Elsewhere, the 1,000-meters-tall fire giant descended from the sky and landed heavily on the ground, smashing countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants dead. While hiding between the fire giant’s brows, Meng Lei controlled the massive creature and began to launch attacks.
Boom!
The fire giant opened its mouth wide. Like mortar bombs, dozens of huge fireballs shot out of its mouth in succession and raked the area in a frenzy.
Countless Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants perished amid several deafening explosions.
Then, the fire giant raised its football field-sized palm and smacked downward viciously.
Boom!
A large expanse of ants died under its palm, and the bottom of the pit was charred black and full of carcasses.
Boom!
The giant opened its mouth again. A 100-meters-long fire dragon charged into the ant tide army, blasting and bombarding the area with explosions. With that, another large expanse of ants died.
“Ding!”
“Ding!”
“Ding!”
And just like that, the fire giant began a frenzied massacre, be it Buddha’s Palm1, releasing fire dragons from its mouth, trampling on them with its enormous feet, or shooting bursts of fireballs like cannonballs...
After a consecutive series of attacks, innumerable ravines, voids, seas of fire, and craters appeared among the ocean of ants...
The ant tide was practically riddled with holes, the sight too horrific to behold.
“How savage!”
“That’s so goddamn savage!”
Everyone’s hearts pounded intensely, finding the sight alarming to lay eyes upon. As the fire giant rampaged its way through, the number of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants that perished on the spot was immeasurable.
A massacre... This was completely a goddamn massacre!
This massacre lasted continuously for a few minutes before the fire giant finally gradually dissipated.
“Phew! It’s finally over!”
“I totally broke out in cold sweat because of that!”
Just as everyone heaved a small sigh of relief, white flower petals suddenly began to rain from the sky. An infinite number of petals filled the sky, enveloping the whole place in white.
Was this the beautiful landscape of the northern lands where everything was frozen in ice for a thousand miles, and snow fell everywhere that the eye could see?
Yet...
When these white petals landed on the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants, it was as if sparks of fire had landed on petrol. With a deafening boom, the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants began to burn as though they’d been set ablaze.
One, two, three...
Wherever the petals landed, everything began to burn. The entire area within several kilometers turned into a sea of fire.
All the Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants within the area began to burn by themselves. The sight was much quieter than when the fire giant was massacring them, but it was also much more peculiar and made the onlookers’ scalps go numb.
At the sight of such a terrifying scene, everyone felt their hair stand on end, and all of them involuntarily looked at the tops of their heads. It was only after they were sure that none of the petals had landed on them that they finally heaved a small sigh of relief.
Phew, good thing there aren’t any petals there!
“What spell is that?” asked someone in a low voice.
“I don’t recognize it! It doesn’t seem like there’s a spell like that in all the written records of ninth-grade spells?”
“There isn’t? Try and recall properly...”
Marchioness Cesia turned to Dirk Norway and asked, “Mr. Dirk, do you know of that spell?”
“No, I don’t!”
Dirk Norway gave her a resigned smile and replied, “If my guess is correct, that is probably an original ninth-grade spell. I never thought that this child, Meng Lei, can even create original ninth-grade spells now! I... can’t compare to him!”
“An original ninth-grade spell?”
A huge jolt went through Cesia’s form, and a hint of horror surfaced in her eyes.
Chapter 108: 100 Types of First-Class Spells, The Nine Spells
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The rain of fire petals pitter-pattered as they fell, tranquil and quiet.
However, the spectators’ hearts were not peaceful. In particular, the hearts of Dirk Norway and Marchioness Cesia, the two ninth-grade experts, were even like stormy seas.
Casting ninth-grade spells and creating original ninth-grade spells were two entirely different concepts.
The former was simple. As long as one could become a Great Ninth-Grade Magician, they’d be able to achieve this. In fact, if they were willing to pay a huge price, they could even cast first-class spells.
However, creating original ninth-grade spells was something completely different.
Ninth-grade spells were the highest grade of normal spells. Even typical Great Ninth-Grade Magicians would find it very difficult to create original ninth-grade spells.
How many magic elements must they gather?
How should the magic elements be arranged?
How to use spiritual power to manipulate them?
...
All of these put a Great Magician’s understanding of magic elements and the universe’s momentum to an extremely great test. Without a certain level of expertise, if one wanted to create original ninth-grade spells... That was nothing more than just daydreaming!
At the very least, Dirk Norway considered that something that he himself was unable to achieve.
“Mr. Dirk, that student of yours is too out of this world!”
Marchioness Cesia took a deep breath and then asked, “From how the other students sounded, that student of yours is still a first-year newbie?”
“Yes!”
“How old is he this year?”
“Not yet 16!”
“N-not yet 16?”
A shiver coursed through Cesia, and she almost wet herself.
A Great Ninth-Grade Magician that wasn’t even 16 years of age?
Was he really human?
Elsewhere, the rain of fire petals continued to fall quietly, burning large patches of Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants dead. It was hard for anyone to tell for sure just how many had died.
Even Meng Lei could only see his Wealth value increasing furiously, too. Since his arrival at North River Pass till now, his Wealth value had already doubled and successfully broken past the... two billion mark!
“This feels awesome! This feeling is simply too awesome!”
Meng Lei had a look of revelry on his face as he stood proudly in the sky, taking in the caress of the breeze and admiring the beautiful scene of a blazing sea of fire burning the ants.
Controlling great power simply felt wonderful!
Reducing everything into dust in just a split second!
Turning the whole place into a sea of fire with a wave of his arm!
Burning everything with a flick of his wrist!
This feeling was simply too marvelous!
“Brat, my Doomsday Rain of Fire is pretty awesome, right?”
Ol’ Amos floated beside Meng Lei, stroking his beard as he watched the swirling white petals in the air. His face was filled with gratification and delight.
There was nothing that could make one happier than seeing the spell that they had created shine with dazzling brilliance.
“Hehe, it can’t get any more impressive than that!” Meng Lei nodded incessantly as he lavished generous praise and admiration on the spell. “It looks tranquil and quiet, yet it burns everything away soundlessly. It combines both beauty and violence and is also full of poetic beauty. It can be said to be a masterpiece of fire.”
“Of course! Don’t you know who the one that created it is?”
Ol’ Amos was in such a fantastic mood that snot bubbles were almost forming at his nostrils. He said smugly, “At least
you have a bit of an eye for things and are discerning enough. However, Doomsday Rain of Fire is just a typical spell and can’t be considered a masterpiece yet!”
“Even this isn’t considered a masterpiece yet?”
Meng Lei was shocked.
“What’s the big deal about it?” Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and smiled as he said, “When I was trapped underground all those years, I liked to brainstorm and conceptualize whenever I was bored. I’ve created so many water-elemental and fire-elemental spells that just first-class spells alone already come up to 100 different types. What does Doomsday Rain of Fire even count as?”
“100 different types of first-class spells?”
Meng Lei swallowed hard, a hint of greed flashing across his eyes. “Ol’ President, you’re simply so impressive. My feelings of admiration toward you are like the gushing rivers, endless and eternal. They are like the overflowing North River, beyond control once the floodgates open—”
“Stop!” Ol’ Amos glared at him. “Don’t you dare think that I don’t know what you’re up to. I’ll have you know that those original spells are my precious babies, so don’t you dare covet them.”
“Is that what you think of me, Ol’ President?”
Meng Lei was rather indignant. He said, “I’ll admit that I certainly do want to learn those spells, but it’s all for your sake, isn’t it?”
“For my sake?” Ol’ Amos scoffed.
“Think about it. Even though you’ve created so many great and amazing spells, no one knows about them. Don’t you find that a pity?
“And that’s not all!”
With a regretful look, Meng Lei went on. “If! If you die someday, won’t all these spells that you’ve created completely die out? What a huge shame that would be!”
(⊙o⊙)
Ol’ Amos was taken aback.
“Sigh! Those are the fruits of your intellectual labor that you’ve made painstaking efforts on, spent an infinite amount of sweat, blood, and tears on, and worn out a countless amount of brain cells in order to create so laboriously, you know!”
Meng Lei thumped his chest and stamped his feet in regret, and said plaintively, “Should they disappear along with you, it’ll practically be the most serious and the most tragic loss to the whole Heaven’s Vault Continent’s history of magic!”
“This...”
Ol’ Amos’ countenance also changed as he tugged on his beard.
What this boy is saying... does make some sense. If I die, won’t these spells that I’ve created be lost to the world? How can that do?
Ol’ Amos glared at Meng Lei and asked, “What do you think I should do, then?”
“You can impart them to me!” Meng Lei gave him a sincere look. “I will build upon them and let them flourish. Let their great name be known throughout Heaven’s Vault Continent! And let your fruits of intellectual labor forever shine in the history of magic and be passed on for all generations to come!”
“You’re right. They should be passed on.” Ol’ Amos repeatedly nodded, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. “They can’t die out just like that!”
“Yes, yes!”
Joy surfaced on Meng Lei’s face.
Hehe, I’ve succeeded!
Innumerable spells and up to 100 first-class spells... Those are priceless treasures! You can’t buy them even if you have the money!
“But why must I impart them to you?” Ol’ Amos looked at Meng Lei and said, “I can totally make them into magic scrolls and gift them to the academy so that more people can learn them. Wouldn’t that let them flourish even better? And let me shine in the history of magic even more?”
(⊙o⊙)
Meng Lei’s expression froze.
“Hehe! Thinking of tricking this old man? You’re still too young!”
Upon seeing Meng Lei’s constipated expression, Ol’ Amos burst into laughter. He had finally vented some of his frustration. After being astounded by Meng Lei so many times for so long, his heart had finally received some consolation.
Now, that wasn’t easy.
“Ol’ President, you’re really so...”
Black lines filled Meng Lei’s face.
This old geezer is actually playing dumb! How goddamn infuriating!
“Alright, stop looking at me like that.” An amused Ol’ Amos mock-chided him, “You’re the only descendant I have. Who am I going to impart them to, if not you? Am I supposed to impart them to other people?”
“Hehe, I knew it!”
Meng Lei rejoiced again.
“Cut the crap! Hurry and clean up the ant tide.” Ol’ Amos waved him off, somewhat impatient. “Wipe them out as soon as possible and look for the little golden ant after that. No matter what, I’m still somewhat worried leaving it all alone in the Magical Beast Forest.”
“Got it.”
Meng Lei toned down his smile. Light from the fire flickered in his eyes as he said, “Since we want to be quick about this, then let’s intensify the flames some more.”
At that point, everyone saw a scene that they’d never forget for their whole lives.
Meng Lei stood proudly in the sky. As though a God of Fire, his voice was loud and sonorous as he pronounced a mighty, imposing judgment on the ant tide.
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Heavenly Fire Meteor!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Fire God Descends!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Doomsday Rain of Fire!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Sun Tempest!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Fire God Judgment!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Rupturing Fire Dragon!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Blazing Inferno Flames!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Fire Lotus Judgment!
“Ninth-Grade Spell... Fire God’s Fury!”
The nine ninth-grade spells cast in succession were like savage fire beasts that had broken free of hell’s gates and suddenly invaded the world. The moment they appeared, they dazzled the heavens.
Heavenly Fire Meteors plummeted from the sky!
A fire giant bellowed furiously!
A rain of fire petals scattered throughout the sky!
A tornado of flames spun and whirled!
Fire blades with light streaming all over them cleaved downward mightily!
A savage fire dragon roared furiously like a clap of thunder!
Black flames corroded and destroyed!
A dazzling fire lotus blossomed in the sky!
The Fire God roared furiously, causing the heavens and earth to pale!
In that instant, everything in the world disappeared, leaving behind only a blazing sea of fire that seemed as if it wanted to burn away this filthy world!
Chapter 109: Ant Tide Defeated, Flying Dragons Retreated Out of Fear
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Presently, there were no other colors in the world, and only burning fires leaped in the people’s eyes.
An ocean of fire spread across hundreds of miles!
It covered mountains, rivers, and the vast earth!
Large swarms of ant tide turned to ashes!
Countless ants burned to death!
Attack?
There was no chance for such a thing anymore!
Madness!
No such thing anymore either!
Under the frantic blow of the ninth-grade spells, the ant tide army suffered unprecedented damage. Although there were still numerous ants, the army appeared unable to sustain itself.
A few more rounds were needed before the ant tide was wiped out and disappeared completely!
This was what everyone thought, and Meng Lei seemed to hear their thoughts. He started a new round of frantic bombardment and smashed down all kinds of ninth-grade spells like they didn’t affect his magic power.
Boom!
One hour later...
The flames on the ground gradually dissipated, only leaving billowing smoke behind. All the mountains and fields were scorched black, and strange smoke filled all directions.
An ant tide that spread more than 300 miles? No such thing anymore! They had disappeared!
A minority had escaped, but the vast majority had lost their lives in the sea of fire, only leaving burnt carcasses strewn across the ground and ashes piled up like piles of soil above unmarked graves.
“The ant tide... is gone just like this?”
Everyone looked at the wasteland-like charred black ground and felt like they were dreaming. It was a surreal sensation.
One hour ago, the fierce ant tide army had come with great momentum, making everyone feel fearful, hopeless, weak, and unable to breathe from the pressure. They had even been forced to retreat!
Yet, one hour later, the ant tide... was gone? If this wasn’t dreaming, what was dreaming? Even dreaming couldn’t possibly bring about such a rapid turn of events!
“Monster! A total monster!” Marchioness Cesia’s mouth twitched. “Continuously releasing ninth-grade spells for up to more than one hour and burning the entire ant tide. Such a terrible Great Ninth-Grade Magician is unheard of!”
“In terms of speed of magic application, magic power reserves, or the usage of spiritual power, all of those reached an insurmountable level. I’m far below him!” Dirk Norway took a breath. “I really don’t know what this boy experienced in a mere month to have undergone such a huge change.”
Fatty Hart, Abbe, and Tanna looked at one another with complex expressions. Their insides felt like huge raging ocean waves.
Fatty Hart smiled bitterly and said, “Though I’ve known for a long time that there’s a big gap between us, I would never have imagined, not even in my dreams, that the gap would actually be this big.”
Abbe and Tanna’s bodies shook.
Yes, Meng Lei’s natural talent is good. His cultivation is fast. Of course there would be a gap! But why would it be this big?
I can’t understand!
Fatty Hart and the other two were quite bewildered and started questioning life.
“Meng Lei from your class is a monster!” The senior student’s face was full of shock. “A Great Ninth-Grade Magician, less than 16 years old... Have you seen anyone like him?”
“Never seen, never heard of!”
Another senior student kept shaking his head. “Even if we search through the entire Fire Dragon Kingdom history, no such monster has appeared! I’m afraid only in the Dragon God Empire can such amazing talent possibly appear!”
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