Chapter 557 - 379: Morning Star Gathering and the Continental Landscape

Above Silver Sail Port, seven Crystal Giant Towers rose like seven heavenly pillars, holding up the sky over the port.

The runes on the body of the tallest Crystal Giant Tower flowed like a river of stars, its aura ancient and vast.

Ian hovered in midair, looking down at the giant tower below him. The gentle mental invitation he had just received had come from the top of this very tower.

"Eternal Fierce Sun, please enter the tower."

Two giant silver doors, each a hundred meters tall, slid silently apart.

Gaga, perched on Ian’s shoulder, grew tense and asked telepathically, "Ian, are we going in?"

"Of course." With a single step, Ian’s figure vanished from where he stood.

Behind the doors was a staircase leading straight up. The walls on either side of the stairs were not made of stone, but of solidified spatial ripples.

Light twisted and refracted against the walls, casting countless overlapping and intersecting illusions.

As Ian ascended the staircase, the surrounding space rippled faintly with each step he took.

This was not an attack, but a test of strength to see if the entrant was worthy of entering the High Tower.

’Hmph! Such theatrics,’ Ian thought with disdain as a crimson halo naturally spread from his body.

The spreading Thermal Energy Rule silently smoothed away all the spatial fluctuations.

The staircase was long, seemingly without end, but Ian’s pace was swift. In just a few strides, he reached a wooden door at the top that was slightly ajar.

He reached out and pushed it open. Beyond the threshold lay a vast, starry sky.

Beneath his feet was a profound void. Stars spun slowly overhead, and the Milky Way flowed like a ribbon. The scene was surreal and dreamlike.

Suspended in the center of this starry expanse were fifteen high-backed chairs, each constructed from a different material.

There was Star Iron, Void wood, lava crystals, ancient vines of life...

At that moment, fourteen of the chairs were already occupied. The instant Ian pushed the door open, fourteen pairs of eyes turned to him simultaneously.

One after another, gazes either ice-cold or deathly still landed on Ian.

"Welcome, Eternal Fierce Sun. I am Nicholas, the Tower Master here."

The speaker was a middle-aged man with a serene expression, seated upon the Star Chair at the head of the gathering. His eyes were gentle, and he wore a simple Star Robe, his long, silver-white hair hanging loosely about his shoulders.

Ian’s heart jolted. Beneath the man’s gentle expression lay a vast Rule Fluctuation. Judging by his aura, he was at the Morning Star Late Stage.

"Lord Nicholas." He gave a slight bow, then nodded to the others around him. "It is a pleasure to meet you all."

He then walked toward the last empty chair, which was carved from crimson lava crystals and seemed to have been prepared just for him.

As he sat down, the crystals on the chair’s surface began to glow faintly, resonating with the Rules he embodied.

"Everyone is here," Nicholas said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the assembly.

"As is tradition, whenever a new peer arrives in Silver Sail Port, we hold a small meeting to get acquainted and to exchange information."

His gaze fell upon Ian. "Eternal Fierce Sun, from where do you hail?"

Ian’s expression was calm. "Anoraya. A small island to the east."

As he finished speaking, a flicker of understanding passed through the eyes of several Morning Stars.

"That isolated island overseas..." a Witch seated in the chair of ancient life-vines murmured.

She looked to be in her early thirties, with a gentle and graceful face. Her long, dark brown hair was tied back with vines.

She exuded a rich aura of life, like an ancient tree walking in human form.

"I am Star Language of the Natural Council." She nodded at Ian in greeting.

Ian returned the nod. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady Star Language."

Another man, a burly figure seated in a dark red metal chair, laughed heartily.

"Hello there! I’m Axel of the War Legion. Congratulations to the Eastern Territory on gaining another companion on the path."

"Lord Axel," Ian acknowledged with a nod, feeling a bit puzzled. ’This man seems particularly enthusiastic.’

The other Morning Stars also introduced themselves one by one.

There was Alviss, the "Deep Sea Dominator" of the Endless Sea; Kael, the "Fury of the Thunderstorm" from the Holy Tower; and several other Morning Stars from various city-states and families...

Fifteen Morning Stars, gathered together in one room. The aura of each was as vast as the ocean.

This was the true power of Silver Sail Port, the foundation of the gateway to the Eastern Territory.

"Now that we are all acquainted, let us begin," Nicholas said slowly.

"As per the usual rules, we will take turns sharing important recent intelligence or stating our needs. I shall begin."

He paused for a moment, and a flicker of solemnity crossed his eyes.

"Three months ago, I received a message from the Silver Moon Council. A new Void Rift has appeared on the edge of the Silver Moon Highlands."

"It is not large, but it connects to a Void Insect Nest."

As he spoke, the expressions of several Morning Stars grew grim.

"A Void Insect Nest..." Alviss, the Deep Sea Dominator, said, his face grave.

"That place is a forbidden zone that even Radiant Moon Wizards are loath to enter."

Nicholas nodded. "The Silver Moon Council has already dispatched two Morning Stars to handle it, but progress is slow. There are simply too many Insects."

"They have sent out a call for aid to the surrounding city-states, hoping that a Morning Star skilled in wide-area destruction will go to assist."

His gaze swept over the attendees, finally landing on Ian. "Lord Marcus, your Rule seems to be related to flames and combustion?"

Ian’s eyes flickered. He knew Nicholas’s question was a test.

"I have only recently ascended to the Morning Star realm and am currently collecting the key materials for a Wizard Tower."

Nicholas smiled, his gaze holding a deeper meaning.

"If you are interested, you might want to go take a look. The reward... is very generous."

He then turned to the others. "That is all the information I have to share. Next."

Ian sat steadily, remaining silent as he watched the Morning Stars speak one after another.

The atmosphere of the gathering was peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents were roiling beneath. Every piece of information shared by the Morning Stars was priceless.

There were coordinates for Void Rifts, clues to the whereabouts of Rare Materials, and rumors of certain ancient ruins about to open...