The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

”Let’s raise the benchmark Task Level from D to A. After all, his Power is still a little lacking.” The Illusory Dream Wizard’s tone carried a trace of regret.

Given the impact and difficulty of the Evil God incident, and the Power of the young man himself, evaluating it as an S-Level task would have been perfectly reasonable.

However, taking many factors into account, the Illusory Dream Wizard ultimately abandoned this idea.

The Illusion Illusory Dream Lineage is a faction of the Extraordinary School. However, its numbers are small, and like the Potion Lineage, it tends to remain neutral.

Of course, it was understandable that they were closer to the Extraordinary School faction than the Wizard Clan faction.

Kelan Wizard listened in silence. The change to the benchmark Task Level was within her expectations.

If a Wizard Task concerning an Evil God were issued through normal channels, it would be B-Level at a minimum.

Of course, it was unlikely that a Lower House Wizard would be able to accept such a Wizard Task.

Then, the task rewards made Kelan Wizard’s expression shift, and she cast a surprised glance at the Illusory Dream Wizard’s back.

’Aren’t these task rewards a little too generous?’

They were so substantial that even she, an Extreme Wizard Apprentice, had to take them seriously.

”The Illusion Illusory Dream Garden Secret Realm... is it really suitable for that young man?” Kelan Wizard couldn’t resist asking.

It was an extremely special Wizard Secret Realm that the Illusory Dream Wizard had established based on the Dream World; it was not listed among the Secret Realms belonging to the Dark Land Headquarters.

The Secret Realm Management Department oversaw a total of twenty damaged Secret Realms, twelve complete Small Secret Realms, five Middle-tier Secret Realms, and one large Secret Realm.

Even for an Official Wizard, possessing a Secret Realm was extremely difficult.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible. A crafted Extraordinary Resource Land was the earliest prototype of a Secret Realm.

Damaged Secret Realms were Small Secret Realms that could no longer maintain their internal cycles. They possessed certain defects and required external intervention; otherwise, the ecosystem within the Secret Realm would be destroyed.

Even the Illusory Dream Wizard themselves found it difficult to fully control the Illusion Illusory Dream Garden Secret Realm.

It borrowed the properties and power of the Dream World, anchoring explored and conquered territories from the Dream World to the Material World.

Kelan Wizard had explored the Illusory Dream Garden several times and found many special Extraordinary Resources, such as items that directly enhanced one’s Spiritual Power and physical attributes. She was among the fastest Wizards to advance to the rank of Extreme Wizard Apprentice.

She also knew of its difficulty. It held many uncertain dangers, some so severe that not even the Illusory Dream Wizard could intervene.

It also required a special talent—an exceptionally keen perception and extraordinary inspiration—to enter the Illusory Dream Garden, a place where reality and illusion intertwined.

Inspiration was an elusive quality. Kelan Wizard had rarely met a Wizard with outstanding inspiration, which was why the Illusory Dream School had only a dozen or so members.

Joining the Extraordinary School was not the same as joining the Illusion Illusory Dream Lineage. The latter represented the legacy of an Official Wizard, where one could truly call them ”Teacher” and receive the true transmission of their Witchcraft and Extraordinary Knowledge.

The Illusory Dream Wizard’s voice grew more distant as the figure of fallen leaves began to dissipate. ”That young man’s inspiration is anything but ordinary. It may even far surpass your own.”

A look of surprise crossed Kelan Wizard’s face. She knew the Illusory Dream Wizard could observe the entire Dark Land from a unique perspective; once they confirmed something, there was no room for error.

But she had possessed the most exceptional inspiration in the Illusory Dream School for the past three hundred years. It had only taken her three hours to truly enter the Dream World within the Illusory Dream Garden.

’And yet this Wizard Freshman named Wang Ya Harak is so highly regarded by Teacher.’

The fallen leaves drifted across the entire lake, stirred by an unseen wind, as the Illusory Dream Wizard’s voice continued to echo.

”Consciousness, dreams, Spiritual Power, the soul... I cannot fully explain the relationship between them. But that young man’s inspiration is still growing stronger. Perhaps it’s some kind of special talent.”

”Especially after experiencing this one benchmark task, his inspiration jumped to a whole new level. The speed of his improvement surprised even me...”

Finally, the voice faded away completely. Kelan Wizard’s expression was complex. ’Could it be... Teacher intends to take on a new disciple?’

’It shouldn’t be that soon. It would have to be after the Secret Realm competition, at least.’

’It concerns a grand plan for the Dark Land, one that could even affect the development of the entire Wizard Influence.’

’The status of a Child of the Dark is the entry ticket.’

’Is Teacher planning to enter the arena and compete...?’ Kelan Wizard considered many possibilities, but finally shook her head. ’The thoughts of an Official Wizard are beyond my ability to comprehend.’

’Especially one as mysterious and unfathomable as the Illusory Dream Wizard.’

...

Kaze Antuun was an Extreme Wizard Apprentice who held a position in the Dark Land’s Task Management Department. Within the Antuun Clan, he was the one who had risen the highest and possessed the greatest Power.

As a result, he had become the clan patriarch, responsible for directing all of the Antuun Clan’s affairs, participating in Wizard Clan conferences, and liaising with other Wizard Clans.

The Battlefield between the Bailin Clan and the White Bone Lineage was also something he had orchestrated.

At this thought, Kaze Antuun scoffed. He gazed out the window of his Wizard’s Residence, which overlooked the Commercial Street, his eyes cold as he surveyed the buildings below.

’The so-called three-clan alliance, united as one... only after seizing that opportunity and entering the Dark Land did I realize how vast the world truly is.’

’If I weren’t concerned about my reputation and the need to leave a path for retreat—by keeping a branch of the clan in Ancient Forest Wizard City—I would have cut ties with those two foolish Wizard Clans long ago.’

’To think they would break the rules so blatantly and maliciously... do they really take the Wizards at the Dark Land Headquarters for fools?’

’Wizard Contracts aren’t without their loopholes. When Wizard Yi Si annihilated that clan, did any other Wizard step forward? No.’

”The White Bone Lineage is truly ruthless,” Kaze Antuun mused aloud, ”but it doesn’t matter. The Battlefield is set. My Antuun Clan has secured both the substance and the prestige.”

Kaze Antuun felt a surge of satisfaction, but his expression remained grim.

The reason was the Antuun Clan’s stagnation. The established Wizard Clans within the Dark Land left no room or opportunities for outsiders.

The one opportunity that could have brought a turning point was lost. Worse, the Antuun Clan had lost its most brilliant and talented Wizard, who had then joined the Rhine Lineage and become one of their legacy disciples.

”Isar... perhaps I shouldn’t have let you go search for the Black Sun Wizard’s Wizard Ruins.”

Kaze Antuun had the face of a middle-aged man, but his back was slightly stooped. Only his deep sigh echoed in the room.

’A single Wizard Ruin had allowed the Antuun Clan to escape a small place like Ancient Forest Wizard City. Naturally, we wanted more... Desire is impossible to restrain!’

Kaze Antuun sat in his study. Following the connection of his Wizard Mark, his consciousness entered the familiar Wizard Clan conference room, where many clan representatives had already appeared in their designated positions.

The topic of this meeting was the information and decisions handed down by the higher-ups through the Dark Summit Conference.

”The Evil God incident has been confirmed as authentic. Official Wizards will be taking action. Furthermore, related Wizard Tasks may be posted in the Upper House for those willing to travel to the Maya Kingdom and assist the Official Wizards in handling the matter.”

”There is one other matter worthy of note, one that might affect our original plans: the Wizard who discovered the Evil God incident... and escaped unharmed!”