The strength of an individual is ultimately limited.
Richard had understood this truth since his days as a Wizard Apprentice.
But when faced with the concentrated spell barrage of the White Wizard Legion, Richard gained a deeper understanding of this principle.
As the rain of fire fell, the swarm of insects was annihilated.
To avoid harming Richard and his companions, the White Wizard Legion deliberately increased the casting distance of their spells. This allowed Richard and his group to clearly witness the spectacle of the spell barrage.
Countless fireballs descended from the sky like apocalyptic rain, turning the dense forest and the insect swarm into scorched earth.
The massive number of Fireball spells combined to create a vacuum in the battlefield. The intense shockwave instantly shattered the internal organs of any insects not directly hit by the fireballs.
Even the four Third Circle Wizards had to erect Magic Barriers, exerting their full strength to withstand the impact.
"Is this the power of a concentrated spell barrage?" Richard said with a hint of astonishment.
"Heh, the Hellfire Legion's Fireball barrage is still as formidable as ever."
Stio, observing the scorched battlefield, approached Richard and turned to him with a smile, "You've been hiding your skills well. I never saw you this capable back at the academy."
Richard chuckled in response, "You're one to talk. I had no idea you were also studying Magnetic Spells while at the academy."
The two exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter before turning to fly towards the Floating City.
Upon returning to the Floating City, they saw the logistics Wizards working alongside the fortress Wizards of the White Wizard Legion to clean up the battlefield.
With the main body of the World Mushroom absorbed into the Secret Realm, the vine tentacles, though not immediately dead, ceased to produce new ones.
Under the Black Wizards' cleanup efforts, these tentacles were quickly eradicated.
Richard frowned as he watched the logistics Wizards collect the numerous corpses.
"It seems the losses are significant. The command really made a bad move this time."
"That's not a bad move."
Richard turned to see Jimmy standing not far from him.
This Third Circle Wizard, highly regarded by Grand Wizard Galon, for some reason, was not at the command center coordinating the efforts.
Richard raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What do you mean, Master? Is there something I'm not aware of?"
"Not exactly a hidden affair," Jimmy explained casually as he approached Richard, "It's mainly because the academy has suffered in this area before.
Our academy once attacked a world dominated by the World Tree. That world was filled with carnivorous plants. The slave legions we sent in not only failed to achieve the desired effect but also strengthened the enemy, making the first battle in that world a disastrous one.
Later, that world forced the Dean to use a forbidden spell to destroy it."
"Really?" Richard was shocked, "Isn't the Dean a Sixth Circle Great Wizard? How could he be forced to use a forbidden spell?"
A miniature world, in theory, should have at most two Fourth Level World Masters. Such a world should be easily manageable for Grand Wizard Galon, right? "That's the trouble with worlds dominated by the World Tree," Jimmy sighed slightly, "Even a figure as great as the Dean, when facing a behemoth that has turned almost the entire world into its own flowerpot, had to use a forbidden spell to destroy the world to achieve victory."
As he spoke, Jimmy suddenly shifted the topic to the mother entity.
"I heard that you struck a deal with a wanderer from the Astral World to help you uproot that mother entity," Jimmy said.
Hearing this, Richard feigned nonchalance. "Just a coincidence," he replied.
It was best to keep the matter of the World Mushroom under wraps. What he possessed now was far too valuable for someone of his current strength.
Jimmy smiled slightly. "Don't be nervous. The command center is very interested in that mother entity. You can try contacting that wanderer again and see if we can exchange it for something else.
Of course, if it's unwilling, don't force it. The Dean has extensive experience dealing with such entities. If you can't reach an agreement, just hand over the contact ritual to me.
The academy will compensate you accordingly."
At the mention of "compensation," Richard's mouth twitched involuntarily.
So, if I don't hand it over, they'll just kill me, huh?
But this was very much in line with the Wizard's way of doing things.
It's just an alien creature. Offering a trade is giving you face, so you'd better sign the contract. If you don't, the Wizard can save a contract.
Richard bowed his head and replied, "Alright, I'll go communicate with it. But I'm not sure what the academy is willing to offer. Knowing the price would make negotiations easier."
"The price, huh…" Jimmy rubbed his bald head, then lightly slapped it. "How about 100,000 Magic Essence? You're an Alchemist Wizard, so you should be familiar with the value of various materials and treasures.
As long as it doesn't exceed this amount, the academy can accept it. Of course, if that thing wants something strange, you can refer to this list."
Jimmy pulled out a scroll from his pocket and handed it to Richard.
"If it's on this list, the academy can provide it. If it's not, the Dean can still negotiate with it."
Richard took the scroll, bowed slightly to Jimmy, and then opened a Mystic Realm Rift.
"Oh? You have a Secret Realm Fragment?"
Jimmy was slightly surprised when he saw the Mystic Realm Rift, but he quickly recovered, smiling as he rubbed his head.
"I almost forgot, you're quite the little tycoon. A Secret Realm Fragment isn't something particularly valuable to you."
Once inside the Secret Realm, Richard immediately found the World Mushroom.
"World Mushroom, is the thing I asked you to uproot still there?"
A mycelium tentacle extended from the fungal stipe of the World Mushroom, carrying the vine-like mother entity to Richard's side.
"Of course, it's still here."
The vine mother entity lay motionless in the mycelium tentacle, but Richard could clearly sense the powerful life radiation emanating from this creature.
"Did you sedate it?"
"Yes, this thing wasn't very cooperative. It even tried to parasitize me."
"Parasitize you?" Richard exclaimed in shock. "It could still move under your pressure?"
"Master, you're underestimating this thing. If I'm not mistaken, it's likely an offspring of a World Tree.
And its mother entity must be an incredibly terrifying creature. Even at my full strength, I wouldn't be able to suppress it with pressure alone, let alone that crow at its peak."
The World Mushroom's words felt like a bucket of cold water poured over Richard's heart.
If this was true, then they were in serious trouble this time.
Richard shook his head, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind. No matter how dangerous this world was, as long as Grand Wizard Galon didn't order a retreat, he had no choice but to continue fighting.
Not a single mistake, a song, a shot, or a content within the 69th book bar to see!
Even a Third Circle Wizard is merely a pawn in the hands of the Great Wizard.
Richard took out the scroll Jimmy had given him. The scroll was inscribed with a series of soul writings, almost akin to the script of the Nightmare World.
"World Mushroom, come and see if there's anything you need here. We can't just give away the mother body for nothing."
Although Richard was the honorary vice-dean of the Galon Wizard Academy, when it came to matters involving his own interests, such titles could be set aside.
After all, Grand Wizard Galon had vast resources and wouldn't miss the little things Richard took.
The World Mushroom took the scroll with its mycelium tentacles.
Soon, Richard heard the muffled voice of the World Mushroom.
"Master, these items are for the Star Wanderers and are of no use to me."
Hearing this, Richard expressed some regret, "Alright then, I'll take some Secret Realm Fragments."
With that, Richard was about to leave the Secret Realm. But just as he opened the Mystic Realm Rift, the voice of the World Mushroom suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Master, if possible, could you find more of these World Tree offspring? They are of great use to me."
Richard paused, somewhat surprised, "Oh? What use do they have for you?"
"This World Tree is very powerful and follows the same evolutionary path as I do. Consuming its offspring can help me see the path ahead.
I already feel an invisible barrier. If I cannot break through it, the expansion of the Secret Realm will soon halt."
"Seeing the path..." Richard pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Alright, I'll keep an eye out."
Since the offspring were crucial to the development of the Secret Realm, he naturally had to pay attention. Moreover, the World Mushroom was a significant asset to him, and its growth was undoubtedly beneficial.
Leaving the Secret Realm, Richard found Jimmy in the Floating City and explained the conditions.
"Secret Realm Fragments... Why would the Star Wanderers want such things?"
Looking at Richard's request, Jimmy scratched his bald head, utterly confused.
Richard sighed beside him, pretending to be serious, "These things are just like that, always asking for the most peculiar items."
Jimmy nodded in agreement, "That's true, with those indescribable beings, nothing they ask for is too strange."
With that, Jimmy took out a crystal ball and addressed it respectfully, "Dean, do you still have any Secret Realm Fragments? The Wanderer wants to exchange a mother body for a fragment."
"Secret Realm Fragments?"
The voice of Grand Wizard Galon came through the crystal ball, slightly surprised.
"That thing sure knows how to pick."
As he spoke, a Spatial Rift appeared beside Jimmy, and a crystal ball fell out of it.
"Give it this. If it's not satisfied, I'll go find it myself."
Jimmy handed the crystal ball to Richard, teasing with a smile, "The Dean's Secret Realm Fragments are not like those sold in the Wizard Chamber of Commerce. If your fragment doesn't contain much, you might as well keep the Dean's fragment and give yours to him.
You definitely won't lose out on this deal."
Richard laughed heartily, "That's a great idea, Master, but unfortunately, I've already turned my fragment into a workshop and can't exchange it anymore."
With that, Richard entered the Secret Realm and handed the fragment to the World Mushroom.
After waiting in the Secret Realm for a while, pretending to perform the ritual, Richard finally emerged with the World Mushroom sapling.
Thud! Richard dropped the mother plant onto the ground and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Although the mother plant appeared frail compared to the towering trees around it, in terms of size alone, it was dozens of meters tall, with a trunk so thick that ten people couldn't wrap their arms around it.
Carrying this thing out of the Secret Realm had taken Richard considerable effort.
Just as he had tossed the mother plant out, before Jimmy could react, the vine mother plant, which should have been anesthetized by the World Mushroom, suddenly erupted with astonishing vitality.
It seemed… to be summoning something! (End of Chapter)