The fragment was irregularly shaped with jagged edges, as if torn apart by immense force.
Its surface was covered in fine cracks, within which a liquid silver light flowed.
Inside, countless points of light spun slowly, like a miniature galaxy.
"A Star Core Fragment."
Herbert’s voice was calm, but every word carried weight.
"The core remnant of a fallen star. After crashing into the Wizard World, it was nourished by an Earth Vein for several thousand years."
"For a Wizard with a Star Attribute, this is a top-tier resource for accelerating Spiritual Power Elementalization."
Ian’s gaze fell upon the fragment. In his Sea of Spirit, the Seed of the Stars trembled lightly.
A silver gleam flowed across the surface of the pale gold crystal.
Resonance... A resonance so strong it was nearly overflowing!
"This fragment..."
Ian looked up at Herbert.
"It must be quite valuable, right?"
"Of course." Herbert nodded, speaking bluntly.
"An ordinary Elemental Crystal is only worth a few hundred to a thousand High Level Magic Stones."
"But a Star Core Fragment... When the major merchant guilds in the Eastern Territory occasionally auction one, the starting bid is at least five thousand High Level Magic Stones."
He paused, then added, "Besides, they are incredibly rare and in high demand."
"Many Level Two Wizards with a Star Attribute would be willing to bankrupt themselves for a single piece."
Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly. He understood.
This was the reward for his earlier actions, but the Star Core Fragment was worth more than that.
Ian would have to make up the difference.
"How much do I need to add?"
Herbert smiled, his eyes gentle.
"For killing the Floating Spirit just now, according to the Alliance’s rules, you’ve earned a base reward of about five hundred High Level Magic Stones."
"Plus, you prevented mass casualties, so there’s an additional bonus of one thousand. That’s a total of one thousand five hundred."
He pointed to the fragment in the box. "This fragment, I’ll value it at four thousand High Level Magic Stones for you."
"You need to make up the difference of two thousand five hundred High Level Magic Stones, or provide materials, Witchcraft Tools, or Potions of equivalent value."
Two thousand five hundred High Level Magic Stones.
For an ordinary Level Two Wizard, that was not an easy sum to produce on the spot.
But Ian didn’t hesitate. He took out a pile of items from his Dimension Ring.
A few Witchcraft Tools looted from Bazaar, Selas, and the others.
Some materials he had no use for, like Selas’s dagger and the remnants of Mirror Fragments.
There were also a few spare Starlight Potions. The miscellaneous items piled up on the crystal table.
The energy fluctuations were complex, but the items were clearly valuable.
Herbert glanced over them, his Spiritual Power extending like invisible tentacles to quickly assess their value.
A moment later, he nodded.
"It’s enough."
He collected the items on the table and pushed the wooden box toward Ian.
"The fragment is yours."
Ian took the wooden box. It was cool to the touch. The silver light from the fragment’s surface shone through the velvet cloth, reflecting in his palm.
It was like holding a small piece of the starry sky.
"Thank you." He put away the box and stood up.
Herbert also stood and saw him to the door.
"When you get to the Eastern Territory, if you run into any trouble, you can come find me at the Giant Sail Alliance. The initial offer might be a bit low."
"But I believe that with your outstanding performance, you’ll eventually make a name for yourself."
Ian bowed slightly. "Thank you, Wizard Herbert. I will consider it carefully."
With that, he turned and walked out the cabin door.
Derek was waiting outside. When he saw Ian emerge, he made a gesture to lead the way.
The two of them returned the way they came, the gazes in the hallway still complicated.
But Ian no longer cared.
Upon returning to his cabin door, Derek took his leave.
Just as Ian was about to push his door open, the door to the adjacent cabin opened.
Aidele stood in the doorway, her expression calm, but a trace of nervousness and anticipation was hidden deep in her eyes.
"Gray Moon Wizard," she said softly.
"Can I help you?" Ian stopped and looked at her.
Aidele was silent for two seconds before pulling a thick roll of parchment from her sleeve.
The scroll was tied with a dark gold silk thread and branded with the badge of the Justice Clan.
"This is the information I’ve compiled." She handed the scroll over.
"It’s intelligence on several of my competitors within the clan, as well as the major powers in the Eastern Territory."
"Perhaps... it might be of some use to you."
Ian didn’t immediately take it.
He looked at her pale face, her straight back, and the deep-seated exhaustion and resilience in her eyes.
Herbert’s recruitment offer from earlier came to mind, and he weighed his options.
’If I join the Giant Sail Alliance, my initial position probably won’t be high—something like a ship-bound post. And I know nothing about its internal politics.’
’The dangers would be unpredictable, and my time wouldn’t be my own.’
’On the other hand, the Justice Clan has three city-state territories.’
’There are also the within-reach Eternal Shadow Remains, manuscripts of the Abyssal Ancient Race, and even potentially more Star Core Fragments...’
’And even further off... the Starlight Origin Divine Liquid, a Rule Divine Object that only a Level Four Morning Star Wizard could possibly access.’
’Those were just fragments of information Herbert had unintentionally let slip during our conversation.’
’All of this requires a foothold.’
’A springboard into the top circles of the Central Continent.’
’As things stand now, Aidele might be the most suitable springboard.’
Silence spread through the corridor.
Only the low hum of the airship’s engine could be faintly heard through the metal bulkheads.
Finally, Ian reached out and took the parchment scroll.
"I accept your offer."
His voice was calm, but every word was distinct.
"I will join the Justice Clan as an Honored Guest Elder."
"I will provide Potion support and publicly side with you when you need it."
"But..." He paused and looked at Aidele.
"I will only do what is within my capabilities. If my life is endangered, I will back out."
A light suddenly flared in Aidele’s eyes!
It was the light of hope, finally seen after being suppressed for so long.
She took a deep breath, forcing down her excitement, but her fingertips still trembled slightly.
"That’s enough." Her voice was a little hoarse, but firm.
"Thank you, Gray Moon Wizard."
Ian shook his head. "It’s just a transaction."
With that, he pushed open his door and walked into his cabin.
The door closed behind him.
In the corridor, Aidele stood motionless for a long time.
She looked down at her hands; her fingertips were still trembling slightly.
Then, she slowly clenched her fists, turned, and walked back into her cabin, her back still ramrod straight.
But her steps... seemed a little lighter.
Inside the cabin, Ian sat on the soft couch and opened the wooden box.
The Star Core Fragment lay on the velvet cloth, its silver light flowing.
He picked up the fragment. It was cool and heavy in his hand, like holding a miniature star.
In his Sea of Spirit, the Seed of the Stars trembled wildly!
From deep within the cracks on the pale gold crystal’s surface, a brilliant silver light erupted.
Like a thirsty traveler seeing a clear spring.
Ian hesitated no longer.
He sat cross-legged, held the fragment cupped in his hands before his chest, and activated the Starry Sky Festival at full power!
VMMMM!
The silver light on the fragment’s surface suddenly erupted!
Countless fine points of light surged out of the fragment, pouring into the space between Ian’s eyebrows like an inverted river of stars.
Deep within his Sea of Spirit.
The pale gold Crystal Core spun violently, madly devouring the influx of Star Energy.
With every wisp it devoured, a new silver line appeared on the crystal’s surface, and the stars upon it grew a fraction brighter.
Like the branding of a Star Orbit.
The progress of his Spiritual Power Elementalization began to skyrocket!
0.12%... 0.15%... 0.18%...
The speed was more than ten times faster than usual!
Occasionally, fragments of residual Fallen Memory would flow from the fragment into his consciousness.
Ian "saw" the birth of a star...
It condensed from a Chaos Nebula, ignited during a gravitational collapse, and burned for hundreds of millions of years, illuminating the Void.
Then came its extinguishment.
The Star Core’s fuel was depleted, and its gravity fell out of balance. First, it expanded outward, its outermost matter constantly escaping...
After reaching a certain equilibrium, it began to collapse inward again, exploding... sending fragments hurtling into the endless Void.
Birth and destruction.
The manifestation of the Gravity Rule.
Ian was immersed in this epiphany, the silver light in his Sea of Spirit growing ever brighter.
The Star Orbit patterns on the crystal’s surface became increasingly distinct.
The Elementalization progress climbed steadily.
0.2%... 0.25%... 0.3%...
’At this rate, completing 10% Elementalization by the time I reach the Eastern Territory...’
’...is definitely not just a pipe dream.’
Ian slowly exhaled, the silver light of the fragment reflected in his eyes.
For Spiritual Power Elementalization, every 10% milestone increases the power of one’s Witchcraft by 100%.
This was a terrifying increase. A Level Two Wizard who had fully completed their Elementalization...
...would hold an absolute, crushing advantage over Wizards in the Basic and Middle Stages.
’But... that’s the state of an ordinary Wizard, and I am not one of them.’