"Cloud of Suffocation?!"
Everyone was a little stunned.
There were actually quite a few master-level spells. Whether it was Ryen's Black Hole, or the previously mentioned Emberfire Cloud, all of them were powerful master-tier spells.
Each one had outstanding effects. Each one could easily overturn a high-level battle situation.
But if one were to ask which was the most terrifying…
It was without a doubt, Cloud of Suffocation!
A master-level Necromancy Spell!
It inflicted blindness and summoned dark tentacles to attack.
It essentially turned enemies into blind, helpless targets, forced to stand there and take hits.
The key point was—it was a large-area environmental spell.
Once cast, it could effortlessly destroy an entire battlefield.
For single targets, it might not match the other spells. But against groups?
No other spell could compare.
For example—if Ryen used his Staff of Thunder to release Cloud of Suffocation, then followed it up with an Black Hole, and then an Explosive Fireball…
Finally, even if he didn't step in personally, he could still summon an Ice Guard Legion.
Although Ryen himself didn't really need this kind of combat power, just imagine—
Standing at the mountain peak, elegantly waving a staff, changing the heavens, suppressing everything below.
Elegance—that was the deadliest form of prestige.
Ryen didn't need the strength a staff provided. But he desperately needed the prestige that came with wielding one.
Carefully putting away Cloud of Suffocation, Ryen said softly:
"This thing is extremely dangerous, and usually won't be needed. It's worth being happy about, but if we later get the actual Cloud of Suffocation spellbook, then this scroll won't be that useful anymore."
At those words, Lisa rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Honestly! Could you think about us for once?"
"In your words—you think master-level staffs are like cabbages? Just pick one whenever you like?"
"Even if we did get a Cloud of Suffocation spellbook, right now you're the only one who could use it! For us, just getting an advanced-tier staff would already be a miracle. This Cloud of Suffocation is still extremely important to us!"
Ryen spread his hands, chuckling:
"Dreams are necessary! What if one of you does get a master-level staff?"
Lisa paused for a moment, then asked softly:
"Honestly—do you really think that's possible?"
"Basically zero."
Getting that answer, Lisa smacked Ryen in annoyance.
Ryen just smiled, handing Cloud of Suffocation to Lisa with a gentle voice:
"In that case, this spell scroll is yours."
Lisa froze, then exclaimed with surprise:
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Ryen let out a helpless laugh.
"Cloud of Suffocation is rare, yes—but I already have Black Hole."
"If it's just for looking cool, this one master-level spell is already enough. Honestly, I don't really need this thing at all."
Lisa was speechless. She poked Ryen's waist helplessly.
"Can't you at least lie to me a little? Say it's because you like me that you gave it to me?"
Ryen gently wrapped his arm around Lisa's waist.
"Liking you is real. But there's no need to lie over something like this."
After saying that, he turned to the others with a soft laugh:
"The Forest has already been mostly explored. There's no need for us to stay here any longer~."
"Are we going to look for the Druid Mage now?"
Lumine still couldn't let go of her obsession with the Druid Mage—or more precisely, with the Druid's staff.
Ryen ruffled Lumine's hair and said softly:
"There's no need to deliberately chase after a Druid Mage. We can't even be sure where they'll appear."
"Instead of searching aimlessly and maybe never finding them, why not just leave it to fate? When the time is right, you'll definitely get your staff."
Lumine playfully rubbed her head against Ryen's hand and murmured:
"Taking the initiative is what creates stories~!"
Ryen couldn't help but laugh.
"You'll just say anything, won't you?"
With that, he led the group out of the massive pit.
The magic map still hadn't been completed—they were still missing the final piece: a raven feather. But no one knew where to get one.
For now, Ryen could only rely on instinct, watching the surrounding environment.
This was the deepest part of the Forest, but not its edge. To find the Lich Tower… Ryen really had no idea where that thing was.
"Ryen, which way should we go?"
Ganyu asked curiously, and Ryen gave a wry smile.
"You're asking me… but I honestly don't know which way to go either."
"Didn't that book say something about swamps, and swarms of mosquitoes? Wouldn't that mean the Lich Tower is near a swamp?"
Hu Tao blinked and grinned mischievously at Ryen.
He shook his head.
"Not necessarily. The Lich Tower's location isn't fixed. The book said that, yes—but where exactly it shows up, that's uncertain."
"Even if it really is near a swamp… we don't even know where the swamp is!"
For a moment, everyone was at a loss.
Suddenly, Ryen turned to Ganyu, clapped his hands, and said:
"Almost forgot—we still have a causality weapon!"
"Ganyu, which way do you think we should go?"
Ganyu tilted her head adorably, stunned for a moment.
"Eh?"
Ryen chuckled, pinching her cheek gently.
"Ganyu's luck has always been great. As long as you pick a direction by instinct, and we just keep going, it'll be better than any map, won't it?"
Hearing that, everyone nodded immediately.
It had to be said—in a place where there was basically no sense of direction, only Ganyu's luck could serve as a reliable living map.
But being relied on so heavily, Ganyu couldn't help but look a little aggrieved.
"Don't put so much faith in my luck! Shouldn't things like this be decided by everyone together, based on experience?"
"Ryen always trusts my luck so much… it makes me feel really pressured!"
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