The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1369 - 399: False Maze Core_4

No matter how faint that voice was, or how unrealistic it seemed...

At least he was willing to listen.

...

At the same time, far away from the Tower of Great Sage, several gigantic multi-legged Demon Beasts, like small mountains, were silently lying on the snowy wilderness.

They were demons summoned by the Academic State to transport large cargo.

The assistants were busily directing the metal Demon Statues and Magic Apprentices to unload heavy supply crates from the backs of the Demon Beasts and transport them into the entrance of a deep cave nearby.

The cave's ceiling was too high to see, illuminated only by the light cast by magical floating lamps, revealing the massive construction site below.

The assistants dispersed, positioning glowing treasure chests and magical items as rewards throughout the Maze's corners.

Here, a magically constructed Underground Maze was gradually taking shape.

At the center of the cave, Merk stood with his hands behind his back, gazing seriously at the giant crystal before him that radiated a gentle Holy Light.

This was the core of the current Maze Trial — an "artificial maze core" crafted by the Sages of the Holy Power School.

It could simulate some functionalities of a Hell Maze, using Holy Power to construct an independent domain and generating energy mirror images of various Demons for apprentices to challenge.

In fact, for nearly a century, the Academic State had been trying to replicate the core of a Hell Maze with Holy Power to aid the Empire in occupying the Underworld, but effective progress had been hindered by the fundamental incompatibility of different spell systems.

In a way, the Maze Trial also serves to assist the research of the Holy Power School.

Even if this matter might only concern the mages of the Holy Power School themselves.

An assistant quickly stepped forward, respectfully reporting: "Master, the core's energy circuit is stable, and the mirror image generation module has been debugged. We can fill the maze with Demons at any time!"

"Very good."

Merk nodded, showing no emotion on his face, but contemplating internally if there were any additional details that needed attention.

The annual Maze Trial is one of the fixed projects in the Academic State. Although not as dazzling as the Wise Man's Trial, it is a highly valued competition by the higher-ups.

This was his first time managing such a significant project, and he was thinking about how to utilize the opportunity Professor Arist had secured for him to organize an impressive All Souls Festival trial, even surpassing previous ones, to repay the professor for recognizing and nurturing him!

Coincidentally, it wasn't just him wanting to shine, but also his assistants under him.

At that moment, an assistant suddenly spoke up eagerly, offering advice to Master Merk.

"Master, to enhance the realism and difficulty of the trial, I suggest we innovatively include some common Undead Creatures in the maze this time!"

This suggestion immediately sparked heated discussion among the mages, and soon a cautious assistant raised a concern.

"But... our school doesn't know such forbidden Spells. How can we generate and control them?"

The assistant who made the proposal excitedly shared his insights gained from conversing with adventurers at the bar on Artisan Street last night.

"That's easy to solve. We don't need to create them ourselves! The Northern Rhod Kingdom has Undead wandering year-round. We can commission the adventurer guild or the border lord to capture a batch of the lowest-ranked skeleton soldiers and transport them here using the border's Magic Array! If we start preparing now, it should still be in time!"

There is a Teleportation Array on the border between the Rhode Kingdom and the Academic State, but it remains inactive most of the time due to cost and other reasons.

However, the Maze Trial is different.

For the major Mage Towers, the budget for such prestigious projects is always unlimited. If paying a bit more Demon Crystal can add a highlight to this year's All Souls Festival trial, why wouldn't the person in charge of the Maze Trial be willing?

As for capturing the Undead, that's no problem at all; any burial ground is filled with those mindless creatures, and adventurers would be more than happy to take care of it for them.

Nearby villagers might even thank them!

Merk indeed was tempted.

Previous trials used Magic Mirror Images, which were safe but lacked novelty. If real Undead could be introduced, it would undoubtedly become the biggest highlight of this year's trial!

The main advantage is its authenticity!

What's the point of battling a bunch of Slimes and goblins all day long, especially when those creatures are just images woven by Holy Power Magic.

Undoubtedly, many students have long been bored with mindless monster-slaying, just too embarrassed to express it.

Now, the Tower of Great Sage would fulfill their wishes, teaching them something "real"!

Having made up his mind, Merk immediately interrupted the assistants' debate, decisively saying.

"Let's do this! The Academic State sends a large number of spellcasting talents to the Empire every year; it's unacceptable that they haven't even seen what an Undead looks like!"

"But..." An assistant couldn't help but advise the master to reconsider, but was cut off as soon as he spoke.

"No need to worry; if the mages from the Academic State can't even handle the lowest-ranked skeleton soldiers, they don't deserve to graduate."

Resolute in his decision, Merk smiled faintly, glancing at the assistant who first made the suggestion, and gave the final order.

"Let's go with this plan, Kemidir, you're responsible for bringing a batch of Undead from the Rhode Kingdom quickly!"

"Yes, Master!" The assistant was overjoyed and immediately turned around to execute the command.

As everyone gathered around the artificial maze core, having a heated discussion about how to "optimize" the trial, no one noticed the figure quietly watching from the shadows under a large stone pillar far away in the cave.

Taking in their conversations and decisions, Sarah's lips curled into an imperceptible smile, then she stepped back lightly, brushing past a Magic Apprentice carrying a treasure chest, silently blending into deeper darkness...