Wizard Bloodline

Ronan had barely stepped into the secret realm when a figure emerged near the entrance.

Pale skin, thin lips, upturned eyebrows... The entire person exuded the formidable mental power of a late first-level wizard, yet emitted a cold, harsh aura like a serpent crawling from a damp, dark place.

It was the middle-aged wizard who had been shadowing Ronan for days.

His body was covered in a translucent, viscous substance that was retreating, merging his figure seamlessly with the surroundings, making him almost indistinguishable.

The middle-aged wizard watched Ronan disappear, retrieving a rune-glowing communication stone from his pouch.

"Travis's tricks were seen through. I bet he's fuming."

"The kid's taken a trial task... He's already inside."

"Don't worry, I know what to do..."

Stowing the stone, the wizard let the transparent substance envelop him once more.

This was his unique metal medium, sourced from an ancient secret realm. Combined with spells, it rendered him nearly invisible, even to second-level wizards, unless he cast a spell.

This was his greatest asset, allowing him to brazenly follow his target.

Once more blending into the environment, he moved, leaving barely a ripple in the air.

Entering the secret realm, he found a desolate landscape of barren rock.

The Ring had many such realms.

They had been largely explored but retained value and were preserved for members' trials.

Though he saw no trace of his target, the wizard knew exactly where Ronan would go.

His task was simple: disrupt Ronan's mission, ensuring it failed once more.

Hastening across the rocky expanse, he reached a grove of withered trees.

As he approached the mission's endpoint, he heard the roar of spells and felt intense energy waves, alongside the growls and howls of beasts.

Quickening his pace, he arrived at the mission site, beholding a battle scene with Ronan at its center.

The handsome youth, clad in a silver robe, hovered in mid-air. Delicate blue runes adorned his face and neck, while surging frost energy radiated from him, white frost spreading in all directions.

He conjured ice spear spells, howling blizzards, and massive spiraling ice balls, unleashing a barrage of ice magic that transformed the battlefield into a frozen wasteland.

An oversized, owl-like beast below was crushed under Ronan's relentless assault, unable to lift its head.

Its black-red wings were encased in frost, grounding it, and most of its body was buried in snow. Occasionally, it spat spell balls upwards, but they shattered against Ronan's icy armor and thick metal shield long before reaching him.

It was a one-sided battle.

The middle-aged wizard watched, eyes dark with surprise.

He had seen similar battles during his days of tailing Ronan. Though merely a mid-first-level wizard, Ronan's strength was terrifying, effortlessly handling high-level first-tier beasts.

This was why he had only observed, not attacked, these past days.

In a fight, even as a late first-level wizard, he might not be Ronan's match.

"No wonder he dared provoke the master; he's quite the talent."

"But what good is talent?"

The wizard dismissed it. Until fully grown, there were countless ways to handle someone like Ronan.

Every step he took was calculated.

Talent? 

Benigo had been a talent too, his brilliance tenfold Ronan's, yet he ended a "ruin."

The wizard's eyes glinted with cold indifference as he circled the battlefield.

He scanned the area, soon spotting several plants with black, curved leaves, their tops resembling fluffy hawk feathers.

His eyes lit up. Glancing at Ronan, still engrossed in battle, he saw the fight nearing its end.

His task was simple: snatch or destroy these mission-critical plants before Ronan finished.

"Boom!"

A spell boomed, the owl beast howled miserably, its massive body swaying, ready to collapse.

"Now's the time."

The wizard's eyes flashed as he cast a quick spell, aiming straight for the plants.

As the spell flew, he retreated swiftly, looking toward Ronan.

He could almost see Ronan's response—shock, panic, rage—rushing to the destroyed plants, realizing too late as the wizard escaped.

What a scene it would be.

The wizard thought, but the next moment, he found reality starkly different.

Ronan didn't even glance at the destroyed plants.

Almost as his spell flew, Ronan's runes flared, as if waiting for this moment.

A terrifying cold tenfold the previous erupted, engulfing the battlefield in despair.

The wizard's retreat slowed, as if frozen.

A cold voice whispered in his ear.

"Finally... found you!"

In the next instant.

"Boom!"

The air collapsed with a thunderous crash, a dire sense of danger enveloping him.

Alarmed, the wizard hastily activated his artifacts, raising an energy shield.

The translucent substance on him formed a thick defensive layer.

He deployed multiple defenses, barely catching his breath before feeling something slam into him.

The outermost energy shield caved, like a bubble squeezed to its limit.

Then the second layer, then the third.

He watched his defenses shatter, the innermost translucent metal shield lasting less than a second before it was smashed.

Finally, a hand wreathed in white flames loomed, gripping his throat, slamming him down!

"Boom, boom, boom—"

He felt like a tool being dragged across the ground, inexorable force pressing him forward.

Even with metal resistance, he felt close to death.

His bones seemed to shatter, despair and pain crashing over him.

Finally, the force stopped.

The wizard blinked through blood and dirt, glimpsing the youth who held him.

The target he'd shadowed for days, now unrecognizable.

His brown hair was now white, his entire body shrouded in faint flames, the air around him warping. Blue runes marked his neck and cheeks, exuding an icy, terrifying aura.

Ronan stared down, blue eyes sharp as blades, as if piercing him.

"Is this all you've got?"

Ronan coldly addressed the upturned-eyebrow wizard, his voice calm yet frigid.

He was fed up with these petty schemes.

He'd taken this trial task with no intention of completing it.

The target's plants were valuable but useless to him.

Everything was a ploy to draw the enemy out, to crush them with [Immaculate Body].

The wizard, pinned down, gasped like a fish on land.

Ronan loosened his grip slightly, and the wizard managed a mocking smile.

"Master Lanny wants you to know this is just the beginning."

Lanny?

Ronan's eyes flickered.

Who was Lanny? He thought this was Travis's doing...

"Lanny was an old rival... lost to me a few times."

In the micro-secret realm, Benigo, wearing an apron and gloves, dissected a bloody beast, answering Ronan's question.

Ronan stood by, watching with a brooding expression.

"So they're teaming up? Travis and Lanny, two three-rings?"

"No."

Benigo shook his head, correcting Ronan, "Lanny should be a four-ring now."

Ronan's face darkened.

"How many enemies do you have?"

"Not as many as you think."

Benigo put down his tools, removing his gloves, lighting a pipe despite the blood.

"Besides Lanny, just a few three-rings. But Lanny's the most formidable."

Ronan took a deep breath, calming his emotions.

He approached a steaming alchemical vat, peering through its translucent walls at the bubbling red liquid inside.

It contained blood from various beasts, mixed with myriad ingredients, forming the Sacred Blood Tree's nutrient solution, per Benigo's research.

The seed soaked within, simmering 24/7.

"Their combined forces mean I can't complete a single Ring task."

"They'll always find a way to make my tasks 'fail.'"

Ronan watched the vat's red bubbles, sensing the seed's growing vitality, his mood lifting slightly.

Benigo had his merits.

"I could abandon the Ring's resources."

Benigo poured beast blood into the vat, continuing to engrave runes.

"I know a few secret realms that might have what we need; I'll write them down."

"It's not about resources."

Ronan frowned, his voice cold, "Their goal isn't just to stifle my growth..."

Official Ring members must complete at least one task monthly. Failing three times demotes core status to ordinary.

Failing again could strip membership entirely.

Without membership, the Ring's no-kill rule wouldn't protect Ronan from Travis and Lanny.

Ronan had calculated—the worst-case scenario meant facing this in six months.

'They'll use other means to break, crush, or tame you...'

Ronan now fully grasped the meaning.

Three and four-ring wizards targeting a single one-ring was child's play within the Ring's rules.

"Doesn't anyone care about these schemes? Would appealing to the higher-ups help?"

Ronan felt powerless, turning to Benigo.

"Anything within the rules is allowed."

Benigo continued engraving, unfazed.

"The Ring's leaders don't care about such trivial matters.

"In their view... true talent isn't hindered by schemes."

"Then tell me, how do I break this situation?"

Ronan frowned, seeking advice.

Benigo paused, turning to Ronan, speaking naturally.

"Simple.

"In six months, challenge Travis or Lanny. A low-ring challenging a high-ring can't be refused.

"Defeat them, and the problem solves itself."

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