Spellcasting Gods

In the blink of an eye, a blinding red light burst forth from within the shadow, then seemed to burst into flames, radiating light and heat in all directions.

After the light and heat dissipated, the shadow that had blocked the passage disappeared, leaving only a strange, pungent smell.

"Master, this... what is this?!" Morroya stared at the unknown substance that remained in the air, constantly decomposing and dissipating, her eyes revealing undisguised terror.

"Don't speak, just follow me." Zhang Cheng ignored the servant's nervous reaction and continued walking forward on his own.

As he got closer to the energy storage site, he became increasingly aware that this "thief" was definitely a spellcaster on par with himself.

The fact that such a massive amount of energy could be stolen without even a tiny bit overflowing demonstrates the opponent's extremely high level of magical control, and those with high magical control are naturally not weak either.

With great anticipation, the two finally spotted a figure that was both familiar and unfamiliar around the corner...

“Derry?!! How could it be you!” Morroya exclaimed, her eyes wide.

It's not that she lost her composure, but rather that the butler's attire at that moment was truly unacceptable.

Derry was dressed in a long velvet robe embroidered with gold thread and boots made of dragon skin. He held a hardwood staff inlaid with dragon crystals in his right hand. He was completely devoid of his usual restraint and seriousness, and instead had a cold and mocking smile.

Compared to his assistant's intense reaction, Zhang Cheng remained much calmer. Instead of getting angry, he smiled and tentatively asked, "My dear steward, don't you want to explain?"

“Explain? Why should I explain?” Derry deliberately feigned indifference.

But you can tell from his subconscious alertness with his left hand that he was actually very nervous.

After all, anyone with a little magical knowledge knows that the worst thing that can happen during a magical ritual is to be interrupted, especially a magical ritual that extracts a huge amount of energy. If a mistake is made and the energy goes out of control, it is basically a death sentence.

"Heh, is this enough?" Zhang Cheng slowly took out the last bottle of well water, which was shimmering with a violet light, from his waist pouch and threatened.

Although many people see this liquid rich in arcane energy as merely a consumable used by mages to replenish their magic power, few know that it is also an extremely dangerous fuse.

As is well known, the origin of magic in the world of Azeroth comes from the Well of Eternity. Before the War of the Ancients, the level of magic in the world was far less widespread than it is today. It was only after the Well of Eternity exploded, scattering countless drops of water to every corner, that the prosperous magical era that followed began.

As a price, the Night Elves' former homeland, the site of the Well of Eternity's explosion, was left with an unprecedented scar—the Maelstrom.

Whether it was the Sunwell created by the high elves or the half-guardians created by the Council of Tirisfal, they were essentially beneficiaries of the Great Explosion of the Well of Eternity.

This means that the small energy source that Zhang Cheng made using water from the solar well is far from safe.

These violet liquids actually contain many uncertain factors, and when they are mixed with other energies, they often unleash unimaginable power.

He was certain that if that bottle of well water were thrown into the energy storage device not far ahead, the entire towering tower, or even the entire old town, might be blown to bits.

Derry was clearly not an ignorant idiot; he keenly sensed the pure energy contained within the bottle, and his expression immediately turned serious as he narrowed his eyes, seemingly hesitant.

A full minute later, he managed a weak smile, placed one hand on his chest, and bowed: "I'm sorry, I apologize for my rudeness. Let me introduce myself again, my name is Derry Marsa, from the Shadowlands of Assassin..."

Chapter 0244 The Land of Shadows

"Shadowland Aysha?"

Zhang Cheng repeated the geographical term, which was both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar, in a low voice, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The reason is simple: although the Shadowlands or the city of Asshal are hardly mentioned in the entire A Song of Ice and Fire story, both the Shadowlands and Asshal are actually the most incredible places in people's mouths, as well as the southeasternmost part of the known world and the birthplace of dragons.

It is said that the place is shrouded in black shadows all year round, making it impossible to distinguish between day and night. The land is also covered with hideous and unusable ghost grass, making it difficult to grow any decent crops.

The water there was an unbelievable black, so black that it didn't reflect a single ray of light even under the glaring midday sun.

As for the water, it is inhabited by a few blind and twisted strange fish, and no one but a madman would want to eat them.

It can be said that in such a harsh living environment, almost no normal life can survive, and even livestock will die without exception before they even reach the real shadowy place.

Marvin, the maester known as "the Wizard," once mentioned in a report that the deaths of these livestock were likely related to the black river water, perhaps containing some terrible magic and curse.

Assassin is the only port city standing on the edge of the normal world and the shadow world. It relies entirely on passing merchant ships to maintain its operation. Foreign merchants bring food, slaves, and drinking water in exchange for gold and gems with the locals. Once trade is interrupted, famine will break out instantly.

Although it takes two whole years to travel from the free trading city of Pentos to the city and back, and one must face terrifying storms and sea monsters along the way, it still cannot stop the merchants' desire for wealth.

Some of them were only after making a huge profit, while others wanted to buy special items that were impossible to find elsewhere, such as dragon eggs.

The three dragon eggs that Daenerys obtained were purchased from the legendary city of Ashar.

Of course, none of the above are the most important. The most important thing is that Ashar is currently the only place in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire without a definite origin. In particular, all the buildings in the city are made of similar black bricks, just like the Tower of Ascension and Dragonstone Fortress. If anyone asks the locals about the origin of Ashar, they will tell you that the city existed at the beginning of the world and will remain until the day the world is destroyed.

In Assassin, magic is not something mysterious or unpredictable. The place is home to a large number of people who possess supernatural powers, including male witches, wizards, alchemists, moon singers, red priests, black alchemists, necromancers, cloud mages, fire sorcerers, blood witches, priestesses, night walkers, black goats, followers of the Pale Child and the Night Lion, and many more.

If there's any place in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire where a vast legacy of magic has been preserved without interruption, it's undoubtedly Assassin.

For a time, Zhang Cheng even had the idea of ​​going to Asahi to exchange and learn from those magic users, but unfortunately he never had the chance to do so.

He never expected that just as he was about to leave, a person claiming to be from Asia would suddenly appear, and this person had been posing as a butler and had been lurking by his side for nearly half a year.

Delhi maintained a cautious defensive posture, continuing to extract energy from the base of the tower while smiling and replying, "That's right! To be honest, my goal from the beginning was the Tower of Heaven, but I didn't expect you to see through its true purpose. That's why I had to risk seizing its energy to prevent you from consuming it all."

"What do you need so much energy for?" Zhang Cheng asked, narrowing his eyes with a half-smile.

“I’m sorry, this is my business and has nothing to do with you. If it’s alright, could you please step back a little? Being too close makes me nervous, and I’m sure you know very well how serious the consequences would be if the massive energy beneath our feet were to malfunction.” Delhi warned calmly.

Clearly, he is retaliating in the exact same way.

It's like two countries possessing nuclear weapons, capable of ensuring each other's annihilation; anyone with a modicum of rationality wouldn't choose to wage a real war against the other.

Unfortunately, Derry underestimated the extent of his opponent's madness, and even more so, the terrifying nature of someone who pursued power as their life's goal.

Zhang Cheng's lips curled slightly, revealing a chilling expression, before he gently tossed the shimmering violet bottle forward.

"Damn it! How dare you!!!!" Derry roared in panic.

He simply couldn't believe that this seemingly intelligent and rational young man would do something so crazy. Wasn't he afraid of dying together with his opponent?

He may not fully understand what the strange energy contained in the water is, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand what kind of terrifying accident will occur when two completely different energies are mixed together.

In order to prevent the terrible scene from unfolding before his eyes, he disregarded the need to maintain the magic ritual and opened his arms to try to catch the water bottle falling from the sky.

Seeing Delhi's somewhat clumsy movements, a hint of mockery flashed in Zhang Cheng's eyes. Suddenly, he released a chilling aura emanating from himself.

Snapped!

In the blink of an eye, everything within a few meters was frozen in place by white frost, and Delhi was no exception.

Taking advantage of the moment when he was unable to dodge, Zhang Cheng drew the demon sword hanging at his waist and pierced the man's heart with a soft thud.

His strike was both swift and precise, and since his opponent was completely unable to move, he achieved his goal with ease.

Feeling the excruciating pain in his chest and the life force constantly draining away, Derry stared wide-eyed, seemingly unable to believe that he had been killed so easily, without even being able to cast a powerful spell.

Zhang Cheng didn't rush to draw his sword. Instead, he took out a handkerchief he always carried and wiped the blood from the corner of Deli's mouth. He said with a half-smile, "You know, you made at least three fatal mistakes today."

First, you shouldn't be too eager to extract energy. If I were you, I would choose to steal it little by little. This may be a bit slower, but it's hard to be detected.

Secondly, you shouldn't continue the magical ritual after seeing me. Doing so makes you a sitting duck, and I have several ways to kill you.

Third, you shouldn't threaten me with an energy explosion, because I don't care at all. Even if the entire old town is blown to bits, what does it matter to me? Do you think I'll be injured or killed in the explosion? No, I guarantee that no matter how big the blast radius is, it won't hurt me in the slightest..."

Chapter 245 The Secret of the Tower (Part 1)

"Don't...don't be so smug! Even if I die, someone else will take my place to complete this mission. Remember, you're not facing just me, but a powerful and formidable organization. Besides, for people like us, death is never the end, but merely a brief pause, a rest. Before long, I'll stand before you in a different guise..."

As his life force continued to wane, Delhi finished speaking these words, which were unclear whether they were a threat or a warning, and slowly breathed his last.

Just as his pupils began to dilate, Zhang Cheng suddenly revealed a strange smile on his face, and then abruptly drew his demon sword, leaving a bright red mark.

This red color wasn't blood or internal organs; instead, it was a blurry shadow, a soul just dragged out of a body.

Unlike the ordinary souls he had encountered before, Delhi's soul was a strange and dangerous dark red. Even without any testing, Zhang Cheng could feel an unusual energy fluctuation.

Upon realizing this, his eyes gleamed with fanaticism. Without a word, he enveloped his left hand in magical energy and plunged it straight into the soul's chest.

moment!

A high-pitched, piercing sound erupted from the center of the soul!

"Aaaaaaahh ...

Delhi's voice was filled with terror and panic as he struggled to break free from the Soul Reaper's grasp.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't overcome the indescribable gravitational pull, and it was this pull that severed his connection with the shadowy land of Asshal.

"Heh, weren't you so arrogant just a few seconds ago, hinting that you were going to come back and cause me trouble? Why are you scared now?" Zhang Cheng said with a cold laugh, tearing off a small fragment from the soul and holding it in his palm.

You must understand that the soul is the most important and essential thing a person has. Once it is injured, it is catastrophic. Putting aside everything else, the sensitivity alone, which is ten thousand times more painful than physical torture, is enough to make most normal people collapse on the spot.

Absolutely no surprises!

Upon feeling a part of himself being torn off, Delhi immediately let out a louder and more painful scream than before.

Zhang Cheng ignored the unfortunate fellow who was suffering immense pain and instead tested the soul fragment in his hand with different energy attributes. Before long, he discovered that this thing actually resonated strongly with negative energies, such as death and shadow.

Holding the small fragment that continuously emitted a dark red glow, he muttered to himself, "Interesting... even the soul has been corrupted. Is this the result of some kind of magical modification, or a side effect of living in the Shadow Land for a long time?"

Meanwhile, having personally experienced the terrifying pain of having his soul torn apart, Derry finally stopped howling. His whole body trembled uncontrollably as he suppressed his fear and anger, pleading in a low voice, "Let me go! If you let me go, I'll tell you a secret!"

"Oh, what secret? Tell me first." Zhang Cheng curled up the corners of his mouth with interest.

"Do you want to know the origin of this towering tower and who originally built it?" Delhi was well aware that he had no room for negotiation at the moment, and he took the initiative to reveal some of the secrets he had kept in his heart.

Staring into the other's constantly flickering eyes, Zhang Cheng suddenly burst into laughter without warning: "Hahahaha! My dear friend, you seem to have no idea what your situation is like. Do you know the power of this sword in my hand? It can devour souls and turn them into obedient ghosts. Think about it, if you were also transformed into a ghost, wouldn't everything in your head eventually be mine? What right do you have to use what already belongs to me to make a deal with me?"

Without a doubt, this is blatant intimidation.

Although the Soul Collector can devour souls and turn them into elusive ghosts, it cannot retain all the ghost's memories from their previous life.

Simply put, the process of converting a necromancer is like a forced brainwashing. After the brainwashing, most of the previous memories will be destroyed, leaving at most one or two of the most vivid fragments.

Unfortunately, Derry was completely unaware of this and turned pale with fright. He hurriedly explained, "The original builder of the Tower of Heaven was a wizard from Assassin. He was from the same organization as me, but he later betrayed us because he fell in love with a woman from the deep sea race. In fact, this tower hides a secret, and it can only be activated by drawing enough energy."

"An organization? A secret?" Zhang Cheng stroked his chin, a look of considerable interest on his face, then extended his index and middle fingers. "Two questions. First, what is this organization you keep mentioning? How many people are in it, and what is its strength? Second, what is this so-called secret, and why are you going to such lengths to obtain it?"

“Drain all the energy from the bottom of the tower! You will soon have the answer! As for the organization, I would rather be killed by you than reveal a single word. You have no idea how terrifying the organization is. Falling into their hands is a thousand times, ten thousand times more painful than being enslaved by you.”

When the topic of the secret group he had joined came up, Derry quickly hardened and showed no sign of backing down.

Judging by normal circumstances, either his loyalty to the group far exceeds the limits of what people can imagine, or there is an unknown force restraining him, preventing him from committing any act of betrayal.

As someone who had one foot in the evil camp, Zhang Cheng clearly preferred the latter. Instead of pressing the other party further, he looked down and examined the mysterious symbols and patterns carved on the ground.

Soon, with Derry's wholehearted "help," he finally figured out these little gadgets that were extremely similar to Valyrian runes, and tried to guide the energy, slowly pouring it into the hardwood staff inlaid with dragon crystals.

With each portion absorbed, one of the dragon crystals on the staff would burst forth with a blinding light. The moment the last crystal lit up, the storage container emitted a series of crisp, crackling sounds.

Before Zhang Cheng could react, the oval pool built of black bricks exploded on the spot!

Sharp-edged pebbles flew in all directions at great speed. Unable to dodge in time, Morroya was pierced by countless stones and slammed into the wall behind her like a tattered rag doll. Blood flowed continuously from the wounds, and it was unclear whether she was alive or dead.