Chapter 96

In the following days, nothing unusual happened.

Moses should know the correct path to the surface.

Under his guidance, Sain supported Moses, turning left and right, and continuously moved forward in the underground space.

Although the route was complex, Sain generally felt that they were constantly moving upward.

During this time, they even passed through several vertically ascending dark tunnels.

It was also during these few days that Sain noticed his mentor was noticeably different from the past.

In the past, although Moses cared about Sain, that care was still within normal bounds, and of course, it was much better than the attitude of most dark mages toward their disciples.

However, in the past few days, Moses had shown extreme concern and enthusiasm for Sain.

He almost asked about Sain's studies and cultivation every day and promptly answered Sain's questions about fire element magic and alchemy.

Moses even taught Sain a high-level magic spell—the Fire Blade spell model.

The high-level Fire Blade spell was actually an enhanced version of the intermediate-level Fire Chain Blade spell that Sain had mastered.

Since the spell model of the Fire Blade was relatively simple compared to other high-level spells, and Sain already had a foundation in the intermediate-level Fire Chain Blade, Moses chose to teach this high-level spell to Sain first, to solidify his status as a high-level apprentice as soon as possible.

In the past, when Sain learned intermediate-level spells like the Hand of Fire and Object Control, Moses merely gave him a pile of magic books and let him study and understand them on his own.

But this time, with the guidance of the formal dark mage Moses, Sain mastered this high-level spell much faster than expected.

Moses' change in behavior and his deteriorating physical condition made Sain sense that something was about to happen.

This made the joy of his recent reunion with his mentor sink.

However, despite his worsening appearance and spirit, Moses' demeanor remained as usual.

One day, he pointed to Sain's cracked crystal ball and commented, "The repair is decent, but the technique is a bit rough. You should do it like this..."

Moses held two alchemy tools, similar to metal pens, and taught Sain the technique of repairing the crystal ball in person.

Repairing a crystal ball was not a profound alchemy technique, but Moses' greater intention was to impart more of his unique alchemy insights and special skills to Sain during the process.

Each time, Sain would promptly take out a magic book filled with dense notes and respectfully record the truths and mysteries his mentor imparted.

In addition to deepening his skills through handwriting, recording the magic notes also made it convenient for Sain to review them later.

Seeing Sain's eagerness to learn and his proper attitude, Moses couldn't help but sigh multiple times.

"Your senior brother has excellent alchemy skills, but like me, he neglects the exploration of elemental magic, so the chances of him advancing to a higher level in the future are low."

"Your senior sister has a lively personality, and although she has a high affinity for fire element magic, she is not the type who can patiently explore the truth. She also hasn't inherited much of my alchemy legacy."

"Only you have the potential to be the only hope for our lineage."

"I hope you can reach a higher realm in the future and bring glory to our lineage." Moses said solemnly to Sain by the campfire in the underground world.

Faced with the heavy responsibility and high expectations from his mentor, Sain nodded solemnly.

...

A month and a half later.

As they got closer to the surface, Sain's heart grew heavier.

Sain knew they were getting closer to the surface purely by intuition.

The same intuition also told Sain that his mentor Moses might not have much time left.

Sure enough, on the third night after Sain had this intuition, Moses called Sain to his side.

Compared to a month ago, Moses' condition had worsened significantly.

He had become a gaunt, emaciated figure, and his once yellow eyes had become cloudy and dull.

However, when he called Sain to his side, Moses mustered his strength and placed three items in front of Sain.

He straightened his back with a deep breath and looked at Sain, who was kneeling before him with his head bowed deeply.

"This spatial bracelet contains my life's savings, as well as some magical equipment and alchemy tools."

"Whether you choose the path of a mage or an alchemist, you will inevitably need various resources to reach a higher level."

"Back in the day, I stumbled into the field of alchemy, initially just to earn a few low-level energy crystals."

"The contents of this spatial bracelet will make your path smoother and more stable until you become a formal mage."

Moses pointed to a copper-colored, ancient-looking bracelet and said to Sain.

Next, Moses pointed to a thick magic book beside the bracelet and said, "This alchemy manual is the result of my years of hard work and dedication, recorded during my experiments."

"Although there are other magic books and alchemy notes in the spatial bracelet, this one is the most important and is my original creation."

"Besides you, only your senior brother Zorro has read this alchemy manual."

"I hope you will study the alchemy secrets in it well and forge your own path in the future."

Moses' words made Sain bow his head even deeper.

He knew that compared to the wealth in the spatial bracelet, this alchemy manual was the most important legacy his mentor valued.

It represented the transmission of knowledge and the extension of will.

Finally, Moses pointed to a small object resembling a short flute beside the spatial bracelet and the magic book and said, "I have already repaired your Earth Element Shield Ring and Invisibility Cloak. This short flute is for the owl."

"The Dawn Tower's hunt for dark mages in the Dark Region will likely continue for a long time."

"As a mere apprentice, you can hide deep enough to avoid being discovered by the Dawn Tower. However, the owl is not easy to hide. They are a breed of magical birds raised by the dean and are likely marked by the Dawn Tower."

"Only by leaving the Dark Region will you truly be free from the threat," Moses said.