Chapter 176: The Cage

The wraith replied, “Yes, my lord. I cultivate these Magic Energy Crystals, growing stronger by absorbing them.”

With a wave, the giant tree behind the wraith trembled, releasing the crystals from its branches.

“My lord, these are the fully cultivated Magic Energy Crystals,” the wraith offered them to Helag.

Helag counted roughly a hundred crystals.

He coldly acknowledged, storing them in his space ring.

A hundred Magic Energy Crystals equated to at least a hundred thousand magic stones.

But Helag wouldn’t sell them; they were too risky.

Selling one or two could be explained as found in the Death Swamp, but a hundred would be a death sentence.

Helag planned to keep most for personal use, knowing they’d be invaluable later.

After securing the crystals, he asked, “Is there anything here with rule power?”

This was his main interest, never forgotten.

Though just a gaseous wizard, preparing for the future was wise.

Most wizards entered the Death Swamp seeking such items.

Possessing rule power was key to advancing to a second-level wizard.

Initially, Helag had low expectations, just hoping to gain some benefits.

As a gaseous wizard, he couldn’t keep such items even if found.

But now, with changed circumstances, he could consider acquiring them.

The wraith shook its head, “Those items disappeared over a hundred years ago, taken by wizards.”

“Already taken?” Helag was puzzled; rumors said the items were continually produced here.

The wraith continued, “You know, we were originally abyssal creatures. After the planar rift was sealed, we couldn’t return.”

“But the rift can’t be suppressed indefinitely. The sealing array requires periodic blood and soul sacrifices.”

“Every so often, wizards enter, many dying. Their deaths sustain the array.”

Helag realized the Death Swamp had no rule power items.

It was a ruse by the Land of Dawn, luring Barrens wizards every decade for nonexistent items.

Wizards died, their blood and powerful souls feeding the array.

Sealing a planar rift required extraordinary sacrifices, beyond ordinary blood and souls.

Wizard souls, strong enough, perfectly met the array’s needs.

If the Land of Dawn revealed the truth, no one would enter.

But with bait, wizards flocked in.

Many entrants were crystallized wizards, desperate for advancement.

The Land of Dawn used rule power as bait, drawing Barrens wizards into the Death Swamp.

Limited slots and time made it seem a grand opportunity, despite the risk.

Who’d suspect it was a trap, willingly sending Barrens wizards to die as sacrifices?

Helag exhaled, quickly piecing it together.

“Seems most are unaware of the truth.”

All Barrens wizard organizations and families sent people, often important figures.

This indicated few knew the truth, likely only Augustus Academy insiders.

The Death Swamp, rich in resources, had once yielded rule power items over a century ago.

A century was brief for wizards, so no one doubted it.

Those who took the items were likely Land of Dawn wizards.

Helag felt trapped in a cage crafted by the Land of Dawn.

The entire Barrens was a cage, with resources, information, and knowledge controlled by the Land of Dawn.

Without his strong abyssal aura and Thunder God Ancestor bloodline, Helag couldn’t have learned this from the wraith.

Wraiths typically attacked humans on sight.

But Helag, in his monstrous form, appeared as a humanoid creature.

“Anything else valuable nearby? Show me,” Helag said, abandoning the search for rule power.

He was here, so he might as well gain as much as possible.

With the wraith and Human-Faced Monkey as guides, exploration was unnecessary.

They knew where treasures and dangers lay.

The wraith had given Helag its mature crystals, the rest still growing.

Helag wouldn’t demand immature ones, not wanting to push the wraith.

“Nothing noteworthy nearby, my lord,” the wraith said, fearing Helag’s dissatisfaction.

Helag waved it off, “Don’t worry, just lead the way.”

What the wraith dismissed might be valuable to Helag, especially potion materials.

Even if unused, they could be sold for profit.

The wraith, reassured, led the way.

Helag followed, the Human-Faced Monkey trailing behind.

Soon, he found many high-grade potion materials, centuries old.

No signs of other creatures; animals and wizards avoided the area, creating a perfect growth environment.

This was the Black Forest’s depths, where even Brack wouldn’t venture.

Helag eagerly collected all valuable potion and spell materials.

As he joyfully gathered, Deep Blue’s scan revealed a familiar figure.

Not far left, in the Black Forest, Carl wielded a silver sword, running desperately.

He was injured, blood at his mouth and chest.

His two Moss family companions were missing, likely dead.