Chapter 540: Follow-up

In the lord's mansion study, Gao Jie Ming was immersed in an ocean of knowledge.

Dozens of memory crystals hovered around him, each glowing with a different faint hue.

Gao Jie Ming's spiritual sense extended like countless tentacles, simultaneously probing these crystals and greedily absorbing the knowledge within.

This was his twenty-seventh year on the Els plane.

For mortals, twenty-seven years was enough for a generation to grow from birth to adulthood.

For wizards, it was merely a brief interlude in a long life.

During a break, Gao Jie Ming opened his eyes and glanced out the window.

The newly built lord's mansion stood at the city's center, replacing the former gray-black temple.

From the window, he could see orderly streets, staggered houses, and a new community under construction in the distance.

Twenty-seven years ago, this land had been shrouded in aphrodisiac arrays and cognitive modification arrays.

Twenty-seven years later, those arrays had been dismantled, replaced by Gao Jie Ming's own designed aptitude detection array and ecological regulation system. He withdrew his gaze, ready to resume reading the memory crystal in his hand, when a sudden surge of energy stirred at the door.

"Come in."

Gao Jie Ming looked up.

David's figure appeared at the door, dusty and still bearing the spatial ripples left by interplane travel.

"Back already?" Gao Jie Ming set down the crystal.

David nodded, stepped into the study, and sat across from Gao Jie Ming.

He leaned back in his chair, sighing with visible relief.

"How was it?" Gao Jie Ming asked. "I recall you were sent to survey the surrounding resource planes."

David shook his head, a hint of resignation on his face.

"Not worth mentioning," he said. "When the Chaos Cult left, they systematically plundered everything. Any resource of value—or even the plane's core essence—was stripped clean."

He paused, then added: "Only ordinary mineral deposits and biomass remain. It's not quite a dead plane, but close enough." Gao Jie Ming chuckled lightly at this, unconcerned.

"So the Chaos Cult was still bitter, then."

David smiled, but the smile carried a bitter edge: "Would you be any different? You lose the fight, then have to spit out what you swallowed. Of course they'd wreck things before leaving—it'd be strange if they didn't. But it's us wizards who end up cleaning up the mess. I'm exhausted—just collecting the debris took ages."

Gao Jie Ming nodded, saying nothing.

The study fell silent for several seconds.

David suddenly spoke: "By the way, the workshop wants us to catalog every remaining plane—even the dead ones. No idea why."

Gao Jie Ming smiled at this.

He knew exactly why.

Because of Star Fall.

Or more precisely, because of the Awakening Art she developed.

The Awakening Art can turn a plane into a living plane, vastly increasing the value of even dead ones.

Before this, dead planes had only one fate: converted into vessel planes or used as experimental grounds for destructive wizardry—some were even turned into massive storage depots. Otherwise, they were useless.

But Star Fall's Awakening Art transformed these dead planes into superpowers capable of shifting the tide of war—giving them new value, even dramatically elevating it.

Honestly, from the perspective of the entire wizarding plane civilization, it's hard to say whether the value lies more in the super combat power it provides or in reviving previously useless resources.

But there's no doubt: Star Fall's Awakening Art turned dead planes back into treasures.

Yet few outside know this yet.

Outsiders only know Star Fall received a Level One Cultivation Agreement; the Awakening Art remains relatively classified.

Aside from firsthand witnesses like Gao Jie Ming, only wizards of Level Seven or higher likely know the truth.

Even so, according to Gao Jie Ming's intelligence, the price of dead planes within wizarding civilization has skyrocketed over the years. Gao Jie Ming shook off his thoughts and looked at David.

David was watching him, his eyes curious: "You know something, don't you?"

Gao Jie Ming smiled, avoiding a direct answer: "You'll find out when the higher-ups release the news. Just know—cataloging these planes isn't a waste of time."

David raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.

The two chatted a few more minutes, when David suddenly remembered something and asked: "How are the local populace faring?"

Gao Jie Ming raised a hand and summoned a recording crystal, handing it to David.

"The aptitude detection array is installed," he said. "Ecological transformation is nearly complete."

David took the crystal, probed it with his spiritual sense, scanned it quickly, and nodded with satisfaction.

"What about the mental reorientation?"

Gao Jie Ming spoke slowly: "Some of the older generation still can't accept it. They're too accustomed to their old way of life—can't change." He looked out the window: "But the latest generations are gradually shedding that past. Once the elders pass away and the new generation fully matures, things will improve greatly."

David nodded, fell silent for a moment.

"Then it's time to establish basic education and medical systems."

Gao Jie Ming said: "I've already applied to the workshop for an artificial human manufacturing system. It should arrive soon."

He rubbed his chin and added: "Then we can deploy artificial humans on a large scale for education and basic medical care." David's expression relaxed at this.

"Excellent," he said. "Once fully deployed, we can begin aptitude modification. Everything's on track—now we just wait for time to work its magic."

Gao Jie Ming nodded with a smile.

The study fell quiet again.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

In the distance, faint construction sounds drifted in—the locals building their new homes with their own hands.

This time, it wasn't reconstruction—it was expansion.

David stood, adjusting his wizard's robe.

"I should go," he said. "I need to submit my report and return for orders."

Gao Jie Ming rose to see him off.

David reached the door, then stopped and turned.

"Gao Jie Ming."

"Hmm?"

David looked at him seriously: "Thank you for staying behind to handle the follow-up on this plane."

Gao Jie Ming paused, startled.

David continued: "You've stayed here for over a decade. Others, after completing their mission, move on to new planes or return to labs for research. Only you—you've been here from start to finish."

Gao Jie Ming smiled, shaking his head: "No need to thank me. I've spent these years mainly expanding my knowledge—where I am doesn't matter." But David insisted: "Still, I thank you. Someone has to stay behind for these logistical follow-ups."

He paused: "But in a few years, a new batch of wizards should return from the frontlines. Then there'll be plenty to relieve you."

Gao Jie Ming nodded: "That would be good."

The two exchanged a glance and smiled.

David turned and walked toward the teleportation array.

Gao Jie Ming stood at the study door, watching his figure vanish at the end of the street.

Then he turned back inside, sat again at his desk.

The dozen memory crystals still hovered in midair, quietly awaiting their master's return.

Gao Jie Ming reached out, his spiritual sense sinking once more into them.