Chapter 1180

Chapter 1155 Sera’s Fate

After rejecting Aura, Locke immediately returned to his laboratory in the Saffron Peach Garden.

As soon as he entered, he saw the Wizard Wood and the Mario brothers carrying a mushroom taller than all three of them—a Star Ring Mushroom of the genus *Croton*. The three of them carried the mushroom to Locke.

The Wizard Wood said to Locke with great joy, “Team Leader, look at the mycelium of this mushroom fused with the other Star Ring Mushrooms! I’ve completed it!”

Locke looked at the mushroom held by the others; the mycelium at the top was layered together, the spores of two Star Ring Mushrooms intertwined, forming a dense, black, felt-like substance. It hadn’t further developed into a fruiting body; instead, it had achieved a perfect fusion.

The Mario brothers said, “Team Leader, Wood put in a lot of effort in this.”

The Wizard Wood, while carrying the mushroom, scratched his head with his free left hand. “No, it’s not there. My efforts took a detour. Initially, I wanted to use the magical magnetic field from the finite element single cultivation method to cut the plant factors of the spores, forcibly causing the mycelium of the heterogeneous mushroom magical plants to fuse. Because the team leader said that the mycelium of many mushrooms needed to be fused together to meet the requirements of the wizard robe.”

The Mario brothers nodded.

Locke’s plan was even more extravagant than that of the previous two Moon Ring Wizards.

The Moon Ring Wizards weren’t unaware that, due to the development of wizard robes, the textile school could no longer use only one material for

a wizard robe. Usually, a wizard robe had several main materials, and at least a dozen materials for various small details. Under such circumstances, they certainly couldn’t use the mycelium of only one type of mushroom to make a pure magical plant wizard robe.

But they only set a goal of fusing two or three types of mushroom mycelium, and this part of the technology was also completed with some difficulties.

But Locke’s goal was the fusion of the mycelium of hundreds of mushroom magical plants.

This meant that they had to make a new technological breakthrough in mycelium fusion.

Locke believed that the mycelial fusion produced from mushroom-based magical plants must possess unique characteristics and advantages that traditional wizard robes lacked.

This idea stemmed from his previous visit to Production Workshop No. 3 of the Cloud Robe House Alliance.

Wizard robes had been developed for tens of thousands of years.

Therefore, to produce wizard robes using mushroom-based magical plants, one cannot simply follow the techniques used by weavers; rather, the advantages of the magical plants must be fully utilized.

The fusion of hundreds of mycelia with different attributes is a promising direction.

Locke believes that the fusion of hundreds of living mycelia might reveal surprising and delightful characteristics, which, if used in wizard robes, would be unique, giving every detail of the robe a distinctive quality.

Of course, this is currently just speculation,

but it is possible from the perspective of spiritual energy theory.

Wizard Wood said, “I originally wanted to use magical magnetic fields to alter plant factors. But the team leader gave me a severe scolding in his letter. I was initially unhappy with him. But after thinking about it carefully, it’s true that forcibly fusing mycelia from different mushroom species by altering the key plant factors for mycelial pairing is time-consuming, wasteful of resources, and doesn’t necessarily yield good results.”

“The project led by the Moon Ring Wizards used this method.”

“Even with abundant resources and dozens of wizards capable of conducting this experiment, they still struggled to achieve results.

Most importantly, even if this technical solution were successful, the cost would be enormous. Just when I was completely baffled, the team leader gave me a solution: forcibly fusing mycelia is actually not feasible.” “

We don’t have that much time and resources, and the cost-effectiveness isn’t high. We should simply utilize the inherent mycelial entanglement characteristic of mushroom magical plants.”

“Anyway, we shouldn’t do the fusion and propagation of mycelia from different mushroom species. We can just utilize the fact that different mycelia naturally intertwine, forming tiny tangles.”

Mario and Wood exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. No wonder Wood had completed the mycelial fusion so quickly; that explained it.

This was indeed a method,

and a more feasible one.

Since it was only for making wizard robes and didn’t require actual mycelial fusion, it became a super complex experiment involving the hybridization of hundreds of mushroom species.

If only physical intertwining and fusion were required, then this highly difficult experiment was simplified into a relatively simple matter.

The Mario brothers held up the mushrooms in their hands and said, “I see. Team leader’s plan is indeed more reliable.”

Wood said to Locke, “Team leader, test the strength of the mycelia formed by these two magical plants. I intentionally chose one mushroom magical plant with strong mycelia and one with hard mycelia. The two mushroom magical plants intertwined, forming an incredibly hard mycelial wall. Mario and I tried it before and found that even ordinary star ring spell models couldn’t break through it for a while.”

Locke raised an eyebrow. He saw the wizard Wood activate the mushroom-shaped magical plant on his shoulder, so he casually flicked it. A wave of magic transformed into a beam of light that struck the wall of mycelium. The mycelium wall was stretched backward to its limit by the shockwave, but quickly rebounded after reaching its limit.

The wizard Wood was overjoyed. “Success! Team leader, we can use this method to physically entwine hundreds of types of mycelium, and then figure out a way to guide these mycelium into wizard robes.”

“I didn’t expect this project to be so easy,”

the wizard Wood said confidently. “With the few of us combined, plus the team leader’s leadership, we are invincible.”

His magical pressure continued to rise, his confidence swelled, and the magical pressure enveloped his body, an immense pressure descending upon the surroundings.

Behind him, a vine resembling a dragon appeared, wrapped around an ancient tree—this was his ultimate magic.

A magical vine composed of five arms was also wrapped around the ancient tree.

Wizard Wood said to Locke, “Team leader, this research plan was yours, and the equipment was available because of you.

Therefore, you should be listed as the corresponding author and first author for any articles published using this technology.”

Locke raised an eyebrow. “Although I gave you the plan, you should just publish it yourself. You’re the first author, and the corresponding author can also be you. You don’t need to write my name. If you want to write the teacher’s name, that’s fine too, but you’d better be careful. Don’t get yourself into trouble.”

Locke took out a first-circle spell scroll from his astral ring. It was just a simple first-circle spell model of Polymorph. As he tore the scroll apart, a Polymorph spell struck the mycelial carpet. The felt-like wall formed by the fused mycelium began to wriggle, and the three carrying the mushroom felt the movement on their shoulders.

They looked up one by one, and to their surprise, the entire mushroom suddenly trembled.

Then, they saw that the felt-like mycelial wall had completely disintegrated.

As the felt suddenly disintegrated, the powerful kinetic energy released by the Star Ring Magic Plant caused the three to stumble and nearly fall.

The Mario brothers exchanged bewildered glances.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, they placed the mushroom magic plant on flat ground. Wood Wizard blinked, looking at the now untangled mycelium. A gentle breeze blew, and the mycelium drifted everywhere like willow catkins.

Locke Wizard said, “A single first-ring Polymorph spell can break this mycelium wall. How can a mycelium garment made of this stuff withstand Thor’s hammer? No matter how many mycelial elements it’s combined with, it’s useless.”

Wood Wizard’s expression changed to one of realization. “The mycelium is physically intertwined, like dozens of ropes tangled together. Just use Polymorph to cause a basic transformation, and the mycelium can be untangled as easily as unraveling a ball of yarn.” “

This method won’t withstand Polymorph,”

Locke nodded slightly, impressed.

Wood Wizard said, “Then we can borrow Transfiguration to increase the complexity of the mycelium entanglement. The textile school’s sweaters are essentially a kind of rope art, they can find a way to deal with that—no, in that case, it would be better to just ask the textile school to weave the mycelium into cloth and then make it into a wizard’s robe, wouldn’t that be better?”

Lix Mario, the younger of the Mario brothers, spoke up, “Wood, team leader, why don’t we just find a weaver to help us weave these mycelium into a wizard’s robe?”

“That would be faster. We can just focus on the quality of cultivating the mycelium.”

“I now feel that we’re doing something unnecessary. After your reminder and operation just now, I suddenly realized that the so-called mycelium fusion is just doing something that a textile wizard could do better.”

Wood Wizard glared at him angrily, because although this direction was specified by Locke, it was Locke who chose it for him from among the dozen or so directions he suggested.

Even though they were friends

, as fellow Void Forging Wizards, he was still furious at such an insult.

His elder brother scolded, “Lix, you’re at it again. You can’t seem to shake your bad habit of talking nonsense. Because of your mouth, we’ve had so much trouble.”

Lix looked at his brother, aggrieved, and said, “I was just stating my thoughts.”

Locke looked at Lix and said, “Lix, I appreciate you speaking your mind honestly, and I hope you continue to do so. But your thoughts are undoubtedly wrong.”

West Mario said to Locke, “I’m sorry, team leader. My brother always loves to talk nonsense.”

He stopped the wizard Lix, whose face was turning red, from speaking.

Locke nodded to West, indicating his agreement.

Locke handed a document to the wizard Wood. “This contains over two hundred varieties of mushroom-like magical plants that parasitize other mycelia. Try parasitizing these mycelia on the entwined mycelia.”

All three were stunned.

The wizard Wood took the document, glanced at it, and then his face lit up with joy. “If we can use parasitic mycelium, we can indeed bypass reproduction and force the physically twisted mycelium to fuse together. So, team leader, you’ve thought it all through.”

Wizard Lix coughed, somewhat embarrassed; he was always outspoken.

He’d started contradicting Locke the first time they met.

He’d spoken too soon, making him quite awkward now.

West Mario paused, then his expression softened. “Team leader, there are some mushrooms on this list that I don’t think I’ve seen before,”

Locke said. “Some of them I bought from the plant recycling dump near the Dragonblood Gathering. If you have a sharp eye and fast hands there, you can do it.”

“The other part I cultivated myself.”

“I used some spare time while working with you guys.”

The three glanced at Locke.

Of course, some of the work involved synthesizing with a synthesis cube, and some involved hybridization, cultivating fertile mycelium from the same genus of magical plants.

Wizard Wood opened his mouth slightly. “Your efficiency is truly impressive.”

This move stunned the three Void Forging Wizards.

In the Void Forging state, one is most easily swayed by the methods of others.

Locke said, “Although the previous physical twisting version of mycelial fusion couldn’t reach the second ring, first zone, I think its originality is worth trying for the unconventional second zone. Wood, this is your responsibility, so I’m serious and giving it to you.”

Wizard Wood was overjoyed; what could be more gratifying than working diligently and being rewarded?

Locke said, “Then continue the experiments according to my plan. West Mario, you are the elder brother, so your task is more important. You will continue to cultivate new mutated parasitic mushroom magic plants according to my plan. You only need to use the simplest hybridization cultivation method.”

Locke said, “The strains I left in my culture medium are all from the same genus. I’ve figured out that fusion of the same species can cultivate the parasitic mushroom-like magical plants we need. Lix Mario.”

Lix scratched his head. “Team leader, what do I do?”

Locke said, “You go and create the mycelial entanglement for the magical plants and record their physical and magical properties.”

“Then, I’ll be in charge of the overall plan. The three of you will complete the mycelial fusion technology. Once it’s completed, if I publish it in a top-tier journal, you can share it; I only need to communicate with you. The prerequisite is completion.”

Because these people were all unruly geniuses in the Void Forging field, Locke dared to make such a guarantee.

Locke said, “I have other things to do. Moreover, mycelial fusion technology alone is not enough. Even if we complete this, at most we can complete the wizard’s robe. But just being able to complete the wizard’s robe, in my eyes, this technology is no different from a toy. Any plan without results is not very meaningful.”

Locke left.

The three looked at each other.

Wood Wizard looked at the information Locke had given him and his face lit up with joy. “I like a team leader who can lead me to victory. This team leader is much more reliable than the old one,”

Lix said. “Wood, come on. That’s because the team leader hasn’t been bothered by the trouble you caused outside. Otherwise, you should try. Don’t forget that the tribal elder is still out there, looking for an opportunity to harass the team leader.”

West looked at Lix and said, “Lix, you need to watch your mouth. You’ve caused us so much trouble because of this. From the Razer Lowlands to the Rain Marsh, if we anger the team leader again this time, where do you think we can go?”

“You should be glad that the current team leader is calm and doesn’t get angry easily, otherwise you would have offended him just now. This project was given to him by the Red Dragon Throne teacher. How could you say that to his face, you went directly to the weaver? The team leader must be under a lot of pressure right now. You should apologize to the team leader.”

Lix shrugged. “I just like to express my opinion.”

A terrifying magical pressure emanated from Lix. Even among the magical pressure of the Star Ring stage, the nature of his magical pressure was

terrifying .

The entire laboratory trembled under his magical pressure, which resembled molten silver mercury.

His pupils turned silver. “I am who I am, and I will never change. No one can make me change myself.”

Meanwhile, Locke walked between the furrows of the laboratory’s magical field, sensing Lix’s magical pressure. “Such domineering magical pressure. Of all the people I’ve met, apart from the Macedonian witch, Ex, and that wizard Karl, no one has a more unruly magical pressure than him. It’s almost as if he’s saying that no one can subdue him.”

Locke smiled wryly. “These people are indeed very useful. But even more difficult to control.”

“To be honest, Wizard Wood has only been with me for less than a month, and he’s already caused me trouble.”

“My teacher did give me some very troublesome team members,”

Locke said. “But if used properly, they can definitely speed up my research. Without them, my research progress on the wizard’s robes wouldn’t have been able to accelerate so quickly. Using the research group combined into a Rubik’s Cube, plus myself, can maximize my research speed.” “

Then it’s time to think about what niche my wizard’s robes should occupy. Also, I haven’t checked what the research materials for Queen Ella, the Sun Ring Wizard, and the wizard’s shoes my teacher gave me are. If Solas Barefoot wants to bankrupt me, I’ll have to let them know the consequences of doing so.”

Cloud Marsh Wetlands, Solas Barefoot Headquarters.

Argos, the wizard, sat in his office, looking at a pair of pure plant-based wizard shoes and a pair of second-ring wizard shoes placed before him, and smiled. “Interesting. The designer who defeated our Thoras Barefoot in a one-on-one duel. He reeks of the filth of the undead.”

The assistant to the Star Ring wizard bowed to him. “Sir, should we recruit this talent?”

Sera, the wizard in the third-floor hall, crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. He felt the terrifying, earth-shattering magical pressure emanating from the Moon Ring wizard administrator.

These foolish shoemakers.

They really think he’s a master of a hundred arts.

He overheard their discussion about him, much of it filled with admiration and bewilderment at the existence of such a powerful person.

A bunch of fools.

Argos descended the stairs, calmly looking at Sera. “You’re Sera. You mean you can help our Thoras Barefoot defeat Locke Augustine? It’s you!”

Sera gave him a disdainful look. “Yes,”

Wizard Argos sneered, “Then let me have a contest with you.”

Wizard Sera’s face stiffened. How could this be different from what he expected?

Why was this?

Wizard Argos looked at him with icy eyes. This person might be talented, but he had come up using methods that violated the rules and regulations, challenging the order of Solas’s Barefoot.

Then this was no longer talent; to him, this was an uncontrollable scourge.

He couldn’t even be sure if this person had actually come to challenge the order.

Wizard Sera chuckled awkwardly. “This—you—”

“You are a Moon Ring, I am a Star Ring. It’s unfair for us to compete.”

Wizard Argos pointed to one of his Star Ring wizard students. “This is my student, currently a Star Ring member. You two compete. I want to see your craftsmanship in making wizard shoes. If you win, I can give you a position according to your wishes.” “

If you lose, then you will explain why you were able to cultivate pure magical plant wizard shoes that are so similar to the Black Hummingbird.”

The wizard guard automatically stepped behind him.

Wizard Argos saw through him perfectly. “Don’t even think about leaving until you explain yourself clearly. The people of the Southern Witch Capital all have something going on. Even if I detain you, no one can say anything.”

Wizard Sera’s expression changed drastically.

The Star Ring Wizard from Argos, however, sneered and blocked his path.

Wizard Sera’s eyes blazed with anger. The most troublesome thing was that the Lich God, who had promised to stand behind him, was nowhere to be seen. Now, thinking back, he realized he’d actually come here, spurred on by the Lich God.

This was inside the Solas Lightfoot Building; no one could see them.

Wizard Sera felt a pang of regret.

Wizard Sera said to the Star Ring Wizard, “Get out of my way. Does the mighty Solas Lightfoot think they can detain a Star Ring Wizard in broad daylight?”

The Argos student, the Star Ring Wizard Lex, looked at him with a wicked grin, and he curled his lip. “Of course not. But you injured our wizard guards, that’s a different story. Do you think we don’t know? Our building has hidden True Sight crystals, and you attacked our wizard guards directly with necromancy to put them to sleep in order to enter Solas’s Lightfoot.”

“But this isn’t mind magic, it’s necromancy.”

“This is damaging to the soul.”

“Just waiting for them to examine the injuries will take you a while.”

“Or should we have a contest? Or are you feeling guilty? You just beat one of our second-tier designers; what special methods did you use? Do you dare to compete with us in front of my teacher?”

Wizard Sera felt immense pressure.

He looked at Argos, who had his hands behind his back, and realized he had made a huge mistake, but it was too late to back down. He had already walked a dead end and could only continue the contest.

Half a day later.

Wizard Sera and Wizard Lex had a winner.

On the third floor, in the common office, Wizard Lex held up his wizard’s shoes and mocked Sera, “What level are you at that, daring to show off in our Rose School? We are not unaware of using psychic magic to absorb other people’s talents. Do you think we are some ignorant wizards from a lower-level wizarding land?”

“Guards, lock him up.”

“I don’t believe he has no connection with dark wizards. The most important thing is…”

Argos exchanged a glance with him.

Lex uttered words that chilled him to the bone. “This way, our school will have one less enemy along the Tianjiang River. Great!”

Wizard Sera was inwardly alarmed. Oh no.

He hadn’t expected the Rose School to be targeting him for this reason.

This was too insidious.

This Tacitus family was even more shameless than the Grey Wizards of their Southern Wizarding Capital.

This was all in public! He had previously used psychic magic to enter a wizard’s dream; who would believe that this could cause mental damage!

Sera’s eyes narrowed; he was about to charge out.

At the same time, a wizard guard suddenly rushed towards him from behind. This wizard wore a white robe, which emitted a faint light as it rushed towards him. The originally smooth surface of the robe developed a felt-like structure. Then, this crystallized wizard guard chanted a spell, and the robe transformed into white ribbons that wrapped around Wizard Sera.

Besides, four crystallized wizards stood to his left and right, chanting spells and manipulating their robes as textile wizards. The robes transformed into ribbons that wrapped around him like spider silk, attempting to ensnare him.

Sera glanced at the wizard Lex blocking his path; a loom had appeared behind him, clearly indicating he was using immense magic to empower the five crystallized wizards, allowing them to directly manipulate their second-ring robes.

In other words, within this headquarters of the Solas’s Lightfoot, he was facing a group of

crystallized wizards who could use second-ring robes to attack their enemies.

If this was the case, Sera quickly realized, it meant their opponents likely also possessed the special magical power to allow second-ring wizards to use their robes, which would be extremely disadvantageous for him.

This was their stronghold.

The textile wizards of the Alchemy School actually possessed this special ability to use second-ring robes.

Sera, the wizard, gritted his teeth, slashed his palm with a knife, then crouched down and quickly drew a magic circle on the ground with his own blood.

This was the opening spell of a second-circle Necromancer, Undead Plague.

In an instant, countless high-ranking undead, contained within his special version of the Astral Ring (Lich Ring), appeared. Countless skeletal undead and dozens of bone dragons charged towards the wizard’s robes, blocking them.

“The ground.”

Sera quickly looked down at his feet. He saw the carpet beneath his feet moving rapidly. A second-circle Alchemist, a Weaving Wizard, was chanting a spell beside him, causing the carpet to twitch. He almost fell over as the carpet unraveled, then wove itself in mid-air, transforming into a giant felt hand reaching for his head.

“Bone Wall!”

Sera casually tossed a skull to the ground. The skull landed and transformed into a massive bone wall, blocking the felt hand and turning the ground into a wasteland of bones.

Sera began chanting a spell, but it was interrupted by a second-circle wizard using a textile magic model, which transformed into a silver thread as hard as steel.

Sera couldn’t dodge in time, and blood streamed down his face as his eyes followed the silver thread.

“This thing can slice through my Permanent Defense Field like it’s tofu. Is this some special material developed by those tailors?”

Because his Astral Ring magic model was interrupted, Sera instinctively cast a second-circle Negative Energy Curse magic model.

The blood flowing from his face transformed into a black liquid dragon, flowing along the silver thread and rapidly entering the second-circle wizard’s body. The wizard’s originally fair face instantly turned a deep black, like a preserved egg.

However, it was precisely this instant of counterattack that prevented Sera from using his Astral Ring magic model to break through, and instead, he was surrounded and attacked by even more wizards from Solas.

Two Star Ring Wizard Designers, seeing that the Wizard Guards couldn’t subdue him, finally intervened. Each threw a needle at him, the silver needles containing immense energy, instantly shattering his body at the waist.

Star Ring Spell Model: Celestial Moon Needle Sewing Spell!

The Crystallized Wizard Guards also used threads to

bind , weaving sweaters to trap them.

Meanwhile, the Second Ring Wizard Designers sealed the Second Ring Bone Dragons with threads.

One of the Second Ring Wizard Designers laughed, “Daring to challenge Soras Barefoot, one of the strongholds of textile wizards. This necromancer is truly foolish.”

He chanted a spell, holding a silver needle, and the loom behind him spun rapidly. Soon, a bone dragon was sewn with leather, resembling a bone dragon doll. The bone dragon laboriously turned its head and breathed a frost-covered dragon breath towards half of Sera’s body.

“Textile Science Second Ring Spell Model: Leather Puppet Charm!

” Sera gritted her teeth. “The Tacitus family, you are too domineering. I haven’t even been sentenced by the Holy Court yet, and you’re already resorting to vigilante justice! You forced me into this. You’ve seriously underestimated me.”

Seven great magical powers of different attributes appeared behind Sera. In an instant, these great spells from different schools of magic struck the surrounding area, sending the two Star Ring wizards chasing her and Rex, Argos’s disciple, flying.

The second-ring wizard who used the Leather Puppet Charm to forcibly control the bone dragon was directly hit by a great spell of wind magic. His entire body was smashed beyond recognition by a whirlwind, and his office was completely destroyed.

The sorcerer Sera chanted a spell, causing the blood splattered on the ground from his battle wounds to multiply, forming a vast ocean of blood. From this ocean emerged blood-soaked figures who willingly merged with his undead scourge, transforming into red undead with blood despite lacking veins. Orbs of blood surrounded these undead,

greatly increasing the power of each one.

A skeletal dragon, its skeleton surrounded by red blood orbs, unleashed a powerful breath attack, instantly repelling a second-circle wizard.

This was one of the latest advancements in necromancy research in the Southern Wizarding Capital:

Necromancy!

Using a portion of the necromancer’s own blood, or that of another, temporarily imbues the undead with blood, granting them some life-like characteristics and allowing them to temporarily regain some of their original abilities.

Wizard Sera used a necromancy spell, constructing his lower body with blood. He leaped to the window of the bare-footed Soras building, desperate to escape.

He turned and extended his left hand to the wizards chasing him. Suddenly, his left hand vanished, leaving only bones. The skeletal arm transformed into the appearance of a saber-toothed tiger skull, as if his left hand had become a saber-toothed tiger skull.

Ultimate Magic: The Four-Unreversed Skeleton King!

Simultaneously, skull after skull appeared behind him.

The immense magic he constructed during the second stage, the unforged stage, was centered around a super undead skeleton king, created using his talent to see the Lich God and the basic magic of the Necromancer school.

This skeleton king became the lord of the dead in his medium-sized world, transforming that plane into the Necromancer Plane, and then ruling it.

His magic misled the plane, making it believe he was using necromancy to enhance it, thus gaining its recognition of the skeleton king as its ruler, and completing the construction of his immense magic.

During the unforged stage, he continuously seized the talents of others and used necromancy, like a tailor patching up their talents, piecing together a unique power system that used necromancy to absorb the forms of others and gain their immense magical abilities. Thus, he

upgraded to the Inverted Skeleton King.

The jumbled mess of things was pieced together, barely managed to be unified by the skull of the ancient saber-toothed tiger, preventing it from spiraling out of control. Thus

, his ultimate magic resembled a saber-toothed tiger’s skull. He was about to unleash the stored ultimate magic forms within his body using the Inverted Skeleton King technique to save his life.

But in that instant, his body suddenly stiffened.

“This is…”

Sera immediately realized that the attack from the two Star Ring wizards with the Celestial Moon Needle had altered his body structure, likely weaving his magical pressure to some extent, thus limiting his mana. But the biggest problem wasn’t that.

It was that at some point, his magical pressure was constantly dissipating, flowing in a certain direction.

Otherwise, with his peak Star Ring magical pressure, combined with the ultimate magic forms of the seventeen wizarding geniuses he had collected, and the ultimate magic forms of the Georgina witch, he could still put up a fight.

But now, because of this problem, Sera was completely rendered speechless.

Before Sera could think, he tried to use his remaining magic to escape. He leaped out the window, his lingering magical pressure still formidable. In that instant, a magic carpet flew by, and Lex the Wizard grinned as he shook his massive magical elemental loom.

The carpet, shimmering with the light of all four elemental magics, seized Sera and swept him up.

Sera was rolled up in the carpet.

Sera watched in horror as he fell back to the window and crashed heavily to the ground. His magic was completely sealed by the carpet; he was curled up and rolled on the ground until he reached Lex. Lex smirked, raised his foot, and stomped on Sera’s head.

“Now you’re behaving yourself?”

Lex wiggled his heels. “I didn’t expect you to be so capable. You single-handedly turned our Solas Barefoot Headquarters into a complete mess. But who do you think you are, taking on the entire Solas building by yourself? You’d better have the ability, necromancer.”

Lex stepped on Sera and looked at Argos, saying, “Teacher, I’ve captured this dark wizard. I spent some time analyzing his magical pressure and used a magic carpet specifically designed to cover the weakness of his magical pressure on the surface of his permanent defensive force field shell. This way, I can seal him. Without the necromancer, these undead are much easier to deal with.”

Argos remained calm and composed, as if he hadn’t cared about this impromptu conflict at all. “This person can make pure magical plant-based wizard shoes; it’s highly likely he wasn’t sent by Locke Augustine to provoke us. He wanted to take on our Solas Barefoot Headquarters alone, and Locke Augustine also took on the Rain Swamp alone. This clearly shows he’s connected to that wizard.

He’s even used some magic related to that wizard before.”

“This person is yours. Interrogate him and see if you can get anything useful out of him.”

“I need to plan carefully. This time, we must unify the wizard shoe market and ruin Locke’s reputation, making him a debt slave.”

“Try to get this guy to admit that Locke Augustine hired him to cause trouble.”

Sera, being trampled by Lex, yelled, “Wait! I’m a wizard from the Southern Wizarding Capital, I have a position in the White Wizarding Guild there, and my teacher is a third-circle wizard, the Death Doctor. Locke Augustine and I are enemies. Aren’t you afraid of being held accountable by my teacher and the White Wizarding Guild for treating me like this? You’re using vigilante justice, I won’t let you get away with it!”

Lex snapped his fingers, and a deep blue magical pressure suppressed all the undead in the room, making them unable to move an inch. Although there were many undead, their quality was poor.

Without Sera’s blood necromancy, they were nothing.

The loom behind Lex spun rapidly, and then everything inside the public office returned to its original state. The undead were also bound by strands of sweater, completely sealed away.

Lex grinned maliciously. “Your identity is still under investigation.”

“Southern Wizarding Capital?”

“Who cares about you? We Rose School have connections in the Southern Wizarding Capital too. You’d better explain your situation properly. Don’t worry, we won’t kill you. Until we find a way to circumvent the law, we just want to sit down with you, have a good chat, and ask you some questions.”

The wizard Argos turned and left.

A day later, in the dungeon that Solas had set up in the Barefoot Dungeon, because the magic carpet had been integrated into his magical pressure, Sera’s body and limbs had recovered, and she no longer had the magic carpet. However, she was unable to use magic, and her limbs were shackled in this makeshift dungeon.

“Outrageous! How could the Tacitus family do such a thing? As a top academy in Cloudweed Wetlands, Golden Crown Mountain’s conduct is clearly much better than the Rose Council’s.”

Sera sensed something and looked at the Lich God before her.

She was immediately furious. “Why did you suddenly drain my power just as I was about to escape? No, why could you take my power? What did you do? Didn’t you want me to help you investigate Locke Augustine

‘s secrets? Why did you betray me like this?”

“Help me get out of here.”

“Otherwise, how can I help you investigate Locke Augustine’s secrets?”

The Lich God, clad in black wizarding robes, remained motionless, yet his figure steadily drew closer to Sera.

“Sera, you are utterly useless. Don’t you consider that the Rose School is the school of Throne Wizards? How could they not know about necromancy? Your meager magic might fool ordinary wizards, but here in Soras, barefoot and swaggering, you’ll likely fail. If you could use your wisdom and the power I’ve given you to successfully join the ranks, then I could tolerate it and give you a chance to challenge Locke Augustine.”

“I always like to give people opportunities.”

“But you have failed. You no longer have the possibility of challenging Locke, so you must fulfill your promise and deliver yourself to me.

Although my successful descent is still a long way off, gaining a Lich King directly under my command before then isn’t bad.”

“A true Lich King.”

“Let me bestow upon you power.”

Sera’s eyes were filled with fear; he hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. “Wait, Lich God, I’ve seen you since I was a child. I’ve communicated with you and received your guidance. You are my teacher. You told me that necromancy is a new era, and I deeply agree. I respect you, I worship you. I believe you are omnipotent. Yes, I understand you, I

worship you.”

“No. You cannot do this.”

The Lich God walked towards him, placing his finger on his forehead, and countless terrifying necromantic energies transformed into vengeful spirits that entered his soul.

“Foolish child. Don’t you know? Worship is the emotion furthest from understanding. You have never understood me. You don’t know what true necromancy is, you don’t know my personality, you don’t know my purpose. You have simply projected your own misconceptions about my purpose onto me.” “

A soul that actively seeks to learn necromancy must be base and ignorant. I have always cherished talent and do not wish to harm the truly talented in this world, so I use necromancy as bait to lure those foolish people, like you, to learn it. To use you as sacrifices.”

Sera realized. “This is possession. You want to possess me?”

“But you have no soul. No, even so, I am still a Star Ring Archmage. You want to possess a Star Ring Archmage? That’s impossible.”

The Lich God mocked him, “This is ridiculous. You dare call yourself a Star Ring Archmage? I spent nearly thirty years guiding you to gradually exchange substance for form. Your substance level is far too low; you only possess a Star Ring-level form. And maintaining this form is my power. So many years of nurturing are enough to render you powerless to resist me at this moment.” “

However, I cannot say nurture, because I merely chose someone like you.”

“Even without me, you would exchange substance for form. Even if you were alive, you would be too similar to the undead in many ways. You are living undead. You are the best targets for my possession and control. At this moment, I inject my form into your form and surround your substance. A body that is not the Lich God, but mine, is thus completed. Don’t worry, our forms are intertwined; you still possess your past rationality and thoughts.”

“I have simply entered your mind.”

“Do not resist the power of the Lord of Rules! Let me control your form with my form. This is my form control.

What are you doing, Sera?”

The Lich God said gently, “Good child, do not resist. You are not capable of this; this is your level.”

Sera gritted his teeth. He was in very poor condition. His true level was actually that of an apprentice, but with the help of the Lich God and by constantly exchanging his physical form for a lowered form, as well as using necromancy, he had become a Grand Wizard of the Star Ring.

In the past, the Lich God had secretly supported his physical form, allowing it to maintain its peak Star Ring level form.

However, at this moment, the Lich God had suddenly betrayed him.

Sera had not been unaware of this possibility, so he was using his backup plan. He was activating necromancy, summoning the form of Locke Augustine.

Sera drew one magical rune after another with his fingers. “Locke—”

“No—it’s too late.”

“It’s too late.”

His consciousness completely sank into darkness.

In the laboratory of the Saffron Peach Garden on Golden Crown Mountain, Locke was examining the magical resources in his hands when he suddenly looked up and sensed something.

“Sera—”

“The necromancy connection between him and me has suddenly disappeared.”

“Hmm?”

Locke looked at the Ganoderma lucidum plant and saw that the March Palace had sent him a message indicating that Sera had forfeited the second round of the competition, and another enchanting witch from the Mountain and Water Deer Ridge had also forfeited, meaning that he had received a bye in the second round.

“Sera forfeited the second round. According to the competition along the Tianjiang River, this is a double-loss elimination competition. That means he can only lose once more.”

“Why did he suddenly forfeit the second round?” Locke frowned.

“This way, I’ll advance directly to the third round. Is Sera deliberately avoiding me?”

Locke pondered. “Every wizarding genius he seizes with his spirit-summoning magic grows stronger. Does he think he can’t beat me in the second round, so he’s skipping me, wanting to seize someone else’s talent in the third round and then compete with me in the finals?” “

But another witch also withdrew. What does that mean? What were her considerations? Judging from the news, she withdrew a long time ago, but the second round could still be held because there was still Sera. But now that Sera has also withdrawn, she’s only notified me. Although it’s a double-elimination format with room for error—forfeiting so easily seems illogical.” “

I didn’t hire anyone to do anything behind the scenes, and my teacher didn’t have that idea either. So it’s most likely their own decision. What’s their purpose?”

Only four people can enter the fourth round.

This is the decisive round.

Locke stopped thinking about this question. As long as he wins automatically, that’s fine. The Tianjiang River area involves the Golden Crown Mountain’s layout and his teacher’s layout, which are directly related to the outcome of the academic battle.

Rose will likely strive to reach the final round as well.

After all, a victory would bring immense benefits to her lineage.

While it might not be a decisive blow, it certainly cannot be ignored.

However, the competition there is fierce, with many talented individuals, including Chaos, a reincarnation of the Great World; Karl, a wizard naturally subdued by magical fire; and powerful wizards like Edgar.

I also wonder what Rose has been up to lately.

After what happened before, Rose should be able to suppress the Rose Goddess within her and take the initiative.

She is also a potential opponent.

Locke looked at the astral ring in his hand. “However, my primary goal right now is to survive the encirclement after Solas’s Lightfoot.”

“Everyone is a genius, and everyone is progressing rapidly. So we must take advantage of the breaks in this competition to continuously improve ourselves. “

“Rose and I have a special situation regarding the academic competition. But the other contestants certainly have their own things to do. So, there’s no need to worry too much about that.”

“The top eight wizards will participate together in the third round of the Tianjiang River competition,” Locke pondered.

“Actually, this is actually disadvantageous to me.”

Because if he doesn’t participate in the second round, it’s like losing a practice opportunity.

Each competition has its own requirements, and the Tianjiang River competition requires developing things that are beneficial to the Tianjiang River’s native land. Losing a practice opportunity might actually cause problems in the third round.

Locke pondered, “Karl, me, Edgar, and Chaos can all enter the third round, no doubt about it. As for the remaining

four spots, I wonder which of those wizards from before will get them.”

Locke looked at the Ganoderma lucidum plant; it was a Celtic wizard who had contacted him.

The Celtic wizard contacted him, saying, “Team leader, a group of breeders from the Red Dragon lineage at Golden Crown Mountain came to see you. They said they have something to discuss with you. There are many of them.”

“I wonder what it is.”

Locke frowned and replied to Celtic. “Okay. You talk to them first. I have something important to do here. If it’s nothing serious, you can handle it.”