Clang!
Tuowode's black short blade struck the transparent armor, only to be blocked by a layer of air membrane and sent bouncing back.
"A defensive secret art!" A glint flashed through Tuowode's eyes.
Great Knights had many types of secret arts, but most focused on enhancing a single aspect, amplifying it to terrifying degrees.
Tuowode's own secret art, for instance, exclusively boosted movement speed, allowing him to move at twice his original velocity!
And in his view, what Weilin was using had to be a secret art specifically designed to bolster defense.
"Just you wait — once your secret art wears off, you'll be at my mercy!" A savage grin spread across Tuowode's face.
But in that moment, Weilin moved.
Fast! Weilin's speed was extraordinary. The transparent armor on his body scraped against the air, producing a piercing shriek.
In Tuowode's eyes, all he could make out were faint afterimages!
"A... a triple-amplification secret art?!" Tuowode blurted out, greed blazing in his eyes.
This kind of secret art was absolutely top-tier, something that existed only in legends. Even in all his years with the Augustus Family, he had never seen one.
But Tuowode had no time to dwell on it — Weilin had already charged right in front of him, raising his Cross Sword and bringing it crashing down.
"Block!" Tuowode leaped backward while swinging his short blade.
Boom! The two weapons clashed, and Tuowode's blade went flying from his hand.
"He even has a strength boost! Triple! A triple-amplification secret art!!!" Tuowode's mind could barely keep up. A double-amplification secret art, he had at least heard of in legends, but a triple-amplification one — at the Great Knight level, no less — didn't even appear in those!
But Weilin clearly had no desire to explain anything to him.
He surged forward, the Cross Sword in his hand slicing across Tuowode's head.
Pfft! The scarred, hideous face soared into the air, and from the neck spurted a crimson fountain nearly a meter high.
"Janni! Are you alright?!"
Weilin dispelled the transparent armor around his body and hurried to Janni's side.
"I... I'm fine!" Janni answered reflexively, then watched as Weilin collapsed before her like a puddle of mush.
Though the Cross Star was a secret art taught by Leilin — its power far surpassed other Great Knight techniques — it still shared the common drawback of all secret arts!
Having activated the art, Weilin had fallen into a state of extreme weakness, barely able to even lift his hands. Only his mouth and eyes still moved with any effort.
"Why... why are you so foolish? This had nothing to do with you..." Janni sobbed, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes once more.
"Cough... it's nothing!" Weilin tried hard to look energetic, but he couldn't even manage that.
"I've made up my mind — let's go together to serve Lord Leilin! He'll definitely be able to protect you!" He spoke the plan he had been turning over in his mind.
"...We can't do that." But the answer Janni gave him was a bitter smile.
"Weilin! Can't you see from everything that's happened? Lord Leilin has already given up on me!" Janni said with a pained smile. "You should go back! With Lord Leilin's protection, Lucas won't dare touch you..."
"No!" Weilin's face flushed red. "I won't leave you, even if it kills me!"
"Weilin!" Janni dropped to her knees in an emotional rush, and the two of them kissed passionately.
After a long and intense embrace, something seemed to click in Weilin's head. "Let's go! To the Central Region! To the
"Alright!"
What answered him was Janni's firm voice.
The two gazed into each other's eyes, and radiant smiles bloomed on their faces.
...
"Well, well. Looks like Weilin really has left for good?"
Leilin surveyed the room — tidied with unusual thoroughness — and the letter on the table, a playful smile crossing his face.
To him, Weilin had merely been a pet he had raised while lying low to recover.
Now that he had returned to the proper course of affairs, he had no more time to dally with pets. Letting him leave was perhaps the best outcome.
Besides, Weilin was of no further use to him. Even if he were modified into a Brand Swordsman, a mere first-level fighter couldn't offer Leilin much assistance.
"Still, this is the first time I've done a good deed. I hope you carry the Cross Sword technique on through the Dark Extreme Domain and don't tarnish the name of my Farell Family..."
A flash of unfathomable light passed through Leilin's eyes.
Through his earlier sensing with the Holy Light Candle, he already knew that Weilin and Janni were no ordinary people — they were the "protagonists" of the entire Dark Extreme Domain during this period!
He could well imagine that in the time ahead, they would have anything but a peaceful life, and troubles would come knocking one after another.
"But that's exactly what makes it interesting! And my arrangements can finally come into play!"
Leilin smiled faintly, then cast the matter from his mind entirely.
Today was the day he and Siegfried had约定ed to attend a formal
"Is this the place?"
Leilin and Siegfried, dressed in ordinary attire, arrived before a storefront with an opulent facade.
"The Gosi Trading Company! It's the foremost large-scale trading house in the entire Dark Extreme Eastern Domain. But certain high-ranking nobles know that behind it stands a major Wizard academy..."
Siegfried explained with a smile.
The two conversed freely as though no one else were around, their voices sealed so that no one nearby could overhear.
"A few independent Wizards and smaller academies like to gather here for a few days each month — hold salons, exchange experimental data and experiences with advanced Meditation Methods. Sometimes there are small trading sessions too, of course restricted to official Wizards."
Siegfried wore a massive black glove that concealed his metal prosthetic.
"Welcome! How may I help you?"
The moment they entered the Gosi Trading Company, two beautiful attendants came forward with warm greetings.
"Take us to the VIP room." Siegfried casually handed a gold card to one of the attendants, and her eyes immediately lit up.
"My Lords! Please follow me!" She bowed deeply, revealing the graceful curves of her chest, and when she turned to lead the way, she made sure to accentuate her shapely hips.
"Well? Care to have some fun?" Siegfried asked Leilin with a grin.
"I'm not in the mood right now. Perhaps after the trading session," Leilin replied with a bland smile.
The attendant in front heard this, and a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes.
Though inwardly let down, she quickly led Leilin and Siegfried to an exquisitely decorated private room. "I apologize! My rank isn't sufficient — our manager will be the one to attend to you from here."
She bowed once more and backed out of the room.
"Our Wizard VIP cards are different from those of ordinary guests. The person who comes next should be someone in the know — he'll guide us to the salon," Siegfried explained briefly.
"The membership system here is quite simple. As long as you're an official Wizard with a reference, that's all it takes. I can set you up with one later!"
"That's very kind of you." Leilin wore a gentle smile.
Click! At that moment, a full-length oil painting in the center of the VIP room swung open, revealing a passage leading upward.
"My honored Lords! Please follow me!"
Standing in the passage was a noblewoman in an elegant gown, her spiritual fluctuations clearly those of a Third-rank Apprentice. Her skin was fair and delicate, like the finest porcelain, without a single visible pore.
"Mm." Siegfried gave an understated nod, letting the noblewoman take the lead.
Privately, however, he was already speaking to Leilin through telepathy: "This is Gosi Trading Company's premium stock, available only to us official Wizard members. If you're interested, you can apply to purchase a few afterward. They're quite generous with new members..."
"Apprentice-level... slaves?" Leilin was surprised. This caliber of slave was a full tier above what the City of Nightless on the South Coast had offered.
Back in that city, he had been a first-level Wizard as well, yet had only managed to acquire a single Third-rank Apprentice — an old man on the verge of dying.
Clearly, among Third-rank Apprentices of equal level, an elegant and refined noblewoman would command a price far exceeding that of a dying old man.
The passage was short, and after a few minutes they reached its end.
Once the door opened, Leilin and his companion were led into a brightly lit hall.
Sunstone light poured in through transparent crystal glass panels on all sides, illuminating every corner with brilliant clarity.
A sparse scattering of Wizards already sat in the hall, gathered in small circles and conversing in low voices.
On the small tables, various green fruits and beverages, along with numerous delicacies whose names Leilin couldn't even pronounce, were laid out for the Wizards to help themselves to — though few actually stepped forward to taste any.
"Come! Let me introduce you to a few friends!"
Siegfried scanned the room, spotted a small circle of Wizards — one of whom had entirely red hair — and his eyes brightened. He pulled Leilin directly over.
"Everyone! This is a few of our Earth Fire Society Wizards, good friends of mine. And this is Lord Leilin Farell — a traveling Wizard who recently arrived in our Eastern Domain capital..."
Siegfried made introductions on both sides, and Leilin greeted these Wizards with a courteous smile.
Thanks to his innate noble bearing and depth of knowledge, combined with the charisma bonus of a Warlock, he quickly won the favor of the other Wizards and gradually blended into the group.