Chapter 48: A Desperate Plea for Power

[System Notification: A fragment of the Forbidden Codex has been detected. Do you wish to merge it with the Forbidden Codex?]

"Merge!"

The Forbidden Codex, stored in Sylvus's system space, flew out, emitting a faint white light along with the newly acquired fragment.

"Hum..."

Suddenly, a wave of power radiated from both the Codex and the fragment. The surrounding magical energy began to shake and flow frantically into the Forbidden Codex.

[System Notification: The merging of the Forbidden Codex is complete. Please check the results.]

Half an hour later, the system's voice rang out again, and the glow around the Forbidden Codex dissipated. Sylvus quickly opened it to check.

**Great Space Summoning Spell**: Forbidden magic, capable of summoning a target based on their aura, disregarding space and the target's cultivation level. Can be used once a day.

Looking at the description of his second forbidden magic, Sylvus frowned. This forbidden spell was undoubtedly powerful, with the ability to ignore space and the target's cultivation level, but at the same time, it seemed somewhat useless.

After all, who did he need to summon? Sylvus didn't know many people in this world.

"However, if someone tries to provoke me from a distance, and they aren't within the range of the shop's protective zone, this forbidden magic could come in handy," Sylvus thought.

He realized that by summoning any target within his shop's area, even a powerful Mage Emperor or a Ruler-level magician would have to bow before him.

"Even though it's not an offensive forbidden magic, it's still quite useful."

With that, Sylvus stored the Forbidden Codex away. He had only unlocked the second forbidden spell, but he believed more powerful offensive forbidden spells would come in the future.

If an offensive forbidden spell could also ignore the target's cultivation level, that would be truly overwhelming.

Looking at the time, Sylvus noticed it was close to dawn after all the merging and preparation. He didn't bother to cultivate further and decided to take a quick nap.

The next morning, Sylvus woke up, freshened up, and opened the shop for business, with Meylan beside him, smiling widely. Meylan had likely stayed awake all night, thrilled after breaking through to the Mage Emperor level, and his excitement was apparent.

As soon as they opened the shop, Sylvus noticed someone already waiting outside—it was Nat.

"You're here early," Sylvus remarked, surprised.

"Boss, I came to repay the debt," Nat said quickly, handing over a magic storage ring filled with exactly ten Billion magic crystals.

Nat had been waiting outside since last night, urged by his father, Boone. The night before, Boone had appeared in Nat's chambers and sternly ordered him to pay the debt as soon as possible, fearing the consequences of delaying it.

Nat hadn't dared to hesitate after hearing that Sylvus had reportedly caught the thunder of the heavens with his bare hands. Though he had never imagined even a Ruler-level magician could do such a thing, Nat obediently waited all night to ensure the debt was settled at the earliest possible moment.

"Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now," Nat said cautiously, seeing Sylvus accept the ring of magic crystals.

Sylvus nodded. He was curious why Nat was in such a rush to repay the debt, but he didn't question it. Nat quickly left, and Sylvus returned to his usual place, lying on his exclusive chair, waiting for more customers.

"Boss, I wish to purchase some pills."

Not long after, a man entered the shop. Sylvus took one look and realized it was a new face.

"What kind of pills do you need?" Meylan asked with a smile.

"Boss, I wish to increase my strength. Does the shop have anything that can help with that?"

"Of course. Since you are at the Great Archmage level, the **Fifth-grade Baoyuan Pill** would be perfect for you. One pill costs twenty thousand magic crystals. Would you like to try it?" Meylan asked, pulling out a pill.

"Twenty thousand magic crystals?"

Hearing the price, the man hesitated. He had the money, but he originally intended to spend it on magical potions for his breakthrough.

However, seeing Sylvus in the corner of his eye, the man gritted his teeth and took out twenty thousand magic crystals. "I'll buy it."

The transaction completed, the man left the shop, still a little reluctant about the expense.

"Boss, today's luck is great. We just opened, and we've already sold some pills," Meylan said, handing the twenty thousand magic crystals to Sylvus with a smile.

Sylvus nodded, uninterested in the transaction, and continued to rest on his chair. Soon after, several more people entered the shop to buy pills.

Within half an hour of opening, the shop had already earned more than one hundred thousand magic crystals—a stark contrast to the slow days of the past.

"Could it be because of what happened last night?" Sylvus pondered.

"Boss, I seek to buy some pills!"

Just as Sylvus was thinking about it, an old man with white hair entered the shop.

---

---

"Isn't that the ancestor of the Caroll family, Master Bryson? What brings him here?"

"Master Bryson? You mean the one who has already reached the Nine-Star Saint ArchMage level? I heard that he's been in seclusion for a long time, trying to break through to the Mage Emperor level. Could it be that he's already made the breakthrough?"

"If Master Bryson truly reaches the Mage Emperor level, the Caroll family will instantly become one of the top magic families in our Holy City."

"..."

As the old man arrived, whispers spread through the crowd.

Sylvus turned his gaze toward him and immediately sensed that this white-haired elder was indeed at the Nine-Star Saint ArchMage level. However, his life force was waning; it was clear he didn't have much time left.

"What is it?" Sylvus asked Bryson in a calm tone.

"Boom…"

"Master, I've come here today to ask for a favor. Please, I beg you to accept my request," Bryson said, kneeling to the ground immediately. Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The crowd watching this scene was shocked. It was their first time seeing a Nine-Star Saint ArchMage kneeling before anyone. But as they looked closer at who he was kneeling to, it made sense. After all, the man in front of them had caught the thunder from the heavens with his bare hands.

Sylvus squinted slightly. Although he didn't care much for a Nine-Star Saint ArchMage, he knew that someone of this level must have a strong sense of pride. Kneeling in front of him like this in front of so many people meant that Bryson's request wasn't simple.

"What do you want? Speak," Sylvus asked.

"Master, I have already reached the Nine-Star Saint ArchMage level, but I've struggled to break through to the Mage Emperor level due to my advanced age and weakened power."

"Last night, after witnessing your Ruler like abilities, I came to humbly request that you assist me in passing the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation," Bryson pleaded.

"If you can help me become a Mage Emperor, I vow to serve you wholeheartedly for the rest of my life."

Upon hearing Bryson's words, the people around them suddenly understood why such a powerful mage would lower himself like this—it was all for the tribulation.

Although many common folk weren't fully aware of what had transpired the previous night, those with some power had learned bits and pieces.

Many of those present had witnessed Sylvus catch the Heavenly Thunder with his bare hands. Knowing that such a powerful individual existed in the Holy City, they had come to Sylvus's shop under the guise of buying pills, but they were actually seeking a chance to meet him.

Now, all eyes were on Sylvus, curious about how he would respond.

"I'm not interested. You can leave now."

Sylvus didn't hesitate at all. He waved his hand dismissively.

Help you survive the tribulation?

Do I look that free?

If he agreed to help Bryson, Sylvus knew countless others would come begging for his assistance with their tribulations. The only reason he helped Meylan was for two reasons: First, Meylan was part of his shop. If Meylan couldn't even handle a tribulation, it would be embarrassing. The second reason was, of course, the system task that rewarded him with a fragment of the Forbidden Codex.

As for anyone else… Sylvus couldn't be bothered.

"Master, if you help me through this tribulation, I'll give you the entire wealth of the Caroll family, over two billion magic crystals," Bryson quickly added, becoming more desperate.

In fact, Bryson could have faced his tribulation long ago, but he knew that with his current weakened state, he wouldn't survive. After witnessing Sylvus's abilities last night, he had decided to seek help. To him, the wealth didn't matter if it meant he could reach the Mage Emperor level.

"Two billion magic crystals? That's not a small amount. Most of us wouldn't be able to earn that much in a lifetime," someone murmured in the crowd.

"Two billion crystals to become a Mage Emperor? That doesn't sound like a bad deal."

"I wonder if the shop owner will agree."

"…"

Hearing this number, Sylvus was a bit surprised. Not because it was a lot, but because it wasn't much.

The Stanway family alone had to pay the royal family hundreds of billions of magic crystals annually. While the Caroll family couldn't compare to that, the difference seemed too vast.

What Sylvus didn't know was that the Caroll family had once had hundreds of billions of magic crystals, but Bryson had spent a huge portion of it on trying to break through to the Mage Emperor level. By the time he gave up and realized his age was against him, most of the family's wealth was gone.

As a result, the Caroll family, which was still a second-tier magic family, now had less wealth than some third-tier families.

That was why Bryson, seeing a glimmer of hope to reach the Mage Emperor level, had come to Sylvus for help.

Under Bryson's hopeful gaze, Sylvus waved him off.

"I already told you—I'm not interested."

---