Kael's gaze shifted toward the center of the seventh-floor magic tower.
There, two dazzling radiances shimmered—so brilliant that one couldn't help but be drawn into their splendor.
Zorath the Silent gasped. "Pseudo-Sacred Artifacts!"
Pseudo-Sacred Artifacts!
These were already considered high-tier magical equipment. Even the Magic Crystal Staff in Kael's hand didn't qualify as one. Only true powerhouses could unleash the full might of a Pseudo-Sacred Artifact—especially a defensive-type one, which could drastically enhance survivability and combat prowess.
Kael was well aware of the strength of defensive magical gear. For instance, the Darkmoon Divine Armor he had obtained in the Water Dragon Secret Realm was a defensive artifact, but it could only withstand ninth-tier spells. Against tenth-tier or higher magic, it fell short.
A Pseudo-Sacred Artifact, however, required at least a tenth-tier powerhouse to wield its true power.
Here, there were two of them.
The first was a slender, azure longsword, its blade gleaming with a cold, razor-sharp edge. The weapon emitted a faint hum, resonating with the air, its surface rippling with an otherworldly glow.
"What a treasure!" Bloodshadow's eyes lit up—the first time he had shown such keen interest. Even when faced with the fifty-million-gold fortune, he had remained composed.
Pseudo-Sacred Artifacts were priceless and exceedingly rare—especially one like this, a longsword, perfectly suited for Bloodshadow, a warrior who specialized in blade combat. His heart surged with excitement.
Kael turned his attention to the second artifact—a silver-stitched robe, shimmering with the faint luster of starlight. Its material was peculiar—neither metal, wood, nor jade, but something akin to an exotic alloy, giving it an almost surreal appearance.
"Could this be… Star Iron?" Kael's eyes gleamed with realization.
Star Iron—a legendary ore found across the continent. Surprisingly soft and lightweight, it could be molded into any shape, making it ideal for robes. Yet, its defensive properties were extraordinary, capable of effortlessly blocking tenth-tier spells.
This material was far superior to the Darkmoon Divine Armor in Kael's possession.
There were two Pseudo-Sacred Artifacts in total, both priceless treasures.
When Zorath the Silent saw them, he froze for a moment before letting out a sigh and a bitter laugh. "Tsk, one's a longsword, the other's a robe—how am I supposed to compete with you two over these?" He shook his head helplessly. The longsword was clearly Bloodshadow's domain, while the robe was tailored for a mage like Kael. Neither suited him.
Truthfully, Zorath could wield the longsword if he wanted—but he was far more accustomed to his own weapon, the Hammer of Thunder God, a formidable artifact in its own right. Though slightly inferior to this blade, the difference wasn't vast.
As for the robe? Naturally, no one would contest Kael's claim to it.
"These belong to you two," Zorath conceded with resignation.
With a wave of his hand, Kael channeled magic to lift the robe into his grasp. The moment it touched his fingers, an odd, metallic coolness radiated from it—yet the material remained supple, molding effortlessly to his touch. "It really is Star Iron!" The robe wasn't pure Star Iron (otherwise, its value would've been astronomical), but even as an alloy, its worth was staggering.
Without hesitation, Kael donned the robe. The Star Iron lived up to its legend—lightweight, impossibly flexible, and exquisitely comfortable.
"Even a tenth-tier spell would struggle to harm me now. And with my defensive shields layered on top? An eleventh-tier spell might not break through either. This is a treasure!" Delight flashed across Kael's face as he inspected the robe further. Near the collar, four tiny characters were engraved: "Falling Star Robe"—its name.
"So it's called the Falling Star Robe…" Kael mused. "Star Iron inherently carries light-aligned properties, naturally repelling dark magic. No wonder the Ghostfire Tower Master never wore it. Lucky me." Had the tower master utilized this robe, defeating him would've been far harder.
Meanwhile, Bloodshadow swung the longsword experimentally, his satisfaction evident. "Hah! A fine blade—a true treasure!"
Zorath could only watch gloomily as his companions admired their prizes, sighing at his own luck.
"The Ghostfire Tower Master was ridiculously wealthy," Kael remarked, chuckling. "He probably hoarded these Pseudo-Sacred Artifacts to trade for gear better suited to him."
Both Bloodshadow and Zorath the Silent nodded in agreement.
"These Shadow Wing Mage organizations are indeed an extremely terrifying force on the continent. Even a relatively unknown group like the Ghostfire Tower has amassed such enormous wealth—let alone the other Shadow Wing factions." Zorath the Silent's eyes gleamed. "Once this matter is concluded, I will report everything here to the Grand Archon."
Destroying even one Shadow Wing Mage organization was enough to demonstrate the formidable power of the Sacred Council and enhance its prestige across the land.
"Brother Kael, where do you plan to go next? Back to Lephai City?" Zorath the Silent asked with a smile.
Now that the Ghostfire Tower had been completely eradicated from the continent, Kael could finally feel somewhat at ease.
Kael shook his head. "I want to visit the Southern Continent—Emerald City."
His reasons for going to Emerald City were twofold. First, it was one of the most renowned magical sanctuaries across the three continents, with an intensely vibrant atmosphere for spellcasting and no shortage of powerful figures. Second, Kael intended to seek out someone called "Sage." He was curious to know what Cole's dying request had truly been about.
"Emerald City? Are you planning to participate in the Continental Rankings selection, Brother Kael?" Zorath the Silent suddenly inquired.
"Continental Rankings selection?"
"Indeed. The triennial Continental Rankings selection is being held in Emerald City this time—did you not know? I've heard Einar is already there." Zorath the Silent grinned. "Though you defeated Einar, that man is relentless in his training. It seems he's aiming for the top spot in the Earth Rankings this time."
Kael frowned. He hadn't expected Einar to be in Emerald City as well, nor that the Continental Rankings selection was underway.
The Continental Rankings were a grand event across the three continents, drawing countless talents. Moreover, the rewards were said to be exceedingly generous. If Einar managed to seize such an opportunity, Kael could easily be surpassed.
It seemed he had no choice but to go to Emerald City now.
Kael had no intention of losing to Einar—and besides, he had long yearned to visit Emerald City.
"Brother Kael wants to go to Emerald City? It seems we can travel together, then,"Xueying (Bloodshadow) said with a laugh. "I happen to be heading to Dusk Moon City to exterminate a vampire clan! Both Emerald City and Dusk Moon City are major cities in the Southern Continent, so our paths align perfectly."
"Traveling with Vice-Captain Bloodshadow would be ideal," Kael replied with a smile.
The three of them descended the magic tower. By now, the Ghostfire Tower had been completely annihilated—every last Shadow Wing mage within it had been eradicated, leaving no survivors. The organization had been uprooted entirely.
The moment Kael stepped out, Leiming (Thunderclap) approached him with a simple grin. "Boss Kael, I took down four Level 10 guys and fifteen Level 9 ones!" Leiming's eager report made Kael chuckle, though he was also slightly stunned by the man's combat prowess.
"Leiming, you'll return with Lord Zorath the Silent," Kael instructed. Since he was heading to Emerald City, it wouldn't be convenient to bring Leiming along.
Leiming, of course, had no objections. Scratching his head, he readily agreed.
Once everything was settled, Zorath the Silent departed with the Dark Hall's forces and Leiming, while Kael and Xueying set off for Emerald City.
Given their speed, the journey should have been swift, but the distance between the Southern Continent and the Azure Orchid Kingdom was considerable. It took them nearly three days to finally arrive at Emerald City.
During those three days, news of the Ghostfire Tower's destruction spread across the continent, sending shockwaves through every corner. Even if the Ghostfire Tower had been a minor faction, it was still a Shadow Wing mage organization—one that had stood firm for decades. Yet it had been wiped out overnight. Such a feat was enough to shake the entire land.
And now, Kael stood before the towering walls of Emerald City, gazing up in awe.
He had seen many great cities across the continent, but Emerald City was undoubtedly the most majestic. Its walls soared dozens of meters high, an imposing monolith that loomed like a colossal beast. The air pulsed with magical energy, and magic towers dotted the landscape at every turn. The sheer density of arcane influence here surpassed that of most other cities, truly living up to its reputation as the "Holy City of Magic."
Mages were everywhere—and not just ordinary ones. Many were advanced practitioners of Level 9 and above.
Rows of towering magic spires and ancient arcane structures stood as testaments to Emerald City's uniqueness, a reflection of its long and storied history.
"So, what do you think, brother? Emerald City is something else, isn't it?" Xueying (Bloodshadow) said with a laugh.
By now, the two had smoothly passed through the city's inspections and entered its bustling streets.
Kael nodded. Beyond mere novelty, what he felt most was excitement. Without a doubt, Emerald City had fully captured his interest.
Given Kael's current strength, he was undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse even within this city. After all, who would expect a young man barely in his twenties to already be an 11th-level Archmage at the peak of the Saintly Spirit tier?
"You're practically robbing me! A tiny piece of Solarite Gold for 100,000 coins?!"
Just as Kael was taking in the sights of Emerald City, a familiar voice suddenly rang out ahead. It belonged to an elderly mage, standing in front of a magic shop, shouting in clear frustration.
Kael's eyes lit up—that was none other than Old Ethan!
Grace had mentioned earlier that Ethan had also come to Emerald City, but Kael hadn't expected to run into him the moment he arrived!
True to form, Old Ethan was still as hot-tempered as ever, arguing fiercely with the shopkeeper, his face flushed and his voice booming. Kael could only shake his head in amused resignation.