Chapter 256

"That little princess of the Wang Guan Clan—Yi Fu, is only fourteen years old this year. She has never practiced meditation for a single day, but the naturally grown magic power is already close to the critical point of a formal wizard.

For various occult knowledge and spell construction, she can remember them at a glance, and can even give improvement plans after reading them once."

Lei Nuozi' tone carried undisguised admiration, yet felt a bit regretful:

"If there were no 'Magic Devouring' symptoms, she would likely become the fastest formal wizard to be promoted in wizard history, and even hope to surpass those famous geniuses in history. But the reality is..."

He picked up his wine glass and took a light sip:

"Her condition is getting worse day by day. It is said that she now needs to stay in a special magic isolation room all year round to slow down the progress of 'Magic Devouring.'

Meditation cannot be done, other cultivation cannot be carried out, and even the most basic spell construction is completely forbidden. That level of talent, yet it has to be wasted like this..."

Luo En put down the wine glass in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Since she is a member of the Wang Guan Clan."

His eyes were full of doubt:

"There should be a Great One like the Wizard King protecting her from behind. As far as I know, the Wang Guan Clan directly inherited the bloodline of the 'King of Absurdity.' Could it be that even that Great One cannot solve this problem?"

"'King of Absurdity'... That Great One indeed transcends all scales we can understand."

Lei Nuozi sighed, put the wine glass back on the table, and his fingertips slid gently across the rim of the glass:

"In fact, everyone can think of bringing Yi Fu to a magic isolation environment, or helping her improve her physical endurance.

Those conventional methods Spire Master Cassandra had already tried long ago, and even the most precise bloodline modulation and the most precious magic potions were used, but they could only barely maintain her physiological balance and could not solve the problem from the root."

His gaze became profound, as if seeing some distant end through Luo En:

"There is a rumor... saying that Yi Fu's situation is not an ordinary disease or talent mutation, but a backlash at the rule level."

Luo En's eyes narrowed slightly, his pupils shimmering with focus in the candlelight: "Rule backlash?"

"Yes, the more her constitution grows, the more obvious the symptoms of 'Magic Devouring' become, as if the rules of the entire world are rejecting her existence."

Dozens of possible explanations and response plans flashed in Luo En's heart, but he remained calm on the surface:

"Did that Wizard King ancestor not help? With His power, rule restrictions should not be a problem."

Lei Nuozi shook his head with a bitter smile, revealing awe for the mysteries of rules in his eyes:

"Even a Wizard King must follow certain most fundamental laws.

That King of Absurdity naturally would also be bound by some rules we cannot understand, and cannot directly interfere with this kind of 'backlash.'

He can only give Yi Fu the most basic protection, so that she is not in life-threatening danger and maintains normal physiological functions..."

His voice was low and heavy:

"But the premise is that she cannot carry out any form of extraordinary cultivation.

Once she attempts to mobilize magic or construct spells, that hidden 'backlash' will immediately erupt and devour her life."

Luo En was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping the table gently.

Data about "backlash" and various curses in the Memory Palace flowed rapidly.

"What is Great Wizard Cassandra herself doing?"

He finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity: "I find it hard to imagine a mother would just give up on her child like this."

Lei Nuozi looked at the flickering lights outside the window:

"Spire Master Cassandra often disappears without a trace over these years. She shuttles between countless different worlds, and has sent countless elites of the Crystal Spire deep into the abyss for exploration.

This time is also the same; on the surface, she is expanding the abyss monitoring network, but in reality..."

He made a collecting gesture:

"Many people speculate that she is frantically collecting various extraordinary resources, looking for a way to untie her daughter's curse."

"Wait... I suddenly thought of an interesting possibility."

"What possibility?"

Luo En raised his eyebrows, his heart already perceiving the other's meaning.

"You are simultaneously proficient in magic potion studies and bloodline modulation, and possess the unique perspective of a Primordial Wizard..."

Lei Nuozi said slowly, the light in his eyes becoming brighter and brighter, like a child who found a treasure:

"This combination is rare in the entire wizarding world.

Perhaps one day, you can try to solve Yi Fu's 'Magic Devouring' problem? After all, a Primordial Wizard's understanding of higher levels far surpasses ordinary people."

His tone was between a joke and seriousness:

"Great Wizard Cassandra once publicly announced that anyone who can cure Yi Fu can choose three treasures from the Wang Guan Clan's treasury.

As far as I know, that treasury contains all the accumulations of the Wang Guan Clan since several eras ago.

From the highest-end alchemical devices to the most ancient forbidden classics, from rare starry sky crystals to mysterious knowledge of other worlds, everything is available.

Just taking out any item is enough to benefit an ordinary wizard for a lifetime."

Luo En was indeed tempted by this proposal in his heart, but he just nodded slightly on the surface:

"This proposal is indeed tempting, but before considering treating others, I still have many of my own topics that need to be solved.

Moreover, without personally checking the patient's condition, it is impossible to make a rash conclusion about a complex symptom like 'Magic Devouring' based on hearsay."

Deep in his heart, he had already begun to think about how to incorporate this potential opportunity into his research system.

Cassandra's daughter was undoubtedly an extremely special research subject.

If he could observe or even participate in the treatment at close range, not only could it provide him with precious high-level knowledge, but it might also allow him to come into contact with those precious resources that were usually difficult to obtain.

Most importantly, if he really succeeded in solving this problem, the friendship of the Wang Guan Clan and the promise of three treasures would provide a solid foundation for his long-term development plan.

However, all of this was premised on his ability to do it, and with his "Ancient Alchemist" advancement route that was completely invisible at the moment, wanting to do these things was obviously still too far away...

"Of course, of course, I understand what you mean; it is still too early to talk about these."

Lei Nuozi smiled and raised his wine glass, his eyes flashing with a bit of cunning:

"Speaking of which, Great Wizard Cassandra was born more than two hundred years ago, and she was also the last one to be successfully promoted to a Primordial Wizard. In this respect, she can barely be considered your senior..."

Luo En did not pick up this topic either, just continued to ask:

"Let's not talk about that Great Wizard; I am instead more interested in the Wang Guan Clan's treasury."

He raised his empty wine glass and signaled politely:

"What level of treasures are collected inside?"

Lei Nuozi leaned forward slightly:

"The specific content is naturally highly confidential, but it is said that it contains several legendary ancient objects, and may even contain the collection of that Great One."

His voice carried a kind of near-obsessive yearning:

"There is a rumor that a 'Time Fragment' of the King of Absurdity is preserved in the deepest part of the treasury—anyone who gazes at it once can see all possible future branches of themselves."

"There is also the 'Otherworld Encyclopedia' collected by Him—it is an ancient book recording the higher cultivation systems of other worlds..."

"'Can see one's own future, and otherworld cultivation systems... truly worthy of the Wizard King's collection,'" Luo En repeated softly.

The items collected by existences known as "Great Ones," even if it was just the most insignificant one, contained power and mysteries beyond ordinary people's imagination.

Lei Nuozi keenly captured the interest in the other's eyes, and a knowing smile appeared on the corner of his mouth:

"It seems the Wang Guan Clan's treasury has indeed moved you? I am not surprised; which wizard can remain indifferent to the Wizard King's collection?"

He shook the wine in the glass gently, admiring the dancing light and shadow in the amber liquid:

"After all, even the most ordinary Wizard King collection is enough to change a wizard's destiny."

"Speaking of which."

Lei Nuozi said this and also relaxed his posture slightly, one leg crossed casually:

"I have always been curious, what prompted you to choose the True Path? That path is almost ten deaths and no life, even in the Central Land, few people dare to try."

Luo En was silent for a moment, his gaze cast toward the night sky outside the window, seemingly thinking about how to express this complex decision.

Outside the window, the night of the Glazed Archipelago was deep and beautiful.

The evening breeze brushed gently, bringing the salty smell of the distant sea, mixed with the fragrance of strange flowers on the island.

"Everyone has their own path that must be walked."

He finally just said this:

"I did not deliberately choose to take risks, just at a specific moment, certain decisions will emerge naturally."

He turned around and looked directly at Lei Nuozi:

"Traditional paths, although safe, also mean accepting a certain degree of restrictions and filtering.

The 'Key' magic potion, although it can stably open the Gate of Wisdom, also installs a permanent limiter for that gate."

The young wizard's voice gradually became deeper:

"The True Path, although dangerous, can allow people to face those most primitive and purest sources of power directly."

From the day he learned the truth about wizard cultivation, he had clarified his goal.

—Not just to become a powerful wizard, but to become a Great Existence that truly understands and even dominates the world.

Lei Nuozi' eyes revealed undisguised admiration, even carrying a bit of envy:

"In this era where comfort has become the norm, wizards who dare to face danger are indeed becoming fewer and fewer."

His voice carried quite a bit of empathy:

"Too many people are satisfied with safe and steady routes, forgetting that true power is often accompanied by an equal amount of risk.

Those great wizards in history were all tireless in their exploration of the abyss, extracting order from chaos, and finding hope in despair."

Lei Nuozi raised his wine glass, his eyes carrying respect:

"To your courage and talent. I have a premonition that the wizarding world will be different because of your existence."

Luo En also raised his wine glass and touched it gently:

"Likewise to your frankness and friendliness; I hope our friendship can continue for a long time."

Outside the window, the night of the Glazed Archipelago deepened, and the stars cast shimmering ripples on the sea surface, like two smooth mirrors reflecting each other.

………………

The golden light of the dancing dawn passed through the porthole, spilling onto the deck, plating the entire space with a dreamlike halo.

Occasionally, a few peculiar flying creatures passed through the clouds, demonstrating the wonderful diversity of the extraordinary world.

Luo En stood at the very front of the stargazing deck, his hands on the railing, his gaze crossing the rolling clouds, staring at the gradually clearing outline in the distance.

The breeze brushed across his face, bringing a hint of fresh water vapor, mixed with some indescribable magic aura; this aura became more and more obvious as the distance to the Central Land shortened.

"Dawn Port," a border city of the Central Land, had already appeared on the horizon.

Looking from afar, it was like a brilliant gem embedded in the earth, with the archipelago and coastline intertwined into a beautiful arc, forming a wonderful scene that was half-realistic and half-dreamlike.

The sea area around the port presented an abnormal blue-purple tone, implying the special magic rich in the water area there.

Even in the border area of the Central Land, the magic concentration was already significantly higher than in the Glazed Archipelago.

Visible light blue ripples floated in the air, like tiny waves on the water surface, shimmering with pearl-like light under the sunlight.

This level of magic, although not comparable to the surging concentration in the core area as rumored, was a brand new experience for Luo En, who had never visited the Central Land before.

Other passengers on the stargazing deck were also attracted by this spectacular scene, unable to help but make exclamations, one after another approaching the railing, competing to appreciate this scene.

The beauty and mystery of Dawn Port was one of the many legends among the people of the Ring Abyss Continent; now seeing it with their own eyes, these passengers truly understood the extraordinary nature within.

These border port cities were the bridge for communication between the Central Land and the outside world.

Cargo ships and merchant ships came and went endlessly, and various races lived here, constituting a prosperous yet chaotic picture.

Looking down from high altitude, one could clearly see the busy scene around the port.

Ships were arranged like ants at the pier, and various skin colors and body types of creatures shuttled between them.

The market was crowded with people, the streets crisscrossed, forming a vibrant picture scroll.

"Shocking?"

Lei Nuozi' voice came from behind; he did not know when he had already stood beside Luo En.

The man's side face was plated with a golden edge by the morning sun, his eyes flashing with intimacy for returning to his old home:

"This is just the border zone; the magic concentration is far from the core area.

Dawn Port is stronger than the outside world, but for formal wizards like us, it is still within the comfort range."

He pointed to the high altitude shrouded in clouds and mist in the far distance, his voice full of yearning:

"The real miracle is there—the 'City of the Sky' floating high in the sky.

There are a total of seven main cities and dozens of satellite cities there; their central points are connected by invisible energy bridges, constituting the magic core area of the Central Land."

Luo En looked in the direction of his finger, his gaze piercing through the morning mist.

Although it was too far to see clearly, he could feel the surging magic fluctuations coming from that direction.

Like the roar of the distant sea, as long as one perceived it slightly, one could detect the different energy rhythm there, like some huge heart beating.

"If I remember correctly, that is where the headquarters of all the schools are located?"

Luo En was naturally also very curious about this; after all, what was actually seen was far beyond what was recorded in books.

"Exactly."

Lei Nuozi nodded, his palm patting the railing lightly:

"The most special feature of this dream city standing high in the sky is that whether it is a main city or a satellite city, there is a core tower providing energy."

His voice became solemn, his tone carrying a hint of awe:

"The Spire Master of each satellite city's core tower is a Dark Sun-level wizard, and they are recognized as having the potential to advance to Great Wizard, condensing the Void Skeleton prototype.

The Spire Masters of the main cities are the Great Wizards who serve as absolute leaders; they are both the masters of each school and the guardians of the entire City of the Sky."

(End of chapter)