Sanctuary Paradise

Chapter 909 Quick Kill
Ten minutes later, at the Frankish Fortress, in the top-floor library.

"Just like this, as long as you hold the staff and communicate with the sublime fire within the staff using your spiritual power, you can, to some extent, break the restrictions that the Royal Fire places on our magical power."

The slightly uneasy, tense explanation faded away. In the spacious experimental area surrounded by books, the young man wearing an oversized wizard's hat took a deep breath, shifted his gaze from his staff to the black-haired youth in front of him who was stroking his chin and examining him, and began to speak:

"Um... Lord Black Sword, is there anything else you want to ask?"

"No, that's all for now. Just let me have some peace and quiet. Also, the idea behind your spell was wrong. If you want to control flames freely, you should design multiple paths in advance and add several inflection points that can be triggered a second time, instead of trying to turn the flames into a directly controllable entity and trying to guide its entire direction... As for the specific solution, although I don't know exactly what the theory you've learned is, you can try combining the theoretical formulas involved in spell path planning to make it able to express multiple positional changes."

Upon hearing this, Xin Lailai, who was standing in front of the young man in the large hat, glanced at him, shook her head slightly, casually offered a reminder, and then found a secluded spot to sit down. The young man in the large hat, upon hearing this, was taken aback and murmured:
"Combining the Roergende formulas into a type that can express multiple positional transformations, etc., if we do that... haha, I get it, so that's how it can be done!!"

The young man in the big hat muttered to himself, then as if realizing something, his eyes lit up, and he excitedly looked at the experimental table next to him. He rushed to the draft paper filled with various formulas and data, grabbed a quill pen, and began to calculate, immediately immersing himself in his own world.

Xin Lailai, who was standing to the side, merely glanced at it briefly and then paid no further attention.

By analogy, although he hadn't studied the 'academic spell theories' the young man in the big hat mentioned, as a spell master, he only needed to glance at the other person's spell casting to basically determine the level of their spell theory education and which theory their current spell path was closer to.

This is also the greatest advantage of the magic system. Formulas can be changed and parameters can be modified, but as long as the basic logic still exists, it is inevitable that new structures can be developed based on this, and new formulas adapted to the current environment and needs can be researched.

As for those guys who can only stare blankly if they can't apply the theoretical formulas, they can at best be called learners and users of spells, far from being worthy of being called masters of magic.

"However... is it necessary to have a casting medium to cast spells? That's quite a tricky rule."

In the corner, Xin Lailai murmured to herself, looking down at the flame-like gloves on her hands:

……

[Hand of the Mage]

Spell Attack Power: 38.7
Equipment requirement: Intelligence 10
Attribute Modifier: Intelligence C+
Description: A spellcasting medium provided by Wilhelm Academy to every beginner, with a low cap.

……

The hand of the mage.

They obtained the spellcasting medium from the young man in the big hat. According to him, high-level spellcasting mediums are bound to the soul of the holder, so the only one they could provide was this kind of universal spellcasting medium.

As for its specific effects, they have also tested them. Simply put, if we consider all the magic power in the Ash World as the property of the Blessing Rules, then the existence of the spellcasting medium allows them to obtain a portion of the control over magic power from the Blessing Rules.

As for the specific concept of this manipulation authority, the first thing is the spell attack power mentioned in the Mage's Hand. According to their personal tests, this concept is roughly equivalent to the 'mana strength' in Paradise Notary. The attribute correction represents the conversion ratio of the mana base strength derived from their current intelligence attribute.

Taking themselves as an example, their current intelligence attribute is 60 points. Theoretically, they should be able to convert and freely manipulate mana with an energy intensity of 129 points without any bonuses.

However, because their Mage Hands only have a C+ grade modifier, the actual maximum mana strength they can control is only 30% of the theoretical value mentioned above, which is 38.7 points displayed on the Blessing interface.

Of course, since they also possess the [Mana Fetish (↑↑↑)] which increases mana effects by 60%, the actual maximum mana strength they can control is around 62 points.

As for the difference between this number and their peak performance, let's put it this way: their peak mana strength... starts at four digits.

"Those restrictions are really tight..."

With only 60 points of intelligence, they can only use about the same amount of mana as they did in the Demon Slayer world. The suppression of mages in the Ash World can be described as pathological.

This feeling is almost like understanding that the existence of mages is actually a huge threat to this world where the rules are not yet complete, which is why the foundation upon which the development of mages is based must be controlled so tightly.

"The only thing we can do is try to get some higher-level spellcasting medium, preferably something that's B+ grade or higher."

Xin Lailai pondered for a moment, then looked up at the young man in the large hat who was engrossed in calculations beside her, and said:

“Vic”.

"Ah, Lord Black Sword, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to ask, what's the fastest way to get a spell medium with sufficiently high attribute modifiers?"

"A powerful magical medium that can be obtained quickly, this..."

Upon hearing this, the young man in the big hat hesitated for a moment, but still spoke:

“There is indeed a way, and that is the Crystal Elder on the altar in the center of the Crystal Forest. The Crystal Holy Bell in its hand is a product of that ‘Soul Forger’ Lord Rudolfs.”

"However, the Crystallizer Elder possesses extremely powerful crystallization magic, especially its Crystal Symbiosis Technique. If it cannot be attacked with sufficiently powerful spells, no matter how many times it is attacked, it will revive from the crystallization magic it creates. Therefore..."

"Okay, I understand, thank you."

"Wait! The Black Sword Pavilion...!"

Before the young man in the big hat could finish speaking, Xin Lailai, who had stood up, nodded slightly and looked calmly at the large window beside her, big enough for one person to crawl through. Under the incredulous gaze of the young mage in the big hat, she stepped on the magic chip and leaped up, disappearing from his sight.

"Flying...flying?"

After Xin Lailai disappeared, the young man in the big hat looked at her departing figure, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground. He stared blankly in the direction Xin Lailai had gone, as if he had seen a monster.

After a long while, it seemed as if he suddenly realized something, and he rushed to the experimental table next to him, grabbed the manuscripts, books and bottles and jars on it, and stuffed them into his backpack.

……

……

Meanwhile, in the Crystal Forest. "Pfft, Lai Lai, look at him! He's completely terrified!"

"There's no way around it. This world's level of magical theory is still too low. Coupled with the limitations of the blessing rules, it's inevitable that the development of flight-type spells is insufficient."

A slightly dry, strong wind swept through the air. Above the forest, more than twenty meters above the ground, Xin Lailai gazed at the scene before her. For the first time, she felt such a strong sense of nostalgia. She even felt that the resentment she had accumulated because of the traps at the Frankish Fortress had dissipated considerably.

Finally!

All their hard work paid off; they finally got their own wheelchair!

So what if they only have a little over sixty points of mana? For them, as long as they can manipulate mana freely, in this world where even jumping into a pit is difficult, they are the biggest living fathers of countless chicken enemies and traps.

"Found it! That should be the altar Vic was talking about, right?"

After hovering in mid-air for more than a minute, Xin Lailai, who had successfully found her destination by taking advantage of her vision, immediately jumped down and landed steadily on the ground using the cushioning effect of the magic chip. She then took out the Spirit Horse Soul and the Element Bottle and sprinkled them forward.

"Hiss—!!"

"Let's go, Charrick! This time we don't need to take the detour!"

As the spirit horse let out a long neigh, Xin Lailai smiled slightly upon hearing it. She skillfully mounted the saddle and, ignoring the maze-like forest path, galloped straight towards her destination, following the sound of the spirit horse's hooves.

Although the current spell chips are not suitable for long-term use due to issues with mana consumption and mana intensity, and cannot withstand their full-force stomp in battle, simply granting them the ability to stay airborne is already a qualitative leap in their exploration experience.

If they had had this ability to assist them when passing through the Frankish fortress, they wouldn't have had such high blood pressure caused by the traps and mechanisms inside the fortress.

"Hiss—!!"

A long, drawn-out neighing sound came from the mouth of the gray spirit horse, which was galloping as if it were flat ground. With the help of Xin Lailai's magic chip, it had already traversed most of the forest in just a few minutes, and brought Xin Lailai to an abrupt stop in front of an altar covered with huge crystal clusters.

“Very good, Charité, thank you for your hard work. Wait here for us.”

After confirming there were no enemies around, Xin Lailai, who was standing in front of the altar, dismounted and gently stroked the gray spirit horse's mane. Her gaze flickered, and she approached the altar entrance, one hand clad in a mage's glove, the other gripping a fine iron broadsword. She walked step by step onto the altar, looking at the massive crystal cluster at its center. The next second—

[You have entered the territory of the Crystal Elder. Since you have passed the "Tribute of the Gravekeeper," the Crystal Elder will fight with all his might.]

Om-! !

A golden-red text message flashed by, and a large amount of gray mist rose out of thin air, instantly sealing off the entire altar. The huge crystal cluster in the center of the altar seemed to sense something, and suddenly cracked open with many fissures. The figure of an old man wearing an ancient magic hat and robe, with purple light emanating from his eyes, was reflected in Xin Lailai's vision.

"Ashes... Ahhh, those who are ashes... Blasphemers... Exterminate them all!!!"

The next second, a hoarse roar with a hint of madness rang out, and the huge crystal cluster in the center of the altar shattered with a bang, revealing the figure of an old man in ancient robes inside.

Almost instantly emerging from the crystal cluster, the ancient robed elder seemed to sense that Xin Lailai's strength was formidable. He abruptly shook the bell in his hand, simultaneously drifting backward. Just as he was preparing to use his ranged advantage to create distance and launch an attack on Xin Lailai, a point of black light suddenly bloomed in his vision—

Demon Arrow.

Boom—!

In an instant, a jet-black arrow composed of demonic power and mana crystals shot into the air, leaving a striking black trail as it pierced through the crystal elder along with his crystal shield, freezing him in place. Then, it dissipated with a whoosh, transforming into countless pale purple crystal lights that disappeared into the surrounding clusters of crystals.

One hit, instant kill.

This is the source of Xin Lailai's confidence to go straight for the other party.

Although their current mana strength is only around sixty points, at most they can only mimic their mana strength during their first-tier period.

However, don't forget, during their first-tier period... they were already able to use demonic power to wreak havoc!
"Did they retreat back into their own spells?"

Xin Lailai, who had depleted the old man's health bar with a single blow, looked at the clusters of crystals emitting a dark purple light before her. Her eyes flickered slightly, and without any hesitation, she drew her longbow again. Using the makeshift demon mark she had hastily conjured on the back of her hand, she condensed one crystalline arrow after another that shimmered with black light.

Boom, boom, boom, boom—!!

The next second, a series of crystal arrows imbued with demonic power flew out, exploding the moment they touched the purple-glowing crystal clusters, destroying them all with incredible ferocity. This caused the figure of the Crystal Elder to reappear in the arena, and at the same time, he coughed up a mouthful of black blood mist. He was forced into a weakened state upon landing and collapsed to his knees with a thud, his pupils, which glowed with a ghostly purple light, filled with terror.

too fast.

From the moment the opponent appeared in its territory to the moment it was suddenly killed, it took less than 10 seconds. If it were any of the Ash creatures it had encountered in the past, they would have been more than dead by now, and most Ash creatures would probably still be locked in a fierce battle with it.

But the creature before it, like swatting an ant, in a way completely beyond its comprehension, utterly crushed it and its prepared backup plans before it could even react. Such overwhelming power…

"salary……"

A hoarse, aged murmur arose. The ancient robed elder, nearly immobilized by his depleted stamina, struggled to raise his head. The eerie purple light in his eyes flickered twice, and he was about to say something when—

[The Crystallized Elder has been defeated, granting 75000 Soul Points (50000 + 25000)]

Boom—!

The black arrow pierced through, instantly shattering the head of the old man in the ancient robe and interrupting his unspoken words. Xin Lailai, watching the other's disintegrating body, glanced at the amount of soul points gained that popped up at the edge of her vision and gently shook her head.

"too weak."

……

(End of this chapter)