Chapter 79: Life‑Preserving Magic

After finishing his prayer, Naimi Xisi entered the forest, because he had a premonition that the sleep from adolescence to early adulthood would likely be very long.

He needs to sleep under the protection of numerous underground dependents.

However, before that, he still has one thing to do.

The half‑red, half‑silver crystal gem floated among the ruins of the High Tower; today marks the second convening since he obtained the Throne.

A spatial fluctuation flashed, and Juan Ce Long vanished from the prime material plane.

The same space, the same Throne, a royal hall built of splendid furniture floated in the void, and behind the exquisite doors lay a vacant round‑table conference.

"Oh, you're the earliest," Naimi Xisi said, seeing Lajate already waiting there—a being from the Cataclysmic Remnant Sun, suspected to be an incarnation of a 'Demonic Dragon.'

"Heh," Lajate sneered, as if he'd heard an obvious joke.

"When you're imprisoned in darkness for millennia, you'll seize any chance to escape the moment it appears," Lajate said proudly. "I'm always the first to arrive at each round‑table conference."

Naimi Xisi sat on the chair, propping his legs high on the table edge, arms crossed over his chest, squinting as he examined the elder.

"I recall you said your world's Magic Net is in a dormant state, isn't that so?" Naimi Xisi hinted.

Lajate froze for a moment, then nodded.

After a moment of contemplation, Naimi Xisi asked, "I've studied your Arcane system; by your method of practicing spells, I'm afraid your world would have been destroyed long ago. How has it survived until now?"

Having examined the knowledge Lajate gave him, Naimi Xisi judged it to be "the desperate act of a beggar drinking pigeon water to quench thirst."

The Cataclysmic Remnant Sun's spell system is terrifyingly destructive; they draw life energy from the earth with a brutally efficient method.

He casually tried to cast a First‑circle Spell this way, and it drained the life from a centuries‑old towering ancient tree.

From that moment, Naimi Xisi resolved to shelve this casting method, lest within days Mother Earth Goddess Shangtian order the entire church to hunt him down.

According to Lajate, this casting method is the only viable one in the Cataclysmic Remnant Sun, so how could that pitiful planet have lasted until now?

He sensed something was off immediately.

Lajate said impatiently, "What does this have to do with you?"

Naimi Xisi did not get angry; he shifted his posture, placing his legs more comfortably, and replied calmly, "Of course it concerns me. If I decide to rescue you in the future, I must consider every circumstance."

Lajate was silent for a moment, then said helplessly, "Fine, actually I deceived you."

As expected, Naimi Xisi thought to himself, and then kept listening attentively.

"In the primordial era, the ruler of the Astar planet was the Halfling civilization. Halflings did not practice magic, yet they built a radiant civilization in their own way. It was called the Blue Age, but sadly that great civilization eventually fell into the dust of time."

"I am Astar's first Mage; the system of drawing life energy to cast spells is what I obtained from the ancient Halfling‑built temple."

"The temple's knowledge taught not only how to draw life energy, but also how to restore it."

"Life and death, all things continuously reborn in this cycle; that is why Astar has not been destroyed."

"Through these two systems, I created two magical schools—Life‑Preserving Magic and Corrupting Magic."

"I taught many disciples the Life‑Preserving Magic that represents life, but in secret I had the smartest disciples practice the Corrupting Magic that represents destruction."

"As for why, it is because I seek to perfect a secret spell, which I cannot conveniently tell you."

"In short, you should know that the final outcome is that I was betrayed and sealed by my elite disciples; they wield the most powerful Corrupting Magic and have erased all traces of Life‑Preserving Magic."

"Without Life‑Preserving Magic, the limitless life energy they siphon becomes permanent mana that cannot regenerate, and Astar thus entered a countdown toward destruction."

"I see," Naimi Xisi mused after hearing Lajate's account.

The old creature indeed had a hidden ace; without Life‑Preserving Magic, Corrupting Magic is merely draining the pond dry. In Naimi Xisi's view, Life‑Preserving Magic is the key to this system.

"I've changed my mind," Naimi Xisi said with a smile, and Lajate wore a 'I saw this coming' expression. "I need all the information you have on Life‑Preserving Magic; only then will I consider rescuing you in the future."

Naimi Xisi's desire for this Life‑Preserving Magic was not a whim; he had long suspected that this highly destructive casting method might have a remedy.

As long as this casting system can be perfected, even when he reaches those worlds where the Magic Net is dormant, he won't have to rely solely on Psychic Ability.

Lajate readily agreed to Naimi Xisi's request, on the condition that they swear an oath to the River of the Underworld that traverses the Multiverse! Lajate's proposal did not surprise Naimi Xisi; he had long suspected the old fellow to be a Legendary—or higher—being, and a mortal deity's oath could not satisfy him.

Under the River of the Underworld's witness, they forged a treaty, and Naimi Xisi obtained Lajate's unreserved Magic Knowledge.

Their transaction had barely concluded when Fa Qi from Dark Earth and Xianai, who came from Frelen's western coast—Anmu Empire, also joined the meeting.

Fa Qi burst into hearty laughter upon arriving, saying warmly, "Isn't this my favorite Lord Naimi Xisi? You're really early today."

Xianai pursed her lips, "Could you make your flattery more obvious? Seeing you like this, the Magic Item I gave you last time worked well, right? I originally thought the one replacing you this time would be that gorgeous vampire countess."

Fa Qi paid no heed, simply pulling out the acceleration ring Xianai had previously lent him and handing it over.

"The item returns to its rightful owner~"

Fa Qi whistled as he sat in his seat, his unusually joyful demeanor sparking curiosity among the other three.

"What happened to make you so happy? Have you finally gone mad studying Arcane Power in your world?" Lajate asked curiously.

"Not at all," Fa Qi announced cheerfully, "Just that you all know I'm a history professor at a British university, right?"

Lajate sneered, "I have no idea what you're talking about, what university professor, it's all the low‑magic natives' toys."

Fa Qi seemed offended, finally snorted and retorted, "Schools are the light of human civilization, the cradle that nurtures knowledge; universities are the ultimate embodiment of reason. It's normal that an old relic like you doesn't understand—sooner or later you'll be swept into the trash heap of history."

Afterward, ignoring Lajate's protest, he said, "In short, I applied long ago to join a ultra‑ancient ruin excavation in Europe; a few days ago I finally received the approval, and I've been granted the qualification!"

"That ruin is said to belong to a king from antiquity who studied demon summoning; do you know what that means? I will excavate from that ruin the ancient Earth's magical system! And even more mysterious artifacts!"

Watching Fa Qi's still‑enthusiastic hunt for secrets hidden in history, Naimi Xisi couldn't help but laugh, thinking this human was probably a reincarnated Juan Ce Long in a past life. Xianai remained silent beside him, observing the duke from the same world; since the Yinbu Tu Kingdom actively participates in Frelen's international affairs, its news quickly reaches the Anmu Empire's newspapers.

Degeng City, demon invasion, a Silver Giant Dragon saves the city.

Those words were written lightly in the newspaper, but Xianai, who understands the terror of abyssal teleportation arrays, knows that Naimi Xisi, who can resolve this disaster, is far from a simple teenage dragon.

Thinking of her plan, Xianai made up her mind.

She interrupted Fa Qi's speech, causing him to complain, "If we can't share the joy, what's the point of our meeting!"

Xianai smiled gratefully at Naimi Xisi, "Thank you for the Blink you gave me last time, Lord Naimi Xisi; it's been a great help. I've amassed enough experience with transformation spells, and when the meeting ends I'll sprint to a 7th‑level mage."

Juan Ce Long bowed his head, feeling no ripple inside; Blink was merely a trivial transformation spell among the countless spells he mastered, even though this Third‑circle Spell is a rare and precious knowledge for most low‑level mages.

"No need for that, Ms. Xianai. You give, I give back; the scale of the transaction rests on that and ends there." Naimi Xisi's cold refusal left Xianai a bit choked; she inwardly complained that True Dragons are indeed coarse creatures, treating a lady like this.

But she had to summon the courage for her own purpose and said, "I'm here this time also for another deal, or rather a cooperation, hoping to work with Lord Naimi Xisi."

"Oh?" Naimi Xisi said with interest; among the three, the one closest to him was this female Mage from Anmu, and he was also very curious about what deal she would propose to him.

"I have reliable information: three years from now, the Golden Legion will set out for the new continent," Xia Nai said word for word.

Naimi Xisi raised an eyebrow; Anmu's actions were a bit swift, and the wealth of that new continent seemed truly enticing. He sighed inwardly: Ke Litte would take over Degeng City, but even with Degeng City's taxes plus the income from the Cold Iron Vein, the annual total was only six to seven hundred thousand gold coins.

A portion of that must be allocated to government staff, and the remaining part is to fill and decorate his dragon nest, so the gold coins in his hand could hardly be spent.

A Five-ring Spell model requires at least 5,000 gold coins, and arming a Shadow Sword's equipment with an upgrade would consume at least 10,000 gold coins; after Naimi Xisi lost his source of robbery, his gold‑coin expenditure surged.

However, for a giant dragon, the wealth used to fill the dragon nest is immovable property—simply called real estate! Real estate is for living, not for spending, so Naimi Xisi could only live a frugal, pinching‑penny life.

(End of Chapter)