Chapter 724: The Great Mortal

Reslin took half a minute to digest this astonishing secret, then curiously asked, "Master, how did Duke Hong Shi betray you?"

"Betray?"

Augulevi Master shook his head and said lightly, "He did not betray me."

"Ah?" Reslin was stunned.

"Kailston grew up like a normal person, entered Naiser to become a Wizard, and step by step climbed to the pinnacle of the transcendental path. From beginning to end, he never realized he was created by someone else; the magical knowledge in his mind seemed to him an innate talent, and he did not notice my interference until the day he lost control."

Augulevi said calmly, "Since he does not know of my existence, how could he betray?"

Reslin vaguely understood, then changed his question: "How did Duke Hong Shi lose control?"

"The problem lies in the mind."

Augulevi sighed, "Success and failure both stem from the mind."

He slowly said, "I let a rather mediocre copy that only possessed part of my memories, whose strength and reputation were modest, bring Kailston into Naiser Fu Kong Cheng, take him as a student, guide him onto the road of mastering mind magic, founding the spiritualist, hoping to use his hand to develop the spiritualist specialization in Naiser."

Hearing halfway, Reslin recalled Kailston's teacher.

That legendary Wizard was called "Erlon", who never reached Mid-stage in his whole life, remaining obscure. The only reason Erlon is remembered in history is that he discovered Duke Hong Shi and brought him to Naiser Fu Kong Cheng.

Unexpectedly, Erlon was also a copy of Augulevi Master!

In that case, Duke Hong Shi is essentially Augulevi Master's student.

Reslin sincerely admired, saying:

"So the Master is the founder of the spiritualist!"

"You can't say that." Augulevi did not accept his compliment, "I only gave Kailston a start, led him through this door; most of the research on the spiritualist was completed by him alone, and the credit belongs to him."

Reslin nodded slightly; if Erlon had participated too much in founding the spiritualist, far beyond his strength and level, it would cause Duke Hong Shi to doubt.

The records of Naiser Fu Kong Cheng state that Erlon died during an outward adventure.

There must be something wrong.

"Master, how did Erlon die?"

Augulevi let out a cold snort from his nostrils, "Of course he was killed by Kailston."

"He discovered it?" Reslin was very surprised.

Given Augulevi Master's caution, how could Duke Hong Shi, still very young then, have detected the clue, killed the teacher, and accomplished it?

"When Kailston achieved Holy Soul Ascension, his spiritual perception advanced to Mind Energy Myriad, a legendary Element that no one had ever obtained at the time; I also did not know that Mind Energy Myriad could discern good from evil, lies, and even see through hearts." Augulevi shook his head, "It wasn't until long later, after I also possessed Mind Energy Myriad, that I understood its effect."

Reslin immediately understood.

Duke Hong Shi used Mind Energy Myriad, sensed that his teacher was not as simple as he appeared; even without reading Erlon's thoughts, he could detect the teacher's ill intent toward him.

So he struck, killing the master, disguising it as an accidental death during an adventure.

Truly ruthless!

Reslin glanced at Augulevi; Erlon's exposure could only be called an accident. It takes three to four spiritual perceptions to advance to Mind Energy Myriad; Augulevi Master did not anticipate that Mind Energy Myriad had such a powerful ability.

With Augulevi Master's strength, merging several spiritual perceptions is not difficult.

However, the ability Element can only advance during Soul Transformation; back then Augulevi's Wizard level was already high, at least level thirty‑five, making it hard to wait for a Soul Transformation opportunity.

Hence Duke Hong Shi got a head start, becoming the first Wizard to master Mind Energy Myriad!

A trivial oversight caused a huge mistake.

"Master, why didn't you act then to eliminate him?"

"Kailston only discovered that his teacher had a problem; he never sensed my existence. The memory I sealed in his mind was never lifted." Augulevi sighed, "He is very shrewd, quickly using an outward travel excuse, rarely returning to Naiser, avoiding contact with the upper echelons of Naiser."

Even as an enemy, Reslin had to admire Duke Hong Shi's wisdom; staying away from Naiser Fu Kong Cheng was his best choice, both cutting off possible danger and allowing him to build his own strength.

One word: Survive!

"During that period my main focus was researching the Spirit-absorbing Monster's main brain, letting Kailston run wild." Augulevi's face showed helplessness, "But I didn't expect him to obtain the Truth Willpower from somewhere, causing my plan to completely fail."

"Truth Willpower!"

Reslin suddenly realized, this was an unexpected yet logical result.

He also possessed Truth Willpower, clearly understanding this legendary Element's function: it can immunize against mind attacks, clear all negative effects targeting mind and soul.

Truth Willpower can even dispel Blood Soul Curse, let alone minor memory seals and mind‑control techniques.

When Duke Hong Shi obtained Truth Willpower, all the memories and traps Augulevi left in his brain vanished completely.

If Duke Hong Shi discovering his teacher's abnormality was an accident, then his gaining Truth Willpower was a coincidence.

Augulevi Master, after all these years, still could not master Truth Willpower.

Yet, Duke Hong Shi obtained it!

Fate's arrangements are sometimes truly unfathomable, and also full of irony.

However, with Truth Willpower, Duke Hong Shi erased the memories and spells in his brain; he can only wield the magic knowledge that has been unsealed, the unmastered ones disappear, and he will never know his origin nor Augulevi's behind‑the‑scenes plan.

So Augulevi Master says Duke Hong Shi did not betray him.

Indeed so.

In Duke Hong Shi's eyes, everything he possesses comes from talent and effort; what does anyone else have to do with it?

The room fell silent for a while, then Augulevi continued, "When Kailston achieved Holy Soul Wizardry, I realized he had long since broken the control, becoming a completely free Will, no longer linked to me."

"Master, why didn't you act…" Reslin made a throat‑slashing gesture.

"The matter is settled; killing him is meaningless."

Augulevi smiled, "Anyway Kailston doesn't know any of what I did; keeping him causes no harm. Moreover, he entered the Supreme Council as a member of the Naiser faction, strongly supporting me. For the greater good, the Empire also needs more Holy Soul Wizards."

Reslin, however, disagreed, "He should have sensed something."

"So what?" Augulevi replied indifferently, "Even if you gave him ten more guts, he wouldn't dare entertain any thoughts against me."

That is the absolute confidence that comes from absolute power.

Reslin let out a sigh.

Indeed, when Augulevi Master was still alive, even though he was a Lich who had not shown his true form publicly for centuries, Hong Shi Duke had always behaved obediently in the Supreme Council, daring to be overbearing only in front of those below the Holy Soul.

Until the Lich was killed, Hong Shi Duke's suppressed nature was released at once.

This secret even Hong Shi Duke did not know, yet Augulevi Master told me, obviously for another purpose.

Because the heart can perceive all phenomena, Reslin knows that his emotional changes are all under Augulevi's control; concealment is useless.

So he asked directly: "Master, why are you telling me this?"

"A person's character is shaped by both innate factors and later influences," Augulevi said. "Kai Ersi Tong, although I created him, his body and his soul came from my hand, yet his personality differs greatly from mine. Especially in recent years he has not secretly ceased his investigation of me; in the past few months he has fully revealed boundless ambition."

"I dislike everything he does."

"The Empire needs someone who can balance him, and you are the most suitable candidate."

Reslin nodded and replied: "I will do my utmost."

He could guess Augulevi Master's mindset.

Even someone who is indifferent to power would find it absolutely intolerable to discover that someone has been coveting his Empire for years, seizing his Fu Kong Cheng, taking over his faction, inheriting his ideals, and taking his wealth!

This is akin to the relationship between an emperor and a crown prince.

Even if the crown prince has been designated as successor, while the old emperor is still alive, the prince may be impatient to ascend the throne; if discovered conducting covert maneuvers, the old emperor in anger could depose the prince outright, even sentencing him to death for treason.

But the old emperor also fears causing a scandal that would lose the realm, so he must wield both kindness and authority.

Thus, Augulevi Master only intends to "balance" Hong Shi Duke, not eliminate him. After all, Hong Shi Duke is the best heir; in a sense, he is Augulevi Master's "crown prince," with blood ties closer than father and son!

Reslin's stance pleased Augulevi greatly.

"Back then I quickly abandoned the failed clone Kai Ersi Tong, for other reasons as well," Augulevi said. "During those years I made new progress studying the master brain of the Spirit-absorbing Monster, and conceived a better method that could completely solve the problem of soul aging."

"Related to the Lich?" Reslin thought, finally getting to the point.

"Exactly!"

Augulevi nodded, his mood somewhat excited: "Actually, before I invented the longevity technique I had considered a Lich ritual, but I could not ensure the soul remained untainted, so I had to abandon that path. Yet a capability of the Spirit-absorbing Monster's master brain showed me a breakthrough."

Reslin's spirit was uplifted.

He traveled thousands of miles to Yilaientu, seeking the master brain's demon soul, which is now finally about to be revealed.

"The master brain has an ability, called 'master brain heart bud' in the Spirit-absorbing Monster's language, but I think 'heart of the master brain' is more appropriate."

Augulevi raised his hand and pointed to his own brain, "It allows the master brain to 'sprout and reproduce' like a plant, using brain tissue to create a sub‑brain that carries the master brain's 'heart soul.' This can be embedded in a magical item, so when the Spirit-absorbing Monster leaves the city it can carry it, stay in contact with the master brain at any time, and receive its assistance."

"The sub‑brain possesses psychic senses, can think independently, and the master brain has absolute control over the sub‑brain, unrestricted by distance or plane."

Reslin's eyes lit up; this was exactly the Element he needed!

He finally understood why his future self, through prophecy, guided him to the Dark Realm to obtain the Spirit-absorbing Monster's master brain demon soul.

As expected, when Lei En fused the master brain's demon soul and used the heart of the master brain to create a sub‑brain, the MutatedPhone also simultaneously loaded the sub‑brain.

He cannot manually forge a crystal core, but can achieve the same goal through this Element.

The sub‑brain is the crystal core!

Augulevi stopped describing the heart of the master brain, stared at Reslin, and said: "My heart, which can perceive all phenomena, senses that you are now very excited."

"Yes." Reslin did not hide it, "The master brain's demon soul can solve my problem."

"Hehe… it also solved my problem."

Augulevi smiled, and Reslin instantly comprehended his words.

The heart of the master brain serves to create crystal cores for me, and for Augulevi Master its function is no less than that of a crystal core; he can create a sub‑brain combined with a clone, perfectly solving the problem of clone betrayal!

Reslin had a flash of insight.

He could not help shouting: "Master, you created a sub‑brain to control a clone, letting it perform a Lich transformation ritual!"

"You reacted quickly, but you're still missing one detail."

Augulevi smiled and nodded, "This sub‑brain, after my modification, weaves its memories, deleting key memories so that it believes it is truly me, and severs its mental sync with the master brain. This prevents me from controlling it; I can only sense it, and it cannot perceive me."

"When it performs the transformation ritual, every change of the soul is under my control."

"Therefore, I also obtained the secret of the Lich ritual."

"Since then I spent over one hundred and fifty years deciphering the transformation ritual and improving it, so that one can become a Lich without sacrificing a soul to it, no longer fearing soul aging, gaining an almost immortal lifespan, and retaining free will, never becoming its minion."

Lei En listened, his mouth agape.

Undead beings are destined to become slaves of the Lord of the Dead, and Liches likewise.

In the history of Ai Lun E Si's world, countless geniuses have risked everything to extend their lives by turning themselves into Liches, yet none have escaped the fate of becoming the Lord of the Dead's minions, without exception.

Augulevi Master is the first!

The Lord of the Dead, one of the Abyss's four great evil deities, is an ancient god whose divine power is boundless; it surpasses the gods of Ai Lun E Si by many levels, and even the gods revere its strength, unable to break its enslavement and control of the undead.

And Augulevi Master, though merely a mortal, achieved what even the gods could not!

At this moment, Reslin felt only one thing.

Augulevi Master truly is the strongest Wizard in history!

Not only powerful, but also great.

It is precisely such world‑shaking ability and dazzling wisdom that allows Augulevi Master to steal the Lich's secret beneath the Lord of the Dead's very nose.

To surpass the gods with mortal wisdom—what a magnificent feat!

"Master…" Reslin expressed sincere admiration.

Augulevi's face showed a somewhat proud expression, and he continued: "Soon after, I also transformed myself into a Lich, becoming the form I have now. Unfortunately, the fragment I left in the Empire, after more than two hundred and fifty years of arduous struggle against soul contamination, ultimately fell completely."

To have persisted for over two hundred and fifty years before falling shows the strength of Augulevi Master's will, even in just a fragment.

Reslin recalled that Hong Shi Duke said Augulevi performed the Lich transformation ceremony around New Era Calendar year 2221.

Calculating the time, that fragment truly became an evil Lich over sixty years ago.

This matches the time point Hong Shi Duke mentioned, when he unintentionally discovered Augulevi had already fallen; such a coincidence clearly indicates an intentional leak by Augulevi Master himself.

"Master, were you the one who told Hong Shi Duke about the Lich's situation?" Reslin asked.

"Of course this is my arrangement," Augulevi Master said with some emotion, "A fallen Lich's destructive power on the Empire is too great; I cannot stand by and watch the Empire perish, and it is inconvenient for me to act directly, so I can only have Kailstone go stop it."

"I see," Reslin said, enlightened, "Everything now makes sense."

No wonder Duke Hong Shi happened to find the Soul Box.

When he learned that the Lich had fallen, he did not act immediately, considering everything from his own perspective, secretly making many preparatory plans, waiting only for the Lich's death to inherit Augulevi Master's legacy, but he did not realize this instead angered the Augulevi Master who had been observing everything from the shadows.

As for why Augulevi Master could not act himself, Reslin also guessed.

First, his current appearance is too terrifying.

Second, if people found out that he had stolen the Lich's transformation ritual secret and spread it, the Disaster Legion or the Death Knot Seal would learn of it and report it to the Lord of the Dead, and that would be disastrous.

The Lord of the Dead would never allow mortals to steal his authority.

No matter how strong Augulevi Master is, he could not possibly stand against this terrifying Abyssal evil god; it seems there is only a dead end.

Therefore, all these years he could only hide in Yilaientu, daring not to step outside.

No!

Reslin then recalled something: the Lich's power was far from that of an ordinary clone; that battle required seven Holy Soul Wizards working together to kill it, and its mastery of time magic alone proved it truly was Forty‑One level!

A name flashed through his mind.

Fetantiles!

When Augulevi previously mentioned this most powerful replica, he only said he had defeated it, without explicitly stating he had killed it. Fetantiles was at Thirty-level when he disappeared, and after more than five hundred years, with Augulevi Master's relentless support, rising to Forty‑One level is not surprising.

Reslin asked directly, "Master, is that Lich Fetantiles?"

"You actually guessed it."

Augulevi was somewhat surprised, nodded and said, "After I defeated Fetantiles, I kept him under my control, recreating his memories every twenty years, letting him relentlessly improve his strength, until I entered this replica with a brain fragment, truly becoming his clone, making him transform into a Lich."

"That's truly a pity," Reslin shook his head; even a Forty‑One level Wizard clone would be willing to give up.

He looked at the grotesquely‑appearing Main Brain Lich, hesitated briefly, and finally said, "Master, I still have a question."

"Ask."

"Why did you merge your own body with the Main Brain instead of turning the 'Heart of the Main Brain' into a Law Seal?" Reslin voiced his doubt.

Augulevi remained silent for a few seconds before replying, "The Heart of the Main Brain is a Physical Element."

"Huh?"

Reslin was stunned by this simple answer.

It turned out to be a Physical Element!

He had assumed it involved abilities like mind or soul fragments, which would be either Arcane Element or Psychic Element, and never considered it a Physical Element.

That was truly deadly; among the three types of Elements, only the Physical Element cannot be forged into a Law Seal.

Augulevi Master, a Wizard of the Law Seal school, can only merge souls with Law Seals; wanting the 'Heart of the Main Brain,' he had to directly fuse the entire Spirit-absorbing Monster's Main Brain with himself, paying a huge price that resulted in an unstable soul defect.

Reslin was completely won over, stood up and said, "You are truly great!"

"Hahaha… great…"

Augulevi laughed heartily, but his Soul Eye saw a hint of helplessness in his emotions; the laughter lasted for over ten seconds before stopping. He suddenly reached into the void, pulling out a massive glass jar filled with pale‑blue seawater, within which floated a brain‑like sphere bearing six tentacles; the tentacles swayed intermittently, showing it was still alive.

Reslin, upon seeing the brain in the jar, couldn't help but look slightly stunned.

It's a Spirit-absorbing Monster's Main Brain!

It's 5 o'clock, 5,500 words, time to sleep!

(End of chapter)