"Where's
As Leilin completed the verification process as well, the metal pillar automatically retracted underground. Xishan asked casually, as if the thought had just occurred to him.
"He's been seriously afflicted by a troublesome curse…"
At the mention of this, Reisman's expression darkened once more.
"It was a corroding dagger steeped in Abyssal Spider venom — I've never seen such a vicious combination… Although he's regained consciousness, the poison and the curse will slowly corrode his flesh, body, and mind, draining all his nutrients until he eventually becomes a desiccated corpse…"
"In a situation like this, I'd recommend he return to Four Seasons Headquarters immediately. The high-energy purification pool and the Elder Council there might be able to do something. But unfortunately…"
Reisman spread his hands helplessly.
"Ever since he learned of his teacher's death, Wade has insisted on staying here, refusing to leave until the investigation concludes!"
Hearing this, Leilin and Xishan exchanged a glance, both detecting a trace of trouble in the other's eyes.
If Wade had simply died, or been sent back to the Academy seriously wounded, that would have been the most favorable outcome for them. But now, a third person was being added to what had originally been a duo — an immediate liability.
"Find a chance! Kill him!"
In Xishan's eyes, Leilin caught a dangerous glint.
After that, Reisman chatted a bit more with Xishan and Leilin, mostly about the Lightning Legion's future garrison and living arrangements in the area.
Leilin had never paid much attention to this sort of thing, so he kept his mouth shut, quietly watching Xishan and Reisman talk.
Once everything was settled, Xishan used the pretext of treating Leilin's injuries to bring him along to his room.
*Poof!* A luminous barrier resembling a spider's web rose from within the room. The light covered every blind spot.
"Good! This is an early-warning mechanism I set up. With it active, even a Second-rank
"Using Eight-claw Spider silk — the material most sensitive to Spiritual Power — as an early-warning system. An interesting concept…"
Leilin studied the shimmering barriers, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes, and then sat down beside Xishan.
"You're remarkably well-read! That material is extremely rare. Even the scholars at the City of Evernight Academy can barely identify it. You could sit for the title of Scholar-Expert there…"
Xishan sighed in admiration. This magical array had actually been designed by his father, yet Leilin had recognized it at a glance — a fact that greatly astonished him.
"You don't seem too worried about Reisman. He made it clear today that he'll be holding the line here until the
Leilin asked his former superior without any deference.
His relationship with Xishan was a peculiar one indeed. By now, he could guess that the person who had leaked his identity as the Master of Thousand Leaves, and who had transferred him from the City of Evernight to this place, was none other than Xishan. The purpose was probably to gain an extra helper — or rather, cannon fodder — inside the Four Seasons Garden.
Having seen through the scheme, Leilin had not hesitated to turn the tables, even gravely wounding Xishan to the brink of death. However, under the heavy suppression of the Dark Wizard overlords, Leilin still did not dare go too far. After all, antagonizing a Second-rank Wizard over a mere enemy was a profoundly unwise move.
"Don't worry about Reisman…" Xishan waved his hand dismissively. "Second-rank Wizards are always burdened with important duties. They have to hold down their territories and can't leave lightly. I know Reisman's posting — it's the Lightning Zone at the second entrance to the Ganges Secret Realm. As long as our Dark Wizards put pressure on that location, Reisman will inevitably be called back! After all, that's the region his Academy is responsible for. To put it bluntly, even if our base here falls, it won't affect their Academy much. But if the second entrance they're in charge of falls, that would cripple them…"
Xishan's analysis was thorough and demonstrated exceptional control and strategic vision.
"To attack the second entrance and create enough pressure, you'd need at least a Second-rank Dark Wizard's involvement. Having connections really does make a difference…" Leilin was somewhat speechless. He could have come up with a plan like this too, if only he had Xishan's powerful backing and connections — Dark Wizards he could调动 at will.
"I'll handle the Reisman situation. You just need to keep an eye on one person!"
Xishan turned his gaze toward Leilin, the vertical eye in the center of his forehead blinking open and shut.
"Wade?" Leilin stroked his chin.
Wade had been the first Four Seasons Garden Wizard he'd ever met. Even back then, Leilin had passed his examination under Wade's supervision.
"Exactly! Reisman is ultimately an outsider and can't do certain things, but Wade is different. He's an emissary from Headquarters — high-ranking and influential. Plus, he had a teacher-student relationship with Leonor, making it easy for him to inherit Leonor's network and resources. He will be a major obstacle to our plans!"
Xishan's tone was extremely grave — almost fearful.
"You don't want this plan to fail in the end, do you? After all, you signed the contract. If things fall through, your soul will self-ignite, and not a single scrap will remain…"
The vertical eye in Xishan's forehead seemed to emit an abyssal black glow, shooting straight toward Leilin.
"Relax. I'll make him shut up!"
Leilin was silent for a moment, then spoke calmly.
"Good! I've already contacted the Four Seasons Garden's external headquarters. The Elder Council is truly panicking this time — the entire Four Seasons Team is being mobilized, and a Second-rank Wizard will accompany them!"
Xishan revealed another piece of intelligence. "Five days! We have at most five days!"
What he and Leilin needed to do was use this window to completely push out Reisman and Wade, then hand over all defenses and the secret realm's core to the Dark Wizards.
Once that was accomplished, the entire secret realm entrance would fall under Dark Wizard control.
"Five days is more than enough!" Leilin stood and left. As he stepped through the doorway, he turned back and flashed a smile at Xishan. "Oh, and one more thing — remember, I don't like the look in your third eye. It's extremely disgusting!"
*Slam!* The door shut forcefully, and Xishan's expression turned utterly dark.
"Damnit!!!" He swept his arm across the table, sending the teacup, documents, and everything else crashing to the floor with a sharp clatter.
"If my 'Triple Spirit Unity' hadn't yet reached completion, and if I didn't need him to assist the plan, I would have killed him! I swear it!!"
The muscles on Xishan's face twisted subtly.
For him, being directly defeated by Leilin — someone he had once looked down upon — was an absolute humiliation. And now, because he himself was no match for Leilin, he had to yield in certain matters, which felt like having his wound torn open and exposed under a blazing sun.
What infuriated him even more was that Leilin had outright killed the young boy and severely wounded the giant. These two Wizards had been his split spiritual bodies for the Triple Spirit Unity. Though their personalities differed, they were still part of him. Together with his own body, Leilin had killed him once and gravely wounded him twice! Such enmity could never be restrained by a mere contract!
Xishan had hidden his true feelings well before, but Leilin had still seen through him.
"It's a pity… but so what if you saw through me? I admit it — you're a genius! One of those once-in-a-generation, pinnacle Wizard talents! But so what? You're already bound by the contract, and you no longer have time to grow! Once the plan succeeds and you've served your purpose, I will rip your soul out and torture it for two hundred years! I swear!!"
Xishan laughed in a low, raspy voice, like the final whispers of a dying man.
…
Xishan moved quickly. By the very next day, Leilin heard that the Dark Wizards at the second secret realm entrance had been unusually active. To ensure security, Reisman hurriedly led the Lightning Legion back to reinforce the position.
While there were certainly clever people among the Wizards who could see this was a ploy to lure the tiger from the mountain, Reisman left all the same.
For the higher-ups in Reisman's organization, even if the Four Seasons Garden's secret realm entrance was ultimately preserved, the Four Seasons Garden would take the lion's share — getting an extra ten or twenty percent at best would be the ceiling.
But the second entrance was different. That was their own resource. Properly managed, it would yield profits as vast as mountains and oceans!!!
Therefore, even if there was only the slightest possibility, Reisman was unwilling to take the risk.
As for his good friend Leonor? Sorry! Wizards were a pragmatic lot. A friendship belonging to the dead was no longer a friendship, and without equal standing in power, it certainly could not be inherited.
After weighing both sides, Reisman still made the decision to turn back.
After all, most Wizards were selfish people! When their own interests were at stake, even Second-rank Wizards could not sit still.
"Still, Reisman will at least go through the motions on the surface…"
Leilin strolled casually around the area. Passing Wizards greeted him respectfully.
In terms of both strength and status, Leilin was now one of the foremost figures in this secret realm headquarters. The remaining Four Seasons Garden Wizards had no choice but to bow their heads.
Interestingly enough, the departments Leilin had previously extorted — most of whose leaders had died in battle — now had their surviving members actively delivering even more resources and materials to Leilin as bribes, eager to shirk responsibility.
Before, Leilin had to take things by force. Now, they came to his door of their own accord, afraid he might refuse to accept. The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth.
Naturally, Leilin accepted everything without a shred of politeness, offering vague promises whenever asked about anything.
After all, his remaining time here was being counted in days. When the moment came, he would simply flee — and these Wizards would be left grasping at nothing.