Chapter 26: The Mage Tower’s Secrets

The custom-made arrows weren’t something that could be produced quickly. Even without the need for enchanting, they demanded superior craftsmanship from the artisans, which naturally required a significant amount of time.

The first batch of arrows would likely be ready a day later.

For now, however, he intended to enter a mage tower, leveraging his status as the Saint Son.

His meticulous efforts to acquire the Saint Son identity had a singular purpose: gaining entry to that very place.

The Akamana Temple had sealed off the area, making it utterly impossible for outsiders to enter. Any attempt to force entry would invariably lead to death by the numerous traps within.

Even blinking with the Power of Genesis was futile. A membrane capable of isolating spatial abilities surrounded the tower, ensuring entry was possible only through the main gate.

Without the status of a Saint Son, gaining access would have been exceedingly troublesome.

Since the mage tower was located outside the city, he rented a civilian magic-powered vehicle. It sped swiftly through the streets, much like the cars on Azure Star, though its fuel was pure magic.

The magic-powered vehicle traveled for over twenty minutes before Zhang Luan finally beheld a colossal tower, standing three to four hundred meters tall.

An army was stationed outside the tower. Clad in the standard armor of Akamana City’s knights, their affiliation with the Temple was unmistakable.

After paying a gold coin, Zhang Luan disembarked. As he approached, a knight immediately stepped forward to block his path.

“Halt! Who are you? Are you unaware that outsiders are prohibited from entering here? Leave at once, or I won’t be so polite.”

Zhang Luan remained silent, simply retrieving his Divine Art Codex. Upon seeing the codex, the knight’s pupils instantly constricted. He dropped to one knee, addressing Zhang Luan with profound respect:

“Esteemed Lord, may I inquire about your position?”

“I am Zhang Luan, the Saint Son of the Temple. I was appointed just yesterday, so it’s perfectly normal that you don’t recognize me.”

His voice, though not loud, carried enough to be heard by all. The knights turned their heads, their eyes filled with yearning as they gazed at the new Saint Son.

Unlike the young guardians within the Temple, these knights stationed outside harbored no such intense jealousy. They had undergone an education akin to brainwashing, ensuring their absolute loyalty to the Temple’s administrators and precluding any envious thoughts.

Were Zhang Luan to command them to kill, these brainwashed knights would not hesitate in the slightest.

Zhang Luan had no desire to interact further with these indoctrinated knights. He put away his Divine Art Codex and stated directly:

“I need to enter. Open the gate.”

The knights bowed in unison, declaring with fervent zeal:

“Yes! It is our honor to serve you, and the great Akamana God will bless us!”

The mage tower’s massive gate slowly creaked open. Zhang Luan walked in without hesitation, confronted by a dark staircase ascending into the gloom.

Summoning the Stars’ Blaze to illuminate his surroundings, he began his ascent, step by laborious step.

With each footfall, the mournful creaking of ancient wooden planks echoed through the tower. This mage tower was ancient and lacked magical protection; it was a miracle it could still bear the weight of a person.

Specimens of various monstrous heads adorned both sides of the staircase. Thousands of years had reduced them to mere skeletal remains, casting an eerie pallor in the dark environment.

The higher he climbed, the more oppressive the surrounding darkness became. Zhang Luan increased the number of Stars’ Blazes, brightening his immediate vicinity.

Finally, after an indeterminate amount of time, he reached a platform. It was then that a system notification echoed in his mind.

[A-rank mission triggered: [Secrets of the Ancient Mage]. Mission content: Discover the hidden secrets within the mage tower. Reward: Rare Magic-type item x1.]

Zhang Luan paused, his steps halting. He hadn’t expected to trigger a mission here, especially an A-rank one. Given his current capabilities, an A-rank mission could only signify a danger capable of threatening his very life.

From a cautious perspective, his best course of action would be to turn back now, to cease his ascent. But that was not Zhang Luan’s nature. Dangerous places often held the greatest opportunities. Moreover, he had come specifically for something; to leave empty-handed would be a profound loss of face.

Stepping forward once more, he felt as though he had entered a darkness entirely different from before. The flames of the Stars’ Blaze failed to illuminate his surroundings; all light seemed to be absorbed. Zhang Luan took a step back, and indeed, he found he could not return to his previous position.

He summoned the Azure Righteous Sword, controlling it to scout ahead while he, guided by its perceived location, groped his way forward.

A chilling gust of wind swept through. Zhang Luan instinctively reached out, feeling something soft and yielding in his grasp, but the sensation vanished as quickly as it appeared, and the cold wind dissipated.

Anyone else might have dismissed it as an illusion, but Zhang Luan was certain he had touched something.

[???]

Rank: ???

Level: ???

Attribute: ???

Attack: ???

Defense: ???

Description: RUN!!!

The panel sent shivers down Zhang Luan’s spine. Regardless of the entity’s level, for a panel to display only question marks, it had to be at least one rank higher than his current strength. The crimson, highly dangerous warning beneath further emphasized the extraordinary nature of what he had just touched.

He sharpened his focus, his senses on high alert. The Stars’ Blaze enveloped his entire body, and the Coin of Choice was clutched tightly in his hand, ready to extricate him at any moment.

While his Power of Genesis’s blink couldn’t escape this place, the Coin of Choice’s power originated from Avanyin, an immortal deity-level expert. This mage tower could never contain her strength.

Though he sought treasure, he would not allow his life to be threatened. When it was time to run, he would run.

Continuing to grope his way forward, the Azure Righteous Sword seemingly struck a wall. Before him lay a crossroads. Zhang Luan took out a gold coin, tossed it casually, and, guided by the direction of its sound, entered the left path.

He trusted his luck.

Soon, Zhang Luan discovered a slightly ajar door. A soft, gentle light emanated from within, appearing incredibly hopeful in the pervasive darkness.

He approached the door, pushed it open, and simultaneously prepared to activate the Coin of Choice’s effect to escape.

However, as the light fully illuminated the surroundings, the anticipated danger never materialized.

Instead, what Zhang Luan found beyond the door was a pink, girlish room.

He took several deep breaths, still somewhat disoriented. He had been tense for so long, only to open the door to a room overflowing with girlish charm?

The first thing Zhang Luan noticed in the room was a wall covered in teddy bears, ranging from the size of a fist to a colossal two or three meters tall. He swore he had never seen such a variety of teddy bears in his life.

On a nearby table, a small magic pot was gently simmering, and next to it sat several unopened eggs. It was clear someone resided here.

Just then, the chilling gust of wind struck again. Zhang Luan felt a sudden coldness on the back of his neck. Instinctively, he drew the Bow of Ending and swung it behind him. In that instant, Zhang Luan felt a tremendous force block the Bow of Ending mid-air.

“Hmm, one should knock before entering someone’s home.”