Chapter 2153: Chapter 2154: Bronze Bell

Faced with Neya’s continuous questioning, Frode didn’t answer but instead asked, "Did you see the letter I had the Royal Knight send you a few days ago? How is your investigation progressing over there? Who is using living people for sacrifices?"

Neya frowned, knowing Frode was referring to the matter in the Silver Heron Duchy. But given how little time has passed since she sent someone to investigate, how could they possibly have gotten information so quickly?

Frode should know this... Yet, why did he specifically mention this matter?

Suddenly, Neya recalled that in the letter Frode sent, it clearly stated that the human sacrifices were discovered by an Honorable Wizard passing by, hoping that it would be taken seriously.

At the time, Neya was still pondering who this so-called Honorable Wizard was, but no matter how much she thought she couldn’t figure it out, so she simply put it aside. Now that Frode mentioned it specifically, is there a deeper meaning?

With this thought in mind, Neya looked at Frode again, only to find that he was using his peripheral vision to continuously glance at the red-haired man beside him, making the hint very obvious.

As Frode’s old friend, Neya’s heart stirred, and she immediately understood.

"There’s no news from there yet. Once it comes, I will inform you immediately."

With that said, Neya respectfully approached Angel, expressing solemnly: "I was too impatient earlier and did not immediately recognize the Honorable Wizard. I hope for your forgiveness, Sir."

Neya’s words left her old apprentice behind her puzzled, but Frode on the other side was smiling.

Angel was also somewhat surprised that Neya directly assumed he was an Honorable Wizard, even though he had disguised himself... Angel thought of something and glanced at Frode, immediately understanding the situation.

Angel was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "No harm."

Upon hearing Angel’s acceptance of her respectful title and his calm demeanor, Neya immediately understood that her assumption was correct. This person, who appeared to be like a mortal, was indeed an Official Wizard.

Given Frode’s social network and his emphasis on this Wizard, Neya even vaguely guessed the identity of the other party.

However, if this person was indeed who she thought, then since he concealed his appearance, there must be a reason, so Neya dared not directly ask and simply treated him as a passing Official Wizard.

At this moment, a cold mountain breeze filled with chaotic energy blew from afar, making the candle flames in the wooden house flicker, shadows in the forest dance; it also chilled Neya to her bones.

Neya glanced at the red-haired Wizard, seeing no signs of blame, and couldn’t help but ask, "The atmosphere in the castle over there is dense, there must be undead causing chaos. Sir, do you need our assistance?"

Angel naturally understood what Neya wanted to ask, and he shook his head lightly, "No need. For specifics, you can ask Frode."

Neya nodded and walked over to Frode, exchanging a glance with him before asking in a low voice, "Didn’t you say in your letter that you planned to retreat for soul trick training? How come you are here?"

Frode replied with a smile, "I’m here for the training."

Neya looked at the castle in the distance, with its ghostly shadows, and seemed to understand something: "You’re planning to use undead to quickly master soul trick? Don’t you know that the soul force of undead is filled with chaos and negative emotions? Doing so could easily lead to your downfall."

Frode: "I know, but the undead in the castle make it worthwhile."

Neya was perplexed.

Frode: "Inside is a Special Undead."

In Neya’s astonished expression, Frode slowly explained the entire situation, not even hiding the existence of Little SEM, even though he knew that Neya, as a member of the Silver Heron’s royal family, had a feud with Little SEM’s kin.

Neya listened, indifferent to Little SEM’s identity, but surprised by another matter—

That Special Undead within Star Lake Castle is actually a child’s trial?!

Since it’s a trial, Neya naturally assumes it’s an initiation trial.

The initiation trial for a child is to directly confront a terrifying Special Undead, and what is more excessive, they are required to kill the Special Undead!

Is the initiation trial for Barbarian Cave this brutal?!

This isn’t just Neya’s thought, but also the unspoken thought of that silent old apprentice.

Even if the child has a method to restrain the Special Undead, allowing a mortal who has never previously engaged with souls to directly bypass ordinary undead and spirits to kill a Special Undead is still extremely difficult.

It’s like an infant wielding a sword; can it kill an adult? Right now, Little SEM is like an infant holding a sword.

Neya knew the Illusion Master had once let Talented Ones endure extremely cruel Nine Chambers Bloodsport. Unexpectedly, even more horrifying trial tasks have now appeared, and the trial-taker is very likely this disciple of the Illusion Master... A Chaowei Wizard unmatched in talent and skill!

Neya previously thought Angel was relatively approachable, but now looking at Angel, her gaze carried a bit of reverence.

The Academy Faction’s exterior is a facade; internally, it is certainly the same as the Illusion Master, all black once peeled open.

This is definitely a ruthless person.

Neya lowered her eyebrows, her gaze no longer daring to be as uninhibited as before.

After recovering from the initial shock, Neya also understood the entire process.

She didn’t understand the significance of the trial, but since the trial continued under Angel’s watch, presumably it wouldn’t cause greater chaos.

Neya thought for a moment and said, "Since the Honorable is watching over this, I suppose there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll take my leave now."

After speaking, Neya glanced at Frode beside her, mouthed a thank you to him, and expressed her hopes for his training... The Special Undead indeed significantly benefits soul trick training; however, Frode’s risk of downfall is greater, and she doesn’t wish to see Frode become an undead.

Frode understood Neya’s meaning, and he smiled: "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

Neya didn’t know where Frode’s confidence came from, perhaps it was Angel’s presence? Neya said no more and prepared to leave with the old apprentice.

"Wait." As Neya was about to leave, Angel called out to her.

Neya looked back only to find a piece of black Magic Copper Ore in front of Angel, appearing out of nowhere. This Magic Copper Ore continuously burned, transformed, and underwent purification in Angel’s hand, quickly turning into a dark yellow bronze bell two people tall.

At the moment the bronze bell took shape, Neya noticed a cluster of holy radiance appearing on Angel’s Hand of Magic.

Before Neya could discern the nature of the radiance, Angel thrust it into the bronze bell.

The bronze bell seemed to receive enchantment; its brilliance was restrained, and it looked extraordinary at a glance.

After completing all this, Angel tossed the bronze bell to Neya: "Take this and place it at the highest point of Saint Sem City."

While Neya was still in doubt, Angel continued: "After ringing it, it will diffuse a special sound wave around, which can bring those whose evil intentions were aroused by the undead aura back to normal."

Upon hearing Angel’s words, Neya’s expression was filled with surprise and disbelief: "This is... a mind purification alchemy tool?"

Angel nodded: "You could say that, but it doesn’t have much impact, though it covers a wide range, sufficient for the current scenario."

The reason Angel crafted the copper bell and handed it to Neya was also due to the incident at Star Lake Castle initiated by their side. Some mortals, even with dark thoughts, are innocent as long as they do no harm. Now, under the push of the black cloud, these dark thoughts have exploded, which is not their fault.

Such aftermath, if he can solve it, he will try to resolve.

On the other hand, after getting a definite answer, Neya looked at Angel with disbelief. A purification-type alchemy tool can be bought at any Wizard Market, but to craft one so casually, in less than five minutes, even if it’s the lowest level, is simply terrifying!

Neya believes if she tells this to the alchemists at Hurricane Tower, it would likely be met with absurd ridicule. But the present fact told her that it was true.

She had witnessed with her own eyes the process from raw piece to finished product by Angel.

Although the copper bell’s effect was not yet tested, since it was produced by Angel, it would definitely not have any anomalies... After all, according to the information she received, he was a member of the Research and Development Institute.

Neya, trembling, accepted the copper bell without daring to voice her doubts, just sincerely and respectfully thanked Angel.

In a daze, Neya took leave, and together with the old apprentice, brought the copper bell back to Saint Sem City.

Shortly after returning to Saint Sem City, the Royal Knights sent news from various towns; the situation was becoming increasingly dire, with people’s minds changing unpredictably. As long as there was a hint of evil desire, it could be tempted and magnified, and the more suppressed, the more rebellious it became.

The Knights’ Order was dispatched, but the effect was not ideal.

Besides the Knights’ Order, anyone could, at any given moment, transform from a normal person into a criminal, unable to be fully defended against, leaving only prayers.

Even in Saint Sem City, small conflicts erupted. A group of rioters gathered around the art sculptures at Silver Heron Square with paints and hammers, intent on destroying these precious treasures left by past masters.

Once a conflict occurs, verbally spreading it can also arouse some people’s inherent evil intentions, causing more criminals to emerge.

Neya knew she couldn’t wait any longer.

Facing the gazes of the Royal Wizard Group and the Royal Knights, Neya handed the copper bell crafted earlier by Angel to the guard knight: "Take it to the top level of the Wizard’s Tower, replace the previous bell... then ring it."

Neya kept her gaze on the copper bell until it was taken to the Wizard’s Tower, then she withdrew her sight.

"Will this copper bell really work?" the old apprentice asked quietly beside her.

Neya: "Considering his identity and status... he wouldn’t lie."

The old apprentice understood that by "him," Neya meant the previously mentioned young man with red hair and golden eyes. He wanted to ask who the person was, but Neya didn’t answer, instead raising her hand toward the sky.

As her hand slowly lowered, the guard knight atop the Wizard’s Tower received the signal, picked up the bell hammer, and struck the newly arrived copper bell.

As the "dong dong dong" humming sounded, all the Transcendent beings present could clearly perceive a ripple like holy light emanating from the top of the Wizard’s Tower, rapidly diffusing throughout Saint Sem City and continuing to radiate outside the city.

Where the holy light ripple reached, most people felt nothing, only that the pressure within their hearts eased slightly.

However, those whose minds were clouded by evil intentions experienced a clear change in their eyes under the holy light ripple, with those manic thoughts dissipating like dust swept away by gentle hands, their inner violence vanishing instantaneously.

In its place was the guilt and self-blame when they awoke to the turmoil around them.

Although the Royal Wizard Group could see the holy light ripple, they did not know its function and could only look to Neya for an explanation.

Neya did not answer but silently waited.

Fifteen minutes later, she received the first piece of news: the rioters previously at Silver Heron Square had all been captured.

As time passed, more messages flooded in, all filled with good news of the chaos subsiding!

Half an hour later, news of disturbances calming came from nearby towns as well.

Not until then, including Neya, did both the Wizard Group and Knights’ Order finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She looked back at the copper bell atop the Wizard’s Tower, her eyes complex, only quietly whispering after a long moment: This... is the power of the Research and Development Institute.

Although the copper bell’s effect wasn’t as heaven-defying, to craft an alchemy tool that could radiate hundreds of miles in such a short time.

Angel is likely the first person.

After wonder, Neya also felt a bit fortunate that when she found out Frode didn’t die and had pledged allegiance to Angel, she didn’t report it to Hurricane Tower but maintained the friendship previously established at Hurricane Tower.

It was due to this friendship that they were rewarded today.

If she had severed ties with Frode back then, today’s situation would likely be very different.

...

On the hillside behind Star Lake Castle, Frode couldn’t see the situation in Saint Sem City, but he sensed the changes as the holy light ripple passed after the bell rang.

The flames extinguished, and evil intentions evaporated.

When the holy light ripple reached the mountains, its effect was not as strong, but Frode still felt a sense of inner peace.

Frode closed his eyes and immersed himself for a moment, then remarked: "The Honorable Wizard’s alchemy skills are becoming more formidable."

Despite marveling, Frode couldn’t help but feel curious, asking: "I didn’t see the Honorable Wizard enchant it just now; was the copper bell made using the blending method?"

Angel remained silent for a moment, then softly said: "It was neither blending nor enchantment. It merely took the shape of a copper bell."

The copper bell was a mundane object, and the reason it could purify minds was due to the holy light aura orb he integrated into it.

This was created using the "Extraordinary Extractor" left by Culori in a hidden room, extracting the calming effects from a Soul Soothing Stone and incorporating it into the copper bell.

This cannot be attributed to his alchemy skills being increasingly powerful, but rather that his alchemy equipment was becoming more advanced...

Angel could also craft a copper bell with similar effects through enchantment, with even stronger functionalities, but it would certainly consume not just a little time. Since the Extraordinary Extractor could resolve it, there was no need to waste time and effort.

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