Under normal circumstances, the Sapient Ancient Tree's sap would certainly be heavily guarded at the White
But now, in order to lure him out, this portion of ancient tree essence had to be the real thing! And that third-rank wizard would also have to temporarily leave.
After all, wizards weren't fools. Until he confirmed there was no third-rank wizard present, Elister would never show himself.
"Since that Elister is known as the Lone Wolf, he must be accustomed to acting alone—extraordinary in combat, aloof in temperament, and possessed of both powerful confidence and genuine strength!"
Anyone capable of ambushing and severely wounding two second-rank wizards in a single strike was obviously no ordinary figure. Leilin understood this very well.
That Elister, even among second-rank wizards, had to be in the upper echelon, perhaps even at the very peak—one step away from the third rank!
Once he confirmed there was no third-rank wizard here, there was a very high probability he would strike directly to seize it!
"This is where it's up to us!"
Leilin surveyed the VIP room. How many here were Black Wizards? How many were White Wizards? And how many, like himself, harbored ulterior motives?
Clearly, this Sapient Ancient Tree sap had captured the interest of every second-rank wizard present.
Wave after wave of obvious spiritual power, carrying intense desire and trade offers, surged into the room where the selling wizard waited.
For ordinary wizards, without an advanced Meditation Method, the second rank was often their limit. By that point, a wizard's innate spell had already fully solidified, and even switching to an advanced Meditation Method offered no path forward.
Forcibly altering the already-formed core consciousness crystal—that technology didn't exist anywhere along the entire South Coast. Perhaps the rumored other worlds or the Central Continent possessed such means, but those were beyond the reach of these wizards.
Therefore, this Sapient Ancient Tree essence—capable of forcibly elevating a second-rank wizard's Spiritual Power and providing spiritual enlightenment—was, in the eyes of second-rank wizards, their sole hope of advancing to the third rank!
For that, they were willing to pay any price!
Just as the spiritual power exchanges among the second-rank wizards in the VIP rooms grew increasingly intense, a voice suddenly shattered the balance.
"One hundred million Magic Stones! Plus fifty standard portions of Soul Crystals!"
This voice wasn't projected through spiritual power but shouted aloud. What surprised Leilin even more was its origin—it came from the mouth of a first-rank wizard on the lower floor.
"Interesting! A mere first-rank dares to enter the contest of second-rank wizards!"
Leilin studied the shouting wizard with evident interest.
Even in private exchange gatherings, certain rules applied. Second-rank wizards formed their own circle, and ordinary first-rank wizards had no way to intrude.
For this first-rank wizard to dare shout such a bid—he was either astonishingly powerful or backed by a formidable force!
Or perhaps... the target had appeared?
Leilin focused on that first-rank wizard. He was of medium build, his entire body wrapped in a black robe that concealed his features. Yet under the collective gaze of numerous second-rank wizards, he remained perfectly calm, continuing to ask: "The second-rank lord didn't request any specific materials—highest bid wins. I wonder if my offer might be the most valuable in this venue?"
The scrutiny of a group of second-rank wizards would have been enough to freeze most low-level wizards in terror, like a helpless rabbit surrounded by lions. But this first-rank wizard was far too composed.
"Well? Can you confirm it's Elister?"
In the same room where Leilin had previously competed with the woman over the Dawn's Light, she questioned old man Tobu.
"Not certain!" The red-bearded old man stroked his beard. "But his attire is completely unfamiliar. I didn't sense any familiar presence among the invitees, and there's no specific information about him in the roster!"
"So the chances are quite high!"
The woman extended a forked tongue and licked her lips.
"Very likely. Prepare to act!" Old man Tobu nodded, and a ring of concealed spiritual imprints began to ripple outward: "Suspected target confirmed. Prepare to act!"
"Understood!" "Roger!" "Copy that!"
Different voices responded from the surrounding VIP rooms.
"Very well!" After a moment of silence, the voice of the second-rank wizard selling the Sapient Ancient Tree sap finally came from the VIP room.
Following his words, a golden radiance enveloped a mass of verdant liquid brimming with Life Energy, slowly floating out from the VIP room.
"Thank you, my lord!" A flash of joy crossed the first-rank wizard's eyes. He gave a slight bow, and a large quantity of materials and Magic Stone crystals flew from his person.
The two sets of exchanged items met in midair.
Boom! Suddenly, a violent burst of red light erupted from within the green tree sap. The red glow blazed like a fierce alarm, blindingly intense!
"That's him! He's Elister!" "Attack!"
As if a trigger had been pulled, like gunpowder igniting, the second-rank VIP rooms exploded open one after another. Second-rank spells were unleashed without restraint, their massive energy fluctuations spreading outward continuously, causing widespread tremors across the area.
"Binding of Aizhuola!" A beam of golden light struck fiercely at the area where the first-rank wizard had been standing.
"ROOOARRR!" At that moment, the wizard who was a mere shell of Elister tore open the front of his clothes, revealing a tattoo of a massive black wolf baring its fangs, still dripping blood.
With the roar of a savage beast, the black wolf leapt forth from the wizard's chest, its enormous, razor-sharp claws slashing forward!
Crack! The golden binding light was instantly shattered by the great wolf's claws, scattering into countless golden motes!
"The Totem of the Great Wolf! No doubt about it—he's Elister!" More wizards rushed out from their VIP rooms, converging on that wizard like sharks that had caught the scent of blood.
An oppressive field descended upon the auction grounds. The scattered first-rank wizards in the main hall below all retreated, fleeing in disarray.
Some were even less fortunate—brushed by the fringe of a second-rank wizard's powerful spell and suffering devastating injuries.
"Damn it! I never should have come here!"
A dark figure narrowly dodged an intense red glow, its form left tattered and scorched.
The hood fell back, revealing the face beneath—it was the intelligence broker Leilin had seen once before.
"Damn it! Damn it! Has the organization's leadership lost its mind? Everyone here is a second-rank wizard! They kept the information hidden from other wizards and sent me—a lowly first-rank—to assist with the plan and pluck the tiger's whiskers! Are they trying to get me killed?!"
Boom! At that moment, sparks from a massive green fireball grazed past the witch's hair and detonated behind her, demolishing a large section of architecture and leaving a gaping corrosion pit.
The witch froze for a brief moment, then turned and bolted for the exit without looking back: "Screw this! Do whatever the hell you want! I'm done!!!"
Compared to first-rank wizards, second-rank wizards' spells might not be particularly dazzling, but the power contained within those spells was vast as mountains and oceans—anything caught even at the edge was instantly reduced to ash.
"Craaack!"
Numerous dark figures, like ancient primordial beasts, lunged from every direction, sealing off all of Elister's escape routes.
Among these wizards were white-haired old men, dignified and elegant noblewomen, and imperious gentlemen in formal attire. Their common feature was the White Wizard Alliance insignia pinned to their chests!
"Elister! How dare you betray the glory of the White Wizards! The Supreme Council will surely pass judgment on you!"
Old man Tobu roared, then waved his hand. Fierce volcanic flames generated ceaselessly on his palm, coalescing into the shape of a crimson iron hammer.
"Hammer of Molten Rock!"
Massive amounts of magma bubbled across the surface of the red hammer, radiating the energy fluctuation of a second-rank spell.
"Heh heh! I merely joined the White Wizard Alliance temporarily. Everything I obtained, I earned through fair exchange. What exactly have I done to wrong it?"
The black-robed Elister let out a bizarre laugh, his voice like a wolf's howl.
"That voice—it's definitely Elister!"
"Attack! What's there to say to a traitor who refuses to repent?"
The assembled second-rank White Wizards roared in fury, and a kaleidoscope of spells immediately engulfed the black-robed Elister.
The black totem wolf Elister had released was quickly annihilated under the combined assault of the second-rank wizards.
To everyone's surprise, Elister spread his arms wide, watching the surrounding second-rank wizards with a cold sneer.
"I did nothing wrong! I will advance to the third rank! And darkness will inevitably descend upon this land!"
He uttered words resembling a prophecy, and then his entire body was torn apart under the barrage of spells.
Snap! Snap! Black fragments flew outward in all directions.
"This is... a Black Wizard's flesh puppet!"
Tobu immediately recognized what was happening and shouted: "Be on guard! This isn't Elister's true body—it's just a temporary flesh-and-blood puppet!"
Around him, a massive ring of magma gathered and wrapped around his body for protection.
Snap snap!
The black flesh puppet fragments liquefied in midair, forming enormous black webs resembling spider silk that ensnared all the surrounding second-rank wizards.
CRASH!
The trading hall's ceiling shattered completely, and a wizard identical to the previous flesh puppet emerged from the rubble and dust, unleashing a savage howl at the wizard who had been selling the Sapient Ancient Tree sap.
"ROOOARRR!!!"
Amid the wolf-like roar, that wizard's eyes went blank, his thoughts momentarily paralyzed.
"Roar of the Lone Wolf!!!"
"Elister's signature spiritual attack!"
The trapped second-rank wizards all displayed expressions of mingled fury and regret.