He turned around and gestured to Dana and the others, "Let’s leave this place first!"
Without Robert’s command, the spider woman was clearly disoriented and stood no chance against Carl.
The injured group broke through the interception and vanished into the darkness.
「Divine Domain Fragment.」
Even with an invisible force calming his mind, Carl’s face still could hardly hide his excitement as he gazed intently at the loot on the table.
Four Demonized Items!
It was an absolutely staggering fortune!
Each ring had a different design, but what they had in common was the same name etched on the inside.
It wasn’t clear whether it was a first name or a surname, but it was definitely someone’s appellation.
Leo? Hibell once mentioned this name. He was an Advanced Wizard Apprentice in the Gando Kingdom a hundred years ago, an expert at refining Demonized Items. If he were still alive today, he would surely be an Official Wizard, but the likelihood was not high. Meditating and practicing witchcraft required vast amounts of time; being distracted by Artifact Refining certainly wouldn’t allow one to enhance spiritual power, making it very difficult to become an Official Wizard.
Steadying his spirit, Carl picked up the rings from the table in turn.
The ring set with a ruby possessed witchcraft for summoning thorns, a summoning-type Zero-Circle Magic. Once activated, it would summon more than a dozen bloodthirsty vines capable of both draining an enemy’s flesh and blood and entrapping the opponent. It could easily drain a Knight until they became a dried corpse. It could be cast three times a day.
The ring set with a sapphire held the Circular Star Sword, a Zero-Circle starlit witchcraft. Once activated, starlight would gather around the Caster’s body, forming six Longswords with some degree of automatic tracking ability. The Circular Star Sword was incorporeal, so it could ignore defenses to some extent; even heavily armored enemies would be penetrated by it. However, physical objects would weaken its lethal power. This ring showed signs of obvious damage. Although it could be used four times a day, it likely wouldn’t last long.
The yellow jade ring’s inherent witchcraft was Gravity Protection, a gravity-based Zero-Circle Magic. Once activated, it could alter the gravity environment within a certain area, for both defense and entrapping enemies. Its power was roughly equivalent to an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice’s minor spell field but was far more flexible and versatile. The frequency of casting depended on the situation.
The last ring, set with a crystal, held the witchcraft Titan’s Hammer, an offensive witchcraft. This witchcraft was immensely powerful; even an ordinary Great Knight could not withstand it. However, casting it required some preparation time, and once the target was locked, the attack direction couldn’t be changed. Because of this, Robert would always immobilize the target first before summoning the witchcraft to attack. It could be used a maximum of three times a day. It also showed signs of damage.
Demonized Items were mostly damaged due to being forcefully activated beyond their daily limit. While they could still cast spells, it would cause irreversible damage, eventually rendering them unusable. Actually, the majority of Demonized Items had a ’durability’ and couldn’t be used indefinitely.
Carl slightly raised his eyebrow as he put on the crystal ring.
With a light wave of his arm, the air in front of him rippled like water, and two books and a Potion bottle appeared out of thin air.
This ring actually has the capability of void storage—this is Second Order witchcraft or higher! No! It’s probably not the ring’s ability, but the crystal. The crystal itself must have a certain storage space.
Refining a Demonized Item with void storage capabilities was definitely not something a Wizard Apprentice could achieve. Even an Official Wizard probably couldn’t manage it! But if the item itself had a certain space, simply refining it into a Demonized Item was much simpler. Just like the broadsword he carried with him.
The crystal’s inherent space wasn’t large, only holding two books and a porcelain bottle, but they were undoubtedly valuable items. Otherwise, Robert wouldn’t have carried them with him.
He came forward to look closely. The two books were "Complete Analysis of Stone Statue Ghosts" and "Detailed Explanation of Earth Element Witchcraft."
Two legacies that could advance one to an Official Wizard! Containing seven witchcrafts!
After reading them, Carl almost laughed aloud in delight, his usually composed expression struggling to conceal his joy.
"Complete Analysis of Stone Statue Ghosts" followed the path of Bloodline Wizards but also carried some traces of construction witchcraft. Practicing this art required progressively transforming the body towards that of a Stone Statue Ghost, until constructing the witchcraft of Stone Statue Ghosts in the Spiritual Inner Sea, completing the evolution from spirit to flesh. If successful, he would advance to an Official Wizard. He could also transform into a Stone Statue Ghost at any time.
This witchcraft had some flaws: the longer one practiced, the more one gradually lost those emotions unique to humans. Moreover, since it involved a complete transformation, one could not change into other creatures. There were advantages, however. One could significantly extend one’s lifespan! Ordinary Official Wizards could live more than two hundred years, but by becoming Stone Statue Ghosts, since their vitality consumption slowed down, they could live four to five hundred years.
No! This shouldn’t be the orthodox approach for Bloodline Wizards. Stone Statue Ghosts aren’t some type of living creature, but a kind of mechanical life created by Wizards. True Bloodline Wizards can transform into other species at will, whereas the art of Stone Statue Ghosts seems more like an unorthodox shortcut.
Actually, Carl was overthinking it. The practice of Bloodline Wizards required the flesh of Legendary Creatures, but how many of those existed in the entire Gando Kingdom? Thus, the orthodox path of Bloodline Wizards was simply unfeasible here. However, the art of the Stone Statue Ghost was different; it only required refining a Stone Heart to begin.
Flesh transformation!
Flipping to a certain page, Carl paused. He finally understood why Robert was so popular in Sigerno City; Bloodline Wizards could minutely alter their bodies. For instance, making a certain part grow larger, longer.
He chuckled softly and shook his head, then picked up the other book.
"Detailed Explanation of Earth Element Witchcraft" contained four types of witchcraft: the Zero-Circle Magic Control Earth and Rock, Earth Spike, Giant Force Shock, and the One-Circle Witchcraft, Earth Shattering. Additionally, there was one trick, Merge with Mud. Three Zero-Circle Magic spells together with one trick could constitute the One-Circle Witchcraft, Earth Shattering, also a complete legacy.
No Meditation Method?
Carl frowned. Not only did the Earth Element legacy lack a Meditation Method, but the art of the Stone Statue Ghost also lacked the crucial method to create the Stone Heart. Without a Meditation Method, one could still practice witchcraft, but according to the book, the possibility of becoming an Official Wizard was extremely low. Almost non-existent! It was the same with the Stone Heart. Without a Stone Heart, some methods of Bloodline Wizards could be practiced, but one could not fully become a Stone Statue Ghost.
Could it be that here too, the so-called ’sacred secret’—unwritten and passed down orally—is prevalent?
He sighed and put down the book.
Humans truly are insatiable, never content. To have four Demonized Items and still want witchcraft; to have witchcraft and still desire a complete legacy.
Shaking his head, he picked up the last vial.
The vial contained some granular objects, the size of rice grains, clear as ice crystals, making a rattling sound when shaken.
This should be Essence of Rice, a medicinal substance that aids in practicing Meditation Methods. It’s a perfect substitute for the Light of Wisdom.
Carl wasn’t surprised by the contents of the vial. Of course, nor was he particularly thrilled. He still had plenty of soul dust on hand; before becoming an Official Wizard, he wouldn’t run short of auxiliary potions. However, as resistance increased, changing medications was still necessary to maintain the increase of his Cultivation.
Carl now had five Demonized Items in total, all of them rings, enough to fill one hand fully. He debated wearing them. If he didn’t, he feared not being able to access them when needed. But if he did, so many rings on one hand would be too conspicuous, and some people might recognize their origins. After much thought, he simply put on a pair of loose gloves to cover the rings.
"Have you heard? Pharmacist Robert turns out to be from Kolon, and he’s also connected to the disappearance of the female workers at Lapu Textile Factory."
"Heard it. Last night, we lost quite a few experts; even Chief Goff was grievously injured. But they escaped from the factory base and called the city guards to raid the factory overnight."
"Of course, lots of important people died!"
Carl lay on a soft chair, eyes closed in feigned sleep, his ears catching the quiet murmur of his colleagues nearby.
"I also heard that it was a mysterious person who came to their aid; otherwise, even the Chief wouldn’t have made it out."
"A mysterious person?"
"Hush, the boss is coming."
Dana’s voice rang out, "Who’s willing to raid Robert’s estate today?"
Carl’s eyes snapped open. "I’ll go!"
In Robert’s estate, there should be books on witchcraft. If he could acquire them, it would save much effort in his subsequent cultivation.