Chapter 360 - 198: A Gathering of Geniuses, a Nest of Monsters

Chapter 360: Chapter 198: A Gathering of Geniuses, a Nest of Monsters

Pei Ze sat on the sofa, examining the Memory Crystal Ball in his hands.

Mo Weng had given it to him. It recorded the training methods for Elemental Mages and Dawn Star Knights.

Mo Weng clearly knew what he truly wanted.

"Improving your strength is a step-by-step process. It won’t be too late to review the relevant materials after you’ve advanced to an Elemental Mage," Mo Weng advised earnestly.

"Yes, Teacher."

Pei Ze nodded and put away the Memory Crystal Ball.

Just as Mo Weng had said, it was too early to worry about what came after his next breakthrough. The priority now was to become an Elemental Mage.

Pei Ze already had a plan in mind. After the Battle of the Holy Ring, he would find a way to strengthen his constitution, break through to the Tier Nine Legendary Realm, and then attempt to ignite the Elemental Fire.

Snapping out of his reverie, Pei Ze asked Mo Weng, "Teacher, what exactly is the format for the Battle of the Holy Ring?"

Mo Weng set down his teacup and mulled it over for a moment, seeming to choose his words carefully. After a short while, he finally spoke.

"I assume you’ve heard of the Tower of the Holy Ring."

"I have. It’s a Wizard Tower left over from the Dark Age."

Mo Weng nodded and continued, "The Tower of the Holy Ring is different from ordinary Wizard Towers. It seems it was designed from the very beginning with the idea of testing young Wizards, and most of the facilities inside were built for that purpose. Afterward, it was modified by several of the Alliance’s Rule Wizards, who added many more features to that end. That’s why it’s now used as the venue for the Battle of the Holy Ring."

"The Tower of the Holy Ring has five floors. Aside from the top floor, each of the other four has a different set of trials. Only those who pass through the first four floors and reach the fifth can claim victory in the Battle of the Holy Ring."

"As for the content of the trials on the first four floors," Mo Weng shook his head, "I’m forbidden by Alliance regulations from telling you. If I did, you would be disqualified."

Pei Ze grew pensive, but he didn’t mind.

’As long as none of the participants know, it’s fair.’

And Pei Ze had no doubt that the Star Realm Alliance could ensure that.

He never underestimated the methods of the Rule Wizards in the Star Realm Alliance’s upper echelons.

"In short, once you’re inside the Tower of the Holy Ring, you can only rely on yourself."

"Also, be careful not to use any external items that exceed your own power level. Otherwise, the Alliance will not only disqualify you, but they’ll also penalize you."

A thought struck Pei Ze.

’Does that mean I can’t use the Silver Frost Disaster Wolf Bloodline Mark or the Explosive Insect Crystals? And I went to all the trouble of refining so many Explosive Insect Crystals, too.’

’Still, that’s probably for the best. Without the influence of external items, all the participants will have to compete on their own strength.’

’When it comes to trump cards and external items, I’m not sure I could compete with those Chosen Ones backed by Rule Wizards anyway.’

Having obtained the information he wanted, Pei Ze asked no more questions. He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes, conserving his energy for the battle to come.

Mo Weng and Gu Yi drank their tea in silence, sharing a tacit understanding not to disturb him.

The living room instantly fell quiet.

About half an hour later, Mo Weng’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

"We’ve arrived."

The Wizard Tower gave an almost imperceptible shudder.

Pei Ze’s eyes snapped open. For a second, he felt as if he’d passed through a thin film.

He understood instantly. ’The Wizard Tower must have passed through some sort of barrier.’

"Let’s go."

Mo Weng set down his teacup and rose to his feet.

Pei Ze and Gu Yi followed suit.

The next moment, his vision blurred. When it cleared, Pei Ze found himself standing on a vast, open plain.

He looked up. The sky above the plain was filled with spires. Hundreds of Wizard Towers, each with a unique design, floated a thousand meters above the ground. By his estimate, there were at least two or three hundred of them.

Pei Ze was secretly astounded.

Wizard Towers were a rare sight, yet today two or three hundred of them had gathered in one place. This was several times more than the number deployed during the great war between Red Maple City and the Winter Frost Army.

A large crowd had also gathered on the plain below—at least two or three thousand people from a single glance.

Nearly half of them were young, like him, and all appeared to be in their twenties.

The arrival of Pei Ze and his two companions drew a great deal of attention, and people in the nearby crowd turned to give them scrutinizing looks.

In the crowd, Gong Quanhai’s brow twitched, and his eyes narrowed.

"It’s the people from Chenxi City."

Standing beside him, Yin Yao followed his gaze. His eyes landed on the only young man in the trio as he said with interest, "So that’s Pei Ze? I hear he’s only twenty-one. That makes him one of the youngest competitors in this year’s Battle of the Holy Ring."

Gong Quanhai said coolly, "So what? The Battle of the Holy Ring doesn’t grant special treatment for being young."

Yin Yao was aware of the friction between Red Lotus City and Chenxi City, so he wasn’t surprised by the veiled hostility in Gong Quanhai’s tone. He smiled and said, "I just think it’s a shame. If this Battle of the Holy Ring were held a few years from now, giving Pei Ze more time to train, he might actually have a real shot at victory."

Gong Quanhai snorted but didn’t reply.

Despite his dislike for Pei Ze, he had to admit the young man was outstanding.

Pei Ze wasn’t one of the Chosen, nor did he come from a Bloodline Clan. To have advanced to a Level 3 Wizard at twenty-one under those circumstances meant his aptitude surpassed that of most Chosen. It was no exaggeration to call him a prodigy.

A genius like that, given another three or four years to grow, might truly have been able to overcome all the other Chosen and seize victory in the Battle of the Holy Ring.

But that was merely speculation. The reality was that the Pei Ze of today was just a Level 3 Wizard who had advanced not long ago.