Iz was the one who told him to come this time.

Luo Tedan’s eyelids drooped as he looked away, saying nonchalantly, "Oh? Then go ahead."

An Zheng’s room was just behind Luo Tedan’s throne, through a giant door.

Lu Cang couldn’t quite figure it out. ’Why here, of all places?’

Instead of being in a separate palace, wouldn’t An Zheng find it awkward with Luo Tedan holding court with his ministers right outside every day?

It was bizarre and illogical, and it bothered Lu Cang.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

WHOOSH!

His body transformed into a faint white light, and in an instant, he bypassed Luo Tedan and arrived before the giant palace door.

"Iz, I’m here."

Lu Cang lightly touched the palace door.

DOOONG—

With just a light touch, a ripple-like sound emanated from the palace door.

Then, the massive door slowly opened a crack.

Peering through the crack, one could only see a deep darkness.

The crack in the door was small, just wide enough for him to squeeze through alone.

Lu Cang stepped through the door.

Passing through the darkness, he could finally see what was inside.

The first thing he saw was an old man whose skin hung in loose folds.

His eyes were open, but there was nothing in their sockets... only a silent, deep black.

His mouth was also slightly agape, but what lay within was not a mouth and tongue, but a deep blackness.

It was as if the inside of his body led not to flesh and blood, but to a pure darkness.

’No, that’s not right.’

’This feeling isn’t darkness, but a kind of... hollowness.’

’It’s as if beneath his entire hide, he’s completely empty.’

He formed a stark contrast to Izparut, who sat opposite him, full of spirit and glowing with vigor.

’This must be An Zheng.’

’There was no fourth person in the room.’

He sat on the bed, his gaze—like a hollowed-out mine shaft—fixed on Lu Cang, his neck turning to follow Lu Cang’s movements.

Lu Cang found him a little creepy.

’The thought that I might not actually be able to defeat him makes him even creepier.’

So he sat down next to Izparut, on the side farther away from An Zheng.

"Iz, you were looking for me?"

Iz: "Mm."

"An Zheng said he wanted to see you."

’So he’s really throwing his own apprentice into the fire pit... He says he wants to see me, and you just call me over?’

"Truly... a promising... talent... for Magic," An Zheng spoke.

With each opening and closing of his mouth, it was as if a void were sealing shut.

Lu Cang bowed his head respectfully. "Senior An Zheng."

[Date of Death: 43 days, 16 hours, 55 minutes]

’43 days?’

’Isn’t that the 31st of next month?’

’The end of the month?’

’March is the month of wisdom and knowledge.’

’April is the month of chaos and madness.’

’That timing... to be precise, it’s the early morning of April 1st...’

’An Zheng is really going to die.’

’He’ll probably try to lash out somehow before he dies, right?’

Lu Cang wondered if he should hasten his Date of Death.

But then he thought, ’We have no history of animosity. Besides... Aertemi can sense the danger that comes with a Date of Death.’

Lu Cang was worried that An Zheng could sense it too.

If he really did accelerate his Date of Death and An Zheng sensed it, it would probably be very difficult to handle the fallout.

’Better not...’

"Senior An Zheng, was there a reason you wanted to see me?"

An Zheng’s lips opened and closed, and he spoke calmly, "My time... is running out."

"It’s just that before I die, I heard there was a junior who thinks along similar lines as I do."

An Zheng’s philosophy on the Root Source was its singular, unchanging nature.

’In truth, his thinking is very similar to my own philosophy on the second Root Source.’

An Zheng asked in his ancient voice, "May I see your philosophy?"

Lu Cang looked at Iz beside him.

Iz, with his arms crossed over his chest, closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.

Then he gave a slight nod.

Since Iz had nodded, Lu Cang said no more.

A "Core of All Things" appeared in Lu Cang’s palm, spinning rapidly.

"Such... beautiful Magic."

An Zheng sighed in admiration upon seeing Lu Cang’s Magic.

"If only I had seen your philosophy ten years sooner..."

"You both are more likely than I to reach the Root Source."

An Zheng’s ancient voice continued, "I heard that you haven’t limited your training to the Mage Profession alone."

Lu Cang nodded and answered openly, "I walk a path of comprehending the Root Source through other Professions, so I need to train in multiple."

An Zheng: "Is that so..."

Everyone has their own way of adhering to their principles. Though their circumstances may differ, the fact that Lu Cang had come this far proved he had adhered to his own exceptionally well.

"Hehe... Little Lu Cang, are you interested in my Root Source?"

Lu Cang was stunned for a moment, but then he slowly nodded.

It would have been impossible to say he wasn’t interested.

He was perhaps the only Level 8 Mage in the world right now. His experience was far more precious than that of most Mages.

’Not to mention, I can now learn Root Magic from others.’

’The temptation is irresistible.’

"But this junior is slow-witted. I can only hope for your patience. As I am now, I can likely only perceive the manifestations of a Tier Four Root Source," Lu Cang said humbly.

An Zheng nodded slightly.

"But before that, would you care to hear an old man’s story?"

"And while I’m at it, I can also talk about the Secrets of the Root Source that I have seen."

Lu Cang: "Please, go ahead."

This was the first time Lu Cang had seen An Zheng in person, and the first time he had personally come into contact with the highest echelon of this world.

Not some incarnation, nor a projection or a mere shell.

But a genuine, Level 8 Mage.

As expected, he was a genius of the highest caliber. Just half a month after changing his Profession, he had already become a Level 2 Mage, and then within another half a month, he had comprehended Root Magic.