Chapter 530 – Successful Capture

Although Smile and Kane’s various boring antics temporarily gave this adventuring party the feel of a tourist group… this “adventuring team” composed of ruthless villains never forgot their original purpose. Especially when Punk intended to capture the Mushroomfolk Village’s only Formal-Level expert alive without alerting anyone, all three members including Smile demonstrated the professionalism expected of career adventurers.

Smile quickly finished her Grilled Mushrooms, while the Magic Raven Vector flew to her shoulder for close protection. Kane followed closely behind Smile, remaining vigilant against any potential threats from the rear, while Punk took the lead, preparing spells that could quickly incapacitate a Formal-Level shaman.

Since they needed to capture an enemy alive this time, Punk—who could use convenient spells—took charge of the main operation. Under the cover of Mass Suggestion, the three of them calmly approached the base of the cliff.

The Mushroomfolk’s cliff was less of a precipice and more like a large moss-covered boulder. This rock had been hollowed out to become a habitable “castle.” Moreover, since this Formal-Level shaman of the Mushroomfolk Village belonged to the “hidden elder” type, there were no guards outside its residence at the base of the cliff.

Of course, a simple magical array existed near the cliffside. Particularly noticeable were several small squirrels and rabbits lingering around the cliff—clearly under the effects of the shamanic spells “Communicate with Animals” and “Wisdom Enlightenment.” Around a shaman’s dwelling, these inconspicuous small animals and even insects served as the best sentinels. Countless adventurers with insufficient knowledge would overlook such unremarkable little creatures.

However… these minor beings that couldn’t even be considered magical creatures obviously couldn’t escape the notice of a knowledgeable and cautious spellcaster, much less break free from the Mass Suggestion cast by a Master-Level Mage. Even though two owls stood on branches with wide-open eyes, the presence of Punk, Kane, and Smile had been erased from the minds of all surrounding creatures—they simply couldn’t perceive the approaching enemies.

“Swish, swish!”

Bored beyond measure, Kane casually flicked his Lance, effortlessly piercing several nearby owls, squirrels, and rabbits into minced meat. Only after all the small animals that had been active around the cliff were reduced to bloody smears on the ground did Kane calmly ask Punk:

“So, can you break the array up there? If not, we’ll have to charge in quickly.”

“Don’t worry. Although shamanic arts differ from the spell system, I have some understanding of this low-technical stuff. I just need… twenty seconds.”

After speaking, Punk gently pressed a finger against the moss-covered cliff wall that showed no visible traces of magic.Punk’s confidence in cracking this Formal-Level alert magic array was not at all boastful. In fact, Grand Arcanist Vedrasha’s knowledge reserves as a “Far-Sky Scholar” were incredibly vast. His research covered Battle Aura, shadow energy, and even faith-based power—of course, the Shaman’s “Ancestral Power” was no exception. Punk even believed he understood many aspects of shamanic knowledge better than most Master-Level shamans.

Now, what lay before Punk was merely a crude witchcraft array. After his inspection, he further discovered that this shoddy array was actually a “self-created” imitation of a Formal-Level spell array, which significantly reduced the difficulty of breaking it.

Thus, in just five or six seconds, the alert witchcraft array engraved on the rock wall dissipated into shimmering dust amid a ripple of light and shadow. Thanks to his exquisite energy control, Punk didn’t leak the slightest energy fluctuation from start to finish of his spellcasting. Consequently, the Qin Ren Shaman residing within the rock wall remained completely unaware.

With the last remaining alert measure near the rock wall neutralized, the rest became much simpler.

Punk easily located the position of the door on the rock wall. The few clumsy witchcraft spells used to conceal the door couldn’t fool a Master-Level powerhouse’s perception. Stepping into the rock wall’s interior, Punk immediately locked onto the only Formal-Level soul in the area.

“Found you!”

A sinister smirk curling his lips, Punk activated two spells in rapid succession the moment he entered the rock wall, without the slightest pause or hesitation.

Master-level Robe’s solidified spell: “Master-Level Conjuration Spell—Anywhere Door.”

In one step through the Anywhere Door, Punk bypassed the space and rock barriers devoid of magical defenses. His figure, clad in eerie Mage Robe, abruptly materialized behind an elderly Qin Ren.

“Wase (Qin Ren language, expressing surprise)?”

As a peak 19th-level spellcaster, Punk’s casting speed was overwhelmingly fast. The Qin Ren Shaman, who had been deeply meditating just a millisecond earlier, had no chance to react. To the shaman, it was as if a shadow had suddenly appeared out of thin air behind him during his meditation. Com unprepared, the Qin Ren didn’t even have time to turn his head. He could only let out a hoarse exclamation before a silvery glow penetrated his “core.”

“Just a 12th-level shaman?”

Observing the Qin Ren Shaman’s vacant, unfocused eyes, Punk calmly dismissed the second spell he had prepared.

The Qin Ren’s reaction, actions, and final outcome were all within Punk’s expectations. Facing a Master-Level powerhouse, even the most skilled Formal-Level professional would struggle to mount any meaningful resistance—let alone when the elderly Qin Ren Shaman was up against a “monster” like Punk at the peak of 19th level.

Thus, while the old Qin Ren’s instant defeat without even a chance to cry out might seem humiliating, for Punk and Kane, the shaman’s fate was entirely normal.At the same time, as Punk stepped through the Anywhere Door, Kane—who had remained in the “living room” at the base of the cliff—sensed the Formal-Level soul that had been active moments ago abruptly fall silent.

Clearly, Punk had succeeded!

Although the enemy within the cliff was merely a Formal-Level shaman, if the “Divinity competition” mechanism of the “River of Fate” truly existed and had already begun operating, even seemingly insignificant foes could bring unforeseeable variables. It was precisely for this reason that neither Punk nor Kane dared to let their guard down against any enemy. After all, during the operation, both had prepared for potential “surprise attacks.”

But now, with the Qin Ren Shaman successfully captured, there should be no further dangers in this mission. According to known patterns, the “River of Fate” would not introduce overly absurd “variables.” Thus, the spell-bound Qin Ren Shaman stood no chance of causing any trouble before two Master-Level powerhouses.

Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Kane shrugged nonchalantly. He then re-slung the Lance he had been holding onto his back and murmured under his breath:

“Seems to have gone smoothly. Let’s hope this so-called hidden mechanism of the ‘River of Fate’ is just a legend from some third-rate novel.”

“What did you say? Has it succeeded already?”

Smile didn’t catch Kane’s barely audible muttering. She only noticed that the previously vigilant knight had put away his weapon, leading her to realize that this operation hadn’t been as troublesome as the last.

“Mm-hmm, it’s done.”

Replying to Smile with a smile, Kane calmly stepped through the Anywhere Door that Punk had opened.

“Next, we can learn more about the ‘prey’ in this swamp. With Punk’s magic, gathering this bit of intel shouldn’t be too troublesome.”

(End of Chapter)