Chapter 71: Shadow: Ritual Contract!

Undead High Tower.

Book Archive Floor.

The fire in the fireplace burned, occasionally sending out crackling sparks.

The necromancer wizard 'Ao Bu Li' was reviewing the information obtained by Ta Ke from interrogating the wizard Ge Lang.

Ta Ke sat in a spot closer to the fireplace, feeling the warmth of the flickering flames.

A faint trace of rune energy pulsed in Ta Ke's hand.

After Ta Ke discovered that, on the level of the world's threads, he could control them with near-perfect precision,

Ta Ke began to gradually develop this ability.

After all, this is a trait gained from SSS-rank precision.

At that moment, an infinitesimal earth-rune trace seeped out from Ta Ke's shadow-rune ring staff.

This earth-rune trace was a strand drawn from the earth-rune ring staff that Ta Ke had lent to Ta Ni Lu.

After all, Ta Ke also needed to guard against Ta Ni Lu running off with the funds.

As a result, Ta Ni Lu didn't guard against it; instead, a member of the Dark Sun Church swallowed the hook.

The fleeing shadow walker took Ta Ke's earth-rune ring staff.

This is also one of the reasons Ta Ke didn't immediately go after that guy.

When the time is right, I'll go harvest another batch.

As long as the fishing line is long enough, Ta Ke can catch plenty of fish.

Lost in thought, Ta Ke looked around.

"Hrrr… hrrr…"

A faint purring sound hovered near his ear.

That mysterious guy was sleeping so soundly that Ta Ke started to feel drowsy.

Ta Ke roughly understood that this must be the 'magical hut' raised by Lord Ao Bu Li.

"I wish I could also raise some powerful magical beasts in the future."

"Moreover, with the sheep-transformation technique, I don't have to worry about size—even demons and devils could be kept."

"What? You say this thing is prone to turning on its master."

"Then it must want to join a KFC deluxe lunch."

Not long after, Lord Ao Bu Li finished browsing.

Compared to the tower's straightforward information.

The information from the interrogation was more detailed.

For example,

How many powerful supernatural beings did the Dark Sun Church that came to besiege Lamor City-State have? How many Dark Sun Fallen? What was their general plan?

And roughly how many traitors were there within Lamor?

Furthermore, among the interrogation contents were some low-rank supernatural beings who had fled Lamor, captured to save their lives, forced to actively contaminate the Dark Sun, and thus became its puppets.

Of course, the two captured this time were unaware of the top-level insiders inside Lamor High Tower City-State.

After a moment, Ao Bu Li then looked at Ta Ke and said slowly.

"Steam ring, have you explored it?"

"Not yet; I'm still digesting those wizard traits, planning to try after steam resonance." Ta Ke shook his head.

"Hmm, the traces of the light steam angel inside the steam ring are indeed extremely concealed."

"We few only occasionally catch a glimpse of such a trace."

"Rushed exploration won't yield any extra gain."

"Exploring the secrets of the steam at your own pace is the correct choice."

"Additionally, your digestion of supernatural traits is very good."

"And I've noticed that, during this period, you seem to be studying alchemy."

Ao Bu Li asked in a relaxed tone.

"Yes, I don't trust Ta Ni Lu's alchemy, so I do the smelting myself."

"In this area, I seem to have decent talent, and my precision produces astonishing effects."

"Plus, my digestive ability differs from that of ordinary supernaturals, allowing me to consume more wizard traits over this period."

Hearing Ta Ke's explanation, Ao Bu Li lightly laughed.

Without a doubt.

The youngster he favored has begun to gradually reveal his extraordinary talent in the supernatural realm.

Perhaps his overt talent isn't high enough.

But… the talent hidden in his bones cannot be buried.

As his supernatural traits gradually increase and strengthen, his talent will manifest more and more extravagantly.

Especially digestive ability—this is one of the very important abilities.

"Good… very good!"

Ao Bu Li laughed.

Since it's been confirmed that Ta Ke possesses unrivaled excellent talent.

Then his cultivation and guidance of Ta Ke during this period are all the more valuable, and although time is short, it's enough for him to pass on more things to Ta Ke.

"This time you've come, you must have other business, right?"

Ao Bu Li asked.

Still, nothing can be hidden from you, Teacher.

I want to buy a shadow-system summoning sorcery from you.

Ta Ke spoke truthfully.

Shadow, summoning?

Ao Bu Li pondered carefully, and after a moment, Ao Bu Li finally spoke.

I don't have summoning sorcery, but I possess a shadow-sequence Rite Contract Sorcery.

And it is a very dangerous type of shadow ritual sorcery.

Ordinary supernatural beings dare not master this kind of sorcery.

Especially shadow-system sorcerers often become the sacrifice of this ritual.

Even if it's you, when you master a ritual sorcery, you must also be careful, understand?

Understood! Ta Ke nodded solemnly.

Shadow Ritual Contract Sorcery!

As a combination of sorcery and ritual.

Basically, it can be seen as the pinnacle of sorcery.

Beings summoned by such rituals are usually very powerful.

And they carry great danger.

It was the same in Bastion World before.

Ta Ni Lu appears normal, because he is a priest, able to save himself, and moreover he is restrained, not daring to absorb intensely.

Anyone else who dared to intensely draw from Bastion World's 'Iron Couple Source Wall' like Ta Ke does to strengthen their sorcerer's ecology.

They would probably have been kneeling by the wall, repenting and praying twenty-four hours a day.

The scroll shrouded in shadow was taken out by Ao Bu Li.

Instantly, the nearby fire was tinged with a thin layer of shadow.

As the light dimmed, the surrounding colors were gradually stripped away.

Pairs of black-and-white clear indifferent eyes flickered in the flame like stars, gazing at Ta Ke.

Howl——

Howl——

The shadow hound's howl faintly came.

Groping for that shadow ritual scroll, Ta Ke waited a moment.

Those shadow hounds, however, dared not leap out to attack Ta Ke.

The immersion in shadow is still somewhat lacking…… unable to truly draw hatred.

As Ta Ke stored the shadow ritual scroll into the supernatural storage bracelet, the visions gradually faded and the interior returned to normal.

"99 magic gold." Ao Bu Li then named the price.

"Gift" and "trade" are still quite different.

Especially for some high-level supernatural beings, when their own supernatural traits begin to affect the surrounding world.

Avoid forming more connections.

The divisiveness of "trade" is cleaner than that of "gift".

After the transaction, Ao Bu Li, examining Ta Ke, spoke again slowly.

"The main reason I sought you out is that Xiluo Er came by a couple days ago."

"Asking about the steam ring—isn't that why you came to find me?" Ta Ke raised an eyebrow.

"Of course not." Ao Bu Li smiled.

"It's not that the matter isn't important, only that it isn't today's main matter."

"Currently, Xiluo Er is in charge of many matters concerning the Demon King Seal."

"Xiluo Er has already sensed the undercurrents stirring around."

"But the higher-ups can't spare much time to help her."

"So he hopes that, if you finish handling your affairs, you can go there to help her, while also speeding up the exploration and harvest of the Demon King Tomb."

"After all, you were originally one of the candidates she designated to participate in the Demon King Tomb."

Ta Ke pondered briefly, then nodded.

Understood!

"Tomorrow, at the latest the day after, I will be able to preliminarily finish handling my affairs."

"By then, I will go find Xiluo Er."

"That's good; I will give Xiluo Er advance notice that you will come over these two days."

"Moreover, this assassination has proven that the Dark Sun Church's people have noticed you; be careful."

Ao Bu Li cautioned.

Ta Ke laughed and said: "Rest assured, I will."

Now Ta Ke, with increasing resources, is gradually building the foundation and methods a true supernatural sorcerer should have.

"Perhaps… it is they who should be wary, not me!"

(End of chapter)