[Minotaur's Illusory Palace], Finnir Territory

The extended mental energy slowly withdrew from Kosti's position. Ronan looked at the golden arrow symbol in front of him, which resembled a buoy, and asked with a strange expression, "It's that simple?"

The Golden Linked Ring was currently immersed in a slowly writhing pool of blood. This blood seemed to have unlocked a hidden rune on the Linked Ring, behind which lay a clear clue pointing to the location of the treasure vault.

"For goblins, it's that simple."

Iris pressed her hand against the bleeding cut on her wrist and whispered, "What does Master think the treasure vault means to the Treasure-Stealing Goblin?"

"To store the treasures they stole?"

"If that's all there is to it, then there's absolutely no need to leave behind a key that even an outsider could easily use to open the door."

Iris shook his head, then looked at the Golden Linked Ring in front of them, which was covered in his blood, and slowly said, "Legend has it that the first Treasure-Stealing Goblin in the world, the Goblin King, built the world's first and greatest private treasure, which contained supreme treasures that even the gods coveted."

Countless people have risked their lives for this treasure, some have even found its location and entered successfully, but no one has ever been able to retrieve even a single copper coin from it.

Later Treasure-Stealing Goblin followed suit, but their purpose in building treasure vaults was not merely to store the treasures they had obtained through theft and fraud, but to acquire even more wealth."

Ronan's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had thought of something. "The real purpose of establishing a treasure trove is to attract a constant stream of treasure hunters and then obtain the treasures they carry."

"So wise of you."

Iris smiled and nodded. "No amount of wealth can satisfy the Greed, stingy, and selfish nature of the Treasure-Stealing Goblin."

Compared to searching the world for treasures, waiting for others to deliver wealth to your doorstep is undoubtedly an easier and more convenient idea.

"And among these, the treasure hunters that the Treasure-Stealing Goblin are undoubtedly their fellow goblins who are just as wealthy as they are."

Ronan roughly understood what Iris was trying to say.

The Linked Ring were deliberately spread as bait; it was a comical and absurd gold-hunting game belonging to the Treasure-Stealing Goblin clan.

Each of them is both hunter and prey, like a group of crazy gamblers, each believing they will be the smartest and the ultimate winner.

This game has been going on since ancient times and continues to this day, with enormous wealth circulating among them.

"No wonder you were able to solve the puzzle above so easily."

Because Iris possesses a portion of the purest treasure-hunting Goblin Bloodline.

"Master, keep the ring with you. As long as you enter a certain area where the treasure vault is located, it will naturally guide you to the correct location."

Iris paused for a moment, then continued, "Of course, there are certain risks involved in entering the treasure vault."

Ronan nodded, then slowly put the Linked Ring in front of him on the little finger of his left hand.

He wasn't a wizard who relied heavily on magical artifacts in combat, so besides two Space Rings, there were still plenty of empty spaces on his ten fingers.

Iris's story reminded Ronan of his own experience entering the Silver Goblin Vault. Now that he thought about it, the goblin he encountered inside was probably not the true owner of the vault, but rather a "thief" who entered later, just like them.

Even the Linked Ring he's currently wearing might have been deliberately left behind for him by the other party.

The last time he went in, he was with Jason.

A bald man's image flashed through Ronan's mind, and a faint emotion flickered in his eyes.

He had almost forgotten when he last met Jason. After the battle of the Sinking Eye, he followed Jason's message to the wizard town where they first met, but all he found was a hat with a message Jason had left for him. The message did not explain where Jason had gone in the end.

Those who once Upper Ring Wan are now fading from his memory one by one.

Ronan casually gave Iris a few instructions, then left from under the Saint Blood Tree and flew across the sky until he stopped at the edge of the Mist Space.

Ronan opened a small silver door embedded in the high wall of mist and stepped inside. In a daze, he seemed to hear the clear, bell-like laughter of a child. Before him was a strange room with six mirrors on each side.

The Minotaur's Secret Room.

The room was filled with intense spatial fluctuations.

Ronan sat cross-legged in the center of the room. In his mind, the Mirror of Emptiness, representing the spatial inheritance of the Minotaur, was continuously pouring down silver sand containing spatial insights.

"[Space Mirror Art - The Minotaur's Secret Room (Master 1587/1600)]."

On the Character Panel, the proficiency of [Space Mirror Art] is already very close to the Master Level.

In the two years that Ronan spent in the sinking tunnel, his greatest progress was in his mastery of Space Magic, and he was only a few steps away from breaking through to the Grandmaster level.

Ronan closed his eyes, recalling his previous battle with the Void Worm, and a flood of insights burst forth in his mind like silver sparks.

On the Character Panel, the proficiency of [Space Mirror Art] is gradually increasing.

Ronan had a premonition that he was about to break through; with the spatial inheritance from the Minotaur, he might not even encounter a bottleneck.

Time passed slowly, and I don't know how much time had passed, at some point.

"Click--"

As Ronan, who was in the center of the room, suddenly opened his eyes, his two eyes shone with a brilliant silver light, as if they were made of pure silver.

The walls around the room, above and below, shattered with a deafening crash, and countless figures of Ronan, large and small, reflected in the broken mirror fragments vanished in the process.

An even larger room rose from these fragments, and countless silver prisms flew rapidly toward Ronan like a swarm of butterflies.

Just then, a voice rang in Ronan's mind, carrying a hint of urging.

Damien!

Before Ronan could fully process his insights from this breakthrough, he had already vanished from the room.

At the same time, Ronan's figure suddenly appeared in the deep, long, sunken tunnel.

"Someone is casting a spell outside; you can take this opportunity to leave."

Following Alazan's guidance, Ronan saw that in a location not far away, the inner wall of the passageway was slowly melting under a strange magical fluctuation, then forming a pale silver vortex.

"Can you pinpoint the landing point of this exit?"

Ronan stared at the gradually forming vortex and asked Alazan.

"Uncertain, but it should be in the Middle Ring Continent."

Ronan listened to Alazan's words, his eyes flickering slightly.

The direction of the Spell Anchor behind the Space Vortex is quite different from the direction of the summoning of the Golden Village, but fortunately it is not completely opposite. It seems that I can only enter the Middle Ring first and then find a way to reach the Golden Village.

After a brief consideration, Ronan quickly made a decision.

He stood amidst the increasingly turbulent spatial currents, quietly waiting for the vortex before him to fully form.

Once the exit is truly stable, they will seize the opportunity to break away from the tunnel.

However, at that moment, a strange fluctuation came from behind Ronan.

He turned around quickly, and the next moment he saw a palm-sized black "piece of paper" slowly float out from a narrow crevice in space.

The black paper was only a thin layer, looking like a child's haphazardly cut-out craft.

But soon, the irregularly shaped black "paper" began to expand rapidly in front of Ronan, like an inflating balloon.

"Boom!"

Large amounts of black and red flames rose up, and an aura filled with countless negative emotions such as chaos, [Sin], and pain permeated the passageway.

From within the flames, a ferocious and terrifying behemoth slowly emerged.

When that fierce, cruel gaze fell upon him, Ronan felt a slight burning sensation from his very soul.

The spatial vortex expanded rapidly behind him, and Ronan seemed to understand something.

"Or... you go first?"

"Roar--"

With a low growl, a sudden surge of black and red flames completely engulfed a section of the passageway.

The void itself became violently distorted under the scorching power.

Ronan quietly emerged from another location.

He stared at the ferocious monster that firmly occupied the vortex's exit and was staring intently at him, sensing the terrifying aura emanating from it that seemed to belong to another world.

The monster sensed his presence, let out a low growl, and the dark red flames, seemingly formed from pain and [Sin] and emitting a strong sulfurous smell, swept towards him once more.

Ronan simply took a light breath and then slowly opened his arms.

His eyes subtly transformed into a pure silver hue, with shimmering silver Mirrorlight and a mysterious, enigmatic aura rapidly spreading outwards from him.

"Is there nothing to discuss?"

"That's perfect, I'll use you to test my newly mastered technique."

"[Forbidden. The Minotaur's Illusory Palace]!"

Countless blinding silver lights erupted from Ronan's body, instantly engulfing the entire tunnel.

In the desolate wilderness, a bright white full moon hangs high, and a light mist hangs like a veil around it.

Beneath this peaceful and tranquil surface lay a scene of utter devastation.

Flames, quicksand, frost—various elemental landscapes coexist in a small area, with charred or rotting corpses scattered everywhere, and blood dripping like beads in the air.

Everything under the moonlight proclaimed that a fierce and tragic wizarding war had just taken place here.

"Cough cough cough--"

Fawara coughed softly, his brow furrowed with the deep weariness of someone who hadn't slept for days.

His robes were spotless, but he was missing an eye, an ear, and an arm. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, his soul was aching, and the three-colored elemental orbs that surrounded him floated slowly, dim and lifeless.

Fawara

A head with a full head of curly, fluffy hair peeked out from behind Fawara and softly called his name.

The boy reached out, trying to grab Fawara's arm, but Fawara grabbed his wrist tightly.

"Go back! Don't come out!"

Fawara rebuked him firmly, seemingly not wanting the boy to do what he was about to do. The boy bit his lower lip tightly, but finally gave in to Fawara's stern gaze and reluctantly withdrew his hand.

"Tap--tap--"

Just then, a series of crisp footsteps came from ahead.

Fawara used his remaining arm to firmly shield the boy behind him. When he looked up, the weariness and pain on his face had been replaced by a faint air of authority.

In the direction where the moonlight was shining, a tall, slender figure was slowly walking towards him.

He moved unhurriedly, the moonlight solidifying into a long, tangible ladder beneath his feet, constantly striking his boots with a clear and rhythmic sound.

When the footsteps stopped completely, a young and handsome man appeared before Fawara. He was wearing a magnificent and wide white-gold cloak, and with a smile on his face, he politely bowed to Fawara.

"My mentor."

"I can think of anyone."

Fawara looked at the handsome man before her, her eyes filled with complex and heartbroken emotions, and slowly said, "But I never expected it to be you, Boen."

"I never expected it to be you."

The handsome man murmured with emotion, "In my mind, you have always been a wise and all-around person."

I admire you as I admire the sun in the sky.

But you did something so foolish.

The handsome man's tone suddenly turned cold, becoming low and urgent, "One of the most renowned elder wizards of Valensador, the Twilight High Tower named after you is already under construction. In another hundred years—no, just fifty years—you will become the most distinguished person in Valensador."

Yet you chose this moment to become a traitor to the entire Valensador, and even the entire realm!

The man's handsome face twisted into a grimace as he stared intently at Fawara, growling sharply, "Did you consider my situation when you made this decision?"

Your disciple, a disciple bearing the name of someone who betrayed the Wolf God?!

Faced with this question, Fawara opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately lowered his gaze and sighed softly, "I'm sorry, Boen."

The handsome man's anger had subsided, and a smile returned to his face.

"You don't need to apologize to me, my mentor."

If you still consider me your disciple, then...

The handsome man spoke softly, "Please hand over the child."

Leave it to me, we'll go back together.

It's not too late. Lord Luse will forgive you for everything you did before. You are still the First Sage Wizard of Valensador.

"You don't know what that child represents, Boen."

Fawara shook his head, his expression serious. "I haven't betrayed you. On the contrary, I'm protecting you, protecting... this whole world."

The handsome man looked at Fawara quietly for a few breaths, then spoke softly, "Lord Luse is right, my mentor."

The long years have rotted your wisdom and corrupted your mind.

You should not sit in the tower, but be offered up on the altar to become the sacrifice for the next 'Holy Communion Day'.

Upon hearing this, Fawara's expression gradually turned cold. "Boen, I really don't want to lay a hand on you."

"Luse should have come in person, instead of sending you to your death."

The hem of Fawara's robe fluttered, and the boy who had appeared once before also popped his head out, glaring angrily at the handsome man.

The handsome man's eyes lit up when he saw the boy.

"Is this him? Teacher, please give this child to me!"

Fawara ignored the man's words, and simply chanted a spell in a low voice without expression. The three elemental orbs surrounding him shone brightly, becoming magnificent and dazzling once again, radiating intense and powerful energy fluctuations.

The handsome man reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the boy and looked back at Fawara.

Fawara's aura was rising steadily, soon reaching a height that was beyond his reach, but the handsome man didn't seem to care.

"Teacher, everything I am is thanks to you."

You know me as well as I know you.

The handsome man spoke in a low voice, "You knew all along that I was the one chasing you, but you pretended not to know in order to buy time to heal and recover, right?"

Fawara remained expressionless, simply reaching out and gently tapping the three-colored elemental orbs in front of him.

The handsome man then smiled slyly and said, "Unfortunately, you don't know that I was also deliberately stalling for time."

As he spoke, the man raised his hand and flung something out.

The object looked like an old, rusty iron plate with strange patterns engraved on its surface.

The moment the man threw it, wisps of black and red flames shot out from the iron plate, instantly outlining a huge, ancient portal in mid-air, filled with a dark and bloody style.

An evil and terrifying aura instantly spread throughout the area as the portal appeared. Black and red flames, filled with the stench of [Sin], slithered around like snakes, and even the full moon in the sky seemed to be tainted with a mysterious black and red hue.

Upon seeing the portal appear, Fawara's previously composed expression instantly crumbled, and he blurted out, "The Infernal Pass?! Luse actually took this out and gave it back to you?!"

"It's just one of the low-level gadgets."

The handsome man laughed heartily, spreading his arms wide, his figure almost blending into the black and red portal above his head, exuding an aura of endless evil and antiquity.

"But it's more than enough to deal with you in your current state!"

After saying this, the handsome man looked up and, with a frenzied and devout posture, loudly chanted the final incantation.

"Guardian of endless purgatory, glutton of evil, messenger of judgment for [Sin]."

As the handsome man chanted his praises, Fawara's energy field was completely suppressed by the mysterious aura.

Intense magical fluctuations emanated from the center of the ancient, evil portal in the sky, and the illusory portal suddenly burst open.

Endless, dark red flames, resembling stagnant blood, erupted forth, accompanied by a shrill and terrifying growl. A dog-like head, neither dog nor mangled, suddenly emerged from the doorway.

Fawara was shocked, and his face turned extremely pale.

In contrast, the handsome man appeared feverish and intoxicated.

"Descend, Cerberus! The three-headed hound of the Gate of Inferno, tear apart all that is our enemy!"

He spoke softly, like a devout believer.

Finally, amidst his prayers, the head of that terrifying hellhound emerged completely from the portal.

Then

"Gurgle--"

The enormous, ferocious dog head, as big as a small mountain, emerged and then plummeted from the sky like a meteor, crashing heavily to the ground with a loud "boom".

Following closely behind, the second head, the third...

Pieces of severed limbs and severed bodies were thrown out from behind the door like rain.

The handsome man's expression Stasis, and even Fawara was stunned.

What was happening before their eyes seemed completely different from what they had expected.

Finally, the last piece of the limb fell off.

Behind the ancient door that seemed about to close, a pair of long, strong hands suddenly reached out and pressed down on both sides of the door.

Then, "click-click-click--"

Amidst the grating sound, a tall and slender young man slowly emerged from behind the door.

A figure treads on the murky moonlight, gently landing atop the mountain of vicious dog carcasses. The dark robe, as black as night, billows high in the [Madness] air currents, radiating a mysterious luster like Dragon Scale.

The silent full moon overhead underwent a strange transformation at this moment, rapidly changing from bright white to oily green at a speed visible to the naked eye, and finally blinking a few times like an evil and sinister eye.

At the top of the mountain of corpses, the young man who had just landed seemed to sense something, and suddenly looked up, staring at the eerie green moon overhead, which resembled the eyes of a wolf.

"Alazan, can you now determine where we've landed?"

"It seems you are currently in the Finnir Territory."

Damien.

Starting today, I'll update regularly and consistently!