Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

The next morning, the rain stopped, and the sky was overcast.

Shallow puddles formed on the stone-paved road of Wisteria Lane, reflecting the leaden-gray sky.

Several gray-feathered birds were pecking at food scraps at the alley entrance, and when they saw people coming, they fluttered away.

Ian pushed open the door, his shoulder creaking with displeasure.

"Ian... I want to go play too."

"Sweetie, keep an eye on this place for me, especially the underground altar. I don't trust anyone else to do it."

Ian offered a soft word of advice, glancing up at the end of the street.

The wind blew in from the depths of the alley, carrying the damp chill unique to rain, and crept into my collar.

He strode toward the Just family office.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the family affairs hall.

It was unusually quiet today, and there were no guards at the gate as usual.

Two second-level wizards, dressed in dark silver armor, stood on either side, their eyes sharp as eagles.

"Hmm? Is some important person coming today?"

Ian became wary and stepped forward.

"Name, reason for visit"

"Ian Marcus, here to review the case, guest."

The guard took out a palm-sized crystal plate from his pocket and traced it a few times with his fingertip.

The crystal panel glowed faintly, reflecting the image of Ian's temporary guest insignia.

"Go in."

The guard stepped aside, and another person stepped forward and pushed open the giant door.

The dimly lit corridor behind the door was filled with crystal lamps today.

The light was still not very bright, but at least the outlines of the ancient stone patterns on the wall were visible.

As Ian entered, gazes still peered out from behind the tightly closed stone doors on either side.

But today, there was something else in those gazes compared to the first time.

Curiosity, scrutiny, and... a touch of appreciation.

Ian kept his eyes straight ahead and walked straight to the end of the corridor.

At the far end, a five-meter-tall black metal door let in light from the hall through its cracks.

He pushed open the door and went inside; the hall was even more spacious than when he last came.

The tables and chairs that were originally scattered around have been cleared out, leaving only an open space in the center.

Behind the counter sat the familiar middle-aged male wizard.

He wore a dark gray robe with a silver officer's badge pinned to his chest; he was a mid-level level two cultivator with a solid aura.

His eyes were still shrewd and indifferent, but today... there was a hint of restraint in them.

Ian's gaze swept across the counter and landed on the higher platform further away.

There, a large stone chair was placed.

An elderly man dressed in a gray-white robe sat on a stone chair.

The old man's face was withered, and his eyes were sunken, but when those eyes opened, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Elder Soren has arrived... No wonder."

Last time in the banquet hall, it was this elder who used the Origin Tracing Magic to detect the contamination in Edmund's body.

Adele sat in the audience section on the right side of the platform.

She wore a formal dark purple robe, her long hair was tied up with a silver hairpin, revealing her smooth forehead, and she looked relaxed.

Their eyes met, and they nodded to each other.

On the left side of the platform sat the Edwin brothers.

Edwin, dressed in a silver-white robe trimmed with purple, held a teacup with an elegant posture and a slight smile on his lips.

Today, he did not invite any elders from his own lineage to participate.

Adrian sat beside him, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees.

Ian withdrew his gaze and walked to the center of the hall.

The middle-aged clerk stood up from behind the counter, pulled a yellowed parchment form from a drawer, and tapped it on the counter with a rune pen.

"Ian Marcus, temporary guest, number seventy-three."

His voice was dry and monotonous, like he was reciting a legal document.

"The first item to be reviewed is identity verification."

Ian took a roll of parchment from his dimensional ring and handed it over.

The paper recorded his "origins"... a small wizarding organization on an outer island in the East China Sea.

After advancing to the second level of wizard, he traveled around and eventually came to the Central Continent, where he met Edel.

All the information was meticulously fabricated, with a complete narrative, verifiable "witnesses," and even a rough map of the island's location.

The middle-aged official took the parchment, quickly glanced through it, then picked up a rune pen and made a few marks on the form.

He took out a palm-sized crystal ball from under the counter.

"Activate it."

Ian infused a wisp of his spiritual energy into the crystal ball, causing pale golden patterns to light up inside.

Three seconds later, the pattern stabilized.

"Identity confirmed, no abnormalities found."

The middle-aged clerk took the crystal ball back and stamped a silver seal on the form.

"The assessment has been passed."

A slight commotion arose in the hall.

On the high platform, Elder Soren nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Ian with admiration.

Adele loosened her grip on her knee slightly.

Edwin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and a sinister glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"Second item for review: contribution demonstration." The middle-aged administrative officer's voice was still dry.

"Please demonstrate the contributions you made to the family during your time as a guest retainer."

Ian took out three silver potion test tubes from his dimensional ring; the liquid inside shimmered with starlight.

"The second-tier purification potion is remarkably effective against abyssal contamination."

Then they took out a roll of parchment, on which the recipe was written in dense detail, with each step clearly marked.

"This is the second version of the formula, an improved version, with a 30% increase in purification efficiency."

"This is the second version of the formula, an improved version, with a 30% increase in purification efficiency."

The hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the three test tubes and the formula.

The eyes of several level-two wizards standing in the corner immediately lit up.

"Second-stage purification formula..."

"Regarding the contamination of the abyss..."

"Worth at least 10,000 merit points..."

"Edel's most capable assistant..."

Whispers filled the hall like a tide.

On the high platform, Elder Soren's eyes narrowed slightly.

Staring at the recipe, his withered fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the stone chair.

"Edel... has a good eye for people, that's impressive."

He muttered to himself in a low voice, but everyone in the hall could hear him clearly.

Adele stood up at the opportune moment, first thanking the elder for the praise, then walked to the edge of the platform and looked at Ian with a complicated expression.

"This recipe was created by Ian himself."

Her voice was cool and clear, yet it reached everyone's ears distinctly.

"But he trusts me, so naturally I won't let him suffer any losses."

She turned to face Elder Soren and bowed slightly.

"If the family needs it, I can decide to take it back. The specific value... needs to be discussed after the assessment."

Elder Soren looked at Edel, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Granted." He nodded slowly, increasingly satisfied.

"This girl knows how to consider the interests of the family; she's starting to act like a clan leader."

The envious, jealous, and hateful gazes of the entire audience were like needles pricking at Adele.

Edwin's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.

A few drops of tea spilled onto the silvery-white robe sleeves, spreading into dark water stains.

He maintained his smile, but deep down, his sense of loss grew stronger.

"The third part of the review is the Q&A session."

The middle-aged administrative officer's voice drew everyone's attention back.

As is customary, he only needs to ask a few symbolic questions before announcing that the review has been approved.

The middle-aged official cleared his throat, about to speak.

Suddenly, the side door of the hall was pushed open, and seven young men dressed in gray apprentice robes were led in by two guards.

They looked to be sixteen or seventeen years old, with nervousness and unease on their faces.

His steps were unsteady, and his eyes darted around.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked at the seven apprentices, and then at the Edwin brothers on the platform.

Ian's heart skipped a beat.

But his face remained calm, only the silver glint deep in his eyes flickered for a moment.

"Who are you? Who let you in?"

The middle-aged administrative officer frowned, his voice tinged with displeasure.

What's wrong with the wizard at the door, letting these apprentices in?

The apprentice in the lead swallowed, raised his head, and his voice trembled slightly.

"I...we...live near Wisteria Lane and witnessed Mr. Marcus...moving suspicious materials late at night."

He gritted his teeth and mustered his courage once again.

"It was contained in a black cloth bag, irregularly shaped, and seemed to have a slight aura of the abyss."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

All eyes were on Ian.

Adele frowned slightly, recalling the message Delia had sent that morning.

"Miss, Edwin has sent a message privately saying that there might be... an accident today."

She was on guard at the time, but she never expected things to turn out this way.

Ian's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm.

"It seems that the Abyss Altar is not safe even on the third underground level. We'll have to dismantle it when we get back."

But he was certain that no one had ever seen any Abyss material.

Even if he did have them, he kept them in his dimensional ring; there was no need to move them.

Before he could speak, Adele had already stood up.

She walked to the edge of the platform, her deep purple robe sleeves fluttering slightly in the wind.

"Number 7 Wisteria Lane is my father's private property." Her voice was cold, like an ice blade slicing through the air.

"The mansion that Mr. Marcus is a guest of is the one I arranged."

Her eyes were icy as she swept over the seven apprentices.

"You mean... I should have him move suspicious materials?"

The apprentices stammered and turned pale when asked the questions.

The apprentice in the lead was trembling.

"We...we just saw things being moved...as for whether it was suspicious...we're not sure..."

"How did you get in? Who let you in?"

Adele pressed for further information and quickly narrowed down her choices to a few individuals.

At this moment, Edwin put down his teacup and stood up, his face filled with anger.

"Since you are unsure, do not make unfounded accusations against a guest retainer. For the sake of your family, leave immediately."

His voice was stern, seemingly reprimanding the apprentice, but in reality, he wanted to let the farce pass by lightly.

Adele glanced at Edwin, her vigilance growing even stronger.

The apprentices, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, turned to leave.

Just then, the last "guard" suddenly looked up.

His eyes were vacant, and a strange smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

The guard suddenly ripped open his clothes, revealing a fist-sized, dark red crystal core strapped to his chest.

The surface of the crystal nucleus is covered with fine cracks, and dark red light flows rapidly inside... just like a beating heart.

【Explosive Core】.

The dark red light inside the crystal core grew brighter and brighter, and violent energy fluctuations spread out instantly.

The air in the hall seemed to be gripped tightly by an invisible hand, suddenly freezing.

The faces of the closest level two wizards turned deathly pale instantly.

They could sense that once that energy erupted, the entire hall would be reduced to ruins.

Just as the crystal core was about to explode...

Soren on the high platform let out a cold snort, which exploded in the hall like a thunderclap.

An invisible pressure, like a mountain, pressed down.

The guard's movements froze instantly.

The person was frozen inside amber, unable to even move their eyes.

Inside the crystal core, the rapidly flowing dark red light was forcibly suppressed.

The guards were like wild beasts being choked, struggling violently but to no avail.

The hall was deathly silent.

He stared blankly at the frozen guard.

Elder Soren slowly rose, walked down from the platform, and came to the guards.

Withered fingers gently touched the forehead.

The guard's eyes struggled violently, but his soul was already locked.

Three seconds later, Soren withdrew his hand, his face ashen.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the heirs on the platform and the middle-aged official.

"This person's soul has a special mark, which, although concealed by a secret technique, cannot escape my eyes."

He transmitted his voice to the group, "I can confirm... this is the Hawkwood family's soul secret technique."

The group, including Edel, were deeply shocked.

Such an absurd thing happened right before my eyes.

Adele's pupils contracted sharply, a cold glint flashing in them.

Suddenly, I thought of Collins's always smiling face on the Leap, and the warning Delia gave me last night.

Edwin said... there might be an unexpected event today.

But this is no longer an accident; if not handled properly, it could even trigger a conflict between the two families.

Elder Soren was furious, staring at the frozen guard, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage.

"In the core affairs hall of the Just family..."

"Using Hawkwood's trained assassins to kill our family's retainers..."

He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.

"Is this... a sign of war?"

In the hall, all the wizards lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.

They could not withstand the wrath of a third-level archmage.

Elder Soren waved his hand.

Two guards in dark silver armor stepped forward and dragged away the frozen "guard".

His cultivation level had been destroyed, leaving him like a lump of mud.

What awaits him is an even more brutal interrogation in the dungeon.

The seven apprentices were also taken away by the guards and placed in isolation for investigation.

They don't know who deceived them, but since it happened at this time, even those behind them can't escape involvement.

Elder Soren turned to look at the middle-aged official, his tone icy.

"Keep the news under wraps, preserve the evidence, and visit the Hawkwood family at a later date."

The middle-aged official bowed quickly and said, "Yes."

The review was completed hastily, and Ian's status as a guest advisor was officially approved.

But in the hall, no one cared about that anymore; everyone was whispering about the shocking turn of events.

Hawkwood family assassins...attacked a guest elder in the Just family office...

This is no longer a simple conspiracy; it's a blatant provocation.

Adele walked up to Ian, her eyes filled with apology.

"I'm sorry to have dragged you into this trouble."

Ian shook his head. "What's meant to happen will happen."

He looked at the gray sky outside the hall. "I'm going back now."

The two walked out of the office side by side, and the massive black metal door behind them slowly closed.

Back at its lodgings, Gaga poked its head out of the shadows; it had already learned of the matter through telepathic communication.

"Ian...someone's trying to harm you again."

The little guy flew to Ian's shoulder and nestled gently against him.

Ian remained silent, recalling the [Exploding Core] on the guard's chest and Elder Sauron's telepathic message.

"The shadow of the Hawkwood family's secret arts..." His eyes darkened slightly.

"Collins...you're much dumber than I thought."

They actually used a spy to carry out their attack in the Just family's affairs office, and even left traces of the family's secret techniques...

"Is this how a young master from a wealthy family behaves?"

Just now, Adele warned him that the other party's grandfather was the Morning Star Wizard, and that he should not act rashly.

"Hmph! You really think I wouldn't dare to mess with you... Collins!"

Although he can't take direct action, he has plenty of methods.

"I guarantee... even the Morning Star Wizard won't be able to detect it!"

He let out a breath, relieving the pressure in his heart.

"The most urgent task is to dismantle the underground abyss altar first, and then... attempt to reach level three."

On the main road outside East City, a Hawkwood family carriage was moving slowly.

Collins sat on a cushion, holding a glass of amber-colored liquor.

Suddenly, the carriage door was pushed open, and Gray Vulture strode in.

"Young Master...something has happened."

"explain."

The old man's throat bobbed.

"The assassins...were suppressed on the spot by Sauron, and a search of their souls...discovered the secret technique of the family's brand..."

With a bang, Collins crushed the wine glass in his hand.

"Soren... how did he end up here?"

He knew things had gotten out of hand.

He never expected that a family elder would go to the scene.

Even more unexpectedly, Elder Soren's Origin Tracing Spell could actually see through the concealment of the family's secret technique.

Now... the Hawkwood family is likely to face challenges from the Just family.

Collins closed his eyes, then opened them and let out a long breath.

Collins closed his eyes, then opened them and let out a long breath.

"It's alright, they won't dare to touch me. At most... I'll just get a few scoldings from my father and that'll be it."

"Grey Vulture, let's go home first."

This can't be kept secret; I have to inform the family.

The carriage slowly drove away from East City, heading towards the Silver Sail City-State.