Chapter 206

Inside the small alley paved with steel and stone.

Ba Jins led Ta Ke forward, while also speaking in a low voice.

"Brother Andelie, this underground treasure expedition is extremely crucial."

"This operation consists of six dwarves and their guardians."

"As long as we can bring back part of the treasure, I can obtain a councilor seat in the dwarf family council."

"You should know, the dwarf family council has only eleven councilor seats in total."

"The privileges of our family councilors are still very great."

"Originally, with my level and forging methods, I couldn't obtain such a seat."

"However, because over the past half year, Brother Andelie and I have teamed up to sell those perfect elite materials within the family."

"This is what has given me the chance to become a family councilor."

"Brother Andelie, aren't you already third rank?"

"When he said this, Ba Jins, who was leading the way ahead, cautiously looked back, making sure no one was there, then he spoke carefully."

"After becoming a family councilor, the authority is still great; if Brother Andelie you have any needs, I can fully mobilize some items from the dwarf family treasury to trade with Brother Andelie."

Ta Ke raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Can you still do that?"

"Of course!" Ba Jins nodded.

"Using the treasury's resources is also a councilor's privilege."

"Otherwise, why would the clansmen fight for this councilor seat?"

"All in all, there are still many good things in the dwarf family."

"Of course, Brother Andelie, you need enough magic gold."

Ta Ke thought for a moment, then stared at Ba Jins with two glances and laughed.

"I didn't expect you, this guy, to start learning to paint big pies for me."

"Rest assured, no matter what about the family seat or not, on this trip I will protect you well."

Ta Ke said calmly.

"Haha... With Brother Andelie's words, I feel relieved, after all this trip is indeed somewhat dangerous."

"Indeed!"

Ta Ke nodded; the place we're going to is an extremely deep location in the underground world.

There is a sealed zone there, as well as a perfectly sealed 'Boundary World'.

It is also a threatening place for Ta Ke.

"Of course, this characteristic of the supernatural ecology is the same for everyone and does not target Ta Ke alone."

Passing through the architectural jungle forged of steel and stone.

A vast architectural complex almost carved into the rock face was imprinted in Ta Ke's vision.

The dwarf family council has arrived.

Ba Jins submitted his identity credentials; after the guard confirmed, only then was the barrier magic door opened.

As Ba Jins just entered the outer courtyard of the clan's construction group.

Ta Ke then frowned slightly, his gaze scanning the surroundings.

The next moment, shadow tentacles from behind Ta Ke shot out instantly, wrapping Ba Jins within.

Almost simultaneously, seven or eight huge shadow tentacles burst out from the fountain, fake mountain, flower thickets, bamboo grove, wall tops, etc., all at once and struck down.

"Boom—"

Several bowl-thick shadow tentacles, immensely powerful, almost instantly smashed the ground where Ta Ke and Ba Jins stood into powder.

Meanwhile, Ta Ke had already brought Ba Jins via 'shadow stepping' to another corner.

Ta Ke brought Ba Jins down as they just landed.

Five or six shadow blade assassins leapt directly from the shadowy corner where Ta Ke landed.

The sharp edges of the shadow blades split the air, slashing down toward Ta Ke and Ba Jins.

"This is not some illusory shadow phantom, but a genuine witchcraft technique of the 【Shadow Blade Assassin】 type."

It can not only cut through the flesh of supernatural beings, but also sever their souls.

Even a fourth-rank supernatural being cannot withstand it.

Furthermore, these shadow blade assassins come with overwhelming force; there's no time to cast a spell on the spot.

Fortunately, Ta Ke possesses an ecological magic net, and several witchcrafts are always at his fingertips.

Ta Ke lightly squeezed with his left hand, and the power of the Radiant Blazing Flame Ring Staff burst forth.

"Hum—"

"A rich holy light healing technique descended like a golden pillar of light."

"It not only enveloped Ta Ke and Ba Jins, but the five or six shadow blade assassins also collided with the golden healing holy light."

"For shadow, darkness, death and such methods."

"Holy light is the best countermeasure against them."

"Moreover, Ta Ke's healing holy light reaches level 39."

At this moment, the advantage of Ta Ke's high skill level becomes evident.

"High witchcraft level combined with the Huan Tai Radiant Blazing Flame Ring Staff makes the healing holy light's lethality against darkness exceptionally strong."

"These shadow blade assassins, around level forty, upon entering the healing holy light, are like snow flung into a scorching furnace, quickly melting."

"At the same time, a fire oil bomb flew out from the pillar of healing holy light."

Defense counterattack, Ta Ke executed it in one breath.

"Pong!" a sound.

The fire‑oil bomb detonated on a stone pillar not far away.

Seven or eight shadow groups inside the pillar leapt out simultaneously.

Ta Ke had not entered a high‑resolution visual state, so for a moment he could not discern which of the seven or eight shadow groups was the true form.

Perhaps each of those shadow groups was a true form.

Ta Ke possesses a powerful technique called Soul Curtain Shadow, and this fifth‑tier Steam Shadow Wizard Beiwei Si Tu Wen can naturally also wield powerful means.

He watched the shadow groups scattering in all directions.

Ta Ke did not continue the pursuit.

Instead, he slowly dispersed the continuously descending healing holy light.

A shadow group not far away slowly opened, forming a shadow gate.

A towering Shadow Wizard with bright eyes, sharply angular face, and wearing a flowing Shadow Wizard robe stepped out slowly from within.

He was, unmistakably, the fifth‑tier extraordinary strongman previously mentioned by Ba Jin Si, the Steam Shadow Wizard Beiwei Si Tu Wen.

He has the dwarf clan as a major patron.

Moreover, Beiwei Si Tu Wen himself is an exceptionally gifted being.

The fifth‑tier Beiwei Si Tu Wen is a Steam Shadow Wizard possessing four steam cores.

Similar merchant groups also have such formidable extraordinaires behind them as support.

Otherwise, they would have already been completely devoured by rivals.

In a world of extraordinary power, the scale of commerce is often directly proportional to the strength of the extraordinaires backing it.

"What's your name?"

Beiwei Si Tu Wen, scrutinizing Ta Ke, asked slowly.

Ta Ke removed his hood, held a single bracelet before him, and bowed slightly in response.

"An De Lie."

"An De Lie? You are An De Lie?"

Beiwei Si Tu Wen raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ba Jin Si beside him.

Ba Jin Si hurriedly nodded in reply.

"Yes, he is that An De Lie."

At once, a faint smile appeared on Beiwei Si Tu Wen's stern face as he examined Ta Ke.

"Not bad, quite powerful."

"An ordinary wizard might not even notice that I was lying in ambush nearby."

"Just a few hours ago, the fourth‑tier Walker brought by Ka Gu La failed the test."

"You're impressive, not only reacting quickly but also counter‑attacking swiftly."

"Your wizardry rank is high; that flame is quite deterrent."

"And that healing holy light is also very powerful."

"Ordinary fourth‑tier wizards don't have a skill level like yours."

"Moreover, among the Light‑Dark practitioners, wizards with such capabilities are now few."

In his words, the Steam Shadow Wizard Beiwei Si Tu Wen expressed a fair amount of admiration for Ta Ke.

"You… have essentially passed the assessment."

With the words of the fifth‑tier Steam Shadow Wizard before him,

Ba Jin Si, who had been anxious, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He brought Ta Ke here for the assessment, not expecting it to erupt so abruptly.

And it concluded just as swiftly.

Andrei's clash with the fifth‑tier wizard involved only a couple of intersecting spells, perhaps two or three.

But once they engaged, it was clear each recognized the other as a capable master, not a hollow rank‑holder.

Having achieved the assessment's purpose, there was no need to continue the slaughter.

"Come together tomorrow; then I will assign the operational tasks and conduct a certain level of drills."

"After all, you are only third‑tier, unlike fourth‑tier extraordinaires with an extraordinary state who can easily traverse the spirit realm."

Looking at Ta Ke, Beiwei Si Tu Wen instructed.

"Understood!"

Ta Ke nodded in response.

Lower tiers also have corresponding lower‑level advantages.

At least in this underground venture, Ta Ke will not become the primary target of the enemy's strong forces.

……

Half an hour later, Ta Ke followed Ba Jin Si back to his shop.

Ba Jin Si immediately began forging the magical bracelet.

Compared with a wizard's staff that possesses various abilities.

This plain, sturdy "magical staff" is much easier to forge.

Use more material and swing the forge hammer forcefully.

The greater the swing, the higher the strength of the forged magical staff.

After a few hours, Ta Ke left, satisfied, carrying the magical staff forged with spatial runes and dragon scales.

Of course.

Ta Ke also didn't forget Ba Jin Si's safety.

Before leaving, Ta Ke, in the shadow behind Ba Jin Si, left a third-rank soul curtain shadow.

"When you encounter danger, loudly call my name, and I will be able to hear your plea for help."

After doing all of this, Ta Ke then left silently.

Before the execution of the underground treasure begins, Ta Ke plans to first have the magical cottage properly built.