SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

5th Realm… Stronghold of the 9 realms association…

In a grand citadel tower, high above the clouds in the Stronghold of the 9 Realms Association, explosive magic noise reverberated the entire fortress, a sign of the immense ongoing battle.

The halls echoed with the blasts of spells and the steady beat of footsteps from the most powerful Supreme Wizards of the 9 Realms, all training for one thing—the upcoming journey to the Spirit World.

The room where the selected 20 Supreme Wizards trained was vast, a circular arena with tall, enchanted pillars supporting the roof.

The wizards, handpicked by the heads of their respective realms, practiced relentlessly, knowing that only the best of the best would have a chance at survival in the Spirit World.

The Spirit World is a place of powerful spells lay hidden, waiting to be discovered by those brave or skilled enough to find them. It was also a world of chaos, inhabited by demi-gods, forgotten races, and creatures of unimaginable strength. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Opening a path to Spirit world needs a tremendous amount of resources—so much so that the 9 Realms Association had to pour almost half their treasury into opening the three portals that led there. This year, however, things had changed.

The Blue Planet, one of the three locations for accessing the Spirit World, had been denied for spots. Jason Mama, the head of the 9 Realms Association, had reallocated those slots to the Emperor of the Seventh Realm, Ryon Lionheart. As a result, the portal on the Blue Planet would stand unused.

It was a decision that had sent ripples of anger through the Blue Planet’s wizarding community.

Among the 20 wizards training in the Stronghold, each one of them had come from different realms, their robes and magical auras reflecting their origins. They were not just rivals for the treasures of the Spirit World, but potential enemies once inside it.

“I heard that the Spirit World was separated at different heights,” muttered one wizard, a tall, sharp-eyed man named Caleb from the Fourth Realm. His fingers crackled with purple lightning as he spoke. “The higher you go, the more dangerous it becomes. The first layer is filled with wandering spirits and minor artifacts, but it’s in the second and third layers where the true treasures lie.”

Beside him, a woman named Elira from the Fifth Realm nodded, her eyes glowing a soft amber as she spoke. “Yes, I’ve heard the same. The higher layers are home to demi-gods. If you’re lucky, you might even come across a Yogic Sage’s dwelling. Those places are said to be blessed by the gods themselves.”

At the mention of Yogic Sages, the other wizards in the room perked up, their attention drawn to the conversation.

“A Yogic Sage’s blessing?” said Brax, a burly man from the second Realm, his voice filled with skepticism. “Good luck with that. I’ve heard only one person in the last century has been blessed by a Yogic Sage, and he ended up disappearing into the Spirit World, never to be seen again.”

Elira shot him a sharp look. “That’s because he got greedy. The Sages don’t tolerate arrogance. But if you approach them with humility and offer them something of value, they can bestow spells or even entire legacy arts. It’s rare, but it’s possible.”

Across the room, another wizard named Kiran, from the ninth Realm, scoffed. “Well, it doesn’t matter what any of you think because the Seventh Realm has the best chance of accessing the Yogic Sage’s lands. Their portal opens right into that region, and everyone knows it’s the most blessed area in the Spirit World. We all can scramble for scraps in the outer layers, but they will be heading straight for the core.”

A murmur of agreement came from the other wizards. They all know that the son of Jason mama is also entering the spirit world from the 7th realm.

Brax scowled. “Don’t get too disappointed. The Spirit World isn’t just about YOGIC SAGE REALM. It’s about surviving long enough to leave with what you find. And last I checked, there’s no guarantee any of us will make it back alive.”

Kiran waved him off. “Survival isn’t an issue if you’re skilled enough. Those who die are usually the ones who weren’t prepared. I have been training for this for years. We’ll come back with treasures you can only dream of.”

Another voice chimed in, this one softer but filled with quiet confidence. “The Spirit World is about more than just treasures,” said Amara, a serene woman from the Eighth Realm. Her eyes were closed, her hands moving in slow, deliberate gestures as she practiced a shielding spell. “Power isn’t just found in spells or artifacts. If you survive long enough, the Spirit World can elevate your entire being, making you more than what you were before.”

The others fell silent for a moment, contemplating her words. The Spirit World was known to change those who entered it, for better or worse. It was said that some who returned were never the same, their souls marked by the strange energies of that realm.

But not everyone in the room was so philosophical. A man named Darion, from the Second Realm, leaned back against a column, his arms crossed over his chest. “Call it what you want, but I’m after one thing—power. Whether it comes from a Yogic Sage, a demi-god, or some Demonst, I don’t care. I’m going to leave that place with more power than anyone else. And when I do, I’ll be unstoppable.”

The wizards around him nodded in agreement, the hunger for power clear in their eyes. They all wanted the same thing—to emerge from the Spirit World stronger, richer, and more powerful than ever before.

As the conversation continued, one of the wizards from the 4th Realm, a man named Orin, spoke up. “Speaking of power… There’s still someone missing from our group. We’re supposed to have three slots from the Sixth Realm, but only two of them are here.”

The others turned to him, curious.

“Who’s the third?” Caleb asked.

Krum, the strong and crowd favorite from 6th realm sighed before answering. “The third slot belongs to the daughter of the Sixth Realm Association Head, Jean. She’s been training alone, under her mother’s supervision. They say she’s been preparing for this very hard, but no one outside of the Sixth Realm has seen her.”