Chapter 95: The Black Mage's Road – The First Knights

Chapter 95: The Black Mage's Road – The First Knights

"Nothing urgent, Nuo Li Si apprentice", Andie steadied his breathing, suppressing his inner turmoil. "Just encountered a few... old acquaintances."

Nuo Li Si's gaze swept over the three kneeling figures, his lips curling into a knowing smile.

"I suppose they're hoping to become servants of Luo En Potion Master through you?"

Andie didn't answer, but the subtle shift in his expression betrayed the truth.

"From what I've heard, Luo En Potion Master has just acquired a workshop and is expanding operations." Nuo Li Si's tone seemed casual, yet probing. "This would be the perfect time to recruit some help..."

Andie's mind raced. Nuo Li Si's words were accurate—Luo En had indeed discussed seeking assistants.

But they'd already decided their priority would be candidates with special innate talents, like tree spirits or clam people. These exotic races could provide unique advantages when handling potion materials through their racial gifts.

"Luo En Potion Master..." The golden-haired youth chose his words carefully, still formulating his response.

"Please, consider my father..." Helena's plea rang out again, but Andie raised a hand to silence her.

He hesitated for a moment before making his decision—bitter and cruel as it was.

"Apologies." His voice sounded cold, almost foreign to himself. "Luo En Potion Master currently has no plans to accept ordinary servants."

Byron trembled uncontrollably, Helena's eyes shifted from despair to bitter hatred, while Tony collapsed onto the ground, his gaze hollow as a corpse.

"Especially", he forced himself to continue under Nuo Li Si's piercing stare, "those without special skills who only consume resources."

His words struck like blades, severing the last thread of hope for the three.

"I understand." A satisfied smile flickered across Nuo Li Si's face as he casually waved his hand, releasing an invisible ripple.

A concentrated spirit interference technique that affected only the intended targets—this was an advanced skill taught in higher courses, and one of the entry-level thresholds for the Enforcement Team.

The three candidate apprentices collapsed simultaneously as the spirit wave struck, their unconscious bodies crumpling to the ground.

They had no resistance against Intermediate Apprentice-level spirit interference, as helpless as ordinary humans facing a catastrophic natural disaster. Yet Andie beside them remained completely unaffected.

"Someone drag these defective models away", Nuo Li Si ordered his two subordinates without turning, then casually added to Andie, "Don't trouble yourself over such matters, Your Highness. These people's fates were sealed long ago."

Andie nodded silently, watching his former acquaintances being dragged away like trash, his fists clenching beneath his sleeves.

He knew his decision might lead to their deaths, but in the survival-of-the-fittest Black Mist Jungle, no choice was ever dictated by personal will.

"You're still too merciful, Your Highness", Nuo Li Si's voice carried subtle mockery. "This is already the best possible outcome for them. At least being discarded gives them a sliver of hope. If they'd been chosen by certain individuals..."

His words carried a pointed undertone. "Besides, you should remember who granted your current position. Avoid unnecessary actions—that's the first rule for survival."

Andie didn't respond. His attention was drawn to sudden commotion from the courtyard's far end.

A purple-robed apprentice was weaving through the crowd—Xin Xi Ya.

The crowd parted instinctively for her. As a Backup Mage Sequence member, she had priority in selection rights.

Her gaze roamed over the male candidates like a seasoned hunter in a hunting ground searching for the most desirable prey.

"This one's quite handsome..." Her fingers trailed along a golden-haired youth's cheek, her voice dripping with chilling sweetness. "His skin is so soft. He should last through several sessions..."

She retrieved an intricate silver chain from her silk pouch, fastening it around the boy's neck like a collar.

"Don't worry, little one", Xin Xi Ya whispered into his ear, a venomous snake licking an apple. "I won't make you suffer too much... at least not at first."

Andie's stomach churned watching the scene unfold.

Though Xin Xi Ya's "hobbies" were no secret within the School, witnessing her select "playthings" firsthand was still chilling.

The Enforcement Team ignored the spectacle—they were only here to dispose of unwanted candidates.

Those unclaimed by High Apprentices would be expelled to the wilderness beyond Black Mist Jungle.

Hunger, cold, and exotic race hunting parties awaited them. This season marked the peak activity for slave-hunting teams from these races.

They knew the Jungle regularly produced "fresh cargo"—perfect prey with no combat abilities.

"Your Highness, we should continue our work. Any other matters to attend to?"

Andie shook his head, understanding the subtle dismissal.

The cleanup operation didn't need—and certainly didn't want—observers.

"Then I won't interrupt your work", Andie nodded, feeling lightheaded.

Before leaving, he cast one last glance at the divided candidates—those chosen, fortunate yet cursed; those rejected, even more hopeless.

"Your Highness, it seems you've taken a wrong turn", Nuo Li Si suddenly called out. "The Dormitory Area where Potion Master Luo En resides is east along the main road. That's the direction you were heading, wasn't it?"

"Thank you for the reminder", he managed a strained smile, quickly departing the suffocating scene.

Behind him, desperate cries echoed from the courtyard, but Andie chose not to look back.

...

Xin Xi Ya's tower stood in a clearing at the northern edge of Black Mist Jungle, surrounded by natural Thornvine barriers.

The walls displayed bizarre instruments whose shapes and purposes invited dark imaginations. The floor was covered not in ordinary carpets, but in living tissue that emitted soft moans with each step.

Today, several new "toys" filled the tower—fresh candidates selected from the apprentices.

Chained within cages, their eyes brimmed with terror and despair.

"This batch's quality is passable", Xin Xi Ya stretched languidly, admiring her spoils. "At least they'll last a while."

She selected a golden-haired youth, her fingers caressing his trembling cheek. "What's your name, little cutie?"

"Th-Thomas... Mistress." The boy's voice trembled violently as he forced his body into a posture of submission.

"Thomas", Xin Xi Ya's lips curled into a dangerous smile, "what a sweet name. Let's begin with you today, shall we?"

Without waiting for a response, she gestured to two maids who dragged the boy away, initiating her cruel and twisted "game."

As the boy's pained groans filled the air, Xin Xi Ya's eyes began to glow with an eerie violet luminescence.

Pressing against his chest, each of her movements sent violent tremors through the boy's body, while imperceptible energy fluctuations emanated from him, effortlessly absorbed by her.

"Pity how quickly this sensation fades", Xin Xi Ya sighed softly, collecting the pure mana generated from his emotional turbulence. "The first taste is always the most exquisite. After that, it requires ever stronger stimulation to produce the same effect."

"You say that every time", Aolifu remarked without looking up, seated in an armchair by the window, his hands holding the recently acquired《Provisional Mage Sequence Ranking List》from the school bulletin board. Even the newly minted Potion Master Luo En, though not yet formally ranked, had been marked as a "prospective candidate."

"The current rankings have become problematic", Aolifu continued, his voice tinged with concern. He smoothed the parchment on the table. "Holt remains far ahead in first place, while Levin, Gardner, and Seymour are all closing in. Especially Levin – his Fourth Class Star spiritual aptitude has narrowed the gap to just twenty points."

"You're always like this, Aolifu", Xin Xi Ya drawled lazily, twirling a strand of the boy's golden hair between her fingers. "Overthinking only hinders action. Since we've already chosen this path, why hesitate?"

"Observation, analysis, execution... this is my principle." His voice was as cold as polished steel. "The way we ascend requires precise calculation at every step. I won't let myself mutate into a state of losing my own consciousness."

Thomas had begun to weakly struggle, unable to withstand the life-draining power any longer.

Xin Xi Ya's brows knitted in irritation as she stopped her actions, slipping into half her garments before turning toward Aolifu. "Listen, we both understand our situation", her voice turned sharp and cold. "Though we possess unique innate talents, the power foundations gained through these unorthodox methods remain unstable. The traditional spiritual energy cultivation paths have already been closed to us. Our only way forward is..."

Aolifu finished softly, his eyes shadowed with concern: "The Black Mage path."

He carefully placed a piece of black crystal radiating an ominous glow on the table. The Black crystal emitted an ominous glow under candlelight, its surface writhing with countless insect-like creatures, sending shivers down the spine.

Xin Xi Ya's voice became almost reverent: "You obtained this from those people again?"

Aolifu nodded. "The cost was steep, but worth it. This is the key material for completing the ritual." His slender fingers traced the crystal's surface, which pulsed faintly in response to his touch.

"Interestingly, I've noticed that sudden rising star, Potion Master Luo En. His spiritual aptitude seems... familiar", Aolifu's eyes gleamed with calculation. "Sixth Class Star, possibly even lower. Yet his progress rate is extraordinary."

Intrigued, Xin Xi Ya asked, "What are you implying?"

"An individual with such low innate talent shouldn't achieve so much in a short time without special methods", Aolifu reasoned precisely. "He must have discovered some approach similar to ours to compensate for his deficiencies... Perhaps we should consider incorporating him into our plans."

He moved gracefully back to the window, gazing at the distant silhouette of the Black Mist Jungle. "Knowledge sharing equals power amplification. You were once my rival, yet now stand as my staunchest ally, don't you?"

A faint smile played on Xin Xi Ya's lips as she recalled the intoxicating power of the Cursed Black Crystal. "The taste of Black crystal is indeed irresistible – transforming spirit pollution into pure power is positively intoxicating."

"Exactly", Aolifu nodded, his expression perfectly composed, as if carved in stone. "He won't refuse this kind of rapid advancement. In mere months – perhaps even weeks – one could accumulate power equal to decades of traditional cultivation."

He opened an ancient archival records tome, pointing at a passage. "According to these records, physique-enhanced individuals have significant advantages during pollution conversion. A stronger physical form can withstand more mutation, resulting in higher conversion efficiency and longer retention of rationality."

A shadow of regret flickered across his features. "Unfortunately, we both lack innate talent for knight cultivation. It's said the original knights and Demon Hunters were created by Black Mages specializing in bloodline research, designed as the perfect 'vessels'."

"Luo En might have it", Xin Xi Ya suddenly declared, her eyes gleaming with sharp insight. "Remember how he executed that mutated Daword? His swordsmanship was quite impressive."

Aolifu considered this thoughtfully before shaking his head. "Even if he possesses knightly innate talent, it can only be secondary cultivation. Given his mastery of alchemy, he couldn't possibly dedicate full effort to another cultivation path simultaneously. Time and energy are limited resources for anyone."

"So what do you plan?" Xin Xi Ya asked, her fingers lightly tracing the trembling neck of the golden-haired boy.

"Approach, test, evaluate", Aolifu smiled perfectly. "If he proves compatible with our path, we gain a powerful ally; if not..." His chilling gaze conveyed the unspoken conclusion.

"Then we proceed with our original plan", Xin Xi Ya said, her hand still resting on the boy's neck. "I'll handle the research and production, while you focus on material acquisition and testing."

Aolifu gazed out the window as if seeing through the Black Mist Jungle to the distant figure of the young Potion Master. "As for our young alchemist, I'll find an opportunity to evaluate him personally."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end