365 Magic Lamp

"F*ck…" The sight of that object stunned Hoffman. He stared at it for quite a while. "Old dude, how could you take this out just like that? Aren't you scared that Rosario will fall out with you?"

Although both of them were Master Pharmacists, they were closer than any other people. Hence, they were very straightforward with each other, and Englos did not mind being called like that as well. He only smiled back at Hoffman.

Rina at the side, however, could not stand that attitude. "Mr. Hoffman, please mind your language," said the pretty Paladin in a frown.

"…" Hoffman knew he was not polite too. Yet, being a thick-skinned man, he only rubbed his nose awkwardly.

"Rina, it is alright. You can go first…" Englos tried to help ease the situation. "This fat mouthy dude is like that. Now that I teased him, it is only normal for him to act salty towards me…"

"What a fierce little girl!" Hoffman commented as he laughed the matter off. "Although I'm teased by Englos, there's nothing to be embarrassed about…"

"Mr. Englos, your gift is too valuable…" Lin Li hesitated. He did not reach out his hands to receive Englos' present. He had no choice. Compared to it, the entire box of Starlight Herb was nothing.

Englos was holding a golden oil lamp around the size of a fist. Perhaps because of its age, the oil inside had long dried up, and the surface pattern of the lamp was also somewhat fuzzy. It looked smooth and sleek, and quite antique. If it was placed in an antique shop, it would definitely be sold for a good price.

But, Lin Li knew that the value of the oil lamp was not only limited to that…

That almighty Soul Trader had once told him a story.

Rumors said that when Osric led the Magic Legion to invade the abyss, 23 Abyssal Demon Lords were killed. Among the 23 of them, at least half was sealed up by Osric.

Connoris was one of them too. He was not killed, but was sealed in a hammer for his great knowledge. His memory was not taken away, as it was required for the construction of the Eternal Furnace. The other 12 Demon Lords were not as lucky. After their consciousness and memory were wiped off by Osric, their souls and energy were sealed in 12 oil lamps.

These 12 oil lamps had been enchanted by Osric. By rubbing against the surface of the oil lamps, one would be able to summon the soul of the Demon Lord inside. Although they were not as almighty as before, and did not have their consciousness and memory, the energy they were left with was still terrifying. All of their souls were incredibly close to the Legendary-realm.

Furthermore, under Osric's magical enchantment, they would live on eternally, and their energy would never dwindle, either. Even a man who had reached the Legendary-realm would not have much chance of defeating a Demon Lord.

Unfortunately, before the oil lamps could be used, the High Elves Dynasty fell. At the same time, the life of Osric came to an end too. No one knew what happened to the 12 lamps thereafter…

Lin Li did not expect one of the lamps to be with the Brilliance Shrine.

And now, Englos was giving it to himself as a gift…

Lin Li would be lying if he said he was not moved by such a huge temptation. That was an oil lamp that sealed the soul of a Demon Lord! With such a rare treasure, it was like Lin Li got a bodyguard in the Legendary-realm.

But, Lin Li did not dare to reach his hands towards it…

Lin Li had always believed the idea that "one who was unaccountably solicitous would be hiding evil intentions". Since Englos was not a generous and bighearted man, only ghosts would believe that he had no ulterior motive in offering Lin Li such a treasure.

That was reality. The greater the benefits, the larger the problems.

The motive behind this gift had to be a favor Englos wanted to ask of Lin Li. Such a powerful present could only mean one thing—the favor Englos wanted to ask of Lin Li might not be even achievable by normal men in the Legendary-realm.

"Hehe, President Felic, don't listen to the crap that darn fatty is talking about. The gift was personally chosen by His Holiness, Rosario. You don't need to worry about anything…" Englos explained to Lin Li sincerely. It was as though he saw Lin Li's concerns. "Of course, President Felic, the Brilliance Shrine has a favor to ask of you. We are sure that it will be an easy task for you…"

"Oh?" Lin Li frowned. "Mr. Englos, can I know what matter made you so anxious first?" he asked suspiciously.

Before Englos could start talking, Hoffman smiled. "Hehe, two of you can continue without me. I still have something to settle there…"

After saying that, Hoffman waddled off with his plump body before the two other people could react. He was the decision-maker of the Glittergold Trade Union. As a businessman known for his wickedness, how could he not know that the matter the other two were about to discuss would be a confidential one? If he were to know of it, he would certainly get himself into trouble. Thus, he'd rather suppress his curiosity and escape from the scene first…

"Hehe, that fatso is clever…" Englos could naturally read Hoffman's intentions. But, that was what he wanted too. Englos proceeded to bring Lin Li to an isolated corner.

"President Felic, you should be aware of the tragedy that happened in the Sunset Mountains 32 years ago, right?"

"Yeah." Lin Li nodded. In fact, Andoine had told him about it when he'd first come to Anril World.

There were many poisonous snakes and deadly beasts in the huge area the Sunset Mountains covered. The scariest thing was that there would be a black tidal flood during the seventh month of each year. This black water would make all the magical beasts living in the Sunset Mountains go berserk, and they would attack and devour each other. Even if it was the lowest-ranking Three-eyed Blood Wolf, it would dare to pounce at any poisonous python it saw. That was the effect of the Black Current. The craze would continue for a period of seven days, and only dwindle at the seventh night…

The Sunset Mountains would be the most dangerous when the Black Current struck. A Legendary-mage like Andoine would have to leave his wooden house before the seventh month, and only return after the mad massacre ended.

However, as compared to the Black Current 32 years ago, these were just small ripples…

The Black Current 32 years ago was a true catastrophe. Yet, only few knew about it.

Lin Li was one of them.

No one in Anril knew when the phenomenon called Black Current began. People only knew that Black Current was recorded in the history during the Dark Ages by the High Elves. However, due to the passage of time, human beings had gradually accepted the Black Current as it would only affect the magical beasts in the Sunset Mountains, and not interrupt their daily lives. No matter how crazy the beasts were, they had never brought the madness out of the Sunset Mountains. It was as though there was an invisible shield that separated the Sunset Mountains from the outside world.

This phenomenon went on for many years, until that fateful event 32 years ago…

One day, a traveling mage was attacked by a pack of Three-eyed Blood Wolves when he passed by the Sunset Mountains. But, being an Archmage, that mage eliminated the pack of wolves very easily. After he returned to the guild of magic, he did not let the matter bother him. He told a few colleagues around him, and they brushed it off as a joke.

No one had expected that the Guild's President got to hear about the "joke" too. He realized the gravity of the matter, and reported the incident to the Supreme Council.

After an urgent meeting, the Supreme Council made a decision to send a team of Archmages into the Sunset Mountains to look into the matter. Then, they discovered a terrible secret—they found out about the offspring of prehistoric magical beasts. These beasts had made use of the brand on their souls to control the tens of thousands of magical beasts forcefully…

The prehistoric magical beasts had been endangered before the Dark Age, and the remaining of their offspring had been living on islands in the Endless Ocean. No one knew how horrifying the prehistoric magical beasts were. The later generations could only derive from the records passed down by the High Elves that during the era when the Dragons and Titans were competing for hegemony, the prehistoric magical beasts managed to make use of their strong lifespan to stay alive. From that, they learned how formidable the beasts were…