In fact, there was an even more convenient method, which was to cross the stone pool and head straight to a position further ahead to intercept them, gaining the upper hand.
None of the people present were fools; of course, they knew this method.
The reason nobody stepped forward was that they sensed unknown dangers ahead that made them hesitant to act recklessly.
When someone secretly manipulated an insect to try, the masked sorcerer and Randall perceived the move immediately and chose to remain emotionless, pretending they had not noticed.
Without any warning, the hazy fog at the end stirred, flashed to a spot, engulfing the sneaky insect within it, and revealed its hidden form.
It was a shadow cicada with an indeterminate floating shape, slowly disintegrating into fine powder and blending into the surrounding fog, dying without making the slightest sound.
Witnessing this scene, the manipulator of the shadow cicada had no time for grief. He already realized he was marked by an unpredictable danger and made a quick decision to emit a strong non-insect-like aura in an attempt to leave the Red Cloud Realm.
As he was being pulled out by the secret realm’s power, a burst of black light instantly flew towards him, undodgeably hitting the sorcerer. In the next second, uncontrollable signs of insectification appeared on the sorcerer, with whisker-like antennae sprouting on his face, rapidly covering most of his face.
Eventually, he was pulled out of the Red Cloud Realm.
This bizarre outcome sent a chill through the other three onlookers.
“It’s their own doing,” the masked sorcerer muttered, his voice just reaching everyone’s ears.
“As if we couldn’t see. You dare use an Insect Control Master as a living creature puppet, speaking of misdeeds, who can compare to someone as mysterious as you?” his words undoubtedly enraged the other three sorcerers, who immediately pointed out his forbidden act.
“And you,” one of them targeted Ivan. “Given how chummy you all seemed just now, you’re together, aren’t you?”
“If I say we’ve only met here once and aren’t familiar with each other, would you believe me?” Ivan hadn’t expected to be implicated, and promptly defended himself.
“Don’t bother with excuses. People with anti-sorcerer thoughts like you should all be executed on sight.” They naturally didn’t listen to his excuses.
Ivan didn’t explain further. He understood that they were just looking for an excuse to start a fight by picking on someone they thought was weak; whether the reason was true or not didn’t really matter.
Randall gestured to him, and Ivan shook his head slightly.
If others saw him as an easy target, and he let his mentor protect him, then it would only prove their point. Moreover, who knows if there were other sorcerers lurking in the dark observing them.
It’s better to strike with one punch than endure a hundred.
Ivan understood this principle.
One could not stay in the secret realm for too long, the strategy for both was simple: a quick battle for a quick decision.
‘Black Magic Hand’
Ivan replaced the materials he used for casting with a different potion, previously it was the floating black catkins, now it was the dormant Black Fire Smelting. After completing the spell, a large hand ablaze with black flames emerged.
Just like with the Black Magic Wind, he refined Black Magic Fire to use as magic-casting materials.
“Boom.”
The burning Black Magic Hand collided with the opposite frosty air mass, making a deafening noise.
Fire against frost, and the frosty air mass was bulkier, by assumption, the fire should have been extinguished.
The opposite was true, the frosty air mass seemed to shatter on contact, rapidly dissolving as if it had met its nemesis.
“Your attack targets spiritual power?”
Sorcerer Poolen on the other side felt this most profoundly. It wasn’t so much the power of fire that subdued the frost but rather the flame that burned away the spiritual power supporting the spell, causing it to collapse and putting his attack at a disadvantage, unable to hold out.
Considering the formidable aspects, Sorcerer Poolen hastily retreated.
After the Black Magic Hand that was ablaze dispelled the frost air mass, it eventually landed on Sorcerer Poolen, who was intercepted by his Solidification Magic, averting injury.
Feeling the shock on his Solidification Magic, Sorcerer Poolen immediately took several more steps back, then ran off without looking back. His thought process was simple: since he could not seize the position in front of him, it would be better to go elsewhere in search of valuable resources.
With a single strike, he had repelled a deeply-experienced sorcerer.
Ivan’s action undoubtedly deterred many, causing the onlooking sorcerers to regard him with increased apprehension.
Randall, who was standing nearby, saw everything clearly. This was an attack derived from the Black Magic Wind Bundle Array, and judging by the situation, the array had likely been upgraded to a complete formation, its level of sophistication unknown.
Thinking of some people’s suppression of his disciple, he couldn’t help shaking his head, rueing their shortsightedness.
“Sorcerer Ivan, that was a very nice move,” the masked sorcerer remarked.
He didn’t wait for the opposing sorcerer to make a move but directly summoned another strange puppet. That maneuver was not just nice, it thoroughly frightened many people.
In just a mere ten seconds or so, with the puppet that could cast spells, one person chose to flee, and another, seriously injured, also used the power of the secret realm to escape. Such terrifying power of the spell caused people to entertain an unthinkable thought—could that be a sorcerer puppet of Level 2?
After his scare, coupled with the reputable presence of Randall and Hicks by the pool, as well as Randall’s friend being a deeply-experienced sorcerer, the onlookers collectively chose to stand down.
“Randall, Molly, I wish you good luck.”
Another friend of Randall, Brandt, was also among the onlookers and could only helplessly retreat with the others to search elsewhere for valuable items.
With no more disturbances from other sorcerers, the five of them focused on guarding the poolside, waiting for various power crystals to roll down.
As mentioned by the masked sorcerer, the blood-colored beads were common, while the other crystal beads were rare, appearing only occasionally with a very small probability.
After communicating with the Silkworm Queen for a moment, Ivan also began collecting the blood-colored beads into his pouch.
After a while, another bead containing pure white miasma rolled down to his side, evoking envy from those nearby, yet he still allowed the Silkworm Queen to ingest it.
Ivan understood that the item could be used to create space-magicalized items indeed but required related blueprints, which was not a simple matter.
And the Silkworm Queen had conveyed her desire to him.
It might as well fulfill the Silkworm Queen’s wish.
As time passed, by the end, apart from the blood-colored beads, Ivan had also acquired a bright golden bead.
According to the masked sorcerer, the golden bead represented the ‘King’s Power,’ beneficial for insects on a deep level, but he did not disclose more details.
Just as before, Ivan still chose to fulfill the Silkworm Queen’s desire.
“It’s out.”
“It seems like the time was much shorter than before.”
Outside Descending Clouds City, all the sorcerers were expelled from the Red Cloud Realm.
Unlike before, this time the Cloud Realm lasted for merely two hours, significantly shortened to a third of the usual duration.
“Randall, where is your disciple?” Molly looked around in surprise, noticing that Randall’s disciple was nowhere to be seen.
“Him? He left earlier,” Randall said nonchalantly.
In reality, Ivan hadn’t gone far at all. He had simply used the knowledge from the spell ‘Blood-Shape Transformation’ to disguise himself with a different appearance. After all, he had gained considerable attention this time and could not guarantee that he hadn’t been remembered by others, while the Silkworm Queen was entering her metamorphic stage.