Chapter 574: Time's End

Ten-ring Spell!

The Holy Soul Wizards couldn't help but glance sideways, their faces barely hiding surprise.

Especially the sister pair Duke Silver Star and Storm Queen, they stared at Duke Hong Shi, their gazes trembling, as if they could not believe what they saw.

A caster reaches Level 20 can master the Nine-ring Technique, but the Ten-ring Spell requires reaching Thirty-level.

True Illusion Annihilation!

The use of this spell shows that Duke Hong Shi is already Thirty-level!

From the casting speed, their mastery of this spell is extremely proficient, requiring at least dozens of years of deep study, which means they are likely above Thirty-level, and being one or two levels higher would not be surprising.

Storm Queen and Duke Silver Star's expressions are very complex.

They grew up in the same era as Duke Hong Shi; Storm Queen was promoted to Holy Soul Wizard in New Era Calendar 2158, and the following year Duke Hong Shi became the youngest legendary Wizard; Duke Silver Star rose a few years later, being promoted in New Era Calendar 2166, and then in 2195 Duke Hong Shi also ascended to Holy Soul Wizard.

Within several decades, the Empire consecutively produced three Holy Soul Wizards, the fastest period of increase for Supreme Council members.

The Supreme Council was founded in New Era Calendar 1368, with seven Founding Members at the time; from then until the year Storm Queen was promoted, nearly eight hundred long years passed, and only three Holy Soul Wizards were born.

However, of those three Holy Soul Wizards, only Prophet Medif remains active; the other two, one disappeared and one died in an accident.

More than two hundred years after Duke Hong Shi, the next Holy Soul Wizard was born, namely the Black Robe Duke.

Less than a hundred years later, that is this year, Sabbath Dean was promoted to Holy Soul.

However, aside from the seven Founding Members, none of the Holy Soul Wizards born and later joining the Supreme Council have reached Thirty-level. Even among the seven Founding Members, KangJieladeGreatSage and PurpleFlameDuke are also below Thirty-level; they have been stuck at the Level 29 bottleneck for a millennium, unable to break through.

Until now, Duke Hong Shi finally broke this level limit, surpassing Thirty-level!

【7】 Thirty-level is a clear watershed.

Thirty-level is a clear watershed.

Thus the strength of Supreme Council members is roughly divided into three tiers; the strongest is naturally the late Augulevi Master, who alone occupied the first tier.

The second tier comprises Thirty-level to Forty-level, including Tim*Kenan, Anxiwodasi, Ouroin Master and Howai Master, four in total.

The remaining Holy Soul Wizards below Thirty-level belong to the bottom third tier.

Just now Lei En, watching the Holy Soul Wizards besiege the Lich, clearly perceived the power gap; only the Holy Soul Wizards above Thirty-level formed the hard front-line main force, while Duke Silver Star, Black Robe Duke, and PurpleFlameDuke played supporting roles.

Black Robe Duke Tuzlei's performance was outstanding, largely because his casting specialty somewhat counters the Lich's faction, proving useful.

PurpleFlameDuke can only hide in the shadows to control the field.

And Duke Silver Star fared terribly; relying on the Ten Thousand Spirits Wizard's unique combat style, they thought themselves safe, but performed the worst, not only failing to contribute but almost becoming a disastrous teammate.

As for the newly promoted Sabbath Dean, in front of the Lich they could only be instantly killed, dying seven times.

If not for themselves, Sabbath Dean would now not even have their ashes.

Thus the gap among Holy Soul Wizards is enormous, requiring long-term accumulation.

Duke Hong Shi reaching above Thirty-level within just three hundred years and mastering the Ten-ring Spell is beyond even a once-in-an-era prodigy; truly the first genius of humanity!

Even Lei En was shocked.

Now Augulevi Master is dead, his soul vanished, no longer a lone outstanding strongest; the several Holy Soul Wizards above Thirty-level become the first tier, and Duke Hong Shi also joins this ranks, his status and influence soaring.

Storm Queen and Duke Silver Star exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit disheartened.

The sisters are both Chosen Ones of the goddess, bearing countless honors, yet a young junior of humble origin has left them far behind, their backs not even visible, instantly feeling struck.

The other Holy Soul Wizards also each harbor their own thoughts.

Surprise, curiosity, indifference, joy, and so on, countless emotions.

Only Lei En had guessed part of it in advance, so they fared better; their attention focused more on Duke Hong Shi's spell and the Soul Box.

True Illusion Annihilation, he has seen data on this Ten-ring Spell.

Ai Lun E Si's spells are as numerous as stars in the sky, countless; even the God of Magic cannot master all spells, but Ten-ring Spells are few, extremely rare.

Known Ten-ring Spells are fewer than legendary Elements.

They are like the brightest stars in the night sky, standing out among countless spells, drawing attention.

True Illusion Annihilation is one of them; it is a mind-type spell and also an instant-death spell. When the targeted casting succeeds, whether the target is a living creature or an inanimate object, if it fails its saving throw, it is erased directly from reality, like a shattered illusion, leaving no trace.

This obviously contradicts the previous life's mass-energy conservation law, but this is a supernatural world, and the former rules may not apply.

The Soul Box was disassembled and dispersed, and the soul inside was also erased.

The Soul Eye saw the Lich's pale soul just a hint of edge appearing, as if erased by an eraser, no longer existing.

With so many Holy Soul Wizards present, Lei En dared not activate a phone charger to devour souls.

Even if turned on, it probably wouldn't absorb anything.

According to records, creatures that die from True Illusion Annihilation are annihilated in body and spirit; even deities cannot revive them.

Not even the most wondrous Wish Spell works.

Lei En suddenly thought, if at this moment they used the Ten-ring Spell 'Time Reversal' to return before True Illusion Annihilation was released and stop Duke Hong Shi, would that count as resurrection?

His gaze fell upon 'Time's End'.

This Legend Grade staff, comparable to an artifact, has lain quietly on the ground since the Lich was imprisoned in the Ruby Prison, untouched. Its silver‑gray shaft is like overlapping scales, and the dragon claw at its head grips a bright golden eye‑gem, emitting an ancient and powerful magical aura.

Time's End holds countless stories, and its power is even more coveted.

It grants super‑accelerated casting, amplifies spell power, reduces cooldown intervals, grants immunity to ongoing negative effects; a series of time spells including the Ten-ring 'Time Reversal'—whoever obtains it will have a chance to probe the secrets of time!

Augulevi Master, in life, could achieve such magnificent achievements and reach the pinnacle of the wizard path, which could not have been without the empowerment of Time's End, accounting for at least thirty percent.

No one can resist the temptation of Time's End.

Holy Soul Wizards cannot either!

All present eyes swept to the staff on the ground; before anyone spoke, suddenly Time's End trembled slightly, the runes on its silver‑gray shaft lit up, the eye‑gem at its head emitted a glimmer, sending out an indescribable vibration.

"It's leaving!"

Tim*Kenan shouted a warning, raising a hand to instantly fire a barrier, attempting to cover the staff.

The Holy Soul Wizards all reacted.

Often the most powerful magical items possess unique sentience and require specific conditions to master, making them hard to obtain.

The stronger it is, the harder it is to obtain, and the higher the requirements.

All the Holy Soul wizards present have handled Legend Grade equipment and are well aware of this.

Time's End, such a powerful staff, must be the same. Its previous owner was Augulevi Master; the Lich's soul was destroyed, granting it freedom, and it was about to depart immediately.

Given this staff's nature, once it escapes, it is almost impossible to find again.

The Holy Soul wizards all acted.

Spells surged out one after another—barriers, force fields, Arcane, psychic, edicts... various restraining measures aimed at Time's End, but the Holy Soul wizards harbored selfish motives; while casting, they also tried to prevent others from seizing the staff, causing the spells to subtly interfere with each other and hinder one another.

This time, they lacked the tacit coordination they had when besieging a Lich.

Even Holy Soul wizards of the same faction harbored secret rivalry, each employing methods, with only one thought: to seize Time's End.

The standoff lasted a few seconds.

The silver‑gray staff was seized midair by spell energy, emitting a pale glow, then turning transparent as if about to vanish…

"Everyone, please stop!"

Duke Hong Shi shouted anxiously, his voice imbued with awe‑inspiring power that caused the Holy Soul wizards' minds to momentarily falter, their soul energy rippling, and the spells they were casting to pause briefly.

Meanwhile, his own psychic hand gripped the staff even tighter, pulling it toward himself.

This greatly displeased the Holy Soul wizards.

Most of them originally intended to set aside prejudice, jointly stop Time's End from escaping, secure it, and then discuss its ownership.

Duke Hong Shi, however, exploited this, combining Truth‑Word magic to gain the upper hand. In a single instant, Time's End was dragged by the psychic hand to his front, and the others could not intervene in time.

He reached out to grasp the shaft, a victorious smile already on his face.

Then, he grasped at nothing.

At the instant Time's End was about to be touched, time inexplicably accelerated; the staff abruptly turned into a stream of transparent light, shooting into the river of time and vanishing silently as if sinking beneath a surface.

Duke Hong Shi's smile froze.

He instantly pushed his Willpower of Truth to the limit, instantly casting a Nine-ring Technique on himself; his eyes flashed with insight, his gaze pierced space and time, straining far ahead, yet he only saw a faint transparent afterimage of Time's End fleeing toward the future.

It drifted farther away in time, and in an instant vanished completely.

"Why did this happen?"

Duke Hong Shi muttered angrily, this was entirely unexpected, and he felt deeply resentful.

He turned his head and saw the Holy Soul wizards glaring at him, instantly feeling some regret; if he had obtained Time's End it would have been fine, but now he not only failed to get it, he also offended his peers.

Anxiwodasi said gravely, "Kelsong, you truly are a clever tactician!"

Tim*Kenan was expressionless.

None of the Holy Soul wizards looked pleased; even the usually tolerant GrandSage KangJieladeGreatSage showed a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

Duke Hong Shi realized he had incurred the wrath of many this time.

But he refused to admit fault, lowered his empty hand as if nothing had happened, and said calmly, "It has always been each relying on one's own ability; everything requires full effort, targeting weaknesses with methods that aren't so glorious— is that wrong? Otherwise, on what grounds would I have reached my current position?"

His gaze swept over the Holy Soul wizards, a hint of sarcasm curling his lips: "You all are seasoned veterans, surely you don't need my instruction, right?"

(End of Chapter)