Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
The sky was gray at dawn.
Ian stood before pier number three at Vilte Port, his dark gray long robe stirring gently in the morning breeze.
On his shoulder, Gaga was nestled in his hood, its small eyes looking around with curiosity.
A long line had already formed in front of the pier.
At least three hundred Wizards waited there, speaking in various accents, their robes and badges a motley assortment.
Ian did a rough scan and sensed the auras of at least five Level Two Crystalized Wizards in the line.
The number of Level One Wizards was even greater, exceeding two hundred.
Most had the faces of young or middle-aged adults, their eyes filled with a mixture of yearning and apprehension for the Central Continent.
There were also several dozen High Level Apprentices, all young, following behind their teachers and sizing up their surroundings with curiosity.
"So many powerful people, gaga..." Gaga transmitted through their Soul Link.
"Mm."
Ian didn’t say much, simply clutching the token in his palm.
Six o’clock on the dot.
HUMMM!
A low engine hum came from ahead, and the air began to tremble.
At the end of the pier, the space above the sea’s surface warped slightly, like water being crumpled by an invisible hand.
Then... the silver-gray silhouette of a giant ship slowly emerged from the spatial fold!
Its four-hundred-meter-long hull crouched like a behemoth, forged entirely from some kind of Dark Silver Alloy and covered in a dense web of Rune Arrays.
The runes flowed with a faint blue light, like living blood vessels.
The most eye-catching features were the six pairs of wing plates on either side of the hull.
Each pair was thirty meters long with razor-sharp edges, and six fist-sized, deep blue crystals hung from the bottom.
Void Crystals!
The crystals rotated slowly, emitting heart-pounding spatial fluctuations.
With each rotation, the surrounding light warped slightly, as if being crumpled by an unseen hand.
"So this... is the Skybound."
Someone in the line exclaimed in a low voice.
"I heard they integrated space-compression technology into the hull. The interior is three times larger..."
"Those six Void Crystals... each one can tear through space and let the ship make short-range jumps..."
"Jumps? I thought they were just for stabilizing the flight path."
"You don’t know? The Giant Sail Alliance imported new technology from the inland last year..."
The discussions rose and fell.
Ian listened, his pupils shrinking slightly.
’Space Jump technology.’
’On the East Coast, that’s a legendary work of Witchcraft.’
’Only a few Level Three Great Witches have mastered it, and at a tremendous cost.’
’But here...’
’It’s standard equipment for a transoceanic airship.’
’The level of the Central Continent’s Wizard Civilization is higher than I imagined.’
"Boarding will now commence!"
A loud announcement boomed from the front.
At the entrance to the pier, two Liquidation Wizards in silver-blue uniforms began inspecting tokens.
Ian was in the middle of the line, waiting patiently.
More than ten minutes later, it was his turn.
"Token," the Liquidation Wizard on the left said, holding out a hand.
Ian handed over the token.
The Wizard took it and tapped his fingertip on the token’s surface.
HUMMM!
The Anchor Crystal Stone in the center of the token lit up with a faint blue light, projecting a line of text.
Passenger: Gray Moon | ID: B-17
Cabin: Zone B, No. 17 | Middle Level Independent Cabin
Clearance: Level Two (Free to move about)
"Confirmed."
The Wizard handed the token back and stepped aside to clear the way.
"Sir, Zone B is on the upper level. Please follow the signs."
"Thank you."
Ian took the token and stepped onto the pier.
The pier was a semi-transparent Energy Passage. Stepping on it felt like walking on solidified water, with a faint springiness to it.
At the end was an open hatch on the side of the airship.
The hatch was five meters high and three meters wide, its edges shimmering with faint blue Space Runes.
The moment he stepped into the airship,
HUMMM!
a slight dizzy spell washed over him, as if he had passed through a membrane of water.
The scene before him changed abruptly.
What looked like a normal hatch from the outside opened into a metal corridor ten meters wide and eight meters high!
The corridor was lined with rows of cabin doors, numbered from A-01 to B-50.
Overhead was a Light Curtain simulating the sky, casting a soft light like the morning sun.
The air was filled with faint Energy fluctuations and the scent of a cleaning Potion.
"Space compression..." Ian muttered to himself.
’The hull looks four hundred meters long from the outside, but the interior space is at least three times larger.’
’Shadow Moon Tower has this technology too, but it can only be used on stationary buildings.’
’Applying it to a mobile airship...’
’The difficulty is on a completely different level.’
He walked forward along the corridor.
Most of the cabin doors on either side were shut, with a few occasionally open.
He could see spacious interiors with beds, desks, Alchemy Platforms, and even small Meditation Rooms.
’A Middle Level independent cabin... the accommodations are better than I expected.’
He reached the middle of the corridor, where a fork to the left led to "Zone B."
He turned into it.
The cabins here were numbered starting from B-01, and each door was inlaid with a palm-sized Crystal Plate.
The Crystal Plate displayed the room’s status: Occupied or Vacant.
He walked to door number seventeen and placed his token in the recess on the door.
CLICK.
The lock clicked softly, and the door slid inward.
Ian stepped inside, and the door closed automatically behind him.
’Not bad. The room is bigger than I expected.’
It was about one hundred square meters, with a rectangular layout.
Against the left wall was a two-meter-long hard couch with silencing runes on its surface, cool to the touch.
The right wall had an embedded Alchemy Workstation, its surface carved from a single block of Obsidian, with an Energy Furnace Port underneath.
Directly ahead was a circular porthole one meter in diameter.
Through it, he could see the port gradually receding into the distance.
In the center of the room was a simple table and chairs, with a few nautical manuals on the table.
There was a small lavatory in the corner.
"Not bad, gaga."
Gaga flew out of the hood and circled the room.
It landed on the edge of the porthole, its small claws gripping the frame as it looked out.
"So high... I can see the whole port, gaga."
Ian ignored it.
He hung his long robe on a rack on the wall and walked to the couch, sitting down cross-legged.
Then... his Spiritual Power silently spread out.
HUMMM!
His pale golden Crystal Perception flowed out like liquid mercury, instantly covering a hundred-meter radius.
It penetrated the cabin walls, extending outward.
First was the ship’s hull itself.
Thick alloy layers, dense Protective Runes, a powerful energy source operating in the core area...
Then... the people.
At the bow and stern, two auras were entrenched like blazing suns!
Profound, vast, and carrying the unique pressure of Elementalization characteristic of Level Three Great Witches.
Just sensing them made one’s soul tremble slightly.
One aura was as steady as a mountain, the other as sharp as a sword.
’Two Level Three Guardians...’ A chill went down Ian’s spine.
He very carefully retracted his Perception and extended it elsewhere.
Next were six Level Two auras, scattered across the airship’s vital areas.
The engine room, the command cabin, the Energy Core...
Each one was as solid as iron, carrying the sharp edge of a seasoned warrior.
’These are the Skybound’s guards.’
Then, there were fifty auras of Level One Liquidation Wizards.
They were arranged in formations, highly disciplined, patrolling and standing guard within the ship’s cabins.
’This is the entire Guard Team of the Giant Sail Alliance.’
And finally... the passengers.
Ian frowned slightly. The number far exceeded his expectations!
’A rough scan reveals at least a thousand Wizards on this entire airship!’
’Among them, there are... twenty-one Level Two auras!’
’Including the six from the guards, there are another fifteen scattered throughout the various cabins.’
’Level One Wizards make up the vast majority, at least eight hundred of them.’
’The rest are mostly High Level Apprentices, young and with immature auras.’
’Most are following their teachers to the Central Continent to study.’
"This isn’t an airship..." Gaga muttered under its breath.
It flew back to Ian’s shoulder, its small eyes filled with shock.
"It’s practically a mobile Wizard’s Castle, gaga!"
Ian didn’t respond.
He closed his eyes. In his Sea of Spirit, stars twinkled, slowly revolving around the pale golden Crystal Core at the center.
Although he was still a ways off from the Level Two Middle Stage, he wasn’t in a hurry to break through.
’The more solid the foundation, the broader the path to Level Three will be in the future.’
Tower Master Morton had mentioned it in his notes.
"The longer you polish yourself during the Crystalization Stage, the stronger the Elemental True Form you will condense in the future."
"Some people rush to break through, and Level Three becomes their limit."
"Others build their foundation steadily, and can look forward to reaching Level Four."
His goal wasn’t just Level Three.
’At the very least, it’s Level Four Morning Star, or perhaps even higher.’
Time ticked by, second by second.
A slight vibration came from outside the cabin.
HUMMM!
The low hum of the engines starting up transmitted through the hull.
Outside the porthole, the view of the port began to slowly recede.
The Skybound had set sail.
Ian opened his eyes and walked to the porthole.
Outside, Vilte Port grew smaller and smaller.
The towering lighthouse, the bustling docks, the teeming crowds...
all gradually shrank into tiny dots.
Then, HUMMM... the Void Crystals on both sides of the hull suddenly lit up.
Deep blue light surged out like a tide, forming rings of spatial ripples around the airship.
The air ahead began to twist and fold, like a crumpled piece of paper.
The next second.
BOOM!!!
The airship accelerated abruptly. It wasn’t linear flight, but... a jump!
The entire vessel plunged into the spatial fold, vanishing from above the sea.
Outside the porthole, the scenery instantly blurred.
It became a stream of iridescent bands of color, rapidly receding from view.
In his ears was the deep, thunderous hum unique to a Space Jump.
He felt a slight pulling sensation on his body, as if countless hands were tearing at him.
But soon, the ship’s stabilization runes lit up.
The pulling sensation vanished, and the view outside returned to normal.
The scenery outside was no longer the sea, but... above a sea of clouds!
A vast blue sky, with a layer of white clouds spreading out below like an endless ocean of cotton.
Sunlight streamed in from the side of the porthole, casting a bright patch of light on the floor.
"The Skybound has entered cruising mode."
An announcement came over the cabin intercom, a gentle female voice.
"Cruising speed: Mach 10."
"Estimated time of arrival at the edge of the ’Chaotic Sky Fjord’ is seven days."
"The airship will maintain stable flight during this period. All passengers are free to move about."
"The trade area, dining area, and observation deck are now open."
"We wish you a pleasant journey."
The broadcast ended.
Ian stood where he was, gazing at the rapidly receding sea of clouds outside the window.
’Mach 10...’
’On the East Coast, only a few Level Three Wizards could probably reach this speed.’
’I’m nowhere near that fast. Not even Gaga is.’
’But here, it’s just the cruising speed of an airship.’
’The Central Continent...’
He slowly clenched his fists, a determined light flashing in his eyes.
「Evening.」
Another broadcast came from outside the cabin.
"Distinguished guests, the Skybound will pass through the Storm Corridor tomorrow at seven o’clock."
"There will be mild turbulence during this time. Please do not leave your cabins."
"Level Three and below wizards are advised to take an Anti-dizziness Potion in advance."
Ian opened his eyes.
He took out two pale blue potions from his Dimension Ring, handing one to Gaga.
The Starlight Sedative.
This was his own improved version, thirty percent more effective than the standard version provided by the airship.
Uncorking the vials, the man and the bird tilted their heads back and drank.
The potion was cool as it went down, transforming into a gentle stream of Energy that flowed into his Sea of Spirit.
His Sea of Spirit rippled slightly before returning to calm.
All stray thoughts and emotional fluctuations were temporarily suppressed.
"Aren’t we going to go look around, gaga?"
Gaga tilted its head, its small eyes filled with curiosity.
"It sounds pretty lively outside..."
Footsteps and conversations could be heard from the corridor.
Many Wizards had left their cabins and were heading toward the trade area or the observation deck.
"No rush," Ian said, closing his eyes again.
’First, I’ll get a clear grasp of the powers and key figures on board. Then I’ll decide who to make contact with.’
He activated the [Starry Sky Festival] technique, his consciousness sinking into the depths of his Sea of Spirit.
The pale golden Crystal Core rotated slowly, drawing in cold Star Energy from the Void.
Outside the window, the sea of clouds churned like waves.
The setting sun dyed the clouds golden-red, like burning flames.
Inside the cabin, it gradually grew quiet.
Only the low hum of the engines and the faint, distant whispers of other Wizards could be heard.
Ian sat cross-legged on the couch, his breathing long and steady.
Like a stone statue.
But his Spiritual Perception flowed out like liquid mercury, silently blanketing his surroundings.
He sensed the aura of every Wizard who passed through the corridor.
He analyzed their strength, their affiliations, their emotional fluctuations...
This was his habit.
Whenever he entered an unfamiliar environment, he would first assess the situation before deciding on his next move.
Time flowed by in the silence.
Night deepened.
Outside the window, the starlight was brilliant.
The river of stars stretched across the sky like a glowing ribbon.