CHAPTER 481: 040 LATE STAGE OF THE FIRST RING

The Six Rings Tower blocked the entrance and exit of the Dream Market, but it didn’t show much malice towards those coming and going. Perhaps it was to maintain its image, or perhaps it felt there was no point in doing so.

In any case, the journey back was very smooth.

"I’ve checked."

Ben, having made a round of the four major clans’ residences, returned and said cautiously, "The four First Order Wizard Towers are intact, and they also have the materials needed for Second Order ones. It wouldn’t be difficult to dismantle them and construct Second Order Wizard Towers."

"It could even lay the foundation for building a Third-tier Wizard Tower in the future."

Although he was talented enough to construct Second Order Wizard Towers, his own cultivation was not high, only at the First Circle Early Stage. He naturally felt a sense of dread towards a powerhouse who could effortlessly slay several of the family’s Wizards and compel the Clan Leader to submit.

The figure seated cross-legged on the high platform was not the person who had brought them, but Carl’s true body, deeply engrossed in cultivation.

He lowered his head slightly, looking at Ben. "As long as they can be built."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Can they be built as Floating Wizard Towers?"

Carl had no intention of defending the Dream Market for a lifetime, and an immobile Wizard Tower held little significance for him.

"This..." Ben hesitated. "If we were to build Floating Wizard Towers, many functions would have to be sacrificed, and their power would also be reduced."

"And the time... it will also take longer."

"It doesn’t matter," Carl said with a smile. "Just build Floating Wizard Towers. Don’t worry about other aspects. Just let me know if you need manpower."

"No need," Ben shook his head. "Paul’s help will be sufficient."

"Oh!" Carl raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the expressionless young man behind Ben. Skepticism flickered in his eyes as he asked, "Is he alright?"

It couldn’t be helped. This young man named Paul hadn’t reacted at all, even when several Wizard elders from his family died right before his eyes. He’d been in a daze throughout the journey, making it hard not to question his intelligence.

"Paul is very smart," Ben shrugged. "People with special talents often have some quirks; his are just more pronounced."

"Hmm..." Ben continued, "The corrupted grimoire he encountered in his youth also had an influence."

Many wizarding books can affect intelligence, muddle the mind, or even cause one’s head to explode with a single glance. It’s common knowledge that Wizard families have many fools.

"Second Grand-uncle," Paul said, looking displeased. "The book I read concerned spatiotemporal theory. Although mysterious, it won’t affect my mind."

"Right!" Ben exclaimed, his expression one of utter speechlessness. "But you became so engrossed in it that you nearly died several times, and you still haven’t figured anything out!"

"You don’t understand." Paul, the Wizard Apprentice, rolled his eyes, looking at his own Second Grand-uncle with disdain. "The requirements for spatial witchcraft are too high; only a Three-Circle Wizard can practice it. I just haven’t had the opportunity."

"As for time, that’s a domain only Divinities and High-level Wizards can touch. It’s best not even to mention it."

"HEH..." Ben was speechless.

Third-tier? How many of those are there in the entire Magic Forest? High-level Wizards? Such individuals wouldn’t linger in a small place like the Magic Forest. So, in his view, and that of his clansmen, the knowledge Paul was engrossed in was useless and without value.

"Spatial witchcraft?" Carl, however, became interested. He flicked his finger, sketching a complex rune in the void before him. "Do you recognize this?"

"EH?" Paul’s eyes lit up. "A rune for void connection! It seems to involve teleportation abilities. Senior, do you possess a powerful spatial Witch Artifact?"

"You actually recognize it?" Carl was surprised.

This rune came from the Twelve Star Palaces. The Twelve Star Palaces was a Fourth-tier Inheritance Witchcraft, but unfortunately, since it had come into his possession, he had never truly been able to control it. Utterly clueless! A perfectly good Fourth-tier treasure, and he was using it as a mere First Order Barrier. What a waste! The Twelve Star Palaces contained dozens of spatial fragments, each supported by some kind of treasure. Among them, there was no lack of Third-tier materials and rare Exotic Beasts. If he could truly master it, not even mentioning the abilities of the Twelve Star Palaces itself, the resources within alone would be enough to support his cultivation to the Third Ring.

"HAHA!" As the thought crossed his mind, Carl couldn’t help but laugh heartily. "Paul, from now on, you don’t need to follow your Second Grand-uncle. I have some things I need your help deciphering."

"Rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly!"

"I don’t want money," Paul shook his head. "Knowledge! I need knowledge."

"Good!" Carl nodded. "A thirst for knowledge is essential for every successful Wizard. I will do my best to provide you with it."

"Yes... We can learn from each other."

「Six months later.」

Name: Carl

Constitution: 22.7

Spiritual Power: 14.9

Source Material: 4

Level: Second-Order Holy Knight, First Circle Wizard

Abyss Bloodline Fusion: 53%

Carl, seated cross-legged on the stone platform, slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at his status panel and gently shook his head.

Six months of cultivation, and my Constitution has only increased by 0.1. Although practicing witchcraft divided my energy, the progress is still too slow. Fortunately... my spiritual power has progressed rapidly. With the continuous use of Wiseful Drip, my spiritual power has surged tremendously over the past six months. I’ve now reached the limit of the First Ring Middle Stage.

To break through from the First Ring Middle Stage and reach the realm of a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard, merely consuming potions is of little use. A powerful stimulus is needed for spiritual power to surge in a short time and break through the current realm. That’s why most First Ring Middle Stage Wizards, after their spiritual power reaches its limit, venture out to find opportunities for a breakthrough.

Luckily! He looked at the Source Material entry on his status panel. Whether it’s the middle or late stage, both are within the scope of the First Order. I can use points to forcibly cross over. So... add points!

The four points of Source Material shimmered and instantly vanished. Simultaneously, Carl’s Spiritual Inner Sea expanded.

Spiritual Power: 15.9

BOOM!

It was like a muffled clap of thunder exploding in his Spiritual Inner Sea. His originally ethereal spiritual power now felt almost tangible. Like flowing water! Like a gentle breeze! With a thought, the Magic Models in his Spiritual Inner Sea flickered faintly; his witchcraft was ready to be activated at any moment. The various free-floating Elemental Particles in the surrounding void were now clearly discernible.

Carl opened his eyes, reached out his hand towards the void in front of him, and gently scooped. A ball of water appeared in his palm. He hadn’t cast any witchcraft. Just by using his powerful spiritual power to draw the water molecules from the air, he had directly ’pinched’ out a ball of water.

The difference between a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard and a First Ring Middle Stage Wizard is like heaven and earth. No wonder a Wizard family that doesn’t have a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard can’t even claim the title of ’family.’ Once they have one, their status is greatly elevated.

Hmm... Even as a Second-Order Holy Knight, I probably wouldn’t be a match for a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard. This is true unless I were practicing top-tier Holy Skills like Holy Demon Transformation and Thousand Buddha Hands, and had also reached the Hundred Hands Realm with the latter.

Truly feeling the power of a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard, Carl couldn’t help but be secretly astounded.

The power of a One-Circle Witchcraft activated now, compared to when cast by a wizard at the First Circle Early Stage, is at least several times greater. However... the reason One-Circle Late Stage Wizards are powerful is partly due to their spiritual power, and partly because they can learn certain powerful witchcraft. Some witchcraft, though also First Order, have high spiritual power requirements, and only One-Circle Late Stage Wizards can learn them. Carl’s memories contained many such witchcraft.

The four major families of the Dream Market all possess Second Order inheritances, and the ancestors of the Pelo family even came from the Six Rings Tower.

Water Dragon Barrier!

This is a witchcraft that serves both offense and defense. Once cast, it can lay down a Barrier with astonishing defensive power. Inside the Barrier is a water dragon that possesses formidable offensive capabilities.

Great Flame Rain!

An advanced witchcraft derived from Chain Fireball. It can summon countless flames to descend from the sky, covering an area like a torrential downpour, annihilating enemies within the region. If this witchcraft were cast upon a city of mortals, a single strike could destroy it.

Life Extraction!

A Natural School life-aspected witchcraft. It can directly extract the life force from a target at a distance and even use the devoured life force to restore one’s own injuries.

However, compared to the advanced One-Circle Witchcrafts in the memories from the four major families and others, the strongest actually came from a rogue cultivator.

Nightmare Galoya! He had somehow obtained a Nightmare-type inheritance that was as high as Third-tier, which included many top-notch witchcrafts. Some could even be advanced. Such as: Nightmare Illusion! Six Star Soul Killing Technique!

Six Star Soul Killing Technique: confines and refines six Dead Souls, then uses the power of these Dead Souls to kill opponents. The stronger the Dead Souls, the greater the witchcraft’s power. Once this technique is mastered, it activates with a mere thought and consumes almost no spiritual power. However, one must face the danger of backlash from the Dead Souls. No wonder Galoya didn’t cultivate it.

This is the one!

Carl’s eyes focused as he made his decision.

The deathly ghosts from the Crash Divine Domain should be usable as material for the Six Star Soul Killing Technique. And it’s also time I went to collect soul cores.