Chapter 96: Advancing to High Wizard Apprentice

Chapter 96: Advancing to High Wizard Apprentice



He's dead!

Jasper, the renowned and formidable vice president of the Dragon King Merchant Guild, had been slain by none other than Karl!

As Karl, gasping for breath, stood over the corpse, the others couldn't hide their astonishment.

"Karl, are you alright?" Lula asked, her eyes sparkling with surprise, astonishment, and joy.

Her plan had been for Karl to temporarily hold off Jasper while she and Odysseus teamed up to take down Clawbat. Then, together, they would confront Jasper.

But before she could make her move, Karl had already taken down Jasper.

"Swoosh!"

As Karl and Lula hesitated in their shock, Clawbat Bartley suddenly shook his chains, hooking them onto a distant rooftop. With a few bounces, he disappeared into the dark night.

Even Jasper had fled; his fate was sealed if he stayed.

"Huff..."

Karl exhaled, steadying his breath:

"What a pity, one got away."

"It's... it's okay." Lula's eyes sparkled with surprise, astonishment, and delight:

"Mr. Karl, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Karl stretched his limbs, then couldn't help but suck in a breath:

"My muscles are a bit damaged, and my body is a bit drained, but it's nothing serious. I should be able to recover after some rest."

He had just fought with all his might, without holding back, even using the supreme seal he had just refined.

Only then did he manage to win.

It was also because Jasper's skills were just the right counter to his.

Whether it was the minor mage field, gravity control, or water vortex, they all restricted movement speed.

The petrifying technique of the twin giant swords was even more unexpected, and once the body showed signs of petrification, escape was impossible.

Moreover, Karl's defense was so strong that even Jasper's last-ditch effort to counterattack couldn't harm him.

'My strength is probably stronger than that of an ordinary grand knight, slightly stronger than Jasper, but not as strong as a peak grand knight, and definitely not a match for top-tier experts like Dragon King Zhaomuerman.'

"Mr. Karl, you should rest."

Lula showed concern, then turned and said:

"Captain Connie, I sincerely invite you to join the Dragon King Merchant Guild."

"If you feel constrained, we can establish an agreement. The guild will never force you to do anything, and you can explore the endless sea at any time."

"Miss Lula..." Connie scanned the room and sighed:

"With the Dragon King Merchant Guild's current strength, even without me, you can stabilize the situation like your father did."

Right in front of them were three grand knights, including one who had defeated Jasper.

Plus the other grand knights.

With this strength,

Even the Sea God Guild and the Scythe Brotherhood wouldn't dare to act rashly.

It wasn't that they were weaker than the Dragon King Merchant Guild, but if they truly clashed, it would be easy to lose more than they gained.

No wonder they dared to set a trap, luring Jasper to make his move.

Connie understood that the news hadn't been leaked by him, but was intentionally spread by Susan, with the aim of luring Jasper into a trap.

And the outcome,

Indeed, was as expected!

"Captain Connie."

Lula spoke solemnly:

"I know you yearn for the secrets of the endless sea, but even the eagle soaring in the sky needs to land. You can also leave a home in Free Harbor to rest your spirit."

As she spoke, she glanced at Susan.

"Moreover, the Dragon King Merchant Guild has a lot of knowledge about the endless sea, which can help you explore the secrets."

"Hmm..."

"The guild has a route to cross the hurricane wall. Are you interested?"

Hmm? Connie raised an eyebrow.

In the depths of the endless sea, due to some special reasons, hurricanes appear year-round, forming a wall of wind.

This wind wall, known as the hurricane wall, has very few safe routes to cross.

According to rumors, behind the wind wall lies an even more vast sea.

He was more aware of this than most people.

"Captain Connie."

Seeing his interest, Lula seized the opportunity:

"I'm very sincere."

"..." This time, Connie didn't reject outright but spoke slowly:

"Let me think about it."

Upon hearing this, Lula was overjoyed.

Connie's strength might be ordinary among grand knights, but his sailing experience and knowledge of Mysticism were legendary.

He was a legend in the hearts of many sailors, and recruiting him would greatly benefit the Dragon King Merchant Guild.

............

Night fell.

The guild's hall, resembling an ancient castle, was shrouded in moonlight.

In the grand hall, candles flickered, casting a warm glow on the exquisite murals and carved furniture.

A long dining table was covered with white silk, adorned with various cutlery and delicious food.

The aroma of grilled meat, colorful fruits, and exquisite desserts filled the air, making everyone salivate.

This was a grand banquet.

It was held to celebrate the defeat of Jasper.

However, the protagonist of the banquet, the pharmacist and grand knight Karl, had already retired to the back to rest due to exhaustion.

"Whale Bell?"

Karl sat in a soft armchair, holding a small bell, which he examined closely.

This item came from Jasper.

The bell was about the size of an adult's thumb, intricately carved with mysterious patterns.

It was said to be the product of a mysterious race, capable of storing energy and replenishing the user's life force.

Jasper's ability was astonishing, and he could sustain it for extended periods, all thanks to this object.

"When..."

A gentle shake, and a melodious voice resonated.

A surge of life energy flowed into his body, causing Karl to tremble with excitement, a smile involuntarily spreading across his face.

"With this, the duration of the secret technique, Giantization, can be significantly extended. This must be an enchanted item, but the alchemy technique used is different from mine."

"I'm not sure if it's useful for a legendary knight, but if it is, then it's a high-grade enchanted item."

The secret of the Whale Bell lay in its clapper, located at the center of the bell.

The clapper, the size of a peanut, was the life core of a certain legendary creature, placed here after being removed.

It could automatically absorb stray energy from the air and convert it into life energy for storage.

The intricate patterns on the bell maintained the clapper's vitality and transferred energy to the user.

"An Inner Core?"

"It does resemble one!"

Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Both the Armor Guna and this Whale Bell are enchanted items of high quality."

"In this world..."

"Was there a legacy of wizards?"

Perhaps they weren't wizards, but to create such wondrous items, their crafting techniques must be highly advanced.

However, now, the once-renowned techniques had been lost.

"Knock knock!"

A knock sounded.

"Enter!"

Karl spoke and casually put away the Whale Bell.

"Mr. Karl."

Emma's face glowed with happiness, her voice cheerful.

Behind her was Lula, dressed in fine attire, her cheeks slightly flushed from drinking.

The two women temporarily left the other guild members and came here.

"Here's what I promised you."

"Oh!" Karl stood up at her words, his heart stirring.

"Thank you." Lula placed a wooden box, her face flushing with embarrassment as she spoke softly, "There are a few less than expected."

Hmm? Karl opened the box, and six Divine Blessings came into view, but his expression didn't show much joy.

"Weren't there supposed to be over a dozen?"

Why were there only six!

He had waited for so long and put in so much effort, all for the Dragon King Guild's collection of Divine Blessings.

Now,

They had shrunk by almost half!

How could he bear this?

"This..." Emma forced a smile, "There should have been over a dozen, but some time ago, Jasper's Shipwright Workshop was raided."

"Several Divine Blessings inside were gone."

"So..."

"These are all I have for now."

Ah!

Karl's wrist trembled.

The Shipwright Workshop?

That was where he had obtained the Divine Blessings, which meant he had taken back what was rightfully his.

This matter...

"Sigh!"

Karl sighed helplessly.

"Mr. Karl." Seeing his dejected expression, Lula quickly spoke up, "Monroe should have a few more. Don't worry, after we deal with Monroe, I'll find those for you."

"The Dragon King Guild's Divine Blessings..."

"They're all yours!"

At this moment, Karl's determination regarding the guild was unwavering.

No mention of the strength to defeat Jasper.

Just holding the formula for the Rampage Potion was enough to mass-produce Grand Knights to a certain extent.

With this ace, he possessed the power to disrupt the current balance of Free Port.

Regardless, he couldn't afford to lose them!

"Alright."

Karl sighed and put away the Divine Blessings:

"I hope they won't disappoint."

"I won't disappoint you." Emma replied firmly:

"Even if Monroe doesn't have them, the Sea God Guild and the Scythe Brotherhood definitely will. I'll find a way to get them for you."

Karl's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Then, thank you, Madam."

If he could obtain the Divine Blessings from the other two factions, his cultivation would increase rapidly.

"Haha..." Emma waved her hand, "We're all on the same side, no need to be so formal, Karl... Do you have a wife yet?"

"This..." Karl paused, "Yes."

"Do you have someone you like?" Emma asked enthusiastically, "Do you want me to introduce someone to you?"

"Mother!" Lula's expression was odd, "You don't need to worry about that, do you?"

Before coming, Emma had expressed a certain idea, willing to do anything to keep Karl.

This included an arranged marriage.

Currently, there weren't many women in the guild who could match a Grand Knight, and Lula was undoubtedly one of them.

Although the two didn't have any feelings for each other, Emma didn't mind finding such a husband for her daughter.

"No need."

Karl spoke with a solemn expression, "I've dedicated my life to the path of knighthood. I hope to become a legendary knight one day."

"Uh..." Emma's expression was strange, "Karl, you should know that only those blessed by the gods or those with the bloodline of the Grand Duke can become legends."

"That's right."

There was such a saying?

Karl was taken aback.

He thought carefully.

The main world seemed to have a similar rule, where only the Church, royalty, and top nobility could give birth to legends.

No!

Thunder Spear Tak wasn't like that.

"Madam."

Karl's eyebrows lowered:

"There's always a chance, and I still want to try."

"Alright!" Emma shrugged:

"I respect your decision."

...

Emma stepped forward, saying, "Take care of Monroe, and while you're at it, pay some attention to Karl. It's best if you can develop feelings for each other."

"When the time is right, I'll arrange a wedding for the two of you."

"Mother." Lula frowned. "Mr. Carl has already said that he doesn't plan to marry."

"Tsk!" Emma scoffed, her expression disdainful. "He will eventually despair over his promotion to Legendary, just like your father."

"The deities of this world have died, they won't bless him, and without the Duke's bloodline, becoming a Peak Knight is his destiny."

Emma paused, her tone turning serious. "That's fine!"

"It shows that Carl doesn't have too much ambition, and you won't have to worry about the Merchant Guild's power slipping away if you marry him."

"As for his looks..."

"A man doesn't need to be that handsome."

"Mother," Lula opened her mouth, but faced with Emma's intense gaze, she could only sigh in resignation.

"I'll try."

"Good." A smile appeared on Emma's face. "Next, we'll find Monroe. If he's willing, everything will be easy. If not..."

"Hmph!"

"With Carl's Rampage Potion, we can continuously create Grand Knights. With just a few years of cultivation, we can completely turn the situation around in Free Harbor and even take down the other two powers."

"What your father couldn't achieve after countless attempts, we mother and daughter might be able to accomplish."

As she spoke, Emma's eyes lit up with fervor, her body trembling with excitement.

Mental Power: 2.97

Essence: 0.6

...

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Mental Power: 3.27

Essence: 0

As the thought formed, the Divine Blessing's Essence dissipated, and her Mental Power rapidly increased.

3.27!

With a Mental Power exceeding 3, she had reached the level of a High Wizard Apprentice.

"Excellent!"

Carl's eyes lit up.

"Finally, I have enough Mental Power to construct the sixth Zero-Ring Spell."

He had already decided on the sixth Zero-Ring Spell, choosing the Gravity Spell from the High Wizard Apprentice Arthur.

Gravity Distortion!

The Spells Carl currently possessed were rarely offensive, mostly leaning towards defense and control.

Such as the Minor Mage Field, Water Vortex, and Wave Guardian...

Only the early acquired Fire Seal had a certain amount of killing power, but even that was rarely used.

This was the situation that had formed.

Carl was not only an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice but also a Grand Knight, often relying on Knight skills in combat.

Spells,

mostly served as support!

He used various Spells to enhance his defenses to a certain extent and restrict his opponents' movements, relying on other means for offensive attacks.

So far, this approach had not presented any issues.

Fragment of the Divine Domain.

Carl sat cross-legged.

His eyes closed, his face calm, his breathing rhythmic, and his consciousness sinking deep into his mind.

Mental Sea.

Mental Power transformed into substantial rays of light, sketching, weaving, and modeling Spells in the air.

To construct this Zero-Ring Spell, Carl had visited two High Wizard Apprentices specializing in Gravity Spells and spent several Magic Stones seeking their guidance.

He also purchased numerous Spell knowledge books, including 'Gravity and Attraction Simplified,' 'Basic Field Analysis,' 'Star Realm Field Exploration,' and more.

As time passed, his Mental Power gradually depleted, and a complex Spell model slowly took shape in his Mental Sea.

Zero-Ring Spell - Gravity Distortion! Complete!

"Buzz..."

As the sixth Zero-Ring Spell was constructed, the previously calm and profound Mental Sea suddenly rippled.

The ripples expanded, growing larger, reaching the very edge of his perception.

Six Zero-Ring Spells shone in the Mental Sea like six stars, while various other Spells resembled twinkling stars.

The starlight grew brighter, illuminating the entire Mental Sea.

Before,

the Mental Sea had appeared chaotic, twisted, and disorderly in Carl's perception, especially when modeling Spells, where a slight mistake could lead to mental confusion.

Now,

the six Zero-Ring Spells formed a hexagonal array, dispelling the mist and making the Mental Sea crystal clear.

This feeling was unique.

It was as if something previously unmastered had suddenly become second nature, and his thoughts flowed effortlessly.

"No wonder!"

"No wonder constructing six Zero-Ring Spells signifies becoming a High Wizard Apprentice."

"So that's it..."

The previously incomprehensible doubts and questions now had explanations.

The illuminated Mental Sea meant Carl had truly mastered his Mental Sea.

Sea of Consciousness!

Spirit!

Mental Sea!

Different names, but to a Wizard, it was the very essence of their life and spirituality.

With a single thought, Carl's Mental Sea became incredibly agile and clear.

There was no need for validation.

At this moment, Carl's Spells were at least twice as powerful as before, and his casting speed had increased by nearly half.

His perception of the outside world reached an astonishing level.

Any hint of malice from others would be detected, and he would sense even the slightest movement.

"If I were to use the Minor Mage's Hand now, I could probably immobilize an ordinary Knight, leaving them helpless before me."

"Even a Grand Knight would be significantly affected."

"Wave Guardian..."

"Jasper, even with a Supreme Seal, couldn't easily break through; at least it would withstand several attacks."

"No wonder there's a saying that a Grand Knight is helpless before a High Wizard Apprentice, but the Grand Knights in Free Harbor all have Seals, even Supreme Seals, making them even more formidable."

As Karl's thoughts turned, his inner spirit sea responded with feedback.

6.2!

This was the limit of his mental power. It was also the maximum value that his inner spirit sea could bear. To go beyond this point, he would need to draw upon external forces from the starry realm to increase his mental strength.

Each person's inner spirit sea is unique, and the mental limits of every apprentice wizard are different.

The higher the mental limit, the greater the chance of breaking through and becoming a full-fledged wizard.

Conversely, the lower the limit, the smaller the chance.

"According to the notes of mentor Adolph and the claims of several high-level wizard apprentices, the mental power limit of an ordinary wizard apprentice is around five points. This aligns with my speculations, and surpassing five points leads to advancement."

"6.2?"

"My mental power limit seems to be significantly stronger than other wizard apprentices. Could it be because I'm a traverser?"

Regardless of the reason, this was undoubtedly good news for Karl, at least indicating that his talent was extraordinary in certain aspects.

"Good news!"

"Good news indeed!"

Karl slipped on a thin sleeping robe and stepped out of the room barefoot.

The mental power of a high-level wizard apprentice was like a constantly running radar, scanning everything around them.

A feeling of being in complete control arose within him.

Following this sensation, Karl gently raised his arm and spoke softly:

"Wind!"

"Whoosh..."

A gentle breeze rose in front of him, as if an invisible sprite was leaping across the lawn towards the distance.

Did he just speak a spell? No! It was the sheer power of his mental strength that naturally caused certain elements in the heavens and earth to vibrate and exhibit abnormalities.

"Fire!"

With a light grip of his hand, fire elements gathered and formed a fist-sized fireball in his palm, gently flickering.

"Earth!"

The earth trembled, and a clump of soil rose, shaping into a lifelike mud figure under Karl's mental command.

"Water!"

"Boom!"

Water burst forth in the air, scattering in all directions, and then suddenly dispersing to nourish the lawn as rain and dew.

"Indeed!"

Karl's expression was complex, filled with relief, awe, and satisfaction, all of which eventually turned into a faint smile:

"High-level wizard apprentices are different from ordinary ones, not just in strength but also in a certain degree of transformation. Every move they make seems to carry supernatural power. Is this what it feels like to be close to becoming a full wizard?"

"There are currently around thirty high-level wizard apprentices registered in the Swamp Alliance, and I am one of them."

"Hmm?"

Karl raised an eyebrow and turned his head to look into the distance.

Within his sight were several wooden houses, distinct from his own residence, as these were obviously well-maintained.

Xiber rarely returned.

Payne and Catherine each had a wooden house of their own.

The sky had already darkened, and Payne had long fallen asleep, while a candle still burned in Catherine's room.

A faint voice reverberated through the air, entering Karl's perception.

"Great and benevolent Morning Sun Lord, your faithful handmaiden bows..."

"You are the God of Abundance, the Lord of all things."

"Handmaiden Catherine..."

The Other World.

The Endless Ocean.

A merchant ship flying the Dragon King Merchant Guild's flag broke through the mist and appeared near an island.

"We've arrived!"

The captain put down his telescope and waved his big hand:

"Go!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Make sure to catch at least six water monkeys, and they must be alive! If you're short by even one, I'll have your heads!"

There was a group of water monkeys on this island.

Upon learning that the main ingredient of the rampage potion was the blood of water monkeys, Emma had sent people out to hunt them urgently.

This ship set sail empty, solely to catch water monkeys.

"Yes!"

"Rest assured, sir, we know how to get the job done perfectly!"

Several sailors, bare-chested, chuckled and headed out, exchanging a few words before leaping off the merchant ship.

"Plop!"

They dove into the water, barely creating a splash.

With a light kick of their legs, they dashed forward, their speed rivaling that of swordfish in the sea.

In the blink of an eye, they were gone.

"Captain."

The first mate approached, curious:

"Are we really just catching a few water monkeys this trip? Isn't this a huge loss for our business?"

This ship was no ordinary merchant vessel; it was the guild's top merchant ship, second only to the Dragon King.

Each trip out to sea incurred losses of tens of thousands of serenity coins, not to mention other expenses.

"You don't need to worry about that."

The captain's expression remained unchanged:

"We only need to complete the task. Don't concern yourself with anything else."

"Yes, sir."

The first mate responded and then sighed:

"I wonder if the vice presidents, the lady, and the young miss can turn things around. I hear they've been courted by other forces."

They had left in such a hurry and at such speed that they didn't even know Jasper was dead and Monroe had shut himself in.

"I believe the young miss can..."

"Hmm?"

The captain's voice trailed off as he furrowed his brow, looking forward with confusion:

"What's that?"

"Yes!" The first mate stepped forward and peered into the distance:

"It looks like something is out there."

Time seemed to freeze, and their expressions became fixed, except for their pupils, which dilated.

"Turn the ship around!"

The captain's forehead veins bulged, and he roared:

"Quickly!"

"Turn around!"

The first mate's face turned pale. He staggered back, his eyes filled with terror:

"Monster!"

"A monster!"

The mist still enveloped the ocean.

Vaguely, they could make out a massive ship rocking back and forth, being pulled down into the depths by something.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end