Wizard: This mushroom is too fierce.

"Teacher, what is this pile of glistening, translucent flesh and blood?"

Roland held up the 'relic' left behind by the Lord of the Sea Waves and asked.

"I've broken down the ritual materials for you!" Ashius curled his lip. "I thought a plant-type otherworldly creature would appear, but somehow, a flesh-and-blood creature was summoned instead."

"This stuff is called Divine Essence Crystal, and it's something that only potion masters of the same level can extract."

"You're a first-level potion master?" Roland's expression brightened slightly. This meant his potion-making progress should improve rapidly.

"No!" Ashius explained, "This is an enduring spell I once obtained in exchange for the will of a wizard!"

"Exchange?" Roland's excitement gradually subsided. He had experienced so much and gained so much new knowledge that his mind was a little overwhelmed. "We can also communicate directly with the wizard's will?"

"A wizard apprentice of your level is certainly not up to the task."

"Logically speaking, one must at least be a first-ring wizard, and also have the approval of the wizarding world's will," Ashius said, then suddenly changed the subject, whispering, "Little Roland, I'll tell you a secret!"

"The will of our wizarding world seems to have a particular fondness for sparkly things!"

"You'll have a chance someday..."

Rumble!

With a deafening roar, a bolt of purple lightning struck Ashus with pinpoint accuracy.

......

who am I?

where am I?

A moment later, Ashus regained consciousness. He rubbed his dark face and said calmly, "Alright, back to the main storyline!"

"Now I will use this divine essence to help Roland and the mushroom you have chosen complete the hunting ritual."

"Hunting ritual..." Roland had heard this name countless times, but what exactly was it?

What exactly is Professor Ashus's purpose? The wizarding world believes in equivalent exchange. Although I am his first student, it's not worth paying so much for me.

Roland thought for a moment. He first looked at the Divine Essence Crystal in his hand, paused for a moment, and then raised his head to look at the Star Chart of Drawing the Bow and Shooting the Sun, which was covered with magic stones.

Difficult to quantify!

Knowledge, magic stones, and consumables are all incredibly expensive!

Ashius extended his left hand, and a blue flame containing powerful magic emerged from it. He held the flame, his eyes fixed on it: "This is the Flame of Extinction, which I evolved from the inherited magic of the Hunting School."

"He is the sacrificial method of my hunting ritual!"

"Give me your divine essence." Teacher Ashus stretched out his right hand, and the next moment, the divine essence, blooming with a crystal-clear blood color, slowly rose into the sky.

呲拉

Flames ignited flesh and blood, billowing smoke rose repeatedly, and roars of fury echoed from within: "No!"

"Remember this: those otherworldly creatures with divine status are what the School of Life calls parasites!" Ashius coldly watched as the flames burned away their flesh and blood. "Their vitality is extremely tenacious. To destroy them, you must completely annihilate their bodies, leaving not a single piece behind."

"Otherwise, ten thousand years later, they might just make a comeback in some remote, obscure place."

"Yes... teacher, I've got it." Roland kept Ashius's words in mind.

Just as the flames were about to burn out, Roland suddenly stopped, as a fierce gaze was fixed on him.

"The Mad Lion..."

A crimson wizarding script suddenly appeared in the sky: "You have been abandoned by the ritual... why summon me again!"

"Your promotion quest, the quest to hunt down the Abyss Prince 'Fernán', has failed."

"Therefore, you cannot exchange any items or related knowledge related to ritual advancement."

"Mad Lion... your path in the [Hunting] is over!"

After gazing silently at the inscription in the sky for a long while, Ashius respectfully called out to the heavens, "A new successor to the Hunting School has appeared. This is my disciple. Please guide him and perform his first hunting ritual!"

A moment later, Roland looked up and suddenly saw a white light fall from the sky, enveloping Roland and the swordsman mushroom together.

"Mad Lion... This is the last spot for your school's [Hunting] path."

"Are you sure you want to choose this Child of Nature?" The crimson text changed, this time displaying emotion: "He doesn't seem like a good choice. You should know that hunting hunters tainted by other wills is significantly more difficult."

"The hunting ritual dislikes other wills interfering with what belongs to him!"

Ashius fell silent; only one spot remained for the Hunter's School.

Can Roland really bear such a huge karmic burden?

But I have already failed completely, so where can I find a better one? Before my teacher died, he used a great prophecy to tell me that I would meet a disciple in this academy who could lead the school to rise again.

Could it be Roland?

Teacher Ashus seemed lost and confused. Roland could see his hesitation and fear, which was an extremely complex emotion.

"Are you willing to walk this path with me?" Roland lowered his head, looking at the swordsman mushroom 'Karak' standing beside him with his sword clasped, and asked softly, "We will grow stronger together!"

"Until I become someone who changes the world!"

Swordsman Mushroom Karak raised his head, his cap tilted back, and revealed a longing look in his eyes: "Great King, I, Karak Shaw, am willing to accompany you until the end of my life!"

"Teacher!" After receiving an affirmative reply, Roland said respectfully, "I am willing to participate in the hunting ceremony."

"Please believe me, I will not let you and the martyrs of the Hunting School down."

Ashius lowered his head, looked at Roland, and gritted his teeth: "My lord, please begin!"

"I respect your choice, the mad lion of the Hunting School."

The next moment, a white light shone, and Roland and the swordsman mushroom disappeared from this space together.

When Roland opened his eyes again, he found himself in a starry world.

Please enter your name!

An information panel appeared before Roland's eyes, much like a game. He pondered for a moment and wrote a name: "Name: Truth Seeker".

Welcome to the ranks of truth seekers.

[You have completed your first hunt. With exceptional ability, superior intelligence, and absolute composure, you successfully hunted down a level-one creature, far exceeding your own level.]

[Hunting Rank Achieved: S]

[Your reward is now being distributed. According to the Hunting School agreement, your reward has been locked!]

The colorful starlight suddenly fell, and Roland felt a warm current flowing through his body. This warmth was so comforting that it made him drowsy.

When he regained consciousness, he heard a series of notifications from his cheat system: "Karak Shaw, the Swordsman Mushroom, has been contaminated with unknown energy and has begun to evolve!"

"Master's talent has been triggered. You can now choose the evolution path for your followers!"

[Swordsman Mushroom] → [Swift Swordsman Mushroom] / [Flame Walker Mushroom] / [Water Ninja Mushroom]

...