Chapter 21: The White Heart Tower (Please keep reading, please add to favorites, and please recommend!)

Chapter 21

The "Desperate" effect of the Life Seed indeed functioned exactly as expected, activating only under extreme circumstances.

After using it, Lynn felt dizzy and lightheaded, his limbs powerless, and he could barely stand straight.

While walking, he had to cling tightly to the walls just to maintain his balance.

Anyone seeing him in this state would likely suspect he was suffering from some kind of kidney deficiency or similar ailment.

Originally, Lynn had thought that since he had finally made it out, he would wander around the Core Area of the Crucible more extensively to see if he could stumble upon any opportunities.

To his disappointment, however, with the Crucible War approaching, the atmosphere in the Core Area had become exceptionally tense, and crowds were surging everywhere.

Whether it was the witchcraft testing rooms, shops, or bookstores, almost everything was packed to capacity.

Goods that were originally priced steadily had now increased several times over due to the impending war.

Every apprentice was bringing out the private savings they had hidden for a long time, frantically purchasing various props and resources, fearing they might lose their lives in the upcoming conflict.

Lynn checked the points on hand; he had fifty in total.

He had spent some upon entering the Core Area, and another ten points at the testing room, leaving him with just over thirty points, which wasn't enough to buy anything practical.

Furthermore, his body was currently weak and his condition was terrible, so he decided not to waste any more time and headed straight back to the Potion Garden.

Upon returning to the Potion Garden, Lynn practically collapsed into his bed and slept for an entire day and night.

Even when he had managed to recover some strength, his head still felt heavy and groggy, and he felt somewhat inadequate when attempting to meditate.

"The 'Desperate' effect of the Life Seed is truly a case of losing more than one gains; the aftereffects are too severe."

Lynn sighed. Currently, he couldn't do anything; he couldn't stand for long, and he had to rest after walking just a few steps.

Seeing this, his colleague Remy thought Lynn had taken two days off to go to the Crucible's residential area to "take care" of those women.

On this day, while the two were in the middle of the normal process of tending to potions, Remy saw Lynn sitting aside practicing because of back pain and walked over.

"Lynn, you really are something. Did you dump your entire two months' salary on those harlots? You should just dabble in such things; don't make yourself look like a dead dog. Most of them have undergone human modification specifically to be addictive..."

Remy clicked his tongue in wonder, seemingly unconcerned, mostly teasing Lynn for a young man's lack of restraint.

Lynn massaged his waist. Listening to Remy's commentary, he couldn't help but feel a wave of shock; he hadn't expected the customs of this world to be so wild. It was truly an eye-opener.

At the same time, he thought to himself, *Remy, you've just exposed yourself...*

Only after listening to an hour of Remy's "in-depth research" into the wizarding sex industry did Lynn withdraw his gaze with a sense of lingering interest. He cleared his throat with a couple of light coughs and interrupted Remy with a serious expression.

"By the way, Remy, do you know what that guy who came in with us is called?"

Remy froze for a moment before reacting, then nodded and replied

"Oh, you mean White? He seems to have gone to the Alchemy Department. With the Crucible War coming up, he'll probably be sent to the battlefield. It'll likely be quite miserable..."

As Remy spoke, there wasn't much sympathy on his face; instead, there was a hint of schadenfreude.

"However, I'm glad I didn't go to the Alchemy Department but came to the Potion Department instead. At least I won't be sent to that kind of place to die."

Just as Lynn was about to speak, a series of deafening roars erupted in his ears.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The sound boomed like thunder, accompanied by deep beastly bellows, as if the entire earth were trembling. The noise caused a sharp pain in Lynn's ears, and his heart tightened involuntarily.

"The war has officially begun!"

Lynn understood instantly. These were the roars of mid-to-high-level magical beasts from the Beast Circle, meaning the Crucible's army was ready, mounted on magical beasts and preparing to launch an offensive.

Beside him, Remy also heard the sound, and his expression shifted slightly, becoming more serious.

For all wizard apprentices, the Crucible War was undoubtedly an unavoidable catastrophe.

………………………………

Outside the Crucible, the roars of magical beasts rose one after another.

One magical beast after another was led out from the depths of the Crucible, their heavy footsteps causing the earth to tremble slightly.

Following closely behind were rows of wizard apprentices clad in robes; they were Level 3 apprentices, leading these magical beasts forward one by one.

Every apprentice's face appeared exceptionally solemn, their eyes flashing with the determination to fight.

The massive structure of the Crucible opened its gargantuan maw, as if to swallow heaven and earth, releasing power that had been accumulated for over a decade.

The Crucible's war objectives were not singular but multiple, so there were several armies gathering in different directions.

To the west, a massive army slowly emerged from the abyss of the Crucible.

The procession was grand and imposing, with magical beasts roaring as they marched alongside the wizard apprentices.

However, at the very front of this army, there were several particularly eye-catching figures.

They also wore robes and appeared nothing special on the surface, but one couldn't help but notice the extremely unique energy radiation emanating from them.

That fluctuation was heart-palpitating, as if the very space were being oppressed by their power.

These people were formal Wizards!

Each figure signified that they had successfully imprinted permanent witchcraft marks within their bodies, becoming powerful existences capable of continuously emitting energy.

Among these wizards, there was a face Lynn was quite familiar with—it was Wizard Drey, the one who had led them into the Crucible.

At this moment, Drey remained expressionless, but the deep scar on his face was exceptionally prominent, hideous and terrifying. Especially in this atmosphere filled with beastly roars, it appeared even more sinister and ghastly.

"Drey, I heard you just returned from outside. I've been doing experiments for ten years; I wonder if there have been any major events outside lately?"

Suddenly, beside Drey, a wizard wearing a hooded robe approached, his low voice carrying a hint of mockery.

The wizard's face was obscured by black cloth, and there was no arm in his right sleeve—only a pitch-black snake flicking its tongue. A cold aura emanated from it, making even the air feel frigid.

"Heh, everything is as usual, though there is one major event."

Drey gave a cold laugh and said in a low voice, "That Lionheart Knight from the White Heart Tower ate his teacher's flesh and fled to the territory of the Black Wizards."

"Oh?"

The wizard beside him seemed somewhat interested, his tone carrying a trace of a sneer.

"I remember he had already been a Level 2 Wizard for a long time. It seems he killed his master hoping to use that old thing's flesh to break through. Jie jie..."

The snake flicked its tongue and actually revealed a human-like smile, as if mocking this death-defying knight.

"It is not that easy for a Bloodline Wizard to ascend."

Drey shook his head, remaining indifferent and ruthless. "Even if he ascends, he won't escape the pursuit of the White Heart Tower. I heard their Tower Master has returned to this world. Soon, the traitor will surely be slain by their own hand."

When he mentioned the Tower Master of the White Heart Tower, an unmistakable trace of awe could not be hidden in his voice.

(End of Chapter)