Dark Wizard: Rise! My undead army!

After the transaction was completed, Lynn left the auction house, preparing to rush back to his family.

As the backbone of the family and its top combat force, it's understandable that they feel uneasy when the family is in crisis and they are not there.

A round trip like this requires me to disappear for a week, and I wonder how things are going with my family.

Just as Lynn was about to walk toward the city gate, the steward of the city lord's mansion caught up from behind.

"Lord Lynn, please wait a moment." The butler jogged up to him and bowed slightly.

"The city lord said there will be a banquet at the manor tonight, and several officials will be staying. What do you think..."

"Please thank the city lord for me," Lynn said. "I've been away for several days, and I don't know what's going on at home, so I need to go back as soon as possible."

The steward didn't press the matter, and said with a smile, "Then I won't keep you any longer, sir. Next time you come to White Stone City, feel free to visit my residence anytime."

Lynn nodded and strode out of the city gate.

He walked three miles along the official road and then turned into the woods beside the road.

After walking a few steps, I saw the Gale Wolf lying under an old tree, its head resting on its front paws and its ears drooping.

Its originally bluish-gray fur was covered in mud, and its ribs were protruding. When it saw Lynn coming, it struggled to lift its head.

"He's still alive." Lynn walked over and squatted down.

The Gale Wolf let out a very low whimper from its throat.

It hasn't moved an inch in the past three days, hasn't eaten or drunk anything, its once glossy fur has turned gray, and its front legs are trembling a little.

Well... it's not like I didn't eat anything at all. At least I ate some small insects and mice to satisfy my cravings.

Lynn stroked its head; the bones under its fur felt rough to the touch.

"He's more loyal than some people," Lynn said.

The Swift Wolf glanced at him sideways, its gray-white eyes clearly saying: If I weren't under your control, you'd see if I wouldn't bite you.

Lynn ignored its gaze, tightened her control over the soul threads, and patted its back: "Get up, let's feed you first."

The Gale Wolf struggled for a few moments before finally getting to its feet, its hind legs clearly weak.

Lynn led it to a stream not far away. The wolf plunged in, its tongue lolling out as it drank the water. It drank for a while before raising its head, its mouth covered in foam.

Lynn stood by the stream, using his soul threads to create an invisible giant net, catching several large, fat fish from the water and tossing them onto the bank.

The fish was still jumping when the swift wolf pounced and swallowed one whole in a few bites, not even spitting out the bones.

"Slow down, you idiot, don't get a fishbone stuck in your throat," Lynn said.

The wolf ate several more, and only stopped when its belly was swollen. It then lay back on the shore to catch its breath.

Lynn waited until it had rested enough, then fed it some water before riding it again.

Because of his weakened state, the Swift Wolf moved much slower than it had come, but it was still much faster than a regular fast horse.

The man and the wolf headed along the official road toward Graystone City.

...

Meanwhile, Graystone City was in an uproar.

The day after Lynn left, earth-shattering news came from Blackrock City.

The Blacktooth family sent messengers to the surrounding cities to announce that their patriarch, Black Mountain, had successfully broken through to the second level of wizardry and would be holding a grand banquet in Blackrock City in three days, inviting all his colleagues to attend.

Graystone City, being nearby, was naturally among those invited.

The messenger was a minor steward from the Black Fang family, dressed in fine clothes and riding a tall horse. When he arrived at the Gray Feather family's gate, he didn't even dismount.

"Call your family patriarch Lynn out and tell him the Black Fang family has sent people." The steward, seated on his horse, gestured with his chin toward the guards at the door.

The guard looked displeased, but since the other party was from the Black Fang family, he had no choice but to endure it and go in to report.

Not long after, "Lynn" came out from inside.

The flesh puppet was wearing Lynn's usual robes, walking at a leisurely pace, with no discernible expression on its face.

Aria hid behind the curtains on the second floor, using her mental power to control the puppet's every move.

The steward glanced at "Lynn" and felt a strange chill run down his spine.

This person looked exactly like Lynn, but something felt off, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

It was probably the aura of a formal wizard.

He suppressed his strange feeling and said loudly:

"My family patriarch has been promoted to the second ring and will be hosting a grand banquet in three days. Lord Lynn is invited to attend. The ownership of the surrounding resources will be discussed again at the banquet, including your family's witch crystal mine. Your presence is imperative."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several collateral relatives standing in the courtyard all changed.

This was tantamount to telling them openly: the Black Mountain family is not what it used to be, and they are going to target the Witch Crystal Mine!

Everyone focused their attention on "Lynn," waiting for his reaction.

The puppet didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly to indicate that it understood.

The steward waited a while, but seeing that "Lynn" didn't react any further, he got a little bored, snorted, and rode away.

Chief Lynn really has no temper at all. His own family has provoked him quite a bit over the years, but this guy has actually been a coward for three years!

After the steward left, the whole courtyard erupted in chaos.

"What does 'Black Mountain' mean?" an elder from a collateral branch of the family asked angrily, stamping his foot. "They've only just entered the Second Ring Road and they're already trying to steal our mine?"

"They call it a discussion, but it's really just forcing us to take a stand." Another tribesman clenched his fist.

"If you go, you're bowing and offering your services; if you don't go, you're disrespecting others. Either way, you won't get any credit."

Lin Chen stood at the back of the crowd, his jaw clenched tightly.

Of course he understood what Montenegro meant.

For the past three years, the Black Fang family has been gradually encroaching on Gray Feather's assets. Now that Black Mountain has made a breakthrough, they're even too lazy to cover up their last fig leaf.

"Clan leader, we can't go." A young man from a collateral branch stood up indignantly.

"Going there would be like sending lambs to the slaughter. We should unite with the other families in town to fight against the Black Fang family..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he looked at "Lynn" and saw that the other person was standing at the door without moving, with no expression on his face.

"Chieftain?" the young man called out again.

Aria felt a tightness in her chest upstairs and quickly made the puppet turn around, then slowly walked back into the house.

The tribesmen looked at Lynn's retreating figure, exchanging bewildered glances.

"Why hasn't the clan leader said a word today?" someone muttered quietly.

"Perhaps he's thinking of a solution," said a member of the tribe nearby.

After the puppets entered the house, Aria came downstairs, closed the door, and said to the tribespeople who had gathered around, "Everyone, go back first, and we'll discuss it again after the chief has thought it through."

Although the crowd was unwilling, they couldn't say anything and could only disperse.

Once everyone had left, Aria closed the door, leaned against it, and finally, her legs gave way, and she slowly slid down to the ground.

She panicked.

Lynn has been in Whitestone for several days now, and it's said that the round trip will take almost ten days. What if he misses the deadline?

The banquet is in three days. Although the puppet looks like Lynn, it has no rationality and is entirely controlled by her.

It's fine to pretend in front of your own people, but once you get to Blackrock City, with so many wizards watching, if someone sees through you, the consequences could be dire.

The fate of the entire family now hangs in the balance.