Chapter 72 - The Story of Zhurge, the Great Sorcerer (Part 3)

Thus, the years went by. My desire for vengeance against Garden still burned in my chest, just as strong as on that first day. I had reached the fifth circle of mana and devoted myself tirelessly to the refinement of my magic. Yet, even with all my training, I knew that in a battle against him, I would likely still lose. Garden possessed not only a vaster mana reserve but also far more combat experience. Even with my reputation as a genius of magic, I was well aware that he could have grown stronger over the years, just as I had. And for me, it wasn't enough to simply defeat him — my desire was to make him suffer, to inflict a pain worse than death, something that would mirror the suffering he had caused me.