Chapter 989: Level 23 Wizard

The inventor of the Ao Wo Soul‑Breaking Technique is a Holy Soul Lich named "Ao Wo".

It is one of the world's oldest Holy Soul Lichs, its power and fame equal to Sazastan, and it also leads the "Death Knot Seal". In life it was a famous black wizard; after becoming a lich, its behavior is even more eccentric than before.

Ao Wo's most famous deed is being attracted by the beauty of Laila Ao Luo Sang, kidnapping and controlling her with a Legend Grade magical item, and even intending to take her as a wife.

Later, Laila was rescued by the Heistav City Lord, and the two were married.

Ao Wo thus became a laughingstock, but this did not affect its magical prowess; it invented many necromancy spells, and the Ao Wo Soul‑Breaking Technique is one of them.

This necromancy spell can separate a living target's soul from its body, turning it into a living dead. The spell is cruel: the extracted soul is left to be butchered, while the empty shell of the body becomes the best magical material for necromancers.

Lei En used Wish Spell to simulate the Ao Wo Soul‑Breaking Technique.

At the cost of dozens of energy units, the spell completed quickly, a shaft of gray‑white light shot from Lei En's hand and instantly entered the front of the Giant Phagocyte Worm.

The Giant Phagocyte Worm, under the effect of Mind Control, offered no resistance.

Soon, the spell took effect.

The Giant Phagocyte Worm's soul was completely undefended; the Soul Eye saw its soul sliced by an invisible force, as if an unseen hand forcibly pulled the magic soul from its body, and a gray‑white light sphere hovered above the worm.

Lei En tossed the prepared soul stone, capturing the light sphere.

The entire process was silent and unseen.

Lei En retrieved the soul stone through the void, the magic soul inside caught his eye, the phantom of the Giant Phagocyte Worm materialized, and five Legend Grade Elements were prominently listed.

The Giant Phagocyte Worm's magic soul was not powerful, merely an ordinary Saint Rank magic soul, which could be merged on its own.

"This spell is impressive!"

Lei En exclaimed in admiration.

The Giant Phagocyte Worm still lay on the ground, its ocean‑vast life force undiminished, retaining vigor as if in a deep slumber.

The greatest strength of the Ao Wo Soul‑Breaking Technique lies in that after the soul is separated, the empty shell retains abilities based on its physical traits. In other words, besides the Arcane Element, the bodily and supernatural elements remain usable.

The next step is to control it.

Controlling a living being is hard; controlling an empty shell is far simpler.

Lei En instantly thought of many spells—Star Realm Projection, monster domination, high‑level enslavement technique, magic soul jar, evil spirit technique, and True Spirit Possession Technique, among others—each could achieve control over the Giant Phagocyte Worm, but there are some differences.

Monster domination and high‑level enslavement have relatively short durations, are cumbersome to maintain, and are easy to dispel, so they are ruled out first.

The magic soul jar requires crafting casting materials and yields a weak control effect, also excluded.

The evil spirit technique requires an indirect control via a demon's soul, carrying unpredictable risks, so it should be avoided if possible.

The optimal choice is between Star Realm Projection and True Spirit Possession Technique; pick one of the two.

Both are Nine‑ring Techniques, one Arcane and one mind spell, each with pros and cons. Star Realm Projection uses the Star Realm as a bridge, projecting the caster's Willpower onto the target, allowing cross‑plane manipulation with virtually no distance limitation.

The target controlled by Star Realm Projection possesses the same casting ability as the original, consuming the original's mana or soul energy.

But there is a drawback: when the projected duplicate casts, the original cannot move.

At the same time, the original also loses casting ability.

This means the original and the projected duplicate cannot cast simultaneously; for the vast majority of Star Realm Projection users, this is not a major issue.

Because they usually employ Star Realm Projection for planar travel, leaving the original in a high tower or absolutely safe spot on the Prime Material Plane; even if the projected duplicate dies, the Willpower instantly returns to the original, causing no harm.

True Spirit Possession Technique creates a mind duplicate that attaches to and occupies the target's body, thereby achieving control.

Like Star Realm Projection, True Spirit Possession Technique has no distance limit and can manipulate across planes.

However, True Spirit Possession Technique lacks casting ability; it can only employ the abilities already present in the possessed body. Moreover, during control it occupies the mana or soul energy of one Nine‑ring Technique, reducing the caster's total mana and soul energy.

If the target controlled by True Spirit Possession Technique dies, it will inflict a soul wound on the caster.

In summary.

Star Realm Projection is favored more by Grand Mage and Holy Soul Wizard; it has low requirements for the target, allowing cross‑plane movement with any chosen body, making it very safe.

True Spirit Possession Technique has greater restrictions; the target must be sufficiently powerful, and it carries considerable risk.

Typically, True Spirit Possession Technique is used less frequently. Only when defeating and capturing a powerful enemy—especially one with casting ability—that one is reluctant to kill outright, will one employ the technique to control the foe as a duplicate.

Lei En is currently in that situation.

The Giant Phagocyte Worm's soul was separated by the Ao Wo Soul‑Breaking Technique, leaving an empty shell that is a perfect vessel for True Spirit Possession Technique.

It possesses a massive, nearly unkillable life force; the abilities "Undying Body," "Devour," and "Wormhole" are also retained, and when occupied by True Spirit Possession Technique, its mind duplicate carries the "True Will," granting immunity to attacks on the soul.

Thus, before the Giant Phagocyte Worm lifts the Foolish Curse, there is almost no difference.

However, Lei En did not begin immediately.

He considered another possibility: could his brain fragment crystal control the Giant Phagocyte Worm?

"The Heart of the Primary Brain" creates fragment souls, undoubtedly superior to True Spirit Possession Technique; the "Blank" fragment soul can be cultivated and upgraded, with huge potential, possibly becoming a Giant Worm Mage duplicate in the future.

Although a fragment soul with attached Elements cannot be upgraded, it starts at Legend Grade Mid‑stage, possessing the True Will and numerous spells; combined with the Giant Phagocyte Worm's body, its applications are limitless, far surpassing its role as a mere slave duplicate.

However, a fragment soul can only be housed in a magical item.

The reason it can merge with a clone is due to Augulevi Master's centuries‑long research; the magical notebook "Creation Art" given by the Master records the relevant details.

Augulevi Master tried many times to embed fragment souls into living beings for control, but all attempts failed except with his own clone.

However, the notebook does not mention the empty shells created by the Ao Wo Soul‑Breaking Technique.

"I'll give it a try."

In fact, Lei En had already guessed the outcome; the Prophecy Spell also hinted at the answer, yet he still couldn't resist trying.

He instantly activated "Heart of the Primary Brain", creating a brain fragment crystal.

A burst of light shot into the front of the Giant Phagocyte Worm.

The Soul Eye saw the brain fragment crystal linger inside for a few seconds, attempting to merge, generating some fluctuations before being quickly expelled.

Repeated attempts yielded no effect; there was no sign of successful fusion.

"What a pity."

Lei En retrieved the brain fragment crystal and could only employ True Spirit Possession Technique.

He was just about to simulate a spell with Wish Spell, recalled the vision of the Prophecy Spell, and decided to let Reslin control the Giant Devouring Worm. Although the Giant Devouring Worm is very hard to eliminate, it is not absolutely Undying, and the backlash of the True Spirit Possession Technique would wound the host's soul; let Reslin bear that risk.

It happened that Reslin had long mastered the True Spirit Possession Technique.

The thought just formed, Reslin, while invisible, completed the casting; a pain struck his mind, and the mana consumed by the Nine-ring Technique condensed into a spiritual duplicate, flying toward the Giant Devouring Worm.

The spiritual duplicate merged into the massive body, quickly reacted, replacing the already separated demon soul, occupying the husk and becoming the new master of that body.

Boom!

The Giant Devouring Worm, which had not moved for a long time, raised its front end.

Lei En felt its state; nothing had changed, it looked just like when Erde controlled it.

Only, the Giant Devouring Worm had become a duplicate of his duplicate!

Ai Luotixi Ya, Pa Su Wei Ao and Wei Tu Ka, three Demons, just approached, and upon seeing the Giant Devouring Worm move again, were startled.

"Lei En…"

The succubus called out in a mental transmission.

"Don't worry." Lei En replied secretly, "It now follows my orders."

The other two Demon Lords, unaware of the situation, were filled with terror, about to speak, when the Giant Devouring Worm opened its huge mouth, spewed a beam of dim light, quickly opened a massive wormhole, and its body dove into it, disappearing into the deep void.

"It left?" Pa Su Wei Ao said, somewhat incredulous.

Wei Tu Ka was also uncertain, but his knowledge was vast; from Lei En's repeated loud shouts earlier, it was clearly the Wish Spell.

The Giant Devouring Worm's departure must be linked to that mysterious Dream Demon Lord.

Wish Spell!

The King of Ten Thousand Laws, the strongest spell in the world!

Every caster who masters the Wish Spell is connected to the God of Magic VijesCui, at least as a follower, and more likely as a Chosen One!

Wei Tu Ka suddenly doubted, could the God of Magic be behind them?

Lei En sensed the thoughts of the Satyr Demon Lord, gave a faint glance, Wei Tu Ka's heart trembled, the speculation he wanted to voice swallowed back, his face lit with great joy, and he shouted, "Congratulations, Master! The Crawler must revere your power, the divine punishment has ended!"

Ai Luotixi Ya also reacted.

She nodded slightly and ordered, "Summon the great demons under your command, stop the army from running amok, reorganize, and come meet me at Wang Long Fortress."

"As you command, Master!"

The two Demon Lords took the order and left.

After they departed, Ai Luotixi Ya whispered, "Lei En, did you really control that Giant Devouring Worm?"

"Of course." Lei En smiled, "If you ever need it, it can join the battle."

The succubus was both shocked and delighted.

She had already witnessed the Giant Devouring Worm's devastating power on the battlefield; if there are enemies it cannot chew through, release it, and even if a fleeing Demon Lord cannot be killed, it can still deal devastating blows to the enemy's army and territory.

"Where did it go now?" Ai Luotixi Ya asked curiously; since Lei En controlled the Giant Devouring Worm, it certainly would not return to the 399th layer Worm Realm.

Lei En replied, "The Dark Region."

The Giant Devouring Worm's wormhole works like interdimensional teleportation, allowing travel through the void to distant planes, but precise spatiotemporal coordinates are hard to pinpoint, so the landing point may deviate.

However, it has its own phase walkers to guide it.

Phase markers are the best navigation for wormholes; without preparation they can pinpoint accurately, opening the wormhole directly to the locations of those dozens of phase markers.

The "wormhole" ability overlaps somewhat with interdimensional teleportation.

Yet it is not entirely useless.

It can maintain a controllable planar channel for a relatively long time, saving the time and cost of establishing a cross‑plane transmission array, sending an entire massive army at top speed for planar warfare, without relying on Star Destroyer transport.

Of course, the premise is that when merging the Giant Devouring Worm's demon soul, this Element will not be lost.

Lei En was getting impatient.

"Ai Luotixi Ya, you go reorganize the demon army; I will be on the Star Destroyer for the next few days; if anything, come find me."

"Alright." The succubus nodded.

Lei En finished speaking and teleported to the bridge, sat on the central throne, and the mobile phone interface opened in his view.

The first thing he looked at was "My World".

It had been activated since the battle began and still hadn't ended; the pixel icon kept flashing.

"That long?"

Lei En couldn't help but wonder.

What was this thing even for, just activation, yet it lagged over an hour without ending; even a phone boot isn't that slow.

He waited a moment longer; the pixel icon still flashed.

So he could only first observe the Giant Devouring Worm's demon soul, five legendary Elements, level 16 Toughness and level 12 Strength, which didn't boost him much. Toughness would merge with the Titanium Extreme Golden Body, but that body is already at level 5; he must wait for the next Soul Transformation to upgrade further.

Level 12 Strength cannot stack his own strength to level 19; even if possible, the benefit is minimal.

Then comes the Undying Body.

The Giant Devouring Worm is almost impossible to kill precisely because of the Undying Body; combined with its massive physique and endless vitality, it's basically a BUG.

Lei En doesn't have that much vitality, so the Undying Body's effect is greatly reduced.

Moreover, the Titanium Extreme Golden Body together with Activated Metal works, restoring injuries at the cost of consuming energy, an effect similar to the Undying Body.

This Element is merely icing on the cake.

At most it makes his recovery speed a bit faster, making him even harder to kill.

The wormhole needs no further comment; Lei En is more interested in "Devour". The Soul Eye sensed the information: "Devour" ingests whatever enters its stomach, whether living or dead, and the vast majority can be digested, replenishing stamina and soul power—any energy he needs.

This ability is truly god‑defying!

However, the Giant Devouring Worm cannot cast spells; lacking mana and soul power, the matter it digests is merely converted into stamina.

The material "Devour" ingests can also be left undigested and transmitted to a designated space.

The Giant Devouring Worm's "Devouring" space points to the 399th layer of the Abyss's Worm Kingdom; I definitely need to change places.

Lei En looked at the pixel icon still activating, didn't wait longer, stuck the soul stone on his forehead, extracted the Giant Devouring Worm's magic soul, and entered the soul space.

He closed his eyes and began the fusion.

A few minutes later.

Lei En opened his eyes, gently exhaled a breath, the fusion succeeded!

The Giant Devouring Worm's magic soul frequency is very close to mine, the fusion degree exceeds 80%, and none of the five legendary elements were lost.

"I'm a Level 23 Wizard!"

Lei En thought: "If I fuse another magic soul to reach Level 24, I can aim for a mid-level Holy Soul."

He was about to feel the new element's specific effect; on the phone interface, the pixel icon suddenly stopped flashing, the constantly changing pixel colors quickly stabilized, the entire icon was divided into nine sections, like a nine-grid, each section a different color.

Activation complete, it can now be activated!

(End of chapter)