Chapter 132: Magic Crystal

Chapter 132: Magic Crystal



Karl was far from being a qualified knight, as he lacked the fearless spirit of a true knight.

However, his prowess as a legendary knight was undeniable.

With a swift stride, he unleashed a powerful punch, his battle aura condensing into a tangible force that slammed into the shadows of the jungle.

"Boom!"

The tree trunk they were hugging was shattered by his punch, forcing the crimson figure hiding behind it to dart out.

A woman?

Karl's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he didn't slow down. He transformed his fists into palms and struck at the figure with a battle technique—Holy Shock!

This technique, learned from the Blasphemy Knight Ana, was a powerful area-of-effect attack from the Church.

Unlike Earth Sunder, Holy Shock could strike enemies from a distance.

Karl's battle aura, compressed to its extreme, erupted from his palms, creating a special vibrating force field upon contact with the air. It surged forward in a fan-shaped blast.

Several large trees ahead were shattered, their bark flying in all directions. The crimson figure was momentarily stunned.

A few magical lights flickered on the woman's body, weakening the incoming attack.

"A legendary knight!"

The female assassin's voice was hoarse with surprise as she exclaimed in awe. Her figure flickered again, moving in an arc to pounce on Karl.

The legendary knight's battle technique had little effect on her.

Magic?

Karl's eyebrows furrowed.

He was reluctant to engage in combat with others, mainly because the methods of wizards were too unpredictable.

Without understanding an opponent's methods, even with superior strength and higher cultivation, there was a risk of defeat.

Hmm!

Karl grunted, and his figure suddenly expanded, transforming into a seven-meter-tall giant in the blink of an eye.

Secret Technique—Gigantism!

Battle Technique—Bloom!

Terrifying battle aura surged from within him, creating a massive repulsive force field that sent everything nearby flying.

This included the crimson figure.

"What kind of technique is this?"

The female assassin exclaimed in surprise, her body wavering, and she transformed into a fox with two tails, its fur resembling blazing flames.

In the forest, where sunlight was filtered through the tree canopy, the fox's fiery fur stood out, its outer layer seemed to be enveloped in a mysterious glow, distorting vision and perception.

Its deep and bright eyes resembled gems in the night, cunning and fierce.

Bloodline magic?

Karl's heart stirred, and he quickly regained his composure.

Although bloodline magic had its limitations and advancing to an archmage's cultivation was fraught with difficulties, the mere advantage of easier promotion to wizard was enough to attract many.

Moreover, the Magic Forest was home to legendary creatures, even second-rank beings, making it an ideal place to cultivate bloodline magic.

"Swish!"

The fox, over four meters long, pounced on Karl, its sharp claws enveloped in flames.

"Bang!"

The giant and the fox collided, both retreating.

How is this possible?

Karl was astonished.

According to their size and strength, this should have been impossible, forcing him to readjust his strategy, even as he prepared to press his advantage.

"An apprentice of a high mage, a legendary knight, and such an impressive secret technique," the fox whispered. "No wonder you're a disciple of the Six-Circle Tower. Even an ordinary-looking person like you possesses such skills."

"But..."

"Die!"

Magic—Bodyguard!

Rune—Hada Arm!

The bodyguard magic temporarily enhanced the female assassin's strength to a terrifying level, allowing her to withstand Karl's gigantism.

Hada Arm summoned two invisible arms that grabbed Karl and slammed him to the ground.

Runes,

signifying first-circle magic, were too powerful for even a legendary knight to withstand.

"Hmm!"

Karl grunted, his body losing balance as if someone had grabbed him and thrown him to the ground.

Superb Rune—Earth Sunder!

As he hit the ground, the superb rune activated.

"Boom!"

The ground shook, and the fire fox's body stiffened, only to be pierced by stone spikes.

Karl didn't fare much better.

He was thrown to the ground, his head spinning, feeling as if his bones were about to shatter. Fortunately, he dematerialized, reducing the impact.

"Ah!"

A scream echoed from not too far away, and a blood-soaked fire fox broke through the stone spikes, transforming into a ball of fire that rushed towards Karl.

The massive fireball and its terrifying heat instantly ignited the surrounding trees, and the blaze began to spread through the forest.

"Hmph!"

Karl snorted, a faint light gleaming in his eyes, and tendrils shot out from his body at incredible speed.

Bloodline magic?

I know it too!

Fear Aura!

The fear aura, comparable to a first-circle magic, enveloped the female assassin, who couldn't help but scream in terror. The two monsters collided.

The fire fox had the power to control flames, but it was ultimately just a legendary creature, far inferior to the deep abyssal squid in terms of rank.

With a slight resistance, the fox's body was pierced by the tendrils through its wounds, and its life force rapidly drained.

In the blink of an eye,

it became a pile of dry bones.

The sticky tendrils gathered the remains on the ground, and Karl transformed back into his human form, sprinting away.

Not long after,

two figures appeared in the clearing.

"Is she dead?"

One of them crouched down, examining the dry bones, and shook his head.

"Mei was one of the top young members in our organization, and I didn't expect any complications with this mission. I can't believe she's been killed."

"It's no wonder, considering she was a disciple of the Six-Circle Tower..."

"Forget it. Our target is the Cape family. Let others deal with Mei's death."

"Yes." The other figure nodded. "Jeff, do you think the Cape family will fall for this?"

"Heh..." Jeff raised his head, revealing the scar on his face, and when he smiled, the scar seemed to wriggle like a centipede.

"It's just a young runaway from the Monroe Clan seeking revenge. If the Cape family doesn't have the guts to face this, they wouldn't have lasted this long."

"They'll be back."

"Then..."

"Hehe!"

The laughter gradually faded, disappearing into the distance.

Three days later...

Karl arrived at the Wizard Tower, weary from his journey. The lengthy travel time was partly due to his unfamiliarity with the terrain, but primarily to avoid pursuit by hiding in the Divine Realm fragments for an extended period.

Oma, who was still studying at the Wizard Tower, heard the news and rushed over, bringing a cup of hot milk tea.

"I knew you'd make it," she said, patting her ample chest.

"I heard from Senior Marian about your encounter. It was a close call, and you're lucky to have escaped unharmed."

"Indeed," Karl sighed. "A narrow escape from death."

"Is Senior Marian okay?"

He wasn't too surprised by this, as she was a disciple of a Second Circle Wizard and likely possessed powerful inherited artifacts. Although she might not be a match for assassins, her ability to protect herself was unquestionable.

"She's injured and looks terrible. She's resting in the tower's meditation chamber at the top," Oma whispered, her eyes shifting.

"I feel..."

"Senior Marian is very concerned about you."

This concern was certainly not ordinary; otherwise, she wouldn't have mentioned it.

"Huh?" Karl's expression froze slightly.

"Maybe it's just my imagination."

"Perhaps," Oma stroked her smooth chin and nodded. "You two have a significant age gap, and Senior Marian seems to have someone she admires. I shouldn't have said that."

Marian waved her hand and stood up, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Senior Marian!"

"Senior!"

Karl put down his cup and nodded at the approaching person.

"Are you okay?"

Marian's face lit up with joy as she quickly stepped forward, grasping Karl's arm and examining it carefully.

She was like a worried wife inspecting her husband.

Oma's expression was peculiar, and Karl felt awkward, but Marian seemed to have forgotten everything else in her delight.

After a while, she finally snapped back to reality.

"Not bad," she said, nodding and regaining her calm expression.

"To escape the pursuit of the Shadow Hand's assassins and make it out alive, it seems your strength is stronger than I thought."

"That's great!"

"The Shadow Hand?" Karl was taken aback. "Is there an organization called the Shadow Hand in the Magic Forest, too?"

There was indeed an assassin organization called the Shadow Hand on the Eastern Kingdom Continent, and Karl himself had once encountered their assassination attempts.

"Yes," Marian confirmed.

"The Shadow Hand has existed since ancient times, and they're also in Calim Continent, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're connected."

"You should understand that assassins often give themselves flashy names to attract clients, just like in business."

Karl understood.

In other words, the Shadow Hand's reputation was so significant that assassin organizations in various places used the same name.

The organization known as the Shadow Hand could be several different groups operating in secret.

"Senior," Karl began, "What's the situation with the Cape family?"

"Blaze was severely injured and lost his eyesight. The two younger ones didn't make it back," Marian said, her expression indifferent.

"If it weren't for his luck, he probably wouldn't have escaped either."

Milly was dead!

Karl's face twitched slightly.

He had quite a favorable impression of this young woman from the Cape family, Sam's aunt.

...

Unbelievable...

Just a short while ago, the two of them were laughing and chatting, helping him resolve his doubts. Suddenly, they faced an unexpected calamity.

The Magic Forest was indeed dangerous!

"Now that you're back, take some time to rest," Marian said, her eyes narrowing. "I'll go get you the Silence Potion."

"This..." Karl hesitated, "Senior, this operation resulted in heavy losses for the Cape family. I don't think they'll give me the Silence Potion again, right?"

"Why not!" Marian snapped. "The assassins targeted them, and we were the ones who suffered. We almost got into trouble. If the Silence Potion isn't enough, there must be other compensation!"

"You rest first, don't worry about the rest. I'll handle this, and the outcome will definitely satisfy you."

"Yes."

Karl lowered his head.

He didn't expect the outcome to be that satisfying; getting back his Silence Potion was already enough.

Oma, standing behind Marian, secretly made a face at Karl, as if saying, See? I told you Senior Marian's attitude towards you was a bit off. She probably has a crush on you.

Karl shook his head slightly.

Marian's attitude was indeed unusual, but he didn't sense any so-called romantic feelings from her. Instead, it felt more like...

She was treating him as a substitute for someone else.

A replacement?

In any case, the feeling was peculiar and awkward, and all Karl wanted now was to leave and have some quiet time alone.

Marian acted swiftly.

In just two days, Charlie brought the Silence Potion to Karl.

However, what surprised Karl even more than the Silence Potion was another item that accompanied it.

"A Magic Crystal?"

It was a crystal ball the size of a fist, with a shimmering aura inside that made one's head spin and feel nauseous upon closer inspection.

"Yes!"

Charlie nodded, his voice filled with awe. "This Magic Crystal contains a Celestial System Spell called Burst Crystal, and its value is over a thousand Magic Stones!"

Magic Crystals were a means for wizards to pass down their spells.

Archmages could seal their insights into crystals using a special method, allowing others to gain their knowledge by shattering the crystal.

"Of course, knowledge can be transferred, but experience still requires practice, so obtaining a Magic Crystal doesn't mean one can immediately master its contents."

Yet, even so, Magic Crystals were extremely rare.

Acquiring one could save a wizard apprentice at least three to four years of cultivation.

Additionally, crystals that could store knowledge were scarce, and wizards' cultivation was affected when they extracted their insights. Therefore, such items were incredibly rare, and the estimated price of a thousand Magic Stones was just a rough estimate; they were essentially priceless.

"Karl!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Senior Marian holds you in high regard. For this magic crystal, she even had a big fight with the Cape family."

"You should remember how much your senior cares for you!"

As he spoke, he raised his eyebrows suggestively, implying that rumors about the two had already spread.

Karl shook his head helplessly.

He was now beginning to doubt his own judgment. Could it be that Mage Marian truly had feelings for him?

Otherwise,

With her status, it would have been easy to stop these rumors. The fact that the rumors were allowed to spread seemed to confirm this notion.

"Brother," Karl said, gathering his things and changing the subject.

"Did you find anything on the Cape family?"

"Yes," Charlie nodded, his expression turning serious.

"The Monroe family!"

"The Monroe family?" Karl furrowed his brows at the unfamiliar name.

"Yes," Charlie confirmed.

"The Monroe family used to live in Leipzig Market and had a good relationship with the Cape family."

"Until a few decades ago..."

"A wizardry genius emerged in the Monroe family. At a young age, he advanced to become an Archmage and had a high chance of becoming a Second Circle Wizard."

"Hmm?" Karl raised his eyebrows.

"Did the Monroe family's rise threaten the Cape family's position, leading to a conflict between the two?"

"Something like that," Charlie nodded.

"When I first arrived in the Magic Forest, the Monroe family hadn't fallen yet, but I know some inside information. They did try to maintain a peaceful relationship, after all, the two families had many marriage ties. But later, for some unknown reason, things escalated."

"It started with minor squabbles, then escalated to direct confrontations. By the time the wizardry genius reached the peak of his First Circle, the Monroe family was completely wiped out."

"Hmm..."

"It seems a few clan members managed to escape. This assassination attempt on the Cape family is their revenge."

"I understand!" Karl sighed.

"So, I was affected by the dispute between the two families, and it's only right that I receive a magic crystal as compensation."

"Of course!" Charlie nodded.

"When have we, the Six Circle Tower, ever suffered a loss? Senior Marian's methods are a bit harsh."

"That's right!"

At this point, he patted his thigh and said,

"There's something else I need your help with, brother."

"You need my help?" Karl smiled.

"Brother, why are you being so polite today? Just tell me what it is, and I'll definitely help if I can."

"It's like this..." Charlie licked the corner of his mouth, his expression briefly turning complex.

"I have a woman here who doesn't have the talent for wizardry. I'm afraid she might have trouble after I leave."

"So, I want her to come work at the shop. It will provide her with a livelihood and keep her safe in the market."

Karl's eyebrows knitted together.

"Brother, haven't you already made arrangements for this?"

"..." Charlie fell silent for a moment before sighing.

"She's pregnant with my child."

Hmm? Karl raised his eyebrows.

He recalled that Charlie, the brother standing before him, was very mindful of this. In the thirty years he had been in the Magic Forest, he had been with several women, but none had ever become pregnant.

And now, just as he was about to leave, this situation arose.

"I can't help it."

Charlie's expression was complicated.

"I truly like this woman, and she doesn't want anything else. She only wants to have my child."

"I can't take them with me..."

"I can only trouble you, brother."

There were some things he didn't say.

Charlie had spent nearly thirty years in the Magic Forest, the best years of his life. For him, this place was like a second home, and as he was about to leave, he wanted to leave something behind.

Pregnancy happened naturally at a certain moment.

"The spiritual fluctuations of a wizard apprentice can be harmful to ordinary people. Staying in the market for an extended period isn't suitable." Karl shook his head gently.

"Brother, you can arrange for her to stay with the Woodcutters on the hill."

"If it were another time, arranging for her to stay there wouldn't be an issue," Charlie said.

"But with the impending Beast Tide, the Woodcutters' Hill isn't safe. As for the spiritual radiation... Don't worry, brother. I'll give her an amulet that will protect her from any harm even if she stays in the market for a long time."

"Alright then!" Karl could only nod.

"When can she come over? Tracy can show her around, and she can start working anytime."

"It'll be in the next couple of days!" Relieved that the matter was resolved, Charlie couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

After seeing Charlie off, Karl did not immediately use the magic crystal.

The Divine Realm Fragment had absolute rationality; as long as he knew the spell model and could outline it in his spiritual sea, it wasn't a problem for him.

There was no need to consume a magic crystal.

Instead, it might be more beneficial to sell it when needed.

Time passed.

In the following days, Karl returned to his usual life, practicing meditation, bloodline wizardry, combat techniques, and refining potions. His cultivation and strength gradually increased.

Meanwhile, the Cape family's retaliation was already underway.

With the Cape family's strength and the numerous methods of wizards, Karl had initially thought it would be easy to eliminate the surviving members of the Monroe family.

But he was wrong.

After several months, the continuous pursuit and assassination attempts still hadn't captured their target. Instead, the Cape family suffered the loss of two Archmages.

The Monroe family member named Strider, despite his youth, had already become a wizard and was hiding in the depths of the forest, launching counterattacks against those who were hunting him.

An Archmage using all means necessary forced even the Cape family to be on high alert, and the younger generation was warned not to venture out lightly.

Meanwhile, the Beast Tide had also arrived!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end