Chapter 137: The Challenge of the Archmage

Chapter 137: The Challenge of the Archmage

In the following days, a series of bad news kept pouring in.

Hundreds of magical creatures appeared on the outskirts of residential areas, breaking through over a dozen houses and causing chaos.

And this was just the beginning.

Soon after, legendary creatures appeared, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people.

Cloudwood Hill, one of the three mountain peaks owned by the Tower, also faced the beast tide, causing heavy losses among the residents at its base.

...

Oma received funding from her mentor, Bella, and acquired Green Potion and Silence Potion to attempt the challenge of becoming an Archmage.

These two potions were expensive, and she would need to repay the cost.

If she succeeded in breaking through, repayment would be manageable for an Archmage, but if she failed...

That would be troublesome!

...

Half a month later.

A Second Rank Creature appeared in the Leipzig Market, ate some people, and instead of leaving, it built a nest nearby to rest.

It seemed to have made this place its hunting ground, with so much 'food' readily available.

Knights were chewy, and Wizard Apprentices had unique flavors, making them a nourishing treat for higher-ranked creatures.

...

Several months later.

The Tower.

"The market has hundreds of thousands of residents, including many Archmages and Legendary Knights. If they could unite, even without a Second-Ring Wizard, they could resist the beast tide."

"That's true, but with the Cape Family gone, who else can unite so many people?"

"Our Tower does have the prestige to do so, but we have too few people, and our strength is somewhat lacking. We can protect ourselves, but it's inevitable that there will be casualties among others. Do you think anyone would willingly take on such a task?"

"Did both Second-Ring Wizards of the Cape Family die?"

"Yes! It's been confirmed!"

Today was the day the Star Gate opened, and the people inside the Tower gathered once again, their voices rising and falling.

Compared to the tense situation outside, those blessed by the Tower had no need to worry about their safety.

This was one of the benefits of joining a major power.

"Karl!"

The long-unseen Nancy waved her hand:

"Over here!"

"It's been a while. I heard Oma is attempting to become an Archmage?"

"Yes." Karl nodded:

"You should be close as well, right?"

Nancy also possessed the talent of a Second Rank Wizard and had advanced to a High Mage Apprentice earlier than Oma.

Theoretically, her foundation should be sufficient.

"It's... almost time." Nancy's smile was somewhat stiff:

"I'll give it a try next year."

"Any thoughts?" Karl glanced at her:

"The Hodgson incident is in the past. Don't dwell on it. Focus on your cultivation; that's what matters."

"Alright." Nancy sighed, turned, and said:

"The Wizards have arrived."

She obviously didn't want to say more on the subject.

A group of people entered the Tower.

Daniel, Archie, Bella, Marianne... and three other Wizards they hadn't met before.

The Tower had been operating in the Magic Forest for countless years, and it was impossible for there to be only four Wizards.

As far as Karl knew,

Including those who preferred to stay hidden and not make public appearances, the number of Archmages should exceed ten.

In the Eastern Kingdom, this would be enough to overthrow the entire Black Swamp.

And these were just the Tower's own people. After hundreds of years, the Tower's connections in the Magic Forest were intricate and complex, and many Archmages had close ties to the Tower, making it a significant power in its own right.

Behind the Wizards were Wizard Apprentices carrying packages, and Charlie was among them.

According to the rules,

Every ten years, the Calim Continent would send a group of people, and after thirty years, they would return.

Of course,

If one could become an Archmage within that time, they could also apply to return early.

Charlie was in the group returning, and he waved to Karl with a complex expression in his eyes.

Thirty years! Thirty years ago, when he first arrived, he was in the prime of his life, full of vigor and vitality.

In the blink of an eye, thirty years had passed.

His body had become stooped, his back unable to straighten, his head had gained white hair, and his eyes had become cloudy.

The Magic Forest!

Charlie opened his mouth, tears welling up in his eyes, and he let out a silent sigh before stepping onto the stairs.

"Let's go!"

Accompanied by their companions' sighs of emotion, the group stepped into the radiant glow of the Star Gate.

"Buzz..."

After sending off the returning disciples, the light of the Star Gate suddenly intensified, and ten figures appeared in the chamber.

These were the people sent by the Calim Continent.

One of them was tall and robust, like a black bear, and as his gaze swept over the crowd, an invisible mental pressure caused everyone to bow their heads.

"Senior Volgan!"

"Respected Second-Ring Wizard, Master of the Earth, Volgan, the Magic Forest welcomes you."

"..."

Due to the 'Beast Tide,' this time, the Sixth Circle Tower directly sent a Second-Ring Wizard.

It was said that

This Second-Ring Wizard possessed extraordinary strength, capable of toppling mountains and with the potential to advance to the Third Circle.

Even in the Calim Continent, Second-Ring Wizards were considered powerful.

The Third Circle,

Belonged to the top-tier of the elite.

The Fourth Circle,

Even the Sixth Circle Tower had only a few publicly acknowledged members.

As for the Fifth Circle,

They were beings that could rival deities, and the Calim Continent had not seen a Fifth Circle Wizard in over two hundred years.

"Hmm."

Volgan stood at over two meters tall, his arms thicker than an ordinary man's thighs. He stretched his muscles and asked:

"Who are the ones from the Eastern Kingdom?"

"Since I went there over three hundred years ago, I haven't seen anyone from there in centuries."

"..." Daniel's expression turned awkward, and he pointed at Karl and Nancy:

"These two, and there's also a little girl named Oma, who is attempting to become an Archmage."

"Oh!"

Volgan raised his eyebrows slightly:

"It seems that within a year of their arrival, some are already challenging to become Archmages?"

"They have impressive talent!"

"These two..."

"Are also excellent!"

His gaze fell on them, and he nodded repeatedly, his voice filled with admiration:

"The Eastern Kingdom may be barren, and few people are born with Wizard talent, but those who do usually have high talent."

"Good!"

"Impressive!"

"Are there only these three?

"This..." Daniel's expression turned awkward, and in his mind, the other people in the Black Swamp had already been abandoned by the tower. After a moment, he spoke softly:

"The others have encountered some issues."

As he spoke, he lowered his head, doing something unknown, and Volgan's expression gradually turned serious.

"Hmph!"

He snorted coldly:

"Borrowing?"

"Those who don't recognize themselves will never achieve anything. I don't need to see them."

"Let's go!"

Saying this, he strode upstairs.

Not long after, Marianne and the others came downstairs, instructing everyone not to wander around. Soon, the tower would make some arrangements.

Judging from the situation, it seemed like they would be helping the market resist the Beast Tide, and all the tower disciples would have to contribute.

Karl's eyes flickered, and he quickly walked over to Marianne's side:

"Senior, I'd like to request a meditation chamber for cultivation. I plan to break through to the wizard realm during this time."

"Hmm?"

"Ah!"

His words caused those around him to pause in surprise.

Marianne first looked puzzled, then suddenly exclaimed with joy:

"You've completely mastered your Spirit Sea?"

"Yes." Karl nodded, slightly releasing his spirit power, revealing a spiritual scope of 5.5:

"I feel like I'm almost there."

"Good!" Marianne was ecstatic:

"I knew it! You have no problems!"

"Karl." Nancy frowned:

"Breaking through to the Archmage realm is not a small matter. It's best to stabilize for a while before attempting it."

"What do you know?" Marianne rebuked:

"Karl definitely won't have any issues. You think everyone is like you, with a timid personality."

"Sometimes, cultivation requires courage!"

"Karl!"

She paused for a moment, then said:

"Breaking through to the wizard realm requires being prepared for the existence of the astral plane. It cannot be done within the wizard tower."

"You can go to Cloudwood Hill. More than a decade ago, a wizard apprentice successfully advanced there, and it's also close to my residence. If any problems arise, I can quickly assist."

"Yes."

Karl responded, feeling a strong discomfort with Marianne's enthusiastic attitude once again. After a moment, he said:

"As for the next task..."

"You don't need to worry about it." Marianne waved her hand confidently:

"Focus on your cultivation and strive to become an Archmage. Others will take care of the tower's instructions."

Nancy, standing beside them, wanted to say something but held back.

Breaking through to the wizard realm, how could it be so rushed? And Karl was only in his thirties; even if he delayed it by a year or two, the chances would be even greater.

However, seeing Marianne's excitement and Karl's calmness, Nancy opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

The others were surprised by Karl's rapid cultivation progress, especially since he didn't have a high talent for it.

"The market was destroyed, and many people died, but some also became wealthy, gaining some opportunities."

Someone spoke up:

"Karl, that's probably how it is."

Everyone realized, and their expressions became complex.

Envy, disdain, and fear...

The chaos of that day led to the destruction of Leipzig Market, but it also created many wealthy individuals.

Those who dared to take action and gained something from it were, without exception, ruthless people.

They must have found something valuable, which led to their rapid cultivation progress.

Karl, of course, was unaware of what others were thinking. He only knew that he would have enough time to rest.

As for the Beast Tide,

It no longer concerned him!

To become an Archmage, one must sense the astral plane and use the Spirit Sea to draw upon the energy of the astral plane for their own purposes.

However,

When breaking through, one must also minimize their spiritual fluctuations to avoid attracting certain existences in the astral plane.

Failing to sense the astral plane and breaking through may result in a significant loss of spirit power and a setback in cultivation, but the consequences are not too severe.

But if one is targeted by certain 'things' in the astral plane, the consequences can be dire. They may suffer from mental confusion or even direct death.

There are countless examples of this.

Divine Realm Fragment.

Name: Karl

Constitution: 5.5

Spirit Power: 6.2

Essence: 0

Level: Legendary Knight, High Mage Apprentice

Abyssal Bloodline Fusion Rate: 29%

After several months of intense cultivation, Karl's spirit power and bloodline fusion rate have reached their limits. The next step is to become an Archmage.

"Based on my guess, the location of the Divine Realm Fragment should be within the astral plane. I've entered and exited the Divine Realm Fragment numerous times, and I haven't encountered any astral creatures, indicating that the fragment possesses the ability to block out other existences."

"Breaking through here will facilitate sensing the astral plane while avoiding the risk of being noticed by those existences. Isn't this much better than a so-called meditation chamber?"

"Divine Realm Fragment..."

"It exists in the Spirit Sea and in the void!"

After Karl fully mastered his Spirit Sea, a rhombic crystal fragment suddenly appeared in his perception.

Divine Realm Fragment!

It was like a shattered piece of glass, deeply embedded in his Spirit Sea, hidden beneath the waves of consciousness.

Only by completely mastering the Spirit Sea could one discover its existence.

It exists in the Spirit Sea,

And also in another place.

The feeling was bizarre, but as the master of the Divine Realm, Karl understood it instinctively.

"I'm not sure if this fragment belonged to the original owner or if I brought it with me when I crossed over, or perhaps it's a combination of both."

Karl muttered softly:

"Regardless, the fragment has now completely fused with my Spirit Sea, inseparable."

"If I die, the Divine Realm Fragment will collapse, and vice versa."

Putting away the data panel, Karl didn't rush to consume a potion to break through. Instead, he looked up at the space above the Divine Realm Fragment.

Dimensional Cage!

A complex labyrinth, intertwined with mathematical formulas and wizardry theories, like a captivating curtain.

"The complexity of the astral plane surpasses imagination. Based on others' experiences, the existences drawn by a breakthrough are mostly non-physical, similar to human souls."

"The Dimensional Cage should be able to handle them."

Although he was within the Divine Realm Fragment, it was better to be cautious.

Being careful never hurt.

As his thoughts turned, the Dimensional Cage above him also changed accordingly.

With Karl's increasing spirit power, the complexity and scope of the Dimensional Cage expanded.

After a while,

"This should be enough!"

Karl took a deep breath, rubbing his slightly tired forehead:

"With the support of those mathematical formulas from my past life, this Dimensional Cage, in terms of complexity, should be no less than what an Archmage could create.

"Next..."

Chapter 6.9

"Rest!"

And with that, Karl fell into a deep slumber that lasted an entire day and night.

Upon awakening, Karl felt refreshed and energized. He made his way to the Divine Realm Fragment, where he consumed several restorative potions, one after the other.

Calm Potion!

Rationality Potion!

Regardless of their effectiveness, he took them all, just in case.

These potions were specially prepared by the Sixth Circle Tower for its disciples, and each individual had only two opportunities in their lifetime to obtain them.

The key point was,

They were free!

Closing his eyes, Karl patiently awaited the potions' effects.

About half an hour later...

Karl retrieved the Green Potion and the Silence Potion, contemplating briefly before downing them both.

Instantly,

"Hmm!"

Karl grunted, his body trembling slightly.

Under the influence of the potions, his usually calm Spirit Sea suddenly began to stir. His consciousness felt like it was being drawn into a massive grinding wheel, constantly squeezed and ground, with impurities gradually being pushed out.

His physical body, stimulated by the potions, writhed uncontrollably, his Abyssal Bloodline Fusion Rate flashing incessantly.

Until...

With the combined support of his spirit and body, a certain boundary was forcibly shattered, and a glimmer of light appeared in his perception.

"Boom!"

His Mind Sea trembled violently.

The agitated Spirit Power transformed into a sharp spike, piercing the void and connecting with an indescribable existence.

Astral Plane!

With a Spirit Power of 6.2, Karl had already surpassed many Archmages in terms of breakthrough potential.

"Hmm..."

Karl's 'eyes' lit up.

A colorful, vast, and boundless 'world' entered his perception, filled with countless eerie auras swirling around him.

Hmm? This was different from what the Tower had recorded.

According to the Tower's records, other apprentices who had broken through perceived the Astral Plane as a realm of nothingness and absurdity.

If there were truly so many eerie auras nearby, their souls would have been devoured long ago.

Karl furrowed his brows slightly, then quickly regained his focus, 'bowing' his 'head' to look down at his own body.

Delving into the Fragment!

At this moment, he was observing the Astral Plane through the Divine Realm Fragment.

The Astral Plane existed on a dimensional level far beyond the real world, akin to the cosmic void from his past life memories.

It was natural that his perceptions and sensations would differ from those of an ordinary Wizard Apprentice.

"Divine Realm Concealment!"

"The Divine Realm Fragment does indeed possess the ability to conceal spiritual fluctuations. My breakthrough didn't attract any unwanted attention, so I should've kept the Silence Potion."

"Heh..."

Karl chuckled lightly, knowing that hindsight was pointless. Nonetheless, the excitement of his successful breakthrough made his thoughts lively, and he couldn't resist a little joke.

Hmm? "What's wrong?"

A strange sensation suddenly rose in his heart, causing Karl's expression to change:

"There's something in my Spirit Sea. The Divine Realm Fragment didn't work, and the Astral Plane lifeform arrived when?"

"Swish!"

With a quick thought, he instantly returned to the Divine Realm Fragment.

A cloud of black smoke appeared, seemingly with its own consciousness, constantly twisting and writhing.

Karl's expression turned solemn, and with a light wave of his hand, the Dimensional Cage enveloped the black smoke.

The formidable aura emanating from the black smoke made him cautious, so he cautiously retrieved one item after another that might be useful.

Here was his Spirit Sea and the Divine Realm Fragment; even if he wanted to hide, he couldn't. It was his home field, so he didn't need to be too tense.

"Hmm..."

Like a person who had slept for a century, the black smoke stretched out in all directions, gradually transforming into a human figure.

This figure was a gaunt, grey-robed old man with ordinary features, except for a pair of deep and vast eyes.

"It's you!"

Karl's eyes widened, and countless thoughts flashed through his Mind Sea:

"Grey-robed Wizard Addison!"

The gaunt, grey-robed old man who appeared in the Divine Realm Fragment wasn't some so-called Astral Plane lifeform. He was the founder of the Black Marsh, the Second Circle Legendary Wizard who had sacrificed his life to open the Star Gate—Grey-robed Wizard Addison.

"I feel like I've been asleep for a long time."

Addison touched his forehead and waved his hand, and a staff resembling a cane appeared in his palm.

Holding the staff, he gazed into the darkness ahead, a puzzled look in his eyes:

"This is... the Dimensional Cage of that little rascal, Strei?"

"Not bad!"

Karl's voice echoed from the darkness:

"Grey-robed Wizard Addison, so you didn't die. The Green Potion you had Marianne give me was tampered with?"

"The Green Potion was given to me by Marianne at your request, and your soul was hidden within it. When I consumed the potion to break through to Archmage, you entered my Spirit Sea and ultimately took this body for yourself?"

Before entering the Divine Realm Fragment, Karl had meticulously inspected the items he needed for his breakthrough, ensuring there were no issues.

The Silence Potion should have been fine as well.

Firstly, the Silence Potion came from the Cape Family, and secondly, Marianne had already brought him to the Black Marsh by then, so if she wanted to do something, she would have done it. The only possible culprit was the Green Potion he obtained in the Black Marsh.

"No wonder!"

Karl continued, "No wonder Marianne's attitude towards me was so strange. She was overly concerned, yet she rarely sought me out."

"She wasn't concerned about me; she was concerned about this body, or rather, you, who will replace me in the future!"

"Grey-robed Wizard Addison!"

With that, all the unusual occurrences were explained.

"Hmm..." Addison raised his head, gazing directly into the darkness ahead, a smile on his wrinkled face:

"You're very smart."

"I've been asleep for so long that I'm not entirely sure what happened, but your guess is mostly correct."

He paused, staff in hand, and spoke in a low voice:

"The long years haven't diminished my thirst for life. I... I still don't want to die."

"Unfortunately, without my sacrifice, the Dawnlord's coldness prevents the opening of the Star Gate."

"Alas!"

Addison sighed lightly, "I wanted to see the world of the Calim Continent as described in the books, to witness the world as seen by Third and Fourth Circle Wizards, so..."

"Young friend Karl, can you let me have this body?"

"You think you can get away with this?" Karl thought angrily, but his face remained calm as he swiftly set up various items, preparing for an attack.

To guard against the astral creatures, he had purchased numerous enchanted items specifically designed to target spiritual bodies.

"How did you do it?" Karl asked, buying some time to think of a strategy.

"It's simple," Addison replied, showing no urgency to attack. "Soul Splitting Spell!"

"This spell splits a soul, sealing a portion of it within a soul box. Once the physical body dies, the soul can use the box to revive, although it weakens the user's strength. It's said to be a spell of the Lich."

"The Soul Splitting Spell I acquired was incomplete. It wasn't a spell that could freely divide the body and soul like a Third-Rank Wizard. I could only infuse my soul into the Green Potion and wait for someone to drink it, then possess their body."

"Why did you choose me?" Karl continued to ask.

"When I first saw you, you were just an unremarkable Wizard Apprentice."

"Heh..." Addison shook his head lightly.

"Karl, my friend, you underestimate yourself. In just a few years, you've become a Middle-Rank Wizard Apprentice and a Grand Knight. That's not a pace that can be achieved with talent alone."

"So, you must possess something very special, something that makes your cultivation progress faster than even those with Second-Rank Wizard talents!"

Karl's abilities could deceive an Archmage, but not a Second-Rank Wizard.

Addison smiled and continued, "You'll understand once you become an Archmage. Wizard talents are just stepping stones. What truly propels a Wizard further is their thirst for knowledge and pursuit of life."

Huff!

In the realm of spirits, there were no actual sounds, but Addison could sense the murderous intent rushing towards him.

Before his 'voice' could finish, a figure emerged from the darkness, brandishing a long spear and charging straight at him.

Grand Knight!

The pure willpower of murderous intent could also harm a spiritual body.

At the same time...

A dozen arcs of electricity appeared out of thin air, striking at Addison's 'body'.

Nestor's Thunder!

The power of thunder, always a bane to Yin-attributed life, further devastated Addison's spiritual body.

Addison's expression remained unchanged as he gently raised the staff in his hand.

First-Rank Spell - Mystic Radiance!

Hua!

A faint glow enveloped the area, seemingly gentle yet dissipating the thunder.

The charging figure was also blown away.

Addison extended his hand again.

First-Rank Spell - Death Wither!

A black ray sliced through the void, landing on the figure and directly causing its spiritual body to disintegrate.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished into nothingness.

"It's useless," Addison shook his head lightly. "Even if my soul is reduced to a fraction, I can still deal with a newly advanced Wizard..."

"Hmm?"

His words trailed off as he suddenly stopped, looking up in confusion.

Dimensional Cage,

Still here!

How is this possible? Logically, if the consciousness body has been destroyed, the spell should have disappeared as well.

"I must be dreaming."

Addison's eyes narrowed, and the casual air about him quietly dissipated. He muttered under his breath, "That figure's face was blurry, it wasn't you, Karl. It seems there's another consciousness body in your spirit sea, how strange."

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the darkness.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't wind but a swarm of tiny flying insects forming a gray mist.

"A Mana Creature?"

"Looks like Karl has earned quite a few Magic Stones over the years, and he has so many tricks up his sleeve."

It wasn't just the gray mist; dark tentacles, spell radiance, and energy floods swarmed towards Addison.

"Dang!"

Addison paused, and ripples visible to the naked eye spread out in all directions.

Wherever they passed, all attacks were nullified.

First-Rank Spell - Weakened Ether!

Addison couldn't help but take a deep breath as he cast three First-Rank Spells in succession. His eyes revealed a tired expression, but he knew he had no way out either. Without a physical body, his spirit power would only weaken over time. He widened his eyes and spoke, "First-Rank Spell - Life Resonance! This spell is First-Rank, but its power increases with the user's spirit power. With a certain amount of spirit power, a blinding radiance erupts, rushing towards the surrounding darkness.

"Crack!"

"Crack, crack..."

The labyrinth created by the Dimensional Cage was forcibly broken through, revealing cracks.

Addison's body flickered, and he leaped out from one of the cracks.

Immediately, intense fear surged within his consciousness.

Second-Rank Spell - Fear Aura!

After Karl advanced as a Wizard and his bloodline fusion rate reached 30%, the power of the Fear Aura also increased. Especially in this place, with the absolute rationality of the Divine Realm fragment and the talent of the Abyssal Bloodline, the might of the Second-Rank Spell wouldn't diminish due to insufficient spirit power.

The Fear Aura descended, and Addison's spiritual body stiffened.

At the same time, vines with thorns emerged from thin air, wrapping around Addison's spiritual body.

Zero-Rank Spell - Sinful Thorns!

"Die!"

What Addison sensed wasn't the Karl he had been thinking about, but a massive squid.

The squid extended over a dozen tentacles covered in suction cups and eyes, each holding a broadsword.

Each broadsword showcased a unique battle technique.

Battle Technique - Holy Reprimand!

Over a dozen sword lights within the Divine Realm fragment smashed towards Addison's consciousness body, and the power of the Holy Reprimand exploded.

Karl still worried that Addison wouldn't die, so he reached out with his tentacles, enduring the sword energy and activating his talent spell.

Devour!

"Boom!"

A burst of light exploded within the Divine Realm fragment, simultaneously sending Karl flying.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end