Geisgail saw that the small child had absolutely no intention of cooperating. Knowing that further persistence would only lead to greater conflict, he quickly enacted a Wind Binding spell, intending to immobilize Zhong Shenxiu for the moment.
However, what he never expected was that just as he managed to solidify the “Binding Spell,” Zhong Shenxiu vanished from his original spot.
What—what was going on?
Geisgail’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He could not fathom running into something so bizarre and eerie on this return trip. Had he actually seen a ghost in broad daylight?
Because he had lost his target and the magic couldn't linger for long, Geisgail quickly dispersed the spell in his hands. But just then, Zhong Shenxiu’s voice sounded right behind him: “Old man, were you looking for me?”
In that instant, Geisgail nearly leaped into the air. His already fragile heart threatened to give out!
Almost instinctively, Geisgail lunged a large step forward and casually flung a spell backward over his shoulder.
But when he spun around, he was stunned again—the space behind him was utterly empty. Not a soul was in sight!
Could it just be a hallucination?
Though the dragon’s body was immense, its surface area was limited, and there were no obstructions. Geisgail simply could not figure out where Zhong Shenxiu could have hidden himself!
Just then, he distinctly felt someone tugging at his rear, and then Zhong Shenxiu’s calm voice drifted into his ears again.
“Old man, you might as well save your energy!”
This time, when Geisgail turned back, Zhong Shenxiu hadn't vanished; he was standing right there, looking at him with an air of curiosity.
This—how was this possible?
Geisgail truly could not accept the reality of the situation. He, a dignified Divine-Magic Grandmaster, was being toyed with by a mere child. What was this boy made of? How could he possess such preternatural speed?
Seeing that Geisgail had become considerably more subdued, Zhong Shenxiu paid him no further mind and shifted his gaze back to the dragon beneath their feet.
Although Zhong Shenxiu had only been on the dragon for a short while, the beast had already soared far ahead. Looking down, the figures of Angelia and the others were now nothing more than tiny black dots!
He couldn't allow this creature to keep flying downward; it needed to land first!
With that thought, a wicked smirk curled onto Zhong Shenxiu’s lips, because a rather excellent idea had just struck him!
Meanwhile, although Geisgail had stopped attacking, his eyes never left Zhong Shenxiu. This mysterious boy had shocked him time and time again, yet he still couldn't glean any clue as to his true nature!
His mind was consumed with questions: What was this boy’s background? Why had he suddenly sought him out? What was his ultimate objective?
And just at that moment, a strange magical fluctuation jolted his focus, immediately followed by a ripple appearing in the space ahead!
This—was this Space Magic?
Geisgail was indeed a Divine-Magic Grandmaster; he recognized the ripple as the precursor to the activation of Space Magic! Sure enough, a bizarre sensation washed over him, as if the world itself had briefly inverted, inducing a sense of dizziness!
When Geisgail focused his sight, he froze dumbstruck. Although the dragon continued forward at undiminished speed, and the landscape below still rushed by rapidly, one thing was drastically different from before: their direction of travel was unmistakably back toward where Geisgail had come from.
Heavens! How had he done that?
The shock in Geisgail’s heart reached an apex! While he wasn't a Space Magic practitioner himself, he understood the difficulty involved in wielding such spells. Changing the flight path of a dragon without uttering a single incantation—he hadn't just never seen it; he’d never even heard of it!
Was this even the power a human being should possess?
Regardless of Geisgail’s astonishment, Angelia and the others, being too focused on the dragon, hadn't noticed Zhong Shenxiu’s absence.
“Huh? Why is it flying back?”
“Did I just imagine things? I thought it passed through some invisible wall?”
“Why are there two people up there now? Wait, isn’t that the Captain?”
At this moment, they finally spotted Zhong Shenxiu, and their shock was no less than Geisgail’s, especially for Mercedez, the newest member.
Having spent so little time in Zhong Shenxiu’s company, she had no idea what abilities he possessed. Seeing him suddenly appear on the dragon’s back nearly made her cry out!
Under their bewildered gazes, the dragon circled back above them. This time, it didn't whoosh past but began to descend slowly.
What was going on?
Everyone wanted an answer to this question. They couldn’t fathom why Zhong Shenxiu would bring the dragon down!
Turning to Geisgail now, he watched Zhong Shenxiu with the look reserved for a monster.
Dragons were such powerful creatures, yet Zhong Shenxiu had used a binding spell to force the dragon into a slow descent. In Geisgail’s eyes, this was beyond monstrous—it was freakish!
Now, he dared not even breathe heavily in Zhong Shenxiu’s presence, for he had fully realized this was a true master, a superior so powerful he was utterly beyond comparison!
“Hey, old man,” Zhong Shenxiu called out to the still-dazed Geisgail, “How about giving us a lift?”
Seriously, who asks for a ride like that?
Geisgail glanced at Zhong Shenxiu, then at Angelia and the others, and managed to squeeze out a few words: “Where are you headed?”
His tone now carried a hint of respect. It seemed in this world where strength dictated all, true power commanded deference!
“Where are you going?” Zhong Shenxiu countered.
“This old man was just returning to ‘Ivory Citadel.’ I wonder if you all—” His sentence was cut short by Zhong Shenxiu.
“Perfect, that’s where we need to go too!” Zhong Shenxiu stated flatly.
Geisgail was left speechless, thinking, Can coincidence really be this extreme?
Soon after, everyone boarded the dragon’s back and flew toward the capital, “Ivory Citadel”!
Along the way, through conversation, Geisgail lost the oppressive feeling he had initially.
He also learned that Zhong Shenxiu and his companions were a mercenary group.
And Zhong Shenxiu’s party, through Geisgail’s introduction, gained an initial understanding of “Ivory Citadel.”
Meanwhile, as there was still some time before reaching “Ivory Citadel,” Geisgail tentatively began asking Zhong Shenxiu questions about magic. A single, casual sentence from Zhong Shenxiu stunned him for a long time. That unique insight into magic was truly eye-opening, leaving him with the feeling of having learned more from listening to the youth than from years of study!
Because of this, Geisgail completely cast aside the unpleasantness from before and began peppering Zhong Shenxiu with questions, which grew progressively stranger.
These were doubts that had plagued him for years, yet Zhong Shenxiu provided the answers with casual ease, making him wonder if the questions he was asking were childishly simple!
In the span of a few hours together, Geisgail’s worship of Zhong Shenxiu had ascended to a new level. His conviction that Zhong Shenxiu was a true “reclusive master” became unshakable!
After another nearly hour passed, they finally spotted the capital of the Star Summer Empire, Ivory Citadel, in the distance.
The entire city adopted a classical style, conveying a sense of solemnity and elegance!
But one thing was strange: the entire city was decorated with lanterns and festive streamers, radiating an atmosphere of joyous celebration, as if some grand festival were underway.
Upon asking Geisgail, they learned that the quinquennial “Magic Exchange Convention” was about to begin. Top mages from all corners of the nation would gather here to exchange experiences and even trade rare items. The scene would be incredibly lively!
This was precisely why Geisgail had been rushing back!
Zhong Shenxiu asked nothing further, but the mages beside him, Gandalf and Maksin, became quite interested, clinging to Geisgail for more details.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the party finally landed at an extraordinarily luxurious manor—Geisgail’s residence!
As soon as they touched down, many of Geisgail’s family members rushed forward to greet them.
“Father, you’ve returned!” The speaker was a middle-aged man, also dressed in a robe of magic.
“Grandfather!” Just then, a little girl, about Robin’s age, ran from the crowd. This was Geisgail’s granddaughter, Lisa!
Geisgail lifted Lisa up and asked his son, “Is everything alright at home?”
“Yes, Father, though Augus has visited twice.”
Geisgail nodded, acknowledging the information, and was about to instruct the servants to prepare food and wine when Zhong Shenxiu walked over.
“Here, old man. This is your payment for that dragon.” As he spoke, Zhong Shenxiu tossed over a reddish object.
Geisgail caught it hurriedly, and when he clearly saw what it was, he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
Heavens, such a massive Mana Crystal Core?
The fist-sized stone in his hand pulsed with dense Fire elemental energy!
A Mana Crystal Core this large was something Geisgail wouldn't have dared to dream of!
Yet, what he couldn't possibly know was that this core was artificially created; it hadn't originated from a magical beast’s body at all!
Geisgail was ecstatic. When he composed himself, intending to say something, he realized that Zhong Shenxiu and his group were already walking toward the exit, leaving without even a proper farewell.
As he hesitated, wondering whether to chase after them, a bizarre sight stopped him dead in his tracks.
Not just him—all the family members surrounding him, even little Lisa in his arms, shared the exact same expression!
And echoing in all their minds was the same singular question: What is he doing?
The “he” in question, naturally, referred to Zhong Shenxiu!