Ringwraith City and the Appearance of the Seventh Circle

Just as the Five-Nation Alliance was shrouded in an atmosphere of fear and unease, Li Lin had already taken the Ringwraith City into the sky. He summoned a spell, using the clouds to conceal the Ringwraith City's form. Although he didn't believe that any mage in this era could discover the Ringwraith City's existence and launch an attack, it was always better to be cautious.

Having been freed from the shackles of the state, the Ringwraith City was now restored to its true form.

Unlike ordinary cities, Ringwraith City is composed of seven enormous discs, each spiraling upwards from the largest central disc, unfolding layer by layer. Viewed from above, the city resembles a blooming flower. However, unlike other cities, four of these discs are currently firmly covered and locked by heavy stone covers, obscuring their original appearance. From the outside, they appear as nothing more than four enormous, circular stone slabs.

This is the city where the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys reside.

The central part is the city where Li Lin and Nia reside, but it is the smallest part of Ringwraith City, serving as its center. It has the smallest urban area. The towering mage tower is its most prominent feature, and it is also the core of Ringwraith City and Li Lin's royal palace. After being repaired by the mages, the entire urban area has been largely restored to its original appearance. Currently, it has become the residential area for those mages who have finally managed to transform back into humans from spirits.

"That's really interesting, it's like a scene from a movie."

Sitting on the balcony, overlooking the bustling scene below, Angela was mesmerized. Indeed, bathed in magical light, watching the mages fly to and fro, occasionally casting spells to move boulders to repair the damaged city walls, was a familiar sight to Li Lin, but for Angela, who came from Earth, it was a strangely new scene.

"The development of magic on Earth is really backward."

"That's right, Master."

Angela shrugged, a hint of disdain in her tone.

"Ever since those damned scientists discovered something that shouldn't be used by humans, these megalomaniacs have thrown the mystery of magic aside. While they haven't done too badly so far, I much prefer that beautiful world of blue skies and white clouds to those lowly cities filled with exhaust fumes and pollution, where even the rivers have become murky. The disasters brought about by endless exploitation are not something those lowly races can bear. So arrogant as to think they've become the masters of the world... I really want to see with my own eyes what kind of retribution they'll ultimately receive."

Looking out the window, Li Lin didn't comment on Angela's words. Indeed, science, as a system of power, exists outside of magic. Although Li Lin had spent considerable time on Earth researching this system, attempting to summarize and organize its rules, he always struggled to succeed. In his view, the prevalence of science on Earth was closely related to its accessibility. Any ordinary person could use it and enjoy its fruits. They were also able to spontaneously learn and explore this system of power. Magic, however, was relatively more restricted. Although there were massive floating cities like the Ringwraith City, which had never appeared on Earth before, they still required mages to operate. While airplanes on Earth also required trained professionals, their choices were clearly far more numerous than those of mages. After all, those with the talent to become mages were a minority.

During the era of the Magic Empire, Arcane Mage, like nations on Earth, attempted to promote magical education and enable ordinary people to learn some magical knowledge. However, this was far too difficult for ordinary people, so progress was slow. Although they gained a considerable amount of potential magical power, cultivating it was not an easy task.

However, Li Lin strongly agreed with Angela's assessment of the pollution caused by science. Endless exploitation can only bring disaster. While magic may contain evil spells that greedily extract life force and use natural power to enhance oneself, these are extremely forbidden spells, unusable by ordinary people. But...

"Never mind."

Li Lin shook his head. Comparing the merits of science and magic now was meaningless. Although the power system of science did have its advantages, it was the result of hundreds or thousands of years of experience, social development, and books. Even if he wanted to use some of its achievements now, he would need to develop a lot of basic industries from scratch, which was too much of a waste of time. It would be more convenient to choose magic, which he was most familiar with.

Fortunately, although there are quite a few people in Ringwraith City, those humans transformed from spirits are not truly human. Therefore, as long as they retain the Magic Power to maintain their forms, they do not need to consume food. It can be said that, apart from Li Lin and Angela, practically no one in Ringwraith City needs to eat. This is fortunate; otherwise, with the current population of Ringwraith City, purchasing food to sustain them would not be an easy task.

"Speaking of which, where did Mina and Fina go?"

Thinking of this, Li Lin suddenly realized that it had been a long time since he had seen the two sisters.

"Them."

Upon hearing Li Lin mention it, Angela frowned slightly in displeasure.

"Because they are so lacking in the qualities of servants, I am entrusting them to Suoxiate for 'care'. At the very least, they will be allowed to return only after they have become excellent maids who will not disgrace my name or their master's."

"Please take care of me..."

Li Lin shrugged, observing Angela's clearly malicious smile. While Suoxiate usually wore a gentle smile, unlike Nia, her smile was mostly professional. In other words, even if someone offended her, Suoxiate wouldn't change her expression. Although her combat abilities were practically zero, she was exceptionally serious and strict in certain areas. It was precisely because of this that she was able to become the de facto leader among the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, keeping the other Ring Spirit Envoy obedient. Now that Mina and Fina had fallen into her hands, their chances of survival were slim.

Judging from Angela's expression, she was clearly aware of this.

But this is for the best. After all, those two sisters are far too lacking as servants or Vampire Species. Perhaps handing them over to Suoxiate for training would actually help them grow.

As for the fat merchant, he had already given instructions to bring all the elves back to the City of a Thousand Towers. Although the fat merchant didn't entirely agree with Li Lin's orders, he understood that he had no choice in the matter.

"Master, are you really planning to go to the Mages' Association?"

Angela the subject, staring intently into Li Lin's eyes.

"You plan to just go in like this, kill all the people who stand in your way, and then take your weapons? Is it really that simple?"

"Although I considered many other plans, it's generally as you expect."

As he spoke, Li Lin patted Angela's little head.

"That's right, we fight our way in, and then fight our way out, it's that simple. Haven't you always wanted to know who's stronger, you or the mages of this world? This is the perfect opportunity."

Hearing this, Angela's eyes lit up. In fact, she had long wanted to test herself against the mages of this world to see who was stronger. Li Lin and his mages were untouchable, and the previous mages hadn't given Angela any real satisfaction. Although killing through intrigue was Angela's favorite method, she also preferred face-to-face confrontation, using force against force—it was just that she hadn't used it yet due to a lack of suitable opportunity. Therefore, Angela not only didn't mind Li Lin using her as a henchman, but was actually quite excited.

Just then, Suoxiate's voice rang out from the side.

"Master, it's time for afternoon tea."

I'll be right there.

Li Lin responded casually, then thought for a moment.

How is Nia?

"Nia is still working. After all, these mages haven't appeared for a thousand years and don't understand this world."

Suoxiate explained with a smile, while picking up the teapot she was holding—it was unclear where she had taken it from.

Like Li Lin, these mages, whose souls had been materialized over the millennia, knew little about the outside world. Thus, this burden fell on Nia's shoulders. She needed to explain the current state of the continent, the situation of their former allies, and the current sphere of influence of the Five-Nation Alliance to these mages whose thinking was still stuck a thousand years in the past. This was no easy task; if Nia hadn't chosen several deputies and ordered them to explain in her place, even the Weapon Spirit would likely have been exhausted to death.

With Suoxiate, the search for the remaining weapons progressed dramatically—the "Infinite Corridor" was originally created for summoning and storing weapons. Therefore, as long as Suoxiate summons, regardless of whether the target possesses consciousness or sufficient Magic Power, a response can be received to pinpoint its location. This is why Li Lin initially chose to search for Suoxiate first. Based on the resonant feedback, "Hymn of Destruction" is the closest weapon, so Li Lin chose to search for it first. The furthest is "Gloomy Curse," which, according to Suoxiate's feedback, doesn't even exist in the Prime Material Plane but rather in Hell. It's possible that Li Lin might have to make a trip to Hell in the future.

Of course, after a thousand years, these weapons all seemed to have been worn out considerably. Although Suoxiate made a summoning, it received almost no response. "Hymn of Destruction" reacted the most violently, but was bound by some kind of magic and unable to teleport.

When Suoxiate reported this news to Li Lin, although he maintained his usual professional smile, there was no denying that he also harbored genuine schadenfreude.

"It's about time to bring that child back. After all these years, her personality should have changed."

Since even Suoxiate and Nia said so, it was quickly put on Li Lin's agenda to take back the "Hymn of Destruction".

Therefore, Li Lin intervened in the magical contacts of the Mages' Association and loudly proclaimed his presence. On the one hand, now that he had reclaimed Ringwraith City, he did not believe that those mages who had only learned the basics of magic could pose any threat to him. On the other hand, Li Lin was genuinely dissatisfied with these mages who clung to the coattails of the Five-Nation Alliance.

Of course, these mages might have a thousand reasons to explain their predicament, but that's no excuse for them becoming lackeys of the Five-Nation Alliance. After all, it was the Five-Nation Alliance that destroyed the Magic Empire and nearly wiped out the mages. Now, they're treating mages like pets, which, in Li Lin's view, is an insult to all users of arcane art. If they had willingly become allies of the Five-Nation Alliance, that would be one thing. But now it's clear that the Mages' Association is nothing more than a puppet manipulated by the Five-Nation Alliance.

Since they are puppets, then there is no need for them to continue existing.