Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 464 Soul Casting
Lawrence's heart sank, and he whispered, "What soul refining? Nelson, what are you crazy about?"

The Exploration Society and the Federation have always been regarded as a group that shares honor and disgrace. Naturally, he could not bear to see his fellow alchemist suddenly do such a shameful thing in front of outsiders, so he quickly asked his spellcasters to step forward and help the other person up.

The crazed man who fell at Arturo's feet shook his head frantically, muttering to himself, "It's alive! It's alive!"

Fadun showed reluctance and whispered to Harvey, "My friend, why don't you let your necromancers tease this poor fellow anymore? These alchemists are obsessed with the Man-Made God Project all day long, and most of them have lost their minds..."

Lawrence suppressed his anger and said, "Your Excellency, Lord, please tell that necromancer hiding in the shadows to stop! Stop making such rude jokes!"

Harvey shrugged, spreading his hands innocently. "What kind of teasing? Dean Arturo himself didn't blame this gentleman for his disrespectful behavior of clinging to his thigh..."

He turned and winked at Mr. Shield, teasing, "My friend, you don't think that a magic puppet controlled by a spellcaster can itself cast spells, do you?"

"Of course it's impossible... How can a lifeless magic puppet... cast a spell?" Fadun shook his head subconsciously, but suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his body shaking violently, "Wait! It... It just..."

Nelson, who was crying bitterly on the ground, raised his head and continued, "How can a puppet cast spells? It's not a magic puppet at all! It's an alchemical creation with a soul and wisdom!"

The crowd suddenly became excited.

"No one is controlling this puppet?"

"It...it contains a complete human soul?"

"No! How is this possible? How did they do that?!"

"The soul cannot be divided or transferred... This is the iron law of alchemy regarding the creation of life. Why..."

"Your Excellency, City Lord! I humbly ask you to enlighten me!"

"And me! Respected Lord City Lord... I swear on the truth, and only ask you to let me glimpse the path to this supreme mystery!"

Fadun was stunned on the spot, surprised to find that the tense atmosphere between the two sides was changing rapidly. The alchemists of the Exploration Society who were mixed in the Federation came out one after another, scrambling to surround Harvey and Arturo, their expressions and tones were full of incomparable enthusiasm and humility, as if the person standing in front of them was the supreme chief of the Exploration Society.

"You're being ridiculous!" Lawrence suddenly shouted. "We're clearly discussing this so-called brand-new faction. Even if they produce a puppet body involving life-alchemy, it only proves they have some basic alchemy skills, not enough to construct a completely new spellcasting path!"

Surrounded by the alchemists, Arturo let out a soft "oh" and gently bent over to help Nelson, who was clinging to his thigh, to his feet. He pointed to the young deputy closest to him and said, "Words are not enough. How about letting this gentleman and I perform a simulated spell, instead of a duel of magic?"

The young deputy had already lost his patience. Before Arturo could finish his words, he raised his hand and threw a wind blade at him, cursing furiously, "Despicable necromancer, wait until I smash your puppet, and then let everyone see your true self hiding in the dark corner!"

A common third-ring wind blade seemed menacing, but Arturo remained motionless, unflinching and unevading, his alchemical body withstanding the impact. Enchanted and inscribed with a protective array, his metal body was virtually immune to common spells below the fifth ring. But he was no less resentful than the mages of the Union. Since the other party had been rude first, he naturally retaliated. This alchemical body contained a simplified version of the "Magnetic Storm Field" spell that Harvey had pre-inscribed. As long as he had sufficient mana, he could also cast spells instantly, no less powerful than other spellcasters.

A shrinking half-circle like a silver moon shot out from Arturo's hand, spinning and directly shattering the two defensive spells hastily formed by the young deputy, and hitting the opponent's chest firmly, which was no longer protected.

Silver-white electric light suddenly burst out and exploded, and tiny sparks as twisted as silk worms ran around on the opponent's body. The young caster's body trembled violently in an instant, and he fell backward with a stiff back... At the heart and head, the aftermath of the arcane defense spell flashed slightly, and disappeared in an instant.

He was electrocuted and passed out.

Harvey glanced sideways at Mr. Fadun with amusement and muttered, "You're worrying too much. Dean Arturo wouldn't act as recklessly as a young man."

Fadun coughed awkwardly, patted Harvey's shoulder, and turned his head away in shame.

Logically speaking... simulated spell casting is for each person to demonstrate the power and characteristics of their own spells, but it does not require you to use every move on the opponent. The young deputy's behavior of launching a sneak attack without any warning can be forgiven even if the opponent immediately counterattacks and kills him on the spot. Afterwards, the Federation will not even have any reason to investigate the severity of the attack, which is equivalent to giving his life in vain.

Nelson, who had been guarding Arturo the entire time, was quick-witted and immediately exclaimed, "Improved magic! No! Creative magic! I've seen its description in a paper in the Magic Gazette. This is... this is [Harvey's Magnetic Storm Field]!"

Arturo took the robe from Prall and put it back on. He turned and bowed slightly to Harvey, then said proudly, "Yes, it is the seven-ring technique created by the city lord that I am studying - Harvey's magnetic storm field!"

Lawrence pressed on, "Electromagnetic magic... Electromagnetic magic is indeed a completely new field of spellcasting, but it also stems from elemental spellcasting and force field spellcasting. You're just replicating the City Lord's methods. How can that be considered a completely new path of spellcasting?"

Arturo shook his head in disdain, "You know absolutely nothing about the soul and magic itself..."

He scoffed, his eyes blazing with soulfire. He slowly turned his head and surveyed the surroundings, saying, "The elements are complex, the arcane energy is chaotic... Do you think the invisible energy emanating from the Demonic Web is ever-changing and unfathomable? Do you think that glimpsing a single pattern within it is enough to bring you ecstasy?"

Lawrence said angrily, "What else? Do you think the source of magic is the handle of your front door? That with a gentle turn, you can push open the door to the ultimate truth?"

"Hehehe..." Arturo and Harvey couldn't help but chuckle at the same time, and then Sirius and Prall also chuckled, and the group of young necromancers following behind them also made suppressed low laughs.

"You're so lucky to be considered a research-oriented spellcaster alongside us... I certainly wouldn't dare claim to have touched upon the ultimate truth." Arturo's tone turned serious, his gaze blazing. "But—we've already peered through the keyhole of the gate and glimpsed the edge of the ultimate! Soon, we'll possess the key to the truth that will unlock the gate!"

"Everyone, this is our brand new research path—Soul Casting!"

"What you see before your eyes... the magic rifles wielded by ordinary soldiers, the long-range magic cannons capable of rivaling high-level spellcasters... hehe, and the annihilation spears that reinforce your union against the demons, and the airships that soar freely through the sky without relying on high-level spells... they're all created through the fusion of soul magic and the secret arts of alchemy!"

"Use the energy of your soul to draw an endless supply of pure magical energy from the Demonic Weave. As long as your soul survives... it will possess the ability to transform all spells, simulating any desired technique. Arcane energy and elemental forces will no longer be chaotic, complex, and difficult to comprehend. All energy drawn from the Demonic Weave will become orderly and controllable, and the path to the ultimate truth will be straight and unimpeded!"

(End of this chapter)