Chapter 24

On the 15th day of the first month of Yunluo Li year 10000, in the capital of the Yulan Empire, the Earl Mansion.

Aikesi set down the secret letter from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce, his gaze lingering for a moment on the final line—"Linlei Baluke escaped during the Day of Destruction and killed King Clade of Fenlai amid the chaos; his whereabouts are now unknown."

He held the letter near the candle flame and watched it turn to ash.

Unknown whereabouts.

Aikesi knew exactly where Linlei had gone—to the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where he would endure years of arduous cultivation. He knew what would happen in the future, what Linlei would endure, even how the Radiant Church would ultimately meet its end.

But what of it?

Aikesi raised his right hand, and a crimson flame bloomed in his palm. The Falling Heart Flame burned silently, its heat contained yet unmistakably pulsing with violent power. This was one of the foundations of his survival in this world—but nothing more.

Level 7 mid-stage.

Nearly ten years had passed since he arrived in this world, and he was far stronger than his peers. But on this continent, Saint Domain experts were the true players. Even if he faced a Level 9, he would be unlikely to survive.

What good is knowing the plot?

He could not change the death of Linlei's father—he was still a first-year student at the Ernst Institute then. He could not alter Linlei's fate of being imprisoned by the Radiant Church—that was the work of the Saint Domain Pope himself.

Aikesi clenched his fist, and the flame vanished.

He rose and walked to the window. The streets of the capital bustled with people; the lingering warmth of the Yunluo Festival still hung in the air, colorful lanterns still hanging everywhere. A month ago, Fenlai Cheng had run red with blood, yet here, a thousand li away, people lived in quiet peace.

"My lord," came the voice of the steward Kaman from outside the door, "the Dawson Chamber of Commerce of the O'Brien Empire has replied."

"Enter."

Kaman pushed the door open, holding a letter in both hands. This elderly steward had been hired by Aikesi after his arrival in Yulan; he had once been the chief steward of a fallen noble house, meticulous and never overstepping.

Aikesi took the letter and unsealed it, glancing over its contents.

It was Yelu's reply—simple and brief: Linlei was still alive, but had refused all aid and entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone. At the end, Yelu grumbled, "That guy is still as stubborn as ever," then added some idle chatter: "How's things on your end? Come drink with me in O'Brien sometime."

Aikesi smiled, tucked the letter into his drawer.

"Kaman, cancel all afternoon visitors—I'm going to cultivate."

"Yes, my lord."

Kaman bowed and withdrew; the door closed softly.

Aikesi turned toward the cultivation chamber. This room was his favorite in the Earl Mansion—the floor concealed a Fire Element Magic Array, maintaining constant high heat, offering a slight boost to Fire Element cultivation. Though far inferior to the dedicated chambers at the Ernst Institute, it was better than nothing.

He sat cross-legged on the mat, palms up, and began visualizing the Nuwa Diagram.

In his mind arose the towering figure of the woman with a serpent's body, surrounded by swirling galaxies, chaos unfolding. Each visualization refined his spiritual power, bit by bit, making it denser and more solid.

This was his greatest confidence.

The Nuwa Diagram came from the Wild Age world; its enhancement of spiritual power far surpassed any technique on the Yulan Continent.

Aikesi opened his eyes and exhaled a cloud of stale air.

He knew he shouldn't be impatient. Ten years from zero to Level 7 mid-stage—this pace would shock anyone who heard it. But every time he recalled the world-shattering beings in the original story, every time he thought of the divine battlegrounds ahead, this power was nothing.

What troubled him more was knowing the series of fortunes Linlei would soon encounter—subduing Heilu, comprehending Momentum, obtaining the Undying Secret Code, fusing with Dragonblood Warrior bloodline… Each leap in power would leave his peers further and further behind.

And what of him?

The Sign-in System's rewards were decent, but aside from the Falling Heart Flame and the Nuwa Diagram, most were auxiliary items. The Ice Barrier was enough for survival, but useless for killing. Teleportation granted mobility, but if you couldn't win, mobility meant nothing. The Fire Spirit Bead doubled the power of his Fire Element spells—but he was still only Level 7. Could a doubled Level 7 spell even harm a Saint Domain?

No.

Aikesi knew this clearly.

So what could he do?

Nothing.

He was not the kind of man who charged ahead blindly. Not before his transmigration, and certainly not after. To rush into Linlei's affairs knowing his own weakness wasn't loyalty—it was suicide.

Aikesi rose and walked to the weapon rack on the other side of the chamber. On it rested a staff, entirely dark red, its tip embedded with a fist-sized Magic Core—the inner core of the Level 7 Magical Beast, Chiyan Shiwan. He had commissioned it at great cost after arriving in Yulan; though not comparable to ancient holy relics, it was still a fine piece.

He gripped the staff, pouring Magic into it; the core within glowed with a warm red light.

Simultaneously, he activated the Falling Heart Flame; the two flames resonated, forming a faint ring of fire around him.

Seven-level Magic—Dancing Fire Snakes.

Aikesi flicked the staff lightly; over a dozen fire snakes burst from the air, weaving and darting through the chamber without touching a single wall. His precise control stemmed from his formidable spiritual power—this was one of his proudest abilities.

Aikesi extinguished the flames and returned the staff to the rack.

He walked to the window and pushed it open. Afternoon sunlight streamed in, carrying the chill of early spring. Voices of vendors and laughter drifted faintly from the streets below.

In a few years, Linlei would emerge from the Magical Beast Mountain Range, gradually move into the Hunluan Zhi Ling, build his own power, and ultimately face the Radiant Church in battle. At that time, the Radiant Plane behind the Radiant Church would descend, gods would intervene, and the entire Yulan Continent would be drawn into a greater vortex.

If he only wished to live a quiet life, he could begin enjoying it now. A Level 7 Mage, an Earl's title, a solid fortune—he could live comfortably for the rest of his days in the Yulan Empire.

But Aikesi was unwilling.

To have been transmigrated, to have gained a system, to possess talent far beyond the ordinary—if he only sought comfort, it would be pitiful.

He did not wish to change the plot—no, he had thought about it, but he could not. Changing the plot required power, and what he lacked was power.

So he could only wait.

Wait until he grew stronger.

"Strength is strength. Why overthink it?"

Aikesi muttered to himself, turned back to the mat, and sat cross-legged once more.

He recalled a saying from his past life—A general on the march does not chase rabbits.

Aikesi closed his eyes and began visualizing the Nuwa Diagram again.

The towering figure in his mind grew clearer; the surrounding galaxies rotated slowly, a cool breath seeping into the depths of his soul. He felt his spiritual power grow denser once more.

Cultivation knows no time.

When Aikesi opened his eyes again, dusk had fallen. The setting sun painted the sky orange-red, a few clouds edged in gold.

He rose, stretching his stiff limbs.

"Kaman."

"My lord." The old steward's voice came from outside the door.

"Is dinner ready?"

"Yes, as you instructed. Tonight I've prepared roasted snow beef and fire-thorn fruit soup."

Aikesi nodded and walked out of the cultivation chamber.

The dining room was small, with only a single long table. He sat alone in the seat of honor, with a simple spread of two dishes and a soup before him. After all these years of transmigration, he had long grown accustomed to solitude. His friends from Ernst Institute were scattered to the four corners: Linlei was in arduous cultivation at the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Yelu was managing the chamber of commerce in the O'Brien Empire, and Qiaozhi, he had heard, had gone to take up a post at some church in the Fenlai Kingdom.

Everyone was walking their own path.

Aikesi ate his dinner slowly, his mind still on matters of cultivation. From Level 7 to Level 8, at his current pace, it would probably take another year and a half to two years. From Level 8 to Level 9 would be even slower—perhaps four or five years. From Level 9 to Saint Domain…

He set down his utensils and shook his head.

No more thinking about it. The path had to be walked step by step.

"Kaman, starting tomorrow, cut my morning reception time down to one hour. For the rest of the time I want to cultivate. Unless it's news from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce or Ernst Institute, handle the other matters as you see fit."

"Yes, my lord." Kaman replied respectfully. "Also, this afternoon someone from the Imperial Magic Guild came by. They wish to invite you to serve as an examiner for next month's Mofa Shishi assessment."

Aikesi thought for a moment: "Turn them down. Just say I've reached a critical period in my cultivation and it's not convenient for me to go out."

"Understood."

After dinner, Aikesi returned to his study, lit the Magic Lamp, and pulled a book from the shelf—*Biographies of Saint Domain Powerhouses of the Yulan Continent*. He had bought this book when he first arrived on Yulan. It recorded the famous Saint Domain powerhouses of the Yulan Continent over the past thousand years, including their lives, battle records, and signature techniques.