Mage Manual

"It wasn't supposed to be this quick. Even though we have the key method of the Sky Gate Technique Spirit, there are still many technological challenges in creating a space gate to other realms—challenges that we can't overcome."

He shrugged, "But who could have guessed Gwen's luck?"

No one expected that the key intelligence for returning home would come from Gwen, a prisoner they brought back from the Dead City. Gwen is a Two-winged Mage who, during her adventure on the Time Continent, accidentally entered the Fate Q&A building.

She successfully answered two fate-related questions and, as a reward, was allowed to ask a question to the Void Realm. She asked, "What is the best way I can traverse realms?"

The Void Realm responded, "By reaching the deepest part of the Kingdom of Senluo and using the Sky Gate Technique Spirit, you'll be able to form a stable space passage. The likelihood of encountering Void Turbulence is greatly reduced, and there's a possibility of randomly reaching other realms."

After Igula verified it, the intelligence proved genuine. As for why Gwen asked this, she claimed it was 'because everyone has been troubled by this issue recently.' However, Igula said she wasn't that kind-hearted; it was simply the smartest choice. After all, with Senluo about to become a bloody grind, and given that she had offended the Four Pillars God Sect, leaving was evidently a more practical concern than other issues.

Nevertheless, Ash and the others finally had a very clear phase goal: reach the deepest part of Senluo, then keep refreshing the Sky Gate, until they get a portal to the Kingdom of Gospel.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Ash put the trash back in the bag, saying, "Qikara was already our shared slave. In order to survive he sold himself to us, so we're definitely taking him along—at least Igula hasn't yet squeezed out all the value of this Beastman—but Qikara himself is the adaptable type, he doesn't resist leaving Senluo."

"Gwen too, whether for us or for herself, she'll definitely follow us. So, our goals are aligned."

With that, Ash took the initiative to walk out of the alley, with Black Crow following behind. In fact, a question should follow here, but Ash found it hard to verbalize, and Black Crow had no intention to answer proactively.

As they crossed the street, a large crowd suddenly poured out of the nearby auction-style building. This building was the only auction house in Black Robe Town, originally holding an auction once a week, but recently it almost has them daily. The ongoing full-scale war engulfing the continent shattered all sects' entrenched ways of thinking, and nearby sects brought out their treasured items to Black Robe Town to exchange for resources and enhance combat power.

Originally, Ash was quite interested in the auction. After all, it's a classic component of a fantasy adventure. Wouldn't it be a missed opportunity not to trigger plots of competitive bidding, robbery, or finding hidden treasures during such a traversal?

But after experiencing an auction once, Ash completely gave up on this activity.

Finding hidden treasures was utterly impossible, and as for competitive bidding and robbery, they couldn't happen in Black Robe Town. More importantly, the auction items were of no use to them—Ash is from the Sword Technique Faction, Igula from the Spirit Faction, Harvey from the Necromancy Faction, and these three factions are considered the lowest of the low in Senluo Wasteland. Few specialize in them, and consequently, related outputs are rare!

What's popular in Senluo Wasteland are factions like Hardship Weakness, Thunder Technique, Fire Technique, Earth Magic, and Senluo, capable of both combat and production. These are like all-purpose oil magic, akin to buying the cheapest entry-level car, where customers naturally demand features for grocery shopping, cargo transport, and long-distance driving.

Swordsmanship and spirit-type magic factions obviously don't fit in, and even the necromancy faction doesn't have any development ground due to the Green Beast—if burials were held, the Green Beast would dig the corpses out of the graves to eat, hence cremation is prevalent in Senluo Wasteland.

Having no shopping desires, Ash naturally no longer participated in auctions.

He looked curiously at the auction house and saw three athletic girls, each carrying many bags, running towards them.

"Run quickly!"

The three girls threw two treasure bags far to Ash and Black Crow, then darted into an alley like a gust of wind. Ash instinctively caught them, and immediately noticed a part of the crowd from the auction house rushing toward him...

"Damn!"

Ash cursed loudly, tugging Black Crow to run. Passersby made way for them, with some even cheering and clapping, encouraging them to run faster.

"Why run?" Although Black Crow immediately grasped the context, he still spoke normally while running: "Can't we just return the items? We're not their accomplices."

"But they don't know that!" Ash shouted, "Even if they believed us, we'd get a beating before explaining! More likely, we'd be beaten to death before having a chance to speak!"

"How could that be."

"Why not, I'm currently in the Mirror of Flowers state, unable to use Technique Spirit or Magic Power, nor can I fly away with you! Quick, let's jump on those boxes and run across the rooftops!"

Black Crow seemed about to say something, but suddenly fell silent, jumping up onto the rooftops ahead. Ash shouted as he tried to climb up, missing the eaves—he misjudged his height and jumping strength! However, Black Crow immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the roof.

The people from the auction house cursed below. Some mimicked them using the boxes to climb up, while others brought ladders from nearby shops to chase them, occasionally shooting at them with earth-powered guns—most of Gray Fox's guns required magic power to operate, which couldn't be used here.

Ash and Black Crow ran and leaped across rooftops, climbed over balconies, and scaled beams. Street shops and pedestrians paused to follow their fleeing figures with their eyes. The torches and shouting on the ground pursued relentlessly, as if composing a fluid melody that accompanied them on their journey.

Tonight, Black Robe Town danced for them.

A sense of absurdity spread inside Ash. He thought, for a grand Legendary Mage like himself to be chased into a panicked escape by a group of ordinary, at most Two-winged mages, was bewildering. Although he didn't know what was in the bags, they certainly weren't items he needed, likely ordinary auction goods he wouldn't even glance at.

Upon reaching the edge of the rooftop, Ash jumped, but his jumping power was indeed lacking, and he was about to slam into a wall like a mosquito when Black Crow grabbed his arm and yanked him up.

Ash raised his head to be greeted by the inky night sky.

Oddly enough, despite the clamor nearby and the bright lights, they felt distant to Ash; while the night sky, though far, seemed to envelop him. A subtle sense of detachment swiftly burgeoned in his heart.

He knew this was a cliché thought anyone on a rooftop might have, but he also felt it was the wasteland comprehending his heart's intent, giving him a unique farewell, and reminding him not to forget his luggage.

He exhaled deeply, "Tamasi Ya Sha Jin."

Black Crow turned to look at him.

"Forsake your revenge, forsake your homeland, and come with us," Ash gazed at Black Crow with a death knell, "Then, start anew."