Meditation Method

"These scrolls..." Kaisalin picked up a pitch-black scroll, strange runes coiled around it. "It doesn't look like ordinary Necromancy."

Argyle took the scroll, the Holy Sword's light illuminating the text. "This is... the mark of the Dark Council! No wonder this Necromancer was so powerful. He has a larger force behind him..."

Kaisalin held a stack of letters and was looking through them one by one, her expression gradually turning grim.

Katerina leaned over to take a look, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "It seems our Necromancer friend has quite a few acquaintances in the capital. They even dared to engage in dealings with the Dark Council, using the Necromancer to create chaos on the border, manufacturing excuses for war, eliminating dissent... including... forbidden experiments?"

Argyle's face became extremely grim. "No wonder there have been so many strange incidents on the border recently. If these letters were to be made public..."

Silence fell upon the group.

Shadow was examining other items when he suddenly let out a soft exclamation. "Jialan, you might be interested in this." He held up a tattered notebook, its cover covered in peculiar runes.

Although Jialan's Mana had not fully recovered, he could already move normally. He took the notebook, and the moment his fingers touched the runes, a strange mental fluctuation passed through him.

"This is... a Meditation Method?" Jialan quickly flipped through the notes, his eyes gradually lighting up with excitement. "And it's specifically for condensing Mental Power!"

The others gathered around. Although they couldn't understand the contents of the notes, they could guess from Jialan's reaction that it was no small matter.

Jialan continued, "Although some parts are very obscure, I can roughly determine it. This Meditation Method, through special breathing rhythms and Mental Power circulation, can greatly enhance the condensation of Mental Power. No wonder that Necromancer's Mental Power was so strong..." Jialan wanted to say more, but his expression suddenly changed. "So many people are coming, at least a small squad?"

Upon hearing this, their faces changed drastically. Soon, footsteps grew closer, the clanging of metal armor particularly jarring in the silent forest. Jialan could feel the aura of at least five intermediate-level professionals, and a sharp Wind element fluctuation made his heart tighten.

"Prepare for battle!" Argyle grunted, his Holy Sword already drawn. But his movements were clearly not as smooth as usual, and blood was still seeping from the wound on his chest.

Katerina's figure flickered across the snow, disappearing into the shadows. She was a natural Assassin, best suited for fighting in this environment. Shadow let out a whistle, and Qiuqiu, who had been playing on a nearby tree, leaped onto Shadow's shoulder in a few bounds. Its round eyes warily scanned the depths of the forest. Kaisalin gripped her longsword, standing in front of Jialan.

The moment the first enemy appeared in sight, the battle erupted. Katerina materialized from the shadows, her dagger precisely slitting a Warrior's throat. Shadow's arrow followed closely behind...

But the enemies reacted quickly. An intermediate-level Swordsman unleashed a sword energy, forcing Katerina to retreat. Another intermediate-level Knight raised his shield, blocking Shadow's arrow.

Jialan stood at the back of the group, his Mental Power fully unleashed. His Mana had only recovered a little, allowing him to cast only a few apprentice-level spells. He didn't dare waste a single bit, saving them for a critical moment.

"Careful!" Argyle suddenly shouted.

A cyan Wind Blade tore through the air, its speed catching them off guard. Jialan barely managed to dodge, but the Wind Blade still sliced off a large chunk of his black cloak. Fortunately, it didn't wound his flesh. He looked up and saw a Mage in a cyan robe floating in mid-air, surrounded by violent Wind elements.

"High Mage of Wind..." Jialan's heart sank. Flight was a mark of an Archmage. Among all Spellcasters, only High Mages of the Wind element could fly without any magical items. Spellcasters of this level were simply beyond their current capabilities.

The Wind Mage waved his hand again, and dozens of Wind Blades whistled through the air. Argyle raised his Holy Sword, Light Battle Qi forming a barrier, but it only blocked some of the attacks. Katerina and Shadow had to abandon their offense and focus on dodging.

"Retreat!" Argyle decisively ordered. "Run west!"

The group began to fight and retreat. But the Wind Mage's offensive was too fierce, and they were soon cornered.

Argyle roared, his armor already covered in cracks, blood seeping from the gaps in his shoulder guards. But the Light Knight still stood tall, his Holy Sword emitting a dazzling light.

Katerina's figure flickered between the shadows, her speed still astonishing, but an injury to her left leg made her movements less than perfect. Shadow constantly changed positions, utilizing the terrain, his arrows occasionally shooting from unexpected angles to slow down their pursuers.

Jialan felt a burning pain in his lungs. His Mana had only recovered a little, and the exhaustion was making it hard for him to breathe.

"There's a canyon ahead!" Kaisalin suddenly shouted. "We can use the terrain..."

Before she could finish, a Wind Blade grazed her ear, leaving a deep mark on the tree trunk. The High Mage of Wind had caught up. As he waved his Staff, the wind turned into sharp blades, shredding the surrounding trees.

"You can't escape," the Wind Mage's voice carried a hint of mockery.

Argyle suddenly stopped, turning to face their pursuers. A look of determination flashed in his eyes. "You all go first, I'll hold them off!"

"No!" Kaisalin tried to stop him, but it was too late. Argyle's Holy Sword erupted with unprecedented light, his figure seemingly transforming into a blazing sun. "Light Judgment!" At the cost of burning his life, he gained immense power for a short time. The golden holy light from the Holy Sword extended three to four meters, fiercely cleaving towards the Wind Mage in the air.

The Wind Mage was clearly caught off guard. The cyan magic shield around him was shattered in one blow. Then, a ring on his finger flashed red, and another layer of red shield appeared around him. The shield and the holy light stalemated for a moment before disappearing together. The Wind Mage was also shaken, nearly falling from the sky. Seeing this, Shadow suddenly took a deep breath, drew his bowstring to its fullest, and an arrow wrapped in a strange light. This shot condensed all his strength and skill.

"Chasing Wind Arrow!"

The moment the arrow left the string, the air seemed to tear apart. The Wind Mage's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly stabilized himself and, holding a Scroll that had appeared in his hand, crushed it. A wind wall formed in front of him. But the arrow's speed far exceeded his expectations; the wind wall had barely formed when the arrow pierced through it.