bookbashuk Chapter 417 Breakthrough to Level 5, The War of Order
Chapter 417 Breakthrough to Level 5, The War of Order
Deep within the Lord's Mansion and the cultivation tower, a vast and desolate space floats silently.
The four walls were invisible, and the world seemed to have been stripped of its colors, leaving only a faint, eerie light flowing through it, quiet and oppressive.
Lynn stood alone among them, and behind him, the projection of a World Tree quietly appeared.
The projection was only about the height of a person, seemingly shrunk countless times, but it was more condensed and pure than the enormous original body outside.
The branches are like jade, with clear textures.
The golden and silver leaves overlap, radiating a restrained and profound luster, as if each leaf carries a complete and orderly pattern.
"The effects of the All-Purpose Flower... are indeed quite good."
Lynn spoke in a low voice, a hint of satisfaction in his tone.
"After absorbing the Tree of Iro, the World Tree was already standing at the threshold of level five..."
"In addition, during this period of continuous nourishment from a massive amount of Myriad Spirit Flowers..."
He paused slightly as he spoke, his gaze falling on the World Tree projection behind him.
"This step... was ultimately taken easily."
As soon as he finished speaking, the World Tree projection swayed gently, its branches and leaves shimmering with golden and silver light, as if responding to its master's will.
A more stable and substantial aura slowly spread from within it.
That's a sign that you've truly stepped into the fifth level!
It's important to understand that for a nature wizard, advancing from level four to level five, the Morning Star realm, is not something that can be achieved through a single condition.
It's actually a triple threshold!
Firstly, extraordinary plants must reach level five, possessing the foundation to bear the power of higher rules.
Secondly, master the power of the second rule.
In addition to the existing rules, a new lineage was established, enabling both combat power and essence to leap forward simultaneously.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the wizard's spiritual power must completely fill the spiritual realm, reaching "limit saturation," in order to bear the sublimation of the rules!
At this moment, Lynn had already achieved the first two points.
After absorbing the Tree of Iro, the World Tree's foundation has increased dramatically. Now, under the continuous nourishment of the Myriad Spirits Flower, it has completely entered the fifth level!
As for the second rule, it is the combat rule.
He had long been aware of this and was even able to skillfully utilize it, creating a synergy with the existing creative rules.
In other words, he has already qualified to challenge for the fifth-level Morning Star.
The only obstacle is the final step.
Mental strength!
Lynn slowly closed his eyes, sensing his own body.
Within that vast spiritual realm, spiritual energy flows ceaselessly like a tide.
However, it is not yet fully filled, and it is still some distance from that state of "maximum fullness".
Logically speaking, this step often requires a long period of refinement and accumulation.
Lynn slowly raised his hand, flipped his palm, and a seemingly ordinary letter quietly appeared.
The paper is old and has a restrained feel; at first glance, it is even unremarkable.
But the moment it appeared, the entire space was suddenly shaken by the fluctuations of mental energy!
Within that letter, there was a faint, powerful and pure spiritual energy flowing slowly!
An invitation to the Soul Forging Tower!
Lynn's gaze sharpened slightly, and he did not hesitate.
"The World Tree".
He spoke softly, his tone calm:
"Come...absorb the power of the battle rules...take me...to the next realm."
"A fifth-level Morning Star Wizard, it's time to break through."
The next moment!
boom!
The World Tree projection behind him suddenly trembled!
The phantom, which was originally no taller than a person, seemed to grow infinitely larger at this moment, and its aura rose steadily!
The branches extended, the roots spread, and the oppressive aura belonging to the fifth level began to be fully released!
At the same time, the rules become clear!
One creates rules!
Gentle and profound, like a spring that nurtures all things, it flows quietly within the World Tree.
And another rule of combat!
Sharp and violent, it suddenly appears, tearing through all constraints like a blade!
The two forces of law manifested themselves into a tangible existence at this moment.
Like two enormous serpents of rules!
One on the left, one on the right, wrapped around the World Tree!
They intertwine and pull each other along!
Between mutual antagonism and integration, the aura of the World Tree is rising wildly, reaching ever greater heights!
In just a few breaths, his aura had completely surpassed the peak of the fourth level!
And it is still moving upwards, boldly advancing towards the true fifth-level Morning Star realm!
At the same time, Lynn's mental energy suddenly stirred.
He tore open the "Invitation to the Soul Forging Tower" that was hanging in his palm with the power of his consciousness!
There was no sound of physical breaking, but it was as if some higher-level "boundary" was forcibly torn apart at that moment.
In that instant, Lynn's thoughts suddenly froze!
No longer flowing, no longer spreading, but instead... being compressed, extracted, and "lifted up".
An indescribable change quietly occurred deep within consciousness.
His perception began to become abstract, ethereal, and even... no longer limited to "form".
The feeling was like leaping from two dimensions into three dimensions.
It was as if I had been forcibly elevated to a higher level from a familiar space!
Lynn was unable to accurately describe the process in words.
But he could clearly feel the exhilaration and lightness of "breaking free from the original dimension"!
It's as if the constraints have disappeared, the perspective has been elevated, and even the mind itself has been "unfolded" at this moment, even with a touch of addictive comfort.
This experience was much clearer than the last time he used the "Invitation to the Soul Forging Tower"!
that time.
He was only a level three archmage.
Such changes at different levels can only be vaguely perceived, making it difficult to truly grasp their essence.
But this time, he was already a peak level four Morning Star Wizard!
More importantly, he had personally witnessed the skills of that Radiant Moon Monarch, the Golden Pen Calligraphy Master!
That scene is still etched deep in his memory.
With a single stroke of the golden quill pen, an entire area can be "reduced in dimension".
Compress a three-dimensional entity into a two-dimensional plane!
Alternatively, one can turn the tables and "upgrade" it again, restoring it to its original level!
That's manipulation of the dimension itself!
Having personally experienced that change, Lynn made a judgment almost immediately.
This feeling right now is what I call "leveling up"!
However, last time, he was first suppressed and knocked down into a two-dimensional space, becoming something in a "painting".
In that state, he witnessed firsthand how that being rewrote everything on a two-dimensional plane.
He was then released.
Using that stroke of genius, they infiltrated and reversed reality.
This time, however, the situation is completely different; he is already in the "three-dimensional" realm.
If we go further up, what will it be?
"Four-dimensional?"
The thought flashed through Lynn's mind.
Four-dimensional life forms, compared to three-dimensional life forms, possess an additional dimension of perception.
Time is no longer just a flowing river, but a path that can be "walked"!
The past, present, and future are no longer linearly progressive, but rather structures that can be observed and even intervened upon!
If one could truly reach that level, what a terrifying leap that would be!
But Lynn quickly dismissed the guess; it was impossible. That level was far beyond his current reach.
More likely, he experienced a transitional process similar to dimensional ascension during his entry into the "Soul Forging Tower".
In this way, the boundaries between different levels can be crossed.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, that abstract, ethereal, and pulled feeling suddenly vanished!
As if gently pressed, all the "spreading" sensations were re-condensed!
Time was restored, and thoughts returned to normal. The whole process, which seemed incredibly long and as if it had gone through countless changes, was actually only a moment, or even less than a breath's interval.
When Lynn's consciousness stabilized again, he was no longer in the same place, but had descended into another existence!
An unknown universe, where there is no familiar structure of heaven and earth, no clear up, down, left, or right.
Everything seemed vast, empty, and immeasurable.
In this endless void, a "tower" stands silently.
That is the Soul Forging Tower!
It is towering and enormous, yet it cannot be measured by "height" or "size," as if it has transcended the definition of space.
Lynn couldn't even tell how big it was.
Because his perception was stretched, blurred, and distorted the moment he touched it, all he could see was a "contour" that seemed to pierce through the heavens.
That outline stretches into the endless distance, seemingly rooted in different planes, transcending boundaries and connecting all worlds!
It seemed to be constructed from countless spiritual forces, constantly drawing and gathering from all the heavens and myriad worlds.
Transform the spiritual power of countless living beings into a part of yourself, brick by brick, layer by layer, constantly accumulating and growing!
It took countless years to finally create such an incomprehensible and immeasurable existence!
call out!
call out!
A sharp sound pierced the air, urgently resounding at the level of consciousness. That "Invitation to the Soul Forging Tower" was no longer just a static token.
It surrounded Lynn, its light swirling around him, as if transforming into an invisible boat that enveloped his entire consciousness, allowing him to travel at breakneck speed through this unknown universe!
The speed was unimaginable; it wasn't just "fast" in the simple sense, but a kind of speed that transcended levels and disregarded distance!
Lynn even had a vague feeling that he wasn't actually "moving".
Instead, it is being "dragged" by some higher rule, constantly shifting its position!
And this "ship" constructed from invitations is carrying him, circling around that immeasurably massive Soul Forging Tower!
Round and round it went, as if it were on some kind of predetermined "cruise".
The Soul Forging Tower still stands tall and boundless.
However, it was shrouded in layers of "mist".
The fog surged and piled up, so thick that it almost obscured all perception.
But Lynn knew very well that it was not real fog, but a massive amount of mental residue!
From the endless heavens, the spiritual power, soul particles, and fragments of consciousness of countless dead beings...
They were drawn here, gathered here, piled up into a "sea", and condensed into "fog".
Each strand of hair may represent the end of a life.
At this moment, Lynn is traversing this "Sea of the Dead"!
As the invitation cruised at breakneck speed, the spiritual energy and soul particles floating all around began to be drawn in continuously.
As if being sucked into an invisible vortex, it surged toward Lynn!
Swallow!
Fusion!
Transform!
There are almost no obstacles!
The feeling was as if he himself had become a "node" in this sea of spirits, frantically absorbing all the nutrients around him!
Along with all of this, his mental strength began to surge!
From the normal level of the late stage of level four, it rapidly climbed at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye!
Peak Level 4!
In the blink of an eye, it had already touched!
But this was far from over. The endless stream of spiritual energy, like a flood bursting its banks, continued to pour in!
It propels his spiritual realm to continue expanding and enriching!
They are frantically approaching the fifth level!
There's even a hint that it's going to be pushed directly to "limit saturation"!
However, amidst this rapid improvement, Lynn's gaze suddenly sharpened, and a subtle sense of vigilance surfaced from the depths of his heart.
wrong.
too fast!
This speed is abnormally fast!
The last time he used the Soul Forging Tower to enhance his spiritual power, although it was equally astonishing, he was only a level three Grand Wizard at that time.
The total amount of mental energy required to advance from level three to level four is far less than it is now.
Even so, the improvement at that time still took a considerable amount of time.
But now?
He's aiming for Level 5!
The required mental energy and soul particles are more than doubled.
That's a qualitative difference!
Logically speaking, it should take even longer, it's impossible for it to be this fast!
Moreover, Lynn remembered it clearly.
Last time, he could still make out the outline of the Soul Forging Tower.
It was a colossal, entirely black tower, silently suspended in the depths of the universe.
Even the vast galaxy appears as insignificant as dust before it.
But at this moment, he could barely see anything!
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but churning, ever-swirling "fog".
The extremely dense soul particles and spiritual energy, layer upon layer, completely submerged the entire Soul Forging Tower!
That density far exceeded the one he remembered!
"How could there be... so many extras?"
Lynn's heart stirred slightly, and his thoughts raced.
According to his knowledge, these soul particles originated from the remnants of the dead beings in the endless heavens.
Only "death" can bring about something.
Subsequently, they were slowly drawn in by the Soul Forging Tower for transformation and absorption.
But all of this is clearly not normal!
Such a massive quantity... could not have been accumulated naturally!
"Such a scale of soul particles appeared in such a short period of time..."
Lynn's gaze gradually deepened.
"Could it be that... in the endless heavens... a large number of living beings died in a very short period of time?"
It's not a single realm, not a single region, but a "massive amount".
There were so many that even the Soul Forging Tower couldn't keep up with the pulling and refining!
Those soul particles were constantly being absorbed, but before they could be transformed into part of the Soul Forging Tower, new deaths occurred again!
This cycle has led to the formation of the now almost overflowing sea of the dead!
"In other words..."
"Some kind of extremely terrifying event... is erupting in the endless heavens, to the point that even the Soul Forging Tower is beginning to... be unable to bear it."
Once this conclusion was reached, even he himself felt a chill in his heart!
Lynn took a soft breath.
If that's really the case... then what kind of horrifying changes have occurred in these endless heavens?!
Could it be that thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of civilizations collapsed simultaneously in a short period of time?
Countless worlds were destroyed, and countless lives perished, creating this almost overflowing sea of souls?!
The situation was even more terrifying than he could have imagined!
"The endless universes and planes..."
Lynn murmured softly, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the empty space.
"What... happened?"
He continued to use the "Invitation to the Soul Forging Tower" to speed around the immeasurably vast Soul Forging Tower.
Wherever it passed, the massive, ocean-like particles of the soul were forcibly separated, forming a brief "channel".
Lynn traveled through this passage, constantly absorbing, transforming, and enhancing his spiritual energy along the way.
But just a moment later, the torn passage was quickly filled back by more soul particles!
Like the surging tide, endless!
This scene silently proves just how terrifyingly large the number of these soul particles has become!
Lynn frowned slightly, a vague, inexplicable sense of pressure rising within him. But at this moment…
"yes……"
A voice suddenly rang in his ears, gentle and soft, yet it came without warning!
"The endless universes... lately, there have been many major events."
In that instant!
Lynn was jolted awake, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end!
Even the "Primordial Seed" that was originally dormant between his brows trembled slightly at this moment, as if it instinctively sensed some kind of danger!
someone!
And it was right next to him, yet he didn't notice at all!
What does this mean? It means that the other party is on a level far above him, even to a degree that he cannot comprehend!
Alarm bells rang in Lynn's mind, but on the surface, he forcibly suppressed all his emotions, restoring his calm expression and maintaining a respectful tone as much as possible:
"I wonder... which senior would play such a joke on a junior like this?"
As he spoke, deep within his consciousness, he was already subtly tense, ready to activate the primordial seed at any moment.
He can unleash his power at the slightest sign of trouble; this is the only trump card he can rely on right now!
Even so, Lynn still felt no confidence whatsoever.
This is the Soul Forging Tower, a strange place where even rules and dimensions seem blurred.
The being that can freely manifest itself in such a place, and even silently approach him, is no ordinary powerhouse!
The Primal Seed... really, can it be stopped?
This thought, though fleeting, weighed heavily on his heart.
However, in the midst of this extremely tense atmosphere, the voice suddenly chuckled softly, with a hint of casualness and even a touch of frivolity.
"Little one from the wizarding civilization... don't be nervous."
The sound still echoed in his ears, yet it seemed to come from a very distant place, and also seemed to be everywhere.
"Since you possess an invitation from the Soul Forging Tower, then you are... its guest. Within the tower's boundaries..."
He paused slightly, and a deeper meaning appeared in his tone.
"All things are vanity; you are safe."
The voice continued slowly:
"No one can truly harm you here. Even if someone 'kills' you, it will only cause you to lose a little bit of your mental strength."
"On the contrary..."
The voice carried a hint of mockery.
"Anyone who dares to make a move will suffer the backlash from this 'Supreme Tower.' To pay such a price for dealing with such a tiny thing as you..."
He chuckled softly.
"That's far too bad a deal."
Hearing this, Lynn still had doubts, but she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
His gaze shifted slightly, landing on everyone around him.
The "Invitation to the Soul Forging Tower" had long since shattered, turning into countless tiny specks of light and remnants that surrounded him, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Each crack faintly radiated a light, like an invisible barrier that completely isolated him from the outside world.
It was this sense of "presence" that gave Lynn more confidence.
Meanwhile, deep within the endless mists of souls, a hidden figure was silently watching him.
That gaze held a hint of amusement.
He recognized Lynn.
He had already noticed it the last time the little guy activated the "Invitation to the Soul Forging Tower".
At that time, Lynn was just a newly initiated level three archmage.
Tiny, immature, almost insignificant, yet now only a short time has passed.
This originally insignificant little guy has actually reached the peak of level four, and is even faintly touching the threshold of level five.
Such a rate of growth is quite "interesting" in his long history.
That's why he spoke up, making a few casual jokes, as a way to... pass the time during the long years of boredom.
At this moment, after the voice fell silent, Lynn felt a slight stirring in his heart.
He wasn't stupid. Since the other party had taken the initiative to speak and hadn't shown any malice, there was room for "communication."
Moreover, if what the other party said is true, this "invitation to the Soul Forging Tower" truly possesses a certain level of protection.
The being before them clearly possessed an extremely deep understanding of this place! In fact… he himself had some kind of connection to the Soul Forging Tower!
Such opportunities are rare.
As the thought raced through his mind, Lynn took a deep breath, suppressing his wariness, and his attitude became even more respectful:
“Senior. I was fortunate enough to enter this place, but I know very little about the origin and function of this Soul Forging Tower.”
He paused slightly, his tone becoming even more humble.
"I wonder... if you could offer some guidance, senior?"
After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence.
Then, the voice rang out again, as gentle as ever, but with a faint hint of a smile.
"Ah……"
"Trying to get something for nothing...that's not a good habit of your wizarding civilization."
"Bartering and fair trade—that's the rule that your wizarding civilization upholds."
He paused slightly, as if sizing up Lynn.
"Besides...didn't you already come here last time? Didn't you...discover anything?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Lynn's heart tightened suddenly!
A chill crept up my spine!
It turns out that he had already been "seen" by the other party last time!
But at that time, I was completely unaware of it.
Like an ant crawling at the feet of a giant beast, thinking itself safe, but unaware that it has been watched all along!
Even with the "invitation" protecting him, Lynn still felt a chill run down his spine.
That wasn't fear of attack, but an instinctive awe of the existence of the unknown!
Without a doubt, the person before him was a terrifying being far beyond his comprehension!
And what the other party called "equivalent exchange"...
Lynn smiled bitterly to himself. What right did he have to talk about "exchange" with such a being?!
Having thought this through, he stopped pressuring it and quickly composed himself.
Since we can't find out, then we won't ask. The most urgent task is to make use of the resources here, absorb soul particles with all our might, and break through to level five!
Having made up his mind, Lynn prepared to withdraw his attention and focus on his spiritual practice.
However, at that moment, the voice suddenly spoke again.
His tone carried a hint of a smile.
"However... there are some things I can tell you."
Lynn's heart skipped a beat.
The voice continued slowly:
"After all, you already noticed it just now."
“Throughout the countless heavens and myriad realms… indeed, some unfavorable situations have arisen.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the surging sea of souls around them seemed to become a little heavier.
"The heavens are vast and boundless. Planes are like dust, and worlds are like sand."
"in……"
His tone remained calm, yet he uttered a number that was enough to shake one's soul.
"Millions of planes have collapsed in a short period of time. Countless lives have perished."
Lynn's pupils contracted slightly!
Millions of dimensions! This is not a localized upheaval, but a catastrophic collapse!
However, the voice sounded unusually calm, even...with a hint of indifference.
"However... for your wizarding civilization, for the wizards living in it... it will have no impact whatsoever."
Just like a powerful and vast empire, its territory is naturally peaceful, while the weaker countries and fragile civilizations on its periphery... are destined to perish.
Upon hearing this, Lynn's gaze suddenly sharpened. Sure enough... something had really happened in the endless heavens!
Moreover, from the few words of this mysterious being, he vaguely pieced together a corner of its outline, which seemed to indicate that this was not simply a disaster.
It was more like a cleansing and slaughter targeting "weak planes"!
An idea had just taken shape.
The next moment, that gentle, jade-like voice rang out again, as if it had already seen through all of Lynn's speculations.
"Ah……"
The voice chuckled softly, but it was no longer gentle; instead, it carried a hint of coldness, and even a trace of extremely rare apprehension.
"If it's just about slaughtering the weak... then it's not a big deal."
"This time... is different. Countless heavens and billions of civilizations are all within this game."
"No one, regardless of who they are or how strong they are, can remain uninvolved."
That concludes the discussion.
The voice paused slightly.
Even someone like him seemed to feel a complex mix of emotions when the matter was mentioned.
There was a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, mixed feelings), a chill, and even... a hint of indescribable solemnity.
Then, he suddenly sighed softly, changed the subject, and stopped talking about the upheaval that affected all the heavens.
Instead, it fell back on Lynn.
"However... for you, this is actually... an opportunity."
His tone regained some of its ease, even carrying a faint smile.
"The number of soul particles inside the Soul Forging Tower surged."
"The last round of invitations just ended not long ago."
"Logically speaking, this tower should have remained silent for a long time."
He chuckled softly.
"But now, a sudden change has occurred. It... has started operating again."
"Ha ha……"
"Hahaha……"
The laughter echoed in the void, carrying a long-lost sense of joy, as if after a long period of silence, it had finally encountered some "interesting" ripples.
And then, he even said a few more words, which was unusual for him.
Regarding the "invitation period," "invitation letter," and some rules for the operation of the Soul Forging Tower.
Although it was only a brief mention, Lynn benefited greatly from it!
He listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word.
However, just as he was about to continue investigating, the voice suddenly stopped.
Then, with a meaningful smile, he slowly spoke:
"Alright, you should go now."
Lynn was slightly taken aback.
The voice continued:
"Your time is up. If you stay any longer, your body... won't be able to take it."
"The consequences could be dire."
These words struck me like a thunderbolt!
Lynn was startled!
The next moment, he quickly looked inward at himself!
Upon seeing this, I was immediately shocked!
Unbeknownst to him, his spiritual realm had become completely filled, and even began to "overflow"!
That immense spiritual power surged within the domain, showing a faint tendency to spiral out of control!
If it continues to absorb nutrients, it will indeed not "die".
But as the other party said, once it collapses, this breakthrough will be a complete failure, and all the efforts will be in vain!
Thinking of this, Lynn had no more hesitation. He quickly composed himself and became solemn.
I bow solemnly towards that mysterious direction!
Regardless of who the other party is.
This guidance and reminder is truly a favor!
He then stopped and, with a thought, the remnants of the "Soul Forging Tower Invitation" surrounding him shone brightly once more!
In the next instant, space distorted, consciousness was pulled away, and Lynn's figure vanished abruptly!
Leave this unknown universe, return to reality, and make that final breakthrough!
A level 5 Morning Star Wizard is within reach!
………………
After an unknown amount of time, the Soul Forging Tower returned to silence once more.
The surging sea of souls continued to flow silently, as if nothing had ever happened.
From that depths, a faint, melancholic voice slowly rose.
"Finally... a living person has arrived..."
"They've left again..."
A soft sigh echoed through the void.
"Ugh……"
"Those guys..."
"Each of them has been asleep for thousands or tens of thousands of years..."
"Now... I'm afraid they can't sit still any longer..."
His voice lowered, carrying an indescribable meaning.
"One by one... they will choose to leave."
"Actively enter the game."
As he said this, he suddenly chuckled softly, but it sounded somewhat lonely.
"As for me, I've become all alone, and I can at least... stay out of it for now."
He paused slightly, and a hint of uncertainty crept into his tone.
"But as the situation truly unfolds... will I... be able to truly remain uninvolved?"
For a long time, no one responded; only the endless void remained silent.
Finally, a very soft, very low murmur echoed quietly.
"order……"
"A war for order..." (End of Chapter)