In the afternoon, three days after the exchange meeting.
Ian sat cross-legged on the soft couch, his eyes slightly closed.
In his Sea of Spirit, the pale golden Crystal Core slowly rotated.
With each rotation, it drew in minuscule silver specks of light from the Void.
The specks of light merged into the crystal’s surface, like water droplets seeping into parched earth.
Slowly, but continuously.
The progress of his Spiritual Power Elementalization was advancing at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
0.1%... 0.11%...
Suddenly.
VMMMM! A low vibration came from deep within the ship, penetrating the thick metal bulkheads.
Immediately after, a cold, emotionless announcement broadcast simultaneously throughout the cabins.
[Attention all passengers.]
[The Skybound will enter the outer channels of the Chaotic Sky Rift Valley tomorrow at nine o’clock.]
[All Level Two Wizards, please be prepared. Keep your Tokens clear.]
[In accordance with the third clause of the boarding contract, you are required to assist in the ship’s defense when necessary.]
[Specific instructions will be transmitted via your Tokens one hour before entering the Rift Valley.]
[I repeat: all Level Two Wizards, please be prepared.]
The broadcast ended, and the ship’s vibrations ceased.
But the air inside the cabin seemed to freeze in an instant.
Ian opened his eyes, a faint golden starlight flashing in their depths before vanishing.
He raised his hand and looked at the passenger Token in his palm.
The Anchor Crystal Stone at the center of the Token was emitting a steady, faint glow.
But deep within that light, there seemed to be some kind of hidden Rune structure, waiting to be activated.
"It’s finally happening..."
He muttered to himself.
Back at Vilte Port, when Derek handed him the Token, he had mentioned the "obligation to be fulfilled when necessary."
Passage across the sea was never cheap.
The cheap ones were paid for with your life.
On his shoulder, Gaga poked his head out from under a wing, his small eyes blinking.
"Chaotic Sky... doesn’t sound very good, gaga."
"Mm."
Ian stood up and walked to the porthole.
Outside, the starry sky was still vast.
But on the distant horizon, an abnormal region was faintly visible.
Its color was deeper, almost ink-black.
The sky there also had an unnatural, distorted look, like silk crumpled by an invisible hand.
Even from hundreds of kilometers away, he could feel the heart-pounding spatial fluctuations.
’Spatial turbulence...’ Ian’s gaze darkened.
He was no stranger to such fluctuations.
The areas of shattered space deep within the Star Spirit Race ruins emitted a similar aura.
It was just that the scale here was countless times larger.
「Evening came.」
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Three distinct knocks on the door, steady and rhythmic.
Ian’s brow twitched as he quietly extended his Spiritual Power.
Outside the door were two auras. One was familiar: Adelle Justice.
The other was unfamiliar, but equally solid—a Level Two Late Stage. Its aura was gentle and reserved, with a kind of calm befitting an elder.
Ian detected no malice, so he got up and opened the cabin door.
Aidele was still wearing that deep cyan Long Robe. The color had returned to her face somewhat compared to a few days ago.
But the exhaustion in her eyes was hard to hide, and her back was still ramrod straight.
Beside her was a middle-aged Witch in a long blue dress, her features gentle and pleasant.
The Witch looked to be around forty, with ordinary features and clear, gentle eyes.
She gave Ian a slight nod, her movements natural and graceful.
"Sorry to bother you," Aidele said, her voice a bit hoarse.
"This is Delia Justice, an elder from my mother’s side of the family."
Delia took half a step forward, placed her right hand over her chest, and performed an ancient family courtesy.
"Gray Moon Wizard, good day."
Her voice was very soft, like the warm afternoon sun.
But Ian could feel that beneath her gentle exterior, her Spiritual Power was as solid as iron. It contained an extremely dense concentration of Elemental Energy.
A Level Two Late Stage, and with a solid foundation at that.
"Please, come in."
Ian stepped aside, letting the two of them enter the cabin.
Delia followed behind, gently closing the door behind her with a backhand motion.
Her movements were smooth and natural, a clear sign she had been taking care of Aidele’s daily needs for many years.
The three of them took their seats.
The cabin wasn’t large, so it felt a bit crowded.
Aidele didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Tomorrow at nine, the Skybound will enter the Chaotic Sky. I need to warn you about a few things."
She looked up, her dark brown eyes meeting Ian’s directly.
"There are ’Phase Floating Spirits’ in the Chaotic Sky."
"When my grandfather crossed the Rift Valley on a merchant ship, he was attacked by a small group of Floating Spirits."
"Of the six Level Two Wizards on board, only three... survived."
Her tone was calm, but the scent of blood in her words was overwhelming.
Ian’s eyes narrowed. He had never encountered these things before.
Aidele fell silent for a moment.
"The survivors had one thing in common: they hadn’t caused any substantial harm to the Floating Spirits."
"Or rather... they were *incapable* of ’injuring’ the Floating Spirits."
Delia added quietly from the side, her voice still gentle, but her words were chilling.
"Phase Floating Spirits are social creatures. They aren’t highly intelligent, but they have an extremely strong hive mind."
"An injured Floating Spirit releases a special pheromone, like an invisible distress signal."
"The signal can travel vast distances in the Void, attracting more of its kind."
"It’s manageable if it only attracts a small group."
"But if it attracts the King of Floating Spirits from a medium or even large-sized race... a being that could very well be Level Four..."
She didn’t finish, but Ian already understood.
The King of Floating Spirits wouldn’t even need to act. Its subordinates alone would be enough to overwhelm the ship.
"The Giant Sail Alliance and the Floating Spirit Race have an ancient agreement," Aidele continued.
"Merchant ships on normal routes won’t be attacked, but the agreement only binds the main race."
"Those small, stray groups that have broken away, or newly spawned broods, are not protected by the agreement."
"When they get hungry, they attack."
Ian was silent for a moment.
"You mean we can only defend, not kill."
"Yes."
Aidele nodded, her expression solemn.
"If you are forced to fight... you must ensure that every single Floating Spirit you attack is completely annihilated."
"Leave no trace of a corpse, no opportunity for it to release its pheromones."
Ian’s brow furrowed slightly as he gently stroked the armrest.
Suddenly, he thought of his own Talent Witchcraft.
Gravity Collapse Ball.
It was a completely Annihilation-type attack, and he also had his Entropy Change Domain.
His other Talent Witchcraft, Frost Ash Beam, could also disintegrate matter down to the Energy level with its clash of ice and fire.
’It seems I don’t have much to fear from these creatures,’ he mused.
"I understand," Ian nodded slowly.
Aidele seemed to let out a sigh of relief and looked at Delia.
Delia understood and took a yellowed beast-skin scroll from her sleeve.
The scroll was very old, its edges frayed and worn.
But its material was special. It was cool and supple to the touch, like the hide of some ancient creature.
Aidele took the scroll and gently unrolled it on the table.
The hide was covered in dense, twisted symbols written in silver ink.
The symbols didn’t resemble any script Ian knew.
They looked more like the trajectories of stars or the natural patterns of a spatial rift.
Ian’s gaze fell upon it.
The next second.
VMMM!
Deep in his Sea of Spirit, the Seed of the Stars trembled slightly.
A faint, imperceptible silver glint flowed across the surface of the pale golden crystal.
It had produced an extremely faint resonance with the energy rhythm of the symbols on the scroll!
It lasted only for an instant, but Ian caught it.
"This is..."
He looked up at Aidele.
Aidele’s fingers brushed over the surface of the scroll, her expression complex.
"A manuscript left by an ancestor of the Justice Clan, from the ruins of the ’Abyssal Ancient Race’."
She paused before adding,
"The Abyssal Ancient Race was an ancient race that lived in the same era as the Star Spirit Race. It’s said they were even more powerful than the Star Spirits, specializing in stars and Space Technology."
"And they had a unique... method for the Refining of Witchcraft Tools."
"But in the great war of ancient times, they were wiped out even earlier."
Ian’s pupils contracted.
’The Abyssal Ancient Race.’
It was the first time he had ever heard the name, but the resonance from the Seed of the Stars didn’t lie.
This manuscript was definitely related to the Star Rule.
"The manuscript is a record of the Abyssal Ancient Race’s observational notes on Void Creatures," Aidele continued. "I’ve studied it for three years and have only deciphered less than ten percent. But some of the information inside should be useful to you."
She looked at Ian, her gaze candid.
"You didn’t bid for the Void Crystal just for the Water of Balance, did you?"
Ian’s heart jolted, followed by a surge of pleasant surprise, but his expression remained unchanged.
"I want to refine a Witchcraft Tool, one related to space."
A slight curve formed at the corner of Aidele’s mouth.
"The Void Crystal, found in the ruins of the Abyssal Ancient Race, is one of the core materials for refining ’Phase Witchcraft Tools’. And this manuscript happens to contain records on the design philosophy for forging Phase Witchcraft Tools."
She slowly pushed the scroll toward Ian. Her movement was light, but it carried a certain solemn weight.
"This manuscript can serve as a down payment."
Ian didn’t immediately reach for it, looking instead at Aidele.
"A down payment?"
"Become my Honored Guest Elder."
Aidele’s voice was calm, but every word was clear.
"You won’t need to risk your life. But when I need you, you will support me to the best of your ability. And..."
She paused. "In certain public situations, you will stand on my side."
’Declaring my stance...’ Ian lowered his head, deep in thought.
Aidele continued in a steady, unhurried tone,
"In return, after we arrive in the Eastern Territory, I will grant you access to all the books in the Justice Clan’s Secret Vault concerning the Abyssal Ancient Race and Void Creatures. If I win and inherit the clan..."
She looked up, a sharp light flashing in her eyes.
"The reward will only be greater."
Silence filled the cabin.
Only the low hum of the ship’s engines could be faintly heard through the bulkheads.
Delia sat quietly to the side, her gentle gaze resting on Aidele.
Her eyes held concern, gratification, and also a hint of imperceptible exhaustion.
Ian’s fingers continued to tap lightly on the armrest.
He was weighing his options.
The Abyssal Ancient Race’s manuscript was indeed tempting, especially the part that resonated with his Seed of the Stars.
It might involve deeper applications of the Star Rule.
It could even... be the key to him Refining his own exclusive Witchcraft Tool.
But the status of an Honored Guest Elder meant publicly taking a side. It meant getting entangled in the Justice Clan’s succession struggle.
It also meant his conflict with Collins Hawke Wood would escalate from a personal grudge.
The risks were great, but so were the rewards.
Time ticked by, but Aidele didn’t press him.
She just sat there quietly, her back straight, her gaze calm.
Finally.
Ian spoke. "I will give you an answer after we pass through the Chaotic Sky."
’He didn’t refuse, so there’s still a chance.’ A flicker of light passed through Aidele’s eyes.
She had approached several other Level Two Wizards on this journey, but she wasn’t satisfied with any of them.
Some had revealed inscrutable intentions from the start, while others were extremely difficult to communicate with.
"Very well."
She stood up, and Delia rose with her.
"You can keep the manuscript for now. Just give me your answer in three days."
Ian looked at the yellowed scroll on the table, remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright."
Aidele gave a slight nod and turned to walk toward the door.
Delia followed behind her. When she reached the door, she glanced back at Ian.
Her gaze was gentle, but it held a hint of a warning deep within.
"Gray Moon Wizard, be extremely careful on your journey through the Rift Valley. The Floating Spirits may be weak, but their strangeness... makes them more terrifying than the average Level Two Wizard."
With that, she opened the door, and the two of them disappeared down the corridor.
The cabin door closed.
Ian stood in place, his gaze falling on the scroll.
Gaga flew down from his shoulder, landed on the edge of the table, and pawed at the scroll’s edge with his little claws.
"Ian, this thing... it seems to have the smell of stars, gaga."
"Mm."
Ian reached out and picked up the scroll. It felt cool and supple in his hand.
The silver symbols reflected faintly in the light, like flowing mercury.
He carefully put the scroll away deep inside his Dimension Ring and walked to the porthole.
Outside, the ink-black region was closer now.
Under the distorted sky, he could faintly make out some drifting, translucent shadows.
They looked like jellyfish, or perhaps wisps of mist, wandering slowly through the Void.
"Phase Floating Spirits..."
Ian repeated the name under his breath.
In his eyes, a speck of pale golden starlight slowly swirled.
He was actually already leaning toward a decision.
But some decisions... required a couple more days of thought.
On his shoulder, Gaga tilted his small head, the distorted light from outside reflecting in his heterochromatic eyes.
"Ian, are we really going to help that Witch?"
"Maybe."
Ian ruffled the feathers on its small head.
"But before that... let’s just focus on getting through tomorrow safely."