Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2360: Chapter 2361: Times Have Changed

”Are you all okay?” Seeing everyone who had fallen to the ground, Angel glared at Dangross, then asked.

The Sea Dragon quickly shook its head, ”We’re fine, we’re fine.”

They had only been flung three or four meters high from the ship, so such a fall indeed didn’t cause any injuries.

”My friend was too mischievous. I’ll teach it a lesson when we return.” Angel picked up Dangross to prevent it from causing further trouble.

Such words, the Sea Dragon dared not respond to, only repeatedly saying, ”It’s nothing.”

Angel understood the Sea Dragon’s mentality and said nothing, his gaze sweeping over the magic carpet on the balcony, which now had a hole burnt through it. He then glanced at the ship being lifted into the sky by the clouds, his eyes flashing with contemplation.

”An interesting design, vaporizing cloud soil particles to quickly expand upon contact with external primordial magic, lifting the corresponding mass.” Angel quickly saw through the truth of this freight ship’s flight. Although the principle of the cloud vapor bottle wasn’t particularly outstanding, he still appreciated how this design was used in daily life to serve ordinary humans.

Pausing, Angel looked at the Sea Dragon, the only Transcendent on the ship.

”Did you fly the ship into the sky to avoid that?” Angel pointed to the grand and turbulent upside-down sea wall like heavenly waves in the distance.

The Sea Dragon didn’t dare delay, nodding and detailing the situation of the ship, along with the backstory of its maritime company.

”Blue Tongue Shipping Company... is backed by the Brough Taggart family.” Angel pondered for a moment, ”Is it a Wizard family from Loren Bill?”

The Sea Dragon nodded quickly, hoping that by revealing his identity, Angel would spare them any trouble.

”I didn’t expect the family from Loren Bill to also have a shipping company in the Devil’s Sea.” Angel mused internally, but after considering, it made sense. Despite the danger, the Devil’s Sea was full of treasures and various magical sea beasts, so it was no wonder the Loren Bill family wanted a share.

Loren Bill is a Transcendent City located on Lujima. Though not as renowned as the Sky Mechanical City, its status isn’t far behind.

Loren Bill currently has the largest Transcendent creature exchange in the Southern Domain, with thirty-six Wizard Markets established across the region. The Ancient River Beach is one of them. Thanks to Loren Bill’s support, the Ancient River Beach compiled the famed ”Where is the Magical Beast” and ”Where is the Magical Treasure” series journals.

However, beneath the glamorous exterior lies a darkness that cannot be dispelled. The reason Loren Bill rapidly became a great city isn’t the exchange of Transcendent creatures but rather the slave market in the gray area. With many smuggled Otherworld slaves sold here, the Loren Bill family is more attractive to the Extreme Sect compared to the Sky Mechanical City.

Angel knew about Loren Bill’s conditions, but since he hadn’t been there, such information faded from his mind.

He understood the reasoning behind the Sea Dragon’s revelations but had no intention of acting against them regardless of their background.

”Since you flew into the sky to avoid the upside-down sea wall, let’s do this.” Angel pondered, ”I’ll handle the upside-down sea wall for you, as an apology for Dangross’s rashness. After all, it damaged your magic carpet.”

The Sea Dragon initially wanted to reflexively say ”no need, no need,” but froze upon hearing Angel’s words.

If he did manage to deal with the upside-down sea wall... it wouldn’t be just a magic carpet, even his entire fortune would be worth it, as returning alive was most important.

Seeing the Sea Dragon stunned, Angel didn’t mind and lightly beckoned with his hand.

An immense yet intangible thing seemed to encircle the freighter.

”Speedy, take care of the upside-down sea wall,” Angel softly said to the air.

The Sea Dragon heard no reply but sensed the immense yet intangible thing vanish from around them.

As the Sea Dragon pondered what that was, an enormous wind noise suddenly came from behind.

Instinctively turning back, he saw a huge silhouette appearing in the distance, streamlined, emitting a faint azure glow.

It hovered mid-air, absorbing wind elements. The wind noise he heard came from it.

When it reached a critical point of absorption, the eye-visible hurricane mass dense like heavy fog was gently pushed by it.

Initially slow, the hurricane suddenly ignited and burst forth at astonishing speed, rushing towards the massive upside-down sea wall!

In comparison, the hurricane seemed insignificant against the vast upside-down sea wall, like throwing an orange at an adult. To the Sea Dragon, it seemed ineffective.

But the reality exceeded everyone’s expectations. As the hurricane entered the upside-down sea wall, it vanished initially, but two to three seconds later, an earth-shattering explosion echoed from within.

The sky-reaching seawall, amidst the explosion, scattered into countless water droplets, dispersing in all directions.

Even the Sea Dragon got a face full of water.

When the Sea Dragon wiped his face and looked ahead again, the upside-down sea wall blocking their path was gone. The way forward, clear and unobstructed.

”It’s really gone...” ”What was that? I think I saw a large blue bird!” ”I felt it was an invisible flying whale?” ”The upside-down sea wall’s gone; are we safe?”

With whispers of fear and amazement surrounding him, the Sea Dragon snapped back to reality, bowing respectfully and gratefully to Angel.

”Thank you, Honorable Wizard.”

The Sea Dragon’s voice prompted others to react similarly, kneeling towards Angel in gratitude.

Angel waved his hand, a force lifting everyone up. Ignoring the ordinary people’s stunned expressions, he turned to the Sea Dragon: ”I came for another reason this time.”

”Please, Honorable Wizard.” Seeing Angel’s serious expression, the Sea Dragon dared not be negligent.

Angel pondered, ”Actually, it’s not very important... I just wanted to know the direction to West Doro Mist Isle.”

Yes, Angel had disembarked to ask for directions.

After all, getting lost in the Devil’s Sea was quite normal.

The Sea Dragon was surprised Angel came to ask for directions. As the guardian, he rarely paid attention to routes, so he looked at the Navigator.

The Navigator immediately stood up and reverently said, ”Respected Wizard, to reach West Doro Mist Isle, you need to head this way...”

In about five minutes, the Navigator explained the specific position and mentioned possible landmark buoys along the way, to which Angel nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, Speedy also flew back from afar.

Angel nodded to the Navigator and then said to the Sea Dragon, ”My purpose has been achieved, I should leave.”

With those words, Angel lightly tapped the ground, propelling himself into the sky, boarding the Gondola, and, under Speedy’s escort, vanished from sight with a speed almost invisible to the naked eye.

The Sea Dragon gazed after Angel’s departure until he was no longer visible, then turned to look behind.

Then he froze.

Not only did the Sea Dragon freeze, but everyone else couldn’t believe their eyes.

All the tidal walls had vanished. Although the sea was still churning and giant waves kept coming, without the tidal walls, it was nothing.

The thick clouds in the sky also began to disperse, revealing a ring-shaped hole in the center that was expanding continuously, allowing sunlight to cascade down through it.

The sea surface shimmered with golden ripples.

”...In just a few minutes, all the tidal walls were shattered by that invisible creature.”

”How terrifying. Is this the power of a Wizard?” said the speaker, sneakily glancing at Sea Dragon. Compared to the Sea Dragon, that lazy-looking young man seemed unfathomable.

Sea Dragon had no interest in comparison right now; he was recalling the gigantic and invisible creature he had seen before in his mind.

”If I’m not mistaken, it was a wind elemental creature... to break the tidal walls, it must be at least at the level of an Official Wizard. To support an elemental creature to reach the level of an Official Wizard, that red-haired young man must not be underestimated. Perhaps he has already set foot on the road of True Knowledge!”

However, if he were a True Knowledge Wizard, wouldn’t he be well-known?

Sea Dragon shook his head; perhaps the other party was disguising his appearance?

It’s the only guess I have.

To know for sure, I’ll have to return to Loren Bill and ask. That magnificent flying boat, and the hand calling itself Dangross... I wonder if I can trace the other party’s identity with this information.

While Sea Dragon was pondering secretly, on the other side, Angel sat on the Gondola, gazing at Dangross with a penetrating look.

Dangross also realized he had been too arrogant before and now lay sprawled on the table, trembling, not moving at all.

”Do you realize your mistake?”

Dangross nodded with a grievance.

”You still feel wronged?” Angel raised an eyebrow: ”If you want to operate in the human world, you must learn the rules; after all, this is not the land of fire. You don’t have Magu to rely on as your patron, nor a group of minor followers to back you up.”

Dangross pouted, ”But I have you.”

Angel: ”...”

”This time you have me, but what if next time you don’t? Do you intend to stay in the Tidal World forever without coming out? Even if you don’t leave the Tidal World, eventually humans will come to the Tidal World. What will happen if you’ve offended someone by then, burned their belongings, and think you can escape?”

Angel earnestly educated Dangross. At first, Dangross was not really listening, but perhaps upon seeing Angel’s serious expression, he gradually took his playful heart away and seriously listened to the teachings.

After a few minutes, Angel finished the lecture, then snapped his fingers, creating an illusionary realm around Dangross.

Saying it was to confine naturally demanded keeping his word. Now there was no fireplace, so an Illusion Technique would have to do.

Dangross didn’t struggle either, obediently staying in the illusionary realm.

Only then did Angel let out a sigh.

When teaching Dangross, it reminded him of the time he taught Toby. Toby was also very wanton at the beginning, spoiled to the point of being wilful by Greya. Back at the Twilight Auction, there was almost a catastrophe.

However, with more time spent together, Toby reined in a lot, and with the awakening of the Gryphon and Snake Bird, he became more mature. Although still flamboyant, that’s just his nature, and the reckless acts became fewer.

For some reason, Angel inexplicably felt nostalgic.

”Have I grown accustomed to masochism?” Angel chuckled and shook his head, not pondering more.

...

The Gondola flew through the sky, surrounded by clouds of varying densities, with the churning sea below.

Such a scene reminded Angel of the time when traveling with Nausicaa and others to the Barbarian Cave. At that time, they were also traversing through clouds and over the Devil’s Sea, with the only difference being they rode on a Cloud Whale back then, whereas now, he was riding the Gondola alone.

Thinking of Nausicaa... Angel involuntarily sighed.

This journey from the Revelation Continent to the Devil’s Sea was something even Angel hadn’t foreseen.

Regarding the Underground Altar, Angel initially didn’t see it as an important matter, just something to casually investigate due to boredom. But now, it involved Nausicaa, so he could no longer treat it lightly.

After all, Nausicaa is one of his best friends.

Back in Sky Mechanical City, Angel respected Nausicaa’s decision, not interfering with her choice. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried about her.

If he didn’t know, it would be one thing, but since he knew Nausicaa could be in danger, how could Angel just sit still? Therefore, when Ironclad Granny asked him, ”What are you going to do?” he unhesitatingly chose to head to the Mist Belt.

Angel checked the time; it had been almost a day since he left the Revelation Continent.

According to the navigator, there was still some distance to the Westdro Mist Isle, and Nausicaa’s situation remained unknown.

With every delay, Nausicaa’s danger would increase a bit more.

Although under the control of Speedy, the Gondola was already moving fast, Angel was still a bit dissatisfied. He thought about it and took Toby out from his pocket.

In the journey that followed, Angel began a multi-faceted switch.

Toby would occasionally transform into a Gryphon, moving forward by activating the Gravity Meridian. When the Gryphon’s form could not hold, it would leap into the sea, transforming into a Snake Bird to surge forward.

If tired in between, Angel could also rely on the Gravity Meridian in his Soul to fly a section.

By progressing at full speed with the Gravity Meridian, before sunset, Angel finally reached the edge of the vast Mist Belt, discovering the island resembling an outpost—Westdro Mist Isle.

Arriving here, Angel resumed boarding the Gondola.

He journeyed through the Westdro Mist Isle, reaching the northernmost tip. Through the sign left by Cindy, Angel found the Path Mark for entering the Mist Belt.

Sailing across the vast sea, Angel finally, as dusk ended and nightfall approached, entered the No Man’s Land of the Devil’s Sea: the Mist Belt!