Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

Chapter 106: Return to the Blackstone Mountains

To test the specific power of the Heart of Annihilation, Richard spent a hefty sum to acquire a test target, and the final results left him quite satisfied. The ultimate power of the Heart of Annihilation was 2000 energy units, about double that of the original Annihilation Realm.

Although the mana consumption increased by about two-thirds, the stability of the Heart of Annihilation was significantly higher than that of the Annihilation Realm, making it viable for regular use.

Moreover, a spell with 2000 energy units is exceedingly rare among first-circle wizards.

With this spell in his arsenal, Richard felt confident about surviving even if he were to participate in planar warfare now.

After concluding his tests, Richard returned to his wizard tower, where a wizard apprentice was waiting patiently at his door. Upon seeing Richard, the apprentice eagerly approached.

"Master, you're back."

Richard nodded at him. "Which number are you?"

"Number 45, Master."

Entering the wizard tower, Richard went to another lab on the second floor, retrieved a staff according to the sequence, and returned to the reception hall.

"Number Forty-Five."

The wizard apprentice bowed respectfully and handed Richard an old notebook from his magic pouch.

"Master, this is a ciphered notebook from our family's library."

Richard took the notebook, and the Miracle Furnace transmitted a message.

[Material: Unknown Wizard's Notebook]

[Extractable Material: Thirteen Extensions of the Mana Defense Magic Array]

[Extraction Cost: 5 Mental Strength]

"Good, you're an honest person." Richard flipped through the notebook and waved the apprentice off. "You may go. If you can bring more business, I'll give you a ten percent commission."

"No problem, Master."

After extracting information from the notebook, Richard went to the basement of the wizard tower.

This was where Richard stored alchemical materials and ciphered magic books.

In the library, Richard placed the notebook on the shelf in order.

Over the decades, Richard had accumulated enough ciphered notebooks to nearly fill an entire bookshelf. While most were useless, some provided unexpected gains.

Looking at the fully stocked shelves, Richard scratched his head.

"There's quite a lot now. I should clean out some of the useless ones."

While sorting through the junk, Richard accidentally found a familiar notebook.

"This notebook..."

Staring at the tattered notebook in his hands, Richard recalled memories from over seventy years ago, when he first arrived at the academy.

Back then, to complete Jolord's test, he and Ellie ventured into the Blackstone Mountains to hunt the Blackstripe Python and unexpectedly acquired a deceased apprentice's notebook.

"Speaking of which, I haven't explored that wizard laboratory in the Blackstone Mountains yet." Richard caressed the notebook, smiling.

As an apprentice, he feared the lab's various guards and didn't dare venture there. Now, as a wizard with the powerful Heart of Annihilation spell, he had no reason not to explore.

Without hesitation, after organizing the bookshelf, Richard arranged the completed magical gear in order and handed them to his two beast-eared girls.

"I'm going out for a while. If any apprentices come by, give them their items according to their numbers."

"Yes, Master." (×2)

In addition to the magical gear, Richard also stuffed Ulysses into his magic pouch.

Since the residential layer of the Tower of Truth is a secret realm space, it lacks the wizard world's guardians, and ordinary wizards manage daily security, allowing Richard to trust Ulysses to roam freely.

However, the wizard world at large was different.

World guardians patrolled the wizard world and were highly sensitive to otherworldly beings. If they detected something amiss with Ulysses, Richard would be in big trouble.

Exiting the Tower of Truth via the portal, the wizard world's sparse mana invigorated Richard.

In the residential layer, Richard could offset his flight's mana cost solely through his cells' automatic mana absorption, but this method was ineffective upon entering the wizard world.

"No wonder so many wizards choose to live in the Tower of Truth. The wizard world's mana is quite unfriendly to wizards," Richard mused aloud.

Flying from the Tower of Truth to the Blackstone Mountains took about a month at a wizard's speed, aided by the fact that most of the journey didn't cross uninhabited zones, making it quite safe.

If he encountered an uninhabited zone, even a wizard would have to detour.

During his flight, Richard encountered several airships. Passengers inside would crowd the windows, eager to catch a glimpse of a wizard.

To most people in the wizard world, wizards were mysterious and powerful figures.

A month later, Richard arrived at the Blackstone Mountains. Upon reaching the airspace above, prepared to explore the ruins, a beastly roar echoed from the depths of the mountains.

"Roar!"

A gigantic beast flapped its wings, emerging from the mountain's depths. The beast had three snake-like necks, each ending in a fierce, majestic dragon head, all fixated on Richard.

It was the guardian of the Blackstone Mountains that Richard had encountered years ago.

"Which little wizard dares trespass in the Blackstone Mountains? This is Black Tower Wizard Academy's territory!"

The three-headed dragon spoke in fluent wizard language, surprising Richard.

In the age of ignorance, wizards weren't the dominators of the land. Back then, dragons ruled the earth and sky, demanding tribute from all land and sky creatures.

Dragons forged their nests from gold, and every mountain peak glistened in the wizard world.

Now, these once-terrifying dragons spoke wizard language, serving as guards for wizards.

"Master, I am Richard, a wizard of Black Tower Wizard Academy."

Facing the dragon, Richard treated it with respect, unlike how he would treat an otherworldly slave.

This dragon had three heads, equivalent to a third-circle wizard. Respect was essential when dealing with such a powerful being, especially one allied with his own faction.

"Wizard Richard? Didn't your mentor inform you? Wizards wishing to enter Academy territory must first report to the Academy."

The dragon's words made Richard feel a bit sheepish. Jolord had informed him of this rule decades ago, but he had forgotten, having no immediate plans to return to the Academy then.

"That's my oversight. I'll report to the Academy immediately."

"Very well. Be cautious while exploring the mountains, and don't start a forest fire like seventy years ago."

Richard was taken aback, "You... remember me?"

The dragon snorted, "I remember the scent of every little troublemaker who caused a ruckus in the Blackstone Mountains."

...

Returning to the Academy, Richard headed straight to the hundredth floor of the Central Black Tower to report to Vice Dean Alex.

Knock knock knock.

"Enter."

Wearing glasses, Alex looked up at the visitor, surprised.

"Richard, why are you back? Didn't you just ascend to wizardry not long ago?"

He remembered his old friend's prized pupil, Richard, who had stirred up more than a few incidents.

"I have some matters to handle at the Academy, and I'm here to report them to you," Richard replied respectfully.

"Handling matters? Alright, I've noted it."

Leaving the hundredth floor, Richard visited his teacher Jolord en route.

After taking in three promising disciples, Jolord's streak of good fortune ended, and for decades, he hadn't found another disciple to his liking.

After exchanging pleasantries with Jolord, Richard left the Central Black Tower and went to the commercial district.

Anna's Small Shop had since been renamed Richard's Potion Store, specializing in focus potions.

The shopkeeper was none other than Richard's agent, Kevin.

Kevin had survived the apprentice war. After becoming a senior wizard apprentice, he chose to graduate directly instead of taking the wizard exam, working for the Academy and managing Richard's store.

Now over eighty, Kevin's wrinkles and white hair had started to show. For a wizard apprentice, he had lived about half his life.

"Kevin, long time no see."

Entering the shop, Richard greeted Kevin warmly.

Kevin was momentarily stunned upon seeing Richard, then bowed with a wizard's salute.

"Master Richard."

Richard waved it off, indicating it was unnecessary. He pointed to the boy beside Kevin.

"Your son? Or grandson?"

Kevin patted the boy's head. "This is my grandson. Tof, greet Master Richard."

The boy nervously performed a wizard's salute to Richard.

"A fine young lad," Richard complimented with a smile, handing him a ring.

"A little trinket for practice. It can block magic missiles if you charge it with magic stones."

Tof took the ring and bowed to Richard. "Thank you, Master."

After some small talk, they got down to business.

"Since becoming a wizard, my sense of time has dulled," Richard said, pulling a contract from his pocket and handing it to Kevin. "Maybe next time I visit, you won't be here anymore.

This is a contract. When you feel your time is near, find a successor."

Kevin glanced at the contract before pocketing it, replying respectfully, "I understand."

...

Leaving the Academy, Richard headed straight for the Blackstone Mountains.

With his report filed, the three-headed dragon didn't obstruct him this time.

However, Richard overestimated his tracking abilities. After a century of changes, the landslide from back then had long been hidden by lush vegetation. Despite searching for half a day in the Blackstone Mountains, he couldn't find the alleged ruins.

"Can't believe I'm a wizard now and still need a guide," Richard muttered, slightly frustrated.

Upon reaching Blackstone City, he found that the small city hadn't changed much over the decades.

Richard hired an old guide for one magic stone to lead him to the old ruins.

"Sir, not to brag, but in all of Blackstone City, no one knows these mountains like the John family," said the elderly guide as he led the way, boasting about his lineage.

"My family has been guiding these mountains since my grandfather's time. There's no place in the Blackstone Mountains I don't know."

"Yeah, I met your grandfather," Richard replied casually.

"Yeah... what?" The old man stopped abruptly, his face showing a mix of shock and fear. "You met my grandfather?"

Richard calmly said, "About seventy years ago, your grandfather, Old John, guided me into the mountains. He was quite skilled, even helped me track down a scoundrel."

The old man was dumbfounded. The young-looking wizard before him didn't seem to be lying, yet if he had indeed met his grandfather seventy years ago, he must be at least eighty.

Gulping,

The old man swallowed hard. "You're a wizard? A true wizard?"

"Yes."

Richard nodded, then turned his gaze to a nearby hillside where the vegetation was sparse.

"You can head back now. We've arrived."

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