However...
Before that, there was still one matter that needed resolution.
Or rather, one person!
Carl opened his eyes, his gaze icy.
* * *
Cloudwood Hills.
A black cloud swept in from the horizon, landing on the deserted mid-slope of the mountain and revealing Marian’s figure.
A Wizard’s body evolved toward a non-human state; the higher their Cultivation, the more pronounced this transformation beca.
When ordinary people fly through the air at high speeds, they inevitably experience air resistance, which impacts their velocity.
Wizards, however, were different.
A Wizard’s body, tempered by Star Realm Energy, had beco semi-energized to a certain degree.
To a certain extent, they could ignore air resistance and the planet’s gravity.
Likewise, a body suffused with Star Realm Energy possessed greatly increased resistance to witchcraft, rendering low-level witchcraft almost ineffective against Wizards.
A cold wind swept the land. Fallen leaves fluttered about.
Marian reached out and caught a withered yellow leaf. Her eyes flickered slightly as she looked up toward the summit.
The snow has lted, revealing the fallen leaves beneath. It’s been so long... Has Carl still not broken through?
It had been three months.
Advancent was typically a very short process. Even including preparation ti and subsequent stabilization, one to two months was usually sufficient.
Three months wasn’t unheard of, but it was rare.
Marian had been visiting every few days. Such frequent, concerned visits had drawn jests from many.
But she didn’t care.
I not only care for Carl, but I will also marry him. What do those jests matter?
However, the Carl of that ti won’t be the ’Carl’ you all know, but my tutor!
She squinted at the Stone Gate for a mont. Seeing it was still motionless, as usual, Marian turned to leave.
I’ll co back in a few days!
CRACK!
Huh?
The unexpected sound from behind made Marian instinctively raise an eyebrow; then, she heard the Stone Gate opening.
HUM...
The sound wasn’t loud, yet it filled Marian with elation. She whirled around and stepped through the Stone Gate into the secret chamber within.
The secret chamber, over a hundred square ters in area, was empty except for the strange patterns on the floor and a figure seated in the center.
Carl slowly pushed himself up, stretching his body and limbs, seemingly indifferent to Marian as she approached.
His movents were extrely slow, like an elderly man unaccustod to activity.
"Tu—" Marian began, her expression complex, though a hint of doubt still flickered in her eyes.
She changed her tone, probing, "Carl, have you broken through?"
"Yes." Carl nodded slowly, a gentle smile on his face. He beckoned to Marian, his deanor kind, "Wendy, you’ve worked hard."
Wendy was Marian’s childhood pet na, a na known to no more than two other people.
Marian covered her mouth with both hands, tears welling in her eyes. She staggered towards Carl, her voice choked, "Tutor! Is it really you?"
"Has the snow outside lted?" Carl ignored Marian’s question, his gaze shifting to the outside. "I rember when I first found you; it was this very season."
"It was the season of biting cold, the earth draped in a silvery-white gown. The spring breeze touched lightly, the spirits of snow sensing the warmth. lting snow dripped like musical notes, gently tapping the strings of the earth, awakening slumbering creatures. Back then, you were wrapped in animal skins, tossed in a haystack, barely clinging to life, yet your eyes were wide open."
"Looking into those eyes, I took an instant liking to you, so I picked you up and brought you back to my dwelling to raise."
Carl turned to face her, reaching out to gently brush her hair.
"Tutor!" Tears stread down Marian’s face as her knees gave way, and she sank to the ground before Carl. "Without you, Tutor, I wouldn’t exist! You’ve finally returned to life! I..."
SPLURT!
A tentacle shot out from Carl’s fingertip like a high-speed drill, instantly piercing Marian’s skull.
SWISH!
The tentacle slashed downwards. The sharp force instantly bisected Marian’s body, splitting her into two halves.
Carl stepped back, his expression turning cold and murderous, his wrist trembling slightly.
Unlike his experiences with the Divine Domain Fragnt, he wasn’t currently endowed with Absolute Rationality. He had to feign the deep affection of the Grey Robed Wizard Adison, a considerable test of his acting skills.
Fortunately, Marian had been too overco with emotion to notice the stiffness in Carl’s acting and had offered herself up defenselessly.
PHEW...
Carl let out a long breath. "That was close!"
Marian was no re Adison-like soul fragnt from a Divine Domain Fragnt; she was a genuine Official Wizard.
With Magic Artifacts, witchcraft, and a full array of techniques at her disposal, he wouldn’t have stood a chance in a direct confrontation.
Fortunately, this woman was foolish enough!
"Master of Essence!"
"King of Thousand Forms!"
"Lord of Terror!"
"Taiwei Jade Emperor!"
Carl closed his eyes, silently chanting his venerable titles. "I wish to offer this fresh corpse to You as a sacrifice, to express this believer’s most profound reverence."
As his words faded, the patterns on the ground flared to life, enveloping Marian’s remains and transporting them towards the Divine Domain Fragnt.
He could have, in fact, transported the corpse directly, but that would have only included the physical body, not the soul.
A sacrifice, however, included the soul!
After death, a soul doesn’t dissipate imdiately; it lingers for a certain period and undergoes a process.
Wizards possessed unpredictable and baffling abilities. If soone were to trace Marian’s death back to him via her soul, it would spell trouble.
By handling it this way—transferring both body and soul to the Divine Domain Fragnt—it was safer, ensuring the complete destruction of the corpse and erasure of all traces.
Furthermore, a Wizard’s mories were a valuable asset.
* * *
Nancy stepped out of her room, cautiously scanned her surroundings, and after confirming no one was present, quickly hurried out.
Due to the beast tide, no logging had been scheduled recently, so the dense forest on the mountain was deserted.
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