Kaecilius's Challenge!

When Zhang Yang emerged from the Mirror Dimension, he was greeted by Mordo and Kamar-Taj's other high-ranking members.

Yet Kaecilius was nowhere among them.

"Greetings, Supreme One!"

Led by Mordo, Kamar-Taj's senior members bowed, each harboring their own thoughts.

At the sight, a faint ripple stirred in Zhang Yang's heart.

Clearly, The Ancient One had anticipated all of this and arranged everything in advance.

From this day onward, he, Zhang Yang—a Mage Apprentice who had joined Kamar-Taj only a month ago—had become the Sorcerer Supreme, standing at the pinnacle of the magical world.

There was no longer anyone beside him who could be mentioned in the same breath as him.

"Supreme One, the others from the magical world are already waiting in the reception hall."

Mordo approached Zhang Yang and said quietly, "Would you like to receive them now?"

"Let's go."

Zhang Yang had not expected The Ancient One to be so confident. She had even arranged for the other rulers of the magical world to arrive at this moment. He nodded at Mordo. "By the way, Mage Mordo."

"Yes?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Mordo himself felt awkward. He, The Ancient One's disciple and once one of the candidates for Sorcerer Supreme, was actually addressing a Mage Apprentice who had only joined Kamar-Taj a month ago as the Supreme One?

And with such respect in his tone?

Though he had been prepared for it, the awkwardness still surfaced, and he forced himself to overcome it.

"Go to the library first."

Zhang Yang said, "Get the Book of Cagliostro. I will need it after I finish receiving them."

"Yes."

Mordo nodded. He knew what Zhang Yang wanted the book for. After Zhang Yang left the Ancient One's Sanctum first, Mordo separated from the group and headed for the library.

From the moment Zhang Yang stepped out of the Ancient One's Sanctum, he was no longer an ordinary Mage Apprentice, but the inheritor of the title "Sorcerer Supreme," one that resounded throughout the entire multiverse.

In the meeting hall, Zhang Yang received Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of the magical school Hogwarts and one of Kamar-Taj's Special Class instructors; Atlanna, the modern sea queen of Atlantis; and Frigga, queen of Asgard.

Last of all, he even met a figure enveloped in green light—the legendary Green Lantern Abin Sur from Oa.

After receiving them, Zhang Yang began imprinting his mark upon the Time Stone so that he could control the dimension within it.

The goal of this step was to make the Eye of Agamotto acknowledge him as its master. Otherwise, it was merely an ordinary high-level magical artifact that anyone could use.

Once it recognized him as its master, only he could use it, unless he granted permission to someone else.

This step required no particular skill. It was simply a matter of patient effort.

After all, he was not like Dormammu, who had merged his body into the Dark Dimension. Though Dormammu had gained the power of a Dimensional Demon God, his true body had also been confined within the Dark Dimension, unable to leave for all eternity.

Zhang Yang did not want to be trapped within the Time Dimension represented by the Time Stone. What he wanted was to be the master of the dimension, not stand on equal footing with it.

Within the spiritual world, the passage of time could not be sensed at all.

By the time he had initially engraved his spiritual mark inside the Time Stone and gained partial authority over the Time Dimension, night had already fallen outside.

Do not underestimate that partial authority. Even with only that, the duration of his Dimension Body had already reached three minutes!

Once he fully controlled the Time Dimension, preliminary calculations showed that his Dimension Body could last around an hour!

The Dimension Body could be deactivated after being activated, with no interval in between. For Zhang Yang, it was temporarily enough.

If Zhang Yang wanted to continue engraving his spiritual mark, he would need to study the Book of Cagliostro. He needed the knowledge within it.

The Book of Cagliostro was the only book in The Ancient One's collection that described time. When Zhang Yang had still been a Mage Apprentice, he had been forbidden from reading books from such private collections.

But now, his status was different. As the Sorcerer Supreme, he possessed the highest authority in all of Kamar-Taj.

Zhang Yang stood up, and Mage Mordo moved closer, saying in a low voice, "Supreme One, something has happened."

Hearing that, Zhang Yang sighed. He had known something would happen.

He had known it from Kaecilius's condition when he left the Mirror Dimension. Proud and arrogant as he was, Kaecilius would never let this go.

As The Ancient One's disciple and once a candidate for Sorcerer Supreme, Kaecilius naturally knew what was needed to study time-related magic. Taking it away in advance was clearly meant to prevent Zhang Yang from mastering time magic.

Seeing Zhang Yang's reaction, Mordo was somewhat confused. He cautiously asked, "You... know what happened?"

"Kaecilius rebelled?"

Though Zhang Yang phrased it as a question, his tone was calm. "And he took the Book of Cagliostro?"

"You really did know."

Mordo was relieved upon hearing that and continued, "Kaecilius not only took the Book of Cagliostro, but also left with some elite mages he personally trained, establishing a sect called the Zealots."

"He also left messages for you and Supreme One Ancient One."

Mordo pulled two letters from his robe. The sight made Zhang Yang's eyelid twitch.

Was he not afraid that Kaecilius had placed a curse on the envelopes?

As two of The Ancient One's only disciples, he and Kaecilius should have known each other inside out. Yet Mordo was still being so careless?

"Come with me to see The Ancient One in person."

Zhang Yang was helpless. His strength might be formidable now, but magic was an unpredictable thing. Who knew what curse might ignore the gap in strength? If he was struck by one, would he not become a laughingstock immediately after inheriting the position of Sorcerer Supreme?

"Yes."

Mordo nodded. He wanted to see The Ancient One as well.

He had many questions he wanted to ask her.

Upon arriving at the Ancient One's Sanctum and entering the Mirror Dimension, they found that The Ancient One seemed to have known in advance. She had prepared tables and chairs, and even a small plate of sunflower seeds.

"Are you recuperating from your injuries... or enjoying life?"

Looking at the scene, Zhang Yang's eyelid twitched. "Why don't you go back and take charge of everything?"

"It is all the same."

It was as though The Ancient One had cast off a burden weighing a thousand pounds. She looked entirely different, cheerfully greeting Zhang Yang and Mordo. "Sit down. Let's sit and talk first."

"Have some sunflower seeds. These are from Asgard, and they taste quite good."

"..."

Zhang Yang and Mordo exchanged a glance, seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

It was the first time either of them had seen The Ancient One like this.

"I already know why you have come."

After watching the two sit down, The Ancient One cracked open a sunflower seed and said, "Where is Kaecilius's letter?"

"Here."