The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

In the tranquil forest, a faint stench of decay lingered, evoking images of rotting flesh swarming with maggots. Rays of light pierced through the canopy, illuminating the scattered, withered yellow leaves.

Heavy panting broke the silence. Boots stomped prints into the mud, leaving behind a trail of bright red liquid.

It was blood!

A python, its body bluish-black and covered in eerie spots, slithered out from the fallen leaves, evidently drawn by the blood. Its forked tongue flicked, tasting the air for pheromones.

Its thermal vision also spotted the two figures stirring restlessly ahead, carrying the scent of Particle Energy that it adored.

”Gray, be careful. That thing is about to attack,” Mas said in a low voice. He held a Cross Longsword made of a special material capable of piercing the scales of most Extraordinary Creatures, his eyes fixed warily on the ferocious Black-Spotted Forest Python before them.

He had studied the Knight’s Breathing Technique, so even though he hadn’t fully mastered Witchcraft, he was still a formidable combatant with a sword in his hand.

”I know. Let’s lure it in and wear down its Physical Strength first. My Kebik is already hidden, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.”

Gray spoke with a grave expression. Wizard Tasks were no small matter; they involved hunting Extraordinary Creatures and required the utmost caution.

Fifteen minutes passed...

With his Cross Longsword plunged deep into the Black-Spotted Forest Python’s body, Mas roared, ”Gray, run! It’s going for you!”

Kebik was also covered in blood, tearing at the beast with tooth and claw, trying to pin the vicious creature down.

In the end, something still went wrong. Gray found himself face-to-face with the snake’s head as it lunged, its cavernous maw wide open. Its fangs, dripping with deadly poison, glowed with a blue light.

His pupils contracted, but he didn’t dodge. Instead, he gripped the dagger in his hand and thrust it toward the snake’s eye.

VMMMM!

An aqua-blue ripple suddenly spread out, carrying a dense fluctuation of Particle Energy and forming a protective wave of water similar to an Energy Shield.

This protective wave of water enveloped Gray, blocking the Black-Spotted Forest Python’s bite.

Gray, in turn, stabbed his dagger into the Black-Spotted Forest Python’s vital point.

Mas stared in astonishment at the watery shield surrounding Gray.

Gray scratched his head and said with a grin, ”It’s just a Witch Array Technique. I spent ten Magic Stones on it back in Hanhai Wizard City. Found it by chance, a real bargain.”

Mas didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”That thing saved your life, that’s what’s most important. Looks like your good luck is holding out.”

’After we complete this Wizard Task, we’ll have enough Magic Stones and resources to study Witchcraft. Then, we can finally get on the right track.’ Mas began to daydream about the changes to come.

Gray also smiled and nodded, then said suddenly, ”I just wonder where that guy Wang Ya ran off to. When we see him again, he’ll probably be shocked. My Kebik’s cultivation progress has already reached one hundred percent.”

”With his personality, he probably doesn’t pay any attention to the other new students. He definitely doesn’t know about the ten great geniuses from the Wizard Clans. They’ve been making huge waves lately, even outshining some of the older students... It’s all about the competition for the Secret Realms, and even some arrangements from the Dark Headquarters.”

...

Wang Ya, naturally, had neither the time nor the inclination to bother with things unrelated to his plans as a Wizard.

In the laboratory, the bloodline implantation surgery was entering its final stage.

He had plucked all the black feathers from Harak’s chest, which took considerable effort. When the feathers fell onto the lab bench, they made a crisp clinking sound.

The bloodline implantation had proceeded without any mishaps. The Eye of Truth monitored Harak’s state; its breathing and heart rate were all normal.

The only change was that its blood flow had quickened—to an absurd degree. It was already over three times its original rate, and this state was still intensifying.

[Alert: Body temperature has reached the threshold. Shadow Crow Bloodline is being absorbed. Submersion in Sweet Flower Potion can reduce temperature and promote fusion and adaptation.]

Wang Ya quickly moved Harak to a cultivation pod, submerging its entire body in the potion.

He had done all he could. The rest was up to Harak’s own fortune.

If it could fully absorb the Shadow Crow Bloodline and overcome the rejection, it would be reborn, transforming from an ordinary bird into a true Extraordinary Creature with an inherited bloodline.

Although the Eye of Truth had determined that a benign mutation was possible, the potential of life was unpredictable. No one could know the exact outcome.

Day turned to night, but the laboratory remained brightly lit. Besides observing Harak’s state, Wang Ya was also analyzing the possibility of further bloodline mutations.

Biological Cultivation Science had taught him a great deal, giving him a preliminary understanding of the Bloodline Wizard system.

’Logically, when a Wizard is implanted with an Extraordinary Bloodline, they undergo a series of adaptation methods to perfectly acclimate to the bloodline and wield the power equivalent to the original Extraordinary Creature’s Grade.’

’As a cultivated Extraordinary Creature, Harak is quite different from a Bloodline Wizard. Its plasticity is much greater. It doesn’t have to be limited to a single Extraordinary Bloodline as its source—could it fuse with more Extraordinary Bloodlines of similar natures?’

’Among crow-type species, there isn’t just the Shadow Crow, but also the Rotting Demon Crow, the Netherworld Fire Crow... and even more powerful Extraordinary Creatures.’

For some reason, Wang Ya felt he was onto something. If he could figure this out, perhaps his plan to cultivate a population of Extraordinary Creatures, with Harak as the foundation, could be successfully implemented.

’In the end, this wouldn’t just be a new source of Magic Stones and resources, but also a massive boost to my own knowledge as a Wizard.’

[Alert: Extraordinary Bloodline implantation surgery complete. Body is in good condition. Shadow Crow Bloodline fusion is complete. Benign mutation is in progress. Estimated thirty percent resource depletion. Extraordinary Essence can be used to supplement nutritional needs.]

Wang Ya looked at the cultivation pod. The cloudy liquid, like tremella mushroom soup, was bubbling—GURGLE GURGLE—and had reached an extremely high temperature. A smile appeared on his face. ’Success.’

With a snap of his fingers, the Witch Array Core instantly took control of the tank containing the Extraordinary Essence, injecting a large amount of it into the cultivation pod.

The first light of dawn pierced the deep curtain of night, illuminating the Ancient Castle of the Wizard’s Residence and making it shine even brighter.

Wang Ya watched as the fearsome creature in the cultivation pod, having absorbed all the liquid and nutrients, stretched its wings.

The seemingly tough reinforced metal-glass immediately showed distinct cracks under its claws. This was special glass capable of defending against attacks from most Low-tier Extraordinary Creatures.

”Little guy, you really didn’t disappoint me!”

The corners of Wang Ya’s mouth curved up, and after sensing the powerful aura emanating from Harak, his smile grew even wider.

[Target: Harak]

[Level: Low-tier Extraordinary Creature]

[Extraordinary Traits: ...]

[Evaluation: The most perfect existence among Low-tier Extraordinary Creatures, and also one of the strongest. It has almost no weaknesses. It is the most beautiful, and also the most dangerous, of killers.]

...

PS: If I don’t stop being a slacker and have a burst of output, you all won’t believe I can write 12,000 characters a day with a 30-40k buffer. I’ll get to Chapter 72 before 4 o’clock. Two more to go.