The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

”Over the past half-month, you should have familiarized yourself with the Illusory Dream Tower and all its rules. But you must be curious why I haven’t taught you any Witchcraft Knowledge or interfered with your Wizard Path in any way,” the Illusory Dream Wizard said with a smile.

Wang Ya thought back on it and realized it was true.

After the competition in the Secret Realm concluded, he had moved from his Wizard’s Residence to the Illusory Dream Tower. Since the Illusory Dream Lineage had so few members, the entire Folding Space on the Third Layer was his alone.

Any other Wizard who wished to enter needed his permission to have the Tower Spirit grant them teleportation access.

He had familiarized himself with the laboratory on the Third Layer. Aside from a few High-tier Wizard Instruments that he still didn’t understand, he was proficient with the rest of the Wizard Instruments and could conduct various types of Wizard Experiments.

With his current Ability, Wang Ya could barely utilize twenty percent of the lab’s instruments and their energy functions.

He had also begun studying Gundas’ Dog and even the Evil God’s Heart.

He hadn’t neglected his Elemental Wizard Path, either. The Eye of Truth was analyzing the tenth Wizard Rune of the Vast Sea Meditation Method. In just a few more days, the analysis would be complete, allowing him to further increase his Spiritual Power.

He wasn’t rushing his research into Witchcraft, however. Instead, he was focused on building a deeper foundation by reviewing all the Extraordinary Knowledge he had already mastered.

This second review had truly yielded many new insights.

In the coming days, assuming nothing unexpected occurred, he planned to go to the Dark Wizard Academy. He would purchase supplementary materials for related Extraordinary Disciplines from Gusai Wizard. Those Witch Books were considered advanced course material but weren’t part of the regular curriculum.

Instead, they required independent study.

The body of a Wizard’s knowledge is so vast and complex that it’s impossible to teach it all. There simply isn’t enough time or energy.

An Extraordinary Discipline is more of a general framework, a process that guides a Wizard Freshman toward becoming a senior. It’s about cultivating the ability to learn and research independently.

Wang Ya grew accustomed to life in the Illusory Dream Tower. He also learned about the special areas that existed within the 200,000-meter teleportation range affected by the tower’s Witch Array.

This included the Maple Forest and Heart Dream Lake, places where he could meet and speak with the Illusory Dream Wizard.

These locations were special Extraordinary Resource Lands belonging to the Illusory Dream Wizard and served as extensions of the Illusory Dream Secret Realm. Entering them via Heart Dream Lake also required the Illusory Dream Wizard’s permission.

It was the very place Wang Ya had walked through with the Illusory Dream Wizard.

He had also met Kelan Wizard a few times, but then the man had vanished completely. Now, he could only be contacted through his Wizard Mark. Wang Ya figured he must be busy with his duties at the Dark Library.

’The Illusory Dream Lineage really has too few members.’ Besides the Illusory Dream Wizard himself, there were only two Inheritor Disciples: him and Kelan Wizard.

There were two other Heritage Wizards, but they were different. They had joined a long time ago and had never been taken on as disciples by the Illusory Dream Wizard.

Their status was more akin to that of retainers, and their backgrounds were unusual and complex.

”I’m sure you have your reasons, Master,” Wang Ya answered diplomatically.

The Illusory Dream Wizard paid the answer no mind. His voice drifted with the floating maple leaves, sending ripples across the entire surface of Heart Dream Lake. Even the fish seemed to fall into a deep slumber at the sound of his words.

”I have been observing you, getting to know you. I must say, you possess a disposition that many Wizards lack, along with a remarkably clear understanding of yourself. This pleases me greatly. At the very least, you won’t fall into the trap of being confined to another’s Wizard Path.”

Wang Ya’s heart stirred. He understood the hidden meaning in the Illusory Dream Wizard’s words.

”You have chosen the Elemental Wizard Path. The path I walk is that of a Dream Wizard. The two are distinctly different, yet they also share an unbreakable bond.”

The Illusory Dream Wizard smiled. ”Your greatest question is still why I chose you to become the second Inheritor Disciple of the Illusory Dream Lineage.”

”The reason is simple: you are qualified. You possess a potential that other Wizards lack—a potential greater and more outstanding than Kelan’s, so much so that it even astonishes me.”

”That is why I chose you. With your ’aptitude,’ you can walk farther than I ever could on the Dream Wizard Path.”

”But let’s talk about the method,” the Illusory Dream Wizard said, his tone shifting. ”The method that will allow you to become a true Extreme within a century and meet the conditions to enter the Deep Blue Great Secret Realm.”

Wang Ya listened intently.

”You must walk the path of a Dream Wizard, learn the ’Eye of Dreams’ Witchcraft, travel to the Illusory Dream Garden Secret Realm, and find your own dream,” the Illusory Dream Wizard answered, his tone exceptionally serious.

”Master, I don’t understand. What is the difference between the Dream Wizard System and the Elemental Wizard System?” Wang Ya’s eyes flickered as he asked the question that was foremost in his mind.

His own plans had nothing to do with the Dream Wizard Path. This new direction could affect his entire schedule and might take up a great deal of time.

The Illusory Dream Wizard’s form suddenly dissolved into a scatter of maple leaves, vanishing from sight. The next moment, he reappeared beside Wang Ya and placed a pale hand on his shoulder.

A gentle voice sounded in his ear. ”The Dream Wizard System doesn’t focus on the physical world, only the illusory, spiritual plane. It lacks a precisely defined path. The difference between it and the Elemental Wizard System is that the latter requires you to take one step at a time, accumulating Extraordinary Knowledge, perceiving the world, and steadily walking the path to become ancient and powerful.”

”The former also requires perception, and you are perceiving a world, but this world is bizarre, mystical, and even absurd... Therefore, before you can perceive that world, you must first perceive yourself.”

’Perceive myself?’ Wang Ya was confused. The Illusory Dream Wizard’s words were rather muddled.

The Illusory Dream Wizard continued as if speaking to himself, ”First, learn the three special Witchcrafts I’m giving you. Then, take a trip through the Illusory Dream Garden. You will naturally understand then.”

”And as for what you want to know, I’ll tell you this: no other Wizard System can increase one’s Spiritual Power faster than the Dream Wizard’s.”

The Illusory Dream Wizard’s voice held a deeper meaning. ”If you are lucky, it’s not entirely impossible for your Spiritual Power Value to leap from its current stage to a level comparable to an Extreme Wizard Apprentice.”

”As for anything else, I don’t care, nor will I interfere. You can do as you wish. After all, a Wizard Path is something one must walk for themselves. I will only offer suggestions.”

”Of course, I won’t provide you with any assistance in terms of resources. The privileges you possess as the Child of the Dark are already more than sufficient. All I can give you is help with the Dream Wizard System... and the Illusory Dream Tower. If you have the ability, it’s yours to take.”

The Illusory Dream Wizard moved his right hand from Wang Ya’s shoulder to his forehead. Then, with a flick of his finger, he tapped it lightly.

”One month from now, I want to see that you’ve mastered these three Witchcrafts. With your powerful ’potential,’ perhaps you’ll even finish ahead of schedule. The relevant Extraordinary Knowledge has already been transmitted to your Wizard Mark.”

A shower of maple leaves scattered, melting into the autumn wind above Heart Dream Lake. Then, carried by that same wind, they danced away to every corner of the Dark Land.

The Illusory Dream Wizard’s words still echoed. ”If you wish, you can also seek out ’Vich’ and ’Autumn and Winter’ and take the second seat of the Illusory Dream School from them. Or you could go to Kelan and ask for the first seat. I imagine there wouldn’t be any issue.”

Wang Ya raised his right hand. A single maple leaf with delicate veins lay flat on his palm. Listening to the Illusory Dream Wizard’s echoing words, his eyebrow twitched. ’Take a position in an Extraordinary School? He wasn’t about to get involved in something so troublesome.’

Besides, the Illusory Dream School had the fewest members—barely twenty people in total.

Given his current Power and the attention on him, it was no longer suitable for him to make public appearances.

What he needed to do was increase his own Power and carry out the Illusory Dream Wizard’s instructions.

With a single thought, Wang Ya’s figure was enveloped by the Witch Array Power and vanished. When he reappeared, he was already inside the Illusory Dream Tower.

The first floor served as a reception area, a transit hub to the tower’s other levels, and a library curated by the Illusory Dream Wizard himself. It housed many books, including some replicas from the Dark Library.

Of course, it couldn’t compare to the second floor of the Dark Library, but to Wang Ya, it was far more appealing. This was because it contained a number of Extraordinary Books. Though few in number and of varying quality, they were still Extraordinary.

They could enhance the analytical and computational abilities of his Eye of Truth.

His new daily schedule now included a stop at the Illusory Dream Library. He still had to visit the Dark Library as well; Wang Ya wouldn’t pass up any piece of useful knowledge or information.

The only prerequisite was having enough Magic Stones. Slate Wizard was incredibly strict about his rules.

「Half an hour later.」

Wang Ya frowned, putting down the book in his hand and returning it to the library shelf.

As he walked out from between the rows of bookshelves, his expression was a bit strange. Just a moment ago, an unfamiliar message had come through his Wizard Mark.

It was a personal invitation from the head of the Antuun Clan, Kaze Antuun, inviting him to a private hall in the Dark Wizard Mansion to sample the finest afternoon tea in the Dark Land.