"Come in, Merlin."

Wizard Leo's voice wafted out from the house, sounding somewhat raspy.

Merlin pushed the door open immediately and walked in. He lifted his head to look, only to discover that Wizard Leo, who used to be full of vigor and energetic, now had an extremely weary expression on his face. Even the blood-colored light emanating from Darkness Eye on his forehead was somewhat dim.

"Teacher Leo, what had happened to you?"

Merlin could not help but ask immediately.

However, Wizard Leo waved his hand. A smile appeared at the corners of his lips and he spoke in a low voice, "Hehe, nothing much, it's just that I've expended a lot of energy producing this object. I'll be restored after a few days' rest. Come, Merlin, I've spent three days making this bracelet. Part of the Darkness Eye's powers is in it. All you have to do is to infuse Darkness-type elements into the bracelet at crucial moments, and the powers within the bracelet will be mobilized. However, that can only happen once so you must be careful. Don't mobilize the powers inside the bracelet unless you're forced to."

Wizard Leo's voice was somewhat raspy, and he looked extremely weary. At that moment, Merlin finally understood that it was all because he had been making this bracelet for him.

Furthermore, Wizard Leo had created this bracelet with such solemnity, a bracelet which definitely had extraordinary powers, that Merlin was afraid Wizard Leo had paid a certain price for it. It was far from the mere few days' rest he had said he would need to recuperate.

"Teacher Leo..."

Merlin took the bracelet, but he was somewhat at a loss and did not know what to say. His travels to the distant Kurdmansla Islands this time was extremely dangerous. Wizard Leo had journeyed to many places, so naturally, he knew the dangers there. That was why he had created such a life-saving bracelet for Merlin, regardless of the cost.

"The Kurdmansla Islands are very far. After you leave the Dark Magic Region, you must be careful as you go about your business... Alright, go out, I'm tired!"

Wizard Leo slowly closed his eyes and let Merlin leave.

Merlin gave a small bow before putting the bracelet on and turning to leave immediately.

Before he left, Merlin pondered for a moment before calling Laurinka and Emma to his side. He had to brief them on some matters.

"Laurinka, Emma, I might have to leave the Dark Magic Region for a period – could be a few months if it's short, or a year if it takes a long time, or perhaps even longer. So, you must amass knowledge well in the Dark Magic Region. Especially you, Emma. You've already constructed three Zero-level spells, but this isn't your limit. You must try to construct a fourth Zero-level spell and become a Four-Elemental Spell Caster!"

Emma and Laurinka could be considered Merlin's closest kin in the Dark Magic Region now, with the exception of Wizard Leo. Therefore, he had already decided to transfer part of his contribution points to Laurinka and Emma before he left so that their cultivation in the Dark Magic Region could be more successful.

"Teacher, are you really going to leave the Dark Magic Region for such a long time?"

Emma was somewhat reluctant to leave Merlin. Before Merlin, she still seemed to be the innocent and unaffected young lady from Ditas Town back then.

A smile appeared on Merlin's face as well. He opened his mouth to speak. "Emma, you must study the construction of spells well. If you have the chance, take the initiative and look for Wizard Nasha. She's very kind and detailed when it comes to guiding Spell Casters."

After a pause, Merlin seemed to have suddenly remembered something. He immediately lifted his head and swept his glance at Laurinka and Emma, before saying in a low voice, "Right, if you have the opportunity, go to Prakash City and visit the Wilson family for me. Visit my family!"

Merlin remembered the Wilson family. He remembered Old Wilson, Macy, his two wives, his son, and daughter. It had been a very long time since he had returned to Prakash City, so he did not know how they were now.

Now that he had to leave the Dark Magic Region for such a long time, there was a slight reluctance in his heart. Naturally, it would be best if Emma and Laurinka could have the opportunity to go to Prakash City.

"Teacher, don't worry. We'll definitely pay your family a visit when we have time."

Both Emma and Laurinka nodded.

"Then, I'll be at ease."

Merlin stood up and took a deep breath. Thereafter, he left Wizard Leo's tower and headed toward the Runic Magic Circle in the Dark Magic Region.

Merlin looked at the densely packed Runic Magic Circles and walked directly into their midst as he was already very familiar with the process as he had done this countless times. Following which, beams of light began to envelop Merlin; his emotions started to become somewhat complicated.

The place where he was heading toward this time, the Kurdmansla Islands, was a completely strange and unfamiliar place. Furthermore, they were simply just too far from the Dark Magic Region.

Merlin practically had no way of enjoying the protection of the Dark Magic Region on his journey this time. He would be like those roaming Wizards who had to venture off and make a living wandering from place to place alone.

"Hopefully, this trip will go smoothly..."

In the midst of Merlin's sighs, the silhouette of his body disappeared in an instant with the white light, gone without a trace.

...

On a narrow mountain road, a figure ran forward in a mad dash at an extremely high speed. There was a sound of wind whistling in the surroundings before the figure vanished in the blink of an eye into the thick forest amidst the winding and narrow mountain roads.

"Stop first. I've run out of Magic Power again, I need to use the elemental crystal stones to restore my Magic Power."

This figure slowly came to a halt. Thereafter, it looked for a cave to rest and began to use elemental crystal stones to restore his Magic Power. Lo and behold, he was a Spell Caster.

This figure was Merlin, who had just left the Dark Magic Region. Due to the immense length of the journey this time, Merlin did not rent horses and a carriage. Instead, he directly relied on Gale and Wind of Freedom to rush his journey in a frenzy.

However, that had caused great exhaustion of his Magic Power. Therefore, Merlin would pause from time to time and used Wind elemental crystals to restore his Magic Power.

Indeed, elemental crystal stones could be used to quickly restore Magic Power. However, that was an extremely extravagant practice. Some roaming Wizards could only obtain a single elemental crystal stone with great difficulty at any one time. How would they dare to use them so extravagantly for the purpose of restoring Magic Power?

Only people like Merlin, a Spell Caster who came from a spell casters' organization, and possessed many elemental crystal stones, would use them in such an extravagant manner to speed up the restoration of Magic Power. His purpose was to hurry and reach the Kurdmansla Islands sooner.

"Alright, Magic Power has been restored. Let's continue to hurry forward!"

Merlin had used elemental crystal stones to restore his Magic Power. It was very quick, so his Magic Power was restored in just mere moments. He could then cast Gale and Wind of Freedom again.

"Swoosh!"

Merlin had a map with him, one that he had obtained through an exchange in the Dark Magic Region. Hence, he followed only a direct route as he moved forward. There was not a single instance when he used the wide main roads. Instead, he continuously darted through the thick forests of the mountains.

"Hmm, is there someone in front?"

Merlin was extremely fast. However, he seemed to have discovered that there were people in front of him. His speed decreased slowly as he went forward to look.

All he saw was a vast space in the midst of the thick forest. There was a crowd with over a hundred nude men surrounding a gigantic rock. They seemed to be praying.

Merlin shook his head gently. He had seen such a sight many times. These men were barbarians who had not undergone development to attain civilization. There were many people like them who existed both in the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Blackmoon.

Relatively speaking, the development of civilization for both the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Blackmoon were extremely great to these barbarians.

Merlin had left the Dark Magic Region for almost half a month. He had been through many places and had seen all sorts of barbarians. He had also seen the vast differences between folk cultures in the Kingdom of Blackmoon.

It was only by literally walking out that he could have seen all that, and it had greatly enriched Merlin's knowledge and experiences, giving him a more intuitive and profound understanding of this world.

The Kingdom of Blackmoon was too vast. This world was also too vast. Even a few great and powerful Elemental Swordsmen would not dare to claim that they had walked on every corner in the Kingdom of Blackmoon.

Only Spell Casters could travel to various places. From the distant lands overseas to the depths of the wild, thick forests, Spell Casters had left their mark almost everywhere.

If one were to explain this using civilization theory, the extraordinary group, the Spell Casters, had actually far surpassed the development of the Normies in this world. Spell Casters were at an even higher level of human advancement.

For example, there would not be any Normies at the Kurdmansla Islands, the destination of Merlin's trip this time. There were powerful and huge sea monsters that could easily swallow a small village. Hence, Normies would not be able to contend with them at all.

Only Spell Casters could survive in such horrendous environments, and also thrive with incomparable prosperity.

"Go, let's continue on. According to the map, I've only just completed half of the journey now."

Merlin disregarded this tribe of barbarians. Fierce Wind Elements appeared in surges around his body, turning into a black shadow. Immediately, it dashed past the barbarians.

"It's a god!"

All the barbarians shouted when they saw Merlin. They knelt on the ground as they murmured to themselves. Merlin did not know what they were saying.

Merlin shook his head helplessly. Ignoring them, he continued to walk forward.

One day, two days... Ten days!

Merlin only walked out from that thick forest after another ten days. That was enough to describe the scale of how vast the forest was.

Merlin arrived at another grassland after passing through the forest. This grassland was immensely vast; there seemed to be no end to it. In the distance, Merlin could hear a horrifying noise which sounded as though it came from a terrible force of nature1.

"Those are... Galloping wild beasts?"

Merlin felt greatly shocked. On the vast grassland were thousands of fierce wild beasts that were running wildly. Such a spectacular scene could cause even Merlin to feel a mysterious sense of awe. For a moment, he even stopped to watch the amazing sight of thousands of beasts galloping.

These were only the most common of wild beasts, but once gathered, the destructive power formed was more powerful than Merlin's spells. Even with Merlin's capabilities now, he would not dare to stand before them and resist these terrible wild beasts.

"Not only must a truly great Spell Caster have deep and profound knowledge, but he must also have expansive life experiences! Only then can he create even more mystical and powerful spells that are much closer to the nature of the world!"

In Merlin's mind, he suddenly remembered the words of a great Wizard who he had seen in the Dark Magic Region. At the time, Merlin did not comprehend what those words meant, but now he seemed to have gained some insights.

It was because when he saw the spectacular sight of a thousand beasts galloping, there was an inexplicable throbbing in his heart; a desire to create a new spell.

Only Seventh-level Spell Casters could create new spells. Some special geniuses, gifted Spell Casters, although few, could create completely new spells that were the most suitable for themselves due to various reasons.

However, creating new spells were too difficult. Moreover, Merlin relied on the Matrix for even the construction of spells. All that had happened was he had felt his heart palpitating mysteriously; he did not truly want to create new spells.

"Forget it. It's better if I wait until I've gotten more foundational spells if I wish to create new spells. Hopefully I'll be able to rely on the data integration processed by the Matrix and derive the most suitable new spells for me!"

Merlin shook his head and tossed the unrealistic idea to the back of his mind. Thereafter, he continued to hurry toward the Kurdmansla Islands.

Finally, another month had passed. Merlin had traversed grasslands, lakes, mountains, forests, and the likes. He was already immensely fatigued, but he could finally see the ocean.

He cast a glance over the boundless ocean. The sea breeze hitting his face seemed to bring with it a waft of saltiness.

A smile broke out on Merlin's face. He could see the ocean now, which meant that he was not far from the Kurdmansla Islands!

The Chinese phrase used here is 山呼海嘯, which literally means mountains that cried out and tsunamis.