Chapter Sixty-One: Extortion Succeeded??

The Water Curtain Celestial Blossom, a forbidden spell of the water element, stands as the most formidable defensive magic in the water system. Though it possesses no offensive power, it grants the recipient lifelong immunity to water magic. Merlin’s abilities are unfathomable; for ordinary ninth-level mages, casting a forbidden spell would require the ultimate sacrifice—their very lives. Yet, a handful of powerful individuals across the continent can survive the casting of such spells, though not without consequences; Anthony, for example, paid with rapid aging. But Merlin, the guardian mage of the magical kingdom of Elson, requires only a brief loss of magical energy as the price for unleashing a forbidden spell.

To cast a tenth-level forbidden spell atop Agula Mountain is akin to detonating a bomb in the capital of a nation on Earth—a direct affront to the dignity of the Dragon Clan. Though the Dragon Emperor cannot punish Merlin, Chu Tian would not let such an opportunity for extortion slip by.

“Your Majesty, the Dragon Emperor, Aunt Merlin cast the forbidden spell mainly for my sake.” Chu Tian’s face still bore that charlatan expression, but his eyes glimmered with genuine emotion. Never before had anyone helped him so selflessly, and at this moment, Merlin’s place in Chu Tian’s heart rose to the same height as Anthony’s. “When I was treating Your Majesty’s illness, I accidentally fused your blood into myself, which transformed the nature of my magical power into dragon magic. Thus, my supposed eighth-level Grand Priest abilities are, in truth, empty titles. Aunt Merlin, for the sake of my future safety, bestowed upon me the water magic defense…”

Chu Tian spoke these words, his face contorted in pain and sorrow, his head bowed as he shook it and sighed deeply. “Alas! Who would have thought Your Majesty’s blood could be so potent, stripping me of all magic!” Yet, inwardly, he mused: For the sake of Your Majesty’s health, I’ve lost my powers—shouldn’t you comfort me somehow?

As Chu Tian explained his subtly distorted version of events to the Dragon Emperor, Merlin cast him a surprised glance. This child never possessed magical energy to begin with—how could he claim it was the Dragon Emperor’s blood that rendered him a cripple? Then, realization dawned: he’s even daring to extort the Dragon Emperor! Far more audacious than that stubborn old Anthony…

“You say merging my blood caused you to lose your magic?” The Dragon Emperor fixed his gaze on Chu Tian, clearly unmoved by the trick, and spoke in a low voice: “Then why did Chiyan’s report state that you were always a magic idiot?”

Damn Chiyan! Even if you’re destined to be my sister-in-law, I’ll have to settle the score with you! Chu Tian cursed internally, but his expression remained unchanged. “Praise be to the Goddess of Life! Does Your Majesty truly believe that Teacher Anthony would take a magic idiot as his student? Would you believe a magic idiot could cure Your Majesty’s illness?”

Seeing the Dragon Emperor still wavering, Chu Tian dropped another bombshell. “Does Your Majesty believe someone without priestly talent could master ancient priestly arts?”

Chiyan once said the Dragon Emperor loved studying ancient history, and it was commonly believed that all martial techniques and priestly arts from that era were inscrutable, impossible for anyone but geniuses to master. Thus, Chu Tian pressed him: Look, I’ve mastered ancient priestly arts that no one else understands—do you still think I’m a magic idiot?

“Ancient priestly arts?!” The Dragon Emperor suddenly floated before Chu Tian, staring intently. “You truly know ancient priestly arts?”

“Your Majesty, I can vouch for Vladino!” Merlin understood what Chu Tian was attempting and naturally lent her support. “He used ancient priestly arts to treat your illness!”

“And you used ancient priestly arts for the thunder eagle’s bone replacement? That explains it…” Though the Dragon Emperor addressed Chu Tian, he seemed to be muttering to himself, clearly convinced by Chu Tian’s story. “How could Chiyan have made such a mistake?”

The Dragon Emperor sighed, reached into the void, and produced a pitch-black book. “Vladino, who would have thought you’d lose all your magical power for the sake of my health? Fortunately, according to my research, many ancient priestly arts require no magical energy. Take this book as my compensation for you.”

Praise be to the Goddess of Life! What secrets does this book hold? Battle energy manuals? Forbidden magic? Or ancient martial arts? Chu Tian, suppressing his excitement, nervously accepted the book.

“Vladino, I have studied this book for many years. Though I cannot understand it, I am certain it contains powerful ancient priestly arts. I hope you will study it diligently.” The Dragon Emperor said this with a dignified air.

So, you’re giving it away because you can’t understand it! Chu Tian cursed inwardly: You shameless old lizard! Giving me trash and dressing it up so grandly.

Chu Tian looked at the book in his hands, torn between laughter and tears. Admittedly, its appearance was striking: the pages were woven from some unknown metallic threads, the black background and golden lettering exuded a mysterious aura. But what was truly astonishing was the cover, embroidered with gold thread spelling out several characters—characters that were, incredibly, ancient Chinese script from Earth!

Seeing Chu Tian staring blankly at the book, the Dragon Emperor quickly added, “No one has understood these characters for thousands of years, but since you’ve mastered ancient priestly arts, perhaps you can read them?” The Dragon Emperor was uneasy; since he couldn’t decipher the book, he used it to fob Chu Tian off, but if Chu Tian truly understood the script and the book contained ancient secrets, he would have suffered a great loss.

“Praise be to the Goddess of Life!” Chu Tian replied with a wry smile. “Your Majesty, I can’t read it either. I never encountered this script while studying ancient priestly arts.”

“So you can’t understand it either!” The Dragon Emperor relaxed, but still affected encouragement. “I trust your talent will someday unlock its secrets…”

———

Chu Tian was easily dismissed by the Dragon Emperor, and the Agula Mountain medical conference came to an end. The next day, Chu Tian received all his pets and followers from the battered Clark, then set out on the road back to the Kaiser Empire.

The elven elder Hershey and Krins had already departed, and Merlin, having temporarily lost her magical energy, remained at Agula Mountain for safety’s sake.

Though Barbosa’s seal had not been broken, after hearing the history of the Dragon Clan’s war, he no longer protested, content to continue as steward, hoping Anthony might surprise him in the future.

Everyone was arranged aboard a Boeing 747, but Chu Tian, cradling Little White, chose to ride atop Apache, while NMD naturally flew on his own wings. Surveying his massive party, Chu Tian smiled with satisfaction; the journey to Agula Mountain had yielded rich rewards. Not only had he befriended several Dragon Clan elders, he had also forged ties with the elves. Best of all, he had acquired several powerful magical pets!

Sitting on Apache’s back, holding Little White in one arm, Chu Tian flipped through the strange ancient book with the other. Clearly, he had lied to the Dragon Emperor. Though he had never studied the ancient script, years of exposure to Earth’s internet and television had enabled him to guess the meaning of a few characters. For example, on the title page of the book was a phrase: “To my beloved.” And the signature—Goddess of Life, Alice…