Chapter 279 Sky-high Compensation <TOC> Chapter 281 Restarting the Auction
Translator: SumTLMan
Sanders: “The so-called undertaking of the Nightmare Domain refers to entrusting the management of this realm, which you have created, to you.”
Angel: “Is it a relationship between territory and lord?”
Sanders nodded: “That’s one way to understand it.”
Angel’s eyes lit up: “Does that mean that I will be in charge of this Nightmare Domain from now on? Like the realm where Little Red exists?”
“Yes.”
Angel excitedly said: “Isn’t that similar to the Magic Garden? Besides not having any rules, I can use the Nightmare Domain to store items on my person, so I won’t even need spatial tools?!”
Sanders gave a cold smile: “You’re thinking too optimistically.”
“Is that not possible?” Angel’s face was full of disappointment.
“Don’t compare the Nightmare Domain to spatial tools. Fundamentally, the two have no similarities.”
Seeing Angel still looked confused, Sanders explained telepathically: “The exact nature of the Nightmare Domain is difficult to delve into, as the concept was actually proposed by me. You can understand it as a special kind of illusionary realm. Since it is an illusionary realm, it does not exist in reality but exists in a vague perception, or even in dreams. It is a spatial concept but not a space in the conceptual sense.”
Sanders’ words made Angel even more confused: “Is there a difference between spatial concepts and conceptual spaces?”
“One is real, the other is virtual.” Sanders simplified the meaning further.
“But am I not standing in the Nightmare Domain right now? I am real, so how could I possibly stand on something that is virtually existent?” Angel still couldn’t understand.
Sanders: “The explanation is a bit complex. Reality and virtuality, time and space, all these concepts are relative. Let me give you a simple example, like when we went to Nether City last time. Time was stagnant in the Nightmare World while it flowed in the Wizarding World. You went to the Nightmare Plane and came back, but for others, you never left. So, is the Nightmare Plane you went to real or not?”
“This involves a widely-discussed academic subject among wizards. If you’re interested, you can look up the revised version of —Bazel’s Discourse: Time, Space, and Virtuality—, written by the great wizard Bazel a thousand years ago.”
Although Angel still did not fully grasp the relationship, he had a general understanding.
A Nightmare Domain is an illusory spatial concept closely connected to the Nightmare Plane and possesses a range of Nightmare Plane characteristics. However, it does not belong to the Nightmare Plane and can be considered an intermediate space.
As Sanders was the first to propose the concept of the Nightmare Domain, his understanding of it was not very comprehensive, only knowing that it was connected to the Nightmare Plane. Although he could create a Nightmare Domain, he could not enter the Nightmare Plane from it. However, creatures from the Nightmare Plane could leave it through the Nightmare Domain and enter the real world. Thus, whenever a Nightmare Domain was created, it would attract numerous creatures from the Nightmare Plane, including powerful ones.
For Sanders, the Nightmare Domain was a unique illusionary realm. Illusions incorporating the concept of a Nightmare Domain would reach an inconceivable level, which is precisely why Sanders’ illusions were unrivaled in the Southern Region.
However, the Nightmare Domain was ironically connected to the Nightmare Plane, and if one was careless, it could easily allow powerful creatures from the Nightmare Plane to enter the world of wizards. Therefore, it was a double-edged sword for Sanders, potent but with significant drawbacks.
To solve this problem, he researched for decades and finally gained inspiration from “plane fusion” and “plane separation.”
After creating a Nightmare Domain, he would sever it through special means, completely separating it from the Nightmare Plane, and then merge it with the wizard’s own being, allowing them to possess the Nightmare Domain illusion while not worrying about the issue of powerful creatures.
This was the so-called—Undertaking the Nightmare Domain.
Undertaking the Nightmare Domain had numerous advantages, allowing an illusionist wizard to almost instantly reach an inconceivable level of control over illusions. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and Undertaking the Nightmare Domain carried considerable risk.
Since the Nightmare Domain shared characteristics with the Nightmare Domain, when it was integrated into oneself, it could easily cause one to lose touch with reality and illusion. Therefore, it is best for the mastery of illusions to reach a certain level before Undertaking the Nightmare Domain.
—Flora was a special case; she was not an illusionist. The reason she could bear the Nightmare Domain was the presence of Little Red. This was an individual case, Flora’s own opportunity, and could not be used as a reference.
“I originally planned to wait until you became an official wizard and had a certain mastery of illusions before inheriting the opportunity of the Nightmare Domain, but now you’ve caused this scene, creating a Nightmare Domain as a junior apprentice and almost letting that woman escape… Sigh!” Sanders displayed an exasperated expression, believing Angel to be the most worry-free of his three students. Although his values were too naive and he did not yet resemble a wizard, he could still be trained… even if he remained an academic wizard for life, it would not matter.
But what he did not expect was that Angel, despite his reserved personality, had quite the courage, daring to challenge the heavens! If it were not for his presence in the Twilight Inner Court, should creatures from the central area of the Nightmare Plane descend upon the world of wizards, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Imagine stepping outside and encountering a legendary wizard engaged in battle just a few steps away. After barely finding a quiet place, an even more legendary existence from thousands of miles away could, with a single spit, submerge a vast area.
In such a situation, how many seeds would be left in the Southern Region’s world of wizards?
Left with no choice, Sanders broke a principle he had maintained for centuries and hastily came to rescue Angel, wiping his rear end. How could this not infuriate him!
After resolving the issue of the Nightmare Plane monsters, he still had to provide Angel with a great opportunity.
Though he did not care much for these benefits, he had been busy for half a day while the person who had caused the mess was resting without worry, which made him feel furious.
What was even more infuriating was that this person had an innocent look on his face, wearing an expression that read, “I saved the world,” waiting for praise.
Suppressing the anger he hadn’t felt in decades, Sanders said, “The Nightmare Plane started because of you, so you must be the one to take responsibility.”
Angel nodded. This was a huge blessing, and he couldn’t possibly refuse.
“If you don’t pull through, you’ll be left with only death,” Sanders couldn’t help but remind him.
“I know, thank you for your concern, mentor.” Angel wore an expression that read, “I understand.”
Sanders: “…” Who’s concerned about you!
“Mentor, since you care so much about me, can I make an unreasonable request?” Angel glanced at the unconscious Toby in his pocket, his eyes filled with concern.
Sanders looked at Angel and then at Toby. He couldn’t possibly not guess what Angel was going to say. Sanders sighed inwardly, thinking that Gloria had indeed chosen the right person to entrust Toby to.
“You may speak,” Sanders said gently.
Angel raised his head, his eyes shining: “Well… I really can’t come up with 100,000 magic crystals in half a month. Can I borrow some from you, mentor? I’ll definitely pay you back as soon as possible!”
Sanders: “…” Grinding his teeth, clenching his fists. Gloria, you indeed misjudged this person; he’s an ingrate.
“No,” Sanders said emotionlessly, but these two words were squeezed out between his teeth.
“In addition to returning the 100,000 magic crystals to Twilight, I will cover the material costs for severing the connection to the Nightmare Domain, which is about 150,000 magic crystals. I can give you a one-month grace period, after which the amount will double!” Sanders hadn’t planned to mention the material costs, but since Angel brought it up, he didn’t mind venting his Angel.
“What?! Another 150,000 magic crystals! Mentor, I’m just a first-level apprentice; there’s no way I can pay this back!” Angel’s eyes welled up with tears.
Sanders said indifferently, “That music box, you crafted it well. Keep it up.”
With that, Sanders turned and left.
Did Sanders mean for him to continue crafting music boxes to repay the debt? But even so, he couldn’t repay 100,000 magic crystals in half a month! He couldn’t even gather 150,000 magic crystals in a month!
All Angel wanted to do now was to stop Sanders and then righteously tell him: I didn’t craft that music box! If you don’t believe me, check it out; I didn’t even auction it off!
……
The initial preparations for Undertaking the Nightmare Domain were completed, and Angel was led to a corner by Sanders.
“Get ready, we’re about to start!” Sanders said.
“Wait a moment!” Angel’s face showed a hint of worry, “When I’m in the Nightmare Domain, will the auction continue?”
Sanders nodded, “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should.”
Unsure of how long it would take to endure the Nightmare Domain, Angel left his bone card with Sanders.
“Master, my number is 187. If the auction ends and I’m not done here, please help me claim the items I’ve won…” Angel said solemnly.
Sanders took the bone card, glanced at the remaining balance, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, “So you’re number 187. Flora will be quite surprised when she finds out.”
Angel’s forehead was covered in beads of sweat.
“Alright, as long as you’re alive, I’ll help you claim them.” Sanders initially wanted to ask why Angel had bid on the material that could only be refined by a master, but thought better of it and didn’t ask.
“Prepare to begin!”
“Wait a moment!”
Sanders frowned, “Are you having second thoughts now? Worried about failing in Undertaking the Nightmare Domain?”
Angel shook his head, his face displaying a hint of pleading, “Mentor, I have a particularly important request. Can I say it?”
“No.” Sanders thought of Angel’s previous request, and his expression darkened.
“I want to ask Mentor to help me win the No Eyed Man, no matter how many magic crystals it takes. Even if it’s within half a month, I’ll find a way to repay you.” Angel, as if he hadn’t heard Sanders’ refusal, continued to speak.
Sanders: “…” Ignoring my words, and still asking me for help?
In the end, under Angel’s pleading gaze, Sanders couldn’t bring himself to ignore Angel completely, “Are you really willing to pay any amount of magic crystals?”
Angel nodded, “Yes, it’s a debt I owe to Toby.” He had known about Greya’s situation early on but hadn’t told Toby for various reasons. And since the day he entered the wizarding world, Toby had been helping him. In Angel’s opinion, this was a debt he owed to Toby.
Sanders sighed, “A gourmet wizard, even if he’s just an apprentice now, is worth more than you can imagine. Perhaps more than the magic crystals you owe combined. Even if it costs over 200,000 magic crystals, are you sure you want to buy?”
“200,000 magic crystals? That expensive?!” Angel abruptly looked up and quickly said, “Then let’s forget about it.”
Sanders: “…” Is this your resolve?
Angel: “Mentor, could you please help me remember who took the bid for the No Eyed man?”
“Do you want to commit a robbery?” If Angel really thinks that way, Sanders would feel somewhat relieved.
Angel shook his head: “I just want to earn more money in the future and buy it back from someone else…”
Chapter 279 Sky-high Compensation <TOC> Chapter 281 Restarting the Auction