Chapter 273 - 175: Black Tower, 120 Years of Waiting

Killing a Wizard from the Land of Decay’s headquarters would be even more trouble.

The Wizard Marks of Wizards out on Wizard Tasks provide information on their vital signs. Once a Wizard dies, their Wizard Mark also disappears.

The Dark Land Headquarters would immediately receive the news, and any footage recorded by a True Sight Ball would also be transmitted to the Dark Land’s processing hub.

If the Wizards from the Land of Decay noticed anything and sent Wizards to hunt them down, it would be a huge problem.

For the two of them, the trip to Licorice Camp was for the Black Sun Ruins. It was best to keep their identities as secret as possible.

Passing by a Mortal Kingdom, Kaze Antuun tossed the two into the Royal Palace. Whatever reaction the mortals had after seeing them was none of their concern.

As evening fell, the two finally saw the structures of Licorice Camp. It was a large complex of buildings constructed within a Gorge. The Outer Zone was a cluster of huge tents, while the Inner Zone consisted of a wide expanse of buildings. There were even large numbers of ordinary people currently engaged in construction.

These ordinary people were likely from the surrounding Mortal Kingdoms.

This was the strange part: mortals and Wizards actually coexisted in the same area.

At the outermost entrance to Licorice Camp, there were even several Kings from mortal kingdoms, each with a large retinue of their City Guard Army, using all sorts of raw ore to trade with various Wizard figures for things like Magic Stones and Extraordinary Potions.

A fine, deep-blue luster shimmered in Wang Ya’s pupils as he extended his vision further, analyzing the terrain of the surrounding Mortal Kingdoms and even farther beyond.

’I see. This is an area rich in natural particle energy.’

There were also some Extraordinary Ore Veins buried underground. The Mortal Kingdoms and Licorice Camp had formed a symbiotic relationship, exchanging excavated ore for Extraordinary Items.

Licorice Camp was definitely mining the main vein, so they didn’t seem to care much about the smaller, scattered ore veins.

Licorice Camp was built here not only because it was in the Separation Land, but likely also due to the abundance of Extraordinary Resources.

"Such rich Extraordinary Ore Veins, and this concentration of natural particle energy..." Kaze Antuun trailed off, his voice dropping low.

Wang Ya understood what he meant. The locations of Wizard Ruins usually had distinct geographical environments, and their Witch Arrays required a massive supply of Energy to circulate.

The probability of the Black Sun Ruins being here was now over sixty percent.

There were many flying figures in the sky above. Their Flying Griffin was inconspicuous among them. The others could be Wizards from the Land of Decay, or perhaps some Wild Wizards... There was no way to confirm their identities; after all, you couldn’t just rip the Face of Residual Dreams off someone’s face.

"We need to investigate the location recorded on the Black Sun Badge on-site. But before that, let’s enter Licorice Camp and procure some Extraordinary Resources."

They had already been detected by Licorice Camp’s surveillance Witch Array as soon as their Flying Griffin entered the Separation Land.

...

At the stalls in Licorice Camp, Wizard figures came and went, occasionally stopping to browse the Extraordinary Items. Ultimately, few deals were made, as it was impossible to determine if the items were genuine.

Trading here was entirely a matter of sharp eyes, and the chances of being scammed were far greater than in the Free Zones of most Wizard Cities.

In the deepest part of Licorice Camp stood a Circular Tower. The Oby Brothers, the masters of Licorice Camp, lived within it. All three possessed the power of an Extreme Wizard Apprentice.

"Komore, it’s been a hundred and twenty years! Have you still not given up? It’s impossible to collect all five Black Sun Badges. Searching for five Black Sun Badges across the vast Wizard Continent... You could wait here a lifetime and never find them."

On the highest floor of the Circular Tower, a somewhat indignant voice echoed. It was the voice of a woman.

"Lola, I won’t give up. I already have four Black Sun Badges in my hands. I will definitely be able to wait for the fifth."

The black-haired woman in the Blue Wizard Robe had a fair complexion that was flushed red, and her beautiful face was marred by an ugly expression. She clenched her fists, looked at the golden-haired young man before her, and said angrily, "How could you possibly be so lucky forever? In a hundred and twenty years, only two other groups of Wizards seeking the Black Sun Ruins have come by. How long will it take for the fifth Black Sun Badge to appear? Ten years? Twenty?"

"You’ve wasted too much time, Comoro Sack! This is completely pointless. With your Ability, even without the Black Sun Inheritance, you could still be valued by the great figures of the Black Tower and obtain a comparable Wizard inheritance."

"No, it’s different. The Black Sun Wizard wasn’t just a Level 2 Wizard; he had already advanced to a Level 3 Great Wizard." The golden-haired young man’s eyes held an extraordinary resolve. "The Black Tower only has three inheritances from Level 3 Great Wizards. It would never be my turn... But the Black Sun Inheritance is destined to be mine. These four Black Sun Badges are the proof, and the fifth won’t be long in coming."

There was something else Komore didn’t say. The Black Sun Inheritance wasn’t just the inheritance itself; it also included a secret known by the Black Sun Wizard, one concerning the legendary rules.

It was something that the three Level 3 Great Wizards of the Black Tower could only dream of, but lacked the ability to pursue.

Qiudongqiu Lola bit her lip, her watery eyes filled with grievance. "A hundred and twenty years! How many one-hundred-and-twenty years does a person get? How many more can you afford to wait? The lifespan of an Extreme Wizard Apprentice is only five hundred years!"

"Komore, if you come back to the Black Tower with me, I can help you advance from a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice to an Extreme Wizard Apprentice within five years... I can also have the Wizard Clan backing me sponsor you. Your Sack Clan hasn’t given up on you either, or they wouldn’t have sent four Extreme Wizard Apprentices to protect you. If we combine the resources and connections of our two clans, both of us can advance to Official Wizard within a century..."

"I’m not going back."

Lola’s words were cut off.

Komore’s expression was resolute and solemn. He glanced at the beautiful woman with her red-rimmed eyes, then turned his head away and said firmly, "After I obtain the Black Sun Inheritance, I will come back for you, Lola. You should go back. I won’t go with you."

Lola wiped her eyes, turned, and left the room without another word to Komore.

’Lola, forgive me. The pursuit of truth is what I desire; feelings are ultimately secondary.’ Komore took a deep breath. ’Once I have the Black Sun Inheritance, I will surely accept your feelings and not let you down.’

...

Wang Ya and Kaze Antuun wandered through the stall area of Licorice Camp, their eyes scanning the Extraordinary Items on display.

If they came across anything suitable or of good quality, they would each spend their own Magic Stones to buy it.

At a time like this, it was crucial not to rush.

They had to first get a clear grasp of the local situation before taking action.

Kaze Antuun was experienced, but even he was surprised by Wang Ya’s conduct. He was too seasoned, as if he had been through this many times before.

The two communicated by modulating the frequency of their Extraordinary Spiritual Power.

’It’s getting dark. For today, let’s just get a feel for Licorice Camp’s environment. At the very least, we need to figure out the number of Extreme Wizard Apprentices in the Circular Tower.’

’Agreed. We also need to set up some countermeasures in advance and find a safe escape route.’

All these preparations were to guard against any unforeseen circumstances.

’Wait... This is the aura of an Extreme Wizard Apprentice, and their Particle Energy is in an explosive state.’ Under the Face of Residual Dreams, Kaze Antuun’s expression grew solemn. His pupils contracted as he looked toward the Circular Tower in the depths of the camp.

That turbulent aura was actually even stronger than his own, and the fluctuations of its Particle Energy were more condensed.

This was something he rarely encountered.

Even against an Extreme Wizard Apprentice from the White Bone Lineage, he was confident he wouldn’t lose by much. At most, he’d be at a disadvantage due to the Traits of their Particle Energy.

Yet now, just from the aura alone, he knew he was no match.

Harak, curled up in Wang Ya’s sleeve, began to tremble and hum faintly—a reaction to sensing delicious food... Wang Ya’s brow twitched slightly as his gaze also shifted toward the Circular Tower.

At that moment, many perceptive Wizards also sensed that something was amiss.