Once the shackles were removed, he was free.
Seeing the very thing that had confined him reduced to ashes, the swamp ant felt an inexplicable ease in his heart, then he faced a grim issue: what was his path forward?
“Sorcerer Ivan, thank you for giving me this opportunity for liberation. The swamp ant will always remember it.”
“That’s alright. You have been with me for so long, contributing much effort and suffering much hardship. You deserve this.”
“No, it is your kindness that has done this. Had it been someone else, the swamp ant would never have seen the day of liberation.”
At that moment, the swamp ant’s emotions were extremely complex.
He pondered a lot: there was lamentation, resentment, joy, confusion, and so forth.
He lamented his ill fortune at having struggled in the Ant Beings’ secret vault for years; resented the Mongna Ant Land Cottage for drawing out his power through secret techniques, and resented that he had been controlled by Ivan just as he was about to emerge from his shell; yet he was also joyful that Ivan was willing to give him the chance to free himself.
Thus, he became confused.
“Sorcerer Ivan, please give me another chance to serve you.” Various thoughts crossed the swamp ant’s mind, finally solidifying into determination.
“Not leaving?” Ivan did not immediately agree.
“Not leaving. I have become accustomed to being by your side,” the swamp ant shook his head.
“No regrets?”
“Absolutely no regrets,” the swamp ant stated emphatically.
He was not foolish; from past experiences, it was clear that growing by Sorcerer Ivan’s side was quicker, with things like Jade Sweet Juice, Insect Breathing Method, and Shadow Power not easily found on one’s own.
It was because he was with Sorcerer Ivan that he had gained such formidable strength.
Trying to make it on his own wouldn’t just make resources hard to find; it would make him an easy target for other sorcerers.
After all, Sorcerer Ivan would not mistreat him. Considering how the Silkworm Queen, that lazy being, had advanced the rapid wood silkworm clan by lying low, why should he struggle alone!
“Alright, let us sign another contract.” Ivan nodded slightly and said no more.
The two had a basis of trust and did not need any complex contract to bind them, just something simple like that of the rapid wood silkworm clan, ensuring he could not easily betray him.
Once a villain, now a gentleman.
After the contract was re-signed, Ivan waved his hand to activate the Ant King Rebirth Cocoon Array, drawing power from the depths of the marsh towards the Ant Being barrier.
“What comes next is power from the Tidal Flats Ant Being that has been lost for countless years, which I’ve now retrieved. It will help you restore your origin and boost your power to a higher level, so be prepared to receive it.”
“Bring it on. I’m not afraid of pain.”
The swamp ant hadn’t expected to reap benefits so quickly and inwardly noted that continuing to follow Sorcerer Ivan was indeed a wise choice.
Soon, he was captivated by the robust power that was drawn to him, feeling that this power was exactly what his body had been craving.
“Thump!”
Inside the Ant Beings’ secret vault, a pillar of wild Power of Rebirth descended from the sky, landing precisely on the swamp ant.
The substantial power almost crushed the swamp ant to the ground.
As the power continually descended, the damaged areas and lost parts of the swamp ant’s origin rapidly recovered, giving rise to an unprecedented sense of relief that made him unable to resist indulging in it.
Simultaneously, a layer of mud formed on the swamp ant, gradually enveloping him.
Gradually, the swamp ant was completely buried within the muddy shell, turning into a filthy mud statue, but his aura continued to grow steadily.
…
This time, the operation of the Ant Being barrier was particularly noisy, drawing the attention of sorcerers in the Mongna Ant Land Cottage and infuriating those secretly coveting certain powers.
Inside the academy, undercurrents that had previously calmed began to stir again.
In a secret chamber within a tall tower, three members of the Hunting Team led by Christian prepared to discuss something but found themselves at a loss for words, falling into a brief silence.
“Is this place safe? Should we discuss outside the academy, where the barrier can still function normally?” Andaya whispered, breaking the silence.
“Why should we!” Christian shouted irritably, then quickly calmed himself and added, “This place is definitely safe. I assure you no one can eavesdrop on our conversation.”
Seeing him say this, Andaya nodded and did not dwell on this issue further.
But both were at a loss for words, as the current situation had drastically changed, and nothing seemed capable of altering the status quo.
“Both of you, the elder might not be invoking the Power of Rebirth. With his current level of strength, he probably doesn’t care about such a trivial amount of power,” said Wolban, the youngest in rank, who had been friends with Ivan before.
“Why are you still speaking for him?”
“He might not need it, but that doesn’t mean his woman and followers don’t need it. Even if he used it once himself, he still kept it in his mind after moving so far away, which is utterly absurd!”
His words immediately met with rebuttals from Andaya and Christian, with Christian speaking angrily, yet with a hint of helplessness.
“Why don’t we… all go together and ask the elder to show us a clear path, considering our past relationship?” After a few seconds, Wolban added.
“He is now a renowned scholar in the sorcerer world. We are just insignificant sorcerers from a remote peninsula. Our strength and status are worlds apart; there’s no old connection left,” Christian objected.
“Then let’s pretend we saw nothing, speak less, do less, err less, lest we upset the elder,” Wolban continued.
Hearing his words, the other two wanted to vehemently disagree but could find no grounds to do so, and their protest ended in a weak sigh. Echoes of the sigh resonated through the chamber.
Elsewhere, at the residence of Dean Watkin. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
Teresa and Madeline, mother and daughter, quietly arrived but found that others were already there, specifically the other two vice deans, Ove and Victor.
“Since you’re all here, come in and take a seat, let’s have a little chat,” Monde Watkin casually invited them, aware of their intentions but unconcerned.
Upon hearing this, their hearts sank.
“Haven’t you forgotten who repaired the Ant Being barrier when it was breached? And who upgraded it to an intermediate runes sorcery array? Who discovered the Power of Rebirth? It was all done by the elder.
So, what makes you think the elder can’t manage the Power of Rebirth inside the Ant Being barrier?” Monde asked directly when they sat down.
The four lowered their heads in silence, unable to find any argument against these accusations.
“You must always remember the elder’s titles now—a Level 3 sorcerer, Enchantment Master, inspector of the four corners, scholar from the East Capital, the famed creator of the Black Magic Wind Fire Array. Any of these titles should remind you that he is not someone you should provoke, understood?” Monde continued sternly, his tone and gaze harsh.
“We understand.”
“We understand, Dean.”
Their throats dry and painful, they reluctantly admitted the truth in his words.
Back when he had only shown a bit of his capabilities, they had coerced him into crafting a Black Magic Wind Bundle Array for them, treating him like easy prey. Who could have foreseen this day would come?
Time changes, beyond anyone’s control.
Now, they didn’t even have the courage to stand opposite him, let alone stop his reckless actions.
“Don’t be disheartened. I have roamed many places over the years, even more than the elder, and it wasn’t without gains,” Dean said as the four lamented the whims of fate.
“Dean, you mean—?” all four looked nervously at each other, eyes gleaming, with Ove asking.
“Yes, exactly as you are thinking. I’ve found a path suitable for our Three Great Families. Just follow my instructions, and I guarantee that all of you will have the opportunity to advance to Level 2 sorcerer. That’s my true reason for returning.”
Monde spoke firmly, his gaze unfathomably deep.
…
At the Shadow Ant Fortress, Locke suddenly reported to Ivan.
“Boss, I’ve noticed some unrest. Recently, there’s been considerable malice directed towards you.” Being naturally sensitive to such matters due to his spiritual nature, he felt concerned.
“Judge actions, not intentions. Let them be.”
Ivan was well aware of the unusual activities within the academy; after all, he was still in control of the Ant Being barrier.
To be honest, he didn’t care in the slightest and had no intention of explaining himself.
“Should we really not handle it?” Locke asked, slightly regretful.
“No, if they have thoughts, they’ll keep them to themselves. If anyone can’t hold back and dares to challenge, I’ll simply slap them down. Whoever withstands that slap will then be worthy of an explanation or two,” Ivan said half-jokingly.
“Then they are truly not worthy of your explanation,” Locke replied with a laugh.
Meanwhile, the swamp ant was still incubating in the Ant Beings’ secret vault, absorbing power from the depths of the marsh. It was beginning another phase of transformation, clearly not an instantaneous process.
The Ant Being barrier occasionally vibrated, drawing attention and causing many to scratch their heads in frustration.
In this atmosphere at the academy, days passed one after another.