Water Mage in the Flame Realm

The slight tremor in the underground space continues. It's trembling, as if cheering, thanking, and celebrating.

The Lake of the Ocean is not merely a lake but also the core of a larger water vein system.

Centered on the Lake of the Ocean, it actually connects many underground dark rivers, jointly constructing a large water vein existing beneath today's Inner Sea Desert. The Lake of the Ocean in this underground space is its "heart." Now, the heart has started beating again, activating not only this underground space but also the entire underground water vein system.

The various creatures in the Lake of the Ocean seem to sense the subtle yet immensely significant change Andrew brought, moving swiftly here and there, expressing their joy through actions.

Many of them are extremely ancient species, having lived in the relatively closed ecological environment of this underground waters, their forms are already different from creatures outside. It's unknown how long this underground space has been isolated from the outside world.

To the people outside, the disappearance and drying up of the Lake of the Ocean undoubtedly happened in an extremely ancient era. Additionally, the Magic Guild seems to have purposely damaged records related to it, so today, no one knows what really happened back then.

"But one day, I will find out what happened back then," Andrew thought silently, "and also figure out what went wrong in the Flame Realm. As long as I continue to work hard to become stronger, someday, I will find out!"

Andrew returned to the 'Enlightenment Normal State.'

No magic power existed within his body, making him no different from a regular person. In reality, Andrew feels the existence of "self" has already expanded from the mere "self" to "self and the entire Wildfire Town."

Essentially, this is actually a change in the life form. A Magic Lord is different from the ordinary meaning of a lord; it's a redefinition of one's own life form.

"This method of cultivation, I really hadn't thought about before."

Andrew still felt it was incredibly novel and unbelievable, "Do all Water Mages do this? Or is it just me?" This question remains unanswered for now.

What is certain is: "From now on, I must gradually adjust my thought pattern into the 'Lord Style.'"

There's a faint connection between this underground space and him, just like Wildfire Town.

In other words, like Wildfire Town, the Lake of the Ocean is now considered part of his territory.

But it seems something is still missing.

"Is what's missing because the Lake of the Ocean and Wildfire Town are not linked together as a whole?"

Andrew began trying to think using the 'Lord Style' logic.

The Wildfire Town on the surface, and the Lake of the Ocean underground, like two circles, one small and one large.

And they're concentric circles.

Andrew doesn't consider this a coincidence. Just like he's now very sure his landing point when he traveled to Wildfire Town was definitely not a mere coincidence.

Could not help but think: "If only this Lake of the Ocean could be connected up and down with Wildfire Town, forming a whole. That way, on the surface, enemies would only see a small Wildfire Town, and definitely won't think beneath it lies such a large freshwater area!"

Could this be what is called pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger?

You think it's just a small town, but beneath the town is a lake that supports the entire Inner Sea Desert's water needs!

You think I'm just a mage, even merely an ordinary person without magic power, but I not only possess magic power, I also have a territory behind me!

——With this reliance, Andrew thought, even if I am now still a Tier One Mage, and the Water Magic I know are still just those for the time being. But in reality, the combat power I can display can no longer be simply measured by 'tier,' right?

Temporarily put aside the issue of 'how to connect the Lake of the Ocean and Wildfire Town up and down.'

Andrew's gaze turned to the third item on the long table: the semi-transparent gemstone.

But after glancing at it for a few moments, Andrew's gaze swept past it again, temporarily not bothering with the gemstone that seems to have liquid flowing inside.

Instead, he first looked at Ivan.

"Tier, is Tier One.

Magic power, is the overall concept of 'Gate of Enlightenment' as the center, along with all my territory.

Magic, is still centered around the 'Water God Mark'; those massive amounts of Water Magic waiting to be unlocked and learned.

Fire Extinguishing Value, is like 'cash flow,' the money currently on hand.

——Although this isn't a game, if I were to create a personal attribute panel for myself, 'tier,' 'magic power,' 'magic,' and 'Fire Extinguishing Value,' these four items are undoubtedly the most important, leading nature attributes.

It can simply and comprehensively summarize the current 'me.'"

Andrew looked at Ivan, thinking, "But actually, there should be a 'fifth item.'"

The cultivation method of the Magic Lord has indeed brought tremendous shock to Andrew's heart.

But at the same time, Andrew still maintained a clear mind, faintly realizing that this cultivation approach, different from traditional mages, brings huge advantages, yet also a hidden disadvantage.

A disadvantage that makes Andrew somewhat uneasy.

That is: the speed from 'Enlightenment Normal State' to 'Double State.'

Andrew can feel that his current state transformation speed is extremely fast. With a single thought, he can freely switch between two magic power states.

But ultimately, it is still a slight bit slower than when all magic power was stored in his body.

"This slight change in speed is the hidden danger!" Andrew thought, "Even if it's just a tiny bit! But slower means slower! If an enemy targets this weakness, striking swiftly before I can mobilize the magic power and enter 'Double State,' and attack me when in 'normal state' just like any ordinary person, such as sending someone like Pete, an 'Shadow Fire Mage,' to assassinate me—

Then I might not even be able to display my strength and will be killed!"

Andrew really thinks this is a problem!

Fortunately, what he can think of, the one who originally created this "Water Magic Lord" cultivation idea also thought of it.

This is also the reason why Andrew is looking at Ivan at this moment: "The solution to the hidden risk is very simple: select a guard to be a bodyguard, so no matter what sudden situation one faces, they won't be instantly killed by a sneak attack, avoiding the embarrassing situation of being taken down before having time to mobilize magic power!"

Previously, Ivan had a strong mental response to the "Gate of Enlightenment" on the table, faintly feeling that there seemed to be some information hidden within it, some information extremely important to him and all Desert Hunters.

His feeling was correct.

Because Andrew now knows through the "Gate of Enlightenment": the truth about the Desert Hunters.

Desert Hunters are not actually called Desert Hunters.

The name "Desert Hunter" only appeared after the Magic Guild took over the world.

Desert Hunters are not even an assassin-type profession.

On the contrary, Desert Hunters are actually a guardian-type profession.

——Deep Blue Guard, this was once the true name of Desert Hunters!

Water Mages and Deep Blue Guards, just like Earth Fire Mages and Flame Warriors, Warm Fire Mages and Crimson Knights, are naturally paired Magic Professionals and Combat Classes!

However, Water Mages disappeared from this world.

Deep Blue Guards were also sealed and cursed, reduced to the Desert Hunters of today.

"Once a guardian, they knew too well how to cope with assassination, so conversely, they also knew how to assassinate."

Andrew murmured, "So my personal panel—if there were such a thing—should have five categories, not four."

One, Tier.

Two, Magic Power (Gate of Enlightenment and Territory).

Three, Magic (Water God Mark).

Four, Fire Extinguishing Value.

And... the fifth: Soul Guard! Meaning each Water Magic Lord can only choose one in their lifetime, signing a Soul Contract with that one Deep Blue Guard!

Realizing this, Andrew finally understood the special bond, different from the connection with others, that he had felt with Ivan since teaming up to fight Humboldt—what it was.

That was the Soul Contract unconsciously signed between him and Ivan!

"The Earth Fire Mages of this Flame Realm often hire Desert Hunters as their private bodyguards and guards? Hmph, such calculation!" Andrew quirked a corner of his mouth, a faint cold smile, "Desert Hunters are actually our Water Mages' partners!

They sealed the former Deep Blue Guards into Desert Hunters, making it so that all Desert Hunters could never break through the ninth level, and then inversely let Desert Hunters act as their bodyguards! Truly disgusting!!"

Indeed, all of this is the doing of the Earth Fire Mages.

Andrew is now very sure of this: making the Water Mages disappear from the world while sealing the former Deep Blue Guards, weakening them into today's Desert Hunters, was the work of the Magic Guild's Earth Fire Mages!!

Because currently, flames are burning on Ivan.

It's a kind of extremely viscous "Flowing Flame" that can no longer even be called fire.

Like flowing lava.

This strangely deep red Flowing Flame emerged spontaneously from Ivan's body.

At this moment it has enveloped all of Ivan.

As Andrew's actual Soul Guard, Ivan knew the truth about Desert Hunters at the same time Andrew received the "Gate of Enlightenment".

Ivan now knows that he is actually a Deep Blue Guard, and Andrew's Soul Guard.

But merely "knowing the truth" triggered the seal and curse placed on Ivan and all Desert Hunters of this world.

The curse, normally, is activated when Desert Hunters attempt to break through above the ninth tier.

Its purpose is to kill any Desert Hunter attempting to break above the ninth tier.

Because once they break through, Desert Hunters naturally learn the truth about themselves.

Now, Ivan has prematurely learned the truth and thus prematurely triggered that curse.

The form of the curse's eruption is precisely the dark red, lava-like viscous Flowing Flame that now coils around Ivan's body.

This fire is the mark of the Magic Guild.

It is a unique flame only the most powerful Earth Fire Scholars can possess.

It was also the thing Humboldt pursued all his life—

The leader of the Eight Strange Fires, Molten Rock Fire.