Chapter 174: The Target Appears, the Tower of the Stars!

Chapter 174: The Target Appears, the Tower of the Stars!

"Unrest?" Su Nan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Since the Eternal Life Society was eradicated, the southeastern region of the continent had been relatively peaceful.

Except for the ongoing war between the Stellar Alliance and the Azure Empire.

Rosalie's tone was grave. "Has Nightowl contacted you recently?"

Su Nan's eyes flickered, and he shook his head.

"Same here. This is highly unusual. Given Nightowl's usual behavior, he would have called another gathering by now."

Su Nan inwardly agreed with Rosalie but said, "Maybe he's just busy with his training."

"Perhaps," Rosalie conceded, "but I'm more inclined to think that something has happened to him."

Su Nan immediately understood her implication.

"You mean someone is after the key to the Tower of the Stars that Nightowl possesses?"

At this point in time, the key to the Tower of the Stars was undoubtedly the most likely reason for any trouble Nightowl might be facing.

Rosalie nodded solemnly. "It's very possible."

"Our battle against the Eternal Life Society was quite public, drawing a lot of attention and investigation. The existence of the key to the Tower of the Stars may no longer be a secret. With the Tower of the Stars about to appear, it's not surprising that some would take desperate measures."

Su Nan nodded without comment.

Rosalie's theory was plausible.

The fall of the Eternal Life Society had attracted the attention of many opportunists. It wasn't surprising if someone had pieced together the clues to the Tower of the Stars.

Even if that hadn't happened, there was still Evans to consider.

Among the wizard apprentices, there were plenty of clever individuals. If someone deduced that the Kessler family was connected to the Tower of the Stars, they might target Evans.

Despite being a Third Circle Legendary Knight, Evans was vulnerable without the protection of the Holy Fist. If several Third Circle wizard apprentices joined forces against him, he would struggle to defend himself.

In that case, the key to the Tower of the Stars would no longer be a secret.

And the people of the Forest Cottage, who possessed the key, would become highly sought after.

Nightowl might have run into trouble for this very reason.

However, all of this was still speculation. Nightowl might just be busy with his training.

Regardless, Su Nan wasn't particularly concerned.

His relationship with Nightowl wasn't close enough to worry about his safety.

He also wasn't worried about someone foolish enough to invade the Stellar Alliance's territory to steal the key to the Tower of the Stars from him.

If that happened, Su Nan would be delighted—what a convenient opportunity for a battle!

Rosalie had also realized this, which was why she had come seeking protection.

If Nightowl had indeed run into trouble because of the key to the Tower of the Stars, her situation would be equally dangerous. Only with Su Nan could she feel truly safe.

"Whether Nightowl is in trouble or not will become clear when the Tower of the Stars appears."

Su Nan casually brushed aside the topic and glanced at Rosalie.

"You're welcome to stay in Shadowlake City for as long as you like."

"But let's be clear: if you bring trouble here, the cost of my help won't be cheap."

"I understand," Rosalie sighed in relief.

With the prestige of defeating Saurol, who in the southeastern region didn't know of Su Nan's name?

She didn't think any reckless individuals would dare to provoke Su Nan here.

If such a person did exist, they would be a formidable enemy that she couldn't resist. In that case, paying the price for Su Nan's protection would be well worth it.

Su Nan then summoned Carolina to arrange a place for Rosalie to rest.

Upon arrival, Rosalie had been too preoccupied to observe the city. Now that her mind was at ease, she took the time to look around. Through the windows of the corridor, she could see the streets below, patrolled by numerous stone golems.

Though she rarely ventured into the underground world, Rosalie had been secretly keeping tabs on the Stellar Alliance's activities over the years. She knew that the Stellar Alliance had rapidly expanded and become one of the most powerful forces in the southeastern underground.

The Stellar Alliance's main military strength came from the Magic Mark Knights and the Golem Legion.

The former was relatively easy to gather information about. Detailed reports on the seven knight academies of the Stellar Principality had long been on the desks of high-ranking officials in various countries.

Many nations had even modeled their own knight academies after those of the Stellar Principality, focusing on training knights from commoners and farmers.

However, even with identical systems, the results were far from satisfactory. The root cause was the lack of resources like Dragon Blood Fruits, enchanted weapons, and magic mark constructs, which the Stellar Alliance could provide in abundance.

As for the latter, gathering information in the underground world was much more challenging.

To this day, no one knows just how many magical constructs the Star Alliance possesses.

Rosa's gaze shifted to Carolina, who was walking ahead of her. Her eyes flickered for a moment before she spoke, "I heard that the magical construct army sweeping through the battlefield is provided by the Star Alliance?"

Carolina turned around and gave Rosa a deep, meaningful look, her smile playful. "My Lady Rosa, you don't usually involve yourself in surface wars. Why the sudden interest?"

"Just curiosity, really. After all, it's my first time seeing a fully organized magical construct army."

Rosa's tone carried a hint of surprise, as if she was genuinely curious.

Carolina smiled slightly. "If you're curious, why not join the Star Alliance and see for yourself?"

"Join the Star Alliance?"

Rosa was genuinely taken aback, never expecting Carolina to make such a proposal.

"That's right," Carolina said with a charming smile. "My Lady Rosa, you must have some understanding of the Star Alliance's strength. Joining us would certainly not diminish your standing."

Rosa had to admit that, for a moment, she was tempted.

She had never considered such a notion before, but now that Carolina had mentioned it, it seemed like a viable option.

The resources the Star Alliance controlled were renowned for their abundance. Even the tip of the iceberg visible to the outside world was enough to inspire awe and envy.

With the support of the Star Alliance's resources, her path as a wizard would undoubtedly benefit immensely.

As for the possibility of being taken advantage of by the Star Alliance, that didn't seem to be a significant concern.

From what she knew, the Star Alliance had trained many wizard apprentices and treated them fairly, adhering to the principle of equivalent exchange. In this regard, the Star Alliance had a good reputation.

Joining the Star Alliance would essentially be like joining a resource platform, similar to the Forest Cottage, but with closer ties and certain obligations, such as maintaining the Star Alliance's interests. This was something she could accept.

"Is this your idea, or Su Nan's?"

After pondering for a while, Rosa finally spoke.

Seeing Rosa's interest, Carolina smiled. "My master has had this idea for a while."

This wasn't a lie.

Carolina knew her master had long been looking for a manager to assist with the base's various affairs. Rosa was undoubtedly an excellent choice. She came from a noble background and might have had some experience in administration. As a third-level wizard apprentice, she would handle the base's affairs with ease.

Her connection to the Thornflower Kingdom's royal family was not a significant issue. After years in the Star Alliance, Carolina deeply understood that when someone reaped enough benefits from an organization, they would gradually become a part of it, naturally protecting its interests.

The collaboration between wizard apprentices and royal nobles was primarily driven by the desire for resources. As long as Rosa benefited more from the Star Alliance than from the Thornflower Kingdom, her internal balance would naturally tilt towards the Star Alliance.

As for blood ties, well, Rosa and the current Thornflower Kingdom royal family were likely separated by several generations. If not for the ties of interest, Rosa probably wouldn't care about the Thornflower Kingdom's affairs. This was a common sentiment among many wizard apprentices who had lived for over a century.

As a subordinate, Carolina felt it was her duty to help her master. If she could persuade Rosa, it would solve one of her master's concerns.

After much hesitation, Rosa finally said, "I'll consider it, but let's wait until the issue with the Star Tower is resolved."

Carolina smiled, knowing when to stop, and continued leading the way.

After arranging for Rosa, Carolina reported back to Su Nan.

Upon hearing the report, Su Nan pondered for a moment.

He had indeed considered inviting the Forest Cottage members to join the Star Alliance, but the potential complications made him hesitant. Once he advanced to the rank of a full wizard and possessed overwhelming power, he could implement this plan with fewer troubles. Moreover, Su Nan had other plans in mind. By then, the base would be ready for more profound reforms.

"For now, let's put this on hold," Su Nan said, waving his hand. After a moment, he added, "Allow Rosa to visit other areas of the base, except for the critical ones. You can accompany her personally."

While he didn't intend to invite Rosa to join immediately, letting her gain a deeper understanding of the Star Alliance and form a better impression wasn't a bad idea.

Carolina nodded in understanding and respectfully acknowledged the order.

"Additionally, the Star Alliance’s expansion efforts will be temporarily halted. I want a golem regiment stationed in the Dragon Forest on standby."

"The golem regiment supporting the Star Principality should also be recalled. Once fully replenished, they will join the others in the Dragon Forest."

Considering the approaching entry into the Tower of the Stars, Su Nan felt it was time to start making preparations. At the very least, he needed to ensure his Magic Cube contained two golem regiments for any unforeseen circumstances.

This was also a good opportunity to give the Star Alliance a breather and allow them to consolidate their recent conquests. As for the surface world, the Star Alliance was already firmly in the lead in the ongoing war. Withdrawing a golem regiment wouldn’t significantly impact the overall situation.

After making the necessary arrangements, Su Nan returned to the task of constructing the Talent Crystal model.

The days passed quietly and uneventfully, with no trouble as Rose had feared. The monotonous yet fulfilling routine of cultivation continued until mid-autumn (November).

As usual, Su Nan was in the meditation chamber, working on the Talent Crystal model, when he suddenly felt a stirring in his mind. His eyes snapped open.

With a mere thought, the key to the Tower of the Stars appeared in his palm. The once-ordinary rune stone now shimmered with a faint blue glow.

Su Nan clenched his fist, gripping the rune stone tightly. His mind briefly went hazy, and a vivid image formed in his thoughts.

In the vision, a towering spire, hundreds of meters high, floated in the sky. The deep blue tower, under a sky of blue and white, was a magnificent sight, with a classic Gothic style. The intricate carvings on the eaves and walls, the striking spires, and the pointed arches all contributed to its grandeur. Elemental clouds and energy particles swirled around the spires, giving the impression that the entire tower was ascending into the heavens.

The vision lasted only a few seconds before fading from his mind. But Su Nan immediately understood that the tower in the vision was the legendary Tower of the Stars!

"Finally, it’s here!"

Su Nan breathed a long sigh of relief. Ever since he discovered the clue to the Tower of the Stars, he had been eagerly anticipating this moment. Now, his goal was within reach!

Whether he could construct the Super Talent Crystal model depended entirely on the Tower of the Stars!

Rising from the meditation chamber, Su Nan returned to Darklake City. As he emerged from the top of the stone pillar, he saw Rose already floating in the air, waiting for him.

"The Tower of the Stars has appeared!" Rose said, her voice tinged with barely concealed excitement.

Su Nan nodded and simply said, "Follow me," before turning and leaving. Rose, though puzzled, followed him.

They quickly arrived at the spatial gateway in Darklake City. When she saw the strange portal, Rose’s expression turned to one of surprise.

Seeing Su Nan enter without hesitation, she hesitated for a moment but followed him in.

The scene before her eyes shifted, revealing a vast expanse of green. The sight of the majestic forest left Rose stunned. When she saw the ancient and imposing Dragon Bone Tower, she couldn’t help but gasp.

Dragon bones!

The oppressive aura could only come from the remains of a true dragon!

"Where are we?" Rose couldn’t help but ask.

"Dragon Forest, the Ecological Garden," Su Nan replied without turning around, and then flew toward another spatial gateway.

Rose stood there, her face filled with disbelief. She knew what an Ecological Garden was—a large cultivation and breeding space. But she never imagined that Su Nan would have control over one. And from the looks of it, this Ecological Garden was thriving, a picture of prosperity.

How many more secrets did this man hide?

Watching Su Nan’s back, Rose couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of admiration, and her interest in joining the Star Alliance grew even more.

Shaking off her thoughts, she hurried to catch up with Su Nan.

They crossed another spatial gateway, this time emerging in the surface world, at Base 1 near Flash City.

As expected, Key was already waiting at Base 1. He had rushed there as soon as he sensed the key’s unusual activity.

Without much conversation, the three of them briefly discussed the situation and then set off in the direction indicated by the key.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end