I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means

I thought I had calmed down after spending ten years in the dream, but Lis soon found something amiss.

The memories of living there for a decade were slowly fading, but the knowledge of the Dragon Power Skill, practical experience, and the study of the special Magic Pattern Array remained vividly in his mind.

Seeing Lis's astonishment, Sphinx said with a smile,

"Feeling a bit odd, huh? After all, it was only a dream. The speed of thought is incessant; you might have spent ten years in your dream, but in reality, not even a day may have passed."

"Memories from dreams are hard to retain, just like how ordinary people can hardly remember the dreams they had last night."

"However, this has its advantages for you. After all, you are still young, and those memories might have affected your mindset. Nonetheless, I have preserved the knowledge you've acquired."

"Young people should be more passionate."

Sphinx said cheerfully, appearing to be in his twenties, but to Lis, he felt like facing a Wise Man who had seen the passage of time.

"Master Sphinx, are you now..."

No longer hesitating, Lis had many questions to ask this Legendary Arcanist.

"Me? I have long since passed away; this is merely a consciousness I left behind to maintain the legacy."

Sphinx laughed, seemingly completely unconcerned about this fact.

"Why did you leave this legacy behind?"

Lis continued to ask, having mastered that special Magic Pattern Array, he then understood how significant the Legendary Arcanist's handiwork really was.

"Of course, to leave behind my legacy."

Sphinx was smiling, but it gave Lis a profound sense of sadness.

"All methods have been tried; my lifespan has reached its end. I didn't want to become a slave to those gods, nor did I want to turn into a Witch Demon and gradually lose my sanity, becoming someone else altogether foreign to me."

"I didn't want my lifelong efforts to be buried with me in the sands of time, so I left behind this legacy."

Lis understood that whether one became a follower of the gods or transformed into something like a Witch Demon, they might maintain their nature at the start, but as the power continued to permeate and influence, the holder's thought patterns would involuntarily shift to align more with the essence of that power.

Just like a Mage who turned into a Witch Demon might have been a person who cherished Life and had a sunny disposition, but under the influence of the Death Spirit Energy, he would gradually become indifferent, bloodthirsty, and dark.

The same goes for the gods.

"Is that Magic Pattern Array you left behind part of the legacy?"

Lis asked tentatively, unsure whether this eminent figure would disclose information about the legacy since he had not passed all the trials yet.

Sphinx smiled and replied,

"It is indeed a part of the legacy, a very small part, but I am surprised you could master it."

"The second trial was originally meant to be passed by mastering one Divine Art, but you seemed to resonate well with this Divine Art, so I 'slightly' extended the duration of the trial."

"Perhaps, you could inherit all of my legacy."

"However, you need to be cautious."

"Although the legacy I left behind is not the true completion, it still touches upon the prerogatives of All Gods, so don't let Them notice you."

"If you obtain the legacy, wait until you ascend to Legend before attempting it."

Lis wanted to ask other questions, but he only saw the great figure turning away, and his consciousness blurred.

When Lis came to his senses, he found himself seated on a bench to the right side of the Black Temple, and the silhouette of Sphinx was nowhere to be seen.

Was that all still a dream? The mastery of this great being over dreams was truly astonishing.

Lis shook his head a bit, clearing his thoughts somewhat.

"Lis, congratulations on passing the second trial."

A pleasant, light voice came through, and Lis saw the black cat squatting on his legs, lifting its head to look at him with its round eyes.

Seeing that Lis seemed to have awakened, the black cat's eyes also shone with delight, jumping onto Lis's shoulder and licking his cheek with its pink little tongue.

Feeling the damp sensation, Lis looked at the black cat curiously and asked,

"Why are you... suddenly so affectionate?"

"Because I suddenly realized that you, Lis, are excellent and definitely could become Master Sphinx's Inheritor."

As a special being left by the Sphinx, the black cat naturally knew that Lis had passed the second trial and no longer concealed the true identity of the Wisdom God.

Moreover, it also knew that the consciousness left by the Sphinx had even conversed with Lis, something none of the previous trial participants had achieved.

The black cat felt that it was almost certain Lis would receive the Sphinx's inheritance, naturally feeling closer to him.

Of course, most importantly, it was tired of staying here and wanted to leave the relic with Lis.

"You want to go out with me? Is that possible?"

Lis looked at the black cat in front of him, its arrogance and pride crumbling in the face of the temptation of freedom.

"Of course, it's possible. Once you receive the inheritance, this place will no longer have any value and will close off the external entrance, preventing anyone else from inheriting it."

The black cat, fearing Lis would not take it along, hurriedly explained,

"Moreover, I am a gift left here by Master Sphinx for the Inheritor."

"Hmm?"

Lis looked at the black cat skeptically, not seeing anything magical about it.

"Really!"

The black cat, fearing Lis wouldn't believe it, almost meowed anxiously.

After hesitating for a moment, the black cat gritted its teeth and said to Lis,

"I am the Magic Intelligent Life of Master Sphinx's Mage Tower; I was brought here because I developed my own consciousness, tasked with managing the operations of the relic."

"Hmm!"

Magic Intelligent Life—the term echoed in Lis's mind.

What a grand gesture! If it really was a Magic Intelligent Life, that would be incredibly precious!

Looking at it, this black cat even seemed more advanced than the one in his teacher's First Magic Workshop.

It must have been in this relic for a long time, gradually growing in wisdom, which is why it behaved no differently from a normal black cat.
Enjoy new tales from empire

Lis just knew that his own neglected Sky City desperately needed such a top-tier Magic Intelligent Life to take charge.

He picked up the cat and gave it a thorough stroking, saying earnestly,

"Don't worry, what's our relationship? From now on, you'll be sticking with me!"

The black cat, upon hearing this, was touched—this person was someone you could get along with!

"So, what's the third trial?"

Lis asked while petting the cat.

Although he was quite confident, he was still very curious about the content of the third trial.

The black cat did not hesitate and meowed.

Boom~!