Spellcasting Gods

Morroia stared in disbelief at the repeatedly ravaged passage, seemingly unable to comprehend what was happening before her eyes. To be precise, she was more concerned about the unparalleled destructive power of the magic than about her own father wanting to kill her.

After all, this noble lady, who had been exposed to esoteric knowledge since childhood, always felt that the descriptions of mages in books contained a lot of exaggeration. For example, she couldn't imagine how such a small human body could fight against such a powerful monster as a dragon.

However, she finally realized that it wasn't the descriptions in the books that were exaggerated, but rather that she had never actually seen a real mage. Compared to the dazzling killing magic she had just witnessed, the secrets her family had carefully hidden were utterly insignificant.

A complex mix of emotions—longing, adoration, and fear—led her to obliviously the mutilated corpses scattered around, and she began to develop an indescribable obsession.

Of course, Zhang Cheng did not realize that Moroya Hightower was already showing signs of Stockholm syndrome. She walked through the broken wall and into a room filled with seawater.

Due to the magical energy, the seawater in the room seemed to come alive, constantly rotating around the central pillar to form a huge vortex.

To confirm the power of the vortex, he immediately drew the dagger he carried and threw it forcefully.

In an instant!

The water, which had been rotating at a steady speed, suddenly accelerated, twisting the forged dagger in half with terrifying force, and then flung it out, crashing into the inner wall and splashing golden sparks.

"Interesting, it seems this is the control center's last line of defense..."

Zhang Cheng muttered to himself as he observed the pillar in the center of the whirlpool, which was covered with reliefs of various marine creatures.

He could clearly sense that these reliefs gave the seawater its terrifying destructive power, while also protecting the core of the tower. Any intruder who wanted to seize control had to first destroy the water flow in order to change the permissions and become the master of the tower.

Perhaps with Westeros's current magical technology, breaking through the vortex supported by enormous energy is an impossible task, but for Zhang Cheng, who has been influenced by the advanced theoretical knowledge of the magical kingdom of Dalaran, it is not a difficult task.

He had no intention of confronting the high-speed flowing seawater head-on. He took out the precious gem that imprisoned the elemental soul and quickly recited an obscure and difficult incantation.

In about ten seconds, the water elemental warrior Melroyas appeared out of thin air in the center of the room. The rapidly swirling water around him did not harm his body, which was entirely made of water, but instead infused it with an incredible vitality.

Feeling the effects of the vortex on itself, it was puzzled for a while before asking in a muffled voice, "Great master, where is this place? Why can't I contact the elemental world? And what's going on with this strange water flow?"

"Shut up! I don't have time to answer any questions right now. See that huge vortex? Use your abilities to stop it!" Zhang Cheng gave the order bluntly.

To him, the enslaved elements were just like magical artifacts, merely tools. They had no need to think or waste time communicating with him.

"As you wish, my master." Melroyas, whose memories had been rewritten, did not try to argue or resist, but obediently opened his arms and merged himself into the rapidly spinning water.

In less than a minute, it turned all the seawater in the room into part of its body, constantly making splashing sounds.

Ignoring the water elemental's joyful mood, Zhang Cheng quickly approached and poured all his remaining magic power into the stone pillar.

Despite initially encountering fierce resistance from the original owner's residual magic, he eventually managed to defeat them, rebuilding the control center in his own way while also absorbing a large amount of magical knowledge stored within it.

He didn't know how much time had passed—maybe a few minutes, maybe a few hours—when he opened his eyes again, he was completely transformed. In particular, the spear-shaped tattoo on the back of his left hand emitted a soft, deep blue light, and each swing of it caused a slight tidal effect.

Carefully contemplating the power contained within the tattoo, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but smile and exclaim, "A tattoo with constant magical power to control water flow and tides—this is truly an unexpected gain. Now I'm starting to believe the theory that the Tower of Heights was built by some kind of marine civilization; perhaps the water magic of the Royna people was taught to them."

Despite his sighs, he didn't stop working at all. Before long, the water flowing around the stone pillar began to swirl at high speed again.

At the same time, the crystal at the top of the towering tower quickly dimmed, and those affected regained their senses, looking bewildered as they tried to recall what had happened.

Through the crystals embedded in the stone pillars, Zhang Cheng could clearly observe what was happening in every corner of the old town. Without turning his head, he said to Moroya, "See? This is the true purpose of the Tower of Babel. It can not only summon storms and tsunamis, but also monitor and control the residents of the surrounding area, making them willingly sacrifice their lives for the tower's master like slaves. Oh, I almost forgot, I seem to have defeated your deceased father in explaining the disappearance of magic. Since he's dead, I'll tell you. After all, I'm a man of my word and don't like to break promises I've made easily."

"No, you don't need to explain. I'll be killed soon anyway, so what's the point of knowing?" Moroya wiped the blood from her face and replied nonchalantly.

"Why would it be meaningless? Don't you know how many people have spent their entire lives exploring and practicing to answer the questions in their hearts? Besides, you don't necessarily have to die. If you cooperate enough, I might consider keeping you alive." Zhang Cheng turned around, hooked the other person's pointed chin, and put on a half-smile.

Chapter 0210 Slaughter

Without a doubt, Moroya Hightower had no idea what the man who could decide her life or death was thinking, but in order to fight for the last chance to live, she chose to cooperate without thinking.

When the tightly closed gates of the Tower of Heights opened once more, the woman appeared at the entrance, arm in arm with Zhang Cheng, and ordered all soldiers and knights loyal to the Hightar family to lay down their weapons and welcome the reinforcements from Brightwater City.

The soldiers thought the two families might have reached some kind of secret agreement, so they subconsciously lowered their guard, never imagining that this was the beginning of a massacre.

Before they could even react to what was happening, Blanco, having received the signal, immediately gave his men a wink, and then led hundreds of men to swarm forward, cutting down the unsuspecting soldiers and knights. In just over ten minutes, they had slaughtered the entire enemy force.

As expected, the entire process was quick and efficient, with almost no significant resistance.

After the last unfortunate man was pierced by more than a dozen sharp spears, the old mercenary took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his face, stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sir, it's all done. I guarantee there won't be a single survivor."

Seeing that it was soldiers finishing off the corpse, Zhang Cheng nodded in satisfaction: "Very good! How's it going at the Academy? Those self-important scholars haven't caused any trouble, have they?"

"Hehe! As you predicted, there was a group of guys who tried to stop us from entering the academy at first, but after killing a few of their leaders, they immediately became like castrated male dogs, no longer daring to make the slightest move to resist. Now, including the Grand Scholar, they are all under our control. All you have to do is nod your head..."

At this point, a bloodthirsty and cruel expression appeared on Blanco's face, and then he made a very subtle gesture.

"Hmph! What are we waiting for? Let's do it. Remember, no one is allowed to damage the library. I will personally check inside later to see if there is any information I need." Zhang Cheng coldly issued the order to massacre.

He didn't care about the serious consequences of destroying the only professional institution in Westeros dedicated to recording history and researching various natural sciences; the Ironborn would ultimately take the blame anyway.

It should be understood that almost none of those who can enter the Academy City to learn knowledge are commoners; most are noble children without inheritance rights. Once the news of the massacre of the Academy City spreads, the noble class will inevitably be shocked and may even send out a large number of spies to investigate the truth of the matter.

Fortunately, the Seven Kingdoms have just ended a fierce battle for the throne. Both the victorious and defeated families are doing everything they can to recover their strength. In addition, this false peace will soon come to an end with the death of Tywin Lannister. At that time, no one will focus their attention on the massacred Citadel.

In fact, although Zhang Cheng's behavior sometimes seemed very bold, he had always thought things through carefully to ensure that he was able to withstand the changes that followed.

Of course, lacking political experience, Blanco never realized the political impact of destroying the Academy City. He merely regarded it as a side effect of eliminating the Hightower family and happily headed towards the Academy City. About half an hour later, painful wails came with the sultry sea breeze.

Hearing those familiar screams, Morroia began to tremble uncontrollably. She lowered her voice and asked, "Aren't you afraid that one day someone will find out what you're doing?"

"Afraid? Do you think I'd be afraid of a bunch of weaklings who bow down to a mere three dragons? No, my dear, the power of the nobility is far less than you imagine. Their survival has nothing to do with strength; it's simply because no one has found a replacement yet. Give me ten to fifteen years to train a group of qualified administrators, and I can not only wipe out all the nobles but also establish a more efficient system of governance." Zhang Cheng curled his lips into a cold smile, making no attempt to hide his contempt for the primitive feudal aristocratic system.

Earth's history has proven that feudal states are as fragile as paper in the face of centralized states, falling far short in both resource integration and population mobilization.

"So... you also want the Iron Throne?" Morroia cautiously continued to probe.

"On the contrary, I have absolutely no interest in the Iron Throne, much less time to build an empire from scratch. If you're wondering why I destroyed the Citadel and the Hightoar family, the answer is simple: you blocked my path to magical knowledge. Alright, I don't have time for idle chatter. Please continue to demonstrate your worth and make those still stubbornly resisting in the corners of the city lay down their weapons and surrender immediately. Also, write a letter to your married sisters; I don't want any of them to slip through the net." With that, Zhang Cheng gave the other man a meaningful look.

“If I do all this, you’ll let me live, right?” Moroya forced herself to straighten her back, trying to get a definite promise.

However, Zhang Cheng responded with a half-smile, "Sorry, I can only guarantee you one chance, a chance to survive. As for whether you can actually survive, that depends on your own efforts. After all, a slave who knows a little about alchemy is still quite valuable."

The words had barely left his mouth!

Beth Tarot came running from a distance, her eyes gleaming with hatred, and she was carrying a blood-stained sword.

"Ah, my vengeful goddess has arrived. I sincerely hope you've practiced swordsmanship alongside your studies of magic, otherwise I guarantee she'll be more than happy to break your limbs, followed by having dozens of old, ugly vagrants gang rape you until you completely break down. Oh, and one last reminder, quickly pick up a sword..."

Before Zhang Cheng could finish speaking, Beth rushed forward and stabbed at Morroya's wrist.

It goes without saying that she doesn't intend to kill directly to vent her anger, but rather to torture and humiliate her enemy first, to take back ten or a hundred times the pain she has endured over the years.

"Damn it!" Morroya cursed through gritted teeth as she frantically dodged, completely bewildered as to why the other party wanted to kill her. All she could do was pick up a relatively light dagger to parry and defend herself.

Compared to Beth, who had experienced real killing, although she knew a little about noble swordsmanship, she was no match for her. In just a few rounds, her long dress was cut in several places, exposing her white thighs and back to the air, which drew loud cheers from many rude soldiers around her.

As for Zhang Cheng, he stepped aside, watching the two women fight with great interest, making no attempt to stop or interfere...

Chapter 0211 The War Between Women

“Moroya Hightower! Do you remember ordering the execution of a merchant six years ago?” Beth deftly deflected her dagger, grinning as she slashed a gash across her opponent’s pale thigh.

Although the battle had only been going on for a few minutes, she had already given her enemy a lot of trouble. Not only was her skirt torn to shreds, but her skin was also covered with several wounds of various sizes, and her clothes were stained red with blood.

However, Morroia did not cry or panic like most women.

On the contrary, she showed no weakness whatsoever. Instead, she barely managed to protect her vitals with her clumsy swordsmanship. Then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, she silently pulled out a small bottle filled with gray powder from her sleeve and mocked with a sarcastic expression: "Excuse me, if you mean I killed your relatives or loved ones, I can only answer that it was too insignificant and not worth me remembering."

"Very well! Let's see how long you can keep up your stubbornness after you've fallen to the ground!" Enraged, Beth swung her longsword, knocking away the dagger, and thrust it straight at the other woman's chest, seemingly intending to destroy those soft, full peaks that made men's blood boil.

Watching the sharp blade pierce her, Morroia was terrified and retreated repeatedly. Then, she suddenly curled the corners of her mouth and flung all the gray powder into the air.

Before Beth could even react, she found herself surrounded by an eerie glow.

next second...

Click!

Click, click, click!

The armor she wore and the weapon in her hand began to crack. In less than a minute, they quickly rusted and aged, eventually turning into a mass of brown iron filings. Even the clothes and socks she wore underneath shattered into countless fragments that scattered in the wind.

Such a bizarre scene caused even the most inexperienced soldiers, let alone Zhang Cheng himself, to widen their eyes involuntarily, trying to figure out what the powder in the bottle was.

So shocked were they that no one noticed Beth was completely naked, only covering her private parts with her hands, and no one appreciated her alluring curves.

"Hmph! Idiot! How do you feel now? Oh, right, a woman like you who frequents taverns and the black market has probably slept with countless stinking sailors and drunkards, so naturally you wouldn't care if hundreds of men were watching your naked body." While provoking her opponent with sharp words, Moroya picked up the dagger that had fallen to the side, intending to seize the opportunity to deliver the final blow.

Unfortunately, she clearly underestimated the adaptability of a woman who had long lived in a treacherous environment.

Once she calmed down, Beth quickly arched her back and rushed forward with lightning speed, slamming her head hard into Beth's fragile chin.

boom!

"what!!!!"

With a muffled thud, Moroya instantly lost her balance, clutching her bleeding mouth as she fell to the ground, apparently having bitten her tongue.

"Hahahaha! You arrogant nobleman! I'll make you understand what a terrible price you'll pay for underestimating me!" Beth laughed wildly as she pounced on him, throwing punches as she landed her blow.

After taking several punches, Morroia quickly regained her senses and launched a counterattack using her sharp nails and teeth.

In the blink of an eye, the few remaining clothes on her body were torn off, and she was completely grappling with Beth.

These two women were like madmen, completely disregarding their image and temperament, only wanting to inflict as much damage as possible on their opponent, whether psychological or physical.

Seeing that they were fighting more and more fiercely and resorting to all sorts of means, a middle-aged man of about forty years old sighed helplessly, took the initiative to step forward, and asked in a low voice, "Earl, are you sure you don't need me to separate the two of them? If this continues, their pretty faces will be ruined."

Zhang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then immediately shook his head: "No, there's no need for that. Let them beat you until they're exhausted. Besides, in my eyes, there's no difference between men and women, beautiful and ugly. I value their abilities and worth, not whether they can satisfy certain special desires, understand? Remember, never compare me to those idiots who only think with their lower bodies."

“Of course, sir. I have never doubted your wisdom and self-control, but the problem is that being too restrained is often not a good thing. Haven’t you noticed that a small number of people have begun to suspect that the reason you are not interested in women is because you like men…” the middle-aged man cautiously reminded him.

"Oh? Just because I haven't been with a woman for the past few months?" Zhang Cheng raised his eyebrows in surprise.

He never expected that his decision not to date would trigger a series of gossips and questions.

The middle-aged man nodded seriously and explained, “That’s right! You see, right now you’re the only one left in the entire Asspring family. No collateral relatives have the right to inherit, so you must have a few children as soon as possible. That way, if something unexpected happens, the family can continue, and those of us who have sworn allegiance to you won’t have to live in constant fear. Besides, young people like you are usually at an age where they crave pleasure. But you’ve ignored the opposite sex for months on end. How can that not arouse suspicion?”

"So you mean... I need to prove that I like women?" Zhang Cheng's face showed a wry smile.

As an adult male, he never imagined that one day he would need to prove his sexual orientation to others.

However, upon closer reflection, it's no wonder that the newly appointed mercenaries are worried. If they don't have sex with women, they won't have offspring, and without offspring, their territory will be taken back after their death, leaving their interests unprotected.

In fact, under the primitive feudal system, nothing was more important to the aristocratic class than increasing the number of their offspring. Only with enough offspring could they avoid the usurpation of their inheritance rights.

“That’s right! If you don’t mind, today is a good opportunity. In my experience, finding a woman to vent your anger after killing can help relieve your emotions. You must have killed quite a few people just now…” As he spoke, a look of awe appeared in the middle-aged man’s eyes.

Although Zhang Cheng was not stained with any blood at all, he still managed to detect a strong smell of death thanks to his keen sense of smell.

"Hehe, alright, go separate them, then take them to take a bath and change into clean clothes. Make sure Morroia Hightar attends the banquet later." Zhang Chengfei quickly gave the order.

"As you wish, my lord." The middle-aged man placed one hand on his chest and bowed deeply.