Chapter 473: Return to the Ancestral Grounds
The moment he sensed that surge of magical energy, Hoffland's expression changed drastically. Shock and disbelief twisted his face as he stared at Wallace, his throat working but unable to utter a single word. Wallace—now a fifth-tier Title Archmage, and not just any fifth-tier, but an exceptionally powerful one.
Even though he himself was a fifth-tier Title Archmage, under that terrifying magical pressure, his heart was pounding with dread. There was no doubt about it—he was no longer a match for Wallace.
But just a month ago, when he last saw Wallace, the man was only a third-tier Title Archmage...
How could his strength have increased so quickly?
No wonder Leon is so arrogant now...
"Hoffland, the Charlotte Family today is nothing like the Charlotte Family of the past. I suggest you hand over that piece of territory quietly. Must we tear off all pretenses and escalate this beyond repair?" Wallace's face was full of mockery, clearly enjoying Hoffland's reaction.
"Lord Wallace, are you deaf? Patriarch Hoffland has already asked you to leave..."
At that moment, a voice rang out—neither friendly nor hostile, just indifferent. It was Leon.
As soon as Leon finished speaking, Wallace's face turned ugly. His sharp gaze shot toward the source of the voice—a young mage he actually recognized.
Come to think of it, the Charlotte Family still hasn’t come after Leon yet...
Matthew Merlin—a Merlin Family scion who had once drifted outside the clan—returned several months ago. This young mage, Matthew Merlin, also owns the Gilded Rose in Seaview City, a veritable money-printing machine that nearly monopolizes the eastern kingdom’s alchemy market. At the auction a few months back, he splurged over thirty million gold coins. Leon was well aware of this.
Wallace had investigated all of this—it wasn’t exactly a secret. The most important detail: during the Starstone auction, Leon clashed with Hanson Charlotte from his own family. After the auction, Hanson Charlotte and the powerful mages he brought simply vanished without a trace...
But Leon’s strength didn’t seem to be on par with Hanson Charlotte’s. Wallace, privy to the Charlotte Family’s secrets, knew that even Title Archmages or Sword Saints might not be able to kill Hanson Charlotte. Could it be that a Merlin Family powerhouse intervened...?
At that thought, Wallace’s face grew cold. His gaze at Leon carried a hint of murderous intent: "Hoffland, look at your Merlin Family’s youngsters—what have they become? As their elder, you really ought to keep them in line. Since when do juniors have any right to butt into our conversation?"
"Heh, Lord Wallace, you’re meddling a bit too much..." Leon retorted.
Hoffland sneered twice. With Leon’s strength, he’d long since earned the right to be treated as an equal—what’s wrong with him speaking up? Hell, he’s even qualified to fight you!
Of course, Hoffland would never say any of that out loud. He was well aware just how formidable Leon was—three months ago, he was already evenly matched with Thorne Merlin, the family’s Sword Saint. Now, after another three months, Leon felt even more dangerous. Clearly, he’d grown stronger...
"It’s been a long time since a youngster dared to talk to me like that. Heh, I really want to see what makes him so bold, to be so reckless..."
Wallace suddenly let out a piercing, cold laugh—a sound straight out of hell. The moment it faded, a frigid aura swept through every corner of the study, and a surge of violent magical energy erupted, aimed at Leon.
"Wallace, you dare make a move in the Merlin Family’s house!" Hoffland was furious, springing to his feet as Leon was targeted.
Wallace's face was cold and stern; he didn’t bother replying. His actions spoke for him: wild magical waves radiated outward, the full pressure of a fifth-tier Title Archmage unleashed—aimed straight at Leon.
But then—Leon did not flinch.
Just then, an ancient book radiating deathly energy appeared in Leon’s hand. He gently flipped it open—a page from the legendary Chapter of Truth, said to reveal the essence of all things, dispel all evil, and expose any falsehood. For anything wicked, it was a natural nemesis. In an instant, dazzling light erupted, countless runes surfaced and quickly combined in midair, forming a massive sigil brimming with terrifying power.
"Ah! What is that...?" Wallace gasped as Leon wielded the artifact.
Thinking of this, Leon gazed warily into the depths of the canyon, shrouded in mist and nearly impossible to see. He wondered if that strange fluctuation was from a magical beast—or perhaps an ancestor’s wraith...
Matthew Merlin—a Merlin Family scion who had once drifted outside the clan—returned several months ago. This young mage, Matthew Merlin, also owns the Gilded Rose in Seaview City, a veritable money-printing machine that nearly monopolizes the eastern kingdom’s alchemy market. At the auction a few months back, he splurged over thirty million gold coins. Leon was well aware of this.
Wallace had investigated all of this—it wasn’t exactly a secret. The most important detail: during the Starstone auction, Leon clashed with Hanson Charlotte from his own family. After the auction, Hanson Charlotte and the powerful mages he brought simply vanished without a trace...
After hearing the news, Wallace began to suspect that Hanson Charlotte’s death had something to do with Leon.
But Leon’s strength didn’t seem to be on par with Hanson Charlotte’s. Wallace, privy to the Charlotte Family’s secrets, knew that even Title Archmages or Sword Saints might not be able to kill Hanson Charlotte. Could it be that a Merlin Family powerhouse intervened...?
At that thought, Wallace’s face grew cold. His gaze at Leon carried a hint of murderous intent: "Hoffland, look at your Merlin Family’s youngsters—what have they become? As their elder, you really ought to keep them in line. Since when do juniors have any right to butt into our conversation?"
But he never expected the young mage to pull out a mysterious magical artifact and instantly knock his power back down to fifth-tier Title Archmage...
It was simply unbelievable...
After that "Get out," he didn’t dare argue. Gasping for breath, he struggled out of his chair and fled the study without looking back.
"Uh, Matthew..."
Hoffland was utterly stunned, staring at the young mage. Words couldn’t begin to describe his shock. He swallowed, wanting to ask something, but choked it back. In the end, he quietly reminded, "Matthew, before you head to the Blazeforge Realm, you’d best make a trip to the Ancestral Grounds..."
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"Alright..."
Leon nodded, said nothing more, and walked straight out of the study.
............
After spending a day at his residence, Leon left his room, walked alone through the Merlin Family estate, and followed the shore of Falling Star Lake. Soon, he arrived at the base of the cliffs.
The canyon where the Ancestral Grounds lay was shrouded in mist all year round. At a glance, everything inside was hazy and indistinct—this was the most mysterious place in the entire Merlin Family.
Legend had it that one Merlin ancestor emerged from here, followed Emperor Charles of Andalusia to found the kingdom, then retired and walked back into the Ancestral Grounds, never to return. From that day, the canyon was forever wreathed in thick mist.
Leon also felt that this mysterious Ancestral Grounds must hide incredible secrets...
The last time he’d entered the Ancestral Grounds was when he first arrived at the Merlin Family estate. After much effort, he’d earned Hoffland’s approval. That visit left a deep impression: in the depths of the canyon stood more than a dozen seven-story magic towers, meaning there were at least that many Title Archmage-level powerhouses within. There was even a nine-story magic tower—a symbol of Sky Rank.
But that tower gave off no magical fluctuations, as if its master had long since vanished.
Even so, it was astonishing. In this era, where magical civilization was far from mature, Title Archmages were the lifelong goal of countless mages—let alone those of Sky Rank...
The first time he came to the Ancestral Grounds, his goal was to fuse the mana array. But he noticed that the temple for the bloodline rite had an architectural style reminiscent of the Nesser Dynasty—the age of dragons and elves...
At that moment, he realized the Merlin Family was far from simple. His suspicions were confirmed after the Turan Mountains expedition: deep in the tenth-floor workshop of a tower, the ruined Sky Rank golem revealed a scene showing a Merlin ancestor joining Emperor Charles in the battle to shatter the Throne of All Creation.
And in the ninth-floor study, the Well of the Stars set that William obtained pointed to the Silver Age’s legendary gravedigger, Igor the Azure Sage—Northend’s greatest alchemist. It’s possible the Merlin Family descends from Igor the Azure Sage, though that could just be a coincidence...
Leon walked for nearly an hour before reaching the canyon floor. Yesterday, after leaving Hoffland’s study, he recalled Hoffland’s reminder: months ago, Lord Ryan from the Ancestral Grounds had said that before heading to the Blazeforge Realm, Leon should visit the Ancestral Grounds—someone there wanted to see him.
Leon guessed that the ancestor who wanted to see him was likely senior even to Lord Ryan, or else Ryan wouldn’t have delivered the message personally.
At the canyon floor, though the mist was thick, Leon could vaguely make out the outlines of a dozen towers. The estate was solemn and tranquil, with beautiful scenery stretching as far as the eye could see. Just then, Leon’s expression changed—he sensed a hidden fluctuation. If he hadn’t been running his mana array, he might have missed it.
Carefully feeling it out, Leon found the fluctuation odd. The mist in the canyon churned with flashes of light, countless mysterious runes swirling up and down. The fluctuation seemed to merge with these runes—likely the real reason it was so hard to detect.
He’d long heard from cousin William that the area around the Ancestral Guardian Spire was notorious. Some young geniuses who came for the bloodline rite had encountered powerful magical beasts, and one particularly unlucky fellow ran into an ancestor’s wraith—he fled in terror, never completed the rite, and returned to the Merlin estate half-mad...
Thinking of this, Leon gazed warily into the depths of the canyon, shrouded in mist and nearly impossible to see. He wondered if that strange fluctuation was from a magical beast—or perhaps an ancestor’s wraith...