Chapter 83
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Mack and Laurence instantly noticed when Linda’s mind suddenly wavered. Laurence flashed to her side and tapped her forehead lightly, letting a soft glow settle over her brow.
Her mind calmed under the gentle touch.
“Don’t be afraid, child, Laurence said softly.
Linda bit down hard on her lower lip.
What Linda saw was completely different from what Laurence and the others witnessed.
She saw that Aurelio helped Craig escape the volcanic realm at the cost of his own life, paving a way out for his student.
But in the end, Craig didn’t make it.
Linda could still recall that Craig met his end on a stormy night.
Beneath the pouring rain, Craig stood with his body slashed all over, the rain washing over his wounds as blood streamed down to the ground.
Even as the end drew near, Craig was still smiling.
“As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters…” he murmured.
Laurence blinked in surprise. “Why is she so rattled? Aurelio, did you spook her or something?”
Aurelio shrugged. “Come on, I’m not that scary, am I?”
Linda clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms, forcing herself to steady her nerves.
She knew this moment was critical. If she failed, not only would the three treasured medicines go to waste, but Aurelio would be affected too.
Linda closed her eyes.
“When your heart is troubled by stray thoughts, what should you do?” The voice of the young man she’d once heard in the Sepulcher of Lost Steel echoed in her mind.
Linda answered, “Sever them.”
Every last one, she’d slice them away.
High atop the Frost–Crowned Highlands, the Trial of Conscience in the Violet–Soul Atelier suddenly shuddered, then blazed out in a flash, streaking straight for Verdant Ridge and landing right next to Linda.
Laurence and Aurelio both jumped in surprise.
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Chapter 83
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Something flickered in Mack’s eyes, his gaze turning intense.
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The Trial of Conscience unleashed a fierce, cutting light, its sword aura wrapped around Linda’s agitated soul, slowly tamping down the chaos inside her.
Linda grew calm, the five Gilded Cores began to flow smoothly through her spell circuits, everything falling into place.
The three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Two days later, Linda’s three Gilded Cores were finally patched up, and now all five spun furiously.
The last bit of the medicine’s power poured into her belly, and those five little clouds of energy suddenly grew bigger and spread out at the same time.
Under Linda’s guiding arts, they rushed into her spell circuits.
With every surge, her spell circuits were pushed wider and reinforced, growing tougher and stronger.
It felt just like she was reliving the whole Foundation Establishment process again.
Finally, the five clouds of energy flowed back into her belly, each one swirling into a new vortex center, five fresh vortex eyes pulsing with power.
People exchanged glances, and in their hearts, they knew Linda had made her breakthrough. She’d achieved Foundation Establishment.
Aurelio said, “If Linda has to reforge her spell circuits every time she hits Foundation Establishment, just how insanely tough and wide will they get down the line? And her body’s durability…”
‘Could she end up stronger than Laura?‘ Aurelio wondered.
Aurelio shot Laurence a look, and Laurence met his gaze, the same realization flashed between them.
The path Linda had chosen was anything but ordinary.
Three days later, Linda had fully absorbed the medicine’s power and locked in her new strength. When she finally woke up, she’d already reached the mid–stage of Foundation Establishment.
Laura, Craig, and Rafael had been keeping watch over her for a long time.
“You’re awake,” Laura said.
Linda glanced at the three of them, her voice hoarse as she suddenly asked, “Where’s Claudio?”
Craig blinked in surprise, but quickly replied, “He’s at the Apprentices‘ Quarters.”
Linda’s eyes were slightly red. “Okay.”
With that, she hopped onto the Trial of Conscience and sped off toward the Apprentices‘ Quarters, tossing back, “Laura, Craig, Rafael, I want to talk to him alone. Don’t follow me.”
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Chapter 83
The three exchanged glances, looking a bit lost.
Rafael said, “Are they going to fight?”
Craig shifted uneasily. “I doubt it’ll get that bad.”
Laura said, “Claudio must’ve messed up.”
The three of them nodded in unison. “Yeah, that’s for sure.”
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At the Apprentices‘ Quarters, Claudio was stuck within the First Unity Coven’s grounds, not allowed to leave the mountain.
But ever since he got back, he’d barely left the Apprentices‘ Quarters, just staying put and not going anywhere else.
Sometimes, he’d just sit in his room, zoning out.
Laura had just sent her a message about it.
When Linda arrived, she saw Claudio leaning against the door, looking lost in thought. A gentle breeze drifted by, but he seemed a bit down, his eyes unfocused as he stared blankly at the Mystic Silver–Leaf in the yard.
Craig had only just planted it.
He’d followed Linda’s instructions, trying to get it to turn into Grade–A Silver–Leaf, but it didn’t work out.
Hearing the commotion, Claudio glanced up, one eyebrow raised. “Hey, Linda.”
Linda barreled over, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him straight inside. The door slammed shut behind them with a bang.
The three who’d secretly followed just stood there, speechless.
“This looks bad, they all thought.
Inside the room, Claudio found himself pressed up against the table, a little surprised but not resisting. He just raised an eyebrow, looking at Linda. “What’s going on, Linda?”
Linda lowered her voice. “Why was the First Unity Coven wiped out?”
Claudio’s eyes narrowed in shock.
Linda kept her grip on his collar and with a quick wave, sent out two silencing talismans that locked down the room so tight, not a single sound could escape, no matter how much the three outside strained to listen.
Linda’s voice dropped even lower, trembling a little. “Why was the First Unity Coven wiped out?”
Claudio frowned. “You…”
Suddenly, Linda switched to a teasing tone. “Looks like you’ve got nowhere else to go. Why not join us?”
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Chapter 83
Claudio was speechless.
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Linda’s voice turned icy. “That was the first thing you ever said to me in your previous life, Celestial Void. No, you used to be called the First Unity Lord.”
Linda fixed Claudio with a piercing stare. “First Unity refers to the First Unity Coven.”
Claudio raised his brows, feigning confusion. “Linda, what are you even talking about? I seriously have no clue.”
Linda shot back, “Drop the act!”
She yanked him up by the collar, locking eyes with him. “You remember me, don’t you?”
Claudio paused, thinking hard. “You mean that part from my
dream?”
He broke into a grin. “You were my friend in the dream, you know.”
Linda was itching to smack him, or even go for a soul search right then and there. But she knew, chances were, she wouldn’t be able to dig anything out of his soul.
Claudio’s soul was every bit as strong as hers.
If they really threw down, they’d be neck and neck. But Linda couldn’t try to force a soul search.
Claudio was definitely concealing his true power.
Claudio grabbed Linda’s hand, and the instant he touched her, he was startled by how icy cold her skin felt. He slowly unclasped her fingers from his collar.
He settled her by the chair and lit the brazier in the room.
Claudio said as he put the brazier in front of Linda, “Linda, I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. But ever since I was a kid, I’ve kept having this recurring dream.”
Then he dragged over a stool and sat down across from her.
“What dream?” Linda asked, keeping it short.
Claudio paused, then looked up. “Okay, here’s the thing, I’ve got this friend, and his dream goes like this.”
“A friend?” Linda snorted, not buying it.
Claudio gave her a look. “You wanna hear this or not?”
Linda nodded, face serious. “Talk.”
Claudio spoke in a low voice. “When he was just a little kid, his family branded his birth as a bad omen and wanted to cast him out. However, his parents and aunt wouldn’t have it.
“They took him and left the family. Then, on his third birthday, his entire family were slaughtered. He was
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Chapter 83
the only one left alive.
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“His aunt hid him in a well and used her own body to seal the opening, and that’s the only reason he survived.”
Linda’s palm clenched tight.
“Claudio…” she murmured.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
