CH267 - CH269

CH267

The wizard array that the Terchy family had auctioned off for 80,000 magic stones in the Barren Lands would only have fetched around 7,000 to 8,000 magic stones in the Land of Dawn. However, due to the strict control of wizard arrays by the Land of Dawn, such items were extremely rare in the Barren Lands.

Typically, individual wizards didn't have much use for wizard arrays unless they wanted to fortify their homes or build personal bases.

More commonly, organizations or factions had a greater demand for wizard arrays.

Helag and Israel talked for several hours, drinking quite a bit in the process.

With Helag's physique, alcohol had little effect on him. He was practically immune to getting drunk.

After their conversation, Israel grew even more impressed with Helag.

He found that the young man was incredibly knowledgeable, able to discuss various topics with ease and depth. Helag wasn't just skimming the surface—he had a profound understanding of many subjects.

Israel couldn't help but admire Helag, recognizing him as a true genius.

After finishing their drinks, they each called for a carriage to take them home.

There were plenty of carriages waiting near the tavern, as it was one of the few places that saw good business at night.

When Helag returned home, he found David fast asleep, while Reese was buried in a book on magical theory.

"Take it easy, there's plenty of time. No need to rush," Helag said, noticing that Reese seemed to be under a lot of pressure lately.

The source of her stress appeared to be Helag himself. He was learning and progressing so quickly that Reese felt she was falling further and further behind.

She feared that one day she would become a burden to Helag, something she didn't want to happen.

As a result, Reese had been working tirelessly, eager to improve.

"You're back! Did you get drunk?" Reese asked, surprised and happy to see Helag.

Helag had already told her about passing the Wizard Array Master evaluation.

He walked over, pulling Reese into his arms, gently stroking her back. "You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. No matter how strong I become, I'll never leave you behind."

Reese leaned into his embrace, whispering, "I know, I just don't want to slow you down…"

"There's no such thing as being a burden. Just focus on your cultivation at your own pace. Rushing things will only cause problems. By the way, when you and David reach the limit of gaseous cultivation and can't break through, let me know. I think I can help."

Helag planned to give them the World Tree sap when they reached the limit of gaseous cultivation. That way, they could make the most of its effects.

Simply extending their lifespans wasn't very meaningful at the moment—they were still young and far from needing that.

What they needed more was a push to break through from gaseous to liquid cultivation.

Both of them were still some distance away from that stage, so they needed to continue meditating and cultivating slowly.

"It's late. Let's get some rest."

Helag's hand slowly slid down…

***

Mozambi was the largest slum in Silvermoon City.

Technically, it wasn't even a slum by the strictest definition.

Seranthiel regularly distributed food to ensure that the people here didn't starve.

Compared to the slums of the Barren Lands, Mozambi was much better off.

Being able to eat was already a dream come true for many.

Mozambi was located on the western edge of Silvermoon City, closest to the city walls.

It was a sprawling area filled with low, makeshift buildings. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that most of the structures were small shacks.

These shacks were mostly built from tarps, and only those with better means could afford to build wooden houses.

In the Land of Dawn, wood wasn't cheap.

Few in the slums could afford it. Most people were content just to have a roof over their heads to shield them from the elements.

The conditions in the slums were terrible, with sewage flowing freely.

Although there were sewers, no one maintained them, so they were practically useless.

As a result, Mozambi always had a faint stench in the air.

In some areas, the smell was stronger, while in others, it was less noticeable.

As for the black sewage that covered the ground, the residents had long since grown accustomed to it.

Many people even used the slightly cleaner parts of the sewage as their water source, with some directly drinking from the ground.

Diarrhea and illness were common, and most people went to their graves without ever realizing that their sickness came from drinking the filthy water.

They had grown up like this, so it was all they knew.

In front of some shacks, women with pale legs sat idly. They weren't particularly attractive.

But there were always men in dirty clothes who, upon seeing those pale legs, would swallow hard and find themselves unable to walk away.

After some hesitation, they would search their pockets and produce five copper coins, handing them over.

The women didn't care about the filth on the coins. After counting them, they would lead the men into the shacks, pulling down the curtains behind them.

In a more open area in the distance, a crowd had gathered.

An old man, looking to be in his seventies, stood in front of a large pot, stirring its contents.

Inside the pot was a white, dough-like substance—breadfruit.

This breadfruit came from a tree discovered by wizards during their plundering of other planes. The tree's fruit contained this white, doughy food.

When boiled, the fruit turned into large chunks of dough-like material, and just one fruit could fill a person's stomach.

However, it had little flavor and minimal nutritional value, serving only to stave off hunger.

Initially, breadfruit was scarce.

But after wizards modified and cultivated the trees, their yield increased dramatically, solving the problem of hunger.

Every major city in the Land of Dawn had slums, and each city regularly distributed breadfruit to the slums to meet the basic food needs of the residents.

The breadfruit was handed over to local leaders in the slums, who were responsible for storing and distributing the food.

These leaders were usually people with some influence or reputation in the slums, individuals with organizational skills who could manage the distribution.

Franz, now 178 years old, was the elder of the Mozambi slum and the most respected person there.

He was the only official wizard in the area, a crystallized-level wizard.

Many years ago, he had the opportunity to leave the slums and join various organizations.

While he wasn't qualified to join Seranthiel, he could have easily joined a merchant guild or a smaller organization, which would have been far better than staying in the slums.

CH268

Franz had refused offers from all the various factions, choosing to remain in Mozambi, the slum.

The conditions in the slum were abysmal, with even basic living standards being a challenge, let alone supporting a wizard's cultivation.

Yet, despite these hardships, Franz had managed to ascend to the rank of a crystallized-level wizard.

To have cultivated to such a level with so few resources was a testament to Franz's exceptional talent.

Many people couldn't understand why Franz would stay in a cesspool like Mozambi when he had the potential for a much brighter future.

But Franz believed that Mozambi was his home, and he wanted to make a difference there.

If he left, Mozambi would remain the same—just another slum, unchanged.

For years, Franz had stayed in Mozambi, not only offering free medical care to the residents but also teaching the children.

Whenever he discovered a child with the potential to become a wizard, he would personally mentor them. If they showed promise, he would recommend them to Seranthiel or other smaller factions.

Many talented individuals had emerged from Mozambi, but Franz had never left.

He had become a spiritual leader to the people of the slum, earning their deep respect.

Those who had left Mozambi often returned, if only to visit Franz.

"Time to eat," Franz said after stirring the pot for a while, seeing that the food was ready.

The slum residents, holding all sorts of bowls, lined up in an orderly fashion.

Franz ladled food into each person's bowl.

Everyone who received food would bow slightly to Franz, showing their respect.

Once the food was distributed, a young man beside Franz began directing others to clean up.

Franz didn't personally distribute food every time—he only did so on Wednesdays at noon.

On other days, the younger men handled these tasks.

Franz was getting older, and his body wasn't what it used to be. He rarely appeared in public anymore.

Typically, a first-level official wizard could live up to around 300 years, so at 178, Franz wasn't considered very old.

A first-level wizard of his age would usually still look like a middle-aged person.

But Franz appeared unusually aged, for reasons no one could explain.

"Bron, come see me after you're done here. I have something to discuss with you," Franz said.

Bron was the leader of the young men helping out. He had been an orphan, raised by Franz.

He had the potential to become a wizard, though his talent wasn't great. He was currently a third-tier wizard apprentice.

Some smaller factions had tried to recruit him, but Bron had always declined, saying that Franz's health wasn't good and that he needed to stay and take care of him.

Franz no longer ventured out much, so he entrusted many tasks to Bron.

In the Mozambi slum, Bron was seen as Franz's representative.

Bron glanced at Franz, knowing from their long relationship that something important was about to be discussed.

He nodded. "Alright, I'll come by once I'm done here."

Franz sat in his backyard, reclining on a bench and basking in the sunlight.

His yard was one of the few in Mozambi, and it was well-kept, a stark contrast to the rest of the slum.

Two young men stood guard at the entrance, acting as sentries.

These young men had been raised by Franz since childhood and were fiercely loyal to him.

Franz closed his eyes, resting peacefully. The surroundings were quiet, with no noise to disturb him.

This area was considered forbidden in Mozambi, and no one dared to approach without permission.

After a while, Bron entered the yard. The guards nodded at him as he passed.

Bron knelt on one knee before Franz and asked, "Master, what do you need me to do?"

Franz opened his eyes and looked at Bron. "A few days ago, I received another message from the God."

Bron's head shot up. "What did the God say?"

His eyes were filled with fervor, his excitement barely contained.

"The God rebuked me, saying we haven't done anything of value. But the God is merciful. He has bestowed upon me an item, and we must use it wisely," Franz said, pulling out a red claw. It was unclear what kind of creature the claw had come from.

"What is this…?" Bron looked at the red claw with reverence, though he was unsure of its purpose.

Franz explained, "By sacrificing six people, we can activate it. Once activated, the God will turn His gaze upon us and strike this place with a fraction of His power."

Bron was filled with excitement.

To him, the God was holy and the most powerful being in existence.

Even a fraction of the God's power was beyond mortal comprehension.

Bron thought for a moment and asked, "How can we make the best use of this?"

A gift from the God could not be wasted. It had to be used to its fullest potential, or they would be squandering the God's favor, which would surely lead to His disappointment.

For the followers of the God, disappointing Him was the greatest sin.

Franz's voice was grave as he replied, "The day after tomorrow, there will be a party at the home of Israel, a second-level wizard, on Silver Sand Street. Many wizard array masters will be attending. Wizard array masters are very important to these corrupt wizards. If we can eliminate them all at once, it would be a small but worthy offering to the God."

Bron nodded. "I understand."

"Remember, you are to arrange for others to carry out this task. You are not to do it yourself, nor should you send any of our people. Do you understand?" Franz instructed.

"I understand," Bron replied.

Bron knew exactly what Franz meant. The first thing to consider was the possibility of failure.

If the mission failed, neither he nor Franz could be implicated. There must be no connection between them and the event.

That was why Bron couldn't carry out the task himself. His relationship with Franz was well-known in Mozambi.

If something happened to Bron, Franz would be dragged into it as well.

Moreover, their faith in the God had to remain hidden. If the wizards discovered their beliefs, they would be thoroughly investigated and eradicated.

"Remember, all our power comes from the God. We cannot afford to disappoint Him," Franz reminded Bron once more.

Bron nodded silently, carefully placing the blood-red claw into his spatial ring before leaving to make the necessary arrangements.

Franz lay back on the bench, gazing up at the sky, murmuring to himself, "Corrupt wizards… One day, the God will descend and cleanse this world completely."

A flash of blood-red light passed through his eyes, disappearing as quickly as it came, unnoticed by anyone.

CH269

"I think you look better in this one."

Reese adjusted Helag's collar, then stepped back to take a good look, nodding in satisfaction.

Helag smiled. "Alright, I'll wear this one then."

He was going to attend a ball at Israel's house tonight, so Reese had prepared several outfits for him to try on. After going through them all, they settled on a black-themed suit.

Helag didn't care much about what he wore. To him, it didn't really matter.

But Reese insisted that since this was his first formal gathering with the wizard array masters of Silvermoon City, he needed to look the part. It was important to show that he took the event seriously.

Over the past few days, Israel had sent several advanced books on wizard arrays to Helag, which he had already recorded and was diligently studying.

Given how much Israel valued him and treated him well, Helag naturally wouldn't refuse the invitation to the ball.

As night fell, Helag arrived at Israel's house by carriage.

Many carriages were already parked outside, all of them lavishly decorated, clearly owned by the guests themselves rather than hired from the city.

People were stepping out of their carriages, greeting each other warmly, clearly familiar with one another.

Their attire was just as extravagant, the quality of the fabrics speaking of their wealth.

At that moment, Helag realized Reese's advice had been spot on. At least now he blended in with the crowd and didn't stand out awkwardly.

Israel stood at the entrance, welcoming his guests.

When he saw Helag, he waved from a distance. "Helag, over here!"

Israel's gesture drew some attention, and several people turned to look at Helag.

The circle of wizard array masters in Silvermoon City wasn't large, and everyone knew each other.

Helag was a new face, and the others took a few extra glances at him.

"Come on in, most of the guests are here, and the ball is about to start. Oh, and there are quite a few beautiful ladies here tonight. If you fancy any of them, I can introduce you," Israel said with a cheeky grin.

Helag chuckled and shook his head. "No need, I've already got someone at home."

The ball wasn't just for wizard array masters; there were also socialites and elites from various circles in Silvermoon City.

Helag wasn't interested in meeting any new women. He knew that with these beauties came complications and trouble.

All he wanted was to quietly cultivate and grow stronger in Silvermoon City.

The ball began shortly after, held in a large hall inside Israel's house.

The space was vast, with tables laden with food and drinks available for the guests to help themselves.

In one corner, a live band played soft, soothing music.

Balls like this were common in Silvermoon City, often serving as opportunities for people to expand their social circles or make connections to get things done.

Israel was busy, constantly greeting and chatting with various guests.

Helag, on the other hand, grabbed some food and a drink and retreated to a corner.

A voluptuous woman noticed Helag and approached him with a drink in hand, smiling. "Are you here alone? I don't think I've seen you before."

Reese had originally planned to come with Helag, but he decided to attend alone.

It would be easier for him to handle things on his own if any trouble arose.

Helag smiled. "Yes, it's my first time here."

"Oh, hello, I'm Amisha Mori," she said, extending her hand.

Helag politely shook her hand and quickly let go. "I'm Helag. Are you from the famous Mori family, by any chance?"

Over the past few days, Helag had learned a bit about the various factions in Silvermoon City and knew that there were many powerful families.

These families had significant influence, with members spread across various industries and organizations.

The Mori family was one of the most well-known wizard families in Silvermoon City.

Their most notable trait? Wealth.

How wealthy, you ask?

They were major shareholders in Seranthiel's bank, and not just in Silvermoon City or Seranthiel's territories, but across the entire Land of Dawn.

The Mori family had connections in nearly every major wizard organization, their network vast and complex.

If they were just an ordinary wizard family, they wouldn't have shares in Seranthiel's bank.

Amisha smiled. "That's right. I heard Mr. Israel was hosting a ball, and I was bored, so I decided to come check it out. What about you, Mr. Helag? I don't think I've seen you before."

"I'm from the Barren Lands, so it's no surprise you haven't seen me," Helag replied with a smile.

"The Barren Lands?" Amisha looked surprised, her body shifting slightly, causing a noticeable ripple.

Helag briefly explained his background.

Amisha sighed. "I can't believe you participated in the frontier wars. That must have been tough. Thank you for your contribution to the Land of Dawn. I'll drink to that."

She clinked her glass against Helag's and downed her wine.

Participating in the frontier wars was grueling and dangerous, fought for the resources and development of the Land of Dawn.

Amisha understood this well, and her respect for Helag was genuine.

"Can you tell me more about the Barren Lands? I'm really curious about it," Amisha said, licking a drop of wine from her lips.

People in the Barren Lands knew little about the Land of Dawn, and the same was true in reverse.

Aside from the higher-ups in various factions, most people only knew that the Barren Lands existed and that it was a backward place.

But few knew what the Barren Lands were really like.

Having grown up in Silvermoon City, Amisha had heard of the Barren Lands and was quite curious.

Meeting a man from the Barren Lands, especially one as young and handsome as Helag, with a certain mysterious aura, intrigued her.

She was very interested in Helag.

Helag nodded and began telling her about life in the Barren Lands.

Amisha, being the daughter of a powerful family, wasn't someone Helag could afford to offend, so he humored her with some conversation. After all, he didn't have much else to do.

"Do you really have vast forests and mountain ranges? And you can sail on the ocean? Wow, I've never seen the sea before. I'd love to visit if I ever get the chance."

Amisha listened intently as Helag described the culture and landscapes of the Barren Lands, her eyes filled with wonder.

The Land of Dawn had no coastline, and most people had never seen the ocean, only reading about it in books.