"You want to go with me?"

Bas looked at Gu Ze, a little surprised.

He’d assumed that after more than a decade, Gu Ze would stay here for good.

He never expected that he would want to leave Maple City with him.

Gu Ze said, "I still have a sister. I want to go back and find her."

Bas glanced at him and shook his head helplessly.

"You still haven’t given up!"

"I’ve been helping you ask around for news all these years, but I’ve found nothing. It’ll be useless even if you go back."

"Maybe, but if I don’t go look for her at least once, I’ll never forgive myself."

Gu Ze then took a large swig of wine.

"I’ve already become an Official Mage. I have the ability to protect myself now."

Bas nodded. "If you want to go back, I’ll take you."

Gu Ze looked at Li Wei. "There’s one more thing."

Bas glanced at him. "Go on."

"I hope you can take him to Central Earth. That’s the only place where his talent won’t be wasted," Gu Ze said sincerely.

Bas shook his head. "It’s not that I don’t want to help, but getting to Central Earth isn’t my call."

"You know it, too. In the eyes of those from Central Earth, the Northern Territory is just a barbaric wasteland. They see the people here as savages, no different from Beastmen."

"For an ordinary person to leave the Northern Territory for Central Earth, the only way is to become a noble."

Li Wei listened silently without a word.

Bas looked at Gu Ze, then at Li Wei.

He said, "He also has the status of a genius Mage. He might be able to get to Central Earth through the Mage Association."

"That should be easier than asking for my help."

"If he can get noticed by the higher-ups in the Mage Association and earn the qualifications to study at a High Level Mage Tower, then going to Central Earth will be a simple matter."

Gu Ze nodded, a little glumly.

Bas added, "Besides, even if the first two methods don’t work, there’s still a third."

"Advance to a Tier Four Professional, and you can enter Central Earth."

Gu Ze gave a wry smile.

As for that path, he would likely never get the chance in his entire life.

Ordinary people had no opportunity to earn Merit and become nobility.

The people who received noble titles from the Empire were almost always from noble families to begin with.

Without a patron, you had no chance of becoming a noble, even if you performed a great service.

Otz had received Merit for a great military victory and was promoted from Count to Marquis.

That was entirely because he had people backing him and pulling strings for him.

For an ordinary person like Li Wei, without any backing, word of his deeds would never even reach the Empire, no matter how monumental his achievements.

Even if it did, there was no telling who would end up getting the credit.

Just like in the last great battle, Orn had clearly deserved most of the credit.

But in the end, all of it went to Otz.

For the vast majority of Professionals, the easiest way to get to Central Earth was, paradoxically, through the Professional Association.

But even that was nigh impossible.

Torresta had submitted an application for Li Wei to go study at the Elemental Tower.

More than a month had passed with no news.

Only recently, after Li Wei made a splash a few times using his Armored Man persona, had new information finally come from the Mage Association.

The message said Li Wei was still under an observation period. If he passed, he could go to the Elemental Tower for advanced study.

Torresta had not told Li Wei this.

He didn’t want to put any pressure on him.

After dinner, Gu Ze, Bas, and Li Wei walked along the street for a while.

They walked Bas back to his inn.

Only then did Li Wei and Gu Ze return to the Mage Tower.

He supported Gu Ze, saying, "Teacher, you drank too much today. You’re drunk."

Gu Ze said, "I’m useless. I can’t help you."

Seeing him like this, Li Wei decided to come clean. "Teacher, you don’t have to worry."

"The Tower Master already helped me apply to study at the Elemental Tower. I’ll probably be heading to Central Earth soon."

Hearing this, Gu Ze looked surprised.

"Why didn’t you say so sooner!"

Li Wei replied, "It’s just that the timing hasn’t been confirmed yet."

Gu Ze smiled. "As long as you can go, that’s what matters. As long as you can go."

"Once you’re there, I won’t have to worry anymore."

"Just be careful after you get there. There are plenty of geniuses like you over there."

"I’ve heard that in Central Earth, there are many people who are born as Extraordinary Beings, and no shortage of rare ones like Bloodline Mages."

"You must work hard!"

Li Wei supported Gu Ze, who rambled on, placing all his hopes on him.

Li Wei listened, occasionally murmuring in agreement.

He took the drunken Gu Ze back to his room.

Li Wei summoned a Magic Servant to look after Gu Ze.

Then he returned to his own room.

Li Wei understood that Gu Ze cared about him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said so much.

The thought filled Li Wei with a warm feeling.

At least there was one person in this world who genuinely cared about him.

’Teacher Gu Ze is leaving. I won’t be able to help him anymore after this.’

Li Wei thought for a long time, wanting to give Gu Ze one last gift.

He entered the Dream World to develop the Tier Three Invisible Armor.

The next day, Gu Ze woke up with a splitting headache.

His mouth was dry.

He quickly poured himself a cup of cold tea and drank it down.

He couldn’t quite remember what he had said to Li Wei yesterday.

But he did remember a few things.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

There was a knock, and Gu Ze opened the door.

"Hm? What are you doing here so early?"

It was Li Wei at the door, which surprised Gu Ze.

Li Wei walked in. "I have a gift for you, Teacher Gu Ze."

Gu Ze was curious. "What gift?"

Li Wei stretched out his hand, his Mana condensing into a Hexagonal Crystal.

The Crystal flew toward Gu Ze, merged into his body, and vanished.

Gu Ze touched the spot where the Crystal had disappeared. "What was that?"

Li Wei said, "An improved version of Invisible Armor."

Gu Ze was stunned. "You improved the Invisibility Armor Spell?"

Although Invisible Armor was a Tier Zero Magic, improving even a Tier Zero Magic was no simple matter.

Even an Official Mage would need to pour a great deal of time and effort into such a task.

What Gu Ze certainly didn’t know was that what Li Wei had cast on him wasn’t Tier Zero Magic, but a genuine Tier Three Magic!

Tier Three Invisible Armor!

Li Wei didn’t explain. As he ’dressed’ Gu Ze in the Armor, he said,

"This Invisible Armor can exist long-term. It will draw on your Mana, Teacher, to replenish what’s lost through daily dissipation, extending its duration."

"When you’re attacked, the Armor will materialize to help you block the damage."

"Each piece of Armor is independent."

Gu Ze said, "That’s enough. I appreciate the sentiment. There’s no need to go to any more trouble."

Li Wei shook his head. "You’re leaving, and I might be leaving Maple City soon, too, to study at the Elemental Tower."

"I don’t know if we’ll have another chance to meet, so please, accept this final gift."

Hearing this, Gu Ze could only smile and accept.