Chapter 5: The True Face of the Wizard World
Entering through the main door of the Wizard Association branch, the interior was somewhat dim due to the narrow windows. The severely worn wooden floorboards and black stone walls amplified this atmosphere—dim, mysterious, unwelcoming. That was the feeling the Wizard Association gave off.
Upon entering, Su Xiao found that the space wasn't large. It was long and narrow overall, with damp black stone walls on both sides.
He stepped forward. After walking a few meters, a window made of wooden bars appeared in the left wall. The bottom meter of the window was stone, and the wooden bars showed signs of insect damage. A figure sat behind the bars, his body covered in gray-brown roots, with only a face exposed. He sat in a wooden wheelchair.
Creak~
Like a tree trembling, the aged face among the roots opened its eyes. They were murky, dull, and lifeless.
Bubu Wang hid behind Su Xiao, suspecting that this thing might suddenly crash through the wooden bars and swallow him whole. In reality, this was a wizard. As long as he wasn't provoked, there was no great danger.
"You've come."
The old wizard's voice was somewhat hoarse. Strangely, he didn't ask about Su Xiao's purpose or anything else. His opening words were simply, "You've come."
"You are?"
Su Xiao remained vigilant. He had sensed something was off when entering the city earlier.
"I can only help you join the Wizard Association. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me, Hunter of Reincarnation Paradise."
The old wizard raised a hand buried among the roots and handed over a piece of parchment that was on the verge of crumbling.
"Kill 'them' all. Let those poor souls deceived by magic potions... know the truth. They can 'see' this world clearly, yet they remain indifferent. Pitiful human nature. Power could never be obtained so easily."
The old wizard smiled—a bitter, helpless smile.
"..."
Su Xiao basically understood. There was too little information about this mission, and this old wizard was clearly on his side.
"That's right. I'm one of the few still sane. Sign it, and you'll see the true face of this world. What you see now is just what 'they' want you to see."
The old wizard released the parchment in his hand, and Su Xiao caught it.
[Tip: The Hunter has obtained the True Sight Contract.]
[This contract carries no risk. After signing, the Hunter can lift the world restriction.]
[Warning: After lifting the world restriction, the Hunter will see the true face of this world.]
[Current world difficulty: Lv.10 ~ Lv.52.]
[World difficulty after lifting restriction: Lv.49 ~ Lv.56.]
...
Su Xiao pondered for a moment and finally chose to sign.
[You have signed the True Sight Contract.]
The moment Su Xiao signed the contract, his surroundings changed drastically. The walls became dilapidated and ruined. The wooden bars were severely corroded, some about to break.
Decay, ruin. All vivid colors had been eroded by time.
"So this is what this world really looks like."
The old wizard laughed mockingly. Su Xiao ignored him and quickly walked to the door of the Wizard Association branch, looking out at the street.
Everywhere he looked was decay. The wooden houses were stained and grimy, some spots rotted into mush.
The pedestrians on the street were gaunt and sallow. Their clothes were not only tattered but heavily patched. The only things that remained similar to before were the fruits and vegetables on the street stalls. But compared to the plump, fresh produce earlier, these were now shriveled. Some stalls were just selling rotten vegetable leaves.
Several gazes turned to Su Xiao. Clearly, these commoners had noticed him earlier.
"Young man, would you like some?"
An old woman selling fruit picked up a bunch of grapes from her stall. The grapes had lost their moisture and were about to become raisins. Yet the kindness in the old woman's eyes hadn't faded because of these dried grapes. Compared to the false "happiness" Su Xiao had seen before, this was reality—poor, but kind.
The entire city had changed. There was no warm sunlight in the sky, only thick, overcast clouds.
The scene Su Xiao had seen earlier wasn't an illusion. The little boy, the soldier, and the others were all real. They had just been disguised. This world was utterly hostile to outsiders.
"Thank you. Not for now."
Su Xiao turned back into the Wizard Association branch. Many of his doubts were resolved. This world didn't forbid technological development—it simply couldn't develop at all.
Su Xiao had been wondering why the world introduction information was so sparse. Mysticism thriving? Of course it thrived. This world could only develop mysticism; nothing else was possible.
And the Wizard Association's rule? No, there was no need for rule. The commoners couldn't even get enough to eat. Who would have the mind to rebel?
Or rather, what was the point of rebelling? This was caused by the environment. It had nothing to do with who was in power. The Wizard Association only needed to maintain basic order and ensure the monetary system. Everything else required no management. There was no need for that trouble.
Of course, this world had no kingdoms. A king was supposed to lead the people to prosperity. Given the current situation, a king was unnecessary and impossible to exist.
Su Xiao was even more curious about what entity had concealed the world's true face. It wasn't some illusion cast on Su Xiao. It was covering up everything.
Bubu Wang had repeatedly reminded Su Xiao earlier that when it merged into the environment, it could smell a rotten odor. Now it was clear—this was normal.
Space. Splitting. These two points suddenly came to Su Xiao's mind. They weren't superimposed together but independent of each other.
Su Xiao pressed his forehead. He felt he was going to lose a lot of brain cells again.
"The scene outside is the true face of this world."
The old wizard looked even older. Fine cracks appeared on his face, like old wood splitting.
"What caused it?"
Although Su Xiao didn't fully trust the old wizard, he was the only clue for the main mission.
"Because 'they' exist. 'They' are sucking on this world, like greedy infants."
"Them?"
"Yes, 'them.' Those standing at the very top."
The old wizard showed little emotional fluctuation. In fact, most of his emotions had dissipated for some reason.
"Are they the three Immortal Wizards?"
"No. Those three are also pitiful souls. Once great, now pitiful. You might meet them soon, in Wizard City."
The old wizard pressed a mechanism on his wooden wheelchair. A secret door opened in the stone wall behind Su Xiao.
"It can still be used ten times. You are the 59th. Contractors, Arbiters, and Hunters have all tried before. I hope you succeed... or die in Wizard City."
"..."
Su Xiao placed his hand on the sword hilt at his waist. He hated it when people spoke in riddles. What "them"? Either say it or don't. If you're going to be cryptic, he was ready to resort to physical negotiation.
Noticing Su Xiao's movement, the old wizard, who had almost no emotions left, paused slightly.
"Are you going to kill me?"
The moment the old wizard spoke, Su Xiao received a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise.
[Warning: The Hunter is prohibited from harming Secret Law Wizard·Hugh·Archid. This is a friendly unit!]
Su Xiao released his sword hilt and turned to look into the secret door. A teleportation array flickered with faint light on the ground.
Su Xiao now fully understood why Reincarnation Paradise and Holy Light Paradise were trading in this world. Because this place was too damn special. Or rather, it was this very specialness that met the prerequisites for the trade.
Standing on the teleportation array, Su Xiao's next stop was Wizard City.
PS: (Recommending a friend's book, title: I Really Live Forever.)