Chapter 189 Smile
As Adam skimmed through the pages, he realized that the ancient tome contained arcane knowledge about gravity magic. Most of which would be very difficult to understand had he not gone through what he had in the last three months.
Although the knowledge inside the book was incomplete, it was far more valuable than any other arcane knowledge that he had ever gotten his hands on. Of course, the ones he had learned from the memories were an exception.
"I see." Adam was full of admiration for the person who had set up this test. "Everything is connected."
But the next moment, his eyebrows furrowed and he started to stroke his chin. "But I still don't understand how this is something that I desire."
The entrance of the House of Cards had words carved on those pillars that said, 'For beyond these gates lies that which you desire the most.'
However, to be honest, Adam had never even thought about gravity magic until after he'd entered the House of Cards. So he was puzzled as to why he was even led here in the first place.
Just as he was deep in thought, a strange peal of laughter drifted into his ears, catching him off guard and scaring the living daylights out of him.
"Fafafafa!"
"Eeeek!" Adam jumped from his spot and hurriedly retreated in terror.
He turned around and saw the Joker lazily floating in the air and looking at him with a wide grin. "D-Don't scare me like that!" The teenager complained.
However, the Joker wasn't apologetic in the least. "Perhaps I should have reduced the timeline to half a month? A month's time seemed too easy for you."
Adam struggled hard to contain his anger and lash out at the clown. He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly. In the end, he spat through gritted teeth, "Do you even have any idea what I had to go through?!"
The Joker swam in the air around Adam and viciously mocked him. "Of course I did. I saw everything. You were a very good source of entertainment for me, I must say."
The youth lowered his head and flatly asked, "All this while I've been going through hell to reach the pedastal… All this just so I could entertain you?"
"Fafafa!" The Joker laughed out loud. "What else?"
"You…" Adam's eyes turned bloodshot, and the next moment he pounced on the clown. "I'll fight you! Raaahhh!"
He had gone through so much pain and suffering in the last month. There were many instances where he simply wanted to give up. But he didn't.
The youth continued to overcome his limits and persevere time and time again. Now when the Joker told him it was all for his entertainment, Adam had lost it.
He didn't care if the Joker was the overseer of the secret plane. The man had made fun of his hard work and wounded his pride and that was that.
The Joker was very amused seeing Adam coming to attack him. The next moment, he disappeared and instantly reappeared right behind the youth.
Before the youth could even react, the Joker had already come closer and pulled Adam's pants down. Then he pushed Adam from behind, causing the latter to miserable fall to the ground.
"Waaahhh!" Adam's face turned redder than a tomato.
He hurriedly pulled his pants back up and roared at the clown, "You!! How can you be so shameless?"
The Joker scoffed, "What? Did you expect me to be a gentleman? Fafafa!"
Adam couldn't even come up with a retort. What in the world did he ever expect from a guy who dressed and behaved like a court jester?
"Alright, enough fooling around." The Joker gently landed on the ground, his expression turning solemn, albeit slightly. Very slightly. After all, how could a clown ever stop smiling?
"Since you have passed my test, I shall give you an additional reward."
Adam's eyes narrowed and he asked with suspicion, "Are you serious?"
The Joker harrumphed, "Young lad, did you think I would go back on my word?"
"Of course!"
The Joker was rendered speechless. "So hurtful!" The next moment, he summoned a large rubber hammer out of nowhere and smashed it on Adam's head.
BAM!
"Ugh!" Adam's head was swollen and tears streamed down his face.
"Hmph, that's your punishment." The Joker rested the rubber hammer on his shoulder. "Anyway, let's get out of this place."
The next moment, he snapped his fingers and the pair disappeared from the hall.
…
In the depths of the House of Cards, there existed a great library unlike any other in the Southern Federation.
The library contained countless books, and the shelves that housed said books seemed to defy gravity itself. The large bookshelves were suspended in mid-air, gently gliding as if being pushed by an unseen breeze.
When Adam appeared here with the Joker, he was mesmerized by this magical scene. The air was filled with the scent of old books and parchments, further adding a sense of vintage vibe.
Seeing the rows of bookshelves stretching into the distance, disappearing into the smoky horizon, Adam muttered involuntarily, "So magical…"
The Joker was very satisfied with the youth's response. "Indeed. This is the core of the Soaring River Secret Plane, the Soaring Library."
"Whoa!" Adam's eyes shone with childlike curiosity and wonder. He glanced at the Joker who was standing beside him and asked eagerly, "Say, say, did the owner of the secret plane build this?"
The Joker rolled his eyes. "Of course. The Soaring Library served as Master's study."
"Ohhh!" Adam nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice. He clasped his hands and asked excitedly, "Where is the Master? Can I meet him?"
For the first time, the youth saw great sadness flash past the Joker's eyes. However, contrary to what the latter was feeling, the smile on his face widened.
"My Master has already passed away."
Seeing the smile blooming on the Joker's face, Adam felt overwhelming grief. He softly muttered, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
The Joker ruffled Adam's hair. "Fafafa, no need to feel bad, young lad. Magi are not immortal and us spirits are also the same. One day we will grow old and eventually die."
Adam was silent for a long time. He then looked up at the Joker and asked with yearning, "What if we continue to advance in ranks as Magi? Won't we live forever then?"
"Fafafa, who knows?" The Joker laughed out loud. "That is something only the high-ranking Magi could perhaps tell you."
Adam pursed his lips, then switched subjects. "Okay, what about my reward? It better be something far superior to the book on gravity magic that I got."
"Tsk, so demanding you are." The Joker smirked. "But I will give credit where it's due."
The next moment, he stretched out his hand and a thick, ancient book came flying toward him out of one of the floating bookshelves. This tome was twice as big as the one Adam had received earlier.
"Here, this is your reward." The joker gave the youth the book.
"Whoaa!" Adam's eyes seemed to be shining brighter than the stars.
Perhaps he himself had not noticed it yet, but if there was something that he loved even more than money and wine, it was arcane knowledge!
"What's this?"
The Joker grinned from ear to ear and proudly stated, "This is my Master's complete research on Gravity Magic!"
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