Chapter 466

At this moment, Lei Ke also squeezed over. Having experienced the Plane of Justice, this once taciturn wizard now possessed a much more composed temperament.

He looked at the spiritual power fluctuations on Gao Jie Ming that belonged to a Level 5 Wizard, his brows furrowed, and his tone carried confusion and worry: "Then this situation of yours... isn't it too exaggerated? Didn't we last meet when you had only just reached Level 3? How long has it been since then? This speed of advancement is just too... inconceivable."

Sister Wei Ao patted her chest, looking as if she still had lingering fears: "Exactly! It hasn't even been a thousand years since we last parted, right? You jumped straight from a Level 2 Wizard to Level 5. Are you crazy?!"

Facing the undisguised shock and concern of his old classmates, Gao Jie Ming felt a slight warmth in his heart, but he could only smile bitterly and explain: "There's no help for it, I... ran into some accidents on my end. I encountered some special circumstances regarding spiritual power growth, and it grew too fast. As for my mastery of the Laws... it has always been decent, so after my spiritual power met the standard, the advancement was just a matter of course. You could say... I was forced to advance."

He was concealing a part of the truth by saying this.

At the very beginning, Gao Jie Ming only intended to advance to Level 3, but he didn't expect that the Plane of Justice would cause him to die once; the fear of death stimulated his spiritual power to leap forward continuously.

Therefore, the advancement from Level 3 to Level 4 was indeed something Gao Jie Ming was forced into against his will.

But the advancement from Level 4 to Level 5 was his own mistake.

The reason he advanced was because he discovered an excellent method for exercising the body—Time Phantoms—in the Plane of Reincarnation. In his excessive excitement, he forgot to consider the issue of spiritual power for a moment. Reading novels every day is super useful, 𝐭𝐭𝐤𝐬. 𝐭𝐰 is waiting for you to read.

So much so that later on, his physical fitness became too strong, and by instinctively connecting the Three Treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit through the Qi Refining method, it pushed his spiritual power to grow rapidly.

And the advancement between Level 3 and Level 6 Wizards only requires two standards: spiritual power meeting the mark and the degree of Law mastery.

Gao Jie Ming's mastery of the Spiritual Energy Law had long since exceeded the standard because he independently constructed the Incense God Dao system.

Combining the two, the advancement indeed had a feeling of being "pushed along," and it was not something he deliberately pursued in terms of speed.

An Ya crossed her arms, her brows still not relaxed.

She was the last one among them to have met Gao Jie Ming, and she was also the one who knew the approximate advancement time for each of Gao Jie Ming's levels:

"When we last met, you had only just advanced to Level 4, right? Calculating the time, from your Level 4 Wizard status to now, I'm afraid it hasn't even been five hundred years, right? In such a short time, even if you are gifted... can your knowledge reserve, especially the high-tier system theoretical knowledge that Level 5 Wizards need to master, keep up?"

This was also what Da Wei, Lei Ke, and Sister Wei Ao were most worried about.

A wizard's level is merely an expansion of the "container," determining the upper limit of the power that can be exerted, but the lower limit of power depends entirely on the amount of knowledge the wizard themselves possesses.

Advancing too quickly often means that knowledge accumulation is not in place, having the level but lacking the matching combat power.

Of course, normal knowledge-based supernatural beings, even if their thinking logic and thought patterns do not change, can completely supplement the necessary knowledge at a faster speed than lower-level ones after advancing, relying on powerful "hardware" performance.

But... this does not apply to wizards.

It's not that wizards cannot do this, but the prerequisite for using this method is to always... at least until the necessary knowledge is supplemented, remain in a "stable" state.

And wizards... have mandatory war requirements.

Although Gao Jie Ming has always called the time between his two plane wars a "mandatory rest period," in reality, for mid-to-low-tier wizards below Level 6, the rest period is not mandatory; what they face is the mandatory conscription of plane wars.

And as a social model highly compatible with war, the wizard level is not only a symbol of glory and power but also a symbol of responsibility.

Simply put, whatever level of wizard you are, the commander on the plane battlefield will arrange the tasks that a wizard of that level needs to carry.

Like a Level 5 Wizard, their task on the plane battlefield is generally to hold off the attacks of several or even a dozen Level 6 creatures before the expeditionary army reduces the enemy's race population and plane control to a certain extent, and in necessary situations, they even have to forcefully hold off and drag down Level 7 creatures.

Although this task is difficult for a conventional Level 5 Wizard, it is not impossible to complete, but for a "watered-down" wizard whose combat power is only at Level 4, this is simply sending them to their death.

And before the war begins, the commander will not casually ask about a wizard's combat mode and combat power level, after all, this is suspected of prying into others' knowledge.

Of course, the wizards who can become commanders are not fools; if there is spare capacity, the tasks arranged will certainly be arranged according to the conventional lower limit of the combat power of wizards of the same level.

In this situation, even if a watered-down wizard really fails to hold on, at least there is additional combat power to help hold the line.

But in the vast majority of plane wars, the commander themselves is also the discoverer of the plane and the initiator of this war.

Many Level 6 wizards have limited funds, so the overall combat power of the wizard legion they summon is not very strong, and when issuing tasks, they can only issue tasks according to the combat power of the conventional impression of the same level.

If a watered-down wizard encounters this situation and dares to tell the truth about their actual situation, then there is a high probability that the commander who wasted resources will arrange a task to kill them in a fit of rage.

And if they don't explain the actual situation, if they are lucky, only one watered-down wizard will die; if they are unlucky, this plane expedition might fail.

Therefore, pursuing rapid advancement without knowledge accumulated to a certain level is truly harmful to others and oneself in the Wizarding World.

Except for novices who have no experience in participating in plane wars for the first time, even combat-type wizards would not be stupid enough to do such a thing.

Conversely, sufficient knowledge can bring sufficiently strong combat power, and even if the wizard level is low, the gains obtained in subsequent plane wars will not be small.

Anyway, wizards have no pressure on their lifespan, so for many wizards, staying at the current realm and continuously accumulating knowledge until the upper limit of their current research ability is the optimal solution.

Of course, if one jumps directly from a Level 3 to a Level 6 Wizard like Sister Wei Ao, there is no need to worry about this aspect.

Because high-tier wizards not only have no mandatory conscription, but they also have a genuine mandatory rest period, and they can completely and calmly supplement their knowledge.

Listening to An Ya's question, the bitterness on Gao Jie Ming's face deepened a bit, and he said candidly: "Regarding knowledge accumulation... it really can't keep up. Many profound fields that Level 5 Wizards need to dabble in, I have only just touched upon, and haven't even entered the door. However..."

He changed the subject, his tone carrying a trace of relief: "Fortunately, the foundation laid before is still quite solid, um... in terms of real-time combat power, there hasn't been a serious disconnect yet."

But Da Wei's expression remained serious, and he asked a more critical question: "What about the Law mastery? Gao Jie Ming, don't tell me you relied on swallowing a large amount of plane origin to forcefully pile up the mastery!"

This question pointed directly to the core, making Lei Ke and An Ya beside him instantly nervous as well.

In the Wizarding World, this is an open secret and also a trap that many who are eager for quick success easily fall into.

Plane origin indeed contains "knowledge fragments" corresponding to the Laws, and after absorbing them, one can quickly increase the numerical value of "Law mastery."

But this kind of knowledge is scattered and one-sided, lacking internal logical connection.

It's like a person memorizing all the word definitions in a dictionary but not understanding grammar, rhetoric, and context; they still cannot write beautiful articles, or even express themselves fluently.

The Law knowledge system built step by step through one's own research, experimentation, and realization is systematic knowledge that can be flexibly applied and innovated upon.

And the "mastery" piled up by relying on plane origin is more like a rigid database, knowing the "what" but not the "why."

It is rigid and inefficient to apply, and it almost cuts off the possibility of going further.

After all, the so-called "100% Law mastery" merely refers to reaching the lowest theoretical threshold for being able to perform "Law solidification."

It by no means implies that you have fully mastered all the mysteries of this Law.

The depth and breadth of the Laws are almost infinite; 100% is just a beginning, a qualification certification.

Wizards who rely on plane origin to reach 100% are almost like lambs waiting to be slaughtered in front of wizards who have reached 100% by relying on their own research, even if the latter may have only mastered 80% of the "quantity," the "quality" is completely different.

Although what Gao Jie Ming mastered is the Fantasy Element, theoretically there is no plane origin that matches his, but plane origin with similar knowledge can also be used—just like taking Water Element origin can also increase the Law mastery related to the Time Law to a certain extent.

Gao Jie Ming naturally understood the pros and cons, and he shook his head solemnly: "You can rest assured about this point. My mastery of the Spiritual Energy Law, including my reach into some other Laws, was all accumulated through my own research and verification bit by bit, without relying on plane origin to take shortcuts. Although the process... did indeed use some special conditions and resources to accelerate it, the foundation was laid by myself."

Hearing Gao Jie Ming's such affirmative answer, Da Wei, Lei Ke, Sister Wei Ao, and An Ya all breathed a sigh of relief in unison, and the worried look on their faces dissipated for the most part.

As long as the Law foundation is solidified by oneself, even if the knowledge base is temporarily narrow, there will be plenty of time to make up for it later.

The most feared thing is destroying one's future for the sake of a level.

"That's good then..." Da Wei patted Gao Jie Ming on the shoulder, with considerable force, "You kid, you can always come up with something that scares people. Don't drop the ball in this war!"

"Be careful." An Ya also exhorted.

Lei Ke didn't speak, just nodded forcefully.

Da Wei wanted to say something more, but at this moment, around them and in the vast assembly area of the entire ship plane, large areas of teleportation light lit up again.

This was the beginning of more detailed group teleportation, sending wizards to different predetermined locations according to predetermined formations and tasks.

"Looks like we have to separate." Gao Jie Ming looked at the teleportation runes lighting up under his feet, which were slightly different from those of Da Wei and the others, and said with regret.

"Take care!"

"Come back alive!"

"Let's do research together after the war!"

The few of them quickly said goodbye, their words simple.

At the moment before the teleportation light completely engulfed his vision, Gao Jie Ming saw Da Wei wave his hand forcefully at him, his mouth shape seeming to say: "Don't die, we are still waiting to see how far you can actually go!"

The light flashed, and the figures disappeared.

The teleportation light completely dissipated, and Gao Jie Ming's feet landed steadily on the solid and slightly cold alloy ground.

He quickly looked around, and without any surprise, he saw two familiar figures—Mentor Ke La Ke and Sister Wei Ao.

Obviously, when finalizing the combat groups, the high-ranking members of the Nuo Lun Workshop did indeed consider the existing tacit understanding and cooperation between wizards.

Dividing mentors and apprentices, good friends, and long-term cooperating colleagues into the same combat unit can form combat power faster and reduce the risks of the break-in period.

At this moment, their location seemed to be in the middle-rear area of the entire massive ship plane.

Through the sparse crowd in front and the slightly empty area, one could see densely packed, fierce-looking figures gathering further ahead.

Most of them were wearing wizard robes or light armor convenient for combat, with undisguised fighting intent and energy fluctuations surging on their bodies, and they were conducting final equipment checks, spell pre-loading, or low-voiced tactical exchanges.

Obviously, these people were one of the main forces of this war, the combat-type wizards of the Nuo Lun Workshop.

Although below high-tier wizards, logistics-type wizards are significantly stronger than combat-type wizards in status and combat power, but after reaching Level 6, the gap in status and combat power between the two sides is not that big.

After all, being able to reach Level 6 shows that choosing the combat type or logistics type is just a difference in the path, not a difference in personal ability.

It can be seen from the division of high-tier wizards that, basically, the combat wizards in the front and the logistics-type wizards in the back are equal in number at the high-tier wizard level.

The reason Gao Jie Ming could distinguish the "front and back" of the ship plane was because at the very front of the ship plane, at the end of that vast space specifically cleared out, a strange sight stood across.

A space rift, huge to the point of being indescribable, hung above the sky like a wound forcefully split open by an invisible giant blade.

It was not an unstable black turbulence; silver runes that were stable and complex flickered at the edges, obviously reinforced by powerful space technology.

The interior of the rift was not absolute darkness or chaos either, but presented a scene that was constantly twisting and changing, like turbid water waves, and one could vaguely glimpse the outlines of the desolate and dead landscape behind it.

Undoubtedly, that "finely processed" space rift was the stable channel leading to the "battlefield"—the super-large decisive battle site designated by the Star Ring Alliance, composed of multiple abandoned planes pieced together.

Gao Jie Ming withdrew his gaze, turned to Mentor Ke La Ke beside him, and greeted respectfully: "Mentor."

Mentor Ke La Ke nodded in response.

Gao Jie Ming also immediately noticed that the mentor's attire today was completely different from usual.

The slightly old and simple gray robe that he wore all year round was gone, replaced by a set of dark gray tight-fitting magic robes with a fit cut and clean lines.

The material of the magic robe looked ordinary, but under the constant light source of the ship plane, extremely subtle defensive rune light flickered and disappeared.

What was even more eye-catching was that the mentor was wearing many "ornaments" that would never be seen at ordinary times: a brooch with a simple and ancient style, several rings embedded in different positions, a thin chain wrapped around his wrist, and even several pendants on his belt that looked inconspicuous...

If one used spiritual sense to observe, each of these seemingly low-key items would erupt with elemental spiritual light that was as dazzling as a small sun but had different properties!

They intertwined to form a powerful and restrained protective and amplification force field, shrouding Mentor Ke La Ke within it.

His eyes, which were always calm and indifferent, and even slightly tired at ordinary times, were now like unsheathed sharp swords, his gaze sharp.

Gao Jie Ming looked at Sister Wei Ao again.

At some point, she had also changed out of her consistently elegant long dress and was wearing a combat magic robe in dark red tones, also covered with subtle runes and convenient for movement.

She was also wearing several pieces of jewelry with compelling spiritual light, and her long hair was also neatly tied up.

She felt Gao Jie Ming's gaze, raised her eyebrows, and the corners of her mouth still carried that trace of habitual, slightly playful arc, but deep in her eyes was a piece of cold tranquility.

Actually, it wasn't just them.

Gao Jie Ming looked around, and within the range of his sight, whether it was the main combat wizards in the front, the support in the middle and back, or special combat units like him, almost everyone was in a state of being "armed to the teeth."

Precious wizarding tools, life-saving props, and amplification equipment that might be hidden at ordinary times were all worn without reservation at this moment.

The entire assembly area seemed to have turned into a mobile "Top-tier Wizarding Tool Expo," with elemental light of various attributes intertwining and shining, yet they were constrained around their bodies by the powerful control of their owners, forming a silent but extremely oppressive ocean of energy.

Obviously, facing this wizard war that would determine their fate, the wizards of the Nuo Lun Workshop were all going all out, bringing out their bottom-of-the-box heritage.

Gao Jie Ming looked around again, and suddenly, his brows furrowed slightly, feeling that something seemed to be missing.

"Mentor..." He turned to Ke La Ke and spoke somewhat uncertainly, "Where is Junior Brother An Ge? Was he not assigned with us?"

Hearing this, Sister Wei Ao also stopped the small action of checking the rune array in her hand.

She also looked up curiously and looked around, and also didn't find the figure of the young wizard who always followed behind Ke La Ke, somewhat silent but with firm eyes.

"Strange... he shouldn't have not been assigned here, right? Could it be that he just happened to run into the mandatory conscription rotation period and was temporarily sent to participate in other plane wars?" Sister Wei Ao guessed.

Mentor Ke La Ke heard Gao Jie Ming's question, and his expression, which had always been calm and waveless, paused imperceptibly.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze first falling on Gao Jie Ming's face, and then looking at Sister Wei Ao, who was also carrying confusion.

Gao Jie Ming saw this subtle reaction from the mentor, and a trace of an ominous premonition suddenly flashed through his heart.

Sure enough, Ke La Ke was silent for a moment, and spoke in his unique tone, which was so plain as to be almost indifferent, yet carried unquestionable certainty:

"An Ge, he..."

"Is already dead."

The expression on Sister Wei Ao's face instantly solidified, and that trace of a habitual smile stiffened at the corners of her mouth.

Ke La Ke paused, and for the first time ever, added an explanation, although his tone remained plain:

"He was unlucky in the last round of conventional plane expansion wars. The squad he was in encountered... a hidden Level 7 native creature within the target plane."

Concise and comprehensive, without describing the process, without rendering the tragedy, but the words "Level 7 native creature" were enough to explain everything.

For An Ge, who only had Level 2 or 3 strength, that was undoubtedly a disaster that could not be resisted.

Gao Jie Ming suddenly fell silent.

He looked at Mentor Ke La Ke's calm and waveless profile, and then looked at the complex emotions that flashed through Sister Wei Ao's eyes, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Junior Brother An Ge... that young wizard who once had a brief intersection with himself under Mentor Ke La Ke, somewhat introverted but diligent and serious.

He actually... had already died silently in some distant plane war that he himself had not participated in.

The path of the wizard has never been smooth.

Exploring the unknown, plundering resources, being enemies with the heavens and worlds, death is the norm.

Gao Jie Ming had long known this point.

Even he himself had personally experienced the death of a good friend.

But even after so long, Gao Jie Ming still couldn't be as proficient as other wizards.

When death truly descended on someone he knew once again, that feeling was still somewhat... subtle.

Instead, it was Mentor Ke La Ke who, after a brief silence, spoke again, his voice still steady:

"Alright, the deceased is gone, you'll get used to it after you experience a few more rounds. Now, you need to focus all your attention on this war that is about to begin."

His gray eyes swept over Gao Jie Ming and Sister Wei Ao, his tone plain but carrying a certain power:

"I don't want... to be the only one left alone after the battle ends."

Sister Wei Ao was the first to adjust.

She took a deep breath, and the stiff arc on her face became vivid again, even more upturned than usual.

Hearing Mentor Ke La Ke's words, she curled the corners of her mouth, her tone carrying a trace of a provocative meaning:

"Oh? Old... Mentor, you say this... quite confidently. Are you so sure that you can definitely survive?"

Ke La Ke glanced at her and flicked her forehead.

In Sister Wei Ao's resentful gaze while covering her head, Mentor Ke La Ke had no expression on his face, as if stating an objective fact:

"It's not confidence. This is just a reasonable inference based on existing data, strength comparison, battlefield environment, and the coping methods I personally master."

The interaction between the two made Gao Jie Ming slowly come back to his senses.

He had just felt it slightly, realizing that although there were considerable ups and downs in his inner spiritual fluctuations, it was more of a surprise and emotion about the event of "an acquaintance passing away" itself, rather than sadness.

Although it was a bit heartless to say so, strictly speaking, his intersection with Junior Brother An Ge was not deep, and their feelings were far from reaching the level of close friends.

He cast his gaze back to the space rift spanning the sky in the distance, feeling the majestic aura mixed with tension, determination, and killing intent emanating from the countless wizards around him.

He took a deep breath.

The war is about to begin.

And death, perhaps in the next moment, will descend on anyone's head.

Including himself.

"I understand, Mentor." Gao Jie Ming replied in a low voice, his eyes becoming sharp again.

(Just this chapter today, it's a new year, a bit busy)

(End of chapter)