Mage Association.
Saige was writing a letter when Ning Busan suddenly materialized right next to him, nearly scaring him to death.
“Aren't you supposed to be in secluded cultivation? What are you doing here?”
Ning Busan cleared his throat. “Teacher, I am already a Grand Archmage now.”
Saige felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his thoughts instantly grinding to a halt.
Just yesterday, he had heard from Novalia that Ning Busan was going into seclusion to advance. Today, Ning Busan was already a Grand Archmage?
Wasn't this a bit too... too fast?
Ning Busan got straight to business. “Teacher, you should also know that mages rely on magic patterns, which essentially borrows the authority granted by the God of Light. However, the elements themselves are the inherent power of this world, requiring no divine permission.”
Saige nodded. “That is indeed the case.”
“Through meditation, we can increase our affinity with the elements. But trying to directly summon elemental power with just that has an extremely low success rate, which is why we must rely on auxiliary means like magic patterns.”
Ning Busan continued, “I have a way to increase that success rate.”
“What way?”
“By viewing the elements as conscious entities rather than material particles—believing in their existence and placing faith in them.” A fireball condensed at Ning Busan's fingertip. “Look, Teacher. Even without magic patterns, I can now manipulate magic elemental particles at will.”
“To think such a method existed!” Saige's face was a mask of disbelief, which quickly gave way to sheer ecstasy. “If this cultivation method can be made public, the magical world will surely experience a vibrant renaissance.”
“But doing so will create new problems,” Ning Busan said solemnly. “When the number of believers in a certain element reaches a critical threshold, conceptual gods with independent consciousness will be born—such as a Wind God, a Fire God, a Water God, and so on.”
Saige's brow furrowed. “Human faith is rarely pure. If conceptual gods are truly born as you say, it might not necessarily be a good thing.”
Ning Busan said with a smile, “In any case, I've shared this magic system with you. Whether to make it public and when to do so is entirely up to you.”
Saige let out a bitter laugh. “You've certainly thrown quite a massive conundrum my way.”
Having passed off this hot potato, Ning Busan felt completely relieved. “There's no rush. Take your time to think it over, Teacher.”
Saige sighed helplessly. “I will discuss this with Mowen first.”
Ning Busan teased, “Teacher, writing letters every day is such a hassle. Why don't you invite my future mistress to the Dawn Empire?”
“Shoo, shoo, shoo—” Saige glared at Ning Busan. “Why are you so nosy?”
“Teacher, though I don't know what happened between you and Mistress in the past, since you both still have each other in your hearts, what's wrong with being the first to swallow your pride?” Ning Busan began dishing out some chicken soup for the soul.
“Some things, once missed, are gone forever. If you have a chance to make amends but do nothing, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.”
“Teacher, don't do something that will leave you with regrets in the future.”
Saige remained silent for a long time before letting out a soft sigh. “Why must you worry about everything, child?”
Ning Busan chuckled.
He still had plenty of other things to worry about.
After returning to Roman Lane, Ning Busan opened the Book of Sages once again.
[Is there anything I can do for you, dear?]
Ning Busan asked, “Do you know of any way to restore an undead's sense of taste so they can enjoy human food?”
[Are you asking on behalf of that shameless, despicable, filthy, and insidious... fellow, dear?]
This was the first time Ning Busan realized that so many derogatory terms could be used to describe a single person.
Just what kind of deep-seated grudge existed between this man and this book?
Ning Busan decided to take an indirect approach. “Actually, it's not really for him. I might end up becoming an undead myself in the future. When that time comes, I'll definitely need to solve the food problem. I can't just sunbathe forever, right?”
[Rest assured, dear! Once you become an undead, I will tell you!]
Ning Busan couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
It had been so cooperative yesterday. Why did it suddenly become so difficult to deal with today?
Just what had Leo done to this book to make it despise him so passionately?
[I'm so sorry for not being of help this time, dear! As compensation, would you like a free prophecy?]
Ning Busan's curiosity was instantly piqued. After all, who wouldn't want to catch a glimpse of their own future?
But Teacher Saige had said that his fate was hidden by the God of Light.
Could the Book of Sages truly see his future?
Ning Busan said, “Then... why don't you give it a try?”
The pages began to flip rapidly, as if controlled by an invisible force, before slowly settling on a page engraved with an illustration.
It depicted a dark and withered forest. The sunlight was completely obscured by thick, heavy clouds, painting the sky in an oppressive deep purple. The streams winding through the valleys were turbid and viscous.
In the center of the illustration stood a colossal tree that pierced the clouds. Its leaves were shriveled and curled, its trunk covered in black fissures, and its twisted branches reached out in all directions like the claws of a demon.
Even through the pages, one could feel a suffocating aura of darkness, as if it could devour all hope.
Ning Busan asked, “What place is this?”
[It's the Elven Clan, dear!]
Ning Busan was dumbfounded.
Wasn't the Elven Valley always under the protection of the God of Light? How did it end up looking like this dead wasteland?
Could that massive tree be the Elven Mother Tree?
Ning Busan asked, “Are you sure this prophecy is related to me?”
[I am absolutely never wrong, dear!]
Ning Busan frowned. “Has some disaster befallen the Elven Valley?”
But regardless, what did any of this have to do with him?
Just as this thought crossed his mind...
Whoosh—
A golden card materialized out of thin air before him.
Elven Clan—Kingslayer Faelo.
Ning Busan felt a sudden pang in his chest. “My friend, what is the meaning of this? You don't actually expect me to meddle in the Elven Clan's business, do you?”
Though he didn't know what was happening to the elves, the situation was clearly far from good.
He wasn't the type to stick his nose into other people's business!
Ning Busan was already starting to regret his actions. Why on earth did he feel the need to peek into the future?
Now look what happened. A new job had just landed on his lap.
Ning Busan poked the Book of Sages. “I'm starting to suspect that you're actually an NPC designed to hand out quests.”
[I don't quite understand what you mean, dear!]
Ning Busan's expression turned grim.
It was a certified fact. The Book of Sages was definitely an automated customer service bot!
Sensing that Ning Busan was in a bad mood, the Book of Sages decisively went offline.
[Wishing you a wonderful life, dear!]
Staring at the card floating in midair, Ning Busan sighed in resignation. “Fine, fine, fine. I'll make a trip to the Elven Clan.”
With another whoosh, the golden card vanished.
In truth, Ning Busan didn't want to agree. However, he could sense that if he didn't give his consent, the brutally temperamental Faelo would ignore his wishes and forcibly merge with his body.
If that happened, there was no telling who would end up in control of this body.
Suddenly, a thought struck Ning Busan.
If the Elven Valley really ended up looking like the prophecy, did that mean he could recruit the Elven Clan to the human empire to serve as archers?
If so, a trip to the Elven Valley was definitely in order!
Rate on N.U.
