The Mighty Mage
Chapter 248: Depature To Beijing

Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Depature To Beijing

Just after Liang Bao’s departure, Lu Siyao too left for military enrollment.

Her reason was...she couldn’t contact Fei Hanzhu.

From that day Fei Hanzhu never returned. Gu Jin even suspected that Fei Hanzhu might be assassinated...

However, she didn’t want to make any assumptions and could only let Lu Siyao go.

Gu Jin first attended Song Hancheng and Su Qing’s engagement and gave them some gifts and a month’s leave, which increased her workload.

However, she had already made preparations in advance for it.

After managing the issues in City S, and reminding Song Hancheng to return soon, Gu Jin started to pack her bags.

Before leaving she visited the Long Mansion and left some gifts for head butler Fei.

She also visited the Principal Feng of the Magic Academy and thanked him for all the support he had given her.

She promised to repay his favor.

As for the alchemy association...the three elders of the alchemy association had long ago shifted to the capital for further advancement in alchemy.

With all of her work over in City S, Gu Jin heaved a sigh of relief and decided to leave City S.

She first stopped by Holy City, and after 3 days she too left for Beijing.

On reaching Beijing, Gu Jin got unfortunate news. Due to some serial killers on the run at Beijing University, the enrollment process was put on hold.

With 2 more months in hand, Gu Jin decided to cultivate her fourth element.

She visited an information hub and bought some information about all the babies that had been born 21 years ago in wealthy families as well as some incidents that might have happened.

Then she bought the news regarding any cemetery or place filled with negative energy.

Even if she finds her hand what if they don’t want to accept her and want to kill her instead?

The only best way to ensure her safety was to have enough strength.

With the information slips, Gu Jin found a cemetery that was hardly visited by anyone and had abundant negative energy.

Lockwood Cemetry.

From the capital, it was at a distance of 100 km, so within 4 hours Gu Jin reached the location.

Gu Jin stood at the entrance of Lockwood Cemetery, staring at the ominous iron gates that creaked in the wind.

The dark clouds overhead added to the eerie atmosphere.

"Master, do you believe in ghosts?" The space suddenly asked.

"You are in the mood to play a prank?" Gu Jin chuckled lazily.

"Uh...master...can you answer me first?" The space didn’t answer and asked another question.

"Hm...maybe I didn’t use to believe it at first...but now...after my transmigration...I do believe it." Gu Jin answered.

"Oh...good...Master, for the further cultivation you will have to absorb souls." The space said.

"Souls?" Gu Jin was stunned.

"A necromancer has to use life force to cast spells. This life force can either be of owner’s, can be accumulated, or can be stored in some container and used. This is for the time being.

Once the master reaches primary rank tier-3, you can extract the life force, and no need to rely on some storage container to cast a spell." The space explained.

Gu Jin had expected darkness when she got to know about her fourth element, but this was far beyond what she imagined.

"Absorb souls..." she muttered, her eyes narrowing at the thought. "Won’t I become a soul thief?"

The space remained quiet for a moment, then continued in a neutral tone,

"Master, necromancy is a powerful art, but it comes with a price. It’s not about taking life indiscriminately.

You can control which souls you use and how you use them. Many necromancers choose to gather the souls of the dead who have not found peace or were bound to a cursed fate.

Not to mention it is only for the time being. Once you reach the primary rank tier-3 you don’t need to rely on them.

As long as you can absorb a lot of souls, your cultivation will rise rapidly and you will have more control over your powers," the space reassured her.

"But it’s up to you to decide how far you’re willing to go."

Necromancy. Soul absorption.

The thought of taking souls, even those who were trapped or cursed, didn’t sit well with her. But she knew that power didn’t come without sacrifice.

And in her world, strength was survival. With enemies lurking in the shadows and uncertain allies, she couldn’t afford to remain weak.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "Let’s go," she finally said, pushing open the iron gates with a slow creak.

The cemetery was silent, except for the occasional rustling of leaves and the faint, almost inaudible whispers of spirits long forgotten.

Gu Jin could feel the heavy presence of death all around her, and with each step deeper into the cemetery, the air seemed to thicken, pressing down on her chest.

Her connection to her fourth element began to stir, as if the very ground was calling out to her.

She could feel the negative energy coursing beneath the earth, old and potent. It was as if the souls buried here were waiting—perhaps even eager—to be freed.

"Here we are, Master," the space said softly, sensing the heightened tension.

"The negative energy here is enough to aid your cultivation. It will guide you to the souls that are... willing to assist you. Now please go to the center of the cemetery."

After what felt like hours, she reached the heart of the cemetery.

A large, weathered tombstone stood in front of her, covered in moss and engraved with symbols that seemed ancient, older than the cemetery itself.

"This is the place," the space confirmed. "Begin here, Master."

Gu Jin hesitated for a moment before sitting down cross-legged on the damp ground. She closed her eyes and extended her senses, drawing in the energy around her.

The whispers grew louder, the air colder.

At first Gu Jin didn’t sense anything at all, but as she slowly she saw various colored lights around her even though her eyes were closed.

She guessed that those lights were the souls trapped in the cemetery, each one glowing faintly in the darkness.

Some were dim, barely flickering, while others shone brightly, pulsing with energy. There were also some who were emitting different colors.

"Master, these are the souls that are willing to be absorbed. Their lights represent their life force. The stronger the light, the more power they hold." the space whispered.

"Why are they emitting different colors?" Gu Jin asked in confusion.

"Master those emitting purple light have reached heaven rank before their death, these types of ghosts are very powerful."

Gu Jin noticed that the ghosts emitting purple colors weren’t much. Only two or three.

"Those emitting blue color have reached either the emperor rank or super rank. In contrast, those emitting green lights have reached the ranks below the super rank.

Those who aren’t emitting any colors at all weren’t a mage." The space explained.

"Then what about those who are of red colors?" Gu Jin asked.

"They have gradually lost the aura cultivated from the power they once held, and now all they have is resentment."

"But why are they even willing to let me absorb them?" Gu Jin was confused.

"Master they can’t enter the cycle of reincarnation, they can’t cultivate and they can’t even communicate with others. In a way they are cursed..."

Gu Jin frowned,

"Do every mage end up like this after their death?"

"No master. I can’t explain to you why they end up like this, but I can be sure of one thing...they want you to absorb them."

Gu Jin sighed.

The space was trying to gloss over the situation.

Willing?

It was more precise to say that they just wanted to escape the sense of nothingness that was enveloping them slowly.

Even the strongest of humans may not be able to survive the eternal torment of being trapped in a void with no purpose, no end.

These souls weren’t offering themselves out of generosity but out of desperation.

It wasn’t about choosing between life or death—it was about choosing between oblivion and being part of something, anything.

Gu Jin understood that now.

Absorbing them would free them from this limbo, even if it meant their energy would become hers.

"I see," Gu Jin finally muttered.

"So they’re seeking release, and I’m offering them that in exchange for their power."

The space remained silent.

Gu Jin paused and asked,

"Is there any way to repay them?"

"Master I think you don’t need to. Such people...anyways, they shouldn’t be given any compensation." The space said ambiguously.

Gu Jin ignored the space’s words and said,

"Note down their name. I will help their descendants or make donations in their name." Gu Jin said with a guilty conscience.

Though she knew it wouldn’t make much difference...she had to repay in some form.