Wizard Bloodline

Ronan and Benigo left the Ring City, venturing into a vast, primeval forest. They walked westward through the forest for about half an hour before turning into a tranquil and secluded valley.

Within the valley, a small waterfall cascaded down from a cliff, creating a misty spray all around.

Ronan watched as Benigo disappeared behind the waterfall, seeming to vanish in an instant. When he followed, he found only a bare stone wall.

Behind the stone wall, there was a faint energy particle fluctuation. Ronan cautiously extended his hand, and the rough, moss-covered rock melted away like water. Then, a strong suction pulled him through the wall with a stumble.

"A secret realm?"

As light returned to Ronan's eyes, a new world unfolded before him, unmistakably indicating that he had entered a secret realm. It was akin to the "Corpse Garden" he had visited before and the test space during the Ring's entrance exam.

Benigo had brought him into another small secret realm.

Or rather, "micro" realm might be more accurate.

This secret realm was much smaller than the "Corpse Garden," not even the size of a single bathroom.

Ronan estimated the entire realm to be just over a thousand square meters.

Half of the area was cultivated into a nursery and potion garden, though only a few dozen half-dead magical herbs were planted.

The remaining half was divided into three parts: a third was a spell training ground, a third resembled a laboratory with potion tables, rune tables, enchantment tables, dissection tables, and even a blacksmith's forge and a large, semi-transparent alchemical vat. The corner of the experiment area was piled with various rune debris, potion residue, and monster corpses, emitting a foul stench.

The last third was a living area with some simple metal furniture and a large number of books.

"Back when the Mirror Court relic first appeared, a lot of spatial materials and magical items flowed out... I used a small spatial energy orb to create this secret realm, but it's been neglected for so long that it's near collapse."

Benigo moved like a host to the living area, first taking out the long wooden box containing the ice coffin from his storage pouch, carefully inspecting it. Then he removed his bloodstained white shirt and began treating his wounds with potions.

Hearing Benigo's introduction, Ronan indeed saw some rune array patterns at the edge of the space, with obvious repair marks and several cloudy, frosted-glass-like patches of air. Ronan frequently observed similar phenomena when "forcefully" opening others' storage pouches—a sign of unstable spatial energy.

In essence, this micro secret realm resembled an old house in disrepair, with its "walls" peeling and its "plumbing and wiring" exposed, giving a distinctly "dilapidated" impression.

It matched Benigo's current state of decline.

"Mirror Court."

Ronan pondered the other term Benigo mentioned, naturally recalling the broken mirror artifact he acquired during his apprenticeship at Hoddam.

"Mirror Court was an ancient wizard faction in this region, renowned for its mirror and spatial magic inheritances, incredibly powerful..."

Benigo, shirtless and revealing a muscular, scarred body, approached Ronan with two silver goblets, "Later, as I told you, the instinct to descend led all the wizards of Mirror Court to leave... you understand."

Ronan nodded, accepting the silver goblet from Benigo.

The goblet contained a purplish-red liquid with a faint fruity aroma. He held it without drinking.

Ronan's gaze swept over the potion garden, experiment tables, forge, and alchemical vat, commenting, "I didn't realize you had such a broad range of secondary skills."

Benigo sipped from his goblet, speaking calmly, "When you find you can't hold your sword steady anymore, you try picking up something else."

Ronan was deeply struck by Benigo's words, looking up at him.

Honestly, he was always curious about the stories surrounding Benigo, especially how a "three-ring" genius fell to his current state.

The scars on Benigo's body seemed to silently narrate these tales.

Sensing Ronan's curiosity, Benigo said, "It's just soul decay, causing strength to decline, but I won't die anytime soon... let's talk about you."

Benigo set his goblet down, casually donning a clean new shirt, sitting before Ronan with the wooden box containing the Sacred Blood Tree seed.

"I don't know much about that boy, Travis.

"But having late first-level followers suggests he is at least a three-ring talent.

"His interest in Demon Tungsten likely means he practices both metal and dark magic."

Ronan's eyes flickered, prompting him to ask, "What exactly do the rings represent? And does the Ring allow wizards to practice dark magic?"

"The ring levels symbolize strength and talent.

"The only way to upgrade your ring level is through contribution points, the tasks listed in the Ring's mission hall.

"The higher your ring level, the higher your status in the Ring, and the more resources you can command."

Benigo explained, "Every wizard in the Ring strives to elevate their ring level. As for dark magic... it's commonplace in the Ring.

"Elemental spells remain one of the Ring's core inheritances.

"In fact, initially, metal spells were sought by the Ring's high-ups to complement elemental spells, enhancing their power as auxiliary inheritances. Now, metal spells have taken the lead.

"Metal spells, when combined with elemental mediums and magic, can achieve power several times greater than standalone metal spells.

"This is why the Ring doesn't care about what you practiced before joining or whether you've condensed a soul sigil.

"Because once you're in the Ring, your past skills don't need to be abandoned."

Ronan understood, recalling the Ring wizards he defeated earlier, particularly the young leader whose fire-metal spells left a strong impression.

"I noticed you possess not only the extraordinary domain power of your primary ice spells but another domain power as well."

Benigo looked at Ronan with a hint of curiosity.

Ronan nodded, unable to hide this fact, having used the power of [Dispelling Force] during the earlier confrontation with Ring wizards, witnessed by Benigo.

"Your talent in magic is high; you seem to have found a unique shortcut."

Benigo remarked, "But this might not be entirely good.

"The more domains you comprehend, the harder it is to achieve domain resonance."

"Domain resonance?!"

Ronan blinked, blurting out, "What's that?"

For Benigo, once a three-ring genius, comprehending domains wasn't strange, and he had evidently progressed further than Ronan on this path.

Although Ronan currently wielded three domain powers, his understanding of domains was still rudimentary.

Benigo explained, "Domains don't have clear hierarchical differences.

"But a wizard's mastery of a domain has distinct thresholds.

"Domain resonance is the first threshold.

"Wizards reaching domain resonance see their domain's power and form undergo further transformation."

Benigo raised his hand toward Ronan, revealing a small cluster of black metal in his palm—his remaining Demon Tungsten, enough to form a pipe.

But this time, Benigo formed a miniature hiltless greatsword.

A faint mystical aura flowed, entwining the sword.

When Benigo aimed the sword at Ronan, he felt an intensely sharp aura lock onto him.

It was as if his head would be cleaved by this sharpness at any moment, causing him to instinctively step back.

Ronan's face showed a hint of astonishment.

He clearly sensed that, although Benigo's domain was small in range and quantity, its indomitable aura, capable of cutting through any obstacle, surpassed his [Desperate Freeze], [Dispelling Force], and [Particle Stream] tenfold in purity and strength.

"This is the effect of domain resonance."

Benigo said softly.

Ronan's eyes gleamed with eagerness, asking, "How do I achieve it?"

"First, you must truly understand the essence of the domain powers you possess."

Benigo withdrew his domain and the sword, speaking calmly, "Domain derivation stems from a deep understanding of a spell.

"But this understanding only brings you closer to the spell's essence than ordinary wizards.

"For you, it's still vague, showing only an outline.

"You need to continually approach it, parting the veils until you touch its surface."

Ronan appeared pensive, grasping some concepts yet finding them elusive.

Benigo shook his head, advising, "You're still early first-level, your soul power isn't strong enough. Some things are too difficult now.

"Proceed step by step, and remember, don't just use domain abilities as tools.

"They represent your heart, your soul's deep resonance with magic."

"My heart, soul, and magic's resonance..."

Ronan pondered Benigo's words, deep in thought.

Suddenly, he found standing with Benigo not entirely a bad thing.

As a former three-ring genius, Benigo could guide him on his wizarding path for a long time.

Without today's intervention, he might have taken much longer to learn about domains.

Then Benigo spoke again:

"Travis, at least a three-ring, must be a second-level wizard, likely stronger than average.

"But you needn't worry too much. As a one-ring, even if he wants Demon Tungsten, he can't act against you directly.

"However, be cautious; they may try other ways to undermine, waste, or tame you."

"They?"

Ronan frowned, asking, "What other ways?"

Benigo didn't elaborate, saying only, "You'll find out."

Finished discussing Ronan, Benigo opened the wooden box, taking out the Sacred Blood Tree seed.

"I'll stay here, trying to nurture the seed.

"But I'm short on resources and need your help."

Ronan pursed his lips, asking, "You're not leaving?"

Benigo shook his head, "Giving you Demon Tungsten shattered my plans.

"I can't leave, don't want to leave either."

Alright.

Ronan recalled their deal—he'd provide all resources. Now, it seemed he still had to do it himself.

Perhaps noticing Ronan's mood, Benigo said, "I don't expect you to bear everything. I can fend for myself, but it's inconvenient.

"I know forging, alchemy, potion-making, enchanting, rune inscription... I just need a middleman to trade my products for resources.

"If you need anything, I can help.

"I admit the Sacred Blood Tree's survival is crucial for me, but once it sprouts, its blood-purifying ability will benefit you greatly.

"I don't know if you've heard of powerful bloodline wizards."

Benigo's eyes glimmered with a mysterious light, "If the Sacred Blood Tree thrives, you might join their ranks."

"Bloodline wizards..."

Ronan murmured, Benigo's words lifting a corner of an ancient, magnificent book, sparking his imagination.

But seconds later, Ronan realized.

Wasn't this just a pipe dream?

He nearly became a workhorse without realizing it.

"Let me see your secondary skills first."

Ronan stood, placing the silver goblet on the metal table, telling Benigo, "Brew me rare mental enhancement potions unavailable on the market. Tell me what you need via the communication stone."

Leaving two communication stones, one to contact him and the other from Benigo, Ronan turned towards the exit.

Benigo watched Ronan leave, only shifting his gaze to the items left behind once Ronan vanished.

Recognizing the stone he gave Ronan, Benigo's eyes flickered, and he picked it up.

Moments later, the quiet secret realm echoed with Benigo's soft sigh.

"Nono."

The crushed stone's dust slipped through Benigo's fingers, dispersing with a breeze.

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