The Wizard is Indeed a Good Person

In the second year of the simulation, Xu Xi encountered Servia, who was saving a village.

By the sixth year of the simulation, the Undead Tide erupted, and Xu Xi took Servia away from the desolate Clawphire Territory.

Now, it is the tenth year of the simulation.

Xu Xi has known Servia for eight years, and they have traveled together for four of those years.

Time is elusive.

Light and silent.

Yet when infused with memories and the past, time gains a unique weight.

Each recollection pulls one’s thoughts downward, immersing them in layers of bygone moments, making it hard to break free.

"Boom—"

"Boom—"

Xu Xi raised his hand, unleashing a ring of Dust-Clearing Wind.

The gentle breeze lifted the sand, sweeping the barren ruins clean.

In the current world of sorcerers, such uninhabited wastelands were everywhere, and Xu Xi chose this place as his temporary site for a breakthrough.

"Thanks to the effects of the 'Life and Death Intertwined' and 'Soul Collector' traits,"

"Otherwise, my soul’s growth and the convergence of my personal Truth wouldn’t have progressed so quickly."

The black sun, as if soaked in thick ink, offered no trace of light.

Before secluding himself, Xu Xi gazed at that dark sun, recalling the experiences of these simulated years.

He remembered every detail of their journey vividly—how Servia, determined to grow stronger, tirelessly swung her sword in training until her bones wore down, sheepishly asking Xu Xi to repair them.

Back then, Servia had lowered her head,

her hands fidgeting in shame.

Or two years ago, when Xu Xi took Servia deep into the once-renowned Mountain of Beasts.

That land had once been home to high-ranking magical beasts and mighty chromatic dragons, the birthplace of countless legends in Servia’s era.

Though withered by the taint of the Netherworld’s breath,

Servia had still been overjoyed, raising the knight’s sword Xu Xi had given her and shouting the cringe-worthy battle cry, "Servia the Brave, charging forth!"

It was contradictory.

Though she was the one who had shouted it, afterward, she curled up in a corner, mortified that Xu Xi had heard her.

Over the years, Xu Xi and Servia had wandered together, stopping here and there.

They had witnessed the ruins of kingdoms and the fall of sorcerer factions, the bones of humans and other races—elves, orcs, goblins—scattered beneath their feet, mingled together.

It was as if they were composing a true hero’s epic.

Throughout it all,

Servia had followed Xu Xi, broadening her horizons and, within her means, helping those in suffering.

Unconsciously, Servia had grown, undergoing tremendous change.

Xu Xi turned to his right.

There stood the silver-armored knight, silently keeping watch.

"Then, Servia, I leave it to you."

"You need not worry, Sorcerer."

Years had tempered Servia’s demeanor, stripping away the fragility of her past.

Rather than growth, Xu Xi felt "recovery" was more fitting.

This was the Servia of now—

the true Emerald of Clawphire.

The determination in her eyes added luster to that gem-like green, shimmering like ripples on clear lake water when she blinked.

Pure. Flawless.

Her fingers flexed within the silver gauntlets.

When curled around the hilt of her sword, the curved plates on the back of her fingers rose and fell like the phases of the moon, showcasing the artistry of enchanted metalwork.

Elegant yet fierce.

Precise yet valiant.

She needed no extravagant attire—just the tattered brown half-cape and her silver-gray armor—for the undead girl, despite her scars, exuded undeniable grace.

Xu Xi smiled. "Yes, I trust you, Servia."

"You’ve never let me down."

After checking the skies to ensure no storms were coming, Xu Xi retrieved a tome of spells and handed it to a slightly bewildered Servia.

"Sorcerer, what is this…?"

"A trigger-type enchanted tome, pre-inscribed with spells to shield you from noise and provide light."

"Ah, but I probably won’t need… right?"

Servia coughed lightly, trying to maintain her knightly dignity.

But under Xu Xi’s calm gaze, she quickly relented, accepting the tome with a resigned sigh.

The soft scrape of metal against leather was oddly pleasant to the ears.

Only then did Xu Xi feel at ease, retreating deeper into the ruins to begin his secluded breakthrough in silence.

Servia remained where she stood, one arm cradling the tome, the other gripping her sword, watching Xu Xi’s back until it vanished into the darkness.

Then her gaze lowered to the book in her arms.

Her expression softened.

A warm, fluttering feeling stirred within her.

"The Sorcerer… is such a good person…"

Once again, the girl had handed Xu Xi a "good person" card.

……

"The sorcerer’s path shares similarities with the arcane arts, but they are fundamentally different."

"The key to magic lies in wielding elements through spiritual force, using them to pry open the world’s laws and become its master."

"But the essence of sorcery lies solely in the soul—to learn, to ascend, to transform. Elements are but one lens through which to perceive the world."

"In other words,"

"Sorcerers dissect the world’s nature through the soul’s perspective,"

"Until all is unified, achieving the convergence of knowledge and soul, ascending as an eternal Immortal."

Deep within the ruins,

the light was dim, barely discernible.

Xu Xi summoned several Sorcerer’s Eyes to hover as makeshift lanterns, casting faint illumination.

Next,

his staff floated horizontally before him.

Steady, precise, it unleashed multiple second-circle auxiliary spells—

noise-canceling, body-protecting, and mind-calming.

"Over the years, thanks to the Soul Collector’s effects, my soul has long reached its limit. What I truly lacked was the convergence of my personal Truth."

Xu Xi lightly gripped his staff,

sitting cross-legged before setting it aside.

"Understanding the world, the logic of all things, the contemplation of self."

"Compared to magic, the sorcerer’s path places greater emphasis on individuality."

"Only by maintaining a clear sense of self, distinct from the world, can one observe its wonders from an outsider’s perspective."

Xu Xi sat in stillness.

His mind raced through memories of the real world and his travels in this realm, recalling every recorded account of third-circle sorcerers.

For an ordinary person starting from scratch,

converging one’s Truth was a daunting task.

But Xu Xi was different.

"My past simulations were diligent. I’ve long since attained clarity of mind. Now, all that remains is to align my experiences in this world and converge upon a Truth that adheres to its laws."

Xu Xi spoke with ease,

a faint smile on his lips as his soul ignited every rune of his spells.

After so many simulations, after so much "soft living," Xu Xi had grown in his own right.

"Erase."

Every spell inscribed upon his soul—save for his innate talents—dissipated.

His soul regained purity,

yet burned even brighter.

Xu Xi’s past, his experiences, his thoughts—all coalesced into tangible forms, merging seamlessly into his purified soul.

With the soul as the core, all facets of his being converged, forming a new perspective.

Independent of the vast world.

This was the sorcerer’s path—

the indispensable first step for mortals striving toward immortality.