Chapter 129: The Soul-Refining Array 2

The Soul-Refining Array was far more complicated than Kent had expected.

All he could make out was the rough outline formed by countless different materials piled and arranged across the ground.

Niuniu was using what was known as a mana-fusion method to construct the array.

With this method, the pathways of the magic array were first carved into the surface in advance. The various magical materials were then crushed into fine powder and packed directly into the prepared grooves.

Magic crystals or magic cores were embedded at specific points throughout the formation.

Once everything was in place, mana was used to guide and activate the array.

Under the influence of magical power, the powdered materials would gradually melt and fuse together until the entire formation finally took shape.

It was a relatively crude method of constructing magic arrays.

Its greatest advantage was speed.

Unfortunately, arrays created this way were neither particularly durable nor especially stable.

There was another method known as molten casting.

With that technique, all the required materials were melted together according to precise proportions and then poured directly into molds or prepared channels to form the magic array.

This method was generally used for more delicate and sophisticated formations.

The finished arrays were extremely stable, and the process wasted very little material.

Its only major drawback was that it required considerably more time.

Across the continent, most permanent magic arrays were constructed using the molten-casting method.

After all, magical materials were far too valuable for anyone to waste carelessly.

“Give me the staff. Then go sit over there.”

Niuniu had been busy for a very long time.

Kent could not understand much of what she was doing, so he eventually gave up watching and sat down to meditate instead, replenishing his mana.

By the time he finished meditating and rested for a while longer, Niuniu had finally completed the array.

She took the staff from him and pointed toward one of the positions within the formation.

Kent walked over and sat down where she indicated.

Niuniu was finally ready to begin.

“You have to endure it.”

She placed the staff onto one of the six-pointed stars within the array.

“If you can’t hold on, you might end up becoming an idiot.”

Then she gestured toward the staff.

“Release the thing inside.”

“Wait.”

Kent immediately felt a bad premonition rising in his heart.

He stared at Niuniu.

“Don’t tell me this is the first time you’ve ever set up this array?”

“Of course it is.”

Niuniu answered without the slightest embarrassment.

Kent’s expression froze.

Niuniu continued explaining,

“The problem is that there’s too much inside that soul.”

“It would be better if you gave up one part and chose only two things to merge into your own soul. If you do that, I’ll have a much better chance of succeeding.”

Although the soul trapped inside the staff had already become extremely weak, its former owner had once been an existence close to godhood.

Because of that, the soul itself was extraordinarily pure and had already reached a semi-materialized state.

For Kent, absorbing something of that level would be extremely difficult.

Even if the Soul-Refining Array erased the original consciousness within the soul, Kent might still be unable to withstand absorbing all of it.

The difference between their souls was simply too great on a fundamental level.

“Wait a minute.”

Kent thought carefully.

The purified Necromancy-element magical power could not be abandoned.

Neither could the memories.

That left only one thing.

“What if I don’t absorb the part containing his comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth?”

Niuniu nodded almost immediately.

“That would work.”

“It’s only a trace of comprehension, but that portion still occupies nearly half of the soul.”

“If you want to transfer it instead of destroying it, you’ll need someone with Necromancy affinity to receive it.”

“If there’s no suitable recipient, then we’ll simply have to waste it.”

Kent frowned.

Originally, he had considered giving that benefit to Daphne.

But if the recipient needed an affinity for Necromancy, then Daphne was clearly unsuitable.

He thought for a while.

Then something suddenly occurred to him.

“I have a sealed Death Knight.”

Kent looked toward Niuniu.

“I used a Soul Suppression Spell to seal it before.”

“Would that work?”

“That should work, as long as its level isn’t too low.”

Niuniu’s eyes lit up.

She had not expected Kent to know sealing magic as well, and the way she looked at him softened ever so slightly.

“Level Eight.”

Kent answered with obvious pride.

After all, for a mere Level Three mage to successfully cast a Soul Suppression Spell on a Level Eight undead creature required an absurd combination of luck and good fortune.

“Summon it. Let me have a look.”

Niuniu had no idea just how ridiculously low the success rate of Soul Suppression actually was.

Still, when she heard that the sealed creature was Level Eight, she gave Kent a deeply suspicious look before motioning for him to bring it out.

A moment later, Manda appeared.

“Manda greets Master.”

The instant he materialized, Manda understood exactly what had happened.

His expression became extraordinarily complicated.

Of all the spells in existence, Soul Suppression was widely regarded as one of the most impractical and unreliable.

Yet somehow, that very spell had turned him into someone else’s servant.

The mere thought of it made Manda want to die from frustration.

If he had known things would end this way, he would never have confronted Kent in the first place—not even if someone had beaten him to death.

Unfortunately, circumstances were stronger than pride.

Once a man was forced beneath another’s roof, he had no choice but to lower his head.

So Manda behaved with great respect toward Kent.

Then, almost immediately, a violent tremor passed through his soul.

His expression changed.

He quickly looked around.

What he saw nearly terrified the Level Eight Death Knight out of his wits.

The source of that soul-deep trembling was a tiny creature scarcely larger than the palm of a hand.

But within Manda’s spiritual perception, that little figure was like a blazing sun.

The instant his mental power brushed against Niuniu, a sharp pain stabbed through his consciousness.

Manda’s entire body began to tremble.

For an existence capable of making the soul of a Level Eight Death Knight instinctively recoil in terror could only be something unimaginably powerful.

A certain word almost escaped Manda’s lips.

The moment that possibility entered his mind, his legs began shaking even harder.

Then his gaze shifted to the side.

There, he saw something resembling a fat little rat busily moving across the altar.

Wherever the creature passed, it left deep grooves behind in the surface.

Manda’s eyes widened again.

He knew exactly what those grooves contained.

They were the remains of the magic array itself.

Yet this strange little beast was actually eating the formation as though it were ordinary food.

Manda had never even heard of such a creature before.

And then, just as his mind was struggling to process everything in front of him, Niuniu said something that nearly made him collapse on the spot.

The moment she saw Manda, her eyes brightened.

She turned toward Kent and said cheerfully,

“He’ll do.”

“From now on, whenever there’s something inconvenient for us to handle personally, we’ll just have him do it.”

“Master, I…”

After hearing Niuniu’s words, Manda was so depressed that he hardly knew what to say.

No matter what else could be said about him, he had once been a leader in his own right.

Yet now, the moment he arrived here, he had somehow been reduced to handling dirty work from the shadows.

And Manda knew perfectly well what usually happened to people who did such things.

If their deeds were ever exposed, they were often the first to be discarded.

The thought made him uneasy.

His mind raced, and an idea quickly occurred to him.

Unfortunately, he did not dare address Niuniu directly.

Instead, he turned toward Kent and stared at him with an almost pleading expression.

The look immediately gave Kent goosebumps.

He waved one hand impatiently.

“If you have something to say, say it. Stop hesitating.”

“Yes, Master.”

Manda hurriedly seized the opportunity.

“It isn’t that I’m unwilling to handle matters beneath Master’s dignity. But I do possess a physical body, so there are many situations where acting discreetly would be difficult.”

“I would recommend Joko instead.”

Kent raised an eyebrow.

Manda continued quickly,

“She’s a Phantom Wraith—a pure soul entity. For certain kinds of work, she would be far more convenient than I am.”

Of course, Manda’s suggestion was not entirely selfless.

Deep down, he still held a considerable grudge against Joko.

If not for that woman, would he have ended up sealed by Kent today?

Since he had already suffered, there was no reason not to drag her into the same miserable situation.

“Hmm. That’s actually a good idea.”

Niuniu’s eyes lit up.

“A pure soul entity would be perfect for this sort of work.”

Such beings were naturally difficult to detect, and their speed was extremely high.

When it came to handling secretive or less-than-honorable tasks, they were almost ideal.

Niuniu immediately looked at Manda.

“Can you guarantee that this Joko will agree?”

“Don’t worry, Master. I know exactly where Joko is.”

Manda thumped his chest and bowed confidently.

This time, however, he was clearly speaking to Niuniu rather than Kent.

“Good.”

Niuniu nodded.

“Then from now on, the two of you can work together.”

“Ah… Master…”

Manda froze.

He had only been trying to shift some of the burden onto Joko.

Instead, not only had he failed to escape the job, he had somehow become even more deeply involved.

He opened his mouth, then turned toward Kent once again with a miserable expression.

“It’s settled.”

Kent immediately cut him off.

“You’ll lead the way later.”

The moment Kent saw Manda looking toward him for help, irritation rose inside him.

A moment ago, when you were proudly pounding your chest and making promises, you didn’t remember that I existed.

Now you suddenly remember me?

Too late.

You dug the hole yourself. You can lie in it.

Sometimes, men really could be remarkably petty.

“Manda.”

Kent’s tone suddenly changed.

“There’s actually a good reason I summoned you this time.”

He understood perfectly well that even slaves had to be managed properly.

And the simplest, most effective method had always been the same—

the carrot and the stick.

Right now, Kent intended to give Manda a particularly large carrot.

“You’ve stumbled into some incredible luck this time.”

Kent grinned.

“Do you know where we are?”

Manda carefully looked around.

The vast hall had an ancient, weathered appearance, and the altar had already been mostly destroyed.

He studied the surroundings for a while but still could not identify the place.

He shook his head respectfully.

“Master, this servant does not know.”

“You really don’t?”

Kent gave him a meaningful look.

“Think carefully.”

“Where was I supposed to be sent?”

Manda’s expression suddenly changed.

Then realization struck him.

“Old—”

The word burst from his mouth in shock.

But he managed to stop himself after only two syllables.

His face went pale.

Slowly, fearfully, he turned his eyes toward Niuniu.