The area belonging to the School of Space was centered around a particularly conspicuous five-story sorcerer tower.
Emerging from his own ‘Rapid Wood Tower’, Ivan headed straight for the sorcerer tower. Halfway there, he spotted a familiar figure and quickly called out to him from a distance.
“Wait, Elder Menda Nei, let’s go together.”
“Sorcerer Ivan, what are you busy with that you aren’t even participating in the grand appraisal competition? Your presence hasn’t been seen there lately.” Menda Nei stopped in his tracks to wait for him to approach.
“I’m busy improving my strength. I’m different from you all; I’ve only been a Level 2 Sorcerer for a few years and am not eager to pursue higher levels of enchantment,” Ivan said.
“You can’t say that. You’re an elder of the guild and should tirelessly pursue advancement in enchantment. Otherwise, when will we be able to explore the teleportation array?” Menda Nei’s eyes widened, seemingly dissatisfied.
Ivan could tell that he was just joking.
Something like the teleportation array wasn’t only being researched by the East Capital Enchantment Guild, but other regional enchantment guilds were probing into it as well. It was a long-term experimental project requiring incalculable manpower and time.
“Is this summoning because there’s a problem with the appraisal competition currently being held?” Ivan took the opportunity to ask in a low voice.
“Ah, that’s right. Someone has presented a set of special runes sorcery arrays that has baffled the guild,” Menda Nei nodded slightly and spoke with a sigh.
He didn’t conceal the issue they were about to discuss and briefly described the problem.
It turned out that at the appraisal competition, someone brought forth a runes sorcery array—first, the ‘Bloodline Transformation Array’ and second, the ‘Bloodline Purification Array’. Both formations served bloodline alterators.
The sorcerers of East Capital mostly held skeptical and cautious attitudes toward bloodline alteration.
However, in recent years, driven by some sorcerers with ulterior motives, the tide of bloodline alteration had grown increasingly strong, gradually spreading from every corner of the continent to the regional center. Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire
Now at the competition being held, someone blatantly presented these two sorcery arrays.
“Are they doing this to make a name for themselves?” Ivan speculated.
“That’s probably one reason. They’ve participated not only in the appraisal competition of East Capital but also those of West Capital, South Capital, and North Capital. They introduced slightly different arrays, and their reputation has certainly been established.
If they secure top positions in the competition, the trend of bloodline alteration will likely become unstoppable,” Menda Nei spoke, filled with concern.
The Enchanters Guild did not support bloodline alteration and didn’t want to be an accomplice in driving this trend. But as principled enchanters, the guild couldn’t turn a blind eye to the excellence of those two sorcery arrays.
That was the problem at hand.
“Why would there be such a craze when bloodline alteration easily causes mutations and also comes entangled with emotional illnesses?” Ivan asked, puzzled.
He thought of the Five Leaves Spear and, upon reflection, felt the likelihood was slim.
The Five Leaves Spear was just a little too unrestrained in its conduct, but its principles aligned with the interests of the sorcerers—it was unlikely to promote such a risky venture.
“Perhaps it has something to do with what happened at Botta Blood Plain,” Menda Nei paused in his speech, giving a vague response.
Seeing that he was unwilling to elaborate, Ivan didn’t press further.
The guest room and council hall in the sorcerer tower were on the fifth floor, and upon opening, one could go straight up—a distance that, of course, wouldn’t pose difficulty to a Level 2 Sorcerer.
Once everyone had arrived, Ivan noticed that, including himself, there were only twelve people present. Perhaps some were unable to make it in time, but it was evident that there really weren’t many elders in the School of Space.
Just as Menda Nei had mentioned earlier, what Vice President Angus had to say was about the same matter, his meaning largely similar.
“The reason I’ve called you all here is to think of a way, with three days remaining until the competition ends. Find enchanters or factions you’re familiar with to enter the competition, or have others step in on your behalf.
In short, present some outstanding works, and let’s not allow that person to stand out again,” he emphasized in conclusion.
Hearing such an unusual request, the elders present all showed wry smiles.
“Vice President, isn’t it a bit inappropriate to cheat like this?”
“The work is genuine, what kind of cheating is that?”
“This isn’t just a requirement from our School of Space, is it?”
“The other three schools feel the same, but don’t expect them to bring out anything good either. With their limited abilities, what good things can they bring out?”
As the vice president had gone to such lengths, the elders below naturally gave face and immediately spoke up to arrange, promising to give their strength for the School of Space after the meeting was adjourned.
In East Capital, Ivan was a stranger in a strange land and had his reasons not to participate.
“Elder Ivan, I will arrange for someone to enter your Ant King Sky Shield in the competition, I hope you don’t mind,” said Angus to Ivan as the elders turned to leave.
“No problem, I will try to cooperate wherever needed,” Ivan responded, which was unexpected, but he didn’t refuse.
The Ant King Sky Shield, though it touched upon some space energy, only had 20 runes bundles, far from an intermediate runes sorcery array and lacking in uniqueness. It would probably be difficult to beat the works of other contestants and place among the top.
Before long, Ivan returned to ‘Rapid Wood Tower.’
He took the Book of Leaf Sift, found a person who dealt in trading information, and after making contact, he expressed his desire to purchase information—he wanted to know the real reason behind the surge in Bloodline Alteration.
“Exchange it for a high-level magicalized item,” the other party quickly gave their price, which made Ivan stunned.
In these days, he had realized that the members who dared to advertise in the Book of Leaf Sift were tacitly permitted by the Five Leaves Spear and were also relatively trustworthy peripheral forces.
He wasn’t afraid of being cheated by the other party, but the price of the information was somewhat eye-popping, very expensive.
“So be it, the situation on the Chanay Continent is a bit strange, I won’t quibble over such small change.”
After a while, Ivan left the Rapid Wood Tower with his newly crafted ‘Ant King’s Shield’ and went to the agreed-upon location.
At Neighborhood No. 399, Ivan entered a tavern and came to the agreed-upon table, where he saw a woman who was probably just a peripheral member of the Five Leaves Spear.
He handed over the Ant King’s Shield as payment.
“Your item is fine, here is what you asked for.”
Compared to the Ant King Sky Shield, the Ant King’s Shield was somewhat inferior in quality, but it was still within the category of high-level magic items, satisfying the requirements proposed by the other party.
“Your item is fine too.”
Ivan took the subtly handed over Crystal Ball, glanced at it, and sure enough, it contained the answers he wanted.
Seeing this, the woman gestured and then left without delay.
Only then did Ivan receive the message within the Crystal Ball.
The craze for Bloodline Alteration did indeed hide other issues—issues more significant than he had anticipated, even involving the entire sorcerer community.
In recent years, a traitor had appeared at the top echelon of sorcerers, who, with the power of bloodlines, ascended to a much higher position of strength, overpowering many peers and causing great losses.
The occurrence of this event made many sorcerers see the brilliance of the bloodline path.
Nowadays, even the higher-ups couldn’t hold back and began to step onto the bloodline path, setting a precedent that led to the surge in Bloodline Alteration.