Leilin was quite impressed with the choice of the final test subject.
The courage and decisiveness it took to overcome psychological pressure and worldly constraints, to resolutely defect to the enemy — and as a member of a different race, no less — was not something ordinary people possessed.
"However, it's a pity. When information is transparent in one direction, no matter how much you do, it's all useless..."
Leilin sighed, a dangerous gleam flashing in his eyes.
"My Lord!"
At that moment, a Wizard's voice rang out from outside.
"Come in!"
"Yes!" The tent flap was lifted, and in walked a sinister-looking old man. This was Yilun, a peak First-rank Wizard that Leilin had forcibly subjugated.
He had many things to accomplish in the Dark Polar Central Domain this time, so naturally he had brought along his most powerful fighter.
"The minor threats around Gale Lake have all been cleared. We can move in at any time!" Yilun bowed his head respectfully and reported to Leilin.
Although the Central Domain had bled heavily this time, agreeing to hand over resource nodes equivalent to those of a large School to the Alliance of Nature, there were still many troublesome areas that the Alliance of Nature would need to clear out personally.
Wizards could be relocated, but dangerous creatures and the like would not obediently follow the War Council's orders.
"Well done." Leilin nodded faintly.
Gale Lake was the location he had chosen to establish his base. From now on, it would serve as the Alliance of Nature's headquarters in the Central Domain.
"Pass along my orders. Select a site and construct a permanent defensive magical array. Prepare for the relocation!"
Leilin issued his instructions calmly, and Yilun accepted them with a respectful expression before quickly withdrawing.
"One more thing!" Just as Yilun was about to step through the doorway, he heard Leilin's voice again. "I'll be stepping out temporarily. You'll hold down the fort here. Keep watch for any hidden dangers in the surroundings!"
"Understood! My Lord!" Yilun bowed even deeper.
"Mm." Leilin nodded and waved his hand, dismissing Yilun.
The construction work and everything that followed was too troublesome and time-consuming. Leilin couldn't be bothered to manage all of it, so he simply delegated everything downward.
In the mundane world, doing this might have risked being sidelined by subordinates, but Leilin was different!
His individual combat power alone could rival — even surpass — that of the entire Alliance of Nature's Wizards. And he held Yilun's lifeline! A wisp of the man's soul essence still remained in Leilin's grasp!
Therefore, Leilin trusted Yilun completely and had no fear of betrayal.
"Besides, it's about time I paid a visit to some old acquaintances!"
Leilin chuckled softly, and his body was suddenly enveloped in black mist.
Pop! With a soft sound, the black mist burst apart, and Leilin's figure vanished from the tent.
...
"Osni! Are you certain that Second-rank Wizard has entered the Reincarnation Period?"
In another underground chamber, Longbaton wore a black robe with a faintly distorted spider pattern on the back, its eight pitch-black legs extending into the void as if siphoning some mysterious energy.
"Absolutely, my Lord!" This Wizard called Osni was a burly white man with sharp, well-defined features, wearing a finely crafted leather-reinforced suit of armor. He held a tattered notebook in his hands, which clashed somewhat with his overall bearing.
"Grand Wizard Rosby, the Head of the Verdant Waters Garden School, enters the Reincarnation Period every fifty years due to the limitations of his Advanced Meditation Method, his strength falling to the Second-rank level! And I have already divined the exact time and his hiding location!"
Osni appeared thoroughly confident.
Through the prophecy granted by the Advanced Meditation Method Holy Light Candlefire, it had never once been inaccurate. He naturally had full confidence in himself.
"Excellent! Then this time, we pull off something big!"
Longbaton closed his eyes, seemingly communing with the spider behind him for a time, before speaking abruptly.
"Those School Wizards! They rule over the most vast territories, hoard the best resource nodes, tightly choke off our channels for advancement, monopolize Advanced Meditation Methods, and ruthlessly exploit commoners and apprentices like us who come from humble origins! Can you tolerate that?!"
Longbaton's body rose into midair, and his voice, amplified tenfold through some Wizard technique, echoed throughout the entire cavern.
"We cannot!" "We cannot!"
Inside the cavern, besides Osni, there were other apprentices and Wizards present.
These Wizards might have looked somewhat downtrodden, but now flames seemed to burn in their eyes.
In every struggle for power, there were always losers — and also lucky ones who happened to obtain legacies. These Wizards, if not recognized by a School, often lived rather miserable lives.
Moreover, having endured long periods of injustice and oppression, the fires within their hearts burned hot, ready to ignite at the slightest spark.
Longbaton had gathered a large contingent of Wizards and apprentices without expending much effort at all.
With the covert resource support of the Dark Elves, plus the fact that Longbaton had generously distributed portions of Advanced Meditation Method information to them, these Wizards had seen their strength improve by one or two levels.
Wizards who had managed to survive in the cracks all possessed one or two decent skills. Given a certain infusion of resources, the strength they could wield was enough to leave even Longbaton stunned.
And now, through the brainwashing of reformist ideology and the righteous cause of revolution, Longbaton had firmly grasped these Wizards in the palm of his hand.