Chapter 362: Heart of Lava
"But the Elder Council!" Owen Merlin completely lost his composure as he listened, and if he could, he would have loved to crack open the other man's skull just to see what kind of thoughts were rattling around inside.
Did he not realize that refusing me would only push things to a point of no return...
When the Elder Council makes its move, he’ll have only two choices: hand over the Gilded Rose and become their puppet, or rebel against the Merlin Family and turn the first-class power of Auckland into his enemy.
Owen Merlin simply couldn’t understand...
Matthew Merlin seemed so clever—how could he make such an unwise choice...
"Do you have any idea what the consequences will be?" Owen Merlin’s voice grew hoarse. As he stared at Lin Yun, his eyes were tinged with bloodshot rage. Owen simply couldn’t accept this outcome.
Why did it have to be like this...
It’s impossible...
When I came here, hadn’t I considered every possibility? Other than working with me, Matthew Merlin truly has no way out. Why would he make such a choice?
"I know..." Leon Merlin smiled, just about to speak when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside the door.
A moment later, William Merlin and Ross Merlin walked in, both sporting bruised faces.
Both of them looked pale and out of breath, as if they'd just fought hundreds of magical beasts. Supporting each other, they entered the room, but suddenly noticed Owen Merlin sitting there and froze in surprise.
"Owen Merlin, why are you here?" Both were among the three prodigies of the younger generation of the Merlin Family, and their rivalry had long reached a fever pitch—worse even than William Merlin's. Ross Merlin's tone was anything but polite.
"Heh, Ross, long time no see." Owen Merlin was surprisingly composed. Although he was briefly stunned upon seeing the two, his expression quickly returned to normal, even showing a polite smile.
"You're not welcome here."
"After all this time, Ross, you’re still so temperamental. Heh, I’m just here to discuss a deal with cousin Leon Merlin. Since you’re here, maybe you can help persuade him..."
"Ross, help me see Owen out..." Now that both Ross Merlin and William Merlin were here, Leon Merlin had no interest in talking further with Owen Merlin. He offered an apologetic smile, then turned his attention back to optimizing the Elemental Tide.
"Did you hear that, Owen Merlin?" Ross Merlin sneered and stepped forward, positioning himself between Owen Merlin and Leon Merlin.
"Hey, cousin Leon, listen to me..." Owen Merlin grew anxious.
But by this time, Leon Merlin had already buried his head in work, uninterested in whatever Owen Merlin was saying.
"What, Owen Merlin, still not leaving? Do you want me to throw you out personally?" Ross Merlin's expression grew icy, and the magic fluctuations mixed with the aura of the Endless Spring radiated unchecked, making it clear he was ready for a fight at any moment.
In fact, if Owen Merlin kept pestering, Ross Merlin really might get physical...
For Ross Merlin, every minute Owen Merlin delayed here was another minute lost from obtaining the complete Elemental Tide. If a fight could drive Owen Merlin away, Ross Merlin wouldn't hesitate at all...
"Fine, fine, I'm leaving..." Owen Merlin wasn't stupid. Seeing Ross Merlin's stance, he knew the deal was off for today. He raised his hands to show he wasn't planning to fight, backing toward the door while still trying to persuade Leon Merlin: "But cousin Leon, let me give you some advice—don't think Ross Merlin can help you. Truth is, Ross Merlin doesn't have a single ally in the Elder Council. If you don't want those old men to pick you clean, your only option is to accept my investment and let me become a shareholder in the Gilded Rose. I'm the only one who can help you..."
After saying that, Owen Merlin finally left the room...
"Owen Merlin wants to invest in the Gilded Rose?" William Merlin was puzzled. He'd never heard that Owen Merlin had such wealth—how could he even consider investing in the Gilded Rose...
Three million gold coins, for forty percent of the Gilded Rose...
"He must be crazy..." William Merlin nearly burst out laughing. The Gilded Rose nowadays, even thirty million gold coins wouldn't be enough, let alone three million for forty percent—this was pure wishful thinking...
Leon Merlin just smiled and said nothing more.
Thirteen formulas were complete; all that remained was to optimize the meditation principles. For Leon Merlin, this was no complex task. In less than two hours, he set down his quill and handed the thick stack of drafts to Ross Merlin.
"This is the complete Elemental Tide. Study it well."
"Good, good, good..." Ross Merlin was trembling as he held the stack of drafts.
His gaze toward Leon Merlin was deeply complicated...
Back when Ross Merlin was a teenager, he'd obtained the first stage of the Elemental Tide. With that incomplete meditation principle, he advanced rapidly, becoming a Level 5 Mage before thirty and gaining the Merlin Family's strongest magic rune, the Endless Spring. From then on, Ross Merlin knew the Elemental Tide was his destined magical path...
[Irrelevant passage skipped.]
But soon, the flaws of the incomplete Elemental Tide emerged. After reaching Level 5 Mage, Ross Merlin could advance no further. To reconnect his broken magical path, Ross Merlin tried everything—exploring planes, embarking on countless adventures, pouring endless effort and energy into the search. In the end, all he found was a vague clue. Especially when he learned that clue was in the hands of his greatest rival, Stan Watson, Ross Merlin truly despaired...
For a time, Ross Merlin truly believed his life's achievements would end at Level 5 Mage...
Who could have known that a malicious extortion would lead him to meet this cousin from Seaview City, and from then on, his whole life changed...
Now, holding the complete Elemental Tide, Ross Merlin felt a wave of heat rising in his eyes...
"William, cousin..." After handing over the Elemental Tide, Leon Merlin turned away from Ross Merlin and called William Merlin over. "During this period, your research into Crimson Heart has been very thorough—almost at the level of the Crimson Tower's mages back then. If you'd started studying Crimson Heart earlier, your magic rune would surely be the famed Flame Furnace. Unfortunately, you started a bit late..."
"Huh?" William Merlin had just been watching Ross Merlin receive the long-desired Elemental Tide, full of envy. But when his cousin spoke to him like that, William Merlin's face fell with disappointment...
"So..." Leon Merlin thought for a moment, then pulled out another stack of drafts from his pocket. "I've prepared Heart of Lava for you. This is the Crimson Tower's strongest meditation codex, with thirteen formulas. Unlike Wrath of the Burning Sky or Crimson Heart, this codex is extremely fierce—once you reach a certain level, it will completely destroy your existing magic rune, then rebuild an even stronger fire rune on the ruins, surpassing the Flame Furnace..."
"That powerful?" William Merlin's disappointment vanished instantly, replaced by indescribable joy.
"Provided you can endure the pain this codex brings..."
"Of course I can!" William Merlin was too excited to think deeply about Leon Merlin's warning.
Leon Merlin just shook his head and didn't tell William Merlin that the pain he spoke of was true agony—pain enough to make one wish for death...
After each received their meditation codex, both were eager to test its power. So, after only a brief sit-down, they excused themselves and returned to their own rooms...
Once the two left, Leon Merlin didn’t idle...
Leon Merlin took out the Arcane Wheel...
At this point, the Arcane Wheel was fully completed. The unique magical fluctuations of a true spirit artifact instantly filled the room. The Latium steel-made disk was about palm-sized, with a Star Gem and an Elemental Amber each occupying a half-circle. The perimeter was densely inscribed with runes and alchemy arrays. With a single thought from Leon Merlin, the runes and arrays activated, and immense power began brewing within the Arcane Wheel...
"No wonder Latium steel is so prized..." Even Leon Merlin had to admit its merits. The Arcane Wheel made from Latium steel had an astonishing carrying capacity. The runes he'd inscribed came from the Book of Death; with ordinary materials, the artifact would have long since crumbled under the strain, especially with both a Star Gem and Elemental Amber embedded...
Elemental Amber was manageable...
But a Star Gem contained a trace of world force; ordinary magical materials could never withstand the circulation of world force.
"Now, let's see if Andefa keeps his word..." After testing the Arcane Wheel's power, Leon Merlin began turning the magical array within his body, awakening Andefa who slumbered in the tenth array...