"Naturally… most of the time, trying to please both sides results in pleasing neither, turning yourself into a fool! So both cunning and ability are put to the test… but the most important thing of all is strength!"
Leilin's eyes flickered as he seized upon the most critical point.
"Only at the peak of eighth-level power can one force the Dream
Thinking this, Leilin's brow twitched slightly, and a vivid red line appeared across his forehead.
The Rule Spirit flickered, and in almost an instant it connected to the vast, boundless Dream World.
After having sacrificed a Calamity Lord last time, Leilin now moved through the Dream World with the ease of a fish in water. The formidable power of his spirit swept across enormous swaths of territory in an instant.
"The depletion of World Primal Energy has improved somewhat, but it's still in the dead of winter! Furthermore…"
Leilin's expression turned grave.
He had certainly detected the evil auras of the Calamity Lords, but now he discovered that they had stopped operating independently and had begun banding together, linking their sealed domains into a unified front — clearly, they had noticed something.
With his current strength, dealing with a single Calamity Lord was no problem. But if he were caught in a coordinated assault, the outcome would likely not be pretty.
There were no fools among any beings who had comprehended the Rules. Even though Leilin had laid down heavy layers of misdirection last time, they had evidently caught wind of something and taken precautions.
"It seems my plan to go make a quick profit by taking out a few Calamity Lords has fallen through as well…"
Leilin shook his head, though he didn't feel particularly regretful.
Even achieving the peak of the eighth level with the Dream Will's assistance was nothing worth celebrating for him.
What others gave could be taken away by others just as easily. The Dream World could provide him with a great deal, but it could also strip him of everything in an instant!
Only what he obtained for himself was truly his own!
Suppressing the tremor of temptation, Leilin did not enter the Dream World again. Instead, he returned to the
With the World Heart Mother and other peak eighth-level beings holding court, the entire Wizard World remained utterly calm, without the slightest disturbance.
Of course, in the eyes of seventh-level Wizards, anything below the level of the Rules hardly counted as significant.
"A few more wizard prodigies have emerged on the continent… some organizations are beginning to clash in the shadows?"
Gathering the threads of information carried on the breeze, Leilin shook his head with a smile.
Though he held supervisory authority over the outer layer of this world, these ant-like matters were beneath his notice now.
"No matter how talented they may be, as long as they haven't grasped the Rules, they will be of no use whatsoever in the coming tide of fate… They were born in the wrong era…"
Leilin sighed and reached his conclusion, a trace of pity flickering in his eyes.
At a time when the Final Battle was about to restart, the emergence of these young wizard prodigies was hardly fortunate. The window of time was far too short for them to cross the chasm of the seventh level, and even if they managed to climb to the Morning Star Wizard rank and beyond, they would barely qualify as cannon fodder — could there be anything more tragic?
Of course, there might be a rare few lucky individuals who could grow through the crucible of war, perhaps even glimpsing the realm of Rules in the end. But the probability of that was pitifully small.
Tagallian Fortress.
Inside the Planar Laboratory, terrifying flames from the Fire Elemental World blazed upward, and a massive magic array radiated a searing brilliance.
In the innermost Primal Energy Pool, the thick layer of World Primal Energy that had accumulated before was nearly depleted, finally revealing the true form of the primal energy weapon Leilin had spent centuries painstakingly crafting.
Amid the hazy mist of primal energy, an ancient and terrifying beast seemed to have slowly awakened, emanating the aura of a sovereign.
Blinding seven-colored light flashed in rapid succession, and at its center hovered a peerless weapon of terrifying splendor.
It possessed the form of a sword tip, a blade, an axe-hammer, a spear, and indeed every instrument of war — every edge and angle brimming with an overwhelming sharpness, as though it were the collective embodiment of all lethal weapons throughout history.
Its sharpness alone, without even being swung, caused the surrounding space to crack and shatter into fragments.
Upon sensing Leilin's arrival, the weapon let out a piercing wail — soul-shaking to the core, enough that second- or third-level Wizards would likely suffer complete spiritual annihilation under this kind of illusion attack.
"Eager to be born into the world, are we?"
Leilin smiled at his creation, satisfaction spreading across his face. "It's not time yet…"
With a wave of his hand, a torrent of World Primal Energy as vast as rivers, lakes, and oceans surged downward. It filled the World Pool in an instant, even leaving a surplus beyond what had been there before.
The primal energy weapon cried out in elation, ravenously devouring the energy.
"With the Shadow World's supply, its future achievements may well surpass all Divine Artifacts, drinking deep of the blood of gods…"
Leilin watched the scene thoughtfully.
Ranked by the abundance of World Primal Energy, the Wizard World came first, the Dream World second, and the Shadow World third. Unfortunately, the Wizard World's contribution was limited to scraps, and those had to be shared among a host of other beings. The Dream World supplied Leilin as though he were one of its own. As for the Shadow World — Leilin was its master! His authority there was even more terrifying!
Thus, in terms of primal energy collection, the Shadow World actually ranked first, the Dream World second, and the Wizard World came last.
Such was the benefit of monopolizing an entire world!
Moreover, Leilin had a second contingency: to forge this primal energy weapon into a legendary weapon feared across the Starry Sky.
"Chip!"
[Ding! Rule Extraction has been prepared. Infusion process commencing! Currently extracting rules: Calamity (27), Decay (15), Curse (1), Shadow (33)!] The Chip executed Leilin's command with perfect faithfulness.
For Leilin, the power of these rules — devoured one by one — held little personal use and would only contaminate his own path.
Therefore, separating them out in an appropriate manner was essential.
With the Chip's assistance, he could cleanly extract these portions of rule power, even transfer or sell them.
In essence, it was the same kind of thing as divine power and divinity in the
Naturally, for any being who had comprehended the Rules, such insights into rule power were priceless. If someone happened to encounter a being who needed a specific rule, that party would be willing to pay virtually any price.
Still, for Leilin, such an approach was far too extravagant.
Rule power was best kept in one's own hands. Even if he couldn't use it all, it could add a measure of power to his weapons.
A primal energy weapon imbued with rule power would possess the true majesty of a Divine Artifact!
"Begin!"
Leilin's eyes instantly turned pitch black, and behind him the spectral form of a seventh-level Tagallian Wyvern materialized.
The Wyvern — with its devilish wings, single horn, vertical eye, and twin claws — opened its terrifying maw, and wisps of dark energy poured forth, falling into the World Pool.
It was the power of rules that Leilin had comprehended, carrying the forces of Calamity, Decay, and more.
Gurgle! Gurgle!
The World Pool began to boil, and at its center, the primal energy weapon roared as delicate patterns began to crawl across its surface — the rules were beginning to materialize!
This infusion of rule power was naturally not something that could be completed in a day or two. In fact, Leilin spent a full three years transferring all the superfluous rule power from his body. Even his main spirit appeared somewhat diminished afterward.
"But… it was all worth it!"
Leilin first gazed at the dark shadow within the World Pool. The primal energy weapon had now retracted the terrifying aura of a ferocious beast it had displayed earlier. Not a trace of sharpness remained on its surface; its brilliance had retreated inward, yet it had become all the more fearsome.
Then Leilin checked his own data.
[Leilin Farell — Warlock, Seventh Level. Bloodline: Tagallian Wyvern (Seventh Level). Strength: 275.11. Agility: 229.88. Constitution: 400.97. Spirit: 653.19. Soul State: Rule Spirit. Rules Comprehended: Devouring (100), Slaughter (58). Status: World Primal Energy saturated; cannot increase further!]
"With the excess rule power purged, the spirit is somewhat weakened, but far more refined…"
With those contaminating rules stripped away, Leilin felt his spirit become clearer and more perceptive. He even sensed a burgeoning desire to encompass additional rules and paths.
"This is the call to advance to the eighth level… Has my current state truly reached the absolute peak of the seventh level?"
Understanding shone in Leilin's eyes.
The eighth level of a Wizard involved comprehending multiple rules and weaving them into a Path. Before Leilin, there was no longer any confusion.
"A Wizard's 'Path,' once chosen, can never be altered. That is why scattered and contradictory rule power will only corrupt and defile the spirit. Now, however, I have swept away the fog and seen my Path clearly!"
"Everything — including the road to transcendence — lies within the Gods' World!"
A clear, bright light flashed in Leilin's eyes, and he clenched his fist.
"Very soon! Very soon indeed!"
…
Deep within the dark, abyssal seventh subterranean layer.
Leilin's figure materialized directly in this place, and a vast soul-ripple surged outward: "World Heart Mother!"
Boom! Boom!
A point of dark crimson light emerged from the darkness, pulsing with a powerful heartbeat.
Drawing closer, one could see that it was a scarlet, elliptical piece of magma resembling both a vertical eye and the earth's core, countless blood vessels spreading across its surface. This was another avatar form of the World Heart Mother, different from the one seen before.
"Lord Leilin! You've finally come!"
The World Heart Mother's voice resonated like rolling thunder, as though she were not the least bit surprised by his arrival.
"I have. And I have come bearing sincerity. The ancient Final Battle is about to resume! I hope to obtain your aid!"
Leilin spoke with utmost earnestness.
"The Final Battle never truly ended… but it will surely rage with greater ferocity now that several new variables have entered the fray…"
The World Heart Mother spoke as though uttering a prophecy.
"And now… that moment has arrived! Because I hold the passage into the Crystal Barrier System!"
Leilin admitted it openly.