Dark Wizard: Rise! My undead army!

At the city gate, a guard suddenly asked, "Speaking of which...have there been more and more out-of-town wizards entering the city lately?"

"You're only just noticing?" the veteran said with an air of profound mystery.

"I heard that the biannual wizard gathering is coming soon, and nine out of ten wizards who have come these days are here for this."

"A wizard's gathering?" The recruit's eyes lit up. "The place where wizards get together to sell things?"

"It's not just about selling things," the veteran said. "It's about communication, trade, making friends, and exchanging knowledge, but that's none of our business. Ordinary people like us can never even dream of getting in."

The new recruits gazed into the depths of White Stone City, and a strange longing suddenly welled up in their hearts.

Could those wizard gatherings contain something that could make me a wizard too? Something that would allow me to wield that mysterious power?

He squeezed the long spear in his hand; the shaft was cold, but his heart was burning with passion.

Lynn walked down the street, ignoring the comments behind her.

Whitestone City is much more bustling than Graystone City; four carriages can walk side by side on the main street.

The streets are lined with three-story stone buildings, with shops on the ground floor and people living upstairs.

Wizards mingled with ordinary people, and occasionally a few people in robes could be seen hurrying by.

With two days to go before the rally, Lynn planned to find a place to rest before going out to inquire about any good deals he might be able to find in town.

He had just turned a corner and was strolling around casually when a middle-aged man in a blue uniform approached him.

"Excuse me, are you Lord Lynn of the Gray Feather Clan?" The man bowed slightly, his voice respectful.

Lynn stopped and looked at the other person: "Who are you?"

"I am the steward of the city lord's mansion. I have come on the orders of the city lord to invite you to his residence for a chat."

Lynn frowned.

He had barely entered the city, and before he could even get his footing, someone came looking for him. Their information network was incredibly efficient.

"What does the city lord want with me?" Lynn asked.

The butler noticed his wariness and quickly said:

"My lord need not worry. My lord has always enjoyed making friends with fellow wizards from all walks of life. This time, since we are here for a gathering, my lord would like to take this opportunity to get to know you all."

"Several wizards have already moved into your residence. They have all come from afar, just like you. If you could stay with them, it would be more convenient for you to visit and communicate with each other."

Lynn hesitated for a moment.

His purpose in going out this time was to buy astral magic and advancement potions. If he could make connections with other wizards before the gathering, he might be able to exchange for good items in advance.

"Since the city lord is so kind, then I will take my leave," Lynn said.

The steward's face lit up with joy, and he quickly stepped aside to lead the way: "Please follow me, sir."

The City Lord's Mansion is located in the very center of White Stone City. Its main gate is twice as tall as the main gate of the Gray Feather Clan, and two stone beasts stand at the entrance.

The butler led Lynn through the front yard, and before they even reached the main hall, a tall, middle-aged man quickly came out to greet them.

"Has the head of the Gray Feather Clan arrived?" The man laughed from afar, his voice booming.

"I heard from the guards at the city gate that a wizard from afar had entered the city. I never expected you to be so young; you truly are an exceptional individual!"

The steward quickly introduced, "Lord Lynn, this is the city lord of our White Stone City."

Sensing the stagnant mental energy field surrounding the person before him, Lynn felt a chill run down his spine and stepped forward to respectfully bow.

"Lin En of the Gray Feather Clan greets Lord White Stone City."

"Don't be so polite." The city lord helped him up by the arm.

"My name is Horn. I embarked on the path of cultivation a few years earlier than you. If you're so bold, just call me Lord Horn."

"Come on, let's go inside and talk."

Horn is a proper third-ring wizard, while Lynn, a first-ring wizard, is definitely inferior to him.

But Horn was very polite and didn't put on any airs.

He personally led Lynn to the guest room area in the backyard and arranged for her to have a superior room facing south.

"Brother Lynn, please rest for a while. I'm hosting a banquet at my residence tonight, and I'll introduce you to some of my guests," Horn said.

Lynn said politely, "Thank you for your trouble, City Lord."

"No trouble at all," Horn waved his hand.

"I love eating and drinking with my wizard friends. As a young head of the family, you'll inevitably have to associate with them in the future."

...

As evening fell, the banquet hall of the city lord's mansion was brightly lit.

The long table was covered with dishes that Lynn couldn't name.

There was roasted monster meat drizzled with blue sauce, cold dishes seasoned with ghost grass, and wine brewed with fire-pattern fruit that warmed the throat with every sip.

There were also plates of exquisite crystal pastries that melted in your mouth, sweet but not cloying.

Lynn arrived rather late. When Horn saw him come in, he immediately stood up and led him to a seat, then introduced him to the others present.

Lynn was flattered by this polite attitude.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Lynn, the patriarch of the Grayfeather family in Graystone City. He specializes in the soul magic and is also a first-ring wizard."

Lynn nodded to everyone: "I'm new to Whitestone City, so I hope you'll all take good care of me."

Horn then introduced each of them to Lynn.

The tall, thin man sitting first on the left is Calvin, a second-ring wizard specializing in wind magic. He has long, gray hair and a slightly disdainful look in his eyes.

He wore a dark blue robe with wide sleeves, and looked somewhat aloof, only nodding slightly to Lynn.

"Lord Calvin brought a lot of wind-related materials this time, just waiting for the market to open," Horn said.

Calvin said calmly, "Let's try our luck."

The short, stout wizard sitting next to Calvin was named Tok, a first-level wizard specializing in fire magic.

His face was chubby, and his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled: "Brother Lynn, I'll toast you a few times later. It's rare to meet someone who cultivates the soul system, and I happen to have something I'd like to ask you."

Lynn nodded: "You're too kind, Lord Tok."

Across from me sat a witch named Mira, a first-level cultivator specializing in nature. She always carried a small silver spoon, which she would spin every few words she spoke.

She smiled at Lynn, her voice gentle:

"I've heard of the Grayfeather Clan. You're from Graystone City nearby, right? Your small town is very quiet; it's quite a nice place to live."

"Yes," Lynn said. "Graystone City is too comfortable. After living here for a long time, I've become a bit lax in my cultivation."

Mira smiled and said nothing more.

Next to him was an old man in a worn-out gray robe, a first-ring wizard named Barrow, who specialized in summoning.

He didn't talk much. He had been eating ever since Lynn entered the room, and only hummed in response to the introduction.

However, this guy has quite a lot of good stuff on hand, having summoned many things from another world to collect materials.

Horn didn't mind, and raised his glass, saying:

"You all came because you've done me, Horn, a favor. Tonight, have a good meal and drinks, and don't think about those business deals. We can get down to business after the meeting starts."

"The city lord governs Whitestone City well, and we all feel comfortable here," Mira said with a smile.

"Yes," Tok chimed in, "It's not this safe elsewhere. I ran into three groups of bandits on my way here."

"The highwaymen are really unlucky to have run into you," Calvin said.

Everyone laughed, and Lynn joined in with a few laughs before picking up his glass and taking a sip.

This wine is indeed extraordinary; it's smooth on the palate and goes down easily...

As Lord Horn, a third-ring wizard, kept raising his glass to liven up the atmosphere, the other wizards naturally dared not offend him, and the whole banquet was lively and bustling.

Lynn drank quite a bit too.

The wizards were all seasoned veterans, and they took turns offering him drinks and food. As a junior member of the new generation, he dared not refuse too much, for fear of appearing distant.

But that fire-patterned fruit wine has a very strong aftereffect; after a few cups, your head starts to feel heavy.

Lynn dared not indulge in this unfamiliar city, and quickly used her magic to clear away the effects of the alcohol, which allowed her to recover.

After the banquet ended, Lynn burped and rubbed his stomach as he returned to his room.

The city lord thoughtfully arranged for two maids to serve him, but Lynn dared not be completely open with anyone in this unfamiliar place and politely declined the offer.