Chapter 322:

The field of sorcery is vast. It is built upon the foundation of soul power, guiding one toward self-elevation, the convergence of truth, and the final reach of an unprecedented world’s end. Potions, magical artifacts, and sorcery techniques—all of these are steps toward truth.

It is not that powerful sorcerers control these fields. Rather, only those who master these domains qualify to ascend as greater sorcerers.

As night fell, Xu Xi was shaping a magical artifact for Sylvia’s use.

“The venomous fang of a female wyvern… not the finest forging material, but given Sylvia’s current strength, it should suffice.”

“Besides that, there’s a small amount of silver essence, star iron ore, and the shattered armor of a Headless Knight.”

“I hope my current level of artifact crafting won’t waste these materials.”

Inside the workshop, within a chamber inscribed with noise-canceling runes, Xu Xi sat in deep thought. Several thick tomes hovered beside him, pre-activated sorceries illuminating the space or stabilizing the flow of soul fire.

Then, he slightly raised his hand, and an object resembling a wand appeared, resting lightly in his palm.

The sorcerer system shares similarities with the magical system, both having the custom of wielding wands. However, in the world of sorcerers, a wand is not essential—many sorceries rely solely on the caster.

The reason Xu Xi used a wand was simply out of habit.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

He tapped the ground with the wand.

Deep blue soul fire twisted and coiled, transforming into pure soul power and surging into the prepared materials, modifying and shaping them.

This was refinement on a microscopic level, seamlessly merging the extraordinary properties of each material. The process itself was a form of artistry.

“As planned, the armor should be lightweight and easy to maneuver in.”

“I’ll inscribe some sorceries onto it to slightly enhance Sylvia’s combat power.”

“The knight’s sword will follow the proportions of Sylvia’s current blade, with added enhancements—sharpness reinforcement, durability enhancement, and soul-guided amplification.”

“With this…”

“Sylvia’s strength will see a significant boost.”

A beautiful deep blue glow, like the tides of the ocean, spread across the walls of the temporary workshop, casting crisscrossing shadows on Xu Xi’s face.

With a light flick of his wand, powerful soul energy took on substance, and the tranquil blue transformed into raging waves, engulfing and compressing the materials.

Destruction, reconstruction, creation.

The cycle repeated itself, over and over.

At last, the artifact forging reached its conclusion.

Pop! A sound like a bubble bursting echoed, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground.

A full set of armor, gray-silver interwoven.

A long sword, silver-white and sharp.

These were the magical artifacts Xu Xi had prepared for Sylvia.

Both the sword and the armor bore engraved sorcery runes, shimmering with an almost fantastical brilliance.

“…It seems a bit too eye-catching,” Xu Xi murmured. With another wave of his wand, all the activated runes dimmed, shifting into a state of passive activation. They would only glow when Sylvia actively used them.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

The sharp sound of wind rushing outside caught Xu Xi’s attention.

He instinctively looked toward the door.

The blood moon bathed the world in crimson, casting a chilling, eerie glow. Amid this sinister stillness, a lone figure continued swinging a sword.

One strike after another, never stopping.

The aura of undeath still clung to her—an undeniable, inescapable truth.

Under the crimson night, everything seemed bleak and ghastly. Even the distant town twisted and warped in the darkness, like a massive, gaping maw waiting to devour.

Only that lone figure remained unchanged.

“Sylvia is working hard again tonight…”

Xu Xi watched for a long time.

That relentless swinging of her sword, the sharp hum of steel cutting through the air—it all carried a faint, hazy glow.

An invisible, intangible, yet undeniably real force.

It was the unwavering knightly spirit of Sylvia Crowfield and the small but persistent dream she had always carried—to change herself.

“…Sylvia is fine in every way, except she fears loneliness too much.”

Xu Xi looked up at the moon, the blood-red orb hanging in the sky like a massive, bleeding eye, watching the world below with chilling indifference.

Raised in a noble family, Sylvia had received a complete elite education.

She was strong.

She was kind.

Even after suffering a curse that turned most of her body into that of an undead, she never truly fell into despair—she continued helping others.

That courage made Sylvia admirable. But at the same time, it also made her lonely.

She longed for someone to talk to.

When the people of Crowfield’s territory all left, Xu Xi had clearly seen the desolate darkness in her half-intact face.

It was something he couldn’t just ignore.

A burden? A liability?

Xu Xi didn’t think so.

“Sylvia’s swordsmanship is exceptional. Even if she can’t become a sorcerer, I can enhance her undead body, indirectly increasing her power.”

“…I suppose this is what they’d call an ‘Undead Sword Saint’?”

The blood moon cast its cold light onto his outstretched palm.

Xu Xi smiled.

He was starting to look forward to seeing Sylvia cleave through waves of the undead in the future.

[You have forged new equipment for the hero.]

[The hero dons the Death Knight’s Armor.]

[The hero wields the Wyvern-Flame Venom Blade.]

[The hero expresses great satisfaction with her new gear and thanks you.]

[Seeing the fully armed Sylvia, you suddenly feel as though you’re playing a character progression game.]

The blood moon sank.

The black sun rose.

In the dim world, Sylvia, now clad in her new equipment, gently ran her fingers over the armor and lifted her sword, carefully examining the engraved runes.

With half of her face missing, Xu Xi couldn’t read her expression.

But those trembling emerald ripples in her eyes—

The way she looked at him with excitement—

That was all he needed to know.

“How does it feel, Sylvia?”

“Master Sorcerer… I love it! Thank you!”

Sylvia flipped the wyvern sword over and over in her hands, caressing the blade with delight.

It wasn’t the reaction of a warrior thrilled to receive a new weapon.

It was more like that of a child receiving the most delicious candy.

“Master Sorcerer.”

She turned around.

Her bandaged face revealed only a single gleaming green eye, its jewel-like glow reflecting Xu Xi’s figure perfectly.

“I really, really love it!”

A child raised in the light—

After falling into the depths of loneliness—

Had finally received a gift from the light once again.

“Then I’m relieved.”

Hearing Sylvia’s answer, Xu Xi smiled.

“Master Sorcerer.”

Sylvia spoke again, curiously studying her sword.

“This feels just like a story. You know, getting excellent gear and then embarking on a journey.”

“Sylvia,” Xu Xi corrected, “rather than being in a story, you are creating one.”

Creating a story…

Sylvia froze for a moment.

She never thought she had the right to do something like that.

But strangely, in her heart, a tiny flicker of anticipation ignited.