Chapter 440

Purgatory Sulfur Plane, Sixth Energy Convergence Point.

This is a massive basin located deep within the Crimson Mountains, where rivers of dark golden magma flow across the surface, and the air is filled with a high concentration of sulfur and thin but active spiritual energy.

In the center of the basin, a composite array with a diameter of over three kilometers is currently under construction.

Gao Jie Ming hovers in mid-air, his black robe motionless amidst the heat waves.

He presses his hands into the void, unfolding dozens of translucent control light screens before him, each displaying real-time parameters for different areas of the array.

Below, over three hundred Black Giant Priests are working in an orderly fashion.

They are either transporting giant metal components inscribed with runes, carefully calibrating energy-conducting crystal clusters, or etching fine patterns onto the bedrock with fingertips that resemble liquid metal.

"Seventh node, lower the spiritual energy injection rate by three percent, and maintain the phase difference with the elemental flow within 0.05 radians."

"Ninth conduction arm, the third rune group needs recalibration; energy loss is exceeding the limit."

Gao Jie Ming's voice is transmitted calmly through the mental link to the consciousness of every priest.

This is one of the key components of the Incense Divine Dao cross-plane energy transmission module; once completed, it will become a stable energy channel connecting the Purgatory Sulfur Plane to the external battlefield, and it must not fail.

Whether it is Gao Jie Ming or the Black Giant Priests below, everyone has become accustomed to this, as similar projects have been repeated for over sixty years.

For a wizard, this is just a short period in the long river of research.

But Gao Jie Ming can feel that as the Incense Divine Dao system gradually improves, his own comprehension of the laws of spiritual energy is deepening in sync.

Just then, a Black Giant Priest with a slightly more slender build and brighter liquid metal luster on its skin flies over quickly from the edge of the basin, holding a Magic Net terminal.

It hovers beside Gao Jie Ming and respectfully hands over the terminal.

"Master, there is a message with a priority tag."

Gao Jie Ming glances at the terminal screen, and the movement of his hands pauses slightly.

It is an invitation letter.

Gao Jie Ming himself has cooperated with wizards from the Tower of Silence.

Although there are occasional frictions in the cooperation between the three major forces, the overall atmosphere is rational and efficient, all for the common goal of seizing plane resources and expanding the wizard civilization.

How could the close allies suddenly become enemies who want to kill each other?

Wei Wei Aola's reaction is calmer than Gao Jie Ming's, but her brow is locked tighter; she looks at Clark, her tone condensed: "They... couldn't hold back this soon?"

Hearing this, Clark shows a smile that is almost mocking.

He says slowly: "Originally, our three major forces each had an eighth-tier wizard sitting in town. Although the foundations accumulated by each and the specific scale of the forces differ, from the perspective of the top-level strategic power that determines everything, a fragile balance was roughly maintained. There are differences, we can talk; there are interests, we can share. The benefits brought by cooperation and win-win far exceed the benefits that can be obtained by confronting each other."

He pauses, his gaze under the gray robe becoming deep: "But now, the situation is different."

Mentor Clark's words are like a key, instantly opening a corner of Gao Jie Ming's mind that had been ignored.

Andong Buchanan!

Mentor Clark's mentor, his own grand-mentor!

Not long ago, he completed law solidification and advanced to become the second eighth-tier wizard of Plane Nuolun Workshop!

At that time, Gao Jie Ming was at the scene, shocked by the vast law manifestation and knowledge torrent.

He only felt that the workshop's strength had greatly increased and the future was bright, and did not think deeply about what kind of violent impact this would have on the surrounding political landscape.

For a long time, the wars he participated in were external expansion, fighting against alien civilizations, and plundering plane resources.

This made him unconsciously equate "war" with "external," and subconsciously ignored that within the wizard civilization, among different wizard forces, there also exists cold and rational competition and struggle.

Now that he thinks about it, this is only natural.

On the plane battlefield, temporary wizard squads discovering precious resources that are enough to make people crazy might also, after evaluating risks and benefits, have a "rational betrayal" and attack their companions.

Individual wizards are like this.

As a huge interest collective, how can wizard forces coexist peacefully forever?

The pleasant cooperation in the past was just the optimal solution based on the foundation of "equal strength."

The cake brought by cooperation was big enough, and everyone could be satisfied when dividing it, which was far more cost-effective than tearing faces and both suffering.

But now, the balance is broken.

Grand-Mentor Andong Buchanan successfully advanced to the eighth tier, meaning that the top-level strategic power of Plane Nuolun Workshop has changed from "one" to "two"!

In the wizard civilization, high-tier wizards, especially existences like the seventh and eighth tiers, almost represent 90% or more of the deterrence and actual combat power of a wizard force.

The birth of a newly advanced eighth-tier wizard, it is no exaggeration to say, almost doubled the comprehensive combat power of Plane Nuolun Workshop!

How can the Tower of Silence and the Chaos Secret Sect not panic? How can they not be anxious?

Beside the couch, how can others be allowed to snore?

Not to mention that this "other" suddenly has an extra "giant arm" that can easily crush oneself.

Just as Gao Jie Ming quickly sorted out this cruel political logic in his brain, Mentor Clark's plain voice continues to come, confirming his thoughts:

"Analyzing from a purely rational perspective, their choice is not wrong. Taking advantage of the fact that Mentor Andong has just advanced, is not yet fully familiar with and controlling the eighth-tier power, and has not yet completely transformed this power into the overall strategic advantage of the workshop, is the only opportunity window for them to possibly contain us, or even turn around and seize interests. The earlier they act, the more favorable it is for them."

Gao Jie Ming's heart tightens: "Then... doesn't that mean war could break out immediately?"

Gao Jie Ming has no doubt that with the action ability of wizards, after figuring this out, they might launch a war immediately.

Wei Wei Aola shakes her head on the side and takes over the conversation, her tone carrying a trace of mockery: "It's not as fast as you think. Because the Star Ring Federation won't allow it."

"Star Ring Federation?" Gao Jie Ming looks at Mentor Clark.

Clark nods and explains: "Plane Nuolun Workshop, the Tower of Silence, and the Chaos Secret Sect all belong to member forces under the Star Ring Federation. The Federation usually does not interfere in the internal affairs of each force and grants a high degree of autonomy. But if large-scale armed conflicts break out between member forces, the Federation has the right and responsibility to coordinate."

Wei Wei Aola seems to think of something, the corners of her mouth curl up, and she adds: "After all, if a group of wizards is allowed to take action at will, the scope of this matter will inevitably become larger and larger."

"However, coordination is not forcibly ordering a ceasefire; that does not conform to the core logic of 'equivalent exchange' and 'power is supreme' of wizards, and it is also easy to bury deeper hidden dangers." Clark's tone is like stating some objective law.

"The Federation's coordination is generally based on the demands of the conflicting parties, the comparison of strength, the focus of the dispute, etc., to delineate a specific time and a specific area. It requires the conflicting parties to invest main combat power into that area for a 'duel' within the specified time."

"The winner gains the disputed interests or the right to speak, and the loser needs to bear corresponding costs, such as ceding part of the interests, or being 'sent' to the more dangerous civilization front line to independently open up new territories as compensation."

He looks at Gao Jie Ming: "Of course, one can choose not to comply with the Federation's coordination and start a war privately, expanding the flames of war. But the consequence of doing so is simultaneously violating Federation rules and provoking other forces that fear the spread of war, facing joint sanctions from the entire Star Ring Federation system, and possibly including the Star Track Tribunal. That cost, no wizard force can afford."

Gao Jie Ming understands immediately: "So... the workshop's high-level used the Federation's coordination mechanism to delay the start of the war?"

"Not bad." The trace of a faint smile on Clark's face disappears, replaced by a touch of regret, "Although it delayed the time and won a precious preparation period for us, but... it didn't delay it for too long."

He looks up, his gaze seeming to penetrate the warship's wall, looking at the invisible future, or really seeing some unknowable fate line.

"According to the news currently circulating and the mediation progress within the Federation," Clark's voice is plain, but every word is clear, knocking on Gao Jie Ming and Wei Wei Aola's hearts, "this war can be delayed for at most eighty years!"