The Spatial Magic Branch

Ah!

No, this is...

"Correct!" The tower spirit's relief, cursed countless times by the five, spoke a cold, powerful word.

It was the judge of the underworld, easily determining the life and death of the five.

The minds of the five in the passage simultaneously short-circuited.

One moment they were struggling futilely on the brink of death, feeling their souls about to slip through the gates of hell.

The next moment they had safely escaped, successfully cleared the level?

The feeling of such a drastic swing was too stimulating, leaving them all, without exception, with expressions of disbelief.

Downs was the first to react. Suspiciously, he struggled to turn his rusty neck, looking at the small owl on his shoulder.

At this moment, the illusion faded, the owl was no more, revealing Laifu in his true form as a legendary fire bat.

Laifu flapped his wings and flew to the ceiling, his sharp claws easily piercing the floorboards, his entire body hanging upside down.

Downs vaguely saw Master's face on Laifu's unsightly visage. He knew Master was gazing at him through Laifu's eyes.

"Mas...ter!?"

As soon as he spoke, the other four understood. It was the master of this seemingly invincible High-Level Mage who had pulled his disciple's chestnuts out of the fire at the last moment!

To pass even this death trap, not only did they truly have a Legendary Archmage behind them, but he would actually intervene when trouble arose!

The four, still shaken, awoke as if from a dream and bowed in unison towards the fire bat.

Lein ignored them. Through the soul link, via Laifu's eyes, he stared directly at Downs.

"I'm sorry, Master! It's my lack of skill! I've embarrassed you!" Downs forgot everything around him and knelt down without hesitation, tears of regret welling up in his eyes.

He truly regretted it!

Ever since entering the Mage Tower, he had bulldozed his way through with absolute strength far surpassing this space.

No monster was his match.

Was it fun to mow down enemies like in a hack-and-slash game?

Of course, it was fun!

At least the initial excitement had him hooked.

He hadn't even considered why Master hadn't stopped him, letting him indulge in the sweet taste of overwhelming power.

As much as one flaunts, one will fall.

Those who flaunt without sufficient strength are destined to pay the price.

He almost became that 'price'.

If Master hadn't pulled him back just now, he would have ended up like the seniors who had ventured into this Mage Tower, imprinted on the wall, becoming part of the tower's terrifying legend.

Only at this moment did Downs truly understand what 'folding space makes the shortest distance between two points' meant.

It was like an open book. If you simply measured the distance from the top left corner to the top right corner, a straight line would be the shortest.

This was the shortest distance in the ordinary physical sense.

When this concept was introduced into the world of mages, it became something else entirely.

To make this distance the shortest, one could also fold space, like closing a book, thereby bringing the top left and top right corners together.

Downs knew that perhaps, in their last moments, some seniors might have thought of this answer, but they were all too late.

And Master, before things became irreversible, used his wisdom, his incomparably noble hand, to prevent the tragedy.

He not only saved him but also saved the four companions who had followed him into the Mage Tower.

Thinking of this, Downs cried even harder: "Master! I was too naive! Too arrogant! I thought I could force my way through everything with my magic. Wuwuwuwu!"

Lein also sighed. If not for encountering such a tower spirit, such an outrageous trap, in any other Mage Tower, given Downs's absurd strength, he likely would have brute-forced his way through.

Who would have expected such a twist?

The previous owner of this tower was a space mage. The final level not only had physical and magical blockades but also spatial attributes. Downs truly couldn't brute-force it.

"It's not your fault. This was beyond your scope."

"Wuwuwu!" Downs gained a profound, unforgettable understanding of the saying 'Knowledge is Power': "Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

No! I didn't mean to scold you.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Lein found he couldn't say them.

The four onlookers said nothing, merely showing expressions of immense envy. Back then, their Master would never have had such temper and patience.

If you could learn it, learn it. If not, get lost, or die outside.

Who the hell would be your nanny?

Those without ability, comprehension, or luck deserved to die outside.

He really didn't know where Downs got such incredible, outrageous luck to have such an absurdly powerful and extremely patient Master.

Wuwuwu! So envious!

Just then, the Tower Spirit [Iron Face] suddenly spoke: "As agreed, the new master of this Mage Tower is you. Respected Legendary Archmage."

Lein: ???

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Lein frankly replied: "I cheated. I didn't put my life on the scales of fate."

"No! You did not use magical means to forcibly solve the test left by my former master, which is the greatest fairness. Moreover, on the pans of the scales, you placed not only your disciple's life but also the most important [Knowledge]!"

The Tower Spirit's explanation made Lein pause again.

Upon careful consideration, it seemed to be the case.

For a true Legendary Archmage to deal with a high-level Mage Tower, even if the opponent had the home-field advantage and more magic reserves, the disparity in rank was undeniable. Let alone two ranks higher, even one rank higher was an overwhelming advantage.

Well, that's assuming the person in question was a genuine Legendary Archmage.

Lein's physical body showed a huge amount of embarrassment. Fortunately, Laifu didn't replicate his every subtle expression; it was just a mouthpiece.

Lein instinctively wanted to refuse. Suddenly accepting a Mage Tower located in another Kingdom felt like being led around by the nose by their king.

Little did he know, a system prompt arrived:

[Tesla Magic Academy detects that if the host accepts the incorporation of Madela Mage Tower, it will successfully open (Primary Spatial Magic Branch). The speed at which the host's disciples study spatial magic will increase by 50%. The academy will also open a solidified spatial portal, connecting the main campus and the branch campus.]

[Upon accepting the branch campus, given the characteristics of the spatial magic branch, the branch campus can be relocated to any land controlled by the host, provided there is sufficient magic power.]

Seeing this, Lein's heart immediately burned with excitement.

Because on the map in his retina, he clearly saw that the Earl of Ramanque, in order to win over Downs, had directly given Downs the fiefdom passed down through generations by the Quijote family, plus a surrounding area.

It was an attitude of 'you can refuse, but I can't not give.'

Lein could completely place the spatial branch campus on Downs's territory.

At this thought, when Lein saw the system asking him [Do you accept Madela Mage Tower?], he no longer hesitated.

Accept!

Why wouldn't he accept!?

I'm afraid of the cold and can't leave the cold pond. Now I use a spatial teleportation gate to leave the valley and go inspect the branch campus, and coincidentally experience the local customs of Ramanque City around the branch campus. Isn't that reasonable? Won't this lower my prestige? Having nothing to do today, going to a pleasure house to listen to music is also normal, right?

At the thought of this, Lein was moved.

Lein put on the air of a legendary mage: "What use do I have for this Mage Tower? It would be more suitable for Downs."

Before the Tower Spirit could speak, Downs directly interrupted: "No! I know Master looks down on it, but if Master doesn't accept it, I will be even more uneasy. Please, Master, reluctantly accept it."

The other four also chimed in: "Please, Great Mage, accept it, if only for the people of Cervantes Kingdom."

What a joke. If this tower isn't dealt with, it will remain a tumor in the royal capital.

If this Great Mage doesn't accept it, who knows when the next person to break the deadlock will appear. Don't think that knowing the correct answer is enough; this Tower Spirit's wisdom is too high, and if there are backup questions, the next one will be difficult.

"Sigh! Since that is the case, then I will accept it for now."

The Tower Spirit, with a rare expression that should be 'joy,' though its voice still sounded inorganic, clearly sped up its speech: "[Iron Face] greets its master!"