The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

A few birds, mutated by radiation, flew between the city buildings, letting out crisp, low chirps.

Wang Ya could see the crowd walking on the street below, catching subtle details like people adjusting their clothes or fidgeting with their fingers. After the boost to his Spiritual Power, his five senses had sharpened considerably, all thanks to the Nightmare Flower.

In fact, the improvement was far greater than he’d expected.

[Notification: Consuming the Nightmare Flower has increased Spiritual Power by 1.2. Current Spiritual Power: 8.8]

He was not far from becoming a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice. The remaining Wizard Runes from the Vast Sea Meditation Method were more than enough to support his advancement, with plenty to spare.

This was undoubtedly good news.

Unfortunately, while the Nightmare Flower’s effects were outstanding, a person could only take it once in their lifetime.

’The flower works by forcing you to unearth your greatest fear, face it, and conquer it. Taking it again won’t produce the same effect.’ He could never afford Extraordinary Resources that boosted Spiritual Power without limits or side effects; even Official Wizards treasured such things.

’Nightmare Flowers might be rare, but a steady supply still makes its way to the market. It’s a renewable resource.’

’Then again, I could use the golden pocket watch to reverse the state of Extraordinary Resources like the Nightmare Flower... That should be feasible. I can only perform one reversal per day. As long as I keep the used raw materials, I can obtain a new Extraordinary Resource.’

Wang Ya held the Nightmare Flower in his hand. It was now devoid of all its Extraordinary Fluctuations, color, and luster.

As he adjusted the golden pocket watch, the spent Nightmare Flower vanished. A moment later, he found it inside his Silver Bracelet, completely unused.

The corners of Wang Ya’s mouth lifted into a slight smile. ’Using this for profit might not be feasible, but it can provide me with a continuous supply of the Extraordinary Resources I need.’

’It could also play a crucial role at a critical moment. A chance for an extra life!’

The boost in his Power brought Wang Ya great joy. He had spent an hour in his room that morning further increasing his Particle Energy Units, achieving a relative balance with his body’s level of radiation.

[Target: Wang Ya]

[Spiritual Power: 8.8]

[Physique: 7.3]

[Particle Energy: 4.4 Units]

[Wizard Meditation Method: Vast Sea (Basic)]

[Wizard Runes: Five]

[Extraordinary Cultivated Creature: Harak (Low-tier)]

[Mastered Witchcraft: Fear-Burning Fire, Crimson Heat, Fire Elemental Particle Energy Shield, Sensory Deprivation.]

[Witchcraft Artifacts: Shadow Slayer Blade (Low-tier), Silver Bracelet, Face of Residual Dreams, Force Field Gemstone]

The most tangible result was the increase in his Particle Energy Units.

This was directly linked to his ability to cast Witchcraft and the overall growth of his Power.

Wang Ya could now cast three spells and still retain some combat capability.

Among all the freshmen entering the Dark Land, there were likely some who were stronger than him, but not many.

He now felt confident he could establish a firm foothold in the Dark Land.

Wang Ya’s eyes grew distant, recalling scenes of himself on the Wizard Ship and at Ancient Forest Mountain, doing everything in his power to learn and master his craft.

’Persevering alone is difficult and lonely, and you have to maintain a state of perfect rationality at all times. It’s not that I don’t have desires or want to indulge; it’s just that I have far greater desires, a much stronger ambition.’

’Becoming an Official Wizard—that is my first major goal in life right now.’

Wang Ya thought of Green Forest’s comatose Soul Body and how Wizard Yi Si had treated him as a mere tool. ’I must have the power to control my own destiny and change the fate of others.’

Ancient Forest Mountain was in the past. The real test lay ahead: the Dark Wizard Academy, the true Wizard World.

And Wang Ya had long since begun his preparations.

’There isn’t much time left. In two hours, we’ll arrive at the Teleportation Array in the center of the Wizard City. The Transcendence Potion requires a quiet environment and a certain amount of time to transform my body. Green Forest’s Soul Body also needs a similar environment to recuperate.’

Wang Ya planned to deal with both matters after finding suitable housing in the Dark Land.

As he walked from the corridor into one of the mansion’s banquet side halls, Wang Ya considered that entering the Dark Wizard Academy meant he would soon have to face a wizard’s most important choice.

The direction of his Wizard Path.

The vast space was filled with dining tables set with white candles, silver plates, and neatly placed napkins. Young, lovely mortal maids in uniforms bustled about, carrying trays and placing food on every table.

Wang Ya arrived a little late. Though many people were still seated at the tables, many others had already finished their meals and left the mansion.

His arrival immediately caused a stir among the freshmen. They shot furtive glances his way, whispering amongst themselves.

”Did Ghostman Wang Ya really use a Healing Potion to save someone? That’s outrageous.”

”It’s true, I saw it with my own eyes. An expensive Extraordinary Potion, just given away to a regular human. And for the so-called ’equivalent exchange’ between wizards, he only took a useless golden pocket watch.”

”What’s that supposed to be? Atonement? Or is Ghostman Wang Ya’s feigned compassion flaring up? We didn’t see any guilt from him when he was killing all those people. It’s so fake, and such a waste. Who’s going to fall for such a pointless gesture?”

There weren’t many empty tables left. From a corner, Gray waved him over, a wide grin revealing his yellowed teeth.

Wang Ya took the seat that had been deliberately left for him. Besides Gray, a young man and a young woman were also at the table. Far from showing the nervousness of the other freshmen, their expressions were full of anticipation.

He began eating in silence as Gray’s enthusiastic voice piped up beside him. ”Back at Ancient Forest Mountain, I said I’d introduce you to two new friends. With everything that’s happened, I almost forgot.”

”Hello, Wang Ya. I’m Tazmi Mass Ke. Just call me Mas or Tazmi.” The speaker looked to be around fifteen, with brown hair and an earnest, righteous-looking face. His voice radiated youthful passion.

The pretty girl in an aqua-colored Wizard Robe had long, soft gray hair. Her round face was tinged with a faint blush, and she seemed rather shy. After stealing a glance at Wang Ya nodding to Tazmi, she finally worked up the courage to speak. ”My name is Mona.”

Gray said, ”This is my friend, Wang Ya Harak. You two should know of him. The strongest freshman from Ancient Forest Mountain: Ghostman Wang Ya.”

”And now you’re all acquainted! Hey, hey, Wang Ya, come on, give me a break. Crack a smile,” Gray said, nudging him and winking.

Wang Ya: ”...”

”Hello,” Wang Ya’s lips moved, but he didn’t stop tearing at and chewing his food.

”Ghostman Wang Ya... To think I’d get to meet such an outstanding Wizard Freshman. This is so exciting,” Mas said, his face alight with a joyful smile.

Mona hummed in agreement, nodding her head like a little woodpecker.

The Wizard Teleportation Array was located behind the City Lord’s Mansion in Hanhai Wizard City and guarded by a team of patrolling Law Enforcement Wizards. The positions within the City Lord’s Mansion, including the governance of a Wizard City, were mostly appointed by the Dark Land Headquarters and structured as long-term Wizard Tasks.

As the fluctuations of Particle Energy grew violent, all the freshmen within the Teleportation Array’s range felt an irresistible pressure, as if it were trying to crush their bodies. Some with weaker Physique stats fainted on the spot. Wang Ya frowned, but his powerful Physique allowed him to endure.

His gaze fell on the three figures in Wizard Robes standing before them in the brilliant white light. They didn’t even tremble.

SSSHHH! The white light became too dazzling, and he instinctively shut his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, a magnificent structure assaulted his senses. Natural particle energy, as thick as vapor, felt like it was flooding into his very nostrils.

For a moment, he was too stunned to react, able to do nothing but stare blankly at the scene before him.

So this was a Wizard Influence—the Dark Land!