This was a difference in philosophy, and one where Magi had the most varied opinions!
For this reason, even if Leylin changed his meditation technique to train in Sacred Flame, he would definitely not be enlightened and might even cause significant damage to his sea of consciousness due to the technique itself.
However, Leylin was still drooling at the mouth within his heart about this ability.
Even though the prophecies might be false, under many circumstances they were important references and supplementary information sources.
“Perhaps after completing the Sacred Flame technique and propagating it, I can strip off some of the power from the people who have cultivated in it and create some some item with magical properties.”
Leylin suddenly came up with an idea, and the moment it was formed, it took root deep in his mind.
“Exactly! If I do this, while training, I can still see the situation and obtain information firsthand and constantly perfect the technique. Even if I fail, I’ll only lose some spiritual force and a bunch of resources, but I won’t suffer much damage. If I succeed, I’ll be the envy of even rank 3 Magi.”
The carriage passed a hill with no troubles and then came to a field.
James and Baelin, who had been extremely nervous and on edge the entire time, heaved sighs of relief.
It was impossible for them to be ambushed on flat ground, which was why they could relax.
*Lu lu!*
Just as Leylin was pondering about his thoughts, the sounds of horses galloping from a far distance could be heard. A bright ray of light appeared on the horizon far away, and it quickly turned into a black cloud.
Many Knights wearing black leather armour on dark horses charged swiftly like a hurricane. They held onto the reins with their right hands and in their left hands they held onto blazing torches.
Very soon, many Knights surrounded the small horse carriage that Baelin’s party was in.
“Garrison troops from the Lilan castle? Madmen! Crazy! They actually deployed troops to surround us…”
There was incomparable fear on James’ face before it quickly turned into despair.
Magi were extremely powerful and could regard regular humans as ants. However, this scenario of surrounding regular people using troops was different.
To high level Magi, no matter how many regular humans there were, it was but one more death word for them. Just the radiation emitted from Magi’s bodies would leave the regular humans to die in anguish.
However, James, who was an acolyte, did not have such terrifying strength.
He had once thought of a scenario: if he were faced with a hundred or less troops, he could deploy guerilla warfare and kill them all. However, if there were more, he would not be able to do that.
Earthquake
A Magus’ spiritual force and magic power were not infinite.
Even if they had extraordinary strength, they would still suffer from natural limitations.
Even if James was a level 3 acolyte, when faced with a troop of a hundred elite soldiers, he could only retreat.
The opponent’s side had too many people, and even if they lined up for him to kill them, his pitiful amount of spiritual force and magic power would not be sufficient to kill them all.
And if these soldiers were all replaced with cavalrymen?
Hopelessness had already started invading James’ heart. Being surrounded by that many cavalryman, the most he could do was to escape by himself with that magic artifact of his, leaving behind Jenny.
But, we have Lord Leylin with us now. There shouldn’t be any problem.
James glanced at Leylin and forced himself to calm down.
A situation where a squadron composed of magicians and civilian troops fighting each other has never before occurred in the history of Twilight Zone.
After all, no lord would stupidly provoke an official Magus.
Moreover, as far as Magi were concerned, they could use stealth and cast spells and could easily end the life of the perpetrator, so why should he unnecessarily waste his time?
If Lord Leylin really was an official Magus, then they need not be worried about this danger.
James inwardly comforted himself with these encouraging thoughts, and then he heard Baelin’s nervous, almost-filled-with-fear voice asking, “Who are you all?”
Although he had advanced and become a Grand Knight, but it was evident that his attitude had not adjusted to this fact. After looking at the expressionless and dense army, the small city resident’s heart welled up with fear.
With the horses neighing in the background, a small path opened up among the ranks of the calvary. An old fellow wearing a black Chinese suit, and with the mark of a human skull on his forehead, walked out.
“Rhodes, it really is you! You went as far as to dare station some troops here, are you not worried about being punished?” The expression on James’ face was an odd mixture of fury and regret.
“My beloved older brother, it is me!” Rhodes sneered.
“Older brother?” The stunned Baelin had only now discovered that if that sinister mark branded on Rhodes’ face was removed, he would closely resemble James.
“We are all employed by the Argus Family. Thus, there is no need for the soldiers to face off against each other with swords.” James tried one last compromise.
“Brother James! It’s because I want to prove that I’m better than you! Even in the aspect of choosing my leader! It will definitely be the next head of the Argus Family!”
Rhodes’ expression seemed to express a deep-rooted hatred.
“If it is about the matter that happened during our childhood years, I will apologize to you for that. I can even kneel before you. Nevertheless, Rhodes, one must not enter this vortex, as it can kill you…”
“Heehihihiheee… saying these things now, what’s the use?”
Rhodes gave an eerie smile and came over.
“All of you… Annoying!” Leylin, who was in front of the carriage, frowned, expressing his dissatisfaction.
Just as he had thought over and improved his plan, it was suddenly disrupted by this Rhodes and soon, an evil fire approached Rhodes.
“Is this Lord Leylin?”
Rhodes gave a deep bow. In front of this person who had a high certainty of being an official Magus, he did not dare to be disrespectful.
“This is an internal affair of the Argus Family. Moreover, our family’s Lord Siegfried is also a respected Lord Magus. He also wishes he can meet you…”
“No! You lie! Grandpa Siegfried has been deceived by you.”
Leylin still did not respond. Jenny jumped up, in a straight sudden manner like the tail of a kitten when it was frightened or angry.
“The official Magus of the Argus Family is known as Siegfried, eh? It seems he is the common ancestor for both these troops…”
Leylin felt some pity for this Magus.
His own descendants, for the sake of gaining power, were beating up each other. Maybe all of this gives him a headache. Or maybe he doesn’t care about such things.
After all, a Magus’ lifespan was very long. By the time a few generations have passed by, whatever affection and such emotions that said Magus had towards his family would have become very diluted
“I do not care who has Siegfried’s backing, but, I believe you are blocking my way. Now, step aside at once!”
Leylin frankly chided him. The one Rhodes mentioned was just a level 1 Magus, who certainly couldn’t induce fear in him, but he was extremely disgusted with Rhodes’ attitude.
“Hic……” This kind of scolding, clearly made Rhodes feel deflated and he stood there looking foolishly around him. His face also turned red.
His every effort and achievements were like jokes in the eyes of his family.
This is unfair! Again I hear such a tone. And again I am being subjected to such an expression. And in my childhood, my older brother was also the same. Why is he stronger than me in everything? W
hy do all the good things happen to him and not me?
Rhodes’s eyes turned redder.
Moreover, it isn’t clear whether that Leylin is an official Magus or not. There exists a probability that he is just someone that slut Jenny hired to scare me.
Rhodes firmly waved his hand, “Charge!”
The multitude soldiers received the order and immediately charged forth.
Even if you are an official Magus, so what? Facing so many Knights, your spiritual force wouldn’t last long. After this mission is done with, if worst comes to worst, I will just hide myself within the Argus Family and live comfortably. Anyways, with me under Lord Siegfried’s protection, what can you do?
Rhodes eyed Leylin resolutely, his face turning the shade of an abnormally faint red.
“My lord! Jenny! You both please go ahead.” Baelin then pulled out his long sword and his whole body swelled up like a balloon. He resembled a small giant as he blocked the carriage from harm.
After the enemy made their charge, he made his battle preparations and roused the secret Knight techniques that Leylin had instructed him in.
Also, the reason behind Rhodes’s unusual facial change was immediately accurately revealed within Leylin’s eyes.
“His pupils are unusually dilated. The blood flow in his brain has accelerated by 34%, a clear symptom of damage to his spirit.”
Seeing the deranged-looking Rhodes, Leylin was somewhat clear on why the opponent was acting so unbridled.
The studies of Magi were extremely dangerous. Any forms of expression could very well sacrifice the Magus’ life into it. Furthermore, once there was a slight mistake in important matters that concerned the consciousness, meditation, and spiritual force, many detrimental outcomes could be created.
This Rhodes, clearly received some harm to his sea of consciousness when he advanced to become a level 3 acolyte. He cannot completely control his spirit and his emotions, and so he appears rather nervous.
However, the reason why Rhodes went mad is only a small matter. Leylin only gave him a slight gaze before he focused his attention on the charging cavalry, his mouth displaying a slight sneer.
The charging troops had approximately 200 people. It seems as if the entirety of the Lilan Castle had come to battle. All of them had donned excellent quality armor and the pikes and huge battle axes they wielded carried a sharp, cold glint.
Two hundred mounts charged forth and the ground started to quake and under this mighty launch, Baelin only resembled a small, bemused ant.
This kind of battle formation would even cause a Magus to frown, but Leylin stood calmly as if nothing of importance was happening.
“Why do you all always use a common man’s way of thinking against a Magus?”
He lightly sighed and a faint khaki-colored light fell to the ground from his hands.
*Hissssss!* This light was as tiny as a firefly, and it looked as if a puff of breath blown on it would extinguish it.
After the khaki-colored light appeared on the ground, it promptly vanished from sight, as if it had fused into the soil and immediately ripples of tremors began to disperse out from the place where the light blended into the soil.
*Bang! Boom! Boom! Bang! Bang!*
The tremors began to extend in all directions as if several dominoes had been struck down, and the tremors gained and dispersed more and more power. Finally, there even occurred an earthquake.
*Crrrrrrrrrackkk!* The ground began to split open. The huge shockwaves made the Knights feel as if they were caught in the crossfire of bullets.
The surroundings quickly looked like as if there were waves from the sea surging forth causing continuous tremors.
“Argh!” “Earthquake!” “My horse” “Save me, my legs are broken!”
The rifts began to open from the Knight at the forefront before they soon covered the ground of where the whole cavalry was.
Along with the tremors, many horses stumbled and even threw their Knights atop them down.
The ear-splitting bone cracks, the neighing of the horses were all covered by the tremors that the earthquake caused. Only Baelin and James with a certain level of physical ability could barely make out the noise.
*Rumble*
The shock wave swept away all the soldiers and still continued on further till they dissipated.
As for the consumption of this spell, it was barely five spiritual force points.
Magi wielded intelligence! Not brute strength! What Leylin did earlier was to calculate the conditions of the surroundings, before using very little force to cause a devastating earthquake using the butterfly effect.
Just one strike! A crushing defeat! More than two hundred cavalrymen were now dead. The wails of the injured and broken bits of limbs left Rhodes in utter shock.
“He…How can he be this powerful?”
Rhodes roared within his heart before he frantically turned away to escape.
“Baelin! Go capture him!” Leylin pointed at Rhodes. However, Baelin stood there stupefied, not moving an inch.
“Aren’t you going?” Leylin flicked his finger, only to have a translucent palm slap the back of Baelin’s head.
“Oh! Okay!” Only then did Baelin regain his senses, running towards the direction Rhodes had escaped in.
“Mister Leylin! No, Lord Leylin! Pardon my presumptuous question… But what is your rank as an official Magus?”
Just then, James paid his respects to Leylin using the most revered formality, with Jenny following suit behind.
“Me?” Leylin grinned, “I’m just a rank 1 Magus who is shuffling his feet in front of the door of truth…”
“So you are indeed an official Magus! Please pardon our disrespect to you earlier!”
After hearing the words from Leylin’s own mouth, Jenny and James sighed in relief. They once again bowed to Leylin before an uncontrollable glee filled their eyes.
Weeping Ghost Grounds
“My Lord! I’ve captured that old man!”
Along with Baelin’s voice, there was a low thud as if someone was being tossed to the ground.
“Alright. Let’s go see your little brother!”
Leylin laughed and left first, with James and Jenny trailing behind him.
Outside the carriage, Baelin was holding a large steel sword, his clothes tattered, thus revealing his firm muscles, and his skin also seemed to be glistening. He was staring at the old man in black clothing.
The old man still had the brand of a black skull on his face. This was naturally Rhodes, who had just escaped.
If one talked about strength, this level 3 acolyte wouldn’t be so easily taken down by Baelin, a Grand Knight. However, Leylin had first done something to Rhodes’ body, and Rhodes himself had lost confidence after seeing how terrifying Leylin was. This was how he had been able to be captured by Baelin and brought here.
“My lord, how should we deal with him?”
Baelin swung his large sword at Rhodes, an evil grin on his face.
However, knowing Baelin, he was simply intimidating Rhodes.
Seeing his brother who had chosen to embark on the wrong path, James’ expression was complicated, a few times he opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut up. After all, Leylin was the one in charge here. Besides, Rhodes had been caught by Leylin’s disciple, so he did not have the authority to deal with his brother.
“You- You can’t kill me!” Rhodes gasped, body seemingly tied up by an invisible rope. Blood rushed up to his face, leaving him flushed.
“Oh? And why is that?” Leylin asked with a smile.
“I- I’m part of the Argus family! If you kill me, Master Siegfried won’t let you off,” Rhodes answered while struggling.
“Dream on!” Before he even finished speaking, he was interrupted by Jenny.
The young girl’s face was filled with contempt, “You’re just the conferred title of a subject in the family. Even if you’re a level 3 acolyte, who do you think Master Siegfried would choose to l
isten to, an official Magus or an acolyte?”
These words were like a sharp arrow, directly piercing into Rhodes’ heart and causing him to turn pale.
As long as these conferred subjects did not possess any land, to put things nicely, they could be said to be subjects of the family. In reality, they were high-grade servants of the Argus Family, and this was also Rhodes’ position.
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