Chapter 567: Invitation

Chapter 567: Invitation

Lewey perused every book within the library of Saint Villia.

Yet he found no solution to the problem of demonic seed parasitism.

He was already a legendary mage and a council member of the Elemental Tower.

He had access to all the books in the library of Saint Villia.

In other words, the tower’s collection held nothing more to reveal to him.

Still, even with such access, he found no answers—the situation was clear.

Ancient records offered no guidance on how to deal with demonic seed infestation.

Considering that the Demon Calamity occurred in ancient times, even if there once were methods, they might have long since been lost.

Lewey realized he would have to find a way himself to resolve this calamity.

After much deliberation, he sought out the Master of the Hall of Truth.

The Master looked at Lewey with surprise. “You want to initiate a research project on demonic seeds?”

He hesitated. “But demonic seeds have vanished for ten thousand years. Even if we wanted to study them, we lack samples.”

“There were rumors from the north recently—some say demonic seeds have appeared, but so far, no one has actually seen one.”

Lewey knew why. The place where demonic seeds had surfaced was likely the Far Northern Icefield.

That cursed land—it was normal for decades to pass without anyone entering or leaving.

It made sense that word of demonic seeds hadn’t spread widely.

As for obtaining samples for research, Lewey wasn’t worried. He had a demon tree in his possession.

A demon tree could grow demonic seeds. Once these seeds parasitized animals, they produced demonized creatures.

All the materials needed for research were right there.

Lewey said, “I’ve been to the Far Northern Icefield before. A demon calamity truly erupted there. I even brought back a demon tree capable of producing demonic seeds. Producing samples for research shouldn’t be an issue.”

The Master of the Hall of Truth was greatly surprised. “What? You have a demon tree?”

Lewey retrieved the frozen demon tree from his magical space.

The Master examined it carefully, his face lighting up with delight.

“If you have a demon tree, initiating a research project on demonic seeds should be feasible. I’ll go apply to the Tower Lord immediately.”

Lewey said, “I hope to become the lead researcher of this demonic seed project.”

“That… I can’t guarantee,” the Master replied, somewhat troubled.

After all, proposing a project and becoming its leader were two different things.

The former merely required suggesting a new research direction—anyone could do that.

Becoming the leader meant heading a research team, taking full responsibility for the entire project, and having independent authority over its direction.

Even he couldn’t interfere with the leader’s strategic decisions regarding the research.

At most, he could pause or halt the project’s progress.

Lewey said, “Didn’t the Tower Lord mention compensating me yesterday? Why not use this as compensation?”

Hearing this, the Master nodded. “Alright, I’ll ask about it.”

With Liewy providing the source of materials needed for demonic seed research,

and combined with the compensation promised by the Tower Lord the previous day,

the proposal for establishing a new laboratory dedicated to studying demonic seeds and demonized creatures was quickly approved.

And thus, Liewy naturally became the head of the Demonic Seed Research Laboratory,

fully responsible for all matters concerning the study of demonic seeds.

The Master of the Hall of Truth also assigned several scholars suited to researching demonic seeds to join the lab.

Demonic seeds had always existed, yet their nature remained largely unexplained.

However, the Elemental Tower had never placed much emphasis on studying them.

If it had been the Alchemy Tower, perhaps they would have taken it very seriously.

The Elemental Tower leaned more toward elemental magic research.

Therefore, the confidentiality level of Liewy’s lab was not particularly high.

It was only classified as a Level One Secret Research Laboratory.

From highest to lowest, the Elemental Tower’s research labs were ranked as follows: Core Top-Secret Labs, Top-Secret Labs, Level One Secret Labs, Level Two Secret Labs, Level Three Secret Labs, and Open Research Labs.

Liewy had no objections to the classification of his lab.

Higher-level labs received more resources.

Since Liewy only aimed to study ways to reverse demonization, and didn’t plan to expand too broadly, his resource demands weren’t excessive.

Besides, if significant results emerged that proved useful to the Elemental Tower, the lab’s classification would rise accordingly, along with increased support.

When scholars of the Hall of Truth heard they were being transferred to a brand-new lab, many were reluctant.

Especially when they learned the subject of study was demonic seeds and demonized creatures—they became even less willing.

“What kind of nonsense is this? We’re elemental magic researchers! How can we possibly achieve anything studying biological specimens?”

“Exactly! What was the Master thinking, opening a lab that looks completely useless?”

“I pray I don’t get selected.”

“Have you heard? The head of the new lab is Lewey.”

“Lewey? That newcomer who played a key role in the Solar Radiance Lab?”

“So what? Solar Radiance and demonic seeds are totally different fields. Just because he excelled in solar studies doesn’t mean he’s good at demonic ones.”

Regardless of the scholars’ complaints, the Demonic Seed Research Laboratory was established.

The first batch of researchers assigned to the lab numbered fewer than ten.

Lewey found a suitable location within the Hall of Truth and planted the demon tree.

Feeding the demon tree, harvesting demonic seeds, using those seeds to infect animals, magical beasts, and plants for research—

the process was straightforward.

Lewey gave the scholars of the lab a clear objective:

to discover ways to suppress demonization—or better yet, reverse it.

Though the scholars were initially unwilling to join the lab, once given orders by Lewey, they all set off in the direction he had determined.

It would take some time to cultivate the demonized creatures necessary for research.

Lewey delegated this task to his subordinates.

It was worth mentioning that Hobbes had taken the initiative to request joining the Demon Seed Laboratory.

Levi subsequently handed the management of the laboratory over to him.

Hobbes patted his chest and guaranteed, "I will definitely manage the Demon Seed Laboratory well."

Levi cautioned him, "Be careful during your research, make sure none of you are harmed by the demonized creatures, and absolutely do not let yourselves be parasitized by the demon seeds."

After brief instructions regarding the precautions, Levi left the Hall of Truth.

Walking along the path leading toward the library, a figure materialized by his side.

"Levi, my master wishes to see you," Lilith whispered, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

"Harros? What does he want with me?" Levi felt a flicker of doubt in his heart.

Considering that when the Holy Church of Light had come to capture him previously, it was Harros who had told Lilith to tip him off, enabling his escape.

Levi nodded in agreement, "Alright, let's go."

Lilith led Levi to see Harros.

Upon seeing Levi, Harros sighed with emotion, "I truly did not expect that after so little time, you would become a legendary mage. It is simply unbelievable."

Levi smiled and inquired, "What is it you need from me?"

Harros remarked, "I heard you have been investigating the Jade Duke recently?"

Levi showed a hint of surprise, "Oh? Is there something wrong with that?" Harros replied, "Not particularly, but why are you investigating him?"

Levi answered, "I am merely a little curious about this longest-lived noble of the empire."

Harros stared at Levi, unable to discern the true thoughts hidden in his mind.

However, he had caught wind of certain rumors.

The Jade Duke seemed to have been searching for Levi all along.

Harros let out a hearty laugh and said, "True enough, throughout the ages, countless people have yearned for the eternity of life, craving longevity."

"If you are merely interested in the secret behind the Jade Duke's long life, you might as well take a trip to the Alchemy Tower; they possess extensive research in that area."

"If you don't mind turning into a monster, the alchemists there can even keep you alive until the destruction of the world."

"But then again, you have already become a legendary mage, so lifespan shouldn't be much of an issue for you. After all, you are still young, and there might even be a chance to ascend to godhood in the future."

"A few centuries ago, a human mage became a god. Keep it up."

Levi looked at Harros with a touch of strangeness, sensing that this was not what the man truly intended to say.

He pressed further, "And if it isn't to discover the secret of longevity?"

Harros wore an amused expression and said, "Then things become interesting."

"Have you heard? The Jade Duke is about to reach his one-thousandth year, and he is currently planning a grand birthday celebration in the Jade Fief."

"When the time comes, the Jade Duke will surely invite prominent figures from across the entire continent to attend the banquet."

"You became a legendary mage at such a young age; if word reaches his ears, there is a high probability he will invite you to the feast."

Levi stared at Harros, temporarily unable to fathom what the older man was thinking.

Nevertheless, what Harros mentioned was indeed an excellent opportunity to draw close to the Jade Duke.

If it was the Jade Duke's birthday banquet, the duke would definitely be present.

This created the perfect opening for him.

The legendary lich was still waiting for his good news.

After a rather cryptic and disjointed conversation, Levi and Harros parted ways.

Once Harros had departed, Levi chatted with Lilith for a brief moment.

"Thank you for helping me escape last time." Levi expressed his gratitude to Lilith.

Lilith replied with a cold expression, "It was nothing, my master simply told me to help you. If you want to thank someone, go thank him, there is no need to thank me."

Levi offered a small smile, long since accustomed to Lilith's tsundere temperament.

Harros would never meddle in such trivial matters.

At most, he would have given a casual warning that Levi was in danger.

Anything beyond that was entirely of Lilith's own volition, including covering for Levi while he used the teleportation array to flee the Element Tower.

Levi extended an invitation to Lilith, saying, "Shall we take a walk down the street?"

Lilith did not refuse, countering instead, "Are you that idle? Ah, I forgot, you have already become a legendary mage, so you must be very idle indeed."

Levi did not rashly attempt to sense Lilith's rank.

He inquired, "What about you? What stage has your cultivation reached?"

Lilith said coldly, "I cannot compare to you, I am a mere fifth-tier mage."

Hearing this, Levi did not think Lilith's cultivation speed was slow at all.

She had not been in the Element Tower for long, not even two full years, yet she had already become a fifth-tier grand mage.

Barring any unforeseen accidents, reaching the legendary tier was a foregone conclusion for her.

Levi remained quite interested in the source of that power coursing within Lilith's body.

After taking a few steps, Lilith turned back to look at Levi and asked coldly, "Weren't you the one who wanted to go for a walk, yet I still have to wait for you?"

Levi let out a chuckle, snapping back to reality, and quickened his pace to keep up with her.

It was rather strange.

Lilith did not alter her attitude toward him in the slightest just because he had grown stronger and become a legendary mage.

She truly possessed an unyielding pride.

And it was precisely this innate pride that allowed her to view Levi, a legendary mage, as an equal.

Had it been anyone else, they would have felt inferior due to his legendary status.

Even Hobbes could not shake off this psychological hierarchy.

Upon learning that Levi had become a legendary mage, Hobbes's attitude had grown far more polite, losing its former natural ease.

After parting ways with Lilith, Levi began to brainstorm ways to build up a formidable reputation for himself.

He thought of Oats.

The Northern Mystery Kingdom of Oats had been secretly funded and established by the Jade Prince.

Although the Jade Prince was not Oats’s only investor,

Oats should still have ways to get in touch with him.

Thoughts led to action.

Li Wei, through his avatar remaining in Mapleleaf City, began promoting his extraordinary talents via the Spark Literary Society.

Titles such as “the youngest legendary mage in history,”

“the most gifted mage in centuries,”

and “the most promising candidate to ascend to godhood after Mystra” were all shamelessly bestowed upon himself.

Soon enough, word reached Oats’s ears.

Hearing that Li Wei had actually become a legendary mage, he could hardly believe it.

Considering that the level of a legendary mage far exceeded his own capabilities,

Oats reported the matter upward, hoping those above could verify whether this intelligence was true or false.

Before long, his superiors informed Oats—the information was genuine.

That very night, Oats sat alone in his room, sleepless throughout the entire evening.

It was far too easy for those behind Oats to confirm the truth.

They simply needed to ask someone among the upper echelons of the Elemental Tower.

When Li Wei became a legendary mage and joined the Tower’s council, nearly all high-ranking members were aware.

There had been no attempt at concealment whatsoever.

Thus, news of Li Wei’s ascension quickly spread—

reaching even the ears of the Jade Prince.

“A legendary mage? How on earth did he manage that?”

Even the Jade Prince found it baffling.

According to his intelligence reports, Li Wei had just recently been a fourth-rank archmage.

After much deliberation, the Jade Prince sent an invitation to Li Wei, who was currently stationed at the Elemental Tower—an invitation to attend his millennium birthday banquet.

Partly out of curiosity to uncover how Li Wei had suddenly risen to legendary status,

but more so because he wanted possession of the dragon by Li Wei’s side.

His sources indicated that Li Wei had arrived at the Elemental Tower alone—and accomplished something deemed impossible.

The Jade Prince cared little about what feat it was that earned him a seat on the council.

What intrigued him most was: where had that great dragon gone?

Inviting Li Wei to his birthday celebration was less about Li Wei himself,

and more about securing control over that dragon.

Upon receiving the gilded, ornate invitation from the Jade Prince, Li Wei smiled.

Almost immediately, he sent good tidings to the legendary lich.

Holding the luxurious golden invitation in his hand, his face beamed with joy.

“I’ll bring you a surprise gift beyond your wildest expectations.”

“It definitely won’t disappoint you. Hahaha...”

(End of Chapter)