Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein’s visit was to express his gratitude to Master Medich, so it was out of the question for him to accept a gift without offering anything in return.

By right, Sein should be the one giving him a gift as a gesture of thanks instead of the other way around.

Sein promptly declined Master Medich’s generous offer, then retrieved a space ring and placed it on the table.

“What is the meaning of this?” Medich asked, giving him a puzzled look.

“I’ve gathered numerous specimens of extraplanar creatures while in the Viridian Venom Flame World. These are the extras from my collection, they might not fetch many magicoins though. Consider them a small token of my appreciation for your initial assistance,” Sein explained earnestly.

Sein was meticulous in choosing his gifts.

He knew Master Medich would have little interest in mundane offerings like magicoins or energy crystals.

Had Medich been motivated by wealth, he likely would not have let Sein escape with the ashes of Morsidor back then, knowing that Sein had probably also inherited the wealth of a full-fledged mage.

Individuals with high intelligence, like Sein, often possess the capability to excel in any undertaking.

Although Sein was not sociable, he could well integrate himself into the divine tower and connect with all the mages if he put his mind to it. However, it just was not in his nature to pursue these types of social endeavors.

The worth of an extraplanar specimen varied greatly, depending on whether there was any demand for it.

Its value also hinged on the creature’s strength prior to its collection.

The specimens Sein offered were not formidable beings—they were beyond his means to acquire as a specimen.

The space ring contained little things Sein had amassed in the Viridian Venom Flame World, predominantly pyro elemental creatures, along with some Neisse Civilization creatures and mecha components.

Upon inspecting the space ring with his mental focus, Medich’s expression softened considerably.

The collection within was indeed modest, likely valued at no more than thirty magicoins.

Although it was a small token of appreciation, Medich was extremely happy to receive them.

“Although I own several pyro elemental extraplanar specimens, the evolutionary direction of the ones from the Viridian Venom Flame World seems slightly different. I shall graciously accept your gift. I happen to have some extra seeds of otherworldly plants, take them with you before you leave,” Medich offered.

Sein actually had access to a vast array of seeds in Lorianne’s laboratory, though he rarely requested anything from his mentor.

Nevertheless, Sein accepted Medich’s kindness, knowing that rejecting the offer might cause Master Medich to decline his gift.

Mages typically upheld the principle of equivalent exchange, and Master Medich was clearly one of them.

Their subsequent discussion focused on Sein’s involvement in the regional academy war and the conflict in the Viridian Venom Flame World.

Medich also casually shared his extensive experience participating in interplanar wars and visiting various planes.

Despite being just over five hundred years old, which was relatively young for a mage, Medich had amassed considerable experience, particularly in comparison to Rank One mages like Sein.

However, from Master Medich’s perspective, he still felt his grasp of the truths and mysteries of the Astral Realm was insufficient.

He also expressed his desire for an extensive journey upon becoming a Rank Three grand mage, aiming to explore the larger worlds within the Magus Alliance.

“Are you about to be promoted to Rank Three grand mage, Master Medich?” Sein asked.

“Yes, it’ll probably happen within the next few years,” Medich responded without reservation, nodding nonchalantly.

“Good thing you came today. Had you arrived later, you likely would have missed me,” Medich said, smiling.

The process of transitioning from a Rank Two to Rank Three mage was significantly more complex and challenging than that of an initiate promoting to a full-fledged mage.

For Master Medich, this promotion could require him to seclude himself for a decade or longer.

Moreover, the theoretical lifespan of a Rank Three mage in the Magus World was nearly ten thousand years, ample enough for these formidable mages to explore the mysteries and truths of the Astral Realm.

After congratulating Master Medich, Sein shifted the topic to inquire about the battle in Gloomhaven of the Underworld back then.

As a peak Rank Two mage at the time, Medich, while not the lead, held considerable status and achieved notable success in that endeavor, later earning commendations from the Tower Master of Dawn.

In response to Sein’s question, Master Medich skirted the details of the escaped black mages and instead introduced the otherworldly Rank Four creature, the Sandworm King.

The Sandworm King, an “unfortunate” interloper in the Magus World, found itself in dire straits.

Despite seeking refuge in a demiplane, actually known as the Yellow Sand World, the creature was eventually discovered by the Divine Tower of Dawn.

The Tower Master of Dawn was a peak Rank Five lumen mage rumored to be on the brink of attaining Rank Six.

The Sandworm King, a mere Rank Four creature that had suffered a devastating blow from the Summer Guardian, stood no chance against the Tower Master of Dawn.

Medich refrained from disclosing the Sandworm King’s fate to Sein, merely mentioning that the orange crystal core at the head of the magic rod wielded by the tower master the last time they met was extremely dazzling...

Sein expressed no curiosity about the Sandworm King’s fate either.

His interest was piqued elsewhere, leading him to ask, “What about those black mages in the Underworld?”

“Oh, is any of them your acquaintance?” Medich did not directly answer but returned the question with a hint of surprise.

“No, none. My mentor had perished there at the time, betrayed and killed by one of his peers. In anything, those black mages are my enemies,” Sein replied flatly.

Medich’s expression turned somber, reflecting on the internal strife and betrayal rampant among the black mages.

It was not a surprise to him, as they were a group with unbridled lust for power, devoid of any moral compass.

Although a black magic initiate might still find a path to redemption, those who had ascended beyond Rank One had likely reached a point of no return. They had irreversibly embraced the darkness, and their hands were already stained with blood,

Medich shook his head and said, “The founder of Mystralora City has been eliminated by the Divine Tower of Dawn, through the combined effort between the dean of our academy and a demigod-level knight. Most of those black mages have likely met their end at our hands too. The few who might have fled are no longer a threat.”

“I can review the divine tower’s mission records for you. Perhaps the one responsible for your mentor’s death has already been killed by one of our mages,” he offered.

“Ah, during the Mystralora City incident, we took in several black magic initiates who, like you, had retained their conscience. Many are now studying at the Divine Tower of Dawn,” Medich revealed.

“Huh?!” Sein raised his head in surprise.