Mongna Ant Land Cottage.
On ordinary days, sorcerers seldom seen were all appearing outside the Ant Being barrier, gathering in groups of threes and twos, looking expectantly in a certain direction.
Had it not been for the notification from the new Dean Randall Hanff, they would not even know that the academy had witnessed the arrival of a towering figure, the first Level 3 Sorcerer born in the academy in nearly a thousand years.
There he was, the great man was about to arrive.
“Here he comes.”
Accompanied by a beautiful airship rapidly approaching, the sorcerers involuntarily straightened up, standing in an orderly fashion much like subjects awaiting the inspection of their monarch.
“Marichadon elder, welcome back to Mongna Ant Land Cottage.”
When Ivan stepped out of the airship, he immediately spotted many familiar figures below, all dutifully waiting for his arrival.
There were those who had joined the academy with him, such as Conley, Mellie, Carmel, and others; there were those who had become official sorcerers around the same time as him, like Gina, Wolban, Heidi, and others; and there were colleagues he had worked with, such as Christian, Andaya, Madeline, and more.
Standing at the very front, of course, were the Deans. Dean Watkin was actually present, followed by Justine, Pearney, Nora, and Lorna.
His gaze was piercing, taking in everything at a glance.
Randall, Justine, and Pearney were alright, but the expressions of the others were filled with nothing but awe, giving him a strong sense of how much things had changed.
“I’m just casually coming back to have a look, why go to such great lengths.”
His figure flashed, and he landed on the ground.
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“It’s only right, it’s only right. You are now not only a Level 3 Sorcerer but also a great scholar of the East Capital, an Enchantment Master, and a Quadrilateral Inspector of the Enchanters Guild. It is an honor for everyone to see you,” Dean Watkin said with a beaming smile.
He was well-informed, having learned everything there was to know, which somewhat surprised Ivan.
“What’s with this ‘elder’?”
“Now that your strength and knowledge far exceed both of us, how could we settle with the former honorific? Dean Hanff and I discussed it and took the liberty of creating a position ‘elder’ above that of Dean for you, you see—”
“That’s fine. Have everyone who needs to disperse do so, there’s no need to abandon their duties to watch over me alone.”
It was merely a title, and Ivan did not dwell on such trifles. He did not intend to play the approachable figure this time. With the gap in power laid bare, in this place where power was paramount, the difference in power defined social standing.
In the Danaila World, the concept of hierarchy was innate.
Although Ivan had said this, how could the others dare to disperse just like that? It was not until he was escorted by many into the Ant Being barrier that the others left with shock and emotion, many of them unable to calm their hearts for a long time.
Like Christian, he had always held onto some resentment about the Ant Beings Sacred Altar affair, believing that Ivan had stolen his opportunity.
Even when Ivan had become a Level 2 Sorcerer, he secretly thought about catching up, surpassing him in strength. He had never expected that the other would suddenly become a Level 3 Sorcerer.
Now, he no longer harbored any such thoughts.
Chase after him? One needs to see the other’s back to do so.
Not to mention the complex feelings of others, Ivan was escorted back to the place he had lived, the Shadow Ant Fortress. Although it was more expansive and more splendid than before, it no longer caught his eye.
Whether it was Black Ant Tower or Rapid Wood Tower, when compared, the Shadow Ant Fortress seemed quite inferior.
Even the entire Mongna Ant Land Cottage did not catch his eye, which made Ivan somewhat sentimental; there was reason in the sorcerers’ continuous expansion of their habitats.
Of course, there were still things within the academy worth his exploration, namely, the Ant Being barrier.
The Black Magic Cocoon Formation was derived from the Ant Being barrier. Even though he had been very familiar with the Ant Being barrier in the past, now that his strength and level had increased, his perspective had broadened. Turning back to explore the Ant Being barrier again, he was certain to see something different.
…
Originally, everyone thought that the elder would not stay long at Mongna Ant Land Cottage and would soon leave.
Unexpectedly, he ended up staying for a full two months. Although he seldom showed himself, there was always some activity, mainly coming from the Ant Being barrier that enveloped the academy.
Ivan didn’t leave, and the happiest about this were Justine and Pearney, who wished he could stay here forever.
Both knew in their hearts that Ivan remained not for them but to explore the Ant Being barrier.
As sorcerers, they could understand that the relentless pursuit of knowledge was what sorcerers were meant to do. They were, of course, proud and quietly supportive that their loved one possessed such talent, perseverance, and accomplishments.
“What are you two daydreaming about?”
Inside the Ant Beings’ secret vault, Ivan turned and found the two women staring at him, their eyes filled with tenderness.
Hearing his voice, the women came back to their senses.
“Ivan, can we go back to Tidal Island and take a look together?” After pausing for two seconds, Justine couldn’t help but ask.
“Of course, I was planning on taking you two back with me. I also intend to negotiate with the deans to amend the original college statutes. As a Great Elder that comes once in a millennium in college, I won’t just be one in name; I should have some privileges.”
Ivan said with a light laugh, then announced a decision.
“You mean—” Upon hearing this, Justine and Pearney couldn’t help but let their imaginations run wild.
“Exactly what you’re thinking. This time accompany me to East Capital East Blade City. Of course, if you prefer to stay here, I have no objections,” Ivan revealed, without keeping them in suspense.
Indeed, he enjoyed being immersed in practice and research, but it didn’t mean he was devoid of other affections and desires; they just didn’t make up a large portion of his life.
This lifetime, he was destined to commit to the path of pursuing strength.
“I’ll go, I want to go to East Capital.”
“Me too.”
Neither of them would refuse, and they eagerly agreed.
Justine was so excited that she almost jumped up.
Amending the college statutes was an extremely difficult task for other people at the college.
For Ivan now, it was nothing more than a minor effort. Moreover, he didn’t intend to make significant cuts but just to add a few clauses related to the ‘Great Elder’.
If other people couldn’t reach the ‘Great Elder’s level, the new clauses wouldn’t be much different from the old ones.
Such a small request, he thought, was unlikely to be denied by anyone.
“Ivan, have you made some discovery?” Pearney asked curiously, her happiness evident as she saw him looking around.
“Naturally.”
“Can you share? I followed the layout you left in the past and explored the Ant Being barrier for a long time, but I was unable to discover anything new.”
“Have you been studying Enchantment Skill?” Ivan asked her in surprise.
“Mhm, but it’s not worth mentioning compared to you,” Justine nodded, then said somewhat sheepishly.
“Then come over here, and Justine, you come too.” Ivan beckoned to her first, then called over the eager-eyed Justine.
The next moment, under his guidance, their perceptions sank into the Ant Being barrier. With the operation of the Formation on the barrier, their perceptions continued to sink deeper, into the ground, into the swamp, and then spread farther away.
In some unknown distant place, they sensed something with the same essence as the Ant Being barrier but not as substantial.
After a while, their perception moved to another location, and another presence with a similar essence appeared.
“This swamp is known as the ‘Tidal Swamp,’ and it is also called the ‘Ant Beings Tidal Flats’ for a reason. The Ant Beings have spread hidden nodes throughout the whole swamp, on a vast scale,” Ivan said in admiration.
The two women made the discovery too. The Ant Beings’ arrangements ran deep into the swamp all around, thick and numerous.
Nobody had ever imagined that beneath the swamp surrounding the college lay such earth-shattering secrets, buried very deep indeed.