Chapter 343:

The empty eye sockets burned with soul flames.

The Netherflame Raven soared through the dark sky, chasing the black sun as it flew against the wind, leaving the Plateau of the Gods behind.

Sylvia sat at the front of the Netherflame Raven. Her hand rested diagonally across her sword sheath and hilt. She stayed alert, prepared for any sudden attacks.

Ever since the heavens and earth changed drastically, the undead of the sorcerer world had also grown stronger.

Flying types like skeletal dragons, draconic liches, and wailing spirits had started to appear.

Therefore, relying solely on the Netherflame Raven was not enough to guarantee safety during flight. Someone had to stay vigilant at all times.

“Though the Netherflame Raven is convenient, it’s still just a mount. Once the sorcerer tower is built and we install mobile spell arrays, we won’t have to worry about aerial threats anymore.”

In the quiet rear of the raven, under the light of several sorcerer eyes, Xu Xi looked down at his thirty-one-year-old hands.

Years of performing experiments had made his hands appear long and dexterous.

What drew more attention, though, were the multiple spatial rings between his fingers.

Everything he had gathered from the Plateau of the Gods was stored inside them.

Even the rings themselves were newly recovered from the ruins of the sorcerer towers.

Now, during this brief travel time, Xu Xi was doing inventory to plan for the future.

“The tribal totem of an orc chieftain? Hmm, looks like it’s made from Angra wood. It can be used for the wooden beams of the sorcerer tower.”

“A siren’s charm scale? It’s so shiny… could work well as decoration.”

“Crimson Dragon Ore, Root of Life, Medusa’s Eye, Heart of the Mountain…”

He scanned.

Recorded.

Organized.

Xu Xi’s spiritual power quietly explored the space inside the rings, deciding how each item should be used.

Suddenly, his mental power paused.

A book had been drawn out and now floated in front of him.

“Magic Tool Compendium of the Sixth-Ring Sorcerer Tower, Tower of Dawn?”

The pages fluttered and rustled, flipping quickly before his eyes.

At a glance, it wasn’t the property of the sixth-ring tower master, but rather a fourth-ring member’s belongings.

Inside were basic emergency and domestic spell formulas, as well as fragments of precious knowledge from the sorcerer world.

One entry described the abilities unique to fourth-ring sorcerers.

“So that’s how it is…”

Xu Xi fell into thought while summoning more books from the spatial rings, searching for other magic equipment manuals and knowledge texts.

A moment later, several books floated around him, pages turning in the air, revealing what he wanted to see.

From the fourth ring onward, mid to high-level sorcerers could begin to break free from the world itself. The powers they relied on were detailed here.

“Third-ring sorcerers possess an observational perspective that exists outside the world. This is the starting point of transcendence.”

“Fourth-ring sorcerers go beyond just observing—they can actually interfere with and influence the world.”

“With this spark of power, combined with space-type materials, new technologies were developed—”

“Teleportation rituals, planar skyships, floating cities, interdimensional sorcerer towers…”

Xu Xi let out a quiet sigh.

The sorcerer system was truly a strange existence—

possessing both the individual might of an extraordinary civilization and the collective wisdom of a technological one.

If it weren’t for those legendary seventh-ring sorcerers pursuing broader horizons and choosing to leave the sorcerer world,

and if sorcerers didn’t habitually disregard life itself,

then the end of the world probably never would have come to pass.

“If spatial technology still exists, it could be useful when I go looking for the mastermind later.”

Xu Xi sat cross-legged. His slender fingers reached into the air and grasped the spine of one of the tomes.

After flipping through a few pages, he sank into thought.

As for this simulation—

Xu Xi had already studied death thoroughly and gained deep understanding of the soul. His main goals had been achieved.

He had no interest in fleeing the sorcerer world or turning into a soulless undead.

The only thing he wanted was to land a heavy blow on the mastermind before the simulation ended.

“For Sylvia, for the Hansens, and for everyone I’ve met along the way,” Xu Xi whispered.

“I don’t need an escape route. The end of life is just the beginning of another.”

“But Sylvia… she needs a way out.”

The Netherflame Raven flew swiftly, diving over withered forests and scattering leaves with each powerful flap of its wings.

Some undead were drawn by the movement, but before they could get close, they were burned to ash by the raven’s flames and turned into its food.

“Cross Slash!”

The brave one raised her heavy longsword and slashed down, sending out a brilliant arc of light that wiped out the enemy.

It was a fighting style fueled by soul force and amplified through spell formations—something uniquely hers.

Fearless.

Full of determination.

Xu Xi had once asked her why she fought so fearlessly.

The answer had been simple—

Because Xu Xi needed her.

To protect him, fighting was natural.

Xu Xi couldn’t stop worrying about her.

“The Soul Collector is a trait unique to me. Even if I don’t know where the mastermind went—whether he traveled to another plane or became an immortal being of the Netherworld—one thing is certain: Sylvia isn’t strong enough to join that battle.”

Staring at Sylvia’s back, Xu Xi quietly planned for the future.

He still remembered how she looked the first time they met.

Broken.

Alone.

Still trying to stand.

Afraid of the dark, terrified of thunder.

Small, timid, afraid of happiness, silently licking her emotional wounds in the dark.

How could anyone not worry about a Sylvia like that?

“Master Sorcerer, is something the matter?”

After the fight, Sylvia sheathed her blade and turned around, confused by Xu Xi’s gaze, thinking he had a command for her.

“Hmm… sort of.”

Xu Xi smiled and spread his hands, revealing a collection of spatial rings.

Sylvia blinked in surprise.

Then Xu Xi said gently, “Sylvia, you’ve already become a proper sorcerer. You should have your own spatial ring by now.”

“Take your pick. Choose the style you like best, and it’s yours.”

“Eh…?”

The soft sound of surprise made the soul fire inside her skull flicker adorably.

Her skeleton was hidden beneath armor, but with her upright posture and the gloomy sky behind her, she looked almost alive.

“But… Master Sorcerer, aren’t spatial rings incredibly valuable?”

“You told me before—only fourth-ring sorcerers are capable of making them.”

Sylvia was clearly surprised and confused.

The shifting colors in her eyes reflected like ripples in a summer-green lake.

Xu Xi nodded, confirming what she said. “You’re right, Sylvia. Spatial rings are very precious.”

“But no matter how precious something is, its value only shows when it’s used.”

“I believe in you, Sylvia.”

“I believe you’ll use this ring well—and that you’ll protect me even better.”

Knowing her well, Xu Xi smiled warmly as he spoke words she couldn’t possibly refuse.

Even so, the brave one still looked slightly embarrassed, feeling like she had already received far too much.