Chapter 22

Then, the excitement turned into a scream.

Damn it, there really is a swamp!

Fario was completely stuck in the swamp, his fat body struggling desperately. However, the more he struggled, the faster he sank. In just a moment, the black, muddy swamp had already reached his chest!

"Be careful, it's a Corrupted Swamp!" The ninth-level mage in the crowd was the first to notice, shouting to the group of Viper's Nest members while quickly casting a spell.

A Corrupted Swamp is only a third-level spell, which is nothing to a ninth-level mage. A single Stone Earth spell could easily solve the problem.

In fact, that's exactly what the ninth-level mage did. The spell was cast quickly, and a Stone Earth spell was rapidly formed. As long as the spread of the Corrupted Swamp was contained, Fario, who was trapped in it, could easily escape.

However, just as the ninth-level mage was about to cast the Stone Earth spell, a bone-chilling cold suddenly spread. Before the ninth-level mage could react, the swamp was already frozen.

"This..." The ninth-level mage held the Stone Earth spell in his hand, unsure whether to release it or not. He was almost frustrated to the point of internal injury. The swamp was already frozen, so the Stone Earth spell would be meaningless, but not casting it would mean watching Fario freeze to death. Fario was someone the leader had specifically instructed to protect...

Fortunately, the ninth-level mage's dilemma didn't last long.

Because Lin Yun had already walked over.

"Why are you so free today, Uncle Fario?" Lin Yun walked along the path, not even looking at the ninth-level mage, and directly approached the frozen swamp, squatting down with a smile to look at Fario.

"You... you... let me out!" Fario had never been so embarrassed in his life. Most of his body was stuck in the frozen swamp, and the bone-chilling cold made his teeth chatter and his whole body feel like it was being cut by knives.

Moreover, he couldn't move or escape. After the swamp was completely frozen, it was as hard as steel. Not even a warrior below level ten could break free using just their physical strength.

"Of course, I can let you out, Uncle Fario, but I'm a bit confused. What's the meaning of you bringing so many people to surround my house today?"

"Arrest... arrest the thief, oh..." As soon as Fario spoke, he suddenly felt his feet give way, and he sank further into the swamp, causing him to wave his hands frantically: "Quick... quick, grab me, grab me!"

"Uncle Fario, you're not being honest, are you?" Lin Yun waited until only half of Fario's face was visible before slowly extending a hand to grab his collar: "A man of your generosity, why would you make such a fuss over a thief?"

"You... you pull me up first!" This time, Fario refused to say anything more.

As a result, Lin Yun didn't say anything more either and simply let go...

"Ahh..."

As soon as Lin Yun let go, Fario let out a scream, his fat hands flailing wildly, trying to grab onto something. After a struggle, he managed to grab the hem of Lin Yun's robe. This time, Fario refused to let go: "Mafa Merlin, I'm your uncle, you... you pull me up!"

"Alright, Fario, shut up!" The ninth-level mage, who had been watching coldly, couldn't stand it anymore. He raised his staff, and a vine grew beside the frozen swamp. Under the ninth-level mage's magical power, the vine grew to several meters long and as thick as a forearm.

Then, the vine whipped and coiled, pulling the struggling Fario out of the frozen swamp and placing him steadily on the ground.

"I haven't even asked you anything yet..." Lin Yun patted the dust off the hem of his robe, complaining a bit, but not really regretting it.

Because Lin Yun knew that in this matter, Fario was at most a messenger. No matter how much he pressed, he wouldn't get much information.

Besides, there was no rush. There was still a ninth-level mage...

The ninth-level mage had no idea that he was already considered the target for questioning. He was frowning, looking at the young mage who had caused him some trouble.

This young mage should be the owner of the house, Mafa Merlin, who looked to be around twenty years old. He was wearing a new black robe, indicating that he had recently advanced to the mage rank. From the two spells he cast earlier, he should be between levels three and six.

For a young man in his twenties, this level of strength was considered good, but only good. As a peak existence among mages, he could crush any mage below level nine.

So the ninth-level mage didn't bother to argue and directly said, "Mafa Merlin, hand over the deed to the house, and I can guarantee to let you and everyone in this house live."

"Let me think about it..." Lin Yun didn't refuse, but showed a bit of difficulty.

"You'd better think carefully. I rarely give people such a chance. I'll give you ten seconds to decide whether to die with the deed or hand it over and save your life."

"My point is, I need to think about whether to let you live..."

As soon as Lin Yun said this, the surroundings fell silent.

The ninth-level mage was stunned, almost unable to believe his ears. After several seconds of shock, he realized that he hadn't misheard. The young mage in his twenties had really said whether to let him live...

"You're asking for your own death!" The ninth-level mage took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, but his voice was already tinged with coldness.

The cold voice and the ashen face made even the trembling Fario realize that the ninth-level mage was truly enraged.

This was an obvious provocation. Even a peak existence among mages couldn't tolerate it, let alone an ordinary mage.

"Kill him!" The ninth-level mage waved his hand, and dozens of subordinates, all elite members of the Viper's Nest, moved simultaneously.

These were the elite of the Viper's Nest, with the weakest being at least level three, and the strongest already reaching level seven. This group of dozens was as powerful as a typical mercenary group. In the entire Thousand Sails City, only the top few forces or the Viper's Nest, which controlled the entire underworld, could casually dispatch such a powerful force.

The elite group consisted of warriors, thieves, and archers. As soon as the ninth-level mage gave the order, the warriors and thieves charged forward with weapons, while the archers quickly took advantageous positions and drew their bows, ready to fire as soon as the battle began, with arrows piercing the enemy's chest like venomous snakes.

As they charged forward, some of them even grumbled in their hearts, wondering if a young mage in his twenties really needed such elite forces from the Viper's Nest...

But soon, they didn't dare to think that way...

Because Lin Yun had already completed his first spell, and a Corrupted Swamp formed again, just ten meters in front of him. The dozen or so warriors with giant swords who had just charged forward suddenly felt their feet give way, and it was as if something was pulling them down, making their bodies sink quickly.

No one expected Lin Yun's casting speed to be so fast. A Corrupted Swamp is a third-level spell, and a typical mage would need at least twenty seconds to cast it, even a ninth-level mage would need nearly ten seconds.

But this Corrupted Swamp, from start to finish, took no more than five seconds.

What does this mean...

It's almost like an instant cast!

This incredibly fast Corrupted Swamp immediately disrupted the rhythm of the Viper's Nest group. The dozen or so warriors were stuck in the swamp, and the thieves hadn't even had time to form a包围. As for the archers, in their panic, their shots were even less accurate, and the dozen arrows fired didn't even touch Lin Yun's robe.

Worse still, Lin Yun completed his second spell at this moment!

The second spell was even faster than the first.

A completely instant cast, with no incantation or gesture, just a sharp ice spike...

A whistling sound was heard, and the ice spike, leaving a trail, instantly pierced the shoulder of an archer and, with the remaining momentum, deeply embedded itself in the tree trunk behind. Thus, the unfortunate archer was nailed to the tree, the advantageous position he had taken becoming his most hated place.

An ice spike as thick as a forearm piercing the shoulder and firmly nailed to the tree trunk was a pain that even the elite of the Viper's Nest could hardly endure. The piercing screams grew louder, making everyone shudder.

"Magic Conductivity?" The ninth-level mage was slightly stunned but quickly understood.