Becoming a Fourth-level Spell Caster was a significant point of divergence. If he was in the Dark Magic Region, he would have been able to build his own Wizard Tower and teach his own students. On the career path of Spell Casters, he would have become a highly qualified Wizard!

However, for Merlin, the benefits he sensed from becoming a Fourth-level Spell Caster was much more than these. The moment the last two Fourth-level spells were successfully constructed, a shockwave rippled through his entire Awareness. The Spell Models, which had been tilted dangerously, were restored to perfect balance and became as still as a pond.

All the Spell Models in his Awareness came together as a whole, which released an impressive level of Mind Power. With the current level of Mind Power, Merlin could even try to construct a Fifth-level spell!

Furthermore, Merlin discovered that the spells he cast now seemed to have a holistic feeling to them. All six elements, Fire, Wind, Ice, Earth, Thunder, and Darkness were wildly pervading his body, whereas Merlin's body was like a black hole that engulfed these elements hungrily.

Upon leveling-up to Fourth-level, all the Spell Models within his Awareness underwent a subtle change. It seemed like the limits of the Spell Models had been expanded and thus, they were able to accommodate more Magic Power. This transformation was experienced by all Fourth-level Spell Casters, and not only to Merlin.

It was no wonder, then, that Fourth-level Spell Casters were fundamentally different from those below Fourth-level. Upon leveling-up to Fourth-level, their abilities were increased many folds, and in all aspects, their powers exceeded Spell Casters below Fourth-level.

After Merlin became a Fourth-level Spell Caster, he did not immediately construct Fifth-level spells. Although the balance in his Spell Models finally allowed large amounts of Mind Power to be released and he could actually construct Fifth-level spells, he knew that if he constructed the Fifth-level spells, the Spell Models in his Awareness would lose its balance once again. Then, he would have to consume large amounts of Mind Power to stabilize the Spell Models.

In that situation, it would have been hard to determine whether there would be enough Mind Power left to activate spells in a fight. Although it was not usually a noteworthy point of consideration, Mind Power was actually a crucial component. Without Mind Power, a Spell Caster would face problems to even cast a spell.

This was because in order to cast a spell, Mind Power is involved to activate the Spell Model, and from there, the spell is released.

After leveling up to a Fourth-level Spell Caster, Merlin began to cultivate the special Demon Ability, Glacier Country. Since he had already constructed his Fourth-level Ice-type spell, Arctic Realm, he was able to cultivate Glacier Country.

The biggest hurdle in cultivating Glacier Country was the physical transformation. It was the tipping point for most as it was very difficult to achieve. Most of the Spell Casters were unable to successfully transform their bodies.

Those who wanted to cultivate special Demon Abilities had to undergo the challenge of physical transformation. Once the transformation was successful, they would possess a powerful ability. On the other hand, if the physical transformation was unsuccessful, they would only face certain death.

Merlin had relied on the impressive regenerating powers of the mysterious relief sculptures to succeed in his physical transformation, thus, it was no longer difficult for him to cultivate the Glacier Country.

"Hum".

On Merlin's body, a mysterious symbol appeared. This mysterious symbol glowed with an ice-cold aura, drawing a chilling shudder. Endless Ice Elements began to accumulate around Merlin's body.

The first step of cultivating the Glacier Country was to successfully carve out the mysterious symbol. Following that, he had to use his Mind Power to stimulate the symbol and follow the instructions of the Glacier Country to make it descend.

"Boom".

Merlin's Mind Power was already sufficiently strong, coupled with his success in carving the symbol and stimulation of his Mind Power, the ice-cold sensation reappeared. Then, an invisible freezing space suddenly descended.

"Crack crack".

Since Merlin was in the center, he could feel the invasion of the frigid blasts, but his body was now able to withstand the invasion and as a matter of fact, even felt a sense of familiarity.

An invisible ice-cold power enveloped the entire area. Merlin knew that this was the Glacier Country. If anyone was trapped within it, a mere thought from Merlin would be able to freeze the person or stir up a snowstorm, allowing infinite Ice Elements to rage throughout.

This was the horror of the Glacier Country. Once the Glacier Country descended, any Spell Caster who was trapped in it would be suppressed. In some instances, the Spell Caster would not even be able to wield half of his power.

The most important function of the Glacier Country was to suppress, limit and bind!

However, this was only the first form of the Glacier Country. Its binding ability was not too strong, and its effect on an average Seventh-level Spell Caster was also mediocre.

The Glacier Country also had seven forms. As the Demon Ability belonged to the Legend of Ice, its power was naturally formidable. Nevertheless, it would not be easy to cultivate its second, third, or more powerful forms.

Merlin's Darkness Eye was already cultivated by Wizard Leo to its fourth form, except that Wizard Leo had sealed the third and fourth forms.1

Later on, Wizard Leo passed it down to Merlin, hence Merlin being able to wield the third form of the Darkness Eye. In fact, if Merlin resisted the backlash of the Darkness Eye in the future, he would immediately be able to wield the fourth form of the Darkness Eye.

The Glacier Country, on the other hand, was different. Merlin had to cultivate it step-by-step, from its first form onwards. The cultivation of Glacier Country was similar to other special Demon Abilities, which required an understanding of 'ice'.

Merlin's understanding of 'fire' was truly comprehensive. Since he had a Fire-type Maxim, he always had a profound understanding of 'fire'. In contrast, Merlin's understanding of Ice-type spells was no different from a beginner.

If he had to understand the essence of 'ice' in order to improve the Glacier Country to its second and third forms, it would take an indefinite period of time.

It could possibly take years, or maybe even decades. After such a long time, Merlin was not sure if the Glacier Country would still be useful to him.

Thinking along those lines, Merlin became frustrated. However, when he sensed the Ice Maxim that was being fully suppressed by both the Flame Maxim and his Mind Power, he had a stroke of genius.

If it was an understanding of 'ice' that he needed, there was no one who was more profound than the Ice Maxim itself. After all, it was the ultimate Maxim that belonged to the Legend of Ice and was the strongest Maxim of its element!

Thus, Merlin wielded the Glacier Country again, and the invisible Glacier Country descended. This was just its first form, so it was invisible and had a very small range. Naturally, its power was not very strong.

Once the Glacier Country descended, Merlin used all his strength to push the Ice Maxim, which had been 'driven away' by the Flame Maxim until only a small smidgen was left, directly into the Glacier Country.

"Boom."

The Ice Maxim gradually seeped into the Glacier Country, and it changed in its entirety rapidly. Since Ice Maxim had been the strongest technique of the Legend of Ice, its understanding of ice was almost at its peak. As a result, the Glacier Country was changing rapidly.

The originally invisible Glacier Country began to turn slightly transparent, enough to be faintly visible to the naked eye. This was the second form of the Glacier Country. Merlin could also clearly sense that its binding power had increased in strength.

Nevertheless, the Glacier Country was still evolving. Soon, it became translucent, and the landscape of the Glacier Country became apparent to the naked eye. It was like a realm of ice and snow, with draughts of frigid blasts whirling in the air. Its binding power was strong enough to suppress any Spell Caster.

Even the powers of special Demon Abilities would be weakened inside the Glacier Country. This was the third form of the Glacier Country. Merlin could clearly sense that the Ice Maxim was being consumed rapidly as if it would be completely exhausted quickly enough.

This was Merlin's limit, the third form of the Glacier Country!

"Retract!"

Merlin immediately activated the Flame Maxim to drive the Ice Maxim out of the Glacier Country. Without the Ice Maxim, the Glacier Country stopped changing its form.

"The third form!"

Finally, Merlin's Glacier Country stopped changing. He was now able to maintain the third form of the Glacier Country for about an hour. It was considered a long time; enough to kill any enemy that could cross his path.

Of course, this was also Merlin's limit. If it was the fourth form, Merlin might not even be able to support it, or perhaps his Magic Power would be depleted in the first instance and his Spell Models would collapse. The evolution of every form of special Demon Abilities was onerous and worsened substantially with each subsequent evolution.

The evolution from its first form to its third form took only a very short period of time, but it was not due to Merlin's cultivation. Instead, it had occurred by deception, because Merlin used the Ice Maxim to 'deceive' the Glacier Country into unlocking its third form.

Nevertheless, this 'deception' would only be made possible if a Spell Caster had, like Merlin, accidentally obtained the Ice Maxim, as well as was been eligible to cultivate the Glacier Country. If any of the two requirements had not been fulfilled, then it would not have come to fruition.

In reality, Merlin was the only person who relied on the Ice Maxim to 'deceive' the Glacier Country and cultivate its third form.

"I see. The Ice Maxim has such properties. In that case, I better save it."

Merlin did not expect that the Ice Maxim, which was being forcefully suppressed by the Flame Maxim to prevent it from creating chaos in his Awareness, had such properties. It was actually able to help cultivate the Glacier Country quickly1. Therefore, he should preserve the Ice Maxim and not exhaust it, so that he could use it again when he was ready to cultivate the fourth form of the Glacier Country.

The translucent state of the Glacier Country was big enough to cover an area of a few hundred meters. Moreover, Merlin could also condense it further and reduce its coverage area, but it would consume significant amounts of Mind Power. If the coverage area of the Glacier Country was reduced, its power would be increased.

After successfully cultivating the Glacier Country, Merlin opened his eyes. He had been in the Frost Lord's area for three months now. It was time to take a break.

Thus, Merlin stood up, opened the door, and calmly walked outside.

The author wrote 'third and second forms' but I believe that might have been a typo as it is not consistent with the previous chapters.The author used 'help cultivate the Ice Maxim' but I believe that it is another typo as it is factually incorrect according to the rest of the chapter.