Chapter 1047: Eleven-ring Spell

"Master, please speak, I'm listening," Reslin replied.

Augulevi saw his expression was cold and let out an unpleasant laugh, "Rest assured, I have no intention of trading that artifact with you; I know you won't agree."

"Things that don't exist can't be traded," Reslin spread his hands, indicating he truly has no artifact.

"Hehe…"

Augulevi, looking unconvinced, yet not pressing further, said earnestly, "What I want is knowledge of that kind of gem; it would be even better if you could give me a few directly."

"Those are miracle gems," Reslin said softly.

"Miracle gems!"

Augulevi's eyes flashed with fire, showing strong interest, praising, "Being able to store Ten-ring Spell for instant release truly lives up to the name. Miracle gems shouldn't be naturally formed; they must be made by you, right?"

If miracle gems were naturally produced, he couldn't have never heard of them.

Even the rarest things are recorded.

Moreover, a magical item as powerful as miracle gems, once it appears, would quickly spread across the world; it couldn't remain obscure.

"I made them," Reslin nodded in acknowledgment; this couldn't be hidden from the other party.

"Very good!"

Augulevi's pale violet tendrils on his chin quivered, the withered tendrils writhing like a dead snake, showing his excitement; he raised his voice slightly, "If you tell me how to make miracle gems, then I will support you as Emperor of Oriense, and the Empire will be yours!"

He originally thought Reslin would readily agree.

In fact, Reslin's expression did not change at all; he shook his head, "I do not agree to this deal."

"Oh?" Augulevi was somewhat startled, "You've been scheming all this time just to become emperor? With my support, no one could stop you."

"Master, why pretend to be clueless," Reslin remained unmoved, "The Empire is already in my grasp. If Master trades my Empire with me, it's essentially me giving the method of making miracle gems to Master for free; such a cheap deal doesn't exist."

Augulevi's expression darkened instantly, sneering, "Your Empire?"

"Who else but me!"

Reslin replied proudly, "From today onward, Oriense is my Empire. My Willpower is the Empire's Willpower."

"Have you ever asked my opinion?" Augulevi said gravely.

"Hahaha… Master, what do you think I came here for today?" Reslin laughed, no longer showing any hesitation.

When Augulevi exposed his secret, hoping neither side would be mutually destroyed, he had already shown weakness.

Originally, he was solely threatened by Augulevi; the strongest Wizard in history had unfathomable power, the unknown was terrifying. Now Augulevi also shows apprehension toward him; although he hasn't yet probed the other's full strength, it's not far off!

When the veil of the unknown is lifted, it's naturally less frightening.

Perhaps Augulevi's strength exceeds his own true form by a margin; the outcome of a life‑or‑death battle could be 70‑30, even 90‑10.

But he certainly fears death more than he does!

Augulevi has lived over two thousand years; he has sacrificed far too much for immortality and cherishes his life immensely, evident from his conduct. His true self always stays hidden, appearing only as a proxy; even with a ninety‑percent chance of killing him, he wouldn't take the risk.

To describe Augulevi in one character: "cautious."

Two characters: "steady!"

Unless he has a hundred‑percent certainty, Augulevi won't risk everything in the Empire against me. Moreover, I still hold a leverage over him.

Augulevi stole the secret of the Lich transformation ritual!

This involves the Lord of the Dead's great authority; once He learns of it, He will not stand idle. Even with Augulevi's great strength and wisdom, before the terrifying Abyssal evil god, he is no better than an ant.

Augulevi frowned; he hadn't been this passive in many years, but Lei En truly differs from others, gauging his reservations and weaknesses with precision.

"Nothing is absolute," he said lightly, "Lei En, don't think I wouldn't dare risk my life against you."

"I await you in the Imperial Capital, Master," Reslin said unflinchingly.

Augulevi fell silent.

One misstep leads to another; although his hidden cards aren't fully revealed, Lei En has the upper hand.

Reslin's attitude softened, no longer so aggressive, and he smiled, "Master, I'm very interested in this deal. However, I won't trade the method of making miracle gems; it's my exclusive secret technique, which I don't wish to share yet, but I can exchange miracle gems for you, Master."

Miracle gems are crafted on a workbench in the Pixel World; Lei En himself lacks the manufacturing method.

He is willing to teach, yet others still can't achieve it.

"Only the gems…" Augulevi mused, then nodded, "That works too; how do you propose to trade?"

Reslin saw through Augulevi's intent in an instant; after obtaining miracle gems, he would research to decipher the manufacturing method.

But that is impossible.

Even Lei En doesn't understand the principle of gem synthesis; the workbench is like a "black box" that consumes Soul Diamonds when materials are placed, automatically yielding the result.

If Augulevi Master can crack the method, I will concede.

Reslin said, "The materials for miracle gems are extremely precious and scarce, and the cost is high, valued at over fifteen million Gold Shields; in all these years I've only made one, which I just used, so I have no finished product on hand."

Those words are ninety percent true, ten times the cost price.

Augulevi's heart of myriad visions can only judge others' goodwill or malice, not discern lies; Reslin's stated value stands unchallenged.

"Fifteen million Gold Shields for a single instant‑cast spell…"

Augulevi's tendrils swayed gently; even though he long ago lost interest in wealth, he found the casting cost too great.

"I will give you at most three miracle gems, Master, and promise to deliver them to Yilaientu within ten years," Reslin presented his offer, "What will you, Master, use in exchange?"

"What do you want?" Augulevi retorted.

Reslin turned to glance at the surrounding palace, "Master, this is a spell you created, right?" Seeing Augulevi hesitate before nodding, he continued, "All magical knowledge about this spell, if Master can impart it to me, could be worth one miracle gem."

"This is my greatest magical achievement in over two hundred years, and it can only exchange for one miracle gem?" Augulevi felt insulted, the flame in his eyes flaring up.

Reslin raised the price, "One and a half."

"Not enough!" Augulevi refused without hesitation, saying, "Magical knowledge is priceless."

"But it can be replicated infinitely," Reslin replied immediately.

Knowledge is power, a universally understood maxim among spellcasters; yet the spread of knowledge incurs virtually no cost, and it does not diminish as more people grasp it. It is called priceless only out of human selfishness.

Ao Gu Le Wei understood Reslin's meaning and said coldly, "I tell you this spell, it is equivalent to weakening my power."

One diminishes, the other rises!

The opponent's strengthening is one's own weakening.

Even if Reslin cannot master the spell, he can, based on his understanding of it, find a counter or even a way to break it.

"I hand the Master a miracle gem, also weakening my power," Reslin said lightly.

One miracle gem can instantly cast a Ten-ring Spell; its effect in battle is so great it can turn the whole situation around with a single decisive strike!

When a miracle gem falls into Ao Gu Le Wei's hands, its unleashed power will only become more terrifying.

However, Ao Gu Le Wei merely shook his head and would not speak.

The palace was silent.

The gamble of this deal was that each could profit more: Ao Gu Le Wei was confident he could research a method to create miracle gems, greatly increasing his magic level and power; Reslin believed he could master the spell and later restrain the other.

Both sides' information was incomplete, yet they also guessed each other's intentions.

Thus they were stalled for a time.

"The voting is about to end," Ao Gu Le Wei suddenly said.

In the Empire's Temple of Truth, only a few dozen Empire senators had not yet voted; the voting would finish in two or three minutes at most. Then Lei En would announce the results, submit the proposal to the Supreme Council, and hold an immediate raise‑hand vote.

Ao Gu Le Wei could wait, haggling slowly, but Lei En could not wait.

"We have plenty of time, the Empire's situation is entirely under my control, it cannot cause any ripples," Reslin showed an unhurried smile.

He offered again, "Two and a half miracle gems for the Master's spell."

Ao Gu Le Wei was still pondering, and Reslin added, "Plus half a gem, please have the Master vote for me later at the Supreme Council."

"A vote that decides the Empire's future is worth only half a gem?" Ao Gu Le Wei was displeased.

But he was tempted by the offer.

"Miracle gems cannot be split in half; I will give the Master half a gem," Reslin waved, "Consider this vote as a bonus. If the Master does not wish to vote, I can give you two miracle gems, and that half gem is worth seven million five hundred thousand Gold Shield."

"What do I need the Gold Shield for?"

Ao Gu Le Wei's reaction was exactly as Reslin expected; for a great wizard who had lived over two thousand years, equivalent gold could never match magical items.

He nodded without much thought, "Three miracle gems, deal!"

The Empire's fate was decided at that moment.

The agreed trade also meant Lei En and Ao Gu Le Wei had established a ceasefire; before the transaction is completed, neither side will raise a dispute.

Reslin's mouth curled slightly upward.

Ao Gu Le Wei glanced at him and said coldly, "Becoming the Oriense Empire emperor just to make you happy?"

"Of course." Reslin looked serious.

"Then congratulations." Ao Gu Le Wei said congratulations outwardly, but his face showed no hint of joy.

He personally witnessed Emperor Elfah founding the Oriense Empire, and later snatching the throne from Elfah's descendants.

For over a thousand years he had been the Empire's de facto supreme ruler; though now far from the Empire and indifferent, he still covertly watches its direction from the Dark Realm, and now that the Empire has passed to Lei En, he feels uneasy.

It is like a beloved toy, long grown boring, casually discarded.

But seeing someone pick it up, tend to it, and let it shine with a brand‑new brilliance, more beautiful than before, the child who threw the toy away becomes displeased.

Reslin keenly sensed Ao Gu Le Wei's thoughts and, not wanting the other to renege, said, "Master, words alone are insufficient; can we complete part of the trade first?"

"Can you produce a miracle gem now?" Ao Gu Le Wei hummed.

"Can't produce it."

Reslin admitted calmly, "But I can tell the Master what miracle gems are made of; perhaps the Master can research it himself and we won't need to trade."

The proposal was very tempting.

"Fine." Ao Gu Le Wei agreed immediately, "You speak first."

Reslin said plainly, "The main material of miracle gems is the Cerdalin Gem, and it requires a lot."

"Cerdalin Gem…"

The flame in Ao Gu Le Wei's eyes flared briefly.

He had previously guessed it was related to the Cerdalin Gem, and indeed he was right.

There are a dozen or so things in the world that can store spells—magic scrolls, gems, some monster organs, etc. —but the best is the Cerdalin Gem. Once stored, crushing it releases the spell without any mana or soul consumption; if the motion is fast enough, casting is a fraction of a beat quicker than an instant spell!

Needing a lot is also a clue.

Reslin looked at the lost‑in‑thought Ao Gu Le Wei and couldn't help but smile; this was exactly the effect he wanted—to make Ao Gu Le Wei invest time and effort into researching miracle gems. A wizard who spends his life chasing magical knowledge will instinctively contemplate exploration.

But it is destined to be futile.

Synthesizing miracle gems is not alchemy; even if the formula is spoken outright, Ao Gu Le Wei cannot produce any result.

"Master, it's your turn to speak," Reslin interrupted Ao Gu Le Wei's contemplation.

He was somewhat displeased but said, "This is my invention, the Ao Gu Le Wei's Phantom Spirit Realm. It is an Eleven-ring Spell, combining Arcane and spirit energy, creating for me a Phantom Spirit Realm; everything you see is an illusion."

"It truly is an illusion!"

Reslin was shocked; he had guessed it might be an illusion, but hearing Ao Gu Le Wei confirm it still startled him.

What kind of illusion could even the Willpower of Truth and the All-Seeing Eye not see through?

"It is both illusion and reality."

Ao Gu Le Wei said ambiguously.

Reslin couldn't grasp it at once and again exclaimed, "Master created the Eleven-ring Spell!"

Although Ao Gu Le Wei did not disclose the spell's details, from his own experience its power is undeniably immense, and beyond the observed effects it surely hides additional functions.

The Eleven-ring Spell reaches the realm of the gods.

With mortal wisdom, Ao Gu Le Wei again surpasses the gods.

Immediately, Reslin finally reacted, asking, "Master, you told me the name of this spell—aren't you afraid I'll master it from the Key of Doors?"

"If you can elevate the Key of Doors to eleven rings, then mastering the Phantom Spirit Realm is no longer important." Aogulewei's tone carried undisguised pride as he couldn't help but reveal: "Besides, even if you learn this spell, it's useless—it requires several casting materials……"

He stopped speaking mid-sentence.

Aogulewei realized he had said too much; with Lei En's intelligence, it would be easy to infer many things.

"You may leave." Aogulewei issued the dismissal order.

Reslin felt regret, but also knew staying longer was useless; being in Aogulewei's Phantom Spirit Realm was extremely dangerous, he bowed and said, "Master, farewell."

Four Reslins teleported out of Thus Place: Yilaientu.

They met up with ten Grand Mage avatars, employing group teleportation to flee the Spirit-absorbing Monster city, and to escape the terrifying lich within.

At the same time, the final Empire senator took the stage to complete the vote, the result obvious.

Someone actually guessed it……

(End of chapter)