“So that evil apprentice was actually hiding in this wilderness, quite adept at evading detection,”
“This doesn’t look good, the items obtained in the Red Cloud Realm might end up benefiting the apprentice’s insect beasts.”
More uninvited guests arrived outside the deep valley, and from afar, they saw an Elemental Phenomenon in mid-air, which didn’t look like a sorcerer’s ascension phenomenon; they guessed that it was the other side’s insects undergoing metamorphosis.
This was not good news, but it wasn’t without a solution either—simply extracting directly from the insects would suffice; dealing with an evil apprentice didn’t require any moral scruples.
“Be careful.”
No sooner had they entered the deep valley than their path was blocked by a figure.
The figure launched a ferocious attack at once, wielding a vicious spell; caught off guard, one of the sorcerers was seriously injured. Had the sorcerer’s lifeforce not been so tenacious, the person would likely have been doomed with that single blow.
They then realized that this living creature puppet was akin to a Level 2 Sorcerer, and the group was so frightened they scattered in all directions, wishing they had more legs to carry them away, leaving behind any treasures or magicalized space items.
These uninvited guests had come in a fury, but now they fled as swiftly as the wind, and henceforth, there were few who spoke of the evil apprentice.
After all, on the Moon Pincer Peninsula, a Level 2 Sorcerer was essentially an existence that could sweep away everything.
Of course, there were some who were undaunted, such as the most recently active force on the Moon Pincer Peninsula—the Star Moon Alliance. Relying on their wealth and power, the Star Moon Alliance had drawn many sorcerers to their side, most of them wandering sorcerers.
Over a year ago, Molly and Brandt couldn’t resist the offer made by Jeeson and also became members of the Star Moon Alliance.
Other people might ignore the masked sorcerer that emerged from the Red Cloud Realm, but the Star Moon Alliance, poised for big things, couldn’t afford to. No one knew whether the opponent was targeting them.
“Sorcerer Jeeson, what did the leader say?” Brandt couldn’t help asking.
Molly, too, left a deep impression on that person and perked her ears to hear his response.
“The leader said not to provoke that person,” Jeeson said gravely.
“So we’re just supposed to let him swagger around?” Brandt was greatly disappointed. The invitation to join the organization had not been framed like this before; they spoke of how easy it would be to deal with the dean of a small college, as if it were a piece of cake, yet now it appeared to be just empty talk.
“That person is different. As long as we don’t provoke him, he won’t interfere with our affairs,” Jeeson knew what he was thinking and simply explained, then, as if something occurred to him, he added, “Also, the plan I mentioned before, to win over Sorcerer Ivan, is canceled. In short, do not provoke that masked sorcerer.”
Originally, Jeeson had planned to use the two, being friends of Randall, strategically to bring the highly valued Ivan over to his side. Now, given the potential to offend that person, he had no choice but to abandon the plan.
Seeing how seriously he spoke, Brandt and Molly exchanged glances, securing the notion in their minds that the masked sorcerer was an unusual and untouchable entity.
…
In the depths of the mountain valley.
With Ivan’s help, the Silkworm Queen crossed that all-important threshold, completing its final transformation.
There was not much change in the body size of the Silkworm Queen, but it now possessed an undeniable regal air, its entire body lush and translucent, and gained some exquisite white patterns with a golden emblem resembling a crown atop its head.
It wriggled its body, stepping through the air and making its way to Ivan, landing habitually on his palm without realizing that it was moving through space without the aid of wings.
“Ivan, we have a new home now.”
“It’s a pity you can’t enter, but it doesn’t matter, I can’t either.”
Following this transformation, the Silkworm Queen had evolved into an intelligent creature, speaking in an endearing and lazy voice, just like its personality.
“Mother, you can speak now.”
“Mhm, it sounds so much better than Scented Butterfly’s voice.”
Before Ivan could respond, the Scented Butterfly and Wind Moth excitedly approached, bombarding her with compliments.
“You two are so noisy,” the Silkworm Queen looked at them with distaste. The white patterns on its body emitted a faint glow, covering the two insects in a ripple of light.
The next second, Scented Butterfly and Wind Moth began shrinking, and as they pulsated, they were drawn into the body of the Silkworm Queen, disappearing without a trace.
“Silkworm Queen, is this new home you mentioned an internal space?” Ivan’s eyes shone as he guessed where the two insects had gone.
“Mhm, a very large home,” the Silkworm Queen nodded vigorously, its words brimming with pride, like a child eager for parental praise.
“Well, I must take a good look at it.”
Eager to share, the Silkworm Queen immediately transmitted its sensory perception to Ivan, who saw a space filled with verdancy, an irregular spherical realm at least two thousand cubic units in size.
In a corner of the space, there was a honeycomb-like nest, which was a new insect nest prepared by the Silkworm Queen for the rapid wood silkworm clan, occupying only one-tenth of the space.
“Not bad at all, you now qualify as a mythical creature,” Ivan remarked.
Seeing the Silkworm Queen’s transformation, Ivan didn’t stint on his praises.
According to sorcerer’s standards, the beast classes of this world can be divided into several levels, from low to high they are: wild beasts, giant wild beasts, magicalized wild beasts, magic creatures, legendary creatures, and mythical creatures.
Anything involving space abilities is, at a minimum, included among legendary creatures.
Now that the Silkworm Queen qualifies to be recorded in the ledger of legendary creatures, she has ascended several ranks at once.
“Mother, Sorcerer Ivan, are you there?”
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Inside the space, the Scented Butterfly and the Wind Moth were fluttering about, with the Scented Butterfly being somewhat calm, while the Wind Moth kept shouting all around, trying to figure out where it was.
“What’s all the shouting for? Keep it up, and I won’t let you out.”
“Mother, I was wrong.”
“Humph! You blind thing.”
Under the Silkworm Queen’s scolding, the Wind Moth obediently shut its mouth and landed on the ground.
The Wind Moth was just unlucky to have not chosen a good time, it just happened to speak during the moment Ivan was praising the Silkworm Queen.
After scolding, the Silkworm Queen remembered that Sorcerer Ivan was by her side, having witnessed her crude side, and couldn’t help stealing glances at his expression.
“For such an ignorant one, just scold, they’ll remember after being scolded.” Having noticed its subtle movements, Ivan was indifferent; he didn’t really care.
Despite Scented Butterfly and Wind Moth calling the Silkworm Queen “mother,” if one were to regard their relationship through the lens of human mother-child relationships, it would certainly be misguided.
Insect kinds follow the hive mind, and the Silkworm Queen is the supreme being among the rapid wood silkworm kind, more feudal than emperors of feudal dynasties; the Silkworm Queen scolding the Wind Moth is a matter of course.
This was after Ivan had a deeper understanding of insect creatures that his perspective slowly evolved; naturally, he wouldn’t force the Silkworm Queen to change her inherent way of thinking.
He didn’t care about these things, as long as the Silkworm Queen remained loyal to him, her fervent reliance on him couldn’t be faked.
“Mhm, they really don’t understand, or else I wouldn’t bother scolding them.” The Silkworm Queen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, it had long been dissatisfied with Scented Butterfly and Wind Moth, firstly because both insects became intelligent creatures before it did, and secondly because they followed the sorcerer around many times while it had to stay within the insect nest.
Now was better; the other rapid wood silkworms could stay in the space worm nest, it was enough to follow Sorcerer Ivan, and it was best if they didn’t come out if there was no need.
“Ivan, why not have the other rapid wood silkworms stay in the new nest? No other intentions; it’s just safer,” the Silkworm Queen suggested opportunistically.
“No problem.” Ivan readily agreed. He didn’t really like carrying around a worm nest all day. As the number of the rapid wood silkworm kind increased, the current nest had long become overcrowded.
Subsequently, the Silkworm Queen transferred the other rapid wood silkworms to a new nest within her internal space.
Space had one limitation; the Silkworm Queen and creatures of other races couldn’t enter, but it could be used as a storage space, which was a nice surprise for Ivan as, up to now, he couldn’t create a Transfer Sealing Runes Scroll.
After the Silkworm Queen’s detailed explanation, Ivan discovered that her space ability had become associated with her ‘Power of Crowd Control.’ When the other rapid wood silkworms were inside the space, she could directly borrow their strength and transfer damage without needing to merge like before.
This increased the borrowing limit of the ‘Power of Crowd Control.’
Strength: 14.2, Agility: 14.6, Body Constitution: 14.5
Ivan broadly assessed the Silkworm Queen’s physical data; her overall abilities had improved by about eight graduated degrees and could now match a human Earth Knight, at the peak of the Earth Knight stage.
“By the strength tier classification, you are now a Level 2 creature.”
“It’s a shame I’m not very good at fighting.”
In response to his praise, the Silkworm Queen was pleased but also a bit regretful. She knew that when it came to combat abilities, she definitely wasn’t a match for Ivan, who was still a Level 1 Sorcerer.
“Haha, there’s no need for you to fight for me.” Unlike Randall, since becoming an official sorcerer, Ivan never considered the rapid wood silkworms as a means of combat; naturally, he wasn’t disappointed, “These Bloodline Essence Power crystals are for you to deal with however you like, reward them to whoever you want.”
“Mhm, I’ll handle it well, I know how to develop in a way that’s best for the race.” The Silkworm Queen didn’t hesitate to take the blood-colored beads into her space.
In the days that followed, while Ivan continued studying the Multi-changing Star Runes Array, the Silkworm Queen awarded the blood-colored beads to four mother silkworms, to which the other rapid wood silkworms didn’t object at all.
Soon after, one of the mother silkworms died, while the other three metamorphosed into Level 1 creatures.
Two of the mother silkworms birthed abilities were downgraded versions of the ‘Power of Crowd Control,’ which infuriated the Silkworm Queen, cursing the insects for not putting up a fight.
What consoled the Silkworm Queen slightly was the remaining mother silkworm; its ability was ‘Green Scythe,’ which was likely a derivative of the influence of the Black Scythe Lord’s bloodline. It could condense a corrosive, poison-tipped green scythe that could slash through flesh to eradicate lifeforce and cut through shields to corrode energy.
This indirectly granted the Silkworm Queen a powerful spell attack ability.
The Silkworm Queen felt it could be of help to Sorcerer Ivan, so it praised the mother silkworm well, making it the fifth-ranked member of the rapid wood silkworm clan.
According to the order set by the Silkworm Queen, number one was naturally Sorcerer Ivan, number two was itself, number three was the Scented Butterfly which could act as an advisor, and number four was the Wind Moth, able to handle assorted tasks.