The badge was quite small, with a bronze-colored base on the back.
And when Lei Lin saw the emblem on the front, his pupils contracted sharply.
It was a black serpent composed of countless runes, biting its own tail to form a peculiar circular sigil!
"This mark! I've seen it in Dylan's Garden!!!"
Lei Lin would never forget this — in fact, the impression it left on him was extremely vivid.
Back in Dylan's Garden, among the inheritance of Grand Warlock Crimson, there had been a massive oil painting of this black ouroboros. And it was behind that painting that Lei Lin had obtained the inheritance of the Comorin Eye!
In a sense, that had been the very beginning of his path as a Warlock!
"A Warlock! Bloodline resonance! And this mark!" Lei Lin weighed the badge in his hand. "It seems the Gold Coin of Destiny's guidance points to him!"
"What? Do you know him, Leino?" Old Fawen asked.
"I don't know him, but we have to save him!" Lei Lin's voice was soft, yet carried an unmistakable certainty.
"Sorry, but if you insist on this, then we'll have to go our separate ways. I don't want to attract any trouble!"
As a Wizard, instinct made Fawen refuse immediately.
A first-rank Wizard who looked like this usually carried trouble with him, and Fawen had no desire to get involved.
Besides, he and Lei Lin were merely traveling companions who happened to get along — their friendship hadn't reached the point where they could share risks together.
"Of course, you can go ahead!" Lei Lin replied. He wasn't the least bit surprised by Fawen's choice.
If Fawen had stopped with a hot-blooded expression to stand by his side, he wouldn't have lived to this age.
"Sorry!" Fawen wore an apologetic look as he prepared to drive the carriage away.
"Halt!"
Just then, a sudden voice rang out, accompanied by a tremendous roar.
Five or six blinding beams of light shot from the horizon, and when they faded, six distinct Wizard figures were revealed.
These were clearly non-humans — there were both Dark Elves and Dwarves among them, which caught Lei Lin somewhat by surprise.
Rumble!
Amid a cloud of dust rising from the ground, an elite Deep Cavern Frost Spider squad and a legion of Dwarven warriors had also arrived.
"Human Wizards?"
The lead Dwarf and Dark Elf furrowed their brows slightly upon seeing Lei Lin and Fawen.
In the current state of the Dark Extremity, human clans held the dominant position. As a result, even in the outer regions, human Wizards commanded a measure of deference. Of course, out in the wilderness, the age-old game of killing for treasure was never far off.
Such things could be done, but only if no traces were left behind — otherwise, it would become a pretext for the human armies to march.
And with two Wizards together, it would be extremely difficult to kill them both on the spot while ensuring neither could send out any kind of signal.
"These are the despicable thieves who stole the Sacred Relic jointly guarded by our two races! Wizards, don't bring ruin upon yourselves!"
The Dark Elf and the Dwarf Wizard issued their warning in unison.
"A Sacred Relic? What is it?" Lei Lin swept the unconscious middle-aged Warlock with his Spiritual Power out of curiosity, then discovered a green vine ball tucked inside the man's robes.
A rich, potent life force emanated from the vine ball, spreading outward in waves.
"So it's this thing!" A look of understanding flashed across Lei Lin's eyes.
This vine ball was, in its true name, a Life Vine Fruit — packed with massive quantities of concentrated life-force essence. For races like the Dark Elves, who cultivated the advanced Meditation Method known as Life Siphon, it was an irreplaceable treasure.
And anything capable of replenishing life force in large amounts, healing grave injuries or even saving a life, would naturally be prized by the Dwarves, who were born warriors and craftsmen alike. That was precisely why the two races guarded it together.
The reason Lei Lin knew all this so clearly was that this fruit had always been the primary tribute product of the Dark Elves and Dwarves each year — and Lei Lin alone had claimed the entirety of that quota.
It was also his doing that had caused the severe shortage of Life Vine Fruits, to the point where even the theft of a single fruit would trigger enormous trouble and a relentless pursuit.
"You may both be human Wizards, but this Sacred Relic must be tributed every year to Lord Lei Lin, Warden of the Realm!"
Seeing that Lei Lin appeared entirely unmoved, one of the Dark Elves spoke up again, a veiled threat in his tone.
"Wizard Reno, you've really gotten me into a fine mess!" Fawen said with a bitter smile.
The title Warden of the Realm — Fawen had certainly heard it thundered across every corner. And the man behind that title was, in truth, the ruler of the entire Dark Extremity!
Even though he himself was a roaming Wizard, he still had a web of teachers and apprentices to look after. He could never truly sever those ties.
Facing this legendary Third-rank Wizard, Fawen clearly harbored thoughts of shedding the trouble: "Reno... we should maybe..."
"Pfft..."
Lei Lin finally couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
His grin only grew wider and wider until he was doubled over, clutching his stomach without end.
"Human Wizard, what are you laughing at?" The Dark Elf and the Dwarf leader exchanged a glance, both struck by a growing sense of unease.
At the same time, they noticed that the handsome young man before them bore a face that felt strikingly, hauntingly familiar.
"This is the first time I've ever seen someone try to threaten me with my own name!"