"Currently, there are two types of mutated energy within your body—one is the icy-blue flame, and the other is lightning," said the Water Dragon, standing in the void with his hands clasped behind his back, frowning as he instructed Kael.
"Right now, what you need to do is fully master these two powers and wield them freely, pushing them to their limits," the Water Dragon explained patiently.
"First, gather these two forces together and attempt to compress them…"
Step by step, the Water Dragon guided Kael.
However, he was astonished to find that this kid was truly indescribable—his talent was freakishly unnatural. Sometimes, just by hearing an instruction once, Kael would immediately execute it flawlessly. Even the Water Dragon couldn't help but marvel repeatedly.
Even the legendary Archmage Orlando back in the day wouldn't have possessed such terrifying aptitude…
The Water Dragon didn't have much time. Both he and Kael were currently inside an illusionary realm, and with the Water Dragon's current arrangements, it wouldn't last much longer.
Thus, he could only do his best to impart as many key techniques as possible to Kael. What shocked him was that Kael's rate of comprehension was something even he found frightening.
Kael mobilized all the power within his body, his magical elements circulating at high speed as he executed them under the Water Dragon's guidance.
The mutated magical elements gradually grew more active within Kael's body. Indeed, as the Water Dragon had said, the power of these mutated elements was extraordinary—previously, Kael had only been able to harness a fraction of their true potential.
"Fuse your mutated magical energies and concentrate them into a single point!" The Water Dragon's voice echoed in Kael's mind.
Fuse the mutated magical elements and condense them into one spot?
Kael's heart stirred. Even he understood how arduous this process would be, yet the urgency in the Water Dragon's tone left him no room for hesitation.
Taking a deep breath, Kael followed the instruction.
Beads of sweat formed all over his body, soaking his clothes as his frame trembled faintly. Yet, he remained immersed in his training, unwavering.
A deafening roar erupted within Kael's body as lightning and flame elements surged through him, threatening to burst outward. Acting swiftly, Kael compressed and combined the elements, following the Water Dragon's instructions—focusing them into a single point…
Time passed, second by second…
Kael himself had no idea how long it took, but as he slowly rose to his feet, he exhaled deeply and said to the Water Dragon, "I've done it."
Yes, Kael had finally succeeded! He had mastered an entirely new power!
"Good," the Water Dragon nodded, his gaze lingering on Kael with a hint of complexity. "My time is nearly up…"
He was right—the duration of this illusionary realm was limited, and it wouldn't last much longer.
Kael sighed, an inexplicable heaviness settling in his chest. Though he knew the figure before him was merely a remnant of the Water Dragon's soul, the thought of such a legendary figure fading away still left him with an indescribable melancholy.
As if sensing Kael's emotions, the Water Dragon suddenly burst into laughter, his voice booming. "In my lifetime, I have never bowed to anyone, nor have I ever feared death! To have found a successor like you—I can perish without regret!"
His laughter was unrestrained, filled with unshakable pride, utterly unburdened by the concept of mortality.
Yet Kael's heart remained heavy. He nodded silently. Even though he knew this was merely the lingering will of a man who had died millennia ago, he couldn't suppress the strange emotions stirring within him.
"However," the Water Dragon continued, smiling at Kael, "there is one last thing I must pass on to you. This is my true legacy."
Kael stood, puzzled. "Then… what you just taught me about wielding mutated magic—that wasn't your real inheritance?"
"You think too little of my legacy!" The Water Dragon chuckled. "What I showed you earlier was merely guidance, tailored to your unique affinity for mutation. But this…" His voice grew solemn as he raised his hand, revealing a small emerald-green orb that hadn't been there moments before.
The orb pulsed with a radiant glow, its energy so refined that it seemed to contain an immeasurable power.
"So this is your legacy?" Kael asked, eyeing the emerald-green orb with curiosity. Though the small sphere radiated an extraordinary presence—its energy seemingly capable of shaking heaven and earth—he couldn't quite discern its true nature.
"Indeed. Do not underestimate it," the Water Dragon replied. "This is an energy essence I have condensed, containing all the knowledge I've acquired in my lifetime. Within it lie fragments of my memories, insights into the arcane arts I've mastered, and the entirety of my accumulated mana. You may 'plant' it in the world you create in the future, allowing it to nourish your strength. Once you do, your power will ascend without limit..."
So this was the true inheritance of the Water Dragon!
As Kael studied the glowing orb, it struck him less as a mere object and more as a seed—a seed of power left behind by the Water Dragon.
The Water Dragon placed the peculiar 'emerald seed' into Kael's palm. The moment it touched his skin, Kael's arm nearly buckled under its weight—the seed felt as heavy as a mountain, and he could barely hold it steady.
The sheer weight of this 'Seed of Power' was proof of the vast energy contained within…
Awe and exhilaration warred within Kael.
"I once possessed rare magical materials and treasured artifacts," the Water Dragon continued calmly, "but those were trivial compared to this. The true essence of my legacy lies in this seed. You may absorb its energy once you break through to the ninth tier."
Kael nodded silently, carefully storing the seed within his spatial ring.
"Time is nearly up..."
The Water Dragon's sudden remark hung heavily in the air.
Kael clenched his jaw. Though he had known this moment would come, he had secretly hoped—perhaps foolishly—that it might never arrive.
"From this day forth, you are my successor," the Water Dragon declared, his tone solemn. "May your path in magic stretch ever onward. Remember: the road of arcane mastery has no end."
Kael gave a slow, resolute nod.
The Water Dragon fixed him with an intense gaze. "My greatest regret is never attaining the rank of Archmage. You must reach that pinnacle—fulfill what I could not."
Kael opened his mouth, struggling for words, but his expression hardened with determination. "I swear it. In this lifetime, I will become an Archmage and uncover the true essence of magic!"
"Good. Good. Good!" The Water Dragon laughed heartily, repeating the word three times. Then—
Light gathered around him.
Beams of radiance converged upon the Water Dragon's form, and within that brilliance, his body began to dissolve. Piece by piece, he fragmented into countless motes of light, scattering like embers upon the wind…
At the same time, the space around Kael began to crumble...
The endless starry expanse beneath his feet twisted and warped, its celestial bodies distorting into unrecognizable shapes.
Yet the Water Dragon remained as composed as ever, as if this scene had nothing to do with him. His body gradually dissolved, starting from his feet...
"Farewell..." These were his final words, spoken with the same tranquil calmness that had defined him.
Kael's expression was complex. "Farewell."
He took a deep breath—and in an instant, the scene before him shifted.
Once more, he stood amidst the countless cultivators.
The venomous killing intent of the black-armored men, Lucian's frustration twisting into rage, Arjun's anxious yet exhilarated gaze, and the stunned disbelief of the onlookers—all flashed across Kael's vision in a single moment.
Though his exchange with the Water Dragon in the illusionary realm had felt lengthy, only a heartbeat had passed in reality.
With the Water Dragon's complete disappearance, the Chrono-Light Array naturally faded as well.
The restraints binding everyone vanished, leaving them weightless—returned to the Water Dragon's Secret Realm.
The dissolution of the array left no doubt: the Water Dragon's legacy had been bestowed upon Kael.
Instantly, the black-armored faction—already hostile toward Kael—reacted. Black-Armored No. 1 swept a gaze as sharp as a blade across the scene and snarled, "Kill that brat—now!"
No sooner had he spoken than Black-Armored Nos. 3, 4, and 5—all ninth-tier experts—moved simultaneously, their killing intent locking onto Kael.
Four ninth-tier powerers, united against him.
Yet Kael felt no fear.
Within the illusionary realm, he had mastered the application of mutated magic under the Water Dragon's guidance. Now, facing these enemies, confidence surged through him.
"You're the ones seeking death!" Kael's eyes glinted with frost. These black-armored men had provoked him one too many times—their arrogance had long since ignited his fury.