Chapter 140: The Plan

Chapter 140: The Plan

"If it were in the Black Swamp, the successful advancement of a wizard apprentice would surely be celebrated."

"Now..."

"Why don't I feel anything?"

Karl watched Daniel's departing figure with a puzzled expression.

Becoming a wizard, advancing in life, and extending one's lifespan—these were crucial matters for a wizard apprentice, but to the wizards in the Tower, it seemed ordinary, perhaps because they had witnessed it so often that it no longer felt special.

"Sigh!"

"I thought there would be a grand celebration, but it just passed by like this."

Karl shook his head and closed the courtyard gate.

The courtyard was located not far from the Tower, resembling a European-style architecture from his memories.

It was not large, with a few unknown flowers planted in the corners and a clean, pebble-paved ground.

It was evident that someone regularly cleaned the area.

In the center stood a two-story stone building, with an astrolabe embedded in the wall, connected to the Wizard Tower through the air. It served to block others' prying eyes and had a certain level of defensive capability.

The room was tidy.

On the desk lay a stack of thick books.

"Signal, System, and Electronic Simulation Technology Explained"

"Principles of Magical Flight"

"A Brief Guide to Using Thunder in Wizardry"

...

These were the prerequisite knowledge for practicing the spells Wrath of the Thunder God and Thunder Wings.

Karl flipped through the books casually and then tossed them aside.

"The knowledge required for First-Rank Spells is more complex than that of Zero-Circle Spells. Without a solid theoretical foundation, it's not easy to master First-Rank Spells. The Tower assesses the potential of newly advanced wizards."

"Without the foundational knowledge, it would take years, even decades, to master First-Rank Spells, even for Archmages with formidable Spirit Power and exceptional comprehension abilities."

"But..."

A smile appeared on his face:

"I'm different!"

"With the Divine Realm Fragment, I can forcefully construct spells even without mastering the necessary knowledge. It's much easier to understand the theory after mastering the spell, but learning and exploring the application of spells requires serious study."

"Phew..."

Karl exhaled, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"After all, I'm an outsider, and the Sixth-Rank Tower doesn't fully trust me. They didn't even provide a complete Second-Circle legacy."

Although Volgan had offered many First-Rank Spells for him to choose from, including Wrath of the Thunder God, which surpassed the spell's rank, but...

They were not systematic!

Karl had realized back when he was an apprentice that a continuous lineage of spells could unleash their greatest power.

Moreover, it was easier to cultivate and had better chances for advancement.

The Sixth-Rank Tower seemed generous, allowing wizards to choose various spells, but they did not provide a complete legacy.

"Forget it!"

Karl shook his head lightly:

"I'm an outsider, and I've never been to the Calim Continent. It's understandable that they don't trust me."

"One should be content with what they have!"

Karl entered his meditation chamber and sat on a magical bench, feigning sleep while trying to communicate with the outside world.

In an instant, the vast Astral Plane appeared in his perception.

"What a great place!"

Karl couldn't help but exclaim.

Wizards could sense the Astral Plane and draw upon its energy to enhance their Spirit Power. However, the ease of perceiving the Astral Plane varied depending on the location.

This was somewhat similar to the concept of 'spirit veins' in cultivation novels.

The density of spiritual energy was crucial for cultivators.

In some places, it was challenging to sense the Astral Plane, making cultivation difficult, while in others, it was easier to connect with the Astral Plane, leading to faster progress.

The Sixth-Rank Tower was likely located in the best place within a thousand miles, making it much easier to sense the Astral Plane than Cloudwood Hill. Naturally, cultivation progress would be faster here, and it would be even more comfortable inside the Tower. No wonder every wizard aspired to build their own Wizard Tower.

"Due to the Tower's presence, it's much easier to sense the Astral Plane here than in Cloudwood Hill, so cultivation progress is naturally faster. If one were inside the Tower, it would be even more comfortable. No wonder every wizard wants to build their Wizard Tower."

"If it were in the Black Swamp..."

"People there struggle to sense the Astral Plane, making cultivation progress more challenging. Most wizards there are at the initial stages because the deities' radiance almost blocks their perception of the Astral Plane."

It was common knowledge that without sensing the Astral Plane, it was difficult to improve one's cultivation.

In the Eastern Continent, wizards hid in uninhabited forests and forbidden zones devoid of life, not because they wanted to, but because only in those places did the radiance of the deities dim, allowing wizards to sense the Astral Plane.

If even the barren Black Swamp could become a holy land in the hearts of wizard apprentices, one could imagine the convenience of the Magic Forest.

"Any place in the Magic Forest is easier to sense the Astral Plane than the Black Swamp, making cultivation more convenient."

"But I'm different!"

Karl's eyes gleamed:

"I have the Divine Realm Fragment, which allows me to directly sense the Astral Plane through it. It's like carrying a Wizard Tower with me, unaffected by location."

"Whether it's the Eastern Continent, the Magic Forest, the Calim Continent, or even other places, it doesn't matter to me."

"At most, I won't be able to borrow the energy of the Astral Plane when casting spells, but even that..."

"The spells that truly require the energy of the Astral Plane to cast are Third-Rank and above. Lower-ranked spells rely more on the wizard's own Spirit Power."

Initially, Karl had been eager to go to the Calim Continent, following in the footsteps of ancient wizards and embarking on the path of wizardry.

Now, it's time to return to the Eastern Continent.

His eyes glimmered with anticipation as he spoke, "Gray-robed Wizard Addison's legacy is in the Kingdom of Gandor, and among his possessions are two Heritage Arcane Artifacts, one of which is an ancient treasure passed down from ancient times. We can't afford to miss this opportunity!"

Addison's advancement to the Second Circle in the Eastern Continent wasn't due to any innate talent. Instead, it was a fortuitous encounter with a Tier 4 ancient magical plant on the brink of death.

By devouring the plant's energy, Addison advanced to the Second Circle, but in the process, he exhausted the plant's life force. To gain the plant's power, Addison shared his life with it, and its death would mean his demise as well.

For this reason, Addison was willing to sacrifice himself to open the Star Gate. His soul had already been divided using the Soul Box Splitting Spell. After the 'soul transfer,' he could start anew.

Karl wasn't in a rush to head to the Eastern Continent. On one hand, there was the Star Gate, and on the other, there was concern.

He was worried that Addison might have other backup plans. Who knew how many soul fragments he had created using the Soul Box Splitting Spell? What if his soul was also embedded in the Heritage Arcane Artifact? Going there without proper precautions would be suicidal.

It was best to wait until he had advanced to the later stages of wizardry and possessed sufficient means to protect himself before attempting to retrieve the artifact.

Karl pushed open the window and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the blazing sun on the horizon. His eyes glimmered with anticipation.

"There's another advantage to not going to the Calim Continent. We won't have to worry about encountering overly powerful opponents."

"The Calim Continent is teeming with wizards. Even Second-Circle and Third-Circle wizards could be killed, which is too dangerous for me."

"The Eastern Continent is different!"

"In ancient times, the Deities and Wizards had an agreement not to interfere with each other. Even if the Divine Realm dislikes Gray-robed Wizard Addison, they would have to devise a plan to force him to take his own life instead of directly attacking him. As long as I don't interfere in the wars between the Deities, I won't draw their attention."

"And higher-tier wizards wouldn't go to the Eastern Continent either. After all, to them, it's the 'Land of Spirit Absence.'"

"Safety is the top priority!"

After a long period of contemplation, Karl slowly averted his gaze.

His future path was becoming clearer. For now, he needed to solidify his foundation and increase his cultivation and strength.

Currently,

He had to choose the wizardry he would practice next.

Unlike others,

Karl possessed over a dozen complete wizard lineages, including the lineage of Second-Circle Wizard Addison.

While others struggled to obtain wizardry for cultivation, he faced the dilemma of having too many choices.

"Unfortunately, Addison's Second-Circle lineage is also incomplete. He followed the path of life and plants, which is different from mine."

"I've already cultivated the Tidal Force, a First-Circle Spell composed of three Zero-Circle Spells: the Guardian of the Azure Waves, Multiwater Arrow, and Water Vortex. Cultivating this First-Circle Spell will be easy since it's like riding the current. I can master it within two months."

"And Thunder Wings!"

"This spell allows me to fulfill my dream of flying, and its speed far surpasses that of ordinary First-Circle Spells. I must cultivate this."

"I'll try Thunder God's Fury once I'm out of the tower's range, as it involves Divine Realm fragments."

"The Soul Box Splitting Spell is a Second-Circle Spell, and the divided souls might not even be mine. I'll put it aside for now."

"I can cultivate Life Whisper, a spell that allows me to communicate with plants and gain information. The key is that I have Addison's and Marianne's memories, making it easier for me to cultivate this spell."

"Lastly..."

"I should also try cultivating Poison Fog Spell, as it's part of Adolf's lineage and easier to grasp."

Poison Fog Spell!

Tidal Force!

Life Whisper!

Thunder God's Fury!

Thunder Wings!

In the coming days, Karl prepared to cultivate these five First-Circle Spells to advance to the middle stage of wizardry.

Similar to the classification of wizard apprentices, the stages of a wizard are defined by the number of First-Circle Spells they have mastered.

- Mastering one First-Circle Spell: Wizard Initiate

- Mastering five First-Circle Spells: Wizard Middle Stage

- Mastering ten or more First-Circle Spells: Wizard Late Stage

The details may vary slightly, but this is the general framework.

Most First-Circle Spells require a Spirit Power of around one point to construct, with a few exceptions. In other words...

If a wizard apprentice's Spirit Power limit is 5, then a wizard's limit would be 20.

This differed from Karl's initial assumption that a Spirit Power of 10 was the limit for wizards.

"If that's the case, the power gap between wizards can be significant. The difference in Spirit Power between a late-stage wizard and an early-stage wizard can even surpass the gap between a wizard and an apprentice."

"Hmm?"

Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"I think I have something else that I can only open after advancing to the wizard stage. Just in case, I'll wait until I'm out of the tower's range to check it out."

Three months later, Karl returned to the tower.

This time, he met Oma, who had also advanced to the wizard stage.

Oma wore a tall wizard hat and a matching robe, with faint spell radiance dancing around her.

A robe!

Even the most basic robe like this would cost as much as a high-grade enchanted item.

"Karl!"

Upon seeing Karl, Oma's face lit up with joy. "I heard you became an Archmage while I was in seclusion. At first, I thought it was just a rumor, but it turns out it's true!"

"That's great!"

"I was lucky to break through," Karl nodded with a smile. "I didn't embarrass the Star Secret Society, did I?"

"No!" Oma patted Karl's sturdy arm and laughed.

"In ten years, when we go to the Calim Continent, we'll definitely surprise everyone."

"Indeed." Karl's gaze shifted.

"The wizard's robe is nice."

"Don't you think?" Oma spread her arms and spun in place, her wizard's robe fluttering gracefully.

"This is a gift from Mentor Bella to celebrate my promotion to wizard."

A gift?

Karl's lips twitched slightly. His current attire, acquired in the Black Swamp, looked even more shabby in comparison to Oma's.

"It's really enviable."

"Hehe..." Oma chuckled, refraining from further teasing. She asked, "Do you know why we're here this time?"

"I should be the one asking that." Karl shook his head.

"I just came out of seclusion."

As they spoke, several wizards from the High Tower descended from the upper floors, their faces bearing various expressions. After a quick glance, they hurried away.

"Sit."

Daniel rubbed his forehead and sighed, "We're short-staffed, so you two newly promoted wizards will have to work hard, but don't worry, it's just some simple tasks."

"Daniel Wizard..." Oma began, "As a member of the Six-Ring High Tower, serving the tower is our duty. Just give us your instructions."

"Well said." Daniel was pleased with Oma's response and smiled, "It's not a big deal, really."

"Without the protection of the Cape family, the Leipzig Market suffered heavy losses during the Beast Tide. It was only through the efforts of Senior Volgan that it managed to survive. But we can't protect a market indefinitely."

"So..."

Daniel spread his hands, "After discussions, it was decided that the three major families who contributed the most during the Beast Tide, along with the Andrew Clan, will jointly manage the Leipzig Market."

The Andrew Clan?

Karl's eyes flickered slightly.

"Daniel Wizard," Oma spoke up, "I heard that the Cape family's demise was related to the Andrew Clan, and there's a long-standing feud between the two families."

"Rumors," Daniel's expression remained unchanged, "Don't pay attention to them."

Rumors?

Karl shook his head gently.

He knew Daniel was likely aware of the situation, but even if the Andrew Clan was involved, what could be done now? The Cape family was no more.

Did the High Tower intend to seek revenge for the Cape family?

It was known that the Andrew Clan also had a Second Circle Wizard, and one of them was even expected to reach the Third Circle.

The High Tower's efforts to balance the Andrew Clan's influence by adding three managers seemed like a last-ditch attempt.

"You've just advanced, so you won't have to do anything else."

Daniel spoke, "Oma, you'll replace Marianne and oversee the logging process at Cloudwood Hill. Just make sure there's no trouble."

"Yes."

Oma nodded.

She already knew about Marianne's murder and Nancy's ruined future, and her expression became complex.

"Karl."

"Yes."

"You can go back to the pharmacy and keep an eye on the business. The tower can't do without your revenue." Daniel smiled, "Your compensation will be increased to twenty magic stones per month, with a year-end bonus, and you'll have two apprentices to assist you."

Twenty magic stones per month? With the bonus, it would amount to nearly three hundred stones a year! Not a small sum.

Karl's face lit up with a smile, and he nodded in agreement.

...

Half a year passed, and buildings, courtyards, and shops rose from the ruins once more.

There was much to be done.

Karl returned to the site of Archie's Pharmacy, now expanded to four storefronts, and couldn't help but sigh.

"How things have changed!"

The pharmacy was no longer the same.

Archie and Charlie, the wizards, had left for the Calim Continent.

'J', the guard, had died in the Beast Tide, and Tracy had left the pharmacy after losing an arm.

The only familiar face was Babala, Charlie's lover.

Charlie and Babala's child lacked wizard talent, and the Beast Tide had affected their fetal qi, resulting in poor health from birth. Babala now had to work and care for the child simultaneously.

Fortunately, Charlie's departure was recent, and his connections still held some influence, so the tower hadn't been heartless enough to evict them.

"Karl."

A cheerful voice came from the neighboring shop. A slender wizard approached, strolling leisurely.

"In just half a year, Mr. Karl has become a wizard, living up to the reputation of the Six-Ring High Tower."

"Wizard Bern." Karl nodded at the visitor.

"We meet again."

Bern,

The owner of the neighboring grocery store, was skilled in crafting runes and one-time magical items. He was a wizard who loved to laugh, but only with those he approved of.

"I heard Wizard Archie left?"

Bern's voice carried a hint of sentiment.

"Thirty years!"

"I've received guidance from Wizard Archie for many years, and now I'll never have the chance to repay him."

"If Wizard Bern wants to repay him, why not buy more of the pharmacy's potions?" Karl smiled and extended his hand,

"Come in and sit?"

"I just arrived and don't know the layout yet."

"Haha..." Bern laughed, "Then I'll take a look and see what's changed since before."

Inside the pharmacy, several people were busy.

Some arranged goods, others cleaned, and two held papers, whispering.

Upon seeing Karl enter, two apprentices in Six-Ring High Tower robes hurriedly stood to greet him.

"Senior Karl!"

"Karl the Wizard."

"Hmm." Karl waved his hand dismissively, "You two carry on, I'll go and check the back with Wizard Bern."

"Yes, sir."

The two responded, their gazes momentarily complex.

Both in their thirties, and even older than Karl, they still addressed him as 'Senior'.

But there was no other way.

In the world of wizardry, the skilled are revered as masters, and apprentices are expected to defer to their elders.

"The High Tower is indeed a place brimming with talent," Bern's gaze lingered on the two before continuing, "Sasson is sought after by many wizards, and as soon as your people arrived, he became your apprentice."

One of the two before them was a native of the Magic Forest, a rare Second Circle Wizard with exceptional talent.

His name was Sasson.

His previous mentor was an ordinary advanced wizard apprentice who had perished in the Beast Tide a few months ago. Now, Sasson had found a new mentor in the High Tower and become a member of its ranks.

The other was Lance, from the Calim Continent, rumored to have been sent here due to his questionable conduct.

"If Sasson was truly intended to be an apprentice, he wouldn't have waited until today," Karl shook his head lightly, "In my homeland, there's a saying: Hollow stalks of grain often stand tall and proud, while the full and ripe ones always bow their heads."

"Those with wisdom never lack humility, it's just that some take it too far."

Bern chuckled at these words.

Indeed, it wasn't a lie.

Those who sought to take Sasson as an apprentice mostly approached with a condescending attitude, claiming it was a test.

Unfortunately,

The people of the High Tower were straightforward. After assessing Sasson's talent, they immediately accepted him, leaving his character to be evaluated later.

This left those who wanted to take Sasson as an apprentice dumbfounded.

However, there was no other choice. Becoming an apprentice of the Sixth Circle High Tower would provide the opportunity to go to the Calim Continent.

Everyone knew which option was better.

"Let's go!"

Karl gestured ahead, "I've long heard of Wizard Bern's exceptional skills in rune crafting, and today I must seek his guidance."

"Of course," Bern smiled, "Karl, your Beast Pills have revolutionized the apothecary business, and I'm quite impressed. Would you be willing to share your knowledge?"

"I'd be delighted!" Karl's eyes lit up, "I mean... I'm very willing!"

The two walked into the backyard, their voices gradually fading into the distance.

"Thud!"

A dull sound emanated from the counter, causing Sasson to instinctively turn around. His honed vigilance made him tense up.

"We're selling goods."

A burly man, clad in a black robe, stood at the counter, tossing a cloth-wrapped bundle onto the table, "Give me an estimate!"

"This..." Babala hesitated, her expression uncertain.

"Sir, we sell medicine here; we don't purchase materials."

"You don't?" The man in black spoke in a muffled tone, "Last time I was here, you did."

"Oh?"

Babala's face was filled with surprise.

She had just been promoted to sales, previously only doing odd jobs in the shop, and was unsure how to handle this situation.

"What's going on?"

Lance sauntered over, glancing at the man in black, "Selling goods?"

"Yes," the man in black nodded, pointing at the bundle, "Give me an estimate!"

"We're an apothecary, we don't buy materials..." Lance casually opened the bundle, but then, with a sudden change of heart, he said, "Flame Flowers, Flame Stones, good stuff!"

He pursed his lips, "One Flame Flower for three magic stones, and five Flame Stones for five magic stones. If you agree, we have a deal."

"Hmm?" The man in black's voice sounded odd, "What?"

"Isn't this the shop of the Sixth Circle High Tower? Or has the owner changed?"

"Of course!" Lance's face darkened, "What do you mean?"

"Last time I was here, it was one Flame Flower for one magic stone, and the Flame Stones should be the same price."

"One Flame Flower for one magic stone?" Lance scoffed, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Mr. Lance," Babala suddenly tugged at Lance's sleeve, speaking softly, "I remember now, it was something like that. It was Wizard Karl who made the decision..."

"Hmm?"

Lance frowned, his eyes flickering, and with a sudden push, he said, "One Flame Flower, one Flame Stone for one magic stone. If you're willing, stay, or leave if you're not."

"..." The man in black didn't respond, his eyes, hidden under the hood, seemed to be fixed on Lance.

After a long pause, he slowly nodded, "Deal!"

"Good."

Lance smiled, pulling out a few magic stones from his pocket and tossing them over, then grabbing the bundle.

"Hmph!"

The man in black snorted softly, taking the magic stones and turning to leave.

"Babala, record it," Lance said with a mischievous smile, watching the man depart.

"Write it as one Flame Flower for one magic stone, and one Flame Stone for one magic stone. Any extra magic stones are mine."

"Ah!"

Babala, who was in the midst of recording, was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.

"What?"

Lance raised an eyebrow, "Don't you recognize Wizard Karl's pricing?"

"No... I mean, not at all." Babala smiled awkwardly, lowering her head and taking out a few magic stones from the counter, arranging them one by one.

"That's right!"

Lance gathered the magic stones into his sleeve, deep in thought as he gazed in the direction the man in black had left.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end