In the virtual room inside the Magic Network, space ripples as presences begin to gather.
The moment Li Xueyao uploads the improved Wizard Cultivation Technique, the system responds.
One by one,
Figures appear.
Not physical bodies.
But wills.
Manifestations of consciousness.
Each one carries a different aura.
Different laws.
Different power.
They are Third Stage Wizards.
But not all of them come.
Only a portion answers the call.
Most of those present are newly advanced Third Stage Wizards.
Those who have stepped into this realm within the last hundred years.
Only a few among the older generation appear.
Those who have stood at this level for centuries,
Remain absent.
The virtual room stabilises.
Dozens of figures now stand within it.
Silence lingers for a moment.
Then,
A woman steps forward.
Her form is elegant.
Her aura carries the softness of light and illusion.
Light Fox Wizard.
She advanced to the Third Stage less than sixty years ago.
Her gaze sweeps across the room.
Calm.
Sharp.
"Everyone should have read the new improved Wizard Cultivation Technique…"
She pauses briefly.
"And the Wizard Lord's instruction."
Her eyes move from one figure to another.
They nod.
Some openly.
Some subtly.
None denies it.
She continues,
"What is everyone's intention?"
Her voice is steady.
But the question carries weight.
The room falls silent again.
Then,
A chuckle echoes.
Low.
Unrestrained.
All eyes turn.
Iron Heart Wizard.
A man.
His presence is heavy.
Solid.
Like an unbreakable mountain.
He is among the few who advanced more than a hundred years ago.
His voice follows.
"What intention could there be?"
His tone is almost amused.
"The instruction of the Lord is a command."
"For me…"
"I will publish the new technique in my tower."
"And those under me will follow."
His words are simple.
Direct.
Absolute.
There is no hesitation.
No doubt.
Among the older generation present,
Several nod in agreement.
Their expressions remain calm.
As if this decision was obvious from the beginning.
But among the newer generation,
The atmosphere shifts.
Unease spreads.
They do not speak immediately.
But their silence speaks.
They have never seen Kaelan.
Not truly.
By the time they rose,
Kaelan had already moved into the Inner Void.
Even if the void energy there is relatively calm,
For a Third Stage Wizard,
It is still poison.
Deadly.
And his Wizard Tower,
Hidden within that vast void,
Is impossible to find.
Like searching for a needle in an endless sea.
If Kaelan does not wish to be seen,
No one can find him.
So for them,
Kaelan is distant.
A legend.
A figure in history.
They respect him.
They admire him.
But they cannot feel him.
Cannot connect with him.
At the same time,
The world is not peaceful.
Resources are limited.
Finite.
Across the world,
Humans.
Demons.
And the Twilight Clan,
Together,
There are around ninety Third Stage Wizards.
Half of them belong to the Twilight Clan.
They reside in the sky islands.
Detached.
Above the surface world.
The remaining,
Around forty,
Compete for the surface resources.
And among those forty,
Thirty belong to Kaelan's generation.
The older generation.
They hold power.
Influence.
And most importantly,
Resources.
More than eighty per cent of the world's resources,
Are controlled by them.
Directly.
Or indirectly.
The newer generation,
Only ten Third Stage Wizards,
Struggle beneath that shadow.
They fight.
Not only for themselves,
But for those who supported them.
Who raised them?
Who invested in them?
They cannot yield.
They cannot submit.
But they also cannot oppose Kaelan openly.
His influence is absolute.
To smear his name,
Would invite destruction.
From the entire Wizard Civilisation.
So they choose another path.
Subtle.
Careful.
They undermine.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Trying to loosen the grip of the older generation.
Without directly challenging the foundation.
A voice rises.
Breaking the silence.
Green Lightning Wizard.
A man.
His aura crackles with sharp, violent energy.
He is from the new generation.
His gaze is calm.
But calculating.
"Who said we would not carry out the instruction of the Wizard Lord?"
His tone is controlled.
Measured.
He glances at Iron Heart Wizard briefly.
Then continues,
"We only wish to carefully examine the new cultivation method…"
"And then spread it."
His words sound reasonable.
Even respectful.
He turns slightly.
Looking toward the other new generation wizards.
"And we are doing this for the lower wizards."
Another new generation wizard steps forward.
Her presence is gentle.
Refined.
Crystal Rose Wizard.
Her aura carries the clarity of crystal and the softness of blooming life.
She looks toward the gathered wills and speaks,
"Yes… We are doing it for them."
Her voice is calm.
Convincing.
"After we comprehend the technique, we can refine it…"
"Make it easier for them to understand."
Her words settle into the room.
The new generation wizards nod one by one.
Agreement spreads among them.
It is not merely a pretence.
There is truth within their reasoning.
They have observed something.
When lower wizards cultivate techniques created by them,
A subtle, mysterious energy enters the spirit space.
That energy does not increase raw power.
Instead,
It enhances comprehension.
It guides.
It sharpens their ability to understand the law.
And at their level,
Material resources matter less.
Law is everything.
The same is true for the older generation.
So even among them,
Heads begin to nod.
Iron Heart Wizard watches for a moment.
Then speaks.
"Alright."
His tone is steady.
"Then everyone will first comprehend the technique."
"After lowering its difficulty…"
"We will spread it."
A pause.
Then he continues,
"So for now…"
"We will spread the original technique to the masses."
No one objects.
They nod.
The decision forms.
But not all matters are settled.
Light Fox Wizard speaks again.
Her expression is thoughtful.
"We will not be able to stop the spread of the technique."
Her gaze sweeps across the room.
"To truly control it…"
"Seven Element Tower…"
"Death Tower…"
"Winter Rose Tower…"
"Origin Fire Tower…"
"Emotion Thunder Tower…"
"And Charm Tower…"
"All of them would need to agree."
She pauses.
Then shakes her head slightly.
"They won't."
Everyone understands.
These six towers,
Stand at the very core of Kaelan's influence.
Three are managed by his wives.
Two by his children.
And Death Tower,
Founded by Veena.
They are not merely powerful.
They are untouchable.
Another voice follows.
Lower.
More cautious.
Silver Fire Wizard.
"They are not the only ones."
He speaks almost in a whisper.
"Psychic Sword Tower…"
"Death Heart Tower…"
"And Ice Blood Tower…"
"They will not agree either."
These three towers,
Belong to Lin Zian.
One managed by his wife, He Muyi.
Another by their close ally, Guang Lian.
Silence falls again.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Everyone understands the implication.
Even if they unite,
They cannot force those towers.
Not through strength.
Not through influence.
Not through negotiation.
They are beyond reach.
A new voice breaks the silence.
Sharp.
Direct.
Blood Bone Wizard.
"Why don't we use the authority of the Federation?"
His eyes gleam slightly.
"Force them to agree."
The suggestion hangs in the air.
Iron Heart Wizard chuckles.
Not loudly.
But enough.
"If they take it to Parliament…"
He looks at Blood Bone Wizard.
"Everyone will know what we've done."
A pause.
"And if it comes to a vote…"
His lips curl faintly.
"We will lose."
The reality is clear.
The Parliament is not under their control.
Too many factions.
Too many interests.
Too many who still stand firmly behind Kaelan.
Green Lightning Wizard speaks again.
Calm.
Decisive.
"Let them do what they want."
"We will do what we want."
Simple.
Direct.
And practical.
One by one,
They nod.
Agreement forms again.
Then,
Green Lightning Wizard adds another point.
His tone shifts slightly.
"We should also scrap the motion…"
"Of diverting resources from Seven Element Tower and Charm Tower."
The words hit the room like a stone thrown into still water.
A commotion rises.
Several wizards react immediately.
Blood Bone Wizard frowns deeply.
"If we scrap the motion…"
"What precedent are we setting?"
His voice carries frustration.
"More than half the Parliament agreed with us…"
"That those two towers should not receive the same level of resources…"
"As towers led by Third Stage Wizards."
His argument is logical.
Structured.
But,
Light Fox Wizard chuckles softly.
Her eyes narrow slightly.
"What will the Lord think…"
"If we treat his wives like that?"
Her words cut deeper than logic.
She looks directly at Blood Bone Wizard.
"Or…"
She continues calmly,
"Do you not want the cultivation method…"
"To break through the Demigod Stage?"
"And beyond?"
The effect is immediate.
Blood Bone Wizard stiffens.
Alarm flashes across his face.
He shakes his head quickly.
"No."
A brief pause.
Then firmly,
"We should scrap the motion immediately."
The room shifts again.
No one argues.
No one challenges.
Some things,
Are not worth the risk.
Green Lightning Wizard chuckles.
Satisfied.
"Then it's decided."
He looks around once more.
"We have all made our decisions."
"Now…"
"We should return."
"And comprehend the new technique as soon as possible."
Without waiting,
He will withdraw.
His figure fades.
One by one,
The others follow.
Light disappears.
Auras vanish.
Presences dissolve.
Until,
The virtual room becomes empty.
Silent.
Still.
As if no one had ever been there.