Chapter 456: The Second Pillar of Light

Chapter 456: The Second Pillar of Light

The same thought naturally occurred to Moriah as well.

He quickly unfurled the second scroll.

"What? There's actually... another Dawn Strike Technique for Metal Mages!" Moriah's left hand, holding the other scroll, trembled.

"Hahaha, Ren, with the fourth layer of the Advanced Meditation Technique and the Dawn Strike Technique, the spring for Metal Mages has finally arrived!"

If it were just the fourth layer of the 'Iron Heart' Advanced Meditation Technique, Moriah, as the patriarch of a wizard school, wouldn't have lost his composure. But with the addition of the Dawn Strike Technique for Metal Mages, the significance was entirely different!

In the present day, where Fifth Rank Full Moon Wizards were nearly extinct, possessing these two techniques meant that Metal Mages could rival the power of mainstream wizard schools specializing in Fire, Water, and Earth magic.

"Dawn Strike Technique: Steel Forest. Requires Fourth-Level Steel Thorn Forest Spell, Third-Level Thorn Iron Ball Spell, Second-Level Iron Thorn Path Spell, and First-Level Iron Thorn Spell."

However, as Moriah read aloud, his eyebrows furrowed the next moment.

"The Fourth-Level Steel Thorn Forest Spell is recorded in the scroll, and the Third-Level Thorn Iron Ball Spell is also available in our school. But the Second-Level Iron Thorn Path Spell and the First-Level Iron Thorn Spell are missing!"

"This is..." Moriah sighed.

Hmm?

Ren also stood there with his mouth slightly agape, unsure of what to say for a moment.

It was like wanting to cook braised sea cucumber with scallions, only to find that there were no scallions.

"But this actually makes sense. The Fourth-Level Spell, due to its importance, was kept in the safe for preservation. On the other hand, the Third-Level and lower spells, being less significant, were stored in the library."

"Due to the explosion and radiation, nothing in the library could be preserved. What a pity!" Moriah shook his head with a helpless sigh.

"Don't underestimate the difficulty of collecting even Second-Level and First-Level Spells."

Hearing Moriah's words, Ren's expression was also filled with speechless exasperation.

After all, for a Dawn Strike Technique, if the most challenging Fourth-Level and Third-Level Spells were obtained, it was ironic that they were now hindered by the relatively simpler Second-Level and First-Level Spells.

At this moment, Moriah handed the 'Iron Heart' Advanced Meditation Technique scroll to Ren and smiled, saying, "Ren, you can take a look first."

"As the next patriarch, you have the right to browse freely without worrying about contribution points."

"Thank you, Patriarch!"

Taking the fourth layer of 'Iron Heart,' Ren didn't read it immediately but followed Moriah's gaze towards the leather-bound diary.

He was naturally curious about the diary's contents.

Most of the diary recorded the owner's thoughts on significant events within the school, nothing of great interest. But as they reached the end, they found some information that piqued both their interests:

"March 11th, I received a report from the school's advance team on the New Continent, stating that they had discovered clues to the ancient dwarf empire's capital. However, the report also mentioned that the Harsh School and several other super-large and large schools had found the same clues."

"Perhaps, for other wizard schools, the ancient dwarf empire's capital site is just an ordinary exploration. But I know best how crucial this is for the Varzige School."

"If we can find the ancient dwarf's construction results, we can definitely create a Fifth Rank Full Moon Wizard-level golem! Therefore, I've decided to go to the New Continent personally, and at the same time, it's a declaration of the Varzige School's determination to the other wizard schools."

"But leaving the school is a big deal. Before I go, I should discuss it with Magnus and Snape to arrange the school's affairs."

"..."

"March 12th, I finished communicating with the two, but there were significant disagreements. Snape thinks my plan is too hasty and risky, and he doesn't agree. As for Magnus, he's obsessed with researching a strange stone he got from somewhere, and he doesn't have the mind to manage the school."

"Although I admit that Magnus' strange mineral has some special energy, it's not very useful for our school, which focuses on construction. In my opinion, Magnus has gone astray."

"But Magnus is the most likely person to reach the Dawn Peak and challenge the Fifth Rank Full Moon Wizard level after me. Directly prohibiting his experiments might provoke opposition. If I try to persuade him, it might be too late."

"Forget it, let him continue his research. When he hits a dead end, he'll naturally give up. Although I'm a bit worried about his current state, this is the best I can do for now."

"..."

A few pages were torn out in the middle, perhaps recording some arguments.

Ren and Moriah weren't sure, but this wasn't the focus. They continued flipping through the diary.

"March 17th, I've decided to depart. Since Magnus thinks that researching that strange mineral is of special significance to him, let him continue. Snape will be in charge of daily affairs. This way, we can avoid conflicts between the two."

"Additionally, according to the long-standing rule, as the patriarch, I must carry the fifth layer of the 'Iron Heart' Advanced Meditation Technique, and the school's library will keep a copy of the fifth layer."

"Oh, I should also leave the control crystal for the Destroyer. However, it's usually more appropriate to keep it locked in my safe. Otherwise, Snape might control the Destroyer for trivial matters. Modir will help me keep the key; he's very loyal to me."

"I'll leave this diary here. The New Continent is dangerous, and even I don't have a 100% guarantee."

"..."

"The fifth layer!"

"There really is a fifth layer! Ren, do you know what this means?"

"Moriah's emotions were unusually agitated, even to the point of seeming slightly manic."

"Hmm!" Ren nodded heavily, his heart also filled with excitement.

He never expected that on this trip to the Valzig Ruins, not only would he find the fourth layer of the Advanced Steel Heart Meditation Technique, but also clues to the fifth layer.

Yes!

Although it was just a clue, one must know that the fifth layer of the Advanced Steel Heart Meditation Technique was believed to have long been lost in the annals of history, almost impossible to find.

So, this time, with a clue, it was a significant step forward!

Comparable to taking a giant leap from zero to one!

"However, the capital ruins of the Gnome Empire?"

Ren couldn't help but recall that a long time ago, he had obtained a map of the ancient Gnome Empire's Lombard City ruins and handed it over to the Imperial Navy.

"From this, it seems that the ancient Gnome Empire's territory was likely centered around the New Continent, which is currently the Eagle Federation, and radiated outwards in all directions."

"What a vast empire," Ren couldn't help but exclaim after a moment of thought.

"But there's no rush. This exploration of the New Continent, or the Eagle Federation, can wait until you and I reach the Dawn Wizard level." Moriah paced back and forth, trying to calm her excitement. After a while, she said, "Even a high-level Dawn Wizard at the peak couldn't return safely from the New Continent. If they didn't die in the conflicts between wizard schools, it shows that the danger of the ancient Gnome Empire's ruins is far beyond imagination."

"That's right, Master. I think so too," Ren nodded in agreement.

He hadn't even reached the fourth-level Dawn Wizard yet, so thinking about the fifth layer was still too early.

Even in ancient times, fifth-level Full Moon Wizards were extremely rare, and in the past few thousand years, they had almost disappeared.

If reaching the fourth-level Dawn Wizard was like climbing Mount Tai, then becoming a fifth-level Full Moon Wizard was as challenging as climbing Mount Everest!

"However, it seems that this is the control crystal of the Destroyer." Moriah's eyes lit up as she looked at the crystal in her hand.

Although thousands of years had passed, due to the double protection of the enchantment arrays in the room and the safe, the radiation didn't seem to have much effect on the control crystal inside.

"Ren, you can look around. I feel that if we can get this big guy running, we won't have to worry even if some cult comes knocking."

Moriah couldn't help but smile as she said the last sentence.

Thinking of the terrifying power of the Destroyer, Ren nodded immediately.

If they could get this giant running, they wouldn't need to worry about cults coming after them; instead, they could go after the cults themselves.

So, in the following time, after Moriah set up an alert enchantment array on the door and placed two small puppets, she focused her attention on the control crystal, carefully studying the operation manual.

Meanwhile, Ren naturally began to browse the fourth-level scroll of the Steel Heart.

In the central part of the Ferdinand Forest.

In mid-air, a large airship was flying at high speed.

Suddenly, a pale golden beam of light the size of a bowl shot up from the ground in front, moving so fast that the legendary-tier knights and wizards on the ship's deck barely had time to react before realizing the beam was already within arm's reach.

Upon closer inspection, everyone's expressions turned to horror, for they now saw that it was a palm-sized pale golden leaf!

Yes, a leaf!

When the crowd saw this, their first thought was, 'A leaf? How could it be so fast!' and their second thought was, 'Don't worry, Lord Reginald and Lord Lothar are here, so it should be fine.'

In an instant, a hemispherical light membrane of earthy yellow appeared in front of the giant airship, protecting its front.

But with a "sizzle," the pale golden leaf forcibly broke through the protection of the hemispherical light membrane, and in the next moment, it hit the huge airship's balloon!

"Shh!!!"

Despite its small size, the leaf caused significant damage, piercing a hole four to five meters in diameter through the front and back of the balloon! As a result, the airship balloon deflated like a punctured balloon, rapidly losing air, and the ship began to plummet.

However, suddenly, four large yellow light wings appeared on both sides of the airship, immediately restoring its balance as it glided slowly forward.

Please... Your... Collection_6Ⅰ9ⅠBookⅠ(Six\\\Nine\\\Book\\\Bar!)



At this moment, the crowd also noticed that Lord Reginald and Lord Lothar, the two Imperial Guardians, had somehow moved from the ship's cabin to the front of the deck, both with solemn expressions as they looked down at a certain spot.

"Just a single leaf broke through my fourth-level defensive spell, 'Earth Barrier.' This leaf seems to be..."

"It should be, but Lord Reginald, doesn't this also show that they're worried we'll ruin their plans?" Lothar, holding a giant shield, smiled and said.

"That's right, Lord Lothar," Reginald also smiled slightly.

As the airship slowly descended into the dense forest, suddenly, many trees around them began to shake violently, and then, large tree roots, like human legs, emerged from the ground, and on the tree trunks, faint human faces appeared.

If Anna were there, she would have immediately recognized them as a large group of Ironwood Guardians.

Even more striking was the appearance of an elegant, tall, and slender male elf in a gorgeous robe among the Ironwood Guardians.

The figure approached the fallen airship, his gaze fixed on Lothar and Reginald, and spoke in the common tongue, "Humans, this is the realm of the elves. According to the ancient covenant, you cannot enter without our permission!"

Reginald glanced at him, his brows furrowing slightly in confusion.

However, Lothar spoke up, his voice carrying, "Your Excellency, we didn't want to come here either, but we received a plea for help from your ambassador. They said you were under attack by a cult, so the Empire sent us as reinforcements."

"Humans, thank you for your kind intentions, but we will handle the cultists ourselves."

The elf's words instantly irritated Luther and the other legendary figures. They had come all this way to offer aid, and now their help was being rejected?

"Such arrogant elves!"

"What the..."

"If not for the Empire's orders, who would want to come here anyway?"

Lothar's brows furrowed as well, realizing that this refusal could lead to a direct conflict if they continued forward.

But Reginald, standing beside him, seemed to have an epiphany. He smiled and addressed the elf, "Actually, you can't speak for all elves, can you? You, a follower of the Mother Tree Sect!"

"What?" The crowd reacted with surprise, all eyes turning towards the High Elf.

The High Elf's expression turned solemn, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Haha, from the attack you just unleashed, I sensed a trace of the unique essence of the Void Mother Tree. In fact, your very being carries a well-concealed aura of the Void Mother Tree."

"If you're not a follower of the Mother Tree, then how did you use those leaves from the Void Mother Tree over there?"

"Or perhaps, you can curse the Void Mother Tree, Ganihil, right now."

"You may be an epic-level powerhouse, but you should show respect to the great Mother Tree!" The male elf couldn't contain his anger upon hearing Reginald directly addressing the Void Mother Tree.

But with this rebuttal, he had essentially admitted to being a follower of the Void Mother Tree, causing an uproar among the legendary figures.

It seemed that despite being a High Elf, he had somehow become a member of the Mother Tree Sect.

"Damn, so this guy is the one who shot down the airship!"

". . ."

Suddenly, including Lothar and Reginald, all the Empire personnel looked up at the sky in front of them, and the High Elf also turned to look at the sky behind him.

A thick green pillar of light rose into the sky from the not-so-distant center of Ferdinand Forest.

"Not good! This is the second one!" Reginald's expression turned grave.

"Haha, it's too late for you to rush there now! The great Void Mother Tree will descend upon this world!" The High Elf turned to face the crowd, his eyes darkening, gleaming with pride and madness.

Seeing such madness in the eyes of a High Elf, who revered nature and valued balance, was a stark contrast.

So, Luther and the other legendary figures from the Empire stared at him, curious to understand how the so-called Void Mother Tree had seduced the elves.

"Humans, farewell. I have more important matters to attend to. By the way, I suggest you leave Ferdinand Forest soon, or you won't be able to leave at all before long."

At the same time, in the Seventh Sentinel Post, Elder Aldran, Darnna, Anna, and the other pure-blooded elves all turned pale, their faces filled with fear. They quickly rushed to the window, gazing towards the center of Ferdinand Forest.

Another visible green pillar of light soared into the sky.

"Impossible! How could the second Crystal Tower have been destroyed so quickly!" Aldran's face was etched with horror, his disbelief palpable.

"Grandfather Aldran, does this mean that if another green pillar of light appears, Ferdinand City will be..." Anna covered her mouth in shock.

Earlier, Aldran had explained that the destruction of the third Crystal Tower would shatter the ancient sorcery array, the Crystal Barrier.

"Indeed," Aldran nodded heavily.

But the next moment, something even more shocking happened to the pure-blooded elves! With the appearance of the green pillar of light, the entire Ferdinand Forest seemed to reverberate with the aftermath of some energy, accompanied by a murmur or perhaps a delirious whisper.

In an instant, all the pure-blooded elves, including the half-elf Anna, felt a call from their mother rising from the depths of their hearts.

It was as if a voice whispered incessantly in their ears, 'Children, danger, help me.'

At the same time, all the pure-blooded elves also sensed a fear, a terror, and a tremor deep within their bloodlines, originating from the depths of their souls.

"This... this is the call of Mother Tree Andahil!" Darnna exclaimed in shock.

"A crisis of extinction is upon us!"

This was the first time she had heard the Mother Tree's plea for help and its call.

Instinctively, she instantly understood the Mother Tree's message.

A nameless pure-blooded elf woman stepped forward, her beautiful face set with determination and resolve. She addressed Aldran and Darnna, "We must return to help Mother Tree Andahil. Although we may not have much strength, we can pray, we can pray for Mother Tree Andahil!"

One by one, the pure-blooded elves rose and gathered behind her.

There were elders, children, and even elves with bandaged wounds, but their eyes shone with unwavering determination.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end