Chapter 146: The Seven-Level Mage

"If Mage Leo doesn't mind, I'd like to invite Mage Merlin to join my tower," Mage Nasha suddenly proposed with a smile, standing up and looking at Mage Leo.

"Mage Nasha?" Mage Leo's expression grew complicated as he glanced at her, then he nodded slightly, saying, "According to the rules of the gathering, the mage's consent is needed. I'll summon Merlin, and if he agrees, I won't stand in the way."

Mage Nasha nodded and waited patiently.

Leo signaled to a gray-robed mage, who went to call Merlin. Merlin, upon seeing the assembly of mages, gave a slight bow in greeting and then asked, "Master Leo, may I ask why I was summoned?"

Merlin's expression was calm, showing no trace of any lingering disappointment from earlier.

Leo gestured toward Mage Nasha and said, "Merlin, Mage Nasha wishes to take you as her student. Would you be willing?"

Hearing this, Merlin looked up at Mage Nasha. He had some familiarity with her, having once attended her free lectures on spell model construction. Although Mage Nasha had only recently become a level-four mage, she had already trained many highly skilled mages, several of whom had advanced to level-one mages. Her ability to guide students was well-known and far surpassed Leo's.

Mage Nasha addressed Merlin gently, "Mage Merlin, while mastering six elements has indeed enhanced your strength rapidly, it also makes advancing to a level-one mage incredibly difficult. But if you join my tower, I'll do everything I can to help you construct your spell models and support you in becoming a level-one mage."

Her tone was warm, and her sincerity was apparent.

However, Merlin had already made up his mind. Since the level-seven mages had not chosen him, remaining in Leo's tower seemed the best option. Although Nasha could help with spell model construction, Merlin's *Matrix* assisted him in that regard. His focus was on developing stronger mental power and creating more spell models—something that a level-four mage like Nasha probably couldn't provide.

Merlin bowed politely to Mage Nasha and replied calmly, "Thank you very much for selecting me, Mage Nasha, but I would prefer to remain in Master Leo's tower."

Mage Nasha showed only a hint of disappointment at his refusal before regaining her composure. Her offer to take Merlin as a student was merely based on his potential, and she felt that if he fell into despair over this recent setback, he might lose all hope of ever becoming a level-one mage.

Since he declined, she did not press further. She turned to Leo and said, "Mage Leo, Merlin is an outstanding mage. If you guide him to become a level-one mage, it would certainly cause a sensation throughout the Dark Spirit Domain."

Leo's face remained expressionless. He waved his hand toward Merlin, saying, "You may go. The gathering is over; take the others back to the tower."

Merlin nodded and turned to rejoin Annelia and the others.

Annelia stood up hurriedly, asking with concern, "So? Did any mage take an interest in you?"

The other mages looked on with tense expressions, all eyes on Merlin.

Merlin shook his head. "Mage Nasha was interested, but I declined."

"Mage Nasha?" Annelia was momentarily taken aback, then gave him a look of regret. "Merlin, being Mage Nasha's student would have been great. Even though she's only recently become a level-four mage, her teaching abilities are among the best in the Dark Spirit Domain."

She paused, casting a cautious glance at Merlin before mumbling quietly, "I don't understand what those level-seven mages were thinking. Why would they choose Mage Cecil over you?"

Though Merlin appeared calm, there was a trace of bitterness beneath the surface. Nasha's words had revealed why the level-seven mages hadn't chosen him—they doubted his ability to become a level-one mage.

"Let's go. Back to the tower," Merlin said coolly, glancing at the high towers in the distant sky.

"Even without anyone's guidance, I'll become a powerful mage," he declared, a look of determination etched on his face.

---

"Merlin, come to my quarters."

Shortly after returning to the tower, Merlin received a summons from Mage Leo. His heart stirred with anticipation. His performance at the gathering had exceeded Leo's expectations by securing second place, and Merlin recalled Leo's earlier promise of a level-one spell.

He quickly went to the top of the tower and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Merlin entered and found Leo sitting impassively.

"Master Leo," Merlin greeted softly. Though Leo's third eye on his forehead was closed, Merlin still felt an odd sensation whenever he saw that blood-red eye.

"Merlin," Leo said, "I was very pleased with your performance at the gathering. As promised, I will provide you with the level-one spells you need."

He paused before continuing, "You needn't worry about those old fools refusing to take you as a student. They all thought I'd never master the *Dark Eye,* and look at me now."

Leo suddenly rose, and the blood-red eye on his forehead opened, radiating a powerful aura that pressed heavily on Merlin.

Though Merlin had asked around, no one knew the true purpose of Leo's *Dark Eye.* They only knew that it held an unusual power. And in the Dark Spirit Domain, only Leo dared to refer to the revered level-seven mages as "those old fools."

Merlin couldn't help but wonder: Leo was known to be exceptionally powerful among level-six mages, so why hadn't he progressed to level seven?

Curious, Merlin ventured to ask, "Master Leo, in the Dark Spirit Domain, there are only a few level-seven mages. Why haven't you advanced to level seven?"

Leo paused at the question, then sat back down, his tone turning thoughtful. "Do you even know what it means to be a level-seven mage?"

Merlin shook his head. In truth, he knew very little about higher-level mages, except that level-seven mages held special, almost sacred, status in the Dark Spirit Domain.

"A level-six spell model," Leo explained, "is the highest one can normally achieve. Some gifted mages reach level six without relying on others' spell models at all. Do you understand why we have level-one, two, three spells and so on? They were created to help mages master spells more easily. But where did the spells originally come from?"

Merlin was taken aback. He'd never considered that question before.

"A true mage," Leo continued, "is learned, powerful, courageous, and creative. Many spells we use today were developed gradually over generations, through countless trials and failures. Without such experimentation, we wouldn't have the vast repertoire of spells we possess today."

"But once a mage reaches level six and tries to create a level-seven spell, they'll find they can no longer model someone else's spell in their mental sea. You know by now that spell models have to be compatible with one's mental sea, correct? Yet other level-seven mages' spell models are incompatible. Even if reworked, they have no effect, with compatibility near zero."

"Thus, to reach level seven, a mage must integrate their previous spell models, apply extensive calculations, and perform countless tests to develop a completely new spell that can be modeled in their mental sea. Only then can they become a level-seven mage."

Merlin was deeply struck. Many mages found constructing even basic spell models arduous; the idea of crafting a completely new spell seemed overwhelming.

"A level-seven mage," Leo explained, "must create a spell tailored precisely to their unique circumstances."

Merlin knew that even his *Matrix* could not perform such a feat yet. Perhaps after it had gathered thousands of spells and acquired sufficient data, the *Matrix* could approximate a new spell, but that would be in the far future.

"Enough," Leo said. "I'll provide you with the level-one spells you need. If there's anything else that might aid you in reaching level one, speak now. If it will help, I'll consider it."

The blood-red eye on Leo's forehead blinked subtly, as if scrutinizing Merlin, while a faint, cryptic smile played at the corners of his mouth.