Chapter 334:

[Your new life begins.]

[You immerse yourself in cultivation, unable to pull away.]

[Your thoughts remain in constant motion, the Thinker trait activating steadily as you delve into unfamiliar Third-Ring spells.]

[Each morning, you take flight, surveying the world’s changes and tracking the movements of the sun and moon.]

[At the same time, you receive a daily greeting from the hero.]

[“Good day, Master Sorcerer.”]

[On the open mountaintop, Sylvia repeats her sword swings over and over. Her movements are precise and sharp, radiating a powerful presence.]

[Watching her, you sense the early signs of an undead sword saint taking form.]

[The sunlight is brilliant, the moonlight pure.]

[The world’s eerie normalcy offers you a sense of ease, though you know deep down that this tranquility will not last.]

[Death, war, destruction, separation… this world holds far too much chaos.]

[You can’t help but wonder—]

[Is this fleeting peace nothing more than the world’s final flicker before the storm?]

…

[During the first month of your stay atop the mountain,]

[The world remains peaceful, with no major events occurring.]

[According to your observations, with the sun and moon restored, the sorcerer’s world has begun to regain some vitality, no longer as barren as before.]

[Faded stained-glass windows reflect dazzling sunlight.]

[Moss silently spreads across the ruins of the village, bringing forth tiny, weak slimes.]

[This startles Hansen and Mena.]

[You exterminate the slimes, collecting them as research material while also setting up defensive enchantments to protect the elderly couple from magical creatures.]

[To you, this is a simple, effortless act.]

[But the elderly couple is stunned, their voices trembling even more as they call you “Master Lord.”]

[You sigh, once again trying to persuade them otherwise.]

[Finally,]

[Thanks to your persistent efforts, Hansen and Mena no longer call you ‘Lord.’]

[Instead, they follow Sylvia’s lead and address you as ‘Master Sorcerer.’]

[You look up at the sky, falling into silence.]

[At least it sounds better than ‘Lord.’]

“Master Sorcerer, the world is so quiet now…”

A soft, delicate voice echoed.

It came from the girl sitting at the entrance of the workshop, staring absentmindedly at the bright scenery outside.

Since the summoning of the Netherworld, the sorcerer’s world had lost the concept of four seasons, reduced only to two—the season of snow and the season without snow.

What should have been a sweltering summer had long been shrouded in the gloom of the Black Sun, leaving only desolation and eerie cold.

But now—

The summer sun burned like golden silk, its heat returning to the land.

From a distance, Sylvia watched the leaves shimmer green under the sunlight, swaying gently in the wind. Tiny insects flitted within the foliage, hidden in the soft movements of the branches.

It was an ordinary sight, one she had seen countless times before.

Yet now, it felt like a rare and precious miracle.

Xu Xi closed a thick book and followed Sylvia’s gaze, looking at the lush trees and crimson sun outside.

“A beautiful world is always quiet, Sylvia.”

“And because of that, it is fragile—like a dream, disappearing at the slightest touch.”

As if to affirm his words, the summer world outside grew even quieter.

The wind whispered through the sea of trees, the rustling leaves creating a gentle murmur.

Sylvia slowly closed her eyes.

She stretched her hand out through the workshop’s doorway.

Though separated by a layer of armor, though lacking flesh and nerves, as she listened to the rustling sound of the leaves, she felt as though she had returned to a time a thousand years ago.

Her family was still there.

The beauty of life remained.

Everything was just as it had been.

She didn’t allow herself to linger in the illusion for long.

Opening her eyes, she stood by Xu Xi’s side in the still afternoon, murmuring softly—

“It’s a beautiful dream, Master Sorcerer.”

Her voice was light, carrying away the remnants of the dream.

…

[During the second month of your stay atop the mountain,]

[The sun continues to shine brilliantly.]

[You still observe no significant changes in the world.]

[Your understanding and development of Third-Ring spells reach a critical point. Using your auto-advancing innate talent as a foundation, you successfully pinpoint several promising directions.]

[With diligence and mastery of elemental techniques, you create new Third-Ring elemental spells.]

[Your mood brightens.]

[Sylvia notices your joy and asks if she should prepare a grand feast to celebrate.]

[You agree to the idea but firmly reject the inclusion of roasted fruit.]

[The fireplace crackles, releasing warmth and light. Steam rises from a copper kettle as you prepare a cup of Firefluff Tea for yourself.]

[Meanwhile, you light a Deathly Mushroom for Sylvia.]

[At dusk,]

[One of you holds a steaming cup of tea, the other a glowing mushroom, as you both sit in silence, watching the full moon and discussing how long it might last.]

“Master Sorcerer, I’ve absorbed all the soul fire you gave me, but…”

“But what?”

“I still can’t materialize my soul power or advance to the Second Ring.”

“Take your time, Sylvia. We have plenty of it.”

“But, Master Sorcerer, as a mere First-Ring, I can’t be of any help to you at all.”

“That’s not true,” Xu Xi chuckled. “My experiments wouldn’t be possible without you, Sylvia. Without your help, I’d be in quite a predicament.”

The undead girl gazed at the moon outside.

Holding the burning mushroom close to her face, she let the soul fire drift near, savoring its scent.

“I understand, Master Sorcerer. I will await your summons and offer this body whenever you need it,” she whispered.

The mushroom obscured her expression, and Xu Xi couldn’t see her eyes.

But he knew—

They must have been a deep, luminous green.

…

[With a magical grimoire, you record the shifting sunrises and sunsets.]

[By the fireplace, fresh magical beast meat sizzles as it roasts.]

[Rugged mountain stones and aged wooden beams stretch their shifting shadows as day and night take turns passing.]

[At your fingertips, you grasp the shadow of the sun.]

[It is the silent passage of time.]

[Your mastery of Third-Ring spells grows steadily, and you begin to truly solidify your place as a competent Third-Ring Sorcerer.]

[At the same time, you begin research on advancing the Undead Raven.]

[You believe that for future journeys, greater flight speed is essential.]

[From the mountaintop, you gaze across the distant lands—seeing grass flourishing and fields of flowers swaying in the wind.]

[It is a dreamlike, beautiful sight, yet it constantly gives you a sense of an impending storm.]

[You decide to continue waiting.]

…

[During the third month of your stay atop the mountain,]

[Time, with its relentless passage, has a way of softening all things.]

[Hansen and Mena, once the only residents of this mountain, had regarded your presence with fear and caution. But now, that fear had long since faded.]

“Master Sorcerer.”

“Miss Sylvia.”

[The elderly couple no longer tremble before you but approach with warm smiles, occasionally bringing fresh vegetables and fruits.]

[Each time, you accept them graciously.]

[Afterward, you create ‘coincidental mishaps’ to ensure the couple stumbles upon enough food to make up for their generosity.]