Sorcerer’s Handbook

"You have such a strong aura of malevolence."

In the office, Trozan was arranging flowers, sorting them by height-blooming flowers at the bottom and smaller buds on top, creating a pleasing display.

"Isn't that how we Swordmasters should be?" Sonya sat across from her. "You're the one who said it, elder sister-seek revenge from dawn till dusk, never let the stress linger into sleep!"

"It's different," Trozan explained. "A Swordmaster should always harbor a bit of malice to hone the sword blade and refine their swordsmanship. But malevolence is different; it accumulates, corrupts the soul, weakens your resolve, lowers your intellect… it can even become a vulnerability that mental sorcerers can exploit."

"How can you tell the difference between malice and malevolence?"

"It's simple. When you release your malice, you feel much lighter and recalling past events doesn't anger you anymore," Trozan said. "But with malevolence, even after you vent, you'll find yourself getting angrier the more you think about it."

Sonya pondered this and nodded in agreement. "Then I truly am full of malevolence."

After a brief silence, Trozan suddenly asked, "Aren't you going to ask how to resolve it?"

"I have my own ways."

"I've always been quick to anger and hold grudges. I remember everyone who wronged me when I was young, but previously, I just bore it silently, until now, wielding the power of a sanctuary sorcerer to show it," Sonya said softly with a chuckle. "I know it's not a good trait, like a sword flailing wildly…"

Her cheeks tinted a light blush, her voice softening, "But I've already found my sheath."

"Hmph, you're going against the true path of a Swordmaster." Trozan said coldly. "A sheath will only slow your draw."

"But this way, everyone will think you hid all day just to spring a trap, punishing those coveting your secrets with the news of a fake death," Trozan said calmly. "I'll tell people you were hidden here with me all along-which is indeed the case."

Sonya walked over and hugged Trozan, affectionately pressing her face against the professor's, sweetly expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, Professor Sister!"

Sonya was actually logged into the Virtual Realm in the Meditation Building, but as soon as Trozan returned from the Virtual Realm, she quietly took Sonya away. That's why the school couldn't find Sonya-she had been with Trozan, asleep the whole time.

"Any united sorcerer Kingdom is surely tallying the sanctuary conditions now," Trozan said, fiddling with a vase. "Not just to see who fell in the Specter Seer's resurrection event, but also to identify the heir to the Wishflux Kingdom. After all, sanctuary sorcerers who have left the Dreaming Celestium would surely rush back to reality to rest, except for the four black-robed sorcerers who might inherit the Wishflux Celestium and could linger in Celestium for a long time."

"If any sanctuary sorcerer remains asleep too long without quickly returning to reality, especially if they've recently advanced to legend, it will certainly raise suspicions."

Sonya widened her eyes as she looked at Trozan. She naturally understood Trozan's warning and slowly nodded, whispering, "I get it. Only half a year as a Sanctuary, not half a year as a Legend."

Hearing this, Trozan couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. She stood up, offering her seat with a sarcastic tone, "Come, Ms. Therave, you sit. I'll stand. How could I dare call myself a professor in front of you?"

Sonya couldn't help but laugh and pulled Trozan back to sit down, saying, "Professor Sister, you can take me down with one hand now; you're definitely still my professor. Plus, my soul's a bit hurt, so I might not be able to enter the Virtual Realm for a month or two. You might just climb up Ruby Mountain during this time!"

The higher the tier of the sorcerer, the harder it is for their soul to recover from injuries. At the Sanctuary Legend stage, it could easily take half a year or more. For old sorcerers like the Alchemist King, whose battle damage rate reaches 90%, they might not be free from diapers until this time next year.

Sonya dared to say she only needed a month or two because she had the Observer's potion support, which could speed up soul recovery.

"Legend…" Trozan couldn't help but feel a bit wistful, "When you have time, tell me about your friend's experiences on Ruby Mountain."

Sonya chuckled and nodded repeatedly, "Of course. By the way, Professor Sister, how did you recognize me?"

"You shouldn't use the Evil Light Vibration Sword in front of people anymore," Trozan said leisurely, "Even if you do, change the appearance effect."

The village girl was taken aback, then remembered that when she attacked the bubble barrier from within the Golden Hall, she used the Evil Light Vibration Sword! At that time, other sorcerers in the Dreaming Celestium could naturally observe the miracles they performed!

"Just based on that?"

"Of course not," Trozan said calmly, "That's why I went to the Meditation Building to find you, just in case."

Sonya blinked and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you so good to me, Sister Trozan?"

"Didn't you listen to the lecture before?" Trozan mocked, "A Swordmaster must always harbor a bit of malice, otherwise there's no way to Sharpen the Sword; a Swordmaster must always have a passion, otherwise there's no way to cleanse the sword."

"Sharpen the blade with malice, cleanse the sword with passion, only then can the sword blade be unstoppable, charging forward!"

Sonya listened, somewhat bewildered, and nodded, "I get it."

"You get it again?"

"In short, Sister Trozan spoils me!" Sonya hugged Trozan, acting cute, and giggled, "I like the professor the most!"

"Do you really like me the most?" Trozan retorted.

"At least right now, I like you the most!" Sonya said firmly, without a hint of embarrassment.

Just as Trozan looked disdainfully and dodged Sonya's embrace, their Miracle wristbands suddenly vibrated continuously.

They opened them to find the same message.

"Meteorological Bureau Emergency Notice: Virtual realm passages have appeared in Steel Abyss, Sunken Ship Abyss, and Eyeball Abyss. The likelihood of virtual realm passages appearing around Galaxia has increased. Report any virtual realm passages and unknown individuals to the Police Department immediately."

"Virtual realm passages appearing in the Abyss?" Sonya was puzzled, "And three Abysses simultaneously having virtual realm passages… Isn't that too much of a coincidence?"

"All coincidences in the world stem from unavoidable inevitabilities," Trozan mused. "The four major Inheritances have just concluded, and now there's a special occurrence in reality. Perhaps…"

"The influence of the four major Inheritances is only beginning to manifest."

In the Gospel Kingdom, within the Royal Palace of Yisuo.

"How much longer until the Rebellion against authority can control the Gospel Deity?"

The Gospel Book replied, "It will take another 45 days to initially influence the Gospel Deity, and 465 days to fully control it."

"Awesome!"

The Witch leaped excitedly on the bed, only to be bounced off by its elasticity. Unfazed, she lay on the carpet, dreaming of the future.

Finally, there was a chance to escape the threat of the Gospel Deity!

This time, the greatest beneficiary of the legend advancement was Deya. As sorcerers ascend to higher levels in the Virtual Realm, their souls undergo a transformation, allowing them to accommodate more advanced spirits.

For Deya, bearing the Gospel Deity with a Sanctuary-level soul versus a legend-level soul was a completely different challenge. Originally, it would have taken a year to resist the Gospel Deity's brainwashing, but now, in just 58 days, with the Rebellion against authority procedure spreading nationwide and leveraging the people's power, she could achieve a balance with the Gospel Deity!

By then, even if she confessed to everyone that Lise Deya was the Witch, she wouldn't be reformatted by the Gospel Deity!

Her soul recovery would also take over a month, so she had plenty of time to wait!

Deya had considered 'building a relationship with Ashe from scratch,' but the sword Princess had too strong of a head start. If not for Ashe's own psychological issues, she wouldn't have had any chance at all. Even if Ashe accepted her, their relationship felt too flimsy, like a sandcastle in the wind and waves-dispersed by the slightest breeze or the sword Princess's interference.

Clinging to old thoughts was no longer appropriate. Once the Rebellion against authority Miracle was complete, she would confess directly, using their Shared Life and death experiences to add weight, and find a way to lure Ashe back to the Gospel Kingdom. After that, everything would be easier!

But if he returned, he would definitely want to see Annan… and maybe even Qenna… What should she do…

As the Witch brewed various schemes in her mind, her Gospel Book suddenly popped up, displaying several messages:

"Virtual realm passages have appeared in the lower levels of the Abysses in Vamora, Azura, Hemera, Modora, and Mephila, with more expected in ten days."

Abysses with virtual realm passages?

Deya was taken aback; this was the first time she had encountered such a change. But she didn't need to ponder it; she could just ask: "Why are virtual realm passages appearing in the Abysses?"

This time, the Gospel Book took nearly ten minutes to compute an answer: "Due to the influence of the Void Abyss."

"What is the Void Abyss?"

"The Void Abyss is a region of the Abyss or underground that has been polluted by the Virtual Realm. Because it possesses the properties of the Virtual Realm, the spatial barrier of the Void Abyss is very thin, making it easy for virtual realm passages to appear. Simultaneously, new spirits suitable for the Void Abyss will emerge in the Virtual Realm. These Abysses with virtual realm passages are the Void Abyss areas."

"Summarize the impact of the Void Abyss on sorcerers in one sentence."

Gospel Book: "Sorcerers can more easily time travel to other regions using the Void Abyss."

Deya found it odd: "Why haven't I heard of the Void Abyss before?"

Gospel Book: "Because it's a new concept that emerged 20 hours ago."