Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 858 Rural Life (Second Update)

"Isn't this a bit too vicious?" the Venerable One asked, frowning.

This was absolutely not because the Gothic script was difficult to decipher, nor because the incense burning in the dimly lit meditation room made it hard to open one's eyes; it was simply because Salomon's plan was rather complicated and malicious.

"I don't want a cynical candidate for Sorcerer Supreme. What if Strange thinks he can get revenge after learning magic? Or what if he becomes some kind of superhero, ignoring the threats from other dimensions and spending his days fighting crime on the streets? Neither of these are the candidates I want; they're the puppets the Triune Vishanti desire."

"When virtue is insufficient for one's position, calamity is inevitable. Those with meager virtue yet holding high positions, those with little wisdom yet harboring grand schemes, those with little strength yet bearing heavy responsibilities—they are rarely spared." Salomon took the plan that the Venerable had hastily glanced at. After Natasha Romanov left, he added an appendix detailing three hundred methods to inflict irreversible damage on the target without endangering their life. One hundred and five of these were magical curses, all dark magic that Salomon could cast.

Salomon said, "If Stephen Strange doesn't realize that all the problems stem from his own intellect, then such a person is simply incapable of becoming the Sorcerer Supreme. I happen to know a rather nice fellow, though his personality isn't too different from Strange's, but I quite admire that detective who lives in London. If Stephen Strange can't amount to anything, then we might as well change our target. I don't think the Vishanti would mind, after all, the two look alike and have equally annoying personalities."

"It seems your sense of humor will never disappear, no matter what." The Venerable One glanced at the disciple sitting opposite him.

Mordo, as an observer for Kamar-Taj, obtained accurate battle damage reports. The Venerable knew all too well the results achieved by the mortals of the Immortal City, relying on their weaponry and extraordinary courage, after this mission, originally intended for the entire Kamar-Taj force, was handed over to them. The Venerable also knew the devastating price the Immortal City had paid; even the homunculus created by Salomon had perished, and countless mortals had fallen. According to Mordo, the Immortal City's funeral lasted a full week, not including the soldiers whose minds had been corrupted and who were executed during the post-battle investigation.

The Sorcerer Supreme knew Salomon had surely memorized every name, but he refused to show his grief, believing those soldiers had faced the enemy of humanity on his orders. While it was a necessary sacrifice, it didn't mean he could forgive himself, nor did it mean he wouldn't issue such orders again. Even if he faced a future battle that might wipe out the entire Sisterhood, but where sacrifice could save more lives, he wouldn't hesitate, even if it meant his own. This was the principle the Sorcerer Supreme had taught Salomon.

However, the Sorcerer Supreme did not wish for Salomon to remain in his current state. More precisely, he did not want Salomon's emotions to fluctuate too rapidly, to the point of becoming numb to future sacrifices—even if that was the inevitable future. For now, the Sorcerer Supreme needed a Salomon with feelings. The Witch was the only one who could alleviate Salomon's repressed emotions; the Sorcerer Supreme needed the Witch to guide Salomon.

"You probably don't have any work to do in the Immortal City, right?"

"Next is the development phase, and Stephanie can handle everything."

"Then you can take a vacation after you finish cursing Stephen Strange. I have faith in your magical skills."

Salomon raised an eyebrow in surprise. He rarely had the concept of holidays. As a sorcerer, his job meant being on call 24/7, 365 days a year, ready to solve problems at any time, since extradimensional beings didn't follow Earth's time. He had only experienced holidays when he was a minor; since becoming an adult, he had never had a single day of relaxation.

"Beyuneta said you wanted to spend a few days in the countryside," the Venerable One said. "I've thought about it and realized you really need a vacation. Otherwise, if you just stay in the Sanctuary after you finish your work in the Immortal City, you'll inevitably neglect the witch, so I've decided to give you a break."

"Won't this make the arcane families suspicious?" Salomon asked. "You didn't hide your recruitment of Strange from them. Although the arcane families can't resist, they can certainly do something underhanded to sabotage things. They have far too many ways to do so. Compared to those old guys, the Whitehall civil servants are gentlemen."

"Don't worry, I'll leave you a clean Kamar-Taj," the Venerable said with a smile. Unlike the murderous intent in his words, there was no trace of bloodlust in the wrinkles around his mouth. The Venerable had already issued an order to the entire magical world; every spellcaster with even a basic understanding of prophecy knew that a harsh era was approaching, the black tide of the Sea of ​​Souls was surging, and even Kamar-Taj had to take it seriously. Apart from dark wizards and spellcasters living deep in the mountains who couldn't reach the designated registration point in time, most of the lax wizards registered, though among them were some fools who dared to challenge Kamar-Taj's authority.

Kamar-Taj hasn't made many moves yet, but anyone familiar with the Sorcerer Supreme's methods knows a purge is inevitable. Therefore, the magical black market in New York's sewers has increased its trading volume, with every dark wizard trying to replenish their supplies before winter arrives and then disappear completely to avoid the blizzard unleashed by the Sorcerer Supreme's wrath—a blizzard that even encompasses Kamar-Taj. The Sorcerer Supreme is ruthless to others, and equally ruthless to his own people; from now on, Kamar-Taj's style of operation and education will undergo a drastic change. Salomon sees this clearly: this is preparation for the next era, and any dissent must be buried six feet below the surface. Salomon is certain he will participate in this process, consolidating his position in Kamar-Taj to inherit the power and responsibility bestowed upon him by the Sorcerer Supreme after his separation from the title.

The Venerable One showed Salomon the crown, the crown he was destined to wear.

That was the Venerable One's private collection, not kept in the Sanctuary or the Himalayan headquarters, but held by Athena. The Venerable One also used magic to obscure her own future, and forbade Salomon from predicting the manner of her death. Whenever Salomon brought up how the Venerable One intended to retire, the Venerable One always gave vague answers, as if there was something Salomon could not accept.

"I have already had Mordo deliver the message: those mystical families who cannot accept or understand the implications will only become trouble in the future." The Venerable slowly stood up. The Venerable's height was already considered tall among mortals, and his profound mystical cultivation made him look ordinary, unlike Salomon who could fill all the senses of presence.

This is the skill that Kamar-Taj has acquired by drawing on the strengths of many schools of thought; it is the profound state of being one with the world.

To be one with the light and the dust is called profound unity. Profound unity is the state of being mysteriously unified. To reach this state, one must "blunt one's sharpness" and "resolve disputes" during cultivation. Blunting one's sharpness means absorbing experience without blindly following; resolving disputes means embracing yin and yang, examining problems comprehensively, using cultivation as a means to temper one's character, refine virtue, strengthen one's foundation, and increase one's cultivation, ultimately reaching the state of mind and realm of great seclusion amidst the dust, just as "the superior man attains the Way in the three armies," not limited to being in or out of the world. Whether it is called magic or Taoist magic, its most fundamental core idea is the same: the most powerful cultivation is the seemingly ordinary appearance of a Venerable One. This is the highest level of cultivation of the natural way of Tao, a cultivation that Salomon cannot currently reach; he is still in the stage of revealing his sharpness.

"However, I think they should obey orders, because some old guys still remember what I did as the Sorcerer Supreme."

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(End of this chapter)