Chapter 938 Mental Assessment <TOC> Chapter 940 The Afterglow
Translator: SumTLMan
“Lord Tree Spirit,” Angel responded with a resigned look, “I never contemplated climbing such a ladder.”
The familiar whisper instantly alerted him to the identity of the speaker. Furthermore, he could glean the playful persona of Tree Spirit from the tone of voice.
Though he had been away for a year or so, for Angel, it felt as if he had never left.
“Isn’t it splendid? Are you aware of who tops the list of men our wizard organization would most like to marry?” Tree Spirit seemed not to intend to let this topic slide and continued to question.
In Angel’s mind, the image of Sanders flashed almost instantaneously.
“You’re undoubtedly thinking it’s your mentor, aren’t you?” Tree Spirit started chuckling: “Sanders, indeed, enjoys the affection of a certain high-end segment of witches, but he’s not exactly a charmer capable of winning the hearts of most. Yet, his distant and aloof demeanor still got him on the list, albeit at twentieth place. The current frontrunner, though, only ascended recently…”
“Quite curious, aren’t you?”
Angel: Not at all.
“Correct, it’s Sumesh!” Tree Spirit seemed to feel as if he’d shared a significant secret and was quite moved: “After you ascend the rankings again, it will be a case of three men from the same group all gracing the list.”
While Tree Spirit’s chatter reached his ears, it didn’t deter Angel’s journey.
Just as Angel was within sight of the edge of Phantom Island, after half a day’s prattle, Tree Spirit abruptly said, “Oh, right, I almost forgot the main point, come over here for a bit.”
He originally wanted to ask Tree Spirit what he wanted. However, at this critical juncture, Tree Spirit fell silent.
Looking at the nearby Phantom Island, Angel muttered a curse under his breath.
Not long after, Angel’s figure appeared on the dewy platform of Tree Spirit’s grand hall. Tree Spirit still displayed an unkempt appearance, only his key areas modestly covered, as he lazed in a chair basking in the sun, his skin glistening.
Standing behind him were Drew and others, their faces mirroring each other’s bewilderment.
“Good afternoon, Lord Tree Spirit.” After settling in, Angel greeted respectfully.
The gaze of Tree Spirit fell immediately to the feet of Angel, as previously he had flown in directly. The faint black-gold rune twinkling on his boots naturally attracted the attention of Tree Spirit.
“Do these boots belong to your alchemy?”
Angel nodded.
“Well done,” complimented Tree Spirit, as if glimmers of light swirled in its eyes. It then gave Angel a once-over, its gaze pausing on his shoulder seal: “You haven’t been gone long, but you’ve managed to craft quite a bit.”
Angel remained silent, and Tree Spirit did not further pursue the topic. Instead, it slowly voiced the reason for summoning Angel: “I asked you here because I have a question to pose to you.”
“You, come here,” Tree Spirit pointed to Drew, who, feeling a bit uneasy, stepped forward.
“Do you know about his talent?” Tree Spirit inquired.
Up until now, Angel wasn’t sure what Tree Spirit wanted to ask, so he went along with his train of thought: “When the talent orb tested Drew, he claimed to have seen the changing weather over the sea. Given his sensitivity to marine climates, I surmised that he might belong to the ocean element lineage and possess the talent of a sea wizard.” Angel paused, his brows furrowed, “Tree Spirit, could there be a problem with his talent?”
Tree Spirit nodded, “Your conjecture is accurate, and there’s no issue with his talent. However, his water elemental affinity is anomalously high, do you have any idea why?”
Tree Spirit’s palace was required to record the detailed data of each talent holder, which assisted wizards in choosing apprentices.
Drew’s case was a bit peculiar. His talent was normal, but his water affinity was incredibly high, so high that he could condense water vapor around him without any spells. Tree Spirit examined him for a long time, but could not determine the reason for this elevated affinity.
Tree Spirit worried that Drew had ingested a covert potion that temporarily increased his water affinity, causing a mistake in the talent examination. That’s why Angel was summoned.
Angel nodded, “If it’s about an increased water affinity, I do have some insight. It’s not because of a potion, but because he was dragged into a vision when I was alchemy a piece of alchemy… and later, he was present when I tested it.”
Angel thoroughly explained the situation when he was alchemy the Rhythm of the Ocean.
“So, his water affinity didn’t temporarily increase, it’s a permanent enhancement?” Tree Spirit asked with a hint of doubt after listening.
“Exactly,” Angel confirmed.
A glimmer of surprise flashed in the eyes of Tree Spirit, who slowly declared, “It appears you’ve crafted something extraordinary.”
“A while back, the alchemical circles of the Southern Region were abuzz with a certain recording. Could it possibly have been the spectacle when you were performing alchemy… the Rhythm of the Ocean?” Tree Spirit queried.
“If the alchemy took place at sea, then it probably was.”
“High-rank alchemical masterpieces are few and far between in our Savage Grottoes, yet you’ve managed to successfully create one.” Tree Spirit shook its head in admiration, “It’s no wonder it enhanced your affinity to the water element so greatly. Could I, perchance, behold this Rhythm of the Ocean?”
Angel appeared taken aback, his expression showing a hint of hesitation.
The Rhythm of the Ocean contained fragments of his less-than-glorious past, originally intended for the eyes of Mirror Lady alone. However, now that Tree Spirit wished to behold it, Angel found no valid reason to refuse.
After some contemplation, he gave a slight nod. Yet, inwardly, he found himself secretly praying that Tree Spirit’s luck wouldn’t bring about the ‘Goddess of the Sea’ scene too quickly.
Angel procured the Rhythm of the Ocean. Its finely crafted exterior drew the onlookers’ attention, one by one.
A mermaid form was depicted, embracing a tower-like spiral shell. The mermaid was exquisitely carved, its transparent shroud, fashioned from stardust, twinkled eternally. It was especially radiant in the dark, truly a sight to behold.
“I must admit, your alchemy skills are developing a master’s touch,” Tree Spirit couldn’t help but praise.
Although this wasn’t Drew’s first encounter with the Rhythm of the Ocean, he found it mesmerizing every time. It was, in essence, a resplendent jewel under the starlit sky.
Vonman and Guina, having never before witnessed such a marvel, could not take their eyes off the Rhythm of the Ocean, entirely entranced by its beauty.
Next, Angel explained its operation to Tree Spirit. Upon learning it was a range-bound alchemical illusion, Tree Spirit glanced at Vonman and Guina standing behind him, initially contemplating whether to dismiss them.
However, Angel countered, “It doesn’t matter. What they gain depends entirely on their luck.”
Although Guina and Vonman had no clue about what was waiting for them, they inferred from Angel and Tree Spirit’s tone that a rare opportunity might be up ahead. Neither of them were fools and promptly expressed their gratitude.
“Upon activation of the alchemical illusion, you’ll be randomly transported,” Angel gazed at the crowd, “Good luck to you all.”
With these words, the illusion unfolded, imbued with a curious vibration. It was as though they were beneath a different sky, unwittingly plunged into a roiling sea…
A minute later, Angel perished within the illusion, abruptly ushered back to reality.
Sporting a slightly darkened expression, Angel emerged only to realize he had been the first to die among everyone present—an unfortunate incident attributed to the randomness of entering the illusion. He had the bad luck to materialize near a colossal oceanic whirlpool. A mighty wave came crashing in, flinging him off his vessel.
In the illusion, Angel was a mere mortal, bereft of any extraordinary abilities. Hence, his fall equated to his demise.
Two minutes later, Vonman emerged from the illusion, eyes snapping open.
Feigning a casual smile, Angel subtly nodded at Vonman, maintaining the façade of a spectator who hadn’t actually ventured into the illusion.
After his near-drowning experience, Vonman appeared visibly shaken, gasping for breath as he took a seat on the ground.
Another minute passed before Drew and Guina regained consciousness in quick succession. Having previously experienced the dread of the alchemical illusion, Drew wasn’t perturbed. He seemed lost in thought, as if digesting his newly gained insights.
Guina too appeared unfazed. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she reminisced about the illusion where she was whole again. She found herself commanding a small flatboat, wrestling with the vast ocean. This exhilarating sensation, long lost, brought her immense joy. However, man was no match for nature’s fury. She too was overturned by the rampaging waves, becoming a fresh spirit beneath the illusionary sea.
Subsequently, it took a full quarter of an hour for Tree Spirit to wake up.
As he roused, his eyes remained shut, savoring some lingering sensation. After a long moment, he opened his eyes, expressing regret, “I caught a glimpse of the hem of a dress, never expecting to capsize in the end.”
Upon hearing this, Angel felt a pang of relief. It implied Tree Spirit hadn’t seen the “Goddess’s” true visage and was therefore unaware of Angel’s dark past.
Deeply moved by his firsthand experience of the Rhythm of the Ocean, Tree Spirit mused, “Below the level of a wizard, this indeed boosts water affinity.” Glancing at Vonman and Guina, he added, “You two youngsters have been rather lucky. You might not realize the benefits now, but when you start cross-training in the future, you’ll understand the enormity of today’s gains.”
Tree Spirit finally turned his gaze towards Drew.
Drew was still deep in thought, eyes closed, with a thin mist swirling around him. In the eyes of Tree Spirit, his water energy was slowly intensifying.
“The truly lucky one is still him,” Tree Spirit stated, his gaze somewhat distant. “For those following the path of the ocean, this is a transformative elevation.”
He had heard from Angel before, the effect of the Rhythm of the Ocean was to “amplify the affinity with water magic, and provide profound insights for wizards related to the ocean lineage.”
Yet, the limitation for amplifying the affinity with water magic was below official wizard level.
Therefore, at first, he thought the Rhythm of the Ocean was merely a filler, an ancillary piece amongst high-rank alchemy items. However, it was only after truly experiencing it that he understood how terrifying the Rhythm of the Ocean was.
The Alchemy Illusion was a large-scale formation, implying that every time it was activated, it could allow multiple apprentices to enter, thus enhancing their affinity with water magic. This already had the potential of a strategic-level item.
But the real crux was “profound insight to wizards of the ocean lineage.”
After realizing this through Tree Spirit experience, he felt that this effect had already exceeded the bounds of a formal wizard. It brought more or less enlightenment and insight to most ocean wizards!
This indicated that, regardless of whether they were apprentices or official wizards, as long as they belonged to the ocean lineage, this object was as precious to them as a gem!
With a complex look in Tree Spirit eyes, he gazed at Angel. This object was so valuable that it was Beyond Measure.
In the eyes of ocean wizards, it nearly rivaled the usual Wizard Gardens, being designated as a strategic item was definitely appropriate.
And this was crafted by Angel.
Looking at the entirety of the Southern Region, among high-rank support items, this alchemy item could easily rank within the top hundred. And for those of the ocean lineage, it was at least within the top three!
“I’m beginning to understand now why the alchemy world went into such frenzy over just a snippet of footage.” Tree Spirit paused, “If they experienced the effects of the Rhythm of the Ocean, they would be even more crazed.”
Now, Tree Spirit also felt that the world was too mad.
Angel was also someone worth going mad for.
What Tree Spirit felt most fortunate about was, Angel belonged to the Savage Grottoes!
Chapter 938 Mental Assessment <TOC> Chapter 940 The Afterglow