Chapter 40: Coincidence, Making a Wish

But Iz also didn't say that Lu Cang must create a specific spell or cultivation method.

She simply told him to think.

Lu Cang murmured, "The professional creed of a mage is the exploration of the source."

「Void Realm (LV: 152)」

His Tier 2 Mana Enhancement technique had already reached level 152.

The Void Realm could not benefit from the triple proficiency bonus of multi-casting, nor could it be improved through methods like hunting monsters.

However, it could be practiced at any time.

It was just that the proficiency required to level up the Void Realm seemed much higher than that of ordinary spells.

To the point where it was still only level 152.

Lu Cang estimated that the mana within his body had reached approximately 2.3 million...

In fact, once he passed the 2 million mark, Lu Cang felt he had touched the limit, yet the Void Realm continued to steadily pull his mana capacity higher.

Having so much mana was useless.

With the spells he had learned now, even if he poured mana into increasing their power and released every single spell at once, he wouldn't consume even ten thousand points.

And the mana consumed could be recovered in a single breath.

Mana capacity should have been a mage's greatest concern, but for Lu Cang, it was something he didn't need to care about at all.

After finishing his stretches.

Before going to sleep, Lu Cang took out a book of general knowledge borrowed from the library.

He slowly savored the knowledge that might be useful tomorrow.

As he read, drowsiness gradually surged.

...

A dreamless night.

Early the next morning, Lu Cang, as usual, bought a copy of *The World's Great Shock* from the street peddler who sold news.

However, the moment he saw the news on the paper today.

Lu Cang's pupils involuntarily contracted.

*World-Class Shock: Tier 7 Dungeon Subjugation Incident, Adventuring Party Wiped Out! The Doomsday of the Rellen Continent is Imminent?!*

Wiped out?

What was it talking about?

Iz and the others were so strong, how could that be possible!

Lu Cang hurriedly read the subsequent text.

However, after quickly skimming through the entire report, Lu Cang couldn't help but grit his teeth.

Damn it.

Clickbait, you deserve to die.

【The adventuring parties Dragon of the Realm, Gray God, Bloodlust, New Dawn... among others, have been confirmed as wiped out.

However, several of the most top-tier, powerful adventuring parties are still continuing to delve deeper into the dungeon...】

The wiped-out parties mentioned did not include Iz and her group.

Iz's adventuring party was called... Legend.

A very plain and unpretentious name, yet it truly suited their identity.

Iz had said that this name had actually been registered before, and many people had wanted to snatch it...

But coincidentally, on the day she registered her adventuring party, another lone adventurer happened to be there to handle the business of deregistering a party.

And their name was 【Legend】.

Originally, Iz hadn't planned to register that name, but since she happened to hear them deregister it, she discussed it with Cheng.

In the end, they settled on the current name of the adventuring party.

"At least... they are safe for now."

The danger of a Tier 7 dungeon exceeded Lu Cang's imagination.

He hadn't expected so many teams to be wiped out on the very first day of exploration...

He heard that those participating in this operation were all the top-tier adventuring parties on this continent.

Yet they died so easily on the first day.

Lu Cang couldn't help but clench his fists.

"Iz, you'd better really be stronger than them."

Lu Cang let out a long sigh; there was no use being anxious here.

Understand the world, increase strength.

These were the only things he could do.

With that thought, Lu Cang intended to head into the Adventurers' Guild to start his activities for the day.

But as he turned, he saw a blank statue.

「There are no churches or dedicated altars in Rain Town.

If believers wish to worship, they can only go to the Blank Altar to offer prayers.」

This was what Kumironi had said.

*Clatter—*

*Clatter-clatter-clatter—*

Suddenly, behind Lu Cang, a speeding and reckless freight carriage thundered past.

*Boom!*

However, as it passed, a heavy, muffled thud echoed from the road.

Heavy cargo had fallen onto the ground.

An altar with a concrete form fell right in the middle of the road.

Some gods have forms.

Some gods are formless.

Yakatictor belonged to the gods with forms...

He had a specific appearance and particular decorations, all recorded in books as if the people of the world had seen Him with their own eyes.

The statue before him.

The fallen four-leaf clover earring, the strange currency held in the hand, and the details of the clothing all corresponded with the Yakatictor in the books.

Seeing this statue.

The people on the street fell silent, then rushed toward the altar of the statue like madmen, throwing their silver and copper coins as if they were fools who didn't care about the cost...

Lu Cang glanced at the receding carriage; it seemed its cargo had fallen...

Hey... didn't they notice such a large piece of cargo fell off?

Although there were no specific altars in public areas, it didn't stop residents from ordering altars to place in their homes.

Seeing the townsfolk scrambling to worship Yakatictor, Lu Cang couldn't help but wonder.

Are these people really this crazy when it comes to worshipping gods?

Like an elderly person watching people scramble for free eggs, Lu Cang stood aside and watched them quietly for a moment...

And then.

He also slowly walked into the crowd...

He dropped a gold coin.

Folding his arms across his chest, he took a posture of making a wish.

「Yakatictor, if you can truly hear my wish, please protect Izparut and the others and let them return safely.」

After dropping this one gold coin, Lu Cang didn't care whether the coin was picked up by someone or truly reclaimed by some unknown power; he turned and walked toward the Guild.

Would worshipping a god be useful?

Lu Cang didn't know.

He simply wanted to pray for the safety of Iz and the others.

"Ah~"

"Little Lu Cang, come quickly, come quickly!"

As soon as he entered, Shili was calling out to him.

Lu Cang approached with a hint of curiosity.

"Oh my, so many new commissions suddenly came in yesterday, we're almost running out of adventurers here."

Lu Cang looked at the commission board nearby.

It was indeed an explosion of orders.

It was already covered.

Shili pressed her hands together and spoke to Lu Cang as if pleading: "Little Lu Cang, we don't have that many high-level adventurers in Rain Town. After Iz and the others left, we might not be able to clear these monsters for the time being."

"If we just leave them alone."

Lu Cang nodded: "Mm, I understand."

Oh~ she wants him to help clear the monsters.

However, before, it was Iz and the others; now, it was him...

But if he also left.

What would they do then?

Lu Cang was curious.

It couldn't be that there would always be powerful passing adventurers to help them clear commissions.

"Alright, let me take a look."

"But Sister Shili, if there are no powerful adventurers, how is this situation usually handled?"

There were indeed many commissions.

Tasks to subjugate wild monsters had suddenly increased; there were quite a few Tier 2 Lords, and Tier 3 ones were piled up.

The number of Level 3 adventurers in Rain Town was limited.

Level 3 professionals could completely choose not to adventure in dungeons or kill wild monster lords.

Even in the kingdom's capital, they could find decent jobs, earn a good income, and live a happy life.

Of course... this also meant that if they worked as adventurers, they could earn even more money.

Shili sighed: "If there aren't enough adventurers to help, we can only request assistance from the Kingdom. They will dispatch a subjugation force to help us clear the surrounding threats."

This answer was indeed logical.

Rain Town belonged to the Loren Kingdom, which seemed to be a very powerful kingdom on this continent.

To be precise, Rain Town was part of the territory of Lord Reand, and under his rule, there were over a dozen such towns and two medium-sized city-states.

Even if they didn't request the Kingdom's assistance, the territory's lord would likely help Rain Town resolve this threat.

Shili continued: "However, since last night, quite a few adventurers have been rushing toward this area..."

Lu Cang tilted his head in confusion: "Rushing here?"

"Mm... I saw the Kingdom's weather forecast; it said a monster tide is moving toward this direction."

"So, in order to obtain rich rewards, adventurers are chasing the tracks of the monster tide toward here."

"They will likely choose to settle in Rain Town."