"All right, now let's talk about your assignment…"
Leonor addressed Leilin.
"According to
"Nothing would please me more!" Leilin replied with a smile.
Since there was a Potion Group, there had to be other divisions too—Alchemy Groups, Combat Groups, and the like. Leilin had only come here to collect a salary and secure a supply of resources. There was no way he was going to risk his life in some fighting division.
Being assigned to the Potion Group meant the requirements would naturally relate to potions, which happened to be right in his wheelhouse.
It seemed the strength and talent he had deliberately showcased earlier had done their part.
"All right! Wade, take Leilin to Teigate in the Potion Group, then come back. Regarding the Moonlight Flower Flame incident from last time, I think there's a better way to handle it…"
"Yes, Master!" Wade bowed and led Leilin out.
"So? My mentor is a great person, isn't he?"
Wade asked with a touch of pride and showmanship, more relaxed now that he was with Leilin, who was already a companion.
"A wise and benevolent elder!" At a time like this, Leilin naturally wouldn't disagree.
"Ha ha… everyone says that. Come on, I'll take you to the Potion Group. Teigate over there is a bit of an old stick-in-the-mud, but he's genuinely dedicated when it comes to mentoring young wizards with real talent…"
Wade chatted away, dropping all sorts of information.
As they turned a corner, a wizard in black robes emerged from the opposite direction.
This wizard was constantly wreathed in a bone-chilling killing intent. There was also the faint, spectral wailing of tormented souls, which Leilin's keen senses picked up immediately.
Most striking of all, in the center of the wizard's forehead grew a third vertical eye!
The eye was open, its pupil pitch-black and utterly devoid of emotion, enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
"Wade, it seems this new wizard doesn't know much about manners…"
The three-eyed wizard said coldly, and a wave of icy spiritual power surged directly toward Leilin.
"Hm?!"
Leilin was startled. He immediately mobilized his own spiritual power to defend.
Pop! A faint explosion of air crackled through the space between them.
In the instant their spiritual powers clashed, Leilin sensed that the other's spiritual energy carried an overwhelming scent of blood—so thick and pungent it was almost suffocating.
Moreover, the degree of the other's spiritual elementalization far exceeded that of a half-elementalized wizard. Leilin's spiritual power crumbled under the assault in a single blow.
Leilin staggered back two steps as though struck in the chest by a sledgehammer, his face turning pale.
The three-eyed wizard opposite him studied Leilin with a hint of surprise: "Not bad spiritual power, but still far from enough…"
Then he didn't spare Leilin another glance and strode past.
It looked as though he had come specifically to make a show of force.
"Are you all right?" Wade asked with concern, looking at Leilin.
"I'm fine—just a bit of a spiritual backlash. A few days' rest and I'll be good." Leilin stared in the direction the three-eyed wizard had gone. "Who was that?"
"That was Lord Xishan. He's a wizard trained right here in the
Wade glanced at Leilin, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Lord Xishan believes outside wizards only undermine the unity of the Four Seasons Garden. He's the main opponent of recruiting new wizards…"
As if worried Leilin might be troubled, he added quickly: "Of course, my mentor Lord Leonor doesn't share his view, and my mentor is one of the organization's leaders. The upper echelons of the Four Seasons Garden are still generally supportive of bringing in new wizards…"
"Head of the Hunting Group…"
Leilin fixed his gaze on the direction where
"Chip, estimate his strength!"
"Based on the energy fluctuations emitted by the target, estimated strength: peak First-level Wizard, spiritual power elementalization exceeding 80%…"
"That level is very similar to the elder from the Lilisite Family I encountered before. It seems I still wouldn't stand much of a chance against either of them…"
Complex thoughts churned in Leilin's mind.
"Come on, let me take you to the Potion Group…"
Wade hurriedly changed the subject, and Leilin followed behind him with a noncommittal expression.
Along the way, Wade did his best to steer the conversation toward other topics, hoping to help Leilin forget the unpleasant encounter. Though they both knew it was unlikely, Leilin still cooperated, wearing an attentive look.
"Once you become a member of our organization, you'll receive a house here for permanent residence, free of charge. But life here is very monotonous—nothing but experiments. So many full wizards keep properties in the Sleepless City and like to go there for a vacation now and then…"
Wade dutifully introduced the details. Then they crossed several branching corridors and a stone bridge spanning a chasm in midair before arriving at a botanical garden.
The floor was made of metal, and the surroundings were all pristine, immaculate white—it gave Leilin the odd sensation of having returned to a laboratory from his previous life.
Along both sides of the path stood transparent glass panels.
Inside the cultivation vessels behind the glass, all manner of strange and exotic plants grew.
Walking Grass, Giant-Eating Flower, Human-Face Vine… With a casual sweep of his gaze, Leilin spotted several exceedingly rare plant species—some even served as key ingredients for spiritual power potions, apprentice-level ones, of course.
Any newly promoted First-level Wizard would have been stunned by these, but Leilin had previously seen the Dylan's Garden personally cultivated by the Crimson Grand Wizard, so he was already immune.
Still, he put on a suitably impressed expression.
"We're here! This is the Potion Group's headquarters!"
Wade led Leilin through the garden and stopped before two massive stone monster statues.
"Password!" the statues spoke.
"Tell Teigate I'm delivering someone to him! And stop pulling this kind of joke! If you do it again, I'll recommend to my Master that all the entrance security systems be replaced! You know I have the authority!"
Wade shouted at the statues.
Apparently realizing Wade wasn't joking, the enormous stone monsters chuckled a few times and cleared the way.
"These two golems had some kind of malfunction when they were made. The creator accidentally stuffed a few poltergeist spirits into them. Just ignore them from now on," Wade explained after leading Leilin through.
"Poltergeist?" Leilin paused, then recalled an entry from an bestiary.
"The kind that look like goblins and take pleasure in pranking people? That's… rather pitiable!"
"Honestly, I feel a bit sorry for myself too!"
As Leilin spoke, the stone door at the end of the passage swung open, revealing a vast hall-like building.
High above, enormous golden candelabras hung suspended from the ceiling, adorned with massive candles that bathed the entire hall in bright light.
Inside, several very long birch-wood tables stretched across the room, laden with all kinds of delicacies. Only a handful of wizards were seated at them, spaced far apart. Only those who seemed to be on very intimate terms spoke quietly among themselves.
The voice had come from a middle-aged wizard at the head table.
"Come, let me introduce you. This is Lord Teigate, head of the Potion Group and a peak wizard on the verge of a breakthrough!"
Wade smiled and bowed respectfully to Teigate before turning to Leilin.
"Lord Teigate!"
Leilin hurriedly bowed.
"I know all about you. I even pulled up the footage of your potion brewing. Truly impressive craftsmanship! From now on, we'll be colleagues! Everyone, raise a glass to our new comrade!"
Teigate snapped his fingers. Two golden goblets brimming with mead flew over to Leilin and Wade.
"Cheers!" The assembled wizards raised their glasses in unison.
"Thank you!" Leilin took the goblet. The mead had a low alcohol content, tasting much like a sweet dessert wine—quite pleasant.
"All right, since I've delivered Leilin here, I should take my leave!" Wade drained his goblet in one gulp. "My mentor is still waiting!"
"Since you have matters to attend to, I won't keep you. Leilin, come—sit over here."
As Teigate spoke, attending apprentices immediately cleared and set up a new long table, and plates of delicacies and fruit were carried out one after another, piling high.
Leilin gave a slight bow and took his seat.
Only then did he have a chance to observe Teigate, the formidable head of the Potion Group.
Teigate wore a white robe embroidered with various green plant motifs. His features were quite ordinary, and a jade-green circlet adorned his forehead. He carried an air of languid ease.
Around Leilin, several elaborately dressed Third-rank Apprentices with aristocratic bearing stood ready to serve.
A brief survey revealed that the great hall alone held no fewer than thirty full wizards, with apprentices far too numerous to count.
And this was just the Potion Group. In terms of overall strength, the Four Seasons Garden had long surpassed the Black Bone Forest Academy.
The banquet lasted nearly an hour and a half. Once most of the wizards had finished eating, the apprentices brought out an assortment of drinks, and the atmosphere in the hall shifted to something slow and comfortable—reminding Leilin of a tea party from his previous life.
"All right, now that the meal and welcoming ceremony are over, let's discuss future work assignments…"
Teigate spoke from the head table, his voice carrying clearly to every wizard present.
At this, the wizards around the room set down their cups.
"Aimon! How is the Dragon's Force Potion progressing?"
A rather curvaceous female wizard stood up. "The formula derivation is over seventy percent complete, but several key points are stalled. I'd like to request the deployment of Centrifuge No. 3, along with material supplies from Garden No. 5…"
"Approved. Submit a formal application after the banquet." Teigate nodded.