Soft white snow layered over the slopes, between the trees and rocks, the world, a field of silver and white.

The thick snow underfoot was soft, leaving a trail of hoof prints as the horses stepped through.

Louis and his group moved forward slowly. On the surface, it seemed they were casually wandering the snowfield, like a relaxing stroll after a hunt.

But, in truth, Louis was secretly guiding the direction of the group.

The path they were taking led towards the north, where the Intelligence System indicated the Grand Mage was.

Suddenly, a Vanguard Knight galloped back from the front.

"My Lord, we found a corpse of an old man ahead, his appearance is withered... and his wounds are somewhat strange."

"A corpse?" Louis frowned, his heart sinking, "Let's go, take a look."

This wasn't right, the Daily Intelligence System clearly showed that old fellow was only "unconscious," not dead.

After riding for just a moment, they saw the mysterious corpse the Vanguard Knight mentioned.

An emaciated old man, draped in a ragged cloak, sitting cross-legged half-buried in snow, like an ascetic.

He bore no resemblance at all to the Grand Mage Loken depicted in historical illustrations, full of spirit, his robe sleeves fluttering.

What stood out the most was on his chest, the heart area.

It was a fist-sized crack emitting a dark glow.

The crack was slowly widening, the surrounding skin continuously deteriorating, and black lines were spreading outward.

"This isn't being unconscious..." Louis couldn't help but mutter to the system, "This damn well looks dead."

Just as he pondered if the system made an error, the "corpse's" mouth suddenly moved slightly.

"Um... uh..."

A knight exclaimed: "He's actually alive!"

Everyone looked at each other, their expressions frozen, could he really be alive in this state?

Louis stood five meters away, shielding the group, and gestured, "Go and listen to what he's saying."

A knight approached as instructed, placing his ear close to the withered lips.

His voice trembled slightly as he repeated: "He said... tell Saint John that someone has violated the original oath."

Louis was silent for a moment, a trace of doubt in his eyes: "Saint John? That name rings a bell somewhere..."

He frowned slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The surrounding knights exchanged confused looks, none having heard this name, they too were trying to make sense of the sudden revelation.

But in the next moment, change struck suddenly!

The dying figure abruptly opened his eyes!

"Guh..."

Before anyone could react, a deeply strained moan erupted from the old man's throat, as if something was churning in his chest.

Suddenly!

"Shoo——!!!"

A mass of dark purple energy burst from his mouth, with an ear-piercing sonic boom, shooting straight at Louis five meters away!

"Watch out!!"

Lambert roared, flinging himself forward like lightning, his aura exploding, the snow beneath his feet erupted!

But it was too late!

The breath came too fast, without any warning!

"Puh—!"

The energy wave struck Louis' forehead directly, making a dull sound.

His body jolted violently, as if hit by lightning, falling back, landing heavily in the snow.

"Lord Louis!" Lambert's roar shattered the snowy silence, filled with uncontrollable shock and anger.

As the energy wave blasted out, the old man's eyes lost their last glimmer of life.

The crack on his chest, which was already like a curse, suddenly began expanding wildly!

"Zzz— Zip-Laa!!"

The crack spread crazily like a spider web, the dark purple light spreading through his flesh, as if some ancient and strange force was tearing him apart from the inside!

The next second, his entire body was instantly engulfed!

No explosion, no scream.

Just silently vanished in front of everyone.

Leaving only a tattered mage's robe, falling solitary into the snow, slowly collapsing.

As if this person never belonged to this world from the start.

"Lord Louis!!"

On the other side, all the knights, seeing Louis hit, their faces changed abruptly, and they rushed toward him.

Lambert was the first to kneel, lifting his body with one hand.

"How are you?"

The others quickly formed a circle, alertly watching the surroundings, the atmosphere tense as if facing a formidable enemy.

Consciousness plunged into darkness, Louis's mind seemed to be abruptly ripped open by some force.

Countless images surged like a tide.

He couldn't think, couldn't breathe, only forcibly injected with these unfamiliar memories, images, emotions!

But these pieces of information only surged past, without pause, and he could only capture a few fragmentary scenes—

A young man with black hair, sitting quietly on a stone platform.

Dozens of cross-legged figures around him, listening to his lecture.

He spoke of a certain strange breathing technique, unlike any Empire's cultivation system, with an inhale and exhale as if resonating with the universe.

The scene shifted.

A middle-aged man, smiling amidst the firelight.

In his arms, holding a baby, crow's feet etched at the corners of his eyes.

Another scene.

Eight hazy figures, surrounding an elderly man pinned to a stone slab.

Their faces blurred, chanting low incantations, engaging in some terrifying ritual dismemberment.

The old man always kept his eyes open, seemingly... looking at Louis?

......

The images shattered, the consciousness space cracked like a mirror.

Louis's awareness was forcefully thrown out of the chaos by an irresistible force.

He opened his eyes.

Before him was a familiar gray and white ceiling and the interlaced beams of his home.

He was lying in his room at his estate, the cushion beneath him slightly sunken, the air faintly scented with herbs.

The first thing he saw was a fair face.

It was Sif, looking down at him, her white hair slightly disheveled, her eyes filled with joy and anxiety.

"Louis... you're awake!" she called out softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Footsteps sounded around him.

Bradley, Lambert... all gathered around, their faces full of concern and worry.

Louis slowly blinked, the fragments of memory continued to linger in his mind.

He was silent for a few seconds, suddenly his expression tensed, the memories before he fell unconscious gradually returned.

Grand Mage Loken, the purple energy wave, and that phrase "Someone violated the original oath"...

His voice slightly hoarse but calm: "Lambert, stay. The others, please step out."

The tone was not heavy, but everyone knew it was a signal for a private conversation.

Sif hesitated for a moment, although full of worry, she bit her lip and nodded, rising to leave.

Bradley gave Lambert a glance, silently patting his shoulder, and followed suit out the door.

Only Louis and Lambert remained in the room.

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