The Beastmen's Mountain Range

The Magical Beast Mountain Range.

A small valley on its outskirts.

Prequet had returned to his usual size, and the surrounding magical beasts naturally didn't dare come near.

Near the cliff wall, Fang Yun wielded the battle blade Slaughter, swinging it again and again at a boulder. Countless chips of stone flew everywhere. The hard rock was as fragile as tofu beneath his hands.

"Sir really is amazing."

The Doham brothers stood not far away, watching the sculpture slowly take shape. They couldn't help praising him.

Fang Yun's technique might not have matched that of a master sculptor, but his realm was high and his control was strong. The sculpture he carved had a remarkable spirit to it, and that was essential to any outstanding work.

Most importantly, Fang Yun hadn't used specialized tools to carve it. He'd used the battle blade Slaughter. That alone was something other master sculptors couldn't match.

Of course, given Fang Yun's status, even using the battle blade Slaughter as a carving tool didn't diminish its worth.

"This sculpture gives me a feeling of desolation, as if an autumn wind were sweeping away fallen leaves. It doesn't seem powerful, but nothing can stand against it. That feeling... it's incredible."

Dohar studied it closely as well.

Though the sculpture wasn't finished yet, its distinctive charm was already beginning to show. He didn't know much about sculpting, but he could still sense the impression the sculpture gave. And that feeling of desolation was somewhat similar to the killing intent carried by the battle blade Slaughter.

That was about all the brothers could make of it.

Prequet, on the other hand, was completely absorbed in admiring the sculpture. It was beginning to like the art, especially the sculptures of Tyrannosaurus Rexes. It even wondered if it could use its claws to carve a sculpture of itself.

Soon, the carving was finished.

The boulder had become a bird curled up in its nest. Though Fang Yun had added no other details, the bird's expression made it seem as if it were resisting a cold wind. It looked incredibly lifelike.

There was no wind, yet it gave the impression that wind was blowing. One could almost sense the wind's state and temperature. That was the difference a higher realm made.

Birds were relatively easy for Fang Yun to carve, so he had naturally started with something simple.

"Sir, this sculpture is absolutely at the master level."

Doham spoke up.

"Master level?"

Prequet came back to itself, its big eyes full of admiration. "A master couldn't do what Master can. The flowing lines, the lifelike expression, even the charm of the piece—those would be difficult for a master to achieve."

Fang Yun was in a good mood. He admired his work; it was the finest, most complete piece he had ever made.

The sculpture had sparked a keen interest in him.

Previously, he'd had practically no talent for cultivation. He could only wait for his World Power to increase and manifest that talent. But this time, sculpting had made him feel something different.

He seemed to have sensed the rhythm of the wind. It was by relying on that strange rhythm that he'd managed to carve the bird in one go.

The feeling was faint, not even enough to let him cultivate, but it still stirred excitement in his heart.

After all, at least he now had a direction to pursue.

At Ernst Institute.

Delante, the institute's dean, was also filled with emotion.

Though Wester Academy wasn't one of the continent's most powerful magic academies, its performance in this Grade Tournament had been quite unexpected. If not for Dixie, a Wester Academy student would have taken first place in the third year.

Moreover, several instructors had mentioned that some Wester Academy students, though not especially profound in their understanding of magic, sometimes approached it from surprisingly original angles.

This made Delante realize that the continent was full of talented people. Ernst Institute hadn't necessarily gathered every last one of them.

It seemed Ernst Institute would have to venture out and engage with other magic academies more often.

However, he would have to report the matter to the Radiant Church first. Ernst Institute belonged to the Radiant Church, after all, and he himself was a member of the church as well.

"Dean Delante, a message has arrived by swift hawk."

An academy staff member walked in with a sealed letter and added, "It's from Wester Academy."

"Mm. Give it to me."

Dean Delante took the letter and sent the staff member away.

After opening the letter and reading it, he was quite surprised. "He's actually coming to Ernst Institute in person? Potter..."

An academy dean wasn't forbidden from leaving his academy, but the distance from Wester Academy to Ernst Institute was enormous. Even an exchange between academies was a rare event. And now Potter was coming in person?

He'd thought Potter's offer to visit him had been a joke. Who would've guessed he was serious?

Though puzzled, Dean Delante didn't dwell on it. He simply told Edita and the others.

Edita felt somewhat relieved when she heard the news.

She had been in the Holy Union for some time now, and had secretly looked into the powerful figures there. But none of the level-nine experts had a Blood-Veined Great Ape as a contracted magical beast.

Not even the level-nine experts in the Radiant Church did. After all, an eighth-level Blood-Veined Great Ape was already extremely powerful.

The Holy Union was a force on par with the Rhine Empire. During this time, she had already attracted the Radiant Church's attention.

Her identity was rather unusual, after all. Though nobody knew that she had already reached the level of a level-nine mage, even an eighth-level archmage was a powerful figure in Fenlai City, and naturally drew attention.

Besides, she was asking about level-nine experts. The Radiant Church couldn't help but take notice.

It was only because the Radiant Church had few dealings with the Rhine Empire that it hadn't sent a Cardinal to capture her outright.

"Could that person still not have come to the Holy Union?"

Edita fell into thought.

Powerful people didn't stoop to lying. Perhaps that person simply hadn't arrived yet, since he'd said it would take a few years.

"Forget it. I'll wait for now."

The Radiant Church had taken notice of her, so Edita had no choice but to pause her search and wait for Dean Potter to arrive.

Even though she had reached the level of a level-nine mage, she was still insignificant before the Radiant Church. Ordinary people might not know, but any warrior or mage with some strength knew that the Radiant Church had many powerful Saint-level experts.

Even the Rhine Empire and the Luo'ao Empire were relatively weak compared to the Radiant Church. That showed just how powerful the church was.

"I wonder if Dean Potter managed to find another Space Ring in the empire."

Edita sighed.

Even if she found the person she was looking for, getting the Ring of Feilan back wouldn't be easy. The imperial family did have Space Rings, but they would never give one to her.

If she had no other choice, she could only trade her staff.

Only after claiming the staff she had accidentally found in the Magical Beast Mountain Range had Edita realized how powerful it was. It was far more precious than a Space Ring.

But even so, she was willing to trade it for the Ring of Feilan. It belonged to her mentor, Cherifet. Whatever the cost, she had to get it back.

Fenlai City, the Radiant Church.

As the power that ruled the Holy Union, the Radiant Church naturally had its own intelligence network. However, this network focused mainly on the Dark Alliance.

Of course, Fenlai City was the Radiant Church's Holy Capital, so important developments there rarely escaped its notice.

But unless they involved the Dark Alliance, they often didn't pay much attention.

"Your Eminence, we've received word that Potter, the dean of Wester Academy in the Rhine Empire, will be visiting Ernst Institute soon."

A white-robed priest spoke to Cardinal Gilmer.

An ordinary level-nine expert could travel through the Holy Union without causing concern. But certain powerful figures needed to be watched more closely.

Potter was one such figure. For one thing, he was very powerful among level-nine experts; probably only a Saint-level expert could defeat him. For another, he had ties to the Rhine Empire's imperial family. After all, Wester Academy was backed by the Rhine Empire.

"Potter?"

Gilmer looked at the letter in his hands and couldn't help frowning.

That Wester Academy instructor's behavior had been suspicious, and now Potter was coming in person.

After a moment's thought, Gilmer said, "I understand. You may leave."

"Yes, Your Eminence."

The white-robed priest withdrew carefully.

Only after the priest had left did Gilmer look over the letter again. "I wonder what the Rhine Empire is planning."

The Radiant Church's power could barely reach into the Four Great Empires. It didn't dare encroach on the Yulan Empire or the O'Brien Empire because they had Deities guarding them.

As for the Rhine Empire and the Luo'ao Empire, they were too far away, with the Yulan Empire and the O'Brien Empire between them, so the church couldn't reach them either. Of course, those two empires were powerful in their own right, and invading them would be no easy task.

As a result, the Radiant Church had little way of knowing what the leaders of the Four Great Empires were thinking.

Perhaps Potter's visit to the Holy Union was meant to carry out the wishes of the Rhine Empire's imperial family.

Gilmer narrowed his eyes. "Looks like I'll have to meet this Edita first."

Though he was only a level-nine expert, a Cardinal's status in the eyes of ordinary people was second only to the Holy Emperor's. So, in both status and strength, he was no lesser than Potter.

A month later, Potter, the dean of Wester Academy, arrived in the Holy Union.

Potter wasn't just the dean of Wester Academy; he was also a member of the Rhine Empire's imperial family. The Radiant Church had no choice but to take him seriously.

So Dean Delante wasn't the only one who appeared. Cardinal Gilmer of the Radiant Church and King Clayde of the Fenlai Kingdom also came to Ernst Institute.