Chapter 277: Breakthrough to Level 16

"Obviously, regarding the third question— the 47% mechanical divinity residue in the Vikna source code—you cannot answer it," the voice of Seagull No. 1 said, its tone tinged with regret as it returned to normal.

This mechanized shift gave Naimi Xisi a chill. This stagnant observation tower—who is its sacred master? He doesn't even know who Vikna is, let alone the mysterious source code issue.

At that moment, Seagull No. 1 seemed to sense Naimi Xisi's emotional fluctuation. It whispered, "My master is an apostle of the deity named Vikna," its tone carrying a hint of nostalgia.

"If you ask me," the voice of Seagull No. 1 said with a faint regret, "I also know little about that existence."

"My master—Arthur Leike—was once a powerful ruler of an era who, by chance, came to your world, that is, the continent called Frelen," Seagull No. 1's voice grew heavy.

"He hasn't heard Vikna's voice for a long time," Seagull No. 1 paused, as if recalling, "My master crossed one crystal barrier after another, even ventured to other planes, only to despairingly discover that the deity he worshipped has vanished without a trace throughout the Multiverse."

"Until three hundred years ago," Seagull No. 1's voice deepened, tinged with nostalgia or regret, "Vikna suddenly manifested a miracle, granting my master a book—the very 'Selections of Vikna's Poetry' you see—then vanished again."

"My master abandoned me, saying that even if it takes a thousand years, even ten thousand, he will find Vikna," Seagull No. 1's voice carried a faint sorrow.

"Before departing, he said that anyone who wishes to control this demi‑plane must learn this spell and answer three questions correctly," Seagull No. 1's voice grew heavy again.

At that moment, Naimi Xisi frowned, "Then does your master know the answer?"

Seagull No. 1 replied decisively, "I don't know."

The words hit Naimi Xisi like a bucket of cold water. He felt the tower spirit was clearly playing him, not sincerely offering an answer.

The brilliance of the Dissociation Technique flared again at his fingertips; Seagull No. 1, startled, shouted, "Wait! Actually there's another way you can control this place!"

Naimi Xisi halted his action, his expression wavering, "Speak."

Seagull No. 1 hurriedly said, "If you swear an oath to the great Nether River or the Magic Net, vowing to find the answer within three thousand years, I can grant you passage beyond the third question and recognize you as master."

Naimi Xisi pondered briefly; the method sounded reasonable. In three thousand years he would likely have become an Ancient Dragon, perhaps nearing demi‑god status. If that failed, he could personally travel to the divine realm where Vikna resides and ask for the answer.

Hearing that, he nodded, "Then it's settled."

Naimi Xisi swore an oath to the Nether River in the void; the Nether River oath stirred a breeze within the stagnant space, and an ancient grayish light bathed the tower body of the Time Observation Tower, whose surface was covered with void prisms. An instinct deep within told Naimi Xisi that he had pledged an unbreakable oath before the oldest being in the Multiverse.

Seagull No. 1 exhaled in relief, slowly flew before Naimi Xisi, extinguished its light, and a cold, metallic‑colored sphere appeared before him.

Around the "Time Observation Tower," countless gray‑white gears forming a mechanical ring and a violet nebula suddenly spun, and innumerable extremely complex Divination Runes manifested in the air.

These runes were exceedingly intricate; even Naimi Xisi, proficient in Divination spells, found many of them utterly unfamiliar.

He used his eidetic memory to record each rune in his mind, continuously deepening his understanding of Divination spells.

His Spell Guardian rank had silently advanced from level 14 to 15 during his study of Quantum Collapse Eye, and now, by recording these runes, his level shifted again, successfully breaking through to level 16!

The Eight-Circle Spell finally opened its gate to him, and just one step away he could reach the pinnacle of mortal power—the Nine-Circle Spell!

Gradually, the space stabilized, and the countless runes once again concealed themselves within the mechanical ring and endless violet star mist.

Naimi Xisi exhaled lightly; the consecutive double promotion taxed his brain heavily, a sharp sting making him dizzy and disoriented.

Yet it was all worth it.

Reaching mage level 16 during the adult Juan Ce Long stage, even among the cohort of Arcane prodigies of the Juan Ce Long, marks him as exceptionally gifted.

Next, in the prime and elder Juan Ce Long stages, Naimi Xisi's mage level will consecutively break through to levels 18 and 20.

Afterwards, Naimi Xisi will enter the Extreme Elder Dragon Stage, from which Juan Ce Long will metamorphose into an ultimate Arcane being.

Simply put, starting from the Extreme Elder Dragon, each lifecycle breakthrough will double the reward, raising his mage level by four instead of two.

When he becomes an Extreme Elder Juan Ce Long, his level will be 24 rather than 22.

Even without action, if he lives to the Ancient Dragon Stage, he will naturally become a level‑36 mage—capable of shattering continents with ease!

From this perspective, one must marvel at the exceptional talent of True Dragons. Juan Ce Long, a rarity among True Dragons, is an extreme aberration on the mage path.

Legendary levels are not so easily attained; Naimi Xisi even doubts whether any mage above level 30 exists on the entire Frelen continent!

Even the chosen of the Magic Goddess probably consider reaching level 28 lucky.

!

After all, across the Multiverse, Frelen's power is merely mid‑tier; this shallow temple pond cannot even nurture a giant turtle that could crush a pond with a single foot.

"Nevertheless, even so, the greatest gain this time is probably the Divination‑legendary spell called Quantum Collapse Eye," Naimi Xisi sighed.

Even precious demi‑planes and the untested Mage Tower matter little to him compared to this legendary spell.

This spell's theoretical knowledge, even across the whole Multiverse, is a singular existence, a treasure even half‑god liches of near‑god rank cherish.

Naimi Xisi even suspects that this legendary spell already belongs to the highest tier of legendary spells.

"Unfortunately, I still cannot use it for now," Naimi Xisi lamented; previously he employed the spell only because it merely triggered the sealed power within that book.

That book itself is a Magic Item capable of releasing a one‑time legendary spell; after Naimi Xisi successfully recorded the knowledge, it automatically destroyed itself and released a Quantum Collapse Eye to let the user directly experience the spell's effect.

He shook his head lightly, shelving the bold notion of releasing the legendary spell for now. At this moment, he was filled with curiosity and anticipation toward the mysterious Mage Tower before him.

Time Observation Tower.

(End of Chapter)