Chapter 92: Another Encounter with the Divine Blessing

Chapter 92: Another Encounter with the Divine Blessing

"Kill!"

"Who is it?"

"Stop them!"

"Brothers, follow me! We'll take whatever we can get!"

The sounds of growling, roaring, and battle cries filled the air as flames engulfed the mansion, illuminating the surroundings.

The intruders, clad in dark attire, varied in strength, but each was ferocious. The guards of the Dragon King Merchant Guild, although formidable, were outnumbered.

The defensive line had already collapsed.

A figure charged towards Karl, wielding a long knife with a blue, poisonous glint. Karl's eyebrows furrowed, and he effortlessly swung his broadsword.

The attacker's knife shattered, and the force of the blow sent them flying, breaking several ribs. They died before hitting the ground.

This display of strength intimidated the surrounding attackers, who turned and fled in terror.

"What's going on?"

"Are other forces moving against the Dragon King Merchant Guild?"

Karl wondered, having just rested in the Fragment of the Divine Domain. He wasn't afraid, though, as his current abilities placed him among the top experts in Free Harbor.

Except for a few Peak Knights and those with unique seals, he wasn't concerned about facing others.

He glanced around, then turned towards the core area of the mansion. There should be many valuable items to discover amidst the chaos.

The architecture in Free Harbor was distinct due to the constant exposure to sea breeze and water vapor. Buildings were typically sturdy but not tall, and rarely aesthetically pleasing.

The central area of the mansion had a few exquisite buildings, used to store precious goods. Now, these structures were in ruins, with blood flowing across the cold floor.

A heavy wooden door was smashed open, and two figures emerged. An arc-shaped curved blade clashed with a long spear, sending sparks flying as the air reverberated with the force of the impact.

"Rod!"

Teresa, the captain of the Dragon King Merchant Guild's guard, shouted, "You think you can hide your face and I won't recognize you? Does the Hunter Squad fear our guild's retaliation?"

Rod sneered, "The Dragon King Merchant Guild? The Dragon King, Zhaomuerman, is dead. Your guild's future is uncertain."

Teresa's face changed, and he stumbled back, shocked by the news. "The Dragon King is dead? You're lying!"

Rod coldly smiled, "It seems you're not aware. This information is pitiful, and you think we'd dare to attack without knowing the truth?"

Teresa gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with anger. He had heard rumors, but the details were unclear.

The nighttime assault was a test of the Dragon King's situation. If the Dragon King still lived, the attackers would retreat, and those involved would face consequences. But if he was confirmed dead...

The situation would be different.

"Rod, don't waste time talking."

A large man, wielding a shield and giant axe, charged forward, "Whether the Dragon King is dead or not, let's kill them all. Who knows it was us?"

The man's strength was impressive, and his shield deflected all attacks. His axe swung, and no one could withstand its force.

"Raiden!"

"Vice-captain of the Storm Gang!"

"The Dragon King Merchant Guild won't let you off!"

The Hunter Squad and Storm Gang were mid-sized forces in Free Harbor, each with a Grand Knight. However, none of their top experts were present today.

Besides Rod and Raiden, several Peak Knight-level experts were on the scene, their identities concealed by their night attire, but their distinctive skills and weapons revealed their presence.

The attackers surged forward, and the guild's resistance grew precarious.

Someone shouted, "We're in! The treasure room is open! The Dragon King Merchant Guild's true treasures are here!"

Raiden laughed, his axe striking true, and he charged forward with his shield, "Brothers, follow me! Let's get the treasures!"

As the group rushed in, the guild's defensive line collapsed, and some even entered the treasure room to plunder.

The wind howled as several figures were blown away.

Karl, now wearing a black cloak, appeared on the scene, a smile on his face. "It seems I've arrived at the right time."

"Who are you?" Raiden asked, his voice serious, as he glanced at his companions. "Rod, is this the person you're looking for?"

The outsiders were not weak, and the ease with which they were blown away hinted at the newcomer's formidable strength.

The Master!

"No." Rod shook his head.

"I don't know him."

"Swish!"

Ignoring the hesitation and surprise of the others, Karl dashed straight towards the secret chamber.

"Stop him!"

"Halt!"

Trista, the captain of the Dragon King Merchant Guild's guards, along with Rod and Raiden, rushed to intercept him.

"Die!"

Raiden's eyes flashed with malice as he swung his giant axe downward, creating a gust of wind that surged from the ground.

"Clang!"

A sword's shadow appeared before the axe blade.

The colossal force collided, and Raiden felt as if he had crashed into a mountain, his arm going numb and his throat turning sweet.

"Boom!"

Rampaging energy surged forth.

Three figures were sent flying.

"What?"

"A Grand Knight!"

The onlookers' faces paled.

To remain unscathed under the siege of three Peak Knights and even gain the upper hand immediately upon engaging them—the intruder was undoubtedly a Grand Knight.

There were only a limited number of Grand Knights in Free Harbor, each renowned and well-known. But who was this person?

Just then,

"Clang!"

A melodious clanging sound echoed from afar.

Initially distant, the second clang was clear and approaching at an astonishing speed.

"It's the Vice President!"

Trista's face lit up with joy. She knew this sound all too well:

"The Vice President is here!"

Jasper? Karl's eyes flickered.

He had been considering testing his skills against a Grand Knight to gauge his current strength, but this clearly wasn't the right opportunity.

'Jasper has been a Grand Knight for over twenty years, and with the vast resources of the Dragon King Merchant Guild at his disposal, his strength is undoubtedly formidable.'

'Forget it!'

Shaking his head, Karl dashed into the secret chamber, waving his sleeve to send the searching individuals flying.

The chamber wasn't large.

There weren't many items either.

But without exception, every item was a treasure.

Premium Beast Pellets, Coral Pearls, Beast Essence...

"Divine Blessing!"

Karl's eyes lit up as he reached out and grabbed an open wooden box, revealing five Divine Blessings inside.

These could enhance one's essence! Compared to others at his level, Karl's strength increased rapidly, if not swiftly.

However, compared to his early days as an Apprentice Wizard, his progress was much slower.

Take spiritual power, for example.

Even with the aid of potions, it would take a year or two to increase by a single point, and that was without developing any resistance.

If he developed resistance...

Three years!

At the very least, three years to increase by a single point.

Without the aid of potions, the progress was so slow it was almost despairing.

But with essence, a single touch could enhance it, making the two incomparable.

"I've been in Free Harbor for so long, and I've finally seen Divine Blessings again."

Putting away the Divine Blessings, Karl suppressed his excitement and continued searching, finding another wooden box containing Beast Pellets.

The pellets had a vibrant red color, distinct from the usual Premium Beast Pellets.

"Beast Pellets made from the flesh and blood of legendary creatures?"

He put them away!

High-quality wizard materials?

Put them away!

Premium Beast Pellets?

Put them away first!

Blueprints for ship construction?

They were of no use to him, but they were likely the most valuable items here, so he put them away as well.

...

"Clang!"

The sound grew closer.

Karl paused in his scavenging, surveying the treasures in the chamber with a reluctant gaze.

Oh well!

He dashed away, disappearing into the night with his spoils in a blink.

...

Once speed exceeded a certain threshold, the thin air became viscous, significantly increasing resistance.

Many Grand Knights skilled in speed struggled with this.

Jasper was one of them.

However, as the Vice President of the Dragon King Merchant Guild, Jasper had access to the resources of Free Harbor and had found a solution.

Stepping onto a rooftop, he propelled himself forward.

He glided through the air like a fish in water, his arms gently shaking as he surged forward over ten meters.

The air behind him rippled, emitting a sound.

Each time he neared exhaustion, the bell hanging at his waist would jingle, its melodious sound revitalizing his spirit.

Strength surged within him once more.

"My old friend."

A light voice called out from nearby:

"Where are you off to?"

Hmm? Jasper's eyes narrowed, and his body bent slightly, landing gracefully on a rooftop like a falling leaf.

"Swish!"

A figure appeared at his side, landing before him.

"Henry!" Jasper looked at the newcomer and scoffed:

"Is the Scythe Brotherhood so short-staffed that you, old Henry, have to come out and work at your age?"

"Don't forget, even the mightiest eagle will eventually fall."

Henry, the Eagle, was one of the four elders of the Scythe Brotherhood, albeit the weakest among them.

"I have no choice."

Henry sighed:

"The others are busy, and only an old-timer like me has the time to wander aimlessly."

"Old friend."

"Where are you headed?"

"Hmph!" Jasper scoffed:

"You should know very well."

"To the Shipwright Workshop?" Henry asked, "I came out of curiosity since I saw the fire, but there's no need to rush. I've already sent help to put out the fire."

"Of course, we should help each other as citizens of Free Harbor, but don't mistake the firefighters for enemies."

"Help?" Jasper's eyes darkened:

"I hope that's the case."

"Speaking of which," Henry turned towards the inner city, "I haven't seen the Dragon King in a while, and with all the recent rumors..."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"If you want to know, go see for yourself," Jasper strode off:

"I'm leaving!"

"..." Henry watched Jasper's departing figure, a smile on his face as he stroked his beard.

With this delay, those who should have left have probably done so.

"It seems the Dragon King Merchant Guild is truly in trouble, as there's still no sign of them!"

...

The fire at the Dragon King Merchant Guild's Shipwright Workshop didn't cause much of a stir in Free Harbor.

(End)

The occurrence of fires on the coast is rare, but not unheard of. Yet, rumors have already spread among certain groups.

On the surface, Free Harbor maintains its usual tranquility, but beneath the calm facade, dark undercurrents are stirring.

"Karl!"

"Aya."

Early in the morning, Susan approached Karl and Aya, nodding in greeting.

"Good morning!" Aya greeted them with a bowl in hand and a smile on her face. "Susan, have you had breakfast? If not, feel free to have a bite with us."

"I already ate," Susan waved her hand. "Karl, you're looking great today."

"Yes," Karl nodded. "There's an old saying in my hometown, 'When good things happen, the spirit soars.' I've been quite happy lately."

"Really?" Susan, however, didn't seem pleased at all. She forced a laugh and said, "Things might get chaotic in the city for a while. If you feel unsafe, you can come to my shop."

Aya's expression turned serious. "Especially you, remember this."

"Mhm," Aya's eyes wandered aimlessly. "I will."

Lyon and a few others worked at Susan's shop, and Aya frequently visited. At this moment, she sensed something amiss.

"Did something happen?" she asked subconsciously.

Susan sighed. "Not yet. But..."

"Then it's uncertain!"

...

Mental Power: 2.71

Essence: 0.5

...

Mental Power: 2.96

Essence: 0

0.25 Mental Power might not seem like much, but if one were to cultivate using a Fourth Rank Wizard Talent, the time required would be counted in years.

Even with potion assistance, it would still take a long time.

But now, it only required a simple touch.

Watching the essence disappear and his mental power increase, Karl took a deep breath, his excitement gradually calming down.

'A physique value over 3 is a Grand Knight; a mental power value over 3 is theoretically an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, but I haven't mastered six Zero-Ring Spells yet.'

'Just one more to go.'

'The spells I currently know: Light Spell, Memorization Technique, Analytical Technique, Stealth, Water Flow Control... The Zero-Ring Spells are: Minor Mage Field, Fire Seal, Aqua Guardian, Water Vortex, and Lesser Mage's Hand...'

'I don't have much spare Mental Power, so Multi-Water Arrow requires too much Mental Power for now. I'll put it on hold for now. I can choose Arcane Missile, Gravity Distortion, and Lesser Scrying, which I gave up before. First, I'll raise my realm.'

'Once I become an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, my spell power will increase significantly, and I won't fear even a Peak Grand Knight.'

With these thoughts, Karl turned around and navigating through the mental sea.

"Windwing Lion, a legendary creature with complete digestive and excretory systems..."

"Analysis of the physical model..."

As he whispered, a quill pen flew out on its own, dipped in ink, and then wrote and drew on the parchment, recording his observations.

Lesser Mage's Hand!

The spell model constructed in the mental sea allowed the intangible mental power to transform into an invisible giant hand.

This hand was as flexible as a real hand, capable of holding a quill pen for writing or gripping objects for attack.

It could also block incoming attacks.

It was one of the essential spells for every wizard apprentice.

Karl used to think this spell was optional, but after mastering it, he realized its convenience.

Brewing tea, pouring water, all it took was a thought, making it an essential tool for the lazy.

...

Swamp Alliance.

Karl and Siebel, along with her apprentice Payne, arrived at an island on a wooden boat.

"Welcome!"

A thin, elderly woman greeted them as they disembarked. "Miss Siebel, I hear a lot about you from Omar. Aren't you freelancing now?"

"I'll visit when I have time."

"Yes," Siebel bowed. "The Patrol gives too few credits, so I took on a mission to explore the Black Swamp. I can only come back once a month. It's lucky that I heard Omar became an Advanced Wizard Apprentice."

"Congratulations!"

"Mrs. Wendy, you have a good apprentice."

Today was a celebration for Omar's advancement to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, and many people were invited, including Karl and Siebel.

"Yes!" Wendy nodded with a smile. "I have a Fourth Rank Wizard Talent, but my apprentice has a Second Rank Talent. What's more, she's very filial."

"I can only say..."

"She's so lucky!"

"Mrs. Wendy." Karl presented a gift.

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you." Wendy smiled and took the gift.

"Mr. Karl, I believe this is your first time on our island. Feel free to explore, except for Mara's residence."

"Oh!"

"Dear Steve, you look so handsome today that I'm almost tempted myself."

She praised the new guests loudly, then said to the three, "Omar is inside chatting with friends. Feel free to wander around. I have other guests to attend to."

"Mrs. Wendy, you're busy." Siebel nodded and watched Wendy leave.

"Mentor."

Little Payne curiously spoke up. "I thought only those who made great contributions get an island. Why does Mrs. Wendy have one too?"

Wendy was only an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.

Omar had just become an Advanced Wizard Apprentice and rarely took on missions due to her focus on cultivation.

"Besides contributions, you can also rent one." Siebel ruffled Payne's hair and explained, "As the poison miasma disperses, more and more islands are being discovered. It's better to rent them out and earn some money for the Alliance."

"You've grown taller!"

"Hehe..." Little Payne scratched his head.

At seven or eight years old, he was at the age of rapid growth. Siebel visited once a month, and each time, she could see obvious changes.

"I want to rent an island too, and have my mother come live with me."

"That's the spirit!" Siebel exclaimed.

"Lawson!"

"Bach!"

...

Along the way, they encountered many acquaintances who greeted them warmly.

Today, Oma was dressed to impress, her elaborate and intricate attire making her stand out like a vibrant painting amidst the crowd, radiating brilliance.

She wore a floor-length purple velvet robe, intricately embroidered with images outlined in gold and silver threads, creating an air of mystery and intrigue. The lace trim added a delicate and graceful touch to the ensemble.

Oma's demeanor was elegant and composed, her smile as warm and gentle as a spring breeze. Naturally, a woman so well-dressed became a captivating sight, drawing everyone's attention.

"Oma!" Siebel exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "You look so beautiful today, it's intoxicating. Your usual attire is too plain."

"Hehe..." Oma covered her mouth and giggled. "I'm in a good mood today, so I dressed up a bit."

"On the contrary, my friend. You've been looking more haggard these past six months. You should take some time to relax."

As she spoke, she gently adjusted a stray strand of hair on Siebel's temple, her eyes filled with concern.

Over the past six months, Siebel had been either on patrol duty or carrying out missions, and her overall health had deteriorated significantly.

Her eyes couldn't help but show signs of fatigue.

"Oh!" Siebel waved her hand. "I'm different from you. I don't have good talents, and if I don't work hard now, I won't like the outcome later."

"You're still young, and your body can still take some pressure. It's the perfect time to strive, so you won't regret it when you're older."

As she said this, her eyes lit up with determination. "Oma, tell me, what did you feel after becoming a High-Rank Wizard Apprentice? How did you break through?"

"I didn't feel much different," Oma replied, curling her fingers. "After constructing six Zero-Ring Spells, my Inner Sea of Spirit became more stable and clear, and my spellcasting became more fluent..."

"Are you close too?"

"I'm just one spell away," Siebel whispered.

"Really?" Bach exclaimed, equally excited. "You're almost there too? It's a Zero-Ring Spell Lesser Mage's Hand. Gunther has a One-Ring Spell Mage's Hand, so his understanding of this spell far surpasses that of a Wizard Apprentice."

"Which one?"

"Lesser Mage's Hand!"

Karl's face went blank. He had just completed this Zero-Ring Spell not long ago, and there were many aspects he didn't understand or comprehend. He had relied on the power of a Fragment of the Divine Domain to force your way through.

Damn!

How could it be this spell?

Bach smiled, understanding why Karl's expression was unusual. Many people in the crowd had the same look, without exception, they were all those who had cultivated the Lesser Mage's Hand.

Fortunately!

She had been focusing on Bloodline Wizardry, and if she could construct a Zero-Ring Spell, she would be one step closer to becoming a High-Rank Wizard Apprentice.

Requesting for collection!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end