Ancient Wizards: A Little Progress Every Day

"boom!"

Vibrant orange-red bombarded the hazy white barrier, bursting forth with a breathtaking light.

The rolling waves of fire released terrifyingly high temperatures, and the void twisted and deformed under the heat, making crackling sounds, as if something was screaming hysterically.

However, that seemingly thin barrier only rippled like waves on water.

The energy particles are captured and neutralized by some higher rule the instant they come into contact with the interface, and eventually disappear into nothingness, as if they had never existed.

When all the commotion subsided, the rapidly spinning Crimson Lotus Staff flew back to a delicate, fair hand, but the hazy light enveloping the ancient city seemed unaffected.

It is still as thin as a thin layer of gauze, yet it seems to possess the most indestructible protective power in the world.

Tracy's chest heaved violently; this was not merely a failed spell, but a trampling of her dignity as a person in a superior position.

"Bang!"

Tracy's pretty face turned ashen as she crushed the little fairy figure in her hand into a shower of light. Turning to the old woman in black robes beside her, she said, "Jennifer, I order you to break it now. I want to go inside!"

Jennifer stood quietly half a body length behind Tracy, the shadow under her hood obscuring most of her face, revealing only her wrinkled chin.

But when faced with this magnificent ancient ruin, the old wizard, who had once struck fear into the hearts of countless enemies, showed a deep sense of powerlessness.

The old woman in black robes shook her head: "I'm sorry, Miss Tracy, I can't do it. I doubt there are many people in the entire Upper Ring Continent who can do it. After all, this is a magical barrier personally set up by the former King of Law, Isidore."

Jennifer's voice was hoarse and deep, like two rough whetstones rubbing together, conveying a sense of vicissitude and helplessness accumulated over the years.

"Isidore...that madman, that fanatic!"

Tracy cursed the legendary name that had long since vanished a thousand years ago, gritting her teeth.

"Then tell me why I can't get in? Why did that brat Michael get in so easily?!"

Tracy screamed and waved her crimson cane wildly, just like a child throwing a tantrum.

The old woman in the black robe, Jennifer, was very kind. She explained to Tracy gently, "Because you are not from the South, you cannot enter. Isidore would not have left such an obvious loophole."

Jennifer stretched out a hand as dry as tree bark and gently soothed the restless fire element in the air, as if comforting a crying baby.

"Since it is a tradition that remains in the south, only wizards born in the south are qualified to participate in the competition; otherwise, his act of dispersing the tradition would be meaningless."

This is the "rule," the coldest and most inviolable thing in the wizarding world.

Isidore inscribed his will into the rules of the world, and even though he has been dead for a thousand years, these rules remain as hard as steel.

"As for why that girl from the Lucien family was allowed in,"

Jennifer thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps she has some kind of item or secret technique that can deceive the spell's judgment, or perhaps... she originally had some Southern wizard blood in her veins."

"Bloodline..."

Tracy repeated the word, her eyes blazing with jealousy.

"You probably forgot that Michael Lucien was only found by the wizards of the Emerald Court when she was ten years old. Because of this, she was neglected and ostracized among the descendants of the current King Lucien."

It turns out that her rival, whom she had always regarded as a country bumpkin, actually possessed the key to unlock this treasure trove.

This is simply a cruel joke played by fate.

Tracy stood there, stunned. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and said to Jennifer, "You knew this all along, didn't you? You knew I would eventually stop you outside, but you deliberately didn't tell me!"

"Damn Jennifer, you annoying old hag."

Despite Tracy's merciless insults, Jennifer showed no anger whatsoever; instead, her eyes were filled with even more affection.

She knew this young lady's temperament well: spoiled and willful, yet possessing astonishing wizarding talent.

She apologized to Tracy in a soft voice, as if coaxing a child. "I just didn't want you to lose interest so quickly if you knew all this. If you really want to go in..."

"If we go back now, we might still be able to catch the match in the central region."

"Shut up, I hate hearing your voice right now."

Tracy now looked like a snarling, irritable little animal, waving her arms impatiently.

"Do you think I'm trying to seize some kind of Law Master inheritance? The power of even a fragment of that inheritance is barely passable, and collecting the whole thing is simply impossible!"

"What I care about is Michael! Michael, that guy who's even more annoying than you."

Tracy grumbled on for a while, then suddenly her eyes lit up as if she had come up with a brilliant idea.

In that instant, the rage in her eyes faded, replaced by a cold, calculating glint.

"I suddenly feel that being kept out and unable to get in is actually not so bad."

Tracy licked her lips lightly, her gaze drifting towards the Jade Court's headquarters. "At least... that brat Michael can't get out right now."

"Jennifer, my dear Jennifer, you'll help me stop those nasty people trying to stop me from playing the game, right?"

Tracy glanced indifferently at a certain spot in the sky and spoke to the old woman in black robes in a coquettish tone.

Several obscure auras were hidden there, clearly sentries placed by the Jade Court.

The latter looked at her with affection and doting, "Of course, all I want is for our dear Tracy to be happy and have a good time."

"You are the best Jennifer in the world!"

Tracy let out a series of cheerful laughs, and with a "bang," she exploded into a ball of sparks and disappeared.

All that remained were charred remains and a lingering smell of sulfur in the air.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of the barrier.

"Dago, you've come in, haven't you?"

"Yes," Dago replied succinctly.

"Remember to take out that thing I gave you before; it will help you find members of the Gongjin Society within the ancient city."

"Try to stay here as long as possible; opportunities like this don't come often. Good luck."

"Same here, good luck." Dago cut off the communication with Barker.

He then took out something resembling a badge from his spatial ring and casually stuffed it into the gap inside his titanium armor.

Only after he finished all this did he have a moment to look up and survey his surroundings.

He felt as if he were in an ancient garden.

The neatly manicured flowerbeds were filled with exotic flowers in blue, purple, red, and white.

The colors were vibrant, and he couldn't name any of them; the air was filled with an intoxicating fragrance.

Countless tiny, firefly-like lights danced in the garden, enveloped in a thin mist, creating a hazy and dreamlike atmosphere.

These points of light are not living beings, but highly condensed elemental spirits.

Over the long years, they developed a faint sense of self, circling around Dago like curious children.

Dago casually picked a small flower from beside him, rubbed it between his fingers, and was surprised to find that it was actually a real flower.

A delicate touch came from my fingertips; the flower juice stained the titanium alloy gloves, leaving a faint blue mark.

Inside this barrier that has been sealed for thousands of years, not only is the magic circulation system still functioning perfectly, but the ecosystem also maintains an astonishing vitality.

What exquisite alchemical skills and enormous energy source would that require?

Isidore's greatness is fully displayed in every blade of grass and every tree.

He tried to catch the scattered points of light in the air, but they passed right through his palm with a gentle grasp.

This is a peculiar existence that exists between matter and energy, and only spiritual power can touch its physical form.

Just as Dago was considering his next move, the little fairy who had led him into the fairy city suddenly flew out of the flower bushes and darted in front of his face.