Chapter 1 The Arcane Sanctum

As a well-known Super-A organization, the Crimson Robe Monastery's headquarters location is public information, located in the Goron Star Cluster, and known as the "Arcane Sanctum."

The Arcane Sanctum is a colossal palace floating in space. The palace itself is Austin's mage tower, taken out to serve as the base of the Crimson Robe Monastery.

Mage towers are important equipment for mages, useful for both combat and research. As the mage tower of a Super-A mage, the Arcane Sanctum is said to have solidified forty-eight thousand rune arrays, possessing perfect attack, defense, movement, life support, energy, and other mechanisms, with projections covering hundreds of sub-dimensions, ready to leave the main universe and enter a sub-dimension at any time.

If divided by equipment quality, Austin's Arcane Sanctum surpasses orange equipment, reaching the level of "Universal Treasure," the highest level of gold equipment.

The spaceship slowly approached the Arcane Sanctum. Through the porthole, Han Xiao and the others observed the famous mage palace from a distance.

The Arcane Sanctum was grand and magnificent, based on fine gold and mithril, adorned with colorful magical crystals, like a dreamlike space castle, layered upon layered, with many sub-towers distributed throughout. Tides of surging magical radiance enveloped the luxurious palace, covered with a colorful and hazy atmosphere. Countless energy arrays were distributed on the shield, drawing dark energy from the universe, flashing complex rune circuits.

"Truly spectacular," Fording said with admiration.

"Truly magnificent," Marion said with awe.

"Truly rich," Han Xiao squeezed out an envious voice between his teeth, his focus clearly different from the others.

If the Mechanic class are merchants, then the mages are tycoons, especially a mage of Austin's level, whose assets are so immense that even Han Xiao couldn't help but envy him.

Han Xiao sent a landing request to the Arcane Sanctum, and after receiving permission, he piloted the spaceship toward the spaceport.

At this time, many spaceships of various models were parked at the spaceport, all from different star systems, mages who had come to study. The Arcane Sanctum had always been open to the outside world, and countless mages stayed here to study magic, making it very prosperous. You could at least kill two magicians with one brick here.

The Crimson Robe Monastery is a detached, neutral magical force. Austin does not cooperate with star cluster level civilizations, nor does he carry out armed expansion. He allows most mages of the orderly side to join the association for advanced studies, share knowledge, and improve their membership level in order to browse more advanced magical knowledge. The organizational structure is loose, but there are more members than the World Tree Civilization, and only the Witch Hunters and a few other troops are directly under Austin's command.

According to Han Xiao's understanding, the Crimson Robe Monastery is just a private magic school, Austin is the principal, the direct cadres are leaders and lecturers at all levels, and the Witch Hunter troops are equivalent to the student union or the campus discipline inspection team, which made it much more understandable.

The three stepped onto the spaceport dock, and someone was already waiting to receive them. It was Désoleur, the Witch Hunter who had taken Laki away before.

"It's been more than ten years, haven't you been promoted yet?" Han Xiao remembered him and said jokingly.

"You're joking, Your Eminence the Sorcerer is in the main hall, please come with me."

Désoleur's attitude was more respectful than last time. Ten years ago, he dared to fight with Han Xiao, but now he had completely lost the thought of competing.

The group chatted casually and walked into the Arcane Sanctum, heading to the main hall.

"The energy level here is so high." Marion took a few deep breaths, looking radiant.

"Well, the Arcane Sanctum absorbs the dark energy and magical elements wandering in the universe, and increases the magic concentration here through the energy gathering array. Mages can meditate here with amazing efficiency, and the ample magic power also facilitates various magical studies… Even if you are not a mage, breathing the air here will make you energetic."

Désoleur explained.

Fording pinched the center of his brows and said in surprise, "My esper power seems to be suppressed, I can't release it too far. There will be a huge blockage beyond fifty meters."

"That's right, because many mages stay here to conduct their own magical research, they will arrange various prohibitions to prevent mental detection. It's a taboo to release esper power indiscriminately here," Désoleur said.

The group entered the main hall, and the scene inside came into view.

Countless heavy magic books floated in the air, emitting a radiance as bright as silver stars, like a sky full of stars, a brilliant galaxy. Hundreds of translucent Austins sat cross-legged in the air, flipping through different books, all of which were star projections of his clones. Austin's main body sat on the throne, eyes closed, his small, chubby face propped up by the back of his hand, as if he was sleeping soundly, with a crystal clear gleam hanging from the corner of his mouth.

As soon as Han Xiao and the others came in, Austin noticed, his eyebrows twitched, he woke up, yawned, and rubbed his sleepy eyes.

"Black Star, you're here."

Austin wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth. The saliva turned into a finger-sized azure spell dragon, which flew away happily.

"Your Eminence the Sorcerer."

Han Xiao nodded in greeting, and Fording and Marion followed suit.

Désoleur tactfully left and closed the door.

"It's rare for you to come to me for help. We'll talk about the details later, let me see what Sisko did to you first."

Austin walked down the throne. The star projections of his clones returned to his main body like birds returning to their nests and disappeared without a trace. He walked to Han Xiao with his short legs. His height only reached Han Xiao's waist, and his ill-fitting, large red mage robe dragged on the ground like a red carpet.

Austin shook his head, lifted his feet off the ground, rose to Han Xiao's eye level, stretched out his short, delicate fingers, gently tapped Han Xiao's forehead, looked at the esper toxin, and exclaimed in surprise.

"How is it?" Han Xiao's heart skipped a beat. A Super-A was actually moved, could there be any hidden dangers in his situation?

"So that's how it is, a bit troublesome…"

Austin withdrew his finger, put his hands behind his back, and circled around Han Xiao, "How much do you know about Sisko?"

"Not too much…" Han Xiao thought about it. He remembered the information compiled by the players in his previous life, but there were very few deeds about Sisko, and the players could not reach the higher levels, so there should be some information that he didn't know.

"Well, first I have to tell you that the formal name of this cluster of esper toxin should be called Soul Embryo, and I can't help you get rid of it."

Han Xiao was shocked, "Even a Super-A mage like you can't do it?"

"Magic isn't omnipotent," Austin shook his head helplessly.

Laki said the same thing…

Han Xiao muttered softly.

"Let me explain to you. Just like I occasionally make magic scrolls myself, Sisko also uses activation techniques to store his esper attacks. The one-time weapons made by us Super-As circulate on the black market and sell for sky-high prices. This time, the one that injured you was a one-time esper weapon made by Sisko.

To be precise, it not only contains Sisko's esper power, but also another kind of power.

As far as I know, before Sisko became a Super-A, he used to hang out in the Ancient Star Desert, an ancient star region. He obtained a Universal Treasure there called the Evolution Cube, I don't know which lost civilization created it."

Hearing this, Han Xiao was slightly stunned.

It turned out to be this thing?

At this time, Fording asked curiously, "What is the function of the Evolution Cube?"

Austin glanced at him, thinking that Fording was pleasing to the eye, so he explained to him, "Sisko hides the Evolution Cube very deeply. I haven't seen the appearance of the Evolution Cube, and I don't know the specific operation mechanism. I only know two deeds of Sisko using it."

"First, the Evolution Cube can stimulate the potential of a species, evolve it greatly in a short period of time, and automatically adjust it to the most adapted genetic sequence. Sisko used the Evolution Cube to complete the species transformation of Super-A. His activated ancestral bloodline is also thanks to the Evolution Cube."

Marion's breathing became heavy, "Can this treasure lower the threshold for Super-A?"

"Not just that."

Austin said slowly, "Sisko also used the Evolution Cube to influence all his clansmen, completing the species evolution of an entire civilization, easily passing through the process that other civilizations would take tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years to complete. His race has reached the perfect state of its own genetic sequence, and the qualities of body, lifespan, intelligence, etc. are all far superior to normal species. The combat effectiveness of a newborn is close to that of a C-level superhuman."

Fording looked surprised, "There is such a treasure, it's too incredible. Wouldn't other forces covet such a powerful thing?"

"Of course, some people were tempted. The Arcane Church took the initiative to come to him. Sisko reached a deal with them, willing to use the Evolution Cube to serve the Arcane Church, in exchange for the Arcane Church's protection of the entire civilization.

Originally, Sisko's civilization was just an ordinary star system civilization, but it developed rapidly from this, and there was a faint trend of becoming the next star cluster level civilization. Although the area where he is located already has a star cluster level civilization, Sisko has the support of the Arcane Church, so competitors dare not openly suppress him and can only watch him rise."

Han Xiao nodded secretly. This was similar to the information he had, that Sisko was wholeheartedly leading his civilization, managing his own territory, and did not like to participate in disputes in other regions.

He felt that with Sisko's temperament, the possibility of him running out to participate in the secret war was very small.

Fording was a little admired, "It sounds like he is the hero of his own civilization."

Austin remained noncommittal and continued, "The second manifestation of the Evolution Cube is to amplify mental power, the upper limit is unknown, so Sisko's esper power is unbelievably strong, and his mental power alone is higher than mine… Most importantly, the power of the Evolution Cube is entangled with his esper power, producing a special reaction, making his activated esper power contain a strange vitality."

"The esper toxin in your mental brain domain is actually an embryo for nurturing a new soul, um, that is, the secondary personality you mentioned… And this unborn soul has already taken root in your spiritual world and is linked to your own soul. Although I can destroy it, you yourself will suffer irreversible damage," Austin spread his hands.

"Irreversible damage refers to…" Han Xiao asked cautiously.

"I don't know, if you want to try, I don't mind," Austin chuckled.

Han Xiao's balls ached, "Is there no other way?"

"That's not true." Austin's smile was unfathomable, "If I or Ames suffered the same injury as you, we could recover very easily."

Han Xiao's eyes flickered, and he understood something, "You mean…"

"Although Sisko's esper power is strong, at the Super-A level, it is far from being unsolvable. The Super-A's spirit is extremely solidified and tenacious. As long as you can become Super-A, you don't need anyone else's help, you can recover on your own."

Austin stared at Han Xiao with great interest and added, "You know, if it were someone else, I wouldn't say such things to them, but you are different. I have been optimistic about your potential for a long time. Maybe you can become a Super-A before being eroded and get rid of this predicament."

"...Actually, there is a simpler way." Han Xiao couldn't help but say, "With you as a notary, please ask Sisko for help. He must know how to resolve his own attack. You should have a good relationship with him, right."

"Nonsense, I don't know him, I'm not familiar with him," Austin denied without even thinking.

Han Xiao rolled his eyes.

I believe you, you old geezer, you are very bad, you didn't say that when I asked you for help.