Chapter 1242 Gandaph
The elemental flames on the edge of the flood of flames were stripped and exposed a golden hand covered in flaming patterns. It looked like it had been carved from a pure flame crystal.
The huge pressure immediately increased as that large hand appeared and the bursting Extraordinary Power sharply increased a few times.
The windfire flood and the elemental storm released by Syudos and Enderfa were instantly crushed by this large hand.
Then, the large hand's pressure reached Lin Yun. He was still over a hundred meters away, yet his Fusion Shield started fiercely fluctuating, it would definitely be shattered if that large hand hit it.
Lin Yun frowned, the flame rune on his forehead started transforming and three more law auras were added to the strong flaming aura.
The Laws of Wind, Earth, Water, and Wind were flickering. The rune on Lin Yun's forehead was now flickering with four colored lights and he emitted an even more terrifying aura. The surrounding elements started cheering as they converged towards Lin Yun out of their own volition.
After fully displaying the Elemental Spirit King Incarnation, all elemental power within several kilometers, and not under anyone control, started frantically converging towards this place.
And this kind of convergence caused a chain reaction within ten kilometers. The elemental concentration rapidly plummeted and the surrounding elemental power was also replenished independently.
A kilometer-big vortex of four elements took shape in the air, and that huge elemental power kept frantically converging towards Lin Yun.
Lin Yun was pale, the Elemental Spirit King Incarnation wasn't so easy to use. Without the almost endless mana reserves of the Natural Demiplane, one second would be enough to drain all his mana.
But even so, the Natural Demiplane's replenishing rate couldn't compare to the Elemental Spirit King Incarnation's consumption. At this rate, Lin Yun could only use it for ten seconds before his mana was completely exhausted. Even if there was a steady stream of mana coming from the Demiplane, he couldn't keep it up.
Thus, it was most efficient to directly release the most powerful Four Element Runic Bomb and use the Law Runes and Elemental Spirit King Incarnation to forcibly accumulate power exceeding his own rank and limits. That barrier wouldn't be there to restrict it and it would completely destroy everything within a few kilometers. The shockwave would spread even further.
The terrifying convergence of power immediately attracted a large number of powerhouses towards this side, this gave Grimm a headache, he really hadn't expected Lin Yun to be that powerful. As for Layford, he was extremely pale, he had yet to regain control over his body and mana. He thought about moving his leg, but his hand moved instead.
His mind ordered his body to release a shield, but with his mana being a mess, he couldn't even release a 1st Tier Spell…
Layford was in disbelief as he looked at Lin Yun flying in the air, despair could be seen in his eyes. How could he have expected Lin Yun to be powerful enough to resist against Grimm.
'Shouldn't he have died instantly?
'He was still an Archmage half a year ago…Even if he already advanced to the Heaven realm, how could he resist the attack of a Peak 4th Rank Heaven Mage? That gap is so great that I can't even begin to fathom. How come he hasn't been instantly killed? How could it be like this?'
Layford couldn't escape or block, he could only watch. He didn't need to think to know that the mere fluctuations of the upcoming magic collision would be enough to get rid of him.
It was too late for Grimm to de-escalate the situation, he didn't know what to do. Such a commotion would definitely cause a huge mess…
Just as Lin Yun's extreme Four Element Runic Bomb was about to fully condense, and just as Grimm's flaming hand was about to clash with it, silver light flickered and a Spatial Door appeared in the center of the battlefield.
An old man with hair flickering with a silver white radiance walked out of the Spatial Door. As that old man appeared, the mana in his surroundings was suddenly smoothened. The old man raised his hand and waved at the approaching flaming hand, routing and dissipating it easily.
As for his other hand, he waved it towards Lin Yun. At this moment, Lin Yun felt an irresistible and terrifying power emerge. It was like an invisible giant hand lightly brushing him away. The huge elemental vortex above Lin Yun's head was instantly defeated and the extreme Four Element Runic Bomb Lin Yun had condensed also turned into a huge wave of elemental power charging into the sky.
That irresistible and terrifying power was like the will of the world itself, even Lin Yun with his Elemental Spirit King Incarnation couldn't stop his attack from dispersing.
"Enough."
The old man calmly hovered in the air, his white gown embroidered with gold threads not fluctuating in the least. Moreover, the mana surging in the surroundings completely dissipated.
Seeing this old man appear and end the battle in such a dazzling and tyrannical way, Lin Yun decisively scattered his Elemental Spirit King Incarnation. Its mana consumption was something even Lin Yun couldn't support. If he was careless, just a little bit negligent when absorbing mana from the Demiplane, then his vitality and soul would start being consumed.
As for Grimm, shock could be seen on his face when he saw that old man and he also stopped casting. He scattered the mana surging over his body and respectfully greeted him.
"Dean Gandaph."
Gandaph looked like a gentle old man wearing a white robe. No strong aura could be felt coming from his body, but just by standing there, Lin Yun felt as if he was standing in front of a peaceful sea and that a single wave could crush him.
Dean Gandaph was one of the three Saint Alchemists of the Starry Sky College. It was the first time Lin Yun encountered a Saint Alchemist and shock could be seen in his eyes. That wasn't the pure terrifying aura of a Heaven Mage, it wasn't fierce, nor did it feel powerful, it instead felt deep and immeasurable. This was the most terrifying part.
Just the fact that he forcibly opened a Spatial Door in the middle of the battlefield explained a lot. Gandaph was a lot stronger than Grimm and Lin Yun, he had to be able to completely overpower them or he wouldn't have been able to open a Spatial Door in the middle of the battlefield.
Gandaph had a calm expression and a gentle smile, but his thoughts didn't align with his expression. He felt embarrassed as he looked at Lin Yun and Grimm.
As one of the deans of the Starry Sky College, Zeith had already reported the ins and outs of this gathering to him. He had a rough understanding of how many truth runes every Artisan was able to research.
He had been waiting for Lin Yun to copy the mysteries of the truth runes he had researched and was even prepared to pay a huge price this time. But no matter what, the price couldn't compare to the mysteries contained within the truth runes. As long as they had these mysteries, the Starry Sky College would remain as the Holy Land of alchemists. They might even be able to nurture a Saint Alchemist.
Maybe more than one Saint Alchemist would be nurtured. For that, even trading ten planes rich in resources wouldn't be a loss.
But it was like this now. The battle's fluctuations would definitely be sensed by all mages within a few dozen kilometers. If it became known that an Artisan was robbed of his research in the Starry Sky College's territory, no one would attend their future gatherings.
But this was a thorny problem now that an assistant dean of the Starry Sky College personally participated in this matter. If he stood on the side of the Starry Sky College's assistant dean, then the Starry Sky College would lose all credibility.
But if he stood on Lin Yun's side, he would have to deal with the Starry Sky College's assistant dean impartially while also offending the Jackson Family. Offending a Family and causing internal strife for the sake of an Andlusan Artisan, was it worth it?
In any case, the copy of these mysteries would definitely be obtained by the Starry Sky College. Thus, it was for the best to play peacemaker and de-escalate the issue. At worst, they would just pay more for the trade.
If not for that fight, Gandaph wouldn't have appeared, but the internal matters of the Starry Sky College could clearly be seen.
Gandaph smiled as he decided to mediate and de-escalate the situation…
As for Layford, he didn't even dare to speak when he saw Gandaph. Gandaph was a legendary figure in the Odin Kingdom, one of the three deans of the Odin Kingdom and a Saint Alchemist. Not to mention, he was extremely powerful. No one knew exactly how powerful Gandaph was, but from what just happened, the onlookers could guess that he was at least at the 6th Rank of the Heaven realm.
Seeing Gandaph, Grimm immediately made up his mind and pointed at Lin Yun before accusing him with a cold expression, "Dean Gandaph, I received a request for help. This guy intended to steal someone else's research and assaulted someone inside the Starry Sky College's territory. He refused to cooperate with my investigation and even attacked me.
"According to the rules of the Starry Sky College, he has to be punished severely! We can't let everyone believe that our Starry Sky College is easy to bully!"
Grimm loudly accused Lin Yun, but he gave up the accusation that Lin Yun already stole Layford's research, instead focusing on the fact that Lin Yun violated the rules of the Starry Sky College.
Lin Yun squinted, his eyes flickering with a dangerous radiance as he roused the Natural Demiplane. If that dean acted like Grimm, then Lin Yun couldn't be blamed for causing havoc. Gandaph was truly powerful and Lin Yun didn't have the power to resist. But he wouldn't just sit still.
"Dean Gandaph, I'll only ask you this. That moron Layford said that I stole his transcript of 1,600 truth runes. But can he research 1,600 truth runes? No, can he even research 500?"
Hearing Lin Yun's question, Grimm's face turned ashen and embarrassment could be seen flickering in Gandaph's eyes.
As a Saint Alchemist, telling lies in the field of alchemy was something he couldn't do, let alone for an Artisan of another force.
As the situation was in a stalemate, Gandaph smiled and ignored both Layford and Grimm, instead using a peaceful tone to try and persuade Lin Yun.
"Sir Mafa Merlin, the Starry Sky College would definitely investigate this matter properly, I will use my name as a guarantee. I definitely won't wrong an innocent…"
Gandaph didn't get to finish his sentence. He suddenly raised his head and looked into the distance with an appalled expression. He took back the convincing words he had originally planned to use to persuade Lin Yun and closed his mouth for a few seconds. The horror visible on his face slowly turned into a solemn expression.
"Sir Mafa Merlin, rest assured, we have already properly investigated this matter and we will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation!"
After saying that, Gandaph turned to look at Grimm and Layford.
"Sir Grimm, as the assistant dean of the Starry Sky College, your duty is to protect the Starry Sky College's peace and guarantee that alchemy remains pure, but you have disappointed me too much. We have already clearly investigated the truth of this matter.
"You violated the rules of the Starry Sky College. I don't need to remind you, do I? Go to the lava well to undergo your punishment. You'll stay there for a hundred years!"
Grimm paled as he heard those words. He was about to speak when he saw a few law runes flying towards him. They transformed into chain imprints and entered his body.
Then, there seemed to be an illusory chain connected to the depths of the Starry Sky College. Seeing this chain, Grimm immediately kept his mouth shut and didn't dare to utter a single word.
Outsiders might not know what the lava well was, but every member of the Starry Sky College knew. Neverwinter City was located on a huge underground sea of lava. If the lava burst out, it would affect everything over a hundred kilometers. It could even influence the climate and environment of the entire northern part of the Odin Kingdom…
The lava well was the place guiding the power of the lava sea. It was also the source of power supporting the Starry Sky College's huge arrays. But many mages needed to work there to make sure there was no problem when guiding the power. Moreover, the environment was quite nasty. Weaker mages would fall there…
Only powerhouses at the Archmage realm or above could live normally in that place. But that definitely wasn't a location mages were willing to go to. Let alone since the Starry Sky College was the Holy Land of alchemists and they couldn't experiment there.
Only those punished would be dispatched there.
Grimm didn't wait for that chain, whose length was unknown, to tear him apart and immediately flew in the distance to follow this illusory chain.
Then, Gandaph looked at Layford with a loathful gaze, his expression even darkening a little. Thinking of the voice that echoed in his mind a moment ago, Gandaph's face became even darker.
"Sir Layford, you have just become one of the members of the Starry Sky College's blacklist. You are forbidden to get close to Neverwinter City!"
Before Layford could speak, Gandaph waved his hand and a palm sent Layford flying. Although the palm impacted Layford, it also enveloped him in mana. Layford was sent flying without being able to resist, he instantly disappeared. Even with his outstanding eyesight, Lin Yun couldn't see how far Layford was sent flying. At the very least, he had been sent flying out of Neverwinter City.
Lin Yun actually knew about the Starry Sky College's blacklist. They couldn't get within ten kilometers of Neverwinter City. They would also be blacklisted from all industries, shops, and even by the members of the Starry Sky College.
As long as they got within ten kilometers of the Starry Sky College, they would immediately be expelled. If they tried to force their way in, death would become their only option. As for Starry Sky College's shops and properties, they would immediately be stopped at the door. No member of the Starry Sky College would be willing to interact with blacklisted people.
This was an even worse punishment than being killed, especially for an Artisan. Any alchemist related to the Starry Sky College would completely ignore Layford.
Even the alchemy shops would refuse to do business with Layford in order to show respect to the Starry Sky College.
This kind of blacklisting was very terrifying. In the future, if Layford needed to buy a chunk of magic metal, he would have to look for someone to help him secretly buy it for him, from big shops and small shops alike.
After finishing this, Gandaph summoned a Griffin Rider team and solemnly ordered, "Use the name of the Starry Sky College to pass this announcement. Members of the Jackson Family used vile methods to commit a crime inside the Starry Sky College. For trying to steal someone else's research, no member of the Jackson Family is allowed to participate in the ten year gathering for the next 300… No, for the next 500 years."
After giving that command, Gandaph secretly sighed in relief and looked at Lin Yun with curiosity.
He had obtained Zeith's report before and speculated that this youth might have researched 1,700 to 1,800 truth runes' mysteries. This was already very scary, but he truly hadn't expected that Lord to actually speak up for him.
'That idiotic Grimm is short-sighted, he can't see further than his own nose. How could he not know what an Artisan that researched 1,800 truth runes mean?
'Letting him work in the lava well for a hundred years is already looking after him. As for that idiot of the Jackson Family, he actually dared to make a move inside the Starry Sky College's territory. The Jackson Family truly doesn't put our Starry Sky College in their eyes. Three hundred years is too little, they have to be banned from the gatherings for at least five hundred years…
'I also have to send orders to stop all cooperation with the Jackson Family. Moreover, the college's alchemists can't go to the Jackson Family. We can't say it outright, but we must convey our stance…'
"Sir Mafa, we will treat any issue you encounter in the Starry Sky College's territory with impartiality. We definitely won't let you feel wronged. Are you satisfied with this process?"
What else could Lin Yun say? That punishment was already quite serious. Layford wouldn't be able to do anything in the Odin Kingdom, at least openly. Although gold would make everything easier and he might be able to get a hold of the things he wants, large-scale businesses would still refuse him out of respect for the Starry Sky College.
To be continued