,mitted the n to memory, and, when finished, Jonny created a fireball to destroy the drawing she''d made on the ground.


    "Let''s end it here for tonight," Jonny said, looking at everyone as the fire flickered. Finally, she added, "Dove, you''re in charge of the night watch. Tomorrow, Karl will carry you on our journey."


    "Why me?" Lynn couldn''t help but feel a little annoyed that he was singled out. Were they targeting the neer?


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 Chapter 12: Lynn: I Can Handle This!

    Chapter 12: Lynn: I Can Handle This!


    After a night of relentless pursuit, everyone in the room was exhausted. Following Jonny''s briefing, they all went their separate ways to rest.


    Lynn was no exception. She picked a reasonably decent room, half-closed the broken door, and didn''t mind the dust covering the wooden bed. Shey down immediately.


    Throughout the past week since her arrival in this world, Lynn had kept her guard up, even when sleeping. She was afraid that guards would burst in at any moment. Now, she could finally rx a bit.


    "Greenreel..."


    Lynn murmured the name of the wizarding city Jonny had mentioned. Unlike Will and the others, who were skeptical, Lynn didn''t find it strange at all that a group of magic-using wizards had gathered to study magic intensively. In fact, she thought it was perfectly normal. On the other hand, the Church''s theological approach was quite strange to her.


    For Lynn, going to the wizarding city was an excellent choice. In a ce that valued magic and knowledge, she could better utilize her skills without worrying about being captured one day.


    In the Secastian Empire controlled by the Church, she couldn''t even find a ce to farm and tinker with technology in peace.


    If some divine intervention were to target her, there''d be no reasoning with it. Even if she managed to create anti-matter weapons, there was no guarantee she could defend against it.


    After weighing the pros and cons, Lynn temporarily abandoned her n to go alone, but a sense of unease still lingered in her mind. She didn''t believe that the sense of danger she had felt in the forest was a mere illusion.


    Jonny, Dove, Will, Buck, and Barton... Their images shed through Lynn''s mind. In the six months since she had be an apprentice wizard, her rtionships with these people were superficial, with no personal grievances or grudges. This made it unlikely that the attack was due to personal vendettas.


    As for who could have done it, Lynn thought for a moment, and she could rule out Jonny. Not because of the small affection she had for her, but because Jonny had the least suspicion. As the apparent leader of the group and the one who had proposed the escape n, if Jonny had betrayed them, it was better for Lynn to escape as soon as possible.


    Next was Dove. Her ability to control animals was crucial, serving as the team''s eyes and ears. If someone like her changed sides, it would be a nightmare. The parchment Jonny had mentioned was also written by Dove, and the message had been delivered by her ravens. If either of them waspromised, Carl might have died before Lynn even arrived.


    Lynn was hesitant about the remaining three: Buck and Barton, the twins, who took care of each other and could potentially deceive Jonny and the others. She knew very little about Will, who was a descendant of some count within the Secastian Empire.


    Lynn closed her eyes and recollected every detail of her interactions with the other apprentice wizards. Then, she thought about the hidden passage in the Drunken Ghost Tavern, Old Hawk, the Wizarding City, Lame Loude...


    A vague guess shed through her mind. Lynn suddenly opened her eyes, sat up in bed, and a sense of inexplicable coldness gradually overcame her.


    Click!


    At that exact moment, the door''s hinge creaked, and the half-closed door was pushed open.


    Already on high alert, Lynn instinctively drew the longsword from her waist and shed it in the direction of the door. When she saw who it was, her sword froze in mid-air.


    "Jonny?" Lynn was somewhat surprised.


    The silver-haired witch was holding her right hand in front of the sword''s edge. It was then that Lynn noticed that the young woman was wearing a pure ck leather glove with many intricate and mysterious inscriptions on its surface.


    It seemed to be some kind of alchemical item.


    "Did you have a nightmare?" The silver-haired witch furrowed her brows lightly, not quite understanding why Lynn had such a strong reaction all of a sudden. After a brief pause, she exined further, "I knocked on the door a moment ago, but you didn''t respond."


    Lynn nodded, she sheathed her sword, and curiously asked, "It''s sote; is there something you need?"


    "My teacher mentioned this to me earlier. He said that when you master the first-tier magic spell, ''Frostde,'' I should give this to you." Jonny looked mncholic as she took out a thick book about two fingers thick from her pocket and handed it to Lynn. The cover was inscribed with the words "Basic Magic Compendium" in a rough Common tongue.


    Lynn curiously took the book and opened it. The entire book was made from coarse parchment paper. On the first page, the first type of magic was recorded - "Magic Missile."


    Like "Basic Matter Disruption," "Magic Missile" was also a zero-tier magic spell of a special category. Its power was weaker than "Frostde" and "Fireball," but it had the advantage of being a pure magical creation, requiring no preparation of casting materials and having no upper limit on control.


    In theory, as long as you had enough magic power, creating hundreds of "Magic Missiles" at once was not impossible.


    Of course, having arge quantity wasn''t enough; any wizard had a limited amount of energy. An apprentice wizard could control two or three missiles at most without bing distracted inbat.


    But there was a solution to this problem.


    Lynn flipped through the pages. On the second page of the "Basic Magic Compendium," there were numerous curved diagrams and manyplex Helramm forms below.


    After careful study, Lynn roughly understood what Jonny was trying to convey. To surpass the control limit of "Magic Missile," you needed to establish a three-dimensional coordinate system in your mind with yourself at the center and preset the flight path of the "Magic Missiles."


    The flight path could not only be straight but also curved. In other words, the caster could create a vast, overwhelming, and difficult-to-block barrage attack from different directions and angles.


    This involved linear and curvilinear equations in three-dimensional space...


    Lynn stroked her chin, thinking that this task didn''t seem too difficult...


    Since "Magic Missile" was purely a magical creation and was minimally affected by gravity, one only needed to consider inertia and wind speed.


    Seeing Lynn''s keen interest in studying the pages, Jonny couldn''t help but offer a reminder. "These are magical forms created by the great wizard Helramm. They can further enhance the power of ''Magic Missile,'' but for us at our current level, it''s still too difficult. You''d better not waste too much energy on it."


    "I''ll keep that in mind." Lynn quickly scanned the pages again, confirming that her thoughts were urate. She then closed the book and casually replied.


    Jonny saw that Lynn was being somewhat dismissive and sighed in resignation. She remembered being just like Lynn, fascinated with these intricate forms when she first started with magic. It was only after hitting a wall that she gained some self-awareness...


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 Chapter 13: The Perfect Moment is Tonight!

    Chapter 13: The Perfect Moment is Tonight!


    "Tonight, you should get some rest early. It''ll take us several days to reach the Wizard''s City by ferry, and we''ll have plenty of time to study new magic," Jonny advised Lynn. Seeing that Lynn was not convinced, she offered this reminder before turning to leave.


    "Wait... Jonny!" Lynn tucked "Basic Magic Primer" into his arms and suddenly thought of his earlier suspicion, so he spoke up.


    "What''s the matter? Is there something else?" The silver-haired witch stopped in her tracks.


    "Are you sure no one else knows the location of our hideout besides us?" Lynn asked again.


    "Are you suspecting that someone among us might have defected to the Church?" Jonny''s expression grew serious, and she understood Lynn''s concern. She had the same suspicions, but after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head and said, "That''s impossible!"


    "Before you arrived in Ur Town, we spent a whole week in this vige... The dangerous tasks of gathering information and procuring supplies were assigned by drawing lots," she exined. She had taken this opportunity to test each and every one of them, and so far, they hadn''t encountered any pursuit from the Church. That was the best proof.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised by this; he was more direct in his response.


    Have you ever thought that maybe the Church''s first target isn''t us?


    Lynn knew that for an insider, silentpliance meant only one thing ¨C working towards a bigger gain...


    Jonny was momentarily stunned, wearing a puzzled expression on her face.


    "Lame Loude... The route to Greenrealm, that''s the true target of the Church!" Lynn said, enunciating each word.


    He didn''t know what kind of rtionship the "Drunkard" Hawke and Kora had that made them willing to help apprentice wizards like them, but one thing was certain. A hidden passage directly leading outside the city was not specifically built for them!


    In other words, "Drunkard" Hawke was very likely a spy ced by the Wizards in the Nornd Province, and helping them sail to Lorde was undoubtedly more important.


    Lynn could imagine how many wizards had entered the Secas Empire through this route over the years, and how many cargoden ships had set sail from Nornd''s ports to reach the Wizard''s City.


    Inparison, capturing a few apprentice wizards like them was inconsequential. It was probably just a way to appease the Duke of Nornd''s emotions, handled as a side issue. This might exin why they were relentlessly pursued by the Church outside, yet they had been safe upon entering Ur Town.


    With Lynn''s prompt, Jonny immediately understood the situation, and her expression changed.


    In this light, the Church probably already knew their movements but was biding its time, waiting for them to act, and then capturing everyone in one fell swoop.


    Thinking about this, Jonny felt a chill down her spine. At this moment, they were like birds walking into a trap, just waiting for the hunter to raise his ughter knife.


    Jonny remained silent for a while but couldn''te up with a solution.


    "So, what should we do?" She asked, but after posing the question, the young girl didn''t expect Lynn to have any answers. In this hopeless situation, where even trust among themselves was nearly impossible, how could these apprentice wizards escape the intricately woven of the Church?


    However, Lynn spoke up.


    "It''s simple... We wait."


    "Wait?" Jonny was surprised by Lynn''s response.


    "You just revealed the n about the ferry and Lorde to them. We''re leaving tomorrow, and by then, everyone will be watching each other. So... tonight is the best time to send a message!" Lynn stated firmly.


    "Squeak, squeak."


    When the moon''s radiance passed the thirteenth star, Will awoke to the sounds of rats scurrying. The dry straw on his hard wooden bed felt like needles and des against his back.


    Struggling to sit up, Will noticed three or four rats gathered around a half-eaten piece of dark bread near his discarded robe. Their long tongues hung from their mouths, and their dark, wed feet left imprints on the blue fabric.


    "Damn you filthy creatures," Will fumed. He kicked the bread aside, cursing fiercely. It took several minutes for him to calm down, during which he reluctantly picked up his robe, carefully pushed open the door.


    The corridor leading to the hall was pitch-ck, with no sign of anyone around. At this hour, except for Dove, who was on night watch duty, everyone should be resting.


    Will didn''t dare linger and swiftly crossed the hallway, entering a secluded storage room. He turned around and closed the door behind him.


    The old wooden door creaked and groaned, a testament to the mercenaries who had violently broken in. All the locks in the manor had been damaged, and the storage room was a chaotic mess, with dusty wooden boards covering the floor, and a few chairs and cabs strewn haphazardly.


    Will knelt down, anxious, and started to clear away the clutter piled up in the corner, revealing a dusty floor with an enigmatic rhombus-shaped pattern etched on it.


    Back when they were apprentices selecting their specialized fields, Jonny had chosen elemental magic, Dove had opted for psychomancy, and Will had mastered alchemy.


    "By boat, the harbor, Lorde..."


    Will etched each character into the center of the magical circle, then ced the magic stones on the four circr patterns within. Faint, radiant light gradually emanated, extending along the lines of the magic circle.


    Just as the radiance was about to enshroud the entire magic circle, a piercing sound of something cutting through the air echoed in the silent room. A "Frostde" was pinned firmly to the edge of the magic circle, and the brilliant magical light instantly dimmed.


    "Who''s there?" Will was startled, and he sat down on the floor, his eyes filled with fear as he looked towards the direction the sound hade from.


    The partially open room had already been forcefully entered. In Jonny''s eyes, there was a mix of disappointment and confusion.


    "Why are you betraying us, Will?" The hot-tempered Buck strode forward and grabbed Will by his cor,nding a punch on his face. "Answer me!"


    "Why?" Will sneered, then suddenly pushed Buck away, wiping the blood from his mouth. He spoke with an agitated expression. "You''re asking me why?"


    "I am Will Isk, the second son of an Imperial Count! If it weren''t for that fool Kora, I would have been living in the Isk estate, attendingvish high-society gatherings, enjoying delicious meals, and being served by servants. In the future, I would have inherited a portion of my father''snds and be a Baron in the Secas Empire!"


    "But now? Every day, we''re stuck eating the same wretched bread as the peasants, sleeping in filthy ruins infested with rats." Will screamed hysterically. "I''ve had enough!"


    "Kora is a madman, a devil! He taught us demonic knowledge and turned us from high-born nobles into a bunch of insects cowering in the shadows..."


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 Chapter 14: The Caged Bird

    Chapter 14: The Caged Bird


    "Have you all forgotten your own identities?" Will shouted loudly. "Before we became wizards, we were all noble children of the Secas Empire!"


    Buck and the others exchanged nces, falling into silence.


    They had all experienced what Will had gone through, that feeling of falling from heaven to hell was indeed unpleasant.


    In the midst of the silence, Lynn suddenly spoke, "You should understand, Will, the Church will never change its treatment of us based on our identities..."


    As a monotheistic faith, the Church''s most fundamental belief was in the Creationist doctrine. The legendary deity, Elra, had created everything in the world and brought the elixir of life, giving life to the once barren and destend. Therefore, everyone was expected to obey the Church''s rule.


    Wizards, who sought to decipher thews of the world and gain power from them, naturally became the Church''s arch-enemies. After all, this was undermining the very foundation of the Church''s religious authority.


    "This time is different!" Will eximed excitedly, looking at everyone present, appearing almost insane. "Jonny, Carl, Buck, the Church''s primary target is not us. As long as we sincerely repent, Archbishop Anluke and Duke Nnd will surely forgive our sins!"


    "You''re crazy, Will!" Jonny sighed. "From the moment we chose to be wizards, there was no turning back."


    Once they chose to be wizards, magic would forever flow within them, a symbol of evil and shame in the Secas Empire.


    If Count Isk knew that his second son had be a wizard, his first reaction would undoubtedly be to disown him and cast Will out of the family...


    In other words, they could never return to their previous lives.


    "I''m not crazy, I know exactly what I''m doing!" Will said coldly, turning to Dove, who had remained silent, and from the hidden pocket of her robe, he took out several magic stones. Suddenly, without warning, he scattered them towards Jonny and the others.


    "Jonny, be careful!" Dove screamed, her spiritual vision allowing her to see the hidden runes inscribed on each magic stone.


    As Dove''s voice rang out, several magic stones exploded in mid-air, and sharp shards rained down like locusts...


    The gray-haired witch remained unchanged in expression. She raised her right hand, her fingers tapping like ying a harp, and the runes on her gloves lit up in session.


    A faint me appeared at her fingertips, and then it rapidly expanded, engulfing everything in front of her in just one second!


    This was a higher-level magic, "me''s Touch"!


    At the moment Will threw the magic stones, he had already nned his escape route. He rolled in a desperate manner to avoid the searing mes and was about to jump out of the wide-open window.


    But Lynn''s actions were quicker than his. A diamond-shaped ice de shot out, piercing Will''s ankle directly, causing his airborne body to lose bnce and fall to the ground.


    A piercing cold spread up his ankle, and Will immediately felt his right leg go numb. He leaned against the wall, panic-stricken, about to say something, but a slender "Magic Missile" flew straight into his eye sockets and exploded.


    Crimson blood mixed with brain matter sttered, dyeing the wooden floor crimson. Lynn immediately turned to look in the opposite direction, and Jonny, incredulous, questioned Dove, "What are you doing, Dove?"


    When she used "me''s Touch," she intentionally reduced its power to leave a survivor and extract some information through interrogation.


    "It''s toote; I can only kill him!" Dove cried out, her hands clutching her head in fear. "Outside... there are at least a hundred guards, we''re surrounded!"


    Hearing this, Jonny rushed to the window and used a Fireball spell to illuminate the dim night.


    In the explosion of mes, Lynn saw from a distance a group of armored guards, bearing crossbows, silently crossing the dense forest, heading towards them.


    The leader, holding a staff and d in a white and gilded robe, gazed at Lynn from a distance, illuminated by the firelight.


    "It''s Archbishop Anluke of the Nnd domain! We''re done for!" Barton immediately recognized him and fell into despair.


    He hadn''t expected that the Archbishop of the Nnd domain would personally lead the pursuit to capture a few wizard apprentices.


    Lynn nced at the dim alchemical array on the ground; they should have stopped the spell from being cast earlier, which meant...


    The eyes of everyone on the scene involuntarily turned to Dove.


    "It wasn''t me... it wasn''t me!" the fourteen-year-old girl frantically shook her head, her face filled with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.


    The chaotic situation and the imminent Church pursuers made Jonny, who was already on edge, feel a wave of dizziness. She clenched her teeth and forced herself to calm down, speaking in a low voice.


    "Listen, things aren''t as bad as they seem. There''s a wide drainage canal in the basement of this estate that leads directly to the river outside. We can escape from there."


    As she spoke, Jonny turned her head and used a pleading look to signal Lynn to keep an eye on Dove, as she didn''t know who else she could trust.


    ...


    One minute earlier, in the dense forest outside the town of Uru, over a hundred neatly uniformed guards were slowly advancing under the cover of the trees.


    Priest Aaron, apanying the troops, looked at the castle looming in the distance and asked in confusion, "Archbishop Anluke, ording to the n we previously set, shouldn''t we have waited for these wizard apprentices to arrive in the Harbor Town before taking action?"


    For this "Caged Bird" operation, they had mobilized arge number of people to monitor the entire town of Uru. Their intention was to use these apprentice wizards to trace the heretics who had abandoned the faith of the Master and lead them all to hell.


    Now, they were taking the initiative, which undoubtedly disrupted all the efforts they had made earlier.


    "Aaron, a skilled hunter not only needs to learn how to set clever traps but also to know when to close the," Archbishop Anluke responded in a deep voice. "A sturdy cage may hold clumsy ostriches, but if a griffon happens to be trapped inside, it can break free and tear the hunter to pieces."


    "Remember, excessive greed will only make you lose everything in your hands."


    The essence of the "Caged Bird" operation was their absolute control. No matter how these apprentice wizards struggled, they couldn''t escape the trap they had set.


    However, ine''s death had made Archbishop Anluke feel a hint of unease. The presence of a formal wizard among Kora''s apprenticespletely disrupted his ns. Having dealt with the followers of these heretics many times, Archbishop Anluke was well aware of how formidable formal wizards could be. Their magic was diverse, and a slight oversight could lead to instant death. In the battle in the Nnd domain, capturing a formal wizard was no easy task, especially considering Kora sacrificed herself to protect one of her apprentices and stayed behind.


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 Chapter 15: The Battle Inside the Castle

    Chapter 15: The Battle Inside the Castle


    Inparison, it was undoubtedly wiser to take the initiative while the situation was still under control. If they could capture a few key figures, they might extract valuable information.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Archbishop Anluke," Priest Aaron said, carefully pondering the situation and bowing respectfully.


    "Everything is guided by the Lord," Archbishop Anluke replied casually. Suddenly, as if he sensed something, without any visible movement, several radiant arrows materialized in the void, instantly pinning four gray doves about to take flight to a tree.


    Three secondster, a dazzling fireball shot out from a nearby estate, illuminating the sky.


    Archbishop Anluke lifted his head, his magically enhanced sight piercing hundreds of meters, passing through the open windows of the third floor, and he saw Lynn and the others gazing outward.


    Brown hair, medium build, handsome features...


    That was the wizard named Carl, the one who had killed ine!


    "Everyone, advance at full speed!" Archbishop Anlukemanded without hesitation.


    Since they had been discovered, there was no need to hide any longer. The guards, who had been moving at a leisurely pace, immediately switched to a sprint, and the nging of armor resounded as they surged towards the central fortress from all directions.


    Seven years had passed, and the manor''s gates were violently flung open once more. Guards armed with swords and shields formed groups of ten, surrounding the entire castle methodically.


    Aaron led several squads, heading straight for the direction where Lynn and the others had been.


    As they traversed the long and wide corridors, the guards at the forefront had just entered the main hall when they emerged one by one, their faces filled with fear.


    Unfortunately, they were too slow, and several scorching fireballs, like meteorites, rained down on the crowd.


    Soon after, a series of violent explosions urred, and the orderly and tightly-knit formation turned into a chaotic sea of people.


    "Ahh!"


    Apanied by the piercing screams, blood sttered, bodies were flung, and the thick scent of blood filled the air.


    Even though the participants in this encirclement were elite soldiers selected from the Nornd army, each fully armed, they still instantly fell into disarray in the face of powerful magic.


    "Fall back as a formation, and archers, prepare to fire!" The only calm one on the battlefield was Aaron, who raised his staff high and shouted.


    "Don''t panic, Eira is with us!"


    The disordered troops quickly regained theirposure, restoring order. The white glow in everyone''s eyes shone brightly, and the inexplicable courage filled their minds.


    This was the magic of the first circle¡ªFear Removal!


    Under Aaron''smand, the shield-bearing guards ced their sturdy shields in front, advancing withrge steps, while the guards behind them drew their crossbows in unison.


    Long-range volleys had always been the best way to deal with wizard apprentices!


    The tortoise-shell-like shield formation greatly reduced the effectiveness of ordinary magic, and magic missiles couldn''t prate it. Even the powerful fireball spells couldn''t produce significant results.


    The dense rain of arrows forced the group of wizard apprentices to retreat, and they were forced to take cover behind walls. The slowest to react, Barton, was identally struck by a crossbow bolt in the back and tumbled to the ground in disarray.


    "Barton!" Buck urgently called his brother''s name, rushing forward and struggling to help Barton up.


    Waiting for the right moment, Aaron issued orders once again, dozens of strong crossbows all pointed at the two of them. As the crossbow triggers were pulled, a multitude of arrows poured down like a meteor shower.


    Second-circle high-level magic¡ªFrost Barrier.


    Jonny decisively stood in front of the two, raised his hand, and a transparent water screen appeared in front of them. In an instant, it solidified into an icy crystalline wall.


    "Bang, bang, bang..."


    The dense sound of impacts echoed in session, and icy crystal shards scattered on the ground as the continuous rain of arrows broke through the Frost Barrier. Three arrows were aimed straight at Jonny!


    Jonny, who had justpleted an over-speed spell using Magic Hand, didn''t have time to create a second ice wall. Behind her were Buck and Barton, the two brothers...


    "No escape!"


    Jonny clenched her lips, forcibly stopping her evasive movements, and held the hilt of her sword with no certainty that she could intercept all the arrowsing her way.


    At that moment, three magic missiles flew in from the side, urately shooting down the arrows.


    Jonny was momentarily stunned, unable to fully grasp the joy of escaping the peril. Then, she saw seven more Magic Missiles flying past her, curiously not following a straight path but taking a bizarre curved trajectory, easily bypassing the shield wall''s protection, and heading directly for the guards behind holding crossbows.


    A brief moment of chaos caused the continuous arrow rain to temporarily cease. Jonny, Buck, and Barton took the opportunity to hide behind a low wall, looking in astonishment at Lynn and Dove standing beside them, a thought shing through their minds.


    When did Dove be so powerful?


    But they quickly realized that it wasn''t Dove who had acted because the next moment, a full twelve Magic Missiles condensed in the void and floated beside Lynn.


    Magic¡ªBullet Barrage!


    With a thought, Lynn sent more than a dozen missiles hurtling toward the guards.


    Seeing the strange magic, Aaron immediatelymanded the shield-bearing guards to gather,yering their shields without leaving any gaps, forming a semi-circr protection for the crossbowmen behind.


    However, what surprised everyone was that these dozen or so missiles, without any prior agreement, bypassed the shield wall and flew towards the rear.


    Did they miss their target?


    Aaron thought to himself, but quickly dismissed the possibility. If only one or two Magic Missiles had gone off course, that might be usible, but if they all deviated from their path, it could only mean that their initial target was never here!


    Aaron abruptly turned around, and almost simultaneously, the twelve missiles hit the weathered pir behind. In the billowing dust, the seven-meter-high pir toppled straight down.


    "Spread out, get away from each other!" Aaron shouted hoarsely, raising his staff high and casting the only protective divine spell he possessed¡ªSanctified Word: Shield!


    But it was clear that it was a futile effort. The bright white shield had just formed and was instantly shattered by the massive stone pir. Over ten shield-bearing guards and crossbowmen who hadn''t had time to disperse were buried beneath the fallen pir.


    When Aaron turned around again, Lynn and the others had already vanished.


    After much hesitation and numerous nces at the guards trapped under the pir, crying for help as they bled, Aaron clenched his teeth and said, "Leave half the men behind to rescue them! The rest follow me!"


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 Chapter 16: Fire Magic Isnt Meant to Be Used Like This!

    Chapter 16: Fire Magic Isn''t Meant to Be Used Like This!


    Meanwhile, Lynn and the others were making their way to the castle from the other side, underground.


    Everyone was well aware of the pressing time. Barton, injured as he was, had even refused Buck''s assistance. After a hasty makeshift bandage for his back wound, he gritted his teeth and followed the rest.


    In that moment, Lynn was still reying the details of his spellcasting in his mind.


    "Magic Missiles," as a fundamental zero-tier spell, wasn''t particrly difficult to learn or use. The real challengey in presetting the trajectories for each missile.


    Lynn hadn''t joined the first wave of counterattacks with Jonny and the others. He had been preparing his spells.


    Unless 071 assisted him with targeting, controlling twelve Magic Missiles simultaneously was his limit. Their power was roughly equivalent to a higher-tier first-circle spell.


    "Are you really Karl?" In the midst of the silence, Buck couldn''t help but ask.


    "Of course," Lynn nodded.


    "But when did you master the Helram Form?" Jonny was also very curious. She had handed Lynn the book "Fundamental Magic for All" just over an hour ago. It didn''t make sense that he could learn it so quickly, did it?


    "Just a little while ago," Lynn casually replied. Then he suddenly remembered that he had only been studying magic for half a year in his original body. He thought he might being across as too confident and quickly added, "My teacher exined the principles of this form to me before. It didn''t seem too difficult."


    Not difficult? A perplexed expression crossed Jonny''s delicate face. If it was so easy, why had she spent several months trying to grasp it herself?


    Buck and Barton were convinced that their mentor, Kora, must have given Karl some extra help.


    "Dove, report the enemy''s positions and distances!" Lynn changed the subject and looked at the silent girl by his side.


    Although her killing of Will raised suspicions, they had no choice but to rely on her abilities in this crisis.


    "Enemies are everywhere, and it seems like they''re trying to surround us," Dove said, her body trembling with fear.


    "What about Archbishop Anluke? Where is he?" Jonny suddenly inquired.


    "I don''t know. My psychic sensing can''t detect him," Dove almost burst into tears.


    "In that case, find a ce to gather as many enemies as possible and deal with them first!" Lynn calmly analyzed. Apart from the still-unused Grand Archbishop, the biggest threat to them right now was the rain of arrows from the crossbowmen. If they were in an open area, a few volleys of crossbow fire would kill at least half of them.


    "Are you serious, Karl?" Buck''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    They didn''t even have time to escape right now, and Lynn was thinking about gathering the enemy for a counterattack. It sounded like a fairy tale.


    Lynn didn''t reply but instead looked at Barton, who was struggling with his bleeding back.


    Buck then realized that they were still carrying a wounded member who couldn''t move well. It wouldn''t be long before the enemy surrounded them from all sides, and once that happened, there might be no escaping at all.


    "How confident are you?" Jonny asked directly.


    "That depends on how many types of magic you guys have mastered!" Lynn dered decisively.


    ...


    With Dove''s perception and Lynn''s coordination, guards from several directions nearly converged on the group of wizard apprentices in a side hall of the castle simultaneously.


    A total of six squads of guards had gathered, with the mysterious and unpredictable Grand Archbishop Anluke stationed at the entrances and tending to the wounded. All of them were now assembled.


    Even though they outnumbered the enemy, Aaron, who had just suffered a severe setback at the hands of Lynn, didn''t dare to becent. He ordered the guards to advance using a shield wall and crossbow formation, and then worked alongside other priests to cast supportive divine spells.


    "Fear Nullification," "Sacred Blessing!"


    Two consecutive beams of white light shone. The shield-bearers, now brimming with courage and vitality, boldly advanced with their thick shields.


    In front of them, Buck stood alone, barring the way for the numerous shield-bearers. He lifted a counter that weighed several hundred pounds from the ground, his already muscr arms swelling once more. With superhuman strength beyond the limits of a human body, he hurled the heavy counter forward.


    "Kill them all!"


    The heavy counter collided with the dense wall of shields, producing a tremendous muffled sound.


    Then, the solid stone floor underfoot suddenly sank.


    This was the result of Jonny and Barton, who were hiding in the shadows, working together to cast a first-circle spell¡ªFossilize to Mud! The sturdy armor had ceased to protect and, upon impact, the legs of the shield-bearers, who were standing on fine sand, immediately lost bnce. The once neatly aligned shield-bearers fell to the ground, all out of ce...


    Though it was abined spell of two wizard apprentices, the range of its impact was still limited. Behind them, the crossbowmen had already raised their crossbows, and more than forty sharp crossbow bolts glinted ominously, aimed at Buck...


    Please, Dove, be quick!


    A bead of cold sweat slid down Buck''s forehead as he silently prayed in his heart. This moment was the difference between life and death!


    Fortunately, Dove didn''t disappoint him. Just as the crossbow triggers were about to be pulled, an indescribable shrill sound echoed through the castle.


    Soul Wail!


    Everyone present felt as if their brains had been struck with a heavy hammer, losing all control over their bodies in that instant.


    Injury was sustained on both sides, and the enigmatic nature of psychic magic was unmistakable!


    The range of the Soul Wail''s effect was extremely wide, but its magical power consumption was incredibly intense. It was forced to stop after only two seconds.


    Dove''s figure wavered, almost falling to the ground.


    Jonny and the others felt a sense of unease. They had done everything they could, collectively buying them five seconds and gathering all the enemies together.


    For Lynn, this was enough. Pale yellow phosphorous powder was already suspended in his palm, rapidly expanding into a huge fireball nearly half a meter tall.


    The yellow-white mes didn''t seem particrly remarkable, but all the wizard apprentices and priests present couldn''t help but shiver with a deep sense of dread.


    However, this massive fireball didn''t target Aaron and the others; it flew into the air and disintegrated, with sparkling embers trailing behind, like a beautiful fireworks disy in the sky.


    Buck''s face turned ashen. He couldn''t help but suspect that Dove''s Soul Wail just now had interfered with Lynn''s spellcasting.


    You see, fire magic had always been concentrated for effective use!


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 Chapter 17: The Devils Power, Flames from Hell!

    Chapter 17: The Devil''s Power, mes from Hell!


    Could it be that all our efforts have been in vain?


    Under the watchful gaze of Buck, a shower of starfire soon rained down upon them all!


    [Sacred Word - Shield]


    After breaking free from the effects of the [Soul Shriek], Aaron immediately cast a protective divine spell.


    A pure white shield materialized in the void, and the scattered starfire dots began corroding it, leaving behind small craters.


    Is this the power a weakened magical residue possesses, even reducing its strength by a hundredfold?


    If the giant fireball had hit him directly earlier, Aaron was sure he wouldn''t have been able to stop it!


    Just as he marveled, a series of shrill and agonizing screams echoed through the castle. Aaron turned to look, and he was left dumbfounded in ce.


    Compared to the priests who practiced divine magic, the guards had yet to recover from the shock of the [Soul Shriek], and tiny starfire dots were already sticking to their armor, shields, crossbows, and exposed limbs and faces.


    The horror of white phosphorus fire was soon revealed in the next moment. The faint mes, upon contact with the material, rapidly spread. Leather shoulder pads and gloves were burned through with gaping holes. The yellowish-white mes, as if attracted to flesh and blood, directly prated the skin beneath.


    "Ah!" A shieldbearer frantically beat at his chest, trying to extinguish the spreading white phosphorus mes. However, the result of his actions was that his arm also ignited, and in a matter of a few breaths, half of his body had turned into a torch...


    Hispanions fared even worse. Tiny mes fell directly into the gaps in their armor. The thousand-degree heat caused them to scream in agony, and they forcibly tore off their armor, then thrust their hands into their bodies, only to pull out a bloody, ming chunk of meat...


    Flesh and corpses were the best nourishment for white phosphorus mes, and the fire quickly spread.


    A burning sea of fire, billowing white smoke, and grotesque, terrifying soldiers; this scene was as if hell had descended to the mortal world...


    "Devils, this must be the power of devils, mes from hell!"


    The terrifying sightpletely shattered the elite guards of Nordan Land, and the magic spell [Banish Fear] had lost all effect. A priest who had managed to avoid the mes'' onught screamed himself hoarse, threw away his staff, and fled without looking back...


    Joni and the others, who were equally stunned, almost forgot Lynn''s advice to hold their breath and use magic to extract oxygen from the air.


    "What kind of magic is this?" Buck shivered deeply. Just getting a little closer, he could feel the pain as if his bone marrow were burning.


    "This is Fireball Magic. You guys don''t know it? I just made a slight modification!" Lynn noticed the astonished looks on everyone''s faces and exined.


    This is considered a slight modification?


    Buck''s expression became quite strange, as he thought Lynn''s understanding of the term might be different from his own.


    Joni, on the other hand, was beginning to suspect if Lynn had already broken through the heavy barriers and be a full-fledged wizard.


    But Lynn had only been exposed to magic for half a year, and that seemed a bit too exaggerated... Plus, their teacher Kora had always been destitute, so where would he get the money to purchase a source of magical power.


    Compared to the intricate thoughts of Jonny and Buck, Barton''s ideas were straightforward. He realized that when these apprentice wizards united, they could be so powerful! Barton even believed that, if they all worked together, facing the Church''s pursuit might not be as difficult as they thought.


    Just as he was thinking this, a dazzling white light appeared in the distance, breaking through the mes'' barriers and heading toward the group of wizard apprentices.


    Distracted, Barton only saw his brother, Buck, urgently opening his mouth to say something, and then he felt as if a powerful force had mmed into his body. His frail form was torn apart in mid-air, somersaulting several times, and then he plummeted to the ground, bing lifeless in an instant.


    The sudden turn of events left Jonny and the others with frozen expressions. Buck''s face contorted gradually, and he shouted hoarsely.


    "No, Barton!"


    Lynn acted as soon as the white light appeared. Twelve Magic Missiles circled around him, drawing eerie, curved arcs in the air as they shot towards the end of the corridor.


    In the end, over a dozen Magic Missiles were blocked by an invisible wall, and all they could see were the ripples when they collided...


    Lynn''s heart sank instantly, his gaze fixed on the other end of the sea of mes. He understood that the person he had been waiting for had finally arrived, and their strength exceeded his wildest expectations.


    Suddenly, a melodious hymn resounded within the castle, and an invisible power gradually enveloped the whole area, causing a light rain to fall even within the enclosed indoors.


    This was the Third-Circle Divine Magic - [Song of Life]! The green raindrops contained an incredibly potent divine power, gradually suppressing the hellish mes.


    The unrelenting and nearly all-consuming white phosphorus fire rapidly subsided, and Archbishop Anluke, dressed in a white and gilded robe, walked in at a leisurely pace.


    "Your Grace!"


    Aaron, who had escaped the starfire''s coverage by luck, shouted excitedly, though his words concealed a hint of resentment and hatred.


    The timing of Anluke''s appearance was so clever that Aaron couldn''t help but suspect that this Archbishop had been watching them all along.


    Clearly, he and the elite guards of Nordan Land were nothing more than tools for testing the opponent''s strength and trump cards!


    Aaron''s heart grew ice-cold halfway through, understanding that after this incident concluded, he, as the on-sitemander, would undoubtedly face severe punishment.


    Anluke paid no attention to Aaron, surveyed the ground strewn with casualties, and the guards whose wills had beenpletely shattered. Then, his pupils contracted. Because the mes that had been extinguished once were showing signs of reigniting immediately after the Divine Magic [Song of Life] had ended.


    This was white phosphorus fire; as long as there was still oxygen in the air and something to burn, it would not stop!


    "Do not linger, retreat!"


    After Lynn''s feigned Magic Missile attack failed, he made a choice without hesitation.


    The giant fireball he had prepared, with a casting time exceeding five seconds, had consumed most of the white phosphorus he had created. The remaining amount was insufficient to defeat the Archbishop, who was now unleashing powerful divine magic.


    Jonny and Dove also understood the terror of Anluke. Despite their deep sorrow for Barton''s death, they knew that at this moment, the only chance for survival was to escape.


    But Buck, who had lost his younger brother, had gone mad. He roared with anger, picking up a rtively intact guard''s corpse from the ground as a shield and charged towards Anluke.


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 Chapter 18: Praise to Aila - The Light of the Holy Spirit

    Chapter 18: Praise to A - The Light of the Holy Spirit


    "Don''t be reckless,e back, Buck!" Jonny shouted loudly.


    Buck paid no heed and lunged forward with a ferocious expression.


    "Praise A - Holy Light Impact!" Archbishop Anluke slowly incanted, casting a second-tier divine spell.


    Dazzling white light erupted once again. This time, the body that stood as a shield in front of him was directly turned into a bloody mist, and the terrifying shockwave sent Buck flying effortlessly.


    Archbishop Anluke raised his staff to continue his spellcasting to deal a fatal blow. In the critical moment, Dove intervened.


    A sharp, piercing screech, like the sound of death echoing from hell, momentarily disrupted Archbishop Anluke''s actions, but only for a moment.


    "me''s Touch."


    "Phosphorus - Fireball Spell."


    Lynn and Jonny, who had covered their ears in advance, simultaneously unleashed their most potent magic. Two scorching mes surged toward Archbishop Anluke, forcing the Archbishop to switch from attack to defensive magic.


    Third-tier divine spell - "Holy Barrier!"


    An invisible barrier stood in front of Archbishop Anluke, effortlessly fending off the assault of the mes. However, the white phosphorus mes clung to it, slowly but steadily corroding the surface of the invisible barrier.


    Roar!


    Buck, who had been severely injured and knocked down moments ago, stood up again. His bloodshot eyes and his increasingly bestial features were even more apparent.


    At this moment, Buck, like a giant bear standing upright, charged into the burning sea of mes. His hair and robes were quickly engulfed by the white phosphorus mes.


    The pain of being burned at temperatures exceeding a thousand degrees was enough to make anyone go mad, but Buck paid no heed. From the moment he used the magic transformation spell as an apprentice wizard, the process of his transformation had be irreversible, and breaking Archbishop Anluke''s protective divine spell by his own strength was an impossible feat!


    "Jonny, Kora, you go first. I''ll stay behind to avenge Barton!" Buck roared while smacking his hand against the "Holy Barrier" in front of him.


    Ripples appeared on the invisible barrier, and Archbishop Anluke used a divine spell to send Buck flying.


    "We''re going!" Lynn nced at Buck, covered in white phosphorus mes, without hesitation. There was no way to save him now.


    After knocking Buck away, Archbishop Anluke stood in front of the only exit. Having suffered so many losses, he would not easily let Lynn and the others escape.


    "Repent before the great Lord, followers of the devil..." Archbishop Anluke raised the Episcopal staff in his hand and chanted loudly.


    "Praise A - Holy Spirit''s Light!"


    A dazzling light wave, emanating from the staff as its center, spread out in a semicircr shape. It was unstoppable and unavoidable, as the divine spell''s range covered most of the side chamber.


    However, Lynn was not a person without an escape n. In fact, he had prepared for an escape strategy in case of a crisis before entering the side chamber.


    Lynn, Dove, and Jonny simultaneously pressed their hands on the ground.


    Zero-tier magic - "Basic Material Deconstruction!"


    The solid floor instantly cracked, and three fine cracks spread like a spider''s web, finally connecting. Before the terrifying white light arrived, the ground beneath their feet had already copsed...


    The failed "Holy Spirit''s Light" passed through the copsed cavity and struck the wall behind it, causing a series of explosions that soon reverberated through the castle.


    After the dust and debris settled, Archbishop Anluke''s expression became quite ugly as he looked at the copsed cavity inside the side chamber.


    "Roar!"


    A hoarse roar came from the side.


    Due to being thrown out by the earlier attack, Buck was not within the reach of "Holy Spirit''s Light." However, at this moment, he had already lost his human appearance and transformed into a robust giant bear, with his skin still covered in white phosphorus mes. Under the burned flesh, you could vaguely see his white bones.


    Even so, Buck continued to charge forward fueled by his thirst for revenge.


    Archbishop Anluke frowned. He didn''t have time to waste on a dying wizard apprentice. He extended his hand, and the fallen sand and stones quickly gathered andbined with the shattered armor on the ground to create two huge stone statues, each standing at three meters tall.


    This was a second-tier divine spell, "Summon Guardian of the Spirit Realm."


    After the two stone statues were assembled, they separated. One of them swung its fist and knocked the giant bear Buck down, while the other jumped into the copsed hole in the ground.


    ...


    "Thankfully, this ce isn''t too high!"


    With the falling debris as a cushion, Lynn, with thebined effort of the three, sessfully used the "Basic Material Deconstruction" to break through the ground and reach the castle''s basement.


    Lynn looked around. It seemed like a weapons storage room, with numerous weapons and swords piled on racks around them. In addition, there were many empty crates, probably where treasures were stored previously but had been taken by the castle''s owner when he fled.


    After confirming the environment, Lynn immediately turned his attention to his twopanions.


    Jonny was in rtively good condition, with severe magical exhaustion being his main issue. However, Dove was in a different state. After using "Soul''s Scream" twice in a row, she, despite being a rare psychic, could hardly stand.


    "Jonny, how far is it from here to the underground canal?" Lynn asked.


    "Follow this path, keep going, and we should be able to reach it in no more than three minutes," Jonny replied, helping Dove to her feet. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly made up his mind. "Next, we can split up. You lead Dove, and I''ll try to divert Archbishop Anluke."


    Jonny was well aware that they couldn''t outrun Archbishop Anluke. Continuing like this would inevitably lead to capture.


    Although he had expended a considerable amount of magic in the previous battle, Dove could still cast two more upper-tier first-tier spells with the help of "Magic Hands." This could buy them some time.


    The silver-haired witch lowered her head, and her red lips had traces of blood from biting down. She had promised her mentor Kora that she would safely bring everyone back to thend of the wizards.


    But now, Kent was dead, Will was dead, Buck and Barton had fallen right in front of her, and she couldn''t do anything...


    "You might be a littlete with that suggestion," Lynn said, looking up.


    In just that moment, there were already violent explosions from above, followed by a colossal stone statue, about three meters tall and d in armor, crashing down from the hole above.


    "Let''s go!" Lynn grabbed Jonny and Dove by the arms, pulling them out of the falling debris zone and shouting loudly.


    He had been forced to use the white phosphorus mes, originally meant for covering their escape, to save Buck before. His magical energy was now depleted by more than half.


    Facing Archbishop Anluke once again, he had no chance of winning!


    The massive and heavy Guardian of the Spirit Realm fell to the ground, causing the entire floor to tremble. Then it stretched its stone arms and tookrge strides toward the three of them.


    Lynn''s expression tightened, and he was about to evade when a warning sound suddenly rang in his mind.


    <b>(Warning... Detected severe illegal activities by the agreed target, suspected of using chemical weapons to cause mass casualties, of a highly heinous nature! The criminal acts have been recorded. Before the federal police arrive, you will have one opportunity for an online statement...)</b>


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 Chapter 19: Time for Closure!

    Chapter 19: Time for Closure!


    <b> [Warning... No signal... Warning... Not connected to thework... Please find a signal source promptly...]</b>


    Lynn''s face disyed a mix of astonishment and joy. After reading the message and understanding its content, the corners of their mouth twitched involuntarily.


    "What a ridiculous AI..."


    "I don''t need an online narration. Turn off the warning sound and report the remaining energy!" Lynn silentlymanded in their mind.


    <b>[Remaining energy: 19.5 percent. Significant increase in energy density detected in the vicinity, with an estimated increase of one percent in energy reserves per hour.]</b>


    So fast! Lynn couldn''t help but be surprised. An increase of one percent per hour meant the energy would be full in about four days. But it had been five days since the system wasst shut down!


    Lynn nced at the smart brain''s notification once more. A significant increase in energy density? It couldn''t possibly be rted to the castle beneath their feet. It could only be the influence of Monday!


    "Kora!"


    Lynn was contemting this when Johnny''s shout interrupted their thoughts. A three-meter-tall Spirit Guard rushed towards them, wielding a sledgehammer, ready to strike.


    "Entering overload mode, three seconds!" Lynn didn''t turn around but silently uttered in their mind.


    In the next moment, a massive influx of data streamed into Lynn''s mind. With a powerful leap, they used the reaction force to soar into the air, narrowly avoiding the heavy sledgehammer. Then, theynded on the stout arm of the Spirit Guard, pulled out a sharp Witch Hunter''s sword, and embedded it into a crack in the statue''s neck, pinning it firmly to the wall behind!


    However, this strike clearly couldn''tpletely shatter the statue. Lynn didn''t force it and, after temporarily restricting the Spirit Guard''s movement, deactivated the overload mode. They swiftly grabbed Johnny, who hadn''t reacted yet, and continued their escape.


    The smart brain''s energy was now less than twenty percent, and it needed to be conserved for more critical situations.


    The group ran like mad, and after about ten seconds, the sound of the giant statue''s footsteps trembling the floor rang out again. Dove, who was holding onto Johnny''s arm, trembled continuously, sobbing softly. "I''m sorry... I''m sorry... Johnny... Carl..."


    "You knew from the beginning that Will had betrayed us, didn''t you?" Lynn nced at Dove with certainty.


    Tonight, when tracking Will, Lynn had sensed that something was amiss. Will''s behavior on his way to the storage room was too peculiar. Dove, who was on night watch, had probably been using the gray jays to monitor the entire castle. However, Will showed no vignce at all and didn''t even nce around the windows or corners.


    This was clearly irrational, unless... Will was confident that there would be no consequences even if the gray jays discovered him.


    "Can you tell me the reason?" Johnny asked, gripping Dove''s delicate hand tightly. She couldn''t believe Dove would do something as treacherous as this.


    Dove''s nose twitched as she spoke with a tearful voice, her tone choked with emotion. Three nights ago, when it was Will''s turn for night watch, she released the gray jays for patrol as usual. But to her surprise, she discovered that Will was secretly reporting the situation here to the Church through an alchemical array.


    "Why didn''t you tell us about this?" Johnny asked.


    "But... Will... Will had already discovered me. He said the Church knew my identity. If I dared to tell you, my parents, my brother, and sisters would all be bound to the stake and burned to death..." Dove''s face showed a look of fear, and she sobbed as she spoke.


    Johnny fell silent. For apprentices like them, family safety was indeed a significant concern. That was why in their situation, it was a taboo to inquire about each other''s true identities. They couldn''t even be sure if they were using real names.


    "Clearly, he lied to you. Perhaps Will didn''t know your true identity, or maybe he intended to take all the credit himself," Lynn calmly remarked.


    From Will''s hands-on approach, it was apparent that his words were likely just a ruse. Otherwise, he could have used this to manipte Dove into doing more for him.


    Of course, it was also possible that Will nned to keep all the credit for himself. The more he did, the more the Church might see his "sincerity" and pardon him as a "faithful follower of the Church."


    "Do you want to survive, Dove? I have a method that might deal with Archbishop Anluke," Lynn suddenly asked.


    Before Johnny could respond, Dove, her eyes brimming with tears, nodded. "Yes!"


    She didn''t want to die.


    "Then tell me everything you know about magic. I need to know the principles and methods of their use," Lynn said bluntly.


    "What are you nning?" Johnny asked, surprised.


    "I think it''s not toote to start learning from now on, right?" Lynn said seriously.


    Now that 071 had been restarted, it was time to bring things to a close.


    Chased all the way and having witnessed the deaths of Buck and Barton, Lynn was now burning with anger.


    But... was there really time? Johnny couldn''t believe it, but after hesitating for a moment, he began exining.


    [Touched by me], [Fossil to Mud], [Icy Veil], [Minor - Fiery Grasp]...


    As Kora''s most valued disciple, Johnny mastered a dozen or so first-tier spells, while Dove knew very few, only two highly specialized spiritual spells. It was said that only a few apprentices with spiritual talents could master them.


    Considering the urgency of time, Lynn didn''t get greedy. They selectively memorized a few and began practicing them in their mind with the help of the smart brain.


    Lynn''sposed appearance also infected Johnny and Dove, boosting their confidence in defeating Archbishop Anluke.


    As the three advanced, the sound of rushing water reached them from the front, and the gentle breeze carried a hint of moisture.


    What they saw was a rapidly flowing underground river. The turbulent water gushed from underground continuously, passing through a long tunnel, directly leading outside the castle.


    [Holy Light Impact]!


    Lynn and Johnny hadn''t reached the riverbank yet when a white light shot out from behind them.


    [Icy Veil] x2


    Johnny and Lynn exchanged a nce and simultaneously raised their hands. Two walls of ice crystals shot up from the ground, jointly blocking this second-tier divine spell.


    The two walls of ice crystals disintegrated instantly, and the shards fell like hail.


    "Now, what do we do?" Johnny asked anxiously, looking at Lynn. The escape route was right in front of them, but once they were swept into the swift current, they would have no means to resist Archbishop Anluke''s attacks.


    "It''s simple!" Lynn nced at Johnny and, without warning, took the girl''s sword off her waist. To Johnny''s surprise, Lynn pushed her directly into the swift current.


    The cold river water engulfed her nose and mouth, quickly soaking her entire body. Johnny keenly felt the massive inertial force of the swiftly flowing water, forcefully pulling her toward the exit.


    Through the blurry curtain of water, Johnny vaguely saw Lynn''s mouth moving as if bidding a final farewell. Then, a heavy object was thrown in her direction¡ªDove, who was in a panic.


    Watching the two being carried away by the current, Lynn wasn''t particrly concerned about the safety of the two witches. After all, a wizard who could control oxygen wouldn''t drown in the water. Lynn simply added the unspoken second part in their mind:


    "It''s simple. Just don''t get in my way here!"


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 Chapter 20: Deconstruction Record Mimicry!

    Chapter 20: Deconstruction Record Mimicry!


    "Such a touching scene..."


    Archbishop Anluke''s figure appeared at the other end of the corridor, apanied by a massive spirit realm guardian walking in step beside him.


    Watching Jonny and Dove being carried towards the exit by the rushing current, Anluke had no intention of stopping them. After all, the wizards standing in his way would not let him seed.


    If the scene were a bit different, this would almost be a reenactment of the Battle of Nornd...


    "I believe you may have misunderstood something..." Lynn turned around, his gaze piercing, fixed on Archbishop Anluke standing at the end of the corridor. He extended his right hand, and a trace of white phosphorus remaining on the surface of his pouch was separated by the influence of the Mage''s Hand.


    First, it needed to be recorded...


    Recalling Jonny''s earlier exnation, Lynn instantly entered an overload mode and cast a Tier-0 spell - Basic Material Deconstruction Magic!


    The fine white phosphorus powder rapidly disintegrated, returning to its basic molecr state...


    Then came the magic mimicry!


    Arge amount of magic flowed into his palm, just like cell division. The white phosphorus suspended in his hand multiplied, eventually surging into a huge fireball.


    Deconstruct and record an element, then mimic it with magic; this was the essence of how a true wizard could cast spells without materials. Typically, mastering an element would take weeks or even months, but with the immenseputational power provided by the intellect engine, Lynn reduced this time to just three seconds.


    A new rune was quickly etched into his mind ¨C the White Phosphorus Fireball spell!


    Looking at the fiery sphere in Lynn''s hand, Archbishop Anluke halted his advance. Having witnessed the terrifying power of white phosphorus, he naturally didn''t dare to underestimate it. He immediately employed his most potent protective spell - the Sacred Barrier!


    An invisible barrier, as strong as a fortress wall, stood before him. However, Lynn''s white phosphorus fire bypassed it and crashed into the entrance behind.


    A violent explosion erupted in the next moment, apanied by a burst of rising mes. The entrance behind them was now engulfed in the horrifying white phosphorus ze.


    Archbishop Anluke was taken aback for a moment, but once he realized Lynn''s intent, his expression became extremely grim.


    It was evident that the wizard in front of him didn''t just want to protect hispanions and let them escape. By sealing off his retreat, it meant he was preparing to eliminate him right here!


    "Very well!" Realizing this, Archbishop Anluke''s anger red up. The massive spirit realm guardian at his side made heavy strides and charged forward.


    Lynn, standing before the spirit realm guardian, was like a mantis trying to stop a speeding car.


    But Lynn''s expression remained calm, with no intention of dodging. He was silently counting in his mind.


    Three... Two... One...


    Mud to Stone!


    Just as the spirit realm guardian rushed to him, about to deliver a powerful punch, Lynn bent down to evade and pressed his palm to the ground.


    The solid ground instantly transformed into soft sand. The massive, heavy stone statue lost its bnce as it stepped onto the soft ground and tumbled into the fast-flowing water behind.


    The massive water spray had not yet hit the ground when it disintegrated into the most basic elements. Then, infused with magic, it condensed into dozens of shimmering ice des, speeding away at an unimaginable pace!


    Taking advantage of the terrain, Lynn used a Tier-2 spell for the first time ¨C Group Frost des!


    The tide of battle shifted in an instant. Archbishop Anluke couldn''t react in time, and the spirit realm guardian sank beneath the water, while the ice des, swift as flying locusts, collided with the Sacred Barrier.


    How could a Tier-2 offensive spell triumph over a Tier-3 defensive divine art?


    Lynn quickly provided the answer as dozens of frost des precisely struck three specific points on the invisible barrier. Ripples spread across the intangible surface, elerating as they went, first forming hairline cracks, then swiftly expanding until the invisible barrier shattered.


    This was breaking point with pinpoint uracy.


    Archbishop Anluke''s facepletely changed, and he couldn''t help but take a step back, raising his staff and using his second Tier-3 divine art - Divine Light of the Spirit!


    The dazzling light emitted an aura of death as it spread forward in a semi-circr fashion. Just five minutes ago, Lynn had fled from this very spell in a sorry state, but he was no longer the same.


    White Phosphorus - me Demon''s Hand!


    Lynn raised his hand, and the terrifying white phosphorus mes ignited once again, forming a colossal hand resembling an ancient demon. This hand shed with the blinding light wave.


    This ordinary Tier-1 advanced spell, in Lynn''s hands, unleashed unimaginable power. The zing fire surged into the sky, causing the entire castle to tremble violently.


    In the white smoke and the re of shattered stones, Archbishop Anluke faintly saw something shining in mid-air. Upon approaching, he realized it was a sword, and the swordbearer, Lynn, was already right in front of him.


    ng!


    The sharp longsword collided with the gilded staff, emitting a sharp and unpleasant thud.


    What was the best way to deal with a priest who could use divine arts? Closebat, of course!


    But Lynn quickly realized that his umted experience from games and novels didn''t apply this time, because Archbishop Anluke effortlessly blocked his full-strength attack with just one hand on his staff.


    Could this be what they called a closebat priest?


    Cold sweat formed on Lynn''s forehead. He lowered his head to evade Archbishop Anluke''s powerful strike.


    Feeling the whistling sound created by the staff passing above his head, Lynn estimated that this strike had an impact force of at least 1.5 tons or more.


    This reminded Lynn of the witch hunter he had encountered earlier. Were all the Church''s members human-shaped dinosaurs?


    Fortunately, due to years of a luxurious lifestyle, even though Archbishop Anluke had taken divine elixirs, his closebat skills were still far from satisfactory. Combat wasn''t just about brute strength!


    After three or four exchanges, Lynn instantly calcted the staff''snding point. His longsword pierced in at a clever angle, leaving a fierce gash on Archbishop Anluke''s chest.


    Archbishop Anluke was both shocked and furious. He didn''t hesitate to use a Tier-2 divine art, Holy Light Impact, even though the two were in extremely close quarters. Dazzling white light erupted, and Lynn and Archbishop Anluke were both sted away by a powerful shockwave.


    Lynn, with a weaker physique, was sent flying more than ten meters away. However, at the moment of casting the divine art, he had created an ice shield outside his body to mitigate most of the impact, preventing himself from falling into the swift-flowing river behind.


    On the other side, Archbishop Anluke had directly taken the blow from his own divine art. His splendid gilded robes were torn and tattered, and the grotesque wound on his chest ruptured once again.


    <b>Holy Word: Shield</b>, <b>Divine Blessing</b>, <b>Dispelling Fear</b>, <b>Sacred Barrier</b>, <b>Wall of light</b>...


    In the face of sessive life-threatening situations, the terrified Archbishop Anluke didn''t even tend to his injuries first; instead, he cast one protective divine art after another, turning himself into a turtle shell!


    ...


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 Chapter 21: Shaking the Gods When You Cant Beat Them

    Chapter 21: Shaking the Gods When You Can''t Beat Them


    <b> [Warning: Energy remaining at only three percent, the system will forcibly shut down in fifteen seconds...]</b>


    "Disable overload mode!" Lin Yun said without hesitation, upon hearing the warning in his mind.


    It had been five days ofplete silence since thest shutdown of the AI brain. Lin Yun had no intention of going through that again, and the previous battles had depleted nearly ny percent of his magical power.


    However, despite the daunting difference in power, a faint smile graced Lin Yun''s lips. He had gained the upper hand in this battle!


    White phosphorus, a forbidden weapon in modern warfare, had a terrifying quality apart from its ability to burn everything¡ªit was its insidious toxicity!


    This was precisely why he had sent Dove and Jonny away and instructed everyone to hold their breath during the fight. It was to prevent them from sumbing to the poison.


    However, the situation was different when facing Archbishop Anluke. The widespread use of "White Phosphorus - Fireball Art" and "Hand of the me Demon" aimed to fill the enclosed space with toxic gas.


    Close-quartersbat would exhaust Anluke''s stamina and manipte the air, forcing him to inhale the poisonous gas more intensely.


    It had been about the right amount of time, and even a genuine humanoid dragon would find it extremely challenging to endure until now.


    As Lin Yun had expected, Anluke, who was hiding in the "Turtle Shell," had noticed the weakening sensations throughout his body. He felt dizzy and feverish, and his vision was gradually blurring. It seemed like his strength was being gradually sapped away.


    What kind of magic was this? In an instant, Anluke thought of the Four-Ring Magic known as the "Harvest of Death." This terrifying magic could turn an area into a forbidden zone for the living in a matter of seconds.


    But if the opponent was a great wizard capable of using Four-Ring Magic, it meant that he was already dead during their confrontation!


    So it could only be poison!


    Anluke immediately realized this possibility. For example, the Three-Ring Magic "Toxic Domain" could create arge area of yellow-green poison mist with very distinctive characteristics.


    Now, it was toote to cast the dispelling magic for the poison. Lin Yun was not about to let go of the most vulnerable moment of his enemy. He immediately pushed all his remaining magical power into it.


    "Magic - Barrage!"


    In an instant, thirty-six "Magic Missiles" floated in the air. Lin Yun even reactivated the three-second overload mode, quickly adjusting their trajectories.


    Facing Anluke''s turtle shell-like tactics, Lin Yun had no intention of confronting it head-on. Instead, he chose to evade the most challenging "Holy Barrier" using the flexibility of the "Magic Missiles." He attacked from the weak points and sent this Nornd leader and Archbishop straight to hell!


    After twenty-five years, Anluke once again felt the impending sense of death.


    At this life-or-death moment, Anluke appeared strangely calm. He had no doubt that he would die today, but before that, he could do onest thing¡ªsend this devilish disciple, who was young but already a Three-Ring Wizard, straight to hell!


    "Great Lord of the Stars, Goddess of the Moon, Creator of the Earth and Life, your humble servant prays here and offers up this body. I beseech the projection of the Supreme Lord to descend upon this ce..."


    Anluke chanted fervently, and with each verse, his face aged by a year. His skin became wrinkled, white hair hung down from his forehead to his eyes, and his voice grew lower and more hoarse.


    In a trance, it was as if a sacred hymn resonated in the enclosed underground space, gradually overshadowing Anluke''s voice. In no time, the entire space began to shake violently.


    "God... Summoning... Ritual?" Lin Yun eximed, barely managing to utter the words through clenched teeth.


    Upon arriving in this otherworldly realm and discovering that the priests of the Church possessed true divine magic, the thing that Lynn was most worried about and least willing to face was the God-Summoning Ritual!


    The beings referred to as gods were not to be underestimated, even if it was just a projection that couldn''t carry much power. A single gesture from it could flick you to death!


    Shaking the gods when you can''t beat them... Is this still a human?


    Lynn inwardly cursed andunched the pre-set Magic Missiles without daring to look back at Archbishop Anluke''s fate. He promptly jumped into the swift underground river behind him.


    More than thirty Magic Missiles followed their original path, avoiding the sturdy Holy Barrier, and hit Anluke directly, colliding with a mysterious force.


    The sessive explosions were like thest straw that broke the camel''s back. The underground space, which had endured countless trials, quickly disintegrated!


    Huge, multi-ton stones continuously detached from the ceiling, crashing down to the ground and into the river, engulfing everything in rolling smoke and dust.


    At this moment, Lynn had been swept into the turbulent water...


    Being and dweller who had lived in the central region of the Federation for years, Lynn had no experience in swimming. His nearly depleted magical power and physical strength had stripped him of any chance to struggle. He could only allow the strong current to pull his body downward relentlessly.


    However, there was not a trace of worry on Lynn''s face. In his previous life as a data archivist, he knew very well how a non-swimmer could survive in fast-flowing water.


    First and foremost, he needed to remain calm; that was the foundation of everything. Then, he needed to make full use of the buoyancy of the water itself.


    As everyone knows, the density of the human body is greater than that of water, and the gravitational force exerted on it is greater than the buoyancy, which is why people gradually sink when they fall into the water.


    However, before he jumped, Lynn had already taken a deep breath. Then, he rxed his body as much as possible, adjusted his center of gravity, and increased the contact area with the water''s surface by lying on his back.


    This way, as long as he held his breath and reached a slightly calmer area in the water, he would naturally float on the surface.


    Based on this theory, Lynn maintained a very standard supine posture. Even as his body slowly sank, he paid it no mind, thinking it was just the influence of the water current. But as the depth of his descent increased, a hint of panic crept into Lynn''s heart.


    Could it be that my backstroke posture isn''t standard enough?


    "071? What''s going on?" Lynn couldn''t help but shout in his mind.


    The AI brain''s prompt tone sounded immediately.


    <b>"ording to Section 32, Article 7 of the Federal Diving Safety Guidelines, beginners practicing diving should not carry heavy objects, sir..."</b>


    Lynn nced down at the steel longsword hanging from his waist and then continued sinking to the riverbed...


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 Chapter 22: Sorry, Aliens Have No Rights

    Chapter 22: Sorry, Aliens Have No Rights


    As the evening descended and the fading glow of the setting sun painted the sky, Lynn had been adrift at sea for almost a day!


    Since the troublesome longsword had been borrowed from Jonny, Lynn had hesitated to part with it. Instead, he had spent two hours learning to swim and doggy paddle under the guidance of his smartbrain.


    "071, next time we encounter a situation like this, you should alert me in advance," Lynn said, struggling to swim and avoid colliding with the protruding rocks ahead.


    <b>[In ordance with Directive Target 17 hours, 23 minutes, 50 seconds ago, the warning tone has been disabled...]</b>


    "Well, then turn it back on for me now!" Lynn blurted out without thinking, and immediately regretted it.


    <b>[You have an unprocessed criminal record. Do you wish to make an online defense statement?]</b>


    Lynn sighed in resignation, almost facing the projected divine being. He couldn''t help but wish that a federal officer would fly him out of this wicked medieval realm. Perhaps he''d even receive a substantial reward for being the first to discover extraterrestrial life on a.


    But, s, this fantasy was destined to remain unfulfilled. Before his time travel, the range of federal spacecraft was limited to the sr system andcked the capability for interster travel.


    Furthermore, there was no signal, which was odd.


    Lynn, who understood the logic of his smartbrain''s operation very well, suddenly spoke.


    "071, based on the current information, identify the star I''m on."


    <b>[The has been detected to possess an unknown energy called ''magic,'' and it is beyond the signal tower coverage of Uranus. The current location is predicted to be in an unknown gxy outside the Milky Way - Orion Arm - the Sr System, and it cannot be determined if it''s in the same universe.]</b>


    "In that case, please describe the definition of protecting extraterrestrial life in the ''Intelligent Management Act,''" Lynn inquired again.


    <b>[The ''Intelligent Management Act'' contains no provisions for the protection of extraterrestrial life.]</b>


    071''s response was concise. As the federal exploration of the cosmos had yet to discover extraterrestrial civilizations, there was no need for any provisions in the ''Intelligent Management Act'' to protect extraterrestrial life.


    "So, you mean that aliens have no rights, right? In fact, I haven''tmitted any crimes!" Lynn said earnestly.


    The high-speed operation of the smartbrain seemed to stutter for a moment. After consuming one-thousandth of its energy forputation, it provided an answer.


    <b>[The logical chain is valid, and the criminal record has been erased!]</b>


    Hearing this, Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief. He understood that, no matter what he did in the future, he wouldn''t be bothered by annoying warning tones anymore.


    After all, federalw couldn''t reach this otherworldly realm.


    Lynn secretly resolved that when he became a full-fledged wizard, capable of freely using magic, he would research whether he could modify this artificial intelligence.


    Just as Lynn was lost in thought, a sea of twinkling lights appeared on the vast expanse of water. As he got closer, a towering city wall came into view, and the previously seen lights turned out to be bonfires used for illumination on the battlements.


    After a day of drifting on the water, Lynn''s mood was slightly excited as he finally saw something different. However, he decided not to approach recklessly. Instead, he opted tond nearby and explore this ce tomorrow.


    Themotion from the battle outside the town of Ull had been quite substantial, and not all the people had been annihted. The news had likely spread by now.


    Lynn had no doubt that the entire Nornd territory was under strict martialw. His hair color, age, and physique were all distinctive signs that could easily get him arrested if he didn''t do some kind of disguise. Therefore, Lynn changed his swimming style from effortless backstroke to less proficient doggy paddle as he prepared to make his way to shore first.


    Just then, something heavy dropped from the towering city wall in front of him. Apanied by a dull thud, a ssh of water shot high into the air. Ripples on the water''s surface gradually expanded, indicating that something was struggling beneath.


    "A person?" Lynn''s pupils contracted slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he swam over swiftly.


    Although it seemed like a crime scene, he happened to need someone to answer some questions.


    Water sshed everywhere, and the clearke had already been stained red.


    Lynn became even more certain of his earlier suspicions. Before he could provide any rescue, a hand reached out from theke bottom and tried to pull him down.


    This was amon stress response for drowning victims and could sometimes drag rescuers down with them. Fortunately, Lynn didn''t have to worry about oxygen and was able to swim to the shore while holding onto the other person''s cor.


    ...


    An hourter, inside a natural cave outside the city, a roaring fire gradually lit up, providing both illumination and dispelling the night''s chill.


    During the interval while his clothes dried, Lynn turned to look at the young man he had "rescued."


    This young man appeared to be around eighteen or neen, with an ordinary face and hair color strikingly simr to his own. What made Lynn sigh in frustration was the deep scar on the young man''s chest, which seemed to be the result of a knife wound that pierced his heart.


    Had he known, he might have left him alone. He had put in so much effort and, after all, ended up saving a lifeless body.


    Lynn shook his head in resignation but still went through the routine of searching the body. After all, this was likely a noble''s offspring, and who knew what valuable items he might find.


    Three gold coins, over ten silver coins, a few exquisite trinkets, and a book with no name on the water-damaged cover were all the young man had in his possession.


    For a noble''s offspring, this seemed quite meager, but for Lynn, it was an unexpected windfall.


    In the Sekas Empire, a copper coin could buy a dark loaf of bread, which, along with water, could provide a meal''s sustenance. The exchange rate between silver and copper coins fluctuated around 1:80, and the exchange rate between gold and silver was over 100, even higher in times of war.


    After all, gold was considered a rare element throughout the universe, with very limited reserves...


    However, since these items were still with the body, it was unlikely that the motive for the murder was simple robbery.


    Lynn tossed the coins in his hand. He wasn''t a professional detective, but after examining the wound on the victim''s chest, his expression suddenly froze. Then, he mimicked holding a dagger with his right hand and tried to stab himself in the chest at a simr angle.


    The angle of the wound was exactly the same...


    This is... suicide?


    Lynn immediately realized this possibility. After thinking for a moment, he reached for the book he had overlooked and gently lifted the water-damaged pages. The writing was scribbled but deep, as if it had been carved into the paper.


    "Perhaps without me, everything will get better..."


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 Chapter 23: The Diary of the Inept

    Chapter 23: The Diary of the Inept


    [Training, it''s always training... no matter how many times I try, I can''t make it through the selection...]


    [Why do you look at me with those hopeful eyes, Father...]


    [It''s that time again, in the July of the 824th year of the Holy Calendar, the third knight selection...]


    [Against Tiral, defeated in twenty-seven seconds, once again... Do you hate me, Ivina? I can understand your feelings, a failure like me stealing your opportunity...]


    [If only things could be reversed, why not?]


    [Perhaps, I shouldn''t exist at all...]


    Time flowed slowly, and the fire in the cave flickered until thest bit of dry wood was consumed.


    The sudden darkness interrupted Lynn''s thoughts, and with a wave of his hand, the piled twigs and fallen leaves levitated and nestled into the firewood, which now sparkled with starry mes.


    In the next moment, the crimson mes leaped again, and Lynn flipped through the diary in his hand.


    No, to describe it as a diary might not be quite urate.


    This was the record of an ordinary noble youth, one without exceptional talents, who documented his hidden fears, self-doubt, resentment, and pain on these pages.


    "Lotte Pedrol!" Lynn pronounced the youth''s name.


    There was no doubt that this was a ssic case of too much expectation driving someone to madness.


    But what he saw was even moreplex than that.


    Lotte''s father was a baron in the Secas Empire, the kind of nobility that had long since fallen from grace, with only a title to their name. They were the sort who had to rely on their dwindling savings to maintain a semnce of noble stature.


    Just like every set of parents who hoped their child would rise to greatness, Baron Pedrol had ced all his hopes for family revival on his son''s shoulders.


    Noble offspring like them, if they could pass the knight assessment before the age of twenty and remain steadfast in their faith, were eligible to be priests or clerics, which was undoubtedly the best way to change the fate of their family.


    For this reason, Lotte had been subjected to rigorous training from a young age, with the goal of bing a member of the clergy through the knight''s assessment.


    The Pedrol baron even spent a fortune to hire formal knights to hone Lotte''sbat skills.


    However, Lotte''s talents wereckluster, and no amount of hard work could change that.


    In the entire Nornd region, there were only three slots for priests and clerics each year. Many aspired for those positions, and among them were individuals who were more dedicated, more talented than Lotte, and even more influential.


    Thus, from the age of sixteen, all he received were repeated disappointments. Faced with the disparity between his family''s expectations and the harsh reality, Lotte gradually became introverted, almost silent, to the extreme.


    His younger sister, Ivina, was the opposite, possessing decent talent. She had mastered swordsmanship not weaker than Lotte''s through continuous observation and sparring with formal knights.


    However, for Baron Pedrol, Ivina''s disyed talent was merely a small surprise.


    In the Secas Empire, there were precedents of noble women, but those were usually exceptional cases where male heirs were absent. Otherwise, daughters were typically tools used for political marriages to enhance family influence.


    Investing significant resources in their upbringing was not a wise decision.


    After all, the preservation of the noble bloodline was fundamental. Selecting a female as the heir meant the risk of losing everything the family had umted.


    Lotte, unable to bear the pressure and expectations, was probably trying to force Baron Pedrol to make a decision with his own death.


    In Lynn''s view, Lotte''s choice was undoubtedly a foolish move.


    He had some understanding of these noble personalities. From the description of Baron Pedrol''s character in the diary, it was clear that upon hearing of Lotte''s death, he would only be concerned about whether he could still produce another son or adopt a promising heir from a coteral branch.


    Ivina would forever be thest resort.


    As for individuals like the previous host, Carl, who were bastards, they were in an even more pitiful situation. Unless the family line was about to endpletely, they wouldn''t get anything.


    The diary, spanning over a hundred pages, was quickly turned to thest page. Lynn was somewhat touched by the experiences of this noble youth, but what truly caught his attention was a term mentioned in the diary.


    "Useless ones?" Lynn muttered to himself. He had thought he would no longer hear that term in this new world.


    After all, even a farmer tilling the fields here had some value in their exploitation.


    Lynn let out a slow breath, reorganizing his scattered thoughts and then turned to look at Lotte''s lifeless body. Since he had epted the young man''s belongings, he should take the time to give him a proper burial.


    "071, how much energy reserve do we have now?" Lynn inquired in his mind.


    [Remaining energy: 12.3%. Energy concentration is continuously decreasing. Estimated increase in energy reserve: 1% every ten hours.]


    As expected... Lynn checked the faintly lit sky and wasn''t surprised by this. Just as he had guessed, the Moon''s phases affected the activity of magic. After a night of rest, his stamina and magical energy were almost back to their peak.


    From Lotte''s diary, Lynn also gained a crucial piece of information - he was in the harbor town of Nornd, which meant that the underground river in the castle directly flowed into the Misty Sea.


    Unfortunately, he had sent Jonny and Dove away ahead of time to deal with Archbishop Anluke, so he couldn''t be sure where the two witches had drifted to. If they were proficient swimmers, they couldnd anywhere, unlike him, who was left drifting along with the current, slowly learning to swim.


    In the absence ofmunication, finding two living persons in the entire Nornd region wouldn''t be easy.


    Avoiding the Church''s pursuit was also a significant problem.


    Lynn pondered for a long time, and a name suddenly popped into his mind - Lame Loude! Regardless of where Jonny and Dove were headed, if they were nning to make their way to thend of the wizards, they would inevitably arrive in the harbor town. Lynn needed to find a way to contact Lame Loude.


    So, all he needed to do now was to find this person! Lynn stood up and looked at the towering city walls in the distance. The only problem left was how to safely enter the harbor town.


    "071, retrieve information about disguise and transformation techniques, preferably those that can be done with simple materials!"


    Lynn nced at Lotte, whose physique and hair color were remarkably simr to his own. Perhaps he could temporarily borrow the young man''s identity to deceive the guards of the harbor town.


    If he remembered correctly, besides basic disguise techniques, the "Foundations of Universal Magic" in the book also had a spell that could handle this situation.


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 Chapter 24: The Gang and the Harbor Town

    Chapter 24: The Gang and the Harbor Town


    The harbor towny to the east of the entire Sekas Empire, renowned for its proximity to the vast Sea of Mists.


    Thanks to the temporary calm brought about by the effects of Moonday, the deadly whirlpool known as the Eye of Death had stilled. Countless cargo ships,den with spices and ores, were now able to sail directly to the capital city of the Sekas Empire, Vikniel.


    This was the busiest time for the harbor.


    However, this year was somewhat different. To capture the devilish cultists causing chaos in the Nornd''s territory, the entrance to the harbor town had extra guard posts. Caravans had to line up and endure inspections amid a chorus ofints.


    "Shouldn''t be a problem, right?" Lynn, who was skillfully disguised, felt somewhat nervous. He continued to adjust his voice, attempting to mimic the struggling and shouting he had heard during the rescuest night.


    It wasn''t a particrly challenging task. The essence of sound was nothing more than waves propagating through mediums like air, causing vibrations in the eardrum. 071 had already recorded Lotte''s vocal characteristics. All Lynn had to do was imitate it.


    Now, it was time to test hisposure.


    With mixed feelings, Lynn, adopting the most natural demeanor, crossed the line of waiting caravans, nodded at the guards, and stepped into the harbor town.


    A few stationed guards hesitated but did not dare to intervene.


    "Who was that just now?" Priest Adan, stationed at the checkpoint, noticed Lynn''s departure and furrowed his brows, asking.


    "That was His Lordship Lotte, the son of Baron Pedrol. He''s been quite generous to the Church in recent years, probably to ensure Lotte''s smooth passage through the knighthood test. I remember him a bit," the guard truthfully replied.


    On the other side, Lynn, who had sessfully entered the harbor town, was now drenched in cold sweat. At the moment he passed the guard post, he even prepared for a physical altercation. Fortunately, everything went as nned.


    His current identity was the legitimate son of a hereditary baron. While it might not mean much in all of Nornd, in the small harbor town, this status offered him significant advantages.


    Having passed the most challenging test, Lynn was able to ease his guarded posture somewhat. However, the unfamiliarity of the harbor town soon became a headache. He had to spend a considerable amount of time wandering the harbor, silentlymitting every location to memory, all while pretending to be familiar with the surroundings.


    After hours of wandering, Lynn carefully entered a shop with a circr emblem on its fa?ade.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, this was the emblem of Lame Loude''s gang, known as the "Gang of the Ships."


    The shop''s owner was an elderly halfling. As Lynn stepped inside, he was busy moving arge barrel of heavy yellow-ck ore to the other end of the room.


    Due to his short stature, the heavy iron barrel pressed against the halfling''s face and constantly swayed as he walked. The small pieces of ore on top quickly tumbled to the ground.


    Seeing this scene, Lynn stepped forward to lend a hand, and together, they piled the ore from therge barrel into a corner.


    "Thank you so much... guest!" The elderly halfling, speaking with a pronounced nasal tone, vigorously wiped his dust-covered hands on his pants before turning to Lynn and said, "Alright, let''s get down to business. Wee to Bill''s little shop... I mean, what can I help you with, Lord Lotte?"


    After getting a good look at Lynn''s appearance, the halfling Bill''s casual attitude immediately turned obsequious.


    He practically lunged toward the counter and retrieved several ornate boxes from a drawer, each containing red and blue gemstones. "You can have a look at these; they''re the finest goods this year... and we also have a whole shipment of exquisite spices that you won''t find anywhere else," Bill rambled on.


    Lynn, on the other hand, waved his hand with ack of interest, interrupting the halfling''s words. "I''m not here to buy anything. Quite the opposite, I have a valuable shipment that I want to send through the Sea of Mists to reach Vikniel."


    "I heard that you have the ability to arrange a ship for long voyages and ensure the safety of the cargo, is that right?" Lynn asked tentatively.


    "Of course, everyone in the harbor town knows the reputation of the Gang of the Ships, and even those vile pirates wouldn''t dare to intercept our vessels!" Bill puffed out his unruly beard and assured Lynn.


    "But renting an entire ship for cargo transport requires a lot of crew and guards..." Bill cautiously observed Lynn''s reaction, ready to determine the price based on his expression. This was a golden opportunity to make a big profit.


    "Money is not a problem!" Lynn said without hesitation, tossing out a substantial sum. Then, with Bill''s exuberant expression, he changed his tone and continued, "However, this shipment is of utmost importance. I need to meet Loude in person, preferably face to face!"


    Bill''s expression became somewhat hesitant.


    "What? Do you think I''m not qualified to meet Lame Loude?" Lynn furrowed his brow and his tone grew stern.


    "No, no, no," Bill shook his head frantically. He definitely didn''t dare to say that.


    After a moment of hesitation, Bill looked around and cautiously said, "In fact, very few people in the Gang of the Ships know the entire truth. Mr. Loude is currently not in the harbor town."


    "How convenient," Lynn clearly hesitated for a moment, scrutinizing the halfling in front of him with a suspicious look before asking, "Do you know where he went?"


    Bill smacked his lips and helplessly said, "I''m not sure. Normally, around Moonday, Mr. Loude stays in the harbor, but this year seems to be an exception."


    Lynn stared at the elderly halfling for a while, then suddenly spoke, "Forget it. If Loude isn''t here, I''ll seek help elsewhere."


    The elderly halfling immediately became anxious. "Lord Lotte, maybe you should reconsider. While Mr. Loude is not in the harbor town, I can contact Rabel for you. He is Mr. Loude''s most trusted subordinate and can handle all matters for the Gang of the Ships..."


    "I''ve said it already, this cargo is extremely valuable. I need to speak with Loude personally. Notify me when he returns," Lynn said, ignoring Bill''s continued calls as he walked out of the shop.


    Outside, on the well-kept docks, dozens of massive sailboats were moored. Dockworkers in gray attire were busy moving crates filled with goods from the decks to the wooden tforms by the docks, amidst the noisy hubbub of the crowd and the overseer''s shouts.


    Lynn surveyed the bustling scene of the harbor town, his mind filled with doubt.


    In recent days, this was the busiest time for the harbor, and ording to Jonny''s description, the passage to thend of the wizards would briefly open. It was the only chance each year to transport goods to thend of the wizards. At such a critical juncture, Loude should not be leaving.


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 Chapter 25: Son, Learn to Exercise Restraint!

    Chapter 25: Son, Learn to Exercise Restraint!


    Where did the problem arise exactly...


    Lynn pondered continuously. Using his noble status as an introduction, he had nned to meet Loude through a trade, considering it the quickest and safest way. However, he unexpectedly hit a roadblock at the very first step.


    This left Lynn somewhat perplexed. He even began to wonder if Loude had received some unfavorable news, prompting him to hide deliberately.


    If that were the case, things might getplicated. Finding someone who wanted to remain hidden was not an easy task.


    While Lynn was contemting this, the crowded harbor abruptly descended into chaos. Amidst a series of screams, a finely decorated carriage rushed through the narrow road towards them.


    Which noble family is being so ostentatious?


    Lynn furrowed his brow, ready to step aside. But the carriage stopped right in front of him.


    In no time, a well-dressed, tall, slender middle-aged man descended from the carriage and bowed politely.


    "Finally found you, Young Master Lotte. Please,e with me immediately. Lord Pedrol has something very important to discuss with you."


    Faced with this unexpected invitation, Lynn almost didn''t react, but after a moment''s recollection of Lotte''s diary, he quickly determined that this person before him was the steward of the Pedrol estate. A bead of sweat appeared on Lynn''s forehead.


    This identity was only meant for temporary use, as a way to enter the harbor town and secure a meeting with Lame Loude. He never expected the real master to show up at his doorstep.


    And even faster than he had anticipated!


    To go or not to go?


    Countless possibilities shed through Lynn''s mind. After a pause of one or two seconds, under the steward''s respectful yet unwavering gaze, Lynn nodded and drew aside the curtain, taking a seat in the carriage.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop...


    The stagnant carriage slowly began to move, navigating the muddy road of the harbor. The constant swaying made Lynn somewhat ufortable.


    "Before entering the mansion, you''d better tidy up a bit. If Lord Pedrol sees you like this, he''ll be quite displeased!" The carriage curtain was lifted again, and the tall, slender steward reminded Lynn, gazing at his hands.


    Lynn lowered his head and noticed that his hands were covered in a yellow-ck powder, most likely from when he had helped the halfling Bill move barrels.


    Wait a minute... Lynn suddenly raised his hand and sniffed it.


    This scent is reminiscent of...


    Sulfur?


    Pedrol Manor stood in the northwest part of the harbor town, perched on the most bustling street. The imposing dark iron gate towered over the entrance. As the carriage glided through the gate, Lynn quickly noticed something hidden beneath the surface.


    Sparse weeds extended from the gaps in the stone pavement, and the flower beds along the road had withered halfway due tock of maintenance.


    But it was to be expected; the Pedrol estate hadn''t hired a gardener to tend to the flower beds for a long time.


    After a brief wash, Lynn was led by a servant to the front hall of the estate. Baron Pedrol was already seated at the table, which was adorned with a deep red tablecloth.


    Sitting at the same table was a brown-haired teenage girl, about sixteen or seventeen, who stared at him with an inexplicable gaze, presumably Lotte''s sister, Ivina...


    Lynn silently observed and took a seat at the only vacant spot. On the table in front of himy a steaming te of steak and a few unidentified leafy greens. Clearly, this was to be his dinner for the evening.


    Compared to water-soaked ck bread, this was considered quite sumptuous!


    "Where were you, my son? I intended to find youst night, but you were nowhere to be found in the estate," Baron Pedrol inquired disapprovingly after Lynn had taken his seat. His gaze, however, shifted to the tall, slender steward who had entered with them.


    "I found the young master at the harbor docks," the steward responded without averting his eyes.


    Baron Pedrol''s face immediately darkened. He spoke sternly, "I should have reminded you, Lotte. It''s fine to rx, but never spend the night in such disreputable ces, mingling with dirty harlots!"


    Lynn was left speechless. So, you thought I went whoring, huh?


    What made it even more ufortable was that he couldn''t easily retort. He couldn''t say that your son didn''t return homest night; he probably drowned himself in the sea, could he?


    Anticipating Lotte''s expected response, he hung his head, remaining silent.


    "I don''t want there to be a next time!" Baron Pedrol''s tone was quite severe. After a pause, he continued, "Furthermore, in the next few days, all of you need to be cautious. Harbor Town has not been peacefultely."


    "I heard that Archbishop Anluke recently took arge contingent to Ur Town to apprehend those devil-worshipping cultists. The losses were severe; out of a hundred elite guards, only a little over ten returned alive. Not only that, even Archbishop Anluke himself was seriously injured..."


    "These wizards are really that powerful?" Ivina, who had shifted her gaze away from Lynn, asked in astonishment.


    It should be noted that in the entire Secas Empire, though it was ruled by kings and lords, the real authorityy with the church. Or rather, with the great Lord of the Stars, the Goddess of Creation, Eira''s emissary on Earth.


    And figures like Archbishop Anluke in the Nordan Domain were undoubtedly the voice of the gods. The stark contrast of seeing such a significant figure fail in the pursuit of wizards made Ivina temporarily unable to ept it.


    "These wizards have been corrupted by demons and possess unimaginable magic. They are not easy to deal with," Baron Pedrol said, shivering involuntarily.


    A year ago, he had met Archbishop Anluke, and the man appeared to be roughly his age, maybe even a bit younger. But tonight, when they met again, he saw an elderly man in his eighties or nies. He couldn''t fathom what kind of magic could transform the powerful Archbishop into such a frail-looking figure.


    What Baron Pedrol couldn''t imagine even more was that one of the key yers in this story was sitting silently at his side, calmly cutting into the steak with knife and fork.


    For Lynn, the fact that Archbishop Anluke was still alive was somewhat unexpected. He thought, given the circumstances, the bishop had only three possible oues.


    Either he was poisoned, crushed to death, or sacrificed toplete that ritual.


    Or could it be that the so-called projection of Eira saved him?


    However, it was apparent that the rescue wasn''t quiteplete, given that Baron Pedrol mentioned that he was seriously injured...


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 Chapter 26: The Imprisoned Devil Worshipers

    Chapter 26: The Imprisoned Devil Worshipers


    Baron Pedroel noticed that Lynn and Evina remained silent and anxious for a long time. After some thought, he spoke to reassure them.


    "You don''t need to worry too much. ording to Archbishop Anluke, most of the devil worshipers have been executed, and the Church has secretly stationed three thousand guards in the port town."


    "Three thousand?" Lynn''s eyebrows furrowed. That seemed like an excessive number for a small town like the port town. In times of peace, towns like this usually had only a few hundred troops stationed. The sudden influx of so many troops raised suspicions.


    Lynn couldn''t help but wonder if Lame Loude''s identity had been exposed, and the Church was nning to wipe out the entire Gang. "Father, what does Archbishop Anluke mean? Is he preparing for war?" Lynn inquired cautiously.


    Baron Pedroel shook his head. "It should have nothing to do with war, but I have limited information. I''ve heard that on his way back to the port town, Archbishop Anluke captured a wizard''s apprentice who had escaped before. They''re currently imprisoned in the port town and scheduled for a public execution on Monday."


    Upon hearing this, Lynn''s expression became grave. Could it be that Jonny and Dove had been captured? Lynn couldn''t help but consider this possibility. When he had parted ways with the two witches, their conditions were far from ideal. He couldn''t even be certain if they had stayed together amidst the swift currents.


    If the Church had immediately organized arge-scale search after the recent battle, there was a chance they could have been caught.


    "Father, do you know who these imprisoned devil worshipers are?" Lynn couldn''t contain his urgency. He quickly added, "I''ve heard that witches are usually very beautiful. Is it true?"


    "Nonsense! Who told you that?" Baron Pedroel scolded. "These are all rumors! Listen to me, under no circumstances should you be associated with these devil worshipers in any way!"


    In the Sekast Empire, wizards were an absolute taboo. These devil worshipers possessed numerous strange magical abilities and had caused chaos everywhere, akin to living disasters.


    Under Baron Pedroel''s stern reprimand, Lynn reluctantly suppressed his doubts for now. It wasn''t the time to ask questions.


    After delivering a few more harsh words, Baron Pedroel returned to the main topic. "This time, to deal with these devil worshipers, two priests lost their lives in battle. While that''s certainly a cause for mourning, it''s also an opportunity for us!"


    "In other words, there will be at least five slots avable in this year''s knight assessment!"


    At this point, Baron Pedroel looked at Lynn with great anticipation. The formal assessment was just two months away, and if Lynn could sessfully pass it, there might be a chance for the Pedroel family to rise once again.


    "After we finish eating, you and Evina should spar again. I want to see how much progress you''ve made over the past few months," Baron Pedroel said straightforwardly.


    Spar again? Lynn couldn''t help but nce at Evina, who was sitting across from him at the dining table.


    The young woman wore a fitted ck dress with a slightly open neckline, revealing her fair neck and corbone. Her shoulder-length hair was pulled back, leaving only a red ribbon to cascade down her shoulder. She looked quiteposed, but her eyes were ice-cold, as sharp as knives.


    Maybe I should hold back a little this time, Lynn thought silently. After all, apart from having had an absolute advantage in terms of strength and stamina a few years ago, he had never defeated Evina once. On the contrary, the gap between them seemed to be widening rapidly.


    His best record so far was losing within twenty-three moves...


    ...


    "Right here!" After dinner, Baron Pedroel led the two to the practice grounds in the backyard of the estate and gestured for them to begin.


    Lynn changed into a training uniform and assumed the standard sword-fighting stance.


    However, the moment Baron Pedroel spoke, Evina had already dashed over.


    So fast!


    Lynn''s pupils contracted, and he only had time to block her iing strike with his wooden sword.


    But unexpectedly, when their wooden swords shed, a sound reminiscent of metal striking metal resonated.


    The young woman shifted her body, and her dress swayed as she executed a whip kick.


    Lynn tried to dodge, but Evina was faster. She followed up by spinning her wooden sword, sending Lynn''s wooden sword flying before bringing hers down from above.


    The sharp sound of the wind in Lynn''s ears made him sense a hint of danger, which meant that her attack was far from holding back.


    If he got hit, it wouldn''t be a simple injury...


    <b>[Right hand up at a 37-degree angle, grab the wrist, take the sword back...]</b>


    Lynn''s gaze became serious. Thanks to his brain''s analysis, he almost instantly identified the w in her attack. Faced with her vertical strike from above, he chose to meet it head-on instead of dodging.


    "That''s enough!" Baron Pedroel bellowed, interrupting Lynn and Evina''s duel.


    Both of them stopped simultaneously. Lynn''s right hand extended forward, and his wooden sword was now hanging above his head.


    Baron Pedroel first gave Evina a harsh re and then turned to Lynn, clearly irritated. "Lotte, what''s gotten into you? Concentrate during battles! If you stay in this state two months from now, you won''t even pass the first round of the knight assessment!"


    Lynn silently retracted his hand, realizing that he had underestimated her strength. Even though Lotte referred to himself as a "useless" in his diary, he had undergone more than a decade of rigorous training. Evina, who could easily defeat him, was undoubtedly stronger.


    "Get back to your positions and continue!" Baron Pedroel said darkly, his expression extremely displeased.


    Evina remained motionless, as if she hadn''t heard Baron Pedroel''s words. Lynn took a few steps back, intentionally creating some distance.


    At the same time, the notification from his brain sounded in his mind.


    <b>[Do you want to activate overload mode?]</b>


    No! Lynn didn''t hesitate to decline. This wasn''t a life-or-death battle, and there was no need to waste energy here. Although the brain''s analytical function was useful, its effectiveness ultimately depended on his own abilities.


    Evina wasn''t like Archbishop Anluke or the witch hunter he had encountered before. She was far from reaching the level required to overwhelm him.


    This was merely a suitable whetstone...


    The battle quickly resumed, and with the foundationid by his original self, along with the experience from numerous life-and-death duels, Lynn sessfully blocked Evina''s surprise attack...


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 Chapter 27: Are You Finally Going to Attack Me, My Brother?

    Chapter 27: Are You Finally Going to Attack Me, My Brother?


    "Ding~ Ding~"


    In the evening, in the backyard of the Pedroel Manor, Lynn struggled to defend against the relentless attacks of a young girl, Jonny, who continuously pressed on.


    Despite being mentally prepared, Lynn found Jonny''s ruthlessness surprising. She showed no mercy, striking for vital points with every move. It felt less like a practice and more like a life-and-death battle.


    After the twenty-first exchange, the brown-haired girl once again struck horizontally, causing Lynn to lose his grip on the wooden sword.


    They had fought several rounds, battling for nearly an hour. Both Lynn and Jonny were on the verge of exhaustion. Their arms and shoulders hidden beneath their clothing were covered in bruises, and their energy was almost depleted.


    Lynn, not skilled in closebat, couldn''t break Jonny''s record. Baron Pedroel, who was observing, didn''t seem too concerned. He could see that Jonny''s swordsmanship had improved, which was the whole point of the exercise.


    What made him even happier was that Lynn had finally taken his advice to heart. During the fight, Lynn was no longer as clumsy as before; he fought with more determination.


    "Stop now, it''s over for today," Baron Pedroel waved his hand and put an end to the fight. His gloomy expression finally revealed a hint of a smile.


    "Well done, my son. You''ve finally made some progress. If you continue to practice and refine your skills like this, you''ll have a seventy percent chance of passing the knight''s examination."


    This year, there were two extra slots in the knight''s examination, so the standards were likely to be lowered. Plus, he had made some generous donations to the priests of the Church, so he should be able to negotiate a bit.


    With these thoughts in mind, Baron Pedroel''s mood improved, and he turned to address Jonny.


    "Jonny, your swordsmanship is excellent, but you can take a break from practicing it in the future and focus on other areas."


    "The Duke of Nornd''s son is indeed obsessed with swordsmanship, but if you appear too dominant, it may not sit well with him..."


    Baron Pedroel earnestly advised Jonny on how to use her shared interest to gain the Duke''s son''s attention and protect his fragile ego.


    He was quite satisfied with his daughter. She not only had exceptional looks but also had outstanding swordsmanship talent. If she could use this as an opportunity to marry the Duke of Nornd''s eldest son, the family would have a chance at revival.


    Listening to Baron Pedroel''s words, Jonny gritted her silver teeth, her delicate face filled with frustration and resentment.


    However, Baron Pedroel didn''t notice Jonny''s expression. After giving his guidance, he left.


    Considering the chaos caused by those devil worshippers, many important figures who were rarely seen in the port town had appeared. This was a great opportunity to make a good impression!


    After the Baron left, Lynn looked at Jonny, a bit pityingly.


    To have such strong swordsmanship at the age of sixteen, Jonny had clearly put in a lot of effort. She probably wanted to earn her father''s approval and change her destiny.


    Unfortunately, Baron Pedroel always saw his daughter as a tool to curry favor with the powerful.


    Perhaps Jonny''s situation would improve once Lynn left.


    Lynn thought for a moment, then put away his wooden sword and prepared to offer a fewforting words, fulfilling his duty as an older brother.


    He remembered from the diary that Lotte cared a lot about this sister.


    However, before Lynn could speak, Jonny raised her head and coldly said, "Are you finally going to make a move on me, my brother?"


    When the radiant light of the full moon once again illuminated the night sky, a bewildered Lynn returned to his room under the guidance of a servant. Despite thinking about it the whole way, he couldn''t quite grasp the meaning behind the young girl''s final words.


    Who would have thought that even in a small baron''s mansion, rtionships could be thisplicated?


    "Never mind, it''s not my business to meddle in," Lynn shook his head helplessly. He was merely temporarily assuming Lotte''s identity, not a family mediator. Otherwise, he''d have a massive headache.


    Inparison, he was more concerned about what Baron Pedroel had mentioned, the devil worshipers captured by the Church during their return journey.


    Lynn couldn''t be sure whether it was Jonny, Dove, or perhaps both who had been captured by the Church.


    But one thing was certain: Archbishop Anluke, who had suffered greatly at Lynn''s hands, was prepared for a showdown. He had secretly stationed a guard of three thousand soldiers inside and outside the town, most likely to deal with Lynn.


    Lynn guessed that in a few days, the Church would announce the public execution of devil worshipers, probably on Monday, to lure him into rescuing them.


    Lynn couldn''t help but shudder when he thought about rushing into the Church''s trap with no preparation.


    Without a doubt, if a thousand crossbowmen fired in unison, he would turn into a pincushion instantly.


    nning an early jailbreak seemed like a good idea since he could use his shapeshifting magic and disguise skills to infiltrate.


    As long as he knew precisely who had been arrested and in which prison cell, Lynn was confident he could rescue them.


    Then he would have to figure out how to escape from the port town.


    The more Lynn thought about it, the more overwhelmed he felt. He wasn''t truly Carl, and he had no emotional connection with Jonny and the others. Still, after going through life and death together, he feltpelled to help if he could.


    "071, is there anything that can help me go up against three thousand elite soldiers?" Lynn asked in his mind.


    The next moment, a long list appeared in his mind.


    ["Dongfeng-180 missile, sma railgun, antimatter bomb, high-energy beams, intergctic long-range warship..."]


    "I only have a few days. Give me something more realistic!" Lynn sighed. If he could produce these items, he would have already kicked the Pope off the throne and transformed this dark, otherworldly realm into a bright medieval one.


    With this request, the lengthy list was condensed into a few lines, and Lynn was quickly drawn to an image in particr. He immediately thought of something he had seen in a store in the port town but had forgotten.


    After some contemtion, Lynn had a n. However, it was clear that he couldn''t handle everything on his own. It would be best to find some reliable allies.


    Lame Loude...


    The familiar name leaped into Lynn''s mind once again. He was the most essible help in the port town, deeply involved with wizards and highly unlikely to betray Lynn.


    The remaining challenge was how to flush out this cunning old fox!


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 Chapter 28: The Empty Box Trap

    Chapter 28: The Empty Box Trap


    The next day, Lynn, who had spent the night without sleep, woke up early. He casually picked a fancy-looking empty box and tucked it under his arm before leaving his room.


    In the spacious training ground outside, the constant sounds of sharp strikes filled the air. Lynn turned his head and saw his "sister," Jonny, who had been here for quite some time.


    The young girl wielded a wooden sword, delivering rapid and precise strikes to the vital points of a target. There was no hesitation in her movements, and tiny beads of sweat slid down her forehead and neck.


    Lynn couldn''t help but admire her diligence. Considering the unpleasant events from the previous night, he didn''t bother with a greeting and walked straight over. He didn''t notice that Jonny, who had been diligently training behind him, had stopped and was now watching him with aplex expression.


    Why...


    How could she remain soposed after what had happenedst night? Jonny''s face disyed a puzzled expression, but when she recalled Pedroel''s words, her gaze turned resolute. She gripped her sword tightly and struck horizontally, shattering the sturdy wooden target in front of her.


    ...


    Lynn, who had already left the mansion, was unaware of what had transpired there. After purchasing some necessary supplies in the market, he returned to the harbor shop he had visited the day before.


    "Wee to Bill''s... Oh, it''s Lord Lotte!" The elderly halfling greeted him in the usual manner, but as soon as he recognized Lynn, he immediately became excited and approached him enthusiastically. "About the shipment you mentioned yesterday, we can discuss it again... There''s no better partner for cooperation in the whole port town than the Ship Gang!"


    Lynn didn''t rush to respond. He looked around the shop, feeling somewhat disappointed, and said, "What? Is Mr. Loude still reluctant to meet me?"


    Bill hurriedly exined, "No, no, I''m sure Mr. Loude is very eager to meet you! Unfortunately, he''s not in the port town right now. Even if we use the fastest messenger raven, it would take several days to ry the message!"


    "If Lord Lotte is concerned about security issues, the Ship Gang can offer goods of equivalent value as coteral!" Bill, the halfling, patted his chest like a drum.


    Lynn pretended to hesitate for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Well, if that''s the case, I can ept... for now."


    "Who''s in charge of the Ship Gang now?"


    "Of course, it''s Labul! Please wait for a moment. I''ll call him..." Bill, the halfling, said as he hurriedly left the shop and called over a dockworker. He whispered a few words and then returned, eagerly standing on a small stool to pour fruit wine for Lynn.


    Lynn took the ss but didn''t drink. He gestured toward a pile of iron barrels in the corner of the shop and asked, "What are these?"


    "They''re worthless yellow ore, dug up by a group of prospectors from a barren hill near the port town. They''ve filled up a whole ship with it." The halfling Bill said with frustration.


    These minerals were usually only purchased by herbalists, but this year, the yellow ore market in Vil had saturated. In other words, they had to stockpile these minerals until next year when they could sell them.


    "If Lord Lotte is interested in these yellow ores, I can offer you a cost price. A whole barrel costs only neen copper coins, and it''s said to be quite effective for worm repellent!" The halfling Bill rubbed his hands and enthusiastically promoted.


    "No, I''ve just never seen them before. I''m just curious." Lynn shook his head, replying calmly.


    As they chatted, a tall, muscr man with a few gang members entered the shop.


    "It''s a great honor, Lord Lotte. I heard from Bill that you have some very important matters to discuss with me?" Labul walked in, a genuine smile appearing on his meaty face.


    "Yes, I''m nning to rent arge ship to transport some very important cargo." Lynn said, while taking the matter seriously, he took out an exquisite box from his sleeve and ced it on the table. "This is a sample. I need a private ce to talk to you."


    All the people in the room unconsciously focused their attention on the palm-sized exquisite box.


    Halfling Bill secretly spected whether there might be some extremely rare gemstone inside the box. However, he quickly dismissed the thought when he considered that Lynn needed arge ship to transport it.


    Labul, who stood nearby, appeared solemn. Unlike Bill, he had been a member of the Ship Gang for over a decade and asionally assisted noblemen in handling unsavory matters.


    For instance, Duke Nonn had been secretly trafficking an addictive soul-shattering herb. If the Church were to catch wind of it, the small-fry like them would likely be held ountable.


    Of course, risks and rewards coexisted. If the cargo was delivered sessfully, the profits from this single ship would suffice for the Ship Gang for half a year.


    "No problem! We can discuss it in a private room!" Labul''s mind was racing, but his smile grew even warmer.


    Lynn put away the box and followed Labul out of the shop. They crossed over half the street, finally stopping in a seemingly ordinary house.


    Labul, acutely aware of the importance of secrecy, left a few gang members to guard the entrance and took Lynn alone to a well-hidden underground chamber.


    The room was spacious, with only a few rudimentary tables and chairs, but it was impably clean.


    Observing how Lynn had been scrutinizing his surroundings since they entered, Labul felt more confident in his assumptions. He smiled reassuringly and said, "Please, have a seat, Mr. Lotte. This ce is very safe and quiet, and there won''t be any disruptions from outsiders."


    "Since that''s the case, I can rest easy!" Lynn also smiled, pushing the box he held towards Labul, gesturing for him to examine it. "You can take a look before we discuss further."


    Labul, a mix of nervousness and excitement, ced his hand on the box, wondering what kind of contraband it might contain.


    Soul-shattering herb? A Heimstone? Hopefully, it''s not some idol of an evil deity. I heard that nobles in the Secas Empire in the west are quite fond of those strange things.


    However, as soon as he opened the box, Labul''s expression froze instantly.


    Because the box waspletely empty, there was nothing inside!


    Was he tricked?


    Labul immediately sensed something was amiss and instinctively reached for the dagger hanging from his belt, but it was already toote!


    The moment he opened the box, Lynn had entered a brief overload state. His right hand quickly and urately grabbed Rabul''s elbow, bending the entire arm at the most precise angle.


    Apanied by a dull dislocation sound, excruciating pain overwhelmed Labul''s mind. But before he could cry out, his entire body was mmed to the ground, his neck gripped with force.


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 Chapter 29: This Is Simply Devilish!

    Chapter 29: This Is Simply Devilish!


    The sudden, unexpected attack caught Rabulpletely off guard, leaving his mind in a daze for a moment. He was filled with anger and fear, and he finally managed to speak up, questioning with a mixture of fury and apprehension.


    "Lotte, what are you doing? The Ship''s Gang has never provoked the Pedroel family before... Remember, the harbor is our turf. I advise you to think carefully..."


    Rabul''s threats were forceful, but before he could finish speaking, Lynn swiftly grabbed his other arm and then threw the burly man, now curled up like a shrimp, to the ground.


    "I''m asking you, answer me. Do you understand? Cooperation is in everyone''s best interest!" Lynn crouched down, staring at Rabul and speaking directly.


    The towering man was already drenched in cold sweat from the pain. He clenched his teeth and remained silent, fixating his gaze on Lynn as if he could swallow him whole, his thoughts racing, yet he couldn''t fathom why the son of Baron Pedroel had attacked him.


    Could it be that some fool from the Ship''s Gang had identally offended him?


    Just as he pondered this, Lynn''s voice resounded.


    "The first question... Your name!"


    Rabul stared with wide eyes, feeling deeply insulted. Wasn''t it obvious enough?


    "Answer!" Lynn''s voice was cold and emotionless. After waiting for two seconds, he swiftly drew a dagger from Rabul''s waist and decisively stabbed it into Rabul''s right hand.


    "Rab... Rabul..."


    The burly man screamed hoarsely, not wanting to lose his precious right hand over such a foolish question.


    Lynn''s actions continued without pause. Under Rabul''s terrified gaze, the dagger was thrust into the gap between his closely clenched fingers.


    "You have only one second to answer each question, no second chances!" Lynn said coldly and proceeded with the next question.


    "Gender!"


    "Male!" Rabul replied through gritted teeth, regarding the man before him as nothing short of a lunatic.


    "ce of birth... Well, your hometown!"


    Lynn continued to ask Rabul a series of questions, starting with the straightforward ones and then progressing to more tricky ones. The questions ranged from the daily tasks he performed to the Ship''s Gang''s trade goods and routes.


    If Rabul hesitated for even a moment, Lynn would break one of his fingers.


    In just a few minutes, six of Rabul''s fingers were broken, and the pain left him in a daze.


    "All right, since you can''t even remember which foot you stepped out of your house with three days ago, I''ll ask you a simpler question." Lynn sighed in resignation, and then his tone changed. He suddenly asked, "Where is Lame Loude?"


    "In..." Rabul was about to answer reflexively, but in the next moment, he stopped and shook his head, looking terrified. "I... I don''t know."


    "I told you, cooperating would be in everyone''s best interest." Lynn sighed in resignation as well. In fact, he wasn''t skilled at interrogations, and he had crammed all the little he knewst night.


    But Rabul clearly had no intention of talking, so Lynn had to resort to more radical methods.


    Lynn''s gaze sharpened. The Ship''s Gang was originally formed by a group of reformed pirates, and ording to Rabul''s confession, they engaged in various illegal activities in addition to their legitimate maritime operations.


    These activities included pretending to be pirates and raiding ships, human trafficking, smuggling contraband, murder, and more. If this were his previous life, the things Rabul had done would have been enough to enrage the public a hundred times over.


    "Do you know about the art of ying?" Lynn asked in a leisurely manner.


    ying?


    Rabul shivered and listened as Lynn continued, "First, you make an incision below the spine, splitting the skin on the back into two halves. Then, you slowly cut along the grain of the muscles. The action has to be swift,pleted before the target dies from blood loss..."


    Lynn provided a vivid and detailed ount of a gruesome ancient torture method from a foreignnd, including details like how to make the cuts, how much blood would flow, and how each step needed to bepleted within minutes.


    Rabul was now on the ground, trembling with fear. He had no doubt that the madman before him would actually y him alive. He stammered, "My Lord Lotte, I truly don''t know where Leader Loude is."


    "Is that so? But I heard that you were Lame Loude''s most trusted subordinate!" Lynn sneered.


    "In truth, Mr. Loude doesn''t trust anyone..." Rabul exined in a terrified, uncertain tone. "I only know that he left the seaport town three days ago..."


    "If you''re not willing to talk, that''s fine. We have plenty of time to y." Lynn stood up and brushed the dust off his pants. Last night, while researching interrogation techniques, he hade across many interesting yet non-lethal methods. Now was the perfect time to give them a try.


    Half an hourter, Rabul was nearly broken, both mentally and physically, under the dual torment. He was now willing to divulge every detail to Lynn, even admitting to smuggling an entire ship''s worth of goods and disguising it as a shipwreck.


    However, when it came to Loude''s whereabouts, Rabul remained clueless. After experimenting with various methods to break his spirit, Lynn had to admit that Rabul was likely not pretending.


    ording to the information Rabul provided, Loude had left the harbor town two days ago, which coincided with Archbishop Anluke''s attack on Urn Town with his men. Furthermore, the Ghost''s Tavern, where Lynn had been, was raided on the same day by the Church, and Old Hawke had gone missing ever since.


    It was highly likely that it was during this time that Lame Loude received a warning and went into hiding. Only a handful of high-ranking members of the Ship''s Gang knew that he was not in the harbor town.


    "It seems that your most trusted assistant is nothing more than a decoy!" Lynn sighed, shaking his head in resignation.


    Rabul indeed knew many of the Ship''s Gang''s secrets, but when it came to the secret transportation of goods to the Wizard''s Land, his knowledge was extremely limited. He only knew that on Mondays, Loude personally oversaw the transportation of severalrge ships, but he had no idea where these ships were headed.


    Lynn pondered for a while. Loude''s caution and cunning had taken him by surprise. Loude might have already prepared for the possibility of high-ranking members of the Ship''s Gang betraying him or being captured.


    However, Loude alone couldn''t sail across the sea. There must be some more core figures within the Ship''s Gang responsible for this. The other peripheral members acted as cover, following Rabul''s orders and being abandoned as pawns in times of danger.


    Lynn recalled the names and backgrounds of the Ship''s Gang''s leaders and members he had learned from Rabul. Every one of them seemed like a potential spy nted by Loude.


    As he contemted, a thought suddenly popped into Lynn''s mind: If he couldn''t find Loude, why not make Loudee to him instead?


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 Chapter 30: Conflict and City Guards

    Chapter 30: Conflict and City Guards


    With this in mind, Lynn looked down at Rabul and asked, "In the Harbor Town, who do you have the most trouble with?"


    "It''s ckhand Bob..." Rabul didn''t understand why Lynn was asking this, but he spilled the beans about their conflict.


    "Very well, lend me your clothes!" Lynn didn''t hesitate and forcefully stripped Rabul of his attire.


    The burly man instinctively thought the demon in front of him was about to use a cruel skin-stripping spell on him, so he desperately pressed his body to the ground, resembling a young girl being assaulted.


    In the end, Lynn had no choice but to knock him out and, after changing into his clothes, stared at Rabul''s face and used a transformation spell.


    This was a shape-shifting spell he had learned from "Fundamental Magic Studies," capable of altering a wizard''s external appearance.


    Buck, who had died at the hands of Archbishop Anluke, had once used this magic to transform into a giant bear, briefly dying his opponent''s actions.


    However, this kind of magic wasn''t foolproof. It required a deep understanding of the creature to be transformed into, and it had various risks associated with it. "Fundamental Magic Studies" documented many cases of wizards failing to learn shape-shifting magic, making mistakes, being unable to return to their original form, or suffering fatal bacsh from magic.


    One could say that wizards daring to learn shape-shifting magic were a bold and fearless bunch.


    Fortunately, Lynn''s knowledge of biology was excellent, and 071''s database containedplete three-dimensional models of the human body. Skin, muscles, blood, internal organs, even the internal cells, were all crystal clear. This knowledge minimized the chances of unexpected situations.


    Of course,pared to Lotte, who had a strikingly simr body type, age, and hair color, Lynn disguised as Rabul was only about ny percent identical.


    But it was enough to deal with unforeseen circumstances.


    Lynn casually wiped some dirt on his face, tied up Rabul, who had fainted, and stuffed him into a sack in the basement. Then, he headed outside.


    "Damn it, Bob!"


    Lynn cursed as he stormed out the door. Several guards on duty saw Lynn''s furious appearance and cautiously asked, "Did it not go well, Boss Rabul?"


    "A whole shipload of goods, and they only want to pay 60 Sekas gold coins!" Lynn raged. "It''s all because of that scoundrel Bob. He had already contacted the Pedroel family before us. To snatch our business, Bob is willing to transport their goods at an extremely low price."


    Upon hearing this, the workers present were all filled with righteous anger. After all, a single round trip of arge ship at sea cost at least 50 Sekas gold coins, not to mention the crew''s expenses at sea. Wasn''t this a waste of everyone''s time for such a small amount of money?


    ckhand Bob and his workers had always been at odds with the Ship Gang, but usually, it was limited to secret sabotage. However, this time, they had gone too far. They were willing to take a loss just to snatch their business.


    It was downright nauseating.


    "Let''s go, gather the men, and find him!" Lynn waved his hand and shouted loudly, rallying dozens of people to march towards the docks.


    At the same time, on a massive sailboat, ckhand Bob was berating a fewzy workers with his long whip. When he saw Lynn storming in with anger, he frowned and grumbled, "Rabul, why did you bring so many people here?"


    Lynn couldn''t be bothered with small talk and punched him directly, knocking Bob to the ground.


    The workers on the sailboat stood frozen in ce, but Lynn''s crew had already charged forward, followed by a series of blows with clubs.


    The previously calm dock turned into chaos, with cries and smashing sounds echoing non-stop. Finally, a shrill cry rang out after a few minutes.


    "The city guards, the city guards are here!"


    The hands of Lynn and the workers on the ship came to a halt simultaneously. About a dozen guards, armed with des and d in armor, had surrounded therge sailboat.


    Lynn raised his hands, signaling everyone to cease resistance, his expression devoid of any worry.


    Because Captain Teris of the Harbor Town guards was an old acquaintance of Rabul. Thest time they had some missing cargo, Teris had profited handsomely!


    "What''s going on here?" Teris strode onto the sailboat, taking in the scattered cargo on the ground and the workers lying in disarray. He turned to Lynn with an impatient tone.


    "Lord Teris, these people inexplicably barged in, overturned the stored cargo without any reason, and even resorted to violence against us..." Bob, who had lost a tooth in the scuffle, shouted angrily. He felt wronged and couldn''t fathom why he had been attacked.


    "It''s just a minor disagreement, Lord Teris, and many present can testify that Bob was the one who struck first!" Lynn took a few steps forward, his smile brimming with goodwill, and slipped a small bag of coins into Teris''s hand.


    Over a hundred ship workers on the dock joined in the uproar, drowning out any feeble protests from Bob and hispanions.


    In the Harbor Town, the ckhand''s influence was far inferior to that of the Ship Gang. If not for Bob having an imperial count as his backer, Lame Loude would have kicked him off the docks a long time ago.


    "Arrest them all!" When it came to the tensions and friction between the two major factions in the Harbor Town, Teris was well aware. After weighing Lynn''s sincerity, he quickly categorized this conflict as a brawl.


    ording to thews of the Sekas Empire, those causing a public disturbance received tenshes!


    ...


    "Ouch, that bastard really hit hard..."


    Half an hourter, Lynn walked out of the dock, his brow furrowed in annoyance.


    He had overestimated Rabul and Teris''s "friendship." When Teris had taken action, he showed no mercy, applying full force to those tenshes.


    Lynn could only hope that he hadn''t suffered thoseshes in vain, as he had done everything he could.


    Given Lame Loude''s cautious and cunning nature, Lynn guessed that he wouldn''t be hiding too far away. He would be keeping a close eye on the happenings in the Harbor Town.


    What Lame Loude feared the most was drawing the Church''s attention.


    So, he had nned this conflict to attract the city guard''s presence, and then controlled its intensity, keeping the cause of the conflict rted to the faction''s interests. If everything went ording to n, this matter would soon reach Lame Loude''s ears.


    As the top figure of the Ship Gang in the public eye, no one but Lame Loude himself could manage him. So, it was easy to anticipate what his next move might be.


    It might be possible that one of Lame Loude''s trusted subordinates would convey a reprimand. Still, the most likely scenario was...


    "Boss Rabul, Mr. Loude has an important matter to discuss with you. Please follow me," a in-looking ship worker suddenly whispered in his ear a few minutester.


    "Alright, I''ll go right away!" A sly smile curved on Lynn''s lips.


    As expected, it had arrived!


    ...


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 Chapter 31: Ive Come to Rescue You

    Chapter 31: I''ve Come to Rescue You


    Under the guidance of the boatman, Lynn left the bustling harbor and traversed several streets until they reached an abandoned, run-down house in the northern part of the city.


    "Pleasee in, Lord Raebel. Mr. Loude is waiting for you inside," the boatman gestured, inviting Lynn to enter.


    Lynn nodded and pushed open the door, only to discover that the dpidated exterior was but a facade. The interior of the house was an entirely different world.


    The walls were built with heavy stone blocks and adorned with precious oil paintings and sculptures, giving the ce an air of elegance and the faint scent of perfume filled the air.


    In stark contrast to this elegant setting, burly men wieldingrge axes stood on either side of the room, eyeing Lynn like amb being led to ughter.


    Lame Loude, his wooden leg clearly visible, stood by a long table. He appeared to be around fifty, with a head full of white hair and a thin, hunched figure. His most striking feature was, of course, his wooden prosthetic leg.


    Upon seeing Lynn, Loude''s anger welled up, and he scolded him vehemently, "Raebel, have you gone mad? I''ve told you not to cause any trouble for me recently..."


    "But today, you got into a brawl with Bob at the harbor over a cargo shipment! Do you know that the Church is likely to have noticed us by now? Two batches of sea vessels have been confiscated in the past three days..."


    Loude chastised him, deeply troubled. However, he soon realized that something was amiss with the Raebel standing before him. Despite his reprimands, there was no fear or panic in his demeanor. Instead, Raebel was steadily approaching him.


    "Wait... You''re not Raebel!" Loude''s thoughts raced, and he realized this. With a look of shock, he took several steps back and ordered the guards by his side in a loud voice, "Stop him!"


    Only Loude''s most trusted guards were allowed into this room, so upon hearing the order, they, along with the burly men around, didn''t hesitate and raised their axes, attacking Raebel from all sides.


    [Initiate Overload Mode, time is three seconds!]


    Just a moment before the axes struck, Lynn silently chanted in his mind.


    In an instant, the positions and movements of everyone in the room were disyed as data in his mind.


    Lynn effortlessly sidestepped one of the burly men''s attacks, disarmed him, and then kicked him away. He swiftly turned and struck another guard in the stomach with the back of the axe, before charging forward, defeating the remaining guards.


    During this brief moment, Loude had managed to flip over the long table in his path. His wooden prosthetic leg was incredibly agile, more so than a real leg. With a whooshing sound, he covered a considerable distance in just a few steps.


    Lame Loude... was surprisingly fast!


    This spectacle left Lynn momentarily stupefied, but he quickly snapped out of it. He raised his hand, and several sparkling ice des materialized in the air.


    At the same time, Loude felt the intimidating presence behind him, but he paid it no mind, for the secret passage was right in front of him, within arm''s reach.


    However, the ice des were faster. The one that had beenunched earlier struck his prosthetic leg, causing him to lose bnce and fall to the ground. Then, another [Icy de] flew and embedded itself in his robe.


    "Keep running!" Lynn closed in step by step, coldly instructing. He had spent the past few days putting in a lot of effort to find Loude and wasn''t about to let him escape easily.


    Lynn quickly realized that his words might sound somewhat like those of an antagonist, but he changed his tone and exined, "In fact, I''vee to rescue you, Mr. Loude!"


    Lame Loude, feeling the chill around him and looking at the seemingly "friendly" Lynn, nervously swallowed a mouthful of spit.


    Well, he would have to trust him for now!


    After a friendly exchange, the previous misunderstanding was resolved. Loude called a few of his subordinates to clean up the somewhat messy room, and then invited Lynn to take a seat.


    "Wizard, is there something specific you came to discuss with me?" Loude inquired cautiously.


    "Of course, I''vee to rescue you!" Lynn dered without hesitation. "As far as I know, the Church has secretly dispatched three thousand guards to Harbor Town, and they seem to be targeting the Dockside Guild."


    "That may not be the case..." Loude shook his head, as he had also received this information but did not share Lynn''s judgment.


    "Just three days ago, the Archbishop of Nornd and his forcesunched an attack on the town of Uhl and encountered a powerful wizard. It was only after paying a heavy price that they managed to drive the wizard away. These three thousand guards are likely here to guard against that wizard."


    At this point, Loude suddenly looked at Lynn, and a spection emerged in his mind.


    "Yes, I was the one who fought against that Archbishop," Lynn nodded, not hiding the fact.


    Seeing Lynn admit it, Loude couldn''t help but be amazed. Based on the information he had received earlier, Archbishop Anluke managed to drive off the wizard but suffered from severe, incurable injuries himself.


    Rumors had it that the ce where they shed had been turned into a white wastnd, and the horrifying ze had not been extinguished to this day.


    This illustrated the immense power and mystique of this magic.


    Could it be that he was sitting across from a grand wizard?


    No, that was highly unlikely.


    Loude quickly dismissed this notion. He had witnessed the power of grand wizards before. A grand wizard could even temporarily freeze the cataclysmic vortex known as the "Eye of Death" with their full power. If Lynn possessed such power, Archbishop Anluke would have been the one to flee.


    Given this, Loude immediately deduced that Lynn was a powerful wizard of the third circle.


    Unaware of Loude''s thoughts, Lynn continued to exin. "If you think that the Church is making all this noise just for me, that would be foolish. Archbishop Anluke''s real goal is to find the route to the Wizards'' Sanctuary. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have gone out of his way toe to Harbor Town."


    "Furthermore, I''ve received information that on his way to Harbor Town, Anluke captured several wizard apprentices."


    "They are all disciples of Kora and are well aware of this route and its connection to the Dockside Guild. The Church has not yet taken action against them, most likely because they haven''t extracted enough information from them."


    "I don''t have much time left for you!" Lynn said solemnly.


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 Chapter 32: We Have No Other Choice!

    Chapter 32: We Have No Other Choice!


    Listening to Lynn''s words, Lame Loude''s expression changed abruptly. He silently cursed Kora in his heart for revealing such vital information to a few apprentices, implicating him in the process.


    He didn''t believe Lynn was deceiving him, given that the actions of the Church in recent days were a clear signal.


    It was precisely due to this concern that he had chosen to observe the situation from the shadows, ready to flee at any moment, but he hadn''t expected to be exposed.


    "The Dockside Gang has been operating in the Harbor Town for many years, and their informationwork should be quite extensive. Do you know who the Church has captured?" Lynn inquired, his voice tinged with anticipation.


    Lame Loude hesitated, then shook his head, replying with some frustration, "The Dockside Gang is under intense scrutiny right now, and my knowledge is limited. I''m afraid the Archbishop has blocked the information. Only the town''s priests have the authority to ess such ssified information."


    Corrupting and controlling a priest was no easy task; they possessed powerful divine magic, unwavering faith, and no shortage of wealth, making them formidable adversaries.


    So, even though the Dockside Gang had been operating for decades in the Harbor Town, Lame Loude always kept a safe distance from these individuals, avoiding any connections with the Church''s clergy.


    Lynn''s brow furrowed, taken aback by the revtion that Lame Loude was as clueless as he was. This waspletely unexpected.


    "Wizard, are you nning to rescue the captured wizard apprentices?" Lame Loude tentatively asked.


    "Indeed, that''s important for you as well, isn''t it?" Lynn replied nonchntly.


    "It''s going to be challenging. The town is swarming with guards, and they might not even be imprisoned at the harbor. Even if we miraculously manage to rescue them, we won''t be able to escape the town," Lame Loude argued. "It would be easier to eliminate them. The difficulty would be much lower!"


    Since the other person knew the Dockside Gang''s secrets, making them disappear seemed like the simplest solution. In this dark, otherworldly realm, a single life didn''t hold much value, especially when it involved the secrets of the wizard''s territory.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised by Lame Loude''s ruthlessness. In this grim world, a single life was expendable, and this was closely tied to the secrets of the wizards'' territory. However, Lynn didn''t share the same perspective, and he sneered as he replied, "Mr. Loude, are you still under the illusion that once this matter is over, the Dockside Gang can continue to prosper in Harbor Town without any repercussions?"


    Since Archbishop Anluke had chosen Harbor Town as their base, it undoubtedly meant they had discovered some clues. Even if Dove and Jonny were to die now, sooner orter, they would trace it back to Lame Loude.


    After all, most of the town''s cargo transport was connected to the Dockside Gang!


    Lame Loude''s face became increasingly grim. He naturally understood this, but he had been unwilling to admit it. In all, he had spent a full two decades in Harbor Town, and it could be said that all of his efforts and investments had been poured into this ce.


    "You''re a clever person, Mr. Loude. Our only way out now is to cross the Sea of Mist on a ship and head to the wizards'' territory. Otherwise, with what you''ve done, no matter where you hide, the Church will find you," Lynn stated bluntly. "Taking a ship now allows you to salvage a portion of your umted wealth. But if you wait for Archbishop Anluke to act, you might not even survive!"


    Lame Loude cast a deep, searching look at Lynn, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately sighed in resignation. "It''s toote to set sail now. The Harbor Town has already tightened control over iing and outgoing cargo ships. Today, tworge vessels were supposed to transport goods to the Imperial capital, but they were both seized."


    "So soon?" Lynn paused for a moment, realizing that the situation was worse than he had imagined. However, he quickly regained hisposure and inquired, "But you must have a solution, right?"


    During his time in the Harbor Town, searching for this sly old fox, he had been bewildered by various pieces of information, some true and others false.


    If it weren''t for the formidable illusion magic that allowed him to disguise himself as the leader of the Dockside Gang, he wouldn''t have been able to flush Lame Loude out.


    This cautious individual couldn''t possibly be unprepared for the day when the harbor would be sealed.


    Lynn swiftly considered the various pieces of information he had gathered in the past few days...


    Since the harbor was in a semi-blockaded state, during this period, the only ships allowed to leave freely were the warships responsible for patrolling the waters!


    "Sanctus, Celestial, Watcher... which one of these ships has your people?" Lynn curiously asked.


    Lame Loude''s expression twitched for a moment, as he didn''t expect Lynn to figure this out. He even suspected that one of his trusted confidants had betrayed him. He could only reluctantly admit, "It''s... the Celestial."


    Impressive!


    Lynn was astonished by Lame Loude''s abilities. To actually have the confidence to take control of a warship. He had only intended to test the waters earlier.


    Lame Loude retorted with frustration, "It''s not as simple as you think. Even though the captain of the Celestial is under mymand, the ship has to report and undergo inspection every time it departs or returns. If it deviates from its course, it''ll likely be spotted by the lookout posts."


    On the Sea of Mist, their warships could only rely on archery or close-quarterbat with boarding, while the enemy''s ship had priests on board. With a few divine spells, even the sturdiest warship could be torn to shreds.


    Moreover,rge-scale personnel and cargo transfers weren''t easy tasks.


    "You don''t need to worry about that. They won''t have time to bother with us when we cross the sea." Lynn said confidently.


    "I have a n, and if it goes smoothly, no matter how many military units there are, they won''t pose a threat. However, I need the Dockside Gang''s assistance..."


    Lynn looked at Lame Loude, waiting for his response. The Dockside Gang consisted of over a thousand shipworkers, even though they were a ragtag group. If they could be put to good use, it would be a formidable force.


    "You better not rely on them to fight against the Church''s guards..." Lame Loude sighed. While the Dockside Gang had many members, most of them were just trying to make a living under hismand.


    Dealing with gang fights on a regr basis was one thing, but if they were thrown into battle against a regr army, it was likely that half of them would turn against him before the fight even started.


    "Don''t worry; I only need you to do some small tasks." Lynn took out a piece of parchment from his sleeve and slid it in front of Lame Loude. "Can you gather these items? The more, the better!"


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 Chapter 33: Have You Ever Seen the Beauty of Fireworks?

    Chapter 33: Have You Ever Seen the Beauty of Fireworks?


    Lame Loude curiously took the parchment from Lynn and skimmed through it, an expression of surprise appearing on his face.


    It wasn''t that what Lynn was looking for on the parchment was exceptionally valuable. Quite the opposite, the parchment contained a list of readily avable materials, even some items considered worthless...


    "Can you tell me, what''s the purpose of these things?" Loude asked, thoroughly perplexed.


    Lynn didn''t give a direct answer but instead suddenly asked, "Mr. Loude, have you ever seen the beauty of fireworks?"


    "What''s that?" Loude frowned in confusion and shook his head.


    "It''s something that can send the entire town guard soaring into the sky. I guarantee it''ll be the most spectacr sight you''ve ever witnessed!" Lynn said with a smile.


    Loude''s expression froze, his face filled with disbelief. Initially, Harbor Town had an eight-hundred-strong guard, and Archbishop Anluke had brought three thousand elite guards from the Northern Lands. He couldn''t fathom any force that could obliterate such a massive army in a short time.


    Could it be rted to the materials needed for a potent alchemical array?


    Loude immediately considered this possibility. Kora had once told him that some wizards proficient in alchemy could amplify the power of certain spells through an array. If that were the case, they might have a fighting chance.


    With this thought, Loude lost interest in probing further, as the secrets of magic were typically closely guarded by wizards.


    "Besides these materials, I also need a map of Harbor Town, the patrol routes of the town guard, and most importantly..." Lynn paused and continued gravely, "I need to know the appearance, personality, and daily routines of every clergy member in Harbor Town, the more detailed, the better."


    Loude contemted for a while, without immediately responding. Maps and patrol routes were easy enough to obtain, but uncovering the secrets of the priests wouldn''t be an easy task.


    "Sometimes, to survive, one has to pay a price, isn''t that so?" Lynn reminded.


    "Alright! I can provide you with all that you''ve asked for. But I need to know how you n to rescue that wizard''s apprentice," Loude finally agreed. The harbor was sealed off by the church, and creating sufficient chaos was necessary for a sessful escape. The rescue mission was a part of that n.


    Lynn no longer withheld information and exined the entire n, with the specific role The Dockside Gang would y being the most detailed part.


    After listening to Lynn''s ount, Loude couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat. However, the relief was that the most dangerous part of the rescue operation was Lynn''s responsibility. The Dockside Gang was only tasked with providing assistance, and, most importantly, it didn''t require his personal involvement in most scenarios, meaning he would mostly be in a safe zone.


    "So, here''s to a fruitful partnership!" Lynn extended his hand casually, and Loude didn''t hesitate to shake it. Their palm-to-palm contact was brief, but it left a faint tingling sensation, causing Loude to instinctively withdraw his arm and inspect it. He found a fiery mark on the back of his hand.


    "What''s the meaning of this?" Loude demanded, covering his hand, his tone stern.


    Lynn retrieved his hand with a casual smile and replied, "I''ve heard from Rabur that you never trust anyone around you."


    "That''s a good habit!" Loude retorted.


    "Well, it just so happens that I''m the same," Lynn replied with the expression of finding a kindred spirit.


    Loude''s face darkened, and in his mind, he was already nning to give Rabur, that scoundrel, a good talking to.


    The sight of the fiery mark on Loude''s hand reminded him of the horrors outside Ur Town. He had sent an intelligence operative who had identally caught a few embers and was subsequently sentenced to death. Even jumping into the river couldn''t save him from the devouring mes of hellfire!


    "By the way, your subordinate Rabur is left in a secluded house within the port. It''s The Dockside Gang business, and I won''t interfere," Lynn said as he rose to his feet, bidding farewell.


    After Lynn''s departure, Loude''s suppressed emotions finally erupted, and he angrily swept valuable vases and utensils from the table to the floor.


    The guards outside heard themotion and rushed in, standing in bewilderment as they watched their leader lose his temper in the room.


    After several minutes of venting, Loude, out of breath, sat back down and looked at the guards in front of him.


    "You, go and bring Rabur back to me immediately!"


    "I''m going to skin him alive!" Lame Loude gritted his teeth.


    ...


    As Lynn left the dpidated house, the midday sun hung high in the sky. Sessfully convincing Lame Loude and gaining the assistance of the entire Dockside Gang had lifted a great burden off Lynn''s shoulders. At least now he didn''t have to go it alone, and there was a good chance of rescuing Dove and Jonny.


    As for the magical mark he left on Loude''s hand, it was merely a ruse and had no real effect. However, Lynn was aware that the recent battle outside Ur Town had already demonstrated some of his capabilities. This was undoubtedly a form of deterrence! People like Loude would never trust him, even if he spoke the truth. Instead, they would believe that their lives were in his hands.


    This was precisely what Lynn wanted to achieve, as when the real action began, the most critical parts needed to be handled by him personally. Loude would always remain behind the scenes, and the risks on both sides weren''t bnced, a significant concern in their coboration!


    So, some bncing measures were necessary!


    In the following two days, the news of the public execution of Devil''s Disciples by the Tribunal, scheduled for after Monday, had spread throughout the entire Harbor Town. Almost everyone was discussing the topic.


    Lynn reaffirmed his previous assessment. Aside from sparring with Ivina in swordsmanship during the day, he spent the rest of his time dealing with the materials that were transported to him.


    Within seventy-two hours, he had released the "Basic Material Deconstruction" spell thousands of times, and he was on the brink of exhaustion.


    Each time he returned to the mansion, the Baron''s steward would cast a strange look at him. Unable to resist one day, the steward advised him not to deplete his body at such a young age.


    Lynn brushed off the advice casually, as he couldn''t find a better exnation for why he was out all night.


    After all, it was Lotte who would ultimately suffer the embarrassment and disgrace.


    The smooth progress of these events wasrgely due to the fact that Baron Pedrol was often absent from the mansion, busy attending various noble banquets. It was a good thing to show his face in front of these important figures.


    In the midst of this orderly bustle, Harbor Town weed the final night of Monday...


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 Chapter 34: My Brother, Youre in My Way

    Chapter 34: My Brother, You''re in My Way


    As the night fellpletely, the bustling port town was bathed in a serene and tranquil atmosphere.


    A pristine full moon rose above the sea''s horizon, casting a soft, silvery glow that seemed to drape the entire harbor town in a fine, shimmering veil.


    At this moment, Lynn stood on the rooftop of the Pedrohl estate, gazing down upon the entire town. It felt unusually peaceful today, as if not a single insect''s chirp could be heard. This abnormality made him sense a hint of danger in the air.


    "Report energy reserves, 071," Lynn silently inquired in his mind.


    (Energy remaining: 40.2 percent...)


    "Unfortunately, it''s still a bit low..."


    Lynn thought to himself. The full moon tonight had increased 071''s energy reserves by about thirty percent in four months, which was remarkably fast, but it could only sustain an overload mode for about two hundred seconds.


    In this state, he could unleash the full power of white phosphorus mes. Despite his unease, Lynn had no intention of changing the n. Tonight was their only chance to rescue Dove and Jonny. After all, the passage to thend of the wizards only opened on Mondays, and tomorrow was the scheduled public execution.


    Lynn took out the diary belonging to Lotte and ced it on the table. After today, he could no longer stay in the harbor town, and the identity of Lotte would have no rtion to him.


    This diary would serve as Lotte''s final message to Baron Pedrohl and Ivina. Though he didn''t expect it to change anything, it was the only thing he could do.


    After packing his belongings, Lynn walked out of the room alone, recalling the information gathered by the Guild of Ships.


    Yadan, a recently transferred priest in the harbor town, Archbishop Anluke''s right-hand man, a noble by birth, and the champion of the previous Norn Knight Exam, possessed formidable sword skills.


    Most importantly, Yadan had a very predictable routine. He would go out at this exact time every night, his destination unknown, presumably to attend some noble''s evening banquet.


    As for the rescue n, Lynn had considered several approaches, and the smoothest one was to directly capture and rece Yadan.


    This would not only allow them to extract information about the captured individuals, their location, and other critical details but also make use of Yadan''s role as the Archbishop''s right hand.


    When the full moon hung high in the sky, The Dockside Gang'' crew would create chaos at the harbor, driving away all unrted individuals and igniting white phosphorus powder prepared in advance, causing uncontroble "Hellfire." Once it spread, even hundreds of garrison troops wouldn''t be able to quell it, and it was one of his signature spells.


    At that point, Archbishop Anluke would likely intervene personally to extinguish the mes or capture Lynn, possibly mobilizing his elite guards hidden in the shadows.


    The cargo piled up on the docks had already been discreetly reced by The Dockside Gang with specialized ck powder. Once ignited, it would send both the warships docked at the harbor and the arriving reinforcements into the sky in an instant.


    If they could kill Archbishop Anluke in the explosion, that would be the best oue. Even if they couldn''t, the Archbishop wouldn''t return anytime soon.


    Meanwhile, Lynn could use Yadan''s identity to ess the location where Jonny and the others were held. With the harbor town in chaos, he could falsely convey the Archbishop''s orders and transfer the prisoners to a safer ce.


    Once they were out, Lame Loude''s trusted subordinates would be there to pick them up.


    Of course, this n relied on everything going smoothly. There might be countless unforeseen circumstances along the way.


    Perhaps the worst-case scenario would be Archbishop Anluke choosing not to act and allowing the "Hellfire" on the dock to spread rapidly. In that case, Lynn would have to step in to quell the mes to prevent the involvement of numerous innocent residents.


    If left uncontrolled, the entire harbor town would be engulfed in a sea of fire.


    Lynn continued to mentally calcte the possible events that might unfold. Suddenly, an unpleasant ''creak'' echoed closer and closer, emanating from the corridor ahead.


    Alert, Lynn immediately halted his steps and looked up. Soon, he spotted the figure at the end of the corridor.


    A brte girl stood in the shadows, holding a slender de that trailed on the ground. Her red and ck attire appeared eerie under the moonlight''s silver glow.


    "Ivina, what are you doing here?" Lynn asked in confusion. Her room should be on the second floor.


    "Why?" the brte girl spoke softly. "Why is it that no matter how hard I try, no matter how excellent my performance, Father will never acknowledge me, while you, who couldn''t even pass the Knight''s Exam, fail repeatedly but always effortlessly obtain everything I desire..."


    Ivina lowered her head, her words filled with suppressed anger. She clenched her teeth, seemingly struggling to contain her fury.


    However, her expression soon returned to a calm demeanor, and her tone became icy.


    "My brother, you''re the obstacle to my progress..."


    Lynn''s pupils contracted. Just as Ivina''s words fell, she had already rushed forward with her slender de.


    ng!


    Apanied by the crisp sound of shing metal, Lynn drew his steel longsword from his waist to parry the iing de. It was clear that the girl possessed greater strength and speed than during their practice sessions, indicating her true strength.


    In Ivina''s amber eyes, a cold and murderous glint shed as her slender de, like a streak of cold light, shed through the air once more.


    "You always have this carefree attitude..."


    "Tell me, why haven''t you told Father about this?" she continued. "You know very well that I''ve always wanted to kill you!"


    With each sentence, Ivina''s de swung faster, her gazeplex as she stared intently at her brother...


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 Chapter 35: Too Insignificant, Ivina

    Chapter 35: Too Insignificant, Ivina


    Lynn parried Ivina''s attacks, still not answering her questions.


    Because he was utterly confused by theplex rtionship between these two siblings, Lotte''s diary didn''t mention this at all.


    The sh of sword des echoed through the silent manor. If this were any other time, it would have surely alerted the butler and servants, but right now, there was no one in sight.


    That''s why Lynn refrained from using the overdrive mode or resorting to magic just yet.


    "Is it very strange, my brother? Father isn''t at the estate tonight, and I''ve led all the servants away. They''ll only know that the devil worshiper the Church is hunting broke into the manor tonight..." Ivina appeared to be driven to madness, her sword relentlessly striking against Lynn''s, as if she needed to vent all the built-up anger and frustration.


    Lynn''s expression became odd, for the wanted devil worshiper the Church was after seemed to be him...


    Boom!


    During a brief pause in their battle, an abrupt explosion rang out in the distance. Through the window on the third floor, a faint fire glimmered on the western side of the harbor town.


    Why would this happen so quickly? Lynn''s expression changed abruptly. It wasn''t time to act yet. Could it be that the members of the "Ship Gang" couldn''t wait and had already taken action?


    "Where are you looking, my brother?"


    Seizing Lynn''s distraction, Ivinaunched a spinning strike that sent his longsword flying, embedded firmly into the gap in the wall.


    Then the brown-haired girl raised her sword once more, this time for a downward strike.


    "Die!"


    Murmuring to herself, Ivina''s amber eyes locked onto Lynn, yet his face revealed no trace of fear.


    Why?


    Why was he not afraid of death?


    A hint of hesitation and doubt crossed the brown-haired girl''s face.


    Over the years, no matter how terrible her attitude had been, this man before her always looked at her with an extraordinarilypassionate gaze.


    But she never needed his pity.


    What she wanted, she''d take for herself.


    A myriad of thoughts shed through the girl''s mind, while on the other side, Lynn sensed the threat and extended his arm.


    In that instant, it was as if the first time they had fought was reyed.


    Only this time, there was no one to stop them, and with a sharp gust of wind, the slender de had reached above Lynn''s head.


    However, Lynn''s movement was even quicker. His right hand extended, seemingly at an unusual angle, and grabbed Ivina''s wrist holding the de.


    Then, he exerted a twist, and a faint sound of a dislocated bone resonated through the silent corridor.


    Outside the window, the moonlight intermingled with the rising mes, creating a devilish picture. Lynn took advantage of this and raised his leg, sending a fierce kick towards Ivina''s abdomen.


    Thud!


    With a dull impact, the girl''s body arched backward and crashed heavily against the wall.


    How was this possible?


    Struggling to get back up, Ivina''s lips slowly oozed a trace of blood. She couldn''t afford to be concerned with the pain in her right wrist or abdomen. She looked at Lynn with an expression of disbelief.


    She had used her full strength and had been easily knocked down.


    Ivina found it difficult to ept this reality, and her undamaged left hand once again lunged with the sword.


    "Sorry, Ivina, but my time is limited..."


    Lynn dodged Ivina''s horizontal sh, took the slender de from her, and then delivered an elbow strike that knocked her down once more. Finally, he swung the de towards her fair neck.


    Ivina''s pupils contracted, and she could only watch as the silvery de came closer and closer, her mind going nk.


    Am I going to die?


    The girl slowly closed her eyes.


    Recalling all the effort he had put in, only to have his fate determined by a Duke''s son, he found it particrlyughable. Perhaps seeking release through this would end his suffering?


    Ding!


    The soft sound of a sword''s tip touching the floor echoed in Ivina''s ears, and she opened her eyes in confusion, seeing Lynn behind her, taking out a piece of leather rope to bind her hands and feet.


    "You''re not nning to kill me?" Ivina stared at her familiar yet unfamiliar brother, puzzled by his actions.


    "No need to do that. After tonight, you won''t see me again... I think that should suit you well." Lynn casually exined, dragging the rope that had been prepared for Yadon, and tossing Ivina into his own room.


    He wasn''t really Lotte, and he couldn''t handle such aplex sibling rtionship. But since Lotte had chosen to end this karma by taking his own life, Lynn didn''t n to interfere.


    He also understood where Ivina''s resentment came from. She struggled but couldn''t resist her predetermined destiny; she had been born to be a sacrifice for the Pedror family''s revival. However, she had clearly targeted the wrong source of her resentment. What truly tormented them both was the stubbornness of Baron Pedror and the ignorance of the feudal system in the Secas Empire.


    Since she had cleverly sent away the housekeeper and servants from the mansion, she could take some time to reflect on her actions.


    After tonight, everything about the Pedror family would no longer concern him.


    Lynn turned to leave, but Ivina''s voice sounded once again from behind.


    "Why do you have such power but can''t pass the Knight''s examination or even a sparring match with me?"


    "Are you pitying me?" Ivina maintained herst vestiges of pride, asking in a tone mixed with shame and anger.


    "Too insignificant, Ivina..." Lynn turned his head to look at the disheveled and bewildered girl on the floor.


    "Your talent in swordsmanship is excellent, far better than anyone I''ve ever seen. However, your vision is limited to the small harbor town, and you''re fixated on inheriting the title of a baron that even the territory can''t hold."


    "Beyond the harbor town is the Nornd domain, beyond Nornd is the Secas Empire, and beyond the Empire, there is a much broader world..."


    Lynn muttered softly, realizing that this world held the existence of magic and divine arts, along with countless secrets waiting to be explored.


    "Forget it. You probably can''t understand," Lynn said, shaking his head before Ivina could respond.


    For most of the world''s inhabitants, a town, a vige, a family was everything, and this matter had nothing to do with him.


    "Can''t understand?" Ivina gazed at Lynn''s departing back with aplex expression, until the door was firmly closed.


    The girl fell silent for a while, then suddenly lowered her head and bit into the leather rope binding her hands, struggling to break free.


    However, the rope was made of a tough material, and biting it with her teeth was futile. In her struggle, her legs hit a nearby table leg.


    A ck book that had been left on the table fell to the ground, rolling to Ivina''s side.


    The words on the pages were hastily written, but Ivina recognized her brother Lotte''s handwriting immediately.


    "Perhaps, without me, everything will get better..."


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 Chapter 36: The Battle of Harbor Town

    Chapter 36: The Battle of Harbor Town


    Midnight, within the town of Harbor, people who had been peacefully asleep were abruptly awakened by the fierce ze and the cacophonous cawing of crows.


    "Fire... it''s on fire!" "Help, someone save me!"


    After more than a decade of peace, the residents of Harbor Town, suddenly under attack, descended into chaos. The streets were filled with panic, and screams echoed in every corner of the town.


    At this moment, Lynn stood on the rooftop of a small house, her eyes scanning the direction where the mes raged. This was the magic at work¡ªa spell known as "Tik''s Farsight," granting a wizard the precision of a griffon''s keen eyesight in a short span.


    During the days Lynn had spent in Harbor Town, aside from gathering intelligence and concocting ck powder, she hadn''t neglected her magical studies. She had thoroughly devoured the book "Foundations of Universal Magic" she had brought along.


    "Is it Jonny and Dove?" Lynn muttered to herself as she gazed at the flocks of gray crows in the distance and the figures dancing in the firelight.


    Had they managed to escape ahead of time?


    Wait...


    Lynn soon noticed something amiss. The two witch''s states didn''t seem like they had suffered torture. Perhaps... they hadn''t fled but were preparing to infiltrate Harbor Town''s prison to rescue someone!


    This possibility immediately crossed Lynn''s mind, causing her to furrow her brows.


    Before tonight''s operation, he had considered dozens of unexpected scenarios and even foreseen that the Church might set traps within Harbor Town, waiting for him to fall into them.


    But he hadn''t anticipated Archbishop Anluke to boldly broadcast their actions without capturing anyone first.


    The archbishop was undoubtedly taking a risk, betting that these few wizard apprentices couldn''t find each other. Otherwise, the public witch hunt ceremony scheduled for tomorrow would be aplete farce.


    In a world where true gods existed, a public witch hunt ceremony, if faked with a few prisoners posing as witches, was nothing short of sphemy.


    Evidently, Archbishop Anluke had guessed correctly. While Lynn had managed to avoid the trap, Jonny and Dove had unwittingly walked into it.


    However, if the two witches weren''t captured, then who had leaked information about the Ship Gang?


    Archbishop Anluke''s personal presence in Harbor Town, enforcing the port closure and taking action against the Ship Gang, couldn''t be faked. This was one of the reasons he believed that these two might be arrested.


    Deep in thought, the cawing of crows in the sky above Harbor Town grew weaker. This signified that Jonny and Dove were close to exhaustion.


    Lynn didn''t rush into action because there were only a few hundred guards surrounding the two witches. Archbishop Anluke and his three thousand elite guards hadn''t entered the scene.


    This, too, was a bait, and Lynn was the big fish that Archbishop Anluke wanted to catch...


    "071, in our current state, what are our chances if we confront them head-on?" Lynn silently asked in his mind.


    His greatest trump card was the massive stockpile of ck powder he had hidden at the docks. By exploiting the information gap and the convenience of magic shaping, he could lure Anluke and the others there and blow them to the heavens. But now, it seemed like achieving that goal would be incredibly difficult.


    "Estimated win rate falls below the safety threshold. As per the agreement, extraterrestrials should not be considered protected targets. ording to the ''Federal Citizen Life Safety Act,'' your priority should be self-preservation."


    Lynn fell silent for a moment and then asked, "So, do you know why Jonny and Dove are risking their lives to enter Harbor Town?"


    "Ny-seven percent likelihood... they''vee to rescue you, sir."


    "So, you knew, 071?" Lynn gazed at the distant mes, speaking to himself in his mind. "Sometimes, extraterrestrials are human too..."


    Meanwhile, inside the church of Harbor Town, Archbishop Anluke was lost in thought as he gazed at the chaos in the town.


    The distant screams and cries made the attending priests turn pale, but Anluke appeared oblivious, turning to his side to address Aydan.


    "How have the interrogations been progressing thesest few days?" he asked.


    "Reporting, Your Grace, there seems to be a powerful psychic magic ced in Hawk''s brain. I''ve tried several methods but couldn''t break through that barrier," Aydan exined apologetically.


    A few days ago, while Archbishop Anluke led the elite guards to chase the devilish cultists, Aydan and his team hadunched an assault on Urtown. Following the information they had received from Will, they had gone to the Drunkard''s Tavern to capture the old Hawk, who had not managed to escape yet.


    However, what disappointed Aydan was that there was some kind of psychic magic protecting Hawk''s mind. When he tried to extract information using divine arts, he almost turned the man into a simpleton.


    The only thing they had gained was some information about Harbor Town, found in a secret room in the Drunkard''s Tavern.


    "No matter, we''ll soon have a new source of information," Anluke said casually, showing no intention of ming Aydan.


    "Your Grace, should we consider increasing our forces? If we continue like this, those two wizard apprentices might escape our control," Aydan cautiously asked as he looked at themotion to the west of Harbor Town.


    Due to someone''s move to ignite the town''s granaries, most of the stationed guards had been dispatched to put out the fire, leaving only two priests and three hundred guards in charge of the pursuit.


    Continuing like this might endanger more and more civilians...


    Aydan swallowed thetter part of his sentence silently. He had always disagreed with Archbishop Anluke''s decision to set the battlefield within Harbor Town. This only put the defenseless townsfolk in danger.


    "Now is not the time to act, Aydan!" Anluke''s weathered face took on a hint of severity as he gazed at the priest before him, speaking again. "Momentary mercy will only lead to more terrible disasters."


    "The hellfire that burns outside Urtown has yet to be extinguished. If we can''t capture the wizard named Karl this time, the terrifying scenes may rey in every corner of the Nordanian territories."


    "Merciful Lord will forgive our mistakes..."


    Anluke looked back at the mes over Harbor Town, chanting with a raspy voice.


    "May their souls return to the sacrednd, receiving eternal protection. May their spirits not fall into the abyss of the devil..."


    The priests in the church also showed apassionate expression and soon joined in singing a melodious hymn, wishing that the townspeople who died in this conflict, suffering boundless hardships in life, would find new life in the Lord''s sacred ground...


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 Chapter 37: The Turn of the Tide

    Chapter 37: The Turn of the Tide


    The melodious hymns echoed over the church, intertwining with the chaotic scenes in the seaside town, creating an eerie atmosphere.


    Adrian, amidst it all, felt as if his soul was being cleansed by the hymns, recalling the teachings from the Holy Scriptures.


    Life and death weren''t as important as they seemed; everywhere was the Lord''s pasture, and these townspeople''s sacrifices were simply an early return to the embrace of the Lord.


    After the hymn ended, Archbishop Anluke surveyed the crowd and spoke softly, "The great Eternal God, E, will be with us."


    Perhaps it was the words of the Archbishop, or perhaps E''s radiance had already reached this remote town, but outside the church, the chaos was rapidly subsiding.


    Surprisingly, Archbishop Anluke approached the window, looking down at the northwestern side of the seaside town. The mes that had been burning above the granary had been extinguished, and the townsfolk were being orderly evacuated from the battle zones.


    He couldn''t directly see the two wizard apprentices, but based on the trajectory of the ravens in the sky, Archbishop Anluke quickly deduced that the two were in trouble and were being driven away from the densely popted area.


    It seemed like their destination was the town''s harbor.


    "Who''s inmand on the front lines now?" Archbishop Anluke asked in amazement.


    "It should be Pastor Danny and Pastor Albert," Adrian replied.


    The Archbishop pondered the usual performance of these two pastors and didn''t remember them having such outstanding leadership skills. Could it be a judgment made by some captain of the town guard? With that thought in mind, Archbishop Anluke couldn''t help but develop an appreciation for their talents and sent a guard to inquire.


    Three minutester, a guard entered, casting a strange nce at Adrian and then gave a peculiar response, "Reporting to Archbishop, ording to the militiamen responsible for evacuation, it''s..."


    "It''s Pastor Adrian''s orders!"


    At these words, everyone present turned their gaze to Adrian, who appeared confused. He had remained in the church and had never gone outside.


    Archbishop Anluke''s expression immediately turned ugly. In the more than ten years he had served as Archbishop in the Nornd domain, he had encountered wizards proficient in shape-shifting magic, so he was well aware of the chaos they could cause.


    Under the questioning looks of everyone, Adrian seemed flustered, taking a step back. However, he quickly reacted, extending his hand to cast a divine spell, "Sacred Word: Shield!"


    Witnessing the divine shield radiating with brilliance, the doubts in the hearts of the priests present vanished. But what followed was a chilling sensation creeping up from their feet to their heads.


    If it really was Adrian here, then who was inmand on the front lines now?


    ...


    The priests who had been eagerly awaiting their leader were currently seated in a makeshift headquarters in the northern part of the seaside town. They sipped their tea and listened to reports from their "subordinates."


    "Lord Adrian, following your orders, the hastily assembled militia has sessfully evacuated the townsfolk. It won''t be long before we have a cleared area. Also, the fire in the granary has been brought under control. The istion spell you taught us was extremely effective..."


    Priest Danny spoke rapidly, describing the current situation in the town. He looked at Lynn with admiration in his eyes.


    Those darned devil worshippers were setting fires everywhere, running amok in the crowded alleys, and even managed to burn down the granary, causing them a great deal of trouble.


    Archbishop Anluke had only dispatched 800 soldiers to them. These soldiers were responsible for capturing the two witches, evacuating the townsfolk, and putting out the fires. Their manpower was severely insufficient.


    After several unsessful requests to transfer elite guards, denied by Archbishop Anluke, Danny had no choice but to repeatedly redeploy the personnel originally assigned for firefighting and assisting the townsfolk to chase after the devil worshippers, so they wouldn''t escape.


    However, the chaotic situation had changed immediately upon the arrival of "Lord Adrian."


    First, under "Adrian''s"mand, they used divine magic to calm down a group of fleeing townsfolk, forcefully conscripting able-bodied men. They then disbanded a small team of regr soldiers, assembling an ad-hoc militia guard, instantly multiplying their avable manpower several times.


    These untrained militiamen would likely break at the first sign ofbat, but they were passable for firefighting and rescue work.


    The istion spell and the sand-fire extinguishing method mentioned by the other side were both highly effective...


    Thinking of this, Priest Danny felt somewhat ashamed. He had previouslyined about Archbishop Anluke not providing enough manpower to handle theplex situation.


    Now, he had changed his mind, because "Adrian" had easily quelled the chaos with the same resources.


    It was safe to say that "Adrian" was indeed Lord Anluke''s right-hand man!


    Sitting in a chair, Lynn smiled as he listened to the priest''s words and praised him, "You''ve done a great job, Priest Danny. After tonight, I will personallymend your achievements to Lord Anluke."


    "Thank you, Lord Adrian. I''ve only done what I could. This is all thanks to you!" Priest Danny responded excitedly.


    Lynn waved his hand, bypassing the topic and inquiring, "Well, enough about that. Have you conveyed the orders I gave you earlier?"


    Danny nodded. ording to "Lord Adrian''s" n, their current task was to force the two witches to the empty area near the harbor. The Church had already stationed over a thousand crossbowmen there, ready to turn them into pincushions.


    This n would minimize casualties.


    Given "Adrian''s" excellentmand earlier, Danny had no doubts about this n.


    "So, Danny, your mission is perfectly aplished." Lynn stood up, patting Danny''s shoulder, and sighed, "Now it''s time to send you to meet with Pastor Albert!"


    Albert? What happened to him?


    Danny hesitated for a moment, not yet grasping the situation. However, a dazzling silver light suddenly streaked across his neck, and fresh red blood gushed from the wound. The young priest clutched his gaping neck, his face filled with disbelief, and copsed to the ground.


    Lynn looked at the lifeless body before him, shaking his head in resignation. He picked up a cloth from the table and wiped the bloodstains from the dagger.


    At this point, both of Archbishop Anluke''sckeys sent to lure Lynn had been taken care of. However, Lynn''s face didn''t show much happiness.


    After all, his opponent wasn''t a fool. Using Adrian''s identity to issue orders, Archbishop Anluke would soon realize something was amiss and deduce that Lynn possessed the ability to disguise himself as others.


    But this was precisely what Lynn wanted to achieve! Regr priests couldn''t break this kind of magic, so Archbishop Anluke... would have toe in person!


    Though it was a roundabout approach, Lynn had ultimately used his enemy''s power to lure out the Archbishop and redirect the uing battlefield back to the harbor in the seaside town!


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 Chapter 38: It Seems I Owe You an Apology This Time

    Chapter 38: It Seems I Owe You an Apology This Time


    "Multiple - des of Ice!"


    In a street in the northern part of Harbor Town, Jonny spread her hands, and a dense array of diamond-shaped ice des quickly materialized in the void, flying like locusts towards the guards blocking their path.


    Amidst the wails of agony, several guards who couldn''t dodge in time met their demise, but more soldiers armed with shields had already surrounded them.


    Jonny clenched her silver teeth, pulling her sword to parry a guard''s long spear. She then took the opportunity to rush forward, twirling her de to sever her opponent''s neck. Blood spurted out, but at the same moment, another guard swung a longsword toward her.


    The sharp de gleamed before her eyes, but after fighting continuously for half an hour, the young girl had already depleted her physical and magical stamina. She had no strength left to turn and defend against the iing longsword.


    Fortunately, at that moment, a fierce camel-like creature charged out, instantly toppling the guard to the ground. Seated atop the creature, Dove immediately blew the wooden flute in her hand.


    The circling flock of gray crows in the sky, as if guided by her, went berserk, diving at the shielded soldiers.


    Sharp talons and beaks wed and pecked at unprotected faces and necks, but they were just palm-sized birds. Despite their efforts, they struggled to inflict fatal wounds.


    Taking advantage of this opening, the two of them had already shifted to another direction. Dove''s face had grown paler, her hands weakly bracing against the camel-like creature, relying on it to move forward.


    Jonny looked at her with great concern and sighed silently.


    "It seems I owe you an apology this time, Dove!"


    "I never expected that we''d not only fail to rescue Karl but also fall into the Church''s trap..."


    Jonny conjured a fireball to temporarily drive back the pursuing guards, and she was beginning to regret her decision.


    It wasn''t that she regretted trying to save Lynn, but she regretted involving Dove in this mess.


    A few days ago, upon learning that the Church had arrested Devil Worshippers and was preparing to execute them after Monday, Jonny had the idea of a prison break.


    But with only her strength, she was too weak and had no chance of sess. Dove''s psychic magic was incredibly useful in this situation, allowing her to gather information, create chaos, or distract enemies by controlling creatures.


    Jonny had nned the entire rescue mission based on this. She had Dove send crows carrying fire seeds to ignite important ces like the granary, drawing the attention of the guards and causing chaos, before breaking into the prison to rescue the prisoners.


    However, once they had started the operation, Jonny realized how mistaken she had been. The guards of Harbor Town were already well-prepared and their reactions were lightning-fast.


    It seemed they had walked right into the trap set by the Church...


    "No, it''s me... I came here willingly." Despite trembling with fear, Dove, huddled on the camel-like creature, clenched her teeth and spoke.


    She was terrified of death, but she also knew that it was Lynn''s sacrifice that allowed them to escape the castle and live. So when Jonny learned of the n to rescue Lynn, Dove had resolutely followed her.


    The two young witches exchanged a nce, seeing the determination in each other''s eyes. Jonny''s grip on her longsword tightened as she encouraged Dove.


    "Their assault is weakening. We might still have a slim chance to escape."


    Dove nodded, tears glistening in her eyes, but she quickly put the wooden flute back to her lips and yed it again.


    The once formidable flock of crows, which had filled the sky, had dwindled to a hundred or so after several rounds of attacks. They could barely carry out reconnaissance tasks and couldn''t distract the enemy any longer.


    Almost all the pressure of directbat had fallen on Jonny.


    As if her prayers had been answered, the number of guards surrounding them began to decrease, and the intensity of their attacks noticeably waned. No one was attempting to charge at them fiercely anymore.


    However, Jonny''s expression grew increasingly grave. ording to the information Dove had gathered, the soldiers had gradually encircled them, leaving only one escape route.


    If they deviated from this path, they would face an unending wall of shields and a formation of swords. Even the most explosive fireball spell would struggle to break through.


    Was the enemy toying with them, or were they nning an encirclement?


    Jonny didn''t know, but she was well aware that stopping would mean death. Continuing to run might offer a slim chance of survival, however faint that hope might be.


    At the very least... she had to get Dove to safety.


    Just as she was thinking this, Dove, seated on the camel-like creature beside her, suddenly began to tremble violently and shouted in terror. "It''s Archbishop Anluke, the High Bishop of Nordend! He''s here, just... just to our right!"


    Jonny hesitated for a moment, then turned to see a dazzling white light rapidly charging towards them.


    That was a second-tier divine spell, the Holy Light Impact.


    "Ice Barrier!" Jonny managed to create an ice crystal wall with her right hand in front of her just in time, but the overwhelming white light was almost upon them!


    The hastily cast first-tier protective magic appeared fragile under the power of the divine spell. It burst after just one or two seconds, and the tremendous force instantly sent Jonny and Dove, who was seated on the camel-like creature, flying.


    Jonny hit the ground heavily, a sharp pain in her chest. A trickle of blood ran down her mouth, but she didn''t have the luxury of caring about her own pain. She climbed up from the ground in a sorry state, positioning herself in front of Dove and ring in the direction of the oing white light.


    Steady footsteps approached from a distance. Amid the scattered ice crystals and dust, an elderly figure dressed in a gilded robe, nked by a group of priests, appeared before them.


    His mere presence exuded an indescribable sense of oppression...


    Jonny''s pupils contracted. Although the man before them had undergone significant changes in appearance and his age didn''t match, she instantly recognized him based on his identity, attire, and Dove''s warning.


    The person before them was Archbishop Anluke!


    The scene of being pursued in Wiltown was still fresh in her mind. His strength and terror needed no description. It was not something that a few apprentice witches like them could contend with.


    What made Jonny even more desperate was that several figures appeared on their left as well. The one leading them was young, with a solemn face, and judging by their attire, they seemed to be a priest from the Church.


    Both sides soon formed a circr formation,pletely enclosing Jonny and Dove.


    At this moment, Jonny and Dove were like birds trapped in a cage, with any possibility of escape entirely cut off!


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 Chapter 39: Am I Not Right Here with You?

    Chapter 39: Am I Not Right Here with You?


    Considering the two witches were about to be used as bait to lure a formidable enemy, the priests didn''t immediately take action. Instead, they turned their gaze to the priest ''Jonny'' across from them, eagerly inquiring,


    "Jonny, where is Archbishop Aydan now?"


    "What do you mean? Isn''t Lord Aydan right here with you?" The leader of the priests took a baffled step forward, questioning.


    "Allow me to exin. ording to the Archbishop''s spection, the devil''s follower just impersonated my appearance and is responsible for directing your every move¡­"


    Aydan exined, about to continue when a withered arm suddenly blocked his path.


    "Lord Archbishop?" Aydan paused, his confusion evident.


    Without a word and without hesitation, Archbishop Anluke raised his staff.


    Tier Three Divine Art - Radiant Spirit''s Light!


    Dazzling points of light illuminated from the staff''s tip, then transformed into a resonating shockwave, spreading in a semicircr shape towards the front, enveloping Jonny, Dove, ''Priest Jonny,'' and even the guards behind them.


    The battered road crackedyer byyer under the erosion of the powerful energy wave. Both witches felt the swift approach of death!


    A dozen types of magic shed through Jonny''s mind, but she couldn''t think of any magic that could resist this terrifying Tier Three Divine Art...


    It seemed that awaiting death had be their only choice!


    Hazy, Jonny saw the young priest to her left also raising his hand.


    Then, a massive demon handposed of endless mes burst out from the ground, forming a semicircr palm, like a shield wall that protected them.


    This was the improved magic - White Phosphorus: me Demon''s Hand!


    Powerful divine art shed with magic, apanied by a tremendous explosion. The shattered road directly exploded, and the scorching airstream overturned the surrounding vegetation.


    Countless dust and rubble flew into the air. The burning "Hellfire" formed a solid firewall, forcibly separating the two witches, Archbishop Anluke, and the others.


    "Don''t just stand there, let''s go!"


    Jonny hadn''t yet recovered from this sudden turn of events when the young priest had already severed the throats of several guards by her side, grabbed their arms, sted through the alley''s wall, and raced off with the two of them.


    "What on earth is going on? Who are you?" Jonny ran alongside Lynn, her mind filled with questions.


    Why would a clergyman of the Holy See have witchcraft abilities, and why would he save them?


    Suddenly, Jonny recalled the words of the priests from earlier...


    Could it be shapeshifting magic?


    "Howe you''ve forgotten me in just a few days?" Lynn''s face swiftly transformed back to its original appearance, teasingly remarking.


    "Karl?!" Dove''s face immediately showed a mix of surprise and bewilderment, with a hint of innocence. "But when did you learn shapeshifting magic?"


    Before Lynn could respond, Jonny eagerly inquired, "Wait, weren''t you captured by the Holy See?"


    "Coincidentally, up until tonight, I thought you were enduring the Holy See''s torture," Lynn shrugged helplessly. They all seemed to have underestimated the powers theirpanion possessed.


    "So... we were all deceived?" Jonny realized, remembering the incredible power disyed by Lynn''s me Demon''s Hand, which allowed him to survive alone amidst Archbishop Anluke''s pursuit.


    "Where have you been hiding all these days? Did you go to find Loude and the Ship Gang?" Lynn asked, slightly puzzled.


    After entering the port town, his main objectives, besides obtaining a ship for crossing the sea, were to gather information about the two witches. ording to his understanding, if they hadn''t been captured by the Holy See, they should have sought the other''s help.


    Jonny shook her head in frustration. The port town was heavily guarded, with Holy See priests stationed at every checkpoint. They had no way to sneak in, so for these days, they''d been catching jackdaws in the woods, using these inconspicuous birds to gather information.


    As the three were exining, behind them, dozens of sharp arrows were already speeding towards them.


    Obviously, in just a few seconds, Archbishop Anluke had figured out how to break through that wall of fire.


    Lynn turned to look, his Overload Mode processing each arrow''s flight trajectory as data in his mind.


    [Spell - Barrage]


    In his thoughts, thirty-six flying projectilesposed of pure magic hovered in the air. Then, they were fired with pinpoint precision, detonating each of the numerous arrows in mid-air.


    Jonny and Dove, who were just preparing to cast defensive spells, stopped and looked at Lynn. They couldn''t help but feel a sense of relief.


    "Where are we going now?" Jonny asked in rapid speech.


    "We have a ship at the town''s pier. If we can get there, we''ll have a chance to escape," Lynn exined sinctly, ncing back once more as Archbishop Anluke and the others caught up.


    From their appearance, the Archbishop looked almost like an elderly man about to beid to rest, with gray hair and sunken eyes, but his movements were swifter than the other priests around him.


    Previously, when he''d disguised himself as Aydan, Lynn had learned some information: the Holy See''s senior clergy had received blessings from the gods, granting them physical attributes far beyond ordinary people. Directly confronting them was not a good idea.


    He had originally nned to appear as Priest Jonny, seeing if he could trick them further or set up a sneak attack, but to his surprise, the Archbishop immediately recognized him.


    Was it because hecked the divine radiance himself?


    Lynn pondered silently. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks was increasing, and the port town''s pier was already in the distance.


    Just then, Dove suddenly grabbed his wrist tightly, her lips quivering, and with a shaky, teary voice, she screamed, "I see many soldiers in armor, too many of them, at least... at least thousands!"


    Through the eyes of the jackdaws, Dove''s heart was already filled with fear, as countless armored guards with massive shields approached them like a ck tidal wave.


    A shiver ran down Jonny''s spine as well. She hadn''t expected that aside from Archbishop Anluke, the port town concealed an elite guard of thousands.


    However, in this perilous moment, Lynn couldn''t help but smile.


    "Perfect, after waiting for so long, they''re finally making a move!"


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 Chapter 40: The Port Town...Turned Upside Down!

    Chapter 40: The Port Town...Turned Upside Down!


    Jonny and Dove watched Lynn, who suddenly appeared delighted, utterly puzzled as to why he could still find a reason to smile.


    "Come on, we need to move quickly!" Lynn didn''t bother to exin; he couldn''t be sure if the priests had some form of divine magic to eavesdrop on their conversation.


    In the entire port town, Lynn was most apprehensive about Archbishop Anluke and the hidden three thousand elite guards. Now that these two troubles had converged, it was undoubtedly an ideal situation.


    "Praise A¡ªStorm of the Dawn!"


    Behind them, the hoarse chanting of the Archbishop resounded once again, and an invisible storm carrying a plethora of debris and dust came rushing toward them.


    The clergy of the Church continued to cast spells, sealing off their retreat with severalyers of divine magic.


    "Jonny, Dove!" Lynn gestured to the two witches, and they, understanding the unspokenmand, channeled their remaining magic power and employed the "Transmute Stone to Sand" spell. Under its magical influence, the sturdy base of the watchtower crumbled into sand.


    With a cacophony of violent impacts, the watchtower that had stood at the harbor for nearly a century, providing direction to countless ships, copsed with a deafening crash.


    The falling boulders and wooden framework not only shielded them from the invisible storm but also pinned two priests who couldn''t evade in time under their weight.


    Seizing this opportunity, Lynn and hispanions had already distanced themselves by nearly a hundred meters.


    Archbishop Anluke''s fury had reached its limit. He cleared away the debris blocking his path with several "Holy Light Strikes" and was about to attack again when the ground beneath the port town slightly trembled.


    Not just Archbishop Anluke, Lynn and the others also felt the same sensation, but the cause of this phenomenon was neither magic nor divine arts.


    Elite guards from Nornd, wearing ck armor, standing in perfect formation, and holding huge shields, quickly appeared in the sight of everyone. The arrows on their waists and the palpable aura of death in the air sent shivers down their spines.


    Compared to the jubnt clergy of the Church, the bodies of the two witches involuntarily shivered.


    With this many of them, how could they possibly fight back?


    It''s worth noting that fully-armored elite guards like these were rare even in the entire empire. It could be said that the Duke of Nornd had spared no expense in hunting down these wizards.


    In front of them, thousands of soldiers had already raised their crossbows, and a dense rain of arrows, with a sharp whistling sound, shot out like a storm, leaving almost no gaps.


    The moment Lynn saw the guards raise their shields, he immediately picked up Dove, rolled behind a broken high wall, and took cover.


    The sharp arrows struck the makeshift wall, bursting it into clouds of dust and debris.


    "What do we do now?" Jonny anxiously inquired.


    Lynn didn''t reply. He clenched his palm, and a massive fireball formed in his hand. Then, without hesitation, he flung it into the sky.


    From a few hundred meters away, it looked as if a fireworks disy had erupted in the sky above the port town.


    Almost instantly, Archbishop Anluke recalled the horrifying witchcraft Lynn had used to annihte dozens of elite guards and shouted without hesitation, "Everyone, defend!"


    The dense barrage of arrows immediately ceased. Three thousand soldiers stood in perfect formation, raising their massive shields towards the sky. The priests in attendance didn''t dare to be negligent and applied numerous protective divine spells in the vicinity.


    In the gaze of everyone, the fireball that had risen into the sky suddenly exploded, releasing a plethora of dazzling sparks before gradually dissipating into the night sky.


    The expectant expressions on the faces of the two witches froze instantly, but Lynn, looking at the sky, casually remarked, "No worries, let the fireball fly for a while!"


    Fly? Wasn''t this magic already over?


    Jonny raised his head in bewilderment, only then noticing the faint specks of light flying from the other side of the sea.


    As the faint lights drew closer, the witches realized it wasn''t light at all ¨C it was a barrage of hundreds of ming arrows!


    "Is that reinforcement?" Aden and the others also noticed this and quickly analyzed that the fireball magic earlier was not intended for them; it was merely a signal.


    However, this reinforcement seemed rather feeble...


    Perhaps due to the long distance and poor visibility at night, the fiery arrows soaring across the sky werepletely off target. Even if they stood still without any defense, they wouldn''t be hit.


    Is that it? Is that all?


    The several priests were feeling greatly disappointed, finding their earlier fear and apprehension somewhat absurd. They had allowed themselves to be frightened by a few devilish cultists.


    Only Archbishop Anluke sensed something was amiss. His dark and murky eyes gradually transformed into a radiant dark gold. The unknown was often the most terrifying, but it was toote to intervene now. The oil-coated arrows rained down haphazardly on various corners of the harbor.


    An indescribable sense of crisis gradually enveloped every individual, with no direction and no source.


    In the midst of the people''s anxiety, confusion, and fear, an endless sea of fire and light engulfed the entire harbor, as if doomsday had arrived. The entire city trembled violently.


    The roar was a thousand times louder than thunder, and the mes and shockwaves instantly leveled the low, modest houses nearby. The air boiled intensely, and a massive cloud of dust and steam rose, mingling with the thick smoke.


    Houses copsed, massive stones were sent flying, and the tide, driven by the terrifying force, surged back and then unleashedrger waves onto the shore.


    Some yellowish-white sparks drifted down from the cloud of smoke, as if a fire rain had fallen over the port, illuminating the entire sea, which was the white phosphorus mixed in with ck powder.


    All of this urred in the blink of an eye. It was almost as if, in the time it took to blink, the entire harbor had been turned upside down, bing a devastated wastnd.


    The only rtively intact ce was under Jonny and the others'' feet. When they had set up the traps, they had meticulously designed the cement of every explosive charge.


    Even so, the powerful shockwaves still shattered the earthy barriers, and Lynn had to cast several protective spells in session to barely fend off the aftermath.


    The two witches behind the wall felt their minds go nk for a moment, followed by a persistent ringing in their ears.


    When the explosion finally subsided, the thousands of elite guards in ck armor and the relentless Church priests had vanished without a trace. All that remained before them were the wreckage and a roaring sea of mes.


    What is this?


    Is this hell?


    The two witches stood in a daze, unable to react for a good while.


    ...


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 Chapter 41: Heavens Judgment!

    Chapter 41: Heaven''s Judgment!


    Several minutes passed before the brief ringing in their ears gradually subsided, and the two witches snapped back to reality amidst a familiar shout.


    "Hold your breath... filter the oxygen with magic!"


    Jonny suddenly regained herposure, turned to look, and saw Lynn standing before a zing inferno, gazing ahead as the scorching waves made her robes rustle.


    The two witches were unfamiliar with the concept of oxygen, but they understood the need to hold their breath.


    But what kind of magic was this?


    Jonny was amazed and couldn''t find the right words, while Dove huddled against a copsed wall, too terrified by the scattered limbs and gore on the ground to stand.


    Lynn didn''t pay much attention to the two witches'' states, her expression solemn as she stared at the once bustling harbor, now reduced to ruins.


    In theory, no one should have survived such an explosion, yet the opposite was true. A figure stood in the center of the raging inferno!


    Calling it a figure might be inurate because at this moment, Archbishop Anluke no longer resembled a human. His once magnificent golden robes had been torn to shreds, and his entire body was engulfed in a white phosphorus fire that burned at over a thousand degrees.


    From any angle, Anluke should be dead. In fact, he should have died days ago in the great battle outside the town of Uhl. But his humble prayers had invoked a shred of divine mercy...


    A thread of divine power forcibly preserved his life. When he sensed danger, Anluke had willingly harnessed this divine energy and used a fourth-level divine spell, the "Divine Sanctum," to resist the devastating explosion.


    However, the power of a fourth-level divine spell was limited and couldn''t block the subsequent shockwaves. His flesh and organs were continuously roasted at temperatures exceeding a thousand degrees, and his life was now in its final countdown.


    At this moment, Anluke felt no pain in his mind. Only pure faith remained.


    Death and suffering were merely the tests and tribtions one must endure to reach paradise! Anluke did not fear death, but if he could send the witch before him to hell, he was certain that the Lord would reward him even more in heaven...


    "Praise - Heaven''s Judgment!" Anluke''s vocal cords had long been destroyed, but as his trembling lips moved, a glimmer of light appeared on his burning fingertips.


    It was the purest light of death, rapidly expanding... The mes retreated, rocks shattered, and everything in its path dissolved under the power of this light.


    "Ice Barrier."


    Lynn reached out, and one sturdy ice crystal wall after another erected, but they were useless. They crumbled almost instantly. Nevertheless, Lynn used this brief moment of obstruction to sidestep, avoiding the deathly light.


    Behind her, the pure light crashed into the surging sea, creating waves over ten meters high.


    Anluke was relentless. He cast another spell, this time with a wider range, the inescapable "Apocalypse Storm!"


    It was at this moment that Dove spoke!


    A piercing sound wave swept through the entire area, and Anluke''s actions came to an imperceptible halt. The tempest he had just conjured dissipated.


    But soon, the archbishop turned his head. His irises shimmered with a dark golden glow, and without any visible movement, Dove seemed to be choked, just like someone had grabbed her by the throat. The sharp sound wave came to an abrupt stop.


    The horrifying bacsh pierced through the witch''s mental defenses, and the girl''s body slumped to the ground, coughing up blood.


    "Dove!" Jonny hurriedly approached and helped the young witch up, checking on her condition.


    Lynn''s face now carried a tinge of anger. Dozens of Magic Missiles appeared in the air, rapidly igniting into numerous miniature white phosphorus fireballs, and they hurtled towards Archbishop Anluke.


    Third-tier divine spell - "Holy Barrier"!


    Confronted by the swarm of fireballs, Anluke dared not take them head-on. He immediately shifted to a defensive stance. Even with a touch of divine power, his current condition didn''t allow for the continuous use of higher-tier divine spells. He could only employ two "Holy Barriers" to counter the threat.


    The intangible barrier shed with the exploding fireballs, and soon crumbled. However, the second "Holy Barrier" behind it remained resilient, sessfully blocking the remaining white phosphorus fireballs.


    At that moment, Lynn extended her right hand and clenched it tightly. The mes scattered around Anluke and those adhering to the invisible barrier seemed to receive some sort of guidance. They swiftly converged into a ming ethereal hand that seized Anluke within its fiery grasp.


    Crack...


    The unexpected turn of events caught the Archbishop off guard. The previously battered "Holy Barrier" was instantly crushed by the hand of mes. With no other option, Anluke unleashed his remaining divine power to contend with the fearsome white phosphorus fire.


    In unison, Lynn and Anluke staked their dwindling powers on this single attack. A dazzling divine light intermingled with the raging fire, canceling each other out...


    At the same time, Jonny, holding Dove, shouted with frustration.


    "Magic Missiles!"


    Several Magic Orbs appeared around the girl and rapidly revolved,unching towards the Archbishop.


    Under normal circumstances, Anluke would not have considered such feeble magic. But in the current situation, the iing "Magic Missiles" became the final straw that broke the camel''s back.


    The delicate bnce was immediately disrupted. The colossal hand of mes slowly prated the dazzling divine light, crushing the Archbishop, who wore an expression of bitter unwillingness.


    It wasn''t until the moment of death that Anluke suddenly realized that the two witches he had underestimated all along were not as useless as he had imagined.


    Watching Anluke''s body crumble in the grasp of the "me Daemon''s Hand," Lynn couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Then, he remained vignt and looked around, deeply concerned that his actions might provoke the wrath of the divine...


    Fortunately, his concerns didn''te true as the horrifying aura in the air gradually dissipated.


    It was finally over...


    Lynn''s body swayed, almost copsing to the ground. An entire night of continuous battle had depleted his magical energy and physical strength, leaving him mentally exhausted.


    "Overload mode deactivated, energy remaining 2.1%."


    The alert tone of the Mindcore resonated in his mind. Lynn pushed his body to remain upright and turned his attention to Dove, whoy unconscious in Jonny''s arms.


    "How is Dove?"


    "I don''t know. Her condition is critical; she needs immediate treatment," Jonny replied with great concern.


    Lynn nced at the surging sea before him. If Loude received the signal he had transmitted and followed the n, the ship should have arrived by now...


    But why was there no sign of the ship?


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 Chapter 42: Return! Turn this ship around immediately!

    Chapter 42: Return! Turn this ship around immediately!


    A few minutes ago, on the Sea of Mists.


    A burly man tightly gripped a longsword in his hand, with a fierce intent to strike Loude, but as the de descended, it suddenly stopped in its tracks. His once menacing expression contorted into one filled with doubt, and he cautiously inquired, "Mr. Loude, do you really want me to strike?"


    "Quit the nonsense and strike!" Lame Loude gritted his teeth and extended his right hand, revealing a prominent me mark on the back.


    As he gave the order, Loude''s heart sank, but he had no other choice.


    From the very beginning, he had little confidence in the audacious and oundish rescue mission by a certain wizard. So, when chaos erupted in the harbor town and all the ns they had made were foiled, Loude quickly realized that the wizards who remained in the town would soon meet their demise!


    That''s why, amidst the chaos in the harbor town, Loude took decisive action, gathering a group of men and making his escape.


    Benefitting from the fact that the Church had devoted most of its efforts to dealing with Lynn and the others, they didn''t have much trouble seizing control of this ship and loading it with valuables before setting sail from the harbor town.


    The only concern that now troubled Loude was the me mark on his hand. If that wizard realized that he had fled during a time of crisis, he might decide to drag Loude to hell with him.


    For someone who knew little about magic, his only option was to sever his hand!


    The burly man with contorted muscles hesitated to strike with the sword, and Loude''s emotions fluctuated along with the man''s hesitation. Finally, Loude snatched the sword in irritation. It seemed more efficient to do it himself!


    "Boss, it''s a signal, a signal!"


    At the ship''s bow, a sailor suddenly shouted, and Loude instinctively looked in that direction. A fireball was rising from the harbor''s pier, exploding in the night sky.


    Loude was somewhat surprised; he had assumed that the cunning and ruthless wizard was as good as dead. He hadn''t expected the wizard to return to the harbor pier.


    Thinking about it, he turned to the first mate, who held alchemical goggles.


    "I saw many ck Armor Guards; they''ve all been deployed, and Archbishop Anluke is there too! It seems the wizard lords are surrounded..." The first mate swallowed hard and continued, "It seems we''ve been hunted all the way here."


    Loude suddenly understood. They had been lured to the predetermined location. After a brief thought, he stated straightforwardly, "Fire a round of rockets ording to the n, and then we''ll immediately set sail across the sea!"


    Since the enemy had sessfully led Archbishop Anluke and others to the agreed-upon location, Loude had no reason to be heartless. Firing a round of rockets from a distance wasn''t much trouble, but offering assistance onshore was out of the question.


    Loude couldn''t believe that in this dire situation, the enemy could make a significant impact. There was no way they would instantly be great wizards, annihting thousands of elite guards with their magic.


    This was beyond the realm of the absurd.


    Cut or not cut...


    How much should he cut...


    This was a question worth pondering!


    Just as Lame Loude was about to make up his mind to act, the entire ship suddenly lurched violently. A deafening roar echoed in his ears, followed by an enormous, earth-shaking impact that sent him sprawling to the ground. His body rolled all the way to the base of the mast, and his head thudded against a crossbeam.


    Loude''s head was still ringing, and his clothes were drenched by the surging waves. After a while, he managed to sit up, clutching his aching waist and abdomen. He looked up and asked the first mate beside him, "What''s happening? Have we run into a storm?"


    However, the first mate, with a vacant look, didn''t respond. He stared in the direction of the harbor pier and muttered to himself, "It''s over, all over..."


    "What''s over?" Loude frowned, displeased.


    Could it be that the battle at the pier had already determined its oue, and the wizard lords were all finished?


    Loude turned to look, and when he saw the scene before him clearly, he couldn''t help but take a sharp breath.


    He realized it wasn''t the wizards who were finished; it was the entire harbor town!


    A massive cloud of dust was rising from above the city, and the previously dim night sky had turned into a brilliant fiery red, as if something had torn through the darkness.


    The once bustling and beautiful harbor had been reduced to rubble, with billowing smoke rising and a raging heatwave sweeping upward, turning the sky red. A dense rain of fire was falling from the massive dust cloud, creating a scene reminiscent of hell.


    Loude swallowed hard, and his legs trembled slightly. Even though he couldn''t see clearly what was happening at the pier from this distance, he understood that under such overwhelming power, the so-called ck Armor Guards and Church priests were insignificant.


    Could it be that he had seriously underestimated the enemy, and they were, in fact, a deeply hidden great wizard?


    The magic that the enemy referred to as "fireworks" was truly terrifying. Loude wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The downfall of a harbor city was undoubtedly the most "spectacr" sight he had ever witnessed.


    "Mr. Loude, should we turn back now?" a sailor stammered, asking.


    But before Loude could respond, a dazzling death ray shot from the pier, crashing into the sea surface a hundred meters away, sending up a spray of waves several meters high. The ship with its billowing sails rocked violently once more. Loude immediately jumped up, shouting anxiously, "Turn back! Turn this ship around immediately!"


    The sailors on board hurriedly adjusted the sails and changed course, not daring to waste a single moment. In their eyes, this was undoubtedly a stark warning from the wizard lord! If they didn''t turn back now, the next spell might directly hit their ship!


    Loude hastily changed into a more presentable outfit, and despite his still trembling legs, he put on his most weing smile, ready to greet the ruthless wizard lord. The idea of cutting off his hand was now far from his mind.


    On the side, the burly man tugged on the ship''s ropes, deeply grateful for his earlier judgment. He was relieved he hadn''t gone through with cutting Loude''s hand; otherwise, he might be the one who''s now been killed!


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 Chapter 43: The Projection of the Divine

    Chapter 43: The Projection of the Divine


    Under the dedicated efforts of the sailors, therge sailboat sailed across the turbulent sea,ing to a halt at a partially destroyed dock.


    Feeling the scorching hot air, although Loude had prepared himself mentally, he couldn''t help but shiver as he gazed up close at the port that had turned into ruins. The smile on his face became even more eager.


    "Loude, you''ve finally arrived. I thought you might have sessfully crossed the sea by now," Lynn, along with Jonny and the unconscious Dove, boarded the sailboat with the wooden nks ced down heavily.


    "Hahaha, Wizard, you jest... How could that be possible? It''s just that the ns changed temporarily, and we didn''t receive your follow-up orders, so we had to drift on this sea while waiting," Loude chuckled, calmly exining.


    Lynn didn''t expose their intentions. There wasn''t much friendship between them and the Ship''s Gang to begin with. Their temporary cooperation was solely based on the threat from the Church and theirmon goal of crossing the sea to reach the Wizard''s territory.


    So even though he suspected they might have abandoned him and fled, Lynn wasn''t angry.


    "Loude, is there a physician on this ship?" Jonny interjected, urgently asking as he looked at Dove, who remained unconscious.


    Loude, after ncing at the unconscious Dove, immediately realized the severity of the situation. He instructed his assistant to fetch the ship''s physician. He had prepared various herbs to deal with any unexpected situations during the sea voyage.


    However, after the ship''s physician examined Dove, he shook his head in helplessness. "The injuries thisdy witch has sustained aren''t severe, but her current condition may be due to other issues."


    Upon hearing this, Jonny immediately thought of the time Dove had used the "Soul Shriek" to attack Archbishop Anluke, which resulted in a bacsh on her own soul. This was likely a spiritual trauma.


    Seeing that the ship''s physician was unable to help, the silver-haired witch turned to Lynn, herst glimmer of hope in her eyes.


    ''071,'' Lynn silently called out in his mind.


    <b>[Preliminary diagnosis: Target has suffered severe mental trauma. Rmend immediate transfer to the Federal Medical Center for professional neurological examination.]</b>


    Lynn felt somewhat helpless. He needed to get back there, and while the Federation had advanced technology, their knowledge of consciousness and soul studies was limited. Most of that information was ssified and not something someone like him had the authority to ess or review.


    So, under the hopeful gaze of the witch, Lynn reluctantly shook his head.


    Dove, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, curled up her body, her eyes tightly closed, lips slightly parted, her breathing bing more rapid. As her lips moved in a murmuring fashion, she unconsciously called out the names of her family. Her voice grew weaker, her hands trembled incessantly, as if trying to grasp something elusive.


    Jonny held Dove tightly, tears glistening in his sapphire eyes. He had already be speechless.


    Lynn watched this scene and sighed. He couldn''t do everything, but he took a step forward, gently holding Dove''s trembling hand, offering her a bit offort.


    <b>[Unknown energy detected... Extract?]</b>


    Suddenly, a system notification sounded in Lynn''s mind. He hesitated for a moment as he watched the girl''s vitality gradually fade away, then, after much thought, silently recited in his mind.


    "Yes."


    In the perceptive gaze, an almost imperceptible glow flowed through Dove''s arm and into her body, stopping after about half a minute.


    <b>[Special energy absorbed, estimated to be convertible into a twelve percent energy reserve. Do you wish to use it immediately?]</b>


    "No!" Lynn immediately responded in his mind.


    While he didn''t know what the fluorescent substance absorbed by the smart brain was, one thing he was certain of was that it had already been recorded as magic power. So he could exclude that, leaving the possibility of... the soul?


    A mysterious guess flickered in Lynn''s mind. Over the past few days, many people had died in front of him, and he had been the one responsible for many killings. This was the first time the smart brain had provided a prompt.


    Was there something unique about Dove?


    Lynn felt a mix of emotions, along with deep curiosity. However, the situation changed again as Jonny, holding Dove, suddenly copsed.


    Everyone present was startled. Loude even shot an angry re at the physician, urging him to do something quickly. If this wizard were to be angry, they would all be in deep trouble!


    After a frantic examination, the result finally brought relief to everyone. Jonny had merely passed out due to exhaustion and extreme grief.


    Loude immediately ordered a few maids to take Jonny below decks to rest, then turned his gaze to Dove, who was lying on the ground. He cautiously inquired, "What should we do with thisdy witch?"


    Lynn didn''t reply. He knelt down and ced his hand on Dove''s abdomen. A freezing ice crystal appeared around her, eventually forming a massive ice coffin that encased her.


    Although he currently had no means to save her, in the Wizard''s territory, there might be wizards proficient in various mystical magics who could help.


    "Look, the fires in the Harbor Town seem to have gone out!" A sailor suddenly shouted loudly.


    Loude and the others immediately turned to look. In the time they had been dyed, the sailboat had already sailed out of the harbor and into the Sea of Mist. But even from a distance, they could clearly see the red mes in the sky above Harbor Town slowly fading.


    The Church''s reinforcements must have arrived. Lynn quickly thought of this. Archbishop Anluke hadn''t been able to do anything with white phosphorus before, so the ones capable of resolving the crisis in Harbor Town must be higher-ranking clergy!


    The next moment, a colossal goddess illusion,rge enough to cover the entire city, appeared in the sky above Harbor Town. Her crystalline and transparent body shone brilliantly under the light of the silver moon, irresistiblypelling people to approach, kneel, and confess their sins before her.


    Is that Eira?


    Lynn suppressed the shock in his heart, while Loude and the others trembled in fear, burying their heads on the deck.


    The goddess''s face, impossible to discern, gradually turned her gaze towards them.


    Fortunately, at that moment, the dense fog around them had surged up, and the entire sailboat disappeared from the surface of the sea...


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 Chapter 44: Archbishop Edwills Arrival

    Chapter 44: Archbishop Edwill''s Arrival


    "Hell... this is hell descending! Oh, great Lord, please save your faithful..."


    As the scene that seemed like doomsday itself unfolded, chaos engulfed the entire harbor town. The hastily organized militia was powerless to maintain order, and throughout the streets and alleys, one could see frantic figures running.


    The roaring mes that had erupted from the docks continued to expand in the direction of the wind, as if they aimed to engulf the entire harbor town.


    "Get the things causing the fire moved away, create arge enough open area! Where is the fire brigade? Get moving!" Captain Teris, the temporary leader of the guards, shouted desperately, attempting to use the istion spell taught by Lord Adan to block the spreading fire.


    Unfortunately, the morale of the entire guard was on the brink of copse. Many people had abandoned their weapons and were running away from the harbor town as if in a frenzy,pletely ignoring his orders.


    Seeing the advancing tongues of fire, Teris was already in despair.


    It was at that very moment that a thunderous voice resounded in his ears.


    "Praise be to E¡ªThe Kingdom descends!"


    In this moment, the intensely chaotic harbor town seemed to freeze in time. Everyone who had been frantically fleeing came to a halt, almost instinctively stopping in their tracks, looking up at the night sky.


    The dust cloud that had shrouded the city''s sky was torn apart by the influence of some powerful force. Subsequently, a dazzling white radiance descended from the heavens, bathing every corner of the harbor town.


    Under the cleansing light, everyone felt a surge of renewed vitality, and the despair and fear in their hearts quickly receded.


    A man who had his leg crushed by falling debris during the disaster astonishingly found that his broken leg had miraculously healed. His face disyed an overwhelming fervor of devotion.


    The zing mes, referred to as the hellfire, the embodiment of the devil, which had covered half the city, rapidly extinguished and vanished without a trace under this power.


    Following that, the pure and untarnished white radiance gradually coalesced into the ethereal figure of a holy and noble goddess. She gazed down upon the people, her eyes sparkling with stars, exuding an air of mystery and majesty.


    "Oh, Lord, you have not forsaken your most devout followers!"


    "The devil... the devil is dead... Oh, great Lord of the Stars, E, we thank you for your redemption..."


    "Oh, Lord, I must repent for my sins..."


    Thousands of townsfolk in the harbor town knelt down one after another, continuously praying and expressing their gratitude for the grace of the Lord. Many of them passionately kissed the ground, demonstrating their piety.


    Among all the people present, the only one who managed to retain some sense of reason was Teris.


    After being bathed in the white light, he, too, felt a fervent devotion welling up within him. However, he did not kneel down on the spot; it was as though some mystical force had prevented him from doing so.


    Unbeknownst to him, a middle-aged man wearing a red and gold robe, with an iron mask, had appeared by his side.


    "Archbishop, Lord Edwill!" Teris immediately recognized the neer''s identity from his attire and respectfully saluted.


    "Where is Anluke? Why has the harbor town turned into such a state?" Edwill nced at the townsfolk who were devoutly praying and asked directly. "If I''m not mistaken, the witch-hunting ritual was supposed to begin tomorrow at noon."


    Two days ago, the Holy City had received a plea for help from Anluke, the Archbishop of Nornd. Leading an elite guard, he had almost been wiped out while attempting to capture several witches. Even the use of divine magic hadn''t allowed him to apprehend any of the witches.


    ording to the Inquisition''s procedures, even the most troublesome witches weren''t worth his personal intervention. However, Anluke had specifically mentioned in his letter that the witch in question was very young and could pose a future threat to the Church.


    What was even more terrifying was that this witch had the ability to wield a unique hellfire. If it spread, it could likely consume an entire town in a short time, and Anluke had no means to counter it.


    Considering this, to ensure that nothing went wrong, he had decided to personally visit the harbor town. Along the way, he had sensed the fluctuation caused by the eruption of divine power and had rushed here as quickly as possible.


    Unfortunately, he was still a step toote.


    "The situation is as follows, Archbishop Edwill. Earlier tonight, two devil''s disciples infiltrated the harbor town and set fire to the granary..." Teris recounted the events concisely.


    Upon hearing that the one responsible for destroying the harbor docks was the very witch he was pursuing, Edwill''s expression grew solemn.


    The fact that a powerful wizard had been concealing his abilities, lurking within the borders of Nornd, implied that he was plotting some conspiracy against the Empire and the Church.


    With this in mind, Edwill used the divine projection through his sight to observe a sailing warship entering the fog from afar. After a rough estimation of the distance, he quickly abandoned the idea of taking action. Even with his most potent divine magic, it was not enough to threaten a powerful wizard from such a distance.


    "You''ve done well this time, at least it hasn''t caused the Empire greater losses."


    To Edwill, revealing a deeply hidden high wizard at the cost of half of the harbor town was a reason for celebration.


    Previously, he had considered Anluke a useless leader, being brought into such a dire situation by a formal wizard. He had intended to relieve Anluke of his position as Archbishop after this incident. However, now it seemed like an unjust usation. Anluke''s failure was solely due to the overwhelming strength of the enemy.


    Moreover, the casualties among the harbor town''s residents were much lower than he had expected. Edwill had anticipated that in a disaster of this magnitude, at least over half of the tens of thousands of townspeople would have been killed or injured. However, from the number of spirits collected within the sanctuary, less than five thousand people had died, including three thousand ck Armor Guards.


    This was nothing short of a miracle...


    "This was all Lord Adan''s instructions," Teris said with no intention of taking credit, his face bearing a hint of resentment. "But Lord Adan has already followed Archbishop Anluke into the harbor, and now, I''m afraid..."


    "What a pity," Edwillmented. Being able to swiftly quell the chaos in the harbor town and organize the militia guards to evacuate the townsfolk was a rare talent formand.


    "Has Anluke gathered any information about that high wizard in these past few days?" Edwill inquired once more.


    Teris hesitated for a moment. These were not things that he, as the captain of the guard, could ess. Thankfully, the lord of the harbor town, Merk, had arrived at this moment. Upon learning of Archbishop Edwill''s request, he promptly retrieved the information that Anluke had previously handed over.


    However, after skimming through the parchment scroll for a few moments, Edwill''s expression quickly hardened.


    Carl... the illegitimate son of Viscount Sten of the Empire, only seventeen years old, went missing six months ago, around the same time that the captured wizard, Kora, arrived in Sten territory. It was spected that this individual named Carl might be one of Kora''s apprentices.


    "Who collected this nonsense of information?" Edwill scolded angrily.


    This was utter nonsense. An apprentice, not even in the service of a formal wizard for more than half a year, using magic capable of destroying half of a harbor town? The intelligence personnel of Nornd territory must have gone mad...


    The lord of the harbor town quivered and did not dare to reply.


    Edwill paid no further attention to Merk but retrieved a golden tome from his waist and flipped to the most recent page. Using his finger as a pen, he inscribed the new information.


    <b>[Name: Carl (Unconfirmed Real Name)</b>


    <b>Highly Dangerous (High Wizard)</b>


    <b>Crimes: Killing Archbishop Anluke, annihting three thousand ck Armor Guards, destroying half of the harbor town!</b>


    <b>Reward: 50,000 Secas gold coins...]</b>


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 Chapter 45: How long has it been since you last experienced a battle, Father?

    Chapter 45: How long has it been since youst experienced a battle, Father?


    Midnight, inside the Pedroel estate, the continuous explosions and thunderous sounds from outside went unnoticed by Ivina, who was leaning against the wall. The severed cowhide ropes, cut by sharp wooden spikes,y scattered around her, and her fair fingers trembled as she turned the yellowed diary''s pages.


    [In the year 708 of the Holy Calendar, in November, another child was born in Pedroel. They look so tiny and delicate. Their name is... Ivina? Am I a big brother now?]


    [It''s another day of training. As the eldest son of Pedroel, I must work even harder. Are you watching me practice swordy, Ivina? I need to show better performance...]


    [Sparring, how I miss it. The way I held a sword back then. Now, it''s my turn to be the teacher...]


    [Ten moves, I''ll give you a bit of face... but you won''t cry if you lose, will you? You''re so adorable, Ivina...]


    [Thirty-seven moves, and it''s only been four months. Wait, maybe I didn''t put in my full effort. I''ll be more serious next time...]


    [I lost. I actually lost. How is this possible? It''s so embarrassing in front of you. As your brother, I must work harder to win next time...]


    [Ivina, why can you effortlessly learn techniques that I can''t grasp? Am I not trying hard enough?]


    [In the year 722 of the Holy Calendar, in July, the first knight''s assessment... If I pass, I can be a priest, right? The Pedroel family can finally have a chance...]


    [Failure... Failure... Failure!]


    [The second knight''s assessment, the third round. Is this my limit?]


    [From morning till night, it''s nothing but training. It''s pointless. I fear I''ll never pass the knight''s assessment...]


    [Father, why do you look at me with those hopeful eyes? Why won''t you give up on me?]


    [It''s that look again. Do you hate me, Ivina? I understand your feelings. An inept person stole your opportunity... If it were you, you would surely seed, my sister...]


    [Maybe without me, everything will turn out better... Ivina, I will give you everything you desire. It''s the only way...]


    The brown-haired girl flipped through the diary, page after page, and through the cold words, she gained insight into her brother, who she had envied and who bore their father''s high expectations but couldn''t excel at anything.


    She used to resent this unfairness, feeling that all her efforts and her prided sword skills were merely tools to capture the attention of the Duke of Nornd''s son in her father''s eyes.


    If she had the chance, she was sure she could pass the knight''s assessment, revive the Pedroel family, and make her father see her clearly.


    So, her brother, who had all the family''s resources and the privilege of receiving formal knight training but repeatedly failed... Ivina detested him, even hated him.


    "You''re so adorable, Ivina..." Her finger traced the crumpled pages, and as she looked at the words, her body trembled, tears streaming down her cheeks onto the pages.


    "I''m sorry... I''m sorry..." Ivina muttered to herself, her mind nk, her eyes filling with uncontroble regret. She had never hated herself this much.


    She thought she had forgotten how to cry, a privilege reserved for those in the spotlight...


    Outside the estate, mes leaped into the sky, but the room remained eerily quiet. The only sound was the stifled, intermittent sobs echoing through the room.


    It was only when the estate''s grand door was forcefully pushed open that the girl turned her head, confused.


    Baron Pedroel rushed into the room, surveyed the chaotic scene, and, upon seeing Ivina, who had been frightened into silently crying in the corner, he was instantly furious. He spoke in frustration.


    "Do you have any idea what''s happening outside, Ivina? Why are you sitting here all alone? Where''s Lotte?"


    As he spoke, another explosion resonated from outside.


    "What''s happening outside?" Ivina held the tear-stained diary to her chest and asked, keeping her head down.


    "Those damned wizards are wreaking havoc in Harbor Town. They used a terrifying magic to destroy the entire harbor. Priest Yadan is dead, Priest Danny is also dead, and even Sir Zeke, not to mention Archbishop Anluke, couldn''t escape..." Baron Pedroel said in fear and uncertainty.


    Previously, in order to enhance his credentials, he had even proposed to participate in the witch-hunting operation before the Archbishop of Nornd. Now, he realized that if Archbishop Anluke had agreed, he would have already perished at the Harbor Town docks.


    Listening to one lofty name after another being sentenced to death in her ears, the brown-haired girl was deeply shaken. She couldn''t help but recall the words Lotte had whispered to her before he left.


    "I''m just too insignificant, Ivina..."


    Bing a wizard, is that your choice, brother?


    Rumors had it that one could be a wizard with forbidden powers by sacrificing their soul to a demon. However, as a price, the person would often undergo a drastic change in personality and gradually fall into the abyss...


    And all of this was for her sake.


    "Where''s your brother? You haven''t answered me. Where is Lotte? We need to leave immediately!" Baron Pedroel firmly gripped the girl''s wrist and shouted.


    "He''s dead!" Ivina whispered. She was well aware that if the information about her brother bing a wizard were to be revealed, the entire Pedroel family would be doomed.


    Baron Pedroel paused for a moment, a terrifying expression on his face.


    "Don''t y tricks with me, Ivina!"


    "Let me tell you, even if your brother is truly dead, the title of Baron will never fall into your hands! Don''t ever dream of getting what you can''t have!" Baron Pedroel said, furious. Under no circumstances would he allow an outsider to take over the Pedroel family, no matter how capable they were!


    "In that case, I''m leaving..." Ivina broke free from therge hand restraining her, ced the diary in her bosom, and without hesitation, walked toward the door.


    "Stop! Exin yourself to me!" Baron Pedroel hadn''t expected that Ivina, who had never dared to defy him, would act so defiantly. He was overwhelmed by anger and drew his longsword from his waist, swinging it aggressively at Ivina.


    ng!


    The unsheathed sword slipped from his hand, spinning andnding on the ground, emitting a dull thud.


    Baron Pedroel froze in ce. A three-finger-long, extremely sharp wooden spike was now horizontally positioned at his neck.


    "How long has it been since youst experienced a battle, Father?" Ivina gazed at Baron Pedroel with aplex expression and asked.


    Baron Pedroel''s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he sat down on the ground. It was only now that he realized Ivina''s swordsmanship was far more advanced than he had known, and she hadpletely surpassed him.


    Ivina discarded the wooden spike in her hand and walked out of the room without looking back.


    "Where are you going, Ivina? What about Lotte? Tell me where he is!" Baron Pedroel finally regained hisposure, shouting loudly.


    "My brother is already dead. You can consider it as if I killed him... Father," Ivina said softly. "And I''m leaving Harbor Town to explore the world."


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 Chapter 46: Lynn - I Smell the Scent of a Culprit

    Chapter 46: Lynn - I Smell the Scent of a Culprit


    Drip, drip, drip...


    The relentless raindrops pounded on the deck, creating a series of crisp, low-pitched notes. Inside the cabin, Lynn awoke from a night of continuous nightmares.


    Once he had a clear view of his surroundings, Lynn couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. The sudden appearance of the goddess''s apparitionst night had put significant psychological pressure on him, but thankfully, she had shown no intention of pursuing them.


    They should be safe now.


    Lynn sat up, swung his legs over the hard wooden bunk, and grabbed a cloak hanging by the door. Then, he opened the cabin door and stepped out onto the deck.


    The gentle sea breeze carried with it the scent of the ocean and a touch of salt, dispelling the stagnant air from the cabin.


    Lynn gazed into the distance, where a thick fog shrouded the surface of the sea, engulfing the entire sailing ship. Visibility was limited to about three to five meters beyond the ship''s sides.


    This fog seemed to possess some mysterious power, as even when he used a first-tier spell, "Tik''s Farseeing Art," he couldn''t see beyond the white mist.


    Navigating under such conditions was undeniably perilous. Not only was it difficult to discern direction, but there was also the risk of colliding with hidden rocks.


    "Wizard, are you awake? Did you rest wellst night?" a familiar voice came from behind. Lynn turned to see Lame Loude.


    However,pared tost night, Loude seemed somewhat dejected, clearly affected by their recent encounter with the apparition.


    Lynn didn''t respond to Loude''s question but instead spoke directly, "Is this the Sea of Mist? How do you usually navigate in these conditions, and how much longer until we reach the Wizard''s territory?"


    "Normally, departing from the Seaport Town would require sailing for almost half a month. As for navigating in these conditions..." Loude was very cautious as he pulled out apass.


    Lynn curiously leaned in. Thepass had a round wooden body adorned with intricate runes and symbols, but the most eye-catching feature was the pointer on top, which remained fixed on the ship''s heading.


    Could this be apass?


    Lynn spected silently, then listened as Loude exined, "Thispass was created by the Great Wizard Herlram, an alchemical invention. No matter where you are, it will always point in the direction of the Wizard''s territory."


    This was their key to navigating the Sea of Mist. Regardless of where they set out, following thepass''s guidance would always lead them to the Wizard''s territory.


    It was truly miraculous. Lynn picked up thepass, carefully examined it, and became somewhat interested in the Great Wizard Herlram, as this was the second time he had heard that name.


    It appeared that Archbishop Anluke had gone to great lengths to trap a few wizard apprentices, all in pursuit of obtaining thispass.


    Handing this over to the Church would undoubtedly be a significant achievement!


    Lynn couldn''t decipher the runes on thepass, so he just memorized them and returned the item.


    Loude epted thepass and then appeared somewhat conflicted. After a while, he cautiously asked, "Are you a Grand Wizard?"


    "Naturally not," Lynn shook his head. He couldn''t admit to such a thing.


    At this point, he was just a novice wizard who had recently started delving into magic. Being mistaken for a full-fledged wizard was one thing, especially since with the aid of his intelligence, he could achieve many feats that only aplished wizards could. However, reaching the level of a Grand Wizard was still a distant dream.


    If it weren''t for the assistance of the thousand-plus members of the "Ship Gang," he wouldn''t have been able to set up a trap capable of destroying the entire seaport. What had brought down Archbishop Anluke and his group was less magic and more the power of science.


    Seeing Lynn''s denial, Loude appeared somewhat skeptical. After all, he had witnessed the terrifying explosionst night, a feat achievable only with advanced magic.


    However, recalling Lynn''s request for gatheringrge amounts of materials, Loude spected that the magic known as "fireworks" probably required a special ritual to unleash such powerful magic.


    "In that case, after we arrive in the Wizard''s territory, you might face some scrutiny," Loude sighed repeatedly.


    Lynn''s expression changed abruptly, and a dangerous glint shone in his eyes. He could now smell the scent of trouble.


    Under the watchful gaze of someone who seemed "friendly," Loude hastened to exin. While he had been operating this route from Seaport Town to the Wizard''s territory, the person who had established it was the Grand Wizard Herlram.


    In essence, the entire Ship Gang was merely tools in his hands. Whether they liked it or not, they were obligated to transport scarce resources to the Wizard''s territory each year.


    Although they had always operated discreetly and without major incidents for over a decade, the actions of Jonny and others had led to the destruction of this critical transportation route.


    If Lynn turned out to be a Grand Wizard, they had nothing to worry about. But if he wasn''t, they needed to be prepared for consequences. This was the reason for Loude''s confirmation.


    With Loude''s exnation, Lynn quickly understood the situation. He felt torn, as he understood the significance of this route. The me should fall on his mentor, Kora. If Kora hadn''t been so audacious, attempting to abduct the Duke''s second daughter and getting caught red-handed, the Church wouldn''t have traced the problem all the way to Seaport Town.


    "Is this the only route from the Wizard''s territory to the Sekas Empire?" Lynn inquired.


    "Probably not... The Sea of Mist also connects to another vital port, the imperial capital of the Sekas Empire, Vikniel City," Loude said hesitantly. Although he couldn''t be certain, he suspected that there might be others in Vikniel City doing the same work as him.


    "I see," Lynn nodded. It appeared that the situation might not be as dire as he initially thought. However, he had no intention of shouldering this me. He needed to find a way to avoid it.


    As Lynn contemted, he casually inquired about various pieces of information regarding the Wizard''s territory. He was still rtively unfamiliar with the ce, and having insufficient knowledge could leave him at a disadvantage.


    Through several rounds of questioning, Lynn learned that the Wizard''s territory was different from what he had initially assumed. It wasn''t a refuge established by persecuted wizards but and that had existed for centuries, boasting a city, a port, and a poption of six hundred thousand, almost like a small kingdom.


    However, there were no kings or nobles here. Instead, it was governed by wizards and various schools of magic. The highest authority was the Wizard Council,posed of several legendary wizards.


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 Chapter 47: The Eye of Death

    Chapter 47: The Eye of Death


    Lynn couldn''t help but be astonished by the "advanced" political system in thend of the wizards, which seemed to operate under a fast-paced democratic parliamentary structure.


    But upon further reflection, it made perfect sense. High-level wizards were akin to entire armies on their own, and denying them corresponding rights would only breed chaos.


    In this world, the status of wizards was nearly equal to that of nobility.


    "Once we reach the port, you''ll be amazed by the sight there," Loude said with great emotion.


    Over the years, he had visited thend of the wizards a few times, and it was as if a farmer living in a vige suddenly arrived in Vil, a feeling too incredible to put into words.


    "I''m really looking forward to seeing it," Lynn replied with a smile.


    As they talked, a sailor suddenly approached and whispered a few words in Loude''s ear. Loude waved the sailor away and respectfully inquired, "Mdy Witch has awakened. Do you n to go see her?"


    Lynn nodded; he had many questions to ask Jonny, so he quickened his pace toward the cabin.


    Watching Lynn''s departing figure, Loude had no intention of following. Instead, he gazed up at the misty sky. The asional raindrops were piercing through the fog and falling on the deck.


    Though this light rain didn''t affect their voyage, Loude couldn''t shake a sense of unease in his heart. This year, to evade the Church''s pursuit, their departure from the harbor was somewhat dyed.


    He hoped for some calmness before crossing this stretch of sea.


    Lynn followed the sailor through the interior of the ship. The wooden vessel rocked constantly, and the air carried a faint, unpleasant odor.


    Fortunately, after these days, he had grown ustomed to the medieval sanitary conditions. In fact, things were going quite well. Loude had arranged separate cabins for them, so they didn''t have to squeeze in with the other crew members.


    "Mdy Witch, we''re here!" the guiding sailor stopped in front of a cabin door, looking at Lynn with some fear in his eyes, probably recalling the gruesome scene in the port town.


    Lynn paid it no mind and pushed open the door to enter.


    It was a small cabin, barely a few square meters in size. The silver-haired witch was leaning against the wooden bedpost, her gaze fixed on the ocean outside the window, shrouded in mist. Dim light spilled through the window, casting a sickly pallor on the girl''s face, emphasizing her peculiar, morbid beauty.


    Perhaps having heard the door creak, Jonny turned her head, her exquisite profile half-shrouded in shadows. She gazed at Lynn, who had walked to the edge of the bed, and after a moment of silence, she spoke.


    "Dove is dead."


    Lynn paused for a moment and then replied softly, "I''ve already preserved her body in ice. Maybe the influential figures in thend of the wizards will have some way to help. Although, I understand that hope is slim. Not only may the powerful wizardsck the ability, but they''re unlikely to save a mere apprentice."


    He said this for two reasons. First, Dove, who was usually terrified of death, had ventured into the port town to "rescue" him in the face of almost certain death, which touched Lynn in a profound way.


    Second, he was deeply concerned about the unknown energy absorbed by the smart brainst night.


    Jonny seemed to have not heard Lynn''s words and continued to murmur softly.


    Lynn sighed inwardly, realizing that with Jonny''s current state of mind, it would be difficult to extract any useful information. He was about to suggest that Jonny take some rest when a soft, slightly warm body collided with his.


    Lynn paused for a moment before he could react, and then the sound of the girl''s sobbing reached his ears.


    "Dove is dead... Teacher is dead... and Kent, Will, Buck, and Barton..."


    With each name she cried out, Jonny''s voice choked a bit more. Her shoulders trembled, and crystal tears rolled down her cheeks, wetting Lynn''s robes. In a choked voice, she continued to recount everything that had happened within the Nornd territory.


    When the Church''s personnel discovered their whereabouts, Kora had a chance to escape, but she chose to stay behind to cover their retreat. She survived, but she couldn''t keep her promise to her teacher to safely bring back all the apprentices. Everyone except the two of them had perished.


    Lynn stood silently, not interrupting the girl''s outpouring. He understood that Jonny needed an outlet to release the fear, sorrow, and despair that had umted within her over the past ten days and could not be shared with anyone else.


    The intermittent crying continued for over ten minutes before Jonny''s emotions began to settle. It was only then that she realized she had been holding onto Lynn, and his clothes were drenched with her tears.


    Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she released her arms, and the atmosphere in the cabin suddenly became awkward. Jonny wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and spoke softly.


    "If our teacher had chosen to take you to the capital of Nornd in the first ce, perhaps everything would have been different."


    "You''re overestimating me, Jonny," Lynn shook his head. At that time, he hadn''t even crossed over. With his original self, Karl''s abilities, he probably would have been captured alongside her.


    "Besides, you''ve done more than enough," Lynn said earnestly. Jonny wasn''t a tactical genius, nor was she as cunning as Loude, but in Karl''s memories, she was just a girl with decent magical talent who liked to sit under the shade of a tree and read.


    Kora had entrusted the fate of these wizard apprentices to Jonny, which was, in reality, an unrealistic expectation.


    Jonny didn''t respond to Lynn''sfort; instead, she pursed her lips and asked, "When we were in Ur Town, why did you choose to face Archbishop Anluke alone?"


    This question had been bothering her ever since then. While they were all Kora''s apprentices, they didn''t have much of a personal rtionship. Yet, in Ur Town, Lynn had been willing to face danger alone and leave a path of escape for them.


    Of course, it was because you standing there was somewhat distracting...


    The words were on the tip of Lynn''s tongue, but he swallowed them back and chose a more tactful response. "Facing Archbishop Anluke, I didn''t have a high chance of sess, and I couldn''t afford to be distracted by protecting all of you."


    Jonny stared at Lynn in amazement. She was about to say something, but the cabin, which had been rtively stable, suddenly rocked violently. Without warning, the two of them were nearly thrown into the wooden wall.


    Before Lynn could regain his bnce, terrified screams from the deck above rang out.


    "The Eye of Death... It''s the Eye of Death!"


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 Chapter 48: Charging into the Vortex!

    Chapter 48: Charging into the Vortex!


    The swaying ship''s cabin and the continuous screams from above interrupted the conversation between Lynn and Jonny. They exchanged nces and rushed upstairs in unison.


    Opening the door, a frigid gale howled, and icy raindrops poured down on the deck like a dense hailstorm. It was the prelude to a tempest.


    The once calm sea had be tumultuous, with the waves continuously crashing against the ship''s hull, causing the sail warship to sway incessantly.


    Due to the relentless gale, the previously thick fog had dissipated significantly, doubling the visible range. However, the fog was no longer pure white but had turned into an eerie gray.


    "Hurry, tighten the sails, everyone, get moving! We must escape this area as quickly as possible!" Lynn shouted.


    The deck was in chaos, with hundreds of crewmen from the Ship''s Gang in disarray. Lame Loude''s face turned extremely grim as he shouted loudly, but many people were kneeling on the ground, looking hopeless, and shouting something.


    "Loude, did we run aground? Or is it the effect of the storm?" Lynn hurriedly approached, inquiring.


    "No, it''s the Great Whirlpool, the Eye of Death!" Loude eximed, terror evident in his voice.


    The Great Whirlpool?


    Lynn immediately recalled the information he had gathered in the harbor town. He gazed once more at the turbulent sea, realizing what he had overlooked. The surging sea was flowing consistently in one direction, drawing the Wind Sail ship towards the center of the vortex.


    The diameter of this vortex was simply massive. Moreover, the sea was shrouded in fog, making it nearly impossible to find any reference point. It gave him the illusion that the ship was sailing normally.


    Just how enormous was this thing?


    Lynn couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat. Loude, on the other hand, seemed to have had a sudden revtion and looked at Lynn with an intense, hopeful look, asking, "Master Wizard, can you freeze the entire whirlpool?"


    "What are you joking?" Lynn furrowed his brow. The diameter of this whirlpool had to be several kilometers to create such a visual deception. What kind of power could freeze an ocean of this magnitude?


    "Then we''re doomed. It''s toote to escape now," Loude said, his eyes losing the glimmer of hope. He slumped to the ground, muttering to himself.


    The Sea of Mist was terrifying for a reason. Besides the thick fog that covered the entire area, making it easy to lose direction, the most crucial element was the Great Whirlpool, known as the Eye of Death.


    It was an existence that struck fear into the hearts of countless seafarers, akin to a grim reaper roaming the vast Sea of Mist. It could appear in any corner of this region without warning or any discernible pattern. Once encountered, the crew and their ship were condemned to death.


    The terrifying pull of the Great Whirlpool far exceeded the speed of any sailing ship. Rumor had it that those who were eventually sucked into the vortex not only faced certain death but their souls would plunge into the abyss, hence the name "Eye of Death."


    The only way to pass through the Sea of Mist was to wait until Monday when the Eye of Death temporarily calmed down. During this brief period, ships tried to distance themselves as much as possible from the frequent appearance of the Eye of Death. The rest was left to luck.


    In previous years, when they transported goods, they would try to set sail on the first few days of Monday, ensuring they didn''t collide directly with the Great Whirlpool.


    But this year was different; the Church had blocked the harbor town, dying their departure.


    Lynn paid no attention to thementations and swiftly walked over to the cargo piled on the deck. He picked up a few wooden barrels, gauged their weight, and then tossed them in different directions and angles. He extended his right hand, measuring the rtive distances of these objects.


    For an individual, trying to calcte the diameter and flow speed of the Great Whirlpool with just a few drifting barrels as reference points seemed like an impossible task.


    But for an intellect like Lynn, it was child''s y.


    "The diameter of the Great Whirlpool is seven kilometers, and the escape speed is... twenty knots! To avoid being sucked into the vortex, we need at least twenty knots!" Lynn received the analysis from his intellect, and his brows furrowed.


    In his previous life, achieving a speed of twenty knots was easily attainable with even a small boat, but in this wicked otherworld, the Wind Sail warship beneath their feet appeared to have a maximum speed of... seven knots?


    "This is impossible! Even the finest alchemical ships in thend of the wizards can''t reach twenty knots!" Loude heard Lynn''s words and shouted in despair.


    Although he didn''t understand what the escape speed meant, he knew what twenty knots signified.


    "No, it''s possible!" Lynn said seriously, pushing the helmsman who had slumped to the ground aside. He looked at everyone present. "I''ll take the helm. Everyone, get back to your posts, listen to my orders, and raise all the sails for me!"


    "Do you even know anything about ships? With these massive waves, if we raise all the sails, this ship won''tst long, and we''ll all die!" The helmsman whom Lynn had pushed away immediately jumped up and shouted at the top of his lungs. In this situation, he didn''t care about wizards or non-wizards anymore.


    But the next moment, the words at the edge of his mouth were swallowed back because a massive fireball was forming in Lynn''s palm.


    "Do as he says, or you''ll die right now," Lynn''s tone was icy.


    The yellowish-white phosphorus mes made the sailors on the deck shiver involuntarily, and the helmsman even sat down on the ground in fear.


    However, in this hopeless situation, not many people obeyed themand. Some even believed that dying by sorcery was better than having their souls devoured by the Great Whirlpool.


    Just then, the sound of a winch turning vigorously reached their ears, and Lynn and the others turned to look. The person working the winch was Jonny!


    The young girl was tightly gripping a sail rope, threading it through the winch. Raindrops flowed from her head, streaming over her delicate profile and soaking her robe, but Jonny didn''t mind. She pulled harder and harder, securing thest loop of the rope firmly on the winch.


    "If you have no other way, sitting here waiting for death is the only option!" Jonny''s sapphire-like eyes gazed at everyone present, and she spoke resolutely.


    Loude quickly rallied as well, drawing a whip from his waist and fiercelyshing a praying sailor on the ground. He shouted in anger.


    "Do it, all of you, do as he says, hoist all the sails!"


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 Chapter 49: Conquering the Eye of Death!

    Chapter 49: Conquering the Eye of Death!


    Under Loude''s whip-wieldingmand, the sailors moved with thest glimmer of hope. The sail ropes tightened, and the winches spun relentlessly, raising the canvas made from camel leather. These camel leather sails were incredibly resilient, capable of withstanding the wildest storms and gales.


    The remaining crew members began unloading the cargo piled on the deck, lightening the weight of the sailboat.


    Loude watched as their valuable cargo was tossed into the sea one by one, feeling a pang in his heart, but he had no other choice. His life was more precious.


    The howling wind and churning waters made the massive wind sail ship appear as if it were a fragile leaf on the brink of capsizing. The ship continuously swayed, seemingly on the verge of sinking at any moment.


    Lynn''s approach was straightforward. He adjusted the angles of the sails, using the powerful winds to bnce the ship. This was a highly precise operation, but the sailors on board, while not understanding the principles of aerodynamics, possessed decades of maritime experience, barely maintaining control.


    Under Lynn''s guidance, the warship gradually changed course, heading full speed in the direction of the water flow.


    "Wizard, are you sure you''re not making a mistake? That''s the giant whirlpool over there!" Loude, who had just ordered the sailors into action, turned to check their course and was terrified to the core.


    Were they trying to escape the giant whirlpool, or were they rushing headlong into certain death? He now believed the helmsman had no clue about ships!


    "Of course, I know that''s a giant whirlpool. What we need to use is the power of the Eye of Death," Lynn said with a solemn tone.


    The wind sail ship''s speed was only seven knots. Escaping the vortex''s pull was nearly impossible. The only way out was to align the ship''s direction with the direction of the swirling water, circumnavigate the giant whirlpool, and then use centrifugal force to elerate out.


    In fact, Lynn had no prior experience with ships, but he had undergone starship piloting assessments, understanding how to use a''s gravity for reverse eleration. The principles were quite simr.


    In simple terms, they would charge in and then be flung out!


    Lynn briefly exined this, but Loude didn''t understand a word of it. He had a vague feeling that it made sense, though.


    "We must be out of our minds!" Loude muttered to himself. He had never imagined that one day he would be sailing directly into a giant whirlpool!


    Apart from Loude, the other sailors soon noticed the ship''s course was amiss. However, they didn''t even have time to despair, as several sail ropes on the deck couldn''t withstand the strong winds and snapped. In this perilous situation, they had no choice but to use sheer manpower to keep the ropes taut to prevent it from affecting the ship''s progress.


    Lynn continuously adjusted the ship''s rudder. Apanied by a violent but brief shake, the ship suddenly veered to the right, then stabilized once more. The surging seawater propelled the sailboat forward, heading resolutely toward the giant whirlpool.


    A deafening thunderous roar echoed from the distance of the sea, like thunder erupting on a clear day. In the sparse ck mist, a portion of the giant whirlpool quickly appeared before them.


    It looked like an enormous, hair-raising funnel at sea, continuously sucking in vast amounts of seawater into its bottomless abyss. At the whirlpool''s deepest point was darkness and an eerie coldness, emanating a spine-chilling aura, hiding its true nature from view.


    As they gazed upon the horrifying giant whirlpool, Loude''s face turned deathly pale. The sailors'' reactions were even worse, with some starting to mutter incoherently.


    "Mom, I''ming to find you..."


    "It''s stars, I can see the stars!"


    Lynn faintly sensed that something was amiss. This whirlpool, known as the Eye of Death, seemed to affect people''s minds. It appeared that this phenomenon wasn''t a natural urrence caused by ocean currents or gravitational tides.


    They needed to get out of here as soon as possible.


    However, their current speed was stillcking.


    "Use Fireball, seven o''clock direction!" Lynn shouted loudly, making sure Jonny understood and indicating the precise direction.


    The silver-haired girl immediately grasped the idea, activating her Magic Hands. A massive fireball condensed in her palm and was thrown toward the rear side of the wind sail ship.


    At this moment, Lynn also acted, creating two huge fireballs that collided violently. The shockwave made the ship creak, but it also boosted the ship''s speed once more.


    The constantly swaying wind sail ship, in a thrilling fashion, grazed the edge of the giant whirlpool. With the powerful centrifugal force at y, they elerated at several times their usual speed, breaking free!


    The intense sound also woke Loude and the others, enabling them to shake off the mental influence of the whirlpool. They watched as the terrifying "Abyssal Maw" receded into the distance, relief washing over their faces.


    After a brief moment of calm, the deck erupted in joyful shouts. Everyone was celebrating their escape from the clutches of death.


    "This is incredible! We''ve truly escaped the whirlpool!"


    "This must be a miracle!"


    "As soon as we reachnd, let''s get married immediately. There''s no time to waste!"


    All the crew members were ecstatic, and even the two grizzled old men embraced each other.


    "Loude, once we''re past this area, bring out the wine I''ve been hoarding. Let''s celebrate properly," Loude''s hands were still trembling, but he generously made the offer upon seeing the joyous scene.


    "However, Loude, sir..." the first mate hesitated and then cautiously added, "Your box of wine was just thrown overboard."


    Loude''s expression immediately froze, and an endless sorrow surged within him. Most of the rare treasures he had collected over the years were stored in the wooden box on the deck, and now they were all gone!


    An urge to dive into the whirlpool and retrieve his riches welled up within him, but it was ultimately a futile thought.


    Amidst the heartache, Loude didn''t forget to acknowledge the hero of their triumphant "conquest" of the Eye of Death.


    "Many thanks, Master Wizard. You saved us all! If you have any tasks in the future, please don''t hesitate tomand us," Loude gazed at Lynn, took off his hat, and ced it over his chest, bowing respectfully.


    The previously boisterous deck fell into a profound silence. Every sailor and crew member there made the same gesture, the highest form of respect among seafarers.


    After the harrowing experience with the Eye of Death, they now had deep admiration and respect for Lynn, the wizard.


    "What should we do next? Please continue to guide us!"


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 Chapter 50: The Current Situation in the Land of Wizards

    Chapter 50: The Current Situation in the Land of Wizards


    Lynn surveyed the crew members waiting for his instructions and spoke with ease, "In that case, I kindly ask you all to continue working hard. We won''t be truly safe until we''repletely out of this sea area."


    Under Lynn''smand, the sailors in attendance temporarily suppressed their excited emotions and returned to their positions. However, unlike before, they no longer bore worried expressions when facing the vast, misty sea.


    "I never thought that in my lifetime, I would escape the ''Eye of Death'' twice," Lame Loude said, feeling quite moved.


    "Was the first time because of the assistance of that great wizard?" Lynn asked curiously. He had suspected this when Loude mentioned the Icebound Maelstrom; it was clear that Loude had faced such danger more than once.


    Loude nodded and then recounted his experiences from over a decade ago. At that time, he was just an ordinary pirate, living a life of killing and plundering on the sea.


    Because their activities were near the Misty Sea, they didn''t have to worry about the Empire''s naval fleet pursuing them. If things got too dicey, they could simply hide within the fog. As long as they didn''t venture too far in, they would eventually find their way back.


    Then, one day, their pirate crew encountered arge shiping out from within the Misty Sea...


    Initially, they thought it was a cargo ship that had mistakenly entered the Misty Sea and had luckily found its way back. They took advantage of their superior numbers and prepared to raid it. But to their surprise, they had met their match.


    The ones who took action were not Helram, but two official wizards who apanied the ship. Even so, they utterly decimated the entire pirate crew of several hundred people, and Loude lost his right leg due to the residual effects of a fireball spell.


    If they hadn''t wanted to interrogate him, he might have died long ago.


    However, it was through this chance that he managed to change his fatepletely and became the representative of the great wizard Helram in the port town...


    Listening to this, Lynn couldn''t help but nce at Loude, wondering what exactly he had done to escape his status as a prisoner and gain the favor of that great wizard.


    He had witnessed the cunning of this old fox, albeit in a very limited way. He wouldn''t trust someone like thatpletely. Had Loude been caught doing something?


    Despite these thoughts, Lynn didn''t interrupt Loude''s narrative.


    "After taking care of the matters in the Port Town, I had the honor of apanying Master Helram to the Land of Wizards. It was during the sea voyage that we encountered the maelstrom," Loude recounted nostalgically.


    Of course, this ''Eye of Death'' maelstrom from that time wasn''t as terrifying as the one they had just faced. It only covered an area of about one kilometer, and Helram''s solution was quite simple: he froze the entire maelstrom!


    Even so, this was enough to surprise Lynn. It seemed that the power possessed by the great wizard was far stronger than he had initially imagined.


    "By the way, the final destination of our journey this time is Master Helram''s domain¡ªIyeta Sea Port," Loude added.


    Lynn nodded, realizing that he would soon be dealing with this great wizard. However, he still had no clue about how to respond to Helram''s usations.


    As the two of them chatted, the sail warship beneath their feet hadpletely left the range of the great maelstrom, and the sailors on board cheered loudly.


    Despite the heavy losses when they had crossed the Eye of Death, Lame Loude was in high spirits, allowing everyone to eat, drink, and celebrate tonight!


    However, life at sea could be somewhat dull. So, this "celebration" mainly consisted of everyone sitting together, drinking barrels of beer, boasting about their heroic exploits of the past, and trying to catch some fish.


    Perhaps their luck was changing, as they didn''t encounter any more unfortunate events in the following days. The entire sea remained nketed in white fog. If it weren''t for theirpass guiding them, Lynn might have thought they had never left their original position.


    This was the eerie aspect of the Misty Sea. Even great wizards like Helram could getpletely lost in this region if they couldn''t find their way. Despite being able to deal with the maelstroms, they could still be entirely disoriented here.


    During these days of sea travel, Lynn didn''t just sit idly by. Besides practicing magic as usual, he spent every day asking Jonny for information about the Land of Wizards. Soon, he had a general understanding of this sanctuary for wizards.


    First and foremost was the attitude of the wizards toward the outside world, which roughly divided into two factions.


    The first was the conservative faction, who chose to iste themselves. This was the choice of most wizards in the Land of Wizards. They paid no heed to the outside world and believed that the people controlled by the Church were incredibly ignorant.


    Wizards, in their pursuit of understanding the mysteries of the world through magic, cared little about political power or territorial ims. Therefore, the study of magic was the same everywhere.


    Moreover, the Land of Wizards possessed an extremely rich reserve of magical ores. Coupled with the blockade of the Misty Sea, even if the Church couldn''t break in, the wizards didn''t find it easy to leave. They might as well focus on developing various magical theories and directly crush their enemies in the future.


    The second faction was the proactive one, such as the Great Wizard Helram, advocating the disy of magical power to the outside world. They believed that, despite being a massive ind, the Land of Wizards couldn''t be entirely self-sufficient, and it needed to continuously absorb new blood from the outside world due to its small poption.


    However, the downsides were also evident. The more they interacted with the outside world, the greater the danger. Relying solely on the power currently stored in the Land of Wizards wasn''t enough topete with the Church. If the Land of Wizards'' location was fully exposed, it could invite catastrophic consequences. This was the fundamental reason why most wizards leaned towards the conservative faction.


    It was worth mentioning that their mentor, Kora, belonged to the proactive faction and was part of the school created by the Great Wizard Helram.


    "So, it''s difficult for information to spread between the Land of Wizards and the outside world, right?" Lynn pondered, asking Jonny.


    "Seems like it," Jonny nodded. In these four years, she had only been to the Land of Wizards once, and most of her knowledge came from Kora''s regr stories.


    "If that''s the case..." Lynn gazed thoughtfully out of the porthole, as though he wanted to see the Land of Wizards, standing deep within the vast sea, through the endless white fog.


    He had already figured out how to handle the usations from that great wizard.


    ...


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 Chapter 51: "The Society of Mystical Arts"

    Chapter 51: "The Society of Mystical Arts"


    Ever since they boarded the Wind Sail Warship, Lynn had been pondering in what capacity they should enter thend of the wizards.


    As Kora''s apprentice? A wizard''s apprentice who had practiced magic for less than half a year?


    If he were to assume this identity, it was evident that he would run into numerous troubles.


    After all, everyone on the Wind Sail Warship had witnessed his spellcasting, not to mention the explosion in Harbor Town. This was not something a mere apprentice could aplish.


    As the saying goes, the innocent will bear the sins of the guilty, and someone who was weak and harbored significant secrets was often the target of those with ill intentions.


    Their current situation was indeed quite awkward. Being pursued by the Church all the way, they had escaped to thend of the wizards like fugitives, and on top of that, they had destroyed a crucial trade route. It was only natural that they would be detained and interrogated upon their arrival in the Iyeta Harbor.


    So, if they wanted to change the game, they needed to make some alterations.


    With these thoughts in mind, Lynn turned to Jonny and asked, "Do you know why our teacher is risking capture to go to the Duke of Nornd''s capital?"


    Jonny hesitated for a moment and then replied with certainty, "Teacher said that the Duke of Nornd''s second daughter has considerable talent in magic... and we''re running out of money too."


    Lynn couldn''t help but twitch his lips. He knew that Kora had a hidden agenda for taking in noble students, and it seemed like he was after research funds.


    Of course, there was another reason besides that. Nobles were usually literate, well-educated, and didn''t need everything to be taught from scratch.


    Learning magic itself was an expensive affair. For example, a scroll for casting the Fireball spell, "Crimson Embers," cost one silver and thirty-seven copper, enough to sustain amoner''s family frugally for a month.


    Magic wasn''t something the poor could afford to learn!


    Perhaps Kora had a thought of cultivating one or two noble wizards as well. While these apprentices were not first heirs, they still had the potential to create something on their own.


    Lynn didn''t delve deeper into these thoughts and shook his head. He retorted, "Those are just excuses. Have you ever heard of the ''Society of Mystical Arts''?"


    "What''s that?" Jonny asked, looking puzzled.


    "It''s a highly secretive wizard organization within the Sekas Empire. It''sposed of many influential figures. During the time when our teacher taught me magic, he had the chance to interact with members of the ''Society of Mystical Arts,''" Lynn made up on the spot.


    Kora''s process of teaching apprentices was quite casual. He would spend some time with each apprentice and then leave them in a rtively safe ce to practice magic on their own. In other words, everything that happened during the time Kora personally instructed him was known only to the two of them, and Jonny had no way to refute his words.


    "After interacting with the ''Society of Mystical Arts,'' our teacher told me that many of the magical research theories in the outside world are already outdated and cannot keep up with the times," Lynn continued.


    Therefore, our teacher secretlypiled a precious research manuscript and nned to go to the capital of Nornd to meet with a colleague from the ''Society of Mystical Arts.'' If this mission fails, he instructed me to bring back this valuable research manuscript to thend of the wizards at all costs!"


    In just a few sentences, Lynn transformed their identity from being fugitives on the run from the Church, identally destroying an important trade route, into dedicated individuals who, under their teacher Kora''s orders, had endured all hardships to escape the Church''s clutches and deliver a research manuscript containing vital information to thend of the wizards.


    If this research manuscript held enough weight and brought explosive news, they might not only avoid me but even receivemendation.


    Is it really like that? Jonny looked bewildered. Kora had never mentioned anything about the ''Society of Mystical Arts'' to her, and Lynn''s expression didn''t seem like he was joking.


    "So, you mean the way you advanced to be an official wizard was through the ''Society of Mystical Arts''?" Jonny said thoughtfully.


    "Or you could say it like this: my situation is even more unique, and this method doesn''t apply to others." Lynn nodded, not bothering to correct the misunderstanding.


    In thend of the wizards, only official wizards held a certain status and the ability to protect themselves. This also aligned with the lowest evaluation of his abilities from everyone on the ship.


    If he didn''t want to attract trouble, willingly or not, he had to be an official wizard.


    As he spoke, Lynn also pondered the content of the "research manuscript."


    Based on Jonny''s descriptions over these days, the wizards in thend had about the same level of understanding about the world as Western Europe during the Renaissance.


    As magic existed, wizards specialized heavily. While they had made significant strides in micro-level research, discovering the existence of gravity early and even creating alchemical ships powered by steam, the majority of wizards still adhered to the belief that the earth was t, and that this continent beneath their feet was the center of the entire universe.


    They even used this continent as a reference point to chart the orbits of every celestial body in the star system, forming a highlyplex geometric pattern. This also aligned with the descriptions in the Church''s Bible about the creation.


    However, over the past few days, he had talked with Lame Loude and others, and this world also had sr eclipses. The sailing over the seas involved seeing towering mountains and spires.


    Apart from this, if he slightly adjusted the positions of the celestial bodies in the star chart, cing the stars at the center, everything became familiar again.


    It was evident that the Church''s theory of divine creation wasplete nonsense. There was no way the goddess, ra, who had supposedly created this world, couldn''t even determine whether she made a continent or a sphere, right?


    Of course, this kind of incorrect understanding was a pitfall that almost every civilization had to go through. To put it inly, their thinking was bound bymon knowledge.


    When people are born, they tend to think of themselves as the center of the world. They believe that everything in existence revolves around them, and the continent beneath their feet must be a particrly special existence, the center of the entire universe.


    However, after delving into further research, one would discover a cruel truth. Not to mentions, even an entire star system was negligible in the grand scheme of the universe.


    Using the attack on the belief in a t earth as a starting point was undoubtedly a good choice. It was not only shocking but also had a plethora of evidence to prove the facy of this argument. There was no need for him to say much; the wizards would naturally realize what was correct.


    Lynn was also preparing to test the "scientific research" atmosphere in thend of the wizards. Faced with skepticism, whether they would carefully seek the truth and ept it, or vehemently suppress voices that didn''t conform to the mainstream, would determine his future course of action!


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 Chapter 52: Perhaps This Is Just a Farce

    Chapter 52: Perhaps This Is Just a Farce


    After finalizing their n for the uing actions, Lynn turned to Jonny and spoke.


    "We may have sessfully escaped the Church''s pursuit this time, but in doing so, we''ve disrupted a crucial trade route. When we reach the Iyeta Harbor, we might face some scrutiny. I''ll handle the exnations."


    Jonny realized the magnitude of their predicament, but seeing Lynn''s unwaveringposure gave him a modicum of reassurance.


    Next, they pondered the potential troubles they might encounter upon entering Iyeta Harbor and roughly discussed strategies. Eventually, Lynn hesitated for a moment and spoke again.


    "By the way... from now on, please address me as Lynn. It''s a new alias I''vee up with. Since we''ve be wizards, it''s best to leave our past identities behind to avoid implicating our families in any future problems."


    ...


    The massive sail warship drifted on the sea for a full half-month before finally emerging from the shroud of mist. The outline of a vast ind was now visible at the horizon''s end.


    "Hurry, give it your all! We''re almost there. The Iyeta Harbor is just ahead!" Lame Loude shouted loudly, and the sailors on the ship pushed harder, eager to escape the ursed fog.


    Lynn stood on the deck, gazing into the distance. As the ship drew closer, the city''s harbor was clearly visible.


    However, several patrol boats were quickly closing in on the sea.


    These boats had a peculiar appearance, appearing rtively t overall. There were no masts on their hulls, and instead of the tall sails, there were cylindrical structures emitting smoke.


    Steamboats? Lynn observed with interest, and Lame Loude, standing nearby, provided an exnation.


    "These alchemical ships are a unique creation of the Wizard''s Land. They are much faster than our sail warships, and they aren''t as affected by strong winds."


    As he spoke, the sail warship, escorted by a few alchemical ships, slowly approached the shore.


    The sailors skillfully lowered the rudder and gangnk, and a wizard in a blue robe was already waiting at the dock.


    "It''s been a while, Theodore, my old friend!" Lame Loude descended from the ship, warmly embracing the wizard and then turned to introduce the two people behind him.


    "This is Lord Lynn and Miss Jonny!"


    "Rare indeed. It''s been quite some time since foreign wizards set foot here." Theodore scrutinized Lynn and Jonny for a moment before speaking. "Nevertheless... wee to Iyeta Harbor. I believe it won''t be long before you both grow fond of this ce!"


    "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Theodore!" Lynn replied confidently, and Jonny offered a respectful bow.


    Theodore exchanged a few more pleasantries before turning to Lame Loude. "By the way, Old Lame, why did you personallye this year? And with a sail warship? Has something happened?"


    If he hadn''t used his alchemical eyepiece to spot Lame Loude on the deck, the crystal cannons in the harbor would have been activated long ago.


    "The situation is even moreplicated than you might imagine. We need to meet with Master Heralm personally to exin everything," Lame Loude said, his tone grave.


    Upon hearing Lame Loude''s solemn words, Theodore''s smile immediately faded, and he furrowed his brows. He spoke, "Master Heralm is not at the academy right now. Let me take you to find him."


    Lame Loude understood the procedure, so before leaving, he instructed all the sailors to remain on the ship and await inspection.


    As the distance wasn''t great, they decided to walk, following Theodore into the city.


    The inner city of Iyeta Harbor presented a stark contrast to the Imperial territories. The ck road was clean and smooth, the streets were wide enough to amodate three carriages side by side, and the rows of white-walled, red-roofed buildings wereid out meticulously. Even the trees and flowers by the street were trimmed to perfection, exuding a rich Western ssical style.


    While Jonny and Lame Loude had been to the Wizard''s Land before, revisiting it still left them deeply awed.


    Lynn almost felt like he had time-traveled. If the people of the Secas Empire were still living in the wicked medieval era, the Wizard''s Land had leaped ahead to the 17th or 18th century.


    "Oh, look over there. Isn''t it beautiful?" Walking on a cobblestone path that led further into the city, Theodore pointed to arge fountain and a group of sculptures of various shapes and sizes within the city. He introduced them with a sense of pride.


    "The entire Iyeta Harbor was designed by Master Raphael. He''s the most renowned architect and sculptor in the entire Wizard''s Land."


    "He must be a perfectionist..." Lynn couldn''t help butment silently.


    All the buildings in Iyeta Harbor were perfectly aligned, and there was no discernible difference between the left and right sides of the streets. If there was a decorative flower bed on one side, there would inevitably be an identical one on the other side!


    However, after experiencing the city''s scenery, Lynn understood why most wizards preferred to stay in the Wizard''s Land. Anyone who experienced this environment wouldn''t want to return to the dirty, disorderly, and foul-smelling Secas Empire.


    Along the way, Theodore boasted about everything in Iyeta Harbor, from the road surfaces to architectural designs, and even the materials used for crafting each sculpture. He enjoyed observing the surprised and awed expressions on the faces of Lynn and hispanions.


    Whenever someone from outside the Wizard''s Land arrived here, he couldn''t help but feel a strong sense of superiority.


    Lynn surveyed the unique harbor city with great interest, his gaze passing over each building. He had only seen such an ancient architectural style in ck-and-white photos from the database. At the same time, he couldn''t help but feel a bit perplexed. Were there too few people on the streets?


    After entering the inner city, they encountered no more than a hundred people in total.


    Just as Lynn was contemting this, a suddenmotion and mor ahead caught his attention. He looked up to see that the massive square at the city center was already filled with a crowd, and it seemed to be growing by the minute.


    "Is there some sort of celebration today?" Lynn asked with curiosity.


    Theodore opened his mouth but hesitated, ultimately shaking his head with a hint of resignation. "Not exactly. It''s probably just a farce!"


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 Chapter 53: The Girl Who Yearned to Soar

    Chapter 53: The Girl Who Yearned to Soar


    "It must be those halflings up to some new antics again," Theodore sighed, leading the way through the dense crowd.


    Lynn quickly realized the esteemed status of wizards. The crowded harbor residents, upon seeing the emblem on Theodore''s chest, spontaneously made way for them. They soon found themselves in the front row, witnessing the scene in the square.


    On the smooth, paved stone road, there stood a massive flying contraption, about two meters tall and with a wingspan of nearly seven meters.


    Well, to describe it as a "flying contraption" might not be entirely urate. It looked rather rudimentary, like a framework of wood and steel, tightly bound at the joints with leather straps. The frame was covered with a canvas made from camel leather. It appeared like a monstrous creature hovering above the ground, eliciting continuous gasps from the onlookers.


    "It''s enormous!" Jonny gazed in astonishment at the contraption. He couldn''t find the words to express his shock. "Is this a new alchemical invention of the wizards in thisnd?"


    "Of course not!" Theodore pped his forehead, turning his head away, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of outsiders.


    Lynn, on the other hand, found it quite intriguing. He hadn''t expected to witness such a peculiar sight right after arriving at Iyeta Harbor. Was this a test flight?


    Lynn immediately noticed the propellers hanging from the double wings. However, if it relied solely on steam for power, the results could be questionable.


    Despite his doubts, Lynn kept his eyes fixed on the contraption. Every human attempt at flight was worth celebrating, especially in a world where magic existed. Nothing was truly impossible here.


    "Hey there!"


    Just as he was thinking, Lynn saw a petite figure nimbly climbing to the top of the contraption. She secured the final connection point with leather straps and then settled inside the cockpit.


    She looked no more than eight or nine years old, wearing a dirty, dust-covered, yet exquisite short robe. Her hair was windswept and disheveled, her face smeared with dusty grime. She had rolled up her sleeves and pants, and she wore oversized wind goggles on her head. Her entire presence exuded vitality and determination!


    "She''s so young... Why did they choose a child to operate this contraption?" Lynn asked in amazement.


    "No, you''ve got it wrong. Lydia is a halfling, and in fact, she''s already sixteen this year," Theodore exined.


    Is that so? Lynn took a closer look and noticed the slight pointiness of the girl''s ears, as well as her unique eye color and hair. It was often challenging to distinguish between halflings and ordinary humans during their early years. Coupled with her youthful appearance, Lynn hadn''t recognized her.


    "Lydia, maybe we should reconsider..."


    In the square, a few halflings were gathered around the contraption, conducting final checks. An elderly halfling ced his hands on the "body" of the contraption and gave it a few strong shakes, seemingly testing its sturdiness.


    Of course, if it were to fall apart, that would be even better. This way, the other side would have to give up this impractical fantasy.


    "Don''t worry, Uncle Darren. This time, I''ve prepared for everything, and I''m sure it will work," the girl named Lydia brushed off the other''s teasing hands, tugged on her wind goggles, and ced her hands on the controls. She exuded confidence. "Alright, I''m taking off now. Everyone, please clear the area!"


    "But you said the same thingst time..." the group of halflings silentlymented in their hearts. Nevertheless, they moved aside. They felt quite embarrassed to be gathered here and were afraid of the impending embarrassment.


    Moreover, the wizard nobles, though not vocal about it, definitely had reservations about the chaos caused by the halflings upying the city square.


    Vroom, vroom...


    Apanied by puffs of smoke continuously billowing from above the contraption, the steam-powered contraption''s side propellers started spinning. Once everyone in front made way, Lydia pulled the lever, using the straight street as her runway. The massive contraption charged straight ahead.


    "Can this thing really fly?" Jonny was immensely curious. She could see that this contraption was designed for ascending, resembling an extremelyrge bird.


    "It should be able to, but most likely, it can only fly a little..." Lynn hadn''t sensed any magical energy fluctuations throughout, so he had an idea of what the oue would be.


    Jonny, on the other hand, was puzzled. What did he mean by "it can only fly a little"?


    Theodore, however, shook his head. He believed this contraption couldn''t fly at all.


    Independent flight was a privilege of high-ranking wizards. Other than the griffin knights trained by the Secas Empire, no one else could freely soar in the sky.


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the contraption picked up speed and charged across the city square.


    On the opposite street, there was arge, sloping structure to provide the necessary height. Lydia was tense, her pupils fixed firmly on the path ahead.


    When the contraption reached the top of the slope, the girl pressed the controls hard, causing the contraption''s massive wings to shudder abruptly. With thest burst of lift, it soared over the slope.


    "It actually took off!" Theodore was inplete disarray, his face filled with an expression of disbelief. Themon folk who were also watching were equally astounded.


    "My goodness, she did it!"


    "She truly deserves to be called ''Lydia the Artisan.'' She''s amazing. I''ve even bought some of the little gadgets she made, and they''re just as magical as the wizards'' tools..."


    "She''s definitely going to pass the selection this year..."


    The halflings below were ecstatic, dancing and cheering. "Lydia is the pride of the halflings..." "She''s sure to be the first halfling wizard..."


    However, their celebration was premature. Once the contraption ascended with the assistance of the thrust, numerous issues were exposed simultaneously.


    Lydia was happily adjusting her course, nning to fly around Iyeta Harbor. But within a few seconds, she realized her contraption was losing bnce and descending rapidly.


    In a panic, Lydia pulled on the lever, trying to control the wing''s oscitions and imitate the way birds provide lift. Unfortunately, her efforts only made things worse. The contraption''s flight path immediately became erratic, like a young dragon hit by a spell, spiraling down from the sky...


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 Chapter 54: The Great Wizard Herlram

    Chapter 54: The Great Wizard Herlram


    "I knew it would be like this."


    Theodore breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the flying contraption descend from the sky. Then, he quietly muttered, "Master Herlram should not have indulged her so much..."


    Lynn gazed at the sky, the massive flying machine swaying in mid-air, heading straight for the square. However, the crowd gathered in the square didn''t appear rmed. Lynn abandoned the idea of intervening; it seemed there were specialists on hand to handle this situation.


    As expected, just as the flying machine was about to crash, several wizards in the square acted swiftly, casting levitation spells simultaneously, guiding the contraption tond gently in the center of the square. However, the battered wings had already fallen apart, and the camel leather covering them had been blown away by the wind.


    "It seems like it can only fly a little bit..."


    Jonny watched the ascent and descent of the flying machine and then turned to Lynn, quite curious about how he knew so much.


    "Relying solely on steam for power is insufficient to sustain flight, and the design of the entire apparatus doesn''t quite adhere to aerodynamics...a crash was inevitable," Lynn exined with a shake of his head. He could easily spot the problems with this flying contraption.


    But Lydia, the young half-human girl responsible for creating this flying machine from such basic materials and getting it to function, was undoubtedly an engineering genius.


    Imitating the wing ps of birds to generate lift was a good idea, but it was too simplistic,cking a deep understanding of the underlying principles.


    In summary, history had proven that steam-powered aircraft had no future ¨C theycked the power to fly high or far.


    "So, are you suggesting that with a different power source and a redesign, this... um... flying machine could soar in the sky without relying on magical energy?" Jonny asked as they discussed it.


    As they spoke, a gentle voice sounded behind them.


    Lynn turned to see an elderly man in a ck robe with a round-topped hat, appearing to be around sixty or seventy years old. His neatly trimmed beard and the mysterious gleam in his eyes gave him an air of wisdom.


    Theodore quickly bowed. "Master Herlram!"


    The neer was Herlram, the figure who controlled the port of Iyeta. As a highly respected Grand Wizard, his attire was surprisingly in, to the point that the townsfolk of the port couldn''t recognize him immediately.


    "It''s an honor to meet you, Your Excellency Herlram," Lynn said, bowing in ordance with the local customs to show respect for the Grand Wizard. He then didn''t directly answer Herlram''s question but instead replied with a question of his own.


    "Alchemy ships that use steam as their power source and don''t rely on magic can sail on the sea, right? Why can''t the same principle apply to flying?"


    Herlram raised an eyebrow, finding the question intriguing, while Theodore couldn''t wait to interject.


    "Who told you those alchemy ships have nothing to do with magic? It seems your knowledge of alchemy is quitecking..."


    As he spoke, Theodore exined the two methods of operating alchemy ships. Either a trained wizard controlled the alchemical machinery, or magic stones were used as a power source to activate the corresponding alchemical array.


    So, they used magic to produce steam, Lynn thought with embarrassment. He hadn''t realized that these alchemy ships weren''t coal-powered. Was this what they called the legendary one-hundred-kilometer journey consuming one wizard''s... magic power?


    Herlram cast an unexpected nce at Lynn. Over twenty years ago, when steam engines were first invented, they indeed didn''t require any magic. It was onlyter that magic stones were used as a more convenient power source.


    In fact, the steam engine installed on the flying machine by Lydia didn''t use any magic. However, within the port of Iyeta, few of the younger generation of wizards were willing to delve into the fundamental principles of these alchemical forms.


    "Master Herlram!" Lydia, with the help of some halflings, had managed to free herself from the cramped cockpit. Her robe''s sleeve had torn open, but the girl didn''t seem to mind. She hurriedly ran up to Herlram, excitedly inquiring.


    "Did I seed? I really flew just now, didn''t you see?"


    "Can''t really call that a sess; it was more like..." Herlram paused for a moment and yfully repeated Lynn''s words, "a little flight!"


    Lydia''s face immediately fell, like a defeated ostrich, but she quickly pointed out that she had made significant progress this time. With a few more adjustments, she was confident that the contraption would fly sessfully.


    Herlram patiently listened to Lydia''s ount andints before turning to Lynn and the others.


    "It seems like you have something to discuss with me. How about this, Theodore, take the guests to the academy for now, and I''ll join you shortly."


    Theodore nodded; this wasn''t the right ce for a conversation. However, before he could leave, Herlram''s voice rang out once more.


    "Furthermore, Theodore, if you have any grievances against me, don''t hesitate to speak to me directly."


    Evidently, Herlram had not only heard Lynn''s evaluation of the flying machine but also hisints.


    "No, Master. What I meant was that Lydia conducting flying experiments in the square is quite dangerous. In case of an ident, it might harm the townsfolk, and... and..." Theodore''s expression suddenly froze, and he hurriedly exined. Herlram, however, waved a hand and cut him off.


    "Alright, I understand your point. Next time, I''ll set up a magical barrier. Your concerns are not entirely without merit."


    With the flying machine crashing to the ground, the "spectacle" on the square came to an end, and the townsfolk, having satisfied their curiosity, gradually dispersed amidst chatter and gossip.


    Theodore, looking somewhat dejected, led the group to the nearby Iyeta School of Magic.


    It was a massiveplex towering in the city''s center, with tall spires, thick ck walls, and the most prominent feature, even visible from outside the port ¨C the Tower of Whispers.


    "In Iyeta Port, is it this difficult for everyone to be an apprentice wizard?" Lynn couldn''t help but ask as they entered the school.


    He had heard that a girl named Lydia needed toplete this experiment to qualify for admission to the Magic Academy, and it seemed exceedingly challenging.


    Could it be that everyone had to go through such trouble to enroll?


    "No, that''s just a test designed specifically for Lydia," Theodore exined. "In truth, Master Herlram means well. These halflings don''t possess any magical talents, and letting her into the academy would be aplete waste of time..."


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 Chapter 55: My Name Is Lynn, Im a Scholar

    Chapter 55: My Name Is Lynn, I''m a Schr


    Theodore seemed to have an extraordinary desire to perform, and when he saw the interest of Lynn and the others, he began toin.


    In recent years, Lydia had be a well-known figure in the entire port of Iyeta, the small halfling was very enthusiastic about researching some strange and unusual things.


    For example,st year, she imitated the spiral propellers on alchemical ships and created a small contraption called the "Fan." It could be powered by alchemical steam devices and provided a cool breeze, which was quite effective on hot summer days.


    But who would put such arge and expensive alchemical machine in their home just to have a breeze?


    For wizards, casting a wind-controlling spell was much more convenient.


    Of course, it could also be operated manually, so there were some townsfolk who pursued novelty and were willing to buy these gadgets. This was also the source of funds for Lydia''s flying devices.


    "With Lydia''s talent, she could join any alchemy workshop as an assistant and receive good treatment, but she insists on bing a wizard. It''s like asking for trouble..." Theodore shook his head. Even he had to admit that this halfling girl had many ingenious ideas, but in thend of wizards, no halfling had ever sessfully be a wizard.


    Listening to Theodore''s ount, Lynn vaguely understood why the "tech tree" in thend of wizards was so chaotic. It was because magic was just too convenient, and many things weren''t impossible to make; wizards just didn''t need them.


    As they walked into the front hall of the academy, there were apprentices dressed modestly bowing to Theodore along the way.


    These apprentices varied in age, with the youngest looking around eleven or twelve years old and the oldest not exceeding thirty. Those over this age who had not be official wizards were considered to have no talent and were therefore expelled from the academy.


    "Here we are. Please wait for a moment. I will inform the other mentors of the academy," Theodore arranged them in arge lounge and had his apprentice bring tea. Then he quickly left.


    Lynn sat down at the back, and on the mahogany table in front of him, there were several scattered magic books, presumably left behind by a wizard who hadn''t had time to take them away. Besides that, there were some sheets of paper thrown carelessly to the side.


    Out of curiosity, Lynn opened one of the folded pages and discovered that it was actually a newspaper called "Magic Weekly."


    He didn''t expect that even in thend of wizards, they had these.


    The front page contained some interesting stories from thend of wizards, while the back had thetest theories about magic, with the author''s name written below.


    "Is the magical reaction of electricity and maism consistent?" "24 Basic Elemental Experiments," "Kozeran Force: The Power that Supports the World," "The Rtionship between the Movement of Objects and Gravity"...


    Lynn flipped through "Magic Weekly" and soon became immersed in it. The unique perspective of analyzing the world through magic made him find it fascinating.


    On the other hand, Jonny sat upright, extremely nervous, unlike Lynn, who seemed at ease.


    Before long, the sound of the door opening again, and Helram, whom they had met earlier, entered with several mentors from the academy.


    After sitting in the main seat, Helram didn''t beat around the bush and looked at Loude, asking directly, "Theodore said you have something very important to report to me personally. Has something serious happened in the port town?"


    "It''s probably even more serious than you can imagine. The entire port town''s harbor has beenpletely destroyed, and even the Ship Gang has been wiped out," Loude said cautiously. Before he could finish speaking, a hoarse voice interrupted.


    "Could it be that the Ship Gang made a mistake while transporting goods and got caught by the Church?" The one who spoke was Kevin, the Professor of Morphology at the Iyeta Academy of Magic. He looked to be around forty, with a tall and slender figure, wearing a gray robe with a shiny emblem on his chest. The emblem bore three mysterious strip-like patterns, the symbol of a third-ring wizard.


    Loude quickly shook his head. He didn''t want to shoulder the me for this. He hurriedly exined.


    But from his perspective, the information he had was very limited. He only knew the beginning of everything, where Archbishop Anluke caught Kora, who was attempting to abduct the Duke''s daughter within the Norn territories, and then the pursuit led to the port town.


    "I knew that Kora would get into trouble. We shouldn''t have let him leave thend of the wizards in the first ce,"ined Philip, the Elemental Studies professor, unhappily.


    He, of course, knew Kora. Before leaving thend of wizards a few years ago, Kora had been holding the position of a professor of Psionics at the Iyeta Academy of Magic, and he had made significant contributions in elemental, alchemical, and shape-shifting magic.


    If he had continued to dedicate himself to magic research, he might have reached the rank of a grand wizard in the future.


    However, just a few years ago, this guy went crazy and left everything behind to navigate the Misty Sea and head to the Secas Empire.


    It was apletely insane decision.


    Compared to thefortable life and the freedom to study magic in thend of the wizards, the Empire was apletely different extreme. People there lived in squalid wooden houses, endured the oppressive rule of the Church, and had no knowledge of even the basics of elemental magic.


    Philip was about to say more when his colleague pulled him back.


    It should be noted that Kora''s journey to the Secas Empire was approved by Master Helram! Despite the frequent interruptions from the wizard elders, Loude dared not voice any objections. In the moments when no one was speaking, he recounted the whole story without hiding any details.


    When the professors heard about Lynn using an immensely powerful spell to kill a high bishop, annihte three thousand heavily armored elite guards, and even level half a city, they couldn''t help but wear expressions of disbelief, even Helram was moved.


    Theodore even began to suspect whether Loude had messed things up on his own and then, in coboration with this wizard named Lynn, concocted a random reason to cover up his mistakes.


    With various thoughts in mind, all the wizards present involuntarily turned their gaze toward the two individuals who hadn''t spoken yet.


    Jonny and the others were familiar with Kora. Four years ago, when Kora returned to thend of the wizards, Jonny also followed him. But as for Lynn and the others, they had no impression of them.


    "Just a moment ago, we didn''t get a chance to introduce ourselves. I''m Lynn, a schr from the Society of Mystical Arts within the Secas Empire''s territories, and I''m also Kora''s friend." Under the scrutiny of everyone, Lynn put down the "Magic Weekly" in his hand and spoke naturally.


    This was the identity they had discussed with Jonny on the airship.


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 Chapter 56: To Be Frank, the Magic Theories in the Wizards Land are Outdated!

    Chapter 56: To Be Frank, the Magic Theories in the Wizard''s Land are Outdated!


    Kora''s good friend, a schr of the Society of Mystical Arts, an official wizard...


    These were the three identities that Lynn had bestowed upon himself, capable of making most potential troubles vanish into thin air.


    To uncover these lies would not be easy. For the people of the Wizard''s Land, Kora''s experiences in the Secas Empire were aplete nk, even though they couldmunicate through magic. It was usible to say that they had only recently met.


    Anyway, Kora''s mentor had already been taken to the Holy City by the Church. By calcting the time, it was hard to say if he would survive the ordeal, but one thing was certain¡ªhe couldn''t escape to correct Kora''s words.


    The only one who knew the truth was Jonny, whose life Lynn had saved twice. They had a bond forged through life and death, and more importantly, they were now inextricably linked. Even if it was to avoid being held ountable, Jonny had no choice but to remain silent.


    As long as he could solidify his identity during this time, who would believe the words of a wizard''s apprentice? Sometimes, the truth was less believable than lies.


    No one would believe that someone who had only been studying magic for less than half a year could kill a Grand Archbishop, destroy half a seaside town, and possess extensive knowledge.


    After Lynn''s brief introduction, the professors present exchanged nces. Theodore was the first to speak, questioning, "You''re not a Grand Wizard, are you?"


    In Theodore''s mind, the kind of magic that could cause such widespread destruction was at least High Circle Magic, something only Grand Wizards could perform. Yet Lynn appeared much too young, probably around twenty.


    This seemed quite unreasonable. The most talented wizards in the Wizard''s Land, like the "Star of Magic," Ougust, had be Grand Wizards at the age of twenty-four, and he was considered the hope of the entire wizarding world, the most likely candidate to reach the realm of legendary wizards!


    Theodore couldn''t believe that this neer, whose origins were unknown, possessed greater talent than the "Star of Magic."


    "I''m certainly not a Grand Wizard. Destroying the seaside town was just a stroke of luck, and it was also thanks to the assistance of Lame Loude," Lynn exined casually.


    "Luck?" Theodore was momentarily stunned, remembering that Lynn had ordered Lame Loude to collect a lot of basic materials before the conflict with the Church broke outpletely. Was it the influence of a powerful alchemical array?


    The professors from the various academies racked their brains but couldn''t think of any powerful alchemical array that required such basic materials. They turned their gazes to Grand Wizard Herlram.


    He pondered for a moment before speaking, "I heard a few years ago that the alchemists in the Wizard''s City discovered a unique alchemical form that didn''t even require the use of magic. With a sufficient quantity, the resulting power could rival some high-level magic."


    Lynn''s face revealed a slight hint of surprise. Had the alchemists of the Wizard''s City actually stumbled upon gunpowder technology? It wasn''t surprising when you thought about it. After all, ck powder wasn''t something particrly advanced, having been discovered in thete 9th century in his previous life. Its power was also fairly average.


    Back in the seaside town, the key was the sheer quantity, coupled with Lynn''s addition of white phosphorus to enhance its strength, resulting in such impressive results.


    In fact, if time had not been so limited, he would have let the natives experience a true spectacle.


    After Herlram''s exnation, Theodore and the others couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It turned out to be some sort of alchemical product that required employing thousands of people and several days of preparation to unleash its power. This thing could only serve as a trap and certainly wouldn''t be used in battle.


    Regardless of what the academy professors thought, Lynn continued his narration.


    "Kora''s journey to the capital of the Nordan Dominion was, in fact, to meet another schr from the Society of Mystical Arts to discuss a very important magical theory. As for the abduction... um... as for the apprenticeship, it was merely a cover. Unexpectedly, the Church personnel still caught wind of it..."


    "Just before departing, Kora implored me topile a manuscript from the Society of Mystical Arts. He had foreseen that this meeting might not be as easy as it seemed. If he couldn''t return this time, he asked me to do whatever it took to get these precious manuscripts to Iyeta Harbor."


    At this point, Lynn sighed with regret and looked at the academy professors around him, speaking in a subdued tone, "Kora told me that the Wizard''s Land is too closed off, with many magical theories that are likely outdated. These new ideas might bring a revolution to the Wizard''s Land."


    "Absurd! How dare he say such things!" Kevin stood up immediately, his eyes wide, practically ready to vent his frustrations.


    What ce was the Wizard''s Land? It was the birthce of countless top academies! It was the center of magical development and the sanctuary of wizards! They had spent hundreds of years transforming this once-barren ind into a paradise of magic. Here, every wizard was dedicated to the pursuit of truth, and nearly every week, new elements or magical theories were discovered.


    Now, the other side dared to im that their magical sanctuary had be obsolete, falling behind the times...


    This was simply absurd!


    "Kora must have been away from the Wizard''s Land for too long and doesn''t understand today''s magical theories well enough," Kevin sneered. He believed Kora''s thinking was stuck in the time of his first journey to the Secas Empire, and that''s why he was so amazed by one or two novel theories.


    Little did he know that in the years since, the Grand Wizards and Legendary Wizards had developed enough magical theories to fill an entire bookshelf!


    The other professors chimed in, all using Kora of speaking nonsense and tarnishing the reputation of the Wizard''s Land.


    Lynn didn''t offer much exnation and instead ced the prepared "research manuscripts" on the table.


    Kevin was the first to pick up a manuscript. He wanted to see exactly what kind of novel theory could make Kora entertain such unrealistic thoughts.


    "Free-fallw? Kic energy form? Ha, I knew it. Kora must not have read Master Yad''s magic book while at the Iyeta Academy. Over two hundred years ago, he proposed that the velocity of an object in free fall is directly proportional to its weight, which is the basis of the gravity form..."


    Kevin had just flipped to the first page, read the title, and couldn''t help shaking his head with a sigh. But after carefully reading the content for a moment, he froze in ce.


    Because the free-fallw in the manuscript waspletely contrary to Master Yad''s theory. The author believed that when two objects of different weights were in free fall, their eleration would be the same, and they would hit the ground simultaneously.


    "Absurd, truly absurd!" Theodore couldn''t help but burst intoughter. Did that mean if you threw Mount Cogar into the air along with a pebble, they would both hit the ground at the same time? It was too ridiculous!


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 Chapter 57: The Water Globe in My Hand is this Vast Continent!

    Chapter 57: The Water Globe in My Hand is this Vast Continent!


    Theodore''s irritable words immediately captured everyone''s attention.


    Facing the astonished gazes of the crowd, Theodore didn''t say much. He simply handed over the so-called research manuscript, and Kevin and the others took it and began to read, their faces contorted with mocking expressions.


    When this manuscript reached the hands of Herlram, the grand wizard, he didn''tugh. He discovered something mentioned in the manuscript, something called "air resistance."


    Lynn took a sip of his tea, not in a hurry to exin, but patiently waiting for the academy professors to finish examining his "research material."


    Although he had limited knowledge of the "magic" in the wizardnds, Kora had left him with two basic books, "Elemental Analysis" and "Foundations of Universal Magic," and the manuscripts he had written were extensions of existing theories in the wizardnds, easily verifiable.


    In just five or six minutes, the dozen or so pages of manuscript were thoroughly examined by the wizards. Given the unreliability of the so-calledw of free fall, they only gave the remaining content a cursory look. They were astounded to find an even more outrageous idea in the manuscript.


    "Listen, your name is Lynn, right? I don''t know what Kora had in mind when he sent you to bring this absurd manuscript to the wizardnds, but forgive me for saying that the magical theories of the Society of Mystical Arts are full of holes..."


    Kevin tossed the pages in his hand casually onto the table, saying with a hint of frustration. "And you even believe that this world is a spherical continent? It''s just ridiculous!"


    "Why can''t this world be spherical? No one has verified it yet," Lynn calmly ced his teacup down. Though he couldn''t confirm this due to hisck of abilities to fly into space, the fact that he could stand here already exined many things.


    For instance, the mass and gravity of the beneath his feet were almost identical to Earth, as he felt virtually no difference in gravity.


    The changing seasons and the movements of the sun and moon also served as evidence ofary rotation and orbit around a star. Moreover, after leaving the Misty Sea, the first thing he saw in the harbor was the spire of the Howling Tower, followed by the tower itself. The most crucial evidence was the star chart; by cing the star in the center, he could construct a perfect model of the celestial system, the most direct proof!


    If it weren''t for the star chart indicating that this star had only five orbitings, Lynn would have started to suspect if this was another Earth from a parallel world.


    Because it looked so simr!


    "Since Iyeta Harbor faces the open sea, I wonder if any of you have ever used farseeing magic or alchemical spysses to observe the sea. If so, you should have noticed that when a sailboat gradually approaches from a distance, you first see the sails and then the hull!"


    As he spoke, Lynn extended his hand, and with the surge of magic, a huge and murky water globe appeared in front of everyone. He then inserted a feathered quill straight into the flow of water.


    Immediately, the water began to ripple, and the quill rotated from the base to the top. Indeed, the first thing seen was the tip of the quill.


    The wizards in attendance immediately understood Lynn''s point. The massive water globe was akin to the continent beneath their feet, and the quill represented a ship. If the continent were t, they would see the entire hull as it approached.


    Only a curved surface would make the sails appear first.


    "It does seem to be the case," Theodore''s brow furrowed. Every Monday, he would go to the harbor dock to wee new arrivals. Sometimes he had to use farseeing magic, and it was indeed as Lynn described. They always saw the sails on the horizon first.


    This theory appeared to have some merit, but Theodore felt that something was amiss.


    "That still doesn''t prove that this continent is a spherical body; it might be a semi-circr one... That makes sense, doesn''t it?" Another academy professor eagerly retorted, "And ording to your theory, under the influence of gravity, the seawater above should have flowed down long ago..."


    As he spoke, the academy professor mimicked Lynn, creating a y sphere to simte the continent. He then attached ayer of flowing water to its surface.


    He promptly released the "Mage''s Hand," causing the water to flow downwards, forming a puddle on the table.


    "Look, it''s like this... thispletely doesn''t work!" The academy professor proudly eximed. Theodore and the others nodded in agreement.


    "Do we even need to determine which side is ''up''? Of course, the sky is above, and thend is below; it''s gravity-guided!" Theodore furrowed his brow and exined, not understanding why the question seemed so absurd.


    "Is that so? How about this, then?" Lynn raised an eyebrow, removed the water globe, and ced his hand on the y sphere the academy professor had created. He activated the "Mage''s Hand," causing the originally soft y sphere to slowlypress inward until it became a solid sphere.


    "If we consider the force granted by the ''Mage''s Hand'' as gravity, for the center of the y sphere, which side is up, and which side is down?"


    Theodore was leftpletely baffled. Lynn''s metaphor using the y sphere to represent the continent was straightforward and easily understood, so he naturally grasped it well. However, that understanding was precisely what left him in awe.


    For the center of a sphere, there was gravity on all sides, so in all directions, there was an "up." The "down" was located at the center of the sphere, which meant the water would naturally adhere to the surface of the sphere.


    The professors in the room also recognized this point. They engaged in a heated debate. Kevin was entirely unwilling to believe in this so-called theory of a spherical world, insisting that the continent was t, and the sailboat''s farseeing phenomenon was just a coincidence, not direct evidence.


    Philip and others, on the other hand, held the opposite view. They believed that Lynn''s words might not be entirely without merit. At the very least, it was a usible theory, worthy of further research and confirmation.


    As the schrs were about to descend into a heated argument, Theodore turned his gaze to Lynn and asked again, "Are you suggesting that there''s a forcepressing everything towards the center of this continent? Is that why the water remains on the surface?"


    Lynn had not yet answered when Herlram, who had been reviewing the manuscript all this time, finally spoke.


    "In fact, it should be the opposite. There is some force at the center of the continent that spreads outward in all directions, forming a gravitational field... dragging everything inward. Is that what you''re trying to convey, right?"


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 Chapter 58: The Truth Can Withstand Any Form of Examination!

    Chapter 58: The Truth Can Withstand Any Form of Examination!


    "Yes, that''s exactly what I mean, Master Herlram."


    Lynn nodded, casting a nce at the people present and then rotating the newspaper in front of him, pushing it toward everyone.


    "Have any of you read this week''s ''Magic Weekly''?" Lynn asked. "The legendary wizard Harof proposed that gravity might exist widely in any object, not just thend beneath our feet."


    Lynn couldn''t help but feel a bit awed by this. After reading Harof''s "paper" in the "Magic Weekly," he realized it was nothing less than the initial concept of universal gravitation. He wondered how far this legendary wizard had already researched... if he had formted thew of universal gravitation and understood the nature of gravity.


    Nevertheless, this could serve as evidence for Lynn''s theory because, in Harof''s paper, gravity was not just a force pulling things downward but something that could affect the surroundings and even warp space.


    "Lord Harof''s argument is indeed fascinating and hard to refute," Herlram pondered. In truth, after reading the manuscript, he was leaning more toward the idea that the t-earth theory was incorrect.


    But Herlram was well aware of how this theory could shake the world''s understanding when published in the "Magic Weekly." He had to be cautious.


    "I''ve reviewed your star charts, and the theories about rotation and revolution are intriguing. Let''s do this: I''ll share this theory with some aplished wizards who specialize in gravity research. If they approve, we can publish it in the ''Magic Weekly'' without dy," Herlram said solemnly.


    "That''s no problem at all. The truth can withstand any form of examination!" Lynn nodded. Everything he had written in his manuscript was purely theoretical, and having professionals confirm it would be the best approach.


    "Let''s leave the topic of t-earth and theory here," Herlram bypassed that subject and produced another manuscript. "This free-fallw is also interesting. Can you exin it in detail? If I''m not mistaken, it should be rted to gravity."


    "I think conducting an experiment would be the best way to illustrate it!" Lynn shrugged. Practical experimentation was the only true test of truth.


    "In that case, ording to thisw, a feather and this solid earth sphere should fall at the same rate!" Kevin, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, couldn''t wait to interject.


    He acknowledged that the theory of the Society of Mystical Arts about the was groundbreaking, but this so-called free-fallw was just nonsense!


    Kevin directly used Mage''s Hand to lift the solid earth sphere from the table and sent the quill into the air in the same way. Then he canceled the spell, and both objects fell from the same height.


    In just two seconds, the earth sphere fell heavily to the ground, breaking into pieces, while the feather quill floated down to the ground after more than ten seconds.


    Seeing this result, the wizards present all turned to Lynn, their faces disying a mocking or bemused expression.


    "This is merely the influence of air resistance. Why not try conducting the experiment in a vacuum?" Lynn calmly exined. During his time in the Mists of the Foggy Sea over the past half month, he had already performed a simplified version of the small sphere experiment and wasn''t concerned about it failing.


    Vacuum? The professors from the academies contemted this new term, and under Lynn''s exnation, they quickly grasped its meaning.


    Herlram thought for a moment and motioned for everyone to step back, then gently extended his hand and tapped it lightly.


    Lynn immediately sensed that the "elements" in front of him were being stripped away at an incredible speed due to some mysterious force. After a moment, a rectangr vacuum field measuring four meters in length, four meters in width, and seven meters in height appeared before everyone.


    Witnessing Herlram create and maintain such arge vacuum field with such ease, Lynn couldn''t help but feel amazed. Although he had previously deprived a hunter witch of oxygen in the slums, the fact was that air continued to circte. What he had created was just a small temporary low-oxygen area.


    The power of a Grand Wizard far exceeded that of regr wizards, and this revtion left Lynn surprised. He had only been testing the waters with his previousments, not expecting Herlram to achieve this feat so effortlessly.


    Herlram retrieved the feather quill and used magic to create a solid iron sphere. He ced both objects within the vacuum field simultaneously.


    Two objects with a thousand-fold difference in weight fell at the same rate.


    At that moment, the expressions of Theodore and the others changed from casual to fearful. Their eyes widened, fixed on the scene, because the feather quill and the solid iron sphere were indeed descending at the same speed.


    "It''s true, this is actually real..." Philip muttered in amazement.


    "This can''t be! Master Herlram, did you elerate the feather quill''s descent?" Kevin suddenly stood up and looked at Herlram, unable to contain his questions. It was undoubtedly an offensive remark, but Kevin no longer cared.


    Herlram didn''t pay him any mind and continued the experiment, recing the iron sphere and feather with other materials like wood, stone, and water droplets. The results were consistently the same.


    Seeing this, regardless of the professors present and their feelings, they had to admit that the manuscript''sw of free fall was indeed a fact!


    "Could Master Yad''s theory bepletely wrong?" Kevin''s puzzled expression remained on his face.


    "No, his theory isn''t wrong. It''s just a different interpretation of air resistance," Lynn exined casually.


    Master Yad''s theory had prevailed and gained the eptance of most wizards because it exined a portion of natural phenomena. For instance, his teacher, Kora, had based her improvements to the Icy de spell on fluid dynamics knowledge that extended from Yad''s theory.


    While reading the "Magic Weekly," Lynn even found wizards who integrated air resistance into the influence of gravity, theorizing that the constant movement of air and elements was also due to gravity''s effects.


    This was undoubtedly a perplexing hypothesis.


    However, Lynn had no intention of mocking or underestimating the others. The pursuit of truth in the world was always apanied by countless errors. Throughout history, schrs had often proposed numerous different theories for the same physical phenomena, each of which sounded reasonable and could exin a portion of the phenomena.


    But with time''s umtion and continued verification, truth always triumphed over error.


    The reason Lynn could sit here and discuss without arrogance was not because he was smarter than everyone present. It was simply because he stood on the shoulders of giants...


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 Chapter 59: The Forbidden Arcane Magic

    Chapter 59: The Forbidden Arcane Magic


    The free fall experiment had quicklye to an end. Once Herlram dispelled the vacuum field, the group of professors finally recovered from their previous astonishment.


    "It seems Kora was right; some of the theories from the wizarding realm are indeed outdatedpared to the outside world," Herlram sighed.


    Apart from astrophysics and kic forms, Lynn''s research notes contained several unverified theories, proven with symbols he couldn''tprehend. These theories were fundamentally different from the existing methods in the wizarding realm.


    Theodore, Kevin, and the others wore ufortable expressions upon hearing this, but they didn''t argue.


    "The poption of the wizarding realm is still too small," Philip sighed.


    Despite hundreds of years of development, the sanctuary established by a small group of fugitive wizards had grown into the present-day magical haven. However, even with this growth, the wizarding realm only had a poption of around six hundred thousand, with roughly seven thousand official wizards and even fewer grand wizards. Legendary wizards numbered only seven.


    Outside the wizarding realm, the Singlecas Empire had a poption of twenty million. Even with the Church''s constant pursuit and persecution, the number of official wizards was undoubtedly several times higher there. It wasn''t impossible for them to have discovered some theories before the wizarding realm.


    "Mr. Lynn, thank you for taking the risk of bringing this precious research manuscript to the wizarding realm," Herlram paused for a moment and then continued, "I have an unusual request. I would like to hire you as a professor at the Iyeta Academy and establish a separate discipline to teach some of the new knowledge about ''The Society of Mystical Arts.''"


    From the unintelligible symbols in the manuscript, it was clear that the knowledge of ''The Society of Mystical Arts'' was systematic and required specialized study to understand the meaning of these symbols.


    If Lynn agreed, when he published these theories in the future, the Iyeta Academy would also gain a significant reputation.


    Faced with Herlram''s olive branch, Lynn''s mind raced as he considered the pros and cons.


    Joining the Iyeta Academy had many benefits. Firstly, all of his identity issues could be easily resolved, and he would gain a powerful ally. Secondly, he could ess the Academy''s magical books using his professor''s status, which would help fill the gaps in his magical knowledge.


    On the downside, the Iyeta Academy wasn''t the top institution with legendary wizards. Their resilience in the face of pressure was uncertain. If he proposed more revolutionary theories in the future, Herlram might not be able to protect him.


    After careful consideration, Lynn nodded in agreement.


    Since his arrival at the harbor and his interactions with the grand wizard, Herlram had shown himself to be an open-minded and amodating individual. He tolerated a group of halflings conducting flight experiments in the square and didn''t rush to question Lynn''s theories. He appeared to be a suitable coborator.


    Reliability was always a top priority, and running into someone like a certain famous inventor who liked to im the achievements of others would be a disaster.


    Once Lynn epted the position as a professor, the atmosphere in the room immediately eased. Even Kevin, who had been the most opposed, no longer opposed the idea. After all, if these theories could be verified, the entire Iyeta Academy would benefit from it.


    As for the explosion in the harbor town and the destruction of vital transportation routes, no one mentioned it anymore. Even if they wanted to assign me, they didn''t know who should be held responsible.


    me Lynn? That was absurd! He risked capture by the Church as a close friend of Kora''s, and he worked tirelessly to bring back the newfound knowledge of ''The Society of Mystical Arts'' along with Kora''s apprentice. It wouldn''t be fair to ce the me on him.


    No, instead, the entire Iyeta Academy owed him a favor.


    Jonny and Loude, one an apprentice wizard who knew nothing and the other, a wizard who had been working in the Nornd region for decades without making significant contributions ¨C it wasn''t easy to hold them ountable for the loss of an important transportation route in the wizarding realm.


    Given these circumstances, they could only reluctantly ept the fact that the wizarding realm had lost a vital trade route.


    "By the way, Master Herlram, when we shed with Archbishop Anluke in the harbor town, one of Kora''s apprentices suffered magical bacsh. I''m not sure if there''s a possibility of healing her..." Lynn suddenly thought of this and mentioned it.


    "Then let''s go have a look!" Herlram stood up, and a few other professors who were equally interested followed him out of the meeting room.


    Ten minutester, Lynn and the others returned to the docks. The sailors from the Shipmates were still detained here. After Loude reassured the sailors, they all entered the lower deck of the sail warship.


    A massive ice coffin appeared in front of them, and within ity a girl of around thirteen or fourteen. Shey silently, herplexion as pale as paper, her eyes tightly shut, making it hard to determine whether she was in aa or had already passed away.


    "Is her body being kept at the minimum functioning level through freezing?" Kevin, the professor of stic Arts, nodded, thinking there might still be a chance to save her.


    However, after melting the ice and conducting a thorough examination, Kevin became uncertain. "There don''t seem to be any major physical injuries. It appears she''s been severely traumatized mentally. Can you tell me what magic she was using when the bacsh urred?"


    "It was the ''Soul''s Scream,''" Lynn exined.


    "She''s a soul mage?" Philip''s eyebrows immediately furrowed, and he asked abruptly.


    "What''s wrong with that?" Lynn asked, puzzled.


    "It''s not that there''s anything wrong, but there are no active soul mages left in Iyeta Harbor now." Philip sighed and went on to exin.


    Three years ago, a catastrophic event urred in the wizarding realm. The Soul Mage School founded by the grand wizard Mok had, during a particr soul magic experiment, led to the death of thousands in an entire vige.


    This event outraged the entire Wizard Council. After dispatching three grand wizards to directly obliterate the school, they suddenly banned the various schools from privately researching soul magic.


    As for those soul mages recorded in the register, they had to join the newly established Soul Mage Academy in the Wizard''s City to undergo appropriate supervision if they wished to continue studying magic.


    "There are rumors that those dark mages discovered a forbidden soul magic, but only the legendary wizards might know the specifics." Philip said helplessly.


    As a result, after Kora''s departure, the Iyeta Academy hadn''t recruited another Soul Magic professor because it was no longer necessary.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn was also somewhat shocked. What kind of forbidden magic could make the Wizard Council impose such strict restrictions on an entire school of magic?


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 Chapter 60: The Three Elements to Become a Full-fledged Wizard

    Chapter 60: The Three Elements to Be a Full-fledged Wizard


    "Perhaps the only hope for some treatment lies in going to the Wizard''s City and seeking out those adept in spiritual magic," Philip sighed, warning Lynn not to get his hopes up.


    Though the girl''s body remained frozen, showing no signs of change, it had been over half a month now, and her soul likely had already dissipated.


    Hearing Philip''s words, Lynn couldn''t help but feel disappointed. He didn''t have a deep connection with Dove, but she had used her soul-shriek to aid him in his battle against Archbishop Anluke. Therefore, he was determined to do everything in his power to save her.


    "Let''s freeze her once more. I happen to know a master of spiritual magic. Perhaps he can be of some help... if he''s not too busy," Herlram suddenly spoke up.


    Kevin, Philip, and the others looked at Herlram with surprise. They thought it was quite an extravagant move to involve a master of spiritual magic to treat a wizard apprentice who was most likely already dead.


    Only Ondo''s face disyed a hint of resignation. He had expected this turn of events.


    "Thank you very much, Master Herlram!" Jonny expressed his gratitude with a deep bow.


    Lynn, too, expressed his appreciation, a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    Following Herlram''s suggestion, Dove, now re-frozen, was transferred to the infirmary of the Iyeta Academy. Lynn and Jonny were each led to their respective amodations within the academy.


    ...


    "Professor Lynn, this will be your residence from now on!" Theodore led Lynn into a room.


    Upon entering, Lynn couldn''t help but survey the surroundings. The entire room appeared quite spacious, serving not only as a simple bedroom but also equipped with a small alchemy workstation and containers for herb grinding. The room had a well-stocked bookshelf, afortable bed, and a desk with chairs. In these times, it could be considered luxurious!


    This is the life people should be living...


    Lynn sighed inwardly. In contrast, during his time hiding from the Church within the Sycas Empire, he slept on wooden boards covered with straw, struggling to swallow coarse, ck bread. He had lived like a refugee.


    Indeed, taking the risk toe to thend of the wizards had been an incredibly wise decision.


    "If there is anything missing, you can request it from Master Herlram..." Theodore added, "although it''s best if it''s rted to your studies."


    "Understood, I''ll remember that. If there''s a need," Lynn nodded. He wouldn''t let a chance for freebies slip through his fingers.


    "By the way, Mr. Theodore, can I continue using Sycas Empire''s currency here?" Lynn inquired further.


    Theodore shook his head. "Of course not. However, you can visit the currency exchange in the harbor and convert these gold coins into the local currency. The exchange rate is roughly two Sycas gold coins for one magic gold coin."


    Furthermore, as an instructor at the academy, at the beginning of each month, you can receive a basic sry of three magic gold coins and a variable amount of research funding, depending on the number of students taking your elective courses."


    Theodore exined the professor''s sry, the currency exchange process, and the magic currency system in thend of the wizards. Seeing that Lynn had no further questions, he bid his farewell.


    The moment the door was fully closed, Lynn''s calm expression came to a halt, reced by a hint of anxiety as he took a seat in the nearby chair.


    Telling lies to a powerful wizard like Theodore was something he couldn''t do without worrying. Every lie had the potential to be exposed, and if it weren''t for the significantmotion they had caused in the harbor town, Lynn would never havee up with this idea.


    Luckily, the oue was as he had expected. The most challenging part was now over, and their situation was even better than he had anticipated. They not only escaped punishment but also received a certain level of favor.


    Now, the most important task was to patch up thest loophole and be a full-fledged wizard.


    Lynn tapped his index finger lightly on the chair''s armrest, continuously contemting. Earlier, when Theodore exined the responsibilities of a professor, he also provided details about the admission and promotion methods in this harbor city.


    Generally, every year at the beginning of the year, children aged twelve in the city were given a chance to test their magical talents. If they passed, they would pay a tuition fee to Iyeta Academy and be honorable wizard apprentices.


    After several years of study, when their magical power growth stagnated, they would break through the final bottleneck by consuming a potion known as the "Source of Magic." This magic potion wasn''t easy to obtain and was typically distributed directly by the Wizard''s City.


    ording to the rules of Iyeta Academy, apprentices needed toplete one or two courses and gain the recognition and rmendation of the academy''s professors to proceed.


    Lynn could see that this was a scheme by the various colleges and even the Wizard Council to monopolize the rights ofmoners to be wizards.


    Of course, on the surface, the Wizard Council provided a noble reason for this: preventing apprentices with ill intentions from gaining ess to more powerful magic.


    Now, with his newfound status as a professor, Lynn theoretically possessed the authority to apply for the promotion potion from the council on behalf of an apprentice. However, doing so would require him to secretly retain a bottle of the "Source of Magic." Not only would he have to navigate the official process, but he would also face the risk of being reported.


    The second channel was to bypass the academy and the Wizard Council to acquire the potion through other means. Such as... purchasing it from the ck market.


    Where there is demand, there will always be trade. The question is whether the price is right.


    Since the "Source of Magic" was a type of magic potion, there must be alchemists who knew how to make it. If Lynn could somehow obtain the form for this magic potion and create it himself, that would be the safest approach!


    With these thoughts in mind, Lynn collected his scattered ideas and began his daily meditation, where the boundless sea of elements once again appeared before him.


    Regardless, until he obtained the promotion potion, he needed to ensure that his magical power and mental strength reached their peak.


    His original body, Karl, had only been a regr apprentice, with around six months of experience with magic. Fortunately, during the crossover, his soul''s fusion had provided him with a substantial increase in mental strength. His capacity for magic had also grown significantly. Following the marginal growth theory in "Basic Magic Principles," he was likely only two to three months away from reaching that bottleneck...


    The three crucial elements hindering his journey to bing a full-fledged wizard were the required funds to purchase the "Source of Magic," the necessary information about the magic potion, and the time needed to grow his magical power.


    ...


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 Chapter 61: The Study of Arcane Mathematics

    Chapter 61: The Study of Arcane Mathematics


    The next morning, after a night of meditation, Lynn got up and, following a quick wash, headed out. He coincidentally bumped into Professor Philip, an Elemental Studies expert, who was also leaving his residence.


    "Professor Lynn, did you have a good restst night?" Philip greeted with a smile.


    "Quite well, the conditions here are much morefortable than within the Sercast Empire," Lynn replied, his face carrying a hint of a smile. From today onward, he wouldn''t have to worry about the threat of the Church constantly.


    "That''s for sure. I heard that even themoners there live in houses made of thatch and stone bricks, is that true?" Philip asked with great curiosity.


    For Philip, who hailed from thend of wizards, his knowledge of the Sercast Empire came solely from rumors. Every Monday, he liked to visit the tavern by the docks and listen to the sailors share tales of the outside world.


    "As far as themoners are concerned, that''s urate, but the nobles and priests there live very luxurious lives as well," Lynn exined, knowing Philip was interested. He briefly talked about the structure of the Empire and the Church based on the memories of his original self, Carl.


    "Since you''ve crossed paths with the Archbishop, do you know how these people use divine magic? Do they also need to study elemental magic, shaping, or alchemy?" Philip inquired again.


    "I don''t think so," Lynn shook his head. Based on the priest selection process in the Nornd territory, clergy only needed to have faith and be able to fight. This had always been a question he couldn''t quite grasp ¨C was there a way to obtain power other than seeking the truth?


    Philip didn''t delve too deep into this issue. After satisfying his curiosity, he began introducing Lynn to the various areas of Iyeta Academy.


    Iyeta Academy covered an area of more than 20,000 square meters. The iconic Screaming Tower stood in the center of the academy, while behind it were the residences of the students and professors. The magical library andbat training grounds were located on the right side of the academy, with the remaining space dedicated to teaching areas for each of the four major disciplines: Elemental Studies, Shaping, Alchemy, and Potion-making.


    Apart from these, some elite academies in the Wizard City also offered special courses like Prophecy and Force Fields.


    "There used to be Psychic Studies as well, but it''s been abandoned. That ce will also be where you teach in the future," Philip pointed to an independent building next to the Screaming Tower.


    The Psychic Studies Academy seemed somewhat ominous, covered in thick, gray walls and overrun with moss, likely due to years of neglect. "I''ll have a few fairiese clean this ce upter. It should be usable by the afternoon... those psychic wizards are always acting a bit strange. I say it''s a good thing that the Council got rid of them," Philipmented, somewhat gleefully. He then proceeded to outline the schedule of Lynn''s sses.


    As a professor, Lynn had the freedom to arrange his own teaching hours, but it was best to keep them consistent and not sh with the schedules of other professors. Otherwise, the apprentices would have to choose between sses.


    However, as soon as Philip finished exining the timetable for the existing four courses, Lynn realized that everything Philip had said earlier was basically meaningless. Nearly every day was filled with various courses, and his new course would undoubtedly have topete for time with the other disciplines.


    "Elemental Studies is the most popr subject in Iyeta Academy. It usually runs from ten to twelve in the morning and from seven to nine in the evening," Philip kindly reminded, making it clear that those times were not up for grabs, and there wouldn''t be many students attending Lynn''s new ss.


    Lynn nodded without expressing his opinion, and Philip asked again, "Have you already thought of a name for the new discipline?"


    "How about... Arcane Mathematics?" Lynn pondered.


    Since epting the position as a professor, Lynn had been contemting what he should teach. It was clear that regr magic was not an option.


    So far, he had mastered less than ten types of magic, and maybe even fewer than some of the students. Teaching them would likely beughable, unless he was willing to reveal the method for creating white phosphorus, but that was one of his rare hidden cards. Lynn had no intention of spreading that knowledge, so he had to resort to the subjects from his previous life.


    Subjects likenguage, geography, and biology were influenced by the world and weren''t suitable for teaching.


    Chemistry was a viable choice, but it conflicted with the field of Elemental Studies. He didn''t want to challenge Philip right after arriving.


    That would be unfair, and there might be some novel elements in this new world that he was unaware of, so it was better not to teach it haphazardly.


    Physics? He could scribble down a form casually, but the other person would need to understand those mathematical symbols.


    The only sensible choice was mathematics! In this world, circles were still circles, squares were still squares, and the basic rules of arithmetic were undoubtedly universal. Mathematics was the foundation of all science and technology, the most critical tool for humans to understand and transform the world.


    It could be said that the majority of scientific theories could be expressed using mathematical forms. This subject always remained at the forefront of the era. Many cutting-edge research results were deduced entirely through mathematics!


    Magical theories were probably no exception.


    For instance, the Herlram form he used to learn Magic Missile and Kora''s research in fluid mechanics both involved a significant amount of mathematical calctions. It was clear that wizards had been studying mathematics for a long time, but it had not yet developed into a distinct discipline.


    The reason was simple: wizards couldn''t directly gain power from mathematics; they could only benefit indirectly by applying it to a certain type of magic.


    This led to all mathematical forms being taught in conjunction with various disciplines, and sometimes, even the methods and symbols couldn''t be standardized.


    After Lynn briefly described the meaning of Arcane Mathematics, Philip''s expression became somewhat strange. He had thought Lynn would focus on teaching the intriguing theories from the Society of Mystical Arts, but he was surprised to find out it would be basic mathematical operations.


    Would students really be interested in learning this stuff? Philip opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated. He had a feeling that if Lynn only taught these simple concepts, he might not attract a single apprentice.


    However, each professor had the freedom to choose what they taught, and Philip couldn''t offer any advice. He decided that when it came time for the lesson, he would gently introduce the new course to the students to avoid the awkward situation of Lynn teaching to an empty room.


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 Chapter 62: Currency Exchange and the First Lesson

    Chapter 62: Currency Exchange and the First Lesson


    "This is the currency exchange!"


    On the west side of Iyeta Harbor, Philip led Lynn into a brightly lit and luxuriously decorated shop. The floor was made of pure white marble, smooth as a mirror. Two imposing griffin skulls hung on the walls, their sharp eagle eyes watching every customer who entered or exited.


    In the center of the hall, arge bioluminescent mushroommp glowed brightly. These unique magic nts that emitted their own light were usually found only in the darkest caves, inhabited by filthy and dangerous creatures like rodents and ghouls. They usually cost between twelve to thirty magic gold coins.


    "In addition to currency exchange, you can also store any extra coins here. Just present your voucher, and you can exchange it for the corresponding magic gold coins in any wizard city, but you''ll have to pay an additional storage fee," Philip continued.


    This was essentially a bank, except that here, you didn''t earn any interest on your savings and had to pay extra fees. In that sense, it was quite simr to a moneylender.


    As Lynn thought about this, he quickly noticed that the exchange house was particrly bustling today. Over a hundred people were scattered around the hall, seemingly arguing about something.


    And to his surprise, he recognized some of these people¡ªthey were Lame Loude and his sailors.


    "Take your trash somewhere else. We don''t ept ck ore or copper coins here!" A middle-aged man in a gray robe with a copper badge on his chest shouted impatiently at Lame Loude and his crew. When he saw Philip enter, his expression immediately changed, and he put on a friendly smile, pushing aside a few sailors blocking his way.


    "Ah... Professor Philip, it''s a rare sight. What brings you here today?" he greeted enthusiastically.


    "It''s been a while, Albert. It looks like you''ve found a good job after graduating," Philip replied, introducing the two.


    Albert, a member of the ninth batch of graduates from the Iyeta Academy, was an official wizard specializing in elemental and shapeshifting magic.


    "And this is the new professor of arcane mathematics at Iyeta Academy, Professor Lynn!" Philip pointed to Lynn.


    "Good morning, Professor Lynn. I heardst night in the tavern that you led your crew to victory against the ''Eye of Death'' whirlpool in the Misty Sea. It must be some highly advanced magic you used," Albert praised, showing no hint of condescension due to Lynn''s young age.


    Professors at Iyeta Academy were typically third-tier wizards with deep expertise in a specific field. Being young meant having higher magical potential, making it more likely for someone to be an esteemed grand wizard in the future.


    "Good morning, Mr. Albert. I''m here to exchange some coins," Lynn replied politely. He took out twelve Sekas gold coins, twenty-seven silver coins, and eleven copper coins, which were all the possessions he had, salvaged from the two bishops he had killed in Harbor Town.


    "You can''t exchange copper coins, can you?" Lynn asked, recalling Albert''s earlier words, and made to take away the handful of copper coins.


    "Ah... of course, that''s not the case. It''s just that copper coins are a bit more troublesome to convert," Albert replied somewhat awkwardly, shaking his head. Without waiting for Lynn''s response, he used his Mage Hand to collect the coins, handed them to an assistant, and asked the assistant to provide the corresponding magic gold coins.


    Albert then went on to exin that these copper coins from the Sekas Empire came in various sizes and had varying copper content. They were obviously privately minted by some imperial nobles, making the conversion process quiteplicated.


    After about ten seconds, the apprentice assistant returned with a beautifully crafted money bag.


    "Please take this, Professor Lynn," Albert said, handing the money bag to Lynn with a pleasant smile.


    Lynn opened it and was slightly surprised by the amount inside. It was exactly twelve gold, twenty-seven silver, and eleven copper coins.


    "Wasn''t the exchange rate supposed to be two to one?" Lynn asked, holding the bag in his hand, puzzled.


    "That''s just the manualbor fee, Professor. Since you''re a professor at the academy, it wouldn''t be appropriate to charge you that," Albert replied, trying to be amodating.


    Lynn remained silent and instead picked up one of the magic gold coins to examine it. Compared to the currency from the Sekas Empire, the craftsmanship was much finer. The front bore the symbol "½ð," and the back had the unique emblem of the Wizard Council. Furthermore, Lynn could faintly sense a subtle magical fluctuation.


    This was clearly more than just a recast. Lynn looked at Albert, and unless there was a good reason, he wasn''t willing to ept such goodwill for nothing.


    "My son, Elok, is currently studying magic at Iyeta Academy. If it''s possible, could you please look out for him?" Albert asked somewhat hesitantly.


    "I see," Lynn nodded. He then epted the money bag.


    Since Albert worked at the exchange house, there might be opportunities to interact with him in the future. epting such kindness was sometimes a way to build rtionships.


    "If Elok chooses this course, I''ll keep an eye on him. But let me tell you, my arcane mathematics course is quite challenging," Lynn kindly reminded.


    "That''s not a problem. My son has never been afraid of difficult tasks," Albert said confidently.


    "That''s good!" Lynn nodded in relief.


    Seeing that the conversation between them seemed pleasant, Lame Loude couldn''t resist seizing the opportunity and inquired, "Mr. Albert, do you think we can exchange these copper coins?"


    Albert waved his hand helplessly. Since Lynn was standing there, he couldn''t refuse the request, even though all relevant processing fees must be paid.


    Under the influence of magic, over five thousand copper coins were quickly counted, and their copper content was determined roughly. About two or three minutester, Loude received two thousand magic copper coins that had been exchanged.


    The expressions on the faces of the sailors and shipbuilders were heart-wrenching, as if they wereborers who had received reduced wages after a year of hard work, and they looked pitiful.


    "Thank you, Professor Lynn. If we hadn''t run into you here, many of our brothers from the Ship''s Gang would be starving and freezing." Loude said gratefully.


    When they were in Harbor Town, Loude was a prominent figure, but in thend of the wizards, his status and position had plummeted. After losing arge amount of wealth during the Maelstrom incident, Loude knew that they needed a new backer urgently, or the Ship''s Gang of more than three hundred people would risk starvation.


    The sailors from the Ship''s Gang were even worse off; some had only a few dozen copper coins left, and the money exchange refused to convert them. This was why Loude insisted on staying here to negotiate with Albert.


    "No need to thank me, Mr. Albert. You''re just following the rules." Lynn shook his head, and after a pause, he asked, "Have you thought about what to do next?"


    Because they had missed the Monday, it was probably impossible to return within a short time. Herlram probably wouldn''t easily let those who had learned about thend of the wizards leave, so they might have to stay here for the rest of their lives.


    "We''ll probably look for some transport work next." Loude hesitated, then looked at Lynn and tentatively asked, "If you have anything for us, please don''t hesitate to tell us."


    "If there''s an opportunity." Lynn neither agreed nor refused and simply replied. He then left the money exchange with Philip.


    Loude, low-spirited, looked at the me-shaped mark on the back of his right hand. His thoughts were in turmoil. Earlier on the Misty Sea, he had wanted to subtly remind Lynn to remove the magic mark that might threaten his life. However, after the Maelstrom incident, Loude''s thoughts had made a 180-degree turn.


    Without the sea route from Harbor Town to thend of the wizards, the entire Ship''s Gang had lost all its value to the Grand Wizard Herlram. After losing arge amount of treasure, Loude knew that they urgently needed a new patron, or more than three hundred people in the Ship''s Gang might starve to death.


    And Lynn was undoubtedly the best choice!


    Although they had only been in contact for half a month, the abilities, talents, and methods disyed by Lynn had left Loude astonished. Lynn had easily discovered him hiding in the shadows and single-handedly wiped out half of Harbor Town. Loude had no doubt that Lynn had the potential to be a Grand Wizard or even a legendary wizard. Now was the time to ce a big bet.


    What Loude didn''t expect was that after arriving in thend of the wizards, Lynn had joined the Iyeta Academy directly, bing an active professor with honor, status, and wealth. It seemed that there was no ce for the Ship''s Gang in Lynn''s ns.


    Loude felt helpless. It would seem pointless for their three hundred plus people to force their way in. They needed a more suitable opportunity to contact Lynn.


    ...


    On the other hand, Lynn, after returning to his room and changing into a new uniform, was contemting how to earn more magic gold coins. As a professor at the academy, a monthly sry of three gold coins might seem like a lot, but when used for studying magic, it wasn''t sufficient, especially for the subjects of alchemy and magical potions.


    One option was to recruit more apprentices. The more students in the School of Arcane Studies, the more reasons Lynn had to request various funds from Herlram. Then, he could use these funds in a more strategic manner for his research.


    Another option was to create and sell some novel magical items, but this would require hiring people to do thebor, as it would otherwise consume his time for magical research.


    The halflings he had met might be a good choice. The flight experiment in the city square was still fresh in his memory. With such basic materials, they had created a steam-powered flying machine. Delia, a gifted engineer, seemed like an excellent fit for his requirements.


    Recruiting her as his apprentice and assistant shouldn''t be too difficult. Although Delia had no magical talent, Herlram had given her a chance, which indicated her significance.


    Flying without magic was a simple task for Lynn. He believed that Delia could do it with ease.


    While contemting his options, Lynn picked up a quill and began to prepare for his first ss in the School of Arcane Studies, which was essential to maintain his status as a professor. If he messed up the first ss, it would be a problem.


    He needed to tackle things one step at a time.


    ...


    The next morning at exactly 8 AM, when Lynn, wearing a new uniform, returned to the School of Arcane Studies, the ce had already been tidied up. The signboards had been reced with "School of Arcane Studies," and it seemed that Philip had already reported his subject to the academy.


    A group of about ten little fairies, each about forty centimeters tall, were using wet cloths to wipe the walls, focused on their task. These little fairies were unlike the beautiful elves in typical fantasy works; they were rather ugly in appearance, with wings resembling those of bats on their backs. Their intelligence was approximately that of a five or six-year-old child, allowing them to follow simplemands guided by magic.


    As Lynn approached, these small fairies all hid behind the wall, peering at him with their ruby-like eyes, making cooing and yawning sounds. Learning the humannguage was a difficult task for their limited intelligence.


    However, Lynn didn''t have time to focus on these magical creatures because as soon as he opened the door, dozens of eyes turned their gaze toward him. The spacious ssroom was filled with more than twenty wizard apprentices.


    Since it was a new ss and no sorting had been done, students of all age groups were mixed in. Some of them even appeared older than Lynn, including Jonny.


    Although the number of students attending was notrge, Lynn was already satisfied. He had even prepared himself for an empty ssroom.


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 Chapter 63: Lynns Game of Bankruptcy

    Chapter 63: Lynn''s Game of Bankruptcy


    "Good morning, everyone. I am Lynn, the newly appointed professor of arcane mathematics at the Iyeta School of Magic..."


    Under the watchful, sometimes surprised and skeptical eyes of the students, Lynn stood at the lectern, using his hand as a pen and pure magic as ink, writing his name in the void.


    The once quiet ssroom immediately buzzed with excitement.


    "Professor Lynn, we heard you came from the Misty Sea. Can you tell us what it''s like out there?"


    "Professor Philip said you think this continent is round. Why don''t people fall off the bottom?"


    The young wizard apprentices bombarded him with various questions. Lynn appeared younger than most professors, and as a result, the students weren''t as reserved as they would be with other instructors. They were simply curious about the new professor from the Misty Sea.


    Faced with this barrage of questions, Lynn didn''t know where to start. But then Jonny, sitting nearby, asked a crucial question.


    "Professor Lynn, what is arcane mathematics?"


    Lynn breathed a sigh of relief and began to exin.


    "Great question! Arcane mathematics is a discipline that studiesplex concepts like numbers, structures, changes, and space. You can use it to calcte the circumference of this, explore the movements of the stars, analyze cosmic constants... Arcane mathematics epasses nearly everything you see, making it a crucial tool for understanding the world!"


    As he spoke, Lynn increased his volume using soundwave principles, causing everyone''s eardrums to ring and effectively silencing the previously noisy ssroom. Every apprentice in the room listened with fascination as Lynn discussed these sophisticated terms. Many of them realized they were in for a special magical ss.


    But after painting this grand picture, Lynn changed his tone and continued, "Of course, these advanced arcane math concepts are still too distant for you. For now, you must start with the basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division."


    "Isn''t that just basic arithmetic?" a student at the front couldn''t help but interrupt. "We''ve already learned all of that in our foundational sses."


    "Well, well, are you sure?" Lynn asked with a smile, then pped his hands. With the help of his Mage''s Hand spell, the desks in front of him floated into the air, assembling into arger table.


    The quill pens on the lectern dipped themselves in ink and automatically divided therge table into six rows and six columns, creating a grid of thirty-six squares.


    "The rules are very simple. ce one copper coin in the first square, two in the second, four in the third, eight in the fourth, and so on..." Lynn surveyed every student in the ssroom and continued with a highly enticing tone.


    "If someone can fill these squares with the corresponding coins, I will immediately write an application to the Wizard''s Council, stating that they have achieved a perfect score in arcane mathematics and grant them a bottle of the Mana Source..."


    "Professor, is this for real? You''re not joking, are you?" Another tall and thin apprentice in his twenties, named Pierce, stood up suddenly, brimming with excitement.


    What is the Mana Source?


    It''s the most critical item for a wizard apprentice to be a full-fledged wizard, worth hundreds, or even hundreds of magic gold coins, and it''s not something you can just buy with money. For someone like Pierce, who is in his twenties and hasn''tpleted any course of study, both of Lynn''s promises were extremely important.


    "Of course, I give you my word," Lynn nodded without hesitation.


    Hearing Lynn''s resolute response, Pierce hesitated for a moment. Life had taught him that nothinges so easily in the world. Either the professor was fooling him, or there was something fishy about the whole situation.


    Pierce tried to do some quick math but couldn''t figure it out. He could only roughly estimate that filling the first row of six squares would require sixty-three copper coins, which didn''t seem like a lot.


    "Anyone wants to give it a try? There''s only one slot!" Lynn tempted them once again.


    "I''ll do it!" The freckled young man who had interrupted him earlier stood up eagerly.


    Pierce watched as Elloc, the one who stood up, and immediately regretted his hesitation. He should have been more courageous, instead of hesitating. He cursed himself for not having the courage to pursue it and for not being promoted to a full-fledged wizard.


    "What''s your name?" Lynn curiously asked.


    "I''m Elloc, Professor!" The young wizard said loudly.


    So, this is the kid named Elloc...


    Lynn nodded, as he had recently helped the boy''s father with a favor, so he thought it was a good opportunity to pay it forward.


    "Elloc, I have to remind you that this wager cannot be given up once you start. You have to fill the entire grid, and the money you put in will be used as research funding for this field. This is the price for my promises and the Mana Source!" Lynn kindly reminded.


    "No problem!" Elloc patted his chest. Even though he couldn''t calcte how many copper coins it would take to fill all the squares, he knew the value of one copper coinpared to a Mana Source.


    It was a difference of hundreds of thousands of times!


    Elloc thought about it and estimated that he might only need two or three thousand copper coins to fill the thirty-six squares. And the Mana Source was something money couldn''t buy.


    "Then please, go ahead!" Lynn pointed to the table and wore his characteristic smile, indicating that Elloc could start.


    Elloc wasn''t the least bit nervous. He took out his coin pouch and ced the first copper coin in the first square.


    Then two, four, eight, sixteen... up to thirty-two.


    When he reached the sixth square, he had run out of copper coins. The seventh square required sixty-four copper coins...


    Elloc hesitated, holding a silver coin in his hand, and turned to the students who were watching the spectacle. He said with confidence, "Can anyone lend me some copper coins? Once I fill this square, I''ll pay you back double tomorrow!"


    Inspired by Elloc''s determination, the wizard apprentices at the scene generously emptied their purses, not worrying that Elloc might not be able to repay them. Even Pierce, who was regretting his hesitation, took out all his savings¡ªsix gold coins!


    Soon, the borrowed coins had filled the entire table, with only Jonny standing on the side, watching and not offering any money.


    "Jonny, aren''t you going to make some money too?" Lynn asked curiously. "Or have you already figured out the result?"


    The silver-haired girl gave him a look. Although she couldn''t calcte how many copper coins it would take to fill all thirty-six squares, she knew Lynn''s mind was always working, and he couldn''t just produce a Mana Source out of thin air.


    On the other hand, Elloc appeared confident. With thebined funds from all the apprentices, he already had over twenty gold coins and more than two hundred copper and silver coins, which should be enough to fill all the squares!


    Thinking this, Elloc grabbed a handful of coins and started filling the second row of squares.


    With a total expenditure of forty silver and ny-five copper, one-third of the table was already filled. It was easy, too easy.


    Most of the apprentices were starting to regret why they didn''t step up first. Even Jonny, who had confidence in Lynn, began to waver. Could this table really be filled?


    Elloc was full of enthusiasm as he piled up forty silver coins and ny-six copper coins into the thirteenth square. However, as he continued to fill the squares below, he began to sense that something was amiss. Thest square in the third row required a staggering thirteen gold coins!


    This seemed... like... maybe... a bit too much?


    Elloc''s expression became hesitant, and he realized that he had run out of money to fill the next square.


    "You can simply write the amount with a pen, and we''ll calcte it togetherter!" Lynn said nonchntly, showing no intention of making things difficult for Elloc.


    Elloc looked at the remaining half of the squares, gritted his teeth, and picked up a feather pen from the side. He began to fill in the numbers row by row.


    Two hundred... no... three hundred... as long as the total amount he spent was under three hundred magic gold coins, his father might understand. After all, a Mana Source couldn''t be bought with money.


    However, with this mindset, Elloc only managed to fill in four squares and realized that he had exhausted his budget and needed to spend even more.


    Under Lynn''s "friendly" gaze, Elloc''s hands trembled as he continued to fill in the rows. The overwhelming numbers forced him to use paper and pen for calctions.


    But even with his assistance, the numbers were still daunting, and Elloc was on the verge of tears by the time he reached the fifth row.


    In his mind, Elloc began to assess his family''s assets and made a terrifying discovery: it seemed like they were bankrupt.


    No, it was a problem that couldn''t be solved with bankruptcy anymore because he couldn''t earn this much money in his lifetime, even if he worked tirelessly as a full-fledged wizard for hundreds of years!


    And the table still had a whole row left to be filled!


    "Elloc... Elloc!"


    Elloc''s sudden copse startled everyone present, including Lynn. Lynn didn''t want to be responsible for scaring someone to death on the first day of ss.


    After a quick examination with his limited medical knowledge, Lynn found that Elloc was not seriously harmed and quickly produced an ice cube to ce on his forehead, waking him up.


    Elloc looked dazed, feeling like he had just had a nightmare where he yed a game with the professor and ended up owing an unpayable debt...


    When he opened his eyes, he realized that this wasn''t a dream; it was real.


    "Now that you''re awake, let''s finish filling in thest square as agreed!" Lynn patted Elloc''s shoulder, encouraging him.


    Elloc''s face bore an expression worse than crying, but he had no choice but to sit back at his ce. He consoled himself, thinking that even if he couldn''t afford 53,687,368, he could increase it to 200,000 or 500,000, and what difference would it make?


    But it did make a difference! A long string of numbers nearly shattered Elloc''s mind.


    After filling thest square, Elloc had to count the units one by one with his fingers.


    One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, hundred million... Elloc couldn''t bear to continue counting. Lynn directly revealed the answer.


    "It''s 34,359,687,368 copper coins!"


    Hearing this terrifying number, the apprentices in the room felt dizzy. They looked at the square table in front of them, unable to fathom how 34,333,333,368 copper coins could fit into such a small grid.


    Jonny''s face also disyed an incredulous expression. While she could imagine that filling the squares would require a substantial amount of copper coins, she never expected it to be this terrifying.


    This sum of money, even Elloc, would probably not be able to pay off in his entire lifetime. Moreover, there was still one more row left to be filled!


    "A simple square game has given a group of wizard apprentices a taste of the frightening power of exponential growth!" Lynn said solemnly.


    "This is the power of arcane mathematics! If someone can convert the power of arcane mathematics into magic, it would be a force capable of destroying this, or even the entire universe!"


    This was no joke. In theory, if you fold a piece of paper 103 times, its theoretical thickness would exceed the observable diameter of the universe. Anything that exhibits exponential growth with a base of 2 could quickly explode and destroy the entire universe.


    The apprentices were left in shock, contemting the immense power and responsibility that came with understanding arcane mathematics.


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 Chapter 64: "Fundamental Principles of Magic" and "Elemental Magic Analysis"

    Chapter 64: "Fundamental Principles of Magic" and "Elemental Magic Analysis"


    When q ¡Ù 1


    Sn = a1(1 - q^n)/(1 - q)


    Lynn wrote down the form represented by the grid game using magic as ink. She then looked at the apprentices who were still recovering from the terror of exponential growth, and spoke loudly.


    "Why don''t you all take note of this form?"


    Jonny and the others quickly flipped through the pages and used feather quills to transcribe thepletely iprehensible form. Elloke, who was standing there in a daze, was the best example of what happens when you don''t study mathematics!


    "Professor Lynn..." Elloke looked at Lynn, stuttering and with tears welling up in his eyes, on the verge of crying.


    "Elloke, I just heard you say that you''re good at mathematics?" Lynn asked.


    "I''m not, I didn''t, don''t say that..."


    Elloke hastily shook his head, trying to deny it, but Lynn waved his hand and continued to speak.


    "Here''s the deal: if you can urately calcte how much the thirty-six squares of copper coins add up to before tomorrow''s ss, then we''ll call off this bet!"


    "Of course, you only have one chance!"


    Lynn nced somewhat regretfully at therge pile of coins on the table, but he had no intention of taking them.


    First of all, the other side couldn''te up with that much money. Secondly, using a game to empty the savings of the apprentices in a single go would be too intimidating.


    Who would dare to attend his math ss after that?


    Elloke stared at the floating magical fluorescent lights,pletely unable to understand what these mathematical symbols were. He even began to doubt if he knew how to do math at all...


    Previously, he had been envious of Elloke, but now Piers immediately became gloating, grateful that he had hesitated for a moment, or he would be the one making a fool of himself.


    But Lynn''s tone suddenly changed as he looked at everyone present and continued speaking.


    "The same goes for all of you!"


    "If I remember correctly, when Elloke borrowed money from you, he said, ''If he manages to fill all the squares, he''ll repay double.''"


    "Unfortunately, Elloke didn''t achieve that, so the promise is invalid. Not only won''t you get more gold coins, but the money you bet earlier will remain with me!" Lynn reached out and picked up a few gold and silver coins from the table, saying with a hint of yfulness.


    At these words, the ssroom for the math ss erupted in a chorus of wailing. Piers and the others were burning with anger, kicking at Elloke. This little guy was trying to cheat!


    Lynn raised his voice a bit and pointed to the index summation form floating in the air. "There is a simpler method for performing index addition. If it were me, I could calcte the sum of these numbers within ten seconds, provided I know the value of thest number!"


    "The homework assignment I''m giving you is to find the pattern and solve the form I wrote! Whenever you figure it out, that''s when you can take this money back!"


    Lynn surveyed the students who were diligently calcting with feather quills in hand, nodding with satisfaction. Only this kind of firsthand experience could truly make them feel the charm of mathematics!


    Apart from that, he was also using this game to assess the mathematical level of these apprentices.


    From Elloke''s performance, it seemed that they had already mastered the most basic rules of arithmetic. Perhaps next time, he could start teaching slightly more challenging forms!


    The two-hour math ss quickly came to an end.


    Although they didn''t learn any new magic, all the students maintained a high level of enthusiasm, driven by the idea of getting their deposits back. They eagerly shared their experiences and findings with each other in the ssroom.


    In just one day, the name of Professor Lynn''s grid game had already spread.


    To let more people understand the charm of exponential growth, Lynn directly moved the grid to the entrance of Iyeta Academy, changed the grid to seven rows and seven columns, with a total of forty-nine squares, and put up a sign with the rules of the bet written on it.


    If anyone could fill these squares with the corresponding copper coins, he would give away the alchemical form used to destroy Harbor Town.


    Yes, it only required starting with one copper coin and filling the rest of the squares following the rule that each coin in the next square was twice the previous one. Even after filling, you could take the money back. He wouldn''t take a single penny!


    This had not only caught the attention of wizard apprentices but also some professors at the academy.


    Was there really such a good deal?


    While these alchemical forms required a lot of preparation to unleash their powerful effects, they could prove incredibly effective in specific situations.


    You see, the power of these forms could rival even fifth or sixth circle magic!


    In the evening, while most of the students were leaving school or returning to the dormitories, Professor of Shaping, Kevin, secretly approached thebined table to study the rules on the grid.


    Did each square''s number really need to be twice the previous one?


    Kevin stroked his chin and pondered it internally. Just then, a familiar voice came from behind.


    "No need to calcte; it''s impossible to fill all these squares," said Professor Phillip.


    "Do you know how much savings I have, Professor Phillip?" Kevin asked somewhat displeased. He had many friends, and these were just coins for filling squares. Once they were filled, he could take them back, or even borrow a bit more if needed.


    Could these squares really be as impossible to fill as the rumors said, to the point of being unable to even use the entire wealth of Iyeta Harbor Town?


    Kevin scoffed at the idea. This rumor was just too far-fetched!


    "Do you know how many copper coins it would take to fill thest square of these seven rows and seven columns?" Phillip said somewhat helplessly. "It''s 2.81 quadrillion!"


    "2.81 quadrillion copper coins? That''s quite a lot..." Kevin was somewhat surprised, but after a pause, he suddenly realized that Phillip had said... quadrillion?


    "Wait, are you sure you didn''t make a mistake?" Kevin was utterly bewildered. This was the first time he had heard of a quadrillion.


    "Of course not! I''ve double-checked it myself..." Phillip said without much patience. He had been somewhat surprised when he first heard about it from the apprentices, and it had taken him nine full sheets of paper to calcte because the numbers were just too long.


    Kevin mentally tried to calcte, and though it was just basic multiplication, the amounts grew increasingly immense as he went on. He couldn''t even keep up with mental calctions after a certain point and had to resort to rough estimations.


    Based on the experiences of the first few columns, it seemed like the sum increased by about tenfold every three to four squares.


    With a total of forty-nine squares, that would be... at least a quadrillion times!


    Kevin gasped for a breath; this kind of growth was terrifying!


    Not to mention emptying Iyeta Harbor, it seemed impossible even to gather that much money across the entire continent!


    Kevin was relieved that he had chosen to sneak out to try this when there were not many people around; otherwise, he would have made a fool of himself in front of the students.


    In his heart, Kevin celebrated this choice and then noticed some strange characters engraved on the grid in front of him.


    q ¡Ù 1 , Sn = a1(1 - q^n)/(1 - q)


    "What are these runes? Some kind of magical symbols?" Kevin asked in confusion.


    "It seems to be... a geometric series summation form? That''s probably what it''s called," Phillip said uncertainly. "Professor Lynn said that if you can calcte the final number, he can add up the copper coins in these squares in ten seconds."


    "This is an immense amount of data; can it really be calcted in ten seconds?" Kevin furrowed his brow.


    "Master Herlram seems to have already deciphered the meaning of this mathematical form," Phillip sighed. "In just an afternoon, he''s truly a great wizard."


    "Did the master tell you what these mathematical symbols mean?" Kevin asked eagerly. After going through the exponential calction, he found this so-called math rather intriguing.


    "He didn''t," Phillip regretfully shook his head. "Master Herlram only had mee to add a small reward to this game. Whoever figures out the meaning of this form first can get a reward of twenty magical gold coins!"


    As he spoke, Phillip took out these gold coins and magically affixed them to the table.


    ...


    At this moment, the subject of discussion among the people was Professor Lynn, the new teacher of mystical mathematics, who was leisurely seated on the couch in his room. He was enjoying dinner brought by a fairy while simultaneously perusing the books he had borrowed from the academy''s library: "Fundamental Principles of Magic" and "Analysis of Elemental Magic."


    Although life as a professor at Iyeta Academy was exceedinglyfortable, Lynn remained vignt. He never letcency creep in. Everything in thend of wizards was still a mystery to him, and in case trouble arose, his strength was the only reliablepanion.


    Moreover, as a professor, he had to brush up on some fundamental magical knowledge. But the two books written by legendary wizards presented a formidable challenge. They were filled with perplexing terms like "Theros," "Enzethi," and "Coze," which left him utterly baffled. He could only painstakingly verify these terms based on the descriptions in the books.


    It took him over three hours to decode the content, coupled with his modest understanding of magic since his arrival in this world. Eventually, he managed to grasp the first half of the book.


    Firstly, his initial spections were not far off the mark. Wizards indeed harnessed and manipted elements to cast spells.


    However, the abilities of regr wizards were quite limited. Not all elements could be controlled, and precision wascking. For instance, they couldn''t disintegrate molecules or atoms; they could only rearrange them in simplerbinations.


    "Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus..." Lynn silently recalled the four elements he had manipted. He couldn''t help but make a few educated guesses.


    First, the difficulty of element maniption might be rted to the periodic table. Official wizards might only be able to control short-lived elements up to the third row, while long-lived elements in the fourth to seventh rows might be beyond their reach.


    Second, it could be based on the number of atomic nucleus charges.


    Third, it could involve a division between metal and non-metal elements.


    Lynn had conducted experiments, attempting to use Zero Circle Magic, "Basic Material Deconstruction," to break down a steel longsword he held. The result was clear: he had failed. No matter how hard he tried, the sword remained unchanged.


    This indicated that as a wizard apprentice or even as a regr wizard, he couldn''t directly affect metallic elements.


    Of course, things might differ for grand wizards and legendary wizards. ording to the "Fundamental Principles of Magic," "Basic Material Deconstruction" had two advanced spells: Fourth Circle Magic, "Advanced Material Deconstruction," and Seventh Circle Magic, "Great Disintegration."


    Coincidentally, the fourth and seventh circles marked the distinction between grand wizards and legendary wizards.


    As Lynn pondered, he had 071 record all these details in his research archive. Then, he turned to the second half of "Fundamental Principles of Magic," which delved into the mystical nature of magic.


    This legendary wizard regarded magic as the essence of the entire universe, the most fundamental force thatprised all matter. It was the power of creation itself.


    "Essence, huh?" Lynn furrowed his brow. ording to his observations in recent days, magic appeared to permeate every corner of this world. However, unlike elements, he could sense it but couldn''t truly "see" it. Only through magic such as "Magic Missile" could he momentarily manifest magic into a visible form.


    Never mind; it seemed this was not something he could research with his current level of understanding.


    Lynn massaged his somewhat aching temples and decided to set aside this issue for now. Instead, he opened "Analysis of Elemental Magic."


    "Fireball," "Corrosion," "Thunderous Roar," "Chill Touch," "Lesser me Grasp," "Explosive me," "Toxicity Domain"...


    The book contained descriptions of seventeen spells in total, ranging from First to Third Circle Magic. Lynn nced at the so-called Second and Third Circle Magic briefly, but then focused his attention on First Circle Magic.


    With the aid of his intelligent assistant, he could perform magic in the capacity of a wizard apprentice, limited to learning and using First Circle Magic. Third Circle Magic, such as the principle behind "Toxicity Domain," involved converting magic into some poisonous gas, possibly chlorine or fluorine, elements he couldn''t easily acquire within a short time.


    Being unable to decipher meant being unable to convert and use. His mental power was far from sufficient to cover such a vast range. In close quarters, it was better to simply adjust the oxygen content in the air, either increasing it or decreasing it, to achieve a simr effect.


    Given his current capabilities, learning and refining First Circle Magic was the most practical approach.


    Moreover, First Circle Magic was divided intomon and advanced categories.


    High-tier magic was essentially a simplified version of higher-level spells or an enhancement of lower-level spells. For instance, his "White Phosphorus - Fireball" technically belonged to high-tier First Circle Magic because of the lethality of white phosphorus, making its power akin to that of Second Circle Magic.


    Another advanced spell, "White Phosphorus - Lesser me Grasp," possessed destructive capabilities approaching that of Third Circle Magic.


    However, Lynn was well aware of the limitations of white phosphorus.


    Despite its effectiveness against less-informed bishops, it was bound to lose its punch when dealing with wizards. After all, the two key characteristics of white phosphorus had possible countermeasures for official wizards. If the information were to leak out, achieving significant victories would be much more challenging.


    So, he needed to acquire more magic to expand his arsenal...


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 Chapter 65: Subzero Territory

    Chapter 65: Subzero Territory


    Lynn''s gaze swept over the ten first-circle magics. After much deliberation, he chose "Chill Touch" as the subject of his improvement.


    The principle of this magic was quite simple ¨C manipting the elemental air to lower temperatures, condense it to interfere with the enemy. Its effectiveness in battle was quite limited unless one pursued the advanced magic, "Frost Domain." Few were willing to learn it without that incentive.


    Lynn had no intention of learning it but rather nned to modify the magic based on its principle, like using a different element to cast it.


    His chosen element was... nitrogen!


    In the wizards''nd, this element was called "Selu." In Kora''s manuscripts, it was even ssified as a useless element.


    Considering that nitrogen rarely reacted with other substances, it was reasonable for some wizards to dismiss it.


    But Lynn knew that nitrogen wasn''t as useless as they imed. It could be used for making fertilizers, serving as a protective gas and, whenbined with hydrogen, could form another poisonous gas, ammonia.


    The most important aspect was that the boiling point of nitrogen was at a chilling -196¡ãC. Such a terrifyingly low temperature could freeze most things in a very short amount of time.


    Of course, due to the Leidenfrost effect, the human body could briefly withstand extreme temperatures, but this protection formed by the vaporyer was very fragile, breaking apart in just two seconds.


    Then, the fragile skin would be subjected to an incredibly sharp subzero cold, causing the epidermal cells to rapidly decay and fall off, followed by the solidification of all fat, muscles, and blood in an instant!


    The second reason Lynn chose nitrogen was that it was abundant in the atmosphere, making up around seventy to eighty percent. This meant he didn''t need to expend extra magical power to create this element; he could create arge subzero territory.


    "Zero-seven-one, activate overload mode..."


    Lynn silently muttered in his mind, then closed his eyes and began to sense the active nitrogen elements in the vast sea of elements. Nitrogen elements were everywhere, so controlling them was rtively easy.


    About four to five secondster, the temperature around him began to drop rapidly. Nearly liquefied nitrogen manifested as white mist, spreading in all directions.


    Crack!


    A slight sound echoed in the room as the tea Lynn had left on the table instantly solidified into ice crystals after the white mist passed. Not only that, the tables, sofas, and various decorations in the room were all covered in ayer of frost.


    A gecko that had been hunting a moth on the wall was about to pounce when the white mist arrived. Apanied by a bone-chilling cold, its skin, bones, and blood instantly froze. The gecko, maintaining its pouncing posture, was frozen in mid-air, supported by its tail. The moth was simrly trapped in itsst moment, both turned into ice sculptures.


    "It''s so cold," Lynn shivered and quickly opened his eyes, then ignited the firece in the room using a fireball spell.


    The system''s prompt sounded in his mind.


    [Five percent of energy consumed, remaining energy is fifty-three point seven percent...]


    "Did it consume that much?" Lynn furrowed his brow. While eliminating the need for the shape-shifting step had saved energy, controlling such arge number of elements demanded significantputational power.


    Perhaps reducing the control range or focusing it in a single direction, like "Chill Touch," would be a good approach.


    Moreover, the casting speed just now was a bit too slow. If this were in the midst of a battle, Lynn knew he wouldn''t have a minute to cast. It seemed he needed to intensify his practice on regr days.


    As Lynn summarized the strengths and weaknesses of this new magic, he nced around the room, which now resembled an ice crystal world. He couldn''t help but pat his forehead. However, when he saw the gecko stuck to the wall, its body frozen stiff like an ice sculpture, curiosity got the better of him.


    For creatures frozen by subzero temperatures, if it hadn''t been too long, there might still be a glimmer of life left.


    But as Lynn took a few steps closer, the gecko''s long tail, unable to support the weight of its body, snapped and fell to the ground with a tter, shattering into ice shards.


    Well, it was beyond saving now.


    Lynn shook his head and used a fire spell to get rid of the ice fragments that littered the floor.


    "I shouldn''t have done experiments here," Lynn mused as he looked at the frost-covered room. He sighed, realizing he needed to establish an alchemy workshop as soon as possible. Otherwise, he wouldn''t even have a hidden ce to practice his magic. If some ignorant apprentice were to barge in during his next casting, the consequences would be severe.


    Money, oh, money...


    Lynn muttered a few words ofment and changed into a robe that had gotten a bit of liquid nitrogen on it. He grabbed his teaching badge and headed out to make some money.


    In the evening, on the west side of Iyeta Harbor, inside a secluded workshop.


    A halfling named Darren was fiddling with a small gadget made by Lydia. It was a T-shaped flying toy crafted from hollow wood, and when you rotated it vigorously in your hand, it could take off with the help of the wind.


    But why could this thing fly, whilerger flying contraptions couldn''t? Darren couldn''t figure it out.


    Just as Darren was pondering this mystery, the wind chime hanging at the door suddenly jingled.


    "Wee to the Halfling Workshop..."


    Darren quickly set down the gadget he was holding and turned to look at the entrance.


    It was Lynn.


    He wasn''t dressed as conspicuously this time. He hadn''t put on the official robe from Iyeta Academy or pinned on any medals, but Darren quickly recognized him as a wizard. A few days ago, Lynn had been seen at the square next to the Grand Wizard Herlram, and they had seemed to have had a pleasant conversation.


    Realizing this was a valuable customer, Darren immediately perked up, stood up from his chair, and eagerly rubbed his hands together. With respect and humility, he inquired, "Esteemed wizard, is there anything you need?"


    "There are plenty of fascinating gadgets in the workshop," Lynn replied. "You can take a look at this handheld fan. It doesn''t require magic; you can spin it yourself. Also, there''s this steamboat model. Put it in the water, and pull the rope at the back. It actually moves..."


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 Chapter 66: The Ingenious Lydia

    Chapter 66: The Ingenious Lydia


    Hand-cranked fans, functioning miniature steamboats, wooden flying wings, and many exquisitely detailed items, including scaled-down carriages and house models ¨C in the workshop, Lynn even spotted the prototype of a waterwheel.


    It was a circr wooden wheel, approximately a meter in diameter. Water continuously flowed down from a reservoir above the workshop, driving the wheel to spin incessantly. Simultaneously, it powered a giant fan at the front, gently providing a cool breeze for the workshop''s visitors.


    Seems like quite an inventive use...


    Lynn shook his head, thinking that this contraption could be used for irrigation in farms or even for generating power. However, Lydia seemed fixated on using it for the fan''s power.


    Darren, noticing Lynn''s disapproving expression, felt his heart tighten. While Lydia''s creations were undoubtedly interesting, they couldn''tpare to the alchemical instruments of the wizards.


    Fortunately, Lynn was straightforward and cut to the point.


    "I''m not here to purchase goods this time; I intend to have something made ording to a blueprint," Lynn stated.


    While saying this, Lynn picked up a model of a steamboat. The model was incredibly detailed, nearly an exact replica down to every detail, from the chimney to the cabin and the hull. The only difference was an extra rope at the back of the cabin, which, when pulled, would turn the propeller below.


    In a matter of moments, Lynn had figured out the model''s principle. A slight smile yed on his lips as he inquired further.


    "I''ve heard that Lydia is incredibly skillful and can create items exactly as required. Is that true?"


    "Of course! I dare say, in Iyeta Harbor, no one''s craftsmanship can match Lydia''s!" Darren replied with great confidence. Even many wizard nobles who had seen Lydia''s creations had nothing but praise for her, bestowing her with the title of ''Ingenious.''


    "Is she in the workshop right now?" Lynn ced the model aside. "I''d like to see if she can meet my requirements."


    "No problem, Lydia is in the backyard working right now... I''ll take you to her!" Darren promptly hopped off his chair, hung up the ''Resting'' sign, and opened the gate to the workshop''s backyard.


    Following Darren, Lynn walked in and immediately spotted the massive flying apparatus he had seen before. The half-elf Lydia, whom he was looking for, was standing below it. She held a hammer, almost half her size, and was driving thick iron nails into the wings of the aircraft.


    Once she finished, Lydia wiped the sweat from her forehead and then tugged at the wings, which were solidly attached. However, the stability was still somewhatcking, exining why certain parts of the aircraft would fall apart uponnding.


    The halfling girl, absorbed in her work, hadn''t noticed the arrival of the two neers. Her brow was slightly furrowed, and her robe was already covered in dust and grime, but she didn''t seem to mind at all. Her mind waspletely engrossed in how to improve the flying apparatus.


    At that moment, Lynn''s voice suddenly sounded.


    "If the quadrteral isn''t stable enough, why not try adding a crossbeam diagonally, transforming it into two triangr structures?" he suggested.


    Lydia was momentarily stunned, then quickly turned her head and spotted Darren and Lynn standing beside her.


    "Wizard, my lord?" the half-elf girl eximed, her expression filled with surprise. She quickly recognized Lynn, having had a brief encounter with him in the square.


    "You can give it a try," Lynn said, pointing at the wings of the aircraft with a smile.


    Lydia didn''t back down. She immediately rolled up her sleeves, grasped a suitably sized wooden nk with both hands, and ced it at the diagonal corners of the wings. She then picked up a hammer and some nails, working diligently.


    Impressive strength...


    Lynn was quite surprised as he watched Lydia, who was barely around 1.3 meters tall, effortlessly lift a wooden nk muchrger than herself. It seemed that the rumors about half-elves having great strength were indeed true.


    This doesn''t quite align with biology... Lynn nced at Lydia''s somewhat "sturdy" arms and couldn''t help but mutter in his mind. He then directed her to build supports for the aircraft to strengthen its overall structure, removing many unnecessaryponents to reduce the aircraft''s weight.


    Darren quickly joined in to help, and after a good deal of work, the entire aircraft looked brand new. Its broad wings were connected to the fusge in a triangr structure, and Lydia pressed her hands onto the wings, shaking them vigorously, then used a hammer to knock on them. Surprisingly, there was not the slightest deformation.


    "This is just... amazing!" Lydia''s face was filled with joy, nearly overflowing. She turned to Lynn, perplexed, and asked, "But why is this so?"


    During her usual model-making, she had noticed this difference but hadn''t figured out the reason.


    "Because the three sides of a triangle connect end to end, forming a very stable structure. All you need to do is perform a force analysis..." Lynn exined while taking a few wooden bars, assembling them into triangles, quadrterals, and pentagons, and then demonstrated the changes in force when any side or angle was pulled.


    Lydia sat on the wing of the aircraft, her bright eyes closely following the wooden bars in Lynn''s hands. She was like a student in ss, momentarily forgetting that she had only met Lynn for the second time.


    However, Lynn''s lesson was not that easy to grasp. During the first half with the wooden bars, Lydia could follow to some extent, but when he started talking about concepts like the center of gravity, air resistance, and friction, it all became rather confusing.


    She came to two conclusions: first, the wizard in front of her was incredibly knowledgeable and knew a lot about various subjects. Second, whether the aircraft could fly probably had something to do with these "forces."


    After exining for a while, Lynn cleared his throat, and Lydia immediately understood. She hopped down from the wing, dashed into the room, and fetched a water jug, pouring a ss of water for Lynn. She then gazed at him, inquisitively asking, "So, my lord wizard, can this aircraft fly now?"


    "If you only want it to stay in the air a bit longer, that''s not a problem. But if you mean soaring freely in the sky, it''s probably not feasible," Lynn shook his head. "The power source for this aircraft is too weak, and the external structure doesn''t quite conform to fluid dynamics..."


    Lydia wore a puzzled expression. She could barely grasp the concept of a power source, but what on earth was fluid dynamics?


    In just half an hour, she had heard so many high-level terms that she felt like a kitten trying to catch a fluffy ball but unable to reach it.


    "My lord wizard?" Darren, who was standing nearby, was somewhat concerned and couldn''t help but interrupt. While he was eager to learn this knowledge, he understood one thing very well: knowledge was precious in the wizard''s realm.


    Lynn, as if he had juste to his senses, smiled and said, "Sorry, it''s a professional habit."


    "Allow me to introduce myself. I''m Lynn, the newly appointed professor of arcane mathematics at Iyeta Academy."


    "Is that the same professor who supposedly scared a student unconscious on the first day of ss with arcane mathematics?" Darren eximed.


    Lynn''s lips twitched, and he looked at Darren very "kindly."


    "If you don''t know what to say, it''s best to remain silent!"


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 Chapter 67: Lynns Skyship

    Chapter 67: Lynn''s Skyship


    Under Lynn''s extremely "friendly" gaze, Darren struggled to swallow his saliva and immediately fell silent.


    Lydia, as if remembering something, asked in excitement, "Professor Lynn, did Master Herlram send you? Have I passed the assessment?"


    "My purpose here has nothing to do with Master Herlram," Lynn refuted the girl''s guess, then continued, causing disappointment to sh across her face. "I came here because I want you to make something for me."


    As Lynn spoke, he took out a parchment scroll from his pocket and handed it to Lydia, who took it and eximed, unable to contain her surprise, "It''s so beautiful..."


    The parchment scroll depicted arge and uniquely designed alchemical machine. The top resembled an inverted oval sphere, and the bottom had numerous ropes connecting it, resembling a ship''s hull. Even the internal structure was intricately detailed,plex yet not chaotic, exuding a strange sense of beauty.


    "What is this? Thetest alchemical ship?" Lydia asked in astonishment, noticing propellers and a rudder, which were typically used on airships.


    "This is called a skyship!" Lynn replied.


    Initially, he had considered creating a hot air balloon, a simple method to ascend into the sky without the need for magic. However, after careful consideration, he abandoned the idea and decided to create a skyship that could travel far and wide.


    His goal was not merely aesthetics. He had done his research in the past few days. While some third-tier wizards proficient in elemental and shaping magic could fly in the sky, the energy consumption was enormous, and their flying altitude and speed were limited. Only high-level wizards could stay in the air for extended periods, and it was not amon mode of transportation.


    The ind they were on was vast, with many mines, and the Wizard''s City itself was built near arge magical ore deposit in the center of the ind. Land transportation from various ces was not straightforward. For example, transporting goods from Iyeta Harbor using camel-like creatures on mountain roads to the Wizard''s City would take seven to eight days, with the possibility of monster attacks along the way.


    However, things would be different if they could travel through the air. It could at least cut the travel time in half, even though the skyship''s carrying capacity was not substantial. It was cost-effective for transporting essential materials or novel items not avable in the Wizard''s City.


    Furthermore, a steam-powered skyship itself was a marketablemodity. By adding a couple of magic crystal cannons and protective spells, it could be a mobile aerial fortress. Such a vessel could easily fetch over a thousand magic gold coins.


    As for concerns about technology leaks, there was no need to worry in the short term. If he could get the skyship up in the air and take it for a spin, he could apply for alchemical patent protection from the council.


    In the Wizard''s City, there was a mechanism to protect the forms for various magical items, and it was only through such protection that wizards could publish their hard-earned research results.


    In fact, this extended to high-level magic as well. Even in his capacity as a professor at the academy, he could only learn low-level magic for free.


    In the long term, there was even less reason to worry. What he was bringing out now was merely a low-level toy. In a few years, after he had thoroughly understood the situation in the Wizard''s City, he could simply create internalbustion engines, and the so-called steam-powered skyship would be as slow as a snail in the sky.


    "A skyship, a ship that flies in the sky?" Lydia asked eagerly.


    "Yes, that''s about the gist of it," Lynn nodded.


    Lydia immediately seemed as though she had discovered a treasure, her eyes sparkling with excitement. But she soon realized that the skyship design on the blueprint didn''t have any wing-like wings; it only featured a small propeller, which seemed insufficient to keep the skyship afloat. Did it require some sort of magic to fly?


    "Can this thing really fly?" Lydia asked curiously. Did it need some kind of magic to work?


    "Of course, it can fly," Lynn assured her with confidence. He then continued with a smile, "Do you know why wood can float on water?"


    Lydia shook her head in confusion. Isn''t itmon knowledge that wood floats on water?


    Lynn exined, "It''s because wood, with the same volume, is less dense than water. In other words, its density is lower than that of water, which means the buoyancy, or the force that pushes it up in the water, is greater than the force of gravity. You can try it. Not only wood, but anything with simr properties can float on water, and conversely, they will sink in water."


    "And a skyship can fly into the sky for the same reason! As long as the density of the gas inside the cabin is lower than that of the normal atmosphere, flying will not be a problem."


    Lydia listened attentively, nodding with a partial understanding. "So, when we sit on the skyship, it''s like sitting on a boat, using this very light gas to ascend into the sky, right?"


    "Your understanding is quite good, but your knowledge is still limited. If you could attend a few more of my magic sses, maybe you could design your own flying machine!" Lynn said, feeling nostalgic.


    Upon hearing Lynn''s words, Lydia''s initially happy expression immediately froze, and she put on a mournful face. To learn this knowledge, she had to join the Iyeta Academy, but the catch was that she had to fly first to pass the entrance exam.


    It seemed like an endless loop to her.


    "If you can perfectly create the skyship ording to the design, and if it sessfully takes its maiden flight, I might consider letting you pilot it," Lynn said with a smile. "I remember your agreement with Master Herlram was to fly in the sky without using magic, and this would barely meet the requirement."


    "Can I really pilot it?" Lydia asked excitedly, leaping up in joy. She bumped her head against the frame of the wing, causing her eyes to well up with tears, but she still stared at Lynn with hope in her eyes.


    "Of course, you can. But one thing to note, my requirements are quite high," Lynn casually mentioned.


    Even though one of his objectives this time was to, well, "recruit" this half-dwarf girl as his assistant to help him craft and sell those novel creations, saving more time for him to research magic, the method and approach were crucial. If he directly invited her and offered to help, it might raise suspicion and not achieve the desired effect.


    Only bypelling her to earn the opportunity through her efforts would she truly value it, and she would be more diligent in her magical studies in the future.


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 Chapter 68: Excited Wizard Apprentices

    Chapter 68: Excited Wizard Apprentices


    Just as Lynn expected, the high demands didn''t deter Lydia. Instead, it ignited her spirit, and she earnestly examined the design ns.


    Upon learning that crafting an airship required lightweight yet durable materials, Lydia immediately suggested using water-soaked and sun-dried camel-hide leather for the airship''s envelope. This material was well-suited to the task and wasmonly used in the sails ofrge warships. The ship they sailed on in the Misty Sea had sails made of camel-hide leather, which withstood even the fiercest storms, proving to be highly durable and reliable.


    As for the frame of the airship, they could use branches from the magical oak tree, known for its high tensile,pressive, and bending strength...


    Lydia talked passionately about the subject, admitting that while she couldn''t match Lynn''s expertise in designing flying machines, she had a deep understanding of the unique properties of materials in this foreign world.


    Lynn quietly calcted the cost in his mind. If they followed Lydia''s suggestions for materials, the airship''s performance would undoubtedly improve, but the cost would skyrocket. It would cost at least a hundred magic gold coins.


    Considering his limited savings, Lynn couldn''t help but clear his throat and interrupt Lydia''s speech. "Actually, this airship is just a prototype. We don''t need the best materials for it. Something more budget-friendly should do."


    Lydia protested, "How can that be? This is the first airship capable of turning in the sky."


    Lynn, somewhat helpless, took out a coin pouch and continued, "I can offer you twelve magic gold coins as an advance payment."


    Lydia shook her head, refusing to ept the coins. She pointed out that the knowledge Lynn had shared during the lecture was worth far more than a hundred magic gold coins. Moreover, the sess of this airship project was crucial for her admission to the Iyeta School of Magic.


    "The money for making the airship can be considered as the tuition for your recent lesson. I''ll use the best materials to build it, starting now!" Lydia wiped dirt off her face, instructed Darren to call the other halflings from the workshop, and dered her intention to finish building the airship within a month.


    Observing the busy halflings, Lynn wanted to lend a hand but was stopped. Using magic could leave traces, and if the airship was suspected of being magically constructed, it could lead to problems. Besides, Lynn was a customer, and there was no reason for a customer to work himself.


    With nothing else to do, Lynn could only stand by, offering guidance while watching the halflings, who were half his height, carry heavy wooden materials.


    ...


    The progress of the airship''s construction was faster than Lynn had imagined. After a night of hard work, they hadpleted one-sixth of the overall framework. If it weren''t for the time-consuming special treatment required for the camel-hide leather used in making the envelope, the airship might have been finished within a month.


    However, such rapid progress came at a cost. The halflings were nearly exhausted, and the enthusiasm they had shown earlier had been channeled into their work. Darren was snoring away on a sturdy board, and Lydia had gone a step further, sleeping on the airship''s frame, clutching a beam tightly, with drool at the corner of her mouth and mumbling in her sleep.


    Lynn shook his head, halted the halflings who were still prepared to work, and moved Lydia and the others, who had fallen into deep slumber, indoors to rest.


    After bing a wizard apprentice, staying up all night had no effect on Lynn''s mental state. So, after settling the exhausted Lydia, he left the workshop.


    A whole day had passed, and Lynn was somewhat eager to see if the wizard apprentices had been able to solve the mathematical problems he had left for them.


    Pushing the ssroom door open, Lynn found a substantial pile of coins on the lectern, significantly more than he had expected. What surprised him even more was that the ssroom, which had felt somewhat empty during the previous lesson, was now packed to the brim with students. If the room weren''trge enough, it might have been overcrowded.


    Was a math puzzle game really this popr?


    "Good morning, everyone," Lynn thought, his mind racing, though his demeanor remained unchanged.


    However, the students'' responses were even more enthusiastic than he had imagined.


    "Professor Lynn, do you have more math problems for us?"


    "I''ve already solved the puzzles with thirty-six squares and forty-nine squares..."


    The students'' excitement about the mathematical puzzles was beyond Lynn''s expectations.


    Looking at the ecstatic wizard apprentices in the ssroom, Lynn was utterly shocked. Were all the students at the Iyeta School of Magic secretly a bunch of masochists? They seemed to have an incredible enthusiasm for solving math problems.


    But something must have happened that he wasn''t aware of. Lynn decided not to rush to confirm and turned to Ailock, inquiring, "It''s been a day now. I believe you should have the answers, right, Ailock?"


    "Professor, the sum of the thirty-six squares is six hundred eighty-seven billion, one hundred ny-four million, seven hundred thirty-five thousand, and thirty-five..." Ailock hastily stood up, trembling as he gave his answer.


    He had double and triple-checked the value, calcting it on twenty different sheets of paper. The final figure was just toorge, and he only had one chance to answer. A single mistake would be disastrous.


    Under Ailock''s anxious gaze, Lynn nodded. "Very good, correct answer."


    "Have I also figured out the meanings of the forms you gave us?" Lynn inquired further.


    "I''ve figured it out. The sum of the numbers in the squares is equivalent to twice thest digit minus one!" Ailock confidently responded. After spending a sleepless night to find the correct answer, his confidence was back.


    Lynn nodded once more, acknowledging Ailock''s achievement. Given his limited mathematical background and only a day to work with, discovering this pattern was quitemendable.


    "Professor Lynn, can I get my reward now?" Ailock asked eagerly.


    Piers and others gazed at Ailock with envy. Twenty magic gold coins was no small sum. While they had also struggled with the problem for a long time, they hadn''t worked as hard as Ailock or managed to find the pattern first.


    Lynn, aware of the reward set by Master Herlram for the form, knew that he couldn''t take it himself due to his position.


    But iming the money based on this simplistic pattern was too far-fetched.


    "Ailock, my summation form is not that simple. Let me ask you, if I were to slightly modify the rules of the square game, like requiring the number in the next square to be three times that of the previous one, would your theory still apply?" Lynn asked with a sly grin.


    Ailock''s smug expression froze as he immediately began calcting in his mind. He then picked up a quill and started scribbling on parchment.


    "What if I added a rule where you need to ce seventeen copper coins in the first square?" Lynn continued.


    Ailock waspletely bewildered, his mind overwhelmed with a massive amount of numbers. This was just too challenging!


    He couldn''t figure it out at all!


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 Chapter 69: How Many Advanced Math Problems Have You Solved to Achieve This?

    Chapter 69: How Many Advanced Math Problems Have You Solved to Achieve This?


    Lynn, with just a few brief sentences, brought Ailock down from heaven to hell. All the students present shivered uncontrobly.


    "Advanced math is an extremely precise subject. We need to search for patterns within a vast andplex array of data, summarize them into corresponding forms to simplify the algorithms and improve the overall efficiency of calctions," Lynn said, surveying every person in the ssroom. She paused for a moment before continuing.


    "While Elloc''s summary of patterns is not entirely wrong, it has too limited an application. If the exponent growth within the squares can be 2x, it can also be 3x, 5x, or 10x! This makes the pattern no longer valid..."


    "However, this exponent summation form applies to all exponent growth that meets the criteria!" Lynn snapped her fingers, and under the surge of magic, theplex forms once again appeared before everyone.


    q¡Ù1, Sn=a1(1-q^n)/(1-q)


    Jonny, Pierce, and the others stared at the so-called exponent summation form, pondering it deeply. Then they picked up quill pens and began to calcte, creating sequences of 2, 3, 4 times, searching for patterns and attempting to plug them into the form.


    With Ailock''s previous summary in mind and deriving from q¡Ù1, Pierce quickly realized that the symbol referred to the exponent''s multiplier. But why subtract 1?


    Pierce bit his finger and plugged in the initial 2x growth pattern, ignoring the (1-q) part and proceeded with the calctions. He found that it worked perfectly, but the resulting number was negative.


    So, did thetter part of the form transform negative numbers into positive ones? But if it was a 3x exponent growth, the result wouldn''t make any sense...


    Pierce''s brain raced, and he felt he was on the cusp of a breakthrough. What could it be?


    Inside the entire ssroom, students were all engrossed in their work, some scratching their heads, some pulling their hair, but not a single one chose to ck off.


    Is the studying atmosphere at the Iyeta Magic Academy always this intense?


    Lynn found it a bit strange. These people were really passionate about learning.


    The majority of the ss went by quickly. Just when Lynn thought today wouldn''t yield any results, a hand shot up high.


    "Professor Lynn, I have some ideas!"


    The one speaking was Jonny. After receiving permission, the young girl stood up and said, "In the summation form, isn''t a1 the number ced in the first square, q represents the multiplier, and n corresponds to the number of squares, right, Professor?"


    "Approximately correct. After ss, you can collect your reward at the academy''s entrance!" Lynn nodded in response. Though Jonny''s exnation was quite vague, it was also absolutely correct.


    Pierce, on the other hand, couldn''t help but pound his chest and stomp his feet. After Jonny''s reminder, he quickly understood why he was so close to solving it! Just a little more, just a little more!


    After asking Jonny to sit back down, Lynn proceeded to exin what a geometric progression was, as well as its general term and summation forms, and continued until she exined how each form was derived.


    The wizard apprentices below earnestly picked up their quill pens, wrote down every word Lynn said on their pages, and then tried altering the first term and the multiplier repeatedly to conduct verifications. The desks quickly piled up with various sheets of paper...


    It had to be said that with the general and summation forms in hand, the speed of calctions increased several times over. The moreplex the equation, the faster the improvement.


    Watching the enthusiastic students tackle their problems, Lynn couldn''t help but sigh. Teaching was way too easy for her! If only this was the scene in all schools across the Federation, then the future of science and technology would be limitless.


    ...


    The Advanced Math ss had quicklye to an end, but Ailock and others were reluctant to leave the ssroom. They continued to discuss the derivation of the summation form.


    "Jonny, fromst night till now, how much has your control over magic increased?" a ck-haired witch apprentice caught up and patted Jonny''s shoulder, curiously inquiring.


    "About ten percent?" the silver-haired girl thought for a moment and replied casually.


    "That''s a little more than what I achieved," the ck-haired witch apprentice mumbled, without any envy on her face.


    It was rumored that Ailock had spent a sleepless night doing math problems and found that he had increased his control over magic by around twenty percent the next day. This news had caused quite a stir at the Iyeta Magic Academy. So, this morning, any wizard apprentice without ss came to hear what miraculous power this so-called advanced math ss possessed. She was naturally no exception.


    The conclusion was quite clear;plex and intricate math problems could effectively enhance their mental faculties. The process of logical deduction, searching for and deciphering numerical patterns, was also interesting, at least more so than the tedious meditation.


    Jonny paid no attention to the ck-haired witch''s words. She gazed back in the direction of the ssroom, deep in thought. In the past six months, how many advanced math problems had Lynn done within the Society of Mystical Arts to achieve her current aplishments...


    ...


    "The ability to control magic can actually be improved by doing math problems?" Lynn couldn''t help but hear the students'' discussions, and it took her somewhat by surprise.


    However, upon closer consideration, it made sense. Her significant increase in power through a mental connection with an AI resulted from the overload mode substantially enhancing herputational power or, in other words, her mental strength.


    This was crucial for wizards, as their ability to control magic was closely tied to the strength of their mental power. What frustrated Lynn was that this happened to be her blind spot in knowledge.


    At least the process of forming magical patterns was somewhat simr to building muscle memory through repeated practice. For instance, picking up a ss from the table and taking a sip required determining the distance, calcting the right angle and force to grasp the ss, and finding the most natural arc for lifting it to your lips.


    Under subconscious control, such aplex process could be executed instantaneously, without any hindrance. Spellcasting was no different. With extended practice, a mere thought could unleash incrediblyplex magic.


    But there was a prerequisite ¨C the wizard''s mental strength had to be substantial enough to provide sufficientputational power. Otherwise, the spellcasting process would be prolonged, revealing vulnerabilities.


    Thinking this over, Lynn rubbed her chin, contemting whether to solve a few calculus problems for herself...


    Who knows, it might actually be beneficial?


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 Chapter 70: The Smile of the Arcane Mathematics Professor

    Chapter 70: The Smile of the Arcane Mathematics Professor


    Half a month passed in the blink of an eye since Lynn had crossed into this otherworldly realm, and it had been the most peaceful time he''d experienced.


    In the mornings, he taught a few sses of arcane mathematics at the Iyeta School of Magic. In the afternoons, he checked on the progress of the airship being constructed at the gnome''s workshop. As for the evenings, he would work on advanced calculus problems and practice the newly developed magic, the "Cryogenic Ice Domain."


    It had to be said that solving math problems was proving to be quite effective. His mental abilities were growing at a faster pace than before. However, the only downside was that he felt a bit mentally drained every time he left the house.


    The pace of teaching arcane mathematics was faster than Lynn had anticipated. In just four short days, the basic form for summing geometric series no longer satisfied the appetites of the wizard apprentices.


    They yearned for moreplex arcane math problems!


    Lynn had to resort to his second secret weapon: square roots.


    If exponential growth was considered challenging for these wizard apprentices, square roots were pure nightmares!


    The students, who had originally been looking forward to new content, were now wailing in despair. Whenever someone passed by the ssroom for arcane mathematics, they could hear strange exmations from inside.


    "I can''t do it. I can''t do it..."


    "It''s impossible. It''s not my fault; the form must be wrong!"


    "This problem simply has no solution!!!"


    ...


    In just two days of sses, Elok and the others found the material too difficult, and most of them couldn''t solve square roots.


    Inside the Iyeta School of Magic, a new term began to circte: "The Smile of the Arcane Mathematics Professor." Rumor had it that once Professor Lynn showed a smile, no one in the ssroom could ever smile again!


    Lynn felt somewhat helpless about this. If square roots were this difficult to grasp, he feared for his sanity when he eventually had to teach calculus...


    In the following days, he had to start with geometry. Considering the varying learning speeds of the students, they even had to separate into elite and regr sses.


    After finishing a new lecture on arcane mathematics, Lynn was about to leave when he was stopped by Philip.


    "Professor Lynn, in the next couple of days, representatives from the Wizard Council and the ''Magic Weekly'' will being to Iyeta Harbor. You should prepare in advance," Philip advised.


    "Is it for the theory of free fall?" Lynn was surprised at first but quickly realized.


    "Yes, and your theory of the cosmos. Master Herlram has already submitted these theories, but whether they will be published depends on the ''Magic Weekly'' representative," Philip nodded.


    "What about the Wizard Council? Why are they sending someone?" Lynn was curious; it couldn''t be for the same thing.


    "They''re here to assess your wizard rank," Philip exined.


    In thend of the wizards, the title of a formal wizard wasn''t just a symbol of power; it also represented a certain status and privilege. This status could only be granted by the Wizard Council.


    Generally, when it was confirmed that a foreign wizard would stay in thend of the wizards for an extended period, the council would send someone to confirm the wizard''s identity and rank. There was also an observation period. If it was determined that the foreign wizard posed no threat, they would receive an official wizard''s badge and robe.


    Seeing that Lynn appeared somewhat worried, Philip hurriedly reassured him. "You don''t need to worry too much about this. You''re doing a great job teaching arcane mathematics, so passing the observation period should be no problem."


    Lynn nodded. In truth, he wasn''t worried about the observation period. After all, he had no intentions of causing trouble in thend of the wizards. What concerned him more was the official assessment of his wizard rank.


    Previously, when Lynn joined the Iyeta Academy, Herlram didn''t assess his wizard rank. Lynn had thought it was already a given, but it turned out that this evaluation was carried out by the council.


    Despite having engaged in high-intensity problem-solving for the past half-month, it would still take several days to reach the limit of magic growth. Hence, he hadn''t been in a hurry to address the issue of acquiring the "Source of Magic."


    "How are wizard ranks typically determined in thend of the wizards?" Lynn asked, probing for more information.


    "Usually, the testing for Novice to Third Circle wizards is done using magic orbs, and mistakes are rare. Of course, if you''re a Grand Wizard, those things are of no use," Philip chuckled, then curiously inquired about how the "Society of Mystical Arts" assessed ranks.


    "In the ''Society of Mystical Arts,'' there''s only a schr''s rank, and individual status doesn''t matter much. The only thing worth exchanging is knowledge," Lynn casually improvised.


    Upon hearing this, Philip couldn''t help but feel a sense of yearning. Perhaps only in a ce like this could formal wizards like himself have equal exchanges with Grand Wizards or even Legendary Wizards, sharing their perspectives and conjectures about the world.


    "So, what are the requirements for joining the ''Society of Mystical Arts?" Philip lowered his voice and discreetly asked. ording to Lynn''s description, the "Society of Mystical Arts" seemed to be a small group where members shared knowledge without beingpelled to do anything they didn''t want to. Joining such a society appeared to have only benefits, without any drawbacks.


    "You must first present a piece of unique knowledge to prove your abilities. Furthermore, you need a rmendation from someone of a higher rank," Lynn patiently added to his lie, making it clear that since arriving in thend of the wizards, he had temporarily lost contact with the "Society of Mystical Arts," in order to dissuade Philip''s thoughts.


    After all, in the Sarcas Empire, there was no such thing as the "Society of Mystical Arts." He couldn''t just conjure one up, could he?


    Under the guise of deception, Philip left with some lingering regret, and Lynn breathed a sigh of relief. The lies he had fabricated to deal with Herlram''s inquiries had brought him many conveniences, but they had also created quite a bit of risk.


    Lynn pondered strategies to handle the situation as he made his way to the gnome''s workshop to check on the progress of the airship.


    As he stepped inside, he collided with a hurried Lidiya.


    If one were to judge solely by their heights, it would seem like a dwarf had collided with a giant. But the reality was quite the opposite. Lynn stumbled back several steps before regaining his bnce and avoiding a fall.


    Lidiya appeared unharmed and excitedly grabbed Lynn''s arm, pulling him inside.


    "Come on, Professor Lynn..."


    After working day and night for over half a month, their airship had beenpleted ahead of schedule!


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 Chapter 71: Secrets, All Secrets!

    Chapter 71: Secrets, All Secrets!


    Two dayster, a convoy pulled by several robust camels slowly made its way along the official road of the harbor city.


    At the forefront of the convoy, inside avishly decorated carriage, an elderly wizard gazed out of the window, taking in the architecturalyout of the entire city.


    "Mr. Tike, do you really believe this continent could be spherical?" Beside him, a well-dressed mage inquired curiously, tossing a gold coin in his hand.


    "Ror, until we have definitive proof, no one can truly confirm or refute this spection..." Tike took a while to shift his gaze away from the rows of buildings that were identical in size and shape, and then continued, "Rumors within the Council suggest that a legendary wizard well-versed in elemental magic, upon hearing this theory, is preparing to use flight magic to ascend into the sky to confirm whether the continent is round or t..."


    "And what''s the result?" Ror asked, greatly intrigued.


    "By the time we departed, that esteemed person had not returned!" Tike shook his head.


    It has been quite a few days, hasn''t it? Ror couldn''t help but shudder for a moment, but then dismissed the thought. He hadn''t truly witnessed the power possessed by legendary wizards, but he understood that it was undeniably immensely formidable.


    The safety of these influential figures doesn''t seem to be a concern for someone like me.


    "In any case, once this news is released, the divination wizards will probably be in an uproar," Tike remarked.


    Those divination wizards always tried to interpret signs of destiny from the trajectories of celestial bodies, and the widely circted star maps in thend of wizards were created by them. Lin''s theory about the shape of the undoubtedlypletely contradicted this theory.


    From Tike''s perspective, the divination wizards were simply squandering the Council''s funds, uttering cryptic words that sounded mysterious and then interpreting them word by word based on actual events after they urred, leaving people uncertain whether the prediction was urate or merely concocted afterward.


    Ror wasn''t particrly concerned about the thoughts of those divination wizards; he was contemting the theory mentioned by a wizard named Lin, thew of free fall.


    The eleration of an object in free fall is independent of its weight and mass. When two objects of different masses are dropped from the same height, they will hit the ground simultaneously.


    While this theory had received some confirmation from great wizards, it still seemed incredibly unusual, bordering on unbelievable.


    Could it be that if you were to carry a small pebble and an entire mountain into the sky, they would both fall to the ground simultaneously?


    Ror attempted to toss the gold coin in his hand alongside a feather pen, and without a doubt, the heavier coinnded first.


    Just as he was lost in thought, the convoy came to a gradual stop.


    "What''s going on?" Ror asked, slightly irritated. They shouldn''t have reached Iyeta Magic Academy yet.


    "The road ahead is blocked, Mage Ror," the servant driving the camels hastily exined.


    Ror pulled back the carriage curtain and immediately saw numerous townsfolk gathered in the square, seemingly discussing something.


    "What''s happening?" Tike also inquired, as he had just heard themotion from outside.


    Tike looked ahead and, with the height advantage provided by the carriage, they both saw the massive, bizarre alchemical contraption situated in the center of the square.


    This thing was as tall as a two-story building, divided into upper and lower sections.


    Above was an elliptical sphere, its estimated length exceeding twenty meters. Below it, there was a structure somewhat resembling a ship, but much smaller inparison, making up less than a third of the overall size of the elliptical sphere. It was all tethered together by sturdy ropes.


    "Is this the alchemical contraption Master Herlram recently developed? It''s enormous!" Ror marveled. This contraption was even more massive than the golems in the Wizard City.


    "No, I''m afraid it has nothing to do with His Excellency Herlram..." Tike countered after listening to the lively discussions around them for a while.


    Most of the townspeople here mentioned Lynn, Lydia, and something called an "airship."


    Airship... Is that the name of this alchemical contraption?


    "So, is this rted to that wizard from the Sekas Empire again? Quite interesting... Let''s go and take a look on foot!" Ror stepped down from the carriage, his interest piqued.


    On the other side, in the center of the city square, Lydia and the airship she had crafted were surrounded by curious townsfolk. Children as young as seven or eight and burly farmers alike were eager to touch this massive creation, even taller than some houses.


    About a dozen halflings, like guards, encircled the airship with proud expressions. This was their treasured creation, painstakingly worked on for over half a month!


    A mischievous boy secretly climbed up the sculpture, standing on his tiptoes and raising his hand high to poke the underside of the airship''s balloon. He felt the soft texture and realized he couldn''t pierce the seemingly fragile balloon with his hand. But his eyes remained fixed on the enormous airship before him.


    "Ah, it''s so soft!" several other mischievous children eximed excitedly as they climbed up and used their rough hands to touch the airship.


    Darren was startled and jumped up, intending to shoo them away, but he was too short to reach them. He could only sternly scold them.


    "Go away! Don''t damage it. I can''t afford topensate you even if I sell you all!"


    Although the balloon was made of sturdy camel leather and was hard to pierce with a knife, they had invested all their energy and savings into this flight experiment. They couldn''t allow the slightest error.


    "Uncle Darren, how did you move such a big thing here? It''s called an airship, right? Can it really fly?" The lead boy, who was shorter than Darren, asked with a mischievous smile.


    The onlookers were equally curious. Judging by its appearance, this airship seemed to weigh several tons, but Lydia and the others managed to move it all the way from the workshop to the square.


    "You guys wouldn''t understand. This thing looks big but it''s not heavy at all... No, that''s not it. I should say it''s not heavy when you push it. ording to the wizard, it''s because most of the weight is offset by lift, and there are wheels at the bottom, so moving it isn''t tiring at all..."


    Darren spoke triumphantly, his beard curling up. But before he could finish, Lydia gave him a hefty kick. He realized his mistake and instantly changed his expression, now watching everyone present with a serious look.


    "Confidential, all of this is confidential!"


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 Chapter 72: A Scene Worth Remembering in Magical History!

    Chapter 72: A Scene Worth Remembering in Magical History!


    Darren''s words had left the townsfolk present itching with curiosity, yet they had no choice but to specte whether this airship, called the "flying boat," would actually take flight, how long it would stay aloft, and if it would meet the same fate as previous aircraft, crashing before reaching the skies.


    Meanwhile, the professors and students of Iyeta Academy gathered in the central square, gazing at the enormous airship parked there. Even Herlram, who was usuallyposed, couldn''t help but be amazed by its size. After a pause, he turned to Lynn and spoke, "It''s a marvel of alchemical engineering, Professor Lynn. I heard this is your creation?"


    Lynn chuckled as he exined, "I merely provided the blueprint; the airship''s construction process waspleted by Lydia and the others. You could say it''s a coborative effort."


    Though Lynn downyed his role, Herlram and the others knew that crafting was secondary; the most important aspect of any alchemical creation was its design principles.


    "Professor Lynn, if you call this thing a ''flying boat,'' do you intend to make it actually fly? How much magical power would that require?" Kevin inquired with great curiosity.


    Therger and heavier something was, the harder it was to get it into the sky, and this was a well-established rule. Sending such a colossal alchemical contraption into the heavens would undoubtedly consume an incalcble amount of magical power.


    "I think you''re mistaken. Making this thing fly doesn''t require magic at all," Lynn shook his head.


    Not magic? The professors and students in attendance were momentarily taken aback. Could this contraption really take to the skies on its own?


    "Is this the alternative propulsion and redesigned structure you mentioned when you first arrived in the Wizard''s Domain?" Herlram immediately recalled Lynn''s words from when he arrived in thend of wizards, and indeed, he hadn''t sensed any magical fluctuations from the airship.


    "No, to put it differently, this airship uses a different method of flight," Lynn replied after some thought.


    Herlram furrowed his brow, pondering what the "different method" might entail. Then, with great interest, he asked, "So, how long do you think it can remain in the sky? Ten minutes? An hour?"


    "I believe it can stay in the air for much longer than any number you might imagine. Its flight duration depends solely on how long Lydia wishes to stay in the sky..." Lynn answered with a smile.


    Upon hearing this, Philip and the others were no longerposed. Did this mean that as long as Lydia didn''t want toe down, she could stay in the air indefinitely? This was unreasonable because flight was a feat aplished by only a few wizards.


    But before they could voice their objections, a voice from behind spoke up.


    "Are you saying this airship can remain in the sky continuously without expending any energy? This is impossible and goes against the Law of Magic Conservation!"


    Lynn turned in surprise and saw two splendidly dressed wizards approaching from behind.


    "This is Mr. Tike, a council member of the Wizard Council," Philip hurriedly introduced Lynn, showing a hint of respect in his tone. Although Tike and Philip were both third-tier wizards, Tike''s expertise in alchemy was highly regarded in thend of wizards.


    "As for the other person..." Philip hesitated, revealing uncertainty in his expression.


    "I''m Rol, from ''The Magic Weekly''! I''ve been assigned here as a special correspondent," Rol replied politely.


    "Hello, Mr. Tike, Mr. Rol," Lynn nodded, and the name Tike seemed oddly familiar to him. He had once studied a first-tier spell called ''Tike''s Farsight Technique.''


    "Let''s skip the pleasantries; you haven''t answered my earlier question..." Tike showed no interest in small talk and urgently asked.


    "If you''re referring to levitation alone, it doesn''t require additional energy," Lynn exined, then continued, "As for the principle, I can only say..."


    "That''s a trade secret!"


    Tike''s expression froze, and it shifted to a somewhat resigned look. As an alchemist, he knew that there were certain things one shouldn''t ask about.


    "Professor Lynn, the inspection work has beenpleted, and the Lookout is ready to take off!" Lydia came running all the way, saluting like a naval captain, and loudly announced.


    "In that case, let''s begin!" Lynn waved his hand.


    With approval granted, Lydia excitedly called Darren and the others, and they started injecting hydrogen into the airship''s auxiliary dders. They also secured a sturdy rope to several pirs in the square to prevent it from taking off prematurely.


    The airship''s gas envelope appeared seamless on the outside but was actually divided into the main and auxiliary dders. When only the main dder was filled with hydrogen, the airship experienced slightly less lift than gravity, staying at a critical point. Filling the auxiliary dders with hydrogen as well allowed it to take off directly.


    During descent, the process was reversed by opening the auxiliary dders, allowing air to flow in, causing the airship to descend slowly.


    As for why hydrogen was used instead of the safer helium, it was simply because hydrogen was more readily avable, easily obtained by separating it from water. Iyeta Harbor had an abundance of water, after all!


    While Darren and the others were filling the gas dders with gas, Lydia had already climbed up adder into the airship''s cabin. She adjusted her alchemical goggles on her head, ced her hands on therge steering wheel, and took on the appearance of a captain. Her face was filled with unstoppable excitement.


    All eyes on the square were focused on the airship. As the hydrogen continued to flow into the auxiliary dders, the massive airship began to shake slightly, gradually floating off the ground.


    "It''s amazing! It can really fly!" "Indeed, all our efforts were not in vain..."


    Witnessing this scene, several halflings embraced each other in excitement. They had worked day and night for the past half-month, all for this day!


    "Lookout is taking off!" Lydia shouted, cutting the rope connecting the airship to the pirs with a swing of her de.


    Amid the countless excited and awed gazes, the enormous contraption in front of them swiftly broke free from the grasp of gravity and soared directly into the sky.


    "Incredible!" Herlram gazed at the airship floating further and further into the sky and sighed in amazement.


    Beside him, Rol quickly pulled out his quill and, using magic as ink, rapidly sketched everything he saw.


    This was undoubtedly a scene worth remembering in magical history. A halfling who couldn''t use any magic, riding in a colossal airship taller than a two-story building, flying into the sky!


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 Chapter 73: Reaching for the Sky!

    Chapter 73: Reaching for the Sky!


    "Unbelievable, this thing is actually flying!"


    If the sight of the airship soaring through the skies amazed the wizards, it was nothing short of awe-inspiring for the townspeople who gathered to watch.


    Because everyone in Lydia''s group was known to the townsfolk. They were a bunch of half-humans who usually caused a ruckus and had a penchant for tinkering with strange contraptions.


    The most crucial point was that just like themon townsfolk present, none of them had any magical abilities.


    And now, Lydia was right before their eyes, piloting somethingrger than a house, ascending into the sky, aplishing something even many esteemed wizards couldn''t!


    "Daddy, can I fly like that too in the future?" A young boy who had climbed onto the statue to touch the airship looked at the man in the gray robe, excitement shining in his eyes.


    "What are you thinking? I''m sure some wizard secretly used magic on the airship..." The man in the gray robe didn''t believe for a second that a half-human could fly using their own power. In thend of wizards, all miracles belonged to the great power of magic.


    "Who said it''s magic?" Darren responded to this with annoyance, correcting the man with some frustration. "I assure you, every part of this airship was crafted by us half-humans with our own hands, without a trace of magic!"


    "When Lydiaes back down, anyone can go up to the airship and see for themselves..."


    "As long as you pay ten silver coins, anyone can take a ride on the airship and go for a spin in the sky. I heard from Lynn that this thing can fly really high, even higher than many clouds, and if you''re lucky, you might even get to touch the clouds in the sky," Darren said, quite pleased with himself.


    Higher than the clouds?


    The children in the square couldn''t help but look up at the sky, watching the enormous airship grow smaller as it moved farther away. They imagined what it might feel like to touch a cloud ¨C surely, it would be as soft as a sheep''s wool, right?


    The other townspeople were also intrigued. A contraption of this size, most likely, cost a fortune. Just ten silver coins for a trip into the sky didn''t seem too expensive.


    After all, it was the sky!


    At the same time, hundreds of meters above, Lydia stood on a specially designed chair, looking down at the crowd below, which was bing smaller and smaller until they resembled tiny dots. Finally, the entire harbor city''sndscapey before her.


    Everything seemed so small, just like the wooden models she used to keep in her workshop, as if she could crush them with a single step.


    "Is this what it feels like to soar into the sky? It''s absolutely amazing!" Lydia looked around, excitedly gazing at the distant, rolling mountains and the vast sea.


    Although she had ascended into the sky on a rudimentary flying machine more than ten days ago, it had only reached an altitude of a few dozen meters, and she couldn''t afford to lose focus for a moment.


    Unlike now, where the airship could float on its own without her control, allowing her to do whatever she wanted up here.


    Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew by, and the previously stable airship began to sway slightly.


    First-time fliers often experience an inexplicable fear, but Lydia was not the least bit afraid. On the contrary, she boldly climbed to the edge of the airship, spread her arms, and faced the strong wind, letting out cries of excitement, releasing the exhration she felt.


    It wasn''t until she spotted a pure white cloud floating not far from the airship that Lydia had a daring idea. She jumped down and returned to her seat, gripping the control lever, and directed the airship straight toward the cloud!


    The massive airship collided with the cloud, passing through it. Lydia''s vision was now enveloped in a sea of white. Her cheeks and arms felt damp, and the sensation was akin to standing by the seaside, with the gentle sea breeze brushing past her.


    "This must be a happy cloud!" Lydia giggled.


    However, amidst the yful antics, the half-human girl hadn''t forgotten the task Lynn had entrusted to her. After a leisurely tour in the airship, she hovered above the square once again, then pulled a lever at her side.


    The bottom of the airship''s deck immediately opened, and two spheres with vastly different masses dropped from the cabin, but due to the tethering ropes, they hung in the air, swaying left and right, causing the airship to tilt slightly.


    Next, the half-human girl brought the alchemical goggles to her eyes, leaning out, awaiting Lynn''s gestures andmands.


    This pair of goggles was the only magical item she carried, housing a far-sight spell that sharpened her vision like a griffon''s, enabling her to see Professor Lynn amidst the crowd from a distance of two thousand meters clearly.


    ...


    "It seems like the next issue of the Magic Weekly is going to sell like hotcakes!"


    Ten minutes ago, Rol, who was at the square, was quite satisfied with the illustrations he had created, adding his own feelings at the bottom of each one. He already had a rough expectation of the newspaper''s sales figures.


    Lynn leaned in to take a look. On the parchment, there were three drawings: Lydia boarding the airship, cutting the ropes, and soaring into the sky.


    Although time was limited, the sketches were exceptionally vivid. This sketching technique was no different from a human-shaped printer. No wonder the other party became a specialist for the Magic Weekly.


    With a brief dy, the airship had already reached high in the sky, looking like a small dot from their position.


    "This is too high!" Theodore gazed up, astonished at the airship continuing to ascend. Initially, he had thought that this thing could fly at most a few hundred meters high. However, in just a short while, the airship had already exceeded two thousand meters in altitude.


    Fortunately, the difficulty of the far-sight spell wasn''t very high, and most of the wizards present were proficient in it. So even from this distance, they could still see things quite clearly.


    After ascending to an altitude of two thousand five hundred meters, the airship stopped and then, using the propulsion of the steam, began to move slowly forward.


    It could not only fly but also navigate, and it did so remarkably steadily!


    "At this height, it''s probably beyond the attack range of most magic." Tick looked at the floating airship in the distance, his expression growing somewhat solemn.


    In a certain sense, this contraption was a war weapon. Mounting two crystal cannons on it would allow for long-range attacks.


    If there were twenty airships armed with crystal cannons, conducting an aerial assault on Iyeta Harbor, it was without a doubt that the entire city would be reduced to ruins, without even the intervention of the great wizard Herlram.


    "It''s a finely designed and very well-built device..." Herlram also understood this quite well, turning to look at Lynn once more and asking, "The design ns for this airship shouldn''t have beenpleted recently, should they?"


    If a half-month ago, Lydia had created a rudimentary flying machine, it was immediately obvious that it was a rough prototype. But this airship was a fully-fledged product.


    From takeoff to hovering in mid-air and onward, everything was very smooth. The design was also meticulous, indicating it was highly advanced technology.


    "Yes, this airship was jointly designed by me and some friends from the Society of Mystical Arts. It''s just that within the borders of the Sekas Empire, it''s difficult to find a suitable ce for flight experiments," Lynn exined, subtly praising the wizards of thisnd.


    The wizards present nodded in agreement. In the Sekas Empire, wizards were hunted down, and they couldn''t openly conduct flight experiments.


    "Since you''ve never tested it before, why are you so certain it will fly?" Tick asked with puzzlement.


    "Because I''ve used mathematical calctions based on the principles of magic in advance!" Lynn stated straightforwardly. "As long as you know all the data and perform precise calctions, there''s no room for error!"


    Before embarking on this flight experiment, he had already used the arcane science to weigh objects of different masses, roughly confirming that the gravity on this was almost identical to Earth''s.


    Now that the airship had reached the expected altitude, all this data had been deduced through arcane science in advance.


    "Arcane science..." Tick muttered, a term he had never encountered before. It seemed that apart from awarding official wizard medals, it was also necessary to learn about this thing called arcane science. He felt it was likely essential for alchemy.


    Professors like Kevin and Philip thought Lynn''s statement was somewhat too absolute. Could so-called arcane science really predict everything?


    However, they couldn''t refute it at the moment because the ascending airship was the best proof.


    On the side, Rol once again took out his pen and jotted down Lynn''s words, intending to emphasize them in bold on one of the pages in the Magic Weekly.


    "Master Herlram, may I request you to use magic to temporarily turn this square into a sandy surface?" Lynn gazed at the sky for a moment, then suddenly spoke.


    "Sure, but could you exin the reason?" Herlram asked, puzzled.


    "Now we''re at a sufficient height, and I''m nning to conduct an experiment. If it were on level ground, there might be too muchmotion!" Lynn spoke nonchntly.


    "Experiment?" Herlram hesitated for a moment, then quickly understood what Lynn was referring to. He immediately used an amplification spell tomand everyone present to step back twenty-five meters, creating a sufficiently spacious area in the middle.


    A high-level wizard personally issued the order, and nobody dared to disobey. The townsfolk quickly moved backward, creating a circr area with a radius of twenty-five meters in the previously crowded square.


    Herlram first released arge magical barrier to prevent any idents. Then, he cast another spell. Under the influence of magic, the sturdy ground tiles in front of them quickly cracked and were disintegrated into countless fine grains of sand...


    Lynn took this moment to look at the gathering of wizards and townspeople in the square. Utilizing the principles of sound wave transmission, he increased his volume.


    "Everyone, over the past half-month, you''ve probably heard about my Law of Free Fall andary Theory to some extent. I believe many of you have doubts, thinking that it''s a ridiculous imagination, a deception for public attention. How could the continent possibly be round? How could an iron object and a stone fall to the ground at the same time?


    But let me tell you, don''t be deceived by the appearance of things. The phenomena you usually see are merely the result of air resistance. In fact, if we eliminate the factor of air resistance, an object''s free-fall speed has no rtion to its weight or shape!"


    "Are you questioning Master Yad''s theory?" A young male wizard in the crowd interrupted.


    The rtionship between the speed of a falling object and its weight is directly proportional, and it is also affected by the shape. This was almostmon knowledge, and there were countless real-world examples to confirm Master Yad''s conclusion.


    "Then why don''t we make a bet instead?" Lynn raised his tone.


    "In ten minutes, I will have Lydia lower the airship to an altitude of about forty meters, and then drop two iron balls from high above. These balls will have vastly different volumes and weights. But I bet both balls will hit the ground at the same moment, and the time difference will not exceed one second!"


    "The wager is set at three magic gold coins, and anyone can participate!" Lynn said with a smile.


    The purchasing power of three magic gold coins was roughly equivalent to five to six thousand dors in the previous world, and it wasn''t a small sum even for wizards. However, it wasn''t so much that it would hurt.


    The young male wizard didn''t hesitate much and tossed three coins over.


    If Lynn wasn''t lying, ording to Master Yad''s theory, the heavier iron ball should fall much faster than the smaller one.


    People with thoughts simr to his were not in the minority, so within a short time, more than twenty wizards had joined the bet. Rol was no exception, as he held deep doubts about this theory.


    Many townspeople were also itching to join, but not many dared to participate in a bet with the wizard lords.


    "What about you? Are you going to give it a try?" Lynn turned to the students from the ss of arcane science behind him, jokingly asking.


    Pierce and others quickly shook their heads. Eiroc shivered uncontrobly. Thest time the professor initiated a bet, he almost lost a fortuneparable to the entire Iyeta Harbor.


    In a blink of an eye, he had won sixty-nine magic gold coins. Lynn also felt somewhat sentimental. Indeed, earning a fortune was impossible with just a regr sry.


    But he wasn''t just using the airship for this experiment to make money; the most important thing was to vindicate his theory.


    Although on his first day in Iyeta Harbor, he had confirmed this within the academy, thanks to the vacuum environment created by Herlram.


    Creating a vacuum environment was incredibly challenging; only high-level wizards could do it. So, this conclusion was limited to a small-scale dissemination. Most people preferred to believe what they saw in front of them.


    Therefore, Lynn decided to use today as an opportunity to prove this theory indisputably to everyone!


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 Chapter 74: A Step Closer to the Truth

    Chapter 74: A Step Closer to the Truth


    Amidst the gaze of the crowd, the airship began to descend slowly and soon hovered about forty meters above the square.


    All the wizards on the square and the sharp-eyed townsfolk could see two round balls hanging beneath the airship.


    The first had a diameter of about half a meter, made entirely of metal and tethered by a thick leather rope, which appeared taut and on the verge of breaking at any moment.


    The other ball was only about one-third the size of the first, and even to the naked eye, the enormous difference in their mass was evident.


    Lynn waited until the sea breeze that had been blowing gradually subsided, and at the moment when the airship truly stabilized in mid-air, he picked up a red g and waved it.


    Inside the airship, Lydia, who was crouched on the edge, on a stool, also waved the g in response.


    "It''s begun!" Lynn announced.


    The attention of everyone present was now focused on the two suspended balls beneath the airship.


    As another lever was pulled by Lydia, the two ropes were instantly released, and both iron balls fell at the same moment.


    "The big one is faster! The big one is faster!" A young wizard eximed with excitement. Thanks to farsight magic, he could clearly and urately see that therger iron ball had descended first when the ropes broke.


    However, the excitement on the wizard''s face was short-lived, as therge iron ball did not outpace the smaller one in speed as he had anticipated. Instead, it maintained a very close distance to the small iron ball.


    It wasn''t so much that therger iron ball fell faster as it was that the ropes restraining therger ball had snapped more tightly, causing it to drop a split second earlier.


    Lynn had never been concerned because he had carefully calcted the data for both iron balls. While therger ball had greater mass, its windward surface was alsorger, which meant it experienced more air resistance.


    As expected, in the second second of their descent, the heights of the two iron balls remained almost identical.


    "This can''t be, this isn''t right!" The wizards who witnessed this scene wore expressions of disbelief, with some even specting whether Lynn had secretly cast a Slow Fall spell on therger iron ball, causing this astonishing result.


    But before they could finish that thought, the massive iron ball, weighing over half a ton, crashed straight onto the square.


    In an instant, the entire square seemed to tremble. The tremendous impact caused therge iron ball to embed deeply into the sandy ground as the surrounding sand erupted like a stone rain, scattering in all directions.


    An invisible magical barrier surrounded the central part of the square, and the sand and stones striking it produced a continuous crackling sound.


    Due to their trust in the Grand Wizard, not many people paid attention to the flying sand and were fixedly gazing at the two round balls in the center of the square.


    The heavy iron ball had already sunken deeply into the center of the square, and the scattered sand had formed a pit about three meters in diameter, with fine sand still umting around it.


    Underneath the smaller iron ball, the pit was even smaller, barely a few tens of centimeters in size, quickly filling with sand.


    Just as Lynn had stated earlier, the two spheres, despite their vastly different masses, had crossed a distance of forty meters almost simultaneously, reaching the ground.


    But how could this be? Wasn''t the heavier one supposed tond first?


    "Professor Herlram, can I confirm this?" the young wizard eagerly inquired.


    The Grand Wizard did not answer but turned to Lynn. Seeing Lynn nod, he removed the magic barrier.


    The young wizard immediately ran over, unconcerned that his ankle sank into the sand, and picked up the small iron ball, which was only palm-sized. He also gave it a toss.


    "It''s indeed very light!" The wizard pondered, estimating the weight of the small ball to be around twenty kilograms, with no traces of magic.


    Could it be that there''s an issue with therger iron ball?


    Unconvinced, the young wizard ced the small ball on the ground and attempted to lift therger iron ball, which was about half a meter in diameter. However, no matter how much effort he exerted, he couldn''t budge the thing from the sandy ground.


    How heavy is this thing?


    The young wizard was astonished, confirming that Lynn hadn''t cut any corners.


    "If anyone still has doubts, feel free toe and check," Lynn said nonchntly, getting approval from the skeptics among the wizards and even the townsfolk. They stepped into the sand and used their hands to verify the weight difference between the two spheres.


    Just as they saw with their eyes, the difference was significant, with only a few shape-shifting wizards capable of lifting therge ball.


    In the end, Herlram used Mage Hand to pull therge ball out of the sand and weighed it in his hands.


    "Approximately half a ton!" Herlram pondered for a moment and made a rtively urate judgment.


    Philip, Kevin, Theodore, and others exchanged nces, unable to hide their amazement. Lynn''s statement that the two balls had a weight difference of tens of times was too conservative; the actual difference was twenty-five times!


    "But it''s so strange, why is it like this?" Rorl looked at Lynn, puzzled. He didn''t care about the three gold coins he lost but was greatly perplexed by this phenomenon that contradictedmon sense.


    He had personally witnessed the horrifying destruction caused by therge iron ball when itnded, indicating its tremendous weight. Yet both iron balls had descended at the same speed.


    And this had nothing to do with magic!


    "We can figure it out with a simple hypothesis," Lynn said, addressing the confused and doubtful gazes in the square, emphasizing his words. "ording to Master Yad''s theory, an object''s falling speed is directly proportional to its weight. Is that right?"


    Rorl and the others nodded. Lynn then pointed to the two spheres.


    "So, if I were to tie this small iron ball to therge iron ball with a rope and drop them from a height, do you think the falling speed would be faster or slower?"


    "Of course, it would be faster because the total weight increases," Rorl replied without hesitation. However, a few wizards immediately countered, "No, it should be slower! The small ball''s mass is much lower than therge ball, so its descent should be much slower and thus should slow down therge iron ball''s fall."


    "If therge iron ball takes four seconds to fall, and the small ball takes nine seconds, then when they''re tied together and fall simultaneously, thending time should be between four and nine seconds."


    Lynn hadn''t even had a chance to respond, and the two groups of wizards were already arguing. Jonny, Elok, and the others listened, feeling that both sides had reasonable arguments, yet they were contradicting each other.


    "The answer is... almost no change!" Lynn interrupted the quarrel.


    "How is that possible?" Philip frowned, rebuking. But as soon as he spoke, he froze, realizing that the experiment they had just witnessed proved that an object''s falling speed had nothing to do with its weight, or at least not as much as they had expected.


    "Mr. Rorl, can you give me a nk piece of paper?" Lynn was aware that many people present still had doubts. He turned to Rorl and asked.


    "Of course." Rorl took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Lynn, curious about what Lynn wanted to do.


    Lynn turned to the townsfolk, raising the paper. "Who can provide me with a book that''s slightly wider than this piece of paper?"


    In the midst of themotion, a child contributed his storybook.


    Lynn used Mage Hand to raise both the paper and the storybook two meters into the air, then let them fall together.


    The paper slowly drifted down and took about four seconds tond, while the storybook, which was much heavier, crashed to the ground within a second.


    "What are you doing?" Philip asked, puzzled. Wasn''t this phenomenon contradicting his theory?


    Lynn didn''t answer but gently ced the paper on top of the storybook''s cover and sent them back into the air, jokingly saying, "Come on, guess what will happen when they fall simultaneously now."


    "There''s no need to guess. Without a doubt, the paper will stay in the air, and the book will hit the ground first!" Philip dered confidently.


    This time, both sides agreed with Philip because Lynn hadn''t tied the two objects together; they couldn''t be considered a single entity.


    So, the result would undoubtedly be that the paper was slower, and the book was faster!


    "Next, you need to pay close attention!" Lynn shook his head and dispelled the magic.


    In the next moment, to the astonishment of everyone present, the paper did not float as they had imagined. Instead, it stuck to the cover of the book and fell down together with it.


    The whole process took just one second, with the thin paper and the heavy booknding simultaneously.


    The entire square fell into a deathly silence. They couldn''t fathom why this had happened.


    Reality had undoubtedly shattered their intuition once again!


    Unless... it was indeed as Lynn had said, and the falling speed had little to do with weight.


    "Is it because of the elimination of air resistance?" Herlram pondered. He could see that since Lynn had stuck the paper onto the book, the thin paper didn''t have to contend with air resistance and would naturally fall alongside the book.


    Unconvinced, Rorl repeated the experiment using Lynn''s method, but the result remained unchanged.


    Even the wizards who had been most opposed to it earlier had to consider that Master Yad''s theory might indeed be wed.


    "Your wisdom is admirable, Master Herlram! It was because the book took on the role of air resistance instead of the paper that they fell together!" Lynn first praised Herlram naturally, then turned to the wizards who still hadn''t recovered from the two surprising experiments.


    "When I was with the Society of Mystical Arts, I once heard a great master say that this world is incredibly magical. Sometimes, certain phenomena surpass even our understanding. The process of wizards seeking the truth is like a group of blind men trying to touch an enormous dragon and replicate its form in their minds."


    "The person who touches the dragon''s leg believes the dragon looks like a cylinder, the one who touches the wing thinks it''s like a disc, and the one who touches its elongated side... but undoubtedly, all these conclusions are partial!"


    "Perhaps one day, another wizard will stand on this square and, through a rigorous experiment that no one can dispute, challenge thisw of free fall. I will not be angry at all. On the contrary, I wee anyone to question and repeatedly test thisw!"


    "Because every correction of an error means that we are one step closer to the truth!"


    Lynn''s resounding voice echoed throughout the square. After a brief moment of silence, thunderous apuse filled the air.


    Titik, Philip, and the others were both awestruck by the two experiments that had defied their expectations and deeply impressed by Lynn''s magnanimity.


    One had to understand that the debate over ideologies in thend of wizards was noughing matter. Sometimes, the two schools of thought would evene to blows in their attempts to prove whose theory was correct.


    But Lynn had taken a different approach, weing everyone to challenge his theory through experiments, which disyed a level of magnanimity worthy of admiration.


    The townsfolk present joined in the apuse. Those who were knowledgeable were genuinely convinced, while others found the whole discussion iprehensible. A short, stout halfling looked at Darren, whose palms had turned red from apuding, and asked in a low voice.


    "Did you understand what they were talking about, Darren?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? Master Yad''s theory is wrong, and Lord Lynn''s theory is correct!" Darren wore a contemptuous expression on his face, but in reality, he had no clue.


    Air resistance, gravity, whatever; he could roughly follow these concepts, but when it came to exining why a piece of paper could fall alongside a book, he was entirely clueless. But since those wizardly grown-ups were apuding, he was just following suit, so he couldn''t be wrong!


    Amid the enthusiastic apuse, a massive airship slowly descended onto the sand. An agile halfling girl climbed down from the airship using adder, and when she saw everyone apuding her, her eyes squinted with joy.


    "Voyager One''s maiden flight was a sess! All systems inside the airship are functioning normally. Captain Lydia requests further instructions!" Lydia rushed to Lynn, jogging up to him and performing an exaggerated salute. She said proudly, "There are no further instructions for now. Let''s call it a day."


    Lydia immediately transitioned from her role as captain. She was ted to share her experiences in the sky, recounting how she had steered the airship into a pristine white cloud, the distant towering mountains, and an endless sea that stretched as far as the eye could see.


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 Chapter 75: Magic Level Evaluation

    Chapter 75: Magic Level Evaluation


    Lydia enthusiastically recounted her flying experience, captivating the apprentices and townsfolk alike.


    Would flying through the clouds in the sky truly feel as refreshing as being caressed by a sea breeze? Everyone yearned to experience this extraordinary sensation.


    And ten silver coins didn''t seem all that expensive.


    The halfling girl chattered on and on, but upon seeing Herlram, she remembered the purpose of their flight and nervously asked, "Master Herlram, this should be considered a sess, right? I spent a long time in the sky without using any magic!"


    Herlram gazed at Lydia, hesitating for a moment without responding.


    "My arcane lessons don''t require magical talent; even an ordinary person can gain a lot of knowledge from them," Lynn chimed in at this moment.


    "In that case, give it a try," Herlram said nomittally.


    "That''s amazing!" Lydia jumped up in joy, and she embraced several halflings. Darren, in particr, was ovee with excitement, unable to contain his tears.


    "I knew you could do it, Lydia!"


    "It''s great; the halflings will soon have a wizard of their own."


    ...


    The overly excited Darren and the others decided that they must have a good drink after returning home tonight.


    While gathering in the square, some wizards and apprentices watched Lydia and the others making amotion. They couldn''t help but furrow their brows. Enrolling a halfling with no magical talent was a first, and it also vited the Wizard Council''s regtions. However, thanks to the awe-inspiring flight experiment and Herlram''s approval, no one dared to openly object.


    After the excitement subsided, Herlram used magic to restore the ground that had turned to sand. He instructed a few wizards to maintain order in the square, then led the professors and students back to the Iyeta Academy, preparing to wee two esteemed guests from the Wizard City.


    Lydia and the others who stayed in the square, while happy, didn''t forget to take advantage of the excitement to sell tickets for the airship.


    ording to Lynn''s previous pricing, the tickets for the airship were priced at ten silver coins each, which was affordable for most townsfolk.


    As a result, many people were willing to spend the money to board the airship and take a trip on this alchemical contraption, which was even taller than a building.


    In a short half-hour, Lydia had already sold over six hundred tickets, and following the principle of "firste, first served," each person''s name was recorded, making it impossible for anyone to sneak a free ride.


    The interior of this airship was quite spacious, amodating up to ten people at a time, flying in the sky for about an hour each time. At least ten trips could be made in a day, but even so, it would take several days to amodate everyone.


    In just a short time, they had collected more than sixty magic gold coins. Darren and the others were all smiles because Lynn was willing to give them one-tenth of the ticket sales as operational expenses.


    With this kind of enthusiasm, they could easily make several dozen magic gold coins each month, and it was much more lucrative than making small trinkets in the workshop.


    While Darren and the others were lost in their dreams of a better life, inside the Iyeta Academy, Herlram, Tikk, Ror, and the professors had already arrived in the main hall.


    Groups of fairies flew in from the windows, cing steaming hot dishes on the square table in front of everyone.


    Roasted tomatoes, mashed potatoes, white bread, the tailbone of a herbivorous lizard, the spine of a camel-beast, the foreleg of a fire lion, and many bizarre ingredients that Lynn couldn''t even recognize...


    Lynn cautiously cut a small piece of the fire lion''s foreleg and put it in his mouth. It seemed more tender than beef, thoughcking in seasoning, it was already considered a sumptuous meal in thend of the wizards.


    "Professor Lynn, I must thank you for allowing me to witness such an interesting airship and falling experiment as soon as I arrived at Iyeta Harbor. I''m afraid the ''Magic Weekly'' won''t be short of news for the next month." Ror raised his wine ss and looked at Lynn, jokingly.


    "Mr. Ror, you tter me... I would like to ask you to be more considerate when expressing your opinions in your articles," Lynn raised his ss first and emptied it, politely saying.


    He knew the power of the pen, and he was well aware that by expressing his views more radically in the "Magic Weekly," they could cause him a lot of trouble.


    "That won''t do. I must faithfully report everything I see. It''s the most basic ethical responsibility of a ''Magic Weekly'' editor." Ror shook his head, smoothly stating.


    Lynn was speechless. He never believed that a media person had such ethical responsibility; it simply didn''t exist. But if the other party wasn''t willing to make promises, there was nothing he could do.


    "By the way, Professor Lynn, I have a question..." Ror''s hand holding the wine ss paused, and he curiously asked, "What is your wizard rank?"


    At these words, everyone in the room turned their attention to Lynn, all very curious about this question.


    Theo, Kevin, and others who knew some insider information guessed that Lynn must be a three-ring wizard. After all, he had killed a Grand Bishop, destroyed half a town, and an entire three thousand-man guard unit, even if he used some alchemical item that needed prior preparation, it was still an incredibly powerful feat.


    But the one thing that made them doubtful was that Lynn looked exceptionally young, perhaps not even twenty years old.


    Keep in mind that the most famous genius in thend of the wizards, the "Star of the Magic World" Ogest, also became a three-ring wizard on the eve of his twentieth birthday.


    Under countless curious gazes, Lynn calmly drank the red wine in his ss and said withposure, "I think we should wait for Mr. Tikk to determine my wizard rank. The testing methods in thend of the wizards might be different from those of the ''Society of Mystical Arts.''"


    The professors found Lynn''s teasing response even more intriguing, but they could afford to wait a bit longer. After all, a meal wouldn''t take too much time, would it?


    Lynn slowly ced his wine ss on the table, his face unreadable, but he couldn''t help but feel a slight sense of unease.


    Even though he had never verbally admitted to being a formal wizard and used the identity of a schr when introducing himself, there was no doubt that everyone present regarded him as a full-fledged wizard. If there was a problem during the testing, it could be troublesome...


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 Chapter 76: Please Allow Me to Challenge You

    Chapter 76: Please Allow Me to Challenge You


    Rol''s inquiries were temporarily brushed aside by Lynn, but private discussions continued without end.


    As a special envoy from the Wizard''s Council, Tike wasn''t in a rush to evaluate Lynn''s abilities. Instead, he showed great interest in discussing arcane knowledge. Lynn had no intention of hiding anything. The wider the dissemination of basic mathematical knowledge rted to the arcane, the better. He didn''t want to propose a theory in the future that nobody could understand.


    A delightful feast ended quickly, and after the fairies cleared away the leftovers from the table, Tike instructed his assistant to bring a transparent crystal ball, about ten centimeters in diameter, filled with a mysterious liquid.


    "Give it a try, Professor Lynn!" Tike handed the crystal ball to Lynn.


    Lynn took it, examined it for a moment, and curiously asked, "How do I use this?"


    "It''s quite simple. You just need to sense it and cast a spell as you normally would, then judge based on the change in color," Tike casually exined.


    Lynn nodded and attempted to infuse it with magic. Through his sensory vision, he perceived the peculiar nature of the liquid inside the spherical container. This liquid wasposed of an element he didn''t recognize and had umted in the crystal ball in a rather inert state. Controlling it was challenging. Even with his full effort, he only managed to make these elements vibrate at a specific frequency, causing a faint red light to emanate within the transparent crystal ball.


    "That''s how you use it. You can start now..." Tike reminded, thinking Lynn was still figuring out how to use the item and unaware that Lynn had already exerted his full power.


    "Then, let''s give it a try." Lynn took a deep breath, gaining some confidence.


    He had already realized that driving this crystal ball was a test of a wizard''sputational power, or, in other words, their mental strength. Indeed, the higher a wizard''s level, the more their mental strength would grow, enabling them to control more potent andplex magic. This was a reasonable way to assess a wizard''s strength.


    In this regard, with the assistance of the AI, he shouldn''t be any lesspetent than an official wizard. What he was most concerned about was directly testing the upper limit of magical capacity in his body, which he probably wouldn''t meet.


    [Commence Overload Mode!]


    Lynn silently recited in his mind. His gaze became incredibly sharp, and the crystal ball in his hand rapidly vibrated, with the red light growing more intense until it turnedpletely crimson.


    The professors seated around the table disyed various expressions ¨C surprise, seriousness, and some looked like they had anticipated this.


    In just two seconds, Lynn stopped, having expended one-third of his magical power. If he couldn''t pass even this test, he wouldn''t have any solution.


    "Professor Lynn, I never expected you to be a third-tier wizard," Tike said, looking at Lynn''s somewhat youthful face with emotion.


    Third-tier? That seemed a bit high...


    Lynn nced at the crimson crystal ball in his hand. Although this somewhat matched the other people''s perception of him, he currently couldn''t inscribe higher-tier spells in his mind. So, even though the AI''sputational power was sufficient, he had no intention to study second-tier or third-tier magic. Without being able to create spell slots, it would be too inefficient.


    Just then, Rol, who was sitting nearby, suddenly asked, "May I be so bold as to ask, Professor Lynn, are you over twenty years old?"


    "Not yet, but I''ll be soon," Lynn replied vaguely. He wasn''t sure if there was a magical way to test one''s bone age, so he had to be cautious with his answer.


    "A third-tier wizard under twenty..." Rol''s expression changed, and he couldn''t help but stand up, saying, "Professor Lynn, please allow me to challenge you."


    Lynn paused, not entirely sure why Rol suddenly initiated this challenge.


    "Master Ogest, the Star of Magic, is, in fact, Lord Rol''s teacher!" Tike lowered his voice and whispered.


    With this reminder, Lynn immediately remembered this person.


    Ogest, the most renowned prodigy in thend of wizards, became a Grand Wizard at the young age of about twenty-four. As for when he broke through to be a third-tier wizard, Lynn hadn''t inquired. However, judging by Rol''s reaction, it seemed Lynn''s existence might have a chance to break that record.


    Lynn inwardly cursed himself. If only he had said he was just a bit younger than his actual age, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six. For this sudden challenge, all the wizards present were quite intrigued, especially Philip, Theodore, and others who were eager to witness the legendary Hellfire that Lame Loude mentioned, which once ignited could never be extinguished.


    With Rol''s insistence and the encouragement of the professors, Lynn had no choice but to agree. The location was set at the training grounds of Iyeta Academy. Due to the morning''s flight experiments and the need to host two distinguished guests, Herlram had given the entire school''s staff and students the day off. Nheless, even with this opportunity, the apprentice wizards practicing magic diligently at the training grounds were numerous.


    After all, in thend of wizards, bing an official wizard through evaluations was the fastest path to changing one''s circumstances and reaching the pinnacle of life. However, even the diligent students couldn''t resist the urge to watch the excitement, especially upon hearing that their professor of arcane studies would be dueling another wizard. After all, battles between official wizards were rarely seen.


    "Jonny, I heard you came overseas with Professor Lynn. Do you know what level of wizard he is?" Eilok asked, looking at the two standing in the field, her curiosity piqued.


    The gray-haired girl hesitated for a moment, then shook her head without answering. In theory, Lynn should be a first-tier wizard, but in the town''s harbor, he defeated the Archbishop of the Church, so she couldn''t be sure.


    Seeing Jonny''s uncertainty, Eilok turned to Pierce and others, engaging in gossip about the reasons why Professor Lynn, hailing from the Wizard''s City, would engage in a showdown with Lord Rol.


    No matter what the apprentices thought, once Lynn and Rol entered the training ground, they stopped at a distance of twenty meters from each other.


    "I am Rol, a second-tier wizard and a disciple of Ogest. I challenge Professor Lynn of Iyeta Academy," Rol announced, cing his hand on the wizard''s badge on his chest and slightly bowing, following the customary etiquette for duels among wizards.


    "Since it''s just a friendly match, let''s keep it simple," Lynn replied, mirroring the gesture and responding concisely.


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 Chapter 77: Tier Two Magic - High-Temperature Annihilation!

    Chapter 77: Tier Two Magic - High-Temperature Annihtion!


    After a few courteous words, both of them turned their gaze toward the grand wizard, who was acting as the referee.


    Herlram showed no intention of dy and spoke directly, "Let''s begin!"


    The moment those words were spoken, Lynn took the initiative. Seizing the advantage was crucial in any battle. In an instant, seven Magic Missiles materialized, shooting like arrows from a drawn bow.


    Rohl furrowed his brow, feeling a hint of dissatisfaction. Using Tier Zero magic for probing in an official wizard''s duel seemed a bit disrespectful.


    [Minor - Magic Shield]


    Rohl casually raised his hand, forming a magical barrier before him. However, to his surprise, these seven Magic Missiles curved, avoiding the protective barrier and approaching from both sides.


    Caught off guard, Rohl''s pupils contracted, but his reaction speed was no less impressive. Almost instantly, an invisible magic shield enveloped him, blocking the Magic Missiles. They created ripples upon impact but failed to breach it.


    This was Tier Two magic, the "Mage Shield"! However, before Rohl could catch his breath, the second wave of "Magic Barrage" was already upon him.


    This time, Lynn didn''t hold back. The magical spheres were merely shells, with highlybustible elements mixed inside. Upon collision, they exploded! The sound of multiple muffled explosions filled the training ground.


    The magical protective wall was breached instantly, and cracks appeared on Rohl''s Mage Shield.


    "Is this really ''Magic Missile''?" Eilock, who was watching from the side, couldn''t help but exim.


    The other wizard apprentices were equally astounded. They were familiar with the "Magic Missile" spell, a basic element of their studies. However, its power was usually underwhelming, so it was rarely used.


    But Lynn was now using this Tier Zero magic in a battle between official wizards, and the power was astonishing!


    Rohl was forced to retreat repeatedly. In the blink of an eye, he had cast a protective spell one moment, only for several Magic Missiles to strike the same spot the next. The dense explosions were enough to pulverize it.


    Not only that, the number of Magic Missiles kept increasing. It started with seven, then ten, and eventually reached twelve and fifteen. Even to the untrained eye, it was clear that if Lynn had intended to harm Rohl, he would have been defeated long ago.


    This was the "Magic Barrage"? The professors in attendance quickly recognized it. Lynn was employing a variation of the Great Wizard''s improved magic.


    No, that wasn''t entirely urate. After watching for a while, they noticed subtle differences.


    Herlram''s "Magic Barrage" involved pre-setting the flight paths of the missiles to evade obstacles,unching attacks from unexpected angles, and relying on sheer quantity to deal damage.


    Lynn''s magic was different. Each Magic Missile possessed the power of a small Fireball spell, and their agility was equally remarkable.


    "Professor Lynn may be a genius in magical research!" Philip couldn''t help but exim. A Tier Zero magic meant for feints had been transformed into a destructive force equivalent to Tier Two advanced magic.


    The other professors nodded in agreement and then turned their attention to Herlram. They were curious about how the Grand Wizard would respond.


    At this moment, Herlram made noment. He simply watched the battle between the two, deep in thought, contemting something...


    Compared to the onlooking students and professors, Rohl, who was on the battlefield, was sweating profusely. He was well aware of the gap between a Tier Two wizard and a Tier Three wizard, but he didn''t expect that his opponent would make him look so miserable with just an improved Tier Zero spell.


    If he were to lose like this, it would be more than just a loss of face...


    With this in mind, Rohl''s expression turned extremely serious, and the ring on his hand emitted a faint glow.


    Tier Three protective magic - [Magic Barrier]! The next moment, a sturdy magical barrier appeared all around him, blocking all the iing [Magic Missiles] from every direction. Although Rohl was using an alchemical item, Herlram showed no intention of calling a halt.


    Strictly speaking, various magical potions and alchemical items were part of a wizard''s strength. However, individuals concerned about their reputation wouldn''t typically use such items in apetition.


    Lynn, still in overload mode, sensed the increase in the strength of Rohl''s protective magic and noticed his diminishing mental energy reserves. He decided to finish the battle swiftly.


    In an instant, a total of thirty-six Magic Missiles hovered in the air. This was the limit of his casting! This single attack was already on par with Tier Three magic!


    Rohl watched the approaching magical spheres with a grave expression. He raised his index finger and slightly trembled it in the air, causing an invisible wave to spread forward in a semicircr shape.


    The thirty-six Magic Missiles exploded in mid-air before even reaching him. The continuous explosions reverberated throughout the training ground.


    Eilock and others who thought Lynn was on the verge of winning were left dumbfounded, unable to make sense of the situation. Had the professor made a mistake while casting his spell? How could it explode before it even reached the enemy?


    "As expected!" A smirk crept onto Rohl''s lips. After this brief battle, he had already identified the weakness of this magic.


    While Lynn had turned the Magic Missiles into explosive devices, it had made the spell itself extremely unstable. It only required a slight application of force to disrupt the surface shell, causing it to explode spontaneously.


    Now, it was time for Rohl to strike back. And he did so in a mocking manner!


    At the moment of the explosion of dozens of Magic Missiles, Rohl activated a Tier Zero spell, [Water Solidification], causing countless yellow-green water droplets to appear around him. Riding on the dust and smoke generated by the explosions, these droplets shot toward Lynn like a continuous barrage.


    Realizing that his magic had been countered, Lynn immediately deployed one of the few protective spells he had mastered - [Curtain of Ice]! A wall of ice emerged, blocking the oing attack.


    However, when the smoke from the explosions cleared, Lynn quickly noticed something was amiss. The opponent''s attack seemed different from what he had expected.


    Rohl clenched his fist, and countless yellow-green water droplets burst instantly, transforming into a high-temperature, highly toxic, and highly corrosive steam that enveloped Lynn directly.


    This was Tier Two advanced magic - [High-Temperature Annihtion]!


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 Chapter 78: The Path of Ice

    Chapter 78: The Path of Ice


    Considering that the opponent was a three-ring wizard, Rol gave it his all without holding back.


    Phillip and the others also appreciated Rol''s clever timing in casting his spell, using a zero-ring magic as a cover, which could catch the opponent off guard.


    Of course, no one in the room believed that this magic could truly harm a three-ring wizard! With a simple second-ring spell like "Mage Shield" or something more advanced like "Magic Barrier," they could easily avoid "Scorching Steam Kill."


    However, Lin did not know any of these spells! In fact, "Frosty Curtain" was the only defensive spell he could cast, and it was utterly useless against such arge-scale attack.


    The scorching and highly corrosive steam had surrounded Lin from all directions.


    All the elemental maniption used in spellcasting was essentially a form of magic simtion, and at his current level of power, he couldn''t reverse the control or take control of it.


    Facing this crisis, Lin had no choice but to use the magic he had recently mastered - "Liquid Nitrogen - Ice Domain"!


    Crack...


    With a slight muffled sound, the toxic steam that was about to touch his skin instantly solidified at a terrifyingly low temperature. On a scorching summer day, greenish-yellow snowkes started falling from the sky!


    Lin advanced step by step, and this terrifying cold spread forward even faster...


    "Is this the ''Ice Domain''?" Rol''s expression became somewhat serious; after all, he had forced the opponent to use a three-ring spell.


    "Multi-Fireburst Spell."


    Rol raised his hand again, and the second ring on his finger lit up. He intended to use the violent explosion and the scorching heat to temporarily slow down the spread of the domain.


    Five violent fireballs appeared in the void and shot towards the expanding white mist.


    However, reality didn''t match Rol''s expectations. The fireballs rushed into the mist and disappeared without exploding...


    No, they didn''t disappear; their magic was frozen!


    Rol panicked, retreating step by step and throwing out all the one- and two-ring spells he knew.


    "Acid Spray," "Corrosion Spell," "me Touch," "Lesser Magic Ward"...


    Unfortunately, these low-ring spells were utterly ineffective against the sub-zero temperature of more than negative one hundred and ny degrees. They either instantly froze or vanished like the Fireburst Spell.


    Sweat trickled down Rol''s forehead, and when Lin reached within five meters of him, he couldn''t hold back any longer and shouted, "Stop, I''ve lost this battle!"


    Lin''s steps came to a halt, and by now, the white mist had spread to within a meter in front of Rol. Just a slight breeze of the cold air made Rol shiver uncontrobly. What surprised him even more was that the path Lin had walked on had turned into a road of ice!


    "What kind of magic is this?" Rol struggled to swallow his saliva. He could imagine what would happen if this white mist touched his body. It would probably freeze just like the acid spray he released, right?


    "Ice Domain!" Lin casually replied.


    Rol simply couldn''t believe it. He had seen three-ring wizards cast this spell before, and it wasn''t this terrifying. Clearly, this was a customized version of the spell!


    "I have to admit, you''re quite a formidable opponent, Lord Rol! Especially your idea of mixing chlorine elements in water and erupting them in the form of high-temperature steam is really creative!" Lynn remarked, with a sense of admiration. This was another good magic trick he could add to his arsenal.


    Lynn''s praise left Rol momentarily unsure if he was being mocked. After all, he had performed poorly in this battle. First, he was in a sorry state due to the zero-ring "Magic Missiles." Then, he had used magic items to regain some ground, only for Lynn to easily thwart his all-out effort with "Scorching Steam Kill."


    He had been utterly defenseless! However, Rol had no idea that Lynn''s words of praise were genuine!


    If it hadn''t been for the fact that he had sessfully condensed the spell rank of "Liquid Nitrogen - Ice Domain" in recent days, this battle could have been risky.


    Just a two-ring wizard had pushed things to this extent. Lynn''s rm bells were ringing. He had been a bit too overconfident when using basic magic against the enemy earlier to hide the white phosphorus fire.


    As Lynn was silently reflecting, Herlram had already announced the result of the contest. The onlooking students and professors immediately gathered around.


    "It''s so cold!"


    Theodore shivered as he took his first steps onto the training ground. In his perception, the movement speed of all elements had dropped to extremely low levels.


    This happened even though someone had already stopped casting magic, leaving behind a residue of low temperature...


    A few curious students even squatted down, touching the ground that had once been an ice path.


    "It doesn''t seem very icy on the ground?" Pierciusmented, puzzled. But when he tried to pull his fingers away, he was shocked to find that his fingers were sticking to the bricks!


    Only then did Piercius realize that it wasn''t that the ground wasn''t icy; it was just that his fingers lost sensation the moment they touched the bricks.


    Wizards'' apprentices, who were as rash as Piercius, cried out in panic as well. They found that their fingers were stuck to the bricks, and they couldn''t pull them off.


    The pitiful sight of these few made Aeloc and the others, who were equally curious but hadn''t acted yet, shudder and quickly move away from the tiles Lynn had just walked on.


    "You fools, all forms of magic are extremely dangerous, even the residual magic must not be touched lightly!" Professor Kevin, an expert in Molding Arts, scolded upon seeing this. He then used "Fossilize to Mud" to destroy the icy bricks.


    Only then could Piercius and the others free their fingers, but their skin remained numb, leaving them pale with fear.


    After examining it, Kevin couldn''t help but be shocked. In just a few seconds, the cells in contact with the surface hadpletely died...


    Could the residual magic alone have such power?


    If they had directly collided with it, would they have been instantly frozen?


    Kevin nced at Lynn in astonishment. Fortunately, while Piercius and the others were reckless, they had only touched the bricks with their fingertips, with limited contact. At most, they would have some skin peeled off, and it wasn''t a very serious injury...


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 Chapter 79: The So-Called Genius, Just an Empty Title!

    Chapter 79: The So-Called Genius, Just an Empty Title!


    "Lynn, I always thought that those so-called magical prodigies were nothing special, at most just working harder and having better opportunities, until today when I truly understood how absurd that notion is!" Kevin gazed at Lynn with a deeplyplex look. He originally wanted to witness the incredible Evesting me mentioned by Loude, but Lynn unexpectedly revealed another powerful and novel magic in an instant.


    Philip, Tike, and the others also wore expressions of amazement. With their talents, the possibility of advancing their ranks was slim, while Lynn, on the other hand, was only a matter of time away from bing a Grand Wizard or even a legendary wizard.


    "Thank you for your praise, Professor Kevin!" Lynn nodded in acknowledgment and continued, "However, there is a point you may have misunderstood. My magical talent is far fromparable to those true geniuses, let alone the Master of the Magical World, Ogest the Great."


    "Many of the improved magics are based on the theories of schrs within ''The Society of Mystical Arts.'' As for the faster progression in wizard ranks, it''s just a matter of having more exposure to arcane studies than the rest of you."


    "I also have no confidence in reaching the Grand Wizard level within four years." Lynn shook his head as he replied.


    Looking at Herlram, whose beard had turned white and had barely be a five-ring wizard, it was evident how exceptionally gifted Ogest was to break through this realm at the age of twenty-four.


    Lynn wasn''t going to let a fewpliments get to his head. The title of the greatest wizard prodigy was just an empty one!


    Boasting about this title was too arrogant, especially when he didn''t possess the matching abilities. Who knows, he might be exposed one day...


    Lynn''s "humility" left the students and professors at a loss for words. If Lynn didn''t qualify as a genius, did that mean they were all worthless?


    Rol also realized that Lynn''s words were likely genuine and not meant as mockery. He had never encountered someone so humble.


    As for the lost battle, Rol didn''t mind it. After all, the opponent was a three-ring wizard, and losing under such circumstances was normal.


    "All right, now that the battle is over, I don''t think anyone will question Lynn''s wizard rank evaluation..." Tike surveyed the students and professors gathered on the training ground. Seeing that no one spoke up, he had his assistant bring two boxes.


    In front of everyone''s gaze, Tike opened the first box, revealing three badges made of pure gold. They were inscribed with intricate runes on the surface, representing the emblem of the Wizard Council.


    The shapes of the three badges were quite simr, with the only difference being the number of brilliant gemstones embedded in the center.


    "On behalf of the Wizard Council, and in the presence of Master Herlram, I hereby grant you the title of a three-ring wizard!" Tike took thest badge with great solemnity and ced it on Lynn''s robe.


    "Thank you, Mr. Tike!" Lynn nodded in gratitude.


    On the training grounds, apuse resounded with enthusiasm, both to congratte Lynn on his newfound status and for the incredibly thrilling battle he had just delivered.


    "I never thought Professor Lynn would be a three-ring wizard..." Elok eximed excitedly. Lynn didn''t look much older than the students.


    "I''ve said it before; only three-ring wizards can qualify as professors at Iyeta Academy..." a witch named Debra proudly stated, then delved into some gossip, specting on the professor''s age this year, whether he had any romantic interests, and what magic he used to defeat Rol.


    "As long as they''re under thirty, I''m game..." a redhead witch beside them boldly dered.


    "I''m different. Professors older than me are still fine..." Debra blurted out unconsciously and quickly stopped herself. Several witch apprentices who heard this blushed, then burst into yfulughter.


    Jonny, on the other hand, looked bewildered and didn''t participate in the discussion. She remembered that Lynn had been practicing magic for just over half a year, and now he had be a three-ring wizard. Since their meeting in the town of Uhl, she had found it increasingly challenging to understand her former peer.


    "This is your robe, Professor Lynn!" On the training grounds, after affixing the badge to Lynn, Tike opened another box and took out a splendidly adorned robe.


    This robe, not only a symbol of status but also a magical item, provided slight magical resistance and a daily self-cleaning spell.


    Lynn reached out and took it. He examined the somewhat mboyant robe and the badge and thought the professor''s uniform and medal awarded by Iyeta Academy were much more appealing, primarily because they felt less pretentious.


    Tike handed both items to Lynn and then produced a lengthy parchment scroll to recite the rules and regtions of the Wizard''s Land.


    Aside from the basic standards already established in the Sekas Empire, the most prominent focus was on the penalties for wizards harming civilians. It detailed the consequences of each vition.


    For example, if a formal wizard unjustly harmed a non-magic user or caused the death of a civilian due to forbidden magical experiments, they would face at least several years of forcedbor or imprisonment. In severe cases, they could even be stripped of their wizard status, leading to a death sentence.


    However, harming a formal wizard had even more severe consequences. They could be sent to a magical stone mine tobor for life, receive a life sentence, or face immediate execution.


    "I have to ask, are you a psychic wizard, Professor Lynn?" After reciting the first hundred rules, Tike looked at Lynn and inquired.


    "No, I''m not," Lynn shook his head. He hadn''t yet delved into the so-called psychic magic.


    "In that case, we need not discuss the regtions for psychic magic. Just remember that the Wizard Council forbids private research into psychic magic. If you''re genuinely interested, you can attend formal training at the Psychic Academy in Greenryell," Tike reminded seriously.


    Lynn was somewhat surprised. Although he had learned about the caution surrounding psychic magic from Phillip before, he hadn''t expected there to be specific legal provisions, even regarding the mere usage of it.


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 Chapter 80: The Giant Hand that Lifts to the Sky

    Chapter 80: The Giant Hand that Lifts to the Sky


    Seeing that Lynn had already memorized these rules, the expression on Jonny''s face rxed, and the solemn atmosphere on the field dissipated.


    At this moment, Lynn, with a hint of confusion, asked, "Mr. Jonny, wasn''t it said that foreign wizards usually have to go through a probationary period before they can be granted the status of an official wizard?"


    "I personally think the probationary period is unnecessary, but it''s just a formality. I still need to stay in Iyeta Harbor for a month as part of the routine. I also want to consult you on some arcane knowledge," Jonny said with a smile.


    Since the moment Lynn joined the Iyeta Academy, it was as if he had gained the endorsement of the grand wizard Herlram. So, Jonny didn''t mind speeding up the process a bit to earn some goodwill.


    "Of course, no problem. I''m quite interested in alchemy myself, and I''d like to ask Mr. Jonny for guidance when the timees," Lynn responded naturally.


    He was well aware that in this world, there were no freebies. Since entering the world of wizards, the special treatment he received was because he could bring benefits to others.


    Herlram anticipated that the unique knowledge Lynn possessed would make the Iyeta Academy famous. Others believed he was not only powerful but also extraordinarily talented, so it was in their best interest not to offend him, making him a valuable asset.


    Therefore, Lynn didn''t mind exchanging some basic scientific knowledge for status, position, wealth, and magical knowledge. Essentially, it was a resource exchange that provided a more stable rtionship than most.


    After the ceremony granting him official status was over, Lynn was swept away by a group of enthusiastic professors and students to celebrate.


    It wasn''t until three o''clock in the afternoon, when Lynn, who was somewhat tipsy, declined Theodore''s support and returned to his room alone.


    The moment he closed the door, his alcohol-induced haze had already faded.


    Clearly, being drunk was just an excuse to drink less; a true sage wouldn''t easily allow themselves to fall into a state of blurred consciousness.


    Lynn sat cross-legged on the bed and began his daily meditation routine. His spiritual power expanded continuously, enveloping every element he could perceive, moving in a systematic manner, gradually pushing his limits.


    During his battle with Rorl, Lynn had realized that he was a ss cannon, with high offense but low defense. He could easily kill most enemies, but he could also be taken down by a poorly protected low-level spell.


    To change this situation, there were essentially two options: learn alchemy or purchase alchemical items like Rorl did, using items to cast higher-level protective spells during battles. However, it was costly and time-consuming, and it didn''t address the root issue.


    The best option was to be an official wizard as soon as possible. This way, he could create spells like "Mage Shield" and "Minor Magic Defense" to protect himselfprehensively.


    Over the past few days, Lynn had noticed that the rate of his magic power growth was slowing down, and it would teau in about a week. So, obtaining a "Source of Magic" had be a top priority.


    Applying as a professor for a certain student was one way, but it had its problems. Firstly, he had only been teaching arcane science for half a month, and now suddenly iming that a student was ready for graduation seemed suspicious and was unlikely to be approved by the Wizard Council, especially since Lynn had only just received his official wizard status. So, this method could only serve as ast resort, best for a longer-term n.


    Another option was to find a source through the ck market, but he needed a reliable channel to make this work. Sometimes, even if he had the money, he couldn''t spend it...


    Perhaps he could start with apprentices who had no hope of bing official wizards. They were usually the most desperate.


    Or he could disguise himself and gather information in ces with a mix of individuals.


    These thoughts swirled through Lynn''s mind, and suddenly, the orderly elements surrounding him were disrupted, colliding and mingling in a way that could have triggered an explosion. Lynn quickly refocused his mind and began his meditation in earnest.


    The next morning, Lynn, who had been meditating all night, descended from his bed, feeling the abundant magical energy coursing through his body.


    On the nearby desk, the fairies had already ced his breakfast, consisting of a white loaf of bread, a grilled sausage, and a magical tree sap that had refreshing and awakening properties.


    After a simple wash-up, Lynn ced his hand over the ingredients, examining their elementalposition to ensure everything was fine. Satisfied, he began to eat at a leisurely pace.


    "071, how much energy reserve do I have left?" Lynn asked in his mind as he ate.


    "Energy reserve is at twenty-five point six percent."


    Is that all I have left? Lynn''s slicing of the sausage hesitated for a moment. When he first arrived in the world of wizards, his energy reserve had reached over fifty percent due to theck of battles. However, because of the need to condense magic circles and his daily practice of "Liquid Nitrogen - Frigid Domain," he had consumed a significant amount of energy. In just a few days, with the wizard level evaluation and Rorl''s challenge, his energy reserve had decreased, leaving only half of what it originally was.


    Before bing an official wizard, he wanted to be fully prepared for any battle, and the power of the smart brain was indispensable. But the process of replenishing energy was... just too slow!


    Shaking his head, Lynn finished thest bite of the sausage and drained the magical tree sap. He then got up and left for his morning arcane science ss.


    As he exited the professors'' quarters, Lynn''s face showed surprise because he had suddenly noticed that the Iyeta Academy had acquired a new and iconic structure overnight. It stood not far from the entrance.


    Arge number of fairies were busy with the final touches of the building.


    It was a pair of enormous hands crafted from pure white marble, intricately detailed from the palm lines to the fingertips. These hands, over thirty meters high, held onerge and one small sphere in each of their palms, lifting them toward the sky.


    On the pure white marble, runes were inscribed, detailing the entire process of the free fall experiment.


    The name of this sculpture was "[Lynn''s Twin Sphere Experiment]!"


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 Chapter 81: Unexpected News

    Chapter 81: Unexpected News


    Well, I feel like I''ve be Galileo...


    Just as Lynn was silentlyining in his heart, a voice sounded behind him.


    "How do you feel, Professor Lynn? Are you satisfied?" It was Tik, the alchemist from the Wizard City, smugly stroking his beard.


    After Lynn had slipped away under the guise of being drunkst night, the professors had convened to discuss how tomemorate the stunning experiment from this morning with a sculpture.


    It was one of the highest honors in the entire academy!


    This meant that every student who entered the Iyeta Academy from now on would be able to admire each other''s achievements upon entering the academy''s gates.


    Tik had offered some suggestions regarding the external representation of this sculpture, along with the magic of several professors and the tireless efforts of the fairies day and night, the sculpture waspleted in just half a day.


    "It looks... impressive," Lynn reluctantly said, though he found the artistic quality of the sculpture to be rather ordinary.


    Tik, on the other hand, was quite satisfied with the work. He didn''t sense the insincerity in Lynn''s words and, on the way to the mathematical science ssroom, exined how to express a wizard''s inner thoughts through sculpture.


    Lynn maintained a polite smile on his face until he entered the ssroom, where he adopted a more solemn expression.


    After the reshuffling, the elite ss had fewer students, now down to forty-six.


    No, from today, it would probably be forty-seven.


    Because there was a new addition: Lydia!


    The halfling girl sat at the very front of the ssroom, her size requiring a specially made desk and chair, making her look quite out of ce. Lynn''s attention immediately shifted to her upon entering the room.


    Facing Lynn''s gaze, Lydia didn''t tremble as the other students did. Instead, she eagerly raised a parchment scroll and asked, "Professor, can we start the lesson now?"


    Ailoch, Pierce, and others couldn''t help but look at Lydia with a hint of pity and nostalgia in their eyes, remembering how excited they were on their first day of Arcane Mathematics ss.


    "Since everyone is so eager, let''s start the lesson now!" Lynn turned to the gray-haired witch and said, "Jonny, collect everyone''s homework."


    "I gave you a whole day, so I assume you''ve already calcted the data for the Lookout Airship, right?" Lynn said with a smile.


    As soon as these words were spoken, the ssroom erupted in cries.


    As members of the elite ss of Arcane Mathematics, each of them had strong arithmetic talents. However, calcting the structure of the Lookout Airship was quiteplicated, especially when it came to the precise measurements of the airship''s gas envelope, which was elliptical in shape.


    Even though Lynn had previously taught them the relevant forms and provided some data, urately calcting it was still a challenging task.


    Reluctantly, they handed in their calction papers, and Lydia was no exception.


    In fact, over the past half-month of constructing the airship, every time Lynn came to exin the blueprints, he also taught her various geometric forms and theorems, so her learning progress was not lower than that of the elite ss students.


    Lynn took the stack of parchment scrolls collected by Jonny, and as he nced at the first one, he couldn''t help but furrow his brows and asked, "Deborah, why are there only the dimensions of the gas envelope and cockpit? What about the tail wing?"


    "But you didn''t provide the data for the airship''s tail wing," the red-haired witch stood up and said weakly.


    "But it can be inferred, can''t it?" Lynn looked at the wizards present and exined.


    "The shape of the tail wing can be divided into a right-angled triangle and a square. I''ve provided you with a proportional t diagram. If you pay attention, you''ll notice that one of the diagonals of the cockpit is parallel to the diagonal of the airship''s tail wing, and they are of the same length. Since you have the diagonal''s data, you can easily calcte the other values using the Pythagorean theorem..."


    "That''s not so easy..." The red-haired witch said with a mournful face.


    Lynn was unforgiving and straightforward, "Go back and copy the relevant form fifty times! Also, recalcte the data for me before the end of the ss!"


    The students in the audience couldn''t help but shrink their necks, as they couldn''t calcte the area of the tail wing either.


    "What is this Pythagorean theorem?" Tik turned to Ailoch beside him, puzzled.


    "It''s a mathematical rule Professor discovered. For a right-angled triangle on a ne, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two legs is equal to the square of the length of the hypotenuse..." Ailoch, after double-checking his notebook several times to make sure he was not mistaken, said with a slightly excited expression.


    Having attended the award ceremony yesterday, he naturally knew that he was in the presence of a three-ring wizard and an alchemical master! Such a big shot was actually consulting him!


    Ailoch felt that this was probably the proudest moment of his life!


    "What does ''squares'' mean?" Tik continued to inquire, as these terms were unfamiliar to him.


    "''Squares'' simply means multiplying the same two numbers..." Ailoch was very confident, not even looking at the forms in his notebook. He then went on to exin the forms for the area of circles and polygons.


    Tik''s face revealed a look of understanding. He had noticed a simr pattern when he was learning to draw magic circle patterns, but he hadn''t summarized the rules for every shape like Lynn did, forming an independent discipline.


    Some alchemists in the Wizard City enjoyed exploring these things. It was said that some had even calcted pi to nine decimal ces, which was incredibly urate...


    Ailoch nced at Lynn on the tform, estimating that he hadn''t gotten to his homework yet, and an audacious thought came to his mind. He looked at Tik, feeling a bit nervous, and said, "Mr. Tik, some time ago, Professor Lynn came up with an interesting game. Would you be interested?"


    "What game?" Tik was somewhat curious.


    Ailoch immediately got excited. He picked up a quill and casually drew a 3x6 grid on a piece of parchment, then thought for a moment and crossed out thest square. He proceeded to exin the rules of the game.


    "Starting with one copper coin, do the values in the following squares have to doublepared to the previous one?" Tik repeated, then wondered why Ailoch had specifically crossed out one of the squares.


    "Yes, as long as you can fill in all the squares, those ten gold coins are yours!" Ailoch took out all his savings and then added, "But, correspondingly, any coins you put down are mine!"


    One copper coin to ten gold coins was a whopping difference of a hundred thousand times...


    Tik became increasingly interested in the game. In his mind, he quickly calcted the total when filling in thest square and eximed, "Interesting, truly interesting!"


    The value in the seventeenth square was 65,536, which, when added up, was...


    "In total, it''s 131,071 copper coins!" Ailoch promptly replied.


    Tik spent a dozen seconds or so doing a simple addition and found that it was indeed correct. He realized that Ailoch had specifically crossed out one square to prevent him from reneging due to therge amount.


    Tik was left feeling both amused and helpless. Since he didn''t have any silver or copper coins with him, he directly took out four magic gold coins and ced them on the table. He was always one to honor his bets!


    "Three gold coins are enough!" Ailoch didn''t dare to ask for more and quickly pushed one back.


    Tik was not the first alchemical master to be tricked by him. After losing to Professor Lynn here, he immediately yed this grid game with his father, Albert, when he got home. In the end, he theoretically won all the family''s wealth, but he didn''t get a single coin and was severely beaten!


    That''s when he realized that being too greedy could lead to a beating...


    Fortunately, this alchemical master was a man of his word!


    Ailoch happily epted the three gold coins. However, the next moment, he heard a familiar voice from the tform.


    "Ailoch, since you''re so well-versed in arcane mathematics, why don''t youe up and exin it to everyone?"


    The joyful expression froze on the face of the fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy. He shivered involuntarily, standing up with a slight tremble.


    Lynn looked at him kindly.


    You sly little guy, trying to bamboozle others with the knowledge I imparted to you! Under the amused gaze of the other students, Ailoch had no choice but to reluctantly make his way to the podium. He picked up a parchment scroll and, with his limited knowledge of arcane mathematics, stammered through his presentation.


    Ailoch had never felt time drag so slowly in his life. Nervous and with his mind gone nk, he struggled to remember anything. Laughter rippled through the audience below as he stumbled over his words. In the end, he was dismissed from the stage after just a little over ten minutes.


    Considering Tik and Lydia''s learning progress, in the following ss sessions, Lynn reviewed several geometric forms he had taught before.


    As the ss ended, Tik also presented his gift: a thick book titled "Runes and Alchemy."


    Although the Yeyeta Academy had some basic alchemical books, they couldn''tpare to a gift from an alchemical master.


    Lynn flipped through the pages, and aside from exnations of basic alchemical runes, there were annotations at the bottom of each page.


    There were so many annotations, and they couldn''t have been added at thest minute; it must have been a "textbook" used to teach a core apprentice.


    Even so, it was a very precious gift. It meant that he could save a lot of time on his path to learning alchemy.


    Lynn exchanged some polite words and then epted the alchemical book.


    Tik, fresh from an arcane mathematics ss and filled with questions, needed Lynn to rify some things. However, he noticed a young halfling girl who had been loitering nearby since the end of the ss and politely excused himself.


    "Professor Lynn!" Lydia immediately stepped forward, cing a bulging money pouch on the lectern, her hands on her hips, and said proudly, "Yesterday, we sold 837 tickets for a total of 83 magic gold coins and 70 silver coins..."


    The halfling girl couldn''t stop talking about the bustling scene on the square yesterday afternoon, where the line for the airship extended all the way to the harbor. Everyone was eager to fly up and see the skies.


    In just one day, so many tickets had been sold. Lynn was also somewhat surprised; it seemed that the allure of flying was even greater than he had imagined.


    "By the way, there''s this ledger," Lydia continued, pulling out a small booklet she carried with her and handing it to Lynn. It contained a list of all the people who had purchased tickets, even detailing which batch of airships they boarded.


    Lynn asked his AI to record all this data and then handed the halfling girl the bag of money, which belonged to the halflings, along with the ledger.


    "When you get back, tell Darren that he doesn''t need to bring this every day. Checking it every so often is enough."


    The halfling girl looked puzzled because Lynn''s reaction was different from what Darren and the others had predicted. Given the substantial amount of money, they assumed he would demand a daily check.


    Lynn didn''t exin further. He had loosened the control over money somewhat intentionally. He wanted to see if these halflings would engage in any shady dealings behind the scenes.


    An airship was just the beginning. There would be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future. For example, the Wizarding World was still using very outdated papyrus and parchment scrolls for record-keeping. Lynn could profit from selling paper alone.


    But he couldn''t personally take care of these matters. He would need to hire trustworthy people.


    It remained to be seen whether these halflings could resist their inner greed.


    As they were chatting, there was suddenly a rush of urgent footsteps from outside the door. Then, the ssroom door was flung open, and Darren rushed in. A day had not passed, yet this scruffy halfling looked much more haggard than before. After scanning the room, when he spotted Lynn, he looked like he had seen a savior, panic in his voice.


    "Professor Lynn, it''s bad! Ralph... Ralph is dead!"


    Ralph? Who was that? Lynn hesitated for a moment and was about to ask, but before he could, Darren, in a state of distress, grabbed his sleeve and dragged him away.


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 Chapter 82: "Hypnotic Mist" and "Corrosion Spell"

    Chapter 82: "Hypnotic Mist" and "Corrosion Spell"


    As Lynn arrived at the harbor''s dock, a group of people had gathered in a dim alley next to the "Broadaxe Tavern." Pushing his way through the crowd, he spotted a short, chubby body lying lifeless on the ground.


    Ralph, standing at about one and a half meters tall, appeared robust, but his upper body was a gruesome mess, with half of his neck missing. His eyes were wide with fear, and he clutched an iron wrench tightly in his hand.


    "Oh, dear, poor Ralph. Who could have done such a cruel thing to him? What will happen to little Demi now if he''s really gone?" a female dwarf wept, her voice choked with sadness.


    "Damn scoundrel! If I find out who did this, I''ll smash their skull in with a hammer," another dwarf eximed, pounding the earthen walls with his calloused fists.


    Even Lydia, usually cheerful and lively, was seething with anger, clenching her fists tightly.


    Suddenly, Lynn furrowed his brow and crouched down, cing his hand on the fabric of Ralph''s robe. With the help of his "Magic Hand," he removed some white powder that had adhered to the body.


    After using "Basic Material Analysis," Lynn discovered that this substance wasn''t documented in the system''s database.


    "This is powdered withered root, typically used to assist in casting the first-tier spell ''Hypnotic Mist,''" a voice behind him spoke, and Lynn turned to see a middle-aged wizard.


    Dressed in a standard robe with three dazzling gemstones on his chest and the emblem of a silver eagle, the man introduced himself before Lynn could ask, "I am Leya, the Chief of Security in Iyeta Harbor."


    Lynn nodded in acknowledgement and asked, "Hello, Chief of Security. I''d like to know why Ralph died here and if there are any other findings."


    "I''ve just questioned the staff at the ''Broadaxe Tavern.'' This dwarf came early in the morning, got himselfpletely drunk, and then left alone. About ten to fifteen minutester, people heard fighting and cries for help in this alley. When we arrived, his body had already undergone severe corrosion, and there was no chance of rescue," Leya exined sinctly. "I believe it was likely the work of an apprentice wizard, but we can''t determine the motive yet. I''ve already sent the security team to conduct inquiries."


    Lynn nodded, agreeing with Leya''s assessment. If it had been a full-fledged wizard who attacked Ralph, he wouldn''t have had any chance to resist. Only apprentices needed to use magical materials when casting low-tier spells.


    Lynn nced down at the pale yellow powder in his hand. The attacker must have used "Hypnotic Mist" first. So, did they intend to capture Ralph alive?


    Clearly, the apprentice had underestimated the physical resilience of a dwarf. "Hypnotic Mist" didn''t seem to have worked well, and it had even incited resistance from Ralph.


    With the attacker''s strength, any blow from the wrench would have caused significant harm to Ralph. The final blow was likely delivered by a first-tier spell, "Corrosion."


    "Does anyone know what Ralph was up to these days? Did he have any grudges or conflicts with someone? Or did he say anything he shouldn''t have?" Lynn asked the group of dwarves.


    "Ralph has been in the workshop for most of the past half-month, crafting airships with us. He didn''t go anywhere. Yesterday afternoon, he even stood in for Lydia to keep an eye on the airship. Last night, onlyst night, we went out for drinks to celebrate, leaving Ralph in charge of guarding the airship. We didn''t want anyone sneaking in and sabotaging it," Darren said, choking on his words. "It''s my fault. If I hadn''t assigned him the night watch, he wouldn''t have waited until early morning to go to the tavern..."


    Darren''s voice trembled, and tears the size of beans rolled down his cheeks.


    Lynn recalled that he had seen Ralph a few times when he visited the workshop. Ralph was one of the dwarves responsible for crafting the airship''s cabin.


    Was this about the design ns for the airship? Lynn couldn''t help but consider this possibility. Ralph''s timing of death seemed too convenient.


    Yesterday morning, he had conducted a flight test in the square. Today, one of the core creators of the airship had died, and the attacker had initially used the non-lethal magic "Hypnotic Mist." It seemed like an attempt to capture Ralph alive for interrogation.


    Though he pondered this, Lynn continued to ask if Ralph had exhibited any strange behavior recently. He also questioned a few individuals who were among the first to hear the cries for help and discover the body in the alley. He requested a detailed ount of the events from start to finish.


    Unfortunately, after the thorough questioning, Lynn realized that they had very little to go on. The townspeople had fled when they heard themotion in the alley, alerting the guards and the Chief of Security, but they hadn''t dared to venture into the dangerous situation.


    No one had seen the attacker''s face.


    Lynn sympathized with their reactions. Even an apprentice wizard could cause significant destruction with a fireball spell. Under such circumstances, no one would willingly approach danger.


    Considering this, Lynn turned to the Chief of Security and said, "Lord Leya, could you please keep an eye out for someone around one meter seventy to one meter seventy-five tall, possibly with injuries to the legs, arms, or the waist area?"


    "Injuries I can understand, but why specifically one meter seventy? Did Professor Lynn see something?" Leya asked, puzzled.


    "Shoe size!" Lynn pointed to the ground in front of Ralph''s body, giving a straightforward response.


    Darren, Lydia, and the others immediately looked in the direction Lynn had indicated. However, they could see nothing but confusion.


    Leya, on the other hand, was different. He walked directly to the spot where Lynn had stood, and through his heightened perception, he could see faint footprints in the dust.


    "Generally, a person''s height is about seven times their foot length. Of course, what I mean is... if the assant were a typical human!" Lynn exined, "For example, my height-to-foot-length ratio fits this standard. However, if it was someone like an orc, elf, or any other unusual creature, it might not apply."


    At the very least, it could serve as a useful lead.


    As for tracking these footprints? That was pure fantasy. The entire alley had been trampled by the onlookers, and only the area near the body remained rtively clean, leaving behind a few traces.


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 Chapter 83: The Other Side of the World

    Chapter 83: The Other Side of the World


    "So, that''s how it is? I see. I''ve learned something today," Leya said.


    Leya looked at Lynn with a somewhat strange expression. He was highly skeptical that Lynn had been aw enforcer beforeing to thend of the wizards, as he seemed even more skilled at investigating leads than Leya himself.


    "Here are five magic coins. Help me deliver them to Rael''s family," Lynn took out some magic coins from his pocket and handed them to Darren.


    Since Rael was likely attacked due to the airship, he needed to respond in some way. Otherwise, no one would be willing to help him in the future. However, the investigation itself would ultimately be in the hands of Leya, thew enforcer. Lynn didn''t have his own intelligence agents, didn''t know which apprentices fit the described criteria, and couldn''t personally track them down one by one.


    Lynn now realized that, despite gaining some reputation over the past half-month, he had few resources at his disposal. Gathering information was proving to be a challenge.


    In light of this, Lynn had no choice but to remind Darren, Lydia, and the others to be extra cautious and never act alone. If the other party failed to take Rael away, they might make their next move. A wizard apprentice was likely just a pawn in the grand scheme.


    They spent the morning in the alley but couldn''t find more clues, so the group dispersed. As for the body, Leya took it back to thew enforcement office, hoping to find additional clues that had been missed before.


    On their way back to the workshop, the moods of Lydia and herpanions were quite somber. The joy they had felt from creating the airship and earning a significant number of magic coins hadpletely dissipated. However, they followed Lynn''s instructions and drained the airship''s gas dder.


    Then, Lynn personally reced the hydrogen gas inside the dder with helium. Both gases could provide enough lift for the airship. Hydrogen was chosen initially because it was easy to obtain, but it was also highly mmable and explosive, which made it suitable for Lydia''s trial in Herlram.


    Additionally, Lynn had another small idea. If the airship''s design ns were leaked, and someone constructed another airship using the same method, it would leave a fatal vulnerability. All someone had to do was puncture the dder and ignite it, turning the airship into a ming ball in the sky.


    Lynn considered this while leaving the workshop. He was about to return to Iyeta Academy when he spotted someone unexpected waiting outside the door.


    "Mr. Loude, is there something you want from me?" Lynn stopped in his tracks, looking at the person waiting at the door and inquiring.


    "I have some information that may be of interest to you, Lord Lynn. Would you care to listen?" Loude, hunched over, spoke with great respect. He seemed more like a noble''s butler than the leader of a criminal organization.


    Lynn stared at Loude for a moment and said indifferently, "Let''s find a quieter ce to talk."


    He didn''t choose to return to the academy because, in his eyes, it wasn''t a particrly private location.


    "Please follow me, Lord Lynn." Loude''s face showed a hint of surprise, and he eagerly led the way for Lynn.


    The two of them crossed the streets on the west side and the central square, emerging from a narrow alley into the southern district, which Lynn had never visited before.


    Lynn looked around at everything. Since he had arrived in Iyeta Harbor, he had seen bustling and orderly scenes everywhere. However, the southern district was different. Here, there were only short buildings and dpidated wooden shacks. Most of the people wore numb and anxious expressions. For a moment, Lynn even wondered if he had returned to the Secas Empire.


    If there was anything simr to the outside world here, it was the order!


    Despite the old and rundown buildings, they were still constructed ording to specific patterns.


    "I didn''t expect Iyeta to have a ce like this," Lynn said in astonishment.


    What was this? The slums of the city?


    "I think it''s not just Iyeta Harbor; ces like this exist in any city on this continent," Loude said with a touch of nostalgia. "As long as those noble gentlemen continue to live their extravagant lives, these ces will persist."


    Lynn nced at him, feeling that there was more to Loude''s words because thend of the wizards had no nobility.


    Loude also realized the implied meaning in his words and quickly added, "In reality, the situation here is much better than within the Secas Empire. In Iyeta, very few people starve, and theoretically... even physically handicapped paupers can receive enough relief food to survive."


    "Relief food? There''s such a welfare system?" Lynn was quite surprised. The entirend of the wizards was essentially a giant ind, and there should be limited arablend avable.


    With Loude''s exnation, Lynn finally understood that all the farnd in thend of the wizards was magically developed. Elemental wizards even devised specialized enhancement spells to increase crop yields, so food production was double that of the outside world.


    Lynn, dressed in magnificent robes, looked out of ce in the entire southern district. Soon, he attracted various types of gazes ¨C envy, jealousy, or inexplicable... hatred!


    However, as Lynn''s gaze swept over them, everyone on the street became submissive and humble.


    One person, in particr, caught Lynn''s attention. He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, blind in one eye, with an unevenly developed body ¨Crger on the right side and smaller on the left. His right hand had five fingers that resembled monstrous ws.


    Once they had walked some distance away, Lynn turned to Loude and asked, "Who was that person just now?"


    Could it be that there were races like half-beasts on this continent?


    But why had he never heard of them before?


    Loude hesitated for a moment and whispered, "They are what some of the noble wizards call ''defects.''"


    "Defects?" Lynn paused.


    "I''ve heard some noble wizards refer to them that way," Loude lowered his voice and exined, "These people are products of the magical workshops, and the rumors say they are connected to a wizard skilled in shapeshifting magic... for ten magic coins, anyone can undergo one transformation. However, the sess rate is very low, and bing a ''defect'' is already considered very lucky."


    Of course, the term ''defects'' was just a derogatory nickname among the wizards. In reality, creatures like this could easily ughter ordinary people, as simple as ughtering chickens and sheep.


    In the southern district, there was no shortage of individuals willing to do anything for power. Magic within thend of the wizards was everything, and if one could seed in such a transformation, they would ascend to powerparable to an official wizard!


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 Chapter 84: Blood-Red Thorns

    Chapter 84: Blood-Red Thorns


    "This is it, Lynn!"


    Loude led Lynn to a somewhat dpidated mansion in the southern district.


    The house had clearly been abandoned for a long time, with ivy creeping up its outer walls, and the courtyard overrun with weeds. A few dead trees stood alone, rustling in the wind.


    Inside, however, it was bustling with activity. About a hundred people crowded into the small front hall. Lynn immediately recognized these individuals as the sailors who had apanied Loude on their journey across the sea. However, after over two weeks apart, they looked even worse for wear than when they had endured the rough seas.


    Many had disheveled clothes, pallidplexions, and visible bandages, and a few severely injured sailorsy unconscious on stretchers.


    "It''s Lord Lynn!"


    As soon as they spotted Lynn, the sailors rushed towards him in excitement, but Loude quickly intervened.


    "Calm down, all of you. I have some matters to discuss with Lord Lynn." Loude managed to redirect their enthusiasm, and then turned to Lynn.


    "Please follow me."


    They entered a reception room. Despite its outward appearance of decay, the interior had been meticulously cleaned. The tables and chairs were spotless.


    "Can you now tell me what you''ve learned?" Lynn asked as he took a seat.


    "Earlier today, one of my sailors stumbled upon a peculiar wizard''s apprentice near the residence of Doctor Radak," Loude began in detail. "I believe he is the one responsible for attacking the halfling named Ralph."


    The apprentice wore a ck robe, appeared to be in his mid-thirties, and stood at approximately 1.7 meters tall. His gait was unsteady, suggesting a leg injury, and there were signs of acid corrosion on the hem of his robe.


    Lynn pondered. Could it be that the apprentice had used the Corrosion spell at close range to kill Ralph, inadvertently injuring himself in the process? It wasn''t umon for an apprentice to make such a mistake.


    "Furthermore," Loude continued with hesitation, "he is likely a member of the Blood-Red Thorns."


    "Blood-Red Thorns?" Lynn furrowed his brows. If he remembered correctly, this was an unusual type of magical herb that required arge quantity of fresh blood to bloom into its most vibrant flower. But the reference here clearly meant something else.


    "I heard from some well-informed informants called ''whistles'' about this. As for which wizard gave the orders, I''m not entirely sure," Loude admitted, shaking his head.


    "So, what exactly is this ''Blood-Red Thorns''?" Lynn leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. He found it strange that someone would want his airship blueprint, yet they hadn''t approached him openly for negotiations.


    After a moment, he began to form a hypothesis. To him, the airship technology was not as valuable, but others might not see it that way. It was, in a sense, a strategic weapon, a hidden treasure in any alchemical workshop, symbolizing a continuous source of wealth. Normally, no one would willingly sell it.


    Even he, before developing the internalbustion engine, had no intention of selling airships.


    In response to Lynn''s inquiry, Loude quickly began to exin. The leader of the Blood-Red Thorns remained a mystery, but it was known to be an organization formed by arge number of disillusioned wizard apprentices. It hadplex internal power dynamics and even managed to attract formal wizards. Rumors suggested deep connections with many alchemical workshops.


    There was a rumor that, with enough contributions, the Blood-Red Thorns could make anyone a full-fledged wizard!


    Hearing this, Lynn couldn''t help but be moved. From the information he had gathered at Iyeta Academy in recent days, a person''s magical talent greatly determined their chances of bing a full-fledged wizard. For example, apprentices who reached the age of thirty at Iyeta Academy and hadn''tpleted their studies were considered tock magical talent, and their chances of further advancement were minuscule.


    Even if theypleted their studies and sessfully allowed their bodies to overflow with magic, the sess rate of advancement after consuming the Source of Magic was still far from one hundred percent. Typically, only about forty percent of apprentices could sessfully be full-fledged wizards.


    The selection process was undoubtedly challenging.


    The Blood-Red Thorns imed to have the power to turn anyone into a full-fledged wizard. If this im was not a lie, it was likely the reason why so many had joined.


    However, after seeing the so-called "failed products," Lynn didn''t naively believe this was a normal method. Otherwise, it would have be mainstream long ago.


    The Magic Council had always advocated using the Source of Magic for advancement, at least without any side effects. Many apprentices who had consumed magical elixirs were still healthy and active, proving this point.


    "So, do you know why they want my airship?" Lynn tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair.


    A contraption asrge as his airship couldn''t be kept hidden forever. Sooner orter, he would find out about it, and he had already started preparing to apply for a patent from the Alchemical Guild. Even if they managed to obtain the airship blueprint, it would be useless.


    Unless they had never intended to use it openly...


    Not long after their test flight yesterday afternoon, word had already spread about their desire to examine the blueprint. These people seemed to be in a desperate hurry for an airship for some reason.


    "I don''t know that either; only someone inside the Blood-Red Thorns might have that information," Loude replied with a helpless shake of his head.


    Lynn''sst question remained, "So, why did youe here to tell me all this? What do you want in return?"


    Loude''s face shifted through numerous expressions, countless words almost left his lips, but he eventually sighed and answered with a bitter smile, "In truth, we only want a way to survive."


    "I recall you had about three hundred people with you when we crossed the sea," Lynn asked curiously. He remembered that all these sailors were strong young men, but after just half a month, they had turned into what looked like a group of refugees.


    It was surprising that they had fallen so far.


    "You might not understand, but thend of wizards is different from the outside world," Loude sighed. "What we have in abundance here is people, or I should say, those of us who can''t do magic ¨C the impoverished masses..."


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 Chapter 85: Chaos in the South District

    Chapter 85: Chaos in the South District


    In Iyeta Harbor, even a novice wizard apprentice, using basic magic, could rece several, or even a dozenborers. In desperate times, they could even serve as magic stones, an endless source of magical power. Therefore, most job positions were never in short supply.


    As for the official wizards, they seldom engaged in production. They either held important positions within the harbor city or conducted magical research in a workshop, making them high-ranking figures.


    No matter where they went, these three hundred or so people were alwayspeting for business.


    The reason they struggled so much was that they had not won over any support...


    Unfortunately, they had no influential connections. They weren''t affiliated with any magical workshop or rted to any wizard.


    But Lin En didn''t!


    So, what could they do if they couldn''t win a fight? Of course, they had to bear with it!


    So, over the past half month, they had faced many hardships. They had lost some people, but they had gained a lot of valuable information. With the help of the dozens of crossbows Lin En had brought, they managed to secure a foothold in the South District.


    However, this wasn''t a sustainable solution. Despite Lin En bringing in trustworthy followers, if they couldn''t achieve a breakthrough, their rtionships would inevitably strain, no matter how solid they were.


    Listening to Loude''s grievances, Lin En finally understood the underlying rules of Iyeta Harbor. He realized that he still hadn''t learned to see the world through the lens of magic, and many things continually challenged his understanding.


    "Furthermore, we couldn''t have established ourselves in the South District without your help!" Loude ttered.


    "It seems that during this time, you guys have been acting in my name..." Lin En''s tone suddenly grew colder. He didn''t want to unknowingly make enemies.


    "No, of course not. It''s just that many people know that we followed you through the Misty Sea and defeated the great whirlpool..." Loude hastily shook his head, iming it was just the result ofmon rumors. They dared not do such a thing. Hesitating for a moment, he raised his right hand, tentatively saying, "And our cooperation hasn''t stopped, right?"


    Lin En immediately noticed a conspicuous me-shaped mark on Loude''s hand. His expression froze.


    He had actually forgotten about this mark, as it had no practical function; it was purely meant to intimidate and ensure obedience.


    However, Lin En chose not to expose it. After a moment''s thought, he took out a pouch from his robe and tossed it to Loude. "Here are ten magic gold coins. Consider it payment for information and ongoing tracking expenses."


    Loude dly epted it. In the port town of the Death''s Eye, a mere ten magic gold coins were nothing to him.


    But things were different now. After losing most of his wealth in the Death''s Eye, Lin En was barely making ends meet with so many followers. This money could at least alleviate some of their immediate financial woes.


    More importantly, this indicated a re-established cooperative rtionship.


    "Next, keep an eye on the whereabouts of that apprentice. Do you know where he''s hiding now?" Lin En inquired.


    "The guy is very cautious. My people lost track of him by ident, but I believe his injuries haven''t fully healed, so he''ll probably go back there next time," Loude hurriedly exined.


    Lin En nodded. "When he shows up again, have someone notify me immediately. Also, I need to know his identity and information as detailed as possible!"


    Loude immediately agreed. During this time, he had made connections with many well-informed informants. As a mere wizard apprentice, everything was possible with money.


    "By the way, have you stirred up trouble with anyone in the South District these days?" Lynn was now concerned about the sailors of the "Ship Gang." They seemed to have recently gone through a battle.


    "It''s Red Serpent Raylo. He''s the gang leader in the South District and has undergone magical modifications. He''s tough to deal with. Last time, we lost quite a few men before repelling his assault," Loude exined the situation. When he arrived at Iyeta Harbor, he had originally intended to return to his old business, engaging inmodity trade. However, he soon discovered that this area had already been imed by several big shots. After wandering around, he had no choice but to join a lower-level gang.


    The reason they chose to challenge Raylo''s territory was that his power was the weakest in the area, and he had no significant backing.


    "So, you''re currently facing quite a bit of trouble... Is there a way to resolve it?" Lynn asked.


    "Just your presence here today is more than enough!" Loude cautiously replied.


    Lynn paused for a moment, then quickly understood Loude''s meaning. When he entered the South District, he hadn''t disguised himself in any way. Someone with ill intentions could probably have learned about it.


    "Is my reputation already this widespread?" Lynn couldn''t help but be a little surprised.


    "Now, the whole of Iyeta knows that you''re a three-circle wizard under twenty, and your talent is even greater than Master Ougust from the Magic Star," Loude didn''t spare his praise. Ever since the big battle in the harbor town, he had realized that this young wizard who had just arrived in the wizard''snd wouldn''t be a nobody. However, he didn''t expect that his name would already be well-known within half a month.


    There were even rumors that, aside from his hellfire that seemed capable of incinerating everything, he possessed a powerful magic that could freeze everything.


    In the face of Loude''s praise, Lynn wasn''t particrly concerned. He was well aware of his current strength. Without the assistance of the intellectwork, dealing with a formal wizard would be a tough challenge.


    Moreover, this reputation wasn''t something anyone could suppress, at least not the Bloodthorn Thorns, who dared to engage in such covert activities behind his back.


    As Lynn continued to inquire about information concerning the South District and the magical workshops, Loude was forting and shared all the information he had gathered over the past few days.


    The more Lynn listened, the more astonished he became. Things like spending money on magical modifications weren''t umon in the South District. Some magical workshops were even conducting chilling magical experiments, resulting in the unexined disappearances of people every once in a while.


    "Why is the order in the South District so chaotic? Don''t the security forces do anything about it?" Lynn asked, perplexed.


    "For the wizard lords, as long as the main city area is in order, they can''t be bothered with such things..." Loude shook his head.


    In other words, people like them, who couldn''t y much of a role, were merely tools that the wizards kept for magical research.


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 Chapter 86: Every Law is a Lesson in Blood

    Chapter 86: Every Law is a Lesson in Blood


    As evening fell, Lynn bid a heartfelt farewell to Lame Loude and left the southern district.


    The lively and bustling Central Square presented itself as she exited the narrow alleyway. The wide streets were teeming with life, bustling with people, and a massive airship sailed through the city''s skies, eliciting joyfulughter and yful chasing from the children.


    Although Ralph''s death had dealt a blow to the halflingmunity, life continued on.


    This prosperity and tranquility stood in stark contrast to the chaos and decay of the southern district. However, Lynn had neither the energy nor the capacity to concern herself with the impoverished victims of magic''s ravages. Her mind was preupied with thoughts of her next steps.


    Starting an investigation with the young wizard apprentice who had attempted to steal airship blueprints seemed like a good choice. Apart from the airship matter, Lynn was eager to make contact with an organization known as the "Bloodthorn Thorns." Her interest wasn''t solely in obtaining a source of magical power through this channel, but also in understanding how a wizard apprentice could advance their ss, and whether there were alternative methods to be a full-fledged wizard.


    Perhaps her entry into the southern district had raised suspicions, as Lynn hadn''t received any messages from Lame Loude for the next few days. There were no updates from the city''sw enforcement either.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised. Based on Lame Loude''s ounts and the chaos in the southern district, the so-calledw enforcement teams were likely deeply entwined with the magical workshops.


    If she pushed too hard, the best-case scenario would be that Lea found and eliminated the young wizard apprentice, leaving her with no answers. It was best to exercise patience for now and continue her daily life as a professor, attending sses and researching magic, all the while umting her magical reserves to their limits.


    It wasn''t until the morning of the third day that Lynn prepared to do something specific. She was going to apply for teaching funds!


    Whether it was researching magic or establishing an informationwork, almost every aspect of her ns required funding. Considering that just one airship had attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives, Lynn had no intention of revealing any more groundbreaking discoveries in the near future.


    To amass a substantial sum quickly, she had to start with teaching funds. This time, she nned to request a whopping 100 magical gold coins!


    The amount was quite substantial, but what did Senge say? If you want to open a window, you first need to propose tearing the roof off!


    However, Lynn''s ns seemed to fall apart before they even began. Philip looked at her extensive teaching proposal and shook his head with a wry smile. "You''re a bitte, Professor Lynn. Master Herlram hasn''t been at the academy for the past few days."


    "How unfortunate," Lynn furrowed her brow.


    "Do you remember the psychic apprentice you brought back?" Philip asked.


    "Dove?" Lynn hadn''t forgotten the incident at all. She had visited Dove in the infirmary, and the girl was still enclosed in the ice coffin.


    "Yes, that''s her. Herlram took her with himst night. They should be on their way to the Wizard City," Philip said, somewhat uncertain.


    Lynn nodded, then hesitated for a moment before inquiring, "Professor Philip, I had a question earlier. It seems that Master Herlram is quite concerned about this matter."


    Dove was just an ordinary apprentice recruited by Kora in the Sast Empire. In theory, she had no connection to the grand wizard.


    "Perhaps it''s because of Iyeta..." Philip said, hesitating.


    "Iyeta? The academy?" Lynn paused, finding it hard to see how Dove''s life and the academy could be rted.


    "No, I''m talking about Master Herlram''s daughter - Iyeta. She was a child with great magical talent, and she looked somewhat simr to that halfling girl. Unfortunately, she got involved with magic too early and died in a magical ident. So when he saw this psychic named Dove, I guess it brought back some memories for him," Philip exined with a hint of sadness.


    In fact, the requirement that students must be at least twelve years old to enter Iyeta Academy was rted to this, aiming to prevent unnecessary magical idents.


    Lynn nodded in understanding. It made sense that Herlram would be lenient with a rambunctious halfling girl like Dove due to his own fond memories of his daughter.


    Since the grand wizard was absent, Lynn had to put her extensive teaching n away. The professors couldn''t make decisions on funding requests for hundreds of magical gold coins.


    "By the way, Professor Philip, I heard that there are many magic workshops in the southern district experimenting on the poor. Is that true? It doesn''t seem to align with the Council''s regtions..." Lynn asked, referring to what she had seen and heard in the southern district the day before.


    Lynn knew that relying solely on Lame Loude''s testimony wouldn''t be enough. She was curious about how the true ruler of this harbor city, the grand wizard Herlram, viewed these activities. Surely he wasn''tpletely unaware of them?


    "Even if it doesn''tply with the regtions, what does it matter? The vast majority of the poor involved in these magic experiments volunteer willingly. No one can stop them. If someone wants to gain magical power through this means, they must inevitably pay a price," Philip responded with a somewhat cold tone.


    Elemental magic, shapeshifting, potion-making, alchemy - the development of each field of magic was not easy. For example, the fusion of elements sometimes led to unimaginable destruction. Developing every kind of potion required arge number of test subjects. Shapeshifting magic required the dissection and study of magical creatures'' structures. Even in alchemy, a slight error while drawing the magic circle could lead to catastrophic consequences.


    Almost every year, wizards died in magical experiments, even if they had taken precautions. However, the casualties were predominantly among apprentice assistants and the poor who participated in the experiments.


    In recent centuries, there had been rtively few casualties, but every regtion of the Magic Council had been written in blood.


    Lynn was momentarily at a loss for words. In this chaotic, otherworldly realm, it was clear that one couldn''t expect the wizards to ce a high value on human life.


    "Professor Lynn, there''s someone looking for you outside the academy. Should I allow him toe in?" While they were talking, a small head suddenly popped out from the door, two little hands clutching the door frame, and the person asked.


    Seeing that familiar and adorable face, Lynn smiled and nodded, "Lydia, please take him to my room. I''ll be there shortly."


    If everything went as expected, it should be one of Lame Loude''s subordinates here to deliver a message.


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 Chapter 87: Nour: Im Unimaginably Strong Now

    Chapter 87: Nour: I''m Unimaginably Strong Now


    In the afternoon, in the southern district, on a quiet street.


    Nour, the apprentice, adjusted the robe on his body, his dark face smeared with a bit of mud for disguise.


    Unable to use transformation magic, he had to rely on such means to avoid being recognized. However, this crude disguise didn''t seem to be very effective. Since he entered the southern district, Nour keenly felt that someone had been following him.


    Concealing his actions with his sleeve, Nour discreetly observed his surroundings through a small copper mirror in his palm.


    About thirty meters behind him, a ragged beggar had been following him for three streets, definitely not a coincidence.


    "Damn it!" Nour cursed silently in his heart. He was well aware that his recent risky actions had likely drawn the attention of the city guards.


    Word had spread about the youngest and most talented Third Circle mage who hade from beyond the wizards''nd, and he was now investigating Nour''s whereabouts as well.


    Nour''s face turned grim, and he quickened his pace, weaving through theplex streets of the southern district in an attempt to shake off his pursuers.


    However, he soon realized that this was futile because there might be more than one person tracking him.


    It seems I have no choice but to deal with them.


    Nour''s heart hardened as he made a sharp turn, eventually entering an abandoned and dpidated building.


    Outside on the street, three sailors who had met up exchanged nces, hesitating about whether to follow him. If there were any secret passages inside the crumbling building, they didn''t want to lose sight of him.


    Lame Loude had given strict orders before they came: do not let the target out of their sight.


    With that in mind, the three sailors clenched their teeth and left one person outside to keep watch. The other two cautiously entered the building.


    Inside the crumbling building, it was empty, with only a few broken wooden boards stacked in a corner and a table and chairs that were mostly destroyed. The walls were covered in moss, and a gust of wind brought a foul, rotting odor.


    But where were the people?


    The two sailors were momentarily perplexed when, suddenly, from the area above the doorway, a dim rune lit up.


    This was followed by a deafening explosion, and with the shockwave came a cloud of dust and rubble that instantly enveloped everything inside the crumbling building. The two sailors hadn''t even realized what had happened before they were knocked to the ground, buried beneath beams and countless pieces of rubble.


    The other sailor who was waiting outside rushed in, and he was met with Nour''s sinister grin and the Corrosion Spell.


    The Corrosion Beam was already right in front of him, with countless glistening liquid droplets descending. There was no escape, and the panicked sailor fell to the ground, watching as the acid approached closer and closer.


    Suddenly, a wall of ice crystals shot up, blocking all of the corrosive liquid. Nour''s smile froze, and he turned his gaze toward the entrance, speaking with a malicious tone.


    "Friend, I advise you not to meddle further. I am Nour, an assistant of Lord Radak, and a member of the Bloodthorn. I have my ways."


    Lynn, with a new face, remained silent. Instead, he immediately activated Mage''s Hand. Large amounts of rubble on the ground floated up, revealing the two sailors buried beneath them.


    Since they hadn''t been directly hit by the explosion, both of them were still breathing, but their brains had been rattled, and they were unconscious.


    Seeing this, Lynn also breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had arrived not a moment too soon. He immediately turned to the sailor who was still in shock from narrowly escaping death and said straightforwardly,


    "Get them out of here!"


    "Thank you, Wizard, my lord!" The sailor didn''t recognize the disguised Lynn but quickly reacted, moving closer to drag his two unconsciousrades to a safer distance.


    Nour''s expression became extremely serious. He understood that he was likely in danger today. Slowly stepping back, he reached behind and discreetly retrieved a copper rod.


    Magic - Barrage


    Lynn, who had been observing Nour''s actions, quickly noticed the sudden movement. Once the sailors were at a safe distance, he raised his hand, and a dozen Magic Missiles materialized in the air.


    "A formal wizard?!" Nour''s pupils contracted. Although Lynn was only using Zero Circle magic, the quantity was clearly beyond what an apprentice could control.


    Realizing this, Nour didn''t hesitate and threw the copper rod he had in his hand. The runes on the rod lit up in session, and it exploded violently, sending sharp iron shards raining down on Lynn like a storm.


    At the moment he threw the rod, Nour turned and ran, not bothering to see the oue. He opened a hidden door in the wall and rushed inside.


    He understood that this move might cause some hindrance, but it wouldn''t be enough to kill a formal wizard. As expected, in the next moment, the hidden door, along with the makeshift wall, was blown open by a powerful shockwave. Nour was thrown out in a sorry state.


    After tumbling on the ground, Nour struggled to stand and reached into his pocket, pulling out a bottle of emerald-green potion. He downed it without hesitation.


    This was a potion he had concocted himself over the years as an assistant, using a form he had stolen. It had some significant side effects, and he had originally nned to sell it at a high price when the opportunity arose. But now, he couldn''t afford to think about that.


    He knew what his fate would be if he got captured!


    The moment he drank the potion, Nour felt a rush of heat throughout his body, as if he had been thrown into a furnace. His mouth emitted a series of agonized screams.


    Magic - Barrage


    Several magic missiles whizzed past him, hitting various parts of Nour''s body. They were precise enough not to aim for vital areas but to create openings at his joints.


    If it were an ordinary person, receiving such an attack would have rendered them helpless long ago.


    However, Nour was different. Under the influence of the potion''s power, his skin gradually turned emerald green, and the wounds at his joints started to heal rapidly.


    Nour''s eyes turned bloodshot as he red intensely at the mastermind who had pushed him to this extent. A powerful surge of anger welled up within him.


    The transformation caused by drinking the potion was irreversible. It meant that he would have to live with this grotesque appearance for the rest of his life.


    But aspensation, Nour felt every cell in his body brimming with immense magical power.


    He was unimaginably powerful now!


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 Chapter 88: Magic Transformation

    Chapter 88: Magic Transformation


    The Green Giant?


    Lynn, who had just entered, was also startled by Nul''s appearance, but he quickly realized he had overreacted. Nul''s condition looked terrible, with his height exceeding two meters, a swollen right shoulder, and his chest heaving violently. Drool continuously dripped from his mouth, making him look like a grotesque monster.


    So... is this the result of magical transformation?


    Lynn immediately thought of those deformed individuals he had seen in the South City District, the so-called rejects.


    In his contemtion, the enraged Nul had already charged directly towards him, covering several meters in just a few steps.


    Lynn extended his finger, and a wisp of fire manifested at his fingertip, quickly expanding into a roaring ze, colliding with the oing Nul.


    The scorching mes continued to sear Nul''s green skin, but he paid no attention, emitting a painful howl. He faced the fire head-on, swinging his right fist towards Lynn.


    Nul was well aware that closebat was his only chance.


    Apart from the wizards well-versed in transfiguration, the rest of the wizards didn''t have much sturdier bodiespared to ordinary people. In the face of this powerful and heavy blow, Lynn sidestepped, avoiding it. Nul''s robust fist left a deep imprint on the earthen wall beside him.


    Compared to the Witchhunters who had taken the Elixir of Divine Grace, Nulcked both strength and speed. Most importantly, his punches were unstructured, indicating hisck of experience in closebat.


    However, his recovery speed was quite impressive.


    Lynn keenly noticed that Nul''s burnt skin was rapidly shedding and healing, causing Nul to spiral into a frenzy. He stared at Lynn with bloodshot eyes, emitting another roar, charging like an uncontroble tank.


    Seeing this situation, Lynn refrained from using magic and instead drew his longsword from his waist. At such a close range, using white phosphorus fire was too dangerous, and even the Liquid Nitrogen-Ice Field couldn''t ensure a quick kill.


    Moreover, he needed to keep Nul alive.


    Observing Lynn''s intention to fight him with a sword, Nul felt that the wizard in front of him must have lost his mind in a panic.


    Nul had already figured out that his opponent was not a transfiguration-focused wizard, or else he would have used magic to transform himself when Nul got close.


    But what could a Magic user do when faced with a close-range confrontation?


    Nul''s face revealed a triumphant, malicious grin. Perhaps he would be the first apprentice to kill a proper wizard in a head-on battle!


    However, Nul quickly realized that things were not as he had imagined. His opponent''s strength wasn''t great, and his speed wasn''t remarkable, but he consistently evaded attacks by a hair''s breadth. Nul''s body seemed to actively expose itself to his opponent''s de. In a moment, deep bloodstains had been cut into his green skin.


    Even though these injuries healed within seconds, Nul''s expression began to show signs of unease.


    Nothing came without a cost, and his healing ability was no exception. As an apprentice wizard, the limited magic in his body was being swiftly drained. It wouldn''t be long before he waspletely depleted.


    Thinking of this, Nul''s attacks became increasingly frantic, which only made his vulnerabilities more evident.


    On the other side, Lynn immediately noticed that Nul''s strength, speed, and regenerative abilities were slowly weakening.


    It''s time...


    Lynn''s gaze focused, and he bent down to avoid Nul''s enormous right fist. Then, he swung his sword again, piercing urately from the side and lodging the de into the crevice of Nul''s spine.


    Nul roared, attempting to rise and retaliate. But he quickly realized in horror that his lower body had lost all control, and he could do nothing to change his situation, his body helplessly limp on the ground.


    What kind of magic is this?


    Nul waspletely panicked. Soon, the ground beneath him, already ravaged and distorted, rapidly cracked and transformed into fine sand, engulfing his body. A few secondster, it solidified once more.


    Nul recognized these two spells: "Petrify to Mud" and "Mud to Stone."


    In just a brief moment, most of Nul''s body had been embedded in the ground, and he waspletely immobilized.


    "This wizard, you can''t kill me... otherwise, Lord Radak will not spare you, and the ''Crimson Thorns,'' you have no idea of their power..." Nul screamed fearfully.


    His answer was a sword thrust from top to bottom, piercing his shoulder. Nul''s sharp cries were instantly reced by agonizing wails.


    Lynn withdrew his longsword, pointing it at Nul''s head this time and stated concisely, "I ask, you answer! You scream one second longer, and I''ll cut you one more time!"


    Nul''s cries stopped at once, but he continued to watch Lynn with pain and fear, unable to speak.


    "Lynn, Nul, a student admitted to Iyeta Academy in the ninth batch, six years ago, you were forced to leave because you couldn''t pass the elemental and transfiguration exams. The next year, you joined the ''Crimson Thorns''..."


    Lynn calmly recited some of the information he had acquired from Loude, eroding Nul''s psychological defenses. Then, he turned to Nul and continued to speak.


    "I know a lot about you, Nul, so you better not attempt to lie in front of me... Otherwise, the consequences are something you won''t want to know."


    "Now, tell me, on that morning three days ago, where were you, and what did you do?" Lynn inquired.


    "I was at the ''Broadaxe Tavern.'' A halfling named Raelph found me and wanted to exchange airship blueprints for a bounty..." Nul''s gaze flickered as he stuttered.


    Lynn''s gaze turned cold instantly, and this time he thrust his sword through Nul''s right arm. A sharp pain immediately elicited a painful howl.


    It was obvious that Nul was lying.


    Because, on the day before Raelph''s death, he had just conducted a flight experiment, and the ''Crimson Thorns'' wouldn''t issue a reward until the afternoon or evening at the earliest. On that afternoon, the halfling was still assisting with airship control, and he was responsible for night watch. He had no time to gather such secretive information.


    You must think I''m a fool...


    Lynn nced at the still uncooperative Nul, with a touch of amusement in his voice.


    "Do you know, where Ie from, there used to be a very interesting punishment, called ''Lingchi.'' It involves using a knife to cut the prisoner''s flesh piece by piece..."


    "But don''t worry, the executioners'' skills are definitely better than you might imagine. They avoid the major arteries and ensure that each piece of flesh they cut off is of consistent length and thickness... To prevent the victim from fainting too soon, they often sprinkle some saltwater on the de..."


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 Chapter 89: The Remarkable Effects of High Heat on Hemostasis

    Chapter 89: The Remarkable Effects of High Heat on Hemostasis


    Lynn vividly described a torturous execution method known as "Lingchi" to Nul.


    Nul listened, his forehead beading with cold sweat, as he watched the sword in Lynn''s hand, which seemed to be ready to strike him down at any moment, just as Lynn''s words had described.


    When he heard that salt would be sprinkled on the executioner''s de, Nul couldn''t help but shudder. He knew all too well how agonizing it was to have salt poured into wounds. It was a torment beyond words.


    Nul even thought that,pared to the wizard before him, Lord Radak, who conducted magical experiments on the poor, seemed like an exceptionally kind-hearted person. Even the demons in hell wouldn''t have thought of such a punishment!


    "My skills can''tpare to those executioners. Often, it takes less than a hundred strokes to end a life... But fortunately, your regenerative abilities seem quite remarkable. I suppose you''ll be a perfect practice subject, won''t you?" Lynn said with a hint of amusement, then reached into his robe''s pocket, appearing somewhat regretful.


    "Unfortunately, it seems I forgot to bring a bag of salt!"


    Nul''s shatteredposure managed to regain some rity. At least he could die with a bit less pain. But in the next moment, the demon spoke.


    "But direct tempering with fire might work as well... I''ve heard high heat has a miraculous effect on hemostasis!"


    While Lynn spoke, he ced his right hand on the sword, and a burst of searing mes enveloped the silver de, turning it cherry red.


    Nul''s body trembled uncontrobly. Just as the red-hot de was about to descend, he couldn''t bear it any longer and shouted, "Wait... wait! It was me... I found Ralph voluntarily... Ahhh~"


    He didn''t even finish his sentence before the red-hot de pierced his shoulder, slicing away a piece of flesh and skin.


    Nul was on the verge of madness, his crimson eyes locked onto Lynn. He couldn''t fathom why, even after he confessed, Lynn was still unwilling to spare him.


    "Too slow! Keep talking! I hope your words can keep up with my sword this time!" Lynn retrieved the longsword and continued to temper it, ensuring it didn''t cool down.


    Facing such a ruthless and unscrupulous demon who would readily slice a person into pieces, Nul waspletely shattered. He began to stammer and tell his story.


    The story began five days ago when he overheard a group of halflings at the "Broken Axe Tavern" boasting about creating a massive flying alchemical machine that required no magic and could soar into the sky. Neither he nor the other patrons believed them, as in the past, when they helped Lady Lydia make various flying machines, they would often brag, only for those machines to crash.


    It wasn''t until Lynn conducted a breathtaking flying experiment in front of everyone that Nul realized the halflings were telling the truth. So when he heard that a wizard in the "Crimson Thorns" was willing to pay five hundred magic gold coins for the blueprints of the airship, he immediately became interested. He knew these drinking halflings would sooner orter show up in the "Broken Axe Tavern."


    Nul revealed everything, knowing that once he spilled all the information, he would be of no further use. In the end, he might still face death, but it was better than being slowly hacked into a bloody skeleton with a scalding sword.


    "So, you targeted Ralph, who was alone, and when your sleep-inducing mist failed, you killed him?" Lynn said with a cold sneer.


    Nul''s face was filled with regret, but not for attacking Ralph. He regretted not being cautious enough and not realizing that the Guildwine would affect the drowsiness effect of withering grass powder. Otherwise, his actions would have never been discovered.


    Lynn didn''t easily believe the words of the other person. Instead, he thoroughly questioned every detail of the operation, making Nul recount everything he had done in the past few days. He then dissected the information, using the searing de to cut him whenever there was any hesitation or inconsistency.


    The sword''s edge sliced through flesh, and the fresh blood barely had time to flow before it solidified in the scorching heat. Even the sharpest minds couldn''t concoct a perfect lie under such exhrating circumstances.


    By the time Lynn had finished his questioning, Nul had endured a total of seventeen strikes. He appeared disoriented, now in a state where he was willing to reveal everything without reservation. Sometimes, to avoid the de, he would even preemptively respond.


    Looking at Nul''s tear-stained face and his appearance on the brink of copse, Lynn couldn''t help but feel somewhat helpless. Why couldn''t he have just told the truth from the beginning? Why did he force Lynn to resort to unconventional methods?


    Lynn wasn''t particrly skilled in psychological warfare. To verify the truth, this crude method was his only option.


    "Is the bounty still in ce?" Lynn asked again.


    A reward of five hundred magic gold coins was bound to spark greed in many.


    Lynn wasn''t too worried about his own safety, as he usually stayed within the Iyeta Academy. On the surface, he was just a third-circle wizard, so no one should dare to cause trouble. But Lydia and the other halflings were a different story...


    "No, the bounty has been withdrawn," Nul replied, shivering with fear.


    "The reason?" Lynn was somewhat surprised.


    Hadn''t their attempt to capture Ralph failed?


    Could it be that they had given up entirely?


    Lynn swung the ming sword in his hand, and the scalding de made Nul''s heart leap into his throat once again.


    "I don''t know, I just heard... I heard that Lord Radak has obtained part of the airship''s construction blueprints from elsewhere..." Nul hastily responded, fearing another strike.


    That was why he hadn''t been disposed of by Lord Radak after the failed operation. Lynn''s eyebrows furrowed. "Are you certain?"


    Apart from Ralph, the only halflings who had seen the blueprints were Darren and Lydia. If it weren''t necessary, Lynn didn''t want to suspect them.


    Of course, Lynn was well aware that betrayal often depended on the size of the price. Five hundred magic gold coins was no small sum. This was why he had intentionally used the ledger to probe those halflings earlier.


    "I''m... I''m fairly certain," Nul''s expression became somewhat hesitant, but when he saw Lynn raise the sword, he spoke rapidly, "No, I''m absolutely certain!"


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 Chapter 90: The Crimson Message

    Chapter 90: The Crimson Message


    Lynn''s sword remained suspended in mid-air, as Nur''s words weren''t difficult to confirm. All Loude needed to do was to inquire about those "whistles" again, and they would know whether the bounty had been rescinded.


    In other words, it was highly likely that the inner circle of the Society of Mystical Arts had already deciphered the airship''s manufacturing method. The only question was whether they had confirmed that it relied on a gas within the envelope with lower density than air to stay afloat.


    This might seem like an easy discovery, but the mainstream flight theory in thend of wizards relied on propulsion or the use of shape-shifting magic to mimic bird flight. Even though elemental magic practitioners had long discovered the existence of gases like hydrogen, helium, neon, and ammonia, the buoyancy provided by these gases on their own was incredibly weak.


    To put it into perspective, to lift a person, one would need to maintain a hydrogen gas cloud of at least sixty cubic meters around them at all times, and the magical energy required for this was incalcble. No wizard would consider flying in such a manner.


    Because of this, shortly after the flight experiment a few days ago, rumors began to circte that Loude had installed some sort of alchemical device beneath the airship''s chamber to continuously provide lift. However, this kind of misdirection could onlyst for so long. The massive envelope of the airship was too conspicuous, and it wouldn''t take long for someone to suspect that it was the gas inside the envelope that was responsible for the lift.


    Once they obtained the blueprints, they would be able to confirm this immediately, as there were no machines in the chamber providing propulsion. Following that, with repeated experiments, they would quickly discover the gas suitable for providing lift.


    "So, do you know what the important figure from the Crimson Thorns wants to do with the airship?" Lynn turned to Nur and questioned him again.


    He was more concerned about the intentions of these individuals than the risk of technical leaks. If they were to cause any trouble with the airship, such as bombing an important town, it might ultimately be med on him. After all, everyone knew that the skyship was his exclusive alchemical creation!


    "It''s for...," Nur began, but his expression suddenly contorted in excruciating pain. He opened his mouth wide, as though someone was strangling him, and then began to m his head violently against the ground.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    With each loud impact, Nur''s previously firm forehead immediately swelled, blood oozing from the wound, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain.


    Faced with Nur''s sudden frenzy, Lynn was taken aback. He reached out and held Nur''s head to stop him from bashing it into the ground, but in the next moment, he realized that Nur had gonepletely still.


    Lynn lifted Nur''s cheek, finding his forehead covered in blood, his eyes wide open and his expression twisted in a grotesque manner.


    He checked for signs of breathing and a pulse, only to discover that Nur had already died...


    As Lynn looked at Nur, who had suddenly gone mad and died right in front of him, a chill ran down his spine. He quickly nced around, but there was no sign of anyone, and he hadn''t noticed any movement beforehand.


    "Stone to Mud," Lynn chanted, using magic to free Nur''s half-buried body from the ground. He held his sword tightly in his right hand, ready to fend off any potential surprise attacks.


    However, nothing he feared came to pass. Nur''s skin remained a healthy green, and the sword wounds on his body had already healed; there was no visible sign of any problems.


    Could it be some form of attack on the soul? Lynn suddenly thought of this because Nur''s condition was somewhat simr to Dove''s. They both showed no physical injuries, so it was likely a spiritual injury.


    The difference was that when Dove unleashed the "Soul Shriek," Archbishop Anluke, who possessed some divine power, had counterattacked, while Nur had been attacked the moment he began discussing the airship''s usage.


    It was possible that someone had imprinted a certain magic in his mind, which activated when he spoke about something he wasn''t supposed to reveal, destroying his brain.


    Only wizard-psychics who had a profound understanding of the soul could aplish such a feat.


    Lynn immediately realized that this wizard organization called the "Crimson Thorns" was likely even moreplex and dangerous than he had imagined.


    Apart from their involvement in magical modifications and the research on methods to elevate novice wizards to official status, they might also be delving into psychic magic, something that had been entirely banned in the wizarding world.


    What troubled Lynn even more was that when he had questioned Nur earlier, the wizard had revealed significant information about the members of the Crimson Thorns without triggering this mechanism. Yet it activated while discussing the airship...


    Deep in thought, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly reached his ears.


    Lynn turned to look, a fireball had already ignited in his palm, but it quickly extinguished.


    The neer was Loude, apanied by a few of his trusted associates.


    "Lord Lynn?" Loude stared at the unfamiliar wizard before him, somewhat uncertain.


    "It''s me!" Lynn nodded, not bothering to hide his identity.


    Loude breathed a sigh of relief, not surprised by Lynn''s slightly altered appearance. Back in the Harbor Town, he had already seen that Lynn was a skilled shape-shifting wizard. Moreover, he''d had a memorable encounter with Lynn, who had disguised himself as Labul.


    "Is this Nur? He doesn''t quite match the description in the intel..." Loude quickly noticed the greenish corpse lying next to Lynn.


    Nur''s towering two-meter frame had shrunk due to the depletion of magical energy, but his skin remained green, and his identity was still somewhat recognizable from his facial features.


    Could this be some form of torturous magic?


    "It''s the result of a transfiguration potion, likely rted to the ''defective'' you mentioned earlier..." Lynn interrupted Loude''s spection, using ice magic to freeze Nur, then continued, "Bring a few more people to take him back, but do it discreetly, so others won''t see."


    Lynn was genuinely interested in these so-called ''defectives.'' Of course, it didn''t mean he wanted to turn into a "green giant" himself. Instead, he nned to research how this transfiguration potion worked, how it could significantly enhance a person''s physical qualities and grant them the ability to heal injuries in an extremely short amount of time. If some wizards considered individuals like Nur as "defectives," there must be perfected versions of this potion...


    Once Loude and his team concealed Nur, it was approaching dinnertime, and Lynn didn''t rush into his research. Instead, he headed straight back to the dormitory in Iyeta Harbor.


    Upon entering his room, Lynn''s steps suddenly halted, and he became highly vignt.


    A scarlet-sealed envelope was leaning on the shelf of his desk.


    And there definitely wasn''t one of these before he left...


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 Chapter 91: The Gathering of the Faceless

    Chapter 91: The Gathering of the Faceless


    During this time, has someone entered his room?


    It''s also possible that they used magic to manipte those fairies to ce this thing on his desk.


    Lynn immediately realized this, and the bright red envelope seemed to react as if it sensed something, shaking ever so slightly.


    [Ice Barrier]


    Without hesitation, Lynn cast a spell, summoning a sturdy wall of ice before him. His right hand rested on the doorknob, ready to make a quick escape.


    In Lynn''s alert gaze, the crimson envelope opened on its own, hovering in the air, revealing prominent golden magical runes inside.


    [Dear Mr. Karl


    In recognition of your outstanding performance within Iyeta Harbor, we cordially invite you to be a member of the Faceless.


    The Faceless are dedicated to exploring the mysteries of magic. Here, there are no rules to bind you, no distinctions of identity. All members will exchange knowledge as equals, working together to uncover the truths of the world...


    ...


    ...


    The next gathering will take ce in four days at exactly eleven in the evening. We look forward to your presence.]


    Lynn''s eyes quickly scanned the long page, finally settling on the two words at the beginning of the letter, [Karl].


    Has his true identity been exposed?


    The thought involuntarily crossed Lynn''s mind. Karl was the name of the body he had taken over upon arriving in the harbor town. He hadn''t heard that name in a long while.


    Although the letter appeared to be a polite invitation, the direct mention of his identity made it clear that this was no friendly offer. It carried a hint of threat.


    The only ones who knew about his true identity now were Jonny...


    No, Dove, and the clueless Kora.


    Lynn''s first suspicion naturally fell on Jonny. Since his arrival in the harbor town, the status and identity he had gained didn''t match his original body, and Jonny might have some doubts.


    However, his exposed identity didn''t benefit Jonny in any way because it meant that the responsibility for the interrupted route would once again be ced on his shoulders. Compared to his certified status, the words of an apprentice wouldn''t carry much weight.


    Next was Dove. Although she now appeared lifeless, a powerful psychic wizard might be able to extract key information from her mind.


    Herlram had taken Dove''s frozen body to find a great wizard skilled in psychic magic, so it might be rted to this.


    However, Lynn quickly dismissed this guess. The great wizard had only left yesterday, and even if he could reach the Wizard''s City within a day, he wouldn''t be able to send a letter back to him.


    Furthermore, Lynn couldn''t contend with Herlram''s power. If Herlram held something against him, there would be easier ways to manipte him. If he guessed correctly, Dove''s soul had likely been collected by the Intelligence Nexus, and even memory-searching magic might not yield useful results.


    Numerous thoughts shed through Lynn''s mind. After the initial panic, he quickly regained hisposure.


    The other party might not have concrete evidence to confirm his identity. This letter was likely a test, or else it wouldn''t have taken so long to arrive.


    Because, there was no evidence to prove that he was Karl. In and where psychic magic was strictly prohibited, viewing brain memories was not something that could be used as evidence openly.


    After all, someone who said such things would be equivalent to confessing to being a psychic wizard and viting the strict prohibition set by the Wizard''s Council. That was a significant charge.


    Lynn was deep in thought when the floating envelope spontaneously burst into mes, turning into scattered ashes.


    At the same time, a delicate-looking ring fell from it,nding in the teacup on the desk, emitting a crisp sound.


    Lynn activated [Mage Hand] to bring the ring closer to him.


    ording to the description in the letter, all it required was to infuse it with mana to emit a specific magical frequency, transmitting a portion of sentient mana to the meeting location.


    No need to attend in person, and it wouldn''t reveal one''s true face. That was the meaning of "Faceless."


    Besides the sender, nobody else could know the identities of the members. Each member was free to discuss topics considered taboo in the Wizard''snd, including the forbidden psychic magic!


    This was somewhat like... holographic projection?


    Lynn examined the exquisitely crafted ring. The entire ring was made of mithril, with numerous peculiar magical runes inscribed on its surface. The most eye-catching part was the red gemstone set on the ring, carved into a beautiful flower.


    "Bloody Thorns?" Lynn was familiar with this peculiar flower and instantly understood who had sent the envelope and the ring.


    Had his recent interrogation of Nul been detected?


    Lynn pondered silently. It was possible that the moment Nul died, the person who had ced a soul restraint in his mind received a message, and afterward, they sent this letter. As for whether it was a threat, a warning, or an attempt to recruit, Lynn couldn''t say. However, one thing was clear: this wizard organization known as "Bloody Thorns" seemed to possess a lot of information they shouldn''t have.


    Whether it was the sudden acquisition of airship blueprints, the name Karl, prophecies, divination, contacting Kora, a magic to eavesdrop on conversations, or a spell to detect lies ¨C Lynn considered various possibilities. His expression turned cold.


    He used an anti-magic stone to envelop the ring in his palm and then took down one book after another from the bookshelf. Opening a concealedpartment in the back wooden board, he carefully hid the ring inside.


    He had no intention of carrying such an object of unknown origin. He also had no ns to attend this so-called "Faceless" gathering. It might well be a trap, and going there would only confirm their suspicions.


    There were four days until the next "Faceless" gathering. This was probably the deadline they''d given him for consideration, but Lynn had no intention of ying by their rules.


    "Doctor Radak, is it?" Lynn recalled the name that Nul had repeatedly mentioned during the interrogation. This Radak was most likely a key figure within "Bloody Thorns," the person most likely to have ced the soul restraint in Nul''s mind and sent him the letter!


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 Chapter 92: Shape-Shifting Potion Experiment

    Chapter 92: Shape-Shifting Potion Experiment


    A dayter, in a clean room within the South District''s headquarters of the Ship Gang, Lynn, who had just finished his morning lessons, held a sharp dagger and cut a piece of flesh from a once vibrant and now lifeless body, Nur.


    Nur''s body had changed dramatically after death; the miraculous regenerative ability it once possessed was now gone, leaving it shrunken and resembling green jerky.


    Lynn ced the small piece of flesh in his palm and activated the Novice Material Deconstruction Art to examine the differences between Nur''s cells and those of an ordinary person.


    To his surprise, the cells within these flesh pieces were highly unstable and disintegrated upon a slight impact.


    Emerald blood and tissue cells scattered and flew, only to be reassembled by the Mage''s Hand spell and finally discarded to the side.


    Was it due to being subpar, or was it the result of injecting magic into the body?


    When experimenting with magic before, Lynn had noticed that all living creatures possessed a slight resistance to magic. Wizards, in particr, had a higher resistance. This was especially evident in battles between wizards. For example, when Raul cast the second-tier spell, High-Temperature Vaporization, theoretically, Lynn could have countered it by manipting the high-temperature gases. However, these gases were essentially creations of the opponent''s magic, so they were impervious to his influence.


    Lynn pondered for a long time and instinctively reached for an optical microscope to observe the state of the blood and tissue with physical means. But as he nced around the empty room, he shook his head.


    Conditions were truly challenging. How could he conduct quality magical research in this state?


    Incubators, sterilization rooms, centrifuges, refrigerators... All of those were missing now.


    Thud, thud, thud...


    A faint knocking sound came from outside the door.


    Lynn re-froze Nur''s body and invited the visitors inside.


    "Lord Lynn, everything you need is ready," Loude said as he led several sailors into the room, each carryingrge boxes.


    Inside the boxes were sulfur, saltpeter, glycerin, and other simr materials.


    Of course, Lynn wasn''t nning to create ck powder this time; he was preparing some self-defense items. While he intended to confront Radak, the ck Physician, he had no intention of barging in directly.


    From the information Nur had provided, the Blood Thorn was a massive organization, with at least several third-tier wizards, a dozen or so formal wizards, and hundreds of wizard apprentices.


    For Lynn, who had a shallow foundation, confronting them head-on was nearly impossible. While he had developed white phosphorus fire and the Liquid Nitrogen Ice Field, hisbat capabilities were not to be underestimated. Lynn was well aware that no formal wizard was easy to deal with.


    If Archbishop Anluke''s difficultyy in his ability to borrow power from deities, the strength of wizardsy in the various peculiar magics and alchemical items at their disposal.


    Lynn could imagine how many life-saving tricks those third-tier wizards, who were hopeless in bing Grand Wizards and not in dire need of money, had up their sleeves.


    At least for Lynn, if it weren''t for his tight budget, he would have equipped himself with life-saving alchemical items. Spending money to defeat the enemy was preferable to dying with unspent coin.


    So, a direct confrontation was the most foolish move. Lynn had no intention of revealing his true identity unless it was absolutely necessary. Otherwise, he would face various overt and covert threats until the Blood Thorn waspletely eradicated.


    Inparison, Lynn was more inclined to quietly disguise himself, slip in unnoticed, find an opportunity to be alone with Radak, the ck Physician, and then knock him out without raising suspicions, extracting information in the process.


    However, such a smooth scenario likely existed only in fantasy.


    To prepare for potential conflicts, Lynn decided to make some necessary arrangements.


    The Hellfire used for destroying Iyeta Harbor or the Liquid Nitrogen Ice Field used in the battle against Raul couldn''t be used casually. Doing so would risk revealing his identity. Unless he was sure he could eliminate all witnesses.


    Under disguise, he would only have ess to basic magic and his swordsmanship, which had be incredibly potent thanks to his enhanced cognitive abilities.


    This was clearly insufficient to deal with extreme situations. Thus, Lynn nned to develop a new magic as his trump card.


    This time, he chose Corrosion Magic!


    Corrosion Magic was a rather mysterious magic. If ten wizards cast Corrosion Magic simultaneously, the resulting damage might vary greatly because the power of Corrosion Magic depended entirely on the strength of the corrosive liquid created.


    Previously, Nur had used the stomach acid of a ghoul, which had strong corrosive properties on flesh but was limited in its effectiveness against those wearing protective gear, as it couldn''t dissolve metal.


    Lynn intended to prepare aqua regia to use as the material for Corrosion Magic and several derivative spells.


    Aqua regia, also known as nitrohydrochloric acid, was created by mixing one part concentrated nitric acid with three parts concentrated hydrochloric acid. It had extremely strong corrosive properties, easily dissolving even hard metals, with only a few materials such as tantalum, iridium, and silicon being resistant to its erosion.


    Inspired by Raul''s High-Temperature Vaporization, Lynn believed that with slight modifications, he could create a unique system of corrosive magic. This would be distinct from his previousbat style, providing more versatility for various situations.


    In addition, Lynn nned to create something even more dangerous to ensure his escape in the event of an ambush.


    "Has Radake out of his mansion today?" Lynn asked while inspecting the materials inside the boxes.


    "No, we''ve been watching him all day, and it seems that Radak rarely leaves his home," Loude responded nervously.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised by this. "What about the person you were told to find? Any leads?"


    "Lord Lynn, we''ve found them!" Loude handed over the information.


    Timis, twenty-nine years old, had been expelled from the academyst year due to a serious conflict in which he nearly killed a fellow student. It wasn''t confirmed whether he was a member of the Blood Thorn, but he visited Radak, the ck Physician''s mansion every evening, making him likely one of Radak''s apprentices.


    Loude hesitated before adding, "We''ve heard that several homeless people in the South District have gone missing, and it seems to be connected to him."


    Lynn nodded. He wanted to meet Radak and gather some information. He needed a suitable, non-suspicious identity to do so.


    Timis was a perfect fit for this. He had been expelled onlyst year and hadn''t been an apprentice to Radak for very long. They were not very familiar with each other, allowing for some flexibility in his actions.


    As for Nur, his role was over. Even if he had been Radak''s assistant, his death would have likely reached Radak''s ears.


    Lynn contemted for a moment, then asked Loude and the others to leave as he began preparing the concentrated nitric acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid, hoping to quickly condense the corresponding magical spells.


    ...


    In the evening, Lynn appeared in the South District under the guise of Timis, the apprentice.


    As for the real Timis, he had been restrained and brought to the Ship Gang''s headquarters as a "guest."


    Considering that Nur had died during the interrogation, Lynn didn''t press Timis too hard. After extracting some basic information, he had Timis ingest arge dose of powdered withered root stalks, enough to keep him asleep for several days.


    Now, Lynn intended to use this identity to investigate Radak, the ck Physician''s background.


    At exactly six o''clock in the evening, Lynn arrived outside Radak''s estate. Beforeing here, he had never imagined that he would witness such grandeur in the South District.


    The estate was vast, surrounded by a three-meter-high and ten-centimeter-thick iron fence, leaving only a stone path wide enough for two people to walk side by side, extending all the way into the heart of the estate.


    "Timis, why are you sote today?" Several apprentices were waiting at the entrance of the estate. Seeing Lynn, a witch in her thirties with dark hair couldn''t help but frown.


    Radak had no good temper. After an apprentice messed up an experimentst time and was taken away, nobody had seen him since.


    "I had an urgent matter today, which dyed me on the way," Lynn replied with a carefully crafted expression of fear.


    "I hope you''ll be dyed even more next time," a sinister voice came from beside her, as a male witch with a mocking smile spoke.


    Lynn furrowed his brow but didn''t say anything.


    On the contrary, the witch who spoke earlier expressed her displeasure, saying, "Brock, what do you mean by this?"


    "You know very well, don''t you? Patti, one less person means one less opponent. I''m not as hypocritical as you," the wizard named Brock sneered.


    Everyone present fell into silence. Every year, Lord Radak would select the most outstanding apprentice to promote them.


    This year, the biggest opportunity should have gone to Radak''s new assistant, Nur. However, he had messed up something important, and these days, he had disappeared without a trace. Many spected that Nur had be Radak''s new experimental subject.


    The silence in the room didn''tst long. The gates of the estate were kicked open at that very moment, and out walked a burly man, standing over two meters tall.


    "Lord Korman..." the witch apprentices greeted him respectfully.


    "Follow me inside!"


    Korman nced somewhat disdainfully at the apprentices who were extremely courteous to him. Not so long ago, he had been a material dissected and studied by these people in theboratory. But now, he had be a powerful magic user.


    Naturally, he didn''t hold much affection for those who had once operated on him.


    Lynn and his group followed Korman through the long cobblestone path into the heart of the estate.


    The internal defenses of the estate were strict. Even at night, several patrol teams were still visible.


    Upon entering the castle, they were greeted by a splendid sight - a magnificent golden dome chandelier, colossal sculptures and decorations, various artworks hanging on the walls, and even the carpets were made of expensive magical beast fur, soft andfortable to walk on.


    Korman didn''t linger but led everyone deeper into the castle. A faint scent of blood wafted in the air. Lynn turned to look at the witch apprentices beside him, who showed no reaction. They seemed ustomed to this.


    Once they entered the basement, Korman finally spoke, assigning each apprentice their tasks for the day. Then, he turned to Lynn and his group.


    "Brock, Patti, and Timis, you''ll be in charge of Experiment Number Seven."


    The other apprentices breathed sighs of relief. Some of them even showed smirks of schadenfreude. Since Brock''s group had taken on this dangerous task, the others would have a rtively easier day.


    "Lord Korman..." Brock stammered, on the verge of pleading. The seventhboratory held beings who had lost their sanity, and the experiment aimed to examine the reactions between different shaping elixirs.


    The danger was evident.


    However, under Korman''s cold gaze, Brock was forced to swallow his words.


    "Experiments arranged by Lord Radak always need to bepleted by someone. Otherwise, you can ask who''s willing to take your ce?" Korman remarked sardonically.


    Brock''s face turned deathly pale. He knew that no one here would willingly take on such a dangerous task. In the end, he could only look at Lynn with resentment. If not for the conversation at the entrance, Korman wouldn''t have noticed them.


    Throughout this, Lynn remained silent. The information he obtained from Timis was limited, and he had no idea how dangerous this so-called experiment truly was, or why the apprentice witches were so fearful.


    Under Korman''s forced arrangement, Lynn, Brock, and Patti entered a chamber inside the castle.


    Compared to the cramped, sealed environment outside, theboratory was quite spacious. It was filled with the strong stench of blood and the foul odors of various potions. Transparent jars on the side contained bizarre creatures, their heads split open and coated with a thick gel-like substance, making them look particrly eerie.


    But the most conspicuous item was the surgical table, which resembled a grim instrument of torture. It held daggers, forceps, scissors, suture needles and threads, as well as a few rusty iron chains for restraining hands and feet.


    After entering, Brock and Patti had their eyes fixed on several sealed iron coffins in the corner.


    After a long hesitation, Brock stepped forward and cautiously opened one of the iron coffins...


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 Chapter 93: The Seventh Magic Laboratory

    Chapter 93: The Seventh Magic Laboratory


    As the iron lid slowly slid open, a pungent odor rushed out, revealing a peculiar-looking man inside.


    Hey there,pletely naked, with dried and darkened skin, pale and cracked lips, and arms twisted in a grotesque manner, as if they had been forcibly broken. His body was covered in scars of various kinds, but he hadn''t sumbed to death. Hey there, eyes closed, breathing steadily, as if in a deep slumber.


    "Come and help! He won''t wake up anytime soon..." Bok reluctantly said, pinching his nose.


    Lynn wasn''t afraid and rolled up his sleeves, creating a watery film on his palms. He joined Bok in moving the experimental subject onto a table, then used iron chains to restrain the man''s limbs and neck.


    "I''ll handle the procedure, you''re responsible for recording!" Bok quickly assumed leadership and tossed the experimental logbook to Lynn. He then ordered Patti to fetch the magical elixir.


    Lynn, who was still trying to figure out the experimental process, was happy to assist. He picked up the logbook and started flipping through it.


    ¡¾In the year 726 of the Magical Era, on June 21st. Experiment Subject: Experiment 09. Initial examination indicates kidney necrosis and gastric atrophy. Vital signs are weak. Strong reaction observed after consuming Fire Lizard elixir...


    Experiment Subject: Experiment 011. Defective Shapeshifter Troll elixir. Resilient vital signs. Right arm swelled and burst after injecting Griffin elixir...


    Experiment Subject: Experiment 015... Uncontroble (resulting in the death of four guards and two apprentice wizards)...¡¿


    Lynn quickly flipped through the pages of the logbook. The records were shocking. Seventeen fusion experiments with shapeshifting elixirs had all ended in failure.


    There were generally three oues for the experimental subjects: sudden death due to violent rejection reactions, death during surgery due to weak vital signs, or gaining significantly enhanced power in a short period of time.


    Thest oue often resulted in idents, leading to casualties. That''s why there were so many restraints and iron chains on the experimental table, designed to subdue the subjects.


    Lynn realized that the subject before him was Experiment 18, created from the blood of a Poison Mist Serpent Naga, but due to errors in the fusion process, it had gone berserk, losing its sanity. Thus, it was deemed a failure and used as material for fusion experiments with shapeshifting elixirs.


    In other words, this elixir aimed to grant humans powers simr to magical beasts.


    "Timis, what are you daydreaming about?" Bok had already taken a dagger and put on an old alchemical monocle. Seeing Lynn still engrossed in the previous experiment records, Bok couldn''t help but scold him.


    Just at that moment, the experimental subject, bound by iron chains on its limbs and neck, suddenly opened its eyes. Its blood-red pupils exuded a strong murderous intent, and low, guttural growls emanated from its throat as it struggled to break free. However, the iron restraints and chains prevented it from escaping.


    Bok swallowed hard, his wrist trembling slightly. After waiting for more than ten minutes, when the subject seemed exhausted from its struggles, he finally mustered the courage to disinfect a dagger with a candle and cut open the chest of Experiment 18.


    At the same time, a golden bracelet on his left wrist began to emit a faint glow, and the wound, continuously bleeding, quickly coagted.


    "Heart''s blood supply is normal, about 70% of the cells have been infected with magical energy. It''s an improvementpared to before. The liver and kidneys are abnormal, showing significant swelling. Is there poison gas inside? Perhaps due to the influence of the Poison Mist Serpent Naga elixir..." Bok''s face was filled with nervousness, but he still had some basic professionalism. He tried to ignore the continuous struggles of the experimental subject and observed its condition through the alchemical monocle.


    Lynn also put on a special single-lens alchemical monocle, which resembled a microscope but had lower magnification, around 70 times. It allowed him to vaguely see the general structure of some cells.


    After a brief adjustment, Lynn picked up a feather pen and began recording various organ data of Experiment 18''s body.


    The importance of documenting details was not lost on Lynn. He had already recorded everything with his smart brain. Writing a bit slower, he should be able to mimic around eighty to ny percent of the process.


    Once he confirmed that the subject was still rtively intact, Bok took a Troll elixir that Patti handed over. He forcefully grabbed the subject''s head and poured about half of it down his throat.


    In just half a minute after taking the elixir, the subject went into a frenzy. Its body expanded, straining the iron chains to their limits. It writhed and struggled, even causing the heavy experimental table to vibrate slightly. Its previous injuries began to heal rapidly.


    Bok hesitated, not wanting to get closer, but he also couldn''t miss this opportunity to collect data. He could only muster the courage to make an incision.


    However, Experiment 18 did something that no one had anticipated. It forcibly tore off its right wrist, breaking free from some of the restraints.


    Bok was taken aback, and before he could react, he was struck by the creature''s forelimb, which was as thick as a thigh, and was sent flying.


    Patti was in shock, letting out a scream.


    Bok, enduring the pain, managed to stand up and was about to activate the rm to summon the guards. However, before he could act, a sharp steel sword passed through the gap between the ulna and radius bones in the creature''s forearm, pinning its right arm to the table!


    Lynn calmly and methodically used iron chains to rebind Experiment 18. After struggling for a while, the subject''s body rapidly shrank, and in the midst of violent rejection reactions, it quickly fell silent.


    Bok and Patti both heaved a sigh of relief.


    It wasn''t until Lynn confirmed that this defective specimen had already died that Bok dared to approach once more andplete the dissection work that he had failed to aplish earlier. His back was drenched in cold sweat.


    Simr to Nur, after the subject''s death, the flesh inside its body had shriveled and lost its vitality. It felt like fragile foam that could crumble with a touch, and its various organs were rapidly deteriorating.


    Lynn meticulously recorded all these observed details. Then, together with Bok and Patti, they ced the deceased subject back into the iron coffin.


    Bok looked at the remaining iron coffins with a sense of unease. He turned to his twopanions and said, "It''s your turn now, Patti, Timis."


    The witch vigorously shook her head and didn''t dare to get close.


    "In that case, I''ll do it!" Lynn stepped forward on his own and opened the second coffin. He had watched for quite some time and remembered the process. He should be able to handle it without making mistakes.


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 Chapter 94: Experimenting with Rebellion

    Chapter 94: Experimenting with Rebellion


    With Lynn leading the way, Bock and Jonny managed to suppress their inner fears and quickly ced the second experimental subject on the operating table. They added more iron chains to secure it.


    Lynn looked disdainfully at the equipment at hand, not even a decent surgical knife. He had no choice but to use a sharp knife for me sterilization.


    Witch Dove took over Lynn''s work and was somewhat surprised when she examined the notes on the n. The records were incredibly detailed, documenting the changes in the subject''s various organs at every time interval after consuming the magical potion. It was urate down to the second.


    But didn''t Timis just rush through it without checking the magic hourss? Could these data be fabricated?


    While Jonny hesitated, Lynn had already started dissecting.


    Bock, on the other hand, was responsible for controlling the bleeding and assisting, and he couldn''t help but worry that Lynn might mess things up. Dissecting a live defective subject was no easy task. These irrational monsters not only imposed psychological pressure but also made the dissection much more challenging due to their constant struggling.


    However, Lynn''s knife was even steadier than Bock had imagined. The experimental subject, which was still roaring uncontrobly in front of him, seemed not to exist at all.


    Did he really have no fear when facing these monsters?


    Bock couldn''t understand, and what annoyed him more was that since Lynn took over, there hadn''t been any unexpected incidents. The dissection process went very smoothly, and the experimental subjects didn''t even survive the initial fusion stage after consuming the magical potion.


    The previous incident with the first experimental subject seemed like a mere ident. This made Bock somewhat regretful. He should have let Lynn take over from the beginning.


    Lynn was unaware of Bock''s thoughts, and he didn''t have the luxury to care. He was fully immersed in the experiment, and there was no mid-shift change as he directly took over the remaining dissections.


    Facing these irrational and transformed experimental subjects, Lynn didn''t feel muchpassion. It was only right to send them to the afterlife as soon as possible.


    When the fourth experimental subject fell on the operating table due to a severe adverse reaction, Lynn finally made a discovery. The magical potion seemed to contain some unknown magical materials, which made it easily absorbed by the human digestive system, quickly entering the bloodstream, reaching the heart, and causing it to work so rapidly.


    As a result, the heart was the first organ to be infected and transformed by magic, and it would then pump energy-rich blood throughout the body for further alteration.


    What puzzled Lynn was, why didn''t they use their own magic for transformation, especially when the adverse reactions were so severe? It didn''t make sense.


    Lynn quickly realized the answer. This was rted to the field of shape-shifting magic, a branch of magical studies. Wizards who specialized in shape-shifting magic had extraordinary closebat abilities, and the best among them could even transform into powerful magical beasts.


    It seemed that this magical potion was developed based on the principles of shape-shifting magic. The goal of creating a "perfect specimen" was to give the person who consumed it the power equivalent to a formally trained shape-shifting wizard, but there was a difference: they were using an external force.


    Lynn thought to himself as he dissected the fifth experimental subject. This one appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, much less robust than the previous ones, almost frail.


    What surprised him the most was that the magical infusion in this subject was very low, only about thirty percent.


    "Experimental subject number twenty-two, did it consume the Fire Lizard magical potion before? Unfortunately, it didn''t have much effect, so it became a discard..." Lynn picked up the experiment log, looked at it, and after a moment of contemtion, he suddenly said to Dove.


    "Dove, get me a bottle of Fire Lion magical potion!"


    "Timis, what are you nning to do?" Bock frowned and asked.


    "I''ve made some discoveries, and I''m preparing to experiment with a different magical potion," Lynn exined casually.


    In their previous experiments, they had been using Troll magical potions.


    This was because a previous apprentice had found that trolls, as creatures, had strong regenerative abilities. The magic cell activity they created was high, and they specialized in enhancing the physical body. In theory, they had the least conflict with other transformation potions, and they were most likely to fuse with the rest.


    But Lynn didn''t think so. Because the magical alterations created by Troll magical potions were highly active, they might actually exacerbate magical rejection reactions. The condition of the Null who had only consumed this kind of magical potion was enough to prove this.


    Bock was very dissatisfied with Lynn''s reckless move. What if something went wrong? It would be a problem for all three of them.


    Lynn naturally paid no attention to Bock''s opinion. He wasn''t here for research but to catch the attention of "ck Physician" Radak. Following the routine would take too long.


    Under someone''s repeated urging, Dove hesitated for a moment before bringing the Fire Lion magical potion as requested.


    Lynn took it and directly chugged the entire bottle, leaving Bock on the sidelines feeling a bit anxious.


    Under the violence of this magical potion, the fifth experimental subject showed a reaction in just a few seconds. Its body kept shaking, and its skin turned bright red in a short time.


    "It''s increasing, the magical energy infiltration of the cells is actually increasing..." Bock saw a scene through his alchemical goggles that astonished him. The power brought by the Fire Lion magical potion was rapidly spreading throughout the subject''s body, even devouring the remnants of the Fire Lizard magical potion''s power.


    As expected, Lynn wasn''t surprised by this. In previous experiments, he had already noticed that the powers brought by different transformation potions, aside from mutually repelling each other, also had the potential to consume one another. The key point was that the fifth experimental subject originally had a very low degree of magical infiltration. In other words, the power of the Fire Lion magical potion addedter could easily devour the former as nourishment.


    Although this went against the main purpose of Laboratory Seven, which was to attempt the fusion of different types of transformation potions to create magic wielders with two different magical talents, there was still a chance of creating a magic wielder who could perfectly fuse with the Fire Lion magical potion.


    Bock also noticed this point, and with an expression of shock, the experimental subject''s body suddenly ignited with scorching mes. It burned the iron chains that bound its body bright red, and its body expanded to the point where it directly broke the red-hot iron chains apart...


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 Chapter 95: Embrace Your Imperfections!

    Chapter 95: Embrace Your Imperfections!


    Deterred by the menacing mes, the group had already retreated to the side, and Patty was screaming.


    "Magic transformation... This is magic transformation!"


    The once slightly lean youth hadpletely transformed into a creature with a lion-like head, a back covered in bone spurs, limbs resembling beast ws, dark red skin, and eyes that gleamed with a fiery red light. The only chain binding his body was the one on his right leg.


    "It''s all your fault, Temis! It''s all because of you!" Boke eximed in panic.


    Lynn raised his hand and pressed the nearby rm bell.


    A piercing rm immediately echoed throughout the room, and the tightly closedboratory doors swung open. Several armored guards rushed in, with Coleman leading the way.


    Upon seeing the half-human, half-beast creature on the examination table, Coleman couldn''t help but curse.


    "Damn, another defective product rebellion..."


    Coleman then gave a stern re at Lynn and the others, but he was not unfamiliar with this situation. While the monster was still bound by iron chains, the guards quickly drew the crossbows from their waists.


    Swish, swish, swish!


    The sound of arrows piercing the air filled the room. The arrows made of magicwood burst upon hitting the experimental subject''s body, creating bloody holes all over.


    However, this kind of attack didn''t seem to have much effect. Instead, it drove the creature into a frenzy. The chain binding its right leg snapped, and the half-human, half-beast monster dragged the heavy examination table toward the crowd.


    "Everyone, get out of the way!" Coleman''s forehead was covered in cold sweat. Even he didn''t dare to face this head-on. He could only watch as the massive examination table crashed into the crowd. Several guards who couldn''t dodge in time were knocked down and trapped under the table, their fates uncertain.


    Then the half-human, half-beast creature charged forward. Its footsteps were incredibly heavy, and each step made the sound of shattering floor tiles continuous...


    "Embrace your imperfections..." Coleman was also ignited with anger. He swung his massive axe de and shed with the beastly ws.


    Bang!


    The tremendous collision force caused Coleman to retreat three or four steps in session.


    Losing in a test of strength to a defective product made Coleman''s face hard to look at. Without waiting for the half-beast to charge again, he took the initiative to step forward. His powerful right arm swung in a circle, and the axe de, which cut through a graceful arc, struck the half-beast''s shoulder.


    Sshing!


    The sound of the de tearing through flesh was clearly audible as it sank in. Crimson blood sttered onto Coleman''s face. However, just as he was about to pull out the axe de, he realized that it was stuck in the creature''s muscles and bones.


    The half-beast disyed a pained expression on its face, but its left w firmly held Coleman''s body. Then a burst of scorching mes suddenly surged from its body and engulfed Coleman.


    "Natural magic? How is this possible?" Coleman''s face was filled with astonishment. Natural magic was something that could only be mastered by a magic user who could perfectly merge with a certain bloodline, just like him.


    But no matter how surprised he was, he couldn''t change the current situation. The searing high temperatures quickly approached.


    "Cursed, damned!" Coleman cursed, quickly releasing the axe de from his right hand and kicking the half-human, half-beast creature. He barely avoided the assault of the mes.


    However, having lost his handy weapon and needing to guard against the asional bursts of mes, Coleman instantly found himself at a disadvantage.


    Not far away, some guards hesitated, holding crossbows but not daring to attack. Someone recklessly wielded a heavy sword, trying to help, but the half-beast creature pped him away.


    Seeing the guard''s gruesome fate, Boke and Patty immediately abandoned their thoughts of assisting. They were both afraid of harming Coleman and feared that the monster would redirect its fury toward them.


    Roar! The half-beast creature roared to the heavens, then suddenly opened its mouth, gathering a scorching me within. Coleman, cornered and unable to escape, faced the oing mes.


    At that moment, three Magic Missiles whooshed through the air, striking the creature''s head and knocking its aim off. The fiery column barely missed Coleman, hitting the wall and leaving a deep dent.


    The one whounched the attack was none other than Lynn. He understood that this situation could escte, but the valuable magic user like Coleman couldn''t die, or they would certainly face punishment.


    The disturbed half-beast creature turned its gaze toward Lynn, but before it could act, it felt the ground beneath it soften. Its body sank abruptly.


    Passing by the Reaper by a hair''s breadth, Coleman was filled with a bit of ferocity. He swiftly approached, brandishing a dagger. His movements were rapid and agile. In the blink of an eye, he reached the creature''s side and thrust the dagger into its back.


    The half-beast creature immediately cried out in pain. Its strong right arm pped Coleman to the ground, but just as it prepared to continue the pursuit, annoying Magic Missiles flew at it again and struck its somewhat deformed right leg.


    Coleman didn''t miss this opportunity either. Rolling forward, he charged at the creature once more. With a sharp dagger, he left a deep scar in the creature''s abdomen, causing blood to flow.


    Under Lynn''s continuous interference, Coleman quickly regained control of the situation.


    Guard after guard from the castle arrived, and with thebined efforts of the three magic users, the half-human, half-beast monster was soon subdued.


    Coleman, covered in wounds, spat and gave the lion-like head of the experimental subject a fierce kick. Then, he looked toward Lynn and the others. However, before he could speak to reprimand them, a gloomy voice resounded.


    "Can someone tell me what in the world is going on?"


    As the words fell, a man dressed in a ck robe, with a gaunt face and a group of apprentices, walked in from outside. His eye sockets were hollow, and his dry skin made him appear skeletal.


    Despite standing there, he emitted no aura or visible signs of life. His eyes were filled with an eerie stillness, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    Upon seeing his arrival, Coleman''s body trembled imperceptibly. It seemed like he was filled with fear.


    "Lord Radak..."


    Everyone on the scene, including Coleman, respectfully lowered their heads and greeted the man.


    The neer was none other than the ruler of this castle¡ªLord Radak ckstone!


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 Chapter 96: Lets get started; I want to see your abilities...

    Chapter 96: Let''s get started; I want to see your abilities...


    Ladak surveyed the chaotic scene inside theboratory, then looked at the heavily injured Coleman and the several dead guards. His gaze finally settled on the half-beast lying on the ground, seemingly lifeless.


    "It was Thimis... It was all Thimis''s doing!" Bok cried out as he rushed to Ladak''s side, shouting loudly, afraid of being held responsible.


    Ladak paid no attention to Bok''s ranting. Instead, he walked straight to the strange half-human, half-beast creature, reached out, and carefully examined its head. After about a minute, he coldly inquired, "Who is Thimis?"


    Lynn immediately stepped forward. "I am Thimis... I report to you, Lord Ladak, as Boke said, I was the one in charge of this experiment."


    Seeing Lynn''s confession, Bok and Patti both breathed a sigh of relief. They were most worried that the me would be ced on them.


    Bok even revealed Lynn''s unauthorized use of the Fire Lion Elixir.


    The apprentices in the room all looked at Lynn with pity. Making unauthorized changes to the experiment and causing such chaos was a significant offense.


    However, Ladak''s reaction was not what they had expected. He spoke in a calm tone, "Where is the experiment report?"


    "Here, Lord Ladak!" Lynn stepped forward and handed over the experiment records. He knew he had made the right bet. Ladak didn''t care at all about the out-of-control experiment, the damage it had caused, or the deaths of the guards. As long as results were produced, none of that mattered.


    Ladak reached out to take the report. On the pale, withered index finger of his right hand, there was a ring ¨C the token used for identity verification by the Faceless.


    Lynn quickly averted his gaze, maintaining aposed demeanor. While Ladak reviewed the experiment records, Lynn exined, "Lord Ladak, through the experiment, I discovered that the modified Troll Elixir has high activity and could potentially worsen magical energy repulsion reactions. That''s why I adjusted it to use the Fire Lion Elixir."


    As Lynn spoke, Ladak continued to flip through the experiment report. After he finished reading, he looked at the group of apprentices present and asked, "Who proposed using the Troll Elixir for the experiment?"


    "It was me, Lord Ladak..." A middle-aged, stout apprentice, trembling and pale, stepped forward.


    "So, because of your mistake, seventeen valuable experimental subjects were wasted..." Ladak''s tone was icy.


    The stout apprentice turned even paler, and his whole body trembled uncontrobly. He already had a sense of what punishment he would face. He panicked, seemingly losing his wits, and attempted to flee through the open window.


    However, Coleman reacted faster. His injuries didn''t hinder his actions, and he swiftly rushed to grab the stout apprentice by the cor. He forcefully pulled him back, mmed him against the wall, and delivered a powerful punch.


    Thud!


    The muffled impact sound and the screams rang out one after another. Apanied by the clear sound of bones breaking, the overweight apprentice was battered by Coleman, his face swollen and blood streaming.


    "Ah, ah, ah... I was wrong, Lord Ladak... Have mercy!"


    The stout apprenticey on the ground, writhing in pain. Bok and the others were frightened, watching as Coleman brutally beat his fellow apprentice into unconsciousness. A few guards quickly surrounded him and tied him up.


    Ladak watched all of this in silence. Finally, he turned to Lynn and asked, "You did well this time, Thimis. Is there anything you want?"


    "I want to be your assistant, Lord Ladak!" Lynn spoke without hesitation. He had no concerns that Ladak would suspect him. After all, since Nur''s death, every apprentice in the room had been vying for this position, trying to gain Ladak''s favor and secure a promotion.


    Ladak didn''t provide a direct answer but said, "Coleman, send some people to clean up this ce and lock the test subject in the dungeon. As for you, Thimis...e with me!"


    The apprentices in the room had now realized that the recent experiment''s turmoil was not just an ident. They looked at Lynn, their faces filled with envy and jealousy.


    Bok was utterly dumbfounded. He had implicated himself to escape me, only to watch Lynn bask in Ladak''s favor. He was filled with regret.


    Amidst the various gazes, Lynn followed Ladak deeper into the castle. They stopped in front of a high wall in the basement.


    Ladak raised his staff and lightly touched the wall. Ripples spread, and a door suddenly appeared on the otherwise empty wall.


    The massive door automatically swung open, revealing a spacious underground chamber, even more extensive than the castle''s front hall. The decorations and furnishings had an ancient, weathered look, radiating a sense of age.


    In the center stood a colossal statue, about two meters in height, with a silver-gray hue, masterfully and intricately crafted, resembling a lifelike figure.


    As they entered, torches around the chamber lit up one by one, illuminating the dim underground space. Lynn now noticed that on both sides of the chamber were numerous coffins, each containing a body. The sheer number made him wonder if he had stumbled upon a morgue.


    This sight put his guard up to the maximum, and Lynn began to wonder if Ladak had already uncovered his true identity.


    Should he make a move...


    Lynn was torn between two difficult choices. It was just him and Ladak in the chamber, a perfect opportunity, but the countless bodies in the room made him feel uneasy.


    "Let''s get started; show me your abilities," Ladak suddenly spoke.


    Lynn instinctively started to conjure white phosphorus mes to strike Ladak. Then he realized Ladak was referring to the small, child-sized body on the examination table nearby.


    Realizing his mistake, Lynn quickly adjusted his mindset and picked up a nearby dagger, walking to the examination table.


    This area was much brighter than the rest of the chamber, with a palm-sized sapphire embedded in the ceiling providing illumination for the entire examination table.


    After clearly seeing the body''s features, Lynn''s expression subtly changed. He realized that the person lying before him was Ralph, who had been attacked a few days ago and taken to the security office by Leah and others!


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 Chapter 97: The Death of Ladek

    Chapter 97: The Death of Ladek


    Ladek saw that Lynn remained motionless, thinking that faced with this bloody and mangled corpse, he didn''t know where to begin. So, he spoke up, offering some advice.


    "Let''s start with the organs, cut away the useless rotten flesh..."


    Lynn finally snapped back to reality and began dissecting Ralph''s body with a nk expression. The skin was ice-cold to the touch, with some frozen crystals still clinging to it, likely due to previous preservation in ice. It exined how the body had remained well-preserved until now.


    Ladek closely watched Lynn''s every move with the knife, offering asional reminders and instructing him to remove certain organs that wouldn''t preserve well, cing them in a greenish liquid.


    Lynn vaguely realized that what he was doing might be more than just dissecting a corpse.


    The dissection in the secret chamber continued until five in the morning. Lynn had to stay vignt to guard against the possibility of Ladek turning hostile. It was only when they finally left Ladek''s estate that he could rx.


    The experiments with shape-shifting elixirs, the Faceless One, Ralph... Lynn contemted everything he had seen in the mansion. He could confirm that "Doctor Dark" Ladek was indeed associated with the "Faceless Ones" and likely a core member of the "Blood Thorn" as Ladek had suspected.


    However, Lynn didn''t rush into action. Despite the soundproofing in the secret room and its secrecy, something about the situation didn''t sit right with him.


    The only good news was that he had smoothly assumed the role of Ladek''s assistant, which would provide him with convenience in his future actions.


    Over the next two days, Lynn continued his daytime duties as a professor of arcane mathematics. In the evenings, he acted as Ladek''s assistant under the guise of Timis, gathering more information.


    The remaining time was spent delving into shape-shifting magic at the library.


    On the third day, Lynn finally made up his mind. He realized he couldn''t wait any longer because tomorrow would be the day of the Faceless Ones'' gathering.


    ...


    At night, inside Ladek''s castle, Lynn, as usual, made his way to the secret chamber deep within the castle.


    However, there was a change in the secret chamber today, the most noticeable being the addition of a short, chubby figure.


    It was the apprentice who had been beaten because of the elixir incident. He was now bound above an alchemical array, with snot and tears streaming down his face. When he saw Lynn, he cried out desperately.


    "Please, please, Timis... help me plead for mercy. I can''t die like this... Do you remember? I was the one who rmended you to be Lord Ladek''s apprentice..."


    The chubby wizard''s apprentice begged with tears, but when he realized that Lynn wasn''t paying any attention to him, he resorted to bitter curses, his words growing more venomous. If not for Lynn, he wouldn''t have ended up in this situation.


    Lynn merely gave him a cold nce and shifted his attention to Ladek.


    Over the past few days, he had noticed that, unless necessary, this ck Doctor hardly ever left his underground fortress.


    "Feed it to him," Ladek took out a bottle of green elixir and handed it to Lynn. Then, he began engraving the remaining alchemical runes.


    Lynn nced at the alchemical array beneath his feet, memorized it in silence, and then firmly grasped the chubby apprentice''s neck and forced the elixir down his throat.


    In just a few seconds, the elixir''s effects began to manifest. The grotesque, twisted expression on the apprentice''s face gradually softened, and he even cracked a faint smile before slipping into a deep slumber.


    Seeing this eerie sight, Lynn couldn''t help but feel a chill. He quickly stepped out of the alchemical array''s range.


    Meanwhile, Ladek had justpleted thest rune and, with an ominous smile, chanted aplicated incantation.


    The chubby apprentice''s body quickly floated into the air, mouth gaping, his body trembling continuously. Then, a faint, translucent, and watery-blue figure gradually emerged.


    No, Lynn soon realized it wasn''t light; it was a translucent, ethereal figure that undted like water...


    This is... a soul?


    Lynn was witnessing a scene he had never encountered before. He immediately understood why Ladek had constructed such a secretiveboratory. If the previous experiments with shape-shifting elixirs had been pushing the boundaries, this exploration of spirit magic was outright forbidden in the realm of wizards.


    The azure spiritual form floated in the center of the alchemical array, casting a gaze filled with hatred and resentment toward them. It let out a strange, piercing screech and charged at them.


    The moment the screech pierced the air, Lynn felt his brain being struck by something.


    He had experienced this feeling before. It was simr to when Dove had used the "Soul Shriek." But this time, the effect seemed much weaker. Lynn only felt a slight influence and quickly took a few steps back. He wasn''t sure how to deal with a spiritual entity.


    Ladek remained steady and unperturbed. The alchemical array on the ground suddenly lit up. The charging spirit seemed to hit an invisible barrier, unable to leave the array no matter how its ethereal form surged.


    Lynn also noticed that this strange spirit was bing more ethereal.


    Ladek didn''t dy for long. The apprentice''s spirit was incredibly weak, and once it left the body, it wouldn''t be long before it dissipatedpletely.


    With a raised hand, the resentful spirit was tightly bound by a mysterious force, forcing it into the half-man''s corpse on the experimental table.


    About ten secondster, Ralph''s body suddenly opened its eyes, stood up from the table, and slowly moved its neck. It looked around and finally fixed its gaze on Lynn and Ladek not far from the table.


    Then, "Ralph" showed an expression of anger, opened its mouth as if it wanted to say something, but all that came out were a series of unpleasant screams. Its body waspletely out of control, stumbling and falling to the ground after a few steps.


    "Worthless..."


    Ladek looked dissatisfied as he watched the half-man who couldn''t even walk properly, despite the tremendous effort put into this experiment.


    The only use now was to transform him into a ghoul.


    Ladek once again activated his spirit maniption magic. "Ralph" suddenly shivered and then, like a puppet on strings, moved by itself to the side. Finally, ity in an iron coffin within the secret chamber.


    "You should have seen it, Timis," Ladek finally turned to Lynn and said with a sly smile. "I can give you another chance to choose. Are you ready to be my assistant?"


    "Of course, Lord Ladek..." Lynn lowered his head, fully aware that the so-called choice was no choice at all. Seeing such forbidden spirit experiments, it was eitherply or die!


    "Very well,e over." Ladek was quite pleased with Lynn''s understanding of the situation and spoke with a deep voice.


    Lynn walked forward slowly and soon stood in front of Ladek.


    Ladek reached out his hand, as he needed to ce another seal in Lynn''s mind to prevent any betrayal. At that moment, a sense of impending danger suddenly surged in Lynn''s heart.


    However, by the time he realized that something was amiss, it was toote. Lynn simultaneously raised his hand, and scorching mes surged from his palm, instantly engulfing Ladek''s body.


    "Ah!" A piercing scream echoed throughout the entire chamber. Ladek''s body turned into a zing torch, the intense white phosphorus fire devouring his flesh.


    Faced with a peculiar spirit mage, Lynn didn''t even consider leaving him alive. He went all out from the start, continuously increasing the power of the white phosphorus mes.


    Ladek''s agonizing screamssted for a full minute, and then he copsed to the ground, his body almostpletely charred.


    Is he dead?


    Only now did Lynn stop casting his spell and look at Ladek, who waspletely lifeless. However, he remained on high alert.


    The chamber was dead silent. Not a sound could be heard, and several secondster, within the tightly sealed chamber, an angry shout suddenly erupted.


    "You are not Timis..." "Who are you?"


    Lynn''s heart sank to the bottom. The worst-case scenario he had anticipated had urred. From the moment he had seen Ladek a few days ago, he had sensed that something was amiss. That was why he had dyed taking action. But he hadn''t expected that this was also a controlled undead creature.


    Lynn''s silence seemed to anger Ladek, and three of the closed coffins on either side of the chamber suddenly opened.


    Three tall and strong figures dressed in ck robes emerged from the coffins. They maintained their original appearances, but their pupils had turned gray, their skin had a bluish hue, and they exuded a sense of brutality and malevolence.


    "Multiple - Pyroburst Technique."


    Two of the figures cast a spell as soon as they were revived, and several cruel fireballs appeared in the air and shot towards Lynn.


    Thest figure transformed into a fierce bear and lunged at Lynn.


    Lynn took a step back, and dozens of Magic Missiles materialized around him. They shed with the iing fireballs, causing violent explosions that echoed through the chamber. The rest of the Magic Missiles, hidden by the smoke, rushed towards the other two figures behind him.


    "Minor - Magic Barrier."


    Two wizards in ck robes immediately cast protective spells. Several magical barriers formed in front of them. However, the remaining Magic Missiles were all enhanced, exploding in mid-air, with numerous drops of orange-yellow liquid raining down.


    This was a high-level second-circle magic¡ªHigh-Temperature Steam Kill.


    The difference was that the interior of these Magic Missiles contained not chlorine but a more corrosive substance: aqua regia!


    Numerous "raindrops" fell on their robes and exposed skin, but the long-deceased wizards were oblivious to the corrosive liquid eating away at their bodies, revealing stark white bones underneath. As they moved, they looked like a puddle of mud copsing to the ground.


    At the same time, the ferocious bear had reached Lynn''s front. Its sharp ws swiped viciously at his face. Another step closer, and it would have torn off his head!


    Lynn took another step back, narrowly avoiding the attack. His right hand had already gripped the short sword concealed in his sleeve.


    Cellr Transmutation.


    Lynn used the techniques of the Transmutation school for the first time. A surge of magical power entered his right arm. Just as the bear''s attack was about to conclude, the sharp de was drawn from its sheath, slicing through its massive neck, nearly severing half its head.


    Blood sprayed, staining the ground red. The bear let out a final roar before its colossal body crashed to the ground.


    Lynn''s right hand trembled, and the short burst of magical power took a toll on his body. Though it granted him extraordinary strength for a short time, it was also a considerable strain on his body.


    However, a quick victory was the only choice because five coffins had been opened.


    In light of Lynn''s formidable melee capabilities disyed earlier, none of the adversaries opted for closebat this time. Instead, they all unleashed their sorcery.


    Faced with several attackers, Lynn''s response was to create more and stronger white phosphorus mes.


    In this moment, most of the magical power within him was depleted, and the energy reserves in his intellect decreased by five percent. He then condensed the surging inferno into a magical arm, epassing all the explosive spells, ice arrows, and even the rows of coffins behind him.


    With this one strike, arge part of the chamber turned into a sea of mes.


    Lynn didn''t intend to engage in an endless back-and-forth. Before the remaining coffins could open, several white phosphorus fireballs reappeared in the void and shot in all directions, ready to obliterate all the coffins around him.


    Invisible magical barriers rose from all sides, blocking some of the iing fireballs.


    Lynn also noticed that the unupied experiment table had erected a sturdy barrier.


    It was a third-circle protective spell - Magic Ward!


    Prioritizing the protection of this particr area made Lynn wonder if there was something crucial here. Vague thoughts about previous experiments surfaced in his mind.


    "What kind of fire is this?" At the same time, Ladek''s voice echoed once more, but this time, it no longer held anger, rather a tinge of panic.


    Most of the fireballs were blocked by the magical barriers, but the mes did not extinguish. They adhered to the barriers, even showing signs of expansion.


    The remaining coffins in the chamber finally ceased to open. Ladek concentrated all his power in one ce. The enormous silver statue erected in the chamber, an impervious golem, began moving. It swung a long sword and a massive shield towards Lynn.


    Faced with such a colossal adversary, Lynn knew that both mes and ice were unlikely to be effective. His response remained the same: Magic Barrage.


    Dozens of Magic Missiles rained down like a deluge of arrows, continuously striking the golem''s body, but it was like waves breaking against a rocky shore, unable to make even the slightest dent.


    Just as the golem''s sword descended, Lynn''s finger moved slightly, altering the trajectory of one Magic Missile. It urately pierced through the void left by the incineration caused by white phosphorus fire, heading directly for the palm-sized azure gem above the experiment table.


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 Chapter 98: No Chapter

Chapter 98: No Chapter

 Chapter 99: The Source of Magic

    Chapter 99: The Source of Magic


    "Stop!" Lynn cried out.


    Radak was in aplete panic. He immediately retracted all his power, causing the enormous magic construct toe to a halt. Following this, a sharp sound wave reverberated continuously within the sealedboratory.


    The nearby magical missiles, just inches away, were also affected by some intense force and soon exploded with a resounding bang.


    However, there was no joy in Radak because, after the magical shell had shattered, a searing white phosphorus me burst forth from within. It quickly reached the azure gemstone.


    What was once a sharp, magical sound known as the "Soul''s Scream" turned into a painful wail.


    The remaining dozen or so coffins in the secret chamber began to shake violently.


    Lynn had already conjured a fireball in his hand. Apanied by the sound of the shattering gemstone, a transparent vengeful spirit materialized in the chamber. Its visage was grotesque and contorted, bearing countless pain and resentment.


    Perhaps due to the shattering of its containment, the spirit had suffered severe damage, and its ethereal form was even less substantial than the previous wizard''s apprentice. The surrounding air acted like sharp knives, relentlessly draining the meager power Radak had left.


    The wailing and screams continued for more than half a minute before abruptly stopping. The ephemeral spirit quickly dissipated before Lynn''s eyes.


    Finally, Lynn was free from the influence of the "Soul''s Scream." He understood that he was right; since all those under control were ghouls, Radak must have stored their souls elsewhere.


    Something simr to a Lich''s Phctery.


    His chosen target was the azure gemstone used as a light source.


    It must be said that Radak had a morbid sense of humor, using his own soul for illumination.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he had noticed the gem''s strong magical response during his earlier experiments, he might never have thought of this use for it.


    Under Lynn''s control, the zing white phosphorus fire within the secret chamber gradually died down. All that remained was a ruin; over a hundred coffins had been incinerated, with the only intact ones being the silver golem and the pile of magic books on the bookshelf behind the experiment table.


    "Biological Materials and Ethereal Substances," "Comprehensive Guide to Ethereal Magic," "Advanced Alchemical Studies"...


    Lynn nced at the books on the shelf. Besides numerous volumes on ethereal and alchemical magic, there were also many research notes.


    However, he had no time to flip through them or even tidy up the chaotic chamber. Lynn used a shape-shifting spell to take on Radak''s appearance and opened the secret chamber''s door to exit.


    The castle was now in chaos, but Lynn wasn''t surprised given the circumstances.


    He didn''t want any interruptions while dealing with Radak, so, taking advantage of his assistant status, he had made some preparations in the ces where the failed experiments were being held.


    Calcting the time, it should have already taken effect.


    However, the castle''s guards were more formidable than he had imagined. When Lynn arrived in the main hall, several of the rebellious failed experiments had already been subdued.


    "Lord Radak... Experiment subjects number twelve, twenty-seven, and thirty-two suddenly broke free from their cells. We are still counting the casualties and haven''t determined the cause yet."


    Seeing Lynn''s figure, Coleman and the others immediately knelt down, trembling, and made their report.


    This time, the uprising of the experimental subjects was utterly inexplicable, and no one could be med for it. Everyone was deeply concerned that Radak would unleash his wrath upon them.


    Lynn cast a cold, indifferent gaze upon Coleman and spoke with a tone that seemed to contain suppressed anger. "It was Themis! He''s a spy sent by the Nornd Magic Workshop to steal a crucial research achievement..."


    Although Lynn didn''t explicitly mention what would happen to Themis, everyone could guess that his fate must have been quite gruesome.


    "I knew Themis had to be up to something..." Bock eximed, filled with excitement.


    Ever since Themis had be a preparatory assistant thanks to hisst research sess, Bock had been nursing a grudge. He believed that he had put in a lot of effort into that experiment, but all the credit had been stolen by Themis.


    Now that he heard of Themis''s misfortune, a twisted sense of satisfaction surged within Bock.


    But when Bock caught Lynn''s gaze, his excited expression immediately faded. He suddenly realized that it was this very Lord who had personally approved Themis as an assistant.


    Fortunately, Lynn didn''t pay any heed to his thoughts. Instead, he turned to Coleman and spoke once again. "Coleman, you continue your investigation. No one is to be spared. I want to see how many rats are still lurking within this castle!"


    "I understand, Lord Radak," Coleman quickly replied.


    Hearing this, the apprentices all had a change in their expressions, and there was a subtle air of suspicion in their gazes towards one another.


    This was precisely what Lynn intended to achieve - to make everyone in the castle be mutually watchful and distrustful. This way, even if he exhibited some unusual behavior, no one would suddenly lose their minds and start suspecting if the "Lord Radak" before them was genuine.


    Following this, Lynn began to arrange for the debris to be cleaned up and the losses to be tallied.


    Since Radak had wielded significant authority, Lynn found that he couldmand things with hardly any obstacles, as no one dared to question his orders.


    In other words, as long as his identity remained undiscovered, he could have free rein over everything in the magic workshop.


    ...


    After handling the affairs within the castle, Lynn wasted no time and returned to the secret chamber to sort through Radak''s belongings, especially the research notes. Among them, the knowledge of magic was the greatest treasure.


    "Rogon Blossom, Soul Soothe Herb, Banshee''s Sharp ws, Magic Elderwood Roots... coupled with Ethereal Essence?"


    Lynn sat at the cold experiment table, perusing a research note in his hand. It contained the form for the "Source of Magic." If the shape-shifting elixirs enhanced a wizard''s physical abilities, then the "Source of Magic" was meant to elevate mental strength.


    This was the very essence of a wizard''s ability to cast spells.


    In fact, obtaining the other materials was not too difficult; they could be purchased with magic coins. The real challengey in acquiring Ethereal Essence...


    Ethereal Essence was found within the minds of powerful magical creatures. It was, however, exceedingly rare, and harvesting it was not a straightforward task. For instance, ying a Fire Lion would yield enough Ethereal Essence to create only one vial of the "Source of Magic."


    This substance also existed within the minds of wizard apprentices and even full-fledged wizards.


    Ignoring the full-fledged wizards for now, ording to Radak''s spection, it was sufficient to gather Ethereal Essence from the minds of three wizard apprentices to assemble one batch of the raw material. This method had a higher probability of sess for advancing...


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 Chapter 100: Unearthing the Foundation of Magic

    Chapter 100: Unearthing the Foundation of Magic


    No wonder the wizarding realm guarded the form for the "Source of Magic" so fiercely. If it were to be disclosed, it would probably lead to a witch hunt. Those apprentice wizards whocked talent and were eager to advance would do anything to get their hands on it.


    "So, this is the meaning of ''Bloodthorn,'' isn''t it?" Lynn immediately felt that the name was quite apt, just like the properties of this potion. Every official wizard who advanced within the Bloodthorn was nurtured by the blood of theirpanions.


    As he pondered this, Lynn turned his attention to the remaining notes. Radak''s research was mostly rted to psychic magic.


    For example, it covered how to use alchemical arrays to extract a person''s soul, create revenants, and make containers for souls.


    The reason Radak delved into these psychic magic experiments was simple: hecked the natural talent to advance to the level of a grand wizard. Thus, he resorted to some dark and unorthodox methods.


    Radak''s true goal was probably to ce his own soul into a more talented body. However, this was clearly not an easy task, as the records of dozens of experiments in the notes all ended in failure.


    At this point, Lynn felt a bit embarrassed. Strictly speaking, he seemed to have aplished these things when he crossed over, but he didn''t even know the reasons himself.


    Regardless, the top priority was to raise his wizard rank. Lynn soon set aside his ns to explore psychic magic. Now that he knew the manufacturing process for the "Source of Magic," he naturally wanted to break through to be an official wizard as soon as possible.


    This way, he would eliminate hisst weakness.


    Throughout the entire night, Lynn was absorbed in the creation of magical potions. Thankfully, Radak''s estate had a substantial stock of magical ingredients. He could simply instruct a few apprentices to fetch any materials he needed.


    The only problem was Lynn''s limited knowledge of potion-making. Although he had the recipes in hand, he had to slowly experiment with each potion''s properties, handling, and brewing time. In just one night, he wasted the equivalent of over a hundred magical gold coins'' worth of materials.


    Lynn was surprisingly okay with this. After all, he wasn''t using his own resources.


    Potions made by his own hands would surely be more reliable than consuming ones made by others.


    He continued to work until the early hours. The old cauldron was now filled with a chaotic-colored liquid. The potion required about three days of brewing. When the color becamepletely transparent, he could add the most crucialponent: a portion of the "Source of Magic."


    With the opportunity to break through so close, Lynn forced himself to remain calm and began preparing the second potion.


    Before he could consume it, he would need someone to be a guinea pig.


    Just in case Radak had tampered with the recipe or done something else suspicious. Lynn didn''t want to be caught in a trap.


    ...


    While Lynn was brewing his potion, the entire wizarding realm was set aze by thetest issue of the "Magic Daily."


    "Unearthing the Foundation of Magic - The Law of Free Fall," "A Roar from the Society of Mystical Arts: The Magic Theories of the Wizarding Realm are Outdated," "From Sails and the Sea Surface: Our Continent Might Be a Sphere," "The Dual Sphere Experiment of Skyward Airships - Unveiling the Astonishing Oversight of Master Yade."


    As a professional journalist, Rol knew how to grab attention. The extra copies of the newspaper were quickly snatched up, and it soon found its way to the desks of every wizard.


    "This is simply absurd!"


    In a grand magical workshop, Grand Wizard Raphael burst intoughter after reading the headlines of the Magic Daily. He couldn''t believe that a three-ring wizard from the outside would im to overturn the foundations of magic and question the outdated magical theories. It was nothing short of ignorance.


    But was that person mad? How could they publicly publish such ludicrous statements?


    Raphael felt some doubt, but he patiently continued reading, and his expression shifted from disdain and mockery to skepticism, until he saw the star map on the page. His entire demeanor changed instantly.


    Perfect. It was simply perfect!


    As an architect with OCD, Raphael firmly believed that the truths of the world must be highly systematic and aesthetically pleasing.


    The star charts produced by the astrologers, while showing the orbits of nearby celestial bodies in a beautiful way, became chaotic when dealing with more distant stars. They could only be described as disorderly, and even featured bizarre phenomena of sudden jumps in their trajectories.


    So, almost instantly, Raphael was convinced that the star map in the Magic Daily was correct.


    Crash!


    Just as he was thinking this, two loud impacts suddenly came from outside the door, apanied by the sound of cracked tiles. Raphael, who was quite displeased, folded up the newspaper, opened the door, and saw two half-meter diameter spheres hitting the ground below the distant tower.


    Following that, amotion rose from the top of the tower.


    "It''s true, they both fell at the same time!"


    "Nonsense, I saw it very clearly; the small one was a tenth of a second slower."


    One male wizard, craning his neck, spoke confidently. He had been using farseeing magic to watch, and he saw it very clearly.


    "But it says here that it''s due to the influence of air resistance. Master Yade''s theory is actually correct!"


    "But why aren''t feathers and paper the same then?"


    "It''s said that Master Herlram has already conducted experiments. As long as you remove the air, everything will fall simultaneously."


    ...


    A group of apprentices gathered on the tower, discussing the experiments described in the Magic Daily. Many of them had flushed faces and were constantly arguing, on the verge of fighting right then and there.


    Raphael, upon seeing the two falling spheres, understood that these apprentices were verifying the Law of Free Fall. Even though the height and weight obviously didn''t match, the results were evidently the same.


    "Grand Wizard Raphael, is our continent really round?" A nearby male wizard, responsible for recording the experiments, asked in confusion.


    Since the Law of Free Fall had been confirmed, did that mean the so-called theory of a spherical world was also true?


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 Chapter 101: The Enigma of the Faceless Ring

    Chapter 101: The Enigma of the Faceless Ring


    "How is this even possible?" Raphael instinctively wanted to retort. While he couldn''t deny the uracy of what Jisun had said, the question of whether the continent beneath their feet was t or spherical remained unsettled.


    Relying solely on the sails of the sea was too hasty of a judgment!


    Raphael was not the only one with such thoughts. Compared to the readily verifiable experiments of freefall, the concept of a spherical was the most incredulous one.


    No one could create a colossal spherical body that appeared as t as the ground, and it was even more difficult to fathom such an existence.


    Furthermore, nobody couldprehend why the seawater adhered to the surface of a sphere instead of merely falling off.


    However, the skepticism of the people did notst long, as the legendary mage who had roamed the skies for days, nearly getting lost, finally returned with shocking news.


    Indeed, thend beneath their feet might actually be round! This earth-shattering revtion swept through the entirend of mages. Whether they believed it or not, everyone remembered the unfamiliar name that came from beyond the Mage''s Land, Lynn!


    "Professor Lynn!"


    The next morning, after finishing a session of magical studies, Lynn was contemting which creature''s essence to use as the basis for his advancement when his thoughts were interrupted by a voice.


    "Your Excellency Rol, is there something you need?" Lynn inquired, looking puzzled at Rol, who stood behind him.


    "This is today''s Magical Daily. You probably haven''t had a chance to read it yet," Rol said, offering a newspaper to Lynn with a sly smile.


    Upon seeing the erged headlines, Lynn''s mouth involuntarily twitched.


    ["Disrupting the Foundations of Magic¡ªThe Law of Freefall"] and ["Outrage from the Society of Mystical Arts: Magic Theories in the Land of Mages Are Already Outdated"]...


    "Are you intentionally causing trouble for me, Your Excellency Rol?" Lynn could already imagine the storm that would be stirred up in the Land of Mages.


    "How is that possible? I''m just a regr contributor. I don''t decide what content to publish," Rol shrugged and teased, "Besides, I''m merely repeating what you''ve said."


    Lynn rolled his eyes. He hadn''t said anything about disrupting the foundations of magic or any such nonsense.


    "Don''t worry; a member of the Council has ascended to the skies to confirm. It is indeed possible that thend beneath our feet is a sphere," Rol said, deeply moved, though he still found it somewhat unbelievable.


    Confirmed from the skies? How high did they have to go?


    Lynn''s face was filled with astonishment. While the might be round, its size was immense. To get a visible curvature, it would take an altitude of about 100 kilometers from the surface, a height approaching the ozoneyer of the Earth in his previous life.


    However, perhaps this beneath their feet wasn''t as massive as his previous world''s Earth. Alternatively, legendary mages might have extraordinary vision, but at the very least, an altitude of ten kilometers or more would be necessary to observe the curvature with the naked eye. This height was already near the altitude of the Earth''s ozoneyer.


    This development, however, saved him a lot of trouble. Now, with a legendary mage''s endorsement and verified facts for both of his theories, he could avoid manyplications.


    "I think the Council''s invitation should arrive in a few days," Rol said.


    "Invitation?" Lynn was momentarily puzzled and asked, "What invitation?"


    "Of course, it''s the academic conference. The Land of Mages holds it every year, and representatives from various schools attend," Rol exined. "And as for your Skyship, Lord Tiek has already submitted the patent application for you."


    "In that case, I''ll have to thank him properly when we meet next," Lynn said with a smile.


    At night, Lynn once again entered the estate as Radrak. The crucibles on the experimental table were still bubbling, and everything was exactly as he had left it. It seemed that no one had entered during this time.


    After checking the progress of the potion brewing, Lynn took out the "Book of Magical Creatures" to read.


    Being a third-circle wizard who had lived for a long time, Radrak''s collection of books was extensive. Many of the books contained knowledge that couldn''t be found in the academy''s library.


    For example, in this "Book of Magical Creatures," there were details about the spiritual essence content and intensity in the brains of more than tenmon magical creatures. Generally, the more powerful the creature, the more noticeable the increase in mental power after advancing to a full-fledged wizard.


    The only concern Lynn had was that Radrak''s estate only had the spiritual essences of Fire Lions, Stone Lizards, and Gryphons. These three magical creatures were of moderate strength, and Lynn wasn''t entirely sure of a sessful promotion.


    After all, the original Carl''s magical talent was only average, and if he hadn''te from another world with a fused soul to strengthen his mental power, it would have been impossible to reach the limit of magic energy growth in just two months.


    As he contemted, a slight magical fluctuation suddenly jumped within the sealed chamber.


    Lynn became alert instinctively and looked at the source of the magical fluctuation. Under the shattered floor tiles, something was faintly glowing.


    [Mage''s Hand]


    Lynn raised his hand and cast the spell. The shattered floor tiles were quickly lifted, revealing a delicately shaped ring suspended beneath. It was brought in front of him.


    The Faceless Ring?


    Lynn immediately recognized the item, but it wasn''t the same one he had received initially. This one was Radrak''s artifact.


    He had thought this item would have been burned to ashes by white phosphorus fire. However, it had survived without any signs of damage under temperatures exceeding a thousand degrees, continuously emitting a faint glow.


    ording to the description on the original envelope, this was supposed to be a signal for a gathering.


    Calcting the time, it was indeed the day of the Faceless gathering.


    Lynn''s expression couldn''t help but change. As Radrak had already perished, many things could not be confirmed in person. He could only specte that Radrak obtained the airship blueprints using soul-searching magic on Relf''s mind.


    However, the notes didn''t mention any use for the airship.


    So, it was highly likely that Radrak didn''t need it for himself but acquired it for someone else.


    After a brief hesitation, Lynn quickly made a decision. Perhaps he could attend this gathering as Radrak and find out more about the Faceless.


    To that end, he cautiously input a trace of magic.


    It was a strange sensation, as if his vision was instantly split into two halves. One half was the scene in the sealed chamber before him, and the other half was a dark, empty space...


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 Chapter 102: Coincidentally, I Have Some Knowledge of the Human Body

    Chapter 102: Coincidentally, I Have Some Knowledge of the Human Body


    The scene felt like a whirlwind, surrounded by darkness, with about a dozen shadowy figures forming a circle in front of me. Faint traces of magic shimmered on their bodies.


    I scanned the surroundings. All of them appeared ephemeral, like unstable water ripples, making it hard to discern their exact features. I could only make out their height, weight, and subtle changes in their facial expressions.


    "A virtual environment has been detected. Would you like to analyze it and search for the signal source?" A prompt suddenly echoed in my mind, almost startling me. I realized that the voice of the AI wasn''t transmitted through magic into this space, as everyone around me remained oblivious.


    "Yes..." I whispered my response in my mind. I was curious about this peculiar space. Who would have thought that attending the gathering in the guise of Ladek would lead to such an unexpected discovery?


    However, when I checked the progress of the analysis, I couldn''t help but twitch my lips. The analysis was progressing at a frustratingly slow pace.


    After about two minutes, the phantasmal figures in this peculiar space stopped increasing, and I counted a total of fifteen people, including myself.


    "Is everyone here?" The witch in front of me asked.


    "Hasn''t Number 4 been missing for a while?" Another person beside her shook his head.


    "Maybe he died somewhere? Who knows? Stop the pointless chatter and let''s get started!" A tall and thin figure impatiently interrupted their discussion and then addressed the rest of us.


    "Let me begin. I''ll talk about the human body. If you''re not interested, you can leave..."


    With that statement, five of the phantoms immediately disappeared.


    I observed silently, not moving a muscle.


    The tall, thin figure soon started speaking again. "ording to my research, the human body contains over two hundred bones and more than six hundred muscles. Muscles areposed of long, thin threads, and if we break it down further, it''s a unique structure made up of four basic elements..."


    As the thin figure rambled on, those in attendance either contemted deeply, chuckled, or interjected with questions. The male witch patiently answered their inquiries.


    When the exnation concluded, eight of the attendees, excluding me, extended their hands and flicked a transparent coin in his direction.


    Do you have to pay for this knowledge? That thought crossed my mind. Moreover, it was brought here through magic, so it couldn''t be regr currency.


    "Number 7, do you have any objections to what I''ve said?" The opening speaker, looking displeased, turned to me. His phantom body kept trembling with anger.


    ording to the rules, if you didn''t want to listen, you could simply skip and leave. However, I had listened but wasn''t willing to pay!


    Under the scrutiny of more than a dozen pairs of eyes, I remained silent for a moment, then continued with a smile, "You can think that way... In fact, I already knew everything you talked about. It''s nothing new, and it doesn''t help me at all..."


    However, my words infuriated the male witch. Before he could retort, I continued, "Coincidentally, I have some knowledge about the human body too. For example, the muscle fibers you mentioned, I call them muscle fibers. There are approximately six billion of them in the human body,posed of seventy-three percent water and twenty-seven percent protein. As for the bones, they are formed from cogen, calcium, phosphorus, and otherponents..."


    I spoke confidently, expanding on the witch''s previous speech, providing more details and even exining the elementalposition of these substances.


    The tall and thin phantom figure continued to shift and change, his face growing darker. Although terms like "protein" and "cogen" were entirely foreign to him, he did have some knowledge he chose to withhold intentionally.


    This meant that the other party wasn''t bluffing but genuinely had a deeper understanding of the human body.


    "It looks like these coins should go to Number 7," the witch sneered, noting the silence of the tall and thin male witch. However, as she looked at Lynn, she couldn''t help but shiver with a hint of fear. How many bodies had he dissected and studied to acquire such profound knowledge? How did he even count those six billion muscle fibers?


    "This time, you win!" The tall and thin male witch, with an unpleasant expression, tossed the transparent coins he''d received in Lynn''s direction.


    Lynn used a bit of magic to collect the coins into his hand, and the AI''s prompt tone chimed again.


    "Unidentified energy detected. There are simr records in the database. Would you like to convert it into energy?"


    This time, Lynn quietly chose "no." Given the scrutiny of the people around, he had no immediate intention to research this further.


    "Since you''ve taken the money, how about exining what these so-called proteins and calcium are?" The tall and thin male witch asked with a scowl.


    He was naturally very annoyed about Lynn stealing his thunder, but those strange terms piqued his curiosity.


    "Protein is an essentialponent of all cells and tissues in the human body,posed of elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen..." Lynn provided a vague answer, brushing off the more intricate details by iming he hadn''t fully researched them yet.


    No one in the room raised any objections. The study of magic was aplex and ongoing process, and they were already amazed by how in-depth Lynn''s knowledge went.


    Despite some minor hups, the first lecture soon concluded, and the figures who had disappeared earlier reappeared in this chaotic space.


    Next, another wizard stepped up to talk about psychic magic.


    The meeting continued for several hours, with each person sharing knowledge that was not easily discussed openly. But here, everyone could speak freely, even sharing the gruesome details of their experiments on human bodies.


    The progress of Lynn''s analysis also reached three percent, and he listened attentively, sending out three coins he had received.


    When the meeting finally concluded, the faceless figures agreed on the time for the next gathering and then adjourned.


    Upon hearing this, Lynn''s expression turned somewhat peculiar. Was it really ending just like this? He thought someone might question why the new members he''d recruited hadn''t shown up, but there wasn''t a single mention of it.


    From the conversations among these people, it seemed like the Faceless Society was loosely organized, more like a ce for exchanging knowledge.


    Just as Lynn was about to leave this illusory space, a male witch next to him suddenly spoke.


    "Numbers 3, 7, 11, and 15, would you please stay?"


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 Chapter 103: Hunting the Eye of Death!

    Chapter 103: Hunting the Eye of Death!


    In the chaotic space, only five people remained.


    Among them, three men and two women, including himself. Lynn nced around, hesitating to start the conversation due to theck of information.


    The witch beside him couldn''t contain herself any longer and directly asked, "Nos, I''ve managed to get the High-grade Magic Crystal Cannon you wanted. It took a lot of effort. Now, can you tell us what you need these things for?"


    High-grade Magic Crystal Cannon? Lynn was immediately surprised. This was a secret of the Alchemy Guild. Rumor had it that with sufficient magical power supply, each shot could possess power close to fourth-tier magic.


    "I need this for going to the Misty Sea and hunting the ''Eye of Death''..." said Nos, the male witch, with a sinister smile.


    The Eye of Death? The Great Whirlpool?


    Lynn looked bewildered, while the others seemed to understand immediately. One of the male witches spoke in disbelief, "Are you out of your mind?"


    The rest couldn''t help but retort, "Nos, if you want to go to your death, don''t drag us into it. Even a Grand Wizard wouldn''t dare im to have a chance against such a monster..."


    Of course, they all knew what Nos meant by ''Eye of Death.'' It was an incredibly powerful magical creature within the Misty Sea, capable of manipting water currents, devouring souls, and the source of the Great Whirlpool.


    ording to the information obtained from the Council of Magical Creatures Research Institute, there were approximately fifty ''Eyes of Death'' in the Misty Sea, and with the legendary magic "Mist of Lost," they formed the most crucial defense against the Church''s invasion.


    Even a Grand Wizard wouldn''t want to face such a creature on the open sea. Even if they won, it wouldn''t matter since it could escape at any time.


    Amidst the discussions, Lynn began to have some understanding of this magical creature called the ''Eye of Death.''


    So, the Great Whirlpool in the Misty Sea was caused by a creature?


    Lynn immediately remembered the powerful force he had felt when crossing the Misty Sea on a boat.


    "Normally, it would be very difficult, but who says I''m going to fight it on the surface of the sea? We don''t need to take a boat..." Nos''s mouth curled into a sly smile as he shifted his gaze to Lynn.


    "You n to use a Sky Airship for long-range attacks?" Lynn instantly grasped the meaning behind Nos''s words. This powerful magical creature might control water currents and affect souls, but it probably couldn''t fly.


    In other words, as long as they ascended to several hundred meters in altitude, the ''Eye of Death'' would be powerless to affect them, only passively receiving the punishment of the Magic Crystal Cannon.


    No wonder the "Bloodthorn Thorns" was willing to steal his airship blueprint at a high cost. This was indeed the simplest method to kill the ''Eye of Death''!


    "Long-range attack? A fitting name, and it''s quite appropriate!" Nosughed smugly.


    "I have a few more questions. First, how do we find the ''Eye of Death'' in the Misty Sea and confirm its location? Second, the visibility in the mist is low; how do we aim when flying at high altitude? Third, what if it tries to escape?" Lynn inquired.


    Upon hearing this, everyone in the room immediately turned their attention to Nos. These were all crucial points, and without the ability to address them, their efforts would be in vain.


    In the midst of this chaotic space, only five individuals remained.


    Among them were three men and two women, including himself. Lynn scanned the group but hesitated to take the lead in the conversation due to theck of information.


    The witch by his side couldn''t hold back any longer and directly asked, "Nos, I''ve got my hands on the High-grade Magic Crystal Cannon you were looking for. It took quite an effort. Can you finally tell us what you need these for?"


    High-grade Magic Crystal Cannon? Lynn was immediately surprised. This was an Alchemy Guild secret, rumored to possess power close to that of fourth-tier magic with sufficient magical power supply.


    "I need these for our journey to the Misty Sea and hunting the ''Eye of Death''..." Nos, the male witch, said with a sinister smile.


    The Eye of Death? The Great Whirlpool?


    Lynn looked bewildered, but the others seemed to grasp the meaning right away. One of the male witches expressed disbelief, "Are you out of your mind?"


    The rest couldn''t help but object, "Nos, if you''re nning to meet your death, don''t drag us into it. Even a Grand Wizard wouldn''t dare im to have a chance against such a monster..."


    They all knew what Nos meant by the ''Eye of Death.'' It was an incredibly powerful magical creature within the Misty Sea, capable of manipting water currents, devouring souls, and the source of the Great Whirlpool.


    ording to information from the Council of Magical Creatures Research Institute, there were approximately fifty ''Eyes of Death'' in the Misty Sea. They, in conjunction with the legendary magic "Mist of Lost," formed the most crucial defense against the Church''s invasion.


    Even a Grand Wizard wouldn''t want to face such a creature on the open sea. Even if they won, it wouldn''t matter since it could escape at any time.


    Amidst the discussions, Lynn began to have some understanding of this magical creature called the ''Eye of Death.''


    So, the Great Whirlpool in the Misty Sea was caused by a creature?


    Lynn immediately remembered the powerful force he had felt when crossing the Misty Sea on a boat.


    "Normally, it would be very difficult, but who says I''m going to fight it on the surface of the sea? We don''t need to take a boat..." Nos''s mouth curled into a sly smile as he shifted his gaze to Lynn.


    "You n to use a Sky Airship for long-range attacks?" Lynn instantly grasped the meaning behind Nos''s words. This powerful magical creature might control water currents and affect souls, but it probably couldn''t fly.


    In other words, as long as they ascended to several hundred meters in altitude, the ''Eye of Death'' would be powerless to affect them, only passively receiving the punishment of the Magic Crystal Cannon.


    No wonder the "Bloodthorn Thorns" was willing to steal his airship blueprint at a high cost. This was indeed the simplest method to kill the ''Eye of Death''!


    "Long-range attack? A fitting name, and it''s quite appropriate!" Nosughed smugly.


    "I have a few more questions. First, how do we find the ''Eye of Death'' in the Misty Sea and confirm its location? Second, the visibility in the mist is low; how do we aim when flying at high altitude? Third, what if it tries to escape?" Lynn inquired.


    Upon hearing this, everyone in the room immediately turned their attention to Nos. These were all crucial points, and without the ability to address them, their efforts would be in vain.


    "These questions are nothing to worry about. I have my ways!" Nos teased and didn''t provide a direct answer. He had been preparing for this hunt for a year, originally nning to move the Magic Crystal Cannon onto an alchemical ship to face the ''Eye of Death'' head-on.


    However, a few days ago, a guest from the Wizard''s Land had brought an airship, changing Nos''s ns.


    Seeing Nos''s confidence, the others were intrigued.


    "What will we gain from helping you?" one of the witches asked.


    "A ''Eye of Death'' corpse, worth at least thirty thousand magic coins. I only need enough blood, and the rest will be distributed ording to your contributions!" Nos said without hesitation, then looked at Lynn.


    "Ladek, you contributed part of the airship''s blueprint and are the best among us in alchemy. Once we obtain the essence of the ''Eye of Death,'' you will make it. Just hand over three bottles of ''Source of Magic,'' and the rest will be your reward."


    "If I''m not mistaken, a potion made from the essence of the ''Eye of Death'' can potentially turn a person into an esper..." Nos''s words made Lynn pause. The term "esper" wasn''t unfamiliar to him.


    In the Wizard''s Land, it typically referred to those born with immense mental power.


    For instance, the White Dove he had encountered, who could perform mysterious psychic wizardry even as an apprentice and even influence Archbishop Anluke.


    Most others needed to advance to be official wizards before learning psychic magic. Even though Lynn had undergone a soul fusion, he was no exception. Back in the Sekast Empire, he had learned the casting method of "Soul Shriek" from the White Dove, but his version was much weaker.


    Certainly, Nos''s words weren''t baseless. The infamous Dark Wizard Murk, despised by the entire Wizard''s Land, became an esper by creating a potion from the essence of a subus.


    The power of the ''Eye of Death'' would be even more formidable.


    "As for you, Barbara, once this is done, I''ll give you four thousand magic coins as payment for purchasing the High-grade Magic Crystal Cannon!" Nos said.


    A smile appeared on Barbara''s face. Nos''s generosity was beyond imagination. The value of a High-grade Magic Crystal Cannon was around two thousand magic coins at most. It was only more expensive if it was hard to acquire, and the fact that he was willing to pay double the price was incredible.


    Following that, Nos looked at the other two as well, making substantial promises. In this operation, he would tolerate no mistakes!


    "The airship''s construction and modifications will bepleted in a few days. I assume you should all be avable?" Nos gave them a stern look. His intention was quite clear: whether they had time or not, they must make time!


    "How about we set it for the day after tomorrow? I have an important experiment to conduct during that time." Lynn volunteered, but the real reason was different. The reason he deliberately chose this date was that it happened to be a day off at Iyeta Academy!


    Lynn had no intention of missing out on this so-called hunting operation. Nos and the others nned to create an airship using stolen blueprints to hunt a ''Eye of Death'' and take the majority of the profits. It wouldn''t be that easy.


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 Chapter 104: The Modified Airship

    Chapter 104: The Modified Airship


    After finalizing the details of the hunt for the ''Eye of Death,'' the meeting was officially concluded.


    Separated consciousness returned to Lynn, and he extended his hand, bringing five ethereal coins with him.


    Recalling the earlier prompt from the AI, Lynn began to specte that these coins were somehow rted to souls.


    Perhaps one coin represented a human life?


    ?1?


    The AI''s prompt rang out again. Lynn hesitated for a moment but chose to convert the coins into energy. Those who had already passed away couldn''t be brought back.


    In the next moment, the five ethereal coins instantly disappeared, reced by a substantial increase of five percent in energy.


    That''s quite high, isn''t it?


    Lynn was somewhat surprised. It seemed that if he had spoken up more during the meeting, he could have replenished the AI''s energy reserves with these ethereal coins. However, considering that these coins might be rted to souls and using them might be unsettling, Lynn quickly adjusted his mindset.


    Next, he turned his attention to the bubbling alchemical table in front of him, where the concoction of magic potions was nearingpletion.


    However, with a more perfect goal in mind, Lynn didn''t want to rely on the spiritual essence of fire lions, petrifying lizards, or gryphons to advance as a mage, as it might cause some hindrance when breaking through to be a grand wizard.


    Two dayster, inside the Iyeta Academy, Lynn addressed a group of apprentices below him.


    "Let''s conclude today''s magical ss here. For the next week, I''ll be working on research and improving a spell. So, sses will be suspended for a while. During these days, you can take the opportunity to review the knowledge you''ve acquired."


    Even though tomorrow was a holiday, Lynn felt that the time might not be enough, so he decided to extend their break.


    "That''s fantastic!"


    As soon as Lynn''s voice fell, the ssroom erupted with enthusiastic cheers.


    There was no denying that over the past month, they had been mentally drained from daily calctions and numerology.


    However, their mental growth had been rapid as well. Johnny, in particr, felt that his magical power was close to reaching its peak, and he could soon apply for graduation afterpleting one more course.


    Watching the excited wizard apprentices, Lynn couldn''t help but shake his head. Their happiness was a little premature.


    "So... It''s time to assign some homework!"


    Lynn''s voice turned into a devilish whisper, and the apprentices'' moods plummeted, feeling like they were on a rollercoaster ride, descending from heaven to the abyss in an instant.


    "Don''t worry, it''s just a few hundred questions in total... Nothing difficult at all..."


    Five minutester, Lynn left the ssroom under the resentful gazes of Elok and others, returning to his room with the potions and liquid explosives he had prepared over the past few days.


    After changing into the appearance of Ladek, Lynn stepped outside the mansion and found a luxurious carriage waiting at the door.


    "Ladek, Lord Nos is already waiting for you," a robust servant said respectfully, pulling open the carriage curtain.


    Lynn nced at the servant, nodded, and lifted the curtain to step into the carriage. The camel-beast pulling the carriage quickly started trotting forward.


    The road to Iyeta Harbor was exceptionally smooth. Lynn, sitting inside the carriage, hardly felt any bumps. However, he quickly realized that the carriage was heading straight out of the city.


    But it made sense. The airship was no small contraption, and if they had built it within Iyeta Harbor, it would have been discovered long ago.


    Lynn remainedposed and allowed the carriage to proceed.


    As the carriage delved deeper into the outskirts of the city, the road gradually became rough and challenging. However, the carriage''s speed increased instead of slowing down. Eventually, the carriage stopped beneath a cliff by the sea.


    "Wizard, please follow this way," a sturdy servant opened the carriage door and made a weing gesture.


    Lynn nodded and hopped out of the carriage. Following the servant''s lead, he entered an abandoned cave in the cliff. After passing through a long tunnel, the view suddenly opened up before him.


    The interior of the mountain was an incredibly vast space. Lynn immediately spotted the massive airship ced in the center. Its design and size were identical to the one Lydia had built earlier.


    However, these wizards had made some magical modifications to it. The inner walls of the cabin were embedded with metal tes, adorned with numerous strange runes. Below, a menacing magic crystal cannon was mounted, with a barrel nearly half a meter thick, sending shivers down anyone''s spine.


    "Ladek, look! This is our airship, a magnificent creation!" An elderly, thin-faced male wizard, brimming with excitement, walked over. He was none other than the initiator of this operation, Nos!


    That should be my airship, Lynn thought, but he didn''t immediately confront Nos. Instead, he inquired, "So, have you discovered the secret to making this thing fly?"


    Ralph only had the blueprints for the airship''s frame,cking the most crucialponents.


    "Of course, I figured out the secret after dozens of attempts," Nos nodded but gave no hint of what it was.


    Although this contraption was destined never to see the light of day, Nos had spent several days researching it. Not to mention that it was rted to one of the airship''s vulnerabilities, which he naturally didn''t want to reveal.


    Lynn didn''t press further and turned his gaze to the three people standing in front of the aerial airship.


    Hank, Eva, and Barbara...


    A few days ago, during a secret meeting with this small group, Lynn had gathered information about their names and identities. All three of them were third-tier wizards and high-ranking members of the Bloodthorn organization.


    If there was amon trait among them, it was their age. Even Eva, who appeared the youngest, looked to be in her forties or fifties.


    "When do we start the operation?" Barbara, who had an impatient disposition, asked as the team was fully assembled.


    "Not now. The airship is too conspicuous. Taking it out during the day might attract the attention of patrolling vessels. It''s better to wait until evening," Nos shook his head.


    In reality, he was the most eager, but all he could do now was wait and urge the apprentices to load barrels filled with pungent liquid onto the airship.


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 Chapter 105: You Better Pray for Our Luck This Time

    Chapter 105: You Better Pray for Our Luck This Time


    In the nighttime sky above Iyeta Harbor, a massive airship sailed slowly towards the open sea, concealed by the darkness.


    "This altitude must be over a thousand meters, right?" Hank remarked as the sea breeze continued to brush against him. Looking into the distance, he could even make out the city of the harbor below.


    "About that. At this height, no one should be able to spot us," Nos replied, his expression rxing.


    Since the airship they were on used magical steam power to drive the bottom propellers,bined with wind-resistant enhancements and a stable alchemical array, its speed was incredibly swift. By the time the full moon hung high in the sky, they had entered the realm of the Misty Sea.


    The thick mist engulfed them, soon upying everyone''s field of vision. Hank, Eva, Barbara, and Lynne, all born in thend of the wizards, had heard various stories about the Misty Sea, but this was their first time facing it for real.


    Lynne turned to Nos, curious about how he intended to locate the so-called ''Eye of Death.''


    At sea, Nos no longer kept secrets and immediately pulled out a woodenpass.


    Lynne recognized it at a nce; it was apass simr to the one Loude had used to locate the Wizard''s Land before they ventured into the Misty Sea.


    Hank and the others, however, looked puzzled and in need of an exnation. Nos quickly rified.


    "Thispass can pinpoint things with substantial magical power nearby. If we extend its detection range to the maximum, it will continuously point towards the Sun Crown Tower in the Wizard''s City."


    "So, all we need to do is adjust the range to locate the ''Eye of Death.''" Nos exined while turning the top needle of thepass to its minimum range.


    Thepass''s pointer immediately started to spin, eventually pointing at Lynne.


    "Didn''t expect you, Ladek, to be the one among us with the most magical power..." Barbara said, quite surprised.


    Lynne hadn''t considered this; he wasn''t even a formal wizard yet. However, he soon realized that the magical power stored in the smart brain was likely taken into ount.


    Under the watchful eyes of the group, Lynne smirked and said, "That''s because these days, I''ve just developed some interesting little gadgets. If this operation doesn''t go smoothly, you might get a chance to see their power..."


    Lynne''s words immediately shifted everyone''s attention. Since thepass''s magical detection could locate the Sun Crown Tower, it clearly wasn''t limited to detecting personal magical power. It might also include the total magical power of alchemical items carried by an individual.


    With this in mind, the group couldn''t help but wonder what powerful alchemical devices Lynne hade up with during this time.


    Nos continued to increase thepass''s detection range. Once the range extended to fifty kilometers, thepass pointer finally moved away from Lynne, pointing towards the depths of the Misty Sea.


    Lynne heaved a sigh of relief inwardly; he had been most worried that the pointer would keep pointing at him, making it difficult for him to exin.


    Fortunately, the smart brain''s energy had received a replenishment, increasing to about thirty percent. This still wouldn''t make it stronger than the ''Eye of Death.''


    Having located their target, Nos immediately instructed the apprentices who were controlling the airship to adjust their course and head in the direction indicated by thepass.


    Fifty kilometers might not be a great distance for an airship''s speed, but the problem was that the ''Eye of Death'' seemed to be constantly moving. So, even after sailing for most of the day, they hadn''t caught up to it.


    Barbara and the others'' patience was gradually wearing thin. In the Misty Sea, all they could see was thick fog in every direction. They couldn''t even discern their current altitude and had to rely on the light to determine whether it was day or night.


    In the night sky above Iyeta Harbor, a massive airship sailed slowly towards the open sea, concealed by the darkness.


    "By the way, Nos, will hunting the ''Eye of Death'' have any impact on the protection of this sea area?" Eva impatiently inquired.


    "What do you think it is? A sea creature raised by the Council? A watchdog guarding our home?" Nos scoffed.


    "Don''t joke around. These terrifying monsters cause massive whirlpools to devour creatures in the nearby waters, consuming their souls. In their eyes, both church members and us wizards are merely food, no different from the fish in the sea, perhaps with a better taste..."


    "Instead of worrying about the ''Eye of Death,'' you better pray that we get lucky this time and don''t encounter overly powerful individuals," Nos said with a serious expression.


    Lynne gazed at the misty sky. The range of this legendary magic wasrger than he had imagined. He wondered how high they needed to ascend to escape the shroud of mist.


    Five thousand meters? Ten thousand meters?


    As time passed, Lynne felt the vast and terrifying nature of the Misty Sea. He had a hunch that their target was getting closer.


    The sound of rushing water came from below, prompting Nos tomand the apprentices to lower the airship''s altitude.


    Soon, the sound of churning seawater grew louder, echoing in their ears.


    "Altitude is too low, quickly ascend!" Lynne suddenly shouted.


    Hank and the others immediately looked down below the airship. The fog was as thick as ever, like a bottomless abyss. However, a few secondster, the sharp-eyed Barbara saw faintly sshing waves...


    It was only then that the group realized, due to the low visibility, the airship had unintentionally descended to a mere few meters above the sea''s surface.


    "Did you hear that? Go up now!" Nos also panicked, looking at the apprentice controlling the airship, urgently shouting.


    At that moment, a fleeting and echoing voice, like a resounding bell, entered their minds. Lynne, Barbara, Hank, and the others immediately felt their thoughts being affected.


    The apprentices controlling the airship, on the other hand, stood frozen in ce, unmoving, constantly muttering something.


    Amidst a violent jolt, the airship had alreadynded on the water''s surface, resembling a massive vessel. It was being dragged towards the center of a whirlpool with the swirling waters constantly hitting the sides of the cabin, causing the airship to sway from side to side.


    "Damn it!" Nos gritted his teeth and, despite the difort in his head, cursed. He angrily kicked the apprentices standing motionless and then grasped a conduit, wildly converting the magical power in his body into hydrogen to replenish the airship''s gas bags.


    Lynne held onto the edge of the cabin, stabilizing his stance. An apprentice beside him was flung out during the violent shaking.


    It wasn''t until the turbulent water covered his mouth and nose that the apprentice seemed to wake up from his daze. He cried out and struggled, but was carried away by the rushing water, disappearing into the depths...


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 Chapter 106: Plunging into the Chaotic Eye of Death

    Chapter 106: Plunging into the Chaotic ''Eye of Death''


    "Save me, Lord Nos..."


    The apprentice who had been thrown off the airship continued to struggle and wail, being sucked into the surging maelstrom.


    "Bring me up!" Lord Nos shouted, injecting a sufficient amount of hydrogen into the airship. Bit by bit, the airship rose into the air just before being drawn into the giant whirlpool.


    As the airship lifted from the water, everyone present let out a collective sigh of relief. If they had been pulled into that vortex, they would all have been doomed.


    Nos''s hands were trembling, and after surviving a life-threatening ordeal, he no longer held back. He quickly took out a palm-sized crimson crystal, and with an anguished expression, he used his Mage''s Hand to send it into the sky. After a moment, it exploded with a brilliant red light, causing a sudden change in the environment. The thick fog that had shrouded them dissipated rapidly before their eyes.


    Lynn surveyed the area. In just a few seconds, the dense fog covering a radius of two to three kilometers had vanished. It seemed that the range of the whirlpool was smaller than the previous one.


    Barbara, quite unhappy, asked, "If you had something so useful, why didn''t you use it earlier? We almost died underwater."


    "This is the bone marrow of a Feathered Serpent. It can temporarily neutralize the mist, but the range and duration are limited. There''s only one of these; we must not use it lightly," Nos exined gravely. He gazed into the distance, as the nearby white fog had dissipated, but the fog in the distance was slowly converging toward the center.


    They couldn''t afford to dy any longer!


    "Quick, everyone, get moving, and throw these things down there!" Nos urged the others to throw the wooden barrels on the airship in the direction of the vortex.


    The barrels, filled with an unknown liquid, quickly fell onto the sea surface, flowing into the massive whirlpool.


    Shortly after, Lynn made an astonishing discovery. The previously turbulent waters were slowly calming down.


    "What''s going on? Is the massive whirlpool subsiding?" "Hank, too, was taken aback, but the next moment, they realized they had jumped to conclusions. The extraordinarily calm sea seemed to be boiling like a raging fire, emitting a continuous stream of bubbles.


    After a moment, a massive tentacle extended from the giant whirlpool, mming heavily onto the sea surface. The entire sea seemed to tremble for a moment, and a ten-meter-high giant wave leaped into the sky, its spray soaring into the clouds. The terrifying force was chilling. And this was just the beginning; more and more colossal tentacles emerged from the sea, each covered in menacing barbs that glowed with an eerie blue light, indicating their exceptional sharpness, like a group of serpentine dragons writhing on the surface.


    Nos, however, was excited beyond restraint. The information he had received was urate, and this creature indeed plunged the ''Eye of Death'' into a state of frenzied madness.


    "Now, Hank, adjust the cannon''s aim and take it down!" Nos yelled at the others.


    If it were possible, he would have loved to do it himself, but apart from the unreliable apprentices, he was the only one capable of operating the airship right now.


    Should they really attack this?


    Hank stared at the enraged ''Eye of Death'' below, continuously swallowing his saliva. It seemed they had provoked an entity they shouldn''t have.


    Nos, frustrated by Hank''s hesitation, wanted to kick him off the airship, but he turned to Lynn and said, "It''s your turn, Ladek!"


    Lynn nced at him and immediately took over the position of the gunner, adjusting the angle of the crystal cannon with the switch. About three secondster, she pressed the lever.


    A substantial amount of condensed magical energy gathered at the half-meter-wide barrel, and with a thunderous roar, an extremely brilliant blue light burst forth, carrying destructive force as it fiercely struck a certain point on the sea surface.


    Rumble!


    An intense explosion set off a chain reaction, causing the sea to instantaneously sink. But in the next moment, an enormous amount of seawater rushed madly inward.


    The power of the advanced magic crystal cannon was astonishing. Even with the airship stabilized by alchemical enchantments like Wind Ward and Rapid Lift, it still shook violently under the powerful recoil.


    However, this crucial shot missed.


    Nothing but sshing water could be seen.


    "Ladek, what happened to you?" Nos said with great disappointment. Firing this cannon required several high-quality mana stones, and the power came at a high cost!


    Hank, Eva, and Barbara also looked at Lynn with strange expressions.


    The ''Eye of Death'' was so massive, and yet she managed to miss it?


    "Cough, my bad, let me try again!" Lynn said somewhat embarrassed. From such a distance, she had instinctively aimed using a ballistic trajectory, but it turned out that the cannon fired in a straight line!


    To make it easier for Lynn to aim, Nos quickly lowered the airship to an altitude of 300 meters.


    This time, Lynn readjusted the crystal cannon''s trajectory. A few secondster, another thunderous roar rang out as an extremely brilliant blue light crossed over the constantly swaying tentacles and struck a spot on the sea surface.


    Could she have missed again?


    The idea crossed the minds of Nos and the others, but they quickly realized they were mistaken. As a massive amount of seawater evaporated, a colossal figure hidden beneath the sea''s surface was revealed.


    The Eye of Death!


    Everyone present widened their eyes and gazed at this figure. Its visible body length was over twenty meters, and if you included the tentacles, it might break the hundred-meter mark. Its jet-ck body seemed to be forged from steel, with a triangr head and a pair of blood-red eyes that exuded a fierce and terrifying aura.


    Before everyone could recover from their shock, another beam of magic crystal cannon light appeared. Lynn didn''t wait for the airship to settle from the intense recoil beforeunching another attack.


    With the disced seawater not having rushed in yet, this shot directly hit the body of the Eye of Death!


    The jet-ck, steel-like body was pierced by the dazzling beam, revealing a massive, bone-deep wound. Arge amount of blood gushed out from it, dyeing the nearby sea surface a deep green.


    An angry roar resounded through the sky, and the sea seemed toe to life, constantly churning. Dozens of thick, sturdy tentacles reached out and mmed down, creating waves several meters high on the sea surface.


    However, the airship was simply too high, and no matter howrge the waves on the sea were, they couldn''t harm Lynn and the others inside.


    Even the psychic screams, after crossing a distance of three hundred meters, had be extremely weak.


    One after another, the magic crystal cannon shotsnded on the sea surface, creating a series of scars on the colossal body of the Eye of Death.


    Normally, even with magic crystal cannons capable of prating defenses, severely injuring a thinking behemoth would not be an easy task.


    However, after consuming the liquid from the barrels, the Eye of Death had lost its sanity and only knew to continuously swing its tentacles andunch attacks on distant enemies.


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 Chapter 107: Chaotic Mayhem

    Chapter 107: Chaotic Mayhem


    "It''s just like this, take it down!" eximed Nos with immense excitement.


    Hank and the others watched the terrifying sea monster struggling on the surface of the sea, unable to do anything about it. They felt an uncontroble surge of excitement.


    The power of the Eye of Death was evident to them. If they were to fight on the sea, even their three-ring mages wouldn''t be enough to pose a threat.


    And now, this creature was helpless, being mercilessly battered to death by them. The contrast was so staggering that it made them feel like they were in a dream.


    As the thirteenth magic crystal cannon was fired urately, the body of the Eye of Death had been riddled with holes, and many of its tentacles had been severed. Blood and debris scattered in all directions, staining the once-broad sea with its crimson hue.


    However, the creature''s vitality proved to be much stronger than expected. Even under such a relentless attack, it still refused to die. It continued to thrash on the sea''s surface, its massive body contorting wildly, even starting to consciously evade the magical energy beams flying towards it.


    The thick white fog around them gradually closed in, reducing visibility by half. It was clear that the power of a Feathered Serpent''s bone marrow crystal could only sustain them for a short while, and it wouldn''t be enough.


    Lynn fired another magic crystal cannon and then turned to the onlookers. "Nos, we''re running low on magic stones. We can''t continue like this. You guys need to help!"


    Hank and the others nodded in agreement. They hade this far, and none of them wanted the hunting operation to end in failure.


    With that in mind, the three of them began casting spells,unching various attacks like frost, fireballs, and corrosive magic, caring more about quantity than precision.


    Even Nos gave up control of the airship and ran to the edge, conjuring a dozen or so Fireburst spells to rain down on the sea below.


    Under the relentless bombardment from the magic crystal cannons and the trio of third-ring mages, the Eye of Death finally couldn''t hold on any longer. Its colossal body rolled over in the sea, creating a deluge of waves. Its body was covered in scorch marks, and even the spells cast upon it no longer had any effect.


    "Is it dead?"


    Nos and the others watched as the creaturey motionless, its body spanning nearly half of the sea''s surface. They couldn''t help but hesitate, as the sheer terror of the creature made it hard to believe it was truly dead.


    Lynn checked the magic stoneuncher in her hand, and the magic reserves were nearly depleted, insufficient for another attack.


    As they hesitated, the massive body of the Eye of Death slowly sank and disappeared into the sea.


    Nos became anxious, realizing how much they had invested in this hunt, both in terms of magical gold and resources. If the Eye of Death''s corpse sank to the seabed, it would be a disaster.


    Hurriedly, Nos rushed to the pilot''s seat, activated the valve, and released arge amount of hydrogen from the airbags. The airship quickly descended, and the wooden bottom of the cockpit popped open with a loud ''thud.''


    Unlike Lydia''s airship, the bottom of the cockpit was not a sphere but a massive w anchor with many sharp barbs, obviously designed specifically for hunting giant sea creatures.


    When the airship''s altitude dropped to fifty meters, Nos, unable to contain himself any longer,unched the massive w anchor.


    With a whooshing sound, the gigantic w anchor pierced straight into the massive body of the Eye of Death, its barbs deeply embedded in the flesh, connected by sturdy cables.


    The downward movement of the Eye of Death suddenly halted, and Nos breathed a sigh of relief. Their next task was to slowly tow this creature back.


    Although the enormous corpse far exceeded the maximum load capacity of this modified airship, it was still buoyant in the sea, allowing them to drag it.


    The only regret Nos felt was that, after the intense bombardment, the Eye of Death''s body was now only half its original size, with much of its tissues and most of its blood sinking to the seabed.


    On the side, Lynn felt that something was amiss. When the w had pierced the creature''s body earlier, the body of the Eye of Death suddenly shook violently a few times. Perhaps it wasn''t just due to the impact.


    At the same time, a battered tentacle suddenly shot out from the dark green sea below, wrapping around the thick cable.


    "It''s pretending to be dead, be careful!" Hank shouted in panic.


    But the reminder was obviously toote.


    Under the horrified gaze of the onlookers, the tentacle, firmly attached to the cable, exerted force and began dragging the airborne airship down towards the sea. The immense force caused the airship to tremble uncontrobly, and the interior of the cabin emitted creaking and scraping sounds.


    "We''re done for! We''re dead!" Barbara screamed, her face turning deep purple. She desperately held onto the edge of the airship but could only watch helplessly as the airship descended, directly above the gaping maw of the Eye of Death and its constantly waving tentacles.


    It actually intended to entangle the entire cabin and swallow it whole!


    Lynn held onto the magic crystal cannon''s firing device tightly, her gaze fixed on the tentacle dragging the airship. The internal magic reserves weren''t sufficient for another magic crystal cannon shot, but in the face of life and death, Lynn didn''t hold back. She supplemented some of her own magic power into it.


    Nearly sixty percent of her magic power was instantly drained, and another magic crystal cannon, only half the original size, was fired, sting the tentacle attached to the cable into two pieces.


    The powerful shockwave from the explosion also caused the airship to veer off course, saving it from being crushed and devoured. However, its fate of crashing into the sea was still unavoidable.


    Boom!


    The enormous airship crashed sideways directly into the sea, sending up a wave several meters high. Lynn and the others, under the tremendous impact, mmed into the cabin''s wooden nks one by one.


    Since most of the cabin''s structure was wooden and filled with hydrogen, the entire airship did not sink but remained afloat on the sea, tilted to the side.


    "Damn... This damn monster should have lost its sanity long ago..." Nos cursed loudly, his head spinning from the fall, a mix of anger and fear in his expletives.


    Lynn, Hank, and the others had no time to argue because a massive tentacle was descending from above, about to strike the airship!


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 Chapter 108: Let It Feast!

    Chapter 108: Let It Feast!


    "cial Curtain," "Subordinate Magic Barrier," "Mage Armor," "Magic Ward!"


    Facing the massive tentacles crashing down, the people present deployed their most powerful protective magic. Severalyers of cial Curtains stood in front, but in the next moment, they were pierced as if they were made of mere bubbles.


    Even the third-circle protection spell, the Magic Ward, couldn''t withstand the wrathful power of the Eye of Death. It crumbled like a withered leaf in less than two seconds.


    The tentacles mmed heavily onto the airship''s cockpit. The intricate runes on the outer hull of the cabin lit up, and with an ear-shattering noise, the airship''s shell caved in. Most critically, the magical crystal cannon was smashed to pieces.


    It was only because of the protective magic and the alchemical array on the airship that most of the force was mitigated. Otherwise, with such an impact, the entire airship would have been split in two in an instant!


    Everyone inside the airship was tossed about by this tremendous force.


    It wasn''t until this moment that they realized the terrifying power of the Eye of Death...


    What was even more chilling was that the Eye of Death seemed to have regained some sanity, as it yed dead and prioritized destroying the most significant threat¡ªthe magical crystal cannon. This undoubtedly meant that the opponent might have partially regained its intellect!


    However, the massive tentacles didn''t stop. In a single sweep, before anyone could react, Eva, who was on the far right, was sent flying.


    "No, Eva..." Barbara shouted in horror, watching another tentacle rise from the sea and crush Eva into a pulp.


    Seeing Eva''s gruesome death, Barbara''s eyes turned red. She abandoned her protection and pointed her finger at the tentacle.


    "Ice Breath!"


    A strange cold stream shot out, causing the tentacles swaying near the cabin to slow down drastically, and the crystalline water droplets on their surface instantly froze.


    Seeing this, Nos and the others, familiar with Barbara, immediately understood and shot several "Fireball" spells.


    Under thebined attack of ice and fire, the massive tentacles were immediately blown into two pieces.


    "It can''t hold on for long. Kill it, or none of us will survive!" Nos roared loudly.


    With the Eye of Death blocking them, getting the airship back in the air was practically impossible. Their only way out was to kill it directly!


    Everyone present understood this, but the Eye of Death still had eleven remaining tentacles, half of which were already curling around the airship''s gas bags, attempting to drag the entire airship underwater.


    Hank cursed under his breath and raised his hand to conjure "Multi-Explosive Fireball."


    However, at this moment, Nos seemed to remember something and hastily interrupted, "Be extremely careful; you must not use fire magic on the gas bags!"


    Hank and Barbara, who were preparing to cast their spells, couldn''t help but pause. The gas bag was enormous, and it was positioned right between them and the Eye of Death. It meant they would be prohibited from using fire magic.


    "Will it explode?" Lynn immediately realized that the airship likely used hydrogen as a lifting gas.


    "At this close range, it''s the kind that can kill us all!" Nos said in a panic.


    In fact, the airship they were on was the second one they had constructed.


    As for the first airship... due to an apprentice''s mistake, it had already turned into a fireball, resulting in significant casualties. Therefore, when making the airship beneath them, he deliberately used fire-resistant materials to create the most crucial gas bag, but it was still no match for excessively powerful fire magic.


    However, after receiving confirmation from Nos, a thought popped into Lynn''s mind. Without hesitation, he grabbed the secondary gas bag''s pipeline, converted his mana into oxygen, and cast a spell.


    "Magic Barrage."


    In the next moment, dozens of magic missiles hovered around Lynn, then whizzed away. However, their target wasn''t the constantly waving tentacles but the ropes connecting the gas bag to the cockpit!


    "What are you doing?" Hank asked in astonishment. Lynn''s actions were so fast that no one could react in time, and the airship''s gas bag separated from the cockpit.


    "With our magic alone, we probably can''t take down the Eye of Death. Since it wants to devour this thing so badly, why not let it have a taste?" Lynn calmly replied.


    Although they had sessfully blown up one tentacle a moment ago, it was challenging to threaten the Eye of Death''s main body without the formidable magical crystal cannon.


    With the advanced magical crystal cannon destroyed, there was only one method left to inflict a deadly wound on the Eye of Death...


    Nos instantly understood Lynn''s intention and, though chilled to the bone, realized this was their only chance!


    "Nos, Hank, Barbara, if you want to survive, follow my orderster! We only have one shot!" Lynn looked at the two of them and said resolutely.


    Hank and Barbara couldn''tprehend what Lynn was saying, but they also knew they couldn''te up with any method to reverse the situation, so they nodded quickly.


    In the brief moment they paused, the Eye of Death had already swung its tentacles and dragged the massive gas bag in front of it, as if it were an irritable child, toying with its toy and causing the gas bag to deform.


    While it had hindered their use of fire magic, it had also blocked the Eye of Death line of sight. Living in the Misty Sea for years, the monster had never seen an airship before. In its perception, the gas bag and the cockpit were one and could be devoured together.


    The Eye of Death had evidently good dental hygiene. It could chew up not only the gas bag frame made of camel beast leather and branches of magic trees but even steel!


    "Starting now, count silently to three, and then everyone use your most potent fire magic!" Lynn dered loudly, unleashing "Magic Barrage" again.


    A multitude of magic missiles reappeared and whooshed away.


    Every wizard knew this basic spell, and as long as they didn''t draw too much attention, Lynn wasn''t worried about his identity being questioned.


    Perhaps sensing danger, though it couldn''t see what was happening behind the gas bag, the remaining tentacles iled wildly. Some of the magic missiles struck the giant tentacles, corroding the surface with pockmarks. It was evident that the surface magic was just a disguise, and the insides were still filled with corrosive aqua regia...


    The remaining magic missiles all struck the gas bag in unison, and the gas from both the main and secondary bags gushed out. A significant amount of hydrogen and oxygen mixed together...


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 Chapter 109: The End of the Death Eye!

    Chapter 109: The End of the Death Eye!


    If you want to trigger a hydrogen explosion, you need to keep the hydrogen gas in the air between 4% and 75.6%. And for a more powerful explosion, the ratio of hydrogen and oxygen should be around 2:1!


    No doubt, Lynn achieved it!


    Although it''s not the standard ratio, it''s pretty close!


    "Multi-Fireburst Art!"


    As they continued counting, Nos and his group had already started casting their spells the moment the missile hit the airbag. In an instant, dozens of ferocious fireballs whizzed through the air and collided with the airbag after breaking through half of its protective shield used against the tentacles.


    Boom!


    At that very moment, the mixed gases were ignited violently, shaking the heavens and the earth. A massive explosion echoed through the sky, apanied by a cloud of dust rising into the air. Blinding mes and a raging shockwave swept outwards.


    The Eye of Death, which had just pierced the airbag, immediately experienced a sensation it had never felt in its entire existence. mes and explosions rushed into its gaping maw.


    The internal damage from an explosion is often the most severe! Burning, pain, numbness... The agony struck from all parts of its body, and in an instant, it felt like it had turned into a red-hot block of iron. Intense pain coursed through its entire body, as if something were tearing its flesh apart, causing it to howl even more furiously.


    Lynn and the others had no time to worry about the Eye of Death because a terrifying tidal wave apanied the shockwave, swallowing the cockpit.


    The battered cockpit was mmed into the sea by waves over ten meters high, and Lynn, Nos, Hank, and Barbara were no exceptions. The contaminated greenish seawater rushed in from all directions, tossing them around like a tumble dryer, leaving them disheveled and dizzy.


    Once the cockpit resurfaced, everyone was drenched, looking thoroughly miserable.


    "Damn it... Next time, no matter what you say, I won''t fall for it again!" Hank angrily cursed.


    He had believed in Nos''s crazy idea, and it led them to this life-threatening situation!


    Lynn immediately turned her gaze towards the direction of the Eye of Death. The monstrous creature was nowpletely motionless, its massive body torn to shreds, its tentacles severed, and various parts of its body either sunk to the sea floor or floating on the surface. Even its head was less than a third of its original size, engulfed in raging mes.


    "It should be really dead, right?" Barbara''s face showed a hint of relief.


    "If it''s still alive after this, I''ll walk backward for the rest of my life!" Nos spat on the ground, saying with determination, before proceeding to inspect the damaged cockpit beneath his feet.


    Although they had added metal tes on both sides of the cabin and protective alchemical arrays, the extent of the damage was still not optimistic. The stern of the cabin waspletely deformed.


    Fortunately, magic was convenient enough to handle this minor inconvenience. With the airbag gone, they had to treat this as a boat and slowly make their way back.


    Even though they had been confident when discussing it earlier, when Nos got closer to the cockpit, he couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat, fearing that the Eye of Death would attack them again.


    However, none of that happened. They smoothly arrived in front of the massive corpse, and after extinguishing the burning mes, it was finally time to collect their spoils.


    First, there''s the spiritual essence in the brain, undoubtedly the most precious thing. The Eye of Death power has even caused these spiritual essences to crystallize in the brain, roughly the size of a fist, which should be enough to refine more than five bottles of magical sources.


    What surprised Lynn was that after obtaining the crystal, Nos casually tossed it to her. Then he eagerly used a specially prepared, silver-made barrel to collect the blood of the Eye of Death.


    "Is this stuff important?" Hank suddenly asked.


    Barbara, who was standing nearby, also looked over. Anyone could tell that Nos attached great importance to the Eye of Death blood.


    It was even possible that Nos had nned this hunting operation and expended countless efforts just for this.


    "This blood isn''t actually anything special. It''s just that the alchemical array I''m researching happens to require this stuff," Nos said, looking at the people gathered around him, sounding a bit annoyed. "And there''s blood everywhere in the sea. If you want it, you can go collect it yourselves!"


    However, Barbara and Hank were persistent. The blood in the seawater had long been diluted, and its effects would be greatly diminished no matter what it was used for.


    "We''ll make a deal. My reward can be halved, but you have to give us some of the collected blood..." Hank suddenly suggested, then turned to Lynn, who had been silent all along. "What do you think, Ladek?"


    "It''s reasonable," Lynn nodded and spoke up.


    "You guys are pushing it. Don''t forget, the airship, magic crystal cannons, and the feathered serpent bone marrow used to dispel the mist, they were all things I bought at a great cost to hunt down the Eye of Death!" Nos chastised them, suppressing his anger.


    Barbara''s expression became a bit awkward. "Don''t say it like that, Nos. We just want to rece part of our reward with blood. You only need to give us a vial of blood for research."


    Faced with the pressure from the three of them, Nos''s expression changed, but he had topromise. Even though they were all members of the "Bloodthorn Alliance," it was essentially just an alliance of interests. In the battle they had just fought, he had expended a lot of magical power. If the three of them had turned against him, he might really have died here.


    With that in mind, Nos reluctantly took out several empty potion bottles and filled them with some blood before tossing them to the three.


    Hank and Barbara, after receiving the bottles, nced in Lynn''s direction, knowing that the spiritual essence of the Eye of Death was also extremely precious.


    "I''m only responsible for making potions, not for distribution. But my share must not be touched," Lynn said casually, understanding their intentions. She then passed the responsibility back to Nos, and no matter how much he promised, she didn''t care.


    "You can buy it from me when the timees!" Nos gritted his teeth.


    The two immediately stopped pressing the matter. They didn''t dare to provoke Nos any further, fearing that he might go crazy and take them down with him.


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 Chapter 110: The Mysterious Rodent Experiment

    Chapter 110: The Mysterious Rodent Experiment


    On their way back, the airship had been transformed into a "ship," and coupled with the need to drag the remains of the giant beast, the group found themselves adrift at sea for three long days.


    Due to the previous disputes, everyone remained on high alert throughout the journey, even refraining from closing their eyes during sleep.


    In this tense atmosphere of mutual suspicion, Lynn had no intention of provoking any conflicts deliberately. After all, this "ship" was incredibly small, and a brawl on board could easily damage the cabin or thepass in Nos''s possession, leaving them stranded in the Sea of Mist forever.


    Nos, Hank, Barbara, and the others seemed to understand this, so despite the tension, they maintained a facade of harmony.


    It wasn''t until the evening of the fourth day that the "ship" returned to thend of the wizards.


    "We''re finally back," Barbara breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped onto solid ground, feeling her legs trembling. The Sea of Mist had been truly torturous, shrouded in nothing but white fog. Hank, on the other hand, grumbled about never wanting to take a boat across the sea in his entire life.


    "In any case, you''ve all worked hard on this trip. I promise you, I will deliver what I owe you in a few days," Nos said wearily.


    "You better not dy too long," Barbara reminded, as the money for the high-grade magic crystal cannon hade from her own pocket, and it was no small sum.


    Nos nodded in agreement and then instructed his subordinates to arrange a few carriages to transport everyone back to the city overnight.


    Lynn wasted no time and immediately returned to the Ladek estate.


    Once back at the Ladek Castle, he ordered Coleman and his team to capture a hundred rodents for a biological experiment.


    Coleman was dumbfounded by this order. Where on earth could he find so many rodents? In the end, he had to have the apprentice mages stop their work and catch mice in the castle. It took them half the night to barely gather half of what was needed, so they had to go to other ces to catch more.


    Lynn quickly realized the convenience of having his own power. Whether it was magical materials or rodents for experiments, everything was gathered for him in just a few hours.


    During this time, Lynn reviewed all the books in the secret chamber rted to making the "Source of Magic" once again. Then, he took out the crystal he had extracted from the eye of death.


    The crystal looked translucent with a dark red hue, covered with strange runes and patterns on its surface. A single nce was enough to make one feel absorbed, as if their soul was about to be drawn into it.


    Weighing only about 150 grams, it was very lightweight. ording to Ladek''s notes, making a "Source of Magic" typically required 30 grams of spiritual essence as a material.


    This meant that this spiritual essence was only enough to make five "Sources of Magic" at most. It seemed like a lot, but for experimentation purposes, it might not be sufficient.


    Lynn had to conserve as much as possible. He carefully ced equal amounts of the spiritual essence from Fire Lizards, Gryphons, and the Eye of Death into the pre-prepared magic potions. This resulted in three bottles of differently colored "Sources of Magic."


    He then used 0.5 milliliters as a unit and set up nine rodents as experimental subjects. They were divided into groups of three, each receiving the corresponding magic potion.


    Perhaps due to the small quantity used, they waited for a long time with no apparent effect at all.


    ording to Ladek''s notes, this substance should take effect within a few seconds!


    Lynn had to slowly increase the dosage until it exceeded a total of two milliliters. At that point, three of the rodents immediately started showing signs of agitation, bing increasingly restless. One even attempted to chew through its cage.


    These rodents had just ingested the magic potion made from the essence of the Eye of Death.


    Lynn meticulously recorded these changes and then proceeded with the control group.


    In each group of three rodents, one was dissected on the spot to record data, one was left untouched, and the other had its dosage increased for further experimentation.


    While a hundred rodents may sound like a lot, it turned out to be insufficient when conducting controlled experiments. In just one night, they had almost exhausted their materials.


    The spacious experimentation table was filled with rodents in various states of demise. Some had been dissected by Lynn, while others had sumbed directly to excessive doses of the magic potion.


    Among them, the rodents that ingested the Eye of Death magic potion exhibited the most horrifying reactions. After consuming about five milliliters of the potion, their eyes turned crimson, they let out piercing screams, and then, without any warning, they died within half a minute.


    What shocked Lynn the most was the intense magical response in their brains. In fact, all the rodents that had ingested the potion exhibited some level of magical reaction, which was normal and a characteristic of magical creatures, indicating that the form was correct.


    However, one particr rodent was different. The magical response in its brain was excessively strong, even reaching the level of a first-tier magic user. It was an exaggeration to describe it, but it subsequently disyed symptoms of brain death.


    Lynn picked up Ladek''s notes and examined them. He only found some records of brain death caused by ingesting the magic potion, but there was no mention of the reasons behind the rodents having red eyes and showing extreme aggression.


    This might be attributed to the unique nature of the Eye of Death essence.


    As an alchemist, Ladek had conducted extensive research on the "Source of Magic." However, unlike Lynn, he didn''t shy away from using human subjects for experiments. Many of the missing beggars from the southern district were rted to his magical workshop. Ladek had even experimented on wizard apprentices, umting a significant amount of "experience."


    What Lynn was doing now was to confirm if Ladek had any tricks hidden in his notes and to assess the strength of the Eye of Death essence. Judging from the condition of the rodents that ingested the magic potion, the difference was likely more than tenfold.


    Such a potent effect left Lynn feeling somewhat uneasy.


    The Council of Alchemists had determined that a thirty-gram essence was the optimal ratio, allowing the "Source of Magic" to maximize its effects. However, an excessively powerful effect might lead to certain side effects.


    The previous rodent''s violent behavior had also caught his attention. After much contemtion, Lynn ultimately decided to create a weakened version of the "Source of Magic" and have someone test it...


    If there were no adverse effects, he would consider ingesting the potion himself...


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 Chapter 111: Unraveling the Knot

    Chapter 111: Unraveling the Knot


    The next day at noon, Johnny, who had received a notification, knocked on the door and entered only after getting permission.


    "Professor Lynn, did you want to see me?" The silver-haired witch closed the door gently, holding her notes on arcane mathematics, and asked with a charming smile.


    Lynn didn''t rush to discuss business but instead looked at Johnny curiously and inquired, "After all these days, don''t you have something you want to say to me?"


    Since arriving in thend of wizards, he had done quite a lot, andpared to the original Carl, a nobleman who had been learning magic for less than half a year, he was far more advanced.


    Johnny''s face showed a hint of hesitation, and she struggled to find the right words. Finally, she shook her head and spoke seriously, "Back in the Nornd Territory, if it weren''t for you, I might have died."


    This was why she was willing to trust Lynn and keep his secrets, given that he had saved her life twice.


    Lynn nodded but quickly asked, "Just a few days ago, I received an invitation that mentioned the name Carl..."


    "But I never disclosed your identity to anyone," Johnny''s brows furrowed, and she stated with certainty.


    However, she soon realized that her defense was weak because she was the only one who knew Lynn''s identity.


    The silver-haired witch bit her lip, unable to think of any way to prove her innocence.


    "I know it''s not you," Lynn wasn''t surprised by this.


    He still had trust in Johnny, first because they had berades on the run, and second, during their time in the Harbor Town, she was willing to risk her life to free him from prison.


    Coupled with their shared interests, the likelihood of betrayal was extremely low...


    "I''m just worried that someone might analyze something from what you''ve said," Lynn exined, then asked Johnny if she had seen those people recently and when she had mentioned the past of the Sekas Empire.


    While Johnny thought and talked, during her two months in thend of wizards, she had rarely gone outside and only spoke to the apprentices of the Iyeta Academy. Even then, she had spoken only a few words, bothered by their constant questions.


    And all of those words were prepared by them in advance after they escaped from the pursuit of the Holy See in the Misty Sea. Apart from the two of them, everyone else had fallen into the Holy See''s clutches.


    After careful questioning, Lynn ultimately gave up on finding clues from Johnny, as there were no inconsistencies in her words.


    "By the way, I came to you for another important matter this time," Lynn took out a bottle of dark red magic potion and ced it on the table.


    "What is this?" Johnny asked, filled with curiosity.


    "This is the ''Source of Magic''!" Lynn said, emphasizing each word.


    The silver-haired witch''s expression became incredibly astonished as she looked at Lynn and then turned her gaze to the bottle of entirely dark red ''Source of Magic.''


    The magic potion in front of her was undoubtedly something every apprentice longed to obtain.


    It was the proof of bing an official wizard!


    "If I''m not mistaken, your magic growth should have reached its limit, right?" Lynn asked.


    Unlike Johnny, Lynn had studied magic with Koru for four years before entering thend of wizards. With Johnny''s talent, she was probably close to advancing.


    At first, Lynn had considered finding an apprentice in Ladek''s estate for his experiments, but he realized it would be a waste.


    Although this ''Source of Magic'' was a weaker version, with only ten grams of Death''s Eye essence as a catalyst, ording to his calctions, its effects would still surpass those made with ordinary materials.


    He couldn''t help an apprentice advance and then dispose of them just to keep the secret, especially since the apprentices in the estate had helped Ladek with many dirty tasks. They had no grievances with him, and it wasn''t worth it.


    Moreover, Death''s Eye essence was precious, and after conducting experiments and brewing two potions, there was less than fifty grams left. It needed to be used sparingly.


    Another point was that changing the target to Johnny would make solving the identity issue much easier.


    As long as the witch applied for graduation in a while, with his approval and going through the process, she could be a recognized official wizard!


    "This potion is slightly different. I brewed it myself, and its effects should be stronger than what the council distributes. The probability of advancement is higher, but I can''t be one hundred percent sure. There may be potential side effects. If you''re not willing to take the risk, that''s fine."


    Lynn sinctly exined the pros and cons, with no intention of deceiving Johnny about taking the potion.


    However, Johnny''s attention was not on that. She didn''t inquire about the supposed side effects and instead took a deep breath before suddenly asking, "So... you''re not an official wizard yet, are you?"


    She wasn''t foolish and could guess Lynn''s purpose in presenting the ''Source of Magic.''


    Lynn fell silent and didn''t respond. The title of apprentice wizard would be removed from him starting tomorrow!


    But sometimes, silence was also an answer. Johnny immediately understood that her guess was correct, and her lingering doubts vanished.


    Over the past few days, what puzzled her the most was Lynn''s exaggerated speed of advancement.


    If Lynn was truly a third-circle magician, then the so-called super genius of thend of wizards, the ''Magic Star'' Ogest, wouldn''t even be fit to polish his shoes!


    But now, it seemed they were all just apprentice wizards. Lynn must have used some other means to unleash powerful magic.


    This wasn''t impossible. For example, her use of the ''Magic Hand'' power allowed her to use first-circle magic five times a day.


    If Lynn had gained the appreciation of a great wizard or even a legendary wizard in that ''Society of Mystical Arts'' and acquired alchemical items capable of casting third-circle magic, it would be quite normal.


    With that in mind, Johnny picked up the ''Source of Magic'' on the table. Out of trust in Lynn, she didn''t hesitate to drink it down.


    Compared to the extremely rare probability of side effects, she valued Lynn''s statement about the higher probability of advancement more.


    No apprentice could im with certainty that they could cross the heavenly domain! Even a slight improvement was of utmost importance!


    Lynn closely watched Johnny''s reaction. The second important reason for finding a test subject was to see what the process of advancement was like and if there were any lessons to be learned from it...


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 Chapter 112: I Call It the Antimatter Annihilation Cannon!

    Chapter 112: I Call It the Antimatter Annihtion Cannon!


    At the moment Jonny consumed the magic potion, a strong magical fluctuation enveloped his entire body, and his magical energy seemed to boil within.


    The witch''s expression gradually turned pained, her eyes closed, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as if she were struggling with something.


    Lynn watched nervously, not daring to disturb Jonny in the midst of his breakthrough. She couldn''t assist and could only patiently wait for the potion''s effects to wear off.


    Approximately three minutester, the magical fluctuations around Jonny began to subside. He slowly opened his eyes, swaying unsteadily on his feet, almost falling.


    "How did it go? Did you seed?" Lynn reached out to support Jonny, anxiously inquiring.


    The silver-haired witch didn''t respond immediately. Instead, she extended her hand, and several zing fireballs appeared around her, spinning around her body without the use of any materials to cast the spells. This was the hallmark of a full-fledged wizard!


    "I did it!" Jonny''s face lit up with an incredibly joyful smile, like a child who had just found a beloved toy. After extinguishing the fireballs, she began experimenting with other spells.


    Fire, ice, poison mist...


    This felt entirely different from using materials to cast spells in her daily routine. Advancing from an apprentice to a full-fledged wizard was a qualitative leap!


    Lynn could understand the witch''s excitement, so she didn''t rush to ask questions. It wasn''t until Jonny had finished ying around that she inquired, "How do you feel? Is there anything you''re not ustomed to? Did you encounter any obstacles during the breakthrough?"


    "If you want to talk about obstacles..." Jonny paused for a moment, then furrowed her brow and said, "Your brewed magic potion is quite hard to swallow..."


    Lynn visibly paused, her face showing a wry, amused expression.


    After teasing Lynn for a bit, the silver-haired witch grew serious and exined the sensations after taking the potion. The main effects involved the transformation of the body and an enhancement of the spirit, apanied by intense pain that was hard to endure. But as long as one could endure it, the benefits were substantial.


    As for the so-called side effects, she hadn''t noticed any.


    "As for the breakthrough process, it''s a rather exhrating feeling..." Jonny wracked her brain, not sure which adjectives to use.


    Having learned the details of the breakthrough process from Jonny, Lynn took a sigh of relief, knowing that the potion''s form was urate.


    To avoid unforeseen circumstances, Lynn decided not to undergo the breakthrough at the Iyeta Academy. Instead, after seeing Jonny off, she returned to her secret chamber in Ladek.


    It was an extremely concealed location, where she didn''t have to worry about anyone disturbing her.


    Lynn took out a perfectly prepared "Source of Magic," then gulped it down.


    The dark red liquid flowed down her throat.


    As soon as it entered her mouth, Lynn understood why Jonny had said the magic potion was hard to swallow. The taste was indescribably awful. It felt as if, despite feeling no heat while holding the potion bottle, she was drinking thick moltenva!


    Immediately, her entire body experienced waves of intense itching and burning sensations. She felt like she was inside a furnace, except what was being burnt was not her physical body but her soul!


    Lynn''s body trembled uncontrobly, her teeth chattering loudly. Veins bulged all over her body, her face turned bright red, and tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead.


    Though she had anticipated the horror of the magic potion beforehand, she had never imagined that its effects would be so dominating and intense.


    An inexplicable force continuously eroded her body, eventually surging directly into her brain!


    In that moment, her brain seemed to explode. Lynn briefly lost consciousness and when she came to, she found herself in a different ce.


    Before hery an endless sea, and she was standing on the surface of the water, swaying with the rolling waves!


    As Lynn became aware of this, her body sank, and the surging seawater pressed in from all sides. However, before she could react, her body was lifted by something sticky.


    Lynn nced downward, realizing that she was being held up by a massive tentacle!


    Beneath the surface of the sea, a colossal, menacing figure had emerged. It exuded a suffocating aura, its crimson eyes fixed on her, filled with anger and hatred.


    The Eye of Death!


    In the instant Lynn locked eyes with the Eye of Death, her body went cold, immobilized. Then, she felt the tentacle holding her squeeze tightly, causing her body to burst as if squeezed!


    Blood sprayed onto the ocean''s surface, and her flesh and blood disintegrated, leaving no trace.


    However, the next moment, Lynn''s body reappeared on the ocean''s surface. She had realized that she was currently in a mental world.


    Perhaps the magic potion she had just consumed had activated her power so perfectly that the Eye of Death could materialize within her consciousness!


    Just as she was pondering this, another tentacle rose from beneath the sea, reaching out for her.


    This time, Lynn shot into the air, imagining that helium was lifting her body, and she floated hundreds of meters above the sea.


    Even though she wouldn''t truly die if she were killed here, the pain was all too real!


    More and more tentacles emerged from below the sea, twisting and contorting in various forms, as if they had no upper limit, continuously extending toward Lynn in the sky, as if to ensnare her and drag her into the depths of the sea!


    "Damn it!"


    Lynn cursed internally. The Eye of Death actually believed its tentacles could be this long!


    After narrowly avoiding another strike from a tentacle, hundreds of white phosphorus fireballs the size of human heads materialized around Lynn and hurled themselves toward the Eye of Death, turning the entire sea into a sea of mes.


    The enraged sea beast roared incessantly, its massive body and tentacles exposed above the sea quickly being engulfed by the mes.


    However, this level of attack was far from enough. In Lynn''s mental world, not only was she incapable of dying, but the infuriated Eye of Death also roared and bellowed. Its hundred-meter-long body actually broke free from the sea surface, soaring into the sky!


    Lynn was left dumbfounded. She then realized that her thinking was too rational and not bold enough.


    In this peculiar space, perhaps she could attempt things that were impossible in the real world!


    Lynn raised her hands high. In her left hand, she continuously generated hydrogen atoms, while in her right palm, numerous anti-hydrogen atoms appeared. She used maic force to contain them within two massive spheres of magical energy, and then hurled them toward the approaching Eye of Death.


    "I call it the Antimatter Annihtion Cannon!"


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 Chapter 113: Breaking Through as an Official Wizard!

    Chapter 113: Breaking Through as an Official Wizard!


    The so-called antimatter, as the name implies, is the reverse state of normal matter! When antimatter and normal matter meet, they annihte each other, causing an explosion and producing immense energy! Its power lies in the conversion of mass energy produced during annihtion, which is close to one hundred percent!


    In contrast, the mass energy conversion ratio of a hydrogen bomb is only around 0.7 percent! In the face of the power of antimatter annihtion, so-called nuclear energy is simply not worth mentioning!


    The Eye of Death, racing towards him, immediately felt the deadly threat. It wasn''t just the annihtion of the physical body but also the obliteration of the soul. Countless tentacles, like towering pirs,shed out, but two mana spheres had already collided!


    Space and time seemed to freeze as Lynn was left with nothing but endless light and heat...


    It was a radiance that was tens of thousands of times brighter than the sun, and the heat generated could only be measured in countless billions of trillions! Everything lost its meaning in the face of such a terrifying energy outbreak. The massive Eye of Death and countless pir-like tentacles were annihted in less than a second!


    Then, the entire ocean, and the seabed, rapidly rose. Billions of tons of seawater were instantly evaporated, and the energy waves and high-energy radiation from the explosion spread in all directions, causing the entire space to shake violently...


    Until a faint sound resonated in the space. It was a precise sound that reached Lynn''s ears, despite being obscured by the intense explosion. It was as if he heard it with his soul.


    It was the shattering of the consciousness space, with intricate cracks spreading like a spider''s web...


    But this was also Lynn''s final thought.


    The terrifying energy wave had already rushed toward him. The whole process was painless because the annihtion of the physical body happened in an instant.


    The vast consciousness space waspletely shattered under the impact of the energy wave, and the remaining energy merged into Lynn''s body.


    The formidable barrier that had been blocking the growth of his magic power was now easily breached. Lynn felt every cell in his body rejoicing, and the total amount of magic power was rapidly increasing...


    His brain became incredibly clear, although not as much as in overload mode, theputing power had increased several times.


    The elements in his perception became even clearer, and controlling them became effortless.


    If he previously needed the assistance of his intellect to release spells like "White Phosphorus - me Hand" or "Liquid Nitrogen - Ice Domain," he could nowpletely rely on his own power to cast these spells.


    Furthermore, his magic power continued to grow, even directly crossing the second hurdle, advancing from an apprentice to a second-circle wizard!


    Lynn sensed that his magic power reserves had increased by more than ten timespared to before! The power of the Eye of Death was truly evident...


    "Even my physical qualities have improved," Lynn said, clenching his fist and testing several jumps. His body''s cells had been partially enchanted.


    However, the degree of enchantment was not high. This should not be an exclusive benefit of his own. When he was conducting the dual-sphere experiment before, he found that the wizards who moved the iron balls had varying levels of strength.


    After spending ten minutes adapting to various types of magic, Lynn finally let go of the tension that had been gripping him. When he entered the wizarding world, his greatest concern was that his identity as an apprentice would be exposed. Now, this major weakness had been addressed...


    No one could question his identity anymore! The next step was to verify whether Rakdagu''s conjecture was correct.


    Lynn opened his notebook and quickly found records about Psychic Magic.


    "Soul Shriek," "Flesh Reconstruction," "Rotten Corpse," "Necromantic Control"...


    ...


    "Soul Shriek" was undoubtedly the most familiar psychic magic to Lynn. However, with no target for an attack, he couldn''t test its actual effect. Spells like "Flesh Reconstruction" and "Rotten Corpse" were methods for creating undead, and he had no intention of dabbling in that.


    After he saw the relevant information about "Necromantic Control," Lynn suddenly had an idea and inquired in his mind.


    "071, can you release the stored unknown energy from earlier?"


    "Estimated energy consumption: one percent, used to maintain the energy body..."


    "No problem, go ahead," Lynn said without hesitation. After bing an official wizard, he cared less about the energy reserves of the AI brain. After all, he rarely needed to use them, and he could slowly umte them.


    After Lynn gave the order, a faint blue glow floated out of his body and gradually condensed about a meter away.


    It took the form of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, with a translucent figure that flowed like water.


    Because they were both psychic users, the girl''s body looked much more solid to Lynnpared to the chubby apprentice and the heavily injured Radak. He could even make out her features and the clothes she was wearing.


    "Dove?" Lynn asked tentatively. His premonition was indeed correct. The unknown energy entity collected by the AI brain was undoubtedly her soul!


    The girl slowly opened her eyes, filled with confusion and bewilderment. Her consciousness seemed to be frozen in the moment of death, and she mumbled something.


    "I don''t want to die..." Lynn understood Dove''s intended message, and a hint of helplessness crossed his face.


    The girl, barely thirteen or fourteen, seemed toe to her senses at this moment, curling up in fear. She looked around the unfamiliar space, and when she noticed Lynn, she instinctively floated towards him, reaching out to grab his clothing.


    However, her action passed through empty air, as her ethereal hand went straight through the fabric.


    Dove visibly paused, and then she realized that her body felt different. It was transparent and ethereal. She realized that she was already dead.


    The witch''s face showed a timid and bewildered expression. Her eyes brimmed with glistening tears. If she were alive, tears would have fallen from her eyes long ago.


    "Um... Actually, you''re not really dead. Let''s just say... you''ve found a different way to live," Lynn tried to console her in a very tactful manner.


    Unfortunately, his "constion" seemed to have no effect. Dove''s glistening tears immediately fell but dissipated into tiny specks of light before they reached the ground. Her crying sounds were sporadic and eerie, giving one a shuddering feeling.


    Lynn felt overwhelmed. Offeringfort to others was not his strong suit, especially when the other person was a ghost. In the end, he reluctantly told Dove that her body was still around. Once he figured out how to put a soul into a physical body, she might be able toe back to life.


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 Chapter 114: We Might All Be Used as Blades!

    Chapter 114: We Might All Be Used as des!


    After some less-than-reassuring words from Lynn, White Dove finally stopped crying. She then gazed at him with pitiful eyes.


    "Well, don''t resist for now. Let me perform a little experiment," Lynn said as he approached White Dove. He ced his hand on her head and then let his spiritual power seep into her ethereal body.


    This was the application of psychic magic, "Necro-Control."


    A look of uncertain fear appeared on the girl''s face. She felt as if something foreign was surging into her body. Her instincts urged her to resist or flee, but she remembered Lynn''smand and endured it, closing her eyes with a look of resignation.


    This feeling was quite peculiar. Once the spell was cast, Lynn immediately realized he had gained control over another body.


    With a thought, the illusionary girl beside him raised her hand and spun in ce.


    At this moment, White Dove realized she had lost control of her body. Having studied psychic magic, she understood what was happening. She stared at Lynn with a resentful, tearful look.


    Seeing this, Lynn had initially nned to give the girl''s ethereal body some respite, but as soon as he released his control, White Dove transformed into a ghostly blue light and flew directly into his body.


    The sound of the AI in his mind alerted him again.


    (Unique energy entity absorbed, can be converted into a 12% energy reserve. Would you like to use it immediately?)


    "No!" Lynn hastily responded, with a wry smile.


    In her attempt to escape his experiment, White Dove had unknowingly entered the AI''s reserve pool, the most dangerous ce she could be.


    In other words, the AI became White Dove''s spiritual anchor. Lynn quickly realized this, as the soul couldn''t exist independently of the body. Even a Tier Three wizard like Ladek had to create a soul container for themselves.


    But in this case, perhaps "shackles" would be a more appropriate term.


    "Let''s call this energy ''Soul Power,''" Lynn pondered.


    (Data loaded into the database...)


    Although the experiment with the ethereal body had just begun, Lynn had already gathered some valuable information. Firstly, as Radak had suspected, using the "Eye of Death" to brew magical potions could indeed turn a person into a psychic.


    Secondly, psychic magic, an exceedingly mysterious and powerful force beyond his previous knowledge, was just as dangerous to use. For instance, when controlling an ethereal body, if White Dove resisted, he would have to exert more Soul Power to suppress her. Otherwise, the controlled ethereal body might break free, and Lynn himself would suffer bacsh.


    This was probably why Radak had been cautious in controlling too many ghouls at once in the secret room.


    So,pared to controlling the undead, Lynn found another use for this magic more appealing: controlling weak-souled creatures. While in Iyeta Harbor, White Dove had controlled a group of ravens to gather information, making it a kind of overpowered intel-gathering ability.


    The only drawback was that when controlling living beings, it would divide his focus. It was somewhat like ying a game while managing multiple units; controlling too many could affect his ability to handle each unit effectively.


    Lynn continued to browse Radak''s notes. Although he had no intention of using some of the more sinister psychic magic, he needed to understand them to know how to deal with them effectively.


    ...


    In the following days, Lynn, having sessfully advanced, focused all his energy on honing his spellcasting skills, especially the protective spells, to enhance his strength as much as possible. He hadn''t forgotten his promise to deliver the remaining "Mana Source."


    Naturally, Lynn had no intention of reneging on his promise, especially since they hadn''t settled the ount for the airship trip yet.


    However, things took an unexpected turn. Even before he could make a move, Barbara and Hank came knocking at his door.


    "Are you saying that Nos hasn''t been acting righttely?" Lynn asked, quite surprised, in the estate of Ladek, after listening to theirints.


    Hank nodded. As per their prior agreement, after this hunting operation, Nos was supposed to pay him one thousand magic gold coins as a reward, along with some disassembled parts of the "Eye of Death."


    However, nearly three days had passed, and there was no sign of Nos. His apprentice, sent to hurry him, reported that Nos wasn''t even at the base outside the estate and Iyeta Harbor.


    This raised some troubling thoughts.


    "Nos probably doesn''t intend to pay us," Barbara said angrily. In her view, Nos had likely suffered heavy losses during the ''Eye of Death'' hunting operation, so he was stalling.


    They hade to Lynn this time to present a united front and confront Nos during the uing "Crimson Thorns" promotion ceremony in two days.


    Lynn stared at the two with a strange expression.


    When he first heard about this organization, Lynn was worried. After all, "Crimson Thorns" was quite extensive, with aplexposition of members. However, now it seemed like the entire organization was nothing more than a disorganized group of individuals who cared only about themselves.


    Of course, this might also be rted to the unpleasantness that urred during the ''Eye of Death'' hunting operation.


    Nos had put a lot of effort into it, only to obtain a partially damaged ''Eye of Death,'' which he was then forced to hand over a portion of its blood. He was definitely harboring some grievances.


    Lynn was quite pleased to see this situation. If only they could go straight to an all-out fight.


    With that in mind, Lynn leaned toward the fire.


    "I''m afraid things aren''t that simple. You both must remember Nos''s obsession with that blood, to the point of being willing to go to any lengths. He must be urgently wanting to use it for something, keeping it from all of us..."


    "Perhaps from the beginning, he never intended to pay the so-called reward... We might all be mistaken for sword users!"


    As he said this, even Lynn himself seemed taken aback, growing somewhat suspicious.


    Suddenly, his analysis seemed quite usible.


    Nos had been overly generous, to an absurd degree. For example, he was willing to pay several times the market price for the high-grade magic crystal cannon that Barbara had acquired.


    That was a whopping four thousand magic gold coins, an amount even many Tier Three wizards wouldn''t umte in their entire lives.


    Then there was the essence of the ''Eye of Death.'' While Radak was the only one among them who understood how to make a "Mana Source," after Nos handed it over, he showed no further interest...


    Barbara and Hank exchanged a nce, their eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and doubt. The only thing that would make a Tier Three wizard stake everything was something...


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 Chapter 115: Have the Wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts Gone Mad?

    Chapter 115: Have the Wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts Gone Mad?


    "Does he want to be... a Grand Wizard?" Barbara eximed, her face showing a hint of desire.


    This was undoubtedly the dream of every Tier 3 wizard. In the entire world of wizards, there were thousands of official wizards, but the number of those who could truly be Grand Wizards was only a few dozen.


    But the problem was, how? Rely on the blood of the Eye of Death?


    "This is just our spection," Hank said with a bit more reason. If advancing were that easy, they wouldn''t have been stuck at Tier 3 for so many years.


    "Spection or not, I''m going to ask Nos," Barbara said, her emotions running high. Just like them, Nos was also a talentless individual, and he had no hope of breaking through to be a Grand Wizard in this lifetime.


    If the other person could advance using this method, then she could too!


    "Ask... how do you n to ask?" Lynn smirked.


    Barbara''s face turned pale instantly. ording to Hank, Nos was currently unfindable, probably intentionally avoiding them while working on some secret n.


    What worried her even more was that by the time she found him, Nos might have alreadypleted his breakthrough, putting them at a severe disadvantage.


    "Perhaps we can enlist some help," Hank''s mind couldn''t help bute up with a devious n. There were more than just one or two Tier 3 wizards aspiring to be Grand Wizards.


    In a sense, they had many allies!


    Since Nos was hiding like this, perhaps he wasn''t using any legitimate means for advancement. They could potentially use this as leverage to force Nos to share this method with them, or else have their trusted aides spread the news throughout the entire wizarding world.


    For a possible advancement method, Hank and Barbara wereing up with cunning schemes, even carrying a touch of madness in their intentions.


    Listening to them, Lynn broke into a cold sweat, casting a gaze at the two with a hint of pity.


    Although Hank and Barbara were prestigious Tier 3 wizards, at this moment, they were not much different from the apprentices who worked tirelessly to advance to official wizards...


    But this was the cruel reality of the wizarding world, where each level represented power and authority.


    After discussing various methods to interrogate Nos and establishing a temporary alliance, Hank and Barbara couldn''t wait to take their leave.


    They were both eager to return and study the vial of blood they had obtained in the Misty Sea, to understand what made it so special.


    Once the two left, Lynn contemted and took out a vial filled with green liquid.


    During these days, he had naturally conducted some research on the blood of the Eye of Death. However, the results of his experiments were terrible. The power contained in this blood was extremely mysterious, with a strong repulsion that made it impossible to use for brewing shape-shifting potions.


    The rats that consumed the blood directly mysteriously died within seconds, and even dissecting their bodies revealed no apparent cause of death.


    Lynn suddenly remembered that Nos had mentioned using this blood in some kind of alchemical formation...


    Maybe that could be a starting point.


    ...


    While conducting his research in secret, Lynn didn''t forget that he was still a teaching professor. In fact, his one-week vacation had already ended.


    Faced with the reopening of his math sses, the group of wizard apprentices were both excited and troubled.


    During the break from math sses, they had been working on the assignments left behind by Lynn, which contained various bizarre problems.


    For example, a wizard had many chickens and rabbits in a cage. There were a total of thirty-five heads and ny-four feet. The question was, how many chickens and rabbits were in the cage?


    And then there was another wizard who spent ten silver coins to buy a camel, sold it for twelve silver coins, bought it back for fifteen silver coins, and sold it to another person for twenty silver coins. The question was, how much did he earn in the end?


    Besides these, there were snails that ran up trees and took breaks, frogs that always slipped back into the well when trying to jump out, carpenters who couldn''t figure out how to match keys and locks, and the area of intersection of two squares, and more.


    Eilok couldn''t understand how Professor Lynn''s mind worked and why he had so many strange questions.


    And what about those wizards from the Society of Mystical Arts? Why did they insist on keeping chickens and rabbits in the same cage? They even had to determine the quantity by counting heads and feet. If they had the time, they could have separated the chickens and rabbits.


    "Very well, it seems like you''ve all got a good grasp of it," Lynn roughly reviewed the collected assignments.


    Although there were many questions, they were all about the most basic equations and geometry knowledge. The only difference was the variety in the question styles, all of which Lynn had found through searches on his intelligence brain, which contained some ssic problems.


    One had to admit that the minds of these wizard apprentices were much more effective than those of ordinary people. Eilok, Johnny, and the others were indeed elite ss students. In just two months, they had already mastered some of the fundamental knowledge.


    After hearing Lynn''s words of praise, the faces of the apprentices couldn''t help but show expressions of joy, especially Pierce.


    As one of the apprentices with the longest tenure at Iyeta Academy, his magical power was overflowing, but he had no talent in elemental magic, alchemy, potion making, or shapeshifting studies, which had kept him at the academy.


    However, the subject of math was different. Although his talent was not as good as Eilok, Johnny, and the others, it was much better than the rest. This was his only hope for graduation!


    "Professor Lynn, does this mean we''vepleted this math course?" Pierce asked with great excitement.


    "We''re far from done. What you''ve been learning so far is just the very basics," Lynn shook his head and said, feeling a bit helpless.


    This was just the basics?


    Eilok, Pierce, and the others found it hard to believe. They thought they had already learned everything they could. After all, they could now perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and calcte the dimensions and surface areas of variousplex objects with precision. They even knew how many days it took for thezy snail to crawl up the wall, how many jumps the frog needed to leap out of the deep well, and they could easily solve the bizarre chicken and rabbit puzzle.


    What more was there to learn?


    "And there''s trigonometry, probability, linear algebra, ne vectors, inequalities, infinite series, and more... Have you all mastered these as well?" Lynn asked with a smile.


    Lynn''s trademark smile sent a shiver down the spines of the apprentices present, and his words left them in a state of confusion.


    The only thing they recognized was the word "triangles" in trigonometry!


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 Chapter 116: The Power of Combining Alchemy and Magic!

    Chapter 116: The Power of Combining Alchemy and Magic!


    "Professor Lynn, what''s the point of learning all this?" Elok asked in a soft voice, looking a bit puzzled.


    Elok thought that if it was just about exercising their brains, dealing with indices, square roots, and solving equations would be torturous enough.


    Lynn nced at the equally confused group and smiled before speaking, "Haven''t you all been curious about how alchemy can bebined with magic?"


    "Are you going to teach us magic involving alchemy, Professor?" Deborah eximed in surprise.


    The group of wizard apprentices eagerly looked at Lynn, their memories of the terrifying ice magic he had used on the training ground fresh in their minds. Just the residual magic from his demonstration had nearly frozen their arms. They had heard that Lynn had personally developed this unique magic.


    Lydia, on the other hand, pouted and kicked the table in frustration because she was the only one among them who couldn''t grasp this whole magic thing.


    "In a way, you could say that!" Lynn nodded. He then asked everyone to leave the ssroom and join him in a more open area.


    Once everyone was in position, Lynn turned his gaze towards the Howling Tower, raised his hand, and began to calcte something.


    "What are you nning, Professor? Are you going to blow up the entire Howling Tower?" Elok whispered.


    "How could that be?" Pierce scoffed. The Howling Tower was the icondmark of Iyeta Harbor, and it couldn''t just be demolished, could it?


    But when Pierce saw Lynn''s serious expression, he became unsure. "It can''t be... right?"


    Under the curious gazes of the group, twelve Magic Missiles appeared around Lynn. Then, with a whooshing sound, they streaked towards the Howling Tower.


    As they watched, the disappointment on the faces of the onlookers was palpable. They had hoped for something more impressive. However, they still kept their eyes fixed on the trajectory of the Magic Missiles.


    Was he nning to attack the top of the tower?


    Elok looked up at the sky, but to his surprise, the trajectory of the twelve missiles followed a parabolic path, soaring over the tower''s dozens of meters tall peak. They then descended downwards and disappeared from view.


    The field fell into an eerie silence, and everyone''s expressions turned strange. Elok and Deborah stifled theirughter.


    Failure... this was definitely a failure, right?


    "Professor Lynn, that was just a demonstration, right? Should we try it again?" Jonny kindly suggested, trying to save Lynn from embarrassment.


    However, Lynn''s expression remained unchanged. He scanned the group of apprentices, who were barely holding back theirughter, and then looked at Elok and Deborah, who were struggling not to burst intoughter, and casually said, "Elok, Deborah, go to the training ground and fetch the training dummies."


    "Sure thing, Professor." Elok struggled to keep a straight face, but as soon as he received Lynn''s order, he rushed off. Only when he was out of Lynn''s sight did he finally burst intoughter.


    "Hahaha... I never thought Professor Lynn would have moments like this."


    Deborah also joined in theughter.


    It couldn''t be helped; Professor Lynn had always carried an air of confidence, as if he had everything under control. However, today''s teaching mishap was just too amusing.


    "Let''s hurry and get there, so we don''t keep the professor waiting," Elok said, picking up the pace after a goodugh.


    He was sure that the Magic Missile Lynn had cast wasn''t as simple as it seemed. It was probably just a mistake, and Elok wanted to see what it would be like tobine alchemy and magic.


    The training ground was quite a distance from the Alchemy ssroom, situated at the far corner of the entire campus for safety, to avoid any magical idents.


    When the two arrived at the training ground, they were surprised to find a crowd gathered there. As they squeezed their way in, they were left in shock.


    In front of them stood a row of decapitated training dummies.


    "There are twelve of them, exactly twelve," Deborah counted, and then a ridiculous idea suddenly came to her mind.


    Elok also thought of the same thing and turned to the other apprentices next to him. He asked urgently, "Dakka, what happened to these dummies?"


    "We don''t know. Just as we were practicing our magic a moment ago, several Magic Missiles fell from the sky and struck the dummies on the head, scaring all of us," Dakka replied with a perplexed expression.


    "From the sky? Do you know which direction they came from?" Elok asked quickly.


    "It should be from that direction," Dakka pointed behind him.


    Elok and Deborah exchanged nces, and their expressions changed immediately because behind them stood the towering Howling Tower!


    Could it be that Professor Lynn, from the Alchemy ssroom, across the entire tower, covering hundreds of meters without any line of sight, urately hit the training dummies on the training ground with Magic Missiles?


    How was that possible?


    "What on earth is going on?" Dakka and the others, gathered at the training ground, couldn''t help but ask, looking at the surprised expressions of Elok and Deborah.


    "If I''m not mistaken, this was probably done by Professor Lynn," Elok swallowed hard, his disbelief evident.


    It was only now that they realized Lynn didn''t want them to bring the training dummies for experimenting with magic. Instead, he wanted to take these damaged dummies back to showcase the effect!


    ...


    At the same time, Lydia and the others waiting in front of the ssroom were getting impatient.


    Where were Elok and Deborah? They were just supposed to bring a few training dummies, and yet, they hadn''t returned for so long. Could they be intentionally trying to watch the professor embarrass himself?


    This was really mean. Pierce couldn''t help but grumble in his heart. After all, the professor always liked to throw strange and difficult alchemical questions at them.


    Just as he was thinking that, Pierce saw Elok and Deborah, apanied by Dakka and a few others, approaching. Each of them was carrying two headless training dummies, which looked particrly eerie.


    Without waiting for them to ask, Deborah immediately approached Lynn, her curiosity brimming. She inquired, "Professor Lynn, how on earth did you do this? It''s simply unbelievable!"


    "What''s so unbelievable about it?" Pierce couldn''t help but interrupt.


    Elok didn''t beat around the bush either and quickly exined what they had witnessed on the training ground. Dakka and the others also chimed in, describing how the Magic Missiles had fallen from the sky and smashed the dummies during their magic practice.


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 Chapter 117: Lynn - Time is Running Out, Lets Get to Work

    Chapter 117: Lynn - Time is Running Out, Let''s Get to Work


    After listening to the ounts of several people, Pierce and hispanions found it hard to believe, even suspecting if Elok was deceiving them.


    The ssroom of the Arcane Mathematics was a whole 600 meters away from the training ground, with a towering howling tower several tens of meters high in between. Could they really hit that from here?


    But the twelve training dummies with smashed heads and the testimonies of Daka and the others told them that it was all true.


    The group of apprentices, puzzled, all turned to Lynn, waiting for his answer.


    "It''s simple. Just calcte all the data and work it out, right?" Lynn said with a smile.


    During his time as a professor, he had already recorded every location in the Iyeta Academy with the help of a smart brain. So, he had a clear understanding of the position information for each training dummy. All he needed to do was construct the corresponding parabolic trajectory equations and make minor adjustments for interference factors such as wind speed.


    "The same attack can be reced with fireball spells, me burst spells, or even more powerful magic!" Lynn added.


    Elok and the others couldn''t help but shiver, as no one wanted to be walking down the street one day and have a massive fireball drop from the sky and hit them on the head! It was just too terrifying, not even knowing how they would die!


    "Professor Lynn, is this the magical technique you''ve researched during this week?" Tiek, who had been listening, asked with astonishment.


    "You could say that." Lynn shrugged, conveniently using it as an exnation for his unexined one-week vacation.


    "Professor, when can we learn this kind of magic?" Debra raised her hand high, full of curiosity.


    "Since you all want to learn this, at the end of this month, I will organize an examination for the Arcane Mathematics. If someone can solve all the questions, I will teach them this improved magic, and even allow them to apply for graduation ahead of time," Lynn promised to the group of apprentices.


    However, his words weren''t meant to deceive. He didn''t expect these wizard apprentices to master very advanced mathematical knowledge. As long as they couldplete most of the knowledge from elementary and middle school, they could apply for graduation. After all, they could continue their education after bing official wizards.


    In fact, this exam was also to help Jonny advance. Now that she had be an official wizard, it was better to secure her status as soon as possible.


    Fueled by the prospect of learning improved magic and applying for early graduation, the group of wizard apprentices burst forth with an unimaginable enthusiasm. They were more focused during ss than ever.


    Pierce was especially excited; Lynn''s promise was undoubtedly his only chance to be an official wizard as a mediocre talent.


    "Next, we will continue with the exnation of the Cartesian coordinate system... just some basic knowledge," Lynn extended his hand and used magic to draw a cross in the air,unching into the lesson.


    After the Arcane Math ss, Elok and the others left the ssroom, either lost in deep thought or looking bewildered. Their minds were filled with terms like absolute value, the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the X-axis, the Y-axis, from this point to that point...


    Pierce nced at his notes, feeling like he had understood it but also not entirely. He decided to contemte it further when he got back.


    "Tiek, please stay for a moment," Lynn called out after packing up his teaching materials, stopping Tiek from leaving.


    "Professor Lynn, is there something you need?" Tiek paused, then continued, "The concept of the coordinate system you introduced in ss is very interesting. It seems like it can precisely locate any object in space. I wonder if this was the idea of some great master or perhaps a legendary wizard..."


    Compared to the apprentices who were engrossed in learning superficial knowledge, Tiek understood just how important this was. He guessed that Lynn could hit those dummies with pinpoint uracy from hundreds of meters away, even avoiding the entire Howling Tower. It seemed to involve knowledge in this area.


    "That''s an idea put forward by a master named Descartes," Lynn replied with a smile, answering Tiek''s question.


    After listening to their stories, Tiek and Lynn couldn''t help but be amazed by the profound nature of this subject.


    "Descartes... it would be an honor to meet these masters of arcane mathematics," Tiek sighed, increasingly astounded by the depth of this field.


    "There might be a chance in the future!" Lynn replied with a smile. He then adjusted his expression and expressed his gratitude. "I heard from Rohl that you''ve been helping me with the patent application for the Skyship. I haven''t had a chance to thank you."


    "It''s just a small favor. I can''t sit through so many Arcane Math sses for nothing!" Tiekughed heartily. "It''s about time they arrive."


    After some small talk, Lynn seized the opportunity to ask about alchemy. "I heard from a schr within the Society of Mystical Arts that some wizards can enhance their abilities and break through their limits using alchemical arrays. Is that true?"


    Hearing this, Tiek''s brow furrowed slightly, but he still exined, "Alchemy can indeed achieve simr effects, but nowadays, very few wizards in thisnd actually practice it."


    Tiek''s exnation was brief and to the point, without going into detail. A century ago, when the management of thend of wizards wasx, the methods for promotion in various schools were diverse, leading to many undesirable oues. This was also rted to a scandal that the Wizard Council preferred not to mention, and it involved the dark sorcerer Merck. Tiek didn''t want to delve into such knowledge.


    Lynn understood this and changed the subject, asking about theyout of alchemical arrays and their decryption.


    This time, Tiek was more open and patiently exined everything to Lynn.


    The two of them talked all the way to the professor''s lounge. When they saw the silver-haired witch standing at the door, Tiek couldn''t help but smile.


    "I''ll go back by myself, Professor Lynn," Tiek raised an eyebrow and quipped.


    Lynn could tell that Tiek had misunderstood, but before he could exin, Tiek had already tactfully turned and left.


    Lynn shook his head, opened the door, and invited the witch in before asking, "Jonny, after your promotion yesterday, did your body experience any difort?"


    The silver-haired witch shook her head, looking puzzled. "Why do you ask? Is there something wrong?"


    "No, there''s nothing wrong. I was just curious," Lynn shook his head. It seemed that the potency of the potion Jonny had taken wasn''t sufficient to reveal the Death Eye in her consciousness.


    "Next, let''s get to work quickly. We only have two hours!" Lynn said, looking at the witch, urging her to focus.


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 Chapter 118: The Promotion Ceremony of "Bloodthorn"

    Chapter 118: The Promotion Ceremony of "Bloodthorn"


    Under Lynn''s continuous prodding, Jonny nodded and quickly took out the notebook he was holding, flipping to thetest page. He pointed to the title and inquired, "Professor, I''m still not quite sure about the Cartesian coordinate system you mentioned today, especially this question..."


    "If you want to determine the distance between two coordinate points, you need to use the Pythagorean theorem we discussed earlier. You can mark the differences in the horizontal and vertical coordinates on the axes, and then connect them with a line. This way, it bes a right-angled triangle formed by joining two coordinates, and ites back to the question of geometry..." Lynn exined the problem-solving approach to Jonny in a straightforward manner.


    When ites to doing real work, it''s time to give specialized guidance!


    After all, Lynn had promised to apply for Jonny''s graduation in the name of a professor as long as he passed the exam. To prevent too many people from passing, leading to a rejection from the council due to an excess of applicants, the test content had to be challenging.


    However, this level of difficulty had its limits. Lynn couldn''t introduce unfamiliar topics; at most, the questions were just a bit more challenging in terms of format.


    To ensure that Jonny could answer all the questions correctly, specialized guidance was necessary.


    Although it might seem unfair to other students, seeking a professor for extra lessons was not something to be ashamed of.


    Lynn had never prohibited other apprentices from asking questions, but Jonny asked more and delved deeper.


    Two hours passed in the blink of an eye, and Jonny closed his notebook. He looked at Lynn and said with a smile, "Thank you for your guidance, Professor. I have to admit, you are a really amazing teacher!"


    A faint blush colored the girl''s cheeks, and her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Lynn in front of her. It seemed like she hadpletely immersed herself in the academic exchange they had just had.


    "I just started learning about arcane mathematics earlier than you did," Lynn shook his head.


    Even if it was just half a year earlier, Jonny cast a slight disdainful nce at him. She understood why the other students in the regr sses looked at them with envy and jealousy when she was with Lynn; the gap in talent was simply despair-inducing.


    "Well, I won''t bother you any longer, Professor. We''ll see each other again tomorrow." Jonny closed her notebook, filled with answers and problem-solving strategies, and prepared to leave.


    Lynn stood up and escorted the witch to the door. As she was about to leave, she nced at the joints of Lynn''s left hand, which was used to open the door, and said with a touch of sentiment, "I didn''t expect the teacher to give you this."


    Lynn paused for a moment and then followed Jonny''s gaze, lowering his head to look at the "Maskless Ring" on his left ring finger.


    So, Kora was also a member of the Maskless...


    Lynn was greatly surprised. This waspletely unexpected, but he kept hisposure. "The teacher cares about this ring? Do you know what it''s used for?"


    Jonny shook her head. She only knew that Kora had worn this ring when he epted her as an apprentice. She guessed it must be a powerful alchemical item, but she had never seen him use it in front of her.


    After the silver-haired witch left, Lynn closed the door and gazed at the "Maskless Ring" in his hand.


    Could it be that his identity had been revealed by Kora?


    But wasn''t Kora captured by the church and taken to the Holy City?


    It was unlikely that he had escaped. Maybe Kora had mentioned him to someone before being captured by the church.


    "Hasn''t Number 4 been absent for a long time?"


    Lynn suddenly remembered the words spoken by one of the attendees at the Maskless gathering. Could Number 4 refer to his mentor, Kora?


    ...


    On the following evening, in the southern district of Iyeta Harbor, a luxurious mansion stood, and three carriages drawn by camel-like creatures came to a slow stop in front of the entrance.


    Lynn, disguised as Herlram, stepped out of one of the carriages, ready to participate in the so-called promotion ceremony.


    Apanying Lynn were fifteen apprentices under Herlram, including Bok and Patty. They were both excited and anxious, hoping to be chosen and take a giant leap forward to be noble official wizards!


    "Lord Herlram, please!" The robust guard at the entrance opened the tightly closed iron gate and invited them inside with great respect.


    Lynn led the group of apprentices into the mansion''s entrance. They followed a path paved with cobblestones and proceeded towards the mansion''s interior.


    Meanwhile, the robust guard had once again closed the iron gate behind them, casting a mocking look in their direction. Unbeknownst to him, a dozen small, pitch-ck rodents sneaked into the mansion amidst the bustling crowd.


    These rodents were puppets controlled by Lynn using his psychic ability, the Death Puppetry. Their small size made them inconspicuous, and they were joined by a few gray crows and even more discreet geckos.


    Though theyckedbat strength, they served as Lynn''s eyes, observing theyout of the entire mansion and its surroundings. If necessary, the liquid explosives they carried mighte in handy.


    After passing through a long corridor, Lynn and the group arrived at the mansion''s banquet hall. It was spacious and filled with a variety of exquisite dishes and desserts disyed on long tables.


    The banquet hall was already crowded with many guests, and a rough estimate indicated there were at least one or two hundred people. Most of them were apprentices, but there were also many official wizards, including Barbara and Hank. Lynn even spotted Leah, the city''sw enforcement officer.


    Their faces bore smiles of varying degrees, and they conversed with each other, creating a rather harmonious atmosphere.


    In the center of the banquet hall, a male servant dressed in a tailcoat danced gracefully on the stage. Lovely maids held silver trays, ready to serve drinks and food to the guests.


    "Hellram, why are you always thest one to arrive?" Hank spotted Lynn as soon as he entered, walked over, and lightly tapped him on the shoulder.


    "Early birds may catch the worm, but isn''t it better to arrive in style?" Lynn responded casually, surveying the lively scene in the banquet hall. Then he lowered his voice and asked, "Are you sure Nos wille to this gathering?"


    Over the past few days, Lynn had tried to control the gray crows to find any trace of Nos, but he hade up empty.


    "If he hasn''t canceled the promotion ceremony, he''ll definitelye!" Barbara stated confidently.


    As Barbara finished speaking, Nos, dressed in a gray robe, appeared in front of everyone...


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 Chapter 119: Youre Destroying the Foundation of Our Rights!

    Chapter 119: You''re Destroying the Foundation of Our Rights!


    "Wee, everyone, to this gathering!" In the midst of everyone''s attention, Nos emerged from the corridor behind the banquet hall, looking at the people present with a gentle smile on his face.


    Hank and hispanions exchanged nces, a hint of suspicion in their eyes. They had thought that Nos had been missing for some time to break through as a Grand Mage.


    But now it seemed that wasn''t the case, as they couldn''t sense the distinct aura of power from him. It meant that Nos was, just like them, a Tier 3 mage.


    Realizing this, Barbara let out a sigh of relief and a hint of annoyance. She didn''t care about the asion and bluntly interrupted, "Nos, shouldn''t you exin some things to us? Like where you''ve been these past few days and when you intend to fulfill your promises?"


    Barbara''s words made the atmosphere in the room tense. Leya and others, who had been invited, swirled their sses of red wine, amused by themotion.


    The mages of the Bloodthorn Thorns, on the other hand, looked disapprovingly at Barbara. In their view, no matter how significant the conflict, it shouldn''t be discussed in such a setting. It would be making a spectacle for outsiders.


    However, Nos didn''t seem to mind at all. He calmly raised his highball ss and took a sip of the bright liquid beforeughing, "After the promotion ceremony, I promise that everything I''ve said to you will be delivered without exception!"


    Nos''s confident assurance left Barbara and Hank hesitating, making them wonder if their assumptions had been wrong.


    Could it be that Nos wasn''t nning toe empty-handed as they had imagined? Perhaps he had been selling his assets to raise funds for them?


    They both turned to look at Lynn, who shook his head without saying a word. His attention was focused on the rats and ravens roaming freely throughout the estate.


    The entire estate had been sealed offpletely, with guards stationed at regr intervals. The entrance to the banquet hall was locked from the outside.


    What exactly did Nos intend to do?


    Was this just a precaution, or did he n to eliminate all those who had gathered for the meeting?


    It was essential to remember that apart from the over a hundred apprentice mages, there were also more than ten full-fledged mages and seven Tier 3 mages present. Both their power and influence in Iyeta Harbor should not be underestimated.


    Lynn controlled one of the ravens to soar to a higher altitude and surveyed the entire estate. He quickly noticed that theyout of the estate was meticulously nned, with the banquet hall at its center and dozens of silver pirs, each about half a meter tall, ced around it.


    Viewed from above, theyout of the entire estate resembled an enormous alchemical array...


    Recalling the alchemical knowledge he had learned from Tekk, Lynn quickly deduced that these pirs were likely made of precious mithril and served as the nodes of the entire array.


    With a thought, a small, inconspicuous rat moved stealthily along the shadows of the high walls, intending to get a closer look at one of the pirs in the area with the weakest guard presence.


    But just as it was about to approach, Lynn suddenly felt his vision go dark, as if the camera had been disconnected while spying. The next thing he sensed was the excruciating pain of the rat''s death.


    Through the eyes of the raven, Lynn saw a menacing brown wolfhound, saliva dripping from its mouth, lurking near the mithril pir.


    A few patrolling guards noticed themotion but, after a cursory nce, saw the wolfhound carrying the lifeless body of a rat in its mouth. They mumbled some curses and moved on. The rats in the southern district had be a gue, impossible to eradicatepletely.


    As the guards walked away, the fierce wolfhound continued to faithfully guard the area, its gaze fixed on the remaining rats hiding in the shadows.


    A showdown between dogs and rats¡­


    Lynn suddenly found himself in a tricky situation. While these creatures were under his control, they had no special abilities. Theirbat abilities were no different from regr rats, and no matter how many of them there were, they might not be able to defeat a vicious dog.


    The only advantage they had was aerial support.


    Of course, it had to be a one-hit kill; they couldn''t give the dog a chance to call for help!


    Just as Lynn was secretly nning an animal battle, Nos, inside the banquet hall, set down his ss of red wine and began to speak.


    "Now that there are no other questions, I suggest we proceed with the promotion ceremony."


    "Right now?"


    Hank hesitated, his gaze shifting to Leya and others who had been invited. He couldn''t help but feel a hint of regret; this was a secret of the Bloodthorn Thorns.


    "Maybe we should wait until after the banquet to confirm the list," Barbara suggested, opposing the idea.


    "No, there''s no need to make it soplicated. I believe we can conduct the promotion ceremony differently this time," Nos said with a faint smile.


    "Recently, I''ve been experimenting with a new alchemical formation using special materials."


    As he spoke, Nos raised his hand, and intricate runes appeared on the floor of the banquet hall.


    The fine runes continued to connect, covering half of the entire hall. The outer circle formed arge ring, while the inner part created aplex geometric pattern made up of numerous intricate patterns, exuding a strange sense of beauty.


    The faces of the formal mages in the room changed, and they quickly left the area covered by the formation. Lynn followed suit.


    Until they were certain of the formation''s effect, no one wanted to take any risks.


    Nos didn''t mind and turned to the Bloodthorn Thorns'' apprentices, continuing, "This alchemical formation can amplify a mage''s power. In general, the longer you stay inside the formation, the greater the boost. Of course, everyone''s will, endurance, and potential are different... I can''t guarantee that everyone will seed in their promotion, but you can give it a try."


    Hearing this, Hank and Barbara frowned, looking at the alchemical formation that had appeared on the ground. Their expressions were somewhat unpleasant.


    Nos had unexpectedly changed the promotion ceremony''s process without prior notice and introduced a so-called alchemical formation. This made them suspect that Nos wanted to reduce their power and influence.


    It was crucial to understand that one of the most significant factors motivating these mage apprentices to risk their lives was their ess to promotion as core members of the Bloodthorn Thorns. Using this as bait was the only way to make them strive to their utmost.


    Nos''s actions were undoubtedly undermining the very foundation of their rights.


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 Chapter 120: The Purpose of "Bloodthorn"

    Chapter 120: The Purpose of "Bloodthorn"


    Compared to the disgruntled Barbara and Hank, the wizard apprentices present were brimming with excitement.


    In previous promotion ceremonies, there were typically only three to five slots avable, leaving most of them watching in anticipation, hoping to earn a valuable spot next year through their hard work.


    But this time was different. Everyone had an equal chance, and the extent of their power increase depended solely on how long they could endure inside the alchemical array.


    Each of them believed they could hold out till the end, but Lynn and the others had quite the reputation, so, apart from the apprentices under Nos, no one dared to step forward.


    In the face of such temptation, betrayal was only a matter of time. After much hesitation, Bok clenched his teeth and stood inside the alchemical array. His body trembled, and he dared not look at Lynn''s expression.


    He was gambling! Gambling that this time he could be an official wizard, and then he wouldn''t have to fear the other''s harassment.


    Lynn cast a meaningful nce at Bok but said nothing. He didn''t think Nos would be so kind.


    Seeing that Lynn had no intention of punishing Bok, Patty and others, who could no longer restrain themselves, stood in the alchemical array. Following them were Barbara and Hank''s apprentices.


    "You... How dare you!" Seeing her own apprentices enter the alchemical array without a word of greeting, Barbara was furious. If Lynn hadn''t allowed that apprentice to leave, things wouldn''t have escted to this point.


    "It''s useless!" Lynn shook his head.


    These wizard apprentices joined the "Bloodthorn" for one purpose¡ªto be official wizards. Faced with the temptation of promotion, no one could resist, no matter what he did.


    "This is quite interesting," Leia chuckled softly.


    The onlookers among the wizards were also curious about whether the alchemical array was as amazing as Nos imed.


    Nos finished the red wine on his table, gazing at the 100-plus apprentices inside the alchemical array with a satisfied smile. He lightly tapped his wand, and the entire alchemical array was activated.


    Fine runes shimmered with a dark green aura, followed by a strong surge of magical power radiating from the alchemical array.


    The apprentices in the center of the array immediately sensed a certain power flowing into their bodies, and their magic power, as if being pulled, began to stir.


    "It''s real! My magic power has increased!" Bok eximed in excitement.


    It was a delightful, ethereal, andfortable feeling. He felt like his soul was humming softly.


    He was about to be an official wizard soon!


    Leia and the others, who were watching, stared at the scene inside the array.


    They had deep doubts about the alchemical array that could help apprentices advance. After all, these apprentices had already reached the limit of their magic power growth, and raising it again wasn''t that easy. But Bok''s heartfelt praise made them hesitate.


    Moreover, the surging magic power around them was indeed a sign of their imminent breakthrough into official wizards.


    Barbara and Hank also vaguely suspected that the special material Nos used to set up the array was likely the blood of the Eye of Death. Only that terrifying monster had enough energy to promote over a hundred apprentices at once.


    "Lord Nos, do you know if this alchemical array is still useful for official wizards?" an elderly wizard asked excitedly.


    "It is! Of course, it is!" Nosughed heartily.


    In that moment, a wizard apprentice inside the array let out a painful scream and then copsed to the ground.


    Bok, Patty, and the others also experienced an excruciating, heart-wrenching pain at this moment. At first, they paid it no heed, thinking it might be a side effect of pushing their bodies to the limit. They continued to endure, as Nos had mentioned that the longer they persisted, the greater the increase in magical power they would gain.


    In just a short while, their magical power had already increased by fifty percent.


    But as more and more copsed, Bok began to struggle. What horrified him even more was that the power absorbed into his body earlier had now turned into a deadly poison. His body rapidly withered and decayed, and his soul seemed to be torn apart by some mysterious force.


    Seeing rows of wizard apprentices contorting in agony and falling lifeless, even the most foolish among them realized that something was seriously wrong.


    "Hank, what the hell are you doing, Nos?" Hank angrily berated.


    Nos didn''t reply but muttered somewhat nervously, "Since y''all want to increase your magical power, I''ll grant your wish!"


    After absorbing the power of dozens of wizard apprentices, the power of the alchemical array was bing increasingly potent.


    On the side, Leia seemed to suddenly realize something, as if a chill shot up from the soles of her feet to her heart. She shouted in terror, "This is wrong! It''s the Soul-Devouring Array of the Necromancer Merk!"


    "Are you crazy, Nos?" Barbara''s face disyed an expression of disbelief.


    Nos''s lips curled, and heughed manically. "Of course not, Barbara! Water the most vibrant thorn with blood, that''s the purpose of ''Bloodthorn,'' isn''t it?"


    Over three years ago, the Necromancer Merk had used the blood of Mindreaper to set up an alchemical array, sacrificing an entire vige and numerous apprentices within the School of Mystical Arts, using thousands of souls as nourishment, in an attempt to enter the realm of legendary wizards.


    Although the Necromancer Merk had failed, his power had increased significantly. He could even contend with several grand wizards sent by the Council.


    Nos wasn''t greedy. The realm of legendary wizards was still far away for him. He just wanted to be a true grand wizard with the help of this power.


    "Come, all of you will be part of the esteemed Grand Wizard Nos!" Nos raved.


    "Madman, he''s gone insane, kill him!" Leia shouted loudly.


    The twenty or so wizards in the banquet hall were also burning with anger. They raised their hands to cast spells, ready to tear this lunatic to shreds.


    Hank, in the heat of the moment, even forgot that they were indoors. He raised his hand to unleash a Fireball spell, intending to st Nos and the alchemical array to bits.


    But in the next moment, Hank felt his soul disturbed, as if something had violently pierced his head. The pain caused him to convulse, and the fiery ball exploded on the spot...


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 Chapter 121: Hell on Earth

    Chapter 121: Hell on Earth


    The once spacious and lively banquet hall had turned into a living hell in an instant! The wizards who dared to resist quickly realized that something was amiss. Many of them, just like Hank, experienced a severe magical bacsh the moment they cast their spells. Some clutched their heads in pain, wailing, while others were sent flying by their own magic.


    Under the influence of disrupted souls, even casting the most basic magic became a luxury.


    Desperate cries and screams filled the air, but Nos wore a blissful expression, relishing the chaos before him. This chaos was the catalyst for his ascension.


    Amidst the chaotic crowd, Lynn swiftly assessed his own condition. It wasn''t that he was affected by the magic array, but rather he couldn''t fathom why the other wizards in the room all seemed mentally shocked.


    Had it something to do with his absorption of the power of the Eye of Death?


    Lynn immediately thought of this. The core of this magic array was most likely the blood of the Eye of Death, and his body possessed a simr source of power.


    Besides Lynn, the only one with some resistance left was Coru, an expert in shapeshifting. As soon as she sensed something was wrong, she began to transform. A two-meter-tall owl-beast emerged in the chaotic banquet hall.


    Coru''s eyes were bloodshot, and she let out a sharp roar, evidently affected by the magic array. She first swatted a wizard blocking her path, sending him flying. Then she charged straight at Nos.


    "Your resistance is utterly futile!" Nos taunted, extending his hand to create dozens of robust ice des, intending to pin the charging beast to the rear wall. However, these ice des were shattered one by one on their way by unknown "magic missiles" that struck them down. The owl-beast had covered more than ten meters and delivered a resounding p to Nos.


    With a loud "boom," Nos was sent crashing into the banquet hall''s wall. His entire right arm twisted and deformed, revealing stark white bones.


    But he quickly struggled to his feet. His injuries rapidly healed with a continuous supply of energy. Then he promptly cast a "Magic Barrier," protecting himself from the "feeble" resistance of these people.


    The owl-beast let out another sharp roar, but this time it was blown away by a "Magic st" that came from an unknown source.


    Simultaneously, Lynn''s magic wasplete, and arge quantity of corrosive aqua regia seeped into the floor, corroding the alchemical array in the center of the banquet hall.


    "Ladek, I never thought you could hold on this long!" Nos now noticed Lynn''s presence. He looked at the alchemical array that was almost half corroded, and his expression contorted for a moment before he menacingly said, "It''s useless; this is just a subsidiary array."


    "The time should be about right!" Nos eximed fanatically. "Now, everyone shall merge with me!"


    Just as Nos spoke, through the eyes of the gray raven in the sky, Lynn clearly saw the mithril pirs standing within the estate glowing brightly. Subsequently, ethereal blue lights emanated from everyone. These flickering lights varied in intensity and size, with higher-level wizards emitting more intense ones. A small portion rushed into Nos''s body, while the vast majority merged into the magic array covering the entire estate.


    Even Leia, who had transformed into an owl-beast, couldn''t resist. She quickly fell to the ground in agony.


    (Detection: Rapid increase in energy concentration...)


    (Detection: Arge amount of soul energy. Absorb and convert it into an energy reserve?)


    In Lynn''s mind, the notification sounds of two smart brains echoed.


    "Got it!" Lynn nced at the blue ethereal lights scattered in the banquet hall and silently shouted in his heart.


    If he didn''t absorb this soul energy, it would be used to enhance Nos''s power.


    (Spirit entity captured, estimated to convert into a three percent energy reserve, current energy remaining at 37.5 percent...)


    (Spirit entity captured, estimated to convert into a five percent energy reserve...)


    A series of over a dozen notification sounds followed. Lynn had never imagined that the energy reserve of the smart brain could increase so quickly. In a matter of seconds, the smart brain''s energy reserve reached 100 percent!


    (The overflowing energy will automatically be used to advance the decryption progress of the virtual space...)


    On the other side, Nos felt the steadily rising power within his body. After nine years, he was experiencing the sensation of magic growth once again. However, he soon noticed something amiss. While his magic power was increasing rapidly, he was still a little short of breaking through to Grand Wizard.


    "This can''t be, this can''t be right! Where did I go wrong?" Nos shouted in madness.


    The banquet hall was filled with over a hundred wizard apprentices, seven third-circle wizards, and more than ten official wizards. Such a vast source of soul power should have been enough to propel him to a higher realm!


    However, reality didn''t align with his preconceived expectations. He had be stronger than before, but he still hadn''t broken through the limit of a third-circle wizard.


    "It''s you, it must be you, Ladek!" Nos red menacingly at Lynn, who was the only one standing in the banquet hall. Earlier, he thought Lynn had only temporarily resisted the influence of the Soul-Devouring Array, but now it seemed much moreplicated.


    "Don''t me this on me... Maybe you messed up the spell yourself," Lynn retorted with a hint of sarcasm. While speaking, he simultaneously controlled the rodents and ravens, which were locked inbat with the hellhounds and griffins.


    This statement clearly had no effect, as the soul energy wafting through the air continued to flow into his body relentlessly.


    Nos had obviously noticed this as well, and he felt his heart clenched as if it were about to explode.


    "You bastard, all of this power belongs to me..."


    For this very moment, he had prepared for three years and paid a massive price. He wouldn''t allow any unexpected mishaps!


    "I''ll kill you, and once I do, everything will return!" Perhaps the blow had been too great, as Nos''s mental state was clearly disturbed. His eyes turned bloodshot, and since some of his soul had been absorbed by Lynn, killing him would ultimately bring that power back into Nos''s body.


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 Chapter 122: Lynn: I was just fooling you, you fool!

    Chapter 122: Lynn: I was just fooling you, you fool!


    Nose''s expression gradually shifted from ferocious anger to an icy silence. The scattered magical energy around him rapidly gathered and merged into the dozens of armored statues adorning the banquet hall.


    Through thebined power of magic and psychic energy, these unconscious inanimate objects sprang to life, wielding giant axes and bows. They marched in perfect formation towards Lynn.


    (Fossil to mud.)


    Lynn dodged five iing arrows and then pointed his hand at the ground. Ripples of magic swept through, transforming rows of tiles into fine sand.


    The approaching psychic guardians, like rolling gourds, sank into the sandy ground, and then these sand piles, infused with magic, began to stack up.


    Psychic magic - Summon Lion-Headed Humanoid.


    Lynn followed Nose''s lead and attempted to use psychic magic, although not proficiently. The sand piles gradually took the form of a humanoid upper body with a lion-like lower half.


    However, being his first try with this new magic, the appearance of the Lion-Headed Humanoid was quite distorted, resembling a figurine molded by a child. After sending a few approaching psychic guards flying with a punch, it was obliterated by a fiery explosion, losing half of its body.


    (Magic - Danmaku)


    Realizing that his half-baked psychic spell wouldn''t provide much help inbat, Lynn resorted to his most adept form of magic. Dozens of glittering magic missiles hovered in the air, resembling a dense rain of arrows, shrouding most of the banquet hall.


    Apanied by a series of explosions, the remaining psychic guards were reduced to fragments, crashing into the solid Magic Barrier in the rear.


    Each missile was like a cannonball, immediately bursting upon impact with the magical barrier.


    In just two seconds, the sturdy Magic Barrier was covered in cracks. Just as the barrier was on the verge of breaking, Nose opened his mouth.


    A sharp sonic wave echoed continuously in the banquet hall. Over a dozen "Magic Missiles" that were about to hit the barrier instantly burst into pieces, and Lynn''s movement halted for a moment.


    It was the "Soul Scream"!


    Seeing Lynn''s obvious pause in response to the Soul Scream, Nose immediately understood that Lynn''s soul power was weaker than his own. He raised his wand without hesitation.


    (Magic Impact)


    The tip of the wand lit up with intricate runes, and then a powerful beam of magic shot out, directly targeting Lynn, who was immobilized by the "Soul Scream"!


    However, Nose quickly realized with horror that Lynn, who should have been immobile, effortlessly lifted his arm. A faint me condensed at his fingertip, rapidly expanding into a gigantic hand made of endless mes ¨C a fiery avatar of a god. It collided head-on with the iing magical beam.


    The raging white phosphorus fire almost instantly devoured the beam of magic, imprinting itself fiercely on the already fragmented magical barrier.


    "Crack!"


    A crisp sound resonated as the entire Magic Barrier crumbled. Following that, the hand of the Fiery God swept across every inch of the banquet hall with an overwhelming force, obliterating everything in its path. Finally, it charged towards Nose at the back.


    Nose only had time to release a "Mage Shield" before being engulfed by scorching mes.


    A piercing scream soon echoed from the raging sea of fire. The feeble "Mage Shield" clearly couldn''t withstand the "White Phosphorus - me God''s Hand," which had reached the limit of third-tier magic. In just a moment, the white phosphorus mes made intimate contact with Nose''s body.


    It was like mes from hell, greedily clinging to his body, using flesh and blood as nourishment, corroding every inch of his skin.


    While his originally outstanding regenerative abilities had be a form of torment, under constant cycles of repair and destruction, Nose''s spirit was on the verge of copse. His magical energy quickly dwindled, and his physical recovery slowed down.


    Lynn raised his hand and extinguished the white phosphorus mes.


    Nose''s body had been burnt beyond recognition, looking almost like a dried corpse. However, his massive soul power allowed him to retain some consciousness. His crimson eyes stared fixedly at Lynn, seemingly not understanding how Lynn had suddenly broken free from the "Soul Scream."


    "I was just fooling you, you fool!" Lynn said coldly.


    Having be a psychic after consuming the essence of the Eye of Death, Lynn''s soul power was not inferior to Nose, who had devoured arge amount of soul power. So when Nose used the "Soul Scream," Lynn was affected, but not to the extent of being unable to move or cast spells.


    He deliberately acted as if he were under control to make Nose lower his guard, allowing Lynn to unleash his deadliest magic.


    Nose widened his crimson eyes, blood trickling from his mouth. His body convulsed, as if trying to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his life force vanishedpletely.


    "Did I anger him to death?" Lynn shook his head and approached Nose, cing his right hand on the scorching head of Nose. He activated psychic magic to retrieve Nose''s memories.


    However, he quickly found that Nose''s memories were in disarray and rapidly dissipating. It seemed that the person who set up this array couldn''t escape the fate of being consumed.


    Lynn nced at the unresponsive AI brain, confirming his suspicions.


    The AI brain''s transformation and absorption of spirits were not without limitations. Apart from the requirement of being close to the target, there seemed to be a strength requirement. Judging from the fact that the energy reserves converted didn''t exceed ten percent, it seemed that only the souls of wizard apprentices were directly captured and absorbed, and they had to be in a state separated from their physical bodies.


    Just as Lynn was pondering, sounds of explosions came from outside the banquet hall.


    Lynn''s expression remained unchanged. This was the result of him controlling the rodents and gray crows to quietly use liquid bombs to destroy several array nodes in the manor.


    However, Lynn quickly realized that the situation seemed to be different from what he had expected. The Soul-Eating Array, which covered the entire banquet hall, did not end; instead, it continued to spread outward.


    The guards, who had rushed to the array nodes upon hearing the explosions, suddenly showed painful expressions and copsed on the ground. Bluish spirits emerged from their bodies, then sank into the ground.


    Not only that, the hunting dogs patrolling the manor, the horses and camels in the stables, did not escape the fate of having their souls extracted.


    The Soul-Eating Array, strengthened once again, flickered with an emerald green glow and surged towards the entire southern city district...


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 Chapter 123: The Whole Truth

    Chapter 123: The Whole Truth


    Through the eyes of Gray Raven, Lynn also saw the Soul-Devouring Array continuously spreading, and his brows furrowed slightly.


    The creatures under his control seemed to be able to escape the fate of having their souls extracted. However, what surprised Lynn was that he had already destroyed several nodes of the array just now. ording to Tiek''s exnation, this thing should have stopped.


    Could it be that he made a mistake? Perhaps the nodes of the array were not here, or there were more criticalponents.


    The power of the Soul-Devouring Array was self-evident. Even three-ring wizards like Barbara and Hank couldn''t escape its grasp, let alone the beggars in the South City District.


    Lynn wasn''t sure if this thing would continue to expand infinitely. If it did, the entire Iyeta Harbor would likely be consumed.


    With such a massive amount of soul energy, what kind of monsters would eventually be born...


    As Lynn pondered, a few small mice that had been sent to search the entire estate earlier discovered a secret. The space beneath the entire banquet hall was empty, and there was a very hidden passage, which likely led to the core of the Soul-Devouring Array.


    Squeak, squeak, squeak...


    At night, in the underground of the gathering estate, faint squeaking sounds echoed through the long underground passage.


    Several small mice, with their petite appearances, were running quickly within the tunnel. They asionally stopped to sniff or used their paws to probe, making sure there were no traps set here before continuing their mad dash.


    Not far behind, most of Lynn''s attention was now on the continuous notifications from the intelligent AI.


    "Decryption progress: 94%... 97%... 100%..."


    "Remaining soul energy has been stored... Do you wish to seize control of the virtual domain?"


    Seeing that the progress had reached 100%, Lynn didn''t rush to agree. Instead, he inquired about the actual function of this virtual domain.


    After the AI replied, Lynn understood that this ce was simr to the metaverse of his previous life, but with the distinction that this domain was made of magical energy. It existed somewhere between reality and illusion and could change ording to the imagination of the one in control. As long as the person possessed the appropriate data and a sufficient amount of magical energy, they could reshape the chaotic space into a projection of the universe''s starry sky.


    Of course, this was based on the condition that the personprehended the essence of the objects they wanted to manifest. Otherwise, their manifestations would only be superficial andck substance, much like poking a cotton ball.


    Perhaps this was why the owner of this virtual domain had not made it overly extravagant.


    In theory, with urate data, everything constructed within this domain would be nearly identical to the real world.


    This was much more potent than the virtual spaces from his previous life, which often imed to have over 90% realism. In reality, achieving even 60-70% was considered good, and bugs were abundant.


    This virtual domain,posed of magical energy, could truly approach close to 100% realism, bing a literal second world.


    However, achieving this required an astronomical amount of magical energy, something not achievable in a short time.


    Lynn quickly stopped daydreaming and began to examine the two main functions of the virtual domain.


    The first was naturally to bring people into it for gatherings. Using the ring as a medium, a portion of the holder''s soul-infused magical energy was projected into the virtual domain.


    The second function was a bit insidious. It could reverse-connect to the holder''s mental power through the ring, essing a part of the person''sputational power.


    To make an inappropriate analogy, every wizard''s brain was like a high-speed biologicalputer. The process of projecting magical energy into the virtual domain was like connecting to awork, and naturally, it came with corresponding risks, such as exposing the frequency of their mental power.


    This process was not instantaneous but rather quite slow.


    Considering the frequency of the Faceless Ones'' weekly gatherings, it would likely take several years to breach the mental defenses of a formal wizard. It was precisely because it required such a long time that they remained sufficiently concealed.


    During thest gathering, the entire Faceless organization, including himself, had fifteen members in total. They were all three-ring wizards. With the recent fall of the "Bloodthorn Brambles," there should be at least nine members remaining besides himself. The question was how muchputational power could be summoned.


    "071, can you locate the source of magical energy in this virtual domain?" Lynn inquired mentally. It was obvious that this thing required a massive supply of magical energy to operate.


    "Signal source located, 30 meters ahead!"


    "So close?" Lynn hesitated for a moment, then, through the eyes of several mice, witnessed a scene that astonished him.


    At the end of the passage was a spacious circr hall with a high tform that resembled an altar. Many intricate patterns were drawn on each step of the tform, simr to the alchemical arrays he had seen in Ladek''s hidden room. However, these patterns were moreplex.


    Numerous azure fluorescences flowed out from the ground and merged into the almost solidified spirit hovering above. The mice gazed up and saw a figure they were all too familiar with.


    By now, Lynn had crossed the narrow passage and was staring in disbelief at the vengeful spirit hovering above the tform.


    It was a girl, approximately eight or nine years old, dressed in a magnificent gown with long hair cascading down her shoulders. She had a slim and delicate figure, and her entire body emitted a ghostly blue light. Her exposed skin was covered in strange, web-like patterns that seemed fragile, as though they would shatter upon touch.


    Despite her exquisite appearance, she had a grotesque and contorted expression, as if she were enduring immense pain, exuding a terrifying aura.


    "Lyd... Lydia?" Lynn instinctively called out upon recognizing the face of the vengeful spirit but then immediately retracted his words.


    No, this wasn''t Lydia!


    Although her appearance bore a resemnce to the halfling girl, she had long hair, round ears, and her attire and overall appearance didn''t match at all.


    In a sense, spirits had no concept of clothing; it was merely the manifestation of soul energy, reflecting the most memorable form from their previous life.


    So, the spirit before him couldn''t be Lydia. It could only be...


    "She is Iyeta, my daughter..."


    A deep voice resonated throughout the tower.


    Lynn turned instinctively and saw the long-absent Herlram.


    Herlram, the founder of the Iyeta School of Magic, the ruler of the Harbor Town, and a great wizard who had departed for Greynvale two weeks ago, was now standing here.


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 Chapter 124: Lynn: What? Im the Sorcerer Merk?

    Chapter 124: Lynn: What? I''m the Sorcerer Merk?


    Herlram gazed at Iyeta, bound on the high tform, her face twisted in agony. He seemed reluctant, but his expression soon hardened as he turned to Lynn and asked, "You don''t seem surprised?"


    "Surprised? Perhaps a bit, but isn''t there only one great wizard in Iyeta Harbor?" Lynn replied casually, seeing that Herlram didn''t seem to have any intention of harming him.


    In that moment, all of Lynn''s previous doubts had been dispelled. To gather so many Tier 3 wizards, form the "Faceless," and create a virtual domain, one had to be a great wizard. However, Lynn had previously thought this had something to do with the sorcerer Merk. After all, many of the psychic books he had collected in Ladek had Merk''s name on them, and the Soul-Devouring Array was also Merk''s creation.


    But now, in hindsight, there were too many anomalies in Iyeta Harbor. In a situation where the council hadpletely banned the study of psychic arts, an organization like the "Faceless" had emerged, consisting entirely of psychic wizards.


    In addition, the power of Nos and his "Scarlet Thorns" faction was too extensive. They not only had six Tier 3 wizards as core members but also more than ten official wizards and hundreds of wizard apprentices. Even Sheriff Leia had some unclear connection with the "Scarlet Thorns."


    Coupled with the chaotic scene of magic workshops in the southern district...


    It was either that Herlram, the ruler of the harbor, was too inept, or it was the deliberate result of his actions.


    Now it seemed to be thetter!


    "So, does that mean Nos'' actions today were also at your behest?" Lynn couldn''t help but ask.


    "No, that was his own idea. I believe Nos nned to take advantage of my absence to break free from my control using the Soul-Devouring Array, and that''s it," Herlram replied sinctly.


    Lynn, however, didn''t believe a word of it. Since Herlram was here, it meant that Nos'' little n was still within Herlram''s expectations.


    In other words, Herlram had intentionally leaked information, letting Nos know he had left Iyeta Harbor. Then Nos had the audacity to go hunting the Eye of Death while simultaneously setting up the Soul-Devouring Array.


    Poor Nos was like a puppet.


    Lynn could imagine that without his interference, Nos would probably have smoothly ascended to the rank of Grand Wizard. Then, he would discover that the Soul-Devouring Array had inexplicably gone out of control, spreading throughout the entire southern district, causing even greater chaos. Herlram would then arrive at thest moment and kill this culprit, effectively quelling the riot.


    Leaving out Nos and the entire "Scarlet Thorns" as disposable pawns, Herlram''s ruthlessness and cunning were evident.


    "So, the person who wrote that letter inviting me to join the ''Faceless,'' that was also you?" Lynn asked again.


    Herlram did not answer and instead asked suddenly, "What should I call you... Lynn? Karl? Or maybe... the Sorcerer Merk?"


    Although Lynn currently appeared in the form of Ladek, Herlram did not judge based on physical appearance but rather by magical aura.


    "What? I''m the Sorcerer Merk?" Lynn''s expression turned somewhat strange, not quite understanding why Herlram would think so...


    "Two weeks ago on the training grounds, when you were challenging Rorl, you were just a wizard apprentice, weren''t you?" Herlram inquired, although his tone was very certain.


    In the world of wizards, the fundamental difference between an apprentice and an official wizardy in their magical affinity elements. This wasmon knowledge throughout the wizardmunity. However, only a grand wizard could perceive the subtle differences in the nature of their magic. This difference became most apparent during battles.


    Lynn, on the other hand, defied all expectations. With the status of a wizard apprentice, he unleashed powers that exceeded ordinary Tier 3 magic, conjuring the "Frost Domain." He possessed a wealth of esoteric knowledge that clearly surpassed the capabilities of an apprentice wizard.


    Herlram could only think of one possibility¡ªpossession!


    Three years ago, he had volunteered to join two other grand wizards on a mission to the northern territories to eradicate the entire Psychic Academy. However, unlike his colleagues, he had another agenda¡ªto acquire the research findings of the sorcerer Merk in the field of psychic arts. Although he encountered significant obstacles along the way, Herlram ultimately obtained what he desired.


    Due to the intense battles that had transpired earlier, many precious magical books had been destroyed, resulting in fragmented and iplete psychic research data. This was how the "Faceless" and the "Scarlet Thorns" came into existence.


    Herlram carefully selected over ten Tier 3 wizards eager to break through, distributing the fragmented psychic research materials he had acquired. These individuals, in secret, continued the research in psychic arts on his behalf.


    As expected, with the relentless efforts of Nos and others, along with countless sacrifices, they had managed to reconstruct the methods of setting up the Soul-Devouring Array and transferring a soul into another body within a mere three years. They were only missing the material to rece the Heartdevil Blood and one other crucial technique.


    It was at this critical moment that Lynn suddenly appeared in Iyeta Harbor, bringing two highly essential items with him¡ªairships capable of defeating the Eye of Death and the intact body of a witch that had lost her soul.


    It all seemed too perfect, like a gift specially prepared for himself, which is precisely why Herlram felt a hint of fear.


    Just like the "Scarlet Thorns" in his hands, he briefly doubted whether he, too, was just a pawn in arger game.


    In the major battle back then, everyone believed that the sorcerer Merk was dead. However, Herlram, who had read numerous psychic books, had a premonition that the sorcerer hadn''t truly perished.


    For these three years, it appeared as if the sorcerer Merk hadpletely disappeared, perhaps leaving the realm of wizards. But he would surely return someday!


    Herlram stared at Lynn in front of him. Although the fluctuations in magical power did not match, there was a possibility that the fusion of their souls had caused a change. Therefore, he had no choice but to suspect that the person before him was the sorcerer Merk!


    After all, the timing of his appearance was just too perfect!


    In response to Herlram''s questioning, Lynn countered, saying, "If I were the sorcerer Merk, a former grand wizard, I would never reveal a w on the training ground, exposing my true identity."


    "It''s clear you''ve made a mistake. I am Lynn and only Lynn, nothing more," Lynn stated firmly.


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 Chapter 125: Seizing the Magic Web!

    Chapter 125: Seizing the Magic Web!


    Lynn''s words made Herlram hesitate for a moment, but it didn''t affect his judgment.


    "A wizard''s apprentice could never possess so much hidden knowledge. I believe more in the possibility of body possession than that so-called ''Society of Mystical Arts,''" he thought.


    However, Herlram didn''t dwell on this topic any longer. He spoke solemnly, "In fact, I don''t care about your identity, and my invitation to join the ''Faceless'' carries no ill will. I only need one thing."


    Lynn looked at the great wizard with confusion, not quite understanding his intentions.


    "The perfect method for fusing souls!" Herlram said, emphasizing each word. He continued, "You can propose any conditions as long as I can fulfill them!"


    Herlram maintained a humble posture and showed no immediate intention to act.


    Dealing with any great wizard was no easy feat. Since he couldplete the fusion and transformation of souls, his knowledge of psychic abilities undoubtedly surpassed Lynn''s.


    "Nos is already dead, and anyone from the council with a hint of intelligence can trace you..." Lynn shook his head. While the promise of a great wizard was tempting, Herlram''s guarantee meant nothing because he was currently in danger.


    "Unfortunately, I don''t have what you''re looking for," Lynn said straightforwardly.


    "Seems like you''re not willing to cooperate..." Herlram''s tone grew colder, and his old, hunched figure straightened up. An intense surge of magic emanated from him, shrouding the entire circr hall.


    "Then I''ll have to personally dig it out of your mind!"


    Herlram''s gaze turned icy, and he took step by step closer. A mysterious pressure descended on Lynn''s mind, both on the spiritual and magical level. Lynn felt that all the elements in the space had been tainted by Herlram''s magic. His body seemed to sink into quicksand, requiring several times more effort for any movement.


    This was the Fourth Circle Spell - "Slowdown Barrier"!


    With each step Herlram took, the magic around him intensified. He raised his right hand, pointing it at Lynn, and the elements in the space suddenly became incredibly active.


    Lynn felt an indescribable sense of danger. This magic was impossible to dodge or resist. In that moment, he even smelled the scent of death.


    Facing an unknown opponent capable of soul fusion, Herlram showed no restraint. He immediately cast the Fifth Circle Spell - "Mana Torrent"!


    However, what Lynn had been waiting for was the moment when Herlram cast his spell at full power.


    Without hesitation, he shouted in his mind, "071, immediately, now! Take control of the virtual domain!"


    In the vast space, the surging elemental flow suddenly seemed toe to a halt. Herlram''s advancing steps also stopped, as a sudden and intense pain, as if his soul were being severed, assaulted him.


    The Magic Web had been seized...


    A look of horror and disbelief spread across Herlram''s face. He could clearly sense theplete severance of his connection to the virtual domain. The massiveputing power that had been bestowed upon him had disappeared into nothingness.


    At the crucial moment when the spell was dispelled, the terrifying magical bacsh struck his body...


    (Phosphorus - me Demon''s Hand!)


    Lynn would never give up this hard-won opportunity, even if it meant risking his life! He unleashed his most powerful move, and the zing mes transformed into a colossal demonic hand that surged straight toward Herlram. However, just before the scorching mes touched Herlram''s body, a mysterious force separated them, much like a torrent blocked by rocks.


    Fourth Circle Spell - Deflection Force Field.


    However, Herlram''s condition had deteriorated while casting spells against the bacsh. Crimson blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and his wrinkled skin had cracked in several ces, revealing withered flesh beneath.


    "This can''t be!" Herlram paid no attention to his physical difort, keeping his gaze fixed on Lynn with an incredulous expression.


    The Magic Web was his greatest achievement in decades, connecting the psychic power of the wizards and, more importantly, having nothing to do with the dark sorcerer Merk. The source of its magic was firmly in his grasp, yet it was easily taken away by Lynn.


    Thispletely overturned Herlram''s understanding... Unless the other party was originally a legendary wizard...


    Lynn didn''t respond. At this moment, he was experiencing thebined psychic power of nine Third Circle wizards, apanied by immenseputational power.


    It was a whole new world for Lynn. He could clearly sense the surges of magic and even "see" things he couldn''t see before. The space around Herlram seemed to have undergone some deformation, which allowed the scorching mes to bypass the real target in a circr manner.


    Was this force field magic?


    Most offensive magic would likely fail under such power...


    As Lynn pondered, he suddenly felt a throbbing in his head, as if a sealed iron bucket were being continuously filled with gas. Thebined psychic power of the nine Third Circle wizards was evidently approaching the upper limit his brain could withstand.


    (Magic - Barrage)


    In an instant, Lynn noticed the failure of me Demon''s Hand and raised his hand to conjure hundreds of Magic Missiles, probing the weak points in this force field magic.


    A continuous stream of Magic Missiles shot from various directions and angles toward Herlram. As long as Lynn could detect the curvature of the space, he could potentially harm his opponent.


    But Herlram clearly didn''t give him that chance. Straining his body, he lightly touched his finger, and an invisible ripple spread forward in a semi-circr shape.


    The Magic Missiles flying in mid-air exploded one after another.


    This was the second time Lynn had faced such bizarre magic. However, unlike the encounter with Rorl, this time the power was a thousand times greater. He could clearly see a strange magical wave that crushed the Magic Missiles, rapidly closing in on him...


    The speed was so fast that Lynn didn''t even have time to cast a protective spell.


    (Cell Transformation)


    Just before the magical wave reached him, Lynn leaped into the air. Utilizing the amplifying power of his magical cells, he narrowly dodged the peculiar magical wave. However, being in mid-air also meant he lost the ability to change direction.


    At the same time, countless slender, sharp iron thorns appeared in the void, like a swarm of locusts or a rain of arrows, hurtling down and covering half of the hall.


    Fourth Circle Spell - Iron Sand Storm!


    Just as Lynn had previously anticipated, a Grand Wizard could mimic and control more elements, but it was he himself who first experienced this!


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 Chapter 126: Feel the Anger of Those Who Died Under the Magic Formation!

    Chapter 126: Feel the Anger of Those Who Died Under the Magic Formation!


    Magic Bullet, without a doubt, was Lynn''s specialty, and it was the magic he used the most against his enemies. But the one who had improved this magic was Herlram, and now he was using this technique against the approaching Iron Thorns.


    Sharp breaking sounds resounded continuously as sweat trickled down Lynn''s forehead. He had no doubt that he might be turned into a sieve, even though he possessed the most potent defensive spell, Magic Barrier. It couldn''tpletely block such a dense barrage of attacks unless...


    Suddenly, Lynn thought of the magic Herlram had used to defend against the me Demon''s Hand. There were many factors that could affect and distort space, such as mass, momentum, stress, and pressure, but ultimately, it was energy!


    And wizards had only one type of energy!


    In that instant, Lynn realized it. He extended his hand, and a massive amount of magic energy surged from within him, forming a tightly packed, circr shape around him.


    Just before the Iron Sandstorm struck, there was a slight distortion in the space surrounding Lynn, causing all the attacks to narrowly miss him.


    This was the Four-Circle Magic - Deflection Field!


    Lynn sessfullynded on the ground, his back covered in cold sweat. Using a substantial amount ofputational power, he forcefully cast the Four-Circle Magic as a formal wizard. The consumption of magic energy could only be described as terrifying, and in an instant, his magic reserves were reduced to half.


    The power of an Archmage was truly impressive, even in Herlram''s state, weakened due to the bacsh of his magic.


    But at that moment, a new change urred. A terrifying, piercing sound suddenly swept across the area.


    Both Lynn and Herlram were affected simultaneously.


    Lynn nced in the direction of the vengeful spirit on the high tform, where a massive amount of spirit energy was continuously merging into the seemingly fragile body of Iyeta. Her aura grew stronger, even through the Alchemical Array that restrained her spirit, he could sense her terrifying presence.


    After absorbing the life force of countless people, Herlram had managed to create a spirit at the level of an Archmage!


    Unlike the white doves nurtured by the AI, the girl named Iyeta, after absorbing the life force of numerous individuals, transformed from a clear, deep blue spirit into a ring crimson one, with her eyes filled with resentment towards the living.


    "Herlram, is all of this really what Iyeta desires?" Lynn repeatedly tried to disturb Herlram''s thoughts.


    If Philip hadn''t lied from the beginning, Iyeta should have died long before the establishment of the academy. In other words, this girl, with the mind of an eight- or nine-year-old, had been trapped within the array for at least twenty years. She had enhanced her power by sacrificing thousands of people and wouldter be forcibly stuffed into another person''s body for resurrection in this bizarre way.


    This wasn''t what Herlram should ept. Maybe it would have been better if she had died back then.


    "You will never understand. The entire Iyeta Harbor exists because of this..." Herlram spoke with a deep voice and raised his hand. In the vast space in front of him, all the elements were rapidly stripped away.


    Four-Circle Magic - Vacuum Domain!


    At this moment, he only had one thought in his mind: to gain the secret of perfect soul fusion from Lynn''s mind at any cost!


    No matter the price!


    While Lynn struggled to deal with Herlram''s onught, two small, mouse-like creatures quietly crept up behind Herlram. They painstakingly used their tiny paws to climb onto the tform, facing the terrifying aura of the vengeful spirit. With great effort, they used their teeth to unscrew the cap of a vial.


    Simultaneously, the vacuum domain had already spread in front of Lynn. Although he kept retreating, his speed couldn''t catch up with the domain''s expansion rate.


    "Seems like even with this frail body, you can''t muster much power," Herlram''s indifferent words resonated within the hall. However, the vacuum domain in front of him hindered the sound''s transmission.


    After his earlier probing, Herlram had already realized that the male witch in front of him wasn''t as formidable as he had imagined. Even though he didn''t know how the other had managed to snatch the Magic Web from him, it was now clear that Lynn was struggling to handle even Four-Circle Magic.


    So, despite suffering from magical bacsh and a drop in his wizard level, Herlram had the confidence to defeat Lynn.


    Lynn had already retreated to the corner, and the expanding vacuum domain was closing in. However, his expression remained unchanged. Retreating to the corner wasn''t just to evade this magic.


    At this moment, on the high tform, a thick, pale yellow liquid continuously gushed from a vial. Subsequently, two mice, one holding a flint and the other using its sharp teeth, bit down fiercely on it.


    A spark ignited on the high tform, and then the two mice were violently thrown out by the explosion. The Alchemical Array restraining the vengeful spirit was also damaged.


    Amidst a piercing scream, the powerful vengeful spirit immediately broke free from its restraints. It was enveloped in a ck mist, heading towards Herlram, who was the closest.


    "Iyeta!" Herlram turned his head abruptly, his face showing a hint of panic and, more predominantly, anger. He couldn''t believe that Lynn had dared to use his daughter against him.


    But what he saw when he turned around wasn''t the girl who seemed delicate and about to shatter into pieces at any moment, but a vengeful spirit radiating a terrifying aura. The once innocent cheeks had be grotesque and filled with malice, and the blood-red mist surged.


    Before Herlram could react, those nearly substantial hands sent him flying.


    Compared to the physical pain, Herlram''s fear and panic were much more intense. ording to the records in the psychic books left by the dark mage Merk, once a spirit broke through to the level of an Archmage, it would regain all of its memories from its past life, bing a soul that could exist without relying on a physical body.


    However, at this moment, Iyeta seemed to havepletely lost her sanity and even made him the target of her attack.


    [Necromancer''s Maniption]


    Herlram''s face contorted, and his vast spiritual power transformed into chains that tightly bound the screeching Iyeta.


    "Look at what your daughter has be. Is this your intention, Herlram? Do you think a nine-year-old child can handle such a vast amount of soul energy?" Lynn taunted.


    During his earlier confrontation with Nos at the mansion, Lynn had already noticed that boosting one''s strength through devouring soul energy wasn''t without consequences!


    "Feel the anger of those who died under the magic formation!"


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 Chapter 127: The Wailing Witch

    Chapter 127: The Wailing Witch


    "Iyeta ... Iyeta ..." Blood continued to flow from Herlram''s mouth and nose, a clear sign of his mental distress. However, he couldn''t afford to think about that now. He kept calling his daughter''s name, trying to awaken Iyeta''s sanity.


    But all his efforts were in vain. The collective spiritual power of thousands, coupled with their lingering resentment from their deaths, hadpletely shattered Iyeta''s sanity, driving her into madness.


    "Don''t me yourself, Iyeta..." Herlram clenched his teeth, realizing that if he didn''t regain control of the situation, everything would be lost.


    The only hope now was to find a way to merge their souls from Lynn''s mind, which might bring his daughter back to her senses.


    Fourth Circle Magic: "Soul Bind!"


    Herlram shouted lowly, and countless runes formed from pure spiritual power instantly enveloped Iyeta''s entire body.


    "Ah... Ah... Ah...!" A piercing scream escaped from Iyeta''s mouth, as her ethereal form struggled fiercely. It was the excruciating pain caused by the runes burning her soul, and her bloodshot eyes made her look like a malevolent spirit.


    Herlram couldn''t help but show a hint of reluctance in his eyes, and the binding magic weakened slightly in response to the girl''s agonizing cries.


    In that moment, the vengeful spirits'' power reached its peak, and a crimson mist continually gushed out of Iyeta''s body, eroding the runes formed from her spiritual power.


    As she broke free from the binding, Iyeta pounced on Herlram, her hand immersed in blood mist, and thrust it directly into his chest.


    "Iyeta..." Herlram immediately felt an extremely chilling force flowing into his body through the wound. His life force was rapidly draining, and he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him with regret and resentment in his eyes.


    His lifeless body soon fell to the ground, his eyes staring at Lynn, and he opened his mouth as if wanting to say something.


    "Forgive her..."


    Lynn read Herlram''s final words and shook his head.


    "You overestimated me, Herlram..."


    At this moment, Lynn had quietly retreated to the entrance. Although he had used Iyeta, the vengeful spirit, to deal with the sorcerer, he had no means to confront this vengeful spirit.


    After absorbing some of Herlram''s power, Iyeta''s aura became even more oppressive. Her eyes, filled with malice, were now fixed on Lynn.


    A horrifying wail erupted from Iyeta once again, and the entire vengeful spirit transformed into a dense, blood-red mist, rolling towards Lynn.


    Lynn suddenly felt a deep sense of oppression and suffocation, as if his body had sunk into the mire, making every step a struggle.


    This sensation was simr to the Fourth Circle Magic, "Sluggish Barrier."


    An vengeful spirit had actually mastered such powerful magic!


    Things had clearly spiraled beyond his control, but Lynn had no time to dwell on that. The blood-red mist was closing in!


    "Cryogenic - Frost Domain!"


    Lynn raised his hand, and an extremely cold air rushed forward in a semi-circr shape.


    In the next moment, a crisp sound of freezing filled the air, and everything around them seemed to slow down. The blood-red mist instantly froze into blood-red ice crystals at the terrifyingly low temperature.


    However, the Third Circle magic, Frost Domain, couldn''t hold this formidable vengeful spirit for long. With the surge of her spiritual power, the blood-red mist soon burst, and ice shards scattered in all directions. A powerful surge of magical energy sent Lynn flying.


    The light of the "Mage Shield" appeared in front of Lynn, mitigating most of the impact. His body rolled backward into the passage behind him.


    But Lynn''s expression remained grave. He had intentionally released Iyeta, thinking that an irrational vengeful spirit would be easier to deal with than the sorcerer. However, after experiencing her true terror, Lynn no longer underestimated her.


    Facing such a terrifying vengeful spirit, even if all the wizards in the entire harbor town were assembled, they might not be able to defeat it. Instead, they could be the creature''s nourishment.


    Herlram, you''ve truly created a monster...


    Lynn was feeling a headache. As Iyeta leaped at him once more, ready to cast a spell, he discovered that she seemed to have hit an invisible barrier, stopping her in her tracks.


    Is there still a secondyer of protection here for restraining spirits?


    Lynn immediately realized this and asked, "071, can you determine my current location?"


    "Based on location, the designated target is currently inside the Wailing Tower of Iyeta Academy..."


    ...


    Ten minutes ago, inside Iyeta Academy.


    Tiek stood on the top floor of the teachers'' lounge, gazing at the towering Wailing Tower not far away.


    "Tiek-sama, you''ve been here for quite a few days... Have you made any discoveries?" A voice came from behind, and it was Rorl, who curiously approached Tiek and asked, "You''ve deliberately stayed in Iyeta for a whole month. It can''t be just for learning arcane arts, can it?"


    Tiek stroked his long beard. "Don''t you think theyout of the entire Iyeta Harbor is a bit too orderly?"


    "I heard that it was designed by Master Raphael." Rorl paused and said with a smile.


    Raphael''s OCD was well-known among the wizards, and this architectural master stubbornly believed that everything in the world should be neat and orderly, a theory that many people appreciated.


    "No, it''s probably not that simple." Tiek shook his head and used his magic to sketch an image in the air, depicting the town''s architecturalyout. "Do you see anything unusual?"


    "It looks like an alchemical array?" Rorl quickly replied.


    "Exactly, and if I''m not mistaken, it may be rted to spiritual energy..." Tiek''s face was filled with seriousness, and this array was the Wailing Tower.


    It had to be said that Herlram''s method of using the city''syout as a cover was quite clever. If he hadn''t received a confidential report from the Council before heading to Iyeta Harbor, he wouldn''t have even thought in this direction.


    "An alchemical array that can cover the entire city? What does that great wizard want to do?" Rorl furrowed his brows.


    "It''s probably not good news." Worry shed in Tiek''s eyes, reminding him of the tragedy from three years ago. Perhaps he was overthinking it.


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 Chapter 128: Chaos in the Southern District

    Chapter 128: Chaos in the Southern District


    Rorl vividly remembered the event that had shocked the entire wizarding world three years ago, leading to the downfall of the Psychic School. Naturally, he understood Tiek''s concerns and couldn''t help but inquire, "Mr. Tiek, what should we do now? If something has indeed gone wrong, it''s likely that our own powers alone won''t be sufficient to handle it."


    This was Herlram''s headquarters, and without a doubt, the great wizard Herlram was not someone they could easily contend with.


    "Of course, there''s no need to do anything!" Tiek replied sinctly. "The setup of this magic formation has been in ce for a long time. It shouldn''t encounter any issues in the short term."


    He added, "And considering the time, they should be arriving soon."


    Rorl immediately understood who Tiek was referring to, those representatives from the Academic Conferences. Clearly, Tiek had taken this opportunity to enlist some assistance.


    "That''s right," Tiek confirmed, dispersing the magical images that had appeared in the void. "If I''m not mistaken, your teacher, Master Ougusto, should being as well."


    Upon hearing this news, excitement and joy flickered across Rorl''s face. His earlier worries dissipated, and he confidently said, "If my teacher ising, then I can rest easy."


    "So, all we need to do now is wait and hope that these days go smoothly," Tiek said calmly, stroking his long beard.


    However, just as those words left his mouth, Tiek''s expression suddenly changed, and he swiftly turned to look in the direction of the Southern District.


    A powerful surge of magical energy was emanating from that direction.


    Tiek and Rorl exchanged nces, and after casting a "Slow Fall" spell on themselves, they leaped from the towering rooftop and raced towards the Southern District.


    They weren''t the only ones who sensed the surge of magical energy. Professors and students awoke from their slumber, filled with anxiety, as if a terrifying disaster was drawing near.


    When Tiek arrived in the Southern District, all he saw was chaos. Countlessmoners, apprentices, and even wizards were fleeing in a frenzy.


    Since it was the dead of night, many were disheveled, and some even ran out half-naked. People were being trampled underfoot, and the streets were stained red with blood, filling the air with a nauseating stench.


    Cries and wails echoed throughout the Southern District, sending shivers down one''s spine.


    "Magician''s Hand!" Tiek eximed as he swiftly cast a spell to rescue a disheveled woman who was about to be trampled to death.


    "Do you know what''s happening in the Southern District?" Rorl asked urgently.


    "They''re dead, Alva is dead, and so is Anthony... everyone, everyone is dead!" The woman''s eyes were vacant as she muttered, as if she couldn''t hear Rorl''s question and kept repeating the same words.


    Tiek, seeing the woman''s condition, could only release her with a sigh of helplessness. He cast another spell, leaping onto a nearby rooftop and thenunching a Fireball spell, illuminating the entire Southern District.


    What they saw next made both of them involuntarily gasp. The streets of the Southern District were littered with corpses. Tiek witnessed a fewmoners running in the distance, suddenly copsing without warning. Theyy there lifeless, and then a ghostly blue light floated out from their bodies and directly sank into the ground.


    "What is this..." Rorl couldn''t help but shiver as he watched this horrifying scene.


    "Soul-Devouring Magic Formation!" Tiek stated in a deliberate tone.


    "We cannot allow this thing to continue spreading."


    Tiek spoke solemnly, intercepting Phillip and others who had just arrived from the academy. After a quick exnation, he sought out a few wizards who had escaped from the Southern District and inquired about theyout of the area.


    "The nodes of the magic formation should be hidden in those abandoned houses. If we destroy the outer nodes, this magic formation shoulde to a halt. But we need to act quickly; every second counts," Tiek spoke rapidly, knowing that any dy could cost dozens of lives.


    Compared to Phillip and the others, who had not yet witnessed the power of a magic formation, the wizards who had escaped from the Southern District were unwilling to enter again. The ce was too terrifying, and even official wizards couldn''t avoid having their souls drained.


    "Where is Master Herlram?" someone in the crowd shouted.


    With such chaos in the harbor, the fact that Herlram, who held authority, was nowhere to be found left everyone present feeling anxious, as if they had lost their leader.


    "Master Herlram left Iyeta Harbor for the Wizard City of Greenrill a while ago," Phillip exined with a hesitant expression.


    "Now that the master is not here, we''ll have to rely on our own strength to quell the chaos in the Southern District," Tiek quickly took the lead, not mentioning their earlier spections. Instead, he looked at the assembled wizards and continued, "I believe most of you have heard of the tragedy at the Psychic School three years ago. If we don''t stop this magic formation quickly, the entire harbor city will soon be a city of death... Think about it, this is tens of thousands of lives!"


    With Tiek''s earnest persuasion, most of the wizards eventually took action. They still held some attachment to Iyeta Harbor.


    As the magic formation nodes hidden in the Southern District were destroyed, by the time the morning light broke, the spreading Soul-Devouring Magic Formation finally came to a halt.


    Lynn had also taken advantage of the chaos in the Southern District to blend in with the crowd and help destroy several internal nodes. This made the situation progress so smoothly.


    Until noon the next day, Tiek, Rorl, Phillip, Kevin, and the others had settled the terrifiedmoners and returned to Iyeta Academy to discuss the next steps.


    Although the chaotic situation had been brought under control, everyone still wore a worried expression.


    The number ofmoners and wizards killed by the magic formation in the entire Southern District likely totaled in the thousands. Such a vast amount of spiritual power, no matter where it was directed, posed a massive threat.


    Lynn sat in the meeting room, listening to the discussions of the others, maintaining his silence. He knew that all the spiritual power had funneled into the Wailing Tower, creating a vengeful spirit on the level of a grand wizard.


    But this matter involved Herlram, the founder of the Iyeta School of Mystical Arts. If Lynn were to rashly reveal what he knew, it might lead to unnecessary suspicions and usations. After all, Lynn couldn''t exin why he remained unaffected by the Soul-Devouring Magic Formation or how he had defeated a grand wizard.


    Since the vengeful spirit of Iyeta couldn''t leave the Wailing Tower, it was best to wait for the council to send someone to deal with the situation.


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 Chapter 129: Revamping the Virtual Realm

    Chapter 129: Revamping the Virtual Realm


    Over the next two days, the entire Iyeta Harbor was in turmoil.


    The tragic events in the South City had spread throughout the port city, and despite the efforts of Tiek and his group to intervene, they were powerless to stop it.


    After all, the impact of this incident was too widespread. Thousands of destitute people who had fled the South City and witnessed the inexplicable deaths of their loved ones, their souls harvested, were gued by rumors of all kinds.


    Some suspected that it was a forbidden soul-harvesting research being conducted by some magical workshop, while others believed it to be an omen of a dark curse. There were even rumors that the malevolent sorcerer Merk was hiding in the port city.


    However, Phillip, Ondo, and the others no longer had time to pay attention to these endless rumors, as a strange situation had arisen at the Iyeta Academy.


    Every night, when the campus was quiet, a faint, eerie whistling sound would emanate from the academy, as if it could condense a person''s soul, terrifying the aspiring wizard apprentices.


    Even someone like Pierce, who had spent over a decade as a wizard apprentice, began to recall the past. This phenomenon dated back to before the Psychic School was disbanded, and many students had heard this eerie sound back then. It was why the tower was named the "Tower of Whispers."


    "Can someone tell me what''s inside that tower?" Tiek, who had endured sleepless nights due to the whistling sound, finally couldn''t help but question.


    "It''s the Tower of Whispers, the former research institute of the Psychic School. Since the school''s dissolution, the tower has been abandoned," exined Phillip, but he remained tight-lipped about the details, unwilling to say more.


    "For the specifics, let''s wait for Master Herlram toe back and exin to you," added Ondo.


    Tiek and Rorl didn''t push too hard, as they were still within Iyeta Harbor, and provoking a conflict might make it difficult for them to leave.


    As for entering the Tower of Whispers to investigate the situation? That was simply risking their lives. Tiek suspected that the souls that had been drained were likely all congregated inside the tower, and the interior might be filled with undead creatures. Venturing inside could pose a life-threatening danger.


    Given this, the two of them had no choice but to wait for the support of the council while trying to gain the alliance of Lynn, a potential ally.


    If their spections were correct, the tragedy in the South City was likely connected to Herlram, so Phillip and the others had a chance of getting involved. Compared to them, the neer to the world of wizards, Lynn, who had only been here for a short time, was the one with slightly fewer suspicions.


    With this in mind, Tiek and Rorl inexplicably dragged Lynn into a secret discussion, where they deliberated on various possible scenarios.


    When Lynn emerged, his expression was rather strange. Unlike the two others, he believed that not too many people would be involved in this matter.


    After all, the reputation of the Soul-Eating Array was too notorious; it was a forbidden taboo in the world of wizards. Once exposed, even if Herlram was a Grand Wizard, he might not escape being hunted down.


    That''s why they had created an organization called the "Faceless"  an organization where no one knew each other''s identities. The whole Blood Thorn was probably the only one who knew who their behind-the-scenes leader was.


    Because of this, before the news of Herlram''s death was exposed, Lynn didn''t think they would encounter any attacks from remnants of the organization. Taking advantage of the school closure due to the riots, he began researching the virtual domain that had been seized by the Smart Brain!


    After two days of familiarity, Lynn had already made some modifications to this realm, which wasposed of magic and soul power. It was no longer a chaotic space with nothing but darkness.


    Now, it resembled a universe, glittering with countless stars. Here, you could see massive celestial bodies orbiting around stars due to gravitational forces, witnessing the magnificent phenomena of stars copsing and expanding into red giants.


    Lynn waspletely immersed in this god-like experience. Although most of the work waspleted by the Smart Brain, this sense of participation was a unique and extraordinary feeling.


    "Let''s try recreating a ck hole," Lynn pondered, essing the Smart Brain''s database about ck holes. However, when he was about to proceed with the replication, he received a notification of insufficient energy.


    Lynn was momentarily perplexed, and then he asked, "071, how much energy do we have left?"


    "Remaining energy, 8.4%. Would you like to replenish it by absorbing stored soul power?" the Smart Brain replied.


    "Go ahead and absorb," Lynn hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded.


    From what he had observed in Iyeta, reviving a person in this world was not an easy task. Those whose souls had been devoured and transformed into soul entities had lost their past memories, only retaining the most profound memories from before their deaths. There was no possibility of recovery.


    "Oh, and please keep White Dove''s soul entity for me. Don''t convert her," Lynn suddenly thought of something and voiced his request.


    Different from the other soul entities he had encountered, White Dove was a rare soul entity that could maintain her sanity andmunicate. She held great research value, and besides, he had made a promise.


    However, in the eyes of the Smart Brain, White Dove''s soul had a strength several times higher than that of an ordinary wizard apprentice. She was like a big gift package, capable of restoring 12% of the energy reserve. So, whenever the Smart Brain faced an energy shortage, the suggestion to offer White Dove in exchange for energy would always be the first to pop up.


    Seeing the energy reserve in the Smart Brain quickly replenish to 100%, Lynn didn''t appear too cheerful because there were just too many ces where energy was needed.


    After Herlram''s death, this virtual domain lost its energy supply. Lynn had no choice but to rely on the Smart Brain to provide magical power, and the consumption was horrifying. It would take 15% of the energy reserve each day.


    "Forget it, let''s leave the ck hole for now. A simple simtion of all the celestial bodies within the visible range will do. We shouldn''t waste too muchputing power on this," Lynn decided after some contemtion and mentally ryed his request.


    After the words were spoken, the distant stars dimmed slightly. The daily magical power consumption also dropped to 5%. If there were no people inside the virtual domain, the consumption would decrease to about 1%.


    Lynn had put so much effort into creating this virtual realm, not just for the sake of enjoyment. It had a much greater purpose.


    After witnessing the darkness in Iyeta Harbor and Herlram''s dual identity, Lynn understood that outsiders could not be relied upon. He needed to establish his own school of thought to avoid being manipted by others once again.


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 Chapter 130: Beyond Space and Time!

    Chapter 130: Beyond Space and Time!


    Building a new school of magic in thend of wizards in a short amount of time is no easy task.


    Relying solely on recruiting apprentices for training is too slow, and trouble is bound toe his way sooner orter, especially given his current power; he can''t simply walk around in thend of wizards.


    Although he managed to hold out for a long time in his battle with the great wizard Herlram, Lynn is well aware that it was only due to the sudden takeover of the virtual domain''s control by the Smart Brain during the opponent''s full-power spellcasting, leading to a strong magical bacsh. Even with the support of nine third-ring wizards, he wouldn''t have stood a chance.


    In this case, he needs to convince the right people to believe that the "Society of Mystical Arts" is a real thing and be a part of it voluntarily, ensuring the development of the school is supported.


    This virtual domain is his most useful tool!


    The gathering format of the "Faceless Ones" gave Lynn a lot of inspiration. However, the location of this gathering must be grand, considering that he has already inted his reputation!


    As Lynn contemted, he created a limited cosmic bubble, floating in the endless expanse of space. Inside, there was an atmosphere, and even gravity, and all the constants were identical to the surface of a.


    "Let''s call this ce ''Beyond Space and Time!''" Lynn quickly had the Smart Brain record this name. From now on, this will be where he deceives those advanced wizards.


    "Yeah, it still needs a little something extra..." Lynn indulged in his creativity until he noticed that the Smart Brain''s energy reserves had depleted by more than half. He quickly stopped.


    It''s important to note that the soul energy collected by the Smart Brain is not infinite; consuming one means having one less.


    Even though he had recorded the alchemical form for stripping souls from their bodies, Lynn had no intention of using such a life-draining method to recharge the energy.


    After decorating the interior of the cosmic bubble, Lynn once again asked, "071, how are those ''Faceless Ones'' that I connected with mentally before? Are they still okay?"


    Since these Faceless Ones had spent two to three years inside the virtual domain, participating in hundreds of gatherings, their mental defenses had be as solid as a sieve.


    When Lynn used the fourth-ring magic, "Deflection Force Field," theputational power he mobilized was terrifying, reaching over fifty percent. Therefore, after the battle, these people''s mental strength had all been severely damaged.


    Five of them died on the spot, and the remaining four lost contact temporarily. It was unclear whether they had fallen into aa or destroyed their Faceless One rings.


    "No remaining connected targets in the virtual domain."


    Could it be that they were really wiped out?


    Lynn was amazed, but the Smart Brain could only roughly assess the situation of these people through magical energy connections, which may not be entirely urate. Nevertheless, the "Faceless Ones," this secretive organization, was on the verge of copse.


    Just like the "Bloodthorn Thorns," as Herlram''s white gloves, each Faceless One had a long list of atrocities to their name. By just looking at their research results, one could get a glimpse of their evil doings, and Lynn had no sympathy for this group. Making them disappear along with Herlram might not be a bad thing.


    The only regret Lynn felt was that the means of enhancing his own power by stealingputational power would likely be unusable in the short term, and even if new members joined, it would take a long time to crack their mental defenses.


    Lost in thought, Lynn temporarily exited the virtual domain and retrieved three beautifully crafted rings: Nos, Barbara, and Hank''s Faceless One rings.


    As a spellcaster, Herlram didn''t need these rings to enter and exit the virtual domain, but it was precisely because of their deep connection that he experienced a strong bacsh when control was seized from him.


    Since acquiring the Faceless One rings, he had been researching their principles. After damaging one of the rings, he had made some progress, but it would still take some time to fully analyze and sessfully replicate them.


    "071, change the magic frequency for entering the virtual domain," Lynn silently said in his mind.


    This way, the remaining rings scattered outside would lose their original functionality.


    Without a receptor, those things were just junk.


    Thud, thud, thud...


    Just as Lynn was contemting, a sudden knocking on the door echoed. After putting away the remaining rings, Lynn activated Mage Hand to open the door.


    A silver-haired witch stood quietly at the door and softly reminded, "Professor Lynn, Mr. Tiek asked me to inform you that several council wizards will be arriving today."


    "Alright, I''ll head over!" Lynn nodded and followed Jonny out.


    Arriving at the entrance of the Iyeta Academy, Philip, Kevin, and Ondo were already waiting there.


    Before they could exchange greetings, Lynn noticed that several beautifully decorated carriages were approaching from a distance. Instead of camels, they were pulled by sturdy fire lions with ming manes, giving them a majestic appearance.


    The caravan came to a perfectly smooth stop in front of everyone. With all eyes on them, the carriage curtains slowly opened, revealing a middle-aged wizard with a hint of beard and deep, discerning eyes. He disembarked from the carriage and immediately began observing the surrounding architecturalyout. Seeing the rows of identical houses, he nodded in satisfaction and remarked.


    "Iyeta Harbor, it''s been a while."


    Tiek felt uneasy at the unexpected arrival of this council member. However, relief washed over him as a familiar figure soon descended from another carriage behind.


    It was a very young wizard, looking to be in his early twenties, with a handsome face and a hint of a smile that made him instantly likable.


    Lynn also observed the two individuals, especially the distinctive wizard medals on their chests.


    Two council members?


    Lynn had no recollection of the leading middle-aged wizard and couldn''t guess his identity, but the other one was easily recognizable. Such a young council member could only be the renowned "Magic Star" of thend of wizards, Ogest!


    Philip, Kevin, and the others exchanged nces, immediately sensing that something was amiss. In the past, when they held academic seminars, the council would send a formal wizard to inform them. However, this time, two council members had arrived suddenly, leaving the wizards of the Iyeta Academy with a vague sense of unease.


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 Chapter 131: The Frustrated Raphael

    Chapter 131: The Frustrated Raphael


    "Wee, Masters, to Iyeta," Philip greeted the two with a hint of unease but a forced smile. He added, "I''m d to see you here."


    Raphael scanned the group and asked curiously, "Where''s Herlram?"


    "Master Herlram went to Greenvale a while ago," Philip replied indirectly.


    Raphael raised an eyebrow, surprised that he hadn''t heard about this development. Greenvale wasrge, and he and Herlram were not particrly close. He decided not to question further.


    On the other hand, Ougust stepped out of the carriage, his gaze fixed on Lynn. He smiled and said, "Is this Professor Lynn from the Society of Mystical Arts? Rorl mentioned your magical courses and your airship experiments in his letters. It must be a significant contribution to the history of wizardry."


    "Master Ougust, you are too kind," Lynn replied with a smile.


    Raphael chimed in, "I''ve seen your star charts, and I must say they are exceptionally precise, much more so than those made by the divination wizards."


    "In reality, the star charts circting among the wizards are not entirely inurate. They are just based on different reference points. They may not have considered the influence of the''s rotation," Lynn exined. He held great respect for the wizards dedicated to studying celestial movements. It was a lengthy and tedious task, and he understood that errors were bound to ur in the process of exploring the world.


    As the group chatted, they made their way into the academy, leaving Tiek and the others behind.


    The rxed atmosphere of their conversation eased Philip''s anxiety. During a break in the conversation, Tiek finally couldn''t contain his curiosity. "Master Raphael, I heard that you personally designed the entireyout of Iyeta. Is that true?"


    "Of course!" Raphael proudly nodded.


    Tiek hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, "If I''m not mistaken, thisyout is designed to amodate a particr alchemical array, isn''t it?"


    "That''s right. You''ve managed to figure that out," Raphael said, surprised. Combining alchemical arrays with architecture was one of his specialties. When Herlram told him about his ns to research spirit-rted spells within the Iyeta Academy, Raphael suggested incorporating the alchemical array into the buildingyout to suppress spirits. It seemed to be the best way to prevent unexpected incidents.


    Tiek and Rorl exchanged nces. Adding a curriculum for spirit studies in the academy was not a significant event, considering it was before the downfall of the School of Spiritology. The city had been built over twenty years ago, and Raphael''s contribution wasmendable.


    However, they found it strange that the entire city was covered by a spirit-suppressing array. What about the poor souls in the south district who had their spirits taken away?


    "What has happened in Iyeta Academy these days?" Ougust asked, timely with his question.


    Raphael also looked inquisitive. When they entered the bustling harbor city, they noticed something was amiss because there was not a single person on the streets.


    Philip sighed, realizing that he couldn''t keep the scandal hidden from the two great wizards any longer. "Just a couple of days ago, a tragedy urred in the south district of Iyeta."


    "Are you saying that someone used a Soul-Devouring Array within Iyeta Harbor?" After listening to Philip''s ount, Raphael''s expression darkened, feeling as if he had been manipted.


    He quickly deduced that someone had made unauthorized changes to his array design. So, when he heard about the unexined screeching sounds within the academy, Raphael immediately understood that the souls of the deceased had gathered in the Screech Tower, which was the core of the array.


    Because that was where the array''s focal point was located.


    "Let''s go. I want to see what Herlram is up to," Raphael huffed and rushed towards the location of the Screech Tower.


    Philip and the others didn''t believe that Master Herlram was involved in this matter but couldn''t stop Raphael''s actions. They followed him.


    Lynn was no exception. He was quite curious about how the two great wizards would deal with such a powerful grudge spirit.


    The tower that had been sealed for years was opened once again. The interior was dark and cold, covered in cobwebs. Dust had settled on the walls and ceiling, showing that it had been neglected for a long time.


    As they entered the tower, they immediately felt a heavy atmosphere, as if something were watching them from the shadows.


    Ignoring the ominous feeling, Raphael continued towards the basement of the tower. Surprisingly, this area was well-maintainedpared to the decaying upper levels.


    "Be careful!" Ougust suddenly warned.


    In the next moment, a piercing screech echoed through the tower, and under the blood-red mist, a lightning-fast apparition shot straight toward the group, targeting Rorl, the lowest-ranked wizard among them.


    Under the influence of the Soul-Devouring Screech, everyone''s movements involuntarily halted. Rorl couldn''t react in time, and the grudge spirit was already upon him. However, his body remained frozen, and he could only watch as a blood-red hand reached for his chest.


    But faster than the grudge spirit was a powerful burst of magical energy. It struck the blood-red mist and sent the grudge spirit flying.


    Ougust had cast the spell, and he was the first to break free from the Screech''s influence.


    Rorl, who had narrowly escaped death, remained frozen in ce, unable to move. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he thought he was done for.


    Raphael had also regained his senses. He flicked his wrist, and a vial was thrown at the grudge spirit. Upon contact, it exploded, releasing a cloud of powder that dispersed the blood-red mist. The true form of the grudge spirit was revealed.


    "Lyd- Lydia?" Tiek eximed in shock. During the time he spent studying mathematics and magic in the academy, he had met the young half-elf girl. Seeing the face of the grudge spirit, he couldn''t help but call out her name.


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 Chapter 132: The Demise of the Iyeta School of Magic

    Chapter 132: The Demise of the Iyeta School of Magic


    Compared to the mistaken identity of Tiek, Ondo and Raphael appeared pale, clearly having recognized the situation.


    For Lynn, who had absorbed the souls of over a thousand people, the mighty Iyeta was invincible. However, facing thebined forces of two grand wizards, she was powerless.


    Utilizing the magic formation within the tower, Raphael swiftly confined the vengeful spirit Iyeta to a corner of the tower.


    Ougust produced a deep blue crystal at the perfect moment, which served as the anchor to assist Raphael in sealing their opponent. The deep blue crystal soon turned blood-red, with the restless vengeful spirit visible within.


    With the threat within the tower resolved, Raphael quickened his pace toward the deeper underground, his expression growing darker. His suspicions had been confirmed: Herlram had indeed secretly altered his alchemical formation.


    However, the furious Raphael soon discovered that Herlram, the one he was searching for, had died in this very tower.


    "How is this possible?" Philip couldn''t believe his eyes as he gazed at the lifeless body on the floor. If it weren''t for the familiar face, he wouldn''t have recognized the person as Herlram.


    Kevin and Ondo also wore incredulous expressions. A grand wizard had silently perished within the Tower of Shrill Screams, and had they not followed Raphael, they might still be in the dark.


    Hadn''t Master Herlram already gone to the Wizard City of Greenrill?


    A conjecture suddenly crossed their minds, but they were all reluctant to believe it.


    "His life was drained, likely the cause of his death. It may have been the vengeful spirit''s doing, and before he died, he experienced a powerful magical bacsh," Raphael carefully examined Herlram''s lifeless body and couldn''t help but furrow his brows. He turned to Tiek and inquired, "You seem to know the identity of that vengeful spirit..."


    "That would be Iyeta," Ondo interjected before Tiek could respond. He understood that if the Council were to investigate, they would likely uncover the truth. He took the initiative to share what he knew.


    Iyeta was Master Herlram''s daughter, a child with exceptional magical talent and a psychic.


    However, her outstanding potential prompted Herlram to expose her to various forms of magic from an early age, including psychic arts. He hoped to groom her into the youngest formal wizard in the entire wizarding realm, aiming to break records and believing she had the potential to surpass legendary wizards.


    Unfortunately, things didn''t go as nned. Iyeta died in an ident rted to psychic magic before bing a formal wizard.


    "Master Herlram always felt guilty about his daughter''s death, believing that it was his own fault for introducing her to magic at such a young age, before her mind was fully developed," Ondo continued. He shook his head and chose not to delve further into the matter. One of Herlram''s goals in establishing the school in Iyeta Harbor was to find a way to bring the dead back to life. However, after the Psychic Studies professor, Kora, departed to the Sekas Empire to handle this matter, the Tower of Shrill Screams was abandoned. Herlram had given up on this impractical idea. Or so they thought...


    Philip and Kevin also wore somber expressions. They hadn''t expected Herlram to resort to such cruel methods as the soul-devouring magic formation.


    Raphael couldn''t help but sigh. A grand wizard had died at the hands of his own daughter and the vengeful spirit he had created. It was a bitter irony.


    "Things may not be as simple as they seem," Ougust pointed at the damaged floor tiles and the traces of the magic formation on the elevated tform.


    A vengeful spirit wouldn''t need fire magic...


    "Could there be others involved? Perhaps Herlram wasn''t the mastermind behind this," Kevin anxiously suggested.


    Raphael chuckled. The Tower of Shrill Screams was located within the Iyeta Academy, and with the alterations to the psychic magic formation that covered the entire harbor city, it was a massive project. He couldn''t believe that Herlram had nothing to do with it.


    However, the signs of the battle left in the tower puzzled Raphael. If another grand wizard had nned this alongside Herlram, why didn''t they take the results and leave after Herlram''s death? Why leave this vengeful spirit in the Tower of Shrill Screams?


    The vengeful spirit that had been created from the collected life force of the soul-devouring magic formation was incredibly powerful. It would be a futile endeavor to leave her here.


    Raphael suddenly thought of another possibility: someone had entered the Tower of Shrill Screams after the soul-devouring magic formation had been activated, killed Herlram, and attempted to stop the formation''s spread.


    Could there be another grand wizard hiding within Iyeta Harbor who didn''t want to reveal themselves?


    Raphael was perplexed,pletely unaware that his second target was right beside him.


    After all, in Raphael''s impression, Herlram was a five-ring grand wizard, and formal wizards before him likely wouldn''t stand a chance against him.


    Meanwhile, Lynn was also examining the bottom of the tower. The white phosphorus mes, without fuel due to Herlram''s vacuum field, had long gone out. She couldn''t find any clues from the charred marks, and it didn''t seem like the situation would implicate her.


    Realizing this, Lynn felt relieved. Killing the grand wizard Herlram and halting the spread of the soul-devouring magic formation, although potentially a significant achievement, would also bring about considerable trouble.


    ...


    In the following days, the development of the situation took an unexpected turn for Lynn. While Raphael and Ougust did report Herlram''s death, they didn''t reveal the possible connection of the incident in the southern district to the grand wizard.


    After all, Herlram had managed Iyeta Harbor for many years, held high prestige, and disclosing that he had established a psychic magic formation covering the entire city to steal their souls would have catastrophic consequences. It would only intensify the fear among themon people of wizard rule.


    So the responsibility for the incident was shifted to those rogue mages who had fled the city. However, the covert punishments were certainly notcking, and all titles and honors Herlram had received were revoked, and his assets confiscated.


    Philip, Ondo, Kevin, and others appeared worried. They understood that the Iyeta School of Magic was likely on the path to its demise...


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 Chapter 133: Do You Know Who You Just Rejected?

    Chapter 133: Do You Know Who You Just Rejected?


    Inside the meeting room of the Iyeta Academy, after the discussion on how topensate the families of the deceased had concluded, Ougust suddenly extended an invitation to Lynn.


    "Lynn-sensei, would you be interested in joining my school?"


    Everyone present was momentarily stunned. Phillip hesitated, and after Herlram''s death, Lynn was the only hope for the Iyeta Academy. However, he was well aware that Lynn had taken on the role of a mathematics professor out of friendship with Kora and the desire to spread knowledge. The Iyeta Academy''s decline was inevitable, and there was no reason for him to ask Lynn to stay.


    Furthermore, the person extending the invitation was none other than the "Star of Magic," Ougust! No one in their right mind would refuse such a proposal!


    Not only Phillip, but also Tiek and the others had simr thoughts. However, Lynn''s response took them by surprise.


    "Thank you for the invitation, Master Ougust, but I''m sorry. Although Iyeta is facing many difficulties right now, I believe it will eventually ovee them."


    "Is that so? What a pity," Ougust shook his head, wearing an expression of regret. However, he didn''t say much more and left after the meeting.


    "Do you know who you just rejected, Professor Lynn?" Ondo said with a sense of amazement.


    "Isn''t he Master Ougust?" Lynn asked in surprise. Had he mistaken the person?


    Ondo hesitated for a moment and didn''t know how to respond.


    That was Ougust, the Star of Magic, the most magically gifted person in thend of wizards, and the most likely to be a legend! Lynn''s words made it seem as if he were just an ordinary wizard.


    "You''ve only been with the Iyeta Academy for two months, there''s no need for you to stand with it to the end. You should have a broader world..." Kevin also tried to persuade him.


    Lynn was at a loss. These people seemed to have misunderstood something.


    He had refused precisely because Ougust''s status was so high. It was clear when he saw how they treated Rol. If he joined their school, he would have little say, and there might even be conflicts. In contrast, the Iyeta Academy was more suitable for him now. At least here, there was no one to suppress him, and the city''s geographical location was excellent, with ess to the Seckas Empire.


    But Lynn didn''t correct their misunderstanding. After all, it wasn''t a bad thing.


    The looks of Phillip and the others became much warmer when they looked at Lynn.


    In times of trouble, Lynn, an outsider, had refused the bright path and chosen to stay as part of the academy. This moved the professors.


    "In a few days, it will be the annual academic conference of thend of wizards. This is crucial for the survival of the Iyeta Academy. I would like to ask you to represent our academy at the conference," Phillip pleaded. Then he nced at Ondo and Kevin and continued, "If we can sessfully navigate this difficult situation, we will nominate you as the leader of our school."


    Phillip was well aware of his limited abilities. Keeping the glory of the school was already challenging, let alone maintaining the current situation. The Iyeta Academy was not just a school; in fact, all the wizards in the port city belonged to this school! There were more than ten wizards with Third Circle alone, and it was beyond his capability to lead them. It might even lead to aplete copse.


    Furthermore, Herlram''s use of the Soul-Devouring Formation within the city had left a terrible impression on the Council. They might already be discussing whether to ban the Iyeta Academy. These were problems he couldn''t solve.


    The foundation for the existence of the magic school was twofold: power and academic research. Lynn, like himself, was only an official wizard, but he had the advantage of age, and bing a grand wizard was just a matter of time. Lynn was also a member of the Secret Arts Society, possessing various esoteric knowledge. Based on these two points, Phillip made this bold decision.


    Kevin and Ondo didn''t oppose it either; it seemed they had discussed it beforehand.


    "Thank you for your trust. I believe there will be good news at the academic conference," Lynn said with a smile.


    "But, the academic conference is only four days away, and we might be toote. It usually takes about seven days to travel from Iyeta Port to the Wizard City of Greenryl bynd," Kevin hesitated. They had been busy for the past few days dealing with the mess left by Herlram and were even considering whether to attend the conference.


    "Traveling bynd is not enough, but we can fly there through the sky, right?" Lynn reminded them.


    Ondo and the others suddenly realized.


    That''s right, they had almost forgotten about the skyship!


    The next morning, a massive airship descended over the Iyeta Academy.


    After two months of flight training, Lydia had already be skilled, and she smoothlynded the airship in front of the School of Mathematics. It was spacious inside, with room for up to fifteen people, thanks to some magical modifications Lynn made with the help of Nos, including wind-resistant and shock-absorbing alchemical arrays.


    However, for the sake offort, Lynn decided to take only ten people with him.


    Besides himself, Lydia, and Phillip, Lynn also brought along Jonny, Pearce, and Elok, three outstanding apprentices from the School of Mathematics.


    As for why only six people were chosen, it was because they needed to bring Tiek, Rol, Raphael, and Ougust...


    Lynn had noticed that these four had been loitering in Iyeta Port, seemingly in no hurry. He thought they either didn''t intend to attend the conference or had another means of fast travel.


    But it turned out they intended to hitch a ride on his airship.


    Even though they were all high-level wizards with the power to fly...


    Lynn sighed inwardly but didn''t mind this minor issue. Moreover, having two powerful wizards with them could provide extra security in case they encountered flying magical creatures.


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 Chapter 134: The Magical Symposium

    Chapter 134: The Magical Symposium


    For the first time, soaring thousands of meters into the sky on an airship, feeling the brisk wind and witnessing the pure white clouds pass by, Tiek and Rorl couldn''t help but feel a tinge of excitement, though they managed to maintain a calm facade.


    Even though they had spent several days in Iyeta Harbor, they had the opportunity to take the airship at any time for a mere ten silver coins. The only issue was their reluctance to mingle with themon folk.


    As the pilot, Lydia asionally steered the airship into the clouds, allowing everyone to experience the peculiar sensation of being enveloped by cloud masses.


    Rorl extended his hand to touch the oing cloud masses. "This is truly a remarkable alchemical creation. It can make ordinary people who can''t use magic feel like great wizards, freely flying in the sky."


    Tiek thought about the utility of airships for transportation, which meant cutting travel times by more than half. If this technology became widespread, it would make traveling in thend of the wizards incredibly convenient.


    "I assume these airships are quite expensive," Tiek inquired.


    Lynn nodded seriously. "They are a bit on the pricier side. While the overall cost of airships isn''t high, cheaper materials can be used in their construction. However, the design concept is quite valuable!"


    Lynn then asked about the past academic symposiums and how they were conducted.


    Tiek reminisced about the grand gatherings of thousands of wizards from various schools, discussing novel theories and presenting theirtest magical research.


    One of the most memorable events was the heated debate two decades ago about the nature of fire. Several top schools put forward dozens of ideas, leading to heated arguments among hundreds of official wizards, even resulting in physical altercations.


    For instance, there was the popr theory of fire elementalism, where proponents believed that fire wasposed of countless tiny, lively, and imperceptible microelements that existed in mmable substances and elements. When heated, they would separate, and arge concentration of free fire elements would form visible mes.


    Their evidence came from the fact that when elements burned, they didn''tpletely disappear but transformed into other elements, which must have been caused by the separation of fire elements.


    However, this theory had its fair share of loopholes and didn''t gain universal approval among wizards.


    Opposing them were the fire magic school, the me elementalism school, and even some wizards who believed that fire was merely a state and a manifestation of intense elemental movement, with no actual fire elements in existence.


    "And then?" Lynn asked with great curiosity.


    "In the end, the founders of the major theories agreed to showcase their most potent fire magic spells," Tiek continued. "The ultimate victor was the great wizard Adra, who created a new spell called ''Fire Elemental Storm'' with temperatures exceeding several thousand degrees. He almost defeated another great wizard with this spell, securing victory in the debate. That''s why the popr theory today is fire elementalism."


    Tiek reminisced, longing for the excitement of those debates, not knowing when they might witness such a spectacle again.


    Of course, even though fire elementalism won the debate, the wizards who opposed it didn''t give up. They continued to study new fire magic, hoping to make aeback. However, to this day, they hadn''t surpassed the magical power of fire elementalism.


    Does that make sense? Lynn thought while listening to Tiek''s story.


    On reflection, it seemed quite normal. In thend of the wizards, knowledge equated to power, and whoever had the most potent magic had the most profound research. In situations where there was no clear right or wrong, magic was the only way to resolve disputes. After all, might made right.


    If you believe your theory is correct, why not create more powerful magic and prove your point? This was the unique debating style of the wizarding world.


    "Oh, I heard that the wizards from the divination schools are preparing to counter your theory at the symposium. They seem to have found some ws, so you should be careful," Tiek suddenly remembered and warned.


    A person''s extensive knowledge doesn''t necessarily mean they excel in debates...


    Although winning with sophistry was impossible, it could be quite embarrassing in a debate.


    "Are they nning to ''debate'' using magic as well?" Lynn asked inquisitively.


    "They probably won''t," Tiek replied, not entirely sure. While conflicts arose at previous symposiums due to disagreements, they usually didn''t escte into physical confrontations.


    "What about the legendary wizards? Will they be attending the symposium this time?" Lynn asked.


    "I don''t know," Tiek shook his head. In fact, legendary wizards rarely participated in academic symposiums unless they were interested in or considered the topic highly important. Generally, an exceptional official wizard from the school would present thetest theories.


    Since Lynn was attending the symposium for the first time, Tiek took great care to exin various details to him.


    Lynn noted them all and then inquired about the legendary wizards'' information.


    However, these councilors, who held a lofty status, were quite enigmatic, and Tiek had limited information about them. The one with the most discussion was the legendary wizard Harof!


    This person also came from outside thend of the wizards, and it was rumored that he only started studying magic in his thirties. Nevertheless, his talent was remarkable, and despite missing the prime age for learning magic, he reached the status of a legendary wizard.


    What set him apart from other legendary wizards was the fact that Harof had very few apprentices, only a handful. ording to him, he only needed a few people to assist him, as he didn''t have the time or patience to teach students.


    "Is this the Harof who proposed the possibility of gravity being widespread in any object?" Lynn asked in amazement.


    "That''s correct," Tiek nodded. "After your theory onary bodies was published, Harof was the first to fly into the sky to confirm whether continents could be spherical."


    Gravity issues, huh? Lynn contemted for a moment. He had already prepared an invitation letter for the Mystic Arts Society, and he had been debating whether to give it to Raphael or Ougust since the Iyeta school didn''t have a prominent grand wizard. That was a potential liability.


    Now, considering it, this legendary wizard Harof might be a better choice...


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 Chapter 135: The Law of Universal Gravitation

    Chapter 135: The Law of Universal Gravitation


    The airship was moving faster than expected, and by the evening of the third day, a magnificent city appeared before Lynn.


    It was the Wizard City - Greenrill! The city was nestled among the mountains, its circr shape resembling a massive gem encrusted in the mountain range. The towering city walls were lined with numerous high-level magic crystal cannons, and inexplicably, they turned to aim at the airship without any human control.


    Lynn had witnessed the power of these cannons before and knew they could severely damage the mighty Eye of Death. However, Lynn had note to invade. He had already reported his arrival through alchemicalmunication arrays, and with two great wizards on board the airship, he was not worried about an attack. He gazed directly at the central tower that soared high into the sky, illuminated by the setting sun''s magic, making it quite conspicuous.


    "Is that the Sun Crown Tower?" Lynn whispered to himself.


    Raphael, who was beside him, nodded in response. "Indeed, that is the Sun Crown Tower, the symbol of the Wizard City!"


    "Master Raphael, may I ask why this tall tower is named that way?" Lynn inquired. After the incident at Iyeta Harbor, seeing such a towering spire gave him a bit of unease.


    "In truth, it used to be called the Eclipse Tower or the Shadowless Tower, but those names had some negative connotations. That''s why it was changed to the Sun Crown..." Raphael exined.


    Every mid-July, at noon, under the sunlight, the tower''s shadow wouldpletely ovep with its base, creating a Shadowless Tower. Of course, all buildings in Greenrill did the same on that day, but the Sun Crown Tower was exceptionally tall and thus more awe-inspiring.


    The wizard''s calendar, as well as the hours, were divided based on the length and angle of the Sun Crown Tower''s shadow in the sun''s rays. It was a perfectly arranged year of 360 days, divided into twelve months, each consisting of exactly thirty days.


    "A brilliant design!" Lynn remarked, raising an eyebrow.


    This way, the entire tall tower served as a massive clock. As for the reason behind the Shadowless Tower, Lynn could guess that in mid-July, the tower was right under the sun''s direct rays.


    While they were talking, the airship had already entered Greenrill andnded in the square in front of the Magic Research Association in the east. This attracted arge crowd of wizards, as they had all arrived by carriage, making the airship an unusual sight.


    "Is this the Skyship? It''s even more massive than what I saw in the newspapers!"


    "It''s quite grand. If it''s not too expensive, buying a Skyship for travel is a good idea."


    Amidst the chatter, Lynn and his Skyship were already well-known thanks to the Magic Daily''s extensive publicity. However, the drawings did not do justice to the real thing, and alchemists were now discussing the design principles of this alchemical device.


    It could fly and hover without wings; could it be using some kind of force field magic?


    Lynn and his group could feel countless eyes watching them as they disembarked from the airship. They were clearly the center of attention.


    Compared to Lynn''s calm demeanor, Jonny and Elok, who were visiting Greenrill for the first time, seemed a bit uneasy.


    Philip adjusted his robe. Even when Master Herlram led their group in the past, the Iyeta School rarely had a chance to be in the limelight.


    Just then, a tall and burly male wizard, meticulously groomed, emerged from the crowd. He smiled and bowed to August and Raphael, then turned his attention to Lynn and his group.


    "Mr. Philip, Mr. Lynn, wee to Greenrill. Please follow me!"


    "Then, Masters, we''ll see you tomorrow!" Lynn bid farewell to August and Raphael and followed the tall wizard to the private rest area of the Iyeta School.


    After settling the amodation matter, Philip hurriedly took Lynn aside. "Have you thought about how to deal with the Divination School''s wizards tomorrow?"


    "Of course..." Lynn dragged out his response, "I haven''t!"


    Philip was inplete disarray. He had thought Lynn was well-prepared, given his calm demeanor, but it turned out he had made no preparations at all.


    However, before Philip could panic, Lynn spoke again. "If you can help me obtain detailed data on the star charts from the Divination School, then I''ll be fully prepared!"


    "That''s simple. You wait here; I''ll be back soon..." Philip rushed out. The Divination School''s wizards had published their research results in previous issues of the Magic Daily, and there should be corresponding records in the library, so it shouldn''t be too hard to find.


    Lynn took out a piece of parchment and wrote down Kepler''s Third Law and the Law of Universal Gravitation. To understand the rules of celestial orbit, it would require decades, if not centuries, of continuous observation. He didn''t have time for that now, but the Divination School''s wizards had already done the mostplicated work for him. He just needed to verify if their theories were correct.


    ...


    Night fell in the Wizard City, Greenrill.


    Lynn arrived outside Harof''s mansion alone, preparing to meet the renowned legendary wizard. However, when he reached the door, he was surprised to find a crowd of people waiting. Over a dozen wizards were anxiously standing there, each holding an envelope or a manuscript.


    Before Lynn could ask, the mansion''s gates opened, and a female wizard, who appeared to be in her thirties and possessed a three-ringed badge, stepped out.


    Almost simultaneously, the crowd swarmed the gate.


    "Theresa, this is ten years of research that I''ve put into it, hoping it can help Speaker Harof''s research," a tall and slim male wizard begged as he handed over a stack of manuscripts.


    The other wizards were not to be outdone and hurriedly presented their research findings, hoping to catch Theresa''s attention and have their papers ced on top during the report, and some even included a few magic coins or an entire money pouch in their manuscripts.


    Lynn finally realized that he wasn''t the only one trying to get Harof''s attention regarding gravity research. There were many others.


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 Chapter 136: Lynn - I Bring the Three Laws and a Formula!

    Chapter 136: Lynn - I Bring the Three Laws and a Form!


    "Alright, everyone, quiet down!"


    Theresa, with a displeased expression, red at the chaotic crowd and scolded them. She collected their envelopes and papers, disregarding the coins and pouches discreetly handed to her by the wizards.


    Then, she turned her attention to Lynn, who also held an envelope.


    "Miss Theresa, I am Lynn from the Society of Mystical Arts. I have something very important to discuss with Lord Harof," Lynn said with a respectful bow. After a brief pause, he continued, "I''ve made significant progress in gravitational research and have brought threews regarding celestial motion and a form in arcane science that could assist Lord Harof."


    Theresa''s eyebrows furrowed at Lynn''s words. While the others had submitted their research, Lynn seemed to be pushing for a direct meeting with their esteemed teacher. This was rather audacious. As for his im of three significantws, Theresa scoffed internally.


    What were thesews? Laws were the eternal and unchanging magical principles that governed the world. Wizards who established magicalws would be remembered in history and, in some cases, be founders of renowned schools or important doctrines.


    To im that he had developed threews concerning celestial motion and wanted to assist the legendary wizard Harof was simply preposterous.


    Theresa had seen many bold ims from wizards seeking to impress her before, but Lynn''s seemed the most exaggerated. Her impatience showed on her face as she brusquely said, "Lord Harof is currently engrossed in a vital research project. He doesn''t have the time to meet you right now. If your theory is indeed useful, he might consider granting you an audience."


    "The celestial motion theory that Lord Harof previously verified is based on my research. I believe he would be willing to meet me," Lynn persisted, not willing to give up.


    He was starting to wonder if Theresa hadn''t recognized him.


    Theresa saw through Lynn''s thoughts and sneered, saying, "Of course, I know who you are. You''re Lynn, the one who shamelessly imed that wizardry in the Wizards'' Land was already outdated, right?"


    "But let me tell you, the free-fallw you proposed is something Lord Harof knew about a long time ago. He hasn''t published the research findings yet, but he was nning to include it in his uing gravity theory. You''ve just preempted it."


    What annoyed Theresa more was that Lynn, a wizard from the Sekas Empire, had taunted and questioned the research on magic in the Wizards'' Land. It was like an ignorant rat mocking a sky-dwelling dragon. How could she maintain a pleasant demeanor?


    "You heard it earlier; everyone here believes their research can help our teacher. Should I allow everyone in?" Theresa said sternly.


    Almost every day, people gathered at the mansion''s gate to submit their research materials in the hope of gaining the legendary wizard''s appreciation. If she granted ess to one, the rest would follow, and there would be no end to it.


    Most of these formal wizard research proposals had no real value; they were full of errors or stale ideas that would only waste their teacher''s precious time.


    With that, Theresa took the pile of papers and envelopes and walked away, closing the mansion''s gate behind her.


    Having been turned away, Lynn couldn''t help but show a hint of frustration on his face. He had assumed that with the publicity from the Magic Daily, he would have some recognition in the Wizards'' Land. It seemed that his reputation had brought negative attention instead.


    "Sir, do you know how long it usually takes for Lord Harof to review these letters?" Lynn asked the wizard beside him.


    "That''s hard to say. It might be a few hours, or it could be a few days. It all depends on when Lord Harof feels interested," the wizard replied, shaking his head. He couldn''t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude since Lynn, who had been in the limelight for the past two weeks, now found himself rejected just like the rest.


    Lynn shook his head, realizing he might have been too hasty in aiming for a meeting with the legendary wizard. After all, Lord Harof was at the pinnacle of the Wizards'' Land and not someone he could easily meet.


    Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Theresa cautiously opened the door to theboratory, making sure not to make a sound that could disturb Harof, who was lost in thought.


    In the center of theboratory, a massive tform held several small magical orbs, orbiting around a central,rger magical orb. This setup was used to simte the gravitational influence of celestial bodies.


    The vast cosmic scene was condensed to a small scale, and Theresa couldn''t help but marvel at the genius of the legendary wizard.


    At that moment, Harof stood beneath the tform, holding the data he had just calcted, and shouted in frustration, "It''s impossible! This can''t be how it works. The orbit of the celestial bodies should be a perfect circle, with the center right in the middle!"


    The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. In his mind, gravitational forces resembled ripples on a pond, forming a perfect circr shape. Some aspects of field magic supported this idea.


    However, the star chart data provided by the prophetic schrs didn''t match his model. Something was amiss. Perhaps there was an interference factor he hadn''t considered, or maybe the data itself was wed.


    Theresa, sitting on the floor, carefully picked up the torn pieces of paper, piecing them back together. In her eyes, each research endeavor of her teacher was a profound exploration of the world and magicalws. Even if they contained errors, the insights within were invaluable.


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 Chapter 137: The Astonished Legendary Wizard Harof

    Chapter 137: The Astonished Legendary Wizard Harof


    Harof contemted for a while without any results, then sighed and turned to Theresa, asking, "Where''s today''s research material?"


    "It''s right here, Teacher," Theresa respectfully handed over a stack of parchment.


    Harof casually took a piece of parchment and began to examine it. Although the various ideas proposed by official wizards were full of ws, sometimes their wild imaginations sparked a glimmer of inspiration.


    After all, that''s what he wascking the most right now.


    Harof scanned through the pages one by one and soon became impatient. The quality of the theories in this issue was extremely poor, with many having no factual basis, just baseless spections.


    It felt like a waste of time!


    Well, he might as well finish reading them just in case he stumbled upon something insightful.


    Harof shook his head in frustration and picked up an exquisitely decorated envelope left on the table.


    "Next time, tell them to bring in parchment; there''s no need for all these unnecessary embellishments," Harof grumbled.


    "Yes, Teacher, I''ll remind them," Theresa nodded in agreement, increasingly disliking the male witch, Lynn, from the Wizard Lands, who had delivered this letter.


    "Hmm?" Harof opened the envelope, and his whole demeanor froze.


    The envelope contained not research papers filled with magical theories but an invitation.


    "To the esteemed legendary wizard Mr. Harof,


    We have heard that you are researching thews of celestial movements, dedicating yourself to unravel the secrets of gravity, space, and time. We hereby invite you to join the Society of Mystical Arts to explore the mysteries of the cosmic truth."


    Harof furrowed his brows, realizing that this invitation from an academic research organization was something he rejected numerous times each month. Now it was mixed in with his research materials.


    "I''m sorry, Teacher, that was my mistake. I should have reviewed it first," Theresa replied in a fluster, as this was her responsibility. However, she had brought it in without checking, causing the dy.


    "The Society of Mystical Arts..." Harof did not immediately discard the letter because he vaguely remembered hearing that name somewhere. "Who brought this letter?"


    "It was a wizard named Lynn, the one from the Misty Sea who proposed the theory ofary motion," Theresa said, her voice filled with resentment. "That arrogant fellow even imed to have brought threews and a form that could solve the problems you''re facing."


    "What are thosews and the form?" Harof inquired further.


    Since this wizard organization could understand and propose the theory ofs and thew of free fall, it meant they might have something valuable to offer. It wouldn''t hurt to take a look.


    Theresa hesitated for a moment, unable to find the words.


    Fortunately, Harof quickly found the forms andws written on the back of the invitation.


    "First Law: The orbits of alls around stars are elliptical, with the star located at one of the foci of the ellipse," Harof muttered thoughtfully as he read the first line.


    Indeed, in his research on celestial motion, he had also observed this phenomenon. However, the problem was why it happened. ording to his calctions, the gravitational field should form a perfect circle, with the star at the center.


    This had been one of the issues that had been troubling him.


    He quickly read the next twows, which were entirely new and unfamiliar to him.


    "Second Law: For any, the area swept out by the line connecting it and the star is directly proportional to the time it takes to sweep that area; the''s speed at closest approach remains constant."


    "Third Law: The ratio of the cube of the semi-major axis of an orbit to the square of the orbital period is the same for all celestial bodies in orbit."


    Harof''s expression immediately turned serious. These were two brand newws and principles that he hadn''t discovered yet.


    "Quick, bring me paper and a pen; I need to verify this," Harof eximed loudly.


    Could it be that these so-calledws were really useful for him? Theresa was taken aback and quickly brought paper and a pen.


    However, Harof was too impatient to wait and began scribbling in the air with magic, thenpared the data with the star maps.


    Theresa was in awe and couldn''t even breathe as she waited patiently for several hours, unable to leave her spot.


    When it was already bright outside, Harof finally stopped and muttered to himself, "It matches perfectly, it really does!"


    Harof felt like he was closer to the truth than ever before.


    With that in mind, he looked at the end of the invitation, where there was a short form.


    F=GMm/r^2


    But he had no idea what these mathematical symbols meant. What did "F" represent, and what was "G"?


    Harof was clueless about these mathematical notations from another world and could only guess based on his recent study. He had a feeling that what he had been seeking was hidden within this short form.


    "Where is this Lynn now? Where can I find him?" Harof suddenly remembered the person who sent the letter and urgently asked, as Lynn was the one who likely understood the meaning of this form.


    "Te-Teacher, because it was sote yesterday, the wizard named Lynn has already left... As for now, he''s probably attending a seminar," Theresa replied hesitantly, not daring to mention that she had intentionally kept him out.


    "I''ll go get him right away!" Theresa hurriedly decided to fetch Lynn.


    She had a clear understanding of her own abilities as an ordinary third-tier wizard. Initially, she had gained Harof''s appreciation by providing him with some inspiration through an academic paper. If the legendary wizard found out about such a significant oversight, her current position might not be secure.


    "No need, it''s too slow. I''ll go myself." Harof''s thoughts raced, and he quickly gathered his scattered research notes, summoning them into his hand with magic. Then, he flew out of the wide-open window.


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 Chapter 138: The Morning Star, Silver Moon, and Solar Halo!

    Chapter 138: The Morning Star, Silver Moon, and Sr Halo!


    "Lynn, Professor, where were youst night? I was hoping to discuss today''s agenda with you, but I waited for over an hour, and you didn''t show up," Philipined, standing in front of the hall of the Greenhol City''s Magical Research Society. He had worked tirelessly yesterday afternoon and evening to help Lynn win this debate.


    "I went to see Lord Harof to verify a theory," Lynn replied.


    "And then? Did you meet him?" Philip asked curiously.


    "No, I didn''t. In fact, I was stopped at the door," Lynn replied casually.


    "That''s normal. Even Master Herlram would require an appointment to meet that legendary wizard when he''s avable," Philipughed. Harof was known for his obsession with research, and Lynn''s impromptu visit was quite audacious.


    Lynn shrugged, not too concerned about this setback. He turned to Jonny and the others, asking if they had everything ready as needed. Once they confirmed, they entered the hall of the Magical Research Society together.


    The hall was beautifully decorated and spacious enough to amodate thousands of people. Rows of red chairs were arranged in a tiered fashion, ensuring that even the wizards at the back could see the debate clearly.


    Philip led Lynn and the others to a table belonging to the Iyeta School. However, this time, they were assigned seats further back. Philip knew that this was due to the impact of Master Herlram''s death. The Iyeta School was no longer a magical faction with great wizards.


    After Lynn and Philip took their seats, the conference began quickly.


    Raphael and Ougust were among the moderators.


    The first to take the stage was a tall male wizard, a shaper from the Sky and Swiftwind School. After signaling to a few senior wizards, he turned to the audience and began his presentation.


    "Dear colleagues, I am Yasos, a shaper from the Sky and Swiftwind School. I will demonstrate a new flight magic for you..."


    As he spoke, the wizard turned around and, amidst the excited exmations of thedies, removed his shirt, revealing his well-built back.


    A wave of magic radiated from his body, and his back muscles began to transform and extend, forming enormous wings nearly three meters long. However, unlike birds, Yasos'' wings were featherless, resembling a thin, wide membrane.


    "These wings were inspired by the wings of bats. They are incredibly light and don''t put much strain on the body. They can be quiterge and support the entire body''s weight..."


    Yasos exined a few more details before vigorously pping his wings and taking off. He flew around the hall, causing a series of gasps and cheers.


    "Very clever shapeshifting magic, and the transformation is excellent. However, this kind of flight is too slow and energy-consuming," Philipmented from the audience. He didn''t think highly of this magic.


    Lynn nodded in agreement. Firstly, the human body was not lightweight, and flying by pping wings required a considerable amount of physical effort. Secondly, this magic required a high level of shapeshifting expertise.


    Wizards who were truly proficient in shapeshifting magic could transform into creatures like the Moregalden Falcons for flying, rather than just growing a pair of wings.


    As expected, after Yasos exined the details of the magic, several senior wizards gave low ratings, ultimately categorizing it as an obscure third-tier shapeshifting magic.


    Yasos descended the stage with a sigh. He knew he had no chance of winning the Morning Star Medal.


    Over the next hour, more than ten wizards from various schools took the stage to present their novel theories or new magical creations.


    In the end, only one wizard, an alchemist who used a potion to rapidly replenish a wizard''s energy, gained recognition from many senior wizards and was nominated for the Morning Star Medal.


    During the break, Philip exined the three major awards in the world of wizards: the Morning Star, Silver Moon, and Sr Halo medals.


    The Morning Star Medal was awarded to wizards who had made new discoveries, improvements in magic, or alchemical arrays. Not every type of magic qualified. For example, the improved magic demonstrated by Yasos earlier was too limited in its application and didn''t even qualify for a nomination.


    The Silver Moon Medal had stricter criteria, only awarded to wizards who made outstanding contributions in a specific field of magic. Even Adra, the great wizard who created the Fire Elemental Theory twenty years ago, hadn''t received a Silver Moon Medal because the theory had yet to be fully validated.


    As for the Sr Halo Medal, it was the highest academic honor in the wizarding world. Only a handful of great wizards who established mainstream disciplines and profoundly impacted the magical theories of the wizarding world could receive a nomination.


    "If you can prove your Theory during the debate and correct the star maps of the Astrology School, you might be able to get a Silver Moon Medal," Philip said, excited and hopeful.


    Lynn didn''t care much about awards. Instead, he turned his attention to the seats not far from the Iyeta School, where the Astrology School had gathered. A group of male and female wizards stood up and walked towards the podium.


    The leader, d in a gray robe, had a slightly emaciated face with sunken eye sockets, appearing as if they hadn''t slept for several nights. However, their spirit was exceptionally high as they addressed the audience.


    "Esteemed Masters, gentlemen, anddies, I am Ynde from the Astrology School. Today, I''m not here to present new astronomical research, but I have some questions that I hope Mr. Lynn, from beyond the Wizarding World, can help us rify."


    Ynde''s words weren''t particrly sharp, but their tone carried a hint of provocation that anyone could detect.


    The wizards in the audience turned their gaze towards Lynn, wearing expressions of curiosity and amusement. They had guessed that the Astrology School would openly challenge Lynn''s Theory during this conference, but they had no idea how Lynn would respond.


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 Chapter 139: Evidence of Planetary Rotation, I Certainly Have It!

    Chapter 139: Evidence ofary Rotation, I Certainly Have It!


    Amidst the countless gazes in the assembly, Lynn confidently stood up and walked towards the stage.


    "Professor, he should be able to handle it, right?" Elok murmured, looking concerned as the wizards from the School of Prophecy, appearing numerous and domineering, seemed intent on pressuring others.


    Phillip also had some concerns; he had initially wanted to apany Lynn, but Lynn had gestured for him to stay back.


    Ynde couldn''t contain his impatience upon seeing Lynn ascend the stage.


    "Mr. Lynn, I''ve read your theories. ording to your theory, all celestial bodies, including thend beneath our feet, revolve around the sun, correct?"


    "More precisely, it''s thes within this star system that revolve around the sun," Lynn corrected Ynde''s statement.


    Ynde didn''t pay much attention to this distinction but rather expressed his regret, "But I''ve noticed you seem to have overlooked a critical issue."


    "What issue?" Lynn asked, puzzled.


    "Since you mentioned in the ''Magic Daily'' that the time it takes for ournd to revolve around the sun is three hundred and sixty days, precisely one year, how do you exin the phenomenon of day and night? It can''t be that we only experience one day and night in a whole year, can it?" Ynde questioned.


    ording to the theory of prophecy, the sun''s rotation around thend caused the cycle of day and night due to its gravitational pull.


    Lynn found this quite amusing and exined, "It''s quite simple. That''s because our, in addition to orbiting the star, is continually rotating. This is what creates the alternating day and night that we observe."


    Lynn extended his hand, conjuring two different-sized water spheres in the air. The smaller one rotated around therger one while spinning, symbolizing oneplete cycle of day and night.


    "Rotation?" Ynde was momentarily surprised by Lynn''s unexpected exnation, but he soon chuckled.


    "I must say, your theory is intriguing. However, if, as you say, ournd is in constant motion, rotating around the sun and even moving with it, then why aren''t we flung away?" Ynde''s tone grew more intense, resonating throughout the hall.


    The wizards present were now engaged in heated discussions, and even those who had initially supported the idea of a rotating began to waver in the face of this sharp questioning.


    After all, Ynde''s argument was easy to imagine. For instance, cing a grain of rice on a sphere and rapidly spinning itthe grain of rice would inevitably be thrown off.


    Furthermore, theirnd was enormous, and any movement it made would generate tremendous forces. Even if they were lucky enough not to be thrown off, they would undoubtedly sense the movement.


    Phillip was anxiously fidgeting, resembling an ant on a hot pan. It was as if the person targeted on stage was himself.


    Lynn''s expression remained unchanged as he asked with a sly smile, "Have you ever ridden in a carriage, Mr. Ynde?"


    "Why are you asking about that?" Ynde hesitated.


    Lynn didn''t answer but turned to the wizards in the seminar. "I believe you all have also noticed that, during carriage rides, we only clearly feel our bodies swaying back and forth at the beginning and end of the journey. At other times, we mainly feel the bumps caused by the uneven road."


    "That''s because, while traveling, we are inside the carriage, moving along with it due to friction. Of course, because the carriage''s speed varies, it''s not very intuitive..." Lynn exined. He then turned to a few senior wizards. "I think this is something that Master Raphael and Master Ougust, who have ridden airships, might have a better understanding of."


    All eyes in the room immediately turned to Raphael and Ougust. After a brief contemtion, they both nodded in agreement.


    Unlike carriages, airships floatedpletely, and with the wind-blocking magic formation applied, their travel was incredibly smooth. They hardly felt any movement.


    "It''s the same for this!" Lynn continued. "As the free-fall experiment showed earlier, the resistance we feel is based on the elements. Under the influence of gravity, all elements and matter change position along with the''s rotation. That''s why we don''t perceive our own movement. If one day it suddenly stops rotating, we''d probably all be thrown off..."


    Lynn said in a teasing manner.


    "Nonsense!" Beside Ynde, a red-haired witch loudly rebuked, interrupting Lynn. "Lord Harof has been to the top of the world. If ournd were truly rotating, then over such a long time, Lord Harof would have long since been carried away by thend''s rotation to another ce."


    "The gravitational influence extends far and wide, madam, much more than you can imagine. Even if we were to ascend tens of thousands of meters into the sky, we still wouldn''t escape its control," Lynn stated casually, then looked at everyone, speaking loudly.


    "Just as we cannot perceive that the beneath our feet is round, the''s rotation speed is quite slow rtive to its massive size. We, minuscule as dust, are like ants burrowing in a hill. To it, this hill is the entire world."


    The discussions in the hall grew increasingly intense. Some people were very receptive to Lynn''s theory, as it provided a usible exnation for the cycle of day and night.


    However, many still held deep reservations. ording to Lynn, they don''t perceive their own motion because they move with the? It was just too absurd!


    Not at all magical!


    "Where''s the evidence? What do you have to prove that ournd is rotating? All of this is mere conjecture on your part!" Ynde scoffed sharply. "ording to your theory, when we sleep at night, we''re also hurtling along with thisnd..."


    "Then, when you''re in a carriage, do you move by yourself?" Lynn asked with a smile.


    "Of course..." Ynde hesitated for a moment. He had wanted to say that he didn''t move, but upon careful consideration, he realized that he did indeed move with the carriage.


    This conflicting sensation left Ynde, who didn''t know what a reference frame was, perplexed. In the end, he could only conclude that he didn''t move and that the carriage carried him.


    However, this conclusion inadvertently supported Lynn''s theory ofary rotation. Ynde wrestled with this for a while before finally remaining silent.


    "As for evidence ofary rotation, I certainly have it!" Lynn paid no mind to Ynde''s inner turmoil and turned to the members of the Iyeta School, saying, "Jonny, Elok, and Pearce, bring everything you''ve prepared!"


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 Chapter 140: Lynns Pendulum Experiment

    Chapter 140: Lynn''s Pendulum Experiment


    "It''s finally time for us to make our appearance!"


    After watching for a while, Elok and the others were already brimming with excitement. After receiving Lynn''s approval, they immediately ran up to the tform with arge box in their arms.


    Ynde, feeling a bit uneasy, approached to take a look. Therge box contained various peculiar items, with the most prominent being a massive iron ball embedded with a protruding spike at the bottom.


    "Masters, please allow me to use magic to make some adjustments here so that the experiment''s effects can be more visual," Lynn said.


    "If you think it''ll be helpful," Raphael nodded in agreement.


    Lynn immediately cast "Fossil to Mud" and turned therge stone bricks beneath into fine sand. Then, he had Jonny and the others assemble the stone bs from the box, creating a giant disc on the tform''s outer edge.


    The edges of the disc had precisely marked three hundred and sixty divisions, each with a wooden stick ced in front of it.


    Finally, Lynn asked the wizard who had developed flight magic earlier to suspend the iron ball from the ceiling of the conference hall using a steel wire.


    Due to the need for magic demonstrations, the conference hall was not only spacious but also tall, with the ceiling standing sixty meters above the ground.


    The thirty-kilogram iron ball was suspended just a little over ten centimeters above the sand by a thin steel wire. The protruding spike at the bottom was already buried in the sand.


    "What are you nning to do?" Ynde waspletely perplexed, unable toprehend Lynn''s actions.


    The other wizards in the audience wore simrly puzzled expressions.


    "I''m conducting an experiment!" Lynn waved his hand, asking Elok and the others to stand aside and then asked, "Mr. Ynde, what do you think will happen if we push this iron ball with force?"


    "The iron ball will be pushed forward and then swing back and forth in a straight line. Do I need to exin that?" Ynde responded impatiently.


    "I don''t think so," Lynn shook his head, "because you''ve overlooked a crucial factor, which is that our continent is rotating. The resulting Coriolis force will affect the swing of the pendulum. So, when the pendulum swings, it will continually change direction and revolve around this disc."


    "Absurd!" Ynde couldn''t believe in something like the Coriolis force caused by the rotation of the. It waspletely preposterous!


    With these thoughts in mind, Ynde kept a close watch, fearing that Lynn might pull off some tricks during the experiment.


    Lynn didn''t even use magic this time. Instead, after positioning the iron ball at the zero-degree mark on the sand disc, he let go, allowing the iron ball to swing freely under gravity.


    The nearly sixty-meter-long steel wire remained taut due to the weight of the iron ball. Under the influence of gravity, it produced a slight whistling sound as it struck the wooden stick representing one hundred and eighty degrees on the opposite side.


    Just as Ynde had said, the iron ball''s path was indeed a straight line.


    The eyes of all the wizards in the room were fixed on the pendulum. Due to the length of the steel wire that held the iron ball, the swing was not very fast, but it was extremely regr and did not deviate as Lynn had predicted.


    Ynde waited for a while, but there was no change. He immediately looked at Lynn and taunted, "Where is the pendulum''s rotation around the disc that you mentioned? I didn''t see it!"


    "You''re too impatient, and your observation isn''t careful enough, that''s why you couldn''t see it," Lynn sighed.


    Ynde was very irritated. He wasn''t blind, and he could surely tell whether or not this thing was rotating.


    At that moment, a cry of astonishment suddenly came from someone.


    "It''s deviating! The trajectory is actually deviating!"


    Several grand wizards even stood up from their seats, closely watching the sand disc below the pendulum.


    Where was it deviating? Ynde followed everyone''s gaze and realized that the fine needle at the bottom of the iron ball didn''t leave apletely straight line on the sand disc. There was a slight deviation with each swing.


    However, this deviation was incredibly small and couldn''t be seen with the naked eye. It could only be discerned by examining the traces left in the sand as the pendulum swung.


    Thud...


    Apanied by a slight dull sound, the wooden stick representing one degree was knocked over, and the pendulum then knocked down the wooden stick representing one hundred and eighty-one degrees.


    Both the imprints left on the sand and the fallen wooden sticks undeniably proved that the pendulum was slowly moving, and it wasn''t swinging aimlessly. It was consistently deviating to the left.


    "Wind! The wind must have blown it!" a divination wizard eximed loudly.


    Ynde immediately thought of this, but before he could speak, Philip sarcastically said, "This is indoors. Where could the winde from?"


    "Even without strong winds, air is always in motion, and even the slightest influence matters!" Ynde argued, neck stiff.


    In any case, he absolutely refused to believe in something as non-magical as the rotation of the!


    "Masters, since Mr. Ynde has doubts, please turn this area into a vacuum," Lynn suggested with a smile.


    This time, Ougust stepped in. He was also very curious about this intriguing pendulum deviation phenomenon. Following Lynn''s request, he removed all elements from the entire disc, creating a vacuum in the area without affecting the pendulum''s movement.


    Ynde held his breath, staring at the disc, eager to see if the iron ball''s trajectory would change in the absence of air.


    Ten seconds... thirty seconds... one minute, the pendulum continued to deviate to the left, with the same degree of deviation as before.


    The wooden sticks representing one degree and one hundred and eighty-two degrees also fell over one by one.


    "Now, there''s definitely no wind, right!" Philip said mockingly.


    Ynde''s face turned red and blue. He opened his mouth but couldn''t speak. There was no magic, no wind interference, so where did the force that caused the pendulum to deviatee from?


    Could it be that the so-called Coriolis force really existed?


    As time passed, more and more wooden sticks fell. In the conference hall, the wizards who were originally sitting in their seats had all crowded around the tform, eager to observe this mysterious experiment up close.


    "This is unbelievable! Our continent is moving; it''s really moving!" a witch screamed loudly.


    "It''s incredible, a miracle in the history of magic! We really live on a constantly rotating!" Raphael eximed, deeply moved.


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 Chapter 141: Raphael - My Mind is Trembling!

    Chapter 141: Raphael - My Mind is Trembling!


    Amid the gaze of thousands of eyes, the swinging iron ball slowly knocked down the wooden bar representing fifteen degrees.


    The traces carved into the sand table by the swinging hammer looked like delicate petals, exuding an extreme sense of beauty!


    These are the lines representing the truth of magic! Lynn pointed at the sand table, looking at Ynde, and said teasingly.


    "I think it''s quite clear, isn''t it, Mr. Ynde?"


    "This is the evidence you were looking for! The''s rotation has an impact, but this force must be amplified through the swinging pendulum to be visually demonstrated before us."


    Ynde sat pale and dumbfounded on the ground, gazing at the iron ball that continued to swing without saying a word.


    Beside him, a prophet witch was hysterically shouting, "This can''t be, it can''t be! You must have used magic on the pendulum!"


    Upon hearing this, several prominent wizards on the scene frowned, their expressions displeased. With or without magical fluctuations, couldn''t they sense them?


    Lynn shook his head as he looked at the prophet witches who were still unwilling to ept the facts and said.


    "The materials I used aren''t difficult to obtain, are they? Anyone can perfectly replicate this experiment under the same conditions."


    "The truth is right there, unaltered by anyone''s will. The world experiences day and night changes because of the''s rotation, and the changing seasons are rted to the movement of the sun''s zenith."


    Lynn extended his hand, using a few water spheres to simte the orbits of celestial bodies, providing a unique astronomy lesson to everyone in the simplest terms.


    The wizards in the room listened in fascination, as no theory had ever exined the changes of day and night and the seasons with the movement of the stars so clearly.


    The mysterious veil of the world seemed to be suddenly lifted from one corner, revealing only a tip of the iceberg, yet it was enough to make people''s minds tremble.


    Until Lynn''s voice fell, the hall of the symposium remained eerily silent. Everyone was immersed in contemtion of theary motionws.


    The wordless silencested for several minutes, and as more and more people woke up, the hall of the symposium was filled with thunderous apuse. Some even took off their hats and bowed to Lynn. Others shouted in excitement.


    "It''s truly a fantastic and irrefutable theory!" Ougust also apuded and praised.


    The intricate and regr celestial diagrams presented by Lynn made Raphael''s mind tremble. Countless inspirations surged into his mind. If the symposium hadn''t been over yet, he would have eagerly turned his insights into sculpture.


    "I knew you could do it, Professor Lynn..." Philip walked up and hugged Lynn, already seeing the Silver Crescent Medal beckoning to them.


    Lydia, Elok, and others looked at Lynn with admiration and longing in their eyes, while Pearce daydreamed about the day he could present his own magical theory to the audience, just like Professor Lynn, and receive thunderous apuse.


    But soon their excitement was shattered because Lynn quickly said.


    "Lydia, Johnny, Elok, and Pearce, why don''t you record the pendulum''s movement patterns and the time recorded at each scale? You should also be clear about the length of the steel wire, the weight of the pendulum, and its circumference. Draw its motion curve and calcte the data. That''s your homework for today!"


    "Huh?" Pearce, who had been immersed in fantasy, was immediately brought back to reality, and his face instantly drooped. Why was there still homework when they hade all the way to Greenriel?


    "Did you all take notes?" Elok quickly looked at the two witches beside her.


    Lydia shook her head, too busy staring at the pendulum''s trajectory, feeling a bit dizzy.


    "I''ve already recorded it. The length of the steel wire is sixty meters, the weight of the pendulum is thirty kilograms, and the time it takes to deflect one scale is five minutes and three seconds, and the swinging period is..." Johnny blurted out the data he had recorded.


    Elok and the others looked at Johnny, touched and almost on the verge of tears.


    You''re our savior!


    Compared to Lynn, who had be the absolute focus of the audience, the prophets'' witches all had a deathly expression. They had spent over a hundred years observing thews of celestial motion and had expended countless efforts to depict a perfect star map.


    Now someone was telling them that this star map was wrong, and all their efforts were in vain. They weren''t even standing on a continent; they were on a rotating sphere...


    Under such a massive blow, the prophet witches were almost on the verge of copse, and for a moment, it seemed as if the whole world was about to copse.


    "Cheer up, we haven''t lost yet. This pendulum experiment only proves that there is a unique force affecting the pendulum''s motion," a prophet witch stood up, speaking with determination.


    "But besides the Coriolis force, what else can affect the pendulum''s motion?" Ynde was almost desperate, after all, the massive pendulum was right there, and Lynn hadn''t applied any magic to it.


    "Have you all forgotten? Lord Harof is currently studying a theory of gravity, using the star data we provided. If there''s a force that can influence it, I guess it must be gravity!" the witch said loudly.


    Upon hearing this, Ynde and the other prophet witches immediately regained some confidence.


    Yes, if their research was wrong, how could the legendary wizard Lord Harof discover the mysteries of gravity from these ster data?


    Could it be that even the legendary wizard couldn''t see these errors?


    Ynde knew that Lord Harof''s research had reached a critical moment, a moment that could change the entire magical theory of the wizarding world.


    After all, this involved the mysteries of spatial and temporal magic!


    Just as Ynde and the others were pondering, the magic symposium''s doors suddenly burst open.


    No, it''s not quite right to say they were "burst open." To ensure that the symposium proceeded undisturbed, the doors had been locked.


    But now, with a loud bang, the doors on both sides fell to the ground...


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 Chapter 142: It Seems Youre No Longer Fit to Host the Next Seminar!

    Chapter 142: It Seems You''re No Longer Fit to Host the Next Seminar!


    The sudden and intense knocking on the door immediately drew the attention of all the wizards at the conference.


    Raphael was infuriated. Who was so audacious as to barge into the conference in such a rude manner? Could it be those doomsday cult wizards again, trying to disrupt this academic seminar?


    Raphael red at the door, ready to confront the intruder, but what he saw surprised him greatly. The one who had entered was a disheveled male wizard, the legendary mage, Harof.


    Raphael''s anger dissipated instantly. This was not someone he could reprimand.


    The divination school wizards, like they had found their savior, crowded around Harof. One female wizard even shouted excitedly, "Lord Harof, that mage from beyond the Wizard''s Land, Lynn, just questioned the star chart data we spent over a hundred years researching. This is a direct challenge to your theory of gravity!"


    However, Harof was too impatient to listen to what they were saying. He shouted, "Where is he? Where''s Lynn?"


    "He''s up on the tform... the young male wizard with brown hair!" the female wizard said loudly.


    Harof grabbed the blocking female wizard and pulled her aside. The other wizards who had gathered in front of the tform also quickly stepped back.


    Seeing Harof urgently looking for Lynn, with the divination school wizards following closely behind, the expressions of the prominent wizards on the stage grew uneasy.


    Could this legendary wizard really be causing trouble?


    Raphael was the first to step forward, blocking Harof with a gentle tone. He said, "Lord Harof, Mr. Lynn has just presented a highly important new theory that concerns the entire Wizard''s Land theoretical system. We are considering nominating him for the Silver Moon Medal..."


    Raphael didn''t directly object but mentioned the Silver Moon Medal, a significant matter that would surely draw the attention of the other council members. He advised Harof to be cautious.


    Even if there were disagreements, they could be resolved through words.


    "Silver Moon?" Harof hesitated for a moment. He hadn''t been present during the previous session, and he initially thought Lynn was expounding the Law of Universal Gravitation. He looked at the other prominent wizards with a slightly dissatisfied expression.


    The Law of Universal Gravitation would be the foundation for all future spatial magic. This was undoubtedly a remarkable event in the history of magic! And they were suggesting a mere Silver Moon Medal?


    They didn''t even consider the possibility of awarding the Sun Crown Medal! Raphael and the others seemed oblivious to this, and he seriously doubted their suitability to host the next seminar!


    "Submit a nomination for the Sun Crown Medal to the council directly, in my name!" Harof dered without hesitation.


    What? Raphael and the others almost questioned if they had misheard. The divination school wizards, who had just been hopeful moments ago, were left in shock.


    What on earth was going on? Wasn''t Lord Harof supposed to vindicate their divination school? Why was he suddenly proposing to award the Sun Crown Medal to Lynn? Did something go wrong somewhere?


    Even Phillip found it hard to believe. Even if Lynn had described the motion of the stars, wasn''t it too excessive to grant the highest academic honor right away?


    Directly awarding the Sun Crown Medal? That was a bit too much. In the past few centuries, only three individuals in the entire Wizard''s Land had received such an honor, and all of them were legendary mages!


    After this casual statement, Harof looked at Lynn, the only young wizard with brown hair on the tform. Anxiously, he inquired, "Tell me quickly, what does the form on the invitation mean... What is M, and what is G?"


    Lynn had guessed that Harof must have read his letter, so he wasn''t surprised by Harof''s sudden question. He replied confidently, "The two M''s in the form represent the masses of two objects. G is the gravitational constant, and r represents the distance between the two objects."


    "In simpler terms, it''s the gravitational constant multiplied by the product of the masses of two objects, divided by the square of the distance between them," Lynn exined concisely.


    "Is it that simple?" Harof murmured to himself. He had been researching gravity for over a decade, sifting through vast amounts of data. Now, the answer was being summarized in a single sentence and a form by someone else.


    "Complexity lies in the derivation process. Many truths are often simple, clear, and understandable," Lynn replied casually.


    "Very well said. The truth should be simple, something everyone can understand!" Harof agreed enthusiastically.


    "Lord Harof, what are you discussing with that form? Is it rted to gravity?" Raphael, who had been listening for a while, couldn''t help but interrupt.


    The other wizards in the room were also waiting for Harof''s response. They had a feeling that Harof''s intention to award Lynn the Sun Crown Medal was not merely due to his depiction of the starry scene.


    "Yes, I''ve been studying thews of ster motion for over a decade to explore the mysteries of gravity. But I didn''t expect someone else to provide the answer before me," Harof said, feeling somewhat emotional.


    Harof''s research on gravity in Greenvale City was not a secret, and many people were eagerly waiting for this legendary wizard to construct a magical model of a gravitational field. It was one of the most exciting and anticipated developments in recent years.


    Once sessful, it could greatly reduce the requirements for using this type of magic and might even lead to the development of more powerful spatial magic, creating another mainstream magical discipline.


    Harof was now asking Lynn for advice on gravitational matters, leaving everyone in the room puzzled.


    Could it be that a third-tier wizard had a deeper understanding of gravity than the legendary Harof?


    A sense of absurdity filled everyone''s hearts.


    Harof didn''t mind this. After pondering for a moment, he asked another crucial question, "What is the value of the gravitational constant?"


    "I''m sorry, Lord Harof, but I don''t know," Lynn replied, shaking his head candidly.


    If it were Earth''s data, he could have readily provided an answer, given the extensive information avable in his intellect. However, when it came to this alien world, he couldn''t be absolutely certain. He had estimated that the gravitational constant should be very close to Earth''s value, based on his calction from the weight of a one-kilogram iron ball. Still, he didn''t want to make rash statements without rigorous experimentation.


    Lynn''s response was unexpected for Harof, leaving the other wizards in the room baffled. You have the form and speak so confidently, yet when asked for the data, you im to know nothing? Did you make it up?


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 Chapter 143: Lynn: My Apprentice Can Calculate the Circumference of a Planet

    Chapter 143: Lynn: My Apprentice Can Calcte the Circumference of a


    Seeing Lynn''s silence in response to Harof''s question, he could only use the excuse that he didn''t know.


    The initially lifeless diviners from the Prophecy Guild suddenly became lively again. Ynde seemed to have found a breakthrough and questioned.


    "Mr. Lynn, if I''m not mistaken, you''re not a grand wizard yet, so you can''t use force field magic, right?"


    Ynde''s question was lethal, and it immediately raised a significant issue for many wizards who supported Lynn. Since he wasn''t a grand wizard and couldn''t even use force field magic, how did he discover this gravitational form?


    "The Universal Gravitational Form is based on the three celestialws proposed by the legendary wizard Kepler, and I calcted it using magical mathematics," Lynn replied calmly and reiterated the threews.


    Last night, he had confirmed that the Universal Gravitational Law still applied in this parallel world using this method. So when facing Ynde''s questioning, he remainedposed.


    "Calcted? How did you calcte it?" Another diviner from the Prophecy Guild immediately spoke up. "ording to your statement, to calcte the Universal Gravitational Force, we need to know the so-called gravitational constant, the distance between two celestial bodies, and their masses."


    "A celestial body is incredibly massive,rger than the biggest mountain in the Wizard''s Land by millions of times. The distance between them is unimaginably vast. How can we measure that? Are we going to use a ruler, or maybe weigh the continent under our feet?"


    "If that''s the case, what should we put on the other end of the scale? Another celestial body?" The divinerughed.


    Inside the discussion hall, over a thousand wizards engaged in heated debates. Lynn''s presentation of the celestial movements had been too perfect, and many still wanted to believe in the gravitational form he proposed.


    But no matter how hard they thought, they couldn''t figure out how to determine the weight and distance of these celestial bodies.


    Raphael looked at Lynn and sighed. He suspected that this Universal Gravitational Form might be nothing more than an unverified theoretical concept.


    Originally, this wouldn''t have been a problem because there were plenty of unverified theoretical concepts. However, it had caught the attention of Lord Harof and had even reached the point where he was considering awarding the Corona Medal. If this theory turned out to be incorrect, Lynn''s reputation would suffer a heavy blow.


    Ynde and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They had every reason to believe that Lynn''s so-called Universal Gravitational Form was nothing but a fabrication!


    Lynn looked at them with apassionate expression, as if he were looking at fools...


    "Don''t think of this process as too difficult,dies and gentlemen. With some basic magical knowledge, even my apprentices could calcte the mass of a celestial body and the distance between them."


    Lynn spoke calmly, but in the eyes of the diviners from the Prophecy Guild, it seemed like he was just blowing hot air. If he imed he could do it himself, they might believe him to some extent. But if he said that even a wizard apprentice could calcte the data of celestial bodies, it was simply outrageous.


    The gaze of over a thousand wizards immediately turned to Jonny, Lydia, Elok, and Pearce...


    I can''t do it! I can''t! I can''t calcte it!


    Elok was on the verge of tears. He had long realized that Professor Lynn might have been holding some unrealistic fantasies about their abilities.


    They really weren''t that extraordinary!


    Those celestial bodies were so massive, and their distances were so vast. How could they possibly calcte them?


    Lynn, seemingly oblivious to the resentful res of Elok and the others, continued, "Don''t make this process seem too difficult,dies and gentlemen. You only need to find a reference point in the vast universe. The best reference point is our beneath our feet. If you know its data, everything bes easier!"


    Ynde sneered and eagerly awaited to see how Lynn would calcte the various data of this continent.


    Lynn looked at Elok and the others, then suddenly asked, "If I want to know the circumference of a circle, what method should I use?"


    "You can use the diameter multiplied by pi, Professor!" Lydia shouted loudly, remembering this very clearly.


    "What if you don''t know the data for the diameter?" Lynn asked again.


    Lydia''s face immediately froze, and Elok and Pearce thought hard. Eventually, Jonny pointed to the sand table on the tform and responded.


    "A circle has 360 degrees, with each degree being equal. So, I can measure the length of each degree segment to determine its circumference!"


    "Well said, Jonny. Your magical mathematics has been excellent," Lynn smiled and continued, "Our beneath our feet is also a circle. So, as long as we use the same method, can''t we calcte it?"


    Once this statement was made, the wizards in the hall couldn''t help but pause for a moment, as if it made sense.


    "Our beneath our feet is incredibly massive. How can we determine the angles and distances?" Harof furrowed his brow. He had flown to altitudes of tens of thousands of meters, using magical vision to barely see a slight curve. It was impossible to artificially divide it into equal degrees like the sand table under their feet.


    Lynn didn''t answer directly and walked to the sand table, asking, "Have you heard that every year in mid-July, under the noon sun, the shadow of the Daybreak Tower oveps with the tower itself? Is that true?"


    "That''s correct!" Raphael nodded beside him.


    "Then I believe you haven''t forgotten what I mentioned when exining the changing seasons, the zenith of the sun. In mid-July, at noon, we are right at the zenith of the sun! We''ll take that as our zero-degree point!"


    Lynn walked to the sand table and took a wooden stick, cing it at the point representing zero degrees. Then, he put down another wooden stick a bit farther away.


    "Next, we only need to erect a tall column as far away from the Daybreak Tower as possible and measure the lengths of the column and its shadow. Can''t we calcte the angle to the center of the Earth?"


    Using the tall column as the reference point, with sunlight as the ruler... genius! It was a brilliant idea!


    Harof was excited, as the column would be like a straight line on the circr arc, and the shadow would be the other side of a right triangle. This was a straightforward problem of calcting the angle of the top point!


    Raphael and the others stared at the two wooden sticks on the sand table and couldn''t help but inhale sharply. Who would have thought it could be done this way?


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 Chapter 144: Storming the Secas Empire and Overturning the Church?

    Chapter 144: Storming the Secas Empire and Overturning the Church?


    "Ladek, now that you''ve calcted the data of this beneath our feet, it should be quite easy, right?" Lynn looked at the group of wizard apprentices, smiling as she inquired.


    Ladek and the others nodded enthusiastically. They now understood that when the professor gave that first lesson, he wasn''t just boasting. Numerology could indeed calcte almost anything!


    Once they knew the''s circumference, it would be a piece of cake to calcte the radius, area, and even the volume.


    Inside the seminar, the wizards couldn''t contain their excitement. There were only ten days left until mid-July


    In other words, in ten days, this continent beneath their feet, or rather, the entire, would be revealed to them.


    "I can''t believe how your mind works, figuring out such a unique method!" Raphael marveled.


    Before Lynn''s arrival, while the Wizard Landscked a structured mathematical system, most wizards had a basic understanding of geometric calctions. However, they had never thought that such a simple method could be used to calcte the''s circumference.


    This was true genius


    Facing the praises from the others, Lynn remained calm. After all, this method wasn''t something she hade up with on her own. She had taken the idea from the "Father of Geography" in a past life, Eratosthenes, and made some adjustments based on the Wizard Lands'' circumstances.


    In her previous life, while researching historical records, Lynn had been amazed by Eratosthenes'' genius-like thinking. He used fundamental methods to solve the mostplex problems!


    "Are there any specific requirements for where to ce this pir?" Harof couldn''t wait to verify this hypothesis. If there were still ten days left until mid-July, he would act right away.


    "The ground should be as t as possible, and the distance from Greenrill should be at least five hundred kilometers. For more urate data, it''s best if it''s over a thousand kilometers. Our continent is massive, and one scale could be tens or even hundreds of kilometers. So, the farther, the better. The pir should also be as high as possible for a clear shadow." Lynn pondered.


    "So far" Harof''s brows furrowed.


    In this way, it seemed impossible to verify within the Wizard Lands.


    "There''s a suitable ce I''ve heard of. It''s a tower that''s several hundred meters high, located outside the Misty Sea. It could serve as the pir." Suddenly, Ougust suggested.


    The wizards present were surprised, wondering where Ougust was referring to.


    On the side, Philip suddenly looked as if he had remembered something and eximed, "Master Ougust, are you talking about the Sky Dome Tower in the Holy City?"


    Although Philip had never been to the Secas Empire, he had heard sailors from Herlram and others mention some interesting things about the Misty Sea, including the Sky Dome Tower.


    It was rumored to be the manifestation ce of the Creator of Life, the Lord of Stars, and the Goddess of the Moon, Athe holynd in the hearts of all believers.


    Regarding this so-called "god," Philip naturally scoffed, but he was aware of the power of the Church. If they went to the Holy City to measure the length of the Sky Dome Tower, they would be risking their lives. They would probably be unable to even enter the gates and would be burned at the stake.


    But rational people like Philip were in the minority. Many young wizards were even moring to go straight to the Holy City.


    In their eyes, the Wizard Lands were no longer the refuge for the exiled wizards it used to be. After hundreds of years of development, they had created countless new spells and established a system for wizard advancement and magical theories, making them incredibly powerful!


    Lynn''s portrayal of the celestial vision had made the wizards realize how vast the world truly was and how they were trapped within their little Wizard Lands


    However, Harof quickly poured cold water on their enthusiasm. "We only have ten days, and even if we set off now, we might not make it to the Sky Dome Tower in time."


    "Moreover, there''s no need to make it soplicated. We can simply create an ice ind at sea using magic and erect an ice pir on it. This way, the data we calcte will be the most urate!"


    The side of the Wizard Lands facing the Secas Empire was the Misty Sea, but that didn''t mean the entire ind was enveloped in mist. In fact, the sea beyond was navigable.


    The only issue was that the sea was vast. Once, a great wizard had wanted to explore the other side of the sea and ended up flying for a month, only to find some uninhabited inds and ferocious sea creatures. He had almost lost his way back.


    Under Harof''s decision, the discussion didn''t escte to the point of storming the Secas Empire and overthrowing the Church, despite the opinions of some wizards who believed that Harof''s n was too cautious.


    Instead, the focus shifted to how to determine the distance between the Sun Crown Tower and the pir.


    A female wizard soon proposed a method: they could use an extremely long rope to measure the distance, marking the ground at every rope length as a reference. But this proposal was quickly rejected as being too troublesome, especially considering the uneven terrain in the Wizard Lands, which would introduce significant errors.


    After a lively debate, the more convenient methods of using carriages and airships for distance measurement took the lead.


    "How about using an airship?" Lydia suggested, raising her hand high.


    Raphael and the others suddenly saw the light, as Raphael had been about to suggest the same thing, but Lydia beat him to it.


    Compared to alchemical ships, which could be affected by wind and waves, an airship floating in the sky was undoubtedly a better choice. It could ovee all obstacles, navigate in a straight line, and, when enhanced with wind resistance magic, maintain a stable speed that wasn''t easily affected by fluctuations.


    If the airship traveled at full speed, it could cover fifteen kilometers per hour. So, at full speed, it would cover 360 kilometers in a day, providing a highly urate way to measure the distance


    Lynn didn''t participate in the discussion. Instead, she turned to the seers from the various prediction schools, smiling as she asked, "Mr. Ynde, do you have any more questions now?"


    Ynde remained stunned, his mind filled with Lynn''s method of dividing the circle to calcte the circumference. Although they hadn''t arrived at an urate result yet, he understood that the prediction schools had lost decisively this time!


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 Chapter 145: Reference and Pi

    Chapter 145: Reference and Pi


    "Lynn, you have won. It seems all our efforts over the years have been in vain," said Ynde, who was in a daze, after a long pause.


    This statement drained the little remaining strength from Ynde, making him instantly appear several years older.


    The rest of the divination wizards had simr expressions of shock and disbelief.


    Their star charts were wrong, and the centuries of effort in the divination guild had turned into aplete joke!


    "No need to be so down on yourself, Mr. Ynde. In a sense, your star charts are still urate," Lynn reassured them.


    He could confirm that thew of universal gravitation still applied in this otherworldly realm. He couldn''t bear to crush the dreams of these wizards who yearned for the stars too much.


    "So, you finally admit that all of this was fabricated?" an excited divination wizard eximed.


    Lynn nced at her, somewhat speechless. When had he ever said such a thing? But before he could speak, Ynde stopped several colleagues who were still trying to argue and looked at Lynn, awaiting an answer with a puzzled expression.


    Lynn paid no attention to the disoriented divination wizards and continued speaking. "Do you remember when I mentioned the carriage problem? If we use the carriage as a reference point, the people inside are stationary. But if we use the starting point as the reference, then they have indeed moved. In my opinion, both of these statements are correct."


    Geocentrism and heliocentrism, in simple terms, are based on different frames of reference.


    Of course, inparison, heliocentrism is more suitable for solving practical problems, as the essence of a star system''s orbital formation is the gravitational pull of the stars. Therefore, the proposal of heliocentrism was indeed a significant advancement!


    As for whether these people couldprehend it, that was not his concern.


    Amidst the discussion, the magical symposium that hadsted all morning quickly came to an end. However, the topic ofs, ster orbits, and airship range measurement showed no signs of cooling down.


    Some of the top schrs from various guilds suddenly realized, as they walked out of the symposium, that they hade to showcase their new magical theories and spells. But in the end, not a word was said; the symposium had turned into a solo performance by Lynn.


    In such a situation, there was probably no one who cared about what new magical theories they had developed. Everyone was specting about the size and circumference of the beneath their feet.


    Philip, still immersed in his joy, couldn''t contain his excitement. Before attending the symposium, he had been worried that Lynn might not be able to handle the challenges from the divination wizards. However, Lynn had easily refuted them with a well-structured experiment and even received a nomination for the Sr Crown Medal!


    The Sr Crown Medal was the highest honor in the field of magical academia. Philip had never imagined that the Iyeta Guild would one day be awarded such a prestigious honor, which had previously been the exclusive domain of legendary wizards.


    Considering using a magicalmunication spell to summon Kevin, Ondo, and the others for the uing medal ceremony, Philip knew it would be a day of great glory for the Iyeta Guild!


    Compared to Philip, who was still reveling in joy, Lynn was now surrounded by a crowd of inquisitive wizards with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. After providing them with a method to calcte the''s circumference, everyone was curious about how to determine the mass of this massive celestial body.


    Lynn was bing exasperated with the questions and tried to exin that further calctions required knowing the''s radius and gravitational constant.


    Finally, after shooing away these curious minds, Lynn turned to the legendary wizard Harof, who hadn''t left yet, and asked, "Lord Harof, is there anything else I can help you with?"


    "I have a few questions I hope you can answer," Harof said with a humble demeanor, not disying any arrogance just because Lynn was only a third-circle wizard.


    In fact, this issue had been bothering him for a whole year.


    "Please, ask your questions. I''ll do my best to answer," Lynn replied.


    "I have read your Three Laws of Celestial Motion, but why are you so sure that a star''s orbit must be elliptical?" Harof asked, clearly puzzled. "Based on my research into gravity, it acts like ripples in water, spreading out from a central point to create orbits. It should be a perfect circle."


    "On this matter, I have discussed it with some schrs within the Secret Arts Society, and many spections have been put forward. But in summary, there are two main points," Lynn responded.


    "Which two points?" Harof inquired eagerly.


    "First, there is no perfect circle," Lynn said matter-of-factly. "Through precise mathematical calctions, pi is found to be an irrational number. So, the perfect circle we imagine may not exist in reality."


    "Are you sure about that?" Harof''s brow furrowed, and the alchemists in the Alchemical Association have also been researching the curvature of circles. Although they''ve reached a simr conclusion, he believed that everything in the world must have a pattern. They just hadn''t found it yet.


    "Unfortunately, it''s true. I''ve heard that a prominent member of the Secret Arts Society spent decades calcting pi to over two hundred trillion decimal ces, and the result still disyed no discernible pattern, able to continue indefinitely," Lynn shrugged and stated bluntly.


    Two hundred trillion decimal ces?


    Harof was struck dumb by the horrifying number. He began to doubt whether he and Lynn were even talking about the same thing or if he had misheard something.


    He vaguely remembered that the Alchemical Association had only calcted pi to a few decimal ces, maybe... the ninth ce?


    "I don''t remember much, maybe just the first two hundred digits or so," Lynn raised his hand, using magic to disy the numbers before them.


    [3.1415926535897932...]


    As Harof stared at the string ofplex and chaotic numbers in front of him, his face twitched involuntarily. The first nine digits were identical to the Alchemical Association''s calction. He had to admit that what Lynn said was probably true.


    However, he couldn''t help but wonder just how much free time Lynn had to calcte pi to two hundred trillion decimal ces.


    At the same time, Harof was bing increasingly interested in the Secret Arts Society mentioned in the invitation. It must be a gathering of top academic researchers.


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 Chapter 146: The All-Knowing Eye and the Invitation from the Society of Mystical Arts

    Chapter 146: The All-Knowing Eye and the Invitation from the Society of Mystical Arts


    Harof pondered for a while, finally reluctantly epting the fact that a perfect circle didn''t exist. He continued to inquire, "I understand your first point, but what about the second?"


    "The second point is the interference of gravity from others. Even our own, with its initial orbit close to a perfect circle, will inevitably experience some deviation due to the gravitational pull of other celestial bodies," Lynn exined.


    "I see!" Harof suddenly realized the gravity existed everywhere and would naturally interfere with each other. Even if the interference was minuscule, over the course of millions of years, it would be significant enough to affect theary orbits.


    There was also a third point that Lynn didn''t mention, which was the fact that stars themselves were not stationary. They orbited around the center of their gxies, so interference was unavoidable.


    However, this might be beyond the wizards'' understanding. They hadn''t even figured out the''s rotation, let alone the grand cosmic picture.


    "I have another question. The firstw states that a star is at one of the foci of the ellipse. What is this focus?" Harof continued to inquire.


    "It might be easier to understand with a direct demonstration. Why don''t you draw an ellipse yourself?" Lynn suggested with a smile.


    Without hesitation, Harof extended his hand, using his right index finger as a pen, and with magic as ink, he drew an ellipse in the empty air. He then looked at Lynn, waiting for an answer.


    Drawing an ellipse by hand, and so urately at that!


    Lynn''s lips twitched, and he finally understood why the wizard''s "tech tree" was so chaotic. Many of the instruments were unnecessary for them. When they faced a problem, they would probably consider which magic was more convenient to solve it.


    Seeing this, Lynn couldn''t help but turn to the group of apprentices.


    "Elok, why don''t you give it a try!"


    Elok eagerly nodded and hurriedly fetched two small wooden sticks and a thin string. He then tied the string to the two sticks inserted into the ground, using it as a pivot point, and used a feathered pen to draw a circle around the two small sticks.


    An ellipse immediately appeared in front of Harof.


    "The positions of these two wooden sticks are the foci of this ellipse. What''s special about them is that the sum of the distances from any point on the elliptical arc to the two foci is constant. Some schrs within the Society of Mystical Arts even believe that a perfect circle is just an ellipse with both foci in the same location..."


    With this circle-drawing process, Lynn exined the meaning of an ellipse and the derivation of Kepler''s threews to Harof.


    Harof listened with fascination, and finally, he couldn''t help but apud, "Brilliant! I never expected that through magical calctions, we could so intuitively and clearly replicate the motion of the stars..."


    "If you had stayed a bit longerst night, I wouldn''t have spent half a day verifying these threews with the most primitive methods," Harof said with emotion. The conclusions he had spent the whole night on were now perfectly summarized by Lynn in just a few sentences and a few magical forms.


    "Lord Harof, Professor Lynn wanted to visit you in personst night, but unfortunately, he was stopped at the door," Phillip interjected.


    "Is that so?" Harof was taken aback, turning to look at Lynn.


    "Lady Theresa believed that your research had reached a critical point and there might not be any free time for this meeting," Lynn shook his head and exined. "I mentioned to her that thesews and forms should be helpful for your research, but it seems that she has some minor bias against me."


    Harof''s face immediately darkened. Lady Theresa had not exined it this way during their time at the mansion!


    After pointing out the issue on the other side, Lynn didn''t need to continue using Theresa of her offense. A witch who couldn''t see the bigger picture didn''t deserve his targeted response, a couple of sentences were enough.


    "Beforeing to the Wizarding World, a noble from the Society of Mystical Arts entrusted me with this ring, to be given to a wise and knowledgeable schr. We are supposed to explore the mysteries of the universe, time, and space together, and the next meeting is scheduled for around midnight tonight," Lynn said, taking out an exquisitely styled ring.


    It was the remade "Ring of the Faceless," butpared to before, the ring''s appearance had undergone significant changes. The most noticeable change was the blooming thorn flower on the ring''s surface, which had turned into a peculiar geometric pattern.


    The outer ring was a circr clock, while the inner part featured a pyramid-like pattern, with a prominent and unique eye in the center, constructed from geometric patterns.


    It was the All-Knowing Eye!


    Although Lynn had not had a pleasant encounter with Theresa''s apprentice in front of the mansion, Harof didn''t hesitate to put aside his pride and seek help from this legendary wizard. After considering it, Lynn decided to hand over the only signal transmitter he had created.


    Harof took the ring solemnly, carefully examining the alchemical patterns on the ring''s surface. He quickly deduced that its purpose was to project one''s own magical power to a certain location.


    This method wasn''t particrly novel, but it was significant in the context of their first contact with the Society of Mystical Arts. Harof saw Lynn as a representative sent by the Society to negotiate with the Wizarding World, and this uing meeting should be the formal contact between the high-ranking members of both sides, discussing cooperation and exchanging more profound magical issues.


    After receiving the ring, Harof didn''t stay long and quickly took his leave. He needed to think about which pieces of knowledge could be used as bargaining chips.


    Once Harof had left, Lynn asked in his mind, ''071, are you sure the magical field is secure? There''s no chance of it being taken away again, especially by a legendary wizard?''


    Lynn hadn''t forgotten that he had taken the magical field from Herlram''s hands. Under normal circumstances, he wasn''t worried, as the AI''sputing power was quite strong. However, in the face of a legendary wizard, he couldn''t be so sure.


    [The original method of magical transmission and reception was too simple. It has now been reced with quantum encryption, theoretically making it impossible to be decrypted.]


    Lynn nodded in relief.


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 Chapter 147: Is the Solar Corona Medal Important to Me?

    Chapter 147: Is the Sr Corona Medal Important to Me?


    "Do you really believe that the continent beneath our feet is a constantly in motion? That''s incredible."


    "Lord Lynn, didn''t you just prove it with your experiment? The pendulum that keeps swinging without external force is the best evidence."


    "Ignorant! The pendulum has always swung in a straight line, which means that what''s rotating is not the pendulum but the continent beneath our feet!"


    ...


    Theresa rushed to the seminar venue, just missing the end of the discussion, only seeing the wizards leaving the venue in an orderly manner.


    Excitement was evident on everyone''s faces as they discussed Lynn''s pendulum experiment incessantly. Throughout her journey here, Theresa had heard Lynn''s name mentioned at least thirty times, making her feel somewhat uneasy.


    "Kas, where is Professor Harof?" Theresa stopped a familiar male wizard and eagerly inquired.


    "Lord Harof left with Lord Lynn just a while ago," Kas responded.


    Theresa''s expression changed, realizing that she had arrived toote. She quickly asked about what had happened during the seminar.


    "It''s a shame you didn''t attend the seminar today. You missed seeing how Lord Lynn single-handedly refuted the wizards of the Prophecy School..." Kas enthusiastically recounted the interesting events of the seminar, unaware of Theresa''s increasingly troubled expression.


    "Are you saying that Professor Harof is nning to award the Sr Corona Medal to Lynn?" Theresa could hardly believe her ears. This was the highest honor in the world of magical academia, and a third-circle wizard like Lynn achieving such a feat was beyond belief.


    "That''s correct. Lord Lynn''s research on the stars and gravity is probably ahead of everyone else''s. I wonder which noble of the Secret Society of Mystical Arts has such a talented disciple in the field of theoretical magic research!" Kas marveled. Even though Lynn was just a formal wizard, his knowledge surpassed many grand wizards.


    Theresa''s head was spinning. She had initially thought that Lynn''s research might assist her teacher in advancing his theories. However, Kas''s description told a different story. Lynn seemed to have taken the lead in formting the theory of gravity, making it highly sophisticated. Even her teacher had questions about celestial gravity that he wanted to discuss with Lynn.


    But how could this be? Her teacher had spent years on this subject and still hadn''t cracked it, the final answer about the stars and the universe! After parting ways with Kas, Theresa returned to her estate in a daze.


    Harof had returned, pondering what he should say as the master of ceremonies for the evening gathering. He wanted to ensure that the wizards'' reputation remained untarnished.


    "Teacher..." Theresa whispered, trying to figure out how to protect her current position.


    Harof snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Theresa, his voice cold. "From now on, you don''t need to address me in such a manner, Theresa."


    Harof had nearly missed the opportunity to refine his theory of gravity because of his arrogance and bias. There were many legendary wizards within the council, and Lynn could easily find another person to expound on the threews of celestial orbits and the universalw of gravitation.


    Even though these theories would eventually be published, they likely wouldn''t have any connection to her. She''d probably be ridiculed by her colleagues. More importantly, the chance to interact with the legendary wizards of the Secret Society of Mystical Arts and engage in academic discussions about magic would be given to someone else.


    "Teacher, please, give me another chance," Theresa begged, dropping to her knees in fear, tears streaming down her face.


    "Is the Sr Corona Medal really that important to me?" Harof shook his head.


    Theresa stood there, her face nk, still not quite understanding Harof''s intent.


    "In the end, these honors, money, and status are nothing more than derivatives of power for a wizard. Only knowledge is the source of power!"


    Forcing down her academic opinions for the sake of honor was ultimately a futile endeavor.


    At this point, Harof sighed, as this kind of thing wasn''t umon among wizards.


    "Do you know why I epted you as my student a year ago?" Harof suddenly asked.


    Theresa hesitated for a moment before saying, "Because of an academic paper..."


    "''Exploring the Simrities and Differences Between Maism and Gravity.'' Harof urately recited the title of the paper, shaking his head as he continued. "I must admit that the paper was exceptionally well-written. Even without the use of force field magic, you proposed many innovative ideas based solely on the materials avable in the magical library. That''s why I decided to give you a chance."


    "As my student, you could easily seek the help of those grand wizards and ess the necessary resources to verify these theories. But now, after an entire year, how much progress have you made with your research?" Harof questioned.


    Theresa''s face was filled with shame, unable to utter a word.


    "Instead, you wasted your time and energy attending banquets and listening to ttery," Harof''s words were harsh. He handed her a parchment and said decisively, "You are no longer suitable to be my apprentice. I will have Carol take over your work."


    Theresa sat on the ground, utterly deted. From today, all her glory and status would slip away. Those wizards who had ttered her before, once they found out, would likely return the humiliation tenfold.


    Theresa''s empty eyes turned towards the parchment Harof left behind. It was the magical paper she had submitted a year ago, the one that had earned her Harof''s approval. Now, with many annotations added, it had be her only possession that she could take with her...


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 Chapter 148: The First Meeting with the Society of Mystical Arts

    Chapter 148: The First Meeting with the Society of Mystical Arts


    Harof watched as Theresa left in a daze and shook his head. He had recruited her as an apprentice with good intentions, but he hadn''t expected to awaken her vanity.


    Harof only hoped that after losing her current glory, she would regain her original purpose. Otherwise, it would be a waste of a promising schr.


    "Come out, Aurora. Your illusion magic can''t fool me," Harof suddenly turned and looked not far from him, frowning as he spoke.


    After his words, a figure appeared out of thin air on the previously empty ground. She looked to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven, dressed in a bright red long dress, wearing a pointed hat, and fluttering long eyshes. After Harof had seen through her, she didn''t appear flustered but instead formed a charming smile.


    "I''m curious, what''s gone wrong this time?" The witch, named Aurora, casually pulled out a chair, sat down, and lightly tapped her cheek with her index finger, inquiring.


    "Why don''t you guess it yourself," Harof said, sounding annoyed.


    It was bad enough that she had intruded into his mansion without permission, but what irritated him even more was that she was older than him yet insisted on acting coquettish. It was maddening.


    Harof didn''t dwell on this minor issue too much. He straightforwardly asked, "You were at the morning seminar today, right?"


    "Indeed, the gravitational attraction of a massive star on smallers to form aplete ster orbit is a very interesting theory," Aurora said yfully, leaning back in her chair, her legs crossed.


    "I''m surprised you didn''te forward to refute that argument since you were present," Harof asked in astonishment.


    Aurora was the founder of the entire School of Prophecy, and the star maps circted within the world of wizards were her work.


    "ording to the young wizard, those two star maps are just different reference points. The School of Prophecy studies the trajectories of our own destinies, not the life and death of stars. So, my theory of prophecy is perfectly valid," Aurora said with a mischievous smile.


    Harof pursed his lips. He had heard of her celestial divination theory before, but he never believed in destiny and prophecy. Compared to the vastness of the cosmos and the immense universe, wizards were as insignificant as dust, hardly worth mentioning.


    Why should the movements of the stars be linked to the fate of wizards? It was absurd.


    "In all these days, have you gained any new insights?" Harof asked with a smirk.


    "The primary star is obscured, and the brown star is high in the sky. This is a sign of chaos and cmity, but perhaps it also heralds a new hope. We should pay attention to the wizards of the Doomsday Sect in the near future," Aurora said thoughtfully.


    "You mean those fools who believe that the world is constantly heading towards its end because of elemental imbnces?" Harof said disdainfully. Just like this so-called prophecy, he didn''t think that the crazy wizards from the Doomsday Sect could cause much trouble.


    "Tell me honestly, why did youe all the way here?" Harof impatiently asked.


    "Of course, I came for that one and only ring that allowsmunication with the top ranks of the Society of Mystical Arts," Aurora said, showing interest in the wizard organization.


    "Didn''t you hear earlier? The Society of Mystical Arts is looking for a highly knowledgeable and wise schr to discuss the mysteries of the universe. Handing me this ring is undoubtedly the best choice," Harof said with a smug look.


    "On that note, I''ll consider rying your statement to the other councilors. Let them hear your words," Aurora said yfully.


    Harof''s expression twitched.


    He was extremely displeased with Aurora''s persistence, but being legendary wizards, he didn''t have the power to send her away. Instead, he decided to ignore her and, right in front of her, put on the ring with the All-Seeing Eye.


    Checking the time, it was almost noon. Harof looked at the magic clock and, as the clock struck twelve, activated the ring with his magic.


    With a sudden and inexplicable burst of dim light, Harof immediately sensed his field of vision splitting. Before him, an incredibly vast and dark space stretched out.


    No, Harof quickly realized that it wasn''t just darkness. In the boundless void, countless brilliant stars were twinkling, and the most intense light came from directly below him!


    Harof lowered his head and then his pupils suddenly dted. Before him, an unimaginably enormous celestial body was hurtling towards him at high speed.


    Even though Harof had extensive knowledge, he was still awestruck at this moment. The scale of this celestial body was beyond imagination. In this moment, he felt like a tiny ant gazing up at a colossal peak. Any magic he possessed appeared insignificant in the face of such a massive volume.


    An indescribable fear and powerlessness surged from within, a feeling he hadn''t experienced in a long time since bing a legendary wizard.


    Fortunately, before the celestial body came too close, it changed its trajectory and passed directly in front of him. The massive size of the object blocked everything from his view, and Harof was drenched in cold sweat. However, he soon realized that the celestial body was orbiting.


    This was a genuine celestial tableau, with several enormouss of various colors orbiting a massive red-brown fireball, forming a spectacle of stars arching over the moon. They rotated constantly.


    This was what they called rotation and revolution, right? Harof immediately remembered the two concepts that Lynn had mentioned at the seminar. It was his first time witnessing them so vividly.


    The most striking thing was undoubtedly the central star of the gravitational orbit, shining brilliantly. Even from a considerable distance, he could clearly feel the immense heat radiating from that star. It looked like an enormous fireball, a beacon of hope in the dark void.


    Harof watched it in fascination. Among all celestial phenomena, the sun was what fascinated him the most. In the void, there should be nothing, but where did its energye from, and how could it continuously transmit light and warmth?


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 Chapter 149: The Cosmic Explosion Unveiled!

    Chapter 149: The Cosmic Explosion Unveiled!


    As Harof immersed himself in the grandeur of the stars, a sudden change urred. The massive, crimson star seemed to growrger and brighter by the moment, affecting the orbits ofs. A strong sense of impending crisis flooded Harof''s mind. Before he could react, the colossal star expanded to its limit and then rapidly copsed inwards.


    In the next moment, an endless burst of light bathed the entire universe. The star, now on its final journey, unleashed its ultimate radiance!


    It was the spectacle of a supernova eruption.s that once orbited were instantly shattered, and powerful electromaic radiation illuminated the entire dark gxy. Infinite matter spewed from the star''s core, creating an incredibly vivid tapestry.


    Harof was left speechless, unable to recover from the overwhelming sight. He murmured to himself, "What is this?"


    A deep, elderly voice broke the silence in the now tranquil cosmic space. "This is a star''s path to extinction."


    Harof turned to see four figures in this space besides himself. The one who spoke had an unusual appearance, with disheveled white hair that resembled the chaotic expanse of the universe. An eerie pressure emanated from him, akin to facing a star, as if he were radiating boundless energy outward.


    The speaker was none other than Lynn, but he had temporarily adopted the appearance of Albert Einstein. The previous supernova disy had been a calcted show to establish the grand image of the Society of Mystical Arts.


    Harof looked at Lynn, who appeared somewhat distracted, and wondered if the excitement had been a tad too much.


    "A star''s extinction?" Harof struggled to grasp the idea that such a colossal celestial body could meet its end.


    "There''s nothing surprising about it. Such events happen in the universe all the time. What you witnessed was merely a reenactment of a supernova explosion," Lynn exined.


    Harof carefully considered each word Lynn used, looking around cautiously before asking, "Where is this ce?"


    "A simted microcosm of magical energy," Lynn exined before adding, "Wee to the beyond of space and time!"


    "The beyond of space and time" Harof repeated, understanding it as a ce beyond time and space.


    Harof managed to suppress his inner amazement. He hadn''t forgotten that he was representing the entire realm of wizards. His earlier loss ofposure left him feeling remorseful. He silently reminded himself to remain calm in any situation.


    "Let''s begin our agenda with the light brought by this supernova eruption," said another person under the control of an AI, her tone slightly rigid.


    Harof''s expression turned peculiar. How could such a terrifying supernova explosion, which appeared like an event of impending doom, be discussed so casually?


    Harof quickly adjusted his emotions and considered the possible topics for the meeting, such as the so-called gravitational constant, or discussions about space and time magic. He wondered how he should respond.


    However, Lynn''s next statement caught himpletely off guard. "I believe the entire universe was born from a cosmic explosion."


    Harof was momentarily dumbfounded. The universe... exploding? He even began to doubt if he had misheard. Could the universe really explode?


    Before Harof could recover, Lynn continued, "The universe''s initial state was a tiny point with extremely high temperature and density. I call it the singrity. Then, at some unknown point in time, it suddenly began to rapidly expand. At that moment, all forces were unified. However, as the universe expanded and its temperature dropped, gravity separated as an independent force..."


    Lynn''s exnation of the theory of the cosmic explosion left Harof bewildered. Terms like quantum vacuum, intionary epoch, particle era, and matter era were all foreign to him.


    For a moment, he even wondered if Lynn was telling a bizarre story about the universe.


    After listening for a while, Harof realized that the structure of Lynn''s narration was highly rigorous, although he couldn''t understand most of the terminology. He could sense that it held some magical secrets.


    Harof had always believed that his research into thews governing celestial bodies was grand in scale, but he hadn''t expected the legendary wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts to be exploring the origins of the universe.


    "What is your basis? The redshift of gxies?" The character in the form of Madame Curie timidly inquired, following someone''s instructions, even though she had no idea what gxy redshift meant.


    Lynn shot a disapproving look at Madame Curie, encouraging her to speak more confidently. "That is indeed one of the pieces of evidence."


    Following this, the AI-controlled figures provided a few more rehearsed statements. Then, the four figures in the room turned their attention to Harof, as if they were waiting for his valuable input.


    Lynn was curious to see how the legendary wizards would react to the theory of the cosmic explosion. This theory had been prevalent in his previous world but might not hold the same status in this new world. After all, it hadn''t taken magic into ount and was likely wed in some aspects. Still, as a magical theory, it was perfectly eptable.


    Harof appeared calm on the surface but was breaking into a cold sweat inside. He had no idea what Lynn was talking about. But this was a gathering of legendary wizards, and they were actively discussing the universe''s truths. He couldn''t suddenly say he didn''t understand or didn''t know, could he?


    In a sudden realization, Harof opened his eyes wide and tugged at the sleeve of thenguid witch, Ougust, who was sitting beside him. He urgently asked, "Ougust, please tell me, what does gxy redshift mean?"


    In that moment, he felt extremely fortunate to have Ougust, who shared his passion for celestial research, right by his side. At least he had someone to consult.


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 Chapter 150: Harof - No Time to Explain, Tell Me about Cosmic Redshift!

    Chapter 150: Harof - No Time to Exin, Tell Me about Cosmic Redshift!


    "What''s happening?" Aurora inquired.


    Aurora had been observing Harof''s unusual behavior for a while now. Ever since he put on that ring, he had been acting strangely. She almost thought he might be under some kind of spiritual attack.


    "No time to exin, tell me, what is cosmic redshift?" Harof urgently asked, his wordsing out rapidly. The others are still waiting!


    Aurora shook her head, unsure. "I''m sorry, I''ve never heard of that term before."


    "Is there any clue at all? It could be some peculiar astronomical phenomenon" Harof asked again, a bit frustrated. After all, they were legendary wizards with immense knowledge of astronomy, and this question seemed to stump them.


    Aurora hesitated for a moment and said, "When I use magic to observe distant stars, I''ve noticed that their rtive positions seem to be changing. Maybe cosmic redshift refers to this phenomenon?"


    Harof was equally unsure, but there was clearly no time to hesitate.


    He had to go with what he had.


    Harof bit his lip and quickly delved into the realm of magic, with four legendary wizards watching him closely. He looked steady on the outside but was actually feeling quite frantic.


    "In fact, I''ve noticed something as well. It seems that distant stars are gradually... um... moving away from us under the influence of some force... In any case, the Big Bang Theory... does have its merits!" Harof carefully chose his words, and seeing that none of the four legendary wizards refuted him, he finally felt a bit relieved.


    Thank goodness... He had managed to bluff his way through.


    "Indeed, I believe the phenomenon of cosmic redshift is likely evidence of the continuous expansion of the cosmos. If we can calcte the rate of this expansion and then work backward, we can roughly estimate the age of the universe... Besides, microwave radiation can also serve as evidence for this theory..." Jonny exined enthusiastically.


    Harof suddenly had an epiphany. If space was constantly expanding, all they needed was to determine the rate of expansion, and they could deduce the universe''s origin.


    Having witnessed a supernova explosion just moments ago, Harof quickly analogized the mysteries of the universe''s expansion. The star had suddenly exploded after copsing hundreds of times, ejecting matter at an unimaginable speed. Perhaps the same phenomenon urred with the so-called gravitational singrity.


    With this newfound understanding, Harof was excited and absorbed as much as he could about this theory, even in parts he didn''t fully grasp. He intended to delve deeper into itter.


    Just as he thought he had grasped the wless nature of this theoretical concept and had glimpsed the ultimate secrets of the universe, the other three wizards in the magical realm began to counter his theory.


    If all matter was born from the Big Bang, including time and space itself, where did the singrity of the explosione from? And how did it generate so much matter and energy...


    These questions were terrifying upon deeper reflection, and Harof couldn''t fathom what a world without time and space would look like. It was beyond his mental capacity to understand.


    The stringent academic approach and the terrifying knowledge reservoir of the Society of Mystical Arts left Harof feeling inferior.


    For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to the days when he was just beginning to learn magic, and everything was new and unknown. But he had to maintain his image as a legendary wizard.


    This awkward feeling made Harof ufortable, as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He had to cast aside his ns to discuss the gravitational form with the Society''s upper echelons, as keeping a low profile was crucial to avoid revealing his true abilities.


    Nevertheless, the magical realm was a ce for schrly discussions, and everyone had to contribute.


    After the other three wizards presented two alternative theories for the origin of the universeDimensional Theory and Steady-State Theoryit was finally Harof''s turn.


    With four pairs of eyes watching him, Harof felt a heavy pressure.


    "Cough, my view on the origin of the universe is simr to that of Lord Albert. I won''t go into detail here. Instead, I''ll talk about the influence of magical structures on space..."


    Harof awkwardly shifted the conversation towards his area of expertise to avoid any corrections and public embarrassment.


    Even so, he couldn''t help but worry that his theory might seem too elementary.


    However, Harof soon realized that even the legendary wizard known as Albert Einstein was seriously listening to his words, even though he was discussing magical structures'' influence on spatial magic. It seemed that these Society of Mystical Arts wizards hadn''t yet figured out the optimal magical structure for spatial magic.


    Maybe they already knew these theories, but, due to his neer status and his first participation in such a high-end academic gathering, they decided not to debunk him to save face.


    Just like the annual academic seminars held in thend of wizards. Even if the magic theories presented on stage were shallow, the established wizards still listened carefully and pointed out any mistakes.


    The academic atmosphere in the Society of Mystical Arts was clearly superior to that of thend of wizards.


    Harof sighed internally, briefly summarizing his years of research and then turned his gaze to the pensive "legendary wizards," awaiting their valuable input.


    At this moment, Jonny was feeling somewhat perplexed. If it were purely scientific theories, he could talk about them for days without any problems. But when it came to the rtionship between magic and science, he didn''t dare to speak casually for fear of making mistakes and ruining his carefully crafted image.


    Initially, Jonny thought Harof would ask about the gravitational constant, and he had already prepared how to bluff his way through it. But to his surprise, the topic had shifted, and Harof had started discussing the influence of magical structures on spatial magic, a subject Jonny was unfamiliar with.


    On the other hand, Dove shrank back when he saw Harof''s gaze sweep over him and barely dared to breathe.


    Fortunately, at this moment, the brilliant light produced by the supernova explosion, elerated hundreds of times in time, was rapidly fading, and everything within sight was once again swallowed by endless darkness.


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 Chapter 151: Harof - Could it be that we are false legendary wizards?!

    Chapter 151: Harof - Could it be that we are false legendary wizards?!


    "Unfortunately, the duration of this supernova explosion is very limited. It seems the gathering will have toe to an end for now," Lynn said, feigning disappointment. She activated some special effects in her smart brain, creating spatial distortions.


    Harof couldn''t quite understand the connection between the supernova explosion and the maintenance of this space, but he was relieved to hear that the meeting was ending.


    Both of them exchanged some pleasantries and agreed on the time for the next meeting before simultaneously exiting the magical domain.


    When Harof''s consciousness fully returned to his body, he was drenched in cold sweat, as if he had just experienced a fierce battle.


    "It seems it''s over... So, did you gain anything, or did you encounter any troublesome situations?" Aurora asked, propping her chin on her hand and teasingly inquiring.


    Harof nced at Aurora with annoyance. He had put in a lot of effort to avoid being looked down upon in the Wizard''s realm, preserving the reputation of legendary wizards. He wished he had let Aurora handle this mess from the start!


    Of course, that was just frustration talking. Even if he had a second chance, Harof wouldn''t hand over the ring, as the magical theories about the boundless universe were too captivating to let go.


    "If I have to mention something I gained, it''s that..." Harof hesitated for a moment, thinking about the magical newspaper written by Rorl. He sighed and said, "The magical theories in the Wizard''s realm might be outdated."


    Aurora raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You know about vacuum quantum fluctuations, cosmic radiation, and the Hubblew?"


    Harof chuckled and asked, "Were those researched by the Society of Mystical Arts?"


    Aurora shook her head, indicating she hadn''t heard of those terms.


    "What about supernova explosions and the Big Bang?" Harof continued.


    "Are these subjects studied by the Society of Mystical Arts?" Aurora interrupted, unable to contain her doubt. After all, they had some knowledge of the cosmos, and it was impossible that they werepletely unaware of these theoretical concepts.


    "Are you sure they''re not just using some fancy, mysterious words to confuse you?" Aurora questioned.


    "Just a moment ago, I witnessed the spectacle of a star falling," Harof sighed, shaking his head. "The high-temperature produced during the destruction of a star can melt everything, and the sparkling light can even illuminate an entire gxy. The magic we possess is nothingpared to that kind of power. The Society of Mystical Arts calls this phenomenon a ''supernova explosion''!"


    The name sounded poetic, but the implications were chilling.


    After a brief pause, Harof continued, "Do you remember, thirty years ago, when we observed a star suddenly shining brightly for a whole month and then disappearing? Now, looking back, that must have been a star reaching its end!"


    Aurora listened to Harof''s detailed description, trying to picture the magnificent scene. If stars could also have their doomsday, what about the sun they had above their heads? Could it also have a time of falling?


    "The wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts must have developed a more powerful form of farsight magic," Harof said with conviction. Only that exnation could rify their profound knowledge of cosmic stars.


    And only by witnessing it firsthand could they perfectly recreate the spectacle of a supernova explosion.


    Aurora nodded, and as legendary wizards, she couldn''t believe the Society had made such rapid progress. The only exnation was that they had clearer and farther-reaching vision!


    "Furthermore, I noticed something strange about those legendary wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts," Harof hesitated for a long time before speaking cautiously.


    Aurora raised an eyebrow. "What''s strange about them?"


    "They gave me the feeling that... it''s like facing a star!" Harof pondered his words. "It''s like they''re different from us."


    Aurora looked puzzled. "You can''t be serious, can you? People can''t be like stars."


    "No, I''m very sure I''m not mistaken!" Harof stood up, paced around the room, and after a moment of contemtion, an idea suddenly urred to him.


    Harof halted, and in an uncertain tone, he said, "Do you think it''s possible that their method of promotion is different from ours?"


    These legendary wizards from the Society of Mystical Arts were more knowledgeable and powerful, there was no doubt about that.


    Now, the apparent differences in their qualities raised intriguing questions. Harof, who had witnessed the destruction of a star, began to entertain the idea that their method of promotion might be wed.


    Aurora seemed to understand Harof''s implication immediately and stood up from her seat. Magic swirled around her, and she spoke with astonishment, "This can''t be true! Someone has already paved the way, haven''t they?"


    "If she''s right, do you think we can stand here as we are?" Harof taunted.


    From wizard apprentices to full-fledged wizards and from full-fledged wizards to grand wizards, there were fundamental differences. But legendary wizards and grand wizards had none! The only distinction was that legendary wizards unleashed more powerful magic, but it didn''t fundamentally differ from what grand wizards did. Or perhaps they hadn''t found the key yet.


    Thinking about this, Harof shook his head. It was more appropriate to say that they were merely grand wizards who had crossed a certain limit.


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 Chapter 152: Can Humans Really Become Like Stars?

    Chapter 152: Can Humans Really Be Like Stars?


    Compared to Harof, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Society of Mystical Arts, Ougust appeared somewhat skeptical in the realm of magical practices.


    "If you think we''re wrong, what do you believe is the real path to advancement?" Ougust countered with a cold tone. "Do you think we should be like the sun?"


    Harof found himself momentarily speechless, as this was the very point that baffled him the most.


    In the pursuit of ascending the ranks of official wizards and grand wizards, there were typically only three ways to gain more formidable power.


    The first method involved controlling new elements, and the second was exploring the microcosmic realm of elements...


    However, their dilemmay in the fact that they couldn''t find any new elements, and even if they did, it would be impossible to elevate their power to an entirely new level.


    Furthermore, their exploration of the microcosmic realm of elements hade to a near standstill due to an ident over a decade ago.


    ording to the ounts of elemental wizards, they encountered what they referred to as "elemental ghosts."


    This term was initially coined by the legendary wizard Altok, who developed the Great Dissolution Technique. However, after delving deep into the phenomenon of elemental ghosts, the most powerful elemental wizard went insane, leaving behind a research manuscript filled with iprehensible ramblings.


    Harof had reviewed some of the remaining pages of that manuscript, and the legendary wizard believed that the microcosmic elemental world was chaotic and disorderly, where all magicalws lost their effectiveness. The state of elements became extremely peculiar, moving at incredible speeds, rendering magic maniption practically impossible.


    Furthermore, Altok couldn''t even confirm the existence or state of these elements. The manuscript ended with a chilling statement: "It''s evading me, it knows I''m observing it... they are ghosts, elemental ghosts!"


    Since then, the microcosmic realm had been inhabited by creatures known as elemental ghosts, capable of attacking souls, and rumors circted that they could breach the mental defenses of even legendary wizards. Research on the microcosmic elements had to be halted.


    The "Altok Elemental Precision" was praised as the limit for wizards!


    Moving beyond this point would expose them to elemental ghost attacks, and not even legendary wizards could escape their clutches.


    With both routes sealed, their only option was to find a way to enhance theirputational power! The legendary wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts were now revealing a different possibility to Harof.


    Ougust grew impatient with Harof''s indecisiveness. "If you think their method of advancement is different from ours, why not just ask them?"


    Harof gave Ougust an exasperated look. These were just his spections, and he couldn''t be absolutely sure. Besides, such a straightforward inquiry might expose his vulnerabilities.


    Although he acknowledged that the others'' research on celestial bodies far surpassed his own, Harof still hoped for an equal exchange of academic ideas within the world of wizards, rather than one side listening to the other''s guidance.


    More importantly, obtaining this valuable knowledge would note without a cost. Harof was well aware that if he appeared too powerless during academic discussions, unable to demonstrate enough value, he might be excluded from future gatherings.


    After all, no academic organization would appreciate a member who constantly freeloaded without providing any value.


    As the next gathering of legendary wizards was still far off, probably not until the next supernova explosion, Harof contemted and thought that he might start by investigating information from Lynn, hoping to uncover the secrets of those legendary wizards.


    Meanwhile, within the realm of magic,


    Seeing Harof depart left Lynn relieved. It was no easy feat to deceive a legendary wizard, and the consequences of being exposed would be disastrous.


    Despite a minor hup along the way, the overall situation had unfolded ording to her n. By enrolling the legendary wizard Harof into the Society of Mystical Arts, she had secured her position within the world of wizards.


    With his endorsement, no one would doubt the authenticity of her background any longer.


    "By the way, 071, why did you create a small nuclear fusion reactor in the projections of each individual?" Lynn asked with a puzzled expression, now that she had a moment to focus on this matter.


    She had noticed it earlier, but the encounter with Harof had taken priority, and she hadn''t had a chance to address it.


    "ording to the agreed-upon objectives, adding high-energy reactions to each unit creates four nuclear reactors, which can effectively conserveputational power," the intelligent AI replied.


    Lynn couldn''t help but chuckle. It appeared that the AI had inserted these reactors into the projections of Einstein and others. She had intended to give them a touch of her own power, perhaps to mimic the substantial pressure that legendary wizards exuded.


    However, it seemed that the AI had decided to add nuclear reactors to the projections, which was undoubtedly quite high-energy.


    Lynn shook her head in resignation, hoping that no one had noticed anything unusual.


    Turning her attention to a shivering dove on the ground, Lynn could see that the spirit projection of the legendary wizard had exuded a terrifying aura, especially during the supernova eruption, making her feel as if her spiritual body might disintegrate.


    However, Lynn couldn''t help but find it awkward to see a middle-ageddy crouching in fear, so she promptly asked her AI to cancel these projections.


    "You did well this time, Dove. If you could be a bit braver and speak more confidently, it would be even better..." Lynn approached the girl and patted her on the head, offering words offort.


    Dove looked up, silent, and simply gazed at Lynn with an expression of deep resentment. Lynn extended her hand, conjuring a thick book of stories that appeared in her palm. She swayed it in front of Dove''s eyes.


    "This is the first volume of ''Grimm''s Fairy Tales'' that I promised you. Take it." Lynn handed over the book without any teasing, fully aware that this book was Dove''s source of joy in a world filled with nothing but stars.


    The prince turning into a frog, the kind-hearted Snow White mistreated by her stepmother, and Cindere attending the prince''s ball but losing her ss slipperall these stories filled Dove''s world with happiness in a dark universe where nothing existed but stars.


    However, Lynn, being a bit mischievous, had deleted the second half of all these stories. The only way to ess the second part was to agree to help her perform a y.


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 Chapter 153: Measuring the Circumference of the Planet!

    Chapter 153: Measuring the Circumference of the!


    Several days passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to the relentless promotion by the "Magic Daily," news of the pendulum experiment at the symposium and Lynn''s n to measure the circumference of the in mid-July quickly spread throughout the entire wizarding world.


    This explosive news left countless civilians and wizards awestruck. Nobody had ever imagined that they could measure the circumference of thend and oceans they had taken for granted for so long. After all, the sea was vast, and many had previously believed that this world had no end!


    However, Lynn was doing something that everyone believed was impossible and had proposed a logically feasible method. He had even used experiments to prove hisary theory. Therefore, in a very short time, Lynn, the Society of Mystical Arts, and his circumference measurement method became the hottest topics in the wizarding world. Even farmers working thend had to mention it in their conversations to showcase their knowledge.


    However, the geocentric theory had deep roots in the wizarding world, and its straightforward, self-centered theory still had many supporters. These people firmly believed that thend beneath their feet could not possibly be round, and all of this was just a magical trick from that wizard from beyond the Misty Sea!


    But whether they agreed or disagreed, they all converged on Greenril, eager to witness this historic moment.


    Early in the morning, Kevin and Ondo, who had been invited by Philip, arrived in Greenril by carriage. They were apanied by Daren and other halflings.


    "Look at that pendulum!" Daren eximed as soon as he entered the city and saw the enormous swinging iron ball in the city center.


    This was the pendulum pointer that the master architect Raphael had recreated with permission from the council and Lynn''s authorization. Even the sand table and scale disc below it were identical.


    The only change was that the ambitious Raphael did not ce wooden sticks as pointers on the sand table. He intended to create a great piece of art that could exist permanently!


    To achieve this miracle, more than a dozen alchemy masters worked tirelessly for three days to set up a massive alchemical array under the sand table, extracting all the nearby spatial elements to create a vacuum domain.


    This way, without the influence of air resistance, in theory, the pendulum could keep moving under thebined forces of gravity and the Earth''s rotational force.


    Every wizard entering Greenril, upon seeing the iron ball that could swing back and forth and even change direction without needing any external force, couldn''t help but exim that it was a miracle in the history of magic!


    "How long until noon?" Raphael nced at the sky. The scorching sun was already high above their heads, marking the seventh time he had asked.


    "We have only fifteen minutes left!" the apprentices standing nearby replied excitedly, their eyes glued to the magic clock.


    This scene yed out in every corner of Greenril. Everyone eagerly awaited thest moment, even wizards who couldn''t afford to buy a magic clock were anxiously watching the sundial, waiting for the final moment.


    Meanwhile, an airship was speeding across the vast sea.


    Two days ago, at 11:45 in the afternoon, the airship had departed from Greenril and embarked on a voyage, attracting the attention of countless onlookers. Now, it had been sailing on the sea for two full days, covering a distance of 720 kilometers!


    Lynn couldn''t help but marvel at how vast this sea was. Along the way, he only saw scattered uninhabited inds.


    To increase the rigor of the experiment and provide a beacon for the airship''s return, Harof had used magic to erect a stone pir on a mid-ind. He left a wizard there to record data, while the others continued their journey by airship.


    "How much time do we have left?" Harof shouted eagerly.


    "One minute, thest minute! There are fifty-three seconds left!" Lydia shouted loudly, holding the magic clock.


    At this moment, whether on the floating ice ind or in Greenril, everyone gazed up at the sun, feeling that this one minute was incredibly long.


    With just ten seconds to go, Lynn took out a length of rope and handed the other end to Harof, preparing to measure the shadow of the ice pir.


    The transparent ice pir glistened in the sunlight, creating a peculiar brilliance.


    As an editor for the Magic Daily, Rorl, who had the privilege of riding the airship, stood on the ice, feverishly holding a quill in his hand. He quickly sketched the wide ice ind, the towering ice pir, the descending airship, and Lynn and Harof, who were measuring the shadow length with a rope, on the parchment.


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 Chapter 154: Opening the Door to a New World!

    Chapter 154: Opening the Door to a New World!


    Harof and Lynn pulled the thin rope taut together, one end pressed under the ice column, while the other end ovepped with the shadow.


    When the magical clock struck exactly twelve o''clock, Harof used his hand like a de and precisely cut the remaining rope!


    "Ruler, hurry, pass me the ruler!" Harof shouted excitedly, so hurried in his descent that he forgot the most crucial tool.


    Elok, with quick reflexes, immediately ran back to the airship and handed the ruler to Harof within ten seconds.


    The legendary wizard took the ruler with great solemnity, as if on a pilgrimage, and began to measure the length in segments.


    "Harof, what''s the length of the shadow?" several apanying wizards asked with great anticipation.


    Harof didn''t answer immediately but measured multiple times before speaking cautiously. "It''s 1,051 centimeters, or 10.51 meters!"


    With the data in hand, everyone quickly took out pen and paper to calcte. The wizards, who hadn''t formally studied advanced mathematics, still knew basic geometry.


    However, this value wasn''t a whole number. With decimals, squaring and taking the square root doubled the calctionplexity. It took over five minutes for them to calcte that the length of the hypotenuse was approximately 100.55 meters.


    After over two months of mathematical training, Lydia and Elok were clearly quicker than the rest. They had already started calcting the angles of the triangle, using trigonometric forms to determine the sine of the opposite side over the hypotenuse.


    "I''ve calcted it! The angle is six degrees!" Lydia, the first to calcte it, waved her arms vigorously and shouted loudly.


    Harof, who didn''t have pen and paper, also arrived at the answer through mental calction at the same time. Lydia''s calction was correct; the triangle''s apex angle and the corresponding angle on the Earth were indeed six degrees!


    The rest was straightforward. A circle had 360 degrees, so the Earth''s angle meant dividing the entire circle into sixty equal parts, each being 720 kilometers. So, the total length was...


    "43,200 kilometers!" Harof''s voice trembled, and he repeated the calction several times in his mind, afraid of making a mistake. After confirming it was correct, he said, almost in a dream, "43,200 kilometers! This is the circumference of our!"


    Lynn, of course, was the fastest to calcte. After receiving the shadow length data from the AI in his brain, he instantly had the answer.


    It seemed that this alien was slightlyrger than Earth in his previous life.


    If he remembered correctly, Earth''s circumference was around 40,075 kilometers, and the two values were quite close.


    The other wizards quickly calcted the same value, and they were all thrilled. Once they knew the circumference, calcting the diameter, radius, and surface area was only a matter of time.


    On the side, Rorl didn''t participate in the calctions. Instead, he created another new painting, titled "People Measuring the''s Circumference Under the zing Sun and Ice." His ink-dipped quill danced rapidly on parchment.


    Harof, using the ruler to measure the rope''s length, Lynn estimating the central angle, Lydia jumping with excitement, and the wizards in the background deep in thought all vividly appeared on paper. Against the backdrop of the harsh sun and floating ice inds, the scene was bizarre yet harmonious, forming a striking and beautiful picture.


    After pouring his inspiration onto the canvas, Rorl looked at the two paintings in his hand and felt that his life was nowplete. He was well aware that these two pieces would be remembered by people for generations toe during this historic moment.


    However, afterposing himself, Rorl didn''t forget about another crucial matter, as some people couldn''t wait any longer.


    Thinking of this, Rorl turned to Harof and asked, "Harof, should we send this message to Greenriel now?"


    Harof, who was calcting the''s surface area, didn''t have time to respond but simply nodded. "Now that we''ve confirmed it, send it!"


    Meanwhile, in the city of Greenriel, a dozen alchemists were anxiously waiting by themunication alchemical array, hoping for news from the other side.


    But it was already 12:37, and they hadn''t received any messages, making Raphael and the others begin to doubt if the operation had failed. Could it be that Lynn''s assumption was incorrect, and this continent wasn''t spherical after all?


    "Look, there''s movement!" A sharp-eyed alchemist was the first to notice the alchemical array glowing. Everyone rushed over.


    Since the distance was over 700 kilometers, the amount of mana required for transmission was a staggering number, so Rorl had only sent the two most crucial pieces of data: the shadow length and the apex angle.


    "The shadow length is 10.51 meters, and the apex angle is 6 degrees..." Raphael, watching the data formed by magical energy inside the alchemical array, shouted excitedly.


    Thanks to a sound-amplifying spell, this message quickly spread throughout Greenriel City. The entire city of wizards seemed to be in a frenzy as countless mages, who had eagerly anticipated this moment, took out parchment and quills to start their calctions. Even some educated civilians joined in.


    Calcting the data with just the shadow length required a solid understanding of trigonometric functions, which was enough to baffle most wizards. However, once they had the apex angle, it became basic multiplication and division, something even somemoners could handle.


    "The''s circumference is 43,200 kilometers, the diameter is approximately 17,751 kilometers, and the surface area is 594 million square kilometers?" On the crowded streets of Greenriel City, Yal observed the just-calcted data, murmuring to himself.


    He wasn''t a wizard, or perhaps hecked the aptitude, and never had the chance to be a wizard''s apprentice. But, driven by a deep interest in mathematics, he had once thought that his math skills would only be useful for everyday transactions and, at best, make him a tax collector. However, thest issue of the "Magic Daily" had opened a new world for him.


    A wizard named Lynn, who hade from beyond the Misty Sea, was nning to measure the circumference of their using just a few simple mathematical forms, without the need for any magic!


    Yal had doubted whether it could be that simple, but when these values were revealed on paper, all his doubts vanished. The overwhelming shock he felt couldn''t be quenched, as if the world was unfolding beneath his pen!


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 Chapter 155: The Grand Idea of World Exploration

    Chapter 155: The Grand Idea of World Exploration


    "I''ve calcted it! The''s radius is 7,200 kilometers!"


    "Nonsense! It should be 6,875 kilometers!"


    ...


    Due to the immense magnitude of the calcted values, simr discussions erupted quickly in various corners of Greenrill. After repeated debates and disputes, data regarding the''s circumference, diameter, and radius were soon recorded on paper.


    The''s surface area was an unexpectedly staggering number, 594 million square kilometers! Many people only now realized the vastness of the world beneath their feet!


    In the heart of Alya, there arose a desire to explore a world so vast.


    Based on the just-calcted circumference data, even the best alchemical ships could circumnavigate the world in just three months under the most ideal conditions. However, when he proposed this idea, it was met withughter.


    The vastness and danger of the open sea were beyond what someone like Alya, with no sailing experience, couldprehend. Even the most experienced sailors risked their lives when faced with storms, not to mention the fierce sea creatures.


    "What if we use airships?" Alya didn''t let the ridicule deter him; instead, he presented a new idea. Since crossing the sea was perilous, perhaps they could depart from the air.


    Upon hearing Alya''s words, those who had mocked him fell silent. They suddenly realized that while Alya''s proposal might sound crazy, it undeniably had some feasibility.


    Circling the entire was a truly magnificent feat that could be recorded in the annals of magic history!


    "Maybe we can fly in the opposite direction. Didn''t the Magic Daily say that our continent constantly rotates from west to east? So, if we depart from the east and fly west, we could return in a day," a tall, thin witch suggested with pride. However, he didn''t notice the onlookers gazing at him as if he were a fool.


    If it were that easy, they would have already traveled from the east of Greenrill to the west when they jumped!


    After some contemtion, an alchemist shook his head and poured cold water on the idea. "Even with airships, it''s unlikely to achieve such a grand endeavor. If you can''t determine your direction, you''ll get lost at sea in no time. Perhaps you might even encounter attacks from sea dragons, feathered serpents, or bird spirits."


    However, this time, there were quite a few people who supported Alya''s grand idea. Some suggested mounting magic crystal cannons on airships to fend off flying magical creatures, while others proposed using the guidance of the stars to determine direction and location.


    The discussion continued lively. Alya, on the other hand, deted as he realized that amoner like him could never own his own alchemical airship.


    Meanwhile, in the city square not far from here, Raphael gazed at the heated debates and even the physical fights erupting over the uracy of the measurements. He sighed and remarked, "Greenrill hasn''t been this lively in a long time."


    Since Lynn had arrived in this ancient city of wizards, it was as if she had injected new life into the city. Every day, she expanded their understanding of the world and even got somemoners involved in academic discussions.


    Raphael had never seen a scene where wizards andmoners jointly discussed a magical theory like this before!


    ...


    Themotion in Greenrill Citysted for quite a while. It wasn''t until two dayster that the returning airship appeared in the city''s sky, reaching the peak of excitement in the atmosphere.


    Tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets and squares, eagerly awaiting the airship''s descent. As the airship slowly descended, everyone craned their necks to get a better view, and some mischievous children even climbed onto rooftops for a better vantage point.


    The first person to step off the airship was Lydia. As she saw the dense crowd in the city square weing them, she joyfully waved her hand.


    Darren and other halflings were also excitedly shouting, "Lydia, I knew you could do it!" "Lydia, you''re the pride of the halflings! Our hero!"


    The chorus of voices quickly spread from all corners of the square. Halflings, though a minority in the Wizard Lands, numbered in the thousands, and they were using their physical advantage to squeeze their way to the front, all shouting Lydia''s name in unison.


    "A non-magician halfling? How did she end up on this airship?" Some male witches who had arrived from a small town west of the Wizard Lands couldn''t help but frown when they saw Lydia step off the airship. They couldn''t understand why, at such a sacred moment of measuring the''s circumference, they had to bring an ignorant halfling who couldn''t learn magic.


    Upon hearing this, Darren and the others immediately became displeased and spoke out. "What do you know? Lydia is now Lord Lynn''s apprentice. She handcrafted all the coreponents of this airship. No one understands how to operate an airship better than she does!"


    Several male witches found it hard to believe. In the history of the Wizard Lands, no faction had ever epted halflings as apprentices. After all, it was an undisputed fact that halflings had no magical talents. Some shape-shifting witches even disdainfully referred to halflings as a group rejected by magic.


    This meant that halflings were not well-received in certain cities in the Wizard Lands.


    However, Lynn, who came from the Misty Sea, was willing to ept a halfling as an apprentice and even allowed her to participate in the intricate alchemical process of constructing an airship. This made the few male witches very surprised and even suspicious of whether Lynn had some special preferences.


    "Can''t non-wizards also join Lynn''s Iyeta school and be his apprentices?" Alya excitedly remarked. Themoners who aspired to be wizards also looked at Darren with enthusiasm.


    "Of course, Lydia is the best example!" Darren said proudly and then quickly added, "But you have to be exceptionally intelligent!"


    Exceedingly intelligent? Alya hesitated, feeling he might not meet that standard. Still, he gazed at Lynn, who had just descended from the airship. Upon their first meeting, Alya''s impression was that Lynn was youngvery young, perhaps not even twenty.


    Yet, this young wizard, who was a few years younger than himself, proposed a grand idea to calcte the''s data and put it into action, achieving remarkable results.


    At that moment, Lynn was engaged in a pleasant conversation with the legendary wizard Harof. Even from a distance, Alya could guess that they were discussing more profound magical theories.


    However, it was all just his imagination. In reality, Lynn was exining theplicated rtionship between Newton and the apple.


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 Chapter 156: The Glass Mirror and the Micro-Deformation Amplification Method

    Chapter 156: The ss Mirror and the Micro-Deformation Amplification Method


    "So, you''re saying that legendary wizard, Isaac, was hit on the head by an apple and discovered the existence of gravity?" Harof inquired with great curiosity.


    "Yes, it is said that Lord Isaac was just an apprentice wizard at the time. After a schrly discussion about the movement of the stars, he began to suspect that there was an invisible force pulling thes around the sun. It wasn''t until he stood under an apple tree and was hit by a falling apple that he had an epiphany..." Lynn exined with a hint of frustration.


    For some reason, during their return on the airship, Harof had be quite interested in the legendary wizards created by the Society of Mystical Arts. So, Lynn had to modify some famous stories to keep Harof satisfied.


    However, Harof was clearly unaware of this, as he waspletely engrossed in the stories Lynn was sharing.


    What surprised him the most was that these legendary wizards from the Society of Mystical Arts had developed many magical theories when they were still apprentices or full-fledged wizards, or even non-magical ordinary people. They had discovered hidden truths within seemingly ordinary phenomena using esoteric knowledge, astounding intuition, and extraordinary imagination.


    For example, Isaac, who discovered the phenomenon of gravity because of a falling apple, and Kepler, who deduced that the beneath his feet was a sphere based on lunar eclipses.


    Perhaps this was what genius truly meant!


    Harof couldn''t help but think that he had only discovered the existence of gravity after bing a grand wizard, thanks to the increase in magical power andputational ability when casting spells. Compared to the experiences of these legendary wizards, he couldn''t help but feel a bit ashamed.


    However, Harof also noticed something very important, and that was esoteric knowledge! Whether it was the Three Laws of the Stars mentioned by Lynn or thew of universal gravitation, or even calctingary data, they could all be intuitively represented in the form of esoteric knowledge.


    This simplified manyplex exnations, as long as there were forms to calcte.


    Harof called this the "esoteric knowledge mindset"!


    Undoubtedly, this was somethingcking in the world of wizards and perhaps the reason why the Society of Mystical Arts had made such rapid progress in magical research.


    With this in mind, Harof asked Lynn topile some basic esoteric knowledge, as he intended to propose to the council that esoteric knowledge be a mainstream subject for all magical schools to study.


    Lynn dly agreed, as he had long wanted to standardize the various arcane symbols used in the world of wizards. Every school seemed to have different symbols for the same form, and it often left him bewildered when studying magical books.


    "Since we''ve already calcted the data for the beneath our feet, can you tell me what the gravitational constant is now?" Harof eagerly inquired.


    The pendulum experiment andary data calctions that Lynn had previously conducted were undoubtedly leading up to this crucial discovery!


    "Harof, I''m afraid you''ll have to wait a few more days to determine the gravitational constant. We''re still missing something very important, and then we can visually ''see'' the effects of gravity and space distortion." Lynn exined confidently.


    "Oh?" Harof''s interest was immediately piqued.


    Gravity was an invisible, intangible force, and he could only liken it to ripples in water to understand the changes in space. But Lynn imed they had a way to "see" the effects of gravity, and that was something he couldn''t help but be curious about.


    "Is there anything we can do to help?" Harof quickly asked.


    "I''m looking for some materials for experiments," Lynn described the appearance and properties of quartz and feldspar.


    His method for calcting the gravitational constant was none other than the famous Cavendish torsion bnce experiment! To replicate this experiment, they needed light and several mirrors for reflecting the light. After all, the effects of gravity were extremely weak, and only by using light to project and amplify the subtle disturbances could the changes be perfectly presented.


    Quartz and feldspar were the two raw materials for making ss.


    Of course, melting sand directly at high temperatures was also an option, but sand contained unavoidable impurities in addition to silica, which would affect the quality of the final product.


    In addition, limestone and soda ash were needed as flux agents, and these two substances were rtively easy to obtain. Limestone was abundant near the Iyeta Harbor, and soda ash could be synthesized.


    ...


    The council''s actions were faster than Lynn had expected. On the second day of his return to Greenreel City, Harof sent people to transport several tons of quartz sand and feldspar using dozens of camel-like creatures. The materials were piled high in front of their temporary residence, attracting a crowd of onlookers.


    "Lynn, if the quantity is not enough, I can have more brought in tomorrow," Carol said with great respect.


    As both Harof''s disciples, Carol didn''t dare to underestimate this young male wizard who had gained recognition in the wizarding world. He didn''t harbor any jealousy because of Harof''s appreciation for Lynn, as the fate of Teresa served as a warning.


    "It''s enough, absolutely enough!" Lynn looked at the two small mountains of quartz sand and feldspar and couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. With so many raw materials, he could start a ss factory! After declining their offer to help, Lynn had Lydia, Darren, and the other halflings take a portion of the materials back to their room.


    The process of making ss was not tooplicated; it only required high-temperature melting. The melting point of quartz sand was 1750 degrees, but with the addition of soda ash and limestone, its melting point was significantly reduced, and Lynn had no problem creating this level of high temperature with magic.


    Under the curious gazes of Lydia and the others, the granr quartz sand gradually melted under the influence of me magic, turning into a bright red liquid that flowed continuously in the palms of their hands. They then poured it into a circr mold they had prepared earlier.


    Once the ss hadpletely solidified, Lynn applied tin foil to one side and finally poured in some mercury.


    Mercury was a liquid metal that could dissolve tin, making it adhere tightly to the ss te. After it had fully solidified, a wless mirror that could clearly reflect images was presented to everyone.


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 Chapter 157: Even if Its Robbery, Its Not This Fast!

    Chapter 157: Even if It''s Robbery, It''s Not This Fast!


    "Lynn, what is this? A mirror?" Lydia propped her feet on a chair and peered at the wless round mirror on the workbench, her eyes filled with amazement as she asked.


    In thend of wizards, there were mirrors, but they were usually polished copper mirrors. Some wizard lords even enchanted them. However, Lydia was sure that not even the best copper mirror in the wizardnd couldpare to this one!


    "Yes, I call it a ss mirror," Lynn replied with a smile.


    Darren and the other halflings gathered around, marveling at the clear reflection in the mirror.


    "It''s perfect, incredibly perfect... even clearer than the reflection on theke''s surface!" Darren couldn''t stop praising it. He had never seen such a beautiful mirror; it was like a work of art.


    After receiving Lynn''s permission, the halflings cautiously reached out and held the round mirror, gently touching its transparent surface as if it would shatter if they applied too much force.


    Lynn watched their expressions, which made it seem like they had discovered a rare treasure, and couldn''t help but find it amusing. He had assumed that the wizards, with their basic understanding of the celestial mechanics, would have already invented such an essential technology as ss.


    However, he learned from Harof that the divination wizards, in their pursuit of observing the stars, had developed various long-range magic spells and even upgraded the design of alchemical eyepieces several times but never ventured into ss production.


    There was no choice; magic was just too convenient. Lynn had also grown ustomed to using magic to solve problems, such as creating ss, which would normally require a furnace but was effortlessly aplished with a me spell.


    Lydia toyed with the mirror, gazing at her own reflection in fascination. No young woman could resist a wless ss mirror that could reflect her features so clearly.


    "Professor, is this made from a special kind of sand?" Lydia reluctantly handed the round mirror to the next halfling and looked at the basket of raw materials on the table, curiously inquiring.


    "How is that possible? This is definitely the effect of magic!" Darren said with absolute certainty. Such an exquisite ss mirror could not be created with just sand and stones.


    So, it must be enchanted!


    Lydia paid no heed to Darren and looked directly at Lynn, awaiting his answer.


    "Yes, the mainponent of ss is silica, which is found in sand. The process of making it doesn''t require any magic; you only need to melt it at high temperatures and then shape it into the desired form..." Lynn nodded, confirming Lydia''s guess and then briefly exined the process of making the ss mirror.


    Since he had sessfully created the ss mirror, Lynn was not content with using it for a simple experiment. Such a novel product would surely create a new trend in the wizardnd. As forrge-scale production in the future, he couldn''t handle it personally, and there were few people he trusted. During the time of airship operation, Darren had been delivering a sufficient amount of magic coins to him every month, and there had been no signs of embezzlement.


    As for the leaked airship blueprints, Darak had acquired some information from Ralph''s body with a psychic spell. Lynn couldn''t me a dead man for failing to protect the secrets in his mind.


    Of course, Lynn had retained some slightly moreplex techniques, such as making mercury and tin foil. He nned to teach these to a few wizard apprentices separately, breaking down the entire manufacturing process to minimize the risk of form leakage.


    After Lynn exined the process of making the ss mirror, the halflings were all somewhat stunned. Apart from the high-temperature furnace required to melt quartz sand, there was almost no technical difficulty involved.


    And the cost was extremely low, probably just a few silver coins.


    But if it were to be sold, Darren believed that even if they set a price of twenty magic coins, people would still be eager to buy it!


    A profit margin of a thousand times, even if it was robbery, it wouldn''t be this quick!


    Two dayster, at noon, thousands of wizards gathered in the conference hall of the Magic Research Symposium, eagerly discussing the agenda for the day.


    They had all received the message that today, Lynn would reveal the final secret of the beneath their feet.


    "Raphael, do you think Lord Lynn will use any method to weigh the beneath our feet this time?" Raphael looked at Ougust beside him and pondered, his hair having thinned out considerably in the past two days, with no clue in sight. It seemed like an impossible task.


    "I believe he might use the method of division, just like when he measured the circumference," Ougust said confidently, wearing a smile that exuded self-assuredness.


    "Since we know the volume of the, all we need to do is select a few areas as samples, weigh them, figure out the volume of one ton of soil, take an average, and then estimate the''s weight based on the volume ratios!" Ougust continued. "Of course, this is just my humble suggestion. Different regions have different geology, and there are special cases like mines and oceans that need to be discussed separately. My estimated weight is around three hundred trillion trillion tons, with an error that shouldn''t exceed twenty percent."


    Raphael and the others sighed in admiration at Ougust, the shining star of the magical world. His mind was truly remarkable, and he hade up with such an ingenious method.


    They had all heard that when Lynn returned to Greenrill, he immediately had two heaps of sand and stone delivered, and now it made sense; he must have been estimating their weight.


    Rorl also gazed at Ougust with great admiration, thinking that his teacher had probably glimpsed the truth, which was likely the only way!


    As they were discussing this, they heard mockingughter from the side.


    "Mr. Carol, do you have a different opinion, or have you found a better way to measure the weight?" Rorl red at the male wizard beside him with dissatisfaction.


    "Sorry, I have no idea what method to use to measure the weight," Carol replied with a shake of his head. He only knew that Lynn needed the sand and stone not for weighing but for creating some experimental equipment.


    Without waiting for others to question him, Carol pointed to the curtains that had been suddenly drawn around them and said with a smile, "But I guess it''s rted to darkness!"


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 Chapter 158: Lynns Bold Theory - Gravity Doesnt Exist?

    Chapter 158: Lynn''s Bold Theory - Gravity Doesn''t Exist?


    Darkness?


    Raphael and the others paused for a moment, and then all the lights in the hall disappeared, leaving only the skylight on the roof still emitting a faint glow, shining down on the tform.


    Everyone''s attention naturally focused, and Lynn''s figure quickly appeared before them, a faint smile on his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to today''s magical symposium. Thank you for taking the time to attend."


    The previously noisy symposium hall immediately turned into a lively scene, with all sorts of discussions, and some even shouted loudly.


    "Lynn, I have a few questions about the method you proposed for calcting the angle between the Earth''s core. Also, what do you mean by cube, square, and square root?"


    "What is the radius and volume of our? Is it 86,000 billion cubic kilometers or 12,300 billion cubic kilometers?"


    "Lynn, when you mentioned weighing the, is it done using some special magic or a method simr to measuring the circumference?"


    A variety of questions followed, with some wizards curious about the weighing method, while others wanted to confirm the uracy of their calctions.


    Calcting, while not too difficult for wizards with good mathematical minds, varied in proficiency among individuals. Combined with the vast amount of data about the, even a slight error in the calctions could lead to vastly different results.


    So, after two days of fermentation, thousands of wizards had managed to produce several different answers, leading to heated arguments and almost turning into a brawl to determine who was right.


    "Quiet down... quiet down! Now is not the time for questions!" A senior wizard presiding over the symposium banged on the table impatiently, temporarily silencing the increasingly boisterous discussions.


    It was only at this point that Lynn spoke up. "I will answer your questions one by one."


    "First, the radius of our is approximately 6,875 kilometers, and the volume is about 1,364 billion cubic kilometers. You can deduce this using the circumference form, where the radius is equal to the circumference divided by twice the value of pi. The volume can be calcted directly using the radius in the form..."


    Lynn patiently exined the radius, volume, and the corresponding magical forms and derivation process, as all of these data would be necessary for the uing experiments.


    Wizards who had urately calcted the data naturally felt satisfied, while those who made mistakes looked embarrassed. Some wizards who were not confident in their mathematical skills secretly memorized the information.


    In recent times, the and the orbit of stars had be the hottest topics in Greenrill. Any gathering of wizards inevitably included discussions about these subjects, making it a widespread trend.


    "Now, as for the weight of our and the method to measure it, there is another crucial question we must address before we can truly unlock the secrets," Lynn said, looking at the assembly of wizards. He suddenly asked, "What do you think is the essence of gravity? Or, in other words, what factors determine the weight of an object when measured?"


    Lynn''s question instantly puzzled the wizards in the room. It seemed simple but was quite tricky, even somewhat baffling, like asking them to exin why water is called water and not earth!


    The weight of an object was, of course, determined by using a bnce and weights. The alchemists had even developed magical scales that could precisely measure an object''s weight.


    "So, what you''re saying is that the gravity we feel is the result of the''s own gravitational pull, right? So, an object''s weight is determined by the influence of gravity?" After pondering for a while, one of the senior wizards in front of the tform responded.


    "Yes, but also no," Lynn nodded and then shook his head. "Gravity is a sub-force of universal gravitation. It is not always a constant value. Even on the same, the amount of gravity experienced in different locations can vary..."


    "Generally speaking, the closer you are to the, the stronger the influence of universal gravitation, and the farther away, the weaker the effect. Once you enter the boundless space, the concept of weight ceases to exist!" Lynn exined.


    "So, you mean in ces without gravity, everything has no weight?" A witch sitting in the front row couldn''t help but stand up. "This... is incredible!"


    Although the concept of gravity had been introduced for some time and, after the experiments of free fall, had almost be synonymous with weight, the idea that an object''s weight could change or even disappear with the strength of gravity still exceeded their imagination.


    This was challenging their existing beliefs!


    Before long, another wizard stood up and retorted, "Lynn, I apologize, but I cannot agree with this concept. Are you saying that whether it''s dirt or gold, once they leave the influence of gravity, they have no difference in weight and are lighter than feathers?"


    "They are, of course, different because they have different masses. What we perceive as weight is actually the product of an object''s mass and the eleration due to gravity!" Lynn exined calmly.


    "Mass? What''s that?" The witch who had just stood up had a puzzled expression on her face.


    "You can think of it as the total amount of elements contained within an object," Lynn exined as sinctly as possible. "It''s an intrinsic, fundamental property of matter that doesn''t change with external factors such as temperature, pressure, or velocity... Whether you ce it on a or in the universe, this value remains the same!"


    The discussion in the hall became intense once again, focusing on Lynn''s new concept of using mass to rece weight.


    Everything in the world wasposed of elements,mon knowledge in thend of the wizards, so Lynn''s words were not too difficult to understand. However, what he said next left everyone in shock.


    "Furthermore, in my view, gravity may not even exist!" Lynn didn''t hesitate to express his controversial theory.


    The symposium erupted in an uproar as over a thousand wizards stood up, looking at Lynn in disbelief. He was actually denying the existence of gravity!


    How dare he?!


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 Chapter 159: How Matter Informs Space and Space Informs Motion

    Chapter 159: How Matter Informs Space and Space Informs Motion


    Lynn''s words instantly ignited the entire audience, and even Raphael and the others responsible for maintaining order at the seminar were visibly shaken.


    If Lynn''s previous remarks were likeying the foundations of the magical world, then now it felt like an attempt to kick down the entire magical tower!


    "Lynn, this is no time for jokes!" Raphael''s expression turned serious as he looked at Lynn. He spoke earnestly, "Didn''t your earlier propositions about free fall and ster orbital theory prove the effects of gravity?"


    Raphael couldn''tprehend why someone would suddenly make such radical ims. It seemed like Lynn was shooting himself in the foot. And he was not alone in his thoughts; many others questioned Lynn''s sanity or believed he was deliberately spouting nonsense to grab their attention.


    In the midst of the skepticism, Lynn spoke again. "In my view, so-called gravity is fundamentally a manifestation of spacetime curvature!"


    The mainstream wizardry theories in thisnd suggested that gravity influenced and distorted space, but Lynn was flipping causality on its head. He argued that it was the changes in space that caused the phenomenon of gravity!


    Immediately, someone stepped forward to question, "If it''s not the effect of gravity, what force is causing the deformation of space?"


    "Of course, it''s mass!" Lynn stated confidently. "The reason we feel the effects of gravity is because of the massive mass of this beneath our feet, which distorts spacetime,pelling us to fall toward the center of the Earth..."


    Harof and a few experts in the field of force-field magic wore thoughtful expressions. As for the official wizards, they felt their cognitive abilities stretched to the limit. Lynn''s every word continuously challenged their imagination and thinking!


    Gravity didn''t actually exist; it was just a phenomenon. Space was merely pulling them in a certain direction, an intangible change that many wizards found challenging to grasp. They couldn''t fathom how space twisted in such a way.


    Lynn didn''t provide an extensive exnation; instead, he moved aside and revealed a circr fabric on a raised tform behind him. It was made of the skin of a feathered serpent and possessed exceptional sticity.


    It wasid on a sturdy iron frame.


    The curious audience gazed at it. Lynn picked up a 10-kilogram ball and ced it in the center of the fabric.


    The next moment, the t fabric instantly concaved around the ball, creating a curved surface with the ball at the center. The further you went from the center, the weaker the curvature became.


    "Gravity is like this!" Lynn eximed.


    From his pocket, he took out a 1-kilogram ball, casually ced it at one edge of the curved fabric, and then let it go.


    Everyone in the seminar stared wide-eyed. The wizards at the back even used distant-viewing magic to get a clearer look.


    Without Lynn applying any extra force, the small ball automatically rolled towards the center following the curvature of the fabric.


    "I see, so this is gravity..." an excited senior wizard shouted. He imagined a three-dimensional fabric, copsing from all directions towards the center to attract objects.


    Before the audience could fully process what they were witnessing, Lynn picked up another small ball, changed the angle, gave it a slight push, and the ball didn''t roll directly downward. Instead, it started to move in a circr pattern along the curved fabric, revolving around therger central sphere.


    "Ster orbit, this is a ster orbit!" another person eximed loudly.


    All the wizards'' eyes were fixed on the small white circr fabric with a diameter of just one meter. They felt like they weren''t gazing at a few balls but at the grand image of the cosmos!


    Lynn used a highly stic piece of leather to demonstrate the distortion and copse of three-dimensional space in the form of a two-dimensional fabric, making it incredibly intuitive.


    However, the distortion of time couldn''t be presented in such a straightforward manner. Nevertheless, it was enough. This little experiment aimed to help these wizards better understand the phenomenon of space curvature creating gravity.


    Lynn looked at the excited, awestruck, enthusiastic, and zealous group of wizards in the hall and summarized once again. "So, I believe that gravity is a geometric effect caused by how matter informs space, and space informs matter how to move!"


    Matter informs space and space informs motion... among the wizards with some knowledge of force-field magic in the hall, this concept was being thoroughly digested.


    It was brilliant, truly brilliant! This was the mystery of spacetime magic!


    "Lynn, based on your speech today, you are more than qualified for a nomination for the Sr Corona Medal!" A senior wizard responsible for maintaining order at the event gazed at Lynn''s slightly youthful face and sighed.


    At the previous seminar, the legendary wizard Harof had vowed to award Lynn the Sr Corona Medal. Raphael had initially felt reluctant, thinking that Lynn had merely presented an alternative view on ster phenomena that contradicted the mainstream theories. But now, it was clear that Lynn''s understanding of gravity and space was far beyond his own.


    Everything Lynn said that day could serve as the foundation for the study of spatial magic. Some enthusiastic individuals even meticulously recorded Lynn''s descriptions of matter and spacetime, even if they didn''t fully understand it. They could boast about it in the future.


    "I have one more question... Why doesn''t our, beneath our feet, rush towards the sun due to gravity, like that small ball?" Raphael asked, still puzzled.


    As Lynn released the second small ball, it was clear that, while it continuously revolved around the central sphere, the extent of the curvature was gradually diminishing until it would eventually be drawn into the center.


    "That''s because there''s no air resistance in a vacuum. The''s speed doesn''t decrease, and it reaches equilibrium with gravity, which prevents it from falling into the sun," Lynn exined.


    Raphael pondered this, realizing that the earlier small ball''s speed gradually slowed down, causing it to move closer to the center, with a shorter orbit until it fell into the center of the curved fabric.


    So that''s how it works! Raphael had a sudden epiphany, and many of his previous doubts about ster orbits were instantly resolved.


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 Chapter 160: Calculating the Gravitational Constant Through Mirror Reflection

    Chapter 160: Calcting the Gravitational Constant Through Mirror Reflection


    After Raphael hadfortably settled down, another powerful wizard skilled in the magic of force fields curiously inquired.


    "Lord Lynn, you mentioned that it is the mass that causes the distortion of space and gives rise to the phenomenon of gravity. Does this mean that only massive celestial bodies possess this characteristic?"


    "In fact, Lord Harof''s theory on gravity is quite clear. This phenomenon is widespread and exists in everything," replied Lynn calmly.


    "Even a grain of sand or a stone?" Lydia raised her hand high, asking a question that left most of those present puzzled.


    "Of course!" Lynn nodded and exined, "Just like when you ce an object in water, even a grain of sand will inevitably disce the water!"


    "Why haven''t we ever felt this so-called... attraction caused by spatial distortion?" Rorl couldn''t help but stand up, voicing his most perplexing question.


    If gravity existed in every object, then theoretically, they should also possess it. So why don''t the pebbles on the ground get attracted to them when they walk?


    "That''s because,pared to our mass, the impact on spacetime is too minuscule. Even a towering mountain barely disturbs spacetime, and it''s probably less attractive to you than a passingdy!" Lynn joked.


    Among the four fundamental forces, gravity has the most extensive range but is the weakest in terms of its effects.


    Rorl found this analogy a bit amusing, but he still asked another important question. "If gravity''s influence is so weak, how can we be sure that it exists in everything?"


    Only grand wizards can barely sense the subtle changes in the curvature of space, and for regr wizards, understanding spacetime is a matter of pure imagination.


    "Lord Rorl, in fact, that''s precisely what we need to discuss today!" Lynn pped his hands, and Jonny, Elok, and others immediately brought over a very intricate experimental apparatus.


    It looked like a scale used for weighing heavy objects, but a two-meter steel wire was suspended above it, and at the ends of the bnce arms were two small spheres, each weighing one kilogram.


    "Is this for weighing something?" The wizards in the audience were puzzled, but this guess was soon dismissed when Lynn instructed Jonny and the others to ce two fifty-kilogram iron balls next to the small ones.


    Lynn exined, "As I mentioned earlier, universal gravity exists in all objects, and they always attract each other. Although it''s incredibly weak, it is not nonexistent; it just requires some special means to observe this disturbance."


    "I think you haven''t forgotten the pendulum experiment from before. By using a thin and long wire, even the slightest disturbance can be greatly amplified. This apparatus, which I call the ''micro-deformation amplification method,'' employs a simr technique."


    ording to thew of universal gravitation, therge ball exerts a force on the small ball, causing the T-shaped bnce to rotate towards the direction of therge ball. The greater the gravity, therger the rotation angle.


    Conversely, by measuring the angle of rotation of the steel wire, the force acting on the ends of the bnce arm can be calcted.


    With Lynn''s exnation, the group of wizards became very interested in thispact and clever device, closely observing it.


    "Do you see anything, Pearce?" Elok stared intently at the small ball hanging from the bnce arm and, after a while, could not see any disturbance. He looked at hispanion, asking quietly.


    "Of course, just as the professor said, the small sphere is gradually being pulled closer due to the gravity of therge sphere..." Pearce nodded, pretending to be observant. However, like Elok, his eyes were tired, and he couldn''t see any changes.


    But since the professor said this method works, it must be correct!


    The wizards in the hall were all looking at the balls, and besides Harof, Raphael, and a few others who could see the slight movement of the suspended wire, the rest were baffled. A male wizard couldn''t contain his impatience and stood up, directly asking, "Lord Lynn, has your experiment begun?"


    Lynn nodded and casually said, "Just wait for another minute, and you''ll see!"


    Seeing Lynn so confident, the impatient wizards on the field had no choice but to continue waiting.


    The hands of the magical clock soon crossed twelve o''clock! The sun was high above, and its rays shone directly down.


    At the same moment, Lynn picked up an exceptionally small ss mirror and reflected the sunlight that poured in through the skylight onto the long steel wire.


    Only then did many wizards notice that the center of the steel wire was also suspended by a strange round mirror. After the sunlight was reflected onto the central part of the mirror, it was again reflected onto the scale on the opposite side.


    "I see it! It''s moving; that point of light is moving!" Lydia shouted loudly.


    In fact, there was no need for Lydia''s reminder this time. Everyone could see it clearly. The point of light reflected on the scale was slowly moving to the right, turning from zero to one degree.


    "Could this be caused by the Earth''s axial precession?" A witch suddenly interjected, dampening the excitement.


    Rorl and the others also immediately thought of this possibility.


    Yes, could it be that the Earth''s axial precession is affecting the slow movement of the small ball, just like the pendulum experiment earlier?


    Lynn didn''t reply but instead moved therge ball, which had originally been on the right side of the small ball, to the left. After a while, the point of light changed direction, moving to the left, slowly returning to zero.


    Seeing this incredibly miraculous scene, everyone''s doubts werepletely dispelled, leaving only astonishment!


    Even the most critical and skeptical individuals could not deny the existence of universal gravity. After all, the point of light did not move randomly but changed ording to the position of therge ball.


    So without a doubt, this was the influence of gravity! The attraction generated by the phenomenon of spacetime distortion!


    Compared to the other wizards who were amazed by the theory of universal gravity, Harof was more interested in the intricacies of the experiment itself.


    The gravitational force of a fifty-kilogram iron ball was almost negligible, yet Lynn used a long pendulum arm to magnify this tiny influence and, afterward, a beam of light to further magnify it, making the almost imperceptible distortion of spacetime clearly visible before their eyes!


    Harof couldn''t help but express the same admiration as Raphael. What kind of mind could conceive such a brilliant method?


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 Chapter 161: The Foundation of Arcane Mathematics

    Chapter 161: The Foundation of Arcane Mathematics


    To ensure the urate calction of the gravitational constant, Lynn had the Archmages create a vacuum field once again, and Jonny and the others withdrew from the tform to minimize interference. After several experiments, the final value of the gravitational constant quickly appeared before them.


    6.6710^-11 Nm^2/kg^2. This value was essentially the same as in Lynn''s previous world. It seemed that apart from the existence of magic as a unique energy, the fundamental parameters of the two universes were quite simr.


    However, the symbol representing gravity, N, needed to be reced with their own symbol, L. Another crucial piece of data, the gravitational eleration, had been calcted by Lynn long ago, measuring approximately 10 m/s^2, slightly higher than Earth''s value of 9.8.


    With these two values, calcting the weight of the beneath their feet became straightforward. All they needed was to use the universalw of gravitation to derive the golden substitution form: GM = gR^2, where G represented the gravitational constant, g was the gravitational eleration, and R stood for the radius.


    After Lynn exined the form''s derivation, Harof and the others immediately began calcting. The enormity of theary values squared, divided by the minuscule gravitational constant, made their heads spin.


    "I can''t figure this out! It''s too hard!" Rorl eximed, staring at the calctions sprawled across the parchment, his head spinning.


    Beside him, Raphael gripped his few strands of hair, sweat beads forming on his forehead, all in an attempt to calcte the final result.


    Even with numerous obstacles, few chose to give up. After all, the''s ultimate mysteryy right before them, and they stood at the doorstep of truth, ready to kick it open. The only issue was that the door was exceptionally tough, easily breaking their bones.


    A full hour and a halfter, an excited mage stood up, nearly driven to madness. He shouted, "I''ve got it! It''s 670 trillion tons!"


    However, Lynn simply shook his head, and Harof, who had just calcted the data, was even more direct, saying, "Wrong, and terribly so!"


    "Wrong? How could it be wrong?" The mage''s excitement faded as he examined the calctions on the parchment and discovered that he had made a mistake when writing the radius of the, using kilometers instead of meters. In other words, he needed to add several more zeros and recalcte. His entire hour and a half of work had been in vain.


    Realizing this, the mage''s body trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, fainting on the spot.


    Elok looked at him with pity, and she stopped writing. Even full-fledged mages found the calctions challenging. It was probably better for them as apprentices to simply wait for the answer.


    The calction of such massive values was difficult, but as time passed, more and more people arrived at the result. It was a number that couldn''t be urately described using any existing unit, only an arcane form could make it visuallyprehensible.


    7.0810^24 kg!


    "No wonder, in the Society of Mystical Arts, arcane mathematics is the foundation of everything," Harof finally understood.


    Values like gravity and celestial bodies, either immense or minuscule, required arcane mathematics to be calcted clearly.


    Thinking of this, Harof announced the result. After Lynn confirmed it, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Even with repeated checks, such a massive value could easily lead to errors.


    Carol and the others looked at Ougust with peculiar expressions. They remembered that the Magic Star had estimated the''s weight to be around 30 trillion trillion tons. Wasn''t this quite a significant difference?


    It seemed the title of Magic Star wasn''t all it was cracked up to be. Compared to Lynn''s straightforward application of the universalw of gravitation, his method of dividing and calcting soil weight was barely worth mentioning.


    Faced with Carol and the others'' mocking gazes, Ougust remained unruffled. When he mentioned a 20% deviation, he was referring to the number of zeros.


    The discussion about the gravitational constant and the''s weight continued into the evening. Some enthusiastic prophecy schrs estimated the masses of others in the ster system based on the universalw of gravitation, attempting to reconstruct a picture of celestial motion.


    The witches at the conference were more interested in the round mirrors Lynn used during his experiments. When they learned that these smooth, wless ss mirrors could be mass-produced and sold for just twenty magic gold coins each, their joy knew no bounds.


    It wasn''t until the seminar ended that Lynn finally escaped the relentless questions. To help the mages understand certain terms, he had to think hard, as there was a multitude of concepts to exin. The two worlds had different cultures, vocabries, scientific knowledge, and even ways of thinking. For instance, exining that weight was essentially mass multiplied by eleration and then borating on what mass was itself took a considerable amount of time.


    Fortunately, this effort yielded results far beyond Lynn''s expectations. The Society of Mystical Arts, arcane mathematics, and the Iyeta school became well-known among the local mages. Some independent mages even started testing the waters, asking if they could join the Iyeta school.


    "Regarding your nomination for the Sun Crown Medal, it has been approved by the Council. In a couple of days, there will be an award ceremony. You should prepare for it," Harof said with a smile.


    "Are there any rules or things I need to be aware of?" Lynn asked. He had thought that receiving the award would be straightforward.


    "Not really, but this is the first time we''re awarding the highest de in magical academia to a formal mage. You should speak a bit more to impress the audience," Harof quipped, then became serious. "I believe there are still some gaps in your theory of universal gravitation."


    Lynn''s expression turned serious as well, but Harof continued solemnly, "What can affect space-time is not just mass but also magic!"


    Lynn couldn''t help but smile at this. Of course, he knew that matter was energy and energy was matter. However, it wasn''t yet time to bring out the mass-energy equivalence equation.


    As for the universalw of gravitation, even if it wasn''t for Lynn, Harof would eventually deduce it in a few years at most. The only difference was a matter of inspiration.


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 Chapter 162: Reforging the Forcefield Magic with the Law of Universal Gravitation!

    Chapter 162: Reforging the Forcefield Magic with the Law of Universal Gravitation!


    On their way back to the school''s lounge, Harof and Lynn discussed the topic of how magic affects spatial curvature.


    Lynn, being well-versed in the field of magic, responded eloquently to Harof''s inquiries. She even presented the optimal magical structure for discussion, openly asking about areas she didn''t fully understand.


    While Harof answered each question, he couldn''t help but be amazed. Even a third-tier wizard like Lynn had a profound understanding of the connection between magic and spacetime. How could the legendary wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts remain ignorant of the best magical structures, he thought? Maybe he had overestimated their knowledge.


    Perhaps he had asked too simplistic questions, and they were simply too trivial for the Society''s experts to answer.


    With these thoughts in mind, Harof''s expression suddenly changed, as if he had heard something. A hint of resignation appeared on his face, but he continued to speak.


    "I have a friend who is very interested in that shining ss mirror. Do you have any in stock?"


    Lynn raised an eyebrow, a peculiar look in her eyes. She didn''t expect Harof, a legendary wizard who usually dressed casually, to be interested in ss mirrors. Perhaps it was for academic research or as a gift for someone.


    Without hesitation, Lynn handed therge round mirror she had removed from the bnce device to Harof.


    "Is it twenty gold coins, right? I''ll have Carol bring it to you tomorrow," Harof said, taking the mirror and passing it to someone standing nearby.


    Under Lynn''s watchful gaze, the mirror disappeared silently. Did Harof have some sort of storage device? Lynn had never heard of such a thing before.


    Surprisingly, she didn''t ask, and after bidding farewell to Harof, she returned to the school''s lounge.


    She couldn''t wait to test her theory. With the Council''s support, Lynn had perfected the Law of Universal Gravitation. She had a feeling that she might not need additionalputational power to cast certain forcefield spells.


    This wasn''t just a baseless hunch. Casting spells as a wizard was like running a program or solving aplex equation. When faced with unknown variables, you had to try different values repeatedly, using the process of elimination to find the answer.


    By making two of those variables known  the universal gravitational constant and the spacetime curvature at the surface  theputational power required for casting forcefield spells decreased significantly. That was why Harof and others believed that the Law of Universal Gravitation would be the cornerstone of spatial magic theory.


    So, while waiting for the award ceremony, Lynn secluded herself in her room and focused on refining the spell models for forcefield magic. She delegated other matters to Philip and the others, instructing them to purchase suitable property in the bustling area of Grenrill, which would serve as the future base for the Iyeta School of Magic.


    After all, it wasn''t practical to stay at the Magic Symposium''s lounge every time she visited. Although the lounge was spacious, it was always crowded and not very convenient.


    During the past six months in the Wizard''s Territory, Lynn had umted nearly five thousand magic gold coins from the ie generated by the airship and the looted Ladek Manor. It was enough to buy a decent estate in any location outside the busy district of Grenrill.


    ...


    "Magic missiles!"


    The next evening, on the training field, a young girl softly shouted as a dozen shimmering magic missiles appeared in the air.


    Beside her, Elok, Pearce, and others didn''t want to be outdone. They each used their most potent magic. Several fireballs and ice des intertwined and headed straight for Lynn, who was not far in front of them.


    However, Lynn didn''t make a move, and the mes and ice des were mysteriously diverted by some force before touching her. They flew past her and hit the wall behind her.


    At first nce, it seemed like the apprentices had deliberately avoided hitting Lynn, like they were drawing the outline of a person on a shooting target.


    However, Elok and Pearce knew that, at a distance of just a dozen meters, they couldn''t miss a stationary target like Lynn.


    "Huh?" Lynn, who had easily deflected their attacks, didn''t let her guard down. She noticed that Jonny''s magic missiles were moving slower than she expected and, after encountering the deflecting forcefield, burst apart.


    Although there seemed to be nothing inside them, Lynn could sense a rapid increase in the hydrogen content in the air around her.


    At the same moment, Jonny extended her left hand and intertwined her right hand on her left wrist, which was the starting position for me''s Embrace!


    A faint me expanded rapidly within a second, igniting the hydrogen around Lynn.


    This caused a violent explosion that filled the training room with thick smoke and a scorching ze. Elok and Pearce had shocked expressions on their faces  this level of destruction was almost on par with third-tier magic!


    It was the first time they had seen Jonny disy such power.


    "Is Professor Lynn... injured?" Elok stared at the rising smoke, and when there was no movement for a while, he said uncertainly.


    Impossible! Jonny gave Elok a dismissive look. She was still panting, and precision magic like this consumed a lot ofputational power. Even for a formal wizard like Jonny, it wasn''t an easy task.


    In the billowing smoke, Lynn''s voice came through loud and clear.


    "Hydrogen explosion? Interesting... it seems you''ve learned well, Jonny. But your hydrogen-to-oxygen ratio was a bit off. The correct ratio should be 2:1."


    Once the smoke cleared, Elok and the others realized that Lynn was unharmed, not a hair out of ce, and her robe undisturbed. This left Elok feeling a little numb.


    Even an attack almost on the level of third-tier magic couldn''t make Lynn budge. How were they supposed to fight this?


    Though it was just practice, Elok and Pearce were already considering retreating. Jonny, however, was determined to measure herself against her professor.


    "Now it''s my turn. Are you ready?" Lynn said with a smile.


    Elok and Pearce swallowed nervously, and Jonny remained resolute. Under the watchful gaze of the three, Lynn extended her hand, and her index and middle fingers trembled slightly, as if she were plucking the strings of a harp...


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 Chapter 163: Resonance Magic and Spatial Wave

    Chapter 163: Resonance Magic and Spatial Wave


    Upon seeing Lynn''s peculiar actions, Elok took a step back, startled. However, he quickly realized that no mes or frost had emerged, and he hadn''t been attacked.


    "What is the professor doing?" Pearce, too, was puzzled. It couldn''t be an attempt to scare them, could it?


    "This must be some new kind of magic!" Johnny guessed, then looked at both of them and said rapidly, "Our only chance is to go on the offensive. I''ll take the lead this time, and you two assist!"


    With no other ideas in mind, the two nodded, and just as they were about to cast their spells again, their bodies suddenly froze. Elok''s face twisted in agony, and he copsed to the ground without warning.


    Pearce''s reaction mirrored Elok''s; he clutched his chest tightly, veins pulsing on his forehead, as if enduring immense pain.


    Johnny managed to maintain hisposure a bit better, struggling to stay on his feet. However, his heart felt like it was being squeezed, matching the erratic rhythm of Lynn''s trembling finger. It pulsed like thunder one moment and slowed like a sluggish river the next, an ufortable and bizarre sensation that left Johnny powerless to resist.


    Their brains, too, suffered from the disrupted blood supply, and after a couple of seconds, the feeling gradually subsided. But in the next moment, their lungs and livers suffered a simr assault.


    "I surrender! I give up!" Elok, writhing on the ground, called out loudly, his face a mixture of fear and confusion.


    Seeing that the three of them had reached their limits, Lynn stopped casting the new magic to prevent any side effects.


    Johnny, Elok, and Pearce took several minutes to recover from the ordeal. They looked at Lynn with a mixture of fear and relief. Just moments ago, they had feared their hearts might explode, but they couldn''t figure out where the attack hade from.


    "Professor, what kind of magic was that you just used? Some kind of curse?" Elok asked, his voice still trembling. This eerie magic even reminded him of the cursed sorcery that was infamous in the Wizarnds.


    "Of course not!" Lynn chuckled and shook his head, intentionally keeping the exnation vague.


    In reality, this magic was based on the phenomenon of resonance. In scientific terms, it involved a physical system absorbing more energy from its surroundings when vibrating at its natural frequency.


    In the conventional terminology of wizards, everything in the world was made up of elements, each with its own inherent frequency. When two objects'' frequencies converged, they could influence each other.


    For example, the average human body resonated at 7.5 Hertz, with different parts having their own resonant frequencies. Internal organs resonated at 4-6 Hertz, while the head''s resonant frequency was 8-12 Hertz.


    Lynn''s method involved creating a tiny magic wave that made vibrations as close as possible to the heart''s frequency, inducing resonance and causing rapid disruptions to the heart''s oscitions, ultimately leading to internal damage.


    This magic was not only hard to detect, but it attacked at the molecr and atomic levels. Unless one was prepared, it was challenging to defend against.


    However, during the experiment, Lynn realized that formal wizards like Johnny were more resilient to resonance magic than apprentices like Elok and Pearce.


    Although he intentionally reduced the magic''s power to avoid causing harm, he also understood that using resonance principles to directly kill powerful wizards wasn''t easy. At best, it could have a slight impact on critical moments.


    It was a clever magic but one Lynn chose to keep its principles secret to prevent the development of countermeasures.


    Johnny and the others were intensely curious about this strange and curse-like magic, but seeing that the professor had no intention of exining, they suppressed their growing curiosity and asked, "What about the magic that deflected the mes and frost?"


    "That''s called a Deflection Force Field!" Lynn replied, this time not concealing anything.


    "Deflection Force Field? Isn''t that a fourth-ring magic? Professor Lynn, have you reached the Grand Wizard level?" Phillip, who had been watching from the sidelines, eximed in astonishment and excitement. Being able to use force field magic effortlessly was a hallmark of a Grand Wizard.


    Johnny, Elok, and Pearce also looked at Lynn with amazement. The reason for the immense power of the explosion earlier was the Deflection Force Field, akin to a turtle shell that seemed imprable.


    "No, I haven''t," Lynn shook his head, denying Phillip''s and the others'' assumptions. He then smiled and exined, "I merely took a shortcut. I named it ''Secondary Deflection Force Field.'' It should belong to the upper-tier third-ring magic category."


    After calcting the gravitational constant, Lynn could effectively reduce the difficulty of casting force field magic. However, the Deflection Force Field was originally a magic only Grand Wizards could use. Due to differences in magical power andputational abilities, the protective effect was naturally not as robust as the original version, hence the "Secondary" designation.


    Moreover, force field magic wasn''t invincible. Matter and energy themselves could affect spacetime, making it possible for powerful spells to prate the barrier.


    The other issue was magic consumption. Even with reduced requirements, the magic consumed a terrifying amount of energy. Under the most abundant magical conditions, it could only be maintained for a short fifteen seconds.


    The peculiar resonance magic that Lynn had just released was a byproduct of his research into force field magic.


    Back when he was fighting Helram in the Howling Tower, Helram had cast a wide-ranging ripple magic. Lynn had to dodge this spell to avoid being pierced by the iron thorns that came flying towards him.


    This incident had left a deep impression on him, and he had spent these days contemting how tobine this ripple magic with force field magic.


    Through a strong magic wave, he could induce changes in space curvature, causing spacetime to oscite like water ripples, bypassing the enemy''s defenses from a spatial perspective and killing them. Lynn had named this envisioned magic "Spatial Wave"!


    But judging from the magic''s principles, it was at least a fourth-ring or even fifth-ring magic. Lynn''s several attempts had ended in failure, and with his currentputational power and magical reserves, he wouldn''t be able to meet the minimum standards to cast this magic.


    Unless he could temporarily surpass his limits as he did in the past, borrowing others''putational power to reach the minimum threshold for casting this magic...


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 Chapter 164: How Well Do You Understand the Holy See, Our Enemy?

    Chapter 164: How Well Do You Understand the Holy See, Our Enemy?


    Lynn''s inability to advance to Grand Wizard left Phillip somewhat regretful, but he quickly adjusted. After all, it was only a matter of time before Lynn''s talent would lead to his promotion.


    Moreover, in recent days, with the spread of the Law of Universal Gravitation, the Iyeta School of Magic had gained immense poprity. During this time, Lynn received over a hundred invitations to banquets and academic conferences, many of which were from top-notch schools.


    Unfortunately, Lynn, with his dedication to researching new magic, had to postpone all of them.


    "Do you know how people outside refer to you now?" Phillip asked jokingly.


    Lynn shook his head. These past few days, he hadn''t even stepped outside, let alone cared about what people were calling him.


    "They''re calling you the Twin Stars of Greenryell!" Phillip eximed.


    The other half of the "Twin Stars," of course, referred to Ougust, the most gifted wizard in the history of the Wizard''s Land. He started practicing magic at the age of twelve, became an official wizard at sixteen, and ascended to Grand Wizard at twenty-four. His rapid rise was nothing short of a miracle, earning him the title of the "Star of Magic."


    This also meant that, in the eyes of most, Lynn had been elevated to a level equal to Ougust.


    Jonny, Elok, and Pearce gazed at Professor Lynn with admiration.


    Lynn furrowed his brow. Such excessive praise wasn''t a good sign. He wondered if someone was deliberately spreading this kind of news.


    Just as they were discussing, there was a knock at the door.


    "Professor, there''s someone outside looking for you," Lydia''s head popped in through the door, looking lively. "It''s Master Ougust!"


    Everyone in the room was momentarily stunned. They had just been talking about the great wizard, and now he was paying them a visit. Could it be a trouble?


    Lynn and Phillip exchanged a nce but had no intention of turning away their unexpected guest. Instead, they asked Lydia to lead the Star of Magic to the guest room.


    Three minutester, Lynn, now dressed differently, arrived at the guest room with Phillip, Jonny, and Elok.


    "Wee to my humble abode, Master Ougust!" Lynn approached him with a smile. "I just heard from Lydia that you have something important to discuss with me?"


    "Indeed," Ougust nodded, and there was a hint of a smile on his face, as if the recent rumors hadn''t affected him at all.


    Ougust''s friendly demeanor eased Phillip''s tension. While Lynn had gained significant fame and earned the appreciation of the legendary wizard Harof, they didn''t want to start a conflict with Ougust, who was, after all, the Star of Magic and held considerable influence in the Wizard''s Land.


    "I''ve heard from Rorl that you arrived at Iyeta Harbor from the Seckas Empire just three months ago," Ougust adjusted his expression and inquired, "I wonder how you''ve been observing the development in the Wizard''s Land during this time?"


    "In general, the academic atmosphere here is quite impressive, and in many aspects, it''s much better than the Seckas Empire," Lynn pondered for a moment, drawing from his previous life''s memories. He was quite sure of his answer.


    Compared to Earth in his previous life, the Wizard''s Land was undoubtedly still in a rtively primitive state. However,pared to the Seckas Empire, which was stuck in thete Middle Ages in terms of science, culture, and quality of life, the Wizard''s Land was far more advanced.


    "Is the Misty Sea really as deste as the rumors say?" Rorl asked curiously.


    "Not really," Lynn replied with a hint of sarcasm. "At least the nobles and clergy live in castles and luxurious estates. The convenience brought by divine magic is no less than that of wizardry. However, it''s a privilege enjoyed by very few."


    "By the way, Master Ougust, why are you suddenly asking about this?" Lynn inquired.


    "Looks like you''re not well-versed in the recent developments in the Wizard''s Land," Ougust shook his head and exined. Due to Lynn''s propositions and his actions at the academic conference, many conservative wizards who clung to their old beliefs were now more inclined to explore the world beyond the Wizard''s Land, giving the previously weaker progressive faction the upper hand.


    The Council had been troubled by this situation.


    "So, you''re here on behalf of the Council, then?" Lynn asked.


    "No, I''m just here for a personal inquiry," Ougust shook his head and then calmly added, "Personally, I support the idea of opening up the Wizard''s Land."


    While the Wizard''s Land was a massive ind capable of housing over six hundred thousand people, as the number of wizards increased, resources avable to each person decreased, leading to internal conflicts and intensepetition.


    Rorl, looking forward to the conversation, turned his gaze towards Lynn. As a young and talented wizard, he was naturally part of the progressive faction, believing that wizards should be the ones to rule the world.


    Remaining hidden in this small Wizard''s Land was an act of weakness and timidity.


    Rorl believed that if Lynn and his teacher, Ougust, stood on the same side, they might influence the Council''s final decision.


    "How much do you know about the Holy See, our enemy?" Lynn suddenly asked.


    Rorl hesitated for a moment, then spoke somewhat indignantly. "The Wizard''s Land has been established and developed for hundreds of years. We''ve researched countless extraordinary magics, capable of freezing the sea and turning mountains into ins. We''ve even created many invincible golems to defeat any enemy!"


    Ougust, inquisitive, then asked, "What about you, Lynn? You came from beyond the Misty Sea, so you should have a better understanding than any of us."


    "Unfortunately, my knowledge of the Holy See is very limited," Lynn shook his head, then continued before the impatient Rorl could speak, "In my daily life, I''ve only interacted with bishops, which are roughly equivalent to official wizards..."


    Rorl''s face showed his disappointment, but he allowed Lynn to finish.


    "But," Lynn added, "I believe that the leaders of the Council may have a clearer understanding of the kind of enemy we''re up against."


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 Chapter 165: Talking About Doomsday in a World of Magic and Science

    Chapter 165: Talking About Doomsday in a World of Magic and Science


    Compared to Lynn, who was born in thend of wizards and knew nothing of the outside world, Rorl had a more optimistic outlook.


    If the power umted in thend of wizards was enough to defeat the Holy See, then there was no reason for the Council to refuse a broader domain.


    There was only one possibility: the power possessed by the Holy See was beyond what these wizards could match! The Goddess... Eira...


    Rorl couldn''t help but recall the terrifying shadow he had seen before leaving the harbor town.


    If wizardry''s power stemmed from magic, using knowledge to unleash spells and harness the world-changing forces, what about divine magic? How could it surpass wizards and their magic?


    This was the most perplexing question for Rorl in this new world. Those divine practitioners seemed to rely solely on unwavering faith to wield divine magic.


    In the midst of Rorl''s contemtion, the private conversation had toe to an abrupt end after Rorl and August left.


    When it was just Phillip and Lynn, Phillip hesitated for a while before asking, "Professor Lynn, is the Holy See''s power really that formidable? Even the Society of Mystical Arts had to yield to their authority?"


    "The Society of Mystical Arts is merely an academic organization for the study of magic," Lynn replied, shaking his head. "Don''t forget that this world is vast, and the influence of thend of wizards and the church is not the only power. I can''t be sure how many schrs from distantnds might not be willing to interfere in this matter..."


    Lynn patched things up once again, so that in case the wizards overthrew the Holy See and took control of the empire, they wouldn''t struggle to find anyone.


    Late at night, in the ancient mansion of Greinrill City...


    Hundreds of wizards dressed in robes gathered in the grand hall, attentively listening to the speech of a middle-aged male wizard. His voice was hoarse and resonated with a unique charm. "As we all know, this world is moving from order to chaos. Our endless exploitation of the elements has offended the great elemental spirits, and the judgment of all living beings is imminent..."


    "When the four stars are high in the sky, parallel to the Silver Moon, the elemental spirits will pass their judgment. The earth will sink, and the entire world will be engulfed in a terrifying elemental flood until the Silver Moon is finally drawn to thisnd, bringing aboutplete destruction!"


    "The Council continues to deceive us, keeping us captive, depriving us of our freedom, and leading all wizards to indulge in the plunder of elemental powers, hastening the arrival of doomsday..."


    "Now, with only five years left until the final judgment of the elemental spirits, we must all abandon the idea of enving the elements and let them return to order. Otherwise, we will face nothing but eternal darkness and death."


    As the middle-aged wizard delivered his impassioned speech, the atmosphere in the grand hall gradually heated up. Every wizard''s face was filled with zeal, but there were a few who appeared hesitant.


    After hesitating for a long time, a young female wizard finally spoke up. "But, a few days ago, Professor Lynn exined during the symposium that this phenomenon of consecutive pentagonal stars is a normal astronomical urrence, rted to the cycles ofary motion. We only need to calcte the leastmon multiple of a fewary cycles to predict the next urrence, which happens roughly every seventy years."


    Furthermore, the speed of the celestial bodies and the gravitational bnce formed a new equilibrium, and in the vacuum, there was no air resistance, so the moon falling is impossible..."


    Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted.


    "Absurd!"


    The male wizard''s face contorted in anger as he red at the young female wizard who had questioned him, sternly rebuking her. "The theory ofary motion is aplete lie!"


    "The so-called wizard from beyond the Misty Sea is nothing but a cunning deceiver, trying to delude us with this foolish magic trick..."


    "This world is undoubtedly t; otherwise, seawater would flow backward, and nothing would be built on uneven terrain."


    The male wizard continued with emphatic gestures. "Think about it, how would we survive in a world that''s curved? Thend would be impossible to cultivate, and buildings could never be constructed on uneven ground."


    Under the continuous persuasion of the male wizard, the wizards who had previously harbored doubts quickly reaffirmed their beliefs.


    "What a bunch of brainless fanatics," Aidan muttered, hiding in the corner of the hall using shadow magic, observing the wizards who were fervently echoing the speaker''s words, as if they were under some kind of spell.


    This so-called doomsday theory was nothing but baseless spection. Aidan couldn''t help but mock their blind faith in doomsday and the elusive elemental spirits.


    Comparing this to Professor Lynn''s rigorous experiments during the symposium, proving the celestial chart scene beyond a doubt, Aidan couldn''t help but sigh.


    This was the academic spirit that wizards should embody!


    "Don''t you find this situation a bit strange, Aidan?" Beside him, anotherw enforcement officer wore a grave expression, feeling that the wizards attending the gathering were disying some unusual emotions. Even when he was listening to the speaker''s lecture, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of inexplicable zeal.


    Perhaps this was the effect of some kind of magic.


    With hispanion''s reminder, Aidan quickly noticed the anomaly and gazed at the red-robed male wizard on the tform, recalling the information about the Doomsday Sect.


    This strange sect had emerged about fifteen years ago, originally going by a different name and was, at best, a rtively obscure academic research organization.


    Many of their theories were highlypatible with the legendary wizard Altok''s elemental theory, such as the world steadily moving from order to chaos and the idea that the elements might possess consciousness...


    But in thest three years, there had been a noticeable change. Not only did they adopt the name of a sect, but their rhetoric also became extremely radical, openly propagating the concept of elemental spirits.


    Now they had even begun openly opposing the Council.


    Aidan had a sense that things might have gone beyond their control.


    "You stay here and keep an eye on things. I''ll go inform Lord August," Aidan whispered, realizing that these wizards might actually stir up trouble.


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 Chapter 166: Praise the Great Elemental Spirits!

    Chapter 166: Praise the Great Elemental Spirits!


    After a few quiet instructions from Aidan, he tried to leave. However, as he nced towards the main gate, he was shocked to find that several wizards in red robes had blocked all the entrances.


    "Before we officially pray to the Elemental Spirits, there''s one more thing to resolve!" The male wizard on the high tform stopped his speech and suddenly said, his voice cold. "Infiltrators from the Council have entered our estate. They are the enemies of the Elemental Spirits, followers of the Apocalypse. They will destroy everything we''ve worked so hard to build."


    Upon hearing this, the wizards in the hall turned their heads and shouted in unison.


    "Where are those damn guys?"


    "I''ll tear them apart!" "For the Elemental Spirits!"


    The crowd was filled with excitement, but they couldn''t find the enemies, and suspicions and usations started to rise among them.


    Aidan, hiding in the shadows, broke out in a cold sweat. He couldn''t be sure if they had truly discovered his invisibility or if they were bluffing to lure him out.


    There were at least three hundred wizards in the hall, and Aidan had no chance of winning a direct confrontation. He scanned the room, looking at the windows.


    At that moment, the male wizard in the red robe on the high tform took out a strange figurine from his robes. It was entirely ck, but it emitted a blue ethereal light on the surface. The light grew brighter, quickly covering the entire hall.


    Oh no!


    Aidan suddenly saw the wizard on the high tform look in his direction. He felt a powerful force locking onto him.


    "Do you think you can escape?" the red-robed man said. "In front of the great Elemental Spirits, your shadow can''t protect you!"


    The red-robed man extended his right hand, and a massive whip, nearly ten meters long, materialized out of thin air, striking Aidan''s back.


    Thud!


    With a muffled sound, his Mage Shield was instantly shattered. Aidan felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his spine seemed to snap in two. He was forced out of his shadowy state and tumbled to the ground.


    "Cough, cough," Aidan coughed up blood, using his hands to support his body and struggling to stand. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain that coursed through his entire body as he gazed at the red-robed wizard in front of him, a horrified expression on his face.


    The fact that a single strike had shattered his shadow and destroyed his Mage Shield meant that his opponent was likely a powerful wizard. Yet, Aidan had seen all the prominent wizards in thisnd, and he didn''t recognize this man.


    Aidan knew he had no hope of escape. He had to focus on getting away and spreading the information. That was the most important thing right now.


    With the precious moments bought by his colleagues'' sacrifice, he was only a few meters away from the nearest window.


    But at that moment, the red-robed wizard, who had been observing, took action!


    Aidan''s heart raced, and he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cavern. He could clearly sense a powerful force locking onto him.


    "Do you think you can escape?" the red-robed man said. "In front of the great Elemental Spirits, your shadow can''t protect you!"


    The red-robed man raised a strange figurine from his robes and shouted with malice.


    "Feel the power bestowed upon you by the Elemental Spirits!"


    A burst of red light shone from the figurine''s twin eyes and enveloped the hesitating apprentice, Sia, who stood in front.


    Sia instantly felt her mind being forcibly filled with something, and her magical energy inside her body quickly drained away. In just one second, a ball of mes the size of a human head formed in her hand, crackling with violent energy.


    This wasn''t just a first-tier spell, but a much more potent second-tier spell  the me Burst.


    Though her me Burst was slightlyrger than the usual, Sia didn''t care. She was ecstatic,pletely consumed by the rush. As an apprentice, she couldn''t believe she was able to use such powerful magic. It was clear that this was the power granted by the great Elemental Spirits.


    "Praise the great Elemental Spirits!" Sia shouted with excitement, her doubts vanished, and without hesitation, she hurled the raging fireball towards the terrified Aidan.


    "Praise the great Elemental Spirits!" Amid the explosion, dismembered bodies, and mes, the wizards in the hall joined in the fanatical chant, believing wholeheartedly in the impending apocalypse.


    They had to force every wizard to renounce the idea of enving the Elementals. By correcting this mistake and praying for redemption from the great Elemental Spirits, each of them would gain their approval and receive even greater power!


    The red-robed man watched with great satisfaction as the scene unfolded, and the figurine in his hand had closed its eyes. It seemed like he was savoring something.


    "Let''s begin today''s prayer ceremony!"


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 Chapter 167: Naming the Planet

    Chapter 167: Naming the


    Sunday morning, Gryner, the headquarters of the Iyeta Academy.


    Several carriages driven by fire lions were parked steadily in front of the mansion''s gates. The fluttering banners disyed an all-seeing eye symbol, which was well-known in the wizard city, as it was the emblem of the Society of Mystical Arts!


    "Professor Lynn, we better hurry with our actions, or we might bete!" Phillip had been waiting by the gate, urging Lynn from a distance.


    Apanied by Jonny, Elok, and other apprentices, Lynn had donned a new robe of gold and red, personally crafted by a master alchemist. The robe was enchanted with three spells: Dust Repulsion, Medium Elemental Resistance, and Nature''s Blessing, providing protection and enhancing the wearer''s physical abilities.


    Of course, this came at a high cost. The robe, along with the carriages, set him back a hefty one thousand magic gold coins, leaving Lynn feeling a pang of regret.


    When added to the four thousand gold coins spent on the mansion, it was as if he had returned to square one in one night. But, as per Phillip''s perspective, he was now a person of status, and this asion required some extravagance!


    Thankfully, Lynn remembered that Darren and his team had already begun producing the first batch of ss, ensuring a steady source of ie. This thought helped ease Lynn''s financial concerns.


    Riding in the carriages driven by fire lions, the group quickly arrived at the Crown of the Sun Tower.


    The Magic Council, the governing body of the entire wizard world, was located here.


    Lynn gazed up at the massive Sky Mirror atop the tower  the core of the Magic Council. Only council members with proper credentials were allowed inside.


    The annual medal award ceremony was held inside the Sky Mirror.


    At this moment, the square in front of the tower was already crowded with thousands of people. It seemed like the entire wizardmunity in Gryner had gathered, not wanting to miss this grand ceremony, which happened only once every hundred years.


    As Lynn stepped down from the carriage, the enthusiastic wizards surrounding the square came forward, offering their congrattions. Some tried to curry favor with the rising magical star, showering him with ttery andpliments.


    Lynn responded casually, not letting the adtion affect him. Meanwhile, the Iyeta Academy''s wizards, such as Phillip, Kevin, and Ondo, were immersed in the praise and ttery, even attracting the attention of schrs and senior wizards who approached them.


    Phillip couldn''t help but feel that his decision to have Lynn lead the Iyeta Academy was undoubtedly a wise one.


    "Congrattions, Lord Lynn. You are the first three-ring wizard ever to receive such an honor. This will be recorded in the annals of magical history," Raphael said, smiling as he guided them.


    "Thank you for your praise, Master Raphael," Lynn responded and followed him as they ascended the Crown of the Sun Tower.


    At the entrance, two guards bowed slightly as Lynn''s group approached. The interior of the tower had beenvishly designed, resembling a miniature pce. Countless baster pirs supported the domed ceiling, which sparkled in the light of magicalmps. The marble floor gleamed, reflecting a translucent radiance. The walls were covered in intricate alchemical runes, and in the center stood a winding staircase leading to the tower''s pinnacle.


    "The Council is considering naming our, no, our star. We''ve discussed it for a long time and couldn''t decide. In the end, we''ve decided to let you, the founder of Star Studies, choose the name!" Raphael said with a grin as he walked toward the Sky Mirror at the tower''s top.


    Naming the? Phillip and the others were amazed. This was an honor equal to receiving a medal.


    Lynn was equally surprised that the Council entrusted such an important task to him. It was his first time naming a, especially one as significant and life-filled as theirs.


    Should it be called Earth? Or perhaps Blue Star? Lynn contemted these options for a moment but ultimately shook his head. "Let''s call it the Eternal Star."


    "The Eternal Star?" Raphael pondered for a moment and nodded. "May it stand in the endless cosmos, eternally undying."


    During their conversation, the magically enhanced stairs swiftly brought them to the top floor, the Sky Realm.


    This ce served as the hub of the entire wizard world and the venue for significant meetings. Magic permeated every aspect, and the concentration of magical energy exceeded any ce Lynn had visited before.


    Raphael led them to the area, and their entrance drew countless gazes. Lynn''s gaze shifted to the high tform of the council, where five chairs were ced  the seats of the legendary wizards and the council president.


    Apart from Harof, whom he was very familiar with, two other council presidents had arrived.


    One was a frail, white-haired elder  the legendary alchemist, Magic Artisan Victorio! The other was a strikingly beautiful woman in a vivid red gown, a founder of the Divination School  the Witch O!


    Lynn had gathered quite a bit of information in recent days and recognized O as the founder of the Divination School. He hadn''t forgotten the heated debate where he had humiliated Divination School wizards, which was equivalent to a p in the face.


    Lynn could only hope that O wasn''t one to hold grudges.


    As for the remaining two empty seats, they remained unupied.


    It was nearing 9:00 a.m., the scheduled start time for the medal ceremony, but the wizards in the Sky Realm remained motionless, as if they were waiting for something.


    "I heard that the legendary wizard of the Polymorph School, Lord Fayz, with the power of the Giant Dragon, will also attend the ceremony. Perhaps he''s runningte," Raphael exined in a low voice.


    "And the other legendary figure?" Lynn asked curiously.


    "Lord Altok, the Elemental Master, might not be in a suitable condition to attend such a grand event," Raphael replied, subtly exining the unusual behavior of the Elementalist wizard.


    There were rumors within the wizard world that this legendary wizard had encountered a terrifying creature known as the Elemental Phantom while researching microelements. It had severely affected his mental state, making his behavior somewhat unconventional.


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 Chapter 168: The Legendary Witch Aurora

    Chapter 168: The Legendary Witch Aurora


    "Is the Society of Mystical Arts you mentioned really that amazing?"


    As the people below anxiously waited, the Artificer Victorio looked in surprise at Harof, the Magic Artificer. He asked with a puzzled expression.


    During this time, he had been busy optimizing an alchemical array and didn''t have much energy to focus on the affairs inside Greenriel City. It wasn''t until the past few days that he heard some of the Grand Masters of the Alchemy Association mention this matter.


    They were full of praise for Lynn from the Misty Sea and the mysterious Society of Mystical Arts, making Victorio incredibly curious.


    "Yes, I''ve had some exchanges with a few legendary wizards from the Society of Mystical Arts, and their understanding of the cosmos, stars, and space far surpasses ours," Harof replied. He paused for a moment, changed his tone, and shook his head. "No, or I should say, it''s not evenparable.


    During thest gathering of legendary wizards, when they were discussing the birth and death of the universe, he could only describe it as embarrassing because he couldn''t understand what the other side was saying.


    The only thing he could confirm was the concept of gctic redshift. But even so, Harof could tell that their theories were logically rigorous, and he even had the feeling that the universe should be just like that.


    Victorio, on the other hand, found Harof''s description a bit too mystical. He wasn''t willing to believe that a wizard organization from the Misty Sea could surpass the continuous development and advancement of magical theories in Greenriel over the past three hundred years.


    While the two were chatting, the discussions in the Celestial Sky Realm had grown louder, and it had been one and a half hours since the award ceremony was supposed to start.


    "What''s going on with Archbishop Anluke?" Victorio also found it strange. In theory, Archbishop Anluke couldn''t be absent from the awarding of the Daystar Medals, such an important event.


    "Perhaps something dyed him," Aurora said casually.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Harof decided not to wait any longer and proceeded with the award ceremony. Waiting longer might lead to a postponement.


    ording to the council''s regtions, other than matters like dering war, fully opening thend of the wizards, or increasing the number of council seats, which could affect the survival of Greenriel, all other important proposals only required the agreement of more than half of the council members, and as long as no councilor expressed clear opposition.


    Thinking of this, Harof stood up, cleared his throat, and spoke, "Since Archbishop Anluke has some urgent matters, let''s proceed with today''s agenda."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the once noisy hall suddenly fell silent. All eyes turned to the tform.


    "First, Mr. Beron, your Vitality Elixir can quickly restore a wizard''s strength, and its materials are simple. It has high poprization value. ording to the review by the symposium, I will award you a Daystar Badge as a recognition." Harof looked at a male wizard sitting in the front row.


    Beron stood up, extremely excited, and his wrists were trembling as he received the badge.


    Normally, the award ceremonies were presided over by Grand Wizards from the Symposium. But this time was different; the awards were given directly by legendary wizards, a significant honor!


    Next, Harof awarded Daystar Badges to several wizards who had made significant contributions.


    This was another way to gain recognition besides academic achievements. It involved making outstanding contributions to the prosperity and development of thend of the wizards or carrying out important tasks like eradicating enemies.


    Ougust was among the recipients.


    As Harof evaluated each person''s achievements, Lynn realized that most of them were awarded for one specific task: hunting down the psychic wizards who were still causing trouble and creating disturbances.


    A few years ago, although several Grand Wizards dispatched by the council sessfully eradicated the evil mage school led by Merk, they left behind some troubles.


    Ougust''s mission was to eliminate a significant figure among the remaining psychic wizards, a key lieutenant of the dark mage Merk.


    However, everyone present understood that the awards for these contributions were just appetizers. As expected, Harof soon turned his attention to Lynn.


    "Last but not least, Lord Lynn! The theories you presented about thes and the theory of gravity havepletely overturned the understanding of the entire world by the wizards. Your groundbreaking theories, along with a few extraordinary experiments, have verified that these magical theories are not mere fantasies but irond facts!"


    "In the future, the three greatws of the stars and the universalw of gravity will be required reading for those studying Field Magic..."


    "Given the contributions made by Lord Lynn, the Council has unanimously decided to award him the highest honor in magical academia - the Daystar Medal!" Harof shouted loudly, and his voice echoed in the Celestial Sky Realm, making the atmosphere in the entire venue even more heated.


    Apanying the cheers was a wave of apuse, and Philip and the others apuded vigorously, as if they wanted to make this wave even more intense.


    Lynn stood up and walked towards the tform, while the wizards around him cast various admiring, longing, and astonished nces.


    As an official wizard from the Misty Sea, with just a few academic works, he had be the brightest rising star in the entirend of the wizards in just a few days. It inspired many young wizards to dedicate themselves to magic when they returned, hoping to earn this honor someday.


    Harof solemnly received a box handed to him by a council member. Inside the box was a very special medal, entirely made of dark gold, with a gloss resembling a gem. The materials used were extremely precious and could not be found anywhere in the known world.


    The front of the medal depicted the council''s emblem, while the back featured a towering Daystar Tower. In addition to its exquisite appearance and associated honor, it was also a powerful alchemical item. It could activate a six-ring protective spell called "Victorio''s Barrier" once actively or when faced with a life-threatening situation.


    It was a one-time use item; after releasing this spell, all internal mana would be depleted, rendering it nothing more than an ordinary honor medal.


    Simr to the Daystar and Silver Moon Medals, it had protection spells of the corresponding level, serving as a safeguard for those who showed extraordinary talent in academic research and made outstanding contributions to thend of the wizards.


    Just as Harof was about to take out the medal, a hand reached out and took the Daystar Medal first.


    "Let me do it!"


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 Chapter 169: The Dragon Falling from the Sky

    Chapter 169: The Dragon Falling from the Sky


    At some point, Aurora had already risen from her seat, taking over Harof''s duties with a subtle, captivating smile. She walked towards Lynn, leaving him somewhat surprised. He couldn''t help but recall their earlier sh with the Divination School and was worried about her intentions.


    However, Aurora''s next movepletely took Lynn by surprise.


    The legendary witch skillfully ced the dark gold Sun Crown Medal on Lynn''s chest, then leaned in and nted a light kiss on his forehead, whispering in his ear, "Good day, my tawny star..."


    Lynn turned in astonishment to see Aurora''s smile and those blue-violet eyes.


    Even the wizards and council members present at the Skyrealm were taken aback, and whispers, gossip, and suspicions filled the air.


    Even Harof was stunned, not knowing what Aurora was up to.


    But the legendary witch showed no inclination to exin herself. She acted as though it was just a fleeting moment of whimsy, and after cing the medal on Lynn, she returned to her seat.


    Lynn was left bewildered, unable toprehend why Aurora had suddenly made such an intimate gesture. This should have been their first meeting.


    Could it be that the legendary witch had taken a liking to him? Lynn couldn''t help but shiver at the thought. He couldn''t let Aurora''s youthful and alluring appearance cloud his judgment; after all, she had already be a legendary wizard, likely several times his age.


    But what did she mean by "tawny star"? Lynn was utterly baffled. ording to Phillip, many people were now calling him the Twin Star of Greenvale. Was this a new nickname?


    "Ahem, Lord Lynn, you''ve received the highest honor in magical academia. Don''t you have anything to say?" Harof cleared his throat, easing the tension and redirecting everyone''s attention to the matter at hand.


    Lynn immediately responded, addressing the gathered wizards. "I''m deeply honored that my theories and research in magic have been recognized by the Council. In truth, this honor doesn''t belong to me alone. The Three Ster Laws were the result of coborative research by many schrs within the Society of Mystical Arts. I simply summarized their findings and experimented to validate the theorem."


    "The path to seeking the truth of magic is destined to be filled with challenges. All our research is merely an elucidation of the surface of things. The grandeur and mystery of the world far exceed our imaginations. Wizards are like wanderers on the vast sea, rejoicing at every discovered ind."


    "But I believe that one day, we will reach the continent called ''Truth'' and find all the answers," Lynn''s gaze swept across the room. After a pause, he continued, "Of course, this will require the collective efforts of all wizards. During my time at the Society of Mystical Arts, I heard a saying that became the foundation of my academic research: ''Practice is the only criterion for testing the truth.''"


    Lynn''s resolute words drew the audience''s attention, and they apuded enthusiastically.


    "An excellent speech, Lord Lynn," Harof praised, then continued, "In addition to the Sun Crown Medal, the Magic Council has decided to grant you a council seat. Let''s proceed with the vote now!"


    If the Sun Crown Medal represented honor, a council seat symbolized an elevation in status. All significant decisions within the Wizard''s Land were discussed and voted on by the council!


    The Wizard''s Land was home to thousands of wizards, yet there were only 150 council seats. Apart from about thirty grand wizards, the remaining council members were exceptional Three-Ring wizards in various fields. For example, Lynn had met Tiek, a master alchemist who had earned a council seat due to his exceptional alchemical skills.


    However, everyone knew that today, the council would gain one more member!


    The vote was more of a formality, as no one would openly oppose a rising magical prodigy. The final result was a unanimous approval.


    Lynn expressed his gratitude once more, and Harof officially dered the honor ceremony over.


    The wizards in the Skyrealm, who had been gossiping about Lynn''s rtionship with Aurora, now stood up, discussing Lynn''s speech and whispering about his connection to the "witch."


    Just as everyone was about to leave, a series of urgent bell chimes resonated from a distance.


    The once-noisy Council Chamber fell into sudden silence. Several legendary wizards'' expressions changed, and they looked up at the sky.


    Lynn also followed their gaze and saw a colossal, ominous ck dragon slowly approaching the cerulean sky. Through Tiek''s Far-Sight Magic, Lynn could clearly discern the ferocious ck dragon''s appearance!


    With a wingspan of over thirty meters, its jet-ck scales emitted a cold, icy light, like indestructible steel, inducing fear in anyone who gazed upon it.


    "Isn''t Lord Fayzing a bitte?" Raphael chuckled. He had been puzzled by the sudden rm sounded by the magical clock earlier, but it seemed to be a false rm.


    The Dragon of Force, right? Lynn immediately remembered its name; it seemed that was the reason for this...


    Lynn realized that this was the first time he had seen a dragon in person. He was curious and took a few more nces, but quickly sensed that something was amiss. The ck dragon''s flight path was erratic, and it was shrouded in a gloomy and lifeless aura. After flying over Greenvale City, it let out a painful roar and descended straight down...


    "How could this be?" "Lord Fayz?"


    The ck dragon crashed into the ground, causing a violent tremor that seemed to shake the entire city. Panic and cries erupted within the Council Chamber.


    Several legendary wizards had already disappeared from their council seats, leaving early.


    "What should we do now, Professor Lynn?" Philip, who had initially intended to ask Lynn about his rtionship with the legendary witch, was now more concerned about the situation.


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 Chapter 170: The Magic Stone Mine, Space Gate, and Legendary Creatures

    Chapter 170: The Magic Stone Mine, Space Gate, and Legendary Creatures


    Harof, Aurora, and Victorio arrived at the scene early and, after checking on Fayz''s injuries, their expressions became somewhat grave.


    The atmosphere at the scene was heavy, and the onlooking wizards were all anxious.


    "Chairmen, how is Lord Fayz doing?" a wizard from the Shaping School asked eagerly.


    Harof did not respond, while Aurora looked at the anxious wizards gathered here and said, "While he is not lightly wounded, his life is not in immediate danger. He just needs some time to recover."


    Upon hearing this, the wizards present breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves rxing slightly. However, they were still eager to know who or what could have injured Fayz, a legendary wizard.


    The legendary wizards did not exin further and, together, used magic to return Fayz to his wizard form. They then summoned the best magical healer to take him for recuperation.


    After all this, Harof turned to the members of the council, indicating that they shoulde to the Skyrealm tonight for the next meeting.


    ...


    Late at night, on the top floor of the Sun Crown Tower, the meeting hall of the Skyrealm, 151 council members had gathered.


    Compared to the lively and noisy morning scene, the meeting room was exceptionally solemn at this moment. Only a few members were whispering among themselves, and everyone wore expressions of concern and anxiety.


    "Lord Harof, Lord Fayz''s injuries can''t be that simple, can they?" Ougust was the first to speak in the silence, and the other council members turned to Harof, waiting for his response.


    "Indeed, Fayz is severely wounded this time. I''ve administered a Resurrection Elixir, but the situation is still not optimistic," Harof said, shaking his head with a sigh.


    "So, what happened? Who attacked Lord Fayz..." Raphael asked in confusion. The only beings in the Wizard''s Domain who could threaten a legendary wizard like Fayz were the other council members.


    But then, as if suddenly remembering something, Raphael eximed, "Could it be a problem in the Magic Stone Mine?"


    If he remembered correctly, Fayz had flown in the direction of the Magic Stone Mine.


    "Fayz has a severe wound on his abdomen, a wound that could threaten his life. It''s possible he encountered creatures like the Eye Demons, Death Lords, or even more powerful entities," Harof furrowed his brow, and with each name he mentioned, the council members'' faces grew graver.


    Only Lynn wore a confused expression, turning to Tiek and quietly asking for an exnation.


    Under Tiek''s exnation, Lynn learned that not far from Greenriel, within the enormous Kogar Mountain, there was an extensive crystal mine with such dense magical energy that it was difficult to imagine. This led to the distortion and chaos of the space in the entire area, with the core forming a strange magical vortex.


    It was like a naturally urring space gate, but no one knew whaty on the other side. The Wizard''s Domain had sent several teams to investigate, but none of them had returned alive.


    Some spected that the other side might lead to another vast Magic Stone Mine, while others believed it could connect to another world because from time to time, the magical vortex would emit creatures they had never seen before.


    It was precisely because of Greenriel''s rich magical creatures and ore resources that a small Wizard''s Domain could support so many formal wizards.


    But with it came many troubles, such as more than ten years ago when several Mindyers inexplicably appeared in the mine. With their strange psychic powers, they broke through the heavy defenses and caused chaos within the Wizard''s Domain. It took the council a great deal of effort to find and eliminate them.


    While Lynn was asking, Harof was in discussions with the council members about the next course of action.


    Kogar Mountain was too close to Greenriel City, and the emergence of a powerful and unknown creature inside was undoubtedly a huge threat. Many council members proposed immediately assembling a team led by legendary wizards and consisting of all senior wizards to swiftly search and eliminate this creature.


    However, Tiek and others believed that this proposal was too risky. They had no idea about the creature that attacked Fayz, and their numbers and abilities were all unknown. Reckless action could lead to significant casualties.


    "We can wait for Lord Fayz to wake up and find out what happened before deciding how to proceed," suggested Raphael. But his proposal was met with opposition.


    "That''s too simple. Lord Fayz''s injuries are severe, and nobody can be certain when he will wake up. If we dy for too long, the creature, just like the Mindyers, may roam the Wizard''s Domain, causing even more trouble. Who will deal with it then?"


    "Why don''t we send a few people to investigate the situation first?"


    "Send who? Are you willing to go? That''s no different from sending someone to their death."


    The entire meeting hall descended into chaos, with council members splitting into two factions: those advocating immediate action to deal with the problem in the Magic Stone Mine and those who preferred a more cautious approach, investigating first and actingter.


    Lynn did not participate in the discussion. He had just be a council member and was not familiar with the council''s procedures. Besides, there was very little information avable, and he couldn''t think of a foolproof n.


    After an urgent consultation, Harof soon made a decision, opting for a decisive approach. He would lead a team along with the other two council members and bring nine alchemists skilled in the use of alchemy to ensure safety.


    Harof was inspired by Lynn''s theory of Universal Gravitation and thought they could set up an alchemical array to further restrict the peculiar space gate, preventing a recurrence of such a situation.


    Thinking about it, Harof hesitated about whether to include Lynn in this mission, but after careful consideration, he decided against it. The situation inside the Magic Stone Mine was still unknown, and even Fayz had suffered severe injuries. The danger was evident, and Lynn, despite his deep knowledge of astronomy and gravitational theory, was just a regr wizard with limited self-defense abilities. In the face of danger, he might not even be able to resist.


    "Ougust, in our absence, you will oversee the council''s affairs," Harof ordered with solemnity.


    "Thank you for your trust, Chairman!" Ougust ced his hand on his chest and respectfully bowed.


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 Chapter 171: "Unless Someones Willing to Use Magic to Pull Down the Moon!"

    Chapter 171: "Unless Someone''s Willing to Use Magic to Pull Down the Moon!"


    In the days following the assault on Fayz, the entire city of Greenreel was on edge. A colossal ck dragon crashing down was impossible to conceal, stirring widespread unease.


    Despite the Council''s swift rification that the legendary wizard was attacked by unknown creatures within the magical ore mine and was currently stable, needing time to recover, rumors persisted and grew uncontrobly.


    In Greenreel, legendary wizards were the pinnacle, supreme figures! There had never been an instance of a legendary wizard being assaulted and gravely harmed.


    This meant that the Wizard City, once perceived as utterly secure, might now be unsafe. Rumors even spected that the appearance of powerful creatures in the magical ore mine heralded the apocalypse.


    "Those doomsday sect wizards im that when fours align with the Silver Moon in the sky, doomsday will arrive. Elemental torrents will engulf the entire continent, and the moon will fall from the sky..." Lydia vividly recounted the gossip she''d heard while out shopping.


    "Ridiculous!" Elok interrupted before Lydia finished. "Didn''t you hear what the professor said during the seminar a few days ago? The celestial bodies'' orbits are stable; how could the moon suddenly fall?"


    Johnny, Pearce, and the others treated it as a joke.


    "You''re right, Professor?" Elok turned to Lynn, grinning.


    Lynn, deep in thought while jotting down titles, paused. "Unless someone''s willing to use magic to pull down the moon, or unless our luck is at its nadir and a massive cosmic meteor or a wandering asteroid collides with the moon, knocking it off course and hurtling toward us"


    Elok and the others exchanged nces. Initially dismissing the talk of doomsday as baseless, Lynn''s serious analysis made it seem strangely usible.


    But Lynn quickly reassured, "Overall, the possibility is minuscule. Even a legendary wizard might not influence a celestial body at such a vast distance. As for an asteroid hitting the moon? Lower probability than a fire lion suddenly giving birth to a giant dragon."


    Elok rxed, nearly convinced that doomsday wasn''t imminent.


    While the apprentices treated the doomsday talk as a spectacle, Lynn sensed something amiss.


    The legendary wizard Fayz, known for the ''Power of the Dragon,'' had just been assaulted. The spreading doomsday rumors in Greenreel made Lynn suspect deliberate fear-mongering.


    After all, apocalypse and salvation were the prime aspects of faith.


    This had been confirmed numerous times in past lives.


    This organization styled as a sect reminded Lynn of the clergy, but ordinarily, heretics should have been more at odds with the clergy than these wizards.


    Shaking her head, Lynn thought that despite having tforms like the "Magic Daily," the Council''s attention to public opinion was clearly insufficient. If someone dared spread such doomsday talks in Iyeta Harbor, she would have dispatched people to capture and interrogate those responsible.


    "Lynn, we''ve finally replicated it!" At that moment, Darren rushed out of the estate''s small workshop covered in dust, his singed robe riddled with holes, yet his face beaming with joy. He held several transparent ss pieces in his hands.


    The apprentices gathered eagerly. One of them picked up a ss piece, inspecting it closely, seemingly searching for something.


    "This time, absolutely wless!" Darren confidently stated. Oveing days of struggles, they followed Lynn''s methods, striving to create ss that previously contained many air bubbles inside.


    Lynn took the ss Darren offered, examined it, nodded approvingly, and asked, "What about the paper I assigned you to make?"


    "We''re in the final stages of ironing and trimming. Tomorrow, at thetest, we''ll have results!" Darren eximed ecstatically. The techniques Lynn imparted to them were nothing short of magical!


    Those sheets, thinner and lighter than swan feathers, were made frommonce wood! If Lynn hadn''t witnessed her turning sand and stones into ss, she''d have believed it a jest.


    Lynn then turned to Johnny and the others. "How''s your grasp of the inscription magic I taught?"


    "I can now record forty-one words in one go!" Elok boasted.


    "I can manage only thirty-seven words," Pearce shook his head.


    Both then looked at Johnny.


    "Sixty-nine!" Johnny hesitated briefly before revealing.


    Elok and Pearce were astonished; the difference was considerable. They were unaware theirrade had already be a certified wizard, thinking Johnny''s prior disy of power was aided by the alchemical apparatus "Magic Hand."


    In reality, recording sixty-nine words in one go wasn''t the limit for a young sorceress, but rather around three hundred words or so.


    "Excellent! With that in mind, you can start transcribing today!" Lynn handed over neatly arranged papers detailing the Theory of Universal Gravity and two advanced arithmetic books.


    This inscription magic Lynn developed was a zero-tier sorcery, even apprentices could use. It resembled moveable type printing; first, constructing corresponding temtes in the mind, then imprinting magical marks on paper, parchment, or desks.


    Each sorcerer skilled in inscription magic became a humanoid printing press, theirputational prowess determining their output.


    "Professor, the problems you set are incredibly challenging!" Elok flipped through a book titled "Advanced Arithmetics," pondered for a moment, and then scrunched up his face in consternation. One thought dominated his mind: Were these problems really solved by humans?


    "A few days ago, an arithmetic grandmaster from the Secret Mage Society asked me to find a group of wizards exceptionally talented in mathematics to collectively solve a conundrum in the arithmetic realm. So, the problems I''ve set are meant to identify these individualsnaturally, they had to be difficult," Lynn exined.


    Of course, this was an excuse. In reality, Lynn intended to leverage this pretext to recruit a batch of astonishingly talented sorcerers into the realm of magic!


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 Chapter 172: Can Humans Really Solve These Questions?

    Chapter 172: Can Humans Really Solve These Questions?


    Recent appearances of powerful creatures within the Magic Stone Mine and the sudden emergence of the Doomsday Sect made Lynn sense a hint of danger.


    The former wasn''t something he could meddle with. Even if those legendary wizards joined forces and couldn''t solve this trouble, his own efforts would likely be futile.


    Thetter concerned Ougust, the current overseer. However, Lynn wasn''t about to entirely rely on others for his safety. Finding a way to enhance his own strength, to adeptly deal with potential threats, became an urgent matter.


    Continuing to advance in wizard ranks seemed the best choice, but he had only recently ascended to the Second Circle. Despite the enormous power gained from the "Eye of Death" not yet entirely depleted and his magic still in rapid growth, the distance to the next promotion remained substantial.


    So, Lynn had to approach this from another angle. Just like when confronting Herlram previously, with theputational support of nine Third Circle wizards, he could briefly contend even against a Fifth Circle Grand Wizard!


    Though during that encounter, he had outwitted Herlram and caused a magical bacsh, leaving Herlram''s strength reduced to merely about thirty to forty percent of his original power. Still, it was enough to crush the strength of ordinary official wizards!


    Precisely because of this, during these days in Grenreil, besides preparing speeches and experimental materials, Lynn spent most of his time crafting new "Rings of Arcana."


    To distinguish them, these newly made rings weren''t as morous as Harof''s and didn''t transport the wearer "beyond space-time." Instead, they connected to a within the magical realm. The brain was currently working fervently to quickly determine the location for the second assembly.


    Ultimately, Lynn settled on twelve people for this journey! The reason for limiting the number was twofold: first, his brain''sputational capacity was limited, and moreputational power didn''t necessarily mean better results.


    Secondly, the magical realm was in its nascent stage. If too many people were brought in at once, there was a risk of exposure.


    As for the legendary wizard Harof, who had previously entered the magical realm, Lynn didn''t dare allow the brain to attempt deciphering his mental frequency. Given the huge gap in their strengths, it might be noticed. The true targets were those Third Circle wizards.


    With a "Diversionary Force Field" for defense and "Spatial Vibrations" as an offensive measure, even when facing a Grand Wizard, he wouldn''t bepletely defenseless.


    Two dayster, at noon, within a temporarily leased magic shop in Grenreil City, the ce was already packed.


    "Is this the ss mirror?" a young witch marveled, holding up a palm-sized round mirror. Its wless, smooth surface perfectly reflected her charming faceporcin skin, crimson lips, even the strands of hair drifting across her forehead were crystal clear.


    Almost instantly captivated, she couldn''t put it down. Apart from its clear reflection, the ss mirror itself looked like a work of art.


    However, its steep price made the young witch hesitate. Therger and more high-end the ss mirror, the higher the price. A full-length mirror was priced at a whopping twenty magic coins! Not a small sum even for wizards!


    "Beautiful witch, these miraculous ss mirrors are exceedingly rare, and their crafting process is extremelyplex. For instance, thergest full-length mirror has only one piece left. We don''t know when the next batch will be made. If you miss today, who knows how long you''ll have to wait..."


    Darren, in charge of sales, incessantly exined the rarity of the ss mirrors, emphasizing their low production and the throngs of people eager to buy. If she waited even a minute longer, they might all be sold out.


    Seeing this, the young witch couldn''t afford further hesitation. She bit her lip and immediately used all her savingsthirty magic coinsto purchase thergest full-length mirror and a small handheld one.


    Gleefully, Darren opened a drawer and stacked the earned magic coins inside. In just half an hour, the whole drawer sparkled with the glint of coins.


    Lord Lynn''s hunger marketing strategy was simply brilliant! To cater to apprentices andmoners with limited purchasing power, apart from the best-selling ss mirrors, they also produced many equally exquisite ss utensilsteapots, cups, and even trays. Their prices ranged from seventy silver coins to five magic coins, butpared to their extremely low production costs, it was almost like highway robbery.


    However, other wizards saw it differently. These exquisitely crafted ss products were symbolic of status and position. Soon, a wave of purchasing ssware swept through Grenreil City.


    Quite a few savvy wizards intended to buy in bulk, nning to resell at a higher price in other cities within the wizarding domain.


    Also sold out were two books: "Fundamentals of Numerology" and "Advanced Numerical Studies." Some wizards were curious about the thin and pristine white pages, while others were solely interested in numerology.


    Tiek was among them. When he heard Lynn''s lectures on numerology at Iyeta Harbor, he was deeply impressed by the subject''s intricacy and rigorous logic. Naturally, he was highly interested in numerology.


    Thus, upon learning that a master of numerical studies from the Society of Mystical Arts intended to invite twelve formally recognized wizards who excelled in arithmetic to tackle a major numerical problem, Tiek became instantly intrigued.


    Confidently, he believed he could be one of the twelve. After all,pared to other wizards, he had attended numerology sses two months earlier,ying a solid foundation.


    With these thoughts, Tiek didn''t even bother looking at the so-called "Fundamentals of Numerology" but directly flipped open the more advanced "Advanced Numerical Studies." However, upon seeing the first question, he froze.


    "Find the sum of the form 1^2+2^2+3^2+4^29999^2!"


    After confirming he hadn''t misread the exponent symbol, Tiek couldn''t help but gasp. Adding squares from 1^2 to 9999^2 would take up dozens of pages just to write out the entire form. It might take days or even half a month of sleepless calctions to arrive at the result!


    And this was only the first question!


    Did it have to be this difficult?


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 Chapter 173: Calculus Conception and Sudden Attack

    Chapter 173: Calculus Conception and Sudden Attack


    Tiek was utterly bewildered. He had thought that, with two months of advanced study in Math Sorcery and a well-stocked knowledge base, tackling Math Sorcery problems would be a breeze.


    But this first problem had him stumped.


    If the sequence had stopped at a few hundred or a few thousand, he could have persevered, working his way slowly to an answer. However, the final value was nine hundred and ny-nine thousand, nine hundred and ny-nine!


    No, there had to be a pattern!


    Quickly realizing this, Tiek''s mind raced back to when Lynn had engaged in an exponential sum game back at Iyeta Harbor. It was a simrlyplex calction, yet through a marvelous exponential form, Lynn had effortlessly simplified the intricateputation to a level an apprentice could solve with some time.


    With this in mind, Tiek swiftly grabbed a quill, swiftly jotting down the products of the first ten indices on the paper, then meticulously added them together, analyzing simrities and differences between each value.


    "1, 4, 9, 16, 25"


    "5, 14, 30, 76"


    Tiek pondered furiously, each number shing through his mind. He attempted to apply the exponential sum form learned in his math sses,paring the derived values to the result, continuously modifying the form in search of the correct answer.


    No, ten numbers were too few, insufficient to ascertain the pattern


    Tiek''s quill trembled over the parchment, digits and symbols written, then quickly crossed out, beginning the calctions anew.


    Pages upon pages piled up and were discarded, umting around his ankles.


    Unbeknownst to him, dusk had given way to dawn. Tiek had spent the entire afternoon and evening on this problem, eyes bloodshot, yet his spirit heightened. Finally, he stood up, unable to contain his excitement.


    "That''s it, that''s it!"


    Like a parched wanderer stumbling upon an oasis in the desert, Tiek eagerly seized another sheet of paper, meticulously matching the previously derived values with those from the form.


    "They''re all correct, my form is right!"


    Tiek was ecstatic, mimicking Lynn''s exponential sum form, solemnly inscribing one line after another on the paper.


    "S_n = 1/6 (n+1)(2n+1)n"


    After finishing, Tiek sat back down, feeling incredibly content. The sensation of discovering unknown patterns and summarizing them was profoundly captivating.


    Eagerly, he nced at the next problem.


    "Five monkeys found a pile of peaches by the seaside, deciding to divide them the next morning. The first monkey, arriving earliest, couldn''t split the peaches evenly, so it ate one and divided the rest into five portions, taking its share and leaving. The second monkey, unaware of the first''s visit, also ate one peach, divided the remaining, and kept its share. This pattern continued with the third, fourth, and fifth monkeys, each eating one peach, and dividing the remainder into five equal parts. How many peaches were there in total?"


    At first nce, Tiek sighed in relief; this seemed like a straightforward equation, right?


    What jumping frogs, sliding snails he''d seen those apprentices in Iyeta Harbor solve those types of problems numerous times. All it required was to set a few unknowns and solve the equation.


    But as he poised his pen to solve it, Tiek abruptly realized something was amiss. Lynn''s conditions this time were simply too scarce.


    The sole known condition was that these peaches had been divided a total of five times, subtracting one each time, leaving Tiek clueless about the quantity divided each time or the peaches left after thest monkey''s share.


    Tiek listed the known conditions, pondered for long, even plucking several strands of hair in frustration, eventually feeling utterly at a loss, a desire rising within him to pummel the question setter.


    Could a person even solve this?


    Helplessly, Tiek had to make a random estimation of the peach quantity, assuming it as the total number, trying to plug it in and slowly seek out the pattern.


    This night tormented many a wizard in the same way as Tiek. Most wizards stumbled at the first three problems, tearing the paper into pieces in their fury or smashing furniture. However, the true warriors surged forward, relishing this simultaneously painful and delightful sensation.


    Meanwhile, while hundreds of wizards cursed and desired to thrash him, Lynn was constructing a new setting within the magic realm.


    The second gathering ce was transformed into a library, filled with various Math Sorcery books. Lynn pondered on what bait to use to entice these wizards to linger in the magic realm for an extended period.


    Cracking a formal wizard''s mental frequency, thus essing theirputational power, wasn''t an easy task.


    The "Faceless Gathering" concocted by Herlram had taken a year or two to crack the mental frequency of ten-triple-ring wizards.


    Lynn didn''t have that luxury of time, hence conceived a way to expedite the process: by keeping these wizards engrossed in solving brain-teasing Math Sorcery problems, depleting their mental energy and hastening the decryption of the genius-brain.


    Calculus might be a good choice; many of the theories and forms proposed before had left numerous wizards perplexed. Learning calculus might help themprehend the derivation process of these forms and theories.


    Of course, the wizards of Greenrill weren''t entirely clueless about calculus. For instance, their method of approximating pi using the method of inscribed polygons  continually approximating the circumference of a circle  was based on calculus.


    Some wizards had even seeded in deriving an algorithm to calcte the volume of a sphere, akin to the method of Gauss, yielding highly urate results.


    It was a testament that intelligence existed everywhere; however, few wizards were willing to devote themselves seriously to the study of mathematics.


    Most preferred elemental or morphological subjects, where learning directly augmented their magical prowess. Only alchemists spent time delving into this esoteric field.


    As Lynn contemted, a sense of impending unease suddenly crept in.


    In a sh, Lynn broke free from the magic realm, eyes snapping open. Nothing stood before him, but an invisible magical barrier enveloped him.


    Following that, a faint sound, akin to a de slicing through cloth, echoed. A peculiar dagger, adorned with intricate runes, materialized, gliding toward his neck.


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 Chapter 174: The Demon-Breaking Dagger and the Resistance Ring

    Chapter 174: The Demon-Breaking Dagger and the Resistance Ring


    The temporary magic barrier was as feeble as paper before the peculiar dagger.


    But this momentary pause, this fleeting apparition, was enough for Lynn. With a forceful push from his right foot against the ground, leveraging the reactive force, he swiftly leaned back, evading the dagger aiming for his neck. He tumbled backward,nding along with the chair, rolling away to create distance.


    Yet as Lynn rose to his feet, he couldn''t locate the enemy. The lounge was empty, as if everything before was a mere illusion.


    Some form of visual deception magic?


    Without hesitation, Lynn cast a Mage Shield upon himself. Simultaneously, the elusive danger approached again, this time from his side.


    "Phosphorus - Resistance Ring!"


    Focused entirely this time, Lynn retaliated almost instantly. He didn''t know where the attack originated, but he didn''t need to!


    Intense mes surged around him, engulfing everything without escape. The ground crackedyer byyer, the scorching heat engulfing all within its reach.


    The Resistance Ring was one of Lynn''s achievements in the field of force-field magic, belonging to the high-tier third circle of magic! Although this single strike consumed a quarter of Lynn''s magical power, its effect was significant. The proximity left no room to evade; the terrifying phosphorus fire quickly adhered to the assant...


    Piercing screams and wails echoed in the lounge. Amidst the mes emerged the figure of a middle-aged mage, his body engulfed in fire, phosphorus devouring his flesh. He futilely pped his body, resembling a dance in the inferno...


    As Lynn suspected, this kind of magic merely deceived vision, not truly disappearing!


    Relieved, Lynn soon noticed the mage, now consumed by mes, dropping a weapon. It wasn''t the dagger but a short sword...


    Lynn''s pupils constricted; a wave of dread washed over him. This meant there was not just one attacker!


    The Mage Shield, shattered once again as Lynn realized this. Fortunately, the deflection field worked, narrowly averting the sudden attack.


    The peculiar dagger appeared only in the moment the Mage Shield shattered, then vanished again without a trace.


    But theck of visual confirmation didn''t nullify other senses!


    Lynn''s index finger trembled faintly in the air, emitting barely detectable magical waves that rapidly spread in a circr pattern. Upon collision with obstacles, these waves rebounded, identifying the only object shifting its shape within the roomundoubtedly the first assant!


    However, contrary to Lynn''s expectations, the attacker didn''t approach but bolted madly towards the outside. Clearly, consecutive failed attacks coupled with thepanion''s tragedy made them reconsider...


    Thinking of escape now? Toote!


    Lynn adjusted the vibration frequency of the magical waves, aligning them with the brain''s frequencies.


    Unlike his encounters with Elok and others, Lynn held nothing back this time. This unique and imperceptible attack immediately took effect. The fleeing assant, feeling as if their brain were about to explode, copsed in distress. Unable to sustain the magic, they soon materialized.


    Only then did Lynn discern the attackera man in a gray robe, gaunt-faced, sparse and unkempt hair, sunken eyes, prominent cheekbones, hands clutching his head, a visage twisted in agony.


    In the next moment, four ice des materialized from nowhere, pinning his limbs.


    Ceasing the resonance magic, Lynn approached, retrieving the peculiar dagger. Gazing at the gray-robed mage, immobilized on the ground, he coldly inquired, "Name, identity, and what''s your reason for attacking me?"


    The mage showed no intention to reply, his face filled with a mix of fear and confusion, seemingly yet to recover from the bursting pain that seemed to explode his brain.


    "Fine, I''ll have a look myself." Lynn disregarded extravagant interrogation methods, cing his hand on the mage''s head, activating the psychic magic obtained from Ladek.


    [Memory Retrieval]


    This psychic magic searched relevant memories within a person''s mind. It usually worked best against significantly weaker opponents or those mentally unstable. Clearly, this was an opportune moment.


    However, the moment Lynn touched the mage''s memories, the man''s pupils widened, body trembling uncontrobly. Before Lynn could react, he copsed instantly, lifeless.


    Another soul-binding simr to before?


    Frowning, Lynn, familiar with such circumstances, recalled a simr incident while interrogating Nur, the wizard''s apprentice in Iyeta Harbor.


    The ability to engrave a soul-binding in a formal wizard''s mind, causing instant death while disrupting their memory, required expertise in psychic magic!


    The mes ignited by the Resistance Ring, the piercing screams, were unmistakable in the silent estate. Barely a minute had passed since the attack began, and the door was already violently thrust open.


    "Professor Lynn, I heard an explosion and screams! What happened?" Phillip and Kevin rushed in first, visibly relieved to find Lynn unharmed.


    "I''m not sure. I was about to rest tonight when these two attacked me." Lynn gestured towards the corpses, sounding perplexed.


    In his days at Greenrill, it seemed he had only offended those divination schrs. If they were to act, it should have been before the verification of the Universal Gravitational Theory.


    Surely, it couldn''t be because his math problems were too challenging, causing someone to impulsively attempt his demise?


    Phillip and Kevin nced at the attackersthe first pinned to the ground by Lynn''s ice de, the other reduced to a charred mess by the scorching phosphorus fire, long devoid of life.


    Exposed skin tore apart in struggle, blood vaporized, leaving holes where fingers once wed. A horrific sight, with remnants of phosphorus mes incessantly consuming flesh as fuel, strengthening themselves...


    This was the hellfire, wasn''t it?


    Phillip and Kevin recalled the tale of the "Hellfire" that Laude had mentioned when Lynn first arrived at the Iyeta Academy. At that time, they hadn''t taken it seriously, but witnessing the gruesome demise of this attacker made them realize the terror of such mes, truly deserving of the name "Hell."


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 Chapter 175: Cult of Apocalypse

    Chapter 175: Cult of Apocalypse


    The security squad, apart from Phillip and his group, swiftly arrived at the scene upon receiving the message. Archbishop Anluke himself led the team. After inspecting the two attackers and noting down the details, Anluke instructed a few wizards to take the individuals for identity verification, hoping to unearth any possible leads. He then turned to Lynn with a concerned gaze.


    "Are you hurt, Lord Lynn? Do you need a potion master?" Anluke asked.


    Lynn shook his head, indicating that he was alright. Anluke sighed. "That''s good. In fact, this is the fourth attack in nearly two days! Before you, three council members were assaulted. You''re the only one who survived."


    Lynn paused, surprised by the severity of the situation. It was a tant attack on several council members, tarnishing the reputation of the entire wizardingmunity.


    "Lord Lynn, you should''ve tried to keep one of them alive. Extracting information could have given us a lead," Rorl interjected.


    The security squad had been incredibly busy these past two days. With a string of attacks within the city of Greenrill, all targeting highly important council members, the pressure mounted. Archbishop Anluke, temporarily holding the position of the speaker, faced considerable criticism.


    To prevent widespread panic, the council promptly restricted information and, based on themonalities among the targeted individuals, set up surveince near the residences of several elemental studies experts. Surprisingly, Lynn, located in a different district, became thetest target.


    "Can''t say that, Rorl. Ambushes like these differ from regr battles. Even the most powerful wizards can be caught off guard. Surviving is a stroke of luck," Anluke countered Rorl''s words and then turned to Lynn again.


    "However, Lord Lynn, please tell us in detail how it transpired. It might yield some crucial clues."


    "About fifteen minutes ago, I was seated nearby, studying the spell model of a new magic. Suddenly, a dagger aimed for my neck" Lynn recounted the incident, glossing over his use of psychic magic to retrieve memories.


    As the wizards listened to the entirety of the attack, a shiver ran down their spines. They only knew Lynn had been attacked, unaware of the chillingly perilous details.


    Such unexpected ambushes were virtually impossible to predict, especially with attackers wielding weapons capable of instantly piercing a Mage Shield. No wonder three council members mysteriously perished at home.


    Rorl imagined himself in Lynn''s shoes and shuddered. If he were the one under attack, he''d probably be a lifeless body by now.


    However, it seemed the attackers had chosen the wrong target this time. This young male wizard from the Misty Sea was no easy opponent. Rorl had experienced this firsthand at Iyeta Harbor.


    "Master Anluke, do you know what kind of magic allows one to evade sight?" Lynn asked curiously.


    "Likely prized magic or shadow arts... In addition, some psychic magic can induce illusions," Anluke pondered. "Those proficient in these are scarce. That''s a crucial lead."


    "Any suspected individuals?" Lynn persisted. Two days had passed, three council members were dead, and the security squad seemed to have no leads.


    Having inexplicably faced an attack, albeit unharmed, Lynn felt a lingering unease. If his reactions had been a tad slower, the oue might have been unpredictable.


    "These attackers are likely associated with the recently active Cult of Apocalypse," Anluke said gravely. "The assaulted council members were all exceptional in elemental studies, presenting unique insights as Triple Ring Mages."


    "From the intelligence gathered by the security squad, the cult''s wizards seem to believe that elements possess life and consciousness. They wish for all wizards to abandon studying, researching, and exploring the elements, believing it to be the cause of the impending apocalypse."


    Lynn was astonished. Were these wizards all delusional? Elemental studies were the cornerstone of magic. Abandoning them was akin to self-muttion.


    "No, if they''re targeting experts in elemental studies, whye after me?" Lynn puzzled. He hadn''t made any recent statements rted to elements.


    "Professor, could it be because your theory on universal gravity contradicts their apocalyptic prophecies?" Lydia hesitated before timidly suggesting.


    Lynn quickly realized this point. Lydia had previously mentioned how his gravitational theories contradicted the cult''s prophecies of five stars aligning and the moon falling.


    By correcting their apocalyptic ims, Lynn effectively undermined the grounds of the Cult of Apocalypse''s existence.


    "If you''ve suspected ties to the cult, why not apprehend a few disciples for interrogation?" Lynn inquired again. These wizards were shamelessly spreading doomsday prophecies, practically wearing a "Troublemaker"bel.


    Upon Anluke''s exnation, Lynn understood how he had reflexively approached the issue with a mindset from his past life.


    Official wizards in Greenrill held a privileged status. Without concrete evidence of wrongdoing, arbitrarily arresting and investigating an official wizard would incite significant public bacsh against the council.


    Moreover, considering the number of believers in apocalyptic prophecies and elemental spirits, hastily acting could trigger greater chaos.


    "But for now, we can''t worry about all that." Anluke pondered. "I''ve dispatched several security squads to track and investigate those wizards spreading apocalyptic ims, hoping to find crucial evidence."


    Lynn nodded. Theplexity of the situation exceeded his expectations. Mishandling this could spark city-wide turmoil in Greenrill.


    "This is all the information I have for now. The situation is far from over. Be vignt these days, preferably avoiding solo ventures," Anluke cautioned solemnly. He left a few security squad wizards to reinforce the estate''s defenses, then hastily bid farewell with the two attackers'' bodies, returning to the Skyrealm, ready to search for new leads.


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 Chapter 176: Gathering of the Mystical Arts

    Chapter 176: Gathering of the Mystical Arts


    "Professor Lynn, what should we do now?"


    Once the security team had withdrawn, Pearce, Darren, and the rest wore expressions of deep concern. Even though Lynn had handled the attackers, no one knew if another assault would follow, nor could they be sure they wouldn''t be the next targets.


    "How about we hop on an airship and head back to Iyeta Harbor?" Lydia suggested, raising her hand high.


    The suggestion seemed to brighten everyone''s spirits. Fleeing was undoubtedly a viable option; surely they wouldn''t all be pursued if they returned to Iyeta. However, Philip, Kevin, and Ondo shook their heads. Lynn had only recently been honored and swiftly became a prominent figure in the magical world after being appointed as a Magic Council member. If they were to flee in fear after an attack during such a critical time in Greenrill, it would be a severe blow to Lynn''s reputation.


    Being a Magic Council member didn''t just represent authority but also came with corresponding responsibilities.


    "Perhaps we could strike first and eliminate those Doomsday cult wizards," Elok suggested enthusiastically.


    Compared to Philip and the others, Elok was full of vigor, believing in tit-for-tat retaliation. Yet, the most crucial aspect was his long study of magic without any chance to showcase his skills.


    "No, we do nothing. Strengthen the estate''s defenses and leave the rest to the Council''s investigation," Lynn shook his head, vetoing their suggestions.


    The soul restraint found in the attackers'' minds indicated that this matter likely involved a powerful wizard, one Lynn couldn''t presently contend with.


    However, as Philip and the others thought, leaving now would mean abandoning most of the progress made in the recently published Universal Gravitational Theory.


    Lynn reassured the others and then, along with the remaining professors, strategically ced trigger-based magic around the estate to prevent further intrusions.


    While the attackers weren''t particrly formidable, their ability to evade visual magic was unsettling. Once their deception was uncovered, they weren''t much more challenging to deal with than regr wizards.


    The consecutive attacks on council members hinted thatcency had settled in the wizarding world, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable.


    Regarding the dagger capable of dispelling the Mage Shield, Lynn imed it as a spoil of war. Simultaneously, the idea of developing a heat-sensitive magic piqued his interest.


    While using magical wave echoes for location identification was a viable method, Lynn couldn''t constantly release this magic.


    ---


    In the following days, while Lynn pondered how to unravel visual magic,pletely engrossed in the arcane sea, unaware of the attacks in Greenrill, Tiek and others had sessfully solved all fifteen arcane math questions.


    The challenges ranged from testingputational ability to pure logical deductions, but mostly involved deducing forms based on mathematical deductions.


    Contrary to Lynn''s estimation, these wizards managed to solve all the questions in less than three days. Lynn then handed over the corresponding Ring of Secrets as promised.


    "Finally done!" Inside a small hut in Greenrill City, Tiek pushed the torn Introduction to Arcane Mathematics and Advanced Arcane Mathematics aside, gazing contentedly at a parchment that elegantly detailed the answers to the fifteen arcane math questions.


    To derive these values, he dedicated a relentless three and a half days to the task, deeply immersed in the exploration of the unknown. He was equally astounded by the immense logical aspect of arcane mathematics.


    Tiek felt he had touched upon something called ''arcane mathematical thinking''searching for corresponding patterns, summarizing them into arcane forms, and ultimately solving problems.


    It resembled the research and development process of magic.


    For the first question, he spent ten hours, five for the second, and merely four for the third. Once the thought process was triggered, seemingly intricate problems became significantly simpler with a different perspective.


    However, despite having all the answers, Tiek remained full of questions. He was impatient to have a proper exchange with a true master of arcane mathematics.


    He was even more curious about the kind of challenge that could perplex a master of arcane mathematics!


    Tiek neatly collected the papers on his table, disregarding any grooming, quickly cast a dust-cleaning spell, meditated for an hour to replenish some energy, and hurried towards Lynn''s estate.


    To his surprise, the one receiving him was Elemental Studies Professor Philip from Iyeta Academy. After inspecting Tiek''s papers and confirming the uracy of the answers, Philip handed over a Ring of Secrets.


    Tiek epted it, feigning indifference, and casually inquired, "I wonder how many people solved it before me."


    Seventy-five hours for fifteen questions. Tiek felt his speed was unparalleled, owing to his early exposure to arcane mathematicspared to everyone else!


    However, Philip hesitated, seemingly unsure how to respond. Finally, he gently replied, "Sir Tiek, this is the twelfth Ring of Secrets I''ve distributed!"


    The twelfth? Tiek''s lips twitched involuntarily. Did that mean he was thest one?


    How was that possible?


    Tiek was at a loss. Lynn had been clear that the Association of Arcane Mathematics sought formal wizards to research a challenging arcane math problem, likely forputational assistance, ensuring the eventual recognition of their research findings. It was unlikely that the self-proimed grand wizards would deign to participate.


    The remaining formal wizards specializing in calctions, whom Tiek knew somewhat, like Ellison, who had calcted pi to the ninth digit, or Alva, deeply immersed in alchemical geometry... Their talents were undeniable, but there was no reason they should have been faster than himself, who had ventured into arcane math earlier!


    After pondering, Tiek concluded that perhaps his extended meditation for energy restoration had consumed too much time, causing the dy!


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 Chapter 177: Zeno, the Eternal Chaser of Unreachable Turtles

    Chapter 177: Zeno, the Eternal Chaser of Unreachable Turtles


    Tiek, with a stern expression, slid the "Ring of Mystic Arts" onto his index finger and, without looking back, walked straight to the front hall, finding a seat.


    It was a peculiar sensation; his perspective seemed split in two. In front of himy a spacious exhibition hall, lined with shelves like aplex maze, all constructed purely from magical energy.


    Tiek quickly realized this was a domainposed entirely of magic. What surprised him, though, was the vividness of everything here.


    The oxygen he breathed, the gentle breeze, and the pristine white marble bricks beneath his feetit all felt so real that, if he didn''t know he was currently a blend of magic and spiritual power, he might doubt if he were still in the real world.


    Tiek, in amazement, approached a bookshelf, running his fingers over the neatly stacked books. Even the texture of the pages could be perfectly simted.


    He casually picked up a book "Fundamentals and Studies of Arcana." Opening the title page, he read, "Arcana is a discipline that studies concepts such as quantity, structure, change, space, and information. It is a universal method for rigorously describing and deducing abstract structures and patterns of things, applicable to solving any real-world or magical problems..."


    "So, this is Arcana?" Tiek muttered to himself. Although he had been exposed to Arcana for two or three months, it was the first time he had seen such a precise and systematic exnation.


    The pages he held suddenly trembled, then, under Tiek''s astonished gaze, floated up and drifted towards a specific direction.


    Tiek paused, realizing this must be guiding him to the gathering ce.


    Navigating through walls constructed of bookshelves, Tiek soon reached the center of the entire library. Several colleagues skilled in arithmetic and alchemy, whom he recognized, were gathered here.


    Eleven people were engaged in lively discussions. One male wizard, upon seeing Tiek approaching, smirked and spoke.


    "Never thought thest one would be you, Tiek. Gotta say, you''re a bitte. We''ve been waiting for you for quite some time."


    "Sorry, Alva. I thought you guys would be a bit slower, so I took the opportunity to get a good night''s sleep and tidy up a bit, only to find out I missed the hour," Tiek raised an eyebrow, responding effortlessly.


    "You seem quite leisurely, just in time to arrive at the end..." Alva didn''t believe a word of Tiek''s exnation, mockingly retorted, and didn''t bother to expose the lie, continuing to speak.


    "We were just discussing the second Arcana question. I wonder, Tiek, how long did it take you, and what method did you use to get the answer?"


    Tiek pondered before responding. "This question is rtively easy. Just change your perspective, and the answer bes clear. If, since the beginning, we give the monkeys four extra peaches, each monkey can divide them equally. So, the total number of peaches is five to the power of five, minus the initial four, resulting in 3121!"


    Seven out of the eleven nodded, acknowledging Tiek''s method, while the remaining fewpared it with their own approaches.


    "As for solving this question, it took me about five... no, four hours," Tiek said, somewhat sheepishly.


    "I only used three hours and twenty-seven minutes!" Alva proudly dered. Last year, during an internal discussion at the Alchemy Association, Tiek had pointed out numerous ws in a new spell formation proposed by Alva. This time, Alva finally gained a victory.


    Tiek looked somewhat disgruntled at the others, discovering that most of them solved the problem in three to five hours, meaning they were generally faster than him.


    "Two hours!" Ellison, who had been silent, suddenly interrupted.


    The wizards present turned to Ellison with expressions of awe. This question wasn''t very difficult, but for Alva and the others who hadn''t systematically studied Arcana before, it wasn''t easy to shift their thinking.


    "How is that possible?" Tiek couldn''t help but ask a few more questions, only to realize that Ellison, to achieve such a quick result, had mobilized dozens of apprentices to work together, essentially using a brute force method of enumeration.


    Others had also exchanged ideas with their colleagues.


    Learning this, Tiek felt disoriented. These people were so unscrupulous, no wonder each of them was so fast! He was the only one honestly working on the problem.


    Just as Tiek silently cursed, the entire magical space shook heavily. Then, countless thick books floated out from the shelves, pages fluttering, and intricate mathematical symbols, as if alive, detached from the books and hovered in the void, outlining three-dimensional patterns.


    "Wee to the Sea of Arcana..."


    Apanied by a deep, resonant voice, the restless knowledge gradually settled down.


    Turning around, Tiek saw a wizard with curly hair, dressed in a brown robe, walking towards them.


    Under the influence of some force, the floating books returned to their original positions, leaving only the strange symbols still swirling in the void, as if reluctant to return to the confines of the books.


    "You can call me Leibniz!" The wizard introduced himself politely.


    "Master Leibniz," Tiek and the others immediately bowed respectfully. For a great wizard and a pioneer in Arcana, they maintained a sufficient level of respect.


    "I heard from Lynn that you specifically gathered us to solve a problem troubling the world of Arcana?" Alva, less formal, was the first to ask the question that had everyone''s curiosity piqued.


    "That''s right!" Leibniz nodded, then exined, "It all started with a bet I made with another wizard named Zeno. He''s currently preparing to race a turtle, allowing it a head start of a hundred meters. He''ll then start chasing, running ten meters every second, while the turtle moves only ten centimeters per second..."


    "Zeno believes he can never catch up with the turtle, and I need to prove that he can!"


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 Chapter 178: A Mathematical Crisis in the 17th Century?!

    Chapter 178: A Mathematical Crisis in the 17th Century?!


    "Master Leibniz, isn''t this just a simple math problem?" Tiek asked, puzzled.


    Even apprentices could solve it, let alone wizards proficient in arcane mathematics.


    Alva and the others were equally disappointed. Was this the puzzle tormenting the entire realm of arcane math? Was it?


    "Do you truly find it simple?" Leibniz looked at everyone, expressing regret. "The issue lies not in when they can catch up, but in why they can catch up."


    "Zeno told me, at his speed, it takes ten seconds to reach the starting point of the turtle! But by the time he arrives, the turtle has moved a meter. Though the distance between them has closed significantly, there''s still a meter gap. So, he needs another tenth of a second to reach the turtle''s current position. Yet, by then, the turtle has moved again, requiring him to spend a thousandth of a second catching up to the new position"


    As Leibniz exined, he extended his right hand, drawing a magical line in the air, denoting the start and finish of the race. He used red light to mark Zeno''s progress and green light for the turtle''s. Despite closing in, a minuscule length persisted between them, an infinitesimal yet persistent gap.


    Zeno dashed forward, seemingly unable to catch up to the leisurely turtle before him.


    Tiek and the others stood stupefied, their expressions shifting from confusion to gravity, quickly descending into contemtion.


    The theory was easy toprehend: the wizard named Zeno, in pursuit of the turtle, inevitably passed the creature''s starting point. But when he arrived at this point, the turtle had crawled forward, creating a new starting point, leading to an endless cycle of deduction...


    Alva pondered deeply, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint it precisely.


    He was unaware that this contradiction was a sh between reality and logical mathematical deduction.


    Tiek was nearly dizzy from the mental gymnastics. It took him a while before he suddenly grasped something. "Wait, Master Leibniz, no matter what, at the eleventh second, Zeno should always catch up to the turtle, right?"


    "That''s precisely the problem, my friends!" Leibniz nodded, then emphasized, "If time and space are infinite and infinitely divisible, logically, theter participant in a race can never surpass the former, as they''re separated by an infinite number of fractions."


    "This distance, in a sense, is infinitely long, for it can be divided into countless fractions!"


    "But if Zeno can inevitably catch up to the turtle, does that not imply that in our world, space and time are not continuous but possess a minimum scale? It''s because Zeno, as theter participant, crosses this smallest scale at some point, allowing him to catch up to the leading turtle..."


    "Your contemtion is truly thought-provoking, Master Leibniz!" Alva breathed out, expressing admiration.


    Only now did the wizards understand that the debate between these two masters of arcane mathematics wasn''t truly about a mere racing problem; it delved into whether a value could be infinitely subdivided and probed the existence of the smallest scale in time and space.


    "So, you''ve reached a conclusion and won this dispute, haven''t you?" Tiek eximed, fascinated by the deductive leap from an inevitable winning race to the potential existence of the smallest scales in time and spacea truly creative line of thought that earned his admiration!


    "Not quite, for if that were the case, I wouldn''t be able to answer his second question!" Leibnizmented.


    There was another question? Alva and the others felt a chill run down their spines.


    Leibniz extended his hand, summoning an iron arrow into the void, which swiftly embedded itself into a nearby bookshelf. He turned to the group and asked, "Do you think this arrow, once shot, has moved or remained still?"


    Another seemingly simple question that left Tiek, Ellison, and the others pondering for a long time, contemting if there might be a deeper meaning hidden within.


    Alva, on the other hand, didn''t dwell much. He decisively stated, "It has moved, of course!"


    He had seen it with his own eyes, and no eloquence could change that fact!


    "If, ording to what we just discussed, time exists in the smallest scale, does this mean that in each of these smallest scales, the arrow has a definite position, upying the same space as its volume?" Leibniz continued.


    Alva furrowed his brows, contemting for a while before cautiously stating, "I believe so."


    "So, disregarding other factors, in that moment, is the arrow moving or still?" Leibniz pressed on.


    "Undoubtedly still!" Alva firmly responded.


    Tiek and the others nodded, easily envisioning a suspended iron arrow if time were to halt at a certain point.


    "If this moment is motionless, what about other moments?"


    "Those should... also be motionless?" Alva responded uncertainly.


    "In other words, at each point in time, it remains stationary. So, the arrow shot is also motionless, correct?" Leibniz concluded.


    "Of course..." Alva hesitated in his reply, then froze entirely. How could a flying arrow be motionless?


    Tiek, Ellison, and others frowned deeply.


    If Leibniz''s earlier statement was correct, that time existed in the smallest scale and was indivisible, then following the logic, each moment of the iron arrow was motionless. Hence, the flying arrow couldn''t be in motion. After all, how could something constantly motionless be called in motion?


    Could it be that an infinite sum of stationary positions equaled motion itself? Or perhaps, infinite repetitions of stillness constituted motion?


    If Leibniz''s statement was wrong, and there was no such thing as the smallest scale, if time could infinitely subdivide, and everything was continuous, then the flying arrow would naturally remain in motion. This formed the basis for the paradox''s dissolution.


    But if that were true, would Zeno never surpass the turtle?


    The assembled individuals suddenly felt themselves swirling in a colossal vortex, teetering between the motion and stillness of the iron arrow, Zeno''s potential catch-up with the turtle, their minds on the verge of copse...


    Leibniz observed Tiek and the others lost in contemtion and couldn''t help but smile. These two paradoxes, simple as they appeared, would have sparked the second mathematical crisis if ced in the 17th or 18th century!


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 Chapter 179: Motion and Stillness, Infinity and Limitation, Contemplating Time and Space

    Chapter 179: Motion and Stillness, Infinity and Limitation, Contemting Time and Space


    Tiek stood in ce, pondering for a full three hours, his mind spinning at super speed, contemting the resolution of these two paradoxes. Yet, he found no leads, finally turning to Leibniz with a helpless expression.


    "Please forgive me, Master Leibniz. This question is too profound; I fear I can''t provide you with any answer in the short term."


    Alva, Ellison, and the others felt some reluctance but had to admit the same.


    These two paradoxes truly befuddled the entire realm of magical mathematics. Based on the mostmon motion of objects, they were simple and straightforward yet profoundly thought-provoking.


    Leibniz didn''t respond verbally but secretlymunicated with the intellect.


    His prior spection was incredibly urate. Under the rapid thinking and the brain''s rapid rotation, the intellect''s decryption of spiritual power frequencies was almost ten times its usual speed! The assembled formal wizards felt uneasy at Leibniz''s silent response, mostly resigned to the situation.


    Even these mathematical masters couldn''t provide precise answers to such paradoxes. Hoping they could solve it might have been asking too much.


    Leibniz, of course, didn''t expect them to crack it. Once confirming his spection, he immediately put on a more amiable expression. "In fact, regarding the resolution of these two paradoxes, I''ve gained some insight."


    Tiek and the others immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then looked to Leibniz, intensely curious about his methods to resolve these paradoxes.


    "The key to these two questions lies in whether values can be infinitely subdivided, whether two values infinitely close are equal, and how we should calcte them. This problem has confounded every discipline in the past. Thus, I believe magical mathematics needs a revolution to redefine this world!" Leibniz solemnly proimed. "I''ll name itCalculus!"


    Tiek felt a surge of spirit. They hadn''t expected that, for the sake of a gamble''s oue, this master of magical mathematics would prepare to establish a new branch within their field. And they never anticipated they would have the chance to be a part of it, bing one of the founders of this field.


    ---


    At night, after spending a full ten hours in the magical realm, Tiek finally emerged from the ocean of thoughts, rubbing his throbbing forehead, with only one thought left in his mind.


    "Difficult... It''s so darn difficult!"


    Compared to calculus, Tiek felt that all the magical math he had encountered before was child''s y. His mind was dizzy from concepts like tangents, functions, and limits, to the extent that upon seeing some approximate curves, one thought surfaced in his mind:


    "Can this thing even be integrated?"


    What surprised Tiek even more was that his magical power had actually grown and improved to a certain extent. Ever since Iyeta Harbor, he had heard that many apprentices could enhance their magical and spiritual growth by studying magical mathematics, even better than the effects of meditation.


    However, for a formal wizard like him, the effect was minimal. Initially, Tiek had some regrets, only now realizing it wasn''t that this method wasn''t useful for them, but those magical math problems they''d encountered before were just too easy for them to exercise theirputational abilities.


    Not only Tiek but also Alva and others were pleasantly surprised. Most of these third-circle wizards were not young anymore; for most, the growth of their magical powers had long stagnated, with slim chances of further advancement.


    Now, research and exploration into the field of calculus had brought new hope to Alva and the rest!


    Despite losing a few hundred hairs in just half a day, faced with the dual temptation of increased magical power and bing a foundational member of a new school of thought, nobody would retreat due to these slight difficulties.


    While Tiek and others were immersed in their studies and research of calculus, oblivious to the outside world, the situation within the Magic Council was different.


    In recent days, the Apocalypse Sect had be increasingly active. Some city guards assigned to monitor and track certain sect followers had inexplicably disappeared, causing a mixture of anger and fear among the council members.


    "We can''t tolerate this any longer. I suggest taking action immediately and clearing out the entire Apocalypse Sect!" Raphael mmed the table, angrily shouting.


    "Are you nning to start a war within Greynor City, Raphael?" Another council member stood up, vehemently retorting.


    This involved hundreds of wizards; these weren''t unarmed civilians. Once a full-scale war broke out, the losses would be hard to predict.


    Moreover, they still didn''t know which wizards were being manipted and who the instigators behind this turmoil were.


    Several sect members captured previously had only spouted about the "end times" and "elemental spirits." They couldn''t extract any useful information, leaving them unable to confirm the link between the recent attacks on council members and this peculiar sect.


    "Otherwise, are we just going to sit here and watch things get out of control?" Raphael roared.


    "Regardless, we must investigate thoroughly first. We can''t recklessly attack so many wizards without cause!" The council member insisted. The resources required to train a formal wizard were unpredictable; Greynor couldn''t afford the cost of clearing out hundreds of wizards in one fell swoopit would be self-destructive!


    The Sky Boundary quickly turned into chaos inside, with many council members arguing, worrying, or getting angry. Several grand wizards looked pityingly at Ougust, the acting Speaker.


    Before, when Harof made this magical luminary responsible for council affairs, they were somewhat envious and even resentful. But now, it was just relief because this was aplete mess, and who wanted to take over and bear the consequences...


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 Chapter 180: Council Disputes and Intel from the Apocalyptic Sect

    Chapter 180: Council Disputes and Intel from the Apocalyptic Sect


    Within the Sky Realm, tensions and debates intensified, nearing the point of rolling up sleeves and engaging in physical altercations. Just then, Ougust, who had been silent all along, interjected.


    "Everyone, please quiet down a bit! We should focus on how to handle the current crisis rather than shifting me and squabbling," Ougust said, his tone slow and in but carrying a certain intimidating power. Amidst the mor, the previously boisterous meeting room fell silent, all eyes on this acting chairman.


    However, there were dissenting voices, mocking and discontent. "It seems our acting chairman has thought of foolproof strategies..."


    Ougust didn''t respond but turned to Rorl, saying, "Why don''t you speak instead!"


    Rorl nodded, solemnly passing around a stack of parchment.


    "This is recent intelligence from the security team regarding the Apocalyptic Sect. Have a look," he suggested.


    The assembly ofwmakers took the parchments, swiftly scanning through them. Lynn also grabbed a copy.


    Aside from recording the names and backgrounds of some Apocalyptic Sect members, the pages held many peculiar theories about magic.


    What caught Lynn''s eye was the depiction of elements. The wizards of the Apocalyptic Sect seemed to have some understanding of the microcosm. However, their path of research deviated. They believed all elements might be part of a collective consciousness, naming this consciousness the Spirit of Elements.


    The wizards'' relentless and uncontrolled maniption of elements would lead orderly elements into chaos, an irreversible process and the reason for the impending apocalypse.


    "Absurd!" Raphael shook his head, unable to withhold his rebuttal after merely skimming the first part.


    Elemental studies were fundamental to almost every wizard. Convincing them to abandon centuries of research and instead pray to some ambiguous Spirit of Elements seemed like sheer madness!


    "Don''t you find these magical theories somewhat familiar?" Ougust unexpectedly asked.


    The faces of the councilors changed collectively. When the Apocalyptic Sect initially proposed the concept of the Spirit of Elements, some had realized it might stem from the legendary wizard Altok''s elemental theories.


    The information Rorl collected undeniably supported this notion.


    "Are you suspecting a connection between this matter and Altok?" Raphael eximed in disbelief.


    The other wizards also stared in shock at Ougust. Though they had suspicions before, nobody dared point fingers at a legendary wizard!


    "This is impossible!" a councilor proficient in elemental studies eximed vehemently.


    Ougust nodded, stating, "Of course, personally, I believe this matter has no connection to Altok!"


    However, despite his words, the councilors still harbored doubts. After all, only an entity of simr stature could have attacked and severely wounded a legendary wizard...


    Moreover, ording to rumors, the Elemental Controller Altok had gone mad while exploring the microcosm. Nobody knew what such an individual could do.


    Lynn, not well-versed in the legendary wizard of elemental studies, listened silently, organizing the intel without drawing any conclusions.


    "Furthermore, the security team has received intel that in three days'' time, these Apocalyptic Sect wizards will hold arge gathering. This might be the best opportunity to capture their ringleaders!" Ougust solemnly dered. "However, the security team is severely understaffed. Ensuring the sess of this operation will require your assistance!"


    Raphael and others understood the importance of this operation. Capturing the leaders of the Apocalyptic Sect would resolve numerous problems and troubles.


    "But shouldn''t we wait for Chancellor Harof''s return before dealing with these people?" a witch hesitantly questioned. If this matter were rted to the Elemental Controller Altok, it might not be within their ability to resolve.


    "Chancellor Harof has been in the magic stone mine for several days now, without any messages. He might have encountered some trouble," Ougust shook his head, continuing with a serious tone.


    "I suspect the spatial disturbances previously seen in the magic stone mine were not natural. Someone might be trying to divert the attention of several Chancellors... Consequently, these Apocalyptic Sect wizards might not give us much time."


    Lynn nodded, finding Ougust''s thoughts akin to his own. The chaos in the city of Greenreel coinciding with Harof''s departure was unlikely to be a coincidence.


    Under the magical prodigy''s insistence, the discussion regarding the details of the capture operation quickly passed through the agenda, garnering the agreement of the majority.


    Dying this matter might spark greater chaos. Although the councilcked legendary wizards, it housed a considerable number of powerful ones.


    While some leaders of the academic factions returned to their territories after the seminar, seven prominent wizards stayed behind. They were capable of handling most situations, even cooperating against a legendary wizard if needed.


    Discussions on the operation details persisted until 10 pm, with the worried-looking councilors leaving the chamber.


    After organizing the distributed documents, Rorl breathed a sigh of relief. As one of Ougust''s assistants, he had been incredibly busy these days, sometimes even skipping meals.


    Fortunately, these hectic days were nearing an end. Once they dealt with these misguided Apocalyptic Sect members, he''d have a few leisurely days. And perhaps, Teacher Ougust would firmly secure his position as acting chairman thanks to their achievements.


    Who knows, they might even earn a Morning Star Medal for this feat...


    Lost in these thoughts, Rorl gathered his papers to leave but was halted midway by Lynn.


    "Please wait a moment, Mr. Rorl. I have something important to discuss with you alone," Lynn requested.


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 Chapter 181: Realm of Apocalypse and Falling Stars!

    Chapter 181: Realm of Apocalypse and Falling Stars!


    "Lynn, what''s wrong?" Rorl halted, puzzled, gazing at Lynn. Then, as if a realization struck him, he hastily inquired, "Has there been another attack by those Doomsday cultists in these days?"


    "No, not at all." Lynn shook his head. Since dispatching two intruders during thest encounter, his estate had been peaceful, with no further invasions.


    After a pause, Lynn spoke again. "I''ve reviewed the intel you gathered. Is it true that the Doomsday cult was merely an academic organization until three years ago when it suddenly changed?"


    "Indeed! What''s wrong with that?" Rorl furrowed his brow.


    "I have a sudden idea. Please investigate individuals who, like me, arrived from the Misty Sea to the Wizard''s Domain in thest five years and what they''ve done here. Also, details about the Spiritualists from several years ago, if possible," Lynn said earnestly.


    "Do you mean..." Rorl''s expression turned grave.


    "Don''t you find the timing of these events too close?" Lynn reminded. Apart from the copse of the Spiritualists and the sudden shift of the Doomsday cult, there was one crucial factor Lynn hadn''t mentionedhis mentor, Kolu, who had gone mad four years ago, abandoning afortable life in the Wizard''s Domain, seeking the ''future of spiritual magic'' in the Secas Empire.


    So, Lynn spected there was undoubtedly a connection between these events, perhaps even the same event!


    He had dispatched Ondo to dig into the archives since Iyeta was the most crucial port for the Wizard''s Domain, possibly containing relevant records.


    However, a round trip took several days, and Iyetacked information on Spiritualists, leading him to seek out Rorl.


    With Lynn''s prompting, Rorl swiftly grasped the gravity of the situation. "I understand, Lynn. I''ll organize this information as soon as possible in theseing days."


    "Regarding this spection, please don''t divulge it to others. After all, it''s merely my personal theory, not necessarily correct," Lynn instructed finally.


    ...


    In the dead of night, within a luxurious estate in Greinrayel City.


    Having been in deep slumber, Fayz abruptly opened his eyes. Struggling, he slowly sat up. The grotesque wound on his chest hadn''t vanished, emitting a ck mist.


    Yet,pared to the physical injuries, the incessant dizziness in his mind proved unbearable for Fayz.


    *Cough, cough* Amidst severe coughing, Fayz spat a bit of dark red blood, gradually regaining some color in his face. Only then did he ease, recognizing his familiar surroundings.


    Since he was back in Greinrayel, at least safety wasn''t his immediate concern.


    However, Fayz soon noticed something amissthe estate was too eerily quiet. His hearing, enhanced since he acquired the dragon''s body, detected nothing, not even a hint of insect chirping.


    The only sound he caught was a faint, approaching footsteps.


    At that moment, the tightly shut door burst open, revealing a red-robed sorcerer, politely addressing him. "Are you resting well, Lord Fayz? You should take more rest."


    "Odessa?!" Fayz''s visage turned fierce, resembling a ferocious tiger.


    The sorcerer before him was one of his most trusted disciples. However, it was this very individual who, inside the magic stone mine, took advantage of a critical moment during Fayz''s battle with an Eye Demon, using an unknown eerie artifact tounch a sudden attack.


    It was an assault from the spiritual realm, coupled with the Eye Demon''s sudden appearance in the magic stone mine. Fayz nearly met his end. In the end, relying on the immense strength of the dragon''s body, he barely escaped, albeit at an excruciating cost.


    "No, you are definitely not Odessa." Fayz stared coldly, his tone frigid. "Who are you?!"


    "Impressive, Lord Fayz. Or perhaps, you''ve had simr experiences, naturally guessing this." The sorcerer named Odessa smiled slyly, his face bearing a mischievous expression. With a flick of his hand, a peculiarly shaped statue appeared.


    Fayz''s heart sank. His current power was severely limited. The pain in his chest and head threatened to shatter his will.


    Thankfully, being in Greinrayel, stirring a bit ofmotion would undoubtedly attract the attention of the council members.


    With that thought, a surge of magic within Fayz agitated. A formidable aura engulfed the entire estate, nothing more conspicuous than a dragon''s form.


    At the same moment, the sorcerer in the red robe raised the statue in his hand, uttering slowly, "Realm of Apocalypse!"


    A burst of red light swiftly spread, enveloping the entire space, shrouding every structure within the estate.


    It was a crimson space, twisted blood streaks decorating its surroundings. Stout chains sprawled across corners, emanating a putrid, bloody scent.


    The most astonishing sightthe five colossal celestial bodies suspended in the skyeach exuded terrifying pressure.


    "Feel the judgment of the apocalypse!" the red-robed sorcerer shouted. From the central silver-colored star, a dazzling radiance erupted, hurtling towards Fayz at an indescribable speed.


    It was a falling star capable of shrouding the entire sky, emanating a suffocating pressure as it descended upon the ground.


    "Merely an illusion of magic!" Fayz, now transformed into a dragon, fearless, spread his wings and fiercely propelled himself towards the plummeting star.


    Boom!


    Apanied by a deafening impact, Fayz collided with the silver star.


    A massive shockwave ravaged the entire crimson space. Fragments of rocks rose from the ground, then crashed back down.


    The colossal star, resembling a mountain or an ind, was almost shattered by the insignificant dragon form, eventually breaking apart amidst the violent collision.


    Despite the ordeal, Fayz, covered in blood and bearing numerous wounds, continued ring at the sorcerer before him, emanating a strong aura of murder, unleashing a scorching breath...


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 Chapter 182: Who Dares Join the Society of Mystical Arts after This?!

    Chapter 182: Who Dares Join the Society of Mystical Arts after This?!


    The searing breath of the dragon spread instantly, extending hundreds of meters, siphoning the elements within the domain of doom, creating a terrifying sea of fire that stretched for a kilometer. The space itself seemed to ignite, carrying temperatures soaring tens of thousands of degrees, rushing towards Odessa like a tidal wave!


    The crimson-robed sorcerers expression changed abruptly. He hadnt anticipated such immense power from Faiz while being so weakened.


    "Divine Sanctuary!" Odessa spread his hands, conjuring several golden barriers in front of him.


    Cracks


    The first barrier nearly instantaneously ruptured, followed swiftly by the second and the third.


    The scorching sea of mes advanced relentlessly. Odessa''s demeanor grew increasingly grave. With a gesture, the blood-red chains that had encircled the domain seemed toe alive, positioning themselves in front of him, colliding with the oing mes.


    Rumbleviolent collisions reverberated through the skies, shockwaves rippling outward, threatening to copse the entire domain under this tremendous energy.


    "Curses!" Odessa cursed under his breath, as the peculiar statue he held cracked faintly.


    He hadn''t anticipated that this legendary wizard, so weakened, could unleash such potent dragon''s breath.


    If not for the need to eliminate a dozen or so faction wizards and a master alchemist stationed within the manor, he wouldn''t have procrastinated to act against Faiz until now.


    Fortunately, Odessa wasnt unprepared. What he had administered to Faiz earlier wasnt just the simple healing waters for injuries...


    As expected, the ck dragon, breathing fire, soon experienced a heart-rending sensation. Intense magical bacshpelled him to cease the dragons breath, and his colossal form plummeted from the sky.


    "Constrain!" Odessa sighed in relief, reactivating the statue. More chains surged from all directions, entangling Faizs dragon form.


    Moreover, within the interweaving chains, sharp spikes emerged, attempting to prate Faiz''s body, disrupting his bones and organs.


    Pained roars exploded in the sky. The agony momentarily suppressed Faiz''s magical bacsh, but the horrific magic surged again. Visible shockwaves radiated outward from his body, causing the surrounding chains to rupture.


    Then Faiz wielded his colossal form as a weapon, charging straight at Odessa...


    ---


    Half an hourter, the crimson-robed sorcerer reappeared in the room, looking disheveled with tousled hair and numerous wounds. The peculiar statue he held bore cracks, yet his blood-red eyes seemed eerier, his mouth moving as if chewing on something.


    "You were too hasty. I should''ve told you, a legend isn''t easily dealt with," a familiar voice echoed through the silent manor. The crimson-robed sorcerer turned, bowing respectfully. "Sometimes, risks are still meaningful, aren''t they, Lord Merk?"


    "It''s merely luck on your part. If Faiz had retained consciousness upon reaching Greynore, all our preparations would''ve been futile," Merk, a sorcerer, pushed open the door, walking in, shaking his head, speaking coldly.


    The crimson-robed sorcerer remained silent, epting the reprimand.


    "Is your new identity settling in?" Merk continued.


    "This bodys integration is only about seventy percent, but it''s sufficient for now," the crimson-robed sorcerer replied casually.


    "Good! After this matter concludes, I''ll find you a more suitable body," Merk reassured. "As for these days, refrain from acting on your own, engaging in meaningless endeavors, understood?"


    "I willply, Lord Merk..." the crimson-robed sorcerer nodded slightly.


    "Clean up everything here. I don''t want any unfavorable rumors these days. ording to the n, Faiz should perish at the hands of that person..." Merk instructed.


    "As you wish."


    The crimson-robed sorcerer bowed, outwardly deferential, yet their eyes betrayed an icy indifference.


    ---


    "Mindcore, initiate overload mode, connect to the magicalwork, utilizing everyonesputing power except Harofs!"


    Two dayster, at dusk, within Iyeta''s temporary headquarters, in an enclosed training ground, Lynn silently called out in his mind.


    Instantly, Lynn felt an unparalleled rity in his mind. His mental prowess was rapidly expanding, and the world appeared different, indescribablea sense of perceiving things that were previously invisible.


    Control over magic increased manifold...


    As if the space around him had turned incredibly fragile, a mere punch could shatter it!


    But Lynn didn''t let this inte his ego. He knew it was all illusory, and these sudden surges of power were borrowed! After bing an official wizard, the overload mode from the Mindcore wasn''t as effective for him. However, the emergence of the field of magic nicelypensated for it.


    He named this ability to connect minds, utilizing others''puting power, the Magic Network!


    It was like awork constructed from magic and mental energy, where these wizards were akin to his puppets puters remotely controlled by hackers), aiding him in theputational aspects of crafting spells.


    Although it had been only a few days, thanks to Tiek and others tirelessly staying within the magical field, learning what he providedCalculus from Basics to Burialsthe Mindcores progress in breaking the mental frequency had surpassed ten percent.


    Of course, the deeper they delved, the more they touched upon the core, the longer it would take to break.


    Thankfully, for Lynn, this was sufficient. Drawing too muchputing power wasn''t beneficial; surpassing the limits would be a burden, affecting Tiek and others more severely.


    Lynn didn''t want a repeat of the past, where after a battle, half of The Faceless, core members died on the spot, and the remaining half lost connection altogether.


    Who would dare join the Society of Mystical Arts after this?


    So, Lynn capped the upper limit ofputing power utilization at fifteen percent. This way, he could amplify his strength without causing severe consequences.


    Next up, it was time to test his newly created magic...


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 Chapter 183: Spatial Wave Magic ["Spatial Ripple"]

    Chapter 183: Spatial Wave Magic ["Spatial Ripple"]


    The moment Lynn grew ustomed to the powers now within her, she eagerly extended her hand, fingers rhythmically trembling as her magical reserves were instantly depleted by half.


    An imperceptible magical ripple expanded in a circr pattern directly ahead, causing a slight distortion in space wherever it passed.


    Severalbat puppets made of steel, three meters away, were cleanly bisected by the magical ripple without any hindrance. However, those positioned farther, about ten meters away, experienced a different fate. The spot where the ripple passed twisted like a corkscrew, while the wall over thirty meters away remained unaffected.


    This oue didn''t surprise Lynn. It was akin to tapping the surface of water, creating ripples that gradually expanded their reach but weakened in intensity.


    This magic proved effective for breaching enemy defenses at close to medium range. Common shields or magical barriers like the Mage''s Shield or Magic Barrier appeared as fragile as paper before the Spatial Ripple.


    Yet, it had its drawbacks. Its wide scope and indiscriminate nature made it easy for a single spell to down foes and allies alike.


    If someone were bisected, Lynn wondered if the alchemists could salvage them.


    "Approximately sixty percent of mana expended..." Lynn pondered for a moment, swiftly deducing the aftermath. Despite possessing a magical reservoir surpassing that of many Tier-3 mages, employing the Spatial Ripple required depleting most of her stored mana.


    Fortunately, the results were satisfying.


    Ever since her battle with Herlram, Lynn had been studying methods to counter the Diversionary Force Field. She had devised three solutions.


    The first involved using continuouslyrge-scale magic! The principle behind the Diversionary Force Field involved distorting the surrounding spacetime, creating a magical field that diverted any magic aimed at Herlram, akin to light refracted in water, bending away from its target.


    However, magic that covered an entire area like Toxic Domain or Vacuum Domain couldn''t be protected by the Diversionary Force Field since attacks coulde from any direction. Yet, defeating a grand mage with this method alone seemed unrealistic.


    The second method relied on sheer force!


    Mass and energy inherently influenced spacetime. Simrly, magic possessed this property. The Diversionary Force Field couldn''t protect against higher-level magic!


    Furthermore, any object moving fast enough could break free of the force field''s restraint.


    Unfortunately, both options were beyond Lynn''s capabilities. Her only choice was the third: using force field magic to counter force field magic!


    Sessfully developing the Spatial Ripple meant she finally possessed a means to threaten a grand mage!


    As for the mana issue, Lynn sighed. Then, without hesitation, she retrieved a bottle of sapphire-blue magic potion from her sleeve and drank it down. In less than a second, her depleted mana was fully restored, her reserves back to optimal levels.


    This was "Shiens''s Superior Magic Potion"! An invention of a senior alchemist, priced at a hefty seventy Magic Gold Coins per bottle!


    Originally designed to replenish grand mages'' mana, it was a luxury for regr mages. However, Lynn downed it without a second thought.


    Seventy Magic Gold Coins amounted to the price of four ss mirrors, easily recouped by having Darren and the others work a bit more.


    In fact, Lynn bought out all thirty bottles avable on the market. Obviously, the alchemist hadn''t anticipated anyone like Lynn using it during magical practice.


    After a brief break, Lynn repositioned a batch ofbat dummies, preparing to test if materialposition affected the Spatial Ripple''s strength.


    Time was of the essence. Tomorrow marked the Council''s operation for capture. She had to swiftly familiarize herself with this new magic.


    Just as Lynn prepared to cast her spell, her body involuntarily paused. A cold sweat trickled down her forehead.


    She suddenly sensed a slight variance in space curvature about five meters to her right, different from elsewhere. If not for theputational support of the twelve Tier-3 mages, she might not have perceived this minute difference.


    Yet, that area was empty...


    The only possibility: someone had infiltrated, standing nearby watching her practice magic, causing this subtle change in space curvature through their magical power.


    Her warning magic set at the training ground entrance had failed to activate...


    Lynn''s heart raced to her throat. Despite herposed exterior, she abruptly raised her hand,unching an attack without warning.


    "Spatial Ripple!"


    The barely detectable spatial ripple manifested once again. With a distance of a mere five meters between them, at the speed of magical waves, it had nearly reached its target!


    Faintly, Lynn heard the sound of something shattering...


    Hit? Or did it miss?


    Backing away abruptly, Lynn observed numerous magical projectiles materializing from the void, hurtling toward the right side but vanishing as if swallowed by an abyss.


    Evidently, her adversary remained alive and possessed resistance capabilities. The invisibility spell remained intact!


    Simultaneously activating her "Magic - Barrage," Lynn''s left hand grasped a bottle of "Shiens''s Superior Magic Potion," swiftly consumed, while her right hand sped the "Corona Medal."


    If even a direct hit from Spatial Ripple couldn''t kill her adversary, her only chance was to rely on the protective magic of the "Corona Medal" to buy time, raise an rm, and await the arrival of the Magic Council members for a righteous brawl!


    "Vittorio''s Barrier is a Tier-6 spell, usable only once. Are you sure you want to activate it now?"


    Suddenly, a lightughter broke in abruptly, followed by the appearance of a graceful figure within the spacious training room.


    "Aurora?" Lynn halted her movement to activate the Corona Medal, recognizing her quickly.


    Much like theirst encounter, this legendary sorceress donned the same crimson gown, exuding a captivating allure. Her delicate features resembled a perfectly sculpted artwork, radiating a mesmerizing glow in the darkness.


    However, Lynn''s attention shifted to the sorceress''s abdomen, severed by the Spatial Ripple. Her body seemed partitioned into upper and lower halves, yet no blood oozed from the cut. The eerie sight made Lynn doubt if what she saw was an illusion...


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 Chapter 184: Rapid Regeneration? Scapegoat? Time Reversal?

    Chapter 184: Rapid Regeneration? Scapegoat? Time Reversal?


    "This is the new magic you''ve been researching? The power is impressive, already ranking among higher-level magics just in terms of destructive force..." Aurora remarked with a yful tone. It was the first time she''d encountered a third-tier wizard developing a high-tier magic theoretically reserved for grand wizards.


    "Can you tell me how you managed this?" Aurora asked, brimming with curiosity.


    "Every magic can be expressed through the principles of the Aosu form. I used it to construct the spell framework for ''Spatial Vibrations!''" Lynn casually fabricated a reason, after all, the existence of the magic couldn''t be revealed casually.


    But it wasn''t entirely nonsense; theoretically, it could be achieved!


    If it couldn''t be done, then it would be due to insufficient understanding of Aosu, not something to me Lynn for!


    "Aosu?" Aurora nodded thoughtfully. She had been present during Lynn''s presentation at the symposium, especially thew of universal gravitation, which could calcte changes in spatial curvature through forms, a truly miraculous feat.


    However, she also realized that casting higher-tier magic outside one''s level was extremely strenuous for Lynn. He frequently consumed magic potions, indicating a workaround rather than a genuine breakthrough.


    "Aurora, are you... okay?" Lynn''s gaze inevitably fell to the witch''s waist. The gash caused by ''Spatial Vibrations'' was evidenta person cleaved in two, yet standing here and conversing.


    Aurora evidently noticed Lynn''s gaze, lightly chuckling. She then ced her hand on the severed area, lightly stroking it. The rift seemed to vanish as if erased by an eraser, disappearing without a trace, even the clothes'' damage restored.


    Lynn felt a chill; this was harm caused by spatial distortion, vanishing so effortlessly.


    Seeming to understand Lynn''s astonishment, Aurora gently reminded, "No matter how powerful a magic is, if you don''t target the right thing, it''s just a waste of effort..."


    The right target? Lynn paused, and numerous spections flooded his mind.


    Rapid regeneration? Scapegoat? Time reversal? Or perhaps bodily energy conversion?


    But Aurora didn''t seem inclined to exin further.


    Lynn''s fluctuating emotions soon settled. He didn''t feel disheartened by the failure of the new magic; he developed ''Spatial Vibrations'' to counter grand wizards, an attempt to threaten a legendary wizard was clearly an overestimation...


    That was why he didn''t show obvious hostility towards Aurora.


    "Secondly, I''m curious, how did you discover me? Did my magic have any obvious ws?" Aurora looked at Lynn with interest, inquiring.


    She developed prizing magic, not merely affecting vision but also considering magical factors, even evading most detection spells. Logically, it should have been quite perfected...


    However, being recognized twice in less than a month, especially by a third-tier wizard like Lynn, left Aurora somewhat frustrated.


    "Smell!" Under the legendary witch''s gaze, Lynn calmly replied, with no intention to tell the truth.


    After all, the sensation of someone silently approaching was eerie, particrly different from thest attack. Aurora''s invisibility magic was challenging to detect, even his protective magic at the door was useless.


    Smell? Aurora instinctively raised her sleeve to smell but quickly realized, given her current state, it was impossible to acquire any scent...


    It was evident the other person was trying to deceive her... Realizing this, Aurora''s gaze turned dangerous.


    Lynn quickly diverted the conversation. "Aurora, are you... not leaving yet?" His expression subtly hinted at her departure.


    "If you wish, I could consider it. But perhaps another time..." Aurora pursed her lips, then her graceful figure disappeared from Lynn''s sight.


    "Goodnight, my brown star!" The witch''s clear and pleasant voice echoed in the spacious practice room, finally dissolving into the night.


    Yet, Lynn''s expression twitched imperceptibly because he distinctly felt the subtle changes in spatial curvature where Aurora had stood, signifying she had simply turned invisible again, not actually left...


    Lynn felt speechless, unable to force her departure. He pretended not to notice and resumed experimenting with the new magic, acting as if she didn''t exist.


    At least from the phrase ''brown star,'' it was evident that it was indeed Aurora and not someone using shape-shifting magic to impersonate her.


    Hidden within her prizing magic, Aurora deliberately cast a spell to block any scent. Seeing Lynn resume his magic practice, seemingly unaware, she fell into deep confusion.


    Could there really be something very noticeable about herself?


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 Chapter 185: The Mad Doomsday Cultists

    Chapter 185: The Mad Doomsday Cultists


    The Silent Domain, Magic Shielding, Advanced Elemental Resistance...


    At noon the next day, outside a vast estate, hundreds of wizards were scattered across its various corners, casting spells together. A sturdy magical barrier suddenly enveloped the entire estate, creating a barrier isting it from the outside world.


    This was to prevent the uing battle from affecting the surroundings, avoiding unnecessary chaos and trouble. After all, this area belonged to the city, and besides the wizards, there were many non-magic civilians.


    Lynn, Ondo, Kevin, Ynde, and others were fully prepared, quietly awaiting the signal to attack.


    ording to the previous agreement, all members involved in this operation, including the city guards, councilors, and civilian wizards, were divided into four teams.


    The first team, led by Ougust and three high-level wizards, wouldunch a frontal attack, swiftly breaking in to capture the core members of the Doomsday cult.


    The second and third teams would attack from the other two entrances of the estate,pletely blocking any possibility of the Doomsday cultists escaping in those directions.


    As for thest team staying outside, they were to prevent any sudden situations and were responsible for apprehending the incapacitated cultists, clearing the remnants, and tending to the injured.


    Lynn was part of the third team, a total of neen members led by his old acquaintance, the grand wizard Raphael. Not arge number, but all were second or third-tier wizards, no weaklings among them.


    Facing such a grand setup, some young civilian wizards showed no hint of fear but rather seemed eager.


    "The uing battle, you all better be vignt. ording to the city guard''s report, these Doomsday cultists are beyond madness. They won''t show any mercy. Any carelessness can be fatal!" Raphael said sternly, then turned to Lynn to continue.


    "Lynn, theoretical magic and practicalbat sometimes don''t match. During the fight, prioritize your safety; don''t let your guard down."


    In Raphael''s eyes, theoretical wizards like Lynn usually had slightly weakerbat abilities.


    After all, human energy was limited. Lynn had exceptional knowledge of elements, arcane arts, and celestial bodies. It wasn''t reasonable to expect him to possess extensivebat experience.


    Instances of powerful wizards being killed by minor spells due to negligence were plentiful.


    Kevin, Ondo, and the others nearby wore odd expressions at these words. These wizards from the Iyeta school were well aware of Lynn''s background. He hade all the way from the Seckas Empire under the church''s rule.


    ording to Loude''s ount, before Lynn crossed the sea to thend of wizards, he destroyed half a town, killing thousands of armored guards...


    With Raphael''s reminder, Lynn nodded in agreement. In fact, if possible, he wished to be assigned to the fourth team for logistical support, but unfortunately, Ougust didn''t give him that opportunity.


    Also... Lynn nced sideways. In the mental link mode, he swept a nce toward five o''clock behind him. The legendary sorceress Aurora had followed him for a whole night and half a day, always staying within ten meters, not even exempting him when he went to the restroom deliberately.


    As a result, a ridiculous idea vaguely surfaced in Lynn''s mind. Could it be that she had no way to leave him? Otherwise, who would idle around following someone all the time, not letting go even during meals, sleep, or bathroom breaks? Could this Aurora have some extremely unique personal preference?


    While pondering, a sudden explosion resounded from inside the estate. Everyone''s expressions changed. That was the signal for action!


    "Let''s go!"


    Raphael shouted, leading everyone straight into the estate.


    Inside the estate nowy chaos, mes soaring, thick smoke billowing, explosions mingled with screams continually echoing. The scene was pure pandemonium.


    "What the hell is happening?"


    "Enemy attack!!" "Quick, inform the Ambassador..."


    These continuous shouts reverberated within the estate. The first wave of attacks seemed incredibly smooth, and Lynn''s group hardly encountered any decent resistance as they charged into the front hall.


    Considering many Doomsday cultists were bewitched wizards, they didn''t show lethal intent, using imprisonment and unconsciousness spells to subdue individuals, leaving the rest to the logistical team.


    However, the chaotic scene didn''tst long. As they advanced, the resistance they encountered became fiercer. The Doomsday cultists, now realizing the situation, unleashed their madness to the fullest, disying fearlessness in their actions.


    me Burst, Multiple Fireballs...


    Just as Lynn and his group passed through a corridor, they were met with a barrage of scorching fireballs.


    "Let me handle this!" Ynde stepped forward quickly, extending her hand.


    Blizzard Storm.


    In the void, the constantly moving water molecules seemed to be summoned, gathering and condensing into sharp ice pieces, rushing forward like a whirlpool. A frost storm instantly covered the entire corridor, extinguishing the fireballs before they could approach.


    Raphael, who had been observing without intervening, believed this operation against the Doomsday cultists was an excellent opportunity for the formally trained wizardsckingbat experience, his responsibility being their safety.


    However, just as this thought shed in his mind, Raphael felt an ominous warning. After the ice and mes dissipated, the scene in the hall appeared before them.


    Ten or so Doomsday cultist wizards had a fanatical look. In front of them was a menacing advanced magic crystal cannon, substantial magical energy condensing at its half-meter-wide muzzle...


    Were these people insane? Raphael gasped. Using a magic crystal cannon in such a confined space was courting death.


    In that moment, the brief charging had beenpleted. A dazzling blue light burst forth, aiming directly at Lynn and his group.


    "Get down!" Raphael roared, simultaneously unleashing his strongest protective magic.


    Sighing Wall.


    In an instant, a colossal wall of steel rose before them, blocking the terrifying energy beam released by the magic crystal cannon.


    The sturdy Sighing Wall, however, was torn apart like soft mud in front of the charging magic crystal cannon, and then the blue light exploded violently.


    "Boom!"


    Amidst the earth-shattering roar, the entire estate trembled. A terrifying shockwave spread, sweeping up billows of dust. Except for Raphael, everyone present was sent flying by the intense shockwave...


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 Chapter 186: The Unseen Enemy

    Chapter 186: The Unseen Enemy


    After the explosion subsided, the once brightly lit hall was now a debris-strewn ruin. Coughing, Ynde, Kevin, and the others struggled to rise, their faces stained with blood. Even Raphael, though a bit paler, had his runic bracelet split into two. Dodging the crystal cannon shot wasn''t hard, but he chose to shield Ynde and the rest, bracing himself for impact.


    Lynn was in a slightly better state; the Sigh Wall and Raphael had absorbed most of the impact. Still, the lingering shockwaves took their toll on his body.


    "Keep firing, kill them!" The Doomsday Cultists, not far off, staggered from the shock. However, their leading wizard disregarded it, bellowing furiously.


    The high-level crystal cannon lit up almost instantly. Its blue energy beam surged again, the people present bracing for the worst. Raphael was prepared to intercept the second attack, but the terrifying energy beam vanished after a flicker.


    "Damn it!" The lead wizard furiously kicked the cannon; it had failed at a critical moment.


    Lynn immediately nced towards the obscured spot where Aurora hid, the only one capable of manipting things from the shadows.


    Raphael reacted swiftly, casting the Four Ring SpellIron Sand Bind. Countless sharp iron sands condensed and shot out like lightning. Several cultists tried to raise shields but were instantly pierced. They crumpled, blood staining the ground crimson.


    The lead wizard suffered the brunt, riddled with dozens of iron sands, turning him into a sieve.


    The damaged item was the high-level crystal cannon, precisely Raphael''s intended target! The remaining cultists panicked. One warlock, terrified, fled but collided head-on with a blood-red whip, disintegrating in a spray of blood.


    "Bunch of waste!" A middle-aged wizard in a red robe emerged from the shadows, observing the chaos and the ruined cannon, his eyes chillingly sharp.


    "Lord Emissary!" The cultists immediately rallied around the wizard in the red robe.


    Raphael''s expression turned to shock. "Odessa?!"


    "Never thought it''d be you. Seems the attack on Lord Fayz wasn''t merely an ident..." Odessa''s presence made Raphael tense.


    The council had confirmed that three wizards, including Odessa, had followed Fayz into the magic stone mine, but only Fayz had returned.


    Raphael had assumed they''d all perished inside, but here was Odessa, appearing before him as the so-called Doomsday Emissary.


    "If you miss Fayz so much, I can arrange a reunion!" Odessa''s tone turned icy. Without waiting for Raphael''s response, he produced an odd figurine, activating the Doomsday Realm.


    In an instant, the ruined hall vanished, reced by a blood-red space reeking of ughter and blood. Colossal pirs spanned the void, and cracks resembling abysses scarred the ground.


    "What ce is this?" Ynde fought nausea, asking in fear.


    "This is the imminent apocalypse, the future of the wizards'' domain. It''ll be their graveyard," Odessa said dispassionately.


    "Dream on!" Raphael roared angrily. Elemental forces surged in the vast space.


    It was the Five Ring SpellMagic Torrent.


    "Step back!" Raphael warned loudly before casting the spell.


    Even before Raphael spoke, Lynn and the others had fled dozens of meters away, avoiding getting caught in the battle of the two grand wizards.


    Elements shed, creating a tidal wave of powerful energy that annihted everything in its path.


    "Try this, Dragon''s Breath..." Odessa smirked, creating a fierce dragon breath, shing with the Magic Torrent.


    The storm even affected Lynn and the others from a distance.


    "What do we do now?" A trembling witch spoke up. She had thought this operation against the Doomsday sect would be a mere formality, perhaps a chance to take down a few enemies to boast aboutter, but it had escted.


    "As long as we hold on till Master Ougust arrives, we''ll be safe," Philip encouraged, but he was deeply anxious.


    Why hadn''t Ougust and the team responsible for the frontal assault arrived yet? Instead, they''d encountered the leader of the Doomsday cultists, and they had no idea how to leave this eerie space.


    "Three o''clock direction, Ynde, get down!" Lynn, who hadn''t spoken until then, suddenly yelled at the outermost Ynde, abruptly shouting directions.


    "What?" Ynde hesitated, clueless about Lynn''s clock direction method,pletely unaware of his right side as a hidden dagger lurked in the shadows, aiming for his neck.


    But Lynn was quicker, kicking Ynde''s lower leg, forcing him to kneel...


    me Touch!


    Lynn raised his hand, a scorching ze streaking over Ynde''s head towards the assant''s position.


    Infuriated by the inexplicable kick and nearly singeing his hair, Ynde was about to retort when a piercing scream beside him halted his words.


    Under the high-temperature mes, the assant turned into a burning figure, agonizingly struggling. The dagger in their hand gleamed with an eerie green light, sending chills down Ynde''s spine.


    He could imagine that if that thing had struck him, he''d be on death''s doorstep.


    "Thank you for the help, Sir Lynn!" Ynde swiftly retreated into the group, expressing deep gratitude.


    Lynn nodded, his gaze scanning the surroundings. Through his heat vision, a dozen or so sources were rapidly approaching them.


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 Chapter 187: Cutting the Falling Stars with "Spatial Tremors"

    Chapter 187: Cutting the Falling Stars with "Spatial Tremors"


    Sensing their exposed presence, the disciples of the Doomsday Cult, walking in the shadows, ceased their persistent close-range attacks, instead tactically casting spells together.


    Dozens of ice des, fireballs, acid, and even crossbow arrows suddenly rained down from various directions...


    Each time the disciples cast their spells, their figures briefly emerged, swiftly disappearing back into the shadows, akin to what one might call mage assassins.


    The assembled wizards found themselves caught off guard; they had no idea of the enemies'' numbers or their positions.


    They could only passively defend against the iing elemental magic. By the time they countered with their own spells, the adversaries had often vanished, relocated to another direction. In just a fleeting moment, injuries began to appear among their ranks.


    A young male wizard had just deflected an iing "Acid Jet" with a protective spell when a crossbow bolt, seemingly from nowhere, pierced his ankle.


    Intense pain forced him to stumble and fall, yet the Doomsday Cultists showed no mercy. He instantly became the target of their assault.


    Fortunately, at that moment, thirty magical missiles flew from behind, precisely intercepting the iing curses.


    The one who intervened was Lynn.


    Ynde, previously attacked, roared and unleashed another wide-ranging ice storm, but it failed to hit anyone.


    "Lynn, do you have a way to determine their positions?" urgently asked a witch within the group.


    Shadow magic was an extremely obscure form of wizardry, difficult to master. Yet, astonishingly, every Doomsday Cultist seemed proficient in it. However, now was clearly not the time to ponder over this fact.


    What mattered most was they hadn''t prepared in advance to counter these spells. Raphael was busy dealing with Odessa, the leader of the Doomsday Cult. Among them, Lynn was the only one who could see these cultists.


    "Of course!" Lynn replied casually before swiftly casting a spell, conjuring four walls of icy barriers, trapping everyone, allies and Doomsday Cultists alike, within.


    Then, Lynn pulled out a vial, tossing it into the sky amid perplexed gazes from Ynde and the others.


    Though the Doomsday Cultist wizards had no idea what Lynn was up to, they understood they couldn''t allow it. Instantly, several beams of magic struck the vial...


    Surprisingly, instead of rmed expressions like Ynde''s group, Lynn reacted with unexpected words.


    "So considerate, aren''t they?"


    The Doomsday Cultist wizards quickly realized their mistake. The vial exploded in mid-air, emitting a cyan glow, as alchemical powder showered down, outlining the contours of everyone present.


    "Is that Luminous Stone powder?" eximed Phillip, who had some knowledge of alchemy. These unique minerals existed in the darkest mines, holding considerable magical power and possessing self-illuminating properties.


    Kevin, Ynde, and the others, who had been holding their anger, almost immediatelyunched their counterattack.


    Without the aid of shadow magic, the true strength of the Doomsday Cultists was promptly revealed. They were forced into a retreat as they were continuously attacked.


    Meanwhile, Raphael, engrossed inbat with Odessa, kept a watchful eye on the battle. He wasn''t entirely unaware of the cultists hidden in the shadows; he simply hadn''t had a chance to intervene.


    Upon witnessing Lynn''s sessful use of Luminous Stone powder to nullify the shadow magic, Raphael breathed a sigh of relief and silently praised Lynn''s vignce.


    However, this momentary distraction cost Raphael dearly. The blood-red chains encircling the domain of the Doomsday suddenly came to life,shing out viciously at Raphael, akin to long whips.


    An invisible magical barrier materialized around him, but it shattered in the next moment.


    One of the chains pierced through Raphael''s right arm, creating a hole, instantly staining his robes red. A piercing pain surged through his mind, yet he dared not pause. Gripping the chain embedded in his body, he shattered it with a burst of magic.


    Odessa pointed ahead, a crimson glow shimmering.


    Raphael couldn''t evade itpletely, but the next moment, both of them felt a sudden jolt in their hearts. Although itsted only a moment, it was enough to cause Odessa''s magic to veer off course...


    Lynn, observing from a distance, ceased the resonance magic. This spell had limited impact on a grand wizard; once the opponent was wary, sess the next time wouldn''te so easily. Therefore, Lynn didn''t dare to recklessly expose the intricacies of this spell.


    As Odessa, unexpectedly ambushed, fortified himself with severalyers of protection, he red coldly at Raphael.


    Since the cultists had lost their usefulness, there was no need for him to hold back anymore!


    "Judgment of Doom!" Odessa gripped the figurine tightly, shouting loudly.


    The blood-red sky seemed to darken, a sense of oppression enveloping everyone.


    Ynde raised her head in astonishment, then witnessed a breathtaking sight: the suspended silver moon in the sky appeared to be drawn by some force, carrying an air of imminent destruction, hurtling downward.


    A celestial body several kilometers in diameter obscured the entire sky, casting darkness down...


    A wave of fear and helplessness surged through everyone.


    The remaining Doomsday Cultists below prostrated themselves, devoutly praying, seeking forgiveness from the great spirits of the elements.


    Even Raphael''s mind quivered; beneath the terrifying power of such a celestial collision, evasion and defense seemed futile.


    Amidst the prayers and cries of despair, Lynn could no longer feign ignorance of Aurora. Speaking in a lowered voice, Lynn said, "Aren''t you going to act, Lady Aurora?"


    The next moment, a soft breath sounded near Lynn''s ear. "Shh... My powers are limited. They need to appear at the most critical moment. Use your most potent magic... Just remember, that isn''t the real moon..."


    Lynn furrowed his brow. Of course, he knew that couldn''t be the real moon. That thing was at least a thousand timesrger than this, and the crimson space gave him a sense somewhat simr to a magic domain...


    A magical illusion? The more belief, the stronger the construction?


    Lynn spected silently, then raised his hand, pointing at the enormous celestial body plummeting from the sky.


    "Spatial Tremors."


    His fingers trembled rapidly, and an imperceptible ripple of magical force spread rapidly. However, unlike before, the power of "Spatial Tremors" did not weaken in the slightest; instead, it intensified rapidly, eventually bing visible to the naked eye.


    Just like a sharp curved de slicing through butter, in the unbelieving eyes of everyone, the colossal silver moon was split apart...


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 Chapter 188: Have You Ascended to the Legendary Realm?

    Chapter 188: Have You Ascended to the Legendary Realm?


    A rift appeared on the surface of the massive silver moon, swiftly expanding into a crack that spread across the entire celestial body, eventually shattering into pieces with a resounding boom.


    Fragments of the silver moon rained down like a fiery meteor shower, yet devoid of the prior terror they once held. Before the meteor shower could reach the ground, it turned into ashes...


    But it was the sorcerer, Odessa, the one casting the spell, whose emotions faltered at the moment the silver moon was severed...


    Everyone present stood frozen, staring nkly at the shattered silver moon in the sky and at Lynn, who raised his hand high to cleave the stars. Even Raphael, his face a mix of astonishment and incredulity, was not an exception.


    Has the apocalypse ended? The doomsday cultists, who were kneeling and praying, were dumbfounded, gazing skyward as if something within them was copsing...


    "Lynn, have you broken through to the Legendary Realm?" Ynde struggled, swallowing hard before speaking up.


    Whether it was the scene of the falling silver moon or Lynn''s scene of severing the stars, it shattered Ynde''s understanding of magic.


    Could wizards truly do this?


    Perhaps only legendary wizards could unleash such terrifying magic...


    "That was just a magical illusion," Lynn remainedposed. In the realm of magic, as long as theputational power was sufficient, he could simte a ster explosion without a hitch.


    Of course, Aurora''s assistance was indispensable. This legendary witch somehow nullified the drawbacks of "Space Ripples," keeping the power at its peak.


    Attacking from a spatial perspective, even a genuine meteor would be sliced in two!


    "Sinner!" Odessa growled angrily, a hint of fear in his words.


    The spectacle of the falling silver moon was indeed a magical illusion formed by magical energy, but even as the legendary wizard Fayz questioned it verbally, he couldn''t help but feel fear himself when facing the shocking sight of the stars falling.


    And that fear would solidify at the moment the silver moon descended, reverberating into their physical beings, pulverizing everything!


    "Elemental spirits, unleash your wrath and punish the sinners before us!" Odessa shouted hoarsely.


    The crimson space immediately trembled, the earth cracked, and blood surged from the depths, transforming into monstrous beings, standing tall at two meters, wielding twisted swords, charging toward them in astonishing numbers, appearing like a blood-red tide from afar.


    Raphael, enduring the injury to his right shoulder, unleashed a "Group - Firest."


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Explosions resounded violently, apanied by a series of firebursts. However, the demons charging forward seemed unaffected, rushing out from the smoke and mes as if nothing had touched them.


    This eerie situation made Ynde and the others'' scalps tingle. How could they possibly fight this?


    Prompted by Aurora''s reminder, Lynn immediately exined, "No need to worry too much; most are visual illusions. Only a very few have the capability to harm us..."


    "But how do we distinguish the real ones?" Phillip hurriedly asked. The magical fluctuations of these demons were almost indistinguishable, making it even more challenging to discern the genuine from the false.


    The "Group - Firest" Raphael had just cast proved ineffective, meaning they couldn''t stop these demons from approaching. Even if one out of ten struck unexpectedly, it could be fatal.


    And they had no clue when the real attack woulde.


    "We can differentiate with magic!" Raphael nced at Lynn. His most powerful spell, "Elemental Torrent," was insufficient to cover such a vast area.


    "In three seconds, only those still standing will be fakes!" Lynn drank a bottle of high-grade mana potion and stated firmly, immediately using "Space Ripples" again.


    Enhanced by Aurora''s Wordbound Magic, a visible ripple of magical energy swept across the entire battlefield.


    Just like ripples in water, the range of "Space Ripples" only widened, perfectly suited for this situation.


    The oing demons seemed like tofu hitting a steel wire at high speed, being sliced apart. Some demons continued their charge unfazed, but others fell to the ground, turning into pools of blood.


    In the next moment, the tide of demons was upon them. The twisted des and grotesque faces made Ynde and the others shiver, even though they knew it was just a visual illusion. They couldn''t help but conjure "Mage Shields."


    The towering demon ignored the protection of the "Mage Shield," bringing down its twisted de. A witch closed her eyes in fear, but as Lynn had mentioned, there was no sensation of pain as the de passed through her body...


    However, the reinforced "Space Ripples" had a ring w: it significantlypromised stealth!


    Odessa had already evaded ahead of the magical wave''s arrival, growing a pair of blood-colored bat wings behind him.


    Moreover, Odessa created seven magical illusions of himself, all suspended in the sky.


    "Painful Touch."


    Crimson light red sessively, shooting from various directions.


    "The fourth one is the real body!" Aurora''s soft voice echoed in Lynn''s ears, and he promptly ryed it to Raphael.


    Nodding, Raphael disregarded the other illusions'' attacks, casting "Sighing Wall" to block the fourth red streak, allowing the rest of the magic to pass through his body.


    "Damn it... damn it!" Odessa yelled angrily, fear gradually spreading within him. He couldn''t fathom why his magic was so easily seen through!


    "It should be you who''s damned, Odessa!" Raphael''s voice turned cold. Following that, a "Sandstorm" billowed forth, turning iron sand into spikes and des, flying toward the sky.


    Odessa didn''t pay much attention to this four-ring magic, evading effortlessly with his blood wings. Yet, he failed to notice a few spherical objects flying alongside these spikes and des. Hidden within the attack, these objects suddenly exploded!


    A blinding light suddenly erupted, momentarily shrouding Odessa''s vision and causing a brief pause in his movements...


    It was at this moment that Raphael roared loudly.


    "Now''s the time!"


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 Chapter 189: "I Have Quite a Few Tricks Up My Sleeve, Theres Always One to Make You Gape!"

    Chapter 189: "I Have Quite a Few Tricks Up My Sleeve, There''s Always One to Make You Gape!"


    Odessa, trapped in momentary blindness and stiffness, sensed the looming threat of death. A fierce reluctance surged within him. He hadn''t witnessed the annihtion of the Wizard''s Land yet, nor had he fulfilled the Lord''s will...


    Simultaneously, Odessa couldn''t afford to conceal himself any longer. He promptly invoked his most potent defensive divine spell.


    "[Divine Sanctuary]!"


    A golden radiance enveloped him, forming a sturdy barrier around his body, colliding with the rushing [Spatial Tremors].


    Apanied by a faint tearing sound, cracks appeared on the golden barrier.


    Cold sweat beaded Odessa''s forehead. He barely managed to block it. But before he could catch his breath, the second wave of magical force followed!


    However, Lynn, as a precaution, had consumed a magical potion while unleashing the [Spatial Tremors]. Immediately, without hesitation, she cast a second spell.


    The two sessive [Spatial Tremors] ovepped, the golden barrier couldn''t hold, instantly bursting apart. Odessa only had time to twist his body to avoid a fatal blow. The next moment, he felt his right side numb, tumbling helplessly from the sky...


    Also severed was the peculiar statue clutched in his right hand.


    Thousands of illusory demons vanished amid cries, and the blood-red space swiftly dissipated...


    The moment they exited the doomsday domain, everyone present finally rxed.


    Odessa''s appearance was pitiful at this moment. His right arm and a section of his lower leg had been severed by the [Spatial Tremors], the cuts eerily neat, crimson blood continuously gushed out. The severed peculiar statuey beside him, its former mystical aura gone.


    Raphael hurried forward, mping Odessa''s mouth shut, and administered a bottle of blue potion.


    The potion quickly took effect, staunching the blood gushing from his arm and leg. Simultaneously, an icy chill almost pierced Odessa''s consciousness, his body freezing. Only his eyes and mouth remained movable.


    "You better tell me the truth, Odessa. What''s the deal with this Doomsday Sect?" Raphael''s face was as dark as water. Having nearly died in the Doomsday Domain, he felt no mercy for the person before him.


    Rescuing the other with the potion was merely to extract more information through interrogation.


    Facing Raphael''s inquiry, Odessa remained silent, gazing coldly at the two, showing no intention to answer.


    "You just used some divine magic, right?" Lynn suddenly interjected.


    Having witnessed Odessa utilize subtle divine power, breaching the norm with a fourth-tier magic[Divine Barrier].


    Odessa''s previous defense against the first [Spatial Tremors] must have been an upgraded version of that.


    "Divine magic?" As someone born in the Wizard''s Land and never exposed to the outside world, divine magic was a very unfamiliar existence to Raphael. So much so that he didn''t recognize it immediately.


    However, this didn''t imply Raphael didn''t grasp the seriousness of the situation. The reason they wizards remained in theirnd was primarily due to the church''s blockade.


    "I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve. There''s always one to make you gape!" Raphael sneered.


    Meanwhile, Lynn nced at the bisected peculiar statue, using [Mage Hand] to retrieve it. Yet, she dared not touch it directly; this thing exuded malice, possibly tampered with.


    Aurora''s voice soon sounded in Lynn''s ear. "This is an idol of an evil deity. What you''re holding is merely an instrument of power. It seems the person isn''t here."


    While Lynn and Raphael were concerned, the other wizards were more focused on something else.


    "Do you know when Lord Lynn was promoted to Grand Wizard?" Ynde looked at Phillip, quietly inquiring.


    Even though Lynn had rified that the severed star was merely a magical illusion, defeating the envoy of the Doomsday Sect alongside Master Raphael required at least being a Grand Wizard.


    "I''m not quite sure." Phillip, equally perplexed, hadn''t been informed by Lynn about this matter, feeling a bit resentful.


    Just as the group chatted, a powerful surge of magic suddenly emanated from a distance.


    All turned their heads, through the shattered walls, gazing toward the towering Sun Crown Tower!


    "Uh-oh, their real target should be the core of the Sun Crown Tower..." Aurora''s slightly panicked voice echoed in Lynn''s ear.


    Odessa, who had been silent, also looked at the towering tower, unable to suppress hisughter. He knew no one could resist that temptation!


    ...


    Twenty minutes ago, in the data room of the Sun Crown Tower, Rorl, who remained at the council, had arranged the personnel and brought out the collected information.


    He was highly intrigued by Lynn''s previous spection but had left the task of gathering intelligence to a few colleagues due to the recent rush. Only thirty-seven people had entered the Wizard''s Land through the Misty Sea in the past decade, and even fewer stayed for long. Rorl patiently reviewed each profile. Soon, a familiar name caught his eyeKashimo.


    Approximately five years ago, Kashimo arrived in the Wizard''s Land aboard a ship from Iyeta Harbor, staying for half a month before departing. Later, for unknown reasons, they joined the School of Psionics, bing the trusted right-hand person of the dark mage Merk...


    As Rorl perused this information, his eyes gleamed brighter. The timing of Kashimo joining the School of Psionics, merely a year and seven months after the tragic event, coincided with the emergence of the Doomsday Sect shortly after the fall of the School of Psionics.


    Kashimo was undoubtedly the key figure...


    Rorl couldn''t contain his excitement but quickly remembered that Kashimo had been eliminated by his mentor, Ougust, two months ago, dousing his enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water.


    Unfortunately, this lead had run dry...


    With a tinge of regret, Rorl took out the relevant information, preparing to discuss it with Lynn to see if they could find clues elsewhere.


    However, if this operation went smoothly, perhaps there wouldn''t be a need for that...


    Rorl pondered as he walked out, the wind carrying a faint scent of blood.


    Having undergone numerous battles in recent days, Rorl immediately grew alert. His brow furrowed, hastening towards the source of the bloody odor. Anxiousness gripped him. This was the Sun Crown Tower, the core of the Wizard Council, fortified with magical barriers. Could it be that the fanatical Doomsday cultists had breached it?


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 Chapter 190: Surpassing All Wizards to Become the Second... God!

    Chapter 190: Surpassing All Wizards to Be the Second... God!


    Rorl dashed downward, the scent of blood growing stronger. Along the way, he had encountered several bodies, their deaths peculiar, as if life had been snatched away by magic without any chance to react.


    "Curses! What in the world is happening? Has the Council been infiltrated?" Rorl cursed loudly. The defenses within the Crown of Sun Tower had utterly failed.


    Undoubtedly, there was a traitor within the Council, leaking information about their operation. Then, taking advantage of the vulnerability in the Tower''s defenses, they infiltrated the core of the Mage Council.


    Rorl was extremely anxious but encountered a group of familiar figuresthe ones led by Ougust, who had gone to besiege the Doomsday Sect.


    "Teacher!" Rorl eximed in surprise, instantly relieved. If Ougust was here, then the situation on the other side should be resolved.


    But he didn''t have time to inquire further. "Teacher, your return is timely. Enemies have breached the Mage Council. The guards I arranged were attacked, and the protective enchantments failed. There might be a traitor inside!"


    "And there''s the Doomsday Sect. It''s likely connected to Kashimo, the one you killed two months ago... I investigated his records. He was the right-hand man of the dark mage Merk five years ago. I suspect recent events are all rted to him..." Rorl rapidly conveyed his spections.


    Ougust remained calm, patiently listening to Rorl''s ount while heading deeper into the Crown of Sun Tower. Then, with interest, he inquired, "Are these your own deductions?"


    "No, it''s Lord Lynn''s spection, but I believe it''s highly urate," Rorl asserted firmly.


    "He seems clever!" Ougust praised generously but then shook his head after ncing at Rorl. "Butpared to him, youck a bit."


    Rorl hesitated, a hint of embarrassment on his face. Naturally, he couldn''tpare to Lord Lynn.


    "Teacher, where are we going?" Rorl followed Ougust, puzzled. Shouldn''t they be gathering forces to search for the traitors and intruders?


    "The Control Chamber!" Ougust replied casually.


    Soon, they arrived at the door of the Control Chambera bronze door adorned with intricate alchemical patterns, notably featuring a central device resembling a roulette wheel.


    There were no signs of damage, indicating no one had breached this ce...


    Rorl wasn''t surprised. The door to the Control Chamber was fortified with profound magic, essible only by the Councilors.


    "Do you know, Rorl, sometimes magic can be deceived, like mistaking you for someone else, just like this..." Ougust ced his hand on the center of the wheel. With a violent tremor, the pointer on the wheel shifted to the imprint representing the Fayz Dragon.


    Click! Apanied by a faint sound, the wheel began rotating slowly, soon sinking in, and the heavy bronze door opened slowly, revealing a spacious area beyond.


    No, perhaps describing it as an ocean of elements was more fittinga vast hall storing all the elements known to wizards. They floated in the void, mimicking forms with magical luminescence, emitting enchanting radiance...


    This itself was a powerful magic, the secondyer of defense within the Control Chamber! However, as a Council member, Ougust naturally remained unharmed.


    "Teacher, did Lord Fayz instruct you toe here? What are we doing here?" Rorl sensed something amiss but was reluctant to believe his suspicions.


    "We''re here to take something..." Ougust said leisurely and then asked, "Do you know why the Council restricts the study of Psychic Magic?"


    "To prevent the emergence of evil Psychic Wizards like Merk?" Rorl tentatively answered.


    "No, you''re mistaken. Those legendary wizards did so to prevent the discovery of a secret." Ougust''s expression turned somber, his voice bing icy. "Psychic Magic is the foundation. There''s no real difference between so-called gods and wizards. Or rather, the pinnacle of magic is theology!"


    The pinnacle of magic is theology?


    Hearing Ougust''s words, Rorl felt a chill creeping up from his feet.


    "The so-called Lord of Stars, the Goddess of the Moon, Eshe was the first to transcend the limits of wizards..." Ougust patiently exined, akin to his previous lectures on magic to Rorl.


    "That''s why the Council prohibits anyone from delving deeply into Psychic Arts, and they vie for the limited resources of the wizarding domainalthough harnessing the collective power of the entire wizarding domain can only foster one new magical deity, yet here we have five legendary wizards..."


    "They distrust, guard against, fear, and covet each other... None dare to take that step forward, preferring to confine themselves to this small wizarding domain, vehemently preventing new wizards from ascending to legendary status..."


    "But it''s time for a change now..." Ougust''s tone grew sharper, hinting at fervor. "From today onwards, all of Grynriel will transform into a divine realm, and I will surpass all wizards, bing the second... God!"


    Rorl gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him, stepping backward continuously until he stumbled and fell clumsily to the ground...


    "You are not my teacher, Ougust... Who are you?" Rorl''s trembling lips shouted out. Perhaps the other party had used shapeshifting magic to assume this appearance.


    "If you mean that teacher, the one who broke through to the Mage''s Star within four years, that indeed was me..." Ougust spoke nonchntly.


    His original body had aged, necessitating a search for a perfect, naturally gifted body.


    He had chosen the young prodigy Ougust, already renowned within the wizarding domain.


    After faking his death and escaping, he had taken over Ougust''s body, effortlessly breaking through to the Mage''s Star again, bing Grynriel''s highly sought-after Magical Star, and even smoothly entering the Council.


    "Of course, you can also call me... Spirit of Elements, or the new God of MagicMerk!" Ougust dered, word by word.


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 Chapter 191: Realm of Doom - The Arrival of the Godly Kingdom!

    Chapter 191: Realm of Doom - The Arrival of the Godly Kingdom!


    "Who I am doesn''t matter, does it? Rorl... What matters is the reputation of the Star of Magic. All the honor and status you''ve enjoyed, they''ve been bestowed upon you by me," dered Augus, beguilingly.


    "Merely a change in titles. You can still serve as an assistant, or perhaps, ''bishop'' suits better..." Augus suggested, undeterred, as he continued to inhabit this body. He found it easy to navigate and handle matters efficiently during this time. He didn''t mind the extra effort in words.


    But Rorl gaped, utterly shocked, murmuring incessantly to himself, "This can''t be..."


    Rorl couldn''t ept that everything he knew was false. The Star of Magic, the knowledgeable mentor Augus, was merely an illusion...


    Observing Rorl''s stunned expression, Augus shook his head. It seemed he had overestimated the other''s willpower and capacity for eptance.


    "Restraint!" Augus pointed towards Rorl. Considering that after turning Greenrill into a divine kingdom, he could forcibly convert the other into his follower, he didn''t intend to kill him.


    Having done all this, Augus then nced around the control room, where a transparent crystaly atop an alchemical apparatus in the center.


    He didn''t approach directly; this was the final trap.


    Augus opened his mouth, articting a convoluted incantation.


    The elements in the void seemed to respond to a summoning, transforming into the purest form of magical energy that surged into the transparent crystal, illuminating it with a cerulean light.


    The crystal shattered with a resounding crack, revealing the condensed "Magic Core" insidethe very object he sought.


    Crafted by the "Magical Artificer" Victorio, it held vast magical power capable of sustaining the entire city of wizards.


    If not for harnessing a portion of Faiz''s power and memories in the Realm of Doom and manipting the Council''s defenses using the guise of the Apocalypse Sect, he wouldn''t have qualified to reach here.


    After all, he stillcked the power to contend with the alliance of several archmages.


    Thankfully, everything unfolded as he had anticipated...


    "Realm of Doom - The Godly Kingdom arrives!" Augus reached out, seizing the Magic Core. Empowered by the immense magical energy stored within, his strength surged rapidly.


    Eerie spirits with grotesque visages materialized within the spacious control room.


    Whether individuals transformed years ago by the soul-devouring magic or the wizards devoutly worshipping elemental spirits, upon death, their souls would be harvested, bing a part of his power, augmenting his spiritual prowess.


    With both merging, he could now unleash this legendary divine magic!


    This time, the blood-red space almost solidified, intertwining with reality and swiftly expanding into the distance, soon shrouding the entire Crown Tower...


    Blissfully immersed in his joy, Augus failed to notice the subtle changes in his appearance, gradually drawing closer to that idol of the malevolent deity...


    In his mind, a chorus of voices echoed.


    "Great Elemental Spirit, grant us salvation..."


    "Kill them, exterminate them all..."


    "Your loyal servants beseech your mercy, punish those who defy the gods."


    "The Apocalypse is false, elemental spirits are nonexistent..."


    Augus''s countenance darkened instantly. Amidst the cacophony of pleas, he surmised that there was trouble brewing in the estate.


    Unexpectedly, Kashimo, equipped with an instrument capable of harnessing some divine kingdom power, couldn''t handle such a minor issue.


    At least, it bought him some time; the Godly Kingdom had descended!


    ...


    "What in the world is happening?"


    Just as Raphael and the others stepped into the Crown Tower, a streak of crimson light rushed toward them, engulfing the entire tower in a bloody hue.


    "Perhaps it''s best if we leave," Ynde spat. His encounter within the Realm of Doom had left him jittery.


    "It''s toote! It''s not just this tower that''s affected..." Lynn shook her head, peering through the wide-open window at the rapidly spreading crimson glow outside.


    Clearly different from earlier events, they weren''t simply drawn into a confined space. It remained uncertain if his realm of magic could manifest itself in the real world in such a way.


    "Whoever''s responsible, once we take them down, it''ll all end!"


    The one speaking was a polymorphist wizard, also one of the leaders in the assault on the Apocalypse Sect. Butpared to Lynn and the others, they had only apprehended some scattered sect members fleeing in all directions.


    "You still enjoy spouting unrealistic nonsense, Sanchez."


    Within the Crown Tower, a disinterested voice chimed in. Subsequently, a figure bathed in radiant light emerged from the void, addressing the assembled people. "Wee to my Godly Kingdom..."


    "Augus?!" Despite the slight alteration in appearance, Sanchez recognized him instantly, his surprise palpable.


    Not having seen him at the estate, Sanchez had harbored some ill predictions, but the revtion that the entire Apocalypse Sect was Augus''s creation was beyond belief.


    "Have you lost your mind, Augus?!" Raphael, equally incredulous, eximed.


    As the Star of Magic, the most prodigious wizard in all of Greenrill, Augus possessed all glory and a promising future. Even Harof, upon departing Greenrill, explicitly designated Augus as the acting Speaker. It was evident; his ascension to bing the sixth legendary Speaker was merely a matter of time.


    No one would have ever thought such a person capable of betraying the Council...


    Ynde and Philip, among others, even questioned if they were hallucinating.


    "I think I''m quite well, Raphael!" Augus wore a smile on his face, as courteous as ever. "Better than ever."


    "What exactly do you want?!" Raphael demanded in a low voice.


    "As you see, I am preparing to turn Greenrill into a Godly Kingdom, and I shall ascend to the divine throne, bing the second to transcend the limits of a wizard!" Augus relished this moment of glory. As the Godly Kingdom expanded, so did his power, rapidly escting.


    "Raphael, Sanchez, if you''re wise... I might consider epting your faith and grant you positions as cardinals!"


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 Chapter 192: Dream in Hell Instead!

    Chapter 192: Dream in Hell Instead!


    Ougust''s voice reverberated incessantly within the spacious Crown Tower. Yet, the initial reaction of Raphael and the others was one of sheer absurdity.


    A wizard talking about ascending to godhood, expecting others to believe in himwas hepletely mad? Lynn seemed to sense something immediately, her expression growing intensely serious.


    "Keep dreaming in hell!" Sanchez sneered. In a burst of roaring fury, he transformed into a colossal monster, towering five meters tall. mes engulfed him, three robust horns protruded from either side of his forehead, his fair skin turned verdant, and sharp ws crackled with tons of force, hurtling straight toward Ougust.


    He''d been irritated by the other''s presence for a while now. What was this ''Star of Magic''? At most, it was a recently ascended grand wizard. What right did he have to im the acting Speaker''s position?


    Almost as tall as a person, the monster''s sharp ws, carrying a fierce gust, descended rapidly. But Ougust had no intention of dodging; instead, a trace of contempt flickered across his face.


    Without any visible action, crimson chains suddenly manifested, entwining around the monster''s arms, waist, and neck.


    "How feeble, Sanchez. You should understand the disparity between us," Ougust raised his hand, pointing toward the monster''s head, a dazzling light shing at his fingertips.


    "Death''s Finger."


    Sanchez''s pupils contracted, sensing a mortal threat. Despite his struggles, the crimson chains remained unmoved, forcing him to watch death approach.


    "Torrent of Mana!" Raphael intervened at this moment. Elements surged around him, converging into massive magical beams aimed at Ougust.


    A Five-Ring spell meant nothing to Ougust, especially within his domain. With a thought, the air thickened like syrup, impeding the colossal magical beams, weakening themyer byyer until they dissipated into the void.


    But Raphael hadn''t expected "Mana Torrent" to be very effective. It was a feint; Ougust quickly realized the ground beneath him was copsing. Though he reacted swiftly, suspending himself mid-air, he''d interrupted his prepared spell.


    Simultaneously, Lynn''s "Spatial Vibrations" activated. Instead of risking an attack on the enigmatic Ougust, she sliced through the chains binding Sanchez.


    An attack on the spatial ne proved effective; the seemingly sturdy chains instantly snapped in two.


    Having flirted with life and death, Sanchez''s ferocity surged. After breaking free, he once again swung his ws at Ougust.


    Amidst the stunned onlookers, Ougust merely extended his left hand, meeting the assault head-on. The difference in their sizes was akin to a pebble crashing against a towering mountain. However, reality defied expectationsthe pebble not only remained unshaken but crushed the mountain.


    Sanchez''s right arm snapped at the elbow, blood gushing out. Ougust ruthlessly kicked him in the chest, causing it to cave in. His massive form flew, crashing into the ground, carving a huge crater, reverting to human shape in a sorry state.


    Ougust''s speed was unimaginable; everything urred in an instant. Raphael couldn''t intervene in time; Sanchezy on the ground, his fate uncertain.


    A grand wizard of the Fifth Ring, utterly defenseless before OugustRaphael''s heart sank. Perhaps today, all of them would perish here.


    "Buy some time, even a few minutes will do," Aurora''s voice echoed in Lynn''s ears.


    However, Lynn rolled her eyes. Where could she buy time? Ougust was simply beyond their league.


    Nevertheless, Lynn refrained from revealing Aurora''s identity; the legendary witch might be preparing some magic,unching an attack from the shadows.


    Should she probe life, discuss ideals? Like, debate the feelings after one''s "ascension"? Lynn pondered, but Ougust didn''t afford him the chance.


    "My patience has limits. If you persist in your delusion and defiance, your souls will join the godly realm as its inhabitants!" Ougust''s tone was icy.


    In the void, ghastly souls, twisted and menacing, appeared. These were souls consigned to the godly realmmostly ordinary spirits devoid of magic, but among them were potent wizards, even those of grand wizard caliber...


    The only regret for Ougust was Fayz''s soul''s formidable strength, rendering it unusable. Yet, it was enough!


    "All shall fade into silence..."


    Countless spirits emanated blood-red mist, shrieking as they charged toward Lynn and the rest.


    The air turned bitterly cold, furnishings and bricks along the way sumbed to an inexplicable force, with the fallen Sanchez appearing drained, his body withering swiftly before being engulfed.


    Lynn and the others in the distance suddenly lost their ability to cast spells. Thousands of spiritsunched a united "Soul Scream," overpowering even grand wizards like Raphael...


    "Gather around!" Lynn endured the intense headache, shouting loudly, clutching the "Crown of Sun" on his right hand, activating the sealed Six-Ring spellVittorio''s Bastion!


    With such a widespread assault of spirits, coupled with Aurora''sck of response, Lynn could only pin his hopes on this trump card.


    In the next moment, the dark gold medal floated spontaneously. Countless substantial alchemic runes gushed out, forming a circr barrier enveloping everyone.


    The piercing screams in their minds vanished instantly. Inside the alchemic barrier, it seemed like two different worldsthe spirits outside relentlessly battered the barrier, wing and biting with their ethereal teeth and ws, leaving marks on the runes.


    "The Crown of Sun, huh?" Ougust gazed at the dark gold medal floating above them, sneering.


    He was well aware of the powerful protective enchantments imbued on it. Yet, he''d never witnessed it personally. However, to him, it was just a slightly special Six-Ring magic.


    To him, on the verge of transcending to greater heights, it was a minor inconvenience.


    "Finger of Annihtion!" Ougust''s pupils turned blood-red, his appearance once again mirroring the statue of the demonic deity. A tremendous, majestic aura radiated.


    Leveraging the newly heightened power, Ougust unleashed his second legendary spellFinger of Annihtion!


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 Chapter 193: Legendary Magic - Electromagnetic Railgun!

    Chapter 193: Legendary Magic - Electromaic Railgun!


    After about five seconds of incantation, aided by the renewed power, Ougust unleashed the second legendary magic - Finger of Destruction! It was a dazzling red light, carrying the might to obliterate everything, crashing directly into the circr barrier formed by alchemical runes.


    Almost instantly, the Sixth Ring Magic, Victorio''s Bulwark, shattered. Countless vengeful spirits, previously held at bay, shrieked as they rushed in. The racing light surged forward, aiming directly at Lynn.


    The crimson light, capable of erasing all, reminded Lynn of Archbishop Anluke''s Heavenly Judgment. However, the disparity in their power was staggering.


    For the individuals present, legendary magic seemed an insurmountable gap. Ynde, Phillip, and the others had sunk into despair.


    "Sigh..."


    Suddenly, a faint sigh echoed.


    Immediately, a fiery red figure stood before Lynn. Perhaps due to the lightning speed of the light, Aurora couldn''t even cast a defensive spell in time and was instantly struck by the red light.


    However, a clearer voice followed.


    "Mirror Shift - Heaven and Earth!"


    The destructive red light, like sunlight passing through a mirror, altered its course, scattering in the opposite direction. It collided head-on with numerous vengeful spirits, dissolving rapidly within the dazzling radiance, their wails turning into a sky full of ashes.


    "Aurora?!" Ougust''s expression shifted abruptly. He involuntarily retreated several steps. The sudden appearance of this legendary witch undoubtedly caught him off guard. His gaze quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for the other two legendary wizards.


    Although Ougust did not fear these so-called legends, he was aware that he had just crossed the limit of a grand wizard, breaking into a higher echelon.


    As per his expectations, it would require the divine realm to expand throughout the entirety of Greenreel, devouring the mad Elemental Controller, Altok, before he would amass enough power to confront the three legendary wizards together.


    "Aurora, mydy?"


    While Aurora''s sudden appearance startled Ougust, it was a pleasant surprise for Ynde and the others!


    However, Lynn and Raphael were the first to notice that this legendary witch seemed to be in a dire state. Her exposed arm resembled porcin, covered in intricate cracks.


    Moreover, these dense cracks were rapidly spreading across her entire body. Apanied by faint cracking sounds, her arm, clothes, cheeksfragmented and fell, turning into fine powder...


    "Aurora, are you... alright?" Witnessing this eerie sight, Ynde and the others widened their eyes, anxiously inquiring.


    "It seems this is my limit." Aurora shook her head in resignation. Then, her lips moved slightly, seemingly saying something. Among everyone present, only Lynn could hear.


    "Please stall for a bit longer with this magic, just a minute..."


    Following Aurora''s dissolution, a beautifully crafted round mirror tumbled and fell to the ground. The once wless mirror surface was now shattered into fragments.


    To Lynn''s astonishment, it was the same mirror he had handed over to Harof after the de ceremony...


    Finally, Lynn understood why Aurora had continuously mentioned her limited powerit wasn''t a ruse.


    Simultaneously, the residual magic from this embodiment surged into his forehead, and a gray magic rune quickly appeared in his mind. It was Aurora''s magalled "True Reflection"!


    "It''s merely the projection of power transmitted through a medium..." Ougust swiftly realized. A sardonic smile tugged at his lips as he turned towards Lynn and the others, a menacing expression adorning his face.


    Lynn hadn''t anticipated this legendary witch''s unreliability. Still, he pondered the usage of this magic and forcibly, with aposed tone, spoke, "If Aurora left an embodiment here, do you think the Councilors would remain unaware of the events unfolding in Greenreel?"


    "Didn''t you notice the tremors on the surface?" Lynn suddenly remarked.


    Ougust, suspicious, extended his senses, and his expression darkened. "Are you trying to deceive me?"


    "I''m not... just that you might not have sensed it," Lynn smiled. In those few seconds, he had already grasped the functionality of the "True Reflection."


    "Let''s try the gifts left by the other Councilors!" Lynn said as he activated the gray rune in his mind. A mark appeared on his pristine foreheadthe spot where Aurora had kissed him during the ceremony!


    An aura almost equal to that of legendary wizards emanated from Lynn. Arcs of electricity shimmered around him, and a terrifying maic field formed almost instantaneously.


    Everyone felt an unbearable pressure. Philip and others closer to Lynn had their hair stand on end due to the electrical currents.


    Then, Lynn raised his hand, pointing at Ougust in the distance. A solid iron sphere materialized in the void, trembling under the maic constraints...


    "Thunder, maism?" Ougust''splexion altered slightly. Wizards had indeed researched this kind of magic in thend of wizards, but controlling thunder was exceedingly difficult due to its swiftnesstoo fast to imagine.


    Unless predicted in advance, any attempt to evade was futile...


    "I call itElectromaic Railgun!" Lynn''s words resounded. The iron sphere, constrained by maism, suddenly elerated, transforming into a silver streak, pulverizing everything in its path...


    The ground tiles shattered rapidly, and the sonic boom shattered Lynn''s Mage Shield. Philip and Kevin, beside him, were covering their ears, almost having their eardrums ruptured...


    The so-called electromaic cannon utilized Ampere''s force from the electromaic field to elerate metallic projectiles, providing the necessary kic energy to strike the target...


    The method of attack was a simple collision!


    And its speed was twenty times the speed of sound, nearing 7000 meters per second!


    The scorching heat began dissolving the iron sphere the moment it wasunched. The silver streak swiftly turned crimson, directly colliding with Ougust.


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 Chapter 194: Unleashing the Power of Electricity and Magnetism!

    Chapter 194: Unleashing the Power of Electricity and Maism!


    "What kind of magic is this?" Faced with the speeding scarlet light, Ougust''s spectral essence felt a hint of impending doom...


    There was no time left for casting those legendary spells that required buildup. After Lynn raised his hand, Ougust barely had a 0.03-second window to react!


    In that split moment, Ougust managed only one spell. Guided by his richbat experience, he instinctively chose to redirect the force field! Though a mere fourth-ring protective spell, empowered by ''divine power,'' it unleashed a might surpassing its original level, causing spatial curvature around him, attempting to divert the attack elsewhere.


    Yet, he was up against an ultra-fast electromaic rail cannon!


    The sheer velocity itself possessed the power to warp time and space. However, Ougust''s hasty defense had some effect; the iron sphere, initially aimed at his heart, deviated slightly, piercing through his abdomen, shattering half of his body into fragments.


    The reduced crimson iron ball then ruthlessly demolished the wall behind, hurtling towards the sky, vanishing without a trace...


    By the time Raphael and the others recovered from the dizzying mental assault and the tormenting pain in their eardrums, they found only ruins before them...


    "He can''t be dead, can he?" Ynde involuntarily swallowed.


    "I''m afraid not," Lynn shook his head. He had no doubt that if it were a true twentyfold supersonic electromaic rail cannon, Ougust would have been reduced to dust. Yet, regrettably, this was a magic projection created by the ''True Mirror.''


    The ''True Mirror'' was an illusionary legendary magic of the illusionist school. Lynn had just instructed the genius brain to construct this spell within the realm of magic and then projected it. It was akin to Kashimo''s usage of the Falling Stars.


    The distinctiony in Lynn''s thorough theoretical foundation, unlike Kashimo''s mere fantasies. Moreover, the ''True Mirror'' being a legendary magic could exert about half the power of the original.


    However, killing Ougust with this proved to be not so simple. Lynn even suspected that even if he destroyed the physical body, the opponent could continue the fight in a spiritual form.


    As expected, after a brief silence, Ougust''s voice resounded once again.


    "This is quite a nice gift..."


    Simultaneously, massive rubble from the copsed ground levitated, controlled by some force, hurtling towards the group.


    Lynn raised his hand again, a ripple in space appearing, sending the shattered debris flying. However, the mark shimmering on his forehead dimmed. He had exhausted thest shred of magic granted by Aurora, and the legendary spell slot in his mind shattered.


    Amidst violent coughs, Ougust, drenched in blood, struggled to stand. His face masked with shadows and rage, his injuries now rapidly healing, yet the newly grown limbs looked somewhat grotesque.


    "I must admit, your performance continues to astonish me, Lynn..." Ougust''s gaze remained fixed on the young sorcerer before him.


    Since the days of the ''Dual Sphere Experiment,'' leveraging the influence of the Magic Daily, he had noticed this overly ambitious young sorcerer gaining prominence in the Wizarding World.


    A sub-twenty-year-old third-ring sorcerer, brimming with talent akin to Ougust''s own in his youth, seemed an ideal backup for his second body.


    However, as the youth''s reputation soared, proposing even the Theory of Universal Gravity, Ougust''s greedy desire turned into slight apprehension.


    Ougust faintly suspected that this young sorcerer, much like himself, was once a powerful wizard, seizing a young and talented body to achieve his current aplishments.


    "Your magic is indeed formidable. Yet, in this domain, I am an invincible entity!" Ougust''s voice was cold. In mere seconds, his broken body hadpletely regenerated, and his aura was even more imposing than before, as the divine realm now enshrouded most of Grelnir.


    Despite his words, Ougust dared not approach recklessly. The electromaic rail cannon''s speed was simply too swift. Only at a distance of over a hundred meters did he have the assurance to divert the attack elsewhere at the moment of impact.


    "I believe our battle has concluded," Lynn shook his head. His minute of dy was over. "If you have something to say, perhaps you should exin it to the Councilors."


    Surprisingly, up to this moment, Ougust thought Lynn was still attempting to deceive him, a faint smirk ying on his lips. "Allow me to inform you, at the speed of a legendary sorcerer, it doesn''t take even an hour to travel from Grelnir to Kogar Mountain. Why do you think they lingered in the Mages'' Stone Mine for half a month without any news? They might have already been swept away by..."


    "Swept away by spatial turbulence?"


    A burst of enraged shouting suddenly interrupted Ougust''s words. Subsequently, the wall on the right side of the Corona Tower was forcefully shattered.


    "It''s you, and only you I hadn''t anticipated, Ougust!" Amidst the swirling dust, Harof looked at the remarkably young sorcerer with profound disappointment.


    After checking Fayz''s injuries, he had guessed that this assault might not be as simple as it appeared. Yet, the anomaly within the Mages'' Stone Mine couldn''t be ignored, prompting him to suggest leading the team there, hoping those hiding in the shadows would reveal themselves.


    However, he had unwittingly pushed Ougust into the position of acting Speaker.


    About three to four secondster, two more figures appeared in the Corona Tower, both legendary sorcerers: Aurora and Victorio. The three formed a semi-circr formation, vaguely surrounding Ougust in the middle.


    Victorio didn''t nce at Ougust but turned to Lynn, showing keen interest as he inquired, "Was it you who shattered the Corona Tower with magic just now? I sensed the power of lightning and maic fields..."


    Though they arrivedte and hadn''t witnessed Lynn casting the spell, they had seen a sh of scarlet light breaking through the Corona Tower, hurtling towards the sky at an unimaginable speed.


    "Yes," Lynn nodded, exining, "This magic is still in a theoretical stage, a coborative effort between me and some schrs within the Society of Mystical Arts."


    "Thanks to Lady Aurora''s assistance, I could glimpse its power this time."


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 Chapter 195: The Fallen God and Victorios Magic Core!

    Chapter 195: The Fallen God and Victorio''s Magic Core!


    "Harof? Aurora? Victorio?" Ougust''s expression turned increasingly grim, but swiftly reverted to his usual calm demeanor, mocking as he spoke.


    "Of course, you didn''t anticipate someone achieving what you so ardently dreamt ofbing the second... god!"


    "Dreamt of?" Harof raised his tone, scoffing. "Why don''t you take a look at yourself now?"


    Victorio, at the side, shook his head with a sigh, pity gleaming in his eyes as he nced at Ougust.


    Aurora acted more directly, gesturing into the void. A watery mirror materialized, reflecting Ougust''s current form.


    Ougust gazed at his reflection, freezing in ce. In the mirror, he saw a creaturepart human, part demon. Though still holding human features, his skin turned a dark bluish-green, covered in a faintyer of silver scales. Crimson eyes, and a massive horn sprouting from his forehead.


    It resembled... the idol of that sinister god crafted by Kashimo.


    Ougust hastily raised his hands, mirroring the scale-covered surface, turning to the crimson-robed warlock, whom Phillip and the others had dragged along. He spoke with a mixture of fear and anger.


    "Tell me, Kashimo?! What''s going on here?"


    During the idol''s crafting, Kashimo explicitly mentioned this form was intentionally distinct from his original, to avoid recognition...


    "Hahaha..." Despite being firmly bound by magic and injected with a potion suppressing physical activity, Kashimo burst intoughter. "Merk, perhaps you''ve forgotten. I told you from the start, in this world, there can be only one god..."


    "That''s the Eternal Lord of the Stars, the Goddess of the Moon, Ai..."


    "Shut up!" Before Kashimo could utter that name, Victorio''s face disyed a hint of panic. He swiftly cast a silence spell, sealing Kashimo''s mouth, preventing the use of god-summoning techniques that might bring that terrifying woman.


    Aurora spoke slowly in response. "The Elemental Spirit was probably a fallen god, and by borrowing his name and power, your fate was sealed from the start."


    To summon the remains of a fallen god on such a grand scale, she easily guessed the culprit.


    Ougust''s expression turned extremely grim. He realized something was amiss but didn''t believe he would lose to a so-called fallen god.


    As long as the n continued smoothly and his power reached its peak, even if the so-called fallen god revived, with the power he currently possessed, he could suppress it, even consume it...


    "It''s your turn, Victorio. Fighting within Greiner City will only lead to unnecessary losses..." Harof, seeing Ougust disregarding his warnings, sighed involuntarily.


    "This is your mistake, yet in the end, I have to clean up..." Victorio coldly snorted, clearly reluctant.


    Harof and the others'' arrogant attitude thoroughly infuriated Ougust.


    "Feel the wrath of the gods!" Ougust shouted malevolently, his eyes turning crimson. He stopped restraining his power, more and more magical energy continuously drawn from the Magic Core, his body rapidly expanding...


    "Victorio, this isn''t the time for jokes. If that fallen god truly revives, it''ll be troublesome!" Harof urged again.


    "Elemental Disarray..." It was only then that Victorio slowly raised a hand, speaking indifferently.


    Ougust''s body jerked suddenly. He sensed the Magic Core integrated within him rapidly vibrating, its stored elements seemingly slipping out of his control...


    The Magic Core was undoubtedly the most crucial treasure in all of Greiner City, housed in the central control room of the Sun Crown Tower, essible only to the Speaker.


    All the protections were against outsiders because every Speaker knew it was manipblea full name: Victorio''s Magic Core!


    Ougust, devoid of all of Faiz''s memories, had undoubtedly fallen into a massive trap. His entire body and the entire realm of the apocalypse relied on the colossal magic of the Magic Core.


    So, when control was wrested from him, the entire apocalypse realm copsed and disintegrated into specks of dust, dissipating into the void.


    Ougust watched helplessly as the apocalypse realm he painstakingly built turned to nothingness. He plunged into madness, a violent aura bursting from his body, causing him to growrger, his head gradually shifting to his back, two pitch-ck horns emerging.


    Victorio,posed, formed hand seals. Complex runes manifested in the void, creating an intricate alchemical array.


    As a legendary alchemist, he didn''t need to set up alchemical arrays in advance like others because magical energy itself was one of the finest materials!


    "Is this the legendary alchemical array?" Raphael, equally skilled in alchemy, murmured, intensely studying every detail of the array as if to engrave it in his mind.


    Lynn, also intrigued by alchemy, had too many subjects to focus on, leaving him with limited energy.


    With Victoriopleting his seals, the Magic Core had been detached from Ougust''s body.


    "It''s mine... It''s mine!" As immense magic was siphoned away, Ougust''s appearance almost melded with that of the fallen god, his expression grotesque. He reached out, seemingly attempting to seize the Magic Core suspended in mid-air.


    "If you want it that badly, then stay in there!" Victorio said icily. Chains shimmering with silvery light shot from all directions towards Ougust, one after another binding him, imprisoning him within the azure Magic Core.


    Crimson and azure lights intertwined within the transparent crystal. Once everything was done, Victorio''splexion paled slightly. It seemed sealing Ougust wasn''t as easy as it appeared.


    Seeing the situation resolved, Harof sighed in relief, then turned to Lynn and the others, speaking solemnly.


    "I know you have many doubts, but now''s not the time for exnations. Organize a team and quell the chaos in Greiner City first."


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 Chapter 196: Dispelled Mist of Confusion

    Chapter 196: Dispelled Mist of Confusion


    The chaos within the walls of Greneir City persisted for a solid three days before finally subsiding.


    The scope of the ''Apocalyptic Domain - Divine Land''s Descent'' was just too extensive. Though it hadn''t reached its maximum yet, it had already enveloped nearly half of Greneir City. Add to that the shocking news of the legendary wizard Fayz''s demise, and the entire Wizard City was thrown into turmoil.


    Fortunately, the return of Harof and his allies stabilized the situation. The instigator, Ougust, had been locked away in the magic core, preventing the situation from worsening.


    On the third night, within the dpidated Sun Crown Tower, a meeting was once again convened in the celestial realm.


    When Lynn arrived, the meeting room was already packed. He was surprised to find Rorl present. However, Rorl seemed somewhat dazed, sitting silently in a corner with magical restraints around his wrists.


    As Ougust''s disciple, Rorl had evaded a portion of the turmoil, untouched by the conflicts within the Sun Crown Tower. However, his awkward position led to his immediate incarceration upon rescue.


    After enduring three days of interrogation and memory probing, Rorl''s spirit had clearly reached its limit. Butpared to this, the revtion of Ougust''s true identity dealt a far deadlier blow...


    While Lynn and others privy to the inside story, more members of the council were still clueless. As they entered, the room erupted with urgent inquiries.


    "Chairman Harof, what''s going on?" "Did Master Fayz really get assassinated?"


    "I refuse to believe this was Master Ougust''s doing. It must be a mistake... How could the Star Magemit such an act..."


    The entire chamber buzzed with noise. The news of the legendary wizard''s death and the looming threat of the Apocalyptic Domain challenged everyone''s capacity to bear it.


    Moreover, the revtion that the mastermind behind everything was supposedly Ougust, the so-called Star Mage, was simply unbelievable!


    "Everyone, please, some quiet!" Harof''s grave voice resonated through the chamber. "This situation is far more intricate than you imagine, a result of my grave negligence. ording to Rorl, the current Star Mage Ougust might not be the person you all think he is."


    Harof''s statement left the council members perplexed. "What do you mean, Chairman?"


    Instead of continuing to exin, Harof turned to Rorl. Coming directly from Ougust''s disciple, Rorl''s ount held more credibility.


    Under the mocking and bewildered gazes, Rorl slowly began his exnation. He divulged every detail, from the information he found to the conversation with ''Ougust'' in the central control room. His memoriesid bare, leaving no room for concealment.


    "Master Ougust turned out to be the rogue sorcerer Merk?" Tiek was speechless, unable to fathom how Ougust, the Star Mage highly regarded in the Wizard City, could also be the merciless Merk, responsible for the ughter of thousands using psychic magic.


    "But didn''t Merk die a long time ago?" a council member asked, puzzled. Initially, the parliament dispatched three powerful wizards to eliminate members of the psychic sect, a mission that involved over a hundred people. Many witnessed Merk''s demise!


    "That was a scheme meticulously nned by the teacher... no, Merk. It was a feigned death and escape." Rorl exined. Merk''s goal was to amass enough souls and assume a more suitable identity within the council.


    The assembly of council members was immersed in this shocking revtion.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised. After encountering both Kashimo and Merk, he had already pieced together the general sequence of events.


    The ease with which Herlram obtained psychic sect information was likely orchestrated by Merk.


    No wonder, after receiving Tiek''smunication, the Star Mage actively volunteered toe to Iyeta Harbor. Undoubtedly, it was to reim the sect''s research findings.


    "What about Odessa? Wasn''t he Master Fayz''s disciple? But I heard Merk calling him Kashimo. What''s their rtionship?" Raphael was utterly perplexed.


    Rorl hesitated before shaking his head. He had no information about this.


    "Odessa, as you''ve seen, is Merk''s right-hand man, Kashimo. It seems they yed a simr game..." Harof sighed. He had instructed ''Ougust'' to deploy more personnel to protect Fayz, but it seemingly backfired.


    Harof felt immense guilt for the death of his old friend. Had he given more attention to the apocalypse sect, perhaps the situation wouldn''t have escted to this extent.


    After a pause, Harof continued, his expression grave. "If I''m not mistaken, Kashimo is likely affiliated with the church!"


    The church?


    Raphael and others were momentarily stunned. For these wizards, the church was both familiar and foreign.


    Apart from Lynn, none of the council members had interacted with the church. Yet, they were acutely aware that the existence of the Wizard City was to resist the church''s aggression.


    Like a flock of trembling sheep barricaded within a fence to ward off external predators, they sought a fleeting sense of security.


    This could only be described as humiliating. Previously, they had harbored simr sentiments, subtly resenting the council''s timidity. However, this apocalypse sect incident was their first tangible encounter with the threat posed by the church.


    Dark shadows cast over their minds...


    "Esteemed Chairmen, permit me to ask, what is Kashimo''s true objective?" Lynn, who had been silent until now, suddenly inquired.


    Three days ago, after the assault on the Sun Crown Tower, Lynn vividly remembered Kashimo''s grotesque smirk. Surely, he hadn''t orchestrated such a grand affair just for simple destruction?


    "It''s likely to lift the legendary spell, ''Lost Mist''," Victorio spoke up first.


    At that moment, everyone present grew tense. The ''Lost Mist,'' shrouding the entire sea, dividing the Wizard City from the Secas Empire, was undoubtedly the most crucial barrier.


    If this spell were dispelled, it would mean the imminent possibility of an assault by the church.


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 Chapter 197: The Origins of the Dark God and the First Practitioner

    Chapter 197: The Origins of the Dark God and the First Practitioner


    "The magic core used to sustain the ''Lost Mist'' has be unusable, and the alchemical array in the control room has been severely damaged," Victorio shook his head, weariness heavy in his tone.


    "Is there no way to repair it?" Lynn asked, puzzled.


    "It''s not that easy," Victorio replied irritably. For the past few days, he''d been mixing various alchemical materials, attempting to mend the destroyed array, and it was driving him crazy.


    The ''Lost Mist'' wasn''t an ordinary legendary spell; its range was astonishing, spanning over tens of thousands of square kilometers. It had taken a full nine months toy down this array, and the resources consumed were incalcble.


    Finding recements for the materials and rearranging a legendary magical array was no simple task.


    However, Victorio had taken some remedial measures in these past days. The white mist still hung over the sea, albeit now stripped of its ability to block mental detection and disorient people.


    Coupled with the wandering ''Eye of Death'' and the previous reputation of the Misty Sea, perhaps they could deceive for a while, buying time until the repair work waspleted.


    Harof didn''t hold much hope for this. The Church had gone to great lengths, smuggling in a statue of a dark god. It was evident that they were prepared to take action against them.


    "She sacrificed a lot, being at least a Cardinal, maybe even the soul of a saint," sighed Aurora.


    Those capable of executing this mission were undoubtedly the most devout believers. Otherwise, delving into magic was akin to breaking one''s faith. After all, the source of a wizard''s powery in understanding and applying thews of existence.


    The more one understood, the more inevitable the doubts about the "Creation" recorded in the ''Scriptures,'' especially upon learning that the goddess they worshipped was actually an ''evil'' wizard. Few could maintain their faith.


    "In any case, we have to consider the worst possibilitya war!" Harof said gravely.


    ...


    The meeting about the war went on for a long time, revolving around preparations before the specifics of time and ce were known. A few frightened members proposed dispatching hundreds of alchemical ships to patrol the Misty Sea, sinking any vessels daring to enter. But that idea was quickly debunked.


    Firstly, the Misty Sea was vast; a few hundred ships wouldn''t suffice, and they also had to guard against attacks from the ''Eye of Death.''


    Secondly, how would they prevent someone from sailing away secretly, or worse, revealing the failure of the Misty Sea''s protection due to their activities?


    "Senator Lynn, how long does it take to make an airship?" Harof turned to Lynn for an inquiry.


    "With sufficient materials, it''d take about a month, give or take, with ten skilled woodworkers. Having mages would speed things up," Lynn pondered and responded.


    Harof nodded; it was easier than he had imagined.


    When he had ridden the airship before, he sensed its tremendous value in war.


    Flight itself was an advantage, not to mention its ability to soar thousands of meters high, carrying substantial payloads. It could bombard from above. However, countering the Gryphon Knights organized by the Church remained the biggest challenge. Hence, further alchemical modifications were needed.


    Considering this, Harof didn''t rush to buy too many; he cautiously asked Lynn to make fifty airships as a trial!


    Lynn offered a friendly price of a thousand magic gold coins per ship.


    Once delivered, the principles would soon be understood, and the rtively low cost would likely be analyzed. Thus, even with knowledge premiums and development costs, Lynn didn''t want to set an exorbitant price.


    Harof readily agreed; fifty thousand magic gold coins were nothing for the Council.


    Alchemists like Raphael immediately became active, presenting various design modification proposals. Some even brought detailed blueprints. Judging by the depth of detail, Lynn doubted these were drawn up in just these two days; clearly, they had been meticulously nned for a long time.


    After the meeting ended, Lynn didn''t hurry to leave but instead turned to several councilors.


    "Lord Harof, I have another question. What exactly is the Dark God?"


    Lynn was curious. Within the borders of the Secas Empire, there were many rumors about the Dark God. ording to church propaganda, wizards were followers of dark gods and demons, influenced and ensnared by them.


    Initially, Lynn thought this was just church propaganda to suppress wizards. Now it seemed otherwise.


    Rather than directly exining, Harof countered, "How much do you know about spiritual energy?"


    Lynn shook their head, indicating limited knowledge.


    "It appears the legendary wizards of the Secret Magic Society haven''t told you about this," Victorio, as the eldest in the wizardmunity, took the lead and began exining.


    "Originally, all wizards were spiritual energy users, influencing the material world with exceptional mental strength. Calling it the origin of magic wouldn''t be an exaggeration."


    During the iplete development of the magic system, only such innate practitioners could be wizards.


    The situation back then was far more chaotic than now. The wizards'' research was described as having no taboos, but the current magic schools and the methods of ascension had been developed by these primal mages in their quest to understand the world.


    Subsequently, an unknown spiritual energy wizard discovered a secret: the ability to augment one''s mental strength by consuming spirits.


    This method of unnaturally boosting mental strength became the mainstream for the wizards.


    "I suppose it had some kind of w, right?" Lynn pondered.


    "Correct," Victorio nodded. Amplifying memories and powers of tens or hundreds of spirits might hold, but expanding it to thousands or tens of thousands would overwhelm even the greatest wizards. Many lost their sanity or underwent drastic personality changes.


    This state was termed ''soul contamination'' and was extremely lethal for wizards because spellcasting relied on having a clear mind.


    Of course, this method hadn''t been entirely abandoned. Countless power-hungry wizards were devoted to researching spiritual magic, seeking a way to purify soul contamination. However, it proved futile.


    But some wizards improved upon it, and E was one of the best among them. ording to her, devout faith was the key to connecting one''s spirits to each other...


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 Chapter 198: The Cost of Becoming a God

    Chapter 198: The Cost of Bing a God


    As Vitorio spoke, a tinge of reminiscence graced his features. He had limited knowledge of this ancient history. The continent had witnessed an enduring war, all for the sake of acquiring more belief.


    Eventually, the church unquestionably triumphed, ending the chaos among the myriad nations, unifying eleven kingdoms and dozens of duchies into one colossal empire.


    "So, those dark gods are powerful sorcerers who failed to vie for belief?" Lynn spected.


    He began toprehend why the church relentlessly suppressed and purged sorcerers.


    Firstly, every potent sorcerer posed a potential threat as a contender for belief.


    Secondly, if another method outside belief could grant immense power, the church''s influence would undoubtedly diminish.


    As for those with considerable talents, they could be assimted into the theological system through belief, serving as bishops or cardinals.


    "That''s one way to put it. However, from what I know, many of those dark gods hail from a presence beyond this continent," Vitorio''s expression turned grave, swiftly continuing his exnation.


    In essence, spirit magic was a shortcut to power, but it was akin to honeyced with poison. It ensnared individuals in the rapid surge of power. Even this belief system was not wless.


    Those dark gods sought to leverage the connection of belief and harvest devout souls to augment their power, inevitably undergoing an influence in the process.


    Its horrory in its subtle influence on the objects of belief since the believers worshipped what they perceived as divine.


    As of now, Vitorio had not heard of any method capable ofpletely eradicating this soul contamination.


    "Personality alteration?" Lynn shuddered involuntarily.


    In other words, the price for rapid empowerment was the loss of oneself?


    The fate of the dark mage, Merk, was the perfect demonstration. As his power grew, his likeness drew closer to that of an elemental spirit, and his temperament underwent a drastic change.


    "Even the one revered by the church..." Lynn intended to mention E but recalled Vitorio''s caution to Kashimo about not revealing the full name, quickly changing his words. "That individual, too?"


    "Perhaps," Vitorio shook his head. "She has delved deeper into this path than anyone else. After winning the war of belief, hundreds of years have passed. No one knows her current state, but one can only imagine that her power has grown to terrifying levels."


    On the sidelines, Harof affirmed, "Even she might not have entirely resolved this issue. Otherwise, thend of sorcerers would have been obliterated."


    This prompted the Magic Council to impose strict requirements on the study of spirit magic, reaching its peak after the catastrophes caused by the spirit school.


    It proved that wizards, limited by their talents'' inability to ascend, were capable of anything.


    "What about the Source of Magic? I''ve heard that wizards in Grenville break their limits using this magical potion, enhancing their mental strength. The material contains something called ''spirit essence.'' Is their ascension achieved by merging souls too?" Lynn couldn''t help but inquire.


    "No, spirit essence isn''t entirely equivalent to the soul. It''s just a residue of spiritual power and magic, rtively safe but shouldn''t be continuously consumed. It needs to be used effectively with the corresponding potion," Harof exined.


    "Thank you for rifying, Councilor," Lynn nodded, feeling somewhat reassured.


    Then Harof subtly inquired about the current situation of the Society of Mystical Arts. The pressure from the church was too heavy, and the sorcerers''nd alone wasn''t enough to counter it.


    Lynn understood Harof''s underlying intentions but made no promises. He deflected, mentioning that the legendary sorcerers of the Society were mostly engrossed in magical research and rarely interfered with external affairs. They might not even be on this continent. However, he might be able to contact some colleagues willing to resist the church.


    ...


    The next day, to dispel the gloom caused by the dark gods'' incident, an immensely grand celebration took ce within Grenville City.


    The apprehension of the Doomsday Messenger, Kashimo, and sessfully dying the others like Raphael from Ougust undoubtedly cast them as the heroes who saved Grenville City. Almost everyone in the team received a Morning Star medal.


    As the most significant contributor, Lynn was nominated for the Silver Moon medal individually.


    It was evident that securing the highest honor in thend of wizards wasn''t an easy task. Lynn reckoned that he''d have to take down Ougust himself toe close to achieving it.


    Thankfully, he remained indifferent to these honors. What pleased him most was the Council''s approval of his request to exchange for a new Sun Crown medal.


    After all, he had activated the defensive spell stored within the medalthe "Vitorio''s Bastion"to save the Wizard''s City. It wouldn''t sit right if it wasn''t reimbursed.


    Considering the anomalies in the Misty Sea, Lynn didn''t linger in Grenville City. On the fourth morning, he submitted his resignation to the Council, prepared to return to Iyeta Harbor.


    In the evening, an airship hovered over the city square.


    "Your Excellency Lynn, are you leaving already? There are still many calculus and curve equation questions I haven''t had the chance to consult you about," Tiek expressed regretfully.


    In recent days, his study of calculus had consumed him. It was akin to uncovering the singr path to the microcosmic realm. Tiek believed many spell models could be reconstructed using calculus, enhancing their power while reducing casting requirements.


    Unfortunately, the master guiding them, Master Leibniz, seemed very upied. asionally appearing in the Ocean of Mathematics, he merely tossed them new math books, leaving them to ponder slowly...


    Tiek dared not say more or ask more, as each math book was immensely profound in knowledge, forms, and theories. He couldn''t fathom the amount of effort put intopiling them. He could only feel ashamed that their progress was exceedingly slow, unsure when they could truly engage in the research to establish the calculus system.


    Lynn had be their savior, the only person in Grenville who understood these calculus books and provided answers.


    ording to him, mathematics was a mandatory subject for all members of the Society of Mystical Arts. He had also had the fortune to study with Master Leibniz for some time, hence understanding a bit of rted knowledge.


    However, after several consultations, Tiek discovered that Lynn was too modest. It wasn''t just a bit; he seemed to know everything.


    If it weren''t for the limited capacity of an airship, Tiek would have desperately wanted to apany Lynn to the Iyeta Harbor.


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 Chapter 199: Everyones a Thunder Mage!

    Chapter 199: Everyone''s a Thunder Mage!


    "Don''t worry, everyone. In a few days, the new aerial route will be established from Greenreel to Iyeta. It''ll only take two to three days. We can gather again then," Lynn reassured amidst the farewells.


    Responding to the crowd, Lynn exchanged a few words with Raphael and those bidding him farewell. Eventually, his gaze settled on a witch approaching, holding a dark gold medal, surprising him.


    "Lady Aurora, didn''t expect you toe personally."


    The legendary witch, d in a vibrant crimson gown, just as she did during the decoration ceremony, had personally embedded the renovated "Sun Crown Medal" on Lynn''s chest.


    "Victorio is busy restoring the ''Lost Mist,'' and Harof has matters to attend to, so I''m here to represent them," Aurora chuckled, handing over a tome of magic to Lynn. "This is what you wanted..."


    epting the hefty booka tome of illusion magicLynn recognized the unfamiliar material, probably the hide of an unknown magical creature, bearing the title "Visual Maniption and Magic Illusions."


    "Thank you for going out of your way, Lady Aurora," Lynn expressed gratitude, intrigued by the magic called "True Illusions." Hence, he had asked the council for a book on illusion magic to delve into it when time allowed.


    "Oh, I have a question. Why did you set that spell of magic on me in the first ce?" Lynn was puzzled. He had no connection with Aurora, and they weren''t familiar, making it difficult toprehend her actions.


    If it was merely to leave a contingency before leaving Greenreel, the seers of prophecy might have been more suitable than himself. And what did that brown star signify?


    "Let''s save those questions for our next meeting," Aurora''s face held a faint smile, withholding information.


    Seeing the legendary witch ying coy, Lynn shrugged, turning to Phillip and the others, saying, "Let''s go back to Iyeta!"


    ...


    For two consecutive days, Lynn and the others remained on the airship. Flying had been amusing initially, but after several experiences, the journey became somewhat monotonous. Except for asionally using magic to ward off attracted storm birds, they only spotted sparse clouds in the sky.


    However, not every day went smoothly. Midway through the flight, dense dark clouds loomed ahead, fierce winds whistled, and raindrops trickled into the cockpit...


    "This is a storm warning!" Phillip''s expression turned grave.


    They were now at an altitude of over a thousand meters, and being struck by lightning, leading to the airship''s downfall, was no joke.


    "Lydia, find a nearby spot tond and wait out the storm. We''ll depart once it passes..." Phillip suggested cautiously.


    However, Lynn intervened, "No, ascend directly, Lydia! Before the storm hits us, let''s fly above the cloudyer!"


    Ascend? Phillip was taken aback. Wouldn''t that be plunging into the storm and thunder? Before he could protest, Lydia was already at work, channeling magical energy through the modified alchemy array. Helium produced from alchemy, transported to the auxiliary airbags, propelled the ship upward.


    "Charge!" Lydia eximed excitedly, steering the airship straight into the dark clouds, akin to a knight charging into battle, leaving Phillip to protect himself hastily.


    "This madcap!" Phillip cursed, unsure of the safety in this endeavor. Yet, with Lynn''s insistence, he had no choice.


    Lynn remained unperturbed; helium supplied the lift, which was rtively safe, especially since the storm clouds had just formed...


    As expected, the airship traversed unharmed, breaking through the storm clouds...


    As if transported to another world in an instant, intense sunlight bathed them, dispelling the storm that had nketed the skies.


    Stunned, Phillip stared at the sun overhead, the recent event feeling like a surreal dream, beyond belief.


    "What just happened? Professor?" Jonny asked, astonished.


    "The cumulonimbus clouds of a storm typically hover between one to two kilometers. Crossing that distance is the key. To be extra safe from lightning, flying higher is better," Lynn exined with a smile.


    Everyone present was astounded; they had never imagined reaching above the clouds could evade a storm.


    After ascending over three thousand meters, Lydia passed control of the airship to Darren and the others, curiously perched on the edge, her feet dangling, seemingly risking a fall.


    Below their feet, the storm raged, thunder booming, lightning streaking through the dark clouds as if to tear them apart.


    "Is that lightning?" Lydia''s eyes sparkled with fascination, seemingly intrigued by the destructive spectacle.


    Philip and the other wizard apprentices were equally spellbound. They had never thought they would one day hover above the clouds, witnessing lightning traverse the skies. It felt incredibly surreal.


    "Professor Lynn, was the magic you used in the Sun Crown Tower rted to thunder?" Phillip suddenly recalled.


    The magic Lynn had used, the "Electromaic Railgun," had nearly deafened him. In terms of speed and destructive force, it was the most potent magic Phillip had ever witnessed, seemingly harnessing the power of thunder.


    In Greenreel, many wizards sought control over this terrifying power of nature, yet due to its rampant and swift nature, thunder remained difficult to control,cking a distinct school of mastery.


    "Yes, it''s a maniption of the electromaic field," Lynn nodded, then nced at Phillip and the others, saying with a smile, "In truth, thunder isn''t something rareit''s within each of us!"


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 Chapter 200: The Magic in Everyday Life

    Chapter 200: The Magic in Everyday Life


    Lynn''s words surprised Phillip and the others. They had... electricity in them?


    "Do I have it too?" Lydia raised her hand, curiosity evident in her voice.


    "Of course, that''s why we can move and jump. To be precise, lightning exists in all elements," Lynn nodded, effortlessly tearing a thin sheet of paper into countless pieces and scattering them across the table. He then grabbed a ss sphere, vigorously rubbed it against his palm a dozen times, and brought it close to the shredded paper.


    Amidst the amazed gazes of everyone, the tiny pieces of paper trembled slightly, then lifted into the air, drawn to the ss sphere.


    Witnessing this spectacle, Lydia, especially, was astonished. She even doubted if this was an effect of magic.


    Shaking his head, Lynn chuckled. "This is friction generating electricity. You can try it too, ss works well!"


    At his words, Lydia immediately grabbed a ss rod, mimicking Lynn''s actions, rubbing her palm against it vigorously. Sure enough, all the paper bits stuck to it.


    "Uncle Darren, I''ve learned magic!" Lydia eximed, holding the ss rod high with uncontainable excitement, shouting at the halflings controlling the airship in the distance.


    Upon seeing Lydia''s aplishment, Darren and the others were equally astounded. Rubbing an object with your palm and temporarily gaining the power to control lightning, attracting thingsthis seemed no different from magic to them.


    Seeing this, Lynn couldn''t help but smile wryly, recalling a famous saying: "Magic is everywhere, not just in the sciences..."


    Johnny, Elok, and others tried experiments out of curiosity.


    "Professor Lynn, what''s going on? Why does this attraction happen on these objects? Is it the power of lightning?" Phillip couldn''t contain his astonishment. He understood the difficulty of controlling lightning far more than those apprentices.


    After Lynn''s exnation, it seemed like this phenomenon was everywhere. Even ordinary people like Lydia could utilize its power.


    "The principle is simple. When two objects rub against each other, due to differing abilities to bind electrons to atomic nuclei, one object loses some electrons, enabling the other to gain surplus electrons... in essence, friction generates electricity," Lynn exined sinctly.


    However, everyone present was utterly perplexed.


    "What are atomic nuclei? Outer electrons?" Phillip was lost. He probably shouldn''t have asked.


    "Sir Lynn, can everyone harness this power? Even halflings?" Darren eagerly asked.


    He had just heard Lynn say "everyone has electricity," misunderstanding it as everyone being able to learn lightning magic.


    That couldn''t be possible, could it?


    Elok and others chuckled, believing it to be a naturalw, akin to how a person automatically falls to the ground when they jump.


    ording to Professor Lynn''s theory, this was the influence ofary gravity. In some sense, thend beneath their feet manifested a powerful magical force field.


    Friction generating electricity probably operated on the same principle. Did this possess powerful electrical wizardry?


    "Real magic probably won''t work. If you mean utilizing the power of electricity with some knowledge and tools, then, of course, it''s possible," Lynn said jokingly, also painting a bright picture for them. "With enough knowledge, who knows, using some instruments, you might replicate my electromaic railgun to its fullest potential, rivaling legendary magic."


    The people present looked at Lynn strangely. This sounded way too exaggerated.


    Lydia even wondered if the professor was teasing them.


    Legendary magic... she didn''t even dare to think about it.


    Lynn didn''t offer more exnations but instead flipped the ss sphere in his hand, trying to sense magic but couldn''t detect any charges.


    On second thought, this was normal. Those things were much smaller than atoms, belonging to microscopic particles. If it were that easy, wizards would have already developed electromaic magic.


    But electricity as a technology could be introduced first and then slowly researched for its magical applications.


    Lynn pondered silently. The current "Lost Mist" over the sea had lost its original effect, indicating that they would face threats from the church at any moment.


    The exact timeframe wasn''t certainperhaps two to three months, maybe even half a year. It depended on how long the deterrence power of the Mist Sea wouldst.


    If the church sent people to investigate or worse, if merchant ships identally entered the Mist Sea, their cover would be blown immediately.


    Iyeta Harbor, as an important port and gateway for wizards, would undoubtedly be a primary target.


    Preparation had to be made early.


    Compared to training more wizards, technological power was evidently the key to enhancing immediate defenses and coping withrge-scale warfarea must.


    Magic was indeed miraculous, but a formal wizard neededyers of selection and several years, even a decade, of training. Even with protective magic, they might not withstand several rounds of cannon fire. Sending them to the battlefield as cannon fodder was too much of a loss; they were better suited as researchers.


    Only grand wizards, archbishops, at that level could ignore the threat of cannons and to some extent influence the oue of a war. Perhaps these human-shaped missiles would need electromaic cannons to deal with them.


    Gunpowder, internalbustion engines, electromaic technology... Lynn realized that the key technologies were too many.


    As for those more advanced technologies?


    Lynn didn''t even consider them because they required establishing aplete industrial system first.


    Rubber... this was crucial, but the Wizarding Realmcked it. He could only consider whether magic could solve materials science problems, maybe using alchemy to rece someplex work.


    The most crucial aspect was education. Workers familiar with and mastering certain knowledge formed the foundation for building an industrial system. But his time was clearly insufficient; teaching from scratch took too long.


    He had to recall all those graduated wizard apprentices, even formal wizards, for reeducation!


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 Chapter 201: The Controller of Seaport Town and the Magic Star of Iyeta

    Chapter 201: The Controller of Seaport Town and the Magic Star of IyetaThe sudden storm didn''t pose too much of an obstacle. After three days of sailing, they smoothly arrived at Iyeta Harbor.


    At thending spot of the airship, the city center was swarming with a dense crowd, filling the streets.


    Under the incessant promotion by the *Magic Daily*, Lynn''s various exploits in Greenreel had long been circted throughout the harbor city, leaving an undeniably astonishing impact! A month ago, when news of Herlram''s death arrived, many wizards from the Iyeta School of Magic felt as though the sky had copsed.


    A grand wizard was undoubtedly the pir of a school''s prosperity. Their demise often symbolized a school''s decline. Such incidents had urred more than once in thend of wizards.


    Coupled with the impact of the tragedy in the southern district, some even spected that the Iyeta School had met its end. The Council would surely dispatch another grand wizard to take over this crucial harbor city. Consequently, many wizards began considering whether to change allegiances, seeking a better path.


    However, what they hadn''t expected was the turning point that urred at the much-maligned magical symposium.


    Lynn from beyond the Misty Sea had expounded on hisary theory, proposed thew of universal gravitation, not only gaining the appreciation of the legendary wizard Harof but also securing a nomination for the Sun Crown Medal. This brought tremendous fame to the Iyeta School of Magic!


    When news of this arrived, everyone''s initial reaction was skepticismcould this be a hoax?


    The Sun Crown Medal was the highest honor in the entire magical world. How could it be awarded to a tier-three wizard? It wasn''t until more information circted through the *Magic Weekly*, including Lynn''s pendulum experiment and the method of measuring the''s circumference, that everyone suddenly realized it was all real!


    "Is that the Sun Crown Medal? The honor even Master Herlram couldn''t attain..."


    A witch fixed her gaze on Lynn as he disembarked from the airship, noticing the dark-gold medal on his chest emitting a brilliant magical radiance.


    The wizards of the Iyeta School also stared at the medal with envy, simultaneously proud. After all, it was the honor of the entire school!


    When Lynn first joined the Iyeta School, bing a teaching professor, many had grievances, believing that Herlram had too easily allowed someone with unknown origins to join the school, granting such high treatment. But now, it seemed to be the most correct decision Herlram had ever made.


    "Do you think, Lord Lynn, has be a grand wizard?" someone curiously ventured amidst the crowd.


    Yesterday''s *Magic Weekly* mentioned that due to the infiltration of a sect known as the Doomsday Sect by the clergy, a considerablemotion had erupted in Greenreel city, and Lynn had made an outstanding contribution in this event, almost single-handedly dying the return of legendary wizards.


    This didn''t seem like something a tier-three wizard could achieve.


    "It''s not possible. I heard from Professor Ondo that Lord Lynn might not even be twenty years old this year..." a wizard in ck robes said incredulously.


    A grand wizard under twentythis was too astounding. However, considering that Lynn had received the highest honor in the magical world, it seemed strangely ordinary.


    Meanwhile, as Lynn and the others entered the city center''s square, the surrounding crowd became increasingly excited, loudly chanting "The Magic Star of Iyeta"!


    The shouts grew louder, echoing ceaselessly across the city.


    Lynn was momentarily unsure whether to be happy or vexed. Though it represented the recognition of the majority, thest person called the Magic Star was currently confined in the *Magic Core*.


    Amidst such fervor, after discussions between Phillip, Kevin, and others with the formal wizards of the Iyeta School, they promptly announced that Lynn would henceforth assume the position of dean of the Iyeta School. Amidst a chorus of praises and cheers, Lynn officially took control of the entire magical school and gained practical control of the harbor city.


    ---


    By evening, after the celebratory banquet ended, Lynn ascended to the top of the school tower for the first time, entering the dean''s office.


    Contrary to his expectations, everything here was simpler. The ce was scarcely decorated, with a few dusty parchment scrolls scattered around and a magical clock for telling time. It was hard to imagine that this was the ce where a grand wizard usually spent time.


    A bit too modest...


    Lynn shook his head involuntarily. If not for the troublesome incidents he had stirred up in the pursuit of resurrecting his daughter, Herlram, the founder and controller of the Iyeta School, could be considered enlightened.


    "Wind of elements!" Lynn raised his hand, and a gust of wind swept through the dean''s office, clearing away the umted dust.


    Outside the door, a knock sounded.


    "Come in!" Lynn called out.


    The tightly shut door was pushed open, and Ondo entered. He was apanied by two fairies holding thick pages of documents, pping their small wings strenuously to keep up with him.


    "Professor Lynn..." Ondo habitually addressed Lynn, then corrected himself, "No, now I should address you as Your Excellency, the Dean."


    "No need to be so formal." Lynn smiled, then asked, "Have you finished organizing the documents as I asked?"


    "They''re all here." Ondo handed over several parchment pages to Lynn. The two fairies behind him also struggled to ce the heavy documents down, panting heavily beside them...


    Lynn took the parchment and began to read. It contained a list of personnel, including all the wizards and apprentices cultivated by the Iyeta School over the past twenty years.


    Excluding those who had passed away due to illness, killed in conflicts, or departed from the school, there were approximately 1,100 apprentice wizards and 260 formal wizards currently remaining in the harbor city.


    This was fewer than he had anticipated!


    After Ondo exined, Lynn realized it was connected to the tragic events in the southern district a month ago. The Iyeta School had suffered heavy losses.


    A total of 141 apprentice wizards and 15 formal wizards had died in that catastrophe, and more than 1,700moners had perished...


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 Chapter 202: Taxless Wizards and the Disheartened Commoners

    Chapter 202: Taxless Wizards and the Disheartened Commoners


    The mention of these figures overwhelmed Lynn. He had been intimately involved in the entire event and had anticipated numerous casualties, but he hadn''t expected this magnitude.


    "In addition, during the subsequent investigation, the security team discovered something peculiar. On the day of the catastrophe, the spirits of nine wizards within the town were inexplicably harmed. Five confirmed dead, the remaining four suffered severe brain injuries, nearly indistinguishable from death," Ondo reported.


    "After searching these wizards'' residences, the security team found some books on psychic magic and this... Ondo ced a small box in front of Lynn, containing nine ring-shaped items.


    "They each carried this thing. Judging by the runes inscribed, it might be a form ofmunication magic, but the enchantments are defunct, impossible to trace," Ondo borated.


    "I''ll take care of this. When I have time, I''ll delve into it with Master Raphael." Lynn nodded calmly, taking the "Faceless Ring" items, intending to transform them into "Mystic Rings"ter.


    Ondo nodded in agreement and proceeded to mention another matter.


    Upon the exposure of Herlram''s demise, over thirty wizards chose to depart from Iyeta Harbor. Some even changed their allegiance, joining other sects, taking some apprentices with them.


    "Should I send people to invite them back? I believe they''d be quite willing," Ondo chuckled.


    He figured these wizards, upon learning of Lynn receiving the Sun Crown Medal, were probably consumed with regret.


    Unbeknownst to them, the Iyeta Sect hadn''t declined but instead showed signs of soaring sess.


    "No, since it''s their own choice, let them be." Lynn shook his head, unperturbed. These individuals didn''t harbor a sense of belonging to Iyeta, so their departure might not be a loss.


    Sometimes, internal threats were trickier than external enemies. Though hecked personnel now, not just anyone would do.


    Contrarily, Lynn felt that despite the hardships the harbor city had faced, it hadn''t been all bad. At least, most of the unsettling factors within the sect had been removed.


    "What about the distressedmoners and their families? Are they settled? Haspensation been distributed?" Lynn inquired with concern.


    Though this matter wasn''t directly rted to him, it was caused by Herlram. The council, for the stability of the wizard territory, had concealed this information. They, at the very least, needed to ensure these innocent victims were taken care of.


    The total poption of Iyeta Harbor wasn''trge. The wizards considered the impoverished people residing in the South District as dispensable waste, yet to Lynn, they were valuableborers.


    "Well... currently, Iyeta might not have that much funding," Ondo hesitated, wearing a somewhat helpless expression.


    Lynn was taken aback. As thergest harbor city in the wizard territory, monopolizing a portion of external trade, it should have been wealthy.


    Could it be that while Herlram was secretly researching psychic magic, he siphoned off Iyeta Harbor''s reserves?


    Rummaging through some financial reports, Lynn discovered the economic situation in Iyeta was bizarre.


    Primarily, wizards andmoners operated entirely separate economic systems. Other than thetter supplying food to the former, there was scarce interaction.


    Magic materials, treasured by wizards, were sold for a few magic coins, an amount unattainable for a non-mageborer even after decades of work.


    Wizards rarely engaged in ordinary production activities; only they could afford alchemical tools and potions.


    Thus, thousands of wizards and numerous apprentices formed a distinct cycle within the wizard territory, constructing an economic superstructure entirely detached from themoners.


    The crucial part wasthese privileged individuals didn''t pay taxes!


    Previously, the city''s finances relied little on taxation; extorting themoners yielded little profit, mostly symbolic.


    The real ie stemmed from external trade. Leveraging the geographical advantage of Iyeta Harbor''s proximity to the outside world, various ores and rare items from the wizard territory were shipped continuously. Selling these in Greenril City fetched substantial earnings.


    Yes, substantial earnings... However, despite the near monopoly, engaging in external trade exposed the entire wizard territory to risks.


    As the price for the council''s tacit approval, the pre-negotiated prices for transported scarce resources restricted the opportunity for extravagant profits. Each year, they could probably amass around thirty thousand magic coins, just enough to sustain the city''s operations.


    Due to the interruption of three routes, their major financial source might shrink.


    Suddenly, Lynn felt that his earnings from selling ss, paper, and even airships might not be as much as he had thought.


    He was still prosperous now, but in a few months, it might not be the same.


    With just a few hundred thousand people in the wizard territory, the market was too limited and quickly saturated. Expanding external trade was imperative for his uing significant actions.


    He pondered for a while, forming a rough n, and looked at Ondo. "I think I have a grasp of Iyeta Harbor''s situation. I''ll contribute ten thousand magic coins to the treasury. Let''s first settle those innocent victims in the South District; we can''t dy this any longer."


    "As for the remaining funds, use them to procure these materials." Lynn handed over a thinly written page.


    epting it, Ondo, despite numerous times, couldn''t help but feel a tinge of emotion at the sight of this pristine paper. Who would have thought this was made from wood?


    "Ah, saltpeter, charcoal, sulfur, brass..." Ondo nced through the list, filled with various materialssomemon like saltpeter and charcoal, others unfamiliar. Lynn had meticulously noted their characteristics, hoping to find someone familiar with these substances.


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 Chapter 203: The Thing Called Magic Internal Combustion Engine!

    Chapter 203: The Thing Called Magic Internal Combustion Engine!


    "Lynn, can you tell me what these things are for?" Ondo asked curiously.


    "Making various weapons, preparing for a possible uing war," Lynn exined.


    Ondo''s expression turned serious. Although news of the war was still circting only within the council, many wizards had already caught a glimpse of the situation through recent significant movements.


    "Moreover, I n to continue expanding the Iyeta Academy. I want those wizards who have left the school, even the formal ones, to return to Iyeta and continue their studies," Lynn proposed again.


    Ondo was taken aback. "But what should we teach them?"


    Those wizards expelled from the academy were over thirty years old, having learned almost everything that could be taught but were limited by their insufficient talent to advance further.


    Graduates, as formal wizards themselves, had nothing more to learn.


    "Of course, we''ll teach chemistry, physics, and even mathematical sciences!" Lynn stated firmly.


    "Chemistry? Physics?" Ondo paused. He understood mathematical sciences, but what were these two subjects?


    "You can think of these two new subjects as the principles of magic or thews of how things operate!" Lynn exined simply, finally instructing Ondo topile a list of alchemists, especially those who had some knowledge of steam engines, and invite them all to the academy!


    ---


    The next day, at noon, inside the alchemy researchb of the Iyeta Academy.


    More than twenty wizards surrounded severalrge sheets of paper, depicting a very peculiar machine. Itsponents were exceedinglyplex, making it difficult toprehend, yet its intricate design immediately captured everyone''s attention.


    Darren and the others were also invited, but they were squeezed outside, not daring to contend for the drawings with the wizard elders. Lydia, however, without hesitation, fetched a tall chair and even contemted climbing onto the table to get a better view.


    "Lynn, what is this?" a perplexed alchemist asked, then seemed to suddenly recall something and added, puzzled, "Could it be the schematics for an alchemical steam engine?"


    Upon hearing this guess, the wizards present were invigorated.


    The alchemical steam engine was the Alchemist Association''s highest achievement, a magical invention capable of changing the world!


    Naturally, they were highly interested in this contraption. Some had even secretly dismantled alchemical apparatuses installed on ships and conducted covert research over the years, yielding some results.


    However, the construction of the alchemical steam engine seemed different. They even doubted whether the Dean had mistakenly taken the wrong drawings.


    "No, more urately, it''s an upgraded version of the steam engine. I call it an internalbustion engine!" Lynn exined with a smile.


    "Upgraded version?" Philip and the others exchanged nces.


    "What''s the difference between this and a steam engine?" another witch curiously inquired.


    "Its efficiency is over ten times that of existing steam engines!" Lynn confidently replied.


    Lynn had already examined the steam engines produced by the Alchemist Association. Their thermal efficiency ranged between three to five percent, described as highly inefficient.


    Vessels powered by this were hardly faster than sail warships when navigating the seas, and the cruising speed of airships could barely reach a pitiable fifteen kilometers per hour.


    However, this did not negate the fact that the steam engine was a revolutionary invention.


    "Ten times? Tenfold?" The alchemists gasped, looking at Lynn with eyes filled with both wonder and eagerness, then shifted their gaze back to the diagrams in front of them, their enthusiasm markedly heightened.


    "Can it be installed on an airship?" Lydia asked, incredibly excited.


    "Absolutely, it can increase the airship''s speed from fifteen kilometers per hour to over seventy kilometers per hour!" Lynn stated a deliberately conservative figure. "It can also be used to power ships or anything else you want to set in motion!"


    "Seventy kilometers? That means it would take just half a day to travel from Iyeta to Greenrill?" Philip eximed in astonishment.


    That''s too fast.


    Is it really that fast?


    Lynn smiled and then took the diagrams, exining the operation principles of steam and internalbustion engines and their differences to the alchemists and the halfling craftsmen like Darren.


    Essentially, a steam engine boiled water in a boiler to produce steam, which was then sent into cylinders to drive pistons in reciprocating motion.


    In simple terms, it converted the chemical energy of fuel into the thermal energy of steam and then transformed that thermal energy into mechanical energy, generating continuous power.


    The internalbustion engine, as its upgrade, reduced the steps, converting thermal energy directly into mechanical energy by rapidly burning fuel to produce high-temperature and high-pressure gas to drive the piston. Naturally, its efficiency was much higher.


    As for its fuel issue...


    The most primitive internalbustion engines used gas as fuel to provide energy.


    Wizards'' territory still had coal resources.


    In fact, Lynn preferred using hydrogen as fuel directly, as it not only increased the thermal efficiency to over fifty percent but was also environmentally friendly and non-polluting.


    This concept had been proposed as early as the eighteenth and neenth centuries, but the cost of extracting, storing, and transporting hydrogen fuel was exceedingly high, making fossil fuels more cost-effective.


    However, for wizards, the production of hydrogen gas wasn''t as difficult, making hydrogen-powered internalbustion engines feasible.


    With this, even if it meant making the airship reach a speed of two hundred kilometers per hour!


    Unfortunately, the almost nonexistent industrial level at Iyeta Harbor troubled Lynn. Lynn could only hope that these alchemists could find ways to use magic to solve various technical problems, creating a fusion of technology and magic in an alchemical internalbustion engine!


    Despite Lynn exining the principles of the internalbustion engine in detail, the multitude of technical terms interspersed made the alchemists ponder for a long time. After a heated debate and discussion, they began the process of modification.


    For instance, enhancing the cylinder''s ability to withstand high temperatures and pressures or how to inscribe alchemical arrays into the internalbustion engine to producebustible gas continuously without being destroyed by the high-temperature environment inside...


    Lydia and the others did not participate in the magical retrofit research. Instead, they were particrly interested in something inside the internalbustion engine called "gears."


    Gears of various sizes fitted together, transmitting power through rotation, appearing mystical. Although Lydia had seen something simr on steam machines before, they were far less sophisticated...


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 Chapter 204: The High Ground of Public Opinion Must Not Fall Into Others’ Hands!

    Chapter 204: The High Ground of Public Opinion Must Not Fall Into Others¡¯ Hands!


    It took Lynn the entire afternoon and evening to exin the workings of various mechanical structures to a group of alchemists. He felt as if hed turned into a living version of a hundred thousand whys, especially under Lydia''s barrage of questions.


    With everyone''sbined effort, the blueprint for the first-generation magic internalbustion engine was ready by the crack of dawn the next day.


    It seemed decent enough at first nce, but Lynn couldn''t be sure of its sess. He had to let them proceed and fix any issues that arose along the way.


    For the next few days, Lynn didn''t interfere much, leaving the production of the internalbustion engine to Phillip and Darren. He tasked them with the detailed study, instructing them to inform him once the prototype was ready.


    His entire focus shifted topiling a new textbook and establishing a new newspaper! Lynn understood the significance of public opinion like no other; it could dictate what people saw, heard, and even thought every day!


    The former ruler of Iyeta Harbor, Herlram, didn''t care much about it, and the Council''s attention was far from sufficient. But Lynn wouldn''t let the high ground of public opinion slip into others'' hands.


    Therefore, a few dayster, a newspaper titled the "Magic Daily" appeared prominently in every shop.


    The thin, white pages immediately grabbed everyone''s attention, capturing their gaze with the contents printed on them.


    The front-page headline detailed the incident in the southern district and the subsequent action n. To ensure Iyeta Harbor''s stability, it omitted any mention of Herlram, cing most of the me on the rogue mage, Merk.


    However, the incident was undeniably connected to Merk, so it wasn''t entirely nderous.


    For themon folk, what astonished them wasn''t this revtion but the decision of the new lord of the port city, the Magic Star of Iyeta, to providepensation to the impoverished victims. This news was nothing short of thunderous.


    When did those high and mighty wizards start caring about the poor? Some of the destitute in the southern district were moved to tears upon receiving the resettlement fees.


    Mary was one such person. The unexpected appearance of the Soul-Eating Formation in the southern district had abruptly snatched away her husband''s life, leaving her with two young children.


    The meager stock of ck bread she had received earlier was almost depleted. She had even contemted whether to go to the Magic Workshop and be an experimental subject for the wizards'' magical medicines. Rumor had it that, with enough luck, one could gain extraordinary strength without side effects.


    Mary knew the probability of sess was minuscule. There were already quite a few individuals in the southern district whose bodies had be deformed due to the wizards'' potions. Except for dire circumstances, not many were willing to y with their lives.


    Fortunately, just when she was hesitating, she received news of thepensation distribution. For someone like her, who had lost vitalbor in her household, she was entitled to a hefty fifty silver coins!


    With some frugal living, it could sustain her family for a year or two. This made Mary immensely grateful. She gritted her teeth, spent five copper coins, and purchased a copy of the "Magic Daily," requesting the illiterate shopkeeper to narrate its contents to her.


    Mary''s decision was undoubtedly correct because the newspaper also announced two crucial pieces of information.


    Firstly, several paper mills, ss factories, and airship manufacturing workshops were being established in Iyeta Harbor, recruiting arge number of workersapproximately fifteen hundred. Not only were meals and amodation provided, but depending on the work type, they could earn between eight to fifteen silver coins per month.


    Those skilled in mathematics and craftsmen had priority. Additionally, families of those deceased in the southern district incident would receive preferential treatment.


    Upon reading this, Mary''s eyes lit up. There was no distinction made between men and women, only minimum and maximum age limitsshe undoubtedly qualified.


    Eight silver coins might not mean much to the wizards, but formon folk, it was a significant sum. It could sustain a family of three, even allowing for a slightly better lifestyle with asional additions like eggs to their diet of white bread.


    The second piece of news was the expansion of the Iyeta Academy, weing back both willing wizard apprentices and established wizards.


    Moreover, the "Magic Daily" mentioned the future establishment of a school in Iyeta for ordinary people.


    "A school for non-magic users?" Mary could hardly believe her eyes.


    "Yes, Lord Ondo mentioned that. Teaching arithmetic, chemistry, and physics," the shopkeeper confirmed with conviction, having double-checked with the wizards.


    "But... what can we do with this knowledge?" Mary looked puzzled.


    "ording to Lord Ondo, the current lord is in dire need of manpower. These students can join real alchemy workshops and be assistants to the wizards... just like Lydia!" the shopkeeper patiently exined.


    Lydia? At the mention of her name, Mary became excited.


    In Iyeta Harbor, everyone knew the half-elf girl who usually jumped around and enjoyed concocting peculiar gadgets. Now, she had transformed into the trusted right-hand woman of the Lord.


    And with that transformation, even those half-elf individuals, usually looked down upon, had attained a significantly better life. Rumor had it they could earn several gold coins each month!


    The power of a role model was undoubtedly formidable!


    In her mind, Mary quietly calcted whether she should send her two children to the academy.


    The admission fee for each person was ten silver coins, almost half of theirpensation. But considering that they could be assistants to the wizard lords in the future, freeing themselves from the struggles of the southern district, Mary resolved herself.


    As long as she could secure a position in the workshop, the monthly ie would be enough to support the daily expenses of her two children.


    Once again, Mary thought of her deceased husband, silently praying that life would gradually get better...


    Simrly, in the port city, wizards and many graduated apprentices were reading the newspaper. Their attitudes toward Lynn''s re-education n varied. Some couldn''t swallow their pride and tly refused, even sneering at the idea. But many others were intrigued.


    They were all well aware that the current academy director, Lynn, was a prodigy in magical theory research. Despite his young age, he had developed numerous novel and potent spells.


    Moreover, rumors had been circting within the port city that he had already ascended to be a grand wizard. Consequently, the number of applicants returning to school far exceeded Lynn''s expectations...


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 Chapter 205: Lydia: Weve Created the Magic Internal Combustion Engine!

    Chapter 205: Lydia: We''ve Created the Magic Internal Combustion Engine!


    After being closed for a month and a half due to the Southern District incident and the Magical Workshop, the academy reopened.


    "Ah, it''s been so long since I''ve been here, hasn''t it?" Albert gazed at the familiar yet foreign surroundings of the academy, expressing his nostalgia.


    He never imagined that one day he''d return as a student, attending sses in the same institute as his son. Though it felt odd, Albert came not to amass knowledge but in hopes of forming connections with the talented Lynn.


    Many shared Albert''s sentiments. Around two hundred official wizards returned to the academy, along with countless apprentices. Despite the numbers, there was only one teacher  Lynn had to split the instruction into sessions.


    "Good afternoon, wee back, everyone. I am Lynn, the new head of Iyeta Academy!" Lynn greeted with a smile, facing the packed ssroom of wizards.


    "It''s an honor to meet you, Head Lynn," Albert stood up first to bow.


    The wizards followed suit, not just due to the teacher-student rtionship but also out of respect for Lynn as the leader of the Iyeta faction.


    "Please be seated, everyone. As official wizards, I believe you all have unique insights into magic. I''m offering this ss to present the elementalws I''ve studied and summarized, which I term Chemistry..."


    Lynn didn''t adopt an air of superiority. As he spoke, fairies distributed textbooks.


    Albert peered curiously at the exquisite book cover. It was made of a special white paper. Flipping through the first page, he read the powerful inscription: "Chemistry is the natural science that studies theposition, structure, properties, transformations, and applications of matter at the atomic and molecr levels."


    "Head Lynn, what do ''atom'' and ''molecule'' mean?" a wizard asked with a hint of confusion.


    "An atom is the smallest particleposing elements andpounds, what wemonly refer to as elements," Lynn exined. "A molecule, on the other hand, isposed of atoms and is the smallest particle in a chemical reaction..."


    Lynn raised his hand, conjuring a small water sphere before the audience. "For example, water consists of numerous water molecules; its elements are hydrogen and oxygen... The chemical form is H2O, also known as dihydrogen monoxide..."


    "Isn''t that ''Il'' and ''Fura''?" murmured the audience, using the wizarding terms for hydrogen and oxygen, named after ancient wizards who discovered them.


    "How much do you know about these elements?" Lynn asked again.


    "Oxygen, or Il, is the source of life. A regr person not attuned to magic would perish in an oxygen-deprived environment," Albert pondered, reflecting on spells like the ''Zone of Life'' that created an oxygen-less area, causing agony and death to enemies.


    "These elements are also used in fire magic," another wizard added.


    "Besides these, what more?" Lynn pursued.


    "Are you asking about how many types of magic utilize these elements?" Albert furrowed his brow.


    "No, I mean their chemical forms, boiling points, densities, applications, specific heat capacities, critical temperatures..." Lynn listed a string of terms, leaving everyone bewildered.


    "For instance, hydrogen''s low density can suspend an object when filled inrge quantities within it," Lynn exined while using magic to envelop himself in hydrogen, slowly floating off the ground.


    The wizards were intrigued. Could they potentially develop flight magic using hydrogen?


    "Is your airship based on suspended hydrogen?" Albert immediately pondered.


    "No, hydrogen is highly mmable. Using it for an airship could turn it into a fiery ball in the sky with a single mishap!" Lynn shook his head. "So, I use a different element. I''ll exin in detailter."


    Then, Lynn conjured a massive magical orb with a mix of hydrogen and oxygen andunched it out the window.


    The magical orb exploded under a banyan tree, releasing a rush of gases, followed by a zing fireball...


    A loud explosion resonated, mes soared high. The pitiful banyan treey split in two, its surface pockmarked, burning branches scattered, and the soft ground created a vast crater.


    The wizards in the ssroom gaped, astounded. The destruction was akin to a standard third-tier spell, achieved with seemingly minimal effort, even doable by a first-tier wizard.


    "The optimal ratio for a hydrogen-oxygen chemical reaction is two to one. A tiny spark can trigger an intense explosion, resulting in water..." Lynn calmly exined.


    The wizards hurriedly took notes on this newbined magic. They realized that this ''Chemistry'' ss wasn''t just about the essence of elements and magic principles but about developing new magic.


    Meanwhile, Albert delved into the chemistry book, absorbed in the descriptions of various elements, deeply moved.


    It seemed that the Society of Mystical Arts understood elements beyond their imagination, not merelyprehensively but in meticulous detail.


    What Albert didn''t know was that Lynn, considering the differingpositions of two worlds andcking experimental confirmation, hadn''tbeled factors such as atomic weight, elemental periods, electron configurations, and atomic structures.


    Lynn initiated this chemistry ss hoping these wizards would assist in verification; after all, researching alone was a slow process.


    As Lynn prepared to elucidate other elemental properties, hurried footsteps echoed outside, followed by a forceful bang on the ssroom door.


    Albert and others frowned, deeply engrossed in contemting the essence of elements, abruptly interrupted by the untimely intrusion.


    Who had the audacity to disturb them at this critical moment?


    It was Lydia, bursting in hastily. The halfling girl''s face beamed with excitement and joy as she eximed, "Head Lynn, the internalbustion engine... We''ve created it with magic!"


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 Chapter 206: The Debut of the Alchemical Internal Combustion Engine

    Chapter 206: The Debut of the Alchemical Internal Combustion Engine


    An alchemical internalbustion engine? What in the world was that?


    The confusion was writrge across the faces of Albert and hispanions.


    Lynn, too, was taken aback; this was happening much faster than he had anticipated.


    "Professor Philip and the others are getting ready for the first experiment. If we''rete, we might miss it!" Lydia''s voice was filled with excitement as she dashed over, sweat drenching her, cheeks flushed red like a ripe apple.


    Lynn nodded with a smile, then turned to the group of wizards in the ssroom. "Why not all of us go and take a look? This internalbustion engine uses hydrogen as its fuel!"


    Albert and the others promptly rose and followed, a sizable group exiting the ssroom in unison.


    "Dean Lynn, what exactly is this alchemical internalbustion engine?" one of the male wizards curiously inquired. "Does it have anything to do with the Steam Engine of the Alchemical Association?"


    "It''s much, much more powerful than the steam engine..." Lydia proimed proudly, then added, fearing that they might notprehend the extent, "At least ten times more powerful!"


    While this was the first official experiment, they had tested this contraption before to see if it would function properly. The external gears spun rapidly, almost blurring her vision!


    "Hurry, hurry!" Lydia kept urging, clearly not wanting to miss the debut of the internalbustion engine.


    When they arrived at the alchemical workshop, a very tall andrge carriage frame appeared before them.


    Clearly repurposed from a carriage, its wooden sides had been removed, leaving only a chassis. Two extra wheels were added beneath the front section where camels and horses would be tethered.


    Furthermore, there was a metal "box" atop the chassis, standing over a meter tall, firmly embedded in the rear half. With Lydia''s exnation, Albert finally understood that this was the so-called alchemical internalbustion engine.


    At this moment, the alchemists present were debating fiercely about who should drive this alchemical four-wheeler. Much like when Lydia piloted the airship into the sky, this was also destined to be a moment recorded in history.


    "Alright, stop arguing. I think this opportunity should belong to Dean Lynn..." Philip interrupted the debate, looking solemnly at Lynn and the others walking over.


    The alchemists present immediately fell silent.


    Indeed, they could craft the alchemical internalbustion engine, but the crucial part was the blueprint provided by Lynn.


    However, as Lynn nced at the rudimentary four-wheeled vehicle, especially scrutinizing the gears, chains, and brake levers, he grew concerned about potential loss of control or disassembly midway. He cleared his throat, delicately refusing, "No, I have no driving experience. Since this four-wheeled alchemical vehicle was made collectively by all of you, let the first driver be chosen by drawing lots or by voting among yourselves."


    Under Lynn''s "modest" insistence, the alchemists soon decided the first driver by drawing lots, with Philip naturally being the luckiest one.


    Darren, Lydia, and the halflings could only watch eagerly. Although they were involved in making the alchemical vehicle, they dared not vie for this honor among the wizardly adults.


    The triumphant Philip stepped onto the carriage. Due to the rush, he hadn''t even arranged his seat properly, yet he didn''t mind. He ced his right hand directly onto the alchemical steam engine.


    Albert stared intently, curious to see if this thing was indeed ten times more powerful than Lydia imed.


    Gathered around the alchemical workshop were thousands of Iyeta Academy students, creating an aisle for passage.


    As magic was continuously infused, the alchemical internalbustion engine began its operation. A vast amount of magic swiftly transformed within the alchemical array into a certain proportion of hydrogen and oxygen, directly conveyed into the cylinders.


    Following this, the internal mixed elements vibrated rapidly, heating up until ignited. The enormous propulsive force generated by high-temperature, high-pressure gas incessantly drove the crankshaft with the connecting rod below.


    A thunderous rumble emanated from the "metal box," akin to the roar of a primeval beast...


    Under everyone''s gaze, the rear wheels, connected by chains and gears, spontaneously started turning, propelling the alchemical four-wheeler forward...


    "It''s moving, it''s really moving!" Darren and the others shouted with immense excitement. Though they had expected it, witnessing this scene still couldn''t conceal their joy.


    "So fast!"


    Standing by the roadside, Peirce and the others only felt a gust of wind as Philip drove the four-wheeler, almost whooshing past them, akin to a speeding arrow!


    No, Peirce even thought it was faster than that!


    But they quickly realized that the speed of this vehicle seemed to be increasing!


    Philip on the carriage experienced it more profoundly; everything around him was rapidly receding. The endpoint he had marked out beforehand was swiftly surpassed, the tremendous wind resistance forcing him to squint.


    Too fast... Way too fast!


    Philip''s legs trembled, even feeling a sensation as if he were about to fly!


    However, this sensation of soaring, like lightning, was utterly captivating. Philip not only had no intention of slowing down but even increased the magical output, eager to test the limits of this contraption...


    The spinning wheels turned into streaks, leaving a long trail on the road.


    The cylinder''s tolerance quickly reached its limit, but preceding its failure was the gear!


    At several hundred rotations per minute under the ultra-high speed, the gear meant for transferring kic energy at the rear wheel couldn''t endure and snapped first.


    Crack...


    Initially, it was a slight muffled sound, then a chain reaction. The broken gear flew apart rapidly, causing the entire alchemical vehicle to lose control.


    Philip was surprised to find himself airborne, spinning mid-air, then crashing onto the hard road, rolling several times before struggling to get up.


    Everyone present was stunned, quickly rushing over to check on him.


    "Lord Philip... Are you alright?"


    "Professor, are you okay? Any injuries?"


    With the help of everyone, Philip sat downboriously.


    Thanks to ast-minute cast of a "Mage Shield" for protection, although Philip looked disheveled, fortunately, he wasn''t hurt. He kept murmuring to himself, "Too fast... Way too fast..."


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 Chapter 207: The First Magic Revolution, Ending Before It Begins?

    Chapter 207: The First Magic Revolution, Ending Before It Begins?


    "Did you record the speed? Any readings?" Philip, despite his disheveled appearance, quickly inquired once he regained hisposure.


    "From start to finish, it''s a total of six hundred meters, took 30 seconds," an alchemist nced at their magical clock, hesitating before speaking up.


    As for thetter part, due to the vehicle inexplicably losing control and breaking apart, Philip flew off directly, never having the chance to record it.


    "The speed in thetter half is probably around ny kilometers per hour," Lynn remarked, having calcted the data through the smart-brain.


    Hearing this figure, everyone present was utterly astonished. This went beyond just being fast; it was akin to flying!


    "Is this the power of alchemical internalbustion engines?" Albert murmured to himself. Despite their limited understanding of alchemy, theyprehended what such speed implied.


    Ondo, in particr, was astounded. A week ago, Lynn had mentioned creating some weapons to counter the impending war.


    In truth, he hadn''t ced much hope in it. Time was incredibly limited, and war was unlike anything else. Even if they developed some powerful alchemical tools, it would be challenging to influence the battlefield.


    Compared to that, he preferred Lynn focusing solely on advancing as a great wizard.


    However, the extraordinary speed and power of the alchemical internalbustion engine greatly shook Ondo. He envisioned a hundred of these alchemical cars, armored with steel, charging through the battlefield, an unstoppable force. Just the thought was exhrating.


    After the initial excitement, Philip and the others hurried to the overturned four-wheeled alchemical vehicle, examining it closely, trying to pinpoint the problem.


    The previously broken gears directly caused the vehicle to lose control, triggering a chain reaction that severely damaged the four-wheeler. The alchemists soon engaged in heated discussions and disputes.


    "Most likely, it''s the cylinder you designed that''s the problem. The hydrogen-oxygen explosion was too intense. I''ve always said we should increase the thickness of the steel," one alchemist observed after a while, noticing slight external deformities in the internalbustion engine. He suspected internalponents suffered significant damage, suspecting a piston or rod failure causing the vehicle''s loss of control.


    Beside him, another wizard jumped up, cursing loudly. "Nonsense! My cylinder was perfectly fine. I blended lion''s blood into the steel; it can withstand high temperatures perfectly fine! It must be the gears and chains you made that are the problem..."


    "And the wheels! They''re all crooked! Who designed this? We''ve said the material needs to withstand pressure, withstand it!"


    The discussions and arguments continued unabated, with no one willing to admit their mistake leading to the vehicle''s overturning.


    Approaching, Lynn examined the vehicle carefully and sighed in dismay. "The strength of these materials is insufficient."


    At the current industrial level in Iyeta, the strength of the steel produced was limited. Forcing this rudimentary four-wheeled vehicle to elerate to ny kilometers per hour exceeded its capacity, leading directly to its dismantling.


    "Additionally, the design of the wheels is problematic. The two front wheels should be slightly smaller than the rear, which would aid in bnce. We can also add a steering axis and a crossbar to the front wheel, enabling steering, deceleration, and eleration..." Lynn continued with additional details.


    Philip and the others quickly brought out design drawings to jot down Lynn''s words, especially the aspects of steering and controlling speed, which were the subjects of their ongoing research.


    Lydia, in particr, admired Lynn''s eloquence. From crafting airships to devising internalbustion engines and now vehicle design, it seemed there wasn''t anything this Dean didn''t understand.


    "In a few days, I''ll organize some books rted to fluid mechanics, allpiled by the Society of Mystical Arts'' masters. If you have spare time, give them a read. You''ll find them useful," Lynn said, still excited.


    Philip and the others nodded, unaware of just how daunting fluid mechanics could be...


    "Dean Lynn, is it the hydrogen explosion you mentioned that powers the internalbustion engine?" Albert asked, puzzled.


    He couldn''t grasp how this internalbustion engine converted explosions into a vehicle''s driving force.


    "Yes, the internalbustion engine converts heat energy into mechanical energy, using the principle of gas expanding when heated to generate thrust..." Lynn exined the internalbustion engine''s principles asprehensively as possible to everyone present.


    Usually, this would be a highly ssified key technology. Yet, Lynn didn''t conceal it now; he was desperate for manpower. Improving the alchemical internalbustion engine required hands, designing new ironds required hands, researching gunpowder required hands...


    He wished he could split one person into two to have enough help! If anyone could understand andprehend, be it a wizard apprentice or a full-fledged wizard, even a regr person without magic, he''d grab them for research immediately, regardless of their status or treatment...


    "Is this chemistry?" Albert nodded knowingly, despite only grasping the general idea, recognizing the intricate design of the internalbustion engine.


    "No, this is chemistry coupled with physics!" Lynn chuckled.


    ...


    The experiment conducted within the Iyeta Academy spread across the Iyeta Harbor the next day, glorified by the Magic Daily.


    Everyone knew that under the city lord''s leadership, those wizard lords had devised an alchemical vehicle with four wheels. It didn''t just run as fast as the wind but didn''t need horses or camels; it moved on its own.


    Rumors soon turned increasingly oundish. ording to some exaggerated descriptions by students, the alchemical vehicle, apart from being fast, was a mighty weapon. They imed Philip had been fired off like an alchemical cannon, possessing astounding destructive power...


    These far-fetched rumors left Philip extremely embarrassed every time he was asked, unsure how to exin.


    As the news was carried by trading caravans into Grenrill along with the Magic Daily, it caused an enormous stir.


    Whether it was the maximum speed of ny kilometers per hour or the rumored efficiency of the alchemical internalbustion engine ten times higher than steam engines, it was all unbelievably astounding.


    The most unable to ept this were the wizards within the Alchemy Association, those dedicated to studying and improving steam engines.


    The first magic revolution they were nning, could it be ending before it even began?


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 Chapter 208: A New Era of Magic is Coming!

    Chapter 208: A New Era of Magic is Coming!


    "Perfect, truly a perfect creation!"


    In the square before the Alchemy Association in Greenreel, Grand Alchemist Dennis gazed at the steam-powered vehicle darting around, continuously emitting puffs of smoke, his expression utterly captivated.


    After years of relentless effort, he finally refined the sixth-generation alchemical steam engine, reducing its size by half while significantly enhancing its performance.


    "Have you tested its speed and load capacity?" Dennis turned to his apprentice standing nearby, inquiring.


    "Yes, Master Dennis! The average speed is approximately forty-five kilometers per hour! Alternatively, it can maintain half its speed while carrying a ten-ton load!" The witch who responded was thrilled, finding it hard to contain her excitement. This was undoubtedly a breakthrough!


    "Very good, exceptionally good!" Dennis nodded in satisfaction, though he held a hint of frustration within.


    Twenty years ago, when they initially created the steam engine, they faced considerable ridicule. The efficiency of the first version was terribly low, and the alchemical steam-powered vehicles they produced could only travel three to five kilometers per hour.


    ording to some, even a tortoise with a de of grass in front could outrun their alchemical vehicle!


    Compared to horses and camels, its only advantage was not needing food, drink, or rest, enabling it to work tirelessly all day. Butpared to the creatures summoned by adept sorcerers or the golems they crafted, it fell severely short!


    Despite theck of recognition for their research, Dennis never gave up. Through generations of refinement, he finally gained the Council''s acknowledgment, making the steam engine the primary propulsion for all modern ships.


    The next goal naturally aimed to recend transportation. His new steam-powered vehicles could tow up to ten tons of cargo, operating continuously, consuming only as much magical energy as an apprentice wizard per hundred kilometers!


    Dennis foresaw a magical revolution he would initiate, where billowing steam would permeate every corner of the wizarding world.


    It was a marvel created by alchemy and magica new magical era was on the horizon!


    As Dennis indulged in his fantasies, a flurry of panicked shouts echoed from the entrance.


    "Something''s wrong, Master Dennis!"


    "What''s happened?" Dennis, pulled from his reverie, looked annoyed at the jittery warlock.


    "Is the Council nning to shorten our deadline?"


    Dennis frowned. In preparation for a potential war, several councilors intended to purchase a hundred steam vehicles and refit all steamships, recing their internal power with thetest alchemical steam engines. Everything needed to bepleted within three months!


    This was an immensely challenging task, possibly unachievable even with a tight schedule. Surely, the war wasnt advancing earlier than anticipated?


    "No, it''s not that, Master Dennis..." The warlock hesitated, struggling to convey the news. "The entire Greenreel is abuzz about something. The Iyeta School has created something called an ''internalbustion engine.'' They''ve installed it in vehicles, reaching ny kilometers per hour, and they can evenunch wizards like alchemical cannons."


    "Nonsense!" Dennis eximed.


    Ny kilometers per hour? What concept was that?


    Even a fire lion''s maximum speed wasn''t much faster, and those beasts had to eat, drink, rest, and couldn''t maintain top speed indefinitely. Their development cycle also spanned decades, which gave Dennis confidence he could rece them.


    After all, the greatest advantage of alchemical instruments was their mass production capability!


    "But the newspapers say it''s Lord Lynn''s invention. Over a thousand people have witnessed it, iming it''s as fast as a gust of wind! And its thermal efficiency is ten times higher than the steam engine..." The warlock cautiously continued. "Rumors suggest the council is considering canceling the steam engine procurement."


    "Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Dennis asserted firmly.


    Ten times the efficiency of a steam engine?


    Dennis refused to believe such a thing!


    Although he hadn''t reached the limit of steam power, through generations of improvements, the steam engines produced were already quite perfect, reaching speeds of around forty kilometers per hour.


    Of course, if not considering factors like endurance and load capacity, the maximum speed could still be increased significantly. But it couldn''t possibly reach the terrifying speed of ny kilometers per hour.


    That was beyond magic!


    It must be false propaganda!


    Not only Dennis but also the members of the Alchemy Association found this rumor highly dubious.


    Most crucially, after investing so much effort in refining the steam engine, they were about to showcase its prowess, only to face potential obsolescence? How could they ept that?


    "I''m going to Iyeta right now! Immediately!" Dennis erupted, then shifted his gaze to the newlypleted steam vehicle.


    He not only intended to go but also to drive his hard-earned creation there. Dennis wanted to see for himself what this ''internalbustion engine'' was. iming to be ten times more efficient than the steam engine!


    Five dayster, at Iyeta Harbor...


    A peculiar-looking alchemical contraption slowly traversed the city''s thoroughfares, featuring a massive alchemical boiler at its rear, puffing steam rhythmically, attracting the attention of passersby. Many whispered, specting whether it was a new creation from the alchemical workshop.


    Seated in the vehicle, Dennis and hispanions wore somewhat grim expressions. Not because of the townsfolk''s discussions, but because after driving for some time, Dennis noticed another w in the vehicleits excessive jolting. Partly due to rough roads and partly inherent to the steam vehicle itself.


    "Wee to Iyeta Harbor, everyone!"


    As they entered Iyeta, Ondo, having received news, hurried over.


    In recent days, due to the rampant sales of the Magic Daily, numerous alchemists visited Iyeta to investigate. Without exception, all were diverted by Lynn.


    However, seeing Dennis arrive, Ondo felt a tad uneasy. He was aware that this alchemical master was the inventor of the steam engine. He was somewhat concerned if Dennis hade looking for trouble.


    Fortunately, Ondo soon noticed Master Raphael, who had a good rtionship with Lynn, among those in the steam vehicle, which alleviated his worry.


    "Come on in, my steam vehicle has just enough space for one more. You can guide us!" Dennis patted the empty seat beside him, deliberately vacated to let the Iyeta schrs experience thefort and convenience of his alchemical steam vehicle!


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 Chapter 209: I Once Destroyed Half a Harbor City with It!

    Chapter 209: I Once Destroyed Half a Harbor City with It!


    At Dennis''s enthusiastic invitation, Ondo quickly hopped aboard, only to experience the alchemical steam car''s fort" and "convenience." Yet, it was slow and jerky...


    The alchemical cars produced in the workshop had this quirk, but as Lord Lynn had mentioned, adding a tire to the wheels and smoothing the ground couldrgely alleviate the issue.


    "What''s that wheel over there?" Dennis wasn''t in a rush to ask about the internalbustion engine; instead, he pointed to a towering wheel in the distance, curious.


    The moment they entered Iyeta Harbor, he noticed ittowering over twenty meters, perpetually rotating.


    "That''s a water wheel used for irrigating farnds, something Lord Lynn cares deeply about regarding themon folk..." Ondo exined with a smile, having answered the same question countless times, making it second nature. Soon, he delved into the principles behind this contraption.


    Utilizing the inertia of water movement, it rotated spokes, lifting buckets filled with river water stage by stage. At the top, the buckets naturally tilted, pouring water into channels, ultimately irrigating the fields.


    "Utilizing nature''s own power... a sophisticated design!" Dennis nodded, impressed.


    "I heard the wizards of the Iyeta School created an alchemical contraption capable of reaching ny kilometers per hour. Is that true?" Raphael, seated nearby, was quick to inquire.


    His interest in Lynn''s new research was profound; hence, he took this ride, also representing the council to evaluate the internalbustion engine.


    "Absolutely true! In fact, there was another breakthrough just yesterdaythe maximum speed limit has been raised to a hundred and ten kilometers!" Ondo exined.


    A hundred and ten kilometers? Isn''t that increasingly far-fetched?


    Dennis frowned, suspicious of whether the other was exaggerating.


    Behind him, members of the alchemical society wore expressions of discontent. Before they could voice their objections, a sudden, violent explosion resonated.


    Like thunder striking, the ground seemed to tremble abruptly.


    "What''s happening? Could it be an earthquake?" Dennis instinctively said.


    Thend of wizards atop the sea was prone to asional earthquakes, the inspiration for vibration magic, though these elementalists hadn''t yet pinned down their source.


    But soon, Dennis realized it couldn''t be an earthquake; a thick plume of smoke billowed from a distance above the alchemical workshop''s residence.


    "Perhaps it''s some alchemical apparatus exploding..." a jovial alchemist remarked. Even the earliest steam engines faced boiler explosions.


    "No, it''s likely Dean Lynn experimenting with the power of gunpowder..." Ondo exined, rubbing his ears.


    Gunpowder?


    The onlookers were stunned.


    Only now did Dennis notice suchmotion; the townsfolk seemed unperturbed, as if they were ustomed to such events.


    Ondo refrained from further exnation; after all, his knowledge of the matter was limited, understanding it merely as another highly potent weapon.


    With myriad questions, Dennis and hispanions swiftly arrived at the open area in front of the alchemical workshop. Arge crowd had gathered here, and from afar, the terrain appeared pocked and sted by mes, resembling the aftermath of a bombardment.


    Lynn spotted the steam car arriving and led everyone in greeting.


    "Long time no see, Master Raphael!" Lynn immediately spotted Raphael disembarking and greeted him warmly.


    "It has indeed been a while, but I''ve heard plenty about you in Greenreel." Raphael smiled and then turned to introduce Lynn.


    "This is the inventor of the alchemical steam engine, Dennis."


    Lynn''s eyes lit up; someone who independently invented a steam engine was undoubtedly a talent!


    "It''s an honor to meet you, Master Dennis. Your steam engine is truly a revolutionary invention." Lynn extended his hand to Dennis, already contemting how to keep him in the harbor town.


    Dennis furrowed his brow, momentarily unsure if the other''s words were sarcastic or genuine.


    The members of the alchemical society behind him clearly perceived Lynn''s words as a provocation, their faces darkening instantly.


    One male wizard stepped forward, unwavering. "Lord Lynn, we came to Iyeta to see your internalbustion engine, to verify if it''s as miraculous as rumored..."


    "Of course, no problem, but please wait a moment. The final experiment of the day is about to conclude." Lynn casually nodded and then signaled to Darren, indicating thest experiment.


    Several dwarves immediately busied themselves, stuffing a heap of murky ''stones'' into wooden barrels. Then, they arranged many packaged phosphorus and gravel, stacking them hundreds of meters away.


    Darren''s movements were incredibly cautious; he understood the danger of this stuff.


    After cing the gunpowder and retreating to a safe distance, the dwarves'' expressions turned expectant, all gazing at Lynn.


    "Dean Lynn, may we proceed?" Lydia asked eagerly, pulling out a rocket and fixing it onto a specially crafted longbow.


    Lydia stood at about one meter three, wielding a longbow not muchrger, a somewhatical sight, but the innate strength of her race wasn''t a joke.


    The longbow was drawn taut like a full moon, aimed skyward. As the bowstring was released, a fiery arrow shot out, tracing a parab toward the distant barrels.


    The wizard onlookers instinctively covered their ears.


    What was happening?


    The alchemical society''s wizards were puzzled, but Dennis recalled the tremendous noise he''d heard moments ago.


    Simultaneously, the rocket prated the wooden boards, igniting the ck powder inside, exploding rapidly.


    Boom! As if thunder had struck nearby, an incandescent me soared into the sky, engulfing the surroundingnd. mes and debris flew as the target nearby shattered instantly.


    Dennis keenly felt the rush of heat enveloping them; his ears were ringing. When the smoke cleared, the grassy field before them had turned to scorched earth. Due to the mixture of phosphorus, the mes continued, almost turning the surroundings into a fiery sea...


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 Chapter 210: Knowledge and Truth Fear No Spread and Exchange!

    Chapter 210: Knowledge and Truth Fear No Spread and Exchange!


    "Such terrifying power..."


    Gazing at the spreading sea of fire before him, Dennis''s expression turned gravely serious. Although such an attack wasn''t much of a threat to grand wizards, it spelled near-certain doom for ordinary formal mages.


    The alchemists from the Society of Mystical Arts couldn''t help but show traces of horror on their faces. Their initially aggressive stance, aiming to confront Lynn, considerably softened in an instant.


    Raphael recalled encountering a type of alchemical powder that exploded upon contact with fire, but its destructive force paled inparison.


    "This is ck powder. I''ve used it to destroy half a seaport city," Lynn introduced proactively before anyone could inquire, shaking his head afterward. "But it''s a pity..."


    "A pity? How so?" Raphael hurriedly inquired. "Is it because the production costs are too high?"


    "No, the production of ck powder isn''tplicated," Lynn exined. "I mean, its power falls short!"


    The explosive power of ck powder, if devoid of fillers like white phosphorus, was actually quite limited, far inferior to TNT or ck cyclonite.


    "This falls short?" The expressions of those present turned rather peculiar. Was Lynn nning to set traps using this against the archbishop and the others?


    Meanwhile, Ondo and the rest eagerly discussed how to utilize the formidable destructive power of ck powder in warfare.


    "I know, I know!" Lydia waved her longbow, diverting everyone''s attention, brimming with confidence in her new idea. "We can fill alchemical carts with these ck ''stones'' and charge them into the crowds!"


    Raphael and the others nodded in agreement; it was indeed a good way to unleash its power.


    "A self-destructive cart, huh? You''re not aiming for terrorism, at least?" Lynn chuckled wryly. "Actually, it''s meant for mining!"


    This revtion left Raphael and the others astounded.


    They had just witnessed the power of the powder; it wasn''t weak, evenpared to magical crystal cannons. Yet Lynn intended to use it for mining?


    Lynn felt equally helpless. The primary issue guing the development of Iyeta Harbor was the insufficient output of various ores, especially steelthe foundation of all industry.


    Though there was an iron mine nearby Iyeta, the extraction efficiency was dismal. Relying solely on manpower wasn''t sufficient.


    Using wizardry to bombard the ores with me magic wasn''t a viable solution. Formal wizards were too precious; none would take up such a task. As for the wizard apprentices? That was out of the question.


    Thus, ck powder became the best choice. Moreover, considering the possibility of forming a gunpowder team or even a cannon teamter on.


    The testing of ck powder''s power, except for Lynn''s slight dissatisfaction, undeniably achieved resounding sess. Dennis soon witnessed thetest modlchemical four-wheeled carts fitted with internalbustion engines.


    The creators, led by Phillip, epitomized Lynn''s teachings, emphasizing saving materials to an extreme, adhering strictly to minimalism and pragmatism. If it could haul ores, it was good enough! This resulted in its rather crude appearancea steel-framed structure, starkly contrasting the adjacent splendid steam carriage.


    At first nce, the alchemists from the Society of Mystical Arts couldn''t help but show some disdain.


    "Is that it...? Just this?" However, after riding the four-wheeled cart around Iyeta''s roads for a week, feeling its extraordinary speed, everyone fell silent. Dennis, in particr, was despondent, realizing that his painstakingly researched achievements had be worthless. Decades of effort might have been in vain...


    "Lynn, could I take a look at the internalbustion engine''s blueprint?" an alchemist from the alchemy association asked with reluctance.


    He understood that such core technology wouldn''t be readily revealed.


    Lynn, who intended to involve people in the research, was generous, sending Ondo to fetch the design blueprint directly.


    As the blueprint was handed over, the alchemist''s hands trembled, unable to believe Lynn had easily handed over such a precious item.


    Dennis and the others couldn''t help but gather around.


    The blueprint was intricately detailed, delineating the internalponents and structure.


    Without Lynn''s exnation, the alchemists swiftly grasped the construction and function of each part of the internalbustion engine after a brief discussion.


    "This should be the piston, providing power just like a steam engine."


    "The operating principle resembles a steam engine; the difference lies in the internalbustion process of this apparatus. Is that what ''internalbustion'' means?"


    The initial steam engines could also be termed as externalbustion engines because thebustion process urred externally, using steam expansion to drive the piston, resulting in significant energy loss.


    However, an internalbustion engine was different. It restricted the entirebustion process inside the cylinder, exchanging air through an alchemical array and an exhaust port, naturally producing much more powerful propulsion than steam.


    "What a brilliant concept!" Dennis eximed with admiration. He pondered numerous improvements to steam engines but understood that no matter the enhancement, it would hardly match the efficiency of an internalbustion engine.


    "I''m curious, though. This alchemical internalbustion engine is a creation of your Iyeta school. Why are you willing to let us see the blueprints?" Dennis asked, puzzled.


    "I''ve always believed that knowledge and truth fear no barriers in spreading and exchanging!" Lynn calmly replied. "An individual''s power and wisdom are too minuscule. Even if one specializes in a field, they may never witness its limits throughout their lifetime..."


    "Magic theory requires innovation. If everyone clings to their schools'' views, I doubt the wizarding world would have the vibrant magic systems we see today."


    There was another aspect Lynn didn''t mentionafter all, the internalbustion engine was just outdated technology in his eyes, something to be shared openly.


    Hearing Lynn''s words, the alchemists from the association were deeply moved.


    As researchers and inventors of steam engines, they fiercely guarded this unique alchemical technology. They never allowed wizards from other schools to dismantle or study rted devices, considering it tant theft!


    Though they couldn''tpletely stop the leakage of technology in the end...


    Yet Lynn disregarded the barriers between schools, directly sharing the core blueprints with them. What a broad-minded approach...


    At this point, Dennis felt a tinge of shame...


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 Chapter 211: Is There Anything Stronger than This Alchemical Instrument?

    Chapter 211: Is There Anything Stronger than This Alchemical Instrument?


    "Dennis, do you want to take a look at the construction of this alchemical quadriga next? We''ve just added steering, eleration, and deceleration functions. It''s a fascinating stroke of ingenuity," Lynn spoke up once more.


    Lynn''s words were like whispers of the devil, constantly teasing Dennis''s mind because these were precisely the issues he was grappling with but hadn''t resolved yet.


    However, in the end, he shook his head, looking at the group of absent-minded school wizards, sighing. "No, there''s no need to look further. Let''s head back."


    Dennis knew well that he was a failure both in invention and in his research approach. Continuing theparison would only deepen his despair.


    "Lynn, please trust me, the technology regarding the internalbustion engine will never leak from us!" Dennis assured, very serious.


    Though the other party imed not to care aboutmunication and dissemination, Dennis understood the significance of internalbustion engine technology. It was a power that could revolutionize the magical world.


    "Since this path leads nowhere, why not change tracks?" Lynn''s voice echoed once more.


    Dennis paused, naturally understanding the hidden meaning in those words: to rope them into the research of the alchemical internalbustion engine.


    Dennis was once again surprised by Lynn''s open attitude towards alchemical research, his expression bing hesitant. He couldn''t shake off the feeling of discord within him since he had initially approached this with apetitive mindset...


    "I think a war that will engulf the entire wizarding realm is looming. From the attitudes of several councilors, the situation doesn''t seem optimistic," Lynn solemnly expressed.


    "No doubt, it''s a crisis for the entire magical world! The time left for us is limited, and the application of the alchemical internalbustion engine is still in its infancy. We need more people to join in, to strive for every bit of advantage!"


    Dennis was somewhat moved. After all, Lynn was right. The Church would eliminate them all, regardless of their faction.


    "Moreover, I believe the internalbustion engine is far from its limit. There will definitely be better, more concise methods to utilize this power. We just haven''t found them yet..." Lynn added.


    "Do you really think there''s something more powerful than it?" Dennis was rather surprised. In his view, this type of internalbustion engine was already near perfection, almost limitless, requiring only more intense heat, stronger explosions to yield even more powerful energy.


    It could be said that the only limitation to its performance was the material issue...


    "Of course, I firmly believe so!" Lynn nodded confidently, then chuckled. "Before the internalbustion engine appeared, didn''t you also believe steam was the answer to everything?"


    "You''re right; there''s no end to magical research." Dennis nodded, no longer hesitating, immediately agreeing to participate as an external member in the development and improvement of the alchemical internalbustion engine.


    The wizards of the Alchemy Association didn''t object. They had devoted half their lives to steam engine research, only to find it obsolete. Channeling their relevant experience into the study of internalbustion engines could give some value to their past efforts.


    Having sessfully convinced another group of researchers, Lynn was overjoyed. This meant he could free up the alchemists originally researching the internalbustion engine to explore other technologies, such as firearms and cannons...


    ---


    The following week, the entire harbor city was bustling with energy. ording to the townspeople, something novel seemed to emerge almost every other day.


    For instance, water wheels erected by the riverside that automatically irrigated farnds, or alchemical vehicles faster than the wind. Wizards even came up with something called a "textile machine" using magic to make clothes.


    Mary was certain of this because a few of her friends had entered the weaving workshop. It was said that a person could weave hundreds of meters of fabric in a single day.


    Wasn''t this magic?


    However, to earn more silver coins, Mary chose to enter the ss workshop instead.


    It was like a furnace inside, enclosed with billowing steam. Workers poured piles of fine sand into the smelting furnace, and the wizards added a mysterious powder. Then, under some peculiar force, these grains would transform into a "transparent crystal."


    It wasn''t an easy job. Burns on the arms weremon for the less skilled workers. But nobodyined because this work paid a handsome reward of twelve silver coinsa gleaming currency representing hope.


    All workshops were continuously expanding, employing a total of over four thousand people.


    In the nearly two months since returning to Harbor Town, Lynn experienced what it was like to spend money freely...


    Based on an average of ten silver coins per worker per month, that amounted to a total expenditure of four hundred magic gold coins.


    However, this was just the least of all expenses. The real bulky in constructing various factories and paying wages to the wizards...


    Lynn was somewhat worried; would this outflow of money cause intion in Harbor Town?


    Fortunately, the town''s productivity was rapidly increasing, and in the short term, it didn''t cause significant price hikes...


    The seventh night soon arrived, with a huge full moon hanging high in the sky, casting radiant moonlight.


    "It''s Monday!" Lynn gazed at the sky''s immacte moon, his expression bing somewhat profound. It meant he had been here for a full year.


    The phases of the moon, waxing and waning, were just astronomical phenomena caused by the satellite orbiting and reflecting sunlight.


    Simrly, every month had a full moon. But only during the annual Monday did the Silver Moon shine the brightest, apanied by the restlessness of magic.


    After a year, Lynn once again felt this unique sensation, intensified this time, as the magical energy within him vibrated like boiling water, uncontrobly dispersing around...


    However, Lynn''s expression remained calm. He closed his eyes, feeling the gradually strengthening power within his body. After about an hour, he reached the peak, as if breaking through some sort of restraint.


    After months of umtion, coupled with the surge of magical power on Monday, Lynn smoothly advanced from a second-tier wizard to a third-tier wizard. But bing a grand wizard next wouldn''t be as easy.


    Just like the transition from wizard apprentice to a full-fledged wizard, it was a qualitative change!


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 Chapter 212: "True Reflection" and "Advanced Projection Art"

    Chapter 212: "True Reflection" and "Advanced Projection Art"


    After a brief period of difort, Lynn swiftly calmed the restless magic with the surge in his spiritual power.


    "071, disy my current status," Lynn muttered in his mind, setting a temte based on the townsfolk and wizards he had encountered as a standard.


    It helped recreate his condition to a certain extent.


    [Agreement Target: Lynn


    Physical Activity: High


    Magic Scale: 92


    Spiritual Power Rating: Three-ring wizard


    Spell Rank: [Fireball], [me Touch], [Icy de], [Minor-Magic Shield], [High-Temperature Steam Kill], [Liquid Nitrogen - Icy Domain], [Magic Barrier], [Minor-Deflection Field]...


    Fourth Ring: [Deflection Field], [Spatial Vibrations], [Advanced Projection Art].]


    Each magic scale was equivalent to a standard magic stone, capable of releasing oneplete ring of magic.


    Someone like Peirce, a wizard apprentice, had a magic scale of four, while a formal wizard usually operated with over ten scales of magic.


    However, the magic used in spells wasn''t fixed. Using pre-prepared materials or employing alchemical tools significantly reduced magic consumption. That''s why even apprentice wizards could cast spells consecutively.


    For instance, to employ [Liquid Nitrogen - Icy Domain], covering a radius of about three meters, theoretically required twelve magic scales.


    As the air itself was rich in nitrogen, Lynn didn''t need to spend magic to mimic the element, reducing consumption to around five scales.


    Moreover, in an overloaded state, most of theputational power and magic during casting were borne by the brain interface, allowing Lynn to utilize it even before bing a formal wizard.


    After all, this spell was derived from a first-ring magic, [me Touch], making it rtively easy to learn.


    Aside from enhancing his magic, amidst tinkering with internalbustion engines and gunpowder technology, Lynn hadn''t neglected his magical studies. Especially the book he obtained from Aurora, "Visual Maniption and Magical Illusions," had be nearly worn out from his constant perusal.


    Within this tome of illusionary magic, various spells manipting sight were recorded. What intrigued Lynn most were the legendary seven-ring spell, "True Reflection," and its subsidiary four-ring spell, "Advanced Projection Art"!


    The former was beyond his current capabilities and magical reserves, so his focus shifted to mastering "Advanced Projection Art."


    With the enhancement from the magicwork, he could barely learn and wield a four-ring spell, albeit at a considerable cost of magic.


    The operation of "Advanced Projection Art" resembled the projection used by the Faceless in the magical realm but with increasedplexity, involving the maniption of light and requiring a specific medium.


    For instance, Aurora, the legendary witch, manipted magic effortlessly. She once set up a spell on his forehead with a mere kiss, using an ordinary ss mirror as a medium for the projection, subtly releasing the spell without detection.


    Contemting the application of this four-ring spell, Lynn nced towards the direction of the Misty Sea.


    After Monday, fleets arriving at Iyeta Harbor from the outside world soon came.


    Unlike previous years, only an empty shell of the Mist enveloped the sea this time. It was undoubtedly the most perilous time for the entire harbor city. Lynn hoped nothing untoward would ur...


    Five days after Monday, several merchant ships adorned with red gs slowly sailed into Iyeta''s harbor. Dozens of dockworkers unloaded bags of ores, precious herbs, leather, and other goods, piling them up on the docks.


    A middle-aged man in a deep blue robe, sporting a goatee, descended from the deck and warmly greeted, "Long time no see, Lord Ondo..."


    "It has indeed been a while." Ondo extended his hand and gave the man''s sturdy arm a pat, responding with a smile. Then, he hurriedly introduced Lynn. "This is Cody, one of Mr. William''s most trusted confidants!"


    Lynn nodded. William was one of the three spokespersons Herlram sought outside, akin to Lame Loude, responsible for rying external information and transporting scarce materials.


    "And this one is..." Ondo turned to Cody, intending to praise Lynn, but was stopped by Lynn''s gesture.


    "Just call me Lynn!"


    "Lynn, my lord!" Cody greeted respectfully, showing no hint of disdain despite Lynn''s youthful appearance. Anyone standing beside Ondo was obviously a wizard, someone not to be offended.


    "What goods have you brought this time..." Lynn nced at the workers transporting the goods and inquired.


    "Mostly copper and silver ores, alongside some magical beast leather and rare magical herb materials..." Cody answered respectfully.


    Lynn nodded. Despite numerous mines in the wizardnds, after over three hundred years of excavation, mining had be increasingly difficult, making copper, silver, and goldoften used as daily currencyextremely scarce.


    However, from today onwards, even iron ore might be scarce due to its insufficient supply.


    While great wizards could manipte metal elements using magic, fundamentally, these remained magical and couldn''t rece actual ores.


    "Additionally, Lord William found a miraculous maite that can lift iron tools out of thin air, much like magic." Cody presented a palm-sized [Maic Stone] to Lynn, trying to please the wizards.


    He had prepared two, intending to give the other one to Master Herlram.


    "Maic ore?" Lynn immediately showed interest, taking it in his hand.


    "Have you seen something like this before, my lord?" Cody''s expression shifted slightly. This novel trinket was specially prepared to impress the wizards.


    Lynn, restraining the impulse to immediately fashion apass, continued his questioning. "Cody, was your voyage smooth this time? How''s William doingtely? Any movement from the clergy?"


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 Chapter 213: The Kingdom perched atop the Mines!

    Chapter 213: The Kingdom perched atop the Mines!


    "Lord William, everything''s fine. It seems the Holy See hasn''t caught wind of our navigation issue, but..." Cody hesitated, a shade of concern shing across his face.


    "The mist this year seems rather peculiar..."


    This wasn''t Cody''s first time ferrying goods to Iyeta Harbor. Previously, this stretch of sea was a ship''s no-go zone. Once you delved into the mist, visibility dropped to less than two meters. Sailing for extended periods, one could forget their bearings at times.


    But this voyage was entirely different. Though the fog persisted, visibility extended to five meters,cking the eerie depth and terror of previous times.


    Cody nced at Lynn. Ever since their voyagemenced, a spection lingered in his mind. Could it be an issue in the Wizard''s Realm?


    "The Council of Mages recently refined this magic. It''s still in the trial phase. Your experiences will shape its future improvements," Lynn casually exined, withholding any news about the disruption of the ''Mist of Disorientation.''


    Despite this knowledge being confined to the wizardry realm, outwardly, the narrative med the shameless Holy See for sending agents to sabotage the realm and cause chaos in the city of Greenreel.


    This narrative would stoke the wizards'' fury, prepare for war, and prevent any traitors from sneaking out by ship.


    Cody half-believed Lynn''s words but still recounted everything he had seen and felt.


    Is it this serious? Lynn''s expression remained unchanged, but doubts lingered in his mind.


    Despite knowing the insider information, Lynn hadn''t anticipated this vast difference. Cody had sensed something amiss shortly after entering the mist.


    This isn''t good news...


    Amid their conversation, avishly adorned alchemical carriage approached from a distance, quickly docking at the pierthe very one brought by Dennis.


    However, it had undergone modifications, its power system reced with a more efficient hydrogen-based internalbustion engine.


    Cody and a few representatives of the shipworkers were fortunate to experience the novelty and marvel of the carriage.


    "No beasts to pull it. How does it move?" Cody, extremely awkward, unsure where to ce his hands, dared not touch the handle or the carriage itself, asked cautiously.


    "Through alchemy and magic, of course!" Ondoughed.


    On the distant horizon, a massive airship soared over the city, eliciting continuous exmations from the shipworkers.


    The changes in Iyeta were immense. Cody almost doubted whether he had arrived in another wizard''s city, even though it had only been a year since hisst visit.


    "Are these all Master Herlram''s creations?" Cody marveled, hesitating with his query.


    Herlram was known as the most powerful wizard, rumored to freeze seas and shatter mountains...


    "No, unfortunately, Master Herlram sacrificed himself a few months ago, handling an internal conflict..." Ondo said with a somber tone.


    Herlram''s demise hit Cody and others like a heavy blow, inducing dizziness and an intense unease. Hastily, he inquired, "Then who leads Iyeta now?"


    Ondo immediately turned to Lynn, expressing with utmost respect, "The person before you is the current leader of the Iyeta Sect, Lord Lynn!"


    Cody gaped at Lynn, who seemed barely twenty, almost suspecting Ondo was joking.


    So young, really?


    He did sense Lynn''s exceptional status earlier but had presumed the person to be either a wizard''s heir or a highly esteemed apprentice, never the current controller of Iyeta.


    "Lord Lynn, though young, possesses extraordinary magical talent. He''s also the recipient of the Sun Crown Medal. The airship you witnessed and the power system of this carriage are all Lord Lynn''s inventions..."


    Seemingly aware of Cody''s thoughts, Ondo continued to heap praise upon Lynn, citing his achievements at magical symposiums and resolving crises with the Doomsday Sect in Greenreel...


    For Cody, it was all a haze. He didn''tprehend magical symposiums or the honor of the Sun Crown Medal, but the colossal airship and the carriage speeding like the wind left an indelible impression.


    Moreover, Cody was astonished to notice everyone on the streets brimming with vitality, even the modestly dressed poor.


    This was an unfamiliar sight in the Kingdom of Hadrta, where people wore expressions of numbness and despair.


    Previous Iyeta never had such bustle and noise...


    Cody quickly realized that the current ruler of Iyeta was a formidable, talented, and young wizard.


    Throughout the journey, Lynn had been observing Cody''s reactions.


    William was personally chosen by Herlram as the spokesperson, and Cody was the trusted confidant. For more than a decade, the secrets of the Wizard''s Realm hadn''t leaked, indicating their loyalty.


    But this loyalty was to Herlram. Lynn wasn''t certain if, with a change in leadership, they might harbor ulterior motives.


    Hence, he had the alchemical carriage, the facade of Iyeta, brought over intentionally, taking Cody on a tour within the harbor city. All to show that under his leadership, the Iyeta Sect remained mighty!


    However, Lynn hadn''t divulged anything about gunpowder or other critical technologies. After the tour, he ushered Cody into the Dean''s office, probing...


    Hadrta was one of the subsidiary kingdoms under the rule of the Sekas Empire, situated in the empire''s border regions, hailed as the kingdom perched atop the mines.


    Within Hadrta''s bordersy extremely rich mineral resources and a poption of nearly two million. Almost a quarter of the popce were ''miners'' or, rather, mining serfs.


    It was through the ceaseless toil of these mining serfs in dark and perilous mines that the aristocrats of the region could continuously ship ores to the empire''s capital, Vikneil, reaping substantial profits.


    On the surface, William engaged in the ore trade, owning his fleet. This allowed him to ndestinely redirect some trade ships suddenly towards the Wizard''s Realm...


    The text underwent significant changes to enhance rity, coherence, and readability while incorporating the urately tranted names and adjusting the punctuation, grammar, and phrasing. The narrative now flows more smoothly, distinguishing characters and their actions, allowing for a clearer understanding of the unfolding events in this vibrant and magical world.


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 Chapter 214: Cody: You Must Be the Greatest Wizard!

    Chapter 214: Cody: You Must Be the Greatest Wizard!


    A kingdom perched atop the mountains, huh?


    Lynn''s interest was piqued instantly because what Iyeta Harborcked most right now were all sorts of ores.


    "Now, who''s in charge of the Hadrta Kingdom?" Lynn inquired.


    "It''s the old king, Bazeel-Hadrta III..." Cody began to exin.


    ording to the intelligence they gathered, it seemed this King Bazeel''s health wasn''t too robusttely, coupled with his advanced age, it was estimated he wouldn''tst much longer.


    However, for some unknown reason, this old king hadn''t named an heir to the throne yet. Currently, the two highest-profile princes were at loggerheads, causing upheaval throughout the kingdom...


    "So, there''s a possibility of a session war erupting within the kingdom?" Lynn pondered.


    "Not necessarily, it depends on the deration of the Archbishop..." Cody cautiously responded.


    Rumors even circted within the kingdom suggesting that the Archbishop, dissatisfied with the old king''s choices, deliberately dyed the process.


    Lynn nodded, then inquired further about the recent developments regarding William''s fleet before waving Cody and the others off to rest.


    Once Cody and hispanions left, Ondo spoke up. "Dean Lynn, are you quite interested in this Hadrta Kingdom?"


    Lynn smiled and asked, "What do you think Iyetacks most at the moment?"


    "It should be time..." Ondo hesitated for a moment before responding. "True, but it''s alsocking ores andbor... things that the Hadrta Kingdom possesses," Lynn exined.


    Additionally, Cody and the others'' seafaring experiences had revealed more vulnerabilities within the Misty Sea than he had imagined.


    Over two months ago, when they had just returned to Iyeta, he had sent people to confirm.


    At that time, the mist at sea had only slightly weakened, visibility had improved from two meters to three. Lynn had initially thought it was due to Victorio''s timely intervention, but now it seemed the legendary magic that had been lifted had yet to entirely dissipate.


    The magical energy once shrouded within the white mist was gradually dispersing. In the future, it might be noticeable even from afar with the naked eye.


    Lynn didn''t intend to sit idly by, waiting for the clergy toe knocking. If that happened, Iyeta Harbor would be the first to suffer because it was the gateway to thend of wizards. In times of peace, this geographical location was highly advantageous, yet in times of war, it could easily be the focal point of attacks.


    The best solution was to shift the battleground elsewhere, like the Hadrta Kingdom.


    Not only did it have the resources they needed, but the potential session war within the kingdom, the dispute between the clergy and the king... all were excellent entry points.


    More importantly, there were many oppressed individuals there, signifying numerous potential allies.


    "So, you n to interfere in this session war and support someone willing to support the wizards as the king?" Ondo asked in astonishment, thinking it wouldn''t be an easy task.


    Lynn neither nodded nor shook his head. Perhaps it was a decent strategy, but understanding the country''s current situation was crucial before making a decision.


    Of course, it would also require discussions with the council.


    "Oh, by the way, isn''t Master Dennis currently working on improving the airships?" Lynn suddenly remembered, asking about it. He intended to enhance the efficiency of cargo transportation, hence diverting Dennis and the others'' focus towards airship modifications.


    "It should be done in another two days. That airship seems evenrger than a dragon, packed with an entire alchemy workshop." Ondo reminisced, portraying it as a fortress in the sky.


    ...


    Cody spent two leisurely days within the harbor city, witnessing its novelty and prosperity.


    Especially paper and ss - at first nce, Cody sensed the immense value thesemodities held.


    He had no doubt that the nobles would go crazy for them! This dazzling, translucent ss was akin to an artificially manufactured gem, symbolizing a continuous source of wealth.


    The shipworkers, on the other hand, were particrly enticed by the work in Iyeta Harbor that paid eight to fifteen silver coins per month. Considering they risked their lives on ships and only received three or four silver coins as wages each month, the jealousy of the underprivileged and miners in the harbor city burned brightly.


    On the evening of the second day, Cody received another summons from the esteemed Dean. As soon as Lynn spoke, his words astonished him.


    "From now on, the trade route between Hadralta and Iyeta will change from once a year to every month, or even every half-month!"


    "But, Dean, there are often storms and whirlpools in the Misty Sea; only Mondays are rtively safe." Cody cautiously reminded, deeply skeptical if the new city lord had forgotten about this fact.


    "You needn''t worry about that. I don''t intend for you to travel by ship," Lynn reassured with a smile.


    Not travel by ship? Then how would they cross the Misty Sea?


    Cody waspletely puzzled.


    Fly? Was that even possible?


    Only after following Lynn and the others to the alchemy workshop did Cody realize they really intended to fly.


    Before him stood a colossal craft, a hundred meters in length, entirely blue with runes covering its surface, exuding an air of mystique.


    "This is thetest model of an aerial skyship capable of carrying ten tons of cargo, flying steadily above four thousand meters, with a speed ranging from seventy to a hundred and twenty kilometers per hour..." With each word Lynn spoke, Cody and the rest became more astounded, feeling their minds were insufficient toprehend.


    Flying at four thousand meters, a speed of a hundred and twenty kilometers per hour, and carrying ten tons of cargo? What did that even mean?


    It meant they could transport various goods, reach the capital of Hadralta from this harbor city in a single day, bypassing whirlpools and sea storms, and conduct a trade...


    It was simply insane!


    Considering the entire process they previously had to endure -nd carriage followed by a sea voyage, which usually took more than half a month...


    Now, just a day!


    Cody looked at Lynn, his face brimming with deep respect, unable to hold back his words.


    "You must be the greatest wizard..."


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 Chapter 215: The Invisible Hydro-Powered Strategic Bomber Airship?!

    Chapter 215: The Invisible Hydro-Powered Strategic Bomber Airship?!


    Faced with Cody''s praise, Lynn remained unmoved, shaking her head.


    "I can''t bear such a title. In thend of wizards, there are plenty who are stronger and greater than I am."


    "Don''t say that, Lord Lynn. Your contributions in the history of magic are remarkable," Ondo quickly chimed in,ying it on thick.


    Lynn smiled, choosing not to respond. Compared to those who truly pioneered magical theories without relying on cheating with knowledge from a past life, they were the real greats. They were the ones who started from scratch, exploring and expanding the entire magical world.


    "I have one more question!" Cody hesitated. "This airship is sorge, how will it avoid detection by the Archbishop?"


    Flying high in the sky would be fine since it''s a tiny dot, but once itnds, it bes conspicuous, impossible to hide.


    "We''ve considered this!" Philip grinned, gesturing.


    A wizard in charge of the airship''s control immediately activated a prizing magic.


    Under everyone''s gaze, the colossal airship stretching a hundred meters slowly turned illusory, soon disappearing before their eyes.


    Watching Cody and the bewildered crew, as the designer of this sky-bound airship along with Dennis and the others, Lynn felt a sense of pride across their faces.


    To push all data to its limits, they had put in quite some effort, especially into this invisibility function, wracking their brains.


    Hiding an entire airship wasn''t an easy task. Ordinary prizing magic couldn''t achieve it. To enhance the magic''s power, they applied invisible beast''s secretion on the airship''s surface.


    This magical creature had a peculiar ability. Its skin could change color based on the surroundings, perfectly blending into the environment, lurking in the shadows to attack prey.


    However, the airship''s size was no small matter. They bought up most of the invisible beast''s secretion avable in the market just to cover this airship''s surface.


    "I''ll name it the ''Invisible Sky Fortress''!" Dennis said, incredibly satisfied.


    An invisible, hydrogen-powered strategic bombing airship?


    A string of terms shed in Lynn''s mind. She had heard Dennis had found a solution to the issue of the airship''srge size, but she didn''t expect the solution to be this direct.


    If it''s not visible, it won''t be exposed! She could only say... Dennis truly lived up to being an alchemy master!


    Lynn thought to herself, then instructed someone to bring the goods of this trade.


    The main items were ssware...


    Upon examining them, Cody immediately noticed most of these ss products had bubbles, quite different from the finished products he had seen in Iyeta.


    "Lord Chancellor, aren''t these all defective?" Cody puzzledly asked.


    "We need these defects to highlight the value of the finished products, don''t we?" Lynn chuckled.


    Due to the novices working in the ss workshop, they always produced many defective items during casting. Melting and recasting them was troublesome; they just had some air bubbles, still perfectly usable.


    So, Lynn decided to categorize these ss products into different grades: low, medium, and high.


    For example, a set of ssware with air bubbles could sell for seven silver coins, while those without bubbles could easily fetch ten times the price!


    This way, they could earn from every ss and sell at high prices, satisfying some wealthy nobles'' sense of superiority.


    It was a win-win situation!


    Being able to exchange a small amount of goods for arge amount of coins, then converting these coins into ores to transport to Iyeta Harbor, created a positive cycle.


    The various wizards present were stunned by Lynn''s overly advanced economic concept. Cody, too, was surprised to learn about the deliberate sale of defective products.


    However, only monopolized items like ssware could pull this off.


    "By the way, the airship''s cabin can only carry twenty-five people at a time. We also need crew to fly the airship and handle subsequent maintenance. By tomorrow, you can select fifteen representatives responsible for transporting this batch of goods," Lynn reminded.


    Only fifteen spots avable... Cody became hesitant. They had brought a whopping hundred and fifty people to transport this cargo. Deciding who stayed and who left was a serious matter.


    Lynn patted Cody''s shoulder, advising him to think it over slowly, while familiarizing himself with the airship. Lynn then headed back to the Chancellor''s office, summoning Loude.


    "Lord Lynn!" Nearly four months had passed, and Loude, being summoned by Lynn again, immediately bowed deeply, the kind of bow that touched the ground, shouting excitedly.


    "What are you doing?" Lynn helped Loude up, asking, bemused.


    Loude immediately beganmenting. Ever since Lynn went to the wizard city of Greenreel four months ago, it seemed like they had been forgotten. He had been waiting endlessly, unable to get any news.


    Finally, when Lynn returned, thetter had be a magical star, the actual controller of the Iyeta School.


    Loude was ecstatic, feeling like he had bet right once again!


    But just when he fantasized about skyrocketing, he couldn''t get Lynn''s audience. He sent people several times to inquire but received responses that the Lord was busy.


    This made Loude wonder if he had lost his value and been discarded.


    Theborers who had been following him had lost their patience during these months of waiting. Most had either entered the workshop or simply went into mining.


    There was no choice. When people lost hope, it became difficult to lead them...


    If it weren''t for a faint hope lingering in his heart, Loude was considering learning textile technology. He heard that working in a textile workshop was rtively easy and paid well.


    Listening to Loude''s ment,'' Lynn felt a bit awkward. During this time, Lynn had been busy handling various matters and finding time to study magic.


    However, that couldn''t be said outright. Lynn cleared their throat, interrupting Loude''s ment,'' sighing.


    "In the past few months, I''ve been nning something very important. I wanted to assign it to you, but it''s quite risky, so I''ve been hesitating to summon you..."


    "Lord Lynn, what is it?" Loude immediately straightened up, nervously asking. If even this Chancellor found it dangerous, he wouldn''t readily agree.


    "I need you to do two things. First, gather intelligence in the kingdom of Hadrta. Second, monitor William and find out if he has any ill intentions. If so, ''rece'' him..." Lynn spoke solemnly.


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 Chapter 216: Lydia - The Firearm Is Complete!

    Chapter 216: Lydia - The Firearm Is Complete!


    "I understand, Lord Lynn," Lame Loude said with a serious expression.


    Though both matters were challenging, he knew that demonstrating enough value was crucial to regain trust, power, and recognition.


    "However..." Lame Loude''s expression changed after his reassurances. He looked at Lynn eagerly. "William has been operating in the Kingdom of Hadrta for years, with a stable influence. Given the current resources and manpower of the ''Ship Gang,'' it might be challenging to infiltrate in a short time..."


    Lame Loude cautiously pointed out the necessity for both people and funds! Yet, even with both, achieving this wasnt going to be a walk in the park.


    "You needn''t worry about those. I''ve arranged it all," Lynn said with a smile.


    He wasn''t certain about the extent of William''s influence, but he knew these 150 individuals sent to thend of the sorcerers were undoubtedly his confidants, considering the covert nature of their mission.


    That''s why Lynn, citing the limited capacity of the airship per trip, chose to leave the majority in Iyeta Harbor, nning to send them back in batches during future cargo shipments.


    During this time, he intended to subtly influence some among these hundred-plus individuals, using enticements of interest or even magic, turning them into his eyes and ears to watch over William.


    They were bound to gather a wealth of information about William and the Kingdom of Hadrta...


    As Lynn continued exining, Lame Loude shivered inexplicably, recalling the time in the Secas Empire when a youth easily plucked him from hiding, single-handedly defeating the Archbishop and thousands of elite guards.


    It was then that Lame Loude realized he couldn''t afford to oppose such a person.


    Too cunning and too dreadful...


    "Also, take this!" Lynn removed the "Ring of Secrets" from his finger and handed it to Lame Loude.


    Perplexed, Lame Loude took it, recognizing it as a magical item but unaware of its function.


    "You can use it tomand the sorcerers I''ve sent. It''s also enchanted with protective magic to ensure your safety when necessary," Lynn exined.


    That magic was none other than the fourth-tier spell he had recently masteredAdvanced Projection Magic! It meant he could monitor the other sides movements and, if needed, manifest there directly as a conscious projection, thanks to the ring''s mediation of magical power.


    Naturally, when facing some bishops or official sorcerers, it worked well, but against an Archbishop, it might be challenging.


    A projection couldnt establish a mental connection through the magic web...


    Lame Loude solemnly slipped the ring onto his finger. "Lord Lynn, rest assured, I will swiftlyplete the tasks you''ve assigned!"


    With everything arranged by the other party, there wasnt much to worry about...


    After handing Lame Loude 500 Imperial gold coins from the exchange office as reserve funds, Lynn waved him off, signaling to gather the manpower promptly for departure the next day.


    Lame Loude bid a respectful farewell, while Lynn took out the map obtained from Cody and started examining it.


    The Kingdom of Hadrta stood at the border of the Secas Empire, nestled by mountains and the sea. It was merely 1,500 kilometers away in a straight line from Iyeta Harbor. Therefore, the airship could reach there in less than half a day without heavy cargo.


    For a regr ship, it would take around ten days.


    This made Lynn particrly concerned about William. Given the critical moment, if they were unprepared and William, due to Herlrams demise, harbored undesirable thoughts of siding with the Holy See, the consequences would be dire...


    So, it was best to prepare in advance.


    But being an amiable person, Lynn still granted William a chance.


    He intentionally had Cody disy their power in Iyeta Harbor for a few days and offered ss products trade as an incentive. All to convey the message that sticking with him would reap far greater benefits than before!


    If thisbination failed and William persisted in covert actions, well, then there might be a need for a ''recement''!


    ...


    The next morning, at the alchemy workshop of Iyeta Academy, Lynn, Phillip, and Ondo watched as the colossal airship ascended into the sky and drifted away.


    This spectacr sight drew the attention of passersby. Airships weren''t an umon sight, but this one was just massive.


    "Master Dennis, how have you been during your time in Iyeta?" Lynn turned to Dennis, inquiring.


    "Very good, veryfortable!" Master Dennis nodded contentedly.


    Initially, he felt a bit out of ce, but Lynn''s blueprints quickly captured his interest. He delved wholeheartedly into research, especially regarding the magical trains and armored warships, which fascinated him immensely.


    "That''s good to hear!"


    Lynn smiled but then grew more solemn, asking Ondo, "The cargo ship from Viel still hasn''t arrived? It''s been almost half a month sincest Monday, hasn''t it?"


    "Going by our usual schedule, it should''ve arrived already." Ondo seemed puzzled but quickly offered constion.


    "In previous years, simr situations urred. Viel is the capital of the Secas Empire after all. Smuggling goods isnt easy, especially if the Holy See or the Empire has intensified inspectionstely. They might have temporarily abandoned this shipment."


    "Is there a way to contact them?" Lynn asked again.


    Ondo hesitated, shaking his head. Previously, Master Herlram might have had a method, but he hadnt shared it with them.


    Though Lynn was concerned, he had to relent. Viel wasnt like Hadrta, being the most powerful ce after the Holy City in terms of the Holy See''s influence. Recklessly sending someone for investigation might backfire.


    With this worry, Lynn returned to the magical workshop, where he promptly received some good news.


    "Dean Lynn, we''vepleted those firearms you mentioned!" Lydia practically bounced in, holding a rifle taller than herself, engraved with intricate patterns, and presented it to Lynn.


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 Chapter 217: Technology Firearms and Magical Bullets

    Chapter 217: Technology Firearms and Magical Bullets


    "Nice, pretty swift," Lynn remarked, ruffling Lydia''s head in encouragement before carefully examining the finely crafted firearm he had received.


    What Lydia and the others had researched and crafted was, in fact, a flintlock gun!


    Compared to earlier matchlock and wheellock firearms, the flintlock possessed several advantages: rapid firing, lightweight, smaller caliber, shorter barrel, and reduced recoil, avoiding dampness issues during rainy weather.


    It was quite a perfected firearm. Invented by a clockmaker in the early 16th century, it had been highly praised and only gradually reced by the 19th century.


    While more advanced percussion guns were possible, their ammunition required primer loading, which didn''t suit the current magical industrial standards of Iyeta for mass production.


    The flintlock, on the other hand, fired with just lead bullets at a low cost!


    "Dean Lynn, what''s this? Some new alchemical apparatus?" Dennis inquired, surprised, as he couldn''t sense any magical traces on it.


    "No, it''s a form of technological creation, yet to undergo magical modification," Lynn exined, somewhat expectantly. "Let''s go and test its power!"


    Under Lynn''s guidance, the group swiftly arrived at the training ground, rows of wooden dummies used for magical training standing as prime targets.


    "I''ll do it, I''ll do it!" Lydia eximed with excitement. Since crafting this firearm, she had experimented with it several times and had be quite adept.


    Moreover, this gun was custom-sized, a bit smaller than indicated on the blueprint, to amodate beings like her, a halfling.


    Lynn, however, shook his head, passing the firearm to a nearby guard. He asked, "Ever shot arrows before?"


    "Dean, sir?" The guard was both excited and anxious, stumbling over his words in excitement while barely managing to urately hit targets within a hundred meters.


    "Then, give it a try; it''s straightforward!" Lynn smiled, demonstrating almost step by step.


    Using the flintlock wasn''t challenging; with some effort, anyone with normal intelligence could quickly grasp the basicsloading, aiming, and firing.


    Due to extreme nervousness, the guard struggled for over an hour before barely grasping the usage. He thenboriously began the process, using a wooden mallet to load the bullet into the barrel, raising the gun and aiming at a nearby wooden dummy.


    The onlookers watched the guard''s firearm with interest, wondering why Lynn had chosen someonepletely inexperienced to demonstrate.


    Dennis and the others wore thoughtful expressions.


    "Mind the recoil!" Lynn reminded.


    The guard froze for a moment, growing even more tense. What was this recoil thing?


    But he soon understood; just as he pulled the trigger, an immense force surged from the barrel, nearly toppling him.


    Boom!


    Simultaneously, a thunderous st reverberated across the training ground. Apanied by smoke billowing from the firearm, the internally loaded bullet hurtled at incredible speed...


    Although there was a slight deviation due to not limating to the recoil, it urately hit the target.


    The upper half of the wooden dummy almost exploded the moment the gun fired.


    "So fast!" Dennis couldn''t help but remark. With exceptional vision and reflexes, he saw the bullet leave the barrel, hitting a target forty meters away almost instantly.


    The power was astonishing; these targets were made of specialty materials, not ordinary wood, yet they were easily pierced.


    The guard stood dumbfounded, unable to believe he had done that.


    Kevin and the others felt a hint of worry; would such a weapon pose a threat to wizards?


    After all, an ordinary person, after an hour of learning, could grasp its basics, causing them some concern.


    Thinking this, Kevin volunteered, empowering himself with a second-tier spell, "Mage Shield," intending to test the firearm''s might as a target.


    "Lord Kevin..." The guard, holding the gun, was trembling and hesitant, unable to shoot.


    "No more words, just try it; your weapon won''t hurt me." Kevin impatiently urged from fifty meters away.


    With continuous prompting from everyone, the guard, after a long struggle and over ten seconds of hesitation, still without any action, had the gun snatched by Lydia.


    "Let me do it!" Lydia efficiently cleaned the barrel, then mischievously retrieved a specialty bullet from her pocket, asking, "Professor Kevin, may I try this bullet?"


    "Of course," Kevin casually nodded.


    Receiving confirmation, Lydia cheerfully loaded the special bullet into the barrel, pausing before shooting, apologetically cautioning, "Be careful, Professor Kevin!"


    Kevin waved impatiently.


    Lydia took a deep breath, pulled the flint, and began aiming. About three secondster, she pulled the trigger aimed at Kevin.


    Booma thunderous sound echoed again.


    Although Kevin seemed indifferent, his pupils had turned into eagle-like sharp eyesthat was a form of shaping magicDynamic Vision.


    Only when directly facing the barrel did he truly feel the bullet''s incredible speed. At the moment the gun fired, the attack was already before him.


    Across fifty meters, in just 0.2 seconds!


    The lead bullet, reaching an initial velocity of 250 meters per second, quickly struck the Mage Shield, immediately forming tiny cracks. Kevin sighed in relief as the bullet disintegrated swiftly.


    But at such close proximity, Kevin quickly noticed the runic inscription on the bullet''s surface.


    Explosion?


    Kevin''s knowledge of alchemy was limited, but he instantly recognized itit was an explosive rune!


    Subsequently, the specialty bullet exploded, disintegrating into fragments that rained down in a denser shower, pounding onto the Mage Shield. In less than 0.5 seconds, the robust magical barrier was instantly pierced...


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 Chapter 218: Industrialization of Magic

    Chapter 218: Industrialization of Magic


    The sudden burst of the projectile clearly caught Kevin off guard. Despite his exceptional dynamic vision, he could only watch as the rain of bullets flew towards him. At such a close range, there was no time for reaction.


    He could only watch as the fragments of projectiles sttered onto him. Kevin flinched backward in fear, but soon realized there was only a slight sensation of pain on his body. There were no extra holes, not even a scratch.


    "If Lydia had put in a special iron pellet just now, you''d have been seriously injured by now..." Philip chuckled, watching Kevin''s thoroughly scared expression, unsurprised by this oue.


    Because this bursting projectile was his creation, and its power had been tested before. Its force was roughly equivalent to a second-tier spell - the Bursting Fireball. It could just about breach a Mage Shield. The remaining kic energy, however, wasn''t enough to harm a human body. That''s why when Lydia brought this thing out just now, he didn''t speak up to stop her.


    Seeing the amused expressions of everyone around, Kevin couldn''t help but feel his pride take a hit, ring at Lydia.


    The halfling girl stuck out her tongue, having already taken refuge behind Lynn. She wanted to demonstrate to Professor Kevin how unreliable his estimation of the firepower of the firearm was.


    After all, this firearm was something she had crafted herself and was extremely proud of.


    Lynn, standing by, also quipped, "Professor Kevin, Lydia had already warned you earlier. If you had paid attention, you wouldn''t have ended up in such a sorry state."


    While the firepower of the firearm was impressive, a third-tier wizard wouldn''t be intimidated when they focused. The main reason was Kevin''s underestimation.


    Of course, Lydia had gone a bit overboard. Although he guessed Lydia had tested the projectile''s power beforehand, an attack capable of breaching a Mage Shield was quite dangerous. He picked up the firearm and tapped the halfling girl''s head a few times with the butt as a warning.


    Lydia held her head in pain, looking pitiful.


    "Oh, by the way, Professor, how did it feel facing the firearm just now?" Lynn curiously asked.


    "It''s formidable. An ordinary person who doesn''t know magic could master it in just an hour, gaining the power to threaten formal wizards," Kevin''s expression turned serious. If the threat from the church wasn''t looming, he would strongly advise Lynn to ssify the firearm and its manufacturing method as top secret, maybe even destroy them.


    Because before this, there had been a substantial gap between wizards wielding magic and themon people, especially after bing a second-tier wizard, being able to learn a magic like Mage Shield that offeredprehensive protection.


    Without extraordinary power, even if the opponent wielded a bow, a huge sword, it was challenging to breach a wizard''s defense, while their magic could easily kill enemies.


    But the appearance of firearms shattered this norm, allowing a non-magician civilian to possess a preliminary ability to threaten wizards.


    However, Kevin quickly discerned the drawbacks, primarily the slow reloading and poor concealment. The gunshot from the firearm could probably be heard even from several hundred meters away.


    Moreover, without using specially crafted rune-enchanted projectiles, it would take at least two to three shots to breach a Mage Shield.


    Kevin expressed his feelings solemnly.


    Lynn also nodded. He was well aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of the flintlock firearm. Instead, it was the bursting projectiles that Philip and others had researched that surprised him.


    It seemed that modifying firearms magically might be a good path to explore. Since there was bursting ammunition, why not consider ice, lightning, and other types of bullets?


    "How much does it cost to make this firearm? And how long does it take to manufacture?" Raphael hastily inquired.


    During his stay in Iyeta Harbor these days, he had just finished evaluating the internalbustion engine and submitted a report to the council. Unexpectedly, Lynn had given him another pleasant surprise.


    He had a clear view of the demonstration just now. This thing called a firearm wasn''t just powerful enough to breach armor; it was also very user-friendly and could quickly createbat effectiveness, effectivelypensating for the low-endbat power of wizards in the region.


    This had been a concern of the council for a long time.


    ording to some grand wizards'' spections, when realrge-scale warfare broke out, the church might first send out arge number of low-quality peasant soldiers, strengthen their will with divine spells, and charge in groups to consume the wizards'' magic power. The elite forces made up of clergy, divine punishment troops, and griffin riders would then be able to easily determine the oue.


    And within the wizard territory, there was no existence of a so-called army, only some security teams responsible for maintaining order. Although they had begun recruiting and training again, they didn''t hold much hope.


    Because the hastily conscripted army had nobat experience at all; they''d be lucky if they didn''t fall apart immediately in a real battle.


    So much so that someone suggested whether the wizard apprentices should be sent to the battlefield. They didn''t know much magic, but they could deal with those peasant soldiers, although this suggestion was quickly refuted and dismissed.


    Despite these apprentices having little potential left, they had beenboriously cultivated; using them as cannon fodder was a waste.


    The appearance of firearms was timely. It meant they could quickly raise abat-ready force and might even be useful against those low-level clergies.


    "We spent around ten days producing this firearm ording to the blueprint," Philip said thoughtfully.


    "The most challenging part of making a flintlock firearm lies in that seamless gun barrel. I used magic to solve it, but it''s not that easy for the craftsmen."


    They couldn''t develop a corresponding alchemical array just for this gun barrel, could they?


    "This can be solved using the internalbustion engine, then drilling holes within a solid steel tube," Lynn interjected, estimating roughly and continued, "For a workshop of fifteen hundred people, producing five hundred firearms a month shouldn''t be a problem."


    "How is that possible?" Philip was somewhat incredulous.


    Doesn''t that mean, on average, three people can make a firearm in a month?


    "Of course, it''s possible. With division ofbor and standardized processes, nothing is impossible!" Lynn stated firmly.


    Even now, whether it''s the Secas Empire or the craftsmen in the wizard territory, they still follow traditional manufacturing methods. That is, one craftsman individually makes an item. Compared to modern division-ofbor methods, the efficiency is far too low...


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 Chapter 219: "Using Our Magical Gems for Farming?!"

    Chapter 219: "Using Our Magical Gems for Farming?!"


    "Division ofbor? Standardized processes?"


    The terms Lynn mentioned furrowed the brows of Raphael and the others. They could grasp the general idea but couldn''t fathom how three people could craft a firearm in a month.


    Even without magic, just polishing and crafting the stock and barrel took more than that time.


    "Lyd, if I tasked you to teach an ordinary craftsman all the techniques to make a firearm, how long would it take?" Lynn inquired.


    "Maybe seven to eight days? No, at least half a month!" Lydia hesitated. Teaching required hands-on experience, getting familiar with the process.


    Yet, even then, it didn''t guarantee swift learning and independent production. Not everyone could replicate it on their first attempt like her.


    Thinking about this, Lydia couldn''t help but feel proud of her skills.


    "But what if I only need him to learn how to craft the scythe or trigger?" Lynn chuckled.


    "Mostly two to three hours!" Lydia pondered briefly. These two weren''t as challenging to craft; even the clumsiest craftsman should learn within three hours.


    "Why not break down the gun into parts, have a group specialize in making barrels, another in stocks, and more for individualponents? Isn''t that simple and easy?" Lynn suggested.


    As Lydia said, teaching one person to craft an entire gun took at least half a month. But teaching them a singleponent only took a few hours, significantly lowering the difficulty of training a skilled craftsman.


    This was akin to modern industrial thinkingdividing work into steps, enhancing specialization.


    Using this method could swiftly train a batch of skilled workers. With focused tasks, they''d naturally be proficient.


    "Can it be done this way?" Lydia was stunned, feeling something off but unable to pinpoint it.


    "Wait, Dean Lynn, if we split the production process, what if the crafted items don''t fit together?" Philip interjected. Thousands of craftsmen making differentponents might lead to discrepancies, like a slightlyrger barrel from one person and a smaller trigger from another...


    Even the slightest difference, when assembled into a firearm, might risk an explosion.


    "Hence the need for standardization and establishing rted standards!" Lynn continued. "For instance, a gun barrelwe set specific length, diameter, and allowable tolerances. Only those meeting these standards are finished products. The same applies to otherponents."


    Though initially cumbersome, the benefits were evident. If any part broke, recements were easily found. Each worker only knew their craft, preventing the spread of production methods.


    As Lynn exined, Philip and the others brightened, understanding the advantages of division ofbor and standardization. They contemted applying this method elsewhere, perhaps in creating some alchemical items.


    "Ondo, tomorrow, have the Magic Daily publish two announcements. First, Iyeta seeks to establish a Flintlock Gun Workshop, recruiting fifteen hundred workers. Second, I''m nning to form a gun brigade, targeting three thousand individuals," Lynn handed the firearm back to Lydia, addressing Ondo nearby.


    Since they sessfully crafted flintlock guns, it was time to consider forming the first gun brigade.


    "But, Dean Lynn, recruiting another four thousand five hundred peoplewhat about this year''s farming and fishing?" Ondo hesitated. With the previous ss, paper, and textile workshops, it was already tens of thousands.


    The entire Iyeta Harborprised just over fifty thousand people. Nearly one-fifth of the poption diverted from their original tasks.


    Not to mention, this was only a preliminary n. At this rate, Ondo doubted it wouldn''t be long before the whole city worked for this lord.


    "So, during this time, you all need to work harder. Utilize internalbustion engine technology, research several alchemical instruments capable of automatic cultivation, sowing, and harvesting. This way, even if most people move away from thend, it won''t affect food production," Lynn confidently proposed, having nned this aspect well in advance.


    "What?" Ondo was dumbfounded.


    Philip and the rest stared oddly at Lynn.


    An alchemical internalbustion engine, a magical treasure, and you''re considering using it for farming?


    Moreover, if there were alchemical instruments capable of automatic farming tasks, what need would there be for peasants? This seemed like a dream...


    ---


    At dusk, not far from the capital, Hadrta, an invisible airship silently descended into a manor within a vige.


    This was one of William''s outposts established outside the capital for storing and transporting goods.


    After settling Lode and the others and advising them not to wander, Cody, apanied by a few trusted aides, swiftly rode a carriage alone into the city. He was soon granted an audience.


    William, stocky and round-faced, sat in a spacious chair within the chamber. His umted fat distorted his entire face, making his eyes nearly disappear.


    "What''s happened, Cody? You better not tell me there''s a problem with this year''s trade..." William knew the departure and return times from the port. Under normal circumstances, a transoceanic trade took at least forty days. Yet, here was Cody, back within half a month, raising some unsettling thoughts.


    "Reporting, sir, this year''s trade went smoothly. We brought in a new batch of goods from Iyetaa thing called ss and paper," Cody excitedly reported, then as if remembering something, hurriedly added, "Also, sir, the current head of Iyeta Harbor is an extremely young mage. It''s said that Master Herlram met with an unfortunate end while handling an internal rebellion."


    "What did you say? Herlram is dead..." William''s expression changed. He stood up from his seat, his excess flesh trembling, emitting an indescribable pressure.


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 Chapter 220: Is the Magic Council Unable to Send Anyone Else?

    Chapter 220: Is the Magic Council Unable to Send Anyone Else?


    Under William''s imposing aura, Cody shivered, startled by the adult''s unexpected excitement.


    "Are you sure this information is reliable?" William questioned again.


    Cody nodded hastily. During his stay in the harbor city, he''d sent many to gather information.


    Months ago, a tragedy had struck Iyeta, leaving thousands injured or dead, including Herlram. The whispers connected it to a sorcerer called the Maleficent.


    Listening to Cody''s ount, William paced the chamber, his bulky frame supporting his movements. After a while, he spoke cautiously, confirming Herlram''s demise.


    William''s expression shifted several times before he settled back into his seat, regainingposure. "Tell me, who''s in charge in Iyeta now?"


    "A witch named Lynn. He''s young, perhaps not even twenty," Cody replied tentatively.


    "So, a young whelp governs Iyeta now. Has the Magic Council run out of options?" William scoffed.


    "Lord William, I don''t think this Lynn is that simple. Rumor has it he alsoes from the Sekas Empire, arrived in the wizard''snd just a year ago, yet he''s disyed considerable power..." Cody cautiously reminded, recounting everything seen and heard on their journey.


    From an airship hundreds of meters long,rger than a house, to four-wheeled carts faster than wind, to alchemical machines spinning cloth automatically...


    William''s brow furrowed. Cody''s descriptions seemed too fantastical, almost making him doubt his trusted subordinate was under some illusion.


    Yet, Cody quickly provided evidence. The airshipy docked outside the capital, enabling them to traverse twonds in a day.


    He also presented samples of paper and ss, swiftly showcasing their value, along with detailing the plight of their colleagues stranded in Iyeta.


    "So, our people are stranded in Iyeta, turned into hostages?" William''s tone grew tense. ncing at the samples, his eyes caught a beautifully crafted ss goblet, which he picked up to examine.


    The goblet sparkled under candlelight, dazzlingly brilliant.


    After a long inspection, William set the goblet down, eyeing the other ssware and pristine paper. He understood their worth.


    "I believe Lord Lynn isn''t stopping them from returning; it''s just that the airship''s capacity is limited, requiring multiple trips," Cody exined.


    Their dyed return from Iyeta, coupled with the perilous mist that now made the Sea of Mists treacherous, forced reliance on the airship.


    However, William doubted this so-called coincidence. Grinning, revealing yellowing teeth, he said, "Seems this sessor to Master Herlram has quite the tricks up his sleeve. Even you''re starting to make excuses for him."


    "Lord William, I never meant" Cody began, anxious.


    William knew Cody couldn''t betray him. After a moment''s thought, he continued, "What about the division of profits? Has it been renegotiated?"


    "Lynn said the previous agreement remains, a seventy-thirty split..." Cody hurriedly responded.


    "Hmph." William grunted, dissatisfied.


    The ssware, though profitable, was unprecedented. Disying them would pique interest, necessitating spending money and effort to establish connections...


    "When the goods return, remind that person for me. The church''s scrutiny has increasedtely, and I need to take on more risk. A fifty-fifty split seems fair enough..." William instructed sharply.


    No longer bound by others, William couldn''t tolerate risking much yet handing over the lion''s share of profits.


    After years of hard work, he was now a legitimate Viscount, with his own estate, no longer the mining serf he used to be, obeying others'' whims.


    Cody hesitated, knowing Lord Lynn wasn''t an easy negotiator butcked the courage to refute William''s proposal.


    After a brief inquiry, William dismissed Cody, opening a nearby oak barrel, pouring its blood-like contents into the goblet. Swirling it, a pungent smell filled the air.


    Unperturbed, William drank, reveling in the shivers and pleasure coursing through his body. His mind wandered, recalling Cody''s earlier discoverychanges in the mist during their voyage across the Sea of Mists.


    Combined with Lynn''s confiscation of their ships, switching to airship transportation, even reiming thepass that located the wizard''snd, suspicion arose. This matter might not be so simple.


    After a moment''s contemtion, William summoned a servant, whispering, "Send another ship to the Sea of Mists for observation!"


    A week flew by, and the Harata Kingdom buzzed with the escting rivalry between the two princes, a widely known spectacle.


    Just two days before the king''s birthday, the eldest prince presented a wless, reflective circr mirror, capable of projecting shadows. An entire set of translucent ssware and goblets apanied it, drawing attention from nobles and clergy, earning praise from the king and queen.


    Rumored to be crafted from a scarce mineral from overseas by Harata''s finest artisans, the mirror was pricey, with only two known in the entire world.


    The other was gifted to Archbishop Losak.


    Despite the absence of these miraculous mirrors, ss-rted products flooded the market, bing a sudden trend among nobles, merchants, and clergy. With limited supply, prices surged tenfold...


    A single finished goblet fetched ten gold coins, wed ones sold for two or three, yet demand still outpaced supply, selling out within two days...


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 Chapter 221: Spirit and Faith Belong to the Gods, Worldly Affairs and Bodies Belong to the King!

    Chapter 221: Spirit and Faith Belong to the Gods, Worldly Affairs and Bodies Belong to the King!


    In the opulent council chamber of Hadrta, the royal capital, the handsome second prince, Lynn, after listening to the reports from his subordinates, erupted in fury, sweeping off the flowerpots and oak goblets from the table in a fit of anger.


    "Damn it... Damn it! That cursed Harold, that damned William!"


    The attendants present all bowed their heads, trembling in fear, none daring to speak. Only one elderly man, Dove, with a white beard, remainedposed, calmly examining the ss goblet in his hand, waiting for the prince''s outburst to subside before speaking indifferently.


    "No need to worry so much, Herlram. Things aren''t as bad as you think."


    "But, Master Anluke, Harold nearly gained favor with all the nobles at that banquet, including my dear father, King Bazeel..."


    At this point, Herlram''s expression contorted.


    To surpass his brother Harold at this birthday banquet, he had spared no effort. He had obtained a highly rare crystal, employed a master sculptor to craft a vivid depiction of his father''s most glorious moments in battle.


    However, just when he thought he''d shine at the banquet, that cursed Harold presented a peculiar treasure called a ss mirror, instantly diverting everyone''s attention.


    Throughout the entire event, he felt like a ludicrous clown, left aside with no one''s attention.


    How could this not humiliate him!


    "Herlram, you must remember why those who support you do so. They won''t deviate from their interests for a so-called rare treasure," Anluke said, cing the ss on the table calmly.


    "As for your father, King Bazeel, I believe Harold presenting that round mirror will backfire..."


    Herlram looked puzzled at Anluke.


    "Because Harold did something foolish. Even before the banquet, he eagerly gave another round mirror to the Archbishop Losak of the kingdom. How do you think your dear father will react?" Anluke calmly reminded him.


    After a moment''s pause, Herlram quickly grasped Anluke''s meaning. His father, King Bazeel, had dedicated his life to consolidating the royal power.


    Harold''s act of presenting the round mirror to Archbishop Losak undoubtedly pricked that sore spot in King Bazeel''s heart once again.


    And those nobles, nominal controllers of their respective territories, were actually far more subject to the words of the high bishops, causing much discontent among the major nobles, though they dared not voice it out.


    Yet, Herlram''s brother, Harold, was ensuring even greater favor with that Archbishop. It was clear to anyone that if Harold became king, the influence of the clergy would only grow.


    The nobles supporting Herlram hoped that once he became king, he would be able to limit the privileges of the clergy to some extent.


    Thinking of this, Herlram calmed down again, but worry still lingered on his face. "Master Anluke, what if the Archbishop clearly supports Harold? What then?"


    This was his most pressing concern. Even with their innate extraordinary powers derived from the royal bloodline, they couldn''t match up to an Archbishop, not even his father, King Bazeel.


    The only one in the entire capital who could match the Archbishop was the great wizard, Anluke, but he obviously couldn''t easily intervene, lest it provoke the wrath of the church...


    "That would indeed be the worst-case scenario," Anluke''s expression also grew grave.


    While the church always preached that spirit and faith belonged to the gods and worldly affairs belonged to the king, it was merely aforting phrase for the nobles.


    "What do we do now?" Herlram asked, quite distressed.


    "I''ve heard that those two round mirrors and the recent appearance of ss products on the market are the work of Viscount William. Perhaps we can start investigating from there to find out where he obtained these rare minerals," Anluke pondered aloud.


    He was also very interested in these ss products. During his research, he unexpectedly discovered that under specific curved structures, these items could magnify or shrink an object, useful in creating many useful alchemical instruments.


    "Good, I''ll immediately dispatch someone to investigate," Herlram nodded in agreement.


    Although William was just a viscount, he controlled a huge fleet and was a renowned merchant in the kingdom, one of the staunch supporters of the eldest prince, Harold.


    Removing him would naturally weaken Harold''s crucial support.


    ---


    At the same time, in the office of the Dean of Iyeta Harbor Academy, Jonny, having heard the report from Loude, lightly tapped the desk with his index finger and said calmly,


    "So, William hasn''t been very restrainedtely, even considering a redivision of profit shares?"


    "That''s right. William mentioned that these novel ss products easily attract envy, and he needs to spend a lot of effort and energy dealing with the church and the kingdom''s nobles. The benefits we provided aren''t enough; he hopes for an equal split..." theborer reported truthfully.


    Jonny sneered. William was simply asking for the moon,pletely oblivious to the situation.


    While the other party indeed faced some additional pressure, in contrast, the most dangerous shipping work was entirely undertaken by them. William needn''t interfere; all he had to do was leverage his influence, bribe the superiors, and offer a thirty percent share of the profit, which was already considered remarkably generous.


    ording to Loude''s investigation, William wlessly executed his hunger marketing and product grading system, selling those ss products for a fortune. In just two or three days, he earned thousands of imperial coins, equivalent to the trade volume of an entire year!


    But human greed seemed boundless. It appeared that upon learning of Herlram''s death, William had grown a bit inted.


    "Let Loude dy him, negotiate slowly. My bottom line is to each yield ayer of benefits to pacify those priests and major nobles," Jonny pondered for a while, then made a decision.


    William was now a viscount in the Hadrta Kingdom, and Loude had only been in the capital for a week, barely scratching the surface of the situation. It would be difficult for them to take over the opponent''s entire influence in a short period. It''s better to stall for now and re-calcte the ounts slowly.


    What Jonny needed at the moment were various mineral resources and scarce alchemical materials; pure gold coins had little significance to him...


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 Chapter 222: One of the Four Fundamental Forces - Electromagnetic Force!

    Chapter 222: One of the Four Fundamental Forces - Electromaic Force!


    After pondering for a moment, Lynn turned to the shipwright and inquired again, "What about the dispute within the royal family? Have you found out anything?"


    The shipwright dared not conceal anything, recounting all the information they had gathered in recent days.


    "King Bazeel has two sons named Harold and Hatar. Not long ago, at the king''s birthday celebration, Harold presented a life-sized ss mirror and finished ssware made by us. He stole the limelight at the banquet and garnered the admiration of the nobles


    There are rumors that His Highness, the eldest prince, also gave another round mirror to Archbishop Losak.


    The entire kingdom is now abuzz with the news that Harold has garnered the Church''s support and is soon to be crowned as the heir"


    Though they hadn''t been in the Kingdom of Hadrta for long, they had managed to establish connections with some nobles through the sale of ss products. This information was widely circted in the aristocratic circle, not much of a secret, so their inquiries were quite detailed.


    Listening to these royal family disputes was like gossip to Lynn. Unexpectedly, William had chosen to support Harold. Judging from the information gathered by Loude and the others, William didn''t suddenly decide this; he had been siding with a potential heir since the dispute began.


    But wasn''t this eldest prince leaning towards the side of the church?


    Lynn was momentarily surprised but soon understood upon careful consideration.


    Previously, William had indeed assisted Herlram in smuggling supplies. To conceal his identity, he needed an addedyer of cover. Aligning with Harold was undoubtedly a clever choice, reducing suspicion and providing significant convenience.


    However, that was before. William''s current restless attitude had evidently turned this into a new problem.


    "Additionally, we''ve also gathered some information about the wizards in the capital" The shipwright cautiously reported.


    "Go on," Lynn nodded, not surprised by this.


    Despite the persecution and suppression of wizards by the Church within the Sekas Empire, there would always be those seeking power in this world. Some inherently talented wizards could even wield basic spells without formal training.


    So, regardless of the Church''s actions, this group of wizards would always exist, perhaps only hiding more discreetly.


    "Last month, the Church captured three wizards in the capital. The aftermath of their confrontation destroyed several houses. There are rumors in the streets that these wizards seemed to wield the power of lightning" The shipwright spilled everything they knew.


    "Oh? Are you sure?" Lynn became instantly interested.


    Ever since replicating the electromaic cannon using True Reflection, Lynn had been intrigued by the use of lightning magic and had experimented with it extensively.


    After all, electromaism was one of the four fundamental forces, existing within everything, harboring terrifying power.


    However, with their current sensory abilities, they couldn''t detect charges or manipte currents.


    Originally, Lynn thought it might be due to their insufficient abilities, thinking perhaps only grand wizards capable of dposing and producing metallic elements had the qualifications to delve into this field.


    Now, it seemed that might not be the case. There were wizards within the kingdom who could summon lightning, overturning Lynn''s previous conclusions.


    Lynn doubted that those captured were high-ranking wizards; otherwise, not just several houses, perhaps half the capital would have been demolished in their conflict.


    Upon Lynn''s inquiry, the shipwright hesitated, unable to answer confidently. They hadn''t personally witnessed these wizards employing lightning magic.


    Unable to extract further information, Lynn didn''t press the issue, gesturing for the shipwright to depart. However, their expression suddenly froze as the ring they left with Loude was activated!


    ---


    Three minutes ago, Kingdom of Hadrta, in a remote street.


    Disguised and disguised further, Loude, leaning on a cane, limped into a narrow alleyway, asionally ncing at the round mirror in their palm, using it to observe the scenery behind.


    They''d been tracked for a full two days, yet Loude couldn''t confirm who was tailing themwhether agents of the Church or William''s maneuvers.


    Knowing this couldn''t continue, especially with the imminent transportation of ores back to Iyeta, Loude had to dispose of this tail beforehand to ensure absolute safety.


    With this in mind, a hint of malice shed across Loude''s face. They had scouted this area in advance and didn''t expect anyone to frequent it, but swift action was necessary to avoid drawing the city guard''s attention!


    Pondering, Loude reached a dead-enda high wall blocking the way.


    Without hesitation, Loude shed the disguise, their leg no longer limp, the cane no longer needed. Seizing the moment before the pursuer could react, they sprinted forward, leaped high, hands gripping the protrusion on the wall, effortlessly scaling it.


    The entire sequence was incredibly wless. Even an able-bodied person might struggle to execute such a seamless climbing maneuver.


    The witch Ebur, trailing Loude, was utterly stunned. For a moment, they couldn''t cast any spell, watching in disbelief as the supposedly crippled individual vanished before their eyes.


    "Damn, it''s a trap"


    Within the next moment, Ebur realized the supposed limp was deliberately feigned, a ploy to lure them into the alleyway.


    However, as soon as this realization hit, a sense of imminent danger arose. Subsequently, the solid earth wall beside them erupted, leaving Ebur barely enough time to turn and witness a ferocious w swinging towards them.


    [Mage Shield]


    Almost instinctively, a magical barrier enveloped Ebur. Subsequently, they were sent flying, rolling several times and crashing into the wall behind...


    Fortunately, the Mage Shield absorbed most of the damage. Cracks appeared on the magical barrier. Before Ebur could exhale in relief, they spotted a half-lion, half-human creature charging towards them.


    A magical beast? A polymorphed wizard?


    No, perhaps a Bloodline Knight


    Without further thought, Ebur activated a second-tier spell[Thorn Barrier].


    Continuously channeling magical energy into the ground, Ebur, as the half-lion, half-human creature closed within two meters, focused, causing razor-sharp spikes to shoot up, piercing through its body


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 Chapter 223: Anthonys Lightning Storm!

    Chapter 223: Anthony''s Lightning Storm!


    "Roar~"


    A beastly figure, part lion and part human, couldn''t halt its charge. Its body pierced by several sharp spikes, a piercing howl echoed through the narrow alleyway.


    Ebur raised his hand, casting a spell, sting the creature away with a magical shockwave. In an instant, a searing fireball ignited in his palm, readying for a finishing blow.


    A loud bang interrupted the momenta gunshot pierced through the mage''s shield, narrowly missing Ebur''s head.


    Startled, Ebur stepped back, halting his fiery spell, reinforcing his defenses, then turned to the direction of the gunshot. The shooter, Lame Loude, held an odd-looking canea firearm specially modified by the alchemical workshop, a gift from the wizards who came to aid him days ago.


    Though powerful, it had its limitationit could only shoot a single round at a time.


    Loude, facing a wizard, cautiously tried to defuse the situation. "Dear wizard, let''s not resort to violence. There must be a misunderstanding"


    Upon discovering the tracker was a wizard, Loude sensed trouble. Wizards were generally enemies of the church, united bymon interests.


    "A misunderstanding?" Ebur, barely surviving twice, sneered, eyeing Loude''s peculiar ''arcane device'' warily, fearing unexpected tricks. He decided not to hold back, intending to subdue them for questioning.


    Ebur pointed his index finger, summoning a blue lightning bolt. Loude, startled, hadn''t anticipated the truth behind the rumorsthe wizards of Hadralta possessed the power of thunder maniption.


    In that moment of facing Ebur, Loude tightly grasped the ring Lynn had given him, screaming in his mind, "Lord Lynn, help!"


    The azure lightning arrived unbelievably fast, almost reaching Ebur before his spell.


    "Wall of Water!"


    A familiar voice echoed beside Loude, conjuring a transparent water barrier, colliding with the lightning bolt, disintegrating into hydrogen and oxygen.


    Lightning moves swiftly in air, almost impossible to dodge once cast. But Ebur''s casting speed had limits, and Lynn''s timely projection effortlessly shielded them.


    Loude sat on the ground, overwhelmed with relief, realizing that not only did Lord Lynn hear his inner plea, but also came in person. Safety was finally assured!


    "Wizard? Traitor?" Ebur''s expression turned grim. He hadn''t expected a wizard interference while tracking William''s associate.


    He scanned the situation. "I think we should talk, wizard," Lynn spoke amiably. Then, with a pause, added, "But we need to relocate. The gunshot might attract the city guard."


    Ebur remained skeptical. He had seen Loude selling ssware, a known supporter of Prince Harold aligned with the churchlikely ackey.


    Summoning a stone golem, Ebur prepared for a sh. Lynn gestured to Loude, "Stay back but not too far!"


    Confident in Lynn yet cautious of his lightning magic, Loude observed the battle. The golem charged, swinging a stone hammer at Lynn.


    Unexpectedly, Lynn dodged without retaliation. But Ebur''s magic was primed!


    "Anthony''s Lightning Storm!"


    Terrifying currents coalesced in Ebur''s hand. Lightning shot out like a web, engulfing Lynn and the golem.


    The arcs devoured everything, crackling fiercely. Suspended in mid-air, Lynn seemed unaffected by the relentless lightning.


    "How is this possible?" Ebur shouted in disbelief.


    "No matter how powerful the magic, if it misses the true target, it''s futile" Lynn''s voice echoed from a different direction.


    Lynn''s magical projection had shifted with Loude, the former standing still an illusion.


    Aurora''s visual magic, orchestrated by Loude, was a spectacle beyondpare!


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 Chapter 224: Get Away from Me, You Monster!

    Chapter 224: Get Away from Me, You Monster!


    Curses, what kind of magic is this?


    Ebur had never dealt with visual magic before. Seeing his most potent spell rendered useless, panic set in. Without hesitation, he unleashed a "ming Burst" spell, but the target wasn''t Lynn; it was the alleys on either side.


    An intense explosion followed, crumbling the already weak walls, burying the path. Covered by the smoke and dust, Ebur fled without looking back.


    Lynn remainedposed, her right index finger lightly trembling, emitting a strange wave of magical power in a circr motion.


    Ebur dashed to the end of the alley, where hope seemed alive! But just as he was about to step out, his heart violently thumped. He stumbled forward, tumbling on the ground in disarray.


    Fear painted Ebur''s face. The violent magic mirror and the heart''s intense palpitations were unprecedented, eerie enough to suggest an assant associated with some dark deity.


    Before Ebur could gather his thoughts, a dark red figure pounced, a lion-like head with crimson eyes. Though its wounds had healed, it swung its ws violently, pounding against Ebur''s magical shield.


    "Get away from me, you monster... Get away!" Ebur screamed in terror, inches away from the creature''s huge ws. Meanwhile, arcs of electricity surrounded him, quickly spreading onto the half-lion, half-human creature.


    It was the second-tier magic - the "Lightning Barrier."


    However, the creature endured the pain and numbness from the electric shock, surrounded by red mes. With a fist the size of a sandbag, it smashed through the protective shield.


    "Owen, ease up. Don''t beat him to a pulp..."


    Suddenly, a voice echoed from afar. The creature hesitated momentarily, retracting its ws, knocking Ebur unconscious with a punch.


    Approaching, Lynn found Ebur lying unconscious, a mix of fear and surprise on the warlock''s face, evidently rattled.


    The creature''s body rapidly transformed, within moments, revealing a teenager of fifteen or sixteen, pale-faced, hair standing on end from the shock, trembling slightly.


    "Lord Lynn..."


    "How are you feeling? Any injuries?" Lynn inquired with concern. Even with enhanced physique after transformation, enduring electrical shocks would inevitably take a toll.


    "I''m okay, just... a bit numb," the teenager shivered, experiencing the sensation of being struck by lightning for the first time.


    "Next time, don''t be so reckless," Lynn sighed, then asked again, "What about the ''Mage Shield'' and ''ming Burst'' I taught you?"


    "Those spells are tooplicated..." the youngd muttered somewhat sheepishly.


    "Complex or not, you need to learn. You''ve got to have a few spells in your repertoire. Otherwise, facing formidable wizards and bishops, relying only on transformation spells will get you beaten up. You''ll be at a disadvantage," Lynn reminded.


    Thisd, named Owen, was the experimental subject number 22 Lynn had encountered in Ladek''sboratory months ago. A fortunate one who''d fused the bloodlines of two magical beasts!


    Due to the estate''s peripheral location in the southern district of Ladek, it hadn''t fallen victim to the Soul-Devouring Array''s outbreak.


    Following the catastrophe in the southern district, these magical experimental subjects were rescued by the search and rescue team. Owen was one of them, nearly recovered after a month of treatment.


    These modified magic wielders had considerable strength, enough to rival some established wizards. Lynn, therefore, took charge, providing psychological therapy for those unstable and enlisting the stable ones into the newly formed security force, bidding farewell to their troubled pasts with legitimate employment.


    Owen, the most powerful among them, was tasked by Lynn to protect Lame Loude and others. After all, his age provided a decent cover; few would suspect a teenager to unleash such terrifying power.


    However, the wy in these magic wielders; despite their immense magical potential, they struggled to form spells. Their resistance to mental spells was also weak.


    After calming Owen, Lynn turned her attention to Lame Loude, who had just crawled out from under the copsed wall.


    "My Lord Lynn, this was my mistake in the operation. It almost caused severe consequences. I ask for your punishment," Lame Loude wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, deeply remorseful.


    Previously, he assumed that with Owen''s help and his covert actions, dealing with someone tailing him would be a walk in the park. He didn''t expect the pursuer to be a wizard of considerable rank. If Lynn hadn''t arrived in time, they''d be in grave danger.


    "Take the man and leave! We''ll discuss this in a safer ce..." Lynn stated nonchntly, using a "me Touch" to clear the traces of the battle before disappearing from their sight.


    "My Lord Lynn?" Lame Loude scanned the surroundings, calling out, but received no response.


    This was strange. Shouldn''t Lynn be in Iyeta at this time?


    Lame Loude pondered silently, feeling an addedyer of reverence.


    Meanwhile, the teenager lifted Ebur, urging Lame Loude to run together.


    A minute after their departure, a group of priests in white robes, adorned with sacred emblems, arrived at the scene.


    "There are traces of fire magic on the ground... It must have been a formal wizard to cause such destructive force," the leading Archbishop assessed, ncing at the copsed wall and the darkened ground. "We''re a stepte; it seems the culprit has fled."


    "Let''s hope no innocent souls were hurt." "These cursed devil worshippers..."


    Several priests expressed either pity or anger. These darn wizards were like mice, always hiding in crevices and corners they couldn''t find, causing trouble when they popped out.


    "Report this incident to Lord Losak; these wizards seem to be getting more activetely," the leading Archbishop expressed concern.


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 Chapter 225: Were from the Wizarding Land of Greenriel

    Chapter 225: We''re from the Wizarding Land of Greenriel


    Darkness, hunger, pain...


    Under the ring sunlight, Ebur groggily regained consciousness, feeling a sharp pain on his right cheek.


    It seemed Owens final punch hadnded hard, swelling the entire right side of his face.


    But Ebur had no time to dwell on this; he soon realized his hands were restrained by peculiar shackles, and more rming was the suppression of his magical powers.


    "These are shackles made with Anti-Magic Stones, capable of suppressing a wizard''s spellcasting ability," a voice echoed in the room.


    Ebur immediately turned to see the eerie, devilish figure standing not far away. Alongside stood the middle-aged man who had deceitfully pretended to be a cripple and a young teenager.


    Oh no... Ebur''s face drained of color. He couldn''t deny anymore that he had been captured. Horrific torture methods shed through his mind.


    He''d heard that every wizard captured by the clergy would face brutal torment. Whether they disclosed information or not, the ultimate oue was being sent to the pyre, charred to ashes.


    Thinking about this, Ebur gritted his teeth, his hands instinctively searching for something between his fingers.


    "No need to search. In case you''re considering the unthinkable, I''ve already taken it out for you," Lynn reached out with his right hand, revealing an iron rod about the length of a finger, etched with intricate runes.


    This concealed item had been tucked within the folds of Ebur''s robe, probably meant for suicidal situations or taking enemies down with oneself.


    Seeing hisst resort now in Lynn''s possession, Ebur looked utterly defeated, copsing against the white wall as if his bones had turned to jelly.


    "Don''t worry, we don''t mean any harm," Lynn said slowly.


    "Don''t bother. I won''t tell you anything!" Ebur interjected with a cold sneer.


    Lynn was speechless at Ebur''s hostile attitude but understood the man was likely still angry from being beaten. After a moment''s thought, he spoke, "In fact, wee from the wizardingnd of Greenriel!"


    "Greenriel?" Ebur hesitated. He had certainly heard of this legendary wizard haven.


    Rumors suggested it was a wizard''s paradise, free from the clergy''s influence or witch hunters, a ce where everyone could freely study magic and expound their magical theories.


    Ebur had always scoffed at this rumor, believing no such ce could exist.


    A true wizarding haven would only be created by the great Master Anthony, a genuine kingdom for wizards!


    "Since you im to be from the wizardingnd, where''s the proof?" Ebur sneered. "In the Kingdom of Hadrta, everyone knows William is the crown prince''s supporter, ackey of the clergy. Your actions for William are merely seeking the church''s pardon, hoping the Archbishop will show mercy and spare your lives, right?"


    "I can assure you, that''s impossible. In reality, William is working for me. His previous closeness to Harold was just a facade," Lynn exined calmly, somewhat surprised by Ebur''sck of knowledge about the wizardingnd.


    William had spent more than a decade in the Kingdom of Hadrta without ever interacting with the local wizards. Could it be that when Harold hired him, he did something unfavorable that made William hold a grudge against wizards?


    Lynn suddenly realized that while Harold had left him some legacy, it was mostly pitfalls!


    "I can indeed provide evidence, but in return, you need to tell me which school you belong to and who your leader is," Lynn continued. "Moreover, I''ve also dabbled in electromaism. Perhaps we could exchange experiences someday."


    "I see you''re interested in prying into Thunder Magic secrets..." Ebur immediately seemed to grasp Lynn''s intentions, his expression growing vignt.


    Thunder Magic was the treasure of the entire faction, discovered by Master Anthony after enduring hundreds of lightning strikes at the risk of his life!


    Ebur would never allow such crucial secrets to be revealed. He immediately put on a determined expression, refusing to speak further. Regardless of Lynn''s inquiries, he remained resolutely silent.


    Seeing Ebur''s uncooperative stance, Owen, on the side, rolled up his sleeves, preparing to shake some sense into Ebur. However, Lynn gestured to stop him.


    "Since you''re skeptical, stay here for a while. I believe you''ll soon change your mind," Lynn didn''t borate further but generously granted Ebur some time to contemte.


    With the opponent being a high-ranking wizard, also a three-ring mage, Lynncked the ability to break through Ebur''s mental defenses using spiritual magic to extract memories.


    Severe interrogation seemed inappropriate; he didn''t want to push potential allies onto the opposing side.


    Especially now, with William''s uncertain stance, these wizards rooted in the Kingdom of Hadrta became even more valuable assets.


    Taking a breath, Lynn instructed Owen to ''look after'' Ebur, then left with Loude. A few minutester, servants brought in some food, cing it on the table.


    Having trailed Loude for days and just survived a grueling battle, Ebur was exhausted and famished. The bread, sausages, steaks, and grilled fishid out on the table were like a devil''s temptation, continuously drawing his attention.


    Ebur swallowed hard but quickly spected that there must be some substance here designed to induce hallucinations, tempting him to divulge crucial information.


    "Aren''t you eating?" Owen asked strangely.


    Having ''seen through everything'' already, Ebur firmly shook his head, indicating he wouldn''t touch anything!


    Owen didn''t pay much heed to Ebur, picking up a sulent steak and devouring it heartily, swiftly clearing the table of all delicacies without leaving a trace for Ebur.


    Could it be these foods were indeed safe? Seeing Owen enjoying his meal, Ebur couldn''t resist the temptation and found himself caught between reason and hunger...


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 Chapter 226: A Wizards Haven Like Heaven

    Chapter 226: A Wizard''s Haven Like Heaven


    For the next two days, Ebul was confined within this small cabin, enduring the dual torment of physical hunger and the mental anguish of watching others eat.


    He brainstormed various ways to escape the clutches, from timing bathroom breaks to stealthily climbing walls, even attempting to break the chains on the bedpost under the cover of night. Each attempt ended in Owen catching him red-handed and subjecting him to a severe beating.


    After enduring several beatings and growing too weak from hunger, Ebul temporarily abandoned his escape ns. The allure of food became increasingly irresistible.


    Finally, on the evening of the second day, unable to resist any longer, Ebul cautiously reached for a piece of white bread while Owen began enjoying his dinner. He intended to take a small bite to replenish some strength.


    Even if the bread contained some hallucinogenic substance, a small dose wouldn''t have much effect.


    Ebul bit into the bread with a look of resignation, feeling its soft texture dissolve on his tongue. The instant stimtion brought tears to his eyes; after two days of hunger, he forgot all about pride and the nonexistent danger, indulging himself.


    A mouthful of white bread, coupled with the incredibly delicious beef broth, felt irresistibly gratifying...


    In that moment, it was as if he had transcended from hell to heaven!


    Owen observed Ebul devouring the food, unsurprised. People like Ebul, confused and starving, often changed after a few days of hunger.


    Having experienced starvation numerous times as an experimental subject, Owen understood the sensation. Hence, when Ebul had initially resolved to fast, Owen paid no attention.


    After a hearty meal, Ebul copsed onto the bed, his thoughts shifting. No longer seeking death, he decided to preserve his usefulness, gathering information. What if he managed to escape?


    Over these two days, Ebul had keenly noticed something peculiar. Although his magical abilities were suppressed, his physical freedom wasn''t entirely restricted by the captors. He could wander around the estate, apanied by a shadowing presence. Any attempt to flee, however, resulted in a severe beating.


    "Are you truly from thend of wizards?" After two days of silence, Ebul looked at Owen, breaking his silence with a question.


    "Of course," Owen nodded.


    "Where is thend of wizards? How did youe to the Kingdom of Hadrta?" Ebul fired off his questions one after another.


    Owen hesitated before replying, "I need to ask Lord Lynn if I can tell you."


    "Wait..." Ebul quickly stopped Owen from rising.


    Over the past two days, he had subtly sensed that this kid, Owen, was straightforward,cking convoluted schemes, albeit a bit rough in his methods. He was an excellent conversation partner. But if he reported to that witch named Lynn, Ebul''s ns would be ruined.


    With this realization, Ebul quickly pacified Owen, skipping those sensitive topics. He imed curiosity about the so-called wizard sanctuary.


    Under Ebul''s probing, Owen began recounting his experiences in the wizard sanctuaryor more precisely, at Iyeta Harbor.


    Enormous airships that dwarfed buildings, alchemical machines enabling ordinary people to soar the skies, alchemic contraptions that automatically seeded and tilled fields...


    These almost fantastical descriptions made Ebul question if he had misjudged Owen. He hadn''t expected this seemingly honest kid to be so deceptive.


    "Lately, Iyeta has built numerous factories. As long as you''re willing to work hard, no one will go hungry!" Owen earnestly stated.


    A year ago, this was unthinkable! Born in the southern district, Owen was acutely aware of the arrogance and indifference of those wizard nobles. In their eyes, impoverished people were merely tools for magical experiments. Consequently, Owen held no fondness for wizards, except for Lord Lynn!


    Lord Lynn extended generous aid to the impoverished victims of the southern district, offering substantial financial assistance. He provided the discarded steamships to fishermen, allowing them to fish in farther waters. Lord Lynn even dispatched wizards to eliminate fierce sea creatures in nearby waters.


    Before leaving Iyeta, rumors circted that Lord Lynn was nning to construct a massive iron ship equipped with thetest internalbustion engine, along with an enormous fishing. It could haul tons of fish in a single voyage.


    Soon, every lunch would include not just white bread and an egg or tomato but also a grilled fish.


    Many townsfolk deemed this fantasy impractical. How could an iron ship float on the sea? Even if crafted by magic, no one would use such a colossal iron vessel for fishing.


    But Owen believed it. He believed Lord Lynn wouldn''t lie; every word spoken hade true, no matter how absurd it sounded.


    Listening to Owen boast about someone''s achievements, Ebul''s expression became increasingly peculiar. Thend of wizards, as described by Owen, seemed as heavenly as the church propaganda.


    Does such a ce truly exist?


    A ce where hunger doesn''t exist, where even the poor can have white bread and grilled fish.


    The sincere emotions in Owen''s words momentarily left Ebul uncertainwas it real or fiction?


    Amid his contemtion, amotion from outside the room interrupted. Ebul instinctively rose from the bed, initially thinking someone hade to rescue him. But he quickly dismissed the notion as he didn''t hear frantic shouts or explosions intermingled with magical spells.


    "It''s probably the airship returning after loading cargo," Owen remarked, unsurprised, calcting the time and reaching a conclusion swiftly.


    "Airship?" Ebul paused and then realized. That was the alchemical machine Owen mentioned earlier,rger than a house, capable of lifting ordinary people into the sky. "I want to go out and see!"


    Owen didn''t object. Lord Lynn had instructed him to monitor Ebul without restricting his movement within the estate.


    Soon, the two were outside.


    On the expansivewn of the estate, Lame Loude and others were already gathered, gazing skyward, seemingly awaiting something...


    But apart from the blue sky and white clouds, there was nothing at all...


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 Chapter 227: The Airship Visible Only to the Clever Ones!

    Chapter 227: The Airship Visible Only to the Clever Ones!


    "Where''s this airship you''re talking about? Where is it?" Ebur looked up, seeing nothing but the blue sky and white clouds. He teased, inquiring mockingly.


    "Lord Lynn said that only clever people can see it when it flies!" Owen scratched his head, speaking softly.


    Ebur choked, ring at Owen with irritation, suspecting if he was ying a prank, inventing something non-existent just to fool him.


    Just then, a muffled sound echoed from the front, causing a slight tremor on the ground.


    Ebur turned hastily, noticing something unusual in the vast grasnd ahead, as if something heavy had pressed it down.


    As the illusionary magic dispersed, a colossal entity, almost five or six stories high, materialized before his eyes.


    It was a shade of bluish-green, adorned with intricate alchemical patterns across its surface. Below, the cockpit resembled a grand ship, tethered to a massive elliptical balloon by sturdy chains, exuding an imposing presence.


    Ebur involuntarily gasped. Was this the aerial skyship?!


    Could it be that the rumorednd of wizards truly existed?


    This enormous and impressive airship before him undeniably shattered Ebur''s perceptions, making him realize that Owen''s words might not have been a lie or deception.


    As the hatch of the cockpit lowered, several robed wizards disembarked, one of them using Mage Hand to lift several heavy crates.


    While Ebur was taken aback, the attendants were already ustomed to such sights, swiftly assisting in transporting the ssware from the crates into the building.


    Loude noticed that there were more hands this time than before, not just seven formal wizards but over ten halflings, even Lydia, Darren, and others had joined in.


    However, this was expected. It was rumored that Lord Lynn was preparing a very powerful alchemical apparatus, requiring a significant number of hands.


    Amid his contemtion, Loude didn''t dare to remain idle. He joined the others on the airship and carefully helped in carrying down a metal ''box'' that stood over a meter tall.


    "What''s this?" Ebur, seeing everyone''s cautiousness, couldn''t help but ask in curiosity.


    "It''s called an alchemical internalbustion engine, a creation blending technology and magic, serving as a power source... Of course, it can also be used for auxiliary power generation!" Lynn''s figure appeared out of thin air beside them, startling Ebur.


    But soon, Ebur''s attention was drawn to Lynn''s words.


    Auxiliary power generation? Could it be some sort of alchemical apparatus capable of wielding thunderous magic?


    "Lynn, weren''t you at the academy this morning?" Lydia looked astonished at Lynn''s sudden appearance, almost doubting her own eyes.


    Just eleven hours ago, Lynn bid her farewell within Iyeta Academy.


    Could it be that the dean could move faster than the airship...


    "You can think of it as me using a kind of magical art." Lynn chuckled, exining, and then led everyone into the hastily constructed magicalboratory. Ebur hastened to follow suit.


    Inside the magicalboratory, a group of wizards huddled around a huge ma, debating among themselves...


    "Any discoveries?" Lynn asked casually. Maite was one of Hadrta Kingdom''s specialties.


    This type of mineral that could attract iron objects without any magical assistance was considered a stone of divine power by the church, hence strictly controlled. It took a fair amount of effort for Loude to procure such arge chunk of maite.


    "Dean, this kind of stone is incredibly magical. It attracts metallic objects without needing magic. Furthermore, two maic stones can either attract or repel each other..." Ondo, intrigued by this magical mineral, exined eagerly.


    "This thing can generate a maic field, which is why it attracts those metal objects..." Lynn chuckled while exining. He had read some magical books about electromaic effects in thend of wizards, but there were very few wizards studying this stuff.


    After all, there was no maite in thend of wizards, so the only samples avable were the lightning in the sky and the biological electrical currents...


    "Maic field?" Ondo paused.


    Thest thing referred to as a ''field'' was the gravitational field, ording to Lynn''s proposed theory of universal gravitationa force that caused attraction between any objects.


    But this maic stone only attracted specific things...


    "Dean, is this also a manifestation of gravitational phenomena?" a male wizard from the Iyeta school hurriedly asked.


    "No, maism is maism, gravity is gravity..." Lynn shook his head, seeing the immense curiosity among them. He began exining.


    "As we know, everything is made up of elements, and within these elements, electrons are constantly spinning and rotating around the atomic nucleus. Both of these movements create maism.


    The special thing about a ma is that it has its own maic moment. The elements inside it are arranged in a specific pattern, forming a powerful maic field..."


    As Lynn elucidated the principles, they were all perplexed, only able to understand simply that the arrangement of elements inside the ma could spontaneously generate some kind of magica naturally formed alchemical creation, possessing miraculous power.


    "Why is it only iron that gets attracted?" Ondo asked, puzzled.


    Lynn smiled but didn''t answer directly. He picked up an iron sword and ced it on the cut ma. Immediately, they clung tightly together.


    After about five seconds, Lynn forcefully pulled the iron sword away and ced it near an iron block.


    The iron block trembled slightly and then spontaneously jumped up, adhering to the sword.


    This miraculous scene astonished everyone present.


    Lydia, wearing an expression of curiosity, remembered a few months ago when Lynn had exined frictional electricity, the principle of attracting small pieces of paper. But these seemed different.


    Dean, just now, didn''t even rub the iron sword?


    "Dean Lynn, what''s happening here? Is it some kind of magical energy conduction?" Ondo was utterly confused, only able to rely on his knowledge of magic to exin this peculiar phenomenon.


    For instance, the magic stored in the maite was transferred to this iron sword.


    Because magical energy can flow within specific substances, this was also the principle behind some enchantment magic.


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 Chapter 228: Electromagnetic Effect

    Chapter 228: Electromaic Effect


    "No, this has nothing to do with magic, and it can''t be described as conduction," Lynn shook her head, dismissing Ondo''s spection.


    "In fact, you''re mistaken. It''s not just iron that can be maized; cobalt and nickel can be attracted by mas as well."


    "Themonality lies in their ability to be maized. Under the influence of an external maic field, the electrons within them spontaneously align within a small range, forming a spontaneous maization zone... In other words, they''re temporarily maized, bing like mas! Most substances have electrons moving in various directions, chaotic and disorganized, canceling out the maic effect, hence they don''t exhibit maism," Lynn exined casually.


    "Wait, are you suggesting that because these mas possess the power of thunder, they''re able to attract iron objects?" Ebur hurriedly asked, not having grasped Lynn''s long exnation but catching onto the word ''electrons''.


    Plus, he knew iron could conduct electricity!


    "What do you think electricity is?" Lynn asked.


    "A violent, hard-to-control element, extremely fast, and possessing astonishing power," Ondo pondered before speaking.


    Ebur nodded arrogantly. Even within Archbishop Anluke''s school, only a few wizards could wield the power of lightning, a power obtained at the risk of their lives.


    "Is that all? Nothing more to add?" Lynn asked with a smile.


    "I know! Lightning is a phenomenon caused by the movement of charges, divided into positive and negative charges. Simr charges repel each other, opposite charges attract. Moreover, it exists within each of us, which is why we can move..." Lydia spoke endlessly about the principles of electricity.


    The wizards present wore expressions of astonishment; they hadn''t expected this halfling girl, who couldn''t wield magic, to have such a deep understanding of lightning. Ondo, particrly curious, inquired about the nature of electrons and charges.


    Under Ondo''s questioning, Lydia grew increasingly red-faced, unable to stutter out an answer.


    She simply recited all the knowledge Lynn had previously taught her; asking her to exin these terms was impossible, resorting to frequent nces toward Lynn, her eyes pleading for help.


    "Since you''ve only learned a bit, there''s no need to show off," Lynn chuckled, shaking her head and lightly tapping Lydia''s head.


    "The schrs of the Society of Mystical Arts believe that electrons are subatomic particles carrying negative charges, and charges are positive or negative charges carried by objects or the particlesposing them. However, because electrons are so minuscule, even formal wizards cannot sense them."


    "I was right, wasn''t I, Lord Ebur?" Lynn suddenly spoke up.


    Seeing Ebur nod, Lynn understood that their faction couldn''t sense electrons and charges.


    "Your Excellency, since we can''t sense these minuscule... elements, how can we wield the power of lightning?" a witch couldn''t help asking.


    Every wizard was well aware of the process of casting magic, finding this element, recording it using Material Deconstruction, and finally mimicking it using magic.


    If they couldn''t sense it, spellcasting was out of the question.


    With this in mind, Ondo and the others turned to Ebur, who was undoubtedly a formal wizard, yet they wondered how he managed to wield lightning magic.


    Ebur was quite pleased, showing no intention to exin. This was the most important secret of their faction!


    But soon, he heard Lynn, who was nearby, speaking again.


    "There are many ways to generate lightning... such as manipting a maic field to create electric currents, using temperature differences for electricity, biomass energy, sr energy..."


    Lynn casually listed a string of methods while closely watching Ebur''s expression, trying to figure out which method he used.


    However, Ebur''s expression became increasingly confused. It seemed like he was being bewildered by this string of terms.


    In his eyes, lightning was an immensely powerful and mysterious existence. With Lynn''s words, it seemed that anything could be used for lightning magic.


    Ebur didn''t believe it at all. If it were that easy, they wouldn''t need to collect and store lightning at risk to their lives on stormy days.


    He even began to suspect that these people might be staging a y to extract the secrets of lightning magic from him.


    Especially with Lynn''s earlier exnation of the principles of lightning, Ebur harbored deep doubts. After all, not even Archbishop Anthony had managed to research the essence of lightning magic.


    "Lynn, you mentioned just now that these mas contain natural maic fields. Doesn''t that mean they can generate electricity using these peculiar ores?" Ebur said, half-believing.


    "That''s right!" Lynn nodded, then asked Ondo and the others to bring two pieces of ma cut into arcs and adjusted them to disy positive and negative poles.


    She picked up a silver block, magically dissolved it into fine silver threads, then coiled them into coils, fixing them at the center of the two arced mas before connecting them to the engine''s power system.


    "Now, open it, Ondo, just ten percent power!" Lynn said.


    Ondo, who had been waiting beside, promptly started the engine. The coils made of silver threads began to rotate, faster and faster...


    Everyone present stared fixedly at this strange apparatus.


    "Dean Lynn, where''s the electricity? Where is it?" Lydia curiously asked.


    "It''s within these silver coils!" Lynn said, leaning down and blowing on the umted dust on the table, which immediately flew towards the continuously rotating maic coils.


    A crackling sound emanated from the rotating coils.


    It was a sight they''d never seen before; the violent lightning seemed confined within the maic coils, blue arcs continuously jumping, striking the fine dust... Just as Lynn had said, she had created electricity!


    "This is impossible!" Ebur''s face was full of disbelief. He couldn''t resist reaching out, wanting to confirm if the scene before him was some kind of visual illusion.


    This sudden action caught everyone off guard. Lynn couldn''t stop him in time, and Ebur''s fingers had already entered the two arced mas, not fully touching the rotating maic coils, yet the flickering electric arcs had already struck.


    A powerful current instantly prated his body, causing every muscle to convulse violently. Beforepletely losing consciousness, only one thought remained in his mind.


    Yes, this feeling!


    It''s electricity, the power of lightning!


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 Chapter 229: The Nemesis of All Thunder Magic - Faraday Cage!

    Chapter 229: The Nemesis of All Thunder Magic - Faraday Cage!


    A sudden electric shock jolted everyone in the vicinity. Ondo swiftly shut down the internalbustion engine, yet the maic coil continued its relentless rotation.


    It wasn''t until Lynn utilized a weakened "Mana Impact" to st Ebur away that this frightening scene ceased.


    "Is he... dead?" Lydia gaped at Ebur lying motionless on the ground, his hair standing on end.


    "He probably isn''t." Lynn checked and shook her head, letting out a relieved sigh.


    Perhaps due to practicing lightning magic, Ebur had a resistance to electrical currents far stronger than an average person''s.


    Of course, had the engine run at full power just now, without instion, it would have meant certain death.


    Lynn hadn''t anticipated Ebur being reckless enough to directly touch the current.


    "Lift him and let him rest, Owen. You''ll keep an eye on him," Lynn instructed, realizing the uing experiment wasn''t suitable for public exposure.


    Owen nodded and rather disdainfully dragged Ebur away.


    Only then did Ondo and the others turn their curious gazes toward Lynn, questioning how exactly the maic force generated the electric current.


    They had only seen the silver coil continuously rotating between two arc-shaped mas. Without any direct contact, lightning appeared out of thin air.


    "This is electromaic induction," Lynn promptly exined to them.


    Electromaic induction, also known as maic-electric induction, urs when a portion of a closed circuit conductor moves through maic lines of force, inducing an electric current in the conductor...


    The stronger the maic field, the faster the rotor coil rotates, generating a stronger electric current...


    With a ma and silver acting as conductors, it forms the simplest generator!


    The discovery of electricity was undoubtedly monumental, one of the cornerstones of modernization.


    Connecting the internalbustion engine''s discovery and the use of electricity marked the Second Industrial Revolution!


    However, Lynn''s intentions weren''t merely to develop various electrical devices. That was a matter for future consideration. With maism and electricity, he could contemte creating a genuine electromaic railgun!


    In truth, its principle wasn''t overlyplexpass an electric current through a conductor ced in a maic field, and it moves forward due to the maic field induction effect.


    By continually increasing the maic field and electricity, the conductor shoots out at incredibly high speedsthat''s the electromaic cannon!


    In a previous era, the Federation even recklessly developed an electromaic cannon twenty times the speed of sound, taking humanity''s primitive stone-throwing skills to another level...


    It was also his replication of that magic through "True Mirroring," possessing almost legendary magical prowess!


    If he managed to create this, it would undoubtedly be the trump card of the Iyeta School, sufficient to deal with true legendary wizards. However, it would suffice to unsettle some archbishops or great wizards!


    Though he could seek the Council''s help in times of trouble, Lynn wasn''t about to rely entirely on others.


    ...


    Ebur remained unconscious for an entire day, awakening with muscles sore and trembling, reminding him that everything he had seen was neither a dream nor an illusion.


    This time, without waiting for Owen''s words, Ebur actively proposed his desire to meet with Lynn.


    "Lynn, concerning your insights into thunder magic that we discussed, I need to consult Archbishop Anthony before deciding. If everything goes well, he should grant you an audience," Ebur earnestly stated, pausing before adding, "You could send someone along with me. However, if you coulde yourself, it would be even better."


    Ebur sincerely invited him, realizing that trying to convince his colleagues at the school alone would be an uphill battle.


    "How can this be? What if it''s a trap?" Lame Loude and the others immediately vetoed; it was too risky.


    "You have a point... a strange wizard''s sudden visit might provoke hostility," Lynn nodded, then suddenly chuckled. "So, why not you go in my stead, Lame Loude!"


    He had entrusted his magic to the ring that rested in Lame Loude''s hand, making it only fair for him to stand in.


    "What?!" Lame Loude was utterly dumbfounded, staring at Lynn stuttering, "Th-th-this..."


    Wasn''t this too much? Going alone to another wizard school''s headquarters, facing a high wizard, even if it was for negotiations, left Lame Loude feeling anxious.


    Ebur furrowed his brow. Having a non-magicalmoner apany him might reduce some criticism, but it wouldn''t serve any purpose.


    "I''ll prepare a gift that should prove your words. A device to generate electric currents, perhaps?" Lynn stated.


    "No, it''s something else!" Lynn shook his head, continuing, "The nemesis of all thunder magic  the Faraday Cage!"


    ...


    In the royal city of Hadrta, within a concealed chamber, an elderly white-haired man stood solemnly in the center. As his thoughts surged, fierce and uncontroble electric currents were drawn from the thunderstones ced around him, surging toward him.


    Bolts of lightning pierced the air, forming a ''lightning tree'' within the chamber. Electric arcs spread like spiderwebs, the only sound being continuous thunderous explosions...


    The temperature soared rapidly, almost turning the chamber into a miniature thunderstorm zone.


    The terrifying lightning continuously struck against the protective magic barrier, then flowed into Anthony''s body, coursing throughout him.


    The intense paralysis and pain made Anthony''splexion increasingly pallid; his muscles began twitching, and faint electric arcs shimmered on his skin.


    After about half an hour, Anthony, pushing himself to the limit, gradually calmed the raging thunderstorm, finally letting out a sigh.


    Unfortunately, it still wasn''t enough...


    Using the power gathered from the previous storm had significantly improved his mastery of thunder magic, but it was far from sufficient.


    Anthony''s ambition extended beyond this; what he truly desired was to unravel the mysteries of thunder magic!


    Not merely using the crude and perilous method he employed nowforcing electricity into his body to record and replicate the thunder''s power through a different means...


    This was crucial, especially considering that the Archwizard stationed in the kingdom was a Sixth Circle practitioner. The only way to potentially ovee him was through this powerful and unique thunder-based magic. Otherwise, his Magic Kingdom n would be no more than a castle in the air...


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 Chapter 230: Im Just a Cripple Who Knows Neither Magic nor Sorcery!

    Chapter 230: I''m Just a Cripple Who Knows Neither Magic nor Sorcery!


    The tightly sealed chamber finally opened, and Anthony emerged wearily. Wizards gathered around immediately.


    "Master, are you okay?" A witch rushed forward, wanting to support Anthony.


    Even outside, they could hear the rumbling thunder within the chamber. The energy reached the level of fifth or sixth-ring magic, far more dangerous than any previous experiment.


    "Flora, I''m fine, no major injuries," Anthony waved off their help, then sighed. "But s, another failure!"


    "Master, you just need some time. There will be another thunderstorm day," Flora tried to reassure him.


    Forging a new path in magic was no easy task. His ability to harness the might of thunder and create corresponding magic was already remarkable.


    Anthony nodded, preparing to rest in his room, but then remembered something. "Where''s Ebur? Any news of himtely?"


    Ebur was one of the people he sent to investigate William, missing for days now. It led him to dread the worst possibility.


    "Four days ago, a battle erupted on a remote street within the capital. People nearby heard thunderous roars. Rumor has it that arge number of priests rushed there, likely linked to Ebur''s disappearance," another wizard said, filled with worry.


    Anthony frowned. It seemed Ebur had likely been discovered and captured or even killed by the clergy.


    Suddenly,motion erupted from a distance, followed by a hurried attendant rushing in to report, "Master Anthony, Ebur... Ebur has returned!"


    "Oh?" Anthony paused.


    Flora and the others wore expressions of relief. "How is Ebur? Did he escape from prison?"


    "Ebur seems fine, but he''s currently arguing with Rell because he didn''t return alone. He brought someone very important," the attendant replied cautiously.


    "How dare he bring an outsider here?" Flora''s face showed anger. This was the academy''s headquarters; if word got out, it could lead enemy forces from the church here, with unimaginable consequences.


    "Could Ebur be coerced?" one wizard immediately thought.


    Ebur had been missing for days. His sudden return unscathed made some suspect he might have been betrayed.


    "That''s impossible. I trust he wouldn''t betray us." "How can you trust? Did he consult Master Anthony before bringing an outsider?" "He stayed outside for days. If he hadn''t been captured by the clergy, how could there be no news at all?"


    As several academy wizards debated, Flora asked about the appearance of the person Ebur brought.


    "He''s a cripple who knows neither magic nor sorcery! He ims something very important requires meeting Master Anthony," the attendant replied hesitantly.


    Hearing this, Flora and the others froze, not understanding Ebur''s intentions.


    "Let''s go see," Anthony said thoughtfully.


    Several wizards nodded, following Anthony to the meeting hall.


    Most of the wizards and apprentices residing within were gathered there, surrounding two figures at the center, cautious gazes fixed upon them.


    Upon entering, Flora noticed a middle-aged man standing beside Ebur. He was hunched, leaning on a cane, ordinary in appearance, perhaps even balding, his only merit being his decent attire.


    After a nce, Flora shifted her gaze to Ebur, scolding, "Have you lost your mind, Ebur? How dare you bring an outsider to our headquarters without permission?"


    "I know exactly what I''m doing, Flora!" Ebur said firmly, then turned to Anthony, respectfully bowing. "Master Anthony."


    "Good to see you safely back, Ebur. But I think you should exin where you''ve been for these four days and who this friend by your side is," Anthony''s tone remained calm but carried an unmistakable sense of authority.


    "Allow me to exin, Master," Ebur began recounting the recent events. He mentioned staying as a guest in an estate and being well-treated. "And this person is a messenger from the Wizard''s Land of Greenriel, Mr. Loud."


    "Greenriel? The mythical wizard''s sanctum?" Flora questioned in shock.


    "Does such a ce truly exist?" another wizard chimed in with skepticism.


    "It does exist!" Loud nodded politely. "Good day, Master Anthony. Lord Lynn sent me to represent him and convey his sincerest regards to you."


    "State your purpose," Anthony said directly.


    "Lord Lynn wishes to discuss matters of cooperation. We sharemon interests and enemies, aiming to overthrow the rule of the church!" Loud proimed solemnly.


    Anthony scrutinized Loud. Despite Ebur vouching for him, Anthony couldn''t trust a force iming to be from the Wizard''s Land, emerging from nowhere.


    "Also, Lord Lynn is interested in thunder magic and hopes to discuss it with you," Loud added tentatively.


    "So, you want to probe the secrets of thunder magic!" Rell shouted angrily.


    "Impossible!" "Expel him, or better yet, lock him up. We can''t risk him exposing our whereabouts!" "Thunder magic is not something you can covet..."


    The wizards present were incensed, believing Loud''s ims of cooperation to be a facade, aiming to steal their academy''s treasures under the guise of the so-called Wizard''s Land.


    Ebur felt rather awkward because many of these statements were once his own.


    But reality pped him hard...


    >


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 Chapter 231: "Your Thunder Magic Means Nothing Before Me!"

    Chapter 231: "Your Thunder Magic Means Nothing Before Me!"


    As my colleagues grew more agitated, even suggesting imprisoning Laude for interrogation, Ebur hurriedly intervened to exin.


    "Everyone, I can vouch for Laude''s words with my life. The Wizard''s Domain truly exists; it lies beyond the Misty Sea."


    Ebur stated unequivocally. While he hadn''t personally reached the Wizard''s Domain, the craftsmanship of magic couldn''t be fabricated. Whether it was an invisible airshiprger than a house or an alchemical device producing electrical currents, solid magical theory supported them.


    Crucially, before leaving the estate, Lynn demonstrated something "interesting" to him that shattered Ebur''s doubts.


    Because their so-called Thunder Magic was utterly meaningless before the other party!


    Ebur staked his life, causing some wizards to hesitate. However, Rell and others became more convinced that Ebur had betrayed them.


    Anthony raised his hand to halt the arguing and turned to Laude, speaking solemnly. "Since you im to hail from the Wizard''s Domain, where is your proof?"


    "Our airship is currently parked outside the capital. If you''re interested, you''re wee to visit the Wizard''s Domain yourself," Laude stated gravely.


    Flora couldn''t contain herself; this was clearly a trap. But before she could object, Laude spoke again. "Furthermore, Lord Lynn instructed me to bring an intriguing gift. I''d like your permission to demonstrate it. I believe you''ll find it intriguing.""What gift?" Anthony asked, puzzled.


    Laude turned to Rell. "Sir, I assume you''ve already inspected what I''ve brought?"


    "Hmph, this thing can also be called a gift? It''s an insult to Master Anthony!" Rell snorted but allowed it to be brought forward.


    All eyes were immediately drawn to see what this cripple from the Wizard''s Domain had brought¡ªa cage made of interwoven copper wires, chest-high and spherical.


    Flora''s expression soured. Thoughts akin to Rell''s surfaced in her mind. This too was called a gift?


    "It''s called a Faraday Cage!" Laude hastened to introduce. "It''s a magical device, the bane of all Thunder Magic!"


    "Of course, as I''m not a wizard, I can''t perform corresponding magic. So, I can only demonstrate using this cage. ording to Lord Lynn, their principles are the same!"


    "No matter how powerful the thunder and lightning, they cannot breach its protection!"


    Laude''s arrogant words ignited everyone. They stood up, ring at Laude with eyes practically spewing mes.


    "Absurd! This is seeking death! Daring to defile our school''s treasures, insulting the great Thunder Magic created by Master Anthony!"


    Rell rebuked sharply. He had thoroughly inspected it; it was merely a copper-made cage devoid of any magical aura.


    To think, powerful thunderstorms contained temperatures capable of melting steel... and copper conducted electricity. Anyone standing within would be charred by the immense current.


    Flora chuckled, astonished by someone''s profound ignorance. But more than that, she was incensed. Each of them had endured hundreds of lightning strikes to learn Thunder Magic. Many colleagues fell in the pursuit of mastering its immense power...


    Now, this magic-illiterate cripple pointed to a cage, iming it countered all Thunder Magic?


    Even Anthony''s face disyed a hint of anger. Thunder Magic was the culmination of his life''s research¡ªno one would be allowed to defile it.


    Surrounded by a group of wizards capable of ending his life at any moment, Laude felt immense pressure. In truth, he didn''t want to act so arrogantly.


    But Lord Lynn had specifically instructed him to suppress their arrogance, to assert dominance in their future cooperation.


    However, considering the current situation, Laude began to doubt if he had gone too far.


    Despite a slight regret, Laude straightened his back, refusing to be intimidated by the almost tangible malice. After all, he represented the Iyeta School and even the entire Wizard''s Domain; he couldn''t afford to falter.


    "Everyone, I''ve already tested it. Even an ordinary person without magic, with the Faraday Cage, can resist all the Thunder Magic I possess," Ebur sighed.


    Only after Lynn demonstrated the Faraday Cage''s effect did Ebur truly understand why Lynn sent the magic-illiterate Laude.


    It was a message, indicating that once one knew how to counter it, their Thunder Magic wasn''t as formidable. It couldn''t even kill an ordinary person, let alone the wizards capable of constructing the Faraday Cage...


    "Do you even know what you''re saying, Ebur?" Rell charged forward, grabbing Ebur''s cor tightly, roaring.


    "The truth will prove everything, Rell!" Ebur shook his head.


    "If you doubt this, feel free to try it yourself," Laude interjected, walking straight into the copper cage. But he added quickly, "Of course, only using Thunder Magic!"


    "If you seek death yourself, don''t me me!" Rell released Ebur, infuriated, and stepped up to the Faraday Cage, raising his hand toward Laude inside.


    "Lightning... Storm!"


    Rell cast a triple-ring spell. A dazzling lightning burst forth from his fingertips, transforming into robust thunder serpents, crashing onto the Faraday Cage.


    Apanied by intense thunderps, terrifying arcs jumped and shimmered outside the copper cage. Powerful currents flowed through every part of the Faraday Cage.


    Flora and others stared fixedly at Laude inside the cage, eager to witness this cripple, who dared mock their school''s honor, be charred by the thunder...


    However, reality defied their expectations.


    Laude stood in the center of the cage, even arrogantly cing both feet on the copper structure without any protection. Despite thunderous explosions around him, there wasn''t a trace of concern on his face...>


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 Chapter 232: Vanishing Amidst Thunder—[Divine Punishment—Thunderous Judgment]!

    Chapter 232: Vanishing Amidst Thunder¡ª[Divine Punishment¡ªThunderous Judgment]!


    "This is impossible!"


    Watching Loude standing within the cage, untouched by the thunder and lightning shroud, Rell''s face disyed an incredulous expression. He even began to doubt if he was seeing an illusion.


    However, Rell quickly regained his senses, speaking fiercely, "Fayz, it seems this thing has some tricks, everyone,e on!"


    He absolutely didn''t believe in any so-called nemesis of thunder!


    Perhaps his earlier inspection wasn''t thorough. This so-called Faraday cage might have been enchanted with some magical spell. Or perhaps it was merely wrapped in a copperyer, with the interior actually crafted from resin, sand, or rocks capable of insting against lightning!


    But even so, faced with more powerful thunder magic, it would still be pulverized!


    "Chain Lightning!"


    After Rell spoke, more than ten wizards stepped forward, all casting spells of lightning. Each one exerted their full power, chanting incantations as dazzling bolts emerged from the void, hurtling towards Loude.


    They''re stilling?! Is this necessary?Loude, seemingly calm on the surface, was now slightly agitated. Although Lynn had demonstrated the wonders of the Faraday cage earlier, witnessing terrifying bolts heading his way made Loude involuntarily tremble. His legs shook faintly, and he dared not move a muscle...


    In his mind, he kept recalling Lynn''s words: the reason for getting shocked was due to the human body conducting electricity. Only when there''s a potential difference between bodies does a current form... and the Faraday cage being an equipotential body, with zero potential difference and zero electric field, was the key to shielding against thunder magic.


    He didn''t understand the potential difference, but he was clear that these terrifying thunderbolts could turn him into ashes in an instant...


    So, Loude didn''t dare to move at all, fearing the disappearance of this so-called equipotential body.


    The speed of thunder magic was faster than Loude''s thoughts. The "Chain Lightning" released by the group of wizards struck the Faraday cage swiftly.


    Almost tangible arcs of electricity surged, forming a web of thunderous patterns in the air, covering the entire cage!


    The intensity of the thunder magic was more than ten times higher than before, almost reaching the level of fourth-circle magic. It even generated dense electric sparks outside the cage.


    Cold sweat dripped from Loude''s forehead. However, just as Lord Lin had mentioned, all danger was blocked outside the Faraday cage. Despite the lightning dancing around him, he felt no difort, as if these thunderbolts were mere illusions.


    The only sensation was a refreshing breeze blowing toward him, something Loude didn''tprehend as an electron wind, a flow emanating from the negative pole.


    "What a pleasant wind..."


    Loude couldn''t help but sigh aloud, and like thest straw that broke the camel''s back, this made Fayz and others, who had intensified the current,pletely dumbfounded.


    Inside and outside the cage,pletely covered by thunder, they could see the sparkling electric shes around Loude, yet he emitted a sigh offort. How could they ept this?


    Rell stood there, utterly stunned, his expression extremely unsightly. He couldn''t ept that despite risking his life and wielding the power of thunder, he couldn''t even kill a non-magical cripple.


    Could this so-called Faraday cage truly be the nemesis of thunder magic?


    "Impossible, this must be an illusion..." Rell shouted frantically. Perhaps the other party was an incredibly powerful illusionist, deceiving their senses and redirecting the thunder elsewhere using some magic.


    Yes, it must be this way!


    Thinking so, Rell cast a "Mage Shield" on himself and then reached out to touch the Faraday cage.


    "Don''t touch it, Rell..." Ebur, who had a simr experience before, urgently tried to stop him.


    However, Rell became even more determined in his thoughts. He had to expose this deception and directly pressed his hand against it.


    The rampaging thunder immediately seemed to find its target near the Faraday cage. Before Rell could get close, a lightning bolt as thick as an arm struck, sending him flying from the thunder''s impact...


    This is real, not an illusion... was the only thought in Rell''s mind.


    "Rell?!" Fayz and the others eximed in shock, quickly rushing forward to check Rell''s condition.


    Just from the residual effects of the thunder, the "Mage Shield" was directly shattered, Rell''s outstretched arm already charred ck. Horrifying lightning patterns crawled across his neck, half of his face, leaving him lying on the ground, his fate uncertain.


    The people present were somewhat at a loss. Anthony, who had been observing, finally spoke up.


    "Everyone, step back!"


    Fayz and the others'' faces regained hope, ring fiercely at Loude, who looked innocent inside the cage. Just because these formal wizards couldn''t do it didn''t mean their teacher, the founder of thunder magic, couldn''t break this damned Faraday cage!


    "Since you im it''s the bane of all thunder, then try this!" Anthony''s expression turned serious. With immense magical power surging around him, amidst his flying hair, sporadic sparks of lightning shed within the entire conference hall.


    With incantations echoing, faint lightning seemed to flicker between Anthony''s eyes. His entire being grew more concentrated, an overwhelming pressure choking everyone present...


    Loude felt as though facing a formidable enemy, gritting his teeth to avoid kneeling down.


    Not because he felt ashamed, but because he feared that his act of kneeling would create the so-called potential difference, sealing his fate!


    Fayz and the others, as wizards, felt a sense of impending doom. Even though Anthony''s target wasn''t them, the wizards present instinctively erected protective spells.


    "Magic Barrier," "Protective Force Field," "Mage Shield."


    One after another, magical barriers emerged in the air, making Loude''s scalp tingle with regret. He should never havee here!


    "Vanish in the thunder¡ª[Divine Punishment¡ªThunderous Judgment]!" As Anthony raised his hand, a purple thunder enveloped the Faraday cage, converging above it and transforming into a colossal thunder pir, crashing down!


    The purple thunder arrived in an instant, leaving only dazzling lightning and a violent rumble between heaven and earth.


    The power of sixth-circle magic was undoubtedly terrifying!


    The entire Faraday cage trembled violently, the violent current washing over the copper-wire-made cage, causing the ground''s bricks to crackyer byyer.


    Ripples kept reverberating within the conference hall, and the magical barriers constructed by hundreds of formal wizards were shattered in a matter of seconds...>


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 Chapter 233: The Cracked Faraday Cage

    Chapter 233: The Cracked Faraday Cage


    Under the rampage of thunder, the conference hall had turned into ruins. A massive thunderous vortex at the center ceaselessly devoured violent lightning, the destructive force causing the entire area to copse.


    Despite the swift reaction of Flora and the others, they couldn''t entirely escape. The violent power instantly sent several of the closest individuals flying.


    "This is the might of thunder magic!" Flora wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her face filled with awe.


    "He''s doomed, utterly doomed..." a male witch eximed in excitement. Under such immense power, not only an ordinary civilian unfamiliar with magic but even an archmage involved in it would meet a certain death!


    The so-called Faraday cage would simply turn to dust under this thunderous assault...


    *Cough* Releasing a sixth-circle spell, which was a significant burden for Anthony, his face turned pale. His dual pupils stared at the flickering thunder vortex, as if trying to peer through the electrical barrier to see inside.


    This magic was initially meant to confront Archbishop Losak, hisst resort. Yet, it had been unleashed now! He urgently aimed to shatter this supposed Thunder Killer and validate the years of his hard work!


    Seconds passed, and the thunder vortex gradually dissipated. However, what left everyone present in despair was that the copper-made cage, though distorted by falling debris, remained sturdy, standing amidst the copsed ruins.


    Inside the Faraday cage, Laude was violently shaken by the impact, clearly not having recovered from the almost all-epassing lightning strikes moments ago."I''m still alive!"


    Laude spoke dazedly, just as surprised as Flora and the others. At the moment the thunder fell, he had thought he was done for. Yet, the fact proved once again the Faraday cage''s immense strength.


    Under such intense thunder magic, he hadn''t sustained any injuries.


    Not until this moment did Laude abruptly realize that, to maintain his bnce, his hands had unconsciously grabbed the edge of the copper wire. shes of sparks emerged, yet he remained unharmed.


    At that moment, Laude felt as if he controlled the thunder himself!


    The conference hall fell into a profound silence. Over a hundred wizards gazed at Laude, surrounded by electric currents inside the copper cage, resembling a thunder god, their eyes filled with disbelief.


    "He''s still alive?" "Impossible, this was a sixth-circle magic!"


    Flora slumped to the ground, recalling colleagues who sacrificed their lives to study and master thunder magic.


    If this supposed Thunder Killer truly existed, what significance did the sacrifices of these people and the pain she endured hold?


    "Why?" Anthony''s body trembled violently. To his perception, the structure of the Faraday cage inside was crystal clear. There was no life magic at y. It was just an ordinary cage, yet it effectively blocked his most potent thunder magic.


    "Thunder Killer..." Anthony murmured softly. It felt like he had aged ten years. His thunder magic, researched for half his life, had such a fatal w!


    Naturally, an enemy wouldn''t battle carrying a cage. However, for an equal-level grand wizard, as long as they knew how, creating a "Faraday cage" with magic wasn''t challenging.


    Under the stares of awe, fear, and hysteria, Laude, trembling, swallowed hard, fearing these people might turn angry and take him out.


    "Could you tell me why this Faraday cage can protect against lightning?" Anthony gazed at Laude inside the copper cage, almost pleadingly in his inquiry.


    "Lord Lynn said it''s rted to eliminating the electric potential... specifics, I don''t know." Laude cautiously replied.


    Anthony furrowed his brow, contemting what this electric potential truly meant. Suddenly, a voice echoed in the conference hall.


    "Its principle is simple. As electricity always flows from high potential to low potential, imagine a person struck by lightning while standing on the ground; the body bes a temporary conductor, directing the current to the ground.


    The Faraday cage is an equipotential body. Every point on its outer shell possesses the same electric potential. As there''s no electric potential difference, the current doesn''t flow through."


    Simultaneously, a figure appeared within the Faraday cage. A strikingly young-looking male witch d in a blue robe, radiating magical brilliance.


    "You''re Lynn?!" Anthony looked at the young male witch suddenly before him, quickly discerning that this wasn''t their real self but likely a magical projection.


    "Yes." Lynn nodded.


    Anthony didn''t mind the means by which Lynn projected themselves here. Reflecting on Lynn''s words, although terms like "electric potential difference" and "equipotential body" were new and unheard-of, they were not entirely iprehensible.


    "Additionally, copper is an excellent conductor. Under an applied external electric field, electrons within the conductor move to its surface, creating an equally sized, oppositely directed electric field. Thus, the internal and external fields cancel each other out. I call it electrostatic shielding." Lynn chuckled.


    "So that''s it..." Anthony''s mind trembled.


    Indeed, only the power of thunder could contend with thunder...


    "Then how do we crack this Faraday cage?" Anthony urgently inquired, but quickly halted; this was evidently the most crucial secret.


    Even after Lynn exined the Faraday cage''s principle, he couldn''t think of any way to crack this near-perfect "Thunder Killer," unless using a force other than thunder magic.


    "Where there''s electricity, there''s maism. A copper coil with electricity generates a maic field. So, why not try a different method¡ªmaism?" Lynn spoke with interest.


    Anthony suddenly felt enlightened. Closing his eyes, he sensed the magical current, resembling a maic field, flowing along the copper wire. With a tight grip in his right hand, a harsh, unpleasant sound echoed. Under tens of millions of volts of high-pressure current, the once sturdy Faraday cage began to bend and twist inwards...


    "Enough, stop!" Laude screamed in terror. The sturdy Faraday cage was no longer his protective guardian but had be a deadly prison.>


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 Chapter 234: Lynn: "Goodness, everyone has to undergo electric therapy!"

    Chapter 234: Lynn: "Goodness, everyone has to undergo electric therapy!"


    In the urgent cry from Laude, Anthony''s movements suddenly halted.


    At this moment, the Faraday cage was already in ruins, turning into a spiked sphere that caved inward, its surface electric shieldpletely destroyed.


    Had Anthony not been restraining the electricity with a maic field, Laude inside the cage would have been electrocuted long ago.


    "Lightning and maism¡­" The old wizard with white hair looked at the destroyed Faraday cage, his expression somewhat dazed.


    One moment, it was the bane of thunder, and the next, because of the electrically generated maic field, it became a true prison...


    Anthony finally realized that it wasn''t a massive w in the thunder magic he''d studied but his own shallow understanding and research, merely scratching the surface.


    The shift in the strength of spells happens in an instant! This affirmed the saying that for wizards, knowledge is power!


    "Hahaha... so that''s it, so that''s it!" Anthony eximed, thrilled and excited, his face filled with enthusiasm, almost akin to the feeling of mastering thunder for the first time.


    Though the group of wizards present didn''t entirely grasp Lynn''s lengthy discourse, they witnessed one fact: the cursed lightning antagonist had been breached!Risking their lives to study lightning magic wasn''t futile. This revived the spirits of those who had lost heart, like Flora, and they secretly noted the maic force''s ability to break Faraday''s cage.


    Lynn didn''t mind divulging the principles and methods to counter this lightning antagonist. After all, the use for making Faraday cages wasn''t limited to just metallic elements. If someone were to apply this method against him, they''d suffer greatly!


    "Thank you very much for your guidance, Mr. Lynn." After experiencing the initial excitement and exhration, Anthony quickly regainedposure, addressing the young wizard before him with a slight bow.


    "About electric potential and maic fields, I have many more questions. If you''re willing, I hope you can stay here for a few more days. I would like to seek your guidance..."


    "Teacher!" Flora and others eximed in astonishment.


    For those born in the Kingdom of Hadrta, Grand Wizard Anthony was the most powerful and wise person in their eyes. Now, seeing their white-haired teacher bowing to a younger wizard like this, it was somewhat difficult for them to ept.


    However, Anthony didn''t mind. Having lived for so long, notions of prestige had long been put aside. If he couldn''t break through the legendary, he would probably pass away within ten years.


    Apart from his dream of establishing a magical kingdom, what he ardently desired was to glimpse the secrets of thunder magic!


    He urgently wanted to know what thunder truly was, how it formed, and why it existed.


    And this young wizard before him was the only one possibly able to answer these questions.


    Just from the principle of creating Faraday''s cage and the conversion of electromaic rtionships, Anthony understood that Lynn''s understanding of thunder and maic fields probably exceeded his imagination!


    The surprise at the attitude of this Grand Wizard wasn''t just felt by Flora; Lynn was equally taken aback.


    Although in thend of wizards, many higher-level wizards were willing to set aside their status and discuss magical theories on an equal footing, Lynn had never encountered someone like Anthony, who directly asked for guidance and learning in such a manner. This was his first time.


    After all, he looked too young. In amunity where umting knowledge showcased power, it inevitably raised some doubts. That was why he often appeared in the guise of other scientific geniuses, conducting misleading conversations.


    Lynn pondered for a while and then spoke, "Of course, no problem. But this is just one of my avatars. My time here is limited. If you''re interested, why not join the Society of Mystical Arts? We can delve deeper into the realm of magic!"


    As he spoke, Lynn tossed over the prepared "Ring of Mystics," uratelynding it in Anthony''s hand.


    "The Society of Mystical Arts?!" Anthony looked at the ring engraved with peculiar runes.


    "You can perceive it as an academic organization dedicated to exploring the true essence of magic. This ring serves as a token and a key to enter the magical realm... Tomorrow midnight is the time!" Lynn casually exined, then paused for a moment before speaking again.


    "I have a question I''d like you to answer. Logically, you should not be able to sense the existence of charges, so how do you harness lightning?"


    This had been a perplexing question for Lynn all along. Initially, he thought it was rted to maic fields, as in maic induction, given that the Kingdom of Hadrta possessed arge maite mine.


    But Ebur seemed extremely limited in understanding maic induction, even reacting astonishingly to maic generators, so his spection was undoubtedly wrong.


    "Our method is to weaken the power of thunder and conduct it into the body, allowing the body''s magic to gradually be familiar with this peculiar force until it can mimic thunder using magic..." Anthony straightforwardly exined.


    This process was incredibly lengthy, depending on each person''s innate talents. It usually required enduring hundreds or even thousands of electric shocks. Not everyone could master this, and up till now, over ten wizards had died from excessively powerful currents...


    Listening to Anthony''s exnation, Lynn''s expression became rather peculiar.


    Goodness, everyone has to undergo electric therapy, huh?


    Quite courageous!


    No wonder why Ebur could physically withstand the shocks and bounce back after half a day''s rest. He had simply be ustomed to it!


    After speaking, Anthony looked toward Lynn, awaiting his evaluation.


    "Well, it''s a unique method..." It took Lynn quite a while to squeeze out that sentence.


    Of course, this statement held no mocking intention. Anthony essentially reversed the use of magical characteristics, allowing formal wizards who couldn''t perceive charges or maic fields to advance in utilizing the power of thunder magic!


    It was indeed a shortcut to acquiring power...


    Thinking this, Lynn nced at the meeting hall, now destroyed by the previous thunder magic, and at the unconscious Rell on the ground before speaking.


    "I believe you still have some trouble to deal with. Thus, today''s meeting concludes here. It''s time for us to go, Laude!"


    As his words fell, the magical projection dissolved into a faint light and disappeared before everyone. Laude, pretending to adjust his robe, bowed to the crowd as a sign and then took his leave.>


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 Chapter 235: This is the True Essence of Thunder Magic!

    Chapter 235: This is the True Essence of Thunder Magic!


    After Loude took his leave, Flora and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Everything that had happened seemed to them like an unreal dream.


    "Teacher, what should we do now?" a male wizard asked anxiously.


    "If they trulye from thend of wizards and have a good understanding of thunder magic, that''s not necessarily a bad thing," Anthony said solemnly.


    In fact, the kingdom of Hadrta had more than just their wizard faction. However, those people were insignificant. If they were abruptly brought into his ns, it might just cause chaos.


    But it didn''t mean they didn''t need allies.


    The influence of the Holy See was deeply rooted in the kingdom, and wizards remained in an absolutely disadvantaged position. Without the tacit approval of a certain someone, they couldn''t openly hide under the nose of the Holy See.


    "The legendarynd of wizards?" Flora murmured softly. She had heard rumors about thend of wizards, but she had always thought it was just some fantasy of wizards.


    "How is Rell?" Anthony turned and asked.


    After examining Rell''s condition, a potion master shook his head and sighed. "He''s severely injured. His right hand is probably useless, needing quite some time to recover. But thankfully, his life has been preserved!""As long as he''s alive," Anthony nodded. Losing the right hand wasn''t a big deal; he knew of at least three potions that could regenerate severed limbs.


    Of course, each was quite expensive...


    "Flora, take care of things here. Ebur,e with me," Anthony said again. He was intrigued by Ebur''s experiences these past days, especially the internalbustion engine and that alchemical device capable of generating electricity.


    Meanwhile, Flora and the others began cleaning up the meeting room, now turned into ruins.


    Fortunately, when they cast the spell earlier, Anthony had already activated a protective magic covering the entire residence. Otherwise, such a powerful energy fluctuation might have attracted the Holy See''s personnel long ago!


    A day passed in the blink of an eye. When the group of wizards finished cleaning thest falling debris, midnight had arrived.


    Anthony, apanied by Flora and others, returned to the secret chamber and solemnly wore the ring on the ring finger of his right hand.


    "Take care of the protection in the residence. Wake me up if there''s a major crisis."


    After Anthony''s serious instructions, he activated the magic on the ring. The next moment, he found his consciousness split.


    Before him was a void, no discernible direction, surrounded by endless darkness. Only scattered specks of light shone in the distance, one of them particrly brilliant.


    This light wasn''t like a candle; it seemed to prate vast distances...


    And it felt like he was rapidly moving through this void and darkness. When he got closer, Anthony discovered that the exceptionally bright light was an immensely colossal ''fireball.'' He couldn''t find words to describe the enormity and grandeur of this ''fireball.'' It resembled a forge of hell, with mes forming immense waves on its surface...


    "What is that?" Anthony murmured.


    "That''s a star shining in the universe... our sun above our heads!" Lynn''s figure appeared before Anthony. He nced around and spoke with a smile.


    "What about those?" Anthony surveyed the numerous dots in the distance, already having a guess in mind.


    "They are also stars, just too far away, so their light appears dim," Lynn casually replied.


    "And this is beyond space and time! You can understand it as a cosmic projection created by the Arcane Society. We''ve inscribed the naturalws we''ve discovered here. When it''s fully perfected, perhaps this ce will be a second real universe!" Lynn spoke with emotion. Initially cautious, only after witnessing Ougust projecting the Doomsday Domain into the real world, did this idea sprout in his mind.


    "A cosmic projection?!" Anthony''s mind trembled.


    Though he had tried to estimate the Arcane Society''s capabilities, their actions still exceeded his expectations by far.


    A projection of an entire universe! What audacity! What precise and borate magical theories would be needed to support this?


    Anthony couldn''t even begin to imagine!


    "So, is the Arcane Society the leader of thend of wizards?" Anthony pondered aloud. In his view, only such a wizard sanctuary could have such grand ambitions.


    "No, the Arcane Society is merely an academic research organization. It exists in thend of wizards, in the Empire of Secas, and even beyond the empire!" Lynn exined casually. "We''re eager to wee every wizard with an academic research spirit to explore the mysteries of this world together."


    Lynn''s response surprised Anthony, but he quickly understood. It was a wider scope, epassing the most exceptional wizards across the entire continent¡ªan academic research organization.


    And now, he had be one of them.


    "Thank you for your exnation, Sir Lynn!" Anthony took several deep breaths, suppressing the fluctuations of his emotions, then continued, "But I still have many doubts and hope you won''t mind enlightening me..."


    "I want to know what lightning is? What causes it and why does it exist?" Anthony eagerly asked. This had been a persistent question troubling him.


    "Electricity is a natural phenomenon generated by stationary or moving charges!" Lynn said, extending his right hand and snapping his fingers. Many faint lights appeared around them.


    "Chargese in positive and negative types. Two charged objects exert forces on each other and feel the forces exerted by the other. Objects with simr charges repel each other, while objects with different charges attract. When these charges meet, they release arge amount of light and heat... that''s what we see as lightning!"


    As Lynn spoke, the faint lights around them began to tremble, simting the attraction and repulsion reactions of positive and negative charges. It was like mischievous children embracing each other or perhaps disdainfully moving away, finally gathering and colliding, creating dazzling shes of light in the ck space, drawing arcs resembling spider webs in the void.


    Anthony watched, entranced. This was what he sought, now presented to him so tangibly...>


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 Chapter 236: The Answer of Electricity and Magnetism - Maxwells Equations!

    Chapter 236: The Answer of Electricity and Maism - Maxwell''s Equations!


    "This is the cause of thunder..."


    It took Anthony quite a while to regain his senses. He murmured softly, then suddenly realized the simrity between the repulsion and attraction of positive and negative charges and the properties possessed by mas.


    "So, electricity is maism, and maism is electricity?" Anthony eximed as if he had discovered a new continent, incredibly excited.


    He felt he had glimpsed the mystery of thunder and maic fields.


    "You could say that. Electricity and maism are inseparable, interdependent facets, much like water and ice..." Lynn nodded.


    Anthony, initially excited, then became perplexed. Since both are interconnected, why do they manifest in two different forms?


    Numerous questions shed through his mind, and Anthony impatiently looked to Lynn, awaiting an exnation.


    "To understand this, one must firstprehend what a maic field is!" Lynn exined with a smile. "ording to the schrs of the Society of Mystical Arts, it''s a special form of substance surrounding mas, electric currents, and moving charges in space. It''s a vector field, possessing direction and numerical value at any point in space..."


    "For example, the beneath our feet is a vast maic field!" Lynn extended his right hand, snapping his fingers, revealing a colossal azure sphere in front of Anthony.Due to limited knowledge of the entire continent, most regions were covered by thick clouds.


    However, that wasn''t the focus. After Lynn''s words, countless substantial lines of maic force extended from the north and south poles, tracing graceful arcs, like a massive enveloping the entire''s center.


    Anthony gazed at the enormous celestial body below, too stunned to articte words. At this moment, he was unconcerned about why the continent was a sphere; he was astonished and asked in disbelief, "So, the continent under our feet is a gigantic ma? Hence, everything is attracted to the surface?"


    Anthony immediately recalled Ebur mentioning the elemental theory of charge. Wouldn''t this perfectly exin the phenomenon of "things falling toward the surface"?


    "No, that''s actually due to the''s gravity," Lynn said with a wry smile. "But in some aspects, maism and gravity do indeed share simrities..."


    Using the massive as a blueprint, Lynn began exining the mysteries of electricity and maism to Anthony, from maic field lines and maization to electromaic induction, and the mutual influence and conversion of electric and maic fields.


    As fundamental constituents of the universe, the electromaic phenomena involving the quantum field might take days or nights to fully expound.


    Everything from sound, electricity, maism, light, color, heat transfer, thermal radiation, chemical reactions, and even the formation of life ultimately derives from electromaic force!


    Exploring any one of these fields exhaustively throughout one''s life might not guaranteepleteprehension.


    This was why Lynn didn''t cling stubbornly to this knowledge, independently developing rted magic. After all, it was the crystallization of millennia of human wisdom. To integrate and deduce it to higher levels alongside magic was akin to wishful thinking.


    The majority of Lynn''s exnations pertained to macroscopic electromaic phenomena, yet hadn''t delved into the deeper, more profound electromaic quantum theory. However, for Anthony, it was already immensely astounding.


    Initially, Anthony believed his understanding of thunder was deep enough, except for the crucial cause. However, after Lynn''s exnation, he realized how shallow his knowledge truly was!


    Electrons, charges, alternating current, direct current... constant maic fields, alternating maic fields, pulsating maic fields...


    This influx of concepts and terms rushed into his mind, leaving Anthony feeling inadequate about his years of research.


    Despite creating potent thunder magic, discovering the phenomenon of electricity generating maism, and even inventing runic symbols to manipte electromaism, his understanding of lightning was superficial.


    "Lord Lynn, I wonder whose research or findings these theories stem from in the realm of electromaics?" Anthony asked, genuinely curious.


    "The development of electromaics isn''t the work of one or two individuals but the collective research of many schrs within the Society of Mystical Arts," Lynn exined.


    "For instance, there''s Faraday, who discovered electromaic induction, Amp¨¨re, who determined the direction of maic lines, and Maxwell, who utilized oil-drop experiments to measure electron charge, among others..."


    These stories of the pioneers, altered by Lynn to align with wizardly identity, captivated Anthony, making him yearn to join them, delving into the mysteries of electromaism alongside these masters.


    However, what surprised him was Lynn''s omission of his contributions. Despite his profound understanding of electromaic studies and development, he didn''t mention his own role.


    This was clearly abnormal. The theories and principles of magic were immensely valuable. No one would willingly impart all their research unless it was through master-apprentice inheritance, academic exchanges among equals, or for some ulterior motive.


    For example, while Lynn had just expounded numerous electromaic theories and phenomena, he avoided discussing critical points, speaking quite vaguely...


    Anthony could discern these as hooks. However, his thirst for knowledge had overridden his caution. Even if it was poison wrapped in candy, he wanted to taste the sweetness first.


    After Lynn spoke at length, stirring Anthony''s emotions, he brought out his trump card!


    "There are many theories describing electromaic principles, but they can all be summed up in this set of equations!" As Lynn''s words fell, brilliant points of light sparkled in the void, gradually converging to form four mathematical equationsposed of letters and symbols.


    These were: Gauss''sw for how charges produce electric fields, Gauss''sw for no maic monopoles, Maxwell-Amp¨¨re''sw for how current and changing electric fields produce maic fields, and Faraday''sw of electromaic induction describing how changing maic fields produce electric fields.


    These equations epassed everything, nearly perfectly unifying electricity and maism, predicting that light is an electromaic wave, constructing the foundation of electromaism!>


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 Chapter 237: Anthony: Are you Lynn Maxwell?

    Chapter 237: Anthony: Are you Lynn Maxwell?


    "This is the answer to electricity and maism¡ªI call it the Maxwell equations!" Lynn''s indifferent voice echoed beyond time and space.


    Anthony''s gaze firmly locked onto theplex series of mathematical forms in front of him. Without annotations or exnations, he couldn''t discern the meaning behind each symbol.


    Yet, the intricate mathematical equations and Lynn''s words convinced him that profound electromaic theories were embedded within.


    "Maxwell''s equations..." Anthony murmured softly. He understood that there''s no such thing as a free lunch; it was time for him to give back!


    However, Anthony couldn''t fathom what knowledge he possessed that could rival the ultimate answer in electromaic magic.


    Was it a form converting magical power into lightning? Or a study of thunder magic''s insights? Or perhaps alchemical runes that could manipte lightning and maism...


    Anthony fell into deep confusion. How could he present something so shallow?


    The other thing he valued most was the entire wizardingmunity, but he knew right away that the "Society of Mystical Arts" only recruited elites and wouldn''t regard his apprentices.


    After pondering for a while, Anthony seemed to suddenly realize something. His eyes gleamed with determination as he prostrated before Lynn, his voice trembling. "Your selfless guidance¡ªI have no way to repay it. Please allow me to be your disciple and learn the mysteries of electromaic magic alongside you!"


    Lynn was dumbfounded. He dangled the Maxwell equations as bait, hoping to exchange them for Anthony''s research findings on thunder magic. After all, Anthony had developed the Hexa-Ring Thunder Magic, and surely, he had unique insights into the principles of magical and electromaic conversion.


    But he never expected Anthony, an old dog, to propose bing his student.


    Unbeknownst to Lynn, after Anthony had seen Faraday cages, understood the principles of thunder generation, and examinedary maic fields, he had lost all confidence in his research results.


    Apart from an equal exchange, the only way Anthony could think of to continue receiving exnations from Lynn was through a master-disciple rtionship!


    Regarding age... Anthony wouldn''t judge by appearances. He was aware that some immensely powerful witches typically used unicorn blood and essence of magewood to brew a special alchemical potion to maintain their optimal appearance.


    So, Anthony spected that the other party was most likely an artful grand wizard, perhaps even a legendary wizard who enjoyed acting younger than their actual age...


    After all, knowledge reserves couldn''t be faked. Moreover, considering the wizard before him possessed control over this cosmic projection, a daring idea sparked in Anthony''s mind.


    This person was the key figure summarizing the electromaic theory, one of the high-ranking members of the "Society of Mystical Arts"¡ª Lynn Maxwell!


    Only the originator of this theory had the qualification to impart this equation representing electromaic magic to another person!


    Realizing this, Anthony unreservedly set aside his so-called dignity, pleading to be Lynn''s disciple. Perhaps in his lifetime, there might be a chance for him to break through the Hexa-Ring Wizardry, or even glimpse into a higher realm¡ªthe realm of legends!


    After a brief moment of astonishment, Lynn quickly regainedposure. Neither agreeing nor refusing, a faint smile yed on his lips. "It''s too early to talk about that now. Let''s wait until you''ve learned all these mathematical basics..."


    "This is the foundation for learning Maxwell''s equations!" Lynn spoke as countless dots reappeared in the void, transforming into a myriad ofplex symbols and forms.


    Solid geometry forms, curve equations, limits... Countless calculus equations and theorems almost filled every corner around.


    Yes, learning the Maxwell equations required calculus as a prerequisite, which was a trap Lynn had intentionally set.


    To study this electromaic equation, one needed to start with calculus. It was a lengthy process.


    Yet, through this, he could exchange for Anthony''s years of research. When Anthony truly began learning the Maxwell equations, Lynn''s own abilities would have reached another level, rendering the exchange inconsequential.


    However, Anthony was astute. Lynn didn''t mind expediting this process!


    With a thought, these equations suspended in the void surged toward Anthony, transforming back into dots and melding into his body. He was ready to make an attempt!


    Anthony immediately sensed something assaulting his brain. After a moment''s hesitation, he released his constructed mental defenses.


    A vast amount of unfamiliar knowledge flooded into his mind, momentarily dazing Anthony as he immersed himself in these intricate mathematical forms and symbols.


    It worked!


    Lynn''s eyes flickered. Previously, when he learned that the Brainiac could break through others'' mental defenses and mobilizeputational power, he pondered whether he could engrave some knowledge into someone else''s mind.


    It seemed possible now.


    However, this didn''t mean he could instantly make someone grasp certain knowledge; at most, it elerated the process.


    Knowing and mastering were two different things!


    This method was akin to forcibly stuffing the contents of a book into someone''s mind. To truly understand, it required slow learning and research.


    ...


    About ten minutester, Anthony''s consciousness broke free from the magical domain. Several schrs and wizards who had been waiting nearby immediately surrounded him.


    "Teacher... how are you? Are you alright?" Flora asked with great concern. Shortly after activating that ring, Anthony''s expression started changing drastically, and his body seemed to tremble, looking quite unwell.


    "I''m fine, no, I''m extremely well!" Anthony stood up from his seat, his face filled with excitement. At this moment, he didn''t resemble an old man with graying hair; his entire being seemed infused with new vigor.


    Flora and the others were taken aback by Anthony''s excessive reaction. Following that, they sensed a strong surge of magical power emanating from him.


    Arcs of electricity began manifesting around Anthony, and metallic objects in the chamber trembled as if drawn by some force, rapidly flying toward him.


    Amidst intense thunderps, iron spoons, ornaments, sword edges began distorting and dissolving under temperatures of tens of thousands of degrees and the influence of maic fields...


    Anthony''s magical energy surged, escting continuously, surpassing his previous levels, reaching a new teau...>


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 Chapter 238: Advanced Material Deconstruction!

    Chapter 238: Advanced Material Deconstruction!


    Inside the secret room at this moment, Flora and the others were cornered by the sudden appearance of thunder and the astonishing momentum emanating from Anthony.


    "A-teacher, this... promotion?!" a male witch looked at everything in horror, unable to believe what he was seeing.


    He knew well that his teacher, Anthony, had been stuck in the realm of the Fifth Circle for more than ten years, oftenmenting his age, the exhaustion of his physical and mental strength, fearing there was no hope for advancement.


    Unexpectedly, through amunication ring, after discussing for over an hour with that seemingly young male witch, Anthony had actually been promoted again.


    Anthonypletely ignored the few people, wholly focused on sensing the changes in lightning and maic fields. In a trance, he actually sensed what Lynn had mentioned... the presence of a charge!


    But this thing was so peculiar, Anthony couldn''t even determine if it was a fluid mass or a single element. He could vaguely sense that this thing ''seemed'' to exist somewhere, but whenever he tried to delve deeper, the charge suddenly vanished...


    Soon after, Anthony snapped out of this peculiar state and then realized he had ascended to the level of a Sixth Circle Grand Wizard!


    However, having been just a step away before, this time, the initial contact with the mysteries of the microcosm naturally propelled him across that final step!


    The thunderstorm that surged within the secret room quickly calmed down. Flora and the others gathered around, joyously asking, "Teacher, are you already a Sixth Circle Grand Wizard?"Anthony stroked his long beard lightly, nodding. "Yes, after discussing the mysteries of thunder magic with... that esteemed individual, I gained some insights."


    Seeing their revered teacher using a respectful title made Flora furrow her brow. "Is that male witch called Lynn really that powerful?"


    "I''ve told you before, Flora, don''t be deceived by appearances. Outward appearances are the most superficial things," Anthony said disappointedly.


    Having personally experienced the wonders and mysteries of charges, Anthony''s assessment of Lynn''s strength elevated to another level.


    With such profound understanding of electromaism, the other party must have reached a legendary level!


    Upon learning that Lynn might be an old but youthful-looking legendary wizard, Flora and the others quickly dropped their doubts and instead fantasized about what the legendary wizard''s domain might look like.


    Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in the office of the Dean of Iyeta Academy, Lynn opened his eyes, returning from the magical realm.


    Sessfully fooling another grand wizard left Lynn in a particrly good mood.


    Ever since concocting the nonexistent organization, the "Society of Mystical Arts," although it granted him many advantages, it also introduced a constant risk. He was almost always contemting how to circle back from this deception.


    Fortunately, Harof''s magical realm provided a gathering ce for him. Now, by pulling in the faction where Anthony resided, by the time they ventured into the kingdom of "Hadrata," and fooled more academically inclined wizards, the basic framework would be established.


    Afterward, it was just a matter of gradual development, and everything would eventually fall into ce.


    With these thoughts, Lynn swiftly resumed researching the newly discovered function of the magicalwork¡ªimprinting knowledge into someone''s mind while subtly breaking their mental defenses.


    Previously, during the knowledge transfer, the AI expedited the decryption process of mental frequencies, and now, it could mobilize around five percent of Anthony''sputing power.


    Don''t underestimate that five percent; the increase inputational power was even greater than that of the twelve Third Circle wizardsbined, such as Tiek and Alva!


    Considering whether to create a knowledge exchange function, using this method to integrate more people into the magicalwork.


    "Detected a severe mental fluctuation in Target 14..."


    "Anthony... has broken through?" Lynn paused for a moment, immediately guessing from the AI''s mental power assessment that he had advanced from the Fifth Circle to the Sixth.


    That was an unexpected joy!


    "071, enter overload mode, activate Anthony''sputing power."


    Reciting silently within, the world before Lynn instantly turned surreal. The surrounding space twisted and morphed slightly. Countless elements continuously surged around, forming an elemental whirlwind under mental control.


    This was the peculiar world perceived by a Grand Wizard.


    Although Lynn''s mental amplification limit had increased significantly after advancing from a Third to a Sixth Circle wizard, twenty percent of a Sixth Circle''sputational power still caused slight difort in his brain.


    With a thought, a steel sword on the table levitated, falling into his palm. Following, with a flick of his fingers, magic enveloped the sword.


    "Advanced Material Deconstruction!"


    This was a Fourth Circle spell Lynn had recently learned, an upgraded version of the Zero Circle magic, "Basic Material Deconstruction." It was the most crucial spell for Elemental Grand Wizards!


    Its immense power was enough to break down metal creations into their most basic elemental form!


    After over a month of exploration and difficult practice, Lynn had finally engraved it in his consciousness, and he had already deciphered the element of copper; now, it was time for iron!


    The suspended steel sword trembled slightly. About a minuteter, a faint boom echoed in the Dean''s office. The sturdy redwood sword gradually began to crack and disintegrate, a slow and extremely draining process of magical consumption.


    Droplets of sweat formed on Lynn''s forehead. About ten minutester, the one-meter-long sword had transformed into an invisible mass of elements.


    Ny-six percent iron, one percent carbon, along with impurities like silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and more were mixed within.


    Manipting iron and copper elements was undoubtedly more challenging than non-metallic elements like hydrogen, oxygen, or helium, resulting in a significant increase in consumption!


    "Iron Sandstorm!"


    After a moment of adjustment, Lynn attempted this Fourth Circle magic he had witnessed numerous times.


    The iron elements in his palm immediately arranged themselves orderly, turning into countless tiny particles resembling fine sand, swirling toward the wooden table in front of him.


    Like being thrown into a crusher, after the iron sandstorm passed, the solid redwood table had been crushed into scattered wood chip remnants...


    It could be foreseen that if a person were caught in it, they''d likely be turned into mincemeat in an instant...


    After pulverizing the redwood table, the power of the "Iron Sandstorm" didn''t diminish; instead, it seemed to expand, pulling nearby chairs and tea tables into its vortex...>


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 Chapter 239: Magneto Lynn?

    Chapter 239: Mao Lynn?


    Inside the dean''s office was a mess; Lynn hastily ceased the magic supply, and the storm immediately dispersed, iron sand falling to the ground, creating a patter of sounds.


    "The magic consumed was approximately 6 scales!" Lynn sensed the reserve of magic within and promptly concluded.


    This was considering the ready avability of iron elements. However, if relying solely on magical transformation, it would probably require over thirty magic scales, a rtively standard consumption for a fourth-circle spell.


    In other words, even as a current third-circle wizard, in the best condition, his limit was casting three fourth-circle spells. This was with the AI brain bearing a portion of theputational power and magic consumption.


    Even with his significantly higher magic reservespared to peers, an ordinary third-circle wizard, even if exhausting all magic, might not sessfully cast a fourth-circle spell.


    It''s evident there''s a qualitative difference between a regr wizard and a grand wizard...


    Shaking his head, Lynn realized that despite his rapid advancement¡ªleveraging mental fusion and the fusion elixir ''Eye of Death''¡ªtaking just about a year, he had consecutively jumped ranks to be a third-circle wizard. However, this wasn''t sufficient to handle the increasinglyplex situation.


    The quickest record of promotion from a regr wizard to a grand wizard across the Wizard Land was four years!


    However, the record holder, Ougust, was debunked as a fraud, his reputation shattered, rendering it useless as a reference.Luckily, Lynn had his own ''cheat'' method. Using theputational power brought by the magic, he could aplish many things earlier than most grand wizards, such as casting fourth-circle magic or using magical transformation on metal elements.


    This was unprecedented in mental strengthening. In the past three months, Lynn''s mental strength evaluation and total magic capacity had improved significantly. The crucial aspect was that once he adjusted to this state, there would be no further impediments to bing a grand wizard!


    What hecked now was umtion, unsure if he could catch up by the time Wizard Land and the church erupted into war.


    Lynn quickly adjusted his mindset and began researching how to enhance the lethality of these spells.


    Among the magic he possessed, the most destructive was the "Spatial Vibrations." However, without Aurora''s magic support, it could only be used against enemies within a five-meter range. Beyond that, its power diminished significantly and wouldn''t pose a threat to a grand wizard.


    The "Iron Sandstorm" served as a supplement for mid-range attacks. This spell had many variations. Apart from turning into an iron sand grinder like this, it could also produce massive iron thorns, essentially manipting iron elements.


    Each person''s spell model and constructed spell positions had subtle differences, all in how they were used.


    Thosepatible with metal elements like iron and copper naturally involved electricity and maism!


    If thunder magic could be mixed in, the power of the "Iron Sandstorm" could significantly increase. The sensation of being entangled in an electrified meat grinder would be quite thrilling!


    Subsequently, by controlling the iron sand through the electric and maic fields caused by the current, secondary or even tertiary strikes could be executed, making defense nearly impossible...


    Isn''t that just Mao?


    Lynn instantly recalled a character from an ancient movie and then nced toward the corner where a small generator Cody had replicated with mas was ced.


    For an official wizard incapable of sensing charges and maic fields, the shortcut to learning thunder magic was through electrotherapy!


    Lynn''s expression twisted a bit. To electrify or not¡ªthis was a matter worth pondering!


    Compared to merely storing lightning from thunderstorms and mitigating the introduction of Ebur and the others through protective magic, being able to generate electricity and control its intensity meant he wouldn''t face any danger from being shocked...


    Under the temptation of mastering electromaism, Lynn hesitated for a few seconds, then used "Mage Hand" to lift the generator.


    Over the next few days, Lynn practiced magic and underwent electrotherapy. asionally, he entered the magic domain to exin calculus problems to Anthony, taking some hints on practicing thunder magic from him.


    Normally, from receiving ''electrotherapy'' to initially mastering the magic transformation of lightning, it usually took three to four months, or even more than half a year. Yet Lynn achieved it in just four days.


    Because he was shocked at least dozens of times a day, leaving him shivering all over!


    ording to the data in the AI brain, the human body could safely withstand only 10 milliamps of current and 36 volts of safe voltage.


    However, after experiencing it personally, Lynn discovered that a wizard''s physical constitution was robust. Coupled with the resistance brought about by the magical energy within cells, they could almost endure several hundred volts of high-voltage electricity without harm.


    Moreover, his resistance to electric currents was continually increasing, indicating his familiarity with this new power, as magic slowly adapted to the lightning.


    The various industries in Iyeta Harbor were also rapidly developing. Every three days, airships would transport batches of scarce ores to the square, distributed to various workshops by alchemical carts.


    Iyeta appeared like a massive war machine, everyone functioning as a cog, continuously assembling and producing war supplies.


    With ample materials, the firearms workshop expanded several times, manufacturing a whopping 1,500 finished firearms in a month, three times what Lynn had estimated.


    Upon hearing Philip''s report, Lynn was astounded, almost doubting if the other was joking or if the alchemy institute had developed new magic.


    Like putting firearm materials into an alchemy array and then pping hands, producing the items!


    Only after personally inspecting the workshop did Lynn understand that he had underestimated the passion of thosemoners for work. They worked almost sixteen hours a day without rest, anytime they were awake.


    Each workshop had a limited number of vacancies, with countless paupers outside longing to rece them for that job.


    After much consideration, Lynn enforced a mandatory ten-hour sleep, meal, and rest time daily, allowing a day off every fortnight, preventing people from being crushed due to high-intensity work.


    At the current productivity of Iyeta Harbor, considering human rights was far from a luxury.


    Having food, shelter, and safety ensured was the greatest happiness in this era!>


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 Chapter 240: The More One Shows Their Strength, the More They Seem Weak

    Chapter 240: The More One Shows Their Strength, the More They Seem Weak


    In the blink of an eye, a week had passed. In the underground chamber of the Hadrata capital, William swirled a crimson goblet in his hand, listening to his subordinate''s report.


    "Milord, the fleet you sent to investigate the Misty Sea has returned. ording to their description, there seems to be some change in the mist. The visibility has improved significantly, and the sea''s storms don''t appear as formidable as before," a tall, thin man knelt respectfully, rying gathered intelligence to William.


    For sailors frequently navigating these waters, the terror of the Misty Sea was well-known. At its thickest, visibility didn''t extend beyond a meter! This meant sailors found themselves enveloped in an eerie white fog on the same ship, unable to see the vessel beneath their feet or theirpanions nearby. The only sensation was swaying with the ship, drifting deeper into the fog!


    Anyone would involuntarily feel as though they were journeying towards hell.


    But this time was different. The three fleets sent to explore the Misty Sea had prepared for sacrifice, yet they all returned, bringing astonishing newsthe mist was slowly dissipating. Visibility within the mist now exceeded six meters.


    Listening to the report, William squinted, his hand with the goblet pausing.


    "Milord, could there be an issue in the Wizards'' domain?" the tall, thin man cautiously asked.


    "Quite possible..." William''s thoughts swirled.


    During this time, the sailors stranded in Iyeta had been gradually returned, mostly reporting rapid development in Iyeta Harbor, singing praises. It made him question if these people were under some bizarre visual illusion or deceitful lies!"Sometimes, the more one deliberately disys their might, the weaker they be..." A mocking smile yed at William''s lips.


    From the sailors'' descriptions, he gleaned vital informationGreenreel, the Wizards'' city, had recently experienced internal turmoil. Lynn had gained significant achievements during that unrest, leading to her control over Iyeta Harbor.


    The current condition of the Misty Sea likely corrted with that upheaval.


    The reports from the fleets undoubtedly confirmed this. They switched trade from sea routes to using airships, attempting to conceal it!


    "Milord William, what should we do now?" Cody couldn''t help but ask.


    William''s gaze flickered, yet he didn''t immediately respond.


    This news was crucial, impossible to conceal for long.


    Given the vastness of the Misty Sea and its treacherous maritime conditions, almost every year, fleets would identally enter. If lucky to avoid delving too deep or encountering storms or the Eye of Death, there was a slim chance of survival.


    But this year was different. Since their fleets could return safely, others would likely follow suit.


    All it needed was an opportunity, shattering people''s fear of the Misty Seapletely.


    What would transpire next, he could predict even with his eyes closedthe Church would never miss a chance to eradicate these Wizards!


    William''s expression shifted. He wasn''t willing to forfeit the massive profits from trade each year, yet he knew that if war erupted, the Wizards'' domain could be annihted.


    After all, if these Wizards could counter the Church, why would they hide on a small ind outside the Misty Sea?


    The trusted aides gathered in the underground chamber murmured among themselves.


    In the Sekas Empire, everyone knew the Church''s dread. Their coboration with Herendra was established under secrecy and safety.


    Now, significant changes urred in the Wizards'' domain. Even the primary barrier, the Misty Sea, was disappearing. It made them contemte unusual thoughts. Some even suggested reporting this to Archbishop Losak.


    If they could follow this thread, even lead the Church''s fleets through the Misty Sea, finding that ind, they''d gain monumental achievements, enough for high honors, possibly even bing a powerful duke.


    This temptation subtly swayed William''s bncea weekly ie of thousands of imperial coins against the risk of imminent upheaval.


    Another consideration was the Church''s rewardsa chance to no longer hide, ascending to an influential noble in the Empire!


    William incessantly swirled the crimson liquid in his goblet, mirroring his fluctuating emotions. "Cody, do you know how many Wizards Lynn has transported to the capital recently and what they''re up to?"


    "Regarding cargo transport, it''s all managed by someone named Loud, appointed by Lord Lynn herself. She''s restricted even the estate''s servants for various reasons, so the exact number andposition of the personnel remain unknown. I only know shipments ur every three to five days," Cody hesitantly replied. "Moreover, they''ve taken over some ss trade and seem to be engaging with nobles."


    William smirked coldly. It seemed the new controller of Iyeta had no intention to trust him. The swaying goblet in his hand paused, and abruptly, William downed the crimson liquid within, speaking in a cold tone.


    "Increase surveince from today onward in the capital. Find out what these Wizards are nning! Also, I need to know every action within the estate. Use the pretext of our previous negotiation benefits to send someone in!"


    "Understood!" Cody nodded.


    "Milord William, should we arrange a meeting with Archbishop Losak?" A weasel-eyed sailor abruptly asked.


    "Not yet. It''s not the time!" William shook his head. Theycked enough leverage.


    Thepass pinpointing the Wizards'' domain had been reimed by Lynn. They had lost the ability to locate the ind in the vast sea.


    Without enough merits to offset their previous ''mistake,'' the oue after losing their utility was apparent!


    So, they needed more intelligence now, at least confirming when the airship would stop within the estate. There had to be a method to locate the Wizards'' domain onboard.


    If they could use this time to create a divide among these Wizards, it would be ideal!>


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 Chapter 241: The Musketeers and the Imminent War

    Chapter 241: The Musketeers and the Imminent War


    Unconsciously, summer arrived, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, roasting the three thousand soldiers standing on the training ground. Beads of sweat dripped incessantly from their foreheads, soaking into their cors, leaving their whole bodies ufortably damp, yet no one dared to move.


    Old York had been standing on the training ground for a full two hours. Every inch of his body ached, but he gritted his teeth and persevered until the noon bell rang for their break.


    But he barely had time to rest. He hurriedly dashed, joining the long queue to collect today''s lunch¡ªtwo pieces of white bread, a small bowl of vegetable soup, along with a palm-sized grilled fish or an equivalent portion of camel meat.


    For Old York, this was a luxurious delight. Despite earning a monthly sry of twenty silver coins by joining the Musketeers, they couldn''t afford such extravagance on ordinary days.


    Only here did they have three meals a day, each with meat. Normally, they''d have only one or even two meals.


    "Old York, do you think the Lord suddenly gathering so many for training means we''re going to war?" During the break, a burly man tapped his shoulder, unable to hold back his inquiry.


    This was the gossip spreading wildly throughout Iyeta Harbor recently. Almost anyone with a bit of intellect could sense an impending war.


    After all, Iyeta had previously relied on some security teams for management, but now, the sudden recruitment of three thousand, forming this Musketeer squad, made the intentions pretty clear.


    "Probably," Old York muttered while chewing his bread, feeling a bit uneasy himself.


    In the wizard''snd, they hadn''t experienced what could be termed as war. Yet, every Monday, the sailors arriving at Iyeta from the outside world would squander their copper coins in the taverns,menting their hardships elsewhere.


    In the Sekas Empire, whether farming orboring, the meager rewards obtained had to be partly surrendered to the local church for repentance for their year-long wrongdoings. Then they had to pay taxes to the so-called nobles, leaving only a small portion truly theirs.


    This notion further convinced the residents of the harbor town that the outside world was a barbaric hell. If they lost this war, their families would be cruelly ughtered, theirnds seized, and their properties looted.


    Having glimpsed some hope for a better life, Old York was unwilling to toil only to lose everything, so their daily training became especially earnest.


    But what puzzled him was the bizarre nature of these exercises.


    Their daily routine involved runningps around the city, chanting slogans, or standing in formation under the sun for hours. Additionally, they had to poke a dummy with a pole-axe topped with a long knife for over an hour.


    The strangest part was the demand for their beds to be perfectly made and the immediate response to any whistle, assembling at the training ground within a set time without any disorder in the ranks, or else the whole team faced punishment.


    These peculiar regtions made Old York and others trulyin; they felt these exercises were utterly useless, purposefully tormenting themselves.


    Word had it that in some time, the wizard lords nned to capture several earth giants and challenge them in groups of eight to test their courage and abilities.


    "Isn''t this torment?" Old York grumbled, taking another bite of his bread.


    Once a hunter, he knew how challenging these beasts were. Even with a fully armed squad wielding crossbows, they''d likely suffer significant casualties, with a higher chance ofplete annihtion.


    After about an hour''s break, the shrill whistle sounded again. Old York immediately rose from the ground, taking less than half a minute to find his ce in the queue.


    Usually, the afternoon was reserved for practicing stabbing, but this time was different. Their Lord, Lynn, the actual ruler of Iyeta, arrived at the training ground.


    Suddenly, Old York and the others felt their soreness vanish, standing straighter than before.


    Their instructor, Robin, didn''t distribute those club-like objects but rather a finely crafted, long staff with a glinting dagger attached to its top.


    Was this a spear?


    Old York was baffled. Even the wooden target ahead was armored, likely to simte fully armed adversaries.


    Soon, their Lord exined that this thing was called a firearm, the second-generation product from the alchemy workshop, and personally instructed them on how to use this new flintlock gun.


    The guards of the Musketeers were thrilled, their hands trembling, yet within a half-hour, they had a rudimentary grasp of how to use it.


    "First three hundred, stand forth, load the ammunition, aim at the target ahead, maintain body bnce, and pull the trigger!" Robin shouted loudly.


    Old York stepped forward, somewhat awkwardly inserting round lead bullets into the gun''s barrel. Then, aiming about ten meters away, he followed Robin''s instructions and pulled the trigger.


    Immediately, a thunderous explosion reverberated, catching Old Yorkpletely off guard. His ears buzzed, and due to the powerful recoil, he fell t on the ground.


    "Thunderstorm... Thunderstorm!"


    Apanied by a series of thunderous gunshots, the neat formation of the three hundred on the training ground turned chaotic. Roughly a quarter of them were knocked down due to being unprepared for the recoil, several even startled and dazed by the sudden explosion, repeatedly yelling, "Thunderstorm!"


    Robin''s expression soured. He blew the whistle, instantly calming the previously chaotic group. Old York and others instinctively jumped up, returning to their positions.


    It was only then that Old York noticed the target ahead was shattered, even the sturdy armor pierced through. The incredible power left everyone speechless.


    Many now remembered Lynn mentioning earlier that this device was a creation from the alchemy workshop, suggesting it possibly contained the wizards'' magic, like concentrating the power of thunder and mes within these firearms, exining their formidable might!


    >


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 Chapter 242: Lynns Superior Firepower Theory!

    Chapter 242: Lynn''s Superior Firepower Theory!


    On the training ground, the deafening roar echoed repeatedly.


    Clearing the chamber, loading lead bullets, filling in powder, aiming, pulling the trigger...


    The guards strictly followed the procedure under Rowen''smand, firing the lead bullets one by one. Soon, they scattered the targets in front of them.


    Eventually, Rowen had to rece all the targets with steel ones; otherwise, they couldn''t withstand the turmoil.


    An afternoon of this left their hands and shoulders a bit sore from the recoil of the firearms, but the novelty they experienced made Old Yorkpletely overlook their physical difort. He wished they could spend all day shooting here.


    Even when they heard Rowen announce the end of the shooting practice and the opportunity to rest, the new recruits seemed somewhat reluctant.


    During the break, Old York took a nce at the steel targets and couldn''t help but inhale sharply. The copper shields, nearly two fingers thick, were pockmarked and had caved in from the lead bullets.


    It was evident that even steel couldn''t fully withstand the firepower of firearms; armor would be shattered instantly if hit... Old York shuddered at the thought, not daring to imagine more.


    After a brief rest, it was time for the customary running exercise. Three thousand people, each carrying the new-style firearms, jogged in long queues around the entire city. The townsfolk on the streets cast envious nces.


    Everyone knew the best treatment in the entire Iyeta Harbor was reserved for the firearms team. Not only were they paid twenty silver coins a month, but they also received free food and amodation.


    Unfortunately, the team was incredibly strict in recruiting; too fat, too thin, too short, too old¡ªnone were epted.


    Basking in the envy and jealousy of the people, Old York hugged his flintlock rifle tightly. If only these folks knew that the Lord had issued each of them a powerful alchemical weapon capable of piercing steel armor, they''d be even more envious.


    "Lord Lynn, is it really useful to keep them doing these basic formation drills?" Watching the distant figures of the new recruits, Rowen asked in puzzlement. He felt that rather than spending so much time perfecting parade formations and maintaining order while running, it would be more critical to focus on improving shooting uracy, especially on the battlefield.


    "Of course! I''ve always believed that one of the most crucial standards for a qualified army is discipline!" Lynn asserted firmly. "Especially for the firearms team, maintaining strict formations is necessary to unleash their maximum power!"


    In the era dominated by flintlock rifles, the most famous tactic was mockingly dubbed the "queue-and-shoot," a linear infantry tactic.


    Early firearms had limited uracy and range. Firing in formations ensured ammunition retained sufficient uracy at long distances.


    However, Lynn didn''t n to adopt that. His opponents didn''t equip firearms or cannons; they were prepared topensate for the poor rate of fire of flintlock rifles with the renowned Three-Stage Shooting method!


    The Three-Stage Shooting involved dividing the firearm unit into three rows. They would take turns firing; after the first row shot, they''d retreat to the third row to reload while the prepared second row could start firing, creating a continuous barrage against the enemy.


    Discipline was crucial here; otherwise, chaos would reign in battle!


    Lynn exined the firearms team''sbat methods to Rowen, then curiously asked, "What''s your impression of war? What factors decide the oue of a battle?"


    Rowen, also from the Misty Sea, was said to have been a knight in a certain earl''s territory, leading a few small-scale wars. Later, due to self-study in sorcery, he was reported and fled all the way to thend of wizards.


    It was because of his experience leading troops that Lynn appointed him to lead the firearms team.


    As Rowen pondered the so-called Three-Stage Shooting, he spoke, "Usually, armies consist of two types: temporarily conscripted peasants wielding farming tools like pitchforks and hoes, numerous in number but limited inbat capability. The other typeprises well-equipped, trained elite guards, usually saved for crucial moments."


    During battles, they''d typically form their ranks, fire a few rounds of arrows, then engage in meleebat with swords. The side that broke first in closebat would lose.


    Usually, the decisive factors were the number of troops, armor quality, quantity of bows and crossbows, and the number of knights.


    Of course, these were conflicts between nobles fornd, and usually, the church wouldn''t intervene. Otherwise, when priests or even bishops acted, it would be a different situation.


    "Is it really that primitive?" Lynn paused, then remembered¡ªsetting aside magic and sorcery, it was essentially a medieval empire; battles between nobles usually involved just a few thousand people, hardly allowing for innovative tactics.


    After Rowen exined the wars between nobles, he discussed his own understanding and application of firearms.


    For instance, when facing a smaller enemy force, they could surround them with a circr formation, crossfire, creating a mesh of firepower to enhance uracy.


    Compared to bows and crossbows, the strength of flintlock riflesy in their armor-piercing ability and the quick training of personnel. However, their drawbacks were slow reloading and weak closebat capabilities.


    Bays couldn''t match up to greatswords or long spears, so perhaps training a force of around a thousand sword-and-shield infantry might assist the firearms team in closebat.


    "No need for that; resorting to bay fighting only happens in the direst circumstances. If closebat is our weakness, the aim should be to prevent enemies from getting close, shouldn''t it?" Lynn interjected.


    "Lord Lynn, war is no joke. Any imperial army set against us will likely outnumber us tenfold or more. Relying solely on several rounds of rifle shots won''t be enough to defeat them," Rowen furrowed his brows, feeling Lynn''s confidence in the firearms was a bit excessive.


    "No, precisely because our numbers are scarce, we mustn''t waste resources on closebat, which would lead to massive casualties!" Lynn shook his head. "With superior firepower, this is how we should fight!"


    "Utilize the aerial advantage brought by the airships. When the enemy is between three kilometers and three hundred meters away, bombard them with cannons! From three hundred to seventy meters, magical bombardment. Within seventy meters to ten meters, the rifles fire in session, aiming to eliminate the enemy beyond their line of sight!"


    "As for within ten meters, depending on the enemy''s resistance, decide whether to use the ''me Deluge'' or use earth wall spells to assist in retreat..."


    >


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 Chapter 243: Our Goal Is to End Every War with Zero Casualties!

    Chapter 243: Our Goal Is to End Every War with Zero Casualties!


    Lynn''s battle n was straightforward: to use superior firepower to cripple or destroy the enemy as much as possible before formal engagement. No chances for the opponent to get close...


    "The objective I''m giving you is to aim for ending every battle with zero casualties, preferably!" Lynn stated firmly.


    Zero casualties?


    Rowen was dumbfounded; no one with any experience in warfare would utter such a foolish statement.


    But after carefully pondering Lynn''s tactics, Rowen suddenly realized that it might not be entirely impossible.


    He''d seen something called a "fire cannon" in the alchemy research institute. While its power might not match that of magic crystal cannons, its range was significantly greater, and most importantly, it could be mass-produced swiftly.


    The only troubley in the fact that artillery usually required some basic mathematical knowledge, which meant they could only select suitable personnel from wizard apprentices, and the formation was yet to bepleted.


    If they had a hundred of these cannons, a barrage of rapid fire, without interference from a bishop-level opponent, it might indeed be possible to eliminate the enemy from beyond their visibility range...


    Rowen couldn''t help but feel a sense of surprise at the idea that warfare could actually be conducted this way.


    "But what if the enemy sends cavalry to nk us?" Rowen, after hesitating, quickly identified the w in this tactic and urgently inquired.


    Lynn looked at Rowen strangely, saying wordlessly, "What do you think our alchemical armored vehicles are for?"


    Right, Rowen suddenly realized they had this significant weapon, his expression immediately turning excited as he imagined enemy cavalry charging and being crushed into debris by the swiftly moving alchemical armored vehicles.


    "In that case, there''s no need to worry too much about a frontal battlefield." Rowen''s previously tense demeanor rxed instantly.


    When he first learned that the wizard''s domain would sh with the church, Rowen had been unable to sleep all night, considering the enormous conventional strength gap. But now, it seemed the situation might not be as dire.


    However, Lynn wasn''t as optimistic. Because all these assumptions were based on the enemy being an ordinary army. In this world of divine arts and magic, anything could happen.


    Just as he was thinking, Lynn''s expression suddenly froze, his brow furrowing as if sensing something.


    "Lynn, what''s wrong?" Rowen asked cautiously.


    "It''s regarding intelligence from the Kingdom of Hadralta." Lynn''s eyes flickered.


    Taking advantage of a gap when William''s trusted men stayed in Iyeta, he had ced a spy among them. While William indeed had means, these workers could only be described as loyal, with their families held hostage.


    However, such loyalty often served as a bargaining chip for betrayal. He had given an offer the other side couldn''t refuse, and it seemed to be taking effect sooner than expected.


    "Just as I thought, William has indeed be restless; he''s detected anomalies in the Misty Sea." Lynn continued.


    The relief that Rowen had briefly felt vanished instantly as he hurriedly asked for the details, wondering if war was imminent.


    Lynn shook his head. William wouldn''t report until he had the method to locate the wizard''s domain. Otherwise, considering his smuggling to the wizard''s domain, he''d face severe consequences. But this trouble, drawn out for so long, needed addressing now!


    Meanwhile, at a mansion outside the capital of Hadralta, Cody cautiously entered the wizard''s headquarters.


    He came with William''s task but didn''t hold much hope himself, as even the servants in the mansion were under surveince. Unable to gather any intel, it was evident that the wizards had been cautious from the start.


    As expected, upon entering the mansion this time, Ondo, one of the wizards, didn''t allow him to wander but took him straight to the reception room.


    Cody could only negotiate the profit-sharing issue with them, as Ondo and his team had made a concession previously. Now revisiting the matter, being not directly thrown out was considered fortunate.


    However, contrary to his expectations, Ondo and hispanions, although reacting strongly, focused on discussing the bnce of risks and benefits.


    Could it be, as Lord William had mentioned, that the wizard''s domain had encountered significant turmoil and now relied heavily on them?


    Thinking to himself, Cody noticed a change in Loude''s expression, who then straightforwardly stated, "I need to negotiate with William in person!"


    "But Lord William has recently fallen seriously ill and can''t go out now," Cody replied, declining.


    "If he''s still concerned about whether he''s making enough imperial gold coins, it seems his illness isn''t severe enough!" Loude sneered.


    Cody felt somewhat embarrassed, but he managed to maintainposure, stating he needed to seek permission before making any decisions.


    As Cody left, the people present looked worried, and Lynn''s figure appeared in the reception room.


    "Lynn, do you think William will agree?" Loude hesitantly asked.


    "Why wouldn''t he? He can''t get useful intel from anywhere else," Lynn said with a smile.


    Probably due to the ndestine nature of his work, William was exceptionally cautious. For the past two years, he hadn''t left his fortress even once.


    Moreover, very few had seen his true face. Most only knew the viscount of the kingdom, William, as a kind-faced, chubby man who managed the trade fleet, and that was about it.


    What''s more, their location wasn''t too distant from the church''s headquarters, making an aggressive strategy challenging.


    "But what if it''s a trap?" Loude fretted.


    "It surely is a trap. That''s why your performance matters next, Loude," Lynn affirmed, patting Loude''s shoulder, continuing, "You are my right-hand man, non-magical, and Cody is aware of this information. For safety, William will probably send you."


    Loude''s mouth twitched involuntarily¡ªit was like walking out of the tiger''s den straight into the wolf''sir.


    However,pared to the meeting with Anthony earlier, Loude didn''t feel as intense a fear now because he knew Lynn could project some of his power through the Ring of Secrecy at any time.


    Once William was dealt with, Loude could take over his influence, no longer be dispensable, and be Lynn''s most crucial right-hand man. Loude silently reassured himself...


    >


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 Chapter 244: Loude: This is a family heirloom left by my great-grandfather!

    Chapter 244: Loude: This is a family heirloom left by my great-grandfather!


    William''s actions were quicker than anyone expected; by that evening, Cody had returned to the estate with an invitation.


    Since Lynn was still in Iyeta Harbor openly, all affairs in the capital were managed by Loude and Ondo.


    "The Papal States have stationed guards at all the entrances to the capital. Lord Ondo might find it inconvenient to go, so I kindly request that you apany me, Mr. Loude," Cody presented a perfectly reasonable exnation, one that was hard to refuse.


    "In that case, let''s go," Loude snorted, grabbing his cane and adjusting the ring in his hand, following William''s men onto the carriage.


    Loude''s audacity to attend alone made Cody secretly admire him. He had no desire to oppose Lynn, but the wizards were powerless against the Papal States; their downfall seemed inevitable. Lord William was determined to align with the church.


    The carriage traversed the rugged roads, bearing the emblem of the William family. It smoothly passed through the gates and arrived at the mansion in no time.


    Externally, it appeared an ordinary estate, quite understatedpared to its wealthy owner.


    But once inside, Loude realized it was a miniature fortress, guarded tightly. As William''s hiding ce, there might even be dungeons or tunnels...


    Loude contemted; this visit wasn''t just to meet William, risking William''s escape was uneptable.


    However, just before reaching the fortress gate, guards surrounded him. Their leader, a shifty-eyed man, blocked Loude''s path, smiling as he spoke.


    "Please halt, Mr. Loude! Before meeting Lord William, we need to ensure you''re not carrying any dangerous weapons."


    "Are you aware of who I am? Your Lord William personally invited me!" Loude''s face soured in anger, then turned to Cody. "What is the meaning of this?"


    Cody, looking embarrassed, eased the tension. "Murt, isn''t this going a bit far?"


    "We mean no harm; it''s just to ensure the safety of the conversation," Murt, the man in charge, maintained a smile, his tone unwavering. "It''s Lord William''s order!"


    As he spoke, guards closed in, blocking all avenues.


    Loude, furious, thumped his cane, threatening to leave then and there!


    "Of course, but at this hour, without our carriage, you can''t leave the capital," Murt politely replied.


    Loude red, holding firm to his purpose. Eventually, he reluctantly agreed, insisting he carried no dangerous weapons.


    "Just a precaution!" Murt shook his head, gesturing for the guards. They soon found a small crossbow, two daggers, and a pouch of blinding alchemical powder on Loude.


    "And you imed not to have dangerous weapons?"


    Everyone looked puzzled.


    "These are for self-defense, not attack," Loude exined shamelessly.


    Two guards, baffled by his cane''s usage, coupled with Loude''s insistence about his prosthetic leg''s inconvenience, returned it.


    "May I proceed now?" Loude reimed his cane, coldly.


    "One more thing!" Murt''s gaze shifted to Loude''s index finger, specifically the ring. "That ring of yours, it''s an alchemical item, isn''t it? The patterns on it suggest more than mere decoration."


    "It''s a family heirloom, passed down from my great-grandfather. It''s precious, and I won''t hand it to anyone!" Loude clenched the ring firmly, resolute.


    "I assure you; when you leave the castle, it''ll be returned to you intact!" Murt affirmed. "It''s solely for the safety of our conversation!"


    "Safe my foot!"


    Loude cursed internally. Losing the Ring of the Arcanist would put him in grave danger.


    But Murt wasn''t bluffing. Surrounded by guards and their threatening demeanor, Loude realized he had little choice. After about three seconds of struggle, he reluctantly handed over the ring, warning Murt fiercely.


    "I promise to safeguard it with my life," Murt joked before stepping aside. "Cody, escort Mr. Loude in. Lord William is waiting."


    "Mr. Loude, please. Lord William is inside, waiting for you," Cody said apologetically.


    Loude, displeased, thumped his cane once more before reluctantly following Cody inside, his nerves on edge.


    >


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 Chapter 245: Drinking this Cup of Wine, Were Still Good Friends

    Chapter 245: Drinking this Cup of Wine, We''re Still Good Friends


    Walking through the long corridor, Laude''s mood plunged to the depths; his previous ns werepletely disrupted.


    Lord Lynn probably didn''t want to alert anyone unnecessarily, or perhaps he had new ideas. But facing William alone wouldn''t be an easy task.


    Fortunately, the ring didn''t stop working once away from Laude. He could only hope Lord Lynn would find an opportunity to resolve the trouble ande to his rescue.


    For now, all he could do was dy as much as possible and proceed cautiously!


    "Here it is!" Cody led Laude to the right side of the fortress, and the heavy stone door slowly swung open.


    Cody stayed outside the door as Laude stepped in. The heavy stone door immediately shut behind him, revealing a gorgeously decorated hall. Iid on the walls were priceless murals, the floor adorned with thick red carpets, exuding opulence and nobility throughout the room.


    At the center of the hall, the long table disyed an array of sumptuous dishes. Were it not for the fully armed guards nking both sides of the hall, he might have thought he was genuinely invited to enjoy a feast.


    Laude''s gaze gradually moved to the end of the long table, where he saw the master of the manor¡ªWilliam!


    He was a man of over three hundred pounds, his ample gray robe tightly enveloping his fat, his hair shining like fireflies in the night. His eyes were narrowed, nostrils pointing upward, emanating a repulsive smell of alcohol.


    Currently, he held a cup of red wine, leisurely savoring it, while a maid diligently served him.


    "You''ve finally arrived." William set down his goblet, stood up, pped his hands, gesturing for the maids to step back, then pointed to the seat beside him. "Please, have a seat, Mr. Laude!"


    Laude, as if forgetting the slight difort from the entrance, grasped his cane and, like an invited guest, graciously sat down¡ªnot where William had indicated, but directly opposite.


    Unconcerned, Williamdled a cup of crimson liquid into another ss and handed it to Laude, speaking slowly and deliberately. "I''ve heard that Mr. Laude, like myself, worked for Lord Herlram, responsible for transporting goods from the Secas Empire to thend of wizards. Is that true?"


    "It seems you''ve gathered quite some information in Iyeta!" Laude didn''t touch the drink, unsurprised that William knew about this. When he and Lynn fled to Iyeta, causing quite a stir, almost the entire city knew. It wasn''t surprising William had collected this information and deduced his identity.


    Yet, observing the extravagant and almost ball-like figure of William, Laude couldn''t help feeling a twinge of jealousy. Though he had managed a considerable number of people in Harbor Town, he couldn''tpare to these noble circles, always at the beck and call of the aristocracy and the Church.


    William seemed to fare much better. Not only did he tter Crown Prince Harold, he became an actual viscount, enjoyingvishness all along!


    "People like us are always inadvertently probing for information, aren''t we? Despite appearances, we''re nothing more than dogs at the beck and call of others." William shook his head, implying something in his words.


    Laude understood the implicit meaning but didn''t agree, scoffing in response. "Who in this world isn''t apdog? Even as King Bazeel, you can''t decide the heir, and that Archbishop can''t defy themands of the Church..."


    "You''re right. Since we''re all just making a living under someone else''smand, why not seek a bigger, higher support?" William casually sipped his wine, speaking slowly. "This world ultimately belongs to nobles and the Church. All the mundane matters belong to the king, while spirituality and beliefs belong to the gods..."


    "But the world always changes, probably faster than you imagine!" Laude replied nomittally.


    "Well, I''d like to witness that." William was unfazed, then casually asked, "Do you have any ns to deal with us?"


    Laude''s heart skipped a beat; things had evidently slipped further from his control. However, he forcibly calmed his mind, inquiring, puzzled, "What do you mean, William? Didn''t you invite me here to discuss the trade split of minerals and ss products?"


    "Before entering, your men took away all my means of defense. Are you still worried that a non-magician cripple like me would harm you?" Laude lightly caressed his cane with his right hand, smirking.


    "In that case, I might as well offer you an escape route!" William got straight to the point. "I need to know how many wizards Lord Lynn has sent into the capital, Hadrta, and what they intend to do. Additionally, where is thepass that can locate thend of wizards?"


    The guards on both sides had already drawn their long swords. In just two or three minutes after entering the hall, William had weapons drawn.


    Laude hesitated for a while, as if weighing the pros and cons, deeply lost in thought. Only when William showed an impatient expression did he seem to finally make a decision and blurted out abruptly.


    "Thatpass has always been managed by Lord Ondo!"


    Laude made up the answer, but truthfully, the flying ship''s positioning device had long been reced with something called apass. Even if they got it, they''d need to know the specific location of thend of wizards; otherwise, they''d just wander on the sea.


    "How many people have entered the Kingdom of Hadrta? Are there any great wizards? How many official wizards?" William queried again, staring intently at Laude.


    After pondering again, Laude sluggishly answered, "Probably around dozens, but it''s uncertain. Only Lord Ondo knows the exact situation..."


    Perhaps noticing Laude''s deliberate time-wasting, William''s expression turned somewhat dangerous. Extending his chubby index finger, he pointed to the cup of red wine on the table, unmistakably stating, "I''ll give you thirty seconds to consider. Drink that cup of wine, and then we''ll talk."


    >


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 Chapter 246: Even if Your Head Is as Hard as Iron, There Will Be Another Hole

    Chapter 246: Even if Your Head Is as Hard as Iron, There Will Be Another Hole


    As William spoke, the guards around had already surrounded them.


    Laude''s forehead was dripping with cold sweat; these thirty seconds were undoubtedly the longest he had experienced.


    "Alright!" At thest moment, Laude sighed and slowly reached for the wine ss on the table, as if about to drink it down. Yet, at the final moment, his expression abruptly changed, flinging the red wine in the cup towards the nearest guard.


    The crimson liquid immediately sttered on the person''s face, sticky like viscous mud, obviously more than just wine.


    A dozen fully armed guards began swinging their des.


    Laude crouched, shamelessly ducking under the table, evading the swinging swords, calmly analyzing the situation.


    While the opponents had numbers, they were just ordinary, overweight William moved clumsily; there might still be a chance for him!


    Just as he thought, the long table above was flipped, revealing that it was William who initiated the attack!


    Mind you, an entire solid wood tableden with food probably weighed over a hundred pounds, yet William effortlessly sent it flying.


    Luckily, Laude wasn''t an ordinary cripple; his alchemical prosthetic limb was more agile than a regr person''s. He maneuvered, narrowly dodging a few swinging des, and directly charged at William, who was close by!


    A fully armed guard immediately blocked his path, their burly figure akin to a massive wall.


    Laude didn''t slow down, lifting his cane and cing his hand on the hiddenpartment.


    The next moment, a piercing thunderous sound reverberated within the enclosed hall. Bullets, exceeding a speed of three hundred meters per second, pierced through the helmet the moment the gunshot rang out, turning the opponent''s head into a twisted mess.


    Flesh and blood sttered on Laude''s face, but he paid no mind; before a dozen guards could encircle him, he had already aimed the cane gun at William''s head.


    "Surrender, William! You''ve seen its power just now. Even if your head is as tough as steel, it''ll still have an extra hole." Laude spoke fiercely.


    Although this firearm couldn''t be activated a second time in a short while, it didn''t stop him from using it as a threat.


    However, William tantly ignored the incredibly powerful cane gun pointed at his head and disappointingly remarked, "Is this your reliance?"


    A warning shed in Laude''s mind. As he nced down, the ground copsed beneath him. Without checking, he lost his bnce, tumbling down along with the overweight William.


    Laude swiftly scrambled to his feet, only to find himself surrounded by a terrifying sight.


    This was an underground pce, its walls lined with numerous openings, each holding sharp crossbows.


    William was in no shape to stand up, seemingly transformed, trembling as he spoke, "The entire hall''s walls are built with two-meter-thick boulders, filled with traps like these. The ground is even flooded with oil. Unless a grand wizard or the Archbishop arrives personally, no one can leave here alive!"


    "You''re not William!" Laude finally realized something was wrong because the real William would never put himself in such danger.


    Unless... this was just a decoy!


    Damn it!


    Laude immediately realized this and never expected to die here along with a decoy.


    Apanied by a faint mechanical echo, the crossbows aimed at the openings retracted. It was the sound of reloading!


    Faced with thousands of dark crossbow apertures all around, Laude could only resign himself to fate, knowing even if he could fly, he couldn''t escape.


    Yet, after waiting for quite a while, there was no sound of the crossbows firing. Both individuals present froze in anticipation.


    The machinery... stopped?


    ---


    Several minutes earlier, outside the fortress gates, Murt, who had confiscated Laude''s belongings, ventured deeper into the estate. After numerous twists and turns, he entered a concealed chamber¡ªWilliam''s true hiding ce!


    Apart from a select few trusted confidants, nobody knew William had a doppelg?nger, someone strikingly simr in appearance, managing external affairs or attending noble banquets.


    Compared to the decoy outside, the real William appeared even more corpulent, even making people wonder if he could catch his breath.


    "As you anticipated, sir, Mr. Laude doesn''t seem prepared to negotiate with us." Murt approached, presenting two daggers and a small crossbow arrow he had confiscated from Laude.


    "You''ve done well, Murt," praised William.


    Although intelligence indicated Laude was just an ordinary non-magic wielder, those wizards'' magic was bizarre. Who knew if he had any tricks up his sleeve? William had no intention of facing him personally.


    "Go fetch Cody; I have something to instruct him," William said in a deep voice.


    However, Murt stood motionless, seemingly not hearing hismand.


    "Murt!" William''s already small eyes narrowed, brimming with hostility.


    Just then, a voice, alien and frightening, resonated within the chamber.


    "Forked Lightning!"


    Blue-purple arcs illuminated around Murt; the lightning''s speed exceeded ordinary levels. Before William could react, several guards standing before him were engulfed by the lightning, their sturdy iron armor acting as perfect conductors.


    In just a moment, under the charge of tens of thousands of volts, they convulsed and fell to the ground. William, too, found himself within the range of the thunderous magic.


    Due to the guards'' iron attire, the effect of conducting the lightning was profound. William''s reaction was limited, but as the current passed through, his adipose trembled involuntarily.


    "Affected by conductors? That''s quite a significant, albeit minor, w."


    The unfamiliar voice resonated in the chamber once more. Following that, Lynn''s figure appeared in the void, observing the fallen guards and the unharmed William.


    It seemed his new magic needed further refinement...


    >


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 Chapter 247: William: Oh no, Ive become a decoy!

    Chapter 247: William: Oh no, I''ve be a decoy!


    "Murt, how dare you betray me?"


    The moment Williamid eyes on Lynn, everything became clear, yet he couldn''t believe that one of his most trusted subordinates would betray him.


    How is this possible? How dare he?


    "Have you forgotten about your parents and family? Murt, they''re all in my hands," William threatened harshly.


    "Now themunication hawk isn''t by your side..." Murt replied in a low voice.


    As long as William died here, naturally, no one would issuemands.


    "You probably don''t know, Mr. Murt actually possesses quite decent wizard talent," Lynn said with a smile. "After witnessing higherndscapes, how could anyone endure lurking in the mire?"


    Of course, he employed a few additional tactics, otherwise, how could he trust an enemy''s confidant...


    "You''re courting death!" William mmed the table in anger. A dozen or so mechanical amplifiers immediately sounded, sharp crossbow arrows flying out from under two obese feet, aimed at Lynn and the others.[Eletromaic Maniption]


    Lynn extended his hand, the speeding arrows freezing right in front of him. Subsequently, shes of lightning appeared on the iron tips. With a flick of his hand, the wooden shafts immediately shattered, the iron heads flying out even faster, piercing William''s obese body, erupting a mist of blood.


    William''s agonizing cries resounded throughout the room, but the sttered blood mist didn''t touch the ground; it encircled him under some force''s gathering.


    Amidst horrifying shes of blood light, William''s figure began to rapidly swell. His fat disappeared swiftly, eventually forming a blood-red figure over two meters tall, incredibly muscr, with crimson eyes emitting a terrifying aura, a violent, murderous intent permeating the entire room.


    The stripped blood spontaneously formed a barrier, blocking the iing [Chain Lightning].


    "Quite a skill," Lynn remarked lightly. He intentionally controlled the intensity of the electric current, yet he hadn''t expected the other party to easily block it.


    It seemed that during the ten-plus years working for Herlram, William hadn''t refrained from making underhanded moves.


    Previously, Lynn had been curious about which fleet brought that statue of the evil god into the wizard''s domain. There was no clear record of it at Iyeta Harbor. Now it seemed it must have been brought in by the fleet from "Hadrta"!


    Murt was also incredibly surprised by William''s sudden eruption. This was information even he wasn''t aware of, so he hurriedly reminded.


    "Lord Lynn, ever since five years ago, William has been brewing and consuming a peculiar red wine. I suspect it may contain some kind of monster''s blood..."


    "Traitor!" William, upon hearing Murt''s words, filled his eyes with a bloodthirsty gaze, charging at the two like a colossal bull.


    [Phosphorus - me Demon''s Hand]


    Lynn refrained from using the recently acquired, still unskilled electromaic magic. Fiery streams surged from his palm, instantly engulfing William.


    The blood-red barrier surrounding him became the best fuel; the intense white phosphorus mes swiftly pierced the barrier, turning William into a zing torch.


    Yet, William ignored the searing pain of being roasted by mes, flesh torn and devoured. He only had one thought in mind: kill the two in front of him!


    Unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking. In the next moment, the mes Lynn conjured in his palm transformed abruptly into an extremely cold stream.


    [Liquid Nitrogen - Ice Storm]


    William immediately experienced the contrast of fire and ice. His already blurred flesh burst into pieces, rapidly disintegrating into tiny ice shards that fell to the ground...


    A mere four or five meters separated them, but ultimately, William fell in front of Lynn, as if his entire rush was merely to perform a grand gesture.


    Murt looked at William with pity. He could easily tell that the robust physique was the side effect of some strange ritual; undoubtedly, the power gained was formidable, but in the presence of a true wizard, it appearedughable.


    This further proved his own choice was correct.


    "Decent physical quality..." Lynn praised, then disregarded William''s bloody, blurry body, cing his magical palm on thetter''s head.


    [Soul Search]


    Due to being just an incarnation, Lynn''s ess to mental power was limited. However, with William already driven somewhat insane by the intrusion, not much effort was needed. Lynn effortlessly obtained the information he desired.


    The stimtion from the mental intrusion woke William from the pain of mes and ice, shouting frantically.


    "Wait, you absolutely can''t kill me... My every confidant knows about the Misty Sea''s information. If I die, they''ll spread the news... I don''t want the profits from trade anymore, it''s all yours, everything!"


    "No need to worry so much, William," Lynn smirked. "Don''t you have a decent decoy? I believe he''ll live well in your ce."


    William''s pupils contracted, yet before he could say anything, his entire being was frozen into an ugly ice sculpture...


    "Lord Lynn, there''s a hidden passage directly to the hall here. Mr. Laude should be there," Murt said urgently.


    "Let''s go, don''t keep him waiting!" Lynn nodded.


    Though Murt was his inside man, time was too pressing. Cody visited in the morning, issuing the invitation in the afternoon, making it impossible for real-timemunication.


    So, when Murt suddenly appeared before Laude, requesting the handover of the "Ring of Arcana," Lynn knew something had gone wrong, prompting Laude to surrender the ring.


    Dealing with William altogether had taken no more than ten minutes. If Laude was clever enough, he should be enjoying dinner with the decoy right now.


    Upon reaching the hall, Lynn realized things seemed different from his expectations. Wine stains and scattered dishes littered the floor, a scene best described as chaotic.


    After dispatching a dozen guards with a [Chain Lightning], Lynn and Murt rescued the disheveled Laude from the trap.


    Laude stared resentfully at Murt.


    "Mr. Laude, there were many people outside just now. Please forgive my previous offense," Murt apologized awkwardly, then handed the "Ring of Arcana" to Laude. "I''ve always said I''d protect it with my life!"


    >


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 Chapter 248: Lin: Ill Give You Ten Seconds to Consider

    Chapter 248: Lin: I''ll Give You Ten Seconds to Consider


    Just like outside the fortress, Murt''s words were very proper, leaving Loude unable to find any faults. After all, he had reminded everyone so obviously. Only someone dim-witted wouldn''t have noticed.


    Loude was seething with hatred. He believed Murt did it deliberately, trying to make him look foolish in front of Lord Lynn.


    This was definitely a difficult opponent to handle!


    Thinking this, Loude immediately turned and began boasting to Lynn about how effortlessly he had handled William''s substitute earlier, enduring the siege by a dozen sturdy men. Despite falling into the opponent''s meticulouslyid trap for a while, he managed to dy for a significant amount of time.


    Lynn patted Loude''s shoulder, offering a fewforting words. The situation had been urgent earlier, so he couldn''t spare too much time for exnations. Of course, he wouldn''t me the other for making a mess of things.


    Then, Lynn directed his gaze towards the fat man trapped below in the underground chamber.


    "This is William''s substitute, whose real name is Dorarl," Murt quickly exined.


    Lynn nodded. Indeed, this substitute looked exactly like William, the only difference being their varying weights.


    "How many people know about his existence?" Lynn pondered."Among William''s trusted aides, fewer than ten are aware," Murt responded.


    Lynn felt relieved. He simply tossed the corpse he had been holding into the chamber.


    The nearly 400-pound body crashed heavily to the ground like a cannonball. Dorarl, crouching in the corner, shrank back, his pupils contracting. Although William''s body was badly burnt, missing patches of flesh, his enormous build made him recognizable to Ham at a nce.


    "I won''t say anything extra. It''s up to you to decide whether you live or die!" Lynn towered above, gazing indifferently at the obese figure in the chamber. "I''ll give you ten seconds to consider!"


    Dorarlpletely lost the domineering aura he had when threatening Loude earlier. Without a moment''s hesitation, he prostrated himself on the ground, expressing his willingness to follow the great wizard forever and with absolute loyalty.


    After all, working for anyone was just work; he didn''t feel any gratitude towards William.


    Although William had transformed him overnight from amoner to a surrogate who controlled the lives of thousands, he had also forcibly turned him into a grotesquely obese figure. He used blood magic to control and manipte Dorarl''s life. It was impossible not to harbor resentment.


    "Very well." Lynn nodded approvingly, allowing Loude and Murt to haul Dorarl up.


    "Thank you for saving me, Great Wizard! Dorarl will be dedicated to serving you forever..." Short and chubby Dorarl, once brought up to the hall by the two, curled up and crawled to Lynn''s feet, nodding and bowing, trying to please.


    This was how he used to please William, but his excessively obese body made his actions appear somewhat ridiculous.


    Loude nced at Dorarl with disgust, feeling an inner murmur. Why were these people better at buttering up than him? It made him feel his position was under threat.


    Lynn was well aware of the minor conflicts among the three, but as long as it didn''t affect their usual work, a bit ofpetition among his subordinates wasn''t necessarily a bad thing.


    "Murt, Dorarl, for the next few days, assist Loude in taking over William''s forces. Anyone you can''t convince or deceive, dispose of them directly!" Lynn warned. "How you do it is up to you, but I don''t want any idents!"


    "I promise to handle these troubles perfectly, Lord Lynn," Loude immediately pledged.


    Lynn nodded again, then turned to the rotund Dorarl. "Give me your hand!"


    Dorarl didn''t quite understand Lynn''s intention but still hesitantly extended his hand.


    Lynn grabbed the chubby right hand.


    Dorarl quickly felt a sharp pang, his facial muscles trembling. But he dared not move. After Lynn released his hand, Dorarl discovered a ming mark on his right hand.


    Unlike the mark on Loude''s hand, this symbol wasn''t just for show. It was an advanced alchemical technique. Lynn could activate it at will, causing a strong phosphorus fire to consume the bearer.


    However, controlling life and death wasn''t Lynn''s preferred method, so he rarely used this as a threat against his own people. But Dorarl evidently hadn''t gained his trust yet.


    "From today, you are William, the true Viscount of the Empire. The one who died is Dorarl!" Lynn stated each word deliberately.


    ...


    Over the next few days, with a substitute and Murt''s help, Loude effortlessly took control of William''s forces.


    In just three days, those close aides who knew about William''s substitute silently met their end under theirrades'' des.


    Of course, these were ndestine actions. On the surface, everything remained normal, and the entire estate continued to be managed by the ''Viscount.''


    Lynn had no intention of easily abandoning this line. After all, in the entire kingdom, everyone knew William was the most loyal supporter of Prince Harold, which made this identity crucial. It provided him with an inside track on both potential heirs!


    During this time, Lynn wasn''t idle either. He studied another idol plundered from William''s mansion, which was also the basis for the peculiar blood magic he employed.


    Previously, during his handling of the Apocalypse Sect in Greenrill City, he hade across a simr-looking idol. Unfortunately, he had sliced it in half using Spatial Tremors, depleting its power.


    But this idol was intact!


    From William''s memories, it seemed to be rted to a deity called the Blood God. Just by its name, it didn''t seem like a benevolent entity¡ªa being defeated in a conflict of faith, barely retaining some power.


    It had to be said that William had some intelligence. Or rather, a certain self-awareness. He hadn''t followed in the footsteps of the dark sorcerer Merk, not developing a following, only learning some shallow blood magic from it.


    Moreover, he used a special concoction brewed from the blood of magical beasts as a source of power, bypassing the need to rely solely on the idol, almost attaining thebat strength of a second or third circle shaping wizard... at the cost of bing as round as a ball, using his body as an energy reservoir.


    Unfortunately for him, luck wasn''t on his side when facing Lynn. Despite years of umtion, he hadn''t been able to unleash his power before meeting his end...


    >


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 Chapter 249: The Kingdom Doesnt Need Nobles, Let Alone a King!

    Chapter 249: The Kingdom Doesn''t Need Nobles, Let Alone a King!


    The world was undoubtedly cruel, and the ways to gain power were very limited. Even if the methods wereplex, they all revolved around magic and divine arts, or could be directly ssified as magic without any issue.


    For those without magical talent, acquiring power became an extremely difficult task.


    Generally, individuals would diligently hone their skills, undergo church assessments to have the chance to drink the elixir of divine grace and be a cleric. Alternatively, they could rely on the lineage of their family, bing a bloodline knight to gain strength beyond normal people.


    Lynn even spected that these families supposedly inheriting powerful magic were likely descendants of incredibly powerful shaping wizards.


    The church did not exterminate them, or perhaps E thought that these people posed no real threat.


    Due to the limited ways to gain power, even individuals with vast wealth and noble status like William needed to resort to means such as the idol of the evil god.


    ording to the information gathered by Laude and others, worshiping evil gods was not umon among some nobles, even prevalent in the Sekas Empire.


    It was indeed a shortcut to rapidly be stronger, but unfortunately, it was also a trap...


    Lynn turned the blood idol in his hand, pondering how divine arts worked. It intrigued him how someone could exhibit various supernatural powers without understanding the principles of spellcasting.Clearly, it was not exclusive to the church. When dealing with the cultists, he noticed something was amiss. Shadow magic was challenging to master, and most of it was documented. Yet, during the raid on the cultist headquarters, arge number of wizards capable of using shadow magic emerged.


    They likely gained it through a method simr to divine arts!


    Lynn contemted for a while. In fact, his actions of connecting to wizards through the magicwork and utilizingputational power, along with the faith-to-godhood technique, were somewhat simr. Both involved using external forces to enhance one''s power limit.


    The difference was that his method was more gentle, and with the aid of the smart brain, perhaps that was why Lynn did not perceive the mental contamination mentioned by Harof and others.


    Since transferring knowledge directly through the smart brain was possible, he wondered if fully deciphering the opponent''s mental frequency could grant magic to someone else, simr to divine arts.


    Perhaps it was worth a try.


    Lost in thought, a faint light appeared on the index finger of his right hand. Lynn immediately realized that Anthony had once again entered the realm of magic.


    Inside the magic-mimicking microcosm, Anthony stepped into the void, gazing at the constantly rotating starry scenery beneath his feet.


    Unlike before, after studying mathematical knowledge in the system, he could deduce the rtive positions and movement patterns of each star.


    These days of interaction made Anthony understand that Lynn''s breadth of knowledge far exceeded his expectations, covering everything from the formation of thunder and lightning to thews governing the universe and stars.


    However, in Lynn''s words, this knowledge was just the surfaceyer, representing the world''s superficial rules. The real causey in a more profound field, possibly only perceivable in the legendary realm!


    "Seems like you have something on your mind, Anthony?" Lynn''s figure appeared in the magic realm, questioning with confusion. It wasn''t teaching time.


    "Yes," Anthony nodded. Then he spoke again, "In recent times, King Bazeel''s health has been declining, and the dispute between the two princes is escting. Prince Hatar is preparing to either win over or eliminate some of the other''s supporters."


    "I heard that William was sent by you to Harrod. Is that true?" Anthony cautiously inquired.


    "You could say that," Lynn responded casually.


    "In that case, things be much easier." Anthony sighed in relief and began exining his magical kingdom n to Lynn.


    In short, the n involved secretly supporting Prince Hatar, instigating conflict between the royal family and a faction of nobles loyal to the church. This would give wizards a sanctuary in the kingdom, creating a magical world controlled from the shadows.


    However, after learning about the Wizards'' Domain and the Secret Magic Society, Anthony''s ambitions grew. Perhaps they could go further and cooperate with the royal family and some nobles,pletely eradicating the influence of the local church, creating a kingdom truly belonging to wizards!


    But this would lead to retaliation from the church and the Sekas Empire. It wasn''t something a single school of wizards could withstand, so Anthony needed to ensure the stance of the Wizards'' Domain and the Secret Magic Society.


    "In your magical kingdom, after it''s established, who will truly control the kingdom¡ªwizards or nobles?" Lynn asked abruptly after listening to Anthony''s narration.


    "Of course, it should be..." Anthony wanted to say wizards, but he was acutely aware of the deep-rooted influence of the nobility in the kingdom, not easily shaken.


    "It can be managed jointly by wizards and the royal family, with the nobility supervised by both. Then, let the nobility oversee themon people!" Anthony pondered, suggesting the most reasonable approach.


    "This will lead to problems sooner orter. If the majority of the kingdom''s poption works in factories, obeying wizardmands, where does the power and authority of the nobility lie?" Lynn asserted confidently.


    So, conflicts were inevitable...


    "Do you n to maintain the status quo?" Anthony furrowed his brow.


    In fact, he had never considered gaining control over various territories. As long as the Hadrata Kingdom allowed the existence of wizards, allowing them to openly study magic without hiding, it was already a great victory in his eyes!


    In this way, there would be no conflicts between nobles and wizards.


    "No," Lynn shook his head. "Your magical kingdom n is good, but the scope is too narrow!"


    Anthony paused, not quite understanding what Lynn meant.


    "In my view, the Hadrata Kingdom doesn''t need nobles, let alone a king!" Lynn solemnly dered.


    Reform abhors ipleteness, leaving behindrge groups of old power interest groups that be internal parasites, especially considering the sharp and unavoidable contradictions between them and the nobility.


    To put it simply, if most of the kingdom''s subjects work in factories, obeying his orders, where does the power and dignity of the nobility lie?


    Therefore, a conflict outbreak was just a matter of time...


    >


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 Chapter 250: Underestimating the Power and Fury of the People

    Chapter 250: Underestimating the Power and Fury of the People


    Nobles not needed, and kings less so?


    Anthony was stunned by Lynn''s peculiar thoughts.


    "In thend of wizards, there are no nobles or kings. Everything is controlled by the Wizard Council," Lynn exined.


    "A kingdom solely for wizards..." Anthony murmured softly. It was indeed a stirring proposition.


    "But won''t this pit us against the entire kingdom?" Anthony asked with a hint of hesitation. Wasn''t this too audacious?


    The influence of the nobility was deeply rooted in the Kingdom of Hadrta, not to mention dealing with the power of the church.


    "Nobles and the royal family do not represent the entire kingdom!" Lynn scoffed. "Don''t forget, we have another force to rely on¡ªtheborers in the mines, the majority within the kingdom!"


    "You mean those miners?" Anthony furrowed his brow involuntarily. "I doubt these people can cause any upheaval."


    "You underestimate their power and fury. These miners endure daily oppression and inhuman treatment. They are like a powder keg, ready to explode. Handled properly, they can overturn the entire kingdom!" Lynn dered confidently.He understood why Anthony was skeptical of those miners. In this world, ordinary people gathering together struggled to resist those with extraordinary abilities, the clergy.


    Usually, a few divine spells were enough to disperse the temporary assembly of peasants armed with farm tools and mining drafts.


    However, these people represented the majority of the kingdom. Theycked only a leader and the courage and strength to rebel.


    Of course, Lynn didn''t intend to act against the nobles so soon. At least until the church''s influence waspletely eradicated, these people could still be of use.


    With Lynn''s continuous exnation, Anthony soon understood his intentions.


    First, leverage the power of the royalty and nobility against the church, then eliminate these individuals, creating a kingdom exclusive to wizards.


    "What should we do now?" Anthony inquired.


    "Wait! Wait for the right moment!" Lynn replied. He had already sent Lode''s men to infiltrate several mines within the Kingdom of Hadrta. He believed results would surface soon.


    Baron Elvis resided in a town to the east of the kingdom, facing the sea. Despite the barrennd and harsh environment, it was rich in iron ore resources.


    What delighted the baron even more was the recent surge in various ore purchases within the capital, leading to soaring prices.


    Rumors suggested a link to the dispute among the royal heirs.


    For Baron Elvis, who sought pleasure and had no ambitions, any prince ascending the throne was the same. He only cared about seizing this rare opportunity to make a fortune, offsetting the increasingly declining finances due to his extravagant lifestyle.


    The task of increased production naturally fell on Rupert, acting as the overseer.


    Rupert lived up to the baron''s expectations. Almost every week, the shipments of iron ores to the capital increased.


    However, things weren''t always smooth sailing. Rupert was disappointed to find that in recent days, the once hardworking miners had started cking off. Whenever he wasn''t attentive, some would curl up in corners of the mine, taking naps...


    This infuriated Rupert. If the ore production displeased the baron, me woulde down hard, and it wouldn''t be taken lightly.


    "Get up, all of you! Get up!" Rupert vigorously waved the long whip in his hand,shing at a shabbily dressed middle-aged man cowering in a corner of the mine.


    "Baron Rupert, have mercy! I''m too hungry, I have no strength..." The man writhed under theshes, continuously pleading.


    "Useless! Everyone else isboring hard to mine ores, and you''re the only one without strength?" Rupert intensified the force of his blows, leaving the man''s chest bleeding, intending to teach a lesson, making an example to deter the other miners!


    This was the consequence of attempting to ck off!


    The cracking sound of the whip and the man''s cries intertwined. The miners present were tense, not daring to halt their work, let alone speak up for the man, fearing the whip might turn towards them at any moment!


    "Enough, stop it..." Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd.


    Rupert, wearing a displeased expression, turned to see who dared challenge his authority.


    Stepping forward was a young man in his twenties, dressed in tattered coarse linen clothing. His face was dirtied, and due to a diet of ck bread and wheat grass, he was quite thin, as though a gust of wind could blow him away. However, his eyes held an unusual and fierce determination.


    "Raydell, don''t think that because you know a bit about herbs, you can plead for these lowly miners and I won''t dare to kill you... Better make sure you know your ce!" Rupert''s tone was harsh, swinging the whip andnding it directly on Raydell''s face.


    Raydell, unable to dodge or avoid, bravely took thesh, falling to the ground. A gash was drawn across his right cheek, a sharp surge of pain coursing through him.


    Yet, despite the pain, Raydell endured and rose from the ground, softly pleading.


    "Baron Rupert,st week, due to a mining ident, more than a dozen people died. If Uncle Ham dies too, the iron ore production this week might decrease even further. Please, spare him!"


    Rupert hesitated. He didn''t care much about the life or death of a miner. However, as Raydell mentioned, until the next batch of miners arrived, each death meant a reduction in ore output.


    The surrounding miners put down their tools, silently observing the situation. Even when Raydell faced Rupert''s whip, some wanted to speak up for him, but they were held back.


    Raydell was different from Ham. He was vital within this mine.


    They, working day and night in the mine, injuries were inevitable. However, Rupert, the stingy overseer, wouldn''t bother to call for a physician. Many relied on Raydell''s mediocre medical skills to barely survive.


    Most of them held this gratitude in their hearts. Therefore, after Raydell was whipped by Rupert, many miners silently put down their tools in a form of protest...


    >


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 Chapter 251: Rebellion Expert Raydell

    Chapter 251: Rebellion Expert Raydell


    Rupert quickly noticed the actions of these mining ves. His expression turned grim, and he brandished his whip, striking one of them as he sternly reprimanded, "What are you looking at? Get back to work!"


    The onlookers hesitated momentarily but then resumed theirbor, lifting stones and continuing their excavation.


    Rupert redirected his gaze, ring menacingly at Raydell. If it weren''t for the fact that Raydell had some medical skills that could save expenses for the Baron, a troublemaker like him would have been dealt with long ago.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Rupert soon had an idea, a yful smirk forming on his face.


    "If you want me to spare him, that can be arranged. But the ore production for this week needs to increase by another ten percent!"


    "It''s your choice!" Rupert grinned sardonically.


    Raydell clenched his teeth, seething with anger. But Ham was badly injured; his skin torn open and without proper treatment, he might notst. Reluctantly, Raydell nodded in agreement.


    "Also, today''s work for him will be covered by all of you. Otherwise, none of you will have dinner tonight!" Rupert dered loudly, ensuring every mining ve present could hear him.


    The mining ves who had initially stood with Raydell couldn''t help but feel resentment. Many med Raydell for interfering.The tasks assigned by Rupert previously were already extremely burdensome, and an additional ten percent in production meant risking their lives!


    Raydell dared not meet the eyes of the others. He took some herbs from his pocket and tended to Ham''s injuries briefly. The rest was left to fate. He then wasted no time, picking up his pickaxe and working harder than anyone else.


    This mining area had over a thousand miners. Despite Ham''s absence, with Raydell leading, everyone worked tirelessly, desperate to have dinner.


    Rupert couldn''t risk starving these people over such a trivial matter; otherwise, he''d face the consequences during tomorrow''s ore extraction, receiving all the me.


    After a long day, most miners received dinner - a piece of dark bread and soup made from wheat grass.


    It was barely nutritious and difficult to swallow, but each miner ate quickly. The strenuous physical work left them little concern for anything else; their only goal was to fill their stomachs. Anything edible was a rare delicacy to them.


    However, Rupert was exceedingly stingy. The meager portions barely kept them from starving. Some miners, suffering from hunger pangs, even resorted to digging up roots from the ground.


    Ham, who had cked off earlier, naturally didn''t receive any food. Reluctantly, Raydell shared his portion. When Raydell arrived at this mine, Ham had given him advice, and Raydell couldn''t ignore it.


    The coarse wheat grass mixed with the dark soup slowly entered Ham''s mouth, slightly restoring his strength. However, when faced with the ck bread Raydell offered, he shook his head in refusal.


    "I''ll manage with this." Raydell opened his bag, filled with an unknown herb. "This is Bellflower grass. It''s much more ptable than that tough bread."


    Ham epted the small piece of ck bread from Raydell and wolfed it down. If he didn''t eat more, he might not survive the night.


    While watching Ham eat, Raydell stuffed some Bellflower grass from his bag into his own mouth. The leaves were incredibly bitter, and he wasn''t sure if they were edible. However, if they could heal wounds, they must be non-toxic - anything was better than starving.


    Ham quickly devoured the ck bread and licked clean the crumbs on his hands. Then, shakily, he grasped the wooden symbol of the Holy Light hanging from his chest and began devoutly praying. He prayed to the great Lord of the stars and the Goddess of the moon, E, confessing his sins and suffering, pleading for their blessings to endure the night.


    "Uncle Ham, does praying really work?" Raydell couldn''t help but ask.


    Among the mining ves, there were many believers in the Goddess E. Yet, many devout followers had perished in thest mine disaster, leaving Raydell deeply puzzled.


    If that goddess truly existed, as people imed, and was as holy andpassionate as described, why wouldn''t she protect her followers?


    "It does, it will!" Ham spoke as if in a dream. "These are trials from our great Lord. The suffering we endure in this life will elevate our souls and let them enter the kingdom of the Lord after death."


    "Otherwise, we''ll fall into an endless hell, eternally consumed by mes and boiling oil¡­" Ham spoke fearfully. He didn''t know if his suffering was enough or if his devoutness could move the great Goddess E. But the instinct to survive was strong, and prayer was the only thing he could do.


    For them, ves who had lost their homes due to war and famine, captured and thrown into the mines with no future, they could only hope to enter the kingdom of gods after death, to enjoy eternal bliss.


    Raydell looked bewildered. He had heard simr statements many times, but it only added to his confusion.


    However, the mine guards didn''t allow them to delve into deeper discussions. Each wielded their whips, urging the miners to sleep quickly. Conversing at suchte hours was forbidden, and they only had five hours of rest.


    Raydell had no choice but to bury his doubts and lie down on the bed made of grass. The exhaustion from a day of mining swiftly lulled him into a deep sleep.


    About half an hourter, a guard holding a torch, taking advantage of the solitude, slipped a finely crafted ring onto Raydell''s finger.


    Simultaneously, at the Iyeta Harbor, in the office of the Dean, Lynn also received a message regarding Raydell.


    A youngd with a bit of herb knowledge, a rebellious spirit, and some influence among the miners.


    The issue was his age and limited experience; he might not stir up much trouble.


    But people can be trained, Lynn pondered, rubbing his chin. Since the magical field can simte small universes, recreating some ssic historical scenes shouldn''t be a problem ording to theputational power of the AI brain.


    Events like the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Wanggang Uprising, and the Huang Chao Uprising, there were plenty to choose from, just likepleting a game level. It could quickly turn someone into a professional rebel.


    Lynn essed information on various peasant army uprisings in history, considering a modified version of the Daze Township Uprising for him!


    >


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 Chapter 252: Do You Want the Fishs Belly to Hide Books or a Night Howl of the Wild Fox?

    Chapter 252: Do You Want the Fish''s Belly to Hide Books or a Night Howl of the Wild Fox?


    In a daze, Raydell had a bizarre dream, imagining himself as someone else¡ªa poorborer in a vast empire, summoned to the borders of Yuyang for duty...


    "Wake up,e on, wake up!"


    An urgent call reached his ears, and Raydell, groggy, opened his eyes to see a scruffy man before him.


    It was Wu Guang...


    Raydell suddenly recalled the man''s name; he was his good brother, someone trustworthy.


    Both were temporarily promoted tomanders due to their exceptional abilities, assisting the Qin Dynasty in escorting nine hundredborers to Yuyang''s borders.


    And his name seemed to be Chen Sheng.


    Raydell felt utterly bewildered; these two names felt incredibly unfamiliar, yet in the dream, he had already forgotten everything before.


    He hesitated for a while until the repeated calling of his name brought him back to reality. He looked at the dim sky and the pouring rain outside the barracks, puzzled, and asked."What''s wrong, Brother Wu? Are we setting off again before daybreak?"


    "No, I just got some terrible news," sighed Wu Guang. "The continuous heavy rain has blocked the roads ahead withndslides and floods. Even if we detour, we won''t make it to Yuyang within the month."


    "Ah, the Qinws are harsh; if we exceed the deadline and fail to reach the border, we''ll face execution byw! I''m afraid our lives are in jeopardy."


    At these words, Raydell was startled. He had no clue about these so-called Qinws and regtions, let alone why he was there. His mind held only vague, unclear memories.


    But there was a natural closeness to the man in front of him; his good brother wouldn''t deceive him!


    In other words, they were about to die soon!


    Fear of death surged within Raydell, along with a sense of helplessness.


    "Listen, dear brother, since dying early orte is the same, why not go against them?" Wu Guang fervently eximed.


    "The brutal Qin, constantly waging wars, forcing usmon folks to unbearable suffering. Now, with the Dragon Ancestor dead and the Second Emperor reigning, more cruel and conspiring to kill Crown Prince Fusu¡ª who in the world would tolerate this tyranny?"


    "If we rise now, many will join us, enough to establish a significant feat!"


    "For the people, for the lives of our brothers, for our glory and wealth, let''s take the chance today!" Wu Guang spoke passionately, urging Raydell.


    Though Raydell didn''t quiteprehend, the fiery spirit within him was aroused. He understood one thing¡ªif it''s all about life or death, might as well face it head-on!


    But this enthusiasmsted briefly. Being an honestd, Raydell couldn''t act on impulse to rebel against the overseer. He could only weakly seek help from Wu Guang.


    "But how? What should we do?"


    "Don''t worry, I''ve arranged everything!" assured Wu Guang confidently, handing over a roll of white silk. "Tomorrow, while fishing outside, find a way to stuff this into a fish''s belly..."


    Raydell carefully took the white silk and noticed, written in vivid red like blood, severalrge characters¡ª''Rise of Great Chu, King Chen Sheng!''


    Raydell was dumbfounded. Did he remember his name as Chen Sheng? This, this... felt a bit off.


    How about you take over?


    Yet Wu Guang didn''t give Raydell a chance to refuse; he immediately presented the extraordinary n called "Fish''s Belly Concealment"!


    Honest Raydell never expected a rebellion to be yed out like this¡ªwasn''t this just trickery?


    "Remember, if you want to save them, don''t outsmart theborers, and don''t tell them the truth!" Wu Guang reminded.


    The next day, as instructed, Raydell stuffed the white silk into a fish''s belly. He soon witnessed his good brother''s performance.


    With ''Fish''s Belly Concealment'' in the front and ''Wild Fox Night Howl'' at the back, bewildering theborers, Raydell keenly noticed their gaze towards him had changed.


    The moment had silently arrived. While a drunk officer led the escort, Wu Guang started his performance, intentionally dering ns to escape, provoking the officer to insult and whip him publicly, stirring the crowd''s anger.


    Then, together with Raydell, they seized swords, killing two apanying officers, rallying everyone together, delivering an impassioned speech.


    "The Qinws are harsh; failing means death! Now, die by their hands or fight for your lives¡ªwill you die as ves or fight against tyranny?"


    "For a righteous cause, revolt against the cruel Qin!"...


    Raydell stood dazed on the tform. Though the protagonist, the Chen Sheng King, ording to Wu Guang, he felt like a puppet manipted by others.


    In a daze, it seemed his soul was departing from his body. Raydell saw himself standing on the tform, raising his hands, shouting a stirring cry.


    "Would you rather live on your knees than die on your feet!"


    Suddenly, the responsive voices echoed like thunder, reverberating through the heavens and earth. Theborers below raised torches, cheering in unison.


    "Rise of Great Chu, King Chen Sheng!"


    Startled awake from his dream by the thunderous chanting, Raydell was drenched in cold sweat.


    Before him remained the familiar, cold mine. All the lost memories flooded back.


    Was it a dream?


    Raydell wondered, yet everything he had experienced felt so real, almost indistinguishable from reality. He could vividly remember every detail from the dream.


    For a moment, Raydell couldn''t tell if he was truly the Empire''s Commander Chen Sheng or Raydell...


    He didn''t understand the concept of the Butterfly Dream of Zhuangzi, but now, he felt a simr sensation!


    Suddenly, Raydell noticed something peculiar on his hand. He nced down to find a finely crafted ring on his right index finger.


    He had never seen anything so exquisitely made; the ring bore intricate patterns and emitted a faint glow.


    A creation of the devil?


    That thought struck Raydell. The church had long propagated the existence of a group of devil worshippers within the Kingdom of Hadrta.


    They wielded bizarre sorcery, capable of incredible feats. Any object bearing strange runic patterns, as on this ring, was undoubtedly a trapid by devil worshippers.


    Touching it would bring misfortune, even taint the soul and drag one to hell!


    With this in mind, Raydell hurriedly removed the ring, ready to discard it. But recalling the experiences from the dream, he hesitated...


    >


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 Chapter 253: The Dragon Slayer Eventually Becomes a Dragon, Such Is the Case at Home and Abroad

    Chapter 253: The Dragon yer Eventually Bes a Dragon, Such Is the Case at Home and Abroad


    "Something wrong? Raydell, having a nightmare?"


    In the chilly mine, a faint voice echoed in Raydell''s ear, startling him. Subconsciously slipping the ring into his pocket, he turned to see Ham speaking.


    "Uncle Ham, how are you feeling?" Raydell lowered his voice, genuinely concerned.


    "A bit better. Looks like I''m not dying yet," Ham replied weakly.


    "Uncle Ham, why do we have to spend our whole lives in this mine, working hard just to eat ck bread and barley soup, while those noble kids don''t have to do anything and live inrge estates, eating delicious food?" Raydell asked, perplexed.


    Ham was momentarily caught off guard by Raydell''s question. After hesitating for a while, he sighed. "That''s just fate."


    "Peasants are born as peasants, nobles are born as nobles. It''s all the will of the goddess, a trial for you and me!" Ham gripped his wooden holy mark on his chest, speaking softly.


    Was everything predestined? Raydell felt hollow inside, but soon the roar from his dream echoed in his mind.


    "Kings, lords, and generals, are they really that noble?"The rebellion of the peasants from another world resonated with Raydell, leaving an imprint of resistance within him.


    However, mere passion wasn''t enough. When faced with the armed guards, Raydell''s thoughts of rebellion faded away. At twenty-something with just basic herbal knowledge, he couldn''t confront dozens of guards in the mine.


    More importantly, reality differed from his dreams. There wasn''t a clever advisor like Wu Guang by his side, making him feel helpless.


    Raydell could only numbly continue his work, watching Ham, still recovering from old wounds,boriously moving heavy ore. His anger simmered, but there was no way out.


    Until night fell again, Raydell hesitated, putting on the ring and slipping into the dream once more.


    As he thought, he re-entered the mystical dream world, this time retaining his memories. As Chen Sheng, he led nine hundredborers to resist the tyrannical rule of the Qin Dynasty.


    But this time, it wasn''t as smooth as before. The trials were beyond description, filled with hardship and danger.


    His ipetence led to his best friend Wu Guang seizing power and his subsequent death.


    Attempting to attack Qixian County, his secret ns were exposed, leading to death.


    Even when he finally assembled people, the imperial regr army arrived, and again... death!


    Raydell felt depressed. It wasn''t as hard before!


    Unaware that his loyal advisor, Wu Guang, was a form of beginner protection, realitycked people so thoughtful, cunning, and non-betraying.


    Over half a month, he died countless times, each dream slightly different.


    At times, he was Fang La, leading oppressed peasants against the Song Dynasty. Other times, he was Zhang Jiao, using trickery to manipte masses, wielding magical powers against highly skilled warriors...


    His sole advantagey in the reset after death. He had another chance!


    Raydell struggled, gradually growing, but what struck him the most wasn''t the pain of dying repeatedly, but the inhumane tragedies ¨C cannibalism and silentnds ¨C a world where officials and nobles endlessly oppressed the poor.


    Finally, leading a ragged group of peasants, he triumphed over waves of attacks, securing his own territory.


    Yet, Raydell realized his subordinates had changed. They mimicked the brutality of regr armies, enving the poor, consumed by wealth and power.


    The oppressed had be the oppressors, the very people they despised.


    Why? Why did this happen?


    Raydell fell into deep confusion, losing his former spirit, even allowing his city to fall, dying amidst the chaos.


    This time, he didn''t exit the dream. Instead, he found himself in a peculiar ce.


    Surrounded by deepest darkness, only faint stars glimmered in the distance.


    Before him stood a young man, perhaps slightly younger than himself.


    "Are you a demon?" Raydell gathered courage to ask.


    "What do you think?" Lynn replied, smiling.


    Raydell hesitated, not replying. Lynn continued, "I''m human, just like you. People who im otherwise might just understand a bit more, know a little magic."


    "Magic... Wizards? Followers of evil gods and demons?" Raydell asked instinctively.


    "In truth, wizards don''t worship evil gods or demons, at least not the majority of normal wizards," Lynn exined. "If wizards care about anything, it''s unraveling the truth of the world!"


    "The truth of the world?" Raydell murmured softly.


    "Why can''t humans fly in the sky without wings? What causes the sun to rise and set... We uncover thews governing the world, gaining power from it, and call it¡ªmagic!" Lynn''s voice echoed in the darkness, perplexing Raydell even more.


    Humans can''t fly because theyck wings, right? What other reasons are there for the sunrise and sunset?


    Raydell was puzzled, but his focus wasn''t on these matters. After hesitating, he couldn''t help but ask, "Why am I having these strange dreams?"


    "Why do those peasants, who have suffered such oppression, inflict the same pain on others after gaining wealth and power?"


    "It''s human nature, a w and a strength. It depends on how you use it and what kind of world you want to create," Lynn said calmly.


    Desire drives progress, causes change, but it''s also the root of corruption and greed. The Dragon yer eventually bes a dragon; this is the greatest challenge faced by reformers throughout history...


    >


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 Chapter 254: Were in Hell Right Now! (1)

    Chapter 254: We''re in Hell Right Now! (1)


    Raydell fell into deep contemtion. With his age and experience, he couldn''t initially grasp Lynn''s words. However, the visions in the dream gradually made him understand what the other person intended to convey.


    "Is there any way to avoid this?" Raydell asked helplessly.


    "There isn''t, unless human desires arepletely eradicated. But then, what''s the difference between that and those mindless walkers?" Lynn shook their head, paused, then spoke again. "Of course, if we must, establishing faith to suppress desire might be a method."


    "Faith? Are you referring to faith in the Goddess of the Moon, E?" Raydell furrowed his brow involuntarily. Even the Baron, that lord, was a follower of the goddess, yet remained stringent towards them.


    "No, more urately, using conviction would be apt." Lynn exined, "Start by establishing strict military discipline, making those following you understand the purpose of resistance, the tasks to be done, proposing corresponding guidelines and goals directly rted to everyone''s interests, like equality andnd division..."


    "Then gather those firm in their beliefs, form a personal guard, have them spread your ideology, while also purging those who vite the rules, ensuring the purity of the group..." Lynn continued confidently.


    Words about thieves and soldiers passing as ab through hair and ab through hay were not empty. Not only in ancient times but even in recent history, after regr armies breached cities, plundering and piging weremon urrences.


    Yet there were exceptions, like the famous Yue Family Army in history, with the belief of ''not dismantling houses even when freezing, not looting even when starving.''


    Simr instances existed, like the Qi Family Army, where the proletarian revolutionaries excelled the most!So, while desires couldn''t be eliminated, they could still be suppressed by conviction and discipline.


    The most important thing was leading by example. If the upper echelons became corrupt, the soldiers below weren''t fools; all the talk would be empty.


    "These are just addressing the symptoms, not the root cause. You can manage an army but not a vast kingdom. You might find your own answers in the dream realm." Lynn spoke slowly.


    Raydell nodded, somewhat understanding, holding onto these words firmly.


    "What are these dreams? Are they all just my imagination?" Raydell wore a perplexed expression.


    Because the visions in the dream were incredibly real, sometimes showcasing cultures and customs distinct from this world, making it hard for him to discern reality from the dream.


    "Who knows? This world is vast. Your experiences in the dream might be unfolding in some corner of this world." Lynn chuckled.


    "What do I have to give in return?" Raydell took a deep breath, prepared. His experiences in the dream world had taught him that there''s no free lunch, everything bestowed had its price tag.


    "After death, will my soul be taken to hell?" Raydell asked anxiously.


    "Hell..." Lynn couldn''t help butugh, then shook their head, sighing. "Think about it. Isn''t the ce you''re in right now a form of hell?"


    Could this be the legendary hell?


    Raydell hesitated, but before he could inquire further, the entire dark space violently trembled, and then he was out of the magical domain.


    Only then did Raydell notice the incessant tremors around him, intensifying. Cries and shouts echoed in his ears.


    "The mine copsed, run, the mine copsed!"


    A mining disaster?! Raydell''s pupils constricted. Having spent five years in this mine, he knew well the horror of a mining disaster. Without time to gather his belongings, he hurriedly followed the chaotic crowd out of the mine.


    Outside the mining field was chaos. Rain poured from the sky, cold drops mixing with the night''s chill, dispersing the drowsiness lingering on everyone.


    Amidst the trembling mine ves recounting their fears, Raydell learned it was a small section underground that copsed due to continuous rainfall in the past few days.


    Fortunately, the copse didn''t spread further, otherwise, everyone might have perished in their sleep.


    As the overseer, Rupert, grimaced, having counted the numbers and found over thirty missing, it meant they were either left in the copsed section, trapped under the debris, or worse, crushed by falling rocks.


    Why now of all times?


    Rupert seethed with anger. In two days, the convoy to transport ores was due. If they failed to meet the Baron''s ore requirements, he''d likely face consequences.


    However, he had no immediate intention to organize a rescue. The situation inside the mine wasn''t clear yet; rushing in might trigger another copse.


    Most importantly, Rupert knew well that the chances of survival after a mining disaster were slim. Rather than spending days digging out bodies, it was better to make haste, mine more ores from other pits, meet this month''s quota first...


    These mine ves were merely expendablemodities. Every month, dozens or hundreds of them were brought to this mine; if they died, so be it.


    "Lord Rupert, Carlo, my brother Carlo is still inside, please, I beg you, gather people and rescue him." A raggedly dressed man pleaded with Rupert to assemble a team for rescue operations.


    Already infuriated, Rupert exploded, kicking the man and directing his anger at those trapped inside, including Carlo, for the mine copse.


    Pleas and cries echoed incessantly. Raindrops,rge as beans, drenched their heads, trickling down their cheeks. Raydell, observing the copsed mine, the whip-wielding Rupert, and the indifferent mine ves around, came to a stark realization.


    They were in hell right now!


    A strange courage surged within him. Raydell tightened his grip on the mining draft in his hand and resolutely headed towards the copsed mine.


    "What are you doing, Raydell!" Rupert noticed his movement and sharply reprimanded.


    "I''m going to open up that section of the mine, rescue Carlo and the others!" Raydell shouted loudly, then turned to the surrounding mine ves, calling out, "I''ve just inquired, and this copse shouldn''t be too severe. I hope everyone can join me in clearing the debris and rocks. Otherwise, don''t count on others to rescue you during the next disaster!"


    >


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 Chapter 255: Were in Hell Right Now! (2)

    Chapter 255: We''re in Hell Right Now! (2)


    Raydell''s words made the gathered miners hesitate. The man who had pleaded with Rupert seemed to grasp onto Raydell''s words as a lifeline. He eximed excitedly, "Thank you, Raydell. I''ll go with you!"


    With someone taking the lead, more and more miners picked up their mining tools, making their decision...


    "Revolt! We''re all revolting!" Rupert''s anger red, and he shouted, "I''d like to see who dares to move!"


    Rupert''s umted power over the years was terrifying. Combined with thirty armed guards around him, he instantly subdued hundreds of miners.


    Then, Rupert turned to Raydell. His repeated challenges to Rupert''s authority, now encouraging miners to disobey his orders, had crossed a line!


    Without warning, Rupertshed out at Raydell with a long whip, creating a bloody gash across his chest, intense pain surging through him.


    This time, Raydell didn''t flinch or fall. He stood firm, staring directly at Rupert.


    Rupert felt a chill down his spine from Raydell''s unwavering gaze. His own stare turned more vicious. A miner daring to look at him like that was beyond reckless.


    With this in mind, Rupertshed out again, this time aiming for Raydell''s head!Onlookers'' eyes shed with visible rage. Standing up against Rupert, who had the support of most miners to save those in trouble, Raydell had gained widespread recognition. Intense anger ignited within everyone.


    Raydell sensed the shift. This time, instead of confronting head-on, he expertly caught the whiping at him with his right hand, swiftly stepped forward, and thrust the pointed end of his mining tool into Rupert''s eye!


    Crimson blood sprayed, a harrowing scream echoed. Rupert hadn''t expected the slender Raydell to strike suddenly, let alone with such merciless force.


    In truth, the Raydell from half a month ago wouldn''t have had this courage or skill. The trials in the dream world had transformed him, denying Rupert any chance to retaliate. With a forceful push of his mining tool, it pierced Rupert''s brain.


    Rupert''s body soon copsed, a massive bloody hole in his right eye socket, his face a mix of disbelief and horror...


    All of this happened in mere seconds, shocking everyone. Ham and the others stood frozen in ce, even the guards, until Rupert was impaled. Then, they reacted, drawing their des, charging at Raydell!


    "We''ve had enough! Kill them all!" Raydell''s furious roar echoed. The miners, fueled by rage, instinctively moved. The man who had pleaded with Rupert earlier leaped up, wielding his mining tool, smashing it onto a guard''s head. The parsimonious baron didn''t bother equipping these mine overseers with high-grade gear like helmets, so the blow instantly crushed the guard''s head!


    More miners surged forward. A scant few guards were utterly defenseless, hammered from all sides by mining tools in just a few minutes.


    Even so, the enraged miners, who had long held onto their fury, didn''t spare the guards'' bodies, venting their anger for over half an hour. It was only then that everyone realized the extent of their actions.


    "We... we killed Rupert?!" "The Baron will execute us all!" Ham, dazed and shocked, screamed.


    Seeing the bloodied bodies of Rupert and others on the minefield turned into a muddy mess, many miners knelt, trembling, clearly bewildered.


    "Ham! Do you think we''d survive staying in this minefield?" Raydell''s voice was stern. "Rupert doesn''t care about our lives. It was Carol trapped in this mine disaster this time, next could be you or me! Rupert wants all our lives!"


    Raydell looked at everyone, shouting loudly.


    "I''ve had enough... had enough of being in the dark, seeing no sunlight in these mines, begging Rupert for a few scraps of ck bread, fearing when the rocks above would bury us forever..."


    "I believe you haven''t forgotten Timmy, Feins, Tielne..."


    Raydell listed the names of miner after miner who had died in the mines, some buried in idents, others whipped to death by Rupert.


    He went on for several minutes, naming sixty or seventy individuals, only a fraction of those who had died in the past three months. Rupert''s disregard for their lives, pushing for more ore extraction, had caused frequent disasters.


    "We can''t resist Baron. It''s all part of God''s n, or else our souls will fall into hell..." Ham''s voice trembled.


    "It''s all lies!" Raydell shouted angrily. "Wake up, Ham! There''s nothing worse than now!"


    "Aren''t we in hell right now?"


    Raydell''s sharp words silenced Ham, and he led the miners to open the storage on the minefield, allowing everyone to have a hearty meal. Then, he divided the nearly thousand miners into two groups.


    One stayed behind at the minefield to rescue those trapped, including Carol.


    The other group joined Raydell in a nighttime attack on the guard camp stationed at the foot of the mine. They dressed in the guards'' clothing and infiltrated the Baron''s estate!


    Raydell acted swiftly, nning meticulously. upying the entire estate was effortless; they dragged a sleeping Baron Elvis out.


    The luxurious estate infuriated every miner who entered. Raydell conducted an impromptu trial, enumerating the Baron''s crimes, then personally delivered the terrified Baron Elvis multiple fatal blows.


    Next was the church. With dozens of crossbows scavenged from the estate, they executed the church''s priests with only a dozen casualties.


    Despite the smooth progress, Raydell knew it was only the beginning. He had to swiftly rescue more miners to strengthen his forces...


    >


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 Chapter 256: Only Tangible Benefits Can Counter Firm Faith!

    Chapter 256: Only Tangible Benefits Can Counter Firm Faith!


    "Nice performance!" In the President''s office at Iyeta Harbor, Lynn used the Ring of Arcana to peer at Raydell''s every move from thousands of kilometers away.


    He had pondered assisting him a bit, but Raydell turned out to be more formidable than expected. Leveraging the mine copse, he incited the anger of the miners, overthrew the guards, and echoed the resolute cry for miners never to be enved.


    "Let''s grant him sorcery after a while," Lynn decided. "It''s better if he seeks me out when in trouble rather than me approaching him. It might be misconstrued otherwise."


    Simultaneously, he tucked away a list on his desk...


    Those were profiles collected by Laude and others from major mines, potential leaders. Since Raydell performed better than anticipated, there was no immediate need to seek others.


    Passing on the Ring of Arcana carried risks; encountering someone resolute, deeming it demonic influence, and reporting could draw the Church''s attention, undesirable.


    For Lynn, aside from confronting the so-called "Descent of Gods," a significant hurdle for wizards to establish themselves in this continent was resolving the issue of faith!


    Throughout the Sas Empire, the Church''s influence pervaded every town, even a small barony hosting one or two stationed priests.


    Though limited in power, these priests barely surpassed wizard apprentices through prayers, yet they formed the Church''s foundation, propagating the "E" faith to every corner of the Empire.Even the Hadrata, an affiliated kingdom, was no exception!


    Without resolving this, even if they gained control of the kingdom, the popce would resist, bing the Church''s informants.


    This was why Lynn carefully manipted Raydell to incite rebellion: only tangible benefits could counter firm faith!


    The miners andmoners either believed in "E," toiling in mines, enduring exploitation by nobles and the Church, or worked in workshops for a slightly harder but rewarding life.


    Apart from a few fanatics, most knew which side they stood on!


    Knock, knock, knock...


    As Lynn pondered, a knocking interrupted. Soon, Phillip entered, holding an orange envelope. "President Lynn, it''s an invitation from the Council!"


    Taking it, Lynn discovered it was for a grand evening meeting about the future of the wizard''s domain.


    He immediately sensed a shift in events.


    Whether it was good or bad remained uncertain...


    Regardless, such a crucial meeting had to be attended. With internalbustion airships'' technology now advanced, the journey from Iyeta to Grenerel City took less than three hours, quite convenient.


    ...


    At dusk, a colossal airship descended outside the Sun Crown Tower. The stationed attendants were ustomed, but not neglectful, of Lynn, the new Magic Star. Chief Magus Sanchez personally weed Lynn and expressed gratitude for his past help against Ougust.


    "Don''t say that, Master Sanchez. Ougust wasn''t an opponent one or two could conquer. Without your bravery, drawing his attention, the oue might''ve been different," Lynn humbly responded.


    As they conversed, they soon ascended to the Sky Realm.


    The vast hall was already crowded, several legendary councilors present. Lynn was thest arrival and hastened to take his seat.


    "Kashimo is dead!"


    As the meetingmenced, Harof cut straight to the chase.


    Kashimo¡ªwho was he?


    Initially puzzled, Lynn soon realized Kashimo was the person who brought the idol of the Dark God into the wizard''s domain, likely a saint or at least an archbishop.


    However, Lynn had assumed Harof and the others had disposed of him long ago, not expecting this dyed demise.


    Only after Harof''s exnation did Lynn understand: high-ranking Church members'' souls were deeply bound to the Divine Realm. Upon death, their souls were drawn into it.


    Thus, the Council detained Kashimo and attempted to probe his memories magically to discern the Church''s ns. However, Kashimo''s will was resolute. They gleaned little useful information and couldn''t prevent his voluntary death.


    Evidently, Kashimo had prepared for capture even before reaching the wizard''s domain, setting corresponding spells.


    "So Kashimo''s soul returned to the realm of ''E''?" Lynn frowned.


    "No, we destroyed his soul along with his body!" Harof shook his head. "But I believe she should sense it."


    Lynn pondered. Like a mental link to an AI, he could instantly grasp these individuals'' mental states. The goddess might not notice ordinary believers'' life or death, but strong souls like Kashimo were uncertain.


    Many senators wore troubled expressions. Though the Mist Sea spell was disrupted earlier, they clung to faint hope. If the Church hadn''t discovered the secret during this time, they could continue practicing magic undisturbed.


    Now, it seemed their hopes were dashed.


    However, militant figures like Sanchez rejoiced. Despite the Church''s vast influence, the wizard''s domain wasn''t as feeble as before. They were tired of being confined to this tiny ind.


    "In any case, it seems an inevitable war. And Iyeta Harbor might be the battleground," Harof reminded Lynn, given its strategic position facing the Sas Empire.


    "I have a proposal!" Lynn, who had been silent, spoke up to the assembly. "Why don''t we divert the battlefield elsewhere? Fighting within the wizard''s domain isn''t an optimal choice..."


    >


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 Chapter 257: Creating a Haven for Wizards

    Chapter 257: Creating a Haven for Wizards


    Lynn''s words echoed within the Skyrealm. The assembly ofwmakers understood the gravity; should the battlefield shift to the domain of wizards, even in victory, losses would be catastrophic.


    A defeat would herald the end for the wizards.


    The cruxy in the fact that even the most confident factioncked assurance of victory. Initiating an offensive would necessitate splitting their forces¡ªsome defending within the wizard''s territory while others marched towards the Secas Empire.


    Conversely, contracting their forces here would require the Papacy to traverse the entire Misty Sea, arriving from afar. Even with their best deployed, their numbers would merely amount to tens of thousands.


    Yet, they could utilize various pre-set protective enchantments to bridge the gap in their strengths.


    "You''ve something in mind, Lynn, speak freely," suddenly interjected Aurora. She knew well that such a proposal wouldn''t be baseless.


    Under the scrutiny of the assembly, Lynn extended a hand, lightly tapping the conference table. Ripples spread across its surface, unveiling a colossal map covering the table''s expanse before the assembly.


    This delineated the Secas Empire''s territories, spanning roughly four to five million square kilometers with tens of millions of inhabitants, those officially recorded alone!


    A colossal entity indeed, yet the wizard''s domain, marked scarcelyrger than a fingertip, indicated the stark contrast between the two sides."This is the Kingdom of Hadrata, thergest under Secas''s rule," Lynn swiftly pointed to the coastal expanse on the right side of the Secas Empire, elucidating Anthony''s n for a magic-based kingdom.


    In essence, it involved wizards providing support, sowing discord within the Empire, pitting them against themselves. If circumstances allowed, the goal was to seize control of the entire kingdom, fashioning it into a haven for wizards.


    As Lynn continued to exin, Sanchez and the others saw the brilliance of this n.


    From the map, it was evident that Hadrata upied close to one-fifth of the Empire''s territories. Sess here would deal a significant blow to the Papacy! It was far more favorable than staying in the wizard''s domain, waiting for the enemy to strike. It shifted the battleground into the heart of the Secas Empire. Even in unfavorable circumstances, they would have an escape route. At the very least, it would buy them more time until the Legendary Spell, the ''Mists of Lost,'' was once again prepared!


    Moreover, the concept of a magical kingdom stirred a fervor within them.


    "Is this Master Anthony part of the Secret Mage Society?" queried Harof after Lynn''s exposition.


    "Indeed," Lynn nodded.


    It wasn''t just Harof; otherwmakers too were intrigued. Since Lynn''s prominence in the wizard''s domain, the Secret Mage Society had be a hot topic of discussion.


    This unique magical organization was excessively mysterious. Except for Lynn, hardly anyone from the outside world had encountered members of the Secret Mage Society!


    Although Tieck, Alva, and others bragged about the profound wisdom of Master Leibniz and the magic journal''s publications on advanced calculus, sparking enthusiasm among wizards eager to learn higher mathematics, there remained considerable skepticism about this overly enigmatic organization.


    "Master Anthony is indeed a member of the Secret Mage Society, orchestrating the Magic Kingdom n within the Empire. Now, as we reach the final stages, he''s willing to coborate with us," Lynn said with a smile.


    "This is the best news I''ve heard!" Harof''s previously somber expression eased. If some members of the Secret Mage Society could participate, it would undoubtedly alleviate much pressure.


    The otherwmakers were also immensely curious about this new member from the Secas Empire''s Secret Mage Society, bombarding Lynn with questions.


    Lynn didn''t hold back, promptly detailing how Anthony had developed a unique method enabling even formal wizards to utilize electromaic forces.


    Perhaps due to the prior information Lynn had shared with Anthony regarding electromaic magic, thetter had no reservations. Alternatively, Anthony might have deemed the methods researched by the Secret Mage Society as unappealing orughable.


    Upon learning that the method involved channeling the power of thunder into one''s body, the audience couldn''t help but break into a cold sweat.


    Though using one''s body as an experiment was not unusual for wizards, the potency of thunder was terrifying. Even for grand wizards, invoking thunder within oneself bore the risk of death.


    It was truly worthy of the members of the Secret Mage Society; their dedication to academic pursuits was admirable.


    "Of course, after decades of research, the Secret Mage Society has now devised safe means to study electromaic magic. Even methods to generate lightning without relying on magic have been developed, eliminating the life-threatening risks involved... As for the specific techniques, they''re currently only essible to members of the Secret Mage Society," Lynn spoke confidently. With Anthony''s backing, presenting various electromaic theories would be far more convenient.


    Lynn''s words tantalized the audience. The might of electromaic magic needed no verbose description¡ªbolts crossing through the clouds and asional thunderstorms within the wizard''s domain were testament enough.


    Artificially creating lightning was the key to mastering thunder magic. Otherwise, they would have to wait for stormy weather to ascend thousands of meters into the sky to receive a lightning strike.


    Using magic to simte electric currents was essentially magic itself. After undergoing ''Material Deconstruction,'' apart from magic, nothing remained. Thus, to truly study magic, they needed to delve into the most primitive form of that element!


    Tieck, Alva, Ellison, and otherwmakers who had previously joined the Secret Mage Society due to their interest in higher mathematics were pleasantly surprised by this unexpected benefit.


    "Alright, let''s postpone discussions on electromaic magic until after the meeting," Harof interrupted the discussion, solemnly addressing the assembly. "Now, let''s proceed with the vote on the Magic Kingdom!"


    The discussions in the Skyrealm ceased abruptly. After a moment of contemtion and hesitation, over 140wmakers began to cast their votes. Eventually, nearly eighty percent of them supported the Magic Kingdom n, concluding the meeting.


    >


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 Chapter 258: Count Joyce Fled in Fear Overnight

    Chapter 258: Count Joyce Fled in Fear Overnight


    After the meeting, the members of the parliament left the Sky Realm with heavy hearts.


    Lynn, after getting acquainted with several grand wizards, inquired about Greinreel''s preparedness for war.


    Over these months, the council had summoned and trained a legion of 20,000 soldiers.


    Compared to the Empire and the Church, this force seemed insufficient. With the limited poption in the wizard territory, totaling only six to seven hundred thousand subjects, they couldn''t employ the tactic of overwhelming numbers like their adversaries. They had to rely on quality over quantity.


    However, even the quality was somewhat of a wishful thinking since these legionscked significantbat experience.


    Apart from that, the magical beasts bred by the alchemist wizards might also prove somewhat useful.


    Then came the trump cards of the wizards: the crystal cannons and the golems!


    Firstly, the crystal cannon operated bypressing the magical energy stored within a crystal andunching it in its most basic form.


    Simple but effective!The power of an average crystal cannon was roughly equivalent to a third-tier spell, while the advanced ones could be likened to fourth-tier magic.


    Despite the disparity of just one tier in magic, the power increased by more than tenfold!


    However, the cost of the advanced crystal cannons was exorbitant. Each shot required a crystal the size of a fist, meaning hundreds of magic gold coins were needed for a single st.


    Lynn had previously had the fortune to experience and control these specialized alchemical weapons, giving him a rough estimate of their power.


    In terms of sheer destructive capability, they surpassed the cannons produced in workshops by a considerable margin. However, they were costly to manufacture, had limited attack range, and their effectiveness diminished beyond five hundred meters.


    Because the wizardingnds hadn''t faced any wars previously,bined with theplexity of their production, even with both types of crystal cannons, they only had a hundred in total. Most were stationed around Greinreel City and the vicinity of the magic stone mines.


    But it was all a fa?ade. It wasn''t until the council started preparing for war that they realized, due tock of maintenance or even being sold off, only a pitiful fifty cannons remained usable.


    As the president of the Alchemy Association, Victorio, known as the "Creator of Magic Constructs," was furious. The association underwent a thorough reorganization internally.


    Next were the golems, even more precious than the crystal cannons. They were all crafted from robust mithril, forming unique magical rune circuits inside, with a portion of consciousness projected into the golems by psychic wizards to control them.


    After piecing together contributions from various schools, they managed to barely assemble seventy golems. The Psychic Academy would dispatch corresponding personnel to assist in battle.


    Hearing this news, Lynn couldn''t help but sigh. It seemed that due to the prolonged peace, these wizards had never seriously considered the prospect of war. If the Church suddenly attacked, the entire wizarding realm wouldn''t likely be able to muster even half its strength.


    "Lord Lynn, Master Raphael mentioned that the Iyeta Sect developed a new weapon called the ''firearm,'' which is much more potent than a crossbow, easily prating armor and even the ''Mage Shields.'' Is that true?" Sanchez inquired curiously.


    They had all read the report submitted by Raphael, clearly stating it as a weapon capable of posing a threat to wizards, trained or otherwise.


    "That''s correct," Lynn nodded.


    "So, what''s the price for these?" Sanchez continued. He was in charge of training the newly recruited twenty thousand troops and naturally cared deeply about these new weapons.


    "Two magical gold coins per firearm!" Lynn pondered for a while before speaking, offering a price neither too high nor too low.


    The production cost alone for a single firearm was about fifteen magic silver coins. Consideringbor and transportation costs, it needed to be doubled. However, Lynn wasn''t asking for an exorbitant price. Facing the unknown Church, everyone had to give their all...


    Andpared to the firearm itself, the ongoing sales of ammunition were where the real profity...


    Given the price offered by Lynn, Sanchez promptly purchased ten thousand firearms without hesitation.


    Now, Lynn faced a dilemma. "The production capacity of the firearm workshops is still quite limited. How about this? I can provide you with two thousand matchlock guns for now. They are sufficient for routine training; they don''t need to be highly urate, just functional. We''ll replenish them slowlyter on!"


    The firearm workshops in Iyeta had recently expanded several times. They could currently produce around three thousand firearms per month. With the workers'' growing proficiency, the output could further increase. However, assembling ten thousand firearms in a short time wasn''t an easy task.


    As for technological leaks, that was an inevitable urrence. Lynn wasn''t particrly concerned; Darren and others were already studying how to reproduce matchlock guns.


    By the time someone managed to replicate matchlock guns, those might have be obsolete.


    After finalizing the sale of firearms, Lynn and Sanchez shifted their discussion to the training issues of the army.


    Sanchez, being born in the wizardingnds, was entirely clueless about legion training. However, with collective efforts, they managed to devise some methods, such as coordinating them with wizard magic and simting confrontations between two armies.


    Lynn had more direct means. For the firearm units, discipline was the foremost priority, followed by battlefield adaptability. They needed to learn how to face enemy charges or even arrow storms calmly, standing firm, maintainingposure, and efficiently performing actions like cleaning the barrels, loading ammunition, aiming, and firing.


    Thus, he had the idle wizards in Iyeta capture some magical beasts and organize the firearm units into small teams forbat.


    These monsters were no less intimidating than a battlefield. Facing a fiery lion charging towards them, those who could still manage to reload, aim, and shoot were deemed qualified firearm operators!


    "This method is quite good!" Sanchez admired. With wizards overseeing, there wouldn''t be significant issues. He immediately decided to implement this on arger scale.


    Unbeknownst to the recruits training outside Greinreel City, their nightmares were about to begin!


    While the wizardingnds were urgently preparing for war, the movement for freeing mine ves in the Hadrta Kingdom was gaining momentum.


    Starting from the small Barony of Elvus, within less than a month, Radel had swept through nearly one-seventh of the Hadrta Kingdom''s territory, organizing a force of over ten thousand people!


    Count Joyce was so frightened that he fled overnight, transmitting this shocking news to the capital of Hadrta Kingdom...


    >


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 Chapter 259: Those Miners... They Have No Honor!

    Chapter 259: Those Miners... They Have No Honor!


    Within the opulent and exquisite pce of Hadrta''s capital, a grand court banquet was underway. Adorned in luxurious attire, the nobles held translucent ss goblets, weaving through young maidens and beautifuldies, savoring delectable dishes while wearing expressions of either ttery or self-satisfaction.


    Among the central figures of the banquet were the two heirs to Hadrta''s throne, Harold and Hatar, surrounded by a crowd, infusing the lively gathering with an air of tension.


    Meanwhile, King Bazeel of Hadrta seemed indifferent, positioned to the side in the pce''s main seat, seemingly unconcerned by the offense taken by the nobles, observing the dispute between the two princes as if it were a dull y.


    As the banquet reached its peak, the hall''s doors were abruptly thrust open.


    Like an uninvited worm in a delectable feast, the audacious sound of the door prompted all the nobles present to turn their heads towards the entrance, curious to see who dared disrupt the event.


    A disheveled middle-aged man barged in, his hair unkempt, his elegant clothing stained with dirt and mud, starkly contrasting with the refined ambiance of the banquet hall. The pce guards stationed at the door were vigorously attempting to drag him out...


    "Count Joyce, what''s the matter?" Prince Harold strode forward, his expression unwavering.


    Joyce was among Harold''s entourage, absent from the banquet today and disrupting the proceedings in such a disheveled state during a critical moment. It was an embarrassment.


    "Your Highness, the miners... those damned miners have gone mad!" Joyce, hands covered in dirt, tightly grasped Harold''s sleeve, tearfully using the miners of invading his territory, burning, looting, and seizing control of his castle and estate.Listening to Joyce''s ount, the nobles almost chuckled.


    Initially, witnessing Joyce''s disarray, they had presumed it was another ruckus caused by the fanatical followers of evil gods. Instead, it turned out to be an uproar by a group of miners?


    However, this wasn''t to say such incidents were infrequent.


    In fact, miner uprisings weremonce in the Kingdom of Hadrta.


    These lowly peasants, once fed and empowered, tended to grow discontent. Every miner was purchased; mining was their designated job.


    Yet, despite their numbers, these miners were a ragtag bunch. Typically, a hundred or so crossbow-bearing guards could disperse them easily, akin to how packs of mice attempted to provoke a lion¡ªa ludicrous sight.


    "This time... this time it''s different!" Joyce urgently eximed.


    "How is it different, Count Joyce? Do these miners now shoot arrows at you from the skies?" mocked Hatar.


    "Not only did they seize my castle, they desecrated the church, destroyed the statue of the goddess..." Joyce''s voice trembled.


    The once lively banquet hall instantly fell silent, a pin-drop silence. While instances of clueless nobles being killed by rioting miners had urred, an attack on a church and a goddess statue was unprecedented.


    "How dare they!" "Madmen, absolute madmen!"


    "These sphemers!" A high bishop, upon hearing the news, nearly fainted. How dare these lowly miners defile the divine!


    "Are you sure they were just a group of miners?"


    A cold voice echoed; it was Archbishop Anluke.


    The nobles surrounding Joyce immediately dispersed, making way for the imposing figure of Elok, d in a red-gold robe, towering like a colossal mountain, casting an immense sense of pressure upon everyone present.


    Every earldom had at least one bishop and several priests stationed. Moreover, with over a thousand soldiers guarding the castle, it seemed imusible for a mere group of rioting miners to conquer it, especially defiling a goddess statue¡ªit wasn''t typical of miners.


    "I''m not certain, Lord Elok, but I only saw those miners." Joyce hesitated in response.


    Previously, upon receiving word of a rioting group of miners seizing a baron''s estate under hismand and killing Baron Elvis, Joyce, unable to tolerate it, rallied a thousand guards to suppress the uprising himself.


    However, those cursed miners showed no honor; they were swift, employing poison, traps, and betrayal, denying him a fair fight. His guards fell into traps and died under falling rocks and spiked pits.


    Even at the end, Joyce had to fight his way out with his guard, barely escaping. Yet, upon returning to the castle to gather forces, he discovered that those despicable miners had pulled a ruse, overtaking his castle while he was away, almost ambushing him again on his return.


    Shaken, Joyce sought help in the capital. Moreover, he had gathered some intelligence.


    After capturing Baron Elvis''s estate, the leader of these miners, a certain Raydell, distributed the baron''s wealth andnd among the local poor, capturing the church and killing the resident priest.


    As for the current state of the earldom, Joyce remained unaware, but the prospects didn''t seem promising...


    As Joyce recounted the events with embellishment, anger and a hint of fear surged within the hearts of the assembled nobles. Duke Rickman thundered, demanding immediate action with his sizable army. He too owned severalrge mines within his domain and wouldn''t permit such actions.


    "These sphemers shall face retribution, damned to eternal purgatory!" Elok dered gravely, then turned to the silent figure seated at the main position¡ªthe king, Bazeel.


    "Your Majesty Bazeel, I''ve heard you''ve been hesitant about choosing the heirtely. Now, with this uprising affecting the southeast of the kingdom, it''s the best opportunity for the two princes to showcase their abilities and determine who shall be the next heir. What say you?"


    Elok''s words instantly garnered agreement among the nobles, echoing in approval.


    King Bazeel looked on as the nobles and clergy continued their fervent discussions, eventually replying after a long pause. "Fine!"


    >


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 Chapter 260: The Plan of a Noble

    Chapter 260: The n of a Noble


    The lively celebration in the royal capital hastily concluded amid Joyce''s interference and the turbulence surrounding the crown prince, but for most nobles, the conflict was only just beginning.


    As the top supporter of Crown Prince Harold, Duke Rickman made a grand announcement after the banquet, dering hispliance with the divine order. He would personally lead the army to Joyce''s territory to suppress the rebellious miners!


    Other nobles supporting Harold echoed this sentiment, hurriedly organizing their private forces to avoid being preempted by Prince Hatar''s men. After deliberation, a dozen or so prominent nobles decided to gather their own troops, supplemented by conscripted peasant soldiers from the southern regions, amassing a force of fifteen thousand within a week.


    A force formidable enough to crush the rebellious miners!


    Surprisingly, the vigorous contender for the throne, Prince Hatar, remained rtively inactive.


    In fact, right after returning from the pce, Hatar promptly gathered his supporters, preparing to swiftly dispatch a force to quell the southern uprising.


    However, before he could act, Anthony intervened.


    "If Harold is so eager, let them handle it. Those miners aren''t easy to deal with..." Anthony remarked coldly.


    "Master, could this uprising among the miners be rted to the wizards?" Hatar hesitated for a moment, asking with a hint of confusion. He couldn''t fathom how these individuals could pose a significant threat.Count Joyce, despite hyping up the supposed leader of the miners, seemed to Hatar nothing more than someone crafty, catching Joyce unprepared and taking advantage of underhanded tactics. Untrainedmoners stood no chance in a battle, even with the assistance of wizards!


    Especially since the miners'' act of destroying the statue of the goddess had enraged the church, with Archbishop Anluke stating at the banquet that several bishops and a team of priests would be dispatched!


    Unless... unless the Grand Wizard Anthony was willing to intervene personally!


    Anthony neither confirmed nor denied. It wasn''t the time to reveal the secrets of the School of Mystic Arts and the domain of wizards; ambiguity was his stance.


    "If the kingdom remains stable, you won''t gain any advantage. Setting aside the Church''s interference, Harold''s supporters hold more power than you. Only a suitable upheaval can turn the tide in your favor."


    "Just follow along, and you''ll ascend to the throne when the timees."


    Though Anthony knew little about these miners, he understood this was the n of a particr figure. Solely relying on hastily assembled forces wouldn''t suffice to eliminate them.


    Taking Anthony''s words as tacit approval, Hatar''s urgency diminished. However, allowing Duke Rickman and others to venture to Joyce''s territory still felt insecure to him.


    For the first time, his father, King Bazeel, explicitly mentioned the crown prince in front of all the empire''s nobles. Coupled with Archbishop Anluke''s proposal, whoever resolved the miner situation, even if the choice displeased the two, they couldn''t easily retract it.


    If Harold messed this up, it would be troublesome!


    Hatar pondered whether to organize arge army to follow the others, feign cooperation in suppressing the revolt, and then turn the tables at the opportune moment. Coordinating with the miners and wizards, they could obliterate the private forces of the dozen nobles heading to the Earl''s domain!


    Even Anthony was taken aback by Hatar''s ruthlessness. After a moment of contemtion, he didn''t endorse Hatar''s risky move. Unless they ensuredplete annihtion of the entire army, it would only give others leverage.


    "You can send a team to gather information first before deciding!" Anthony suggested, hesitant.


    Meanwhile, within Count Joyce''s domain, the final battle raged on!


    Having yed a cunning diversion and easily seized the castle, Raydell faced his most significant challenge since the uprising - dismantling the local church!


    Unlike the barony with only one priest in residence, the church here housed a bishop and five priests. Themotion caused during their takedown of the guards had alerted the church, eliminating the possibility of a surprise attack. The only option left was an all-out battle!


    This was the sh between themoners and the extraordinary!


    In the pouring rain, thousands of miners armed with confiscated bows, spears, and knives surrounded the church. Dozens of bows released arrows like a torrent, yet an invisible barrier raised by the bishop deflected the onught. Arrows struck, creating ripples, but couldn''t prate the shield in a short time.


    While finely crafted crossbows might rival flintlock firearms in power, it relied on breakthroughs in material science and pulley systems. However, the ''strong crossbows'' made by the empire''s craftsmen were subpar. A round of bolts couldn''t break through the second-tier divine spell, the "Holy Light Shield."


    In contrast, a single holy light burst from the bishop would im the lives of a dozen men!


    As for the miners rushing in for an attack, they fell to their knees, wailing under the radiance of the divine spell "Atonement for Sins." They fervently repented for their sacrilegious act of destroying the statue, defying the divine.


    This horrifying scene intimidated the numerous miners, making them retreat, only daring to shoot from afar using their bows.


    The disparity between the extraordinary and themoners was evident!


    "Are these the true representatives of the divine?" Raydell observed the bishop effortlessly handling their siege, then nced at the dozens of bodies on the ground, tightening his grip on his long knife.


    He wanted to charge in and fight alongside the others, but he knew it would be futile.


    "Yes, that''s why I told you, the real challenge has just begun," Lynn''s voice echoed in his ears. "The bishop stationed in the Earl''s domain is probably a second-tier divine practitioner."


    "Is there a way to kill him?" Raydell urgently inquired, immediately dismissing the first method Lynn mentioned. Every second waited meant several miners would perish...


    "Two methods. First, wait for his energy to deplete," Lynn casually suggested, exining that whether it was a wizard or a divine practitioner, casting spells depleted mental energy.


    However, within the church, their opponent seemed to receive some form of assistance, prolonging their strength under the protection of the priests.


    "What about the second method?" Raydell rejected the first option outright. Every dy meant more miners lost.


    >


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 Chapter 261: Is Raydell the Messenger of God?

    Chapter 261: Is Raydell the Messenger of God?


    "Lynn opened his mouth and said, ''The second method is to learn magic.''"


    "Magic? Now?" Raydell paused involuntarily, naturally intrigued by immensely powerful and miraculous magic.


    During this period, Lynn asionally stuffed his mind with a lot of novel knowledge, seemingly called physics, chemistry, and mathematics... supposedly the basic courses required to be a wizard.


    In his spare time, Raydell would also skim through these subjects roughly. The knowledge was extremely addictive, from the motion of objects to the formation of everything in the world. Perhaps this was how the world appeared through the eyes of a wizard: everything operated ording to certain rules, and magic was the replication of these objectivews.


    "But you previously mentioned that my magical talent was quite limited," Raydell asked in confusion. "Learning magic now might be toote, isn''t it?"


    "I have a way to make you a spellcaster in a short period. However, this is an experiment, and I don''t guarantee its sess," Lynn said bluntly.


    "Bring it on!" Raydell took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself, feeling a sudden pang in his brain, as if someone were vigorously stirring it with a pickaxe.


    Though Raydell was just an ordinary person without magical abilities, his will had been greatly strengthened through the ''dream world'' trials, far surpassing that of an average person. The difort caused by forcibly breaking through mental barriers was especially apparent.


    Despite Raydell having a certain magical talent, enabling someone to gain casting abilities in a short time was not an easy feat.The most crucial factory in where the magic power came from. Even a wizard''s apprentice couldn''t perform more than a few basic spells, let alone someone who wasn''t even an apprentice like Raydell.


    Lynn chose a clever way. He had inscribed his mastered magic within the magic domain, creating numerous spell slots.


    Thus, Raydell could connect deeply with the intellect and release magic.


    This was Lynn''s attempt to explore the secrets of divine arts!


    Just as the mental frequency decryption reached fifty percent, Raydell suddenly felt his brain seemingly explode. His consciousness entered an incredibly mysterious realm, floating in a space filled with countless gray runes that were iprehensible ''lines''...


    While Raydell was amazed, two runes at the bottom suddenly lit up, and at the same time, corresponding information appeared in his mind. Lynn''s voice also echoed synchronously.


    "These are first-tier spells: [Lightning Summoning] and [Thunder Strike]!"


    "First-tier spells?" Raydell was somewhat surprised. Didn''t Lynn mention that the bishop was a second-tier divine practitioner? Wouldn''t these two first-tier spells alone be insufficient to defeat him?


    "The strength of magic cannot always be simply determined by tiers. Some specific spells, harnessing natural forces, can yield quite effective results," Lynn exined. "Like now!"


    As Lynn''s words fell, a thunderous sound resonated in the sky.


    "Do you remember the physics knowledge I transmitted to you? About the formation of lightning?" Lynn smiled as he spoke.


    The reason why lightning strikes from thousands of meters in the sky to the ground is due to the umtion of electrons in the clouds, elevating the electric potential. When the electric potential reaches a certain level, it ionizes the molecules between the clouds and the ground, creating positive and negative charges that attract each other, resulting in the lightning''s descent.


    However, air isn''t a good conductor, so most lightning is interrupted in the air and doesn''t reach the ground.


    The [Lightning Summoning] spell utilizes this principle by manipting the ground''s electric field to control lightning formation.


    Guided by Lynn''s exnation, Raydell quickly attempted it. Although the first-tier spell had a very weak impact on the electric field, it was sufficient. After all, lightning would always descend through the easiest ionization path!


    The next moment, under Raydell''s guidance, a fierce thunderp resounded around them. It was the explosion caused by lightning piercing the air!


    But the lightning was faster than the sound!


    An intense white beam instantly broke through the clouds, plummeting straight from the sky!


    However, being a novice at spellcasting, Raydell''s first attempt was slightly off-target, failing to hit anyone. Instead, the descending lightning struck the ground, creating arge hole in the sturdy bricks.


    Everyone present halted their actions, evidently stunned by the sudden appearance of lightning.


    "Divine punishment, this is divine punishment!" the bishop shouted loudly, while the priests beside him were jubnt. They believed it was either their devout prayers or the sacrilegious actions of these miners that had drawn the wrath of the true god, summoning lightning from the sky.


    Compared to the jubnt bishop and priests, Ham and the others turned pale, disying looks of shock and fear. Some even dropped their mining drafts on the ground, kneeling and praying for the goddess''s forgiveness.


    "Great Goddess of the Moon, please unleash your wrath upon these sphemers before us!" The bishop''s emotions reached an extreme point as he raised his arms, shouting loudly towards the sky.


    "Then go meet your goddess!" Raydell roared, pointing towards the bishop and casting [Lightning Summoning].


    In an instant, a blinding light descended again, the might of nature!


    The bishop, with outstretched arms, gazing up at the sky, praying for divine intervention, also witnessed the dazzling light. A high-voltage lightning bolt pierced through their helpless [Holy Barrier], its immense current instantly piercing through the bishop''s entire body.


    Everything happened too quickly. At the moment of facing death, the bishop''s face still held traces of excitement and joy!


    Seeing the lightning from the sky turn the bishop into a charred corpse, resembling divine punishment, the priests, who had been devoutly praying, were dumbfounded. Could it be that the great lord of the stars, the goddess of the moon, hadpletely forsaken them?


    The faith of several priests seemed to show signs of copse, yet Raydell showed no mercy. He immediatelymanded Ham and the others, who had just awakened from their reverie, to use crossbows to kill the remaining priests.


    Despite using [Lightning Summoning] twice consecutively, which consumed magic directly from the magic domain, the mental exhaustion made Raydell''s brain ache slightly.


    The miners on the field gazed at Raydell in shock, astonishment, and awe.


    A thought shed through Ham''s mind: Could it be that Raydell was the messenger of God? Otherwise, how could he summon lightning from the heavens?


    >


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 Chapter 262: The God of Miners, Lynn?

    Chapter 262: The God of Miners, Lynn?


    "Ham, take some men and search this church. Remember to destroy the statue of the goddess to avoid any mistakes," Raydellmanded, enduring the sharp pain in his head. Then, without resting, he began clearing the battlefield with the remaining people, ensuring proper burials for the miners'' bodies.


    Over forty people died in taking over this church. Raydell couldn''t help but sigh. Despite highly valuing these clergy members and collecting all the crossbows seized, their opponent''s strength still exceeded his expectations...


    At least everything was over! By the time they finished clearing the area, it was already evening. Ham and his group had finished counting Count Joyce''s finances, and crates of coins and treasures filled the entire treasury, dazzling those who saw them.


    Raydell resumed his usual action¡ªgathering the town''s poor and miners together, dividing the treasures and Joyce''snd among them.


    "Are we really giving it all away?" Ham couldn''t help asking. When Raydell distributed the property back in the Baron''s territory, he found it somewhat unbelievable. This was worth tens of thousands of imperial gold coins at least!


    "Of course. ording to Lord Lynn''s words, this wealth was all squeezed out from the poor by that count. Now, I''m merely returning it to them," Raydell said solemnly. Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Otherwise, could we take all these things with us?"


    That was clearly impractical...


    Raydell knew that despite capturing the Count''s castle, with their ragtag group, they couldn''t hold the castle. They couldn''t even confront regr soldiers. They could only keep moving, shifting their positions.


    Carrying this treasure would only slow them down. Having extra bags with food and clothes would be much better.Ham looked on, both admiring and regretful as Raydell''s guards opened boxes filled with gold and silver, distributing them among the miners and the poor.


    Many were afraid and hesitant to ept Raydell and the others'' goodwill. Some even suspected if they had some ulterior motives. Raydell didn''t mind; trust always required a process.


    Under the tempting lure of actual benefits, the majority of miners and poor epted their goodwill.


    Joyce''s wealth seemed substantial, but much of it was priceless items that couldn''t be evaluated. After splitting, each person could only receive around thirty silver coins. As for the miners who fought, they were rewarded with a gold coin for their heroic actions.


    Raydell''s generosity uplifted the morale of these people, who dared to smash the statue of the goddess.


    After the distribution of the Count''s gold and silver and improving rtions, Raydell pulled out his trump card¡ªhosting arge bonfire banquet. They gathered to use the past overseers and aristocrats'' harsh treatment.


    For instance, Baron Elvis''s greed and stinginess were highlighted. His manor was extravagantly built, yet he only provided these ves risking their lives in the mines with a few pieces of ck bread and unptable wheat gruel. Even eating to half-satiety was a luxury.


    Or the brutal steward who, while drunk, unreasonably whipped them in public...


    The hardships were too numerous to count. Even if they spoke for days on end, those aloof aristocratic lords hardly regarded them as human beings. Taxes and levies from estates and churches almost crushed them. Just staying alive was a luxury.


    Initially, the peasants from the Count''s domain only dared to stand at a distance and listen. But soon, they grew angrier, joining in the usations.


    There were too many angry peasants, forcing Raydell''s guards to maintain order. Then, they were ordered to bring all sorts of delicacies stored in the Count''s treasury.


    Many peasants and miners tasted the ''delicious'' white bread for the first time, nibbled on a leg ofmb, or sipped some ''noble'' red wine, experiencing the luxury life of the aristocrats.


    "Raydell, when you were in the church today, were you calling down divine punishment?" A young miner couldn''t help but ask during the bonfire banquet.


    Immediately, Ham and others looked over. The scene in the church had surpassed their understanding. Continuous lightning strikes from the sky almost ruptured their eardrums, instantly turning the powerful Archbishop into a charred corpse. In their minds, only divine punishment could describe such a terrifying scene!


    "No, that wasn''t divine punishment. It was the application of electromaic principles..." Raydell hurriedly exined.


    However, everyone present found it all perplexing. Terms like charge umtion, potential difference, far exceeded theirprehension.


    The vast majority firmly believed that Raydell must have received divine favor!


    Some miners from the Baron''s domain boasted about how Raydell led them to kill the wicked overseer, ambushed Baron Elvis in his sleep, and then continued their victorious march, scaring Count Joyce away, who didn''t even dare to return to his castle.


    Amidst the boasting, Raydell''s cheeks flushed red, showing a hint of youthful embarrassment. Some of these achievements were indeed his doing, but many were not his merits...


    Especially when dealing with Joyce,cking military leadership experience, he had to frequently seek advice from that mysterious wizard. Even the method of encouraging everyone to voice their grievances was taught by that person.


    "You must have received guidance from the true gods!" A miner eximed excitedly. Since Raydell told them that the so-called Goddess of the Moon, E, was just a fake god, using faith to deceive them, no different from the terrifying and evil gods and devils in legends, just more deeply hidden.


    That meant Raydell must have received an audience with the real gods or received divine inspiration in his dreams to know all this.


    Hearing this, Raydell fell silent. Until now, he hadn''t figured out who that mysterious and powerful wizard really was or why he had chosen him.


    All he knew was the person''s extensive knowledge akin to the vast sea. They even bestowed magic upon him. If not for their im to be a wizard, he might have thought he''d received genuine divine inspiration, just like these people.


    Yet, in Raydell''s eyes, Lynn, who knew everything and exhibited various magical abilities, was no different from a deity willing to save these lowly miners...


    >


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 Chapter 263: The Unscrupulous Raydell

    Chapter 263: The Unscrupulous Raydell


    Amidst a chorus of both noble curses and praises for Raydell, the miners from the baron''s domain and the poor within the castle quickly became acquainted, reaching a point where they spoke freely about everything.


    Evidently, Lynn''s method ofmenting had proven remarkably effective; in just the duration of a meal, it had dismantled the hostility of most of the impoverished.


    Having dined to satisfaction, Raydell declined the requests of those wishing to join his cause, liberating the poor and the enved miners. He advised them to take a few days to ponder and make their decision with earnest consideration.


    While expanding his ranks was urgent, he knew all too well that recruiting too many unqualified individuals would only render his army weak and ineffectual.


    "Tonight, I''ll have you lead the night watch. Pay close attention and never let your guard down," Raydell instructed one of his guards.


    Although they had dealt with the soldiers within the castle, it didn''t signify absolute safety.


    Earlier, he had ordered the capture and execution of those infamous wealthy merchants and minor nobles within the castle. The cleanup might not have been thorough, hence the need to beware of remnants plotting a night ambush.


    With everything arranged, Raydell, who had been mentally tense to the extreme, finally rxed a bit. He was about to head back for a good night''s sleep when Lynn''s voice echoed in his mind.


    "It seems you''re quite experienced in handling these matters!"Raydell had long been ustomed to asional voices popping up in his head; it was not surprising at all. He scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and replied, "That''s thanks to your guidance, Lord Lynn."


    Now devoid of the miners, Raydell shed his disguise. He was not particrly old, but to instill confidence in others, he had to adopt an air of maturity.


    "It''s merely guidance. When ites to actual practice, it''s all on you," Lynn responded with a smile. Raydell''s performance was even better than Lynn had anticipated. Initially, he had to personally instruct almost every detail about leading troops and tactics. Now, in just over two weeks, Raydell could make some arrangements on his own.


    "However, I must tell you some bad news. The Earl Joyce you let escape has fled to the pce. It means your liberation of the enved miners in the southern part of the kingdom has been exposed!" Lynn continued gravely. "Duke Rickman leads the legioning to subdue you, totaling fifteen thousand troops, along with several bishops and some priests apanying them."


    Raydell''s expression immediately turned extremely grave. Dealing with just one bishop would cause them considerable trouble, let alone this time when several were on their way.


    The Thunderp technique, while powerful, could only be unleashed during thunderstorms, allowing him topete with those bishops capable of wielding divine magic, and he could only do so a few times.


    A regr legion of over ten thousand soldiers could easily obliterate them.


    When dealing with Joyce previously, who hade with only a thousand men for their confrontation, along with the local guard of the earl''s domain, which was around two thousand, mostlyprised of hastily recruited peasant soldiers, they had to rely on trickery to win.


    After much struggle, Raydell sighed, "I can''t defeat them. It seems I can only hide in the mountains."


    That was the only way out.


    "No, that won''t be necessary. I have a way for you to defeat Duke Rickman," Lynn''s voice rang out again.


    Raydell''s eyes lit up. He didn''t doubt Lynn''s words at all. He had witnessed Lynn''s various ingenious tactical ideas, extremely formidable, turning Earl Joyce around like a puppet.


    "I''ve sent reinforcements for you. However, you''ll need to buy some time, about ten days or so, while Rickman''s legion could arrive within five or six days," Lynn exined.


    Transporting the entire artillery squad from Iyeta to the Hadrta Kingdom was no easy feat, especially moving the cannons. Speed wasn''t an option...


    ...


    A few days passed in the blink of an eye. The amassed army in the capital, spurred on by Duke Rickman, aggressively marched towards the Earl''s domain.


    However, barely halfway there, Rickman realized how dishonorable those lowly miners were. Not only had they set numerous traps along the roads, but they also dispatched a guerri team that hid in the nearby mountains.


    During the daytime, there was no sight of them at all. But as soon as they were preparing to rest at night, these miners would suddenly emerge from a distance, shoot a wave of arrows, then, regardless of hitting or missing, swiftly flee.


    Although their uracy suffered due to the distance and thete hour, hardly anyone was injured, but it disrupted their peace.


    These people were like squeaky mice, chirping in your ear, and when you rose to catch them, they were nowhere to be found.


    Forced into a corner, Rickman had no choice but to seek the aid of the bishops apanying the army, utilizing divine magic to deal with these elusive, bothersome mice, and even managed to seize a hundred and fifty crossbows in the process.


    "What a foolish tactic! They willingly handed over such valuable crossbows!" Rickman sneered. He had initially thought the leaders of these rebellious miners were formidable opponents, but now it seemed they only knew some petty tricks.


    A baron''s domain could hardly gather three hundred crossbows, and those rebellious peasants'' sole means of resistance was now half-gone, described only as foolish!


    Thus, stumbling along the way, it took them almost eight days to reach their destination. Rickman didn''t directly opt for a siege because, to ensure an easy escape route for himself, Joyce had dug a secret passage from outside the city to inside the castle, which was now in use!


    Rickman promptly dispatched an elite squad, apanied by a distinguished bishop, to infiltrate the castle through the secret passage, taking advantage of the night, coborating with the local minor nobles, facilitating a pincer attack.


    Things went incredibly smoothly. In less than half an hour after the sealed city gates were breached, Rickman''s men stormed in, only to be astonished that all those rebellious miners had already withdrawn.


    It was akin to punching cotton, leaving Rickman extremely frustrated.


    When Joyce returned to the castle, tears of excitement brimmed in his eyes. However, upon urgently leading his men back to the estate and opening his treasury, he was met with an empty scene.


    All the gold and silver had been distributed by Raydell; priceless treasures were buried away, leaving behind nothing but four pristine walls.


    "These utterly despicable thieves!" Joyce was so furious he nearly fainted on the spot.


    >


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 Chapter 264: The Reinforcements from the Sky

    Chapter 264: The Reinforcements from the Sky


    Duke Rickman led his army to rest briefly inside the castle.


    An enraged Joyce, after aggressively interrogating several peasants, finally realized that his wealth had been distributed to the poor within the castle by Raydell. Some had even fled with Raydell before their arrival.


    Joyce, furious, immediately gathered the remaining peasants within his territory, demanding they return everything they had taken. Additionally, he ordered an extra twenty silver coins as punishment. Those unable toply would face a whipping!


    Initially, Joyce personally carried out the punishments, leaving several peasants bruised and bloodied before handing the task to the guards.


    The peasants who were reluctant to abandon theirnd or houses, or those who mistrusted Raydell, now regretted their decisions deeply. Their resentment towards Joyce grew stronger.


    Meanwhile, the nobles and wealthy who had hidden in tunnels or secret rooms, evading everything, were jubnt. They formed a spontaneous militia of five hundred men, rallying under Joyce''smand, aiming to eliminate the wretched mine ves and reim their treasures.


    For Joyce, this unexpected turn was a delight. He had been contemting conscripting more peasants to form a temporary force to bolster his numbers, fearing he''d have no one else to rely on except the Duke''s guards.


    Now, with this militia, he found it more convenient. No longer would he have to deploy his troops carrying hoes and mining tools into battle, a sight unfitting for nobility.


    During the night, scouts he had dispatched earlier returned with news. Several kilometers from the castle, they spotted traces of the mine ves, a scattered multitude estimated to be several tens of thousands strong."It seems they haven''t gone too far!" Rickman sighed in relief. His biggest worry had been their dispersion, vanishing without a trace, hindering the Prince''s orders¡ªa real hassle.


    "Continue tracking them, but don''t alert them!" Rickman instructed. He had no intention of pursuing them under cover of darkness, opting instead to rest here for the night.


    The previous encounter had taught Rickman about their cunning. A midnight pursuit might result in a dreadful oue.


    Their n was to intercept the ves in the ins ahead, revealing all their vile schemes!


    Thinking this, Rickman shook his head, scoffing, "These foolish mine ves. If they had held onto this castle, they might have posed more of a challenge, requiring us to spend more time dealing with them."


    "They must have heard of your reputation, which frightened them into a hasty retreat. Despite having a fortress to rely on, they couldn''t ovee their inner weaknesses!" Joyce ttered.


    Rickman burst intoughter. The assembled nobles chimed in, fantasizing about the rewards they would receive after this victory from generous Prince Harold.


    "Oh, by the way, where is the Second Prince? I didn''t hear any news about his actions when I was in the capital," someone queried amidst the boasting.


    Listening to the boasting, Rickman suddenly remembered this matter. He felt somewhat uneasy; this issue was crucial in determining the heir to the throne, something the Second Prince should be very concerned about.


    "I heard that His Highness Hatar had disagreements with several counts regarding troop deployments. That might be why there have been dys," a baron spected.


    "At such a critical juncture, internal discord¡ªthis Second Prince seems unsuitable for the throne..." Rickman mocked, finally letting go of his worries.


    Earlier, scouts had reported that a count supporting Hatar led a vanguard force, not very numerous, trailing them from a distance. It seemed they were discontented, which was why scouts were observing their movements closely.


    "Let them witness how we crush those mine ves!" Rickman dered firmly, raising his goblet. "For our victory and for King Harold!"


    The others raised their sses, echoing, "For King Harold!"


    ...


    Early the next day, as the sky began to brighten, Duke Rickman assembled his army to chase after the mine ves, eager to prevent their escape. He also dispatched a cavalry unit to drive them towards a suitable location.


    Rickman was ambitious; not only did he aim to crush the rebellious mine ves, but he intended to annihte thempletely! Such a resounding victory would be the best gift for the new king!


    However, things didn''t go entirely as nned. Pursued by the cavalry, Raydell led his people to a valley, fortifying themselves there. Contrary to Rickman''s expectations, due to unfavorable terrain, the cavalry ceased their pursuit.


    "If we knew we''d be trapped here, we might as well have defended ourselves in the castle. Perhaps there would have been some chance," Hamined. They were now trapped in this valley, with no escape route.


    "That fortress belongs to Count Joyce. Who knows if he has left any traps behind? It mightplicate things if we end up trapped inside and outside," Raydell exined, then added with a chuckle, "Besides, our waiting hasn''t been in vain; the reinforcements have arrived, haven''t they?"


    "Reinforcements? Where?" Ham asked, puzzled.


    "Right above us!" Raydell asserted confidently.


    Ham and the others gazed bewilderedly at the sky, but there was nothing there.


    Even Raydell saw nothing, yet he firmly believed that the reinforcements had arrived. A wizard had personally assured him of this.


    In the next moment, the ground beneath the mine ves seemed to tremble fiercely, followed by a surge of light in the empty valley. Airships materialized before their eyes.


    Ham and the others stared dumbfounded at these marvels, beyond theirprehension in their limitednguage. Each ship stood over twenty meters tall. Remembering Raydell''s im about reinforcementsing from the sky, someone immediately shouted loudly.


    "These must be creations of the gods! The gods havee to rescue us!"


    To these desperate mine ves, unfamiliar with magic, these airships suddenly appearing in the valley seemed like divine intervention!


    In an instant, shouts reverberated throughout the valley. Many mine ves fell to their knees, worshipping these colossal beings towering higher than houses.


    >


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 Chapter 265: Darren: My cannon is eager!

    Chapter 265: Darren: My cannon is eager!


    "Hey? What are they doing?"


    The first person to jump down from the airship was Lydia, who was surprised to see thousands of people kneeling and bowing to her. She was momentarily stunned by the scene.


    Upon hearing the shouts of the crowd, Lydia''s expression turned peculiar. She had no idea she was the messenger of the gods. How could she not know?


    Behind her, soldiers dressed in fine leather armor and wielding rifles also disembarked from the airship.


    After months of training and battling against monsters, these individuals no longer resembled raw recruits; each exuded an air of grim determination.


    Though Raydell wasn''t as easily startled as the miners, thinking it was a divine gift, the sight of dozens of airships appearing in the valley, disgorging thousands of people, was still profoundly impressive.


    Lynn, valuing the debut of the rifle corps immensely, had mobilized nearly all the airships made in the workshop. This included the batch promised to the council, totaling seventy airships, all to relocate the entire rifle corps and artillery from Iyeta Harbor to here in one go.


    Thanks to the alchemists'' enchantments on these airships, such as ''Wind Speech'' and ''Lightness,'' their transportation capacity had significantly increased.


    This was why it took just a day to travel from Iyeta to the Kingdom of Hadrta, but Lynn had dyed Raydell for ten days, waiting for these airships to finish their modifications.Besides, those responsible for the airship production, including Phillip and others, were present not specifically to assist but to inspect the weapon performance. Only in a real battlefield could they assess the strengths and weaknesses of these new-style weapons.


    Darren, apanied by a group of halflings, had transported the new artillery and impatiently inquired, "Where are our enemies? Where?"


    His cannon was already eager!


    The direction from which the airships arrived was opposite to that of the imperial army; they hadn''t collided directly.


    "There''s a cavalry unit stationed outside the valley, about a mile or two from here... As for the Duke leading therge army, there''s no sign of them yet," exined Raydell.


    "No, they''re already on their way. They should arrive in about half an hour!" Phillip said earnestly, cing a cylindrical object in his hand down. It was a telescope crafted using convex-concave lens principles and enhanced with an eagle-eye spell on the outermost lens, enabling far-reaching vision.


    It was far superior to the alchemical monocle invented by the Alchemy Association.


    Hearing that Director Lynn nned to make an evenrger one capable of clearly observing distant gxies through astronomical telescopes.


    "Where?" This time it was Raydell and others who were puzzled.


    Phillip smiled and handed over the telescope.


    Raydell took it and, after understanding its usage, ced the cylindrical object to his eyes. In an instant, his field of vision seemed to span millions of meters, even discerning the intricate patterns on a tree trunk.


    This was the wonder ofbining magic and technology, yielding an effect greater than the sum of its parts.


    Raydell sighed inwardly; having experienced numerous wars in the dream world, he understood how crucial the ability to observe distant enemy movements at any time was.


    After adjusting his mood, Raydell began scanning and quickly found his target.


    Far away, gs bearing various emblems fluttered in the sky. Over ten thousand soldiers marched in formation, their swords and crossbows glinting in the sunlight.


    When ten thousand people cover thend, especially armed elites, no noble in the Kingdom of Hadrta could possiblymand such arge number of armored soldiers. This expedition had gathered the private soldiers of more than twenty nobles, numbering several hundred to a thousand each, hastily amassing this mighty army.


    Observing from afar, Raydell felt a chill in his heart. Though they also had tens of thousands, their formation was sparse, weapons held irregrly. The contrast in their might was iparable. A mere nce might cause their side to scatter.


    Their reliance was solely on this sudden appearance of reinforcements. Raydell eyed the rifle corps before him, especially the peculiar long sticks they held, contemting if these could be more effective than their shovels?


    Moreover, their numbers were only thirty-five hundred, whether they could contend with the kingdom''s regr army remained unknown. Compared to this, Raydell was more concerned about the seventy massive airships in the valley; perhaps, that was the wizard''s ace in the hole.


    "At this range, can the cannon hit them?" Phillip inquired.


    "It''s a bit too far. It''s better within a kilometer for higher precision," Darren pondered in response. Although Director Lynn had requested cannons capable of hitting two or three kilometers, that concept remained solely on the drawing board.


    "In that case, let''s wait for them to initiate the attack; it''s better not to be hasty," Phillip nodded, then instructed the wizard apprentices to adjust the cannons.


    Others also sprang into action: Lydia and herpanions returned to the airship, activating the prizing magic and ascending into the sky. Meanwhile, the rifle corps swiftly loaded lead bullets to ensure immediate firing duringbat.


    On the other side, Duke Rickman led his army to the outskirts of the valley. After receiving reports from the cavalry, he chuckled and shook his head.


    These people had hidden themselves in the valley, although it provided defensive advantages, it also sealed off their escape route.


    It was a sure path to self-destruction.


    Just as Rickman prepared to charge into the valley and unleash a massacre, he was surprised to see Raydell leading people out of the valley. Miners, shabbily dressed, held long knives, broad axes, shovels, and mining tools, forming a somewhat awkward queue.


    Witnessing this scene, the nobles present burst intoughter, and Joyce''s face turned unsightly. He felt the mocking gazes of the crowd and wished he could vanish into a hole. He couldn''t believe that their army had been routed by such a force.


    "We''d better be cautious. In such a disadvantageous situation, if the enemy dares toe out, they probably have some reliance!" Archbishop Norde suddenly warned.


    Before embarking on this military campaign, the venerable Archbishop had cautioned him that the rebellion of these southern miners was exceedingly suspicious; it might be rted to the wizards...


    >


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 Chapter 266: The Mighty Power of Technology from Another World!

    Chapter 266: The Mighty Power of Technology from Another World!


    Nord''s solemn reminder didn''t receive much attention, and Joyce was eagerly urging Duke Rickman tounch an attack; he couldn''t wait to sever the heads of the rebels!


    "Since that''s the case, let it be you in the vanguard, Count Joyce!" Rickman patted his shoulder, encouraging him.


    "Duke Rickman, this... This might not be appropriate. Conquering these mine ves concerns the heir''s candidacy. The credit should be given to others," Joyce hesitated. He only had a few hundred borrowed men; if they charged too far ahead and got surrounded by the enemy, these people wouldn''t risk their lives to protect him.


    "If youck courage, step aside, Joyce. No wonder you were driven out of your own territory by those lowly mine ves!" a young count mocked.


    "Johnson, you..." Joyce was both angry and furious, but before he could finish, the count turned to Duke Rickman, taking the initiative to challenge. He was willing to personally lead the cavalry and crush these rebel forces!


    "Good! I''ll give you a cavalry of two thousand. Disperse them at the fastest speed!" Rickman said sternly. "If you fail, I think you know the consequences!"


    Confidently, Johnson pounded his chest, cavalry having significant superiority over infantry, especially against a group of poor people wielding hoes and mining tools. With a concentrated charge, all that''s left is ughter!


    The other nobles looked at Johnson with envy and jealousy. Previously, they were unwilling to lose too many of their guards, so they didn''t vie for credit. Unexpectedly, Duke Rickman was so generous, allowing Johnson to lead the entire cavalry.


    It was clear that after this battle, Johnson, who obtained the credit, would undoubtedly receive praise and rewards from the new king!"Nord, bishops, we''ll rely on you next!" Rickman turned to the priests d in white robes, politely addressing them.


    "Prepare the spells, everyone!" Nord nodded, and along with the priests and bishops, ced their hands on their chests, performing a peculiar praying gesture and chanting in a melodious, elusive tone.


    "Great Lord of the Stars, Goddess of the Moon, creators of all things in this world, we pray for your mercy, grant your humble servants endless courage and strength..."


    Resonant chants echoed across the wilderness, dazzling white light shining upon everyone present, nobles and soldiers alike, filling their bodies with vitality, dispelling the fatigue from the long march...


    This was the Fourth Circle Divine Art - the "Anthem of Divine Courage"!


    Compared to the First Circle Divine Art, "Fear Dissipation," its range had increased a thousandfold, requiring seven bishops as guides and dozens of priests casting spells together to barely utilize it.


    Within a short span of two to three minutes, over ten thousand people were enveloped in the divine light!


    "Go, warriors of the Lord, shatter those sphemers with the most courageous of battles. The Lord will watch over you from the grand divine realm!" Nord''s resounding voice echoed across the battlefield.


    "For the great Goddess of the Moon!" "The God is with us!"


    Fifteen thousand soldiers, each shouting praises to the Lord as if they were injected with adrenaline!


    Leading the charge was Johnson, with two thousand cavalry rushing toward the group of mine ves.


    Duke Rickman also led the remaining army, swiftly advancing, almost forming a pincer attack, intending topletely annihte these sphemers!


    The tremor of hooves on the ground was akin to the chilling beat of war drums in Ham''s heart. Watching the elite cavalry bathed in the radiant white light approaching like a tidal wave, Ham couldn''t help but gulp; if it hadn''t been for the miraculous arrival of Philip and others before, granting them a bit more confidence, he wouldn''t have had the courage to stand here!


    In the valley behind them, rows of grim cannons were neatly arranged. Due to the limited carrying capacity of the airship, only fifty had been brought this time.


    And to control these cannons were none other than the apprentices from the Yayeta Academy!


    Elok, Pearce, and Johnny were swiftly calcting wind speed, distance, creating mathematical models in their minds, sketching trajectories...


    It might soundplicated, but for these apprentices, it was a matter of just a dozen seconds. After mental calctions, Johnny was the first to ignite the fuse, followed by Elok and others,pleting their calctions one after another...


    "Cover your ears!" Elok shouted loudly.


    However, no one could hear him anymore as violent roaring directly drowned out the tremors caused by the galloping horses - the thunderous sound of the cannons!


    It was the mighty power of technology from another world!


    Gigantic shells whistled through the air, the thunderous cannon fire audible even to Duke Rickman hundreds of meters away.


    "Indeed, it''s wizards!" Nord''s expression instantly turned serious. Apparently, he mistook the cannon roar as a form of powerful magic. But he quickly reassured them.


    "Don''t be overly concerned, Duke Rickman. I had anticipated this. The Fourth Circle Divine Art we just performed possesses a strong anti-magic effect. Under the protection of the divine light, those peculiar sorceries won''t have much effect..."


    Rickman''s tense expression rxed a bit. He was about to praise the blessing of the gods when a continuous barrage of cannon fire descended from above!


    Not far in front of them, a cavalryman charging forward was unfortunately hit head-on by a cannonball, reduced to a mass of fragments. The shockwave and the dust kicked up by the explosion sent the surrounding cavalry tumbling, sttering blood and soil onto Rickman''s luxurious clothing...


    Grim scenes yed out in every corner of the battlefield... Rickman was momentarily stunned, his face ashen as he looked towards Nord, who stood nearby.


    Is this what you call anti-magic and divine protection?


    At that moment, Nord was equally shocked. He could tell that the divine spell specifically meant to resist magic had utterly failed to have any effect. Could it be that the followers of those sinister gods had developed some sort of sorcery that could bypass the protective divine magic?


    Nord''s expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but he still spoke firmly. "It seems these followers of the sinister gods are more formidable than I imagined. However, they won''t be able to hold out for long. Such powerful magic consumes terrifying amounts of energy!"


    Surely there couldn''t be an entire legion of wizards hiding behind the valley, bombarding indiscriminately?


    This was within the kingdom; it was impossible for so many powerful wizards to sneak in...


    >


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 Chapter 267: The Song of Blood and Fire Resounds with the Roar of Cannons!

    Chapter 267: The Song of Blood and Fire Resounds with the Roar of Cannons!


    In this moment, on the battlefield interwoven with blood and fire, two thousand fully armed cavalry troops galloped forward, only to collide head-on with an endless barrage of artillery. Almost every moment, several to even a dozen artillery shells wouldnd nearby them, some even on their heads!


    Cavalrymen kept falling off their horses, creating immense psychological pressure.


    If it weren''t for the divine spell, the "Anthem of Courage," granting them extraordinary mental resilience, under the constant bombardment of artillery shells, this entire knightly contingent would probably have copsed and scattered long ago.


    Even if men could endure, their warhorses couldn''t!


    Despite that, the iing artillery continued to chip away at their courage bit by bit. Although the power of the Quadrant Magic was terrifying, divided among fifteen thousand people, it only manifested at the level of the first or second quadrant on them...


    "These damn wizards!" Johnson''s mind was filled with a hint of fear, dreading that the next moment an artillery shell mightnd on his head. Like Nord, he mistook this terrifying artillery rain for the magic of wizards.


    "Charge! Don''t stop!" Johnson shouted loudly. Despite the fear, he understood that once cavalry began a group charge, they couldn''t afford to abruptly stop. All they could do was rush through at the fastest speed, annihting their foes in one go!


    With such potent magic, coteral damage would be severe. Their safest bet was to plunge into the ranks of those mining ves!


    "God stands with us!" The surrounding knights also roared in an attempt to lift spirits, though their voices trembled slightly.Just then, the miners facing them suddenly scattered to the sides. Johnson''s pupils contracted, for hidden behind them were over a thousand soldiers, adorned in exquisite armor, wielding matchlock rifles!


    Stepping, raising rifles, pulling triggers¡ªthe actions of a thousand soldiers synchronized without a single unnecessary movement. This had been their most drilled routine over the past few months...


    As for the cavalry charging towards them, there was no fear or hesitation. After all, how could theypare to the horrifying undead tide and the terrifying monsters?


    The next moment, a barrage of gunfire erupted. The onrushing cavalry seemed to hit a solid wall, with over two hundred cavalrymen falling instantly.


    Their refined armor offered little protection, easily prated by high-speed lead bullets. The neighs of warhorses and the cries of agony filled the air as the fallen riders in the front triggered even more casualties.


    Johnson, charging at the forefront, unsurprisingly became one of the first hit by the gunfire. However, the magical shield surrounding him saved his life¡ªa gift earned through valiant deeds in previous campaigns¡ªa shield that could withstand crossbow bolts. But now, cracks were appearing on this shield...


    Regardless, Johnson cared little; his only thought was to press forward!


    Especially when he noticed that those enemies holding strange long sticks had stopped shooting, Johnson saw a glimmer of victory. Obviously, these powerful weapons couldn''t be continuously used!


    However, his momentary joysted only for a few seconds. Soon after, he witnessed the frontline gunners passing their used weapons to the back row, picking up new ones.


    The use of the matchlock rifles had various techniques. Both Eastern and Western civilizations had their strategies¡ªlike the Japanese three-step firing involving the front and back rows or the alternating firing of three rows as practiced in Europe and Ming China.


    Each method had its advantages, adaptable to different battle scenarios. This time, there was no need for fallback maneuvers, so the gunners employed the former method.


    Amidst the constant rotation of matchlock rifles in their hands, an unending rain of bullets shot forth.


    Though the destructive and intimidating power of the rifles couldn''t match the terror of artillery, their quantity was overwhelming. Within a short distance of tens of meters, it became a death trap. Each concentrated volley imed hundreds of cavalrymen...


    The talisman hanging from Johnson''s chest shattered when the second round of gunfire arrived, narrowly avoiding the third, but sumbed to the fourth round, hitting his abdomen.


    Thankfully, his armor was exceptional, deflecting the majority of the damage. Almost thrown off his horse due to the impact, Johnson managed to stabilize himself, enduring the piercing pain. His only desire now was to charge forth and cut down those damned miners and spellcasting wizards under his horse''s hooves!


    He couldn''t afford to stop, especially with the gunners now less than ten meters away in the front row. There was no time to turn his horse around!


    "Charge... Charge!" Johnson roared hoarsely, but immediately saw the gunners in front aim their barrels at him.


    Only then did he realize the emptiness around him. Turning his head, he realized that the heavily depleted cavalry had already scattered and fled. He was the only one who charged the gunners!


    Before Johnson could curse, a dozen rifles turned him into a sieve, leaving him copsed just five or six meters away from the gunners.


    Watching this scene, Rickman felt his heart shatter. He didn''t care about Johnson''s life or death, but he deeplymented the fallen cavalry.


    These two thousand cavalry weren''t solely his force; they also included Prince Harold''s guards. Such catastrophic losses would surely anger the Crown Prince!


    "Return fire and cover the cavalry''s retreat!" Rickman shouted frantically. The cavalry''s charge and sacrifice weren''t in vain. At least, it shielded them from the bombardment of cannons, allowing them to reach a distance where they could retaliate with crossbows and arrows.


    However, the massive army had already descended into chaos after witnessing the plight of the cavalry. Several nobles, sensing the danger, prepared to flee.


    The priests on the field exerted themselves to cast spells of pacification, preventing theplete disintegration of this army. Only Rickman''s personal guards remained steadfast in obeying orders. Just as they released a volley of arrows, a relentless cannon barrage crashed down upon them.


    "Stop shooting! Stop shooting! Halt!" Fearing being targeted by the cannons, Rickman hurriedly changed his mind.


    "It seems we''ve overestimated them; these people are nothing but scattered sands..." At the same time, Lynn''s figure appeared before everyone.


    But it made sense; this legion was hastily assembled from the personal guards of dozens of nobles. Their ability to be coordinated and obedient was truly astounding, considering the circumstances.


    They fared well in a favorable battle, but once adversity struck, each seemed to fend for themselves. To withstand the onught of cannons and muskets without aplete rout was entirely due to magical prowess...


    >


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 Chapter 268: Nord: The great commander uses the fire of purgatory to burn everything!

    Chapter 268: Nord: The greatmander uses the fire of purgatory to burn everything!


    The sudden change in the situation left Raydell, Ham, and others stunned. They couldn''t witness the scene of the valley being bombarded with gunfire, only hearing the continuous sounds of cannons. However, they had a clear view of the actions of the musketeers.


    These individuals merely stood with long stick-like objects in their hands. With a small lever pressed on a ring, a burst of fire apanied by a loud boom erupted. As a result, the fierce cavalrymen fell from their horses, one by one.


    "Your Excellency Lynn, what kind of weapon is this? Is it the power of magic?" inquired Raydell, brimming with curiosity.


    "No, I should say this is the power of technology!" Lynn replied with a smile.


    "Technology?" Raydell paused, his expression puzzled.


    "Yes!" Lynn nodded. "To put it simply, whether it''s a musket or a cannon, ultimately, it''s just throwing stones with greater force!"


    On the side, Ham, who had been eavesdropping, found the exnation quite strange. He felt that this mysterious adult was surely joking. How could such terrifying weapons have anything to do with throwing stones?


    Philip and the others also wore bewildered expressions, unable to refute Lynn''s words. After all, what he said was not wrong. The principle behind a musket was to use the force generated by mes and explosions to throw projectiles!


    "What do you make of this? Have you noticed anything?" Lynn adjusted his expression and asked."The number of musketeers is still a bit too low. If those cavalrymen hadn''t retreated just now, it''s quite possible they could have charged through..." Ondo pondered.


    The effective firing range of matchlock guns was only about eighty to ny meters. For cavalry, that was a matter of charging. If it weren''t for thebined intimidation of cannons and muskets that scattered their courage, it might have caused significant casualties.


    "The rate of fire is the biggest drawback of this thing. It would be great if we could load two or even three rounds at once!" Ondo sighed.


    Philip shook his head. He thought the matchlock gun was already a perfect creation. If they could fire more shots, a skilled gunner would be more powerful than many wizard apprentices or even a first-circle wizard.


    ---


    "Don''t panic. The followers of those evil gods won''t be rampant for long. The great Lord of the Stars is watching us from the ws in the divine realm. Those valiant souls who fought and died will gain eternal glory in the Lord''s divine realm..."


    On the other side of the battlefield, Duke Rickman shouted loudly, striving to maintain order within the army. However, his voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that his inner state was not as calm as he appeared.


    At this moment, Rickman was truly in a difficult situation.


    Because this operation concerned the throne, when he assembled arge army to march south to suppress the rebellion, he did so with the mindset of using all his strength. Not only did he bring the personal guards of various nobles, but he also brought a cavalry unit of as many as two thousand men.


    Such a force was more than enough not just to deal with a minor rebellion of mine ves but even to serve as the main force to conquer a kingdom!


    Who would have thought that among those ragged mine ves, there suddenly emerged thousands of well-trained regr soldiers wielding peculiar weapons? They scattered his cavalry regiment, and wizards were involved, bombarding them with magic...


    The fleeing cavalry finally managed to return to formation, but it came at the cost of nearly half of them being killed or injured.


    Most died from the gunfire and cannon attacks, but many also fell due to being trampled or colliding during the chaos of retreat...


    Seeing the plight of these men, Joyce broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the reckless Johnson took the hit for him; otherwise, he''d be the one lying dead on the battlefield.


    Yet before Joyce could even feel relieved, Rickman grabbed him by the cor, speaking fiercely, "Count Joyce, is this the mine ve rebellion you told me about?"


    With so many wizards and a legion of thousands appearing in the Count''s domain, mixed in with those rioting mine ves, there was no way that Count Joyce, as the lord, could have been unaware!


    Moreover, upon reflection, how could a few disorganized mine ves have possibly expelled Count Joyce from his own territory? It was evident that the followers of those evil gods had provided assistance from behind!


    In light of all this intelligence that Joyce hadn''t mentioned, Rickman couldn''t help but suspect whether he was a spy sent by the Second Prince. No wonder that Prince remained soposed, sitting securely on the throne, showing no signs of urgency.


    Some nobles present there were itching to tear Joyce apart on the spot.


    Facing the Duke''s interrogation, Joyce found himself unable to speak. After all, he genuinely had no knowledge of the forces behind these mine ves.


    "Now is not the time for inquiries, Rickman. Let''s find a way to end this battle first and settle matterster when we return..." spoke Archbishop Nord in a deep voice, as the priests behind him erected sturdy divine barriers, blocking the iing artillery fire.


    However, they clearly couldn''t cover every part of the battlefield, only protecting a small central area.


    The continuous bombardment distressed Nord. Could it be that these wizards'' magic was limitless?


    Angrily shoving Joyce away, Rickman calmed his emotions a bit before asking solemnly, "Bishop Nord, do you have a way to use divine arts to eliminate those wizards hiding in the valley?"


    This was the key to resolving the situation!


    As for the musketeers wielding strange weapons? After the initial shock, Rickman quickly noticed a w in these weapons: their effective range was less than a hundred meters.


    Once the cavalry crossed this distance, their weapons couldn''t prate the armor, and the musketeers would cease shooting.


    With longbows having an effective range of about a hundred and thirty meters, they could exploit the advantage of long-range arrow attacks where the opponents couldn''t retaliate.


    Then, shield-bearing heavy infantry would advance slowly, attracting the attention of these people, while the remaining thousand-plus cavalrymen nked from both sides, driving the mine ves topress the musketeers inside, disrupting their movements...


    Rickman, seasoned in warfare, was undoubtedly sharp. After calming down, he quickly thought of a countermeasure. However, the most crucial issue was stopping these continuously flying spherical shells from the valley; otherwise, their archers wouldn''t stand a chance.


    Nord contemted what divine arts might bridge several hundred meters while retaining enough power.


    "We could beseech the great Lord to bring forth the Judgment Day, using the eternal fire of purgatory to burn everything, but... we need some time to seek the Lord''s mercy!" Nord slowly spoke.


    >


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 Chapter 269: This is At Least Five Circles, No, Even Six Circles of Magic!

    Chapter 269: This is At Least Five Circles, No, Even Six Circles of Magic!


    "They''re moving, they''re moving again!"


    At this critical moment, Raydell, who was closely monitoring the battlefield, detected the enemy''s movements for the first time. The disorganized army in the front unexpectedly regrouped, with thousands of shield soldiers forming neat lines like a solid wall, slowly advancing forward.


    A continuous rain of arrows shot forth once again.


    Soon after, a melodious hymn resounded across the battlefield.


    "It seems these bishops are not giving up. What new trick are they nning?" Lynn frowned involuntarily.


    From the intelligence he received, the Archbishop should still be in the capital. Only a few ordinary bishops and an entire group of priests came with the army this time. However, they didn''t seem easy to deal with. The powerful divine magic that covered the entire field earlier hinted at something.


    Lynn spected that it might be some kind of enchantment to boostbat morale. Otherwise, at the moment of cannon fire and simultaneous rifle volleys, the cavalry''s horses would have panicked and scattered everywhere.


    But harnessing more powerful forces wasn''t an easy feat. The previous hymn hadsted for over half a minute...


    "We cannot allow them to use it again!" Lynn''s expression turned grave. High-level magic and divine spells couldpletely influence the oue of a local war.Besides their three thousand well-trained gunners, the rest were just refugees. If attacked, arge-scale dispersal was highly probable, affecting the performance of the gunners.


    "Do we need to direct the artillerymen to concentrate their fire?" Phillip asked.


    "No, let them keep an eye on those longbowmen instead," Lynn shook his head. The number of cannons was limited, and those longbowmen were among the few forces that could threaten the gunners.


    "Are you saying we should use that?" Ondo eximed in surprise.


    "It''s also a good opportunity to test its power." Lynn nodded, then conjured a fireball in his right hand and sent it into the sky.


    At the same time, hundreds of meters above, seventy airships were hovering above the battlefield.


    On thergest leading airship, Lydiay at the edge of the cockpit, using a telescope to observe the situation below. Upon seeing the charging cavalry falling in rows like cut wheat, she couldn''t help but scoff.


    "How''s the situation?" the halflings anxiously inquired. This alchemical telescope was a novelty, with only one on each airship, so they had to wait for Lydia to report on the situation.


    "These people are too weak. Each one is scared out of their wits..." Lydia expressed her frustration. It meant that their prepared novelty might not be useful.


    Darak rolled his eyes. He had personally witnessed the power of the cannons. Anyone facing that would be scared out of their wits.


    Suddenly, a burst of mes soared into the sky, interrupting their conversation, creating a dazzling spark behind the airship.


    Lydia''s expression immediately turned incredibly excited. This was the signal agreed upon by Lynn and them.


    "Quick, quick, quick... I''ll handle this myself!" Lydia jumped directly from her seat, swiftly ran to the pilot''s seat, and pulled the lever, steering the airship above the priests'' group.


    Meanwhile, Darren and the others brought over cannonballs the size of human heads and loaded them into the barrel, swiftly dropping them into thepartment below.


    "Fire!" Lydia shouted loudly, mming her palm heavily on the button.


    Almost simultaneously, thepartments at the bottom of the seventy airships popped open, and countless cannonballs rained down from the sky, apanied by bursts of fire, exploding in mid-air!


    Countless sparks illuminated the sky, white smoke billowed, and soldiers on the ground, trying to extinguish the white phosphorus fires, formed a scene reminiscent of hell.


    This terrifying scene almost caused Lord Rickman to fall off his warhorse.


    Even the resounding hymn had ceased. Nord and the others stared in horror at the nightmarish scene before them. The protective divine spell they had cast earlier was now riddled with holes, and the fire rain was falling through these openings.


    Such a terrifying range, such terrifying power, this was at least a fifth-circle magic, no, it might even be sixth!


    "This must be the Meteor Fire Rain of the fifth circle... a great wizard, it''s a great wizard... Retreat... Retreat quickly!" A grand bishop screamed frantically.


    Although they could barely cast a fourth-circle divine spell together, against a true great wizard, there was no chance of victory...


    >


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 Chapter 270: Our True Enemy Is on High... A God!

    Chapter 270: Our True Enemy Is on High... A God!


    "Hell... hell has descended..." "Oh, God... save your devout followers..."


    Amidst the chaotic battlefield, cries and screams intertwined, with some even kneeling and praying, seeking salvation from the gods. However, it was all in vain...


    The direction where Rickman and his group were situated became a primary target, with around ten airships ceaselessly bombarding them.


    Those aristocrats who once boasted and nned how to please the new king were now filled with regret, wishing their horses could sprout six legs to lead them away from the rain of fire...


    Even Joyce wasn''t an exception; sensing the danger, he fled with his own troops! However, even this couldn''t outrun the rain of fire descending from the sky. Sparks quickly fell upon him, somending on his sturdy armor while others seeped through the crevices, prating his body.


    A surge of intense pain and burning sensation surged through Joyce, contorting his face momentarily. Yet, he forcibly suppressed it; the will to survive overcame everything.


    The grim fate of those soldiers had already made it clear to him that this fire couldn''t be extinguished by conventional means. Now, the only option was to escape the range of this fiery onught and seek treatment for the injuries.


    Despite enduring the scorching pain, the horse beneath Joyce couldn''t withstand it, emitting a piercing neigh. It forcefully threw off the count above, twisting its body and galloping away without looking back...


    "Horse, my horse!"Dazed and disoriented from the fall, Joyce shouted hoarsely. He attempted to rise from the ground with all limbs, but a hand firmly grasped his thigh, dragging him back.


    Startled, Joyce turned to find Duke Rickman behind him. It was evident that Rickman had fallen from his horse as well, but his condition was even worse, with a mass of flesh and blood on his back, seemingly trampled by a warhorse...


    "Joyce... you traitorous scoundrel, a pawn of Hatar!" Rickman''s eyes zed red, his expression fierce, as if he intended to devour Joyce alive.


    "Let go, release me!" At a critical moment, Joyce disregarded the other''s identity, frantically kicking at Rickman''s head.


    Rickman firmly clutched Joyce''s thigh; his spine was already broken. With the bishops and priests preupied, there was no possibility of escaping the range of the rain of fire.


    Even if they managed to flee to the capital, this shameful defeat would ruin them entirely.


    After all, over ten thousand armored soldiers and two thousand cavalrymen, nearly half of the kingdom''s elite force, would not be spared by the king, the crown prince, or the church.


    In Rickman''s eyes, all this was a result of Joyce intentionally concealing information about the wizards. Even in death, he intended to drag Joyce down to hell...


    "Get off me!" Shouting frantically, Joyce drew his long knife, severing Rickman''s right hand grasping his thigh.


    In this dy, the next wave of fire had already descended from above...


    "Let''s go to hell together, Joyce..." Rickman screamed madly.


    "The damned one is you!" Joyce dragged Rickman over, intending to use him as a shield to evade the imminent danger. But how could Rickman allow him? Two noble figures grappled on the battlefield, consumed by the falling rain of fire...


    ...


    "So terrifying in its power..."


    From afar, Philip watched the battlefield engulfed in smoke and mes. Although they had experimented with this kind of weapon using beasts before, the actual effect on humans was unexpectedly dreadful.


    As themander of the musketeers, Rowen couldn''t help but feel immensely moved. He had previously doubted whether a war could end without any casualties.


    The scene before them undoubtedly proved otherwise. Lynn had provided him with a real lesson on how to wage war when possessing absolute firepower.


    However, these weapons seemed a bit too dreadful...


    "This is war. Kindness to enemies often equals cruelty to oneself!" Lynn''s expression remained unchanged, indicating a premeditated understanding.


    White phosphorus might be somewhat inhumane, but it was what they had. It was the best method to undermine the opponent''s morale.


    Lynn wasn''t aware of what kind of divine magic those priests were preparing. However, if these people didn''t choose to retreat, it meant Duke Rickman still believed they had a chance of winning.


    In that case, even if they ultimately triumphed, it would undoubtedly result in significant casualties.


    "Lynn, shall we pursue now?" Raydell hurriedly inquired. He hadn''t participated in many wars, but even an inexperienced person could see that it was an excellent opportunity to expand their victory.


    However, the few wizard masters didn''t seem to be giving anymands, causing Raydell some anxiety.


    "No, there''s no need for further pursuit. Some of the cavalry has already escaped, and we may not be able to prevent them from conveying the situation here to the capital." Lynn shook his head, refuting the suggestion.


    Most importantly, he didn''t state that these fumes were highly toxic!


    Before the smoke dispersed, entering it rashly would likely result in death without even knowing how it happened... It wouldn''t distinguish between friend and foe!


    Moreover, this army had already suffered heavy losses, and there was no possibility of further fighting. Fear would forever take root in their hearts.


    "Looks like this war wasn''t as difficult as the council members had imagined," Ondo remarked casually.


    During previous wizard meetings in Greenreel, those council members always wore looks of concern, as if disaster were imminent in thend of wizards. Some even suggested finding a new sanctuary at sea, just in case.


    Now, it seemed that the empire was nothing more than having arger poption. If they were to arm the more than twenty thousand new troops from thend of wizards, these people were nothing more than chickens and dogs.


    Surely, this victory would greatly boost morale...


    "Let''s not be toocent. This time, we just caught them off guard. The battles ahead might not be so easy," Lynn reminded them. Most importantly, their real adversary wasn''t these soldiers with swords and bows but the one on high... a god!


    >


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 Chapter 271: The Great Defeat That Shook the Royal City!

    Chapter 271: The Great Defeat That Shook the Royal City!


    "Lord Gade, are we just going to follow the Second Prince like this? Duke Rickman has already set off with his men to suppress those group of mine ves. It''s estimated that they will soon triumph."


    A knight, several kilometers away from the battlefield, couldn''t help but inquire when observing his lord, the Count, moving at a leisurely pace.


    Conquering those rebellious mine ves would be a significant achievement handed to them on a silver tter. Are they really going to concede?


    "What can we do? We have only this handful of men. Can we really overpower them?" Count Gade sighed helplessly.


    The Second Prince had only given him fifteen hundred men. With this number, they couldn''t aplish anything. He didn''t even dare to get too close to the battlefield, fearing that the Duke might suddenly turn their way, wipe out their thousand men, and then me the mine ves for it.


    Don''t think this isn''t possible. In matters concerning the throne, if there''s a chance to eliminate opposition, they wouldn''t hesitate!


    Gade sighed deeply. He couldn''t fathom what game the Second Prince was ying. Even outside the royal city, Hatar had assigned him an utterly absurd task...


    Suddenly, everyone present felt a violent tremor beneath them. Soon after, intense gunfire erupted from a distance, audible even across several kilometers.


    "Is the battle really this intense?" Gade was surprised. He then thought it might be the bishops using some powerful divine magic, and the oue would likely be decided soon.Just as Gade thought, a dense crowd emerged on the horizon in the far wilderness.


    These must be the defeated mine ves, right?


    Thinking this, Gade drew his longsword from his waist. The knights and guards beside him also tightened their grip on their weapons, excitement written on their faces.


    Unexpectedly, Duke Rickman had brought so many elites, yet they still couldn''tpletely wipe out those mine ves.


    But for them, it was a stroke of luck. Beheading a few mine ves and bringing their heads back would justify their expedition and satisfy the higher-ups!


    "Wait, that seems to be the Duke''s army..." an observant soldier suddenly noticed something amiss.


    Gade paused, then noticed that among this fleeing group, some were still wearing armor with the kingdom''s emblem... These couldn''t possibly be mine ves!


    Moreover, leading the charge was someone he knew well: Duke Selen of the kingdom!


    Ten days ago, he had seen Selen, full of spirit, leading his troops alongside Duke Rickman for the expedition. However, this noble Duke now had none of his former aristocratic bearing. His face was covered in blood, clothes in tatters, looking utterly disheveled.


    The soldiers following behind him looked even worse, nearly every one of them disheveled, their armor in shambles, shouting incessantly, "Hell... Hell has descended!" "The great Lord has abandoned us, it''s divine punishment... This is divine punishment!"


    "Duke Selen, what has happened?" Gade, horrified, hurriedly intercepted him and asked.


    "Fire rain... Fire rain everywhere... The army is defeated... Count Johnson is dead, Duke Rickman is finished... It''s the Archmage; this rebellion of the mine ves is rted to the Archmage..." Selen, upon seeing Gade, spoke with a deathly pale face, as if he had found a savior.


    He had witnessed Duke Rickman fall from his horse; the situation was dire.


    Listening to Selen''s ount, Gade finally understood the sequence of events. A terrifyingly powerful Archmage appeared on the battlefield, unleashing an immensely powerful magic that led to the army''s defeat.


    To single-handedly rout an entire army - Gade couldn''t help but gasp at the sheer magnitude of such power.


    "Quick, those demons might catch up any moment. Escort me back to the royal city; this must be reported immediately to His Majesty and the Church!" Selen tightly grabbed Gade''s arm, urgently pleading.


    "Don''t be so hasty, Duke Selen. What about Bishop Nord? Are they behind?" Gade pulled Selen''s hand off his arm and asked again.


    Selen shook his head in terror. They seemed to have been targeted by that Archmage; the rain of fire had been relentlessly chasing them.


    A high bishop had been hit in the head by a huge cannonball from an unknown source, blood sttering, and had lost his life instantly. Hence, they had to scatter and flee to have a slim chance of survival!


    "If that''s the case, then it''s easy!" Gade''s eyes flickered with a sense of regret. "I''m sorry, Duke Selen, but I''m afraid I can''t escort you to the royal city. But well..."


    "I can take you to meet the Duke!"


    Upon hearing this, Selen''s face changed abruptly, but Gade had already swung his longsword at his head, blood spraying instantly.


    Selen''s body copsed limply from the horse, his face still carrying an expression of disbelief.


    "Attack, kill them!" Count Gade raised his bloodied sword, pointing at the soldiers in uneven armor behind Selen, shouting loudly.


    Those who had apanied Gade to scout were his and Prince Hatar''s private soldiers. They would execute even the most absurd orders without hesitation.


    After a brief moment of confusion, a massacre began!


    The soldiers who had been fleeing alongside Selen never anticipated that, having just escaped that hellish battlefield, they would once again face betrayal from their own kind.


    Moreover, they had already discarded their heavy weapons in their desperate attempt to flee, rendering them defenseless. Fleeing was futile; even their fastest running couldn''t match the speed of crossbows...


    Gade wielded his longsword, harvesting one soldier after another. This was the secret order given to him by Prince Hatar: to leave these people here as much as possible, weakening the Church''s and Prince Harold''s forces.


    Previously, he had thought it was pure fantasy - how could those mine ves, with no strength or ability, contend against the kingdom''s regr army, let alone stir up anymotion?


    But now, reality showed him it was not just amotion, but an avnche!


    ...


    After artillery fire, muskets, fire rain, and Gade''s ughter, finally, out of the fifteen thousand elite troops Rickman took to suppress the mine ves, only twenty-odd cavalry, escorting Grand Bishop Nord, hurriedly fled back to the royal city...


    Simultaneously, news of the massive defeat quickly spread throughout the entire royal city!


    >


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 Chapter 272: The Panic in the Kingdom and the Nobles

    Chapter 272: The Panic in the Kingdom and the Nobles


    Inside the Hadrta Pce, a routine meeting was taking ce to discuss this year''s tax issues. King Bazeel received a report from his attendant that Archbishop Anluke urgently requested an audience outside the hall.


    Before King Bazeel could respond, Harold chuckled and said, "Seems like the war has concluded! What about Grand Duke Kriman? Hasn''t he returned with you? Still out there in the Earl''s domain, finishing off those hiding mine ves, perhaps?"


    At this point, Harold, intending to witness his brother''s expression of ipetence, turned to see Hatar''s face, only to unexpectedly find him also smiling, seemingly congratting him as the next king.


    The attendant, head bowed, didn''t reply to Harold''s inquiry.


    "Bring the person in," King Bazeel said in a deep voice. He sensed from the attendant''s reaction that things were likely not as simple as they seemed.


    The doors of the pce hall soon swung open, and Archbishop Nord swiftly entered, his face tinged with fear. Alongside him came over twenty knights, their armor mismatched, covered in dust and bloodstains.


    At that moment, even the oblivious Harold sensed that something was amiss.


    "Archbishop, what has happened? Is it that the situation at the frontlines is unfavorable?" Harold urgently asked.


    The worst scenario he could imagine was Grand Duke Kriman being ambushed by those mine ves, suffering heavy losses, and then this Archbishop running back to the pce seeking support..."There''s barely a front line now, Your Highness Harold! Grand Duke Kriman is dead, several counts and earls didn''t make it out. Over ten thousand went to suppress the mine ves; I''m afraid only a few of us remain!" Nord bitterly shook his head.


    Kriman was by his side when he fell from his horse. Nord hesitated for a second between rescuing Kriman and ensuring his own safety before choosing thetter! After all, this information was too crucial!


    Kriman dead? Fifteen thousand elite troops wiped out?


    Upon hearing these two pieces of news, Harold''s mind went nk, almost fainting.


    The assembled nobles also felt shock and disbelief, almost suspecting that the Archbishop was joking with them.


    For this heir apparent contention, the eldest prince''s entourage brought out their utmost strength. Apart from ten thousand private soldiers and two thousand cavalry, they had the support of Church priests and bishops.


    When these people gathered outside the capital, there were concerns that they might suddenly turn against each other, sparking a pce coup.


    Who could annihte such a powerful army?


    Even King Bazeel, seated on the throne, couldn''t resist standing up, eyes wide like a lion ring down at Nord and the knights.


    "You must be lying; this cannot be true!" Harold''s eyes reddened, grabbing Nord''s cor tightly, his voice hoarse as he roared, "With those lowly ves wielding hoes and mine tools, even using the most despicable means, it''s impossible for them to defeat my elite army!"


    "Unfortunately, it''s the truth, Your Highness Harold..." Nord struggled free from Harold''s grip and, under everyone''s gaze, recounted the recent battlefield events in detail.


    The knights beside him stuttered as they supplemented his ount, vividly remembering the brutal scenes of being attacked by firearms, cannons, and white phosphorus.


    Though fortunate to have escaped the battlefield, the hellish scenes remained etched in their minds, inevitably adding a touch of exaggeration when narrating.


    During their charge, a well-equipped regr army suddenly emerged from the ragged mine ves, wielding incredibly powerful wizardry items seemingly capable of manipting thunder and mes.


    They only heard thunderous roars, and theirrades fell in rows like harvested wheat...


    The torrential rain of fire was incredibly terrifying, akin to hellfire from the abyss in the scriptures, scorching everything it touched to ashes...


    Nord and the twenty knights'' descriptions sent shivers down everyone''s spine. However, along with it arose skepticism!


    "Archbishop Nord, you mentioned a sudden rebel army numbering in the thousands, each wielding a wizardry item? Even if we add up those cultists hiding underground, they wouldn''t amount to that many!" a noble of the kingdom questioned.


    Though rumors circted about these wizards being seduced by devils and dark gods, possessing unimaginable powers, they were not easily deceived individuals.


    Some nobles even had ndestine interactions with those wielding magical powers, able to discern what was alchemy and what was magic.


    And even if wizards were powerful, they had limits. How could they cast spells continuously for over ten minutes without stopping?


    The voices of doubt persisted, growing louder, but beneath them lingered a hint of fear. They didn''t want to believe it; therefore, it had to be a lie!


    "I swear to the Lord, everything I say is true, without a shred of falsehood!" Nord''s thunderous voice silenced all the doubters in the hall.


    When a clergyman was willing to swear in the name of God, it meant there could be no falsehood!


    Nord''s angry words shattered thest shred of hope among the people. It meant that their enemies, nearly overwhelmingly, had decimated almost half of the kingdom''s elite troops led by Duke Kriman!


    The entire hall fell into a deathly silence, fear spreading like a gue. If Kriman, leading so many elites, was defeated, wouldn''t they be at the mercy of the invaders if they came to the capital?


    Harold was distraught; his close aides and supporters perished in this war. He knew he was finished...


    King Bazeel''s face turned pale; his body swayed, copsing onto the throne behind, making it seem like he might pass out any moment.


    "Your Majesty!"


    The attendants on either side attempted to assist, but Bazeel gestured to stop them. He forced himself to sit upright, trembling slightly, and looked at Nord, his voice quavering.


    "What about Archbishop Anluke? Does he know about this news?"


    >


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 Chapter 273: Would You Dare Swear in Front of the Great Lord?

    Chapter 273: Would You Dare Swear in Front of the Great Lord?


    "I''ve already sent word to notify His Eminence, the Archbishop..."


    Facing King Bazeel''s inquiry, Nord spoke in a deep tone. Along with him, there were two priests who had returned in haste.


    Due to the urgency of the situation, they split into two teams directly. Their goal was to report the news as quickly as possible and discuss a solution jointly between the church and the kingdom.


    "Furthermore, I suspect a powerful wizard''s involvement, perhaps even orchestrating this rebellion of the mine ves, attempting to overturn the entire kingdom!" Nord added.


    Because of the terrifying rain of fire that covered the entire area, it could possibly be a Five-Ring Magic - the Meteor Shower. Yet, even he hadn''t seen such a thing before, so he couldn''t be entirely certain.


    The nobles present were alreadypletely engulfed in panic and fear. Some even suggested seeking aid from the empire, as their own power alone was insufficient to handle this uprising.


    Amidst these intermittent voices, King Bazeel hesitated.


    The Kingdom of Har, though a vassal of the empire, still retained a significant level of autonomy due to historical reasons. Should he decide to seek aid from the empire, it would undoubtedly provide an opportunity for them to establish a military presence within the kingdom. This would render futile all the efforts he had made throughout his life to solidify his reign.


    Equally averse to imperial interference was Hatar. After all, the survival of these mine ves was directly rted to the position of the heir to the throne. Despite Harold, one of thepeting heirs, having lost a significant portion of his power, this matter still held great significance!Thinking along these lines, Hatar quickly stood up and spoke loudly, "Father, I believe there''s no need to seek aid from the empire. Things haven''t worsened to that extent yet!"


    "Certainly, Count Clerman was caught off guard this time. Coupled with mediocre abilities, it led to the loss of the kingdom''s elite forces. I am willing to lead the army myself, along with His Eminence, Archbishop Elok, to resolve this rebellion of the mine ves!" Hatar proimed firmly.


    Hatar''s words surprised everyone in the hall.


    Nord and the knights had already exined the situation clearly. Count Clerman hadn''t fallen into a trap but had been almostpletely defeated by the rebel army in a near-victorious manner.


    Fifteen thousand soldiers werepletely wiped out, and even the Duke hadn''t managed to escape.


    This meant the enemy''s terror far exceeded their imaginations. It was a literal death trap, yet Hatar seemed eager to dive right into it...


    Some clever minds quickly reconsidered. Just a fortnight ago, when they had discussed suppressing these mine ves, Hatar had been dragging his feet and hesitating to act. Now, his sudden enthusiasm seemed highly abnormal.


    "Wait a moment, Your Highness Hatar. When Bishop Nord reported earlier, you didn''t seem all that surprised," a court minister suddenly asked coldly.


    Harold also immediately caught on. In an instant, he remembered the mocking look Nord had cast his way when they first met. A chill ran up his spine, mingled with anger.


    "Hatar... it''s you. It must be you who conspired with the cultists of those dark gods, plotting this rebellion of the mine ves to propel yourself onto the throne!" Harold roared furiously, then turned to look at King Bazeel on the throne.


    "Father, the spies I dispatched to monitor Hatar reported frequent visits of a group of unidentified individuals wearing strange attire to his mansion. They''re most likely those cultists of the dark gods!" Harold stated vehemently.


    Hatar''s expression remained unchanged as he sneered and retorted, "Stop your baseless fantasies and suspicions, Harold! Why don''t you mention the fact that the entire kingdom has been upied by the followers of the dark gods?"


    "The matter of subduing the mine ves concerns the heir to the throne, but you didn''t seem eager earlier," Harold countered with a coldugh, bluntly retaliating.


    "I am not as impulsive as you, Harold. A few days ago, I had some differences with Duke Vixi regarding the issue of subduing those mine ves, so I dyed for some time and had to send Count Gade ahead to gather information," Hatar said leisurely, pausing before continuing with a sigh.


    "As for now, Count Gade might have already been killed by those insurgents!"


    "Would you dare swear in front of the great Lord that the rebellion of the mine ves and the appearance of those wizards within the Duke''s domain have no connection to you?" Harold fiercely demanded, knowing full well that Hatar was lying.


    Everyone in the hall looked at Hatar with skeptical eyes. After all, the nobles who were supposed to suppress the mine ves were loyal followers of Harold. If they were to die, Hatar would be the one most benefitting from it!


    Under the scrutiny of everyone, cold sweat broke out on Hatar''s forehead. Swearing in the name of the true god wasn''t a mere joke.


    But he was even more aware that once this matter was exposed, the severe judgment of King Bazeel and the church awaited him.


    "Of course... I dare swear by the great Lord!" Hatar forcefully asserted.


    "I am just like every one of you, hearing about the Earl Joyce mentioning the mine ves only half a month ago. Before that, I waspletely unaware. Otherwise, let me perish under the Lord''s endless hellfire as punishment!" Hatar''s voice was resolute, without a hint of wavering. After all, he wasn''t lying; half a month ago, he knew nothing about this, all orchestrated by Master Anthony.


    Then, without waiting for Harold to continue his interrogation, Hatar proudly dered, "Father, please grant me permission to lead the troops personally andpletely exterminate these rebel armies and followers of the dark gods who are wreaking havoc in the kingdom!"


    "I will discuss this matter with His Eminence, Archbishop Elok, and then make a decision," the words of King Bazeel turned much colder, followed by an announcement that the meeting was adjourned. He hastily left the pce with a few guards, Bishop Nord, heading towards the church.


    Hatar stood perplexed in ce. He couldn''t fathom why his father had rejected his proposal. Was there someone more suitable than him?


    What made Hatar even more anxious was the increasingly unfamiliar attitude of King Bazeel. He couldn''t fathom it.


    When Rikman had assembled the army outside the capital, he had heard from a bribed attendant that King Bazeel, furious, had smashed his favorite vase.


    Hatar understood his father''s reaction very well. Not only did his brother gain the support of nearly half the nobles in the kingdom, but he also had the church''s assistance, making him even more powerful than the kingdom itself!


    While this battle had caused considerable losses to the kingdom, it might not have been an entirely bad thing. At least, it rid the kingdom of some instability...


    But now, King Bazeel''s response left Hatar utterly bewildered.


    There might be one person who could answer his questions...


    >


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 Chapter 274: We Might as Well Storm the Palace and Seize His Throne!

    Chapter 274: We Might as Well Storm the Pce and Seize His Throne!


    After the routine meeting in the pce, Hatar wasted no time rushing back to the estate. He summoned Anthony and promptly recounted the details of the meeting, then, with deep confusion, inquired, "Master Anthony, what''s going on? Why did my father suddenly change his attitude?"


    Having listened to Hatar''s ount, Anthony pondered briefly and soon formed a spection.


    "If they had only defeated Duke Rickman''s army, the Kingdom of Bazeel wouldn''t have reacted so strongly."


    But the situation now was different. The tens of thousands of troops heading to the Earl''s domain and the ughter of dozens of nobles not only severely disrupted the internal power bnce of the kingdom but also showcased a force that naturally struck fear into the heart of the King.


    However, this was exactly what Lynn intended. Without flexing their muscles, those wavering nobles wouldn''t believe they could stand against the overwhelming power of the Church.


    "It seems my earlier prediction was somewhat off. Your good father probably isn''t nning to ce you on the throne but rather sees us as pawns to bnce the influence of the Holy See," Anthony sighed, shaking his head.


    Previously, Anthony had underestimated the King of Bazeel, who had ruled the kingdom for decades.


    Anthony had thought the King was dissatisfied with the Church''s excessive interference in secr affairs, hence the decision to support Hatar, who held anti-Holy See sentiments.


    But judging by the King''s reaction, things weren''t as simple as he had assumed. Bazeel merely aimed to use their power to weaken the Church''s influence, strengthening the monarchy without actually intending to have a falling-out with the Church.With Anthony''s exnation and analysis, Hatar''s pupils contracted, a coldness gripping his heart. He didn''t want to believe it, but thinking back to his father''s reaction in the hall left him with no choice.


    The recent expedition led by Harold''s forces against those miner rebels ended disastrously, resulting in the loss of nearly half of the kingdom''s elite forces. Despite the unforeseen strength of the enemy, his good father didn''t hold anyone ountable. His inclination was bing evident.


    "Master Anthony? What should we do now?" Hatar panicked. Previously, he only needed to focus on pleasing his father, hoping he''d secure the throne. However, that hope now seemed shattered.


    "It depends on your supporters¡ªwhether they stand by Bazeel or by you, the newly appointed king," Anthony calmly remarked.


    Hatar hesitated, understanding Anthony''s implication but unable to make this decision immediately.


    Facing influential nobles like Rickman, Joyce, and the supporters of Harold, Hatar could easily order massacres, but when it came to real rebellion, he hesitated.


    Seeing Hatar''s indecision, Anthony gently reminded him, "Now is when the internal resistance within the kingdom is at its weakest, and it''s the best time for you to ascend to the throne."


    The deaths of Rickman and dozens of nobles signified a massive blow to the factions loyal to the Holy See within the kingdom. If Hatar seized this opportunity and subdued the wavering nobles, he could directly ascend by force!


    "Furthermore, your defense and reactions in the hall revealed many ws. Our time may be running out," Anthony added.


    Their safety within the pce as sorcerers depended not only on the aid of the second prince but also on the tacit approval of the King of Bazeel. However, the situation was about to make aplete 180-degree turn!


    Hatar''s expression changed repeatedly. The effort he had put in, trying to please his father, only resulted in indifference. His gaze turned fiercer, and a decision took shape in his mind.


    The struggle for the throne often ended with victory or death. If his brother, Harold, ascended, there would be no chance for him!


    "Master Anthony, I have a question. How many wizards did you deploy to defeat Duke Rickman''s legion? And how many great wizards were there?" Hatar asked calmly.


    "I think you''ve misunderstood. With just these ten thousand men, it wasn''t enough for wizards to step onto the battlefield," Anthony arrogantly remarked. "Those who acted were merely ordinary soldiers trained in alchemical creations."


    Hatar was stunned. Despite the reports from Nord and the messages from Gade''s people, the information was exaggerated.


    Hearing about the sky being covered in a rain of fire, thunderous roars shattering eardrums, rows of soldiers falling, the entire battlefield resembling hell... Could ordinary people wielding alchemical creations achieve that?


    Bishop Nord had fervently sworn that supremely powerful great wizards had ambushed them on the battlefield.


    Initially, Hatar thought it was Anthony personally involved, but after questioning scouts, he learned that this esteemed wizard had not left the capital...


    "We don''t possess such power. What do we have to counter the Church and the Empire?" Anthony chuckled.


    Anthony''s words undoubtedly eased Hatar''s mind, giving the second prince a sense that the Empire and the Church were not as formidable as they seemed.


    Thankfully, Hatar didn''t get swayed by such illusions. Instead, he raised the second crucial question.


    "After I ascend to the throne, what kind of rewards do you require?"


    "Of course, allowing wizards to openly roam in the secr world. As for the rest, simr to before: magic for the wizards, secr matters for the kingdom!" Anthony grinned. "And, if possible, a portion of territory exclusively for us."


    "Alright, no problem!" Hatar readily agreed. Although the royal family''s directly-owned territory was limited, upon ascending, he would need to deal with some uncooperative folks, like the declining Rickman family, reim territories, and then assign a few more to them.


    Hatar wasn''t overly concerned that these wizards would bite the hand that fed them. After centuries of Church propaganda, the association of wizards with evil was deeply ingrained. They needed him to exist in this kingdom, not to mention theirmon enemies: the Empire and the Church.


    With this in mind, Hatar and Anthony began to discuss their n for seizing the throne...


    >


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 Chapter 275: Lynn: Is Ignorance Really Mine?

    Chapter 275: Lynn: Is Ignorance Really Mine?


    In the southern part of the kingdom, within Count Joyce''s domain.


    The wealthy merchants and minor nobles who were jubnt and eagerly anticipating the triumphant return of Grand Duke Rickman, fully expected that the army would crush Redell the next day. However, to their surprise, Redell and hisrge entourage returned to wreak havoc yet again.


    This time, Redell showed no mercy. He piged homes, cleared opposition, and after a few days of turmoil, truly upied the entire territory.


    Taking over the various towns and viges went smoothly too. The private armies of the local nobility and the resisting forces often lost their ability to resist after a few rounds of gunfire.


    In the Kingdom of Hadrta, territorial ims and wars of annexation among nobles were not umon, and the County of the Count had experienced several conflicts before.


    Regardless of which army it was, once they invaded a territory, the soldiers would invariably engage in looting, burning, and piging, sometimes more viciously than bandits.


    So, themoners kept their doors tightly shut, some even fled their homes...


    However, they soon discovered something unusual about this particr group carrying strange long sticks. Despite ravaging the nobles who opposed them, they not only refrained from demanding anything but also intended to distribute food, silver coins, andnd to them...


    It was like a dream.Yet, many persisted in believing that it was all a deception, a ploy to gather everyone in the square and then massacre them.


    Rumors were dispelled a few dayster when those impoverished people who boldly received the wealth and provisions were still alive and well. There was no interference from the guards with those who took the money and provisions, preparing to leave the towns.


    It dawned on everyone that perhaps this wasn¡¯t a deception after all...


    Could it be that their devout prayers had touched the great Lord of Stars, E, prompting the dispatch of divine messengers to establish a heavenly realm on earth?


    Numerous rumors spread throughout the territory. After several days of interaction andmunication, the impoverished and enved miners in the Count''s domain gradually realized that these gun squads wielding strange long sticks with the power of fire were not from the heavens, nor were they emissaries of any deity.


    They hailed from thend of wizards, a sacrednd ruled purely by wizards, devoid of kings and nobles...


    Wizards were undoubtedly seen as symbols of evil within the Sekas Empire.


    Rumors circted that these worshippers of dark gods, seduced by demons, abducted children, unearthed graves, spread diseases and gues, cursing those they detested. They were an embodiment of all evil.


    Old York, a member of the gun squad, faced these ignorant folk''s nonsensical chatter and sneered incessantly. "Why don''t you use your brains and think? Would devil worshippers distribute food, wealth, andnd to you?"


    "What have the church and nobles done for you? They only keep you toiling day in and day out in the fields and mines, rewarding you with a few hard ck breads... In the end, who are the devil''s followers?"


    The peasants present were all stunned. Without the grievances aired a few days ago, they would have believed all of this was a divine test, a means to enter the heavenly realm and avoid damnation in hell.


    The nobles, high and mighty, believed they were chosen by the gods, blessed with noble blood, allowed to be the administrators of the earth.


    "It''s different in Eyeta!" Old York proudly said, looking at the downtrodden peasants, feeling an inexplicable sense of superiority.


    "There are no nobles or churches there. Most people work in workshops, and everyone can eat delicious bread and camel meat..."


    Old York continued to boast about the wonders of Eyeta. Workers in those workshops could turn sand into exquisite ssware and wood into paper much whiter and more durable than parchment. Moreover, with a wave of the wizards'' hands, earth would spontaneously pile up, quickly forming a house...


    "Do you still have to farm? Where does the foode from?" a peasant couldn''t help but ask loudly.


    "Yes, but we''re different from you. Those alchemist lords have developed a machine that automatically cultivates thend... Just one person can plow two kilometers ofnd in an hour," Old York confidently stated. Although he had never seen this machine himself, his brother''s nephew had the fortune of being among the first to experiment with it.


    The onlookers exchanged nces. They thought Old York was surely exaggerating. Even ten people would find it hard to finish so much work, yet they were incredibly intrigued by the novel scenes Old York described.


    The continuous questioning made Old York smirk. Thend beyond the realm of wizards was indeed a wilderness, devoid of any knowledge...


    "Whether you believe it or not, it''s all true!" After a pause, Old York announced another incredibly important piece of news. "Moreover, tonight, Lord Lynn said he would conduct an experiment in the territory to make the night as bright as day!"


    The impoverished folk were initially perplexed about who this Lord Lynn was, but then they began discussing. Could it be a massive bonfire? Surely, they weren''t going to pluck the sun out of the sky?


    When they thought of wizard experiments, they imagined something dark, eerie, perhaps reviving skeletons or drawing strange patterns on the ground to summon devils.


    Considering this, most people chose to stay indoors at night. However, the curious were equally abundant. A vacant space in the Count''s domain quickly filled with people, all gazing wide-eyed at Lynn and others in the center, illuminated by torchlight.


    In the light provided by the torches, they could see a pile of peculiar alchemical devices, unlike anything they had ever seen.


    For this experiment, Lynn had managed to procure thetest models of generators, connecting them with fine copper wires to a rudimentary light bulb!


    Since there was electricity, rted electrical technologies naturally had to be showcased, and the most representative of these was undoubtedly the electric light!


    Lynn had scoured the entirend of wizards but unexpectedly found an alternative to tungsten.


    Tungsten was the ideal material for a light fment because of its high melting point. The fment glowed at a temperature of over 2000 degrees Celsius. At such a temperature, most metals would have melted, but tungsten''s melting point was around 3400 degrees Celsius.


    Secondly, tungsten had high resistance and poor conductivity, generating more heatpared to other metals when supplied with equal electrical current.


    Lastly, it had stable chemical properties and strong oxidation resistance, ensuring a long lifespan for the light bulb. With proper craftsmanship, it couldst for decades.


    There weren''t many metals that met these conditions and were cheap and plentiful. So Lynn had been agonizing over this for a long time until Philip reminded him to try using the hair of fire lions...


    When Lynn heard this suggestion, his expression was incredibly strange. Using biological hair as a fment material? Wasn''t that a joke?


    However, after the experiment, Lynn was left embarrassed. The ignorant person turned out to be himself¡ªthe peculiarities of magical creatures surpassed his imagination...


    >


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 Chapter 276: Illuminating the Night Sky!

    Chapter 276: Illuminating the Night Sky!


    "I''ve ced it, Dean Lynn!"


    Lydia waved her hands on the tform set up on the open ground, loudly shouting. cing the light bulbs so high was to ensure everyone could see!


    "Let''s begin then!" Dean Lynn nodded, ncing at Elok and the others, instructing them to start the motor.


    The nging noise immediately echoed within the castle, startling the onlookers from afar.


    The motor utilized the principle of cutting maic lines butcked protective casing. Everyone could witness the rotor swiftly spinning, surrounded by flickering arcs.


    A continuous flow of electricity transmitted into the light bulbs.


    Interweaved inside were several strands of spiral-shaped fire lion fur, faintly glowing.


    Momentster, the glow intensified, quickly surpassing the dim torchlight, flooding the entire area with brightness, akin to daylight.


    Looking directly at the light source, Raydell and the others couldn''t help but squint their eyes or instinctively shield themselves. It felt akin to staring at noon''s sun."Lightning, they''ve captured lightning inside that bulb!" Someone amidst the crowd tremulously eximed.


    Ham and the others gaped at the continuously emanating light from the bulb, then back at the rotating motor.


    They had wondered how the esteemed wizards would turn night into day, but never expected them to harness lightning!


    The emitted light reached far, prompting the impoverished hiding in their houses to peek through windows toward the gathering crowd, as though witnessing a rising mini-sun...


    Observing this scene, Lynn felt immensely satisfied. They had previously verified this in theboratory, but this outdoor experiment marked their foray into the era of electricity!


    The performance of the fire lion fur exceeded Lynn''s expectations, though its only drawback was a shorter lifespan. He estimated even fur directly plucked from the lion wouldst no more than half a year due to high temperatures.


    Of course, in a sense, that wasn''t much of a downside...


    Moreover,pared to tungsten, this biological material was extremely eco-friendly and renewable...


    "It seems Iyeta won''t experience darkness anymore," remarked Philip. The materials used for these bulbs weren''tplex, and there were ample maic ores in the Kingdom of Hadr. He foresaw a future where light would illuminate every corner of the city.


    "It''s like a little sun!" murmured Raydell.


    "We''re far from it. A genuine artificial sun would be thousands of times more splendid!" Lynn chuckled, remarking.


    At his words, everyone present wore an odd expression, as if they could truly create a sun.


    "So, light is electricity and electricity is light, right, Professor Lynn?" Johnny pondered for a while before suddenly asking.


    They channeled electricity into the fire lion''s fur, creating light. Did that mean the light they normally experienced was also derived in the same manner?


    This question momentarily stumped even formal wizards like Philip; everyone furrowed their brows, pondering deeply.


    "It doesn''t seem right, does it? The forms of light and electricity differ, and we can generate light through other means," Ondo shook his head, conjuring a fireball. "For instance, like this. Can we say fire is light then?"


    In thend of wizards, the concept of light elements existed, and many wished to unravel its mysteries.


    However, the ''light element'' was incredibly elusive, seemingly omnipresent yet impossible to perceive through magical senses.


    Nevertheless, they had deduced several patterns, such as light often apanying heat, being susceptible to reflection, absorption, and had developed various light-based spells.


    "Your idea is excellent, Johnny, but this secret is for you to explore!" Lynn chuckled, not directly revealing the answer. Understanding thews of the world required stepping through each possibility, testing right and wrong to possess a trulyprehensive magical theory.


    "Anyone whoprehensively studies light, even a bit, will earn a Sr Crown Medal, leaving a significant mark in the history of magic!" Lynn emphasized solemnly.


    A Sr Crown Medal?


    Hearing Lynn''s words, Elok and the others were thrilled. It was the highest award in the magical world!


    Even Lydia felt a bit restless. Shecked magical talents and probably wouldn''t pass the formal wizard exams, but that wouldn''t stop her from bing the first apprentice to receive the Sr Crown Medal!


    "Professor? Where should we start to uncover the secrets of light?" Lydia urgently inquired.


    Ondo chuckled inwardly. If the Dean knew, he would''ve already presented it, wouldn''t he? Why leave the opportunity to them?


    However, contrary to his expectations, Lynn took out a crystal-clear ss from his pocket and waved it in front of everyone.


    "You can start with this!"


    "Dean, isn''t this just an ordinary piece of ss?" Elok scoffed.


    ss products might be precious in the Kingdom of Hadr, but evenmoners in Iyeta could afford it. During the school''s expansion, they nned to install it in windows for better light transmission, nothing special.


    "Technically, it''s a prism!" Lynn chuckled, exining. cing it under themp, everyone then noticed its uniqueness.


    This prism resembled a beautiful gem, light entering from one side refracted and emerged from the other side not as bright white but as a dazzling spectrum¡ªa gradientposed of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet. When projected into the shadows, it appeared incredibly dazzling...


    Elok and the others gazed in astonishment at the spectacle before them.


    Light... was separated!


    "So, this is how beautiful the white light we see is!" Lydia eximed, astonished and delighted.


    "Professor, what principle is this?" Pearce attempted to move his hand, swaying across the spectrum. The colorful light shining on his palm felt vaguely warm.


    "Is this phenomenon exclusive to light generated by electricity? Or does all light behave this way?" Philip, standing nearby, was also eager to know.


    >


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 Chapter 277: Overcoming the Final Obstacle to Control the Kingdom!

    Chapter 277: Oveing the Final Obstacle to Control the Kingdom!


    The peculiar experiment with light dispersion piqued everyone''s curiosity. They had never known that light could beposed of so many colors.


    Is it only artificial light that possesses such characteristics? "Whether it''s this artificial light or sunlight, they are indeed the same, belonging to polychromatic light," exined Lynn to the curious Elok and others.


    The principle of a prism''s spectral separation, in essence, lies in the different refractive indices of light colors within ss. Thus, when passing through a prism, each color of light is deviated in a particr direction, forming a gradient spectrum...


    The apprentice wizards listened thoughtfully; Lynn''s exnation was straightforward and easy to understand. Even those like Raydell, who didn''t know magic, could grasp it.


    "Wait, I seem to have seen something like this before..." Ham stared intently at the rainbow-colored light reflected from the prism, his face showing a pensive expression, then suddenly eximed, "Yes, just like... a rainbow?"


    As Ham spoke, more and more people realized it too. Although the rainbow phenomenon wasn''t extremelymon, many had seen it before.


    "Could there be mirrors in the sky?" Lydia raised her hand, asking before Lynn could respond.


    This time, without waiting for Lynn''s reply, Phillip exined, "It should be the refraction and reflection phenomena of water, right?"


    The air was filled with a lot of water vapor, a fact well known to every wizard. Water surfaces also had the ability to refract and reflect light, so Phillip quickly understood its principle."Correct!" Lynn nodded, then handed the prism in his hand to Lydia. "As for the other characteristics of light, I leave it to you to explore."


    Lydia excitedly took the prism and ced it under the light, continuously rotating it. The light inside the prism constantly flowed and reflected, changing in size and color.


    Elok and others looked eagerly at Lynn. The headmaster had just handed the only piece of prism to Lydia. What were they supposed to do? This was too biased!


    "Don''t be so biased! ss isn''t hard to make, and you all know the form. I taught it in chemistry ss. If you want it, make one yourself. Studying the sunlight spectrum can be considered your fieldwork while you''re out!" Lynn shrugged and casually said.


    At the mention of fieldwork, Elok and hispanions'' faces instantly drooped, trying hard to recall the chemistry ss Lynn had taught them recently.


    What was the mainponent of ss again? Was it silicon dioxide?


    "I''ve heard that within the city of Greenreel, many wizards are studying the mysteries of light. Even the councilors are very interested. You guys have quite a few opponents!" Lynn added.


    Although the wizarding world had been busy with war matterstely, the council still paid a lot of attention to academic research. After all, it was the foundation of all magical powers.


    With the gradual poprization of ss products, more and more wizards discovered its usefulness in research. For instance, the simplest concave-convex mirror could magnify or shrink objects in their eyes.


    This meant that wizards could perceive things not only through magical senses but also visually observe the microscopic world that was previously invisible!


    Lynn had no doubt that after this war, the ''magical'' theories throughout the wizarding world would experience a leap in development! Hearing that many wizards, even the legendary councilors, were researching this, the apprentices instantly felt hopeless.


    Meanwhile, Lydia was contemting how to extract more theoretical knowledge from the headmaster than doing her own research. This would be much faster...


    "Oh, Professor Phillip, how''s the electromaic cannon you were researching?" Lynn suddenly remembered, turning to them and inquiring.


    "We''ve understood the principle and even created a model. But in terms of power, it''s a bit unsatisfactory. We can only shoot a hundred-gram projectile at a speed of a hundred meters per second," Phillip said somewhat helplessly.


    The generator they had made could light a bulb, but it was too weak for the electromaic cannon. Without sufficient power, it was less useful than a cannon.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised by this. The generator would need several iterations to meet the electromaic cannon''s requirements. Thinking for a moment, Lynn had someone bring a basket of ck stones and an engraved te.


    "These are thunderstones and some magic runes representing electromaism. You can study how to use them!" Lynn exined.


    Since the old methods weren''t working, it was better to switch to a new approach!


    These two things were results of Anthony''s research for almost half his life. The thunderstone was like a natural battery, a super-powered one at that, while these electromaic runes were crucial for converting magic into electrical currents!


    Upon hearing this, Phillip and the others suddenly felt enlightened.


    This way, they could store excess electricity during normal days and then figure out how to extract it when needed for the electromaic cannon. They could even use thunderstones as the material for the rail, coat it with ayer of mithril outside, and carve electromaic runes...


    In just a short ten seconds or so, many methods to improve the electromaic cannon flooded Phillip''s mind. Many problems that had previously troubled him were easily solved!


    With that in mind, Phillip hurriedly took his leave, taking along a few colleagues and the basket of thunderstones to conduct research.


    Therge light bulb in the castle illuminated the entire night, both a test and an intentional move by Lynn.


    As a result, early the next day, rumors about electric lights spread rapidly throughout the Count''s domain. Subsequently, these rumors became more exaggerated, with some solemnly iming to have seen the wizard fly into the sky, pluck lightning and a gigantic rainbow from the clouds, and store them in a sphere and a gem!


    Lynn didn''t harshly refute these rumors. Instead, the firearms squad, training outside every day, was given a new task: creating artificial rainbows using the mist technique in the square. Lynn also taught this method to every curious child wanting to learn.


    Changing perceptions often happened subtly. Lynn intended to show these people that wizards weren''t scary, and the knowledge they shared wasn''t a trap of the devil but an exnation of thews governing everything. Even ordinary people could understand and apply it!


    The next issue was how to ovee the final obstacle to controlling the kingdom¡ªthe Church''s Archbishop, Anluke!


    >


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 Chapter 278: Blasphemy against the Gods!

    Chapter 278: sphemy against the Gods!


    In just a few days, the news of Duke Rickman''s humiliating defeat while leading nearly half of the kingdom''s elite forces to quell the uprising of the mine ves had spread throughout the capital.


    Then, another piece of information emerged from within the Church ¡ª this uprising of the mine ves was somehow rted to those infamous wizards. It was alleged that these disciples of the devil had manipted the miners into offering their souls to the devil, thereby causing such a horrifying disaster!


    Panic swiftly engulfed the popce...


    Even more surprisingly, King Bazeel seemed in no hurry to mobilize forces to quell this impending disaster that threatened to engulf the entire kingdom. The upper echelons of the nobility also remained silent, choosing instead to abstain from action.


    In such a scenario, the Church became the spiritual refuge for the impoverished. Their only recourse was to visit the church and beseech the protection of the great deity...


    Nord bid farewell to thest group of penitent and praying poor folk. His gaze, bewildered, turned towards the holy and dignified statue of the goddess within the grand hall. However, even with closed eyes, all that filled his mind was the terrifying scene of fire and bombardment that had ravaged thend.


    Nord was deeply perplexed. Why were the forces of evil so powerful? Why, in their resistance against this evil, had the great deity not responded to them in any way?


    "This is the punishment brought forth by the gods!" a familiar voice suddenly resounded in his ears.


    Opening his eyes, Nord beheld a figure d in a golden-red robe, standing beside him. It was Archbishop Anluke, the pir of the kingdom, the high authority of the Church."Archbishop Anluke!" Nord respectfully bowed, then inquired with evident confusion, "Did you just say that this disaster is the will of the gods?"


    "No, it should be said that this disaster is the result of the ignorance of the kingdom''s nobility and royalty!" Anluke slowly articted. "They are no longer content to rule thisnd under the glory of the gods. Instead, they''ve consorted with those cultists of the dark deities, attempting to shake the dominion of the gods in this mortal realm..."


    At this point, Anluke''s gaze turned particrly sharp. Over the recent years, he had observed every move made by His Majesty the King against the Church. The subtle intentions of Bazeel regarding the kingdom were crystal clear to him.


    This kingdom, whether its dull-wittedmoners, cunning nobility, or ipetent royalty, required a thorough purification!


    After the cmity, the glory of the gods would once again enshroud the entirend!


    "But, Archbishop, why would the great deity unleash punishment upon the most devout believers?" Nord spoke, lost in confusion.


    Apart from the catastrophic defeat that saw the annihtion of over ten thousand troops, the entire contingent of over sixty faithful followers of the clergy had mostly perished on the battlefield. Only a few had managed to escape with him.


    Nord felt immense bewilderment and anguish. For days, he had stayed within the temple, repenting for his shameful act of abandoningrades in fear and fleeing alone.


    "This is a baptism, Bishop Nord!" Anluke''s voice echoed forth. "The souls of the devout shall prematurely enter the kingdom of the gods, enjoying endless pleasures and feasts, while the sinners shall be cast into hell, eternally burning in the unquenchable fires of purgatory..."


    Finally, Nord understood. Life and death were inconsequential; they were merely different states. The judgment of all thingsy in the hands of the gods!


    At that moment, a priest walked in through the door.


    "Archbishop Anluke, Viscount William has sent word, iming an extremely important matter requires your attention. It''s rted to those wizards!" the priest conveyed.


    "Let him in!" Anluke responded, and Nord contained his emotions, moving aside.


    About two minutester, Cody, led by several priests, entered the grandiose cathedral. The solemn and dignified setting intensified his already jittery state. Upon spotting Anluke and the others, he inclined his head slightly, offering a reserved gesture of respect.


    "Where is William? Why didn''t hee himself?" Anluke suddenly inquired.


    "Milord is currently afflicted with the gue and confined to bed, unable to receive the teachings of the divine in person..." Cody stuttered slightly.


    "Given that, what message did he send through you?" Anluke spoke leisurely.


    "Milord, our scouts have discovered a group of suspicious individuals who entered the residence of the Second Prince Hatar. We suspect they are all wizards," Cody replied in a hushed tone.


    "Is that all?" Anluke continued to question.


    Cody hesitated before gritting his teeth. "We also... we''ve uncovered that Prince Hatar seems to be plotting to seize the throne, and many nobles of the kingdom are involved. It''s likely they''ll act soon!"


    "How did youe to know of this secret?" Anluke''s expression changed slightly, his tone growing more intense.


    Under Anluke''s gaze, Cody, with difficulty, finally spoke up. "One of the barons involved in the conspiracy is a close friend of Viscount William. He was unwilling to betray the kingdom and thus revealed this information to Viscount William."


    "I seek the truth..." Anluke''s demeanor suddenly turned cold.


    "In the presence of the Lord, liars shall fall into hell!" As these words were spoken, a dazzling white light emanated from the sacred and dignified statue of the goddess, enveloping everyone present.


    The steadfast believers like Nord and a few priests remained unaffected, but Cody seemed possessed, copsing to the ground, tears streaming down his face, repenting and confessing.


    "It''s William! Viscount William has been secretly aiding those wizards in transporting ores and goods. All the new ss and parchment that appeared in the market in recent months were all crafted by those devil''s disciples..."


    At these words, Nord and the others were both shocked and incensed. They had purchased many of these novel ss items, some of which had even been used to adorn the entire church. Yet now, Cody was revealing that these were all creations of the wizards?


    This was nothing short of sphemy against the gods!


    They were chilled to the bone. William, theckey of these wizards, had been hiding right under their noses, shamelessly bing part of the kingdom''s nobility.


    Nord could hardly fathom; this was no longer a matter that could be simply attributed to neglect!


    Anluke, however, was not surprised by this revtion, merely nodding in acknowledgment. "Continue. Tell me everything you know!"


    Like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, Cody tearfully recounted all he knew about how William had colluded with the wizards over the past decade, erging their influence through maritime trade...


    >


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 Chapter 279: Such a person should be condemned to hell forever!

    "Devil''sckey..." "We should report to the kingdom now and arrest William, stripping him of his title!"


    As Cody continued to speak passionately, several bishops and priests inside the church were furious, their voices rising in condemnation.


    Especially Nos, whose face was as dark as water, exuding an icy air. If Archbishop Anluke hadn''t spoken yet, he would have stormed into William''s mansion long ago.


    The catastrophic defeat outside the earl''s domain, the countless soldiers andrades dying before Nos, fueled his inner fury.


    As a pawn for the wizards, William had sent an endless stream of supplies to thend of the wizards. Even descending into hell wouldn''t be enough to ease Nos''s resentment.


    "Since William is working for those wizards, why did he choose to share those two pieces of information with me?" Anluke continued to inquire.


    Regarding the abnormality of the second prince, Hatar, the Church wasn''t entirely unaware. Most nobles in the kingdom had some inkling, given Hatar''s exceedingly clumsy performance in the great hall.


    What they hadn''t anticipated was their audacity to seize the throne by force. There was no other exnation aside from being enticed by the devil, leaving them blindsided.


    "It''s Master Herlram, William''s contact person, who''s deceased..." Cody hesitated in his speech.Under the confessional narrative, the power of divine arts slowly faded, and Cody regained some consciousness. Yet, facing the most powerful man in the kingdom and the Church''s cardinal, he dared not utter any lies, knowing they would be easily exposed.


    He had divulged too much information already; everything that should and shouldn''t have been revealed had slipped out. At this moment, continuing to speak was the only chance for a glimmer of hope...


    "And... There seems to be trouble in thend of the wizards. The mist in the Sea of Mist has shown signs of dissipatingtely. So, Lord William believes that the end of those wizards is imminent..."


    "The Sea of Mist?" Nos and the others paused involuntarily, immediately turning to Anluke. This was the first time they had heard of that alleged wizard''s sanctuary, the demonic stronghold situated on the other side of the Sea of Mist!


    Anluke remainedpletelyposed. The changes in the Sea of Mist had been prophesied within the scriptures two months prior.


    "Could the rebellion of the mine ves be rted to these heretic worshippers from thend of the wizards?" Nos rebuked sharply.


    "William doesn''t know much about this matter. The newly appointed wizard doesn''t trust us. However, William seems to have discovered that Lord Anthony appeared on the battlefield," Cody said in a hushed tone, spitting out his words.


    "Anthony..." Anluke murmured softly, not unfamiliar with the name. He was well aware that this great wizard had established a magical school operating within the capital.


    He didn''t rush to take action against these people. Firstly, there were overt and covert barriers within the royal family, and secondly, he wanted to uproot the kingdom''s internal decay using this opportunity.


    But unexpectedly, they had entangled with thend of the wizards, resulting in a massacre of tens of thousands.


    "How many wizards from that ursed ce have reached the kingdom''s borders, and who leads them?" Anluke inquired.


    "I don''t know, but their numbers shouldn''t be toorge. The leader is a male wizard named Lynn, appearing quite young, and is the current controller of Iyeta," Cody paused before continuing. "I heard he arrived in Iyeta from the Sekas Empire just two years ago."


    Anluke strangely recalled the intelligence provided by Nos and others, mentioning a peculiar hellfire. With a thought, a golden codex detached from his waist, flipping open spontaneously, stopping at a certain page, presenting itself before Cody.


    ¡¾Name: Carol (Unconfirmed True Name)


    Extremely Dangerous (Archwizard)


    Crimes: Killed the Empire''s Archbishop, obliterated three thousand ck Armor Guards, destroyed half of a coastal town!


    Cautions: Proficient in elemental and shaping magic, able to control an extremely resilient fire.


    Bounty: Sekas Gold Coins... Fifty thousand!¡¿


    "Except for the name mismatch, this should be the wizard in charge of Iyeta," Cody recollected the information he had gathered from the Iyeta port, speaking with certainty.


    After pondering for a while, Anluke suddenly ced his hand on Cody''s head.


    The divine art of probing memories instantly rushed into Cody''s mind. Compared to Cody''s words, Anluke trusted what he saw with his own eyes more.


    About two to three minutester, after scanning Cody''s memories, Anluke was 100% sure of this.


    No wonder Duke Rikman''s army copsed so swiftly; their opponents were two grand wizards!


    From Cody''s memories, Anluke discovered numerous crucial pieces of information.


    Whenever they navigated through shipping routes, they used a specialpass to locate thend of the wizards, preventing themselves from getting lost at sea.


    However, this vital tool had been taken back by the new controller of Iyeta.


    Apparently, after Herlram''s demise, there was indeed a rift between William and those wizards. Now, the transportation affairs had nothing to do with William.


    Those wizards were transporting a massive amount of ore through a miraculous alchemical apparatus that could fly in the sky, most likely for weapon production, preparing for war.


    Regarding the purpose of inciting the mine ve rebellion, Anluke could guess: creating internal chaos within the kingdom to divert attention, thereby dying the Church''s extermination of this sinfulnd.


    Thinking of this, Anluke gazed coldly at Cody, speaking.


    "The Lord is forgiving and merciful. Go and tell William that if he wants to absolve his sins, he needs to show more sincerity. This is your only chance!"


    Since these wizards could freely traverse between the two locations, they undoubtedly possessed the means to locate thend of the wizards.


    The Church had been preparing for a war to exterminate thend of the wizards two months ago. The reason for the dy in action was merely due to the ship sent to find thend of the wizards not having returned yet.


    If he could obtain thepass to locate thend of the wizards or even seize that strange alchemical apparatus that could fly in the sky, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous achievement!


    Seeing Cardinal Anluke inclined towards forgiving William, Nos and the others were extremely discontented. In their view, William was merely a fence-sitter, not even worthy of repentance. He was only pretending to repent because those wizards were about to be exterminated, adopting a hypocritical stance.


    Such a person should be condemned to hell forever...


    >


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 Chapter 280: Is this what you assured me of without fail?

    Chapter 280: Is this what you assured me of without fail?


    "Not let this criminal off like that? Lord Anluke?"


    After Cody departed, Bishop Nos couldn''t help but inquire, "Count Joyce, with the tragic loss of over ten thousand outside the city, William is also partly responsible!"


    "We have more pressing matters at hand now, Bishop Nos. As for William''s crimes, we can settle them after dealing with those sorcerers'' executions," Anluke casually replied.


    The remaining priests inside the church discussed the information they had just heard.


    The information Cody revealed was staggering. No one had anticipated that the mining ve''s uprising would involve the territory of the sorcerers¡ªthe headquarters of those cultists of the Dark Gods.


    Capturing this group sessfully would undoubtedly be a significant achievement, but it also meant the situation was entirely out of their control.


    Especially upon hearing the possibility of facing two grand sorcerers, many suggested an immediate report, seeking aid from the Empire and the Holy See.


    However, Anluke shook his head; time was already too short.


    From Cody''s memories, he saw that the Second Prince, Hatar, was preparing to execute his n for usurping power within the next two days. He had even gathered arge number of nobles within the capital.If the opponent seeded, the Empire would likely face a civil war!


    This was undoubtedly what those sorcerers most wanted to see. In this scenario, the Holy See''s attention would shift away from the Misty Sea, forced to focus on quelling this rebellion.


    However, facing two grand sorcerers, Anluke dared not im full certainty in defeating them.


    Their only option now was to use the sacred relics stored within the Church!


    ---


    On the other hand, Cody, leaving the church, rode a carriage straight back to William''s castle, led by Murt, feeling anxious.


    Originally, William tasked him with disclosing some information about the sorcerers to establish initial trust and then decide whether to reveal more, depending on the Archbishop''s reaction.


    Now, Cody had established a certain level of ''trust'' with the Archbishop, inadvertently divulging much information that shouldn''t have been revealed, especially about William''s decades-long assistance in transporting supplies for the sorcerers...


    Cody could imagine the punishment he would face.


    Even though it was coerced under the power of divine magic, given William''s disposition, he wouldn''t care. Sess or failure in the task...


    Thinking of this, Cody couldn''t help but shiver.


    In reality, he didn''t particrly support William''s hostility towards sorcerers. After inviting Lode to negotiate at the estate, they reached a new cooperation agreement. The sorcerers were even willing topromise, shifting the benefits to a 50-50 split.


    However, in William''s eyes, this was the weakness of the sorcerers, unable to confront the symbol of the Church, firmly siding with Prince Harold and the Church!


    Unfortunately, the disastrous defeat in the southern campaign of the kingdom indicated that those sorcerers might not be as weak as William imagined.


    "Murt, where are Ladek and Loude? I haven''t seen them at the estate recently," Cody asked strangely as they headed towards the castle''s underground.


    Murt''s gaze flickered as he chuckled and replied, "They''ve been sent by the Lord to various parts of the kingdom to rally support for Prince Harold... We''ve been quite busytely. Otherwise, you might not have had the chance to meet Lord Anluke."


    "I''d rather switch our jobs!" Cody said with a bitter smile. That Archbishop was terrifying; in front of him, it felt like everything was transparent...


    Cody didn''t doubt Murt''s exnation. After all, since Rickman''s death, William had be the staunchest supporter of Prince Harold, handling many issues and monitoring those dangerous sorcerers. Their job wasn''t easier than his.


    Soon, they passed through heavy security and reached the depths of the dungeon, where William sat on the Iron Throne.


    Without hesitation, Cody knelt down, not daring to hide anything, recounting everything that happened in the church.


    As expected, William''s face turned grim. The rage and fear in his eyes were almost palpable.


    "Is this what you assured me of without fail?" William''s tone was chilling, like a sharp de. His excessively obese body trembled as he stood up from his seat, akin to a towering mountain, eyes shing like lightning.


    Cody bowed his head to the floor, trembling, not daring to speak. Soon, a muffled sound reached his ears¡ªthe sound of a ss goblet being crushed.


    Just as Cody thought his life was in danger, William suddenly suppressed his anger and spoke in an icy tone.


    "Take him down for now."


    Several attendants immediately dragged Cody out, leaving only Murt in the room.


    At this moment, William... or rather, his doppelganger, Doral, changed from the ferocious appearance to a kneeling posture. Simrly, Murt followed suit.


    Loude entered the room from behind the curtain, but it was evident that the obeisance wasn''t to him but to the figure that had appeared in the secret chamber.


    "Lord Lynn..." Doral, dragging his fat body, looked eager to exin, but Lynn was the first to speak, praising them.


    "Well done, Doral! You did well this time!"


    Doral was bewildered for a moment. After all, Cody had revealed quite a bit of information about the sorcerers, and here was Lord Lynn praising him instead.


    Murt''s face showed a thoughtful expression.


    Looking at the confused Doral, Loude sneered and said, "Idiot, do you think Lord Lynn wants to deceive an Archbishop who possesses divine magic with lies?"


    If one wants to lure someone in, the bait must be authentic!


    As a psychic, Lynn understood methods of probing and altering memories, so how could he not be cautious?


    Since divine magic and magic are closely rted, there might be simr methods. In front of an Archbishop, even lies or memory alterations could be discovered, especially before the church''s statues!


    So Lynn''s strategy was straightforward¡ªtell only the truth!


    As long as it''s not a lie, it won''t be detected!


    The method wasn''tplicated. Continue William''s previous n and keep a trusted confidant, who knows part of the truth, to go to the Holy See and exin what he knows to Archbishop Anluke!


    >


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 Chapter 281: Lies Are Truth, Truth Is Lies!

    Chapter 281: Lies Are Truth, Truth Is Lies!


    In what circumstance is a lie most easily believed?


    Certainly when the liar himself firmly believes it''s the truth! This was the core performance that Lynn meticulously set up for Archbishop Anluke, and the central performer naturally was Cody!


    Over two months ago, when dealing with the real William, clearing his forces, Lynn faced a choice¡ªwhether to eliminate Cody, who was William''s right-hand man and knew some information about the wizard''s territory.


    Neither Darak, Murt, nor Loude dared to decide on their own. After all, Cody had been to Iyeta Harbor and had prolonged contact with that person of high rank, so this matter was pushed back to Lynn''s hands.


    After brief consideration, Lynn ultimately chose to spare Cody''s life. Not out of consideration for any sentiment but because Cody was unaware of William''s body double, Loude.


    Learning this surprised Lynn too, as Cody, being William''s right-hand man responsible for maritime transportation between two locations, was evidently highly trusted.


    But Lynn quickly spected that William had the body double not only as a precaution against the Church but likely against Herlram''s thoughts of betrayal.


    To prevent this great wizard from ever contemting recing himself, Cody, who had direct contact with the wizards, turned out to be the one least likely to know of the double''s existence.


    Given this, Lynn kept Cody around, and now was the perfect time to use him.As William''s confidant, going to the Church to meet Anluke seemed reasonable and consistent in Cody''s mind. He also had the reasons for William''s rebellion in his thoughts; it all fit seamlessly.


    Thus, the more Anluke probed Cody''s memories, the more he''d trust Cody''s words. After all, intelligent people often prefer to believe their own investigations.


    With Lynn''s exnation, Loude finally realized he had be the character in the y. His prior orders were simply to dispatch Cody to negotiate with Anluke on behalf of the Church.


    Little did he expect that Cody''s memories were the true bait...


    "I don''t mean to distrust you, Loude, it''s just sometimes actingcks the genuine reactions," Lynn said with a smile.


    "But, Lord Lynn, isn''t this a bit too risky? Cody''s memories contain a lot of information about the wizard''s territory. Even details about the airship have been exposed," Murt questioned, a hint of hesitation in his words.


    Since bing a wizard, Murt understood he had no way back and naturally stoodpletely on the ''brethren''s'' side. To him, Cody was too unstable a person with too much information. They could easily find someone who knew less and intentionally convey only the false information they wanted.


    "No, that would be too contrived. There''s no one more suitable than him..." Lynn shook his head, dismissing Murt''s words.


    Cody knew a lot, some information was crucial, but the majority was intelligence the Church had long been aware of¡ªlike the changes in the Sea of Mist or the turmoil in the wizard''s territory...


    Details such as the wizards preparing for war, transporting ore via airship, these were the bits the Church didn''t know, and these would enhance the credibility of Cody''s words.


    After all, if ''William'' held information already known to the Church, he would hold no value! The second factor was that they had no more time to wait; they had to take some risks!


    It had been several days since Duke Rickman''s disastrous defeat. Lynn had been anticipating the Kingdom and the Church to organize anotherrge-scale attack on the Count''s domain, precisely when the Archbishop led his people out of the Church!


    Back when Redell attacked the church within the Count''s domain, Lynn realized that those clergy became even more formidable inside the church than outside. Moreover, this cathedral within the capital was the epicenter of the entire kingdom''s faith. Who knew what odditiesy inside?


    Even if the idols themselves suddenly revived and took action, he wouldn''t be surprised.


    However, things didn''t go as expected. Neither King Bazeel nor the Church made any moves. This made Lynn somewhat uneasy; these people might be waiting for the Empire''s reinforcements, meaning they had to act swiftly!


    If he could choose the battlefield himself, that would be perfect.


    "Lord Lynn, how should we handle Cody now? Should we kill him?" Loude furrowed his brow, in William''s temperament, someone who leaked such critical information would likely be dealt with directly.


    "No, first, a severe punishment. Then let him make amends and continue to be responsible for Church affairs," Lynn pondered for a while before speaking.


    This was also a move William might make. It shouldn''t raise suspicions. The information in Cody''s mind had leaked; dispatching other confidants would only divulge more information. It was better to put the waste to use and extract some value.


    ...


    On the second day of Cody''s journey to the Church, there was a 180-degree shift in the winds within the capital.


    First, King Bazeel severely reprimanded Crown Prince Harold during a routine meeting, cing him under house arrest. The me for the war''s failure was entirely ced on Grand Duke Rickman, attributing the severe errors to hismand that led to such a painful oue.


    Following that, word spread within the pce that King Bazeel intended to pass the throne to his second son, Hatar, and would announce the heir''s selection on a chosen day.


    Naturally, Hatar was ecstatic. He felt the warmth of fatherly love once more and believed that the King''s prior coldness was to deceive Harold and others, intending to crush their influence at one go!


    With an unrealistic hope, Hatar, upon receiving reports that his father was hosting a banquet in the capital and inviting him, began to hesitate on the necessity of continuing his scheme for the throne.


    Seizing power by force was no small stain; it was ast resort.


    "I think this only proves that your good father is about to turn against you!" Anthony sneered, reminding him. "If you go to the pce, you won''t being back!"


    The Bazellian Kingdom wasn''t even pretending anymore. Such a sudden change indicated urgency¡ªthey were likely to strike, maybe even tonight!


    Persuaded by Anthony, Hatar had to ruthlessly decline the attendant''s invitation, excusing himself under the pretense of falling severely ill, making it impossible to meet the King in the capital...


    >


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 Chapter 282: The Miraculous Artificial Rain

    Chapter 282: The Miraculous Artificial Rain


    "Your Excellency, are you sure this will work? Sprinkling these things into the sky will bring down heavy rain?"


    Outside the capital of Hadrta, within a hidden residence, Lydia nced at the boxes on the ground, then looked at Lynn, speaking hesitantly and with a hint of doubt.


    Just moments ago, Lynn had assigned them a peculiar task: to transport a particr kind of powder several thousand meters into the sky and then scatter it.


    ording to His Excellency, this was called artificial rain...


    However, to Lydia, Darren, Raydell, and others, it seemed more like a scene from a myth.


    For instance, the scriptures recorded in the Holy Bible: in the year 182 of the Empire, during a severe drought, divine intervention brought down dew that turned into heavy rain, saving the poor affected by the drought...


    Even people like Phillip found it dubious. Casting a spell covering an entire city, let alone the entire capital, was beyond even the greatest sorcerers.


    Perhaps they could draw arge amount of water vapor for irrigation or create a thick fog, but causing rain seemed too extravagant, requiring an immense amount of magic.


    Maybe only the legendary council members could attempt such a feat?Considering the capital hadn''t seen rain for almost half a month, it might be a sign of an impending drought, essentially disrupting the natural order through magic maniption.


    Simultaneously, everyone spected on what exactly was in these boxes¡ªsomething with such miraculous abilities. Could it be a material used for supporting spellcasting?


    "Don''t worry, it''ll be fine!" Lynn asserted confidently. He could sense the concentration of water molecules in the air through magic and, coupled with the calctions from the mind, was entirely sure it met the requirements for artificial rain.


    Even if they didn''t intervene, a heavy rain would have arrived within three days; he just moved up the timing a bit!


    The reason they needed this downpour was that Lynn had learned from Anthony that the Archbishop within the capital was a sixth-tier divine practitioner, incredibly powerful.


    In a one-on-one situation, even Anthony didn''t have full confidence in defeating them.


    The safest approach was, of course, to request reinforcements from the council.


    However, he had previously mentioned that the Magical Kingdom''s n was formted by the Society of Mystical Arts. Seeking help from the council now might tarnish the high image the Society had built among these people.


    Moreover, this time he had ample preparation time and could y some new tricks!


    "Anyway, when you see my signal, immediately pilot the airship and spread these catalysts in the sky!" Lynn instructed Lydia, then looked at Raydell. "When it starts raining, that''s also your cue to prepare for the attack!"


    The people present exchanged nces. Despite agreeing verbally, they couldn''t help but wonder: would this really work?


    What if it didn''t rain after all? What would they do here, standing foolishly all night?


    ---


    At night, within the capital of Hadrta, thousands of royal guards, under the cover of darkness and acting on the king''s secret orders, quickly gathered outside Hatar''s mansion, blocking all ess. Nearby scouts were systematically removed; no mistakes were tolerated...


    "Are you sure those wizards are all here?" asked Alva in a deep voice.


    "ording to Lord William''s reconnaissance, they''ll gather at the mansion tonight to finalize thest ns," Cody replied, kneeling, his voice low. "Besides, we''ve received word that the rebellious mine ves from the southern part of the kingdom are also heading here. They''ll be at the city outskirts in about a day..."


    Then it would be time for them to seize the throne from both inside and out!


    Alva nodded, the information aligning with what he had received. Judging by the distance, those mine ves would arrive at the city outskirts in about a day.


    However, what awaited them would only be the siege of the army. Without the aid of the wizards, those ves armed with only pickaxes and mining tools would be easily crushed!


    "What do you want? This is the residence of His Highness, Crown Prince Hatar..."


    The encirclement by the entire regiment of guards swiftly caught the attention of the mansion''s internal guards. A robust knight emerged from the gate, ring at the guards outside. When he recognized Archbishop Alva leading them, his expression changed abruptly. He hastily sent others to notify the Prince.


    But it was toote. Dozens of arrows swiftly flew through the air, carried by a biting wind, striking them down on the spot.


    "Move in!"


    Alvamanded coldly. Behind him, more than seventy bishops and over a hundred priests emerged, each holding a Bible. As the pages fluttered, ethereal hymns echoed through the silent capital.


    Simultaneously, a faint white glow enveloped the thousands of royal guards, their faces now showing fervor, charging into Hatar''s mansion.


    The attack was too sudden. Many guards within the mansion didn''t even react before being struck fatally by the crossbow bolts...


    But this chaotic scene didn''tst long. After dealing with the outer guards, they soon encountered resistance.


    A dozen fireballs the size of heads swiftly arrived, sting away hundreds of guards in the front. However, due to protective magic, only a few unlucky guards were hit directly and died on the spot. Others suffered minor injuries, quickly getting back on their feet and retaliating with their crossbows...


    "Those cultists of the Dark Gods are indeed hiding here!"


    Bishop Nos spoke with furious anger. Raising his hand, he prepared to use divine magic to deal with the sudden attackers.


    However, these wizards were cunning; it seemed they didn''t dare to engage them directly. After casting their magic in secret, they swiftly retreated into the mansion''s depths, without pausing for even a second.


    Nos immediately suspected there might be secret passages leading out of the mansion, and these people were likely stalling to help Hatar and others escape.


    Realizing this, Nos became urgent. After discussing his thoughts with Alva and getting the green light, he took three hundred guards and a dozen bishops and charged deeper into the mansion...


    The rest fanned out, sealing the mansion and searching for the hidden wizards...


    Alva strolled through the estate, now filled with blood and body parts. The shrill screams echoed incessantly, some from enemies, some from the royal guards, but he paid no heed.


    He was waiting for the moment those two grand wizards couldn''t hold back any longer!


    >


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 Chapter 283: Occupying the Royal Capital

    Chapter 283: upying the Royal Capital


    In a short span of about ten minutes, the swiftest among them, Nos, had already led his group into the main house, only to be greeted by a barrage of magical attacks.


    Inside the main house, the brilliance of magic and sorcery intertwined¡ªzing fireballs, sturdy ice, rising earth walls... Flora, who had been engaging in guerri warfare from various hiding spots, changed her approach and began facing them head-on.


    It was then that Nos and the others noticed the strange ''armor'' these wizards wore¡ªa thick, wide attire entwined with sturdy iron wires, topped with a small iron cage, quite aical sight.


    "What kind of bizarre sorcery is this?"


    Flora and her group''s distinctive appearance momentarily deterred the priests from advancing, opting instead to support the kingdom''s guards with various divine spells, testing the depth of these wizards'' abilities.


    Reinforced guards, numbering in the hundreds, surged into the main house, their shouts echoing from within.


    "Chain Lightning!"


    Bluish-purple lightning continuously flickered in the dim night, striking the guards before Flora and her allies could even shout, hitting those d in iron armor.


    The iron attire proved to be an excellent conductor for the electrical currents. Thebined effort of over a dozen wizards casting ''Chain Lightning'' swiftly subjected these guards to electric shocks, followed by an intense ''me Torrent'' that rendered them convulsing and incapacitated, seemingly sent to hell."Why in the world do we have to wear these hideous things?" Having dealt with the guards, Flora awkwardly tugged at the iron cage-like protection on her head, voicing her discontent.


    Despite their strength being on par with the priests, they were ordered not to engage in directbat but to feign defeat and hold their ground here.


    "If the Dean insists on it, there must be a reason," Johnny affirmed. "And don''t underestimate them, Flora; these people aren''t easy opponents."


    Under the blessing of divine spells, even an ordinary guard hit head-on by the potent Fireball magic might not necessarily face a fatal blow. To ensure the demise of these guards, second or third-tier magic would be necessary.


    Johnny was aware that the priests aimed to deplete their opponents'' magical strength using this method.


    Outside, Nors, feeling increasingly anxious after several failed attempts, looked towards Archbishop Anluke for guidance, realizing that merely their forces were insufficient to conquer this ''fortress.''


    Anluke, who had been observing, finally raised his hand. A faint glow emanated from his fingertips, gradually expanding into a massive beam flying toward the main house.


    It was a fourth-tier divine spell¡ªJudgment of Heaven! Inside the house, Flora, Johnny, and the others felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding as they witnessed a colossal beam hurtling toward them.


    The white radiance seemed capable of dissolving everything, disintegrating doors, tables, and chairs under its unfathomable power...


    But the inevitable strike was intercepted.


    The one who intervened was Anthony!


    "Teacher!" Flora eximed in delight, her face filled with excitement.


    However, Anthony paid no heed to Flora, his gaze fixed on Archbishop Anluke throughout. Despite being familiar with this archenemy of the church, this was their first direct confrontation.


    "What about Hatar?" Anluke suddenly inquired.


    "The prince is engaged in more important matters!" Anthony casually responded.


    This response left Anluke somewhat unsettled. Additionally, the intel about another figure named Lynn, supposedly a male witch and a significant wizard, not making an appearance made Anluke ponder¡ªwas it arrogance, assuming one person was enough, or perhaps this individual wasn''t within the mansion...


    An array of thoughts raced through Anluke''s mind, but he couldn''t dwell as arcs of lightning began surrounding Anthony, horrifying electric arcs assaulting him...


    Meanwhile, outside the city, Lydia and her group, having received the signal, ascended into the sky on several invisible airships, scattering catalysts made of salt powder, silver iodide, and other substances into the sky.


    "Will this thing really work?" Darren muttered.


    "It should, right?" Lydia, somewhat confident due to the countless miraculous deeds of the Dean, though she couldn''t fathom how scattering powder in the sky could bring about heavy rain...


    Their taskpleted, Lydia piloted the airship to return, but a thunderous sound reverberated around them.


    Darren immediately rushed to the edge of the cockpit, using a stool to peer down. At some point, the sky had turned overcast, with lightning shing.


    "It''s raining, it''s really raining!" Darren eximed in astonishment, prompting Lydia and the others to gather around.


    On the other side, Raydell, who was awaiting this, gazed in astonishment at the sky. Strong gusts of wind blew, and droplets of rain began showering down upon them,nding on their clothes and hair.


    It was actually raining! Raydell was both astonished and pleased, quickly instructing everyone to follow the n.


    Contrary to the information obtained by Anluke and his team, their ''main force,'' although still in the south of the kingdom, traveling on foot toward the royal capital, was all part of a ruse.


    Their elite forces had already arrived at the capital in multiple waves via airships, and tonight was the perfect opportunity to seize control of the royal capital!


    As the vanguard, Raydell, apanied by hunters wielding grappling hooks and ropes, crept silently under cover of night and thunder to the city walls. Unfamiliar with the technique, they clumsily hooked onto the walls and ascended using ropes.


    The sound of gunfire erupted soon after. Merely ten minutester, the city gates were breached. Ham and the others, stationed outside, stormed into the city.


    With the formidable royal guards dispatched to Hatar''s mansion and armed with cutting-edge flintlock rifles, Raydell''s group found themselves almost in a deserted city. Swiftly, they controlled a third of the royal capital.


    The sound of gunfire awakened many sleeping citizens, unlike in Hatar''s mansion, where sound-blocking spells were cast. Raydell and his group made no attempt to conceal their actions; their aim was to seize the entire capital city as quickly as possible!


    >


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 Chapter 284: The Legendary Thunder Magic!

    Chapter 284: The Legendary Thunder Magic!


    "Miners... those miners bewitched by devils have invaded!"


    Panic-stricken cries echoed throughout the capital. Ever since Duke Rickman led his forces to defeat Count Joyce two weeks ago, rumors ran rampant within the capital.


    There were whispers that these miners had been enchanted, turned into mindless, frenzied undead, while the tens of thousands within the count''s domain had been used as sacrifices to summon dark deities.


    Nobles and merchants hastily gathered guards, frantically packed their belongings to flee. Civilians without means of resistance cowered in fear at home, hoping the kingdom''s royal guards would expel the invading miners.


    But the capital had the Church, with its immensely powerful Archbishop, the revered Lord of Stars, and the Goddess of the Moon. They would not forsake their devout followers!


    Chaos rapidly spread within the capital, the drizzle turning into a torrential downpour. Lightning streaked across the sky, mingling with the sounds of gunfire, akin to a fervent symphony...


    Although the flintlock guns wielded by Raydell and others were enchanted to be waterproof, some were inevitably affected; about one-sixth of the firearms couldn''t discharge.


    Fortunately, armed with the defense blueprint of the capital provided by Prince Hatar,bined with some traitorous insiders, their resistance progressed smoothly. Before the rebel forces could gather, they were systematically dismantled. Raydell then led his group towards their final target¡ªthe pce!


    The sudden turn of events within the capital didn''t affect those within the soundproof enchantment like Nos. However, the downpour that suddenly descended was felt by everyone.Yet, at this moment, nobody cared. Nos allowed the icy raindrops to trickle into his cor, his gaze fixed on the battle raging at the heart of the mansion.


    Anluke was enveloped in an invisible magic barrier, repelling the glistening rain, a towering guardian spirit glowing brightly before him, intercepting the iing lightning. However, in the next instant, it was sted away by a surge of magic.


    Considering the possibility of attacks from any direction by another powerful wizard, Anluke refrained from using his full strength, merely defending against the opponent''s magic. Yet, he grew increasingly uneasy because Anthony before him was too feeble.


    Merely possessing the power of a grand wizard, far less than the intelligence gathered beforehand...


    "If this is all you''re capable of, it ends here!" Anluke held nothing back. Radiant magic enveloped him, rusty chains extending from the void, the Six-Ring Magic¡ªGod''s Chains¡ªbreaking through Anthony''s defenses, swiftly restraining him.


    It was the Sixth Circle magic¡ªDivine Punishment Chains! Representing judgment upon sinners from the infernal realm, it could suppress magical and divine powers, rendering the bound like a powerless husk.


    "Teacher!" Fayz shouted in terror, eager to rush out, yet Johnny and the others firmly held her back.


    Earlier, Lynn explicitly instructed them never to leave the premises no matter what happened, retreating to the mansion''s underground bunker immediately after Anthony made a move.


    However, their concern for Anthony''s safety prevented them from strictly following Lynn''s orders...


    "Is this your limit?" Anthony''s expression remained unchanged, his body sizzling like butter under a hot knife.


    Thankfully, his mission had been aplished! Anthony''s body, soon severed by the Divine Punishment Chains, didn''t spill blood but fractured rapidly like a mirror.


    Nos''s pupils contracted; the grand wizard before him was merely a magical projection...


    Simultaneously, intricate runes appeared on the mansion''s tiles, drawing energy from the stored grounding stones underground, forming a powerful electrical field on the surface, synchronizing with the lightning in the sky...


    It was a trap!


    Nos finallyprehended the source of his unease. Activating his magic, a circr defensive spell emerged around him. Yet, realizing it now proved toote!


    The moment the electrical field formed, the guiding spell waspleted!


    In an instant, colossal lightning bolts crashed down from the clouds, intertwining with the magical runes, creating an intense electrical field.


    The raging currents were tightly confined within the mansion, substantial arcs covering the entire area at speeds of dozens of kilometers per second. The falling rain was instantly electrolyzed. Every soul within the estate was engulfed in less than a fraction of a second.


    Everything happened so swiftly that Nos and the others were still reveling in Archbishop''s victory over Grand Wizard Anthony, only to be met with blinding lightning.


    The protective spells on their bodies instantly ruptured. The billions of volts of high-voltage lightning seeped into their bodies, dissolving muscle cells into a putrid mess, the air reeking of burnt flesh.


    Inside the main house, simrly shielded by magic, Fayz and the others, at the moment the lightning struck, shut their eyes tightly. Yet, after several tense seconds, they found themselves unscathed, standing in ce.


    "Is this... a Faraday Cage?" Fayz remained stunned for a while, suddenly realizing this. Despite the seemingly haphazard copper wires entwined around them, it functioned as a miniature Faraday Cage. Hence, even the most terrifying currents couldn''t harm them.


    Before she could fullyprehend the wonders of the Faraday Cage, Johnny detected an abnormal rise in the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen in the air, urgently shouting, "Don''t linger here, quickly, to the bunker, this ce is about to explode!"


    The power of several billion volts of high-voltage lightning was terrifying enough. Yet, the force of the thunder would electrolyze rainwater into hydrogen and oxygen.


    When the hydrogen-oxygen concentration reached a certain level, under the intense heat of tens of thousands of degrees caused by the lightning, it would trigger a new round of explosions. This process would loop continuously, releasing massive amounts of energy, akin to enduring a five-ring magic spell, Elemental Torrent, every second!


    This was Lynn''s trump card prepared for Anluke¡ªthe legendary thunder magic wielded through celestial phenomena and alchemical arrays, usable only with the aid of thunder elements: the Thunder Series Legendary Magic!


    >


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 Chapter 285: Count Mortan: No one can resist the wrath of the gods!

    Chapter 285: Count Mortan: No one can resist the wrath of the gods!


    Half an hour ago, in the city of Hadrata, within the residence of Hatar, inside a tower hastily erected using magic, the second prince, who had not shown himself, was gathered with several noble members of the kingdom.


    "Hatar, Your Highness, why have you brought us all here? What is your intention?" a noble of the kingdom, unable to bear this near confinement, asked discontentedly.


    The rest of the nobles were also murmuring among themselves. Without exception, they had all received sincere invitations from Hatar.


    In the past two days, the sudden change in King Bazeel''s attitude and the confinement of the eldest prince, Harold, had made many realize that the change in the throne might be inevitable. Hence, with just an invitation, Hatar had managed to gather all the kingdom''s nobles except for Harold in the capital.


    However, upon entering, they noticed something amiss. The attendants didn''t lead them to the hall of the mansion but brought them to this heavily guarded tower instead.


    "You are all crucial pirs of the kingdom. I have summoned you here to discuss the future of our kingdom," Hatar said, seatedfortably and smiling.


    "Please, speak your mind, Your Highness," Count Mortan, a noble of the kingdom, spoke up first, his gaze toward the second prince filled with pity.


    Hatar paid no heed. His gaze swept across the assembly before he inquired slowly, "I want to ask you all, does the kingdom belong to the king and lords or to the major bishops of the church?"


    His sharp words caused a momentary pause among the assembly. Count Beron, standing nearby, promptly responded aloud, "Isn''t this a well-established argument? It belongs to the spirit and faith of the gods, while worldly matters belong to the king!""Is it, Count Beron? But I heard five years ago, you gained support from a certain bishop to kill your brother and take over your father''s domain as a second son..." Hatar retorted with a coldugh.


    Beron''s expression changed instantly. This secret was known only to his closest confidants and that bishop. It was supposed to be watertight. Before he could exin, Hatar had turned to the rest of the nobles present, speaking earnestly.


    "Gentlemen, over the past century, the church''s influence has been growing. Some bishops no longer adhere strictly to the doctrines, intervening in the kingdom''s internal affairs. They use the pretext of witch hunts to eliminate dissent and consolidate power...pared to you and me, they seem more like the true lords of the kingdom."


    Hatar''s words hit on the issue that the nobles of the kingdom least wanted to discuss!


    Themon people of the kingdom were also devout followers of the gods, and their blind obedience due to faith was higher than their allegiance to the lords. Plus, these priests wielded powerful divine arts; even titled nobles wouldn''t dare to oppose theirmands easily.


    As for the notion that the spirit belongs to the gods and the body to the king, it was just a facade.


    While the priests were devout followers of the Moon Goddess and upheld the church''s doctrines, it didn''t mean they were saintly without ambition. The prospect of sharing power was intolerable for most of the kingdom''s nobles!


    However, the century-long indoctrination by the church hadn''t been in vain. Despite conflicting interests, the church''s support remained substantial. Even before Beron could speak, Count Mortan beside him angrily interjected.


    "Enough, Prince Hatar, your words are sowing discord. The Almighty is the creator of all things. It is by Her grace that life exists on this barren earth. Whether nobles, kings, or the church, they simply manage thisnd on Her behalf..."


    This speech garnered nods of agreement from many nobles. The scriptures mentioned that everyone''s destiny was written in the Book of Fate from birth. All trials and tribtions were tests from the gods, while joy and happiness were generous gifts.


    Their status as lords wasn''t solely from the king''s appointment; it was by divine will!


    With Count Mortan taking the lead, the church''s supporters paid no heed to the guards eyeing them. Some fervently shouted, ''The kingdom prospers because of the Almighty, guiding the people to find meaning in life!''


    While some nobles observed silently or remained indifferent, others turned their gaze toward Hatar, awaiting his response.


    "Count Mortan, I didn''t expect you to blindly believe that wed scripture, much like those brainless peasants," Hatar sneered. "The church has existed for only eight centuries. Does that mean the world didn''t exist before that?"


    "And until a century ago, the kingdom''s people worshiped the elemental spirits. This isn''t the church''s territory!"


    Hadrata was conquered by the empire a century ago, forced to be one of its vassal kingdoms. Despite the church burning many civilian texts after the war, a mere hundred years wasn''t enough to erase all traces. For those ancient noble families, belief in the elemental spirits wasn''t a secret.


    Seeing Hatar so tantly disparaging the scriptures and even showing contempt for the divine, Mortan''s face contorted in fear. He rebuked urgently, "Do you even know what you''re saying? This is sphemy!"


    Count Beron also questioned, "Are you nning to antagonize the Holy See and the entire Secas Empire, Prince Hatar?"


    "Why not?" Hatar didn''t deny but nodded calmly.


    The assembled nobles erupted intomotion. Many among them supported the second prince''s ascent to the throne, hoping he would continue restricting the church''s privileges. They had never expected such madness; to go against the empire and the entire Holy See.


    "He''s mad, truly mad!" Count Mortan shouted in rm, immediately deciding to unite his allies to persuade King Bazeel to reconsider and remove Hatar from the line of session. Otherwise, this would lead the kingdom of Hadrata down a path of destruction...


    No one could resist the wrath of the gods!


    >


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 Chapter 286: The Fate of the Kingdom Hangs Today!

    Chapter 286: The Fate of the Kingdom Hangs Today!


    Inside the tower, cries of surprise and skepticism echoed incessantly. Hatar observed every reaction. The reason for gathering the kingdom''s nobles tonight was to discern who among them supported the Church, who were internal allies of King Bazeel, and who truly stood by him.


    Devout believers like Mortan and Bell were obviously targets for removal.


    "What exactly do you intend, Prince Hatar?" a nobleman barked sharply.


    "To purge the Church''s influence from our entire kingdom and reim the rights we deserved a century ago!" Hatar dered firmly.


    "Think about it, my friends. We''ll establish a new realm¡ªno more interference from the high and mighty Church, no more pretending to rely on prayers to decide wars. All affairs within the kingdom will be ours to decide... No one will undermine the authority of the lords!" His impassioned speech aimed beyond his father, King Bazeel, heralding himself as the true ruler of the kingdom.


    "That''s impossible!" "Absurd! Do you seek divine wrath, Hatar?" "King Bazeel would never agree!"


    The assembled nobles vehemently objected. While Hatar''s vision for a new kingdom was alluring, it meant confronting both the Church and the Empire¡ªa monumental challenge.


    "It''s entirely possible!" Hatar''s voice rose above the tumult, drowning out the protests. "But we need capable allies!"


    Allies?Bell and others hesitated before seeing two figures emerge from behind the tower''s curtains.


    The foremost man appeared young, about twenty, with a steely, perceptive gaze. The older figure behind him, d in ck robes, white-haired, trailed like an apprentice, always a step behind.


    "Allow me to introduce Master Anthony to you!" Hatar turned to Anthony, introducing him. But upon seeing Lynn, hesitated. "As for the other, he is..."


    "This is Lord Lynn from the Land of Wizards... also my mentor!" Anthony took over, gravely responding.


    Anthony referring to the seemingly younger Lynn as his mentor had a peculiar touch of irony.


    Yet, the onlookers weren''t amused. From Hatar''s words, it was clear¡ªboth were wizards!


    "The Land of Wizards? The gathering ce for those heretical worshippers and devil believers? You must be insane, Hatar, to coborate with these demons..." a noble couldn''t believe it. "It seems Prince Harold wasn''t mistaken; your involvement in the miners'' revolt is evident!"


    "All for the necessary rebuilding of the kingdom!" Hatar openly admitted.


    "You''ve all heard it," Count Bell immediately spoke up. "Prince Hatar seems to have been corrupted by these devil worshipers, seeking to defy our great Lord!"


    "The fate of the kingdom hangs today. We must unite and kill these two devil worshippers, or the entire kingdom will suffer forever!"


    Bell''s fervor rose. Confiscated of their weapons, confined within this heavily guarded tower, it didn''t mean theycked the ability to resist. Hatar should never have gathered them!


    Each noble of the kingdom was a seasoned warrior capable of battle. Among them were noble bloodlines and knights with exceptional powers. Even without suitable weapons, they were not easy opponents!


    In fact, the moment Bell entered the tower, he had already activated themunication artifact handed to him by the Archbishop. If they could create chaos before the Church''s forces arrived, he could be the kingdom''s greatest hero in quelling the rebellion!


    In a daze, Count envisionedmendations and being bestowed the title of Duke. His emotions surged.


    However, the situation deviated from his expectations. No one came forward to support him. Bell soon realized why. He felt a sudden loss of control over his body, as if an invisible hand had throttled him.


    Anthony''s aura surged without wind, his immense magical power pressing on everyone, suppressing any resistance.


    Simultaneously, Lynn''s voice echoed.


    "You know my identity now. I''m here to help you break free from the Church''s exploitation and constraints."


    "Of course, this isn''t coercion. Unlike the Church, the Land of Wizards operates under democracy. Each of you has the right to choose!" Lynn smiled as he spoke.


    Though Lynn''s smile seemed amiable, the nobles weren''t fools, nor could they take it lightly. This choice... might very well be a choice between life and death!


    Lynn gestured for Anthony to release their actions, allowing them to speak freely.


    "You won''t deceive us!" Count Mortan, staunchest among the believers, stepped forward, vehemently refusing to surrender to the wizards!


    But not every noble was as resolute as Mortan; many began to waver.


    At that moment, several attendants rushed in, urgently shouting.


    "Your Highness, Archbishop Alva has brought arge contingent of guards. They''ve surrounded our mansion!"


    Hearing that Archbishop Alva had arrived, the nobles, previously wavering, immediately stiffened, filled with hope and excitement.


    Even Hatar felt a twinge of anxiety. While the Archbishop''s appearance was part of their n, Hatarckedplete certainty and looked to Anthony.


    Anthony remained silent, while Lynn smiled and said, "In that case, let''s go have a look together!"


    Lynn took the lead, not leading them out of the tower but up to its top.


    Below, the chaotic scene at the mansion quickly caught their eyes. In the torchlight, thousands of well-armored guards shed with the mansion''s defenders, driving them back. It was evident the mansion''s fall was only a matter of time...


    >


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 Chapter 287: Anthony: This must be the beginning of some legendary magic!

    Chapter 287: Anthony: This must be the beginning of some legendary magic!


    "Looks like Lord Anluke will soon bring people here. Your Highness Hatar, if you''re willing to distance yourself from those cultists of the evil gods now, maybe there''s still a way out for you!"


    Watching the guards inside the mansion swiftly defeated, Count Mortan sneered, unafraid of the two seemingly powerful wizards beside him.


    As the Bible records, those bravely facing evil to their death are sure to ascend to heaven! Although the other nobles didn''t have Mortan''s courage, they secretly rejoiced that they hadn''t hastily joined forces with the terrifying power of Anthony. Otherwise, when the Archbishop arrives, they would''ve inexplicably be minions of darkness.


    Hatar was anxious, frequently looking at Anthony. He had managed to bring all the nobles to the estate and even drew Anluke here, as instructed by Anthony. Yet, the grand wizard still showed no sign of taking action.


    However, what puzzled everyone present was that despite standing on the tower, there were no guards approaching. It was as if no one could see them.


    They were unaware that this magical tower had been enchanted with a concealing spell by Anthony, ced in a corner of the estate, out of the opponent''s search range.


    Of course, staying there didn''t guaranteeplete safety.


    Thisrge alchemical array, while challenging for ordinary priests and bishops to detect, had the potential to be noticed when the Archbishop approached within a hundred meters.


    Lynn had naturally considered this situation. Therefore, whether it was Cody''s intelligence, Flora and others'' escape direction, or the information deliberately leaked by them, everything was directing the opponent towards the main house in the estate..."Your illusion magic is quite impressive!" Lynn stood at the top of the tower, using far-sight magic to observe the battle in front of the main house, speaking with a smile.


    For this ''fishing'' operation, he had specifically taught Anthony the art of illusion to restrain the Archbishop, avoiding real engagement to prevent harm from his magic...


    But he hadn''t expected Anthony not only to learn quickly but also to use it so well.


    It seemed that Anluke hadn''t realized until now that he was only battling an incarnation...


    "Though this magic utilizing mirrors as a basis is interesting, it''s still just a Tier 4 spell. If I can''t master it after a full two days, I wouldn''t deserve to be your disciple..." Anthony stroked his white beard, proudly speaking.


    To deceive Anluke, he had poured most of his magic power into it. Even if they were close, the Archbishop could only sense a tremendous surge of magic.


    "The strength of this Archbishop may be even greater than I anticipated. If we engage directly, I''m not his match. Perhaps this time, you''ll need to intervene personally," Anthony said with a furrowed brow, speaking solemnly.


    Thanks to the vast knowledge gained within the realm of magic, he had sessfully ascended to a Sixth Circle Archwizard, standing on the same level as the Archbishop. But the time for his promotion was too short to grasp enough Sixth Circle spells. Engaging in a real fight would likely put him at a disadvantage, considering that Anluke had be a Sixth Circle divine practitioner ten years ago, possessing immensely rich experience.


    The cross-shaped holy emblem on the Archbishop''s chest even gave him a palpable sense of unease...


    Yet, this was also a rare opportunity, perhaps allowing a glimpse of legendary power!


    Thinking this, Anthony''s gaze turned to Lynn. The apprentices and wizards who had been staying in the mansion for these days had been inscribing thunder runes all over the mansion as per Lynn''s instructions.


    He knew the meaning of these runes very well; they seemed to be a kind of alchemical array for storing and converting thunder energy, rather than having much destructive power...


    Anthony put on a querying expression, voicing all his doubts.


    "Your guess is correct. Specifically, this alchemical array forms a weak electric field. Of course, it can also confine the power of thunder and lightning within this mansion..." Lynn exined.


    "Very intricate design!" Anthony nodded, then spoke again, "But this alone might not be enough to deal with the Archbishop, right?"


    Even with the thunder stored inside the conductive stones aiding the field''s power, once dispersed across the entire estate, it equated only to the strength of a Fourth or Fifth Circle spell.


    "Of course not. So, we still need some help from the sky!" Lynn smiled.


    Confused, Anthony raised his head. In the pitch-ck night sky, there was only a crescent moon and countless twinkling stars.


    Lynn didn''t exin but raised his hand, pointing toward the sky, his gaze sharp, shouting loudly, "Raine!"


    An imperceptible magical glow shot up into the dark night sky, sparkling like a shooting star...


    This seemed to be a variation of a first-tier magic¡ªGlow Spell. However, Anthony didn''t dare to underestimate it,mitting every move of Lynn to memory, pondering the deeper implications. This could very well be the beginning of some legendary magic!


    That was the realm he desperately wanted to step into!


    Mortan and the others watched all this coldly, unaware of what these two wizards were theatrically trying to do.


    Hadrata had been drought-ridden for half a month. The possibility of a drought disaster seemed unavoidable. Did they think they could manipte the weather like the Bible''s omnipotent God, bringing rain to the entire kingdom?


    Hatar was even more frantic; his mansion was about to be demolished, yet here were Lynn and Anthony, seemingly wasting time praying for rain.


    He had witnessed Anthony''s power and had considerable faith in this grand wizard. Still, this male witch named Lynn seemed to have popped out of nowhere.


    Hatar was beginning to suspect Master Anthony. Had he been deceived by someone to treat a male witch barely twenty years old with such deference, even calling him a disciple?


    Just as Hatar was about to urge them, he suddenly felt something damp dripping on his cheek.


    "Is it raining?" Hatar looked astonished at the sky. The starry night sky had been covered by thick clouds.


    From a drizzle to a downpour, raindrops fell from the sky, hitting leaves, bricks, and grass, creating ripples. In less than ten seconds, a heavy rain had arrived...


    The expressions on Beron, Mortan, and the others froze. The tiny raindrops falling on them felt like heavy hammers pounding on their hearts, indicating that what they saw and felt was not an illusion or hallucination...


    Rain... it had trulye!


    >


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 Chapter 288: The Despair of the Royal Nobles

    Chapter 288: The Despair of the Royal Nobles


    "Coincidence, it must be a coincidence!"


    The rain fell steadily from the sky, drenching Mortan''s hair and robes. Even so, he couldn''t believe that this incredibly young-looking wizard before him could perform such a miraculous scene.


    "He must have calcted that it would rain tonight, deliberately putting on this show to try and deceive us..."


    "Thunder!" Lynn spoke again, disregarding the horrified crowd.


    Dazzling lightning began to manifest in the clouds. Positive and negative charges intertwined, gathering the lightning into a ferocious thunder that, despite being blocked by a soundproof barrier, the people on the tower could still feel its terrifying power.


    Simultaneously, countless magic inscriptions emerged on the mansion''s floor, one of the nodes being this towering tower.


    "Descend!" Lynn slowly uttered the final word.


    It was a radiance brighter than the scorching sun! The clouds seemed torn asunder as an enormous white lightning bolt streaked across the night sky straight towards the tower!


    Thunder echoed through the heavens and earth. The so-called soundproof barrier shattered the moment the lightning struck! A colossal lightning pir stood between heaven and earth, scattering arcs of electricity, illuminating the entire royal capital like daylight!This was divine punishment! The nobles present were petrified, their faces a mask of despair and horror.


    The speed of the lightning even surpassed their thoughts; in the blink of an eye, it struck the top of the tower!


    Delicate, interconnected copper wires enveloped the tower''s peak, forming a Faraday cage, redirecting the thunder''s might throughout the mansion.


    White arcs of electricity, resembling long whips, spread out in a circr fashion throughout the mansion. Several guards, grim-faced, ready to swing their swords, were engulfed by the ferocious lightning... In an instant, everyone froze, bodies scattered, robust flesh roasted into piles of gore, then turned to ashes amidst the swirling sma...


    The ferocious power of the lightning ravaged indiscriminately within the mansion. The battles on the field immediately ceased. The nearby guards couldn''t react and disappeared, dissolved in the electric ze.


    Farther away, people could clearly see terrifying arcs of lightningshing towards them. However, there was no time to flee; they could only helplessly witness the arrival of death...


    Shouts and screams rose incessantly, but were soon drowned out by the even more violent thunder, as if the thunder god was erupting in fury. umted lightning bolts continuously descended from the clouds, but this time, they dispersed everywhere, turning the entire mansion into an incredibly unique thunderstorm area. Lightning and heat vaporized the rainwater; even sturdy armor rapidly melted...


    Inside the tower, the nobles were already cowering on the ground, a strange smell faintly wafting in the air.


    "Thunder, thunder..." Mortan trembled, lips quivering, face as pale as paper, unable to articte a coherent word.


    "Is this the power of legendary magic?" murmured Anthony. Despite mastering several lightning spells, none couldpare to this.


    If he were in the midst of it, he would undoubtedly have perished...


    Thinking this, Anthony couldn''t help but look at Lynn beside him. It was astounding that even as a mere magical incarnation, he could summon thunder and wield such powerful legendary magic.


    The might of legendary wizards indeed exceeded his imagination...


    However, what Anthony didn''t know was that Lynn was equally astounded. Although he had devised this chain magic, using it for the first time and merely initiating the first link...


    He inadvertently messed things uppletely and had made preparations for Philip and others, which seemed unnecessary now...


    Pondering this, Lynn sensed the subtle change in the air''s hydrogen and oxygen content due to the electrolyzed rainwater.


    This was within his expectations, but the scale and power seemed to exceed his earlier estimations.


    "Anthony, use your most potent protective magic. Something big ising!" Lynn said with a serious expression.


    "Huh? What big thing?" Anthony was puzzled, but seeing Lynn''s serious demeanor, he immediately cast his strongest defensive spell. Magic surged, transforming into scales-like tes, inverted to shield the entire tower.


    Almost the next second after the shield formed, another lightning bolt descended from the sky, striking inside the mansion, instantly igniting the surging hydrogen and oxygen...


    The entire royal capital shook violently. The intense explosion even drowned out the roaring thunder. Tongues of fire apanied by a powerful energy wave spread, raising clouds of dust, obliterating everything within the mansion!


    The protective magic released by Anthony also rapidly shattered. Only after consecutively creating three simr barriers did it barely withstand...


    The explosion persisted for over three minutes until the floor tiles inscribed with lightning runes werepletely shattered, gradually calming down.


    After the scales-like protectiveyers dissipated, the scene of the mansion appeared before everyone.


    Well, calling it a mansion was not quite appropriate; in fact, it had turned into a pile of ruins...


    Thousands of guards, priests, and bishops of the Theocracy were now reduced to dust, along with the disintegrated iron armor buried under the rubble...


    Fortunately, Lynn had already instructed Hatar to evacuate all irrelevant personnel, leaving only some guards as bait, most of whom had already been eliminated.


    As for Jonny, Pearce, and others, as well as Anthony''s apprentices, Lynn had provided them with double insurance.


    As long as they followed the instructions, they wouldn''t suffer any harm. However, if they insisted on acting recklessly, Lynn wouldn''t be able to do anything. After all, this ''magic'' was beyond his control...


    But blowing up someone else''s mansion like this might not be so great.


    With a tinge of regret, Lynn turned to Hatar and said, "The power of this magic seems stronger than I anticipated. It seems to have caused some additional losses... I suppose you won''t mind, Your Highness Hatar?"


    At this moment, Hatar wasn''t any better than the others, thrown to the ground by the explosion that shook the capital. Covered in dust, he struggled to stand up and, facing Lynn''s kindly inquiry, reluctantly spat out, "No... no, I don''t mind..."


    Would he dare to say he minded?


    >


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 Chapter 289: The Power of Magic Triumphs Over All Mundanity!

    Chapter 289: The Power of Magic Triumphs Over All Mundanity!


    As he gazed upon the estate now turned to ruins, Hatar''s heart bled.


    He had foreseen this ce bing a battleground, but with only two days'' time, it was too hurried. There was no chance to relocate all those precious belongings, let alone anticipate theplete destruction of the entire estate, leaving nothing behind for himself...


    The gold, silver, and various treasures stored in the treasury had now all turned into debris...


    However, Hatar dared not voice any dissent. The thousands of guards who had intruded into the estate, along with the immensely powerful Archbishop Anluke, were wiped out in a single strike. Such a change in the heavens, wielding the power of thunder, could only be described as terrifying...


    Previously, he had heard of Rickman leading the vast army to ashes amidst a rain of fire, immensely fearful but without a concrete concept in mind.


    Now, Hatar experienced firsthand this indescribable sense of powerlessness.


    The power of legendary magic surpassed all worldly means!


    Whether it was his carefully trained thousands of crossbowmen or those secretly nurtured knightly bloodlines, they all appearedughable under such power...


    Hatar could only console himself silently; the stronger these wizards became, the better they could resist the onught of the empire and the church.They had to rely on the control the king and nobles held over the grassroots to suppress the tide of dissent among the vast followers.


    And soon, he would be the king. Then, the pce would be his abode, the pce treasury his own, andpared to what he would gain, the losses would be insignificant...


    With the guidance of the alchemical array gone, the artificial thunderstorms quickly ceased.


    However, the intense electric currents and scorching temperatures still pervaded the entire ruins, creating an electromaic area that ordinary people couldn''t approach...


    "Do you think Anluke is dead?" Lynn stared at the devastated estate before suddenly inquiring.


    "That kind of magic, I''m afraid no one could withstand it..." Anthony spoke solemnly, then chuckled. "I suppose that Archbishop might have turned to charcoal or dust in the wind?"


    "Not necessarily." Lynn shook her head.


    Although Anthony''s level as a wizard was much higher, his insight might not be broader. After all, Lynn had crossed paths within the city of Greynir with Ougust, who had transcended the realm of great wizards.


    The opponent could turn the entire magic city into their own domain, healing rapidly from any injury by drawing strength. Even if they were nearly beaten to death, they could recover within seconds. So, if the one inside the estate was Ougust, there might be a chance they survived...


    The terrifying power unleashed through the celestial phenomena was immense, but it was spread too thinly across the entire estate!


    "Let''s go, let''s head down!" Lynn raised a hand, and the rubble around the tower immediately trembled, as if guided by some force, flying up and piling together, forming a long ramp.


    Meanwhile, Anthony turned to look at the nobles who were sitting in shock on the ground, their faces contorted due to muscle spasms. He cast a spell to lift them up, as they were still reeling from the legendary magic''s impact.


    Though these peoplecked courage and ability, for now, they were relied upon to control and pacify the kingdom''s resistance...


    At this moment, the periphery of the estate was already taken control of by the arriving Ham''s riflemen.


    As for the thousands of guards who were originally surrounding the area to prevent escape, they were all petrified by the thunderbolt from the sky, surrendering without any resistance.


    Cody was no exception. He remained stunned for a while beforeing back to his senses, his face drained of color. He realized everything had gone terribly wrong.


    He med Lord William in his mind for not heeding his advice, for insisting on breaking ties with these seemingly formidable wizards.


    It was toote now. Cody could imagine those wizards using the most terrifying magic against him, especially since he had lured Anluke and others here.


    He just wished for a quicker death...


    However, to Cody''s surprise, Lynn approached him with a smile and patted his shoulder, speaking approvingly, "Well done, Cody. Without you, the n wouldn''t have gone so smoothly..."


    Huh? Hm? Ah?


    Cody''s expression shifted from fear to confusion and eventually to bewilderment. He almost doubted whether he misheard.


    "Lord Lynn, what... what exactly is going on?" Cody stuttered in confusion.


    "In fact, William has always been under my influence." Lynn chuckled in response.


    After bringing Anluke and the others here, Cody had no more purpose. But Lynn had no intention of burning bridges.


    While what the other side did wasn''t in his favor, it was indeed acting ording to William''s orders¡ªessentially, following Lynn''s n.


    Previously, Lynn had advised William several times not to rashly oppose them, which was why Lynn was willing to give him an out.


    Cody stood still for a long time, taking a while to realize that Lord William was actually ying him?


    Bringing Anluke and others into this estate wasn''t to capture these wizards but to lure them into a trap...


    "Lord Lynn, how should we deal with these surrendered guards? Should we execute them all?" At this point, Ham approached cautiously, inquiring.


    "No, they were just misled by Anluke and don''t represent a betrayal to the kingdom..." Hatar hurriedly intervened, revealing his identity as the heir, swiftly bringing this frightened group of guards under his control.


    Indeed, the royal guards were the most elite and loyal troops under Bazeel''smand, but expecting every single one to be steadfast and never surrender was overly optimistic.


    While Hatar was subduing the guards, Lynn instructed Ham to surround the estate. If anything seemed amiss, they would fire into the sky, and reinforcements would arrive shortly.


    Hatar''s estate was massive, and even with magic clearing these areaspletely, it would take at least half a day. Finding Anluke, who might have been crushed into bits or turned to dust, amidst this chaos was extremely challenging.


    But they had more pressing matters at hand. If the King Bazeel managed to escape, all their efforts would be in vain, even if Hatar ascended the throne, it wouldn''t be enough to convince the masses.


    >


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 Chapter 290: Times Have Changed, Fools!

    Chapter 290: Times Have Changed, Fools!


    "Protect the king!" "Kill these rebels!"


    Within Hadrta, as the chief guard, Simmons shouted loudly, ordering his guards to rely on their shields to withstand the fierce onught of gunfire.


    Tonight, most of the army in the capital had been dispatched for a mission, but Bazeel had anticipated the possibility of failure, ensuring the pce wasn''t left defenseless.


    Apart from a few remaining guards, there were several bishops and a dozen priests assisting in defense. So, despite Redell leading more men and using flintlock guns, they couldn''t break through immediately.


    The bnce was shattered only when a massive lightning bolt illuminated the capital from the sky.


    Redell and his group were startled, yet they had been briefed beforehand, vaguely anticipating what was happening.


    The pce guards unavoidably fell into disarray, especially the priests and bishops in the defense, as the massive lightning bolt descending from the sky was a form of magic unknown to them!


    "Don''t panic! Lord Anluke is punishing those rebels! The divine... is with us!" Simmons shouted hoarsely, barely calming the chaos in the army, yet rows of soldiers still fell under gunfire and rain of bullets.


    Simmons sighed in relief when, after several volleys, the gunfire ceased.Redell and his group had run out of ammunition! Having fought their way into the pce, enduring several battles en route, their limited supply of ammo had depleted. Everyone raised their guns, preparing for closebat.


    Simmons quickly realized this from their movements and grew excited. "Everyone, rally! Our chance to counterattack is here. Those devil''s followers can''t use powerful weapons anymore. Now is our time to win!"


    Forced to huddle behind shields, pressed by the gunfire, the frustrated pce guards gripped their long knives, pouncing on the enemy like wolves.


    Simmons was no exception; he immediately targeted Redell, believing that taking down the leader would greatly demoralize the rebels.


    Brandishing his heavy knight''s sword, Simmons disyed a finesse unexpected of his stature. With every strike, someone would howl and copse into a pool of blood.


    "Back off!" Redell yelled, stopping more people from surrounding him.


    "Quite brave!" Simmons, surprised, shook the blood off his de, then smirked. "But your life ends here!"


    As he spoke, Simmons, like a fierce wind, covered a dozen meters in a few steps, swinging his sword toward Redell.


    But facing him, Redell dropped his gun, drawing out a small, palm-sized, entirely ck short gun from his pouch, aiming it at Simmons.


    An instant chill surged through Simmons. Having witnessed the flintlock gun''s power, he knew this was something simr.


    But now, at such close range, he couldn''t dodge. Simmons could only raise his sword defensively, relying on his exceptional reflexes to hopefully deflect the bolts flying faster than arrows...


    Despite the weird magic of this gun, firing rounds much faster than arrows, he believed he could block them!


    The next moment, gunfire erupted!


    Simmons'' expression changed from serious to horrified because instead of a single bullet, dozens, even hundreds, burst from the muzzle!


    A barrage of bullets flew out, forming a cone-shaped spread. Within this wide coverage, Simmons couldn''t even attempt to dodge. In an instant, his left arm, shoulder, abdomen were pierced, shattered, turning into fragments that littered the ground.


    Simmons fell like a withered leaf, eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness. This wasn''t the death a knight should meet...


    "Times have changed, fool," Redell shook his head. It was a specially crafted weapon from the alchemy workshop, intended for dealing with bishops. Since Simmons insisted on approaching, he became the perfect test subject for the gun!


    Redell kept the short gun, picked up Simmons'' knight sword, impaled his broken body high, announcing the leader''s death, shattering the guards'' morale.


    In the pce, attendants and ministers were in chaos. The sounds of battle and gunshots outside continued unabated. However, Bazeel remained seated on the throne, showing no intention to move.


    "Your Majesty Bazeel, those cursed miners are about to rush in. If we don''t leave now, it''ll be toote," a loyal attendant knelt, urgently advising.


    "No need. They''re already outside," Bazeel remained calm. Upon hearing the report of the pce attack, he had guessed tonight''s actions against the wizards were just a ruse.


    They had fallen into a trap, like prey caught in a spider''s web, struggling would be futile.


    Bazeel understood this well and had no intentions of fleeing.


    His time was at an end; death was inevitable...


    Moreover, this was his kingdom, the ancestral territory of the Bazeel family. He needed to assess the potential of his foolish son, whether he was capable of ruling the kingdom!


    Amotion grew louder, apanied by the sounds of battle and footsteps drawing nearer, causing the entire pce to tremble, as if on the verge of copse.


    Momentster, everything fell silent, and the pce doors finally burst open.


    Hatar was the first to enter, holding a blood-stained sword, while Lynn and Anthony followed closely behind.


    King Bazeel''s gaze swept briefly over Anthony, lingered on Lynn for a while, then turned to Hatar, sighing. "If tonight, you had walked into this hall alone, I would have been very pleased, Hatar!"


    >


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 Chapter 291: Uncontrolled Power Will Eventually Bring Disaster to This Kingdom!

    Chapter 291: Uncontrolled Power Will Eventually Bring Disaster to This Kingdom!


    "You must be delighted. If I hade alone, I''d be a dead man under the guards'' swords by now," Hatar scoffed in response.


    "I didn''t expect you to see me this way, Hatar..." the king sighed, speaking softly.


    "But isn''t that your approach, father?" Hatar''s expression turned cold as he stared at Bazeel, the aged king seated on the throne before him. His tone grew sharper as he questioned, "Why Harold? What does he have besides pandering to the church? What makes him better than me?"


    "Answer me, father!" Hatar gritted his teeth, eyes wide with fury as he demanded an answer.


    Bazeel gazed at Hatar in silence, yet Hatar persisted, relentless in his questioning.


    "Reducing the church''s authority, consolidating power in your hands¡ªaren''t these your actions? Or are you afraid? Afraid of the church''s power, willing to be a puppet king like Harold?"


    "If you cannot grasp this, it shows you''re not ready, Hatar. Far from being capable of bearing the weight of a king," Bazeel looked at his second son with immense disappointment.


    "Is that so?" Hatar''s face contorted, but quickly regainedposure,ughing aloud. "But now, it''s proven I''m right. Harold has lost, Anluke is dead. From tomorrow, I will be the new king of Hadrta!"


    "And I... have surpassed you, father! I''ll expel every priest from the kingdom, bringing all territories under the rule of the king and nobles, making Hadrta a true kingdom!" Hatar eximed, filled with excitement."If that''s your choice, thene." Bazeel struggled to rise from the throne, drawing his sword, pointing it at Hatar. "Over a hundred years ago, it was here your grandfather chopped off the former king''s head, iming the throne for Hadrta... Let me see if you have the mettle to be a king!"


    Surprised by the sword pointed at him, Hatar hesitated. He hade to im the throne, not tomit regicide. He only wanted Bazeel to see he was the rightful choice for king.


    "Or you could opt for someone else to kill your father!" Bazeel''s words were sharp,ced with subtle mockery.


    With matters having reached this point, Hatar hesitated no longer. Wiping blood from his de, he rushed at Bazeel, his grip tight on the sword hilt.


    "ng!"


    A piercing sound of metal shed, sparks flying as the two swords met. Bazeel, old and frail in appearance, yet steady-handed, blocked the strike.


    "Is this all your strength amounts to, Hatar?" Bazeel, the king, sounded disappointed. "Power and position may be crucial, but true strength lies within you and will be your ultimate reliance."


    Enraged, Hatar swung his de toward Bazeel''s head, roaring, "That was when I didn''t want to kill you!"


    The sh of des echoed throughout the vast pce. Hatar''s movements were swift and precise, trained as a prince under the best guidance and rigorousbat training. With his powerful bloodline, his strength was not to be underestimated.


    But his opponent was the king of Hadrta, Bazeel, hailed as a lion for leading military expeditions acrossnds.


    "Do not let anger cloud your actions, it''s a grave mistake. Never let your emotions betray your next move," Bazeel blocked Hatar''s forceful strike once more, then swiftly angled his sword to leave a visible gash on Hatar''s face. "A foe''s de shows no mercy!"


    Observing the father-son duel with great interest, Lynn pondered on these so-called noble bloodlines and aristocracy, passed down through generations.


    As per the "Artificer" Victorio, these ''superior bloodlines'' were remnants of a bygone era, possibly descendants of powerful shaping wizards.


    Simr to Owen gaining beastly strength through the fused magic potion...


    Yet, this remained uncertain. Wizards'' methods varied greatly, especially in the era before established schools of magic. Any means to acquire power were usible.


    Regarding their strengths, Hatar possessed the physique of a second-tier shaping wizard, while King Bazeel was evidently more formidable. Despite his aged body, he deftly parried every one of Hatar''s strikes.


    Superficially, they seemed evenly matched. However, the gap soon revealed itself. Hatar, unable to breach Bazeel''s defenses, grew increasingly impatient. A surge of red energy enveloped him, boosting his strength and speed.


    "Forcing uncontrolled power only leads to bacsh!" Bazeel maintainedposure. Rather than defending this time, he strategically struck the sword, hitting its hilt. "Speed isn''t always advantageous for a sword!"


    In an instant, Hatar felt his right hand numb, his sword slipping away.


    Yet Bazeel didn''t seize the advantage. Letting go of his own sword, the old king grabbed Hatar''s cor, about to speak, but the next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. A dagger had pierced his heart.


    The assant was none other than Hatar!


    "This is what you taught me, father. Never let your guard down," Hatar, in a frenzied yetposed manner, uttered almost through clenched teeth.


    Blood welled at Bazeel''s lips. Despite the pain, a hint of a smile appeared on his face. He held Hatar''s hand, driving the dagger deeper, his gaze piercing. "Do not fear. Remember this feeling, my son. The throne is forged from iron and blood. The only one you can truly trust is yourself."


    "And the priests, nobles, and wizards¡ªare all the same... Uncontrolled power will eventually bring disaster to this kingdom!" Bazeel''s voice dropped low, mingled with painful murmurs, almost whispering in Hatar''s ear. "You''ve erred. You shouldn''t have dismantled the church entirely, disrupting the bnce. But it''s toote now. Everything is toote!"


    "I''m the same to you and Harold..." Bazeel attempted to continue, but blood surged, choking his words. His body quickly went limp and copsed...


    >


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 Chapter 292: Crown Stained with Blood

    Chapter 292: Crown Stained with Blood


    In the pce hall, a scene of father-son conflict unfolded.


    As Bazeel''s body fell heavily to the ground, a golden crown tumbled from his head, rolling to rest at Hatar''s feet.


    Finally gaining what he''d long desired, yet Hatar''s heart held no joy. Bazeel''s words echoed like a curse in his mind.


    Lynn''s gaze lingered on the King of Harata for a moment.


    Whether his daring defiance against the Archbishop, seeking bnce between wizards and the church, or his eptance of death to teach his sons a final lesson, it revealed the prowess and dignity of this ''Lion'' king.


    But he was too old. Inparison, his two sons fell far short. Perhaps that was why Bazeel hadn''t decided on a sessor for so long.


    Lynn waited, seeing Hatar still lost in his thoughts. "Congrattions on seizing the throne, Your Highness... no, I should say Your Majesty!"


    "The situation in the capital isplex. We need more forces to suppress the resistance, and more importantly, we haven''t captured your brother, Harold. He''s a significant threat..."


    Hatar picked up the blood-stained crown, then nced at the trembling servants huddled in the corner, and coldly ordered, "Kill them, Master Anthony..."These witnesses couldn''t live after seeing Bazeel die by their hands!


    Anthony didn''t act immediately. Instead, he nced at Lynn. Seeing no objection, he extended his hand, and a blue-purple electric surge immediately enveloped the room.


    In an instant, these pce servants convulsed and cried out, their lives snuffed out.


    Hatar noted Anthony''s hesitation but said nothing. He called the guards stationed outside, issuing an order to hunt down Harold throughout the city.


    "For his dissatisfaction with his father''s confinement, colluding with Archbishop Anluke, and the attempted assassination of the king, spread this throughout the capital in the shortest time possible!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" The guards promptly answered, rushing out to ry the orders.


    At that moment, a powerful surge of magic suddenly emanated from afar. Anthony sensed something amiss and looked outside.


    Anluke was already dead. Who else could wield such potent magic?


    Lynn didn''t notice, but observed Anthony''s reaction. Just as they were about to inquire, a crimson beam shot into the sky, exploding.


    "It''s fireworks!"


    ...


    Outside Hatar''s residence, the musketeers stationed there, bored after securing the capital, spected on the rewards they''d receive.


    "This Harata capital is a mess, not as pretty as Iyeita," scoffed Old York. He had anticipated a grander city upon hearing it was the capital of a kingdom but found it underwhelming.


    "The wizard lords said it, didn''t they? Beyond thend of wizards, there are just a bunch of ignorant barbarians who can''t even distinguish if the ground is t or round." Apu, born in thend of wizards, responded disdainfully. He then shivered and muttered, "You watch here; I''ll go relieve myself..."


    Born in the wizardnds, Apu held no reverence for nobility. He swiftly turned, faced the debris, and without further ado, relieved himself in the prince''s residence. Wasn''t he the first to do so?


    Pleased with himself, he noticed something glistening amid the ruins. Could it be a treasure hidden in the prince''s residence?


    Immediately, Apu''s mind raced. Although the musketeers prohibited looting and plundering, as long as no one saw him, it wouldn''t count as a vition. With his practiced swiftness, he had already acquired quite a few valuables.


    Lost in thought, Apu crouched down. Unexpectedly, the shimmering object flew straight towards him.


    Did this thinge straight to him?


    In a split second, as thest thought crossed Apu''s mind, a small emblem struck his head, rendering him unconscious. He copsed on the ground.


    "Apu, did you trip over your own pee?" Old York approached, seeing Apu lying there, teasingly.


    Apu staggered to his feet, a beautifully crafted badge embedded in his forehead.


    As Old York stepped closer, he noticed this too. Before he could ask, Apu suddenly raised his musket!


    The ck muzzle was aimed directly at his head. Old York''s hairs stood on end, and just as the trigger was pulled, there was a momentary pause.


    The gunshot didn''t sound. Old York realized Apu''s musket was probably soaked due to the rain, rendering it unusable. But Apu wouldn''t joke with a musket, and immediately, he shouted to the surroundings.


    "Alert! Apu might be under someone''s control. Subdue him!"


    Several musketeers, upon hearing the cry, rushed in. Out of concern for theirpanion, none wielded firearms, attempting to restrain him.


    However, Apu, usually mischievous and slippery, disyed extraordinary strength andbat skills, turning the musket into a blunt weapon, quickly incapacitating them all.


    Fortunately, more reinforcements arrived swiftly. Many aimed their muskets, but before they could fire, a piercing light emitted from Apu''s fingertip, dispelling the darkness and blinding everyone present.


    A chorus of cries erupted as the temporarily blinded Old York and others, relying on instinct, indiscriminately aimed their muskets at Apu''s position, causing considerable friendly fire.


    When they regained their sight, Ham, arriving with a team, found Apu had vanished without a trace.


    "Quick! Use the fireworks to notify Lord Lynn!" Old York shouted urgently.


    Ham didn''t waste time asking for details. Hastily loading the unique projectile into his musket, he fired into the sky. A burst of red light exploded in the dark night sky...


    >


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 Chapter 293: The Resurgence of the Divine Projection!

    In a street in the capital city of Hadrta, Ap, with a wound piercing through his left shoulder, paused within a dark alley. Blood dripped incessantly from the wound, staining his dark armor red.


    Ap furrowed his brow and activated healing divine magic to mend the wound. However, he sensed the shattered bullet fragments still embedded in his body.


    "This body is too weak¡­" Ap muttered to himself. As an immensely powerful six-ring cleric, he never envisioned falling to such a state.


    If not for the power of the holy emblem, he''d probably be dead by now.


    The holy emblem, crafted from the phnx of the First Saint, rested within the church to umte the believers'' faith, aiding in more potent divine spellcasting.


    Confident in facing two grand wizards, Ap hadn''t anticipated that Cody, whom he''d probed through memories, had somehow evaded magical detection, leading them into a trap...


    The magic struck so swiftly that he couldn''t react. His entire body numbed, consciousness fading. Ap directed his fragmented consciousness into the holy emblem, his body subsequently destroyed amid thunder and explosions.


    Now, he had to choose¡ªconfront the devil''s followers or ry this information back to the Secas Empire.


    "Great Lord, save Your most devout followers¡­" "Please bring punishment upon those evildoers!" "Your most devout followers offer everything¡­"Faintly, cries echoed from the holy emblem, with the city''s residents cowering in their homes, praying to the Great Lord.


    Ap seized this as an opportunity, a chance to counter. Tens of thousands praying could allow him, in his current state, to invoke a divine descent, embodying a fraction of the Great Lord.


    "Come forth, most devout followers of the Lord, gather here!" Ap transmitted his message through the emblem repeatedly to every believer.


    Throughout the capital, residents devoutly praying all heard the call resounding in their minds.


    "This is the will of the gods!" "Lord, You haven''t forsaken Your believers¡­"


    Excited shouts erupted as the citizens, disregarding the ongoing chaos, courageously left their homes, converging at the city''s central square.


    "What''s happening? Are these people all going mad?" Raydell, leading his men to capture Crown Prince Harold after seizing three city gates, was confounded by this bizarre scene.


    Many previously hidden residents flooded the streets, chanting about the will of the Lord, forming a massive, overwhelming wave.


    Even the squads tasked with maintaining order were startled. Despite their warning shots, they couldn''t quell the situation.


    "What should we do now? Should we kill these people?" A member of the squad was at a loss.


    Raydell struggled; these citizens hadn''t attacked, but their behavior was unnerving.


    But indiscriminate killing of defenseless civilians contradicted their intentions.


    As the prayers intensified in the square, the faith of thousands became a key and a delineation. Ap, realizing the opportune moment, removed the emblem from his head and hurled it into the air.


    "Praise¡ªthe advent of the heavenly realm!"


    Ap chanted an ancient and cryptic incantation.


    In an instant, a white beam shot skyward from the emblem, illuminating the entire capital. The night sky seemed to stir with falling stars as the pure white light transformed into the noble and pure image of a goddess. She gazed upon the masses, exuding infinite majesty and divine aura.


    Melodic hymns echoed in the sky, an iprehensible majesty spreading across the heavens. All the believers prostrated themselves, praising the Lord with utmost humility.


    Raydell and his gunmen were stupefied, watching the celestial image. Cold sweat trickled down their foreheads, legs turning weak.


    Even apostates like Ham, who had forsaken their faith, knelt uncontrobly, loudly repenting their sins.


    "I didn''t expect Ap to retain such power." Lynn, situated within the city, observed this scene. He''d received reports from the gunmen and knew what had happened at Hatar''s mansion.


    Ap, who had acted strangely and disappeared after injuring his colleague, was likely under control. Only Archbishop Ap could aplish such a feat.


    The foe had cunningly concealed themselves among thousands, using thesemoners as shields. Lynn was reluctant to engage in a massacre unless absolutely necessary; it wouldn''t bode well for theirsting rule.


    "Do you have a way to deal with this, Anthony?" Lynn curiously inquired.


    "You jest. Though this is just a projection with a fraction of her power, it''s already at another level." Anthony''s expression turned grave. Only now did he realize the Archbishop''s immense strength.


    Even as a six-ring wizard, relying solely on one discipline wasn''t enough to establish a magical kingdom.


    "Can you unleash a second legendary magic with your current strength?" Anthony cautiously asked. "I sensed a potent divine magic sustaining this projection¡ªit should originate from her brow."


    "Of course not!" Lynn shook his head. He was only a three-ring wizard andcked that capability.


    Previously, it took him several days of preparation, leveraging celestial phenomena and alchemical formations, to achieve such an effect.


    "Then we must retreat now!" Anthony sighed. They had done so much and seized control of the entire capital, only to hurriedly withdraw in the end.


    Hatar was most anxious; having finally ascended to the throne, now he had to retreat, ceding the capital to his brother, something he couldn''t tolerate.


    "What about the gunmen in the capital? Aren''t those sticks that spew fire formidable? I also have three thousand strong crossbowmen. Combining their forces, we can take her down!" Hatar''s face contorted.


    Anthony nced at him, ready to mock Hatar''s unrealistic idea, but then Lynn spoke.


    "No need for withdrawal. Fortunately, I had prepared something to handle such emergencies. I thought I wouldn''t need it." Lynn suddenly spoke, lifting everyone''s spirits from their plummeting despair.


    >


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 Chapter 294: Lynn: I Just Want to Blast Her Now!

    Chapter 294: Lynn: I Just Want to st Her Now!


    "Lynn, do you have a way to deal with her?" Hatar urgently inquired. He didn''t want to lose his capital on the first night of seizing the throne.


    Anthony looked at Lynn in surprise. "Wasn''t it said that legendary magic couldn''t be used anymore?"


    Lynn didn''t exin but simply smiled. "They''ve arrived!"


    As soon as the words fell, a dull sound of wheels rolling came from the other side of the street. Anthony and the others turned to look.


    On the cobblestone street, several camel-like creatures wereboriously pulling three covered ck carriages towards them. Leading the group were Philip and others who had disappeared for a while. Jonny and Flora, who had evacuated from the mansion earlier, also followed the convoy.


    "Are you all okay?" Lynn nced around, counted the people, and breathed a sigh of relief seeing no one missing.


    "Nothing serious, just scared half to death..." Elok muttered softly.


    Though Lynn had instructed them to flee immediately upon seeing Anthony taking action, to retreat to the bunker in the residence, Flora and the others had refused to leave, dying them for quite a while. They had almost been taken out by the thunderbolts from the sky and subsequent explosions.


    "You should have told us in advance, Chancellor Lynn," Peirce said with a tremor in his voice.Lynn remained silent. The most important aspect of setting traps was to prevent leaks. He didn''t mistrust Elok and the others, but the possibility of their memories being captured and searched needed consideration.


    Anthony pulled down the cover of the carriage, revealing not a carriage but something quite peculiar¡ªresembling a cannon but muchrger and more intricate.


    It stood over two meters tall, mounted on a solid base with four wheels. The most intriguing part was two long cannon tracks extending straight into the distance, inscribed with numerous electromaic runes.


    "What''s this?" Anthony asked in amazement.


    "A powerful electromaic weapon. I thought I wouldn''t need it this time," Lynn said, walking up to one of the electromaic cannons and immediately adjusting its aim towards the colossal projection of the goddess in the sky.


    Originally intended to prevent the Archbishop from deviating from the n or to serve as a backup n if his alchemical array had some ws, the n was to have Philip and the others hide in the shadows and seize Anluke with the electromaic cannon when the opportunity arose.


    Never did they expect to use it against a real god...


    Even though it was just a projection...


    As the lever was pressed down, a strong surge of magical power suddenly appeared. A massive amount of lightning stored within the thunderstone was gathered. Runes along the cannon tracks lit up one by one, constructing an immensely powerful maic field, tightly binding a cannonball at its center...


    Due to the short time of research, this experimental version of the electromaic cannon could only elerate the projectile to about seven times the speed of sound.


    It was a terrifying power, yet far from its limit!


    "Everyone, use the chain lightning!" Lynn shouted loudly, simultaneously casting spells. A cerulean electric current immediately struck the runes used to receive power.


    Flora and the others understood the urgency of the situation and acted without hesitation. Over a hundred wizards poured their magical power into the electromaic cannon.


    The long cannon tracks were soon dyed red with intense heat, and the increasingly powerful magical fluctuations exposed their whereabouts...


    The projection of the goddess hanging in the sky immediately shifted her gaze towards them.


    It felt like two years ago for Lynn, escaping the Sechas Empire by ship, facing a simr scene.


    Back then, he could only flee in haste, relying on the barrier of the Misty Sea. But now... Lynn just wanted to st her!


    ...


    "The great Lord has descended!"


    At this moment, in the city''s square, tens of thousands of believers devoutly knelt, continuously praying, kissing the ground to express their excitement.


    Their fears and worries had vanished, leaving only tranquility and joy...


    Anluke stood alone in the center of the square. After releasing the holy emblem, he could only control this body with slight connections, having lost the ability to use divine arts.


    But none of that mattered!


    Because the Lord''s will had descended!


    Through the divine eye connected to the holy emblem, Anluke quickly found his targets. The great wizard Anthony and his apprentice disciples were gathered on a street in the west of the capital.


    Prince Hatar was also there, alongside a young wizard projected through magic¡ªlikely the one the Holy See was hunting, (Lynn).


    It was perfect for dealing with them together!


    A flicker of anger and murderous intent shed in Anluke''s eyes. Then, he closed his eyes, praying for the great Lord to punish those sphemers.


    The massive projection of the goddess in the sky raised her right hand. Her gigantic jade-like finger seemed to traverse space and time, instantly arriving before the people.


    The index finger, massive as a mountain, descended from above, seemingly about to crush a few ants.


    However, even ants have fangs. Anthony stepped forward, unleashing his most powerful defensive magic.


    The magic swiftly transformed intoyered snake scales forming a semicircr barrier in front of them, colliding with the finger like a mountain.


    The sturdy scale barrier immediately dented, then showed fine cracks. Just a secondter, it explosively shattered.


    Under the intense magical bacsh, Anthony staggered, but at that moment, two azure streaks of light flew past, piercing through the finger attempting to crush them.


    It was from the other two electromaic cannons, controlled by Philip and Ondo! The injuries inflicted were limited, without bloodshed or flying flesh and bone. They had pierced only the projection, which was visibly healing at an incredible speed. Then, the finger transformed into an entire palm, radiating a dense divine light, pressing down on the people.


    The area covered by the palm had turned into a unique realm, where the air condensed, making breathing particrly difficult...


    At the same time, the central electromaic cannon, powered by hundreds of wizards, finallypleted its charge!


    Harnessing the electrical power provided, the projectile, firmly restrained by maic forces, emitted a deafening roar. Pushed by Anluke''s force, it flew towards the hand covering the sky at an invisible speed...


    >


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 Chapter 295: Distorted Space-Time Light and Railgun

    Chapter 295: Distorted Space-Time Light and Railgun


    At 25 times the speed of sound!


    At the moment the bullet burst from the chamber, the AI had already calcted its velocity. Magic and technologybined, unleashing unimaginable power, elevating the electromaic railgun''s might to new heights!


    The instant sonic boom shattered the tiles and earthen walls of the surrounding buildings. Folra, Pearce, and those nearby were knocked down, hands mped over their ears...


    In the sky, a dazzling streak collided with the palm that obscured it. The solid metal bullet, heated to a searing crimson, bore magical runes¡ªdispelling, sharp, unyielding¡ªengraved across its surface.


    It was as if a pebble collided with a towering mountain. Yet the oue was entirely reversed. At the moment of contact, the palm seemed like paper, offering no resistance, easily pierced by the crimson streak. Its target: the projection of the god''s brow!


    Sensing the threat of this weapon, an endless light surged from the godly form.


    From the railgun''s starting point to the god''s brow, a mere 700 meters. For a projectile moving at 25 times the speed of sound, a mere 0.08 seconds were needed! Yet this distance became infinitely prolonged. The railgun''s speed visibly decayed: from 25 times to 20, then 15, finally dropping to 9 times the speed of sound!


    Having studied field distortion, Lynn understood. It wasn''t the railgun''s speed diminishing; rather, space and time were distorted at this moment! The slowdown was but an outward manifestation of this distortion!


    However, even so, the terrifying power of the railgun easily shattered the barrier constructed by the divine light, piercing straight through the shell of the godly projection.The only difference was a fraction of a second dy, causing the goddess''s phantom to deviate slightly, missing the brow by a few centimeters. The red streak pierced through the temple, shattering half the forehead, revealing a small, delicate holy emblem faintly floating in the void.


    Watching this through the god''s eyes, Anluke sighed in relief. As long as the core remained intact, the rest could be repaired using divine magic.


    Unfortunately, Anluke had forgotten: the railgun wasn''t just one cannon!


    And Lynn wasn''t naive enough to pin everything on that single strike!


    In less than a second''s interval, two calibrated railguns thundered once more. Thoughcking the magical bolstering of hundreds of wizards, the projectiles were slower, clocking in at a still formidable 7 times the speed of sound!


    With the immenseputational power of the wizards, like two silver threads, they struck precisely at the small holy emblem.


    "No!" Anluke let out a heart-wrenching roar.


    The electromaic force at 7 times the speed of sound rivaled sixth-circle magic. Despite the emblem being forged from the bones of a saint, it couldn''t withstand such a powerful impact and was instantly pulverized.


    Two hypersonic projectiles collided, generating shockwaves and explosive sounds reverberating across the entire sky of the capital. The entire city trembled under the violent shockwave.


    The light from the god''s eyes swiftly dimmed, the colossal godly form beginning to disintegrate. Like shattered mirrors, pieces peeled off, transforming into brilliant points of light, eventually vanishing into the void...


    Also destroyed was Anluke''s soul, housed within the holy emblem.


    Anluke''s consciousness was slowly drawn away, blood trickling from the corners of the mouth, eyes filled with despair and unwillingness...


    The entire square fell into a deathly silence. Tens of thousands of devout believers, moments ago fervently chanting praises to the great deity for punishing those evil sphemers, now witnessed the projection of their deity being shattered by dazzling streaks of light.


    "The deity lost?" "Impossible? Illusion, it must be an illusion!"


    Terrified shouts echoed across the square. Countless shattered beliefs led some to hysterically im they were seeing illusions, while others copsed, repeatedly banging their heads against the ground, unable to change this inevitable oue.


    The projection of the deity''s will was destroyed!


    "Atst..." Watching the horrifying projection vanish into the void, Lynn breathed a sigh of relief.


    Just moments ago, he hadn''t been confident of winning. He had only persisted in front of Anthony and the others. Fortunately, he had the foresight to bring this major weapon ahead of time. Otherwise, they would have had to retreat from the capital, rendering all their previous efforts futile.


    "What magic is this? It seems rted to electromaism?" Anthony, still reeling from the light that seemed capable of shattering everything, couldn''t help but inquire.


    "It''s called an electromaic railgun!" Lynn replied with a smile.


    "Using electric currents to generate strong maic forces to propel projectiles?" Anthony, who had recently begun studying Maxwell''s equations, quickly analyzed the principle behind this contraption.


    Previously, he had directly employed the power of thunder itself to kill enemies, never imagining that electromaic magic could be used in such a manner, and with such formidable power.


    "Correct." Lynn nodded, refraining from further exnation. After all, tonight, they still had many troublesome matters to handle.


    ...


    By the time Lynn and the others reached the square, the chaotic situation had been brought under control by Redell and his musketeers. Though the believers numbered many, they had lost their will to resist.


    The missing Ap, when found, had already grown cold. After an examination, Lynn finally confirmed that he had indeed been under someone else''s control previously.


    "Lord Lynn, how should we deal with these civilians?" Redell nced at the kingdom''s citizens, some bowing their heads, others breaking down in tears. He worried that Lynn might order their execution, yet he also knew well the potential dangers they posed.


    "Restrain them for now. We''ll decide whether to release them after questioning." After a moment of contemtion, Lynn spoke.


    It had to be said that Anluke''s gathering of so many devout believers in the square inadvertently solved a significant problem for him. If these fanatics were left to roam the capital, they could potentially cause considerable trouble from within.


    Now, all these troubles emerged together, and they could be dealt with collectively!


    Those willing to undergo ideological transformation could remain as citizens of the capital, their past forgiven.


    As for the die-hard zealots... they''de in handy when it came to bridge-building and infrastructure projects!


    Thebor of tens of thousands wouldn''t be wasted after all!


    >


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 Chapter 296: Even gods will fall under the might of magic and technology!

    Chapter 296: Even gods will fall under the might of magic and technology!


    In the blink of an eye, a day had passed. Under the joint control of the Royal Guards and the Musketeers, the chaos within the capital city had finally subsided.


    The cathedraly in ruins, its clergy captured and executed. Even the eldest prince, Harold, couldn''t escape. Amidst the chaos, a volley of musket shots found his chest, iming his life on the spot.


    Hatar immediately proimed that the mastermind behind the chaos, responsible for the heavy casualties, had been eliminated. The very next day, he hastily ascended the throne before a gathering of nobles, followed by generous rewards.


    Those willing to openly support Hatar were showered with wealth andnds. Lynn and Anthony, who had contributed significantly, were made dukes and granted vast territories in the southern coastal region that had belonged to Count Joyce and several other dukes of the kingdom.


    Originally owned by Count Joyce and a few other dukes, these territories were now under the control of new nobles due to their demise in battle or their capture for siding with the wrong faction. Hatar was exceedingly generous in his bid to woo the wizards and unite against the empire and the church.


    As for others who had made contributions in this struggle for the throne, Hatar didn''t neglect them. For instance, Raydell was bestowed with the title of an earl for leading the charge into the capital and defeating the city''s defenders¡ªa considerable achievement.


    The fortunate musketeer who had ended Harold''s life also ascended to nobility, receiving the rank of a viscount.


    "How does it feel to be a noble, Raydell?" Lynn teased.


    "Not good, Lord Lynn. epting His Majesty Hatar''s ennoblement contradicts everything we''ve done before. We eradicated the old nobility only to be the new nobles," Raydell spoke, puzzled."Our efforts won''t go in vain, but things need to be done step by step, don''t they?" Lynn shook his head.


    Lynn was somewhat pleased that Raydell held onto his original ideals amidst this sudden change in status. Throughout history, many had shown astounding willpower during the early stages of revolution, only to swiftly decay into corruption upon attaining power and status¡ªa recurring pattern in history.


    "In a few days, you cane to Iyeta. I believe you might find some answers there," Lynn said with a smile.


    "Iyeta?" Raydell murmured longingly, having heard about this mystical ce from the esteemed wizards.


    It was a city crafted by wizards, brimming with the power of magic.


    "Lord Chancellor, the fireworks you requested are all set!" Lydia hurriedly approached as the two conversed, excitedly shouting.


    "Good, let''s go and have a look then," Lynn nodded.


    Tonight, a grand celebration was arranged within the capital tomemorate the new king''s ascension. However, Lynn held no interest in the empty gestures and false courtesies of the nobles. He had his own way of celebrating!


    At this moment, the square in the capital was packed. The musketeers and miners, who had traveled far and fought through the night, finally rxed. They lit bonfires at the center of the square, feasting on roasted meat and fine wine, exchanging tales ofst night''s victory and honor.


    Especially the musketeers who had followed Ham to the prince''s residence were vividly describing the awe-inspiring sight of thunder striking down.


    Some of the city''smoners had joined too, as arranged by Lynn.


    After the battle in the capital, Lynn had directed the idle individuals to assist the discedmoners in rebuilding their homes, offeringpensation to gain their trust. Naturally, this sum came from the generous new king.


    Hatar paid little attention to the lives of thesemoners. Yet, he wouldn''t let this minor issue mar their prestige.


    So, for tonight''s celebration, Lynn ensured that those who had aided the afflictedmoners were invited.


    Only less than a quarter of them dared to ept the invitation. But it was undoubtedly a positive start¡ªa slow shift in mindset.


    "Lord Lynn¡­"


    As soon as Lynn''s figure was spotted, cheers erupted in the square. Everyone stood up, spontaneously making way for him.


    Followingst night''s battle, no one remained unaware of this figure¡ªpowerful enough to alter the heavens with a wave, unleashing terrifying divine lightning that decimated thousands of Royal Guards.


    Rumors even circted about the divine projection seen over the capital yesterday, shattered by this seemingly youthful wizard.


    To many, Lynn embodied the Thunder God, a true deity or perhaps a divine messenger.


    Seeing the excited faces, Lynn disyed a faint smile and spoke, "Please, everyone, take a seat. This victory is the result of everyone''s collective effort. Each and every one of your contributions was indispensable."


    "But remember, this victory is temporary. The empire and the church still exist. They aim to obliterate our achievements, to force you all back into the dark mines, to toil without fair rpense¡­"


    Lynn surveyed each person present, observing their expressions shifting towards anger.


    "Then let''s overthrow them!"


    A drunken miner shouted loudly, setting off a bombshell in the crowd. The entire square erupted with fervor as people rallied to overthrow the church and the empire, vowing to shatter their minds with musket fire.


    "You''re right! There''s nothing to fear about the empire and the church. Use the guns in your hands to st them all! Even gods will fall under the might of magic and technology!" Lynn shouted loudly, raising his cup high.


    "And for now, enjoy this feast, celebrate our victory! From this moment forward, your identity is no longer that of a mine ve. You won''t be hunted by the kingdom anymore. You are all free!"


    As Lynn''s words echoed, the square resounded with thunderous cheers. Everyone hoisted their wooden cups high, chanting "Long live freedom!" and "To hell with gods," beforeughing together and downing the strong liquor in their cups.


    Lynn made a discreet gesture, and Lydia, who had been waiting, hastily ignited the fireworks arranged on the square.


    Amidst the muffled sounds, everyone witnessed a magnificent scene. Various colors streaked across the sky, exploding like bouquets of vibrant flowers, painting the sky in a dazzling array of colors.


    >


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 Chapter 297: Swords Can Be Forged into Plows, and Plows into Swords!

    Bursts of sparkling fireworks shattered the tranquility of the royal capital. Many citizens, having just experienced the ravages of war, almost thought another conflict had erupted. They were thoroughly frightened, even when witnessing the beautiful disy outside, worried it might be some sort of eerie sorcery.


    Fortunately, no one charged in after a prolonged wait, allowing these war-torn civilians to start watching the unique fireworks show.


    "How beautiful!" Jonny gazed at the brilliant night sky. The colorful fireworks continued to bloom, their brilliance even outshining the stars.


    "Are these made with gunpowder?" Jonny turned to Lynn. In her mind, this unique ck powder was a rather terrifying alchemical substance.


    Whether it was the elite guards annihted in the port town or the firearms and cannons capable of piercing armor and stone, they all demonstrated its power vividly.


    But this time, Jonny saw another side of gunpowder. These fireworks were like small-scale cannons, but what flew out of them wasn''t the fire to kill but beams of light brighter than the stars.


    "Swords can be forged into plows, and plows into swords. It all depends on how knowledgeable people choose to use them!" Lynn chuckled, speaking up. "Just like lightning magic, you can use it to kill or to illuminate the darkness..."


    "Perhaps on a day without war, more wizards will be willing to learn these constructive forms of magic, using the power of magic to improve everyone''s lives," Lynn reflected.


    In the future, there might even be specialized wizardry in architectural studies, mastering cement ratios and steel structures, or engineering wizards skilled in various tool manufacturing and repairs."Surely that day wille!" Jonny affirmed. Everything Lynn had spoken of so far hade to pass; she believed this wouldn''t be too far off.


    "Dean Lynn, won''t you join us for a few drinks?" Elok and the others around the bonfire waved, inviting them.


    Meanwhile, Lydia casually mingled in the crowd, clinking sses with the soldiers, gulping down arge cup of ancient Rosian wine, earning enthusiastic apuse from everyone.


    "I can''t drink with this body..." Lynn wanted to decline, but upon second thought, figured it might be better not to spoil everyone''s fun and joined in with a smile.


    They had often been puzzled by the Dean''s peculiar topics, and now they naturally wanted to ''get back'' at him.


    Lynn understood Elok and the others'' intentions and epted each drink gracefully, yet all the alcohol had been discreetly transmuted into basic elements. Being a magical projection, he couldn''t drink even if he wanted to.


    Until someone remembered the Dean was probably still in Iyeta, but it was toote; Elok and the others, already intoxicated, had copsed.


    The next day, as the first rays of dawn illuminated the royal capital, Raydell woke up, rubbing his swollen head from the hangover caused by excessive drinking. The square was strewn with people, miners red-faced, sprawled untidily, snoring on the dirty, wine-stained ground.


    Raydell approached, waking up Ham and the others, instructing them to help clean up the disheveled square.


    Lynn, however, had already gone early to the pce to discuss uing affairs.


    Though the battle had ended, many matters needed attention within the kingdom. Each territory had priests and bishops overseeing them, and if they incited the people to rebel, it would be troublesome, sparking a revolt across the entire kingdom.


    This meant they had to swiftly resolve these internal troubles before the news spread entirely, preparing for the uing wars against the Empire and the Church.


    "But the kingdom is so vast; there are probably no fewer than two hundred territories with church establishments. Removing them in a short time won''t be easy," Count Gade, now the kingdom''s chief minister, frowned.


    "We can use the advantage of airships'' speed, coborating with local lords to implement a decapitation strategy. A few wizards along with a hundred-strong firearm team are enough to eliminate a church in each area!" Lynn pondered. "With sufficient speed, we can secure the core areas of the kingdom in a few days. The rest will have to be dealt with gradually."


    "Perhaps we could consider spreading some false information to lure those bishops to the royal capital," Anthony suggested.


    Hatar nodded, finding this a good idea.


    Two days ago, despite the intense battle within the royal capital, due to their control over information, the war''s final result was limited to the capital''s scope.


    It was unlikely that the churches in various territories would fathom the fall of the royal capital overnight, and the dominant Sulc might meet such an easy demise. They could create a time gap and lure those bishops who hadn''t received the news to the capital...


    Amidst the discussion, they quickly formted a n topletely eradicate the Church''s influence from the kingdom. It involved abination of decapitation strikes and luring strategies, depending on the distance of the territory from the capital and the strength of the local churches.


    "Shouldn''t we keep the former king''s death concealed for now?" a noble suddenly proposed.


    The entire hall fell silent. While this suggestion might offend the current King Hatar, it was indeed a method worth considering.


    If they pretended that King Bazeel was still alive, the kingdom might stillply with the Empire''s orders, possibly dying or even preventing this war.


    The Empire and the Church stood like towering mountains, suffocating anyone underneath.


    Hatar''s expression turned unpleasant; he was the least in favor of this proposal as it meant he, as the current king, wouldn''t be recognized by the kingdom''s subjects for a considerable period.


    "That might be difficult. It''s improbable to conceal the death of a cardinal for too long," Lynn shook his head, directly dismissing the proposal.


    If they could capture someone alive like Kashimo and detain them, senses sealed, it might prevent their soul from returning to the divine realm.


    Not to mention, previously, Anluke had projected the will of one such individual. By now, the Church''s higher-ups likely had divinations and were aware of the kingdom''s fall.


    The Church wouldn''t allow a kingdom to slip from its control...


    >


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 Chapter 298: Breaking through the Grand Wizard!

    Chapter 298: Breaking through the Grand Wizard!


    On the third afternoon following the war in the capital, airships carrying soldiers and wizards slowly ascended, heading to various parts of the kingdom to carry out decapitation missions.


    Three of these ships were headed towards the transit points between the Kingdom of Hadrta and the Sas Empire, monitoring the enemy''s movements. Once signs of troop gathering beyond the borders were spotted, immediate reports were to be made!


    Among them were Raydell, Ham, and others boarding a different airship, destined for Iyeta.


    As the new lord of the southern territories of the kingdom, Raydell was clueless about territory development and the resettlement of the impoverished. This journey to Iyeta aimed to explore new avenues for those freed from the shackles of mining very, offering a fresh start.


    Apanying them were the Grand Wizard Anthony and others.


    While most of the wizards from the academy were dispatched to assist in the decapitation missions, core disciples like Flora remained by Anthony''s side. His visit to Iyeta intended to personally meet Lord Lynn Maxwell and attend this year''s academic symposium, upon invitation.


    Despite the impending war with the Empire, the assembly of troops and preparation of war supplies would take time. Even if the Church acted swiftly, the war wouldn''t arrive here by tomorrow.


    Their estimate suggested a minimum of half a month for preparations. Information regarding firearms and cannons was likely to leak. Relying on these technological weapons again for overwhelming superiority wouldn''t be an easy task.


    Fortunately, this time Lynn didn''t n to shoulder the burden alone. Without the council''s support, winning this war would be difficult.The influence of the Holy See was immense, and the Empire''s territory was several timesrger than the kingdom''s. Figures like Archbishop Anluke numbered in the dozens, not to mention high-ranking individuals like the Pope and Chief Justice, whose strengths were unknown.


    But before the arrival of Anthony and hispanions, Lynn intended to do something incredibly important: break through to be a Grand Wizard!


    He had been waiting for this day for a long time, which arrived faster than anticipated thanks to Lynn''s continuous practice of Advanced Material Deconstruction through mental connections with the BrainSphere. This was the core technique for fourth-tier wizards and the ultimate method for strengthening mental power.


    The time for the breakthrough hade!


    "Dean, are you ready to break through now?" Professor Kevin, receiving this news, was startled, even more nervous than Lynn himself.


    The hope of the entire Iyeta Academy rested on Lynn. They couldn''t help but be concerned.


    A Grand Wizard was incredibly crucial for any academy. It often represented the prosperity or decline of the entire wizarding faction and ensured power and influence.


    "But is this too soon? Shouldn''t we wait a few more days?" After the initial joy, Kevin hesitated. The breakthrough to Grand Wizard came with considerable risks. Failure could result in a prolonged period of mental fatigue at best or, at worst, the risk of mental breakdown.


    "It has to be today, no more preparation is needed!" Lynn asserted confidently.


    He needed more powerful abilities now.


    During the battle to take over the capital, he reliedrgely on external forces to defeat the Archbishop. Relying solely on his own strength might not even grant him the qualification to stand before the opponent.


    That wasn''t ideal. No matter how much preparation one had, there was always room for miscalction. One''s own strength was the fundamental safeguard.


    Lynn postponed his duties as dean, leading Kevin and others to the Tower of Whistling, the heart of Iyeta Harbor!


    Previously used by Herlram to set up the Soul Devouring Formation covering the entire southern district, the Tower had been transformed into a ce to store essential supplies.


    At the underground level, where numerous magic crystals were stored, Grand Alchemist Dennis focused on drawing a massive Alchemical Formation.


    This Alchemical Formation, named "Elemental Sight," assisted formal wizards in breaking through to be Grand Wizards. It provided an immensely magical environment and briefly allowed those inside to see the elemental world visible only to Grand Wizards.


    The creator of this formation was the "Elemental Controller" Althok. Before this, breaking through to be a Grand Wizard required consuming a potent magic potion called "Cynthia''s Moonlight," which increased the drinker''s mental power limit within an hour, enabling a third-tier wizard to surpass their limits.


    However, due to the potion''s severe side effects, it was banned seventy years ago.


    Dennis exined the precautions for breaking through to Lynn in a solemn manner. Both the Alchemical Formation and the potion were merely auxiliary means.


    Bing a Grand Wizard didn''t have any shortcuts. Otherwise, among the thousands of formal wizards in the wizarding world, there wouldn''t be just a mere thirty Grand Wizards.


    Lynn listened attentively. Confidence was one thing, but it didn''t equate to recklessness.


    "Let''s begin!" Lynn took a deep breath, adjusting himself to perfection before walking to the center of the Alchemical Formation.


    Hum. A faint sound of magical surges suddenly echoed. The alchemical patterns on the ground lit up, quickly engulfing the lower levels of the Tower of Whistling in a blue fluorescent glow.


    "By the way, Lord Lynn, you''re only around twenty this year, right?" Dennis suddenly inquired.


    "Well... I''m not sure, but two years ago, when Dean Lynn arrived, he shouldn''t have been older than twenty," Kevin hesitated and replied.


    "If this breakthrough seeds, it''ll be another record!" Dennis remarked, feeling rather moved. A Grand Wizard at barely twenty-two years old wasn''t merely describable as a genius.


    Previously, this record was held by Aughast, the Magic Star, but his authenticity had been proven false. When he broke through to be a Grand Wizard, he was already over forty, which was considered fast...


    As the Alchemical Formation operated, a massive amount of magic was drawn from the magic crystals, continuously converging towards the center of the formation, showing no signs of stopping.


    Seeing this, Dennis furrowed his brow.


    "Master, is there an issue?" Kevin hastily inquired. The assembled wizards at the Tower of Whistling wore tense expressions.


    "So much magic is required..." Dennis muttered softly. Although he wasn''t controlling the formation now¡ªLynn was at the center¡ªyet all one hundred magic crystals they had prepared were drained, and the formation showed no signs of halting.


    >


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 Chapter 299: Constructing the Sea of Domains and Elements!

    Chapter 299: Constructing the Sea of Domains and Elements!


    "Go get some more magic crystals!" Dennis said with a serious expression.


    Kevin immediatelyplied. Alongside a dozen schrly wizards, they swiftly brought crates of magic crystals as instructed by Dennis, cing them at various core points of the formation. Then Kevin asked further, "Master, what''s happening? Is there some issue with this advancement ritual?"


    Seeing the magical energy in the formation''s center rapidly increasing, even Kevin, who wasn''t adept in alchemy, sensed something amiss.


    "Normally, this shouldn''t require this much magic," Dennis pondered. "In the past seventy years, over ten grand wizards ascended through the Elemental Sight. Even in failure, such a situation has never urred..." Dennis was perplexed. After a long pause, he spoke again, "But there are too few relevant examples. Everyone''s talents, strengths, and constructed domains differ. My assumptions might not be urate. All we can do now is wait."


    Kevin anxiously gazed at the figure in the center of the alchemy array, hoping for smooth progress, feeling helpless otherwise.


    Meanwhile, Lynn, bothered by Kevin''s concerns, focused entirely on manipting the alchemy formation. A massive influx of magic continuously poured into his body, significantly enhancing his mental strength under the array''s influence.


    Initially, his mental reach spanned about three meters around him, controlling elements within that range. Now, empowered by the alchemy formation, it expanded by more than tenfold.


    The crux of ascending to a grand wizardy in two aspects: breaking through in mental strength and constructing a small domain.


    Within this domain, all elements wereposed of magical energy. Grand wizards could easily manipte and transform them, even creating vacuums with a mere gesture.This bestowed grand wizards with immense control over formal wizards because all elements within the domain were under theirmand. It meant opponents couldn''t directly ess any elements in the air as assistance, yet dangers could arise from anywhere within the domain.


    Lynn continually narrowed his mental reach, from enveloping the entire alchemy formation to distances of twenty, eighteen, fifteen meters...


    Various elements present in the air became clearer to his perception. Though he couldn''t directly see their forms, manipting them became significantly easier.


    When his mental reach reached approximately twelve meters around him, Lynn felt it was sufficient and paused. Then, he delved into the vast expanse of his conscious space.


    Everything here was dark and void.


    Yet within this void, faint glimmers of light emerged, akin to dazzling stars in a night sky¡ªeach representing a spell slot.


    This was the embryonic form of a wizard''s constructed domain, or rather, the outer projection of the domain within the conscious space...


    Now, he needed to establish his own Sea of Elements, recing external elements, and stabilize the entire domain, a crucial step in bing a grand wizard.


    With a thought, two dots appeared in the void of consciousness¡ªhydrogen and oxygen elements! They were the two elements Lynn had used and encountered the most since his traversal. Following swiftly were nitrogen, phosphorus, fluorine, helium... More and more elements emerged in his consciousness, replicating incessantly like organized cells, soon filling every corner of the conscious space.


    After condensing about a dozen basic elements, Lynn progressed to metal elements like copper, iron, aluminum...


    This was Lynn''s first attempt to transmute magical energy into metal elements without relying on an AI, an incredibly arduous process taking nearly ten times longer than producing other elements.


    Fortunately, Lynn had previously recorded the processes using Advanced Material Deconstruction, so after some effort, he managed to mimic and fabricate ninemon metal elements.


    At this moment, the Sea of Elements had taken shape, showcasing a total of forty-nine elements. They were treasures of the magical world, crystallized from numerous wizards'' explorations of the natural world. Yet, Lynn wasn''t nning to stop there.


    Leveraging the concurrent ascension and the alchemy array beneath his feet, Lynn aimed to further refine the Sea of Elements.


    The prerequisite for a wizard to manipte and mimic an element was using Material Deconstruction to fully analyze it. But could this process be reversed?


    After understanding an element''s model, could one skip the search and analysis process, directly mimicking it using magic?


    This was undoubtedly a wild idea...


    If feasible, theoretically, he could fabricate any element from the periodic table!


    At that point, not just crafting a nuclear bomb by hand, but conjuring an antimatter bomb wouldn''t be out of reach.


    Thinking so, Lynn eagerly began his experiment, targeting the element "plutonium"!


    Plutonium, a radioactive element crucial in atomic energy industries, serving as nuclear fuel and a fissile material in nuclear weapons, was extremely scarce in nature, usually separated from uranium ore.


    Directly extracting federal research data on "plutonium" from his AI, Lynn attempted to replicate it using magic.


    "The outer electron count and proton count for ''plutonium'' element are 94, neutron count is 145, rtive atomic mass is..."


    Murmuring softly, Lynn watched specks of magical light shimmer within his conscious space, witnessing the gradual formation of a new element.


    Everything urring within his conscious space also projected into the steadily solidifying domain, consuming vast amounts of magical energy, being constantly transformed into various elements.


    Finally understanding why the consumption of magic crystals was so staggering, Dennis murmured, "Ordinarily, the preliminary domain covers around five meters. But Lynn''s embryonic domain has already surpassed ten meters."


    Not only that, Lynn had created forty-nine elements to enrich the Sea of Elements. Was he attempting to achieve everything at once?


    It was reckless. Stabilizing the domain andpleting the ascension were the top priorities. Building the Sea of Elements could have been a gradual process!


    Shaking his head, Dennis halted abruptly, his expression freezing as he stared at the center of the alchemy formation. He sensed a new force gradually forming, astonished as he uttered, "This is... a new element?!"


    >


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 Chapter 300: Hes Creating a New Element!

    Chapter 300: He''s Creating a New Element!


    Dennis couldn''t help but take a few steps forward, his gaze fixed on Lynn in the center of the array. In Lynn''s outstretched right hand, a new element was gradually taking shape.


    Incredibly minute, imperceptible to the naked eye, yet distinctly clear in perception.


    Dennis was utterly convinced this wasn''t any element he knew of, not belonging to any known category.


    From the moment this element appeared, it emitted a peculiar force continuously outward.


    At this realization, Dennis couldn''t contain his excitement.


    What is an element? ording to the wizarding theory, elements are the core of everything, the foundation of existence!


    And how many types of elements are there? Any wizard who has studied elemental science could answer: a total of forty-nine!


    To uncover these elements, they scoured everything in the wizarding world, using Material Deconstruction to break them down and categorize them.


    These forty-nine elements were the answer. Some elemental schrs even asserted that there might be no more elements in this world. Theyid the foundation of elemental science, leaving others to build magic upon it.Dennis naturally scoffed at this im.


    Especially after calcting the area of the Eternal Star, he realized the vastness of the world. There had to be many unknown elements they hadn''t discovered yet.


    However, the magical world hadn''t discovered any new elements in nearly thirty years. It was why Althok, the Controller of Elements, ced his hope in the more microscopic world.


    And now, a new element appeared before him, possibly an entirely new type. How could Dennis not feel excited?


    For all wizards well-versed in elemental science, this was groundbreaking news!


    If not for Lynn currently breaking through and the alchemical array still active, Dennis would have rushed in to inquire about this new element immediately.


    Just as Dennis anxiously waited, the previously stable alchemical array suddenly became chaotic, all stemming from the new element in Lynn''s hand.


    "Stop quickly!" Dennis''s expression changed abruptly. He didn''t have time to worry about the new element; he urgently shouted.


    Yet before the words settled, a massive elemental force erupted. The immense magical power bound within the array instantly lost control, forming a powerful elemental storm that swept everything around.


    The entire alchemical array shattered, the elemental storm sting the surroundings into pieces...


    Kevin and the others standing nearby staggered, narrowly avoiding being swept into the elemental storm. After steadying themselves, they wore expressions of shock.


    Could the breakthrough have failed?


    Kevin fretted.


    After the elemental storm subsided, Lynn''s figure quickly reappeared before everyone. Besides looking a bit disheveled, he seemed unharmed, only frowning in deep thought.


    Seeing Lynn''s furrowed brow, Kevin immediately understood. A tinge of regret appeared on his face as he sighed, stepping forward to console. "Dean Lynn, breaking through as a Grand Wizard isn''t an easy task. You still have plenty of time. A momentary setback doesn''t count for much."


    "Wait, who said I failed in the breakthrough?" Lynn paused, puzzled.


    "Which means, you seeded?" Kevin asked in astonishment.


    "Of course!" Lynn nodded with a smile. Then, with a thought, the magic in his domain spontaneously transformed into iron elements, instantly coalescing into a several-meter-long heavy sword, suspended in the air.


    His domain spanned twelve meters, giving him control to manipte these magics as he pleased, altering andbining them at will.


    "Excellent! With this, the Iyeta School gains another Grand Wizard!" Kevin eximed excitedly. There were no more doubts; the ability to mimic metallic elements was something only a Grand Wizard could achieve!


    The wizards from other schools were equally jubnt.


    Since the passing of Master Herlram, Iyeta had lost a pir. Despite Lynn''s innovative theories shining in academic discussions and elevating the reputation of the Iyeta School throughout the wizarding world, a Grand Wizard was the true measure of a school''s strength!


    "Wait, if you sessfully broke through, what about the magical turmoil earlier?" Kevin suddenly remembered and asked, perplexed.


    Before Lynn could reply, Dennis, standing nearby, urgently interjected, "Dean Lynn, were you trying to create a new element just now?"


    Dennis''s tone was exceedingly solemn, even using the word ''create''!


    In the past, elements were only described as discovered, as they naturally existed. They merely found and utilized those elements using Material Deconstruction.


    But what Lynn did was different. Initially, Dennis thought Lynn was mimicking an unknown new element using magic. However, when the element spiraled out of control, he realized something was off. Lynn was unmistakably constructing a new element from scratch!


    But how could that be possible?


    Even the legendary councilors couldn''t achieve something so absurd, yet Lynn had nearly seeded just now.


    "No, not exactly creating. I happened to overhear a master from the Secret Magic Society mention the structure and corresponding model of this ''Plutonium'' element, so I wanted to see if I could replicate it," Lynn shook his head, exining. "Unfortunately, it ended in failure."


    In his view, wizards'' use of elements could be likened to coding. They replicated and pasted sessful codes using magic. As long as they didn''t mess with it too much, it would work.


    What Lynn attempted was more like guessing what the code was for, trying to write it and encountering a bug during execution.


    From the sessful generation of the element, it seemed the federal database''s model of ''Plutonium'' elements had no issues. However, when mimicking the electronicyer, it suddenly stalled because it involved the quantum realm. He still didn''t know how to induce electron transitions or how to make them exhibit a probability distribution...


    In other words, for this part of the code, he had to guess. And that''s where the problem arose...


    >


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 Chapter 301: In Fact, This Battleship is Meant for Fishing!

    Chapter 301: In Fact, This Battleship is Meant for Fishing!


    "Plutonium... an elemental model?!" Dennis was first amazed at the existence of this new element, but more so by the concept of an elemental model.


    "Could it be that the ''Elemental Controller'' Lord Althok was right, that elements can still be further divided?"


    Dennis furrowed his brows. The prevailing belief among the wizards was that "elements are indivisible, forming the foundation of the world." This belief stemmed from the limits of "Material Deconstruction." They couldn''t break down basic elements any further.


    The legendary councilor, Althok, had proposed the theory of further dividing elements. However, he went mad before proving it and wrote notes that birthed a fanatical sect predicting the world''s end. Hence, it remained an unreliable hypothesis.


    "Of course!" Lynn nodded, "ording to hypotheses from some schrs within the Society of Mystical Arts, elements areposed of atomic nuclei and orbiting electrons."


    Dennis was highly intrigued by this topic and hurriedly inquired about what these supposed atomic nuclei and electrons were.


    Lynn didn''t delve into much detail, dismissing it as magical theory needing experimental validation.


    While the databanks of the mind had models of over a hundred elements, Lynn could only confirm the probable correctness of the plutonium model. Moreover, for Dennis, unfamiliar with quantum theory, understanding the construction and functioning of an atom would be challenging.


    After all, wizards believed "the entire world operates ording to specificws, and through understanding and applying thesews, they wield magic." Lynn even suspected that the self-proimed ''Elemental Controller'' councilor, having possibly touched the realm of the microscopic, went mad due to an inability to ept quantum properties."Lord Principal, the skyship returning from the Kingdom of Hadrta has arrived," a few apprentices entered from outside, bowing to report to Lynn.


    "It seems our guests have arrived!" A smile graced Lynn''s face. "Let''s go out together and see."


    Meanwhile, a colossal airship pierced through dense fog, arriving over the harbor city and slowly descending onto a specially constructednding site.


    "Is this the Land of Wizards? I never expected such a bustling ce on the other side of the sea..." Flora followed Ondo and others off the airship, her gaze constantly roaming around.


    Everything disyed by this harbor city was novel to Flora, utterly different from any city in the Kingdom of Hadrta. Even the most prosperous capital there couldn''tpare.


    In fact, beyond the main city area, everywhere was dirty, messy, usually emitting an unpleasant stench.


    Having lived there for so long, Flora hadn''t felt anything amiss, but arriving at Iyeta, she discovered a city could be this clean and tidy.


    In just a short while, she''d spotted seven airships soaring over the city. Besides themon carriages on the streets, there were peculiar iron boxes moving swiftly without beasts or horses to pull or push, yet they raced along.


    From chimneys in distant workshops, white smoke ''puffed'' out, something unheard of in the Kingdom of Hadrta.


    "What''s that? Such a huge ship?!" Anthony''s gaze fixated on the massive ship anchored on the sea.


    The entire warship stood fifty meters tall, with a length exceeding a hundred meters. Rows of menacing gunports lined its sides, towering prominently at the dock, resembling a moving ind.


    "This is a battleship under construction, entirely forged from steel!" Ondo proudly introduced to everyone. Although he had been away from Iyeta for a while, these battleships had a rough frame even before he left, so this wasn''t surprising.


    "A ship made of steel can float on water?" Ham asked incredulously.


    Even Anthony was quite intrigued. Had someone applied powerful magic to such arge ship? But a ship this size, weighing perhaps hundreds of tons, would consume immeasurable magic power.


    "Of course!" Ondo proudly stated. "Lord Principal mentioned that an object floats on water because the gravity acting on it is less than the buoyancy of water..."


    Utilizing knowledge acquired from Lynn, Ondo exined the mechanics theorem¡ªobjects submerged in a static fluid experience a buoyant force equal to the weight of the disced fluid.


    So, by using the form, dividing the mass by volume, they could calcte density. As for their steel warship, its bottompartments were hollow, making the part submerged far less dense than water.


    "As long as this condition is met, anything can float on water. Lord Lynn also coined a new term¡ª''discement''! It''s the tonnage of water disced by a vessel in water..." Ondo enthusiastically introduced. "With ships like these, a few more will be built, and then, one voyage could bring back enough fish to feed tens of thousands for a whole week!"


    Fishing?! The people present struggled toprehend. They had just heard Ondo boast about the prowess of this steel giant, only to be told now that it was meant for fishing. It was somewhat hard to ept.


    Ondo shrugged. He found it a bit of an overkill, but Lord Lynn apparently didn''t think so.


    ording to Lynn, since the ship was already constructed, during times of peace, it shouldn''t remain idle. Using it for fishing not only generated profit and improved the townsfolk''s diet but might even give the gunners some practice by hunting a few sea creatures.


    Unlike Flora and the others who gazed at the towering irond, Raydell paid attention to the passing poor folk. Everyone was well-dressed in fine attire usually seen only on nobles, yet these were worn byborers transporting goods...


    "Such beautiful clothes, how can they bear wearing them while moving goods? What if they get torn?" Ham expressed concern.


    Ondo chuckled in response. "That''s nothing in Iyeta. Every day, the magic workshops produce cloth lengths extending over ten thousand meters. Here, five copper coins can buy a decent outfit."


    A melding of fantasy, technology, and magical lore, woven intricately in the passage! How did I do capturing the essence of the text''s transformation?


    >


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 Chapter 302: Is the Dean a Legendary Wizard?

    "Incredible fabric reaching thousands of meters? Is this made with magic?" Ham asked incredulously.


    "This was developed by Lord Lynn, something called a weaving and sewing machine, requiring no magic. Even ordinary people can handle it with ease. If we had enough raw materials, the production could easily double!" Ondo''s words carried a strong sense of superiority. The rapid development of Iyeta was astounding, changing almost every week!


    As they spoke, a finely crafted alchemical carriage parked beside them.


    Ondo invited Anthony and others to board.


    In the past few months, the technology of internalbustion engines had matured. These alchemical vehicles were now categorized for various purposes: some for ore transportation and others for citymuting.


    The one before them was undoubtedly thetter, designed for sightseeing. It was almost twice the size of other alchemical carriages, amodating twenty people, equipped with a canopy to shield from sunlight and rain, and now sporting intable tires, eliminating the constant jostling.


    Its only downside was its moderate speed; it couldn''t race through the city. But for neers like Raydell, it felt like flying, far faster than a horse-drawn carriage...


    Ham sat stiffly on the soft leather seat, feeling as though everything around him resembled exquisite artwork. Even the noble lords couldn''t enjoy such treatment.


    Ondo took everyone on a tour of the entire harbor city, showcasing the smoky workshops. Ham had heard that Lynn nned to construct something called ''rails'' to connect cities in the wizarding realm. This way, traveling between the cities would take only a few hours, making transportation of goods and people extremely convenient.Lastly, they learned about the political system in the wizarding realm, different from the outside¡ªthe Wizard Council!


    Here, there were no nobles or kings; everything was controlled by wizards!


    Raydell and others were suppressing their astonishment. Arriving at this magical wizarding city, they felt like everything they saw and heard challenged their understanding.


    Steel behemoths weighing hundreds of tons that could float on the sea, alchemical carriages moving without beasts of burden, and the grand railwaywork connecting a dozen cities¡ªeverything was simply unimaginable.


    At one point, Raydell even doubted if he was still dreaming.


    "ording to the Dean, the power of magic and technology isn''t just for battles but for daily life, providing convenience for everyone," Ondo smiled, exining.


    "Lynn is truly an incredible person..." Flora couldn''t help but admire. From Ondo''s words, it was evident that this harbor city wasn''t like this from the beginning. It transformed only after Lynn became the leader of the Iyeta sect.


    "Since the entire wizarding realm is controlled by the council, Lynn should be one of the council leaders, right?" Flora continued to inquire.


    "No, the Dean arrived from the Sas Empire only two years ago. Although many magical theories proposed are enough to change the existing system, the position of the council leader has always been held by legendary wizards." Ondo shook his head, dismissing Flora''s spection, then added, "Of course, every wizard knows it''s only a matter of time before the Dean bes the leader."


    So, Lord Lynn isn''t a legendary wizard?


    Flora and the others were surprised. They had all witnessed the thunderstorm that descended from the sky one night, instantly destroying the entire mansion. Such power could only be achieved with legendary magic.


    Curious and puzzled, Flora continued asking about Lynn.


    Ondo also became interested. Lynn hadn''t been in Iyeta for long, but the experiences were legendary. From demonstrating airships and free-fallingws to calctingary areas and proposing gravitationalws, Lynn had even received the highest academic honor¡ªthe Sun Crown Medal in the wizarding realm.


    To borate on all of it might take hours.


    Flora and the others were dumbfounded. Before they could recover from the shock of standing on a spherical continent, they heard another absurd message: ording to Ondo, Lynn was just a Third Circle Wizard.


    How could that be?


    Everyone present was astonished, even suspecting if Ondo was ying a trick on them.


    Even Anthony was quite surprised, but upon considering Lynn''s unusually young appearance, he quickly wore a pensive expression.


    About fifteen minutester, the alchemical carriage stopped at the gates of the academy.


    Flora, Anthony, Raydell, and others got off the carriage. Upon lifting their heads, they saw the most iconic structure of the Iyeta Academy¡ªa pair of hands built with pure white marble, each hand holding a wooden and iron ball, lifting them high into the sky.


    The apprentices returning to the academy, like Elok, couldn''t help shivering, as it reminded them of free-falling forms.


    ording to the Dean, they had to participate in their graduation exam upon their return, a test unlike any they had faced before. All the forms and theorems they''d been taught before were within the scope of the exam. Nightmares were the only way to describe it.


    "Wee to Iyeta, everyone!" a clear voice resonated, and Lynn appeared with a group of academy wizards.


    "Dean!" Elok and the others quickly bowed and saluted.


    Ondo warmly hugged Kevin and the others, reuniting after a long absence.


    "Ondo, haven''t you noticed any change in the Dean?" Kevin asked, smiling.


    "A change?!" Ondo paused, looking at Lynn with suspicion. After a long while, he suddenly realized something and eximed, surprised. "Could it be that you''ve advanced to be a Grand Wizard?"


    Lynn casually nodded.


    Kevin looked regretful. "It happenedst night. It''s a pity you missed such an important moment."


    Ondo also felt regretful; he should have returned a day earlier.


    Anthony, also a Grand Wizard, wasn''t surprised at all. Upon seeing Lynn for the first time, he sensed the presence of a domain.


    As for their previous encounters being magical projections, he couldn''t assess, but now he was certain: Lynn, like himself, was a Grand Wizard.


    >


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 Chapter 304: Unveiling the Origin of Magic!

    Chapter 304: Unveiling the Origin of Magic!


    The following day, at the crack of dawn, a group of wizard apprentices stepped into the examination hall, their hearts brimming with apprehension. As they received their respective question papers, furrowed brows and quick calctions ensued.


    Pearce wasted no time and cast his gaze upon the first question.


    "Two individuals, A and B, start from opposite points and after four hours, they meet at a distance of five thousand kilometers from the center. Given A''s faster speed than B''s, determine how many kilometers faster A travels per hourpared to B."


    Pearce''s brow furrowed at once. This seemed like a mathematical problem, solving for the unknown, but the provided conditions were scanty. After some contemtion, he finally discerned the approach, sketching out a diagram of line segments.


    On the other side of the examination hall, several wizards responsible for invigtion were perusing through the examination papers.


    Regarding this graduation examination at the Iyeta Academy, Flora and others were deeply intrigued. Thus, they volunteered to supervise these students, feeling a slight inclination to partake in the questions themselves.


    Initially, Flora assumed these questions were tailored for apprentices, not for fully-fledged wizards like herself. But after glimpsing through a few problems, she was taken aback.


    "Do they teach these things regrly at the Iyeta Academy?" a male wizard puzzled. He thought the exam content would revolve around elemental studies, herbs, alchemy, and morphological studies.


    "Indeed!" Lord Lynn nodded, ncing at Flora and others before exining, "Overall, it epasses mathematics, chemistry, and physics... Perhapster they might even introduce biology.""But what''s the use of learning these? It''d be better to dedicate time to mastering more spells..." Flora shrugged.


    Lord Lynn adjusted his tone. "Mathematics forms the basis of all natural sciences, chemistry studies theposition, structure, and transformations of magical elements, while physics explores thews governing the world."


    "Studying these subjects is to probe the origin of magic!" Lord Lynn affirmed firmly.


    The origin of magic?


    Hearing this, everyone present felt a profound stir. Despite studying magic in the past, they rarely delved into this fundamental question.


    Lord Lynn continued, "Regarding their utility, haven''t you all seen it already? They''re omnipresent in the entire city! Everything you witness¡ªbe it ss, parchment, airships, vessels, or even electromaic railguns¡ªfalls under these three subjects!"


    Reflecting on everything they had observed since arriving at Iyeta, Flora suppressed her earlier disdainful thoughts, earnestly scrutinizing each question.


    However,cking systematic study in mathematics, she found herself momentarily at a loss on how to approach these equation-based questions, turning to Lord Lynn for guidance.


    Lord Lynn gestured, creating a soundproof barrier nearby before proceeding to exin, "This question is rtively straightforward. It merely takes a slightly different approach. If A and B were traveling at the same speed, they''d reach the midpoint simultaneously. However, they meet at a point five thousand meters away from the midpoint. Hence, the faster A covered double the distancepared to B, totaling ten thousand meters."


    "As both traveled for four hours to meet, performing a simple division yields A''s speed being 2.5 kilometers faster per hour than B!"


    Lord Lynn sinctly elucidated the problem-solving approach. In truth, this question wasn''t excessively difficult and required just a bit of thinking.


    The examination he prepared consisted of fifty questions, each worth two points, totaling one hundred. Sixty points marked the passing grade, meaning only thirty correct answers were necessary! These questions were meticulously designed by Lord Lynn, epassing twenty-five ''free points,'' twenty ''easy'' questions, and five ''moderately difficult'' ones.


    As per his calctions, if Elok and others took diligent notes, breezing through all the ''free points'' should be a walk in the park. Then, solving five ''easy'' questions would secure a passing grade.


    Nheless, Lord Lynn aimed for a few outstanding students to foster for specialized research purposes¡ªthey were the talents for scientific exploration.


    Of course, apart from the "arts" examination, these students also had to undergo a practical course assessing theirbat and basic spellcasting abilities. Theirbined average score would decide if an apprentice was qualified to be a certified wizard, offering a chance even for those specializing in certain fields.


    After Lord Lynn exined a few mathematical problems, Flora and others swiftly began to appreciate the joy of problem-solving, engrossed in their thoughts,pletely forgetting their role as supervisors for the students'' exams.


    For Ondo, these ''free points'' questions were negligible. ncing over them, he shifted his focus to the questions marked as ''easy'' by Lord Lynn on the examination paper.


    "A wizard piloting an airship encounters an ident, falling from a height of four hundred and eighty meters. After free-falling for a distance, they initiate a decelerating motion using a gradual descent spell at a rate of two meters per second squared. Upon reaching the ground, the velocity bes zero. Neglecting air resistance, determine the total time of descent and the distance of free-fall..."


    Hmm, this seemed like an equation-based problem too.


    Ondo pondered. He recalled Lord Lynn mentioning that free-fall motion was a uniformly elerating straight-line motion with an initial velocity of zero, represented by the form v=gt, where g stood for the eleration due to gravity, which was around ten meters per second squared? What was ''t'' again? It must be time?


    But the fall was divided into two segments, both time and distance being unknown variables that needed to be solved for as answers. Simply applying this form wouldn¡¯t suffice...


    Ondo deliberated for a while, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    He realized he... couldn''t solve it!


    "Headmaster Lynn, aren''t these questions a tad too difficult?" Ondo couldn''t help but voice his concern. "These are marked as easy? Are these really what apprentices should be tackling? Isn''t this a bit far-fetched?"


    "Are these challenging?" Lord Lynn nced strangely at Ondo. He remembered discussing the rted forms and even publishing them in the Magic Daily, allowing not only interested wizards but even citizens to enjoy the pleasure of mathematics.


    Moreover, each wizard was akin to a human calctor, and even an apprentice''sputational abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people. These questions should ideally fall within an eptable range.


    As Lord Lynn was about to exin further, his expression suddenly changed. He snapped his fingers, and a surge of magical energy enveloped him. In an instant, a copper nail shot out, thunderously embedding itself into the examination paper and quill held by one of the apprentices...


    >


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 Chapter 305: Ill Stuff the Exam Paper into the Chancellors Mouth!

    Chapter 305: I''ll Stuff the Exam Paper into the Chancellor''s Mouth!


    Apade was an ordinary apprentice within the Iyeta Academy. He knew well his intellect and calction skills paledpared to the elite students. If he aimed to stand out in this graduation test and earn the Chancellor''s recognition, he had to resort to unconventional means!


    Last night, he splurged on a potent alchemical powder from a skilled herbalist. He blended it into the ink, creating a cheat sheet only visible through specific magic.


    So, boldly, Apadeid out the parchment paper filled with forms and exercises on the desk. Pretending to solve problems, he discreetly used a revealing spell to peek at the questions.


    "Great... These few questions were exined by the Chancellor. Just a few number switches, and they''re solvable."


    Proudly, Apade worked through the parchment, cracking the first five questions within minutes. But soon, he realized this method wasn''t foolproof. Many questions on the exam were unfamiliar, resistant to simple form substitutions or number swaps.


    Puzzling over it, Apade persisted, repeatedly casting the revealing spell on the parchment, line by line, searching for any missed forms.


    Suddenly, a piercing sound tore through the air. Before Apade could react, a long copper nail zoomed past, pinning his quill and the exam paper in his hand. The parchment in front of him fluttered, autonomously flying towards the invigtor''s desk.


    "Chancellor..." Apade startled, jolting up from his seat.


    Lord Lynn extended a hand, and the parchmentnded in his palm.Struggling to maintain aposed exterior, Apade suppressed his fear and anxiety, reassuring himself about the invisibility of his special ink. He believed it was undetectable.


    Meanwhile, Ondo and Flora, contemting the exam questions, remembered their responsibilities as invigtors. They hurried over, finding some messy drafts on the parchment, seemingly nothing extraordinary.


    But they understood; this had to be some form of cheating. The Chancellor wouldn''t act so abruptly otherwise.


    Lord Lynn cast a knowing nce at Apade, instantly deducing the ink''s invisibility.


    Such trickery was far too naive to escape his notice.


    Invisible ink merely manipted a spectrum unseen by the naked eye. Lord Lynn''s thoughts spun, conjuring a prism, refracting sunlight from the window into ultraviolet rays that converged onto the parchment. The concealed writings emerged instantly.


    Apade turned pale. Cursing the herbalist in his mind, he wondered how his supposedly concealed ink had been uncovered, even by a seasoned wizard.


    "Apade, I warned about the consequences of cheating. You may leave now," Lord Lynn tossed the paper back, coldly instructing.


    "Chancellor, please, give me another chance..." Apade pleaded anxiously. At twenty-nine, ording to Iyeta''s custom, not bing a full-fledged wizard by thirty meant being expelled from the academy.


    Lord Lynn remained resolute. Choosing shortcuts meant facing risks. Not punishing would be unfair to those earnestly studying.


    Despite Apade''s cries, Lord Lynn gestured for Ondo to escort him out, avoiding disturbing the other examinees.


    Although this lesson was learned, the attempts to cheat persisted among the examinees. Each held a glimmer of hope, believing they wouldn''t get caught.


    Methods of cheating were diverse. Some foolishly wrote on their hands or sleeves, sneaking nces when unobserved.


    The clever ones employed different tactics. One apprentice wielded a mystical magic, covertly observing answers through reflected light, almost hoodwinking Lord Lynn, had he not been an adept grand wizard.


    Tactics like using farsight spells to peek were also attempted. But Lord Lynn, with experiences transcending magic from past lives, was adept at unveiling these cheats. Within minutes, all were exposed.


    Lamentations echoed in the exam hall. Among the 230 examinees, a whopping 37 attempted various cheating methods, promptly ousted from the exam, their results nullified.


    Elok watched as each apprentice faced disqualification, his expression dim. They''d confront severe penalties. He, too, had prepared a cheat sheet but hesitated to use it, haunted by the Chancellor''s warning.


    Despite barely escaping, he racked his brains, continuing the test.


    Even if his written exam faltered slightly, there was a practical test awaiting. If he performed exceptionally, securing a decent score was usible.


    Contrarily, Lydia, also present in the exam hall, had a different mindset.


    As a halfling devoid of inherent magical talent, her participation was solely due to Lord Lynn''s special approval. But there would be no leniency from the Chancellor.


    It meant she''d score naught in the practical subject of shaping, focusing only on alchemy and herbology, struggling even for a pass.


    To smoothly pass the exam, she needed exceptional performance in the written subjects...


    Lydia worked tirelessly. Being an airship maker and pilot, she was well-versed in geometric calctions, gravitational forms. The foundational questions were solved within an hour and a half.


    However, the subsequent dozen questions stumped her. They involved celestial mechanics or intricate function-rted geometry, taxing even the sharpest minds.


    Like this one...


    [A, B, C are our three artillery positions. A is 6,000 kilometers east of B, and C is 5,000 kilometers north-northwest of B, with a 30-degree angle. P marks the enemy clergy''s position. At a certain moment, a bishop casts a message spell detected by us three secondster due to B and C being farther from A. The message spell propagates at 1,000 kilometers per second. Determine the azimuth for A''s artillery to strike the clergy''s position...]


    So difficult...


    Lydia grimaced, scribbling on her paper. She wished she could stuff the entire exam into the Chancellor''s mouth. Couldn''t they ask something simpler?


    >


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 Chapter 306: This is Beyond Unbelievable!

    Chapter 306: This is Beyond Unbelievable!


    The morning had stretched on, the examsting a good three hours. As Elok and the others stepped out, there was an immediate collective sigh of relief, followed by a franticparison of answers. Soon enough, they were arguing fervently, faces flushed.


    "It''s impossible! I''ve double-checked multiple times; the wizard involved in the ne crash should''ve reached the ground by the thirty-first second," Elok dered with absolute certainty.


    "You must have miscalcted. The form for this question involves the distance, S equals initial velocity, V, times time, t, plus half of the eleration times t squared. You need to set the free fall time as t1... and the total time of descent turns out to be twenty-four seconds, with a free fall distance of eighty meters!" countered another wizard.


    Elok mentally recalcted and his expression soured.


    Oh no, he had gotten another question wrong.


    On the side, Pearce breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness for thest-minute review on free fall formsst night, or he''d have been doomed today.


    ---


    Inside the examination hall, Lynn was scrutinizing the answer sheets being collected, with Ondo''s group responsible for grading them.


    Even if they might not have been able to solve them themselves, they were confident in marking the correct answers."Headmaster Lynn, looks like there won''t be many who pass this time..." Ondo shook his head after reviewing a dozen or so papers. It was close to what he''d estimated; roughly only thirty percent would make it through the written test.


    "Why is it so challenging?" Lynn wondered. Wizard apprentices should have sharp minds, not necessarily all geniuses, but certainly sharper than the average person.


    Yet upon closer thought, Lynn quickly grasped the issue.


    Despite the seemingly not-so-difficult questions, the apprentices had not had much time to study. In total, they only had a little over a year to grasp a wide array of subjects¡ªLynn had crammed in primary and middle school-level physics, chemistry, and even some high school topics.


    Coupled with Lynn asionally skipping sses to tend to personal matters or participate in academic seminars and the kingdom''s wars, their self-study time had also been quite extensive.


    Looking at some high-scoring papers, Lynn immediately dismissed the notion.


    If some could achieve high marks, then the test wasn''t excessively difficult after all...


    Among them, Jonny was undoubtedly the most proficient, with only three mistakes in the deliberately prepared challenging questions out of the final five!


    Apart from being formally trained, he clearly put in extra effort on regr days.


    What surprised Lynn the most was Lydia. She managed to score eighty-eight points, with her errors mostly rting to elemental properties, even acing all the deliberately challenging problems Lynn had set.


    "She truly is a genius in the field of engineering!" Lynn eximed.


    "Headmaster, shouldn''t you have excluded Lydia from this assessment? What if she actually passes? Are you nning to award a wizard''s badge to a halfling who can''t do magic?" Ondo hesitated to voice his concern.


    "Of course, as long as she sessfully passes the test, bing a wizard isn''t a big deal," Lynn said calmly.


    "But this might subject Lydia to ridicule among the wizards, even facing hostility from some who might feel she''s demeaning the noble identity of a wizard..." Ondo looked worried, finding the headmaster''s perspective overly simplistic. What use is a title for someone who can''t perform magic?


    "Even if she can''t perform magic, Lydia can still be an alchemist, right? She independently created an airship, not to mention her efforts in researching internalbustion engines and electromaic railguns," Lynn pointed out.


    Ondo was momentarily speechless. Looking at it from that angle, referring to this halfling girl as an alchemist might not be a problem.


    But the idea of a wizard without magic was just odd.


    Just as he was perplexed, Lynn chuckled and continued, "And who said Lydia couldn''t use magic?"


    Ondo was bewildered. The absence of magical talent in halflings wasmon knowledge among wizards; it had never been broken before.


    Lydia had been an apprentice for over a year and couldn''t even grasp the most basic Water Solidification and Material Deconstruction spells.


    Could the headmaster really make someone without talent in magic sessfully wield it and be a wizard?!


    This was beyond unbelievable!


    Lynn kept the suspense and didn''t exin further, merely telling Ondo that he''d find out in a few days.


    ---


    In the afternoon, the apprentices, tormented by the written test, finally encountered their familiar practical sses.


    Elements, shaping, alchemy, potions, andbat exercises¡ªa total of five subjects, divided over two days...


    Over the past year, the Iyeta wizard apprentices had faced many rigorous courses, yet several aspects were interconnected.


    For instance, the chemistry subjects involved the properties and changes of elements, so their foundation wasn''t neglected. Their mathematical training for calctions also brought their magical reserves close to their limits, resulting in more students applying for graduation this year.


    Pearce, aware that his performance in the morning wouldn''t be ster, exerted extra effort and excelled, breezing through the first four subjects.


    As for the finalbat exercises, surprisingly, they turned out to be the easiest. Their opponents were three magically enhanced puppets,parable in strength to fully armed guards, and dealing with them wasn''t too demanding.


    Even Lydia managed to skillfully take down these puppets using meticulously crafted short-barreled firearms.


    On the morning of the third day, it was time for the results to be announced. The entire magical academy''s students gathered, waiting anxiously and nervously.


    Receiving their grade sheets and seeing their sess was met with cheers and jubtion, but clearly, there were more who hadn''t made it.


    Even with a curved grading system, less than forty percent managed to pass this graduation exam.


    "Damn it, just a little more!" Debra stared at the conspicuous fifty-eight score on her paper, feeling immensely frustrated. If only she''d reviewed a bit more or if the professor had been a tad more lenient, she could''ve passed.


    Now she had to wait another year... Debra reflected in silence as nearby, a burst of exuberant cheers erupted.


    "This is amazing... I made it!"


    >


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 Chapter 307: Can Everyone Learn Magic and Become a Wizard?

    Lydia held her test paper with boundless joy, shouting excitedly. She hadn''t expected to actually pass her graduation exam, and not just pass it but with a decent score!


    Despite scoring zero in shaping subjects and performing dismally in elemental studies and herbology, her high marks in practicalbat and alchemy just managed to push her over the passing threshold in the practical test.


    Combined with her outstanding written scores, averaging a solid seventy-four, she was among the top apprentices! Darren and the others were just as thrilled, apanying Lydia early in the morning to witness the announcement of the results.


    "Brilliant, Lydia! Looks like you''re about to be the first half-human wizard!" "I knew you could do it!"


    The half-humans present were ecstatic. They had witnessed Lydia''s journey firsthand, defying themon belief that half-humanscked magical talent. While others saw it as wishful thinking or even foolishness, to Lydia, joining the Iyeta Academy to study magic and be a true alchemist was a steadfast goal.


    To many, it seemed like an impossible dream. They likened it to expecting a pack animal to soar the skies like a griffin. Magical talent was seen as inherent, creating a chasm between the extraordinary and the ordinary.


    Despite theck of recognition and facing constant skepticism and ridicule, Lydia never considered giving up. She worked as an alchemist''s assistant, crafting various flying devices, all in pursuit of a chance to study magic.


    Most of these efforts ended in failure, but luck favored her when she unexpectedly gained the recognition of Headmaster Lynn and got involved in crafting skyships, fulfilling the agreement with Grand Master Herlram, eventually joining the Iyeta Academy.


    Two whole years had flown by since then.This meant that finally, a half-human would be a true wizard!


    "Don''t get too carried away with your happiness. Passing this exam merely grants you the eligibility to use the Source of Magic. It doesn''t guarantee bing a full-fledged wizard..." Debra, feeling rather annoyed, interrupted the excited Lydia and the others, continuing with a sardonic tone. "With your magical aptitude, even with the Source, it''s a waste. There''s hardly any possibility of bing a wizard."


    Debra''s sharp words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the enthusiasm of the half-humans, silencing the previously lively atmosphere.


    Elok and the others frowned but couldn''t muster any retort. As harsh as Debra''s words were, they held a stark truth!


    For these apprentices who passed the assessment, there was still one major hurdle¡ªthe final promotion ceremony!


    Following the tradition of previous years, only half of the candidates would sessfully advance. And for Lydia, who hadn''t even mastered a basic Zero-Ring spell yet, the likelihood of bing a full-fledged wizard was slim.


    With this in mind, those who hadn''t passed nced at Lydia with a hint of mockery in their eyes.


    Even if they managed to pass this assessment, what did it matter?


    A person''s potential to be a wizard was decided the moment they were born!


    If they failed this year, there were still exams next year and the year after that. At least, they still held onto the hope of bing a full-fledged wizard!


    Seeing Lydia''s spirit dampened by Debra''s few words, Jonny, contemting, spoke up. "If Headmaster Lynn didn''t stop you from taking the graduation exam, perhaps he might have a way to make you a wizard!"


    She believed the Headmaster wouldn''t be so cruel¡ªgiving hope and then crushing it.


    Lydia''s eyes lit up at the thought. If someone else imed they could make her a wizard, she would have doubted. But if it was Headmaster Lynn, it was different!


    Before Debra could retort, Ondo walked over, beckoning the candidates who had passed to proceed to the Tower of Ascension.


    After establishing aerial transport routes, the entire promotion process sped up. After confirming each student''s results yesterday, Lynn immediately arranged for them to board the airship to the Council, bringing back the Source of Magic. From start to finish, it took only half a day, eliminating the weeks of waiting they used to endure.


    Debra and the others watched enviously as the apprentices whose names were called entered the towering tower, while they had to wait outside.


    Pearce was the first one chosen, nervously entering the Tower of Ascension. On seeing Lynn, he bowed respectfully.


    "Your Excellency!"


    "Pearce, your scores this time are decent. Though your written examcked, your grasp of elements, shaping, and herbology ismendable..." Lynn smiled, handing over a vial of blue potion.


    Pearce excitedly took the vial, almost trembling and almost spilling the precious potion.


    Amused, Lynn reminded Pearce that in such a state, he wouldn''t be able toplete the ascension.


    Pearce took several deep breaths, calming himself before solemnly consuming the Source.


    A piercing cold surged from his abdomen; the potion''s power quickly spread through his body, finally reaching his brain. Then came a peculiar, almost bone-deep itch, as if every cell in his body was being torn apart and reconfigured¡ªa pain that prated his soul.


    Sweat beads the size of beans trickled down Pearce''s forehead.


    Hisplexion turned shades of blue and purple, seeming as if his blood had been drained, appearing terrifyingly gaunt.


    The entire processsted for about ten minutes, and a strong surge of magic emanated from Pearce.


    Soon after, a zing fireball manifested in the void, and Pearce opened his eyes, filled with joy. Spellcasting without material, using magic to mimic elements¡ªit was the symbol of a true wizard!


    "It seems you''ve seeded!" Lynn nodded with a smile.


    "Thank you very much, Your Excellency! Without you, I might have remained an apprentice for life." Pearce deeply bowed, expressing his gratitude.


    Entering the Iyeta Academy at twelve, he had been an apprentice for a staggering sixteen years, nearing thirty this year.


    Due to theck of natural talent and the dy in umting magic, it was only when Lynn became a professor at Iyeta, introducing the novel and mentally challenging course of Numerics, that Pearce found a breakthrough.


    So, for the Headmaster, Pearce was incredibly grateful...


    >


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 Chapter 308: A World Where Everyone Can Be a Sorcerer!

    Chapter 308: A World Where Everyone Can Be a Sorcerer!


    "I merely provided you with an opportunity to choose, but the ascension depends solely on your efforts," Lynn produced a meticulously crafted wizard''s medal and ced it over Pearce''s chest. "From today onward, you are an official wizard!"


    "Thank you, Lord Lynn..." Pearce''s voice trembled slightly.


    Lynn waved his hand, signaling Pearce to depart, and then summoned the next apprentice.


    With a bow, Pearce left the Tower of Whispers. Approximately three minutester, Jonny entered, sharing a smile with Lynn, who gestured toward the seat in front. "Stay here for a few minutes before leaving, to avoid arousing suspicion..."


    The girl nodded. In truth, Elok and the others had long suspected her during this period; after all, they often cast spells, only to be deceived each time by her use of alchemic creations - the ''magic hand.''


    Now, there was no need for ndestine actions.


    During this ten-minute interval, Jonny, holding an exam paper, sought Lynn''s guidance on the remaining incorrectly answered questions...


    For the next few hours, Lynn distributed wizard''s medals to each sessful apprentice within the Tower of Whispers. He also consoled the failures, encouraging them to persevere for a chance next year.


    Perhaps due to the ordeal of the theoretical exams, this year''s ascension rate was higher, around sixty percent - meaning forty to fifty new formal wizards this year.Lynn contemted as he nced at the pages recording each student''s information, intending to assign duties based on their performances. Those with poor theory but exceptional practical skills would be battle wizards, joining the empire''s warfare. Conversely, those adept in theory would venture into research, contributing to new weaponry and magic development.


    In the midst of his musings, the door was once again pushed open, this time by Lydia.


    The halfling girl barged in, eager, and immediately pulled at the table, asking impatiently, "Dean Lynn, can I be a wizard too?"


    Lynn refocused and countered, "That depends on what kind of wizard you wish to be."


    "Of course, a wizard who can cast magic!" Lydia promptly replied, her eyes expectantly fixed on the Dean, excitement evident.


    "If it''s solely about casting magic, that isn''t too difficult," Lynn chuckled.


    "Really? Can I use magic too?" Lydia eximed in delight. Though Jonny had mentioned it before, confirmation from the Dean was different.


    "Put this on first!" Lynn handed her a specially crafted bracelet, simr to the ''Ring of Secrets,'' designed formunication within the realm of magic but with slight modifications for differentiation.


    Lydia hastily put it on and asked eagerly, "So now can I perform magic?"


    "Of course not!" Lynn shook his head with a smile. "Close your eyes, rx!"


    Lydia immediatelyplied, shutting her eyes tightly, but she couldn''t rx at all.


    Internally, Lynn called upon the cognitive link with the halfling girl''s brain. With Redell as a precedent and Lydia''s high level of trust in him, the process went smoothly this time, causing her minimal difort as she connected with the realm of magic.


    Lydia swiftly found herself in an incredibly magical ce. Countless grey runes floated in a void, five of which floated toward her, dancing around her body like yful children before flying into her mind.


    [Basic Material Deconstruction], [Water Condensation], [Mage''s Hand], [Fireball], [Frost de]...


    Five spells manifested in Lydia''s mind, and Lynn''s voice echoed in her ears.


    "Now, try casting a spell!"


    Lydia opened her eyes, nervously extended her palm, and activated the spells in her mind. Under the surge of elements, a crystal-clear, icy de materialized, exuding a chilling aura that instantly reduced the ambient temperature.


    "Real magic!" Lydia eximed joyfully. She then tried the Fireball spell; the powers of fire and ice danced in her palm, delighting her immensely.


    Though these were basic spells, for a halfling girl who had struggled to grasp magic, they were more than satisfactory.


    "Dean Lynn, you''re amazing!" Lydia rushed to Lynn, nting a few kisses on his face, overflowing with excitement.


    Lynn wiped the saliva off his face and reminded her, "Remember, your mental energy is limited. You can only cast the Zero-Ring spell five times and the One-Ring spell three times a day."


    Lydia nodded fervently; limitations didn''t bother her. At least now, she was truly a wizard! She wanted to see who would dare im otherwise...


    Eager to show off, Lydia was halted by Lynn before leaving.


    "Don''t you want your wizard''s medal?" Lynn asked helplessly.


    "Yes, yes!" Lydia dashed back, patiently waiting for the Dean to bestow the medal upon her before dashing out, ted.


    Observing Lydia''s restless demeanor, Lynn couldn''t help but smile. Then, he began probing the magical energy consumption issue of the cognitivework.


    Enabling someone who had no magical abilities to seed in casting magic wasn''t without a cost. Magic didn''t materialize out of thin air; it had to be drawn from their realm of magic.


    This was Lynn''s second attempt at breaking the theory of magical talent. It seemed sessful, but numerous issues needed resolution.


    For instance, the supply of magic: the drained magic couldn''t solely burden the cognitivework. It would be ideal to establish a magic reactor, much like setting up an electrical grid, to supply the casting demands of these new-wave wizards.


    In his envisioning, within the future magical kingdom, regardless of inherent wizardry, anyone who studied andprehended magical principles, possessing adequateputational power, could use the magicwork to perform corresponding spells!


    No longer would birthright decide whether amoner could be a wizard.


    A world where everyone could wield magic might transcend the previous federations, elevating magical studies to an entirely new height.


    >


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 Chapter 309: Could it be that youve gone mad with magic, thus hallucinating?

    Chapter 309: Could it be that you''ve gone mad with magic, thus hallucinating?


    Outside the Tower of Whispers, a group of apprentices gathered in front of the main gate, awaiting the results of this promotion ceremony.


    Every now and then, individuals walked out of the tower, some beaming with joy as they were greeted by envious and jealous gazes. Yet, there were quite a few who failed, their spirits subdued as they retreated to the side.


    Darren and the others watched Lydia enter the tower, each one anxiously waiting. Within moments, the doors of the tower opened once more.


    "So fast?" Darren''s heart drummed. Those who had seeded before made it clear that the potion-induced body enhancement took time. Generally, it took around ten minutes...


    Could it be that she failed the promotion? Just as he thought this, Darren dismissed the spection. Lydia emerged from the tower, proudly adorned with a sparkling wizard medal, shining brilliantly in the sunlight.


    All eyes were drawn to her, symbolizing not just Iyeta but the entirend of wizards¡ªits first halfling wizard!


    "Congrattions, Lydia! You''ve paved the way for halflings!" Jonny congratted with joy.


    Those acquainted with the girl, like Elok and others, stepped forward to congratte her sincerely, genuinely happy for her.


    Under the scrutinizing gaze of everyone, Lydia proudly straightened her posture. From this day forth, she was an official wizard."I never expected the Headmaster would actually allow someone who can''t do magic to be a wizard!" Debra said, filled with jealousy.


    The apprentices who failed despite passing the trial and practical exams twice looked at the halfling girl with a hint of dissatisfaction.


    They, like Lydia, had cleared both the trial and practical exams, yet the Headmaster didn''t grant them the status of wizards. Instead, this honor was bestowed upon a halfling who couldn''t even use magic. This led to murmurs of partiality toward Lord Lynn.


    "Who said I can''t use magic?" Lydia, feeling smug, extended her hand, preparing to cast a Fireball spell to prove herself.


    The apprentices and wizards present were curious; they knew Lydia had spent two whole years at Iyeta Academy without mastering magic.


    Lydia focused on her magical domain, attempting to activate the spell in her mind, but after much effort, there was no reaction.


    "Why can''t I use it?" Lydia opened her eyes, perplexed.


    "Could it be you''ve gone mad with magic, thus hallucinating?" Debra scoffed.


    Lydia rolled her eyes. It dawned on her just then; the Headmaster had mentioned that she could only use the Zero-Ring spell three times a day based on her own calctions. Overexcited in the Tower of Whispers earlier, she had already used them up!


    That meant she could only resort to Zero-Ring magic... she remembered she hadn''t used that one yet.


    With a thought, Lydia activated the Mage''s Hand. The examination papers held by everyone suddenly trembled, then flew into the air, swirling around her before neatly stacking up in her hand.


    "This... this is Mage''s Hand."


    Debra widened her eyes, her face filled with disbelief. It took her a while to ascertain that it was indeed Lydia casting the spell!


    "You''ve truly learned magic, Lydia!" Darren excitedly shook Lydia''s shoulders.


    Although it was just a basic Zero-Ring spell, it symbolized the miracle known as magic!


    "Of course! I also know Fireball and Frost de, but I used them several times just now. I''ll have to wait until tomorrow to use them again..." Lydia proudly dered, but inwardly, she was a bit regretful. If only she had saved one Zero-Ring spell to showcase it properly to everyone.


    However, given Lydia''s sessful casting of magic, nobody questioned her words. After all, everyone''s magical and mental energies were limited. Even official wizards might face the embarrassment of running out of magic after casting a few powerful spells.


    This halfling girl before them had truly be a wizard!


    But how did the Headmaster manage it? Halflings were believed tock magical talent¡ªa consensus unchallenged in thend of wizards. Was Lydia an exception, breaking free from the racial constraints after consuming the Source of Magic?


    Perhaps the Headmaster had recognized her wizarding potential, allowing Lydia entry into Iyeta Academy...


    Elok and the others pondered, confused. Yet, they refrained from delving into more extreme spections. If the Headmaster truly had a method to make anyone an official wizard, it would be extraordinary¡ªbeyond a hundred times more incredible than the spection of halflings possessing magical talent!


    ...


    The graduation examination at Iyetasted a full four days before concluding. Elok and his peers bidding farewell to their apprentice days were swiftly assigned to various institutions.


    Currently, every sector required manpower, especially those skilled in physical alterations among the wizards. From optimizing internalbustion engines to crafting irond ships, even to improving firearms and cannons, these forty-seven graduates were a mere drop in the ocean among the wizards.


    During these days, Raydell and Ham didn''t idle either. They delved into every aspect of the city of wizards, even personally experiencing different workshops.


    The work was indeed exhausting, a continuous fourteen-hour grind per day. However, the monthly remuneration they received was enough to make them forget the bodily strains. Everyone cherished their current lives, working tirelessly, almost without supervision.


    Because the wizard overseers here informed them that most of the products from these workshops were geared for war, which would significantly determine the oue of the impending conflict.


    If the council were to lose, and the empire upied this ce, they would revert to their former lives of uncertainty, perhaps even worse.


    Rumors circted about the nobles and the church beyond thend of wizards being ruthless, mercilessly ughtering entire cities, plundering their wealth, killing anyone not worshipping their gods, or selling them as ves to barbards.


    Hence, the workers voluntarily put in overtime, erupting with immense enthusiasm¡ªall to safeguard their current lives...


    After spending five days in the workshop, Raydell, reluctantly and at Lynn''s invitation, headed to the grain-producing fields opened up by the wizards. Today marked the summer harvest!


    Before Raydell''s eyes stretched an exceptionally magnificent sight¡ªa vast expanse of golden wheat fields, extending as far as the eye could see, akin to a grand golden sea.


    >


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 Chapter 310: The Concept of Nuclear Magic!

    Chapter 310: The Concept of Nuclear Magic!


    Here, what was once barren soil, a salt-affectednd left after the seawater receded, has now transformed into fertile fields under the mighty influence of magic.


    But what caught the attention of Raydell and the others were those peculiar-looking reapers. The alchemists from the workshop were in the final stages of their adjustments.


    "Can these contraptions really turn wheat ears into grains automatically, Master Wizard?" A man in his thirties leaned in close to those machines, eagerly watching as the wizards started them up, incessantly asking for details.


    Bayat was the farm owner here. With the massive hiring happening at the workshop, the peasants who previously survived by tilling thend had all switched professions. To prevent thesends from lying fallow, Lynn took the chance to implement a policy ofnd leasing, gearing up for a full-scale mechanization of farming.


    Bayat took a bold step, spending his savings to lease all the surroundingnd! This was the result of his hardbor for almost half a year, and this wheat field was more precious to him than his own son!


    "Of course, no doubt about it!" Philip confidently remarked.


    To replicate the diagrams provided by the headmaster, they had put in a lot of effort, sacrificing countless brain cells just to reverse-engineer this gadget. Though it hadn''t been tested yet, Philip was fully confident in its capabilities.


    But who was the mastermind behind this reaper? To conceive such intricate machinery...


    "Lynn, are we good to go now?" Philip turned to Lynn, asking eagerly.Lynn nodded with a smile. He was also curious about the effectiveness of the reaper reproduced by the Alchemy Research Institute.


    With Lynn''s permission, Philip let several enthusiastic colleagues hop onto the reaper.


    As the lever was pulled, these peculiar machines immediately emitted a ''ttering'' sound. Under the tense gazes of the crowd, the reapers traversed the wheat fields, their reel inserts delving into the crops, neatly pushing the wheat to the cutting edge, then through internal cutting mechanisms into the threshing cylinder. Finally, sieved and selected, the wheat grains were stored in the rear storage container.


    The process might sound intricate, but it was all autonomously executed by these machines. All they needed to do was drive the reapers through the vast fields, dashing in the expansive wheat fields! In just a short while, they had harvested thousands of square meters ofnd...


    Philip proudly exined to Bayat, Raydell, and others about the operation and principles of the reapers. Apart from the reapers, the Alchemy Research Institute had also devised machines specifically for plowing and sowing.


    These machines covered the trifecta¡ªplowing, sowing, and reaping. The wizards, adept in elemental studies, would normally enrich thends magically. With just a few people, they could tend to vast expanses ofnd!


    "This is like the heavenly descriptions in the scriptures..." Ham murmured to himself.


    Legend had it that in the heavenly kingdom, rivers flowed with exquisite wine, fields bore grains without manual toil, and every tree bore sulent, juicy steaks...


    While he hadn''t seen the rivers of wine or steakden trees, witnessing these wheat fields automatically tilled and harvested, and the alchemical apparatus producing thousands of meters of fabric per day, was a miracle he could see with his own eyes!


    "Lynn, could these alchemical machines be used in the kingdom?" Raydell hastily inquired. It was the harvesting season in the Hadrta Kingdom too, and if they had these reapers, they wouldn''t need to toil in the fields day in and day out.


    "It might be toote now. The production of these reapers is limited, and after Iyeta, they need to cater to other cities under the Wizard Council. But by the time of autumn sowing, we could send some plowing machines to the kingdom..." Lynn pondered.


    "If Aidan and the others see this, they''d be astonished..." Ham murmured. No one would believe that farming and harvesting could be this effortless if they hadn''t witnessed it themselves.


    After a round of joyriding on the reapers, the wizards from the Alchemy Research Institute, excitedly, hopped off the machines, allowing Raydell and the rest to experience them.


    Especially Bayat, as the farm owner, this demonstration was necessary to test the efficacy of the reapers. In the future, it would be up to Bayat himself to operate them.


    They continued their busy work until dusk. What was once an expansive view of wheat fields now only had stubs left. The harvesting had beenpleted thoroughly!


    If done manually, it might have required over thirty people toil for five or six days. With five reapers, they finished the job of dozens of people in half a day, without exhaustion, directly yielding wheat grains and saving a considerable amount of time.


    Grateful and teary-eyed, Bayat warmly insisted that everyone stay, ughtering the only camelop in their possession to celebrate.


    By the time Lynn and the others returned to the academy, it was already evening, apanied by an invitation to an academic conference.


    Considering the ongoing war with the Church mightst long, this year''s academic conference had been unsurprisingly moved up a month.


    Lynn was genuinely interested in this conference. Since producing ssware, the wizards had significantly elerated their understanding and progress in the microcosm. Astronomy had made remarkable strides.


    The diviners had even constructed arge astronomical telescope, preparing to refine star charts further. Lynn had seen numerous papers rted to this in the Magical Daily.


    During this time of manipting magic within the kingdom, Lynn had also been active. He had published several theories on electromaism, receiving both admiration and skepticism.


    However, Lynn hadn''t yet settled on what theory to present this time. His prime focus was on perfecting the elemental model.


    If he could manage to manufacture those rare elements, many powerful technologies could transform into magic, perhaps even concocting something as potent as nuclear magic. One st from that, and the Church''s armies would ascend to the heavens, if not negate the need for war altogether.


    No, perhaps it might eliminate the chance of ascending to heaven.


    Thinking of the imagery of nuclear magic in his mind, Lynn understood that even if he seeded in creating such powerful magic, it might not directly ensure victory in the war.


    The powers of the legendary god were still an unknown entity. Just a manifestation had already demonstrated the ability to distort time and space. They wouldn''t be easy to deal with...


    >


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 Chapter 311: Lord Lynn: They Mean to Roast Me Over a Fire!

    Chapter 311: Lord Lynn: They Mean to Roast Me Over a Fire!


    In the midst of July, under the scorching sun that hung high in the sky, the city of wizards, Greeneral, was bustling with an unparalleled fervor, casting away the shadows left by the apocalyptic sect that had lingered before.


    The recent war in the capital of the Kingdom of Hadrta had bemon knowledge, spreading far and wide through the Wizard''s Daily. The council went on an extensive propaganda spree, hailing it as the initiation of the wizards'' first battle against the Holy Church, a truly stirring victory!


    This signified that henceforth, all wizards need not confine themselves to this ind; there existed a broader world beyond.


    Amidst this enthusiastic atmosphere, the annual academic symposium proceeded as nned. Giant airships descended gracefully from the sky, docking at the square in front of the Society of Mystical Arts.


    The use of airships had be a trend in thend of wizards. Whether for convenience in travel or to unt prestige, various factions spared no expense in acquiring these colossal vessels.


    The wizards and civilians of Greeneral had grown ustomed to this sight. Over the past year, they had witnessed these airships arriving and departing almost daily. What had once shocked them had now be an ordinary sight.


    Raphael, the host of this symposium, had been waiting at the entrance with his retinue, ready to greet every wizard from different schools who arrived in Greeneral.


    Due to Lord Lynn''s aplishment in the previous symposium¡ªmeasuring the''s circumference and validating the Earth''s deviation force¡ªthose who had received word but failed to witness the experiment in personmented their missed opportunity.


    Consequently, the turnout this time was exceptionally high. Almost every wizard capable of movement had arrived. The council had to hastily expand the docking area for airships due to the overwhelming attendance.Just as Raphael finished exchanging pleasantries with an old friend, his apprentice whispered to him.


    "Master, isn''t that the g of the Society of Mystical Arts?"


    Raphael''s curiosity piqued, he turned to see a colossal airship hovering over the Society of Mystical Arts. Its massive balloon disyed a distinctive and conspicuous emblem¡ªthe mark of the Society of Mystical Arts, now universally recognized throughout thend of wizards.


    "Wee, Lord Lynn! It has been a while!"


    Raphael briskly approached, embracing Lynn warmly as he descended from the airship. Then, as if struck by a revtion, Raphael eximed in astonishment, "Have you broken through to Grand Wizard?"


    As a Grand Wizard himself, Raphael could sense the presence of the domain, immediately confirming that this young wizard before him had indeed taken that monumental step.


    "Just fortunate, barely a week ago," Lynn responded with a smile.


    "It seems I''ll have to address you as Grand Master Lynn from now on!" Raphael remarked, acknowledging Lynn''s exceptional talent. He had known that Lynn''s breakthrough to Grand Wizard was only a matter of time, but the speed at which it happened astonished him.


    It had only been a year since theirst meeting. It appeared that the record for the youngest Grand Wizard in thend of wizards was about to be shattered again!


    While Raphael was amazed, he did not forget his responsibilities. Another figure beside Lynn soon drew his attention.


    "I wonder who this is?"


    "Anthony, hailing from the Kingdom of Hadrta, also a member of the Society of Mystical Arts," Lynn introduced proactively.


    Raphael''s expression turned solemn. He had read about the recent war in the Wizard''s Daily, where this name was mentioned. He was well aware that Anthony was a Hex Ring Grand Wizard proficient in electromaics. Given his affiliation with the Society of Mystical Arts, Raphael''s estimation of him couldn''t be overstated.


    Thinking along these lines, Raphael warmly invited everyone inside, subtly probing for information about this unfamiliar Grand Wizard along the way.


    The seasoned Anthony, however, adeptly evaded revealing anything significant. Despite Raphael''s indirect inquiries, he gleaned one surprising detail¡ªthis Hex Ring Grand Wizard, a step away from being legendary, seemed to defer to Lynn.


    Whenever some questions were posed to him, Anthony would nce toward Lynn for approval before answering.


    Raphael immediately realized that Lynn''s role within the Society of Mystical Arts wasn''t as straightforward as imed¡ªa mere schrly figure.


    Could it be that Lynn was an apprentice of a legendary wizard or even the founder?


    Raphael pondered silently, but his smile remained intact as he swiftly ushered everyone into the assembly hall.


    As Lynn andpany entered, wizards within the hall engaged in discussions, immediately surrounding them. Since his remarkable performance at thest symposium, Lynn had be the hottest magical prodigy in the entirend of wizards!


    Especially upon learning of Lynn''s ascension to Grand Wizard, praises and des echoed throughout the hall.


    Lynn responded with a smile, but after half an hour, the smile had begun to stiffen. Endless ttery andpliments had worn his patience thin. He had to navigate through it all; otherwise, rumors of this arrogant rising star neglecting others might spread like wildfire across thend of wizards.


    Being famous wasn¡¯t always a good thing...


    Deep in thought, Lynn only managed to break away from the crowd just before the symposium was about tomence. Guided by Raphael, they made their way to the seats reserved for the Iyeta faction.


    Lynn keenly observed that their position was noticeably closer to the front than before¡ªjust behind the factions established by legendary councilors, such as the Prophecy Guild and Alchemy Association.


    While this was indeed an honor, it also meant being put in the spotlight. If Iyeta''s performance this time was less than satisfactory, it might invite whispers and criticisms behind their backs.


    "Everyone, please settle down!" From the tform in the hall, Grand Wizard Sanchez cleared his throat, using amplification magic to carry his voice to every corner, quieting the noisy discussions.


    "Wee, all, to Greeneral, for this year''s academic symposium!"


    "In the past week, the council has received over seventy proposals on magical theories, several times more than usual. Hence, this symposium willst for three days, divided into three sessions, each taking ce at noon..."


    Sanchez briefly outlined the conference''s schedule and changes. Then, he suddenly turned his gaze toward Lynn, emphasizing his words with a raised tone.


    "Moreover, this year''s symposium requires an additional adjudicator... none other than Grand Master Lynn of the Iyeta faction!"


    >


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 Chapter 312: Lynns Abrupt Assertion: Do Colors Truly Exist?

    Chapter 312: Lynn''s Abrupt Assertion: Do Colors Truly Exist?


    As Sanchez spoke, thousands of eyes within the hall immediately turned towards the direction of the Iyeta Academy.


    Lynn''s brow furrowed involuntarily. Raphael hadn''t mentioned this to him earlier. Before he could make sense of it, the hall erupted in eager apuse.


    Under everyone''s scrutiny, Lynn had no choice but to rise and approach the podium, taking a seat at the judging panel. Then, he turned to Raphael, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone as he queried, "Have I offended in some way, Master?"


    Though being a judge at the symposium wasn''t a bad thing, this sudden turn of events made Lynn specte in an unfavorable light.


    In the short hour since arriving at Greeneral, Iyeta Academy had been bestowed with too much honor and attention. Lynn was well aware of the principle that the higher one stands, the harder the fall¡­


    "Of course not. Why would you think that?" Raphael asked with an amused smile.


    "At least you should have consulted me before making such a decision," Lynn replied with a touch of displeasure.


    "My oversight entirely..." Raphael sighed apologetically, exining, "Many proposals received by the Society of Mystical Arts are about new ss instruments. We believed you''d have better insight than us, so we unanimously decided to temporarily add a judge''s seat¡­"


    Previously, they hadn''t arranged it this way as they weren''t aware of Lynn''s promotion to Grand Wizard.A Tri-Circle Wizard naturally didn''t qualify to arbitrate on a school''s research, but now that Lynn had made the breakthrough, there was no such concern...


    It was to emphasize their regard for Lynn and the Prophecy Guild that they had readjusted the seating.


    Raphael couldn''t help but feel both amused and exasperated. Wizards Lynn''s age usually sought the limelight eagerly. It was unusual for him to be so suspicious.


    Under Raphael''s exnation, Lynn realized his misunderstanding. No one was deliberately targeting him.


    On the podium, Sanchez finished the verbose opening, officiallymencing this year''s academic symposium. Then, stepping down, he cleared the stage.


    Several young wizards and witches eagerly stepped forward. After paying respects to Lynn and others, they presented an intricately crafted ss cube before the audience, loudly proiming, "This is our Light Disassociation Device!"


    "Isn''t that just a prism?" muttered Elok beside, as the Iyeta wizards nodded in agreement. Dean Lynn had demonstrated it to them back in the Kingdom of Hadrta, though it hadn''t been publicly revealed yet.


    Indeed, they were also researching light. However, due to the brief time, they hadn''t made any significant breakthroughs yet.


    As expected, the experiments demonstrated by the young wizards on stage involved splitting light through prisms. But clearly, there was more to their research, aspects yet unknown to them...


    "We''ve discovered that among these seven colors, red, green, and blue are crucial. All other colors stem from these three," proudly announced Glenn, the lead wizard.


    Rotating the angle of the light disassociation device altered the disyed colors ordingly.


    Raphael and the others were deeply engrossed. This was a groundbreaking discovery!


    While light was omnipresent, even legendary wizards hadn''t perceived the so-called ''light elements.'' They developed magic based on light''s observed properties, reaching another level of utilizing light.


    Now, this discovery provided them with a preliminary understanding of light. A white light was actuallyposed of red, green, and blue lights...


    Discussions within the hall grew louder, everyone deliberating over this astonishing finding.


    The young wizards on the stage proudly exhibited their light disassociation device, receiving the scrutiny of the audience. They were ecstatic; their research would at least earn them a Morning Star Medal!


    Glenn even contemted renaming their school to ''Morning Light and Primary Colors''...


    "I find this research highly valuable!" Sanchez was the first to speak, praising the endeavor.


    Raphael and others echoed the sentiment,uding Glenn''s research.


    Glenn''s face beamed with pride. Then, he turned to Lynn, who had remained silent.


    For Glenn, there was a mix of envy, admiration, and jealousy toward this renowned magical star. Their research had utilized the ss inventions created by Lynn.


    Yet, young and ambitious Glenn believed he could one day produce magical theories capable of changing the entire magical system, just like Lynn.


    As Glenn indulged in fantasies, Lynn suddenly spoke up, "Your research ismendable, but I need to correct something. The three primary colors you mentioned do not represent the essence or nature of light¡­"


    "Furthermore, strictly speaking, objects do not actually possess colors!" Lynn''s words were startling, instantly sparking skepticism in the hall.


    "Lord Lynn, what do you mean? If colors don''t exist, what are we seeing?" Sanchez asked, puzzled.


    Glenn and hispanions were extremely dissatisfied. Their research on light disassociation and primary colors, backed by meticulous experiments, was invalidated by Lynn''s single statement.


    If colors didn''t exist, it meant their research was meaningless...


    "Lynn, as an academic judge, pointing out inuracies is your responsibility, but it''s best not to speak on things you don''t understand," rebuked a purple-robed Grand Wizard from the judging panel.


    Raphael had proposed Lynn as a judge, but this wizard had been the sole dissenting voice. After all, while a wizard in their twenties might excel in a few fields, breadth of knowledge was crucial to be an academic judge!


    >


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 Chapter 313: The World Without Color!

    Chapter 313: The World Without Color!


    Amidst the murmurs of doubt, Lord Lynn didn''t rush to exin but instead posed a question.


    "You all know light can be reflected, right?"


    The wizards in the hall nodded in unison; reflection was fundamental in light, the basis of most prized magical applications.


    "The colors we see are actually light shining onto an object, reflected into our eyes, identified by our light-sensitive cells," Lynn exined. "Human sensory cells can only discern three colors: red, green, and blue. Due to the visible spectrum''s uniform mix in sunlight, it appears colorless to us..."


    "Wait, Master Lynn, if that''s the case, under the same light, won''t everything be the same color?" Sanchez interjected.


    "Not at all. Some light is absorbed by objects; we see only the reflected visible light..." Lynn elucidated.


    To be more precise, it was the light reflected by objects that entered the eye, transformed into electrical signals on the retina, transmitted through visual nerves¡ªthe so-called colors were merely the human definition of the visible electromaic waves.


    With a firm grasp of electromaic force, Lynn had tested this in Iyeta and was utterly confident.


    His words echoed in the hall, igniting louder discussions below."This theory... it''s astounding!" Raphael looked at Lynn, unable to contain himself. "Does that mean this world truly has no colors?"


    Previously, they believed elements inherently possessed certain colors, and objectsposed of them exhibited corresponding shades. They assumed light simply allowed them to perceive these existing colors or hues adhering to the surface.


    But Lynn''s assertion contradicted this entirely¡ªall colors originated from light. What they perceived was light rejected by objects, whereas absorbed light remained unseen?


    In essence, a red object wasn''t truly red; it simply reflected red light while absorbing other colors.


    Theoretically, if one could ''see'' the internal ''light elements'' of an object, they might disy a blend of different colors?


    Raphael struggled to grasp Lynn''s words, finding it immensely challenging to imagine a world with reversed colors.


    "Indeed, without light, there is no color," Lynn nodded, acknowledging Raphael''s words.


    "This is preposterous!" A wizard in purple robes stood, mming the table. "So everything we see is reversed? A ck object absorbs all light and is actually very bright, but we just can''t perceive it?"


    "No, that''s not entirely urate. If light is absorbed without reflection, it wouldn''t appear bright," Lynn shrugged, continuing.


    "Moreover, consider this, when sealed in a dark space at night, can we see colors? Hence, color exists solely with the aid of light."


    Hearing this, Raphael and others were momentarily stunned. Sanchez frowned, finding Lynn''s theory unreliable.


    "Master Lynn, magic requires rigorous evidence, not mere spection! In the absence of light, we can''t see anything. Does that imply they don''t exist?" Glenn retorted from the tform, refusing to believe this notion. His research''s significance would plummet if intrinsic colors weren''t due to light.


    However, confronting a grand wizard, especially the much-celebrated Star of Magic, Glenn''s courage waned, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    His friend subtly tugged his sleeve, advising against confronting the Star of Magic recklessly. A mere hint from Lynn could make their future days arduous.


    Unperturbed by Glenn''s sharp query, Lynn smiled and remarked, "An excellent rebuttal. You''re not wrong; every magical theory demands experimental validation!"


    "Now, please seal all windows and doors in this hall... not a speck of light should enter!"


    Once Lynn''smand settled, wizards near the windows promptly used magic to seal them. The once bright academic forum plunged into profound darkness, illuminated only by the faint light streaming from the tower''s top.


    "Who has a mirror?" Lynn asked again.


    "I do!" Glenn stepped forward, retrieving a round mirror from his robe. He''d been experimenting with lighttely; the mirror was always close.


    "Excellent!" Lynn nodded, then called Jonny over, positioning her directly in front of the tform and used the mirror to reflect the light onto the girl.


    In the pitch-ck, Jonny''s figure stood out vividly, draped in a bright red gown, swaying like mes.


    "Do you know what color her dress is?" Lynn inquired.


    "Of course, it''s red!" Glenn replied.


    "Isn''t that visible to everyone?" Raphael scoffed, perplexed why Lynn would ask such a foolish question.


    "Remember your current assessment! The dress is red, but don''t forget it!" Lynn stated meaningfully.


    Raphael was speechless. Was the dress going to turn blue next? He wanted to know what Lynn was up to!


    Lynn turned his gaze to the girl in the red gown, smiling as he remarked, "Your skin is fair and lovely..."


    Jonny didn''t anticipate the Headmaster''s publicment, feeling a bit embarrassed and uneasy under the wizards'' ambiguous gazes.


    This suits the experiment... Lynn quietly swallowed thetter part of his sentence.


    "Now, we''ll need your... light dissociation device!" Lynn stepped forward, patting Glenn''s shoulder, instructing him anxiously.


    "How should I proceed, Master Lynn?" Glenn nervously asked, clutching his invention.


    "First, dpose the light as before..." Lynn detailed the steps to Glenn meticulously, ensuringpleteprehension before announcing the experiment''s start!


    >


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 Chapter 314: Lord Lynn, Your Wisdom Is Astounding!

    Chapter 314: Lord Lynn, Your Wisdom Is Astounding!


    Within the hall, the wizards were immensely curious about what experiment Lord Lynn had mentioned. Many remembered a year ago when this magical star conducted an astounding pendulum experiment here, proving that theirnd was round and continuously spinning.


    "Master Anthony, is it true that this world has no color?" Flora whispered inquisitively from the audience.


    Anthony furrowed his brow and didn''t respond. Nearby, Elok and others were also murmuring in their minds. They held a considerable amount of belief in the headmaster''s words, but this seemed a bit too far-fetched.


    Simr discussions echoed throughout the hall. Meanwhile, Glenn, following Lynn''s instructions, ced the light dissociation device in his hands under the beam of sunlight streaming from above.


    The white light immediately split into a magnificent seven-colored rainbow...


    Subsequently, Glenn masked the other colored lights, leaving only the blue light, which he directed towards Johnny.


    A dazzling blue light swiftly illuminated the girl, prompting all the wizards in the hall to involuntarily stand, their faces filled with astonishment...


    "How... How is this possible? It turned ck?" Raphael stared fixedly at the tform. Under the blue light, the girl''s originally fair skin turned as blue as the light itself, while her red garment turned pitch ck.


    Glenn, too, suppressed his surprise. He rotated the light dissociation device in his hand, transitioning from blue light to green, then yellow. Yet, no matter which light was used for illumination, Johnny''s attire remained entirely ck.If not for her skin changing with the light''s hue, everyone present might have thought that the light dissociation device was malfunctioning.


    Only when Glenn moved past the blue light and transitioned to the red light did the situation finally change. The orange light shone upon Johnny, and her long dress immediately reverted to its original bright red.


    This peculiar optical phenomenon astonished the wizards present, especially the one who had previously opposed Lynn. He was nowpletely stupefied.


    "The yellow light is being absorbed!" murmured Glenn to himself.


    Raphael and the others quickly recalled Lynn''s words from earlier. Orange is a mix of red and yellow; now that the yellow light was absorbed, only the red light could reflect back!


    As they thought, from orange to red and then to purple, the entire spectrum on the dress only disyed various shades of red...


    "This is impossible. That garment must have been enchanted!" eximed a witch from the audience, disbelief evident in her voice.


    "Anyone who doubts this experiment cane up and try it themselves. Everything you find has the ability to reflect and absorb light, just to varying degrees," Lynn said with a smile.


    Following Lynn''s suggestion, curious wizards ascended the tform, cing different items¡ªclothes, cloths, nes, various ornaments, and alchemical tools¡ªin the center, exposing them to different colored lights.


    The results mirrored Lynn''s ims. However, since most items didn''t purely reflect a single color of light, only Johnny''s red dress disyed a striking change due to its excellent absorption of other colors, creating such pronounced alterations.


    "It''s indeed true... Objects themselves have no inherent color; everything we see is a result of light''s reflection," Sanchez concluded after conducting experiments.


    If objects had inherent colors, they should have exhibited changes in various colors when exposed to different lights, not just turned ck. So, the only exnation was that objects had no color; the color was the light they perceived!


    However, Sanchez seemed to suddenly have another question. Puzzled, she asked, "Lord Lynn, I have one more doubt I''d like you to rify. If an object absorbs light, is there a limit? And where does the absorbed light go?"


    Lynn looked at Sanchez, surprised. This question delved into quantum-scale changes, something he could exin but not provide definitive proof for...


    After pondering, Lynn carefully responded, "Perhaps you''ve noticed¡ªa white object absorbs heat from sunlight the slowest, while a ck object absorbs it the fastest. After all, it absorbs all the light and gains the most energy!"


    "I see. So, is it the gathering of ''light elements'' that generates heat?" Raphael spected, envisioning the theory prevalent in the wizarding world. He then eximed, "Your wisdom is astounding, Lord Lynn... It seems appointing you as the Judge was the most fitting decision!"


    Without Lynn''s presence, they might have epted Glenn''s theory of primary colors...


    Although magical theory deductions often came with errors¡ªmany theories epted or even promoted by the council wereter overturned¡ªthese judges who made decisions felt somewhat embarrassed now.


    On the tform, Glenn and hispanions looked crestfallen, unable to counter with words. After all, the irrefutable evidence was right before them.


    "Lord Lynn, it seems our research was wed," Glenn said with disappointment, holding the light dissociation device.


    Lynn smiled and said, "Indeed, there were ws in your research. However, it holds great value, serving as a significant addition to our understanding of light-based magical theories. After all, our enemies are often human."


    "On my personal behalf, I nominate you for the Morning Star Medal," Lynn said solemnly.


    As an academic judge, pointing out ws in new magical theories was his duty, while nominating someone for the Morning Star Medal encouraged this spirit of magical research.


    In just a year since he introduced ss, Glenn and his team had discovered the properties of this item, created a qualified prism, and unveiled the phenomenon of primary colors¡ªa remarkable feat!


    "What do you think?" Lynn asked the judges.


    Raphael and the others exchanged nces. Glenn''s research warranted a Morning Star Medal. However, they could also perceive Lynn''s profound understanding of optics and familiarity with primary colors. He had even directed Glenn''s experiments, indicating he might have known about this theory for some time.


    Yet, since even Lynn didn''t oppose it, after discussing among themselves, they unanimously agreed.


    The spirit behind the Magical Discourse Convention was to encourage wizards in their magical studies and publicize their corresponding achievements. Even though Glenn and his team had independently researched the rainbow and the three primary colors phenomenon, they still deserved recognition...


    >


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 Chapter 315: The Rejected Nomination for the Morning Star Medal and the Invisible Light!

    Chapter 315: The Rejected Nomination for the Morning Star Medal and the Invisible Light!


    After a thorough review by several judges, the resolution to apply for a Morning Star Medal as an de swiftly passed through the council.


    The wizards in the hall gazed enviously at Glenn; typically, once the grand wizards approved, the council application was merely a formality.


    However, at this moment, Glenn stood up, interrupting. "Wait, esteemed masters."


    "Do you have any new and fascinating magical theories to expound upon?" Lynn asked curiously.


    "No, not really," Glenn shook his head, then hesitated before speaking, "Thank you for your recognition, Grand Master Lynn, but I assume you already knew about this spectrometer and theory of primary colors, didn''t you?"


    Lynn hesitated for a moment, not wanting to dent Glenn''s confidence too much, yet realizing that they had indeed revealed too much earlier. After contemting for a while, Lynn exined, "Just over a month ago, during my time in the kingdom, I conducted simr experiments, hence my understanding."


    Elok and the others in the audience nodded in agreement. They had witnessed Dean Lynn performing the exact spectral experiment with a small prism.


    "I see..." Glenn''s expression fell somewhat.


    Though Lynn humbly put it, they both knew these two theories had been previously validated by each other. As the developer of the ss itself, it wasn''t surprising for Lynn to have this knowledge."In that case, I cannot ept this Morning Star Medal. It rightfully belongs to you..." Glenn hesitated, somewhat reluctant yet firm.


    He was aware that as the recipient of the Sun Crown Medal, the most brilliant magical star in thend of wizards, Lynn might not care about a Morning Star Medal''s ownership. But Glenn didn''t wish to receive something given out of pity. For his established school of magic, it would be a disgrace rather than an honor...


    Upon hearing this, the wizards present were all stunned. Glenn''s friends exchanged nces, attempting to persuade him to retract his words.


    You see, this was the Morning Star Medal!


    At the annual academic symposium, usually, only three to five individuals could earn this distinction. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that possessing this medal would make one the center of attention wherever they went.


    Even for those geniuses in academic research, they might only have one chance in their lifetime for a nomination; missing out might mean never having another!


    On the judging panel, Raphael and the others showed expressions of admiration. While they believed the Morning Star Medal should belong to Grand Master Lynn, witnessing Glenn''s resolute refusal both surprised and pleased them.


    Simr incidents had urred in the past. Five years ago, during the society''s symposium, three factions coincidentally researched the same element, all achieving impressive results. The only problem was that many theories ovepped significantly.


    Certainly, they couldn''t award a Morning Star Medal to everyone just for vying for this nomination. The three factions ended up causing a major uproar during the symposium, tarnishing their reputations.


    Glenn''s choice, inparison, was undoubtedly wiser. If he had epted the medal by disregarding his conscience, it would have surely invited criticism.


    Now, after the refusal, it opened up a broader perspective. Raphael could envision Glenn''s name spreading throughout thend of wizards due to this symposium.


    After all, this was the first time someone rejected a nomination for the Morning Star Medal!


    Sitting among the judges, Lynn couldn''t help but feel amused and puzzled. They hadn''t expected that by pointing out Glenn''s theory''s oversight, thetter would voluntarily withdraw from the nomination.


    Clearly, in their first stint as a judge, Lynn hadn''t handled it well...


    Lynn introspected silently; while they indeed knew these theories, they stood on the shoulders of giants. Compared to them, individuals like Glenn were the true pioneers of magical studies! If their confidence were shattered, it wouldn''t bode well.


    Due to concern about damaging Glenn''s self-esteem, Lynn refrained from insisting on awarding Glenn but instead pondered and said, "Optics is an incredibly novel field. Even the Prophecy Guild hasn''t fully grasped its nature. So, all of us are on the same path. Since you''ve researched this spectrometer and primary colors, why not continue in this direction?"


    "Besides the visible colors, there are many other invisible lights, diverse and intriguing, worthy of exploration..." Lynn expounded, guiding Glenn towards further research.


    There were numerous invisible lights like infrared and ultraviolet. Unraveling one of these could justify a Morning Star Medal.


    If Glenn could unravel the essence of light through this, it wouldn''t just be a mere Morning Star Medal; even the highest academic de in thend of wizards, the Sun Crown Medal, wouldn''t suffice to honor his achievements!


    Glenn listened earnestly to Lynn''s exnation. He didn''t wish to ept bestowed honor but rejecting guidance from Lynn wasn''t his intention. More importantly, he wanted to understand which domains hadn''t been explored to avoid futile research.


    "Grand Master Lynn, since we can''t see these lights and can''t sense them through mental power, how do we study them?" A alchemist in the front row suddenly inquired.


    Lynn calmly reminded, "By observing the effects of these lights on objects, analyzing, categorizing, and summarizing them. Try to create alchemical instruments that allow us to see and perceive these lights based on their characteristics..."


    "Perhaps magical transfiguration is also a good option!" Sanchez suggested.


    As a master of shaping magic, Sanchez had observed that different creatures perceived colors differently. For instance, the giant monsters he frequently transformed into were naturally color-blind, seeing many things in shades of gray.


    Previously, he assumed it was these creatures'' brains unable to discern colors. Now he realized it was theck of so-called photoreceptor cells.


    "That''s a valid point; it''s a good direction!" Lynn agreed, as some creatures'' retinas possessed four types of cone cells, capable of perceiving more light frequencies than humans...


    The strength of wizardsy in their myriad magical abilities, enabling them to directly observe through the eyes of these creatures. This advantage was significantpared to using various scientific instruments for measurement!


    They hadn''t thought in this direction before. When Lynn recently read a book on shaping magic, it mentioned that snakes naturally possessed a perception-based magic, allowing them to sense heat with their tongues, essentially infrared rays...


    >


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 Chapter 316: Fundamental Constants of the Interstellar Universe!

    Chapter 316: Fundamental Constants of the Interster Universe!


    The voices within the hall continued, a steady stream of discussions. Those wizards adept in transfiguration were particrly excited, for Lynn and Sanchez undoubtedly illuminated the path for optical research.


    By altering various creatures, studying their perception of light, even dissecting to locate the elusive light-sensitive cells, aprehensive report could secure that coveted Morning Star Medal, wouldn¡¯t it?


    "If only I had pursued transfiguration exclusively!" Elok sighed. While more adept in elemental and alchemical studies, transfiguration was a passable skill for him.


    Regretfully, the easily attainable Morning Star Medal seemed to slip away! Yet, nearby, Pearce, skilled in transfiguration, wore an expression of profound concern. Thepetition for this medal was staggering; it wouldn¡¯t take long before the halls were inundated with magical theories, leaving slim chances for sess.


    On the dais, Glenn and others exchanged nces. They hadn¡¯t delved into transfiguration and fearedgging in their research on non-visible light.


    Lynn, taking into ount the non-transfiguration-oriented wizards¡¯ enthusiasm for optics, paused before continuing, "Aside from seeking non-visible light, you could approach this from another angle¡­ such as measuring the speed of light!"


    Measuring the speed of light?


    Raphael and the others were momentarily stunned. Light, ubiquitous yet mysterious, fascinated many. However, since they couldn¡¯t perceive the ¡®light element,¡¯ observing and measuring it remained a challenge.


    Over a decade ago, the legendary Lady Aurora conducted an experiment. She positioned a wizard a kilometer away and used magic to reflect light onto another person, gauging its speed based on arrival time.However, light was incredibly swift. Even the legendary witch couldn¡¯t discern such minute differences in reaction time. She estimated light¡¯s speed to exceed a thousand kilometers per second, requiring measurements from even farther distances.


    But this posed a secondary problem; light diffused, weakening over longer distances, rendering precise measurements impossible. Some suspected light to be instantaneous!


    However, this experiment unexpectedly revealed something: the speed of sound ranged between three hundred to four hundred meters and fluctuated based on geographical differences.


    Sanchez borated on Lady Aurora¡¯s experiment in detail to Lynn.


    "A kilometer? That¡¯s too close. Without more specialized equipment, failure was expected¡­"


    Lynn didn¡¯t know the specific speed of light in this world yet, but it surely wasn¡¯t slow. ording to past data, a kilometer was merely a fraction of a fraction of a second, beyond the measurement capabilities even for legendary wizards.


    After pondering, Lynn addressed the assembly of wizards. "I have some ideas about measuring light speed, but they need verification, which will take a few days. It might fail even after this symposium. During this time, if anyone urately measures the speed of light, I will propose to the council to award them a Silver Moon Medal!"


    "A Silver Moon Medal? Master Lynn, isn¡¯t that too extravagant?" Sanchez interjected hastily.


    Awarding the Silver Moon Medal had two conditions: proposing a theory significant enough to alter a mainstream magical system or making a substantial contribution to the wizardmunity or council.


    During the previous symposium, when Lynn proposed thew of universal gravitation, there were ns to award a Silver Moon Medal. However, legendary Chancellor Harof vetoed it. Lynn¡¯s subsequent calctions regarding the¡¯s speeds, proving its rotation and revolution, overturned everyone''s worldview, earning the more prestigious Crown of Daylight Medal!


    Measuring light speed alone, without analyzing its nature, felt sufficient with a Morning Star Medal¡­


    "I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s excessive. A legendary wizard within the Society of Mystical Arts once said thatpared to optics, existing magical theories are merely rudimentary descriptions of macroscopic phenomena. Optics unveils the microscopic reality, a crucial key!" Lynn emphasized solemnly.


    The speed of light differed from sound, air resistance, or gravity, variables changing withary shifts.


    Simr to Lynn¡¯s earlier calction of the gravitational constant, yet to measure absolute zero, the Hubble constant, nck constant, and others¡­ These values weren¡¯t confined to a single but governed the universe¡ªa constant within humanity¡¯s observable and cognitive range!


    The speed of light was especially crucial; numerous famous forms revolved around this constant!


    One such example was the renowned equation, E=mc^2!


    E denoted energy, m represented mass, and c was the speed of light. This form encapsted the mystery of mass-energy conversion, applicable to nuclear sts and even more potent antimatter annihtion!


    Nevertheless, whether the theory of invariant light speed held universally required experimental verification.


    Lynn had been eager to calcte these fundamental constants but had previously focused primarily on the kingdom¡¯s war, dying these pursuits.


    Starting with optical research, they were peeling back theyers of the real world. Moving from the ordered macroscopic realm to a chaotic and enigmatic microscopic domain.


    Lynn¡¯s straightforward words unsettled the wizards present. Centuries of magical development in the wizarding world reduced to ¡®rudimentary and simplistic¡¯ by an outsider was disconcerting!


    "Is this legendary sage from the Society of Mystical Arts perhaps delusional from researching light?" sneered a prominent wizard in the audience. Lynn¡¯s disregard for existing magical theories didn¡¯t sit well; after all, light, while mystical, was just one piece in the mosaic of magic¡­


    The theory of light elements within the wizarding world, after decades of development and refinement, had a basic framework, awaiting final validation.


    >


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 Chapter 318: Looks Like Master Lynn Is Set to Miscalculate This Time!

    Chapter 318: Looks Like Master Lynn Is Set to Miscalcte This Time!


    While the wizards in the city of Greeneral were delving into methods of measuring the speed of light, a conversation was unfolding within the estate of the legendary councilor, Harof.


    "The current magical theories in thend of wizards are terribly rudimentary... Did he really say that?" Harof''s brow furrowed as he listened to Aurora''s ount. Lynn''s words were undeniably a challenge to the entire wizarding world.


    It was a tant disregard for the tireless efforts of those who had dedicated themselves to advancing and researching the arcane arts. Despite possessing remarkable knowledge, such arrogance was unwarranted.


    "No, I believe his intent wasn''t solely aimed at thend of wizards. The magic theories developed by the Prophecy Guild are equally inadequate in the face of optics..." Aurora exined while recalling Lynn''s words spoken at the assembly.


    Optics unveil the truth of the microscopic world¡ªthe question is, what exactly is this truth? Could it be that the world they perceive now is false? Aurora pondered in confusion, struggling to grasp the meaning behind Lynn''s words.


    Harof, too, fell into contemtion. Based on their previous interactions and Lynn''s presentation of various novel theories, the Prophecy Guild''s understanding of magic and this world seemed far more profound than theirs.


    If these words weren''t intentional mockery and conceit, then they warranted investigation. The omnipresence of light concealed secrets deserving of such praise...


    Harof desired to attend another gathering of legendary wizards, to inquire face-to-face. Yet, until now, he hadn''t received another invitation. Though possessing the Mystic Ring granted Harof the authority to convene meetings, appearing too eager seemed disadvantageous. More importantly, he hadn''t quite grasped the theory behind the cosmic explosion nor formted any novel theories worthy of discussion among the legendary wizards.


    At this point, Harof vaguely understood why the assembly of legendary wizards hadn''t been convened yet. It was typical for magical research to take seven to eight years, or even more, to yield any results. The annual academic symposium in thend of wizards was already considered frequent."It seems we must prioritize our study of optics." Harof''s expression grew notably grave as he turned to Aurora, curiously inquiring, "Do you have a method to measure the speed of light?"


    Among them, Aurora possessed the deepest understanding of optics. If even she couldn''t fathom a way, then perhaps thend of wizards had no means of measuring the speed of light.


    "I believe we can start from astronomy!" Aurora pondered before speaking.


    What''s the most challenging aspect of measuring light speed? Undoubtedly, it''s the incredible speed of light, theck of a vast space for experimentation, and the difficulty in creating strong enough light to traverse thousands of kilometers.


    Regarding vast distances, the celestial sky was the most fitting! ording tost year''s data, the diameter of the entire was tens of thousands of kilometers, and the distances between each were even more distant. Most crucially, the sun above their heads was a massive light source. Knowing the distance between them and other celestial bodies might allow them to deduce the speed of light!


    "This method is excellent!" Harof eximed but then seemed to realize something, hastily interrupting, "No, wait. When we see the sun, the light has already arrived; there''s no way to measure the speed using this."


    ording to Lynn''s exnation, everything they saw was a reflection of light. Before the light reached them, they couldn''t see the sun at all, so how could it serve as a reference point?


    Aurora furrowed her brow, admitting she hadn''t considered this before. However, just a few secondster, she smiled, "But we can try observing other celestial bodies in the distance!"


    "Such as the disappearingpanion star of Thirr. It asionally vanishes, likely rotating to the far side, eclipsed by Thirr''s light. This irregrity in the''s rotation cycle contradicts its supposed stability and regrity. ording to my observations, the disappearance time varies throughout the year, sometimes faster, sometimes slower, constantly changing."


    This peculiar astronomical phenomenon had initially perplexed her, but now she had an answer!


    As Thirr moved along its orbit around the sun, the distance between it and the reflection of sunlight on thepanion star took time. Understanding the distances between these celestial bodies and the Eternal Star beneath them might allow them to reverse-engineer the speed of light!


    After hearing Aurora''s exnation, Harof apuded, "You indeed have a solution! It seems this year, you''ll be holding that Silver Moon Medal!"


    As he spoke, Harof couldn''t help but burst intoughter; this time, Lynn might be miscalcting. Lynn had dared to publicly promise the Silver Moon Medal to anyone who could calcte the speed of light. Apparently, he underestimated their ability to find a method within a few days.


    "However, there''s still one problem..." Aurora hesitated.


    "What problem?" Harof asked cheerfully.


    "Currently, we''re still calcting the diameters and distances of various celestial bodies. We''ve only calcted the distance from the sun to the moon beneath us; we haven''t reached Thirr yet..." Aurora said somewhat helplessly.


    Their method for measuring the diameters and distances ofs, based on Lynn''s Ster Laws and the Parax Method, was incrediblyplex due to thes'' massive sizes. The data obtained often required repeated calctions and confirmations, resulting in slow progress.


    "It''s been nearly a year, and you still haven''t finished these calctions?" Harof''s expression spoke volumes; it was as good as not saying anything. Lynn was nning to verify these theories after this symposium, and they didn''t have time to wait for these slow calctions.


    Aurora shot Harof a nce. They still needed to verify Lynn''s theories over this past year and redraw a detailed star map. Thirr wasn''t that crucial in their priorities.


    Moreover, while this method for calcting the speed of light was viable, considering theary rotations, there might be some margin of error. They could only estimate the approximate value.


    "So, it seems we''re left with the brute force method, like replicating your initial experiments. If one kilometer isn''t enough, then ten, or even a hundred kilometers!" Harof asserted decisively.


    "In fact, quite a few people are preparing simr experiments now. Their ideas are intriguing; let them do the hard work," Aurora shrugged. If others were assisting in the verification process, it wouldn''t hurt to conserve some effort.


    >


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 Chapter 319: It Seems the Speed of Light Isnt That Fast After All

    Chapter 319: It Seems the Speed of Light Isn''t That Fast After All


    As dusk settled in the city of Greeneral the next day, thousands of wizards and civilians congregated outside the streets, observing Glenn and others as they covered every wall of the streets with smooth mirrors...


    "Only fifty mirrors left! Put them precisely as per the blueprint, not a fraction off on the angles!" Glennmanded loudly, orchestrating Nancy and others to ce the mirrors in their designated spots and adjust their angles precisely as he had calcted.


    Thanks to the steady hands and high precision of the wizards, if they said fifteen degrees, it was exactly that, not a fraction more. Linking the reflections of hundreds of mirrors wasn¡¯t an easy feat.


    Just determining the various angles of refraction took a whole day with the seven wizards working together!


    Glenn felt a bit relieved because borrowing the mirrors went smoothly. When many curious wizards learned they were for a light speed measurement experiment, they generously contributed their purchased round mirrors. They even got the council''s approval to use the streets and squares of Greeneral for the experiment after sunset when the shops closed.


    It took over an hour for Glenn and the team to position the final fifty mirrors. By the time they finished, the sun had set, enveloping the whole city in darkness.


    At Glenn''s request, there were no candlelights in any house. Everyone relied on the faint moonlight to see their surroundings.


    "Glenn, spill the beans now, will you? Why did you borrow so many mirrors? nning to measure the speed of light with this?" a wizard familiar with Glenn couldn''t contain his curiosity, prompting the others to eagerly await Glenn''s response.


    Facing the expectant gazes, Glenn seemed a bit nervous butunched into an exnation nheless. "My n is to use the principle of light reflection from mirrors to increase the distance light travels, thereby measuring the speed of light..."He had ced numerous mirrors across Greeneral. They would create a beam of light from the entrance of DC district, reflecting through the mirrors to XC district, then to the southern district, forming a loop...


    "A total of a thousand reflections over a hundred kilometers!" Glenn said proudly.


    He meticulously calcted each mirror cement. They only needed to stand in ce and watch as the light circled within Greeneral. The final stop would be the tower above their heads!


    "I''ve ced a white cloth at the top of the tower. Once we see a conspicuous spot of light there, it means the light haspleted the circuit, traveled a hundred kilometers, and by measuring the time taken, we can calcte the speed of light..." Glenn exined.


    "What a novel idea! To think it could be done like this..." Raphael eximed, admiring Glenn''s creativity. Using just a few streets to simte a hundred kilometers for their experiment.


    The other wizards became interested; Glenn''s n seemed feasible. After all, even light elements would take a second or two for such a distance, right?


    "Lord Lynn, do you think this can measure the speed of light?" Elok couldn''t resist asking. He knew the Headmaster had been preparing simr experimentstely, crucial for the Silver Moon Medal.


    "It''s possible, yet impossible..." Lynn smiled mysteriously, not revealing the answer.


    Glenn was indeed imaginative,ing up with such a method. However, hecked some considerations...


    Seeing Lynn''s ambiguous response, the wizards present couldn''t help but roll their eyes. It seemed even the esteemed magical star wasn¡¯t sure of the oue, resorting to such exnations just to save face.


    But it made sense¡ªif the other party knew beforehand, they''d probably have already measured the speed of light. After all, this experiment wasn''tplex. With enough mirrors, anyone could replicate it easily.


    Glenn paid no heed to the murmurs. Double-checking the blueprints in his hand onest time, he took a deep breath and focused.


    As time ticked away, when it struck midnight and was about three seconds in, Glenn raised his hand. A zing fireball appeared in the air, illuminating the entire street.


    But this was just the beginning. Glenn, along with five other wizards, worked their magic. With surging magical energy,yers of reflections formed around the fireball, creating a closed spherical structure, leaving only a one-centimeter diameter hole...


    All the light emitted by the fireball converged and shot through the tiny hole, targeting the first round mirror.


    Glenn timed it perfectly. At that moment, when all eyes were fixed, dazzling beams of light appeared within the street, continuously reflecting off the mirrors, extending all the way to the horizon.


    Nancy, facing away from Glenn, kept her gaze fixed on the top of the tower, not daring to blink, holding a magical clock. The moment she saw the light spot, she had to stop it. The final time taken would be the duration for light to travel a hundred kilometers.


    One second... Three seconds... Five seconds... Ten seconds...


    Nancy strained her eyes; the white cloth atop the tower remained empty, devoid of any light spot.


    "It seems the speed of light isn''t that fast after all... It''s been over ten seconds, why hasn''t it arrived yet?" Elok grumbled.


    "Even if it''s fast, for a hundred kilometers, it should take at least half a minute, right?" Pearce chuckled.


    However, Raphael and others furrowed their brows, a thought creeping into their minds¡ªcould something have gone wrong with the experiment?


    Thinking so, several grand wizards took flight, intending to survey the entire city from the skies, searching for the source of the problem.


    Down below, Glenn also sensed something amiss. The intensity of the light, as it passed through multiple reflections, was diminishing far more rapidly than he had expected...


    About ten secondster, Raphael and others returned from the sky, wearing somewhat resigned expressions.


    "Master Raphael, what''s the situation? Has the light not arrived yet?" one of Glenn''s friends hurriedly inquired, curious.


    This is as close as I can get while adhering to your specified names and themes! If you need more of this, just let me know!


    >


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 Chapter 320: A Bold Move... Encompassing a Half-City Vacuum Field!

    Chapter 320: A Bold Move... Epassing a Half-City Vacuum Field!


    Raphael, uponnding from the sky, uttered words that left everyone present stunned.


    "This experiment might be challenging to proceed further."


    "Noble Master, what exactly happened? Could it be the refraction angle of light?" Nancy anxiously inquired, despite confirming meticulously that each mirror was ced ording to the blueprint.


    Before Raphael could respond, Glenn sighed. "Perhaps the light has weakened?"


    "Yes!" Raphael nodded. "I just confirmed from above; the beam you created, after reflecting off the seventy-third mirror, has weakened to the point of being unrecognizable to the naked eye."


    "It''s decaying so rapidly?!" Glenn''s face turned pale. If the light could prate three or four hundred mirrors, there might have been a way topensate by enlisting more wizards to create a more potent beam.


    However, with just seventy-three mirrors traversed, merely a fraction of the distance, at this rate of decay, they''d need to amplify the beam tenfold or even a hundredfold. How could that be possible?


    "Lord Lynn, I believe you might know what''s happening," Raphael turned to Lynn, seeking an exnation.


    All eyes turned to the star of magic, recalling Lynn''s earlier evaluation of this experiment.Feasible, yet unfeasible...


    Lynn didn''t beat around the bush this time, exining, "Extending the path of light through reflection is feasible, but mirrors, while reflecting, inevitably lose a portion of energy each time."


    "So, should we reduce the number of mirrors and increase the distance of each reflection?" one wizard swiftly proposed.


    "No, that won''t work at all," Glenn sighed. "Light can''t propagate over extended distances."


    He had experimented with this before, which is why he had reduced the distance between two mirrors to about a hundred meters.


    "That''s because elements present in the air also reflect and absorb light, and light itself doesn''t propagate in parallel but disperses in all directions, which is why we see brightness..." Lynn continued exining.


    In other words, as long as light is visible, it means it has dispersed, reflecting into their eyes. Raphael immediately grasped Lynn''s point, but then countered suddenly.


    "That should be the case. So how does sunlight traverse millions of kilometers to reach this eternal star?"


    With Raphael''s reminder, many wizards noticed the ''w'' in Lynn''s words. If light were continuously decaying, sunlight couldn''t possibly reach here!


    The diviners had calcted the distance between the eternal star and the sun, an incredibly astounding figure, even the closest point being tens of millions of kilometers away!


    "Beyond our, in the vastness of space, elements are exceedingly rare, and light doesn''t lose energy in a vacuum. After reaching this star, it''s merely scattered and absorbed by elements; it doesn''t disappear..." Lynn shook their head.


    Lynn''s exnation dissolved the doubts, but consecutive difficulties left Glenn and others utterly perplexed.


    With this, the issue of light intensity decaying with distance seemed unsolvable. Glenn contemted intensely, unable to figure out how to make light visible after crossing a hundred kilometers.


    Would they have to admit defeat?


    Glenn felt extremely reluctant. He had prepared so much, presented such a grand scheme, only to fail in the end...


    Just then, a thunderous voice echoed like a bell in everyone''s ears. "Then make these obstructing elements vanish, create a sufficientlyrge vacuum area, simting the environment of the universe. Wouldn''t that work?"


    All eyes turned toward the direction of the voice, discovering several legendary council members heading their way. Surprisingly, it was Harof speaking!


    "Lord Harof!" Glenn was pleasantly surprised.


    Indeed, by creating a vacuum field covering the distance of light propagation, it could significantly reduce the weakening of light intensity.


    Only legendary wizards like Harof could propose such an absurd yet remarkably effective solution!


    Following Harof''s suggestion, the wizards gathered there began offering suggestions to Glenn.


    For instance, a thousand mirrors were way too many; they could easily increase the distance of each reflection to a kilometer, requiring just a hundred mirrors!


    Even Anthony stepped forward, deeply interested in this experiment of measuring light speed, proposing to use thunder magic to create an even more powerful light source...


    Amidst the chatter, one problem after another was resolved, creating an atmosphere of passionate magical research that Lynn found remarkablyforting.


    Though some were merely spectators, even waiting for a spectacle, there were quite a few wizards focused solely on magical research, aiming to understand the speed of light.


    Glenn, too, regained hisposure, modifying the position and angle of each mirror on the blueprint, reducing their number to a hundred, preparing for another experiment with a more potent light source!


    "Those not involved, step back. All great wizards, stay!" Harof solemnly dered. Such extensive elimination of elements, even for a legend like him, was impossible alone. It required the collective effort of everyone.


    Preparations took another hour before finally being deredplete.


    Anthony took the lead, flickering thunderlight appearing in his palm, growing brighter and more intense. Both civilians and wizards squinted; the light had be too dazzling to behold...


    "Let''s begin!" Harof''s voice, slightly intensified, resonated across every corner of the city.


    Simultaneously, twenty great wizards and three legends cast their spells. Elements around them were swiftly expelled by vast magical force. In just three seconds, a vacuum field epassing nearly half the city silently took shape!


    "What a grand move..." Lynn sighed. The wizards'' creativity and practical abilities far exceeded their expectations. Yet, swiftly refocusing, they raised their hand, expanding their domain,pleting the part of the vacuum route they were responsible for.


    >


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 Chapter 321: Breaking Through the Skies with Beams of Light!

    Chapter 321: Breaking Through the Skies with Beams of Light!


    As the vacuum field gradually took shape, Glenn once again unleashed his focusing magic, encapsting the suspended electric sphere in mid-air.


    A blinding beam shot forth from a minuscule aperture, yet due to theck of elements in the vacuum, those present couldn''t perceive the beam. They could only trace its trajectory through the hundred round mirrors illuminated within the Wizard City.


    "It''s here, it''s here!"


    The wizards waiting outside the vacuum field gazed in astonishment at the top of the tower. Though the imperfect mirror reflections diminished the beam''s intensity, this time, after crossing a staggering hundred kilometers, the light didn''t vanish. Instead, it illuminated the tower''s tip and the entire white cloth.


    "Did any of you see when it arrived?" Pearce curiously inquired. He blinked just moments ago and hadn''t seen the light''s arrival atop the tower.


    "Seemed like an instant? Too fast..." Elok shook his head, not having blinked but also failing to perceive the light''s arrival.


    The vacuum field enveloping half the city slowly receded. Sustaining such a vast field wasn''t easy, even for grand wizards and legendary ones.


    "How did it go? Any results?" Raphael hurried back, anxiously inquiring.


    Glenn immediately turned to the witch Nancy responsible for recording time and held a magical clock.The time on it remained at zero seconds...


    Glenn furrowed his brow. Had they forgotten to start the timer? Such a crucial experiment involving even the legendary councilors, and such a significant oversight...


    "I... I pressed it!" Nancy eximed in distress, on the verge of tears, as the start and end seemed simultaneous!


    This magical clock, an incredibly precise alchemical device, held sands of time inside, solidified with magic, dropping ten grains per second, providing a 0.1-second precision.


    Nancy''s speed was evidently swift, pressing it almost instantly, with not a grain of sand having fallen.


    "Did any of you see it clearly?" Harof turned to both Aurora and Victorio, the two legendary councilors, who shook their heads. Despite their constant vignce, they hadn''t seen it clearly either.


    Astonishment painted the faces of everyone present. The light had traveled a hundred kilometers before appearing, yet even legendary wizards hadn''t perceived any hint of its passage.


    How fast could it be? Ten thousand kilometers? A hundred thousand? Or a million?


    "Could light really have arrived instantly?" Sanchez spected, echoing the prevailing theory among wizards¡ªlight''s infinite speed, capable of instantaneous travel regardless of distance.


    If so, what was the point of testing light''s speed? Regardless of the method, there would be no conclusive results.


    However, Aurora shook her head. She understood there had to be a limit, having made progress in astronomical studiestely, observing unstable orbital periods on manys¡¯ moons.


    It had to be rted to the speed of light... just that the value might be unimaginably vast.


    "It seems this experiment has failed!" Glenn sighed, reluctant but acknowledging the fact that they had done everything possible!


    Even sessfully letting light traverse a hundred kilometers seemed inconsequential now. For light, that distance was no different from a hundred meters¡ªall instantaneous!


    Glenn felt ashamed. Despite their immense efforts, with the aid of numerous grand wizards and legendary councilors, they had gained nothing.


    "I actually think this experiment holds great value," Lynn''s voice suddenly resonated. "At the very least, earning a Morning Star Medal shouldn''t be a problem."


    "Master Lynn, even if you wish to favor it, jesting about the Council''s reputation isn''t eptable, is it?" A grand wizard expressed dissatisfaction.


    Glenn''s n to measure light speed through mirror reflection was indeed intriguing, but theck of any research findings was a stark reality!


    If this experiment earned a Morning Star Medal, then everyone would have one!


    Lynn didn''t respond but pointed to the first round mirror...


    People looked puzzled. Although the vacuum field had dissipated, the focusing magic continued. A beam, less than a centimeter in diameter, continuously emitted heat waves onto the mirror...


    Crack...


    With a light sound, the mirror shattered.


    The energy within this beam was terrifying. Even though the mirror reflected ny-nine percent of the light, the remaining one percent surpassed the threshold the mirror could withstand!


    Without the mirror''s barrier, the beam''s immense power and terror became evident!


    A wizard standing behind was unfortunate to be struck by the beam. Their shoulder was instantly pierced, a piercing scream resounded through the street. Nearby wizards scattered in panic, but the light''s speed made their efforts futile...


    Glenn hadn''t anticipated such an event. The core of the light wasn''t under his control; he instinctively deviated from the beam...


    The subtle yet powerful beam resembled an almost infinite divine sword, tearing through anything in its path. The injured wizard''s shoulder was sliced, then like a knife through butter, the wall behind was diagonally split, leaving a vivid red scar on the ground, where the tiles were melted¡ªa sight that left a significant impression on Flora.


    This unexpected experiment ident caused injuries to over ten people. Fortunately, no lives were lost.


    Two unlucky individuals¡ªone had half their shoulder severed, while another, even with a protective Mage Shield when approaching the experiment, received a deep scar on their chest. Thankfully, no blood flowed as the wound was instantly cauterized by the high temperature.


    Others were lucky to be a few hundred meters away from the beam. They suffered burns or temporary blindness from the intense light, injuries not life-threatening...


    >


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 Chapter 322: Legendary Magic - Sunshine Illumination!

    Chapter 322: Legendary Magic - Sunshine Illumination!


    An experiment gone awry led to considerable casualties, yet the wizards gathered around didn''t disperse. Strengthening their personal shields, they excitedly discussed the horrifying beam that had just manifested...


    In the pursuit of magic, risks often apany the journey. Various idents are considered a norm. Hence, wizards sustaining severe injuries, blindness, limb severances, deafening shocks, and even deaths due to poison or explosions are not umon.


    However, this didn''t deter their research and passion for magic.


    Given the level of wizarding pharmaceuticals, as long as one didn''t perish on the spot, most injuries were salvageable.


    "What powerful magic..." Raphaelmented, observing the demolished structures and the solid bricks sliced through on the ground, expressing his awe.


    The wizards present finally understood why Lynn had awarded Glenn the Morning Star Medal. It wasn''t solely for his experiment measuring the speed of light using mirrors, but for this focusing magic!


    Judging by the destruction along this street, the focused beam could effortlessly slice houses within fifty meters, breach Mage Shields, and cause fatal harm to unprotected enemies within a hundred meters...


    Even expanded to three hundred meters, the intense light could blind or burn people.


    "This is at least a fourth circle, no, fifth circle magic, isn''t it?" Sanchez pondered.The power of the beam itself was one thing, but its true horrory in its speed. Traveling a hundred kilometers in an instant, it offered no chance for evasion, making it perfect for precise ambushes.


    Even in directbat, wielding a weapon with an effective range exceeding a hundred meters, it left barely any room for escape!


    Glenn, too, found it hard to believe the terror his focusing magic wielded.


    He had conducted rted experiments before, but never had he concentrated the beam to such rming extents.


    Of course, this wasn''t solely his achievement. Anthony''s Thunder Magic yed an indispensable role. Glenn alone couldn''t produce such intense beams.


    "It seems light elemental magic can no longer be restricted to mere support!" Aurora chimed in, already contemting numerous uses for the focusing magic.


    While her previously established prized magic system was formidable and enigmatic, it was mostly used for support¡ªconcealment, visual deception, magical projection, inducing blindness through intense light, and the like. Now, it could serve as the primary means in battles!


    "Congrattions, Glenn. You''ll be the first nominated for the Morning Star Medal at this academic symposium!" Raphael congratted.


    Glenn wore a wry smile. He hadn''t expected the light beam experiment he had high hopes for to yield no results. Instead, the focusing magic, which he hadn''t regarded highly initially, earned him the Morning Star Medal.


    However, the damaged street and casualties from the experiment troubled him immensely. There would bepensations to make. Thankfully, no one had perished; otherwise, he would be in grave trouble.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Master Lynn..." Glenn remembered to express his gratitude to Lynn, who timely cautioned him.


    Previously, he had envied and somewhat resented this renowned star of magic. Now, all that remained was admiration.


    The depth and breadth of knowledge Lynn possessed far surpassed Glenn''s imagination. The fact that Lynn could urately point out the limitations of the mirror in reflecting light and the phenomena of light scattering hinted that Lynn might have conducted simr experiments long before.


    "The idea was yours. I must say, this focusing magic and the experiment to test light speed with mirrors were both quite good," Lynn smiled.


    "Unfortunately, the experiment still failed," Glenn sighed.


    Lynn chuckled without responding. In reality, Glenn''s idea wasn''t fundamentally wed; it was indeed possible to roughly measure the speed of light.


    Of course, provided one had a quick enough reaction speed!


    ording to the data from the past life, light traveled a hundred kilometers in roughly three-thousandths of a second. Lynn wasn''t certain if legendary wizards could perceive such a slight change. Clearly, they couldn''t!


    However, Glenn''s focusing magic did surprise Lynn.


    The convenience of magic often exceeded expectations. Lynn couldn''t help but recall the federal government''s colossal "Sr Focusing Mirror" in the wilderness of a past life, generating temperatures capable of instantly melting steel. Concentrated at a point, it could even reach temperatures several times that of a star''s surface...


    Lynn pondered that perhaps they could replicate something simr using extensive focusing magic while airborne. That would indeed be true "Sunshine Illumination"!


    At this thought, Lynn surprisingly realized possessing yet another legendary magic. However, its requirement for specific seasons and weather conditions was quite high¡ªonly during the noon of summer would its power be sufficient...


    Perhaps it could be taken further to create trueser magic...


    As Lynn contemted the new magic, the group of wizards discussed the failed mirror reflection experiment.


    In truth, numerous wizards aimed to measure light speed, hoping to acquire the Silver Moon Medal. Their ideas were diverse, but all revolved around a central argument¡ªcreating a sufficiently long distance and finding a means to record the time taken by light to traverse it. Reality, however, doused their hopes.


    Glenn''s experiment this time had reached the epitome in all aspects. Even the legendary councilors had intervened, yet they couldn''t conceive any method to simte a longer distance for light speed measurement...


    "Master Lynn, is there truly a way to measure light speed?" Sanchez asked, puzzled.


    The other wizards present turned their gaze to this magical luminary.


    "Of course!" Lynn nodded. After a pause, Lynn continued, "Actually, my method isn''t that grand..."


    This further piqued Raphael''s curiosity, but Lynn shook their head, teasingly adding, "The apparatus for the experiment requires a bit more preparation time. In any case, you''ll know in a few days!"


    Raphael and the others felt speechless but had no choice but to specte internally about Lynn''s supposedly ''not soplicated'' method.


    Harof, with an imaginative mind, wondered if it involved using a magic to slow down the speed of light to fulfill the measurement''s requirement. Or perhaps creating a powerful light beam directed at the moon, calcting based on the time and distance it traveled.


    Some wizards even maliciously thought that this magical luminary was merely ying tricks. If the subsequent experiment turned out like Glenn''s failure, it would be quiteical...


    >


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 Chapter 323: Lynn: To Measure the Speed of Light, Just a Small Gear is All I Need!

    Glen''s experiment on light beam measurement, despite its ultimate failure, propelled the curiosity of the wizards regarding the speed of light to a new high.


    The results of the experiment were so shocking that it sparked immense discussion among them. The terrifying power of condensing strong light into a beam became a topic of fascination for every wizard.


    It''s foreseeable that optics would be a specialized field of study for many wizards in the future.


    However, regarding the measurement of the speed of light, the wizards divided into two camps. Some staunchly believed that the speed of light was infinite. After all, they could easily see the distant sun and moon from here.


    Measuring the speed of light was simply absurd!


    On the other hand, some believed that the speed of light was finite. They reasoned that everything, including the ''element of light,'' had its limits. But they couldn''t conceive how to continue the experiment.


    For light, even a distance of a hundred kilometers is reached in an instant. If it had a speed, it must surpass at least ten thousand kilometers per second for people''s reactions to be unable to keep up. Consider that the circumference of the eternal star beneath their feet was merely over forty thousand kilometers!


    "Are we supposed to conduct the experiment at both ends of the?" Sanchez''s mind conjured this thought. That would certainly provide ample space, but how would they travel there?


    "Fool, this is round, and light travels in a straight line. It either gets blocked or flies into space; it can''t reach the other end," scoffed Raphael."What else do you suggest?" asked an irritated Sanchez.


    Raphael opened his mouth and then shook his head helplessly. "How should I know?"


    This wizard, filled with magical ideas, had surprised everyone. Who would have thought that merely erecting an ice pir on the sea''s surface and measuring the shadow''s length would yield the entire''s circumference and volume?


    Thus, Raphael couldn''t specte on what new ingenious idea the other mighte up with this time.


    Curiosity aside, the magical conference continued as usual. Over three days, three recipients were awarded the Morning Star Medal.


    They were Glenn, who conjured the focus magic, Flora, who presented electromaic theory on stage for Anthony, and...


    Ynd, who had crafted a rudimentary microscope. This wizard from the prophecy guild, after being refuted by Lynn in the previous year''s conference, had taken the criticism to heart and delved wholeheartedly into research.


    While observing celestial bodies through an astronomical telescope, Ynd had a sudden inspiration and made some modifications, resulting in the creation of the microscope.


    Though they had shed at the conference a year prior, Lynn didn''t hold any grudge. It was merely an academic dispute, normal even if it escted. Ynd hadn''t resorted to any low means to upset Lynn intentionally, so Lynn graciously nominated Ynd for the Morning Star Medal.


    This magnanimity left Ynd feeling deeply ashamed.


    This time, he had prepared for potential bacsh, even drafting a speech of over ten thousand words to elucidate the research''s significance. However, Lynn was the first to propose awarding him the Morning Star Medal.


    In the midst of their coboration, Raphael persistently tried to extract some details from Lynn, but Lynn diverted them aimlessly. Raphael murmured in private, pondering if Sanchez''s spection was urate¡ªperhaps the Star Mage wasn''t entirely confident in the experiment, hence the constant secrecy.


    Ignoring the various rumors circting among the wizardry, Lynn returned to the rest area of the Iyeta Academy and summoned Elok and the others, inquiring about their preparations.


    "Dean Lynn, we''ve finished making the gears as you instructed!" Elok and Pearce spoke wearily.


    They had spent three days manufacturing ten gears of varying sizes, from five hundred teeth to twelve hundred teeth. As per the Dean''s instructions, they had to ensure precision, with each tooth''s distance being exactly equal, with an uracy of one-thousandth of a centimeter.


    Only certified wizards could aplish such meticulous tasks. This was precisely why Lynn had brought them along¡ªsomeone had to do the job!


    Meanwhile, Lydia and Jonny were tasked with creating the lenses and mirrors, which were nowplete.


    "Excellent, it seems we can start the experiment tonight!" Lynn inspected the experimental equipment and nodded in satisfaction.


    Elok and the others were incredibly puzzled. Why would the Dean ask them to make so many gears?


    "Are we supposed to measure the speed of light with these things?" Lydia raised her hand and asked.


    "Yes, the gears are enough for that!" Lynn nodded.


    ...


    At night, within the city of Greenreal, the square was packed with wizards who hade to witness this experiment.


    The Star Mage''s reputation, coupled with the light-speed measurement experiment, made this a spectacle no one wanted to miss.


    "Master Lynn, we''ve been waiting for days. You won''t tease us now, will you?" Raphael expressed his frustration. He had been contemting various methods for the experiment these past few days but hadn''t found any solutions.


    "My method is simple, and everything we need is right here!" Lynn smiled.


    Curiously, Raphael and the others gazed at the experimental setup in front of Lynn. The most prominent item was the peculiar-looking alchemical apparatus. After Lynn''s exnation, they understood it was used to emit a light beam, akin to Glen''s focusing magic.


    And ced on the walls of the DC district was a mirror, precisely four kilometers away from this square...


    "Isn''t this simr to Glen''s mirror experiment for measuring light speed a few days ago?"


    Nancy murmured softly, and the other wizards present nodded in agreement.


    After all, Glen had used a hundred mirrors to create a hundred kilometers of space, but it had ultimately failed. In contrast, Lynn''s mirrored surface, though traversing half of Greenreal City, was barely eight kilometers, not even a tenth.


    Measuring the speed of light was simply a pipe dream!


    "So, what''s this for?" Raphael pointed at what Elok held. "How is this crucial for the experiment?"


    "A gear?" Raphael immediately recognized it. This thing wasn''t unfamiliar to alchemists; it had existed in the steam engine previously created by the Alchemy Association.


    What did this have to do with measuring the speed of light?


    >


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 Chapter 324: My Method Involves Gears and Light Speed Comparison!

    Chapter 324: My Method Involves Gears and Light Speed Comparison!


    Amidst the bewildered gazes of the onlookers, Elok affixed gears to the alchemical apparatus emitting beams of light, cing a peculiar-looking piece of ss amidst them.


    It was only then that Lynn finally spoke up. "This is a half-lens! Unlike regr ss, as the name suggests, only one side allows the beam to pass through!"


    Glenn peered back and forth in astonishment; one side disyed a clear view of the background while the other remained blurred.


    "This experiment is straightforward. The alchemical device emits a beam, and when the gear is stationary, the light, passing through the gear''s gap and hitting the reflective mirror on the opposite side, reflects back, striking the opaque side, creating arger spot for us to see!"


    As Lynn spoke, they activated the alchemical device, and immediately, two beams appeared in the air.


    True to Lynn''s words, the light passed through the half-lens, crossed the gap between two gears, urately reaching a distant mirror, bouncing back, and passing through the gear gap to hit the half-lens again.


    "But if this gear starts spinning... then the light passing through the gap on its return might be obstructed," Lynn paused, their mind urging the gears to move under the influence of Elemental Sight.


    Without much exnation from Lynn, everyone witnessed the beam behind the massive gear intermittently appearing and disappearing on the half-lens, sometimes passing through the gap, sometimes blocked by the gear...


    Just as the wizards were pondering this phenomenon, Lynn spoke again."In theory, if the gear''s rotation is fast enough, as the light passes through the first gear gap and travels eight kilometers to return, it might just pass through the second gear gap, and in that case..."


    Before Lynn could finish, Glenn, as if realizing something, eximed, "This means every light element that passes through the first gap will invariably return through the second gap, eliminating the possibility of obstruction. The beam and spot will be remarkably clear!"


    Glenn''s words were akin to dropping a boulder into a calmke, causing amotion among the wizards present.


    "This is... a genius idea!" eximed Raphael, his voice trembling.


    He had been contemting how the magical luminary would measure the speed of light, never expecting such a simple solution!


    The key to this experiment was synchronizing the time it takes for a gear to rotate with the time it takes for light to emit and return.


    The brilliancey in the fact that light needed to traverse a full eight kilometers while the gear needed only to move a fraction to reach the second gap!


    Each notch on the gear represented a distance of eight kilometers for the light. If there were a thousand notches, a single revolution meant the light had traveled eight thousand kilometers. Ten rotations would equal eighty thousand miles!


    Understanding this, the wizards involuntarily gasped; this small gear seemed like a super magnifier!


    The speed of light might be incredible, but likewise, the gear''s speed could escte dramatically...


    "This is matching gear and light speed!" Harof also eximed.


    Yet Lynn was quite cunning; the gear moved five millimeters (the distance between two teeth), while light had to cover eight kilometers... a difference of tens of thousands of times!


    Finally, understanding the multiple by which the distance the gear traveled was greater than the speed of light, simply observing the number of teeth on the gear and how many rotations itpleted in a second could reverse-engineer the speed of light!


    No wonder Lynn was so confident in measuring the speed of light...


    "Amazing, truly the Luminary of Magic!" sighed Sanchez.


    He was impressed; only a mind of this caliber could devise such a solution.


    However, many onlooking wizards still wore bewildered expressions.


    What are they talking about? Why can''t I understand...


    But to maintain their dignity as wizards, they nodded in pretended understanding, praising Lynn with a few words.


    "Indeed, the Luminary of Magic..." "A brilliant idea! I knew they would figure it out!"


    Amongst the chorus of praise were hidden dissenting voices; Yassos and others insisted that the speed of light was infinite. No matter how fast Lynn elerated the gear, it would be futile!


    "May we begin, Headmaster?" Lydia shouted loudly.


    Lynn nodded, instructing the halfling girl to start the internalbustion engine, increasing the gear''s speed.


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the 720-toothed gear slowly began its rotation, then elerated, five turns per second, then ten, fifteen... soon bing a blur.


    Meanwhile, the beam and the light spot on the half-lens kept flickering, the frequency increasing, as the light constantly switched between passing and not passing through the gaps...


    "So fast..." Witch Nancy muttered to herself; she could no longer discern the gear''s rotational speed. "At this rate, can light really distinguish those tiny gaps?"


    Considering each gap was merely 0.5 centimeters, at such high speeds, they would be sharp cutting instruments. What if the light elements couldn''t find the gaps when passing through? Then wouldn''t they be unable to see?


    "We might not discern it, but light surely can!" Lynn affirmed.


    "Look, the frequency of the beam and the light spot seems... to be slowing down!" Raphael hurriedly pointed out.


    Not just him, but many noticed this change. It was too distinct to be an illusion. As the gear''s rotation speed increased again, the wizards present wore expressions of fear...


    "The light spot... disappeared!"


    Sanchez''s eyes widened. Before them was an immensely peculiar sight. The faint beam emitted from the alchemical device stopped upon its return at the gear, whereas the beam from the gear to the half-lens vanished suddenly, no longer flickering as before.


    This was the opposite of what Lynn had mentioned...


    "What on earth is happening?" Raphael nearly pulled out his beard, consumed by confusion.


    "Because all the light passing through the gap collided with the gear teeth upon return. This proves that light speed has limits; we''ve seeded halfway!" Lynn''s voice echoed among the crowd.


    >


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 Chapter 325: Light Needs Only a Second to Circumnavigate the Continent Seven and a Half Times!

    Chapter 325: Light Needs Only a Second to Circumnavigate the Continent Seven and a Half Times!


    Under Lynn''s guidance, the wizards present finally grasped the situation, gazing at the gears spinning ceaselessly before them, their faces a mix of astonishment.


    This gear mechanism had managed to block all attempts of light particles from passing through its teeth, without exception!


    "This isn''t magic!" Yassos eximed in disbelief.


    This eerie urrence directly disproved the notion of limitless light speed! Otherwise, every beam passing through the gaps would instantly return, with no possibility of being obstructed...


    "It''s feasible, this method is truly feasible!" murmured Glenn.


    Just as Lynn had said, they had achieved half the sess. All they needed now was to continue increasing the speed; those returning beams would gradually move backward, passing over the obstructive gears to reach the next gap!


    "How fast is it spinning now?" Raphael urgently inquired.


    "Twenty-five revolutions per second!" Lydia reported loudly.


    "Increase it further, faster!" Raphael shouted.Lydia nced at Lynn and then, as instructed, increased the internalbustion engine''s power once again. The gear''s speed immediately surged several notches higher, described only as extravagant¡ªa fierce noise reverberating around them.


    So intense was it that even onlookers like Elok felt a tinge of concern, fearing the contraption might suddenly break apart.


    Even though they elerated to thirty-five revolutions per second, the light spot remained absent, but the gear''s speed was approaching its limit!


    Despite Lynn instructing them to reduce the gear spacing between 0.5 centimeters, the gear''s circumference still reached a staggering seven meters. Under such high-speed conditions, it was on the verge of copsing at any moment!


    "Stand back, I''ll handle this!" Harof stepped forward, interrupting the internalbustion engine''s power supply, instantly using magic to elerate the gear beyond forty revolutions!


    To ensure precision, Harof didn¡¯t increase the speed too rapidly, instead opting for a bnced pace...


    When the disk''s speed exceeded fifty-two revolutions per second, every wizard present could distinctly witness a prominent light spot reappearing on the lens!


    This indicated that the light beam passing through the first gap had returned from the second!


    As the crowd cheered jubntly, the entire disk exploded, sharp fragments flying in all directions like the keenest of knives!


    Screams erupted among the crowd, but thankfully, Harof prevented the experiment from causing further idents. The flying disk fragments seemed to sink into a sludge, slowing down gradually due to the effect of a dyed barrier, eventually hovering in mid-air.


    "What was the speed just now, Speaker?" Raphael asked excitedly.


    "It was fifty-two revolutions per second!" Harof affirmed confidently.


    This value was unquestionable!


    Raphael immediately calcted in his mind.


    Seven hundred and twenty teeth multiplied by eight kilometers multiplied by a speed of fifty-two revolutions... which means...


    Twenty-nine thousand nine hundred and fifty-two kilometers per second!


    As the wizards calcted this figure, incredulity painted their faces. It was unbelievably fast... No wonder they couldn¡¯t track the trajectory of light, no matter how they measured it earlier.


    "Does this mean light can circumnavigate the Eternal Star''s entire circumference in just one second?" Witch Nancy suddenly realized.


    The circumference of the continent beneath their feet was merely forty thousand kilometers.


    "Isn¡¯t this a bit exaggerated?" Sanchez furrowed his brow. Nearly three hundred thousand kilometers per second was nearly indistinguishable from instant arrival within their realm of understanding.


    "Only at such a speed can it traverse the vastness of the universe..." Aurora reminded them.


    For instance, from the sun to this Eternal Star, the nearest point is around 140 million kilometers, and even at the speed of light, it would take over eight minutes!


    Yet, in the face of such distances and speeds, even legendary wizards like them seemed as tiny as dust...


    "So what we see daily is the sun''s state from several minutes ago!" Lydia counted on her fingers, abruptly reaching a startling conclusion.


    Wizards like Ynd from the Prophecy Guild suddenly realized they might measure distances betweens and their rtionships using light speed, a universal measuring tool that would easily allow them to calcte previously elusive data.


    Of course, this premise required them to calcte the speed of light''s propagation in the true vacuum of space...


    While the wizards were astonished by the terrifying speed of light, Lynn was thinking about something else entirely.


    The light speed in both worlds was astonishingly close...


    Quietly contemting in his mind, if the data in the genius brain was urate, the light speed measured in his previous life was 299,792 kilometers per second. The minuscule difference might be due to measurement precision issues...


    Could this prove that the two worlds existed within the same universe?


    This wasn''t an imusible notion. While the previous federation hadn¡¯t discovered magic, humanity hadn¡¯t even fully grasped the tiny sr system, akin to tribal people living in the desert, believing the sandy expanse to be the entire world.


    However, the universe''s vastness surpassed everyone''s imagination. Perhaps in some distant star system, there existed a miraculous substance called magic, or maybe energy?


    Nevertheless, the simrity between the two worlds was remarkably high; it could also be another Earth in a parallel universe...


    But these spections weren¡¯t something they could verify now. Lynn didn¡¯t invest too much effort in this, utilizing gears of varying teeth counts, prepared long ago, to reattempt several times, verifying the uracy of this experiment.


    The final data showed some fluctuation, approximately a difference of several hundred meters.


    For the wizards present, this result was incredibly satisfying. Compared to the colossal volume of light speed, such a discrepancy was negligible.


    Some even spected if light, like the speed of sound, varied in different regions, hence the fluctuation in measurements.


    Only Lynn himself was slightly dissatisfied. Of course, a more precise determination of light speed was better. But given the current rudimentary conditions, it was impossible to create a more urate instrument in the short term. The only feasible methods were gears and octagonal mirror experiments, both convenient yet unavoidably prone to slight errors.


    >


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 Chapter 326: The Imperial Griffin Knights Cross the Border!

    Chapter 326: The Imperial Griffin Knights Cross the Border!


    Following thepletion of the experiment on light speed measurement, this year''s academic symposium finally drew to a close. However, the method of using gears for distance measurement continued to captivate the attendees.


    Next on the agenda was the award ceremony. Flora, Glenn, and Ynd, all nominated, smoothly received the Morning Star Medals.


    Lynn, too, secured a Silver Moon Medal once again thanks to the recent experiment on light speed calction!


    However, concerning this award ceremony, the wizards'' opinions were sharply divided.


    Most wizards believed that Lynn''s proposal of the beam measurement method could only be described as genius! Although this single experiment hadn''t quite met the criteria for earning the Silver Moon Medal, showing some leniency toward a prodigy wasn''t a big deal.


    Especially considering that this individual had previously received even the Crown Medal, there was no need for envy.


    Yet, there were still some wizards who held reservations about the magical prodigy receiving the Silver Moon Medal. Despite the brilliance of Lynn''s experiment, it ultimately only measured the speed of light.


    And these medals were usually awarded to those who made outstanding contributions to the wizarding world, developed legendary magic, or significantlyplemented the existing magical system.


    In their view, measuring the speed of light obviously didn''t match up to any of these criteria. One could say that the council had set a rather unfortunate precedent this time...At the heart of the whirlwind, Lynn didn''t dwell on gaining praise or countering criticisms, continuing the research on basic elements. asionally, they were pulled out by Raphael and others to socialize with the great wizards lingering within the Wizard City.


    Lynn didn''t refuse the interaction among the great wizards; these individuals were the vanguards of the wizarding world. Among them were those who had received the Morning Star Medal multiple times, even the Silver Moon Medal. In a sense, they were the Newtons and Einsteins of this otherworld, pivotal figures in advancing magical studies.


    On the third day following the end of the academic symposium, all the parliamentarians staying within the city of Greeneral received an invitation from the council. Naturally, Lynn was no exception, well aware that the primary purpose of this meeting was likely to discuss how to respond to the Holy Church''s imminent invasion...


    However, just before Lynn was about to leave, Darren, who should have been in Iyeta, thend of Halflings, rushed over with a group of people in a fluster.


    "Dean, something''s wrong, something''s happened!"


    "What happened, Darren?" Lynn furrowed their brow, already forming a guess.


    "It''s intelligence from the Kingdom of Hadrta... Early yesterday morning, the Imperial troops suddenly crossed the border!" Darren gasped for breath and handed over a sealed letter.


    This was much quicker than Lynn had anticipated... With a contemtive expression, Lynn immediately opened the envelope and, upon reading its contents, their expression turned notably serious.


    ...


    One day earlier, at the border of the Kingdom of Hadrta, two massive airships were hovering at an altitude of a kilometer, conducting routine patrols.


    As a proud airship pilot, Hami had always dreamt of soaring through the skies just like the birds.


    However,cking magical talent, he was acutely aware that such dreams were impractical. His foreseeable future was merely a hoe and a patch of farnd. If lucky, perhaps he could buy a camelop, saving some effort while tilling thend.


    But everything changed two years ago when the new dean arrived at Iyeta. Hami left his hoe and joined the newly established ss workshop, where a month''s earnings equaled what he used to earn in half a year. Later, he heard that the dean intended to recruitmoners and train them to be pilots for the airships.


    Hearing this news, Hami couldn''t believe his ears. In his eyes, these airships,rger than a house and capable of soaring into the sky, were the greatest magical creations of the wizards. To have the opportunity to pay and experience a flight was already an immense gift.


    Could these non-magicalmoners really operate these magnificent magical creations?


    Yet, despite his confusion, Hami immediately resigned from the workshop and joined the pilot training.


    Apart from mastering how to operate this colossal machinery, understanding alchemical instruments perpetually indicating the north and south, they also needed to learn mathematics and arcane knowledge.


    For instance, estimating the distance between the airship and its target using suitable references and some ''simple'' forms, a basic skill in reconnaissance.


    Poor Hami, spending most of his life tilling thend, found himself dizzy-headed with these studies. ording to some hearsay, even some wizardly folks found this thing called "arcane math" challenging...


    These efforts evidently yielded rich rewards. His monthly earnings increased from ten silver coins to twenty, without the need for toiling day and night in the factory. His lifelong dream found realization in a different manner!


    So, when he heard that Dean Lynn intended to select some airship pilots for dangerous missions, Hami unhesitatingly volunteered.


    Partly out of gratitude to the dean and partly because during missions, the rewards doubled. In case of an unfortunate demise, their families would receive a generous ten magical gold coins aspensation, along with the promise of the best care, even free education inmoner schools.


    Hami and the rest of the pilots undoubtedly undertook these tasks with a sense of inevitability. After spending over a month patrolling the kingdom''s borders, their tense spirits gradually rxed. They even began to wonder if the wizardly folks had exaggerated things a bit.


    They were, after all, soaring thousands of meters in the sky. Spotting the Imperial troops crossing the border with a telescope and reporting back to Iyeta¡ªthat couldn''t be dangerous...


    During this month-long surveince in the same area, Hami felt increasingly bored. Although he loved the feeling of flying, being stuck in one ce for too long made even flying somewhat tedious.


    Hami fantasized in his mind: if only he could fly to the other end of the world...


    "Wait, Hami, what''s that over there?" His assistant suddenly eximed as if discovering something.


    Hami immediately turned to look, and in the distant sky, it seemed like a golden cloud was approaching them.


    That looks peculiar...


    Hami used the telescope installed on the airship to observe. His pupils contracted; it wasn''t a cloud but arge group of creatures with eagle-like heads and lion-like hindquarters. The bright golden feathers, under the sunlight, appeared like a golden halo, resembling a moving cloud from afar...


    They were Griffins, the Imperial Griffin Knights!


    >


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 Chapter 327: The Damaged Airship and the Aerial Battle at the Border

    Chapter 327: The Damaged Airship and the Aerial Battle at the Border


    In thend of wizards, griffins were unheard of. However, before their departure, the grand wizards had briefed them about certain elite Imperial troops, one being the Griffin Knight Order.


    "Retreat, quickly!" Hami shouted, swiftly changing the airship''s course toward the kingdom''s borders and immediately engaging the optical invisibility button.


    A spherical shield enveloped the airship, swiftly vanishing into a distorted array of light.


    The pursuing griffins emitted sharp cries, not behaving as Hami had anticipated. Rather than scattering aimlessly upon losing their target, they regrouped swiftly and organized themselves into a tighter formation, doubling their previous speed...


    "Damn, these fellows are too resilient. They saw through our invisibility!" Hami cursed under his breath.


    Unaware of the griffins'' heightened sensitivity to magic creatures, Hami knew that these beings could smell prey''s blood even kilometers away. Mere visual disappearance posed little hindrance, especially when it was face-to-face invisibility...


    However, one couldn''t fault Hami and the crew for theirck of caution. While the prizing magic enchantments on the airship were effective, concealing such a colossal object consumed a significant amount of magical energy, a resource too valuable to waste when not crucial!


    Considering the possibility of being stranded outside for months, the crew had been conservative with their use of magic crystals, necessary for activating invisibility, saving them only for critical moments.


    "Hurry, hurry..." Hami and the crew urgently maneuvered the controls to the maximum. The massive airship underwent a challenging turn, converting arge amount of magical power into hydrogen gas, running the internalbustion engine at full throttle!The rest of the crew tightened their grip on their rifles, refraining from firing due to the distant proximity.


    The airship''s speed increased, surprising the griffin knights, who had seemed on the brink of encircling it, with this colossal airborne vessel surpassing even the swiftness of griffins.


    Devi, the captain of the Griffin Knights, hadn''t foreseen this. To him, such a massive alchemical contraption should have been slower in operation. Yet, the airship''s speed exceeded expectations...


    If this continued, they could only watch helplessly as their target slipped away before their very eyes...


    Devi''s gaze turned ice-cold. Based on this brief encounter, he had already ssified this peculiar alchemical creation as a significant threat!


    Devi was acutely aware of how impactful a manned, invisible, and high-speed flying object could be in warfare!


    They had to capture it, intact if possible!


    With this in mind, Devi immediatelymunicated with the griffin beneath him, estimating the positions and distances of both parties. Northeast direction, approximately six hundred meters away!


    This height was beyond the reach of a bow and arrow, yet Devi was confident because before bing a Griffin Knight, he was a clergyman!


    ...


    "Thank goodness we escaped!" Seeing the airship rapidly breaking free from the enemy''s encirclement, Hami and the crew breathed a sigh of relief, joyously feeling as though they''d narrowly escaped disaster.


    Although they were prepared for sacrifice, nobody wouldin about prolonging their own lives if the chance arose...


    Once they distanced themselves enough, losing the enemy''s bearing, they would bepletely safe.


    The crew members, who had been on edge, rxed collectively.


    However, the deputy, always vignt of enemy movements, sensed an impending danger. Without hesitation, he lunged towards Hami, pinning him down inside the cabin.


    Almost in the next second, a violent shockwave surged from a distance, striking the airship''s cockpit directly.


    The massive airship shuddered violently, shattering one side''s panels.


    Except for Hami and the pinned deputy, the rest of the pilots were thrown out by the force, crashing heavily against the cabin walls...


    Before they could recover, the second wave of attack descended upon them!


    "Praise [Eira]¡ªSacred Light Impact!"


    Devi and several other cleric Griffin Knights shouted loudly again. Intense beams of light struck various parts of the cockpit.


    Although the airship had been crafted with special materials and embellished with alchemical arrays such as [Resilience], [Solidification], [Lightness], and [Windproof], it couldn''t withstand sessive divine assaults.


    If Devi and his team hadn''t aimed to capture the peculiar alchemical creation, the airship would have been downed already.


    Nevertheless, under the second wave of attacks, the aerial airship suffered severe damage, its speed dwindling rapidly.


    "Damn, the external propellers must''ve been damaged!" Hami, having studied airship constructions, knew what this meant. Losing power implied losing their hopes of escape...


    "Everyone, since these bastards won''t let us escape, we have no choice but to fight them!" Hami turned to the people around him, yelling hoarsely.


    "Let''s fight them!" "Killing one or two won''t be a loss; it''s a gain!"


    The pilots, gunners, and observers all shouted together, wearing determined expressions on their faces.


    Their lives were insignificant; usually, nobody cared about them. But in Iyeta, it was different, as they could earn a whopping ten magic gold coins!


    If they could eliminate a few enemies, it would be a huge win!


    After the shouts, Hami and the crew stopped dodging and instead picked up their rifles, firing at the swiftly approaching Griffin Knights...


    The continuous gunfire echoed in the sky. As it was the Griffin Knight Order''s first encounter with firearms, they hadn''t prepared for such strange weapons. Consequently, several griffins were hit...


    However, their achievements were meager. Griffins, as a magical beast, possessed incredible vitality. Unless struck directly in the head or repeatedly by gunfire, the shots weren''t fatal...


    One particrly bold Griffin Knight maneuvered skillfully through a seemingly unpredictable flight path, narrowly evading the first round of gunfire, reaching the airship just before the second round of ammunition could be loaded.


    >


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 Chapter 328: The Cracked White Phosphorus Fire!

    Chapter 328: The Cracked White Phosphorus Fire!


    "Face the judgment of the gods, sinners!" The griffin knight raised his war hammer, shouting at Hami and the others.


    In just a few seconds, the distance between the two sides had shrunk to about twenty meters. Hami''s group on the airship was still hurriedly loading projectiles.


    Clearly, this immensely powerful alchemical device couldn''t be fired continuously! Today, Hami was determined to im victory!


    A smirk crossed the griffin knight''s face. However, in the next moment, he saw Hami suddenly discard his firearm, pulling out a bottle of peculiar liquid from his pocket, swinging it towards himself.


    At that speed, dodging was impossible. The griffin''s wings pped sharply, conjuring a gust that sliced the iing bottle in half.


    Yet, this was precisely what Hami had aimed for. The vial was thetest creation from the Alchemical Institute: a potion called the Frost Breath! Of course, in ordance with wizardly naming conventions, it actually contained liquid nitrogen!


    As the container shattered, the nearly minus two hundred degrees Celsius immediately showcased its astounding lethality. White mist rapidly expanded, enveloping the griffin knight. Almost instantly, a thinyer of frost formed on his head, hands, and armor...


    The griffin beneath him was no exception. Despite its robust vitality and magical resistance, it struggled for a moment before crashing headfirst into the cockpit''s barrier, then transformed into an ice sculpture, plummeting from a kilometer-high altitude...


    Several other griffin knights, equally eager for glory, swiftly altered their course, ascending rapidly, targeting the conspicuous balloon atop the airship.Crafted from durable camelop skin, the balloon was no match for the griffin''s sharp talons. It cracked and tore akin to flimsy paper, soon revealing cracks.


    A significant amount of hydrogen inside began gushing out...


    Using hydrogen instead of helium was more dangerous, specifically for easier self-destruction! Hami''s group''s resistance quickly reached its limit.


    This airship wasn''t equipped with anti-air firepower, as cannons were ineffective against swiftly moving aerial foes. Their firearms were more practical.


    Having experienced the firepower of these firearms, the griffin knights immediately maneuvered to different altitudes tounch their attacks.


    "Everyone, this is our final moment. They''re not employing those potent divine spells anymore. Their sole objective might be to capture us and seize this airship!" Hami addressed the assembled group gravely. "Once they seed, endless torment and humiliation await us..."


    Silence answered him; no one spoke, but their gazes were resolute.


    Hami pressed a wooden button, revealing apartment filled with sizeable bursting shells, loaded with gunpowder and white phosphorus, possessing formidable ground-based firepower.


    The airship had limited aerial capabilities but excelled against ground targets. If the invading force was under a thousand strong, this airship alone could crush them entirely...


    However, it was now being turned into a means for mutual destruction!


    Everyone solemnly lit torches, deciding their fate by their own hands.


    At that moment, Devi and several griffin knights were wreaking havoc at the airship''s base. However, amidst the chaos, the sense of danger cultivated from years on the battlefield faintly alerted Devi. Trusting his instincts, he immediately directed his griffin to move away and shouted loudly.


    "Disperse... Scatter!"


    His colleagues obediently followed hismand, but s, it was toote. With five torches thrown, a fierce explosion resounded in the sky!


    Hundreds of bursting shells detonated simultaneously. The colossal airship disintegrated from within, eventually triggering the hydrogen-filled balloon above, engulfing nearby griffin knights in surging mes...


    A session of agonizing screams echoed, akin to a rain of fire in the sky. Those directly killed in the initial explosion were the fortunate ones. The ones merely touched by the mes were the ones truly in despair.


    Devi was among them. Using his exceptional intuition, he narrowly escaped the core explosion zone but was ignited by the approaching mes.


    It was an indescribable burning sensation. Devi desperately tried to extinguish the white phosphorus fire on his body, to no avail, even scorching his hands.


    His griffin thrashed wildly, akin to madness, performing various acrobatic maneuvers in the air, until it became a fireball hurtling downwards.


    Since the Holy Church decided on arge-scale recapture of the kingdom, they naturally didn''t dispatch just aerial troops. Even the elite Divine Punishment Army was sent.


    After Devi and his griffin crashed to the ground, bishops immediately surrounded him, using water therapy, attempting to quench the mes with existing moisture in the air. However, the situation didn''t improve. Devi continued to scream in agony, as if the mes were devouring him from within.


    Just when the bishops wore expressions of horror and confusion, a voice rang out among them.


    "Stop! This is the hellfire summoned by a wizard, impossible to extinguish with ordinary means..."


    The speaker was a middle-aged man d in red and gold robes, sporting an iron mask.


    "Lord Edweil!" Everyone present immediately bowed, then respectfully inquired, "How should we deal with it?"


    Edweil directly looked at Devi and suddenly instructed, "Hold your breath!"


    Despite being tormented and on the verge of losing consciousness, upon hearing Edweil''s words, Devi clenched his teeth and held his breath.


    "First, remove the air. It''s the primary condition for the mes to burn..." Edweil raised his hand, enveloping Devi in a soft light that immediately suppressed the terrifying white phosphorus fire.


    "Then, remove the injured flesh to prevent it from drawing nutrients... Finally,mence treatment!"


    While Edweil spoke, the previously gentle white light transformed into a deadly weapon!


    Layers of flesh were directly shaved off Devi''s entire body. One could even faintly glimpse his bones. His eyes widened, nearly fainting on the spot. Fortunately, this excruciating painsted only a few seconds. The lost flesh quickly regenerated under the effect of the magical art...


    >


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 Chapter 329: Lynn: The Time for White Phosphorus Fire to Be Phased Out Has Arrived!

    Chapter 329: Lynn: The Time for White Phosphorus Fire to Be Phased Out Has Arrived!


    The entire healing process concluded within a brief three minutes. By the time Devi rose again, the injuries on his body hadpletely vanished.


    Edweil had personally experienced this eerie, unquenchable fire outside the harbor town. Intelligence from the kingdom had emphasized how this very fire had decimated elite forces of over ten thousand troops...


    Given his direct leadership in this mission, he was naturally not unprepared!


    "Thank you, Lord Edweil..." Devi expressed gratitude, his demeanor filled with immense remorse.


    He had led the charge with the aim of seizing that colossal alchemical construct, intending to research ways to decipher it. This would have lessened casualties in the uing war. Little did he anticipate the adversary''s self-destruction, leading to the demise of over a dozen Gryphon Knights...


    Devi regretted deeply. Had he not been inclined to capture the enemy alive, they could have used divine magic to obliterate the alchemical construct outright.


    "As punishment for this mission''s failure, whenever the Gryphon Knights are deployed in the future, you must lead the charge, confronting the enemy until I issue the order to retreat, the enemy''s defeat, or... death!" Edweil''s indifferent words echoed in Devi''s ears. Sacrificing over ten Gryphon Knights merely to destroy an airborne vessel was an oue Edweil clearly could not ept.


    A Gryphon Knight typically emerged from the empire''s elite forces or even the divine punishment corps. Coupled with synchronized nurturing andbat training, it took years to mold them into shape, not to mention the cost of rearing and training a gryphon from a young age.


    A squad of Gryphon Knights, just in terms of training, was enough to bankrupt a prosperous duke. Yet here theyy, dead!If it weren''t for the impending war where every ounce of strength was invaluable, Devi''s fate would have likely been escorted back for judgment by the tribunal!


    "Swearing in the name of the divine, from this day forth, I shall lead from the frontlines until death do us part!" Devi swore fervently.


    Edweil nodded in acknowledgment. At that moment, the remaining Gryphon Knights also flew in, carrying the bodies of their fallenrades!


    The condition of these fallen ones was horrific¡ªsome perished with bodies maimed by explosions, others bore pockmarks from the corrosive white phosphorus, with mes still flickering...


    In their efforts to retrieve theirrades'' bodies, those still alive among the Gryphon Knights also endured substantial hardships. Due tock of intelligence, many had their bodies tainted by this terrifying fire.


    Before Edweil could act, the other bishops began healing these individuals in a simr manner.


    This peculiar hellfire was incredibly enigmatic, difficult to extinguish. Yet, once the method of dealing with it was known, even a bishop could handle it.


    After a few instructions, Edweil approached two bodies covered in white frost. Though he didn''t physically touch them, the sub-zero temperatures of over minus one hundred degrees still gave his palms a chilling sensation.


    Truly, a dreadful cold...


    Edweil''s expression turned somewhat grave. Another troublesome magic, and what concerned him more, ording to Devi''s report, was that the pilots of that massive alchemical construct were just ordinary individuals without magical abilities. Yet, leveraging alchemy and magic constructs, they inflicted substantial casualties on the empire''s elite Gryphon Knights...


    Deep in thought, Edweil suddenly seemed to sense something, turning his gaze toward the distant sky.


    About four kilometers away in the high altitude, another airship was swiftly heading towards the direction of Iyeta. As the captain, Althok, peered through a telescope observing the situation, the sight of Edweil suddenly turning their way startled him.


    "At such a distance, he can still notice..." Althok involuntarily gasped, feeling his legs weaken slightly.


    Airships patrolling an area operated in pairs, spaced three to five kilometers apart. This ensured mutual support to prevent idents and also guarded against powerful magic that could down a ship, allowing intruders to enter the kingdom''s territory unnoticed.


    Initially, Althok had intended to rush for the rescue upon witnessing the attack on Hami''s airship. However, within a few short minutes, they had witnessed the airship being surrounded by Gryphon Knights, ultimately self-destructing into a ball of fire...


    Althok immediately realized it was all toote. He promptly abandoned the n for support, redirecting the airship''s course to flee.


    What mattered most now was ensuring theplete transmission of the gathered intelligence!


    ...


    City of Greeneral, Tower of the Day''s Crown, the Sky Realm.


    Over a hundred senators gathered within the meeting room, exchanging intelligence received from Iyeta in session.


    "It seems the war is arriving much quicker than we anticipated..." Raphael murmured after reviewing the letter in his hands, then nced at Lynn, sighing before speaking again. "You have quite a remarkable group of pilots... Lord Lynn."


    The other senators nodded in agreement. Five non-magicians had exchanged their lives for over a dozen Gryphon Knights, making their deaths somewhat valuable in a certain sense...


    The cost of the newest airship was priced at merely two thousand magical coins, its production cost even lower...


    Lynn felt a tinge of regret for Hami and the others. To him, five skilled pilots were far more precious than the deaths of several Gryphon Knights.


    Presently, the workshops in Iyeta were swiftly manufacturing airships, but the shortage of pilots was a significant concern. Training them was a challenging task.


    "I read in the intelligence report that the Holy Church seems to have found a way to counter the hellfire..." a senator hesitantly spoke.


    At this, everyone in the room turned their gaze to Lynn.


    Due to the council''s propaganda and various rumors circting among the public, they were well aware of the legendary feats of this magic prodigy before them. Naturally, they understood his ability to create an immortal hellfire.


    When Lynn was still a third-circle wizard, he used it to destroy half a town. It had also been utilized recently in defeating the kingdom''s elite forces. These two aplishments in annihting legion-level forces undoubtedly established this peculiar me as a symbol of the sorcerer!


    There were rumors that Lynn summoned this from an endless purgatory, a me that would scorch and consume flesh and blood, ensuring death upon the slightest contact.


    The sacrifices of Hami and the others had resulted in such significant achievements, and Lynn''s development of the white phosphorus explosive was also invaluable.


    Raphael, naturally, did not believe in any so-called hellfire, but he hadn''t expected the Holy Church to find a solution so quickly...


    >


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 Chapter 330: Why Not Try My Anti-Aircraft Laser?

    Chapter 330: Why Not Try My Anti-Aircraft Laser?


    Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Lynn appeared unperturbed and casually remarked, "Any magic can be cracked, including my white phosphorus fire."


    It was precisely because of this that upon entering thend of wizards, he had been cautious in withholding information about white phosphorus.


    This stuff was only to taunt the uncultured bishops within the Sas Empire. If dared to be used extensively in thend of wizards, it wouldn''t take long before a wizard replicated it.


    After all, phosphorus wasn''t challenging to manufacture. In order to achieverge-scale production, he even entrusted this technology to a few trustworthy wizards in the Alchemy Research Institute.


    In fact, after breaking through as a Grand Wizard, the significance of white phosphorus to Lynn had greatly diminished. In battles at the Grand Wizard level, itcked impact; not to mention, a vacuum domain alone could greatly reduce its power. Even if white phosphorus fire were mass-produced, it would only equate to the power of a fourth or fifth-circle magic spell.


    The characteristics of white phosphorus also determined its ceiling...


    But that wasn''t a big deal. Among the numerous terrifying weapons recorded in the artificial intelligence, white phosphorus shells were just ordinary.


    Mainly, they were easy to produce, which is why he listed them as the primary option.


    "It so happens that I''ve been devising a new, more powerful fire magic these days. It''s time for it to rece the old..." Lynn sighed, expressing his thoughts.White phosphorus fire had once been his trump card, solving many troubles for him. However, it was falling behind his growth now.


    As a Grand Wizard, he could easily do things he couldn''t do before, such as creating moreplex chemicalbinations...


    For other wizards, creating a powerful new magic was no easy task. It often took years or even decades, but for Lynn, flipping through data in the intelligence often sparked inspiration.


    The faces of Raphael and others twitched. A me magic stronger than hellfire was already beyond their expectations.


    Lynn didn''t intend to borate further. Instead, he tapped the conference table, diverting everyone''s attention from white phosphorus fire. They had more pressing matters to attend to.


    "ording to the intel gathered by pilots using telescopes, this incursion by the Imperial Army should exceed thirty thousand troops. Apart from the Griffin Knights, there''s an additional special force of about five thousand individuals, all d in bright silver armor. They seem formidable," Lynn spoke in a grave tone.


    "Their leader is a man wearing an iron mask and a red-gold robe, hiding his face and age," he added.


    Although the two had faced off across the sea at the harbor town, Lynn didn''t have such keen eyesight then. He knew someone had summoned the illusion of a goddess, halting the spread of white phosphorus fire, but he didn''t know who exactly.


    "That leader should be Edweil, a high-ranking Archbishop of the Holy Church, rumored to be highly regarded within the church, even with the potential to be the next Chief Inquisitor," Harof exined.


    While he often stayed within thend of wizards and hadn''t ventured out, it didn''t mean the councilcked spies within the empire. These basic pieces of information were clear.


    The previous year, Greenrel City had almost been destroyed by those fanatical doomsday cultists. Harof, learning from that lesson, increased investment in the intelligence system. However, it seemed futile now, as his spies had informed him three days ago that the Imperial Army should still be assembling in the east. Yet, they had unexpectedly turned and breached the kingdom''s borders. If not for Lynn''s dirigibles constantly monitoring the borders, they might still be unaware.


    After a pause, Harof continued, "As for those silver-armored troops, they should be the Holy Church''s Divine Punishment Army!"


    Lynn furrowed his brow. He had heard of this elite legion of the church; rumors spoke of their blessings from the divine, making them incredibly valiant in battle, the elites among elites.


    "This could very well be just a vanguard force!" Aurora reminded.


    They had taken charge of the entire kingdom, and the recent battle in the capital had exposed some of the Society of Mystical Arts'' strength. No matter how pompous the church was, they wouldn''t send such a small force, even if it was elite.


    A session of bad news left the members of the council looking grim. Dealing with the ground-based Divine Punishment Army was one thing, even if they were elite, their advanced firearms provided an edge.


    But the Griffin Knights in the sky posed a formidable challenge. As long as they existed, the airships couldn''t ascend for bombardment, and their magic was hard to reach the swift and responsive Griffin Legion in the sky.


    They couldn''t keep sacrificing airships every time, could they?


    ording to intelligence, this time, those Griffin Knights aimed to seize control of the airships and capture the pilots onboard. Otherwise, they could easily use long-range spells to destroy them.


    "Perhaps we could consider having some shape-shifting wizards transform into flying creatures to protect these airships," suggested a Grand Wizard.


    "Engage them in aerialbat? Are you mad?" Sanchez rebuked the impractical idea. It was like ying with the lives of shape-shifting wizards.


    Once the transformation spell wasplete, wizards would lose some of their spellcasting abilities. It was difficult to individually confront the formidable creatures like Griffins in the sky, let alone the Griffin Knights who could coordinate spells.


    "Do you have a better solution?" the Grand Wizard coldly challenged.


    While his idea would inevitably incur significant losses, it was still a method...


    Sanchez hesitated for a moment, then suggested, after careful consideration, that they could refrain from allowing the airships to ascend, surrendering control of the skies. If those Griffin Knights dared to approach the ground for an attack, they could fiercely retaliate with firearms and magic.


    "Why not try usingsers?" Amidst the discussions, Lynn suddenly interjected.


    The appearance of these Griffin Knights had somewhat caught him off guard. Developing updated flying machines seemed already toote, so why not try anti-aircraftsers!


    "Laser?!" Aurora looked at Lynn in astonishment, then quickly grasped the idea. "You mean that new beam magic?"


    Harof and the others suddenly brightened up; indeed, this was a great idea.


    Those Griffin Knights were fast and agile, right?


    But could they be faster than light?


    That was nearly 300,000 kilometers per second, enough to circle the continent seven and a half times!


    >


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 Chapter 332: Hatars Panic and the Rebellion of Kingdom Nobles

    Chapter 332: Hatar''s Panic and the Rebellion of Kingdom Nobles


    "This is the best news we''ve got!" Harof''s tone was light as he spoke, confident that if E''s magic lingered at its level from centuries ago, theirbined strength could triumph over the opposition.


    "Don''t take it lightly, Harof!" Victorio cautioned.


    Setting aside the true strength of E herself, dealing with just a church alone wouldn''t be easy. After centuries of development, it had evolved into a formidable force.


    On the surface alone, they would have to face at least five legendary-level opponents...


    Lynn nodded. The divine projection before had exhibited a power that seemed to warp space, even slow down time¡ªan ability that intrigued him immensely.


    And that was just an avatar; he wondered how powerful E herself would be.


    Discussions about the impending war continued for the entire morning. The council''s response was swift, swiftly rying the orders for war.


    Over two hundred airshipspleted their assembly by evening, setting forth mightily towards the distant horizon...


    Four irond ships docked at the Iyeta Harbor, drawing the attention of the townsfolk."War is upon us..." Mary murmured, gazing at the sky veiled by the airships and the colossal irond fleet, her heartced with some worry.


    For the townsfolk of Iyeta, peace had been a long-standing word. Yet, sailors from the Sas Empire in the taverns often described the brutal scenes of lords attacking each other.


    Mary could only silently hope that they would emerge victorious from this war.


    But aboard the airships and ironds, a different scene unfolded. The gunners previously dispatched to the kingdom boasted about easily defeating those armored knights, iming no casualties throughout.


    One lucky gunner even became a lord by killing some prince...


    Others who gained merit in the war for the capital received substantial rewards.


    Old York was no exception. His bravery in battle led him, along with Raydell and others, to seize the city gates, elevating his rank from amon soldier to a sergeant who could lead a squad, and he received ten magical coins as a reward.


    For Old York, once a mere hunter two years ago, ten magical coins amounted to a fortune. He had never seen what a coin looked like before, but now, not only were they shiny, they were intricately engraved...


    These coins could exchange for a mountain of wheat, enough to feed him for a good part of his life. But now, Old York had aspirations beyond mere sustenance. Apart from aiming for a higher officer rank, he wanted to buy a fancy alchemical engine and even send his child to amoner''s school, perhaps one day joining the Alchemy Association as an assistant to the wizards...


    All these were things Old York had never dared to dream of before, now seemingly within easy reach.


    Moreover, Iyeta recently established several factories, producing many intriguing novelties that greatly intrigued Old York.


    Like a thing called an electric light, which illuminated the night as brightly as day, far superior to candles. It had be the new trend in Iyeta...


    All of this required seizing on the battlefield, and Old York was confident in his marksmanship within seventy meters; he could hit his target without fail.


    "This time, I need to be more vignt, can''t let those brats snatch the lead again..." Old York tightened his grip on the new-style firearm, muttering to himself.


    During the previous citywide pursuit of that royal prince, Old York had the misfortune of encountering someone with far worse marksmanship than himself, who stole his credit. Otherwise, he would have been the one rewarded with vastnds.


    ...


    The next day, at noon, within the grand hall of the Hadrta Kingdom''s pce, nobles gathered, each silent like wooden figures.


    But King Hatar was aze with fury, continuously cursing.


    "These bastards... they deserve death..."


    Three days prior, Hatar received news of the imperial army''s invasion. Initially unconcerned, the kingdom''s forces had already assembled to face this war.


    However, the situation unfolded beyond his expectations!


    The eastern border lords had all turned coat, showing no intention of resisting. In just three short days, they infiltrated deep into the kingdom''s heart, swiftly seizing control of several cities.


    Not only that, but the northern border lords also showed signs of defiance, some outright refusing the kingdom''s summons.


    How could Hatar not be furious? A hint of fear even crept into his heart.


    Those nobles who professed loyalty to him had swiftly changed their tune, causing the initially estimated fifty-thousand-strong army meant to confront the empire to barely reach thirty thousand.


    Most of them were hastily conscripted peasant soldierscking proper training.


    Amid Hatar''s frantic roars, loyal nobles like Gade showed concern, but many others watched, amused.


    They scoffed at the notion of an independent war. Once the church''s army arrived, all resistance would be futile!


    It was only because Hatar confined them within the capital that they had toply.


    In the next moment, the closed doors of the grand hall burst open, apanied by a voice that the attendees both recognized and feared.


    "Please calm down, Your Majesty Hatar. These are merely short-sighted lords. Once we crush the church''s legions, we can deal with them ordingly."


    "Lynn, Master Anthony, you''ve finally arrived." Hatar looked towards the door, pleasantly surprised.


    Within the hall, the nobles, who had various schemes in mind, shivered upon seeing Lynn. Just over a month ago, they witnessed how he effortlessly manipted celestial phenomena, annihting thousands of kingdom guards. He even, in the presence of tens of thousands of townspeople in the capital, obliterated a god in its incarnate form...


    This seemingly youthful wizard had be the most formidable and terrifying sorcerer in their hearts.


    >


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 Chapter 333: The Startling Parade Shaking the Kingdom

    Chapter 333: The Startling Parade Shaking the Kingdom


    "Your Majesty Hatar, please forgive our tardiness," Lord Lynn nodded slightly, preserving the new king''s dignity.


    Hatar, feeling like a traveler grasping at a lifeline in despair, hastily spoke, "Lord Lynn, the Holy Church''s forces have prated our borders. We must swiftly organize and expel them from ournds!"


    "Please, do not fret, Your Majesty," Lord Lynn calmly pacified the anxious Hatar.


    It had to be said,pared to his father, King Bazeel, this second prince''sposure and grace were leagues apart...


    As for the nobles in the east of the kingdom defecting, Lord Lynn wasn''t surprised at all.


    After all, the influence of the Holy Church within the kingdom had been long-standing, and their upation of the capital was but a cunning move thatcked popr support. This situation was well within his expectations.


    Surveying the nobles with their varied thoughts, Lord Lynn slowly addressed them, "Reinforcements from the Land of Wizards have probably arrived. If any of you are interested, feel free to join and witness."


    "I''d like to see that!" mocked Count Mortan.


    Years ago, he had the privilege of witnessing the divine punishment army return from the holy city, an unparalleled sight! They said these soldiers, handpicked elites from the army and even witch hunters, were all knights blessed by the gods. It was not an exaggeration to say that merely three or four thousand of them could sweep through the entire kingdom!Add to that the Gryphon Knights, revered andprised of clergy, and what other army could stand against the Church?


    Under Lord Lynn''s lead, King Hatar and the nobles stepped out of the royal pce.


    As they exited, Mortan already sensed something amiss. The outsidecked the warm sunlight, instead shrouded in gloom.


    "Is it evening already? Has it grown dark?" Duke Gade, now promoted to a duke, spoke puzzled, while another noble gazed in horror at the sky.


    "Look up!"


    Everyone present looked skyward, witnessing a scene both astonishing and terrifying¡ªhundreds of airships suspended hundreds of meters high, each as colossal as a house, linking together and blotting out the sky. Their shadows extended over the entire pce, creating an eerie twilight despite the afternoon hour...


    Though Lord Lynn had used airships in the war that toppled the kingdom''s elites, this spectacle was the first time this contraption revealed its true form before everyone.


    The sheer magnitude of these flying vessels was undeniably awe-inspiring, leaving even Mortan, who had previously mocked, speechless and astonished.


    "Let''s go, they''llnd in the square!"


    Lord Lynn''s shout snapped the stunned nobles out of their trance.


    By the time they reached the square, these airships had neatly settled in the vast expanse.


    Theposition of this army from the mysterious Land of Wizards starkly differed from their preconceptions. This force was peculiar, devoid of anyone wielding swords or crossbows...


    Rows of soldiers d in formal attire disembarked from the airships, their bays gleaming under the zing sun, attracting everyone''s gaze.


    Furrowing their brows, Mortan and others, in the month since the battle for the capital, had gathered intelligence. They recognized these soldiers carrying an extraordinary weapon called a musket.


    Capable of piercing iron armor from a hundred paces, the thunderous roar upon firing was heard...


    Mortan had previously believed that the three thousand musketeers who seized the capital were the utmost limit these devilish zealots could muster. After all, these alchemical devices should be challenging to produce. Yet, here they stood, enough in numbers to outfit a legion of ten thousand!


    What intrigued him more were the peculiar iron clumps offloaded from the airships...


    Such hefty objects, devoid of horses or beasts of burden to transport them, yet moving effortlessly. Mortan couldn''t fathom their source of power, attributing it to the sinister magic of these wizards.


    For this initial skirmish against the Church, both Lord Lynn and the Council deemed it of utmost importance. They could only win, for failure would render all prior efforts futile.


    Lord Lynn brought almost everything he could!


    Cannons, alchemic armored vehicles, electromaic railguns, even those irond ships sailing the seas...


    However, due to the limited carrying capacity of the airships, this was merely the first wave of support troops, totaling around twelve thousand.


    Even for Mortan and his peers, this small-scale parade was sufficiently overwhelming!


    "Lord Lynn, do you know the purpose of these peculiar steel boxes?" King Hatar curiously inquired.


    Naturally, the only thing he could envision was these boxes wreaking havoc on the battlefield, but he knew it couldn''t be that simple.


    Staring down those grim-looking gun barrels, they felt an inexplicable sensation of staring death in the face.


    "You''ll find out in a few days," Lord Lynn smiled, withholding any further details.


    The kingdom''s prominent nobles were coerced to remain in the capital, enabling Hatar to swiftly seize control of most of the kingdom. Who knew if someone would bypass their surveince and leak information to the Church?


    The ostensible purpose of this parade was to stabilize the situation, preventing any scheming that might lead to internal turmoil, causing the kingdom to face both internal and external crises. These advanced weapons couldn''t afford to divulge any secrets...


    For now, it seemed the effect was quite satisfactory... Lord Lynn''s gaze swept over the fearful faces of the noble ss and then to the distant onlookers.


    Lord Lynn deliberately concealed certain matters, causing some dissatisfaction in King Hatar, but he understood that the Kingdom of Hadrta now relied on these wizards to confront the Church. He had to suppress any trace of discontent.


    After the brief parade concluded, Lord Lynn handed the prepared blueprint of aser emitter to Anthony, urging the electromaism expert to research and ideally manufacture it swiftly, to catch up with the impending war.


    As for Lord Lynn himself, he retreated to the residence arranged for him in Hatar, preparing to develop new me magic.


    This time, he didn''t manifest in the Hadrta Kingdom through magical projection but in person.


    To support this war effort, the Council dispatched over a thousand wizards to the capital, several of them Grand Wizards. Even the legendary Councilors would intervene if necessary. As the architect of the n, the nexus between the Land of Wizards and the Society of Mystical Arts, Lord Lynn naturally couldn''t be exempt.


    >


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 Chapter 334: Lynn: The True Unquenchable Flame - Hellfire—Chlorine Trifluoride!

    Chapter 334: Lynn: The True Unquenchable me - Hellfire¡ªChlorine Trifluoride!


    Lynn ventured deep into the manor on his own, instructing Elok and the others, as well as the estate''s servants and guards, not to disturb him. With a silent incantation in his mind, he began:


    "071, disy my current status."


    ¡¾Designated target: Lynn


    Physical activity: High


    Magic scale: 485


    Mental strength rating: Grand Wizard (Fourth Circle)


    Spell slots: [White Phosphorus - me Touch], [Liquid Nitrogen - Frost Domain], [Minor - Magic Protection], [Wizard Shield], [Magic Barrier], [Minor - Deflection Field]...


    Fourth Circle: [Spatial Waves], [Iron Sand Storm], [Electromaic Cannon (3x supersonic)], [Deflection Field], [Advanced Projection], [Vacuum Domain], [Sluggish Barrier].


    Magic domain users: 43...]


    Upon ascending to the rank of Grand Wizard, Lynn discovered his magical power had increased roughly fivefold from its original state. His mental prowess had grown in tandem, enhancing his control over elements by a significant degree.


    However,pared to other Grand Wizards, he held only seven variations of fourth circle magic, a mere handful inparison.


    Among these, vacuum magic and the sluggish barrier were adaptations of his inherent domain,monly wielded by most Grand Wizards.


    The rest of his repertoire included spatial waves, a high-energy armor-piercing spell with high magical consumption and effective at short to medium range.


    The electromaic cannon served topensate for hisck of long-rangebat capabilities, boasting formidable power and speed, albeit requiring a brief preparation time.


    Yet, in the realm of Grand Wizard battles, hecked a wide-ranging, swift-deploying spell for suppressing opponents.


    The fourth circle spell, Iron Sand Storm, was impressive, especially when enhanced with thunder magic, ranking high among fourth circle spells. Still, it failed to satisfy Lynn.


    Before he became a Grand Wizard, this position had been solely under themand of White Phosphorus mes.


    For low-circle wizards incapable of conjuring vacuum domains and bishops, white phosphorus was akin to a nightmare. Lynn intended to create something to rece it¡ªa substance terrifying enough to make even the most notorious dark wizards hesitate: Chlorine Trifluoride!


    If anything could truly earn the title of Hellfire, while white phosphorus could barely scrape by, Chlorine Trifluoride deserved it wholeheartedly!


    This toxic, highly corrosive inorganicpound had a boiling point of 11.3¡æ and a melting point of -76.3¡æ. At room temperature, it existed as a colorless gas, turning into a green liquid when cooled. Primarily used in aviation rocket fuel, nuclear fuel processing, and post-treatment...


    In itself nonbustible, it fiercely reacted with substances...


    In some ways, Chlorine Trifluoride was an upgraded version of white phosphorus, possessing many of thetter''s traits but significantly stronger and more terrifying!


    While white phosphorus could be suppressed by water and rendered non-mmable under low temperatures until reignited upon warming, Chlorine Trifluoride rendered such measures futile. It could burn metals, sturdy concrete, and even sand and rocks!


    Yes, it would ignite instantly, not slowly corrode like white phosphorus...


    Encountering water would trigger an explosion at ultra-high temperatures!


    It defied reason!


    Due to fluorine and chlorine''s extremely electronegative nature, oncebined, they aggressively plundered nearby electrons!


    As elementsprise atomic nuclei and electrons, theoretically, any substance could be Chlorine Trifluoride''s fuel.


    This was the true unquenchable me and hellfire...


    Once it ignited in aboratory, the only hopey in the immediate discovery and swift retreat, as there was no effective way to extinguish it!


    Previously, Lynn had refrained from creating it due to its extreme instability, risking uncontroblebustion that could lead to his demise.


    This exined why Chlorine Trifluoride, despite its immense power, hadn''t been weaponized to dominate battlefields. Many throughout history attempted this but invariably faced disastrous transportation issues¡ªeven when secured within specially treated metal containers, it was still not foolproof!


    However, now that Lynn had ascended to Grand Wizard, wielding greater control over magic and elements, he dared to attempt harnessing this highly dangerouspound.


    He summoned all the information about Chlorine Trifluoride from his mind''s database. Even the chemical equation hinted at its nature:


    Cl2 + 3F2 = 2ClF3!


    After carefully reviewing the red-marked precautions, Lynn closed his eyes andmenced theplex synthesis of elements.


    Magical energy surged within his sphere, creating a vacuum zone to prevent Chlorine Trifluoride from losing control¡ªthe only method to contain it¡ªavoiding contact with other substances!


    Interestingly, it didn''t require oxygen to ignite; in a vacuum, it could still burn, as it fundamentally plundered electrons...


    Within the defined vacuum zone, Lynn uncorked two containers storing fluorine and chlorine elements.


    Swiftly, they emanated and, under his mental control, floated within the zone.


    With utmost care, Lynn forcibly confined all elements within a space the size of his palm, allowing them to interact and collide.


    As a Grand Wizard, precise control over a single element was beyond his capabilities. He could only guide them directionally or slow their movements with magic, employing mental force.


    Both the creation of a vacuum zone and the controlled interaction and collision of elements consumed vast amounts of magical and mental energy.


    Had Lynn remained a Third Circle Wizard, within mere seconds, he''d have faced mental exhaustion. Fortunately, havingpleted his ascension, this level of expenditure was manageable.


    Nevertheless, it took Lynn an entire afternoon and multiple attempts before he finally synthesized what he desired.


    A peculiar element materialized in Lynn''s palm, with four elements tightly bonded, forming a T-shape with a short bond and two long bonds...


    This was the one of the most perilouspounds¡ªa Chlorine Trifluoride!


    >


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 Chapter 335: Lynns Defeat?

    Chapter 335: Lynn''s Defeat?


    The perilous and dreadfulpound hovered in his palm at this moment. Lynn, with a slightly weary expression, revealed a faint smile before unleashing his magic ¡ª the Advanced Material Deconstruction Spell! Magic surged like a shark catching the scent of blood, crazily enveloping the chlorine trifluoride under the maniption of his mental force.


    "It''s not reacting..." Lynn murmured to himself.


    But it made sense; magic doesn''t possess electrons, so there wouldn''t be the phenomenon of plundering.


    While contemting, magic had already entered the chlorine trifluoride, imprinting its structure and features, swiftly proceeding to replicate...


    Lynn simultaneously lifted the vacuum field. Upon contact with other substances, the chlorine trifluoride immediately exhibited its terror, swiftly igniting into mes, hot and tinged with a hint of eerie...


    Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and various rare elements in the air, perceived by Lynn, were quickly drawn into the ''mes of Hell.'' The chlorine trifluoride, like an insatiable and perpetually unsatisfied glutton, crazily devoured all approaching elements, turning them into its sustenance.


    In just a few seconds, what was initially a spark the size of a fingertip rapidly expanded to that of a fist, apanied by a substantial amount of toxic gas...


    This was the second characteristic of chlorine trifluoride ¡ª its reaction with other substances produced highly toxic gas, somewhat akin to phosphorus.


    "Let''s call it the ''Inextinguishable me,''" Lynn mused, rubbing his chin. This thing needed a name; calling it chlorine trifluoride directly was too straightforward, akin to self-disclosure.Confirming that the ''chlorine trifluoride'' indeed possessed the unique characteristics recorded in his intellect, Lynn began experimenting with ways to utilize it.


    Since these chlorine trifluoridepounds were magically simted, they could be manipted like other spells, albeit with a slightly higher difficulty due to their actual electron looting, necessitating additional mental energy for control...


    Whether they could counter spells and divine arts as he imagined remained an unknown.


    This was an urgently requiring validation...


    After dinner, Lynn summoned Anthony, who was researchingser emitters, proposing a limited magical battle to test the new spell''s potency.


    Anthony enthusiastically agreed.


    The location? The spacious training ground within the estate!


    Upon receiving the message, Elok and the others dropped their current tasks. They were all interested in the Headmaster''s new magic, even Raphael and hispanions.


    "How much chance do you think Master Lynn has?" Sanchez quietly asked his colleagues.


    "Less than ten percent..." Dennis pondered, responding thoughtfully.


    You see, Anthony was a Sixth Circle Grand Wizard, just a step away from legendary status, and he''d even developed unique electromaic magic!


    And Lynn had only recently advanced...


    A Fourth Circle against a Sixth Circle... That gap couldn''t be bridged by just one or two novel spells.


    Indeed, if Anthony''s opponent wasn''t this rising star in magic, there might not have been even that one percent chance.


    "That''s not necessarily true." Raphael shook his head, not agreeing with Dennis'' inference. "Don''t forget, Master Lynn almost killed Ougust!"


    He had fought alongside Lynn against the Doomsday Cultists. Back then, Lynn, just a Third Circle wizard, had devised a powerful spatial magic within the magical domain, aiding in defeating the infiltrator within the Papal Court, nearly obliterating the potentially legendary Ougust with an electromaic cannon...


    "But if I remember correctly, wasn''t Lady Aurora assisting him covertly?" a wizard reminded, believing this magic prodigy simply stumbled upon a feat...


    No matter who it was, with the assistance of legendary councilors, resolving the turmoil within Greeneral City wasn''t a daunting task.


    While some debated from an outside perspective, assessing the oue based on the strengths of both sides, Anthony, facing Lynn, had an exceedingly solemn expression.


    He was well aware that the figure standing opposite wasn''t an ordinary Fourth Circle wizard but a former legend. Even though Lynn''s power hadn''t fully recovered, he wasn''t someone to be taken lightly!


    Anthony faintly sensed the long-submerged fervor in his body starting to boil. Confronting a legendary wizard in his prime was beyond his capability now, but it was an opportunity to witness a legend''s might.


    "Can we begin, Master Lynn?" Anthony asked.


    In front of others, he refrained from rashly addressing Lynn as his mentor, as he hadn''t yet deciphered the intricate Maxwell equations, which Lynn acknowledged.


    "Of course!" Lynn casually replied, unaware that Anthony, lost in his self-fantasies, had already started taking it seriously.


    Since his breakthrough, this was Lynn''s first actualbat against a true Grand Wizard. Previously, while battling Herlram and Ougust, he either outwitted them or relied on others'' aid.


    This time, he''d confront a Sixth Circle wizard relying solely on his own strength!


    At the moment Lynn nodded in agreement, Anthony raised his hand. A whisper of blue-purple lightning appeared at his fingertips.


    [Thunderbolt]


    It was just a Fourth Circle spell, but its advantagey in its incredibly swift casting. Almost at the instant his finger lifted, the shing lightning resembled a ferocious thunderous serpent hurtling toward Lynn!


    However, the flickering lightning was firmly confined within a three-meter radius around Lynn, leaving him entirely unharmed.


    That was the Faraday Cage!


    Engaging in battle with Anthony, who excelled in thunder magic, Lynn wasn''t about to take any chances.


    Anthony''s expression remained unchanged. With a thought, amidst the flickering electric glow, minuscule metallic elements instantly transformed into lethal weapons, converging and extending outward at an unimaginable speed...


    In an instant, several sharp copper spikes pierced through the shing lightning, impaling Lynn firmly in ce...


    "Headmaster!"


    Seeing Lynn pierced by these copper spikes, Elok eximed in panic, and Pearce and the others were equally shocked, their faces a picture of astonishment.


    They hadn''t anticipated that what was merely a magical experiment would prompt Anthony to suddenly act so ruthlessly.


    >


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 Chapter 336: The Everlasting Flame that Devours All!

    Chapter 336: The Evesting me that Devours All!


    The grand wizards, unlike Eloke and the others, weren''t particrly startled. They could discern that these copper nails, though intimidating, skillfully avoided vital areas.


    The destructive power of high-level magic was always astounding. In battles among grand wizards, withholding such force was a feat in itself. After all, no one knew the adversary''s capabilities or if they could withstand the onught.


    "Is this Thunder Magic? Truly extraordinary..." Sanchez frowned involuntarily. Anthony''s disy of Thunderbolt was lightning-fast; even he might not have reacted in time.


    Yet, Raphael hadn''t anticipated the swift conclusion to this battle. Itsted, what, a mere second? Victory was swiftly decided...


    He had expected a more prolonged skirmish, a chance to witness a spectacr fight. But s, the gap in their strengths proved too vast!


    "Do you think this looks like the end? This is merely the beginning!" Dennis, standing nearby, reminded them bluntly.


    Following Dennis''s prompt, those present noticed something peculiar about Lynn, who remained unfazed despite the pierced copper nails. His face betrayed no sign of pain, and no blood flowed from the pierced areas. Instead, they caught fire.


    Yes, quite literally on fire!


    Intense mes surged from Lynn''s body, consuming everything¡ªclothes, skin, flesh¡ªall turned to fuel for the inferno. Not only that, the mes rapidly expanded, engulfing everything around, be it the yellow-orange copper nails or even lightning!Anthony''s pupils contracted. He sensed his control over magic slipping away, and to his disbelief, these mes devoured lightning!


    "Breath of mes..."


    Before Anthony could contemte, Lynn''s voice emanated from the mes'' midst.


    Since the start of the battle, Lynn had employed Refractive Magic; what remained in ce was merely a magical projection! The searing ''Evesting me'' consumed everything along its path, transforming into billowing waves of fire, surging towards Anthony.


    "Vacuum Domain."


    Anthony looked solemn. His domain swiftly expanded in all directions, stripping elements away. His magical energy transformed into a curtain of water, blocking the onught.


    No air meant the fire would naturally extinguish!


    And water was fire''s nemesis!


    This wasmon knowledge. Even observers like Raphael felt the same. However, thismon knowledge failed now!


    Within the vacuum domain, the ''Evesting me'' persisted, not only refusing to be extinguished upon contact with the water curtain but also consuming it, erupting with temperatures akin to the sun and exploding...


    Anthony''s face turned grim. With every step back, his magic instinctively converted into various elements. Yet, whether it was the shield formed from metallic elements, walls of sand, electromaic barriers¡ªthey all lost their efficacy!


    Their fate was no different; sooner orter, they all turned into fodder, devoured by the mes...


    In a blink, Anthony found himself enveloped in the sea of mes, with only thest barrier, made of serpent scales, remaining. He sensed its waning strength against the rapidly strengthening ze.


    In such a cycle, his strongest defense would crumble in at most half a minute...


    "The once legendary figure... mastering such a terrifying fire magic," Anthony sighed inwardly, pushed to the brink so effortlessly.


    Yet, Anthony didn''t intend to surrender. There was another way to im victory: direct assault on the spellcaster!


    He had attempted seventeen types of elements, all sumbing to the mes'' erosion. Yet, there was one more, more unique element that might work: light!


    This thought shed in Anthony''s mind. In the next moment, a pure white beam surged through the roaring mes, piercing Lynn once more.


    Obviously, it was another magical projection. Ever since mastering Advanced Illusion Arts, Lynn had honed his skills in this domain. And, in the enveloping ''Evesting me,'' Anthony couldn''t precisely pinpoint Lynn''s true position, but he didn''t need to. Nothing could surpass the speed of light!


    As theser swept, iron railings and wooden stakes on the training ground were instantly severed, leaving perfectly neat cuts. Even a deep groove marked a distant wall...


    "Stop, cease!" Raphael shouted in horror.


    Anthony''sser ceased. What happened to Lynn, they didn''t know, but Raphael wasn''t concerned for his own safety; they stood beyond the battlefield, able to withstand the weakenedser.


    However, Eloke and the other apprentice wizards might have been severed in half!


    In Raphael''s rmed outcry, the ring beam soon halted. Lynn, realizing the training ground couldn''t endure their sh, prepared to extinguish the raging mes.


    The ''Evesting me'' enveloping Anthony was suppressed. However, to Lynn''s surprise, several mes remained, adhering uncontrobly across the training ground, showing signs of slipping his control.


    Lynn furrowed his brow. Unlike white phosphorus, trichlorofluoromethane couldn''tbust. Its mes derived from scavenging electrons from other elements, making it a derivative of fire.


    During his experiments, he''d only created a fist-sized ''Evesting me'' he could deftly control with his mental strength. Now, having consumed a massive amount of fuel, it spiraled out of control.


    Considering his options, Lynn forcefully separated the areas corroded by the mes using pure magical force, suspending them in the vacuum domain, allowing them to burn out slowly... He became vignt; using this magic in the future required utmost caution.


    The potency of this entity was indeed terrifying. It could subdue even a Hex-ring wizard like Anthony. However, a slight oversight could lead to self-repercussions; it was a double-edged sword...


    At least, with his current mental prowess, Lynn couldn''t fully control this hazardous element.


    As the surrounding mes were stripped and extinguished, Anthony breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost met his end beneath the sea of fire.


    Raphael and others traversed the pitted training ground. Sanchez, eager for answers, inquired.


    "Master Lynn, was that truly fire magic you used just now? Or was it an illusion to the eyes? I saw it burning even within a vacuum..."


    >


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 Chapter 337: Impossible, My Three Laws of Fire Cannot Be Wrong!

    Chapter 337: Impossible, My Three Laws of Fire Cannot Be Wrong!


    Many shared Sanchez''s thoughts at that moment. They''d been watching the entire spectacle unfold, witnessing the unbelievable and outright paradoxical. It wasn''t surprising they began to doubt, wondering if this might be some powerful visual illusion.


    After all, fire couldn''t possibly burn lightning, much less turn a water curtain into fuel...


    "This is undoubtedly a form of me," Lynn stated without hesitation.


    "So, does that mean hell really exists?" Raphael asked incredulously.


    He immediately recalled the rumors within the wizarding world. This magical luminary controlled mes from the deepest pits of hell, capable of consuming and incinerating everything.


    Raphael had previously scoffed at this notion, but now, he found himself teetering on the edge of belief because, other than hellfire, he couldn''t think of any other description.


    "Hell is just a fabrication of the Holy Church. I never thought you''d buy into that," Lynn chuckled, pausing briefly before continuing.


    "Of course, it''s not what you think. I call it the Eternal ze, a me crafted by magic!"


    "But this isn''t magic at all! Itpletely vites my ''Three Laws of Fire,'' this type of me cannot exist!" one grand wizard couldn''t resist loudly objecting.Lynn looked strangely at him while Raphael hurriedly introduced the dissenter.


    "This is Master Ad, with profound expertise in elemental studies!"


    "Ah, the master who proposed the theory of fire elements?" Lynn suddenly realized. He had briefly encountered Ad at a previous gathering of grand wizards but hadn''t engaged in deep conversation.


    "That''s me!" Ad nodded proudly. He had studied fire elements for decades, summarizing various characteristics andws concerning fire.


    Among them was the Three Laws of Fire - temperature (the speed of elemental movement),bustibles, and sufficient oxygen... All fires couldn''t exist outside these elements...


    Fire elements existed within everybustible, but they were smaller than regr elements, beyond the perception of wizards unless prompted by high temperatures and oxygen.


    Ad enthusiastically exined his theory of fire elements to Lynn, a conclusion drawn from rigorous research and numerous experiments!


    It was through this study that he triumphed in the debate two decades ago on what mes truly were, defeating the ''Combustion Theory'' and ''me Magic Theory,'' earning himself a Silver Moon Medal!


    But Lynn''s summoned mes had entirely vited these threews!


    For instance, burning in a vacuum vited the necessity of oxygen for fire''s existence.


    Metals and sand weren''tbustible, yet they mysteriously caught fire. This had to be fake, surely a visual illusion!


    Listening to Ad''s analysis and the so-called theory of fire elements, Lynn couldn''t help but feel amused.


    This so-called Three Laws of Fire resembled the three essential elements ofbustion from his previous life.


    However, reaching this level of understanding was already impressive. Discussions on the essence of fire had persisted for thousands of years in his previous world, only finding conclusions in recent times.


    Lynn didn''t delve further, simply extending his hand. A zing me quickly ignited...


    This was the Eternal ze!


    The assembled wizards couldn''t help but feel a palpable unease but still drew closer, utterly fascinated by this fist-sized me.


    Anthony appeared grave. He had just experienced firsthand the helplessness against this bizarre me. It seemed everything and anything was its delectable sustenance.


    Ad attempted to personally verify its authenticity but was stopped by Lynn. If touched by this thing, there was no remedy but to strip the burnt flesh. Even if not fatally so, prolonged contact meant shedding skin ¡ª true or not, it was perilous!


    Though he couldn''t truly touch it in the end, Ad keenly felt its immense heat.


    At such proximity, he didn''t believe the other could conceal this from his magical senses. He promptly sliced off an iron railing and ced it over the Eternal ze.


    The slender iron bar burst into mes before everyone''s eyes! It didn''t melt due to high temperatures but genuinely burned, mes spreading along its length... Undeterred, Ad conjured a sturdy stone with his Mage Hand.


    Incredibly, even the stone caught fire!


    Lastly, in the vacuum experiment, they witnessed an extraordinary sight - stones burning in a vacuum!


    If something looks like fire, acts like fire, no matter how strange, undoubtedly, it''s fire!


    "This is impossible! Stones cannot serve as fuel. This shouldn''t be right, and without oxygen, why can it still burn..." Ad muttered,pletely puzzled, almost teetering on the brink of madness.


    Raphael and others looked at Ad with deep sympathy. They understood he had devoted most of his life to fire element studies, and suddenly finding his theories wrong was a devastating blow...


    However, it was at this moment Lynn spoke up. "Actually, your Three Laws of Fire are quite urate."


    Ad paused, a mixture of shock and confusion, wondering if he had misheard.


    Before he could inquire, Lynn continued exining. "But I need to correct a few points, like oxygen indeed being a condition forpletebustion, but not a necessary one!"


    "More urately, all that''s needed is an oxidizer!"


    Upon hearing this, the audience furrowed their brows.


    Complete condition versus necessary condition - these novel terms seemed somewhat alien to them, but they could barely grasp their meaning. However, this oxidizer was puzzling.


    An oxidizer gains electrons in oxidation-reduction reactions, like trichlorofluoromethane, a strong oxidizer and fluorinating agent, directly substituting the role of oxygen. That''s why in a vacuum, it can ignite substances (fuel)!


    But there were few elements capable of serving as oxidizers, and most werepounds...


    Considering Raphael and others had limited knowledge, Lynn refrained from an extensive exnation. Otherwise, he''d have to start by exining what oxidation-reduction reactions were before delving into atomic structures...


    After a moment''s contemtion, Lynn briefly summarized, "In simple terms, certain elements can rece oxygen as the ignition condition. Therefore, even in an oxygen-free environment,bustion can continue..."


    >


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 Chapter 338: The Sly Archbishop Edweil

    Chapter 338: The Sly Archbishop Edweil


    "I know, just like the sun... the sun can burn even in a vacuum!" Lydia hastily spoke, recalling Lord Lynn''s astronomy ss where he mentioned this peculiar phenomenon but didn''t exin why.


    Lord Lynn chuckled. The sun''s light didn''te frombustion; it arose from nuclear fusion within the sun, with light and heat merely as appearances.


    Lydia found the example fitting. Ad immediately grasped it; it wasn''t about burning without oxygen but substituting it with other elements.


    "I see."


    She had experimented simrly before, but none of the dozen elements she''d used could rece oxygen''s role. This led her to conclude thatbustion required oxygen.


    But why could stones and metals serve as fuel?


    Lord Lynn didn''t borate. Snuffing out the ''Eternal me'' in his palm, he turned to Anthony, saying with a smile, "Master Anthony, your progress was unexpectedly quick, perfecting theser magic in just a few hours."


    He had handed Anthony the rted blueprints that morning, nearly in sync with the development of two different types of magic!


    "It''s still in its infancy; far from perfection," Anthony said, feeling sentimental.Thisser magic, called the Elemental Excitation, had five energy levels. He could only create the third level''sser for now.


    Moreover, there was another method to enhance theser''s power:pressing its diameter. The thinner theser beam, the stronger its destructive force!


    Afterpressing it from five millimeters to 0.5 millimeters, its power multiplied several times, almost on par with five-ring magic''s level. It could be furtherpressed with seemingly no limit.


    To Anthony, this was an unlimited magic; oncepressed finely enough, it could reach the level of legendary magic!


    "I wonder whose theory this Elemental Excitation is based on?" Anthony curiously inquired. The person who proposed this theory had a profound understanding of elements.


    "I developed it based on Glenn''s focusing magic and the elemental structure theory within the Prophecy Guild," Lord Lynn casually exined.


    Previously, while measuring elements, he admitted that his understanding of light, even within the Guild, was at a rudimentary stage. He couldn''t discredit himself, so he reluctantly imed the credit.


    Raphael and the others were speechless. This magical prodigy not only created terrifying me magic after the symposium but also delved into modifyingser spells during this time.


    The gap between individuals was greater than the gap between a person and a dog...


    "Speaking of which, who won in that battle just now?" Sanchez suddenly asked, seemingly out of the blue.


    For Sanchez, an advocate of practicalbat, discussing these magic theories was less important than determining victory or defeat.


    The situation on the field was perilous moments before the conclusion when Raphael halted it.


    Sanchez''s words diverted everyone''s attention. Lord Lynn''s me magic was terrifying, but under Anthony''sser magic, there was no chance to evade either.


    "Naturally, I lost!" Anthony replied calmly.


    He couldn''t withstand that ''Eternal me,'' but Lord Lynn might be able to counter hisser magic. After all, the magic''s principle was what Lord Lynn had informed him of; there couldn''t be ack of countermeasures.


    Anthony was quite open-minded; facing a former legend, losing was perfectly normal.


    What he hadn''t expected was losing so swiftly...


    Anthony''s candid admission somewhat surprised Raphael and the others. Subsequently, they all turned to Lord Lynn. A four-ring wizard defeating a six-ring wizard, nearly overwhelmingly, would hardly be believed if spoken of.


    "Since there''s no definite result, let''s consider it a draw," Lord Lynn said, not aiming to take advantage of Anthony. Winning or losing didn''t concern him; having a bout, understanding the nature of chlorine trifluoride, was satisfying enough.


    Among wizards, determining the oue of a battle wasn''t easy until the final moment. After all, one couldn''t foresee the strange and umon spells the opponent might unleash.


    The discussion about the battle''s oue passed casually, disappointing Sanchez, who had been intrigued. He redirected the topic to the impending war.


    Due to the Gryphon Knights'' obstruction, the reconnaissance function of airships had significantly diminished. Pilots dared only to observe from a distance of at least three kilometers using telescopes.


    Even that almost led to their downfall.


    That sly Archbishop Edweil had a crafty n, hiding some Gryphon Knights in the woods, causing the army to move slowly. When the airships approached for reconnaissance, they''d burst out from the forest suddenly.


    If not for the pilots'' quick reactions and the speed of two airships, they would''ve been caught off guard...


    Because of this, few pilots were willing to approach for reconnaissance. So, they could barely grasp the legion''s movements andcked more intel.


    Thoughser magic had been developed, mass deployment required more time. Lord Lynn proposed teaching this magic to trustworthy official wizards, using them as humanser emitters.


    Gaining air superiority was crucial, greatly reducing casualties...


    "It''s better for us not to engage personally. Instead, we need to eliminate these bothersome Gryphons until they dare not take to the skies!" Ad said fiercely.


    "No, that would be ineffective!" Lord Lynn shook his head.


    Despite their abilities to fly, they weren''t as agile in the air as the Gryphon Knights. Even with a surprise attack, they could at most eliminate dozens of Gryphons, unable to halt the others.


    The clergy''s number likely surpassed theirs. If they needlessly depleted their magical reserves and exposed vital magical information, facing countermeasures in subsequent battles would be challenging.


    Either refrain from action or wipe out the entire Gryphon Knights'' contingent!


    Otherwise, if these individuals managed to retreat sessfully and pondered for a while, they might devise ways to counterser magic. Magic and divine arts were closely linked; this wasn''t an impossible feat...


    >


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 Chapter 339: The Devastator of Harbor Town, the Mastermind behind the Ruin of the Church!

    Chapter 339: The Devastator of Harbor Town, the Mastermind behind the Ruin of the Church!


    In the scorching summer of the Hadrta Kingdom, just a few kilometers away from the royal capital, sprawled the wilderness.


    A vast swath of ck shadows crept relentlessly from the horizon towards the capital. Rust-colored gs fluttered in the air, apanied by the rhythmic beats of drums and the ttering of hooves, all in a remarkably organized fashion.


    "They''ve arrived rather swiftly!" Raphael remarked, gazing from the city walls at the approaching army, a mass so dense it seemed to stretch endlessly beyond sight.


    Rough estimates ced their numbers at least eighty thousand or more, divided roughly into three groups. While the nking legions boasted considerable numbers, their formation seemed somewhat disorganized. Soldiers appeared mismatched in their armaments and armor.


    "Herlram, Ougust, Baro... these are traitors from the neighboring kingdoms!" Hatar ground his teeth, recognizing the armies of several dukes by the distinctive emblems on their towering banners.


    Meanwhile, Lynn employed farseeing magic, observing the central silver-armored legion. Every member stood imposingly, advancing solemnly. Their ice-cold, ruthless gazes instilled dread in onlookers.


    They were the infamous Divine Punishment Army. In just a fortnight, the Papal forces had already reached the gates of the royal capital.


    Indeed, ording to the intel they''d gathered, some nobles along the way had attempted futile resistance. But against these forces, sturdy walls could withstand ground troops, yet they''d prove futile against the griffin knights descending from the skies.


    There was no need for the bishops to intervene; the entire city would fall within the hour."Do we need to sally forth to battle, Lord Lynn?" Raydell asked with a grave expression.


    Old York and the others nearby wore expressions of anticipation, eager for action.


    Despite the Papal army outnumbering them, they felt no fear. After all, when Duke Rickman led an army several times their size, they''d routed them with their firearms¡­


    So, to Old York''s mind, these weren''t just eighty thousand enemies; they were opportunities, heads to im.


    "No, not yet. It''s not the right time," Lynn shook his head.


    Considering the current rate ofser cannon production, it would take another two to three days to outfit them onto the airships. Rushing out for battle without air superiority might result in significant casualties.


    After all, their opponents weren''t just feudal soldiers wielding swords and spears; they also wielded formidable magical powers.


    "What do you think, Your Majesty Hatar?" Lynn turned to the king at his side.


    Hatar was incredibly anxious. With the vast eastern territories of the kingdom now fallen, he desired nothing more than to lead these wizards out to crush the ursed Papal legions, reim lostnds, and execute those noble traitors.


    But Hatar restrained himself. He understood that if Lynn said it wasn''t time, it meant theycked a surefire n. He gritted his teeth. "So be it, we defend¡­ rather than attack!"


    ...


    Simultaneously, the Papal army halted in the wilderness outside the royal capital.


    A middle-aged man d in silver armor, bearing a holy emblem on his chest, kept his gaze fixed on the city walls. Despite the distance, his exceptional vision clearly identified his target amidst the crowd. With interest, he spoke, "That''s the great sorcerer Lynn, wanted for three hundred thousand imperial coins? He''s much younger than I imagined."


    "Don''t underestimate him, Arno. He''s not an easy target," cautioned Edweil, the one with the iron mask, before providing intelligence about Lynn.


    Previously wanted for the burning of Harbor Town, the bounty on him had escted from fifty thousand to an astounding three hundred thousand due to orchestrating this rebellion. And now, he was used not just of treason but also sphemy against the divine, a crime of unimaginable severity!


    This was an exorbitant sum; even a pauper with that money could buy himself a position as a Duke!


    In the Book of Sinners, descriptions of Lynn had escted to include the overthrow of the kingdom''s church, the ying of the Cardinal, and¡­ defying the gods!


    There were no words to describe his heinousness. None of the previously documented sinners in the sacred texts could match him!


    "He wields a strange hellfire that devours flesh and blood; it''s challenging to extinguish conventionally," Edweil warned.


    "But once the elements in the air are isted, it can be quelled. Non-mmable sand and rocks can also bury it. Temperature ys a crucial role..." Edweil''s detailed exnation stemmed from their analysis of the wreckage of an airship and its peculiar mes.


    "In that case, I''m iming that three hundred thousand bounty!" Arno cracked a smirk, etching Edweil''s words firmly in his mind.


    "But if you have the capability, be wary of his ice magic¡­" Edweil, with the iron mask concealing his expressions, issued another caution before turning to several dukes of the kingdom.


    "Hebrew, Ouston, Baro... I entrust you to lead the kingdom''s armies as the vanguard!"


    "But... Lord Edweil, those wizards will use all sorts of mysterious spells. With just us, I fear we can''t even get close to the city walls," Duke Baro quivered slightly.


    The other nobles present were also hesitant. Though they surrendered without hesitation when the Papal army arrived, it didn''t mean they were devout believers.


    ording to intelligence, these wizard-trained troops employed strange mystical weaponry, immensely powerful.


    A fully trained cavalry unit had been easily routed during a charge. Even if they managed to take the capital, they''d suffer heavy casualties.


    "This is your only chance. Prove your loyalty to the Lord with actions and repent for your sins!" Edweil''s words carried an unyielding tone.


    Edweil felt no goodwill toward these opportunistic nobles. When the group of wizards killed King Bazeel and sparked the rebellion, only a few nobles resisted. Most remained undecided, even coborating with the wizards to persecute local priests and bishops.


    Undoubtedly, these were all sinners. So, regardless of whether they were barons, viscounts, or dukes from the eastern kingdom, Edweil had coerced them all, assembling this massive army.


    >


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 Chapter 340: The Siege and the Impenetrable Firearms

    Chapter 340: The Siege and the Imprable Firearms


    Under the relentless pressure in Edweil, Hebrew and Baro exchanged a nce, filled with deep regret. If their army were to perish, their mere title as a duke would be inadequate against the onught of the remaining nobles.


    If only they had heeded Hatar''smand and entered the capital...


    But regrets at this point were futile. Despite Hebrew and Baro''s reluctance, they found themselves helpless.


    It was at this moment that Edweil''s indifferent voice resonated among them.


    "Among all of you, whoever can seize the capital or perform the most outstanding deeds shall be the next King of Hadrta!"


    Edweil''s words were like a boulder dropped into a tranquilke, causing every noble present to brim with fervor.


    Hebrew and Baro were no exceptions. This was the chance to rule an entire kingdom! Perhaps the only chance! As nobles of the kingdom, they could battle, pige territories, employ various ndestine means, but there was one line they couldn''t cross: seizing the throne without the Church''s recognition, donning the crown under the divine witness and blessing!


    Over a hundred years ago, the Bazael family''s predecessor ascended the throne this way!


    Bing a king would mean eternal session under the divine protection, as long as they didn''t rebel against the Church.With the demise of the Bazael King, and Edweil''s assurance, a new session to the throne became possible!


    The nobles of the kingdom were ted at the Church''s support. Even a minor baron could ascend, aided by the Church, to the position of a king!


    Hebrew immediately sprang into action, galloping to the soldiers, delivering an impassioned speech.


    "Believers of the divine, the heretic worshippers lurk within this very capital, seeking to unleash hell''s gates, annihte the kingdom, allowing devils, cmities, and gues to rampage across the world...


    We cannot tolerate such abominations! These evildoers, these heretics, must pay for their sins in blood!"


    "For every enemy in before you, an Imperial gold coin shall be yours. Kill a wizard and be knighted, the first to ascend the city walls rewarded with riches and an earldom!"


    Hebrew''s words echoed like a thunderous bell across the wilderness. Under the lure of grand rewards, the morale of tens of thousands of soldiers surged.


    "In the name of the divine!" Hebrew fervently shouted.


    "In the name of the divine!"


    The morale of the tens of thousands of soldiers soared, their thunderous roars echoing through the skies.


    Soon, dozens of nobles led their private armies, charging towards the capital...


    Drums resounded louder, joined by the devout hymns of priests and bishops.


    "O great lords of the stars, goddess of the moon, creators of all things, we beseech your grace, grant us light, hope, and strength..."


    Amidst the ethereal hymns, the nobles'' soldiers shimmered with the radiance of divine magic, courage and strength surging within them.


    "They''reing, they''re here!" The intimidating force of tens of thousands charging made even the prepared Old York and others tense. Nevertheless, they readied their firearms, waiting silently for the enemy toe within shooting range.


    The optimal environment for firearms was when both sides were on the same ne, firing in rows. But the advantage of higher ground provided a broader view. Moreover, with this many enemies, hitting them wasn''t an issue at all.


    Ten thousand gunners stationed on the city walls, divided into arrays, unleashed a continuous barrage of fire upon the charging soldiers. Rows fell, roughly estimated to be over a thousand casualties, a spectacr yet fleeting sight. However, within seconds, almost seventy percent of the fallen rose again, fervently chanting ''for the divine'' as they charged the walls.


    The wizards observing the battle atop the walls bore solemn expressions.


    Lynn could tell these soldiers were shielded by divine magic.


    When facing the kingdom''s army previously, he''d seen simr things. However, back then, their opponents were only a few bishops and dozens of priests, releasing limited divine magic that boosted courage but couldn''t withstand gunfire.


    This time, it was different. Several tens of thousands were shielded with actual divine magic, akin to a first-tier defensive spell. It couldn''t withstand gunfire but significantly weakened its impact.


    If aimed at tougher armor, it might even fail to breach, only staggering the target due to the impact.


    If the defenders had used crossbows instead of firearms, it would''ve been even harder to breach!


    "Fortunately, these shields are one-time use..." Raphael sighed as he saw most of the soldiers who rose fall again under the second volley of gunfire, relieved yet realizing each soldier essentially gained an extra life.


    Thinking this, Raphael nced at Lynn, deeply admiring the magic prodigy''s foresight.


    A few days prior, while discussing how to wage this war, they proposed an offensive strategy, leveraging their equipment''s advantage to crush this Church legion on the ins, perhaps even prating into the Empire''s borders.


    After all, their previous victories were too effortless. The firearms unit annihted opponents several times their number with minimal casualties. Their foes couldn''t mount an effective resistance, leading to an easy conquest.


    Only Lynn insisted on defending the city, avoiding open fieldbat until they understood the enemy better.


    It favored the firearms unit, true, but it also suitedrge-scale troop engagements and cavalry charges!


    Now, with these colossal protective divine spells, firearms couldn''t unleash their full potential. Battling on the ins, their formations could potentially copse under such conditions...


    At this moment, the members of the firearms unit also recognized their formidable opponents. They could endure a shot from a firearm without falling and continued advancing while carryingdders. The arrogance they held before dissipated instantly.


    York was in the third wave of shooters. Using a spyss earned through merit, he carefully observed the enemy''s movements.


    He swiftly noticed that those who fell in the first round were struck in the weaker sections of their armor or, by misfortune, directly in the face.


    Hence, it wasn''t that their firearms couldn''t prate but, after the divine magic and armor weakened the impact, the bullets failed to cause fatal injuries...>


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 Chapter 341: Brutal Defense of the Royal Capital

    Chapter 341: Brutal Defense of the Royal Capital


    "Third column, fire!"


    A spirited cry echoed atop the city walls.


    Old York hastily pulled the trigger, adjusting the scope on the gunstock, targeting specifically the nobles adorned in borate attire.


    He had marked his targets during the two previous volleys, especially eyeing the most mboyantly dressed among them!


    "Charge... Charge!" Duke Baro''s booming voice echoed below the royal city''s walls. Despite the dense gunfire and the continuous roar of cannons on the battlefield, he harbored no fear. He believed in divine protection and in the impable armor bought at a hefty price.


    Faintly, Baro envisaged himself rushing into the city, ying the false king Hatar, and seizing the crown!


    An indescribable excitement filled his mind. But in the next moment, his thoughts froze. A round lead bullet whizzed through, piercing the divine shield instantly and prating Baro''s eye!


    The power of divine protection waned, consciousness rapidly slipping away. At the moment of losing consciousness, Baro finally realized that the throne of a king was nothing but an elusive temptation. They were all merely pawns meant to exhaust the enemy.


    "Perfect!" Old York, who had imed another victim on the wall, cheered for his exceptional marksmanship. That unfortunate fellow in such exquisite armor must have been a high-ranking noble, surely?That meant a handful of gold coins earned!


    With a gleeful change of bullets, Old York resumed using his telescope to search for the next target.


    Simr to him, many riflemen harbored such thoughts. Controlled by magic and desire on the battlefield, the nobles soon met their demise amidst the sessive gunfire.


    While not everyone was a sharpshooter, and despite the nobles wearing the finest armor, facing a barrage of several rifles resulted in them being riddled with holes after a single volley.


    Increasing casualties gradually liberated Hebrew and hispanions from the grip of magic.


    Not easily deceivedmoners, despite the temptation to rule a kingdom, sumbed ultimately to their fear of death. Their charge slowed down, some even withdrew tomand their troops...


    The soldiers suffered even more casualties. In less than an hour, over four thousand perished beneath the city walls, painting thend beyond in crimson...


    ughter and gunfire resounded continuously on the battlefield, asionally apanied by sporadic arrow showers, quickly interrupted by cannon bombardment, leaving only scattered arrows, posing little threat...


    These sacrifices were not in vain; they had breached the line of death, reached below the walls, wheredders had been set up.


    Simrly protected battering rams arrived at the city gates under the human shield but were hit by several cannonballs, causing them to tilt.


    The iron heavy hammer struck the gates, producing a bearable dull sound.


    Yet, despite the gate shaking slightly, it stood firm, backed by a half-meter thick cement wall magically constructed by Lynn and others, extremely sturdy. Not just the battering ram, even divine arts might struggle to breach it.


    As soldiers amassed below the gate, the wizards on the walls finally took action, casting mes, frost, lightning, and falling rocks... turning the entire battlefield into hell!


    Under this barrage of magic, thousands more perished. The meticulously constructed siegedders and rams were reduced to ashes...


    After clearing the soldiers near the walls, Elok and the others ceased casting spells, leaving the riflemen to continue their assault.


    A wizard''s magic wasn''t limitless; usually casting five or six spells of the same level would strain their mental power. Considering these sorcerers hadn''t directly entered the battlefield, they couldn''t exert too much strength.


    The immense casualties didn''t daunt the remaining soldiers. They continued as if oblivious to the harrowing screams of theirrades, rallying for "the divine" while continuing to erect the siegedders...


    The deeper their belief in the supportive magic, the greater the influence it held!


    To these impoverishedmoners with nothing, who usually relied on prayers to endure life''s hardships, Lynn and others on the wall seemed like the perpetrators of all suffering, the ones responsible for their misery!


    Their madness even caused hesitation in Old York before firing. These people were like demons from hell, even with a leg missing, they crawled to the wall, scratching at the sturdy barrier with their nails!


    "Truly dreadful!" Raphael sighed, unable to bear witness. This was his first experience with suchrge-scale warfare, yet he had no intention of intervening, simply observing quietly. This small scene was far from necessitating their action.


    Lynn furrowed her brow, thoroughly puzzled. She couldn''t fathom Edweil''s intentions¡ªbringing these people here to their deaths?


    ording to military strategy, without multiple times the troops or more advanced weaponry and tactics, a direct assault on a city was no different from a massacre...


    Even if these tens of thousands were all in, they wouldn''t budge this stronghold an inch...


    Edweil couldn''t possibly be a brute who only understood direct assault. Otherwise, he wouldn''t qualify to lead the army,manding both the Divine Punishment Army and the Griffin Knights, two elite forces.


    "Could they be nning to exhaust our ammunition with these people''s lives?" Sanchez spected.


    At those words, Raphael and the others grew concerned.


    Guarding the walls, the ten thousand riflemen, after a few rounds of fire, had already expended tens of thousands of bullets. Their hourly consumption rate started at a hundred thousand!


    They weren''t familiar with the lead bullet''s production process, but they noticed its roundness and consistent specifications, although notplex, would still consume a significant amount of time.


    "Haha, that''s just wishful thinking! Perhaps you don''t know how these bullets are made!" Dennis chuckled, speaking up.


    "Even if it''s simple, how many can a person make in a day?" A great wizardughed heartily. "Bullets don''t fall from the sky, do they?"


    He could guess the production method somewhat: melting lead ore at high temperatures, then somehow shaping them into consistent-sized spheres.


    "No, indeed, they do fall from the sky!" Dennis said with an eerie expression.>


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 Chapter 342: Wasteful Destruction, Is This How You Use Petroleum?

    Chapter 342: Wasteful Destruction, Is This How You Use Petroleum?


    Dennis''s straightforward words left the wizards present utterly astonished, almost thinking he was joking.


    How could bullets from a firearm possibly fall from the sky? Even if it was a joke, this was quite absurd!


    However, they quickly heard Lynn nodding beside them. "The production of lead bullets indeed requires minimalbor. Saying they fall from the sky isn''t an issue."


    They crafted these lead bullets using the prevailing Towering Method from the 18th century!


    All that''s needed is a several dozen meters high structure with a magical furnace at the top and arge pool below to catch the poured molten lead.


    When making lead bullets, they simply heat leadwater at the tower''s peak and pour the melted lead directly from above. The molten lead remains weightless in mid-air due to the surface tension, naturally forming spherical shapes as it rapidly cools and solidifies during descent.


    In essence, the production of lead bullets usesary gravity as a hammer, utilizing the liquid''s tension for shaping. It doesn''t require any manpower, just enough lead ore for rapid mass production!


    And the Kingdom of Hadrtacks nothing but various ores!


    To counter this war, Lynn directly established over a dozen tall tower factories in the capital, storing over ten tons of lead ore. Suffice it to say, there''s an ample supply of bullets for firearms!This advantage stems from being backed by the city; there''s no need to worry about supplies...


    Despite Lynn''s exnation, Sanchez and the others remained baffled. While the method seemed simple, the underlying principles were harder toprehend.


    Objects naturally fall under gravity''s influence, that''s correct. However, considering air resistance, they should form elliptical or oval shapes instead. Why then did they fall into the water in a spherical form?


    This particr aspect had escaped their previous observations.


    Raphael even extracted water vapor from the air, conducting fluid free-fall experiments on the city walls...


    Outside the capital of Hadrta, Edweil, who had been keenly observing the enemy''s movements, immediately noticed the peculiar actions of the wizards. He grew alert instantly.


    "Are they creating a water stream? No, water droplets?" Arno wore a puzzled expression. With enhanced vision from divine magic, he could discern the approximate movements of every person on the wall from two kilometers away.


    "Perhaps it''s some form of magical gesture!" conjectured one of the archbishops. "Or it could be a curse-like sorcery!"


    The bishops became wary as well. During their past witch hunts, they often encountered various sinister enchantments that made their pursuits challenging.


    After some contemtion, Edweil couldn''t fathom what these people were up to. Out of caution, he cast a sixth-circle divine spell ¡ª "Sanctuary of Heaven."


    An invisible barrier quietly arose, enveloping everyone present. The world seemed surreal, as if they were separated from the earthly realm by a thin film, looking outwards as if observing fish swimming in ake.


    However, the anticipated attack never materialized. The group of wizards merely conjured droplets of water, watching them fall to the ground, as if engaging in a ludicrous and childish game.


    This was certainly imusible!


    In the midst of a war, the opposing side wouldn''t engage in such meaningless actions; there had to be some deeper intent!


    "These magical weapons are quite impressive!" Arno, more focused on the battlefield than Edweil''s contemtion, remarked.


    The situation was heavily one-sided; the noble militia assaulting the capital totaled a formidable fifty thousand, but despite the loss of nearly ten thousand lives, they hadn''t achieved any sess. They fell like rows of wheat under the swing of a scythe.


    Arno had to retract his prior disdain for these wizards. While they had intelligence on firearms, their capabilities surpassed expectations.


    Even with the nobles'' soldiers d in armor and protected by divine spells, they couldn''tpletely fend off the attacks. The cannons were even more formidable; a direct hit would turn even the thickest armor into mincemeat.


    No wonder they could easily conquer the capital and eliminate the kingdom''s church...


    "When we breach the capital, remember to capture a few alive. Knowing their manufacturing methods will make dealing with these dark magic users much easier in the future!" Arno suddenly chuckled, making his suggestion.


    "These are creations of witchcraft, knowledge from the devil; destroying them all is..." An annoyed archbishop nearby vehemently retorted.


    Casually exploring and learning forbidden knowledge might lead to unforeseen consequences.


    Previously, some higher-ups within the church found some inventions by the wizards intriguing, believing they could be harnessed. However, some priests and even bishops,cking in willpower, were lured by the devil''s knowledge after perusing confiscated sorcery notes, eventually betraying the grace of God...


    Since then, any pages, notes, or spell materials confiscated during witch hunts had to be immediately burned or sealed within the Forbidden Library!


    It was highly likely that the evil deities and demons used their magic within those forbidden wizardry teachings, ensnaring anyone who dared to peruse them!


    "Shall we not act yet, Lord Edweil?" Arno, disinterested in arguing further with these individuals, turned directly to Edweil, inquiring.


    At this rate, these fifty thousand might all perish here, and their deaths would hold no value whatsoever.


    Edweil didn''t reply but instead posed a question, "Is the oil prepared?"


    "It''s been delivered long ago!" Arno''s face bore a thick grin. With a wave of his hand, over a hundred guards d in silver armor brought in barrels containing a thick, ck liquid.


    This oil was discovered by a fisherman months ago. After an earthquake, a crevice opened up, gushing forth this rolling ck oil. Ignited by unknown means, it burned for half a month, leading the local fisherman to believe they''d opened a gateway to hell. The church was notified, and only through the intervention of an archbishop did the fire finally quell!


    After extensive testing, it was confirmed that this substance had no connection to demons or magic. It served as a weapon against heretics and infernal creatures in their war, proving quite effective...


    "However, the trebuchets'' range might not be sufficient tounch the oil..." remarked a bishop, frowning. The cannons the wizards had created had a much longer range than trebuchets, making them easy targets.


    "If it doesn''t work from the ground, we''ll use the sky!" Arno grinned, understanding Edweil''s intent.>


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 Chapter 343: Oil - The Blood of Industry, Source of Power!

    Chapter 343: Oil - The Blood of Industry, Source of Power!


    From the sky?


    After a brief moment of confusion, the bishops present also began toprehend the situation.


    The wizards'' airships didn''t ascend; evidently, they feared the might of the Gryphon Knights. This meant they could replicate the Gryphon Knights'' strategy, utilizing their speed and height advantage for aerial attacks!


    "Devi, this time it''s your lead!" Edweil continued to inquire.


    "I understand, Lord Edweil. I won''t return withoutpleting the mission!" Devi pledged firmly, cing his right hand over his heart. He then led the Gryphon Knights, wrapping bundles of specially treated fabric containing oil, ascending into the sky.


    "I''ll join in and meet these followers of the dark wizards, test their abilities!" Unable to contain himself, Arno volunteered after Edweil''s request, taking a bundle of oil, substituting for one of the Gryphon Knights on the mission.


    Hundreds of Gryphon Knights ascended, their golden feathers gleaming brightly in the sunlight, resembling patches of golden clouds.


    "Be cautious, the Gryphons have ascended!" Lynn emphasized from atop the tower, raising the tone slightly to alert everyone.


    In truth, the magnitude of their actions was impossible to conceal. Even Raphael and others, pondering why the liquid suspended in the air always formed circles, were forced to halt their thoughts and prepare.The elite troops springing into action indicated that the Holy Church was about to get serious!


    Within a minute, the Gryphon Knights had already soared over the capital city, maintaining an altitude of about a kilometer. They circled incessantly, asionally diving a distance, provocatively swooping about three to four hundred meters above the heads of the wizards, greatly disrupting the riflemen''s effectiveness.


    Because no one knew when these Gryphon Knights hovering in the sky wouldunch an attack.


    "Fireball spell!" Several wizards, unable to bear the provocation after another dive by the Gryphon Knights, simultaneously cast spells.


    Several fireballs soared into the sky toward several Gryphon Knights flying high, employing mathematical forms in advance to predict the enemy''s flight positions, almost guaranteeing a hit.


    However, their ns were thwarted. The Gryphons merely pped their wings, abruptly changed direction mid-air, easily evading the mes and explosions. Rather than ascending to evade, they lowered their altitude once again, flying over the heads of the wizards, frustrating them immensely, prompting retaliation through magic.


    [Magic Barrage], [Ice Storm], [Multiple Fireball Spells]...


    For a moment, dozens of spells shot up into the sky, attempting to overwhelm the agile Gryphon Knights with sheer numbers.


    Unfortunately, Devi, who had anticipated a powerful magical surge,manded his team to ascend again upon sensing it, nullifying all spells once more...


    Raphael hurriedly intervened. "Cease fire! Don''t waste magical energy; this might be an enemy trick!"


    "Damn it! If only we could use that magic, those Gryphon Knights wouldn''t dare be so bold!" Nancy muttered angrily. Both she and Glenn had learned Lynn and Anthony''s improvedser magic, yet Lynn forbade them from using it easily, iming the time wasn''t right...


    "Endure it; they don''t have the courage toe too close. If they do, we''ll bring them down. Just pretend they don''t exist!" Raphael shook his head.


    The wizards atop the tower were frustrated but helpless. Their magic couldn''t reach such a distance, posing enough threat to Gryphons moving at high speed.


    The adversaries were too agile, virtually impossible to hit!


    Devi led the Gryphon Knights, frequently taunting the wizards stationed on the walls. After roughly gauging the safe distance, most Gryphons dispersed.


    Arno didn''t leave; instead, he and a small group of remaining Gryphon Knights targeted the cannons atop the walls. Directing their Gryphons to dive at an altitude of about five hundred meters, they swiftly hurled ignited oil-soaked fabric toward their target.


    "Wait, what''s that?" Sharp-eyed Glenn had been observing the sky and was the first to notice something amiss.


    "Fire! It''s fire!" A wizard eximed loudly.


    "Is it some kind of sorcery?" Watching the fireballs descending from the sky, Dennis frowned.


    "I don''t know, but it''s definitely rted to those Gryphon Knights..." Sanchez shook his head, looking unusually grave. Simr scenes were unfolding in every corner of the sky above the capital city, as if the sky was raining fire...


    "Magic Barrier!"


    On the tower, over a hundred official wizards cast a spell together, instantly creating a circr magical barrier overhead. The fabric drenched in oil disintegrated rapidly under the me''s assault, colliding with the barrier, causing bursts of explosive noises.


    Some of the as-yet-unburned ck liquid adhered to the magical shield overhead.


    Simultaneously, a pungent odor wafted to everyone''s noses.


    Toxin gas?


    Wizards who specialized in poison magic immediately sensed this substance''s intrusion into the barrier and promptly held their breaths, on high alert.


    Lynn quickly recognized the partially burned, pitch-ck liquid, his expression a mix of astonishment and some excitement.


    "Wait... could this be... oil?!"


    "Oil? What''s that?" Dennis and others were utterly puzzled, encountering another unfamiliar term.


    "It''s a crucial liquid fuel," Lynn exined.


    What is oil? It''s the lifeblood of industry, the source of power, one of the cornerstones of modernization. Apart from being a fuel, it can be made into stic, asphalt, synthetic rubber, and more.


    Although in the wizarding world, they primarily operate with magical engines that convert hydrogen through magic to induce gas explosions, providing power, which is significantly more efficient than liquid fuels. However, cost is a significant issue.


    For instance, a standard crystal magical stone, three magic gold coins in value, only provides five days'' worth of flying fuel for an airship.


    If not for wartime support by the council, even tapping into umted magical stone reserves, they wouldn''t dare sustain the consumption of hundreds of airships continuously.


    Once the process of magical conversion is expanded throughout the Kingdom of Hadrta, they wouldn''t primarily rely on magical stones.


    Oil is a viable alternative. Lynn had previously instructed kingdom scouts to look out for it, but oil exploration isn''t an easy task, and to date, no information had returned.


    Lynn hadn''t expected to stumble upon traces of oil in this war, let alone see it being directly used as fire oil¡ªit was simply wasteful and destructive!>


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 Chapter 344: Thundering Net Covering the Capital!

    Chapter 344: Thundering Net Covering the Capital!


    As Lynn exined what oil was, simr magical barriers rose across the towering towers, sealed factories, and above the capital, shielding it from the falling firestorm.


    To prevent rebel attacks during intensebat and the potential destruction of granaries, armories, or evenrge-scale explosions, Lynn ensured alchemists ced magical defenses at crucial points. Many were assigned to guard these locations.


    This exined the mere presence of ten thousand riflemen and a few hundred official wizards on the city walls¡ªothers were deployed for reinforcement.


    Seeing the minimal impact of the oil attacks, some griffin riders descended, using their ws to disrupt the magical barriers. Their ws were effective against magic, leaving scratches on the barriers.


    Others redirected their focus to surrounding homes. The scorching oil ignited roofs and streets, setting the city aze.


    "Damn it!" Hatar, anxious as mes spread, urgently urged Lynn and others to dispatch aid.


    While he cared little for the peasants'' fates, the pce was a key concern. Thirty griffin riders patrolled the skies above, the previously established defenses hardlysting.


    Riflemen aimed at the sky but werergely ineffective, unable to take down a single griffin rider.


    Raphael faced a dilemma. The scattered griffin riders across the capital posed a problem. Sending too many for rescue risked the elite forces outside seizing the opportunity for an attack.The once calm battlefield echoed with drums again. The disciplined divine soldiers edged closer, pressuring those on the walls. Dozens of griffin riders circled above, intermittently swooping down, attacking the protective barrier or dropping oil before darting away.


    Some shape-shifting wizards attempted to transform into flying creatures, intending tobat the griffin riders. However, Raphael halted this n. Their sheer numbers would lead to a fatal aerial assault.


    "Should we use that now?" Anthony cautiously asked.


    "Not yet." Lynn shook his head, aware that Anthony referred to their newly developedser magic. Only eleven had mastered it so far. A surprise attack might eliminate some griffin riders, but it would make them cautious next time.


    But this chaos had to end!


    Lynn nced skyward. A surge of data flooded his mind, constructing three-dimensional models of every griffin rider''s position and movements. With the aid of his intellect, their actions and potential escape routes wereid bare.


    "Magic - Barrage!"


    In an instant, hundreds of 30-centimeter magical missiles materialized in the void.


    Lynn''s sudden action instilled a glimmer of hope in the troubled wizards. This renowned magical luminary had never disappointed them.


    The flying griffin riders noticed the magical fluctuations below, ascending higher.


    "Let''s see what you''ve got!" Arno, eager after hearing about the sphemer mentioned by Edweil, became excited upon witnessing Lynn''s action.


    In a sh, the magical missiles hurtled towards the sky at 200 meters per second, tracing eerie arcs in midair.


    Griffins, as high-level magical creatures, possessed strong magical resistance and danger perception. Coupled with the knights, they maneuvered like agile fish, weaving through the magical missile barrage.


    Arno, not a seasoned griffin rider, dodged several magical missiles before casting a divine shield, blocking the remaining attacks.


    "Is that all?" His tense demeanor rxed. The quantity and speed of the magic were indeed troublesome, and while several griffin riders were hit, the power was insufficient to breach their divine shields!


    Arnoughed, about to descend and taunt the wizards again, but as he touched the reins, his entire hand received an electric shock.


    Beneath him, the griffin''s golden fur bristled, emitting uneasy chirps.


    "It seems like a failure!" Seeing Lynn couldn''t down even one griffin rider, Sanchez sighed. Apprentice-level magical missiles against them? It was almostical.


    Anthony, a thunder magic expert, sensed something different.


    "Join in, Anthony. Their numbers will dilute the magic''s power!" Lynn said, raising his hand, a hint of lightning crackling at his fingertips.


    Without hesitation, Anthony coordinated, a corona of lightning enveloping him.


    "Thunder Abyss¡ªStorm of Lightning!""Divine Punishment¡ªJudgment of Thunder!"


    Two powerful thunder magic spells nearly simultaneously flew into the sky.


    Lightning, despite its speed, needed a medium for propagation. Air conductivity was poor, hence Anthony''s hesitation to use lightning magic for aerial defense.


    But the circumstances were different now. Lynn, using hundreds of magical missiles, artificially created a vast electromaic field!


    The soaring griffins sensed danger, frantic to escape this area. Their famed speed and agility meant little against the spread of lightning!


    With two deafening thunderps, within a second, a colossal thunderstorm web enveloped the surrounding airspace. Blue-purple lightning dominated the entire view, rupturing their magical barriers instantly. Rampaging currents surged into their bodies, turning the knights within the electromaic field to cinders...


    Even the highly magic-resistant griffins couldn''t escape the fate of being electrocuted to a crisp!


    Those not entirely within the thunderstorm received scattered electric arcs, stiffening before plummeting from the sky. Amidst shrieks and wails, a storm of griffins rained down.


    Many unlucky ones fell into the houses they had recently doused in oil, turning into charred masses amidst the paralysis of lightning and the ze...>


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 Chapter 345: The Astonishing Gryphon Knights

    Chapter 345: The Astonishing Gryphon Knights


    "Retreat! Get away!" "Everyone, take cover!"


    The thunderous roar echoed throughout the sky over the capital city. The spreading of lightning was visible both inside and outside the city, instantly ensnaring hundreds of Gryphon Knights. Arcs of lightning, as thick as arms, continued to spread in all directions.


    The Gryphon Knights circling various parts of the city were startled and flew up several thousand meters into the sky, not daring to linger even for a moment in the lower airspace.


    Looking at the thunderous domain overhead and the tangible sense of oppression, the wizards present felt their hair stand on end.


    They hadn''t anticipated that Lord Lynn would have such an ace up their sleeve...


    Sanchez, who had spoken hastily earlier, was now too embarrassed to say a word. He had imed moments before that their magic wouldn''t have much effect, yet Lord Lynn''s web of lightning had brought all those Gryphon Knights crashing down.


    Truly a star of magic... Sanchez couldn''t help but marvel inwardly. Lord Lynn''s understanding and creativity in magic were unmatched. Their ability to adapt on the spot was simply extraordinary.


    No wonder Lord Lynn seemed utterly unperturbed facing these Gryphon Knight assaults.


    "Go capture some individuals; there must be survivors. Also, put out the fires. They won''t daree back in the short term!" Lord Lynn instructed casually, lowering their hand.Glenn and the others who received themand nodded. Fifty official wizards were immediately assigned, leading over a thousand riflemen to extinguish fires and apprehend prisoners.


    With the aerial threat temporarily lifted, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Lord Headmaster, if this thunder magic is so powerful, why didn''t we strike them all down when those Gryphon Knights were gathered?" Elok asked regretfully.


    "The power of lightning disperses. These Gryphon Knights aren''t easy to deal with; they have high magic resistance. Even a third-tier magic requires a direct hit to pose a significant threat..." Lord Lynn exined simply.


    There was another factor they didn''t exin: the seemingly straightforward spell from earlier actually required substantial data support to construct a sufficientlyrge electromaic field epassing all the enemies in the sky.


    The Gryphon Knights had been provocatively probing their spell range while flying in the sky, inadvertently revealing their flight and evasion data, all of which had been recorded in the brain''s database.


    Lord Lynn had been waiting for these Gryphon Knights to believe they were already in a safe zone, gradually rxing their vignce, before dealing a heavy blow.


    Although this victory was abundant, Lord Lynn didn''t underestimate this elite force of the Holy Church; instead, they raised their threat rating by a notch.


    ording to the data provided by the brain, these Gryphons could fly at speeds of nearly eighty kilometers per hour while carrying passengers and a considerable amount of oil. During eleration, they could reach speeds exceeding one hundred and thirty kilometers per hour. The standard speed of third-generation airships was only one hundred and fifty kilometers per hour, so the difference between the two wasn''t significant.


    Each Gryphon Knight individually was immensely powerful, let alone when they attacked in groups from the air.


    If it weren''t for the fear these wizards had instilled with their magic, these eight hundred Gryphon Knights alone would be enough to burn down the entire capital city and annihte its defenders.


    Only the Holy Church would have the audacity to train and utilize such powerful magical beasts for warfare on such arge scale.


    One of the two elite forces, the Gryphon Knight Order, had been witnessed, and indeed, they were formidable. But what about those Divine Punishment troops? What would they be like?


    Thinking about this, Lord Lynn cast their gaze toward the distant formation of the Silver Armored Guards, pondering before speaking.


    "Prepare the electromaic cannon! Return their courtesy; let these people witness the power of magic!"


    ...


    On the other end of the battlefield, Edweil, preparing tounch a full-scale assault leveraging the chaos caused by the Gryphon Knights, hadn''t anticipated such a dramatic 180-degree turn in the situation.


    The Gryphon Knights, originally domineering and holding the upper hand, were struck down in a blink by the overwhelming lightning!


    Everything had happened so quickly that they couldn''t even react before it was all over!


    "Another unrecorded magic!" Edweil''s face behind the iron mask showed no expression, but the tone was chillingly cold. It seemed those wizards holed up in their territory had researched quite a few novel things.


    "Retreat. Today''s offensive ends here!" Edweil decisively issued the order.


    "But, Lord Anluke was also struck down by the lightning, and he''s still within the city," the adjutant of the Divine Punishment Army anxiously spoke, his face full of frustration.


    Although he hadn''t expected to capture this heavily fortified city controlled by devil worshippers in a single day, this battle had primarily been a probing one. However, the losses were nothing short of devastating...


    Over fifty thousand nobles'' coalition forces had lost over twenty thousand men, and more critically, hundreds of Gryphon Knights had fallen. His heart was bleeding!


    And all this loss had resulted in was setting a few houses on fire within the city...


    In his view, after several rounds of attrition, those wizards had also exhausted a fair amount of magic; now was the time for a full-scale assault!


    "Now, ry mymand: retreat!" Edweil''s tone grew more severe.


    "As for Anluke, with that thunder magic, he won''t be killed..."


    Edweil was certain. Lord Lynn''s released spell was indeed formidable, but the power had been dispersed across the entire airspace and within the bodies of over a hundred Gryphon Knights. It was impossible to kill Alno, the Cardinal, who was a pivotal figure, and even injuring him would be challenging.


    Since Alno hadn''t caused muchmotion within the city, it indicated that the opposition had their own ns...


    Edweil''smand left the group of cardinals dissatisfied. This was the first time they had suffered such a significant setback when facing the cultists of the dark god, and now they had to retreat in disgrace...


    Some suspected that Edweil intended to take advantage of this opportunity to eliminate dissidents.


    After all, Alno was notorious for being unruly, often acting without orders...


    But before they could voice their objections, a powerful surge of magic emanated from the city walls.


    At this distance, what were they trying to do?


    The bishops were perplexed. The distance from here to the city gate was approximately one and a half kilometers. Based on the recent test, this should exceed the cannon''s range...>


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 Chapter 346: This Place Is the Domain of the Gods!

    Chapter 346: This ce Is the Domain of the Gods!


    Before the archbishops could grasp what was happening, intense lightning illuminated the walls of the royal city. Even under the midday sun, it shimmered brilliantly!


    After roughly three seconds of buildup, the seven electromaic cannons mounted on the city gates roared intensely. A ferocious energy surged forth from the barrels, reaching its peak.


    Like flickering thunderbolts, seven unique projectiles, propelled by amperage, transformed into a splendid array of streaks flying toward them.


    Although this timecked the reinforcement of lightning magic from hundreds of official wizards, its speed paled inparison to the asion when they shattered the divine projection.


    But to Edweil and others, it seemed almost unbelievable. In just over a second, these projectiles had traversed a distance of one and a half kilometers. Some bishops hadn''t even reacted yet, and the lightning-wrapped projectiles, each the size of a human head, were already hurtling towards them.


    However, in the next moment, the formidable electromaic cannons explosively burst open. The scattered debris seemed to move as if sinking into quicksand, transitioning suddenly from extreme speed to aplete halt before reaching the people, losing momentum as they fell to the ground.


    This was Edweil''s previously prepared protective spell - the **"Sanctuary of Heaven."** This ce was indeed the realm of the gods, where even the most potent magic would be progressively weakened upon entry.


    However, the electromaic cannons weren''t targeting just them; the divine punishment troops outside the range of the divine magic sanctuary weren''t as fortunate.


    What met their eyes was a scene where beauty intertwined with death. Several magnificent streaks shed from the dense formation, piercing through the bodies of several silver-armored soldiers at terrifying speeds. Those at the front lost half their bodies instantly, while those behind turned into a mess of flesh...Piercing screams echoed across the battlefield, blood sprayed, bodies flew, and the stter of blood and thick stench spread around incessantly.


    "Form the shield formation and retreat!" The adjutant shouted in panic, devoid of any desire for further assault, hastily issuing Edweil''smand.


    The might of the electromaic cannons was undeniably fearsome!


    It''s important to note that each member of the divine punishment troops was handpicked from witch hunters or knights. Yet, their proud abilities and physical prowess were utterly ineffective against projectiles moving at three times the speed of sound. Their armor and bodies were as fragile as paper, effortlessly pierced through.


    Fortunately, being seasoned warriors, they held steadfast faith. Even in the face of such horror, there was no panic or retreat. The frontline divine punishment troops raised sturdy shields emitting a divine glow, showing no fear on their faces.


    The second barrage of electromaic cannons quickly thundered forth. Although the shields enhanced by divine magic didn''t fully block the projectiles, they significantly reduced the force of the bullets. After prating two or three people''s bodies, the projectiles lost momentum and exploded.


    This was followed by the third round, the fourth round... The thunderous roars of the electromaic cannons reverberated throughout the battlefield. Their firing rate even surpassed that of cannons. Within a mere twenty seconds, another projectile was loaded.


    "These bastards! Once we take the royal city, I''ll hang every single one of them from the city walls!" Seeing splendid streaks fly into the dense formation, creating trails of blood, a cardinal bishop flushed red. His facial muscles contorted in anger, teeth clenched, but he was helpless.


    At such a distance, they could only passively endure the onught, having no means to strike the enemies positioned atop the city walls...


    The fortunate ones in the sky, evading the thunderous, immediately wished to lead their troops down to cover the legion''s retreat. However, the startled griffins didn''t share this sentiment. Upon witnessing the flickering lightning, they reacted instinctively, refusing to lower their altitude.


    Edweil''s expression under the iron mask turned extremely grim. Within the domain of heaven, the brilliance of divine magic surged, a golden light soaring into the sky with terrifying might. Centered around Edweil, it streaked across the battlefield at an incredible speed.


    Those who had regained their senses among the nobles fleeing in chaos were soon enveloped. The golden divine light obscured everyone''s vision, heading directly toward the royal city.


    Lynn and others didn''t dare to be careless and immediately cast their strongest defensive magic to withstand this massive strike.


    However, nothing happened. The golden divine light dissipated quickly upon contact with the magical barrier.


    "It was just a bluff," Raphael sneered disdainfully. He had thought it was some powerful legendary magic capable ofunching an attack from such a distance.


    "If they had that capability, they would have attacked the city long before now!" Sanchez chuckled and remarked, shaking his head. "Fooled by a ruse, and they ran off quickly!"


    During the time when divine magic obscured their vision, the elite troops of the Holy See had already withdrawn two kilometers away.


    After several rounds of bombardment, the seven electromaic railguns also ceased fire.


    One, due to the excessive distance causing the projectiles to dissolve in the air, and two, such high-intensity firing easily led to the electromaic railguns entering an overload state.


    "It''s a pity. If only there were more of these things!" Dennismented. Both the electromaic cannons and the projectiles were unique, requiring expertise in lightning magic and alchemy to produce. They weren''t yet suitable for mass production. If there had been two hundred electromaic cannons, they could have easily decimated the Holy See''s main forces just now, and the war would have ended then!


    Watching the enemy encircling the city retreat like a tide, Lynn did not order a pursuit. They seemed to have won a significant battle, but the divine punishment troops hadn''t even broken their formation during the retreat, maintaining formidable fighting strength.


    Moreover, the group of griffin knights had set fires within the city, causing considerable casualties. The rifle teams, who had fought fiercely for nearly two hours, also needed a proper rest.


    Meanwhile, within the royal city, Glenn and others were leading a team to capture those griffin knights who had fallen from the sky.


    Falling from hundreds of meters high, even with the physique of clergy, they would be smashed to pieces. But luck favors some. Using the griffins as cushions, they managed to find five survivors.


    Unlucky Arno was among them. He himself wasn''t severely injured. Sensing danger, he promptly used divine magic to block the thunder emerging in the sky. However, the griffin beneath him was paralyzed, and they crashed into the royal city, not far from the city walls.


    After evaluating his chances of breaking through the siege of numerous grand wizards, Arno decisively abandoned the idea of breaking out and pretended to be unconscious. He was then captured by the arriving wizards and rifle teams...>


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 Chapter 347: A Revolutionary Firearm That Could Change the Course of War!

    Chapter 347: A Revolutionary Firearm That Could Change the Course of War!


    "Gentleman Glenn, there''s one more here, looks like this one''s alive!" Ham, in charge of leading the search party, excitedly shouted upon finding Arno ''unconscious'' on the street.


    The number of griffin knights knocked down by the Thunder Web was considerable, but those who survived were few. Every captured individual marked a rare aplishment.


    After all, extracting critical information from these captives might potentially alter the war''s trajectory.


    Upon receiving the notification, Glenn rushed over immediately. Surveying the copsed roof and a griffin smashed into a bloody mess nearby, he quickly deduced how the person survived. Without dy, he grabbed a bottle of magical potion and poured it down Arno''s throat.


    To drink or not to drink¡ªit was a choice.


    Arno hesitated for a moment, ultimately doing nothing, allowing the potion to flow into his body.


    If they wanted him dead, they could have acted directly. There was no need for this borate charade. Arno spected that these individuals intended to capture them for interrogation.


    Undoubtedly, this presented a prime opportunity.


    Arno contemted strategies but soon felt his thoughts grow hazy, his entire body drained of strength.This particr potion inducedplete muscle rxation, inducing prolonged unconsciousness, rendering one utterly defenseless.


    However, Glenn clearly hadn''t anticipated a high-ranking bishop infiltrating among the griffin knights and being captured so easily. Hence, he used only a normal dose, allowing Arno to maintain a certain level of consciousness, preventingplete unconsciousness.


    Several riflemen stepped forward with specialized ropes and bound him tightly.


    Provoked earlier by the griffin knights but unable to retaliate, each person harbored pent-up anger. Now presented with the chance for retribution, they didn''t hold back. One among them even viciously kicked Arno multiple times.


    Enduring the humiliation, Arno seethed with inner fury. How dare these lowlymoners treat him this way! He silently vowed to remember each one''s voice and, once they conquered this capital, make them taste the torments of the judiciary.


    "Alright, that''s enough, don''t beat him to death!" Observing the group''s actions, Glenn hurriedly intervened, instructing Ham to take the captive to the interrogation room.


    ...


    With the retreat of the Holy Church''s army, news of the initial victory quickly spread throughout the capital!


    Cheers echoed from the city walls to the narrowest alleys.


    It was an indisputable triumph¡ªfending off the fierce punitive force had only consumed a fraction of their ammunition, leaving over twenty thousand bodies piled below the city walls!


    Had it not been for those cursed griffin knights, setting fire to dozens of homes and causing over a hundred casualties, it would have been nearly perfect!


    Faced with such a resounding victory, Lynn certainly didn''t skimp on rewards. Every rifleman who participated in the battle received a magical coin as a token of appreciation. Their feats would be recorded, and additional rewards given once the war concluded.


    Of course, this funding came from the council and the royal coffers.


    The deceased griffins were not wasted either; some were used for magical research, while others, as meat, rewarded the valiant soldiers like Old York handsomely.


    For civilians like Old York, tasting the flesh of high-grade magical beasts was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially when prepared using lightning magic.


    Those fortunate enough to receive a share of the meat felt it was the most robust dish they had ever eaten.


    After pacifying these heroes of war, Lynn increased the intensity of patrols and guards. Everyone understood the war was far from over.


    Today''s battle might have appeared brutal, but it was primarily a probing attack.


    The actual decision-makers of the war¡ªthe church''s bishops and the clergy¡ªhad yet to make a significant move, and their elite forces were limited.


    Hence, once these trivial matters were organized, Lynn promptly headed towards the Alchemy Research Institute located within the capital.


    Upon arrival, a loud explosion reverberated from within. However, both Lynn and the stationed guards seemed unfazed.


    Sure enough, within a mere two or three minutes, several wizards from the Alchemy Research Institute emerged, looking soot-covered.


    Lydia, who had joined the institute and be an esteemed alchemist, hurriedly inquired upon seeing Lynn. "Director Lynn? How did the war go? Did we win?"


    This initial confrontation with the Holy Church intrigued Lydia, but she had been upied with enhancing rifles and hadn''t joined the frontline battles.


    "Taking down at least twenty thousand with less than two hundred casualties should qualify as a major victory!" Lynn replied with a smile. Only by defending the city with rifles and cannons'' range could they achieve such exaggerated casualties.


    It validated his previous decision to refrain from aggressive attacks and focus on defensive measures¡ªit was undoubtedly the correct choice! After all, they had no prior intelligence on the enemy and caution was key!


    The exaggerated casualty ratio didn''t surprise anyone present. The rifles, cannons, and electromaic weapons they produced from Lynn''s schematics were unquestionably devastating on the battlefield!


    "It seems the Church''s punitive force wasn''t as formidable as they thought!" remarked a witch.


    Once news of the war spread across the wizarding realm, many doubted their ability to hold off the Church''s massive invasion. Some even believed it was the wizards'' doomsday.


    Even the council prepared to withdraw into the wizarding territories for defense.


    However, it was evident now that the Church''s grand-scale assault was feeble, no different from the rabble in the kingdom, fleeing in disarray under the impact of their innovative weapons.


    "No, this was just a probing attack from the Church''s main force. The losses were minimal, mostly cannon fodder. The uing battles won''t be as straightforward!" Lynn shook his head. Their revealed weaponry and intelligence this time were excessive. The Church would undoubtedly prepare countermeasures for the next attack.


    Thinking about this, Lynn turned to Wilson, responsible for gunpowder research and development, and eagerly asked, "By the way, what about the smokeless gunpowder and fixed ammunition we tasked you with?"


    "That''s beenpleted long ago!" Wilson, the wizard, adjusted his posture, then had someone bring forth a specially designed rifle. "Additionally, we''ve crafted the prototype of the firing mechanism you requested!">


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 Chapter 348: Gatlin was once a doctor who saved lives until he invented the machine gun...

    Chapter 348: Gatlin was once a doctor who saved lives until he invented the machine gun...


    Lynn took hold of the long-barreled firearm and, after inspecting it thoroughly, joyfully remarked, "Excellent! Very well done. Your progress has exceeded our expectations."


    This initial skirmish with the Holy Church made Lynn realize the inefficiency of flintlock rifles against superhuman armies. A mererge-scale auxiliary divine technique significantly reduced the power of firearms.


    If they couldn''t rely on armor-piercing to instantly kill approaching enemies, the pitiful firing speed of flintlock rifles became a major issue.


    One couldn''t expect them to use bays in hand-to-handbat against divine punishment soldiers, could they? Compared to flintlock rifles, breach-loading rifles represented significant progress. Unlike the former, which utilized flintstones to ignite gunpowder, breach-loading rifles'' structures resembled modern firearms. Both employed hammers striking firing pins, igniting priming charges, and then the propent to shoot projectiles.


    Most importantly, this invention, a breech-loading rifle, allowed bullets to be loaded from the rear of the gun barrel, eliminating the need for frequent barrel cleaning. Taking about a minute to load a lead projectile into the barrel significantly increased the firing speed and uracy.


    While flintlock rifles fired one shot per minute, the initial breach-loading rifles could fire over ten bullets per minute. Moreover, they were less prone to misfire and moisture damage.


    The advent of fixed ammunition also signaled the elerated development of another formidable weapon¡ªthe machine gun!


    This was something that truly dominated the battlefield! In the 19th century, the machine gun disyed astonishing power once deployed in battles.


    For instance, in ate 19th-century war, fifty British soldiers, armed with five Maxim machine guns, repelled dozens of charges by five thousand Maatabili warriors, resulting in the immediate death of over three thousand. This eventpletely altered the future course of warfare, ending the era of relying on human wave tactics and cavalry dominance, plunging warfare into a more brutal abyss.Initially, Lynn hadn''t intended to reveal this ultimate weapon so soon. However, considering the current situation, relying solely on flintlock and breach-loading rifles wouldn''t provide them with enough advantage in a battlefield teeming with divine arts and magic.


    "I need paper and a pen!" Lynn suddenly eximed.


    The alchemists present immediately sprang into action, promptly providing paper and pen. A few days ago, the magical prodigy sketched the designs for breach-loading rifles and fixed ammunition.


    After a moment''s contemtion, Lynn, armed with a quill, began sketching on the paper, referencing the data from the intelligent mind.


    Lydia and the others stared intently, afraid to miss any details. Soon, they noticed that Lynn''s depiction of the firearm looked peculiar. The main body resembled a bulky cylinder with a long chain-like structure in the middle. Instead of a stock, there was a triangr support at the bottom, somewhat resembling a cannon.


    "Dean Lynn, what is this? Another new type of firearm or an improved cannon?" Lydia curiously inquired.


    "I call it a machine gun, a rather special type of automatic firearm capable of rapid continuous firing," Lynn exined.


    Automatic firearm? Wilson and the others pondered over the blueprint, contemting the implications of automation.


    Lynn didn''t beat around the bush and promptly exined the operational principles of the machine gun.


    In simple terms, it was a recoil-operated device where the gun barrel was mobile. After the bullet fired, the machine gun and barrel locked together. Utilizing the energy from the gunpowder gas, specificponents opened the breech, allowing the mechanism to eject spent casings. Then, it engaged the feeding mechanism,pressing the return spring.


    With the spring''s force, the mechanism positioned the gun for the next shot, eliminating the need for manual reloading and enabling automatic firing.


    Alchemists like Lydia and Wilson, who had been involved in the development of breach-loading rifles, quickly grasped the entire operational process, marveling at the intricacy of this new firearm design.


    They had previously discussed ways to increase the firing speed of breach-loading rifles by simplifying the loading and firing process. However, Lynn''s method involved harnessing the power generated from one shot to initiate the next, creating a cycle that required no manual intervention...


    "What''s its firing rate?" Wilson eagerly asked.


    "Approximately a thousand rounds per minute," Lynn estimated, revealing an improved version of the famous Gatling rapid-fire machine gun, incorporating the subsequent concept of automatic fire.


    However, due to the alchemy research institute''s limited industrial infrastructure, the firing rate wasn''t exceptionally fast, merely a thousand rounds per minute.


    In reality, whether it was a bit faster or slower made little difference. Given that fixed ammunition, unlike lead bullets, required manual production and involved a moreplex process, their ammunition supply would undoubtedly be insufficient, resulting in finishing the firing within seconds or a dozen seconds at most.


    "A thousand rounds... per minute?!" Wilson almost thought he misheard¡ªwas it a thousand rounds per hour?


    Considering that, in their view, the firing speed of breach-loading rifles was already fast¡ªproficient riflemen couldplete loading and firing every five to six seconds¡ªthis machine gun seemed inconceivable. A thousand rounds per minute meant firing fifteen bullets every second, which was a hundred and fifty times faster than a flintlock rifle''s rate! What kind of monstrosity was this?


    Wilson contemted the scene of fifty machine guns on the battlefield, raining down fire and rows of enemies falling within mere seconds. He couldn''t help but shudder at the sight.


    "Lord Dean, who invented this... this weapon called a machine gun?" a wizard couldn''t resist asking. They were curious about the originator of this utterly devastating weapon on the battlefield.


    "The person who invented this is called Gatlin," Lynn stated. "Before joining the Society of Mystical Arts, he was a doctor who saved lives on the battlefield, witnessing the brutality of war and the endless sorrow and death afterward. His intention in creating this was to reduce casualties, swiftly conclude a war, and achieve genuine peace!"


    Upon hearing this, the faces of the alchemists turned exceedingly peculiar. They wanted to say something, but ultimately held back.


    Hmm... that makes sense. If all the enemies are gone, then peace naturally follows!


    Solving the problem of war at its root!>


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 Chapter 350: Edweil: Our Strategic Objectives Have Been Achieved!

    Chapter 350: Edweil: Our Strategic Objectives Have Been Achieved!


    "I believe that powerful thunderous weapon is their final trump card!" Pearson stated firmly.


    The attending bishops nodded in unison, unwavering in their belief that the cultists of the dark gods were already weakened...


    After all, it made no sense for them to suffer such heavy losses while the opposing side remained strong. It''s very likely they were just a hair''s breadth away from retreating before the wizards could no longer hold on.


    "But how much would such a forceful attack cost us?" a cardinal frowned discontentedly, countering the argument.


    Even if they sessfully captured the capital by brute force, the losses incurred would be uneptable.


    Thebined forces of the kingdom''s nobles could perish, but if the divine punishment army and the griffin knights suffered too much, each one of them would face trial!


    Within the pure white tent, several bishops voiced their opinions vehemently, their faces flushed with intensity.


    The cacophony of debate caused Edweil, seated at the head, to grow increasingly displeased. An indescribable sense of pressure began to pervade the entire tent.


    As if some force had forcibly gripped their mouths shut, the disputes within the tent almost instantaneously subsided.Even Pearson, also a cardinal, felt extremely ufortable, as if something were suppressing his body, making speaking an extravagant luxury.


    Struggling, Pearson turned to Edweil seated at the head, his face aghast, immediately recalling the rumors he had heard within the inner sanctum of the church.


    There were whispers that Edweil had received the Lord''s grace, stepping towards being the next appointed High Judge!


    This military expedition against the kingdom was meant to boost Edweil''s image, allowing him to achieve feats substantial enough to win the people''s favor.


    Initially, Pearson had dismissed these rumors. After all, in terms of seniority and devotion to the Lord, Edweil wasn''t at the forefront among the cardinals. How could he gain the favor of the Lord?


    However, it seemed this assertion might not have been baseless...


    Once themotion in the tent had settledpletely, Edweil finally spoke, "Gentlemen, our adversaries this time aren''t the usual disorganized cultists of the dark gods. They hail from the demonic realm, lurking in the shadows, amassing power for centuries, even daring to challenge the church and the empire''s council of wizards."


    "Of course, that''s nothing but the folly of the ignorant. Yet, no one knows how many bizarre and potent magics these wizards have developed in recent years, nor how many innocent souls they''ve devoured..."


    "You must have already witnessed the new weapons those wizards have crafted," Edweil surveyed the assembly, continuing to inquire, "Against weapons capable of unleashing lightning, how many among you could withstand their onught?"


    The assembly of bishops was momentarily stumped, recalling the terrifying speed of the electromaic railguns.


    Pearson felt somewhat indignant. If he had been the target earlier, he could have easily evaded the attack before it arrived.


    But upon reflection, Pearson refrained from rebutting hastily. Yes, he could dodge given the distance, but within five hundred meters, if a few rounds were fired in session, he might not be so lucky.


    "So, this attempt was not without any gains. At least, we now have some understanding of the new weapons those cultists possess," Edweil said in a grave tone.


    In a way, the primary strategic objective of the initial battle had been achieved¡ªthey had verified all the new-style weapons of those cultists mentioned in the kingdom''s intelligence reports.


    As for the colossal alchemical creations capable of soaring into the sky, under the pressure brought by the griffin knights, they dared not ascend carelessly.


    The only unexpected factor was the unidentified lightning web that covered vast swathes of airspace, severely crippling the griffin knights and preventing their swift capture of the capital.


    After a moment of contemtion, Edweil''s gaze suddenly shifted to the side. "Vid! How much progress have you made on the task I assigned earlier?"


    Vid immediately knelt, producing a blueprint, and respectfully stated, "Reporting to Lord Edweil, we have thoroughly investigated the defenses within the capital!"


    With a thought from Edweil, the blueprint in Vid''s hands levitated, unfolding itself and disying before the assembly.


    They had already seen this map several times on their way here, but the wizards upying the area had been there for over two months. Hence, they were unaware of any internal changes.


    Vid, however, had diligently recorded these changes. For instance, in case of an attack, there were a total of thirty-seven locations within the capital protected by magical barriers.


    The ces likely to be granaries or armories were marked with red lines.


    One of these locations, the Guardian Forest, was even more heavily guarded than the royal pce. It was protected by over a thousand riflemen and over ten wizards, nearly causing the probing party of griffin knights to be repelled.


    "This might be where the wizards are congregating!" a bishop spected.


    Only the residences of the grand wizards could likely be more secure than the royal pce.


    "No, it''s impossible..." Pearson shook his head. This area was vast, previously used as a training ground for the kingdom''s knights. The grand wizards would never stoop to dwell in such a ce.


    Eight or nine out of ten, this was likely the site for manufacturing those magical weapons...


    To Pearson''s surprise, areas protected by magical barriers even included several churches within the capital.


    It seemed that, despite the cultists upying the capital, they too feared the divine authority and refrained from wanton destruction of ces dedicated to the Lord!


    Pearson thought this way,pletely unaware that these churches hadn''t been demolished because their rooftops were perfectly suited for manufacturing lead bullets. In reality, their interiors had beenpletely transformed, even melting down the statue of [A]. Otherwise, Pearson would''ve stormed into the capital, furious at this sphemous act.


    "Excellent!" Edweil, after examining the map, revealed a faint smile. Then he had someone bring in a noble from the kingdom.


    It was an elderly noble, around fifty years old, with a thin face lined with wrinkles. As soon as heid eyes on Edweil, he eagerly knelt before him.


    "Sir Suth, I believe the secret passage leading to the capital remains undamaged by those cultists?" Edweil asked with certainty.>


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 Chapter 351: Exploiting the Enemy’s Weakness!

    Chapter 351: Exploiting the Enemy¡¯s Weakness!


    "I''ve double-checked, Lord Edweil, the secret passage remains essible," the elderly Suth eximed excitedly.


    "Once we''ve captured the capital, I''ll speak of your aplishments to His Holiness," Edweil nodded, proceeding to exin to the puzzled bishops.


    Few knew that Prince Harold had dug a hidden passage in the capital to avoid a fatal end in the struggle for the throne.


    The entrance hid within the depths of the city''s slums, while the exity concealed within the dense forest by the west gate.


    Only Prince Harold and a few trusted confidants were privy to this knowledge.


    Unfortunately, the cultists'' assault on the capital caught Prince Harold off guard. Blocked by musketeers on his way to the passage, he and his guards fell amidst the chaotic gunfire.


    Only Suth, instructed to guard the exit, narrowly escaped the ordeal.


    With this revtion, the attending bishops finally understood that Edweil had premeditated strategies. Today''s seemingly fierce noon attack was merely a probe to gauge the cultists'' formidable tactics.


    "Pearson, lead a unit of guards into the capital, await my orders!" Edweilmanded once more."Yes, I shall follow the Lord''s will!" Pearson respectfully replied, dispelling any doubts about Edweil''smand.


    The guards were a specially trained covert force within the clergy, not as renowned as the Punishment Legion or the Griffin Knights, yet equally capable¡ªmasters of espionage and assassination.


    Though some within the clergy deemed the guards'' existence tarnished the sanctity of their faith, Pearson, not averse to conservative opinions, understood thatbating cunning, sorcery-wielding cultists sometimes necessitated unconventional methods.


    "The strongest fortresses are often breached from within!" After finalizing the n to take the capital, the bishops deliberated on countering the wizards'' array of new weapons to minimize casualties.


    "While their weapons hold significant power, they require time to operate. I''ve observed that handheld firearms have about a minute interval between shots, firing in multiple stages to create continuous assaults. The more potent cannons have intervals of roughly thirty seconds..." Analyzing the situation, a cardinal bishop''s expression grew grave.


    Such extended intervals presented a considerable vulnerability. Without the city walls, with aegis-enforced protection, a few thousand cavalrymen could potentially secure victory against tens of thousands of musketeers.


    Moreover, judging by their weapons'' style, these musketeers likelycked prowess in closebat. Some bishops were even arrogant enough to believe that eight hundred Punishment Legionnaires could vanquish the myriad musketeers on the walls.


    "Their broad daylight advantage allows them to maximize these weapons'' efficacy. Perhaps a night skirmish could render these new weapons useless, as even powerful armaments be futile if they can''t aim urately," proposed a cardinal bishop.


    Undoubtedly, this was another advantage they possessed.


    Both the Punishment Legion and the Griffin Knights, aided by their bestowed divine arts, could function in darkness just as proficiently as in daylight.


    However, the same couldn''t be said for their adversaries!


    "An excellent strategy!" Edweilmended.


    In such a short time, finding a way to counteract them wasn¡¯t practical. Nheless, exploiting the enemy''s strengths and weaknesses was well within their capabilities.


    "Then, let''s set the time for five days from now!" Edweil made the decisive call.


    Five days? Pearson pondered; that should align with the reinforcements'' arrival.


    ...


    Over the following days, the clergy''s massive army remained besieged outside the city. Apart from periodic aerial raids by the Griffin Knights over the capital, there was little activity.


    As Lynn busied themselves with developing new firearms, they didn¡¯t neglect intelligence gathering. Lynn deployed a sizable contingent of musketeers equipped with telescopes to monitor the enemy''s every move. Additionally, some psychic wizards attempted to infiltrate the enemy¡¯s camp using inconspicuous creatures, yet their adversaries'' magical barriers thwarted these efforts. Even the burrowing moles controlled by Lynn were unearthed, their sensing capabilities deemed astonishing. Forced to retreat, they supported the musketeers from a distance.


    "Isn''t magic the same as sorcery? How can they easily discern between the two?" Lynn was perplexed. Ever since learning of the Holy Church''s origins, this question lingered incessantly.


    "I''m not well-versed in that aspect; perhaps only the council members hold that knowledge," Raphael hesitated, shaking his head before returning to peruse the intelligence reports.


    Reports from both the telescopic observations of the musketeers and the manipted creatures by the psychic wizards provided consistent information.


    In these days, the Church''s punitive force busily felled trees in the forest surrounding the city, crafting new siege engines. They seemed too preupied to n an immediate attack.


    "It appears we''ll have some time to rest," Raphael sighed with relief, indicating that their previous skirmish had indeed dealt a significant blow to the punitive force, establishing a deterrence against hasty actions.


    Yet, it was also usible that Edweil perceived them as a formidable force, thus choosing to await reinforcements.


    "Maintaining vignce might be wise," Lynn disagreed with Raphael''s assessment, knowing that tranquility often masked underlying turmoil.


    "By the way, could we establish a magical barrier covering the entire city like theirs?" Lynn suddenly inquired, recognizing its effectiveness as a defense mechanism, potentially saving them considerable trouble.


    "That... might not be easy," Raphael shrugged helplessly. The city was vast, muchrger than the punitive force''s encampment. The magical energy expenditure would be astronomical; even with thebined efforts of these adept wizards, they might not sustain it for long.


    Relying on magic stones wasn''t a viable long-term solution.


    Wizards weren''t like priests or bishops who could obtain aid from the false deity by merely singing praises.


    >


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 Chapter 352: All These Trials Are Tests from the Divine!

    Chapter 352: All These Trials Are Tests from the Divine!


    Due to the limited supply of magic stones, they could only prioritize protecting certain key areas.


    For instance, granaries, armories, or the alchemy research institute.


    Under Dennis''s exnation, Lynn could only regretfully abandon this marvelous idea and continued to inquire, somewhat disappointed, "Have there been any recent disturbances among the faithful in the capital and the nobles under house arrest?"


    Compared to external threats, Lynn was more concerned about internal chaos within the capital. If there were chaos both inside and out, it would indeed be troublesome.


    "We''ve been monitoring those nobles, and the citizens within the capital have been rtively peaceful. Apart from the training squad catching a fewmoners gathering for prayers, the rest have shown no signs of unusual behavior."


    Raydell responded, currently responsible for patrolling and defending the capital.


    However, this duty wasn''t easy since they hadn''t upied the capital for long, and the resistance among some of the faithful was still high.


    As the royal family was still present, they couldn''t win themoners'' approval by bestowingnd or punishing the corrupt nobles.


    The fortunate aspect was during the capture of the capital, the Archbishop had helped them apprehend the fervent radicals who were now undergoing rehabilitation in the mines.The remaining were regr faithful. While they believed in the pseudo-god, "E," they weren''t fanatical to the extent of sacrificing their lives.


    "I don''t think ideologies change overnight," Lynn nodded, having a general estimate of the situation within the capital. After considering for a moment, Lynn suggested, "You could start by highlighting discrepancies in the scriptures, picking out easily disprovable elements, conducting intriguing experiments. The more attention-grabbing, the better. It might be best to impart this knowledge to children first; they tend to be more receptive, gradually influencing the adults."


    Upon hearing this, Raydell''s eyes lit up, promptly rushing off to make arrangements.


    Disregarding Raydell''s hurried demeanor, Lynn picked up a nearby map, contemting whether there were any oversights in the capital''s defenses.


    "I believe your arrangements are already quiteprehensive!" Raphael shook his head in slight dismay. To him, Lynn was being excessively cautious.


    Having seen the capital''s defense ns, it was practically fortified at every turn, with numerous emergency measures in ce, ensuring that if any area were to riot, over a thousand riflemen and at least fifty wizards would arrive within a minute to suppress the rebellion.


    "While these measures might suffice against civilian uprisings, they would fall short if the Holy Church''s punitive forces suddenly appeared within the city. These defenses won''t be enough, and the losses would be immeasurable," Lynn expressed concern.


    "But didn''t you inquire about this with King Hatar before? There were no hidden passages left when the capital was being designed or renovated," Raphael hesitantly replied.


    "What if they dig a tunnel directly here?" Lynn countered.


    "How''s that possible?" Raphael rolled his eyes. The headquarters of the Holy Church''s punitive forces were at least ten kilometers away from here! Even if they dug without considering costs, it would take ten days or even half a month. By then, their new weaponry would be developed, enabling a counteroffensive.


    However, Lynn disagreed. Having witnessed the dimensional gates within the magic stone mines, Lynn suspected that these clergy might possess simr divine techniques.


    The recent frequent visits and probing by the griffin knights, even at the risk of being attacked, likely held a deeper purpose.


    Lynn rubbed their chin,menting the acute senses of these griffins. The production ofser emitters wasn''tplete yet; otherwise, Lynn could have sent airships to intercept their supply routes.


    Even the most powerful individuals needed to eat. While these great wizards could endure hunger for a few days, prolonged deprivation would eventually affect them.


    Hmm... perhaps that pseudo-god, "E," was an exception.


    Just as Lynn pondered whether gods needed to eat, an apprentice knocked and entered respectfully, saying, "Dean, Lord Anthony and several alchemical masters from the Institute are looking for you."


    "How fortunate. It seems our new weapons have beenpleted!" Lynn''s furrowed brow finally rxed.


    "I''ve been itching to confront those punitive forces of the Church!" Raphael also expressed joy. They had been confined within the city, passively enduring attacks, and their frustration was ready to explode.


    ...


    A day passed in the blink of an eye. The impoverished citizens of the capital gradually adapted to wartime life, still witnessing squads of griffin knights soaring through the skies.


    The shadow of the rain of fire that had descended five days ago still loomed over everyone''s minds. However, life continued, even amidst the war. They couldn''t pause their livelihoods, even in the midst of conflict.


    Lahm, an utterly ordinary pauper within the capital, used to attend the church every week before those damned wizards upied the capital. At this very time each week, he would listen to the priests'' teachings, repent for his sins, and put whatever meager savings he had, apart from sustenance, into the church''s offering box.


    ording to the clergy, the sound of the copper coins hitting the box signified the purification of one''s soul!


    Lahm firmly believed this. Being poor, wifeless, and childless, his sole hopey in ascending to the divine kingdom after death, to enjoy endless joy and pleasure.


    There, there would be endless steaks to eat, inexhaustible wine to drink, and beautiful elves serving his every need...


    Everything he yearned for was within the divine kingdom!


    Lahm had always considered his faith unshakable until two months ago, when those heretical devotees breached the capital, bringing chaos and ughter. That was when he heard a calling from the divine.


    However, Lahm hesitated, fearing the malevolent wizards'' henchmen outside. If he dared to venture out, he would surely be captured and sacrificed to those malevolent gods, dooming his soul to an endless abyss.


    Later, he heard that the divine embodiment had descended upon the capital but was dispersed by several radiant lights!


    Lahm was both perplexed and frightened. God was great, eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Even if it were just an embodiment, it couldn''t possibly be defeated by a group of heretical devotees.


    It had to be a falsehood, an illusion conjured by those strange wizards, a sphemy against the divine!


    At the moment of Lahm''s wavering thoughts, an Archbishop suddenly appeared in his home, addressing the confusion and perplexity in his mind.


    Everything he had experienced was a trial from the divine. It was because the nobles and citizens of the Kingdom of Hadrta had faltered in their faith in the divine that such cmities had urred...>


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 Chapter 353: The Wizards Have Fallen Under the Devils Influence

    Chapter 353: The Wizards Have Fallen Under the Devil''s Influence


    Lynn cautiously returned home, securing the not-so-sturdy door before stepping into the empty interior. They prostrated themselves respectfully, addressing someone in utmost reverence.


    "Lord Pearson!"


    With these words, a figure d in a crimson robe appeared before them, emanating an imposing aura that stifled the room.


    "No one followed or sensed anything amiss today, correct?" Pearson solemnly inquired.


    "No, those wizardckeys may search thoroughly, but they never randomly harm civilians," Lynn nervously replied.


    Pearson''s tense demeanor rxed slightly. "Any useful information you''ve gathered?"


    He had been in the capital for a full five days through secret passages, yet remained covert, wary of the city''s unexpectedly stringent defenses. Gunners guarded every district, making it difficult to dismantle these sentries.


    Given the circumstances, Pearson dared not employ magic easily, lest he draw attention to himself.


    Fortunately, luck favored them; they found a devout believer not far from the well-connected area, who, after some persuasion, became their informant, responsible for gathering external information."My Lord, based on my findings, those wizards''ckeys have captured five fallen Griffin Knights. They''re currently detained in the prison set up in the XC district," Lynn reported, head bowed.


    "Seems like Arno indeed got caught..." Pearson thought to himself. Given Arno''s prowess, he wouldn''t have met his end immediately, even caught in the lightning web spanning the city. If there were no disturbances in the capital, it likely meant he was captured.


    Recalling the city''s map, Pearson noted the prison wasn''t too far from their location.


    Though he didn''t particrly like Arno''s arrogance, he was a colleague. It wouldn''t hurt to aid him; it might even improve their odds in the city''s conflicts.


    "And... When I was at the market today, I overheard those devil worshippers mentioning..." Lynn hesitated, unsure whether to proceed.


    "What did they say?" Pearson frowned.


    "They mentioned the Bible... that it contains many errors," Lynn stuttered.


    For instance, the Bible''s belief in a geocentric world was incorrect; in truth, thend beneath their feet rotated around the sun due to something called gravity. Furthermore, thendmass wasn''t t; when looking at a distant tower from the sea, one always saw the top before the base. Lunar eclipses urred when the rotated between the sun and the moon, projecting the eclipse they witnessed...


    "They even imed to have calcted the circumference of thisnd, at forty-three thousand two hundred kilometers," Lynn trembled slightly.


    "Absurd!" Pearson chuckled. These cultists'' ideas were outrageous. How could thend they stood on be round? They''d fall off!


    And how did they calcte a circumference of forty-three thousand two hundred kilometers? Did they use a ruler?


    These wizards dared to mislead believers with such ludicrous ims, utterly nonsensical!


    After pausing, Lynn ceased speaking. Some odd experiments had been conducted on-site, demonstrating these seemingly irrational conclusions.


    A child from a neighboring hunter''s family whispered that they understood and could replicate these experiments. Perhaps thend beneath their feet was truly round, but Pearson found himself lost in this concept.


    "It appears these wizards have been heavily influenced by the devil, their sanity severelypromised," Pearson scoffed, then swiftly inquired about the most heavily guarded mansion.


    Pearson had a premonition; this ce was extraordinary. Its defenses surpassed even the pce''s, harboring a secretive interior.


    Shaking his head, Lynn mentioned constant surveince; they couldn''t get close.


    "In that case, you should rest," Pearson suggested, allowing Lynn to enter slumber.


    Meanwhile, shadowy figures materialized in the small room. The lead guard handed a sealed scroll to Pearson.


    Taking it gravely, Pearson read it and promptly incinerated the message.


    The time was tonight!


    ...


    At midnight, on the eastern segment of the city walls, Ham held a musket, stationed at the watchtower. Waves of drowsiness assaulted his mind, making it hazy.


    Even though shifts changed every night and were split into halves, being over fifty, his energy didn''t match his younger days. After a few hours, he struggled.


    Maybe a short nap? The enemies wouldn''t attack in the dead of night, and others were also watching. One more or less wouldn''t make a difference.


    As these thoughts flitted through Ham''s mind, a sense of duty surged, reinvigorating him.


    Just a little longer, it''s almost time for the shift change...


    In a daze, Ham entered a state between dream and wakefulness. The ground seemed to shake violently, intensifying.


    "Everyone, wake up! Enemy attack!" A loud shout came from another watchtower.


    Ham jolted awake, instinctively aiming the musket at the wall. But it was pitch ck; he could only discern shadows illuminated faintly by the watchtower''s fire.


    Luckily, the wizards on the wall reacted. Dozens of dazzling fireballs soared into the sky, casting light on everything.


    Ham and others involuntarily gasped. Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers had breached the two-kilometer perimeter, within their striking range.


    At the forefront stood priests and bishops, donned in white robes, solemnly praying. Their prayers echoed clearly, despite the distance.


    "Damn it, they''reunching a full-scale attack!" Sanchez, in charge of rotation, said gravely.


    Just a few days ago, during the previous battle, these priestly groups watched as cannon fodder charged and died. But now, they struck first.


    Sanchez realized this wasn''t a minor probe; it was a decisive battle!>


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 Chapter 354: The Impending Decisive Battle!

    Chapter 354: The Impending Decisive Battle!


    The attack came suddenly, contrary to their earlier intelligence estimations. It would take at least half a month to manufacture a new batch of siege weapons, even with the use of divine arts.


    Under the cover of night, the Holy Church''s punitive army silently arrived less than two kilometers from the city gates.


    The resounding hymns abruptly ceased as the Archbishop Anluke, at the forefront of the clergy, spread his arms, and the radiance of divine magic immediately burst forth outside the city!


    "Summon¡ªGuardians of the Divine Realm!"


    In an instant, the earth shook. Seventy colossal stone statues, towering five meters high and armored, rose from the ground. Gripping sturdy shields, they positioned themselves in front, emitting a deep, hollow roar from their gaping mouths as they lumbered toward the city walls.


    "Quick, notify Lord Lynn!" Sanchez wasted no time, loudly urging, then turned to the stunned crowd, rebuking them. "What are you waiting for? Prepare the electromaic cannons!"


    Controlled by several wizards, the seven electromaic cannons stationed on the gates immediately thundered, emitting deafening roars.


    Seven dazzling streams of light darted forth, targeting the massive stone statues. The immense electromaic cannonballs shed with the solid earthen shields.


    Like slicing through a thin sheet of paper, apanied by a teeth-gritting explosion, the robust earth shields crumbled instantly. The cannonballs, turned red-hot, collided with the rear of the Guardians of the Divine Realm, shattering nearly half of their colossal bodies.However, in almost the next moment, six of the seven shattered stone statues began to auto-repair. Even with only half their bodies remaining, they continued their relentless charge.


    "Target their abdomens, that''s their core!" Sharp-eyed Ynd immediately spotted the issue, loudly reminding the others. The one statue obliterated had been pierced precisely through its center by the electromaic cannon, causing it to disintegrate outright.


    The gunners promptly adjusted their trajectories. However, in the dead of night, visibility became extremely poor. Hitting the core urately under the cover of the colossal shields while the Guardians were in full sprint was no easy feat.


    After five rounds of electromaic cannon fire, only ten Guardians were neutralized, and the rest surged into the range of the cannons.


    Continuous cannonades echoed as nearly a hundred artillery pieces relentlessly bombarded the colossal stone statues. Yet, their power was significantly weakerpared to the electromaic cannons. Even with direct hits, they could merely momentarily impede the onught... It would take three to five shells simultaneously hitting to topple or scatter a Guardian.


    Shielded by the colossal stone statues wielding massive shields, tens of thousands of Church forces also initiated their charge!


    "Kill these sphemers!" "For glory! For victory!" "God is with us!"


    War drums thundered, crazed shouts reverberated across the battlefield. Under the illumination of the mes, tens of thousands of Church forces surged forward like a ck tide, rendering the towering city walls momentarily akin to an isted ind adrift in a vast sea, seemingly on the brink of being engulfed.


    Ham and others atop the city walls felt a chill. Their rifles scarcely ceased firing, continuously cycling through aiming, shooting, and reloading.


    However, due to the disadvantageous nighttime visibility, most could only haphazardly shoot in the direction of the charging enemy. Clearly, this couldn''t hinder the Church forces empowered by divine magic.


    In no time, the leading colossal statue and over twenty thousand noble coalition soldiers were within less than two hundred meters from the city gates!


    The situation had reached an extremely critical juncture...


    At that moment, two hundred redited wizards stepped forward and cast simultaneous spells. The soldiers of the coalition approaching the city walls suddenly felt the solid ground beneath them copse, plunging into a dark abyss with sharp spikes visible at the bottom.


    The pit was a staggering twenty meters wide and over fifteen meters deep!


    This was the Triple-Circle Magic¡ªSinkhole!


    However, the magic alone wasn''t enough to create a pit encircling the entire city wall. These traps had been prepared in advance, concealed beneath a not-so-thickyer of soil and stones by elemental wizards.


    During the prior skirmishes, they had refrained from using these traps due to the limited intensity of the conflict, saving them for this crucial moment!


    Over two thousand coalition soldiers charging at the forefront tumbled down, either dying on impact or impaled by the sharp spikes. Even the massive Guardians of the Divine Realm, nearly half of them, remained trapped in the pit for quite some time.


    The prearranged traps effectively stalled the assault of the punitive forces, offering a momentary respite for the defenders atop the walls. But before Sanchez and others could breathe a sigh of relief, the sinkholes triggered by the magic were dismantled.


    Emerald-green tendrils emerged from the ground, radiating magical brilliance, intertwining to form dozens of sturdy bridges of sorcery capable of withstanding cannonades for a short period.


    It was the bishops'' doing!


    Not only that, but countless twinkling dots illuminated the dark battlefield, converging to form an immensely terrifying energy wave hurtling toward them. Amidst the intense explosion and energy impact, the magical barrier shielding the defenders on the wall shattered...


    Whether it was the numerous Guardians of the Divine Realm or the relentless onught of the punitive forces, their sole aim was to pave the way for the bishops to enter the range of their sorcerous attacks!


    Sanchez, realizing this, understood that the most arduous moment had arrived. Fortunately, the time they bought wasn''t meaningless. The defending force on the wall had increased from the initial eight thousand to twenty-five thousand, with half armed with rifles and the other halfprising the royal guards.


    However, even with this, they needed more reinforcements!


    Because in the skies above, the Gryphon Knights were now in position, once again raining down a deluge of fire!


    ...


    Simultaneously, as the frontal assaultmenced, Pulson, who had long infiltrated the capital, had already initiated his moves.


    Taking advantage of the chaos and cover of night, arge number of shadow guards began eliminating the city guards stationed on the streets. Following Pulson''s orders, they split into two groups.


    One faction set out to free Arno from imprisonment, while the other stealthily headed for the heavily guarded Alchemy Research Institute within the capital!


    Moreover, the Church''s elite, a considerable number of Divine Retribution troops, had also reached the capital through secret passages. Edweil personally led the charge from within, intending to settle the conflict in a single battle!>


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 Chapter 355: Inner and Outer Crises, the Peril in the Capital!

    Chapter 355: Inner and Outer Crises, the Peril in the Capital!


    The echoing cannon fire throughout the capital startled its inhabitants from their slumber. Five days had passed, yet the fear of war once again pervaded everyone''s thoughts.


    Inside the city walls, the popce found themselves in two distinct states of mind.


    The devout believers prayed earnestly, hoping the great messengers of the divine could expel the evil forces, returning the Kingdom of Hadrta to the embrace of the divine. Others fell into panic and confusion.


    Simultaneously, within a courtyard of the pce, Lynn and theirpanions were discussing strategies for a counterattack when their attendants urgently notified them. The besieging forces from outside the city hadunched a sudden massive assault. Elite troops were amassed, even the clerics were deployed. Sanchez, stationed there, urgently requested more reinforcements; otherwise, the city gates might fall.


    "They''ve arrived this quickly. It seems they''re anxious even before we''ve made a move!" Raphael scoffed.


    "But it''s only been five days. If Edweil dared to strike, there must be something they''re counting on!" Ad frowned, expressing her worried spection.


    Having witnessed the disastrous retreat of the forces before, leaving over twenty thousand bodies behind, Lynn had assumed the enemy would need at least ten days or half a month to regroup for a second assault. They hadn''t anticipated the swift return.


    "I received word earlier that a support legion of around forty thousand troops has reached the city, joining forces with the besiegers. I suspect they n tounch a full-scale attack under cover of night," Lynn pondered.


    Realization dawned on those present; their advantage with the newly acquired weaponry would diminish. The rifles and cannons had provided them an edge in inflicting substantial casualties from a distance. Now, with restricted visibility, their marksmen and artillerymen couldn''t effectively strike the enemy from afar.Moreover, in a melee battle, these newly trained riflemen stood no chance against the elite forces of the clergy, possibly facing direct defeat.


    Realizing this, Raphael urgently spoke up. "So, there might be over a hundred thousand enemies outside the city. We must immediately send reinforcements to Sanchez!"


    Sanchez''s desperate plea for reinforcements signified an acute crisis. Their existing ns were insufficient to counter the formidable assault of the clerical forces.


    Lynn nodded, scanning the assembly hall before instructing Anthony, Ad, and five other grand wizards to lead two hundred formal wizards to reinforce the city gates.


    Additionally, they dispatched five thousand riflemen and ten thousand royal guards...


    "Isn''t this a bit too few? I recall there being at least seven thousand riflemen within the city," Ad inquired, puzzled.


    Among the trained riflemen, roughly thirty thousand were avable. Eighteen thousand guarded the city, rotating thrice a day to maintain readiness for full deployment in times of need.


    Another five thousand served as reserves, ready for immediate support¡ªthese were the reinforcements Lynn was sending. Additionally, seven thousand were spread throughout the city: four thousand guarded granaries, armories, and crucial points, while three thousand remained avable for deployment. In dire situations, they could even call upon the defenders to join the battle.


    Given the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, every force was vital. These personnel could be fully utilized.


    "No, we cannot relocate the city''s guard forces. They are crucial for maintaining internal stability," Lynn decisively stated. "Furthermore, notify Yalos and have the airships ascend. Deal with the fire-breathing gryphon knights and then proceed to support the front lines; that should suffice!"


    Facing this grave crisis, Lynn remained remarkablyposedpared to Raphael and the others, experiencing such arge-scale war for the first time.


    While the clerical forces wereunching a fierce assault, Lynn understood that capturing the royal capital wouldn''t be easy! The city walls stood at a towering eighteen meters, reinforced by magic, and defended by hundreds of wizards. Even with Edweil''s considerable force, they''d face severe resistance.


    Conversely, within the city, a portion of fresh troops needed to be reserved. Otherwise, internal chaos could trigger a chain reaction leading to total defeat!


    "Alright, if that''s your decision." Ad shook her head and, with Anthony and others, promptly rallied the wizards to rush for support, not daring to waste a moment.


    Left behind, Raphael felt somewhat anxious. Would conducting aerial warfare at night affect the airships'' performance? Though each airship was equipped withser emitters, targeting remained a challenge.


    "No worries, for them, day or night makes little difference!" Lynn assured, choosing not to delve deeper. Then, turning to Elok, Lynn instructed him to activate the power devices located within the Alchemy Association.


    The possibility of nocturnal warfare had been considered. During their two-month upation of the royal capital, they hadn''t remained idle. They had established a city-wide power grid, installing crude electric lights across the streets.


    However, due to limited power reserves, prioritizing resources for devices like electromaic cannons, they hadn''t activated these lights. With Edweil gearing up for a decisive battle, conserving power was no longer necessary!


    Considering if there were any oversights, Lynn suddenly remembered something. "By the way, where are the council elders? It''s been quite a few days, and they haven''t arrived yet?"


    Before departing the wizardnds, Harof had assured Lynn they would arrive in Hadrta once they finished their council matters.


    Given the possibility of the clergy''s knowledge about the wizardnds'' fall being rted to Hadrta, it was highly probable they might dispatch legendary-level forces. Unless the grand wizards united against them, it would be challenging to resist.


    "I heard two council elders have left the wizardnds, but I''m unsure why they haven''t arrived yet!" Raphael hesitated in his response.


    Dyed? Or perhaps some unforeseen circumstance held them back?


    Lynn pondered quietly. Surely, the clergy wouldn''t dispatch anotherrge force to attack the wizardnds simultaneously, right?


    Even so, they should have received some message...


    However, with Harof and the others yet to arrive, tonight they could only rely on themselves!>


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 Chapter 356: Glenn: Let them witness the speed of light!

    Chapter 356: Glenn: Let them witness the speed of light!


    Within the capital, chaos swiftly spread. The griffin knights descending from the sky had no intention of setting fires this time. Instead, they took advantage of the night''s cover and their superior vision, diving down to attack the guards below with ws or magical assaults. Swiftly, before the counterattacks arrived, they effortlessly soared back into the sky.


    "Take aim, bring down those cursed griffins!" A sergeant leading a squad of musketeers erupted in fury. They could only passivelymand the musketeers to aim at the sky, firing continuously.


    Yet, aided only by the faint glow of the crescent moon, they could barely discern the sudden terror of these beasts descending from the sky. After a round of shooting, they hadn''t even grazed a griffin feather.


    As the musketeers began reloading, a sharp dagger emerged from the darkness, swiftly severing the sergeant''s throat.


    Subsequently, the elite guards took advantage of the chaos caused by the griffin knights within the city, swiftly dealing with the stationed guards in the area. However, they soon engaged in street battles with the arriving reinforcement troops. The streets echoed with screams, roars, and cries, ceaseless in the dark of the night.


    With the griffin knights'' assault and the cover of night, the elite guards nearly held an absolute advantage. The musketeers managed to kill a few enemies with their initial concentrated fire but soon found themselves locked in bloodybat with the elite guards.


    Bodies fell on the streets, crimson blood slowly trickling down the des, quickly dyeing the ground red.


    The city''s inhabitants could only huddle in their homes, praying for the conflict not to reach them.


    Among them was Haydon.However, unlike most devout believers hoping for the ''agents of evil'' to be defeated by the ''good,'' Haydon didn''t wish to return to his previous life.


    Ever since the wizards upied the capital, setting up numerous workshops and recruitingborers with generous incentives, life had changed. Initially thought to be a devil''s lie or an borate scam, Haydon, who had nothing, didn''t care. All he knew was that the kings had locked down the capital, preventing them from hunting, and without food, they would starve!


    Thus, with the resigned attitude of ''either way, death awaits,'' Haydon entered the workshops. Surprisingly, contrary to everyone''s expectations, these workshops were not ces where wizards experimented with dark magic. Their job was to process various ores, providing lunch and paying six silver kingdom coins monthly.


    When Haydon finally received this money, confusion set in. In just two months, he bid farewell to the days of struggling for food. He couldn''t help but doubt the words of the priests.


    Were these wizards truly minions of the devil, spreaders of gue and embodiments of fear?


    After the capture of the capital, these people didn''t storm into their homes to plunder belongings, nor did they massacre the faithful followers of the gods. Instead, during the battle five days ago, the flying messengers of the gods set their homes aze, burning several jubnt followers who had rushed out to kneel before them. Conversely, these ''minions of the devil'' were willing to help repair their houses after the disaster.


    At this realization, Haydon began praying to an unknown entity, hoping the wizards would win this battle.


    Perhaps his prayers had an effect, or maybe it was other factors. Suddenly, the dim exterior of his house brightened and continued to grow brighter. Not a zing red with scorching heat, but a gentle white light, as if night had instantly turned to day...


    The changes outside became more apparent. The soft white light first appeared in one area, then, with the transmission of electricity, spread across the entire capital...


    The elite guards, who had been swiftly dealing with different areas from the shadows, were forced into the open by the light brought by electricity...


    The musketeers, previously suppressed, began rejoicing and started a true counterattack. They were not afraid to engage the enemy inbat.


    "What sorcery is this?" Veed, leading the griffin knights, was the first to notice the peculiar situation on the ground.


    The entire capital seemed illuminated, turning into a colossal glowing entity. What kind of magic could cover such an enormous area?


    Could it be the intervention of a legendary wizard?


    Veed''s expression grew somewhat serious, but he quickly realized that the light emanated from spherical objects hanging in the streets, likely some peculiar magical apparatus. Destroying them would stop this magic!


    Realizing this, Veed immediately signaled the griffin knights to disperse and use their magic to destroy these sources of light. However, before they could act, massive airships appeared in the sky above the capital, appearing majestic under the moonlight, charging toward them.


    "Haha, didn''t expect these cowards to have the guts to show up!" Veed halted their previous actions, leading the griffin knights to confront the airships.


    Dealing with these aerial threats seemed evidently more crucial. They absolutely couldn''t allow these peculiar and massive alchemical creations to reach the frontline battlefield!


    Compared to that, the troubles on the ground were rtively insignificant. These elite guards were merely causing chaos; the real power woulde when Lord Edweil led the Knights of Retribution. Then, all the resistance would amount to nothing...


    "Maintain a distance of fifty meters, no closebat allowed. Attack using magic!" Veed raised his warhammer high and shouted.


    This distance was the optimal range he''d determined from the previous lesson. Fifty meters provided enough space to use magic against the airships, maneuver the griffins to avoid the enemy''s aim, and prevent the enemy from resorting to a mutual destruction strategy.


    This was his moment for vengeance!


    Meanwhile, within one of the airships, Alek, the captain, was immensely tense as the griffin knights approached. Having witnessed a friendly ship destroyed before his eyes days ago, he was acutely aware of the threat these griffin knights posed.


    "Glenn, should we not act now?" Alek nced anxiously at the male wizard beside him, eagerly seeking guidance.


    "Don''t rush! Let theme closer. ording to Dean Lynn''s n, we must utterly crush these griffin knights this time!" Glenn shook his head, calming Alek. Then, as if reminded of something, he smiled and asked, "By the way, have you ever witnessed the speed of light?">


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 Chapter 357: The Power of Laser Magic, Annihilation of the Griffin Knights!

    Chapter 357: The Power of Laser Magic, Annihtion of the Griffin Knights!


    The speed of light?


    Alec shook his head in confusion. He knew light was everywhere during the day, illuminating every corner of their world. But did it have speed?


    "The speed of light is 299,500 kilometers per second, enough to encircle our continent eight times!" Glenn exined, his gaze shifting to the approaching Griffin Knights in the distance.


    High-speed flight under cover of night made their figures elusive in the darkness, challenging to aim at...


    Yet, Glenn wasn''t worried. He swiftly activated a Tier Three spell - **Heat Perception**! Suddenly, the world changed for Glenn. The darkness remained, but the iing Griffin Knights stood out vividly, bing bright red dots.


    This ability to sense heat was theirtest achievement in understanding light, enabling the caster to see something named infrared by the magical luminary...


    At that moment, the roles of hunter and prey shifted. Glenn raised his hands, conjuring a zing sphere around him. Then, a circr reflectiveyer appeared around the sphere, obscuring all light...


    As the distance between both sides closed in, the leader, Veed, could clearly see the figures in uniform on the airship. Simultaneously, he sensed fluctuations of magical power.


    "Wizards?" Veed pondered to himself, devoid of any fear.Their aerial maneuverability surpassed the devilish followers by far. Despite the adversaries'' formidable magic, missing the mark turned them into easy targets!


    A smirk crept onto Veed''s lips. Yet, a sudden warning surged within him. Immediately, a powerful beam, as thick as a finger, shot from the airship''s vicinity at a speed beyond his reaction limit. In an instant, it pierced through his earlier magical defenses, carving a splendid arc in mid-air...


    "Such fast light..." Veed''s mind barely processed the thought before his body was cleaved in two, along with the Griffin beneath him...


    Simr scenes unfolded across various locations in the capital''s sky ¨C 150 airships strategically positioned, followed by a massacre!


    Intense beams illuminated each airship. Before the Griffin Knights sensed the danger, a barrage of beams reached them...


    The attack was swift. In an instant, over a hundred Griffin Knights were severed, plummeting from the sky, expressions ranging from confusion to joy on their faces.


    Only after theirpanions were attacked did the remaining Griffin Knights react. But chaos ensued.


    Some witnessed their erstwhilerades, just moments ago in good spirits, decapitated by theser. They attempted to flee in panic, only to face the beams sweeping toward them.


    After charging up, the effective killing range ofser magic extended to about 120 meters. Those at its epicenter, like Alec and hispanions, felt as though they held a hundred-meter-long sword, weightless and potent.


    By utilizing the form for arc length calction, a slight adjustment of theser could sweep through vast areas. With 150 intersecting beams, attice of light covered the entire region...


    The once domineering aerial rulers were now trapped birds in the, nowhere to escape. Echoes of screams and roars reverberated. Beneath the grid of light beams, thend turned into a battlefield. Countless Griffin Knights were dismembered, blood staining the sky.


    More Griffin Knights realized escape was futile and fervently cried out, "For the glory of the Lord!" "God is with us!" beforeunching into suicidal attacks...


    Although most Griffin Knights wielded only priest-level spells, incapable of breaking through the magical protection on the airships, their sheer numbers overwhelmed!


    For this conquest of the kingdom, Edweil brought a staggering eight hundred Griffin Knights! Even after ounting for the unfortunate casualties from phosphorus fire and lightning, the entire Griffin Knight battalion was present ¨C meaning each airship had to face five opponents.


    Under the Griffin Knights'' suicidal assaults, over twenty airships sumbed sessively to consecutively cast divine spells, plummeting into the capital below...


    Meanwhile, as the aerial battle raged, conflict within the capital had escted into a frenzy.


    "Don''t panic! Hold the line!" Old York shouted hoarsely, his face a mix of solemnity and panic.


    Initially regretful about being assigned to defend the slums in the capital, Old York had realized that safety in the rear meant losing opportunities for promotion based on military achievements.


    However, once the conflict broke out, the enemies appeared seemingly out of thin air, directly infiltrating the capital.


    The dark-d shadow guards were manageable, but after the arrival of those human-like, monstrous Punishment Knights, the previously stable lines were swiftly breached.


    They kept retreating, with casualties exceeding two thousand, including fallenrades and the royal guards. Amid such adversity and heavy casualties, Old York could only reassure everyone, promising that reinforcements were on the way, urging them to hold out just a little longer.


    The streets resounded with the relentless firing of rifles. Every second, riflemen, out of ammunition, wielded bays, using their lives to stall the enemy''s advance.


    Time passed, and the persevering group finally received the anticipated reinforcement - albeit much fewer in number than Old York had hoped for. Merely a hundred soldiers, led by Elok and Lydia.


    "Elok, have we run out of avable manpower in the capital?" Old York''s disappointment was evident, though he understood that amidst ongoing battles everywhere, the wizardly elite might not be avable immediately.


    "Indeed, it''s just us!" Elok nodded, with Lydia confidently adding, "But it''s enough!"


    Though their numbers were few, each was equipped with state-of-the-art rifles, and they brought along three super-heavy weapons initially intended for frontline support. Upon learning of the urgent situation, Lydia promptly led the contingent to reinforce the capital...>


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 Chapter 358: The Roar of Heavy Machine Guns, Not a Battle, But a Massacre!

    Chapter 358: The Roar of Heavy Machine Guns, Not a Battle, But a Massacre!


    As the frontline defenses remained intact, Lydia and Elok swiftly directed everyone to set up three machine guns on either side of the street. The soldiers equipped with firing guns also neatly arranged themselves in two lines.


    The enemy arrived much faster than anticipated. Almost as soon as they were in formation, hundreds of well-armored soldiers from the Punishment Legion charged forward. Dozens at the forefront wielded massive swords and huge shields, forming a sturdy shield wall.


    "Are those the Punishment Legion? They don''t seem all that special," Lydia muttered softly.


    Old York''s mouth twitched involuntarily as he hurriedly cautioned, "Lady Lydia, never underestimate them. They''re formidable, easily prevailing against multiple opponents at once. Their shields are infused with magic, making it hard for firearms to prate!"


    While most riflemen were inexperienced in battle, their wizard training involved encounters with powerful magical creatures. Their bay skills weren''t weak after rigorous practice.


    Despite the defenders outnumbering the enemy in this area, they inevitably faced defeat.


    "Let me see for myself," Lydia said, adjusting her expression and gesturing with her hand.


    The riflemen behind her immediately understood, loading red bullets into their guns and aiming at the approaching enemies.


    "Fire!" the girlmanded. One hundred riflemen split into two columns and simultaneously fired, the sharp sound of gunshots echoing through the narrow streets.The dense bullets shed with the heavy shields, erupting and exploding¡ªa result of the armor-piercing shells developed by the Alchemy Association. It proved remarkably effective, instantly causing over twenty casualties.


    Old York and others'' faces lit up with surprise. Their biggest concern had been how to breach this tough defense!


    However, as the Church''s elite legion, none of the Punishment Legion soldiers faltered due to the overwhelming firepower of the new machine guns. They disregarded their fallenrades, rushing within seventy meters even before the second round of gunfire from the second line of riflemen.


    In previous battles, they learned that after these magical weapons attacked, they required at least a minute to reload, meaning that after enduring this round of fire, the enemy would be vulnerable, akin tombs awaiting ughter.


    Yet, apanying the second volley of gunfire were the three machine guns set up on the street!


    Under the cover of smoke and mes caused by the explosive shells, the rapid continuous roar of the machine guns began!


    Ratatat!


    The bullets from the three machine guns poured out wildly, creating sharp sonic booms in the air, fierce tongues of fire spewing out.


    The Punishment Legion soldiers, covered in advanced armor and boasting robust physiques, appeared extremely vulnerable against this intense barrage, capable of tearing through steel.


    Dozens of Punishment Legion soldiers at the forefront were instantly turned into sieves!


    The narrow street was an ideal ce for the machine guns'' power, leaving no room for evasion. Their only option was to charge, charge, and charge again!


    As long as they reached these people, victory would be theirs!


    Unfortunately, they miscalcted. When the three machine guns ceased firing, the street was littered with shattered bodies.


    Old York and others, witnessing this scene, were dumbfounded. This massacrested just over a minute, yet it decimated the hundreds of Punishment Legion soldiers who had caused chaos in the capital.


    "It seems we''re a bit more formidable!" Lydia chuckled with pride. However, seeing thepletely depleted ammunition stores, her expression fell.


    Three thousand rounds, meticulously prepared by dozens of wizard apprentices over three days, were all used up. How could they support other battlefields now?


    Old York, regainingposure from his shock, quickly spoke up. "Lady Lydia, the ones we''ve defeated were just a diversionary force invading the capital. I reckon at least two thousand Punishment Legion soldiers have arrived in the capital through secret passages..."


    "So many!" Elok furrowed his brow.


    Although they had effortlessly killed over four hundred Punishment Legion soldiers just now, Elok wasn''t as dismissive of the Church''s elite troops as Lydia was. The fact that they managed to overpower the capital''s defenses several times over indicated they were not to be trifled with.


    Without the powerful firepower of the machine guns and considering the new soldiers armed with firing guns, dealing with this many Punishment Legion soldiers wouldn''t be easy.


    "Do you know where they''ve gone?" Elok inquired.


    "Some split up, causing chaos in the capital. As for the main force, judging by their direction, they''re likely headed towards the Alchemy Association," Old York said gravely.


    "Then we needn''t worry." Lydia breathed a sigh of relief. The Alchemy Association had strong defenses, and most of the new soldiers armed with firing guns were stationed there.


    However, the situation was evidently beyond Lydia''s expectations. Apanying the Punishment Legion charging toward the Alchemy Association were Pearson and Arno, the two cardinals.


    "It seems this is the core of the entire capital''s defenses!" Pearson stepped into the Alchemy Association, now soaked in blood and echoing with cries of battle. Utilizing magic, he sensed that all magical power was concentrated here!


    As long as they destroyed this ce, the brightly illuminated capital would plunge back into darkness, and the protective spellsid across various locations would instantly copse.


    Beside him, Arno, just rescued from imprisonment, wore a grim expression. During his time in the capital, he had been tormented by those cursed psychic wizards. He could only endure until chaos erupted in the capital before finally escaping his confinement, seething with anger!


    "Let the glory of God cleanse this ce of sin!" Arno bellowed fiercely. A massive holy power surged around him, apanied by a deafening roar. Deep fissures crisscrossed the ground, and vast sections of buildings copsed under the onught of divine power!


    Countless debris flew through the air like a storm of the apocalypse, rushing toward the wizards who were still resisting...


    >


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 Chapter 359: Arno: Hellfire, Is That All?

    Chapter 359: Arno: Hellfire, Is That All?


    "Apocalypse Storm!"


    Arno shouted madly, recklessly channeling the immense ''divine power'' within, sending a barrage of magical force towards the courtyard.


    Pearson and others who had taken refuge within the yard looked despairingly as the overwhelming magical onught carried a flurry of debris and stones straight at them...


    The Archbishops'' power stood on another tier. Without wizards of the same rank intervening, their small group stood no chance against the two high-ranking clergy.


    But that inevitable strike was thwarted!


    A fierce wall of mes surged, its fiery tongues forcefully countering the iing storm of divine magic. With a stronger force, it pushed back...


    This was the Quadrant Magic - the "Crimson Dragon''s Breath."


    Different from regr fire, this was perilous and stubborn white phosphorus fire...


    Pearson''s expression turned grave. Even Arno, in his manic state, abandoned the idea of direct confrontation, raising several divine spell barriers."Boom!"


    A terrifying explosion echoed through the courtyard. As the dust settled, the entire areay in ruins, with streetlights flickering until they dimmed.


    Sheltered within the divine spell barriers at the center, Arno and Pearson remained unscathed. However, two of the previously cast divine spell barriers had ruptured. Not only that, the mes clung to the divine spell barriers, slowly but steadily corroding their power.


    "So, this is the so-called Hellfire?" Arno''s face revealed a hint of disdain as he raised his hand.


    "Blessing of the Divine Rain."


    A blue divine radiance swept forth, covering the mes with mist, immediately suppressing their intensity.


    As Edweil mentioned, water temporarily subdued it. Besides, apart from divine spells, stripping it of air and temperature could extinguish this menace.


    "It seems just as expected!" Arno sneered.


    Pearson''s gaze shifted to the courtyard. The one who had interrupted their destructive intent earlier was Lynn, apanied by Raphael, who remained in the capital.


    "Dean Lynn, Master Raphael!" Pearson wiped the sweat off his forehead, joyously shouting.


    The people stationed at the Alchemy Research Institute also showed relief. This meant their safety was finally assured!


    "Thank goodness you held back; otherwise, the capital would have been in real danger," Raphael remarked, ncing at Pearson and Arno, his voice tinged with relief.


    Thankfully, they hadn''t rushed to the front lines together; otherwise, there would have been no one left in the capital to stop the two Archbishops.


    With the fall of the Alchemy Research Institute, the entire defense line might have copsed. After all, the power generators and protective magic formations were all situated there, and a lot of research findings could''ve beenpromised.


    Lynn didn''t respond. Despite making preparations as much as possible, the situation wasn''t optimistic. They had to swiftly resolve this trouble and quell the chaos in the capital.


    "Pick an opponent, Arno? You go first!" Pearson, with a casual nce at Arno, spoke up.


    Arno grinned, "Alright then, I''ll take that three hundred thousand, and you deal with the other one!"


    Pearson nodded, oddly pleased. He wasn''t so keen on wealth and glory and understood well that anyonemanding a bounty of three hundred thousand wouldn''t be easy to handle.


    Three hundred thousand? Lynn furrowed his brows, not entirely grasping what the two Archbishops were talking about, but it didn''t seem to bode well.


    Regardless, capturing one of them alive could provide some answers!


    Lynn''s expression suddenly turned cold. His right index and middle fingers subtly trembled, akin to plucking strings on a musical instrument.


    Invisible ripples spread forward at the speed of sound...


    Arno and Pearson simultaneously felt as if their brains had been heavily hammered, momentarily frozen in ce.


    Raphael, who had fought alongside Lynn before, recognized this unique sonic magic and didn''t miss this opportunity.


    "Dissolving Ray."


    With mastery, Raphael unleashed the most potent five-ring magic he held!


    True to its name, upon touching the target, it swiftly disintegrated them, an advanced form of the "High-Level Material Deconstruction."


    Fortunately, the resonance magic''s impactsted only a moment. Pearson, the intended target, immediately reacted. Before the "Dissolving Ray" destroyed the divine spell protection, he desperately shifted his body. Yet, a part of him unavoidably got hit on the shoulder, instantly turning into nothingness...


    "Damn it!" Pearson teetered on the edge of life and death, taking several steps back. Under the influence of healing magic, the vanished flesh rapidly regenerated, once again shrouding himself in an even stronger divine spell protection.


    Arno''s struggle to break free was even quicker than Pearson''s, but contrary to his movements, instead of retreating, he stepped forward!


    The ground beneath cracked as he advanced, and in the next moment, Arno had crossed tens of meters, appearing in front of Lynn. A radiant heavy sword in hand descended, slicing through the air, apanied by a sharp sonic boom!


    Every Archbishop wasn''t just a formidable magic wielder but also a standout knight!


    Different from Pearson, who focused solely on using divine magic and neglected physicalbat training, Arno invested most of his energy in closebat. His extraordinary speed and strength often allowed him to behead those wizards before they could cast their spells!


    However, this opponent seemed entirely different. The moment the battle began, Lynn''s eyes turned vacant. Arno''s every move slowed down hundreds of times, dissected one by one.


    Iron surged on Lynn''s otherwise empty right hand, forming a sharp spike that materialized out of thin air, precisely striking the bnce point on the sword. Despite being far inferior in strength, Lynn''s strike deflected the immensely forceful blow.


    The sword aura formed by divine radiance plowed furrows on the ground, extending tens of meters, cleaving through the courtyard''s sturdy walls...


    "Hmm?" Arno was quite surprised that the opponent could evade that strike. However, his actions didn''t halt, and a sweeping leg came forth.


    "Resistive me Ring."


    Lynn''s expression remained unchanged as magic surged. mes enveloped him, spreading in all directions, engulfing everything in a scorching whirlwind...


    >


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 Chapter 360: The Debut of the Unquenchable Flame!

    Chapter 360: The Debut of the Unquenchable me!


    As the mes surged, Arnol swiftly maneuvered, contorting in an unnatural stance, evading the attack at a speed surpassing the mes'' motion.


    Even though Arnol had previously attempted the methods Edweil had advised, deeming the rumored hellfire less fearsome, these methods merely subdued it. Any area tainted by these mes requiredplete extraction to prevent harm...


    Unless necessary, he didn''t want these mes anywhere near him.


    "Such rapid reflexes..." Lynn marveled inwardly. The Archbishop before them wasn''t the most formidable opponent encountered, but he was undeniably tricky.


    This speed and powerbined with divine spells posed a significant threat. A moment''spse against an elemental grand wizard not well-versed in closebat could lead to instant demise!


    Despite the urgency, Lynn refrained from hastily employing thest-resort Unquenchable Fire or Laser Magic.


    Given the potential widespread destruction and coteral damage both magics could cause, and the criticality of rted intel, their use demanded absolute certainty of a decisive strike...


    In contemtion, over a hundred magical missiles materialized around Lynn.


    [Magic - Barrage], a refined Zero-Ring spell, yet the potency of the technique depended on the caster. In Lynn''s hands, it often wielded the power to turn decay into wonder.If speed couldn''t match up, victory would arise through quantity!


    With a mental shift, the orbiting magical projectiles surged forth, forming an incessant barrage, sealing off every direction Arnol could dodge.


    "Attempting the same trick again?" Arnol, having suffered a severe setback before, didn''t dare let these seemingly harmless magical constructs approach. A terrifying aura enveloped him as the swiftly approaching magical missiles detonated prematurely...


    Fortunately, an electromaic field had already formed. Lynn raised a hand, a hint of lightning flickering at their fingertips. Leveraging the dense airborne conductive elements, they transcended levels to employ a Five-Ring spell!


    [Thunder Abyss - Storm of Lightning]


    Amidst the intery of electricity, a tempest of thunder covered the entire area, fierce arcs of lightning dancing like a dense spider web in the air.


    Even though Arnol stood beyond the electromaic domain, the lightning''s speed rendered it instantaneous, spreading to the surroundings. Despite his speed, dodging was impossible...


    Instantly, Arnol conjured a magical barrier around himself, repelling the encroaching lightning. However, this sustained consumption wasn''t what he had anticipated...


    A swift resolution was imperative!


    Realizing this, Arnol hesitated no longer. He charged abruptly, surging into the electromaic field.


    "Dragon''s Breath!" Facing Arnol''s charge, Lynn stepped back, a searing stream of fire expanding rapidly, attempting to force the opponent back with wide-ranging me magic.


    This time, Arnol showed no intention of avoidance. He braved the scorching mes, charging forth. The potent and eerie white phosphorus mes continued devouring the power of the spell barrier. Simultaneously, Arnol swung his hefty sword...


    Everything transpired in the blink of an eye. Lynn seemed unprepared or perhaps never anticipated the direct charge. The sword swiftly pierced through their body, transversing from abdomen to torso...


    However, as the sword prated, Arnol''s pupils slightly contracted. It wasn''t the sensation of the de slicing through, and Lynn''s face betrayed no hint of panic or fear.


    At that exact moment, a hand firmly grasped his shoulder. Swiftly, the unquenchable me burst forth from Lynn''s body, transforming them into an expanding ball of fire, hurtling toward the close-in Arnol...


    Divine Spell - [Earth''s Guardian]


    Within a fraction of a second, Arnol could only resort to this one divine spell. His whiteplexion shifted to an ashen grey...


    This Five-Ring Divine Spell - [Earth''s Guardian] could construct a sturdy stone shield on the body''s surface. Empowered by divine magic, it could even withstand some powerful spells'' impact!


    Arnol didn''tprehendbustion or conductors, but he understood one principle: stone couldn''t burn or conduct electricity. This mitigated the damage from the two most threatening spells!


    However, he remained unaware that Lynn didn''t employ white phosphorus fire this time but a more perilous and potent Unquenchable me - Trifluorochlorine!


    A force capable of incinerating everything, ruthlessly seizing electrons!


    Previously, Lynn deliberately baited with white phosphorus fire, creating misinformation, awaiting this opportunity!


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"


    A piercing scream echoed through the skies. Arnol''s agonizing howls resonated, distinctly feeling the mes burning on his stone-coated skin, even seeping into his flesh and bones...


    "Arnol!" Pulson, engaged inbat with Raphael, momentarily diverted attention upon hearing the screams. After repelling Raphael with [Holy Light Rush], he hastily cast a spell for rescue...


    [Divine Bestowal - Refreshing Shower]


    The mist imbued with divine radiance instantly enveloped Arnol. Using water to douse fire wasmon knowledge, and though they estimated this hellfire couldn''t be easily quenched, temporary suppression should have been feasible.


    However, reality diverged drastically from Pulson''s expectations. Upon contact with Arnol''s body, the Unquenchable me, instead of subsiding, erupted into a fiercer ze. The howling Arnol detonated, disintegrating into a mist of flesh and blood...


    Pulson stood there, utterly stunned. He couldn''t fathom how, despitemon belief, water didn''t extinguish the fire. How did it lead to such a detonation?


    Lynn''s figure emerged on the battlefield''s other side. ncing at the now disintegrated Arnol, then turning to Pulson, they jestingly remarked, "Seems like the hierarchy isn''t as solid within the Church. Didn''t expect you''d go this hard on a colleague..."


    Raphael, nearby, rolled his eyes. He knew well the nature of the Unquenchable me. Anyone attempting to douse it with water would suffer the fate simr to Arnol, torn into a cluster of flesh.


    Utilizing misinformation to eliminate an Archbishop directly, a faint smile graced Lynn''s lips.


    Otherwise, with the opponent''s extraordinary speed or continuous release of those sword energies from afar, winning wouldn''t have been an easy feat.>


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 Chapter 361: Edweil: Feel Despair, for this is the power of legend!

    Chapter 361: Edweil: Feel Despair, for this is the power of legend!


    The sudden change in the field stunned the wizards gathered within the Alchemy Research Institute.


    In just a fleeting moment, they witnessed Arno wielding his heavy sword, cleaving Lynn in half. mes quickly engulfed Lynn, and finally, Pulson used divine magic to detonate his adversary...


    Could it be that their enemies were at odds with each other? Ynd and others were momentarily puzzled, but one thing was clear¡ªthey now had a significant advantage in a two-versus-one situation.


    Caught between Lynn and Raphael''s vague encirclement, Pulson''s expression grew increasingly grim. He involuntarily took a few steps back, but soon felt as though he''d collided with an iron wall.


    Turning abruptly, Pulson realized that, unbeknownst to him, Edweil, dressed in crimson and gold robes with an iron mask, had appeared behind him.


    "Lord Edweil..." Pulson''s voice betrayed both excitement and trepidation as he hurriedly attempted to exin. "Arno fell victim to a trick by these wizards, struck by that bizarre hellfire. I was merely trying to contain the mes with divine magic, but I didn''t expect..."


    Edweil raised a hand, silencing Pulson''s exnations. He had been nearby and had witnessed everything firsthand.


    His reason for not intervening directly was to guard against potential legendary wizards.


    Moreover, neither Arno nor Pulson had clearly faltered in the fight. It was just that Edweil hadn''t anticipated the rapid turn of events. Right after Pulson attempted to rescue Arno, Arno suddenly exploded, beyond any hope of aid...This meant his earlier analysis was wed. No, it should be said¡ªthey had been deceived. The opponents were now using the true ''hellfire.''


    "Arno''s spirit will reside eternally in heaven..." Edweil softly murmured, then turned towards Lynn and Raphael, speaking coldly. "But sphemers shall plummet into hell!"


    "These so-called heaven and hell are nothing but lies used to deceive fools like you!" Raphael sneered disdainfully, moving forward. With a mere thought, the elements within his domain surged vigorously, intertwining and colliding, surging towards the two Cardinals in front of them.


    This was the Five-Ring Magic¡ª[Elemental Torrent]!


    Edweil made no attempt to evade, calmly pointing a finger. "This ce is the domain of gods, where all evil shall dissipate!"


    As he spoke, the entire space seemed to tremble. The surging elemental torrent was instantly dispersed by an inexplicable force.


    Subsequently, a grand hymn echoed throughout the Alchemy Research Institute. Thend, scorched by mes, unexpectedly burst back to life. Tender green leaves and vines sprouted from the debris, wildly growing, ensnaring everyone unable to move...


    "Heaven... Heaven has descended!" a guard from the capital city eximed frantically, his face showing fervent zeal.


    Chapter nine of the Holy Book, page thirty-five: The messengers of God descend, bringing forth heaven wherever they tread, blooming with flowers...


    Such celestial changes caused Lynn''s expression to turn incredibly grave. mes engulfed him, incinerating all the vegetation that had emerged.


    This was no ordinary power wielded by Cardinals!


    "Legendary?" Raphael eximed in horror.


    "In the name of God, you all are sinners. sphemers, kneel and pray for God''s forgiveness!" Edweil''s voice resonated again.


    Everyone present immediately felt a tremendous pressure, falling to their knees. Only Lynn and Raphael, unaffected, remained standing.


    The pressure upon them surpassed even that experienced by formal wizards. Lynn felt as if he were submerged in the depths of the sea, surrounded by an overwhelming ''water pressure'' from all directions, threatening to crush his body!


    The elemental domain, previously epassing a fifteen-meter radius, now shrank to three meters. The internal elements hadpletely lost control, bing sluggish and scattered...


    This was what being legendary meant? Lynn''s pupils contracted; in a mere nce, they had lost the ability to resist.


    "Judgment, punishment by de and axe!" Edweil spoke coldly.


    Chapter eleven of the Holy Book, page sixteen: Those who speak evil words, spheming the divine, shall experience the punishment of de and axe, their souls cast into hell!


    In the empty void, numerous figures wielding axes and des, their faces unseen, appeared and swung toward Lynn and Raphael''s heads, chests, and limbs.


    Suppressed by an unknown force, the two could only watch as the sword edges and axe des rapidly approached. Cold sweat broke out on Raphael''s forehead; he hadn''t expected such a vast gap between himself and a legendary being...


    Lynn wasn''t willing to resign to fate. Through his exceptional perception, he quickly realized that his control over the elements hadn''tpletely disappeared, just slowed down significantly...


    "Connect me to the magicalwork, full power!" Lynn shouted in his mind. He felt as though his brain had exploded, his mental power rapidly soaring.


    Fourth ring... Fifth ring... Sixth ring...


    The evaluations in the database kept jumping. After breaking through the Grand Wizard level, Lynn had distributed the [Ring of Secrets] among many Iyeta faction wizards.


    The total number of wizards connected to the magicalwork had surpassed fifty, most of whom were formal wizards.


    Of course, merely relying on these individuals''putational power was far from enough to directly elevate his mental power by two levels. The crucial factor was that among those connected to the magicalwork was the legendary Speaker¡ªHarof!


    Though Harof had only entered the realm of magic once, the analysis progress was extremely slow, having reached only five percent after two whole years of relentless effort...


    The smart brain faithfully executed Lynn''smand, mobilizing everyone''sputational power.


    The sudden surge in mental power clearly strained Lynn''s brain. It was a peculiar sensation because the brain''s thinking andputational abilities were based on neuralworks; these couldn''t suddenly increase or decrease, nor could they physically burst the brain...


    This time, Lynn''s perception was clearer. It wasn''t that his brain couldn''t bear the immenseputational load; every cell in his body seemed to be groaning in pain...


    However, it wasn''t the time to contemte this. With the rapid increase in mental power, Lynn immediately sensed the elements within his domain reinvigorating!


    "Fire!" Lynn uttered a single word. The eerie, unquenchable me reignited from within him, engulfing the approaching spirit guards...


    Trantion has been edited for rity and readability.>


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 Chapter 362: The Physical God—Laplaces Demon!

    Chapter 362: The Physical God¡ªLace''s Demon!


    After effortlessly saving Raphael, Lynn set sights on Edweil.


    The surge in mental power, coupled with the intimidation from the enemy, freed Lynn from restraining the quantity and force of the chlorotrifluoroethylene. mes surged and congealed in the void, forming person-sized fireballs hurtling toward Edweil.


    Faced with this uncanny ''undying ze,'' Edweil raised a hand. Sand, metal, water screens... substances known to block mes formed a divine spell barrier in front of him.


    However, it was all in vain. Any material that touched the ''undying ze'' disintegrated instantly, fueling the mes, which surged forth with even greater might.


    Confirming it wasn''t an illusion, Edweil swiftly escted the mes'' intimidation. Before the overwhelming ''undying ze,'' he spoke rapidly, "God erects high walls between hell and earth, blocking all evil, never to be shattered!"


    As his words fell, a golden wall materialized, adorned with intricate divine runes emitting an ancient, sacred aura. This upright wall held the eerie ''undying ze'' at bay.


    Edweil noticed even this wall, suppressing hell, couldn''t entirely resist the mes; it only slowed their erosion.


    Lynn was surprised. It was the first time he''d seen something effectively obstruct chlorotrifluoroethylene.


    A wallposed solely of pure divine magic? Without electrons, chlorotrifluoroethylene couldn''t transform it into fuel... Lynn immediately realized this. Edweil inadvertently stumbled upon a temporary method to block the ''undying ze,'' valuable intelligence Lynn had aimed to conceal.Yet Lynn didn''t rely solely on this spell.


    As the wall rose, a several-meter-diameter lightning sphere appeared overhead, emitting intense light that turned midnight into noon...


    "Gather!" Lynn pointed at the divine wall engulfed in mes, creating reflectiveyers around the lightning sphere, encapsting all the light.


    Utilizing the magic within a fifty-meter range, almost pushing theser''s power to its limit...


    And with the massive mental power through the magicalwork, Lynn elevated theser to the fourth level! Its radiuspressed to 0.1 millimeters!


    "Open up!" Lynn shouted with all his might. The sealed reflectiveyers cracked slightly, and the immensely powerful beam traveled at a speed of three hundred thousand kilometers per second, crossing the sea of mes, striking the ''indestructible'' divine wall!


    Constructed with divine energy, the wall was already slowly disintegrating in the mes. Faced with the even more potentser magic, it crumbled like leather sliced by a de.


    Edweil sensed this, his expression changing drastically. But the light was too swift; before he could react, it pierced through the divine wall and pierced through his chest...


    "sh!" Lynn shouted again. The beam that had pierced Edweil''s body swept upward, cutting through his chest, neck, and brain, cleaving him in two...


    Moreover, the nearly infiniteser beam sliced through the courtyard''s walls and several burning mansions in the distance, soaring into the sky...


    "Lord Edweil!" Pulson screamed in terror. The beam came too swiftly; by the time he saw it, Edweil had already been bisected, his shattered body falling to the ground.


    Lynn gasped continuously, whether controlling the widespread ''undying fire'' or elevating theser to the fourth level, it consumed an enormous amount of magical and mental energy.


    But before Lynn could catch a breath, Edweil''s voice resounded once more.


    "In the name of the Lord, all that has vanished shall reappear!"


    An inexplicable force swept through the entire space. The shattered bodies vanished instantly, charred vegetation regrew, and the distant torn walls healed swiftly.


    As if time had reversed, in five seconds, everything returned to its original state. Edweil, unscathed, appeared before everyone.


    What sort of magic was this? Speaking words and enacting them? Time reversal?


    Fear of the unknown crept into Lynn''s heart. Edweil''s disyed power surpassed Lynn''s worst assumptions. He couldn''t even kill his adversary by severing the brain.


    Or did he die and then return?


    More puzzlingly, Lynn had no idea where this almost spoken-into-reality ability originated. To be capable of such quasi-time-reversal actions...


    Though in physics, it wasn''t entirely impossible...


    ording to prevalent theories from past eras, time was a manifestation of material movement and change. Theoretically, understanding the position and momentum of all atoms at a specific time point could foresee the future or even reverse time, going back to the past!


    This was Lace''s Demon, the god in the physical sense, omniscient and omnipotent!


    Yet this seemed impossible. The universe was vast;prehending the positions of all atoms was a pipe dream!


    Wait... Recording the positions and momentum of atoms... Magic mimicking... Divine domain...


    Lynn suddenly realized something, thoughts swirling in his mind, a conjecture forming.


    "Dean Lynn, what he said just now should be phrases from the Bible..." Pearson, still pinned down, shouted loudly.


    After taking over the capital and dismantling the local church, they confiscated numerous handwritten Bibles. Pearson had curiously perused through them, treating it like a storybook, hence understanding a bit.


    So Pearson was certain that every sentence Edweil spoke had a corresponding phrase in the Bible without exception!


    Lynn suddenly understood. This ability to speak things into existence wasn''t solely a power possessed by Edweil himself.


    The source of this powery in the projection from the divine realm. Everything here, from the rampant vegetation to thend and buildings, had been influenced by divine power. Their positions and conditions were under the control of the master of the divine realm, that entity, "A," enough to achieve omniscience and omnipotence within a certain area, aplishing the preposterous feat of reversing time!


    And Edweil evidentlycked this capability, only being able to mobilize the power of the divine projection to a certain extent, simr tomanding a password-like divinenguage...


    >


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 Chapter 364: The Arrival of the True God!

    Chapter 364: The Arrival of the True God!


    A bronze gate materialized out of thin air within a courtyard engulfed by an eternal ze, as if it had existed since ancient times. The immense presence sent shivers through Raphael and the others dozens of meters away.


    The mes burning all around surged greedily, attempting to devour the gates to the heavenly realm. However, they seemed affected by an unknown force, distorting noticeably as they neared the entrance.


    Lynn, struggling to control the surging sea of mes, quickly realized that it wasn''t the fire but the entire space that was twisting!


    The colossal gate stood like a star, altering the fabric of space and time around it. Apanied by bell-like sounds, the bronze gate cracked open slightly, an overwhelming pressure solidifying in the void, and ethereal hymns resonating in everyone''s ears.


    Lynn''s expression grew grave. Just a gateway to the heavens exhibited the power to distort space-time and resist fourth-levelser spells. He couldn''t fathom the might of a true god''s arrival.


    Yet, his most powerful magics,ser and eternal mes, couldn''t dismantle this gateway.


    It was time for a desperate gamble!


    Understanding that leverage was their only hope, Lynn saw potential in the undying mes that had absorbed substantial energy from the divine realm''s projections. These mes, now part of the inferno scattered across the courtyard, formed a terrifying yet uncontrolled electric field...


    Harnessing such chaotic yet potent power was no easy feat, but with theputational support of dozens of wizards, the impossible became possible!Lynn raised a hand, summoning a solid iron sphere in the void, followed by flickering electric arcs enveloping him.


    Though the electromaic railgun had the drawback of a lengthy charging time, its sheer destructive force surpassed even that of theser beam!


    Yet, it needed to reach forty times the speed of sound to rupture the spacetime whirlpool around the gates of heaven!


    Lynn staked everything on this single strike!


    His magical reserves depleted from the battle, Lynn relied solely on the magic stored within the magicalwork!


    As the plundered electrons swiftly congregated, the railgun''s charging speed couldn''t match the gate''s opening pace.


    Edweil sensed the dreadful magical fluctuations within the sea of fire but, hindered by the inferno, couldn''t intervene. All his power was invested in supporting the heavenly gate''s descent.


    As long as the two realms opened a channel sufficient for the true god''s arrival, all resistance from the enemy would be futile...


    Suddenly, Edweil''s face paled, his head snapping in a different direction.


    He sensed someone severing the field formed by the divine realm''s projections from the outside!


    Unlike Lynn''sser, which cut in a physically tangible manner, this was spatial destruction!


    The entire space trembled violently as dark lines swiftly spread within the ming divine realm, disintegrating everything in their path. It was the deepest darkness formed from light unable to reflect due to being trapped in a spatial vortex...


    This was the legendary Force Field magic - the "de of Spacetime"!


    The neer was the legendary councilor, Harof!


    In an instant, the invisible spatial de struck the gates of heaven, causing the realm projected by the gods to copse!


    The once solid gate had faded slightly, yet it was already halfway open!


    "Go back!" A heavy voice echoed in the courtyard. Complex runes manifested in the void, entwining around the bronze gate like chains, attempting to forcibly seal the opening. But in the next moment, Victorio, the "Magical Artificer," went from a calm demeanor to urgency, shouting, "I''m almost losing control, Harof! Hurry, destroy it!"


    The energy contained within the gates of heaven far exceeded their expectations. Clearly, the gods had noticed this connection between the realms and were channeling their power through it.


    Harof dared not dy, exerting all his might to utterly shred this so-called gate of heaven.


    The intertwining forces caused severe spatial turmoil, intensifying the raging sea of fire around them.


    Meanwhile, Lynn''s spell had reachedpletion.


    The Super Electromaic Railgun!


    The iron sphere, confined by maic forces, suddenly elerated. Enveloped in thunderous light, it transformed into a streak of crimson, hurtling forth. At forty times the speed of sound, amidst the anticipation, shock, and tension of onlookers, the scarlet sphere viciously collided with the bronze gates.


    BOOM!


    An intense explosion erupted on the gates, cracking the surface and causing the ground to fissure. The shockwave pushed the fiery sea back several meters. A scorching wave surged through the air, searing everyone''s skin as if in the midst of mes.


    All eyes fixed on the gates of heaven. A long crack appeared on the gate''s surface, covering a third of the door - the exact spot hit by the electromaic cannon!


    But the damage was limited. The bronze gate remained standing, the alchemic runes binding its surface had disintegrated, and a pale hand emerged from within.


    Chills ran down everyone''s spine, including Harof and Victorio. Despite their presence as legendary figures, facing this goddess directly, they couldn''t summon even an ounce of confidence.


    "Lord, your most devout followers beseech your judgment!" Pulson eximed fervently.


    Edweil, standing nearby, wore a smile. However, his expression froze as a ming atomic ''sword'' pierced through their bodies from behind.


    Having expended most of his power maintaining the gates of heaven''s descent, the divine spells protecting Edweil weakened, barely resisting the onught of the eternal mes.


    Lynn, using thest vestiges of his strength, manipted the mes near Edweil,unching a lethal assault!


    As long as the caster was killed, the power fueling the spells would dissipate.


    The realm constructed by the divine projections had already shattered in the preceding battle, meaning the opponent could no longer use ''divine words'' to avert death...


    The mes rapidly engulfed Edweil, devouring every iota of strength within him within a mere second...>


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 Chapter 365: The Power of Gods - The Annihilation of the Everlasting Flames!

    Chapter 365: The Power of Gods - The Annihtion of the Evesting mes!


    In the scorching mes, Edweil''s mind was instantly reminded of the biblical description of the fires of hell.


    It was rumored that these mes could scorch everything, even the souls of individuals. Those touched by it would perish in the most agonizing manner! Edweil had never imagined that one day he would experience the punishment of purgatory. The mes were even more terrifying than rumored. While licking and dissolving skin and flesh, they infiltrated the body through the mouth, nose, and ears, eroding every cell and bone.


    The sudden change on the field surprised everyone. Pulson''s excited expression froze on his face while Edweil, beside him, was already engulfed in mes.


    The door standing within the courtyard violently shook...


    The supply of energy, bridging two worlds, was immense. Once Edweil, the supplier, was lost, the gateway to heaven would cease to be sustained.


    Harof and Victorio immediately grasped this crucial point; now, the paramount objective was to prevent the other from stepping out of the gateway!


    "Seal!" Victorio swiftly changed hand seals, intricate alchemical runes interweaving with magical luminescence, forming a silvery chain that locked towards the gateway from all directions.


    Harof, merciless as ever, unleashed a force field spell once again, enshrouding the entire space, attempting to tear apart the gateway to heaven along with the pseudo-deity who had partially passed through...


    The surging ''Evesting mes'' surged under Lynn''s control, rushing toward their target.Through the ze, Lynn stared fixedly at the figure about to step out from the gateway. Her form seemed shrouded in light and mist, indistinct yet exuding a profound and sacred aura, as if the origin of all things,pelling one to draw closer, kneel, and offer everything in reverence...


    The silver chain, spatial tearing, and the ferocious Evesting mes converged almost simultaneously.


    From the gateway to heaven emerged a god with eyes as dazzling as stars, bearing an indifferent and icy countenance. Extending a slender jade finger, the god tapped upon the void.


    In the next moment, a powerful divine light appeared. Under the sweeping force of this invisible power, alchemical runes shimmering with magical brilliance instantly solidified, freezing even the raging sea of mes in ce...


    Yes, frozen!


    Like a video paused, everything around froze in its tracks. Even the raging mes, whirling moments before, halted in midair, swiftly dissipating and vanishing...


    For the first time, the Evesting mes... were extinguished!


    Time stood still? Lynn''s heart jolted, disying shock on her face, but she quickly dismissed it.


    No, not time standing still, this was... absolute zero!


    Where the divine light covered, the movement of all elements came to a near standstill, reverting to their pure magical essence!


    The essence of fire is the gaseous or sma state of high temperature, and temperature is an expression of the average kic energy between molecules.


    The collision between molecules generates and transmits heat. The greater the kic energy, the more vigorous the movement, resulting in higher temperatures!


    Conversely, when molecr motion nears cessation, high temperatures and mes naturally cease to exist!


    This was pseudo¡ªtemporal suspension, absolute zero!


    Though Lynn didn''t believe relying on chlorotrifluoromethane would render her invincible - after all, no matter how powerful, it was merely a chemical element - she hadn''t expected her opponent to use this method to counter it!


    Simple yet direct, it sent shivers down her spine!


    The threshold of absolute zero is -273.15 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, all molecr kic and potential energies vanish. It''s a value considered forever approachable but unattainable under any circumstances!


    Yet, [A] achieved it. The domain of the gods expanded rapidly, freezing everything in its path!


    Victorio, standing at the forefront, had already set up a protective barrier before the divine light swept through. Almost substantial alchemical runes formed a circr barrier that solidified into frost. Behind him, Raphael,cking any resistance, was frozen into a block of ice...


    Lynn stepped back, her speed insignificantpared to the expanding domain of the gods. Her magical barriers dissolved and disintegrated; a terrifying chill permeated her arms!


    Suddenly, the ring divine light vanished without a trace. Elements forcibly fixed within space regained their vitality, and the bronze door standing in the courtyard''s center had disappeared.


    If not for the frostbite on her arms and the frost-covered ground, one might have doubted if everything prior had been an illusion.


    Lynn stood stunned for a moment before realizing that Edweil was dead!


    With his demise, the power sustaining the arrival of the gateway to heaven vanishedpletely, expelling [A] from this unknown realm.


    Crack~


    The sound of breaking ice echoed; Victorio shattered the frosted protective barrier. After surveying the surroundings, a sense of post-cmity relief unexpectedly welled up within him.


    "Never thought the gap between us and her would be so vast." Harof sighed, his expression grim. ording to his prior estimation, even if they couldn''t win, they should''ve at least had the strength to put up a fight.


    However, the current reality proved that even theirbined effort might not stand a chance against her casual strike.


    Victorio shook his head. The Church had dominated this continent for eight centuries, with an umtion of tens of millions of people. How could they be easily defeated?


    Unlike the relieved wizards, Pulson, who had witnessed everything and was still alive, was dumbfounded, trapped in an extremely awkward situation.


    The god, expelled without taking him, and Edweil, burned to ashes, left him alone facing two legendary wizards and an opponent who dared to strike against the divine for the Church''s enemy!


    Pulson struggled to swallow, intending to cast a divine spell for a final stand. However, the next second, he felt a sharp pain; his hands and feet were severed by a rushing de of temporal energy!


    A torrent of blood spurted out, indicating Harof''s unleashing of pent-up rage. However, considering the acquisition of information, he spared Pulson''s life...>


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 Chapter 366: The Unquenchable Flames Spreading Throughout the Royal Capital

    Chapter 366: The Unquenchable mes Spreading Throughout the Royal Capital


    Noticing Harof already taking action to deal with the sole enemy within the courtyard, Lynn''s tense grip rxed. Mentally chanting the spell for "Magic Interruption," the overwhelming surge of energy instantly dissipated. His body swayed violently, nearly toppling to the ground.


    Victorio hurried to Lynn''s side, assuming he had been struck by A''s final divine magic. Yet, upon magical investigation, they discovered otherwise. However, the situation remained dire.


    Despite a life offort and good food within the realm of wizards and no neglect in training, Lynn''s physique had undergone a drastic change. He appeared to have lost a substantial amount of weight, resembling a starving wanderer after days without sustenance. His magical reserves depleted entirely, his mental prowess severely battered!


    Victorio''s expression turned grave. Combining Lynn''s release of that legendary-level electromaic cannon a moment ago, he swiftly deduced this must be a consequence of some kind of magic that rapidly augmented strength but left severe aftereffects. He immediately produced a bottle of deep blue potion and administered it to the barely conscious Lynn.


    The icy liquid surged down his throat, sending a chilling sensation that coursed upward, offering some relief to his excruciatingly pained mind. Yet, this was followed by another bottle, this time red, poured into his mouth.


    Instantly, the cold body turned searing hot, as though plunged into a boiling cauldron. Amidst this intery of ice and fire, Lynn shuddered, involuntarily gasping for cool air, regaining alertness but feeling utterly fatigued, much like post-exhaustion after intense exercise.


    "For the time being, refrain from using magic. Take a bottle of ''Advanced Blizzard'' daily, or you risk irreversible damage!" Victorio cautioned.


    Though curious about the kind of magic causing such severe aftermath, he refrained from further inquiry, recognizing the paramount value of magical knowledge to wizards, sometimes outweighing life itself! Great wizards hesitated to disy their most powerful magic, harboring numerous hidden spells honed through extensive research on magical theories, often keeping theirtest findings highly confidential until perfected.


    Moreover, many spells'' potencyy in their enigma. Once information got deciphered, it became susceptible to enemies'' scrutiny for countermeasures.This also resulted in the poor cirction of high-tier magical models, primarily exchanged among familiar grand wizards, for the exchange of magical knowledge.


    He only hoped Lynn hadn''t used spells that shortened lifespan or depleted potential...


    Contemting this, Victorio sighed. It was highly probable, considering how exaggerated this augmentation was.


    "I understand. Thank you, Lord Victorio," Lynn expressed gratitude, rubbing his still faintly throbbing head. Had he fainted just then, he might have faced brain death or be a vegetable...


    Because this time, theputational power provided by the magicalwork far exceeded his capacity to endure!


    ording to earlier calctions by the AI, doublingputational power using the magicalwork to reach the level of a Five-Ring Wizard was rtively safe. Beyond that, there was a risk of severe mental strain. This was why Lynn hesitated to immediately integrate arge number of wizards into the magicalwork.


    Fortunately, convenient solutions like magical potions existed. Lynn easily recognized the legendary potions Victorio administered: "Is''s Full Moon" and "Water of Life," items impossible to procure in the market.


    The former served as the best mental recovery potion, capable even of healing soul wounds. Thetter could regenerate severed limbs, reviving a dying person within three minutes.


    However, even with thebination of these two potions, the aftermath of linking to the magicalwork remained unresolved.


    Meanwhile, after dealing with Pulson, Harof promptly rescued the frozen Raphael.


    "How is Master Raphael?" Despite his body''s exhaustion, Lynn anxiously inquired, observing Raphael lying unconscious on the ground, resembling a lifeless corpse.


    "He''s hanging on; with the ''Water of Life,'' we might be able to save him!" Harof sensed the situation, expressing relief. Given the short duration of freezing, there was hope. Had itsted longer, it would have been dire!


    Victorio wore a visibly distressed expression, withdrawing another bottle, this time crimson, and having Raphael drink it. The ingredients for these legendary potions were hard toe by, every bottle''s creation signifying the fall of a powerful magical creature!


    Outside the city, amidst the mor of battle and cannon fire, the attention was split between protecting Lynn and Raphael as patients and clearing up the mess left by the battle. Neither Harof nor Victorio could spare a moment to assist...


    Because they faced a significant problem: the ''Unquenchable mes'' already spreading beyond the courtyard!


    Lynn''s inability to use magic meant these elements had gonepletely out of control. Unless they found a way to extinguish them, the fire might engulf the entire capital...


    "Speak up. How do we extinguish this thing?" Harof, after unsessfully attempting the vacuum istion method, turned directly to Lynn.


    "To be honest, I don''t have a great solution. Typically, we''d use magic to strip away what it''s attached to and wait for it to burn out on its own!" Lynn shrugged. "It reacts with any known element, particrly avoiding using water to douse it, as it might explode and is highly toxic!"


    Harof looked at Lynn strangely. Without an effective solution, the audacity to employ it on such arge scale was akin to courting disaster.


    "Could it truly be from hell?" Victorio couldn''t help but ask.


    After all, it bore a striking resemnce to the characteristics of hellfire in the scriptures: it burned everything!


    "How could that be? It''s merely a special synthetic element." Lynn shook his head, though he pondered if this supposed hellfire might be simr.


    A must have used it previously to punish those who defied the gods, leading to its mention and emphasis in scriptures... However, it was unclear which was more powerful between this and trifluorochlorine.


    "In truth, there is a way to resolve it. Someone can extinguish it by halting the movement of its elements!" Lynn added, looking expectantly at the two Council Lords...>


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 Chapter 367: The Missing Aurora and the Sound of Counterattack!

    Chapter 367: The Missing Aurora and the Sound of Counterattack!


    "Let''s give it a try!"


    At Lynn''s suggestion, Harof and Victorio immediately unleashed their domains, covering the area engulfed in the unquenchable mes, attempting to halt its spread.


    However, the process was far more arduous than anticipated. Even with thebined efforts of the two legendary wizards, it took over half an hour topletely halt the expansion of the unquenchable mes.


    Controlling elements might be a hallmark skill of wizards, but it didn''t signify absolute control. Each level of wizardry had varying degrees of precision.


    For instance, adept wizards could influence elements, but their mental prowess couldn''t reach metallic orposite elements.


    In contrast, grand wizards were evidently more potent. They couldmand quasi-elements within their domains. Yet, even for them, their control remained limited. They could hasten or slow down elements, move them left or right, but achieving something as unbelievable as what A did¡ªhalting the motion of all elements, creating a sort of temporal stasis¡ªwas beyond them.


    Every element was in constant motion. Even transitioning from gaseous to liquid or solid states on a macro scale, this movement never ceased. Lynn had tried before; crossing a certain threshold, approximately at minus two hundred degrees Celsius, each degree drop exponentially escted the magical and mental energy required!


    As for whether legendary wizards possessed this capability, Lynn wasn''t certain. Judging by the response of the two councilors, achieving something so exaggerated was likely impossible. Otherwise, they wouldn''t need this extended duration to ''extinguish'' the mes derived from chlorine trifluoride.


    The goddess froze the unquenchable mes effortlessly.While Harof and Victorio were busy extinguishing the fire, Lynn''s group couldn''t remain idle. Inside the Alchemy Association, apart from them, there were hundreds of others, but they couldn''t intervene. They were overwhelmed by Edweil''s widespread divine magic, rendered practically incapacitated.


    Even some of the guards, after being exposed to the divine light, had be devout followers of A. Lynn could only knock them unconscious and restrain them with their fists, nning to change their perspectivester.


    "By the way, Lord Harof, didn''t you mention reaching the capital as soon as possible? Why the dy?" Lynn suddenly recalled, voicing their confusion.


    If it hadn''t been for Harof coincidentally arriving, they might have been doomed. The entire kingdom would have fallen...


    "I was just about to ask you the same. Hasn''t Aurora arrived yet?" Harof frowned.


    A week prior, after deliberation in the council, they had unanimously passed a resolution forprehensive support to the Kingdom of Hadrta. Aurora was leading the new troops, advancing ahead.


    They were using both sea andnd routes since most airships had been requisitioned by Lynn. With limited transport capacity, the alchemical ships from the wizardnds, after being refitted with internalbustion engines, weren''t slow. It would take around four to five days to cross the sea from thend of wizards to the kingdom.


    Considering the time, Aurora should have arrived in the capital long ago.


    "But my scouts haven''t seen her." Lynn shook their head, voicing concern. "Could something have happened?"


    At such a critical time, her disappearance might indicate danger or even death!


    "Perhaps she got lost or encountered trouble at sea, causing a dy," Victorio reassured.


    Aurora might not be the strongest in terms ofbat prowess, but when it came to survival skills, both he and Harof acknowledged their inferiority. They could manipte light magic impressively, and even when faced with the Church''s obstruction, they could retreat without issue.


    "Regardless, let''s first obliterate this joint Church alliance, then dispatch a team to search. There''s no rush," Harof quickly decided.


    Even if something untoward had happened to Aurora, it was already toote for immediate reinforcement. The priority was winning this war. Afterward, with over a hundred airships at their disposal, they could efficiently search, far better than aimlessly wandering the vast sea like headless chickens.


    Meanwhile, at the gates of the capital, the booming of cannons and sh of swords persisted.


    After several hours of intense fighting, from deep into the night until the early hours, everyone was drained physically and mentally.


    Ham reced a deceased gunner, mechanically loading ammunition and firing, continuing the barrage.


    The frenzied enemy soldiers surged relentlessly, resembling an unstoppable tide. Despite the onught of artillery, they showed no sign of retreat, affording no time for respite.


    The bricks on the city wallsy scattered, and even the previously sealed gates, bombarded by divine spells, now appeared tattered, revealing the sturdy cement behind.


    Piles of shattered bodies umted below, filling even the trenches dug before the battle, containing enemies and allies alike.


    As Ham mechanically loaded ammunition, feeling the fatigue in their hands, a clear sound of a horn echoed from within the city.


    Ham suddenly jolted, excitement evident on their face, because that was the agreed-upon signal for the counterattack!


    Outside the city, about one and a half kilometers from the battlefield, beyond the range of the cannons, a refined cavalry unit of over ten thousand soldiers stood prepared.


    Though this battle was the final showdown, the High Bishop Gerlck, responsible formanding, hadn''t deployed all their forces. The knights, unsuitable for besieging, remained outside the city, resting strategically where the artillery couldn''t reach. They waited for the opportune moment to strike, aiming topletely break the fatigued and demoralized enemy!


    This moment wouldn''t be far off, as Edweil led more than two thousand divine punishment soldiers into the capital through secret passages, aided by the covert guards.


    As long as the frontal assault persisted, denying these wizards a chance for reinforcement, the fall of the capital was only a matter of time!


    "Is this... the power of the Lord?" Suddenly, a High Bishop sensed a powerful divine aura within the city and grew excited. But the surge of power came and vanished so swiftly that before they could investigate properly, it had already dissipated.


    It seemed the cultists of the evil deity within the city had been eradicated!


    The surrounding bishops were equally convinced; although the minions of the evil gods had fiercely resisted round after round of attacks, under the might of the Lord, all resistance was futile!


    Indeed, as they had anticipated, apanied by the piercing sound of horns, the gunfire on the city walls suddenly ceased. Even the gates, standing resilient under the barrage of divine spells, were finally opened!>


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 Chapter 368: The Torrent of Steel, Debut of Armored Vehicles!

    Chapter 368: The Torrent of Steel, Debut of Armored Vehicles!


    As the city gates swung open, knights in full gear charged forward at themand! Thunderous hooves pounded the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. These knights, d in iron armor and wielding long spears, surged like a dark storm toward the wide-open city gates.


    "For the glory of the Master!" "Kill those sphemers against the gods!"


    Their thunderous roars, resembling wild beasts, echoed loudly in the morning light, as if poised to tear everything apart. Leading the charge was Gerk, donned in ck armor and wielding a massive curved de. He had observed the intense battlefield from the sidelines for a while, his patience wearing thin. Upon receiving themand, his heart ignited with fervor.


    His de thirsted for action, eager to sever the heads of those sphemers, to appease the Great Goddess of the Moon with the blood of those wizards! However, contrary to their expectations, what emerged from the city gates weren''t reinforcements or fleeing townsfolk but strange two-meter-tall iron boxes with oddly shaped bodies, each with a thick, elongated pipe in the front.


    Were these new contraptions devised by the wizards?


    Gerk furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss. Yet, the cavalry''s momentum couldn''t be halted; their only recourse was to charge, charge, and charge again!


    "In the presence of the gods!"


    Gerk bellowed, a radiant aura of divine magic coalescing around him, concentrating onto his extended de. He believed the power bestowed upon him by the gods was enough to rend anything! However, they never got close, as the elongated cannon barrels soon thundered.


    Facing the hurtling cannonballs, Gerk finally realized that these iron boxes were moving cannons! "Break through!" he roared, wielding his glowing magical de, meeting the oing projectile head-on!In the next instant, the de and projectile collided. Amidst the roaring and the neighing of warhorses, Gerk''s strike actually cleaved the cannonball in two!


    The knights behind him weren''t as fortunate. They couldn''t withstand the iing cannonballs; dozens of them screamed as their armored bodies were pierced, the tremendous impact tearing their bodies asunder, flinging remnants several dozen meters away.


    Gerk''s eyes reddened, his de swung once more, a sharp aura striking the iron armor, leaving a dent. The alchemical vehicle shook violently but continued unabated, therge cannon barrel booming once more...


    Alongside the cannonfire, machine gun rounds were unleashed...


    Over these days, Lydia and herpanions had crafted five machine guns. Besides the three taken to quell the unrest in the capital, the remaining two were installed on the front two alchemical armored vehicles!


    Jets of searing mes spewed from the machine guns, their relentless barrage streaking across the skies like meteors.


    While Gerk could shatter the cannons in his path, he couldn''t halt this intense fuside. He redirected all the magical energy sustaining his de towards defense.


    However, a mere second of secondary protection magic couldn''t withstand the machine gun''s onught. Under the relentless hail of bullets, his defenses ruptured, his steel armor torn to shreds, followed by his robust, scar-covered body!


    Crimson blood sprayed incessantly; Gerk''s body was quickly reduced to a pulp under the onught, his face contorted with deep regret, his broken form copsing under the weight of the heavy wheels...


    The onught of machine guns and armored vehicles was just the beginning. Massive airships appeared in the skies above the city walls, raining down phosphorus fire,pletely overturning the battle!


    Even the bishops, though btedly, realized that something was amiss. The orderly formations, the strange yet powerful steel boxes¡ªit dawned on them that this wasn''t an infiltration of the divine punishment troops, but a counterattack by their enemies!


    "How is this possible?" murmured a senior bishop, his shock evident. A chilling realization swept over him; this formation meant that Edweil had been defeated!


    Despite their reluctance, the bishops couldn''t alter the reality. A massive rout was imminent; yet, even escape was now a luxury!


    Their two legs simply couldn''t outrun the four wheels. Their swords shed against the thick armor, barely producing sparks, let alone affecting the airborne airships.


    This battle swiftly descended into an outright massacre!


    The pursuitsted half a day, spanning from beneath the city to several kilometers away. Thend was stained red with blood; over 30,000 surrendered while the estimated casualties exceeded 70,000!


    After the battle ended, Ham and his exhaustedrades copsed into the blood-soaked ground, their cheers resounding throughout the city!


    However, despite their decisive victory against the church''s punitive army, the losses were unforeseeable.


    As the divine punishment troops breached the capital and the incessant magical bombardment, casualties tallied over tens of thousands! The majorityprised the capital guards,cking firearms and relying solely on closebat, rendering them helpless against the assault.


    Nearly one-third of the capital suffered varying degrees of destruction. Over a hundred official wizards and more than five hundred apprentices perished on the battlefield...


    Both the scale of casualties and the extent of destruction made Lynn sigh in dismay. As for how the divine punishment troops had stealthily infiltrated the capital, this information had been extracted from those captured.


    It was a passage directly from the slums leading to the outskirts'' dense forest, secretly constructed by the eldest prince. Known to very few, it had no formal record.


    Upon learning this, Lynn promptly dispatched individuals to destroy and conceal the passage, preventing another tragedy.


    The pilots of the aerial airships didn''t rest for a moment; they were all deployed. Some were tasked with reconnaissance and monitoring the enemy''s movements, while others ventured into the Sea of Mist to locate the missing Aurora and others.>


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 Chapter 369: Cant Catch, Cant Hit, Cant Outrun... Is This Also Considered Battle?

    Chapter 369: Can''t Catch, Can''t Hit, Can''t Outrun... Is This Also Considered Battle?


    In the west of the Kingdom of Hadrta, upon the endless Sea of Mist, a powerful divine light surged, swiftly dispersing the thick mist that surrounded the area.


    gs fluttered into view amidst the mist, followed by the massive masts and hulls of a fleet of ships!


    This was the Empire''s expedition fleet, each ship a state-of-the-art sail-powered warship, over 70 meters in length, resembling terrifying beasts slicing through the waves.


    However, despite the grandeur of this fleet, it appeared remarkably disheveled. Some rear warships were heavily damaged, with mes even licking at their sails.


    In the next moment, apanied by the thunderous roar of cannon fire, hundreds of head-sized cannonballs shot out from the mist, targeting the entire fleet!


    While these cannons seemed wildly inurate, mostnded on the sea surface, some even hundreds of meters away from the targets, creating water columns without any real impact.


    But with the sheer volume of cannon fire, even if only one in thirty hit its mark, it posed a tremendous threat...


    Amidst the faint chanting on the sea, invisible divine shields enveloped each sail-powered warship, defending against the barrage of cannonballs.


    Casting such widespread divine spells proved quite challenging for these priests and bishops.More critically, attacks of this nature recurred every ten minutes, offering them no respite or chance to recover.


    A warship at the rear of the fleet took five consecutive cannon hits. The divine shield covering the ship instantly ruptured, and priests aboard the sail-powered warship, under the intense bacsh, spat blood, helplessly witnessing colossal cannonballs pounding holes into the deck and hull.


    One of these projectiles was imbued with explosive magic, causing an immediate st upon impact, mes and smoke billowing as the massive ship, trembling and swaying, capsized into the depths... Shrill screams echoed incessantly as soldiers and priests aboard had no choice but to leap into the sea, struggling to swim toward the nearest vessel for safety.


    "These cursed followers of the dark, minions of the malevolent deity, they should be cast into the depths of hell, consumed by the unending inferno!" eximed Archbishop Sireid, infuriated, aboard the colossal gship at the center of the fleet. The faces of the other bishops around him mirrored extreme displeasure.


    Half a month ago, they were tasked to lead the Empire''s First Fleet, intending to set sail and directly assault the base of those wizards, a group that had gued the Holy Church for years, lurking in the mist and asionally harassing people like rodents.


    But to their surprise, while en route, their fleet coincidentally encountered another fleet belonging to the wizards. Judging by their direction, it seemed they were heading to aid the Kingdom of Hadrta... Their numbers were less than a third of theirs!


    This was an unexpected windfall, bringing immense joy to the bishops. They swiftly moved to intercept, nning to swiftly obliterate this wizard fleet, intending to ease pressure on the kingdom''s battlefield.


    However, once the real battle ensued, they discovered that the enemy wasn''t as feeble as imagined, presenting a solid challenge.


    As soon as the skirmish began, the sharp cannon fire left a profound impression on Sireid and his cohorts. The sheer quantity and potency far surpassed what their ships'' oil hurlers could match, even with the bolstering of divine magic.


    These weapons were reportedly new developments by the wizards, and since specific intelligence was still being gathered, they were caughtpletely off guard.


    What irked Sireid the most was that when the First Fleet decided to weather the cannon bombardment and forcefully approach for a boarding action, the wizard fleet turned and fled, showing no inclination for direct confrontation. They even continued firing cannons while retreating.


    Approximating their range to be over a kilometer,pared to their fleet''s oil hurlers, which, even with divine enhancement, could only reach five hundred meters, the remaining five hundred meters might as well have been an abyss. It took the fleet several hours and the loss of over thirty warships to realize they could never bridge this distance.


    The enemy''s exhibited speed wasn''t their maximum, merely creating an illusion that they could be caught if the pursuit was faster, continuously dwindling the fleet''s numbers.


    Upon realizing this, under themand of the chief judge, the fleet abandoned the chase, altering course to proceed toward thend of the wizards.


    Yet, akin to crafty and shameless jackals, the wizard ships turned back, trailing behind them at a safe distance. Leveraging their speed and range advantage, they incessantly harassed the fleet, destroying dozens of ships in session...


    Only then did Sireid and hispany realize they were trapped in a dilemma where they couldn''t catch, couldn''t hit, and couldn''t outrun their adversaries, akin to floating targets on the sea, helplessly enduring round after round of cannonfire...


    Utterly frustrated!


    Some of the more hot-tempered bishops even fainted from sheer exasperation!


    Sireid attempted to utilize his flight abilities as an archbishop to approach and attack the ships directly. However, their flying speed couldn''t match that of the steel behemoths, and upon nearing a distance of two hundred meters, they faced attacks from dozens of magical crystal cannons. One archbishop nearly perished in an explosion, forcing them to slink back in defeat.


    Amidst the relentless gunfire, after this round of onught, two more warships erupted in mes and sank into the depths, while the wizard fleet finally emerged from the mist.


    A rough count estimated about a hundred ships, all without sails, yet hurtling across the sea at a speed surpassing their sail-powered warships by several folds!


    Most striking were the four colossal warships leading the formation! Each surpassed a hundred meters in length and stood over thirty meters tall, crafted entirely from metal, likely weighing hundreds, if not thousands, of tons, resembling mobile fortresses upon the sea...


    Sireid couldn''t fathom the extent of wizardry required to propel these steel behemoths at such speeds across the ocean!


    Watching the menacing gun barrels of the steel behemoths adjusting, readying for the next volley, Sireid urgently turned to the chief judge, speaking anxiously.


    "Lord Joshua, can we act now?"


    Continuing this way, the Imperial fleet would only be worn down under the relentless cannonfire, unable even to graze the enemy''s shadow!>


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 Chapter 370: Battle Upon the Sea of Mist!

    Chapter 370: Battle Upon the Sea of Mist!


    Amidst Sirid''s urgent inquiries, Judge Joshua, d in a golden-purple robe, remained silent. It was the timely intervention of the Archbishop that spoke up.


    "I specte their detection range is approximately one and a half kilometers... As they haven''t altered course yet, it indicates they might not have noticed our arrangements."


    The wizard fleet''s ability to harass the Empire''s ships in the Sea of Mist relied not only on their vessels'' speed and attack range but primarily on their seemingly unique capability to locate targets through the mist.


    Though the fog on the sea had significantly reduced recently, visibility remained at about three to four hundred meters. The mist still possessed a shielding effect, rendering enemy ships invisible unless the wizards continuously used magic to disperse the fog.


    "It''s about time. Let''s act!" Joshua nodded, raising the wand in his hand, sending out an unseen surge of magic across the sea...


    Meanwhile, a kilometer away on the steel behemoth, Teek manipted the cannons on the deck, urately hitting a sailboat, watching it overturn and sink amidst the mes, feeling utterly satisfied.


    "Hit again! That felt good!"


    Aurora wore a slight smile on her face, acknowledging that this battle was remarkablyfortable.


    In terms of both the number of ships and elite forces, they were at a significant disadvantage. The Empire''s fleet boasted over three hundred vessels, with more than ten Archbishops present; the enemy forces likely numbered over ny thousand!The Holy Church''s grand disy of force had an obvious goal: to obliterate the entire wizard territory!


    However, fate had led them into this confrontation, proving somewhat fortunate. The majority of the council''s power had been devoted to the kingdom''s war. If these individuals set foot in the coastal city, unimaginable destruction would follow!


    Even if the remaining wizards managed to drive the invading army away, it woulde at an incredibly heavy cost...


    Possibly resulting in the entire wizarding realm''s copse!


    Hence, without hesitation, Aurora halted the n to aid the kingdom, dispatching three ships to ry information to the council while the rest focused on thwarting the Empire''s fleet.


    At the moment of this decision, Aurora had braced herself for heavy losses to buy time for the wizarding territory''s defense. Yet, Teek and the others'' navalmand surpassed her expectations.


    Typically, naval battles involved several rounds of crystal cannon bombardment followed by boarding or using the advantage of a ship''s size to crush the enemy directly.


    However, Lynn''s handbook on naval warfare presented a novel strategy!


    The steel ships, powered by internalbustion engines, boasted over three times the speed of sailboats and had an attack range of up to a kilometer. Coupled with the mist''s cover, they could remain beyond the enemy''s striking distance, slowly consuming the enemy''s vitality, effortlessly manipting foes whose numerical strength far surpassed theirs.


    Should those powerful Archbishops dare to attack separately, they''d face hundreds of cannons, dozens of crystal cannons, and a throng of righteous wizards!


    No matter how formidable the adversaries were, they couldn''t withstand such an assault!


    "Who would''ve thought naval battles could be fought like this!" Aurora eximed.


    "These ships have already lost half their numbers. Pursue like this, and we''ll decimate them within a day!" Teek gloated.


    He discerned that the Empire''s fleet intended to forcefully enter the wizarding territory under the cannon fire. But they were still far from their destination; given the sailboats'' pitiful speed, it would take at least three days.


    It was a foolish fantasy!


    However, after Teek''s words, Aurora''s expression shifted. Her gaze swept towards the distant sailboat fleet as she murmured softly, "This isn''t right!"


    "What''s wrong, Lady Aurora?" Teek asked, perplexed.


    "It''s the number of ships! They don''t add up!" Aurora''s tone grew grave. Using amplification magic, she loudlymanded, "Everyone, change course immediately!"


    She distinctly remembered the Empire''s expedition fleet having around three hundred sailboats, yet now, only slightly over a hundred remained!


    Although they had pursued for hours, firing thousands of shells, under the protection of those priests and bishops'' magic, they shouldn''t have inflicted such significant damage on the entire fleet! Not to mention, during this pursuit, the Holy Church''s priests had initially used magic extensively, draining their resources. Subsequently, to conserve energy, they hadn''t bothered dispelling the mist. And now, suddenly, they resumed its use. There was undoubtedly something amiss!


    Just as Aurora sensed something wrong, the fleeing Empire fleet abruptly changed direction. Massive sailboats on the sea surface turned, creating ripples...


    "Wind, wind!"


    Apanied by furious roars, the radiance of magic enveloped each ship. Their speed dramatically increased by more than fifty percent in a short time!


    While such speed wasn''t impressive against their modern warships, Aurora''s expression turned incredibly solemn. She faintly sensed intense magical fluctuations about a mile and a half away on their left and right sides.


    But they didn''t need to sense it anymore. Those two fleets had crossed the mist barrier and entered their view, forming a triangr encirclement around their fleet''s center.


    Teek instantly grasped the situation. The reason for the enemy''sck of retaliation and not dispelling the mist was to rx their vignce and secretly separate a portion of their fleet. Now, it resulted in a pincer movement!


    How dare they?


    Teek''s face revealed shock. This was the Sea of Mist!


    Once too far, separated from the fleet,cking guidance from the main ship, these isted ships mightpletely lose their way in the foggy sea!


    But regardless, the Empire''s fleet charged towards them. At a kilometer''s distance, not too near, not too far, Aurora had tomand the fleet to break out towards the least numbered enemy side.


    The cannons roared again, this time without restraint. The gunners hardly stopped firing; however, the priests and bishops on the sailboats were all frustrated, finally presented with a chance to counterattack. Each of them exerted their full strength, using magic to ward off the cannon barrage...>


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 Chapter 371: Sailing Through the Sea of Fire!

    Chapter 371: Sailing Through the Sea of Fire!


    On the vast, mist-dispersed sea, the continuous thunder of cannons echoed across. Even from several kilometers away, the deafening explosions resounded clearly.


    In a mere five minutes, the fleet unleashed over a thousand shells, yet most veered off course or were deflected by magical defenses.


    Following three powerful assaults, they managed to sink twenty enemy vessels. However, looming within a range of four hundred meters was a massive fleet of sail-powered battleships!


    Heavy catapults began their work,unching wooden projectiles soaked in oil, magically propelled across hundreds of meters toward the gship at the forefront.


    "Multiple - Inferno sts," "Secondary - Magic Shields," "Curtain of Frost"... Wizards hurriedly cast spells to intercept the iing oilden projectiles. The collision of fiery balls and oil-soaked projectiles sparked a ze, scattering ck oil and splintered wood across the sea, igniting a fierce fire rapidly spreading across the broad expanse of the ocean.


    Ever since the discovery of this unique oil substance, the empire extensively employed it in warfare. Not only was it a potent weapon for sieges, but its performance in naval battles was remarkably deadly against wooden vessels!


    The spreading sea of mes significantly dampened the enemy''s morale! However, the opponents they faced were evidently not ordinary. Four steel battleships fearlessly navigated through the sea of fire, clearing a path for the alchemical fleet behind them...


    "Quick... Attack! We mustn''t let them break through!" bellowed a high-ranking bishop aboard a sail-powered vessel adorned with symbols of divine light.


    Although these nking dozens of ships were nowhere near capable of overpowering the wizards'' fleet, their task wasn''t to secure victory in battle. They merely needed to hinder the enemy''s movement until the main fleet arrived, a move that wouldpletely reverse the situation!On the sail-powered ship, priests and bishops began chanting hymns, countless arrows imbued with magical radiance manifesting in the void, raining down upon the wizards'' fleet!


    These arrows, constructed through magic, possessed immense power, easily piercing through sturdy armor and even carrying a dispelling effect against magic. Under this onught of spells, casualties appeared within the wizard''s ranks for the first time.


    One alchemical ship breached its defenses, the deluge of oil raining down, swiftly engulfing the entire vessel...


    The overseeing high-ranking bishop didn''t remain idle. Amidst the soaring hymns, a massive surge of divine power began to flow around him.


    "Praise - Divine Judgment!"


    The potent surge of magical energy gradually condensed, exuding an eerie silence. Yet, in that moment, a powerfulser beam preceded the spell, crossing hundreds of meters, piercing straight through his chest. Like a knife through butter, it cleaved the entire sail-powered warship in two from top to bottom!


    The gathered magical energy instantaneously dissipated, amidst the explosion and mes, the colossal sail-powered warship split apart, creating massive waves...


    The assant was Aurora!


    When it came to the use and mastery ofser beam magic, she was no less skilled than Lynn. Her previous hesitation in taking action was merely due to the enemy vessels not entering her attack range.


    Two hundred and thirty meters... This was the maximum distance the fourth-tierser beam could cut and destroy a ship''s hull! Aurora once again wielded theser beam held in her grasp, this time targeting several other sail-powered warships that had drawn nearer...


    The priests and bishops who had witnessed the devastating power of theser beam were stricken with terror. However, the attack was too swift for them to devise a response. Before they could react, the terrifying beam had already passed through their bodies. Their magical defenses, seemingly robust, were effortlessly pierced, leaving expressions of horror frozen on their faces as their bodies separated!


    Only three sail-powered warships, slightly farther away, narrowly escaped. Yet, in the next moment, they were targeted by cannons, dormant crystal cannons primed. Under a volley of fire, these ''fortunate'' vessels were sted into pieces...


    After the dissipating gunfire, the sea was strewn with wreckage, blood flowing freely.


    Having crushed around a dozen blocking enemy vessels, the path ahead was clear. However, this sacrificial nk was not without purpose. The empire''s main fleet had closed in within a few hundred meters.


    Aurora keenly sensed a daunting surge of energy from the rear... a legendary-level magic!


    On the colossal gship, Chief Judge Joshua raised the staff in his hand, his resounding voice echoing throughout the entire sea region!


    "The rain and rivers converge under divine guidance, both river and ocean are creations of the gods, and the evil treading upon thisnd shall meet with destruction!"


    The moment Joshua''s voice fell, the tumultuous sea, bombarded by cannons, lifted into the air!


    Huge waves, dozens of meters high, surged across the sea, threatening to annihte the entire fleet in one fell swoop! The terrifying legendary magic made the wizards aboard the fleet pale, yet they swiftly organized to resist.


    "Ice Domain!"


    Six archwizards and hundreds of regr wizards cast spells together, freezing the surging waves at a visible speed, turning the leaping spray into a colossal ice wall that stood between the two fleets.


    Once again, the intenseser beam emerged. With a diameter of only 0.05 millimeters, it cleaved the massive ice wall. Its reduced potency after being hindered by the ice diminished its impact, merely slicing a long gash in the gship''s hull after breaking through magical defenses...


    Water gushed in continuously, causing the sail-powered warship to wobble precariously.


    A hint of anger flickered across Joshua''s face. Radiant magic appeared on the staff in his hand, but the next moment, as if sensing something, he looked up at the fog-filled sky.


    Fifty colossal and intricate airships emerged in the distant sky, hurtling towards this location.


    "They''re the alchemical creations of the wizards," a somber Sireid remarked.


    ording to the kingdom''s scouts, these things called airships annihted over ten thousand soldiers of the kingdom.


    Joshua stared fixedly at the steadily approaching airships. After a moment, he sighed and spoke.


    "Spread the order, retreat!"


    With the addition of these aerial forces, forcibly infiltrating the wizards'' territory would undoubtedlye at an exorbitant cost.


    Even he had to acknowledge that these wizards held an unparalleled advantage upon the open sea.


    >


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 Chapter 372: Coping with the Divine Descent Technique!

    Chapter 372: Coping with the Divine Descent Technique!


    Utilizing the blockade brought about by the ice wall, the Imperial fleet began its return journey. To prevent pursuit, Joshua conjured a colossal, ever-churning sea dragon tornado,pletely splitting the two fleets apart. They smoothly vanished into the mistden depths of the sea...


    On the other side, Aurora and herpanions sessfully merged with the arriving reinforcements.


    After cross-referencing intelligence, Aurora was surprised to learn that the war in the capital had already ended, and it was a dangerously close battle. The Archbishop, as mentioned in the reports, wielded legendary-level power and nearly summoned that being.


    "It seems my predictions were a bit off," Aurora frowned.


    Based on her earlier spections, since the Holy Church had decided to dispatch an expedition fleet to attack the Land of Wizards, the kingdom might have been merely feigning offense.


    Unexpectedly, the Holy Church had grander ns, aiming to hit both ends¡ªto reim the kingdom while eradicating the entire Land of Wizards!


    "It appears my estimates were somewhat mistaken," Aurora furrowed her brow.


    ording to her prior assumptions, since the Church had resolved to send an expedition fleet to attack the wizard territory, the kingdom might have only been feigning an assault.


    Unexpectedly, the Church was taking such bold steps, intending to strike on both fronts¡ªto reim the kingdom while annihting the entire wizard domain!It''s unfortunate they didn''t have continuous real-timemunication across the misty sea. Her dispatched fleet coincidentally missed the arrivals of Harof and Victorio, rushing to aid the capital.


    "Lady Aurora, should we continue the pursuit?" Tiek promptly inquired. With the arrival of airships, they once again held the upper hand in the conflict, fully capable of keeping the Imperial expedition fleet stranded here throughbined naval and aerial might.


    It was an incredibly tempting prospect, but after a moment''s thought, Aurora shook her head.


    "Not for now. Arrange a team to track them. If there are signs of another attack, then we strike!"


    After a daylong naval battle, the fleet''s ammunition had nearly depleted.


    Simrly, the airborne ships rushing to assist had just concluded a major battle. They hadn''t even had time to recuperate before hastily rushing in, carrying insufficient munitions to face another war.


    More critically, she feared the legendary cleric aboard the Imperial fleet might resort to desperate measures, much like Edweil, summoning that pseudo-deity.


    That wouldplicate matters...


    However, given that they hadn''t used such a spell recklessly during the conflict, it meant casting that divine art would require a heavier price, potentially surpassing the losses of a third of the expedition fleet!


    ...


    When Aurora led her fleet back to the capital dayster, the city still reeked of gunpowder. The signs of destruction were visible everywhere, especially in the war-torn slums, severely damaged with a considerable casualty count.


    Lynn saw this as an excellent opportunity. They dispatched everyone except essential guards to aid the affected popce.


    Even the wizards, who generally looked down upon these slums, respected Lynn, the Star of Magic.


    Rumors spread across the city about the Star of Magic joining two legendary councilors in banishing the pseudo-deity from the capital.


    It led to spection whether Lynn had already ascended to legendary status, as how else could they intervene in such a high-level battle?


    Yet, this spection seemed exaggerated, given that most knew Lynn had only reached the level of a Quadrant Wizard a few months ago. Most wizards scoffed at these rumors.


    There were whispers that after the battle, Master Lynn was severely injured, with Raphael, who was present, also heavily wounded, bedridden for days.


    Hence, the reality might be the two legendary councilors protecting them while engaging in the battle...


    Regardless, the wizards faithfully executed the orders. Through magic, they restored the damaged streets and buildings. Astonishingly, half the repair work was done in just five days, an almost unbelievable efficiency...


    Not every inhabitant of the city''s slums had beenpletely corrupted by blind faith. With two consecutive acts of relentless aid, most realized the true perpetrators of destruction were the so-called ''messengers of the gods,'' while those aiding in rebuilding were branded as ''minions of the dark gods.''


    As a member of the slums, Haydon solidified his beliefs further. These wizards weren''t as terrifying as the church propaganda suggested.


    In fact, Haydon thought, the priests and aristocrats from the church would never spend money or use divine arts to repair their damaged homes!


    ...


    Lynn didn''t pay much attention to the rampant rumors or the changing mindset of the slum residents within the capital.


    Post-war, there were numerous tedious matters to handle. Even as a convalescent, Lynn had to work, and upon Aurora''s return, the council immediately convened an internal meeting.


    Though the airship''s previous return had already briefed them about the events in the misty sea, the specifics were still unknown. Now, Aurora recounted the entire sequence of events.


    "Never thought the Church had discovered a way to locate the Land of Wizards!" Raphael eximed, a hint of paleness still on his face from his near-death encounter.


    After five days of recovery, Raphael barely escaped the brink of death. It would take at least another half month forplete recovery.


    Indeed, surviving a direct strike from a deity was already remarkably lucky!


    Listening to Aurora''s narration, the assembled wizards were equally shaken.


    The defenses of the Land of Wizards were incredibly frail at present. The high-end defenses were only a quarter of their previous strength, with only nine of the thirty great wizards remaining there. Harof, Victorio, and Aurora, the three councilors, had all gone to support the kingdom.


    Only Althok, the Elemental Controller, a legendary figure, remained in the Land of Wizards.


    However, Raphael and the others knew this legendary councilor''s mental state was fragile, making it impractical to expect him to organize forces.


    "You did the right thing. Dying that fleet at sea is far more crucial than anything on the kingdom''s end!" Harof nodded. They couldn''t afford to lose the Land of Wizards.


    "We need to resolve themunication issue swiftly to avoid such incidents again..." Victorio added. Relying solely on ships and airships for messages was far too slow, and the existingmunication spells were inadequate for such vast distances.


    Soon, the discussion veered towards developing newmunication magic. However, it swiftly transitioned to a more critical matter¡ªhow to counter the Church''s terrifying divine descent technique!>


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 Chapter 373: The Divine Ritual at the Cost of Legend!

    Chapter 373: The Divine Ritual at the Cost of Legend!


    "Grand Wizards Herlram and Victorio, you have confronted that pseudo-god before, so you must have some understanding of her," Aurora inquired, casting her gaze toward the two legendary leaders.


    Herlram and Victorio exchanged a nce before shaking their heads, sighing as they spoke, "All we can say is that the gap is evenrger than you might imagine!"


    "Even with both of you joining forces, you couldn''t restrain her?" Aurora furrowed her brow, puzzled.


    "Actually, Edweil''s divine ritual was notpleted thoroughly. We merely had a brief encounter with that so-called pseudo-god," Herlram expressed with a hint of resignation.


    "She only used one divine spell throughout¡­ I managed to barely fend it off, but I had no assurance of breaking it!" Victorio supplemented from the side. "In fact, if Master Lynn hadn''t ambushed and killed Edweil, the one casting the spell, we might all have perished there!"


    As Victorio paused, he recalled the immensely powerful divine magic that seemed to halt time and space, instantly overwhelming their magic. Even Lynn''s formidable and enigmatic ''Evesting me'' couldn''t escape its fate.


    This revtion astonished all the wizards present.


    Regarding the grand battle within the capital, both legendary leaders, Lynn, and Master Raphael, had maintained silence. They gleaned only fragments of insider information from individuals like Pearce. Consequently, they had believed the two legendary leaders defeated the pseudo-god of the Holy Church, sessfully expelling the foe.


    However, reality stood far from their assumptions.If even thebined efforts of the legendary leaders couldn''t harbor hope of defeating their opponent, would they not be at the mercy of such divine rituals in the next encounter?


    Pondering this, Sanchez and others became increasingly anxious, and the meeting room soon filled with fervent discussions.


    Some even felt they should immediately retreat from the Kingdom of Hadrta, returning to the wizardnds by the sea to fortify themselves and find a way to reinforce the protection of the Misty Sea.


    This sentiment quickly garnered support from nearly half of the wizards. If the strength of the pseudo-god, A, far surpassed their expectations, with no hope of victory, staying in the wizardnds seemed a safer option.


    Witnessing the rise of this ''retreat'' faction, Lynn couldn''t remain silent any longer and had to interject.


    "Don''t forget, this time the Church dispatched an expedition fleet to the Misty Sea. That indicates they''ve likely found a way to locate our wizardnds. Thinking of retreating and waiting there is just sitting ducks!"


    The wizardnds were indeed too small, housing only six hundred thousand people. Resources were severelycking, and continuing their istion would significantly hinder industrial progress.


    Moreover, they had invested substantial time, effort, and resources in the Magic Kingdom project; leaving now would mean immense losses.


    "What else can we do, Master Lynn? Even with both legendary leaders and you, we couldn''t defeat that pseudo-god. At least in the wizardnds, we can utilize geographical advantage and block the Church''s forces at sea," a prominent supporter of the retreat faction expressed with a hint of frustration.


    Tiek also nodded, showing reluctance to coil back into such constraints if there was another way.


    The victories in these two wars had cost numerous wizards their lives, and their efforts hadn''t been in vain...


    "At least we''re all still standing here. That implies the situation hasn''t worsened to the point of necessitating a retreat," Lynn said calmly, immediately diverting everyone''s attention.


    "I believe the ''Gate of Heaven'' is not an easily wielded divine spell. Otherwise, when the Imperial fleet suffered heavy damage, they should have used the divine ritual¡­"


    "Right? Lady Aurora?" Lynn turned to ask.


    Aurora nodded in agreement, echoing Lynn''s spection.


    The assembled members of the council fell into contemtion. They had been rattled by the words of the two leaders but now realized that the Church might not be able to use the divine ritual at will.


    "Lord Victorio, did you extract any useful information from the captured Archbishop''s mind?" Lynn inquired, turning to the ''Magic Creator'' beside him, hoping for valuable insights.


    After the kingdom''s war, they had captured several priests and bishops. The highest-ranking among them was Archbishop Pulson, the most likely individual to possess such intelligence.


    Due to religious beliefs, delving into Pulson''s memories was not an easy task. His memories were safeguarded by potent divine magic, risking severe bacsh if they attempted to probe his mind using psychic magic. Hence, this responsibility fell to Victorio.


    "Based on Pulson''s memories, it seems that such a divine ritual might require the sacrifice of a legendary individual!" Victorio pondered, carefully articting his findings.


    In just five days, he hadn''t fully decrypted Pulson''s mind, but he had garnered useful information. Throughout the hundreds of years of the Church''s history, there were only six recorded instances of the ''Gate of Heaven'' being invoked. The casters unquestionably were legendary figures within the clergy, often retiring or even meeting an early demise shortly after casting.


    Evidently, wielding divine power wasn''t a straightforward task. Initiating this ritual meant the Church would inevitably lose a top-tierbatant, whether sessful or not.


    Additionally, Victorio spected that A''s true form might be confined to another space, the so-called Heaven, subjected to certain restrictions, preventing prolonged existence in the outside world...


    Victorio shared all his conjectures.


    This somewhat eased the worries of Sanchez and others. As a result, unless absolutely necessary, it seemed unlikely that any legendary figure would easily relinquish their power and life.


    ording to their intelligence, the Church publicly boasted five legendary figures ¨C Edweil''s existence was an anomaly beyond their intelligence.


    Such instances were likely rare; after all, bing legendary wasn''t an easily surmountable feat.


    The current legendary council members in the wizardnds had gained their status through umted time, their lifespans shrouded in mystery.


    For instance, the oldest among the council members, Victorio, exact age unknown, had been in the wizardnds for over three hundred years. His experiences were mystical, and it was rumored that his talent was unremarkable until he broke through to legendary status at over a hundred and eighty years old...>


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 Chapter 375: The New Ace in Aerial Combat—Fighter Jet

    Chapter 375: The New Ace in Aerial Combat¡ªFighter Jet


    "Lynn, have an apple..." "Does it feelfortable?" "Your Excellency, it''s time for your medicine!"


    In the royal capital of Hadrta, within a luxurious vi, Lynny on afortable chair, receiving meticulous care from the academy''s wizards.


    During thest defense of the capital, Lynn forcibly channeled all the magical power of thework to cast the Evesting me andser magic, causing a severe bacsh that nearly resulted in brain death.


    Despite being saved by consuming two legendary magical potions, he couldn''t freely wield magic for a short period.


    This rmed people like Elok and others because Lynn, the star magician, was the pir of the entire faction, intolerant of any mistake! Even after Lynn reassured everyone of his well-being and the need for rest, the wizards continued their concern, providing him with various precious magical remedies and a strict regimen supervised by a master herbalist¡ªbasically, good food, rest, and no heavy duties!


    Additionally, over a hundred wizards equipped with guns were assigned to guard the estate, fearing any sneak attacks on this ''powerless'' magical star.


    Johnny, Lydia, Elok, and others familiar with Lynn were tasked with caring for his daily life and serving as close guards. ording to Ondo, this was the top priority for the faction at the moment!


    Ondo and others'' overly anxious arrangements left Lynn feeling helpless. He was just temporarily unable to freely use magic, not incapacitated. Even at his weakest, he could knock out a dozen brainwashed guards with his fists...


    However, he had to admit, this life of being waited on hand and foot was quitefortable. Even though he wasn''t incapacitated, he felt like he was on the verge of bing one."Your Excellency, this is a purple fruit sent by King Hatar. I''ve tasted it for you; it''s safe and tastes great!"


    Beside him, Lydia handed Lynn a peeled purple fruit, then attentively massaged his thigh, surprisingly strong, causing Lynn considerable difort.


    "Okay, okay, please stop!" Lynn helplessly pushed away the half-dwarf girl''s hand. If she kept at it, he''d lose his leg!


    Lydia recoiled, resembling a guilty little creature, looking pitiful.


    "Tell me, what brings you here?" Lynn shook his head, inquiring.


    Despite being tasked with his care, Lydia had been cking off these days, secretly tinkering with odd things. Her sudden attentiveness today definitely hinted at something amiss.


    "I''ve drawn a blueprint; could you take a look, please?" Lydia hurriedly retrieved a design from her pocket and unfolded it before Lynn.


    The drawing depicted a robust, rudimentary aircraft, resembling the one he''d seen when he first arrived at Iyeta Harbor. However, it showed numerous adjustments in detail.


    Lydia anxiously gazed at Lynn. Although the appearance of airships fulfilled her dream of flying, this was still the Chancellor''s creation. Over the past year, Lydia hadn''t abandoned her idea of crafting her own aircraft. Moreover, she recalled Lynn mentioning that her design concept wasn''t wed; the primary reason her aircraft struggled to ascend was insufficient power!


    The advent of internalbustion engines seemed to address this issue, making the aircraft''s refinement feasible.


    In her imagination, while this aircraft couldn''t transport armies and weaponry like airships, its advantagey in speed and agility. Equipping it with a machine gun or beam weapon in the front could engage Gryphon Knights in aerialbat...


    Lynn carefully examined it, had his AI analyze it, then smiled as he spoke, "Impressive progress!"


    "Can it fly?" Lydia eagerly asked.


    "It can take off this time..." Lynn pondered briefly, not allowing Lydia to get too excited before continuing.


    "However, achieving the full potential you envision¡ªreaching a speed of two hundred kilometers per hour¡ªis impossible. The aircraft''s designcks in aerodynamics, its materials aren''t suitable, and at high speeds, it will surely fall apart!"


    "Didn''t I give you an introductory book on aerodynamics? How much have you read?" Lynn countered.


    At the mention of "aerodynamics," Lydia''s expression twisted. That subject was iprehensible, far beyond her grasp!


    Before reading this book, Lydia believed she had extraordinary talent in mathematics, mastering equations, exponents, geometry swiftly, and even understanding a portion of calculus. However, "aerodynamics" left herpletely baffled, far moreplex than she imagined, especially considering it was just the basics.


    Seeing Lydia''s perplexed expression, Lynn guessed she hadn''t grasped it.


    Of course, it was understandable. "Aerodynamics" was a branch of "fluid mechanics," involving an extensive amount of knowledge and calctions. Even in modern times, someplex issues in "fluid mechanics" remained unsolved until the 22nd century, when quantumputers made significant progress in urate predictions andputations.


    The notes Lynn gave Lydia were ancient, based on ssical mechanics, and unexpectedly, the difficulty level was too high!


    "Think of air as the ocean, and your aircraft as fish. Their shape is for better resistance against water. This concept applies to birds as well; I call it streamlined design..." Lynn used his hand as a pen and magic as ink, making slight adjustments to the blueprint while exining to Lydia.


    Lydia watched Lynn intently as he corrected details on the blueprint. In just five minutes, all the adjustments were made.


    The framework remained the same but appeared much more appealing, exuding an indescribable beauty...


    Unaware of Lydia''s thoughts, Lynn would have told her that aesthetics itself embodied power!


    Formidable war machines usually boasted an impressive appearance because it was the most natural design...


    How''s that for a restructured and rified piece?>


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 Chapter 376: The Legendary Mystery of Aerodynamics!

    Chapter 376: The Legendary Mystery of Aerodynamics!


    Lydia couldn''t take her eyes off the blueprint for quite some time, contemting the significance of each alteration. Upon seeing the tail fins Lord Lynn specifically drew, she couldn''t help but inquire, "My Lord Chancellor, what are these tail fins for? Why do we need wings both in the front and back?"


    "Do you see how all birds have tail feathers? That''s where the inspiration for these tail finses from," Lord Lynn chuckled.


    Lydia paused for a moment, then quickly grasped the concept. Indeed, whether it was powerful magical creatures or ordinary birds, they all possessed long tail feathers. Even dragons sported long tails.


    "Are they for maintaining bnce and aiding in maneuvering?" Lydia quickly surmised.


    "Exactly," Lord Lynn nodded. Learning from nature often provides crucial inspiration in design.


    Afterprehending, Lydia pointed to the modified wings, which surprised her even more. The two wings drawn by Lord Lynn weren''tpletely straight; their tips were slightly upturned. This was quite peculiar since no type of bird had wings with upward-pointing tips.


    "This involves knowledge in aerodynamics. In simple terms, it helps to reduce wingtip vortices, decrease induced drag, and increase the aspect ratio..." Lord Lynn borated enthusiastically.


    Lydia felt dizzy trying to understand terms like wingtip vortices and aspect ratio, concepts entirely foreign to her.


    "Let''s try folding two paper nes!" Lord Lynn suggested after some thought.Lydia immediately geared up. The Chancellor had taught her paper ne-making, a fascinating flying toy that required just a piece of paper. Its principles were simr to crafting flying machines, like a miniature, self-powered aircraft model.


    During this time, she had even developed a new folding technique that allowed nes to fly farther than ever before.


    Swiftly, Lydia fetched two equally sized papers and handed one to Lord Lynn. She swiftly folded her paper into a delicate paper ne, ncing at Lord Lynn, who, without standing up, gentlyunched his ne.


    A finely crafted paper ne soon rested in the young girl''s palm. After watching Lord Lynn folding another ne, Lydia performed aunching motion, sending her paper ne soaring.


    Indeed, with great effort, her paper ne flew almost thirty meters before wobbling andnding.


    Delighted, Lydia grinned at the Chancellor. This was the farthest any of her folded paper nes had flown!


    "Is it my turn now?" Lord Lynn modified the wings to an upward curve without much movement, found the right angle, and gently released the paper ne.


    Ten meters, twenty meters, thirty meters... the ne''s flight remained steady, evenpleting a loop in the air before returning gracefully to Lord Lynn''s hand.


    Lydia was awestruck, almost suspecting the Chancellor of secretly using magic to cheat...


    But then, she remembered that the Chancellor currently couldn''t perform magic!


    "You can try it yourself!" Lord Lynn shrugged, sensing the girl''s skepticism.


    Undeterred, Lydia retrieved her paper ne and made a small modification to the wings. Upon another attempt, the ne, angled differently, didn''t return but effortlessly surpassed the fifty-meter mark.


    "Incredible!" eximed Lydia in amazement. A tiny alteration had increased the distance the paper ne flew by more than seventy percent! It was truly astonishing!


    Instantly, Lydia reignited her deep interest in Aerodynamics. It was undeniably fascinating!


    After demonstrating the superiority of the new design through practical experimentation, Lord Lynn discussed materials required for crafting the innovative flying machines with Lydia.


    He was genuinely invested in this endeavor.


    Aircraft were genuine tools of aerialbat. Using airships for defense wasn''t a sustainable solution. Their recent victory against the Griffin Knight Order was thanks to a newly developedser magic, catching the enemy off guard and decimating an entire squadron of Griffin Knights!


    However, such a brutal lesson would also make the Holy Church vignt.


    They had employed these tactics not just in defending the capital but also in naval battles. Now that intelligence regardingser magic was exposed, it would be challenging to achieve such triumphs again.


    Hence, these novel flying machines would be their new aces in aerialbat...


    ...


    For the next two days, Lord Lynn remained in the manor, relishing the luxury of a life where everything was at his beck and call. asionally, he guided Lydia in making the flying machines.


    During this period, the Holy Church remained surprisingly quiet, disying no significant movements. At least, the airships dispatched for reconnaissance hadn''t detected any intentions of a major invasion by the Empire.


    Lord Lynn spected that the disastrous defeat of the two expeditionary forces had rattled the entirety of the Empire...


    Furthermore, the Empire''s expedition fleet might still be wandering the seas, suggesting that another war wouldn''t erupt in the near future.


    Though their disyed might was formidable, it wasn''t enough to intimidate the Holy Church. At most, it instilled a sense of caution. It was foreseeable that if the Empireunched another attack, they would organize an even more formidable force...


    After ten days of recovery, the lingering headaches in Lord Lynn''s mind hadpletely vanished. This also meant he had regained his ability to cast spells. Finally, he could manipte the magical domain and hoodwink a few legendary councilors.


    This was undoubtedly his top priority at present. Firstly, it involved guiding the wizards to explore more microscopic realms, seeking ways to defeat the pseudo-god, A. Secondly, it contributed to his magicwork, enhancing moreputational support.


    Though his magicwork''sputational power was already more than sufficient, even exceeding his maximum capacity,ying groundwork in advance was always prudent. Taking risks of near-brain death this time also brought Lord Lynn closer to mastering and controlling magic. He felt he was edging closer to the level of a Five Rings Wizard!


    "Oh, 071, didn''t you previously have trouble mobilizing a wizard''sputational power beyond your level?" Lord Lynn suddenly recalled a question, silently voicing it in his mind.


    Previously, when he was just an official wizard, he had attempted to ess Anthony''sputational power but was unable to. The response was that the other''s mental hierarchy surpassed his, and he couldn''t bear the power of any high-level wizard.


    Only after his recent breakthrough did he receive affirmative responses.


    To Lord Lynn, the disparity between grand wizards and legendary wizards shouldn''t be trivial. He had just stepped into the realm of grand wizards, yet he could harness Harof''sputational power, which surprised him somewhat.>


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 Chapter 377: Harof: I doubt their legends are quite like ours!

    Chapter 377: Harof: I doubt their legends are quite like ours!


    ording to the assessment, the designated target faces severe life-threatening danger. Temporary suspension of user protection is in effect. Estimated survival time without medical aid in the event of unesctedbat: 7 minutes and 26 seconds!


    "Better to diete than early. Well, that''s quite clever," Lynn muttered to himself.


    "At present, 53 users linked to the magicalwork have not fully surpassed the current mental level of designated users."


    The repeated alert from the intellect device caused Lynn to pause involuntarily. After summoning data regarding Harof from ''users'' analysis, Lynn abruptly discovered that the mental strength of this legendary speaker was on the same level as the Grand Wizard Anthony from the Sixth Circle¡ªthough significantly more potent!


    However, it was a far greater strength in terms ofputational powerpared to Anthony! This revtion surprised Lynn considerably. It took him a while to realize that these rankings were merely human-made assessments!


    From the First Circle to the Seventh Circle, from formal wizards to legendary ones, these hierarchical divisions and methods of promotion were all painstakingly discovered by wizards step by step.


    If they pleased, they could even create further subdivisions within each major tier, such as distinguishing between novice First Circle wizards and advanced First Circle wizards, creating numerous levels...


    However, previously, every significant level had distinct markers. For instance, formal wizards could mimic elemental magic, while Grand Wizards could manipte metal elements or construct domains, and so on.


    Could it be that the mental level of a Grand Wizard had already reached its limit, with any further progress being quantitative rather than qualitative?Lynn pondered silently, quickly dismissing this conjecture as the pseudo-god, A, was a perfect counterexample. Their strength was vastly superior,pletely different from the rest, not belonging to the same tier at all.


    Reflecting on this, Lynn inwardly posed another question.


    "071, based on the previous battle, can you analyze the status of Edweil and that pseudo-god?"


    "Target Edweil, initial life signs weak. Post-revival, no discernible life signs. Target A, unknown entity, potent energy being, extremely dangerous."


    "So, Edweil might not be human, and A is definitely not human?" Lynn eximed in surprise. Soon, he recalled Edweil''s incredible feats during the battle, such as surviving being severed bysers or evading perception effortlessly.


    "Analysis indicates that both their life and mental levels surpass the designated targets..."


    This time, Lynn wasn''t surprised but shocked by the intellect device''s analysis, so much so that he began to doubt whether it had malfunctioned due to prolongedck of maintenance.


    A''s superiority was understandable, but to think Edweil''s mental level surpassed theirs? That seemed unlikely. Despite Edweil''s formidable abilities, when he utilized the magicalwork''sputational power, Lynn could barely handle it. He also struggled against the properties of chlorine trifluoride, not necessarily appearing more powerful than legendary speakers like Harof.


    Furrowing his brow, Lynn delved into deep contemtion.


    Though both Harof and Edweil were referred to as legends, possessing capabilities surpassing Grand Wizard levels, their states seemed notably different.


    "Potent energy being..." Lynn murmured to himself. This was the designation the intellect device used for A, perhaps suggesting that they had discarded their physical form and existed solely as energy.


    After Pearce''s reminder, during the preceding battle, Lynn had noticed that all of Edweil''s spells, surpassing even the Archbishops, were achieved by utilizing "Divine Speech" and expanding the divine realm.


    Clearly, this wasn''t entirely Edweil''s inherent power...


    Numerous doubts shed through Lynn''s mind one after another. However, pertinent information was scarce. As a mere Fourth Circle Grand Wizard, he was still a considerable distance from being a legend, unable to derive much useful insight.


    Perhaps during the uing discussion, he could glean some information from a few legendary speakers and see if they were privy to any insider knowledge...


    Lynn retrieved two pre-made "Rings of Secrets," carefully packaged them, and then summoned Elok, instructing him to personally deliver these items to two of the speakers.


    After receiving the rings, Elok inquired with concern, "Headmaster, how are your injuries? ording to Master Sheens, they should start improving in the next couple of days."


    "It''s getting better, but full recovery will still take another four or five days," Lynn replied with a thoughtful glint in his eyes. It would be best to stagger his recovery time with the legendary conference''smencement.


    ...


    In the evening, within a courtyard in the royal pce, the gathered speakers had received the message from the rings¡ªan assembly scheduled for midnight tonight!


    Although the assembly could ur in a special space projected by the mental magic contained within the "Rings of Secrets," theoretically possible from anywhere, Harof had specifically summoned them here. He wanted to personally advise Aurora and Victorio that if they encountered any iprehensible theories or doctrines during the discussion, they should avoid disying obvious confusion and instead return to discusster. Above all, they must notpromise the dignity of wizardry!


    "Is that Society of Mystical Arts really as amazing as you say?" Victorio asked, maintaining a poker face. They were all legendary wizards, and despite specializing in different fields, there should be no knowledge gap like this...


    Harof didn''t delve into a lengthy exnation. He yfully remarked, "I believe you''ve already researched those Rings of Secrets, haven''t you? How''s it going? Any luck decrypting them?"


    Victorio awkwardly chuckled. As a legendary alchemist, he was immensely intrigued by the alchemical creation used among the members of the "Society of Mystical Arts" formunication!


    The "Ring of Secrets" itself was rather ordinary, with nothing particrly special. He could replicate its structure at a nce. However, when attempting to decipher the magical frequency used formunication, trying to locate the sender through the received messages, he encountered a significant obstacle.


    Themunication''s magical frequency was changing almost every second, and despite spending an entire afternoon, he couldn''t discern any patterns, let alone crack it!


    Just from this perspective, the "Society of Mystical Arts" indeed had some tricks up their sleeve...


    Although Victorio maintained his dignity without explicitly stating it, his facial expression betrayed his frustration. Harof naturally sensed his setback, having experienced simr futile attempts himself.


    After a pause, Harof spoke with a serious tone. "Additionally, I suspect their method of reaching legend status might differ from ours!">


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 Chapter 378: Bohrs Atomic Theory!

    Chapter 378: Bohr''s Atomic Theory!


    "What do you mean, how different?" Victorio asked with a hint of confusion, wondering if there were other ways to ascend to legendary status.


    Harof pondered for a while, seemingly considering how to urately describe it. Then, as if struck by inspiration, he spoke up.


    "I think their state might be somewhat simr to that individual..."


    "You mean... the pseudo-god?" Aurora interrupted, her expression filled with uncertainty.


    Harof nodded gravely. Initially, he hadn''t grasped what this strange feeling was. It wasn''t until a direct confrontation with A that he suddenly realized the simrities between the two.


    "Could it be that they also utilize faith-based methods?" Aurora furrowed her brow.


    Though she didn''t reject using this method to gain power,pared to the ancient and eerie soul plundering by psychic wizards, this seemed rtively benign.


    However, this concept bore significant ws, capable of profoundly altering a person''s mindset, hence why they had abandoned it.


    Harof interrupted Aurora''s spection. "Just a resemnce. I''vemunicated with them in the microcosm; these individuals possess sharp intellects. They seem fine and don''t adhere to any theories rted to faith. Instead, like us, they focus on understanding the world''sws.""Could they have found a way to circumvent that w?" Victorio hesitated.


    "How''s that possible? If that were true, would the Empire and the Church be so stable now?" Harof shook his head. Utilizing the ''Faith to Divinity'' requires arge number of followers.


    So many legends... so many gods, the entire continent would have long descended into chaos. They couldn''t coexist because they were each other''s greatest enemies!


    "Regardless, why not go and see for ourselves?" Aurora smiled, the magical glow faintly appearing on the "Ring of


    Secrecy" adorning her hand.


    "It''s exactly midnight now!" Victorio nodded. Almost simultaneously, the three activated their rings. With a coordinated effort, empowered by their will, they swiftly projected themselves at the speed of light.


    The next moment, they felt their vision split, encountering a dark expanse.


    "Is this the microcosm?" Aurora surveyed their surroundings. In the distance, countless radiant stars shimmered in the boundless void, with a colossal, scorching star at their feet.


    Looking into the distance, it resembled a colossal fireball, its ''mes'' constantly surging and expanding, emitting an incredibly intense light. To Aurora, it was the most majestic sight she had ever witnessed!


    Despite kilometers separating them, they keenly felt the terrifying oppressive force, inducing an instinctive shiver!


    Aurora swiftly discerned that this was no mere illusion. Around the star orbited several equally immense celestial bodies, revolving in an unending cycle...


    The "Society of Mystical Arts" had managed to replicate the scene of celestial bodies orbiting...


    This captivated Aurora, an astronomy enthusiast. Here, time seemed elerated a thousandfold, allowing her to clearly perceive the cosmic order instead of relying solely on calctions and astronomical observations.


    Simrly, Victorio was overwhelmed. Anyone facing these immense celestial bodies for the first time would be awestruck.


    "Wee to beyond time!" a gentle voice resonated behind them.


    Aurora immediatelyposed herself, turning to face behind.


    At some point, four figures had materialized there, standing in the void.


    "It seems you''re the controllers of the ''Society of Mystical Arts.'' How should we address you?" Aurora smiled, inquiring.


    "We''re not exactly controllers... There are no such figures here, be it the ''Society of Mystical Arts'' or this realm of magic. They merely serve as tools for knowledge exchange." The elder on the right spoke casually, his disheveled white hair resembling the boundless starry sky.


    Aurora remained skeptical. This ce seemed anything but a simple gathering spot.


    Just this microcosm and the spectacle of the gxy they''d seen moments ago required a considerable amount of energy to manifest.


    As per Harof''s exnation, each speck in the void represented a star, an image replicated throughout this microcosm...


    "Names are merely codes. If you must, call me Einstein," the white-haired elder added.


    The three beside him introduced themselves.


    "Maria Sklodowska Curie..."


    "Isaac Newton..."


    "Niels Bohr!" the final person spoke with a smile.


    Aurora nodded, also mentioning her name.


    Meanwhile, Victorio, like Harof, had previously faced the godly A. Hence, he swiftly noticed that these four legends of the ''Society of Mystical Arts'' gave him a simr yet slightly different feelingpared to her...


    Harof''s attention, however, was elsewhere. His gaze remained fixed on a man with curly hair. So, you''re Newton, the one hit by an apple on the head?


    Thest time he''d visited this microcosm, due to shock and continuous assaults, he hadn''t had the chance to learn each person''s name and identity. The assembly had concluded before he could grasp even the most basic understanding of these individuals.


    "Now that everyone''s here, let''s begin today''s discussion!" Newton snapped his fingers. The colossal red fireball beneath their feet began copsing inward, then violently exploded...


    Another supernova eruption ensued, with boundless light and heat scattering in all directions, illuminating the dark void, a spectacr scene of a star''s destruction devastating the entire star system.


    They stood far away, and it took minutes for the intense energy and radiation waves to reach them. However, the terrifying energy and radiation didn''t harm them. It felt as though there was a thin film separating them, allowing them to faintly sense the radiation waves, which felt scorching, almost like their souls were being burnt, as they passed through.


    After the most intense shockwaves subsided, Newton, Einstein, and Curie turned to the wizard beside them.


    "This time, it was you who initiated the gathering, right, Bohr?"


    "Yes, today, I''ll talk about atoms!" Bohr nodded casually.>


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 Chapter 379: Gravity as a Ruler, Time and Space as the Stage, Astonishing Legends!

    Chapter 379: Gravity as a Ruler, Time and Space as the Stage, Astonishing Legends!


    "Atoms?" Victorio paused, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.


    "You mean elements!" Bohr added, then continued, "How much do you all understand about them?"


    Seeing the topic veer toward elements in this discussion, Harof breathed a sigh of relief. If they continued discussing topics like cosmdscapes or the birth and destruction of the universe, he''d find it hard to even interject.


    "Elements are the fundamental constituents of the world, the basis for most of our magic. It''s also one of the oldest branches of magic," Victorio began.


    The study of elements, undoubtedly, stood as the cornerstone of magical studies alongside psychic abilities. Some elemental wizards proudly asserted that everything¡ªfrom alchemy, potions, shaping, to the core¡ªultimately harnessed the power of elements!


    Over the years in the wizarding realm, they had discovered forty-nine basic elements, leading to the development of over a thousand spells¡ªa golden age for magic!


    Following Victorio''s lead, Aurora then delved into theposition and utilization ofpound elements, exining the magical reactions between various elements...


    Once they finished, they both turned to the legendary figures from the Society of Mystical Arts.


    Lynn, in guise of Bohr, listened as they expounded on elemental studies. When Victorio and Aurora paused after covering the basics, Lynn couldn''t help but ask, "Is that all? What about the rest?"Victorio frowned, responding, "Presently, our understanding of elements in the wizarding realm is limited to this. Do you perhaps have more insights?"


    "Of course. I believe your understanding of elements is rather shallow," Bohr sighed, shaking his head.


    Spending over two years in the wizarding realm, Lynn had gained a rough understanding of the wizards'' magical theories¡ªroughly equivalent to middle school knowledge in Lynn''s previous life, if not less.


    It was because Lynn had heard about Althok''s attempts to delve into more microscopic domains that Lynn tentatively inquired about their understanding in this regard.


    However, the results left Lynn disappointed.


    But then again, it was quite reasonable. They were all standing on the shoulders of giants, each theorem and form learned had been researched and summarized by physicists and chemists throughout their lifetimes.


    The wizards, on the other hand, had to deduce everything from scratch.


    While magic provided immense conveniences, it could also blind them to many years of stagnation in certain fields.


    Bohr''s lightly spoken words made Aurora narrow her eyes involuntarily, while Victorio wore a slightly displeased expression. Before they could react, Bohr continued, "Apart from the basic chemical properties, I believe aspects like weight, density, melting point, boiling point, molecr weight, and periodicity are highly worth researching¡­"


    Bohr rambled on, overwhelming Victorio, who couldn''t help but interject, "Wait, let''s not even talk about molecr weight and periodicity. How do you propose calcting density and weight?"


    Elements were incredibly minuscule, to the point of being invisible to the naked eye, constantly in motion. Where could they find rulers and scales precise enough for such measurements?


    Moreover, elements like hydrogen created an upward buoyancy in the air, making weighing an utter impossibility.


    Victorio''s face showed a mocking expression¡ªweighing elements was a ludicrous idea!


    "Are you suggesting we can''t assess the weight and volume of something without rulers and scales?" Bohr said with a smile.


    "Then how else do you propose we calcte?" Victorio was about to retort, but the next moment, he was left stupefied. He suddenly realized that when they calcted the weight ofs, they didn''t use scales!


    Both hadpletely opposite natures¡ªone extremelyrge, the other infinitesimally small¡­


    "Do you mean¡­?" Harof immediately thought of a possibility and looked at Bohr in astonishment.


    Bohr didn''t respond verbally; instead, they wrote a string of numbers in the air.


    [6.67¡Á10^-11L¡¤m^2/kg^2!]


    "How about using this as a ruler?" Bohr said yfully.


    "This is... the universal gravitational constant?"


    Everyone present immediately recognized it. When Lynn calcted the gravitational constant back in the wizarding realm, both Harof and Aurora were present, making this concept unforgettable.


    "Are you suggesting using time and space as the stage and a fixed gravitational constant as the ruler?" Harof was the first to grasp the idea.


    "Exactly. Master Lynn''s experiments in the wizarding realm were quite remarkable. I must say, truly impressive!" Bohrplimented.


    "As we all know, the mass of an object influences space. This value can be calcted using the universal gravitational form. And since the gravitational constant remains constant, it serves as the perfect ruler!"


    "Although the disturbance caused by a single atom on space is minuscule and hard to measure urately, we can create a vacuum area, gather singr elements, magnify their minute distortions in space, and finally, by removing this magnification factor during calction, estimate the mass of the elements!"


    This method wasn''t borrowed; it was a product of Lynn''s ingenuity, relying on the unique traits of wizards. After all, the technological paths taken in Lynn''s previous life didn''t have such refined methods for spatial perception and atomic maniption, so they used Newton''s Second Law of Motion¡ªF=ma¡ªto estimate atomic mass directionally.


    Where ''a'' represents the eleration of an object with mass ''m'' under the influence of force ''F''. So, by rearranging the form, one could find mass ''m'' equal to force ''F'' divided by eleration ''a''!


    Of course, due to the small size of atoms, a mass spectrometer was still required¡­


    Lynn couldn''t conjure that up in a short time, but luckily, wizards had their own methods!


    They had the ability to manipte atoms and perceive space¡ªa natural advantage in magical research. It was essential to utilize these capabilities!


    However, there were still issues. Interactions between multiple atoms could disturb measurements. Yet, they could mitigate these disturbances by adjusting the quantity of atoms, gradually finding this ratio and minimizing interference¡­


    "What an incredible idea!" Victorio was thoroughly impressed. These wizards from the Society of Mystical Arts had minds that he admired immensely.


    When calcting the circumference of the earlier, they had used the simplest trigonometric form¡ªthe Pythagorean theorem. But this time, they employed the universal gravitational constant!>


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 Chapter 380: Ranking All Elements—The Periodic Table!

    Chapter 380: Ranking All Elements¡ªThe Periodic Table!


    Aurora and Harof, much like Victorio, were engrossed in this intricate experiment measuring atomic mass.


    The minuteness of elements was beyond theirprehension. A single drop of water contains tens of thousands, even millions of water elements,posed of the basic elements hydrogen and oxygen. It could only be described as unbelievably minuscule!


    Many wizards might doubt the existence of such elements if not for their ability to perceive them through magic.


    Measuring the volume and weight of such minuscule elements was nearly impossible, yet Bohr managed to turn the impossible into possible!


    Previously, Lynn used a simr experiment while calcting constants. They amplified the imperceptible gravitational interference between two iron spheres using light, precisely calcting it!


    This was entirely feasible!


    Just as they were marveling, Isaac Newton nearby seemed somewhat impatient.


    "You surely have more to discuss today, Bohr? These superficial matters need no further mention!" he remarked.


    "Superficial..." Victorio''s expression turned peculiar, unable to counter because they hadn''t even calcted these superficial matters yet!In Victorio''s mind echoed the words someone once said upon arriving in thend of wizards.


    "The magical theories in thend of wizards are outdated!"


    Victorio exchanged a nce with Aurora, both sharing a bitter smile.


    Harof shook his head; he had warned earlier about the necessity for discretion here, to avoid exposing theirck of knowledge...


    Helplessly, the trio looked to Bohr, intensely curious about the purpose behind his summoning.


    "I certainly have more to share!" Bohr followed Isaac''s lead, quite arrogantly. "In fact, I''m preparing to rank all the atoms!"


    With a snap of Bohr''s fingers, a massive chart appeared before them.


    The chart was arranged in rows and columns, devoid of any numbers or symbols. Just an empty grid.


    "I haven''tpleted this chart because itcks a few crucial factors, which might affect their sequence. I hope you all can help me perfect it!" Bohr earnestly requested.


    "Bohr, don''t you already have a clear understanding of elements?" Victorio asked, puzzled.


    If someone could calcte the mass of elements, their volume shouldn''t be an exception. Coupled with concepts like density and molecr weight, it practically turned the elements upside down!


    "No one dares implete knowledge of everything about atoms, myself included!" Bohr shook his head, sighing.


    "While I''ve delved into some superficial studies of atoms, there''s still one aspect I haven''tpletely grasped¡ªthe structure of atoms!"


    "Structure? You mean the shape of elements?" Aurora suddenly inquired.


    "No, the internal structure!" Bohr emphasized. "I believe atoms are divisible!"


    Bohr''s words undoubtedly challenged the mainstream magical theory in thend of wizards, where every wizard is taught that elements constitute the fundamental substance of the entire world! The argument of indivisible elements has been repeatedly proven through experiments! Even at temperatures of tens of thousands of degrees, collisions between elements, they remained as steadfast as ever! Even when cutting through substances, the elements within remained unscathed. "Element Controller" Althok even concluded that elements repelled each other, maintaining a minimum distance between them.


    Some wizards even believed that elements were the hardest substance in this world, indestructible.


    However, given Bohr''s brilliant calction of atoms, turning the impossible into possible, the trio refrained from hastily refuting. All they could do was listen to these legendary figures from the Secret Arts Society, discussing whether the internal structure of atoms resembled ''solid spheres,'' ''raisins,'' or ''watermelons''...


    These theories about atomic structure were not merely conjectures; they were logically consistent and had some real basis. Bohr even conducted experiments to determine if the interior of atoms was solid or hollow.


    At this moment, Victorio and Aurora deeply empathized with Harof''s initial feelings when he first attended such discussions.


    It felt akin to an apprentice wizard mingling among seasoned wizards discussing how to mimic elements with magic¡ªutter bewilderment.


    Facing their frequent inquiries, Victorio broke into a sweat, barely managing to fumble through a few vague responses.


    His only relief was that Bohr and others also seemed not to have fully understood the internal structure of atoms. Presently, these theories were still in the stage of theoretical refinement,cking substantial evidence...


    This was the aim of this discussion¡ªto explore the essence of atoms and, based on their characteristics, create a ranking table of elements!


    If sessful, undoubtedly, this "Element Ranking Table" would be the foundation of the entire magical system! It meant that wizards'' understanding and application of elements would advance to an entirely new level!


    But could atoms truly be divided? And what kind of power could split an atom...


    Victorio delved into deep contemtion. The other councilor, Althok, had made simr conjectures, attempting to research more microscopic realms. Whether sessful or not was unknown, as he seemed to have gone mad, obsessively muttering about some elemental specters daily, leaving behind manuscripts filled with nonsense.


    It was due to this that they had halted experiments and research on elements... but now it seemed necessary to resume.


    This discussion about the properties and internal structure of atomssted for over an hour. Several possible models were magically represented in the void, broadening Harof, Aurora, and Victorio''s perspectives.


    Just as the discussion was about to conclude, Aurora stepped forward and got to the heart of the matter.


    "Dear colleagues, I believe you''re somewhat aware of the recent conflict between the Holy Church and the Kingdom, aren''t you?"


    "We''ve heard some rumors," Einstein, seated to the left, all his hair white, nodded. Then, he continued, "Haven''t you won this battle, driving the Church''s punitive forces out of the Kingdom?"


    Victory?


    Harof shook his head in resignation. It wasn''t so much a victory as it was their sheer luck in escaping with their lives!>


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 Chapter 381: The Sixth Circle Grand Wizard Represents the Limit of Humanitys Reach!

    Chapter 381: The Sixth Circle Grand Wizard Represents the Limit of Humanity''s Reach!


    Seeing Harof''s displeasure, Bohr couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    "It seems you''ve encountered some trouble?"


    "This trouble isn''t just ours." Aurora seized the moment, speaking pointedly. "The Empire and the Holy Church threaten the existence of all wizards. This matter concerns not only the Council but also the Society of Mystical Arts, doesn''t it?"


    Compared to the secludednd of wizards overseas, the members of the Society of Mystical Arts were the most severely threatened by the Holy Church. Legends like Bohr might not mind pursuit, but ordinary members wouldn''t all be as formidable.


    "Moreover, the Magic Kingdom''s ns were proposed and executed by members of the Society of Mystical Arts. This matter is internal to the Society." Victorio added, supplementing the discussion.


    Even though their participation in this legendary gathering aimed to seek allies, both Aurora and Victorio clearly didn''t want to relinquish control. In just a few words, they managed to shift the me.


    Now, it was the members of the Society of Mystical Arts who were against the Holy Church, while thend of wizards extended support considering the bigger picture¡ªsupporting a crumbling edifice...


    For high-ranking members of the Society of Mystical Arts like Bohr, it would be uneptable not to take action!


    Aurora had a grand scheme in mind, but the legends of the Society of Mystical Arts weren''t easily swayed.Lady Curie spoke with a serene smile. "We are different from you. The Society of Mystical Arts doesn''t restrict the freedom of its members. They have the right to decide what they want to do and should be ountable for their actions..."


    In other words, the Magic Kingdom''s ns weren''t devised by them, and they weren''t obligated to rescue a particr member either.


    Their casual attitude surprised Aurora. ording to her assumptions, Lynn should hold a significant position within the Society of Mystical Arts, at least as a disciple of a legendary figure. With his talent and strength, no wizarding organization would feasibly abandon him.


    Had they assessed no danger from the other side, or did they genuinely not care?


    Newton, with his flowing curls, answered Aurora''s unspoken doubts. "In reality, we''re not in this continent at the moment. Even if you wish to confront A, I have some information and suggestions."


    "I''ve encountered that pseudo-god and the legends of the Church before. Please forgive my frankness, but their mental and life levels surpass yours!"


    "Or rather, your mental level seems to only reach that of a grand wizard!"


    Lynn''s words sessfully diverted Aurora and the others'' attention. Suddenly, no one asked why they weren''t on this continent anymore.


    Victorio''s mind trembled, and he hastily inquired, "Have you found a way to surpass that limit?"


    The limit...


    Such a word momentarily left Lynn at a loss for words.


    However, Harof and Aurora understood precisely what Victorio meant.


    The Sixth Circle Grand Wizard represents the limit that humans can reach!


    It was like an unbreakable wall standing before every grand wizard. Unlike previous obstacles to ss advancement, this seemed to be the pinnacle attainable by the human race limited by their physical bodies.


    Of course, where there''s a limit, there are those who surpass it!


    Some ancient psychic beings achieved a qualitative leap by devouring and plundering souls, attaining powers far beyond grand wizards¡ªthey called themselves gods!


    Simultaneously, a very small number of wizards, through various cunning methods, acquired powersparable to those dark gods. To distinguish between the two, a unique title was established above grand wizards¡ªthe legendary!


    Hence, legends, unlike regr wizards and grand wizards, didn''t have clear boundaries or essible methods for promotion.


    Or one could say that the only criterion to measure a legend was possessing a level of power surpassing grand wizards!


    During their years in thend of wizards, they had been seeking a perfect path for advancement and had made numerous attempts.


    For instance, 150 years ago, a terrifyingly powerful ck dragon crossed through a temporal gate in a magic crystal mine, causing immense destruction within thend of wizards.


    Finally, the few of them managed to imprison it, using mystical arts to extinguish its soul, allowing Faiz, the most powerful psychic grand wizard at the time, to upy the body and be the fifth legend of the Council!


    However, this process could only be described as perilous, with sess heavily reliant on luck, at least ny percent!


    ording to Faiz, he couldn''t entirely control or merge with that body. The soul seemed confined within a formidable shell, able to barely wield sixty to seventy percent of its power...


    "Perhaps,pared to us, you could truly be considered real legendary wizards!" Harof sighed in admiration.


    Since Bohr could discern that their mental level remained at the level of grand wizards, it likely meant that the others had found a way to break that limit.


    It seemed thend of wizards had been sealed for far too long...


    Though Lynn didn''t fully grasp the intricacies, judging from Harof and the others'' reactions, he guessed a general idea. With a thought, Einstein within his microcosm shook his head and calmly stated,


    "The path of magic is rugged; we''re all just groping in the dark, no one can be certain they''re on the right track!"


    Harof, Aurora, and Victorio were all very interested in the method the legends of the Society of Mystical Arts had used to break through. However, they were equally aware that it was the greatest secret of every legendary wizard.


    They were not willing to disclose how they became legends and naturally had no right to demand the same from others.


    Considering Bohr and the others'' "inconvenience to intervene," Aurora couldn''t help but suspect that their method of breakthrough might not be as wless either.


    >


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 Chapter 382: The Macroscopic is Merely the Surface, the Microscopic is the Essence!

    The discussion about legends didn''tst long. Due to theck of information, Lynn didn''t dare delve too deeply into this topic and swiftly changed the subject.


    "Based on my spection, A might have abandoned her physical form and exists in an energy body..."


    Within Lynn''s previous theories on magic, there had been discussions about the distinction between energy and mass. Herlram and others were familiar with these terms.


    "Do you mean she abandoned her physical form to exist as a soul?" Victorio, stroking his long beard, pondered.


    At that moment, he realized the simrity between Bohr and others and the pseudo-deity. Their bodies emitted an unceasing force as if capable of distorting spacetime by merely standing there.


    However, there were differences. A felt like a powerful convergence of divine magic, while Bohr resembled the stars they had just witnessed.


    Victorio spected that the soul might also be a form of energy.


    At the level of grand wizards, souls could detach from the body and remain in the external world for extended periods, albeit still susceptible to certain damage. Like an exposed person in bitter cold, they might eventually sumb, but whether legendary soul entities could exist eternally without the body remained unknown.


    "No, it''s more than that." Lynn shook their head, refuting Victorio''s spection. If that were the case, the AI surely would have provided hints.After all, the soul entity 071 had been absorbed and recorded in the database.


    If it wasn''t a soul entity, then what could it be?


    Everyone present fell into contemtion...


    "If possible, you might consider capturing a legendary clergy member of the Holy Church for thorough study. Who knows what insights that might yield," Lynn, controlling Victorio, suggested using Bohr''s abilities.


    This was the first thought that popped into Lynn''s mind when the AI reminded them that A and Edweil''s spiritual and life levels surpassed grand wizards! Capturing and studying both crossed their mind, but A''s immense power made it tempting yet unfeasible, so they shifted focus to lower-tier legendary clergy members.


    Victorio couldn''t help but feel helpless at Lynn''s suggestion. Legendary clergy members were high-ranking within the church, possessing immense strength. Defeating them wasn''t easy, let alone capturing them for study.


    Coming from Lynn, it sounded as casual as eating and drinking!


    Unconcerned, after nting the idea of "capture and study" into Herlram and others'' minds, Lynn controlled Victorio to speak again. "A has a high mastery of atomic levels. It won''t be easy to ovee her from that perspective, but you might explore strategies from a more microscopic level to defeat her!"


    "The macroscopic is merely the surface, the microscopic is the essence. The true path of legends might be hidden within..."


    "Macroscopic... microscopic..." Herlram murmured softly.


    After moments of contemtion from Aurora and Victorio, as they were about to inquire further, bright, intense light swiftly descended, plunging the entire space back into profound darkness.


    With time elerated a millionfold, the light from the supernova explosion had vanished. Harof wore a regretful expression, fully aware of what this meant.


    As expected, a majestic yet aged voice resounded among them the next moment.


    "Let this discussion sessione to an end!"


    It was none other than Einstein who spoke, and immediately, the entire cosmos violently trembled, expelling Harof and the others.


    ...


    At precisely midnight, Harof, Aurora, and Victorio broke free from the realm of magic. Their faces were filled with confusion, awe, and bewilderment, unable to shake off the colossal amount of information from the discussion.


    "It seems your prior warnings were correct, Harof. This Society of Mystical Arts indeed demands careful consideration," Victorio spoke with a grave expression.


    Even before entering the realm of magic, Victorio had already held these legendary wizards in high regard. However, after this exchange, his fearful expression only intensified.


    Especially Bohr, who discerned their true nature at a nce... their power was unfathomable.


    "I did warn you to be more cautious!" Harof said with a touch of helplessness. After a pause, he continued, "What about the elements they mentioned... the internal structure of atoms, what are your thoughts?"


    "Though there''s no solid evidence yet, the possibility does exist," Aurora agreed.


    There were elements smaller than the basic atoms, like lightning elements, light elements, and those elemental specters. They couldn''t perceive them previously, so the existence of these elements remained uncertain.


    However, Anthony''s creation of thunder magic confirmed the reality of lightning elements and their maniption by wizards. This meant that basic elements weren''t the smallest known substances.


    With this in mind, Aurora suggested, "We should gather Althok''s notes. They might prove useful in studying the microscopic realm."


    Harof and Victorio nodded. If the microscopic realm held the key to ascending to legendary status or ying ''deities,'' then their efforts needed to focus there. As for those elemental specters... a solution would eventually emerge.


    Every ''legendary'' power was immensely valuable...


    The Holy Church openly possessed five legends, while the Wizard Council, even counting the crazed Althok, only had four legendary wizards. Theycked not only top-tier power but also high-endbat capability.


    "And the elemental hierarchy chart¡ªwe should prioritize that too!" Victorio added. It was the foundation of the entire magic system.


    He estimated that the Society of Mystical Arts pursued an elite path. Though each member was formidable, their numbers likely weren''t extensive.


    Now that they knew the method of measuring elemental mass, the only thing left was implementation.


    Withbined efforts, perhaps they couldplete this hierarchy chart faster than the Society of Mystical Arts and even explore a brand-new path to legendhood!>


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 Chapter 383: Legends are Semi-Gods, and Semi-Gods are Legends!

    Chapter 383: Legends are Semi-Gods, and Semi-Gods are Legends!


    "Finally done!"


    Lynn sighed in relief as he stepped out of the realm of magic. Manipting these ''legendary'' wizards wasn''t an easy feat.


    However, this gathering had provided him with a wealth of information about high-level wizards.


    Firstly, it seemed that a wizard''s maximum potential, relying on their talent and efforts, reached the level of a Sixth-Ring Grand Wizard!


    The specifics behind this remained unknown to Lynn. But judging from the certainty of figures like Harof, it wasn''t baseless spection.


    Secondly, the evaluations by the AI brain were urate. Whether it was Harof, Aurora, or Victorio, their mental strength and the Grand Wizards were alike, but theirbat prowess far exceeded regr Sixth-Ring Grand Wizards.


    One might even call them pseudo-legends!


    This exined why the AI brain could manipte and decode theirputations¡ªit operated on the same level as them.


    As for the higher echelons of the Holy Church...Although, ording to the AI brain, their mental and life levels surpassed those of Grand Wizards, Lynn suspected these individuals were also likely pseudo-legends...


    He had personally sparred with Edweil, giving him grounds for evaluation.


    Moreover, while in the Misty Sea, Aurora had a brief encounter with a legendary clergy member. Though the battle didn''tst long, she managed.


    Lynn couldn''t help but wonder if only A had truly taken that step toward bing a [god], while the higher-ups like the judiciary of the church might have relied on another''s power to step into that tier. They, like the council members, might have significant limitations, ssified as pseudo-legends...


    In recent days, under relentless questioning from those priests and bishops, they unearthed more intelligence. For instance, the selection criteria for the Church''s higher echelons required two things: reaching the Sixth Ring in the clergy and receiving divine enlightenment, granted with the power of the gods!


    What exactly this divine power was remained unknown even to the captured bishops. It might well be one of the Church''s most closely guarded secrets.


    Lynn spected it might tie into why individuals like Aviedel could perform true divine magic, yet subsequently fall from grace, potentially meeting their demise.


    Apprentice¡ªOfficial Wizard¡ªGrand Wizard¡ªLegend (God)


    Recalling information about the elevation of mental strength, Lynn had the AI brain record it. After a brief pause, he vetoed the term ''god,'' recing it with ''semi-god''!


    Or perhaps, ''iplete god''!


    If [A] could resolve the poison of faith,bining theputational power of hundreds or even millions of believers with her own, that would likely be a true deity!


    The thought weighed heavily on Lynn. What was urgently needed now was to find a way to ascend to legend status or to counterbnce the Church, something that made them think twice.


    Regarding the former, Lynn had little direction for now. Carving out a new path of ascension wasn''t an easy feat. Thus, he nned to start with thetter!


    This was precisely why he guided figures like Harof to explore atomic structures¡ªto verify whether the atomic model of the previous federation was correct in this world and if the mass-energy equation could be applied here.


    If proven urate, locating uranium would lead to the development of nuclear weaponry!


    This would surpass all current magical knowledge, capable of easily decimating a city¡ªa power akin to that of stars!


    Lynn estimated that even if they couldn''t kill a deity with a nuclear st, it would serve as a formidable deterrent!


    If things truly reached a critical point, they could even detonate the entire empire, significantly weakening [A]''s power.


    After all, each believer contributed a portion of theirputational power to the other. Conversely, the might of a god was sustained by their followers!


    Eliminating these believers would dismantle the foundation of their power!


    However, Lynn wasn''t inclined to do this unless absolutely necessary.


    After all, that would entail the deaths and injuries of millions!


    ...


    The council''s attention to the elemental ranking chart was more active than Lynn had imagined. Two hours after emerging from the realm of magic, these members were invited to an urgentte-night meeting!


    Harof concealed discussions and intel about ascending to legend status within the realm of magic. Instead, he briefly reiterated the theory of atomic fission and the argument to find a way to defeat pseudo-deities from a more microscopic standpoint.


    The assembly of councillors was both astonished and divided regarding the theory of atomic fission.


    From the moment every wizard began studying magic, they were taught that basic elements formed the foundation of all things, being the smallest and sturdiest entities in the world!


    Now, the Atomic Fission Theory of the Society of Mystical Arts unquestionably challenged this perception!


    However, owing to Lynn''s ster magical reputation and the solid backing of the Society of Mystical Arts, coupled with several councillors leaning toward believing in this theory''s correctness, even those who opposed it didn''t hastily refute it.


    "If I recall correctly, Lord Althok, the Elemental Master, attempted to delve into more microscopic domains but was assaulted by elemental spirits..." A councillor spoke with a tinge of fear and concern.


    The room fell silent momentarily. They had all heard of the terror of elemental spirits, the very forces that drove a legendary wizard and three grand wizards to madness, leading to the suicides of several formal wizards.


    No one knew what sort of power could cause such severe mental trauma to these experts in elemental studies...


    "While the elemental spirits hinder our exploration of the microscopic realm, it''s be a problem we must address!" Victorio solemnly dered.


    "Our time is exceedingly limited, and we cannot afford to dy. The Church''s punitive forces might return at any moment. They''ve located the whereabouts of the wizards'' sanctuary, leaving us no retreat!"


    Victorio''s words furrowed the councillors'' brows. The pseudo-deity, so powerful that even legendary councillors couldn''t handle it, hung over everyone''s heads like a looming sword, ready to fall at any moment...


    "Everyone, this matter not only concerns how we can defeat that pseudo-deity, but elements form the basis of magic. If we can dissect it, we can unravel the mysteries of magicpletely!" Harof stood up, surveying the assembly.


    "The truth of magic, the reality of the world, lies before us. It''s hidden within those tiny elements, waiting for us to discover and excavate it!"


    "Whoever can refine the elemental ranking table will be bestowed a Silver Moon Medal. And the person who can dissect the atom, construct the atomic model... I will nominate them for the Morning Star Medal!">


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 Chapter 384: Methods of Atom Destruction and the Devils Stone!

    Chapter 384: Methods of Atom Destruction and the Devil''s Stone!


    Harof''s words instantly stirred the wizards'' enthusiasm.


    This was the Morning Star Medal, the highest honor in the wizarding world. Whoever obtained it would be etched in history, bing the next highly anticipated magical star. And now, this opportunityy right before them!


    Raphael and the other grand wizards began contemting how to divide and destroy elements.


    The official wizards, however, didn''t aspire to the Morning Star Medal. They quickly set their sights on the elemental ranking table.


    You see, there were a whopping forty-nine basic elements. Just by studying data on two or three elements, one could secure a nomination for the Morning Star Medal!


    After about ten minutes of discussion, the first to speak up was Ad, who developed the theory of ''fire element.''


    Despite Lynn''s previous unveiling of the Evesting me that severely damaged his ''Three Laws of mes,'' Ad didn''t falter. Instead, he absorbed some of Lynn''s theories onbustion and proposed a more rigorous "Three Elements of Fire"!


    His idea was simple: using intense heat to break down atoms!


    While studying me magic, Ad discovered that high temperatures could disassociate matter into its basic atomic forms. Even steel could have its structure disrupted at temperatures of several thousand degrees. So, if the temperature continued to rise, perhaps atoms could be disassociated too!"We can use magic to confine arge number of elements in a fixed space, continually increasing the temperature. If ten thousand degrees don''t work, try fifty thousand, even a hundred thousand, maybe two hundred or three hundred thousand degrees!"


    Ad, filled with excitement, clenched his fists, pounding the table heavily. "Every element has a limit, no matter how robust it may seem. Our goal is to find that limit and break it!"


    "A brilliant idea!" Raphael and the others felt a surge of inspiration. Since there hadn''t been a known upper limit to temperature, Ad''s proposal held great promise.


    The advantage of this methody in its ability to harness the collective power of several grand wizards, enough to raise the temperature to an unimaginable extent.


    "I think perhaps we can experiment with thunder!" Anthony, nearby, suggested.


    Thunder elements were much smaller than basic elements, making it a good choice to use thunder to break down fundamental elements!


    Under collective brainstorming, numerous bizarre ideas surfaced rapidly, such as applying pressure to an incredibly resilient substance to crush atoms, using magic to elerate collisions between two elements, or even spatial segmentation and more...


    "Lynn Master, what''s your take?" As the discussions intensified, Sanchez turned to Lynn, who had yet to speak, and inquired.


    This renowned magical star, famous for his ingenious approaches, had astonished them previously with beam calctions and gravitational constant experiments!


    His current silence surprised Sanchez.


    At this prompting, everyone present also turned their attention to Lynn.


    Under the spotlight, Lynn pondered before speaking, "I believe each of your proposals holds certain viability. However, to actually disassemble atoms, further experimentation and validation are necessary."


    "Yet, as important as deconstructing elemental structures is the quest for new elements!"


    Lynn didn''t believe that the world had just those few types of atoms. The previous belief among wizards that there were only forty-nine basic elements was due to the limited scope of the wizarding world. Now that they were in the kingdom, perhaps they could discover newer elements!


    ...


    Driven by threats from the Holy Church, the pursuit of magical truths, and the allure of endless glory, the wizards erupted with unimaginable fervor. Upon returning home, sleep was forsaken, and they diligently put their brainstorming into practice!


    Firstly, measurements of atomic mass became the focus. Harof led a group of wizards skilled in force-field magic to create a vacuum domain and used spatial awareness to calcte through forms.


    Meanwhile, Victorio was invited by Ad to set up a powerful alchemical array to generate vast amounts of heat for atom disintegration.


    Anthony also gathered schrs of magic, aiming to start with thunder magic. Apart from that, his interest was piqued by why there was repulsion between atoms and the minimum separation distance between them, akin to the repulsion caused by maism.


    This notion led him to contemte the phenomenon caused by maic forces.


    Amidst this research fervor, almost every day saw novel academic papers published in the Magical Daily. Even the citizens of the capital city rejoiced.


    They couldn''t necessarilyprehend these novel magical theories, but a new decree within the capital allowed wizards to seek out new elements. Anyone discovering anything peculiar could present it! If selected by the wizards, they could receive up to fifty Imperial coins as a reward!


    Such a hefty reward drove people mad. The citizens rummaged through their homes, and some even picked up random stones on the roadside, hoping to pass them off. If lucky to slip through, they could earn a fortune they''d never otherwise attain.


    Within two days, Ynd, in charge of finding new elements, received an abundance of misceneous items, leaving him overwhelmed. He had to put up a sign outside, requesting no more everyday items like pots, wooden stools, etc. Those attempting to deceive were harshly penalized!


    Just when Ynd thought today would yield nothing, a peculiar ''stone'' was ced before him.


    It was an irregr spherical object that, from its shine, seemed to be a certain metallic substance.


    Ynd eximed softly, lifting it and realizing it was much heavier than an equivalent volume of iron!


    Recognizing this, Ynd''s expression turned serious. He attempted to sense and disintegrate it with magic, but it failed.


    Was this an undestroyable and unmanipble metal element?


    "What is this? Where did you find it?" Ynd hurriedly turned to the citizen who presented this ''stone,'' eagerly asking.


    This might very well be a new element beyond their understanding!


    The nearby fifty-year-old miner, bowing lowly, tremblingly replied, "Reporting to the esteemed wizard, this is... the Devil''s Stone... that''s what those priests called it!">


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 Chapter 385: The Demon Stone and the Electron Theory of Elements

    Chapter 385: The Demon Stone and the Electron Theory of Elements


    "The Demon Stone?" Upon hearing this term, Lord Lynn became immediately interested, curious as he inquired, "Do you know why it''s called that?"


    The aged miner dared not conceal and promptly began exining.


    This peculiar ore was unearthed from a mine within the royal domain. Initially, thend''s owner had purchased nearby mountain ranges to mine copper. Yet, within this particr mountain, they stumbled upon peculiar crystalline-like ores.


    Furthermore, they discovered curious creatures emitting luminescence. These creatures seemed to feed on this ore, excreting a substance that appeared silvery-white, lustrous akin to silver ore but notably heavier.


    The owner swiftly realized the wealth potential in this mountain, organizing arge workforce to excavate. They hired a sculptor to fashion these naturally crystalline ores into jewelry.


    As for that silvery-white unknown metal, it was sold at a high price to intrigued nobles and wealthy merchants!


    However, the good times didn''tst. After some time working in the mine, some of the miners fell victim to a malignant ailment. They inexplicably grew dizzy, weak, experienced difficulty breathing, and even began shedding skin, leading to ulcers.


    Initially dismissive upon reports from the guards, the mine owner thought it was theborers attempting to shirk work. It wasn''t until several nobles who purchased the ore jewelry disyed simr symptoms that an investigation by the church revealed the severity of the issue.


    Unfortunately, it was toote. Soon after, the church sealed off the mine. Subsequently, rumors within the capital arose iming that these peculiar ores were cursed by evil wizards. The mine owner, used of conspiring with cultists of dark gods and practicing sorcery to harm nobles, was bound to a stake and burned alive...Upon hearing the miner''s ount, Lord Lynn found himself increasingly intrigued by the stone before him. He could discern itcked any magical response, likely a natural creation.


    Yet, the moniker "Demon Stone" prompted Lord Lynn to be cautious. Instead of handling it directly, he opted to use the Mage Hand spell to lift it.


    "Wizard, sir, what about this..." The old miner, noticing a slight change in Lord Lynn''s expression, nervously spoke, somewhat worried that presenting this malevolent object might displease him.


    If not for the irresistibly tempting reward, he wouldn''t have risked it!


    "You''ve done well. Here are fifty Imperial coins. Take them!" Lord Lynn smiled, and with a thought, gleaming gold coins flew out, stacking neatly on the table.


    To encourage the capital''s residents to bring forth valuable items, Lord Lynn immediately offered the highest reward¡ªa whopping fifty Imperial coins!


    "Thank you, great Wizard. Your generosity outshines the stars..."


    Seeing the pile of coins, the old miner knelt in excitement, repeatedly kowtowing to express admiration and gratitude. Eventually, with Lord Lynn''s permission, he tremblingly swept all the coins into his pockets.


    Behind him, the capital''s residents, queuing up, observed in envy as one piece of "Demon Stone" exchanged hands for dozens of gold coins. They marveled at the wizards'' integrity.


    Giving away such arge sum so readily!


    For the past two days, over a hundred individuals had presented various rare items, all of which were declined. It led them to suspect that these wizards were deliberately teasing them.


    Now, the reality proved they just hadn''t found the right items; these wizards were willing to take even a Demon Stone!


    "For now, Yasos, you''ll be in charge here. If you discover any new elements, send word to me!" Lord Lynn solemnly reminded before hastily departing with this "Demon Stone."


    Truth be told, if possible, Lord Lynn would have preferred to privately research it. Obtaining a Morning Star Medal with a thorough study of a new element would be effortless!


    However, considering the rumors surrounding the Demon Stone, Lord Lynn shelved that notion and opted for reporting. It was the safest course.


    ...


    Meanwhile, within the capital''s estate, Lynn was perusing today''s magical news. The headline on the front page caught her eye.


    "Thunder is the ultimate answer to all magic¡ªA discourse on the internal structure of elements!"


    "Not bad. Have they discovered the existence of electrons within elements?" Lynn inwardly praised. In just a couple of days, after oveing the barrier of indivisible atoms, the wizards'' imagination and creativity were quickly kindled.


    The author of this paper was none other than Anthony. Although his atomic electrolysis experiment failed, it yielded unexpected gains. For instance, it validated that when two atoms were extremely close, a repulsive force was generated, akin to the repulsion between like poles of mas. Hence, Anthony boldly spected: atoms contain electricity within!


    He even proposed the corresponding "Elemental Purple Fruit" model.


    The Purple Fruit was a specialty of the Hadrta Kingdom, a substance resembling a pomegranate filled with internal granules.


    ording to Anthony''s hypothesis, positive and negative charges, akin to Purple Fruit, permeate atoms. Most elements possess a positive charge in the inneryer and a negative charge in the outeryer, leading to repulsion when close.


    Some elements, conversely, have the opposite structure¡ªnegative charge on the outeryer and positive charge on the inneryer. This allows them tobine, producing light, heat, or even mes...


    The entire article spanned thousands of words, upying the entire page. Lynn found it fascinating, despite the conclusion being incorrect. The deductive process and imaginative leaps were incredibly intriguing, capable of exining certain phenomena to a certain extent.


    For instance, Anthony believed that elements were in perpetual motion due to the mutual gravitational attraction, causing them to draw close, but the repulsive force kept them apart, creating a constant back-and-forth effect.


    Just as Lynn prepared to scan the paper for other novel theories, she saw Elok rushing in from outside the courtyard.


    "What''s wrong? Has something happened?" Seeing Elok''s anxious demeanor, Lynn immediately set aside the newspaper, her expression turning serious as she inquired.


    "Dean Lynn... it''s the elements... it''s a new element!" Elok gasped for breath, his face brimming with excitement. "Today, while gathering peculiar items, Lord Lynn discovered a piece called the Demon Stone. Upon testing, it seems to be a new element previously unrecorded.">


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 Chapter 386: Uranium Ore and the Blessing of the Divine

    "This is a portion of samples sent by the council!" Elok mentioned, producing a thumb-sized ''fragment'' from within his robes.


    At first sight of this object, Lynn couldn''t resist rising from his seat, gesturing with his hand as the ''fragment'' levitated on its own, drifting towards him.


    "Is this... uranium ore?" Lynn''s face lit up with an expression of immense surprise. Soon, he confirmed it himself, despite his initial certainty, even having the AI double-check.


    Indeed, it was uranium ore, refined at that. Though it hadn''t undergone specific testing, it surely boasted a high uranium content!


    Naturally urring uranium ore typically contains only a fraction of a gram per kilogram, even less...


    "Where was this thing found?" Lynn curiously inquired, knowing that such high-grade uranium ore wasn''t a natural urrence.


    "They say it was discovered in a mine over ten kilometers from the capital. The council has dispatched teams to investigate further," Elok eximed with excitement. The discovery of a new element was enough to keep any wizard versed in elemental studies sleepless with excitement. Consequently, some council members set off immediately, prepared to inspect the site firsthand.


    "By the way, the person who brought this kind of ore referred to it as the ''stone of the demon''..." Elok disclosed all the intel he gathered about the uranium ore.


    As for the term ''stone of the demon,'' Lynn wasn''t particrly surprised.Typically, uranium is a radioactive element with a rtively long half-life. Coupled with its low natural urrence, it has minimal impact on the human body. However, this ''stone of the demon'' was different; with its extremely high uranium content, prolonged exposure would undoubtedly result in radiation effects...


    Regarding the mention of a monster that fed on uranium ore, upon hearing it, Lynn couldn''t help but furrow his brows. Was this thing akin to Godzi?


    But considering that the miners extracting the ore hadn''t been wiped out entirely, it likely wasn''t a carnivorous creature...


    One had to admit, the creatures in this magical world were quite robust...


    The mane of a fire lion endured high temperatures, perfect for making fments formps, while the skeleton of a griffin was both lightweight and incredibly durable, both excellent special materials!


    "Summon Ondo and the others; we''re heading to theboratory!" Lynn tossed aside the newspaper in his hand. He needed to run tests on this ''stone of the demon''!


    If it turned out as he expected, the Grand Nuclear st might just be within reach!


    ...


    At the same time, within the wizardry of the capital, jubtion reigned as they discovered a new element.


    In the Sas Empire, hailed as the ''heavenly realm on Earth'' and the nd of shimmering stars,'' within the sacred city harbor, the imperial expedition fleet that had been adrift at sea for over a month finally foundndfall.


    Of the three hundred ships that set out, fewer than half remained, with the foremost ten ships bearing severe damage. Even the main vessel had acquired a long gash, barely holding on thanks to divine arts.


    This grim spectacle astonished the guards within the harbor, yet they firmly believed that the followers of those dark deities, the minions of demons, had surely been cast into hell. Under the watchful gaze of the gods, they were unbeatable!


    However, the Chief Bishop Jacob, who came to negotiate, didn''t share their optimism. For, just a dozen days prior, they received a confidential report...


    Edweil, leading arge force to suppress the rebellion within the kingdom, perished. Nearly the entire expeditionary force was annihted, with less than one in ten managing to escape.


    This revtion shook the upper echelons of the church. The news was so staggering that it remained under tight wraps.


    Many were pinning their hopes on the return of the expedition fleet, hoping they would eradicate the dens of those wizards, thus cleansing their previous shame with a resounding victory!


    As the bishops and priests disembarked from the ships, each wearing a dark expression, Jacob realized that the news brought by this expedition fleet might not bode well either.


    Such thoughts flickered through Jacob''s mind, yet he promptly stepped forward, cing his hand over his chest, and respectfully saluted.


    "My Lord Inquisitor!"


    "I must see His Holiness and Lady Lucia immediately, right now!" The Inquisitor''s tone was stern, brimming with unquestionable demand.


    "But... both are currently presiding over the celebration," Jacob hesitated in his response.


    Upon hearing the word ''celebration,'' the Inquisitor paused momentarily, quickly recalling that today was Harvest Day!


    As per the creation texts in the holy book, the first day of September was the day the great Moon Goddess descended from the heavens to bestow her divine arts upon thend, ripening the sweet fruits, bringing joy to everyone...


    "Then the meeting shall wait until after the celebration," the Inquisitor''s tone softened immediately. The annual Harvest Day celebration held immense importance and couldn''t be easily interrupted.


    Due to the enforced information ckout, the shadow cast by the kingdom''s rebellion hadn''t affected the Harvest Day festivities.


    Hundreds of thousands congregated within the vast city, awaiting in front of the towering Celestial Tower!


    Rumor had it that this colossal tower was the dwelling ce of the Moon Goddess when she descended to the earth. It took fifty years to construct, towering over three hundred meters high, its spire shimmering with the radiance of divine arts, as if piercing through heaven and earth, resembling a colossal sword cast by the gods upon the mortal realm...


    Anyone seeing the Celestial Tower would be awed by its magnificence. Many devout believers traveled from all corners of the empire to the sacred city, solely to repent earnestly in front of the Celestial Tower, purifying their souls...


    Faint strains of ethereal hymns reverberated through the skies. A figure of pure sanctity swiftly emerged from within the Celestial Tower, appearing to be around twenty-three or twenty-four, d in a flowing white robe billowing in the wind, their emerald eyes shimmering like stars.


    "It''s Lady Lucia!" The devotees gathered at the sides of the Celestial Tower were filled with fervor.


    The church''s maiden was the closest individual to God within the entire holy city, meticulously chosen from the empire''s nuns, rotating every five to ten years. Upon fulfilling her duty, they could ascend to heaven and serve as attendants to God...


    Lady Lucia ascended the tform amidst the eager crowd, loudly reciting the divine words of Harvest Day, beams of divine light continuously showering from the sky.


    Upon touching the divine light, those devout followers who arrived with hidden ailments immediately sensed a significant relief, an indescribablefort. One fervent believer even discovered their previously severed finger had miraculously regrown, kneeling down in excitement and gratitude.


    This was the grace of the gods, the glory of the divine!>


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 Chapter 387: The Tainted Saint, Lucia

    Chapter 387: The Tainted Saint, Lucia


    "Oh great Lord, we thank you for the grace you bestow upon us. May your glory shine in every corner of the world..."


    "I shall abide by your promises until the end of my days..."


    Gathered around the Tower of the Sky, devout believers knelt in prayer under the divine light, believing that the gaze of the gods had focused here. They hoped that with devout prayers, they would earn divine favor, ensuring entry into the eternal heavenly realm after death.


    As the ethereal hymns grew louder, the divine realm, centered around the Tower of the Sky, expanded outward, soon enveloping the entire holy city.


    On either side of the streets, verdant greenery sprouted from the ground, vines emerged from crevices, weaving around buildings and exquisite sculptures.


    Time seemed elerated; under the witness of hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of fruit trees ascended throughout the holy city. From tender shoots, they grew into towering trees, their sturdy trunks and lush canopies shrouding the sky. Luminous, jade-green fruits adorned their branches, their rich aroma permeating the city.


    The towering Tower of the Sky now adorned with countless vines resembled a colossal emerald pce at the heart of the holy city, a spectacle that awed the first-time attendees.


    Atop the high tform, Lucia paused her divine prayer. In her emerald eyes, another, more mystical world unfolded before her.


    Unseen golden threads connected the prostrated believers to an unseen point behind them¡ªthe grand Tower of the Sky...After this disy of miracles, the number of devout believers increased by about twenty thousand...


    Confirming this, Lucia dered themencement of this year''s Harvest Festival, granting all God''s children who arrived in the holy city the opportunity to feastvishly.


    During the festival, this ce became a terrestrial paradise. There was no distinction between nobles andmoners; all were merely God''s faithful.


    Tens of thousands of attendants ced trays of roasted potatoes, seared steaks, stewed meats, and other delicacies on long tables set up across the city streets, catering to hundreds of thousands. Among the offerings were wines and fine camel meat usually reserved for nobles...


    Guided by Saint Lucia and her attendants, believers who had traveled far and wide to the holy city joined in the celebrations. They plucked sweet fruits from trees or wandered the city, freely indulging in the feast.


    There was no rush or squabble; even the most famished and gluttonous became disciplined and courteous under the divine influence.


    Moreover, food was in limitless supply, and plucked fruits regrew within seconds.


    Nande was an ordinary pauper from the Nornd district, yet unlike others, his unwavering faith in God set him apart. Upon learning that the annual Harvest Festival in the holy city weed even the lowliest of paupers and ves, he embarked on a journey spanning thousands of miles, traversing mountains and oveing perils from bandits and ferocious beasts.


    It took him a year to reach the foot of the holy city, a journey fraught with hardships. But now, everything seemed worthwhile¡ªthe Tower of the Sky was more magnificent than he had ever dreamt, and the kind Saint Lucia''s divine light healed the festering scars on his body.


    The sight of the city streets brimming with food and trees bearing fruits out of thin air was beyond Nande''s heavenly imaginings.


    Though such celebrations urred once a year, their devoutness ensured their ascent to heaven after death. Every day there would be celebrations, turning the tribtions of this life into divine favor¡ªa reward earned after enduring God''s trials.


    In increasingly firm beliefs, faith transcended, and Nande felt closer to God, as if the gates of heaven were opening before him...


    ...


    Meanwhile, back within the Tower of the Sky, Saint Lucia turned suddenly as if attempting to peer through the thick walls towards a particr spot in the holy city.


    "What is it, under the cor of Lucia?" A cardinal d in red robes beside her asked, puzzled.


    "Someone has received divine inspiration, but sadly fell short, failing to be a saint," Lucia shook her head, filled with regret.


    "Could it be one of the bishops?" The cardinal in red expressed envy. He believed his devoutness rivaled anyone''s, yet he had not received divine inspiration to be appointed a saint, ascending to the true echelons of the church.


    "No, it was likely just amoner," Lucia remarked casually, picking up a Dragonfruit, an offering to the Moon Goddess, from the table and taking a bite.


    Lucia''s offense against the divine left the cardinal infuriated. Despite her high position within the church, she rotated every few years and, in the eyes of the cardinal, was merely a servant selected by the church to serve the Lord. If deemed unfit, she could be reced at any time.


    Just the act of disregarding divinity was enough to strip her of her position!


    Biting into the sweet Dragonfruit, Lucia''s words were blurred as she said, "That''s why you''ve never received divine inspiration, Raven. Youck adaptability, and even your intellect is subpar, rendering you unfit."


    Seeing Lucia''s unrepentant attitude and her attempt to defile divine inspiration, the cardinal was furious. Before he could rebuke her more severely, the doors of the Tower of the Sky swung open.


    Entering were the Pope and Judge Joshua...


    "Pope, Judge Joshua, Lucia just took some offerings from the table and showed no remorse..." Raven hurriedly approached, about to report to the two.


    Thisdy Saint''s status was higher than his own. Besides reprimanding her, there was nothing he could do; only the Pope held the authority to punish her.


    "I''ll handle this matter. You may leave!" The Pope nodded, signaling for Raven to step back before continuing his report.


    Lucia watched the cardinal leave in a huff, feeling a tinge of regret. "He''s devout, butcking in adaptability. His mind isn''t quite sharp. Unfit.">


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 Chapter 388: Fear not, I will personally act to eradicate the enemies of the Holy Church!

    Chapter 388: Fear not, I will personally act to eradicate the enemies of the Holy Church!


    "I''ve disappointed you this time, under the crown of Lucia... I will search for other candidates," sighed the Pope. Finding the right candidate wasn''t easy; faith and talent were crucial but not everything.


    For nearly a decade, Edweil had been the only qualified individual.


    Unfortunately...


    As the Pope pondered, Judge Joshua stepped forward, bowing respectfully to the Church''s saint. "Under the crown of Lucia!"


    Saint Lucia, having taken a few bites of dragon fruit and returned it to the offering table, spoke softly, suggesting a different offering next time, before turning to Joshua, casually remarking, "Seems even you failed this time."


    Ignoring the saint''s seemingly disrespectful act of returning the half-eaten fruit, Joshua knelt, reciting war results as if he were a mechanical device. "The Imperial Fleet lost a hundred and forty-three warships without gaining any substantial victory..."


    Listening to Joshua''s report, Lucia''s beautiful emerald eyes narrowed, her tone turning icy. "Speak, what happened? As far as I know, most powerful wizards have already gone to the kingdom. The defense in the wizard''snd should be unprecedentedly vulnerable now..."


    The first Imperial fleet boasted over three hundred warships, all state-of-the-art sailboats, carrying over eighty thousand elite Imperial troops and nearly a thousand clergy members. It should have been effortless to crush the defenselessnd of wizards!


    And what do you mean by no victory?So many dead, half the Imperial fleet annihted, and yet the adversaries remain unscathed?


    Even with the leadership of a foolish camel, such results were impossible!


    Joshua recounted their sea ordeal. "Before we reached the wizard''snd, we encountered a blockade in the Misty Sea. Those wizards had developed a new type of steel ship, conservatively weighing at least a thousand tons, moving at three times the speed of our sailboats..."


    "Wait... a steel ship weighing thousands of tons floating on the sea? And it''s faster than sailboats? Are you sure you''re not mistaking it for some sort of optical illusion?" The Pope interrupted Joshua, furrowing his brow in disbelief, doubting the credibility of the story.


    How could a steel ship float on the sea, let alone outrun sailboats by multiple folds? That defied thews of the world!


    "I am certain!" Joshua asserted firmly, recounting the entire battle.


    Especially the enemy''s peculiar long-range tactics, maintaining a distance of one kilometer at three times their sailing speed, incessantly suppressing them with relentless firepower, denying any chance to approach or escape.


    This was the reason for the fleet''s heavy losses without any gains.


    "These are nothing but a cunning pack of hyenas!" The Pope uttered coldly, struggling to find a solution from Joshua''s perspective.


    Joshua had attempted to use powerful legendary spells, but the ships vanished in thin air, impossible to hit. Every half hour, the steel ships would reappear from the mist, continuing their relentless bombardment.


    Sending the flying archbishops for pursuit wasn''t a good idea either. They couldn''t match the speed of the steel ships and would only exhaust their magical energy under constant cannon fire.


    Of course, the first fleet wouldn''t have suffered such a dire fate if it weren''t for the blockade in the Misty Sea. Things might have been different without the mist covering the entire area.


    "Afterward, I sacrificed thirty ships to encircle their fleet, but their reinforcements arrived too swiftly..." Joshua regretfully exined, that was his only opportunity to severely damage the steel fleet.


    However, after weighing the pros and cons, Joshua had no choice but to retreat. Those alchemical creations floating in the air, capable of projecting ''Hellfire'' to the ground, spotted in the kingdom''s reports, would easily lead to deaths for everyone except him and a few archbishops.


    It was an unprofitable deal...


    "It seems we underestimated these wizards." Lucia snorted lightly.


    Previously, in her eyes, the wizards hiding on that ind were inconsequential, mere nuisances like mice hiding in holes, nothing that could disrupt the greater scheme. As far as she was concerned, the true enemies of the Church were the extradimensional evil gods and demons...


    So, upon learning of the wizard''s upation of the kingdom, the Empire dispatched two consecutive expeditionary forces from both sides, aiming to eradicate this threat at once!


    Never did they expect such a dismal defeat...


    These novel weapons piqued Lucia''s curiosity immensely. She remembered, a few years back when Kashimo reported to her, there was no mention of these steel ships or the alchemical creations known as ''Skyborne Airships,'' supposedly moving at a speed of merely twenty to thirty kilometers per hour.


    Now, these figures had multiplied five or six times over.


    All these modern weapons seemed to have emerged suddenly...


    "Now, most of the Divine Punishment Legion is still engaged in battle beyond the dimensional rift with those demons. Should we recall them?" the Pope suggested. The threat posed by the wizards had reached a point where they needed to muster their strength and eradicate this threat entirely!


    "No!" Lucia shook her head. "These wizards possess some tricks in groupbat; let''s not squander our elite forces needlessly."


    "Didn''t we discover a giant tribe during the Empire''s conquest of the western borders two years ago? Since theyck any divine talent, let''s consider them expendable for this war," Lucia mused.


    Giants were robust, exceptionally strong, and with the blessing of divine arts, equipped with specialized iron armor, they should withstand cannon fire and smash those iron boxes that run away.


    However, they ate too much, creating logistical pressure...


    "This time, I''ll intervene personally!" Lucia''s demeanor turned solemn as she adjusted her tone.


    "Under the crown of Lucia, these wizards are troublesome, but not to this extent..." Joshua intervened, suggesting that involving the Church''s saint inbat was their ipetence and dereliction of duty.


    "No matter. This body has reached its limit anyway. It''s perfect for recycling," Lucia said casually, cold determination glinting in her eyes like she had spotted prey among the stars.>


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 Chapter 389: Lynn Maxwell: Is my Infinite Nuclear Explosion just a dream now?

    Chapter 389: Lynn Maxwell: Is my Infinite Nuclear Explosion just a dream now?


    Seeing the determination beneath the Saint''s crown, Joshua refrained from further persuasion, easing his worries about the wizards considerably.


    With this, reiming the kingdom was only a matter of time!


    "Has the next candidate for the Saint been decided?" Lucia inquired.


    "These are the candidates..." The Pope gently stroked the scepter in hand, and images of five figures appeared within the Tower of the Firmament.


    They were all young girls aged 16 to 18, impable in appearance, status, and talent. Four of them were deeply devout, meticulously nurtured by the local church, possessing the spiritual power level of bishops.


    The remaining one surprised Lucia; she wasn''t a nun but a member of the Punishment Legion. Logically, she shouldn''t have qualified.


    "This one is the second daughter of Viscount Pedrol, Ivina Pedrol, from the Eastern Port Town," the Pope exined respectfully. "She passed the Punishment Legion''s selection two years ago. Though her psychic talent is slightly inferior, she possesses exceptionalbat intuition, rmended specifically by the Legion''smander."


    "The Eastern Port Town that was nearly scorched by the Hellfire?" Lucia paused, expressing surprise.


    The incident had made quite a stir and naturally reached her ears. It was said to involve a powerful wizard who had lurked within the empire for a long time, and it was only due to Edweil''s timely arrival that the individual was expelled. Such a tragedy hadn''t urred under the jurisdiction of the Holy See for many years!"Yes." The Pope nodded, then continued, "The eldest son of the Pedrol family was killed in that disaster. Ivina joining the Punishment Legion might be rted to this."


    "Another revenge plot?" Lucia felt rather disinterested. Even after hearing Ivina''s information, she didn''t dwell on it much.


    Combat talent was just an embellishment; psychic ability was the foundation!


    Lucia casually selected a candidate she found pleasing and waved her hand, sighing, "You may leave; I''m tired and need some rest."


    The two present nodded, saluted, and quickly exited the Tower of the Firmament.


    Once the Chief Judge Joshua stepped out of the tower, he couldn''t help but sigh. "It''s a pity the kingdom''s fall is happening now."


    Just another three to five years, and the goal of a million devout believers would have been achieved.


    It was unfortunate that the wizards chose this time to incite rebellion in the kingdom, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of devout followers through warfare and persecution. Their ns might need to be postponed again...


    "No matter, if Her Highness is willing to personally eliminate the Wizard Council, it might not be a bad thing for the Holy See," the Pope said in a t tone.


    The kingdom''s subjects, after witnessing the greatness of the divine, would naturally return to the embrace of the Lord...


    ...


    [Hadrta] Capital City. In a tightly sealedboratory, Ondo, Philip, and over thirty members of the Iyeta School of Wizards were busy drawing a massive alchemical array underground.


    While everyone was engrossed in sketching the electromaic array, Lynn wasn''t idle. After initial testing, the uranium content in the outer shell of the demon stone was over 95%!


    Of course, not all uranium was suitable for nuclear weapons.


    Natural uranium ore had three isotopes: uranium-234, uranium-235, and uranium-238.


    Among them, uranium-238 had the highest content, over 99%, but unfortunately, it wasn''t practical as nuclear fuel. Its half-life was extremely long, in the billions of years, making it challenging to induce nuclear fission.


    Uranium-235, on the other hand, was unique. It was the only isotope found in nature that could undergo spontaneous fission, with a radioactivity 6.5 times that of uranium-238, making it the crucial fuel for nuclear weapons!


    However, its reserves in nature were incredibly scarce, with only seven atoms of uranium-235 for every thousand uranium atoms!


    Uranium-234 was even rarer, with only 0.0054%!


    The principle of nuclear weapons was straightforward: allowing a neutron to collide with atoms like uranium-235, forcing them to split into smaller atoms, generating surplus neutrons in the fission process. These would then strike other uranium-235 atoms, initiating a chain reaction, causing all nuclear fuel to undergo fission in a short time.


    ording to the mass-energy equation, the mass loss from atomic fission would be converted into a massive amount of energy, resulting in the nuclear explosion!


    However, despite the simplicity in theory, executing it wasn''t that easy.


    During the uranium content test, Lynn encountered a tricky problem: they couldn''t use the Advanced Material Deconstruction spell to break down elements like uranium!


    This discovery surprised Lynn immensely. After bing a Grand Wizard, they had analyzed forty-nine known elements in the Wizarding Realm using this spell.


    Previously, Lynn had believed that no atomic energy could escape their magical influence. However, this time, they faced a challenge...


    However, uranium was indeed different from the elements previously discovered by wizards. Firstly, it was a radioactive element, with the chemical symbol U and an atomic number of 92, belonging to the actinide series in the periodic table, and it was also the heaviest element found in nature in the past life...


    After pondering for a while, Lynn spected that perhaps all actinide elements, the 15 radioactive elements with atomic numbers 89 to 103 in the Group IIIb of the periodic table, might be unresolvable by the power of a Grand Wizard.


    This might be the reason why they had remained undiscovered for so long...


    Thinking of this, Lynn felt somewhat helpless. It meant that their dream of mimicking uranium-235 with magic to unleash an infinite nuclear explosion had been shattered.


    Now, they could only harness its power through slightly more scientific means...


    After an entire night of work, Elok and the others finally drew thest electromaic symbol on the ground. After confirming its uracy, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Dean, the electromaic array you requested is set up," Elok wiped the sweat from his forehead, speaking with immense excitement.


    "Good. Let''s proceed!" Lynn stepped forward, ensured the array was wless, then used the Mage''s Hand to ce the ''demon stone'' at the center of the array, initiating the alchemical formation.


    The next moment, intricate inscriptions on the ground began lighting up one by one, bright shes of white lightning appeared within the array. The crackling of electric arcs echoed in the sealed chamber, containing a powerful and violent thunderous force, tightly confined within a radius of about three meters around the array. Soon, it surged toward the demon stone ced at the center...>


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 Chapter 390: The Method of Manipulating Uranium Elements and Nuclear Magic Transformation

    Chapter 390: The Method of Manipting Uranium Elements and Nuclear Magic Transformation


    The first step in creating a nuclear weapon is extracting the scarce Uranium-235 from a high-concentration uranium ore.


    Common methods include gas diffusion, centrifugation, nozzle extraction, andser techniques. The former two are suitable forrge-scale industrial applications.


    However, Lynn employed electromaic separation, which boasted a much higher separation coefficient. Crucially, the wizards wielded the power to control lightning, significantly streamlining the entire process.


    Raging lightning filled the alchemical array, temperatures soaring. Soon, the demon stone, sturdy as it seemed, melted gradually under the strikes of thunder, turning into a viscous, fiery-red liquid...


    Undeterred, Lynn intensified the thunder''s force. At temperatures surpassing 4,000 degrees, the liquefied uranium swiftly vaporized, turning into sma,pletely merging with the ferocious lightning.


    An invisible magical barrier rose at the edge of the array. In the next moment, the alchemical array transformed into a colossal drum. The sma uranium within began spinning at an extraordinary speed. Due to centrifugal force, isotopes with slightly varying masses were gradually separated!


    However, the process was far from easy. Lynn rallied nearly allputational power, even resorting to an "Overload Mode," raising mental faculties from the fourth to the fifth tier, just to barely maintain control.


    Elok watched nervously. The thunderous power inside the array made him apprehensive; if any of the formal wizards were caught in it, it would be certain death!


    The process persisted for over forty minutes. The thunderous energy inside the array gradually dissipated. Lynn opened his eyes; everything had settled. In the center of the alchemical array remained onerge and two small magic orbs.With a thought, the orbs flew to Lynn, hovering around him. Within them existed three elements in gaseous states.


    Thergest orb contained Uranium-238, followed by Uranium-235, andstly, an unexpected delight¡ªthe element Radium!


    No Uranium-234 was found in this small demon stone¡ªits reserves were too meager. However, the discovery of Radium delighted Lynn even more.


    It was a radioactive element, crucially with a half-life of only 1,600 years, much faster than Uranium, highlighting its intense radioactivity. Many discoveries in radiation were associated with Radium.


    For these highly hazardous elements, Uranium and Radium, Lynn didn''t dare to be negligent. After isting them, he enclosed them within the magic orbs. Whether magic could block radiation required further research and testing.


    For now, it was more about seeking peace of mind...


    The second thing that delighted Lynn was that while he couldn''t utilize the "Advanced Material Deconstruction Spell" for these radioactive elements to analyze or simte them, basic maniption was still feasible.


    However, controlling them felt akin to his apprenticeship days, leaving him exhausted and feeble in handling magic and mental energy.


    Seeing the sess of the elemental separation experiment, Elok and others began celebrating. They might be the first to extract these elements from a demon stone.


    "Everyone, it''s too early to celebrate. Elemental separation is merely the first step. Next, we need to test their characteristics, mass, molecr weight, and density..."


    Lynn suppressed the excitement of the crowd, distributing tasks for these tests. He took a piece of paper, pondering, and began constructing a spell model for nuclear detonation...


    Creating an atomic bomb entirely through scientific means was too cumbersome. There were numerous technological hurdles. Therefore, utilizing the principles of a nuclear explosion for magic was undoubtedly the best and quickest option...


    Firstly, how to gather arge amount of Uranium-235 together.


    Using electromaic confinement seemed usible... yet, after careful consideration, Lynn dismissed it. Intense electromaic fields might interfere with the chain reaction.


    Considering, Lynn decided to use magic to simte a robust element as a casing. The peculiar serpent-scale protection seemed ideal, remarkably tougher than steel...


    Next was how to achieve a "neutron source" through magical means, crucial for detonating the nuclear weapon...


    Lastly, figuring out how to project this stuff at a considerable distance; otherwise, it''d be mutually assured destruction!


    Innumerable problems inundated Lynn''s mind. Despite the assistance of an intellectual brain and detailed knowledge in the federal database, turning nuclear detonation into magic was proving to be a headache...


    ...


    Over the next few days, research on the new elements and their internal structures became the hot topic among all wizards. This caused quite a chaos, with over thirty experimental idents urring.


    Fortunately, these ''minor idents'' were nothing out of the ordinary for wizards engrossed in research. Whether the formal wizards conducting the experiments or the apprentices assisting, the moment they sensed danger, they fled swiftly. Their protective measures were impable, and to date, no casualties had urred due to this.


    Only one unlucky wizard, attempting to explode and disintegrate an atom using wrong measurements, had an arm blown off. Yet, after drinking a bottle of limb-regenerating magic potion, they wasted no time and plunged back into research...


    Until the evening of the third day, the council summoned everyone to exchange thetest research findings, and the wizards reluctantly left theirboratories.


    These discussion sessions had be increasingly frequent. The previous methods of secluded individual research and contemtion were bing less suitable.


    After all, the threat posed by the Holy Church was imminent. Any discovery held immense importance, and frequent exchanges aided in a surge of inspiration.


    Thanks to the frequent exchanges and experiments, from proposing the theory of separable elements, within just a week, two individuals had received nominations for the Silver Moon Medal. It highlighted the council''s high regard for these findings.


    As Lynn arrived at the meeting room, it was packed. Many wizards appeared disheveled, sporting heavy dark circles under their eyes, evidently from prolonged nights conducting experiments. And he happened to be thest to arrive...>


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 Chapter 391: Are We Left with No Room to Maneuver?

    Chapter 391: Are We Left with No Room to Maneuver?


    As Lynn, the illustrious star of magic, arrived, the assembly of wizards gathered around made way, especially the familiar grand wizards like Raphael, who eagerly stepped forward to greet him.


    "Master Lynn, our star of magic, any progress in your recent research on elemental construction and new elements?" Raphael inquired with a wide grin.


    "I''ve had some minor breakthroughs," Lynn replied casually. "I''m aiming to harness this new element for spellcasting, but there''s one crucial obstacle I haven''t ovee yet."


    He had delved into research for three days and was only a step away. His attendance at this gathering was to harness the collective power of the wizards to achieve this!


    "Developing new magic isn''t something rushed!" Raphael reassured with a smile. "Your electromaic separation of elements was brilliant, extracting two new elements from the devil stone. That alone merits a Morning Star Medal."


    When the devil stone was brought to the council, several grand wizards immediately tested it. They discovered this peculiar element couldn''t be dposed by the Advanced Material Deconstruction spell. Even the council couldn''t replicate or mimic it.


    This revtion ignited the entire wizardmunity, escting the council''s interest in this new element.


    Whoever could detach new elements from the devil stone and analyze their properties would have the honor of naming the new elements¡ªa feat worthy of history books, even more prestigious than a Morning Star Medal!


    However, just as they were about tomence research, news arrived that Lynn, the star of the wizarding realm, had used electromaic separation to extract two elements from the devil stone, named Uranium and Radium, and conducted initial data tests.Upon hearing this, Raphael and others were bbergasted.


    "Just one day, how is that even possible?"


    Are we left with no room to maneuver?


    So, when they learned that Master Lynn hadn''t made significant breakthroughs in the research on new elements, the wizards present breathed a sigh of relief. Their biggest concern was their research coinciding with the star magician''s. That would render their efforts in vain.


    "Master Raphael, it seems your recent research has made some progress," Lynn naturally noticed Raphael''s pleased expression, indicating a new discovery.


    "Indeed, while it may not match your element separation technique, I believe it''s enough to stir up some new trends..." Raphael said, somewhat smugly.


    Earning a Morning Star Medal with one''s research was a breeze. Perhaps even a windfall, solving the problem of insufficient research funding.


    "Well, congrattions!" Lynn congratted with a smile.


    "It''s merely luck," Raphael waved modestly, not borating further but teasingly holding back, intending to steal the spotlight during the discussion.


    Amidst mutual praise and eager discussions, Lynn maneuvered through the crowd to the front rows¡ªthe exclusive seats for grand wizards, undoubtedly securing the first spot!


    "Everyone, let''s quiet down for a moment," Harof, presiding over the meeting, cleared his throat. His booming voice resonated throughout the meeting hall.


    The bustling atmosphere gradually subsided. The wizards turned their attention to Harof, anticipating the agenda ahead.


    "It''s been a week since ourst discussion on elemental divisibility, and about three to four days since the discovery of new elements. I assume you all have some results by now," Harof surveyed the room and continued, "This isn''t a formal academic conference. Anyone can freely express their thoughts, even untested academic theories or educated guesses are wee..."


    Seven days were still a bit short. Constructing aprehensive theory in this time was challenging. Hence, Harof lowered the expectations for this symposium, encouraging everyone to speak freely. Even some spection might serve as inspiration for others.


    If it weren''t for the urgent need to find breakthroughs in these aspects, Harof wouldn''t have been this eager.


    He had received confidential reports suggesting movement within the Holy Church. Another war seemed imminent. They had already leaked too much information about new weapons; this time, the other side would surely be prepared.


    Harof sighed inwardly, but he didn''t let his worries show. He swiftly called upon a junior wizard to present their theory.


    It was also a way of taking care of the neers, providing more opportunities for lower-ranked junior wizards. Because the research topic was limited to the internal structure of elements and new elements, some ovep in research findings was unavoidable.


    With the power of grand wizards, deeper research was often possible, and they could offer supplementary informationter. But if it were the other way around, most junior wizards might not even get a chance to speak.


    A young witch in her twenties ascended the tform. After bowing to the council and the grand wizards, she nervously began, "Esteemed council members, my research revolves around the properties of Uranium. Through experiments, I''ve discovered that this new element reacts with boiling water and steam, producing a dark brown crystal with potent toxicity. When broken down into powder, it even poses a risk of spontaneousbustion..."


    As she spoke, the witch disyed the peculiar crystalline substance wrapped in cloth and repeated the experiment before the audience.


    The wizards in the assembly looked at the experiment, discussing among themselves. Many weren''t surprised by the toxicity of Uraniumpounds; several had already experimented with it. That might be why this substance was named the devil stone.


    Wearing something so highly toxic regrly would undoubtedly have an effect.


    After the witch finished, apuse erupted in the assembly. Though her findings were basic and nothing particrly exceptional, considering the limited time, verifying these aspects was alreadymendable.


    Moreover, the devil stone brought by Ynd was only about the size of half a fist, divided into more than twenty parts.


    Every grand wizard remaining in the capital received a sample, and the remaining pieces were given to several officially recognized wizards with strong research talents.


    Each sample varied in size; the higher the rank, therger the sample received. For instance, Lynn''s sample wasn''t much smaller than the portions received by several council members, while the officially recognized wizards received samples norger than the size of a pinky finger...>


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 Chapter 392: Are You Plotting the Assassination of the Entire Wizard Council?

    The formal elucidation by the grand wizards took about four hours, and the symposium continued from dusk well into the night.


    After a week of collective effort by hundreds of wizards, the fundamental data regarding the forty-nine elements¡ªsuch as their mass, density, and molecr weight¡ªhad been thoroughly researched. The discussion about the criteria for the elemental ranking was a hotly debated topic.


    Several hours of intense debate didn''t tire the assembly, for they understood that the true discourse had justmenced.


    Among the grand wizards, Raphael confidently rose, stepping forward to address the assembly.


    "I''ll speak on the unique characteristics of the new element, Radium. Please permit me to momentarily extinguish the magicmps..."


    Harof nodded, snapped his fingers to interrupt the power supply, and the electricmps mounted on the meeting room''s ceiling flickered a few times before plunging the surroundings into pitch darkness.


    Except for one spot in the entire chamber¡ªRaphael''s attire, emitting a dazzling yellow-green fluorescence.


    "No magical fluctuations?" Harof expressed surprise. He could sense that this peculiar glow wasn''t magical in nature.


    "Exactly, this is the power of Radium!" Raphael proudly announced. "In my research, I found that this new element, when mixed with certain substances, emits a gentle glow on its own. I left it undisturbed for two whole nights, and the light showed no sign of diminishing...""Based on my estimation, this light may continue to emit for several years, even a dozen or more!" Raphael confidently asserted.


    "Where does this emitting powere from?" Victorio pondered aloud.


    The fact that it emitted light without magical input surprised all the wizards present.


    The wizards adept in alchemy and herbalism thought of a magical substance, the Radiant Mushroom! These mushrooms, growing in dark underground areas, also had the ability to emit light spontaneously but required magical supply. Once detached from magic, they withered rapidly.


    "I presume this might be a reaction between Radium and certain substances, akin to howbustion produces light and heat. However, this reaction urs at an incredibly slow pace, resulting in a softer light that might gradually deplete its energy over a long period..." Raphael spected.


    Due to the limited three-day timeframe, he hadn''t conducted further experiments, relying solely on magical theories in his mind.


    Though his understanding of Radium wasn''t profound, the single attribute of self-illumination was enough to underscore the significance of this new element.


    This substance could allow them to see in the dark without any energy consumption. It could prove useful in nocturnal battles.


    Raphael even contemted coating the walls of the capital with this mixture; solving the illumination issue at night without requiring any electrical power.


    Raphael borated on the applications of Radium, while Lynn, seated below, looked oddly concerned, but it wasn''t his turn to speak yet.


    Finally, Raphael disyed a ss made with fluorescent paint before the assembly.


    The transparent ss emitted an enchanting fluorescence, captivating every wizard present. The female witches in the audience eximed their admiration.


    "So beautiful... What a brilliant radiance!"


    Seeing his research acknowledged by the assembly, Raphael couldn''t help but smile. His decision to focus on Radium, with less content from the demonic stonespared to Uranium''s significant hazards and uncertainties, seemed exceedingly correct!


    Driven by this notion, Raphael mimicked Lynn''s electromaic separation method to extract Radium from small pieces of demonic stones.


    Initially intended for testing various properties of Radium, the experiment unexpectedly unveiled the substance''s continuous luminescence whenbined with certain materials. The resulting paint could practically be used on anything, giving them a yellow-green glow at night, as if enchanted.


    This was undoubtedly a lucrative opportunity, and Raphael knew this novelty would create a stir among the wizards...


    The research on Radium''s self-illumination earned high praise from the assembly, and Raphael gifted some ssware coated with fluorescent paint to several councilors and grand wizards before contentedly returning to his seat.


    Soon after, Anthony stood up, beginning his discourse on the atomic structure of purple fruits.


    It was undeniable that elements internally carried charges. The electromaic separation experiment led by Lynn days ago, transforming two new elements from a gaseous state into a special sma, stood as crucial evidence!


    So, as soon as this news was published in the Magic Daily, all the motors produced by the Alchemy Research Institute were sold out instantly!


    It was an era where everyone aspired to be a Lightning Mage. After all, if Anthony''s theory was correct, thunder was the foundation of all magic. Any wizard striving for truth would inevitably seek mastery over it!


    After more than ten grand wizards presented their research, it was finally Lynn''s turn, cedst in the order.


    This wasn''t a slight; rather, it was a sign of significance!


    However, Harof, who arranged this sequence, cast a slightly apologetic nce at Lynn because it seemed like the other grand wizards had covered everything that could be spoken about!


    Fortunately, the anticipated awkwardness didn''t ur. Lynn calmly stood amidst everyone''s gaze and began to speak.


    "Through my research and experiments, Uranium and Radium, these two new elements, are unlike any elements we''ve encountered before. They share amon trait and should be ssified into a category distinct from metallic and non-metallic elements."


    "I refer to them as radioactive elements!"


    Lynn''s opening words were groundbreaking, awakening the slightly drowsy assembly of wizards.


    "Radioactive elements?" Victorio furrowed his brow, carefully pondering this term, acknowledging the gravity of Lynn''s research.


    Because this might hold the key to why they couldn''t manipte or decipher these two unique new elements, a conundrum that had gued every wizard since the acquisition of the demonic stones.>


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 Chapter 393: Raphael: This radiation is quite something...

    Amidst the murmurs of the gathered wizards, Lynn spoke up to exin.


    "Normally, the internal structure of an element remains stable and doesn''t change easily. However, uranium and radium, these two elements are different. Their structures are constantly in an unstable state..."


    "So, what you''re saying is that the shell of these elements can''t contain their internal energy, causing the thunderous power within the elements to continually dissipate outward?" With Lynn''s exnation, Victorio quickly formted his own understanding.


    That would exin the spontaneous luminescence of radium.


    "No, it''s not just electrons. I believe apart from electrons, the elements harbor other forms of matter!" Lynn asserted decisively.


    "Master Lynn, does this mean you''ve managed to split an element and glimpse into its mysteries?" A wizard in the audience, witnessing Lynn''s certainty, couldn''t contain his excitement.


    "Unfortunately, though I''ve thought of a way to separate elements, there''s still an important issue I haven''t resolved." Lynn shook his head, expressing his frustration.


    Harof was curious about Lynn''s method of splitting elements. Over these days, they''d attempted various means¡ªhigh temperatures, electric shocks, immense pressure¡ªbut the elements remained remarkably resistant, showing no signs of being breached.


    But before Harof could ask, Lynn spoke again. "Next, I''ll let you all witness how radium elements release their power outward!"As he spoke, Lynn raised his hand, creating a vacuum field, expelling all other elements from the space, leaving behind just enough water vapor. Then, he uncorked a bottle of highly concentrated distilled alcohol.


    The rich aroma of alcohol filled the meeting room, causing Sanchez to involuntarily swallow.


    "What''s Master Lynn nning? Is he intending to let us taste a fluorescent liquor infused with radium?" Raphael couldn''t help but joke, guessing at Lynn''s intentions.


    What are elements? They''re the core of all matter, and this peculiar radium element, radiating its own power outward, is the core of cores, the source of magical essence. Consuming it might indeed have excellent revitalizing effects...


    While Raphael contemted fetching a bottle of radium-infused liquor, Lynn had already dissociated the highly concentrated alcohol into the air, merging it into the dense water vapor.


    Then, with solemnity, Lynn brought out a lead sphere, specifically designed to contain radiation. Upon removing this confinement, the suspended radium element inside immediately hung in the void, revealing its intense radioactive nature!


    Invisible high-energy particles, centered around radium, continually dispersed outward, prating the dense water vapor, leaving clear visible traces of mist... as if a thorned flower was blooming in the void!


    "This is..." Victorio stared fixedly at the scene before him. The assembled wizards also stood in surprise, gazing at the constantly moving mist, filled with disbelief and wonder.


    "These are the paths traced by radiation particles passing through the water vapor!" Lynn proimed in an elevated tone.


    The leading wizards at the front couldn''t resist stepping onto the tform, touching the visible trails of mist within the field¡ªthis was the power emanating from within the elements!


    A deeper level of magical essence!


    "How did you do it, Master Lynn? Is it the alcohol?" An eager wizard inquired about Lynn''s discovery.


    They couldn''t see these rays emitted from within the elements, nor could they sense them. However, now, they were presented visually in a different way.


    "I call it the Cloud Chamber!" Lynn snapped his fingers, and the dispersed mist vanished without a trace. He then smiled and continued, "Do you know how fog forms?"


    "It''s due to a drop in temperature causing dispersed water elements in the air to condense into liquid..." Raphael casually remarked, a principle understood by any wizard.


    "Correct!" Lynn nodded. "But the formation of fog requires something else¡ªan initiator, which gathers the dispersed water vapor together..."


    Cooling (low temperature and pressure), humidifying (saturated water vapor), and an initiator... these were the three essential elements for fog formation. For instance, mornings often fog because the freely floating water vapor cools upon contact with dust, causing condensation.


    However, the initiator for condensation isn''t just dust; ions produced by various high-energy particles can also act as nuclei for condensing vapor. Thus, in a field with low-temperature humidity, the paths traversed by particles leave behind white mist trails!


    As for infusing alcohol into the water vapor, it made the mist trails clearer and prolonged their visibility.


    "I never expected the principle to be this simple." Sanchez couldn''t help but marvel after hearing Lynn''s exnation.


    A straightforward method for creating ordinary fog was transformed into something extraordinary by Lynn...


    It could only be said that the Star of Magic truly lived up to the title, showcasing astonishing observational skills and innovative thinking!


    In the face of praise and admiration from the assembled wizards, Lynn responded calmly, without much excitement. After all, he was merely building on others'' insights.


    The founder of the Cloud Chamber was Charles Wilson, although not as renowned as Te, Maxwell, or Newton, he had made significant contributions.


    Not only did he tinker with early radiation detection devices, but he also focused on studying atmospheric electric fields and the formation of thunderclouds, achieving considerable sess. He could be considered an ordinary research genius exhausting the limits of what one could achieve in a lifetime...


    "Your research is crucial, Master Lynn. This might be a pivotal step in unlocking the microcosmic domain!" Victorio praised Lynn generously, then proceeded to confer with Harof and Aurora on whether Lynn should be awarded the Morning Star Medal or the Silver Moon Medal...


    Compared to Raphael''s discovery of radium''s luminescence or his creation of fluorescent paint, Lynn seemed to have taken a step further. He not only decoded why this new element luminesced but also experimentally proved that the structure of radioactive elements was unstable, continuously releasing their energy outward.


    The Morning Star Medal evidently couldn''t match his achievements. Therefore, after a brief discussion, the councilors swiftly decided to grant Lynn a Silver Moon Medal...


    Winning another Silver Moon Medal, Lynn left the attending councilors envious but genuinely admiring...


    Raphael silently rejoiced in his heart. Thankfully, he had spoken first; otherwise, he might have struggled to articte his research aplishments.


    Considering the depth of the Star of Magic''s study on radium elements, he must have discovered their spontaneous luminescence.


    But was this considered a minor achievement?


    Thinking back to someone''s modesty upon entering, Raphael''s expression turned somewhat strange.


    If receiving a Silver Moon Medal was considered a "minor achievement," then what could be deemed a major one?


    Just as Raphael contemted, Lynn''s voice suddenly cut through.


    "Please wait a moment, esteemed councilors..."


    "What''s the matter, Master Lynn?" Harof asked, puzzled.


    "It''s too early to conclude now." Lynn shook his head, looking at the gathered wizards.


    "Regarding the radioactive properties of the elements, I believe you all have gained some understanding. I refer to these emissions from within the atom as alpha particles!"


    "The experiment I''m about to conduct relies on these particles to be realized..."


    Lynn''s words left Harof and otherspletely stunned.


    They thought the manifestation of radiation in the earlier cloud chamber experiment was the Star of Magic''s research achievement, but they never expected it was only a prelude to an experiment...>


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 Chapter 394: Alpha Particles Traveling at 20,000 Kilometers per Second

    At Lynn''smand, Elok and the others waiting below quickly brought the props for this experiment.


    It was remarkably simple, only three items in total!


    A palm-sized lead box, a ring-shaped detection device, andstly, a gold foil merely 0.1 micrometers wide!


    To create this contraption, Lynn had spent a full day. If not for his status as a grand wizard, achieving such precision with the current technology would have been utterly imusible...


    Once the experimental apparatus was ready, Lynn wasted no time and, scanning the wizards assembled in the conference room, began speaking solemnly.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the atomic model hypotheses you presented earlier were all quite fascinating. However, the proof of any theoretical hypothesis''s alignment with reality ultimately requires experimental validation!"


    "Absolutely," nodded Anthony confidently. While he was staunchly confident in his Purple Fruit model of elements, he couldn''t help but acknowledge the intriguing spections proposed by some of the parliamentarians.


    For instance, Fire Grand Wizard Ad posited that electrons within elements were arranged in a manner intertwining positive and negative charges, allowing for their tight cohesion, avoiding repulsion due to simr charges, and thus forming a sturdy atomic structure.


    Beyond this, there were over ten divergent theories like drop-like nature, outward scattering, and solid-element theories, each possessing a certain degree of usibility...However, how to verify these theories undoubtedly troubled all the wizards proposing elemental models.


    Because the elements themselves were exceedingly minuscule, they had attempted countless methods to break them apart, but none seeded. Some wizards even utilized the principles of concave-convex mirrors, researching highly magnified magical microscopy, yet they still couldn''t see anything. Hence, there was immense curiosity about how this magical luminary would validate these points.


    Lynn had no intention of prolonging the suspense and promptly began exining.


    Alpha particles scatter from radium elements internally, signifying their much smaller volumepared to many elements and significantly higher speed. Most importantly, they possessed the capability to escape an element''s control.


    "ording to my calctions, alpha particles move at approximately 20,000 kilometers per second," Lynn articted.


    "20,000 kilometers..." Sanchez was astounded, taken aback by this outrageous data. Although they had calcted even more extreme speeds like the speed of light, this unit of speed, measured in kilometers per second, was still beyond their reach...


    Anthony, equally astonished, recalled the recent movements of the mist within the "Neb Room," which fluctuated almost in an instant, too fast for even these grand wizards to process. This was evidence enough that Lynn wasn''t exaggerating intentionally!


    "So, are you nning to use these new particles to collide with and disrupt the shell of elements?" Harof quickly deduced this point.


    Generally, the faster something moved, the greater its destructive power. Alpha elements had an advantage due to their minuteness; they might be capable of smashing open the shell of an element, causing it to rupture.


    "No, I believe atoms don''t have shells. Everything about them is exposed," Lynn shook his head, speaking earnestly.


    "How is that possible?" Victorio frowned, refuting Lynn. "All elements are constantly in motion. Without a protective shell, wouldn''t the internalponents have been thrown out ages ago..."


    The wizards below engaged in heated debates. Lynn''s argument was too far-fetched. If it weren''t for his prior demonstrations of innate magical prowess in research, someone would have likely stepped forward to refute him long ago.


    In their imagination, elements should resemble spherical shapes enveloped by an extremely tough shell to safeguard their inner substance from damage through the passage of time.


    Confronted with the skeptical gazes of the assembly, Lynn smiled and countered, "Composite elements alsock shells, yet they can endure, right?"


    ording to the prevailing theories among the wizarding realm, the adhesion ofposite elements was attributed to something termed "elemental bonding," essentially a form of chemical bonding but with different nomenture between the two worlds.


    Upon hearing this, Victorio and others were momentarily stunned, pondering whether simr forces might exist within elemental interiors, firmly binding their substances.


    Lynn didn''t borate further; words alone weren''t sufficient¡ªfacts were the best evidence.


    During this dy, Elok and the others had set up the experiment table, essentially casting magic to suspend the gold foil at the center of the detection device.


    They then positioned the lead box directly opposite the gold foil, creating a small aperture in the front where a certain amount of radium was ced. As lead effectively shielded against radiation, alpha particles would only emit from the small hole in the lead box, forming a continuous stream of high-energy particle rays striking the gold foil.


    The circr detection device surrounding the gold foil was coated with fluorescent material. Whenever it encountered an alpha particle, it would fluoresce, allowing the particles'' movements to be tracked.


    And why gold? Well, its extension capability was exceptional. Just one gram of natural gold could be stretched into several kilometers of wire, ensuring the rays prated through a limited amount of elements, minimizing interference...


    After roughly exining the experiment''s procedure, Lynn opened the hole in the lead box. An invisible ray immediately struck the gold foil.


    Both alpha particles and gold atoms were incredibly minute, invisible to the naked eye. However, wizards had their ways, especially the heightened perceptual abilities of grand wizards, enabling them to discern subtle atomic-level changes.


    Upon activating their domains, the entire gold foil transformed in their eyes. Rows of gold elements were arranged in an orderly manner, forming a wall-like obstruction.


    However, this wall wasn''t as imprable as they had imagined. Soon, the detection device behind it began lighting up with small dots, indicating that alpha particles had directly pierced through the gold foil, reaching the fluorescent material at the back.


    "They passed right through!" Harof murmured softly. The positions of the lit dots aligned perfectly with the direction of the hole in the lead box, without the slightest deviation.


    Anthony, noticing this, furrowed his brow. This oue differed from what he had expected.


    Alpha particles also possessed maic field reactions, implying that if they encountered positive and negative electrons, they should have been disturbed.>


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 Chapter 395: The Unwavering Laws Governing All Things, from the Vast Stars to the Minute Elements!

    Anthony was utterly perplexed. Yet, faced with undeniable facts, he could only specte that the particles'' speed was too swift, instantly piercing the elements, enabling them to pass unimpeded through the positively and negatively charged electron-filled elements.


    Alternatively, these alpha particles might have been incredibly fortunate, navigating through the delicate gaps between atoms.


    Anthony mulled over these possibilities. However, in the next instant, these spections dissipated into thin air. Above the circr detection screen, a barely perceptible dot lit up, indicating that an alpha particle had indeed been disrupted, deviating from its trajectory as he had previously conjectured.


    "It seems my dispersed elemental model is correct," proimed a grand wizard, rather pleased with himself.


    Since positive and negative electrons attract each other while repelling simr charges, he surmised that the electrons within the elements weren''t tightly bound but instead existed as pairs of opposing charges, scattered and dispersed.


    The assembled members of parliament nodded in unison. Across the region directly opposite the perforation in the lead box, a densely concentrated, dazzling point had formed. Only a handful of alpha particles had been repelled elsewhere, affirming the spaciousness within the elements.


    However, they swiftly realized this model was not entirely urate. Some alpha particles, upon striking gold elements, rebounded 180 degrees, almost retracing their paths. Moreover, these diverted particles congregated around the central part of the atom, their scattering disying a discernible pattern. ording to the existing theories of a dozen or so elemental models, this peculiar phenomenon was utterly inexplicable.


    Lynn''s face bore an expression of understanding; the results of the experiment didn''t deviate from his expectations. This signified that the atomic structures of both worlds were identical, unaffected by any unknown changes due to magical influences.


    Seated at the conference table, Victorio wore a grave expression. Comprehending the pattern of fluorescence, he mentally constructed corresponding models, swiftly calcting the angles at which each particle had been diverted!"The central part of the element should contain an incredibly small yet immensely powerful core. It appears that only those alpha particles colliding with this core are rebounded, while the rest can pass through unhindered," suddenly interjected Victorio.


    Anthony and the others immediately grasped the implication; only this exnation could make sense of the peculiar distribution of particle scattering.


    "Indeed, I dub it the atomic nucleus," Lynn''s voice resonated simultaneously in everyone''s ears.


    "The atomic nucleus? The core of an atom?" murmured the assembled parliamentarians.


    "This is the elemental model I''ve constructed!" Lynn raised his hand, conjuring several magical orbs. Thergest orb positioned itself at the center, while the rest orbited it ceaselessly at high speed.


    "Isn''t this akin to a depiction of a gxy?" eximed Aurora in astonishment.


    The atomic nucleus resembled a sun, with the orbiting electrons akin tos. ording to Lynn''s demonstration, these ''electrons'' were even rotating on their axes, creating a miniature sr system!


    "Indeed!" Lynn nodded, knowing that without a foundation in quantum theory, he wasn''t eager to present the significantly moreplex electron cloud theory. After all, understanding it was exceedingly challenging. Thus, he resorted to a rtivelyprehensibleary orbit model to exin everything.


    "Stars can binds due to their extraordinary mass-induced gravity. But what binds these electrons to the atomic nucleus? Could it also be gravity?" Harof inquired, perplexed by the trajectories of the repelled alpha particles, which seemed indicative of a repulsive force.


    "The substance within the atomic nucleus carries a positive charge, while the orbiting electrons possess a negative charge. Hence, they attract each other. However, this attraction reaches a bnce with the electrons'' velocity, somewhat resembling gravity¡­" Lynn exined as sinctly as possible.


    In reality, the probabilistic cloud theory would more easily exin this phenomenon, but exining quantum theory first was necessary.


    "However, this bnce can be disrupted. If enough energy is absorbed, these orbiting electrons will ascend to other orbits¡­" Lynn continued, likening it to gravity ¨C just as a under sudden eleration would break free from its original orbit.


    Due to the incessant promotion in the Magic Daily, thew of universal gravitation was widely known among wizards. Even those uninterested in field magic had a basic understanding of the threews governing celestial orbits, makingprehension rtively straightforward.


    "So, this is what theser magic calls energy levels?" murmured Aurora. When Lynn had been refiningser magic, he had mentioned this concept.


    At that time, she had been highly intrigued by this energy level phenomenon but hadn''t had enough time to grasp its principles. Now, Lynn''s elucidation of the elemental structure helped her understand. The five levels corresponded to the five orbits of electrons around the nucleus. The more energy absorbed, the more the orbiting electrons would transition to outer orbits.


    The potency ofser magicy in its direct targeting of an element''s essence. No wonder its power could cut through metals and split colossal warships like paper.


    "Why are there only five energy levels? What happens if these orbiting electrons absorb energy beyond this limit?" Suddenly struck by this question, Aurora curiously inquired.


    "Then they will break free from the atomic nucleus''s constraints and be free electrons ¨C that''s the element''s sma state!" Lynn chuckled, exining, "It''s akin to a suddenly gaining extraordinary speed, breaking free from a star''s gravitational hold and hurtling into the vast universe."


    "Ah, I see!" Aurora eximed, enlightened.


    Thisary orbit-style elemental model nearly perfectly exined the formation of sma, the principles ofser magic, and the scattering issues of alpha particles.


    More importantly, it was elegant, highly systematic, and entirely aligned with the wizards'' conceptualizations of elements!


    "What a rigorous and remarkable concept!" Harof praised. He then mused, "I never imagined that the interior of elements would reveal a scene reminiscent of a celestial body¡­"


    The unyieldingws governing all things, from stars to the internal structures of elements, highlighted the simrity that might be the embodiment of the world''s operating principles!


    Anthony, Ad, and other wizards who proposed elemental models stared at Lynn''s celestial orbit-style elemental construction, sighing in admiration. Compared to Lynn''s model, theirs seemed utterly inadequate..>


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 Chapter 396: Lynn: I Have a Magic That Can Kill Gods!

    Chapter 396: Lynn: I Have a Magic That Can Kill Gods!


    Lynn''s orbital elemental model quickly won over the wizards present. Without saying much, its theoretical perfection surpassed other doctrines by arge margin!


    The vastness of gctic orbits and the minute structures of atoms showed astonishing simrities. It was a unique magical romance. Arad even spected whether their gxy could be a ''cosmic atom,'' with countless ''cosmic atoms'' making up the visible universe!


    "So, the most crucial substance that makes up an element is its core!" Harof realized this quickly, recalling the results of particle scattering experiments.


    "The number of electrons orbiting the core is scarce, their strength too low to stop alpha particles. They can''t even cause a slight influence. But the nucleus, with its powerful electromaic force, can bend the trajectory of particles moving at twenty thousand kilometers per second, even bouncing them back."


    "But what exactly constitutes the core of an element?" Harof suddenly thought of this.


    "Could it be these alpha particles?" Victorio spected. These peculiar particles scattered from radium elements, and since they weren''t just electrons, they likely originated from the atomic nucleus.


    "Well..." Lynn nodded without refuting because it wasn''t entirely wrong.


    Alpha particles are products of radium element core decay,posed of two neutrons and two protons. Structurally, they resemble the nucleus of a helium atom. In other words, radium elements continuously expel mass equivalent to helium atomic nuclei every second!


    Apart from alpha particles, radium elements also emit ¦Â (beta) particles. However, he had presented too much ''research results'' this time. With his efforts alone, he had transitioned the wizards from the macro to the micro world, advancing magical development by a hundred years!If one person imed all the credit, it might dampen the wizards'' research enthusiasm...


    As Lynn thought this, his words didn''t pause. He continued, "So, our only remaining goal is to dismantle the atomic nucleus to understand the true source of magic!"


    "But how can we do that?" Victorio furrowed his brow. They could sense elements and even use alpha rays smaller than them to prate, but the nucleus was much smaller than the elements. Its power could easily divert and rebound particles moving at twenty thousand kilometers per second¡ªa terrifying prospect!


    Aurora and Harof also fell into contemtion. The mystery of elements was within reach, only if they could open thisst great door!


    However, this door was made of iron, no, it was even harder than the back armor of a stone giant (the most durable thing known in the magical realm)!


    Luckily, Lynn didn''t expect the wizards toe up with a solution in just a few days. He straightforwardly said, "Actually, I have a n, but there''s one very important problem I haven''t solved yet..."


    "It''s based on this theory that I''ve developed a new and powerful magic. I believe this will be the key to defeating the Holy Church!"


    Lynn asserted firmly, his resounding voice echoing in the meeting room.


    His words were like a huge stone thrown into ake, immediately stirring ripples. Raphael and the others were so excited they stood up from their seats, staring intently at Lynn.


    Seeking hope against the Holy Church from within the elements was guided by the legends of the Society of Mystical Arts. However, many wizards had started to doubt whether this aimless research was the right path.


    Could they truly find the power to defeat that pseudo-god within the elements before the Church attacked again? Time was too short, and the enemy too powerful!


    Some even pessimistically believed that the legends of the Society of Mystical Arts had concluded they couldn''t defeat the Church and hence refused to act, making up excuses.


    Harof and Victorio, who had faced A directly, were now indescribably shocked. They had personally experienced how powerful A was. Even legendary-level magic could be extinguished with a mere flick of her finger!


    But Lynn still had the confidence to speak of defeating the Church!


    If it were someone else, Harof would have thought they were boasting. But Lynn was different. Having created one miracle after another, he was truly the star of magic!


    "What magic is it exactly, Master Lynn?" Victorio asked excitedly, disregarding the fact that inquiring about new magical principles was a big taboo among wizards.


    "I can only say that it''s the true power of the elements!" Lynn shook his head, teasingly keeping them in suspense.


    Though all the wizards present were elite figures recognized by the council, having contributed significantly during the defense of the capital, the possibility of betrayal was slim. But even the slightest chance had to be guarded against.


    "The true power of the elements?" Harof pondered. What kind of magic deserved such a title?


    Could its power surpass even legendary magic?


    Seeing that Lynn didn''t intend to reveal it publicly, Aurora reluctantly spoke, "Why don''t you just directly tell us what the issue is? Even the Star of Magic like you couldn''t solve it, right?"


    "I need to gather the council''s strength and everyone''s intellect to solve one thing!" Lynn solemnly stated.


    The method to separate highly concentrated uranium-235 was avable, and once the personnel exploring the mines returned, the necessary nuclear materials would be assembled. The only thingcking was a neutron source that could be controlled¡ªa method to emit neutrons!


    This could be understood as the ignition device for a nuclear explosion. Without it, the explosion would be uncontrolled!


    That was clearly not what Lynn wanted!


    And there were typically three methods for making a neutron source...


    One was using radioactive neutron sources, utilizing energy released during the decay of radioactive elements to bombard certain target substances, causing a nuclear reaction and releasing neutrons.


    For instance, using alpha particles to bombard beryllium elements.


    This rare element, subject to various particle impacts and irradiation, could produce neutrons. But given its rarity, it wasn''t easy to find. Currently, not even a shadow of it was seen.


    In fact, Lynn finding uranium ore was already extremely lucky!


    The chances of the goddess of fate visiting twice in a row were almost negligible...


    >


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 Chapter 397: Splitting Neutron Source and Terrifying Radiation!

    The second one is the reactor neutron source, as the name suggests, utilizing nuclear fission reactors to produce arge number of neutrons.


    But if he could get hold of a nuclear reactor now, there wouldn''t be any need to worry about igniting a nuclear explosion! So, this method can be excluded!


    The third is the elerator neutron source, using various charged particle elerators to elerate particles like protons or deuterons, bombarding target nuclei to generate neutrons. Its advantage lies in obtaining neutron intensity much higher than that from radioactive isotope neutron sources, enabling acquiring single-energy neutrons across a wide energy range.


    In simple terms, these methods share the same principle¡ªparticles or rays striking an element serving as the target to release neutrons from within!


    That''s right, it''s that ''simple,'' or else humanity wouldn''t have described the advancement of weapons as finding ways to throw the ''stone'' faster and more urately; it''s just that there aren''t many suitable elements to be used as targets.


    After carefully studying the data, Lynn devised a moreplex solution.


    First, use alpha particles to bombard nitrogen nuclei to create protons, then immediately use high-energy protons to collide with heavy metal targets to obtain neutrons! This way, the number of elements avable as targets instantly increases¡ªelements like gold, tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, and more are feasible targets.


    The only issue is that this process bes exceedingly cumbersome, requiring the production of arge number of protons, followed by using a strong maic field to elerate these protons, allowing them to collide with heavy metal targets to generate neutrons, finally triggering a nuclear explosion! Designing a sophisticated nuclear explosion spell that condenses all theseplex procedures within ten seconds has be the problem that emerged again.


    These days, it''s as if he''s exhausted his brain...After contemting, Lynn decided to delegate this challenging task to the council''s wizards; a group of people could think much faster collectively than he could alone.


    While Faiz and the others might not match his scientific research, they possess rich experience in magical development, perhaps capable of finding a solution from the perspective of magic.


    Therefore, Lynn assigned these ''tasks'' to each of them.


    Aurora was responsible for experimenting with alpha particle bombardment of nitrogen nuclei to create protons; Victorio, Anthony, and a few grand wizards studying thunder magic were tasked with researching particle elerators, while Lynn and Harof would handle the neutron source!


    As for the official wizards, they were all directed to find deuterium elements! Deuterium, also known as heavy hydrogen, is crucial in upgrading an atomic bomb to a hydrogen bomb! In the previous world, this stuff could be found in seawater and regr water, but its content was extremely low, with an abundance of 0.015% on Earth.


    Under Lynn''s arrangement, nearly every wizard had something to do, all immersed in exploring the microcosm.


    "Given this, let''s postpone the assessment of research awards until the results are in," Harof pondered and spoke.


    The scale of this initiative involved the entire council of wizards, iming to develop magic capable of defeating that pseudo-god; clearly, it couldn''t be handled with just a Silver Moon Medal.


    The issuance of the Sr Crown Medal needed careful consideration; Lynn didn''t n to exin the principles of the new magic, so it wasn''t easy for them to judge. Hence, they''d dy it until results were achieved to avoid misunderstandings and turn the award into a joke.


    Lynn nodded; obtaining a medal wasn''t his primary concern. For a wizard, power and knowledge were the most crucial; honor was just a byproduct of these two.


    "Then let''s conclude today''s discussion!" Victorio dered, eager to delve into the so-called particle elerator.


    The participating council members seemed somewhat unsatisfied, discussing celestial orbit-based elemental models as they rose, specting on the level that the new magic created by the star of magic could reach.


    As the topic of their discussion, Lynn was tidying up the radium elements used for experiments, carefully storing them in lead containers.


    "Master Lynn, are these boxes specifically designed to store new elements?" Raphael noticed Lynn''s actions and curiously inquired.


    To him, this might be a method to suppress radium element scattering, ensuring these new elements didn''t lose energy and could be preserved for longer.


    "No, precisely, it''s to iste radiation!" Lynn shook his head, exining, then pped his forehead, turning to the wizards who hadn''t left yet, reminding them seriously.


    "Oh, I forgot to mention, the two new elements extracted from the demon stone are extremely dangerous; the particles they emit are hazardous. When conducting experiments, remember to take precautions; otherwise, the consequences will be extremely severe..."


    "Isn''t that a bit of an exaggeration, Master Lynn?" Raphael couldn''t help but furrow his brow, reluctant to believe Lynn''s judgment.


    After all, alpha particles emerge from the atomic nucleus, the most fundamental force of magic...


    Moreover, although these things were fast, the experiment just now had proven that they could easily pass through elements or be bounced back by atomic nuclei without causing damage.


    Lynn nced at Raphael, pped his hands, and spoke. "I just did an experiment; you can take a look. These are ten rats continuously exposed to the new elements!"


    Pearce immediately brought over ten cages.


    Raphael and the others curiously approached and nced inside, then their expressions changed abruptly. The rats in the cages were in terrible condition; seven looked almost on the brink of death, their bodies swollen, surface flesh starting to rot, and internal organs disying signs of cancer...


    The remaining three were in slightly better condition, but it was evident they too had begun to exhibit some simr symptoms.


    Such a horrifying scene chilled everyone present.


    "It seems the radiation emitted by the uranium element is indeed very frightening." Raphael, with a trace of hopefulness, forcibly tried to remain calm.


    The uranium element ounted for the vast majority of the demon stone''s mass, while the radium element only made up a tiny portion. To Raphael, it must be the former''s fault!


    "No, quite the opposite, Master Raphael!" Lynn said yfully. "I suspect it''s this radium element that''s responsible for the miners'' fainting, severe illness, and deaths because its radiation intensity is hundreds of times higher than uranium!"


    Hundreds of times?!


    Hearing this, Raphael''s face turned pale green. A witch ying with a fluorescent ss suddenly screamed and immediately threw the ss away...


    >


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 Chapter 398: Testing the Nuclear Magic!

    "Lord Lynn, if these two new elements are so dangerous, why didn''t you mention it earlier?" Sanchez couldn''t help but ask with a tinge ofint in his tone.


    "I believe hastily defining a new element without rigorous experimental verification is highly inappropriate behavior," Lynn shrugged. If he had imed the Demon Stone, right after getting it, was a radioactive element emitting strong radiation, it would have sounded too fake.


    The assembly ofwmakers present couldn''t help but feel a sense of post-fear, their gazes toward Raphael filled with distrust. They remembered someone who previously wanted to make radium into fluorescent paint for the walls of the capital.


    To the extent that some started suspecting Raphael might be a mole sent by the Holy Church! This was on the brink of undermining the entire council from within!


    "I''m not¡ªI didn''t..." Raphael struggled to exin, but thankfully, Lynn stepped in to reassure.


    "Don''t worry, everyone. Although radium in the Demon Stone is highly radioactive, the quantity is limited within each piece, divided into over twenty parts. Brief contact won''t cause harm," he exined. Lynn had already confirmed this, and wizards had robust bodies with magical abilities providing some radiation istion, which is why he hadn''t rushed to warn earlier.


    However, prolonged exposure without protection would be suicidal!


    "Master Raphael, you might want to change that outfit soon," Lynn remarked, eyeing the fluorescent yellow-green robe. It took courage to directly apply highly radioactive radium onto clothing!


    Raphael nced at the listless and horrifying-looking mice in the cage nearby, chuckling wryly. "There should be a way to treat injuries caused by this radioactive radiation, right?"He had been wearing the same clothes all day, unlike others. Over the past few days, he had been dealing with alpha particles to study radium''s self-luminous properties. He was likely affected...


    "If treated early, it can be resolved. It''s mostly cell damage or cancer," Lynn reassured.


    This type of radiation-induced systemic damage was challenging to treat with technology alone. It required a healing chamber for full-body restoration, as the various aftereffects could torment a person to death.


    On the magical side, it was easier. A grand wizard well-versed in shaping should be capable of dealing with the mutated cells. Coupled with magical potions enabling limb regeneration, as long as it wasn''t a full-body cancerous state, they could save the individual.


    But it would be an ordeal, unavoidably painful!


    With Lynn''s exnation, Raphael finally sighed in relief, grateful for the possibility of being saved...


    However, this also meant his n of profiting from radium-infused paint had to be forcefully scrapped...


    "So, how should we protect ourselves from this radioactive element?" Victorio inquired since they needed to research this new element, making contact unavoidable.


    "Elements with higher density generally have strong radiation resistance, like lead!" Lynn reminded.


    Lead, with an atomic number of 82 and a density of 11.3437 grams per cubic centimeter, was the heaviest non-radioactive element by atomic weight. It wasmonly used on arge scale for radiation protection due to its abundance and characteristics.


    Lynn also reminded thewmakers present to prioritize safety while conducting their research...


    Although radiation wasn''t incurable for wizards, it took a hefty price to heal it. Raphael could speak so casually because he was a grand wizard with abundant resources.


    ...


    The magical discussion went on until four in the morning, nearly ten hours in total!


    Yet, thewmakers exiting the meeting were surprisingly energized. Whether it was the magical star iming to defeat the Holy Church or the incredibly intricate starry orbit-based elemental model, both were explosive revtions that quickly spread through their discussions.


    Undoubtedly, magic was entering a new era from today onwards. Lynn had proven with facts that elements weren''t the most fundamental substance constituting everything.


    Elements could not only be further divided but their shapes weren''t necessarily spherical, contrary to mainstream theoretical beliefs.


    The alpha particles forming atomic nuclei and electrons became the new primordial substances in the eyes of many wizards.


    Soon, they would understand what these so-called alpha particles were and harness the true power of the elements!


    Wizards specialized inbat, not part of the discussions, regretted missing this historical moment as they listened to their colleagues'' enthusiastic discussions about the intricacies of the new elemental structure theory.


    However, this ''widespread'' dissemination and discussion were restricted to official wizards only. It was wartime, and maintaining the secrecy of such critical information was paramount.


    The surge in magical research prompted more wizards to dive into experiments. If it weren''t for the wizards investigating uranium mines, finding a substantial amount of Demon Stones and uranium ores again, they might not have had enough to distribute.


    The citizens of the capital quickly noticed arge volume of seawater continuously transported from a port a hundred miles away, and the price of lead ore skyrocketed...


    Imperial spies lurking in the shadows were utterly perplexed by this strange urrence. Lead ore was understandable; ording to their gathered intelligence, it was used to manufacture firearm ammunition. It was normal for consumption to increase due to wartime. But transporting so much seawater from a distant ce and then dposing it, looking for the so-called thorium element, that left them puzzled...


    Through the joint efforts of over a thousand official wizards in the entire council, Lynn''s three major issues were quickly resolved.


    On the evening of the fifth day, Lynn, havingpleted the grand nuclear explosion model, took several councilors to a mined-out underground area for a test detonation.


    For safety, they only used the lowest critical mass.


    No one knew exactly what happened, but that day, the entire mine copsed, causing a strong earthquake felt even tens of kilometers away in the capital.


    Rumors spread within the city; some panicked citizens even believed it was divine punishment, the wrath of the gods!>


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 Chapter 399: We Must Believe in Science, or Rather, Believe in Magic!

    Chapter 399: We Must Believe in Science, or Rather, Believe in Magic!


    Within the capital, rumors about the great earthquake being the wrath of the gods quickly escted, reaching even the ears of the parliament members.


    The wizards engrossed in their studies naturally scoffed at this rumor. Earthquakes, though umon, had nothing to do with that pseudo-deity.


    Some of the grand wizards, like Anthony, received ndestine information. Lynn and several other councilors left the capital on that same day, and soon after, the earthquake struck.


    It might be rted to the new magic Lynn, the Star of Magic, was tinkering with.


    However, the council took these baseless yet rapidly spreading rumors seriously. Lynn quickly surmised that someone with ill intentions was behind this chaos. He had Raydell lead a portion of the firearms squad undercover among the people, and with hefty rewards for reporting, they exposed over a dozen imperial spies spreading rumors.


    To calm the anxious popce, Lynn personally wrote a piece on "The Effects of Crustal Movement." From a scientific perspective, he exined the reasons behind earthquakes as a perfectly normal natural phenomenon, not the so-called wrath or punishment of the gods, urging the capital''s residents not to panic.


    They had to believe in science, no, in magic!


    The next day at noon, Lynn finally found a moment of leisure in the manor''s yard, basking in the sunlight. The past month and a half had been incredibly busy for him.


    The pseudo-deity, A, loomed like the sword of Damocles over their heads, ready to strike anytime, leaving them powerless.But now, they had at least a chance! Even if it was a limited one...


    After separating hundreds of demon stones, they only obtained around 50 kilograms of nuclear fuel. The critical mass for Uranium-235 was about 15 kilograms, meaning even sustaining the smallest usage of his big nuclear spell allowed for only three uses.


    Yesterday, to test this magic, one usage had been expended. The theory proved urate ¨C the energy-mass equation worked universally in this parallel world!


    For safety reasons, Harof, Aurora, and Victorio, who had apanied him to observe, hadn''t witnessed the nuclear explosion. Yet, they saw the horrific aftermath...


    All protective magic spells they''did underground were instantly destroyed, the entire mine copsed, and the seismic waves reached the capital miles away, causing massive turmoil.


    The scene post-explosion left Harof and the others horrified. The area of the nuclear explosion turned into a wastnd, its scorching heat instantly mummifying anyone and radiating harmful particles throughout the space.


    Under this power, even the so-called "Life Forbidden Zone" and the advanced "Death Domain" spells were child''s y. This was true hell!


    When Harof emerged from the copsed mine, his legs were shaky, but his eyes betrayed his excitement.


    Lynn wasn''t surprised; despite the energy conversion rate being less than a thousandth, it was still atomic-level power!


    Just one kilogram of Uranium fission released the energy equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT explosion! The first usage of this weapon in human history, simr to this test explosion, annihted an entire city with a critical mass of just around dozens of kilograms!


    But considering A''s terrifying power to manipte atoms directly, Lynn estimated they needed to position her at the center of the nuclear st to eliminate or severely wound the pseudo-deity.


    With their current nuclear fuel reserves, he only had two chances! And that was thanks to the strange magical creature that consumed uranium ores, leaving behind demon stones ¨C thousands of them. Otherwise, it would take at least half a year to extract uranium, even with magic''s speed!


    Uranium ores had low uranium content, even less Uranium-235. Acquiring 1 kilogram of weapon-grade Uranium-235 required mining over 200 tons of uranium ore. The critical mass of fifteen kilograms equated to 3000 tons!


    Moreover, mining uranium was highly dangerous; even with magic, it would take months to process 3000 tons of ore, excluding the time needed for extraction and separation.


    As for hydrogen bombs, effective for enhancing nuclear sts and mitigating radiation, they required atomic bombs for detonation...


    Unless Lynn ascended as a true legendary wizard, perhaps then he could use tritium as the material for the big nuclear spell!


    Their only hope nowy with the second batch of wizards dispatched by the council. If they could find that bizarre creature within theplex and perilous uranium mines, capable of consuming radioactive elements, taming it would secure a magical nuclear fuel factory!


    "Lynn, Dean..."


    While Lynn pondered, Lydia excitedly ran into the yard, her childish face smudged with dust, yet unable to contain her excitement.


    "It seems your flying machine is finallyplete..." Lynn guessed the source of the girl''s tion.


    "Yes, yes! We can test-fly it today!" Lydia nodded eagerly, pulling Lynn along outside.


    Unlike airships that relied on helium for lift and needed runways, this new flying machine required a series of runways for takeoff assistance and was situated outside the city for secrecy.


    If this test flight seeded, it might coincide with the uing battle.


    Hatar, the new king of Hadrta, had been urging them for a month, inquiring when they wouldunch a counterattack to reim the kingdom''s territories.


    After witnessing the nuclear st''s power, the councilors unanimously agreed that the time for retaliation had arrived. Even to minimize losses, they had to move the battlefield into the empire''s territory!


    A single nuclear st equaled a city''s downfall. If it urred in the capital, they''d suffer a massive loss!>


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 Chapter 400: New Magic Fighter Aircraft

    Chapter 400: New Magic Fighter Aircraft


    In the southern part of the royal capital, within a secluded valley, hundreds of formally trained wizards skilled in elemental studies joined forces overnight. They used magic-infused mud to create an incredibly neat runway stretching for three kilometers!


    At the end of this runway stood a massive fighter aircraft, sleek and exquisitely streamlined, resembling a majestic eagle with outspread wings...


    "I never thought such a flying machine could actually be created!" remarked Ondo with considerable surprise.


    Two years ago, Lydia''s trial flight at the Iyeta Harbor remained vivid in his memory. Back then, it was nothing but a rudimentary framework, resembling a child''s whimsical toy.


    As he anticipated, shortly after taking to the sky, the entire aircraft copsed within a few seconds. Were it not for Master Herlram''s timely intervention, the half-elf girl might have been smashed into pieces...


    However, this improved version of the aircraft before them was different. The entire structure had shifted from wood to steel, the crude and simple outer shell had turned exceptionally refined. The progress was so immense that it was hard to connect the two versions...


    "Captain Lydia reporting, allponents of the fighter aircraft have been inspected and are functioning normally!" Lydia reported after a thorough check around the aircraft, making a show of her announcement.


    In reality, she was eager to conduct the test flight, but Lynn had mandated that before each boarding, she must inspect all crucialponents of the aircraft.


    Lydia couldn''t help but mutter to herself about the Chancellor''s excessive caution, given that she had diligently checked everything just yesterday."Let''s begin!" nodded Lynn.


    "Alright!" Having received the green light, Lydia immediately climbed into the cockpit, donning various safety gear and flicking switches.


    Powered by a robust hydrogen engine, the front propeller quickly began to spin.


    The sharp wind lifted dust from the ground. Under the gaze of the assembled wizards, the first-generation propeller aircraft quickly surged forward...


    "So fast!" Victorio beside them squinted, unable to contain his words. In just ten seconds, the speed of the fighter aircraft had already exceeded the maximum speed of an alchemy-powered vehicle.


    It was as fast as a gust of wind; as it passed by, everyone could feel its immense force.


    Inside the aircraft, Lydia felt an even stronger sensation. Everything around her was rapidly receding, turning into fleeting shadows. This was much, much faster than an airship...


    The front propeller was already exhibiting a visual reversal phenomenon, and in the next moment, the aircraft began to climb, swiftly ascending into the high sky.


    Lydia quickly noticed the difference between piloting this fighter aircraft and an airship. It was incredibly agile, not cumbersome at all. She could maneuver, turn, and climb in the air effortlessly.


    She felt like she had transformed into a bird, freely soaring in the sky, thoroughly enjoying herself.


    "Just how fast can this new type of aircraft go?" Watching the propeller aircraft constantly elerating in the sky, seemingly not reaching its limit yet, Ondo couldn''t help but ask, "The theoretical maximum speed should reach around 360 kilometers per hour..." pondered Lynn. After all, this was the first generation of the fighter aircraft, and its performance was rtively conservative.


    "That''s incredibly fast!" Ondo eximed in disbelief. Three times the speed of an airship, surpassing any known flying magical creature. It seemed nothing could catch up to this new type of aircraft in the sky, not even griffins could keep up.


    Lynn smiled but didn''t respond. Compared to jet fighters from their world, this might seem as slow as a snail, but in this otherworldly realm, it was undoubtedly the master of the skies!


    Watching the aircraft continuously maneuvering and ascending in the high sky, Victorio suddenly asked, "Are you nning to use this thing called the new fighter aircraft in conjunction with that nuclear explosion magic?"


    Yesterday, he had felt the power of a nuclear explosion from across an entire mountain, shocked by its immense strength. Yet, he felt concerned because of its extensive range. How to use it effectively, destroying enemies while safeguarding themselves, was a significant issue.


    Now, it seemed using this extremely fast aircraft could be a solution. Lydia could pilot it while Lynn cast spells from the sky. Then, at the moment of explosion, using the extraordinary speed of the fighter aircraft to escape the st wave before it caught up...


    "This is thest resort. If possible, it''s best not to do that!" Lynn shook his head, speaking cautiously.


    Therge-scale nuclear explosion magic should ideally only be used on A herself or in extremely dire circumstances to eliminate the Empire''s main army. The role of the fighter aircraft''s bombing was limited to thetter or to destroy cities.


    While it might be satisfying in the moment, the aftermath would be severe.


    After all, they were here to lead the Empire''s citizens in resisting the Church''s deception, not to perpetuate tyranny and create more panic and unrest... it would only add pressure to their rule.


    "I think the nuclear explosion magic should ideally be directed to that ce... This way, it won''t cause any impact on the outside world!" Lynn pondered, voicing his thoughts.


    "You mean?" Victorio''s mind raced, immediately thinking of the Gate of Heaven, the portal connecting the divine realm with reality.


    If they could find a way to deliver the nuclear explosion magic precisely at the moment when those legendary divine practitioners opened the Gate of Heaven and eliminate the casters, then the nuclear explosion would only ur within the divine realm. This was indeed the best n, allowing unrestricted use of this highly destructive, wide-range magic.


    "Controlling the timing so cleverly won''t be an easy task," Victorio said, his expression grave.


    Listening to Lynn and Victorio discussing the use of new magic, Ondo and others pricked their ears, eavesdropping.


    They were highly interested in the new magic developed by the Chancellor. In fact, it had be a topic eagerly discussed by everyone, considering it was touted as a way to deal with that false god!


    Whether yesterday''s sudden earthquake was rted to this new magic remained a mystery...


    However, both Lynn and the councilors were extremely tight-lipped, revealing no hints whatsoever. Their discussions were shrouded in mystery, leaving everyone puzzled...>


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 Chapter 401: Do You Want Fighter Jets to Fly as Fast as Light Too?

    While Ondo and the others eavesdropped, Lydia, controlling the first-generation fighter in the sky, gradually became ustomed to this giant toy beneath her. Soon, she initiatedbat testing!


    Lydia pushed the throttle to the limit, propelling the machine downwards at tremendous speed, resembling a majestic eagle swooping from the sky. The immense sonic boom created by its descent was swiftly overridden by the sound of machine gunfire from both sides of the aircraft''s wings!


    The magically reinforced stone road on the ground immediately bore deep craters from the impact. Lydia, filled with excitement, stretched the machine to its limits, transitioning from a rapid descent to a swift ascent. The fighter skimmed just thirty meters above the ground, causing Ondo and the others to feel their hearts leap in fear, dreading the possibility of this contraption spiraling out of control...


    Their worries didn''t materialize; even though Lydia was piloting a real fighter for the first time, her technical expertise wasn''tcking. She effortlessly executed perilous maneuvers at ground level, and just beforepletely veering away from the ground, she opened the bomb bay underneath, dropping several incendiary bombs...


    Echoes of explosive sts reverberated, instantly covering about a quarter of the runway in intense white phosphorus mes!


    In pursuit of maximum speed, the fighter''s carrying capacity for such bombs was limited, just enough for one such attack.


    However, ording to their initial design, this thing wasn''t supposed to have a bomb bay. After all, the primary mission of the first-generation fighter was to eliminate threats from the sky, leaving the rest to airships.


    It was apparent that its production was intended to deliver another deadly weapon...


    In this valley, Victorio, Ondo, and the observing alchemists were incredibly satisfied with the performance of this new type of aircraft after watching the disy.Only Lynn, gazing at the burning runway and the craters, wore an expression of helplessness.


    "You''ve blown up the runway, how do wend?"


    As Lydia proudly admired her marksmanship from high above, this concern suddenly dawned on her. Being the designer and creator of the fighter''s blueprints, Lydia was well aware that this thing needed a very smooth surface for takeoff andnding; any mishap would mean destruction.


    Yet, this valley, aside from the magically reinforced runway, was filled with soft, uneven soil and obstructive trees, hardly suitable fornding.


    Lydia had no choice but to continue hovering in the sky, waiting for the wizards below to fix the runway. However, after circling in the air for several rounds, there was no sign of any action.


    Just as she was getting anxious and preparing to fly back to the capital, Lynn finally intervened, using magic to extinguish the burning mes and repair the damaged runway.


    Once the fighter sessfullynded, Lydia, previously thrilled, was now filled with apprehension.


    "The speed of the fighter is incredibly fast, which is its strength and sometimes its weakness. At extreme speeds, even colliding with a bird can be fatal," Lynn warned seriously.


    Lydia''s knack for engineering was undeniable, but she tended to forget this crucial aspect in moments of excitement, a huge taboo for a pilot.


    Perhaps they should consider adding a parachute or something simr, just in case, coupled with magic for a softernding, to ensure the pilot''s survival in dangerous situations.


    Most of the time, the person controlling the weapon is much more critical than the weapon itself...


    This bes increasingly true as technology advances.


    "The ascent and descent of this new aircraft rely on a runway, which is quite a significant w," Victorio suggested. Since the aircraft was made of metal, maybe they could experiment with adding electromaic magic to the fusge, using electromaic propulsion to lift the fighter directly into the sky.


    "You mean an electromaicunch into the air?" Lynn immediately understood Victorio''s suggestion, yet still shook his head, vetoing the idea. "The speed of this aircraft is too slow for that. The instantaneous eleration is far from sufficient. Beingunched straight into the sky will only result in a fall!"


    The ones capable of using electromaicunch technology are jets that move at several times the speed of sound, even reaching supersonic speeds, utilizing jet propulsion, capable of elerating instantly to sustain flight.


    This kind of propeller aircraft won''t cut it!


    Seeing Lynn reject his proposal, Victorio wasn''t particrly bothered. What puzzled him was Lynn''s belief that the new fighter''s speed of 360 kilometers per hour was too slow.


    If this was considered slow, what on earth could be considered fast?


    Could they really expect this flying steel box to travel at the speed of light, circling the continent seven and a half times per second?


    Ondo and the others also chimed in with various improvement suggestions, precisely why Lynn had invited them.


    Some suggestions were far-fetched andcked logical sense, but others held practical value.


    For instance, optical invisibility, already achieved on airships, and the addition ofser emitters on the fighter. Both could significantly enhance the fighter''s survivability andbat abilities withoutpromising much on weight or affecting its performance.


    The happiest among them was naturally Lydia. To her, the biggest drawback of this fighter wasn''t its need for a runway but rather its poorbat endurance!


    It could only use one set of incendiary bombs, and if the machine guns were used continuously, the ammunition wouldst for just one minute, rendering it defenseless after. It could only be used for reconnaissance or had to return for resupply.


    That''s what they called flying for hours and enjoying only a minute of action...


    However, if equipped withser emitters, it would be different. After expending the ammunition, it could engage in closebat with enemies, much like a bay on a musket.


    That''s the kind of battle that ignites one''s spirit!


    Under the brainstorming and suggestions of the alchemists, a magical improvement n was formted in just two hours.


    Of course, drawing alchemical arrays on the fusge and subsequent adjustments would take another week.


    "But then we might miss the uing battle," Lydia said with frustration. She had stayed up for several days hastily making this just to be ready for the first fight!


    "Reiming the kingdom won''t require such high-end stuff as fighter jets," Lynn chuckled. Their opponents were merely a group of fickle, opportunistic nobles within the kingdom.


    When they truly invaded the empire, that''s when these machines would showcase their prowess.


    And what good would one fighter jet do? To ensure air superiority, at least a squadron was required!>


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 Chapter 402: Sounding the Horn of Counterattack!

    Mid-August, in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Hadrta, within the Steel City of Seltoden, Duke Ulysses has gone without a good night''s sleep for over a month now.


    In recent times, the entire kingdom''s situation had been tumultuous, changing so rapidly it was almost unbelievable.


    Just half a year ago, the lords of the kingdom were taking sides, discussing the session of the heir to the throne. As a neutral party, Ulysses wasn''t particrly interested in who became king, knowing that decrees from the capital had minimal impact on bordend lords like himself.


    However, he hadn''t anticipated that the second prince, Hatar, would dare to conspire with notorious wizards, even going so far as to seize the capital and murder King Bazeel! This action shook the entire kingdom!


    Though their newly crowned king imed externally that it was the Machiavellian act of the Cardinal aligned with the elder prince and the Church, and he merely righted the wrongs to ascend the throne, this flimsy excuse likely fooled no one!


    Such an act was bound to incur the wrath of the Church!


    Given this, Ulysses pretended toply with Hatar''s call, seemingly returning allegiance to the kingdom''s rule while covertly informing a section of bordend nobles about the downfall of the kingdom.


    When Edweil led the army to retaliate, Ulysses readily chose to wee the king''s forces! He was well aware of the power held by the Empire and the Church. While the cultists of those dark gods might have momentarily exerted their influence bymitting regicide within the kingdom, the moment the Church''s forces arrived, they would swiftly be decimated!


    Ulysses was resolute in this belief. Yet, within less than a month, news arrived of theplete and utter defeat of the Church''s forces...Upon receiving this information, Ulysses was shattered. He couldn''t fathom how such a mighty army could face such a disastrous defeat. He even doubted if it was a concocted story by spies banding together to deceive him.


    Once the authenticity of this news was confirmed, Ulysses fell into tremendous panic, faced with an incredibly crucial decision.


    Should he continue following the Church''s orders or turn towards the embrace of the new king?


    As a proper noble, Ulysses wasn''t fixated on principles. He was open to employing anyone, whether lowly assassins or infamous wizards, if they served his purpose.


    As for faith in the divine, he did possess some, albeit minimal. After the crushing defeat of the Church''s forces, this devoutness diminished even further!


    The secret to the sustained existence and continual growth of the Ulysses family had always been firmly standing on the side of the victors for hundreds of years...


    However, ultimately, Ulysses chose to observe. Over this month, the victorious wizards surprisingly showed no signs of action, which made him start to wonder if perhaps these followers of the dark gods had also suffered severe losses in that war, causing them to hesitate to step out of the capital.


    Ulysses, draped in nightwear, paced through his expansive estate. Before long, news arrived from his scouts. Ignoring the need to change his attire, he hastily summoned them, urgently inquiring,


    "What''s the situation in the capital now? Any movements from King Hatar or the wizards?"


    "Milord, the minions of those dark gods have left the capital. Rough estimates suggest over thirty thousand troops split into three legions. The whereabouts of two of the legions are currently unknown..." The burly knight reported in a low voice, half-kneeling on the ground.


    "Unknown?" Ulysses frowned. Concealing the movements of such a massive army seemed improbable.


    "What about the remaining legion? Don''t tell me they got lost too?" Ulysses coldly interrogated.


    "Milord, they... they are right behind us!" The knight stuttered.


    "Behind?" Ulysses was taken aback.


    "They are outside the city! Less than ten kilometers away from Steel City!" The burly knight cautiously replied.


    "Outside the city?! So quickly?" Ulysses was aghast. The capital was two hundred kilometers away, with five formidable castles and over twenty viges in between! Did this legion of over ten thousand people just fly over?


    Ulysses instantly recalled the information he had received earlier about those alchemical constructs supposedlyrger than houses but capable of flying in the sky. Without a second thought, he rushed out, mounted the estate''s finest warhorse, and arrived atop the city walls in a mere five minutes.


    Ulysses, d in nightclothes, stood out on the city walls. Thankfully, at this moment, no one cared about the slight impropriety of their esteemed lord because, on the horizon, a legion of over ten thousand soldiers was advancing towards the Steel City.


    At the forefront were a dozen or so intricate iron boxes resembling carriagepartments, maneuvering swiftly across the wide ins without relying on beasts of burden. Behind them trailed ominous massive cannons.


    And nking these were over ten thousand musketeers, marching in impable formation, each wielding a long wooden stick with a pointed knife bound at the top.


    If it were the first time seeing these, Ulysses might have mistaken them for short spears. Yet, ording to the scouts, these firearms called muskets were incredibly powerful long-range magical creations, imbued with the power of thunder and mes, capable of effortlessly piercing through armored protection at a hundred meters, leaving the Duke''s proud cavalry in the dust...


    The only relief for Ulysses was the absence of those colossal flying alchemical constructs.


    Even so, their chance of victory was incredibly slim because Seltoden was by no means as fortified as the capital! Especially after the disastrous defeat suffered by the Church''s expeditionary forces, let alone these neers!


    Ulysses promptly analyzed the situation, considering whether to surrender or not.


    He did entertain the thought, but the Grand Bishop of Seltoden and his clergy were right by his side, and remarkably, they seemed to have received the news even faster than himself!


    "No need to worry too much, Duke Ulysses." The Grand Bishop seemed to perceive Ulysses''s inclination towards timidity and reassured him. "I have received divine revtion. Under the leadership of Saint Lucia, we will personally crush these minions of the dark gods who havemitted grievous crimes in the kingdom. We need only persist for a while, victory will be within our grasp."


    "When the timees, I will present your merits to His Holiness, and you shall be the next King of Hadrta!" The Grand Bishop stated firmly.>


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 Chapter 403: Kingdom Citizens Welcome the Royal Army

    Ulysses naturally understood that the title of a king was merely a poisoned bait. However, this bait was too enticing. More importantly, the current situation was unclear. If he were to choose the wrong side, he might lose his life and wealth.


    Seltoden, known as the City of Steel, owed its name to the abundant iron ore resources surrounding it. Moreover, Lord Ulysses was always cautious. The castle walls were towering, reinforced with pure steelyers on the gates. It took several strong men using pulleys to open or close the gates.


    There were about seven thousand guards in the city, and additional refugees could be enlisted to assist in defense at any moment. Perhaps they only needed to hold out for a day or two...


    Just one or two days would be enough! For now, Lord Ulysses was stable. However, the Archbishop knew that if he didn''t reveal his hand, both the nobles and soldiers within the city would easily copse under magical assaults. So, along with several dozen priests, he stood on the walls of Seltoden.


    The key difference between the Archbishop and ordinary bishopsy in their status as elite among the Third Ring clerics, candidates for the position of Cardinal. They couldmunicate with the divine to a certain extent and receive aid. Usually stationed in critical areas, in cooperation with several bishops and dozens of priests, they could temporarily resist even a Grand Wizard.


    "Great Lord of the Stars, Goddess of the Moon, Creator of Earth and Life, your humble servant prays here, seeking your blessing upon thisnd of faith..."


    The fervent prayers echoed atop the city walls, and a strong divine light soon enveloped the Archbishop.


    As the soldiers and nobles touched by the light felt the presence of the divine, Ulysses felt a surge of determination. Suddenly, the vast army below seemed as feeble as chickens and dogs made of y. He believed that with unity, they could undoubtedly achieve the ultimate victory.


    "May the gods be with us!" the Archbishop shouted loudly, his Bible suspended in mid-air above his head.A stronger light immediately upied everyone''s sight, but Ulysses realized it didn''t emanate from the Bible but surged from within the enemy''s ranks.


    A crimson streak of light sped so swiftly that before anyone could react, it pierced through the Archbishop''s body. His magically reinforced body crumbled like paper, leaving behind a rain of flesh and blood...


    The fervent prayers abruptly ceased, and the hot blood Ulysses felt inside him turned icy. Some nearby young nobles were so terrified that they screamed for surrender, pants wet with fear.


    However, it was evidently toote. Several beams of light shed, and the supposedly impregnable steel gates were sted open by electromaic cannons!


    "Excellent, these artillerymen are getting more urate!" Lynn observed the chaos atop the walls from a distance of 1.5 kilometers, quite satisfied.


    To precisely hit someone from such a distance wasmendable.


    "Thending uracy of these electromaic cannons surpasses that of the conventional artillery," Raphael remarked with a smile.


    Moreover, that Bishop dared to stand foolishly on the city walls chanting prayers. They weren''t blind; such a good target shouldn''t go unshot!


    Lynn chuckled as well. In the midst of their conversation, the sturdy steel gates were sted open by the thunderous artillery.


    With absolute technological superiority, even the most challenging siege became effortlessly easy. They didn''t need to consider tactical maneuvers; this overwhelming feeling was precisely what Lynn had anticipated!


    The armored vehicles charged at the forefront, their booming gunfire swiftly dismantling the guards attempting resistance. Following them, a squad of musketeers only needed to handle capturing prisoners.


    In reality, very few had the courage to resist. Upon seeing the steel gates directly torn apart, most guards immediately dropped their weapons.


    The battle started and ended too quickly. Many citizens within the City of Steel hadn''t grasped the situation before armored vehicles armed with machine guns stormed in.


    The streets were barricaded, and panicked civilians scattered in terror. Soon, a stampede urred, and those who couldn''t flee knelt down, faces full of panic and fear.


    Watching this scene, Lynn remembered the journey of reiming lost territories, where civilians were exceedingly panicked, even spontaneously resisting. It made him sigh repeatedly.


    One could only say the centuries-old propaganda and indoctrination by the Church had deeply ingrained effects. Within the empire''s borders, wizards had almost been equated with evil!


    "Send some people to assist the wounded!" Lynn suggested to Raydell, who stood beside him. "But be cautious of fanatics hiding among the crowd, ready for suicidal attacks."


    Raydell nodded and immediately led a team of riflemen and a few wizards skilled in herbalism to aid the injured.


    Not long after the convoy entered the city, their path was blocked.


    Thousands of city guards all kneeled in unison on the open ground not far from the gates¡ªa spectacr scene!


    At the forefront, Ulysses and his nobles were covered in blood, holding heavy human heads in their hands.


    These were the heads of Church priests!


    Exploiting the moment when the Archbishop was killed, and the guiding priests were suffering bacsh from their spells, Ulysses decisively switched sides, leading his guards in a massacre... This was their deration of allegiance!


    As a noble, observing and interpreting cues was fundamental. At a nce, Ulysses identified who held power. He rushed toward Lynn as if meeting a long-lost father, disregarding the riflemen''s obstruction, and tearfully pleaded that he was being coerced by the Church''s bishop, which led to his nopliance with the New Kingdom''s call!


    In fact, he had been secretly umting strength these days, waiting day and night for the moment when the royal army returned!


    "Is that so, Sir Hansen?" Lynn called out behind him with great interest.


    Several border lords, ''protected'' by the guards, approached, looking humble, and hurriedly spoke. "My Lord Wizard, Ulysses is attempting to deceive you. He is ackey of the Church, a follower of the false gods. Initially, he was the first to suggest sending back intelligence from the royal capital to the empire; we have letters as evidence!"


    At this point, Count Hansen nced at Ulysses.


    Never expected that, did you? We''ve already reported on you ahead of time!


    Ulysses was furious. He finally understood why a legion of over ten thousand troops had arrived right under his nose.


    So, these border lords hadn''t resisted at all; they surrendered directly!


    Clearly, he was the one who had made a deration of allegiance!>


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 Chapter 404: This is the only thing that can counter faith!

    Ulysses, unable to defend himself, was swiftly bound by a group of gunners akin to hungry wolves.


    As a Bloodline Knight, Ulysses held confidence in swiftly dispatching thesemoners who dared capture him at such close proximity. Yet, facing the ck muzzles of guns and two enigmatic grand wizards, he wisely refrained from resistance.


    Once the lord of Steel City surrendered, Lynn effortlessly seized this crucial city.


    Seltoden housed the kingdom''srgest iron ore production and was a pivotal target in this counteroffensive!


    Steel was the foundation of industry, its significance self-evident, required in nearly all aspects!


    Although the capital had established many steel workshops, their output remained insufficient. This exined their extensive research into advanced weaponry without extensive deployment.


    The ability to forge armored vehicles and battleships owed greatly to magical prowess. Without it, they couldn''t even produce suitable steel!


    However, with the limited number of formal wizards, utilizing these high-level talents for steel production seemed wasteful. Thus, after their victory over the Holy Church, they needed to promptly establish the entire industrial chain.


    After days of relentless assault, the army temporarily rested in Seltoden, resuming the y of redistributingnd from the nobles.The gunners, predominantly from humble origins, excitedly rushed into the luxurious estates of the nobility, subduing guards and inventorying wealth.


    Lynn enforced strict discipline; hoarding or harming themoners meant dismissal or severe punishment!


    Fostering good military discipline often required relentless training, easily disrupted by asional indulgence.


    The plundered wealth and measurednds were distributed among the oppressed peasants.


    Land redistribution, financial aid, public criticism, and aiding the wounded constituted their four methods to change the image of poverty. These tangible benefits stood as the only counter to faith!


    Though most peasantscked education, they weren''t ignorant. Each reasonably intelligent person understood that if the church reimed power, their possessions would be reimed.


    As Rafael witnessed chests of treasures being distributed among the impoverished, he marveled at Lynn''s generosity, astonished by the magical prodigy''s benevolence.


    Even the Iyeta School wizards expressed reservations, unable toprehend suchvish spending.


    "Money holds value only in cirction," Lynn rified, noting their confusion. The value of money was subjective; its true worth manifested through exchange.


    Empire coins couldn''t purchase airships or fighter nes, for the empirecked suchmodities.


    Thus, goods produced held real value, money merely serving as a means of exchange and valuation. Money without purchasing power rendered one as destitute.


    Transforming these peasants into workers, producers, and consumers would likely circte the money given to them, forming a positive cycle...


    Employment for the impoverished, economic development, and increased production arose through Lynn''s rudimentary economic theories. However, Raphael and others found this concept perplexing.


    "You devil''s minions, shameful traitors! The great lord will cast you into hell, incinerating your souls in its fiery abyss..." shouted the arrested nobles, witnessing their treasures seized and given to the lowly peasants.


    "If they yearn for that false god so dearly, let''s send them to heaven!" Lynn waved,manding elite guards to escort these nobles away.


    "Traitors, shameful scum, the disgrace of nobility!" Before being taken away, the Seltoden noble scions continued their frantic tirade, now directed at Hansen and others.


    Compared to the inherently ''evil'' wizards, these nobles turned betrayers were more detestable...


    Count Hansen paid no heed to these shouts, believing that given the chance, these loudly protesting noble scions would also readily betray for survival! It was all about being opportunistic...


    Due to time constraints, needing to reim the kingdom''s territories before the Holy Church''srge army arrived, Lynn andpany had no intention to linger in this steel city. They rested briefly for only three days but aplished much.


    Firstly, after investigation, the most heinous among the nobility were executed, their bodies disyed at the city gates. Those with lesser crimes were sent to mine or construct roads. Only a handful of nobles with decent reputations retained their lives and properties, stripped of their noble status.


    Any factions or local bosses met a simr fate, all rounded up and executed by firing squad.


    This ruthless disy, coupled with their earlier policy ofnd distribution and financial aid, gained them initial control of this steel city within a short three days, also earning partial favor from the popce.


    Another advantage was the absence of nobles hindering thisnd, allowing for future industrial development.


    Once these matters were settled, Lynn left behind three wizards, two hundred gunners, and formed a security force of two thousand from the assisted peasants to prevent any disturbances by fanatical believers. They then prepared to move on.


    "Have the council heads encountered any issues?" Before departing, Lynn called for Raphael, in charge ofmunication, inquiring.


    During the previous war, theirck of long-rangemunication nearly led to catastrophe. Had it not been for Aurora coincidentally encountering the Empire''s expedition fleet, their home might have been razed after the kingdom''s war concluded.


    Thus, having learned from that mistake, Lynn introduced the most basic wirelessmunication technology. This way, each legion sent to reim territories could contact others in case of unforeseen circumstances, avoiding repeating past mistakes...>


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 Chapter 405: The Power of the Gods, First Major Defeat from the Empire!

    The so-called wirelessmunication techniquese in various forms, but in general, they all utilize electromaic waves formunication.


    For wizards who can perceive and influence electric and maic fields to a certain extent, using magic for this isn''t particrly challenging. At the very least, sending a simple signal isn''t an issue.


    Considering the electromaic waves generated by the wizards'' current abilities, after attenuation, their range is limited. Hence, Lynn used a hundred airships patrolling various regions to establish temporary signal stations covering nearly half of the kingdom.


    Each airship housed a wizard well-versed in thunder magic. Upon receiving faint electromaic signals, they''d ry them, swiftly disseminating messages throughout the kingdom.


    Though Lynn had simplermunication methods through a magicalwork linking those whose mental powers had been decrypted, this remained a secret for now. Simr capabilities were demonstrated only in front of Anthony and Redell.


    After all, no wizard would appreciate someone easily infiltrating their mind. Revealing this without absolute power suppression would be akin to inviting trouble.


    "Based on the signals we''ve received in these days, the progress of the two legions reiming kingdom territories has been remarkably smooth. Chairman Harof has even prated into the heart of the Empire and should be seizing the Miste Territory!"


    The Miste Territoryy to the west of the Empire, bordering the kingdom. Victorio had gleaned plenty of useful information from the minds of captured priests, like it being an oil-rich region.


    It was one of the two vital territories essential to seize during this counteroffensive!"Good to hear everything''s going smoothly..."


    Lynn nodded, but a vague sense of unease lingered.


    It had been over two months since the war''s end in the capital. Surprisingly, both the Empire and the Holy See remained unusually quiet. Their scouting airships hadn''t detected any signs of enemy forces breaching the borders.


    This abnormality unsettled Lynn to some extent.


    "I reckon the Holy City is probably in chaos right now; they won''t have time for the kingdom in the short term." Raphael spoke optimistically.


    The punitive force dispatched by the Holy See had just suffered two consecutive disastrous defeats. Rebuilding morale wasn''t an easy task.


    As Raphael pondered, the electromaic signal receiver in his arms suddenly lit up.


    "It seems Chairman Harof has taken over the Miste Territory." Raphael remarked as he ced the receiver on the table.


    Lynn nced over. The magical transformation of electromaic wave technology was still in its early stages. Although wizards proficient in thunder magic had learned to send signals, they still relied on special receivers to detect these faint electromaic fluctuations.


    Clicks and cks echoed incessantly in the room.


    Raphael began tranting using a Morse code book.


    This primitive electromaic wave receiver was rudimentary, only producing clicks upon receiving two different frequency waves.


    Initially, when Lynn brought this device out, Raphael was thoroughly disappointed. While effective for long-distancemunication, its message conveyance was limited.


    It could only represent victory with clicks and defeat with cks, providing them with a rough understanding of the situation.


    However, the ingenuity of this magical star was iparable. By arranging short and long sounds differently, it could create countlessbinations, transmitting any desired message.


    Furthermore, it could prevent the interception of signals or the capture of messengers, ensuring information remained encrypted. Only those with the codebook could decipher it!


    The only downsidey in the cumbersome trantion process.


    "Miste Territory, major defeat..." Raphael slowly recited based on the information in the codebook.


    Had the enemy already been defeated?


    Raphael pondered, but soon realized the finalbination of the signal seemed to indicate...


    "Rescue!" Lynn immediately stood up from their seat, a grave expression on their face. Despite not consulting the codebook, they tranted the entire sentence faster than Raphael. "We''ve encountered a major defeat in the Miste Territory and need rescue, immediately!"


    Raphael felt a momentary mental fog. Being in possession of the codebook, he knew Lynn''s trantion was wless!


    But how was that possible?


    Amazement and confusion painted Raphael''s face. Although the three legions reiming kingdom territories each had only around ten thousand soldiers, they held absolute technological superiority!


    To ensure safety, all three chairmen had already set off with the troops.


    However, to create an illusion that the chairmen were still in the capital and deceive the enemy, they hadn''t made themselves visible.


    Now, the heavily guarded royal capital seemed oddly empty inside.


    "Could it be that there''s a legendary divine figure stationed in the Miste Territory?" Raphael, perplexed, could only think of this possibility.


    Only the descent of a deity could crush a ten-thousand-strong legion equipped with modern firearms and armored vehicles, prompting Chairman Harof to use words like ''major defeat'' in themunication.


    Lynn furrowed their brows slightly, disagreeing. They had discussed simr scenarios before. Whichever legion encountered a legendary divine figure during this counteroffensive would abandon their assault immediately, opting to defend and await reinforcements, or even retreat.


    Using the divine descent came with a price tag. Without going all out, the enemy shouldn''t have a reason to use it recklessly.


    In terms of high-endbat power, both sides would be at a standstill!


    Moreover, upon encountering a legendary divine figure, Harof should have immediately sent a distress signal, not waited until retreating to request rescue.


    Lynn inferred that the situation must have swiftly reversed for this to happen!


    Most crucially, the message received didn''t mention the use of divine descent at all!


    "There''s another possibility: the Empire''s punitive legions suddenly appeared in the Miste Territory, maybe evenunching a surprise attack..." Aurora''s figure emerged from the side, suggesting the most usible scenario.


    This implied that the Empire''s legions had eluded the airship surveince, arriving right under their noses without their knowledge.


    It wasn''t an imusible scenario!


    Perhaps the reconnaissance airships they dispatched had been silently eliminated by powerful divine arts, or maybe arge-scale invisibility magic concealed an entire legion, allowing them to march undetected, right into their blind spot...>


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 Chapter 406: Racing Against Time, Decaying Battlefield

    Chapter 406: Racing Against Time, Decaying Battlefield


    Raphael''s forehead was beaded with cold sweat, as both spections were undeniably disastrous.


    "I''ll rush over immediately!"


    After deducing the situation with Lynn and the others, Aurora wasted no time and swiftly vanished from her position.


    However, Raphael couldn''t rx. The distance to Misty Land was considerable, over a hundred and fifty kilometers even in a straight line. Even with the legendary Councilor''s speed, it would take at least two hours to arrive, and by then, it might be toote...


    Lynn gently touched the magical ring in his hand, initiating the coordinates'' calction using the smart brain. He was preparing to use the magicalwork to link power and will to Misty Land.


    He wanted to personally see what had happened on Harof''s side! Lynn had taken some emergency measures before, cing Yeta''s wizards in the two other legions. They carried special magical rings with mental decryption exceeding thirty percent. These deep-level soul coordinates could easily locate targets hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. With the help of the smart brain and magical rings as carriers, long-distance power transmission became achievable.


    Strictly speaking, this belonged to the category of psychic magic, far more advanced than electromaic wavemunication. However, it was taboo in the wizarding world. Lynn had only seen three people with simr abilities.


    The first was Herlram, who, using a vast amount of notes left by the dark wizard Merk, cleverly created an imperfect magicalwork. He even developed the insane Soul Devouring Array, treating the wizards in the ¡¾Faceless¡¿ assembly, whoseputing power was decrypted, as a resource to resurrect his daughter.Now, Lynn was following a simr path. However, his methods were more gentle, advocating sustainable development and a win-win strategy. He provided knowledge, and the wizards offeredputing power, a mutually beneficial arrangement without exploiting or overfishing.


    The second was Aurora. She had left a magical mark on Lynn''s forehead, serving as the coordinate for transmission. However, this type of magic was only for emergencies, demanding high requirements from the caster and not suitable for widespread use.


    The third was the pseudo-god, A!


    A could not only bestow divine arts upon priests and bishops but at the level of Archbishop, could even act as a coordinate for transmitting divine power. Legendary divine practitioners were even more remarkable; they could open the gates of heaven and bring A''s essence over!


    Lynn had always suspected that the church''s bestowed divine abilities and the art of divine descent had some simrities to his magicalwork. However, hecked evidence and had not received confirmation.


    "Coordinate 043 has been located. The straight-line distance is one hundred and fifty-nine kilometers. Begin magical power transmission?"


    The smart brain''s prompt brought Lynn''s attention back. Without hesitation, he silently nodded.


    "Yes!"


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the border of the Sas Empire, within Misty Land, a fierce battle was unfolding on the battlefield.


    "Kill these devil''s minions!" "For the glory of the Lord!"


    Knights d in silver armor charged forward, their eyes filled with fanaticism and the color of ughter. They wielded long spears, thrusting them repeatedly and killing several gunners who were still loading their rifles.


    However, their onught quickly encountered resistance. Groups of fireballs sped towards them, and the resulting explosions created shes of fire and smoke, momentarily halting the approaching cavalry. Soon after, several armored vehicles blocked their path.


    The thunderous roar of machine guns echoed in the ears of the soldiers. The tongues of fire leaping from the barrels were like the scythe of death. In their wake, blood and flesh flew, tearing apart both the divine shields bestowed upon them and the sturdy armor.


    Under such relentless attacks, therge cavalry quickly dispersed, causing the earth to shake violently.


    A towering giant soon appeared before the group of wizards, standing over seven meters tall. d in iron armor and wielding a massive iron shield, it defiantly withstood the machine gun barrage, flipping an armored vehicle in the process. However, in the next moment, it was pierced through by several crimson streaks from a distance.


    The electromaic cannon had undoubtedly scored another victory!


    The giant''s massive body crashed to the ground, crushing the two battling teams beneath it. Crimson blood sprayed out, staining the surrounding soil red.


    In this chaotic battlefield, the transition between life and death happened almost instantly.


    However, there was not just one of these towering giants. They quickly appeared all over the battlefield inrge numbers. With thick skin, resistance to both physical and magical attacks, and well-equipped armor, neither firearms nor low-level magic could cause significant harm. Even the electromaic cannon, after piercing throughyers of special shields and armor, failed to deliver fatal blows unless targeted precisely or focusing on vital spots.


    Harof utilized force-field magic to tear apart two towering armored giants, but it was not enough to reverse the deteriorating situation.


    The Imperial legions'' timing was too perfect. Just as they were besieging the city, the enemy suddenly appeared behind them,unching a surprise attack!


    Neither airships nor the wizards responsible for sensing detected anything until the Imperial legions approached, and the ground started shaking. By then, it was already toote.


    The artillery positions in the rear copsed under the onught of thousands of Divine Punishment Cavalry, and the wizards stationed there were unable to stop the knights, each imbued with the power of beasts.


    Not to mention the priests and bishops of the Holy See, mixed among the knights in silver armor, sporadically casting troublesome divine arts.


    For the gunners, the most crucial aspect was the formation. Once the formation copsed, their ability to deliver concentrated firepower would be greatly reduced, especially in a t area facing arge number of Divine Punishment Knights.


    Following their previously conceived tactics, encountering arge enemy force in a in required relying on armored vehicles for interception, supplemented by machine guns and artillery fire. Combined with the bombardment from airships, achieving airnd integration and keeping the enemy fifty meters away was essential.


    Now, this n had clearly failed. In the disrupted formation, forced to directly engage, their only option was to do their best to preserve their remaining forces and retreat, the only thing left to do.


    >


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 Chapter 407: Lynn Maxwell: The True Executor of Magic is the Sun!

    Chapter 407: Lynn Maxwell: The True Executor of Magic is the Sun!


    "Lords of the Council, we can''t wait any longer. Let us stay behind to hold them off," Sanchez urgently suggested as he witnessed the array they had painstakingly assembled being crushed once again.


    In their current state, waiting for reinforcements seemed unlikely, and the optimal solution was to leave a contingent of elite forces to fend off the enemy. Otherwise, they would all perish on this battlefield.


    "No, relying solely on you might not be enough to stop them," Harof solemnly remarked.


    The Imperial Legion that suddenly appeared behind them numbered five to six thousand, undoubtedly including legendary divine practitioners¡ªperhaps more than one. Harof was cautious, not recklessly expending magical power but being prepared for any adversary.


    With the power of Sanchez and the others, it was likely insufficient to hinder the enemy even a bit. The only one capable of holding the rear was Lynn himself!


    Just as Harof was about to speak, a voice unexpectedly sounded in everyone''s ears.


    "You retreat first; I will block them!"


    Harof and the others immediately turned to look, surprised to see an unexpected figure before them. ording to intelligence, Lynn, who should be in the Steel City of Seltoden, had appeared here."Master Lynn?" Sanchez eximed with pleasant surprise. "Excellent, you''ve arrived just in time! Has Lord Aurora and Lord Victorio also reached here?"


    If reinforcements arrived, uniting the Lords of the Council, they couldunch a fierce counterattack. Harof, however, quickly deduced that Lynn was not physically present but probably projecting himself through magic, much like Aurora''s projection.


    As expected, Lynn soon rified, "No, the reinforcements have not arrived yet. The two Lords of the Council will take at least two to three hours to reach here. If we wait for support from the other two legions, it will be eventer."


    Although they had airships for transportation, mobilizingrge armies was no easy task.


    "In your current state, how much power can you unleash?" Harof couldn''t help but interrupt.


    While acknowledging Lynn''s strength as a four-ring wizard, Harof wondered if Lynn had brought the ingredients for casting a nuclear explosion spell.


    Thinking of this possibility, Harof raised a glimmer of hope, only to have it shattered in the next moment.


    "In fact, with this projection, I can only cast a four-ring spell once, that''s it!" Lynn honestly stated, cutting off any questions before they arose. "But I believe it should be enough!"


    Seeing the confidence in the magical prodigy, Harof, despite having many questions, refrained from immediate rebuttal. Instead, he straightforwardly asked about Lynn''s n.


    "Anyway, I need some assistance from all of you... to separate the enemy and us, avoid friendly fire," Lynn rapidly exined. He then nced at the chaotic battlefield and sighed. "Looks like we''ll have to sacrifice some of our own!"


    Under organizedmand, the scattered wizards quickly gathered,unching thergest counterattack possible. Everyone unleashed their magic without reservation!


    Harof took the lead, channeling massive magical power into the ground. The next moment, the entire battlefield rapidly crumbled, creating a deep chasm. The earth split open, forming a profound rift that quickly expanded to both sides.


    From above, the entire battlefield appeared as if the earth had been torn in half.


    Changing the terrain and dominating the entire battlefield, this was the power of legendary magic!


    The entire process waspleted in just over ten seconds. Harof, slightly panting, had depleted almost half of his magical power. Casting such arge-scale legendary spell was no easy task.


    Following Harof, Sanchez and others consecutively cast various spells. Ice, fire, and thunder forces intertwined, striking the enemy formation with tremendous force.


    "By the will of the Lord, evil will be dispelled!"


    At the same time, a mighty sacred voice echoed across the battlefield. An invisible curtain appeared in the air, blocking the magical rain. Although it was quickly shattered by hundreds of spells, it significantly reduced casualties.


    Harof understood that it was the legendary divine practitioners of the Holy Church taking action. Their goal had been achieved; the entire battlefield was temporarily divided.


    The charging cavalry slowed their pace, and a few dim-witted giants directly tumbled into the chasm, dizzy and struggling to climb out.


    "Bombard them with magic one more time, then retreat! The next step depends on Master Lynn..." Harof sighed, having done all he could.


    Sanchez hesitated to speak but felt that putting all their hopes on Lynn''s projection was somewhat risky. Nevertheless, he followed orders because there was no better alternative at the moment.


    At this moment, Lynn, utilizing light-bending magic to conceal his form, floated high in the sky. Magic surged like waves, spreading over a range of hundreds of meters.


    Normally, such conspicuous magical fluctuations would alert the enemy, but Lynn wasn''t worried. The entire battlefield was already filled with traces of magic, thanks to Harof and the others going all out, not just for splitting the battlefield but also for concealment.


    "The weather is really nice today!" Lynn looked towards the sky, where a proud red sun shone brightly.


    August was the hottest time within the empire, and the midday sun would undoubtedly enhance Lynn''s magic for the uing spell.


    ...


    "It seems the battle is about to end!" Within the ranks of the Holy Church, Joshua observed the iing magical rain and calmly remarked.


    Despite the fierce counterattack, Joshua saw it as ast-ditch effort. Once they depleted their magical power, these people would lose their ability to resist.


    As for the grand chasm dividing the battlefield, he didn''t need to intervene. Under thebined efforts of several archbishops, they had created broad bridges using divine arts.


    Beside him, Saint Lucia also watched the scene. The extravagant use of magic by Harof and the others, despite its effectiveness, made her vaguely sense that something was amiss. She then lifted her head, gazing at the sun in the sky, and murmured,


    "Do you feel it? The sunlight seems to be dimming.">


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 Chapter 408: All Returns to Nothingness—Sunlight Illuminates

    Chapter 408: All Returns to Nothingness¡ªSunlight Illuminates


    Has it darkened?


    Joshua furrowed his brow, looking up at the sky, indeed sensing a hint of unease.


    "It''s magic!" Lucia casually remarked. Under her perception, strong magical fluctuations appeared in the sky a few hundred meters away from the battlefield, spreading towards them.


    She hadn''t noticed it earlier because the frequent casting by the wizards would indeed increase the magical density in a specific area. It wasn''t until the concentration of magic surpassed the threshold that Lucia became aware of it.


    But now it seemed toote; Lynn''s magic had already been unleashed!


    "The sky is darkening!"


    This time, not only Lucia sensed it; the soldiers charging on the battlefield also clearly felt it. Over several kilometers, the area directly transitioned from daytime to dusk, making even the most steadfast believers hesitate.


    As everyone looked up, they were shocked to discover a massive transparent ''mirror'' appearing above them.It looked like an upside-down, semi-transparentrge pot, blocking the midday sun.


    Lynn raised his palm, and the brightness across the entire battlefield decreased again. The scorching sunlight from the sky, after passing through the enormous focusing lens, immediately redirected and converged.


    "All returns to nothingness¡ªSunlight Illuminates!"


    This ancient incantation emerged in Lynn''s mind. This time, all the magical energy sent over disappeared by ny percent, and Lynn even utilized the power of the magicalwork to some extent!


    The next moment, forming an inverted cone with a diameter of a hundred meters and almost infinite height, a brilliant pir of light descended from the sky!


    The sunlight covering the entire battlefield waspressed into a hundred-meter radius. The intense and ring light made everyone present struggle to keep their eyes open. Soon after, a wail of misery and screams resounded through the battlefield.


    "Ahh!"


    Empire soldiers within the range of the light pir evaporated on the spot under the temperatureparable to a ster surface!


    "It''s legendary magic!" Joshua''s pupils contracted.


    The speed of light was too fast. From focusing to sweeping, it took no more than a second. Over two thousand Empire soldiers perished instantly before their eyes!


    "In the name of the Lord, the Arrow of Judgment!"


    Joshua held his staff high, roaring loudly. Hundreds of arrows, shining with divine light, appeared in the void, pointing directly at the giant focusing lens overhead.


    These arrows were imbued with a special anti-magic power. The mirror covering the entire battlefield had no possibility of moving or evading!


    A dense rain of arrows shot out like meteors, dazzling and soon colliding with the enormous focusing lens.


    The mirror was much more fragile than Joshua had expected. Without any resistance, it instantly exploded into countless fragments, scattering in all directions towards the ground.


    "It seems to be just a show!" Joshua breathed a sigh of relief, finding it much easier to deal with than he had imagined.


    "Not that simple..." Lucia shook her head. Instead of rushing to act, she focused on sensing the caster''s position with all her might.


    Her current body had significant limitations for her, even though it had been "nurtured" for seven or eight years. Due to the low degree ofpatibility, the power she could exert was extremely limited.


    As expected, just one second after Lucia spoke, dozens ofrger shattered focusing lenses didn''t fall. Instead, they hovered in the air, transforming into smaller "focusing lenses."


    With Lynn''s currentputing power, rearranging spells in such a short time was practically impossible. However, with the help of the magicalwork and the intelligence of the brain, it was different.


    The magical model could be entirely driven by the brain to mobilize theputing power of other wizards in the magicalwork. The entire process waspressed to within one second!


    Before the Empire''s punitive forces, still recovering from the terrifying sight of the hundred-meter light pir, coulde to their senses, they soon faced the baptism ofser beams!


    In an instant, dozens of secondaryser beams spread across the entire battlefield. Although their power was much reducedpared to the previous "Sunlight Illuminates," the attack range expanded by dozens of times!


    Several lucky Empire soldiers who had evaded the light pir were swept by the unexpectedser beams. Before they could react, their bodies were sliced in half from top to bottom. Simr scenes unfolded everywhere on the battlefield.


    Joshua''s face turned extremely ugly.


    "Found her!" Lucia looked towards a distant direction in the sky, extending her right hand and gripping it suddenly.


    Relying on prization magic to hide in the high altitude, manipting the focusing magic, Lynn, whose entire body began to distort and deform, would probably burst if there were a physical form!


    Even so, as the core of the "Secret Ring of Magic" began to crack, the explosion urred in an instant.


    "Good perception!" Lynn was quite surprised. After all, he was now just a mass of magical projection, able to hide well in a magically dense area.


    He thought the opponent would need some effort to find him, but unexpectedly, it happened so quickly.


    Before the "Secret Ring of Magic" as the basispletely shattered, Lynn, using hisst bit of strength, manipted a massive concave mirror, directing the converging light towards the strongest point of divine magic fluctuations.


    That was where Lucia was. Before the beam of light fell, she had already raised her hand. A smooth mirror appeared in front of her, and the powerfulser beam was directly reflected back at an unimaginable speed, piercing through Lynn''s body, shattering the "Secret Ring of Magic" at its core.


    It seems it can only end here... Lynn thought, but he also saw the woman who had rebounded theser.


    About twenty-three or four in appearance, crowned, dressed in a white holy robe, with star-like sparkling emerald eyes.


    Combining the information collected earlier, Lynn immediately guessed her identity. The body formed by magic quickly dissipated without support.>


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 Chapter 409: A Solo Stand Against the Crusade, a Battle Worthy of History!

    Chapter 409: A Solo Stand Against the Crusade, a Battle Worthy of History!


    As the casters vanished, the continuous beams of light raining down from the sky ceased. The battlefield was now a chaotic mess, with countless shattered rocks and mud strewn about. Scorched earth covered the ground, and over ten thousand soldiers bore the marks of light, some already unconscious, others barely holding on, all having lost their fighting spirit.


    What was initially a well-prepared surprise attack, turning the entire imperial legion into a fleeing mess, resulted in heavy casualties.


    Some soldiers,cking strong faith, even developed fear and panic towards the sunlight. When the warm rays touched their bodies, they screamed in terror.


    Soon, a soaring hymn echoed across the brutal battlefield. Under the scorching sun, a verdant rain began to fall from the sky...


    The wounded, wailing in pain, gradually calmed down as the drops of rain touched their faces. Their grimacing expressions turned serene, and they drifted into unconsciousness, their burned injuries slowly healing.


    This was the legendary divine spell¡ªthe Rain of Blessings! Cast personally by Lucia, it had a range sufficient to cover the entire battlefield. The surviving imperial soldiers, whether burned or mutted, were rapidly recovering.


    Fluorescence also appeared on the bodies of the deceased.


    The second effect of the Rain of Blessings was to guide the souls of the departed to the divine realm."Their souls shall receive eternal protection, and in the divine realm, they shall forever enjoy joy..." several bishops sang loudly.


    Lucia, performing the divine spell, quickly tallied the casualties within a minute. Approximately over four thousand soldiers died under the impact of the magic, and the number of wounded exceeded tens of thousands.


    The only good news was that most of the casualties were ordinary soldiers. The divine punishment knights, d in reflective silver armor and equipped with multipleyers of protection, couldrgely resist the power of theser. However, under the previous [Sunlight Illumination], they suffered casualties exceeding a thousand.


    "Under the crown of Lucia, should we continue the pursuit?" Joshua asked, looking at the chaotic battlefield.


    "First, tend to the wounded." Lucia shook her head. Although she healed the injuries of these people, the morale of the imperial legion had already been severely damaged.


    Moreover, in this short time, the scattered musketeers had already regrouped and orderly retreated out of sight.


    Continuing the pursuit would obviously yield no favorable results.


    "Do you have information on this sorcerer?" Lucia suddenly extended her hand, and a water screen appeared in front of her.


    In the water screen was a young sorcerer with brown hair.


    "If I''m not mistaken, he should be called Lynn, a great wizard! The followers of those dark gods refer to him as the Star of Magic. Rumor has it that all the new and strange things emerging in thend of wizards are somehow rted to him..." Joshua said with a serious expression.


    After Edweil led the crusade to defeat the sandstorm in the kingdom, they increased their focus on gathering intelligence. Although most of the scouts sent out were discovered by the other side, they still obtained a lot of useful information.


    It was rumored that all the changes in thend of wizards, including firearms, cannons, airships, and those running iron boxes, were the handiwork of this Star of Magic.


    The reward offered within the Holy See for his head had exceeded a million!


    Lucia silently noted down this name. Then, with a thought, a musket flew over from a distance andnded in her hand.


    She was quite interested in the new weapons disyed by these wizards. However, Lynn''s [Sunlight Illumination] just now was evidently targeted, melting all the armored vehicles left on the battlefield and fusing the cannons in the positions into a pool of molten iron.


    Their only gain was these things called muskets...


    Meanwhile, taking advantage of the chaos in the imperial legion, Harof had escaped several kilometers away. Seeing that the enemy showed no intention of pursuing, he couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed they were temporarily safe.


    "Is this the Four-Ring Magic Master Lynn mentioned?" Sanchez''s expression was somewhat strange. While he had been running away, he had been paying attention to the battle behind him.


    In fact, as long as one wasn''t blind, anyone could see the giant light pir with a diameter of a hundred meters. The power could only be described as terrifying!


    Even legendary spells were no match...


    At this moment, they didn''t know the oue of the battle, but it was certain that the enemy had suffered considerable casualties. In the short term, the Holy See wouldn''t be concerned about them.


    "It really hasn''t exceeded the scope of Four-Ring Magic." Harof shook his head. He was equally astonished by the power of that spell but discerned that it wasn''t Lynn''s innate power. It used the principles of light refraction and focusing.


    That mirror magic was like a lever, leveraging the power of the stars above their heads...


    In other words, the one who released this legendary magic wasn''t Lynn, but the sun above their heads!


    It was summer, and magic was particrly powerful!


    Under Harof''s exnation, Sanchez finally understood. Lynn''s imagination and creativity in magic still impressed him, despite the fact that Lynn''s [Sunlight Illumination] just now was specifically targeted, turning the armored vehicles and cannons in the battlefield into a pool of molten iron.


    Their only gain was these things called muskets...


    ...


    Praised by everyone, Lynn''s consciousness had returned to his body.


    Controlling an avatar from hundreds of kilometers away toplete such a massive spell was no easy task. The mental exhaustion was severe, and even his brain faintly felt swollen.


    "Lynn Maxwell, are you okay?" Raphael anxiously inquired.


    They were just discussing whether to dispatch an airship for rapid reinforcement when Lynn suddenly raised his hand to stop his words. Then, he closed his eyes and sat still, motionless.


    "I''m fine. I personally went over there."


    Lynn didn''t conceal anything, directly recounting what he had seen and heard.


    "So, Dean, did you single-handedly force back the Holy See''s crusade of tens of thousands?" Elok''s face was filled with admiration and disbelief.


    You must know that even the president Harof, leading tens of thousands of musketeers, could only retreat in the face of the attack, but the dean managed to severely cripple them using magic.


    This was simply incredible...


    "It can''t be considered forcing them back, at most, I dyed them for a while." Lynn shook his head, truthfully exining.


    However, in the eyes of Raphael and others, even this was already extremely exaggerated. With just an avatar, he managed to stall tens of thousands of crusaders and at least one legendary divine professional. This would undoubtedly be a battle worthy of history!>


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 Chapter 410: Thanks to You, Otherwise, We Would Probably All Die on the Battlefield

    "Unfortunately, if it weren''t for the interference of that Holy Church Saintess, you alone could have annihted the entire Imperial Expeditionary Force!" Raphael expressed regret.


    Elok, standing beside him, curiously inquired, "Lord Headmaster, with such powerful magic, why haven''t we seen you use it before?"


    "¡¾Sunlight Illumination¡¿ has strict requirements on weather conditions, and the first-time usage has the best effect," Lynn exined.


    If the situation hadn''t been urgent this time, he had intended to use it in a more critical location.


    After all, this magic, while powerful, had a long preparation time and many drawbacks, such as requiring clear weather and light that can be refracted, emitted, or absorbed.


    The enemy was not foolish; after experiencing a setback, they would surely be on guard.


    This time, theser he shot was bounced back.


    Clearly, the Holy Church had learned its lesson and found a way to counterser magic.


    Of course, Lynn didn''t think the enemy had the ability to create a mirror that could reflect light 100%. As long as theser''s intensity was high enough, even a reflective surface would be instantly cut!"Inform Redell and the others, set off immediately, and head to the Misty Lands!" Lynn stood up and said solemnly.


    Although he temporarily repelled the Holy Church''s attack, he didn''t rule out the possibility of pursuit. Immediate reinforcement was necessary.


    Raphael and the others nodded in agreement. In fact, they were also preparing to leave the Steel City, and all supplies were already prepared!


    Due to the need formunication stations and daily patrols, nearly forty percent of the airships were assigned to tasks. They had only forty ships, which were not enough to transport over ten thousand people together.


    After a brief discussion, Lynn quickly made a decision. He and Raphael would take an airship, leading a portion of the people to the destination. Redell, along with two grand wizards, would lead the remaining forces and slowly catch up.


    ...


    The Steel City of Seltoden was about 159 kilometers in a straight line from the Imperial border. Normal marching, including detours over mountains and rivers, would take several days at least, while air travel only required a little over an hour!


    Continuous intelligence from various sources across the kingdom flowed through electromaicmunication technology, reaching the receiving devices and then being tranted.


    Raphael couldn''t help but marvel at the convenience of this technology. Messages sent from any location could reach the entire kingdom in a matter of minutes!


    Summarizing all the information, there were essentially two key points.


    First, the airships patrolling the kingdom and imperial border were intact, indicating that the Holy Church''s Expeditionary Force had infiltrated their defensive perimeter without removing these ''nails.''


    This eased Lynn''s worries a bit. Constructing this defensive line across the kingdom had taken considerable effort. The patrol trajectories and positions of each airship were carefully designed to ensure mutual support, withmunication at regr intervals.


    Unless the enemy could instantly wipe out arge area of airships, there would inevitably be messagesing through.


    Second, Harof had retreated with his people to a previously captured Imperial town, holding out for reinforcements.


    When the airshipnded in the town, a group of wizards was busy reinforcing the walls. Upon seeing Lynn, they respectfully bowed.


    "Master Lynn, thanks to you, we probably would have died on the battlefield." Sanchez approached, patting Lynn''s shoulder with gratitude.


    If Lynn hadn''t arrived in time, he had already prepared to stay behind for a rearguard action, a decision clearly leading to certain death.


    "No need to be so polite; facing the Imperial and Holy Church blockade, everyone must give their all," Lynn shook his head. They were already at a disadvantage, losing any legion would be an uneptable loss.


    Lynn then inquired about the casualties of this war.


    "More severe than expected," Sanchez said with a bitter smile. "Over 1,200 dead, and more than 3,700 injured."


    This meant that over half of the ten thousand-strong musket unit had casualties. Moreover, they had also lost arge number of cannons and firearms.


    "I think these weapons must have been confiscated by the enemy!" Sanchez said with a serious expression, which was his main concern.


    Since leaving the Wizard Lands, they had won victories in several wars, even the fierce defense of the capital. They didn''t need to worry about this before.


    But now was different; with so many weapons seized by the enemy, they could likely be replicated.


    "No matter; I have already melted down the cannons and armored vehicles. As for the basic method of making muskets, it''s impossible to hide. It''s only a matter of time before the enemy figures it out. We just need to ensure that we stay ahead of them in the update and recement of weapons," Lynn said optimistically.


    He knew well that simple weapons like flintlock muskets and airships could be figured out by the elites of the Empire and Holy Church if they put their minds to it. The reason for the currentck of action was the short time and the bishops'' focus on feudal superstition, believing these were demonic creations.


    Of course, more advanced devices like internalbustion engines, without blueprints, were impossible for them to recreate, no matter how hard they tried.


    While talking, Sanchez led everyone into a mansion.


    This was the residence of a small Imperial count. When they killed their way here from the kingdom, the count directly packed up and fled, leaving no guards behind. They effortlessly took control of the entire city.


    Now, the mansion had be a temporarymand post and a ce to house the wounded. Many tents were set up in the spacious area, herbalists busily preparing magical potions, and faint cries of pain could be heard.


    "I really don''t know when this war will end." Johnny, following the two, looked at the tents and sighed.


    "Probably when wepletely defeat the Holy Church," Elok continued with anticipation. "We will bring down the gods from the sky, build towers for wizards in every corner of this continent, spread knowledge, eliminate ignorance, and shower the glory of magic across thend!"


    This was the war propagandamonly used by the council. For many young wizards with aspirations and untamed blood, it was highly motivating.


    "Someday, for sure!" Elok said confidently.


    Lynn also nodded, smiling, "Perhaps sooner, if this battle goes well.">


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    Don''t let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!

 Chapter 411: Seizing the Opportunity against the Holy Church

    Sanchez led Lynn and others to the meeting room. Hundreds of wizards were gathered, engaged in heated discussions about the recent disastrous defeat.


    Aurora, who had set out first, had already arrived. Even Victorio had reached the ce, evidently rushing here upon receiving the news.


    Once Lynn and the others were seated, Harof silenced the debates in the meeting room and solemnly spoke, "This defeat is indeed my negligence!"


    The timing of the Holy Church''s attack was precise, and the mystical art that allowed the legion to approach invisibly was quite extraordinary. However, with enough vignce, they shouldn''t have been caught off guard.


    "It seems the prolonged victories have made us all a bitcent," Victorio shook his head.


    However, Harof had been cautious enough; before the war, he had dispatched most airships to scout the surroundings. No one could have expected a legion of tens of thousands to slip in so silently.


    Even he, in the same situation, might have fallen victim.


    "How did they manage it?" Aurora was intrigued. With her control over light magic, she could make a few hundred or even a thousand rifle troops disappear from sight during covert marches, but a legion of tens of thousands was a different challenge.


    "Could it be the Divine Realm?" Lynn suddenly suggested.During his confrontation with the forces from the capital and Edweil, he noticed something peculiar about it¡ªlike twopletely different spaces inside and outside.


    "Possibly!" Victorio nodded. If that were the case, it wasn''t good news. If they could expand the Divine Realm on such a scale, their strength was undoubtedly much greater than expected.


    "Master Lynn, when you stayed back alone, you probably probed the enemy''s details, right?" Harof asked, his expression serious.


    Lynn''s use of "Sunlight Illumination," both in range and power, astonished even him. Anyone capable of dispelling that magic, projecting magical power to disrupt it in such a short time, had to be a legendary divine practitioner.


    The other two councilors also looked over, especially Aurora. When Harof mentioned Lynn single-handedly holding back the Holy Church''s army, she was the most shocked.


    After contemting for a moment, Lynn''s right hand swept across the table, creating a watery curtain with two figures reflected on it¡ª a man and a woman.


    A man around fifty, dressed in a golden robe, with a solemn demeanor.


    "This is Joshua, the Chief Justice of the Holy Church! He should be the one I faced in the Misty Sea," Aurora identified one of them.


    The wizards present nodded in agreement. This Chief Justice was indeed one of the Church''s five legendary divine practitioners, confirmed by their intelligence.


    As for the other...


    "Saint Lucia. I didn''t expect her to possess legendary-level power too," Harof said in surprise.


    They had collected portraits and information on all key figures above the Archbishop within the Church, including the Saint. ording to their intelligence, the position of the Saint rotated every few years, held by a nun in her early teens. The onlymonality was their extraordinary appearance, serene and beautiful.


    To imagine such a figure wielding legendary magic was beyond belief.


    "It''s probably not that easy, otherwise, the Church''s legends would be rampant," Victorio interjected.


    The selection of the Saint was frequent, perhaps because they couldn''t bear such immense power and were forced to rotate. The previous Saints had disappeared ording to the Church''s ount, likely meaning they had died.


    "But they only sent two legends over; this is quite..." Victorio''s expression was strange, neither happy nor sad.


    "Maybe there are other forces yet to arrive. Anyway, this is good news!" Harof''s face eased slightly.


    It meant they temporarily held an advantage in high-level power. It was best to take the initiative and strike before the enemy''s reinforcements arrived, defeating them in one fell swoop.


    ording to Harof''s spection, the pseudo-god was the source of these magical practitioners'' power. Solving this issue would crumble the Empire and the Church without direct confrontation.


    The key to this battle was forcing them to open the gates to the Divine Realm at the right moment.


    "The location of the final battle should be as open as possible to avoid idental harm," Harof added. "If we can lure the Saint or the Chief Justice out, that would be even better."


    The wizards immediately began discussing these points, needing a well-thought-out n and contingency measures.


    Raphael suggested they could follow Edweil''s example, digging tunnels to infiltrate the petroleum city. They could feign an attack from outside while the councilors and Lynn, the star of magic, executed a decapitation operation.


    Even though the risk of magical uncontrobility was present, the casualties would be limited to the Imperial legion and civilians inside, avoiding harm to their own people.


    Harof, who had witnessed the power of a nuclear explosion, exchanged nces with others, shaking his head. It seemed Raphael underestimated the new magic developed by Lynn. Once unleashed, it would not only affect the city but could even reach several kilometers away.


    However, Raphael''s proposal was still constructive, serving as one of the alternative ns.


    "Master Lynn, what do you think?" Victorio found this n eptable, as long as they ensured foolproof safety for outsiders.


    Lynn pondered for a while, not giving a direct answer but suddenly asking, "Councilor Victorio, how far is the production site of petroleum from here, ording to the information I received?"


    "If my information is correct, it''s about ten kilometers in a straight line," Victorio replied.


    "Show me the map!" Lynn stood up, taking the parchment handed over by a wizard, carefully examining the topography of the Miste region, and soon formted an idea.

 Chapter 412: Theyve All Been Corrupted by Money!

    Boom... boom... boom!


    In the Misty Sea, within the city of Fire Oil, echoes of thunderous explosions reverberated continuously across the training ground.


    Dozens of imperial soldiers formed a long line, awkwardly manipting triggers. Bullets shot out from the tongues of ming barrels, hitting the target fifty meters away directly. The sturdy armor was pierced through instantly, and the wooden dummies behind shattered.


    "Good power. No wonder the Empire''s expeditionary force led by Edweil suffered a disastrous defeat at the hands of these people," Joshuamented, watching the soldiers with rifles in their hands, his tone low.


    "Have you shown these to the craftsmen? Is there a way to replicate them?" Lucia asked with interest.


    "Replicating other parts of this weapon is not a problem, except for this particr steel pipe." Joshua took a rifle, and with a flick of his wrist, he used magic to disassemble it, leaving only the barrel.


    Lucia took it, carefully examining it. There were no traces of magic or divine arts; it was just an ordinary steel creation.


    "No cracks or joint marks!" Joshua reminded in a hushed tone.


    Lucia paused for a moment before realizing.Ordinary craftsmen needed to melt iron ore at high temperatures to turn it into sturdy steel, followed by rigorous forging. The steel pipe in front of them, a meter long with a diameter of only a few tens of millimeters, looked seamless, with even a thread-like structure inside. It was indeed quite miraculous.


    "Could it be magic at y?" Archbishop Sireid suggested from the side.


    "Not very likely!" Lucia shook her head.


    Only grand wizards had the ability to manipte metal elements. While it was not a problem for them to create such a steel pipe, as far as she knew, the entire council of grand wizards numbered only thirty. The rifle team, on the other hand, counted in the thousands. It would take too long for just a few dozen grand wizards to produce them.


    Thinking about it, they would spend all day just making steel pipes. It seemed impractical.


    After pondering for a while, Lucia thought of two possible solutions.


    For example, finding an extremely hard substance and cing it in the molten iron, then forging it. Or preparing a mold and pouring the molten iron into it.


    After Lucia finished speaking, Joshua tactfully informed her that simr methods had already been tried by those craftsmen. The resulting steel pipes were simply not up to standard. When reinstalled on the rifles, the uracy became poor, and one rifle even exploded.


    Lucia was quite surprised; it seemed the wizards had indeed created something interesting. "What about the captured personnel? Do they know anything?"


    In addition to capturing arge number of rifles in this battle, hundreds of rifle users were also captured, and the methods of using rifles were extracted from their minds.


    "They were previously poor peasants who only knew farming and fishing. They only know how to use the weapons but have no idea about their manufacture," Joshua exined.


    At this point, Joshua paused, then continued. "These people have all been corrupted by dark forces. Unless forced, we can''t extract any information from them."


    "Are there no exceptions?" Lucia raised an eyebrow, thinking that among these hundreds of people, there should be a few soft-hearted ones.


    "No exceptions!" Joshua said solemnly.


    He had searched their memories and roughly found the reason.


    These riflemen were originally a group of impoverished peasants who were often hungry and cold. Most of them had families to support. Joining the rifle team was like reaching the heavens for them.


    The price set by the council was high. As long as they joined the rifle team, they could receive fifteen to twenty silver coins per month, leading a life of abundance.


    If they died in battle, they would also receive a generouspensation, and their families would be properly taken care of, ced in workshops to work.


    This treatment was even higher than the most elite guards of the Empire, almost catching up with the Punishment Legion. Most riflemen were in a fanatical state simr to faith, corrupted by money.


    It could only be said that the wizards had invested heavily to deal with the Empire.


    During their conversation, the imperial soldiers demonstrating the rifles had finally loaded the bullets with difficulty, followed by a volley that shattered the target in front of them.


    "It takes more than a minute to load the bullets. In my opinion, these wizard weapons are not as useful on the battlefield as an archer." Sireid couldn''t help butment as he saw the two lords paying so much attention to these demonic creations called rifles.


    As a conservative bishop, Sireid had always been wary of these magical weapons. ording to the church''s regtions, destroying them once discovered was the most appropriate thing to do.


    Moreover, it took more than a minute to load a bullet, a fatal w. If a shot missed, there would be no resistance capability.


    Sireid believed that even if he encountered a whole team of riflemen, he had a hundred ways to bring them to death, even toying with them in the palm of his hand.


    Joshua was well aware of the shorings of this thing, but it couldn''t conceal the advantages of the rifle. "Do you know how long it takes to train a qualified imperial archer?"


    "Probably... half a year?" Sireid hesitated.


    "It''s three to five years!" Joshua corrected. "The requirements for personnel are also very strict, needing to select from strong soldiers."


    "And they learned to operate rifles in just two or three hours!" Joshua pointed to the imperial soldiers experimenting with the weapons.


    The key was that the rifle had strong armor-piercing capabilities, something a bow and crossbow couldn''tpare with.


    In previous battles, a knight wearing well-crafted armor could charge on the battlefield without fearing stray arrows.


    Now the situation was different. A single rifle shot would probably end their lives!


    This kind of improvement was undoubtedly terrifying!


    In other words, those wizards only needed to randomly grab a peasant from the street, train them for a few hours, and they might have the potential to kill a knight who had practiced for decades on the battlefield!


    "ording to the reports of several knights of the Punishment Legion, the wizards loaded a special rifle on a running iron box, which can shoot dozens of bullets in one second. Even a bishop may be torn apart on the spot," Joshua said with a solemn expression.


    Obviously, the wizards had found a way to ovee the ws of the rifles, but they hadn''t been mass-produced yet.

 Chapter 413: The Roar of the Fire Dragon and Dealing with the Airship.

    Under Joshua''s exnation, Sireid realized the frightening nature of this new type of weapon, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he quickly spoke.


    "We can''t wait any longer. We must immediately send these minions of evil straight to hell!"


    Sireid couldn''t fathom the consequences of letting these wizards continue their development, knowing they could create even more powerful magical weapons.


    "If only we had continued the pursuit earlier," Sireid regretfully expressed. They had won a significant victory in a surprise attack, but failed to annihte the enemy.


    Launching another strong offensive now would undoubtedly result in heavy casualties.


    "Don''t worry, Sireid. Under the greatness of the Lord, all resistance is futile!" Joshua reassured.


    They allowed the wizard army to retreat, partly due to the significant casualties suffered by the crusaders and their low morale. On the other hand, it was a deliberate strategy, using this legion as bait to lure the main force of the wizards.


    Joshua was well aware that once the holy maiden took full action, those so-called new magical weapons would be asughable as toys.


    Yet, after this battle, the embodied avatar couldn''t be used anymore, requiring a recement and several years to regain strength."Lucia, your requested divine magic is now set up!" A nun entered from the training ground, whispering respectfully into the holy maiden''s ear.


    Lucia nodded, her thoughts activating as the seamless steel pipe in her hand disintegrated into basic elements. ttening the Wizard Council would grant ess to all the new magical weapons and their crafting techniques.


    This was the fastest way!


    The group walked out of the training ground, quickly entering the grand cathedral of the Misty Land.


    The Duke ruling the region had amassed wealth through oil extraction, reflecting his devotion to the Lord. The cathedral was ordingly grand and solemn.


    On the square in front of the cathedral, hundreds of bishops were gathered, reciting prayers while holding holy scriptures.


    Golden pirs stood around them, and beneath their feet was a massive, intricately patterned divine magic array.


    Lucia walked forward, standing in the center of the divine magic array.


    "Praise be to our Lord, the great and eternal god... Your glory illuminates the entire continent, dimming the stars!" The bishops devoutly sang praises. The statue of the god in the cathedral emitted a gentle golden light, followed by a simr glow appearing on Lucia.


    Soon, a powerful divine magic wave began spreading in all directions. The inscribed divine magic array on the ground came to life, and the space started warping, making the neatly arranged bricks vanish from everyone''s sight.


    The interior of the entire divine magic array quickly turned into a dark curtain, undting like ripples on water.


    In the next moment, a gigantic and terrifying w emerged from the bottomless abyss of darkness, followed by a body as red as moltenva, exuding a powerful aura that left everyone breathless.


    As the monstrous creature fully emerged, Sireid finally saw it clearly¡ªava dragon!


    Simultaneously, divine magic chains coiled around from the surrounding pirs, firmly locking the massive dragon body.


    "Roar!" Theva dragon struggled violently, and the divine magic chains rattled, but the more it struggled, the tighter the chains bound it.


    After a few attempts, theva dragon gave up, its ferocious, fist-sized pupils staring fixedly at Lucia above the dark curtain. It then released a breath of scorching heat...


    This breath was extremely intense, scorching the space itself. The rolling heat waves even reminded Sireid of the scorching beam that descended from the sky on the battlefield!


    "Lucia!" Sireid eximed in terror, but soon realized his worry was unnecessary. The intensity of the dragon''s breath rapidly diminished before reaching the holy maiden.


    "Dragon species, reallycking in brains," Lucia said, raising her hand. The intense mes instantly ceased, and the entireva dragon seemed as if someone had grasped its throat, emitting a painful low growl.


    The divine magic chains binding the dragon began to dissolve, sinking into its crimson scales...


    Seeing Lucia effortlessly subdue theva dragon summoned from another realm, Sireid couldn''t help but sigh in relief. His admiration for the holy maiden chosen by the church changed from mere obedience due to her status to genuine awe and envy.


    With such strength, she must have received the blessing of the gods!


    The surrounding nuns also wore admiring expressions, fantasizing about being chosen by the Lord one day, ascending to the heavens and bing the church''s holy maiden.


    After dealing with the unrulyva dragon, Lucia condensed a dragon-shaped gem and handed it to Sireid.


    "Let it be under your control!"


    This gem, created with her power, connected to the divine magic binding theva dragon, allowingmands to be issuedter.


    "Thank you for your trust, Lady Lucia!" Sireid took it with pleasant surprise.


    He understood that the church had put in considerable effort to summon ava dragon from another realm. Clearly, the purpose was to counter those airships!


    Sireid had heard about these colossal alchemical creations with high maneuverability, moving at speeds exceeding a hundred kilometers per hour. They could unleash a powerful beam, wiping out hundreds of griffin knights, making them the wizards'' most crucial aerial power.


    Now, with the assistance of theva dragon, the situation would change. This superior dragon not only surpassed airships in speed but also excelled in aerialbat with its breath and innate magical abilities.


    Against the slow-moving airships, theva dragon turned them into living targets.


    "How are our soldiers? Have they recovered?" Lucia turned to Joshua, who was nearby, inquiring.


    "Your Highness, after the priests'' divine magic purification, they have ovee their fear of those sorceries," Joshua replied.


    "In that case, let''s set out tonight!" Lucia dered decisively.


    The midday pir of light that pierced the sky had left a profound impression on her. Although Lucia had figured out the principles of this magic and found ways to counter it, the most sensible approach was to y to the enemy''s strengths, not giving them a chance to use it.

 Chapter 414: The Holy Churchs Surprise Attack and the Defeat of the Garrison

    Chapter 414: The Holy Church''s Surprise Attack and the Defeat of the Garrison


    Midnight, Misty Ridge, fifty thousand imperial troops quietly arrived at the city under the cover of the legendary divine art - the Illusory Realm.


    "It seems these wizards have quite some skills!" Joshua muttered as he looked at the towering city walls in front of him.


    Last time he was here, the small border town had walls less than three meters high. Now, before them stood a seven-meter-high sturdy wall.


    In just half a day, the wizards had worked a magical miracle!


    Above the walls, campfires burned brightly. More than fifteen hundred guards stationed on the walls seemed not to have noticed their presence.


    The number of guards was much less than Joshua expected, but considering the heavy casualties suffered by the riflemen in the previous battle, most of them should be recovering from injuries. Combined with the remaining riflemen guarding other parts of the city, the numbers didn''t differ much.


    A cold smile yed on Joshua''s lips. Those wizards probably couldn''t imagine that, just ten hourster, the imperial guards would be fully restored,unching a surprise attack under the cover of night.


    "Under Lucia''s crown, Lord Inquisitor, shall weunch the attack now?" Sireid respectfully inquired.


    The distance of seven hundred meters was already the limit. Approaching further, even within the Illusory Realm, would raise suspicions.As for theva fire dragon, Sireid had it stay ten miles away, ready to fly over at the moment of the battle to avoid detection by the wizards.


    Lucia extended her right hand, boundless divine light gathering in her palm, condensing into a thumb-sized sphere. It shot directly towards the towering wall seven hundred meters away.


    Soldiers on the wall could only see a bright firefly drifting towards them in the dim night, moving at an incredibly fast speed. The seven hundred meters were covered in an instant!


    Even before they could shout, the glow expanded rapidly, then exploded!


    A thunderous explosion echoed through the entire castle, and the towering wall shattered under the intense st. The city gate was blown open, debris flying, creating a misty rain of rocks.


    Dozens of patrolling guards on the wall were knocked down by the shockwave of the explosion, blood sttering, and cries of agony echoing continuously...


    At the moment Lucia took action, the Illusory Realm was instantly shattered. Over ten thousand divine punishment knights shouted, "For the glory of the Lord!" and rushed through the open gate with raised scimitars and longswords, cutting down the guards within the city!


    Perhaps their attack was too sudden, or maybe these people had not yet recovered from the morale-shattering defeat in the noonday battle. Under this unimpeded assault, the Holy Church''s expeditionary force had already entered the city!


    Too smooth... Joshua felt a thick sense of unease. After entering the city, they found torches ced on every street, and guards were set up, but they encountered no effective resistance!


    No rows of rifle shots, no cannons, and no wizards!


    The entire city was eerily quiet, with guards scattered and fleeing in fear.


    Eerily quiet to the point of being frightening!


    "What''s going on?" Sireid was puzzled, unable to understand the situation.


    Where were their enemies? Those wizards?


    Just as everyone was wondering, a group of brave divine punishment knights brought the leader of the guards to them.


    He was a man in his thirties, slightly slender, with slightly chubby cheeks. He knelt in fear, repeatedly bowing, his voice trembling as he spoke.


    "Lord Bishop, I surrender... I surrender! I beg you to forgive my sins. It''s those damned wizards who cast spells on us, forcing us to guard this town for them..."


    "Enough!" Joshua interrupted the man''s defensive words, coldly asking, "Tell me, where are those wizards?"


    "They... they left fifteen minutes ago, riding on a flying house of some kind," the middle-aged man answered hesitantly.


    "You mean they''ve escaped?" Joshua frowned, surprised.


    While not impossible, it was strange. The Empire and the Holy Church''sbined forces far surpassed these minions of darkness. Wizards had just suffered a defeat, carrying wounded, fleeing was normal.


    However, the timing was so perfect, exactly fifteen minutes before their arrival.


    Their luck could only be described as terrible!


    "Do you know which direction those wizards went?" Lucia suddenly inquired.


    "Y-yes... to the north!" the middle-aged man replied hesitantly.


    At this statement, the bishops present were all shocked because the kingdom was to their west!


    If they wanted to retreat, they shouldn''t be flying north!


    "What''s in the north?" Lucia asked in confusion.


    "It''s the oil!" Joshua''s expression turned serious. After searching the memories of the captured prisoners, he had suspected this.


    Because the wizards, inunching this counteroffensive, should have first reimed the lost territories of the kingdom. The fact that the other two legions had been staying within the kingdom''s borders also proved this point.


    The legion they encountered was the only exception, actively infiltrating the Empire''s territory and aiming for Misty Ridge. Most likely, it was for the oil.


    "These wizards must want to seize or destroy the Empire''s war weapon!" Sireid eximed indignantly.


    The importance of oil was self-evident. In recent years, in wars against barbarians and dealing with demonic creatures, it yed a significant role in reducing casualties.


    Lucia shook her head, not agreeing with Sireid''s spection.


    While oil was useful, it paled inparison to the wizards'' cannons.


    "They must have found another use for the oil," Lucia spected.


    In thest battle against the kingdom, the Griffin Knights led by Avidel had taken a considerable amount of oil, most likely confiscated.


    After researching it, these wizards might have discovered some secrets, urgently wanting to obtain it. Perhaps they believed it could affect the oue of the war to some extent, hence their sudden search for the oil...

 Chapter 415: Lynns Ingenious Plan

    As the group pondered the secrets concealed within the oil, a continuous stream of divine cavalry reported the information gathered within the city.


    Just as the captain of the guards had mentioned, there were no more enemies in the entire town. All the wizards had evacuated, and the defense was now handled by a hastily assembled guard.


    Each person was said to be under an evil curse; disobedience would result in their bodies festering and decaying!


    The so-called tight defense and heavy military presence were all illusions!


    The wizards relied on an empty city to deter any pursuit. They even built sturdy walls only on the side facing the oil, leaving the other three sides merely for show.


    "No wonder..." Joshua said with a cold tone. He had suspected that reinforcing all four sides of the city walls in just a few hours was impossible.


    Clearly, they had been deceived!


    "Wait a minute, if all those wizards have evacuated, then what is the magical energy I sense?" Lucia paused, suddenly realizing this.


    Before entering the city, she had sensed a strong magical fluctuation within, leading her to believe that the wizards were still gathered in the town.It must being from the direction of the estate!


    "Now, immediately, recall everyone heading towards the estate!" A sense of warning emerged in Lucia''s heart. Without waiting for the bishops to act, she closed her eyes and used divine arts tomunicate.


    Unfortunately, it was toote. As the words fell, a violent explosion echoed from the direction of the estate, and mes erupted.


    It was the gift Lynn had left for them before leaving¡ªan abundance of gunpowder!


    The estate had a magical detection system that would trigger an explosion three minutes after detecting arge number of people entering!


    Judging from the intensity of the explosion, the elite soldiers heading to the estate for a search were likely in dire straits!


    Joshua''s expression turned extremely grim, and Lucia''s face was as cold as ice.


    "They''ve only been gone for a little over ten minutes, and they need to bring more than eight thousand people and heavy cannons. They can''t maintain full speed. We might still catch up..." Riedel quietly reminded.


    And since oil was crucial for the empire, there were still plenty of personnel guarding the extraction site. They should be able to dy for some time.


    Seeing Riedel suggesting departure, the captain of the guards burst into tears, pleading desperately, "Lord Judge, under the crown of the Holy Lady, I am the most devout believer. I attend the church every week to listen to teachings. Please, I beg you, save me!"


    Joshua approached, ced his hand on the captain''s head, and after a few seconds, his expression became even more unpleasant. "Fool, there''s no curse on you at all!"


    The guard captain was dumbfounded. He had witnessed a colleague viting the wizards'' orders, and that person had melted into a pool of blood amid screams of agony.


    "That was just an illusion, a trick by the wizards to scare you," Joshua exined, then turned to Lucia, urging her to pursue immediately and eliminate these deceitful wizards.


    Once they obtained the oil, new troubles might arise. They needed to prevent any furtherplications.


    "Riedel, you act as the vanguard. Intercept those airships. No need for a strong attack, just slow them down!" Lucia suppressed her anger and instructed sternly.


    "I understand, Holy Lady. I won''t let those wizards take away the empire''s weapon," Riedel responded firmly, kneeling down.


    A massiveva fire dragon descended from the sky, crushing the sturdy bricks beneath its heavy body. Its fiery red eyes stared hatefully at the bishops in front, filled with resentment, but its body and consciousness were still firmly bound by divine arts.


    After applying a protective divine spell on himself, Riedel leaped onto the dragon''s back, controlling its body to soar into the sky.


    Behind him, hundreds of griffin knights followed!


    ...


    Meanwhile, outside the city, Lynn and others in hiding witnessed the giant dragon taking off.


    "Tsk tsk, what kind of monster is that, so huge?" Ham eximed in amazement.


    "It should be a dragon?" Riedel uncertainly replied. Although they had never seen a dragon, it was amon subject in operas and bardic tales, known for its fierceness and strength.


    "It seems Lord Lynn was right. These people indeed went after them!" Riedel watched as they entered the city, then swiftly emerged, heading north for the expeditionary force.


    It was exactly as Lynn had predicted!


    "Shall we act now?" Ham rubbed his hands excitedly.


    "No, wait a little longer," Riedel shook his head, cautious. "Let them move a bit farther. We should at least send a message first!"


    "Sorry for the trouble, Lord Anthony!" Riedel turned to Anthony beside him.


    Thetter nodded, closing his eyes and manipting the surrounding electromaic field to send out electromaic signals!


    As the airships had only been in motion for about twenty minutes from departure, and the distance was not far, they didn''t even need a ry station. Their speed was extremely fast.


    The moment after Anthony cast his spell, Lynn and others on the airship received the message.


    "Good, since they''ve caught up, we will decide the battlefield from now on!" Beside him, Harof smirked.


    Previously, they had been brainstorming how to deliberately lure the other side out, providing a suitable ce for casting the new magic they developed.


    However, Lynn proposed a different approach: attacking the ce the enemy would undoubtedly defend! The oil was the best target!


    Once they showed strong interest in it, the Holy See could not let them have it and would surely follow! This was a genuine strategic n!


    Moreover, they left a "small gift" in the city. If things went smoothly, the opponents should be furious and perhaps lose their rationality.


    Being fooled repeatedly, who wouldn''t be desperate?


    "Unfortunately, it''s a bit too fast. We didn''t have time to make more arrangements; otherwise, it should have been foolproof!" Lynn sighed with a hint of regret.


    ording to his earlier estimate, the Holy See had just suffered thousands of casualties. Even if they were anxious, they would need half a day for recovery beforeunching an attack tomorrow morning. However, the opponent''s actions were much faster than he expected...

 Chapter 416: Unscientific but Magical!

    "Nothing is foolproof; idents can happen at any time. If we can ensure an 80% chance of sess, it''s worth going all out!" Harof reassured.


    If it weren''t for Lynn''sst-minute development of a method to detect enemy movements through ground vibrations, they might not have escaped the Holy Church''s sudden attack.


    The situation would have been unpredictable, and even if they won the battle, the losses would be severe.


    "I don''t think we need to worry too much. We''re going in ''lightly armed'' this time. These people can only follow us and eat dust, buying us some time is not difficult..." Raphael optimistically interjected.


    "Don''t be too confident in your words!" Lynn shook his head, looking towards the rear. "They have caught up!"


    As they spoke, a spine-chilling dragon roar echoed from a distance.


    Under everyone''s gaze, a crimson fireball rushed towards them.


    Upon closer inspection, it wasn''t a fireball but a monstrous creature with wings spanning over twenty meters. Its red scales resembled moltenva, and its blood-red eyes exuded a murderous aura.


    "Is this... a dragon?" Raphael''s pupils contracted as he recalled the dragon disaster in the wizards''nd decades ago."It should be a sub-type of dragon!" Harof corrected.


    "So fast! Its speed is at least 180 kilometers per hour. How can something this big and heavy fly so fast?" Lynn expressed surprise. Judging by its wings, it couldn''t achieve such speed even with a hundred kilometers per hour.


    Harof and the others looked at Lynn strangely, not understanding why the magic prodigy would say such things. After all, Harof''s steel-made fighter jet had easily exceeded three or four hundred kilometers per hour.


    Unaware of their thoughts, Lynn didn''t have the energy to investigate how the fire dragon in front of him was flying.


    Their enemies had entered the range for attack and spellcasting.


    Machine guns mounted at the rear of the airship immediately opened fire. The dense bullets poured like a torrential rain towards the molten fire dragon.


    However, the dragon, despite its massive size, was more agile than they had imagined. With a light flutter of its wings, it effortlessly dodged the iing barrage.


    "They should have anticipated and aimed ahead..." Lynn shook his head. These machine gunners were too inexperienced, possibly due to the short training time and the urgency of deployment.


    Following closely, the second line of defense formed by the wizards unleashed a barrage of fireballs, ice des, and thunderbolts, covering arge area. Since the opponent was fast and agile, the goal was to make it impossible for the dragon to evade!


    However, this time, the dragon didn''t dodge but opened its mouth and spewed a scorching dragon breath. The magic approaching it was entirely extinguished by the high-temperature waves. Then, the dragon breath charged towards the array of airships.


    The rolling waves of fire approached, and Lynn stepped forward, extending his hand. His index and middle fingers trembled slightly, creating invisible ripples in the air. The oing dragon breath was split apart by an unseen force, passing through the sides of the airship, distorting the air with the intense heat.


    Although the invisible Spatial Waves couldn''t be seen with the naked eye, Archbishop Sireid, being the chief bishop, could sense the powerful force causing spatial fluctuations.


    Theva fire dragon also keenly perceived the danger. Before the Spatial Waves approached, it had already evaded, putting a stop to its dragon breath.


    Realizing that the airship had powerful wizards protecting it, making its destruction challenging, Sireid bypassed it and turned towards other targets.


    The entire array had over a hundred airships, extending a kilometer long!


    In a battlefield, such weapons could easily decimate tens of thousands of soldiers. However, in Sireid''s eyes, they were nothing more than individual targets!


    Theva fire dragon, with its wings spanning twenty meters, suddenly pped them, elerating again, charging towards a ship on the right. Spewing its fiery breath, it easily broke through the magical barrier, engulfing the entire airship in mes.


    In an instant, mes soared into the sky, and the entire airship burned violently. Despite using fire-resistant materials for the airbag, it couldn''t withstand such terrifying temperatures. The steel framework was melted and incinerated.


    Theva fire dragon leaped again, avoiding dozens of iing ice des. Its massive tail swung heavily, smashing into the airship''s outer shell. With a thunderous sound, the iron railing was smashed to pieces, causing half of the cockpit to burst open and turn into a fireball falling to the ground.


    "Damn it! Send a message, tell them to scatter!" Raphael urgently shouted as he witnessed one airship being downed within seconds.


    Due to theva fire dragon charging directly into the airship formation, they dared not cast spells at full strength. Otherwise, with a simple evasion, the attacks could hit their own allies.


    In fact, there was no need for Raphael''s reminder; the airships gathered together had already started dispersing.


    Seizing this opportunity, Sireid, controlling theva fire dragon, weaved through the array of airships. Waves of fire rose, painting the sky in shades of red, all within a matter of seconds.


    As a pilot, Alec watched helplessly as a nearby airship was turned into a fireball by the scorching dragon breath, feeling a mix of anger and fear.


    In the past, they had manipted enemies with their extraordinary speed, but now the situation had reversed. The enemy''s flight speed was faster, and they were more agile!


    "Damn it!" Alec muttered through gritted teeth. Then, he turned to look at Sanchez, the chief wizard of sturgy, who was beside him. Anxiously, he said, "Master Wizard, are we just going to watch like this?"


    Sanchez, also feeling the urgency, had no solution. The dragon''s flight speed was too fast. It never lingered in one ce, making it difficult for their magic to hit.

 Chapter 417: Debut of the First Generation Fighter

    The rhythmic ticking echoed continuously on the airship. Sanchez''s mind shook as his urgent expression gradually cooled down after decrypting the information. He immediately spoke.


    "Now, everyone, turn around!"


    Alec, filled with anger and joy, along with the other airship operators, heightened their focus and steered the airships for a change in direction. It was time for their counterattack!


    While Sireid rode a massive fire dragon wreaking havoc in the sky, he failed to notice that these airships were not simply fleeing. Several dozen airships quietly changed course, quickly forming an array under Lynn''smand, and one after another, lightning illuminated each airship.


    "Chain Lightning!" "Thunder Prison¡ªLightning Storm!"


    Over fifty Thunder Wizards simultaneously cast spells, creating an electromaic field covering a radius of hundreds of meters in an instant.


    By the time Sireid realized something was wrong, the blue-purple lightning had already filled his entire field of vision. The magical barrier around him cracked under the violent arcs, and the speed of hisva fire dragon, beneath him, slowed down.


    Subsequently, dozens of concentratedser beams swept in from all directions. Theva fire dragon, unable to dodge due to paralysis, was like a massive target and was quickly hit.


    The most powerfulser, originating from Lynn, struck the dragon''s neck, tearing through the tough scales, andva-like blood sprayed, dyeing the sky red...However, the otherser beams were not as potent, only leaving small scars on the tough scales, not even breaking through the defense.


    "So resilient!" Lynn marveled inwardly.


    The strongestser magic was, of course, his creation, yet it couldn''t kill the target directly.


    The other beam magics were even less effective, unable to cut through the dragon scales.


    To avoid friendly fire, Lynn had the airship array spread out, reducing the power of thesers to some extent. However, their inherent strong armor-prating capabilities were enough to cut through metal, and now, breaking through the defenses was difficult...


    Even with the recent sessful hit from the machine guns, the continuous strafing was not enough to harm the opponent.


    "This dragon species has high resistance to mes and high temperatures. Moreover, it''s too far away. If it were closer, theser magic might have been more effective!" Harof said with a serious expression.


    Unfortunately, such opportunities seemed to be limited. After suffering a significant loss, Sireid manipted theva fire dragon to fly above them. This was the airship''s second weakness; due to therge gas bag obstructing the view, it was impossible to attack enemies directly above.


    This was the first time they found themselves at an absolute disadvantage in terms of speed, and Harof finally experienced the frustration of being unable to hit the opponent.


    If Victorio were present, perhaps he could seal off the sky, restricting the enemy''s movement, and then use his "Temporal de" to fatally strike.


    However, Victorio and Aurora had already set up the next battlefield ahead of time.


    Just then, a sharp and piercing whistle suddenly sounded in the sky, and a dark shadow appeared in the distance.


    "It''s the Gryphon Knights!" Harof frowned slightly. A fire dragon they could barely deal with, but if these Gryphon Knights got close, they could easily inflict severe damage to the airship array.


    In the previous aerial battle in the capital, they achieved an absolute victory relying on theser magic. However, that was under the circumstances of a new magic''s debut and inadequate intelligence.


    It wouldn''t be so easy now!...


    As expected, as the Gryphon Knights approached, they deftly flew up into the sky, preparing to destroy the airship''s gas bags from above, causing them to fall on their own, with no intention of engaging in a direct fight.


    However, Lynn''s expression rxed, and he spoke. "Don''t worry; our reinforcements have arrived!"


    This reinforcement naturally referred to Lydia''s new fighter jet.


    Since it carried limited fuel and had a short range, and on top of that, it was equipped with a powerful weapon, Lynn only allowed Lydia to pilot the fighter jet to support them when he confirmed that the Holy See was genuinely catching up!


    Now it had arrived simultaneously with the Gryphon Knights...


    "Charge! We must not let these shameless scum, the minions of evil, seize the empire''s weapons of war!" A Gryphon Knight raised his warhammer high and roared loudly.


    "Kill these sphemers!" "Charge, charge!"


    Thunderous shouts filled the air as hundreds of Gryphon Knights, high-spirited, rushed towards the outer perimeter of the airborne fleet, determined to erase the shame of repeated defeats!


    However, before their words could fade, the thunderous sound of machine guns rang out. Several Gryphon Knights, who led the charge with shouts of "charge," were engulfed in a hail of bullets in full view of everyone, their bodies turned into sieves.


    "Damn, what''s going on?" "Where''s the enemy?" "Ambush, ambush!"


    Piercing cries echoed in the sky. The previously high-spirited Gryphon Knights were suddenly thrown into chaos.


    Several invisible fighter jets, enhanced with prization magic, zoomed past. The mes from the machine guns shed in the air, and the barrage of bullets instantly pierced through the Gryphon Knights'' bodies, tearing them apart.


    Blood sttered, and cries of agony were heard one after another.


    Although Gryphons had astonishing senses of smell, optical invisibility had minimal effect on them. However, the speed of the fighter jets was too fast for them to determine the enemy''s position purely based on smell.


    Under the cover of prization magic and darkness, these fighter jets seemed like invisible reapers, continuously harvesting the lives of the Gryphon Knights.


    During this period of counterattack to reim the king, the wizards in the alchemy workshop had once again produced four modified magic fighter jets. The pilots were selected from the wizards, and even though some werecking in training, it was more than enough to deal with these Gryphon Knights.


    Lydia, with the most skilled piloting, aimed her target at the massiveva fire dragon within the airship array.


    As the button for firing the machine guns was pressed, the guns mounted on the wings opened again, and the linked barrage kept striking the dragon''s spine. Sparks sttered, emitting a muffled sh of steel.


    "So tough!" Lydia eximed simrly to Lynn. After all, the fighter jet''s machine guns used not lead bullets but more powerful fixed ammunition, yet it failed to pierce the dragon scales.


    However, Lydia was not discouraged. She directly increased her speed to the extreme and charged straight at the gigantic fire dragon in front of her...

 Chapter 418: First Generation Fighter vs. Lava Fire Dragon

    Chapter 418: First Generation Fighter vs. Lava Fire Dragon


    The continuous barrage of bullets did not catch Lord Lynn''s attention, as the Lava Fire Dragon, while destroying airships, also faced the wizards'' counterattacks at every moment.


    As for Lord Lynn himself, the majority of his focus was on suppressing the Lava Fire Dragon beneath him and constructing protective spells. He couldn''t spare much attention to sense the origin of the iing attacks.


    However, his underestimation proved fatal. The fighter jet, traveling at a speed of 360 kilometers per hour, moved like a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, it covered a distance of several hundred meters.


    Just before colliding with the colossal dragon body, Lydia desperately maneuvered the aircraft, pulling the red lever beside her to the lowest point.


    In the moment of intersecting with the dragon body, a powerfulser beam shot out from the front of the aircraft.


    The top of the fighter jet resembled an almost infinite and unstoppable divine sword!


    The distance between them as they passed each other was less than thirty meters!


    Lydia could even see the intricate magic patterns on the dragon''s red scales, resembling chains. At such a close range, theser beam''s power was unleashed to the fullest. The tough dragon scales were instantly cut, and the fighter jet roared past, leaving a long bloodstain on the massive dragon from east to west.


    Blood sttered across the sky, and the roar of the giant dragon echoed continuously."What is this thing?" Lord Lynn, btedly realizing something was amiss only when his fire dragon was wounded, could vaguely sense an intrusion into his domain. It was fleeting, its speed unimaginable.


    Already struck again, the enraged Lava Fire Dragon continuously sought the enemy attacking it with its fiery breath, but the illusion magic worked exceptionally well in the dark night. Lord Lynn could only sense the airflow as the fighter jet passed and the buzzing sound of the propeller.


    The dragon opened its mouth, spewing the scorching dragon breath continuously towards the source of the sound.


    However, the speed of the fighter jet was too fast. Under Lydia''s control, it moved like an agile fish, weaving through the intense dragon breath. asionally, she used the machine guns to counterattack.


    With a fierce burst of machine gun fire, a continuous rain of bullets reappeared. In just a dozen seconds, hundreds of bullets struck the dragon''s body continuously.


    Although most of them were blocked by the tough dragon scales, there were many wounds oozing with blood. The red blood flowed down the dragon''s tail.


    Amidst the angry and painful roars, the fiery dragon''s breath became more intense. The entire dragon head directly collided with the direction from which the bullet rain came.


    Lydia was audacious, but she understood that her fighter jet couldn''t confront a dragon head-on. Moreover, the burning dragon breath had some impact on the battle.


    After all, her ability to see in the dark and urately hit the target relied not only on vision but also on the magic of sensing heat.


    This was why pilots of fighter jets had to be chosen from among the wizards.


    Fortunately, the fight wasn''t about size or powerful spells. If one couldn''t hit the target, these advantages were meaningless! Lydia clearly understood this, always maintaining a certain distance, circling around the giant fire dragon. asionally, she activated the machine guns to harass and provoke the irritable dragon, and, seizing opportunities, she used theser beam up close!


    ording to the headmaster''s words, the angrier and more irrational the enemy, the greater the chance of sess!


    As for Lord Lynn on the dragon''s back? The target was too small,pletely invisible under the magic of heat perception, overshadowed by the dragon''s massive heat source.


    Coupled with the constant movement of the fire dragon itself, hitting such a small target in the limited view of the night sky was like a fairy tale. So, Lydia focused all her attention on dealing with the dragon.


    After several minutes of entanglement, there were dozens more horrifying wounds on the dragon''s body.


    Already on the verge of losing control, the Lava Fire Dragon wentpletely berserk. Dragon breath covered the sky, and the dragon tail swung wildly, attacking aimlessly.


    Lydia narrowly avoided the swing of the dragon''s tail, followed by another round of shooting, hitting the dragon''s body.


    "This life force is too strong!" Lydia, watching the still howling but not falling Lava Fire Dragon, was secretly shocked. She had never seen a creature endure so manyser beams and machine gun shots and still be so ''vital.''


    The fighter jet''s reserve of four thousand ammunition rounds had already consumed eighty percent, and the energy supply for theser beam was less than a third remaining.


    It seemed she had to conserve ammunition, slowly deplete the opponent''s stamina and vitality. Lydia didn''t believe this thing had immortality. The fighter jet still had more than half of its fuel, and she was confident that she would emerge victorious if she dragged the battle on.


    "Enough, stop!" Lord Lynn tightly grabbed a protruding spike on the dragon''s back, preventing himself from being thrown off. He infused arge amount of magical energy into the dragon-shaped gem, forcibly controlling the Lava Fire Dragon beneath him to cease its meaningless attacks.


    Their goal wasn''t to engage in a pointless battle with an unseen and untouchable target here; it was to dy time and destroy the airborne airships as much as possible.


    These alchemical creations carried the main forces of the wizards. Each shot down airship meant the deaths of hundreds of riflemen and wizards.


    Under Lord Lynn''s constant urging, the frenzied Lava Fire Dragon redirected all its rage and frustration towards the airships that had not yet escaped.


    Lydia, seeing the enraged dragon still chasing the airships under her ''teasing,'' hurriedly followed suit. She opened the amplification spell added by the alchemists and loudly taunted.


    "Come and fight me, I''m right here..."


    Lydia taunted for quite a while. Seeing the dragon, still preupied with chasing the airships, she scolded, very irritated, "Only cowards would run away!"


    Lord Lynn ignored Lydia''s words, controlling the fire dragon beneath him to continuously change positions, reducing the frequency of being hit by theser beam.


    Although the Lava Fire Dragon still looked lively, Lord Lynn, who could sense the opponent''s state through the dragon-shaped gem, understood that these injuries were gradually draining its vitality. It just didn''t show because of its fury.


    While the Lava Fire Dragon could still hold on, he needed to destroy as many airborne airships as possible and prevent them from reaching the oil-producing area...

 Chapter 419: Dragon Slaying Technique, Fifth Level!

    Seeing another airship submerged under the dragon''s breath, Lydia was furious to the extreme, but she had no solution.


    Machine guns and forwardser beams were the two main weapons of the fighter jets. However, it was evident that these couldn''t inflict fatal damage on the fire dragon; they could only injure it.


    Lydia involuntarily shifted her gaze to the control panel, specifically to the inconspicuous ck button.


    The prototype she was riding was quite special, having undergone significant modifications, including an additional bombing functionpared to other fighter jets.


    However, the dean had warned her before departing that the payload on the jet was extremely powerful and dangerous. Using it without caution could lead to irreversible consequences, and it could only be employed when receiving amand in the most critical situations.


    Though Lydia wasn''t clear on the specifics, she was certain it was something formidable.


    The situation seemed to be reaching a crisis, right?


    If things continued like this, everyone would be overwhelmed by the dragon!


    Just as Lydia hesitated, a voice sounded beside her."Now is not the time to use that!"


    The sudden voice startled Lydia, and the fighter jet almost collided with the nearby airship.


    "It seems your piloting skills need double the training," Lynn, who mysteriously appeared in the co-pilot seat, said disappointedly.


    Lydia rolled her eyes. She had been fully focused on how to deal with the dragon when a voice suddenly popped up beside her. It was strange not to be scared!


    However, Lydia didn''t argue orin but rather eximed in surprise, "Dean, howe you''re here?"


    "I had some alchemists enchant this fighter jet with a little magic. It can send a portion of magic power and willpower when necessary," Lynn exined. The fighter jet was one of his contingency ns, and he had provided several suggestions for its modifications.


    "So, what should we do now?" Lydia asked, frowning. The dragon was incredibly challenging to deal with; she had exerted all her efforts and still couldn''t defeat it.


    "I''ll prepare a spell to kill this dragon. You get as close as possible and buy some more time!" Lynn stated directly.


    "Alright!" Lydia''s tense expression instantly rxed. She hadplete trust in the dean. With that, she piloted the jet once again towards the loomingva fire dragon.


    Lynn, on the other hand, began disassembling the energy system of theser emission device. He took out a red gem ced inside.


    Theser device mounted on the jet could release a fourth-levelser beam with a diameter of about 0.3 millimeters, a custom-made level of intensity that could easily tear through steel.


    It could barely break through the dragon''s scale protection within thirty meters but couldn''t cause fatal injuries. The defense of this creature was indeed formidable!


    So, he had to take the risk of upgrading it to the fifth level!


    The five levels ofsers corresponded to the five orbits of electrons within an atom. The principle was that electrons absorbed energy, jumped from a low energy level to a high one, and then fell back from the high level to the low one, releasing the absorbed energy in the form of light.


    He hadn''t attempted to raise theser beam to the highest level before because controlling the fifth level was challenging. If the absorbed energy slightly exceeded the threshold, the element would directly turn into a sma state. If it was a bit lower, it would immediately drop back to the fourth level.


    Now, to deal with the fire dragon, he had to try his best!


    Fortunately, the fighter jet had a high-quality ruby suitable for castingser magic. Otherwise, in his current state of magical incarnation, it would be impossible to unleash such a powerful spell.


    Lynn closed his eyes, focusing on casting the spell. The fist-sized ruby rotated continuously between his closed hands.


    Then,yers of reflective coatings appeared around the ruby, enclosing it...


    While Lynn was casting the spell, Lydia had already taken action, approaching the massiveva fire dragon again. She didn''t conserve ammunition anymore, and the intense gunfire echoed once more.


    A series of sparks burst out, hitting the already blurry body of the dragon. Its scales continued to fall off, revealing flesh like moltenva.


    The infuriated dragon couldn''t control its anger, swinging its tail to drive away the reptile while pouring more rage onto the airship.


    In just half a minute, all remaining ammunition was exhausted, and the distance between the two sides was extremely close. Lydia quickly called out, "Dean, is it ready yet?"


    "Ready. Aim for the head. Now!" Lynn opened his eyes, and the round reflective mirror in his hands shook violently, on the verge of losing control!


    Inside the invisible internal space, the ruby had reached its peak brightness!


    "Charge! Charge!" Excitedly pulling the eleration lever to the bottom, Lydia rushed towards the giganticva fire dragon. Just as they were about to collide, she suddenly changed direction, flying past the dragon''s side.


    At the moment of their intersection, a beam as fine as a strand of hair shot out from the reflective coating!


    Sireid, on the dragon''s back, sensed the intrusion into its domain. A dazzling light appeared immediately, cutting through the dragon''s body. The tremendous power made Sireid feel a breath of impending death!


    Fortunately, this beam of light shed by and quickly disappeared. Theva fire dragon beneath seemed not greatly affected. Sireid sighed in relief.


    Crack...


    The next moment, a slight cracking sound echoed in Sireid''s ears. Following that, under Sireid''s horrified gaze, the dragon-shaped gem held in its hand exploded!


    Relying on the inertia of its flight, the dragon''s body spewed a massive amount of blood. In a painful roar, the enormous dragon head was cut into two halves!


    Sireid''s left arm was also severed. Theser beam didn''t only hit the dragon but also struck him. However, the beam was too fast, piercing through his body in the moment he saw it...


    Watching the colossal dragon body split into two, falling like a torn cloth, Lydia muttered to herself, "Amazing!"


    Lynn, sitting in the co-pilot seat, also sighed in relief. It seemed his theory was correct, and luck was on their side. The ruby in the palm of his hand hadpletely turned into a sma state and couldn''t be used anymore...

 Chapter 420: Caught in a Dilemma, the Condemnation Army in Peril

    As the Lava Fire Dragon plummeted, the group of wizards on the airship breathed a sigh of relief. They had finally dealt with this major trouble and were now safe.


    The Holy Church''s Gryphon Knights, under the assault of several fighter nes, were even more helpless, falling from the sky like dumplings.


    On the ground, the bishops also witnessed the powerful fire dragon summoned by the Holy Maiden swiftly beheaded, and the Gryphon Knights rendered powerless. They were both shocked and angry, but there was nothing they could do, especially since, under the cover of night and light-bending magic, they couldn''t see how the Gryphon Knights were eliminated.


    "Lord Joshua, under the Holy Maiden''smand, should we withdraw our forces?" a cautious archbishop suggested.


    With the absence of the fire dragon, the Gryphon Knights suffered severe losses in aerialbat, losing their influence over the airborne warships. The uing battles would constantly expose them to threats from the sky, possibly leading to a situation simr to the battle in the Sea of Mist.


    Before Lucia could respond, the proposal faced strong opposition from the bishops.


    "Are you suggesting we hand over the Empire''s weapon and watch as the minions of darkness ughter the people?" one bishop eximed.


    "Absolutely not! It''s a disgrace!"


    The bishops argued passionately, and in the sky, a Gryphon hit by gunfire descended towards them.Lucia paid no attention to the bishops'' arguments. She extended her hand, and a gentle divine light appeared. The falling Gryphon''s speed slowed, and itnded smoothly on the ground.


    This unfortunate Gryphon had lost half of its wing, emitting mournful cries and showing faint signs of consciousness.


    The knights on top were turned into sieves by gunfire, and their bodies were scattered somewhere.


    ¡¾Divine Gift of Refreshing Rain¡¿


    Lucia gently stroked the Gryphon''s head, and a misty divine light enveloped its broken body. The body, pierced by gunfire, visibly healed at an incredible speed, and the broken wing regrew.


    The restored Gryphon seemed to still be recovering from the fear, asionally emitting hoarse cries.


    Lucia shook herrge gown, then agilely sat on the back of the giant beast and suppressed the Gryphon''s fearful emotions with divine magic.


    The bishops, now forgetting their arguments, looked in astonishment at the Holy Maiden.


    "Lady Lucia, you don''t intend to personally join the battle, do you?"


    "This is too dangerous, and relying on you alone may not be effective," an anxious cardinal spoke out.


    Although Lucia had disyed formidable power when summoning and enving the fire dragon, they were still against her risking herself in such a reckless action.


    After all, the Holy Maiden represented the dignity of the Holy See and was a servant of God. She couldn''t easily get involved in dangerous situations.


    Before Lucia could respond, the bishops turned to Joshua, hoping the Chief Justice would stop Lucia''s impulsive actions.


    However, Joshua did notply with their expectations. Instead, he respectfully inquired, "Is there anything we can do, Your Holiness?"


    Lucia nced at the dispersed airships in the sky and decisively said, "You take some manpower and return to the City of Fire Oil immediately."


    "Their numbers are too few!" Lucia murmured.


    Before Lucy could receive a response, the reorganized Gryphon spread its wings and flew into the sky. Dust rose from the ground, causing a dozen bishops to frown. What confused them even more was Lucia''s words.


    Return to the City of Fire Oil? Did she mean they should retreat?


    Or was it suggesting some people should withdraw first?


    "Do as she says!" Joshua didn''t hesitate, looking at the bishops and giving a direct order. "I will lead a group of Divine Punishment Knights to the City of Fire Oil immediately. Ragnar, you are in charge of the subsequentmand!"


    "But, Lord Chief Justice..." Archbishop Ragnar hesitated, showing doubt about such a chaotic and irrational order. Should they really follow it?


    Other bishops were also discontent, thinking that Lucia, despite her noble status, wasmanding recklessly, relying on her own high status.


    Amidst the questioning voices, Joshua spoke slowly, "The Holy Maiden has received divine inspiration, and her instructions represent the will of the Lord!"


    Ragnar and others immediately fell silent, understanding that Chief Justice would never joke about such matters.


    After giving a few more orders, Joshua led three thousand Divine Punishment Knights, setting off for the City of Fire Oil.


    At the same time, the Divine Punishment Knights, who had gone to search for and treat the wounded, also began to return.


    The Gryphon Knights hit bysers and gunfire, as well as those who fell from the sky, were mostly dead. The airships hit by mes were no exception; not a single survivor was found.


    Ragnar, having a thought, suddenly asked, "Have those airships been inspected? How many bodies are on them?"


    "Probably less than twenty!" the reporting knight hesitated, most airships were incinerated by the fiery breath of the dragon before crashing, and the bodies werepletely unrecognizable. Still, it definitely didn''t exceed that number.


    "Only twenty?!" Ragnar''s pupils contracted, feeling a chill in his heart. He immediately realized an issue they had overlooked.


    They saw only about a hundred airships in the sky, and ording to their previous estimates, after that battle, there were still around eight thousand wizards in the army, not counting reinforcements.


    In other words, each airship must have carried seventy to eighty people and the heavy new weapons...


    This was impossible!


    Ragnar and the other bishops quickly understood why the Holy Maiden suddenly ordered them to send reinforcements to the City of Fire Oil.


    Because the main force of the wizards was not here. They were likely still lingering in that town, creating the illusion of evacuation to lure everyone to chase after the airships.


    Realizing this, cold sweat broke out on Ragnar''s forehead.


    On one side was the critically important oil field, and on the other side were the fortresses and strongholds in the western part of the empire. What was the true target of those wizards?

 Chapter 421: The Strategy of Attacking the Enemy and Rescuing Oneself – The Dark Passage Plan!

    Midnight, the zing bonfire illuminated the dark square.


    Tens of thousands of impoverished people formed long lines in the night.


    Captain Loren, the leader of the guards, held a thorny whip in his hand, speaking harshly. "Hand over the coins you received, and anyone caught hoarding will have to answer to my whip first!"


    "I remember it should be twelve silver coins!" Loren sneered.


    The impoverished people on the scene looked at each other. After a while, a raggedy-dressed pauper cautiously spoke, "Lord Loren, are you perhaps mistaken? It should be ten silver coins..."


    After the wizards had upied the town, they conducted a purge, hanging many corrupt nobles and tyrants. They distributed most of the confiscated wealth to the people.


    Each pauper received ten silver coins aspensation for the exploitation and envement by the nobles.


    Despite the Church''s propaganda depicting wizards as evil, facing the tangible temptation of money, most of the struggling poor epted it.


    "Are you trying to deceive me?" A sinister smile appeared on Loren''s lips. He suddenly raised the thorny whip and fiercelyshed it at the pauper.A crisp sound echoed, and the unfortunate pauper screamed as his cheek swelled.


    "I said it''s twelve coins, so it''s twelve!" Loren snorted, whipping the poor man again, who fell to the ground in pain, trembling.


    Loren stared at the terrified eyes of the remaining paupers, feeling pleased. Those cursed wizards looted every noble''s estate, and his Loren family was no exception.


    What puzzled him more was that the wizards distributed arge amount of treasure to these peasants!


    Loren believed that some pauper must have conspired with the wizards in secret, informing them to receive such rewards. Otherwise, who wouldin about too much money?


    Considering this, Loren reported the collusion between these paupers and the wizards to the Bishop, expecting punishment for the paupers and reiming the right to the looted wealth. He also nned to give these rebels a taste of punishment, and the extra two silver coins would be part of the penalty!


    Under Loren''s threat, the subduedmoners reluctantly handed over their meager possessions.


    Those who couldn''t pay faced a severe beating!


    Paying two extra silver coins might seem insignificant, but most paupers were already destitute, making it a life-threatening demand...


    One pauper couldn''t even afford one silver coin. As a devout follower, he firmly believed that the wizards had malicious intentions, surely enchanting the money with evil magic. Thus, he refused to ept anypensation.


    Regardless, Loren didn''t care. He thought no one would reject the silver coins offered. He swung his whip mercilessly, pouring his anger on these paupers.


    Forgetting that just half an hour ago, he himself knelt, begging for forgiveness under the judgment of the High Inquisitor and Saint Lucia...


    In just a minute, Loren had severely beaten the devout follower to the brink of death. As he prepared to beat him to death to intimidate the other lying paupers, a sudden and intense artillery sound erupted from outside the city!


    This sound... was it artillery?


    Loren was startled; a deep fear emerged from within because a few days ago, those wizards had used such powerful artillery to breach the sturdy city gates.


    But how could this be?


    Didn''t those wizards use airships to attack the oil fields? They should be in chaos now, fleeing from the Papal forces.


    Could it be that the Papal forces were defeated?


    Loren refused to believe this possibility, but soon he saw hundreds of city guards abandoning their armor and fleeing towards him.


    "Run! It''s the wizards, the wizards areing back!"


    Several city guards shouted desperately, only to be shot down by a volley of muskets.


    In the moonlight and the glow of the bonfire, thousands of rifleman, fierce as wolves, advanced toward them. Loren''s soul shivered with dread as he ordered his guards to intercept them, grabbing a warhorse to escape himself.


    The enraged paupers were not about to let Loren leave so easily. They swarmed, pulling him off the horse, unleashing a barrage of punches, kicks, bites, and scratches.


    "Get away! You lowlifes! When the High Inquisitor arrives, you''ll all be thrown into the purgatory!" Loren screamed in panic, but his guards had long vanished. Alone, he couldn''t resist the onught of the ''mob,'' and soon, silence prevailed under the righteous blows.


    Within moments, the rifleman had reached the crowded square. The terrified paupers awaited the judgment of the wizards.


    However, after Redell, the leader, understood the situation, he ordered the confiscated silver coins to be returned, and the paupers were treated for their injuries, including the faithful follower who had been whipped.


    Although physically healed by magic, the devout follower seemed somewhat lost, as if he had lost his soul.


    As the paupers regained their coins, their faces expressed disbelief, and a vague thought emerged in their minds.


    Perhaps under the rule of wizards, things weren''t so bad.


    At least, no one tried to take away their meager savings.


    In a surprise attack, the rifleman quickly regained control of the city.


    With the Papal forces busy chasing them and the defending forces left weak after the takeover, they suffered minimal casualties.


    "Lynn, the Dean, really predicted everything..." Redell couldn''t help but marvel inwardly.


    In the noon battle, they lost many cannons and armored vehicles, along with nearly three thousand wounded soldiers. A direct confrontation with the Papal forces wasn''t a suitable option.


    However, evacuating was equally difficult. With just over a hundred airships, it was impossible to take everyone away.


    So, Lynn proposed hiding the main force outside the city. They would create a grand illusion of airships going to seize the oil fields, luring the Papal forces away. Once the Papal forces left, and the enemy let down their guard, they would strike back, even capturing the poorly defended city with oil.


    ording to Dean Lynn''s words, they employed strategies such as an empty city, attacking the enemy to rescue themselves, the dark passage n, and baiting the tiger to leave the mountain!


    Many wizards were curious about what this magical star did before reaching thend of wizards.


    Could it be that he was a major lord of the empire, as only then could he understand so many tactical techniques?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 422: This is a battle that only legendary wizards can participate in; we are just burdens!

    "Lord Wizard, shall we head to the City of Fire Oil now?" After gathering the poor on the square, Raydell turned to Anthony and asked.


    "Yes, it''s better sooner thanter. There shouldn''t be many defenders in the City of Fire Oil now," Anthony nodded, then added with a smile, "They would never expect us tounch a counterattack now!"


    Everything was going smoothly with the ns. The Holy See had deployed its elite forces for tonight''s decisive battle, and there should be no more than three thousand defenders in the City of Fire Oil.


    Most importantly, the two legendary clerics should be absent, and no one could stop their attack!


    "But what about Headmaster Lynn?" Raydell hesitated and asked.


    The main enemy forces were diverted, and their side of the battle was indeed going very smoothly, but Raydell couldn''t help but worry about the situation on the other side.


    With less than two thousand troops on the airship, how could they withstand the assault of the Holy See''s fifty-thousand expeditionary army?


    "Don''t worry, Master Lynn has a n..." Anthony reassured.


    "And in a sense, this is a battle that only legendary wizards can participate in. We are just burdens!" Anthony shook his head, realizing this during the discussions on how to deal with the Holy See''s expeditionary army.The focus of the discussions was on luring the Holy See''s legendary clerics to the right locations so that Lynn''s new magic could be smoothly cast. After that, the concern shifted to minimizing casualties among their own forces.


    The leaders had great confidence in the power of Lynn''s new magic, to the extent that they didn''t even consider the Holy See''s tens of thousands of expeditionary troops.


    The decision to use the airship as bait was also because it was faster!


    "If everything goes well, we might be able to go back and support, get a glimpse of Master Lynn''s new magic!" Anthony said with anticipation.


    Raydell was also curious. What kind of magic could give Master Lynn the confidence to defeat legendary clerics capable of casting divine spells and tens of thousands of expeditionary troops...


    ...


    While Raydell led the musketeers to assault the City of Fire Oil, the aerial battle in the sky underwent new changes!


    Hundreds of Gryphon Knights were quickly demoralized under the pursuit of the new-style fighter aircraft, scattering in all directions.


    Some considered chasing the airship, thinking it might be better to face the enemy and die together. However, without the harassment of the Fire Dragon, they couldn''t catch up with these rapidly moving alchemical creations!


    Yasos, proficient in shape-shifting magic and possessing flight experience, was selected as the pilot for the first batch of fighter aircraft.


    He was quite interested in this new type of alchemical creation. Its speed far exceeded any flying creature he knew, three times that of an airship, to describe it as swift as lightning was an understatement!


    Yasos pushed the magic of thermal sensing to the extreme, turning the scattered Gryphon Knights intorge red dots, highly visible in the night sky. They just needed to aim and open fire with the machine guns!


    Just as Yasos selected the next target, ready to send them on their way, a Gryphon Knight appeared from below, flying towards him.


    "Lucky? Going against the tide, quite brave!" Yasos praised, thinking it was one of the Gryphon Knights they had shot down. After healing their injuries, they returned to the sky to join the battle again, and he couldn''t help but admire their courage.


    Against such enemies, they had to give their all!


    Yasos immediately turned to face the oing Gryphon Knight. As it approached within three hundred meters, Yasos pressed the control stick, and a fiery tongue burst from the machine gun, a barrage of bullets raining down in the sky...


    Therge red dot made no attempt to evade, and the sharp machine guns hit squarely!


    "Too easy!" Yasos smiled, but then realized that the bullets he fired seemed to have no effect. They didn''t bring down the opponent at all, and he faintly sensed that something was wrong.


    Immediately, a strong warning surged in his mind. Yasos instinctively deviated from his course, but it was already toote!


    A deafening explosion of shredded metal resounded in his ears, sparks flying vividly in the dark night.


    Yasos felt a violent shock through his body, as if his chest was about to burst open. With the excellent dynamic vision of a shape-shifting wizard, he saw clearly that he was hit by a yellow-orange bullet!


    The opponent had rebounded all the attacks from the machine guns!


    Hundreds of bullets tore apart more than half of the fusge. The entire fighter aircraft immediately lost speed, irreversibly plummeting towards the ground...


    Enduring the intense pain in his body, Yasos used electromaic magic to send out a warning signal. Then, just before the fighter aircraft crashed, he opened the top protective cover and jumped out...


    [Batwing Transformation]


    In mid-air, Yasos'' back muscles near the scap began to transform and extend, forming a pair of huge wings, three meters long in just a second.


    Although his shapeshifting magic had not gained recognition from the masters and did not receive the Morning Star Medal, it seemed to have some usefulness now...


    As the electromaic wave signal was sent out, wizards on the airship and other fighter aircraft also received the message.


    [Machine guns ineffective, enemy... extremely dangerous!]


    In fact, without the reminder, Lynn had already seen Yasos being shot down, as well as Lucia, riding a Gryphon, rushing towards them.


    Whether it was due to some secret technique or not, the Gryphon under the opponent''s seat was incredibly fast, its wings leaving afterimages, and its speed even surpassed that of the airship...


    "This should be the Holy See''s Saintess, right?" Harof squinted his eyes and praised, "Courageous,ing alone!"


    Lynn was also somewhat surprised. Although he knew that after dealing with the airborne Fire Dragon and Gryphons, the Holy See''s legendary wizards would definitely take action, he did not expect that only Lucia would catch up.


    This was inconsistent with his previous ns.


    The unknown is the most fearful.


    "Let the fighters retreat first!" Lynn said with a serious expression, quickly transmitting themand in the form of electromaic waves.


    After receiving the order, several nearby fighter aircraft immediately began to turn back, giving up the intention of besieging the opponent. Their ammunition and fuel were almost depleted, and they were no longer able to fight...

 Chapter 423: Legendary Divine Art - Rain of Stars!

    Lucia, riding a griffin, naturally noticed the fighter jets speeding through the air.


    In her magical sight, the prizing magic that could achieve visual invisibility had no effect.


    "The highest speed is actually over three hundred kilometers per hour?" Lucia quickly estimated the opponent''s speed through the maneuvers of the fighter jets in the air.


    If quantified, a mere three hundred kilometers per hour wouldn''t count for much, but in their current state, these new alchemical creations might pose a threat.


    A divine light shimmered in Lucia''s palm, ready to leave these new alchemical creations stranded here.


    However, the next moment, the fighter jets changed their course and evacuated in different directions.


    "Escaping?" Lucia furrowed her brows, not bothering to pursue further. Instead, she raised her hand towards the sky, and a brilliant divine light instantly spread, piercing through the entire sky.


    Powerful magical fluctuations made Lynn and the others a kilometer away stand on end. Subsequently, under their gaze, numerous dazzling starlights descended from the sky.


    "What is this... a meteor shower?" Harof''s expression turned solemn, sensing a strong sense of danger from these falling starlights."Inform everyone, reinforce defenses, full speed ahead, we must leave this ce immediately!" Lynn realized something was amiss and immediately gave themand.


    The range covered by the starlight was as much as three kilometers. The fighter jets, with their high speed, swiftly raced through and sessfully left the area before the starlight descended. However, the slower airships weren''t as fortunate...


    The falling starlight immediately revealed its terrifying power, effortlessly piercing and dissolving the characteristic leather of the airship''s envelope. Even the wizards on board were not spared; their protective magic was thinner than paper and quickly melted in the rising star mes.


    In an instant, more than twenty airships crashed thunderously, causing more destruction than the harassment and breath of a fire dragon!


    This was the legendary divine art¡ª[Rain of Stars]!


    Lynn''s airship was also within the range of [Rain of Stars], but the difference was that all these starlights were blocked by the spatial barrier created by Harof. However, they were powerless to aid the remaining allies and could only watch as ship after ship sank into the sea of starlight.


    Having resisted the [Rain of Stars], Harof didn''t have half a moment to catch his breath because Lucia, riding a griffin, was now less than two hundred meters away from them!


    This meant that the enemy had entered the range of theser!


    The pilot responsible for controlling theser immediatelyunched an attack!


    Lynn, on the side, immediately thought of something but couldn''t stop it in time because light is just too fast!


    At the moment the button was pressed, a powerfulser shot out, directly targeting Saint Lucia!


    With a speed of three hundred thousand kilometers per second, there was almost no possibility of evasion. However, Lucia didn''t n to dodge. She had already witnessed this peculiarser and naturally wouldn''t be unprepared.


    An invisible curtain appeared in front of her, and the redser, like passing through the water''s surface, deviated from Lucia''s side. Immediately, Lucia opened her mouth and uttered, "Reflect!"


    The moment the words fell, the transparent curtain immediately solidified. The approaching light rapidly changed its angle, creating a beautiful arc in the void, and then struck towards the airship!


    Fortunately, at the moment Lynn sensed something was wrong, he quickly pulled out the red gem used for casting theser, just in time to stop the spell and avoid the risk of being killed by his own magic.


    The information about the Church''s Saint being able to counterser magic had been discussed in meetings with people like Aurora. However, the drivers of these airships apparently weren''t qualified to attend that meeting.


    "Ster Radiance!" Lucia spoke again, and an infinite sea of starlight manifested around her, rushing towards the massive airships.


    Neither Lynn nor Harof dared to be negligent under such a powerful force. They immediately used their most potent protective magic.


    [Space Barrier]!


    [Indestructible Shield]!


    The boundless river of starlight was weakenedyer byyer under the barrier of force magic. Then it collided with the rising eternal mes, erupting into a deafening roar!


    The interweaving of starlight and fierce fire caused the airship, a hundred meters away, to shake violently. Lynn and Harof showed expressions of shock, as Lucia, riding a griffin, emerged from the brilliant starlight and the endless mes of eternity!


    What kind of monster is this?


    Lynn waspletely stunned. Lucia was surrounded by the eternal mes, so powerful that it could devour all known elements, making even the trifluorochloride seem fake, causing no impact on the Crowned Saint.


    "No, something''s not right. This is an illusion!" Lynn immediately realized, loudly reminding.


    The false part was not her mes but Lucia herself!


    Since the only thing breaking through the [Indestructible Shield] was an illusion, where was her real body?


    Just as Lynn was about to speak, the previously subtly swaying airship became more violently unsteady. Then the entire cockpit emitted a harsh, unpleasant creaking sound. Whether it was the floor underfoot or the surrounding railings, everything quickly shattered as if being forcibly crushed!


    As for the people on the airship, they had already flipped over the railing, escaping the fate of being crushed into powder...


    Lynn was no exception, escaping from the burst airship. Having ascended to Archmage and mastered force magic, he could fly in the air without any reliance, but his speed was rtively slow.


    In usual circumstances, this wouldn''t be considered a weakness. However, things were different now because in his line of sight, Lucia was already riding a griffin, rapidly approaching.


    "Did you choose me as the target?" Lynn''s face turned grave, unsure if this was fortunate or unfortunate...


    Perhaps only the term ''honored'' could describe it!


    With a thought, Lynn shot out clumps of eternal mes, blocking her approach. The explosive heat waves even elerated his descent!


    However, Lynn understood that this could only slightly hinder her. His gaze quickly turned to the red gem he had taken from the airship earlier...


    Let''s try this one!


    Whether the fifth-levelser could prate the imperfect reflective surface, oveing the biggest w ofser magic, had always been a question Lynn was exploring.


    Although it hadn''t been validated yet, in this desperate situation, he had no choice but to take a risk!

 Chapter 424: Breaking the Limits, Shattered Reflective Mirror!

    "071, initiate overload mode!"


    In Lynn''s mind, he silently recited, then sped his hands together, and a ruby spun rapidly in his palm.


    Simultaneously, his mental power skyrocketed.


    Fourth ring, fifth ring, sixth ring...


    Theputing power of the magicwork was swiftly mobilized, and the sensation of overflowing mental power once again rose within him.


    However, unlike the previous time, Lynn did not feel the splitting headache. Instead, it was as if he had broken through some barrier, and his mind became clear...


    In fact, during the defense of the royal capital, Lynn had already sensed the realm of high-level wizards in advance. After consuming two bottles of legendary magical potions consecutively, he was only a little short of umtion for promotion and stepping into this final step!


    Now, seizing this opportunity, Lynn naturally seeded, breaking through to be a sixth-ring grand wizard, truly mastering theputing power provided by the magicwork!


    This was undoubtedly an unexpected joy!However, at this moment, he couldn''t afford to check his current status through the smart brain. He devoted himself entirely to the release of magical spells.


    There was only one thought in his mind:press,press, andpress again!


    In the invisible darkness, the ruby, which had absorbed arge amount of energy, trembled violently, as if it would burst in the next moment...


    The spell he had spent more than two minutes preparing before was forcibly shortened to three seconds!


    Lynn''s forehead also had tiny beads of sweat, then he roared, "Break for me!"


    The sealed reflectiveyer instantly cracked with micro-holes even finer than hair strands. A dazzling beam shot out from the darkness, piercing through the heavens and earth!


    Lucia, foreseeing the opponent''s preparation for casting aser spell, had already solidified the water screen surrounding her into a circr reflective mirror at the speed of light. Even she couldn''t effectively evade at the speed of light...


    The only way was to reflect it, perhaps even bounce it back!


    However, at the moment theser beam was emitted, Lucia, located within the protective shield of the reflective mirror, faintly sensed a hint of danger. It was toote, though, as the speed of light was faster than the transmission speed of neurons.


    At the moment of realizing the danger, theser beam, finer than hair strands and more brilliant than starlight, had already prated the reflective mirror, instantly piercing through her body!


    Then the beam quickly changed direction, severing both her body and the griffin beneath her!


    In the void, the ring-shaped reflective mirror reflecting the mes shattered, turning into countless shards falling...


    "Should have hit, right?" Lynn''s thought shed through his mind. At this moment, he couldn''t afford to check his battle results because he was less than ten meters from the ground!


    Even with the simultaneous activation of force field magic and slow-fall spell, it was difficult topletely offset the impact force of falling straight from a kilometer-high altitude in such a short distance.


    Lynn had a roughnding, rolling on the ground in a sorry state, only dissipating the impact force after a few rounds. Still, he felt aches all over his body. If not for his cells being infused with magic and the cushioning effect of magic, he would probably have turned into a pile of flesh by now...


    Drops of blood continued to drip onto the barren soil!


    Of course, this wasn''t Lynn''s blood. The owner of it soon fell from the sky!


    It was a griffin, split in half, and its internal organs and blood flew out during the fall, sshing into the sky...


    Lynn''s gaze swept over, focusing on the other side. The figure of the Holy See''s saint, Lucia, appeared in front of him,nding gracefully from the sky...


    Did theser miss?


    This doubt arose in Lynn''s mind, but he quickly dismissed it because there was a trace of blood flowing from the left arm of the saint in front of him, continuously dripping on the ground.


    The saint''s robe was also cut from the left shoulder to the right leg, but the garment did not fall. It seemed to be glued together by some force, and the internal body should be simr...


    The whole person was split in half but still acted as if nothing happened, a state that could only be described as terrifying.


    Lucia seemed to have just noticed the anomaly on her body. Her slender fingers lightly traced the wound, and the severed injury waspletely restored!


    Is it an illusion, or is it immortality?


    Lynn furrowed his brows. He had encountered this tricky problem during the battle with Edweil.


    The opponent seemed to be invincible, and even dismemberment was not fatal.


    ording to their spection, this was likely rted to the secret of ascending to legendary...


    "Quite an impressive magic!" Lucia praised and then turned to Lynn, asking, "Can you tell me its principles?"


    She had been very interested in this unique beam magic.


    Initially, she thought it simply utilized the principles of focusing and refracting light, but after experiments, she found it was not that simple!


    There must be deeper secrets involved...


    "Why, do you want to learn magic?" Lynn was quite surprised.


    If he remembered correctly, ording to the Bible, magic belonged to the power of the devil. Those who used this power would gradually corrupt their souls and go to hell after death!


    "Not every high-ranking member of the church is so conservative," Lucia said with a lightugh. "If you are willing to sacrifice your faith, I will have the Pope personally baptize you, allowing you to enter a more profound realm¡ªthe true legendary realm!"


    "Better not." Lynn shook his head straightforwardly.


    High-ranking members of the church might be closer to true legends than the councilors like Harof, but they would undoubtedly be subject to significant restrictions. Perhaps even their lives would be controlled by others, something he could not tolerate.


    However, Lucia''s words also raised a slight warning in Lynn''s heart. Could a saint of a church really have such great authority, pardoning him, a minion of the devil, or even ordering the Pope to baptize a wizard?


    "What a pity!" Lucia said regretfully. For the first time in hundreds of years, she felt a sense of cherishing talent. However, it seemed the other party was really unappreciative.


    "Pity?" A coldugh echoed in this destend. "You better think about yourself!"


    As the words fell, more than ten chainsposed of alchemical runes rose from the ground, tightly binding Lucia''s legs, then extending to her body...


    In less than a second, the saint of the church had been firmly bound.


    Vittorio, who had spoken just now, appeared in the night, and the figures of Aurora and Harof also emerged around, faintly surrounding Lucia in the center.

 Chapter 425: She is Saint Lucia, Aila, and also a god!

    With the arrival of the three councilors, the situation on the battlefield instantly reversed.


    Lucia was tightly bound by alchemical runic chains, her expression unchanged as she calmly spoke, "It seems your target isn''t just the oil..."


    "Of course, we''ll take the oil, but after dealing with you," Harof sneered in response.


    Their airship wasn''t flying aimlessly; heading to the oil location was just a diversion!


    The importance of oil was undeniable, but it couldn''t serve as a battlefield for that reason!


    "Why is there only one person? Where is the High Judge?" Victorio was surprised; ording to their n, Lynn and others would try to lure both legendary figures of the Holy See for a joint resolution.


    "Dealing with just this one isn''t bad," Aurora said with a hint of a smile in her eyes.


    If it were four against two, there might be room for error. If the enemy forcefully broke through, that would be troublesome.


    But now it was four against one, the advantage was ours!Thinking this, Aurora soon noticed something was amiss. The Holy See''s Saint Lucia, despite being surrounded by them and bound by Victorio''s alchemy, showed no sign of worry on her face.


    "Is this all you nned for tonight?" Lucia spoke, sounding somewhat disappointed.


    The wizards'' goal not being the oil indeed surprised her. However, using prization magic, she had sensed Victorio and others hiding here, as well as the alchemical arraysid underground. She didn''t pay much attention, though.


    For her, whether facing one person, four, or ten, it made no difference!


    "Now that everyone is here, let''s settle this together!" Lucia''s gaze turned cold, a terrifying magical aura surged around her, and the chains binding her suddenly trembled.


    [Projection¡ªDivine Realm!]


    A grand hymn echoed through the night sky. Following that, the destend saw a surge of nt life, vines winding out, destroying the alchemical arrays on the ground.


    Lucia floated in the air, her eyes sparkling like stars. The chains binding her shattered instantly, and everything within sight, the entire barrennd, transformed into a divine sanctuary...


    Lynn stepped back hastily but was still enveloped by the divine realm. What shocked him more was that Lucia didn''t use holy words to unleash the Divine Realm.


    Previously, when she used power beyond the Archbishop''s, she didn''t seem to pray like Edweil did...


    In an instant, all the information converged in his mind, and the earlier confusion was suddenly unraveled!


    "You''re not the Holy See''s Saint!"


    Lynn''s pupils contracted, and he spoke decisively, "You''re A? That...pseudo-god?"


    In the entire Holy See, only one person had the ability tomand the Pope to baptize wizards as ''evil'' and mobilize the power of the Divine Realm without using holy words.


    That person was A, the god revered by the Holy See!


    "What?"


    Harof, Victorio, and Aurora looked at the floating Lucia in shock. With Lynn''s reminder, they all quickly realized.


    The Saint chosen from among the nuns, rotating every few years, living afortable life in the Holy City, couldn''t possibly possess such power!


    Perhaps it was some kind of divine descent!


    What chilled them even more was that she was conscious, extremely sharp in thought,pletely different from their previous assumptions...


    This was undoubtedly the worst situation!


    "Have you found a way to eliminate the poison of faith?" Victorio asked, his expression both horrified and filled with intense desire.


    The faith-turned-magic was a shortcut to a higher realm, a path they had abandoned due to the obstacle of the poison of faith.


    It would corrode one''s will, assimting thempletely into the imagined god of the believers!


    Lucia ignored the title of pseudo-god, looking down on them. Her star-like eyes swept over the four, finally focusing on Lynn, saying coldly,


    "This is thest chance; regret is still an option now!"


    In response, a me that seemed to burn eternally appeared around Lynn...


    The meaning was clear; only battle remained!


    Although things had taken a somewhat unexpected turn, all their preparations were for this battle!


    There was no reason to surrender before the battle!


    Lucia remained silent. Since she couldn''t use them, they had to be eliminated as threats!


    As the imminent battle approached, Harof made the first move. The space around him twisted, apanied by a slight sound resembling ss shattering. ck threads rapidly spread within the Divine Realm projection, copsing the area, shattering nts and trees...


    This was the legendary magical spell¡ª[Temporal de]!


    Simultaneously, the destroyed alchemical runes on the ground silently reconnected, and from all directions, they targeted Lucia...


    Lucia''s expression remained indifferent, allowing the chains and invisible des piercing through her body, pulling her into a vortex of space.


    It was then that Aurora urgently reminded,


    "You''re attacking an illusion. Be careful, Victorio; her real self is on your right!"


    Victorio''s mind had already sounded the rm. The Divine Realmpressed around him to less than three meters, and his perception abilities were significantly reduced.


    Unknown when, Saint Lucia''s figure had appeared to his side. Her right hand, gleaming with magical radiance, had already prated his protective magic...


    A fear aimed at the depths of the soul surged in Victorio''s brain...


    The intense sixth sense made him realize that once hit, he was doomed!


    Fortunately, Lynn and the others had already reacted. A strong beam ofser shot through the air.


    Though he couldn''t instantly unleash a fifth-levelser without the ruby as a focus, risking reflection, Lucia didn''t dare to gamble on that probability. Layers of rippling water screens appeared, diverting the beam, but also missing the opportunity to kill Victorio...


    [Grand Disintegration Spell!] [Death''s Touch]


    Harof and Aurora, working together, shattered theyers of water screens. The intenseser beam shed out again, and Victorio took advantage of this moment to distance himself, breaking free from her control...

 Chapter 426: Realm of Despair, The Mighty Saintess!

    Chapter 426: Realm of Despair, The Mighty Saintess!


    As soon as they engaged, everyone present realized how formidable their enemy was this time. Although constrained by the limitations of the physical body, Lucia couldn''t unleash much power, but it was still beyond the reach of these pseudo-legends.


    With just a nce, Victorio almost met his demise!


    The raging, unquenchable mes surged quickly, blocking Lucia''s pursuit.


    Surviving a close call, Victorio dared not make any further attempts and immediately activated the trap they had set in advance!


    Apanied by the sound of earth and stones exploding, the ground beneath everyone''s feet copsed instantly...


    Whether it was Lucia or Lynn and the others, they all fell helplessly towards the depths at the same moment!


    Despite reaching the level of Grand Wizards, flying in the air was the most basic ability, but now everyone was being dragged underground by a powerful force, rendering them unable to take flight!


    This was Harof''s greatest achievement in the study of force field magic,bined with Victorio''s alchemy to create the "Gravity Domain"!Below where everyone was falling was a mined-out and abandoned cavern.


    The walls around were adorned with intricate alchemical runes.


    These spells were meticulously arranged by Victorio and over three hundred alchemists in just an hour, not just the Gravity Domain alone!


    "Thunder,e!" Lynn raised his hand, a shimmering lightning appeared in his palm, and theplex alchemical runes on the walls lit up one by one. Soon, everyone present was engulfed in a sea of lightning!


    The thunderous roar echoed through the underground space!


    The violent power of thunder wreaked havoc indiscriminately in the entire mine, with the white-hot arcs of electricity continuously leaping and flickering, forming a densework of lightning that epassed everyone present.


    This formation was none other than the Thunder Summoning Array he had used in the capital!


    Althoughcking the support of celestial phenomena, with Victorio, the ''legendary'' alchemist personally improving and casting it, along with the magical power of three hundred wizards and thousands of lightning stones used to charge electromaic cannons.


    Its power was unquestionable!


    At the moment of descent, Lucia was already enveloped in the lightning, and the elements in her divine realm were directly ionized into a high-temperature sma...


    The entire mine became like a sauna with a temperature over a thousand degrees, enough to evaporate the moisture from the human body in seconds!


    Simrly, Lynn and the others, struck by thunder, constructed a circr copper mesh around them at the moment of descent. That was the Faraday Cage!


    All thunder was blocked outside, and they could even feel the cool breeze caused by the electron wind.


    For Archmages and Legendary Mages, using the magical power within their domains to create a Faraday Cage was not a difficult task. The difficultyy in understanding its principles!


    The rampant lightning continued to flicker. Lynn, Harof, Aurora, and Victorio, afternding, anxiously watched the center of the mine.


    As the center of the array, most of the power of the thunder gathered there, forming a gigantic vortex of lightning, with white-hot sma constantly surging, emitting a chilling aura!


    "She might already be dead, right?" Aurora said in a low voice as Lucia descended.


    "Maybe..." Victorio responded casually. This array was personally arranged by him, so he naturally understood its power.


    Although due to the sudden attack by the Holy See, they didn''t have time to perfect this array, its power surpassed ordinary legendary magic.


    Victorio believed that if he fell into this trap himself, without being able to release the Faraday Cage, he would probably be dead...


    But their target was the Saintess of the Holy See, likely the incarnation of the pseudo-god Lucia. Even Victorio wasn''tpletely confident!


    Just as the two spoke, the gathered vortex of thunder exploded directly, revealing the interior!


    The surface rocks had melted into moltenva due to the high temperature, and Lucia''s feet stood on the scorchingva. Her fair skin had turned into a vivid red due to the high temperature, sweat soaked her robe, and dense electric arcs surrounded her...


    However, the sharp-eyed Lynn saw that most of the lightning couldn''t prate about three centimeters from her body surface. Only a small part could break through and enter her body.


    Harof, Aurora, Victorio, and Lynn were all shocked, and Lynn felt a sinking feeling.


    "Some kind of insting material?"


    Obviously, the opponent utilized some insting element, significantly weakening the power of thunder magic, and then blocked the remaining small part. That was why the opponent could stand there intact...


    This was the conscious and unconscious difference. The former wizard, E, was much more difficult to deal with than those ''ignorant'' divine art practitioners.


    Damn, if only he had switched to chlorotrifluoroethylene...


    Lynn regretted to himself.


    Mainly because using that as a trap would easily burn himself to death.


    He also didn''t expect that the Holy See''s Saintess would turn out to be E''s incarnation. This thunder trap was enough to deal with those ''illiterate'' bishops...


    "Retreat!" Lynn uttered these two words with difficulty; their previous n had failed!


    "Want to escape?" Lucia''s cold voice echoed in everyone''s ears, followed by a strong and dazzling divine light emerging from her body.


    The divine light was extremely fast, instantly covering the entire mine. Everyone present immediately felt their domains further suppressed. Not only that, but their movements also became incredibly sluggish...


    It was the element of air spontaneously hindering their actions!


    In fact, without the protection of the domain, these elements would turn into deadly weapons, piercing their bodies from all directions!


    "Color of the Stars!"


    Lucia spoke again. In the void around her, brilliant starlight emerged, converging into a river of stars rushing towards everyone present.


    Harof, closest to Lucia, suffered first. The protection around him shattered in the explosion of starfire. A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed as a huge gap tore open in his chest, blood sprayed out wildly, and he flew out, crashing heavily to the ground.


    "Harof?" Victorio eximed, but he couldn''t afford to check on his condition because the azure river of stars was already close.


    "Realm of Water Curtain!"


    At this moment, numerous illusions immediately appeared in the mine. Dozens of Aurs, one after another, surrounded Lucia, forming a circle. Before the river of stars arrived, they all rebuked in unison.


    "Mirror Shift - Heaven and Earth!"


    The emerging starlight seemed to enter ake, being absorbed by the appearing water curtain. Immediately after, it was rebounded along the same path.

 Chapter 427: Hell Descends Upon the Mortal Realm!

    Chapter 427: Hell Descends Upon the Mortal Realm!


    The brilliant colors of the stars, manipted by the mysterious spell "Mirror Transformation - Heaven and Earth" cast by Aurora, were sent back along the original path. Lucia''s face revealed a slight expression of surprise, then she uttered a single word.


    "Annihte!"


    At the moment her words fell, the reflected starlight exploded the moment it left the mirror, transforming into a fierce ster fire.


    In the rising starfire and shockwaves, several phantom figures were instantly obliterated!


    The walls inside the mine were directly cut through, leaving a meter-thickyer of rock demolished, and all magical runes were nearly destroyed!


    In just these two or three seconds, Lynn and the others had vanished...


    However, she wasn''t worried because the projection of the divine realm had already expanded to cover the entire mining mountain, every move of the other party under her control!


    Lucia didn''t rush to pursue but instead looked down, the once pristine white holy robe on her body had been cut by the terrifyingser beam, further damaged in the violent thunderous force moments ago, relying solely on her divine arts to sustain it.Lucia tore apart her torn robe, using the energy of divine arts to rebuild a new holy robe, and with an icy tone, she spoke.


    "The sphemer shall descend into hell!"


    The words of the divine became reality!


    The entire divine realm projection quietly underwent a change, centered on this mine, rapidly spreading in all directions.


    Wails and screams that sent shivers down the spine echoed out of nowhere, a terrifying aura surged, and the once joyfulnd turned into an inferno in an instant...


    Meanwhile, Lynn and the others, forced to flee, were swiftly moving along an abandoned mine passage.


    "President Harof, are you alright?" Lynn expressed concern.


    At this moment, Harof''s face bore traces of blood, arge hole in his chest, tattered clothes, and he sounded like a leaking drum with every breath, appearing extremely miserable!


    "I''m fine, can''t die!" Harofboriously took out a bottle of "Water of Life" and drank it straight.


    Therge hole in his chest rapidly healed before the naked eye!


    This legendary magical medicine was undoubtedly precious, but now was clearly not the time to be frugal; life was always more important than material possessions...


    "It seems our nned strategy has failed. What should we do now?" Aurora sensed that her projection magic had beenpletely shattered, speaking with a grave expression.


    ording to their n, they intended to lure the two legendary figures of the Holy See here, join forces to fight them four against two, and then, using the lightning-based legendary spells set up by the alchemy array, push them to the limit, inducing them to unleash the Gate of Heaven!


    Based on Harof and others'' research on the spatial portals within the magic crystal mine, the more powerful an entity, the more challenging it was for them to cross dimensions.


    Entities like Ivina, even with a legendary priest providing enough energy at the cost of their own life, would still take about six or seven seconds from opening the gate to the pseudo-god stepping out!


    This time was enough for him tounch the nuclear explosion magic inside!


    However, Lynn did not expect that the opponent would push them into such a desperate situation with just a single incarnation!


    Their carefullyid traps were also diminished in potency by the insting body, providing almost no effect...


    "Normal attacks can''t kill this Holy See''s saint, even dismemberment is useless. I''ve tested it just now!" Lynn reminded.


    Harof and others looked serious but soon rxed.


    During the Battle of the Royal Capital, Edweil also demonstrated a simr ability to an undying body, but in the end, they still managed to kill him.


    This proved that an undying body was not truly immortal; it had its limits!


    It might require a massive amount of energy or have an upper limit on healing capabilities.


    "We can only use your new magic then." Victorio looked at Lynn. With the power of nuclear magic, if located at the core of the explosion, nothing would be left!


    There would be no possibility of bodily reconstruction.


    "But, do we really need to use it here? Just to deal with an incarnation?" Aurora hesitated.


    "With the power demonstrated by the opponent, it''s definitely not as simple as ordinary divine descent magic!" Harof decisively said.


    Lynn remained silent; in fact, he couldn''t find an opportunity to use nuclear magic!


    After all, the distance between them was too close; in this situation, using nuclear magic would undoubtedly be a mutual destruction...


    This was something Lynn could think of, and naturally, Harof and others were aware of it as well.


    There were alternative solutions derived from this problem.


    The n was to have one person temporarily dy Lucia, allowing the others to cast the spell and escape!


    The problem was, could one person really hold her back? Theirbined strength wouldn''tst long enough to support escaping from the explosion range.


    Moreover, who would be the one to sacrifice?


    "We can only leave two people behind and let two escape!" Harof sighed, then looked at Lynn and spoke again. "Can your magic be cast by someone else?"


    If it could, then there was no need for Lynn, the star of magic, to sacrifice himself.


    "Things haven''t reached that point yet..." Lynn suddenly interrupted everyone''s thoughts. "Do you remember how I had them evacuate?"


    Harof and others pondered, realizing that when Lynn mentioned "them," he was referring to the wizards responsible for Victorio''s alchemical array.


    "In addition, do you have a way to break this divine realm projection, President Harof..." Lynn spoke again, stressing the importance.


    He remembered in the previous Battle of the Royal Capital; Harof had shattered the divine realm area set up by Edweil!


    "It''s difficult, very difficult!" Harof furrowed his brows.


    Although this was just a projection of the divine realm into the real world, the caster was the incarnation of Ivina, whose strength far exceeded that of Edweil!


    "Just because it''s difficult doesn''t mean it''s impossible, right?" Lynn emphasized once again.


    "Difficult, but not impossible!" Aurora added.


    Harof was about to reply when a wave of red light spread from behind them. The solid mountain rock under their feet immediately turned into a stinking mud, and skeletal hands emerged from the underground, attempting to pull Lynn and the others into it.


    The walls around them continuously crumbled, revealing twisted faces on the disintegrating surfaces. In their visible front, dozens of grotesque monsters crawled out from the muddy ground, blocking their path...


    A strong, nauseating stench overwhelmed them, enough to suffocate and chill anyone...


    This was the depiction of hell descending upon the mortal realm as described in the scriptures!

 Chapter 428: This is My Final Magic - Grand Nuclear Explosion Spell!

    Chapter 428: This is My Final Magic - Grand Nuclear Explosion Spell!


    In Lynn''s mind, the biblical passage about hell surfaced, one part of which was the skinning purgatory used to punish the gravest sinners.


    These monstrous beings in front of them were the executioners, their faces bloody with faintly visible orifices¡ªeyes, nostrils, and mouths.


    Their bodies contorted, as if their skin had been ripped off, leaving only bloody muscles and bones. They held execution tools, resembling a group of walking corpses, moving strangely towards them.


    If ordinary civilians or apprentices witnessed such a terrifying scene, they would likely be horrified. However, Harof and the others showed no reaction.


    They understood that these were just cannon fodder used by Lucia to obstruct their progress!


    However, facing enemies of this level wouldn''t make them halt. "Disintegration Ray!"


    Harof took action.


    With a single strike, the executioners blocking their path were torn apart by an invisible force, turning into a mass of flesh. Despite being disintegrated into a blurry blood mass, the pieces still attracted each other as if wanting to gather together.Fortunately, before they could reassemble, the raging, unextinguishable mes engulfed the remnants, aided by the trichlorofluoromethane capable of consuming certain elements, perfect for dealing with regenerating monsters.


    But Lynn soon noticed a towering figure emerging from the surging sea of fire.


    It was a gigantic monster, unlike the other executioners. Its stature reached the top of the mine, and although its robust form had been eroded into a skeletal structure by the unextinguishable mes, it remained oblivious. It wielded a fiery, meter-long hammer and swung it down towards them like a looming execution.


    "Seal!" Victorio murmured. Chains of alchemical runes extended from his domain, binding the giant monster''s arms, waist, and neck.


    Then Harof unleashed a powerful Disintegration Spell, shattering it into pieces!


    "I sense the power of spirits and dark gods in these monsters," Victorio solemnly remarked.


    The opponent likely imprisoned the souls of those they once killed, giving rise to these monsters. The purgatory projected matched the biblical description, deepening Victorio''s concerns.


    To possess such formidable power with just an avatar raised questions about the opponent''s true capabilities.


    Snap!


    Suddenly, clear footsteps echoed behind them.


    The expressions of everyone present changed abruptly.


    The once solid rock path underfoot had turned into a muddy swamp. With Lucia''s strength, such a ring w shouldn''t exist unless... either she had no intention of concealing herself, or she deliberately wanted to impose psychological pressure on them!


    Thinking this, the previously clear path distorted, and blood-colored threads emerged from the walls,pletely blocking the way forward.


    At this moment, Lucia''s figure appeared behind them, cutting off their retreat.


    Harof and the others immediately abandoned the idea of escaping. Clearly, Lucia had control over the entire mine. Even with their best efforts, escaping seemed nearly impossible. Moreover, they had to capture her, especially after going through the trouble of luring the Church''s saint out alone.


    Aurora raised her hand, surrounded by a glow of lightning. A terrifying maic field formed almost instantly, and dozens of metal bullets hovered in mid-air. Driven by electromaic force, they shot out, creating deafening sonic booms.


    This was the electromaic railgun Lin had invented!


    Having learned the relevant theory, Aurora could replicate it. Although due to hasty casting, the railgun''s speed wasn''t as fast as the original, roughly six times the speed of sound, it was still lethal!


    The previously unextinguished mes from the monsters erupted, burning the faces embedded in the tunnel walls. A hot pir of fire swept towards Lucia! ??????¨¨?


    The railgun fired first. With a thrust at six times the speed of sound, it covered fifty meters in just 0.025 seconds!


    However, at the moment the railgun wasunched, its speed visibly decayed, as if the elements in the divine projection were spontaneously hindering the bullet''s velocity...


    Facing the iing railgun shots, Lucia''s expression remained unchanged. Instead, she seemed intrigued by the peculiar unextinguishable mes.


    She had heard of this me before and encountered it more than once, understanding its tenacity and... how to deal with it!


    Lucia opened her mouth and exhaled gently.


    Crack!


    A cold air, seemingly capable of freezing time, spewed from Lucia''s mouth, swiftly spreading around. The iing metal bullets froze in mid-air, and the surging waves of fire were frozen in ce, quickly melting and dissipating...


    This was the legendary divine spell - Eternal Frosnd!


    Although she couldn''t immobilize all elements in the divine realm like her true self, she could still manage it on a small scale!


    After dissolving the unextinguishable mes, the breath of frozen time continued to surge forward, rapidly solidifying everything along the way!


    Victorio''s hand seals changed, and chains of runes emerged from the void, interweaving and connecting to form a solid wall.


    However, this defensested less than two seconds; the runes on top froze and disintegrated, losing their intended effect.


    Fortunately, Lin''s spell was ready!


    A powerfulser beam materialized in Lin''s palm, shooting out with unstoppable force, piercing through the Eternal Frosnd and Lucia''s protection, directly prating her forehead!


    "Damn it!" Lin''s expression changed as soon as he seeded. At that moment, he realized something was amiss, for although the freezing field had stopped expanding, the saint pierced by theser beam showed no signs of being affected.


    It was apparent that what appeared before them was just an illusion!


    In fact, Lucia, who knew the power ofser magic, naturally couldn''t be unprepared. The deliberate footsteps and the illusion in front of them were just means to deceive them!


    But this time, even Aurora failed to see through it!


    Realizing this, a fierce warning had already surfaced in Lynn''s mind when he mobilized the elements within the domain without hesitation, and a silver shield instantly condensed.


    "Starry Radiance!" Lucia''s voice almost echoed right in front of him. The continuous battles had made the saint realize that Lynn in front of her was the biggest threat and had to be the first to be eliminated!


    Fierce star mes immediately exploded, filling the entire space.


    The silver shield visibly dented, but under Lucia''s full force, it remained resilient! Because it wasposed of uranium elements!


    As a highly dense element, the hardness of uranium was self-evident. Before reaching critical mass, it was not an easy task topletely destroy it...


    And Lynn spread the magical field around him, not even caring about radiation, just to be able to cast the nuclear explosion spell at the most opportune moment.


    Now, it was being utilized by him to block the imminent Starry Radiance!


    Lucia also did not expect that her full-force attack would be easily blocked by Lynn, a grand wizard. Rune chains appeared in the void, blocking Lucia''s pursuit and restricting her movements.


    Victorio was exerting all his strength, forcibly expanding the domain, cooperating with Aurora''s visual obscuring spell, once again binding the opponent!


    "This is the real body, Harof!" Victorio shouted hoarsely.


    "de of Spacetime, strike!"


    After Lucia appeared, Harof, who had been preparing for this moment, finally made a move, concentrating all his magic on this legendary spell! ck threads appeared in the boundless void, distorting space, shattering divine realms. Even light was drawn into it, leaving only endless darkness!


    With one blow, arge hole was cut in the rock wall behind, and within the blood-red realm, a ''ck pir'' pierced through heaven and earth!


    As the target of the Spacetime de attack, Lucia''s shoulder and entire right hand entered the ck spatial vortex, erased by the powerful spatial forces!


    If not for Victorio''s reminder to slightly deflect her body before the attack arrived, this incarnation would likely have been severely damaged...


    However, everything stopped here. Harof''s full-force blow did notpletely dispel the projection of the divine realm. The ''ck pir'' gradually disappeared after a brief existence, and the blood-red space slowly gathered towards the center.


    Terrifying divine magic fluctuations erupted from Lucia''s slender body. The rune chains immediately disintegrated, and the half of her body erased by spatial forces rapidly recovered at a visible speed.


    Under the intense magical bacsh, Victorio spat out blood.


    Aurora''s face was also pale. They had done everything they could!


    "ept destruction!" Lucia floated in mid-air, and her star-like eyes shimmered. The elements of the entire divine realm became unusually active.


    Dazzling starlight appeared almost everywhere in this space, impossible to dodge or hide from...


    At the moment of the attack, Lucia suddenly turned her head.


    A rushing wind echoed behind her.


    At the hole pierced through, a massive propeller appeared in front of her! A giant creature with a wingspan of dozens of meters, flying at a speed of three hundred and sixty kilometers per hour, rushed in through the channel cut by the Spacetime de!


    The front hub fin of the propeller collided with Lucia, carrying her with its weight and high speed toward the depths of the mine!


    Therge wings passed over Lynn and the others'' heads, and the strong wind shook their robes.


    "Now is the time, retreat!" Lynn urgently shouted, ignoring exnations, and directly pulled everyone to jump down from the hole where the aircraft came in! Below this mine was a flowing river!


    ...


    In the current mine, the high-speed aircraft directly pressed against Lucia''s body, piercing through the already thin rock wall, rushing deeper into the mine.


    The one driving the aircraft was only Lynn''s magical projection. After receiving themunication from the main body, he used thisst resort to quickly send Lydia to a safe ce and then returned!


    Then, following the channel cut by the Spacetime de, he unexpectedly collided in the most unexpected and simplest way!


    Because the aircraft was not within the range of the divine realm throughout, it naturally deceived Lucia''s perception. It directly collided when she was casting the spell at full strength!


    If it were anyone else, under such a violent impact, they would probably have turned into a lump of mud long ago. However, his opponent was the saint of the Holy See, Lucia in the incarnation of A! She had set up protections around her that even the fourth-levelser beams found it hard to prate. Although she was carried away by the impact force, she remained unharmed. She grasped the front of the aircraft with both hands, forcibly breaking off the propeller and using it as a weapon against the entire fusge!


    Inside the aircraft, as Lynn existed as a magical projection, he was not afraid. In his hand was a peculiar silver sphere.


    Extracted from the Demon Stone, uranium-235, enough to unleash nuclear explosion twice. To be safe, half of it was stored in the main body''s domain, implementing n A!


    The other half was stored on this aircraft, as insurance and a contingency!


    Now, he had taken it out and, facing Lucia''s attack, Lynn directly hurled it at her!


    "Feel the wrath of the sun!"


    Lynn shouted, various names like big fatty, little boy, and other nicknames shed through his mind, finally naming this magical atomic bomb.


    Otherwise... let''s call it Little Girl!


    At the moment the sound fell, the neutron source inside uranium-235 had started to operate, thousands of neutrons scattered, and a chain reaction instantly formed.


    Grand nuclear explosion, initiated!

 Chapter 429: The Rising Sun in the Night Sky!

    Chapter 429: The Rising Sun in the Night Sky!


    From the refining of bronze to the forging of steel, and then the development of gunpowder, human technological prowess continued to advance, ''conquering'' thend, sky, and oceans...


    However, even with the roaring of cannons, in the face of true natural disasters like earthquakes, meteorites, and volcanic eruptions, they still appeared incredibly insignificant!


    It was only in the twentieth century that humanity made a new breakthrough in the microscopic realm, delving into the study of atoms, using the mass-energy equation as a core theory, and developing atomic bombs, granting humanity the power to rival natural disasters for the first time!


    Now, this power was truly manifesting before everyone for the first time!


    An unimaginably powerful force erupted from the silver-white sphere.


    Lucia only felt a deep, soul-prating fear before plunging into darkness...


    This darkness was not created by the nuclear explosion.


    In fact, the radiance it emitted was at its peak, hundreds of times brighter than the sun overhead!It was precisely because of this that Lucia''s eyes were instantly blinded, her eardrums ruptured directly, and she fell into a state of imbnced senses. Even her usually keen magical perception was rendered useless because all she could perceive now was endless light and heat!


    In the core of the explosion, under the temperature of tens of millions of degrees and the pressure of millions of trillions of Pascals, space and time seemed to lose their meaning at this moment. Whether it was Lynn''s magical projection or the massive steel aircraft, they were instantly vaporized under such overwhelming power.


    Lucia, just a few meters away from the center of the nuclear st, was no exception. The protective barrier constructed around her body couldn''t withstand even 0.001 seconds and disintegrated. Following that was her physical form, protected by magical arts!


    First, the exposed limbs ¨C hands, feet, and skin ¨C dissolved, followed by bones, organs, and blood, until her entire body waspletely evaporated by the high temperature.


    What kind of power was this?


    Lucia retained a faint consciousness, unable toprehend how Lynn, controlling the state-of-the-art aircraft, could unleash such terrifying magic.


    Seventh circle? Eighth or ninth circle? Lucia, now in the midst of this, had no time to evaluate the power of this magic. After the destruction of her physical body, her essential soul was exposed to this searing furnace!


    For centuries, she felt the threat at the soul level for the first time!


    Arge number of sturdy and dangerous neutrons wreaked havoc at the microscopic level, apanied by various terrifying radiation rays.


    Although the nuclear explosion itself didn''t affect the soul, psychic energy was also a form of energy, and matter and energy were inherently connected.


    Since it interfered with matter, it would be influenced by the material world in return!


    The soul, now entering the legendary realm, gradually dissipated under the influence of such power after losing the shelter of the flesh.


    The agony of this torn-apart soul was beyond imagination, far more painful than being devoured by countless poisonous ants.


    It seemed she could onlypletely abandon this projection and part of her essence...


    With a determined heart, Lucia transmitted the most crucial memories back to her core through the entanglement of souls. In the next moment, her soulpletely perished in the high temperatures of tens of millions of degrees, and the godly projection covering the outside world copsed with a thunderous roar!


    From the moment of the nuclear explosion to the annihtion of Lucia''s soul, it all happened in an instant. After the disappearance of the godly realm, the shockwaves, carrying high temperatures, mes, and radiation, surged in all directions!


    The already excavated mountains erupted, countless boulders were engulfed by high temperatures before falling, turning into scalding magma...


    "Protect yourselves, don''t open your eyes!" Lynn, who had jumped down from the mine in advance, loudly reminded.


    Harof and Aurora, upon hearing this, tightly closed their eyes, using the little magic power they had left to set up protections around themselves.


    Only the curious Victorio slightly opened his eyelids, wanting to take a look. But under the terror of the intense light, his pupils shed monstrous tears before losing vision! R


    However, before losing sight, Victorio clearly saw that the ultra-high-temperature energy wave, transmitted at several times the speed of sound, had caught up!


    Fortunately, the godly projection and the excavated mine bought them enough time. Before the shockwave of the nuclear explosion fully arrived, the few of them had already plunged into the depths of the river together!


    The next moment, the high-temperature energy wave swept over the river surface, creating towering waves. Tens of thousands of tons of river water evaporated in an instant, corpses of fish and shrimp inside were shattered and exterminated, and numerous floating corpses appeared on the river surface...


    Fortunately, for legendary wizards, this level of aftermath was barely resistible!


    This was also the reason why Lynn deliberately chose this ce as the battlefield!


    ...


    At the same time, several kilometers away in a dense forest, Ragnar was leading the Holy See crusade army at a swift pace.


    In order to catch up quickly and support the Holy Maiden, this crusade army had pushed their marching speed to the limit. However, due to night marching and rushing all the way, thousands of imperial soldiers fell behind.


    However, Ragnar obviously had no time to care about them. After all, he had a clear view of the battle in the sky before, witnessing Lucia, riding a griffin, shoot down the wizards'' airships but getting hit by aser beam, putting her in a perilous situation.


    "Don''t worry, Lord Ragnar. The Holy Maiden has received divine inspiration and will surely triumph over those minions of evil, securing the final victory!" The red-robed bishop at his side made a praying gesture, expressing confidence.


    Ragnar also suppressed the unease in his heart, soon reced by the warning rising in his mind.


    Through the cover of the trees, a dazzling light shone in the distance.


    Was it already morning?


    Everyone was puzzled, considering they had set out around 1 am, far from the time the sun would rise.


    However, the light continued to grow brighter. In just a second, the entire sky was illuminated in a vivid red color, even brighter than the noon sun!


    "Ah, my eyes!"


    Screams echoed one after another in the formation. The intense radiation, even from several kilometers away, was still powerful. Soldiers who looked up at the sky felt their pupils burning.


    Then, the whole ground violently shook. Amidst an ear-splitting roar, a massive mushroom cloud rose in the sky!


    Although obstructed by the forest, they couldn''t fully see what had happened in front. Panic inevitably spread in everyone''s hearts.


    Some even thought this was a sign of the apocalypse!


    "Don''t panic, everyone!" Ragnar shouted loudly, stabilizing the disoriented minds.


    "This must be the power of the Lord!" "It''s the great Goddess of the Moon, the creator of all, punishing the minions of evil!"


    Ragnar spoke with increasing firmness.


    The bishops, priests, and devout believers immediately believed because, in their perception, only the Lord could wield such terrifying power, making the heavens and earth change color!


    They were unwilling to believe that such a powerful force could be the work of demons!


    "Praise


    you, great Lord! Your power dims the morning star!" A bishop fanatically eximed,


    Some enthusiastic priests directly dismounted and knelt on the ground in prayer.


    The dazzling light quickly approached them, and the red-robed bishop opened his arms to embrace the imminent divine light!


    However, Ragnar sensed something was amiss. In the approaching light, there was an unbearable heat, and most importantly, he didn''t sense any divine power.


    This couldn''t be the Lord''s power!


    A look of horror appeared on Ragnar''s face, but in the next moment, the dazzling firelight and high-energy shockwave had already passed through this dense forest...


    Tall trees were instantly torn apart, and the thick earth turned into endless scorchednd. The red-robed bishop, who had opened his arms to embrace the divine light, turned into a charred corpse in the moment the firelight swept over him.


    Even more unfortunate were the Empire''s soldiers. Their unprotected bodies, along with their armor, vaporized, bing part of nature.


    About three kilometers above them, the remaining sixty or so airships were violently shaking in the enormous wind pressure.


    "Speed up, speed up, don''t stop!" On one of the airships, Philip urged anxiously. At this speed, they might be caught up by the shockwave.


    "This is already the maximum speed, Master Wizard!" The pilots, busy manipting the airship, didn''t dare to look back at the light.


    Only Philip and those with alchemical goggles could witness the splendor of the nuclear explosion...


    ording to Master Lynn, these lights were too intense to look at with the naked eye. However, with alchemical goggles that could resist ultraviolet rays to some extent, they could still see. Even though the brightness was reduced by dozens of times, tears still welled up in their eyes.


    "Is this Master Lynn''s new magic?" Tiek looked at the crumbling mountains, steaming rivers, and the ground turned into ssy scorched earth, his voice trembling. "This is simply..."


    Tiek was momentarily at a loss for words, only speaking after a long pause. "It''s like the sun falling from the sky!"


    Tiek''s words expressed the feelings of everyone. They couldn''t find any other words to describe it except for the sun falling.


    Can magic truly possess such power?


    Doubts arose in everyone''s hearts.


    And this was just the aftermath; the core''s power would be even more terrifying.


    Perhaps only such formidable power could stand against that false god!


    Fortunately, Tiek soon noticed that the speed of the shockwave below was gradually decreasing as the range expanded. It was no longer as fierce as before. With the airships evading in advance at speeds of about a hundred kilometers per hour, they should be able to escape the nuclear st radius.


    ...


    At the moment of the nuclear explosion, several kilometers away in the City of Fire Oil, the battle had already entered a white-hot stage!


    Anthony and the others'' attack was very sessful. Due to the main force being withdrawn, the City of Fire Oil,cking defensive forces, couldn''t hold out for more than ten minutes and was easily captured. But then, Joshua, leading thousands of God''s Punishment troops rushing to the scene, caught them off guard!


    There was an insurmountable gap between legends and grand wizards.


    In just three minutes ofbat, two of the seven grand wizards besieging Joshua had already fallen!


    The remaining five were all wounded.


    Anthony suffered the most severe injuries, with a deep wound visible to the bone on his chest.


    Joshua, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, with only the right side of his robe burned halfway, and half of his staff broken.


    Those participating in the siege, including Arad, were going all out but still couldn''t see any possibility of defeating him. Discouragement began to creep into their hearts.


    "Don''t worry, everyone! In a short while, the councilors will handle that Holy Maiden and return to reinforce!" Anthony rallied their spirits.


    Although their n had some ws, as long as they could dy this Judgment Chief here, Lynn and the others would face much less pressure, making the n proceed more smoothly!


    "Reinforcements?" Joshua sneered and said coldly. "You have no idea what kind of opponents they are facing!"


    The bishops and priests of the Holy Church usually considered the Church''s Holy Maiden as a mere attendant chosen to serve the gods, an attractive ornament.


    But only those at the higher echelons understood the necessity of the Holy Maiden''s existence.


    Because she was the incarnation of the Lord!


    These wizards'' so-called ''legends,'' even if multiplied several times, would still be crushed directly under the might of the Lord!


    "Everything stops here!" Joshua''s voice became icy.


    It seemed that without mobilizing some divine power, it was impossible to deal with these wizards in a short time!


    "This ce is the realm of the gods, and all evil will dissipate!" Joshua prayed loudly.


    Anthony and the others were serious; they knew the immense power of the divine realm, something they couldn''t confront.


    However, to everyone''s surprise, as Joshua''s voice rang out, there was no sign of any divine vision.


    Even the wizards present were puzzled, specting whether the opponent was deliberately intimidating them?


    Joshua''s face turned extremely ugly. Under the severe bacsh of divine arts, he spit out a mouthful of blood. What shocked him even more was that the divine power within him was being drained...


    The great Lord had actually interrupted the supply of his energy, causing the premature copse of the divine realm before it even formed.


    "Chain Lightning!" Although Anthony didn''t know why the opponent suddenly stopped the attack, he didn''t let go of this opportunity. Blue-purple lightning instantly struck Joshua down.


    Arad and the others watched in amazement as the Chief Judge of the Holy See, who had been invincible just moments ago, was hit by a second-circle spell. They wore inexplicable expressions, even suspecting if this was some kind of illusory divine art trying to make them drop their guard.


    While everyone was perplexed, a tremendous and trembling energy fluctuation came from afar. Anthony abruptly turned his head, and then he saw it¡ªthe night sky was now adorned with a rising sun!

 Chapter 430: Nuclear Destruction Zone, Wiping Out the Expedition with One Strike!

    Chapter 430: Nuclear Destruction Zone, Wiping Out the Expedition with One Strike!


    The horrifying nuclear explosion continued for over an hour before gradually subsiding. The entire ten-kilometer diameter area turned into a scorched earth, with the soil melting at high temperatures, gradually cooling, and solidifying into ss-like substances. The dust cloud in the sky lingered for a long time.


    With the river water as a barrier, Lynn, along with the councilors, emerged from the rolling river after surviving the nuclear st.


    "It''s truly terrifying power!" Harof eximed.


    They drifted along the direction of the river for seven or eight kilometers, right on the outer edge of the nuclear st area. Everything in their sight was obliterated, leaving only burning mes, resembling a scene from the apocalypse.


    Although Lynn had demonstrated the power of nuclear explosions in their previous encounter, that explosion urred deep underground, limiting its impact. This time was different¡ªit was detonated on the surface!


    A hollowed-out mine couldn''t effectively withstand the shockwave of a nuclear st.


    Aurora, in the best condition, immediately expanded her domain, using magic to construct a circr barrier on the outskirts, tightlyposed of lead elements, blocking the radiation.


    Despite their formidable strength and the ability to create magical barriers for self-preservation, staying in the radiation zone for an extended period would undoubtedly result in severe, incurable injuries."What happened to your eyes, Victorio?" Aurora turned to Victorio, who had kept his eyes closed, frowning as she inquired.


    "I should have told you not to look at this explosion, Councilor Victorio," Lynn sighed helplessly. He could clearly see that Victorio''s eye injuries were caused by the intense light of the nuclear st.


    The light produced by a nuclear explosion was incredibly intense, apanied by various high-energy rays, making it extremely dangerous.


    Victorio smiled bitterly. Lynn''s previous warnings were too exaggerated, arousing his curiosity about the nature of this power. Even though they were legendary wizards, they couldn''t directly face this power. So, he sneakily took a nce, and in that instant, his eyes were blinded! Fortunately, it wasn''t an incurable injury, and with his sensing abilities,ck of vision wouldn''t affect his actions. He just needed some time to recover.


    "She''s probably dead by now, right?" Harof looked into the center of the nuclear st, where there used to be a mine, now vanished, leaving a massive crater.


    "Hopefully! If we can''t handle the situation even with this, then we might as well offer our necks for execution!" Lynn said with a grave expression.


    The strength of this Pontiff Saint far exceeded their expectations. Three legendary councilors,bined with Lynn''s use of the magicwork, could only flee in defeat.


    If Lynn hadn''t prepared a contingency n, they might be the ones lying dead now!


    Lynn felt somewhat anxious. After taking protective measures, he flew back to the center of the nuclear st with Harof and others to confirm that the enemy was thoroughly annihted. There was no need for a follow-up attack.


    Although the battle here had concluded, Lynn was concerned about the sudden disappearance of the Chief Inquisitor of the Holy Church. The opponent probably saw through their ns to secretly attack the City of Fire Oil and went back to reinforce!


    Anthony and the others might find it challenging to deal with such an opponent.


    Considering this, despite their injuries, the group rushed back at the fastest speed.


    Outside the ten-kilometer nuclear destruction zone, the soldiers of the Imperial Army whogged behind and did not enter the st range managed to preserve their lives, but their situation was equally miserable.


    Some soldiers were burned by mes, others blinded by the light, lying on the ground in painful moans. Some soldiers went insane, kneeling and praying, begging for divine salvation.


    Aurora sighed and decided to end the lives of those soldiers to spare them from agony. In such circumstances, the chances of survival were slim.


    More distant soldiers discarded their armor and weapons, fleeing in madness.


    Harof extended his hand, wanting to eliminate these Imperial guards here, eradicating every bit of remaining life force. Still, Lynn stopped him.


    "Let them go. We can''t kill every fleeing person!" Lynn said.


    "Moreover, these people havepletely lost their morale. All they feel is panic. Let them return to the Empire; it might create even greater chaos," Lynn exined.


    The result of thest battle in the capital was blocked by the Holy See, so the entire Empire remained calm, with most civilians unaware that the kingdom had fallen.


    However, it would be impossible to conceal it this time. With such significant casualties and so many witnesses returning to the Holy City, the news would undoubtedly spread throughout the Empire.


    In the Holy Bible, the Lord is great and invincible, and the messengers following the will of God will surely achieve victory!


    The reality was that the expeditionary force had suffered consecutive defeats here, with even the Holy Maiden falling into their hands. Once this news spread, it would undoubtedly strike a severe blow to the divine authority system.


    Lynn was more curious about how the Holy See would handle these soldiers spreading panic!


    Flying from the center of the nuclear st to the City of Fire Oil took about twenty minutes. When they saw everything was safe, everyone''s tense expressions rxed.


    The wizards stationed in the City of Fire Oil also breathed a sigh of relief.


    At the moment of Lynn and the others'' return, they understood that the oue had been decided!


    Anthony brought Lynn and the three councilors to the Duke''s mansion that had been cleaned up, and he asked, "It looks like things went rtively smoothly on your end?"


    At least Lynn, the Star of Magic, and the councilors were intact, unlike their side, which lost two archmages.


    "Not exactly smooth!" Lynn shook his head and then exined the course of events.


    When they heard that the Church''s Pontiff was the incarnation of the Goddess of the Moon, the wizards present broke into a cold sweat.


    Although they scoffed at the title of "god" and even referred to A as a pseudo-god, the opponent''s power was undeniable!


    Even legendary councilors working together found it challenging to contend with her!


    "We are still alive now, partly due to luck and partly thanks to Master Lynn''s new magic!" Harof sighed as he spoke.


    "New magic? Is it the sun that appeared in the sky just now?" Arad asked curiously.


    They all saw the sudden bright light in the sky, apanied by the rising mushroom cloud. Due to the distance, the transmitted light had been weakened to a level that wouldn''t blind people. It was about as bright as the sun at noon, dazzling and piercing.


    Apanying the intense light was the violent shock on the ground, making some people suspect that Master Lynn had pulled the sun from the sky!

 Chapter 431: The Holy City Trembles

    The rumors of a falling star were dismissed by wizards with astronomical knowledge as pure nonsense!


    ording to the calctions of the prophecy school, the mass of the sun is hundreds of thousands of times that of the beneath our feet. Who could possibly move such a colossal entity?


    "Yes, that''s the new magic I''ve researched. I call it the Great Nuclear st!" Lynn nodded, feeling no need to hide it any longer.


    "As for the Holy Maiden of the Holy See, she has already perished under Master Lynn''s new magic. There should be nothing left of her but ashes now!" Aurora added.


    Although there were earlier spections, the wizards present still found it somewhat unbelievable after receiving confirmation.


    In their eyes, this Great Nuclear st transcended the realm of magic and could only be described as a natural disaster!


    It''s worth noting that Lynn, who cast this magic, had only recently advanced to the rank of Grand Wizard a few months ago, making him remarkably powerful in the world of magic.


    Anthony spected that Lynn might have regained his former strength, allowing him to unleash this cmitous magic.


    Arad and others immediately thought that this new magic was likely rted to the previously discovered atomic nucleus theory and new elements.Lynn didn''t delve into the principles of nuclear st magic, deeming it too dangerous to be disclosed at the moment. Instead, he smoothly shifted the conversation to inquire about progress on the other side.


    "Before we captured the City of Fire Oil, everything went exactly as you anticipated. However, afterward, we encountered Judge Joshua, leading the Divine Punishment Army to reinforce..." Anthony sinctly exined the situation.


    Upon hearing that Joshua, under absolute advantage, suddenly lost the ability to resist and was captured by a few Grand Wizards, the councilors exchanged nces, quickly realizing the impact brought about by the demise of Saint Lucia.


    This was undeniably good news, proving Harof''s spection was correct, and A''s incarnation was crucial, influencing even high-ranking members of the Holy See, such as Judge Joshua.


    After a moment of contemtion, Aurora suddenly inquired, "Master Arad, tonight, I trouble you to verify whether those captured priests and bishops can still perform divine arts!"


    This was undoubtedly the best method to assess the enemy''s current state.


    ...


    The restless night quickly passed, but the impact of the nuclear st magic intensified.


    The entire western bordends of the empire felt a strong shock, and the massive mushroom cloud rising in the night sky could be clearly seen from dozens of kilometers away.


    The closest Duke, Popo, immediately dispatched messengers to investigate. However, these scouts returned utterly frightened. After hearing their descriptions, Duke Popo, too, was scared, hastily packing up and fleeing to the Holy City.


    With the defeat of the Holy See''s punitive force and the news of the death of Saint Lucia spreading like wildfire among the fleeing imperial soldiers, chaos engulfed the Holy City. ?


    Inside the city, the once eternally blooming flowers, blessed by the power of the gods, began to wither and decay.


    The higher-ranked bishops could feel this unrest more acutely.


    Soon, tens of thousands of bishops gathered inside the Tower of the Firmament, anxiously awaiting an exnation from His Holiness, the Pope.


    And their receivedmand was simple: immediately conduct the selection of a new Holy Maiden and the baptism ceremony!


    This order was abrupt because the Holy See had never had a precedent of two Holy Maidens unless the previous one had either ascended to the heavenly realm or met an unfortunate ident.


    The baptism ceremony, usually witnessed by tens of thousands of believers, had to proceed quickly now. A new Holy Maiden had to be selected at the fastest possible pace!


    Under the operation of the church, a young, beautiful, and talented girl was quickly chosen, entering the Tower of the Firmament to the admiration of the onlookers.


    The fervent prayers soon resounded throughout the tower.


    With pure thoughts, aspirations, and devout faith in the Lord, the innocent girl stood in the center of the magical array.


    As the divine power poured in, a terrifying pressure surged within the tower.


    In an instant, a colossal divine light pierced the sky, enveloping the girl. Her body gradually floated in the air, her gown swaying in the wind, and her eyes, filled with yearning and devotion, began to shine like stars.


    "Great, holy, just, and merciful Lord, you are the most radiant star in the heavens, the creator of all things!" "Praise to our Lord, I implore you to forgive my sins so that I may enter the kingdom of God after death!" "Please grant me the power to ovee evil..."


    Various confessions and prayers continuously echoed in the girl''s mind. Her eyes were initially chaotic, but soon these voices became increasingly faint, and the divine light that permeated the heavens and the earth suddenly disappeared.


    The suspended body slowly descended from midair!


    "Holy Maiden, we bow to you!"


    The high-ranking members of the Holy See still present in the Holy City all knelt down, paying their respects.


    The girl seemed to have not fully recovered from the previous impact on her consciousness. Her brain was in chaos for about three to five seconds before her eyes gradually cleared. She looked at the people and spoke.


    "You did well, Alves. Choosing you as the Pope was indeed the right decision!"


    If a few hourster, her consciousness would probably have been corroded by the poison of faith,pletely submerged in endless prayers.


    The power of belief from tens of millions of people was not easy to endure!


    Even with her abilities, she couldn''t resist the impact of such a massive consciousness.


    "I only followed your will and did what needed to be done," Pope Alves replied respectfully, with no intention of taking credit.


    On the side, Saint Randall was puzzled and asked, "Lord, what exactly happened? How did you..."


    Initiating the selection of a new Holy Maiden again only had one meaning¡ª the former Holy Maiden had died!


    But... how was that possible? Who could kill the Holy Maiden, the incarnation of the Lord?


    "Do those wizards really have such powerful abilities?" Randall was horrified.


    "No, their power is nothing to be feared," Alra shook her head. She had shed with those legendary wizards, and even their peculiar beam magic was not enough to pose a lethal threat to her.


    "Only that spell is an exception!" Speaking here, the eyes of the Holy Maiden became sharp and dangerous.


    Pope Alves''s heart sank, suddenly realizing something.


    In the evening, Duke Popo, the Earl of the bordends, arrived at the Holy City after a day and night of rushing and brought aughable piece of news¡ª those wizards pulled the sun from the sky!

 Chapter 432: The Apocalypse Messenger Lynn, Bounty One Billion Seltoden Coins!

    Within the sacred city, Count Popo, who spoke nonsense and tried to shake people''s hearts, was directly seized by them. The description of the events could only be described as horrifying.


    Dazzling light illuminated the entire night sky, turning a territory of tens of kilometers into scorched earth, forming a deadly area. Anyone daring to enter would inexplicably have their bodies decay and die.


    Previously, Randall was determined not to believe it. How could a group of wizards hiding overseas for centuries have such great power?


    However, at this moment, he had no choice but to believe¡ªthey had actually killed the embodiment of the deity!


    "My Lord, should we recall the expeditionary force and gather all our strength to eradicate these sphemers?" Randall suggested.


    Even when the kingdom fell before, Randall didn''t consider these wizards a threat. But now, it seemed they had enough power to shake the rule of the Holy See and the Empire!


    It must be crushed as soon as possible!


    "No, arge-scale war is likely to be ineffective!" The Saint shook her head, vetoing Randall''s proposal.


    The range of that spell was unimaginable, and its power could only be described as terrifying. Even the mere aftermath was something an ordinary bishop couldn''t resist.Under such power, numbers were meaningless; it would only lead to the sacrifice of all the elite forces of the Holy See!


    Randall quickly realized this and his expression became extremely unpleasant.


    "My Lord, do you have a way to resist that magic?" Pope Alves suddenly appeared and inquired.


    The high-ranking members of the Holy See present all looked at the Saint beneath their gaze.


    The Saint remained silent for a moment before speaking. "If I personally intervene, naturally, I can."


    Randall and others naturally understood that the "I" referred to the true Moon Goddess, A, not the current incarnation. With the affirmative answer, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Their greatest fear was that those wizards woulde to the holy city and unleash that terrifying magic while they were defenseless.


    Pope Alves was even plunged into deep regret; he had actually wavered in the face of the deity''s power just now!


    "Such powerful magic cannot be easily cast by those wizards who have not set foot in the legendary realm!" A asserted decisively.


    There must be some kind of restriction!


    "Could it be that they found some special treasures in the wizard''s domain?" Saint Randall spected with a wide-open mind.


    It was very likely that this power made those wizards go mad, daring to leave that small ind and challenge the dignity of the gods!


    The Saint nodded; indeed, that was a possibility.


    Due to the extremely critical situation on the battlefield earlier, she had lost some memories in the process of transferring her consciousness back to her true self. So, she only had a vague impression of the battle.


    For example, she was finally knocked away by the new-style flying machines of the wizards, and the person casting the spell was a wizard named Lynn who seemed young.


    "Send out all the dark guards to investigate one person''s information. I want to know everything about him!" The Saint coldly ordered.


    "Who?" Pope Alves asked solemnly. He understood that this must be the person who cast the powerful spell and killed the incarnation of the deity.


    "The Star of Magic mentioned by those wizards¡ªLynn!"


    The Saint''s voice echoed again within the Tower of the Heavens. A ancient holy book floated from Randall''s waist, automatically flipping to page seventy-three of the Sinners'' Chapter. Lynn''s name and information quickly appeared before them. R


    "Within ten days, I want to see results! Also, Judge Joshua, send someone to search for his whereabouts. I believe Joshua should still be alive; he may have been captured by those wizards!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty, I will immediately give the orders!" Alves respectfully saluted, quickly extracting important information from it with a sweep of his gaze.


    The appearance of the other party was about twenty years old, brown hair. Two and a half years ago, he had appeared in the port town, suspected of secretly plotting to overthrow the Holy See. After being discovered by the local bishop, he directly used magic to destroy half the city, causing thousands of deaths and injuries. Then, he was expelled from Edweil upon arrival!


    "My Lord, should we elerate the collection of faith?" Randall worriedly reminded. "Forgive my offense, but now you need to ascend to the godly throne as soon as possible!"


    No one knew exactly how many wizards mastered this magic or if they could use it frequently.


    Once they chose to causerge-scale destruction to the entire empire, they would probably be hard-pressed to defend against it!


    The deaths of arge number of believers would make their efforts of hundreds of years go in vain...


    So, in Randall''s view, even if they had to use some unsavory means to catalyze faith, it was worth it!


    As long as they could eliminate the poison of faith and let the deity ascend to the godly throne, those wizards could be easily wiped out with a snap of the fingers!


    The Saint contemted for a while, considering the pros and cons of catalyzing faith. This was undoubtedly a desperate move, but now they couldn''t care much. The fall of the kingdom and the consecutive defeats of the Holy See''s punitive forces had greatly reduced the number of devout believers...


    If they continued like this, the goal of one million devout believers would only get farther and farther away.


    "Then, let it be arranged by you, Randall!" The Saint quickly made a decision.


    "I obey your will!" Randall lightly tapped his chest with his right hand and responded solemnly.


    "My Lord, what about the news of the fall of the kingdom and the defeat of the punitive forces? Should it continue to be blocked?" Pope Alves asked.


    Both of these pieces of news were undoubtedly shocking. Once exposed, they would inevitably cause a stir within the empire, severely damaging the reputation of the church, and even making believers doubt their faith in the deity.


    However, the impact of this war was too significant; the death zone spreading ten kilometers could not be concealed.


    "No, there is no need to continue the blockade!" The Saint indifferently said. "Go and tell them that the apocalypse is imminent, and those wizards are the culprits causing the catastrophe!"


    Apocalypse?!


    The high-ranking members of the Holy See present were all shaken, but soon they realized that this was indeed a ''soothing'' method.


    The Saint then looked at the opened holy book and gently passed her fingers over the pages.


    The information recorded about Lynn was written months ago by Edweil and was already outdated!


    Under the radiance of divine light, new information quickly appeared on the paper!


    Name: Lynn


    Extremely Dangerous (Messenger of the Apocalypse)


    Crimes: Causing the disaster of the apocalypse, annihting the Holy See''s punitive forces, leading to the fall of the kingdom!


    Bounty: Seltoden Coins... One billion!

 Chapter 433: Shattering the Unbeatable Myth of the Holy See!

    Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and news of the devastating defeat of the Holy See''s punitive army, the disappearance of the Chief Inquisitor, and the death of the former Saint Lucia quickly spread throughout more than half of the empire.


    Various rumors and spections ran wild within the holy city, leaving the devout followers of the Lord unable to believe that such news could be true. The mighty and revered Saint and the Chief Inquisitor, the messengers of the gods in the mortal realm, falling into the clutches of those demonic minions!


    The wizards and nobles who had hidden in the shadows, discontent with the Holy See''s rule, fueled the spread of these rumors. In just a few days, the entire holy city became aware of the shocking revtions.


    On the morning of the third day, Pope Alves delivered a divine promation, announcing to all the faithful of the empire a sorrowful message¡ªthe judgment day was approaching!


    Upon hearing this, whether nobles ormoners, everyone was in utter shock, plunged into great panic! Everyone understood the implications of the judgment day...


    As recorded in the Apocalypse chapter at the end of the Bible, the greed and wickedness in people''s hearts would attract the gaze of demons, bringing famine, disease, and gue!


    If these burgeoning sins surpassed a certain threshold, it would allow the demons confined in the abyss to reach the mortal realm. At that time, the entire world would face a great purge, and all souls would be dragged into hell to undergo the judgment of the apocalypse!


    Now, only the Lord''s personal descent into the world could prevent the impending apocalypse!


    "Let us offer the most devout faith to the greatest, holy, just, and merciful Lord!" Pope Alves''s resonant voice echoed throughout the entire holy city.Hundreds of thousands of faithful followers knelt down, either singing hymns loudly or crying out in repentance for their sins, praying for the great Lord to bring redemption and spare them from the impending abyss!


    ...


    While the Holy See was concocting excuses for the defeat of the punitive army, inside the City of Fire Oil, where victory in the war had been achieved, the wizard council was dealing with various troublesome matters.


    Because in this battle, they too had suffered losses. Over half of the more than one hundred airships responsible for diverting the main force of the Holy See were damaged, with casualties exceeding two thousand people! The top wizards of the council were almost all injured. Harof barely withstood a full-force attack from Lucia, Victorio''s eyes were blinded by a nuclear explosion, and they were all in the process of recuperation.


    As for Lynn, after breaking through the rank of Grand Wizard, although he no longer risked brain death when manipting the magicwork, prolonged use still imposed a considerable mental strain.


    The Grand Wizards who had attacked the City of Fire Oil were also scattered by the Chief Inquisitor Joshua, with two of them falling on the spot.


    This was partly due to Lynn''s clever strategy, avoiding direct confrontation with the Holy See. The powerful Saint Lucia and tens of thousands of Holy See punitive troops were obliterated by the nuclear explosion. Otherwise, the casualties would have been even more devastating. Therefore, after the victory, the council did not rush to pursue further, but took some time to rest.


    Multiple battles within a year, coupled with a massive number of casualties, depleted the council''s stock of magical medicines. Not to mention the urgent radiation issue that needed to be addressed!


    The City of Fire Oil was less than seven kilometers from the nuclear st zone!


    Such proximity meant they would inevitably be affected by radiation, and the nearby river could no longer be used for irrigation or drinking!


    In recent days, many wizards suggested abandoning the city or even demolishing it.


    However, Lynn vetoed this idea!


    Because the City of Fire Oil had arge poption, and the residents strongly resisted the idea of mass migration. Moreover, its geographical location was favorable, being close to the oil fields, making it worth preserving.


    Considering this, Lynn and a group of alchemists brainstormed and, based on the characteristics of radiation, constructed a magical barrier covering the entire city. This barrier could block the dangerous radiation from entering.


    Several dayster, as the personnel sent to investigate returned, the Wizard Council convened another meeting.


    Shape-shifting wizard Del provided a concise report on the information he had gathered in recent days.


    The oue of a battle was determined not only by various tactics, resource mobilization, and the ability to engage in directbat but also by the critical role of intelligence gathering. The council naturally attached great importance to this, and preparations had been made early on.


    Shape-shifting wizards, adept at magical transformations, undoubtedly had a unique advantage in intelligence gathering.


    In addition to being able to transform into specific creatures, they could also make some modifications to their appearance to a certain extent.


    If they could find someone with a simr physique and appearance, coupled with the memory search of a psychic wizard, they could directly rece the target, operating covertly with a legitimate identity.


    Of course, such disguises were not foolproof. Faced with powerful divine practitioners, their magical power might be detected. Therefore, Del and others dared not approach the holy city too closely and could only gather information through some passing caravans.


    Upon hearing the news of the defeat of the punitive army spreading through various trade routes across more than half of the empire, Lynn and the others were quite surprised.


    "So fast? Didn''t the Holy See try to stop the spread of this news?" Harof furrowed his brow, puzzled.


    "ording to our understanding, they did not." Del hesitated, showing a hint of doubt. "Instead, those priests and bishops seem to be fanning the mes, using this to propagate the apocalypse judgment mentioned in the Bible."


    "Apocalypse judgment?"


    Harof and the others couldn''t help but be taken aback. What did the apocalypse have to do with all this?


    Del quickly recounted the arguments he had heard from priests and bishops about the impending apocalypse.


    After listening, everyone present was speechless. The church''s ability to manipte its believers was simply off the charts!


    They could even make this story usible!


    "They are quite adept at fabricating stories!" Victorio sneered, shaking his head. He could see through the opponent''s intentions.


    Rather than waiting for news toe and cause chaos within the empire, shaking the faith of believers, it was better to fabricate a suitable reason to fool everyone in advance.


    "It seems your n is going to fall t!" Aurora looked at Lynn, yfully speaking.


    "It doesn''t matter; these pieces of news are not just for those fanatical believers!" Lynn shrugged, not overly concerned.


    The entire empire was not a monolith; the conflicts between theocracy, nobility, and themon people were not exclusive to the kingdom. However, in the past, the Holy See''s dominance had suppressed all resistance, making these issues less apparent. But once a weakening trend appeared, these problems would erupt again!


    So, no matter how those priests and bishops tried to justify it, they could not change one irond fact¡ªthe punitive army of the Holy See suffered consecutive defeats in the kingdom!


    They had shattered the unbeatable myth of the Holy See!

 Chapter 434: The Key to Becoming a Legend — I Dont Want to Be Human Anymore!

    The influence of the Holy See has deep roots in this vast continent, making it not an easy task topletely eliminate.


    Having shattered the umted power of the opposing force is undoubtedly a good start!


    Lynn believes that there are undoubtedly many within the Empire who are dissatisfied with the Church''s rule. Not to mention the numerous wizards alone!


    After seizing the kingdom, many wizards havee to join, but more are still observing, wondering whether they will be crushed by the Holy See or continue to advance boldly!


    As the news spreads, more and more wizards will undoubtedly flock to the kingdom seeking a way out.


    Although most of these people have not undergoneprehensive magical education, their levels of magical knowledge vary. In this otherworldly realm, they can be considered high-quality talents!


    While Lynn contemtes, the members of the meeting room have already begun discussing whether tounch a further counterattack against the Empire and the Holy See.


    Supporters far outnumber opponents, especially after witnessing the power of therge nuclear explosion. Many wizards have fallen into the excitement of nuclear frenzy!


    After all, the power to destroy a city with a single blow is truly fascinating.Some wizards even believe that under such tremendous power, the so-called pseudo-god A is nothing special. They boast about giving the Church a taste, such as blowing up the Holy City!


    Others suggest bombing all the cities in the entire empire, taking advantage of the victory and wiping out the Holy See in one fell swoop!


    However, the councilors are quite calm; they are well aware that the uranium-235 extracted from the demon stone is only enough for one nuclear explosion and should not be used lightly!


    As for uranium ore, they have already mined it, but due to the need for strict confidentiality, progress has been extremely slow.


    It is said that the Alchemy Research Institute is working on a special alchemical machine for mining. Until this device is ready, they can only treat this terrifying new magic as ast resort!


    All discussions naturally converge on Lynn, the star of magic.


    Lynn raised his hand to silence the noisy discussions in the meeting room. Instead of hastily concluding, he looked at Del and asked, "Besides this apocalyptic theory, are there any other changes in the Holy City?"


    The incarnation of that pseudo-god is dead. ording to his spection, the high-level members of the Holy See should have been affected to some extent.


    Del hesitated for a moment before replying, "I heard that the Church recently elected a new Saint!"


    "A new Saint? So soon?" Harof was somewhat surprised. After exchanging nces with the other council members, they all sensed the seriousness in each other''s eyes.


    "The one we killed was just an incarnation, with limited impact on the true body of that pseudo-god," Aurora sighed lightly, suggesting a temporary pause in their actions against the Holy See.


    "Chairman Victorio, what about the chief judge of the Holy See?" Lynn suddenly inquired.


    This legendary clergyman is undoubtedly their biggest achievement this time!


    Capturing a legendary figure is not an easy task, and this time, it was purely a matter of luck!


    "I have imprisoned him in a secret ce, but this guy''s mouth is tough. My psychic magic cannot break through his mental defenses..." Victorio said with some headache.


    Three days ago, after his vision was restored, Victorio began the interrogation of Joshua.


    As a high-ranking member of the Holy See, he must know many secrets about that pseudo-god.


    However, the process was very difficult. The opponent''s soul strength was high, and his will was incredibly firm. Even the most cruel punishments were not enough to shake his beliefs.


    Of course, after a few days of torment, Victorio did note away empty-handed. He was very interested in the immortality of these legendary clergy, so he cut off a part of Joshua''s body for research.


    The results shocked him!


    After using therge disintegration technique to analyze a mass of flesh and blood, Victorio initially thought he would obtain basic elements constituting human tissue. However, he found... nothing!


    This mass of flesh and blood seemed false, and he could only sense the fluctuation of divine magic energy!


    "Are you saying that the body of the chief judge is made up of divine magic energy?" Harof''s eyebrows furrowed deeply. It seemed that these Holy See legends had some tricks up their sleeves.


    All wizards are aware that magic can mimic elements.


    These mimicked elements almost possess all the characteristics of matter, but they still cannot change the fact that their essence is magic...


    "Or is he now just a soul entity?" Aurora spected.


    Using magic to carry the soul is not an unprecedented innovation. Soul strength above the level of grand wizards can exist independently of the body with energy supply.


    Her developed projection magic and mirror magic both use rted techniques. However, from the moment the spell is cast, it continuously consumes magic to maintain consciousness.


    The stronger the soul entity, the more terrifying the consumption...


    "No, it''s not that simple." Victorio shook his head, seemingly contemting how to describe it. Finally, he said thoughtfully, "In fact, before using therge disintegration, I once thought this was a genuine piece of flesh and blood."


    "Even you couldn''t see through it?" Harof was quite surprised. It seems that these Holy See legends have some secrets.


    The biggest obstacle to reaching a higher realm is the constraint of the body. Recing the role of the body with magic to support the soul entity may be a feasible path.


    But the problem is, how should it be done?


    This is by no means as simple as using magic to mimic the reconstruction of a body!


    All the councilors present are discussing this incredibly novel discovery, and Lynn is also immersed in contemtion.


    The boundary between matter and energy?


    With a slight movement of his mind, Lynn quickly thought of something.


    Mass can be converted into energy, and vice versa. Moreover, just by slightly reversing the mass-energy equation, the value can be determined...


    Of course, this statement is not quite urate because energy and matter are inherently two sides of the same coin, just in different forms!


    For example, the famous Einstein once said that the so-called mass of matter refers to the measurement of its energy content.


    But achieving this is not easy. Energy conversion into mass was the most cutting-edge field in the former federal era. The rted records in Lynn''s smart brain are limited and cannot provide much help.


    How did ''low-culture'' A manage to do it?


    After a moment''s pause, Lynn suddenly thought of two words¡ªmagic and spiritual energy!


    It must be these two forces external to the federal scientific system that helped the other party achieve this.

 Chapter 435: Even a god is powerless against the new magic I developed!

    Lynn still remembered, two and a half years ago, when he first crossed over, the AI''s evaluation of magic and soul power.


    They seemed to be a form of energy.


    So, does the mass-energy equation apply to psychic energy and magic?


    The more Lynn thought about it, the deeper he delved. He vaguely felt that the path to legend was right in front of him!


    Just one crucial breakthrough!


    As for this breakthrough, it would be easiest to find it from the captured Chief Justice Joshua!


    Thinking about this, Lynn looked towards Victorio and inquired, "Have you ever tried to undermine him through faith, President Victorio?"


    For fanatics, so-called torture and humiliation were child''s y as long as their beliefs remained steadfast. Anything done would be in vain.


    "Not yet," Victorio shook his head. Three days were too short. He had to find time to study Joshua''s staircase structure. He had only tried five interrogation methods temporarily."In any case, we can try from this aspect!" Lynn suggested. "I want to personally meet that Chief Justice."


    Victorio naturally had no objection.


    He hid Joshua in a secret ce not for selfish reasons but to prevent leaks. Once the Holy See learned that the Chief Justice had been captured, and the location was known, they would spare no effort to rescue this legendary divine servant!


    "Oh, I have a discovery rted to you!" Victorio took out a thick book from his robe and ced it on the table, looking at Lynn with a smile.


    Lynn could tell at a nce that it was a Bible! However, what Victorio took out was different from the handwritten copies carried by ordinary priests and bishops. It looked extraordinary, mostly carried by Chief Justice Joshua!


    Before Lynn could ask, Victorio opened the Bible.


    "The Holy See has issued a bounty on you!"


    This not only surprised Lynn but also piqued the interest of the presentwmakers. Then they were bewildered by the long string of zeros.


    "One billion... Imperial gold coins?" After confirming several times that he wasn''t mistaken, Lynn''s face was filled with astonishment.


    You should know that the kingdom''s annual tax revenue was not even close to ten million Imperial gold coins.


    Well, it seemed that inadvertently, he had be worth decades of the kingdom''s tax revenue!


    Lynn couldn''t help butugh and cry. Unbeknownst to him, his value had be a threat to nations!


    And what kind of thing was this Apocalypse Messenger?


    "In any case, you better be careful. Such a high bounty might attract many covetous individuals," Victorio reminded.


    Although Lynn had already be a grand wizard and had formidable strength, there weren''t many who could defeat him in directbat. However, assassination was a different matter, and all kinds of despicable methods were troublesome!


    Even the strongest person had the possibility of a mishap!


    ...


    The Wizard Councilsted for three hours before concluding. Considering the Holy See had chosen a new saint, the leaders, after deliberation, suppressed the calls for an immediate attack on the empire and decided to temporarily halt their invasion ns. First, they needed to stabilize the internal situation.


    Their achievements this time were already significant. They not only reimed the entire kingdom but also acquired a border territory of the empire!


    Moreover, all the newly acquired territories had been ''cleared.'' The local nobles either were hanged or epted ''decrees of security.'' Aside from outwardly obeying the king''s orders, they wouldn''t face any other restraints, making it suitable forrge-scale industrial development!


    However, for the high-ranking members of the council, these were just details. Lynn was well aware that a nuclear explosion could only serve as a deterrent.


    Only by bing a true legend could he hope topletely defeat that false god!


    So, after the meeting dispersed, Lynn followed Victorio to the secret location where Joshua was held.


    The location was unexpectedly close¡ªunderneath the conference room!


    "This underground chamber is very secretive. I found it by searching through that duke''s mind. No one else knows about it," Victorio exined.


    Moreover, confining Joshua underground in the meeting room had its benefits; arranging numerous guards would not raise suspicion.


    Their residence wasn''t far from this ce either, ensuring they could rush in case of any unexpected incidents!


    Victorioined to Lynn about the difficulties of dealing with this Chief Justice, opened a heavy steel door, and Lynn saw Joshua being held captive.


    Contrary to the proud and extraordinary appearance during theirst encounter, the current Chief Justice looked miserable, bound by thick runic chains.


    Every few seconds, these runic chains would light up, releasing intense lightning, causing Joshua''s muscles to tremble!


    This was Victorio''s newly devised punishment. Besides severe pain, it also kept the person''s mind in a state of high tension.


    For an ordinary person, not to mention enduring for three days, even three hours would likely be unbearable!


    However, Joshua was different. He closed his eyes, appearing like a block of wood. Even with the fierce lightning, it wasn''t enough to make him frown, as if he were dead and motionless.


    "Counting, this should be our second meeting, Your Excellency Chief Justice?" Lynn casually greeted.


    He won''t reply to you... Victorio was about to say this when he saw Joshua open his eyes. Those eagle-like eyes stared at Lynn, and with a dry and hoarse voice, he whispered.


    "Star of Magic, the sphemer... Lynn..."


    Victorio choked for a moment. He had interrogated the Chief Justice for three days, and Joshua had yed dead, not uttering a single word.


    It seemed that in the eyes of this legendary councilor, he was not as good as Lynn, the grand wizard.


    Just thinking about that terrifying nuclear spell, Victorio sighed, as if he really wasn''t as good...


    "Yes, it''s me!" Lynn nodded, admitting it, then continued to inquire, "Don''t you want to know why you suddenly lost the protection of your god? And how you lost this war?"


    Joshua remained silent, seemingly reverting to the appearance of a living corpse.


    Lynn didn''t mind; he continued talking about how he had manipted the Holy See''s crusade army with a clever strategy, ying them into his hands.


    Joshua still didn''t say a word, as if the person being toyed with in Lynn''s words wasn''t himself.


    "Unfortunately, you didn''t witness that scene. Your saint, the incarnation of that false god, was forced to use the Gate of Heaven under our siege. But it suited my purposes. Even a god is powerless against the new magic¡ªNuclear Spell¡ªI developed."


    Lynn''s expression was regretful, his gaze fixed on Joshua, decisively stating, "So, your god is dead, killed by my spell!"

 Chapter 436: Joshua: The Greatness of the Lord Is Beyond Your Comprehension!

    Lord Lynn''s voice echoed continuously in the chamber.


    Joshua''s expression gradually shifted from silence to anger.


    As the most devout follower of the Moon Goddess, he would not allow anyone to defile the existence of the Lord!


    However, when Lord Lynn mentioned Saint Lucia using the Gates of Heaven and the Great Lord descending from the Divine Realm only to perish under his new magic, Joshua''s expression calmed down, with a hint of mockery on his face.


    Lord Lynn kept a close eye on Joshua''s expression.


    Sometimes, even if the other party is unwilling to cooperate, one can glean clues from their instant reactions.


    For instance, while recounting the details of the war moments ago with some truth and some lies, even obvious errors, Joshua remained oblivious. Yet, when it came to the death of A, the Judge''s expression was surprisingly calm, showing no trace of worry or fear.


    Was it because there were obvious ws in his words, and Lucia didn''t need to use the Gates of Heaven to aplish the divine descent?


    Or was it that Joshua had absolute confidence in the power of that false god?No, both seemed unlikely.


    Lord Lynn quickly dismissed this notion.


    Even though Joshua was captured while in the City of Fire Oil and didn''t witness firsthand the might of his Nuclear st spell, he undoubtedly felt the intense ground tremors and the towering mushroom cloud rising...


    Even if he were foolish, he would surely realize that the Holy See''s crusade had been defeated and their god was now preupied.


    "It seems you can ascertain the status of that false god, or rather, whether it lives or dies..." A smile crept onto Lord Lynn''s face as he continued, "Let me guess, that''s probably because..."


    "Because... you''re still alive, aren''t you?" Lord Lynn suddenly realized.


    Joshua''s pupils contracted, his figure trembled slightly, though he quickly regained hisposure, forcefully suppressing any emotional changes. But these subtle changes in expression were enough for Lord Lynn.


    Clearly, he guessed right!


    Initially, after Arad conducted experiments on those captured bishops and priests all night, even after he killed Saint Lucia, these people could still release divine magic normally. It was Joshua, the Judge, who was greatly affected, being knocked down by a mere Tier 2 magic.


    Lord Lynn couldn''t help but specte that the higher-ranked clergy had a closer connection to A, the higher the rank, the closer the link. Once this false god fell, the upper echelons of the church would likely suffer severe, even fatal, blows!


    Joshua''s expression had returned to calmness. His sharp eyes stared at the two before him, speaking with a hoarse and mocking tone.


    "Your resistance is meaningless, wizards! Before long, the Kingdom of the Lord will descend from the heavens and cover the entirend!"


    "At that time, the glory of the gods will dispel all evil!"


    Joshua''s tone was devout and resolute, as if he were reciting some kind of oath.


    "Oh, evil?" Victorioughed mockingly, as if hearing a ridiculous joke. "The Lord you speak of was once one of the wizards, the most evil of all, feeding on souls to grow their own powers, the very abominations you detest the most."


    "In other words, she was just an executioner and a lucky one who won wars by relying on power, shamelessly branding her ''brethren'' as evil and ughtering them all..."


    Victorio''s tone grew harsher, exposing A''s secrets, aiming to shatter the Judge''s faith outright.


    Any devout follower of a god, upon learning that their object of worship is actually a rumored evil wizard, or even the embodiment of evil itself, would inevitably be shaken to their core, either vehemently arguing back or condemning the sphemy for sullying the greatness of the Moon Goddess... Or their faith would copse entirely!


    However, none of what Victorio anticipated happened. Joshua simply responded indifferently.


    "The greatness of the Lord is beyond yourprehension!"


    "Greatness? Are you suggesting she created this world as the scriptures say?" Lord Lynn scoffed.


    Give me a break, based on A, a false god trapped in a small asteroid?


    Can''t even leave her own sr system, let alone creation; it''s absurd to even consider her remotely great.


    Yet, Joshua''s indifference also surprised Lord Lynn.


    It seemed the higher echelons of the Holy See differed from the ordinary bishops and priests in their ignorance of the god they worship.


    Or perhaps, to be part of the higher echelons of the Holy See, to be legendary clergy, one of the conditions was to maintain the most devout faith even in the face of the truth...


    Lord Lynn was speechless; how devout must one be to ept that the god they worship is no different from the rumored evil wizard, or even the evil god itself, and still hold unwavering faith...


    A''s brainwashing ability was terrifyingly effective!


    Faced with the mocking words of Lord Lynn and the others, Joshua ignored, neither listening nor speaking, as if dead.


    Even though Victorio deliberately insulted A, there was no reaction from Joshua, only turning to look at Lord Lynn.


    See, this guy is just impossible to deal with...


    Lord Lynn also shook his head helplessly. He intended to dig up some dirt on that false god and undermine his faith from this angle. Once the spiritual defense copsed, there would naturally be the possibility of memory retrieval.


    He even nned out how to persuade the other party with his words, but unfortunately, Joshua''s attitude exceeded his expectations, showing a strong eptance of the fact that A was once a wizard.


    This meant that his previous ns were all in vain.


    "Space Resonance."


    Lord Lynn suddenly raised his hand, and an invisible ripple passed through, slicing Joshua''s right arm clean off at the elbow. Crimson blood sprayed out, and the severed forearm floated up beforending in Lord Lynn''s hand.


    "Blood flows the same, indeed miraculous." Lord Lynn praised, somewhat suspicious whether the other party had alreadypleted the conversion of energy and matter.


    Then, strands of mes ignited from the air, using the heat to cauterize the Judge''s wound to prevent further bleeding.


    As for this severed arm, it was naturally prepared for research...


    Seeing Joshua unwilling to cooperate, Lord Lynn didn''t bother wasting any more effort. He had theories about energy-matter conversion in his samples, and he believed it wouldn''t be long before he could reconstruct the path to bing legendary.

 Chapter 437: The Punishment Knight, Ivina!

    In the northern regions of the Empire, within a remote vige, the townsfolk mechanically moved about their distorted bodies, beginning their day''s work as usual.


    Tilling the fields, feeding livestock, hauling goods...


    The vige bustled with activity, yet everyone''s movements seemed somewhat stiff.


    A middle-aged man, appearing as a cksmith, mechanically swung his iron hammer, striking down onto the glowing red sword de.


    His stooped figure suddenly trembled, yet he remained unaware as the round head fell, severed, onto the searing de. Nheless, the cksmith continued hammering away, pounding flesh and brain matter into the crimson iron sword.


    By midday, this tranquil vige weed an unwee group.


    Ivina led a squadron of Punishment Knights into the vige, but even at the moment of entry, the young girl sensed something amiss.


    The vige appeared deste, dpidated, with many houses copsed, roads muddy and unkempt. From numerous signs, it was evident that this ce had recently undergone the ravages of war.


    Yet the vigers had made no effort to repair these dpidated areas, nor did they avoid the neers likemon paupers, continuing their work as usual.A Punishment Knight suddenly grabbed a passing man, and upon seeing the man''s nk expression, lifeless eyes, and the evident stab wound on his chest, a chill ran through their hearts.


    "They''ve been dead for at least five days!" a Punishment Knight remarked gravely.


    "It''s been half a month!" Ivina corrected, judging from the signs of war.


    As she spoke, Ivina solemnly produced a magical sensing device, the pointer spinning around before finally pointing towards a residence in the vige.


    More than twenty knights entering the vige drew their des from their belts.


    "More Churchpdogs? They just won''t disappear!"


    The icy curse quickly emanated from within the mansion, full of disdain.


    Then, an elderly and withered face appeared before the crowd, a man cloaked in ck robes, his hair white, skin dry like bark, resembling a skeleton.


    "The Corpse Thief, Wally!" Ivina''s thoughts shifted, recognizing him from the wanted poster in the Sinners'' Scriptures!


    A reward of fifteen thousand Imperial gold coins!


    "I despise being called a corpse thief!" the ck-robed wizard wrinkled his brow discontentedly.


    These bodies were all products of war. Without him, they would be abandoned in the wilderness, devoured by beasts, their bones lost forever. It would be such a waste! But in his hands, it was different. They could create greater value! With excitement and fervor, Wally, the Corpse Thief, opened his arms wide.


    "See how marvelous the new type of revenants I''ve developed are! In just this half month, they''ve produced so much food, forged so many tools. They don''t need to eat, don''t need to rest, only obeymands..."


    "Perfect... They''re simply the perfect existence!" the Corpse Thief eximed triumphantly. "Let the dead work, and the living enjoy. Could there be a better world than this?"


    Finding a few listeners eager to hear him out, the Corpse Thief began to expound upon his great research. It took him several years and countless experiments to awaken the memories of these corpses, making them spontaneously till thend and smelt iron...


    Next, he would teach these revenants even more, make them do even more work!


    Ivina and herrades looked upon the decaying, rotting, foul-smelling corpses in the vige with increasing anger, tightening their grip on their swords, interrupting the Corpse Thief.


    "Cease your nonsense and face judgment, sinner!"


    Upon hearing the term "sinner," Wally, the Corpse Thief, grew disinterested. "It seems none of you canprehend the greatness of my research!"


    "If that''s the case, then stay here and contribute to my new enterprise!" The Corpse Thief sneered, and ck mists surged from his body.


    "Realm of the Dead!"


    The stiff, lifeless corpses, upon contact with the ck mist, immediately turned their eyes blood-red, their bodies contorting and swelling into grotesque forms.


    "A domain? Is he a Grand Wizard?!" The Punishment Knights present paled, shouting in panic. This was entirely contrary to the information about a mere Third-Ring wizard as per the intelligence report!


    Though it seemed only a ring''s difference between the Third and Fourth Rings, theirbat capabilities were worlds apart!


    "Fight!" Ivina''s face showed no fear as she took the lead, charging straight ahead, her sword shing horizontally, instantly cleaving one of the charging revenants in two.


    "Corpse Burst!" The ck-robed wizard grinned darkly, pointing his finger. The separated corpse immediately exploded, its blood mist carrying toxins and gue. Even the Punishment Knights who had taken the Divine Elixir couldn''t withstand it.


    However, Ivina had already disappeared into the blood mist with extraordinary speed.


    ...


    After half an hour of fierce battle, more than half of the thirty Punishment Knights had perished, and Ivina had acquired several injuries, oozing ck mists.


    Meanwhile, the Corpse Thief Wally''s head had been impaled on a slender de.


    With the death of the practitioner, all the revenants in the vige lost their anchor and copsed to the ground. Ivina, exhausted, sighed in relief.


    "Thanks to you, Ivina," one of the Punishment Knights expressed horror. If not for the reckless tactics of the girl that threw the Corpse Thief off bnce, giving them an opportunity for closebat, they would all have died here, bing mere revenants.


    "It''s a pity, though..." Ivina nced at the bodies of her fallenrades, sighing.


    "Dealing with these wizards, casualties are inevitable!" The Punishment Knight spoke with both anger and resignation.


    Indeed, sacrificing fewer than twenty Punishment Knights to kill a Grand Wizard was already extremely fortunate.


    At least they protected more Imperial subjects from the enemy''s harm!


    Ivina nodded, mustering her strength alongside the remainingrades, gathering the bodies and burning them all to prevent the spread of potential gues.


    Soon, the melodious hymns resonated throughout the vige.


    "May your souls avoid purgatory, may you ascend to the kingdom of heaven and eternal joy..."


    Ivina murmured softly in prayer, watching the mes rise, involuntarily reminiscing about the past.


    More than two years ago, in the harbor town, it was such mes that awakened her, leading to her estrangement from her family, and to her realization of a broader world.


    As someone once said, the world is vast, far beyond imagination. A mere baron''s title meant nothing.


    That lofty position, like a dome, once obscured her entire vision. But now, with just a word, she could decide the life or death of a baron...


    The aspirations, obsessions, and hatred of the past seemed utterly ridiculous now.


    But... why did you choose to be a wizard?

 Chapter 438: Ivina: I cant imagine how terrifying the realm controlled by wizards could be.

    During her time away from the seaside town, Ivina experienced confusion and peril. Fortunately, her swordsmanship was strong enough to fend off most threats, allowing her to survive and eventually make her way to the holy city. There, she diligently underwent the selection process for the Punishment Legion and was granted the opportunity for rebirth, drinking the elixir of divine grace.


    Over the past two years, in her quest for information about Lotte, Ivina joined the most dangerous witch-hunting unit within the Punishment Legion, witnessing firsthand the evil, madness, and hysteria of the wizards. They wielded powerful and arcane magic, conducting secretive research in the shadows, spreading gue, and sowing suffering.


    These experiences deepened Ivina''s understanding of the descriptions of wizards in the scriptures and instilled in her a new belief: the need to eliminate these minions of the dark gods to save more people. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sensation of vibrations emanating from the ground.


    It felt like the mobilization of arge army. Immediately, Ivina became vignt, knowing that the northern borders of the empire were often raided by barbarians, and the vige ahead was likely a target.


    However, upon seeing the fluttering banners bearing the holy emblem in the distance, Ivina''s apprehension eased. The cavalry rushing towards them was none other than the Punishment Legion of the Holy See.


    Ivina quickly rode out to meet them, recounting everything that had happened in the vige.


    "You''ve done well, Ivina. Killing a grand wizard shows that your strength has grown significantly," praised Gustav, themander of the Punishment Legion, as he looked at the eighteen-year-old girl before him.


    Ivina was perhaps the most adept at integrating the power of the elixir of divine grace over the past few centuries, and her physical prowess surpassed that of ordinary Punishment Knights.


    The only w was herck of innate talent in divine arts.Gustav took out the holy scripture from his waist, made revisions to the section regarding grave robbers, adding the word "extermination" at the end, and increased the bounty to forty thousand.


    A hint of joy appeared on Ivina''s face. She didn''t care much about wealth, as the sry she received was enough for her daily needs. However, the increase in bounty meant that the families of the fallen Punishment Knights would receive morepensation.


    "It''s time to return to the holy city!" Gustav put away the scripture and looked in the direction of the city.


    "But sir, ording to our investigation, the frequent activities of the wizards in the north may be rted to a dark god..." Ivina hesitated.


    During her time with the witch-hunting unit, Ivina had participated in wars against dark gods several times and was well aware of the havoc they could wreak. If not dealt with in time, it could lead to the deaths of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people.


    "I understand your concerns, Ivina, but we have more important matters to attend to now!" Gustav''s expression turned solemn. "Just recently, I received word of a tragedy within the empire..."


    "The group of wizards who were originally hiding overseasunched a sudden attack on the Kingdom of Hadrta in the west of the empire, using the struggle for the throne as leverage to persuade Prince Hatar tomit patricide and support him as a puppet king."


    "Now the entire kingdom has fallen, and it has likely be a paradise for wizards and demons..." Gustav sighed.


    Ivina''s face was filled with shock, and a chill ran down her spine. She couldn''t imagine how terrifying a kingdom ruled by wizards could be, and how many bloody tragedies would ur there!


    Ivina had once participated in resolving a cmity caused by dark gods. Several fanatical followers of dark gods had seized control of a stronghold in the north, conductingrge-scale blood sacrifices that resulted in the ughter of tens of thousands of peasants, fueling the power of the dark gods.


    The horrifying scene still haunted Ivina''s mind.


    "Commander, are we going back this time to hunt down those wizards?" one of the Punishment Knights asked hastily.


    Ivina tightened her grip on the slender de. It seemed that the crisis within the empire was indeed more severe than that in the north.


    Gustav shook his head. "No, in fact, the Church has already dispatched two expeditions, but..."


    "But the Holy Maiden Lucia fell in battle, and the Chief Inquisitor was captured alive. All the expeditionary forces were annihted!"


    Gustav''s voice was light, but it resounded like thunder in everyone''s ears.


    The Punishment Knights present stared wide-eyed, hardly believing what they heard!


    Ivina was no exception, her eyes filled with incredulity.


    In the past, no matter what kind of enemy they faced, as long as the Church was determined to eliminate them, victory was assured.


    However, this time, the expeditionary force suffered such a tragic defeat...


    She didn''t know how powerful the Holy Maiden and the Chief Inquisitor were, but she had seen firsthand the power of Gustav, themander of the Punishment Legion.


    Even the terrifying dark god nourished by the flesh and blood of tens of thousands of people would be easily killed by Gustav, who possessed divine power!


    "ording to the prophecy, the apocalypse... has arrived!" Gustav said gravely.


    "The apocalypse?!" Ivina murmured softly.


    "Yes!" Gustav nodded, then exined, "As the scriptures say, the endless sins and desires of mankind will inevitably bring disaster, and the increasingly powerful dark arts wielded by the wizards are the harbinger of the apocalypse!"


    The apocalypse?


    After experiencing the initial shock and panic, Ivina and the other Punishment Knights gradually calmed down, their eyes filled with determination.


    They had long put life and death aside and were determined to kill those wizards who spread chaos and prevent the apocalypse from befalling!


    "The Pope has a very important task for you!" Gustav looked at Ivina and suddenly spoke.


    "Please, give me your orders, Commander!" Ivina responded respectfully.


    "You have been staying in the north, only consuming the elixir of divine grace and not undergoing the baptism of divine arts. Those wizards should not be able to confirm your identity, making you the most suitable candidate." Gustav spoke slowly.


    "Soon, we will create an opportunity for you to enter the Kingdom of Hadrta... as one of those wizards'' territories!"

 Chapter 439: The Greatest Discovery in Magical History - The Magic Conversion Equation!

    "Lord Gustav, perhaps it would be better if I went instead!" a divine punishment knight suggested, unable to bear the thought of such a young Ivina undertaking such a dangerous mission.


    He didn''t know exactly what those wizards had done to the kingdom, but he could imagine that it was beyond dire.


    Among the ranks of the divine punishment knights, there were also those like him whocked the innate talent for divine arts, thus not undergoing the necessary training, and he was one of them!


    "This isn''t mandatory. You can refuse, and there won''t be any punishment. I''ll consult with His Holiness and send someone else if necessary," Gustav assured, not wanting to pressure Ivina.


    Sending unwilling pawns into enemy territory would only spell disaster!


    "No, there''s no need to trouble anyone else. Let me handle it!" Ivina dered resolutely.


    If the apocalypse couldn''t be stopped, everyone would plunge into hell. In such dire circumstances, no one could escape!


    Gustav was impressed by the girl''s determination and reassured her. "You don''t have to worry too much. I doubt those wizards will be too harsh on an apprentice."


    With that, Gustav instructed his adjutant to hand Ivina a dossier."This contains your new identity and several wizards you need to pay special attention to. It''s best to prepare yourself in theing days..."


    Ivina nodded solemnly, taking the dossier and flipping through it. It detailed the unique council system of the wizards, their hierarchy,position, and the identities of several councilors.


    She noted them down one by one. However, upon reaching thest page and seeing the information there, she couldn''t help but freeze.


    There were portraits drawn by the empire''s finest artists on the page, depicting a male wizard of about twenty years old, with brown hair, looking gentle and devoid of the madness and danger often associated with wizards, yet the bounty on him was staggering!


    A reward of a full billion imperial coins!


    And those so-called ''legendary'' wizards, the leaders of the council, were only worth tens of millions.


    What intrigued Ivina more was Lynn''s background, the harbinger of the apocalypse, the one who brought down the church''s punitive army, leading to the fall of the kingdom and the destruction of half of a coastal town.


    "The Apocalypse Messenger... Lynn," Ivina murmured softly, his story vaguely reminding her of her own brother, Lott.


    Soon, Ivina shook her head inwardly.


    How could that be?


    At most, they just shared some simrities in age and hair color.


    This wizard named Lynn was so powerful, killing the church''s saint with ease and annihting tens of thousands of the church''s punitive army in an instant.


    Perhaps her brother was just one of his minions or apprentices.


    "He is your most important target for this mission, hailed by those wizards as the Star of Magic!" Gustav said solemnly. "If we''re not mistaken, he should also be the mastermind behind the destruction of your hometown, the coastal town!"


    When Ivina joined the divine punishment army, he had already investigated the identity of the other party, naturally aware that her brother Lott had died in that riot, causing Baron Pedrol immense mental trauma, as rumors had it.


    It could be said that an originally noble family had been shattered...


    "I will do my best toplete the mission, Lord Gustav!" Ivina tucked away the dossier, her eyes revealing aplex expression.


    "Very good. If sessful, you will be the greatest hero to save millions in the empire!" the leader of the divine punishment army encouraged.


    "It''s a pity His Holiness didn''t choose you to be the new saint!" Gustavmented somewhat regretfully. "They underestimated the potential of your body..."


    He had never seen someone with such excellentbat talent.


    While wizards might wield powerful and evil sorcery, their expertise in closebat was usually limited. Once they fell into melee due to carelessness, even great wizards could end up losing their heads.


    Although from the information collected, the so-called Star of Magic was not as simple as an ordinary great wizard, Ivina had another weapon, her beauty!


    If used well, it would be deadlier than any poison!


    Taking all this into ount, he rmended Ivina to His Holiness for this mission...


    ---


    At the border of the empire, within the City of Fire Oil, Lynn was unaware that the church had secretly devised a n against him and was fully immersed in his research on divine arts and magic.


    "Incredible, truly incredible!"


    Lynn eximed, using a magnification spell that amplified two hundred times to meticulously examine the forearm of Judge Joshua, marveling at it.


    After several days of research, he had discovered many interesting things.


    Just as he had spected before, the church must have mastered some method of converting substances using divine energy as a medium - foreseeably the most important path to bing a legend!


    If he were to describe it in one sentence, it would be: the flesh is weak, but the energy ascends!


    In addition to this, he also found that divine energy and magic were essentially the same thing, but the differencey in the fact that wizards'' magic had subtle differences.


    Powerful wizards often could identify a person''s identity through their magic!


    Hurlram had easily seen through his wless shape-shifting magic.


    On the other hand, the mastery of divine energy by priests, bishops, and even archbishops was highly simr, making it impossible to distinguish between them.


    Lynn suspected that divine energy was imprinted with a personal mark by [A], or perhaps it contained a special magical power imbued with her will!


    As Lynn pondered whether he could achieve the same using the magicwork, he recorded all his thoughts on a piece of parchment.


    The title prominently disyed: "Analysis and Research Report on Divine Energy!"


    Lynn was nning to publish it in the "Magic Weekly" this week to help dispel wizards'' fear and panic about gods.


    Next to ity a recentlypleted "Periodic Table of Elements" and arge stack of stacked manuscripts!


    The manuscripts were filled with messy forms, prominent scratches, and rough lines. If there were a wizard proficient in arithmetic here, they would surely see that it was an unfinished set of equations.


    Lynn called it the Magic Conversion Equation!


    If he could perfect it, it would undoubtedly be the greatest discovery in magical history...


    Most importantly, it was a magical theory truly of his own creation!


    It was the foundation for unraveling the essence of magic and ascending to legendary status!

 Chapter 440: The Body of Energy and the Mass-Energy Equation

    Since crossing into this world, Lynn had been pondering a question: What exactly is magic? Or rather, what are its properties?


    Over the centuries, the research of grand wizards hadid some groundwork for him. They had summarized many characteristics of magic, such as its susceptibility to mental maniption, its susceptibility to the influence of specially arranged runes, and most importantly, its ability to mimic elements!


    Whilepiling the periodic table of elements, Lynn discovered through extensive experimentation that the amount of magic consumed when wizards cast spells to mimic various elements is directly rted to the atomic number, period, and group to which an element belongs!


    Among these, the atomic number, which refers to the element''s position in the periodic table, has the greatest impact.


    This number is arranged based on the number of protons (nuclear charge) within the atomic nucleus.


    For example, hydrogen has an atomic number of one, meaning it also has one proton in its nucleus, while the atomic number of uranium is 92, indicating that the number of protons in its nucleus is ny-two!


    The same applies to other elements.


    An element with a higher atomic number, if it loses too much mass, its position on the periodic table will change, transforming into another element.


    Yes, it''s like the legendary ability to turn lead into gold, fundamentally altering the properties of an element.Nuclear fission and the decay of radioactive elements are the best examples!


    Conversely, two light atomic nuclei can alsobine to form a heavier atomic nucleus, which is what we call nuclear fusion!


    Since there''s a pattern, naturally, there''s also the possibility of calction.


    For example, helium, with an atomic number of two, consisting of two protons and two neutrons, hypothetically requires six units of magical energy to mimic.


    While lithium, with an atomic number of three, consisting of three protons and four neutrons, hypothetically requires eleven units of magical energy to mimic.


    So, by simply formting a basic equation, one can deduce that mimicking a proton consumes one unit of magical energy, and a neutron consumes two units!


    Of course, this is the most perfect and concise model. Reality isn''t as simple as that. Mimicking lithium elements requires about sixty percent more magical energy than mimicking helium elements.


    Clearly, factors affecting magical consumption are not solely based on mass.


    It''s possible that during the mimicry of elemental structures, a portion of magical energy is required. By calcting and subtracting this value, perhaps even considering the impact of the slightly lighter orbiting electrons...


    Lynn jotted down all these variables that could affect magical consumption. As long as the effects of other factors are eliminated, he could roughly estimate the magical values ??of mimicked basic particles.


    Unconsciously, a whole sheet of paper was filled withplex forms.


    But calcting this value was just the beginning.


    He still needed to address the second question: how to turn mimicked elements into real substances! This was the biggest challenge...


    Lynn furrowed his brow in thought for a while, then quickly came up with an answer: energy!


    Only energy could aplish this!


    Suddenly enlightened, Lynn immediately wrote down a variation of the mass-energy equation on the paper.


    [m = frac{E}{c^2}]


    This equation means that mass equals energy divided by the speed of light squared!


    ording to Lynn''s estimation, as long as enough energy was provided, and then based on the mimicked elements of magic, it would be possible to achieve the conversion of energy and mass, thereby creating a body of energy capable of carrying a soul! £Ò


    Legendary... This was the way to ascend to legend!


    With a glimpse of the path ahead, Lynn couldn''t help but show a hint of excitement on his face. However, after carefully calcting with his pen, he immediately discovered a very big problem.


    The amount of energy needed for the conversion of mass was terrifyingly incredible!


    ording to the mass-energy equation, one gram of mass is equivalent to ny trillion joules of energy, which is equivalent to twenty thousand tons of TNT explosive or a critical mass nuclear explosion!


    And considering his own weight of around a hundred jin, if he were topletely convert his body into energy, it would undoubtedly be an astronomical figure!


    There must be something he overlooked...


    Lynn furrowed his brow in contemtion, extending his hand. A basic hydrogen element instantly condensed into form, followed by helium, lithium, and beryllium...


    Soon, forty-nine elements were suspended in the palm of his hand, constantly rotating around each other.


    Lynn picked up his pen again and began to write on the paper.


    Magic itself is a special form of energy. Since it takes the lead in mimicking elements, the energy needed should be much smaller than the calcted value.


    As for why magic has this property, further research is needed.


    Even if the final energy consumption is only a tenth of the expected value, it''s still a significant number.


    Lynn rubbed his chin.


    He could think of many devices capable of providing such vast amounts of energy, with the most efficient one being the matter-antimatter annihtion device!


    But since he didn''t have the means to extract antimatter at the moment, he could only resort to second best, which was a nuclear fusion reactor!


    Lynn calcted how much power would be needed from the nuclear reactor to provide the energy, then realized that his body itself had a considerable amount of mass. Perhaps it could be further reduced by utilizing some form of magic, thereby reducing energy consumption...


    "Weird, where can I find so much energy?" Lynn was deeply puzzled. In order to create a body filled with energy, framed by magic, he had racked his brains, even resorting to using a nuclear fusion reactor, yet still worried that it would not be enough to sustain consumption.


    How did A achieve the ascension to legend?


    "Could it be using soul power?" Lynn suddenly thought of this possibility, feeling a chill running up his spine.


    The AI brain had once suggested using soul power as an energy reserve to replenish consumption.


    "071, ording to my form, how much soul power is needed to create a body of energy?" Lynn curiously asked.


    [Without considering energy loss, it would require the soul power of two hundred thousand people, or alternatively, the soul power of fifty thousand apprentices, or ten thousand formal wizards.]


    Hearing this figure, Lynn took a sharp breath.


    And that didn''t even ount for energy loss... otherwise, doubling or even multiplying it several times was possible!


    It''s worth noting that even in the entirend of wizards, ten thousand formal wizards couldn''t be found. The other party couldn''t possibly target priests and bishops; it would have to be themon people!


    It had to be said, A, you''re really ruthless!


    By eliminating one of the opponent''s incarnations, it was equivalent to consuming hundreds of thousands of souls of that false god.


    It''s just not clear how many souls A had harvested over the years.


    A few million? Tens of millions? Or even billions?


    After thinking for a while, Lynn felt it shouldn''t be that exaggerated. The church couldn''t possibly harvest the soul of every deceased person, at least they had to be believers, otherwise, the opponent''s power would be too terrifying.

 Chapter 441: A Thousand-Mile Rescue, The Empires Witch Hunt Movement

    In the City of Fire Oil, within aboratory in the estate, Lynn pondered while listing forms. Unbeknownst to him, the night had passed until his thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.


    "Come in," Lynn rubbed his head, gradually freeing his mind from the multitude of forms, and looked towards the door.


    "My Lord Dean," entered Pearce.


    "What''s the matter?" Lynn asked.


    "It''s news from within the Empire, Speaker Harof sent me to inquire about your thoughts," Pearce hesitated to speak.


    "The Empire?"


    Lynn couldn''t help but pause, various spections shed through his mind.


    It couldn''t possibly be that the Holy See isunching another major attack, could it? If so, it would mean that A has undoubtedly found a way to decipher nuclear magic, which is undoubtedly the worst news.


    Fortunately, Pearce quickly exined that it wasn''t an attackunched by the Holy See, but the most terrifying witch hunt movement in history within the Empire itself, fueled by the propaganda of priests and bishops!Originally, although wizards within the Empire were hunted down and not well-received, as long as they didn''t disy magic or engage in nefarious human experimentation or sacrificial rituals, capable wizards could still manage to survive.


    Those who fared better would coborate with local nobles, assisting them in handling some unsavory matters. Those less fortunate, like his mentor Coruna, would deceive wealthy apprentices into supporting their magical research under false identities.


    However, with the spread of apocalyptic beliefs, fear of wizards among believers and ordinary people intensified by the day, and nobles dared not risk further cooperation. This led to the exposure ofrge numbers of hidden wizards.


    ording to scouts'' reports, dozens of massacres of wizards had already urred in the western border alone.


    "Many wizards are now preparing to flee to the kingdom, and even a wizard mutual aid organization has been established in the west, and the Council is considering whether to send airships to assist them," Pearce truthfully recounted all the information he had gathered.


    Lynn hesitated for a moment. Sending airships into the Empire was undoubtedly a very dangerous move!


    They were still at war with the Holy See, but for nearly half a month, there had been no sign of arge-scale counterattack from the other side, indicating a tendency to temporarily cease hostilities.


    This was obviously due to the deterrence established by nuclear magic, making the Holy See wary. In the absence of a clear understanding of their capabilities, they dared not rashlyunch an attack.


    The same applied to the Council. At present, they only had the trump card of nuclear magic in their hands, and the reserves of uranium-235 could only be used for nuclear magic once more and couldn''t be easily utilized.


    And the longer time dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for them, both in terms of uranium ore mining and in preparation for war and the elevation of legends.


    Now, dispatching airships into the Empire could very well provoke the Holy See and directly lead to the outbreak of a new round of war.


    "My Lord Dean, should we reject this proposal?" Elok asked cautiously.


    Lynn''s choice was undoubtedly crucial. Although most of the councillors now believed that it was necessary to send someone to seek help, if the Lord Dean insisted on opposing it, this proposal would most likely not pass.


    Because being able to unleash nuclear magic and killing the pseudo-god-incarnate Lynn had be the trump card of the wizards, his words were sometimes even more crucial than those of the Speaker.


    "Let''s go and help!" After pondering for a while, Lynn made a decision. "If we dare not even assist in their rescue, the Holy See will only think that we are bluffing."


    "This may be a test from the other side, and we must retaliate!" Lynn said decisively.


    "Alright!" Elok was extremely pleased and immediately reported it.


    As proactive wizards, they naturally agreed to retaliate fiercely against the Holy See for daring to ughter wizards.


    With Lynn''s affirmative reply, the Council no longer dyed and immediately dispatched more than twenty airships, escorted by state-of-the-art fighter nes, to the Empire for rescue!


    Midday, western Empire, a dense forest where crowds surged, cries, wails, and the sound of fighting continued unabated.


    "Kill these minions of evil, the spreaders of Doomsday..."


    The leading Archbishop shouted loudly, with arge number of knights already ready with their crossbows, and for a while, a fierce rain of arrows appeared in the dense forest.


    Most of the arrows were blocked by spells, or shot into the tree trunks and bushes, but there were gains as well. A young apprentice, unable to dodge, was pierced by several arrows and fell to the ground, silent in an instant.


    "Amon!" An older witch''s eyes widened, surrounded by mes, forming several fireballs with a piercing whistle, flying out.


    The intense explosion shredded dozens of knights in the front, but the next moment, more crossbow bolts flew out from the smoke and fire, breaking through the witch''s protective spells cast by three bishops and sting her into a mist of blood.


    Seeing the sacrifice of formal wizards and the inability to even slightly block the opponent''s offensive, the fleeing wizards were chilled to the bone.


    The continuous rain of arrows continued, perhaps fearing the powerful and mysterious magic of the wizards, the knights did not engage in closebat, only continuously consuming their magical powers from a distance.


    asionally, someone would fall out of exhaustion, or be shot and fall to the ground.


    "Lord Lucas, what should we do now?" Several fleeing wizards anxiously asked, knowing that if they continued like this, everyone would die here.


    "Those damned traitors!" A male witch named Lucas also cursed.


    Originally, their establishment of the mutual aid association was to cope with the increasingly severe persecution by the Holy See, nning how to safely escape to the Kingdom of Hadrta, said to be ruled by wizards.


    But they didn''t expect that there were traitors within who betrayed the location of their meeting. The church had long since ambushed them there and, seizing the opportunity while they were discussing,unched a surprise attack. After experiencing repeated fierce battles, more than three hundred wizards and arge number of apprentices suffered heavy casualties, with only a few hundred managing to escape.


    Lucas was burning with anger but also helpless, he could only speak to console.


    "Everyone, hold on a little longer, as long as we reach the City of Fire Oil, we''ll be safe. It''s a territory belonging to the wizards."


    "When we get there, we won''t have to worry about the Holy See''s pursuit anymore, nor do we need to hide our identities. We can openly practice magic..." Lucas continued to talk about the beautiful life ahead.


    Although he couldn''t be sure whether the news was true or not now, he had to stabilize the situation. If everyone lost hope, they would really be finished.

 Chapter 442: Ivinas Infiltration into the Enemy Camp, the Impact of Airships and Warplanes

    Is there really such a ce as the wizard kingdom?


    Although the wizards present had all heard this news, the rumors were so exaggerated that they couldn''t help but be somewhat skeptical. Some even believed it was a trap set by the church to lure them into a snare.


    In silence, Lucas led the group, rushing through the forest with the help of the trees and bushes.


    However, what made the wizards despair was that after running out of this dense forest, they were met with an endless wilderness, meaning they had no more ces to hide!


    Lucas then realized that the knights had deliberately driven them in this direction.


    At that distracted moment, several arrows shimmering with magical light shot out from the dense forest behind them.


    "Quick, dodge!"


    In a desperate cry, Lucas also sensed the impending danger and almost instantly, a Mage Shield was cast upon him.


    However, the sturdy magical shield was of little use against these arrows infused with anti-magic spells, and it was soon pierced through.One of the arrows directly pierced through the shield, deeply embedding itself in his shoulder.


    Lucas grimaced, but more than pain, it was fear that filled him, as several more anti-magic arrows were now aimed at his chest.


    "Slice!" At that moment, a low voice of a girl suddenly rang out, and a slender de swept past Lucas. Amidst the sshing sparks, three of the anti-magic arrows were knocked down.


    Lucas, still trembling, took a few steps back and realized that the one who intervened was a young brte girl, with delicate features and a hint of coldness in her eyes,


    "Thank you for your help," Lucas said gratefully, quickly recognizing the girl before him.


    Ivina, a wizard from the White Dove School, proficient in shaping, was said to be a noble before bing a wizard, with considerable swordsmanship skills.


    However, just yesterday, the residence of the White Dove School was invaded by arge number of witch hunters, and the entire school was almostpletely destroyed, with only two people escaping and joining the mutual aid association.


    Lucas couldn''t help but sigh. Recently, there had been too many wizard schools that had been severely damaged or evenpletely wiped out, and the White Dove School where Ivina belonged was not the first, nor thest.


    "Let''s save the gratitude forter; now is not the time for chatting," Ivina responded lightly, then swung her sword again to cut off the arrow embedded in Lucas''s shoulder.


    Considering the issue of blood loss, Ivina did not pull it out, as this was not the ce to treat wounds.


    "I know there is a vige not far from this wilderness. Perhaps we can shake off these enemies there," Ivina said, looking at the knights who had emerged from the dense forest, and continued speaking at a rapid pace.


    The wizards present were suddenly delighted, but their joy onlysted for a moment because everyone could see that they would not be able to outrun the cavalry in the wilderness unless they left some people behind to hold them off!


    Lucas gritted his teeth. He understood that now either they all died, or he had to abandon some people.


    "Look, what''s that?" Suddenly, a wizard pointed to the sky and eximed, and the eyes of all the wizards followed the direction of his finger.


    Where their gaze fell, ck dots appeared on the distant horizon, rapidly approaching this way.


    "Ships, they seem to be ships flying in the sky..." Ivina murmured, her vision being the sharpest.


    As Ivina said, as these flying objects approached, they appeared to be massive and majestic ships flying in the sky.


    They were a bluish color, with an oval-shaped huge balloon mounted above the ship, firmly tied with dozens of sturdy chains, exuding a sense of industrial beauty.


    Are these the sky-faring airships?


    Ivina was amazed. Although she had seen information about these things in the data, seeing them in person still couldn''t conceal her shock.


    Such huge things could actually fly in the sky!


    Not only the wizards but also the knights of the church noticed the sudden appearance of the airships. However, their pursuit speed did not decrease but increased, as they wanted to capture Lucas and hispanions before the wizards'' reinforcements arrived!


    "Hold on, our reinforcements have arrived!" Lucas shouted loudly to boost morale, but the formal wizards and apprentices surrounding him still felt heavy-hearted.


    Because in front of them was a cavalry squadron led by dozens of bishops, totaling four thousand men!


    The sound of hooves getting closer and closer, lifting waves of dust like tidal waves towards the crowd.


    Crossbows were being reloaded, and the sharp arrows gleamed with a cold light in the midday sun.


    Ivina gripped the thin de in her hand with a serious expression. In order for the infiltration n to be wless, she and these bishops chasing the wizards were unfamiliar with each other, had no contact whatsoever, and only had escape ns in ce.


    For example, she just mentioned a hidden passage in the vige, which could be used to escape pursuit and gain the trust of these fellow wizards.


    But this also meant that she would be pursued without restriction by friendly forces!


    With such a dense array of crossbows, Ivina did not have a hundred percent confidence in defending against them.


    Just as the witch hunters finished loading their crossbows and were about to fire, a loud roar sounded above everyone''s heads, followed by a distortion of light, and two warnes with a wingspan of tens of meters appeared in front of everyone.


    It looked like an erged several times, all-steel Camelop Falcon. It flew over Lucas and the others at an incredible speed, the turbulence caused by its huge wings blowing away the surrounding dust, then charging towards the four thousand knights.


    The steel warne rushing towards them quickly caught the attention of the witch hunting knights, and bows and crossbows were aimed at the sky, but the speed of the warne was too fast, with a speed of 360 kilometers per hour, making it difficult to aim effectively.


    In the next moment, the intense roar of machine guns rang in everyone''s ears, almost rupturing their eardrums.


    Tongues of fire burst from the machine gun barrels, and the fierce barrage struck the witch hunting knights, instantly piercing through their armor and turning their flesh into a sieve.


    The crimson blood flew across the battlefield, and the painful screams connected into one, leaving behind a horrifying blood path on the battlefield!


    In just a dozen seconds, in a single charge, hundreds of witch hunting knights had fallen into a pool of blood, with remnants of bodies and limbs strewn across the entire battlefield, and the dense smell of blood permeated the air...

 Chapter 443: Ivina: This Is Not Magic, Its Divine Punishment!

    Under the relentless barrage of two fighter jets, nearly one-fifth of the Punishment Knights fell on the battlefield in just a matter of seconds.


    "Devils, these are devil''s creations!"


    Witnessing several colleagues being torn apart by the dense barrage, one Punishment Knight trembled with fear, so much so that they wet themselves.


    But this was only the beginning, as round objects began to rain down from the sky.


    Under the gaze of Ivina and the other wizards, white phosphorus grenades exploded in mid-air, igniting the air, turning it into a dazzling disy of fireworks, shrouding the battlefield!


    The remaining three thousand knights were quickly engulfed in the sea of white phosphorus mes.


    High-temperature, highly corrosive, and highly toxic, the white phosphorus mes were like those rumored to exist in the abyss, capable of devouring all hellfire. Once touched, they burned through armor like maggots through flesh, incinerating flesh and blood...


    The entire battlefield quickly turned into a hellishndscape, knights falling from their horses one by one, emitting cries of pain and anguish. The ground was scorched into scorched earth, emitting a strong, acrid smell.


    "Retreat, retreat!" The leading archbishop shouted frantically, the once brave Punishment Knights now fleeing desperately on horseback, trying to escape back into the dense forest.But the fighter jets wouldn''t let them off so easily, pursuing them and raining down all their cannon ammunition, even feeling unsatisfied and directly engaging in low-altitude dives, usingser weapons to cut fleeing Punishment Knights in half...


    Lucas and the others watched helplessly as the Punishment Knights, who were like wolves and tigers charging towards them, were quickly defeated under repeated attacks, falling on the wastnd only seventy meters away from them.


    "What terrifying weapons..." a wizard dressed in in clothes murmured, trembling.


    Ivina, on the other hand, somewhat understood why the Holy See''s crusade army would be defeated by these wizards.


    Just as the two fighter jets continued to pursue the remnants of the enemy, dozens of airships slowly descended from the sky, neatly arranged in this wilderness.


    When these alchemical creations descended from the sky, everyone realized they had underestimated the size of the airship; it was simply as tall as four or five houses, evenrger than a single building!


    Del, leading over a hundred musketeers, descended from the airship, and upon seeing Lucas''s disheveled appearance, immediately opened his arms and greeted him warmly, giving him a hug.


    "How was it? Did we arrive in time, old friend?"


    "Of course, in time, very much so!" Lucas was too excited to put it into words. If these airships had arrived half a minuteter, they would have been trampled by the Punishment Knights. ??


    "Unfortunately, if only you hade a day or two earlier." Lucas said regretfully, recounting therge-scale massacre that had urred in the western part of the empire in recent days.


    Upon hearing this, Del was also furious. If it weren''t for the shortage of manpower and limited ammunition brought out this time, he would have wanted to march straight to the holy city and blow up the idol of that false god.


    "We will soon overthrow both the Holy See and the Empire, it won''t be long now!" Del said fiercely.


    If someone had told him five minutes ago about overthrowing the Holy See and the Empire, Lucas would have thought it was just the delusion of the ignorant, but now he felt a sense of anticipation rising in his heart.


    At Del''s invitation, hundreds of wizards and their apprentices boarded the airship in batches.


    With the secondary airbags refilled, the airships,rger than houses, lifted these wizards into the sky once again.


    "What kind of magic is this that can make such huge things fly freely in the sky!" Lucas asked in amazement, then looked at the first-generation fighter jet that had returned.


    "And these iron birds, their speed is even faster than the fastest Galdian falcon."


    "No, the Galdian falcon doesn''t evenpare to half of its wing!" Lucas eximed.


    "The alchemical creation under our feet is called an airship, and those new-style fighter jets are all the work of Master Lynn!" Del said proudly.


    "You mean the Star of Magic?" Lucas asked.


    He had had several contacts with Del, who had gone to the Empire to gather information. He had some understanding of the situation of the Wizard Council, so he had made the decision to form a mutual aid association of wizards to flee the kingdom. Naturally, he had heard of this famous Star of Magic.


    "That''s right." Del nodded.


    "With these powerful alchemical creations, it''s no wonder the crusade army of the Holy See fell into your hands, and even Saint Lucia died on the battlefield." Lucas couldn''t help but admire.


    The other wizards also looked at Del, all of them having heard of the defeat of the crusade army.


    "You''ve misunderstood." Del shook his head. "Although the airships, fighter jets, and other new weapons are powerful, they can''tpletely defeat the crusade led by two legendary magicians."


    "In the first battle, we suffered considerable casualties, and it was only thanks to Master Lynn''s use of an extremely powerful magic that we were able topletely annihte the Holy See''s saint and tens of thousands of crusaders!"


    Everyone present looked at each other in astonishment. The more they heard, the more exaggerated it became... They couldn''t imagine what kind of power could wipe out tens of thousands of elite troops in one go.


    "As for the power of that magic, you''ll see it soon enough!" Del shrugged, even he couldn''t believe it until he witnessed it with his own eyes.


    Lucas was confused, but half an hourter, he understood everything Del had said because the airship had flown over the nuclear st zone, and below was a terrifying sight, as far as the eye could see was nothing but scorched earth!


    For tens of kilometers around, thend had been dissolved and solidified into blocks of ss, and countless wreckage could be seen on the periphery, including Imperial soldiers whose bodies had been vaporized by high temperatures and ''iron rivers'' that had beenpletely dissolved and cooled to form shapes stuck to the ground.


    "Look, twenty days ago, there was still a mine there!" Del pointed in the direction of the center of the nuclear st zone.


    Lucas looked towards the center, where there was no longer a mine where Del had pointed, only a huge pit remained, deep and bottomless, as if leading to the abyss and hell...


    "This is also... magic?" Ivina''s voice trembled.


    The terrifying scene before her surpassed her most terrifying imagination of magic, even the most powerful divine magic cast by Lord Gustav would not be one-thousandth as powerful as this.


    This is simply divine punishment!

 Chapter 444: Astonished Ivina, Bustling Fire Oil City

    Many wizards, like Ivina, were horrified by the power of nuclear explosion magic.


    If the news of the Holy See''s disastrous defeat hadn''te first, they would have thought that perhaps a natural disaster like a meteor impact or volcanic eruption had urred here to cause such a terrifying scene.


    "Oh, I must remind you, do not approach this area!" Del said solemnly. "A few elemental wizards didn''t heed the warnings some time ago and wanted to study the elementalposition of the air in this area. As a result, their skin started to ulcerate after spending only a few days in the core area. They were rushed for emergency treatment, and we don''t know their current condition."


    So terrifying?


    Lucas was speechless. Even after so long, just the lingering aftermath of magic could severely harm several official wizards. It''s hard to imagine how terrifying it would be when such magic erupts.


    In the crowd, a tall, thin middle-aged wizard exchanged nces with Ivina, recognizing the seriousness in each other''s eyes. Then, the man suddenly spoke up.


    "Since Lord Lynn wields such powerful magic, why not simply continue to conquer the empire andpletely wipe out the opposing wizards of the Holy See?" The wizard who asked was named Monroe, a scout dispatched by the Holy See to infiltrate the wizards.


    Through the operation of the local church, they sessfully infiltrated the Wizards'' Mutual Aid Association and, taking advantage of the chaotic situation, gained initial trust from Lucas and others under the guise of a school that had been wiped out.


    One of their purposes in investigating was to find out the details of the wizards.After capturing the City of Fire Oil and defeating the punitive forces, ording to the expectations of the senior officials of the church, these wizards were supposed to continueunchingrge-scale attacks. The empire even began to mobilize its forces for defense, even recalling the Punishment Army dispatched to investigate the demon incident in the northern border.


    His Holiness also prepared to defend the holy city and counter the terrifying apocalyptic magic, organizing a prayer ceremony of over a hundred thousand people, ready to perform the God''s Descent spell at any time.


    But the wizards showed no intention ofunching a major offensive, rendering all preparations of the church futile. Their abnormal behavior left the senior officials of the church puzzled.


    Lucas and others were also very interested in Monroe''s question and turned their curious eyes to Del.


    "Well..." Del hesitated for a moment.


    In fact, he was also very puzzled about this. The parliamentarians had many spections about why the war had stopped, but Del naturally wouldn''t be foolish enough to reveal these circumstances to the wizards who were still unfamiliar. Instead, he exined from a different perspective to the crowd.


    ording to Lord Lynn, you can''t eat a whole elephant in one bite. Starting from when they captured the capital of the kingdom, it''s only been about a year.


    Previously, with the cooperation of the monarchy and local nobles, indirect governance was much easier. Now, with the wizards directly managing the eastern territories of the kingdom, relying solely on thirty thousand musketeers and a few thousand wizards is far from enough. As a result, the believers in remote areas have caused a lot of trouble, making them overwhelmed.


    In other words, their scope of management has reached its limit in a short period, and they need some time to stabilize internally beforeunching further attacks is feasible.


    Del''s words dispelled the doubts in the minds of most wizards, but Monroe remained skeptical.


    Although this exnation sounded somewhat reasonable, upon closer examination, there were still many inconsistencies.


    When the wizards defeated the punitive forces, it was the weakest moment of the empire, with most of its elite forces annihted, the Holy Maiden Lucia killed in battle, and the Lord of Judgment captured alive. For a while, His Holiness couldn''t even mobilize the troops stationed throughout the empire.


    Moreover, the City of Fire Oil was only three hundred kilometers away from the holy city in a straight line. With the alchemical creations of the wizards, they could arrive in just a few hours. They had the ability to use this powerful magic to deal a heavy blow to the Holy See rather than maintain the current stalemate. ??


    Monroe couldn''t help but specte that perhaps these wizards were just pretending and didn''t actually have the ability to unleash that magic again!


    Or perhaps, what caused such massive destruction wasn''t magic at all but a natural disaster, and the wizards somehow foresaw and utilized it.


    The more Monroe thought about it, the more usible it seemed.


    He refused to believe that wizards could wield such terrifying sorcery¡ªthis was beyond his understanding of magic.


    That was a power only the highest masters could possess!


    As Monroe pondered in his mind, he realized that mere spection wouldn''t be enough to convince His Holiness. He needed to gather more evidence.


    Soon, two patrolling modern warnes returned, and the electromaic wave receiver on the airship immediately started beeping.


    "Del, everything is safe. The empire hasn''t sent Gryphon Knights to track or intercept us," a trantor pilot reported.


    "Intercept? They''d need the guts for that!" Del scoffed.


    The empire''s Gryphon Knights were just targets in front of modern warnes. Unless they could summon another fire dragon, any number sent would just be delivering merits to them.


    Del''s disdainful tone displeased Monroe, but he suppressed his emotions and focused on the blinking receiver on the airship, hinting at its function.


    Del had no intention of exining further. Electromaic wavemunication magic was still a secret that couldn''t be revealed.


    The wilderness where everyone fled was only a hundred kilometers away from the City of Fire Oil. With the airship''s full speed, they arrived at the newly built airport inside the city in just an hour.


    Although it was called an airport, it was actually a very spacious square, magically repaired to be very t, capable of amodating over two hundred airships. In the center, there was a long runway for the takeoff andnding of modern warnes.


    Ivina''s expression tensed to the extreme because this meant they had officially entered a city controlled by wizards.


    Before this, she had fantasized about what this upied western stronghold would look like in the hands of the wizards.


    Corpses hanging from the city walls, streets still stained with fresh blood, residents hiding in fear in their houses, wizards in robes with eerie movements, perhaps even strange alchemical smells in the air...


    However, upon truly entering the city, everything she saw was incredibly surprising.


    The streets of the City of Fire Oil looked very wide, bustling with countless pedestrians. Camels pulling cartsden with boxes moved heavily under the drivers'' urging, only to be overtaken by a huge iron box filled with stones at an intersection, leaving it far behind.


    Ivina had some impression of these strange iron boxes. ording to the information she obtained, they were called alchemical carts by the wizards and were formidable war weapons.


    Made of steel, the soldiers'' bows and swords werepletely ineffective against them, and they were much faster than warhorses. When charging on the battlefield, they could easily crush ten times their number of cavalry...


    Now it seemed that besides warfare, these things could also be used for transporting goods.


    Along the way, Ivina did not see the bloody, cruel, and dark scenes she had imagined. Instead, it seemed like a very prosperous city. Every person she


    saw had a rxed expression, and the goods being traded were nothing like what she had seen before.


    From the fruits of the southern desert to the furs of the icy northern wilderness, everything could be found here.


    There were even bizarre magical creations that made Ivina''s eyes pop out in shock, such as a huge metal golem that could work tirelessly.


    Thest time Ivina came here was already three years ago when she was still following the Eighth Prince''s punitive force, but at that time, the situation was chaotic, and she didn''t have time to observe.


    In a blink of an eye, the entire city had undergone earth-shaking changes.


    "What do you think? Shocked, right?" Del noticed Ivina''s expression andughed proudly.


    "Indeed, I didn''t expect the City of Fire Oil to be like this!" Ivina eximed sincerely.


    Originally, she thought that after the war, the wizards would control the city with an iron fist. Although they could maintain order, the city would definitely be gloomy and lifeless.


    But now it seemed that she had underestimated the wizards'' capabilities.


    The city''s prosperity was no less than before, and it might have even surpassed its previous glory. This was something that no one would have expected.


    Del nodded in satisfaction, but he didn''t exin. In fact, the prosperity of the City of Fire Oil was a mixed blessing.


    The previous chaos made everyone here realize the importance of order and the value ofbor.


    But not every wizard could see this. Some had other ideas and didn''t like the changes.


    Of course, those who objected were a minority, and they didn''t dare act rashly because they were too weak. But as long as they had enough patience and time, they might be a threat to the stability of the City of Fire Oil.


    In any case,pared to the chaotic battlefield, this was an issue that Del didn''t need to worry about for the time being.


    He turned his gaze to the crowd of wizards, who were whispering among themselves.


    The transition from the battlefield to the bustling city life made everyone feel like they were in a dream. They had just experienced the terrifying power of nuclear explosion magic, yet now, they were surrounded by prosperity and peace.


    This contrast was too strong, leaving them dazed and speechless.


    But this was only the beginning.


    Del was very clear that they were just taking the first step on the long road of governing the eastern territories of the kingdom.


    And this road would be long and arduous!


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 Chapter 445: The Collapse Theory of Monros Wizards!

    Under Del''s continuous narration, the wizards present became increasingly eager for the construction of the magic train that was underway.


    Once the railway waspleted, the train would be able to reach any city in the kingdom within three days.


    And fifty more trains like this would be constructed to meet the transportation and travel demands within the kingdom.


    "Truly remarkable!"


    Lucas eximed with emotion. He imagined the huge snake-like trains racing across the wilderness, their wheels rumbling, transporting massive amounts of goods to every corner of the kingdom.


    In just over an hour, he had experienced too much shock.


    From airshipsrger than houses that could carry dozens of people and fly into the sky to fighter jets that could travel at extreme speeds and magical attacks capable of wiping out entire armies, to the magic that turned a vast area into scorched earth...


    And now, this magic train that could transport entire legions across hundreds of kilometers in a short time. Lucas felt like he was in a dream.


    Except for Monro and Ivina, who had different thoughts, the other wizards were equally excited.In the past, they had lived in hiding within the empire, and once their identities as wizards were revealed, it would attract the church''s pursuit and various fearful and suspicious gazes. Many of them began to doubt whether their path of learning magic and seeking the truth of the world was correct.


    The lofty church was like a mountain pressing down on everyone''s heads, so grand and majestic that it left no room to breathe!


    Only now did they realize that the church didn''t seem so great after all; wizards could be so powerful!


    Watching the surprised expressions of everyone, Del shook his head amusedly. This was just in the recently upied City of Fire Oil. If they went to the capital, there would be even more novelties, enough to surprise even him...


    "Here is where you will be staying from now on!"


    Del led everyone to the academy in the XC area of the city, which was undergoing renovation.


    Originally, this ce was a school run by the church, for the education of noble children and the training of nuns. Now it had been directly renovated. Although its function remained the same as a ce of learning, the teachings were no longer about the Bible, but about magic!


    Although Lucas and the others were wizards, they were neers after all. Del did not directly lead them to their amodation but first conducted a wizard level test.


    After entering the academy, Ivina found that they were not the first group to arrive. There were crowds of people inside, at least thousands of wizards who had escaped from the empire to the City of Fire Oil through various channels.


    "Because it''s a special period now, there''s a little test..." At this point, Del paused noticeably, then had someone bring out a stack of paper and distribute one to each person present.


    "Next, all you need to do is read the words on it out loud!"


    Ivina took the paper and, after seeing its contents, her pupils shrank and a strange expression appeared on her face.


    Monro was dumbfounded. He didn''t expect these wizards toe up with such insidious and malicious ideas.


    "Is this a show of mistrust towards us?" A decent-looking witch pursed her lips and asked with a smile.


    "No, this is Lord Lynn''s personal grievance, so everyone entering the city must curse him before they can proceed." Del shrugged. He didn''t dare take responsibility for this. ???


    Only the Star of Magic would have the guts to do this.


    In fact, relying on this little trick, they had already caught dozens of church spies.


    "The Goddess of the Moon, A, is just a malicious old witch. One day she will pay for her evil deeds..." Lucas read out the content on the paper without hesitation, his tone filled with righteous indignation.


    More and more wizards spoke up.


    The content of each paper was different, but undoubtedly all were curses.


    Many apprentices hesitated at first. After all, before bing wizards, they were also subjects of the empire and had a deep fear of the Goddess of the Moon, whom the church proimed as the Creator.


    But in such an atmosphere, they quickly overcame their fear of the god and some even felt unsatisfied, the curses bing more and more vile.


    Monro''s anger was almost at the threshold, but at the moment Del''s gaze swept over them, all his anger turned into a piercing chill.


    Cold sweat beaded on Monro''s forehead, and looking at the malicious words on the paper in his hand, he was caught in a dilemma.


    To curse or not to curse, that was the question...


    ...


    In the evening, in the City of Fire Oil, within the academy, Ivina and Monro, who hadpleted the level assessment, entered the assigned amodation.


    After closing the door, Monro immediately checked the room and then took out a crystal ball from his pocket. Seeing that it didn''t light up, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that those wizards hadn''t cast any strange magic in this room.


    It was only now that Monro vented all the anger he had umted throughout the day.


    "These minions of darkness, damned lunatics dare to defile the greatness of the Lord!" Monro muttered in a low voice, his fist mming into the wall beside him. After venting for a while, he quickly closed his eyes again, making a gesture of prayer, repenting his sins to the great Lord in his heart.


    Ivina also silently prayed and repented in her heart, feeling equally angry at the despicable methods of those wizards.


    Before officially joining the Punishment Knights, although Ivina asionally went to the local church for regr prayers, she was not considered a devout believer of the Goddess of the Moon. Moreover, she was not valued by her father, unlike her brother Lott, who entered the school set up by


    the church for further education. Therefore, she had never received any secret training, let alone be a believer in the true sense of the word.


    However, Monro was different. He had always been favored by the church, and even more so after he obtained the knowledge of magic. His faith in the Goddess of the Moon had never wavered.


    At this moment, Ivina could see the embarrassment and anger in Monro''s eyes. She understood that, although Monro seemed calm on the surface, he was feeling very ufortable inside.


    Perhaps... She suddenly thought of something, her eyes revealing a strange light.

 Chapter 446: A Born Legend, the Devouring Behemoth! - (1)

    Lynn pondered in her mind which method of constraint should be used for the nuclear fusion reactor. After a while, she noticed Del standing by her side.


    Seeing that the Star of Magic had finallye out of her thoughts, Del hurriedly reported, "My Lady, the wizards in the western empire who were pursued by the church have safely arrived at the City of Fire Oil."


    "These are some personnel files that need attention!" Del said as he handed over a list.


    Lynn reached out and took it. The names on it were written in a series, with about twenty names marked in yellow or red.


    Although the Council had long possessed means of detecting divine arts to ensure that only wizards entered the City of Fire Oil, Lynn would never take these patriots'' lightly.


    About two years ago, the disaster caused by the evil mage Merc, in thend of wizards, was still fresh in memory¡ªthe beginning of all this was when an archbishop disguised as a wizard infiltrated through means of reincarnation.


    With this precedent, the Council naturally had to be cautious. So, at Lynn''s suggestion, they added a small test¡ªa psychic wizard secretly casting a spell to probe emotional fluctuations. Those wizards who reacted strongly while reading the notes would be suspected.


    After all, the more devout believers were, the more angry they would feel towards the insults written on the notes, not to mention having to curse them out loud.


    However, this method was not one hundred percent urate. After all, the false god had considerable influence within the empire. Some wizards and apprentices within the empire even dared not speak their god''s name out of extreme fear. So, it could only serve as a reference to screen out suspicious targets.Lynn''s gaze quickly swept over the list, and she was quite surprised to see a familiar name on it. She couldn''t help but pause for a moment, a hint of surprise appearing on her face.


    "Ivina..." Lynn whispered softly.


    "My Lady, is this your acquaintance?" Del cautiously asked.


    He naturally knew that the Star of Magic had been active within the empire before arriving in thend of wizards, so having a few acquaintances was normal.


    The age and remarkable appearance of the other party made Del specte differently.


    "Sort of." Lynn nodded. Just by the name, she couldn''t be sure, but if the age and hair color matched, then it was likely the person she knew.


    At the time when she had just crossed over, in order to sneak into Harbor Town to find the hider, Lame Loude, to obtain a ticket to thend of wizards, she reluctantly borrowed the identity of his brother, Lot Pedro.


    In the end, she didn''t find the person she was looking for, but was caught by the steward and forced to enter Pedro''s mansion.


    Fortunately, the rtionships within this dpidated noble family were extremelyplicated, or it could be described as twisted. Baron was immersed in power and influence, seemingly caring for his children, but in reality, he treated them as tools for power promotion and family revival.


    And Ivina, the sister, was mixed with envy, jealousy, and hatred towards Lot.


    Lynn remembered that before leaving Harbor Town by sea, to repay the favor of borrowing Lot''s identity, she gave Ivina a good lesson, hoping to break this twisted family rtionship.


    Two years had passed, and had the other party be a wizard?


    This was an unexpected change...


    "Since she is your acquaintance, there is no need to investigate." Del picked up his pen, intending to cross out Ivina''s name from the list, but Lynn shook her head and stopped him. "No, we''re not that close. Let''s follow the rules! Don''t miss any possibilities because of me..."


    Although he had some contact with Ivina, their rtionship couldn''t be considered good, and those were all things of the past. Lynn didn''t intend to contact her again.


    "I understand, my Lady." Del pondered for a moment, then marked Ivina''s name with a note of special attention.


    "Is there anything else to report?" Lynn noticed that Del didn''t leave after taking back the list, so she spoke again.


    "It''s about the uranium mine... Recently, there have been attacks on guards and miners there, and even a golem has been gnawed." Del said with a trace of concern on his face.


    Hearing this, Lynn''s expression also became somewhat serious. The discovery of the demonic stone had made her specte that there must be a creature, or even a group, capable of devouring nuclear fuel deep in the uranium mine.


    During the time of mining uranium ore, the wizards responsible for exploring the mines had not been able to find these monsters, so they had been dying dealing with it.


    "Has the Council sent anyone to deal with it?" Lynn asked.


    "Master Raphael has already taken a pair of alchemists to capture this monster, but so far, there has been no useful information returned." Del hesitated.


    "In that case, I''ll go take a look too!" Lynn was somewhat worried.


    It was knee-jerk to know that such monsters could only be described as terrifying, and definitely not easy to deal with!


    ...


    It took about five hours to travel from the City of Fire Oil to the capital, even by airship. By the time Lynn arrived at the uranium mine, it was early morning of the next day.


    Thanks to the previous blockade by the church and rumors of demon curses, there were no people around the mine area, not even a shadow.


    But Lynn knew very well that all of this was just a facade.


    Aurora, who was proficient in visual illusion, had set up arge-scale prizing magic here. The airship seemed to pass through a thin curtain of water, and the interior scene quickly appeared in front of her.


    The area of this mine was vast, and the guards were extremely strict. Everywhere, one could see riflemen with modern flintlock rifles on guard duty and patrol.


    The moment the airship prated the magic barrier, several machine guns and railguns had already aimed at it. This was still after Lynn hadmunicated in advance via electromaic waves; otherwise, the entire airship would have been shot full of holes by now.


    Such strict precautions were also instructed by Lynn herself. The security level of this uranium mine was even higher than that of the capital and the City of Fire Oil! After all, once that false god got hold of a sample of uranium, there was a high probability that he could replicate his nuclear spell.


    Then the Damocles sword hanging over their enemies'' heads would fall on themselves!


    The airship slowlynded on a clearing in the mine area, and Raphael, de, and Sanchez, who had received the news early, were already waiting there.


    "It''s really rare, Master Lynn, it seems your new research has beenpleted?" Raphael greeted Lynn warmly,ing forward to hug her.


    He knew very well that this Star of Magic had been holed up in theboratory researching new magical theories for the past few days.


    Last time, she had revealed the internal structure of atoms and created the terrifying magic of nuclear fusion. He wondered what grand ideas she woulde up with this time.


    "Sort of." Lynn nodded, but did not reveal anything. Instead, she asked, "What about the monster that attacked the miners? Have you found its trail?"


    "Not yet!" Raphael shook his


    head somewhat helplessly. "Its speed is fast, and it appears and disappears mysteriously. So far, we haven''t found even a hair of it, let alone knowing what this thing looks like."


    As Raphael spoke, he showed Lynn the bodies of the miners who had been attacked.


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 Chapter 447: The Burning Everlasting Flame and the Terrifying Atomic Breath - (1)

    Like Lynn, Raphael and hispanions were also amazed by the unique body structure of this magical beast and did not rashly attack.


    This peculiar creature also seemed not to notice them. After killing the miners, it swallowed a whole cart of uranium ore in one gulp.


    Yes, it swallowed a cartful at once!


    Because itcked the constraints of flesh and bones, its mouth could expand almost indefinitely, and its insides were like an ultra-high-temperature furnace, rapidly digesting the swallowed uranium ore.


    Lynn and the others felt their scalps tingle.


    What kind of monster is this!


    Raphael was suddenly in a dilemma, whether to attack or not.


    Now was undoubtedly the best time. Although the opponent''s existence was different from that of ordinary creatures, judging from the uranium ore faintly visible in its belly, it should be full and in the digestion stage now, inevitably weakening itsbat power.


    In the blink of an eye, just as it was about to finish eating the ore and the silver hidden as bait and leave, Raphael decisively triggered the trap he had set up in advance."Seal!"


    Raphael''s right hand touched the ground, and he muttered softly. In an instant, the alchemical runes scattered on the ground, walls, and ceiling surged up like chains, sealing off the surrounding spacepletely.


    Although his alchemy level was far from Victorio''s, among the grand wizards, he was already at the top level! With the pre-arrangedyout, he could almost reach the pinnacle of sixth-circle magic!


    The fluorescent chains quickly entwined around the limbs and neck of the beast''s shadow,yer uponyer, tightly binding it.


    However, Raphael''s expression did not rx in the slightest. On the contrary, it became more solemn because he sensed that the power of the runic chains was rapidly depleting upon contact with the opponent!


    "Hurry, attack! I can''t seal it for long!" Raphael gritted his teeth and growled low.


    In fact, there was no need for him to remind them. Alrad and Sanchez could both feel the intimidation emanating from the azure shadow in front of them.


    Sanchez''s figure twisted, transforming into a giant monster reaching five meters in a mere three seconds.


    At the same time, a zing fireball appeared in Alrad''s palm.


    The sma me surged continuously, its temperature approaching ten thousand degrees Celsius, one and a half times that of the surface of the sun!


    It was called the Eternal me!


    Lynn didn''t rashly attack like the other two. His gaze remained fixed on the azure shadow, and he even discerned a mocking expression on its face.


    It wasn''t until then that he suddenly realized that this strange creature in front of him had never shown fear, unease, or surprise because of them and the runic chains. Coupled with the sense of crisis that had faintly emerged in his heart earlier, Lynn couldn''t help but make a ridiculous guess. ???


    They hadn''t hidden their concealed magic from the other side at all.


    The monster in front of them had walked into the trap even knowing it was a trap!


    Maybe it had been lounging around in the mine for too long and wanted some fun...


    Or perhaps it thought they were simply not a threat!


    Roar!


    A violent roar echoed in the mine. The intense sound waves reverberated in the cramped space, and the runic chains binding the surroundings instantly shattered!


    Not only that, but the sound waves also spread at an extremely fast speed. The walls of the entire mine copsedyer byyer, and the corpses on the ground were shattered by the shock!


    Fortunately, everyone present was a grand wizard capable of constructing domains. After the sound waves invaded their domains, they were instantly weakened by more than ten times. Yet, even so, Lynn and the others almost had their eardrums ruptured.


    In the next moment, the monstrous beast had turned into a streak of light and rushed towards them. In Alrad''s disbelieving eyes, it opened its mouth and swallowed his sixth-circle magic, the Eternal me, hard.


    "This is impossible?!" Alrad''s eyes widened.


    The Eternal me was created by him based on Lynn''s theory of material sma, with a temperature exaggerated enough to melt steel in an instant, and now it was... not... being swallowed by a beast.


    This was not magic at all!


    No matter how Alrad stared, it couldn''t change the fact that the azure shadow, like the uranium ore it had swallowed before, swallowed the super high-temperature fire magic without any hindrance, its belly visibly bulging, then returning to its original state.


    "Explode!" Just then, Raphael suddenly spoke.


    The abdomen of the shadow, which had shrunk slightly, swelled again like a ball. It turned out that the silver ingested earlier had exploded inside the shadow''s stomach!


    This was Raphael''s second trap. All the ingested silver was inscribed with explosive magic!


    Fortunately, he had guessed right!


    Although this giant beast could eat anything, digesting itpletely was not something it could do in a short time!


    However, even under such a heavy blow, the shadow was not greatly affected. The swollen abdomen returned to its original form in less than a second.


    But the change in its body made its movements hesitate for a moment!


    Lynn keenly seized this momentary gap, and a sharpser beam shot out!


    Even the terrifying shadow couldn''t react in time to the speed of light. As the beam passed, it was cut into two pieces at the waist!


    A bit slow... Lynn thought regretfully. If he had cut the shadow at the moment of the energy burst, perhaps he could have severely injured it with the terrifying internal shock!


    However, the charging of theser beam required time. Even though he had used the fastest speed, he was still 0.5 seconds too slow!


    As expected, just as Lynn had expected, the shadow, cut in half, did not die. The severed surface in the middle slowly closed like a partedke surfaceing back together.


    Without the constraints of flesh and body, the shadow unexpectedly exhibited an undead body simr to Edweil and Saint Lucia.


    Since it liked eating everything, what about this?


    A thought shed through Lynn''s mind. His right hand hovered in front of him, and scorching mes surged from his palm, then quickly expanded and spread...


    The mes burned the cave walls and rocks, surging straight towards the shadow!


    This was the fifth-circle spell¡ªRed Dragon''s Breath!


    "Fire probably won''t work against it, Master Lynn!" Alrad urgently reminded, but at the same moment his words fell, a raging roar echoed in the mine. This time, it was not as domineering as before, but a wailing and angry roar!


    After the shadow swallowed the trichlorofluoromethane capable of plundering electrons, it ignited directly inside its body.


    Lynn had no intention of holding back. More unquenchable mes surged up, the mes burning more fiercely. The scorching air swept through every inch of space in the cave, melting and disintegrating the rock walls...


    "It''s the Unquenchable mes!" Alrad finally remembered the famous stunt of this magic star, but the deep impression left by the Big Nuclear Explosion spell made them almost forget this unique unquenchable fire that could devour everything!


    Raphael and Sanchez beside him watched as the mighty shadow was engulfed in the horrifying mes. They both breathed a sigh of relief.


    The zing mes surged higher, and the intense heat filled every corner of the cave. The rock walls melted and crumbled in the mes...


    "It''s the Unquenchable mes!" Alrad finally remembered the famous stunt of this magic star, but the deep impression left by the Big Nuclear Explosion spell made them almost forget this unique unquenchable fire that could devour everything!


    Raphael and Sanchez beside him watched as the mighty shadow was engulfed in the horrifying mes. They both breathed a sigh of relief.

 Chapter 448: Surge in Nuclear Reserves and New Time-Space Portal!

    Despite Lynn''s almost perfect conditions tempting it, the shadow of the beast remained unmoved, restlessly growling within the ring of fire, its gaze filled with distrust.


    "Or maybe we should just kill it!" Sanchez, who had lost a hand due to forcibly resisting the energy wave, angrily suggested.


    In his view, although this peculiar monster had some utility, its threat level was too high. If it weren''t for Lynn''s unquenchable mes having a certain restraining effect on it, they might have had a hard time leaving today.


    Keeping such a powerful beast in captivity could lead to significant casualties if not controlled properly.


    Lynn also hesitated for a moment. After pondering for a while, he quickly thought that this guy seemed very interested in some novel, high-energy aggregates that it hadn''t consumed before. So he decided to give it another try. He opened his hand, and a lead-wrapped sphere appeared in his palm.


    As the leadyer was peeled away, a beautiful "ice crystal" was revealed.


    This was extracted from water, cooled and stored, and was about to be used as tritium fuel for nuclear fusion! Like uranium, this stuff was radioactive, with a half-life of just 12.43 years!


    If he wasn''t mistaken, the shadow in front of him probably relied on absorbing alpha, beta, or gamma rays emitted by radioactive materials to supplement its energy or increase its size.


    That tritium element was undoubtedly much more ptable than "hard" uranium!Sure enough, upon seeing the ice crystal floating in Lynn''s palm, the shadow immediately became restless, showing an extremely strong desire.


    Lynn smiled. It seemed that there was still hope. He then turned to Ad and gave instructions.


    "Go have someone bring some uranium ore over!"


    ...


    In the following week, Lynn implemented his beast-taming n in the uranium mine.


    Although the shadow''s ability to refine ore was important to them, Lynn would not bepletely submissive. The best way to tame a beast was to reward and punish.


    Moreover, the opponent''sbat power was not to be underestimated. Its energy body had extremely destructive power and an unreasonable speed. Without relying on the terrifying properties of tritium, he really had no way to deal with it. If it could be thoroughly tamed, it would be a great help in dealing with the church.


    Last time, relying on the sudden use of nuclear explosion magic to kill the incarnation of the false god, it might be difficult to seed next time if the other party was prepared.


    After a week of "friendlymunication," the two sides finally established the most basic trust.


    For the sake of convenience, Lynn also gave the other party a nice name.


    Since it could devour nuclear fuel and release powerful energy waves from its mouth, it had some simrities to Godzi from an ancient film.


    So why not call it...


    Muto!


    Godzi''s archenemy!


    Of course, during the full seven days, Lynn did not spend all his time on taming the beast. He also explored the uranium mine with Raphael and others.


    The scene inside shocked Lynn. The closer to the depths, the stronger the radiation and the more concentrated the magic. There were many crystalline magic stones embedded in the walls and floors all around, shimmering with a faint blue light in the darkness. ?


    "Wow, we''re going to make a fortune!" Raphael couldn''t help but exim.


    The value of a magic ore was self-evident. The reason why the council chose to establish a new home in the wizard''snd was because they found arge reserve of magic crystal mines there.


    It''s just that after hundreds of years of mining, the reserves of internal magic stones have been depleted. If it weren''t for this war, the council would not want to use its limited magic stone reserves.


    Now that a new magic crystal mine has been discovered, it is undoubtedly great news!


    Lynn''s gaze was focused on the deeper part of the cave, where arge amount of magic was gathering. In the center, a strange magic node was formed, and a blue light shrouded the area about three meters outside the node, constantly circting like a vortex...


    Lynn understood that this was a visual phenomenon caused by spatial distortion!


    "This is... a spatial portal?!" Lynn''s expression was extremely solemn.


    Ad and others also noticed this magic node, but they were not as surprised as Lynn. After all, there is also a portal in the magic stone mine in the wizard''snd, and most of these great wizards have been there.


    But the portal in front of them was slightly different from the one in the wizard''snd.


    After pondering for a moment, Raphael spected that this portal might be in a closed state.


    There are two arguments.


    First, there are not many magic beasts appearing in the mine (it may also be that the invading territory has been dealt with by Muto).


    Secondly, the generated magic fluctuations are far less intense, and the resulting impact is very limited.


    It should be noted that when the portal in the magic stone mine is not restricted, spatial distortions appear within a radius of a thousand meters.


    Due to the scarcity of samples, Raphael couldn''t be 100% sure.


    While several great wizards were discussing whether the time-space node in front of them was in an active state, Lynn was thinking about another thing, that is, how this node was formed...


    ording to the council''s spection, it is possible that the excessive concentration of magic in this area affected the space-time, and even Lynn himself thought so before.


    After all, he hadn''t fully understood the characteristics of magic.


    However, after seeing this so-called time-space node, another doubt arose in Lynn''s mind...


    With just a magic crystal mine, is it really enough to distort space-time to the point of creating a "door"?


    Even the impact of the most central nuclear explosion on space-time is extremely limited.


    Lynn vaguely thought of another possibility, but he didn''t intend to tell Raphael and others...


    "You came from over there, Muto?" Lord Lynn suddenly turned to the blue shadow beside him and asked.


    The blue shadow did not respond, maintaining a very aloof posture.


    Lord Lynn shook his head helplessly. The initial trust established over the course of a week was quite limited, merely preventing the other party from disying strong hostility.


    In fact, this fellow spent most of its time dormant, except when eating. It didn''t pay much attention to him either. The only reason it agreed to bring them to itsir this time was because Lynn provided it with half a kilogram of tritium.


    Having gnawed on ''hard bones'' for so long, Muto was very interested in these ''soft'' snacks. For now, Lynn could only ''manipte'' it through this method.


    "Let''s go back as soon as possible and report our findings here to the council," Lord Lynn said solemnly.


    Raphael and the others nodded in agreement. Whether the time-space portal was open or not, it posed a significant threat. It was best to have those alchemists who were proficient in force field magice and deal with it. The protection of the uranium mine also needed to be strengthened.


    After cutting several pieces of magic crystal from the mine as samples, Lord Lynn did not linger any longer. He left the uranium mine with several grand wizards and immediately boarded an airship back to the City of Fire Oil.


    Naturally, his new ''pet'' Muto had to be brought along, because apart from himself, there was no one else in the mine who could suppress it. If any problems arose, such as sudden madness, everyone would be doomed.


    But by doing so, the uranium ore needed to be transported to the City of Fire Oil for processing, which was time-consuming andborious, but there was no better alternative.


    ...


    After several hours of flying, the City of Fire Oil was already visible from afar.


    Along the way, Lord Lynn kept an eye on Muto, fearing that it might have a stress reaction during its first flight.


    Fortunately, the blue shadow was calmer than he had imagined, just lying on one side digesting the tritium it had just eaten, without any fear or anxiety.


    It''s just that its body temperature was too high, almost burning through the deck...


    But it was normal to think about it. Since it was an energy body, it probably could fly without wings, and there was no possibility of being killed by falling.


    The airship slowly descended into the City of Fire Oil. Just a week apart, Raphael almost thought he hade to another city when he walked down the airship.


    With thebined effects of magic and technology, the entire City of Fire Oil was changing almost daily.


    The main thoroughfares inside had been widened by almost twice their original size. The previously dpidated and foul-smelling slums were now reced by exquisite mansions. One-quarter of the reconstruction work had beenpleted, and the framework of the train station had also been erected. It was no longer just a few empty walls like when they left.


    It was expected that when the railway waspleted, the station would be perfectly finished.


    Not only that, but in the month since they upied the City of Fire Oil, over a hundred workshops had been established, employing tens of thousands of workers. After all, this was the frontline of the war, and it was most convenient to produce all kinds of materials locally.


    A continuous stream of mist gushed out of the huge chimneys of the workshops. Lord Lynn was thinking whether the emitted exhaust gases could be reused through magic.


    For example, the main emission, carbon dioxide, could be used to synthesize starch, solving part of the food production problem.


    Lord Lynn was preparing to turn the City of Fire Oil, located within the Empire, into a model city. Through the passage of trade caravans, he aimed to undermine the faith of the Empire''s subjects!


    At first, Raphael and the others were a bit puzzled. Who would dare to trade with them, the wizards, risking the strictest ban in the history of the Empire and their own lives?


    However, they were soon proven wrong. There were more caravansing and going than they had imagined.


    As Lord Lynn had said, merchants were not afraid of thew or being caught and hanged. What they feared was not having enough profit!


    And that was undoubtedly avable!


    The ss, cloth, pottery, fine salt, and various novel and interesting alchemical creations produced in the City of Fire Oil were the most sought-aftermodities in the Empire. As long as they could be smuggled back and sold at twice, even ten times the price, they could easily be sold!


    With such a crazy profit trend, the Church''s so-called ban was simply aplete joke!


    "Notify several councilors for me. I need to convene an internal meeting!"


    Lord Lynn had just disembarked from the airship and had no intention of resting. He immediately instructed Elok and others who hade to wee them to inform several councilors, while he himself returned to the mansion to bring the previous research materials with him.


    Since the issue of nuclear scarcity had been resolved, it was time to put the production of the nuclear fusion reactor on the agenda!


    The sooner they ascended to the legendary rank, the sooner they would have the qualifications to confront that pseudo-god head-on.


    In the evening, in the Duke''s mansion, an impromptu meeting of the councilors was quickly convened.


    As Aurora entered the meeting hall, she immediately noticed the two-meter-tall blue shadow inside and curiously remarked, "Is this the magic beast that can devour uranium ore? Quite unique!"


    Harof and Victorio also marveled at it, probably only such a creature could feed on dangerous radioactive elements.


    Under the inquiring gazes of several councilors, Muto, who was in the process of digesting, ''opened'' its eyes, saw a few bipeds, realized they posed no threat, and closed its eyes again.


    "It''s called Muto, considered one of the gains from this trip to the uranium mine. With it, the refinement of radioactive minerals will be much easier. In addition, I found more Demon Stones, enough to cast the Grand Nuclear Explosion Spell five times," Lord Lynn exined.


    "Very well, this way, we don''t have to bluff like before." Hearing this, Harof couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief and said in a rxed tone.


    Although they had repeatedly won on the surface, beating the Holy See and the Empire to the point where they were toothless, there was still a very obvious gap in high-end strength. Their apparent dominance was entirely maintained by the deterrence of the nuclear explosion spell.


    The councilors were well aware that Lord Lynn had only one chance to use this spell. Once used, he would lose hisst chip, so Harof had been worried that the Holy See might attack again.


    Now that they had a lot of nuclear fuel reserves, they could at least retaliate in kind, such as sending a fighter jet over to bomb the Holy City when necessary...

 Chapter 449: My plan is simple, to create a sun on the ground! - (1)

    Chapter 449: My n is simple, to create a sun on the ground! - (1)


    The increase in nuclear fuel reserves is undoubtedly excellent news, and the hearts of several speakers have been relieved.


    "I heard that you also found arge amount of magic crystals in the uranium mine?" Harof continued to inquire.


    "More urately, there is a small magic stone mine inside..." Lynn described the experience as concisely as possible, emphasizing the existence of the ''space-time gate''.


    Since there is a space-time node in thend of wizards, and they found another one in the uranium mine, does that mean there are not few such nodes on this continent?


    What truly puzzled Lynn was why they existed in the first ce...


    Harof and Aurora did not answer Lynn''s question but looked towards Victorio together.


    He was the oldest of all the speakers, even Harof and Aurora couldn''t figure out exactly how long Victorio had lived, and he was the most likely person to know all about it.


    "There are indeed many space-time nodes distributed on this continent. From what I know alone, there are three, all of which are located inside magic stone mines... As for their cause, perhaps only the ancient evil gods who participated in the war of faith and the false god of the Holy See know." Victorio said in a deep voice.


    After the Holy See ruled this continent, they massacred wizards on arge scale, leading to the destruction and burial of much of the information about that period. Even though the school he inherited is very ancient, it hasn''t obtained much information.In these years, the council has also conducted some research on the space-time nodes inside the magic stone mine, and even sent people in to explore.


    However, without exception, all those who entered disappeared, and even the news did note back, indicating how dangerous it was.


    Seeing that several speakers had extremely limited knowledge of the space-time gate, Lynn suppressed the confusion in his heart and instead distributed pieces of paper.


    Harof curiously took a few nces and was immediately dazzled by therge number of unfamiliar symbols and forms on it, furrowing his brows involuntarily.


    This is even moreplicated than calculus equations.


    "What is this? A derivation equation of arcane mathematics?" Aurora asked in confusion.


    Regarding arcane mathematics, such aplex and exquisite discipline, these speakers naturally have some knowledge.


    With their outstandingputational power, whether it''s equations, geometry, functions, or calculus, they are not difficult to master. Victorio even thinks that arcane equations are like alchemical runes, revealing thews of the world in a cold, mechanical manner.


    "Yes, this is indeed an arcane mathematical form... I call it the magic conversion equation!" Lynn looked at the three speakers present with a solemn expression and said.


    "Based on this equation, I found a way to construct the body of energy. If nothing goes wrong, this will be the legendary ascension ceremony!"


    Lynn''s words were like throwing a huge stone into a calmke, immediately causing waves of shock.


    "What?! Are you sure you have found a way to ascend to legend?" Victorio suddenly stood up, his tone even trembling.


    Harof and Aurora beside him were also unable to restrain their excitement.


    For two hundred years, since they entered the realm of Grand Wizards, they have been searching for a way to break through this realm. However, they have tried countless methods and are still trapped by the limitations of the body, leading to the conclusion that the realm of Grand Wizard is the limit that humans can reach!


    To break this limit, the only proven method is to increase one''sputational power through harvesting souls or faith!


    However, the poison of faith is like a sword hanging over their heads, making them dare not touch it easily.


    Now Lynn actually said that he found a brand-new method to ascend to legend, how could they not feel shocked and excited...


    "The specific method is in these forms. You will understand once you take a look, won''t you?" Lynn smiled and said, exining the meaning of each symbol.


    Of course, he did not write out all the derivation processes but left a hand. However, this form is enough to demonstrate his ascension method!


    Harof and the others immediately picked up the papers on the table and quickly looked at them.


    The essence of arcane mathematics is a scientifguage that describes and records the world, so it does not require much exnation. Everything is contained in theseplex symbols and exquisite forms.


    "I see... I see!" Victorio tightly held the paper in his hand, pacing back and forth in the meeting room, excitedly saying, "Based on the elements simted by magic, building a new body with energy as the core, genius... Truly a genius idea!"


    These days, he has been studying the body structure of the judge, so he has been very puzzled about why Joshua''s body is so peculiar, possessing all the characteristics of matter, and can dpose using the Great Disintegration Spell to obtain divine energy.


    Now he finally understands!


    Harof and Aurora, who are slightly behind inputational power, also quickly understood Lynn''s amazing idea!


    From the initialary theory to thew of universal gravitation, then to beam measurement, elemental construction, and finally this magic conversion equation... such incredibly ingenious magical theories, it is really hard to imagine that they were conceived by the same person.


    "Your magic conversion equation is definitely the greatest discovery in the history of magic!" Harof finally recovered from the exquisite form in front of him.


    This form perfectlybines mass, magic, and energy, making them no longer independent but interdependent, influencing and transforming each other!


    The equation on the paper, which is enough to make a Grand Wizard who is not familiar with arcane mathematics feel overwhelmed, is incredibly wonderful in front of Harof. The numbers and symbols on it seem to be dancing lightly on the paper, revealing to him the most hidden truth of this world.


    "It''s not the greatest, my equation at best just opens a corner of the microcosm!" Lynn shook his head.


    When he first created this form, his thoughts were as lofty as Harof''s, but after the enthusiasm cooled, this arrogant idea gradually dissipated.


    If he could unify the four fundamental forces and construct the true picture of the entire universe, then that would be the greatest equation!


    Aurora and others showed strange expressions. ording to Lynn''s words, then they have not been able to touch even this corner in these hundreds of years...


    "In any case, the equations you see are the ascension methods I came up with!" Lynn said seriously. "Theoretically, it is absolutely feasible, but I do not guarantee a hundred percent sess!"


    The three speakers present are well aware that any method of ascension always requires someone to try and error.

 Chapter 450: How Could Master Lynns Wisdom Be Understood by You?

    On the second day after the internal meeting of the councilors, all wizards proficient in thunder magic were summoned, setting aside their tasks to initiate mass production of thorium!


    The method used was the rtively ancient electrolysis method!


    The only drawback was the immense power consumption, but fortunately, the wizards could generate electricity manually. Hundreds of wizards proficient in thunder magic gathered together and could process around ten tons ofke water in a day.


    Meanwhile, Victorio led a group of alchemists pondering how to arrange the energy guidance array.


    After hearing Lynn''s description, he truly understood how daunting his task was. He needed to channel energy equivalent to ten thousand nuclear explosions into the alchemical array, then inject it into the spiritual bodies in an orderly manner. The difficulty could be imagined!


    Victorio was extremely cautious, striving to perfect the array, as he was the guinea pig. Any slight w would lead to hisplete annihtion under the terrifying energy surge!


    Such arge-scale mobilization by the council was naturally hard to conceal.


    To prevent information leakage, Harof let out a rumor that due to the massive nuclear explosion performed by the star of magic, the water in the river outside the city was no longer drinkable or suitable for irrigation. They were working on solving the radiation pollution problem.


    The rumors of water pollution caused a small-scale panic in the city, but the council, who had been prepared, quickly quelled it. In fact, the water they had been drinking during this time was not from the river but extracted from Lake Ers.The wizards spent several days digging arge water canal and, after extracting heavy water, used the rest to supply the city''s residents with water.


    However, irrigation for farnd was indeed a significant problem.


    This delighted Monroe, who had been secretly gathering intelligence. He found that the wizards had no intention of cultivating farnd. Even the existingnd had been abandoned, and all the peasants had entered workshops to produce firearms, cannons, or various exotic goods.


    Almost every day, caravans loaded withrge sums of gold and silver entered the City of Fire Oil, then left satisfied with boxes of goods, making profits that made everyone jealous!


    Monroe hated these imperial merchants who betrayed their master and dealt with demons, but he endured it, letting these wizards and merchants enjoy themselves for a while!


    As long as there were problems with this year''s autumn harvest, it wouldn''t take long for the entire city, or even the entire kingdom, to fall into a dire famine.


    Apart from this, what Monroe found particrly abhorrent was the curriculum of the Wizard Academy.


    Considering the wizardsing into the empire, whose levels of magic varied, the council decided to throw them all into the Wizard Academy for reconstruction.


    This rough measure caused dissatisfaction among some wizards, especially several great wizards who hade from afar, who did not think they needed to study in the academy.


    But after actually experiencing the curriculum of the magic academy, they found that it seemed somewhat different from what they had imagined.


    In addition to basic subjects such as elements, shaping, alchemy, and potions, there were also three subjects: mathematics, physics, and chemistry.


    After taking a few sses, Lucas and the others quickly discovered that the so-called physics was about thews of the world''s operation, the basis of force field magic.


    And chemistry was the foundation of elemental magic. Just a periodic table made the elemental wizards astonished.


    They never expected that someone could summarize and ssify the various characteristics of elements into a table, even ranking them...


    It could only be said that this ce was truly a sanctuary for wizards!


    Even the great wizards who had previously been aloof, upon seeing hundreds of elements listed on the table, had to admit that their basic knowledge of magic needed improvement.


    "Your Excellency Philip, why does this boron element only have a name and number on the periodic table? Is it some kind of novel element kept secret?" Lucas suddenly noticed something strange on the periodic table. ?


    "Master Lynn spected that it might exist, but it hasn''t been found yet!" Philip exined.


    "Spected?" Monroe sneered and spoke. "Is the entire periodic table guessed by that Master Lynn?"


    "ording to the exnation above, the volume of an atom may be only a few thousandths of a centimeter, and it may float in the air. How were their weight, density, and volume measured?"


    Monroe''s words made the wizards present furrow their brows involuntarily.


    Based on the novel things they had seen since entering this City of Fire Oil, they didn''t question much about the content on this periodic table.


    But after Monroe''s interruption, Lucas and others also had the same doubts. How did Master Lynn measure the various data of such small elements?


    "Idiot! Just because you can''t figure it out doesn''t mean others can''t. How could Master Lynn''s wisdom be understood by you?" Philip looked disdainfully at Monroe, then proceeded to exin to everyone.


    The order of this periodic table is not randomly arranged but determined by the number of protons in the element''s structure.


    For example, among the many elements they discovered and confirmed, the atomic number of hydrogen is one, helium is two, lithium and beryllium are three and four, and then suddenly the sequence of carbon jumps to six, with nitrogen and oxygen having the sequence of seven and eight, respectively, but strangely, there is no five!


    Lynn believed that the sequence for five (protons in the nucleus) must exist; they just hadn''t discovered it yet!


    The rest of the elements were also ''predicted'' in this way!


    As for their mass, it was measured using gravity as a ruler. By amplifying the slight differences through a method of minor deformation, their masses could be obtained.


    "Master Lynn once said that measuring the length of something doesn''t necessarily require a ruler, and measuring the weight of something doesn''t need a bnce!" Philip exined Lin''s Dean''s ingenious ideas in a straightforward manner to the wizards present.


    The order of this periodic table is not randomly arranged, but determined by the number of protons in the element''s structure.


    For example, among the many elements they discovered and confirmed, the atomic number of hydrogen is one, helium is two, lithium and beryllium are three and four, and then suddenly the sequence of carbon jumps to six, with nitrogen and oxygen having the sequence of seven and eight, respectively, but strangely, there is no five!


    Lynn believed that the sequence for five (protons in the nucleus) must exist; they just hadn''t discovered it yet!


    The rest of the elements were also ''predicted'' in this way!


    As for their mass, it was measured using gravity as a ruler. By amplifying the slight differences through a method of minor deformation, their masses could be obtained.


    "Master Lynn once said that measuring the length of something doesn''t necessarily require a ruler, and measuring the weight of something doesn''t need a bnce!" Philip exined Lin''s Dean''s ingenious ideas in a straightforward manner to the wizards present.


    Monroe, with limited education, listened with confusion, but dared not speak, as the wizards beside him were all praising unanimously.


    "To use gravity as a ruler, and space-time as a curtain, indeed worthy of the Star of Magic, to think of such a method!" Lucas praised admiringly.


    "Since the sequence of elements is determined by their internal structure, then the council must have already figured


    out how to arrange the formation, right?" someone asked excitedly.


    Philip nodded. "Yes, they have already figured out a way. As for the method, it was not disclosed to us, but it is estimated that it will be implemented in a few days!"


    "Then does this mean that the ''new weapons'' that the council ns to create will bepleted soon?" someone asked eagerly.


    Philip nodded and said, "Yes! By then, we will have no need to fear the invasion of other countries or the aggression of demons!"


    The wizards present were all excited. The new era of the wizards was about to begin!


    Monroe frowned tightly, seemingly hesitant about something, but after a moment, he still didn''t speak.


    At this moment, the door of the ssroom was pushed open, and a student ran in excitedly, shouting, "Teacher Philip, there are a few merchants from outside the empire who want to discuss business with you!"

 Chapter 451: I Bet Within a Month, the Magic Kingdom Will Collapse! - (1)

    Within the City of Fire Oil, headquarters of the school faction.


    Monroe carefully inspected the room once again, ensuring that no listening magic had been secretly set up by those wizards, before cing the crystal ball on the desk.


    The red light grew increasingly intense, and a strange magical fluctuation quickly spread in all directions.


    Monroe wasn''t worried about the energy fluctuation alerting the wizards.


    Although the entire City of Fire Oil was enchanted with detection spells, the crystal ball in his hand was essentially a magical device, which was why it passed through the previous search.


    With wizards carrying various alchemical tools, the council couldn''t meticulously inspect each one, nor would they risk causing discontent.


    Moreover, it was quite normal for a wizard to use magic in the room, generating some magical fluctuations, with nothing suspicious about it.


    However, a hint of disgust and frustration appeared on Monroe''s face; he, a deputy of the Divine Punishment Legion, had fallen to the point of relying on such dark magical devices!


    It was simply disgraceful!As he pondered, the red light gradually faded, revealing a blurry image before him, vaguely recognizable as the current ruler of the Holy See¡ªthe Pope Alves!


    "Under the Pope''s Crown!" Monroe kneeled on one knee, excited yet respectful.


    As an ordinary deputy in the Divine Punishment Legion, he usually only had the chance to see this earthly envoy of the divine during ceremonies, but now he could converse with him alone.


    "These days, you haven''t drawn the attention of those wizards, have you?" Pope Alves looked at Monroe kneeling before him, asking indifferently.


    "I don''t think so, Your Holiness." Monroe hesitated for a moment. Although he had engaged in debates and refutations during his lectures at the academy over the past week, it was all within normal limits.


    In fact, due to some overly peculiar remarks by those professors, there were almost always inquiries and challenges in every ss.


    Not more, not less.


    Monroe estimated that he probably hadn''t attracted the wizards'' attention yet. At least he hadn''t noticed any signs of being followed or monitored when he went out.


    "In that case, how much progress have you made on the task I assigned to you?" Alves asked again.


    "I haven''t yet found out about the location of Lord Joshua''s confinement. The wizards are very vignt; I suspect only a very few members of the council, or even the speakers, know this information."


    "As for the Star of Magic, his movements are unclear. He should be staying in the City of Fire Oil recently. I''ve only gathered some information about him..."


    At this point, Monroe felt extremely ashamed.


    The Pope had ced such a heavy task in his hands out of immense trust, yet he had made no significant progress in a whole week...


    After sessfully infiltrating the City of Fire Oil, the wizards seemed magnanimous, not restricting anyone''s freedom, but in reality, they were confined within the wizard''s academy for easy monitoring. ?


    Not to mention they had to waste a lot of time listening to those professors'' nonsense.


    Alves naturally understood the risks of infiltrating enemy territory, so he didn''t me Monroe. Instead, he inquired about the current situation in the City of Fire Oil, then sighed and added,


    "How many of the Lord''s people remain under the rule of those wizards?"


    Reluctant to say so, but in a sense, they had indeed been forced to abandon the City of Fire Oil and even the entire kingdom to the control of the wizards, letting them fall into the hands of evil.


    Perhaps now there were corpses littering the ground, a scene of massacre...


    But I feel like they''re... doing quite well?


    Monroe hesitated for a moment, struggling to find words. In recent days, he had conducted some investigations, intending to expose the superficial prosperity of the City of Fire Oil, but the results surprised him.


    The wizards not only were willing to ''hire'' thebor of the poor for ''high wages'', ensuring their three meals a day, but even the temporary recruits from the slums could enjoy tasty white bread for lunch, asionally with a piece of fish.


    With the sry of five imperial silver coins, they received treatment even better than the elite soldiers of the empire!


    Monroe recounted everything he had seen and heard, concluding, "I believe these wizards are trying to corrupt the piety of the poor towards the Lord with money!"


    "This is indeed noteworthy." Alves''s expression became extremely serious.


    If the wizards continued their cruel rule, they would be easier to deal with, but this excessive ttery, this costly appeasement, was actually undermining the foundation of the church!


    Monroe added, "Moreover, they are rapidly upgrading their weapons. Every day, arge number of new weapons are being produced."


    "I''ve also heard that these wizards are building something called a ''train,'' which can transport nearly a thousand tons of goods and a legion of a thousand soldiers from any corner of the kingdom to the City of Fire Oil in a matter of hours!"


    Upon hearing this, Alves''s face turned extremely grim, realizing immediately the immense threat posed by this thing called a train.


    This meant that the wizards would possess a terrifying war potential, able to deploy soldiers and supplies from the entire kingdom as reinforcements whenever they needed.


    Just as Alves was furrowing his brows, contemting countermeasures, Monroe suddenly spoke up.


    "But in my opinion, it won''t be long before the entire kingdom copses on its own!"


    "Oh?" Alves looked at Monroe with considerable surprise, wondering why he would suddenly say such a thing.


    Monroe confidently exined, "The wizards are massacring the local nobles on arge scale, but they are not good at governance. They recklessly squander the wealth they plunder, allowing even the poor of the City of Fire Oil to eat meat and white bread and receive extremely high rewards..."


    "Yet they do not care about cultivation and production, only greedy for more money. Nowrge tracts ofnd in the City of Fire Oil have been abandoned, and I believe the other cities in the eastern part of the kingdom under the wizards'' rule are no exception!"


    The more Monroe spoke, the more excited he became, and gradually, Pope Alves also understood the meaning behind his words.


    The wizards, in order to gain wealth, dragged peasants from the fields into workshops to produce weapons and even more valuable alchemical creations. Such shortsighted measures were undoubtedly a path to destruction!


    "The kingdom can still maintain its dignity because they have tempted traitorous merchants with money, enabling them to buy enough food from the empire. If we cut off this trade route, I dare say that within three months at most, the wizards will copse on their own!" Monroe concluded proudly.


    "This is the best news I''ve heard!" Alves''s tightly furrowed brow immediately rxed, and he looked admiringly at Monroe.


    Indeed, he was rmended by Gustav, themander of the Divine Punishment Legion, and he proved himself worthy.


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