Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

The plane pierced through the clouds and slowly landed in the central square of Delhi, the capital of India.

The hatch opened, and a wave of heat mixed with a pungent smell rushed out.

Ian stepped down the gangway, his brow furrowing slightly as he quickly held his breath.

The air was filled with a strange stench of spices, feces, sweat, and various putrid smells, like a pot of boiling dung soup, so thick that it was hard to breathe.

The square was packed with people, a dense, dark mass.

There were men, women, and children, all with dark skin, cloudy eyes, and wearing tattered burlap clothes.

They craned their necks, stood on tiptoe, and strained to see the plane.

"The Crimson Spear!"

"The Crimson Spear of the Great Yan has arrived!"

"I heard he can purify rifts! He was invited here by our Sun God."

Shouts rose and fell, thick with accents and a mix of various dialects.

Ian's gaze swept across the crowd; many people had dark purple pustules on their bodies, traces of long-term exposure to the pollution of the abyss.

Some people have limb deformities and walk with a limp.

Further away, a murky river flows through the city.

The river water was dark yellow, with garbage, dead fish, and... floating on the surface. The stench mainly emanated from the corpses.

"Gah... Ugh!" A gurgling sound, almost like someone was about to vomit, came from my shoulder.

"Ian, this place... stinks." The little guy said with obvious disgust.

The little guy covered its nose with its wings, and its black feathers bristled slightly.

"It smells worse than the swamps of the shadow world."

"Just bear with it." Ian's expression was also not good, and his gaze was fixed on the square in front of him.

There stood a group of people to greet them, led by a tall, thin old man wearing a dark red monk's robe, with a bald head and a face full of wrinkles.

His eyes were bright, like two oil lamps, and his cultivation level was at the early stage of the Legendary realm.

"Mr. Yin, welcome to the beautiful India."

The old man stepped forward, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and spoke in a hoarse but powerful voice.

"I am Baskar, Lord of the Sun, one of the three guardians of India."

Ian paused, speechless for a moment, then nodded slightly in response.

That's like a toad yawning, what a big mouth you have! Do you even deserve to call yourself the Lord of the Sun?

His lips twitched slightly, and he didn't bother to say anything more.

Bascala seemed unfazed by Ian's coldness, turning to the side and gesturing for him to proceed.

"The king is waiting in the palace. Please come with me."

The crowd parted automatically to make way, and Ian followed behind Bascala through the crowded square.

Wherever he went, crowds knelt down, but not to him; they knelt to Bascala.

The frenzied crowd muttered incantations, as if in prayer.

"They are praying to the Lord of the Sun for protection."

Baskar turned around, a smile on his face. "The people of India are always so devout."

Ian was speechless; even Gaga didn't want to look at these old fogies anymore.

He noticed that Bascarra left faint golden footprints when he walked.

The footprints last for three seconds and then disappear, like some kind of esoteric ritual.

"We have already heard about Mr. Yin's remarkable deeds in Dayan."

Bascala spoke as he walked, his voice neither hurried nor slow.

"One man and one bird purified more than a hundred rifts in three months. The name of the Crimson Spear is known even to the children of India."

"That's too kind; it still doesn't live up to your reputation."

Ian scoffed, "I just did what I could."

"Whatever I can do..." Bascarra repeated, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

"Well said, but unfortunately, we Indians... are powerless to do so."

He sighed and pointed into the distance, where he could vaguely see several dark purple beams of light shooting into the sky.

"Around Delia, there are seven fissures, three of which are level four, four of which are level three, and five of which are level five, fortunately located on the border."

"We three guardians can only barely hold the line, we are powerless to purify it, which is why we asked Mr. Yin to come and help us."

Ian remained noncommittal. "What about the promised payment?"

"It's ready." Bascara took out a jade box from his sleeve.

Upon opening, seventy-five golden source crystals were neatly arranged inside.

Each one is the size of a goose egg, and they all exude the same pure, primal aura as those of the Great Yan.

"This is an advance payment. The full amount will be paid after all seven fissures are purified."

Ian took the jade box and scanned it with his spiritual power; all seventy-five pieces were present.

"No problem." He put the jade box into his dimensional ring.

A hint of surprise flashed in Baskar's eyes. Dimensional rings, a type of spatial equipment, were legendary items in India.

Even those three guardians weren't there.

"Mr. Yin... is indeed extraordinary." He said in a low voice and continued to lead the way.

The palace was much more extravagant than I had imagined.

The walls were covered in gold leaf, the pillars were inlaid with gems, and the carpet was made of the fur of some kind of magical beast. It was crudely made, with the gold leaf crookedly applied and the gems inlaid unevenly.

The air was filled with a strong incense scent, trying to mask the omnipresent body odor, but the effect was limited.

The combination of the two flavors makes it even more nauseating.

The banquet hall was already full of people.

The person in the main seat was a fat middle-aged man wearing a golden crown and a long robe embroidered with jewels; he was none other than King Samit of India.

On his left and right sat two people. On his left was a bald, burly man with dark skin and bulging muscles, like an iron tower.

On the right is a gaunt old woman with a thick layer of white powder on her face. Her eyes are long and narrow, and her exaggerated eye shape resembles a writhing venomous snake.

"Mr. Yin, please have a seat."

King Summit spoke, his voice booming, carrying a certain deliberate air of authority.

Ian sat down in the guest seat, and Gaga perched on his shoulder, its small eyes scanning the room.

"This is Aditya, a descendant of the gods and one of the guardians of India."

Bascarra pointed to the bald, muscular man and introduced him. Aditya raised his eyelids and glanced at Ian.

His gaze was level, yet a hint of disdain lingered in his eyes.

"This is Shomia, daughter of the moon goddess and also a guardian." The gaunt old woman nodded slightly, white powder falling off her face.

Ian's expression was blank; he merely nodded slightly as a greeting.

After the introductions, the banquet officially began.

The maids served various foods: charred meat, curry that had turned into a mushy mess, and soup that smelled strange.

Ian didn't touch his chopsticks, and Gaga was even more direct, burying its little head in its wings to indicate its refusal.

"Mr. Yin, is it perhaps not to your liking?" King Summit asked, a smile plastered on his face.

"Let's not waste everyone's time," Ian replied calmly. "Let's get straight to the point."

Summit's expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Good, Mr. Yin is indeed decisive."

He clapped his hands, and the maids cleared away the food and replaced it with wine.

"The locations of the seven cracks have been marked. Mr. Yin, which one do you intend to start with?"

"We'll go wherever it's closest." Ian took the map handed to him, glanced at it casually, and put it down.

"How many people will Mr. Yin need to cooperate with?" Bascala asked.

"No need." Ian looked at Bascarra. "I'll go in alone. You guys can keep watch outside."

"This..." Bascalar hesitated for a moment, "Mr. Yin, the situation inside the rift is complex and dangerous, what if..."

"There's no 'what if'," Ian interrupted him. "I'll say it again, no one is allowed to go in."

His voice was calm, leaving no room for negotiation.

The banquet hall fell silent for a moment. Aditia snorted and downed his wine in one gulp.

Shomia narrowed his long, narrow eyes but remained silent.

King Summit chuckled twice. "Since Mr. Yin is confident, then let's do as you say."

"Come on, let's drink! Let's drink!"

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere could never be the same as before.

Ian didn't touch his chopsticks or drink alcohol the whole time; he just sat quietly, like a statue.

Gaga simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

An hour later, the banquet ended awkwardly, and Ian was taken to a "luxurious" palace to rest.

It's called a palace, but it's really just a larger room with gold leaf on the walls, gemstones inlaid in the windows, and carpets so thick they sink into your ankles.

But upon closer inspection, spider webs could be seen in the corners, and the body odor still lingered in the air.

"Gah, this place..." Gah flew down from Ian's shoulder and landed on the table.

The little paw stomped on the table, "It's dirtier than the stinking swamp in the Shadow World."

"Just for one night. We're not coming back."

Ian took out a few blood essences to fill Gaga's stomach, then sat down cross-legged and began to meditate and rest.

The Xuanhuang world has no magic and cannot be meditated, but it can restore one's spirit.

At this moment, his spiritual power silently spread out, enveloping the entire palace. He found nothing unusual and then continued to expand outwards.

Passing through walls, through corridors, through courtyards, it finally stopped outside the king's bedroom.

"Bascala, what do you think of that Mr. Yin... his abilities?"

King Samite's voice was tinged with drunkenness.

"Unfathomable," Bascarra replied solemnly. "I can't see through him at all."

"Hmph, playing tricks." Aditya sneered.

"I think he's only so arrogant because he's relying on some kind of secret technique."

"Secret technique?" Shomia asked, his voice hoarse.

"What secret technique could purify over a hundred fissures in three months?"

"This..." Aditia was speechless.

"No matter what kind of secret technique it is, since you've come to India, you have to follow our rules."

King Samit said, "Half of the reward has already been given; the other half... we'll discuss after he finishes the purification."

For some reason, Bascara's heart suddenly tightened. "Your Majesty means..."

"Once he finishes purifying, we'll say the national treasury is empty and we can't produce that many source crystals for the time being."

King Samit sneered. "He can't stay in India forever, can he?"

"Treating a legend like this could cause big trouble..." Bascarra wanted to say something more.

"Don't worry, there won't be any trouble," Summit interrupted him. "Just do as I say."

The palace fell silent.

Ian waited a while longer, and seeing that no one spoke again, he withdrew his mental energy.

Deep within the pupils, five-colored star trails slowly rotated.

"As expected... this is the Indian mindset," he muttered to himself. "Greedy and foolish."

Gaga raised her head, her little eyes flashing with anger. "Ian, are they trying to renege on their debt?"

"Um."

"Then let's just go back and not help them purify the rift!" The little guy was furious.

"Don't rush." ​​Ian's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Why not help? It would be better if they didn't pay us after the purification was complete..."

His voice was soft, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, he shivered, and stopped talking.

Early the next morning.

Early the next morning.

Bascala personally led the way to a point thirty kilometers outside the city of Dria.

There is a level four rift here, surrounded by an army, but the soldiers are pale and their eyes are filled with fear.

They calmed down a bit when they saw Bascala.

"Mr. Yin, this is it." Bascala pointed to the crevice.

"I need to send someone..."

"No need," Ian interrupted him, stepping towards the crevice.

Gaga perched on his shoulder, its little eyes scanning the surroundings. "Ian, there are surveillance cameras around."

"Well, let them be."

Ian didn't stop, walking straight into the crevice, his figure swallowed by the mist.

Bascala stood still, his eyes darting around; he had indeed arranged for someone to keep watch.

It wasn't that Ian didn't trust me, but I wanted to see what methods he would use to purify the rift.

If it really is a secret technique, I might be able to learn a thing or two from it.

A minute later, a muffled sound came from inside the crack, as if something had exploded.

Then, the dark purple mist began to dissipate.

Moreover, it doesn't fade away slowly; it recedes rapidly, like the tide going out.

Five minutes later, the surrounding fog completely disappeared, and the crack... vanished.

A giant crater, hundreds of meters in diameter, suddenly appeared where the crack had been.

Bascarra's pupils contracted, and he quickly walked to the edge of the pit and looked down.

There was nothing in the pit: no aberrations, no polluting odors, and no source crystal veins formed.

So clean...like it had been licked by something.

"This..." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but only let out a sigh.

The soldiers behind him were even more dumbfounded.

They have guarded this place for many years, watching the cracks expand every day and their comrades being torn apart by the mutants.

But as soon as that legendary figure from the Great Yan Dynasty entered, the rift just disappeared?

Bascala took a deep breath; only by witnessing it with his own eyes could he feel truly awestruck.

He turned to an officer behind him. "See that?"

"I...I saw it clearly." The officer's voice trembled.

"After Mr. Yin went inside, a red light appeared, and then... it exploded."

"Red light?"

"Yes, a crimson light, just like the sun."

Bascalar fell silent. Crimson light, a crimson spear?

He recalled the intelligence sent back from the Great Yan side: Mr. Yin's most frequently used method was a crimson spear.

A single strike pierced the rift, purifying everything; it turns out... it was all true.

"Let's go." He waved his hand to dismiss his men, the thought in his mind growing stronger and stronger.

The secret technique must be some extremely powerful one. If India could obtain it...

For the next two weeks, Ian traveled throughout India.

One, two, three... He went into each crevice alone.

Each time it lasts one to three minutes, then it comes out, the crack disappears, leaving a huge crater.

Bascarra went from initial shock to numbness, and then to boundless greed.

He became increasingly convinced that Ian possessed some powerful purification technique.

This secret technique must be mastered by India.

"Your Majesty, in addition to the seven rifts we arranged before, there are two other level-five rifts, and almost all level-three rifts have disappeared."

Inside the palace, Bascarra bowed and reported.

King Samite sat on his throne, tapping his fingers on the armrest.

"All purified?"

"Yes, so far there has been no failure, and the purification process has been very short."

"Hahaha! Very good." King Summit laughed. "Where is Mr. Yin now?"

"Rest at the camp outside the city, which means we'll be leaving early tomorrow morning."

"Leave?" King Summit's smile widened. "What about the reward? Did he mention it?"

"I did mention it, but following the king's instructions, I said the national treasury was empty and needed time to prepare, and asked him to wait a few days."

"And what was his reaction?"

"Hmm, he seemed very calm, and only said 'I understand'."

"Quiet?" King Summit raised an eyebrow. "Just that simple?"

"Yes."

Bascala lowered his head in thought, somewhat puzzled. "He really didn't say anything, and just turned around and left the city."

"Hehe..." King Summit leaned back in his chair, looking quite content.

There's an old saying in the Great Yan Dynasty: "Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake." It seems he's come to terms with reality.

"Your Majesty, how about exchanging the remaining Source Crystals for the secret technique he possesses?"

Aditya proposed a compromise, still aiming at Ian's secret arts.

"The Source Crystals will not be given anymore," King Summit sneered.

"The previous compensation was already more than enough. We are also facing difficulties now, and he should be able to understand."

"Just a purification technique? You could try contacting him again and sound him out."

"Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate," Shomia said, his voice hoarse.

"His strength is terrifying. My secret technique tells me that this person is extremely dangerous."

"No matter how strong you are, you're still just one person," King Samite interrupted her.

"We also have three legends, millions of troops, and an invincible giant mushroom. If he dares to make a move, he will be making an enemy of the entire India."

"Even if we kill him then, the Great Yan won't blame us."

He paused, then added.

"Besides, he purified the rift and didn't leave any source crystal ore behind. We've already been very lenient by not asking him for compensation."

Bascarra and Aditia exchanged a glance but remained silent.

A hint of worry flashed in Shomia's narrow eyes, but he didn't say anything more.

The king's decree has been issued; further discussion is futile.

On a small hill a hundred miles outside the city, Ian sat cross-legged in his tent, his eyes slightly closed.

The spiritual power extended, enveloping the entire palace.

He heard every word of the conversation between King Samit and his companions.

"Just as I expected." He opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing deep within his pupils.

"Huh, they really dare to renege on their debt?"

Gaga emerged from the shadows, its eyes swirling with silver vortexes.

Ian nodded. "Not only are they trying to renege on their debt, but they also want to keep me here and force me to reveal the purification secrets."

"Then what are we waiting for?" The quack flapped its wings.

"Go now, arrest that so-called king, and force him to hand over all the Source Crystals!"

"No rush, let's wait until dawn, then there will be more audience members."

Ian stood up and walked outside the tent.

Night had fallen, and there were no stars in the sky, only a pale moon hanging on the horizon.

"I want the source crystals, and I want their lives too."

He muttered to himself, "A bunch of vermin dare to plot against a dragon; they're courting death."

Tomorrow, he will crush those insects to death in front of all the people of India.

Then take all the source crystals.