Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2148: Chapter 2149: Body Close to Spirit

From the top floor of the Treehouse Bar, he quickly descended to the first-floor hall.

In contrast to the quiet of the top floor, the atmosphere here was much livelier. Many idle residents came here to have a few drinks and chat.

Angel’s gaze wandered for a moment, finally settling on a corner.

He hadn’t even reached it yet and could already hear bursts of coquettish laughter.

Two beautiful ladies, one holding a glass of freshly brewed flower wine, the other a feather fan covering their continuously laughing mouths, had their eyes fixed intently on a gray-haired old man in their midst.

The sound of the beauties’ laughter made the old man even more excited, and he continued recounting his experiences filled with fantastical events, drawing even shyer giggles.

In Angel’s view, this scene was nothing short of a lecherous old man deceiving naïve young girls.

However, these "young girls" appeared quite experienced, with sharp eyes. Yet even so, they were allured enough by the old man’s tales to reveal delightful smiles, indicating that the old man, despite his lechery, was highly skilled.

Angel originally intended to wait until the old man finished before approaching. But he seemed like a tireless story machine, churning out one vivid tale after another, seemingly endless.

Angel thought it over and decided not to wait any longer. He stepped forward and lightly tapped on the table.

"Mr. Nis." Angel nodded slightly in greeting.

The gray-haired old man was none other than Sanders’ dear friend, Soul Wizard Nis Byron.

"Ladies, I have something to ask Mr. Nis, if you wouldn’t mind sparing us some time?" Angel paused and looked at the two ladies.

Though Angel’s identity wasn’t publicly announced in Originheart City, it was no secret in private discussions. Upon seeing Angel’s face, the two ladies had already made guesses and didn’t hesitate to nod: "Of course."

With that, they linked arms and moved to another table.

Angel then sat beside Nis, blinking as he remarked, "Wizard Nis, it seems you’ve been doing well lately?"

Nis offered a subtle smile: "Not bad."

Though his reply was understated, there was a hint of pride in Nis’s eyes, a look that invited Angel to probe further, promising more details.

No doubt, Nis’s intended disclosures were far from research explorations.

Angel disregarded Nis’s veiled invitations to gossip and stated directly, "I came with a small question to ask Wizard Nis."

Nis looked up at Angel, signaling him to continue.

"I wonder if Wizard Nis has ever heard of a talent called the Near-Spirit Body?"

The primary purpose of Angel’s visit to the Wilderness of Dreams this time was to consult Nis about the Near-Spirit Body.

Angel had never heard of such a talent before.

Since this talent was termed "Near-Spirit," Angel speculated it might relate to souls, leading him straight to Soul Wizard Nis.

"Near-Spirit Body?" Nis’s expression stiffened, his previously relaxed demeanor turning a touch solemn: "What prompts you to ask this now?"

"I just happened to hear about the Near-Spirit Body, and I’m a bit curious."

Nis scrutinized Angel’s expression carefully, and after a long moment, he spoke with a dubious tone: "I heard from Lord Tree Spirit that you left the Barbarian Cave. You didn’t happen to encounter someone with a Near-Spirit Body outside, did you?"

Angel smiled slightly: "Kind of, but the Near-Spirit Body in them is latent."

"You really encountered one?" Nis exclaimed in surprise: "Latent... seems like it’s a deficiency in bloodline concentration. That’s a pity; if the Near-Spirit Body manifests, it would be quite an excellent prospect."

"Why do you say that?"

Nis: "The Near-Spirit Body is an extraordinarily rare soul talent. Souls with this talent are naturally dominant in the realm of souls."

As Nis explained, Angel formed a conception of the Near-Spirit Body.

As he previously surmised, the Near-Spirit Body indeed related to souls. Those with this talent naturally attract various souls and can exert some influence over them.

The effects might seem insignificant at first but actually harbor immense potential.

Firstly, the Near-Spirit Body naturally gathers numerous souls around it. These souls are inherently attracted, and without any contract, they gradually become the best allies of the Near-Spirit Body.

Furthermore, if the Near-Spirit Body engages in soul cultivation, it serves as the purest soul source, continually providing empowering energy to strengthen the soul. It might even attract or nurture special souls.

Finally, when advanced to a certain level, the Near-Spirit Body can, to some extent, command undead driven only by chaotic thoughts and the urge to kill.

This talent is among the top-tier talents within the Soul Sect.

Nis: "However, while this talent is marvelous, the majority only benefit post-cultivation. Without embarking on the path of wizardry, this talent can easily backfire."

"Why would it backfire?" Angel inquired perplexedly.

"If you have read ’The Widow’ penned by the Twilight King Isabel of Black Castle, you’ll understand what I mean. This book explicitly states why the Near-Spirit Body is cherished—not due to rarity, but because once this talent awakens, the mortality rate exceeds ninety percent."

"It’s not awakening that kills them but the influence of spiritual bodies post-awakening. The leading cause of death is attacks from the undead."

The Near-Spirit Body doesn’t only naturally attract souls but also draws in a large number of undead.

If the Near-Spirit Body’s owner has undergone cultivation, they can, to a degree, influence or even control the undead. But lacking cultivation methods, if an ordinary mortal awakens the talent and is besieged by undead... the consequences are conceivable.

"The Near-Spirit Body attracts hordes of undead..." Angel reflected, recalling the scene at Star Lake Castle, where more than thirty undead swarmed around.

At that time, Angel couldn’t fathom why so many undead gathered?

Though Star Lake Castle lay on death-laden land, favorable to undead, it had been the Saint Sam family’s summer retreat, never attracting undead, suggesting the land wasn’t originally steeped in death.

This implies the undead likely brought the death aura to Star Lake Castle, not its natural state.

So, why had such a multitude of undead congregated at Star Lake Castle?

The answer now surfaced.

The inscription space contained blood essence of the Near-Spirit Body extracted from Queen Rowling.

Though the inscription space seemed isolated from reality, it wasn’t fully detached, and over so many years, its aura began leaking out, attracting the undead.

"Oh, I thought you encountered a Near-Spirit Body; too bad its blood concentration is insufficient," Nis sighed: "Nonetheless, that’s beneficial for them; a latent Near-Spirit Body won’t attract the undead."

Angel: "Wizard Nis sounds regretful?"

Nis nodded: "Of course regretful, this is a Near-spirit body. As a Soul Witch, if I could receive such a student, in the future, I could wait for the appearance of a Special Soul, rather than being so busy."

Angel appreciated Nis’s sighing and, having appreciated sufficiently, slowly said: "Although the child I met has a hidden Near-spirit body. But at the same time, I also obtained a vial of pure bloodline extracted from a Talented One with a Near-spirit body."

Pausing, in Nis’s surprised gaze, he continued: "Moreover, this bloodline shares the same Blood Origin with that child; their compatibility is extremely high."

Upon hearing this, Nis stood up suddenly, excitedly said: "Are you serious?"

Angel nodded: "Yes."

Immediately, Angel briefly recounted the events after encountering young Sam.

"This story truly is full of twists and turns." After hearing it, Nis first sighed, then gradually grinned: "Since young Sam also wants to join the Barbarian Cave, that would be perfect, you bring him back for me to see!"

Angel did not refuse, he originally planned to introduce young Sam, plus the other party has Soul talent, only Nis can provide the best guidance.

Angel: "I’ll see how things go, and first test his Mental Power Value. If it exceeds 7, when I return to the Barbarian Cave, I will bring him back."

Nis nodded, his expressions almost uncontrollable, even joy flying out from his eyes.

Truly receiving a student with a Near-spirit body, its significance differs entirely from other students. Other students do not benefit him greatly, such as Hook Dick, who was killed by Angel, Nis would not be heartbroken, because it related too little to his own interests.

But if he could receive young Sam, the benefits brought by the Near-spirit body are comparable to a small Garden of Soul Witchcraft. If lucky, he might get a Special Soul, perhaps rising to the top.

How could this not make Nis happy?

Of course, the future remains uncertain, so Nis can still suppress his inner excitement. He even had time to inquire: "Speaking of which, you have also been a wizard for a while, when do you intend to take on a student?"

Angel neither confirmed nor denied.

Nis: "Didn’t Maya foresee during the Star Gazing Day that shortly a Guide would return, bringing many Talented Ones? At that time, you might want to keep an eye out."

Angel nodded: "We will talk about it when the time comes."

Nis, seeing Angel unwilling to discuss further, didn’t pursue the topic, instead saying: "You seem to have had good luck this time, encountering artworks left by the Magic Painter Wizard, even if just ordinary oil paintings, they are absolute prized items at auctions."

Angel smiled, using vague words: "Perhaps, in the coming days, I might encounter more things left by the Magic Painter Wizard."

"Ah?" Nis didn’t understand.

Angel did not explain, but stood up: "Thank you for the answers today, Wizard Nis. I still have some matters to attend to, I’ll return to reality first."

After bidding farewell to Nis, Angel did not stay in the Wilderness of Dreams any longer, but returned to reality.

At this time, Frode also walked in from outside.

"My lord, I’ve arranged young Sam to stay in a bedroom on the lower level." Frode respectfully bowed, then with slight curiosity said: "My lord, did you also take on a Guiding task this time when you came?"

"Why do you think so?"

Frode was somewhat embarrassed and said: "I thought young Sam was a Talented One found by you, my lord."

"He is not a Talented One yet, but in the future, it might be uncertain." Angel did not hide this from Frode, and introduced young Sam’s situation.

After Frode finished listening, he also quite appreciated it, but after appreciating, he seemed to think of something, and a trace of daydreaming flashed in his eyes.

Angel: "By the way, I’ll give you the Skin Scroll for practicing Soul Tricks."

Although it is called a Skin Scroll, actually Angel only created an illusion, using Illusion Technique to manifest the Skin Scroll containing the content of Soul Tricks practice.

The knowledge of Soul Tricks he obtained from the Cloudtop Library, originally still left in the library, so he could only use Illusion Technique to create a virtual Skin Scroll.

"Speaking of which, I originally planned to drag all the books from the Cloudtop Library to the Wilderness of Dreams using the Dream Conch, but was stopped." Angel sighed regretfully, if he had done so, wouldn’t he have a portable library in the future?

Unfortunately, neither Lord Tree Spirit nor Lord Reine approved of his proposal.

The library’s manager and owner is the Book Elder.

Without Book Elder’s approval, let alone dragging the entire library into the Wilderness of Dreams, even just the Soul Tricks knowledge Skin Scroll can’t be done that way.

This is also one of the reasons why Angel tirelessly brought the Skin Scroll all the way, rather than letting Frode study online.

After receiving the Skin Scroll, Frode immediately opened it to look.

After a while, Frode finally set down the Skin Scroll contentedly. The Soul Tricks within allowed him to clearly see that the soul’s world and its system are so meticulous.

He deeply felt why Soul Witches would say: Death is only the true beginning.

Angel: "How about it, when do you plan to start practicing?"

Frode pondered for a moment: "Well, I originally understood a bit about Soul Bodies, probably in the next few days I can start practicing. However, Adar and Shanni might need longer to comprehend."

"Alright, call me when you start practicing." Angel indicated to Frode that he could start his research.

Frode nodded, as he turned to leave, hesitating slightly: "My lord, I suddenly remembered one thing."

"Hmm?"

"When I heard the Near-spirit body mentioned by you before, I felt a vague familiarity. Upon further thought, I realized that I had read about Near-spirit bodies in one of Fiewenda’s travel journals."

Angel: "Fiewenda, author of Otherworld?"

Frode nodded: "Yes. Fiewenda loves writing travel journals, recording all curious events he experienced. The travel journal I read, though it did not explain Near-spirit body information thoroughly, it mentioned one detail."

"The person Fiewenda described with Near-spirit body talent, most people they killed became undead."

Angel was startled: "Are you suggesting that people killed by Near-spirit bodies have a higher chance of becoming undead?"

Frode nodded: "I was thinking, my lord mentioned that young Sam killed a farmer in his escape, might this farmer also become undead?"

Angel shook his head: "Probably not, since young Sam’s Near-spirit body talent is currently hidden."

"Back then, Queen Rowling also had a hidden Near-spirit body talent. She certainly killed many; if undead were really created, they would have emerged long ago."

"However, although I do not believe the farmer will become undead, their collusion with nobility in live sacrifices is something to be mindful of." Angel said, "Since the Silver Heron Duchy is a subsidiary of the Central Empire, send a message to Neya from the Silver Heron royalty, ask her to go and investigate the situation."