The test regarding forbidden spells concluded swiftly.
Xu Xi had a firm grasp of his own abilities, though he lacked comparisons with others of the same level.
With the help of the red dragon, Xu Xi gained a clear understanding of where he stood in the hierarchy and the practical combat effects of various forbidden spells.
"Just as expected," he mused.
"Compared to other Saint-level beings, my strength is undoubtedly overpowered."
"This is evident in my tenfold mana capacity, near-omnipotent control over attributes, and a composite domain with overwhelming suppression."
"On top of that, the Eternal Tear provides invincible protection."
"Hmm, not bad. Once my cultivation realm improves, my combat power will become even more absurd. Truly, the privilege of high numerical superiority!"
An hour later.
In the desolate outskirts far from Yanshan City.
Xu Xi gazed at the pitiful red dragon lying on the ground.
His staff glowed with green light as he used life magic to heal the dragon's injuries.
The earth was scorched, the mountains shattered, and the red dragon lay in a massive crater, motionless, struggling to breathe.
However, as the life magic flowed into its body, the wounds on the dragon's surface healed rapidly, and its vertical pupils regained clarity.
As for the spilled dragon blood,
it floated in the air, gathered into a ball by Xu Xi's psychic control,
and was stored separately by him.
Regarding dragon blood grass, Xu Xi had little use for it, especially now that he was a Saint-level Archmage. Dragon blood grass offered him no benefits.
The reason he still wanted to cultivate it was more out of habit.
He simply couldn't resist the itch to grow something.
"I wonder if there are other Western dragon species in the real world. If not, I'll have to keep extracting blood from Rex Santos in the future," Xu Xi thought aloud, his gaze lingering on the resting red dragon, which jolted awake in alarm.
With a slight flick of his finger,
an ocean-like surge of psychic energy effortlessly moved the massive red dragon before him, causing it to tremble even more.
"Don't worry, I won't go back on my word. I said I wouldn't kill you, so I won't," Xu Xi reassured.
Around the battlefield,
brownish dust filled the air.
Under the sunlight, it appeared hazy and faint. With a wave of his hand, Xu Xi summoned a gust of wind, clearing the obscured world before him.
He paused, then asked the anxious red dragon,
"Little Red, do you remember how you came to this world?"
"I do! I do!"
The red dragon nodded fervently, afraid that failing to answer would result in another light tap. Its expression was docile, not daring to display the arrogance and disdain typical of dragons in front of Xu Xi.
Its sharp claws scratched its head as it pondered.
After a moment, Rex Santos spoke in a bewildered tone, "After the gods disappeared, a long time passed. Then, the sky and earth suddenly shattered. Before I could do anything, I found myself here."
Suddenly shattered?
Xu Xi pondered. Did that mean the fabric of space and time had fractured? It sounded similar to the Boundary Ruins.
This power seemed far beyond the Saint-level, as Rex Santos had no awareness of it and was passively transported to the real world.
"It seems I won't get any more answers from the red dragon," Xu Xi thought to himself.
He then asked another question.
"You mentioned the disappearance of the gods. What exactly happened?"
"You don't know?" The red dragon widened its eyes in shock. "The one who ascended the Dragon Isle with you—she single-handedly overthrew the reign of the gods."
The death of the gods was a consensus in the magical world.
However, the legacy of the gods still subtly influenced the world.
Especially for ancient dragons like Rex Santos.
It had been born during the era when the gods were active.
From a young dragon to a juvenile, and then to an adult, its entire life had been spent worshiping the Golden Dragon God.
Even now, with the dragon god gone, Rex Santos still instinctively sought divine protection.
As for the Witch...
The red dragon felt more fear than reverence.
The Witch's power was overwhelming, surpassing even the gods, transcending the world itself. Even the most devout followers of the gods dared not harbor resentment toward her.
For her existence was more revered than the gods themselves.
Following Xu Xi's instructions, Rex Santos dutifully recounted everything it knew about the Twilight of the Gods.
"Tsk—"
Xu Xi maintained a calm exterior, but inwardly, he was gasping in disbelief.
Wait.
Is this really my Krisha?
From the information provided by Rex Santos, Xu Xi easily deduced that Krisha had annihilated the celestial gods within fifty years of his death.
"Huh?"
"Wait, what???"
Xu Xi began to question his life. "Was Krisha always this powerful? How come I never noticed when I was alive?"
A rather absurd but likely accurate speculation surfaced in his mind.
"Could it be that my existence slowed down Krisha's growth???"
Am I really the sacrificial offering?
Xu Xi fell silent, unsure whether to feel proud of the Witch's growth or exasperated by the revelation that he might have been a hindrance.
He couldn't help but feel a slight, lingering discomfort.
"Now I understand what the 'Twilight of the Gods Architect' achievement in the simulator refers to," Xu Xi muttered, finally piecing everything together.
He wanted to ask the red dragon for more details about the Witch.
But Rex Santos claimed ignorance.
After overthrowing the gods, the Witch had left the magical world alone, venturing into the vast and mysterious Chaos—a realm beyond the reach of mortals.
The red dragon only occasionally learned of the Witch's growing power through its connection to the elemental planes.
But how powerful she had become,
it had no idea.
"Is that so..." Xu Xi didn't dwell on it.
Knowing that Krisha was doing well and had grown to surpass the gods was enough for him. The simulator had hinted at some information, but it was too vague.
Now, with more detailed insights from the red dragon, Xu Xi felt satisfied.
Returning to reality.
Having questioned the red dragon about its arrival and Krisha's deeds,
it was time to address the certification of his Saint-level Archmage status.
Without a doubt, Xu Xi, who had effortlessly defeated the red dragon, passed the assessment with flying colors.
"Should I stay in Yanshan City and wait for the General United Bureau's decision... No, that would take too long. I'll just go there directly."
"Besides, the magical materials are difficult to process in Yanshan City."
"Cutting out the Supernatural Home and dealing directly with the General United Bureau in the capital will speed things up considerably."
Xu Xi pondered as he rode on the back of Rex Santos, the red dragon, flying toward the capital.
Unbeknownst to him,
as he continued to use "Gray Rekindling,"
the staff he had temporarily borrowed, its surface scorched by flames, began to undergo a subtle, unknown transformation.
Flickers of light appeared, as if responding to something.
"Master..."
"Found... you... wait... for me..."