Wizard Alchemist

Chapter 786 Clash of Wills (4-in-1)

A few days later, the Wizarding New Year arrived.

Roy, Amifkent, Raymond, and their group quietly embarked on their journey home.

To keep his promise, Roy brought along the big-eared goblin Geher.

In addition, Amifkent also brought several servants.

To avoid drawing attention, they traveled on foot, avoiding the eyes and ears of the sky, and steadily made their way for over a month before finally arriving deep within "Chrisbisson" in the eastern part of the continent.

Amifkent led Roy to the edge of a cliff and pointed ahead, saying, "Look over there."

Roy turned his gaze over and saw a deep crack running across the rock wall below the valley, with fallen rocks scattered at the bottom.

Amifkent explained, "That's the entrance to the 'Chrisbisson Passage' I was talking about."

It is hidden deep underground, and looks like a collapsed cave, but in reality, it is concealed by the organization of the Ancients.

You'll discover this if you use a keepsake.

Upon hearing this, Roy took out the token he had obtained earlier, an old pocket watch full of historical marks.

As if drawn by some force, the pocket watch, which should have been broken, started moving again.

As magic was infused, a unique magical energy belonging to "Knowledgeable Legends" emanated, and due to the model modification, it connected with the designated object.

In Roy's mind, the past of this place thousands of years ago flashed by like a fleeting glimpse.

The former Time Traveler, a mysterious organization.

The passageway, the secret realm...

"That's really it!"

He had just "seen" that there was a cave in the crack, and the entrance to the cave showed faint traces of human excavation.

Several broken stone pillars are half-buried in the soil, their surfaces engraved with patterns that have long since faded.

It was strikingly similar to the pocket watch in his hand, both featuring a dial symbolizing "time"!

"Let's go down!"

Amifkent volunteered to lead the way.

……

Shortly after, below.

At the entrance to the secret passage.

The group searched the surroundings and found some mechanisms resembling stone pillars, which they then activated.

Amifkent then activated the magic array within the cave using a spell.

As the light and shadow shifted in a way that seemed both real and illusory, a massive stone gate that looked ancient and heavy slowly appeared before everyone.

Raymond stepped forward and pushed open the stone door, revealing a deep, dark underground passageway, resembling a large mausoleum.

The group went inside and found that it was quite long; they walked for several hundred meters before arriving at a relatively spacious area.

But this is not the destination of this trip; it is merely the starting point.

Roy's mind flashed back to the information he had gained from "Knowledge of Legends" before, and he looked around as he walked.

It was indeed a place where spellcasters once lived.

Twisted incantations were carved on the stone wall, and there was a bronze crucible in the corner with charred residue at the bottom.

The dried herbs, the remaining sulfur, and the various materials mixed with vegetation were all covered in a thick layer of dust.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Roy noticed some objects that were shimmering with a white glow.

"Compacted dregs of medicine (Level 1)..."

Over a thousand years, the dried and hardened residue of herbs...

Possessing the symbol of "antiquity"...

"It's a symbolic object!"

He put them away with a hint of surprise.

"This place is indeed likely to produce symbolic things, and they are often related to time, regret, antiquity, and so on."

But most of them are no longer useful, and may even be illusions created by the influence of the local ley lines.

Amifkent glanced at Roy and said dismissively.

You are you, and I am me.

Alchemy talents are different, so how can they be compared?
Roy didn't explain anything to Amifkent, but simply glanced around and put away the several Level 1 symbols again.

Then he left without making a sound.

"You're right, it's all just junk. Let's go."

Raymond shook his head, pondering with some confusion.

But he quietly took a few broken bowls, tiles and other such things.

He finally understood; Roy was incredibly capable.

He had also tricked himself without making a sound more than 200 years ago; who knows, there might be some treasure among the things he took.

I can't compete with him anymore, but I can go along with things a bit.

If you're lucky, you might actually get something out of it; wouldn't that be like getting a free bargain?

……

After a while, Amifkent ordered the monsters beneath him to stop.

This is a monster that resembles a centipede, but whose entire body is made of bones. When it flies, it is like a long dragon, and it flies silently.

Roy, who was sitting cross-legged on the magic carpet behind, stopped when he saw this.

"what happened?"

“We’re almost at the exit. Once we cross here, we’ll be in the wilderness of Parania.”

However, just to be safe, let's wait here for now.

Of course, it was impossible to just wait idly; the servants he carried with him were like stones used to test the waters.

Amifkent immediately sent them all out, leaving only Raymond behind.

Roy had no intention of letting Geher go with him, because there was no need.

He released a puppet he had created himself, the scout of the gods, Zophiel.

In a short while, the two cast a spell on the spot, using the magic crystal ball to illuminate the outside world.

Opposite was a dark and vast wilderness, which looked similar to the desert next door in an ordinary material plane, but the distant mountains were hazy, giving people a sense of misty illusion.

The sky was not a normal sight, but a vast expanse of stars that were dozens or even hundreds of times more complex and brighter than the ordinary world.

Countless stars formed several bands of light resembling the Milky Way, like a giant vortex swirling upside down overhead.

This is somewhat similar to the nautilus pattern in my own natal chart, which is the starry sky of the magical universe.

It's rare to see this kind of scene elsewhere; at most, you'll only see one or two cantilever arms.

It can only be seen in the outer realms, at the intersection of spirit and matter.

Because of the spiritual transformation, this place, like the Garden of Beasts, is almost indistinguishable from the material world in terms of what one sees and feels.

But the truth is, the entire universe has become like a mirror reflecting itself, completely "reversed".

"It's safe out there."

After the servants and puppets had been searching for a while, Roy and the others set off and officially set foot on the land of Palania.

This departure was like a fish entering the sea, completely shaking off the pursuit of Kurmen and Sharil.

Amifkent led Roy to a town in an outer land thousands of miles away for a temporary rest.

This was Roy's first time in a place like this; it was no longer the material world, but a town resembling the underworld.

The creatures that live here...

It leans towards the realm of the soul!
******
"It's amazing, it looks exactly like the material plane."

As Roy entered the town, he looked around and couldn't help but marvel at what he had just witnessed.

Although I already knew that this was a spiritual world, the actual feeling was no different from that of the material world.

"This is normal. In the material plane, what you see, hear, smell, and touch..."

Is everything truly objective materialism, rather than a reflection of the soul?
Human perception and sensation originate from the external world, but ultimately they must be processed and formed in the brain.

So it's essentially a sensory input from the brain.

In other parts of the outer realms, this process is simply omitted.

It's worth mentioning that in many other worlds, conventional physical and strength attributes become useless, replaced by spirit, perception, and charm.

Of course, under the influence of idealism, firmly believing in one's own powerful physique and strength can also manifest, but that's another matter entirely.

Amifkent shared some of his experiences with Roy.

Upon hearing this, Roy smiled slightly.

I've been to the zoo myself and experienced this firsthand.

In fact, what Amifkent didn't know was that the soul's personhood was even more important.

In the Outer Realms, one's own soul status can be revealed.

As they spoke, the group arrived at a place that looked similar to the inns where adventurers usually stayed.

The wooden door here was half open, and you could vaguely hear the noise and commotion coming from inside.

Amifkent led Roy and the others inside and found a one-eyed owner standing behind the counter, wiping pewter glasses with a rag.

On the wall behind him were several yellowed wanted posters, their edges curled up.

Roy's gaze fell in that direction.

"Hunting the Demon Wolf Rooney Wolf..."

"Hunting the evil dragon Paydra Hissla..."

"Searching for the heart of the Earth's core..."

Amifkent then stepped forward and used a secret code known only to veterans to probe for information.

This is a way of communicating within the adventurer community. Many inns and taverns are shady establishments, and they'll rip off any inexperienced adventurers they can.

If it were a powerful figure passing through, they would also bow and scrape, behaving very submissively.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they've given their all.

Only when you encounter a veteran like Amifkent can you behave yourself.

"We've investigated and found out there's nothing unusual here recently, so it's safe to pass through."

We'll rest here for a bit and set off again tomorrow morning.

"I have heard that there are often all sorts of bizarre and wonderful phenomena in the outer realms. That is because the essence of the outer realms is actually a manifestation of the spirit."

Are you worried about encountering danger at night?

Roy, who is arrogant about possessing a god-like nature, is actually not very afraid of so-called abnormal situations.

But after thinking about it, I decided not to be stubborn.

"Yes, this is the place that leads to the Kingdom of Peace, with scenes such as the Weeping Wasteland, the Valley of Despair, and the Silent Swamp."

Every place harbors different dangers and trials, and often there are spirits and ghosts, and even bizarre and strange creatures that cannot be explained by magic.

If we get entangled with them, it'll be troublesome.

Roy had only learned about related knowledge from books in the past, but had not delved into these details, so he listened with great interest.

……

The next day, the group set off again and embarked on their journey.

Thanks to the old wizard leading the way, the journey was uneventful.

In fact, once they arrive in the outer realms, individuals with strong souls can leave on their own using spells such as "interdimensional teleportation".

Roy also has a location anchor point in the Wizard Tower, allowing him to leave at any time.

But since I've already come this far, I might as well go and broaden my horizons.

The trip was definitely worthwhile.

As he passed through the Weeping Wasteland, he felt a deep emotional resonance and even discovered some materials that could potentially be used as pigment for the soul.

"Soul Pigment: Melancholy Blue..."

"Soul Paint: Suppressive Gray..."

After a simple refining process, a new soul pigment appeared.

All that he used were minerals exposed on the surface of the earth.

With the help of the Eye of Hermes, he recognized the treasure and picked it up without hesitation.

Upon arriving at the Valley of Despair, they discovered even more materials that resonated with an even stronger emotional impact.

One of them is a lead-gray color produced by refining residual rock slag from a mine pit.

"Soul Pigment: Lead Gray..."

The embodiment of despair…

"Soul Paint - Pale..."

Emptiness and blood loss, like the skin of a victim whose life has been drained by a soul-sucking spell…

"I never realized before that this outer realm was actually such a rich treasure land?"

No wonder so many powerful people like to go abroad.

However, the journey has indeed been dangerous, because almost every place possesses a different natural environment and laws of power, like a secret realm…”

Roy pondered to himself.

Even a level three expert like myself could be affected by it; one can only imagine the dangers that ordinary apprentices or level one wizards would face if they came here.

This feeling was especially strong when they arrived at the Silent Swamp.

Because the Silent Swamp within it is actually a dangerous place with a supernatural, rule-based atmosphere.

Passing travelers must keep talking the whole way and not remain silent, or they will really fall into the air and sink!
This lawful influence even prevented flying spells from being used there, forcing people to obediently walk on the ground.

"Is it the power of laws that created these strange natural scenes?"

Roy was very curious about this.

The natural laws of the material world are actually influenced by omnipresent principles.

This feeling will be especially strong when the Source of Magic is upgraded to level four.

"That's right, spiritual materialization, deification, domain, concept, manifestation of laws, law runes, remnants of laws..."

Many of these things, though seemingly different, ultimately lead to the same conclusion; they are all manifestations of the same principles.

Having also reached the threshold of level four, Amifkent roughly knew these things.

He immediately informed Roy.

"Many creatures in the outer realms possess a certain degree of divinity, and some are even like false gods, capable of using divine power."

There are also natural remnants of laws, and even condensed laws of power, which can affect even gods!

Therefore, in this exploration, knowledge is the true power...

Unless you become powerful enough to transcend planes and the world itself.

As they spoke, the group crossed the Silent Swamp, and finally, the "Peaceful Kingdom," bathed in the glow of the setting sun, appeared on the horizon.

Just a glance from afar, and everyone felt a sense of peace and tranquility from the bottom of their hearts, as if their spirits had been nurtured.

The closer they got, the stronger the feeling became, to the point that all will to fight was completely suppressed, and not a single thought could arise.

Roy was surprised by this change and was secretly amazed.

This isn't hypnosis, but it's far more powerful than hypnosis!
******
Soon after, Roy and his men entered the city.

This place is called a kingdom, but in reality it is a small city-state with walls made of pure white marble that gleam with a pearly luster.

Entering through the main gate, tall silver-leaved olive trees line both sides of the street, beneath which are neatly trimmed flowers of various colors, similar to bougainvillea.

The air here is filled with a sweet fragrance, and the soothing melodies of harp and flute playing together can be heard from time to time.

Pedestrians walked with ease, their faces bearing genuine, serene smiles.

The guards and soldiers that are usually seen in city-states are nowhere to be seen; instead, there are peddlers doing business everywhere.

As Roy entered the city, he happened to see a peddler pushing a cart along the street and accidentally bumping into a traveler dressed in fine clothes.

The vendor quickly apologized.

The traveler wasn't angry; instead, he spoke to him kindly and generously advised him to be more careful next time.

"What a terrible place."

He suddenly sighed.

Judging from his appearance, the traveler didn't seem like a good-natured person. Yet, he let him off so easily.

"Is it terrifying? You're not the first person to say that. Indeed, some people believe that forcibly changing the will of those who enter this place through 'divine law' is simply terrifying."

But for those who believe in peace and do not want to have conflicts with others, this is undoubtedly a paradise.

If I could stay here long-term, that would be incredibly fortunate.

"That's true."

Roy thought about it and agreed with that point.

"Once we get here, we can teleport away for a small fee. It's time for us to say goodbye."

Amifkent said to him.

"But before that, I have a request."

"Oh, what's the matter?"

"My disciple Raymond, although not an outstanding figure, is still a level two wizard and can be of some help."

Please help him recommend a place to go, or arrange something for him to do.

If there is an opportunity to be promoted to level three in the future, there will definitely be a reward.

"Oh?"

Hearing his request, which sounded like a deathbed entrustment, Roy didn't readily agree, but he didn't refuse outright either. Instead, he asked, "Aren't you going to keep him by your side?"

Disciples have been by your side for decades, which is normal interaction.

However, those who stayed after being promoted to level two are practically considered direct disciples, inheriting the mantle of the master.

Normally, such a disciple should follow Amifkent until he dies of old age, and then receive all of his savings and inheritance.

But now, it's being entrusted to me ahead of time.

Obviously he has other plans.

"I plan to find the Ancients' Time Inn and stay there for a long time."

If there isn't enough money, then find another way.

They may be reborn as liches, or seek other means of longevity.

These have all been difficult journeys, so the only option left is to accept death as the inevitable end.

Actually, there is another way, which is to become a Grand Wizard.

Based on the laws, the next advancement system is as follows: Law Manifestation (Level 4), Law Power (Level 5), and Law Seed (Level 6).

This corresponds to what powerful individuals can master and utilize, similar to the vaporization (level 2), liquefaction (level 3), and solidification (level 4) of magic.

This also shows that ordinary wizards play with magic, while the great wizard stage involves laws.

This is the essential thing.

To overcome this hurdle, the most important thing is to elevate the essence of the soul, which involves the transformation of spirit and magic related to the materialization and deification of the spirit.

The legendary elements I had accumulated were essentially the result of this law manifesting itself.

To be precise, it's the remnants of the laws of fate...

To bestow upon them a "legendary destiny"!
What is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force...

These are the conditions for advancing to Legendary and Demigod status.

Now that things have progressed to this point, Amifkent has become more shrewd and has vaguely sensed this.

"Okay, it's no trouble at all."

Roy certainly has the ability to appoint a level-two wizard.

So he immediately asked, "What are you planning to do?"
Whether it's going to the rear, to find a more peaceful place, or going to the front lines to fight, I can arrange it.

“I feel it’s time for me to venture out into the world. How about arranging a place near the front lines, but where the intensity of the war isn’t too high?”

Raymond didn't stand on ceremony and immediately made his request.

"There's nothing left to go in places like the Ellen Starfield and Fran Star."

At most, they'll fight some counterinsurgency and suppress the lizardmen.

Elsewhere, places like the Hive Plane are too dangerous, and your necromancy won't be very advantageous there...

How about going to the Orc world?
To be precise, it's Knightland.

The war front there borders the orc world and may become a key target for the Seven Towers Alliance in the future.

If you establish a presence there, you can quickly gain momentum should any changes occur.

If there are no wars for decades or even centuries, we can still accumulate some strength until I transfer you away.

This is a right reserved for the red-robed consuls.

Even if he doesn't become a Grand Wizard in the future, he's still so young that he could easily join the Council and become a Red-Robed Archon in his old age.

That is in charge of worldly affairs.

Basically, anyone at the peak of the advanced wizard level, who has no hope of advancing to the grand wizard level, can apply to become such a person.

Those who have a chance of promotion are busy in various places, but they may not be willing to do it.

Roy is a completely different person now; he makes something that is obviously incredibly difficult sound easy and simple.

Raymond cast an inquiring glance at his teacher.

Amifkent nodded, agreeing on his behalf.

"Then it's all your fault."

"correct……"

After recounting this, Amifkent calmly pulled out a secret scroll.

It was a scroll-style object, and it looked quite old.

"This is a spell I obtained by chance, but I have been practicing it for many years without any results."

You won't need it much, but it might be of some use...

He spoke vaguely, but with great seriousness.

Roy glanced at it briefly and immediately understood.

"Demigod Lich Reincarnation Technique..."

He must have practiced this spell before; he not only has the original insights from his predecessors, but he has also added his own annotations.

It can be said to be the result of a thousand years of hard work by an old wizard.

What to say?

It is indeed quite valuable.

However, a young and successful wizard like himself doesn't really need to make use of it.

Considering it was a token of their goodwill, I accepted it, intending to take another look at it when I have the chance.

Something like this must contain a lot of ritual magic and soul magic.

It still has some value for reference.

After discussing the matter, Amifkent left first, disappearing from their sight.

******
"Let's go, it's time for us to leave."

Looking away, Roy didn't have time to reflect before speaking to Raymond.

"Go back to the Witch Tower first, and we'll make arrangements for you then."

Raymond nodded and followed him away.

Geher, who had been following behind them, quickly caught up.

But just then, a middle-aged man dressed in yellow, like a nobleman from the mortal world, blocked their way.

He has a rather dignified appearance and an elegant demeanor; he looks like someone of high status and power.

"who are you?"

Roy felt a growing sense of unease; he sensed a familiar power emanating from the other person.

"Let me introduce myself. I am a senior member of the Cloud Cliff Council, the guardian of the dragons, and an enforcer of the law."

Golden Dragon Kurmen.

Sure enough, the middle-aged man said.

"Golden Dragon!"

Roy suddenly understood.

No wonder it felt familiar; it turned out to be a golden dragon that had transformed into a human.

Moreover, it sounds like the other party has quite a background; they seem to be a high-ranking official from the Dragon Kingdom.

"What brings you to our door?"

Now that he had come to a peaceful country, Roy felt emboldened and asked the question knowing the answer already.

"We already know what you did before."

"Come back with me obediently and face judgment!"

"Golden Dragon Kurmen said in a deep voice."

"Ha ha……"

Roy couldn't help but laugh when he heard that.

This is a classic bluffing tactic.

In fact, the other party did not know exactly what they had done, but vaguely felt that it was suspicious and planned to take them back for further investigation.

He must have been guided by some kind of "divine magic" to track them down.

If the other side really knew what they had done, it probably wouldn't be just one dragon, but an entire team.

"What if I say no?"

After laughing, Roy's expression turned cold, and he asked in a low voice.

"Then I'll have no choice but to take action and keep you here."

"Golden Dragon Kurmen said calmly."

"Oh?"

Roy's expression hardened slightly, and he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

This golden dragon is very confident.

Is it due to superior strength, or some other means?
What do you think of this place?
It is a small country with a small population and abundant resources, making it a suitable place to stay for a long time.

If we can keep such an evil person as you around for a long time, it will be like ridding the world of a great scourge.

As Roy secretly grew wary, the golden dragon Kurmen made a subtle threat.

"Good and evil, right and wrong, are not for you to judge."

Roy said coldly.

Influenced by the will of the world, he was unable to conceive of the idea of ​​striking first, and his fighting spirit was greatly weakened. He didn't even immediately think of fleeing.

My thoughts felt "stuck".

But Jinlong Kurmen had already made his move.

He wasn't using any offensive magic, but rather a mental technique based on illusion.

It wasn't even a high-level spell, but just a simple level one "suggestion spell".

The effect of this spell is to compel the target to act in accordance with the suggestion.

It was a subconscious action.

Before arriving here, Roy had felt a sense of peace and tranquility from the bottom of his heart, as if all thoughts of fighting and killing had been completely suppressed.

After being under the spell, I actually subconsciously felt that it would be a wonderful thing to stay here and live a secluded life forever.

In that way, one can stay away from all strife and live a happy and peaceful life.

For the vast majority of living beings in this world, such days are also wonderful.

But in an instant, a powerful will arose from the depths of his heart, shattering the idea in a flash.

"Are you kidding me?"
You think you can get me to stay with just a little "suggestion"?

Golden Dragon Kurmen watched in astonishment as Roy's eyes shone with golden light, and his vast and unparalleled will suddenly expanded in an inconceivable way.

A tremendous light, like the sun, illuminated the entire city.

The peaceful nation was thrown into turmoil.

"This……"

The crowd below pointed and whispered, completely baffled.

Some of the more skilled travelers, and the powerful figures who had secluded themselves here, were greatly shocked.

They felt two powerful wills colliding.

Even Amifkent, who had just left and hadn't gone far, noticed this strange phenomenon.

He was immediately taken aback and quickly and secretly turned back.

As a result, we witnessed Roy and Kurmen confronting each other.

Kurmen watched this scene in equal shock, feeling like an ordinary person fishing and catching a great white shark.

His choice of "suggestion" over other spells was carefully considered.

This perfectly aligns with the global will of peaceful nations; keeping people here is also a manifestation of respecting the law.

Those who follow the laws will receive their assistance, thus achieving their desires and being successful in everything they do.

Conversely, they will be crushed by the will of the world.

It is impossible for an ordinary person or an ordinary dragon to resist.

Only Roy himself could sense that a certain soul quality hidden deep within him was rebelling against the constraints of the plane's will.

The conflict between one's own will and that of the world overflows from the level of the soul, forcefully influencing the world around us.

Thus, the vision was born.

Amidst everyone's shock, the inexplicable tremor grew increasingly severe.

The sun in the sky grew increasingly intense, as if it were about to melt the entire peaceful country.

The fierce clash between the two forces has reached its peak invisibly.

But in a very short time, the outcome was decided.

Roy's side won decisively.

Even the world's will to peace has shown signs of yielding, and the shackles of the laws are rapidly dissipating.

After letting out a muffled groan, Roy shook off the hint and gave him a cold glance in return.

Jinlong Kurmen stood there, too shocked to speak.

"They...they actually broke free?"

How can this be? "

At that moment, he couldn't help but doubt that he had chosen the wrong dragon.

Did we run into some fake god...?

No, even ordinary true gods have experienced being trapped in peaceful kingdoms!
It's not that easy to break free!
Roy said coldly, "Since this place is so nice, I think you should stay here yourself."

"I'm sorry, I can't keep you company."

Having said that, he took the bewildered Raymond and turned to leave.

"you……"

Golden Dragon Kurmen was greatly alarmed.

But after calling out, he stopped in his tracks as he was about to give chase.

At that moment, he was somewhat horrified to discover that he actually felt it was better to stay.

"Oh no, he used 'suggestion' on me too..."

But how could that be?

Kurmen was incredulous, hesitant and struggling, unable to accept reality for a long time.

At the same time, I also felt a deep sense of urgency to stay here and not want to leave.

Amifkent was secretly shocked to see this.

But he muttered something under his breath and then quietly left.

Unlike Roy, who transcends this world, an ordinary person like him is no match for Kurmen.

(End of this chapter)