Wild winds howled on both sides as a colossal airship cut through the air currents, hurtling forward at tremendous speed.
Inside the comfortable cabin, Leilin regarded the large pile of books in his hands with deep satisfaction.
This trip to the small town had not only yielded Spirit Tide data, but had also dismantled Beilu Sebabu's conspiracy, eliminated a hidden threat, and netted him a Devouring Rune — a truly bountiful haul.
He had even managed to obtain some of his Morning Star ancestor's research notes and experimental records from the apprentice Bru.
In exchange, he had only needed to part with a few vials of Spiritual Power potions, which was more than enough to leave the other party weeping with gratitude.
Many of that Morning Star Wizard's research findings and personal insights had provided Leilin with tremendous inspiration.
As he traveled, Leilin also made sure to order the Chip to record all of these materials, fleshing out his own database and knowledge repository.
After dealing with the Spirit Tide and Beilu Sebabu's affairs, and with the previously agreed-upon deadline fast approaching, Leilin switched to the private airship gifted by the Feile family — the Great Serpent — abandoning his leisurely travel pace.
As an airship custom-built for a Morning Star Wizard, the Great Serpent excelled in every performance metric. Not even the faintest tremor could be felt during thunderstorms, and all the flight routes and supply depots across the entire Central Continent were open to it, offering free maintenance and other services — which only deepened Leilin's favorable impression of the Feile family.
Of course, this was likely the Feile family's and the Sky Throne's intention all along.
Even an enterprise controlled by a Radiance Wizard still monopolized the entirety of the Central Continent's air transport network, and had to bleed in other areas to maintain goodwill.
Compared to the myriad exchanges of interests at play, the cost of currying favor with a single Morning Star Wizard was negligible.
The Great Serpent was astonishingly fast. At full speed, Leilin reached his destination — the Clive Highlands — in less than half a month.
This was a shared sanctuary for numerous bloodline organizations, essentially a gathering point exclusively open to Warlocks, home to many mixed-blood races, Warlocks, and Bloodline-Tainted individuals alike.
Rumor had it that anyone possessing Warlock blood, or any Wizard or race involved in the Path of Bloodline, could find proper care here.
Thus, on the Central Continent where Wizards dominated all other races and humanity stood supreme, the Clive Highlands could rightly be called a paradise for outcasts and mixed-bloods rejected by both sides.
And in the heart of the Clive Highlands, in its largest city — Clive City — a private exchange gathering for Morning Star Warlocks was about to be held.
Paul and Philip had earnestly invited Leilin to come here and interact with other high-ranking Warlocks. This was something Leilin naturally welcomed, and he agreed at once.
Not wishing to draw too much attention, Leilin bypassed the airship docking point outside Clive City, instead landing directly in the wilderness. He then stowed the Great Serpent away and walked into the city on foot.
The roads were bustling with horse-drawn carriages, alchemical vehicles, magical flying carpets, and other forms of transport. A vast, diverse stream of Wizards flowed in and out through the great gates on either side.
These Wizards all shared a common trait — the bloodline aura emanating from their bodies was remarkably dense. They were either Warlocks or non-human races, and there were even a few Bloodline-Tainted among them, none of whom suffered the discrimination they would have faced in the outside world.
As he passed through the city gates, Leilin took a deliberate glance at the guards standing nearby.
They were a humanoid race standing roughly two meters tall, with elongated canine snouts and ears. Below the head, their bodies were remarkably similar to a normal human's, differing only in a sparse covering of fur.
"The Qirong?!" Leilin immediately recalled this race — a close relative of the Kobolds. While the Kobolds were rumored to carry ancient dragon bloodline, the Qirong were purely a type of beastfolk. Yet the Central Continent widely classified them as close kin to the Kobolds, even considering them the same species altogether.
But Leilin, whose ancient Red Dragon bloodline had been purified and refined, knew perfectly well that the Dragon bloodline in the Kobolds was real! Yet in these Qirong, he could not sense even the faintest trace of draconic bloodline — not the slightest sliver!
"If I turned this finding into a thesis or public statement, I'd probably become famous across the entire continent. Not that it would do me any good…"
Leilin's mind wandered for a moment before he immediately shoved this idea — the kind that would bring endless trouble — straight into the trash bin.
"Still, the average strength of these Qirong is similar to that of Kobolds. Combined with their similar appearance, it's no wonder the people of the Central Continent confused the two!"
Sensing that the Qirong averaged around the level of a Rank One Wizard, Leilin found his estimation of the sorcerers behind the scenes — the ones who controlled this city — rising by another notch.
Individually formidable strength, paired with outstanding tracking and reconnaissance abilities — the Qirong guard alone was enough to keep any opportunistic troublemakers in check.
"Welcome to Clivy! This is a city of sorcerers. Please observe the rules of the Bloodline Holders and respect the other races… Now please select your desired destination: the Land of Lava, the Great Tree Forest, the Heart of the Ocean, the Tomb of Darkness, the Central Core…"