Warlock Apprentice

Popota, groggy, followed Shanni from the balcony back into the room, only to find that it turned out to be a grand theater. Not far away, a young boy, about the same size as Shanni, was playing the piano earnestly.

Though the music was somewhat naive, as the performer was merely a child, the tune was nothing sorrowful but rather cheerful and bright. The light-hearted melody, though not particularly graceful, slowly calmed Popota’s anxious heart.

”The one playing the piano is Adar, he’s a fool.” When mentioning Adar, Shanni’s tone carried a hint of disdain, but she quickly issued a warning to Popota, ”But no matter how foolish, you’re not allowed to bully him in the future, or I’ll beat you up.”

Popota nodded with a smile. Though he felt bewildered and curious about the current situation, he wasn’t inclined to make trouble for the two little kids. Besides, this little girl named Shanni had a way of making him feel quite endearing, almost like he saw his own sister in her.

Hua Hua seems to be about the same age as Shanni? However, Hua Hua is a spirit; her real age might be a bit older than Shanni.

While Popota pondered silently, he was unaware that Shanni was also a spirit in reality, and her real age was not much different from Hua Que Que’s. Only, both were housed within the body of a young child.

Shanni led Popota straight ahead, arriving at a wooden door adorned with golden bird patterns.

After knocking, a slightly aged male voice came from inside, ”Who is it?”

”Mentor Jon, it’s me.”

After the door opened, Shanni and Popota walked in, and Popota finally saw the Jon that Shanni had mentioned. He appeared to be a very elderly man, yet his gaze gave Popota the impression that he was not as old as his outward appearance suggested.

He seemed like a man upon whom time had twisted reality.

While Popota was scrutinizing Jon, Jon was also examining Popota. After looking him up and down, Jon directed his gaze at Shanni, asking in puzzlement, ”Who is he?”

”I am Popota,” Popota introduced himself first.

Jon: ”Are you Popota?”

Jon’s tone of surprise was identical to Shanni’s, which made Popota even more confused. Did this unfamiliar old man and little girl all know him? Was he that famous?

”I remember Angel mentioning that Popota was an incredibly ugly person resembling an alien... How did he become so handsome now?” Jon muttered softly.

”Angel? Did you just mention Angel? Hmm... Master Pat?” This time it was Popota’s turn to exclaim.

Jon reigned in his strange expression, calmly nodded while observing Popota’s shocked expression, ”If nothing unexpected, the Master Pat you refer to is my mischievous student, Angel.”

”Student? You are Master Pat’s mentor?!”

Jon nodded with a smile while dramatically stroking his beard—even though his beard was very short.

”Isn’t Master Pat’s mentor the Illusion Demon? I met him before, could it be that you are the Illusion Demon?” Popota was still perplexed, to the point of feeling as if caught in a philosophical loop of ”Who am I, where am I, what do I want to do?”

”It’s true that Sanders is Angel’s current mentor, but I’m not lying; I am Angel’s initial mentor.” Jon paused, extending his hand toward Popota, ”You can call me Jon.”

Popota shook hands with Jon while still dazed.

”I know you have many questions; I can answer them slowly in the future. Of course, you can also ask Angel next time when he visits.” Jon said, patting Popota’s shoulder, ”As for now, since you are here, let’s begin.”

”Begin what?” Popota hadn’t yet snapped out of it.

”The research on the Mother Tree Network, of course!” After saying this, Jon seemed to remember something and patted his head, ”Ah, I almost forgot to tell you, your future work will be to follow me in studying the Mother Tree Network.”

Popota: ”But...”

”Don’t rush to refuse; you just need to know one thing: this is the task Angel arranged for you.”

Popota: ”I...”

”It’s also the condition for rescuing you; you wouldn’t believe he saved you from the Demon God without expecting something in return, do you?”

Originally planning to say something, Popota became totally stunned upon hearing this. Was he rescued by Angel? Moreover, Angel snatched him back from the Demon God?

Though Popota found this piece of information incredibly absurd, he had a hunch this might actually be the truth.

Because he indeed hadn’t entered that deep vortex passage.

At the time, outside were only Angel and Sanders, so the person who saved him could very likely be Angel.

For Angel to snatch someone back from the Demon God, Popota was somewhat surprised, but felt it seemed understandable, as back on the Continent of Yuantan, he had witnessed Angel’s confrontation with the Lord of the Flameless.

Angel harbors a deep secret.

From this pre-existing understanding, Popota felt Angel might really have saved him.

But Popota still didn’t know where this place was or why Angel would want to save him?

”Will Master Pat come here?” Popota thought for a moment before asking.

”He will come, but whether you get to meet him is another matter,” Jon said as he bypassed Popota, heading to the back cabinet and retrieving a branch and a knife from one of the drawers.

”The other matters can be discussed later. For now, let me make you a simple internet device; you first explore the Mother Tree Network, and then tell me your thoughts.”

”Consider this a little test from me to you, as I lack assistance, but I don’t desire a narrow-minded, old-fashioned ninny,” Jon spoke while scraping a bit of powder from the branch into a small transparent box, which he then handed to Popota.

Though Popota didn’t know what Jon intended to do, as a former Transcendent Wizard, he could discern that the branch harbored some strange power.

He wasn’t sure what to do at this moment, but if Jon truly was Angel’s initial mentor, he probably wouldn’t harm him...would he?

Popota decided to stop thinking, took the transparent box, and placed it on his brow as Jon instructed.

...

In reality, the once clear, cloudless sky suddenly turned gloomy.

Without anyone noticing, gusts of wind rose, whisking particles of dust from the desert up into the sky, instantly blocking out the sun.

”This is the precursor to a sandstorm,” Sanders said softly.

”Indeed, and it’s not small,” Angel furrowed his brow as he glanced at the darkened environment. His concern wasn’t about any harm a sandstorm might cause, but rather why it would occur now?

”Has the Demon God sensed something amiss and extended tentacles into the Wizards’ Realm?” Angel turned to look at Sanders.

Sanders shook his head, ”It’s unlikely to be the Demon God because even if He reacted, meddling in the Wizards’ Realm isn’t straightforward. However, it is somewhat related to the Demon God.”

Under Angel’s gaze, Sanders paused for a moment before speaking, ”Though the Demon God hasn’t reacted, His aura still leaked from Popota’s Land of the Soul. If elsewhere, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but here is Sin World...”

Angel seemed to catch on too, ”Mentor, you mean—”

”World Will?”