Chapter 1261: Section 1262: Xi Lengding’s Malice
Facing Sanders’ noticeably colder demeanor, Hilting conceded as well.
First, he took the initiative to admit his fault, saying it was unintentional. Then, Hilting directly apologized to Angel. Although one might not know what Hilting truly felt inside, at least on the surface, he seemed very sincere.
Sanders snorted coldly, and it was not good to pursue the matter further, so the incident seemed to pass.
Moreover, after this event, everyone noticed that the chill emanating from Sanders’ demeanor didn’t cease, and no one dared to provoke him at this time. They all withdrew their gazes and didn’t dare to look toward the Spirit Tree Hall anymore.
Wallace also sighed and prepared to leave. However, before leaving, Wallace said to Sanders, “I’m aware of the matter you mentioned. Can it be published in ‘The Mirror’?”
Sanders nodded, “Yes.”
...
Bringing Angel here, his objective was to spread the news, and ‘The Mirror’ was naturally the best choice.
Wallace nodded, then with a complicated look at Sanders and his apprentice, finally shook his head and left.
Wallace now understood why Sanders had said that after this event, he would not have the time to send Angel to White Gull Academy. Because once Wallace returned, he wouldn’t just need to consider the compilation of ‘The Mirror’, but also the impact the event would bring, which also needed to be addressed. Where would he find the time to take care of his own apprentice’s affairs?
Although the incident now seemed to have settled, this was merely a superficial calm; the undercurrents would erupt in the days to come, and the aftermath might be felt for a very long time.
When Wallace left, only the Tree Spirit and Sanders’ mentor-student pair remained.
The Tree Spirit looked at Angel with a smile, “What you said is indeed true, but there are quite a few vague areas in it. For instance, your physical body. At present, it seems your strength and body are still unbalanced; it hasn’t been enhanced for long, has it?”
Angel remained silent.
The Tree Spirit did not continue to press the question but instead looked at Sanders. He was well aware that the matters Angel presented today must have been instructed by Sanders.
Although each of the matters Angel spoke of was enough to shock the Southern Domain, the Tree Spirit had an inexplicable intuition that the crucial part might lie in what Angel had left unsaid.
Of course, this was only the Tree Spirit’s intuition; he still needed confirmation.
Sanders pondered for a moment, “Some things can’t be disclosed right now.”
The Tree Spirit understood, his intuition seemed to be correct. He didn’t immediately inquire about those unsaid matters but said to Sanders, “Not now, but what about the future?”
“In the future, I will reveal the truth,” Sanders replied.
The Tree Spirit nodded, “What impact will this have on Barbarian Cave?”
“I cannot guarantee everything else, but at least there will be no harm,” Sanders affirmed.
Hearing this, the Tree Spirit finally put the topic to rest, “Today’s event is already enough to ponder for a long while. I’ll look forward to the day you reveal the truth.”
With the matter settled for now, Sanders prepared to take his leave. Before leaving, Sanders inquired about the situation of Sumishe.
Since Sanders parted with Sumishe in the Abyss, he had not seen him again. Initially, Sanders planned to bring Sumishe along with Angel to Old Earth Continent, but upon returning to Illusion Demon Island, he found that Sumishe had not come back.
“Sumishe hasn’t returned since he left last time,” the Tree Spirit replied.
Sanders nodded, asking no further. Perhaps Sumishe, like Madeline, had started some research, since stepping into True Knowledge would unveil many matters previously unnoticed. This was likely an experience every wizard who steps into True Knowledge would have.
As they were leaving, the Tree Spirit said to Angel, “Hilting has become somewhat obsessive lately, especially after his defeat at the Ancient River Beach, he has become more paranoid than before. Be cautious, and try to avoid him as much as possible.”
The Tree Spirit’s words left Angel pondering over Hilting’s matter on the way.
He didn’t know much about Hilting, only that he was nicknamed “Wan Zhi” and was said to have studied Inscription Studies. Beyond that, Angel could only remember that Black Jack, who he had fought in Sky Tower, seemed to have taken Hilting as his mentor.
Almost nothing else about Hilting came to Angel’s mind.
Hilting’s abrupt question about the Primeval Flame had surprised Angel as well.
But according to the Tree Spirit, could Hilting actually be targeting him? He returned from the Ancient River Beach with lost ambitions… and as far as Angel knew, the only thing related to him at the Ancient River Beach was the music box he asked David to auction.
Could it be that Hilting also wanted the music box and harbored resentment for failing to acquire it? Such logic seemed too childish. It’s not something a normal person would think, let alone an Official Wizard.
Faced with Angel’s bewilderment, Sanders gave a more reasonable explanation, “Hilting appears benevolent and tolerant on the outside, and is recognized as ‘Wan Zhi’ due to his scholarly and elegant demeanor. In reality, however, Hilting is an extreme egoist.”
“He recently took on a disciple, you should know him,”
Angel nodded, “Black Jack.”
Black Jack was the first opponent Angel encountered in the Sky Tower competition. At that time, Black Jack had not yet taken a master, but due to some fortune, he was powerful yet did not advance to the higher levels. Instead, he stayed on the first level of the Sky Tower to torment newcomers, earning the nickname “Novice Butcher.”
Angel’s impression of Black Jack was profound because Black Jack greatly admired Sanders and longed for Sanders to take him as a disciple, thus dressing similarly to Sanders.
Moreover, Angel had for the first time encountered an opponent who used cards; Black Jack’s cards had effects similar to those of a Witchcraft Slot, capable of casting powerful tricks instantaneously.
Later, he learned that Black Jack’s cards seemed to be inscribed with legendary inscriptions.
“Hixenden has done extensive research on Inscription Studies and has always tried to systematize it. However, the Extreme Sect, under the pretext of the world’s will, completely expelled Inscription Studies from the Southern Domain. Hixenden has been unable to proceed and has even attracted the wrath of marauding wizards,”
“Hixenden had no choice but to move from the open into the shadows, secretly collecting materials related to Inscription Studies. And his newly accepted disciple had previously acquired some inheritance in Inscription Studies, which is why he took him as a disciple. In reality, it was just to make up for his own shortcomings,”
“It’s said that after he made up for his shortcomings, he cast that disciple aside, never fulfilling the promise to teach him the knowledge he had pledged. Not only is he narrow-minded, but he is also entirely selfish,”
Having finished describing Hixenden’s character, Sanders continued, “This is why it makes sense that he’s set his sights on you.”
“His greatest obsession is to become a True Knowledge Wizard,” Sanders paused, “and your Alchemical Illusion once allowed Greya to create a new spell.”
Angel hesitated, “Hasn’t this been explained already? That Lady Greya was able to create a spell largely because of her own accumulation, and moreover, Lord Rhein personally tested it.”
“Maya once told me that during the time Greya was creating her spell, Hixenden went specifically to ask her for a prophecy about your contribution to Greya’s inventing the spell. Maya told him the truth: your Alchemical Illusion might have just triggered Greya’s inspiration to create the spell, but it was not the main reason,” Sanders said. “But, even with the truth in front of him and knowing the outcome of the prophecy from Maya, Hixenden, who has been stalled at the door to True Knowledge for years, would not easily give up.”
As Sanders spoke, Angel gradually understood that, given Hixenden’s character, he would definitely still try to see if the Alchemical Illusion could help him take that next step. Therefore, when he learned that his music box was up for auction at the Ancient River Beach, he planned to bid for it. However, according to David, the final bidder who got the music box was Jelal, the “Mithril Reformer” from Hurricane Tower who they had met previously at the Barbie Restaurant.
Obviously, Hixenden did not get the music box. So, given his character, did he then direct his grudge towards himself?
Sanders nodded, “Perhaps so, but Hixenden should also be aware that this matter is innocuous with respect to you.”
If Hixenden were sane, he would understand that being hostile to Angel was not a wise choice. However, many things cannot be explained with reason; obsession can easily lead to madness. Sanders understood this, which is why he also agreed with the Tree Spirit that it was best to keep a distance from Hixenden.
Angel was aware of this but was not too worried. If all went as planned, they would leave the Barbarian Cave after dealing with these matters and would not have to interact with Hixenden.
By the time they returned, even if they really confronted Hixenden, Angel probably would not be too afraid.
As they were talking, the gondola had already reached the mountains far from the Eternal Tree.
A large amount of gray mist appeared ahead, giving off a strong scent of death even without getting close.
“I’ve already sent a message to Nis; let’s head straight into Soul Valley,” Sanders said.
Angel nodded and steered the gondola into the gray mist. As soon as they entered the mist, the scenery changed dramatically. The obscuring fog was gone, but the sky suddenly darkened, and the atmosphere turned eerily deathly still.
At the same time, numerous souls drifted densely through these dark mountains.
These were all undead.
This was Nis’s Soul Valley.
Sanders had brought Angel to see Nis because Nis had once ventured into the research site of the Heart of the Swarm, and the Heart of the Swarm was a legendary summoner wizard.
Perhaps Nis would have information on how to cultivate the Transforming Soft-bodied Insect.
This was the real reason they came to find Nis.
They gently lowered the gondola from the sky into Soul Valley, and the surrounding undead grew increasingly numerous. In reality, Angel did not fear spirits, nor even evil spirits, but every time he faced the spirits here, he felt an urge to leave.
It was really due to Nis’s peculiar tastes, which were too hard to comprehend.
All the human-shaped spirits here were completely naked.
Fortunately, these spirits feared the aura emanating from Sanders and didn’t dare approach. Angel followed Sanders and advanced into the valley.