Chapter 518 |
“Croft didn’t intend to harm Adam. What she meant was that the Council would publicly announce the acquisition of the Magitek Construct industry, but in reality, ownership would still remain with Adam. As for the half of the profits that Wanxiang had offered to the Council, the Council would not take a single coin. Instead, it would be gifted to Nehem — and how Nehem decided to divide it was strictly a matter between the two of them.”
“Besides that—‘Your Excellency, what do you think about the Warbeast System?’”
Adam had sent back the relevant data long ago. Croft had paid close attention, since this system too could potentially elevate the overall power of the Mage World from its very foundations. However, the experiments had revealed some serious issues.
“Mortals who inherit the Warbeast System immediately transform into anti-magic bodies. Their spiritual force becomes unable to sustain mana. In other words, once they become Warbeast Knights, their lives will be forever severed from magic.” Croft said evenly.
“What about their offspring?”
Adam caught the most critical point immediately. The number of mortals without mage aptitude was endless; whether they were anti-magic or not was trivial. What mattered was whether they would pass down that anti-magic trait to the next generation.
It was easy speaking with the intelligent. Croft skipped all unnecessary explanations.
“The experimental samples are still too few to reach any conclusive result. The Council, in Nehem’s name, has established the Warbeast Laboratory. They are collecting breeding data from various pairings — those who have inherited the Warbeast System with those who haven’t, and those who both have the inheritance. We are now observing the second generation. By the fifth generation, we should be able to determine whether the system can be safely propagated.”
Adam understood that anything concerning the foundation of the Mage World required absolute caution. True Spirits might wish to strengthen the world as a whole, but they would never adopt a method that killed the chicken to get the eggs. Three more generations meant only a century or two — a brief wait in their timescale.
Every Outer Tower acted as the core node of a vast magic array spanning the Mage World. Once the Eighth Tower was built, the array would need to be adjusted — but only within certain limits.
That was of no concern to Nehem. Adam casually selected a coordinate slightly distant from the seven main continents; a Void Tower would inevitably generate Dark Matter, and keeping distance prevented unnecessary losses.
Once the minor matters were settled, Croft smiled and said, “Every Holy Tower True Spirit is a member of the Mage Council. However, True Spirits rarely manage the Council directly — they usually appoint a proxy. Unless I’m mistaken, Nehem’s proxy will most likely be you. What do you say? Interested in taking on some Council affairs ahead of time?”
For most mages, this would be an immense honor — but Adam only found it troublesome.
“Forgive me, Your Excellency. I’d like to focus on my research first.”
———
In truth, Adam had only recently ascended to a Sixth-Level Mage. At the normal pace of advancement, even accumulating enough energy for the Seventh Level would be a long journey. But for Adam, energy accumulation wasn’t the problem — it was breaking through in knowledge.
At this point, he was deeply grateful that he hadn’t kept the knowledge from the other world to himself. By spreading his teachings, building research institutes, offering new directions, and supporting any line of study, the collective progress of countless mages had propelled the Mage World forward. Otherwise, had he relied on his own efforts alone, he couldn’t imagine how long it would take to make the next leap.
Thinking thus, he immediately wanted to return to the Atomic Energy Research Institute to review the latest developments and propose new projects. But just as he was about to leave, Wanxiang — who had only recently departed — appeared before him again.
“Your Excellency?”
Back in the Source Space, he hadn’t noticed, but now it was clear — Wanxiang was utterly drained. Her exposed energy level was even weaker than Adam’s, and her aura of spiritual energy was constantly being corroded by the surrounding mana and Aether of the Mage World.
They were familiar enough that she didn’t bother pretending. “As you can see, neither I nor the remaining Immortals are in good condition.”
“Because of your energy?”
Wanxiang gave a faint, bitter smile. “Yes. When the Grand Heavenly Sovereign was still present, he purified and refined spiritual energy for all Immortals. But now that he’s gone, I lack the ability to convert Aether into spiritual energy. I can only rely on the remaining Spirit Stones to sustain myself — but those, too, are running out.”
Adam frowned. “You overestimate me, Your Excellency. I know nothing of spiritual energy, and I can’t help you. Instead of coming to me, you should seek out Her Excellency Laura.”
He wasn’t shirking responsibility — he truly had no means. The birth of spiritual energy in the Immortal World had been a direct result of Primordial Heavenly Sovereign’s self-sacrifice, an artificial energy unlike anything else. The only comparable process was the energy refinement used in the Third Holy Tower’s containment of residual sub-worlds — but that energy was inferior. If the Immortals attempted to convert to it, massive degeneration would be inevitable. They wouldn’t advance — they would regress.
Wanxiang, however, looked at him with firm resolve. “No. You can help me. I know the Mage World consists of the Inner, Outer, and Virtual Worlds. I intend to establish the First Immortal Spirit Tower within the Virtual World. I — and all remaining Immortals — are willing to upload our souls and bodies into the Virtual World, becoming its native inhabitants.”
Adam was stunned. “But the Virtual World is purely informational in nature. Everything there is data — formed from digital constructs and simulated reality. You cannot truly become its native beings. And even if you could, the energy you draw within it wouldn’t transform into the essence you require.”
Wanxiang’s gaze was resolute. “I know. But I have no other choice. And with the Heavenly Dao on my side, I may not fail.”
She was desperate — not because the Mage World refused to help, but because no one could. Unless Wanxiang and all remaining Immortals dismantled their entire cultivation and rebuilt themselves as mages, no one could resolve their dilemma. But that path was unacceptable. Fortunately, there still remained the Heavenly Dao — and the Virtual World.
She believed this was the first step toward finding “the One that escapes extinction.” By integrating the Heavenly Dao into the Mage’s path, using the Mage system and the Heavenly Dao’s immense computational ability, she hoped to alter the essence of spiritual energy — to free themselves from being rejected by the Aether Void of the Fourth Epoch.
Adam hadn’t expected Wanxiang to be so bold — or so resolute. It was an all-or-nothing gamble. If she succeeded, it would be a new beginning. If she failed — if they couldn’t find a way to change spiritual energy’s fundamental nature — then the last of the Immortals would vanish forever.