Chapter 164: A Path of Ten Deaths and No Life

"The Fang Blood Shadow has been established for hundreds of years. We have attempted the plan to seize the Holy Pearl fragments countless times, yet not a single attempt has succeeded. Why do you think that is?"

Gres's voice carried a hint of chill, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.

"Could it be that the Shadow Forest has preventive countermeasures in place for our plans?"

Lin Wei vaguely guessed the crux of the matter.

"Indeed, you are quite right." The red light in the black ominous bird's eyes flickered a few times. "They do indeed have preventive countermeasures... these measures can effortlessly weed out any compromised sacrificers and sacrificial items... but as for what these countermeasures specifically entail, we know nothing at all."

"How is that possible?"

This time, Lin Wei was genuinely astonished. The unfathomable Fang Blood Shadow had, over the course of centuries, failed to even figure out the countermeasures of the Holy Pearl sacrificial ritual. It sounded utterly unbelievable.

"Not just the Shadow Forest, but we are completely in the dark regarding the Holy Pearl sacrificial countermeasures of the other academies as well. We only know that the countermeasures of every single wizard academy appear to be identical, and furthermore, these measures seem to have been left behind by that legendary mighty existence who single-handedly pioneered the wizard civilization of the Star-Through Continent."

Gres's tone carried deep reverence laced with a trace of dread.

"Do you mean the Great Wizard Vegalus?"

Lin Wei's expression darkened as if water were about to drip from it.

For hundreds of years, not a single one of the Holy Pearl sacrificial rituals across the twelve wizard academies had ever succeeded in its objective. Lin Wei did not even bother to ask Gres about the fate of those sacrificial victims, for even without asking, he could well guess that those who failed had long since turned to ashes.

"As expected, in this world, no one can be trusted..."

Lin Wei muttered inwardly to himself.

Cruel though the truth was, Lin Wei was also fortunate that he had not pinned all his hopes entirely on the Fang Blood Shadow just because the Shadow Forest treated him as a sacrifice. He had researched the bloodlines of the Elder descendants and had also acquired Retula as a slave at the level of an official wizard. Although his future remained bleak and shrouded in darkness, at least he could still retain a portion of the initiative in his own hands.

Abruptly, Lin Wei lifted his eyelids and asked Gres, "Lord Gres, the Holy Pearl sacrificial ritual should be presided over by the academy's dean and the council of elders, correct?"

The black ominous bird nodded. "Yes."

"Since that is the case, is there truly no way for us to win over any of the elders from the twelve wizard academies?"

Although Lin Wei asked it this way on the surface, deep down he was thinking of Retula. Retula was also one of the elders of the Shadow Forest; if he, as an elder, was also participating in presiding over the Holy Pearl ritual, perhaps he could find out what this terrifying countermeasure actually was.

"It is not that there is no way to win them over, but rather because..." The black ominous bird paused. "...but rather because those so-called deans and elders do not know what their own methods actually are, either."

Not even knowing their own methods—if it were not a matter of utmost importance, Lin Wei would have suspected that Gres was toying with him. This matter sounded entirely too bizarre.

"Before the Holy Pearl sacrificial ritual, they will take you to a mysterious space. The entity within this mysterious space is the countermeasure that no one knows about," Gres continued. "If your identity as a traitor is detected right there, then you will have... only a dead end."

Lin Wei's expression was less than pleasant, and he remained silent.

"Lin Wei, I hope you can change the history of the Star-Through Continent." Gres let out a sigh. "If you manage to survive the conclusion of the Holy Pearl sacrificial ritual, I guarantee that when you come to the Fang Blood Shadow, you will receive supreme honor and resource cultivation."

"Of course, the premise is that you must survive..."

Gres said softly.

Lin Wei pondered for two or three seconds, maintaining his composed demeanor. "Then I thank Lord Gres in advance."

Hearing this, the black ominous bird fluttered its wings twice.

Whoosh!

In a fraction of a second, the black ominous bird disintegrated into a flurry of scattered feathers. The feathers slowly dissolved in mid-air, soon vanishing into nothingness. Within the entire laboratory, only Gres's voice echoed.

"Lin Wei, I wish you good luck."

"The path of a wizard is still something one must rely on oneself to walk..."

Lin Wei wore an ugly smile. He sat before his laboratory desk, leaning the back of his head against the chair, and closed his eyes as if feeling somewhat weary. "From here on out, I suppose I will be placed under surveillance? It probably won't be long before someone comes to escort me to that mysterious space of unknown life and death..."

...

Time passed day by day, and a month slipped away in the blink of an eye.

During this month, Lin Wei had attempted to take on new out-of-bounds missions, but was informed that the academy had no new external assignments for the next half-year.

From this trivial matter alone, Lin Wei had already witnessed the Shadow Forest's high regard and resolute determination regarding the Holy Pearl sacrifice.

Not only that, but Lin Wei also discovered that his life seemed to have been placed under surveillance.

No matter where he went, one or two official wizards would tail him. Relying on their strength being superior to Lin Wei's, they did not deliberately conceal their presence, and thus were detected by Lin Wei, whose spiritual power far surpassed those of his peers.

Noritz and Norenshu had not proactively sought him out again since Retula returned to normal. Even Lorna was completely consumed by the impending Holy Pearl sacrificial plan and could not spare the time to contact Lin Wei.

For a time, Lin Wei seemed to have become utterly isolated.

As for his slave Retula, Lin Wei did not take the initiative to contact him either; at present, he could not afford to reveal even the slightest flaw.

The road ahead for Lin Wei was no less perilous than walking a tightrope across a chasm; the slightest misstep would send him plunging from the sky, shattering his bones upon hitting the valley floor.

The days suddenly grew as tranquil as if he had returned to the realm of mortals. Waiting for what felt like a death sentence, Lin Wei unexpectedly cast aside all restlessness, and the cultivation speed of his wizard meditation method accelerated noticeably, reaching the pinnacle of a level-three wizard apprentice's spiritual power threshold.

Inside the room.

"Core, pull up my physical data," Lin Wei commanded in a deep voice.

[Lin Wei Nolan-Mountain; Strength: 18.6; Agility: 18.8; Constitution: 19.1; Spiritual Power: 16.7; Skills: Fencing, Hammering; Wizard Meditation Method: Shadow of Holy Light; Spoolcraft: Star-Dark Quick-Sands, World of the Mind, Fog-Hidden Shadow Zenith, Shadow Concealment]

"The spiritual power limit for a normal level-three wizard apprentice is 15, yet with the assistance of the intelligent core, I have reached 16.7..."

"Both my basic attributes and spiritual power points have reached their limits. If I wish to advance further..." Flames of ambition burned within Lin Wei's eyes. "...I can only promote to an official wizard!"