Before Mongna Ant Land Cottage, the airship rode the clouds high in the sky and vanished over the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Staring at the airship that had disappeared without a trace, Lai Te wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Dean, is the incident over?”
“What do you think? Things aren’t that easy. We better think of how to apologize to Lord Marichadon. Otherwise, our next meeting will be a difficult day for us.”
Hearing the inquiry beside him, Lai Te’s mood turned heavy again.
A Level 3 Sorcerer should not be offended lightly. Offending them does not come without a cost. Just because the other party had not punished them now did not mean the matter was over; it was more likely that the other party was temporarily too busy to deal with them.
Given the difference in strength and status between them, the other party didn’t need to worry about them escaping.
Where could they escape to anyway—the remote outposts or Botta Blood Plain? A single misstep could lead to the destruction of the entire Ancient Tree Ridge Academy.
Thinking of the consequences, Lai Te sighed softly. He did not dare delay and quickly led his people back to the Ancient Tree Ridge to devise a strategy.
On the other hand, on the Lanque airship, Locke harbored similar doubts.
“Boss, those people dared to guide the Night Elves. Why don’t we teach them a deep lesson? Or do you want to go back to East Capital and report them, ensuring they won’t escape the consequences?”
“No rush. Those who need to be taught a lesson won’t escape. I’m sure they are smart people, and smart people do smart things.”
To this, Ivan responded meaningfully. It was clear he didn’t take Lai Te and his people very seriously.
Speaking of which, Ancient Tree Ridge had offended him, but it could also be seen as accidentally doing the right thing. Whether it was the Pan Iron Root they unearthed or brining the Night Elves to him this time, it had brought him considerable benefits.
Therefore, he didn’t mind giving the people of Ancient Tree Ridge a chance.
If those people were sensible, they would proactively offer something that caught his interest, such as the entire academy’s efforts to explore the underground passages for many years, which couldn’t possibly yield nothing.
“You’re the boss. What you say goes.” Locke blinked, not fully understanding the implications but not wanting to admit it, so he did not dwell on the issue further.
In the sky, the airship zipped by at maximum speed, leaving a white foamy line in its wake.
After a voyage of about ten days, the Lanque returned to East Capital, reaching the extraordinary Rapid Wood Tower. The mage tower’s grandeur shocked Justine and Pearney.
“Sorcerer Ivan, welcome back,” greeted the Silkworm Queen with many wood silkworms coming to meet them. “And Locke, Big Black One. Hi! Justine, Pearney, welcome to the Rapid Wood Tower, and this unfamiliar apprentice.”
“She is my newly accepted student Helen; you all met briefly long ago in the Black Fog Forest.”
Ivan stood on the deck, his mind connecting with the Lanque’s control crystal, guiding the airship to slowly enter the open portal of Rapid Wood Tower.
With Janie absent, Locke’s power accumulation fell short a bit. The swamp ant, after transforming, still couldn’t fully control its own strength, so it was something only he could personally handle.
Once the Lanque was securely docked, Ivan rushed back to one of the high-energy labs, the enchantment workshop.
“What’s the hurry?” asked the Silkworm Queen, surprised by his rushed appearance.
“Have you not noticed something missing?” said Locke.
“Are you talking about Janie? Has something happened to her?” The Silkworm Queen’s face paled.
“Stop, stop, it’s not what you think. Janie was invited to be the Holy Daughter, she’s gone to the first level of the underground world.” Locke, aware of the Silkworm Queen’s misunderstanding, quickly explained the situation, then started organizing other matters:
“It’s complicated, I’ll explain it slowly later. Let the Scented Butterfly show them around the Rapid Wood Tower, and they should also check out the Black Ant Tower and familiarize themselves with the surroundings.
Also, stop calling him ‘Big Black One.’ The swamp ant has changed. Of course, if the swamp ant doesn’t mind, then ignore what I said.”
“Whatever, Sorcerer Ivan once said, a name is just a label—I never took it to heart.” The swamp ant, who was nearby, generously responded.
“Big Black One, you—you seem to have gotten smarter.”
After hearing these words, the Silkworm Queen felt overwhelmed, not expecting that a simple return trip would yield so many accidents that she missed.
Soon after, everyone started sharing stories and making introductions, bustling around with activities.
A few days later, Ivan settled Justine and Pearney in the Black Ant Tower, assigning each of them their own research areas, while Helen was kept at the Rapid Wood Tower.
Helen’s situation was special and required Ivan’s personal guidance, along with some minor experiments that needed Helen’s cooperation.
…
Time flowed like water, and over half a month later, numerous sorcerers from the Ancient Tree Ridge Academy came to visit. It was a significant gathering, and all four deans of Ancient Tree Ridge, as well as Tim and other academic elites, attended.
“Respected Lord Marichadon, we deeply apologize for the offense we caused earlier and beg for your forgiveness.”
In front of Ivan, the sorcerers from Ancient Tree Ridge were as sincere as could be. They clearly understood that this visit concerned the prosperity or decline, and even the survival of the academy.
“Mistakes are not settled simply by apologizing; otherwise, who would desperately seek to increase their strength?” Locke spoke up, not mincing words.
My Virtual Library Empire
“Yes, yes, you are absolutely right,” agreed Lai Te, Adolf, and others.
“We have brought our greatest sincerity,” Lai Te added quickly.
“Then let’s hear it; my boss isn’t someone who appreciates just anything. Do not bring something common and embarrass yourselves further, otherwise the punishment will be severe,” Locke continued.
“Of course, of course,” Lai Te agreed eagerly, as the fault was initially theirs.
Ivan had been silent all along, but Locke’s words were essentially his; otherwise, how could Locke understand the intricate details so clearly and speak so aptly?
Under his expectant gaze, Lai Te and his companions brought out a beast egg.
As the beast egg appeared, the temperature around it immediately rose by several degrees.
“This is a Fire-type beast egg, retrieved from deep within the magma many years ago. After careful examination, we discovered it is a scorpion-type insect egg, extremely unusual in quality. Having heard that you, esteemed scholar, excel in nurturing insects and beasts, we wish to offer it to you,” Adolf explained.
Just as Locke was about to scoff, he was discreetly stopped by Ivan.
Ivan’s gaze fell on the flame pattern on the insect egg—a natural pattern that formed a familiar shape—a demon.
“Since finding this insect egg, we gathered all the resources of our academy to cultivate and incubate it, using innumerable resources, occasionally extracting magma’s power for nourishment, sacrificing much in the process.
As time went by, the egg’s aura gradually thickened yet failed to hatch; sixteen years quickly passed.
Unable to find a solution, we risked placing it into the nest of a three-legged divine bird, letting it incubate unknowingly for over four months, until the divine bird noticed something odd and flew into a rage—”
Adolf continued.
The reason behind the incubation of this insect egg by Ancient Tree Ridge was that it was found untouched in terrifying volcanic magma, evidencing the creature inside’s capability to survive in such conditions.
If properly nurtured, it could help them traverse the magma and pave new exploratory paths.
Now, they were forced to offer the painstakingly nurtured insect egg as a token of sincerity, distressingly aware that the other party might not even want it.
“Esteemed scholar, what do you think?”
“It looks good; I’ll take it.”
Hearing Adolf’s cautious inquiry, Ivan finally revealed his attitude.
Demons are not native to the Danaila World but are seen in the memories of the Black Scythe Lord—an image fleeting during battles. Demons and the ‘black robed monster’ belong to the same faction, both originating from the abyssal world that invaded Danaila.
If he remembered correctly, the pattern on the insect egg represented the Flames Demon within the demons.
Thinking of the black robed monster’s uniqueness, he had great interest in this insect egg, especially since it could potentially assist in delving deeper into the underworld.