Mage Manual

When Black Crow left, only a few of them remained in the Heavenly Kingdom of Thousand Wishes. Weiser clapped her hands, "Alright, let’s begin the heaven fusion. Discard all areas under the Void Realm curse, and only extract the normal ecological zone around the Wish Pool!"

With a massive rumble, large sections of the Heavenly Kingdom of Thousand Wishes experienced spatial collapse. The areas under the Void Realm curse were mercilessly cut off. This is the difference between a Phase Heavenly Kingdom and a normal Heavenly Kingdom. A Phase Heavenly Kingdom can infinitely extend, so even if it encounters the Void Realm curse, it can easily discard affected areas. As long as they are willing, they can extend more space. But a normal Heavenly Kingdom is limited in size, with few expansion methods except for incorporating the angels’ Magic Temple. Even if disaster strikes, they wouldn’t dare to cut off parts of the kingdom.

Just this alone allows the Phase God to crush all ordinary Divine Lords. The gap is as significant as "unlimited resources" versus "limited resources". A phase is like an official cheat provided by the Seven Heavens. So the moment Dazzling Star steps into the Seven Heavens, she can hang all the old Divine Lords — like in a competitive game, when the first cheater appears, there’s no room for the average player. To step onto this stage, one must have the qualifications to cheat.

For small fry like the Illusion Master of Thousand Wishes, the only way to survive is to hide. Ash left the Heavenly Kingdom of Thousand Wishes, his position seemingly between the Skydream Phase and the Blood Moon Phase. The End Phase extended halfway across heaven to connect with the hidden "gaps".

No one knows how many such "gaps" there are in the Seven Heavens, because theoretically, every point in space could become a gap. As long as a Phase Faction has Demigod Realm capabilities, a Divine Lord can create gaps to accommodate a heavenly kingdom, hiding within. Without precise gap coordinates, it’s impossible for the outside world to find the hidden kingdoms.

Perhaps there are still dozens or hundreds of hidden heavenly kingdoms similar to the Heavenly Kingdom of Thousand Wishes in the Seven Heavens, with those lost World Secret Domains still waiting inside to be discovered.

The Heavenly Kingdom of Thousand Wishes smoothly integrated into the End Phase. Even though it had been desolate for a long time, it was a cultivated ecological zone for thousands of years. The underground was rich with various resources, and incorporating them would greatly advance the construction progress of the ecological zone.

"They are quite well-behaved."

Sonia came to his side, looking at the other phases, "I thought they would react a little."

Except for the Starry Phase, the other four phases all became blurry, with the scenes within the Veil obscured. Since Ash returned, the Heavenly War immediately ceased. The Angel Divine Lord retreated all kingdoms into the phase’s Veil, sealing themselves as if they were self-imprisoning.

"Let’s destroy a heavenly kingdom!" Diya raised her hand to suggest, "Just so Ash hasn’t lifted his kingdom, make them vacate a spot for Ash to sit on!"

"Ash currently can’t go back to earth to raise his kingdom, so even if there’s a free spot, he can’t take it." Weiser reminded, "Might as well vacate two spots, then the three of you can preside over three phases."

"If you’re vacating two, you might as well kill all four," Vishi casually remarked, "Unless you’re saving them for a birthday present next year?"

The Divine Lords who ruled over six heavenly kingdoms for millennia, governing heaven, were like lambs ready for slaughter at her words. Talking about killing a few, they were destined to die. And yet, no one felt anything amiss. Once the lofty crowns fell into the mud, no one would venerate them again.

Moreover, they were the ones who personally dragged them from their divine thrones, trampling their dignity into the mire.

Even without Ash, the Seven Heavens would still be within their grasp.

"I don’t intend to execute the Divine Lords for now."

Ash looked at them and said, "Firstly and most importantly, the World Snake, which devours the Seven Layers of the Void Realm, is gestating. Before thoroughly addressing this hidden danger, it’s better to have more high-level combat power of the Divine Lord level."

"Secondly, I don’t hate them for stopping you from unsealing Hell. Rather, they were right to do so. Although we stand opposed to them, they were indeed protecting the world in their own way. I don’t even know if I can make it back alive; I can’t really blame them."

Sonia and the others exchanged glances. Vishi sighed deeply, helplessly saying, "Since you put it that way—"

"My only unforgivable thing is them laying hands on you." Ash lowered his eyelids, calmly saying, "I can spare them for the future and am willing not to mind the obstacles they caused me, but what they should never have done is threaten your lives."

He tightly grasped Sonia’s hand, a gloomy anger in his eyes, "They almost got you killed."

"I’m fine." Sonia shook her head, "I even gained a gift from Sister Death Mad because of it, mastering Phase Expansion. In fact, they helped me in the end by results—"

"You can forgive them," Ash said deliberately, "But I cannot."

"They must pay for their stupidity, let’s start with some interest. Vishi, lend me the Soul-locking God, Silver Lamp, let me borrow you."

Ash spread his Void Wings, seamlessly merging with the Void Wings of the four. He took the Silver Lamp handed by Weiser in his left hand and the Soul Lock handed by Vishi in his right, combining the two into a silver... fishing rod!

Supreme Technique: Fishing Heaven!

He cast the fishing line into the Blood Moon Phase, seeing a glimmer of silver light penetrate the Blood Moon Veil, precisely hooking the most crucial World Secret Domain of the Heavenly Kingdom of Blood Moon, the ’Cemetery’!

There was a stir in the Heavenly Kingdom of Blood Moon, with angels gathering around to try to cut the fishing line, but the moonlight veil cast by the Blood Moon blocked their way. The Extreme Master of Blood Moon, sitting on the throne of bones, watched as the cemetery was fished up, his face turning from blue to red, looking as unpleasant as if he had eaten feces, but ultimately did nothing, letting the cemetery leave the phase.

However, when he saw the fishing line land in the adjacent Skydream Phase, his mood improved significantly.

In just a few minutes, Ash fished up the "cemetery," "Moonlight Forest," "Sky Tower," and "Land of Dragon Crystal," plus "Wish Pool," "Ancient Battlefield," "Sky Garden," and "Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon," causing the number of World Secret Domains in the End Phase to suddenly surge to eight. Sonia and the others were almost frantically extending the Heavenly Kingdom to place the World Secret Domains, realizing in a daze that their workload had skyrocketed once again.

Adjusting just three World Secret Domains made them so busy they had no time for rest. Now, with eight World Secret Domains, life suddenly felt full, completely void of the emptiness and boredom that should come after becoming the Six-winged God.

"This is the first set of interest. When you have digested it quite a bit, I’ll fish for the second time." Ash returned the Silver Lamp and Soul Lock, saying, "When you’ve digested the second set, the matter of swallowing the World Snake should also be resolved, and then based on their performance, I’ll consider whether to keep them."

"Keep them!" Vishi immediately changed her stance: "At least make them submit and keep them as dogs. I’m not interested in managing your home like a housewife!"

"Managing the Heavenly Kingdom and yet you can link it to a housewife, Vishi, you’re quite something..." Weiser was surprised: "Normally, even for a metaphor here, you’d use housekeeper, right? What’s with the housewife?"

"I’ve watched too many dramas, can’t I?"

"Alright, alright. By the way, are you thinking of breastfeeding or formula feeding?"

"Breastfeeding... Huh!?"

For once, Vishi was provoked enough to rush over and fight. The Sword Maiden helped to mediate, the Witch helped to fan the flames, turning the duel almost into a four-person brawl. Ash paid no attention to their squabble, continuously watching the Four Principal Phases, waiting for a long time without the expected response.

He activated the "Fishing Heaven" not only to snatch the World Secret Domains of the Divine Lords but also for another purpose: to contact Igula and Harvey.

These two had been missing since leaving Level Six of Hell. Ash only knew they were picked up by some Divine Lord, though he didn’t know which one. The only relief was that during the Heavenly War, Sonia and the others hadn’t seen Igula and Harvey. Through the Gospel of the Divine Being, Ash knew they were still alive.

Although they might be in the Starry Phase, knowing them well, Ash believed if there’s a choice, Harvey would definitely be in the Blood Moon Phase, while Igula might be in Paradise or the All-Knowing Phase. Just now, while he was fishing in the Secret Realm, Ash had sent out two messages that only their souls could receive.

As long as they triggered the rune on the message, Ash would know where they were and break through the phase veil to bring them out. But after waiting several minutes, not a single rune was triggered.

Compared to the possibility of them not receiving the messages, Ash leaned more towards another possibility: Igula and Harvey didn’t want to find him.

There was no reason for the Divine Lords to imprison them. Any Divine Lord aware of their relationship with Ash would surely be willing to send them back to earn Ash’s forgiveness. Times have changed, and now Ash decides the survival of the four Divine Lords. The Divine Lords, even unwilling to submit, must rely on Ash’s favor.

Since the Divine Lords didn’t keep them, and Ash expressed a willingness to bring them back, but still no one responded, the only reason could be they wanted to stay in the Divine Lord’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Or perhaps, they simply had no reason to seek Ash.

Harvey wanted to advance in the Necromancy Faction, and only the Blood Moon Phase in the Seven Heavens could satisfy him; Igula wanted to delve into the Spirit Faction, with the All-Knowing Phase being the best destination.

On Ash’s side, he didn’t cater to their specialties at all. It was like Dorm Head Ash had opened a Supreme Company, but there were no positions suitable for first son Igula and second son Harvey, so rather than join Ash’s Supreme Company to just cozy up, they’d rather join a Divine Lord’s company that provides suitable work to improve their skills.

Just like Tamasi, if Ash were in tumultuous danger, they wouldn’t hesitate to rush back even at great risk. But now, with Ash having achieved fame and fortune, surrounded by allies, there was no place for them to be ’needed.’ Hence, they weren’t willing to return to witness Ash’s blissful life.

As the saying goes, you’re afraid your brother suffers, yet afraid your brother drives a Range Rover.

"Each one is so prideful..." Ash chuckled lightly, "At least Black Crow bothered to say goodbye."

Indeed, it’s the surprise departures that lead to the precious unforeseen reunions.

Regardless, those two message runes will remain waiting to be triggered, waiting to see when these two sons shout for daddy’s help.

"Ash!"

Diya pulled him back to the End Phase, eyes full of expectation: "It’s already late; we need to go back and rest!"