Mage Manual

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"He didn't catch up, did he?"

"No, no, he shouldn't be able to swim, right?"

"What kind of route is this? It's really causing harm."

"I did tell you there might be some danger before we set out. Who was it that confidently said, just like a student with a cheat sheet, that there's no problem?"

"Is this what you'd call just a bit dangerous!?"

Amidst the white mist of the Sea of Knowledge, Ash and Sonia lay on the small boat, panting heavily, their forms as faint as the surrounding mist, as if they might fade away at any moment. Even their arguing was weak and feeble.

Just moments before, having navigated for almost an hour without any success, Ash couldn't help but suggest to Sonia that they venture into an area on the map marked "Better not go." Entering the Void Realm for the first time, Sonia was filled with confidence, and so the two of them broke through the white mist and entered the dangerous area.

However, not only was there no Inheritance Island in the dangerous area, but there was also a huge fish with wings. It capsized Ash's small boat and could shoot water cannons, causing sponges to blast up tens of meters high.

Ash and Sonia just brushed against the water cannon, and their bodies felt as if they had been sanded down hundreds of times.

Fortunately, the small boat was very sturdy; even when overturned, it stubbornly floated on the surface. The two scrambled back onto the boat, quickly paddling away from the dangerous area with their hands.

That giant fish even continued to pursue them, flying towards the small boat. Fortunately, Ash acted quickly, using "Void Realm Exploration" to control the boat and accelerate away, barely dodging the fish's headlong charge and avoiding their first drop of blood in the Void Realm.

Having caught their breath, Sonia looked at a soaked Ash, her beautiful eyes flickering with doubt as she nonchalantly asked, "Couldn't you kill that fish dragon?"

Ash didn't suspect anything, panting heavily, "If even you can't do it, how could I?"

Is the Observer really this weak?

Many thoughts flashed through Sonia's mind, but they eventually settled into silence. Even if the Final Observer was weak, she was helpless. She had no way to kill the Observer, and she hadn't found a way to resist its control. Even Professor Trozan hadn't detected the Observer's presence.

Moreover, after the Final Observer demonstrated its ability to explore the Void Realm, Sonia's mindset subtly shifted.

Even having just become a Void-Winged Mage, Sonia understood the importance of the Void Realm to Void-Winged Mages. She realized how remarkable and extraordinary it was for the Final Observer to have the ability to see through the Void Realm's mist.

It was well-known that no one could penetrate the Void Realm's mist, and that's why all mages were equal—faced with unknown risks and rewards, everyone was equal. The strong could fall, and the weak had a chance to rise overnight!

This is what's called equal opportunity!

Now, here was a being who could discern unknown risks and stand above all mages!

The highest among mages, the Final Observer!

If following the Observer's orders before had been somewhat involuntary, Sonia's mindset had now mildly shifted. She was awed by the Observer's abilities, even beginning to anticipate a bright future led by the Observer, much like a descent into corruption.

Originally, Sonia wanted to ask why the Observer had chosen her, what made her different, but then she thought: if the Observer suddenly realized, "Oh right, I don't need you," and abandoned her, wouldn't she miss the chance to become someone significant?

Moreover, without strong power, how did the Observer control her actions, see through the Void Realm's mist, and drag her into dream trials?

She had to be wary of the Observer playing the weak card!

If Sonia fell for this, the Observer might take advantage of it, arranging harsher punishments to mistreat her!

"By the way, what was that fish just now?"

Here it comes, asking even such common-sense questions, acting, you're just pretending!

Sonia played along: "Fish dragon, one of the most common knowledge creatures in the Void Realm. Killing it can yield Technique Spirits from various factions, such as the Water Technique Faction and Earth Technique Faction. If this fish dragon had killed other mages before, it might contain other mages' Technique Spirits."

In the Void Realm, there were only two types of intelligent creatures: mages and knowledge creatures.

As the name suggests, when a mage kills a knowledge creature, they can obtain the knowledge it condensed—Technique Spirits.

Unlike the legacies left by mages, the Technique Spirits from knowledge creatures are not fixed. Although they generally belong to the same faction, a fish dragon won't yield a Fire Technique Faction Spirit.

Even within the same faction, there are many different Technique Spirits, and the spoils from knowledge creatures change with version updates.

For example, if a mage in reality invented a new knowledge system and summoned a new kind of Technique Spirit, then other mages in the Void Realm could directly obtain this newly invented Technique Spirit by killing knowledge creatures.

If the new knowledge system is too novel and crazy, it might directly spawn new types of knowledge creatures, expanding the biodiversity of the Void Realm.

Like "equal opportunity," this is also one of the important premises of mage equality: "knowledge equality."

No one can monopolize knowledge forever. No matter how you guard your newly invented knowledge, other mages can still obtain your results in the Void Realm. If you want to maintain an advantage, you must keep innovating.

Those who cling to outdated methods, hoping for permanent lead with one invention, are no different from fools staying in one place in the Void Realm for too long.

If you don't venture forth, the Void Realm will devour you; if you don't innovate, reality will beat you down.

After introducing knowledge creatures, Sonia couldn't help but probe, "Since you know there's danger in the mist, can't you detect what kind of creature it is?"

"I can't detect it, I only know the level of danger in the mist relative to us, not specifically what the danger is."

Sonia was a bit disappointed, "Then you certainly can't find the golden fish either."

"Golden fish?" Ash was puzzled, "What's that?"

It was like someone asked her, "What's one plus one?" Sonia pursed her lips, and suddenly a thought came to her: was he trying to use asking dumb questions to cultivate my obedience? If I resist, would he think my loyalty isn't high enough, and then punish me severely?

With that thought, Sonia became cautious and answered the seemingly simple question seriously: "The golden fish is a fish floating on the surface of the Sea of Knowledge. On its back is the Time Continent, and the Time Continent is where the Two-winged Mages go..."

"Wait, a continent?" Ash interrupted, "How big is this fish?"

"Huge. No one has seen the entire golden fish, and it's said that the smallest scales on a golden fish are equivalent to a big city that can accommodate millions of people."

"With a fish that big, shouldn't it be easy to find?"

"On the contrary, only a very few lucky ones have found the golden fish in the Sea of Knowledge, and without exception, those lucky ones have become renowned Legendary Mages."

Ash uttered an "oh," "Then what's the benefit of finding the golden fish?"

"You ascend to the Time Continent and become a Two-winged Mage."

"What?"

"Directly become a Two-winged Mage." Sonia held back her impatience, thinking the kids she tutored weren't this clueless: "The biggest difference between a One-winged Mage and a Two-winged Mage is that the former is in the Sea of Knowledge, while the latter is on the Time Continent."

"When a One-winged Mage gathers Magic Power to the limit in the Sea of Knowledge and spreads out the Silver Wings, they can't gain more power during navigation. If they want to ascend to a higher realm, they must advance to Two-winged."

"The normal way to ascend is for a mage to study knowledge, summon a Two-winged Technique Spirit, and then find the Gate of Truth within the Two-winged Technique Spirit to pass through the Void Realm, reaching the second layer of the Void Realm—the Time Continent. Only on the Time Continent can a mage absorb more Magic Power and condense the second Void Wing: Golden Wings."

A One-winged Mage navigates the Sea of Knowledge, condensing Silver Wings, while a Two-winged Mage walks the Time Continent, condensing Golden Wings... Ash initially understood the mage's power system, but he had a question: "Can a One-winged Mage obtain a Two-winged Technique Spirit from someone else and then directly reach the Time Continent?"

"Absolutely not." Sonia shook her head, "Unless it's a Technique Spirit summoned by themselves, a mage can't find the Gate of Truth inside it. Even searching within the Technique Spirit is very difficult—Technique Spirits are made of knowledge. If you don't understand the structure of the Technique Spirit, how can you explore the secrets of the Technique Spirit?"

Ash now understood how mages ascend: summon higher-grade Technique Spirits, use them to pass through higher Void Realms, and as they grow stronger, continue to summon higher-grade Technique Spirits, repeating the cycle.

With "equal opportunity" and "knowledge equality" as premises, adventure and research run through the life of a mage. No one can retire comfortably; as long as you don't give up your current benefits, you must continue to explore and create benefits.

This process not only ensures a healthy development of the mage system but continually optimizes old mages who stop striving... Sounds a bit like a KPI system! Throw in an elimination system, and it'd be perfect!

Realizing that mages are just another kind of working person, Ash suddenly felt confident: when it comes to hard work and competition, he's never lost!

"Wait, if we can find the golden fish in the Sea of Knowledge and ascend to the Time Continent, isn't that a shortcut to promotion?"

"We prefer to call that 'smugglers,' smugglers sneaking from the bottom to the top... That's why mages want to find the golden fish." Sonia shrugged, "Who can refuse the temptation of getting something for nothing?... So, can you find the golden fish?"

"I wish I could."

"Then why are you asking me so many questions? Let's keep navigating." Sonia looked at her somewhat ethereal hands, "Let's not go to places where battles occur. I'm a bit tired. If we navigate one or two more areas, I really have to leave the Void Realm."

Ash nodded, feeling tired as well.

Navigating the Void Realm is not without cost. While passing through the white mist concentrates their Magic Power, it also tempers their spirit, consuming their soul energy. When their soul energy drops to a certain level, they must exit the Void Realm to rest.

Every ordinary voyage is filled with countless precious miracles.

Ash activated the "Void Realm Exploration," and unsurprisingly saw many areas marked as "A Waste of Effort" and "Better Not Go."

But this time, he noticed an area in the lower right corner of the map glowing gold!

The note below the area read:

"Welcome!"

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