Sunset Gathering, Grace's Fortunes
Ronan reached out, Itai," like a deep and luxurious black silk, wrapped itself around his arm along his fingers and quickly flowed into his robes.
After discovering that "Itai" could evolve by devouring others, Ronan fed it all his original metallic mediums Nightmare Tungsten Steel and Neumann Metal, as well as all the metals he had collected in the Mechanical Heart.
The current "Itai" has evolved to the third tier in terms of quality and possesses the properties of all metals it has devoured, including Nightmare Tungsten Steel.
However, what satisfied Ronan the most was the touch of spirituality inherent in "Itai" itself.
It is not a purely inanimate object, but rather something that exists somewhere between metallic material and metallic life.
Just like the Black Dog Ronan saw in his dream, it's not impossible if it can continue to grow.
It is precisely because of this spiritual essence of "Itai" that it is perfectly compatible with the Extraordinary Magic Domain power of [Living Steel]. When [Living Steel] is cast using "Itai", the spell's effect is more than doubled compared to before.
"Itai must be a creation of the 'Alchemist.' The fact that they could create such a magical metal Itai speaks volumes about the wisdom and power of the 'Alchemist.'"
As Ronan imagined it, Itai resembling black silk or flowing oil oozed from beneath the collar of his robes, flowing down his neck and finally covering most of his face like a mask, revealing a shark-tooth-shaped mouth that opened and closed. This bizarre and eerie appearance contrasted sharply with Ronan's other half of his face, which was as white and handsome as an ancient sculpture, creating an extremely strong visual impact and a twisted, terrifying beauty.
"It looks a bit like the Venom suit."
Ronan stretched out his right hand, his five fingers, completely covered in Itai, swaying in the air as if he were gently plucking an invisible string in the air.
He uttered short, soft spell syllables, and his mental energy surged forth, with strange energy fluctuations emanating from Ronan's fingertips.
The next moment, a large amount of Itai metal surged out from every seam of Ronan's robes, quickly condensing into a strange and ferocious thick tentacle in the void. This tentacle swayed slightly, emanating a terrifying pressure that distorted the air. [Spirit Maya Black Steel Touch]! After emerging from the Mechanical Heart, Ronan traveled while focusing on studying the [Golden Fire] inheritance he had obtained from the Golden Magic Box.
Of the five Spell Inheritance from the Golden Fire, the Spirit Maya Black Steel Touch is the simplest and the only spell he is currently qualified to learn. Ronan had already successfully mastered it three days ago.
"So, the [Golden Fire] Spirit Maya is a being with tentacles resembling an octopus?"
Ronan looked at the black steel tentacles that had been summoned by magic. He pulled the tentacles closer and could clearly see some serrated marks on them.
Perhaps once you improve your proficiency with this spell, these serrations will be fully formed, but even now, the metal tentacles still produce a slight whistling sound when they are swung, giving a rather sharp cutting sensation.
Ronan had seen the entirety of the Alchemist's Golden Kingdom from afar, where the most striking feature was the seven towering, radiant golden Golden Country.
Those seven dazzling figures are probably the seven cornerstone forces that support the entire magical system of the Golden Country, and the [Golden Fire] Spirit Maya is one of them.
What puzzled Ronan was that he didn't sense any fire magic power in the spell [Spirit Maya Black Steel Touch]; it was just a pure Metal Element spell.
Ronan speculated that perhaps only after mastering all five spells and constructing a complete [Golden Fire] system would a wondrous transformation occur.
Ronan had never seen the true form of Spirit Maya, and he was very curious about what the real [Golden Fire] would look like and what powerful abilities it would possess. Besides, the spell [Black Steel Touch] was different from any other spell Ronan had learned before—
Its proficiency increased exceptionally quickly.
Ronan barely learned the spell in three days, and after only a few practice sessions, the proficiency level of [Black Steel Touch] on his Character Panel had already reached the "proficient" level.
Moreover, compared to ordinary second-tier spells, the power of [Black Steel Touch] is exaggeratedly great. Ronan estimated that his [Black Steel Touch], which is only at the "proficient" level, has already touched the edge of the third level, which is simply unbelievable.
"Is this the difference between advanced and rare spells and ordinary spells?"
"The spell 'Black Steel Touch principles are more profound than those of ordinary spells, making it easier to generate a spell domain, thus allowing for rapid increases in proficiency before reaching the Master Level."
Ronan now knows that comprehending the Law Domain is the true starting point for a spell.
In ancient times, wizards were all like dragons, and any spell they cast had the effect of an Extraordinary Magic Domain. Modern wizards cannot do this. In addition to the fact that the free energy particles in the world are far less concentrated than in ancient times, the fact that the threshold for casting low-level spells has been continuously lowered is also an important reason.
The lowering of the spellcasting threshold also means a simplification of spell principles and a weakening of spell power.
During his three years of Ascetic Loft, Ronan read a viewpoint in a wizarding book that modern wizards of the same level are at least twice as weak as ancient wizards.
Besides the influence of the environment, inheritance is also a significant factor.
Of course, it's not to say that the older the runes and spells, the better. Many ancient traditions have evolved and become more powerful with the wisdom of generations of wizards. However, ancient spells are still much more powerful than general spells.
In addition to the [Golden Fire] Spell Inheritance, Ronan has also almost finished studying the [Schubert's Golden Law] rune that accompanies it.
This Soul Rune is actually similar in effect to [Schubert's Mithril Transformation], both of which strengthen metals, but it is much more powerful than the [Silverization] seal.
If Ronan hadn't made spatial modifications to the [Silverization] rune, he might already be preparing to replace his second Soul Rune.
But for now, we can only consider it after we advance to the Third Level Wizard.
Ronan didn't even intend to use it as his fourth Soul Rune, because he had only just begun to learn about the [Golden Fire] inheritance, his proficiency was very low, and the power he could unleash was not strong. Even with the blessing of the [Golden Edict], it was not certain that it would increase his Metal Element combat power by much.
On the contrary, the [Ice Flame] rune, which complements the Ice Magic [Frozen Earth] system, may provide a stronger boost to his strength.
Even the most powerful legacy needs a process of assimilation.
In this battle for the Helamus Genius Seat, the [Golden Fire] spell system may not have much of a chance to shine.
Ronan casually opened his Character Panel, and the progress in the strength column was Second Level Formal Wizard (190%).
He estimated that, based on his current meditation efficiency, it would take him about two or three months to increase his mental strength to the level of a perfect second-level wizard.
"Time is a bit tight. I can only hope for good luck to obtain some resources to increase my Soul Power, so that I can successfully complete the advancement before the competition begins."
Ronan murmured, though in truth he didn't have much hope for this.
Breaking through each level of a wizard is not a simple task. It's not that you become Third Level Wizard just because your mental strength has evolved to level three.
This is only the first step. Next, one must condense new Soul Rune, practice and master new level three spells, and so on.
Normally, it takes at least one to two years for a level two wizard to advance to Third Level Wizard and truly complete the comprehensive transformation from level two to level three combat power.
So even if Ronan is lucky enough to advance before the battle, there will still be a significant gap between him and a true Third Level Wizard in many aspects.
Ronan was so concerned about this simply because the minimum requirement to participate in the Talent Competition was Level 3.
"If it really doesn't work out, then I can only be a bystander."
Ronan shook his head, putting the matter aside for the time being and not thinking about it anymore.
Most of the data on the Character Panel did not change much. The only one that increased significantly was the Master Level proficiency of [Ascetic Body Forging], which increased by more than 100 points compared to before he entered the Mechanical Heart.
This boost was thanks to the Golden Curse released by the Golden Magic Box; when the Ash Witch Moriel gave him a gentle push... it almost cost him his life.
"Buzzing—"
A faint runic fluctuation emanated from the Space Ring. Ronan casually opened it and took out a shimmering Communication Stone.
This is an exquisitely crafted Communication Stone. The core Communication Stone is surrounded by large pieces of crystal and silver precious metal, which not only serve as decoration but also make the entire Communication Stone more [Fortify] and less prone to damage.
The Communication Stone came from Grace.
The Communication Stone has accumulated quite a few messages from Grace, almost all of them inquiring about his current situation.
Ronan had been so engrossed in studying the legacy of the Golden Fire and the Itai metal that he had completely ignored Grace's messages. Now that he had some free time, he decided to reply.
Gently tap the center of the Communication Stone, which gleams with a jade-like luster, and a faint blue light bursts forth, quickly revealing Grace's image.
Grace's face was filled with surprise and delight. The moment she saw Ronan, she blurted out his name.
"I'm so glad you're really alright! I went back to the Mechanical Heart, but I couldn't find you. If it weren't for Sister Serena's divination that you weren't in any danger, I would have almost thought you were dead."
Grace didn't finish her sentence, but her pretty face was filled with shame and guilt.
"I'm sorry, Ronan... I shouldn't have left you behind back then..."
"It's none of your business."
Ronan shook his head, reassuring Grace that she shouldn't take it to heart.
He himself wanted to stay in the Mechanical Heart, and Grace was forcibly taken away by the Silver-Haired Witch and others who accompanied him.
He rescued Grace only to repay her for the care she had given him when they were at the Hoddam Academy; Grace owed him nothing.
Perhaps it was Ronan's comfort that helped Grace's complexion gradually improve, and she asked him curiously.
Where are you now?
Ronan looked around. The sun had completely set, and only a few stars were visible in the sky. The crescent moon hung in the sky, and all around was a dark, desolate wilderness.
To be honest, Ronan didn't even know where he was.
He briefly told Grace that he was heading to the Fairy Ancient City Ruins, and Grace was overjoyed to say that she was right next to the Fairy Ancient City Ruins. Because the battle for the Helamus Genius Seat had not yet begun and the legendary Fairy Ancient City had not yet appeared, the area where she was was just a large, bare hillside. However, there were quite a few people, and it was bustling with activity both day and Black Night.
Ronan was already curious about Grace's fate after leaving Hoddam, and when he learned that she was also planning to join the gathering of geniuses, he couldn't help but continue the conversation with her.
Only after inquiring did they learn that when Hoddam Academy suffered [Catastrophe], Grace was taken by her mother and fled to a place near the edge of the Southern Continent.
The two joined a local wizarding organization similar to the Hoddam Academy as First Level Wizard.
At first, life was relatively peaceful, but Grace's mother encountered a second-tier magical beast while collecting Magic Potion Material and unfortunately perished.
Grace had always lived under her mother's protection since childhood, suddenly lost her support.
Although she was also Level One Wizard, she was young and naive, and was completely helpless against those cunning and experienced wizards. The resources and wealth left to her by her mother were mostly used up in a few years. If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, after all, growth comes at a price.
But Grace was then targeted by a level two wizard.
It wasn't that he was attracted to her or liked her; rather, he felt she was naive, ignorant, and helpless, and wanted to take her back to conduct magical experiments.
Grace didn't want to be used as a guinea pig, so she had no choice but to run away. She encountered the people from the Life Royal Court during her escape. Under the bright sunlight, Ronan wrapped his Gray Magic Robe, which concealed all the patterns on his body, tightly and quickly walked through a market that wasn't very lively.
The market wasn't very big; it was set up next to a small, Green Water Lake where a small flock of black wild ducks swam.
The market was filled with stalls of all sizes, and both the sellers and buyers were wizards like Ronan.
This is a special way of exchanging resources in the Wizard World, called the "Sunset Gathering".
The Sunset Gathering does not refer to a gathering that begins at sunset, but rather that the gathering usually begins at Dawn and continues until sunset on the third day.
Sunset Gathering are popular among Wandering Wizard, and occasionally Academy Faction wizards also participate.
Sunset Gathering usually follow a group of merchants and wizards who travel from place to place and specialize in organizing gatherings, so there is a traceable pattern to them.
However, with the upcoming grand event of the battle for the Helamus Genius Seat, a large number of southern wizards are converging on the location of the Fairy Ancient City, and many gatherings are being spontaneously organized.
The closer you get to the ruins of the Fairy Ancient City, the more of these markets you'll find.
The gathering Ronan is currently visiting is the fifth one he has encountered on his journey.
The gathering was small in scale, and the wizards who participated were generally not very strong. There were no Third Level Wizard, only a handful of level two wizards, including Ronan, and the vast majority of the rest were First Level Wizard.
The fact that the wizards participating in the gathering are not very powerful means that the probability of finding good items at the gathering is very small.
Ronan chose to come in for a walk, partly to reminisce about his days as Wandering Wizard in Hoddam, and partly to collect the materials from the list of the Saint Blood Tree that Bennigo had given him before he left.
Believe it or not, although the Sunset Gathering is of a low level, because there are many wizards from different places participating in the gathering to exchange resources, Ronan has already collected one-tenth of the materials listed on the list after visiting five gatherings in a row.
"... So, the Life Royal Court, and Moriel, the Ash Witch we encountered in the Mechanical Heart, both come from the Central Region?"
Ronan wandered around while speaking softly to Moriel through the Communication Stone.
The two have been chatting online for several days now. If it started as just catching up because of a past connection and a connection with someone from the same Hoddam background, their relationship has become much closer and they can now be considered true friends.
Ronan and Grace share some common ground, such as the fact that neither of them has any "family" around them and they share a similar sense of "loneliness".
Grace, in particular, didn't even have someone she could talk to on an equal footing. Ronan's appearance filled that void, and she had an unusually strong urge to confide in Ronan.
"Yes, Sister Serena once inadvertently revealed to me that the Life Royal Court is the true royal court, and they rule a powerful Wizard Empire in the central region."
"The Imperial Princess..."
Upon hearing this, Ronan was slightly taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Is she also here for the Helamus's Magic Controller Legacy?"
"Probably."
Grace replied, "Sister Serena said that the competition for the inheritance in the central region was too fierce. Although the Helamus Inheritance in the central region is more core and powerful, she wasn't confident that she could obtain it, so she came to the south to participate, and that's when she met me."
"If you can't beat the geniuses in the central region, do you think you can bully the geniuses in the south?"
Ronan shook his head. Although the idea was quite wise, he decided to leave the action alone and not comment.
Ronan guessed that the other party must have paid a considerable price to move to the south, otherwise, if all the geniuses in the central region did the same, the geniuses in the south would probably be riddled with holes. Of course, the legacy left by Helamus in the south was far less than that in the central region, and most of the geniuses in the central region looked down on it, which was probably also a major reason.
Even if Grace's sister Serena were to settle for second best, there's still a girl named the Ash Witch who's always following her around.
Grace.
Ronan changed the subject, saying, "Princess Serena of the Life Royal Court is so good to you, she's even willing to treat you like a sister."
Do you know exactly what the reason is?
As a friend, Ronan felt it necessary to remind Grace.
There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Everything you receive has its price marked by fate long ago.
He was worried that the innocent and naive Grace would be deceived. Although he couldn't fathom what Grace possessed that would make a princess of the Central Wizard Empire go to such lengths to trick her.
According to Grace's previous account, Serena was indeed extraordinary to her, and the resources spent on her were enough to "buy" ten Grace.
Grace on the other end of the Communication Stone fell silent for a moment.
Ronan didn't pay any attention. His gaze swept over the several stalls in front of him, and finally he walked towards one of them.
Upon reaching the stall, Ronan pointed to something and asked the stall owner, whose strength was only that of First Level Wizard.
"What's this?"