Chapter 545: Flip‑Flopping

"Dean's invitation?"

Lei En felt a trace of doubt in his heart.

Weizelan Wizards have been at BrewotzAcademy for over a week; as one of the Empire's three giants, Sabbath Dean naturally would not delay, and on the night they arrived he sent someone to invite a meeting, but this time the party was led by Speaker Ronnie, who did not participate himself.

Moreover, the teacher had already spoken with Sabbath Dean beforehand; there was no need for a private meeting between him and me, lest the Naise wizard become suspicious.

He glanced at the BrewotzAcademy teacher without showing any reaction.

His Soul Eye confirmed the person was one of the Weizelan Wizards who had been attending to the Weizelan crowd these past days, not a shapeshifted impostor, and he was not lying.

"Your Excellency Speaker," the teacher replied, "the Dean is already waiting in the office."

"Very well, please lead the way."

This is BrewotzAcademy; everywhere is lined with sigils or force fields, and as a guest I may not teleport at will, which is basic courtesy.

Lei En followed the academy teacher out of the residence.

Walking on the elegant stone path under the shade, he tentatively asked, "Donis, are there other guests in Sabbath Dean's office?"

Donis's face showed a startled, honored expression; Lei En was surprised that he knew his name.

He quickly replied, "Yes, sir."

"Could you tell me who it is?" Lei En pressed.

Donis hesitated briefly, thinking Lei En would meet them soon anyway, so there was nothing to hide, and whispered, "Half an hour ago, Master Bigby came to visit the Dean."

"Thank you," Lei En nodded slightly, and did not ask further.

Master Bigby, that name was by no means unfamiliar to him; it rang like thunder.

In fact, the Empire could hardly find a wizard who hadn't heard of Master Bigby, and he was renowned beyond the Empire as well.

The famous wizard had originally been a wandering wizard; during an adventure he met Master Tim Kainan, later joined Flaniss Floating City, yet did not become Tim Kainan's disciple. The two were both teacher and friend, and his standing in the floating city was extremely high, almost second only to one person.

Master Bigby was immensely powerful; two hundred years ago he was a nineteen-level Arcane mage, and was one of the Legendary Peaks most likely to challenge a Holy Soul wizard in the Empire.

However, the reason Master Bigby's fame spread was his invention of a series of spells.

Flaniss's wizards inherited Tim Kainan's specialties; after achieving Legendary status, they liked inventing spells and placed great importance on such achievements.

Each of the three giants' floating cities in the Empire has a high-level decision‑making body.

Weizelan has a "Six-person Council", Naise has an "Elder Council", and Flaniss has an organization called "Eight Leaves".

Eight Leaves always has eight members.

Wizards of Flaniss seeking entry into Eight Leaves are judged not by wizard rank or raw power, but by achievements in spell invention. The current Eight Leaves members each possess a spell named after themselves: five are Legendary High-rank, three are Legendary Mid-stage.

Master Bigby is one of them, and the most famous wizard.

He invented a series of Arcane spells related to "hand", such as the five-ring "Bigby Protective Palm", which forms a force field with soul energy, appearing as a massive palm that can shield in front of the caster or be thrust outward to strike enemies.

There is also the six-ring "Bigby Flying Palm", the seven-ring "Bigby Grapple Palm", and so on, each level stronger than the last.

The Bigby Series palm spells are extremely useful, combining sustained attack, protection, control, and disruption; their power is great and effects outstanding. After thorough study, even a physically frail wizard can gain formidable melee capability without hindering ranged casting, making them beloved among wizards and spreading Master Bigby's fame far and wide.

Reslin has mastered this series of palm spells.

However, Lei En guessed that Master Bigby was not after a spell duel with him, but was related to the upcoming duel.

Flaniss Floating City was founded by Master Tim Kainan, a Holy Soul wizard who has his own casting philosophy called the Balance School.

The Balance School's philosophy is to master a moderate number of spells, increase a moderate amount of potency, neither learning too many spells nor too few, selecting certain spells to raise their corresponding ring levels, maintaining balance between spells and potency, adapting flexibly, and using the most suitable spell at the most appropriate moment.

In short, everything must be balanced.

This is not only a casting philosophy but also Master Tim Kainan's life philosophy.

All things in the world, whether the Prime Material Plane and myriad planes, the heavens and the Abyss, civilizations and nations, even benevolent and malevolent deities, must maintain a great balance.

This is not a simple philosophical theory; it is extremely detailed and complex, the ultimate ideal Tim Kainan derived after centuries of magical research, and he regards maintaining the great balance of all things as his mission.

The most tangible manifestation is maintaining the balance between the Naise faction and the Mo Du faction.

Master Tim Kainan wavers between the two factions, ensuring neither becomes overly powerful, ultimately to fully control the entire Empire.

For the past several centuries, Naise Floating City has held the overall advantage in the Empire.

Thus, Flaniss stays relatively close to Weizelan; most of the time the two sides cooperate against Naise Floating City.

However, as Weizelan's strength rose, in recent years Flaniss has become more aloof, often setting traps for Weizelan, such as resolutely refusing to cooperate on solving massive debt issues.

A few years ago, a undead calamity caused massive casualties, and Flaniss began to draw nearer again.

Whether Naise or Weizelan, neither has ever regarded Flaniss as a true ally.

This flip‑flopping troublemaker has always earned Lei En's disdain.

Alas, Master Tim Kainan's power is truly overwhelming, having ascended to Holy Soul wizard nearly three hundred years before the teacher.

According to the teacher, Master Tim Kainan has long surpassed Thirty-level, perhaps a few ranks higher than him!

Master Bigby, who ranks just below the top in Flaniss, is naturally a follower of that balance theory; unsurprisingly, his visit to Sabbath Dean is to intervene in his duel with Qitu.

Naise and Weizelan will vie for supremacy; Flaniss, also one of the Empire's three giants, certainly cannot be a mere spectator and must assert its presence.

But this time, which side will Flaniss stand on?

Lei En pondered while walking with Donis through the academy, suddenly noticing more and more people around, all academy students—some prodigies, some still ordinary youths.

They halted and cast glances, their faces full of excitement and curiosity.

"Look quickly."

"That's Lei En, Speaker!"

"By the goddess, it's really Earl of Glamorgan!" The students shouted in unison, as if they had discovered a rare treasure, stopping to watch. When Lei En passed by, they chased after him, and a large crowd quickly gathered behind, then attracted even more onlookers.

"Oh my god, I've never seen such a handsome man..."

Hearing some female students whisper, Lei En felt a bit smug, smiled toward the group of girls, and instantly made them so excited they nearly fainted.

Finally, a sixteen‑ or seventeen‑year‑old red‑haired boy mustered courage and rushed forward, nervously saying, "S‑Speaker Lei En, you are my most admired hero; my dream is to become a great wizard like you someday. Could—could you sign something for me?"

He handed over a magical notebook and a fountain pen, his face full of anticipation.

"Alright."

Lei En gladly took the magical notebook, flipped through it casually; it was filled with many entries, all rather simple, yet it showed the other's diligent effort.

"What's your name?" he asked with a smile.

"Ron." The boy blushed bright red with excitement and shouted, "My name is Ron, it's spelled almost the same as an adult's name."

Lei En nodded, wrote on the notebook's title page, "May Ron never cease on the path of magic," and then signed his own name "Ryan Augustus."

"All right."

He returned the magical notebook and pen, and his Soul Eye glanced over, surprised to find that the boy named Ron possessed quite a talent, surely able to complete the Soul Transformation ceremony, and with a good chance to become a Wizard.

"Thank you!" Ron carefully packed the notebook, "Thank you, sir."

Click!

A flash of white light, accompanied by the sound of a shutter being pressed.

A student took out a handheld Camera, captured the scene, then shouted, "Lei En Chairman, may I take a photo with you?"

Other students rushed forward, "Lei En Chairman, could you also sign for me?"

"I want to take a photo with Chairman Lei En."

"Chairman Lei En, I am a once‑in‑a‑century Wizard prodigy, please take me as your student!"

"Ah… Lei En, I love you!"

A girl screamed, drawing attention; the scene turned chaotic, the wide road became jammed and barely passable.

Donis, unaccustomed to such a surge, startled, but reacted swiftly, instantly erecting a protective field to block the students, and shouted, "Chairman Lei En has official business, we cannot waste time; everyone step back."

But the students were too enthusiastic to leave so easily.

"Sir, shall we teleport over?"

After obtaining Lei En's consent, Donis opened a random door and invited Lei En to go in first.

The two appeared on a corridor inside the highest Wu Shi Ta at the center of Bruwotz, the floor covered with thick, soft carpet, bright crystal lamps overhead, and exquisite portraits lining the walls—portraits of past Deans.

Donis knocked on the large door at the corridor's end.

A gentle, magnetic male voice responded, "Please come in."

The door then opened automatically.

Donis bowed and made a beckoning gesture; Lei En entered and at first sight saw a man half‑leaning at a desk.

He appeared under thirty, of average build, about 1.8 m tall, neither fat nor thin, wearing a custom‑fitted simple outfit, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed, a handsome, dashing face with a faint smile.

The only flaw was that his two temples were a bit high, showing signs of hair loss.

But this did not diminish his extraordinary charm; short, neatly trimmed sideburns and chin hair framed his cheeks, clearly well‑kept.

His blue‑gray eyes held composure and wisdom, as if he would never anger, making people instinctively want to be close to him.

Lei En felt a slight surprise; this elegant gentleman was Sabbath Dean.

His Soul Eye saw a hazy layer, like flowers in fog, vaguely perceiving a vast soul in the form of a Soul‑Gathering Tower.

He has already achieved Holy Soul Ascension as a Wizard!

Lei En bowed and said, "Honored to meet Sabbath Dean."

Sabbath Dean straightened his posture in respect, smiled, and said, "Lei En, I've heard your name a lot these years, know your strength is great, but I didn't expect you to be so handsome; I'm even a bit envious, haha…"

Lei En couldn't help but feel startled.

"Just kidding." Sabbath Dean walked over, patted Lei En's shoulder, showing no senior‑wizard airs, and pointed to another person in the room, "Let me introduce you, this is Title: Master Bigebai from Falanis."

Lei En had already seen him.

He was a slender middle‑aged Wizard, looking about fifty, with brown hair and brown eyes, a somewhat absent gaze, pale skin, exuding a sickly gauntness, as if a gust could topple him.

However, the Soul Eye saw through the illusion.

The weakness was merely a false façade; the other's soul was immensely strong, a nineteenth‑level Arcane peak, already merged with one Nine-ring Technique, and only two more fusions away from Holy Soul Ascension.

"Title: Master Bigebai, I have long admired your name," Lei En greeted with measured respect.

"Lei En Chairman."

Bigebai nodded, still seated on the sofa without rising, appearing somewhat aloof. In fact, he had been watching Lei En since his entrance, his eyes betraying unmistakable curiosity.

"Alright, Lei En, have a seat." Sabbath Dean waved his hand, and the teapot on the table floated up, pouring a cup of hot tea that hovered lightly before Lei En, adding, "It wasn't me who invited you today, but Title: Master Bigebai's wish. Should I leave?"

He looked to Bigebai to ask.

"No need." Bigebai gave no small talk, getting straight to the point: "Chairman Lei En, I've already heard about your duel with Kuitu."

Lei En listened quietly, without any reaction.

"We, the Eight Leaves, after deliberation, believe this duel's impact exceeds its original scope, provoking larger‑scale conflict that could shatter the Empire's balance—a result Falanis does not wish to see," Bigebai said with an air of inevitability.

Lei En wanted to retort, "Weizelan and Naise's clash, what does it have to do with you Falanis?"

But in this world, the strong‑handed always have justification; behind Falanis stands Title: Master Tim Kainan, and they need no reason to meddle in any matter.

That is why Falanis is untrusted.

Their notion of balance is wholly self‑centered, autocratic and tyrannical, a free‑willed conviction; once a hat that disrupts balance is fastened, no one gets a chance to argue.

If Title: Master Tim Kainan weren't stationed there, this bunch of trouble‑makers would have been eliminated long ago.

Nevertheless, Falanis's insight is extremely sharp.

Although they intervene in the duel under the banner of the balance faction's philosophy, not truly guessing their own intent, outsiders might see more clearly, making it a lucky strike.

"What does Falanis mean?" Lei En asked cautiously.

"Both sides take one step back." Bigebai said calmly, "The duel need not be canceled, but it cannot be a real fight, nor decide life or death; it should focus on sparring techniques. To prevent you and Kuitu from unleashing real fire that's hard to control, I will also act as a referee, ready to intervene and protect your safety."

Lei En's complexion shifted slightly.

Balance is not neutrality, nor watching from the mountain; it means stepping in to tilt the scales.

Clearly, Bigebai claims to be a referee only to tilt the balance; whoever falls at a disadvantage he will aid.

Damn, a bunch of arrogant dog‑and‑rat catchers!

Lei En muttered under his breath, "Did Kui Tu agree?"

"Yes," Master Bi Gebai's face showed a faint smile, "Before you, I had already spoken with Kui Tu; he fully agreed that I would be the judge."

"Chairman Lei En, what do you think?"

Bi Gebai was asking on the surface, but in fact he didn't care whether Lei En agreed; he would enter the arena regardless.

Lei En stared at Bi Gebai for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

He shrugged indifferently, "It's just a clash of pride. Since Master Bi Gebai values it so much and wants to take part, then let it be."

Having said that without waiting for a reply, Lei En stood, nodded toward Sa Bu La, opened a random door and teleported away.

(End of chapter)