This wizard only wishes to be a teacher

Lucien’s pupils constricted slightly, but he still made the rational decision to forgo the identification.

However, the special nature of the Gate of Cloud and Mist and the cloud ladder that formed from it made Lucien more cautious in his heart. After all, an item that required such great reverence to identify must be special, and in the Wizard World, the unknown sometimes equated to danger.

Based on Carly’s recent description, the relic seemed to be related to "inheritance" and "baptism," so its purpose likely lay more in testing and selection rather than employing excessively cruel methods. Besides, Carly still had a purple-leaf command token in her possession...

While pondering, Lucien also followed Carly and climbed onto the cloud ladder.

But soon, Lucien’s expression changed.

Because he felt that after stepping onto the cloud ladder, the spiritual power in his Spirit Sea seemed to be suppressed by an invisible force. In this state, constructing even the simplest Zero-level Witchcraft might be difficult for him.

Lucien withdrew his foot, and that bound feeling also disappeared.

"Is this suppression targeted at everyone, or just those who don’t carry the Fairy Bloodline?" Lucien looked up at the Fairy leader who had already begun to climb, feeling somewhat hesitant.

"Wizard Mentor Lucien, my spiritual power is also being suppressed," Carly said quietly, seeming to understand Lucien’s thoughts.

With Carly’s reminder, Lucien felt slightly relieved and no longer hesitated. Following Carly closely, he began the arduous climb up the cloud ladder beneath their feet.

"Ah..." Halfway through the climb, a scream suddenly came from behind.

Lucien turned around, but saw only despair in the eyes of a Second-level Wizard Apprentice who was a half-Fairy. It seemed he had misstepped and was now sliding down from the cloud ladder due to the invisible heavy pressure.

It was important to note that within the scope of the cloud ladder, their spiritual power was being suppressed, and they couldn’t release any Witchcraft at all. Falling from such a height under these conditions, even a Third-level Wizard Apprentice would suffer severe injuries if they didn’t die.

"The relics inside certainly aren’t mine, but the danger may well be. I still need to advance to a Third-level Wizard Apprentice, I still have to return to my clan..."

A Second-level Wizard Apprentice at the rear of the group showed a trace of fear in his eyes. He glanced quietly at Mentor Bennett, who had already climbed quite far ahead, and stealthily retreated, attempting to descend the cloud steps and avoid this adventure.

However, as he stepped back down to the previous level of steps, the cloud step beneath him disappeared instantly, turning into a drifting mist, causing his feet to step into emptiness. After letting out a scream, he fell from the high altitude toward the ground.

"What an idiot, so full of himself," Bennett muttered to himself as he noticed the demise of his student. But he too was on the cloud ladder that only allowed progress upwards, not retreat, and so he gritted his teeth and continued to climb the steep ladder.

At this point, Lucien and Cali, located at the front of the group, had almost reached the side of the Gate of Cloud and Mist. They could see the various decorations and patterns on these mysterious ancient doors, carved with all kinds of plants and flowers. The most prominent part at the top had two crescent moons engraved, with the images of two special Magic Beasts inscribed within the moons.

Moon Wolf Nair Tuso; Moon Dragon Hill Mira.

Looking at the two Magic Beast totems inscribed on the giant door, Lucien recalled some information about these two legendary Magic Beasts with strong Fairy ties. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Legend had it, these were two ancient Magic Beasts that the Fairy Clan worshiped:

The massive wolf Tuso possessed terrifying physical strength and eyes that could discern good from evil. It was a demon and a divine arbiter, capable of using the most ferocious power to shatter wickedness and its gentlest fur to warm pure souls.

The Sprite Dragon Mira, on the other hand, had strong elemental manipulation abilities and what could be considered a "purification" ability. According to ancient legends of the Fairy Bloodline, the Sprite Dragon Mira could purify "evil spirits" in blood, and this is why ancient images of the dragon were often carved on the Fairy Clan’s baptismal pools.

"It seems... my guess must be right," Lucien inhaled deeply. Though he did not know what the giant wolf Tuso Nair signified, seeing the Moon Dragon Mira on the massive door suggested that the interior of the ruins would have some connection with "purification."

"Hurry, push the door with me," urged the Fairy Clan leader, her left palm marked with a violet leaf branding.

She lifted her left hand and pressed it against a similarly violet branding on the ancient massive door.

Carly glanced at Lucien before placing her right hand on another violet leaf branding on the other side of the massive door.

Hum—Carly’s side of the massive door lit up with a gentle white light.

However, the Fairy Clan leader’s expression was somewhat distorted, and the hand she touched the door with was becoming "eerie." A series of black lines spread from her palm up her arm like a collection of sinister and strange tiny black snakes writhing beneath her skin.

Nevertheless, the Fairy Clan leader clenched her teeth, risking the complete ruin of her entire arm, and labored to slowly push open the massive door.

"It seems this is the real reason they needed to find the ’key,’" Lucien’s eyes narrowed, his thoughts leaping back to the Bloodline curse detected earlier within the half-Fairy’s body. Seeing the current state of the Fairy Clan leader, it was evident that the curse within her was triggered by something in the massive door...

Lucien pondered, his attention also fixed intently on the slowly opening gate.

"Hm?" Lucien quickly noticed something unusual. As he examined a series of flora patterns along the edge of the great door, he suddenly recognized that these seemingly decorative designs were, in fact, modified ancient Fairy script.

It somewhat resembled the artistic letters in logo designs he had seen before he crossed over—abstract looking, yet on closer inspection, the individual characters could be discerned.

"The Cloud Kingdom... activation..." Lucien read the text rapidly, analyzing the song-like verses’ content.

Soon, Lucien slowly translated the "ballad":

The natural Cloud Kingdom above, hovers over Morlaco;

The esteemed lineage with the violet leaf, here comprehend life’s insignificance;

Pass through the labyrinth shrouded in haze, escape the calamity from within the spirit;

Offer sacrifices to the Tuso wolf, and Mira’s blessings shall unfold.

"Sacrifices... blessings?" Lucien mused. The poem engraved on the Cloud and Mist massive door seemed to document the trials relating to the ruins. If Mira’s blessings symbolized the Fairy baptismal pool, what, then, were the "sacrifices" to be offered to the giant wolf Tuso?

Yet at that moment, Lucien had no time to ponder further as the Gate of Cloud and Mist was gradually opened through the joint efforts of Carly and the Fairy Clan leader.