Chapter 23

Everyone is a mage, how could he not know what kind of spell requires how much time?

Just now, that corrupted swamp was already very abnormal, completing a third-level spell in just five seconds. Even as a ninth-level mage, he couldn't possibly do that, let alone the fact that the ice spike afterward didn't even have a spell incantation. This is undoubtedly a hundred percent a mage's ability to instantly cast spells.

However, having a mage's ability to instantly cast spells is nothing special. Who among mages above the fifth level doesn't have one or two such abilities? It's just that they generally don't use them casually. The massive mana consumption brought by the mage's ability to instantly cast spells is something that ordinary mages can't bear, and they wouldn't use it unless in a critical situation.

Like this Mafa Merlin, using two mage's abilities right from the start, in the eyes of top-tier mages, he is nothing but a complete novice. Using up his strongest trump card right from the start, what can he use to turn the tide when he falls into a dangerous situation?

Of course, these experiences are something that a ninth-level mage wouldn't tell the other party.

Now, what the ninth-level mage needs to do is to use the staff in his hand to let the other party know that the consequences of angering a ninth-level mage are not something just anyone can bear.

Then, the ninth-level mage began to chant the spell.

This time, he did not use any mage's ability, nor did he even accelerate the spell by driving the magic vortex. He wanted to defeat the other party with a fair and square fight, to let the other party understand that the world of magic is so strictly hierarchical. A difference of one level is like a vast gap, not something that can be easily made up with just a couple of mage's abilities.

The ninth-level mage chanted a Thundercloud Storm, a spell with a casting time of twenty seconds and a massive mana output, making it one of the most powerful spells below the level of a grand mage.

As the ninth-level mage chanted the spell, the originally clear sky gradually became overcast with dark clouds. Lightning was gathering in the dark clouds, and the intense electrical fluctuations emitted a "crackling" sound...

The power of the Thundercloud Storm was so terrifying that even though the spell was not yet completed, the mere sight of it was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

But all of this seemed to have no effect on Lin Yun.

Lin Yun still stood at the other end of the corrupted swamp, looking as relaxed as if he hadn't seen the dark clouds above his head. He raised his hand, and another ice spike flew out with a whistling sound, again without any incantation or gesture, and again pinned a bowman to the tree trunk behind him...

"How can he still have mana?" The ninth-level mage, who was in the middle of casting, couldn't help but frown.

It seems I need to hurry...

The ninth-level mage quietly drove the magic vortex to accelerate the spell.

However, just as he drove the magic vortex, the young mage released another ice spike...

Another bowman was pinned to the tree trunk, making it the third one.

At this moment, the ninth-level mage was a bit regretful. If he had known that the other party had such abundant mana, enough to support four mage's abilities, he wouldn't have used normal casting. This way, he could at least have saved the third bowman.

No, I have to be even faster!

But Lin Yun was faster...

Because another ice spike followed immediately.

One, one, and another...

The ninth-level mage hadn't even finished the Thundercloud Storm, but Lin Yun had already pinned over a dozen bowmen to the tree trunks. After finishing this, Lin Yun even had the time to cast a Frost spell, freezing the dozen warriors in the swamp just like he did to Fario.

"..."

The powerful Thundercloud Storm was completed, but the ninth-level mage was completely stunned, his face blank, his eyes wide, and he even forgot to cast the completed Thundercloud Storm. He stood there in a daze, looking at the young mage in his twenties with a look of fear and dread...

This young mage had just released over a dozen instant ice spikes, pinning over a dozen bowmen to the tree trunks.

What does this mean...

The ninth-level mage asked himself, his strength was pretty good, and he could complete a Thundercloud Storm in twenty seconds, but to release over a dozen instant ice spikes in one go, the ninth-level mage didn't even dare to think about it. This was something that couldn't be done at the mage level, whether using a mage's ability or normal casting, it was impossible.

The ninth-level mage even thought that even ordinary grand mages couldn't do it. Only those who had been grand mages for many years and were preparing to break through to the level of a high mage might be able to complete over a dozen instant ice spikes in just twenty seconds.

But now, a young mage in his twenties had done it right in front of him.

The ninth-level mage knew he had hit a hard wall.

A mage with such casting ability could easily kill him. Not just him, but even the entire Viper's Nest would probably not be taken seriously by this person.

What to do...

The Thundercloud Storm, ready to be unleashed, was still flashing with lightning in the sky, dark clouds covering the sky, thunder rolling. All it needed was to break the last rune, and this powerful spell would level everything within dozens of meters.

But the ninth-level mage swallowed the last rune hard.

The casting ability the other party had just shown was too despairing...

The ninth-level mage didn't even dare to have the thought of struggling, standing there in a daze, his eyes full of fear and helplessness. At this moment, he didn't look like a powerful mage at the peak of his career, but more like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"Come in with me." After dealing with the dozen bowmen, Lin Yun didn't continue to make things difficult for the others. He just waved his hand, indicating that the ninth-level mage should follow him in.

Of course, there was no need to make things difficult for the others. At this moment, even the ninth-level mage was scared stiff, and anyone who dared to argue would be either a fool or a madman. Even Fario, who had a particularly loud voice today, was now hiding on the side, not daring to breathe loudly.

Lin Yun and the ninth-level mage entered the main door, just in time to meet the old butler, who looked anxious.

"Master, this time Fario brought a lot of people over. They didn't make things difficult for you, did they?"

Hearing the old butler's question, the ninth-level mage felt like dying. Sir, can you please look more carefully? Outside, there are over a dozen warriors frozen in the swamp, and over a dozen bowmen hanging from the trees. Who is making things difficult for whom?

"No problem, I'll send them away in a bit. By the way, Uncle Pavi, can you get us some food? I haven't eaten anything since early this morning..."

"Alright, you two find a place to sit, and I'll have someone bring you some food."

After dismissing the old butler, Lin Yun led the ninth-level mage into the study.

"Introduce yourself first."

"Yes, yes..." The ninth-level mage stood there, trembling with fear, afraid of accidentally angering this powerful mage with terrifying casting ability. Hearing Lin Yun's question, he didn't dare to hide anything: "My name is Larry, one of the four deputy leaders of the Viper's Nest. I am forty years old and reached the ninth level two years ago..."

"Alright, stop there..." Lin Yun didn't have time to listen to his rambling. After confirming his name and identity, he directly interrupted the other party: "Tell me, Mage Larry, what do you mean by surrounding my house with so many people?"

"About this..."

"By the way, don't say anything about catching thieves."

"I dare not, I dare not..." Larry really didn't dare. The dozen bowmen were still hanging on the trees outside. How many guts did Larry have to use the excuse of catching thieves? After a brief hesitation, he began to confess: "This time, it was Boss Soss who sent us, mainly to protect Fario..."

"Protect?"

Seeing Lin Yun's face turn a bit unfriendly, Larry's heart skipped a beat and quickly explained: "No, no, not just protect. Boss Soss said that if necessary, we can use force, the purpose is for this house!"

"What does your boss Soss want with this house?"

"About this... I'm not quite sure."

"You're not quite sure?"

"Really, I really don't know!" Larry was suddenly a bit anxious, afraid that if the other party got angry, he would be in big trouble: "Boss Soss always does things like this, rarely telling us the real reason. Before we came out this time, he only told us that we must take this house no matter what."

"Must take this house, huh..." Lin Yun nodded, not saying anything more.

With the dozen bowmen as an example, this Larry shouldn't dare to lie to him, meaning he really didn't know what secret this house had. This answer was somewhat surprising to Lin Yun. The ninth-level mage's status was already quite high, being one of the four deputy leaders of the Viper's Nest, a true core member. If even he didn't know, then there was only one possibility...

The secret of this house was extremely shocking, shocking enough that even a ninth-level mage didn't have the qualifications to be involved. Those who could be involved were at least grand mages, or even high mages.

It seems that this Mafa Merlin didn't understand his father well enough.

In Mafa Merlin's memory, Rog Merlin was just a simple merchant. Although monopolizing the alchemy business gave him vast wealth, it didn't reach the level where he could directly converse with grand mages or high mages.

But now, it seems that's not the case.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Yun waved his hand: "Alright, Mage Larry, you can go."

"Ah?" Since the "not quite sure" comment, Larry had been on edge, his mind filled with all sorts of thoughts about how this young mage would deal with him—whether through severe interrogation or killing to silence him. Just thinking about these terrifying possibilities made Larry's legs go weak.

Suddenly hearing that he could go, Larry was really taken aback. He stood there in a daze for a long time, blinking his eyes, and asked in disbelief: "You just said... I... I can go?"

"Yes, Mage Larry, you can go. Before you leave, remember to clean up the entrance."

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