Ancient Wizards: A Little Progress Every Day

Dago casually opened his system panel, and the progress in the strength column was 2nd Ring Formal Wizard (190%).

He estimated that, based on his current meditation efficiency, it would take him about two or three months to increase his mental strength to the level of a perfect second-circle wizard.

"Time is a bit tight. I can only hope for good luck to obtain some resources to increase my soul power so that I can successfully complete the advancement before the competition begins."

Dago murmured, though in truth he didn't have much hope for this.

Breaking through each level of a wizard is not a simple task. It doesn't mean that you become a third-circle wizard just because your mental strength has evolved to the third circle.

This is only the first step. Next, one must condense a new soul seal, practice and master new level three spells, and so on.

Normally, it takes at least one to two years for a second-ring wizard to advance to a third-ring wizard and truly complete the comprehensive transformation from second-ring to third-ring combat power.

So even if Dargo is lucky enough to advance before the Wizards' Tournament, there will still be a significant gap between him and a true third-ring wizard in many aspects.

The reason Dago cares so much about this is simply because the minimum requirement to participate in the Wizards' scramble is a three-ring finish.

"If it really doesn't work out, then I'll just have to be a bystander."

Dago shook his head, putting the matter aside for the time being and not thinking about it anymore.

Most of the data on the system panel remained largely unchanged, with the only one showing a significant increase.

The progress value of [Ice Flame Blue Demon Body] has improved slightly since he entered the Mechanical Heart.

This boost was thanks to the golden curse released by the golden magic box; when the Ash Witch Tracy gave him a gentle push... it almost cost him his life.

"Buzzing—"

A faint runic fluctuation emanated from the spatial ring. Dago casually opened it and took out a shimmering communication stone.

This is an exquisitely crafted holographic communication stone, with the core communication stone surrounded by large pieces of crystal and silver precious metal.

While serving as decoration, it also makes the entire communication stone more robust and less prone to damage.

The communication stone came from Ginya.

The communication stone has accumulated quite a few messages from Ginya, almost all of them inquiring about his current situation.

Dago had been so engrossed in studying the legacy of the Golden Law and the titanium metal that he had completely ignored Ginya's messages. Now that he had some free time, he decided to reply.

Gently tap the center of the communication stone, which gleams with a jade-like luster, and a faint blue light bursts forth, quickly revealing Ginya's appearance.

At this moment, Ginya's face was full of surprise, and she blurted out his name the moment she saw Dago.

"I'm so glad you're really alright! I went back to the Mechanical Heart later, but I couldn't find you. If it weren't for Sister Michael's divination that you weren't in any danger, I would have almost thought you..."

Ginya didn't finish her sentence, but her pretty face was filled with shame and guilt.

"I'm sorry, Dago... I shouldn't have left you behind back then..."

"It's none of your business."

Dago shook his head, reassuring Ginya that she shouldn't take it to heart.

He himself wanted to stay in the Mechanical Heart, and Ginya was forcibly taken away by the silver-haired witch and others who accompanied him.

He rescued Ginya solely to repay her for the care she had shown him in the damp, secret forest; Ginya owed him nothing.

Perhaps it was Dago's comforting words that helped Ginya's complexion gradually improve, and she asked him curiously.

Where are you now?

Dago looked around. The sun had completely set, and only a few stars were visible in the sky. The crescent moon hung in the sky, and all around was a dark, desolate wilderness.

To be honest, Dagger didn't even know where he was.

He briefly told Ginya that he was on his way to the Fairy City Ruins, and Ginya excitedly replied that she was right next to the Fairy City Ruins.

Because the battle for the Herams Prodigy spot had not yet begun, and the legendary fairy city had not yet appeared, the area where she was currently located was just a large expanse of bare earth.

However, there were quite a few people, and it was lively both day and night.

Dago was already curious about what happened to Ginya after she left the Damp Forest. When he learned that she was also preparing to join the competition for the top spot, he couldn't help but continue the conversation with her.

Although she was a first-ring wizard, her young age and naivety made her completely helpless against those cunning and experienced wizards.

If that's all there is to it, it's not so bad, after all, growth comes at a price.

But then, Ginya was targeted by a second-circle wizard.

It wasn't that he liked her or anything, but rather that he thought she was naive and helpless, and wanted to take her back to do alchemy experiments.

Ginya didn't want to be used as a guinea pig, so she had to run away, and she met the people from the Emerald Court during her escape.

.......

Under the bright sunlight, Dago wrapped himself tightly in a gray robe that concealed all patterns and quickly walked through a not-so-bustling market.

The market wasn't very big; it was set up next to a small, green lake where a small flock of black wild ducks swam.

The market was filled with stalls of all sizes, and both the sellers and buyers were wizards like Dago.

This is a special way of exchanging resources in the wizarding world, called the "Sunset Gathering".

The sunset gathering does not refer to a gathering that begins at sunset, but rather that the gathering usually begins at dawn and continues until sunset on the third day.

Sunset gatherings are popular among wandering wizards, and occasionally academic wizards also participate.

Sunset gatherings usually follow a group of merchants and wizards who travel from place to place and specialize in organizing gatherings, so there is a traceable pattern to them.

However, with the grand event of the battle for the Isidore Wizards' seat about to begin, a large number of southern wizards are converging on the location of the Fairy Ancient City, and many gatherings are being spontaneously organized.

The closer you get to the ruins of the Fairy City, the more of these markets you'll find.

The gathering that Dago is currently visiting is the fifth one he has encountered on his journey.

The gathering was small, and the wizards participating were generally not very powerful; there were no third-ring wizards present.

Only a handful of second-circle wizards, including Dago, are present; the vast majority of the rest are first-circle wizards.

The fact that the wizards participating in the gathering are not very powerful means that the probability of finding good items at the gathering is very small.

Dago chose to come in for a walk, wanting to reminisce about his days as a wandering wizard at the Aynor Wizarding Academy.

Believe it or not, although the Sunset Gathering is of a low level, because there are many wizards from different places participating in the gathering to exchange resources, Dago has already collected a lot of information after visiting five gatherings in a row.

"So, the Emerald Court, and that Ash Witch Tracy we encountered in the Mechanical Heart, both come from the central part of the Upper Ring Continent?"

As Dago wandered around, he spoke softly to Ginya through the communication stone.

The two had been chatting online for several days. If it started with just a brief encounter...

If they catch up with each other through some connection that they also have in Cletam, their relationship has become much closer, and they can now be considered true "friends".

In some ways, Dago and Ginya share common ground, such as the fact that neither of them has any "family" around them and they share a similar sense of "loneliness".

Especially for Ginya, she didn't even have someone she could talk to on an equal footing.

Dargo's appearance filled this void, and she had an unusually strong desire to confide in him.

"Yes, Sister Michael once inadvertently revealed to me that the Emerald Court is the true royal court, and they rule a powerful wizarding empire in the central region."

"The Imperial Princess..."

Upon hearing this, Dago was slightly taken aback and subconsciously asked, "Is she also here for the legacy of Isidore's Archon?"

"I think so."

Ginya replied, "Sister Michael said that the competition for the inheritance in the central region was too fierce. Although the Isidore inheritance in the central region is more core and powerful, she was not confident that she could obtain it, so she came to the south to participate, and that's when she met me."

"So, unable to compete with the geniuses from the central region, they're trying to bully the geniuses from the south?"

Dago shook his head. While the idea was quite wise, the action...

Never mind, I'll refrain from commenting.

Dago guessed that the other party must have paid a considerable price to move to the south; otherwise, if all the geniuses in the central region did the same, the geniuses in the south would probably be riddled with holes and wouldn't be able to compete at all.

Of course, the legacy Isidore left in the south was far less than that in the central region, and the fact that most of the central region's geniuses looked down on him was probably a major reason as well.

Even if Ginia's sister Michael were to settle for second best, there's still a guy named Ash Witch who's always following her around.

"Genia".

Dago changed the subject, saying, "Princess Michael of the Emerald Court treats you so well, even willing to regard you as a sister. Do you know why?"

As a friend, Dago felt it necessary to remind Ginya.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Everything you receive has its price marked by fate long ago.

He worried that the naive and innocent Ginya would be deceived.

Although he couldn't fathom what it was about Ginya that would make a princess of the Central Wizard Empire go to such lengths to deceive her.

According to Ginya's previous account, Michael was indeed extraordinary to her, and the resources he spent on her were enough to "buy" ten Ginyas.

Ginya on the other end of the communication stone fell silent for a moment, offering no reply; the message had been read but not answered.

Dago didn't pay any attention. His gaze swept over the several stalls in front of him, and finally he walked toward one of them.

Upon reaching the stall, Dago pointed to something and asked the stall owner, whose strength was only that of a first-ring wizard.

"What is this?"