Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

"A dead world?"

Richard was puzzled. The Green Forest World had only given him an impression of vitality—overflowing, almost excessive vitality.

Trees felled in the morning would be entwined with vines by the afternoon. Within three days, moss would completely cover the fallen trunks.

The entire tree would become a breeding ground for mushrooms.

Such terrifying vitality seemed utterly incompatible with death.

"I think our definitions of death might differ," Richard said. "This world has only shown me exuberant life."

"That is merely the surface, outsider."

The Serpent King's Dragon Eyes scrutinized Richard before slowly replying.

"All of this is just an illusion created by that damned tree. That accursed tree was supposed to protect us, but it chose betrayal instead.

"It has rooted itself in the world's origin, turning the entire world into its pot, continuously converting this world into nutrients for its growth.

"If it continues like this, in another epoch or two, the entire world will become part of it.

"Even now, only the toxic marshes and the ancient battlefield remain untouched by its seeds."

Upon hearing this, Richard's mind raced, analyzing the information in the Serpent King's words.

The Serpent King had revealed much.

First, the World Tree was originally something akin to a guardian of the world. But later, likely due to the Precursors, it was transformed into what it is now.

Second, the World Tree's control over the surface world might far exceed what the Wizards had imagined.

The entire surface world had been infiltrated by its seeds, with only the toxic marshes before him and a place called the ancient battlefield remaining untouched.

This also meant that Grand Wizard Galon must have held the upper hand in his battle against the World Tree. Otherwise, the latter would not have remained so passive despite having so many seeds uprooted.

To the World Tree, even the White Wizard Legion was nothing more than a trivial nuisance it could crush effortlessly.

Had it possessed even the slightest surplus of strength, Richard would already be fertilizer by now.

At this thought, a flicker of relief passed through Richard's heart.

The Serpent King continued, "In the past, many outsiders like you have entered this dying world.

"But they were not as fortunate as you. Many perished in the jungles, while the stronger ones were dragged into the inner world by that tree.

"Outsider, if I were you, I would flee this world immediately."

"I must say, your words move me," Richard said coolly. "It's rare for a native to show kindness to a Wizard.

"But there's one mistake in what you said—this world will not die.

"A being beyond your imagination has already entered the inner world to fight the tree you speak of.

"And I am his subordinate, tasked with clearing the remnants of the World Tree's seeds from the surface world."

Hearing Richard's words, the Serpent King paused, then revealed a mocking smile.

"Outsider, I never expected you to abandon the glory of your ancestors and submit to an ignorant fool.

"Your so-called 'unimaginable' strong one is merely a World Master who rules over a micro-world—at best, a small world.

"Countless such 'strong' individuals have been slaughtered by that tree over the years, including those of the fifth and sixth tiers."

"Alas, I thought I had encountered a kindred spirit. It seems you have completely lost your heritage and descended into ignorance. Pitiful, truly pitiful."

The Serpent King's words left Richard somewhat bewildered.

A kindred spirit? He hadn't integrated any serpent bloodline into himself… Wait! Richard's eyes suddenly widened as he realized why the Serpent King had shown him goodwill and called him a kindred spirit.

Not serpent blood—Dragon Blood!

The Serpent King had sensed the Dragon Blood Richard had fused into his body to cultivate the Myriad Transformation Battle Body! This Serpent King had mistaken him for a Dragonblood.

Combined with his disdain for the World Master, this likely meant that this Serpent King was a descendant of the Precursors' former servant creatures.

His bloodline memory still retained records of the Precursors.

"Heritage… I truly have none," Richard spoke up. "But the great one behind me possesses an ancient heritage."

With that, Richard stepped into the Secret Realm right before the Serpent King's eyes.

Not long after, Richard emerged from the Secret Realm, followed by a golden dragon palanquin carried by eight figures.

The bearers were none other than armored guards clad in golden plate. And atop the palanquin, a majestic beast with platinum scales lounged lazily.

A Dragon! And not just any Dragon—the offspring of a Dragon King! At the sight of Hogg, the Serpent King's Dragon Eyes widened in shock.

Trembling slightly, he lowered his head and spoke reverently in the Dragon Language, "I pay homage to you, great scion of the Dragon King."

Hogg gave him an indifferent glance before calmly saying, "Rise, commoner."

The Serpent King lifted his head, and Richard could actually see a mix of subservience and sycophancy on the giant serpent's face.

Cautiously, the Serpent King asked, "Great scion of the Dragon King, has The Supreme finally come to reclaim this lost land?"

The Supreme.

Standing beside the palanquin, Richard instantly linked this term to the Precursors.

This serpent before him still didn't know that the Precursors had vanished.

"The Supreme…"

Hearing this term, fragments of ancient memories surged in Hogg's mind.

These memories seemed to date back hundreds of epochs.

But strangely, there was no trace of any so-called "Supreme" in these memories—only Dragons bowing to an empty void.

As if some unseen force had erased the Supreme the Serpent King spoke of…

"What do you know about The Supreme?"

Richard's voice whispered in Hogg's ear, and Hogg shook his head slightly.

"The Supreme is gone. My bloodline memories hold no image of them. The Dragons bowed to nothingness, as though something had erased all traces of The Supreme."

At Hogg's answer, Richard shuddered.

Erased The Supreme? Given the power The Supreme had displayed—even excluding their Truth-level combatants—the Wizard civilization would have been utterly crushed by them.

Yet The Supreme had been erased.

Richard suddenly realized that no one had ever described what The Supreme looked like. The Wizards had only ever interacted with their creations.

Logically, even if a civilization perished, there should at least be remnants—corpses, ruins, something.

Dinosaurs that died billions of years ago still left fossils behind!

In that instant, an indescribable dread seized Richard's heart.

In the days of The Supreme, which civilization were they fighting against? Has that civilization also perished?

But after a moment, he calmed down.

These matters were too distant for him. He wasn't even a Great Wizard yet, let alone able to participate in the Council of Truth.

The direction of the Wizard civilization was beyond his influence or control.

"Tell him that The Supreme has vanished. The dragons and Wizards have reached a cooperation."

The Serpent King watched Hogg, who remained silent for a long time, and a sense of unease grew in its heart. When Hogg finally spoke, its heart sank to the abyss.

Hogg said slowly, "The Supreme has disappeared. The dragons and Wizards have reached a cooperation."

Upon hearing this, the Serpent King's expression darkened instantly.

"As expected, The Supreme still did not win."

"Do you remember the events of those days?" Hogg asked curiously. "Even in my inherited memories, the presence of The Supreme has faded."

"No," the Serpent King shook its head slightly. "In my bloodline's inheritance, I only recall the title of The Supreme, and that they were once the masters of this world—our saviors.

I thought it was an error in my inheritance, but now it seems The Supreme likely did not win that war."

"Who was The Supreme fighting against back then?" Richard couldn't help but ask. "Now, not even their corpses can be found."

The Serpent King looked at Richard in surprise, unable to comprehend how this Dragonblood dared to speak so disrespectfully in front of the Dragon Prince's descendant.

Hogg said indifferently, "No need for surprise. He is a Wizard. As I said, the dragons and Wizards have now reached... a cooperative relationship."

The Serpent King was stunned. It had assumed this Dragonblood was merely a servant of the Dragon Prince's heir.

Never did it imagine this creature was actually a collaborator of the dragons.

"The war of those days is also absent from my inherited memories," the Serpent King shook its head slightly. "All I know is that they faced an unimaginable enemy.

To resist them, The Supreme even manipulated the stars, forging a wall from the World Tree.

Yet even so, they did not win. Even their traces were erased.

However..."

"However what?" Richard pressed.

The Serpent King replied, "However, though The Supreme did not win, they certainly did not lose. Otherwise, we wouldn't be standing here speaking now."

Richard frowned slightly.

Mutual destruction? That would be for the best.

"If you wish to learn more about The Supreme, I recommend a place," the Serpent King continued. "The ancient battlefield remains untouched by the World Tree's erosion. Many relics from that era still remain there. You might find what you seek."

"Oh?" Richard raised an eyebrow. "I know of a closer place—right here in this swamp."

"You wish to enter the tower?"

The Serpent King's pupils constricted sharply, and a terrifying pressure instantly enveloped Richard's surroundings.

But then the black crow on Richard's shoulder let out a cry, and a pressure no weaker than the Serpent King's blocked its own.

The Serpent King withdrew its pressure, somewhat astonished. "I didn't expect another esteemed presence here. That tower is guarded by that foul toad. Without killing it, no one can enter."

"Which is why I came to you," Richard smiled faintly. "I should be able to treat your injuries. Together, we can surely slay that toad."

"You can treat them?" The Serpent King shook its head slightly. "You underestimate that toad far too much."

This toad has come this far, and the venom within it has undergone a qualitative transformation. Even I can barely hold on without being poisoned to death.

Unless the World Master intervenes, there's no way I'll fight that toad again.

But if you can get the World Master to act, then you certainly won't need me anymore."

With that, the Serpent King slithered up the withered World Tree.

"Leave, both of you. Let this old creature on the verge of death get some rest.

Don't think about forcing orders on me—I'm a subspecies dragon, not some Dragonblood to be controlled at will."

"Not necessarily," Richard said with a confident smile. "Why not come with me to the Secret Realm?"

(End of Chapter)