Dark Wizard: Rise! My undead army!

Chimera landed steadily at the entrance of the mine.

Sain rolled off first, strode forward, stopped three steps away from Lynn, and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Lord Lynn?"

Lynn nodded slightly: "Lord Sain?"

"Exactly." After what he had just seen, Sain's tone became more respectful.

"I am Sain, and I have been ordered to take over the post of guarding the Shadow Mine. I have long admired your name, and now that I have met you, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

Lynn returned the greeting: "You're too kind, Lord Sain. You must be tired from your journey. Please come in."

The four apprentices silently climbed down from the chimera's back and followed behind Sain.

They secretly sized up the incredibly young, formally trained wizard before them, their eyes filled with awe.

The tall, thin apprentice recalled how he had almost gone weak in the knees when he was in the air, overwhelmed by the hordes of undead from the natural disasters.

This young man, who looked to be about the same age as himself, was actually the controller of those terrifying beings...

He involuntarily lowered his head, not daring to look any longer.

The group passed through the mine entrance and walked along the main mine tunnel toward the fortress.

As they passed the spirits along the way, the four apprentices couldn't help but slow their pace.

"Master," the only female apprentice among the four asked softly, "These undead... won't they suddenly attack us?"

Sain shook his head: "No, the mental imprint of a formal wizard is extremely stable and will not be as easily out of control as that of an apprentice."

The female apprentice breathed a sigh of relief, but her feet still involuntarily moved closer to her mentor.

Two women were already waiting at the entrance of the fortress.

The woman in front of me was dressed in an elegant robe, with a gentle demeanor, exquisite features, and a perfectly timed smile.

The person behind him was rather plain-looking, carrying a tray with several cups of steaming tea on it.

"Arya, Sisi," Lynn casually instructed. "This is Lord Sain, the new wizard who will take over the post. Treat him well."

"Yes, mentor." Arya bowed slightly.

After bowing respectfully to Sain, the two glanced at the four apprentices behind him, a hint of curiosity flashing in their eyes.

Are these the apprentices from the Academy of Bones Spire?

It seems... like nothing special.

His cultivation level... is just so-so.

The four apprentices' eyes were simultaneously drawn to Arya.

In the desolate, sunless environment of the Bone Spire, the women they encountered were mostly fellow disciples with gloomy eyes, or female ghosts with grotesque appearances.

A woman like Arya, with exquisite features, gentle temperament, and a constant smile...

It's like another world altogether.

Is this the arrival of the Goddess of Sunshine?

The tall, thin apprentice stared at her blankly, momentarily forgetting to look away.

"Ahem." A slightly chubby apprentice next to him coughed twice and nudged him with his elbow.

The tall, thin apprentice snapped out of his daze, his face flushed red, and he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any longer.

The female apprentice also noticed Arya, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.

She glanced at her own hands, which were rough from years of absorbing negative energy, and then at Arya's fair and slender fingers, and sighed softly.

The main world... it's really nourishing.

Upon entering the reception room, Lynn took her seat at the head of the table.

Sain sat down in the guest seat, with his four apprentices standing obediently behind him, but their eyes couldn't help but wander around the hall.

The reception room was not large, but its furnishings were simple yet exquisite, and the furniture was extremely comfortable and elegant.

Several oil paintings depicting the main world landscapes hung on the wall, a few potted plants emitting a faint fragrance were placed in the corner, and several neatly bound account books were placed on the table.

It's completely different from the gloomy and oppressive style of the Bone Spire.

Clearly, this incredibly young wizard was not one of those gloomy old fogies in the academy; he was someone who knew how to enjoy life.

"Is this where we'll be living from now on?" the female apprentice whispered to her companion.

"Yes." His companion nodded.

"This is much more comfortable than the academy."

Arya and Sisi served tea to everyone. Sisi moved quickly, setting down her teacup and stepping aside.

Arya lingered a few more moments to refill the teacups for Sain and Lynn before bowing slightly and leaving the reception room.

The tall, thin apprentice's gaze followed her retreating figure until she disappeared outside the door.

Sain picked up his teacup, took a sip, and exclaimed, "Excellent tea! Lord Lynn, this place is much more comfortable than I imagined."

Lynn shook his head: "The apprentices are handling it all. I spend most of my time cultivating, so I can't take care of these things."

Sain glanced at him, then at the door, and smiled meaningfully, "It takes skill to have such a devoted apprentice."

Lynn didn't respond and went straight to the point: "I'll give you a brief overview of the situation at the mine over the past few years; the detailed records are all here."

He took out the recording crystal that had been prepared beforehand and placed it on the table.

Sain accepted it and carefully put it away: "Thank you, Your Excellency."

The two talked for nearly an hour about the daily operation of the mine, the patterns of earth vein fluctuations, and the movements of surrounding forces.

Lynn explained his experience and precautions from the past ten years in detail.

Lynn did not mention the "unspoken rules" here.

This is something that can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words. It's best to keep some things to yourself when you meet Sain for the first time.

The fact that he was able to get the lucrative job guarding the Shadow Mine shows that this Sion has some influence within the academy, and he might be after this "gray income."

Your secretive advice might only make him feel amused.

The four apprentices initially tried to maintain a respectful demeanor, but over time they gradually relaxed.

They exchanged glances furtively, occasionally whispering to each other.

The female apprentice couldn't help but speak first, "That sister Arya is so beautiful, her skin is like milk..."

"Hush...be careful."

Sain glanced at them subtly, and the group quickly shut up.

The tall, thin apprentice did not participate in the discussion.

He kept his head down, but the scene from just moments ago kept replaying in his mind—Arya carrying a tea tray as she entered from outside, sunlight streaming in through the window and falling on her profile...

He shook his head vigorously, trying to banish those thoughts from his mind.

That is Lord Lynn's apprentice, and his strength is extremely powerful. You must not have any improper thoughts about him.

An hour later, the conversation ended.

Lynn stood up: "I'll have Barr show you around the facilities in the mine. We'll rest here tonight, and the official handover will take place tomorrow."

Sain nodded: "Thank you for your arrangements."

Lynn summoned Baal and instructed him to show Thane and the others around the mine.

As they walked out of the reception room, the four apprentices couldn't help but look back one last time.

Sunlight streamed through the fortress windows, illuminating the entire corridor with a bright and warm glow, a stark contrast to the perpetually dark and gloomy passageways of the Bone Spire.

Just being here makes me feel so relaxed; I want to live here from now on...

"Let's go," Sain said softly.

They followed Baal and disappeared at the end of the corridor.