The Weeping Lance, though a second-level spell, had already been reduced to its last gasp after passing through the twin barriers of the
Even so, the power of his Crimson Hand was enough to make Corbin's expression change drastically. He couldn't help but cry out in alarm: "You've already advanced to second rank!"
Only after reaching the second rank could someone so easily withstand his spell.
"Phew…"
Leilin let out a long, slow breath, feeling the earth-shaking transformation within himself. He couldn't help but murmur: "Such incredible power… truly intoxicating!"
At that moment, the Chip flashed several new prompts: "Ding! Detected massive combustion of unowned spiritual power. Advancing Eye of Coromon…"
"Host's Eye of Coromon advanced meditation method has reached the second layer! This has triggered a level advancement! Host has advanced to Second-rank Sorcerer!"
"Second-rank innate spell generated! Host's sea of consciousness being optimized…"
"Ding! Host has advanced to Second-rank Sorcerer! Personal data has increased substantially. Re-collecting and recording…"
Immediately, new attribute information was refreshed by the Chip.
"Leilin Farell — Sorcerer, Second Rank. Bloodline: Coromon Giant Serpent. Strength: 21.1. Agility: 14.4. Constitution: 27.9. Spiritual Power: 104.3. Mana: 104 (Mana is synchronously determined by Spiritual Power)."
Leilin noticed that his sea of consciousness had undergone tremendous changes as well.
The original crimson sea of consciousness had expanded significantly, spreading outward on all sides. The core crystal at the very center had undergone violent transformation.
In the center of the sea of consciousness, there had originally been a diamond-shaped blood-red spiritual power crystal — the foundation of Leilin's sorcery, inscribed with complex magical runes.
These magical runes resembled small black serpents, as though formed by nature, and it was these runes that comprised Leilin's two first-level innate spells!
And now! Within the diamond-shaped crystal, a smaller diamond-shaped crystal had formed, identical in shape to the original — like a nested miniature version of it.
The only difference was that the runes appearing on the surface of this second-layer crystal were different from those of the two innate spells on the outer layer, forming far more powerful innate spells.
However, if one were to look from outside the two-layered crystal inward, one would discover that the runes inscribed on the outer crystal and those inscribed on the second-layer crystal had perfectly merged together, forming a somewhat incomplete blood-red sigil.
This sigil was extremely mysterious, seemingly containing incredibly terrifying energy, capable of communicating with some unknown existence in the depths of the void. But because it was still incomplete for the time being, it could not yet manifest its full power.
This was the kind of innate spell that only high-rank meditation methods could generate — one perfectly tailored to Leilin himself. Each spell would harmonize flawlessly, without any mutual friction or loss.
If one used ordinary spells like common wizards did, the inscribed runes and sigils would produce enormous conflict, and even stabilizing two layers of core crystal would be nearly impossible.
Even if one found a second-level spell with sufficient compatibility, it would still produce tremendous losses, preventing a second-rank wizard from wielding their full strength.
But Leilin had no such concerns whatsoever!
Looking at the second-rank wizard Corbin in the distance, Leilin took a deep breath, then turned his attention to the second-rank innate spell that the Eye of Coromon had automatically generated!
"Gall of Deadly Venom!"
This was the name of the second-level spell the Eye of Coromon had produced. After sensing the information emanating from the core crystal in his sea of consciousness, Leilin couldn't help but feel somewhat speechless.
"Looks like it's another ability obtained through body modification… This time it should be awakening the Coromon Giant Serpent's talent related to toxins…"
Each breakthrough in a high-rank meditation method would generate an innate spell for the wizard, but this was entirely beyond choice — Leilin could only accept it. However, the innate spells accompanying high-rank meditation methods were always extraordinarily powerful, and would not disappoint Leilin.
At that moment, the Chip finished organizing all the information Leilin had obtained about the Gall of Deadly Venom, and presented it in data form.
"Gall of Deadly Venom — Second-level Spell. The ancient Coromon Giant Serpents possessed terrifying toxic abilities. An adult's venom could even corrode the void itself. Ancient sorcerers, through body modification and bloodline surgery, transplanted this ability into their own bodies. Prerequisite: Coromon Giant Serpent Heart Modification at 100%. Effect: Release neurotoxin from any body part, executing indiscriminate attacks on all living beings within a massive radius! Cost: 10 Spiritual Power, 10 Mana."
As a second-level spell, the cost was only 10 Spiritual Power and 10 Mana each — clearly due to it being an innate spell. Moreover, it required the Heart Modification to be completed and one's physical constitution to be properly developed before it could be used. This made Leilin all the more eager to test this second-level spell.
"Let's use you first as a test!"
Leilin glanced at Corbin not far away, and then the spiritual power within his sea of consciousness surged. The dual-layered core crystal at the center began to emit a hazy, shimmering glow.
Leilin could feel it keenly — within his own body, in the place where the gallbladder resided, the purple-red blood of the Coromon Giant Serpent was gathering in torrents. Then, with a massive expenditure of energy and spiritual power, a mysterious substance was produced.
This substance could be distributed throughout Leilin's body via the endocrine organs and seep out through any pore on his skin.
With a thought from Leilin, the Coromon's toxin began spreading through the air.
What was bizarre was that his second-rank innate spell — the Gall of Deadly Venom — produced no outward energy fluctuations whatsoever upon activation. It carried no distinctive scent or color, making it extraordinarily stealthy.
From Leilin's breakthrough to the second rank, to unleashing the Crimson Hand, and then to releasing the Gall of Deadly Venom — all of these events unfolded within mere seconds. The wizards outside hadn't even had time to react.
Across from Leilin, Corbin stared at him, his expression deeply complicated — part regret, part pity, but above all, wariness and killing intent!
"Leilin Farell! To advance to the second rank before the age of thirty! I must admit you are a once-in-a-millennium genius of the South Coast! But today! You destroyed the gateway to the secret realm! You have committed an unforgivable crime! We Dark Wizards must punish you!"
Corbin declared righteously, fabricating a justification for hunting Leilin down.
The greater Leilin's potential, the greater the threat he would pose in the future. And right now, Leilin had only just advanced to the second rank — aside from his innate spell, he certainly didn't possess a single second-level spell. This was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him!
Meanwhile, Reisman, who had been observing from the sidelines, slowly moved behind Leilin upon discovering his advancement to the second rank. Together with Corbin, they subtly hemmed Leilin in.
Having witnessed Leilin's baffling advancement, Reisman was filled with wariness toward this fellow second-rank wizard. If the chance arose to destroy Leilin, he would not hesitate to join forces with Corbin.
In an instant, the black and white factions of wizards in the area developed an uncanny默契. The two second-rank wizards pinned Leilin at the center, while large numbers of Dark Wizards and Light Wizards surrounded and constrained them from the perimeter.
"Coming at me like this? You really are in a hurry to die!"
Leilin surveyed the formally-ranked wizards encircling him, his face expressionless, though inwardly he sighed.
The power of a second-level spell was at least eighty degrees or more! Such an attack was virtually fatal to a first-rank wizard!
And the Gall of Deadly Venom's attack was exceedingly sinister — a wide-area indiscriminate strike. The closer to Leilin, the faster one died.
Thud! A slightly closer Light
Thud! Thud! As though triggering a chain reaction, the wizards around Leilin — regardless of whether they belonged to the Dark or Light factions — began to stiffen and collapse.
"What's happening?!" "He — he's been poisoned! Watch out! It's a toxin attack!" "Quick, use a Breath-Holding Spell or a defensive light barrier!"
Ssss! Billions of white fumes rose as the fallen wizards' muscle tissue began to rot, exposing the white bones beneath!
The bones gradually turned black, and finally dissolved into a puddle of black pus!
The wizards who witnessed this scene drained of all color. Screams and cries of horror erupted one after another.
"Ahhh…" Another scream rang out. A wizard wrapped in thick layers of light-barrier defense also fell to the ground, his body beginning to rot.
All the formally-ranked wizards near Leilin collapsed in the blink of an eye, and quickly dissolved into black sludge — there wasn't even time to rescue or evacuate them!
This terrifying effect immediately struck fear into the two second-rank wizards.
"Even an indiscriminate defensive barrier is useless!!!"
Corbin and Reisman's eyelids twitched wildly. The two immediately flew a considerable distance away. Massive bolts of lightning erupted from Reisman's body, scouring his flesh again and again, while Corbin sprouted a large green fleshy tumor on his shoulder that continuously absorbed something.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As time passed, the radius of the venomous attack continued to expand — first engulfing Leilin's immediate area, then spreading throughout the entire
Apart from those wizards who had been at the very outermost perimeter and had immediately retreated when they sensed danger, not a single living thing remained within the entire Four Seasons Garden — except for Leilin and the two second-rank wizards!
Even Leilin, the very one who had unleashed it, was somewhat shocked by this outcome.
"This… is almost equivalent to a large-scale biochemical attack from my previous life!" The terrifying toxin's characteristic of leaving nothing alive within its range left Leilin thoroughly astonished.
Moreover, he knew exactly how his venom propagated. The Coromon Giant Serpent's toxin could penetrate any energy-based defensive barrier and enter a wizard's bloodstream directly through the skin. Spells like the Breath-Holding Spell were completely useless against it.
This toxin didn't just corrode the physical body — it wouldn't spare the soul either.