Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Edward’s eyes gradually widened.

”What… did you say?” His tone was laced with utter disbelief.

Initially, he thought Adam was playing a prank on him—like he always did—but when he saw the serious expression on his face… he had a feeling that perhaps this time it might not have been a prank.

Still, the information was simply too mind-boggling to take seriously.

”Leave this world?” Edward muttered incredulously. ”And journey to higher worlds? Adam, you… just what the hell are you on about?!”

Adam shrugged. His gaze was distant, seemingly staring at the setting sun. He leisurely took a sip of wine, then asked a question of his own, ”Fattie, do you really think Tron is the only planet with life on it?”

Edward’s lips parted, but no words came out. He couldn’t help but loudly gulp.

He lingered for several moments, then said, ”But those are just conjectures! The scholars of the Tower are certain that life, especially complex, intelligent life, might be incredibly rare!”

He paused, his heart churning with tumultuous waves. Then, he added with a hoarse voice, ”If there really are other worlds out there… with civilizations, I mean… then why haven’t we found any signs of them?”

Adam was slightly taken aback. He didn’t expect his friend to react so emotionally. Compared to him, Anna had taken the news much better. Of course, she, too, was surprised, but she wasn’t being delusional.

He lingered for a moment, then calmly explained, ”The universe is extraordinarily vast, containing trillions of galaxies, each with billions or even trillions of stars, many of which have planets capable of sustaining life.”

Adam paused, then took a sip from the flat cup. ”Given the estimated likelihood of life arising on other planets, it seems improbable that Tron is the only planet with intelligent life.”

”But those scholars—” Edward tried to argue.

But Adam interrupted him with a scoff filled with disdain, ”What scholars? Those Mana Vortex-level bookworms who’ve never left the confines of the library? Damned frogs in a well!”

He shook his head wryly. If he hadn’t stumbled across the white lotus in his youth, perhaps, he, too, would have been a frog. Who knew? Perhaps, he wouldn’t have even made it to where he was today.

Adam turned to his friend, who had a look of utter disbelief etched on his face, and said, ”Contrary to what those ’scholars’ believe, life is actually quite common in this universe. But like I said before, the universe is vast, and the sheer scale means we might never encounter them.”

He paused, thinking of another crucial matter before adding, ”Oh, and it’s also because Tron, or rather the galaxy it is a part of, is in a very remote part of the universe, far, far away from where most life-bearing systems are clustered.”

Edward was… horrified!

”You… how do you know these things?!” He pointed at the raven-haired youth with a trembling hand.

Adam raised his flat cup and offered a toast. ”That’s what I do… I drink, and I know things.”

”Are you being serious?!” Edward practically screamed, thinking his friend was playing a cruel joke on him.

In the end, Adam couldn’t help but sigh heavily. It was time to switch plans.

”Fine,” he said with a shrug. ”I’ll be honest with you. It was the overseer of the Soaring River Secret Plane who told me about the existence of higher worlds.”

He lied confidently, ”Surely, you’re not going to doubt his words, eh? After all, both your and Lisa’s mana extraction techniques come from him. By now, you should have already figured out that the teachings of Storm Bringer are… out of this world.”

Edward froze. He always thought that his mana extraction technique contained profound teachings. Somewhere deep inside his heart, he had a feeling that this manual had to be unique in this world.

But now, when he thought about it deeply, he felt that perhaps it was too unique. Maybe it really was from another world!

Seeing his facial expression change from a look of terror to one of hope and expectation, Adam smiled faintly.

”So, now do you believe me?” he asked.

”That is to say, the owner of the Soaring River Secret Plane was someone who left our world and… ventured to higher worlds?!”

Adam nodded. ”Indeed.”

He poured himself some more wine, then continued, ”That Magus returned to Tron when he realized this life was coming to an end. Before passing away, he left behind his legacy.”

”The secret plane… is his legacy!” Edward muttered in understanding.

”He has also left behind a way for us to leave this world, Fattie,” Adam lied again.

Edward’s eyes glistened with emotion. He muttered under his breath, ”So it’s not the end… the Mana Core Rank is really not the end!”

Adam displayed a mysterious smile. ”No, it is just the beginning.”

His expression gradually turned solemn, and he repeated his question, ”So tell me. What are you going to do when the time comes to leave? Will you leave Lisa behind? Or will you stay by her side?”

The excitement and exhilaration that Edward felt from this newfound information was immediately doused in a bucket of cold water of reality.

He turned to Adam with a frown. ”Why would you say that? You know better than anyone how much I love her. So, why? Why would you ask me such a question?”

”Bastard Fattie, I’m going to beat you if you don’t give me an answer right now.” Adam cracked his knuckles, glaring at the blue-eyed youth.

Edward couldn’t help but involuntarily flinch. He recalled all the times Adam had given him a vicious thrashing in the name of training.

Now, his friend was one entire rank above him. He didn’t dare to think what would happen to him if he received a beating again.

He thought for a very long time before answering, ”Neither. I’ll take her with me.”

”But you can only choose one,” said the raven-haired youth. ”Let’s assume Lisa is incapable of cosmic travel. What are you going to do then? Leave her behind or stay back?”

Edward hesitated. He clenched his fists, then unclenched them several times. Almost a minute later, he heaved a long, helpless sigh. ”I... don’t know what I’d do.”

Adam deeply looked at his childhood friend, then shook his head in disappointment.

”What a waste of S-grade talent…”