"Ah—" A Transcendent was pierced by the Ice Lake Girl's Ice Spear, falling into a near-death state.

"As long as I'm here, you won't die!" The Silver-White Magician's upgraded Holy Light Bullet, the Holy Light Spear, penetrated the injured person's wound, transforming into Life Energy and rapidly healing them.

Watching the Silver-White Magician's imposing figure, the Transcendents shed tears of gratitude.

The Ice Lake Girl raised her hands high, condensing a massive block of ice, attempting to unleash a terrifying, map-sweeping attack on them!

The Silver-White Magician's right finger bones transformed into iron chains, firmly restraining the Ice Lake Girl as he roared, "Attack!"

Looking at the Silver-White Magician's mangled hands, the Transcendents shed tears of gratitude.

As the sixth-level boss, when her Health Points dropped below 20%, the Ice Lake Girl instantly cast an AOE Skill, summoning an Ice Crystal Storm that swept the entire field.

Their entire force had been wiped out here three times (in truth, it was only the Transcendents who had perished thrice). After reloading the save file for the third time, Ren Suo boldly had the Silver-White Magician use "Flame Skin Breath" to summon a massive Flame Demon!

Then, without ordering the Flame Demon to attack, Ren Suo had it transform into a protective fortress. Shielding the Magicians and Transcendents inside, they resolutely withstood the boss's final, devastating attack!

Looking at the Silver-White Magician's charcoal-like skin, the Transcendents shed tears of gratitude.

"Now, there should still be one unenterable hall outside, right?"

After the Silver-White Magician, battered and barely recognizable as human, redeemed the sixth-level boss—the Demon known as the Ice Lake Girl—he collapsed weakly. Turning to the allied Transcendent forces behind him, he asked this question.

The Watcher Commander replied, "If there are no undiscovered Secret Realms, then only the one in Central Australia remains."

The Silver-White Magician said, "I must admit, you humans now possess power not inferior to ours, Magicians... Please use this power to defend your own lives."

From the Silver-White Magician's perspective, over two hundred Transcendents armed with various heavy firearms were providing support. There were even numerous machine guns, though he had no idea how they'd brought them in. He knew, however, that without a Magician's Healing, these Transcendents wouldn't have stood a chance against the Ice Lake Girl.

"Please, don't say that." The Flourishing Sakura Commander, a beautiful young woman, was almost in tears as she said, "If it weren't for your protection, Mr. Magician, we... we might have already..."

"The World Tree will not stand by and watch humans suffer before it..."

Watching the Flourishing Sakura Commander, who was hugging him and whom he had saved three times, the Silver-White Magician smiled. "I don't know when I'll awaken next, little girl. You'd better not fall in love with me."

"But I will silently bless you from within the World Tree."

The Silver-White Magician's words, coupled with his ravaged body, were so moving that the Transcendents couldn't help but weep softly.

The Watcher Commander glanced at the spot where the Female Magician had vanished, then suddenly asked, "Mr. Magician, why... why have you sacrificed yourself twice in a row? Surely, if your companions were willing to share the burden..."

They suspect, as expected.

The Silver-White Magician laughed and countered, "Haven't you all noticed? They've remained silent all along, focusing solely on combat."

The Transcendents had fought alongside the Magicians four or five times now, so they too had sensed something incongruous. The commanders gathered around the Silver-White Magician maintained expressionless faces, indicating they had also received instructions from their superiors to investigate the suspicious aspects concerning the Magicians.

"The Silver-White Magician said, "It's because of sin." The words themselves were heavy. "Don't be fooled by their appearance. In fact, half of them are... men."

Men!?

The Transcendents were astounded. Several of them, who had harbored admiration for the beautiful combat forms of the Female Magicians, turned pale. Such beauty and loveliness… could they actually be boys?

"Yes," the Silver-White Magician affirmed, a grave truth. "You all know that the Demons here are endlessly resurrecting. Unless purified by a Magician, they will be resurrected again."

"For Magicians, purifying humans who have transformed into Demons is akin to… murder."

"Every time we encounter such fallen Forbidden Fruit, it is when we Magicians must act… Don't be deceived by our youthful appearances. Most of us lived thousands of years ago, a time when Spiritual Energy hadn't yet… COUGH. COUGH."

Spiritual Energy hadn't yet what?! Hurry up and say it!

Then the Silver-White Magician changed the subject. "We handle Forbidden Fruit for the World Tree. The number of Demons we've dealt with is beyond count—at least thousands, often tens of thousands. The Demons we purify don't simply vanish; their memories and Resentment transform into our power."

"That is also why Magicians are so formidable."

"However, Magicians who joined the World Tree out of great love, after repeated killings, find their souls irreversibly tainted, no matter how firm their minds."

"We Magicians are not homicidal maniacs. When we take lives, we also wound our own souls."

"Over time, the wounded soul feeds back to the body, making Magicians truly realize the horror of 'slaughter.' This not only makes Magicians unwilling to purify Demons any longer but even causes physical changes in them."

Although there was still one hall left, Ren Suo couldn't be completely sure, but the appearance of the six Female Magicians was already quite convincing.

The Silver-White Magician continued, "Only a few male Magicians can suppress this transformation. However, many Magicians cannot bear this sin; men transform into beautiful girls, and women… transform into even more beautiful girls."

"And after the transformation, Magicians also undergo a significant change in temperament. They are no longer willing to speak to strangers, willing only to use the Magicians' language to communicate with their companions…"

"Most importantly, after they die, they cannot be resurrected."

"Such are Magicians: warriors wandering between death and Resurrection, slaughter and self-reproach, male and female."

The Silver-White Magician said, "That is precisely why we Magicians who can still purify Demons try our utmost to protect these 'seniors,' even at the cost of death… One day, we will all become like them. When that time comes, I hope there will be juniors to protect us then…"

"I hope we do not meet again… I hope Magicians will no longer need to appear before you…"

With that, the Silver-White Magician completed his mission of deception and completely dissipated into particles of light.

Absorbing the Energy of the 'Goddess Jade Pendant' took Ren Suo another half day, successfully raising his Cultivation to the first turn, 58%.

As he drew closer to the second turn, Ren Suo regretfully realized there was only one such opportunity left to increase his Talent merely by lying down.

Should I try to choose games focused on Demons from now on…? Ren Suo couldn't help but consider it. Knowing the 'Goddess Jade Pendant' could incrementally improve his Talent, he naturally wanted to make full use of the remaining chance.

It was dinner time again. Ren Suo went to Dong Chengling's home and was surprised to see Gu Yueyan. "You're out of the hospital?" he asked curiously.

"I was discharged yesterday," Gu Yueyan replied coldly.

"With your luck, you should probably avoid going out from now on," Ren Suo joked.

Gu Yueyan muttered, "It's all your fault…"

"What?" Ren Suo blinked.

"Nothing!" Gu Yueyan stood up and went into the kitchen to help Dong Chengling bring the dishes to the table. Soon, a tempting aroma filled the living room—Dong Chengling's culinary skills were steadily improving.

Just then, Dong Chengling took out two boxes and handed them to Ren Suo and Gu Yueyan. "These are for you. Please accept them."

Ren Suo and Gu Yueyan opened the boxes. Inside each was a necklace with a blue stone embedded in its pendant.

Gu Yueyan looked at her necklace, identical to Ren Suo's, then at Dong Chengling's neck, which was fair and unadorned.

Giving a pair of identical necklaces to me and… him?

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