by Zhuang Bifan
The Heart-piercing Potion was one of the items that Lin Li could rely on when he agreed to collaborate with the Malfa Family and the Dark Blade. Who would know that the collaboration would be so fragile in front of self interests? It wasn't uncommon for collaborators to turn against one another after finding the treasure. If Lin Li didn't have weapons like this potion, he could have quit the collaboration long ago.
However, Lin Li was forced by the powerful attack from the Elemental Wyrm to take a dangerous risk and drink this Heart-piercing Potion which was fatal to mages. Thinking of the pain that he had to endure, he wasn't surprised that the Frost Domain would collapse. However, he didn't expect the Light and Darkness Domain to change.
In the battle with the elven mage Vidas in the Harvest Square, Lin Li had a breakthrough in the Light and Darkness Domain under great pressure, and was better at utilizing Holy Light and Gloomy Dark. Although he had created the Frost Domain by his own understanding of Laws, the Light and Darkness Domain supported by Holy Light and Gloomy Dark was much more stable.
Lin Li dared to drink this Heart-piercing Potion because he knew that Holy Light and Gloomy Dark would sustain the Light and Darkness Domain even when he couldn't use any mana. After all, while the Heart-piercing Potion was very powerful, Holy Light and Gloomy Dark were true miracles. However, the Light and Darkness Domain had changed now. He was very worried as he didn't know if this change was good or bad.
Even Lin Li couldn't make out the changes happening to him, let alone the projected avatar of the Elemental Wyrm. To the Wyrm, its opponent was just a mere human mage. It felt humiliating that it didn't manage to kill this mage even after such a long time.
Now, the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar was even more furious. At first, its magic attack could still shatter its opponent's magic defense. However, its magic disappeared in the air before it could even get near to its opponent now. The Elemental Wyrm's shadow roared, and the magical elements all around became more intense. Countless powerful spells gushed towards Lin Li.
However, the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar felt power merging from Lin Li's body immediately after that. Under the influence of this power, the magical elements all around didn't seem to be under the Wyrm's control anymore. The elements seemed to be frightened and gushed out.
As the magical elements started to escape, the power of the magic that the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar released decreased exponentially. In the blink of an eye, it realized that the magical elements had been depleted.
The Elemental Wyrm's mana was limitless because it possessed the Laws of the four elements. Thus, its source of power was the four magical elements in the world. However, it now couldn't absorb the slightest bit of magical elements no matter how hard it tried. Not to mention releasing magic, it was feeling a little tired just by flying.
Facing this kind of situation, the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar was no longer furious. It looked terrified and kept flapping its colorful wings, flying in circles as if trying to find its lost power. Unlike other Wyrms which had powerful bodies even if they couldn't use magical power anymore, the Elemental Wyrm didn't have much physical strength.
Lin Li's back which was arched due to the excruciating pain was slowly growing straight. He had finally endured the pain brought by the Heart-piercing Potion. He had an answer to the change in his Light and Darkness Domain now. Under the effect of the Heart-piercing Potion, the Light and Darkness Domain became a Magic-forbidding Domain.
A Magic-forbidding Domain would forbid all forms of magical elements. Thus, all kinds of magic would lose its effect inside this domain. This was a Warrior's heaven and a Mage's hell. However, Lin Li knew that this Magic-forbidding Domain was built upon the Heart-piercing Potion, and there was a time limit to this potion's effect. If he couldn't defeat the Elemental Wyrm's shadow before the Heart-piercing Potion lost its effect, his life would be in real danger.
However, it wasn't hard to deal with an Elemental Wyrm without mana. Lin Li curved his lips and smiled.
Just then, the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar's eyes were filled with terror and confusion. The raging flames on its body disappeared, and it yelped while waving its tiny claws frantically in the air. While a tiger without teeth could still use its claws and tail, an Elemental Wyrm without mana was weaker than a cat.
"After I've been beaten by you for so long, now it's my turn to beat you!" Lin Li took out a huge hammer from his back and tapped on the hammerhead. He said, "Connoris, stop pretending to be dead! Come and hit this Elemental Wyrm too! This is a rare opportunity!"
Connoris' voice rang in Lin Li's mind, though he sounded rather scornful. "Hmph, it's just a projected avatar, and not a real Elemental Wyrm. Back when I was a Soul Trader—"
However, Lin Li was just being courteous, and wasn't interested to listen to Connoris brag about his past glory at all. Before Connoris could finish his sentence, Lin Li cut him off mercilessly and said, "A real Elemental Wyrm? I don't want to accompany you if you want to die."
As a mage, Lin Li faced so many stares because he carried a hummer around. However, judging from the situation now, this hammer was finally useful. Though Lin Li was a mage, he was also a Smithing Guru. While his body strength couldn't match a Legendary Sword Sage's, he wouldn't lose out to a typical Warrior. Even without mana, it wasn't difficult for him to deal with this Elemental Wyrm using just physical strength.
The petite projected avatar of the Elemental Wyrm appeared to be more anxious, just as if it had felt Lin Li's killing intent. However, it was hard for it to even fly without mana. The transparent wings behind its back flapped hard, but still couldn't make it fly faster.
If there was a woman present, she would try her best to stop Lin Li from this violence. This was because the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar looked so pitiful without its raging flames, making any woman want to hug it tight and c.a.r.e.s.s it with love. She wouldn't let it experience the slightest pain, let alone to hit it with a hammer.
However, Lin Li wasn't an affectionate and caring person. He was furious because of the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar's magic attack bombardment just now. He even had to endure the excruciating pain brought by the Heart-piercing Potion because of this little bastard. Lin Li wanted to smash it flat with the hammer.
Lin Li held onto the Helios' Scepter with his left hand and carried the huge hammer with Connoris' soul using his right hand. With a step, his body shot out towards the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar like an arrow.
This was a ridiculous battle. A human Legendary-mage and an Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar which possessed the Laws of the four elements were having a physical fight in the valley. Of course, the situation was completely reversed. Lin Li hit the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar mercilessly with his hammer.
The Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar didn't have any chance to retaliate. It could only flap its wings with all its might, trying to leave this bizarre place as soon as possible. However, its flying speed was even slower than a person's walking speed. It was like a balloon floating slowing in midair.
"You want to run? No chance!" Lin Li gritted his teeth, and waved his huge hammer quickly.
The Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar yelped in pain. With the heavy hammer and Lin Li's physical strength as a Smithing Guru, every hit sent the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar into the air.
How could the bat-sized Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar endure such attacks? It was hit so many times it didn't know where to run. When it had finally come to its senses, Lin Li started his attacks again.
After a few hits, the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar already couldn't fly, and struggled on the ground pitifully. Its beautiful wings were torn and fractured, hanging uselessly on its back. Its adorable appearance now looked tragic. Its whimpers sounded so pitiful.
"Damn it! Stop pretending to be pitiful!" Lin Li wasn't deceived by this little thing's pitiful appearance. Once his Magic-forbidding Domain lost its effect, this little Wyrm would be mo
re ferocious than ever. If it was a typical magical beast, letting it go would possibly let him tame it. However, this little bastard was a projected avatar of an Elemental Wyrm, so it couldn't be tamed.
As a projected avatar of an Elemental Wyrm which was likely to be the Dragon of Dream, it was now hit continuously by a mere human mage using a hammer without any means of retaliation. If it hadn't been a projected avatar but a real Elemental Wyrm or the Dragon of Dream which was one of the five Dragon Aspects, it would have suicided because of humiliation.
Chapter 598 - Integration
Of course, Lin Li knew very well that his Magic-forbidding Domain wouldn't be so effective if it was used against a real Elemental Wyrm or the Dragon of Dream. Or rather, the domain wouldn't have any effect. Although he was oppressed by the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar since the start, he knew that it was just level-21 like himself.
It didn't mean that a person's level would definitely be high if his abilities were high. After all, personal level was just one factor. There were many other factors which affected one's abilities. For example, magical equipment, potions, scrolls, special techniques, and the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar's endless mana and ability to release magic in a split second.
Therefore, level didn't equate power. Wasn't Lin Li hitting the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar with a hammer now? Lin Li hypothesized that the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar was no more than level-21, because it could only release magic below level-20 instantaneously. Although there were powerful magic spells below level-20, the avatar didn't have to use such low-level magic given its endless mana if it was of a higher level.
Lin Li's Magic-forbidding Domain could be so effective because of the similar levels. If the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar had been one level higher, the outcome would've been totally different.
Lin Li hit the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar hard with the hammer. The originally arrogant avatar was now on the verge of death, and didn't even have the strength to yelp. The Elemental Wyrm was too weak physically. Without the support of the four magical elements, it was just an adorable but useless little thing. Unfortunately, it had met an incompassionate person like Lin Li.
With another hit of the hammer, this projected avatar of an Elemental Wyrm would disappear from Anril forever. However, Lin Li slowly withdrew his raised hammer. This wasn't because Lin Li suddenly became compassionate, but because it was an Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar. Though it was close to dying now, it wasn't Lin Li's personality to end its life like this.
"Connoris, give me an idea! How can I reuse this little thing?" Lin Li wasn't merciful regarding the projected avatar's life, but rather wanted to exploit every last bit of its value.
Although it was just a projected avatar, its true body was very likely to be one of the five Dragon Aspects—the Dragon of Dream. This was the origin of the magic of Anril. If Lin Li could use this power as his own, the advantages it would bring would be beyond imagination.
Although the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar was half dead now, it was obviously better than the Lord of Darkness's projected avatar. However, back at the Abyss of Tharlen, Lin Li possessed both the skeleton of the Dragon of Destruction and its Dragon Crystal, so he was able to seal the Lord of Darkness into the Dragon Crystal. However, Lin Li didn't have any parts of the Dragon of Dream. If he wanted to make use of this projected avatar, he had to ask Connoris for help.
Connoris was still a little unhappy that Lin Li had cut in just now. Hearing Lin Li's inquiry now, Connoris immediately got very proud. "Heh, heh! You still have to ask me in the end!"
Lin Li directly buried the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar's small body under the massive hammer, and said with annoyance, "Stop talking rubbish! I don't have much time left with this Magic-forbidding Domain. Do you know something or not?"
Although the Magic-forbidding Domain was derived from the Light and Darkness Domain, this change was brought about by the Heart-piercing Potion. Hence, once the effect of the Heart-piercing Potion was gone, Lin Li wouldn't be able to sustain this Magic-forbidding Domain. Perhaps he could obtain something new based on this experience in the future, but it was clearly impossible for him to reproduce another Magic-forbidding Domain immediately after the Heart-piercing Potion lost its effect.
Though the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar was half dead now, Lin Li knew that all its wounds would heal immediately and it'd become a ferocious flaming Wyrm once the four magical elements' power started to swarm in.
It would be good if Connoris had any ideas. However, if Connoris also didn't know what to do, Lin Li could only kill this Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar before the Magic-forbidding Domain lost its effect.
While Lin Li waited for Connoris' reply, the hammer that weighed down the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar suddenly fell to the ground with a thud. The originally half-dead projected avatar transformed into a strobe of light, and shot into the body of the hatching baby Elemental Wyrm with lightning speed.
Lin Li's face turned pale. This projected avatar was likely to belong to the Dragon of Dream. He could tell that the projected avatar possessed its own memories and consciousness from the battle earlier on. Now that the projected avatar entered the baby Elemental Wyrm's body, would the young Wyrm possess its memories as well?
Lin Li had fought so hard in this battle. He had released hundreds of ice walls and elemental shields, drunk the Heart-piercing Potion which almost gave him heart attack, and finally turned the tables. He thought that he could finally get a loyal baby Elemental Wyrm as his pet now, but… but they integrated into one in the end!
The most painful thing in the world was probably to see an obtainable great advantage disappear. Lin Li stared at the beam of light and regretted his greediness deeply. He was too greedy to want both the baby Elemental Wyrm and its projected avatar. If he had known that everything would become like this, he would have killed that projected avatar with his hammer. At least he could've got an Elemental Wyrm that way.
Connoris was silent now, fearing that Lin Li would blame him for not replying in time. If he was Lin Li, he would not be able to accept the fact that he had lost the chance to tame a baby Elemental Wyrm as well.
The valley was very quiet. Although the Elemental Wyrm's projected avatar only aimed at Lin Li, the environment in this place was totally different from before. Green grass and wildflowers were all gone. Fire magic could be seen all around, making the ground become hard and shiny like crystals. There was a patch of green grass and some still standing trees only inside the circle of brilliance around the baby Elemental Wyrm.
Lin Li wasn't willing to go back empty-handed like this. He'd had the opportunity to get this rare baby Elemental Wyrm that was likely to be a descendant of the Dragon of Dream. However, because of his greediness at the moment, he'd lost this precious opportunity. This difference in outcome was so huge that even a Sanctuary-realm powerhouse might not be able to accept it calmly.
Although Lin Li wasn't stingy, he wasn't willing to do a losing business. Not to mention the fierce battle just now or the pain caused by the Heart-piercing Potion, just the price of the Heart-piercing Potion was enough for his heart to ache for a while. After all, Lin Li had used half of a precious black lotus flower and other precious ingredients to concoct the potion. To calculate his expenses, although he had only brought Norfeller along for this trip to the Haiga Mountain Range, Lin Li had spent no less than the other two factions.
The effect of the Heart-piercing Potion was gone, and the Magic-forbidding Domain slowly returned to the original Light and Darkness Domain. The mana shackled in Lin Li's body was also released, and he felt much more comfortable. After experiencing great pain, he should have been happy that his mana was back. However, in front of such great loss, everything else became insignificant, and Lin Li felt empty.
While Lin Li was feeling very disappointed, the magical waves started to fluctuate. Lin Li was stunned. The baby Elemental Wyrm had obviously started to absorb large
amounts of magical elements. In other words, this was the last moment before this baby Elemental Wyrm awakened.
The baby Elemental Wyrm had been absorbing magical elements all this while. However, if it had been absorbing just a stream of elements so far, then it was absorbing a sea of elements now. In the center of the only remaining spot of green, a gigantic magical element vortex formed. Even those trees slanted in the direction of the swirl as if they were uprooted.
Lin Li didn't need to feel with his mental strength anymore. This intense elemental storm was so strong that he could feel it with his skin. The world seemed to collapse at that moment. The sleeping baby Elemental Wyrm was like a black hole, and all the magical elements gushed towards it.
Lin Li knew that this was the most critical moment. If he were to wait for the baby Elemental Wyrm to complete its absorption of magical elements, he would have no chance to turn the tables.
Thinking of this, Lin Li couldn't bother about anything else, and injected his own mana and mental strength continuously into the baby Elemental Wyrm's body despite the risk of the bite of mana. Lin Li didn't want to give up just like this. Even if the baby Elemental Wyrm was likely to possess the projected avatar's memories, it might still be affected by Lin Li's mana and mental strength that he'd inject. Perhaps it was now a wild wish to get this baby Elemental Wyrm. However, it was still comforting if he could get some connection with the Wyrm.
However, Lin Li was confused shortly after. He had to be really unlucky today. With one wrong step, every step afterwards was wrong as well. At first, he could still control the injection of mana. However, he lost his control within seconds. An uncontrollable power now made his mana swarm out of his body involuntarily.