Am I a god-tier talent in all my professions?

Chapter 204 Level 8 Mage and the Strongest Mage
Tier 4, Nation Destroyer Level. It's been a long time since I've fought such a weak monster.

Think about it carefully, the reason for becoming powerful is...

That's the feeling I'm after.

Thirty years to Hedong, thirty years to Hexi!
Lu Cang raised one hand without using his staff.

"Tier 5 Spatial Magic - Great Ring Spatial Slash (LV: 401)"

puff!
Blood burst forth everywhere!
In the instant they met, the fourth-tier, nation-destroying monsters were split into countless pieces from top to bottom.

The slice slides down the cross-section.

boom!
It blasted up a cloud of dust.

Los looked incredulously at Lu Cang in the sky, then at the countless fourth-tier, nation-destroying monsters lying dead on the ground.

On the way, I heard that Lu Cang had become the strongest in Loren.

Los didn't know just how strong this "strongest" really was.

Although he is strong, it seems that very few people have witnessed the current chief mage in battle.

He has never killed a monster in public, nor has he ever clashed with anyone in public.

His only battle was against the Pillar of Calamity in public.

Whether this is the strongest is actually questionable.

It's like a figure who only exists in legends.

I only heard that he cleared 100 floors of the Tower of War, won the God of War Cup, and defeated Luluwei...

But that was all before I became the chief mage.

No one knows his current strength.

"solved."

"Let's each take half of these monster corpses."

Lu Cang didn't say the second half of his sentence, but also took the opportunity to resolve your crisis of having nowhere to stay.

No matter what, being homeless is just too tragic.

Giving money and houses directly seems a bit strange.

Sure enough, the best way is to hunt down some powerful monsters and let her exchange them for money herself.

But Los...

I can't help you forever. If you manage to squander all these gold coins, then no one can help you anymore.

Out of consideration for their past friendship, Lu Cang didn't mind giving her a hand.

"This...really, we'll split it equally?"

Lu Cang chuckled and nodded: "Yes, no need to be so polite with me, I don't really need these monsters."

No wonder Iz and the others gave him the materials on the way.

Now that I'm farming Tier 6 Sunken Lands every day, I really don't need Tier 4 Annihilation Kingdoms as materials... they're just too low-level.

Luo Si's face flushed slightly.

The feeling of being kept by a child is just too complicated.

……

boom--

Boom boom boom!
I cleared eighteen Tier 4 dungeons in a row.

Lu Cang did not reveal the source of the calamity to Luo Si, so all these dungeons were readily available.

It also carried over a hundred Tier 4, nation-destroying level monsters in one go.

She earned quite a bit by giving half to Losi.

Lu Cang also planned to go to the Chamber of Commerce to exchange some cash.

Now we only have one billion left. A large portion of it came from Ruijia's national treasury, and another portion came from selling materials from monsters. Ninety percent of this money is stored in the vault of the Church of Life, with which we have entered into a contract.

These worldwide chain churches are safe to store.

If you exist in a small place like the World Merchant Guild, and the entire continent is destroyed one day, you won't be able to get your money back.

Such a thing would be hard to happen on Earth, but in this world... Lu Cang felt that nothing would be surprising.

However, saving money at a church isn't solely for security.

Depositing money in a church can bring additional blessings. For example, depositing money in a church like Life Church can provide healing feedback through the covenant.

The more money you save, the better your healing ability will be.

For example, Lu Cang has saved 900 million, which is almost equivalent to receiving the recovery effect of a fourth-level healer at all times.

Hmm... saving 900 million only has such a small effect, it's almost like it's better than nothing. But it's better than carrying around something that's completely useless, since you don't usually need to pull out 1 billion every now and then.
【Wanhuo Chamber of Commerce】

"Chief Cang, you've arrived!"

The chamber of commerce owner was very amiable and always had a smile on his face.

"Hmm, give me an estimate for these monsters that could destroy entire nations, and put it in my contract."

"Half of it went into her contract."

Lu Cang sat down on the sofa; they were clearly old acquaintances.

This was the first time Ross had ever been to such a place; it was usually a place only visited when discussing big business deals.

Lu Cang is truly different now.

In just a few short months... things have already reached this point. Even the easygoing Los could clearly feel the difference between heaven and earth.

After that, I accompanied Los to Knolloa for a while.

After a brief chat with the leader of the Adventurers' Guild, Los was properly settled within the guild.

Those selling insurance, health products, and tea will probably deliberately avoid the area after hearing the news.

After reuniting with old friends who have just arrived in this world, everyone must eventually return to their own lives.

After resting for two days, Lu Cang arrived at the familiar palace.

This time, however, they weren't going home; instead, they were in the king's palace.

"Oh, Lu Cangqing."

"What brings you to the morning court session today?"

Lothar remained atop the palace, with two attendants flanking him on either side.

Lu Cang recalled the scene when they first met. He had indeed kept his promise and had never bothered him.

"Did you come to see me today because you need something?"

Lu Cang shook his head: "No, I'm just here to see my master."

Lu Cang did not look directly behind the door with his senses, as there was a restriction on the door that could block his senses.

Although one's senses can ignore the restrictions and see behind the door, this time the situation is completely different.

The other party set up the restriction because they didn't want to be detected.

It would be rather impolite to venture into the past without proper knowledge.

Izzy sent me here.

Lotterdan lowered his eyelids, looked away, and said casually, "Oh~ then go ahead."

Anzheng's room is behind the throne in Lothar, behind that huge door.

Lu Cang couldn't understand why it had to be here of all places.

Instead of being housed in a separate palace, with Lothar and his ministers attending court outside every day, wouldn't Anzheng feel awkward?
The strangeness and illogicality made Lu Cang somewhat concerned.

But they couldn't quite put their finger on why.

Swish!
His body transformed into a faint white light, instantly bypassing Lotdan and arriving before the massive palace gate.

"Iz, I'm here."

Lu Cang gently touched the palace door.

thump—

With just a light touch, the palace doors emitted a sound like ripples.

Then, the enormous portal slowly opened a crack.

Looking through the crack with the naked eye, all you could see was deep darkness.

The door was just a small gap, barely enough for one person to enter.

Lu Cang walked into the room.

Only after passing through the darkness could one see what was inside.

The first thing you see is an old man whose skin is sagging.

His eyes were open, but there was nothing in their sockets... only a silent, deep black.

His mouth was also slightly open, but what could be seen through the open mouth was not the oral cavity and tongue, but a deep black area.

It was as if the entrance to his body led not to flesh and blood, but to pure darkness.

wrong.

This feeling wasn't darkness, but rather... emptiness.

It was as if his entire body was completely empty beneath his skin.

This contrasts sharply with the energetic and radiant Izparut sitting opposite him, representing two completely different extremes.

He must be An Zheng.

There was no fourth person in the room.

He sat on the bed, his eyes fixed on Lu Cang with a gaze as if they were from a hollowed-out mine, his neck turning as Lu Cang moved.

Lu Cang felt a little creepy about him.

The thought that I might not actually be able to beat him made me feel even more uneasy.

He then sat down next to Izparut on the side away from Ansei.

"Iz, you were looking for me?"

Iz: "Hmm."

"An Zheng said he wants to meet you."

He's really pushing his apprentice into a fire pit... He said he wanted to see you, so he asked me to come over?

“He really is… a promising talent for magic,” An Zheng said.

His mouth opened and closed as if it were an empty, closed hole.

Lu Cang bowed and addressed him as "Senior Anzheng".

"Death date: 43 days, 16 hours, and 55 minutes"

43 days?
That's the 31st of next month.

End of month?

March is the month of wisdom and knowledge.

April is a month of chaos and madness.

To be precise, this time was the early morning of April 1st...

Anzheng is really going to die.

He probably made some kind of counterattack before he died, right?

Lu Cang was wondering whether he should hasten his death.

But then she thought that she had no grudge against him, and besides... Ertimi could sense the danger of her impending death.

Lu Cang was worried that An Zheng could also sense this feeling.

If I really hasten his death and he senses it, it will probably be very difficult to end things.

Forget it...

"Senior An Zheng, is there something you need from me?"

An Zheng's lips parted, and he calmly said, "My time... is running out."

"Only before I died did I hear that there was a junior who shared similar thoughts with me."

An Zheng's reflection on the root cause is the only unchanging aspect of the root cause.

In fact, the other party's thinking is very similar to my own second source of thinking.

An Zheng asked in an aged voice, "May I see your thoughts?"

Lu Cang looked at Iz beside him.

Iz crossed her arms over her chest, closed her eyes, and pondered for a moment.

He then nodded slightly.

Since Izzy nodded, Lu Cang didn't say anything more.

A "core of the whole" appeared in Lu Cang's palm and spun around.

"Truly, beautiful magic."

An Zheng exclaimed in amazement upon seeing Lu Cang's magic.

"If only I could have seen your thoughts ten years earlier..."

“You are all more likely than me to reach the root.”

An Zheng's aged voice continued, "I've heard that you've practiced more than just the profession of magician."

Lu Cang nodded and generously replied, "I follow the path of gaining insights into the origins through other professions, so I need to take on multiple jobs."

An Zheng: "I see..."

Everyone has their own way of practicing principles, and the circumstances may differ, but Lu Cang's ability to reach this point certainly shows that he has practiced principles very well.

"Hehe... Little Lu Cang, are you interested in my origins?"

Lu Cang paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.

It's impossible not to be interested. He might be the only level 8 mage in the world right now, and his experience is far more valuable than that of most mages.

Not to mention, he is now able to learn other people's Root Magic.

This kind of temptation is irresistible.

"However, I am of limited talent and hope you will be lenient with me. Perhaps I can only recognize the manifestations of the fourth-order root at present." Lu Cang said humbly.

An Zheng nodded slightly.

"But before that, would you like to hear this old man tell me his own story?"

"By the way, I should also mention that the root cause I've seen is hidden."

Lu Cang: "Please go ahead."

This was the first time Lu Cang had seen An Zheng in person, and also the first time he had personally come into contact with the top level of this world.

It is neither an incarnation nor a projection, nor a physical form.

Instead, he is a genuine level 8 mage.

Sure enough, he was a genius. In just half a month after changing jobs, he became a level 2 mage, and then in another half month, he mastered the Origin Magic.

He progressed rapidly thereafter, and by the age of 22, he had already become a level 6 mage.

At the age of 34, he fully entered the 7th level realm and also comprehended the 7th-order root magic with great ease.

May your journey be smooth sailing.

No matter what you do, success is as simple as breathing and drinking water.

Since birth, he has never encountered a mage of the same level who is stronger than him, so naturally, he has had many girls throwing themselves at him and quite a few romantic encounters.

Uh... is it even necessary to mention this?
Getting back to the main topic, he began to tell the story of how he went from level 7 to level 8.

The jump from level 7 to level 8 is a huge hurdle.

Most mages would find it difficult to take this step. If level 9 power is comparable to a god, then level 8 power is equivalent to a demigod.

A single 8th-tier spell can destroy entire continents, and the aftershocks of the battle are enough to cover an entire secret sea.

With a simple gesture, one can change the world.

This is the power of a Level 8 professional.

An Zheng, who was promoted to level 7 magician at the age of 34, took a full 60 years to reach level 8.

He was 94 years old when he became an 8th-level mage.

This happened approximately 400 years ago.

There is still plenty of time. After all, he still has 400 years of lifespan left. Judging from the time it has taken him to advance all the way up, he has a good chance of advancing to level 9 magician in the remaining 400 years.

After that, An Zheng rested for about 5 years.

He then embarked on his journey to become a level 9 mage.

But did not expect.

This time, they have not made a breakthrough yet.

The difference between advancing from level 7 to level 8 and advancing from level 8 to level 9 is enormous.

"So, your master's situation is very similar to mine."

Lu Cang looked at Iz.

Iz also became a high-level mage at a very young age.

She's only 20 years old now and already at level 6. Next month, March 1st, is Izzy's birthday, and she'll be 21 by then.

“I won’t be stuck for that long,” Iz said calmly.

“I also thought I wouldn’t be able to at first.” An Zheng’s tone was slightly tired.

"You'll understand when you reach level 8."

"The root cause may be incomplete... No matter how much it is proven, the law is still flawed."

"We cannot become true level 9 mages by proving an incomplete origin."

"The path to level 9 is a dead end."

"The only turning point is using the incomplete root..."

"I must dig out a piece of the source I have proven, a piece that no longer exists in the source, but belongs solely to me, and I alone possess this piece of the source. Only in this way can I become a level 9 mage."

"I no longer have time to prove the second origin."

“Izparut, you’ll have to do this someday.”

Izzy shook her head and sighed: "If the root is incomplete, then find a way to fill it in, instead of digging out a piece and making it incomplete. Anzheng, do you think what you're doing is like that of a magician?"

"If you attempt to become a level 9 mage in a fair and square manner, I will not stop you."

“But if you use such extreme methods, whether you want to become a god or a level 9 mage, I will not allow it.”

Lu Cang finally understood why they had clashed.

The two spoke impulsively.

After a moment of silence, An Zheng calmly said, "Izparut, I was once a genius just like you."

“I’m just old, but I’m not completely dead yet, and you’re so sure you can stop me.”

A sudden gust of wind rose in the room.

Izparut's magical energy fluctuated, causing the entire space to tremble.

"I'm really sorry, but I just happen to be the strongest mage of this era. If I want to stop something, no one can do it."

"If you think you're better than me, feel free to give it a try."

Lu Cang's lips twitched slightly.

Then, I leave?

Don't start a fight in front of me, I'm just a level 4 mage.

Didn't you say you'd teach me Root Magic?
How did you two end up arguing while you were talking?

Obades, you should be able to notice, right? You must protect me.

Lu Cang secretly activated the shield.

At the same time, both the "source" and the "core" were swapped out of the room via spatial exchange...

If anything seems amiss, they should immediately flee.

The two remained locked in a standoff for a while.

Finally, Iz's aura gradually subsided.

Lu Cang breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that a fight wouldn't break out easily after all.

"That's all."

His aged voice said, "If I were at my peak, I would naturally not fear you."

"But with my current body, even if I kill you, I won't have the strength to advance to level 9."

An Zheng's tone was calm, yet it revealed a sense of resigned helplessness.

A monk is an extremely rational being.

There will be no meaningless conflicts, nor will we do anything that results in mutual destruction.

Unless it's an unavoidable conflict of interests or a contradiction in stance, it's very rare for mages to fight each other because of their emotions.

"Lu Cang, listen carefully."

"Regarding the root cause..."

In Anzheng's room, I listened to him explain his fundamental principles, and more than ten days passed in that sitting.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck me.

Everything suddenly became bright and clear, and I realized with a start that February had already passed.

March: The month of wisdom and knowledge.

Lunar Calendar: Yug.

Celestial Phenomena: Fragments of Knowledge.

"Leap Year Blessing: Understanding"

Only today can I easily understand everything.

Lu Cang instantly understood everything An Zheng said about the origin he had comprehended.

I hadn't been able to learn it for the previous ten days or so.

And today I have finally mastered, finally learned, Anzheng's Root Magic.

"Tier 5 Root Magic: The Unchanging Art of Eternity"

"All magic cast is imbued with the property of permanence."

It is similar in principle to the origin of one's own myriad transformations.

But the difference is...

One's own myriad sources of origin require the use of a "source" to maintain, but this one does not.

This allows every spell you cast to remain unchanged and eternal.

Unless it is deliberately sabotaged.

Otherwise, the eternal magic will repair itself. As long as the damage to the magic cannot keep up with the speed of repair, the eternal magic will never disappear.

Such powerful primal magic.

Do not……

Lu Cang recalled every Root Mage he had met.

No elemental magic is ever weak; these are the ultimate thoughts of a mage.

Lu Cang kept the magic he had learned to himself.

It was not used.

Lu Cang didn't want to reveal to An Zheng that he could learn other people's Root Magic.

Perhaps when I learned the root magic of the other two root mages some time ago, he might have sensed and seen it.

But in a face-to-face situation, it's best to be a little more reserved.

As Lu Cang pondered, he slowly made a gesture of understanding and said, "Thank you, senior... I finally understand."

"I have benefited greatly from the teachings of my seniors."

An Zheng's eyes were vacant, still staring at Lu Cang.

He let out a faint chuckle: "In my entire life, I've only ever taken on one disciple. By some twist of fate, you could be considered my grand-disciple."

An Zheng threw a storage bag from his hand, which landed in Lu Cang's hand.

"Entrusting these to you is a way for me to have a successor..."

When Lu Cang heard the other person say that he was a grand-disciple, he asked with a slightly surprised expression, "Could it be that you are Master Izzy's master?"

Iz never said that.

An Zheng let out a cold laugh: "No."

Iz shook her head helplessly.

Lu Cang was very puzzled. He didn't have a second master, so how did he become a grand-disciple?

Although at his age he could easily be promoted to a higher generation in his own lineage, how is the master-disciple relationship calculated?

"My apprentice's name is Messer."

Lu Cang's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Damn it... who's your grand-disciple?

In other words, Izzy, who is now standing beside him, not only killed the other party's apprentice, but also tried to stop An Zheng from reaching level 9.

It really is a blood feud.

And he himself was Izzy's apprentice.

Forget it, maybe I should just leave.
Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll take your anger out on me...

But Lu Cang still forced himself to say, "Haha, Senior An Zheng... is just joking."

"I only met your apprentice once, so we can't really be considered master and apprentice."

An Zheng shook his head, a hollow smile appearing on his withered lips: "Yes."

"I don't think I'll live to see that day, but you will..."

"You can live until the day Izparut reaches level 8, until the day he has no hope of reaching level 9, but still tries his best to enter the level 9 realm."

"At that time, you should stop him."

Lu Cang looked at the death date marked on the other person's head.

"Death date: 31 days"

Anzheng, you will die at the beginning of next month, in the early morning.

Your hunch was right; you really won't live to see that day.

Then, Lu Cang looked at Izparut's death date.

"Date of death: 951"

951 years later, Izparut will also die.

It seems that Iz has successfully broken through to the level 8 mage, exceeding the normal lifespan limit of level 8.

Death at this age does not necessarily mean death from old age.

Perhaps he died for other reasons.

Anzheng, your hunch was completely wrong. Iz will reach level 9 smoothly.

　I won't be able to update on time again at midnight. From now on, the update time will be more flexible. I can only guarantee that I will reach the word count, and I will try my best to update around midnight.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)