Wizard: Scamming a Demon God

After dealing with his followers, the pumpkin carriage picked up some speed and soon arrived at the hidden thicket from yesterday.

It was the same patch of grass as yesterday. Isaac unhooked a flask from his waist and began to pour out a scarlet liquid. This was no ordinary blood, but a specially concocted blend infused with Magic Power.

The Flesh Sect’s headquarters wasn’t in this world, but in a Dimension belonging to one of its high-ranking members. Reaching the headquarters required a special teleportation ritual.

However, it was less of a teleportation ritual and more of a summoning one. Similar to summoning a Demon God, it drew the power of the Flesh Sect’s Dimension to this location.

That was why Isaac hadn’t gone to the headquarters back when he was in the Imperial Capital.

The Sect’s Dimension was far more powerful than Isaac’s, and the fluctuations in Magic Power it would cause were well within the detection range of the Imperial Capital’s alert systems.

Soon, Isaac finished drawing the ritual diagram. It was the classic circle and Hexagram, but in the center of the Hexagram, he added the emblem of the Flesh Sect: a menacing, grasping demon’s hand.

The construction of the entire ritual was remarkably simple, requiring only the special Demon Blood and the diagram to work. This was another reason why Isaac considered it a Summoning ritual rather than one for teleportation.

While rituals could amplify the power of Magic, this amplification effect was remarkably similar to Isaac’s Golden Finger: in order to amplify something, you first had to have it.

Take teleportation, for instance. If the ritual materials contained no spatial power, the ritual certainly wasn’t going to create spatial power out of thin air.

For example, right now. As Isaac chanted the incantation to activate the ritual, blood-red Magic Power rose from the crimson Magic Array. It then gathered to form a ferocious Demon’s hand, which pulsed like a beacon.

A moment later, crimson lightning crackled into existence ten meters above the ground, tearing open a pitch-black rift right in front of Isaac!

Then, under the ritual’s influence, the rift gradually stabilized into a passageway. Isaac adjusted Shushu on his shoulder and led Liu Li into the rift.

After Liu Li had also passed through, the rift flashed with crimson light and snapped shut, leaving only dark red bloodstains on the trampled bushes below.

On the other side, Isaac and his companions emerged from the rift to find themselves before an enormous plaza. Behind them stood a stone gate dozens of meters tall, its frame filled with a bloody glow that gave it an exceptionally eerie appearance!

Fortunately, Isaac was already used to this kind of aesthetic; after all, his own wasn’t much better. As long as he wasn’t using Arcane Arts, any magic he cast would inevitably erupt in vivid green flames, making him look just like a Demon. ’At a glance, I definitely don’t look like a good guy.’

Isaac gave the gate, which looked for all the world like a demon’s maw, a passing glance before turning to look elsewhere.

The place where they stood was the Teleportation Plaza. Most Sect members used this gate to enter and exit the headquarters. In contrast to the complex ritual required for arrival, leaving was as simple as walking straight through it; the gate would teleport you to a location near where you first entered.

Beyond the plaza lay sprawling districts of dark-red city blocks.

The city was divided into five regions: east, south, west, north, and a central one. In the very middle was the Council Hall, which only high-ranking Sect members could enter. As for how high-ranking...

Well, from what he’d gathered browsing the forums these past few days, even High-level Mages didn’t have the clearance to get in!

As one of the oldest Wizard Organizations, the Flesh Sect was the real deal!

However, only the central region was off-limits. The other four regions contained the Tower of Truth to the north, the Tower of Hunting to the west, the Tower of Evangelism to the south, and the Tower of Trade to the east.

The Tower of Truth was responsible for approving, assigning, and reviewing research projects. The Tower of Hunting was for posting and accepting hunting missions. The Tower of Evangelism managed the exchange and distribution of magic stones. It was also where sacrifices to the God of Flesh were made; if you were too lazy to perform the ritual yourself, you could come here to pay for one in advance. After all, some Wizards, once engrossed in research, might neglect all other matters for several years.

As for the Tower of Trade, that was naturally where Sect members conducted business. One could use magic stones or barter goods, though most transactions were done with magic stones for the sake of convenience.

Isaac had already looked up guides on his Magic Book’s forum before arriving, so after a quick glance around, he headed straight for the Tower of Truth to the north.

Of course, he didn’t plan to walk there slowly. Opposite the blood-red gate stood four Teleportation Gates, each leading to a different High Tower. They only led to the towers; if you wanted to go anywhere else within the city districts, you had to make your own way.

However, Isaac had no such need at the moment, so he walked directly to the Teleportation Gate for the Tower of Truth.

After passing through the Teleportation Gate, Isaac got his bearings and led Liu Li to a counter on the left side of the Tower of Truth’s first floor.

Behind the counter, an elderly Elf was lounging leisurely in a recliner, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and reading the latest academic journal from the Truth Association with the other.

’An Elf...’

A peculiar glint flashed in Isaac’s eyes. This was the first time he had seen an Elf since arriving in this world. ’A shame he isn’t a natural-born one.’

’Judging by his appearance, he’s a High Elf. Their race possesses an innate ability for Casting. Nowadays, even those who emulate human Wizards mostly follow the path of the Arcanist.’

’The main reason is that they don’t need to make deals with Outer Gods to cast spells. So, this elderly High Elf must have been converted later in life... which also speaks to his terrifying strength!’

"Greetings. I’m a Wizard who recently joined the Sect, Isaac Solomon. I’m here to apply for a research project." Isaac respectfully offered his Magic Book to the Old Elf.

The Old Elf looked up and adjusted his monocle. He didn’t take the Magic Book, merely glancing at it before saying in surprise, "The Terra Empire again? When did that old fossil become so open-minded as to tolerate two Mad Witches... hmm? Solomon? Oh, so that’s it. You must be that little gal Cheryl’s younger brother, right?"

"Sir, you know my older sister?" Isaac asked, a little curious. ’My sister is only a Grand Wizard. Sure, she’s about to become a High-level Mage, but she isn’t one yet, right? She shouldn’t have this much influence, should she?’

"I know of her, but not well. I’m much more familiar with your older brother, Caesar. Hmm... out of respect for Caesar, I’ll give you a little warning: while you’re in the Sect, don’t go around telling people your last name is Solomon. It’s dangerous." After speaking, the Old Elf flashed a teasing smile.

Isaac’s eyebrow twitched. He pretty much understood. ’Looks like my brother left behind some... complicated romantic entanglements here.’

"Thank you for the advice, sir. I understand."

"Good, as long as you understand. Now, tell me about the research project you want to apply for. You know the rules, right? The final results must be shared with the Sect."

"I am aware," Isaac nodded. ’That’s only natural; the research funding isn’t free.’ "The research project I’d like to apply for is this one."

With that, Isaac handed over another book.

The Old Elf took it, glanced at the cover, and was rendered utterly speechless as he stared at Isaac.

Emblazoned upon the cover was the title: *A Feasibility Study on Cultivating High-Level Demon Flesh in a Mage Tower’s Magic Pool*.

"Let me guess. The ’Sect aid’ you’re applying for is a Mage Tower, isn’t it, kid?"

"Your insight is profound, sir!"

"Get out!"