Now, a golden road stretched directly before Leilin.
With enough Fire Source Stones, his soul force could be dramatically strengthened — even rivaling the centuries or even millennia of accumulation that Morning Stars with top-tier Meditation Methods possessed!
"If the Morning Stars of the Wizard World found out about this, they'd probably go mad rushing over, wouldn't they?"
Leilin stroked his chin, a note of doubt creeping into his thoughts. "If this kind of top-tier, precious resource is fatally attractive even to Morning Stars, then why would Jupiter's Thunder use this world to trap the three Dukes, even at the cost of exposing its coordinates? That doesn't make sense…"
In an instant, the events before seemed like a veil of fog, leaving Leilin with a hazy sense of unease.
"Perhaps they were confident they could deal with the Dukes immediately, but didn't expect them to escape — and were caught off guard! Or maybe they never discovered Fire Source Stones at all? After all, they don't have a Chip. Without on-site investigation, there's no way they'd uncover the heaven-defying effect Fire Source Stones have on strengthening the soul…"
Leilin speculated.
"Never mind — the fact that the Three Serpent Cult is so desperately plundering Fire Source Stones means the Morning Star behind them has probably discovered this soul-strengthening effect… I need to gather a massive quantity of Fire Source Stones too!"
The fourth layer of the Eye of Komoin Meditation Method had become almost useless to Leilin by now. As a result, despite having advanced to Morning Star some time ago, his soul remained at its original stage, without the slightest bit of progress.
In truth, this was a common predicament among many Morning Star Wizards. Progress in soul power was simply too difficult — even possessing a top-tier Meditation Method didn't necessarily yield any results.
"This trip to the Lava World was absolutely worth it!"
Leilin clenched his fists, excitement immediately flooding his eyes.
…
In the capital of the Atlanta Federation, a vast and thriving city.
Unknown how many meters below ground, a colossal space had been carved out. At its center, a massive ball of flame blazed like a sun, and within it, the faint silhouette of a phoenix could be discerned.
Resonant phoenix cries echoed ceaselessly from the miniature sun, and the entire flame pulsed with breath, as though it possessed a life of its own.
On the ground below stretched an enormous pentagram formation, and from its center, thin wisps of crimson light were continuously drawn upward, flowing into the sun-like sphere.
The phoenix within radiated intense excitement, as if it had received an enormous boon.
Scattered wisps of crimson light fell upon the edges of the formation and gradually solidified — transforming unmistakably into Fire Source Stones!
After a long while, the phoenix within the sun retracted its flames. Amid a torrent of golden light, the phoenix gradually transformed into a human figure.
He was a strikingly handsome man with a shock of crimson hair — even his eyebrows were the same color. His entire body radiated a sense of surging power.
Even the void rippled faintly around him. A terrifying aura that reached the Radiant Moon standard of the Wizard World — the peak of fifth-level power — swirled about his frame.
The crimson-haired man wore a regal robe of the same hue over formal attire as he entered another underground chamber. The room was entirely empty save for countless binding runes that flickered ceaselessly, and at its far end stood a massive floor-length mirror.
"…We meet again, esteemed President of the Atlanta Federation! Lord Dulu!"
An apparition wearing black moon Wizard robes, with a moon rune upon its forehead, materialized within the mirror's surface. Eerie dark energy seeped outward, its presence rivaling Dulu's own aura.
The wizard who appeared in the mirror was none other than the leader of Jupiter's Thunder — also a fifth-level Radiant Moon Great Wizard!
"Hello! Guest from another world!" Dulu smiled slightly, the crimson feathers across his body blooming with dazzling luster.
"It seems you've taken up my suggestion from last time! How has it worked out?"
The wizard in the mirror fell silent for a moment, seemingly sensing something. After a long pause, he opened his eyes and asked with a smile.
"Quite well, my friend! Though there are still a few areas that need improvement…" Dulu nodded.
"That requires more time and effort on my part. Most importantly, I can't obtain sufficient physical data unless you allow me to come over…"
The Radiant Moon Wizard in the mirror shook his head.
"Absolutely not, my friend. You and I are both powerhouses who've transcended the stars, and this world only needs one guardian!"
Dulu refused immediately. Allowing a powerful being from another world to cross over would only invite trouble. Ever since establishing contact with this wizard, Dulu had harbored nothing more than thoughts of using him, while maintaining his vigilance.
"Very well! Then let us proceed to discuss our transaction!"
The president of Jupiter's Thunder in the mirror spoke with a hint of resignation.
If a Morning Star Wizard was like a grain of sand on a beach to the world — easy to overlook without careful scrutiny — then a Radiant Moon Wizard was an elephant! The moment he dared attempt to cross over, he would be met with Dulu's merciless assault.
In this matter, Dulu could even draw upon the blessing of the entire world's will, his strength far surpassing that of an ordinary fifth-level Radiant Moon Wizard.
Therefore, even though both were of the fifth level, the wizard on the other side had no intention of crossing over to suffer such a beating, and could only covertly send a few of his subordinates over to carry out operations.