In the laboratory he was most familiar with, Wizard Jolod finished the last journey of his life.
He did not plead with Richard to extend his life.
The old wizards of his era were few and far between, his family and friends had passed away, and his students were already standing on their own.
He no longer had much attachment to this world.
He was a wizard of the old era, and it was fitting for him to leave the stage with dignity as the new era arrived.
Holding Jolod’s body, which was on the verge of breaking, Richard did not weep. He simply and gently lifted him and placed him into a coffin condensed with magic power.
No one spoke at this moment, and the entire laboratory was silent.
"Does Teacher’s friends still live?"
Richard looked at Ali, with a self-deprecating smile on his face.
"I haven’t been in the Wizard World these years, and I don’t even know such small things."
"All of Master Jolod’s friends died in the war."
Richard remained silent, then sighed.
"Then let’s keep everything simple. The cemetery at the Academy should still be there, and Teacher should have his grave."
Ali paused for a moment, somewhat uncertain, and said, "The Academy’s property has been taken back by the council. It’s hard to say if the vacant graves have been given to other wizards."
"That’s not a problem." The Sun Great Wizard, who had come along, suddenly spoke, "Even if it’s been allocated, expand the secret realm a little and create an empty space."
The floors of the Tower of Truth are all secret realms, with highly malleable internal spaces.
"Thank you, Master." Richard slightly bowed.
The Sun Great Wizard sidestepped.
"There’s no need for such formality from a Crown Throne. You just need to say the word for such trivial matters."
Although Richard was also a Sixth Circle Wizard, his honorary crown throne was duly recognized by the entire Wizard Civilization.
The Sun Great Wizard, though a student of the Shaping Energy Crown, was not at the level to receive the formality of a crown throne.
A hint of helplessness crossed Richard’s face; he was still not accustomed to his crown throne status.
Jolod’s funeral was as simple as Richard had said.
Richard crafted a coffin out of pure gold and buried Jolod’s body.
In the ancient tradition of the Alchemy School, pure gold symbolized immortality and completeness.
Since all the family and friends had fallen in battle, only Richard, Ali, Wuni, and a few assisting Great Wizards attended the funeral.
After the burial, Richard stood in front of the tombstone for a long time, then quietly left.
People always have to look forward.
"Is this the Wizard World of the Enlightenment era?"
Richard walked across the wilds, with every cell in his body becoming active under the stimulation of life energy.
After a long hundred and twenty-four years of the End of Magic Era, the Wizard World Origin had finally begun to awaken.
And with its awakening, the Wizard World also began its revival.
The energy once confined within the earth veins began to emanate once more, and the creatures living in the Wizard World began to activate the life information hidden in their bloodlines under the energy’s stimulation.
For the creatures living in the Wizard World, this was a "Spiritual Awakening."
"It’s just getting started."
Ali walked beside Richard, a hint of intoxication on her face.
"According to Teacher, this is not even one-fifth of the Enlightenment era. It’s really unimaginable how beautiful that era was."
"Indeed, it was beautiful," Richard squinted his eyes and exhaled, "Otherwise, the Wizard World wouldn’t have been beaten into the state it was."
The blessing of the Wizard World made Richard like the chosen one within the Wizard World; the energy in the space naturally gravitated towards him.
In this environment, akin to the world’s beginning, various energy clusters, which were almost invisible, known as energy to wizards, constantly poured into Richard’s body.
Under the stimulation of these active energies, Richard’s bloodline integration even sped up a bit.
"But now it’s all in the past, isn’t it?" Ali said softly.
Richard smiled and did not tell Ali about the Civilization Devourer.
Such news is better to spread within a small circle, who knows if the existence of that thing would benefit the Civilization Devourer.
"Speaking of which, you’ve developed your bloodline quite well."
Richard suddenly looked at Ali. Over these three hundred years, Ali had not only become a Great Wizard but had also enhanced her physique to the limit of a Four Rings Great Wizard through bloodline development.
With a little Soul Essence, Richard could directly send her to the realm of a Five Rings Great Wizard—
The fact that he possessed a Miracle Furnace was no longer a secret to the Truth Council. So he could unabashedly use the Miracle Furnace to help those close to him.
"Hehe, to be praised by the Miracle Crown Throne, I guess my physique cultivation is indeed good." Ali giggled somewhat pretentiously.
Richard gave her a nudge and laughed, "Don’t be arrogant, your bloodline is quite unique. The bloodline of the Abyss Demon was originally intended for the Titan Blood, but yours is entwined with the Dragon Bloodline, which is truly rare.
I don’t know what the dean said, but from my perspective, you’d better focus on the Dragon Bloodline, and continually introduce new Abyss Demon bloodline to balance it."
Ali slightly nodded at his words, "That’s what the dean said too. He said a single Abyss Demon bloodline can’t compare to the Dragon Bloodline, so developing the Dragon Bloodline is a must."
Richard nodded, continuing, "I have some connections over in the Abyss, so you don’t have to worry about bloodline samples. Just ask for whatever you need.
Once you reach the Sixth Circle, you can try fusing with my Titan Blood.
If you succeed, your bloodline might surpass mine and the dean’s, becoming the strongest in the Physique School."
"Really?" Upon hearing this, Ali’s eyes lit up, "Then at that time, will I be able to... go to the battlefield with you?"
Though Richard never minded Ali’s weak strength, Ali herself despised her weakness.
She didn’t want to be just a secretary at the command center; she wanted to go to the battlefield, to fight alongside Richard, even if only as a pawn.
"Probably," Richard stroked his chin, "Clearing small-fry is definitely enough, but you surely won’t intervene in the main battlefield.
The future main battlefields are battles between Dominators, Level 6 creatures are no different from ordinary World Masters to them."
A determined gleam flashed in Ali’s eyes.
"As long as I can help you, that’s enough."
She didn’t aspire to become someone who could sway the battlefield, she just hoped not to be an accessory to Richard, a mere decoration.
Three hundred years is neither long nor short.
For Richard and the many Great Wizards, three hundred years is like a blink of an eye. But for this era, it was a major leap forward.
In the Wizard City, Richard and Ali restrained their auras, strolling through the city like ordinary wizards.
Around them, Subhuman Wizards and Human Wizards mingled together, almost indistinguishable.
The existence of bloodline witchcraft rendered the distinction between Subhuman Wizards and Human Wizards trivial. Under the intentional guidance of Soul School wizards, Wizard Society accepted Subhuman Wizards with almost no issue.
Subhuman Wizards went to the battlefield like them, even at a younger age.
They received the same education, held the same magic equipment, stayed in the same fortresses, and fought against the same enemies.
The battlefield was a great melter, different races thrown in, and what emerged was an alloy called the Wizard Army.
"Subhuman Wizards have integrated quite well," Richard communicated to Ali via spiritual message.
"It’s the Human Wizards who have integrated well, actually," Ali replied with a smile, "Compared to the growing number of Subhuman Wizards, Human Wizards are the minority.
And there’s no such thing as Subhuman Wizards, only Wizards."
Subhuman Wizards are an artificial race, each world’s Subhuman Wizards entirely different. To avoid sub-species conflicts like those within the Galaxy Mayfly, Wizards initially avoided using such a distinguishing term as Subhuman Wizards.
Even the term Subhuman has been intentionally erased.
It’s a term known only to Great Wizards and old wizards of the bygone era.
New wizards completely recognize the term Subhuman.
"The Soul Crown is truly impressive," Richard marveled, "approaching from the linguistic side, the wisdom of the Truth Wizards is truly astonishing."
Wizard Language being phonetic, erasing the term Subhuman, coupled with the guidance of ideologies, practically erased the concept of Subhumans.
"Indeed impressive," Ali chuckled softly, "which is why Soul School wizards are still not well-liked, even more so than those from the Curse School."
Richard froze for a moment, then laughed along.
It seems even the Soul School has things it can’t accomplish.
As they wandered through the city, Richard noticed that wizards no longer used Magic Stone Magic Essence for transactions but rather something akin to the Academy Coin he used back at the Academy.
Upon inquiring Ali, Richard learned that modern wizard civilization no longer used solid energy like Magic Stones for trading.
Ali explained, "Now wizards are spread across various worlds, magic power is no longer rare to them, and the value of Magic Stones has started to decline.
So, to avoid market chaos, a Great Wizard proposed issuing credit currency, using Mithril as a pegged item."
After hearing Ali’s explanation, Richard nodded slightly.
Magic Stones, for wizards, had no significant meaning in cultivation.
Previously, the Wizard World used Magic Stones for transactions mainly because the Wizard World’s energy was thin, and Magic Stones were a portable energy source to help wizards quickly recover their magic power.
But now, the energy concentration in the Wizard World changes almost daily.
Moreover, wizards are spread over various worlds with differing energy concentrations, none particularly thin.
Even on the battlefield, the council would distribute Magic Stones, with endless supply.
The value of these Magic Stones has drastically decreased compared to pre-war times.
"So, now the hard currency is Mithril?" Richard asked, tilting his head.
Richard rubbed his chin, a figure flashing across his mind.
"Looks like Wuxiang’s post-battle work is cut out."