Wizards pursue the truth

Chapter 303 [303] The Truth Behind the Shadowy Meeting and the Dreamlike Reality is Terrifying

The figure in the yellow wizard's robe paused for a moment, his pupils flickered, and he raised his head. A familiar face emerged from the void, followed by the condensation of his entire body.

Those dark eyes, the beauty mark at the corner of his eye—even though his hair had turned white, he was still recognizable as the man he once was.

The wizard's eyes flickered, as if a thousand emotions were hidden within them, but in the end, they only turned into a silent sigh and a faint voice uttered from slightly open mouth, "It's good that you're back, junior brother."

Wang Ya gently raised his right hand, and a white halo bloomed from his fingertip, seemingly enveloping the entire Maple Forest.

An invisible force acted upon this place, causing all the maple leaves to slowly drift and sway until they filled the sky, weaving among the maple trees and drifting across the entire Dream Tower area.

It wasn't over yet. This force was extremely powerful and enduring, propelling the maple leaves further afield, eventually enveloping the entire Dark Land headquarters.

Maple leaves twirl and flutter, just like the once-famous Maple Forest, creating a dreamlike scene.

As if infused with life, the entire color of the maple leaves seemed to come alive.

A rosy glow returned to the somewhat pale face of the wizard Kelan as she quietly watched the familiar yet strangely unfamiliar scene of fluttering maple leaves.

I haven't seen a scene like this in so many years.

This only happened when the Dream Wizard was still around, and it has remained so ever since.

The teacher is no longer here. She even thought that she would never see the maple leaves falling all over the sky again. But unexpectedly, the wizard Kelan suddenly smiled. However, the smile was not so happy. It was more of a sense of relief and reassurance.

Wang Ya extended his hand to the wizard Kelan and said softly, "Although time has passed, it always leaves something behind. Senior sister, you've worked hard all these years."

"The teacher isn't here, and neither are you. The only one who can keep this family going is me." The wizard Kelan's brows, which always carried a hint of sorrow, relaxed. The warmth emanating from her palms seemed to bring a kind of strength, supporting her somewhat withered body.

The wizard Kelan also sensed the unfathomable aura of the other party, as well as the overwhelming particle energy fluctuations.

This kind of situation has only happened with former teachers.

This also shows that the other party's strength has completely reached the level of a formal wizard.

The two clasped hands, and the wind blew the maple leaves flying in the sky. As the light refracted, more light and shadow appeared on the wizard Kelan, while only the most dazzling light and color remained on Wang Ya.

Light gathered around him, and maple leaves drifted and swayed towards the area behind him.

The spatial layers of the world before them were shifting. In the perception of the wizard Kolan, an incredibly powerful dream force enveloped their bodies, drawing them into a deeper dream world.

The branches of the maple trees were stained with colored pigments, and the leaves were like paintbrushes, dripping paint. Trees with the same pigments grew on the ground, creating a bizarre and chaotic scene with twisted branches.

The white soil was covered with eerie black vegetation, and rice stalks like ants swayed in the wind. The sky also had an eerie wavy pattern, but its color was a dull gray.

There was neither sun nor moon, as if covered by a thin film, isolating the inside from the outside and blocking the view.

This is none other than the Dream Garden, the dream territory of the Dream Wizard.

Wang Ya and the wizard Kelan appeared here, shrouded in a faint white light, protecting them from the encroachment of the Dream Garden.

"After the attack, the teacher was severely injured. When he returned, he didn't even have time to talk to me. He went straight into the depths of the dream world and sealed off the Heart Dream Lake, prohibiting anyone from entering."

"I also sensed something was wrong. The teacher's power kept weakening over time, and he couldn't even maintain the defense of Heart Dream Lake. In the end, even the water in Heart Dream Lake dried up, and all the fish in it disappeared."

"I finally couldn't bear it any longer, and a wave of fear washed over me. So I took the initiative to enter the Dream Lake and tried to use the methods of a dream wizard to enter my teacher's dream territory. But I failed. The connection with the anchor point in reality was too weak. I even thought for a moment that the anchor point had disappeared and the dream territory was in an unknown place in the dream world, and I could no longer make contact with it."

"I also invited other formal wizards to come and see, even the Ghostlight Wizard came once. In the end, the Dream Garden was no longer one of the resource realms. Since then, the teacher's power has become weaker and weaker, to the point that it is almost imperceptible. The maple leaves no longer flutter, and it has fallen into a deathly silence."

The words of the wizard Kelan echoed in Wang Ya's ears, and also echoed throughout this dreamland.

The two walked along the cobblestone path overgrown with weeds. Scattered on the ground were the bones of some creatures, as if the last bit of life and nourishment had vanished, leaving them gray and withered.

In Wang Ya's memory, at least these green grasses were vibrant and did not grow onto the cobblestone path. The trees, as well as the river, flowerbeds, and rice paddies further away, were all orderly.

As things stand, the entire Dream Garden is in ruins, as if it has not been tended to for many years. The pure dream power that maintained the original balance has also disappeared.

The balance and order were broken, and in order to survive, the dream creatures in the Dream Garden spontaneously began to attack and devour other dream creatures.

"There's a major problem with the core of the dream. The teacher's aura is very, very faint, almost nonexistent." Wang Ya frowned, his pupils flashing with white arcs of electricity as he observed the entire Dream Garden.

From the geographical layout to the conditions of the sky and the earth, that thin membrane separates the sun and the moon, which means that the internal balance is no longer maintained, thus accumulating and generating impurities.

The Dream Wizard's Dream Territory is like a living, rooted creature in the dream world. The core of the dream is its heart, and pure dream power is the blood that maintains everything and achieves balance.

"Could it be that the teacher isn't in the Dream Territory? But the Dream Territory is the core of all dream wizards, how could this be?" Wizard Kolan was puzzled, his face full of doubt.

Wang Ya remained silent, and everything seemed exceptionally strange. As the Dream Territory, the foundation of the Dream Wizard, maintaining balance was of utmost importance.

The wizard's path as a dream wizard.

Such a situation could only mean that there is a major problem at the core, which is simply unbelievable for a dream wizard.

"What happened to the teacher? What happened? Where did she go?"

The wizard Kolan was in low spirits, his eyes were filled with gloom, and his steps became slower and slower.

Wang Ya sighed. For so many years, this common home had been the one that had supported the wizard Kelan. If the person who created this home had completely disappeared, would this home still be considered a home? The things that he had always persisted for and worked hard for seemed to have lost their meaning in the end.

The wizard's heart has begun to waver.

Wang Ya fell silent. There was nothing he could do at this point; everything would have to be resolved by the wizard Kelan himself.

If one can emerge from this ordeal, it will be a test of the wizard's heart.

If one cannot overcome this, they will likely fall into self-doubt and depression, and their path as a wizard will stagnate until they finally emerge from this predicament.

Perhaps it is also related to his return.

She had persevered for too long, shouldered too much responsibility, and each of the two Dark Supreme Meetings was a tremendous pressure, even a blow.

After each meeting, many wizards from different schools of thought would leave or withdraw.

On the day Wang Ya returned to headquarters, he had already learned about the various events that had occurred over the past eighteen years through many channels, including, most importantly, everything discussed at the highest-level secret meeting.

Whether it's the change of rules or the current replacement of the twelve main branches, it all comes down to one word: profit.

Ultimately, it all boils down to self-interest.

The weak are disliked, and the strong rise to power.

The core essence of this rule is a fair competition based on the fact that the newly appointed official wizards are not satisfied with the benefits they have received.

Undeniably, weakness is weakness, and strength is strength; power and foundation can represent everything.

No matter how many achievements or accomplishments one has made in the past, if one lacks sufficient foundation and strength, then one is not qualified to hold the original position and should step down so that someone stronger and with more solid foundation can take over.

At the first Supreme Dark Council, the Dream Wizard was still at headquarters, and as a veteran official wizard, he was very powerful, and the foundation of the Dream lineage was strengthened because of him.

Thus, it was not greatly affected and even acted as a balancer, maintaining the balance between the older generation of formal wizards and the newly promoted formal wizards, preventing the situation from completely collapsing.

They maintained their bottom line of negotiating at the table.

The Dream Wizard did not participate in the second Supreme Dark Council.

However, due to the influence of the first meeting and the formal wizards from all sides, the new rules were fully formed.

This is also the fundamental reason why the Dreamline, the Deadwoodline, the Thornline, and even the Divine Eagleline are currently in a weak position.

Why was the war fought in White Lake Wizard City? Why were the losses all incurred by wizards in the Divine Eagle's territory? And why was the overall commander of the war in the Divine Eagle's territory the wizard Yi Si of the White Bone lineage? Wang Ya knew the answer perfectly well, as did many others. Under the new rules, the Divine Eagle lineage was the weaker party, the one that could only bear the losses.

Based on the rules, no one can find fault with this development.

Those who ultimately lose out will always make up a portion of the profits. They may want to make their voices heard, but those who hold the benefits are the stronger ones. Why would the beneficiaries stand up for the weak and risk losing their own interests?

The river has stopped flowing and has completely dried up.

Wang Ya once found his first dream creature here, witnessed its wonders, and opened the door to a new world.

He had little patience left to continue; he was desperate to know the truth and the outcome.

To find out exactly where the Dream Wizard is, what happened, and what kind of attack he suffered.

The Nightmare Mirror appeared from behind, and a yellow light pierced through the void, directly illuminating the ancient manor at its core.

The two stepped into the yellow passageway, and when they reappeared, they were already in the courtyard.

Traces of the excavation and planting of dream creatures can still be seen, but it's covered in dust and devoid of weeds, instead presenting a desolate scene.

The first part to lose the support of pure dream power is the heart, which is the area close to the core of dreams.

Wang Ya's heart sank. This situation indicated that the Dream Wizard's Dream Core was in serious trouble, or even completely damaged.

Without observing anything further, he made his move, grasping the Nightmare Annihilation Mirror. Yellow light shone out like a ribbon, landing on a corner of the building, seemingly penetrating everything and reflecting the situation inside.

Neither the walls nor the earth could stop this process; at the end of the yellow light, a special image was forming, which was still becoming clearer.

The wizard Coran's heart skipped a beat, and he stared blankly at the scene on the screen.

Wang Ya's face also turned extremely gloomy.

"The core of the teacher's dream has disappeared!!" Wizard Kolan looked dazed, clearly not having fully processed the information.

As a veteran, formal wizard, the Dream Wizard's Dream Core, while not necessarily growing into a towering tree, certainly possesses a strong, interconnected root system underground, continuously linking to the edge of the Dream Territory and constantly absorbing more influences from the Dream World.

A huge black void appeared in the scene, with white soil mixed with black soil, but the core of the dream was nowhere to be seen, as if it had been dug out out of thin air.

That's why the Dream Garden completely lost its balance and the supply of pure dream power.

Wang Yadu's eyes widened, somewhat unable to believe the result.

It shouldn't be like this.

He even considered the possibility that the Dream Wizard might have been attacked, seriously injured, and unable to maintain his anchor point, thus becoming completely trapped in the dream world and unable to return.

This does not mean that the Dream Wizard's Dream Core has a problem or has disappeared.

Whether someone intervened or for some other reason.

"What is the truth? What exactly happened to Teacher Huanmeng?"

Wang Ya's face also lacked its usual calm expression; for the first time, her emotions began to spiral out of control.

He squinted, his face gloomy, and gripped the Nightmare Mirror as if it were a sharp sword, slashing down fiercely at the building in front of him.

A yellow, tangible sword aura of dream power formed, melting everything in its path.

No, it should be said that it was directly separated and poured towards both sides of the yellow sword energy.

Like a cake being sliced ​​open with a sharp knife.

Finally, the underground situation was revealed, and the wizard even jumped in to search carefully, trying to find any clues left behind.

Or any information about the Dream Wizard.

No, no, still no. Wizard Kolan slumped in the pit, his yellow wizard robes stained with filth and mud, his hands covered in dirt, and his face showing an unprecedented panic.

She subconsciously glanced around, her body trembling uncontrollably, before her gaze finally settled on Wang Ya.

As if she had found her pillar of support, she pleaded, "Junior brother, you are now a formal wizard. You can discover more traces that I cannot. Our teacher is still here, right? He's just not in the Dream Garden anymore. He's just left. He will come back sooner or later."

Wang Ya fell silent; for the first time, he didn't know how to answer.

The wizard's eyes were too weak, and this demeanor was unprecedented, completely different from her usual self.

There is an unknown story between the Dream Wizard and the Coran Wizard.

Wang Ya knew this, but he didn't know what that matter was or what it meant. Now, Wang Ya understood a little. He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Senior Sister, I will find a way."

"However, there is no guarantee that this method will work."

If it were just Wang Yahalak alone, of course, that method could not be accomplished.

But if you add that thing, you can do it.

[Target: The Marks of Time]

[Source: Fortress of the King of Hanging, Treasure Vault, Item No. 62 (Remaining Quantity: 2).]

[Details: The legendary civilization of the Immortal Realm, "The Heavenly Ruler," failed in its attempt to invade the realm of wizards, but managed to steal a wisp of the Immortal Path's Time Rule. After being processed by the wizards, it obtained the Mark of Time.]

[Effect: Can be used on selected targets (person, thing, location). The effect varies depending on the world and the underlying rules. Basic effect: Can affect the time frame of the selected target (limited to the target itself)]

Wang Ya took out an hourglass from the wizard's ring. Strangely, the sand did not flow, even when subjected to gravitational forces.

The marks of time are found within them.

Wang Yazhun used his dream wizard techniques to try to rewind time and search for clues.

If we could find any trace of the Dream Wizard, that would be wonderful.

The wizard Coran climbed out of the pit and stood at the entrance, watching as Wang Ya placed the hourglass flat in the void. Instead of falling, it floated eerily.

The sand in the hourglass began to flow, and the wizard Coran's heart skipped a beat, as if something extraordinary was about to happen.

She had no idea what level her junior brother, whom she hadn't seen for eighteen years, had reached in terms of strength, or what methods he used.

A formal wizard is ultimately different from an apprentice wizard.

Wang Ya grasped the Nightmare Annihilation Mirror, and poured the pure dream power within his body into the yellow side. An unprecedented yellow light from the tunnel shone on the hourglass, reflecting a hazy ripple of light and shadow, with a lingering sense of fluctuation, as if it were about to disappear at any moment.

At the instant the light curtain was formed, the hourglass began to deplete rapidly, and the speed of depletion clearly increased.

With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, the light screen revealed the location of the Dream Core and its changing state.

It was still empty, without even a single root remaining.

Wang Ya did not give up and continued the process, and time in the light screen began to reverse.

Initially, the wizard Kolan was able to remain calm, but in the dream world, the dream wizard can do far more than that.

She was then shocked, because the time the scene was rewinding was far too exaggerated and far too long.

One year, two years, and they actually reshaped the situation of the even older Dream Garden.

At this rate, it's very likely that the Dream Wizard's Dream Territory will be recreated from its former state.

This is the best chance to find relevant clues.

The price was that Wang Ya's face grew increasingly pale, which consumed an enormous amount of dream power, making it difficult even for a formal wizard to sustain.

Wang Ya's particles generally have high energy quality, and with the assistance of the Nightmare Annihilation Mirror, he was able to attempt to complete a time leap of five or six years.

Finally, a sign appeared in the yellow light: the scattered roots of the Dream Core were deep in the soil. An unknown figure, or rather, an illusory and distorted image, seemed to be deliberately hiding itself. Its gender and identity were unknown, but it was acting as a cleaning tool, sweeping away everything related to the Dream Core.

A look of emotion appeared on Wang Ya's face, her eyes flickered, her lips unconsciously pursed, and a barely perceptible glint flashed in her eyes.

He was just about to reverse things again.

The wizard Kelan also opened his eyes wide, looking expectantly at the past displayed on the light screen.

The next moment, the yellow screen disappeared, and ripples spread across the void under the yellow light of the passageway.

The hourglass has completely emptied out all the sand, literally; there isn't a single grain left, and it's become an empty container.

"Just a little bit more, just a little bit more and we'll see the real situation. Who is that person? Did someone attack the teacher in the dream world? What did they do?"

The wizard Kelan completely lost control of his emotions, and when he looked at Wang Ya, he received a shake of his head in response.

"The hourglass is just a medium; it's already the limit for us. We've completely run out of sand," Wang Ya said after a moment of silence.

These words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Wizard Kelan was stunned, his mouth slightly open, lost in thought.

"Senior sister, do you know the biggest difference between reality and the dream world, and between an apprentice-level dream wizard and a formal-level dream wizard?"

The wizard Kelan slowly shifted his gaze, a new radiance inexplicably appearing on his face.

Wang Ya opened his right palm, and a yellow plant tendril appeared in his palm.

"The teacher may not be dead. The bizarre and unpredictable nature of the dream world allows us to extract some information from that time period through the methods of a dream wizard." Wang Ya revealed a pale smile, his aura gradually weakening, indicating that the price he had paid was not small.

"Relying on this tentacle, I may be able to find the teacher's whereabouts. From it, I can vaguely sense that its source, the master, is still alive, but in an unknown corner of the dream world."

The wizard Kolan opened his mouth wide, as if he were suffocating, taking his last breath with intense emotion, his eyes fixed on that section of tendrils.

Wang Ya added, "The person who appeared in the picture is not fake either. His disappearance and being trapped in an unknown dream world are inextricably linked." "However, right now, the most important thing is to settle Heart Dream Lake and restore everything in Maple Leaf Forest to its original state. Perhaps reactivating the anchor point can bring the teacher back to reality."

Wang Ya looked at the wizard Kelan with utmost solemnity and said, "All of this can only be accomplished by you, senior sister. I have already embarked on my own path as a wizard, and my initial choice was not to follow in my teacher's footsteps."

The wizard received the yellow plant tendrils with both hands, handling them as if they were rare treasures.

Her tone was firm and resolute, "Junior brother, don't worry, I will help our teacher find his way home, to see a home that is no different from before, and to let the yellow flowers bloom again on Heart Dream Lake."

The two returned to the real Dream Lake.

Wang Ya said to the wizard Kelan who was looking over, "Senior sister, there are some things I should do, and you have done enough. I will leave Maple Forest and Heart Dream Lake to you from now on."

Wizard Kolan frowned, as if he had thought of something. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "The rules have already been established and are difficult to change. They can only be followed. This is what every wizard in the Underdark follows."

"Junior brother, why don't you stay? It's hard to break a stable situation, and Wizard Youguang won't allow such a thing to happen." Wizard Kelan's eyes were filled with complex emotions, and her tone was very gentle. She sighed and said, "There's no need to get involved in that mess anymore. Sometimes it's not easy to get out of it."

Wang Ya shook his head, a smile appearing on his lips, and stared at Wizard Kelan. "Rules are something everyone should follow, but rules can also be changed. Why should I follow rules that I don't agree with, rules that I didn't participate in?"

"Rules that are permitted based on my own will are reasonable and necessary."

"Senior sister, you don't understand. You can't give way on the road."

Wang Ya disappeared, transforming into countless pure white butterflies fluttering in the sky, their wings dancing as they disappeared into the void.

The wizard Kelan held the yellow tentacles to his chest, stood on the wooden bridge over the Dream Lake where maple leaves danced in the air, and stared intently in the direction where Wang Ya had disappeared.

Her lips were a little dry, and she moved them up and down. "I don't understand. Maybe I really don't understand."

Inside the Dream Tower, on the third level.

The castle remains unchanged, and the Darklands are not particularly demanding in terms of energy supply.

The Tower Spirits clean the area periodically and provide food for the extraordinary creatures within it.

Perhaps it can automatically maintain balance, making subtle adjustments to maintain a better internal environment.

White butterflies flew out of nothingness and gathered densely in front of the desk in the bedroom.

The moment Wang Ya's figure materialized, all kinds of protective magic arrays were activated, layer upon layer, to ensure that no information would be leaked out.

Wang Ya clenched his fists tightly, his breathing quickened, and he was extremely unsettled.

He raised his head, his eyes filled with solemnity and barely concealed surprise.

He was originally unable to determine who the figure appearing in the yellow light screen under the influence of the Time Rift was.

But the instant that image appeared, he sensed killing intent. Although it was faint and fleeting, it was definitely there.

It's right here in the Dream Garden!

Only the true instigator will worry, care, and nervously examine all possible sources of information that could be exposed.

An ordinary dream wizard might not be able to sense it, but Wang Ya possesses the Eye of Truth, which greatly enhances his perception.

Who is this person?

Wang Ya couldn't be sure, nor could he be certain, but he was definitely someone from inside the Dark Land.

And their strength must surpass that of a formal wizard.

Wang Ya clearly sensed a life-or-death danger from that murderous intent.

He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes.

There was only one possibility, but it was precisely this possibility that made Wang Ya uncertain, or rather, very uncertain.

"Could it be you? And why would you do this?!"

Wang Ya's eyes hardened, and he was determined to accomplish what he set out to do, without letting this affect his resolve.

Whether it's a guess or not, we always need to make contact and learn more information before we can make a decision.

He must make contact with the official wizarding class of the Underdark.

He's definitely going to attend the third Dark High Wizard Conference after the Deep Blue Secret Realm.

And he will be in charge of everything!!

(End of this chapter)