Yin Xing didn’t stay long. He and Yin Guang got up and took their leave after a short while.

Not long after Pei Ze saw them off, another guest arrived.

This time, it was a Wizard from the Gu Family.

After introductions, Pei Ze learned that the man was Gu Lin’s uncle, Gu Hai.

"I hope you don’t mind my sudden visit, Master Pei Ze."

Gu Hai had a very warm smile. Though his face was aged, you could still tell he had been a handsome man in his youth.

"It’s a shame Gu Lin has already left for the Turin Plane. Otherwise, I would have brought her along to congratulate you on your promotion, Master Pei Ze."

"You’re too kind, Master Gu Hai," Pei Ze said with a smile.

Gu Hai didn’t say much more. He left a gift, chatted with Pei Ze for a bit, and then took his leave.

Just before leaving, however, he left Pei Ze with a few meaningful words.

"It is Gu Lin’s honor to be your friend, Master Pei Ze. Our family is very supportive, and we would be delighted to see her become the bond that deepens our relationship."

Watching Gu Hai depart, Pei Ze’s eyes glinted. He recalled his earlier conversation with Yin Xing, who had subtly suggested that he should pursue a deeper relationship with Yin Xue.

"Looks like I’ve become quite the hot commodity," Pei Ze muttered to himself.

In the past, he had also been close with Yin Xue and Gu Lin, but both the Yin Family and the Gu Family had merely observed in silence, neither supporting nor opposing the relationships.

But the moment he was promoted to Wizard, both families immediately sent representatives. They came under the guise of offering congratulations, but their true purpose was to strengthen ties. They all but openly encouraged him to develop his relationships with the two women.

And all of this was simply because he had become a Wizard and now possessed sufficient power.

These Wizard Clans with their ancient lineages had seen countless prodigies over thousands of years. They had personally witnessed more than a few talents who rose like comets, only to burn out just as quickly.

To them, outstanding talent alone meant little.

But once that talent was successfully converted into power, it became worthy of their attention.

And that benchmark, apparently, was the rank of Wizard.

"Power really is a wonderful thing," Pei Ze sighed.

He was about to leave when another Wizard blocked his path at the door.

After they introduced themselves, Pei Ze learned that this Wizard also lived nearby.

He had just managed to see his visitor off when another person arrived, also a Wizard who lived in the vicinity.

It was as if they had all planned it. The moment one left, another would arrive, leaving Pei Ze feeling completely overwhelmed.

By the time he saw off the last Wizard, the sky outside had already grown dark.

Looking at the pile of gifts in his dimensional bag, Pei Ze couldn’t help but sigh.

No wonder his teacher had told him not to refuse any gifts he was offered. He had clearly foreseen this happening.

"They’re Wizards, after all. Their gifts are hardly ordinary. I’ve really made a killing this time."

Pei Ze smiled.

Seeing that it was late, he wasted no more time. He went outside, hailed a carriage, and hurried toward the Outer City.

...

「Turin Plane」

A magnificent city stood majestically on the bank of the Nolan River. Three walls formed three perfect concentric circles, protecting the numerous buildings within.

Before the city, a boundless wilderness stretched out. The land was pockmarked as if bombarded by countless meteorites and littered with innumerable corpses.

There were humans and non-humans among them.

The soil was so thoroughly soaked in blood that it had taken on a bizarre, dark-red hue.

Delicate, pale-green plants grew from the rock crevices, bearing small, octagonal, trumpet-shaped flowers. They were as crimson as blood and trembled slightly in the wind.

This was the Bloody Flower, a plant that grew only on battlefields. Watered by blood, a Blood Demon would be born from it on the day it matured.

Atop the towering city wall, Pei Yonggao descended the stairs, his expression grim.

A man with a cruel face walked toward him.

He had dark green eyes, an aquiline nose, and a cold expression.

Pei Yonggao immediately stopped, placed a hand over his chest, and greeted him with a respectful bow.

"Sir."

The aquiline-nosed man paused, glanced at him, and said abruptly, "News from Chenxi City. Pei Ze has been promoted to a Wizard."

Pei Yonggao’s head snapped up, his face a mask of disbelief.

’How is that possible?!’

’When I left Chenxi City, that kid had only just been promoted to a Third-level Wizard Apprentice not long before.’

’Less than half a year has passed, and he’s already a Wizard?’

Pei Yonggao was filled with disbelief, but he knew the man before him had no reason to lie.

"A Wizard at only seventeen... what a shame. If we had known he had this kind of potential, the clan wouldn’t have given up on him so easily, even if he is one of the Bloodless."

The aquiline-nosed man shook his head with a hint of regret.

Pei Yonggao understood the man’s implication and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As a member of the clan, he knew all too well how cold and ruthless it could be.

If there were an opportunity to win Pei Ze over, the clan would abandon him without a second thought.

All because Pei Ze had more potential.

However, Pei Ze had first become Mo Weng’s disciple and then grown extremely close to the Yin and Gu Families. He had undoubtedly been recruited by the elementalist faction. Getting him to join their side now was clearly impossible.

Pei Yonggao’s gaze flickered. "Sir," he said suddenly, "if we let Pei Ze continue to grow stronger, I fear he will become a threat to us."

The aquiline-nosed man gave him a long, meaningful look. Only when Pei Yonggao lowered his head did the man say lightly, "You should be well aware that Pei Ze isn’t the same as he was before. He is now a prodigy valued by their side. If you make a move against him, you will provoke fierce retaliation, even if you succeed. Not even the clan could protect you then."