Book of Ul

"Want me to help?" Li Shaolin asked in surprise. "Archmage, have you got the wrong person? I'm only a measly level-eight mage!"

"That's right. Although you only have the strength of a level-eight mage, still..." Seokreitus paused, a meaningful look in his eyes. "As the only male witch on Azeroth to have come from the distant East, don't you think you have great potential?"

Shocked! Utterly shocked! Li Shaolin's greatest secrets were that he had crossed over and that he was a Necromancer. Yet this old man had seen through his origins at a glance. How could he remain calm? After all, he still had no idea how the natives of this continent viewed someone like him. If they did not accept him, his life might be in danger.

"Surprised? Hehe, I'm rather surprised myself. After all, the Eastern Continent is separated from here by the deeply forbidden Forbidden Sea. Even gods would not cross it lightly!" The old man's gaze held a questioning look.

Forcing himself to calm down, Li Shaolin asked, "Um, Archmage, how did you see through my identity?"

Seokreitus only smiled and said nothing, pointing outside the tower.

"A clay golem?" A thought stirred in Li Shaolin's mind. It seemed this old fellow had guessed something from the golem, but he did not know that Li Shaolin had crossed over. Could there really be an Eastern Continent beyond the Forbidden Sea? Forget it. He would try bluffing him.

Having made up his mind, Li Shaolin put on a surprised expression. "Well, I did live in the East, but I was just an ordinary person. Then somehow, after waking up from a nap, I found myself beside Mirror Lake over there. I'm still pretty confused about it myself."

"I see. Perhaps the God of Fate has favored you. Rules that move through space... seem..." The old man muttered hesitantly to himself before raising his head. "Let us stop discussing your identity for now. Since you have come to this continent, you have the right to exist here. For the moment, let me tell you a story."

"A long time ago, three mages studied magic together in Stormwind City, until one of them began researching dark magic. He had not intended to delve deeply into it, but he found himself sinking deeper and deeper without realizing it. In the end, he was banished from Stormwind City. That exiled mage lived in Ilgarra Tower in the Redridge Mountains, and he possessed a powerful spellbook—Ul's Shadow Magic Research Papers."

"Of course, perhaps you do not know who Ul was. But surely you have heard of werewolves?" Seokreitus asked him.

Li Shaolin nodded. What a joke. He had encountered plenty of them while leveling low-level characters in the game before.

At the edge of the Endless Sea in the northwest of the continent beneath their feet lay a fertile land—Silverpine Forest. Once, Silverpine Forest had flourished under the protection of the Alliance. But now it had become a genuine hellhole, with the Forsaken appearing and vanishing through the thick fog-shrouded woods. Of course, there was something even more terrifying than the Forsaken in that forest: werewolves!" Seokreitus's expression grew heavy. "The werewolves there pour endlessly out of Shadowfang Keep, constantly attacking the Kirin Tor members stationed around its outskirts and tearing passing adventurers to pieces! And their leader is the mage Arugal, master of the Ghost Legion and the Werewolf Legion. He was once described in the Kirin Tor Magic Council as someone whose spellcasting ability was thinner than paper. So do you know why he now possesses such formidable power?"

"It all came from the Book of Ul in his hands!" Seokreitus sighed, then said apologetically, "Sorry for the trouble, I've strayed from the point. What I want to ask of you is this: go to Ilgarra Tower and help me obtain Ul's Shadow Magic Research Papers from Morgans!"

"Um, Archmage, I'm only a level-eight mage. About this..." Li Shaolin found it hard to believe. This old fellow actually wanted him to fetch some lousy book. Ul was such a monster that Arugal could summon werewolves with just his notes. Who knew what ridiculous abilities Morgans might have gained after obtaining the research papers? Wasn't this sending him to his death?

"From atop this tower, I have watched Morgans for a long time, and at last, I discovered his plan!" Seokreitus continued. "He is searching for the Moonfang Scythe... and he may even have found it already. If he obtains that thing, the entire Redridge Mountains region—even the whole Stormwind Kingdom—will be conquered by his dark power.

"I have not yet thought of a way to deal with Morgans, but I fear that if we do not act now, we may never have another chance. So I hope you can storm Ilgarra Tower and fight Morgans. Defeat him, then bring back his Shadow Pendant and Ul's Shadow Magic Research Papers for me. If you succeed, the entire kingdom will be proud of you!"

"Um, Archmage, couldn't you pick someone else...?" The Moonfang Scythe too? You really are trying to get me killed, old man! Li Shaolin wailed and cursed inwardly.

"There is no other way. Although our tower remains in contact with Goldshire, our relationship with Stormwind City has kept us from receiving official support. And ordinary professionals... I doubt they would be much help." The old man seemed troubled as well.

"Could Azshara's Tower be opposed to Stormwind City?" Li Shaolin could not help gossiping inwardly before immediately asking, "Why are you so sure I can help you defeat Morgans?"

"Well, heavenly secrets must not be revealed. You only need to promise to help. Perhaps one year, perhaps two—by then, you will naturally possess the strength to defeat him. Of course, I cannot ask you to help for nothing. For now, I will give you a Space Belt. You may also choose a few bottles from the alchemical potions in our tower. How about it?" The old man smiled like some strange uncle luring a child.

"A Space Belt? Hurry up and let me see it!" Li Shaolin had been worrying about not having his own storage space. The moment he heard the name, he knew it was something that could hold many items, and he was overjoyed. As for killing Morgans, the old man had said he had one or two years. Who knew what would happen by then? Maybe Morgans would get the Moonfang Scythe and wipe out Stormwind City first. Hehe.

Seokreitus stood, walked over to a bookshelf, gently took out a box, blew away the dust on it, and opened it. Inside lay a gray belt made of eight interlocking iron rings. It looked as if it had not been used for years, and faint rust had actually formed on it.

"Damn, this thing is tacky!" Li Shaolin was just wondering whether the old man was trying to fool him with some shoddy goods when the old man picked up the belt and placed it in his hands. Then he softly chanted a short incantation. Waves of white light rose from the belt and gradually merged into his body. At once, the belt gave him the feeling of being part of his own body. With a thought, eight tiny slots appeared before him.

"An Eight-Slot Bag? Are you kidding me? Isn't this a little stingy?" Li Shaolin thought the old man was truly miserly. He was asking for such a huge favor and only giving him an Eight-Slot Bag. Still, he was quite happy. With this thing, he could store important items inside, such as money or land deeds. Carrying them on his person was so inconvenient.

The Archmage beckoned him over and pointed at a shelf. "You may choose a few potions here to take with you. They may prove useful in battle."

Walking over to the potion shelf, he saw Mana Potions, Healing Potions, Lion's Strength Elixirs, Intellect Elixirs, and more filling it to the brim. It was dazzling. Hehe, this old fellow thinks I can't tell good potions from bad ones. I'll take a few good ones and sell them for money! Just as he was making his calculations, he discovered that there were no higher-grade potions available for him to choose. Looking all the way down the shelf, there were only those few types. There was no choice at all. It seemed the old man was quite sly.

Suddenly, a label at the very bottom caught his attention. "Noggenfogger Potion?" Wasn't that the stuff used to turn into a skeleton?

"Um, what does this potion do?" Li Shaolin asked, pretending to know what he was doing.

"Oh, that potion was left behind by a passing dwarf. At the time, he was surrounded by Murlocs and trapped for several days. Later, people from our Mage Tower rescued him. The Murlocs had robbed him clean, and he only had a few bottles of potion left. To thank us, he gave them to me. Unfortunately, after studying them for a long time, I reached one conclusion: this potion is failed alchemical waste. It does not enhance any attributes at all. I do not even know whether it can be drunk."

"Then I'll take this one. Huh, Invisibility Potions?" Li Shaolin was picking up the Noggenfogger Potion when he saw a label beside it that read Invisibility Potion! This was good stuff, essential for murder, arson, home life, and travel. He hurriedly took a few bottles as well. Seokreitus merely smiled and said nothing. After all, the cost of making such potions was not high, so he let Li Shaolin take them.

After he had chosen his potions, the Archmage had him come over to the Crystal Ball. "I will now show you the location of Ilgarra Tower through the crystal ball. Watch carefully!" Blue light began to swirl. As the view pushed forward, a forest of elm and pine trees appeared beneath the blazing sun. A towering spire flickered in and out of sight, while beside the forest lay a huge lake. As the view went deeper and higher, the lake's surface took the shape of a dragon lying across the land with its wings unspread.

At last, the view seemed to crash into the tower itself, but surging black light filled everything, and he could see nothing at all. Even so, that fleeting glimpse left Li Shaolin utterly shocked: a massive dragon skeleton hung high within!