Bone Bell, Extremely Boiling Lake! For Whom Does the Bell Toll?

Claire was in front of Ronan in the blink of an eye.

Ronan is now completely encased in armor made of Itai, including his cheeks, which are entirely covered by a silver mask with tightly closed shark tooth patterns that seem to flow constantly.

Only his eyes were visible, making it difficult for outsiders to see his face clearly.

Ronan had initially considered whether to reveal his true identity to Claire, but then he thought that his identity couldn't be hidden anyway, and trying to conceal it would only make him seem petty. He might as well just be open and see how Claire would react.

Ronan then removed the metal mask from his face and calmly looked at Claire was rapidly approaching him.

"It's you?!"

Sure enough, when the young wizard Claire saw Ronan's face clearly, she stopped in her tracks and frowned.

But he quickly calmed down and walked back to Ronan expressionlessly.

"You should really be glad Orian brought you into the Blue Mist Society early on. Otherwise, if you had run into me now, you might already be out of the game."

Claire glanced at Ronan briefly, her gaze lingering on his Itai armor, before taking out a Communication Stone to check it and calling to Ronan, "Let's go."

Ronan's eyes flickered slightly. "Where to?"

"There are a few more members of the Blue Mist Society in this area. We've discussed it and decided to meet up at the base of the third stone pillar first."

Claire casually pointed to a rather conspicuous gray stone pillar in her field of vision, looked at Ronan, and said indifferently, "If you don't trust me, or don't want to come with us, that's fine too."

"Boom!"

Before Ronan could answer, a loud burst of magical energy interrupted Claire's words, the sound coming from a direction to the east.

Their eyes were immediately drawn to the scene, where a faint red light emanated from the ancient buildings shrouded in a thin mist, accompanied by continuous booming sounds, as if a great battle was taking place.

Ronan and Claire exchanged a brief glance and unexpectedly reached an agreement, flying almost simultaneously in the direction from which the explosion had come.

The battle was actually very close; in less than half a minute, the two arrived at the location where the battle had broken out.

Ronan and Claire stood on the roof of a round, Fairy Ancient Building, observing the battle unfolding nearby.

Between several ancient buildings of varying heights, two figures clad in robes were locked in fierce combat. Both were at the mid-stage of the third level, one wielding flames and the other controlling vast swaths of shadow.

The spells cast by both sides generated powerful magical domains, and their terrifying power clashed continuously. The rolling energy aftershocks almost completely cleared away the fog in a large area near the battle. Some Fairy Ancient Building were affected by the spells and collapsed, with large chunks of earth and stone falling down. Clearly, there were more than just the two wizards who had been drawn to the battle.

Ronan, with his Eye of Truth and keen senses, detected seven figures lurking nearby.

"In this area, including myself, there are at least six Third Level Wizards, including two mid-level level-three wizards."

Claire suddenly spoke to Ronan, her expression serious.

"A chaotic battle is likely to break out here, and getting involved at this stage will not do us any good."

Let's go, according to the original plan, let's find the others first.

As she spoke, Claire slowly backed away.

However, after retreating a distance, he realized that Ronan had not followed at all.

"Didn't you understand what I just said? I said leave."

Claire frowned, stepped forward, and spoke coldly.

Ronan turned to look at him calmly. "Actually, you don't have to worry about me."

Claire stared at him expressionlessly, and the two locked eyes in silence.

A moment later, Claire shook her head with a cold smile.

"A clueless idiot."

He ignored Ronan, turned and left, disappearing in an instant.

Ronan withdrew his gaze and continued to focus intently on the battle, his eyes flashing as his mind raced.

So far, in this area, apart from the two currently fighting, there are two mid-level level three wizards and five early-level level three wizards.

Claire's assessment was correct; a Level 3 melee could indeed break out here.

What seemed dangerous to most people was a great opportunity for Ronan.

If he can defeat a few more people in the melee, the Soul Power he needs to advance from level two to level three may be completely made up for.

While I was thinking, two more people arrived.

At this point, even the two Third Level Wizards who had been fighting had sensed something was amiss.

Ronan frowned, noticing that the two Third Level Wizard fighting seemed to be showing signs of stopping.

A moment later, the two actually stopped completely, coldly scanning their surroundings from left and right. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were a group.

The wizards who make it into the competition are certainly not fools; they wouldn't do something so stupid as to let others "reap the benefits."

The tense and eerie atmosphere immediately relaxed. With the "profitable" situation gone, none of the wizards present wanted to be the first to step forward.

People started leaving, one by one... In the blink of an eye, half of the wizards who had been watching had left.

Ronan was somewhat disappointed; things hadn't gone as he'd hoped.

However, he was soon "pleasantly surprised" to find that two Third Level Wizards who had not yet left seemed to have taken an interest in him, this level-two wizard who had appeared out of nowhere and was "a bit too bold," and began to slowly approach him.

Both of them saw him as their target and were aware of each other's intentions. They focused most of their attention on each other and were cautiously probing each other.

"Come on, hurry up, you've come at the perfect time!"

Ronan took a deep breath, pretending to be oblivious, and lowered his head slightly, but the light in his eyes, unseen by anyone, grew stronger and stronger.

Just as the two Third Level Wizards were getting closer and closer, Ronan was already thinking about how to make his move to kill one of them while ensuring that the other would not escape, suddenly...

"Buzz—"

A strange sound wave swept rapidly across the field.

All the Third Level Wizard who had not yet left the arena trembled slightly, and Ronan also suddenly looked up, his gaze quickly shifting to a certain spot.

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

Strange sound waves continued endlessly.

The sound seemed to emanate from a dilapidated and decaying clock tower, carrying a strange power that sent shivers down one's spine.

All the wizards present were immersed in the sound of the bell, staring blankly in the direction from which it came.

Ronan, no longer concerned with "fishing," flew out from his hiding place, trying to rise as high as possible.

Reaching a height with a clear view, Ronan squinted, and with his exceptional eyesight, he saw—

To the west, above a large Fairy Ancient Building, figures of wizards were frantically fleeing.

Behind them, a dark gray wave was rolling across the sky.

Above the waves, a terrifying figure surrounded by countless Nether Ghost apparitions emanated from him. The strange chiming sound came from the figure, and thick Ash Smoke, several meters high, rose from his body, almost completely obscuring his appearance, leaving only a pair of pure black eyes that coldly swept towards Ronan and his companions. One by one, the desperately fleeing wizards were overtaken by the terrifying figure, and the black and gray ghostly waves swept over them, engulfing them completely in the blink of an eye.

The terrifying figure standing atop the ghostly wave had its Ash Smoke rapidly inflating like a balloon, quickly growing several times larger until it was almost like a gray cloud. When the last fleeing wizard was swallowed by the ghostly wave, some wizards in the arena finally recognized the person's identity.

That was one of the two mid-level level three wizards he had fought before. At this moment, his face was deathly pale, as if he had seen some extremely terrifying monster. He said in a slightly trembling voice, "It's Mafflin... the Skeleton Doom Bell Mafflin."

He's here!

When the bell tolls, no one can escape it!

The Third Level Wizard's voice eventually resembled a desperate wail.

He turned and left like a madman, and the other wizards on the field, who had heard of the name "Skeleton Doom Bell Mafflin," behaved much like him.

The rest, having already sensed the terrifying power of the previous wave of dark gray phantoms that had engulfed countless Third Level Wizards, also scattered like birds and beasts.

In less than half a breath, only Ronan remained standing in the area.

"Mid-stage Level 3, approaching late-stage Level 3 mental strength cultivation."

Ronan stood high in the sky, squinting as he gazed at the figures approaching on the ghostly waves in the distance.

The death knell tolled around him again and again, growing more urgent and eerie with each passing moment.

In Ronan's mind, three Spiritual Power Crystal trembled slightly with the tolling of the death knell, while his eyes were fixed on the thick, cloud-like gray smoke surrounding the other party.

"If we could defeat this guy..."

Ronan gently licked his slightly dry lips. "How much increase in Soul Power should I be able to gain?"

Ronan's eyes flashed, and he was about to rush forward.

Suddenly, an angry voice rang in his ear.

"Damn it"

Ronan was slightly taken aback. He turned his head and saw that Claire, who had left earlier, had returned and reappeared in front of him.

"Are you scared out of your wits? At a time like this, you're still standing there waiting to die instead of running away?!"

Claire rushed up to Ronan and almost shouted angrily into his ear.

"Every generation of the Bone Bell is a complete madman! Before inheriting this title, the first thing they need to do is kill all their fellow disciples and teachers, and then turn them all into ghosts to serve as resources to strengthen the Domain of the Dead."

Claire gritted her teeth and kept urging Ronan, "Hurry up, you ignorant fool."

"The Bone Bell is a worthy contender for a top-twenty spot in this battle. Crushing you, a mere level two, is a hundred times easier for him than crushing an ant!"

Why are you back?

Claire's string of words only earned her a slightly strange question from Ronan.

Claire froze, then the anxiety and urgency on his face vanished. He shook his head and quickly retreated.

"Yes, why would I come back?"

"I'm an idiot too, so I should let you die. Compared to you, Orian seems much more pleasing to the eye."

Ronan watched Claire's rambling with amusement, then turned and left a second time without looking back.

Turning around, Ronan's face showed no further emotion.

He calmly took a step forward. "Whoosh—"

It suddenly appeared high in the sky as if it had teleported, almost level with the terrifying figure directly in front of it, which was shrouded in billowing gray soul Ash Smoke and only revealed a pair of pitch-black eyes.

The latter stood atop the black and gray waves, surrounded by countless translucent Nether Ghost, looking at Ronan with a look of surprise and astonishment as if he had discovered a new continent.

"This is the first time I've ever seen an ant like you actively seeking liberation."

Is it fear and despair that are driving you?

Ronan didn't speak, he just stood there quietly.

Feeling the vast, terrifying, and chilling aura emanating from the Bone Bell before him, and hearing its eerie and obscure tolling tolls, Ronan felt his blood rushing faster and begin to burn.

Something is awakening between his soul and flesh.

It wasn't just about competing for the vast amount of Ash Smoke to increase their own Soul Power; it was also because three years had passed.

He remained silent for three whole years.

Even the Keen Edge sword will lose its brilliance if it remains unsheathed for three years.

Especially someone like Ronan, who was forged in the crucible of blood and fire.

He had always longed for a thrilling battle, for an evenly matched opponent.

Now, the Bone Bell before him clearly met his expectations.

Ronan took a deep breath and looked at the Bone Bell in front of him.

The other party casually extended a hand towards him, and the ghostly waves beneath his feet immediately surged and rolled over him.

Ronan didn't dodge, but the azure in his eyes grew deeper and brighter, until finally, it was completely ignited like a flame!

"Boom!"

A pure and powerful Spiritual Force Field emanated from Ronan's body, displaying a strange golden hue, as if carrying an invisible and terrifying heat wave, causing the void around him to blur and distort.

Ronan's eyes shone brightly, the azure in them now transformed into a pure gold, so rich it resembled boiling, churning magma! He spoke softly, "[The [Clarity Realm] - The [Extremely Boiling Lake]]!"

After reaching Master Level of 1,000 points in [Basic Meditation Technique], the second special state unlocked by [[Clarity Realm]] after [[Thoughtless Lake]] is [[Extremely Boiling Lake]]! In this state, Ronan's fighting spirit is stimulated to the extreme, and his thinking, consciousness, inspiration and other aspects are improved tenfold compared to normal.

Every spell he unleashes will be an "extraordinary performance" after squeezing his potential to the limit; every bit of his spiritual power will bloom to its fullest extent like burning kerosene! Ronan gently raised his hand, and a tidal wave of mysterious energy surged from between his five fingers.

A large number of free ice-type energy particles from the heavens and earth converged, forming a rolling cold current.

A blazing, deep blue vein extended outwards from Ronan's feet, rapidly outlining a magnificent hexagonal snowflake pattern. A massive, pure white Ice Blade burst forth from the seal of the frost vortex. "Listen closely."

"The Bone Bell. For whom does your bell toll?"

Third update! Requesting guaranteed monthly votes! Thanks!