I Hate Zane Dungeon

To Jia Paer's surprise, the professors at the Magic Association did not agree immediately.

For some reason, the idea of going to explore the Zane Dungeon together seemed like a very important decision for them, one that required time to consider.

"What do you think of that place, Mr. Jia Paer?" Tu Erqi asked with a smile, her youthful energy evident. "A lost magic academy from ancient times, it seems like something out of a legend."

"I'm not interested in stories or anything like that."

Jia Paer unconsciously touched his forehead. Although he had lost his memory of the Sun Fist, he vaguely remembered that its casting method had nothing to do with the staff.

"But there is no doubt that the academy will allow more people to come into contact with magic."

"Let more people experience magic."

Tu Erqi revealed a slightly amused expression, seemingly lost in thought, and said:

"I'd really like to take a look; perhaps I'll discover a lot of magic that isn't recorded in the association's records."

He De Si suddenly turned his head and glanced at her, without saying a word.

Tu Erqi showed great interest in Raya Lucaria, and perhaps she was the professor who liked Sain the most among these professors.

"I look forward to working with the legendary Sword Saint again. With his unparalleled swordsmanship and my expertise in defensive magic, we might even be able to defeat a Demon King."

Seeing that the woman seemed about to agree, some people couldn't sit still any longer.

"Mr. Jia Paer, we need time to consider this matter carefully," Seth said politely. "At the latest, I will visit you in person and give you a reply by tomorrow."

Jia Paer shrugged indifferently. He couldn't understand why these people were making such a fuss. If you want to go, go; if you don't want to go, don't go.

If they don't go, I'll go find Leon.

With that thought in mind, Jia Paer left the professors' residence.

"."

After he left, the three professors remained silent, each seemingly preoccupied with their own thoughts.

After an unknown amount of time, as the rays of the setting sun completely disappeared and the crystal chandelier in the hall automatically lit up, the youngest of the three, Tu Erqi, spoke first:

"I hate the Zane Dungeon."

Her slender fingers tapped on the wooden handrail. She was still smiling, but the feeling she gave off was completely different from before.

Seth glanced at her, not finding her words strange at all, as they were very much in line with her personality.

After all, the new generation of magicians, represented by Tu Erqi, are mostly deeply influenced by the Association's dogma.

One of the most important points in dogma is—

"One cannot be considered a formal magician without obtaining a diploma issued by the Magic Association."

This simple sentence reflects many issues.

Nowadays, almost all magicians have an inseparable relationship with the Magic Association.

Whether it's learning, researching, or teaching magic, or any other matter related to the field of magic, one cannot avoid the association, and most magicians are happy to deal with the association.

After all, as the dominant organization in the magic world, it can provide the greatest convenience for magicians.

Researchers can receive various support from the association, and their research results can be promoted and applied in appropriate places as quickly as possible.

The association's affiliated magic schools offer people the opportunity to learn magic. Upon successful completion of their studies and passing the examinations, they can obtain diplomas and become orthodox magicians recognized by the association. The furthest magic schools even extend to the border.

People have come to regard the existence of the Magic Association as part of the world, as if it were born to represent the highest authority in the magical world.

Magicians from all walks of life exchange ideas and spark new inspirations within the environment created by the association, making magic increasingly prosperous.

So, what is the cost?

Those "magicians" who are not recognized by the association for various reasons have something to say.

"That underground city will give countless incompetent fools the opportunity to learn magic."

Tu Erqi propped her cheek up with her hand and said dejectedly, "In recent years, there have been more and more self-taught mages. Not to mention that the magic they learn is all over the place, they don't even take the exams for diplomas, they don't have any decent mentors, let alone any family background they come from. They don't deserve to be called mages, they can only be considered magic users."

Her reaction clearly shows that the magic community places great importance on one's background.

"Here we go again," Seth sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Anyone who can learn magic is called a magician. Even I don't care about their background, so why do you care?"

"But those wild mages don't even pay copyright fees." Tu Erqi switched hands to support her chin. "Anyway, I can't stand people stealing my magic without saying a word. If I catch them, I'll definitely use Amnesia Spell to wash their brains."

Magicians can apply for copyright for the magic they develop themselves through the association, and all learners must pay a fee.

Not all magic requires copyright fees.

Seth didn't want to argue with her anymore and changed the subject.

"Have you considered it? Should you accept Jia Paer's invitation?"

"Go ahead, we're just killing time anyway." Tu Erqi waved her hand. "Finding some new magic will be a contribution to the association."

Seth saw through her little scheme. The association had a rule that if someone could discover ancient, lost magic and confirm that its creator had no descendants, the discoverer could apply for copyright for the magic they discovered.

This encourages people to discover the magic lost in the vastness of history.

The magic produced in dungeons is almost never destined to have a master.

"I also agree to explore the Zane Dungeon," Sett nodded. "I'm very curious about what life was like for the ancient mages."

"What's the title of your next paper?" Tu Erqi asked with interest.

"No," Seth frowned, unusually, and said with a headache, "He's one of my students. If he can't produce a suitable paper, he can forget about getting promoted for the rest of his life."

"Oh, I remember now, it's that guy who's obsessed with monsters all the time, right? All the papers he submitted were about how to tame monsters, they're not worth anything."

"That's why I, as his mentor, have to help him find a solution."

Seth's eye twitched. After so many years as a tutor, this was the first time he had ever ghostwritten a paper for a student.

He would never allow any student under his supervision to fail to get promoted!

He De Si sat quietly without saying a word, only nodding slightly, which was taken as his approval of their decision.

The next day, there was a knock on the Jia Paer family's door.

However, what appeared before Jia Paer was a face he had never expected.

Good morning, Sword Saint.

A scruffy, grinning face loomed into Jia Paer's eyes.

Although he had a smiling face, a closer look revealed that the disheveled man was sweating profusely and his eyes were far from calm, showing signs of panic.

It's like an old salted fish who's been slacking off at home with a bunch of work piled up, suddenly being forcibly dragged out to participate in an event hosted by big shots. He can't afford to offend any of them, so he can only force a smile.

"Why is it you, kid?" Jia Paer asked, puzzled.

"Hehe, I didn't expect you to still remember me."

Luo Jieer said with a laugh, feeling like his face was about to go numb from smiling.

"Of course I remember you. You were the first person to give me Fire Dragon Mating Image as a gift, and you even asked me for help after giving me that thing."

"It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. I took the wrong bag that time, please forgive me."

"Cough cough."

A cough came from behind him, and Luo Jieer straightened up immediately.

Jia Paer looked past him and saw Tu Erqi waving at him with a smile, He De Si nodded back.

However, Seth was nowhere to be found.

"Mr. Jia Paer, we have decided to accept your proposal. When do you plan to depart?" Tu Erqi asked.

"Anytime is fine."

Jia Paer demonstrated remarkable efficiency, and within minutes they arrived at the Firelink Shrine.

Through conversations along the way, I finally understood why Luo Jieer had come to this high-level game.

Because his advisor, Seth, had something come up and couldn't come, he simply dragged the person who needed to write the thesis out of his home and threw him into this high-end team full of big shots.

Luo Jieer was terrified, surrounded by people he couldn't afford to offend. He was especially afraid of He De Si, and even a glance at him would send chills down his spine. He had to drink water every now and then to stay hydrated.

He's usually a chatterbox, but if he keeps being sarcastic here, he might lose his life.

Luo Jieer was now trembling like Jagras who had accidentally wandered into the territory of the King of Maps.

"This is my first time entering a dungeon."

Tu Erqi gazed at the scenery of the Firelink Shrine, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"I heard that the Zane Dungeon is full of stinky water, but this place is quite nice."

Luo Jieer, the lowest-ranking among them, quickly explained to her, "You must be referring to Farron Keep; it really does stink there."

Tu Erqi nodded, took out her Image Stone, found a good angle, and took a few photos, especially focusing on the campfire.

Looking at the azure sky, He De Si' expression was no longer so frightening.

Jia Paer glanced at Luo Jieer, silently mourned for a second for this guy who had to be so careful, and then led the group toward the elevator.

To reach the elevator, one must pass through a cemetery behind the sacrificial site.

"Are these the items produced in the dungeon?" Tu Erqi picked up a light spot in front of the tombstone and harvested Green Blossom.

Luo Jieer's eyelids twitched, and he quickly said, "Wait, don't go near there—"

Before she could finish speaking, a pale, skeletal hand shot out and suddenly grabbed Tu Erqi's wrist!

Luo Jieer closed his eyes in despair, expecting the other person to fly into a rage.

"They're holding on pretty tightly."

However, Tu Erqi merely observed the skeletal hand; a transparent membrane separated it from her wrist, making it impossible for the skeletal hand to touch her.

As a professor specializing in defensive magic, she always has a transparent protective shield covering her body.

The entire cemetery shook as skeletons emerged from the graves. This place had left an indelible shadow on Malu of the Strategy Team. Would these professors suffer the same fate as her?

Jia Paer, sword in hand, prepared to smash the skull, but the other two did not react.

Seeing this, he also put down his weapon, wanting to see what kind of tricks the youngest magic professor could pull.

"Oh, picking up the light spots will lead to a monster attack, so it's a punishment for greedy people. I agree with this idea, and I might even come to like this place."

Tu Erqi chanted an incomprehensible incantation and then unleashed a shower of warm-toned clouds.

"Healing Magic?" Jia Paer felt life slowly emerging from his body, which was covered in mist; this was undoubtedly Healing Magic.

But what use is it here?

A miraculous thing happened: the restless Skeleton Warrior stopped moving, and a few seconds later, they even burrowed back into the ground and fell into a peaceful sleep once again.

The previously trembling cemetery immediately fell silent, and Luo Jieer promptly offered his explanation:

"This is a new type of Healing Magic invented by Lady Ti Suo. Its biggest feature is that it can dispel the enemy's fighting spirit and use the comfort brought by the healing to make the enemy's emotions return to peace."

Ti Suo is the surname of the Tu Erqi, an ancient magical family.

"That's interesting, "Jia Paer nodded slightly.

Tu Erqi's figure appeared and disappeared amidst the warm-toned magical mist, her long, beige hair casually draped over her shoulders, and her perfect profile revealed a captivating angle beneath her wide-brimmed pointed hat—elegant, noble, and beautiful.

The atmosphere was electric, and the class was off the charts.

The ability to soothe the emotions of monsters sounds like something a kind goddess in a legend would possess, and it's quite beautiful when artificially replicated.

However, the monsters in the Zane Dungeon are not the type that can be calmed down with ordinary soothing.

The Skeleton Warrior buried in this cemetery harbor the greatest malice towards all intruders. Even if they are not strong enough to harm these people, they will do everything in their power to humiliate them!

The monsters of Sion are very similar to their masters; neither of them likes watching others show off in their dungeons.

An adventurer's emotional fluctuations when their attempt to show off fails can generate a large amount of Spirit Power!

So, a Skeleton Monster, defying the pressure, quietly emerged from the soil and threw a round pot, which Leon often carried on his back, at Tu Erqi.

"Rub--"

With a flash of sword light, the Dung Pie was precisely severed. How could Jia Paer possibly ignore a sneak attack?

However, a strong stench suddenly erupted, so intense that it made people want to run away!

Because this Dung Pie contains Monster Hunter's Stink Bomb!

Tu Erqi's pretty face instantly changed color. Ignoring the atmosphere and style, she practically ran away from the source of the stench.

But after running a couple of steps, she finally couldn't hold back her churning stomach and vomited with a "whoosh".

Looking back at the others, their situations were similar to hers, except for Jia Paer seemed to have no reaction.

As Tu Erqi leaned against the tombstone, vomiting, she thought to herself:

I still hate this place!