"...It's said that this area used to be a gathering place for goblins, and over a hundred years ago, people occasionally spotted traces of goblins on this plain."
"There have always been rumors that goblin treasures are buried beneath the Goblin Plains."
"Do you see those grassy pits and trenches? They were all dug out by magic."
Listening to Clemens' explanation, Ronan casually asked, "Has anyone ever found the treasure?"
"Of course not," Clemens shook his head. "Otherwise, this plain would have been thoroughly overturned long ago, and it wouldn't just be these few pits."
Regarding the "goblins" Clemens mentioned, Ronan had read about them in an ancient wizarding book.
Goblins are a fascinating species. They are short, ugly, with most appearing weak, dull, and crude. They embody nearly all human flaws and are no different from magical beasts, with relatively inferior bloodlines.
However, the race occasionally produces "purebreds."
These "purebred" goblins are the polar opposite of the ordinary ones. They are intelligent, agile, eloquent, and naturally gifted in magic, including the most difficult spatial and even temporal spells.
But these "purebreds" share the same flaws as ordinary goblins: greedy and vile personalities, evil, cunning, and deceitful.
They possess an insatiable, incomprehensible desire for all treasures of the world, often using their magic for theft, plunder, and robbery.
Therefore, the legend of "goblin treasure" has persisted on this continent.
Nearly everyone knows that behind a "purebred" goblin often lies an unimaginable treasure, yet few find and claim it.
Like the departed Mirror Court, many wondrous ancient species left their original places as the continent fractured and energy particles sank, perhaps moving to the lower continents or vanishing into the river of time—no one knows.
Ronan and Clemens leaned over the ship's bow, chatting idly.
Most of the time, Clemens spoke while Ronan listened.
Ronan suspected that Clemens had received instructions from Ring Master Kirstie to accompany him to the Goblin Plains, primarily to provide "pre-battle psychological counseling" and ease any anxiety.
"What about Derby?"
After a while, Ronan asked about Wizard Derby, and Clemens shook his head, indicating he might be meditating.
Alright.
After several encounters, Ronan noticed that geniuses like Clemens and Derby from the Ring were quite diligent behind the scenes.
Although Clemens appeared to be chatting leisurely with Ronan now, he usually seized every spare moment to meditate and improve himself.
Before this, the three of them spent almost half a day on the airship without a word exchanged, each busy with their own tasks.
Sometimes, the "geniuses" who seem infinitely glorious to outsiders work harder than most because they stand higher, having seen those with even greater talent and brilliance.
As Ronan contemplated, he suddenly heard Clemens speak in a low voice.
"Damien?!"
Ronan was startled, looking up to see Clemens squinting at something in the distance.
Following Clemens' gaze, Ronan saw a small patch of fiery red maple trees on the plain, with some unusual black presence among them.
His eyesight far surpassed an average wizard's, allowing him to discern what seemed to be a bizarre pattern.
Clemens suggested, "Shall we take a look?"
Ronan didn't refuse.
Clemens left a message for the meditating Derby via communication stone, then piloted the airship towards the distant maple grove.
The airship descended swiftly, approaching the maple grove.
Up close, they saw the blackness among the trees was some unknown substance of decayed flesh mixed with mucus, seemingly processed by magic.
The black decayed flesh and mucus formed an overlapping three-ring pattern on the ground.
The upper three rings were intact, while the lower three were broken and scattered.
The entire pattern was slowly seeping into the ground, emitting faint energy waves. Standing on the airship, overlooking the eerie pattern against the blood-red maple leaves, Ronan inexplicably felt a sense of eerie foreboding.
Turning to Clemens, who also turned to face him, their silent exchange revealed mutual confusion and unease.
Clemens gave Ronan a look, then halted the airship and began moving toward the maple grove.
At that moment, a voice called out from behind them.
"Don't go over there."
Turning, Ronan saw Derby, who had previously been meditating, emerging briskly from the airship.
"This seems to be the mark of the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society..."
Derby, looking grave and tense, warned Clemens, constantly scanning the surroundings.
"The Ancient Witch Resurrection Society?"
Ronan frowned.
"The notorious world-ending organization?"
Clemens seemed to connect the dots from Derby's words, speaking quickly.
"Yes," Derby nodded. "The Ancient Witch Resurrection Society, also known as the Ancient Witch Salvation Society, or, as outsiders call them, the World-Ending Society."
Ronan was momentarily taken aback, then understood from Derby's explanation what the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society was.
It was a terrorist organization within the wizarding world, with each member a hundred times more evil than the typical black-robed wizard.
They were fanatical and deranged, firmly believing the world's current ruin was due to its corruption.
They longed to return to the prosperous, brilliant era of wizardry civilization, willing to do anything to cleanse and destroy the world, ushering in their so-called "deities" to rebuild a new continent and establish a new order.
"I read about the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society in an ancient book; this pattern resembles their symbol..."
Derby's eyes were fixed on the strange pattern about to disappear in the maple grove, speaking in a low voice, "Of course, I'm not entirely sure. Information on the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society is always forbidden, and I know very little."
The three stood on the airship, lost in thought and silence.
Ronan's mind raced, instinctively reaching to touch the "World Stone coordinate" on his right hand.
He remembered Kirstie warning him that the coordinates he bore might connect to a world filled with calamity.
She had urged him not to reveal it, lest he attract attention from some lunatic with ambition.
"A shattered World Stone just appeared in the Ancient Mirror Court, and now there's a suspected trace of the World-Ending Society at the site of the genius competition hosted by the six wizarding forces."
"Is it a coincidence?"
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed from the sky above.
Ronan and the others instinctively looked up, witnessing a brilliant spherical lightning composed of countless bright purple bolts speeding across the sky.
Within the lightning, a tall, upright figure could be vaguely seen.
As the lightning passed overhead, the figure glanced in their direction.
In that instant, it felt like countless dazzling bolts flashed before Ronan's eyes, his mental power crystals trembling slightly as he squinted.
A third-level wizard.
And evidently a formidable one, likely above mid-third level.
"It's Jupiter."
Clemens' voice, low and slightly pained, reached Ronan's ears.
Ronan's gaze flickered.
Coincidentally, he knew the name.
It was on the first page, the first name of the genius dossier Clemens had given him just the day before—Jupiter Bacal.
"The top genius of the Thunder Council, the youngest vice-chairman in Thunder Council's history, the only known third-level mid-stage wizard among the six forces. Also, he once defeated Orion head-on."
Clemens recited the dossier's contents, but hearing it from him carried an inexplicable weight.
Each title, alone, would be enough to make a wizard famous across the six forces. Combined in one person, it made him immensely radiant.
"Since Jupiter's rise to fame, he's been like a mountain, pressing down on everyone beneath him. It's said Orion considers him his greatest rival."
Clemens spoke slowly, then glanced at Ronan.
Ronan remained calm, silent.
"Let's go."
Derby suggested in a low tone, and the three quietly boarded the airship, continuing their journey.
Jupiter's appearance had momentarily overshadowed their speculations and concerns about the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society. Indeed, compared to a clear, powerful adversary, an ambiguous pattern leading to confusion seemed insignificant.
Soon, the airship disappeared into the sky.
Unbeknownst to Ronan and his companions, after their departure, several figures, concealed in large black robes, silently "grew" from the earth within the fiery maple grove.
The leader, speaking in a sharp, peculiar, yet aggressive tone, said:
"This is the first and last time. If you make such a decision on your own again..."
The leader turned slowly to someone beside them, speaking coldly, "You know what the result will be. Laura."
The latter remained silent.
After a moment, she suddenly tore off her black hood, revealing a twisted, fierce woman's face marked with strange black patterns and hair like green seaweed.
The woman gazed toward the direction Ronan and his companions had departed, her emerald eyes filled with madness and hatred, muttering through clenched teeth, "Just a little more... Damn Thunder Council guy, passing by at the worst time."
She continued to curse, and soon the black-robed figures, the ground's strange pattern, and the entire fiery maple grove vanished without a trace.
"If I fully transform into a giant demon, with the ancient Frost Hydra bloodline activated, plus the power of the [Ancient Power] rune... could I contend with Jupiter?"
Throughout the journey, Ronan pondered this question internally.
The answer wasn't clear.
Without an actual confrontation, no one could know the outcome.
The disparity in raw power was too vast—mid-second level versus mid-third level—a full major rank apart, with too many unknown variables to predict.
If others knew Ronan's thoughts, they might think him insane.
Unnoticed, the three finally reached the competition venue.
Actually, after entering the Goblin Plains, it wasn't far; they merely delayed slightly along the way.
The competition venue was located at the very center of the Goblin Plains, and by the time they arrived, many wizards from the six forces had already gathered.
Seven "suns" hung above the venue.
One was the true sun in the sky, yet its light was the dimmest.
The remaining six belonged to the fourth-level dawn wizards of the six forces.
Each "sun" emitted different colored light and auras. Ronan had experienced firsthand how a fourth-level wizard's mental power had further transformed, containing elemental spirits, and their mental power waves were fully elemental.
Under the six different colored great suns, some wizards were setting up the competition venue, using earth, fire, and plant magic to build massive and sturdy stages.
"I'll report the Resurrection Society matter to the Ring Master."
Once they disembarked, Clemens hurriedly left after a brief remark.
Ronan effortlessly spotted Jupiter of the Thunder Council, whom they had seen en route.
He was easy to identify.
Jupiter seemed to carry layers of halos, and aside from the six dawn-level wizards in the sky, he was the most "dazzling and radiant."
Jupiter sat on a large silver-white throne, appearing very young.
His features were handsome, distinct, and his fair skin gleamed faintly in the sunlight, as if complementing the surrounding electric light.
His hair was slightly tousled, possessing a peculiar dynamic, with deep blue strands interwoven with silver, seemingly in constant motion.
His robe was the color of the midnight sky, unknown in material, embroidered with intricate lightning patterns that occasionally emitted a soft glow.
Jupiter sat in a position overlooking the entire venue, hands resting lightly on the chair's silver armrests, exuding a natural air of nobility and majesty. No one dared meet his gaze for long, as his eyes always sparkled with thunderous brilliance, instilling awe and unease.
Jupiter was "surveying" everyone in the venue.
Like a king surveying his subjects.
This overt condescension made Ronan uncomfortable.
"Strong, undeniably."
Ronan avoided Jupiter's gaze, thinking, "But a bit too ostentatious."
He casually surveyed the venue, wondering if he could spot Anglair.
Unexpectedly, he hadn't yet found Anglair but instead noticed a familiar figure in the venue's center, someone he never expected to see.
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