Chapter 222: 006: Witch Artifact and Four Rings Material

At dusk, Lynch arrived at the Frost Cold Town castle.

In the past, Baron Acate would always personally greet him at this time, but today, standing before Lynch was a middle-aged man around forty years old, whose facial features bore some resemblance to Baron Acate.

“Greetings, my lord. I am Jorashi Bayn. My father, Baron Acate, asked me to welcome you here.”

Lynch asked, puzzled, “Where is Acate?”

Jorashi replied, “My father is ill and cannot get out of bed. He asked me to extend his apologies to you, my lord, for this discourtesy.”

“Ill?”

Lynch asked casually, “What illness? I’ll take a look at him later.”

This human baron, though rather cunning, was generally pleasant to deal with. He cared well for his family, and Lynch knew he would need him to continue to fulfill that role in the future.

Jorashi’s face lit up with joy. “The Bayn family will be deeply grateful and always remember your kindness, my lord.”

Lynch waved his hand dismissively. “No need for that.”

After pausing briefly, he directly asked, “The main purpose of my visit is for the Wizard Relic your father mentioned. It’s mutually beneficial for both parties—that’s all.”

Jorashi showed an expression of understanding before turning to his subordinates and said, “Bring it over.”

The subordinate quickly disappeared inside and soon returned carrying an iron chest, which he handed to Lynch.

Could it really be a Magic Item?

The chest was just an ordinary iron box. Even before opening it, Lynch used his Elemental Vision to detect an abundant aura of elements seeping out. Moreover, the energy level…

Wizard Level?

Lynch’s eyes sparkled.

He had originally assumed that Acate was merely using some Wizard-themed antiques or low-level Witchcraft tools to trick him into coming. He was unexpectedly surprised to see there was some true substance after all.

“Click!”

With that sound, he unlocked the box, and lying before his eyes was an oil painting brush.

This is…

Holding the brush in his hand, Lynch immediately felt an intense surge of elemental fluctuations emanating from it. It was plainly far beyond the energy scope of Apprentice Level Witchcraft tools.

It turned out to be a Witch Artifact…

Witch Artifacts were the designation for Official Level Witchcraft tools; their crafting materials, fabrication, and knowledge used in their creation surpassed those at the Apprentice Level by an entire tier. Generally, only Wizards could wield and utilize them.

’What an astonishing coincidence.’

Lynch marveled at the wonders of fate. Although he had encountered several Witch Artifacts before, he never owned one. And now, shortly after advancing to Wizard status, a complete Witch Artifact had delivered itself right to him. The monetary value aside, the sheer serendipity was mind-blowing.

Besides, compared to Apprentice Level Witchcraft tools, Wizard Level Witch Artifacts were inherently valuable. Just the high-grade materials used in their construction meant that even the lower-quality ones would fetch at least a starting price of tens of thousands of Magic Stones.

Lynch closely examined the brush, unexpectedly finding that even with his current level of knowledge, he couldn’t discern its material. In the end, he opened the Book of Knowledge left to him by Somda, and the answer he found there astonished him once more.

’It’s Phantom Wood, a Four Rings Material…’

In the eastern region of the Wizard World, there was a forest situated between illusion and reality, where a peculiar species called Illusion Trees grew. It was said these trees possessed a remarkable ability to manifest one’s thoughts into reality.

Departed loved ones, dreamed-of treasures—everything one desired could take form within that forest.

Lynch lifted the brush and, trying it out, attempted to sketch an Ultraman on the ground. But due to his lack of skill, he unintentionally ended up drawing a butterfly instead.

Once the sketch was complete, Lynch infused his spiritual power into the brush and lightly waved it over the butterfly drawn on the ground. A faint glow flickered briefly before a luminous butterfly emerged and fluttered into the air.

The mortals who witnessed this spectacle were overwhelmed with awe.

“Magic! It’s truly Magic!”

“My heavens, that’s incredible! What have I just seen?”

“Real Magic…”

Lynch found himself enchanted by the scene before him, but even more bewildering was the fact that he couldn’t comprehend the operational mechanism of the artifact. None of the magic rules he had learned thus far matched its design.

’It’s worthy of being a Fourth-tier Material…’

The Ancient Ruins’ territory was only a Three-Ring Wizarding Domain. The Wizards and Magic Plant materials cultivated within it were of limited levels, and materials of the Fourth-tier caliber were exceedingly rare.

All in all, the Wizard World was vast—immensely vast. The Ancient Ruins were but a small, remote corner of the Witch Domain.

Being a Wizard was merely a single, humble step along the Wizard’s Road.

’One day, I must venture out and explore the wider world. Stagnation leads nowhere…’

He used to believe that consuming the contents of two libraries and accumulating vast amounts of knowledge had made him highly learned. Yet now, a mere painting brush had left him utterly clueless, serving as a profound wake-up call:

The Wizard’s Road was lengthy and boundless; the minor achievement he currently held was insignificant and unworthy of pride.

Pulling his thoughts back in, Lynch stored the brush away. He turned and nodded at Jorashi, who had been waiting expectantly, and said, “Not bad. I really like this gift.”

After a pause, he added, “Take me to see your father.”

Following Jorashi, Lynch arrived at the castle’s top floor, where he encountered Baron Acate once again in the bedroom.

The baron lay flat in the center of a grand bed, attended by several servants. Two pillows had been placed under his neck to elevate his upper body for easier breathing. Even so, the sound of his breathing remained faint, more air exhaling than inhaling.

The pallor of his face had completely drained, no trace of liveliness remained. His wrinkled skin was tinged with dark hues, and age spots covered him head to toe.

He lay motionless, his body devoid of vitality, resembling a burnt-out black candle nearing its end.

Lynch furrowed his brows.

He had initially assumed Baron Acate was merely ill, which would be no big deal—as any illness among mortals hardly posed a challenge for Wizards and Magic.

But now, upon seeing Baron Acate in person, Lynch realized the situation was far more severe than he had anticipated.

At this moment, a faint series of numbers hovered above Baron Acate’s head.

0/56.

This was a special ability activated by Lynch after advancing to Wizard—Death God’s Eye, capable of perceiving the life force of others.

The man before him, Baron Acate…

Was truly on the brink of death.

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