Mankestre Bloodline Warlock
The emblem was rather small, the back being a bronze base.
After seeing the symbol on the front, Leylin's pupils suddenly shrunk.
It was a giant black serpent formed from numerous runes, holding its tail in its mouth and forming a strange circular imprint.
"That symbol! I've seen it before in the Dylan Gardens!" Leylin obviously would not have forgotten this. The memory was still fresh in his mind.
When he was in the Dylan Gardens, there was a large oil painting of this black snake holding its tail in its mouth in Great Magus Serholm's inheritance. Behind that oil painting had been where Leylin had obtained Kemoyin's Pupil.
This symbol could be said to mark the beginning of Leylin's path as a Warlock!
"Him being a Warlock, the resonance of our bloodlines, and the symbol!" Leylin weighed the emblem in his palm, "Looks like he was what the Coin of Destiny was leading me towards."
"What? Reynold, you know him?" Old Pharen asked.
"No, but I need to rescue him." Leylin's tone was light but held within an unquestionable resolve.
"My apologies, but if you insist, we can only part ways here. I don't want to meet with any trouble."
As a Magus, Pharen instinctively declined.
A rank 1 Magus like that usually represented some form of trouble, and Pharen had no wish to provoke it.
Besides, he and Leylin had merely met en route and just got along well. He wasn't close enough to Leylin that he'd take risks for him.
"Of course. You can leave first." Leylin answered, not finding Pharen's choice strange.
If Pharen was the type to ardently insist on staying with him, he wouldn't have been able to live to this age.
"I'm sorry!" With an apologetic look on his face, he made to get on the carriage and leave.
"Stop right there!" At this moment, a sudden sound was heard, bringing with it a loud boom.
Five or six streaks of glaring lights shone over from the skies, and by the time the shine dissipated, the figures of six different Magi had appeared.
They were evidently a mix of races, and the presence of dark elves and dwarves surprised Leylin,
*Rumble!* Amidst the flying dust, a group of elite Underground Winter Spider knights and dwarven soldiers hurried over.
"Human Magus?"
The dwarf and dark elf in charge furrowed their brows after seeing Leylin and Pharen.
Twilight Zone was now a place where the human race had the highest status. Even in the outer regions, human Magi would be respected. Of course, if they were in the desolate outskirts, there would be situations where these races murdered humans and robbed them of their treasures.
Although such acts occurred, there would be no traces left behind, lest the humans use it as a cause to invade.
It was difficult to eliminate two Magi and prevent news from spreading.
"This is a despicable thief that stole the sacred item that our two races are jointly protecting. Magi, please don't misunderstand!" The dark elven and dwarven Magi warned them.
"Protecting a sacred item? What is it?" Leylin curiously scanned the unconscious middle-aged Warlock with his spiritual force and then found a green bundle of vines in his arms.
A concentrated life force extended from within the vine ball.
"So it's this!" A look of understanding flashed in Leylin's eyes.
This bundle of vines was actually called the Vitality Fruitvine, and it held within a large amount of life force essence. To those races that trained in meditation techniques like the dark elves' Life Absorption, it was truly invaluable.
It could replenish much life force and treat injuries or even save lives and was naturally thought of highly by soldiers and the artisan dwarves. That was why these two races were looking after it together.
The reason why Leylin was so knowledgeable on this was because this fruit had always been a major product in the dark elves' and dwarves' yearly offerings, and Leylin enjoyed a whole portion of them alone.
Because of him, there was a shortage of these Vitality Fruitvines. Even the theft of one fruit would result in one getting in much trouble and being hunted down.
"Though you are human Magi, these sacred items have to be offered up to the Guardian of the Realm, Lord Leylin!"
Seeing Leylin still unmoved, a dark elf threatened.
"Magus Reynold, you've brought me trouble!" Pharen laughed bitterly.
Pharen naturally knew of the famous Guardian of the Realm. Se was the ruler of the entirety of Twilight Zone!
Even he, a wandering Magus, had many mentors and acolytes to take care of. He could not truly break away from them.
At the mention of the legendary rank 3 Magus, Pharen seemed to have plans of casting away this troublesome matter. "Reynold, we…"
"Pfft-!" Leylin could not hold it in and began to laugh.
The smile on his face became so big that he even bent down, holding his belly with both hands, unable to rein in his laughter.
"Human Magus, why are you laughing?" Their leaders exchanged a glance, having a bad feeling.
At this time, they took note of the handsome young man in front of them, his face seeming to be exceptionally familiar with them.
"It's the first time someone's used my own name to threaten me!" After laughing, Leylin's expression darkened.
At the same time, there was a strange change to his face, as if there was a spontaneous removal of some concealing method.
An aura similar to the awakening of an ancient wild beast began to emanate from his body.
*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!* The eight legs of the Underground Winter Spiders began to tremble and they weakly fell to the ground. The Underground Winter Spider knights and Dwarven soldiers all fell.
Leylin took a step forward, and space seemed to freeze.
The six Magi in mid-air were forced to the ground, expressions full of terror.
"You- You- You're Leylin Farlier, the Guardian of Twilight Zone, the Great Emperor of the Night!"
Pharen's mouth widened, his goatee sticking up. His fingers were trembling and he was so scared he was almost unable to speak.
Goodness! So the one who had been journeying with him was the lord Guardian whose name had spread far and wide? The one who was almost deified?
Pharen immediately searched through his memories until he found he had not said anything unpleasant about Nature's Alliance or Leylin himself, and then heaved a sigh of relief.
After that, however, his heart got stuck in his throat once more.
Previously, he had been planning on leaving Leylin and that Magus to flee for his life. Would this behaviour gain the displeasure of the Radiant Guardian?
Compared to the inner conflicts Pharen had, the blow Leylin's appearance had towards these other races was completely different.
"Greetings to lord Guardian of the Realm!" The dark elven and dwarven Magi immediately bowed.
Even if he were a fake, the unique energy undulations from a rank 3 Magus could not be mistaken.
The Magi of both races had a very deep impression of Leylin's expression, and even if they were turned to dust, they would not get it wrong.
After all, Leylin had destroyed the splendour their two races had possessed, and even killed their rulers brazenly!
Leylin was now like a devil king or monster to them.
"En! Tell the people behind you that I'm going to take this man. This Vitality Fruitvine will also be considered part of this year's portion." Leylin indifferently ordered.
He was not planning to use raw force because that would just be bullying them.
"Understood, my lord." The dark elven and dwarven Magi heaved a long sigh, bowed, and then withdrew quickly as if there was a great monster chasing them.
The news of Leylin's appearance here was much too mind-blowing, and they had to bring this news to their higher-ups immediately to be able to respond.
...
"Are you awake? If you are, come here!" The middle-aged Magus opened his eyes, Leylin's voice sounding by his ear.
He immediately got up and saw Leylin standing aside, playing with a test tube full of blood. Within that test tube were strands of earthen-yellow that had congealed, unable to scatter.
"Kubler greets my lord!" he immediately knelt respectfully, looking deferential and awed, as if a wolf that had seen its king.
Leylin had sensed this. He had the feeling that through his bloodline, he could influence this Magus.
This was a terrifying thing.
"The Huge Mankestre Snake! Your bloodline comes from the Wilted Huge Mankestre Snake." Leylin concluded.
"Yes. Warlock of the Mankestre Bloodline, Kubler, greets my lord!" he bowed once more.
"No wonder…" Leylin shook his head.
He finally understood the strange feeling he got from this man.
The Wilted Huge Snake Mankestre was said to have a trace of the bloodline of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent. Though it was thinned out, it was still a descendant of the Kemoyin Serpent.
In the face of a true Warlock of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent, it was natural to be affected and suppressed by him.
When Leylin was still an acolyte, he had once seen a Huge Mankestre Snake. Though it was still young, it was enough to cause him a headache.
The matured body of this Huge Mankestre Snake was comparable to that of an official Magus. Though it was nothing in Leylin's eyes now, that was a terrifying strength for acolytes.
"Well then, tell me your history and your reason in coming here."
Leylin spoke expressionlessly, though his eyes were enough for Kubler's heart to turn cold.
Though he could not use spirit-searching spells on official Magi, it was very easy for Leylin, a Warlock who had already advanced to rank 3, to completely smash the spirit and extract spirit fragments from him.
Though he would not get a complete set of information if he did that, and this Warlock would definitely die, it was very possible.
Fortunately, Kubler was evidently a sharp-witted man and deathly afraid of Leylin. Soon enough, he systematically narrated his origins.
After hearing a few words, Leylin's expression became grim.
Central Continent
Kubler claimed to be a Magus from the central continent.
The hometown of the great Magus Serholm, the core of the entire Magus world, The sacred land of Magi—the central continent!
As for why Kubler was at this place, Leylin could not care less. On the contrary, he was very interested in the route Kubler had taken to get here.
If they were to walk this path in the opposite direction, would they be able to successfully reach the central continent? Leylin spoke the question in his mind,
Kubler's face showed a moment of hesitation before he respectfully divulged the truth, "In actual fact, the surface right above this subterranean world is the central continent! I learnt of the exact spot where the lava erupts from a research manual passed down through my family. After calculating the weaker points in the lava, I followed the pathway to arrive at this place.
Having heard Kubler's account, Leylin more or less understood the procedure of his entrance.
On the whole, this was like what he had previously envisaged, and would also explain why the other party's body had horrifying burn wounds—no matter how precise his calculations of the lava's weak points were, the flames and the high temperature were not something a rank 1 Magus could bear.
If he had not by chanced upon the Life Vined Fruit, he might have already become a charred corpse!
"Mmm! I already settled the inconvenience with the dark elves and dwarves. You can have this as a reward for being open with your information!" Leylin waved his hands and threw the Life Vined Fruit into Kubler's hands.
"Thank you, my Lord!" A tinge of gratitude appeared on Kubler's face.
To him, managing to keep his life had already been a huge reward. As for the fruit that was full of vitality, it was a welcome surprise.
*Sizzle!* A few fine red blood vessels sprouted forth from his fingers, drilled into the insides of the fruit, and started to draw large amounts of life essence.
With a lively green radiance appearing on his body, his burn wounds recovered quickly. The scars gradually faded, eventually disappearing without a trace.
The scene reminded Leylin of the parasitic body of the Huge Mankestre Snake he had seen as an acolyte. The two seemed to have a certain level of similarity in their abilities.
Moreover, the method of directly drawing in vitality seemed to be inspired by the meditation techniques that could absorb others' spiritual force.
Of course, those were all small matters.
Having seen Kubler's state improving, Leylin then asked him about the Black Serpent emblem "Also, this symbol. What meaning does it actually have?"
"What? My lord actually doesn't know?" His response further surprised Leylin, but Kubler calmed down a moment after his reaction. "It doesn't matter, the bloodline cannot be faked."
After seeing Leylin's look of puzzlement, Kubler immediately explained to Leylin: "This is a symbol of our organisation—the Ouroboros Clan!"
"The Ouroboros Clan?" Leylin nodded, that name was indeed very vivid: "Is that an organisation of Bloodline Warlocks?"
"Yes! Furthermore, within the Ouroboros Clan, we only accept Warlocks who hold the bloodline of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent or its descendants!" Kubler answered very certainly.
"Additionally, a Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlock with great power, simply by joining the Ouroboros Clan, could instantly obtain a relatively high rank…" he added after shooting Leylin a glance.
"Since this is the case, then I have nothing much to hide!" Leylin laughed. "In actual fact, I too am a wandering Magus. I came to Twilight Zone by accident and chanced upon the inheritance of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent among historical remains! It was there that I first saw the symbol of the Ouroboros Clan!"
Leylin spoke honestly. Even though he spoke vaguely, and did not reveal any real details, Kubler was smart enough to not ask further.
On the contrary, he fed large amounts of information regarding the central continent to Leylin.
From this information, and records that he had obtained from ancient books, Leylin finally pieced together an image of the Sacred land of the Magi.
The central continent was the core of the Magus World. It spanned across a huge area, and had an abundance of precious resources!
There, official Magi were as common as the clouds, and rank 2 Magi were the elites! Rank 3 Magi were respected, although there were different ranks to them. Only Morning Star Magi truly held clout.
Organisations in the central continent needed a Morning Star Magus to oversee their development if they hoped to grow in power. Some small organisations were occasionally built by rank 2 or rank 3 Magi, but they were short-lived, typically being destroyed after a short period of time.
"You say we have Warlocks at the Morning Star realm overseeing the Ouroboros Clan?" Leylin was most interested in this.
After all, they were rank 4 Warlocks with the bloodline of Giant Kemoyin Serpents! This was clearly his path ahead!
"Yes!" Kubler was clearly very pleased with Leylin's usage of "we," with his tone and expressions being much intimate.
"Among the ranks of our Ouroboros Clan, the Grand Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder have all reached rank 4. If they joined forces, they could even contend with a rank 5 Radiant Moon Magus! As a result, our Ouroboros Clan could be said to have some fame in the central continent!" Having said this, Kubler clearly felt proud.
"Rank 5! Radiant Moon Magus?" A doubtful expression crossed Leylin's face, and he asked Kubler to clarify the rankings of Magi after the Morning Star realm.
Official Magi had a total of 9 ranks, and they were respectively termed Magi from rank 1 to 9.
And for every 3 ranks, there would be an extremely large bottleneck.
From rank 1 Magi to rank 3 Magi, and from the rank 4 Magi to rank 6 Magi, and eventually rank 7 and above, the differences between them was extremely terrifying.
The central continent was slowly regaining the splendor of ancient times.
Not only were rank 4 Morning Star Magi becoming common, even rank 5 Radiant Moon Magi and rank 6 Breaking Dawn Magi would appear periodically.
Morning Star, Radiant Moon, and Breaking Dawn were the honorific titles of rank 4, 5 and 6 Magi respectively.
"Am I akin to a moon or sun?" Leylin laughed in his heart, "However, just a Morning Star Magus has a lifespan of more than a thousand years and possesses tremendous strength. The even greater glory and radiance rank 5 and 6 Grand Magi possess can be understood from just that…"
Kubler had not discovered Leylin's thoughts and continued to narrate, "I don't qualify to know about what comes after the Breaking Dawn realm. Moreover, the few Magi who are at rank 6 are all the most influential leaders of the central continent, and are titled our 'Kings!'"
"King of Magi? This term has a lot of meaning to it!" Leylin nodded.
"There are three main powers in the central continent. The Warlocks tied together by bloodlines, the Magus organisations that hold a lot of high-grade meditation techniques, and the Academies where various powers mingle with each other! Together, these three sets control over 70 percent of the resources and land of the entire continent. The rest is occupied by an assortment of human Magi and other species…"
With Kubler's description, a blueprint of the central continent gradually appeared in Leylin's mind.
Strange species! Large amounts of resources! High-ranked Magi! And a larger stage and space for improvement!
A flame ignited within Leylin's eyes, as well as an even stronger urge to immediately rush towards the central continent.
Immediately, he suppressed the desire and impulse.
"Alright! Now can you explain to me why you would risk your life to escape from the central continent?"
Leylin's eyes that radiated coldness glanced into Kubler's, which immediately made the latter feel a chill in his heart.
"Ac… Actually…" Kubler's did not look good. After which he knelt down before Leylin, and placed his forehead tightly on the ground.
"Lord Leylin! Please accept me as one of your henchmen!"
"What do you mean? Please explain yourself clearly!" Leylin's face remained unchanged. After which, he heard some untasteful stories from Kubler.
To put things simply, Kubler had offended someone in the Ouroboros Clan, which had left him with no choice but to leave. Now, he wished to obtain Leylin's protection so as to once again return.
Honestly speaking, from the looks of the central continent Magi, the subterranean world and other areas were all desolate. If not for the fact that he was forced into such circumstances, why would he willingly leave his hometown?
"Why do you think I can protect you?" Leylin desired to know. Before asking clearly, he would not easily promise anything.
"Of course! My lord has already achieved rank 3, and is a Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlock, with a bright future. How can people like us rival that?" Kubler said matter-of-factly, and had a faint tone of admiration and inferiority.
"This subordinate has offended a Black Horrall Snake Warlock, who has the potential to at most grow to rank 3. The high-ranked officers of the Ouroboros Clan would definitely not side with him…"
"Growth potential?" Leylin was alarmed and understood that he heard something extremely important.
"Does My lord not know yet?" Kubler, on the other hand, had already in favour of himself, changed his address of Leylin.
"The inheritance I obtained did not contain any object in this area, please detailedly explain!" Leylin's face looked upset. His heart had a bad omen.
"Yes! Subordinate will not hide anything!" Kubler's attitude was extremely upright, and he had started to follow the standards of vassals; Leylin could not be bothered to correct him.
As Kubler narrated, Leylin's face got gloomier, and eventually was like that of the sky before an imminent storm.
Bloodline Shackles
Warlocks were a branch of ancient Magi, and possessed enormous strength as a result of their bloodlines.
Warlocks of a rank not only had all the abilities a regular Magus of that rank held, but also the amplification of their bloodline. Their powers greatly surpassed those of regular Magi.
Why couldn't such a powerful branch dominate the Magus World? Why, instead, did they lay low in the South Coast and Twilight Zone, with even the central continent only containing a small number of them?
All of this could be attributed to their main problem—the shackles of their bloodlines!
According to Kubler, unlike Magi who could continuously improve, the advancement of Warlocks was largely dependent on the bloodline they inherited.
That was to say that, for a Huge Mankestre Snake Warlock like Kubler, because of the bounds of his bloodline, he was destined to never advance further after being an official Magus! No amount of effort could promote him to rank 2! This, was the shackles of a bloodline!
Similarly, the peak of a Black Horrall Snake Warlock's development was rank 3! Such a Warlock would never enter the Morning Star realm!
For a Kemoyin Giant Serpent Warlock like Leylin, even though his pure bloodline could support him in his advancement to rank 2 and rank 3, it was of little effect against the obstacles to becoming a Morning Star Magus.
Moreover, after advancing to a Morning Star, he too would lose his potential to advance. It was impossible for a Warlock to alter his own bloodline, and hence there were nearly no solutions to this problem!
In reality, Magi like Leylin could be considered to be quite fortunate. After all, Morning Star Magi still held some clout even in the central continent.
The more miserable ones were Warlocks who could not even advance to become official Magi, due to the limits of their bloodlines! For instance, if Kubler had used a young Mankestre Snake instead of a matured one, then his entire life would be spent with him as an acolyte. No matter how great his talent was, it would be useless!
Having heard all this, even Leylin who had considerable knowledge broke out in a cold sweat.
Initially, if he had coveted convenience and directly used the blood of the Black Horrall Snake to advance, he might have been restricted to being a rank 3 Magus, and lost any hope of progression!
And now? Although Kubler had said that the limits of his potential were that of a rank 4 Warlock, at least it was better than before.
Moreover, even in ancient times, Morning Star Magi were prominent figures. With their strength, they were likely to have interacted with regions on a broader scale than a rank 3 Magus. As a result, there might already have been some solutions to this!
Lastly, there was still the rich resources of the Icy World and the legendary Snake Dowager, which presented a gleam of hope!
Due to Leylin's confidence in himself, he was only somewhat dispirited before he recovered.
He thought back to what had come up when he obtained the Kemoyin's Pupil meditation technique: "All those who walk on the path of bloodlines will eventually be shackled by the very bloodline itself…"
The line had baffled him then, and had left him with an ominous premonition. From the looks of it now, though, it was a reference to the shackles of a Warlock's bloodline.
"At that time, Great Magus Serholm was cultivating the Giant Kemoyin Serpent bloodline. He had conducted a lot of experiments on bloodlines, perhaps this was why…" Leylin thought of this again.
Very evidently, even in the Circle of Ouroboros, Warlocks of different bloodlines have different positions.
The Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlocks held the highest status, to the point that some pureblood Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlocks could merely rely on time to elapse and enter rank 3 automatically in a few hundred years. They even had the hopes of becoming Morning Star Magi.
As a result, pureblood Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlocks like these would be elite royalty in the Circle of Ouroboros. Viewed as future Morning Star seeds, they were protected and nurtured.
On the other hand, the Black Horrall Snake Warlocks had a bloodline limit of rank 3, and would forever not be able to improve. However, in any case, they relied on the strength of their bloodline and did not have any problems advancing to be rank 2 Magi. There was a possibility to become rank 3 as well, so they ranked just after Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlocks.
As for Huge Mankestre Snake Warlocks like Kubler? They were a bunch with the most miserable status, only slightly better than the acolyte Warlocks. Even rank 3 Warlocks with a slightly better bloodline would look down on them.
This wasn't intentional. Just a result of differences in strength.
Hence, for higher status and better treatment, many lower ranked Warlocks chose to go under the wings of Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlocks, forming the relationship of a master and vassal. This was how Warlock clans came to be.
Kubler had detected the bloodline resonance of Leylin's Giant Kemoyin Serpent bloodline, and immediately sold himself to Leylin in exchange for protection.
Upon hearing that, Leylin sighed internally. "Looks like no matter where you are, as long as any organisations exist, there will be a hierarchy of power and unfairness, exploitation and oppression!"
Having seen Kubler's nervous and hopeful expression, he laughed weakly: "I, Leylin Farlier, accept you as my vassal! I hope you'll be able to abide by the rules of our master-servant contract! The prestige and status of the family of Leylin Farlier…"
"As you wish, Master! From now on, your wish is my command, as witnessed by this drop of blood!"
Kubler's face was solemn. He cut his hand, and smeared the bright red blood with a tinge of yellow on his forehead, kowtowing low.
*Bam!* After he paid his respects, Leylin instantly felt a contracted connection, the bloodline contract. To him, there were few restrictions, but the impact on Kubler was much greater.
Originally, Leylin could only hint at and impact Kubler to a small extent through his high-level bloodline. With the contract having taken effect, that influence was amplified. Even if Leylin were to order Kubler to die, Kubler would probably have to follow the orders!
"This control of a higher rank has over a lower rank is this strong?" Having seen this point, Leylin did not experience any joy, but instead, fear had arisen in his heart.
Since the Giant Kemoyin Serpent was a species with a snake bloodline, should it meet a snake species of a higher rank, or even the Snake Dowager, the other party could easily butcher it!
"No! Absolutely not! My will is mine alone!" Leylin shouted violently in his head, and even resolved himself secretly.
Even though he had many considerations, from Kubler's point of view, Leylin was merely mildly startled before accepting his oath.
"Master, I arrived at this point from the spurting of the lava, this is the map and the site of the volcano!"
After Kubler got up, he immediately passed on a map to Leylin with both hands.
"Are you in a hurry?" Leylin looked at the map; at the top, there was labelled a curvy path. In the upper region were more detailed lava sites. The only drawback was that there were damages and stains in some areas, which could not be seen clearly.
"Master, I made use of the dormancy of the volcano to get here. Large amounts of the lava had solidified into pathways to this place. If we are to get out, we must rush to do it before the volcano erupts. If not, large amounts of lava will block the pathways. This conditions will only last a few days. If we miss this opportunity, we will have to wait for at least a hundred years…
Kubler's thoughts naturally would not be able to keep Leylin in the dark, hence he just said it out directly.
Even though he had just arrived here, he already disdained the nasty conditions of Twilight Zone. Not only was the energy particle concentration here much lower than that of the central continent, the resources were also much poorer.
For instance, the Vitality Fruitvine might not have been common in the central continent, but rank 3 acolytes could get a hold of them. It wasn't big enough for official Magi to fight each other over.
Seeing his longing to return, Leylin's anticipation towards the central continent immediately increased.
The prosperity of the central continent seemed to have exceeded his expectations. The description even contained traces of the golden age of the ancient Magi.
"This can come later. First, I'll go check out where you came from…" Leylin stroked his chin and kept the map.
Even though he had decided to proceed towards the central continent, there were many things to settle in Twilight Zone as well.
After all, in a guild as big as Nature's Alliance, there were a lot of vested interests. Also, were Leylin to disappear, the human race would be thrown into chaos, and this might even extend to beings of other species.
*Bloop! Bloop!* This was a huge lava lake. Large amounts of fresh red lava continuously boiled to the top, radiating heat. The lava at the central had grown so hot it was golden-yellow, the glow of the ripples captivating even in its danger.
"This high temperature," Leylin's face slightly changed, "I'm afraid that even with my defense I could withstand it for ten hours at most!"
Above the lake was a giant hole. It was pitch black, with no exit in sight, but there were traces of wind howls transmitting out from it.
"Above us is the main entrance towards the giant volcanic mountain range. Normally, the lava level is so high that it covers the entrance. Only once in a hundred years, during the short dormancy, does it drop down low enough to travel through…" Kubler explained.
"I know!" Leylin's body rose into mid-air, as he felt the edges of the cave. A strange feeling of a solid glow with a tinge of heat was transmitted over.
After being immersed in large amounts of lava, the surface of the rock was not composed as it was before. It had become an alloy of metal and crystal.
"We need to make the most of the time we have! If not, we won't be able to make it back to the surface of the earth before the lava engulfs the area!" Kubler's expression looked peculiar. Similarly, he had not thought that having just arrived at this place, he would have to journey back again.
Planning For The Afterlife
"No, don't worry! I have better plans!"
Leylin smiled faintly: "Furthermore, I still have some things to settle here…."
Kubler's heart was too full of worry. He wondered whether his Lord was going to wait a hundred years for the next cycle.
Mankestre Bloodline Warlocks like him did not have a long lifespan. He could, at most, last two or three hundred years. A hundred years was, to him, a significant portion of his lifespan!
But… Kubler looked at the man whom he now served. As a vassal, the Lord has the last say, so what more could he do than laugh bitterly?
"I'll be heading out for a while. Stay here and monitor the lava flow data, and contact me periodically using our secret imprints. In the meanwhile, use the special rocks here to make one of these. All you have to do is follow this blueprint!"
A fluorescent blue light flashed in Leylin's eyes. It took him but a moment to form a design and imprint it into a crystal ball.
Kubler's face changed slightly as he received it, and he respectfully lowered his head. "Yes, my Lord!"
"Alright!" Moments after the order was given, Leylin transformed into a dark silhouette and disappeared.
A black streak pierced through the sky, creating friction with the air and leaving behind an ear-piercing screech.
Even if he had time to prepare, it was running out, so it was important to make the most of it!
Nature's Alliance, North Twilight Zone.
Celine sat behind the huge and luxurious office table and stretched lazily, revealing her perfect curves.
Although doing irksome corrections and office affairs every day was very troublesome, she found the tiring job enjoyable.
It made every cell in her body shiver with excitement — and even made her slightly moist down below — every time she thought about how every word she put to paper, even every sentence she uttered, would make a big difference to the fates of numerous acolytes and even Magi.
"But it is a pity that my position here is not fully secured…." Celine glanced at her flat and smooth abdomen, a rather reluctant expression on her face.
"What's wrong? Are you still grumbling that you're not with child?"
The voice of a young man suddenly sounded from inside the office.
"Ra… Radiant Guardian!"
When the other female Magi and office administrators saw Leylin, they could not contain the excitement in their eyes. Files were overturned and cups of tea spilled as they rushed to bow.
"Mmm!" Leylin said as he nodded and waved.
All the Magi except Celine left the office quickly, completely silent.
"Yes!" Celine looked into Leylin's eyes without fear.
Although the mental state of this impeccably handsome man was rather decent, his attire was somewhat dusty and messy.
'Could this be the aftermath of rushing and being nervous?' As a keen and observant woman, Celine immediately realized this…
"Leylin, you're currently standing at the peak of Twilight Zone. One step and you can turn the entirety of it into a Magus kingdom, and pass it on through the generations!" Celine's voice held a mixture of excitement and confusion, "A child! All you need is a child! An inheritor to your power!"
Her eyes clouded up as she hugged Leylin.
If it was the past, Leylin definitely would not hesitate to argue with her over it. But now, Celine noticed the calm in Leylin's eyes; calm like the still waters of an old well.
A realization hit Celine, making her immediately sink into immense fear. The day she loses Leylin's affection would be the day she loses everything. This was also the reason why she strongly wished to bear Leylin's child.
Even as she struggled to think of a method to show her affection, Leylin's next words beat her down into the abyss.
"I have to go!"
"You're going?" Celine was feeling slightly giddy, "Where to?"
"I'm leaving this place! Leaving Twilight Zone!" Leylin paused at every word, making sure Celine heard everything clearly.
"Are you mad? Why do you want to leave this place? You're the king here! You're my sun and my star. You are my everything…."
What would happen once Leylin leaves? The mere thought of scenarios that might happen if he followed through with his words made Celine sink into extreme fear. She hugged Leylin tightly, tears flashing at the corners of her eyes.
And yet, Leylin cruelly pushed her away, his hand cold as steel.
Celine calmed down and gazed at the emotionless Leylin.
"As you know, I'm actually not even a Magus of Twilight Zone, it was all an accident!" Leylin slowly said.
Regarding his history, after going through so many interactions and investigations, this woman had probably speculated a lot already.
Sure enough, Celine's face remained unchanged and she evidently did not feel surprised.
"I seek the pinnacle of the Magus world. The scene of different worlds from the top will be the most beautiful view one could ever hope for… So I cannot stop advancing. I must continue forward until I achieve my goal! I believe you too can understand this!"
Leylin looked into the depths of Celine's eyes.
At this moment, Celine had already completely calmed down. 'Or rather, was it all just an act before?' Leylin's thoughts stopped here as he couldn't help but secretly feel a little annoyed.
"I do! I've always known that when this place is can no longer fulfill your requirements any further, you would leave. I fully understand that, but I never thought that our separation would be this quick, or in this manner!"
Celine chuckled bitterly as she combed through her messy hair.
"Fate is unpredictable!" Leylin tried to hide the news about the central continent. "Plus, I've also made appropriate arrangements!"
"What arrangements? I can't keep the other races and rank 2 Magi in check. Even I rose the ranks to the peak with your help, I'm only a rank 1 Magus, not someone they'll listen to!" Celine was indeed very realistic and had already accepted the reality of Leylin leaving and was already planning her own future.
*Swish!* Leylin flicked his finger and a black ray of light penetrated the window, landing on the huge black stone sculpture in the plaza in front of the teaching block.
*Buzz!* The sculpture started trembling and a thin barrier of light flickered at the top.
"I left some of my aura on this sculpture. As long as my main body doesn't die, this barrier of light will never dissipate… Believe in the deterrence of this rank 3 Magus and you'll still be able to continue for a very long time!"
Other than being a clear indicator of whether he was dead or alive, there was absolutely nothing else that was useful about this aura.
But as long as the Magi of Twilight Zone knew that Leylin was still alive somewhere, he would be a terrifying deterrence to them. And this was a way of assuring that the relations and power he left behind still existed!
"Good! What else?" Celine's voice finally contained some hope.
"These!" Leylin handed her a few fine, white crystal chips.
"These are some spirit sources that I control: Iren, Gogoer and a few Rank 2 Magi! As long as they're in your hands, there will never come a day where they betray you!"
These Magi were the core strength of Nature's Alliance. In fact, as long as Celine had them under her control, the entirety of Nature's Alliance would be subject to her manipulation.
As long as there was no internal conflict, Nature's Alliance was the most powerful in the entire Twilight Zone. Even if Leylin suddenly went missing and caused a stir, it would not affect Nature's Alliance too much.
After all, this was still Leylin's backup plan. He still had the treasures of the Icy World waiting to be excavated and he would not give up on them so easily. This was also the reason why Leylin specially rushed back to prepare. Celine herself wasn't an important enough reason for him to return.
"Besides, when I disappear, you can simply claim that I've gone to a secret facility for research. Anyway, it's common for high-rank Magi to spend a decade on research, no?"
"Alright, good bye!" Leylin finally said and left.
This was similar to how a person working at an office would act before leaving every morning. Leylin simply left after a few words, not at all like someone who was going to leave for someplace far away.
In any case, Leylin had already seen Celine for who she was: a woman whose heart will never truly be moved. She was just calculative and thirsty for power. Looking at her suppressed excitement as she held the spirit sources, she must have already been rejoicing on the inside.
"Hold on! This will not be the last time right? What I said before was true, I will take care of your bloodlines, and turn them into the Guardian of the next generation…" Celine bit her lower lip.
"I'm sorry. I don't have much time!" Leylin's figure transformed into a black ray of light and he shot into mid-air, disappearing into the horizon in a flash.
Leylin understood Celine's plans very well.
Bloodlines of high-leveled Magi were hard to come by. Furthermore, he progressed incredibly fast. Celine thought that his bloodline was from an ancient, fearful creature. Hence, she wanted him to leave some of his seeds behind.
In actual fact, Leylin was now a first generation Bloodline Warlock. The blood descendants he left behind would also have the Kemoyin's Bloodline and would naturally be Warlocks! With a bit of nurturing, they would be unbelievably strong!
But why would Leylin do that? Even when he fooled around with numerous girls before, he had secretly controlled his secretion and made sure not to leave any descendants behind.
A clink sounded in Celine's hands as Leylin walked away, leaving behind remnants of a delicate gold cup.
She always had great confidence in her charm and knowledge, but looking at the situation now, it seemed like Leylin did not have the slightest bit of concern towards her. This hurt her pride badly.
But a smile crept onto her face once again as she stared at the huge number of spirit sources in her palms.
Now that Leylin had left, the power of Nature's Alliance truly lied in her hands! A wave of happiness drowned her heart as her face flushed.
Everything had happened just as how Leylin had predicted. Under Celine's leadership, Nature's Alliance naturally became stronger.
Though there was unrest in the Twilight Zone for the 10 years after Leylin's absence, it would still be contained.
This, too, was related to Leylin's prior subjugation of the power-hungry Twilight Zone Magi and the major powers of other races.
Gradually, the tales of Radiant Guardian Leylin turned into a legend. As for Leylin, a new journey was just beginning for him…
The Central Continent
Magma roiled around like water in a rough sea, emitting heat waves that swept across, a hint of the incredible power beneath.
A sheet of golden liquid lay at its center, as if a lake within the lake. However, this magnificent sheet could stop Magi in their steps.
Above the lava lay a giant passage, tiny voices sounding from it now and then. The rock around this passage was very hard, and no one knew where it led.
*Swish!* A silhouette appeared on the shores of the lake. The light dispersed to show a very young Magus, his long black hair tied up casually and his skin fine and smooth. His handsome face was filled with the dignity of a ruler.
This was naturally Leylin, but his robe was currently a little dusty. The hurried round trip had drained him.
"My Lord!" a middle-aged Magus with bronze skin saluted.
"Are you finished?" Leylin asked casually.
"Yes! Please follow me!" Kubler led Leylin to a hole he'd dug near the lake.
A giant ball lay at the center. The dark ball seemed to made of stone, its surface was a glossy black. On a side of the ball was a door which revealed that it was hollow.
"According to your blueprint and orders, all parts were made from the hardest layer of this metamorphic rock to bear the high temperature of the central magma. The joints were even reinforced by runes…" He reported at Leylin's side like a loyal servant.
He didn't even mention the difficulty in collecting the rock and casting it into shape.
"Good job!" Leylin nodded, looking at the runes inside the ball with surprise.
This Mankestre bloodline Warlock was much better than he'd expected at alchemy.
"No, it's my pleasure to serve my lord, there is no trouble at all!" Kubler saluted humbly with his hands crossed before his chest.
This sort of respect was expected in front of Magi with higher bloodlines. Kubler had grown used to it during his time in the Ouroboros Clan.
"The lava lake is becoming more active recently. I'm afraid this means that it's about to erupt!"
At that time, the place would be flooded with lava, blocking the entirety of the passage.
Kubler had come down here when the volcano was dormant, and had still suffered horrific burns. This had left him in fear of the lava. Although he went with his lord's plan, he was still worried. However, the servant had no right to make the final decision. He could only make suggestions and had to follow his master's orders.
"I understand. The eruption will occur in an hour and 23 minutes. Prepare yourself!" With the A.I. Chip's ability to observe and forecast the eruption, Leylin knew the timing much better than Kubler did.
He had run this plan by his A.I. Chip's calculations, and the success rate was over 90%. Why would he risk his life if not?
More than an hour later…
A black ball was floating on the red lava as if it was in the water.
Kubler sat inside with Leylin, face pale. Watching the lava outside through a magic screen, he stammered out, "My… my Lord, this plan is too dangerous!"
Once the ball was crushed, they would be devoured by endless lava! Even if he was a Magus, this kind of horrifying death made him shiver.
"Calm down!" Leylin stared at lava outside calmly.
*Blub! Blub!* The lava had reached its boiling point, and the whole cave began to tremble, dust falling off the walls.
[Beep! Eruption will occur in 10, 9, 8…]
The A.I. Chip had begun the final countdown.
"Now!" Leylin's eyes flashed, and the terrifying strength of a rank 3 Magus burst forth.
"Freeze!" With his hands as the centre, a layer of deep blue ice spread out along the walls. Cracking sounds rang out as this phenomenon soon extended to the outside, enveloping the ball in ice.
This ice was so cold even the boiling lava could not melt it. White vapours arose as the two surfaces came into contact.
"This can earn us some time!" Leylin said with a smile, and then looked at the screen of the A.I. Chip.
[3! 2! 1! Critical limit reached!]
*Boom!* With the prompt of the A.I. Chip, Leylin and Kubler felt tremors envelop the ball. It was like they had entered the body of a terrifying ancient monster, and that monster had woken up with a thundering roar!
"AAAAAAH!" Kubler screamed with fear, his hands waving around as he struggled to find something to hold on to.
Then, he felt a force that could be from the explosion of the universe as a huge impulse hit the bottom of the rock ball. The lava rose into the sky like a dragon taking flight, except this dragon had a small rock ball on the front.
Lava surrounded them and rushed into the passage. The ball shook continuously as it hit wall after wall, but what frightened Kubler to death was instead the high gravity!
As the ball had rushed up like a rocket, the two inside dealt with an equally large gravitational force.
The intense force pulled at Kubler's skin, making him feel like he was being bitten all over by ants. The pain made him lie on the ground like a frog, and he felt like if he wasn't a Warlock with a strengthened body, he would have died long ago.
Booms sounded out and the trembling continued. The terrifying power of nature made Kubler feel like a tiny ant. All he could do now was pray; pray for an early release from this torment, pray that this rock ball would hold out
Thumps and explosive noises continued to sound out. This was a giant volcanic range, and today its central volcano had accumulated enough pressure to erupt.
Masses of black smog were ejected into the sky, forming a sea of gray clouds that shrouded the nearby lands in darkness.
Rivulets of lava flowed down the mountain slopes, looking like arteries on flesh.
*BOOM!* Finally, with a huge explosion that caused an earthquake, the volcano erupted.
It was as if heaven and earth were torn asunder, and the world was ruined. Red lava, dotted with gold, burst into the sky transforming into countless fire dragons that flew in every direction.
Fire raged, and explosions rang forth even as the earth quaked. It was like armageddon.
Amidst this terrifying lava were multiple rocks. Boulders that were as large as hills hit the ground with great force, cracking the earth underneath and ruining everything around them.
*Bang!* Among the countless boulders in the sky was one rock with a particularly regular shape.
This rock ball streaked across the ground, leaving behind it a long track of burnt black. The surface of the ball was still a dull red, as if it was ready to melt any moment.
The ball soon began to crack apart, and a portion was thrown off with a bang, revealing a hollow interior.
"So this is the central continent ?" Leylin came out of the ball, exhaling a breath that was as hot as fire itself.
The hellish scene nearby did not affect him. Instead, he was filled with delightful anticipation. "The central continent, here I come." he murmured in his mind.
It took a while for Kubler to slowly crawl out of the ball, coughing. His body was in a mess, with some burn marks on it.
The layer of ice Leylin had made had been thawed within a few dozen seconds of the eruption. Afterwards, the rock ball had heated up to extremely high temperatures. They would have been roasted had they not been Magi.
"Exciting! This is so exciting!" After retching for a while, Kubler wiped his sweat off, fear in his eyes.
"Relax! We got out safely, didn't we?" Leylin turned back and smiled. "It's quite fair for us to pay a small price for concentrating a day's journey into a few minutes!"
"Yes, my Lord!" Kubler could do nothing but smile.
"So is this the central continent?" Seeing Kubler collect himself, Leylin wanted to confirm it with him.
"Yes!" Kubler said even as his expression turned complicated, "This is the Mt. Asura of the central continent. The land that we are standing on now is undoubtedly of the central continent."
...
Three days later, in a small town.
A giant gleaming revolving gate swung around as carriages and people wearing strange clothes passed by, some of them official Magi.
Leylin was sitting in a hotel room, the pudding and juice in front of him all but untouched. He was staring outside with a dreamy gaze.
At that time, the door was opened with a thump and Kubler stepped in.
"My Lord! I've bought tickets for an airship heading to the Black River Domain that leaves tomorrow morning! In at most four days, we will arrive at the headquarters of the Ouroboros Clan!" His voice was tinted with excitement.
Airship Network
"Hmm!" Leylin nodded his head inattentively.
"I see many Magi here!" He pointed to the outside.
A Magus who was dressed like a wandering poet was playing a pipe organ. A group of residents were watching and cheering him on.
"Yes! Over here, official Magi often mingle amongst the commoners and the residents know them very well too…" Kubler explained to Leylin. "In the central continent, the Magi and nobility communicate in the Byron language. Hence, my Lord, you do not need to worry about a language barrier. In fact, here are some materials about the central continent and a few variants of maps as well as information about communication. "
Kubler respectfully handed over a crystal ball filled with information to Leylin.
For a Magus to learn the Byron language was compulsory. Thus, Leylin and Kubler could communicate the moment they met. They could understand each other immediately.
Leylin helped himself to a scoop of dessert.
A rich, fragrant, and sweet flavour excited his taste buds, "Nice delicate food, looks like the lifestyles of the commoners in the central continent are better than in Twilight Zone….."
"Naturally. This is the central continent, the core of the Magus world!" Kubler exclaimed with a hint of pride. Leylin smiled and shook his head.
Even if the seven layers of the subterranean world did not agree with such a statement, during the ancient past of the central continent, there was at least a rank 7 Magus overseeing it.
But now? Only a slight hint of their past glory had been restored.
As for this problem, Leylin did not want to do anything about it. After all, the current situation in the central continent might suit him better.
After a night of good rest, Leylin and Kubler headed towards a location outside of the city.
The busy road there was filled with horse carriages and other means of transportation. Loads of luggage and goods were being transported on them and the place looked prosperous.
In addition, every passerby on the street had some level of energy undulations on them. There were very few commoners present.
Leylin and Kubler crossed the wide and sturdy road and saw what looked like a futuristic airport. There were many white oval-shaped airships at the huge flat field, some taking off and others landing. A throng of people moved in and out of them like an army of ants.
Some of the airships were towing truckloads of goods, with workers calling out to their partners to off-load the cargo and luggage. The scene was hot, busy, and messy.
The central continent was huge, its lands vast and boundless. Ground transport was not only slow, but it was also much more dangerous. Hence, airships had become their common mode of transportation.
Even within the small section of a city, there was an airship docking point with a few Magi and acolytes on duty manning it.
Their responsibilities included maintaining law and order in the city and the maintenance and repair of airships.
On top of that, there was a pool of specially trained engineers for the job. With bodies as thin as a match, bulging eyes and balding heads, Leylin saw them working between the bases of the airships and the tunnels with spanners and other tools in their hands.
Construction cost and maintenance fees for such airships were very high. Still, as long as the air route was secure, there were profits to be made. It was a case of large investments yielding great profits. And such investments could only be made by Magi who possessed great wealth.
The airships of the south coast were smaller than the ones here. Their air routes were limited and their flying times were regulated. They simply could not be compared to those from the central continent.
"Who is behind these various air routes?" Leylin asked Kubler in a soft tone.
A single airship ticket in an ordinary cabin cost one hundred magic crystals. For Leylin and Kubler, who naturally chose to travel in the superior cabin, their journey alone had cost them six hundred magic crystals.
Fortunately, Leylin was rich and imposing as he had control of an entire region's resources. Money came easily at his beck and call. He had an abundance of magic crystals, so he would naturally not be a scrooge.
Even though Leylin had the great support of Twilight Zone's resources, when he compared himself to the enormous airship business, he felt that he was still lacking.
"The central continent's entire airship route is single-handedly managed by the Fallor Family, it is their private property!"
"Private property?" Leylin was shocked, and immediately asked, " Who is the Magus on their side?"
Such enormous benefits that included crucial traffic involvements, if their background was not up to par, they wouldn't have been able to manage such a thing.
And for the Fallor Family to dominate the entire continent until now, surely their support was a formidable one.
"The Fallor Family themselves have two Morning Star Magi. Of course, it doesn't count for much. The crucial one who has their back is the Monarch of the Skies!"
"Monarch of the Skies? Breaking Dawn Magus?" Leylin nodded his head.
With a Magus who stood at the pinnacle of the central continent devouring those deals, the Fallor Family were basically relegated to housekeepers. The actual one who had the control over the entire airship's business was the Monarch of the Skies after all.
"Yes, under the rule of the prestigious and intimidating Monarch of the Skies, the safety of the airships is guaranteed," Kubler remarked, a ray of yearning in his eyes.
Rank 6 Magus! This was the highest level in the central continent! Every single action of his would affect the lives of innumerable Magi underneath!...
...
*Woosh* With the whirring of the wind, the airship retracted its anchors, and it started to drifting upwards into the sky.
Leylin stood on the deck enjoying the wind, a pleased look in his eyes and a smile on his face.
With a mix of sunshine and the taste of fresh green grass, the cool wind blew and lingered around him.
"It's been too long! Too long! I have not been under the sun for so long…."
Leylin looked at the blue and white sky and the golden rays of sunlight. Momentarily, he felt emotional.
Although there were sun stones and spells of everlasting light in Twilight Zone, they were artificial after all. They could never be compared to the the light and warmth the natural sun gave.
Those who lived in Twilight Zone for a long time constantly faced a land and sky made of thick black rock. It left them depressed, and on occasion could lead to serious problems as well.
Even though Leylin didn't have such misfortune, he did not want to risk it anymore. He never wanted to leave the luxurious space and experience the radiance of the actual sun brought again.
Those constantly under the sun would never understand the others who had been in the dark and who looked forward to its natural radiance!
As the airship picked up speed, the airflow on the deck increased tremendously, enough to blow away an adult.
Of course, in such a situation, Leylin was unfazed and couldn't hear the announcement made for everyone to retreat to their rooms. He allowed the strong winds to envelop him all around.
"Very beautiful, isn't it ?"
A sweet female voice was heard. Leylin turned to his right and saw a young lady holding tightly to the railing. She was tip-toeing and attempting to gaze at the scenery beneath.
Beneath them, past the sea of clouds, patches of farmland and crops could be seen. The windmills appeared to be toy-sized and the outline of the city far away. Tiny dots of black were moving about on the roads.
The young female Magus was not frustrated that Leylin ignored her, instead she started to ask more questions.
"What kind of power do you possess? Where do you intend to go? Do you like the flower cape jasmine? I like staffs made of walnut, I believe they enhance my magic power, and they smell nice too…" She chirped on like a sparrow, asking a chain of questions.
"You…" Leylin rolled his eyes and was about to speak up when another voice spoke from behind him.
"Jessia, What are you doing?"
Leylin turned around. A young Magus wearing a golden white robe with a red ruby emblem on it walked towards them, anger hidden in his eyes.
"No… nothing… I am just out here looking around…" Jessia pulled back her head, looking pitiful.
"Since you are done looking, head back in now! It is dangerous out here!" The youth repressed the smile on his face.
"Sir Leylin, I'll look for you next time!" Jessia waved while walking away, and the youth was clearly displeased.
He looked at Leylin, his lip parted to speak, but did not do so. He shot a darting look filled with warning towards Leylin and turned to walk back into the cabin.
"Ridiculous!" Leylin shook his head in disbelief.
He knew the young female Magus had used him as a human shield and he had negative Impressions towards both of them.
It was clearly evident that they had not discovered Leylin's hidden undulating energy, hence one regarded him as a saviour, yet another unknowingly did not dare to challenge him.
"Kubler, come here!" Leylin looked at secret imprint on his hand.
"Master! What are your instructions?" Kubler got onto the deck swiftly and replied respectfully with a bow.
"Do you know this symbol?" Leylin projected an image of the red ruby emblem that the young Magus was wearing.
Judging from the proud persona of the young Magus wearing the ruby red emblem on his chest, Leylin suspected it could be the symbol of a powerful Magus. Unfortunately, he had no idea at all and had to endure the critical look from him.
Luckily, following Leylin along this journey was a Magus from the central continent, who was knowledgeable and was able to answer many of his questions.
Engaged
"This is the crest of the Rolithe Family!" Kubler took a quick glance and concluded.
He knew that his master was not of the central continent and knew nothing about this matter. He went on to explain, "The Rolithe Family is a rather famous Magus Family in the Black River region. It's said that there's a rank 3 Magus in charge there!"
"A rank 3 Magus? What stage is he at?" Leylin asked on.
Rank 3 was a period where one prepared to become a rank 4 Morning Star Magus. It took a long time and was extremely difficult to cross. Within it, there were a few smaller stages, and each stage meant a large difference in strength for Magi.
For instance, a rank 3 Magus at the Vapour Phase was definitely capable of suppressing a few Magi who had yet to reach that stage.
"All information regarding the strongest Magi is confidential. We subordinates know very little about it…" A look of shame appeared on Kubler's face.
"But that Magus Rolithe once won against a rank 3 Vapour Phase challenger, so his might cannot be underestimated."
"Is that so? I understand." Leylin seemed absent-minded. As long as his opponent was not at the Hydro Phase or above, he was confident in his abilities.
"It's all up to you now. I hope you won't continue to provoke me, or else…" Leylin lowered his head, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
The first class cabin not only had individual rooms but also had the luxury of a dining hall with fine wine, all included in the ticket price.
After all, given the value of magic crystals, normal food and drink were all very cheap.
Only precious ingredients and high-energy beings could be used to make delicacies that were effective for Magi. That was why they were sold at such a high price.
"Sit, Kubler." Leylin sat down at a round table with a white tablecloth spread over it without asking anyone and then called Kubler over.
Kubler bowed respectfully, and seated himself at the edge of the seat, not daring to get comfortable.
He was now a retainer of Leylin and was similar to a high-grade servant. It was natural that he acted respectfully, lest he be punished by his owner.
Leylin noticed this and sighed inside.
Kubler's behaviour showed how rigid the hierarchal system in the Ouroboros Clan was.
Luckily, he was not only a Giant Kemoyin Serpent Warlock with a pure bloodline but also a rank 3 Magus. The moment he went there, he would be considered one of the higher-ups and would not have to suffer.
"The fourth level of Kemoyin's Pupil, as well as information regarding the shackles of bloodline! I have to obtain them from the Ouroboros Clan." Leylin schemed.
Though he had successfully simulated the level of Kemoyin's Pupil through the A.I. Chip and information regarding multiple meditation techniques in Twilight Zone, he was not that confident. Hence, he still had an intense desire for the original.
High-grade meditation techniques were usually not for training the body. They also related to a modification of the spirit, and this was something the A.I. Chip would not be able to calculate.
Just like Sacred Flame before, the A.I. Chip had made changes, but there were a few issues during the experimentation stage with the guinea pigs. Leylin did not want a repeat of this disaster, especially since this was not going to be on any guinea pig but himself!
"Mister, do you need anything?" At this moment, a waitress in black, low-cut maid attire with white socks arrived in front of Leylin's table, asking respectfully.
Leylin opened the menu and took a look. There were all sorts of dishes, and they could be considered quite sumptuous. "Give me a calf steak and cider. As for Kubler, ask him yourself."
The atmosphere in the dining hall was not half bad either, with warm light from a crystal lamp and a pleasing fragrance from the fresh flowers on the table.
At a corner of the dining hall, they had even placed a bard who was currently performing.
Even Leylin felt like he had made a good choice in spending those magic crystals!
"Mister Leylin!" After the fresh calf steak was brought out, Leylin arranged the napkin and, with a knife and fork in each hand, sliced up the steak that was emanating steam. The calf steak here was of a good quality, and the chef had also spent great effort on it. The moment the fork and knife made contact with the steak, boiling gravy gushed out.
Just as Leylin raised his wineglass and was about to enjoy himself, he heard a voice like that of a skylark.
He looked aside and found Jessia, who had seen before, waving her arms with all her might, while that Rolithe's face was as sour as a lemon.
"Oh!" Leylin greeted casually, and then turned his attention to his own food.
However, it was evident that the other party had no intentions of letting him off. Lifting her skirt, Jessia ran over in little steps, sitting right beside Leylin.
"Mister Leylin, do you like cider? In the Jessia Family, there's a bottle that's not bad in our cellar…"
"Even if you're looking for a shield, does it have to be me?" Leylin raised his head gloomily, taking a look around.
He then found out that he really was the only choice she had. After reaching the rank 1, Magi could use energy particle radiation and alter their appearances, retaining their young, bright looks.
There were very few geniuses who, like Leylin and Jessia, had become official Magi before the age of 20.
Many rose to rank 1 after fifty, and female Magi obviously wanted to retain their most youthful and beautiful looks. On the other hand, many male Magi chose to keep their image at the time they advanced.
Hence, in the Magus World, there were old and young male Magi, but most female Magi were around twenty to thirty years old in terms of their looks. There were few who presented themselves as old women.
In the dining hall Leylin was situated in, it was not that there were no official Magi, but most of them were middle-aged or elderly men. The few young acolytes and the like did not dare flirt with official Magi or rival anyone for the affection of the people around.
Thinking about it, it seemed like Jessia's best choice was Leylin.
Firstly, though she could not tell Leylin's strength, he was definitely an official Magus. That was the most important thing! Next, Leylin was young and rather handsome, which was enough for other men to get mad at.
However, towards this unexpected luck with women and the calamity it could cause, Leylin rolled his eyes.
"Can I sit here?" At this moment, the young man whose expression was dark also arrived.
Leylin nodded and watched as he sat by Jessia's side, much to her visible displeasure.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Nolan, Nolan Rolithe! This is my fiancee, Miss Jessia!"
Nolan laughed slightly, putting emphasis on the words 'Rolithe' and 'fiancee'.
"En! Honestly, this engaged couple is quite compatible! Both are just as young and full of talent!" Leylin nodded.
Through their conversation, the aura and waves that were unwittingly emitted, and even their eyes helped him deduce their general age.
Usually speaking, this would be a perfect pair, but it was a pity that the female did not seem satisfied with this wedding.
Though there were two extra members here to disrupt things, Leylin was able to enjoy his meal, completely ignoring Jessia who paid much attention to him, and Nolan who was about to explode.
Before leaving, the guy called Nolan secretly sent Leylin a transmission, "Get away from my fiancee, or else you'll regret it!"
"Master?" Kubler looked at the expressionless Leylin and asked, sounding him out.
With Leylin's command, he would immediately kill the moron Nolan who dared offend his master. Though they were all rank 1 Magi, these two were obviously rookies who had just advanced. It was impossible for them to survive under the hands of Kubler, a Warlock.
"There's no hurry," Leylin waved his hands, though he had some questions. Magi were rational people, and while Jessia's actions would give rise to Nolan's displeasure, he would definitely recall everything and not start a feud with another Magus over such trivial matters. Besides, Leylin and Jessia had only exchanged a few words.
In addition, Leylin would not kill the two of them over something so insignificant. It was not beneficial to him.
"Looks like the female Magus called Jessia might continue with some tricks!" Leylin touched his chin, feeling like he was watching a show.
"Yes, master!" After hearing Leylin's instructions, Kubler was unwilling but did not bring it up again.
Two days passed by quickly, the airship stopping outside a station at a middle-scaled city in Black River Region.
Leylin held a cane and put on a hat, wearing something like a suit. He seemed even more elegant than young masters of noble families, having the dignified aura only a ruler would have as he walked down the stairs.
Meanwhile, Kubler was like a loyal butler, following close behind and holding something in his hands.
"Mister Leylin!" Jessia's voice sounded. This was also her stop.
Leylin laughed and approached her.
Nolan stood aside, though he was full of smiles as if he had understood something.
"Sire Leylin, my apologies for my behaviour!"
Nolan resumed his good behaviour, washing away the impatience and seeming poised.
He had realised his mistakes and was now coming forward to apologise.
"It's fine! If I had such a pretty fiancee, I'd be overly suspicious of everyone else well!" Leylin teased.
Jessia rolled her eyes at Leylin and asked, "Mister Leylin, where are you going?"
It wasn't the first time she was asking this, and Leylin had refused to answer.
"Me?" Leylin saw a hint of nervousness in Nolan's eyes, and couldn't help but shake his head and break into laughter.
No matter how poised and calm he looked, his eyes would give him away in the end.
A Scene
"I would like to walk around for a while, you may leave here!"
Leylin saw a hint of disappointment in Jessia's eyes after he told her that, and Nolan heaved a sigh of relief.
He chuckled as he turned around and raised his hand and disappeared among the stream of people, with Kubler immediately following.
With his astonishing senses, Leylin faintly heard two people behind him arguing in constrained voices.
"This is really…." Leylin shook his head, "Instead of focusing your limited energy on pursuing the truth, you focus on such things…"
"But I suppose this is probably a commoner's pleasure right!"
He nodded his head after shaking it, called out to Kubler and continued his journey.
"After entering the Black River Domain, the Ouroboros Clan Headquarters—Phosphorescence Swamp will be very near…" Kubler was naturally very familiar with this place and had a tinge of both fear and longing.
After hiring a horse chariot, both he and Leylin enjoyed the scenery along the way.
If they had hastened on with their journey, they would not have been so slow in progress. However, Leylin was not in a hurry and had wanted to enjoy the sights and sounds of the central continent, hence he chose to travel by chariot.
As night fell, the two arrived at a small town.
Accommodations at the inn were cramped, and the air was filled with the odour of alcohol, sweat, and manure.
Leylin furrowed his brows at such conditions. Since this was the only inn in town, he still reluctantly accepted it as it was still better than spending the night in the open.
After putting down their luggage, Leylin and Kubler headed to the main hall intending to have a meal.
The menu for dinner was beef and potato stew with some fresh vegetables. That was all the town had to offer. Surprisingly it was deliciously prepared with an enticing scent to boost one's appetite.
"Huh?" At this moment, Kubler's expression changed.
A gush of profound ash-colored dust started stirring from the main door of the inn, spreading continuously and extending to the other parts of the inn enveloping other travellers and the owners themselves.
*Crackle! Crackle!*
The commoners, whose bodies were covered with the ash-colored dust all stood frozen, their bodies as stiff as a candle.
"It's a freezing spell! There is a Magus around and we are the target!"
A shocked Kubler stood up and exclaimed with anger. Yellow energy emerged from his body and spread all around.
A circular radiance surrounded their round table, protecting them against the fate of the other travellers.
Leylin was totally unfazed by what was happening and was still enjoying the town-brewed wheat wine.
*Bang!*
The wooden main door burst open and 2 Magi wearing black robes entered the room. In front of their chest, Leylin saw the familiar red ruby emblem.
"Nolan! We meet again!" Leylin raised his glass and greeted casually.
Indeed, Nolan was among the two entrants. He had a vexed expression and stood, glaring at Leylin. "Where is Jessia? Where? Hand her over!"
"Jessia? Isn't she with you?"
Leylin chuckled.
"She left! I thought she was abducted. Based on the location markings marked on her body, I am sure she is here!" Nolan's eyes turned red.
"Location markings?" Leylin laughed in amusement, "How insecure are you? To put such a spell on your lover?"
"I do not care. Uncle! It is him! I am sure this is the Magus who took Jessia!" Nolan tugged at the sleeve of the Magus standing beside him and pointed at Leylin.
The accompanying Magus shifted his eyes and abruptly took a step up.
A ray of silver flashed by and the light barrier on Kubler's body collapsed immediately.
"A rank 2 Magus!" Kubler mumbled under his breath.
Nolan looked on proudly upon hearing it while the other Magus had no expression on his face.
In his eyes, he did not regard Kubler who was a semi-converted Magus. However, he was distracted by the silent Leylin who sat quietly by the side.
"Sir, we the Rolithe Family have no intentions to use force. The fiancée of our successor has gone missing and it is a big matter. We need to inspect this place and we seek your cooperation…"
Power was exhibited first, followed by etiquette. It was a remarkable way of handling the situation, much better than what Nolan did.
"Absolutely!" Kubler was surprised that Leylin agreed instantly.
"Many thanks!" Seeing how cooperative Leylin is, the two Magi eased the tension on their faces and Nolan fell silent.
"Over here!"
Nolan looked into an odd mirror he was holding in his hand and rushed forward.
"Let's take a look!" After his satisfying meal, Leylin got up and together with Kubler, stepped forward as well. The two Magi followed closely as if they were afraid of Leylin's escape.
"Ah…. Jessia... My Jessia..."
Upon reaching the room where Leylin and Kubler's luggage was, they heard Nolan's cries.
"Bad news!" Kubler rushed in and saw a white coloured woman's dress on the bed, there was a big patch of blood stain on the stomach area and some portion had dried to a dark colour.
"What happened?"
"Jessia! Jessia! How dare you…." Nolan's face flushed a fiery red as he yelled and stormed forward.
"This is trouble!" Kubler frowned, a layer of yellow scales appearing on him and his huge hand and suppressed Nolan who had lost his self-control onto the ground.
"Warlock from the Ouroboros Clan?"
The Rank 2 Magus expression immediately changed to become a vicious one as well.
"Even if you belong to the Ouroboros Clan, abducting the fiancée of our Rolithe Family's successor and treating him with such disrespect, you have to give me an explanation!"
The rays of silver in his eyes amplified and streaks of silver whips appeared in his palm.
"Wait!" Leylin smiled subtly, his hand on the shoulder of the Rank 2 Magus.
"Huh? What is happening?" Although it is just a hand, but it felt like a mountain. In fact, the Rank 2 Magus felt his body stiffen and couldn't even lift a finger.
"Innate spell—Ring of fire resistance!" the Rank 2 Magus emitted a layer of flame from his body, forming rings of fire with it, with streaks of silver on the edges, blazing the surrounding atmosphere ferociously.
"Annihilation!" Soon after, he heard Leylin mouthing the word.
*Hiss Hiss!* The blazing flames were put out immediately, leaving no room for the smoke to reignite the fire.
An enormous and horrifying spiritual force assaulted the Rank 2 Magus, destroying his defences, took over his consciousness and confined his magic power.
"Ra… rank 3 Magus?" The Rank 2 Magus turned his head with difficulty, his throat dry and rough.
Leylin had been using his skills to suppress his spiritual force and energy undulations all this time. Now, he undid the suppression bit by bit, and a huge tide of energy was released causing the atmosphere to become heavy.
"So tell me, if I want Jessia, do I need to be sneaky about it?"
Leylin shot them a look and asked sarcastically.
"Of… of course not! It is our mistake! We're sorry!" the rank 2 Magus shook his head promptly. In the central continent, the sighting of Magi might not be uncommon, but it was not easy to witness the presence of a rank 3 Magus. And among the large-scale powers, rank 3 Magi were high-ranked with stable power and authority. They did not need to resort to any unscrupulous methods when dealing with rank 2 Magi.
At this time, Nolan was speechless. Although Kubler had lifted the spell on him, he lay helplessly on the floor with cold sweat trickling endlessly.
The Magus with the highest power in the whole of the Rolithe Family was only at Rank 3. If Leylin was displeased and had them killed, the other Magi might not even have the ability to seek revenge.
Thoughts of killing them crossed Leylin's mind, but he eventually let it slide.
To him, there were no benefits in killing either these 2 Magi or even Jessia. Additionally, he might provoke an enemy with rank 3 strength.
Even though he was not afraid of the opposite party, he did not want any trouble.
"Follow me!" As such, he looked nonchalantly at the rank 2 Magus and Nolan, who was still lying on the floor before heading out.
Kubler followed Leylin closely, with the rank 2 Magus and Nolan close behind. In the face of a Rank 3 Magus, they had no chance of trying any tricks, hence they could only follow Leylin's orders.
Leylin walked on with a destination in mind and soon they left the town and reached a paulownia tree forest.
Nolan didn't quite understand anything, he merely followed suit.
Leylin came upon what seemed like the biggest paulownia tree, and knocked gently on the trunk as if he were knocking on a door. "Anyone there?"
*Dong Dong!* The tree trunk produced a dull sound, but there was no response and all was quiet.
"You are very clever! And attentive to your set-up. However, you are still not wise. After completing your work, you can't help yourself but return to find out the reactions of others!"
"I have already noticed you, you should show yourself! Otherwise.…." Leylin's voice turned chilly.
"Humph! Alright, alright, here I am, what are you going to do about it?"
*Shhrrk*, the surface of the tree trunk split open to reveal a round door. Jessia, whom they had first met on the airship, jumped out and grabbed Leylin by the arm.
"Brother Leylin! You are so awesome! How did you discover me?"
On the other side, both the rank 2 Magi and Nolan were speechless, anger filling them to the brim.
Phosphorescence Swamp
"Jessia, What are you doing? Get back here now!"
Flames blazed in Nolan's eyes when he saw Jessia holding on to Leylin's arms shamelessly with her breast almost pushed towards him.
The rank 2 Magus on the other side immediately stepped up and delivered a hard slap to the back of Nolan's head, causing him to bend forward.
Droplets of cold sweat were trickling down his forehead.
It was obvious that what had happened today was all a misunderstanding. The crucial point was, they were lacking in ability when compared to the opposing side
Moreover, any slight mishandling of the situation would enrage a rank 3 Magus, and on top of that worsen their relationship with the Ouroboros Clan. At this point, thoughts of death crossed his mind.
"Anyway, it is just a small misunderstanding! Forget it!" Leylin replied indifferently.
Before the rank 2 Magus could reply, Leylin's ice cold voice was transmitted to him, "This is the price for offending me!"
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The rank 2 Magus, Nolan and Jessia collapsed and were flung out, blood trickling down the sides of their mouths.
"Leave, all of you! I do not want to see you all ever again!"
"Thank you for sparing our lives, my Lord!" the Rank 2 Magus gave a respectful bow, and quickly pulled Nolan and an unwilling Jessia away from the scene.
"I believe such troubles will continue to occur in the future…." The look in Nolan's and Jessia's eyes when they were leaving left Leylin with the feeling that this matter was not over yet.
The common hatred might have spurred them into an alliance in the future.
"What nonsense is this?" Leylin felt rather gloomy and thought he should not have gotten involved with matters between husband and wife.
"My Lord, should I…" Kubler spoke up with an ominous glint in his eyes
"No!" Leylin shook his head.
He fiddled with a dark and shiny gold coin in his hand, silent and in deep thought.
...
Phosphorescence Swamp.
This was the general headquarters of the Ouroboros Clan. Very few other Magi ventured out to this place.
The swamp was a sea of thick black wetlands and the air was a continuous mix of cold and chilly yet hot and blazing. Occasionally, flashes of green phosphorescence could be seen on it.
"The concentration of energy particles in the air is very high here! This location is a good find indeed!"
Leylin looked at the graphic data collected by his A.I. Chip, nodded his head and told Kubler who was standing behind him.
Although the average energy concentration in the central continent had far exceeded that of the south coast and twilight zone, the energy here was even more prominent.
Within Phosphorescence Swamp, the concentration of darkness elemental particles was the highest followed by that of fire. The concentration of these two elements was ten times higher than the average of Twilight Zone.
"This is merely on the outside, if an element pool or secret plane was built, I believe the disparity would be more terrifying…." Leylin thought to himself.
"Yes, such a location with a combination of darkness and fire particles is rare. Historically, when we first occupied this place, there were 5 Morning Star Magi who combined their forces to destroy a few powerful enemies, and brought along a country of commoners…." Kubler was brimming with pride as he explained to Leylin.
"My Lord, due to my current identity, there might be some trouble here!" he added.
He had been framed by others and was wanted by the Ouroboros Clan, hence before the accusations were lifted, he was afraid of being treated like a criminal.
"Not might, it's already here!" Leylin pointed out. Soon a few profound dark shadows suddenly emerged from the nearby swamp.
*ROOAAAR!* Two high-energy serpent-shaped living creatures suddenly emerged, making a big splash. The silhouettes of two Magi could be seen on their heads.
"This is not even the headquarters of the Ouroboros Clan, yet patrolling the perimeter are rank 2 high-energy living creatures and rank 2 Magi! Looks like they have a very strong base!" Leylin felt a resonance of bloodline from the serpent-shaped living creatures ridden by the Magi. In fact, they seemed to be blood descendants of the Kemoyin Serpent!
"Kubler! How dare you step foot in this place? Didn't you leave?" From where the 2 Warlocks were standing, a surprised voice was transmitted out and it didn't sound flustered.
Under these circumstances, Leylin discreetly nodded his head. It would seem like Kubler was indeed innocent. The grassroots troops understood perfectly and even started to attack before they laid eyes on him.
"This is not my fault, I was framed by Johnny!" Kubler raised his voice, his face flushing red.
"We do not care about the details, just for the fact that you dare to step foot in Phosphorescence Swamp and brought an outsider!" Another Warlock immediately continued.
"I apologise! But I am not just any outsider!" Leylin smiled faintly, took a step forward and garnered the Kemoyin's bloodline and the rank 3 spiritual force in his body, letting off a ferocious explosion.
Just like a hurricane, the energy willfully and violently started to sweep everything away. The awe-inspiring kind of familiarity in power left the two lower rank living creatures cowering and bowing with respect.
"A noble rank 3 Bloodline Warlock? Who are you? It is an honour to meet you!" The other 2 bloodline warlocks who possessed lineage of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent's bloodline immediately felt the suppression from Leylin. They knelt down to show their utmost respect.
"I am a wanderer from afar and unintentionally accepted a Warlock inheritance. I met Kubler along the way and wanted to take a look at the Ouroboros Clan. Why? Am I not welcome?" Leylin asked indifferently.
"Sure! Sure! It is an honour for us to receive you!" The bloodline resonance between two Warlocks could not be faked. Hence the two Warlocks were very sure Leylin was a warlock of a pure Giant Kemoyin Serpent bloodline! And this level was the highest in the entire Ouroboros Clan! Who would dare offend him?
"Very well! Show us the way!" Leylin nodded his head and gave the order.
"Yes! Yes! This way, please!" The two Warlocks made eye contact and immediately offered Leylin a position on the back of a huge snake. Kubler was offered one next, and he was secretly touched.
One of the Warlocks could be seen secretly sending a message, probably with the intention of informing others, but Leylin did not bother to pay attention to it.
The Rank 2 serpent moved with great speed along the swamp, emitting an aura of terror that made all other animals stay clear of their path.
"What species of snake is this?" Leylin stroked the dark green scales beneath his feet.
"This creature is an improved version we created using a specialized combination of bloodlines. Their abilities are very suitable for those of the Ouroboros Clan…" A rank 2 Warlock immediately explained to a curious Leylin, hoping to pleased him.
"That explains why I have not seen such information before!" Leylin nodded his head, "What is your name?"
"Maron! My name is Maron, my Lord! " The Warlock named Maron immediately replied with a look of glee in his eyes.
"Alright Maron!" Leylin nodded his head, knowing what to do to garner reverence.
The two giant serpents glided along with great speed. In about 10 minutes or so, Leylin reached the depth of the Ouroboros Clan.
Here, a row of massive structures was combined together, forming a small scale Magus city, and at the front of the gate sat two enormous stone sculptures of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent.
With the delicate black scales coupled with the ferocious pupils, they looked like they could very well be alive.
At this moment, a small group of Warlocks was already waiting near the gate.
"Haha… Welcome home, my bloodline brothers!"
A young Warlock that looked like a goblin stood in front of the small group, his eyes that glowed with a purple radiance lighting up upon seeing Leylin. He stepped forward, stretched out his arms and hugged him.
"Thank you!" Leylin returned the hug unnaturally and asked, " May I know…."
"Oh ! Haha! Look at me! I am so excited by your arrival that I have forgotten to introduce myself!" The fellow had very fair and exquisite skin that seemed to be emitting some kind of peculiar charm, a common trait among Warlocks.
"My name is Robin, you might not know this, but as long as a Warlock has the Kemoyin's bloodline in him, he shall be considered to be a part of our family! My brother!"
Leylin could sense the aura from the opposite party and it was similar to his own Kemoyin's bloodline. In fact, based on his spiritual force, Leylin was sure the young Warlock had not only long attained the status of a rank 3 Warlock, but also ascended further, with his strength and spiritual force at a high level.
"Oh, I see! My name is Leylin!"
"Yeah! Leylin right? Follow me! A Lord wants to meet you!" Robin held onto the arm of Leylin with an expression of excitement, totally ignoring Kubler who was behind him.
"Lord? Might it be…" Leylin's pupils dilated.
"Haha! That's right! My teacher, A Rank 4 Warlock! Morning Star Magus! Duke Gilbert has been waiting eagerly to meet our new blood!" Robin replied cheerfully.
Upon hearing the name, all the Warlocks bowed their heads in unison in a show of respect.
Rank 4 Warlock! Theoretically, this was the highest level for a Warlock of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent bloodline! In fact, it was also a truly high level for the whole of the central continent. Even within the Ouroboros Clan, there were no more than three Warlocks at such a level!
Leylin took a deep breath: "It is truly an honour!"
"Come! Follow me!"
Robin quickly led the way, with the rest of the Warlocks following respectfully behind.
Leylin noticed how the Warlocks all showed their respect to Robin along the way. It seemed like Robin held not only a high rank in the clan, but also a great deal of authority…