A Wizard’s Secret

“Wizard Merlin, be careful not to get too close to the monument. We call this stone tablet the Illusion Monument. If you get too close, you’ll be affected by the illusion. Titus had a specific direction of understanding Mind Power. He believed that for Mind Power Masters to understand the Essence, they must first familiarize themselves with Hallucinating spells, cultivating them to their peak!”

After hearing Eldo’s explanation, Merlin felt a surge of excitement deep within him. His previous first step in perfecting the system of Mind Power was aligned with Titus’ reasoning.

Namely, to first focus on illusory before material. One must cultivate Hallucinating spell to its peak before one could begin to turn illusions into reality! It was just that Merlin had merely taken the first step whereas Titus had already gone on further ahead.

In a range of a few hundred meters around this stone, the place was covered by a mysterious force field. In this shadowed region, all the Mind Power Masters were sunken in an illusion, working hard to gain understanding.

“The Illusion Monument isn’t that dangerous. It’ll just affect Mind Power Masters slightly. Any Mind Power Master who enters the area of the Illusion Monument will automatically encounter some of Titus’ previous understanding of Mind Power.”

Merlin bobbed his head. He was now bursting with eagerness, so he turned to Wizard Luce and asked, “Wizard Luce, are you heading in?”

Wizard Luce shook his head in response. “I don’t have much understanding of Mind Power, and probably won’t learn much even if I go in. I’ll just wait outside.”

Wizard Luce had not much talent in regard to Mind Power, and had no desire to go in and be enlightened.

Eldo smiled and said, “Wizard Merlin, stay here and gain understanding to your heart’s content. It doesn’t matter how long. The Illusion Monument is open to everyone, and any Mind Power Master above the Seventh-level can enter! I’ll take my leave first…”

With that, Eldo immediately turned, and left.

Seeing that Eldo had left, Merlin’s expression gradually grew somber, and he said to Wizard Luce softly, “Wizard Luce, be on your guard when you’re outside. To us, Spellcast City isn’t a safe place!”

Wizard Luce knew what Merlin was referring to, and nodded cautiously. “Wizard Merlin, please be rest assured. I’ll keep an eye out. If they really try anything, humph, they shouldn’t be surprised if we don’t hold back!”

Although Wizard Luce was nothing much in the Spell Caster world but in the Slothful Beast world, he was still a Ninth-level Spell Caster, one who could cast spells. He could be considered someone rather powerful, so he was unafraid of the Mind Power Masters of Spellcast City.

With Wizard Luce outside, Merlin was more assured. Thus, he drew in a deep breath, and immediately stepped into the Illusion Monument.

As soon as he stepped into the Illusion Monument’s range, he instantly felt a mystical force field around him. His Mind Power could not help but be drawn to the Illusion Monument.

Nonetheless, Merlin did not resist. He knew that this was a tactic set up by Titus. Only then could he receive the contents left behind by Titus on the Illusion Monument.

“Boom!”

It was as if an explosion had occurred in Merlin’s mind. A huge stream of information surged into his mind. It was the information that Titus had left behind on the Illusion Monument.

The amount of information was colossal, encompassing Titus’ understanding of Mind Power back then, and even his complete theory of the Mind Power system.

His theory was just as Merlin and the Blackfire Lord had inferred. To understand the Essence of Mind Power, one must turn illusions into reality. This general direction was correct but it went against the natural order and was destined to be more difficult than a Spell Caster’s path.

As for how to turn illusions into reality, Titus had taken the same first step as Merlin did, which was to first cultivate Hallucinating spells to their peak. Moreover, Titus had separated this process into three stages.

The first stage was Hallucinating spells, the second stage was Illusory Heart, and the third stage was Illusory Dimension.

The first stage, Hallucinating spells, referred to the mighty Hallucinating spells which used Mind Power to influence one’s opponent in a traceless manner. This could cause an opponent’s error in judgment, where they were not even aware of being caught in an illusion.

This stage was all-inclusive, encompassing every Hallucinating spell. It was just a collective term for that realm, and even the Blackfire Lord’s Hallucinating spell which was so inconceivable to Merlin back then was merely in the first stage. It was simply a Hallucinating spell!

The second stage was Illusory Heart, which was extremely terrifying as it could cause people to sink into endless oblivion, unable to extricate themselves from the illusion forever. It could even control the hearts of enemies, instantly turning them into zombies who would follow one’s orders, just like puppets.

At this point, Merlin’s heart was overcome by waves of surprise, and he was stunned. He had never heard of this theory so this was something unprecedented.

In fact, this was no longer just a theory because Titus had understood the second stage, Illusory Heart! As a result, he was equipped with power comparable to a Legend, able to dominate the Slothful Beast world.

“Scary, so scary! To control the souls of enemies without a sound… This is the truly scary part of Mind Power Masters!”

Merlin was shocked, even more so than when the Blackfire Lord had directed him to the path of Mind Power Masters. Merlin’s first step was merely in the beginning stages of Hallucinating spells. Conversely, Titus had manifested his own theory, at least until the second stage, and he had succeeded!

Furthermore, this was not the scariest thing – there was still the third stage, Illusory World! This was the complete theory derived by Titus. One would be able to use Mind Power to gradually construct a dimension that only differed from a real dimension, and was unable to be transformed into reality.

Creating dimensions was something only the Great Ultimate Arcane Wizards could do. Not even Honored Legends and Great Lords could create dimensions. Nevertheless, the third stage derived by Titus pushed the limits of illusions, creating an entire illusory dimension.

If one could really do that, how powerful would one be? An Honored Legend? Even comparable to a Great King?

No one knew for sure. If one truly cultivated an Illusory World according to Titus’ theory, one would be so formidable because even Titus did not cultivate until the third stage, Illusory World.

However, this was not the end of the theory derived by Titus. When “illusions” had reached the peak, Titus even hypothesized that one could turn illusions into reality, and thereafter, progress could likewise be divided into different stages.

It was just that by the time one could turn illusory into material, one would have to understand the Essence of Mind Power, and reverse the natural order. This would be something even the Ultimate Arcane Wizards would be roused by.

If there really came such a day when someone could achieve the level derived by Titus, turning illusions into reality, they would be even stronger than the Ultimate Arcane Wizard…

After going through all the information in his mind, Merlin was still in shock.

“Powerful, how powerful! Titus is the true genius among Mind Power Masters. Compared to him, my understanding of Mind Power is still so far behind…”

Merlin mumbled dejectedly. At first, he thought that after sitting through a lecture from the Blackfire Lord, he had pulled ahead of all Mind Power Masters in the Spell Caster world. He had even taken the first step in perfecting the Mind Power system in a short time.

Nevertheless, faced with Titus, Merlin felt sincere admiration. Not only did Titus devise a theory but he even followed that theory to its second stage, shattering the shackles of Mind Power Masters who could not contend against Legends.

Even if the theory he had devised was incorrect after the second stage, just the first and second stages alone – Hallucinating spells and Illusory Heart, were enough to match a Great Legend. Titus’ great name would be spread across myriads of dimensions!

It was just a shame that Titus had only developed the theory of Mind Power system in the Slothful Beast world, and was unable to spread it to the Spell Caster civilization no matter what. Otherwise, the Blackfire Lord would not need to carry out his diligent investigation into Mind Power, and Ossais would not have risked everything to seek a chance for his Mind Power to break through.

Merlin stayed within the Illusion Monument for a long time. Anyone who first entered the Illusion Monument would be so astounded that they could not possibly imagine. According to Titus’ categorization, the first stage of Hallucinating spells was a rather broad realm.

For instance, Merlin’s current Hallucinating spell could fool a Ninth-level Spell Caster like Luce, yet it might not be effective against a Seventh-level Spell Caster with a Mind Heart.

Compare this to the Blackfire Lord’s spell, which would fool even a Great Wizard. However, in truth, according to Titus’ categorization, Merlin and the Blackfire Lord both belonged to the realm of the first stage, Hallucinating spells.

“Right now, I’m basically at the beginning stage of Hallucinating spells, still a long way from the Blackfire Lord’s Hallucinating spell, to say nothing of the second stage Illusory Heart…”

Merlin meditated on the matter before soothing his own emotions. Titus’ division of stages in the Mind Power system was merely a general way of classification, not an indication of specific cultivation methods.

Perhaps Titus had reached the stage of Illusory Heart due to various favorable factors. In order to reach that level, a Mind Power Master had to depend on their own understanding.

Nevertheless, with and without direction were two completely different things. Merlin, for instance, had received guidance from the Blackfire Lord and had stepped into the first stage in a short time. It was after he had gained the right direction that he was able to progress so quickly.

Following that, Merlin began to silently attempt to improve his Hallucinating spell below the Illusion Monument. Perhaps even Merlin himself did not realize that by beginning to understand Hallucinating spells today, he was already like a peak Great Wizard who began to try consolidating a Maxim.

In both cases, they were relying on themselves to gain an understanding!

…

“Phew…”

Merlin opened his eyes. He had been sitting below the Illusion Monument for half a month. During this time, his understanding of Hallucinating spells had deepened, and became more lasting!

“Hallucinating spells are just the first stage, and it’s merely theory. Titus must’ve left behind some Occult Mind Spells. However, it’s obvious that these powerful Occult Mind Spells were not left at the Illusion Monument. They must be in the hands of the nine Ninth-level Mind Power Masters of Spellcast City!”

Merlin quickly learned that Titus had left behind Occult Mind Spell with massive offensive power to complement the Hallucinating spells of the Mind Power Masters, further augmenting their abilities.

It was just that these Occult Mind Spells were in the grasp of the nine Ninth-level Mind Power Masters.

Fortunately, Merlin was not too concerned about Occult Mind Spells because he had Nine Hit Strike, the power of which was quite decent. After all, Ossais had spent painstaking effort in creating it. Only Ossais’ initial direction was faulty, so he was unable to rely on Nine Hit Strike to perfect the Mind Power system.

This was destined to be a road to failure!

As Merlin had received the Blackfire Lord’s guidance in addition to his thorough processing of Titus’ theory, he had arrived at this conclusion: Ossais’ Nine Hit Strike was misguided from the start.

With a path that had never been trodden, some would be right, and naturally, some would be mistaken. This was the price one had to pay in developing the Mind Power system!

Merlin stood up, and eyed the Illusion Monument. The contents of Illusion Monument were no longer of much use to him. This time, he had been accidentally swallowed into the Slothful Beast’s belly. He had thought that he was as good as dead but did not expect to profit from his misfortune.

Titus’ theory, especially the three main stages of Hallucinating spells, was Merlin’s greatest harvest!

“It’s time to leave…”

Merlin looked out of the Illusion Monument. Wizard Luce was bored, and was engaged in a simple conversation with another Mind Power Master.

“How exhausting… Merlin, I’m tired and hungry now. Have you returned to Arcane City? Bring me quickly to that old fellow Zado. He’s captured enough foreign tribes, and can surely fulfill my needs.”

A familiar voice spoke beside Merlin’s ear. Merlin was first startled, then immediately became overjoyed. The black cat Didimoss had awakened!