When Nanako heard her disciple's magical message, her mind instantly went blank.
She turned to the shopkeeper in a daze and asked, "Excuse me, was the customer who bought those two pigs named Lynn?"
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up immediately, "Yes! How did you know? He said these two pigs were plump and healthy, and he wanted to buy them to make soup and some cured meat for his master!"
"..."
After a brief silence.
Nanako let out a piercing scream, "This is terrible! Terrible! Disciple, what kind of joke is this! How could this happen - those two pigs you're cooking are actually mages from our Winter Spring Valley!"
"Quick! We need to go back! Hopefully we can still save them!"
Panicked, Nanako grabbed the pig and ran towards her mage tower at an unimaginable speed.
...
Several minutes later.
After sprinting all the way, Nanako and the pig finally arrived at the mage tower.
As soon as they got there, they caught whiffs of an incredibly enticing aroma.
Outside the mage tower, on a table, lay two damaged wizard hats - clearly not belonging to her or Lynn.
Which meant...
Nanako's mind went completely blank as she muttered:
"Stewed... Did my disciple really... stew them?"
This has to be a joke!
Nanako was about to lose her mind.
Those two pigs were her important guides - nothing could happen to them!
Nanako panicked.
She rushed into the mage tower, kicked open the door, and shouted:
"Disciple! Where are you? Come out right now!!"
But in the next moment, she froze.
In the great hall of the mage tower, steaming dishes were laid out on the table, and Lynn was sitting with two pigs, enjoying the delicious meal.
Seeing Nanako return, Lynn paused, turned and smiled:
"Master, you're back? By the way, we have exactly two guests at home, you don't mind, do you?"
The two pigs saw Nanako and the pig beside her, and they all raised their hooves friendlily, giving a ^(OO)^ greeting.
Nanako was completely stunned.
So... what exactly was going on...
...
Several minutes later.
[Oh my, did this loli really think I stewed them?]
[Come on, isn't it obvious that they're mages who've been cursed and transformed into pigs?]
[This is quite interesting though - I thought Secret Source magic had been lost in this world, yet here I am encountering it again!]
[If I'm not mistaken, they must have been affected by the Fire of Secret Source. Removing this curse will be somewhat troublesome.]
At the table, Nanako stared wide-eyed, secretly listening to her disciple's thoughts.
As expected!
Her disciple indeed knew about the curse affecting them!
Secret Source?! So what exactly was this Secret Source?
She had only heard bits and pieces from Grandpa Andrew before, but she didn't know the specific details.
However...
Nanako looked oddly at the three well-mannered pigs sitting across from her and Lynn, then glanced at the table full of roasted pork and honey-glazed pork trotters.
Disciple...
Although I know they're mages from our Winter Spring Valley, they're human...
But in their current state, is it really appropriate to be eating pork trotters with three pigs...
One of the pigs put down its trotter (´•(00)•`), raised two fingers, and said:
"Oink oink dame, grunt grunt yo..."
Lynn nodded and said, "Mm, I understand. Don't worry, I won't spread the word about you being turned into pigs. Since my master has taken on this task, I believe she'll definitely help you investigate this thoroughly!"
Another pig (^(OO)^) said: "Oink haya, grunt grunt moji!"
Lynn smiled and said, "No need to thank me, this is what I should do. After all, it would be terrible if you were really butchered as pigs! Hehe!"
Nanako: "????"
Nanako was completely bewildered.
Watching her disciple engage in barrier-free bilingual communication with the three pigs.
Nanako suddenly felt troubled by her inability to fit into her surroundings due to being too normal.
Nanako said in astonishment, "So, disciple, you can actually understand what they're saying?"
Lynn put down his knife and fork, smiling:
"A little bit, just a little bit. After all, as a mage, it's necessary to master multiple foreign languages. If one can't even understand pig language, wouldn't that make them worse than a pig?"
Nanako: "???"
Why did this phrase sound so familiar?
Hey! Hey!
Disciple, are you also taking roundabout jabs at Nanako!!
*Angry*
[Since Master has accepted the commission to investigate this matter, I now have a reason to take a look as well.]
[These fools in Winter Spring Valley still don't understand how terrifying the King of Secret Source is. If he really has awakened, they shouldn't have sent just my loli master alone.]
[Though if it's just a site where he once stayed, then it's no big deal.]
[Hehe, but I actually hope it is that guy who's awakened. A thousand years ago we fought side by side, and I believe after a thousand years he definitely wouldn't refuse an invitation from his old friend.]
Lynn gulped down a whole bowl of soup, appearing to be in quite good spirits.
But Nanako's whole body trembled.
From her disciple's thoughts, it seemed...
He knew the so-called King of Secret Source, and had even fought alongside him a thousand years ago?
Was it during that divine battle?!
Had they faced gods together?
Nanako immediately felt she had obtained extremely important information.
Soon after finishing the meal.
Nanako rode her broomstick, holding down her large wizard hat, briefly left the mage tower, and quickly rushed to Winter Spring Valley's magic library.
After searching for a long time, she finally found some relevant historical books.
"The Hundred Great Forbidden Existences of the Violet World"
Author: Double Wood
She quickly opened this ancient book covered in dust.
On the contents page, rows of ancient beings' names were listed.
1. Great Lord of Violet - Lynn Violet
2. First Demon Lord of the Abyss - Lucifer Lin
3. The Eternal One · Pale Dragon King (Dragon Race Regent) - ???
4. Sea King (Forbidden Sea) - ???
Flip flip flip -
Nanako stared wide-eyed, quickly turning page after page of introductions about these forbidden existences.
Finally, near the last few pages of the book, Nanako found the introduction about the King of Secret Source.
[King of Secret Source]
A powerful being existing since ancient times, essentially a sourceless flame without any temperature, often appearing on the continent in the form of a human mage, very mysterious.
He was the first being to understand and master the powerful force known as [Secret Source], and legend has it that Secret Source was the supernatural power of the previous era.
However, with the changing of ages, the beings of this generation have become too weak to accept the might of Secret Source, and as Secret Source gradually dissipated, after at least ten thousand years of transition, it gradually formed Magic Energy particles that float in the air throughout the world.
And these diluted particles have gradually become the magical energy that all mages of the current era rely upon.
The King of Secret Source is the progenitor of Magic Energy.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
