Ancient Wizards: A Little Progress Every Day

Just as Dago was engrossed in reading at the Forest Library.

Bernal slowly hovered at the edge of a floating island near the tower. He took out a small communication crystal, brought it close to his mouth, and whispered something.

Soon, the light of the runic array surrounding the floating island fluctuated slightly, and a crack automatically opened.

Just as Bernal was about to enter through the crack in the magic circle, a figure inside came out to greet him first.

"Brother Bernal!"

The person who appeared was a young man with blond hair and blue eyes, radiating a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation belonging to a second-circle wizard, and with a handsome appearance like the sun god.

His eyes were brimming with tears of excitement as he opened his arms to Bernal from afar, muttering incoherently, "I can hardly believe it! It's you! You've really come back, my brother Bernal!!"

"Karl, it's been a long time!"

Bernal smiled when he saw the young man appear, and the two embraced gently in the air outside the floating island.

After releasing Bernal, the young wizard known as Karl noticed the fluctuations in his aura and frowned: "Brother Bernal, has your strength really declined that much? You can't even maintain the second ring anymore. Those people in the Thorns of Pain went too far back then."

Bernal said calmly, "That's how it is with a wound to the soul. If you can't find a solution, your strength will only continue to decline."

"Brother Bernal, you may not know this, but recently, the ancient wizarding power, the Mirror Forest Royal Court, has left behind a relic space in this area that finally has the opportunity to be fully opened. I have received definite news that, for this reason, the three ring masters of the Thorn Ring will also be born one after another."

"This is your best chance to rise again. If you can find the relic that can heal your soul wounds within the Mirror Forest Royal Court, you will not only return to your peak, but perhaps even reach a higher position than before."

Carl grabbed Bernal's shoulder and said excitedly.

Bernal's eyes were slightly touched by his words, but quickly returned to their calm, still state.

He shook his head and said, "Karl, actually, I came here this time to ask you for a favor."

"What is it, Brother Bernal?"

Carl said with a serious and righteous expression, "There's no need to be polite to me given our relationship. I'll do my best to help you with anything I can."

"It's nothing really."

Bernal took out a brand-new communication crystal from his storage pouch and handed it to Karl: "There's a first-ring wizard named Dago Heca who just joined the Thorn Ring. I hope you can look after him for me if you have the chance."

"You should know about Chaplin and his ilk. I don't want him to be targeted unjustly because of me."

Bernal said coldly, and Karl nodded solemnly, taking the communication crystal.

Bernal hugged Karl again like an older brother, gently patting his back. "Please, for the sake of how I took care of you before, take care of him for me too."

After saying that, he turned and flew away from the floating island, leaving Karl alone in the air.

Karl watched Bernal turn and leave with a smile until the other's figure completely disappeared from sight.

Then, the expression on his face gradually returned to calm, even indifference.

"The genius wizard who broke the record for the fastest advancement to the third level was hailed as the most likely to reach the top and be crowned with the seventh level."

Karl looked at the communication crystal in his hand and muttered to himself, "He was once so radiant and unstoppable, but because of a woman, he has been reduced to a pathetic stray dog."

He shook his head slightly, crushing the communication crystal in his hand into powder, which he then scattered into the air.

"The Silver Tower!"

Dago stood before the enormous, towering tower, hesitated for a moment, and then prepared to go inside.

Just then, a familiar voice rang in his ears.

"Are you planning to join the Silver Tower in the Thorns Ring?"

Dago turned his head at the sound and saw Bernal standing not far away.

"This tower belongs to the Silverthorns. The Silverthorns primarily cultivate elemental magic. You didn't even understand this before blindly entering the Silverthorns' magic circle?"

Bernal looked at Dago with a slightly strange expression.

Dago paused for a moment before replying, "This is the first time I've heard of the Silver Thorns faction in addition to the core Thorns of Pain within the Thorns Ring."

Bernal, looking speechless, explained, "In fact, there are three major forces within the Thorn Ring: the Pain Thorns, which focuses on the soul; the Black Root Thorns, which focuses on the physical body; and the Silver Thorns."

Dago was taken aback.

"The most powerful force in the Thorn Ring is the Painful Thorns, which controls two towers, while the remaining two towers are controlled by the Blackroot Thorns and the Silver Thorns, respectively."

Bernal said calmly, "The three factions each control a portion of the inherited seals of the Thorn Ring, [Thorn Catastrophe - World Destroyer]. Legend has it that the great rift beneath Cletam City was created by a miracle wizard."

Dago was slightly shaken, and almost blurted out, "Then why split the seal? We could have had a much more powerful inheritance!"

"Because no wizard can withstand the mental power required to release this sign, as well as the energy particles guided by the sign. This sign is a miracle-level sign."

"Even a fully-fledged wizard who has stepped out of the third ring and reaches out to touch the three ring lords of the miracle cannot escape it; before the sign can even be formed, they will perish and die."

"Well"

Dago was stunned, never expecting it to be for this reason.

So, who was it that thought wizards only needed to pursue the immortality of the soul, while their physical bodies were weak and they couldn't even cast powerful soul seals?

It seems I need to develop "Elemental Resonance" and "Basic Swordsmanship" properly, as both skills have an amplifying effect on my physical body.

"Then join Silverthorns."

Dago made the decision calmly.

Upon hearing this, Bernal broke into a bright smile and said to Dago, "As your senior, welcome to the Silver Thorns."

He casually tossed Ronan a silver diamond the size of a thumb.

"Although you are now a core member of the Law Ring, normally it would take at least a month or so to accumulate contribution points to exchange for this Soul Essence. Consider this senior saving you that month."

"Soul Essence is a great thing for accelerating soul replenishment. You just need to hold it in your mouth to use it; it's even more effective than high-level mental potions."

Bernal smiled and said calmly.

Dago looked at the Soul Essence in his hand, his eyes flickered, and he still thanked Bernal.

"Come on, I'll take you to see other places."

Bernal beckoned to Dago and walked casually in one direction.

Beneath the Silver Tower, many buildings cluster together, becoming increasingly spacious as you move outwards. You can imagine it as a cake tower that keeps piling up towards the center, and Bernal and Dago are now walking around the edge of the cake.

"The central silver tower is the Ring Lord's secluded retreat. The Ring Lord's radiance covers the entire tower grounds. You might consider moving in later; the effects of meditation here will be slightly better than outside."

"Do you see those ten floating islands around the top of the giant tower?"

Bernal pointed out a direction to Dago, and Dago looked up in the direction he pointed.

Those were ten floating islands right next to the top of the Silver Tower, each capable of housing several castle-like structures.

"That represents the ten best meditation spots in the entire Silverthorn, with the floating island closest to the top of the Silver Tower being ten times more effective for meditation."

"Only the ten wizards with the strongest power and talent, whose soul age is under fifty, are qualified to reside here."

Bernal gazed in the direction of the Silver Tower, a hint of reminiscence in his eyes. "I once lived on the seventh floating island; it was indeed a wonderful time."

Dago glanced at Bernal and understood how the three-knot mark on his robe came about.

As for why he only has the strength of the late stage of the first ring, it's probably because he acted too arrogantly and had a bad temper, so he was beaten to a pulp.