The Strongest Magician of Gods

War will eventually pass and be buried in the depths of time.

Half a month has passed in a flash, the setting sun hangs upside down, casting shimmering beams of light at an angle.

Smoke filled the air, the streets were lifeless, devoid of their former prosperity, and dilapidated high-rise buildings stood in ruins.

"Alas! The great merchant caravan withdrew from the entire city of Austin overnight and will never return. Along with them, all the major mercenary groups disappeared. We had been hoping for those vampires to leave, but now they are really gone. They have also taken away the last bit of life from Austin. How hateful."

In the dilapidated park, some civilians gathered together, cursing loudly.

"Businessmen are scoundrels, and they're even more stingy during wartime."

The large merchant guilds control the entire economy of Austin City. They support various mercenary groups, cultivating magical talents from childhood and, incidentally, emptying their pockets.

For years, the common people had longed for these bastards to leave, but now they knew they could no longer live without the merchant caravan.

“Austin is no longer a place to live. Last night, many old friends took advantage of the chaos to leave the city, saying they were going to big cities to make a living. Those who could afford it have all left, leaving only us poor people. It's become much more desolate and lonely,” said a commoner.

“Who says otherwise? It’s a good thing the four major magic academies didn’t leave. I heard the standards for recruiting apprentices this year have been lowered a lot. We’ll see if my son has any hope then. That’s why I didn’t leave. For my son’s sake, I’m willing to risk my life to take the gamble,” a burly man said.

“I’ve had enough of this kind of life. The poor have no choice but to risk their lives to forge a path to prosperity. Tomorrow we’ll see,” another commoner said.

The bamboo forest is cool and serene, huge and green, with lush bamboo leaves.

The monastery remains dilapidated, but since the war, there have been even more believers coming and going.

Mo Bei descended from the sky to the front of the monastery, and after a few steps, he was met with the gazes of a group of believers.

They looked devout, bowing deeply, their eyes burning with fervor for the young magician before them.

Mo Bei walked over step by step, waved his hand, and held a letter in his hand. He passed through the gate and came to the inner courtyard.

The fat monk was drinking strong liquor and coughing incessantly.

"Can't you drink less?" Mo Bei whispered as she passed by him.

The fat monk was slightly drunk, his face flushed.

"I got it," he asked.

"Um"

Mo Bei responded, raising the hand holding the letter and shaking it.

"I'll leave tomorrow with the invitation from the Soul-Seizing Hall."

"So fast."

The fat monk cried out in surprise, choking on a mouthful of wine.

"That's a cannibalistic place. Be careful. Those guys from the Blood Fiend Hall have returned these past few days. I wonder what their purpose is."

After a pause, the fat monk spoke calmly.

"Zhuge Yu has been here." Mo Bei said indifferently.

"That bastard. I'll kill him sooner or later."

The fat monk took another swig of wine, his expression menacing.

Mo Bei smiled and reached out to snatch the fat monk's wine gourd.

“Zhuge Yu is a formidable enemy. He has comprehended the mysteries of spacetime. You should focus on recovering from your injuries first,” Mo Bei said.

"Hmph, if I were twenty years younger, ten of him wouldn't be a match for me."

"Yes, yes, you've always been amazing."

Mo Bei casually placed the wine gourd on the table, then tucked the invitation into his robes. He took a step towards the door.

"Where are you going?" the fat monk asked, bewildered.

Far away, Mo Bei brushed past the ancient trees in the courtyard, the echo fading away.

"I bid farewell to my old friend," Mo Bei sighed.

The echo was faint, leaving the fat monk puzzled.

As soon as he left the courtyard, Mo Bei stepped into a lush forest and went deeper inside.

"Hehe, you're quite punctual."

A sinister figure emerged from the void gate; judging from his appearance, it was none other than Zhuge Yu.

"There's nothing I can do. My master calls me, how could I not come?" Mo Beican laughed.

"It's been over a month since I last saw you, and you seem to have grown even more powerful. Don't say I didn't warn you. With your magical abilities, you should keep a low profile in front of me. Don't think that just because you've become a prominent figure in Austin City overnight, you can look down on everyone and be arrogant," Zhuge Yu said displeasedly.

"My lord, this is too serious," Mo Bei said, bowing stiffly.

"Alright, I was just being cautious and had no other intentions. However, I wonder if you have been able to cultivate a magical spiritual root since entering the Soul-Seizing Hall. If you have, you can participate in the Demon Ascension Conference. Once a spiritual root is cultivated, it will definitely be valued by the Soul-Seizing Hall."

Mo Bei's heart skipped a beat. Zhuge Yu's indirect probing made him uneasy.

"My lord, you think too highly of me. I rose from humble beginnings to become a first-tier high-level mage. How could I possibly possess the magical spiritual root to awe the world? I am truly ashamed to disappoint you," Mo Bei said in a low voice.

"Indeed, at your age, I am not much different from you. The path to becoming a high-level mage is extremely difficult. The cultivation of spiritual roots and one's own physique and blood energy must reach a completely new level. I am making things difficult for you."

"However, since you are working for me, I cannot treat you unfairly. I will contact you when you enter the Soul-Seizing Hall. If you are still alive then, I will not mind giving you a set of ultimate magic," Zhuge Yu tempted.

Mo Bei trembled slightly, not escaping Zhuge Yu's gaze. His heart was filled with emotion; indeed, at such a young age, he was still unable to suppress the power of desire.

"Thank you so much, sir," Mo Bei said, bowing deeply.

"That's good. I'll show you that there's no future in following that damned monk."

Zhuge Yu laughed loudly, and in a flash, disappeared into the void gate behind him.

Laughter shook the heavens, but Mo Bei remained bowed. When all the surrounding energy dissipated, Mo Bei slowly stood up, his empty pupils fixed on the sky.

"trouble."

He felt bitter, and with a swift movement, he passed through a grove of trees.

The streets were a chaotic mix. Mo Bei stumbled into the crowded streets in a daze, while some civilians with their children cursed and shouted all the way.

"You brat, I went to great lengths to get you into Austin Magic Academy. If you come back with a zero, I'll beat you to a pulp."

A stern father, carrying a wooden box about a foot long, dragged his child along the noisy street.

The child stuck out his tongue, his anger mixed with excitement. This stingy father had finally been generous for once, spending all his money to buy a magic wand of slightly better quality.

"Don't worry, Dad! I'll definitely pass the exam." The child chuckled, pulling on his earmuffs.

Mo Bei looked out over the street. Banners from the four major academies were hanging on both sides, recruiting magic apprentices. Several posters even featured the lineup of instructors, but his portrait was not among them.

He walked through the crowded streets, turned into a small alley, and stood in front of a dilapidated shop. Mo Bei weighed his money bag in his hand, straightened up, and stepped inside.

The shop was old, and the shelves were cluttered with all kinds of magical items, from magic robes to magic wands, a wide variety of them.

"Shopkeeper," Mo Bei called out with a smile.