Chapter 558: Morning Star Gathering, Continental Structure (Part 2)

Ian listened quietly, committing every piece of information to memory.

At the same time, from the conversations between these Morning Stars, he began to piece together a grander picture of the Central Continent.

The Central Continent was primarily composed of three distinct types of powers.

There were Warlock Clans bound by bloodlines, Wizard Organizations centered around High Tier Meditation Methods, and large Wizard Academies that brought together various schools of thought.

These three major categories of organizations had carved up more than seventy percent of the Central Continent’s resources and territories.

The remaining thirty percent was occupied by Independent Wizards, small to medium-sized Alien Races, and a few ancient, reclusive factions.

Axel snorted.

“They say it’s thirty percent, but it’s really just scraps. All the truly good places were carved up and claimed long ago.”

A Morning Star from the Mysterious Domain City Association nodded.

“Indeed. The last time I went to the Silverpine Forest to find a Void Ancient Tree, well…”

He shook his head and sighed. “That forest has already been declared a forbidden zone by the Void Echo Secret Society. You can’t even get close without their permission.”

“‘The Void Echo Secret Society…'” Ian repeated the name under his breath.

Nicholas glanced at him and offered an explanation.

“It’s one of the six top-tier powers on the Central Continent. Only an organization with a Level Six Bright Sun Wizard presiding over it, capable of conquering a large world on its own, can be called a top-tier power.”

Ian’s heart shook. ‘Conquering a large world on their own?’

‘According to the information from my panel, a World Will is very likely an existence at the Level Seven True Spirit Level!’

‘And there are six such powers… Is this the true foundation of the Central Continent?!’

“Of the six great powers, we of the Human Race hold five,” Nicholas said, his face filled with pride as he spoke.

“The Void Echo Secret Society, the Tower of Knowledge, the War Furnace Academy, the Curse Magic School, and the Starry Sky Council.”

“The last one is the Dragon Sleep Temple of the Ancient Dragon Race.”

He paused. “These six great powers all belong to the Supreme Wizard Alliance.”

“The Alliance is presided over by Level Six Bright Sun Wizards on a rotating basis, and they maintain the order of the Wizard Civilization.”

Ian fell silent. This information was like a magnificent scroll, slowly unfurling before him.

A Level Four Morning Star was merely a mainstay, while a Level Five Radiant Moon could lead a major power.

A Level Six Bright Sun was a true powerhouse at the very top. As for the legendary Level Seven True Spirit Wizards…

They were beings that even a Morning Star Late Stage Wizard like Nicholas had only heard of by name, never seen in person.

“As for the powers led by a Level Five Radiant Moon, they’re considered the second tier,”

Star Language added softly. “For example, the Silver Moon Council in the Silver Moon Highlands has a Level Five Radiant Moon Elf King presiding over it.”

“There’s also the Heart of Molten Fire, the Garden of Life, the Trace of Time…”

She listed several names.

Each one represented a Radiant Moon Wizard and the vast network of power behind them.

“As for Morning Stars like us…”

Axel reined in his wild aura and sighed softly. “We can only be considered third-tier.”

“Just being able to gain a firm foothold on the Central Continent and possess a piece of territory is already quite an achievement.”

Kael, the “Fury of the Thunderstorm” from the Holy Tower, was a bit more philosophical.

“That’s right. Powers below Level Four can be wiped out, turned to dust, at any moment because of a single accident.”

“On this continent, small powers are born and destroyed every day. It’s cruel, but it’s also full of opportunities.”

Ian listened quietly. The Morning Stars spoke without any exaggerated emotion, their faces mostly calm, but the information they shared was nothing short of shocking.

As the gathering moved into its latter half, the topic gradually shifted to personal experiences, and Ian paid even closer attention.

“I took a trip to the Void Graveyard last month,” said a Morning Star sitting across from Ian.

He came from a small Wizard Clan and had advanced to Morning Star through a stroke of luck.

“I ran into a group of Void Predators there. I unfurled my five-thousand-kilometer Domain and crushed them directly.”

“Those Predators didn’t even have a chance to resist before they were torn to shreds by my Rules.”

His words carried an undisguised sense of showing off, but several of the Morning Stars nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

“A five-thousand-kilometer Domain. Your strength is indeed impressive,” Nicholas commented with a nod.

“For a Morning Star Middle Stage, you’re considered above average.”

A trace of smugness appeared on Hopskin’s face, but it vanished just as quickly.

Another Morning Star spoke up.

“The last time I went to the Tower of Knowledge to hand over a mission, I met a Star Master from the Starry Sky Council.”

“She… had mastered three Rules.” A flash of envy appeared in the Morning Star’s eyes.

“Stars, and… some other Rule I couldn’t comprehend. An existence like that is practically invincible among their peers.”

As he finished speaking, the expressions of all the Morning Stars grew a little more solemn.

“‘Three Rules…'” Star Language repeated in a low voice.

“‘What immense Soul Essence and profound understanding of Rules that must require…'”

She sighed softly. “Someone like that will at least become a Radiant Moon in the future. They might even have a sliver of hope of reaching Bright Sun.”

Axel laughed heartily. “No use being envious. Everyone has their own path.”

Ian listened quietly, making a comparison in his mind. ‘Morning Star Middle Stage, a five-thousand-kilometer Domain…’

His current Domain spanned 15,000 kilometers—three times the size of that man’s.

‘Three Rules… I’ve mastered five.’

‘And they are the most supreme Rules: Gravity, Thermal Energy, Purification, Time, and Earth.’

‘Although my comprehension of Time and Earth isn’t very high yet… it’s still undeniably five.’

‘Furthermore, my Seed of Rules is the “Blazing Star Core.” The potential of my Path of Celestial Body far surpasses that of an ordinary Morning Star.’

These comparisons gave Ian a sense of confidence, but he remained seated quietly, like an attentive listener.

The gathering lasted for three hours.

When it ended, Nicholas looked at Ian. “Your Excellency Marcus, do you have any needs or intelligence to share?”

Ian pondered for a moment.

“I need clues about Void Energy Cores, as well as ways to obtain a Level Four or higher Meditation Method.”

As he spoke, a flash of understanding appeared in the eyes of several Morning Stars.

A newly advanced Morning Star’s greatest needs were always the core materials for building a Wizard Tower and a path for their future Cultivation.

“A Void Energy Core…” Nicholas tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair.

“The Silver Moon Highlands are said to have a World Tree Subspecies, but that’s a Holy Artifact of the Moon Elves. It’s extremely difficult for an outsider to obtain.”

He looked toward the Morning Star from the Endless Sea.

“Alviss, that Deep Sea Vortex your people control in the Endless Sea—does it occasionally spew out a Heart of Emptiness?”

Alviss nodded.

“It does, but that requires luck. Besides… the next one has already been claimed by someone within my clan.”

He looked at Ian with an apologetic expression.

“If you want one, you can wait for the next auction or try your luck at other Void Rifts.”

Ian nodded his thanks and committed the information to memory.

“As for a Meditation Method…” Nicholas mused for a moment.

“That kind of core Inheritance is something no power will share with outsiders. Even if some information leaks out, the conditions to obtain it are extremely harsh.”

“You either have to sign a permanent Soul Contract and join them,”

“or complete a high-difficulty mission they issue in exchange for a single chance to view it.”

He looked at Ian. “I’ll give you a suggestion. You can try the Tower of Knowledge.”

“They are relatively open. As long as you pass the Knowledge Trial, you can read some of their records.”

‘The Tower of Knowledge again?’ This corroborated the information Endos had given him before.

Ian nodded. “Thank you, Tower Master.”

The gathering came to an end, and the fifteen Morning Stars left one after another.

By the time Ian walked out of the giant tower, dusk was approaching.

The setting sun dyed the seven Crystal Giant Towers a molten gold, and the harbor below was still bustling with noise.

Gaga materialized from the shadows and began to transmit its voice. “Ian, some of those people were really strong.”

There was a hint of awe in the little one’s voice.

“I know.”

Ian gazed toward the distant interior of the continent, his heart gradually surging with excitement.

A wider world, richer resources, and more powerful opponents were all waiting for him there.

“Where are we going next?”

Ian withdrew his gaze, and after weighing his options for a moment, a look of decision flashed in his eyes.

“First, we’ll go to the Silver Moon Highlands. We’ll check out that Void Rift and, while we’re there, ask about the World Tree.”

A moment ago, he had been tempted to sell the information about the Eternal Mother Tree in the Shadow World in exchange for a different Void Energy Core, but he dismissed the idea after some thought.

‘My Power is increasing rapidly. It won’t be long before I can contend with the Radiant Moon Level. Selling it off so cheaply now would be a huge loss.’

Taking Gaga with him, he took a step and his figure vanished from the top of the tower.

‘That Void Insect Nest… so many people are afraid of it?’

‘I’ll go take a look… and see exactly what it is.’