Wizard Bloodline

Not yet fifty, and already a third-level wizard. In the long lifespan of third-level wizards, measured in centuries, this age doesn't even reach a tenth of their potential life span.

At a small wizarding place like Hoddam Academy, reaching the Mist and becoming a first-level wizard before fifty would already signify a soul with high potential, diligence, and considerable wizard talent.

Becoming a second-level wizard before fifty makes one an undeniable genius in the wizarding world. Even in the Seventh Ring, few achieve such a feat.

According to Clemens, his soul age is forty-two, making him the first in the history of the "Seventh Ring" to reach such heights.

He has been a late second-level wizard for some time but still lacks the confidence to complete the remaining journey to the third level within the next eight years.

Orion has been a third-level wizard longer than Clemens has been a late second-level. Orion's wizard title of "Four-Colored Metal" has resonated for years among the Silver Ring's peers and other wizard forces of equivalent standing.

Ronan pondered these thoughts, recalling Clemens's mention of the "true essence of the Silver Ring's legacy."

He had previously assumed that the Silver Ring's reputation was built solely on the [Silverization] rune, which upheld the fame of the metallic magic lineage.

Clemens's explanation revealed that the reality was far more complex.

What truly qualified the Silver Ring to rank among the southern six major wizard forces was the legacy of "composite spells," combining metallic and elemental systems.

While both required different energy particles for casting, these "composite spells" differed from energy spells like [Energy Missile], representing entirely different concepts.

Standard energy spells have no requirements for the types or distribution of energy particles, whereas "composite spells" demand precision far surpassing that of single-system spells, significantly increasing casting difficulty.

The Silver Ring's core composite spell legacy stems from the legendary wizard Spearit's partial legacy and the collective wisdom of the seven Ring Masters.

The fusion of metallic and elemental systems results in power far exceeding typical single-system spells, though the learning difficulty is also substantially higher.

Only third-level wizards are truly eligible to study it.

To date, among the younger generation of Silver Ring wizards, only Orion has accessed this core legacy.

Moreover, Clemens mentioned that Orion's spell talent is exceptional, likely having grasped extraordinary domain resonance, which is far superior to ordinary extraordinary domains.

Ronan contemplated all this when he noticed one of the three giant spell airships beneath the massive metal ring lighting up. Orion and the top-tier wizard talents heading to the Mirror Court's first battlefield began flying towards the airship, boarding in succession.

Two figures flew high in the sky, radiating bright mental power, obscuring their features, but their identities were recognizable as two Ring Master-level figures.

Both landed on the airship as leaders for the journey.

Ronan discerned Kosti among them, sensing that she seemed to glance in their direction before boarding.

Clemens noted this and remarked, "I'm starting to suspect that me facing the invincible Orion in the first round of the internal exchange was also orchestrated by Ring Master Kosti."

"She's protecting you too?"

"She's protecting you," Clemens corrected with emphasis, shaking his head.

He looked at Ronan with a mix of helplessness and disbelief, lightly sighing, "Kosti isn't even comfortable letting you train alone in the second battlefield, insisting on my accompaniment. She doesn't care about the embarrassment of not having a single Seventh Ring wizard in the first-tier team eligible for the first battlefield."

Ronan remained silent, finally managing only a simple response, "You're overthinking it, Clemens."

Clemens said nothing, turning away.

"Vroom—"

The spell airship emitted a powerful hum, like a majestic silver whale, slicing through layers of clouds, gliding swiftly through the vast sky.

Kosti stood on the airship's highest deck, her black waterfall-like hair cascading to her ankles, her skin bright and white as moonlight, her features exquisite, blue-violet eyes shining. She exuded an irresistible aura of grace and beauty.

At least half the young wizards on the deck below discreetly watched her, among them two female wizards.

A noble-robed figure approached Kosti from behind, gently calling her name.

Kosti turned, seeing a middle-aged man with striking features.

Most of his hair was chestnut, interspersed with silver-gray strands like metal, his handsome face marred by corrosion-like marks on his right cheek and eye. Instead of an eye, a golden pocket watch was embedded in the socket, its dial occasionally flickering with tiny transparent runes, appearing profound and mysterious.

"Kosti."

The middle-aged man with the golden pocket watch eye stood beside Kosti at the bow, speaking gently.

"Why no one from the Seventh Ring this time? I heard you recently discovered a promising young talent with ancient wizard blood... and Clemens, he certainly qualifies for the first core exploration."

"He's still too weak, just barely advanced to the second level, his strength heavily reliant on his bloodline. The first core isn't suitable for him. As for Clemens..."

Kosti paused, speaking softly, "Carroll intentionally reassigned him to the second core, with Caroni even offering a geocentric crystal as compensation."

"Caroni deliberately reassigned Clemens to the second tier?"

The middle-aged man's brows furrowed slightly, the runes in his eye flickering rapidly.

"Yes, the second core exploration is under his leadership, perhaps he has other plans that require Clemens," Kosti replied.

The man nodded, not pursuing the topic further, watching the deck's talented wizards with Kosti.

Their focus was mainly on a dazzling young man with short golden hair.

The man's eyes occasionally reflected appreciation, satisfaction, and admiration, while Kosti's gaze, looking at the young man's back, reflected more of a memory.

"Orion's growth is astounding. It feels like only yesterday he sought my alchemy knowledge just after advancing to the second level. In the blink of an eye, he's nearing our level."

The man mused, "The Sylvester family's bloodline talent is perfectly manifested in him. Though not yet fifty, his foundation rivals those who've studied for centuries. I have high hopes for him competing with the Thunder Council and Crimson Tower's twin stars in the Mirror Court exploration."

Kosti listened silently, her thoughts seemingly distant from "Orion," instead blurting out a seemingly unrelated statement as the man finished.

"It's been one hundred twenty-one years since the Mirror Court's discovery."

The man paused, turning to her, seeming to realize something, speaking softly, "You're thinking of Shelby again?"

"Every starless night, I think of him. If the Mirror Court had been discovered a year earlier, maybe he wouldn't have left the Ring, seeking a higher path."

"No, you're wrong, Kosti," the man shook his head. "Shelby's nature means he'd never stay in one place long. Nothing in this world could bind him. His yearning was for more than just power, but everything he desired yet never attained. With or without the Mirror Court, he would've left us."

Kosti remained silent for a while, finally speaking softly, "But I can't wait any longer. The soul lamp he left me is nearly extinguished. Within ten years, I must leave the Ring, following his path until I find him."

The man said nothing more, the pocket watch in his eye ticking softly, eventually letting out a long sigh.

"It's time for us to board."

Clemens reminded Ronan, heading toward the second glowing spell airship.

Ronan also received information from the Ring, confirming his assignment to the second battlefield.

The second group heading to the Mirror Court consisted of noticeably more wizards than the first, though still a select few overall.

Ronan counted, including himself, only thirty-six from the Silver Ring qualified to board the second airship, averaging five per Ring.

Besides him and Clemens, only one other Seventh Ring wizard was selected, a talent ranked just below Clemens. Even Laney wasn't qualified, assigned to the third battlefield instead.

This underscored the high standards for this Mirror Court exploration, with strict divisions providing better protection for the wizards from each force.

Members from the One Ring, Two Ring, or even ordinary Three Ring members likely missed the first entry opportunity, waiting for the second or third waves to enter the core area.

Ronan, boarding with Clemens, attracted a round of "extra attention."

His publicly known strength was a "weakness," making him feel like a "husky" among wolves.

Only fellow Seventh Ring wizards knew his true capabilities. After the trial selection battle, his name resonated throughout the Seventh Ring City.

But beyond the Seventh Ring City, few had heard of him.

This also related to the Seventh Ring's lower standing among the Rings. If he had gained fame in the First Ring, the other six would likely know him too.

Leading the second spell airship was another Ring Master-level figure, enveloped in a vast energy field, obscuring his features. Ronan could only discern it was a male with an unusually robust build.

The second airship soon launched, its body glowing brightly, abruptly distorting before soaring into the sky in the opposite direction from Orion's departure, causing Ronan slight surprise. Clemens explained, "The Mirror Court core has three entrances. Using the three Nepha Keys, we finally found the way to the deepest core. We're heading to one, positioned far from the others."

Ronan understood.

For the Mirror Court, specializing in spatial magic, this was standard practice.

In spatial terms, there's no true concept of position or distance.

Doors in the north and south could lead to the same place... perfectly normal.

This was the fastest spell airship Ronan had ever boarded, truly a testament to the Silver Ring's heritage.

In less than two hours of flight, the airship slowed, stopping over a massive lake.

If not for Ronan's excellent vision, vaguely seeing the lake's edge, he might have mistaken it for an ocean.

Mirror Lake.

The vast, ocean-like surface was utterly still, a strange pale silver, with life existing only below, unable to breach it, as if viewing the world through a mirror.

After halting, no one instructed them to disembark. Ronan and Clemens stood at the ship's edge, observing.

The Mirror Lake wasn't occupied by their airship alone; three others hovered, each from a different wizard force.

"Black Swamp, Thorn Palace, Molten Lake," Clemens identified the three distinct forces for Ronan, frowning slightly. "No sign of the Crimson Tower or Thunder Council wizards..."

Ronan's gaze drifted over the three airships, focusing mostly on the Black Swamp.

Because Anglair now belonged to the Black Swamp, he wouldn't miss this exploration, though Ronan wasn't sure if he'd be in the second battlefield.

The Black Swamp's wizard ship bore a distinct black magic style, resembling a construction of countless bones, with a giant skull at the bow, emitting black smoke, and rune arrays glowing a dark green.