A Wizard’s Secret

Merlin sat in the carriage. Although his eyes were closed, his Mind Power was expanded out there, inspecting Big Boss Keane’s every move. Once the other party made any strange movement, Merlin was definite that man would be killed in an instant.

However, he had already lured him with the temptation of “becoming a Spell Caster,” something he believed Keane would never refuse. Moreover, Keane did have the qualifications to become a Spell Caster.

Merlin had long realized that anyone who was able to see the strange postures on those mysterious relief sculptures possessed extraordinary Mind Power than other people, and that was one of the most important conditions for becoming a Spell Caster.

As long as one’s Mind Power reached the required qualifications for becoming a Spell Caster, the person could try constructing Spell Model in their Awareness with Mind Power. Once successful, the person could then become a Spell Caster.

Big Boss Keane possessed such qualifications. His Mind Power was actually even greater than Merlin’s before he turned into a Spell Caster.

Using a Spell Model in exchange for three mysterious relief sculptures, coupled with the possibility of resolving a crisis for the entire troop – the deal was indeed worthy.

Otherwise, even if Merlin could kill Big Boss Keane, he could not handle the thousands of bandits left behind. Especially those bandits to whom Keane had taught the strange postures on the relief sculptures. They were more powerful than Old Wilson’s knights and were difficult to deal with.

Brief moments later, the bandits arrived at a massive valley surrounded by mountains and water. Its environment was very suitable for living.

There were several simple wooden houses in the valley, as well as numerous caves of different sizes. Old people, women, and children shuffled around the valley. The whole valley appeared like a thriving little village.

As the many bandits returned to the valley, many women stepped forward and looked at the crowd to see if their husbands were well.

This was nothing like a bandit’s’ lair. It resembled more like a peaceful, quiet village.

“What do you think? It took me five years to build it!”

Keane revealed a hint of pride in his face as they looked at the busy scene under the valley.

“Not bad. Those elite bandits and knights have physical qualities comparable to First-level Elemental Swordsmen. Was it you who taught them the posture on the relief sculptures?”

Merlin had high regards to those four or five hundred extraordinary bandits, whose physical qualities were on par to that of a First-level Elemental Swordsman. Even the Firebird Legion at its peak had no more than a thousand Elemental Swordsmen greater than the First-level.

Keane looked at Merlin, his eyes showing deep emotion as he whispered. “That’s right, I’ve carefully selected these people. I only taught them one set of posture, hence they can just cultivate to the level of a First-level Elemental Swordsman. On the other hand, those who are more talented and more loyal, I will teach them two sets of posture, so that their physical qualities rival a Second-level Element Swordsman. It’s with their force that the Hurricane Bandits run wild in this area. No other bandits gang is able to compete with us.”

Merlin nodded. These rabbles not equipped with many armors were invincible in this area by relying on just those five hundred bandits endowed with a force comparable to First-level Elemental Swordsmen. Even a heavy armored knight troop specifically trained by Old Wilson could not stand as their opponent.

“Do you know the origins of the relief sculptures you obtained?”

Merlin continued asking.

Keane frowned and shook his head. “I retrieved these relief sculptures by chance. I only know they’re probably relics from the Molta Empire. I don’t know the specifics.”

The Molta Empire had always remained a mystery. It unified the whole continent but was later overturned within a night. It seemed that no one knew the reason for the collapse of this huge empire.

Moreover, more ideas developed in Merlin’s mind now that he saw these relief sculptures and the five hundred powerful bandits.

These relief sculptures were the product of the Molta Empire. If every ordinary soldier of the Molta Empire had practiced the postures of those relief sculptures and possessed the strength of First-level Elemental Swordsmen, Second-level Elemental Swordsmen, and even Third-level Elemental Swordsmen, they would have thousands of soldiers comparable to the powerful Elemental Swordsmen. With such an army, it was not unbelievable that the Molta Empire could unify the entire continent.

However, why would a strong empire that was too mighty to even imagine been overturned in a short period of time? There were even many historical rumors that mentioned the Molta Empire collapsed almost overnight.

What actually happened? What kind of force had led to the collapse of the Molta Empire overnight?

“Come with me, the relief sculptures are stored in the place I live.”

Merlin shook his head slightly, as if to dismiss the doubts and puzzles about the collapse of the Molta Empire from his mind, and followed behind Keane closely.

Keane lived in a massive cave. There were traces of artificial excavation in it. The exterior environment looked peaceful and quiet, with no one around. It seemed that Keane has made some arrangements for the place to receive only Merlin and Keane.

“Please take a seat!”

After Merlin sat down, Keane turned around and entered a room in the cave. It took him a while to reappear, but when he did, he was holding three relief sculptures in his hands.

Keane put the relief sculptures on the stone table, allowing Merlin to examine them.

“Sure enough, they are the same type of relief sculptures!”

A hint of sparkle flashed across Merlin’s eyes. He picked up one of the relief sculptures and gently stroked it with his hand. His vision became blurred and was covered with an illusion. Only to his eyes, some strange postures began to surface on the relief sculptures. They appeared quite different from the postures that Merlin had practiced before.

This time, he did not dwell too long in the “illusion.” With Merlin’s current Mind Power, he was able to regain consciousness from the “illusion” at any time.

“As part of the deal, this relief sculpture is for you.”

Merlin also handed his relief sculpture over to Keane.

Keane narrowed his eyes slightly but he was not anxious to pick up the relief sculpture on the table. Instead, he looked at Merlin with eager eyes. “Merlin, you mentioned that you can make me a Spell Caster…”

Obtaining another relief sculpture would allow Keane the strength to cross a big realm to be on par to compete with a Fourth-level Elemental Swordsman. His strength would multiply, but that seemed to be less alluring than the idea of him becoming a Spell Caster.

“The key to becoming a Spell Caster relies on Mind Power and Spell Model. You already equip sufficient Mind Power, as for the Spell Model…”

Merlin trailed off for a while and finally took out the Whirlwind’s Spell Model from old man Etha’s Spell Manual. He spoke without much interest, “Here’s Whirlwind’s Spell Model. It’s only a Zero-level spell. If you can construct the Spell Model into the Awareness, then you can become a Spell Caster!”

“Spell Model!”

Keane’s eyes were glued to the Spell Model on the table. Even his voice trembled a little because of overwhelming excitement.