Chapter 470: Immediate Retreat

"Merlin..."

Watching the elder who stepped out of the smoke and dust, with a magic array pattern swirling in his eyes, Hong Yu's pupils narrowed slightly.

The legendary Grand Mage, who left a bold mark in the history of Magic and whose legend had long become myth, appeared suddenly, truly beyond his expectation.

In the past, when facing this legendary being, he might have felt apprehensive and even considered retreat.

But now...

Feeling the surging, mighty power within his body, sourced from the Intelligent Angel Authority, Hong Yu's fleeting surprise was swiftly replaced by confidence.

Power brings arrogance, and arrogance dispels reverence.

"Since you already know my identity..." Hong Yu's voice lowered, and murderous intent in his eyes coalesced as if solid:

"Then... sleep forever here!"

Before the words finished, the space around him surged violently!

One complex, obscure magic array after another materialized out of thin air, layered upon layered, encircling his body, emitting destructive energy fluctuations.

The pair of Holy Light wings behind him suddenly flared, dazzling to the point of near glare, pushing back the lingering night around them, and the space at the edges of the wings began to warp slightly.

The vast divine pressure mixed with the aberrant Magic, forming a suffocating terrifying aura that locked onto Merlin below!

Merlin's smile faded a bit, replaced by a fully focused solemnity.

Although he is of the caliber that can defeat any opponent in the world, the source of Hong Yu's power comes from the heavens, from that high-tier group!

He cannot tolerate any reliance!

He said no more, and the seemingly ordinary wooden staff in his hand lightly tapped the ground.

"Buzz—!"

Centered on his feet, a massive silver magic array suddenly unfolded, spreading rapidly, almost covering half the plaza.

Within the array, vague silhouettes of sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers drifted, as if a world were being birthed within.

Two utterly different yet space-shaking forces of Magic collided silently in the air, compressing each other; before a formal clash, the barrier Light Screen quivered violently, emitting an overburdened hum!

The air seemed to solidify, the great battle about to erupt!

Just as the tip of Merlin's staff began to gather a point of brilliant starlight, the innermost magic array beside Hong Yu was about to burst forth, and at the hair's breadth when both attacks were about to collide—

A faint yet unmistakably resolute voice sounded, as if resonating directly in the depths of Hong Yu's soul:

"Come back."

"Tonight, give up."

That voice was the "Lord" he serves!

The fierce light about to erupt in Hong Yu's eyes instantly solidified, then receded swiftly like a tide.

He hesitated not a moment, nor even thought to ask "why".

The Lord's will is the supreme command; no need to understand, only to obey.

The layered magic arrays poised around him dimmed instantly, vanishing as if they had never appeared.

The dazzling wings behind him quickly contracted their light, returning to their previously modest state.

Immediately thereafter, under the astonished and puzzled gaze of Merlin and Arthur King and others, who had steadied themselves after the explosion, their faces dusty but evidently unharmed under Merlin's protection—

Hong Yu gave them a cold glance, especially a deep look at the staff-wielding, battle-ready Merlin, then turned without hesitation.

"Retreat!"

The command was concise and decisive.

The black-robed cultists obeyed the order without hesitation or panic, moving as if rehearsed countless times, swiftly and orderly retreating into the shadows of the street corner, their motions swift as phantoms.

The strange darkness that had shrouded the plaza and devoured light, as if alive, contracted rapidly with their retreat, ebbing and releasing the swallowed moonlight and distant streetlamp glow.

In the blink of an eye, in front of Westminster Abbey, aside from the shattered great gate, the massive hole in the wall, the horrifying explosion crater on the ground, and the lingering smoke, no black-robed cultist could be seen, nor any trace of the evil aura.

Night fell again over the streets, as if the thrilling standoff and explosion had been merely a brief nightmare.

Arthur King hurried to Merlin's side.

He looked at the familiar elder before him, his emerald eyes filled with delight, and said:

"Merlin Grandpa, so you aren't dead after all."

Merlin: "........"

Clap!

A crisp sound.

Merlin turned without hesitation, and amid the shocked gazes of the surrounding Round Table knights and church members, raised his staff and tapped Arthur King's head with a measured strike!

"What nonsense!" Merlin snarled, beard bristling, eyes glaring,

"What a death talk! Not now, even after hundreds or thousands of years, I will still be alive and continue to study my Magic!"

His stern face immediately relaxed, a hint of ease flashing deep in his eyes as he surveyed Arthur King: "As for you... it's good that nothing's wrong, it's good that nothing's wrong."

"It seems the 'teacher' I found for you back then was indeed correct."

He was naturally referring to Yu Lin.

Arthur King heard this, solemnly bowed his head: "Yes. The teacher's teachings, Arthur has always kept in heart."

He paused, his eyes showing anticipation, "Then, Merlin Grandpa, where is the teacher now?"

"Since you have appeared, could you take me to see him?"

"Um... this..." Merlin's smile instantly became a bit stiff, his gaze flickered, and he gave two dry laughs:

"Haha, meeting is definitely necessary, but... you have to find him yourself."

He raised his hand toward the distant east: "Just over there, on that ancient land."

Arthur King looked in the direction he pointed, eyes puzzled: "There? But... why can't Merlin Grandpa take me there? With you guiding, wouldn't it be more convenient?"

Why? Merlin's heart gave a sudden thump.

Could he possibly just say outright that, because of some 'minor' matters years ago, he was expelled from the country by the Xia Guo Civil Affairs Bureau, and for the next few years, without permission, he is not allowed to set foot in Xia Guo territory again?

Wouldn't that be terribly embarrassing?!

So, Merlin immediately put on a stern face, adopting an inscrutable, unfathomable expression, stroked his beard, swayed his head and body, and said:

"You don't understand, you don't understand."

"This is very complicated."

"If you understand, I needn't say more; if you don't, even if I explain, you might still not get it."

He patted Arthur King on the shoulder, his tone turning perfunctory: "Arthur, you've just awakened; the world has changed greatly—first go and get a good grasp of this new era."

"As for me, Grandpa, I still have a few crucial Magic problems waiting for me to research!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

Before his words even faded, and without giving Arthur King a chance to ask further, Merlin's figure, like merging into the air, quickly faded and became transparent, finally vanishing completely, leaving only a faint ripple of Magic at the spot and the people staring at each other.

Arthur King watched the spot where Merlin had disappeared, then glanced toward the east; his green eyes held a hint of thought, which finally turned into a soft chuckle as he shook his head.

He still looked just as he did in memory, only now with a bit more of an old mischievous child's temperament.

So, what has his teacher become?

Arthur King turned his head toward Laide and the others and said:

"I want to go over there; please take me there."