Mages below Tier 7 couldn’t step into the pool. If there was a key at the bottom, it was invaluable, and no one else had reached for it yet.
“It’s real, sir,” the man returned his words carefully.
“What does the key unlock?”
“An entrance at the bottom of the Ebony Pool, sir.”
“The bottom of the pool? You sure you aren’t pulling another trick?” Lin Ming scoffed. The man was sly and deceitful. If it hadn’t been Lin Ming’s wit, the man would have tricked him.
“I dare not, sir.” Lin Ming was in control of him now. Even if he had something else on his mind, he couldn’t cast it.
“I do not trust you now,” Lin Ming shook his head. “I have no clue of how far the Soul-absorbing Bells could reach.”
“You could see from my point of view through the bells, sir. There is no need to worry about my escape.”
“I can? Great. Teach me how.” Lin Ming was interested. He didn’t think the bells would be this useful.
“Shift your conscious onto the bell, and from the bells, you could enter my mind.”
Lin Ming nodded and gave it a try. Through the bells, he saw different viewpoints. They were all from the Dark Mages. But it was then it hit Lin Ming—he could no longer return to his body nor control the black-robed man.
At this second, the man smirked as he advanced to Lin Ming. He believed this was the end for Lin Ming.
Outside of the Juncture—
Gandalf was nervous. He knew how robust Lin Ming was, his magical powers top-level, but his consciousness was untrained. Only after reaching the Sage Tier that a mage’s mind could enter spirituality and advance from there.
As the man in black pulled Dark Magic together, it encircled Lin Ming within. He laughed. “No matter how meticulous you are, you can never escape the fate of becoming my food!” He reached his hand to claim his Soul-absorbing Bell back. Then, only the man would be free as the magical core already fused with his body. But when he touched the bells and pulled, he flinched. It wouldn’t budge.
“You want it? I’ll give it to you.”
The sudden approach of Lin Ming’s voice made the man’s heart sank. “Impossible!” he roared. Except Dark Mages could control it, only Sage Tier Mages could integrate with the bells and regain their consciousness. Mages other than that would have taken a long time.
But Lin Ming’s consciousness just entered—how was his mind not imprisoned? Was he a Sage Tier Mage? No, Sage Tier Mages couldn’t enter the Juncture.
“Here is your gift.” Lin Ming shoved the bells to the man’s hand.
“Sir, I was fooling around. I knew you could’ve succeeded integrating when your mind entered the bell. I was lightening the mood up. I hope you do not mind me.” The man tried to laugh it off. He returned the chain of bells to Lin Ming.
Lin Ming didn’t need the bells anymore. He could now control the man without the item, and he had erased the man’s consciousness from the bell. “You do have a lot of tricks up your sleeve.” Lin Ming studied the man—the man had been trying to set him up right from the start. Had he not been prepared, the man would have gotten his way.
“I learned my lesson, sir. I won’t do it again.” The man got to his knees. Now, Lin Ming had complete control of him.
“Last chance. If you play any more of your tricks, I will remove your consciousness. You could revive if your physical body died, but with your consciousness deleted…”
The man jumped in. “Yes, I understand.” He knew Lin Ming was talking about his ultimate weakness. As long as his consciousness remained in the Juncture, he would live. But without that, he would cease to exist.
“Get down there and open the door,” Lin Ming ordered.
“It is dangerous of what’s behind the door, sir. There, a Dark Magical Beast exists. If you unlock the door, I am afraid…” The man tried to stop Lin Ming.
“No worries. Just open it.” Lin Ming waved his hand. Seeing the hesitating man, he snorted, “Do not make me repeat myself.”
“Yes!” The man nodded and hurried into the pool.
From the man’s perspective, Lin Ming could observe everything in the Ebony Pool. The pool was formed from the surrounding rich Dark Magic, and it wasn’t too big.
Not long after, the man retrieved the key under Lin Ming’s spying. With his hand trembling, he unlocked the door and ran the opposite way.
Roar!
A thunderous roar pierced the air. Instantly, the Dark Magical Beast absorbed all the magical elements.
“Tier 8 Dark Magical Beast?” Lin Ming pulled his brows together. Wasn’t the highest rank Tier 7 in the Juncture? But never mind, it was still a piece of cake for Lin Ming.
The reason why the man in black was horrified was because of the beast’s powerful physique. Standing this close to it, he was afraid it would finish him in one blow. Though his consciousness would remain, he wouldn’t want to experience the pain.