Leilin stepped out of the inn, leaving behind the dazed-looking owner and the waitstaff.
After he was gone, these people would completely forget both his appearance and the events surrounding his visit — they wouldn't even feel suspicious about the gap in their memories. This was a form of psychological suggestion implanted deep within their minds.
He had picked up this technique from
Back at his base, after a long and secretive conversation with Shi Ke — who had shown up acting all mysterious — Leilin found himself staring at the object on the table with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
It was a slim booklet with a fiery red cover, and inscribed within it was the tenth-level cultivation method of the Fire Feather Art!
Shi Ke had come specifically to deliver this to him. The tenth level of the Fire Feather Art — something Leilin had been longing for — had now fallen neatly into his hands.
"Can't help but feel a little speechless…" Leilin ordered the Chip to record the contents, then destroyed the booklet. "But it looks like he's dropped his suspicions about me…"
And the fact that the thing he had been craving for so long was finally in his possession put Leilin in a rather good mood.
"Ding! Tenth level of the Fire Feather Art recorded. Analyzing…" The Chip's voice rang out, and Leilin carefully reviewed the contents manifesting in his memory region.
Compared to the previous nine levels, the tenth level of the Fire Feather Art had already entered the realm of Morning Star — it involved the selection of a Path of Power, carried the unique characteristics of another world, and held tremendous research value for Leilin.
In ancient times, many Wizards had been eclectic, incorporating foreign Paths of Power into their own advancement systems and compensating for weaknesses with external strengths, which was how the brilliance of the ancient era was forged. And now, Leilin wanted to do the same.
"The tenth level of the Fire Feather Art!" Leilin's expression grew increasingly solemn. The more he studied it, the more he appreciated the staggering talent of the person who had originally created this technique. This was undeniably a powerful cultivation method that could rival numerous top-tier Meditation Methods!
As the Chip's analysis progressed deeper and deeper, the aura emanating from Leilin began to shift.
Within his body, the blazing ninth-level Fire Feather Art energy gradually purified and turned translucent, radiating an astonishing majesty.
A massive quantity of fire elemental crystals materialized, faintly converging into the shape of a vortex.
"Scree—" A piercing, noble bird cry echoed beside Leilin's ears, and he felt as though he had connected, through some ethereal thread of spiritual and soul power, with a special existence!
In the dark depths beneath countless starry rivers, a colossal raptor whose body spanned several worlds — as though slumbering — suddenly opened its eyes. Its cold gaze fixed directly on Leilin!
"Could this… be the legendary Ancient Fire Phoenix? This aura — it might be the royal bloodline among the Fire Phoenixes, or even an ancestor!"
Leilin understood perfectly that even if what he was seeing was merely an illusion, such ancient existences were profoundly mysterious and unpredictable. They could even project their power directly through such apparitions.
And that flicker of fury in the phoenix's eyes gave Leilin an icy, bone-deep chill.
"No good! It's realized I'm a fake!" The thought flashed through his mind, and in the next instant, he felt an enormous crimson torrent crashing toward him.
Boom! A shattering sound erupted from Leilin's dantian. His face went pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood — yet a look of relief crossed his features.
"Thank goodness… I've already condensed the Singularity!" Leilin gazed into his own body with lingering fear.
The Singularity, which had previously sunk into dormancy, had violently resurfaced the moment the Fire Feather Art began stirring, on the verge of breaking through to the tenth level. It scattered the concentrated crimson energy essence, interrupting the Fire Feather Art's advancement to the tenth level — the Star Rank. And it was precisely this that had pulled Leilin out of the illusion. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
"That Fire Phoenix, vast as a world itself — could it be the Phoenix Lord of antiquity?"
Leilin recalled that terrifying, enormous Fire Phoenix once more. In his estimation, only a scant few existences like the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents or the Eye of Judgment could compare to it.
"It seems the Fire Feather Art is deeply connected to the Fire Phoenix. And the tenth level requires connecting with the Fire Phoenix across the void, even being irradiated by its contaminating power. Of course, the Fire Feather Clan calls this a 'Blessing Force'…"
The true body of that colossal Fire Phoenix was obviously not here, but absorbing certain energies through rituals or cultivation methods and channeling that power — this was a common practice among existences that transcended worlds.
If Leilin had not already advanced to Morning Star and established his own Path of Power, forcibly interrupting the Fire Feather Art's advancement, he would almost certainly have been killed on the spot by that Fire Phoenix!
"So the Morning Star-level Fire Feather Art is a path of ritual sacrifice! Offering sacrifices to the Ancient Fire Phoenix to gain power, even to transform one's bloodline — ultimately becoming a true member of the Fire Phoenix race!"
Leilin stroked his chin. This practice bore some resemblance to the faith-based systems of the gods, but differed in the specifics. The gods valued quantity — the more followers, the better — whereas the path of ritual sacrifice focused on wide dissemination of the tradition while concentrating on cultivating elites, making it more akin to a bloodline clan.
"This approach also carries a sense of constraint… very much like the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents' dominion…"
Leilin's expression darkened, as though something had occurred to him.
"Chip! Begin modifying the Fire Feather Art. Coordinate with the Singularity's power, simulate a fusion of the two, and explore the possibility of breaking free from the ritual's control…"
Now that he knew the Fire Feather Art would inevitably attract the Fire Phoenix's attention once cultivated to higher levels, Leilin naturally had no intention of continuing blindly. But modifying the Fire Feather Art and integrating it into the
In the ancient era, this concept had been proven viable countless times over. Moreover, Leilin's secondary Elemental Affinity was fire, giving him an innate advantage in this regard.
And in the back of Leilin's mind, there was an even more audacious thought.
"Since it all works through bloodline, meditation, and Paths of Power to exert control, then I can use experiments with the Fire Feather Art to explore how to eventually deal with the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents…"
Leilin's eyes were dark and deep. He was not someone content to remain beneath another's heel. Though the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents had not yet taken notice of him, he could not tolerate the possibility of being controlled, and had long been preparing for the worst.
Whether it was attempting to break through the constraints of his bloodline, or casting off the shackles of bloodline and Meditation Methods altogether — all of it served this ultimate purpose.
"A freedomless immortality, a peak beneath someone else's thumb — where's the pleasure in that?" A flicker of deep resolve passed through Leilin's eyes.
"Ding! Commencing fusion simulation. Allocating 80% of computational resources. Tenth-level Fire Feather Art technique, Komoin's Eye Meditation Method… Estimated time: sixteen days, fourteen hours, thirty-four minutes, fifty-six seconds…"
The Chip faithfully reported the results.
Since Leilin's advancement to Morning Star, its computational capacity and simulation capabilities had been massively enhanced. The estimated timeline was now precise down to the second — something that had rarely happened during previous technique analyses.
"Sixteen days? That should be done well before the Sacred Birthday Festival. Not bad at all!" Leilin stroked his chin, quite satisfied with the result.
…
The President's residence. Deepest underground level.
Rolling surges of molten lava surged and compressed ceaselessly, yet could not advance a single inch beyond the barrier of a dark crimson magical array.
Within the bounds of that dark crimson array lay a dense cluster of buildings, forming an enormous underground complex of chambers.
In one of those chambers, the President — whose red eyebrows and hair framed a face that looked like a teenager's — was staring into a full-length mirror at a dark silhouette on the other side.
The figure inside the mirror wore an expansive, imposing Wizard's robe, and upon his forehead was inscribed a moon rune. His eyes were filled with fury.
"Red Pupil! You knew perfectly well that the Moebius Ring was my people, and yet you struck anyway. And Kelins's destruction — you will be held responsible for that…"
Jiasia's voice was low and heavy.
"In our previous communications, I repeatedly made it clear that the Atlanta Federation is my territory and will not tolerate prying from outsiders — especially Wizards from other worlds! It seems you've forgotten that, my friend!"
Red Pupil, President of the Atlanta Federation, let out a cold snort.
Inside the mirror, Jiasia sighed softly, a trace of regret in his tone. He was well aware of the other's prohibition, but how could he simply leave an entire major world untouched?
"But I've lost a Morning Star here! Do you have any idea how many resources it takes to compensate for that?"
Jiasia's voice suddenly turned shrill.
"According to my subordinates' reports, when they found the target, he was already gravely wounded and on the verge of destruction. And the ones who dealt the blow were those three enemies of yours…" Red Pupil's voice carried a note of schadenfreude.
Jiasia's words caught in his throat. He felt a twinge of regret.
When he had set this world as a trap, he had been confident he could capture all three Dukes in one sweep, which was why he had so carelessly leaked the world's coordinates. Who could have guessed that their strength far exceeded what they had previously shown — and that they had even deployed several bloodline treasure artifacts to break through his encirclement, landing directly in this world and causing him no end of trouble.
If he could do it over, he would never use that tactic again.
"And further… because of your breach of faith, the transaction between us will have to be suspended for a time…" Red Pupil then dropped a bombshell.
"Out of the question!" Jiasia blurted immediately, only to see the smug smile on the other's face.
He lowered his head reluctantly, but said nothing more. Red Pupil could afford to ignore his technical support, but he — Jiasia — could not afford to lose the Fire Source Stone. It was his only hope of vying for the Throne of Dawn!
And so he had no choice but to yield, his tone softening: "Honored Mr. President, I'm sure the responsibility for this incident lies with both of us to some degree. There's no need to let it damage the friendship between us…"
"That's more like it, my friend! And as the price for your breaking faith first, the Dimensional Energy Balance Magical Array you quoted last time will have its price cut in half!"
"F—Fine!" Jiasia agreed through nearly clenched teeth.
After the communication was severed, he shot to his feet and let out a furious roar. The black throne beneath him creaked under the strain, and terrifying waves of energy radiated outward in all directions.
"That Red Pupil — one day I'll kill him and roast his soul inside a Wizard Tower for ten thousand years!"