Chapter 517 |
“Are you asking for our approval and support?”
Adam nodded. This was no small venture—it was a massive, near-monopolistic enterprise. Without the backing of the Council, even with Nehem’s full support, there was no way he could protect such immense interests.
Croft said, “Adam, you really are different from the rest. Every other mage has always looked upward—to the higher planes and the outer worlds—but you’re the only one who focused your eyes on the mortals. And you truly reaped enormous rewards from it.”
“Just luck,” Adam replied lightly.
Croft shook her head, neither agreeing nor refuting, and continued, “Originally, I could have made the decision on this matter myself. But now, for this venture to go through, you’ll need the consent of one more person.”
Adam looked at her in curiosity. Croft didn’t keep him guessing—the moment she spoke, another figure appeared within the Source Space—Wanxiang.
The Source Space was of tremendous importance. Until now, only mages of the Holy Tower had been able to enter. For Wanxiang to appear here meant that she must have reached an agreement with the mages—or perhaps, she had even been implanted with the highest-level binding seals.
Of course, that was not a pleasant topic. Adam didn’t ask about it; he simply greeted her: “Greetings, Wanxiang Heavenly Sovereign.”
Wanxiang seemed to have completely recovered from the devastation of the Immortal Realm’s fall and the disappearance of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. She had returned to the calm, dignified figure Adam had first met.
She did not shy away from speaking about her situation. In a few words, she explained that she indeed bore restrictive seals—even her soul’s origin had been divided, a portion entrusted to a True Spirit Mage. But all of it was of her own free will.
Croft smiled. “Allow me to reintroduce her properly. Wanxiang has voluntarily joined the Mage World, contributing the complete system of the Immortal Dao and requesting permission to establish the First Immortal Spirit Tower. The Mage Council and nearly every True Spirit Mage voted unanimously in favor of her application. Soon, you will address her as Her Excellency Wanxiang.”
Adam’s head snapped up in astonishment, his eyes shifting back and forth between the two women. The words First Immortal Spirit Tower alone carried immense implications—and what was even more unbelievable was that the Mage Council had agreed!
This meant the Mage World was truly entering a new era of inclusivity and synthesis. The future foreign policies of the mages would inevitably change dramatically. With this precedent set, many powerful worlds possessing complete inheritances might no longer be inevitable enemies of the Mage World.
Adam collected himself and bowed again. “Your Excellency Wanxiang.”
Wanxiang shook her head with a small smile. “Not yet. I’ve heard you’ve decided to join the Eighth Void Holy Tower. But how about reconsidering? If you’re willing to come to the First Immortal Spirit Tower, I can use the last foundation of the Immortal Dao to help you ascend directly to the Ninth Level.”
She spoke confidently—and she had reason to. The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign’s countless eons of life had accumulated a tremendous foundation. Though much had been consumed during her final ascension, what remained was still immense. Those resources might not suit mages—but for immortals, they were priceless.
But Adam refused without hesitation.
Wanxiang didn’t seem surprised. She let the topic drop and said instead, “I’ve come to understand the mages’ principle—that everything has a price, and all things must be exchanged in equivalence.”
“So?” Adam prompted.
“So,” she said, “I agree to your plan—and I am willing to give everything I have to accomplish it together with you.”
Adam looked toward Croft. She understood his question and explained, “The Heavenly Dao isn’t our spoils of war. The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign already paid sufficient value for it. So, by right, the Heavenly Dao should belong to Wanxiang.”
Adam clicked his tongue. The True Spirits were being incredibly generous this time. Whether it was ‘by right’ or not really depended only on the mages’ will. But he could understand their reasoning. The mages needed to demonstrate goodwill—Wanxiang and the First Immortal Spirit Tower were like a living banner, a symbol. Her existence alone would let other high-ranking beings from alien worlds believe that the mages were trustworthy.
Wanxiang also understood this, so she didn’t take any of it for granted. She spoke modestly: “This enterprise—I’ll take fifty percent. The other half will belong to the mages.”
“I am deeply grateful for the Mage World’s inclusivity,” she added with a faint smile. “And I am willing to contribute everything I can. But unfortunately, the resources of immortals differ from those of mages. What is useful to us is of little value to you.”
She gave a rueful laugh. “For example, I possess several Ninth-Level Immortal Artifacts—but compared to your Holy Towers, their functions differ greatly. They’re not suitable as vessels or weapons for interplanar warfare. So I’ll need resources to build the Spirit Tower—and to recruit personnel.”
It was a reasonable and true request. Immortal Artifacts tended to focus on abstract or conceptual power. That didn’t make them weak—but their overly conceptual nature meant poor material stability. If Wanxiang couldn’t construct a Spirit Tower of Holy Tower caliber, she and her Immortal followers would end up little more than ornaments. Clearly, that was not her intention.
———
After Wanxiang left, Adam turned to Croft and asked, “May I ask how you and the other Excellencies plan to handle this?”
Croft gestured for him to sit and said, “She’s remarkable—insightful and composed. The establishment of the Spirit Tower system is also of great importance to the Mage World.”
Adam nodded.
“In truth,” Croft continued, “we don’t need the Spirit Tower to be particularly powerful—nor do we need to suppress it. Since she has such ambition, there’s no harm in giving her some support.”
Adam asked, “But with the Heavenly Dao in her possession, it’ll be easy for them to grow stronger. Don’t you worry that future mages might be tempted by an easier path to power and flock to the First Immortal Spirit Tower?”
Croft was utterly confident—or rather, every True Spirit Mage was. “Why should we worry? They’ll still be part of the Mage World. Their strength will be our strength. As long as mages retain their spirit and power, who would willingly abandon the Mage Path for the Immortal one?
“Besides, excessive power breeds arrogance. The mages need someone close behind them—a pursuer—to remind them that even within the Aetheric Void, the mages are not invincible. And truth be told, we fully support Wanxiang’s ambition. We look forward to seeing the Immortal Dao and Magecraft merge. If that succeeds, it might become our best solution to deal with other Super-Void Lifeforms.”
“And what about this collaboration?” Adam asked.
He had to. For him, this project meant more trouble than benefit.
The problem was simple—its potential profit was immense, but neither he nor Wanxiang had the overwhelming power needed to keep the vultures away.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Croft replied. “The Council will handle it. They’ll officially purchase your Magitek Construct industry—at least, on the surface.”