The Wizard world was extremely pragmatic — no one would go out of their way to antagonize a second-grade Wizard over the sake of an already-destroyed school.
If there had still been survivors from the Misty Forest, continuously filing complaints and rallying support, there might have been some hope. After all, the Alliance of Nature had been operating for so long that it had accumulated various interests and allied schools.
But Leilin had uprooted the Misty Forest completely. Under the devastating assault on its headquarters, not a single dog had survived.
Therefore, there was far less resistance on these matters.
This was also one of the reasons why Leilin had to destroy the Misty Forest's headquarters — beyond concealing the truth about the Frost World.
Now that the general direction had been settled, everything that followed proceeded much more smoothly.
Logan spoke directly: "In that case, the Joint Assembly will handle it according to this arrangement. Additionally, the remaining forces of the Misty Forest should be taken over by a school!"
"Rest assured, once I return I'll immediately have them prepare the evaluation for a mid-tier school. But what about the Joint Assembly?" Leilin asked.
The Eastern Domain's Joint Assembly of Wizards convened once every twenty years, and it had only recently concluded.
"That's no problem! The nine executive committee members can make an exception for an expedited promotion, but there will still need to be a formality at the next Joint Assembly!" Logan waved his hand dismissively.
"Then that's settled!" Leilin immediately returned the favor: "Regarding the latest round of the Dark Beast Tide and the threat of the Dark Elf Empire, I will also contribute my share of strength! After all, I am also a member of humanity!"
Upon hearing Leilin's assurance, Logan laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out considerably.
"In that case, Leilin, you've just been promoted to second-grade, so you must have many new insights and inspirations regarding your path. We can take this opportunity to exchange ideas!"
Logan's smile broadened even further. With a wave of his hand, the metal tabletop indented, and two steaming beverages floated up.
"It would be my honor. I also have many questions about meditation methods that I'd like to consult you on, Lord Logan!" Leilin said with a faint smile, picking up his cup.
Several hours later, Leilin took his leave from Logan's place. After he departed, the metal house immediately transformed — four massive metal legs extended outward and slowly carried it away.
Meanwhile, Leilin wore a slight smile, his mood quite excellent.
This time, not only had he resolved future complications in one fell swoop, but Logan the Wizard's vast experience had been extremely useful to him. Due to his excessively rapid advancement, he truly lacked understanding of the second-grade tier, especially a deep comprehension of the Path!
These things might seem unimportant, but they would certainly cause him enormous trouble when condensing a "Quality Point" as a third-grade Wizard.
And now, he had the opportunity to fill that gap.
Moreover, Leilin's extensive knowledge and the rich accumulated wisdom from another region had also left Logan quite surprised — the benefits he gained were no less than what Leilin had received.
...
Ever since Leilin's return, the Alliance of Nature's expansion had reached yet another peak. Very quickly, all remaining forces of the Misty Forest were absorbed, with the influence even showing signs of spreading to the surrounding areas.
The Joint Assembly's executive committee members turned a blind eye to all these moves. In the end, an official evaluation was even published, announcing the Alliance of Nature's promotion to a mid-tier school — leaving many Wizards dumbfounded.
Through this period of development, the Alliance of Nature had leapt from a declining small-tier school all the way to the pinnacle of mid-tier schools! After all, with Leilin — a second-grade Warlock — standing guard, that foundation alone far surpassed many mid-tier schools.
However, Leilin was well aware of Logan's bottom line.
The nine large schools dividing the Dark Pinnacle Eastern Domain among themselves was already the limit. The remaining resources were insufficient to support the birth of another large school, and Leilin had no intention of doing so. Thus, the Alliance of Nature's expansion finally came to a halt, entering a phase of consolidation — which brought a collective sigh of relief to many Wizards.
Truth be told, the Alliance of Nature's round of expansion had been far too rapid. In reality, it was entirely built upon Leilin's individual military suppression, making it appear quite unstable at its foundation.
But as long as they weathered this period and fully digested their gains, their overall strength would certainly advance another step!
Xi Ling, the faction's nominal leader, was busy to the point of being nowhere to be seen.
Leilin had no interest in surface-level authority, so he had delegated it all downward. Xi Ling, being the original faction leader and sharing a close relationship with Leilin, had received a significant portion.
She was now filled with gratitude toward Leilin.
The Alliance of Nature had once again risen to glory under her leadership, even far exceeding its former heights. If her mentor knew, they would surely be very proud!
Leilin paid no attention to any of this. After broadly stabilizing the situation, he had secluded himself in the Alliance of Nature's headquarters, immersing himself in analyzing advanced meditation methods and his own meditations.
Whatever resources or materials he needed, he merely had to issue an order to his subordinates, and they would be gathered and delivered immediately. Thus, Leilin became increasingly reclusive.
He could clearly sense that his previous progress had been too rapid, and he needed a good period of consolidation. So he chose to lie low.
And time passed, little by little, imperceptibly.