In front of a closed black gate.

Shawn gently raised his finger, and the Secret Technique Gate before him automatically opened.

—"Gate Path [Domain Law]: You can use a swift action to open any door, box, lock, window, backpack, pocket, bottle, barrel, and similar containers. This ability belongs to Conceptual Law and can open Secret Technique Locks, hidden Teleportation Gates, anything devoid of Divine Power. When unlocking Secret Technique Locks, your Casting Level appears doubled compared to usual." (PS: Meaning a Wizard of Level 80.)

Manager’s Hall.

Shawn saw rows of black Iron Thrones, as if cast from molten iron, covered in dry bones, with figures in resplendent magic robes sitting on them, all rotted to skeletons. Some Wondrous Objects and equipment were still intact, while others had gradually decayed over time.

He waved his hand lightly, and a peculiar Staff fell into his palm.

—"Staff of the Great Mage [Replica][Legendary Wondrous Object]: A replica Staff infused with the Law of Primitive Magic Power by candlefort scholars, it can dispel all spell effects upon hitting the enemy, with a Casting Level equivalent to a Legendary Mage of Level 25."

—"Manager’s Robe [High Tier Legendary Wondrous Object]: This robe can shorten the caster’s spellcasting time, instantly casting most 1-3 circle spells, and comes with additional specializations like high-level Spell Penetration, skilled spellcasting, combat spellcasting. You won’t be interrupted during spellcasting concentration by enemy ambush."

—"Great Reader’s Staff [Maze Lock Authority]: ?!"

Shawn casually grasped the Staff of the Great Mage before him, noticing that the Wondrous Objects here were clearly styled after the Ferren Plane, many being replicas of famous historical Wondrous Objects.

He did not pick up other Wondrous Objects, instead gazing at the skeletal remains in front, where waves of Magic Power surged violently from him.

—Great Reader - Isidore [Candlefort Earthbound Spirit] (Challenge Level 21).

—Chanting - Calmodan [Candlefort Earthbound Spirit] (Challenge Level 20).

—Guide - Ratnavin [Candlefort Earthbound Spirit] (Challenge Level 20).

One after another, ethereal figures emerged.

In life, they were all Legendary Mages; in death, they were devoured by Candlefort, becoming Earthbound Spirits here.

All annihilated.

After the activation of the Law of Knowledge, the managers of Candlefort were almost completely annihilated; from the hollow skulls of their remains, traces of their fully eroded brain structures were barely visible.

Their deaths mirrored that of Shawn’s own erosion by Great Detective - Morty Laine.

But they were not killed by Great Detective - Morty Laine!

They died to the Lord of Shadows.

In front of many black thrones, a shriveled corpse slowly lifted its head, gazed at Shawn with a complex expression, seemingly retaining some consciousness, muttering: "Chaneum!..."

"You have finally arrived..."

—Great Mage - Gleian [Candlefort Founder][Otherworld Soul][Mage Demigod] (Challenge Level??)!

Foster father of the Slaughter Divine Son.

One of the earliest reincarnated Otherworld Souls, also the most representative among the Otherworld Souls entering the Ferren Plane, many Wizard Path legacies were initiated by him, numerous spells were brought by him from the Ferren Plane into the Bizarre Realm.

Tick-tock tick-tock.

The sound of clockwork emerged, yet not from Shawn’s casting. In an instant, time stopped all around; the former managers of Candlefort stood up one after another.

These managers mostly memorized the 9-circle Time Stop.

However, this was ineffective against Shawn.

In the paused Time Stream, his figure halted for just a moment, synchronized with all the managers into the domain of Time Law the next second.

Everything outside had already come to a halt.

Even the immensely powerful ancient Power Dragon maintained a relative stationary state, but it could sense anomalies in the Time Stream; the Legendary Giant Dragon possessed Perception of Time Law.

—Superior Time Stop [Legendary Spell]!

Shawn’s figure stepped forward; amid the many Time Traps set by the managers, he activated his personal extra time.

Time Overlap.

The surrounding Time Stream became chaotic, the entire planet and even the Terra Star System fell into a state of cessation. Within Shawn’s extra time, only a few existences were able to perceive the anomalies in the Time Stream.

"Divine Format Law Activated!"

"Initiate Spell Absorption Matrix!"...

"High Tier Chain of Accidents Skill Triggered!"...

"Spell Sequence Device Activated!"...

Shawn’s figure was engulfed by countless dense silver runes, these rune matrices transformed into a circular protective Force Field, enveloping him within.

Death Finger!

A crimson energy beam swept by, absorbed by countless runes and converted into pure Primitive Magic Power, replenishing Shawn’s Mana Pool, followed by Automatic Arcane Spellcasting as a Sun Flame Burst struck back.

Energy Absorption Technique!

The obscure Negative Energy beam landed on Shawn, the spell’s Power being decomposed by runes, fused as Primitive Magic Power into his body, then automatically triggered a counterattack, a high-level Curse Technique locking onto the spellcasting target.

Inside the Manager’s Hall.

Shawn’s figure suspended three meters above the ground. Within the sphere of runes surrounding him, dozens of spells were absorbed cleanly; when he struck, it caused severe damage, the immensely powerful casting ability first weakening the enemy, then spell countering, a further damaging counterattack, only to see one manager’s ethereal shadow explode in place after another.