Blood Pool, Mission

By the time Dago arrived at Wizard Hall, night had fallen. A faintly glowing protective film of rune light shimmered around the outer perimeter of Wizard Hall.

The nearby houses were filled with civilians relocated from the town area, housed free of charge. Otherwise, if these surviving residents were turned into blood slaves, the academy would have an even bigger headache.

Most of the wizards coming and going from Wizard Hall were academy wizards sent down from Peak Academy. The casualties among the hired wizards had already become severe.

Moreover, the rewards recently offered by the academy were simply enormous. Even the scholarly wizards of Old Residence Mountain had begun to emerge and take action.

Still, Dago was quite worried about their combat ability. He wondered whether those old scholars could actually fight.

Arriving at the entrance of Wizard Hall, he showed the guarding wizard the academy badge hanging around his neck and entered.

A large section of Wizard Hall had now been designated as an area for treating the wounded. Several enormous temporary tents stood inside, where the academy's healing wizards tended to the injured. Agonized cries occasionally rang out from within.

Dago came to the counter specifically responsible for exchanging mission rewards. To his surprise, the clerk was still the curly-haired young man from last time. It seemed the academy thought he had too much free time and had assigned him this counter as a side job.

"Hello, I'd like to exchange mission rewards." Dago smiled at him.

"Hello, sir. Just show proof that you killed the Black-Robed Wizards," the curly-haired young man replied, springing up from his chair and answering Dago with utmost respect.

"Wandering wizard Dago. And you?" Dago asked as he raised his hand toward the counter.

In an instant, three bone staffs and three Duskblood Council badge pendants appeared on the counter.

When the curly-haired young man saw the items on the counter, he immediately became solemn and looked at Dago, who was only a couple of years older than himself, with admiration.

"Second-Level Apprentice Wizard Yutton, esteemed Lord Dago." After Yutton carefully examined the three badges several times, he picked up the bone staffs and inspected them as well.

"Lord Dago, the badges are fine. Three of them can be exchanged for nine bottles of Mental Potion. The academy's purchase price for each bone staff is one Mid-Grade Magic Stone."

Dago nodded. "All right, Yutton. Please help me exchange them."

After hearing Dago's words, Yutton took the six items and put them into the cabinet behind him. He then removed three Mid-Grade Magic Stones and nine bottles of pale-purple Mental Potion from the safe and placed them on the counter.

Dago stored the Magic Stones and Mental Potions on the counter in his storage ring, then smiled at Yutton. "Thank you, Yutton."

He waved to him, got up from the counter, left Wizard Hall, and casually found something nearby for dinner.

He walked to Wizard Inn, greeted the old man at the front desk, and returned to his room.

He had plenty to keep him busy tonight. Nine bottles of Mental Potion lay in his storage ring. He took one out and gave it a shake, and the pale-purple liquid glimmered faintly beneath the kerosene lamp.

"Looks like the quality isn't very high. Typical academy style," Dago said helplessly.

He pulled out the stopper, poured the Mental Potion into his mouth, and began his grueling cultivation.

The daylight was a hazy grayish white, pressing the old tree in the courtyard into an ink-wash painting. Snow gathered on its branches rustled down onto the frozen ground without much sound.

Dago had drunk all nine bottles of Low-Grade Mental Potion last night. Though the later potions had become less effective,

the gains he ultimately received were still unprecedented.

His spiritual power cultivation had already reached one-third of the Half-Step Formal Wizard stage.

The greatest boost to his combat strength came from his greatest trump card, Apex of Sorcery: Flame Core Air Bullet. The power of the technique itself depended on how much his spiritual power could compress the air.

Now that his spiritual power had surged, when he used it at full strength, the range of compressed air would be greater, the compression force stronger, and the compression speed faster. Flame Core Air Bullet had been enhanced in every aspect.

In particular, the power of the Flame Core had surged. Once activated, it carried the force of mountains collapsing and seas overturning.

Its destructive power was probably no weaker than the fireball that the airship had used to bombard the Duskblood Council's Formal Wizard that night.

The only difference was that if he used Flame Core Air Bullet now, all of his spiritual power would be completely exhausted, while the airship might still have some strength left after launching that enormous ball of light.

But regardless, Dago now possessed a trump card comparable to an attack from a Formal Wizard-level powerhouse. Even if he could not escape, he could at least drag a Formal Wizard down with him.

No wonder potion-popping wizards are so absurdly overpowered, Dago thought.

He stretched, got up, and headed to Wizard Hall to take a look.

Aina Town, Wizard Hall.

The rune array on the marble walls of the hall pulsed with energy, driving away the chill that swept in through the entrance.

Dago went up to the second floor, where there was a wizard bar specifically for wizards to rest. There were not many people inside, mostly academy wizards relaxing there and passing their boring hours.

He ordered a glass of juice at the bar, found an empty corner seat, and quietly listened to the wizards chatting around him.

Ever since Selena had left, Dago often came here alone after his grueling cultivation sessions.

On one hand, it helped him relax. On the other, the bar was filled with academy wizards, and he could often overhear useful information.

At a small round table two or three meters away from Dago, three academy wizards were praying softly. Their expressions were solemn, and faint sorrow lingered between their brows.

They were probably mourning companions who had died in action. Ever since academy wizards had begun going to the battlefield, such scenes had become quite common.

Dago slowly sipped the juice in his glass as he observed the wizards in the bar. From time to time, he would also go up and ask about knowledge he did not understand.

Bang!

Suddenly, the sound of a wine glass being slammed heavily onto a table drew everyone's attention. They all watched with the mindset of enjoying the drama.

"Stop it, Mom! I can't possibly give up this chance to become a Formal Wizard's disciple. I waited a full five years for this opportunity."

A tall, skinny young wizard stood from a table and shouted angrily at the person in front of him. After saying that, he flung his hand and stormed out of the bar.

An elderly witch seated with him kept calling his name, but she could not make him stop.

Watching his figure disappear through the tavern entrance, the elderly witch covered her face and began to cry.

The male wizard beside her, who appeared to be her husband, kept trying to comfort her.

"Don't be sad. He has his own choice. We should respect it."

"Do you think the mission to become a Formal Wizard's disciple could possibly be that simple? I'm afraid he'll never come back."

The male wizard sighed and continued, "Sigh, it's because I'm not a Formal Wizard, only a Half-Step Formal Wizard. I can't give him what he wants. Let him go."

The wizards in the bar clicked their tongues and looked away, no longer interested in the spectacle. Dago, however, had watched with great interest.

Then Dago continued drinking juice, chewing dried rations, and eavesdropping on some unimportant information.

"I heard the Duskblood Council has established quite a few Blood Pool strongholds north of the city. The academy is offering huge rewards for capturing those strongholds, including Spiritglow Potion and even the chance to become a Formal Wizard's disciple."

"Really? Those rewards are so good that I'm a little tempted."

"Don't be stupid. Those strongholds are guarded by powerhouses at least at the Half-Step Formal Wizard level. Going there would be suicide."

"Can't I at least think about it? That young guy just now probably accepted this kind of mission. What a pity. So young, yet he doesn't know his own limits."

The two academy wizards at the next table were speaking quietly.

Dago heard every word clearly. Interested, he joined the conversation. "Brother, does that mission really have Spiritglow Potion as a reward?"

The two men jumped when they realized an unfamiliar wizard was speaking to them, then forced themselves to stay calm as they demanded, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm very interested in the mission you were just discussing. Could you tell me more? I'll cover both your drinks." Dago smiled.

"That's more like it. Blood Pools are places where the Duskblood Council transforms people into blood slaves. They're also where their members worship their sovereign. There are usually many Black-Robed Wizards guarding them, so I'd advise you not to court death."

"Then where do people usually accept this kind of mission?" Dago asked curiously.

"For this kind of mission, you have to sign an agreement at the counter downstairs. A life-and-death agreement."

"All right, thank you. Have a pleasant day." Dago nodded and raised his glass toward them before taking a sip of juice.

The two men clicked their tongues and turned back to their drinks.

Dago smiled, asked the bartender how much he owed, casually tossed out a Low-Grade Magic Stone after hearing the price, and left the bar.