Mages, Adventurers, and Women

Jane Frye, her face ashen and silent, tied the ground iguana to the tusked elephant resting on the ground, and returned to the Radiant Squad with a cold expression.

The thicket of thorns taller than Duron has a trail left behind from the last time I explored it.

In less than a month, it was overgrown with weeds again.

Bones and Duron led the way.

The two brothers brandished their Golden Dragon-grade weapons, their black armor clanging crisply as they moved. Bones muttered:

"I thought that gold dragon-level equipment and weapons would have the abilities of the mage."

"It feels no different from the Black Dragon-level equipment I used to wear."

The only difference between the Gold Dragon-level equipment and the Black Dragon-level equipment on Golden Island is the material.

There are no magical effects such as "enchantment".

During the journey, Bone subconsciously asked the learned Li Wei:

"Li Wei, do you know why?"

Helen, the female warrior in Daphne's team, hesitated, as she was still missing bracers and calf armor to complete her Gold Dragon-level equipment.

Look at those orcs and dwarves, looking down on gold dragon-level equipment?

Foolish!

Daphne once said that the non-combat professions such as blacksmiths and enchanters on Sky Island also possessed power comparable to that of the Golden Kingdom.

Li Wei chatted casually:

"Throughout its history and present, Golden Island has produced very few non-combat professionals such as potion makers, blacksmiths, and enchanters who are renowned throughout the island. They all exist in the form of merchant guilds."

"The materials used to refine and forge items determine their grade, and have little to do with the creator's techniques."

"This is completely different from what Princess Daphne mentioned about Sky Island. Non-combat professionals there also have vast prospects for development, including the famous airships that can only be crafted on Sky Island."

"This shows that compared to Sky Island, the career prospects for non-combat professionals on Golden Island are extremely limited."

"I think the core reason lies in the 'island boundary'."

"It prevented the boundless sea from harming Golden Island, but it also restricted the development of Golden Island to one island."

Upon hearing Li Wei mention the Sky Isle, Daphne couldn't help but dream about it:

"Sky Island recruits the top three non-combat associations from across the islands every year in order to find any non-combat geniuses that might have been overlooked."

"Our longing for the Sky Island is also related to this, where there are more options if we get tired of fighting."

Li Wei understood Daphne's feelings.

I have seen a wider world.

Unwilling to accept their fate, they spend their lives "living in a remote corner".

The blocking of news from the island and outside the island is also related to this.

For over 99% of the creatures on Golden Island, their entire lives revolve solely around the land beneath their feet, and they are unaware that the land beneath their feet is a tiny island in the boundless sea.

Sending information from outside the island is detrimental to stability on the island.

Fina once said that when she first learned about the elemental system, she was introduced to the knowledge of the boundless sea.

From the perspective of the Golden Kingdom, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

In the long run, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for most elementalists. Once they master the elements, they will have a grand goal to pursue. In the early stages, they should avoid becoming arrogant, complacent, or stagnant.

From that time on, Fina developed a longing for the outside world.

Later, in pursuit of his dream, he willingly became a necromancer, a mage whom everyone hated.

Unfortunately, Fina was limited by her talent, ability, and vision.

Completely unaware.

The fact that he was a necromancer was never the main reason why everyone hated him.

Li Wei never concealed his identity as a necromancer, so who would want to kill him?

Even high priests and priests of the Priests' Association were willing to sleep with him. Logically speaking, Melanie and Elda should be heretics in the eyes of the Priests' Association.

The results of it?

Who dares to ask?

Who would ask?

……

"arrive!"

"The bone shouted."

Amidst the rubble, two stone pillars have collapsed, leaving a "magical barrier" half-buried in weeds in between.

At the entrance stands a stone tablet that is missing half of its length.

Li Wei read aloud the ancient phrase "Lionheart Kingdom": "Fara?"

"What do you mean?" Julia asked curiously, standing next to Li Wei.

Li Wei asked in confusion:

“Princess Daphne said this is the place where the Golden Kingdom conducts trials for Tier 1 professionals. I have read the three miscellaneous books that Princess Daphne gave me, and I have also read a lot of miscellaneous books about the Lionheart Kingdom. Some of the trivial information does mention that there is a trial ground specifically for Tier 1 professionals not far from the Islay Tree.”

“But in the ancient language of the Lionheart Kingdom, ‘Fara’ means ‘ruins’ or ‘ancient land.’ From our perspective, this is indeed a relic or ancient land of the Lionheart Kingdom. But the stone tablet was erected by the Lionheart Kingdom. Why would they call it a relic or ancient land?”

Daphne, who was about to step into the magic barrier, paused and asked in surprise, "'Fali' doesn't mean the Trial Grounds?"

Li Wei explained:

“In the ancient language of the Lionheart Kingdom, Fari means the Trial Grounds. Farah is similar in stroke to it, but the ‘Fara’ used here is not ‘Fari’. It means ruins or ancient lands.”

Daphne suddenly realized and said:

"No wonder there were so many magical beasts and monsters in the outer ring. It turns out it wasn't a trial ground?!"

She then looked at her four teammates, including Jenpney, and said coldly:

"Now do you know why I invited Yulia's team to explore together?"

Jane remained silent, her face darkening.

The rather cheerful warrior girl, Helen, exclaimed excitedly:

"Captain, I remember there are several stone tablets on the outer ring inscribed with the ancient language of the Lionheart Kingdom. Will we be able to understand their meaning this time too?!"

Daphne pouted and looked at Levi, joking with utter surprise:

"It's entirely up to His Excellency Li Wei's wishes."

Having reached this point, neither team showed any sign of giving up.

……

Eleven mermaids leaped through the magic barrier.

Li Wei led Yulia's team, following behind the guide.

Behind the barrier, they walked in a wide corridor, surrounded by silence, with only the crisp sound of their footsteps echoing around them.

The surroundings were bathed in a colorful, eerie glow, like the world seen when one is drunk.

Upon closer inspection, the walls on both sides are covered with broken stone statues.

What's particularly unusual is that they all retained their heads intact.

They might cry loudly, laugh loudly, fawn, or sneer...

Bizarre and lifelike.

Daphne followed behind Yulia's team, her second time here, and she still felt uneasy. She muttered to herself:

"These stone statues are really eerie; they look like living people."

Julia was terrified of these strange things. Clutching her bow and tugging at Livy's sleeve, she wouldn't leave his side.

Sylvie had already activated the Priest's Protection, sheltering Yulia's team and illuminating the way forward.

The eleven people encountered three forks in the road. Li Wei walked in front of the two groups and led the way for them.

Daphne suddenly realized something was wrong, and she said in surprise:

"Li Wei, have you been here before?"

"This is my first time here."

"what happened?"

Li Wei asked curiously.

Daphne frowned and said, "How do you know the route we took last time, since this is your first time here?"

Li Wei pointed to the guide ahead and said truthfully:

"Isn't someone leading the way?"

Upon hearing this, Yulia, Sylvie, Bones, Duron, Daphne, and the Radiant Squad looked ahead. All they saw was darkness, occasionally punctuated by clusters of beautiful, ghostly light. Where was the guide?!

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines and reacted quickly.

"Lightning Bolt!"

"Wind Blade!"

"Ice pick!"

"Priest's protection!"

"Shield Technique: Rock!"

"Explosive Arrow!"

……

……

Chapter 102: Sisters [3/4 Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"take it easy."

"Just a guiding spirit."

Li Wei flicked his finger, using an elemental light orb to extinguish the spells cast by Daphne and the other two.

His nonchalant manner surprised the three radiant monks.

Especially Daphne.

She has fought against mages with psychoanalytic abilities.

Even a second-tier mage couldn't analyze her spells as easily as Li Wei did.

Just how strong is Li Wei?!

Jane frowned as she looked at Li Wei. She seemed to have underestimated Li Wei's strength.

……

Yulia gazed at the empty, desolate space ahead and whispered:

"Li Wei... what is a guiding spirit?"

Li Wei explained it in layman's terms:

"Imprisoning the spirit with a magic array, the spirit of a creature that exists between active and undead elements."

"The stone tablet in front, which is imprisoned outside, is usually a guiding spirit created by a powerful force."

“Other spirits are imprisoned within the stone statues on both sides; they can be called ‘stone statue spirits’.”

"Just to add, gargoyles are the precursors of gargoyles, which are third-tier monsters. By absorbing enough necromantic elements, they have a chance to grow into gargoyles."

He looked at Sylvie and Daphne, and said in surprise:

"Does the Golden Kingdom lack the means to imprison the mind?"