Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System

Murphy regarded Richard, who was kneeling on one knee, his expression calm and unruffled. "Why do you call me master?"

Richard remained kneeling, his voice steady. "You are Her Highness the Princess’s master, so you are naturally my master as well. Just now, outside, I had to be discourteous to you to avoid exposing your identity. I hope you can forgive me, master."

Murphy gave a slight nod.

Indeed, those Wizard’s Scriptures were exceptionally valuable and, more importantly, involved his true identity. It was only natural they be transported by the most loyal and reliable of servants.

But before meeting Richard, he had never imagined that Margaret’s most trusted servant would be the Royal Guard Captain.

’This man is a powerhouse at the Grand Knight Level. How could Margaret have possibly subjugated him?’

After all, a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice was indeed stronger than a Great Knight, but this advantage was not absolute.

If they were prepared for battle, a Wizard Apprentice would naturally have no fear of a Great Knight.

But if a Great Knight launched a surprise attack at close range, the apprentice would likely be cut down before they could even cast a spell.

"Why did Margaret become your master?" Murphy asked curiously.

"The Monte Clan has, for generations, been the most loyal servants of the Enchanting Witch," Richard replied respectfully.

’Witch?’ The thought struck Murphy.

According to Saren, within the Wizard community, the title of "Witch" was not one that just any female Wizard Apprentice could use. Even an official female Wizard might not qualify.

Anyone who could bear the name "Witch," even if they weren’t an Official Wizard yet, was destined to become one in the future.

By now, Murphy already knew that Othilia had indeed been the daughter of Duke Douglas, only fifteen years old when he had first seen her.

But it was precisely because she was a Witch that Duke Douglas had been forced to expel her from his family.

Had she been just an ordinary Wizard Apprentice, with Duke Douglas’s power and status in the Northern Territory, the Church Court might not have been able to do anything to him.

’So why was Margaret able to remain safely within the Royal Family?’

"What is a Witch?" Murphy pressed.

Richard looked surprised. "Her Highness didn’t tell you?"

"Explain in detail," Murphy said, his tone calm.

"Before the Dawn War, Witches were the most supreme beings in the Wizard World—great existences who controlled the World Origin of the Wizard World," Richard explained. "Our Monte Clan has been the Guardian of the Enchanting Witch since ancient times. Even after the long, dark era that followed the Dawn War, we have upheld this oath to this very day."

A thought stirred in Murphy’s mind. He said, "Since you claim to be the Guardians of the Enchanting Witch, your strength should far surpass that of ordinary Wizards. But from my observation, you follow the Path of the Knight."

By now, Murphy had also gained a deep understanding of the Knight cultivation system.

Just as a Cultivator in the Breathing Realm must achieve Floating Meridian Perfection throughout their body before they can sense Spiritual Qi and step into the Qi Refining Realm, a Knight also advances to an Official Knight by reaching a certain level of physical fitness, consuming a medicine containing special Spiritual Qi, and condensing a Life Seed in their heart.

If one possessed even a slight Spirit Root, they could use a Superior Breathing Technique to directly advance to Official Knight and continue to improve during the Great Knight stage.

But whether they were a Great Knight who had always relied on medicine or one who had advanced with the help of a meager Spirit Root and medicine, their Spirit Root aptitude was far inferior to that of a Wizard—often worse than even the weakest Wizard Apprentice.

If the Witches’ Guardians only practiced the Path of the Knight, then the title of "Guardian" seemed somewhat undeserved.

Richard seemed to sense Murphy’s doubt. "We do indeed only follow the Path of the Knight. The Witch’s servants have always been Knight Clans who have served as guardians for generations." He paused, then added tactfully, "We need Source Blood to increase our strength, and the Source Blood... is controlled only by the Witch."

Murphy understood at once.

’So the saying "the Witch controls the Origin" isn’t just an empty phrase. This "Origin" is likely some form of extremely high-level Spiritual Qi.’

’And the Witch can directly manipulate this Spiritual Qi, transforming it into an observable substance, unlike me, who must first refine the Spiritual Qi before I can indirectly observe it.’

’Since it’s an observable substance, it can naturally be used directly by people without a Spirit Root.’

’As for Margaret...’ Murphy mused to himself. ’It’s probably because her current strength is still too weak that she...’

"What are the specific effects of the Source Blood?" Murphy continued to press.

Richard continued to explain, "The Source Blood can temper our bloodline, allowing us to gain some of a Wizard’s traits while remaining on the Path of the Knight. Generations of Monte Clan members have been able to advance beyond the Great Knight level and gain the strength to contend with Wizards only by consuming Source Blood."

"I see." Murphy nodded thoughtfully. "So, is Margaret able to create Source Blood now?"

Richard shook his head slightly. "Her Highness the Princess is still in her growth phase and cannot yet create complete Source Blood. However, she is already able to extract some primary Source Blood Essence, which is enough to sustain the basic cultivation needs of our Monte Clan."

This answer confirmed Murphy’s suspicions.

Margaret was indeed unable to fully utilize her powers as a Witch due to her lack of strength.

’As for how Margaret could control a powerhouse like Richard?’

’Heh, since she’s called the "Enchanting Witch," could the Monte Clan really have remained loyal through the long, dark era until today based on so-called moral integrity and loyalty alone?’

’If that were true, why didn’t these Guardians turn on and kill their masters when the Witches were weak?’

’Or collude with the Church Court for personal gain and strangle the young Witches in their infancy?’

’Margaret was so weak that I even managed to break the [Control Human] she used.’

’But perhaps it’s precisely because of her weakness—even Archbishop John said her [Control Human] was amateurish—that her true identity has yet to be discovered by the Church Court.’

At this thought, Murphy’s gaze gradually grew profound.

Although Margaret outwardly treated him as her master, she had clearly hidden a lot of key information.

That letter had been full of explicit words, but it seemed the biggest secret hadn’t been revealed at all.

If Richard hadn’t accidentally revealed it today, he probably still wouldn’t know about these secrets between the "Enchanting Witch" and her Guardians.

However, on second thought, Margaret had specifically sent Richard here today, which also seemed like a deliberate act to let him learn these secrets.

It seemed this princess was not as simple and loyal as she appeared.

Perhaps her understanding of the word "loyalty" was different from that of ordinary people.

[O Seeker wandering the mortal coil, fate manifests before you two vastly different paths to the heavens.]

[Option 1: Hearing the Princess’s guard speak of the trail of an Immortal Descendant, you have an epiphany. If you can hunt down Immortal Descendants of different bloodlines, you might be able to absorb their origin immortal qi to aid your cultivation.]

[Reward: Inner Alchemy Golden Core "Initial Glimpse"]

[Option 2: The Northern Iron Cavalry marches south, yet you remain steadfast in Lingyun Pavilion. Let the flames of war rage; you shall remain unmoved, quietly waiting for the conflict to cease.]

[Reward: Celestial Craftsmanship "Initial Glimpse"]

HAHA!

HAHAHA!

Murphy glanced at the system message, then pressed Richard, "This Source Blood, can it be used by ordinary people?"

Richard answered without a second thought, "No. Only the Monte clan, who have a bloodline contract with the Witches forged over generations, can withstand the power of the Source Blood."

Murphy slowly shook his head. "I’m not referring to the Enchanting Witch’s Source Blood, but the Source Blood of other Witches."

Richard’s expression shifted slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he answered, "Logically... no."

But then, as if remembering something, he hastily added, "However, this subordinate recalls reading in our family’s ancient texts that the Source Blood of certain Witches can indeed nourish all things and benefit all living beings."

"Good."