Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3259: Chapter 3260: Arrival at the Exhibition Platform

Ultimately, they chose the 5000th level.

This decision wasn’t made by Glaipnir, but by Angel.

Coincidentally, when they reached the jumping stairway, they saw a Yingji Tribe officer, wearing a crisp uniform and a black-gold eyepatch with flames flickering on his brow, passing by them.

There’s nothing unusual about this Yingji Tribe officer appearing here, and it didn’t cause any stir. However, when Luigi saw him, he suddenly thought of the favor Angel had bought, and thus asked another question.

”I remember that a one-star Senior General of Yingji Tribe usually performs on the center stage on the first day. If even the one-star Senior General goes to the stage, then other Yingji Tribe members should follow,” said Luigi, looking at Angel: ”Do you want to check where Sipolov is now?”

Angel had originally planned to find Sipolov, so he followed Luigi’s suggestion and took out the Dragon Scale that came with the transaction favor for sensing.

Previously, whenever he sensed it, due to the vast distance, he could only vaguely detect Sipolov’s location, probably below the 2000th level.

But this time Angel was surprised to find Sipolov’s location so clear that he could even accurately give a space coordinate.

And that coordinate leads straight to the 5000th level!

Luigi’s speculation was correct, Sipolov really went to the stage!

After confirming Sipolov’s location, Luigi shrugged his shoulders: ”Now there’s no need to choose which level to go to... Since Sipolov is on the 5000th level, let’s go to the 5000th level.”

Glaipnir and Laplace expressed indifference.

Gutalace also didn’t question, opting for the 5000th level during the leap.

Yet, before starting the leap, Gutalace, as the guide, couldn’t help but curiously ask: ”Sipolov of the Yingji Tribe? You decided to go to the 5000th level just to find him?”

Angel nodded and briefly explained the favor transaction and his interest in the Heart Fire.

”Heart Fire?” Gutalace pondered for a moment. She didn’t care about the favor transaction; whatever the Mirror Dragon Tribe does is correct. What she didn’t expect was Angel’s interest in the Heart Fire talent of the Yingji Tribe.

”Regardless of whether the Yingji Tribe is willing to give up the Heart Fire, generally speaking, even if you obtain the Heart Fire, it’s tough to manipulate it.” Given Gutalace’s status, she certainly had profound knowledge of the Yingji Tribe.

Heart Fire, while not an innate talent of the Yingji Tribe, is definitely considered an inherited talent.

Not an intrinsic talent but better than one.

This kind of talent heavily relies on bloodlines.

Angel trying to gain recognition from Heart Fire is just as unreliable as him having transplanted the Divine Eye Tribe’s eyes and attempting to acquire the Divine Eye ability.

Gutalace shrugged: ”I’m not trying to dampen your spirits; it’s just the truth.”

Angel didn’t mind either, maintaining a good attitude about whether he could obtain the Heart Fire: ”It’s okay, just giving it a try. If I can’t get the Heart Fire or it’s useless to me, I can still use it as a research subject.”

Gutalace shook her head in admiration: ”Right, I almost forgot, a Wizard’s pursuit is truth. If you can’t obtain it, then research it; they won’t let themselves suffer. However, the premise is you need to gain the Heart Fire first.”

Angel subtly smiled without replying.

Gutalace didn’t mind either and directly began the leap before the onlookers.

Surrounded by Aggregation Energy, after a slight sense of weightlessness, when they opened their eyes again, they were already steady.

Above the leap point floated a line of faint glowing text: Current level: 5000.

It meant they had descended 500 levels in an instant.

Outside the long pavilion that represented the jumping stairway, it was crowded with people, all merchants or spies placed here by various races. When they saw Angel and the others appearing in the pavilion, they were momentarily stunned, then slowly averted their gaze, forming a clear path in the densely packed crowd like Moses parting the sea.

Angel and the others didn’t possess the intimidation to make various tribes clear the way.

These people were showing deference to Gutalace.

The name of the Starry Eye is known to all; in the Daylight Mirror Domain, almost no one doesn’t know. Even if she goes to the Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom, Gutalace can sit in the upper seat, showing her illustrious reputation.

With Gutalace’s responsible guidance, they weren’t blocked at the leap point and smoothly broke through the crowd’s encirclement.

After leaving the crowd, the road ahead became noticeably wider.

Because the 5000th level of the Ring Fort isn’t like other levels, with only a single circular path; instead, the entire corridor is open, including outside the guardrails, it’s not an empty ground but a giant plaza made of Cloud Soil.

This means the usable area of other levels is limited to the circular ”along the line”; other places are hollow. Whereas on this level, the entire circular interior is solid, with a vast usable area, ensuring no congestion issues on this level.

Upon reaching a sparsely populated area, Luigi suddenly halted his steps, and both he and Glaipnir’s gaze simultaneously turned to a corner of the crowd.

Angel followed their gaze and saw a pale yellow shadow darting through the crowd, rapidly heading far away.

Glaipnir spoke softly: ”It’s the Bewitched.”

Luigi nodded, adding: ”I noticed earlier, he left after seeing Gutalace.”

The Bewitched are not a unique race but are subordinate to the Changhuo Clan. They lack physical form, are purely a mirror image, and due to this intangible physique, they are often used by the Changhuo Clan for intelligence gathering.

The Bewitched can almost be equated with Scouts.

Generally, unless provoked, Luigi and Glaipnir wouldn’t particularly mind seeing the Bewitched. But when together with Gutalace, they are a bit more vigilant.

Because the Changhuo Clan previously incited class consciousness conflicts in the Divine Eye Tribe.

Though ultimately the Divine Eye Tribe successfully uncovered the truth, the seeds of division had already been planted in many Divine Eye Tribe members’ hearts.

Thus, most who support orthodox Divine Eye Tribe members hold deep resentment against the Changhuo Clan.

Gutalace is naturally the same.

If she were to encounter the Changhuo Clan outside, Gutalace wouldn’t hesitate to act directly. However, now at a multi-tribe gathering, she merely watched the Bewitched with cold eyes, showing no intention to act.

”Ignore him; it’s just the Changhuo Clan’s spy.” Gutalace said with some disdain: ”Ever since the Changhuo Clan’s deception was revealed, the one they fear most is me.”

Because among the high echelons of the Divine Eye Tribe, only Gutalace is keen on traveling abroad.

Long Huo Clan people, whenever they encounter Gutalace outside, they basically don’t return standing.

For this reason, in the Mirror Light near Sumer Wetland Castle, Long Huo Clan arranged a large number of Huoxin members to be lookouts, reporting the general location as soon as Gutalace goes out.

When Long Huo Clan members go out, they also try their best to avoid the direction Gutalace is heading.

At this point, Gutalace said coldly, ”Although I really want to wipe them out, seeing them live in fear is more satisfying than seeing them dead. So usually if they don’t run into me, I don’t bother them; but if they do, it’s just bad luck.”

Gutalace exudes a strong presence, and even if the killing intent isn’t directed at anyone specific, Angel still feels a chill upon sensing it.

However, Glaipnir seemed unimpressed by Gutalace’s arrogance, sneering, ”You talk big, but I don’t believe you can completely wipe out the Long Huo Clan.”

The Long Huo Clan has been active on the trouble-making frontline in the Daylight Mirror Domain for years for a reason.

Without some top-tier combat strength overseeing things, they wouldn’t dare be so rampant.

The top-tier combat strength of the Long Huo Clan is definitely not inferior to the Five Whorls Divine Eye.

Gutalace is only a Four Whorls Divine Eye at the moment, claiming to give them a break instead of wiping them out is not something she can actually do.

Gutalace said, ”I know you want to talk about that old witch Narudo. I indeed can’t beat her. But since the internal division battle of the Long Huo Clan, she hasn’t left Split Valley. As long as she stays put, who am I afraid of?”

Narudo is the top-tier combat strength of the Long Huo Clan, declaring herself as ”Phantom Granny” externally. Compared to a wizard’s energy system, Narudo is akin to a third-level peak wizard.

Glaipnir said, ”Not only that, but I heard recently there have been internal disturbances within Sumer Wetland Castle. The seeds left behind by the Long Huo Clan’s instigation should have sprouted.”

Gutalace snorted coldly, ”We will nip every trouble in the bud.”

Glaipnir shook her head, ”Difficult.”

The Long Huo Clan has always had a penchant for instigation; if they’ve sown seeds, they will surely find ways to nurture them into growth.

Don’t be fooled by the Long Huo Clan hiding from Gutalace now; if signs of disturbance really appear, they will surely find ways to nurture the ”seeds” into maturity.

And for this final instigation process, the Long Huo Clan doesn’t need to send their own people forward.

Sumer Wetland Castle itself is an open city-state, like Everstanding King City and City of Hot Gold; as long as sufficient crystalline is paid, any race can come.

The Long Huo Clan can easily instigate other races to go to Sumer Wetland Castle to cause trouble.

Exactly which race they might instigate, no one knows, making it hard to defend against.

Unless Sumer Wetland Castle closes its doors to outsiders. But for the Sumerians who heavily rely on external resources, closing the doors is impossible.

So, guarding against the Long Huo Clan’s instigation is not as simple as ”nip in the bud.”

Gutalace laughed, her drooping face skin swaying like a fan, ”I know it’s difficult, but haven’t I found you now? If the astrology reveals the source of the instigation, we can silently extinguish the disaster.”

Glaipnir was surprised Gutalace suddenly threw the ”ball” into her court, she paused for a moment, saying, ”If there’s only one source, perhaps it can be stopped. But what if there are countless sources?”

Gutalace shrugged, ”Then we can only take it one step at a time. Don’t forget, the Long Huo Clan has that old hag Narudo, and we Sumerians have the Five Whorls Elder.”

In the face of absolute strength, no matter how great the instigation is, it can be forcefully suppressed.

However, reaching this stage also implicitly acknowledges the instigation ability of the Long Huo Clan, which will certainly provide substantial benefits to those Long Huo Clan members involved in the division. But as long as this move is in place, at least it provides a safety net, alleviating worries.

Glaipnir shook her head, dropping the topic, and turned to Angel.

”Are we going to find Sipolov first? Or go directly to the central display stage?”

Angel did not immediately answer, but took out the Dragon Scale to sense Sipolov’s approximate location.

Angel said, ”Sipolov is also currently at the Cloud Soil center, likely near the display stage.”

So there’s no need to decide whom to find; just directly head to the display stage. Anyway, at the stage, they’ll find Sipolov as well.

Soon, they crossed the corridor railing and entered the Cloud Soil.

It’s called Cloud Soil, but under Angel’s feet, it felt like stepping on fluffy and resilient cotton candy, conducive to walking and reducing impact on landing; yet easy to accidentally jump too high and lose control.

”I heard from Kuda that this Cloud Soil was purchased at a high price from the Alien Clan,” Gutalace walked onto the Cloud Soil, nimbly jumping despite her constantly shaking face skin, not affecting her lively spirit, ”And I wonder how much money was spent on such vast quantities of Cloud Soil. Although it’s light, it is certainly tangible.”

Gutalace only muttered without explaining the names mentioned, assuming everyone is familiar.

Unfortunately, Angel knew so little about the Daylight Mirror Domain that hearing the name ”Kuda” only left him puzzled. At most, from the name containing ”Da,” he guessed it was a female from the Crystal Eye Clan.

Luckily, although Gutalace didn’t explain, Luigi was enthusiastic about providing information.

With his explanation, Angel learned that Kuda belonged to the Crystal Eye Clan as an elder, maintaining a good relationship with Gutalace.

Notably, Kuda was actively befriended by Gutalace, the reason being... Glaipnir had a friend, Hiluda, who was also a Crystal Eye Clan elder.

Back then, these two rivals always subtly competed, even comparing whose friends were better.

Although Gutalace and Kuda’s relationship has become more genuine now, initially it was with a purpose that Gutalace approached Kuda.

As for the ”Alien Clan” Gutalace mentioned, it refers not to the Mirror Domain Race, but to an elemental creature from the Strange World.

Angel had seen this elemental creature upon arriving.

It’s a light green ”Slime” capable of manipulating wind power.

At the time, based on Laplace’s speculation, this type of Slime likely lives in a purely gaseous world.

Since it’s a gaseous world, it makes sense the counterpart could provide such Cloud Soil as a tangible item.

It’s just that the number of Cloud Soil here is somewhat overwhelming.

Next, they walked toward the central display stage while observing the Cloud Soil.

On the way, Glaipnir began discussing the clues she found in Hiluda’s study...