End of the Magic Era

“No…”

William shook his head, he had heard countless tales of this legendary commander’s campaigns to every major plane. It would have been impossible for him not to feel pressure if he had faced this commander before.

But it was different now, ever since he came in contact with his cousin Mafa on that trip to Thousand Sails City, which he considered as an exile at that time, his fate thoroughly changed. In a bit over a year, he walked the path than an ordinary person might not be able to achieve in ten years, from 5th Rank Great Mage, he advanced all the way to 9th Rank High Mage.

To be honest, he wasn’t feeling any pressure when facing Thorne alone.

Nothing could be done about it, the current William was extremely confident, he had thoroughly researched that 13-Formulas Meditation Law Set his cousin recently gave him and then succeeded in destroying his Magic Conducting Runes. And from those remains, he built the even more formidable Magic Conducting Rune known as Well of Stars.

He might just be a 9th Rank High Mage, but he could easily crush a low ranked Archmage when he displayed his full power.

“Sir Thorne, you’d best check it now. Cousin Mafa said that you’ll definitely like this gift…” Wililam thought for a bit, and didn’t put that thing on the table, putting it in front of Thorne instead.

“Hmpf…”

Thorne was clearly stunned, this irascible commander was about to get angry, but when he thought of the relationship between William and the young mage, he suppressed his anger and snorted instead.

“What is it…” After some hesitation, Thorne reached out and took the thing before his eyes. He lifted the layer of paper covering it, exposing the glimmering thumb-sized metal ball laying there.

A gloomy smile appeared on Thorne’s face, he looked at William for a few minutes before his voice echoed, “I’ll trouble you to go back and tell High Mage Mafa that I do not have this kind of hobby and I hope he won’t deliver this kind of thing next time. Oh, right, you’d best take this metal ball away before leaving, it’ll be disposed like garbage if left here.”

“This truly isn’t garbage…”

William could no longer look away when that glimmer appeared, envy could even be seen on his face for a split second.

Indeed, envy…

That was a metal ball that looked exquisite on the outside, but wasn’t emitting any mana fluctuation. It was only a curio to most, only people like Mafa Merlin and William himself knew how valuable of a treasure it was.

Because half a year ago, William had once been gifted a very similar metal ball from his cousin’s hands, and after following the method provided by his cousin, his mana doubled the next day.

Indeed, this was the greatest invention of Artisan Vaughn, the Alchemic Mana Whirlpool!

Thorne picked up the Alchemic Mana Whirlpool and fiddled with it, a cold smile on his face, “Since you are saying it’s not garbage, then give me an explanation, and one that shall satisfy me…”

“Haha…”

William had a calm expression as he chuckled, he then took a deep breath and said, “Sir Thorne, let me tell you the origin of this metal, it was created by the final Artisan of the 3rd Dynasty. I believe that if you pay a closer look, you should be able to see it hadn’t been forged in ordinary metal, but in a rare type of magic metal known as Mithril. This metal is only produced in the 40th floor of the Abyss or lower…”

“Oh?”

Sure enough, Thorne’s movements came to an abrupt stop as William explained, after a careful look, he discovered the peculiarities of the Alchemic Mana Whirlpool, “How is it used?”

“It is called Alchemic Mana Whirlpool. Simply put, it can replace Mana Whirlpool without influencing a mage’s meditation and casting. This might help your son Aube become a mage again, as for what kind of height he would reach afterward, it would depend on his own abilities.”

“Hold on… What did you say?” Thorne was instantly frozen, it was to the point that he almost let that Alchemic Mana Whirlpool fall to the ground. He thought about William’s words a few time before reacting. He then tightly held the Alchemic Mana Whirlpool, unable to stop shaking, “Thank you… Truly, thank you. William, please, you must help me pass on my thanks to High Mage Mafa, thank him for his selfless assistance, no, I have to personally thank him. Also, thank you too, William…”

At this time, Thorne was truly excited and speechless, his face was flushed and he thanked William three times, he didn’t have the least bit of commander’s demeanor.

Nothing could be done about it, he was too happy.

Half a year ago, Aube Merlin’s Mana Whirlpool had been crippled and his magic path had been completely severed. The look of despair his son had was like a knife twisting in his heart, he felt even more pain than Aube.

He had thought about trying to help Aube become a mage again more than once, but that was simply impossible, he could only fantasize.

But now, the young mage gifted him this Alchemic Mana Whirlpool, giving Aube hope to become a mage once again.

At this time, Thorne wasn’t a commander, neither was he a Sword Saint, he was only a father overjoyed that his son could once again tread the magic path.

“What are you thanking me for…” Seeing Thorne completely changing and even thanking himself, William couldn’t help forcing a smile, “Right, Sir Thorne, you don’t need to go over just for that, Cousin Mafa should be coming over to the Flame Demon Fort tomorrow, you can personally express your gratitude at that time. Oh, right, the way to use the Alchemic Mana Whirlpool is recorded in those papers, if there is something you don’t understand, you can ask Cousin Mafa…”

“Yes, yes…”

Thorne tightly held onto the Alchemic Mana Whirlpool in one hand and grabbed onto those papers with his other hand, still incredibly excited.

William laughed and took a deep look at this middle-aged commander soaking in happiness and couldn’t help inwardly sighing with sorrow, ‘That Aube is truly lucky, how could he get a chance to become a mage again if his father wasn’t Thorne…’

William didn’t say anything else and left the meeting room to go back to the Ghost Valley.

It was already evening by the time William arrived at the Ghost Valley, that blood red scorching sun gradually fading away as the surroundings became somewhat dusky.

“Looks like it went smoothly…” Seeing William return empty-handed, Lin Yun instantly knew that his cousin had accomplished his task.

As for that Alchemic Mana Whirlpool, it would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel regretful…

That was a treasure that could make a mage double his mana. A mage with an Alchemic Mana Whirlpool could overpower a mage on the same level.

Not to mention, only six Alchemic Mana Whirlpools appeared in the entire Noscent. Back then, he had gotten those six in the Stone Tower in the Four Season Canyon, but he gave two to Solomon, fused with two, and gave one to William. This meant that he had given Thorne his last one…

It was the only way to eliminate the barrier between him and Thorne…

But, in the foreseeable future, he might possibly rely on his own power to forge Alchemic Mana Whirlpools.

After all, the Ivory Tower ended up seizing Vaughn’s treasury in Crystal Island and found a research report on Alchemic Mana Whirlpools. Later, the Ivory Tower explored the Four Seasons Canyon four times, yet they didn’t find any trace of an Alchemic Mana Whirlpool.

But Lin Yun already had an Alchemic Mana Whirlpool, if he got a hold of that research report and used it in tandem with his Alchemic Mana Whirlpools, he should be able to craft his own Alchemic Mana Whirlpools as a Peak Artisan.

But Crystal Island was still a farfetched objective for the current Lin Yun.

In a few millennia, a world-shaking war would break out over Crystal Island, no less than ten Heaven Rank powerhouses would fall, as for Archmages, they would be nothing more than cannon fodder in that war.

In the end, the Ivory Tower would reveal its fangs and obtain Vaughn’s treasury, obtaining some ancient records, along with an Ancient God’s corpse.

Regardless of how dangerous the Crystal Island was, Lin Yun had to go over. The soul fragments within his Demiplane were constantly threatening him, it would be a huge disaster if they awakened. At that time, he might have no other choice but to give up on his Demiplane.

And there was a way to suppress the soul of an Ancient God in Vaughn’s treasury.

“Exceptionally smooth…” William smiled as he recounted the story, he then couldn’t help grinning, “Aube is truly fortunate…”

“Haha…”

After chatting with William for a short moment, Lin Yun looked for a place to meditate until the next morning. He led the three Merlins, Reina, and the Draconic Beastman, who had been sleeping for over half a month, and proceeded towards the Flame Demon Fort.

It had already been half a month since Weiss delivered the Thawing Fire Tribe’s Totem, it was now time to return it. This was the reason why Lin Yun was rushing towards the Flame Demon Fort since dawn.

After rushing for a few hours, the group of six arrived at the Flame Demon Fort. At this time, Lin Yun could clearly sense that the Flame Demon Fort’s troops had been greatly reduced since the last time he was there, but he immediately relaxed. With the destruction of the Thawing Fire Tribe, the land controlled by the Merlin Family in the Raging Flame Plane had expanded by two or three times, the Merlin Family having to spread their troops was something inevitable.