While Lucas and Wanda were snacking, Erin and S.W.O.R.D. cooperated to successfully corner Sandman on the beach at the edge of Manhattan Island.
Or rather, this was the battlefield Sandman chose for himself.
Here, he had an inexhaustible supply of sand. From a geographical advantage point of view, it was second only to the center of a desert.
However, what Sandman didn't expect was that during his incarceration, S.W.O.R.D. had already developed weapons to deal with him. They hadn't used them before, only because they were worried about causing too much damage in the city and being held accountable.
After all, they were an organization with a reputation and a base, and damaging public property required compensation.
Unlike masked heroes, who could just leave.
The S.W.O.R.D. Agent took out a special weapon, aimed it at Sandman, and a jet of flame shot out. The temperature of this specially made flame seemed extremely high, and under the high temperature, Sandman quickly began to vitrify.
Erin seized this opportunity, grabbed Sandman's core sand particles, defeated him, and put him into an hourglass.
"It seems Erin really understands Spider-Man's wisdom." Lucas exclaimed.
"Calling friends? Leveraging the advantage of New York City's friendly neighbor?" Wanda asked cooperatively.
"No, Spider-Man's wisdom is to put enemies he doesn't know how to deal with into fire to roast them. If a small fire doesn't work, use a big fire. If a big fire doesn't work, use a big fireball (the Sun)." Lucas said faintly.
He then explained to Wanda how other Spider-Men applied this wisdom.
Lucas's captive, Knull.
If Lucas hadn't interfered, he would have been defeated once by Venom and Spider-Man working together in the future. His burial place would be the sun.
"Oh, I see. I don't quite understand." Wanda said after listening for a while, then gave up thinking.
Based on her experience of dealing with various Spider-Men over the past few years, each Spider-Man was crazier than the last, so it was reasonable that she, an ordinary person, couldn't understand.
Seeing this, Lucas said no more and changed the subject, "Wanda, I plan to go to Kamar-Taj to see master. Do you want to come with me?"
"Hmm?" Wanda didn't speak, only casting a questioning gaze.
Going to Kamar-Taj to see the Ancient One, was that something they needed to do together?
Seeing Wanda's reaction, Lucas knew he hadn't expressed himself clearly, and explained, "I meant going to Kamar-Taj on Earth-65, to see the male Ancient One."
"Male Ancient One?" Wanda's eyebrows rose, somewhat moved.
Although the female Ancient One was the first to take Wanda in and taught her very seriously, Wanda had a better relationship with the male Ancient One.
Firstly, the male Ancient One offered to make a trip to Hell to retrieve her parents' souls.
Secondly, after he left Earth-616, he became a lonely man with no disciples to accompany him.
After settling on Earth-65, only Lucas, Gwen, and Wanda would visit him from time to time.
Plus, his few disciples didn't need him to discipline them, as the female Ancient One was already teaching them. Thus, he grew increasingly doting on Lucas and the others.
"Okay, let's go together." Wanda decided to skip class after a brief thought.
If she missed class, she could ask a classmate to sign in for her, and if the teacher found out, it would usually just deduct some participation points.
But the opportunity to visit the male Ancient One was different. She had not yet mastered the technique of opening portals across Universes, so she only had the chance to hitch a ride to visit the male Ancient One when Lucas took Gwen back to Earth-65.
Before leaving Maximoff Drinks, Lucas found G'iah and asked about her recent training progress.
After learning that she was steadily progressing, he didn't say much more. He only admonished her to train steadily and not to be too eager.
This free-range apostle, although her strength increased a bit slowly and she was slow to be useful, Lucas didn't care.
There was nothing he could do. He himself was moving too fast, so he couldn't blame G'iah for not keeping up with him.
...
On Earth-65, in a field at Kamar-Taj, it was already evening.
An old farmer with white hair and beard was leaning on a hoe, sitting on the ground ungracefully, gnawing on a steamed bun. From time to time, he would take out the ceramic pot he carried with him and take small sips of clear water.
After a long while, the old farmer finally finished the steamed bun in his hand. Then he carefully cleaned his hands and clothes, ensuring no crumbs were wasted.
"You're here?"
"I'm here, Master."
"I'm here too."
The old farmer was none other than the Ancient One from the main Universe, who lived in seclusion on Earth-65.
The other two were naturally Lucas and Wanda.
After greeting, Lucas led Wanda out of the shadows.
Lucas saw the male Ancient One sitting on the ground, so he also sat cross-legged beside him.
Seeing this, Wanda straightened her clothes, intending to sit down. But she was stopped by the male Ancient One.
He pointed to the thatched hut in the distance and said, "There's a rocking chair over there. Wanda, go get it and sit on it."
Wanda refused, saying she didn't need it, but the male Ancient One insisted.
"Listen to your teacher, go quickly. I am a spiritual body, so it doesn't matter if it's dirty or not. Your clothes are clean, don't get them dirty."
"Master, my clothes are also very clean." Lucas said faintly, which made Wanda even more embarrassed.
"Nonsense!" The male Ancient One looked at Lucas with disdain.
"Don't think I can't tell, these clothes of yours are formed by energy mimicry. With how stingy you are, if they were really bought clothes, would you be willing to sit down directly?"
"Oh, I didn't expect you to see through me, Master."
After being exposed by the male Ancient One, Lucas wasn't ashamed. Instead, he put on a playful smile.
Hearing this, Wanda finally relented and walked towards the thatched hut in the distance.
The moment Wanda walked away, a green light simultaneously emanated from Lucas and the Ancient One, sweeping over their surroundings.
The next moment, the world outside the green light seemed to freeze.
"Uh... Master, what a coincidence." Lucas glanced at the male Ancient One, feeling a bit awkward and a bit puzzled.
I didn't tell him, nor did I feel any psychic probing. How did this old man know I had something to find him for?
The male Ancient One smiled smugly, stroking his beard. "I observed the celestial phenomena last night and calculated that you would come to me today."
Lucas's eyes widened, his expression showing disbelief.
Seeing Lucas's look, the male Ancient One smiled and continued, "I also calculated that you came to me for a big matter, one involving the Multiverse."
Lucas's eyes flickered, realizing this might be psychology rather than magic. After all, those words were too broad.
However, he still played along, moving his position in front of the male Ancient One, bowing respectfully and sincerely asking, "Master, can you clear my doubts?"
"Of course."
The male Ancient One immediately got into character, waving his hand to conjure a table in front of him and Lucas.
"What do you wish to consult me about this time?"
Lucas pointed his fingers like a sword and carved a word onto the low table.
Career.
Upon seeing this, male Ancient One feigned calculation, shaking his head and saying, "This matter is of great importance, and secrets cannot be revealed. However, I do have a story that might inspire you. Would you like to hear it?"
"Please explain, Master." Lucas bowed.
The male Ancient One, seeing this, took a sip of water as if it were wine, and then leisurely said, "Once upon a time, there was a mountain, and at the foot of the mountain was a village. In the village lived a young man, and the young man had a good friend."
"He was originally a farmer, but learned magic through his friend's sharing. Ultimately, this farmer became a Mystic Master."
Lucas's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he gave the male Ancient One a displeased look.
"Master, is this mountain called the Himalayas, and is this village called Kamar-Taj? And this young man... is his name Yao? Finally, did this Yao not only become a Mystic Master, but also further become the Sorcerer Supreme?"
"Gradually, people forgot his original name, only remembering him as the Ancient One?"
"Oh, you." The male Ancient One shook his head and chuckled.
"Lucas, you're too attached to appearances. In this world, there isn't just one Himalaya, nor just one Kamar-Taj, and certainly not just one Ancient One."
"If you get used to relying on answers, you'll be blinded by a single thing."
"In the past, the paths you've walked, I or other Ancient Ones have also walked or seen, and could offer advice to you. But from now on, you'll have to explore your own path."
Finally, he said earnestly, "It's all because you've walked too fast."
Lucas was pensive.
He realized that the male Ancient One was giving him a hint.
In the past, he could rely on the knowledge reserves of the male Ancient One and the female Ancient One, as well as a bit of memory from before his transmigration.
It was like playing a game with X-ray vision. As long as he had the strength, he could confront anything head-on.
But now his strength had surpassed the circle in which the Ancient Ones resided. Their knowledge and experience could no longer provide him with X-ray vision.
Lucas asked, "Master, couldn't you just say it directly, instead of beating around the bush so much?"
The male Ancient One explained in a feigned manner, "People can't teach people, but events can."
But Lucas knew he was deliberately going in circles, looking for an opportunity to retort at him.
What an old rascal.
"Master, I understand."
Feigning contemplation for a moment, Lucas suddenly slammed the table and stood up. However, he accidentally knocked over the male Ancient One's water pot when he stood up, wetting his pants.
The male Ancient One's face darkened, and he used the clothes on his hand to wipe the water stains off his pants, without using psychic power to remove them.
"You naughty disciple, I say a few words to you and you splash water on your teacher."
"Master, if I say I didn't do it on purpose, do you believe me?" Lucas said earnestly.
"I believe you, I believe you did it on purpose."
(End of Chapter)
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