Chapter 279: The Grand Archmage

Chapter 279: The Grand Archmage

The mysterious assassin who almost gave Xie Shi En a run for his money must be incredibly powerful.

Even with Lu Heng's personal involvement, there was no guarantee he could capture Xie Shi En, given his elusive abilities.

If it were anyone else encountering this assassin, they might not even have a chance to escape.

Lu Heng's curiosity about the assassin's identity grew. He pressed, "Can you identify this mysterious killer? Even knowing their race would help."

Xie Shi En shook his head. "I can't be certain."

Then, he pulled Lu Heng aside, using his psychic powers to isolate their conversation. "But I know what he's after."

Lu Heng's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What does he want?"

Xie Shi En's expression turned solemn. "He's probably after the Soul Vault on my body, which makes me suspect he might be connected to a Lich."

He shared this information with Lu Heng alone, as Rong Xincheng and the others were present.

The Soul Vault's secrets must remain undisclosed, even to their allied psychic team.

The more people who know, the greater the risk of exposure.

If the secret of the Soul Vault on his body were to be revealed, it would mean the exposure of his 027 identity.

The only reason he survived the Creator's Organization's pursuit was that his identity remained hidden. Once exposed, he would face relentless hunting from the organization.

After exchanging information, they returned to their original seats.

Xie Shi En continued, "Additionally, I have some more information. This mysterious killer seems to avoid approaching Colossus City. When I was about to reach the outer city, he stopped chasing."

This wasn't unusual. If the assassin was an Abyssal Demon or an Undead Lich, they wouldn't dare venture near Colossus City.

After all, this was the Elven Capital, and rushing into the city to kill would be an act of madness, even for the most powerful assassin.

The Elven Race hadn't declined to the point of having no strong individuals. At the very least, there was Grand Archmage Augustus within the city.

Queen Arelana, before ascending the throne, was a genius sought after by three teachers for her exceptional talents. Her strength couldn't be underestimated.

Unless the assassin sought death, they wouldn't dare approach Colossus City.

...

After sharing their concerns, Lu Heng asked, "Up until now, has any psychic team entered Colossus City?"

Rong Xincheng shook his head. "I teleported to the outer city on the third day, and since then, I haven't seen any psychics enter the inner city."

Xie Shi En nodded in agreement. "I arrived on the seventh day, and I haven't seen any psychics enter the inner city either."

"In that case, things might get complicated."

Lu Heng glanced at the task panel. So far, the first main quest hadn't been marked as completed.

[Main Quest 1: Locate Colossus, the Elven Capital, and establish diplomatic relations with the Elven Race.]



Based on the quest information, this task had two steps. The first, locating Colossus, was likely already accomplished.

The second step was establishing diplomatic relations.

The conditions for establishing these relations were somewhat vague.

How much interaction was required to consider the task complete? Given the current situation, the Elves didn't harbor intense hostility towards humans, but they weren't particularly friendly either.

The previous batch of summoned humans included a raiding party, which had left a negative impression on the Elves.

Changing this perception wouldn't be easy.

The 'establishing diplomatic relations' part of the main quest likely required meeting with the Elven upper echelon and resolving the tensions between the two races.

In essence, they must enter the inner city and meet with the Elven elite.

Furthermore, this task was unique in that it could be considered a group endeavor.

If one person succeeded, it would improve the Elves' attitude towards humans, making it easier for others to enter the inner city.

In a sense, if one person completed it, others would follow suit.

Main quests in the Abyssal Battlefield were usually not overly challenging.

If one's goal was merely to survive and return, they could wait in the outer city until someone met with the Elven upper echelon, easing racial tensions. Then, after spending 30 days in Colossus City, they could return.

Of course, if everyone had the same mindset and no one took action, the first main quest would fail collectively.

...

Lu Heng had a way to enter the inner city, especially after dealing with the Lich Dionysus.

This Lich knew the secret of Grand Archmage Augustus, indicating a connection between them.

Moreover, according to Teris, the [Grand Archmage's Magic Codex] obtained from Dionysus originally belonged to Augustus.

In other words, presenting the [Grand Archmage's Magic Codex] to Augustus would undoubtedly grant them an audience with this Elven dignitary.

However, the magic codex was an S-class treasure, and giving it away would be a painful sacrifice.

If Lu Heng didn't hand over the codex, he had another plan with a high chance of success.

Having gathered the information he sought, Lu Heng clapped his hands and said, "I think I understand the situation. Those who want to enter the inner city, follow me tomorrow morning. I'll try to get you in."

The others in the room were intrigued.

"How will you get us in?"

Lu Heng kept them in suspense, replying, "You'll see."

...

The next day.

The group of seven arrived at the gates of Colossus City, where the same Elven guard from the day before stood watch.

Upon seeing Lu Heng and his companions, the guard impatiently said, "I've said it before—humans are forbidden from entering the inner city. Leave now.

"Lu Heng retrieved an item and handed it over, saying, 'Please deliver this to Grand Archmage Augustus, or to his students or subordinates. When he sees this item, he will naturally agree to meet with me.'"

The Elven guards around the city gate sensed a malevolent spirit aura and immediately drew their weapons, surrounding Lu Heng and his group with caution.

The item Lu Heng took out was none other than Dionysus's Soul Vault.

Although Teris had shattered the Soul Vault, even its fragments were valuable.

Not only were these fragments originally part of the Soul Vault, but each of the embedded gems, if removed, was worth a small fortune.

So Lu Heng collected the fragments, and now they were about to come in handy.

"What an evil aura. What kind of monsters are you?" An Elven guard captain stepped forward, eyeing the group warily.

Lu Heng explained, "This is from a Lich we defeated named Dionysus. These are fragments of his Soul Vault. Take these to your Lord Augustus, and he will agree to see me."

Upon hearing the name Dionysus, the Elven guard captain's face registered surprise. He took the Soul Vault fragments and turned to report the news.

...

Before long, the Elven guard captain rushed out and said, "Follow me. Lord Augustus wants to see you."

Rong Xincheng's team of three lit up at these words.

They had been here for over ten days, trying everything, but to no avail.

But as soon as Lu Heng arrived, he effortlessly gained entry, and he brought them along.

Rong Xincheng sighed in relief, grateful that he had chosen to ally with Lu Heng from the start. If he had been a little foolish and allied with Blake Feld instead, they would be eating dirt in the outer city now.

The group followed the Elven guard captain into Colossus City, finally witnessing the elegance and grandeur of the Elven capital.

The Elven race was known for its sophistication, and this was reflected in their architectural style.

In Colossus City, every building was a blend of opulence and nature.

Numerous unnamed giant trees were planted within the city, their canopies soaring into the clouds, obscuring much of the sky.

The buildings in the city were massive, resembling palaces, just like the trees they cultivated.

The group of seven followed the Elven guard captain across a stream flowing with magical energy, heading towards the Magic Tower in the western district.

In the area around the Magic Tower, unknown flowers bloomed, and strange creatures floated in the air.

Lu Heng recognized these creatures as Mana Wyrms, a species favored by the Quel'dorei Elves.

Despite the name, these creatures had little offensive power, and the 'dragon' in their name was more akin to the chameleon of Bluesphere.

Mana Wyrms were essentially pets kept by the Elves, comparable to garden butterflies.

Each day, Mana Wyrms would feed on the morning dew from flowers, and at night, they would emit a soft glow, filling the city's evenings with fluorescence.

Typically, Mana Wyrms gathered in areas with dense magical energy, and the Magic Tower in the western district was the most concentrated source within the city.

The group followed the Elven guard captain into the Magic Tower, then ascended a spiral staircase.

They reached the top floor, a spacious hall with an elegant interior.

However, Lu Heng felt something amiss with the space after just a glance.

From the outside, the top floor's width didn't seem to exceed ten meters, but the hall was remarkably spacious, undoubtedly wider than twenty meters.

The exterior suggested a width of ten meters, yet the interior boasted a space of twenty meters.

Clearly, the Magic Tower's interior housed some sort of spatial rune array, resulting in this peculiar discrepancy.

At that moment, inside the magic hall, an Elf in an Arcane robe stood with his back to the entrance, studying the Arcane Celestial Map on the north wall.

The Elven guard captain entered and bowed respectfully, "My Lord, they have arrived."

Evidently, this Archmage was Lord Augustus.

He waved his hand, dismissing the Elven guard captain.

The captain left the Magic Tower, but Lord Augustus didn't immediately turn around.

Lu Heng surveyed the surroundings, noticing the Soul Vault fragments on a long table in the center of the hall.

Time passed...

Grand Archmage Augustus turned around, scrutinizing the seven individuals before him.

Lu Heng and his companions also assessed him, their gazes meeting with complex emotions.

Lord Augustus appeared quite old, though by human standards, he looked only fifty. Among the Elves, his age likely exceeded seven hundred years, not younger than Serien.

After observing them for a moment, Lord Augustus asked, "Who obtained these fragments?"

Lu Heng took a small step forward, "I did."

Augustus sighed and inquired, "Did you release Dionysus from his suffering?"

He used the phrase "release from suffering" instead of "kill."

After all, for a Lich, this method of prolonging life was, from a certain perspective, a form of bondage.

At least, to the Elves, who revered the elegance of life, Liches were objects of disdain.

Unfortunately, Dionysus was once an Elven Archmage.

In other words, even the Elves, as sophisticated and intelligent as they were, when faced with death, desired to prolong their lives, even at the cost of becoming Liches.

Augustus continued, "Did you find the magic grimoire Dionysus stole from me?"

Regarding the Arcane Grimoire, Teris had mentioned before that its original owner was Augustus.

Now that he had asked, it was impossible to hide the truth.

After all, Teris also knew the whereabouts of this grimoire, and lying now would be foolish.

Lu Heng directly took out the Archmage's Magic Codex and placed it on the table, replying, "Found it. Teris and I worked together to give Dionysus some peace. He left this grimoire behind after his death."

Augustus picked up the grimoire, examined it in his hands, and said, "It's indeed the one Dionysus stole."

He sighed, his face showing a hint of sadness, and continued, "Dionysus was a talented arcanist, but unfortunately, he went astray and chose to study undead magic. In the end, he escaped from Colossus City and transformed into a lich in the Twilight Mountains."

Holding the grimoire, he paused for a moment and said, "This grimoire originally belonged to me, and I'd like to reclaim it. But since you retrieved it, I can't take it back by force.

"So, I'm thinking of offering something else in exchange. Take some time to think about what you want. If it's reasonable, I'm willing to trade this grimoire for it. You can consider my offer."

This grimoire was originally stolen from Augustus by Dionysus, and now it was being returned to its rightful owner.

Morally speaking, there was no issue.

Lu Heng had initially worried that Augustus would take it by force, and if he insisted, Lu Heng had no choice.

Now that Augustus was willing to offer something in exchange, it was a mutually satisfying solution.

Lu Heng had just arrived in Colossus City and didn't know what valuable items the Grand Archmage possessed.

With 30 days until the Abyssal Battlefield mission, there was no rush to make a decision immediately.

"Can I have a few days to consider?" Lu Heng asked.

"Of course," Augustus replied. "I'd like you to leave the grimoire with me. Here's a Magic Tower emblem; with it, you can freely enter and exit Colossus City. Come back when you've decided what you want." As he spoke, Augustus took out a Magic Tower emblem and handed it to Lu Heng.

Lu Heng accepted the emblem, a smile spreading across his face.

Although the grimoire was an S-Class treasure of great value, bringing it back to Bluesphere would require the consumption of divine energy for rule assimilation.

Now that he had Augustus's Magic Tower emblem, it meant he could visit him at any time.

This would be a significant advantage for the upcoming Abyssal Battlefield mission.

This was the beginning of grasping the situation; with the emblem, he could freely enter and exit the Elven Capital, opening up countless opportunities.

After the Abyssal Battlefield mission concluded, he could even exchange it with Augustus for a valuable item, making it a profitable deal either way.

After agreeing on the grimoire exchange, Augustus continued, "Can you tell me how you found Dionysus's Soul Vault?"

Lu Heng, sensing his intention, was well aware of Dionysus's final words.

Before his death, Dionysus had claimed to know a secret about Augustus, one that could ruin his reputation.

Augustus's desire to hear about Dionysus's final moments was clearly an attempt to confirm whether his secret had been revealed.

Lu Heng had no intention of offending the Grand Archmage, so he briefly recounted the events, omitting any mention of the "secret."

Moreover, he emphasized the name "Teris" during his narration, highlighting that Teris had been present.

The implication was clear: if Augustus had any doubts, he could ask Teris himself.

Augustus nodded slightly after hearing Lu Heng's account, apparently satisfied with the explanation.

Then, pointing at the fragments of the Soul Vault, he said, "These fragments are filled with malevolent spirit energy. I need to keep them for destruction. You don't mind, do you?"

Lu Heng readily agreed, "Of course, but the gems on it are precious, which is a bit of a pity."

Lu Heng was, in essence, asking for compensation.

The Soul Vault was adorned with numerous gems, and removing them would be quite lucrative.

Since the Grand Archmage wanted to take it, he would have to provide equivalent gems in exchange.

After all, these gems were insignificant to someone like Augustus.

Augustus chuckled, not taking offense. He took out a bag and said, "I have some magic crystals here, which are definitely worth more than those gems. Consider them a gift."

Lu Heng accepted the magic crystals, thanked him, and passed them to Su Muyu to keep.

These magic crystals were raw materials that hadn't been processed, so he gave them to Su Muyu for her to practice with when she had time.

It would be even better if she could craft high-grade magic crystal jewelry.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Heng said, "Mr. Grand Archmage, I've heard that the elven race has the best runecrafting skills among all races. My friend is also a runesmith, and during our stay in Colossus City, can he learn runecrafting from the elven artisans?"

This request was not unreasonable, as humans learning runecrafting wouldn't harm the elves, and it was a common way for the skill to be passed down through generations.

This wouldn't cause any trouble for Augustus either, so he readily agreed, "Sure, with the Magic Tower emblem, you can go to the Gem Workshop and find the elven artisans there. They'll be willing to teach you."

This offer wasn't limited to just Su Muyu.

In other words, Rong Xincheng, Xie Shi En, and others could also learn alongside her.

Upon hearing this, Rong Xincheng, Xie Shi En, and Zhuo Hong Jun's eyes lit up. Gaining the secondary profession of runesmith here would be a significant achievement.

Their excitement surpassed even Su Muyu's, and they couldn't wait to rush to the Gem Workshop.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end