Chapter 205: Acquiring Seventh-Tier Magic and Returning to the Angelicisia Mountain Range
In a vast, endless desert.
A complex, circular magic circle gradually took shape as Tang Zheng drew it, beginning to pulse with faint fluctuations of magical power.
The Evil Spirit Hound had already reverted to its original form and was standing guard beside the Gray Dwarf Forging Minister, who was under the control of *Charm Species*.
"Alright."
As the final magical line was connected, Tang Zheng stood up and exhaled. Without hesitation, he stepped into the center of the magic circle.
He used the third-tier magic he had mastered, *Dimensional Shift*, to activate a higher-tier spell:
"Magic Power Surge: Fifth-Tier Magic—Teleportation!"
*Mad Meditation* activated immediately, covering the MP cost.
A translucent magical light flashed across Tang Zheng's body, and his figure instantly vanished. When he reappeared, he was already a hundred meters away.
A notification from his status panel appeared right after:
> *Discovered fifth-tier magic: [Teleportation]. Requires magic-type caster level (29–35). Current conditions met.*
>
> *Consume 1 Skill Point to learn?*
[Skill Points: 77→76]
…
**Skill:** Teleportation (Tier 5)
**Cost:** 25 MP
**Description:** Performs an instantaneous transfer. Can carry a small number of people. The probability of failure increases if the distance is too great or too many people are carried. Can also be used for long-distance teleportation, which requires marking the destination in advance.
…
After checking the magic's information, Tang Zheng closed his eyes slightly and chanted in a low voice, "Teleportation!"
*Shwa!*
His figure vanished once more.
When Tang Zheng reappeared, he had arrived at the volcanic region in the southernmost part of Despair Valley.
The dense smell of sulfur flooded his nostrils. As far as the eye could see, sky-blotting black smoke covered the heavens.
*BOOM!*
A distant volcano let out a low, thunderous roar, spewing large amounts of lava from its crater.
"Fifth-tier magic can teleport such a great distance?" A surprised expression appeared on Tang Zheng's face.
From his previous location to this volcanic region, a normal journey would take at least six to seven days, but using the *Teleportation* spell, he had arrived here directly and with ease.
Of course!
The reason he could teleport here so precisely was not because *Teleportation* could take him to any location he simply thought of.
This wasn't the top-tier teleportation magic, *Gate*.
It was because Tang Zheng, when leaving the volcanic region, had specifically used the second-tier spell *Magic Mark* to leave several markers along his route.
Originally, this was to prevent himself from getting lost on the way back. He never expected it could be used in conjunction with *Teleportation*.
"Teleportation."
Tang Zheng activated the magic again, instantly vanishing from the volcanic region and reappearing back at the Evil Spirit Hound's location.
"Awooo."
Seeing Tang Zheng return, the Evil Spirit Hound immediately wagged its tail and rubbed against him.
"Alright, alright." Tang Zheng smiled, rubbed the Evil Spirit Hound's head, and eagerly tested *Teleportation* a few more times.
He finally had a clear understanding of the spell.
Without a clear destination, *Teleportation* could only transport him to a location within his line of sight.
And when the distance was too great, a certain degree of error would occur during the process.
After figuring out the ability of the fifth-tier magic *Teleportation*, Tang Zheng immediately set about drawing a second ritual circle.
It took more than half an hour.
As the ritual was completed, Tang Zheng once again activated *Magic Power Surge*.
[Skill Points: 76→75]
…
**Skill:** High-Tier Teleportation (Tier 7)
**Cost:** 35 MP
**Description:** Performs an instantaneous transfer. Can teleport to greater distances and carry more people. Can also be used for long-distance teleportation, which requires marking the destination in advance.
…
The descriptions for *Teleportation* and *High-Tier Teleportation* were quite similar, except for the removal of the "failure probability."
However, this was the biggest difference!
These two teleportation spells were essentially the same, but *High-Tier Teleportation* had no chance of failure; once activated, the transfer was guaranteed.
The fifth-tier *Teleportation*, on the other hand, not only had a chance of failure but could also be interrupted by other spells.
For example, in the battle between Shalltear and the Bone King, she used *High-Tier Teleportation* to close the distance. The Bone King could only counter with a specific spell like *Delay Teleportation* to restrict her, yet he couldn't interrupt the spellcasting of *High-Tier Teleportation*.
Tang Zheng closed his eyes again, sensing carefully. He then quickly opened them and shook his head.
"As expected, without being able to sense the marked location, even *High-Tier Teleportation* can't get me back."
He had left a magic mark in the Angelicisia Mountain Range, but that was only a second-tier spell.
Because the distance was too great, Tang Zheng couldn't sense it at all, so naturally, he couldn't teleport there.
He remembered that the Bone King often used *High-Tier Teleportation*. He would first use a positioning-type or information-gathering spell to confirm the location before transferring.
"The worst-case scenario... It seems I need to make some preparations." Tang Zheng's gaze fell upon the Evil Spirit Hound and the Forging Minister, and he sighed softly.
Next, Tang Zheng once again set up a magical ritual. He used the *Magic Power Surge* ritual to elevate the fifth-tier *Dragon Lightning*, mastering the seventh-tier *Chain Dragon Lightning*.
[Skill Points: 75→74]
He continued repeating the process.
He then raised *Papermaking*, which had been a fourth-tier spell, to the sixth tier.
…
**Skill:** Papermaking (Tier 6)
**Cost:** 30 MP
**Effect:** Creates 150 sheets of high-quality paper.
…
[Skill Points: 74→73]
This series of rituals, while not physically taxing, left Tang Zheng mentally exhausted. After all, setting up a magical ritual required a high degree of mental concentration.
Fortunately, Tang Zheng had finished upgrading all the spells he needed to. The only regret was the seventh-tier *Resurrection*.
Because his faith-based caster level was insufficient, he was unable to master it.
"*Magic Power Surge*: Seventh-Tier Magic—Papermaking!"
Magical power surged through Tang Zheng's body, kicking up an invisible shockwave around him. This wasn't the activation of a ritual, but a normal use of the *Magic Power Surge* ability.
Sheets of seemingly tough, snow-white paper, shimmering with a magical luster, quickly materialized in mid-air.
Only 100 sheets of magical paper!
"Fourth-tier produced 300 sheets, sixth-tier produced 150, but seventh-tier *Papermaking* only yields 100."
Tang Zheng's eyelid twitched. The reduction in quantity was quite steep.
"Twenty sheets can make one magic scroll of the same tier. I can currently make five seventh-tier scrolls, which should be enough."
Tang Zheng gently rubbed his temples and glanced at the sky. "It looks like I won't be able to go back today."
A night passed.
Month of Middle-earth.
November 16th.
In the dry desert.
Five scrolls, emitting a faint magical glow, lay before Tang Zheng. With a wave of his hand, he stored them in his item box.
"It's time to go back."
Tang Zheng thought of the ancient fire dragon and the sun anglerfish that had forced him into the magma sea, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
He raised his arms.
One hand grabbed the Evil Spirit Hound, the other the Forging Minister.
"Teleportation!" Tang Zheng chanted in a low voice.
*Shwa!*
The spot where the three figures stood seemed to collapse inward, contracting for a moment before they vanished completely.
Volcanic Region.
The acrid smell assaulted his senses.
Tang Zheng frowned, then looked at the Evil Spirit Hound beside him with an apologetic look in his eyes. "Xiao Hei, you're going to have to sleep for a little while."
"Awooo." The Evil Spirit Hound nuzzled Tang Zheng's palm and then nodded, seeming to understand what was about to happen.
Tang Zheng formed his hand into a blade, aimed at the Evil Spirit Hound's neck, and struck down hard.
*CRACK!*
The crisp sound of a bone breaking rang out.
The Evil Spirit Hound's body went limp, its life painlessly extinguished. Then, Tang Zheng casually crushed the Forging Minister's neck, killing him as well.
There was no other way.
Unable to teleport directly back to the northwest continent, Tang Zheng could only re-enter the magma the same way he came. However, neither the Evil Spirit Hound nor the Forging Minister could possibly survive it.
Tang Zheng could only kill them first and resurrect them after returning.
*Shwa!*
After storing the corpses of the Evil Spirit Hound and the Forging Minister in his item box, Tang Zheng looked toward the depths of the volcano cluster, leaped, and said, "Flight."
Magical power covered the surface of his body, and he quickly shot into the air.
Enduring the scorching heat and billowing black smoke above, he searched for a long time before finally finding the volcano he had been ejected from along with the erupting lava.
*BOOM!*
*RUMBLE!*
The numerous surrounding volcanoes rumbled and shook continuously. Lava shot out, and soaring red light and black smoke filled the air above the many craters.
"Wild Transformation!"
Floating directly above the volcano's crater, Tang Zheng endured the searing heat as he took the small anglerfish from his item box.
His entire body began to squirm and shrink.
Within two breaths, Tang Zheng had transformed into a small anglerfish and fell straight from mid-air into the lava below.
*Splash!*
Tang Zheng plunged into the lava. With a flick of his fins, he vanished into the depths.
***
Angelicisia Mountain Range, Lava Zone.
This was a crimson region.
The ancient fire dragon lay in the lava, with only half of its head exposed. As its breath mixed with the high temperature of the lava's surface, it turned into plumes of crimson flames.
It had been in the magma sea for over half a month.
The injuries inflicted by that detestable human were too severe. Even with the help of the energy in the magma, its wounds had still not fully healed.
The ancient fire dragon could feel a special curse at the site of its wounds, hindering its recovery.
*Pop~ Pop~*
Globules of semi-liquid lava burst around the ancient fire dragon's body. The splashing, scorching lava rolled off its crimson scales like ordinary drops of water.
The temperature of over a thousand degrees had no effect on it whatsoever.
(end of chapter)