Chapter 549: Secret Art Wizard Ji Ming

Although Meigui is roughly a bottle of walking love elixir, even if she does nothing she can release a sustainable small charm spell.

But in this area, Ji Ming, who has the triple buffs of Angel, Eye Demon, and High‑dimensional Life, is her ancestor!

So even if the various spores around her become so dense they almost form a visible cloud, they can't affect Ji Ming sitting opposite her in the slightest.

"Ah? Ah! Ah!! No! No!!"

Only after admitting his/her failure and declaring unconditional surrender, being reshaped by Ji Ming, soul repaired, damage fixed, and instantly fell into virtue.

Thus, from a flower‑rank envoy who committed every evil and bullied women and men, she became a do‑gooder whose eyes always contain a living grain‑god priest.

Moreover, as a face, whether in the Deep Forest power arena or within the church, Meigui's status is much higher than Poison Snake and Baili Xiang.

Therefore Meigui's betrayal—abandoning darkness for light—carries great significance, not only bringing Ji Ming a wealth of crucial intelligence about the interior of the Shen Lin Wang Guo.

More importantly, it let him learn how the monarchy and the church collude, a kingdom indifferent to gender, and how much black material and hidden affairs exist.

"No, I thought the Unlimited Fighting Tournament and the Whole Capital Battle‑Royale were just for fun, but turns out they're classic old series that get reliably re‑released."

Of course, since Ji Ming had just reconfirmed information about the Dark Flame Remnant from Wendig, he also had Meigui deliberately recall whether there were any clues about it.

Unfortunately, the answer was rather vague, or rather the position of that single flower was still too low; there wasn't much valuable related intelligence, at least not enough to proceed to concrete verification and expansion.

Yet clues often hide in seemingly unrelated places, so it was actually information from other areas that sparked Ji Ming's inspiration.

"Wait, you mean it's not just the Dense Forest Church; actually the Deep Forest Royal Family is also mobilizing personnel to study how to mass‑produce artificial life quickly?"

"Yes, and… it's probably been years; from what I know, it's been the effort of several generations at least."

The first time Ji Ming met Baili Xiang, he learned from his mouth that among the Twelve Envoys of the Dense Forest Church, including himself, seven were working on the perfect‑life project.

Because this matter is already a classic in the Yangyue academic world—basically every mage has dabbled in it, and the ensuing troubles are countless—Ji Ming didn't pay much attention.

But…

The Dense Forest Church, whose behavior is bizarrely capricious and treats believers like pigs and dogs, is researching life.

The Deep Forest Royal Family, with endless internal strife and no sense of camaraderie, is also researching life.

Moreover, the Dark Flame Empire, which possessed all those traits ten thousand years ago, achieved near‑apocalyptic power precisely because its development in this field advanced by leaps and bounds.

Most importantly, the tech trees of these three parties in the life domain all focus on creation as primary and resurrection as secondary; they basically don't study maintenance at all.

Hmm, that's definitely worth pondering the connections.

Even extending further, altering the elves' common knowledge, another batch of evil‑spirit demon dragons, Little Lion's bizarre sudden death, the Sun King's bloodline curse…

These hidden issues in the corners of Yangyue, with histories spanning hundreds to thousands of years, are all being investigated together.

It seems an invisible giant hand has been shrouding this cloud‑filled darkness, and even after ten thousand years the dark age has never truly eased.

Thus, after a night of contemplation, Ji Ming felt that someone like Meigui staying in the dungeon to farm was a waste of talent, and it would be better to return to the Deep Forest.

So she, posing as a wealthy traveling merchant, gathered intelligence in the Barbarian Plains for a few days, then returned along the same route as our spy to report to Shixin Wang.

As a professional diplomat, Meigui already had her own intelligence team, so repurposing it posed no problem.

Hence, with one insider group in the noble circle and another in the church circle, Ji Ming will be walking on two legs in the Shen Lin Wang Guo.

Moreover, the people on both sides handle intelligence separately, allowing him multi‑angle cross‑verification, possibly achieving a one‑plus‑one greater‑than‑two effect.

However, facts proved that the massive upheaval in the Barbarian Plains had impacts far deeper than Ji Ming imagined—it was a genuine world‑shaking event.

Because the greatest Daoye Lingxi Kingdom in all Yangyue was shocked, immediately stating that our emperor has been insomnia‑stricken and must hear Situngka's howl to sleep well.

Even the High Tower Community's farthest ally, the Beimosi Khanate, was shocked, exclaiming, "Weren't you just fighting two battles up north? How can you field a million troops in one go?"

The Guanghui pro‑king faction, allied with the Pioneers, was shocked: "You've been secretly pulling off all these goodies behind my back? Quickly sign the cooperation agreements!"

The Guanghui opposition faction, at odds with the Pioneers, was shocked: "Goodness, what on earth are we fighting against? Is this even the Yangyue World I know?"

As for the Shen Lin Wang Guo…

Although theoretically the Deep Forest and Guanghui have never severed ties,

for example, the prince‑consort from the Crown Princess's family has continuously served as the Deep Forest ambassador stationed in Guanghui Capital.

But when evaluating something, don't listen to what they say; watch what they do.

So objectively, the exchanges have long been almost stagnant, and the prince‑consort is merely a veneer to preserve a semblance of decorum.

Consequently, after a period of silence, twenty years later, the Deep Forest actually sent a high‑level visit request to Guanghui!

The cause of this, besides the High Tower Community's truly impressive strength and the combined vastness of the Barbarian Plains, also owes credit to Ji Ming's arrangement.

Under his guidance, Meigui quickly iterated a new strategy; now she is not only the face of the Deep Forest but also a steadfast High Tower advocate.

Whether there's a crisis or not, she constantly stresses to her noble acquaintances how immensely powerful and dangerous the Pioneers are, urging everyone to be extra cautious or they might die.

In this process, some will inevitably question it; after all, the Shen Lin Wang Guo has already feuded with the Pioneers, so hearing about the High Tower Community's strong ties to the Pioneers will surely raise eyebrows.

So they publicly asked her, "What's up with this flower‑rank envoy? All she does is boost others' morale while diminishing her own prestige—typical surrenderist, so cowardly, you must have Guanghui blood!"

But Meigui also has something to say: "I've personally witnessed players gathering a million‑strong army and repeatedly being defeated by the Wolf King Court and the Shadow Church; I'm no less clear than you about their strength!"

"On the contrary, you—working so hard to contradict me—are you trying to cover something up for them?"

"Ah, this."

"Enough of that, I've already filed a report with the Department of Truth; you go prepare to talk to the two‑meter‑tall muscular men!"

In short, thanks to her efforts, the Deep Forest aristocracy, which had been strategically intimidated, briefly fell into a minor panic, causing a city‑wide uproar.

Moreover, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the most crucial development season of the year for the Deep Forest, and the brothers are counting on these months to recover.

Thus, the Shen Lin Wang Guo will send a delegation to Guanghui to test the waters, expressing that even though it technically doesn't exist, whether you believe it or not, it nonetheless adopts a friendly stance, which is only natural.

However, Meigui is still mastering it; getting it operational takes time, and many matters can't be decided by just one or two people.

Consequently, by the time this was announced, a full half‑month had passed since the end of the Barbarian War, and Yangyue World had entered October.

After his vacation ended, Ji Ming lingered in Sunlight City for another week, tidied up the trivial matters, then headed north back to Qixia City.

This trip he intends to take the academy route, using his merit points to exchange for a chance to enter the Fallen God Mountains, aggressively grind experience, and breakthrough to become a Secret‑Art Wizard.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of that previous great war was terrifying; countless monsters perished in the chaos, and the few that remained were barely a tenth of a percent.

Therefore the royal hunting grounds were simply shut down, and to gradually restore the population and diversity within, this closure will last at least a full year.

"One year? Two years? Oh, who knows, it could even be three years."

"I'm Buddha."

Although, besides the royal hunting grounds, some great nobles also have their own exclusive hunting grounds, most of them are located in the east and north of Radiant Light, all within the Wild Faction's territory.

And Ji Ming, as a Holy Light Divine Choice, has never openly taken a side, but his circle of friends is placed here.

Those he gets along with are either the pillar of the Pro‑King faction (Xiguang Duke) or the up‑and‑coming junior commander of the Pro‑King faction (Ai Li Nuo); to outsiders, that's naturally also the case.

So if he truly asks the two old veterans Xia Guang and Li Guang to smooth things over, letting the younger brother go to your house for a couple bites of something hot…

Even if he can't pull off something like Sa La Re Wo that would directly trigger a world war, fostering an official split between the two factions and launching the inaugural North‑South War Grand Prix is now a done deal.

Thousand·Ancient·Sin·Person

But given Ji Ming's current standing in the Royal Capital, he only wants to level up one rank, which isn't that difficult.

Especially after Xiguang Duke and Arc Light Duke learned of it, they certainly wouldn't let the Divine Choice suffer; they promptly connected him with several minor ones.

Thus Ji Ming acted as if he'd signed up for a group tour: today here, tomorrow there, a bite here, a cup there, bustling with delight.

Finally, he not only successfully advanced to Secret Magic Wizard, but also leapt from level 70 to level 73 in one go.

Opening the panel, although still a bit underwhelming, at least in this dark age it's enough to rank among the world's advanced level.

【Name: Ji Ming】

【Level: 73 (1800/16640)】

【HP: 269】

【Agility: 269】

【Intelligence: 363】

【Charm: 201】

【Class: Secret Magic Wizard】

【Technique: Pure Qi Body‑Nurturing Skill·Five Turns·Fifty‑Nine Layers】

【Free Attribute Points: 99】

【Free Skill Points: 63】

With these stats and abilities, even if placed in the Dark Flame of ten thousand years ago, one could already be appointed as a Great Nation Artisan, securing an imperial grain iron rice bowl.

However, Ji Ming still felt it wasn't enough; thinking he had amassed too many free attribute points, he simply added them all to Strength and Agility.

As for the remaining crumbs… he gave them to the long‑neglected Charm.

【HP: 318】

【Agility: 318】

【Charm: 202】

Thus these three attributes changed again; the first two, following Intelligence, became another batch of members entering the 'Three' Club.

Although Yangyue World seems conservative in stats, where a normal person can already reach five in all four dimensions, painstakingly reaching level 73 only yields a sixtyfold increase.

But the calculation method is akin to a monotonically increasing function; as numbers grow, the actual effect becomes increasingly exaggerated, and intensity inflation worsens.

Therefore, even if this wave of Ji Ming's Strength and Agility only rose by about 30% numerically, the actual boost to external effects could be more than double.

So Lao Yang Tou is fortunate; he died before Ji Ming allocated points, otherwise a flash could have left no chance for reconciliation with Ji Ming.

Of course, one must learn modesty, so Ji Ming won't claim he's actually level 73; outwardly he only complains.

"Ah, in the end it's my talent that's lacking; even with all this effort I'm only just at level 61, truly pathetic."

The holy knight companion who adventured with him, having endured a lifetime without breaking the level‑61 barrier: …

When joy arrives, spirits lift; the muscular demon man Ji Ming didn't wander aimlessly, but returned once more to his loyal Qixia City.

Just after entering the city, he got the latest issue of the Pioneers' "Qixia Times" from his accompanying knight, and was stunned by the front‑page headline.

During this period he was busy leveling, essentially in a state of not hearing anything outside the window; unless it's a world‑ending, order‑collapsing level event, other matters are basically irrelevant.

So until today, when the Deep Forest Diplomatic Corps reached the Guo‑nation Pass on the western side of the capital, he finally learned that the main makeup of the Deep Forest Diplomatic Corps was—

First, leading them is the Third Prince of Deep Forest, AdaiEr's blood‑debt enemy, who wanted to curse Ji Ming to death, but ended up being a massive scapegoat who inadvertently recruited two masters.

Then the members are also a series of Deep Forest bigwigs—earls, merchants, bishops, representatives of all factions.

However, Ji Ming doesn't know this bunch of idle folks; he only knows, within the diplomatic team, the one who participates as the Deep Forest military family representative.

"Pearl… Earl!?"

Considering how many nobles exist in this world, surnames can indeed repeat, so Ji Ming initially didn't dare to believe it.

After all, even now he's level 73, and from time to time he can recall that morning when he was grabbed by Ke Li Si Ting like an action figure.

"Oh no, heavens! I can even see her dental calculus!"

But this is a player's newspaper; being journalism majors, they truly know how to tug at readers' hearts.

Thus, directly beneath the Third Prince's photo is the Pearl Earl's picture—a huge, seemingly very confident warhorse girl.

(End of Chapter)