Chapter 562 - 381: Jade Dream Realm, Aisala

After Ian stated his conditions, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

The High Priest’s purple eyes stared at Ian, as if trying to see through to his true intentions.

"Lord Marcus, must you be so uncompromising?"

Calendor’s voice remained calm, but the vast presence hidden deep within him finally showed a slight ripple.

"My apologies. I’ve only just arrived and don’t understand the full situation. I’ll need to consider whether to accept this mission."

Ian shook his head, meeting Calendor’s gaze calmly.

"At the very least, I need to know what price you are willing to pay."

This was not just about haggling; it was a way to probe the Silver Moon Council’s true bottom line and sincerity.

Two Level Four Morning Star Elders had already perished in there. The risks and rewards had to be proportional.

Calendor fell silent for a moment, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "The things you want are all Holy Artifacts of our people. I cannot decide on my own. How about this..."

He raised his left hand, and Moonlight Energy gathered in his palm, coalescing into a book made of a halo of light, which contained detailed information about the Insect Race.

"This is the information we have on the world on the other side of the Rift, including some of the records from the initial explorations by Elders Carlisle and Theran."

"You can take a look first. As for the reward, I need to discuss it with the council of priests." Calendor pushed the Light Book toward Ian.

Ian reached out and caught it. The moment it touched his hand, the Light Book transformed into a Moon-white Jade Plate.

"I will arrange for you to stay the night in Moonlight Hall. I will give you an answer tomorrow."

"In the meantime, please do not leave the hall’s immediate area. Scattered swarms of the Insect Race have still managed to infiltrate the highlands."

Ian put away the Stone Jade Plate and nodded in agreement.

’Their reaction was within my expectations. Demanding payment before doing the job certainly put them in a difficult position.’

’Their hesitation also meant that I wasn’t the only one who could do this mission, which was actually a good thing.’

Under Cecilia’s guidance, Ian arrived at a private courtyard on the east side of Moonlight Hall.

The courtyard was built from Moonlight Stone, and its interior was furnished with simple elegance. Outside the window, an ancient tree emitted a faint glow, bathing the room in a soft light.

"Gaga! The energy here feels so nice!"

Gaga flew down from Ian’s shoulder and did a somersault on the soft Moonlight Grass carpet.

Ian walked to the window and looked up at the sky.

The pale purple Rift still hung high in the sky, but the Silver Moon Barrier above the courtyard was noticeably thicker, completely shielding the area from its influence.

He opened the Jade Plate Book and sent his Spiritual Power into it. A massive amount of information flooded into his mind.

There were detailed illustrations of the Insect Race’s various soldier types, analyses of their behaviors, their energy fluctuation signatures, and even fragmented combat footage sent back by the two fallen elders.

Ian went through it page by page, his expression growing increasingly grave.

The data revealed that the Insect Race’s organization and tactical prowess far exceeded his previous estimates.

They weren’t chaotic beasts, but highly unified war machines.

’Cleaning up the stragglers that slip through the gaps would be one thing, but venturing deep into the world on the other side...’

Ian closed the book, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. ’The risk is indeed great,’ he thought, ’but what about the reward?’

’The World Tree Branch I want most is indeed a top-tier material for constructing a Wizard Tower’s Energy Core, but is it worth risking my life for?’

He sat cross-legged on the Moonlight Grass Carpet, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his Meditation Method to calm his thoughts.

In his Sea of Spirit, a golden halo transformed into five-colored Star Orbits that weaved and flowed together.

His Starry Sky Festival Meditation Method had reached its limit. He urgently needed a High Tier Meditation Method to continue nurturing this Star Core.

Without a High Tier Meditation Method, relying solely on World Origin, his Soul would be unable to undergo a qualitative transformation.

’Besides, opportunities to obtain World Origin don’t come around often.’

The Silver Moon Elves had an Inheritance stretching back hundreds of thousands of years. With such a deep foundation, they were certain to possess a complete High Tier Meditation Method. This was another reason he had been willing to come here.

Time passed slowly, and the night grew deeper.

Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a silvery-white patch on the floor.

Gaga was already curled up in a corner, fast asleep, its small belly rising and falling gently with each breath.

Ian’s Meditation deepened, and his consciousness sank into the depths of a starry sky.

Suddenly, his surroundings began to distort like a reflection in water, with ripples spreading out in concentric circles.

The moonlight, the stone house, the carpet... everything blurred and dissolved.

Ian snapped his "eyes" open, only to find that he hadn’t truly woken up. Instead, he was floating in a... strange Void.

There was no concept of up, down, left, or right. Countless emerald halos began to flow, weaving together to form the silhouettes of a forest, the branches of trees, and their leaves.

The air was filled with a rich life force. With every breath, it felt as if he could sense the rhythm of growing plants and orbiting stars.

’This is... a Dream Realm?’

’To be able to pull me in so silently... it shows an immense gap in power between me and whoever did this.’

Ian looked around warily. With a slight turn of his thoughts, he confirmed that the Blazing Star Core was still in his Sea of Spirit, which calmed him considerably.

The entire space showed no hostility, only a gentle sensation of being watched.

"Welcome to my Dream Realm," a clear, gentle voice said from ahead.

Ian turned to look, and the emerald halos converged, forming the figure of a young woman.

She stood barefoot on a "ground" paved with moonlight, her figure slender and graceful, and even taller than an ordinary Moon Elf.

Her features were so exquisite they seemed otherworldly, more like the personification of the Rules themselves.

The young woman wore a simple, long white dress and smiled faintly at Ian, exuding a strange charm that was at once ancient and innocent.

Ian’s heart skipped a beat.

It wasn’t because of her peerless beauty, but because at the edge of his vision, a panel silently vibrated!

Pale gold text flowed into view like water, appearing at an astonishing speed.

[High-level lifeform detected... Comparing information...]