Chapter 96 - 81: The Reward of a Level 3 Wizard (Part 2)
He extended his right index finger and pressed down on the first symbol of the inscription. His Spiritual Power began to vibrate at a specific frequency.
A wisp of Spiritual Power seeped from his fingertip into the symbol, like a stream into parched earth.
He had yet to lift his finger.
BZZZ— The stone stele suddenly vibrated.
The smile on Mo Ning’s face deepened.
He had already figured it out. This was a classic Magic Guidepost.
And this phenomenon was proof that he had found the key to activating the guidepost; otherwise, the stele would have remained perfectly still.
He then extended three more fingers, pressing them simultaneously against the third symbol.
Three wisps of Spiritual Power flowed from his three fingertips at once. Each vibrated at a different frequency, yet they wove together harmoniously deep within the stele.
BZZZ!
The stele’s vibration grew stronger, noticeably more intense than before.
「The next moment.」
A shower of faint motes of light surged from within the stele, fluttering into the air like startled fireflies.
The motes of light converged into a thin stream, drifting slowly but surely toward the depths of the forest.
This was undoubtedly pointing the way.
Mo Ning clenched his fist, his heart leaping with joy.
He had previously determined that the stele was a clue to the location of the Cabin in the Woods, and this scene before him once again confirmed his judgment.
He immediately used his Spiritual Power on the rattan table and chair. The two items rapidly reverted to small spheres and fell from mid-air.
Mo Ning bent down to pick them up, stuffed them into his pocket, and grabbed the Lantern with his left hand, quickening his pace to follow the stream of light as it slowly drifted away.
He had only taken a few steps when a look of astonishment crossed his face.
The surrounding scenery was undergoing an incredible transformation.
The leaves of the once tall, straight, and lush birch trees were turning yellow, curling up, and falling off at a speed visible to the naked eye.
In just a few breaths, the canopies thinned, their bare branches stabbing at the night sky.
The scattered patches of green on the ground all withered away.
WHOOSH—
The evening wind howled through the forest, carrying a bone-chilling cold. It slipped down Mo Ning’s collar, making him instinctively flinch.
Mo Ning glanced around as a realization dawned on him. ’The season here has changed from summer to autumn.’
He gulped, shock flashing in his eyes. ’By the Mystery! This must be Time Magic!’
Time and space had always been the most mysterious domains of Witchcraft.
In terms of difficulty, Time Magic was even more challenging. Only a Second Level Wizard was qualified to even begin studying it.
Originally, Mo Ning had thought the puzzle-setter was most likely a Second Level Wizard.
Now, he instantly discarded that idea. ’This could even be a Third Level Wizard, someone powerful enough to lead an entire academy.’
The thought flashed through his mind, causing his heart to beat a little faster.
After another dozen or so steps, the expected scene appeared.
Snowflakes began to drift from the sky.
A thin layer of snow coated the ground. The cold wind howled through the forest, its sound like the wailing of a vengeful spirit.
Mo Ning’s exposed face and hands immediately felt a biting, knife-like pain from the cold.
However, the warmth emanating from his blue robe grew stronger, sparing him from shivering uncontrollably in the cold.
The farther he walked, the thicker the snow became.
What began as a thin layer soon covered the tops of his shoes, then rose past his ankles, making it extremely difficult to walk.
Fortunately, the stream of light moved slowly enough that Mo Ning didn’t have to desperately scramble after it.
「A few seconds later.」
The air was still bitingly cold, yet the snow began to melt.
A babbling stream meandered by in the distance, and a light mist began to drift through the forest.
As he walked on, the cold air rapidly dissipated.
The surrounding birch trees seemed to awaken from hibernation. Tender green shoots sprouted from their bare branches, and new, triangular leaves unfurled from the buds.
Early spring had arrived, and life was spreading through the forest.
Mo Ning looked around in amazement, wondering why the Wizard who set this test had done all this.
He certainly didn’t believe the Wizard was just showing off.
The more knowledgeable a Wizard, the more powerful they were. Boredom was inversely proportional to knowledge.
Those who truly stood at the pinnacle of knowledge were too busy researching Witchcraft to waste time designing such a complex scene merely for show.
Mo Ning’s mind raced, and he quickly reached a conclusion that made him break out in a cold sweat.
’The path to the Cabin in the Woods is protected by some kind of defensive Time Magic.
’If I hadn’t solved the puzzle correctly and just wandered aimlessly through this Birch Forest, I probably would have been swept into a terrifying temporal storm and reduced to a pile of bones in mere moments.’
With this realization, Mo Ning walked even more cautiously, his eyes glued to the stream of light ahead, not daring to stray from the path it illuminated.
「As time passed.」
The temperature rose noticeably, and the surrounding greenery grew denser.
Lush green grass sprouted from the soil, laying down a soft, velvety carpet. Among the blades, countless colorful mushrooms popped up.
To Mo Ning’s utter astonishment, he saw a glossy green mushroom and a radiant red one repeatedly bumping their caps against each other.
The scene was both comical and bizarre, making one want to laugh yet also feel a sense of disbelief.
The light from his Lantern swept over them, startling the two brawling mushrooms. They quickly retracted back into the ground.
Before long, high summer arrived.
The canopies of the birch trees became exceptionally lush, their overlapping layers of leaves completely obscuring the sky overhead.
The air was filled with the faint fragrance of birch bark, mingled with the subtle, sharp scent of grass and trees.