CHAPTER 498: 05 FLAME WHIP

What an eye-opener!

Carl touched a few items he had acquired and, smiling, placed them into his spatial equipment.

Though over fifty years old, which might seem aged to ordinary people, he was still in his prime among Wizards.

Considering he had been exposed to the Wizard World for only about thirty years, he definitely couldn’t be considered widely experienced.

Even as a Second Circle Wizard, he still encountered many interesting items at the trade fair.

Originally there just to attract a target’s attention, he had unconsciously blended into the fair itself.

"It’s about time to leave."

Scanning his surroundings, Carl straightened the hat on his head and lightly tapped his magic wand on the ground as he walked towards the exit.

As the master of the Dream Market, even if he encountered foes, he couldn’t engage in battle within the market, lest he break the rules and deter others from coming in the future.

"Eldest Brother," someone in the crowd gestured with his eyes, "That man left!"

"Hmm," Tas responded unemotionally, "No rush."

Soon, on the edge of the Dream Market, Carl took out the Flame Whip, contemplatively looking back.

Didn’t they follow?

Could it be that my being so conspicuous made them wary, afraid I might have a powerful background? This... I’ve overdone it!

Muttering quietly to himself, Carl swung the whip and exited the market.

He did not believe that the other party would give up on such an easy ’prey’; even if they did, he was not without means.

With a casual swing, the whip sliced through a large tree—thick enough for two people to hug—splitting it instantly.

The whole process hardly required any effort.

This whip is excellent!

Carl’s eyes lit up. The whip’s sharpness could almost be considered that of a divine weapon, and the fifty Magic Stones were well spent.

Of course, the whip had been tampered with.

As long as it was held in the hand, it could be tracked, and its unique nature meant it couldn’t be stored in spatial equipment for long.

If that were all, it would be fine.

Anyone cautious would consider this issue and would eventually find an opportunity to fully refine it.

But doing so would mean truly falling into their trap.

Briefly taking it out from spatial storage made pinpointing its location difficult, but once refined...

The pursuer could lock onto its location continuously.

Impossible to guard against!

Carl stroked his chin. These people must be robbery experts. Such a refined method... Hmm... It seems they’ve really given up on me.

Shaking his head, he rubbed his fingers slightly, and a faint wisp of air quietly emerged, transforming into an arrow pointing into the distance.

Have they found another target?

* * *

Mammon clutched the spatial equipment at her waist, her face cautious as she eyed three people emerging from the dense forest: one Official Wizard and two Advanced Wizard Apprentices.

"What do you want?"

"Leave what you have on you," said the Wizard opposite her in a frivolous tone, waving his Magic Wand, "and then you can scram!"

"What if I don’t comply?" Mammon snorted. "Do you really think you can keep me?"

"Heh..." the other party shrugged. "You can try."

Flash Body Spell!

Mammon’s form flashed, appearing several meters away, while several supportive witchcrafts were activated in succession.

Where she had stood, a nearly seven-meter-tall Stone Statue Ghost with wings on its back appeared.

Bloodline Magic!

The Stone Statue Ghost, transformed from an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, flapped its wings, its blood-red eyes fixedly staring at Mammon.

Training a Stone Statue Ghost to such an extent, though not yet an Official Wizard, its combat power was nearly comparable.

However... that apprentice now had no hope of ever becoming an Official Wizard!

The other Advanced Wizard Apprentice smirked, stepping back to reveal a complex pattern underfoot.

As the pattern lit up, the surrounding environment seemed to change as well.

A Barrier Master!

Mammon’s face paled.

These two Advanced Wizard Apprentices each possessed methods comparable to an Official Wizard, and there was another Wizard besides.

Even a First Ring Middle Stage Wizard might not secure victory.

Escape!

She backed away sharply, her Wizard Robe emanating Spirit Light, its patterns coming to life.

On closer examination, the patterns were actually one-eyed crows.

"CAW!"

Accompanied by a piercing cry, dozens of one-eyed crows comprised of flames burst forth from the Wizard Robe.

Dozens of fire crows cawed incessantly, charging towards the three people.

Meanwhile, Mammon rushed towards the edge of the Barrier, her Magic Wand slashing gently forward like a sharp blade.

In an instant, the Barrier was sliced open by the Magic Wand, creating a crack.

Mammon’s eyes brightened. Just as she was about to seize the opportunity to leave, a Fierce Flame roared through the crack towards her.

"BOOM!"

The Fierce Flame exploded.

Mammon was blasted away as two more figures stepped into the Barrier, joining the other three.

"Eldest Brother!"

"Third Brother!"

"Hmm," Tas nodded impassively. "Second Brother, I’ve told you not to be hasty, to be fully prepared before acting. If Third Brother and I hadn’t arrived in time, she might have escaped."

"Yes," Second Brother blushed with embarrassment, scratching his head as he explained, "This woman must have sensed something was wrong and suddenly changed her trajectory. I acted because I was worried something would happen."

"Forget it," Tas waved his hand nonchalantly. "Let’s deal with her first. The items on her are very important to me; we can’t afford to lose them."

Three Official Wizards!

Plus two Advanced Wizard Apprentices with extraordinary methods!

Mammon’s heart sank. She clenched her teeth fiercely, then flipped her Wizard Robe, shaking out countless fire bees.

"Be careful."

Tas narrowed his eyes. "This woman’s inheritance is not simple, being able to transform flames into various creatures. If we could obtain it... There will be a great reward!"

He had not finished speaking when a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. His expression changed drastically, and he frantically retreated.

"Be careful!"

"BOOM!"

The incoming fire bees were only thumb-sized, with sharp mouthparts and bulging bodies.

If one looked closely, they could see a magma core contained within the pulsating bodies.

Magma that exploded upon contact!

The explosion of one fire bee was insignificant, but the power of hundreds exploding together was terrifying.

The large Stone Statue Ghost took the brunt of it; half of its body was torn apart by the explosion, and it screamed as it was destroyed.

The Barrier also shook violently before collapsing with a thunderous crash.

Two Advanced Wizard Apprentices... Dead!

The three Official Wizards also sustained minor injuries.

However, executing this attack had taken a toll on Mammon. She looked pale and dazed—signs of a massive drain on her spiritual power.

Escape!

Escape quickly!

She pushed herself to keep moving forward, not daring to stop for even a moment.

"Damn it!" Tas burst out of the Fierce Flame and roared loudly, "Stop her!"

* * *

Carl, holding the Flame Whip, strolled through the dense forest like a tourist, casually swinging it around.

"Watch my Vajra Demon-subduing Whip Skill!"

The over three-meter-long soft whip moved in his hand like a spirited snake, attacking from unpredictable angles, making it impossible to defend against.

The whip moved with his will, striking wherever he aimed.

He had indeed mastered a whip technique, though its name was certainly not Vajra Demon Suppression, and its moves were quite unique.

However, with the cultivation of a Holy Knight, he could wield any unconventional weapon proficiently.

"WHOOSH..."

The leaves ahead rustled.

The lush green leaves visibly yellowed and scorched at an alarming rate, immediately turning to ash.

A fist-sized Fireball tore through the branches, coming straight at him and forcing Carl to dodge to the side.

"BANG!"

The Fireball plunged into the soil, struggled for a moment, then popped up, intending to continue its escape.

"Still trying to run?"

Tas’s icy voice sounded, followed by a ring of fire that enveloped the Fireball, trapping it.

"The legacy of the Soul Fire is indeed remarkable. To think that even with the physical body destroyed, it can still escape in this state."

The trees shook as three Wizards stepped out in succession.

Tas looked at the Fireball on the ground, his face showing delight. Just as he was about to approach, he finally noticed Carl.

"It’s you!"

One person behind him exclaimed, "Eldest Brother, that Flame Whip..."

"I know," Tas waved his hand. "What a coincidence!"

"It’s you," Carl looked at the merchant who had sold him the Flame Whip, smiling as he spoke. "This whip is really good. I just tried it out and am very satisfied."

"Glad to hear," the merchant replied with a forced smile. "I had intended to spare you, but it seems fate has other plans, seeing as you came right to us."

"Hmm..." Carl touched his chin. "Are you Black Wizards?"

"Obviously," the merchant looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Enough!" Tas furrowed his brows, looking at Carl and said, "You can go now."

"Huh?" The merchant was taken aback. "Eldest Brother!"

"Shut up!" Tas snapped sharply. "Don’t cause trouble."

The merchant opened his mouth, his face turning red, not understanding why they would let go of such easy prey. But ultimately, he did not say anything more.

"TSK TSK..." Carl clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Generous!"

"Too bad, I have no plans to let you go."

"SWOOSH!"

The Flame Whip flicked in the air, growing with the wind, instantly stretching dozens of meters long as it struck down at the three men.

"BOOM!"

Fire blazed furiously upon the whip.

The men’s faces changed drastically, fear evident in their eyes.

What scared them was not the approaching flames, but the terrifying Battle Aura emanating from the whip.

That was the Battle Aura of a Knight, an existence they previously wouldn’t have given a second thought, now like a blade pressed against their throats.

The sensation made them tremble all over.

"SPLAT!"

With a gentle coil of the whip, one of the Official Wizards was torn into countless fragments, his Defensive Magic proving utterly ineffective.

"Look," Carl chuckled lightly. "This Flame Whip is truly sharp."

"..." The merchant opened his mouth. "Spare my life."

"THUMP!"

Before the words were out, his head had already slid off his neck.