Chapter 312 The Independent Soulmancer with No Background
In a secluded corner of Texas, near the historic Alamo, lies a forgotten and mysterious site known as the Forgotten Guardian Temple.
In this site, there is an ancient statue, clad in a long robe, hands clasped behind its back. Due to centuries of weathering, its facial features have become indistinct. This statue is deeply revered among the forgotten Soulmancers in Texas.
The statue is believed to represent a legendary ancient guardian who existed in Texas far back in the pre-Christian era. This guardian once imparted the secrets of cultivation to the local inhabitants.
Even when major Soulmancer organizations attempted to conquer this land, he stood up and protected its people and the land.
Over time, his story became a legend, and Texas gradually became a gathering place for forgotten Soulmancers.
In honor of the great deeds of this ancient guardian, the forgotten Soulmancers erected his statue in the site and revered it as the "Supreme Guardian." This statue is considered a symbol of the spirit of the Soulmancers of Texas, intricately linked to the spirit of the Alamo.
Later, as the five major Soulmancer families of Texas rose to prominence.
Now,they convened representatives from various families at this site near the Alamo for an important meeting to discuss how to jointly maintain their traditions and the freedom of their land.
"What's going on today? I recall the last time we had a meeting of this scale was thirty years ago."
"They wouldn't be planning to make us all return to the world of ordinary people, would they? Our ancestors set rules for us not to fight with those major Soulmancer organizations."
"You haven't heard? Wesley went to New York a while back and got killed. And just half a day ago, that Jordan from the Adams family was stripped of his superpowers in New York too. It must have been someone from a major Soulmancer organization."
"So much has happened in such a short time? Both heirs from two families are done for, how interesting!"
"Shh! You fool, keep it down! Do you want to doom our family? You dare to speak such words!"
...
Outside the Forgotten Guardian Temple, many who did not qualify to attend the joint family meeting stood discussing animatedly.
Even though it's the 21st century and we live in a civilized society that advocates equality for all, among the Soulmancers of Texas, there still exists a clear class distinction.
The members of the five great Soulmancer families are typically arrogant and bullying, often oppressing others.
Many local Soulmancers, unable to tolerate their tyranny, have been forced to relocate their families.
However, ordinary Soulmancers residing in the forgotten mystical sites of Texas receive a certain degree of protection.
After all, Soulmancers with lesser powers are in mortal danger if they venture alone into the outside world, where they might encounter practitioners of dark forces.
Most people are only aware of the 13th Bureau, but in the world of Soulmancers, there are many who wield dark forces.
These practitioners specifically hunt lone Soulmancers, stealing their magical artifacts and energy.
Without strong backing and sufficient power, a Soulmancer wandering about is far more vulnerable than an ordinary person.
At the joint family council, the leaders of the five great Soulmancer families within the mystical site took turns bowing to the supreme "Guardian of the Forgotten Temple."
"Everyone, you must have heard the news. Wesley, the heir of the Johnson family, was killed in New York the day before yesterday. Today, Jordan of the Adams family was crippled in New York, losing his supernatural abilities. What do you think, should we seek revenge or not?" Jayce Johnson, the current head of the Johnson family, asked loudly beneath an ancient statue. "If we don't avenge this, how will the Soulmancers of Texas hold their ground in the world of Soulmancers?"
"What should we do if a Soulmancer organization tells us to leave this place?"
Darius Adams, head of the Adams family, roared with indignation, "Of course we must seek revenge! If we are bullied like this and pretend nothing happened, once it gets out, it's the face of all the Soulmancers in Texas that will be lost. If we go out to handle affairs in the future, won't other Soulmancers start attacking those from Texas indiscriminately?"
Apart from these two families, the other three great Soulmancer families remained silent. Finally, someone from the back spoke up, "Jayce, have you found out who is responsible?"
Jayce narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "We have. My son Wesley went to New York with the Cosmic Balance Rod, a relic of our ancestors, which also houses a wisp of their souls…"
"If I remember correctly, Wesley was already at the intermediate Soulmancer level and had the Cosmic Balance Rod, yet he was directly annihilated. What level of power did his killer possess?" Garen Steel of the Steel family, stroking his beard and frowning, asked, "Could it be someone above the intermediate Soulmancer level? That would not be someone from the younger generation of Soulmancers."
Jayce, not upset by the interruption, continued, "No! We found out that the same person who killed my son and crippled Jordan's powers is the same individual. Wes from the 13th Bureau has already contacted me and is waiting outside now."
"The same person? Could this be a conspiracy against all the major Soulmancer families of Texas?" Garen frowned, "Nowadays, with the global resurgence of energy, it is said to all originate from New York. Could it be that a major Soulmancer organization doesn't want us to New York?"
"The person isn't a member of any major Soulmancer organization but appears to be an independent Soulmancer practitioner. Not long ago, she went to Ravenwood and, by her own power, seized a place rich in energy at Hudson University."
"Are you talking about that woman named Alice? I was at the Ravenwood contest too. She's incredibly powerful, shattering Lucien's Ninefold Stellar Sanctuary magical formation with a single sword strike, but she's said to be only at the intermediate Soulmancer level."
Darius fell silent for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed, and said, "The most crucial thing is, just over a month ago, she was still an ordinary person, and as far as I know, she hasn't joined any Soulmancer organizations."
This statement was met with complete silence.
A month ago, she was an ordinary person, not affiliated with any Soulmancer organizations, and yet she rapidly became an intermediate-level Soulmancer, capable of breaking Lucien's Ninefold Stellar Sanctuary magical formation with just one sword.
The amount of information implied here was significant, especially considering the situation in New York City.
Apart from a few who naively thought Alice was just extraordinarily talented, most speculated that Alice must have acquired some powerful magical artifact.
If she were a core member of a major Soulmancer organization, they might not dare provoke her, at best enlisting the help of the 13th Bureau to confront her verbally, which could end with them getting severely beaten.
But Alice was just an independent Soulmancer practitioner without any background, the kind who possesses a powerful magical artifact.
In such a case, how could they not seek revenge?
Killing and plundering treasures, and even doing so without giving anyone a reason to fault them!
Jayce's eyes lit up, and without waiting for others to speak, everyone thought for a moment and then showed an indignant expression. "This vengeance, our Johnson family must claim," he said, and then assured Darius, "Don't worry, Darius, I will definitely seek justice for your son."
Darius was taken aback. Had he been foolish?
He had found out that Alice was an independent Soulmancer practitioner with no background but possessing a powerful magical artifact, so why did he share this information? Why not just seek revenge himself, kill her, and take the treasure?
Now the Johnson family wanted to beat him to it?
"Jayce, the Adams family's revenge should be handled by us!"
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