Chapter 256 167: Eight Years Later, Becoming the Dark Star

For her, the gap to becoming a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice wasn't that far off, either.

She was the weakest among the four of them, but she didn't want to remain the weakest and be left behind.

「Illusory Dream Tower.」

Wang Ya first went to the Maple Forest to retrieve some things he had buried.

He now had enough Dream Power to sustain these products from the Dream World.

There were the Single-Log Bridge materials, which, when burned, produced a black smoke that attracted Dream Creatures.

There were also some special Dream Creature corpses that could be used for the initial experiments on his Dream Infinite Genome.

The follow-up experiments could only be conducted in the Dream World.

"Teacher, I'm going to give it my all to break through to Level 3 Wizard Apprentice in the shortest time possible." Wang Ya keenly felt the inadequacy of his own Power. The Power of a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice was far too limiting, no matter what he did.

A Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, on the other hand, was already considered a core member of any major Wizard Influence.

Maple leaves gathered, and the form of the Illusory Dream Wizard materialized. He could naturally tell that Wang Ya carried the aura of the Dream World, a clear sign that he had just recently entered it.

"I didn't expect you to try and take root in the Dream World so soon." The expression under the Illusory Dream Wizard's Wooden Mask was one of surprise, which then turned into a smile.

He was naturally gratified that his disciple was so outstanding.

It could be said that taking Wang Ya as his disciple was the best decision he had ever made.

"Your Potential is far, far greater than Kelan's. It took her ten to twenty years on the Dream Wizard Path before she even attempted to take root in the Dream World."

The Illusory Dream Wizard continued, "I know your concerns. The Dream World is bizarre and unpredictable, and the wilds are especially fraught with peril—some of which cannot even be perceived. During the process of taking root, it's very easy to attract a convergence of Dream Creatures, and they will attack you."

"This might be an instinctive reaction from the Dream World itself. A Dream Wizard taking root is equivalent to occupying a part of the Dream World. Absorbing and converting Dream Power is like a mosquito sucking blood."

"When an ordinary person is bitten by a mosquito, they feel an itch or see it, and they'll try to swat it dead."

The Illusory Dream Wizard explained the taboos of taking root in the Dream World to Wang Ya.

He, of course, didn't have to worry about these problems, as his current State was that of a native being of the Dream World.

"First, never stare at the sky for too long, especially not into the depths of the firmament. The moment you see it, it will also see you. You will be swatted dead like a mosquito, suffering an irresistible spiritual contamination. The best-case scenario is ending up like me."

The Illusory Dream Wizard didn't elaborate on this point.

But Wang Ya understood. This was almost certainly the reason the Illusory Dream Wizard had become a native of the Dream World.

"Second, burn Black Curtain Licorice. The white smoke it produces can repel Dream Creatures. To them, it's the equivalent of feces—utterly foul and nauseating, though it causes no actual harm."

The Illusory Dream Wizard seemed to have prepared for this. With a soft snap of his fingers, a pile of long, black strips of licorice appeared before Wang Ya.

"Third, the process of taking root is extremely difficult and often requires many failed attempts. But after you succeed, you must protect the point where you've taken root. Until it has grown into a sufficiently powerful Dream Territory, it is the most delicious food for Dream Creatures. It contains a large amount of a Dream Wizard's Dream Power and Extraordinary Spiritual Power, as well as a portion of their Conscious Soul."

Carrying the pile of Black Curtain Licorice, Wang Ya left the Maple Forest.

.....

「Illusory Dream Tower.」

Wang Ya placed the items he had purchased—a large quantity of Extraordinary Potions to enhance his Physique and various Extraordinary Materials—onto a cabinet and sorted them.

The stats of his physical body determined the amount of Particle Energy he had. Now that he possessed High-tier Witchcraft, Wang Ya needed more internal Particle Energy.

The progress of his Dream-Recalling Meditation Method remained steady, and he had also made advance preparations for his required Wizard Experiments.

With all preparations complete, Wang Ya wasn't waiting for some opportune moment. He had everything he needed.

The affairs of the Illusory Dream School were being handled by the Kelan Wizard, who was taking care of the School's daily matters.

Two Heritage Wizards were assisting the Kelan Wizard as well.

He sealed off the Three-Layered Space, disabled the notifications from his Dark Badge, and began to devote himself completely to researching his own Wizard Path.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, the great search operation at the headquarters was proceeding with fiery intensity.

As Wizards returned to the headquarters one by one to accept punishment from the Rule Inspection Department, the penalties ranged from light—dismissal from their posts and fines—to heavy: being stripped of their status as Dark Land Wizards and becoming Wild Wizards.

The most severe punishment, of course, was death.

This caused considerable turmoil. Some Wizards, knowing that death awaited them, chose not to return to headquarters and hid in the Mortal Kingdoms instead. Unfortunately for them, the final result was the same: Law Enforcement Wizards from headquarters tracked them down and, in cooperation with the Wizard City's Law Enforcement Wizards, executed the fugitive Wizards on the spot.

As long as they were within the borders of the Dark Land, their Dark Wizard Mark served as a locator. No matter where they hid, they would be found.

Cutting off a hand was useless. Wizard Surgery was useless. The mark was bound to the soul, and since the soul is a single, complete entity, even Wizard Surgery could not accurately sever the part of the soul corresponding to the wrist.

Inevitably, this led to mortal casualties. Several Mortal Kingdoms were even destroyed as a result of the battles between Wizards.

Some stubborn Wizards tried to leave the Dark Land and flee into the territory of other Wizard Influences. But before they could even get halfway, they were overtaken by Law Enforcement Wizards and executed on the spot.

Without a Teleportation Array, it was absolutely impossible to outpace the Law Enforcement Wizards by flying alone.