Xiling herself had only just broken through to the rank of full Wizard.
She was naturally far weaker than Sgrily. Moreover, those academies that were on good terms with the Alliance of Nature wouldn't go out of their way to offend a semi-elemental Wizard over something so trivial. After all, as heads of their respective academies, they had far more to consider than an ordinary Wizard.
Even the few Wizards Xiling had managed to recruit to her side were at most at the standard Wizard level, still considerably weaker than Sgrily.
This was what made Sgrily so brazenly overbearing.
Facing his relentless pressure, the smile on Xiling's face grew increasingly strained. At the same time, she was transmitting voice warnings to Obo and Ilya, telling them not to make any moves lest they provoke him further.
Seeing this scene, Obo and Ilya felt as though their hearts were being cut by a knife. They clenched their fists tightly.
At that moment, Xiling spoke again: "I came this time to welcome an honorary professor who has just joined our academy. He wishes to enter the Ice Cavern for a visit…"
"An honorary professor?" Sgrily's brow furrowed. "Waglin? Nova? With their level of strength, even if they joined, they'd only be a burden…"
Sribly sneered.
"No! The professor we've invited this time is a traveling Wizard from the Eastern Capital! In fact, I was quite surprised that he was willing to join the Alliance of Nature…"
A hint of a smile appeared on Xiling's face. "And he has already arrived!"
"Heh… What kind of strength could a wandering traveler possibly have? Xiling, don't tell me you've been duped!" The contempt on Sgrily's face remained unchanged. "Hmm? He's here? Where?"
"Right here!"
A cold voice came from behind Sgrily.
Sgrily's body went rigid. As a full Wizard, for someone to slip past his perception and quietly appear right behind him — what level of strength would that take?
If instead of a greeting, that person had launched a spell attack, killing him probably wouldn't have been difficult at all.
He turned his neck stiffly and saw a young Wizard in black robes standing behind him, a smile on his face.
But the aura emanating from the man was terrifyingly powerful!
The moment he appeared, dense Dark-attribute energy particles flooded the area, completely displacing the elemental particle halo around Sgrily.
"This level of condensed elemental spiritual power… F-f-first-rank peak!" Sribly's words came out stuttering.
Mother of the Earth! A first-rank peak Wizard was a regional overlord even in the Dark Polar Region. How could someone of that caliber casually join a minor academy like the Alliance of Nature as an honorary professor?
Sgrily felt his mind spinning, unable to process it.
"It seems someone here isn't very respectful toward the head of our Alliance of Nature?" Leilin gazed at the wizard with interest. "Surgical transplant? Or physical modification from a Meditation Method? I'd really love to study it…"
Though he didn't say it outright, his gaze alone sent a chill through Sgrily's spine.
"My lord! You jest! Our Octopus Spiders have always been on friendly terms with the Alliance of Nature — why would I ever make things difficult for Head Xiling? Ha ha… ha ha…"
Sgrily bowed deeply, lowering his head and offering an obsequious grin.
"Is that so?" Leilin glanced at Xiling.
"It is, Lord Leilin!" Xiling gave Sgrily a cold look, and only after seeing a pleading expression appear in his eyes did she speak in an even tone: "Yes, my lord."
"In that case, you may leave. I have some matters to discuss with Xiling," Leilin said flatly.
"Of course! Of course! Thank you, my lord!" Sgrily immediately fled back into the fortress as though granted a pardon, not daring to step outside again.
"Xiling, it seems your Alliance of Nature isn't doing very well around here?" Leilin looked at Xiling, his eyes briefly drifting to the two third-rank Apprentices behind her, their faces flushed red with embarrassment.
"My lord, I apologize for the embarrassment!" A bitter smile crossed Xiling's face. "Ever since my mentor passed away, our Alliance of Nature hasn't produced another full Wizard in a very long time. With only me holding things up alone, we've appeared somewhat in decline… But with your lordship's joining us, I'm certain things will improve…"
A first-rank peak Wizard was already the cornerstone strength of a mid-tier academy. With Leilin as their figurehead, the Alliance of Nature would naturally attract far more development opportunities.
"As you wish. But we had a prior agreement, and I hope you'll remember it. If you go stirring up truly troublesome messes using my name, I won't actually step in to clean them up…" Leilin reminded her. His arrangement with Xiling was simple — she would provide a high-tier Meditation Method, accumulated spell research materials, and this convenience, and in exchange he would hold a nominal professor title.
In truth, Leilin was only keeping a token affiliation with the Alliance of Nature. Though he had his own plans, he had no intention of letting Xiling use his name to go causing trouble.