To study this warped world and its loophole-filled advancement rules, Wu Ling had planned his third Spirit Ring around someone from the Caster class from the start.
And that person could not be someone like Mozart or Shakespeare, who became a Caster only after death. It had to be someone who had researched things while alive and possessed a rich store of knowledge.
For example, witches such as Morgan, Circe, or Medea. Among the men, there were the Grand Casters, Caster Cu Chulainn, and Paracelsus.
Asclepius and Avicebron also had absurd skills, but every field had its specialties. They were still a little lacking in Magecraft research and self-reinforcement, so Wu Ling ruled them out.
Among his preferred options, Wu Ling first crossed out the five-star Servants he had no realistic chance of drawing. That left Circe, Medea, Caster Cu, and Paracelsus.
Then he compared practical value and research value, removing Circe and Caster Cu. In the end, his choice came down to Medea or Paracelsus.
The reason for choosing Medea was simple: versatility. Whether in research or combat, she was excellent.
Her Magecraft was learned under the moon goddess Hecate, giving her power that modern magi could not compare to. As a Servant, she had once displayed the Magecraft ability to summon Assassin while acting as a Master herself. That Assassin was Sasaki Kojiro, the Heroic Spirit summoned by Wu Ling's first Spirit Ring.
As a magus, Medea's ability reached the level of a Magician, though unfortunately she had not learned any of the Five True Magics, so she remained a magus.
Medea was a witch who lived in the Age of Gods. Because of that, the Magecraft she wielded possessed power approaching the domain of True Magic. With the skill High-Speed Divine Words, she could perform any great ritual through a single process. Her ability surpassed the strongest modern magi and even exceeded Magicians in practical output. Although Medea was not a Magician, no one would object to calling her a magus infinitely close to one.
The world had once been filled with True Magic. The one who embodied the Mystery that had amazed people in that distant past was Medea.
Then there was her Noble Phantasm, formed from her legend: Rule Breaker. Wu Ling wanted to know whether this Noble Phantasm, which could break all Magecraft contracts, could also break something like a Martial Soul.
As for Paracelsus, his full name was Paracelsus von Hohenheim. He was a legendary physician and alchemist known as a figure of the sixteenth-century Renaissance. Beginning with his rediscovery of the four elements and the three principles, he left behind many achievements and writings. He was a rare figure renowned in both human history and the history of Magecraft.
Wu Ling had selected him for his research into the elements. With Paracelsus's ability, analyzing and understanding Spirit Power would only be a matter of time.
Both candidates could reinforce Wu Ling's sword and Ember's body, so they met his most basic requirements.
If Wu Ling wanted Medea, he planned to summon her with a cat. After all, in the West, black cats and witches were inseparable. A multi-element Soul Beast like the Silver Wolf was meant to summon Paracelsus.
"The intelligence said that three years ago, there was a Silver Wolf here close to nine thousand years old. If this Silvermoon Wolf King really is that Silver Wolf, then the changes in the surrounding environment may be because of it.
"Silver Wolves evolve into Silvermoon Wolf Kings after reaching the ten-thousand-year level, and they gain an additional element beyond the six major elements. Looking at this one, it seems to have obtained a truly extraordinary element."
Hidden in the grass, Wu Ling's expression was grim. This Silvermoon Wolf King had gone far beyond his expectations.
"Wu Ling, this little wolf is already ten-thousand-year. Leave it for your fourth Spirit Ring," Ghost said, suddenly appearing beside him. "Find another Soul Beast for your third."
"I understand, Grandpa Ghost. It is because of soul shock, right?"
Ghost was not surprised that Wu Ling knew about soul shock. With Wu Ling's learning ability, that was normal. He nodded.
"Correct. Once a Soul Beast reaches ten-thousand-year, its soul matures. When a person absorbs its ring, that soul attacks the absorber. If the person is not a Spirit Leader or higher, the slightest mistake can scatter their soul.
"Your body is strong, but at most, it can withstand a Spirit Ring of around five thousand years. This thirteen-thousand-year Silvermoon Wolf King exceeds that limit by far too much."
Wu Ling listened to Ghost's warning, but his eyes never left the Silvermoon Wolf King.
In truth, between Paracelsus and Medea, Wu Ling had always leaned toward Medea.
As the only Servant with unconditional full self-charge, her combat ability and the breadth of her Magecraft were stronger than Paracelsus's. Wu Ling could not accurately judge their research ability, but in terms of legend and story importance, the gap was not large.
Most importantly, Medea had her Noble Phantasm. Paracelsus could research a problem, but after understanding it, one still had to develop a solution. Medea could solve it with one stab.
As for Paracelsus's beam attack... when Wu Ling could hunt hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts in the future, would he really lack beam attacks? Among the Three Knight Classes, which five-star Noble Phantasm beam was worse than his?
So whether for the present or the future, Wu Ling had always wanted Medea. But circumstances were stronger than preference. He could only hope that a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast would let him obtain a three-star Heroic Spirit, and perhaps strengthen her the way Sasaki Kojiro had been strengthened.
"Grandpa Ghost, I have decided."
"Good. Then let us leave. When we come back, I will capture it for you and keep it alive until you reach your fourth ring."
"No, Grandpa Ghost. I want this one."
At that moment, Wu Ling's tone was utterly firm. Ghost, meanwhile, seemed to stumble over an invisible stone.
Ghost turned around and asked calmly, "Wu Ling, are you certain? You know this is not something simple talent can solve."
"I am certain, Grandpa Ghost. I already have an idea for absorbing the Spirit Ring. The success rate should be around eighty percent, so do not worry."
Ghost stared carefully at Wu Ling's face. Wu Ling met his gaze without retreating.
In the end, Ghost sighed and agreed.
"You have already done so many things that break convention. Perhaps one more is not impossible. Fine. I agree. But if I notice that you are in danger, I will interrupt you even if it risks ruining the absorption."
Feeling Ghost's concern, Wu Ling smiled despite himself.
"Of course. If things go wrong, Grandpa Ghost, stop me without hesitation."
Ghost nodded, then asked, "Then how do you plan to kill the Silvermoon Wolf King and take its Spirit Ring? Do you need me to act?"
Wu Ling shook his head and activated his second Spirit Skill.
"There are many ways for the weak to defeat the strong. When the enemy is exposed and I am hidden, poison is the most convenient method.
"And conveniently, one of my clones knows how to use poison."