As Garrett began his advancent, Cirilla, who was guarding outside the mage's cottage, softly exclaid, "Huh?" She turned her head, carefully peering inside, her pupils instantly becoming vertical slits—
What's happening inside?
Is it an advancent?
It seems a bit strange!
She looked carefully and listened intently—on the side of her cheeks, mbranous ear shadows briefly flickered—she even sniffed the air. Then, with a furrowed brow, she muttered to herself:
"The sll is a bit off... There's sothing stinky... Should I help him get rid of it? But it doesn't seem like sothing a gust of wind can blow away... Strange... Bang! Bang!"
She murmured softly, mimicking the sounds inside. Turning around, she saw the curious Golden Eagle Warriors approaching, and imdiately waved them away fiercely:
"Get back! Get back! You can't co over here! Don't cross this line!"
As Cirilla mimicked the "bang" sounds, Garrett was struggling intensely in his ditation. He was turning, cutting, and even detonating his ntal power twice—
Anyway, it was just the little snake's feedback power, not yet sorted out, so he didn't mind wasting it. Detonating once to blast away the voices calling "Plague Lord!" "Plague Lord!"; detonating again to shatter and blow them all away.
So close, he nearly beca a Totem God!
He was only a Level 9 mage, even if he had just successfully advanced, he was still only Level 10. Becoming a Totem God now, what kind of misshapen creation would that be?
A Totem God based on a Level 10 mage would be controlled by a "divine persona" or a counterfeit divine persona, rather than the mage controlling it. What's so great about that?
Garrett still rembered his teacher returning from the New World, handing that demigod's divine crystal to the council. In full view, the elders of the God of Nature's sect and the grand mages of the Transmutation School jointly cast spells, cutting that divine crystal into over a hundred pieces.
If even a divine crystal was treated like that, what about a Level 10 mage's creation, infused with the core of the Plague Maiden and the gratitude and admiration of many? Even his teacher, or any of his senior brothers and sisters, could easily crush it with one hand!
The right path was to continue advancing on the mage's road, striving for the legendary rank!
After detonating his ntal power, Garrett suddenly felt a great relief. The starlight beca brighter, the night breeze softer, and the whole world clearer—
Indeed, following the mage's path and exploring the truth of the world would garner the world's greatest goodwill. Becoming the Plague Lord would trap him in this land...
Garrett cald himself, following his previous experience, advancing step by step. He strengthened his ditation core, enhanced the ditation shell, and filled it with energy. Familiar with the process, he quickly reached the final step:
Inscribing spells.
This stage was optional, he could skip it without issue. But Garrett, adhering to the principle of taking full advantage of every opportunity, decided to utilize the world will's infused energy to its maximum extent:
So, what to choose?
Advanced Explosive Fla?
With his current ability, this spell was his primary killer move. With dual enhancents, adding the world will's boost could push this five-ring spell to mid-level six-ring, or even top-tier six-ring. He wouldn't fear facing Level 11 or 12, even Level 13 enemies;
However, using this opportunity to inscribe a damaging spell felt unsatisfactory. Mainly, his chances of pursuing and killing enemies to the death were very low; he preferred sothing more useful in daily life.
Teleportation?
This spell... extrely useful, very, very useful... Even the basic version provided by the council could span hundreds of miles in an instant... But unfortunately, Garrett advanced too quickly and hadn't fully studied this spell, making it impossible to inscribe...
Natural priest spells also had many useful ones. For example, Enlightennt, granting human intelligence to animals or trees;
Tree Leaping, allowing natural priests to move from one tree to another;
Unicorn's Dance, creating a mist to quickly clear smoke, dust, and toxins from the air...
But Garrett didn't know any of these. He could learn the five-ring mage spells from the council's library or exchange and recite from the Thunder Horn; many natural priest spells lacked scrolls and spell models.
Garrett didn't have ti to seek guidance, so he slowly learned from Elder Tapros's notes, the Ancient Vine Bird's collection, and the Oak Staff's legacy. The result was that he hadn't figured it out yet...
Frustrated, Garrett picked through his learned spells, one by one. Ti slowly passed, and a voice urgently urged him:
Make a decision quickly!
Ti is running out!
Garrett sighed heavily. As ti ticked away, he finally steeled himself and chose the spell he used most frequently and fluently during this period:
Plague Spell.
Plague Spell, Plague Mist, Mass Plague Spell. Garrett pieced together a spell template. In his view, the high consumption of Plague Spell and Mass Plague Spell was due to the lack of casting materials, requiring creation from nothing;
But was Garrett Nordmark lacking in casting materials?
His laboratory had them in abundance! As much as needed! Category A, B, C, he could practically list them all!
As for viruses... oh, he couldn't cultivate them himself, but he had the knowledge... wait...
His ntal power wavered, and the little snake swiftly transmitted a mory. It belonged to the Plague Maiden, difficult for the little snake to understand, and now digested and conveyed:
It detailed how the Plague Maiden adjusted divine power fluctuations to rapidly proliferate various pathogens. Although her thod seed crude and reliant on divine power, it was highly effective!
With divine power, growth was guaranteed, much like how natural priests cultivated penicillin and streptomyces; as long as holy power flowed continuously, those molds grew endlessly!
Acidity, oxygen, nutrients, all conditions might affect growth rate, but ultimately, growth was assured!
Moreover, the Plague Maiden's authority included adjusting the pathogens' strength. Hatred or desire for soone's death made pathogens stronger; receiving worship or offerings allowed leniency, weakening them...
Garrett was almost moved to tears. This authority was incredibly useful for developing vaccines! Attenuated vaccines were about weakening pathogens to a certain extent!
This mory also contained deeper, more complex parts that Garrett couldn't comprehend yet. However, the understood portion was enough for him to package and inscribe it:
Using Plague Mist as a template, connecting bacteria, fungi, viruses, and various pathogens, with adjustable range and pathogen strength;
Mass Plague Mist!
Consumption equivalent to a three-ring spell, affecting a designated area, imdiately effective, strength adjustable!
Advancent, successful!
Garrett slowly opened his eyes. Before him, the Oak Staff's five pairs, ten leaves swayed gently. Nine were deep green and tough, one was translucent and fresh, like a newly sprouted leaf. Garrett smiled, raising his hand to touch...
"Huh?"
His fingertip felt sticky and stringy. Garrett blew on his finger, revealing a mass of fungal filants stuck to the leaf:
"What are you doing?" he asked the Oak Staff blankly:
"You're an oak tree! Why are you ssing with these things? Ow!"
With a thud, the Oak Staff leapt up, giving his forehead another tap.
Garrett rubbed his aching forehead, wincing in pain. Although the Oak Staff struck him, it also transmitted a lengthy ssage:
How the Plague Maiden induced and controlled divine power to cultivate various fungi. How to mix different bacteria, even preserving smallpox blankets to maintain their activity...
This was...
Using bacteria to cultivate viruses?
The very thing he had repeatedly failed to cultivate in the lab?
Garrett's expression grew serious. He wanted to ponder it deeply, but the technical difficulties were many—the nature and use of divine power being the greatest obstacle—temporarily unsolvable. It seed his next research direction was set.
He rubbed his forehead, slowly stepping out. As soon as he left the mage's cottage, Cirilla joyfully bounded over:
"Garrett! You're alright!—Huh, you advanced? Was it smooth? I didn't help absorb elental power..."
She circled around Garrett, sniffing occasionally. Garrett smiled, spreading his arms for her inspection, while answering:
"Yes, I advanced, quite smoothly. This ti, no need for extra elental power, the little snake's feedback was quite abundant... almost overwhelming..."
After a brief exchange, six Golden Eagle Warriors cautiously approached, peering from a distance. Seeing Garrett nod at them, they slowly advanced, respectfully saluting:
"Honorable Plague Lord..."
Garrett hissed. Could you call that a little less? Call that too much, and the divine persona will cling to again!
"What is it?"
He responded sternly, trying to appear as imposing as possible. The leading Golden Eagle Warrior bowed respectfully:
"Firstly, thank you for fighting alongside us to eradicate the Plague Maiden. Secondly, congratulations on your power growth..."
"Yes, I've advanced," Garrett nodded indifferently:
"And gained so of the Plague Maiden's abilities, like triggering plagues... By the way—since the Plague Maiden is dealt with, when will Lynn be returned?"
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