Chapter 257: City of the Sky

"And the main city with the largest area and the most abundant magic, the Tower Master of its core tower is Great Wizard Cassandra, and that is also where the Crystal Spire is located..."

A glimmer of interest flashed in Luo En's eyes.

The formation of the Void Skeleton is a key step for Dark Sun wizards to be promoted to Great Wizards.

How this process works, what conditions are needed, and what special techniques are required, these are all things he does not yet know.

"While these Tower Masters enjoy supreme status, they also shoulder unshirkable responsibilities."

Lei Lei Nuozi continued to explain, drawing a complex ring in the air to indicate:

"By regulating the flow of magic through the core tower, they purify the polluted energy that constantly seeps in from the abyss."

His expression became serious:

"Without their constant purification, the entire Central Lands would soon be eroded by the abyss and become a piece of twisted wasteland."

Luo En nodded thoughtfully, his pupils reflecting the outline of the distant city:

"So the prosperity of the Central Lands is somewhat related to its proximity to the abyss?"

"Smart guess, of course, this can only be said to be one of the important reasons." Lei Lei Nuozi looked at him approvingly:

"But precisely because it is close to the abyss, the magic concentration here is far higher than the outside world, nurturing countless geniuses. Of course, risks and opportunities coexist..."

His eyes became deep, as if seeing some unknown dangers:

"Pollution and gifts are like two sides of the same coin.

Those greatest geniuses are often the ones most easily tempted by the abyss.

In history, there is no lack of genius wizards who went astray and eventually became apostles of the abyss."

Luo En silently noted this warning, but his heart developed a strong interest in that "gift" from the abyss.

Pollution and power, danger and opportunity, this is exactly the topic he has been thinking about.

How to avoid danger while acquiring power, how to transform pollution into his own use, these are the core elements of the "Furnace Concept."

"This explains why the proportion of extraordinary races here is so high."

Luo En pulled his thoughts back, his gaze sweeping over the various buildings in Dawn Port.

There were seashell-shaped buildings clearly designed for aquatic races, high-altitude platforms prepared for flying races, and some buildings whose shapes did not even conform to human aesthetics and logic.

Lei Lei Nuozi nodded, a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth:

"Indeed, the edge port is the most prosperous and mixed area, and almost all the extraordinary races of the main world you can imagine have gathered here."

He was like a local guide, pointing to different areas of the port:

"That area with pearly luster is the aquatic race area, and the buildings all have water flow channels;

The one that looks like a beehive in the distance is the gathering place of the sky races;

The misty place near the cliff is the dwarf's forging area, producing all kinds of extraordinary utensils day and night."

A glimmer of nostalgia flashed in his eyes:

"When I first arrived in the Central Lands, I bought my first ritual dagger in the dwarf area, and that dagger is still serving me to this day."

Luo En nodded casually, but deep down he had begun to analyze more important changes.

He could clearly feel the abnormal activity of the "Star Projection" characteristic, and that unique ability derived from the Primal Wizard was like a fish in water in this high-concentration magic environment.

Like a thirsty traveler who suddenly fell into a clear spring, every cell was greedily absorbing the nectar of energy.

His magic recovery speed increased by at least three times, and even the magic quality was purified by a level unknowingly.

That subtle change was like alcohol fermentation, both intoxicating and keeping on the edge of rationality.

However, this change was both gratifying and potentially dangerous.

Excessive energy accumulation might lead to damage to magic pathways or instability of energy structure, just like forcibly pouring too much water into an exquisite glass container, which could break at any time due to internal pressure.

Luo En quickly constructed a temporary energy buffer network in his body, like weaving a precise spider web, guiding those excess magic into it to avoid excessive expansion of the magic pool.

This technique required extremely precise spiritual power control, but for his "spell construction" which had already approached the mastery level, it was already quite familiar.

"The 'magic overload' I mentioned earlier, you might experience it soon."

Lei Lei Nuozi observed Luo En's subtle reaction, his eyes filled with concern:

"Even for official wizards, arriving in the Central Lands for the first time requires a certain adaptation period.

I suggest you maintain low-intensity magic operation for the first few days, allowing your body and spirit to gradually become familiar with this high-concentration environment."

"When you feel the magic tide of that City of the Sky, you will understand what the 'high concentration' I mentioned means."

His voice became like a dream:

"There, magic flows like substance, forming colorful aurora curtain walls.

At certain moments, one can even see the scene of molecules surging with the magic tide, and the entire sky will become a flowing oil painting, beautiful enough to suffocate."

Luo En nodded slightly:

"I have already felt some abnormalities, my magic pool is like an over-inflated balloon, still constantly inhaling more air."

"This is actually a good phenomenon, indicating that your constitution and spiritual structure are strong enough to withstand the initial impact."

Lei Lei Nuozi patted Luo En on the shoulder, his tone becoming relaxed and humorous:

"Those high-level apprentices who have just arrived usually need to adapt by walking step by step at the transition point, just like children training to swim, increasing the water depth little by little.

Otherwise, at best, they will faint and not wake up, and at worst, their magic circuits will be permanently damaged."

His tone carried a hint of teasing:

"Some unlucky ones even have to spend a month or two to fully recover their normal spellcasting ability, during which time they can only live like ordinary people."

The airship slowly lowered its altitude, starting the final landing preparations.

Looking down from high altitude, the full picture of Dawn Port gradually appeared before the two.

It was a magnificent city built almost entirely of crystal and rare metals.

Every building was carved like a work of art, shining brightly under the morning light.

Unlike ordinary cities, Dawn Port was designed using some complex geometric principles.

The entire city presented a radial structure, with twelve main roads extending from the central square.

Luo En keenly noticed that the arrangement of these main roads was not random, but formed a precise energy guidance network, connecting the entire city into a unified magic circulation system.

But most eye-catching was that the entire city was not built on flat land, but composed of hundreds of islands of different sizes.

Connected to each other through magic bridges flashing with light or various flying devices, forming a three-dimensional city structure.

Some islands were at different height levels, creating a stepped visual effect;

Some islands rotated slowly, seemingly looking for the best magic absorption angle;

And some island surfaces were covered with dense vegetation, forming the spectacle of hanging gardens.

"The entire Central Lands was originally a complete piece of land."

Lei Lei Nuozi continued to explain, his voice carrying the charm of telling ancient legends:

"But in the 'Plane Great Voyage' event of the Second Era, it was hit by many small planes, causing the crust to shatter into countless floating islands.

The energy impact was so great that it even changed the basic rules of this area."

His eyes flashed with awe:

"The wizards at that time did not choose to restore it to its original state, but followed this geographical change and established this three-dimensional city group, instead creating a unique architectural wonder."

The airship finally docked at the top of a huge mooring tower.

It was a giant building hundreds of meters high, the tower body was made entirely of light blue crystal shimmering with faint light, emitting a soft halo under the sun.

Luo En had never seen this kind of crystal before. Through "Extraordinary Identification," he found that this crystal had the characteristic of automatically absorbing and filtering external magic, making the tower maintain a relatively stable energy environment.

This characteristic was extremely friendly to visitors who had just arrived in the Central Lands, and could provide a transition space for gradual adaptation.

The disembarkation procedure was much more cumbersome than Luo En expected.

Every passenger needed to pass through a special energy screening door and accept dual authentication of identity and magic characteristics to prevent harmful abyss pollution or other dangerous items from being brought into the Central Lands.

When Luo En stood in front of the screening door, an abnormal phenomenon attracted the attention of everyone present.

The magic induction crystal on the door frame suddenly turned into an extremely rare pure gold and emitted a pleasant humming sound, as if paying tribute to some special existence.

The inspector in a deep blue uniform, who had been frowning and lecturing the passengers in front, suddenly changed his face.

When turning to Luo En, his expression changed from the indifference of official business to almost fawning respect:

"Please, please follow me, respected Primal Wizard Lord!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement:

"We have prepared a special channel for you."

Luo En raised his eyebrows slightly, a glimmer of vigilance flashing in his heart.

He originally thought that his special status would only be identified when contacting specific personnel, but he did not expect that the infrastructure here could automatically identify the characteristics of a Primal Wizard.

Moreover, the change in the other party's attitude was so great that it almost made Luo En feel a bit ridiculous—that sudden enthusiasm was almost like treating a returning prince.

It seems that the identification system of the Central Lands is much more precise than imagined, which is both a convenience and a potential risk.

He looked back at Lei Lei Nuozi, who was preparing to pass the inspection, seemingly accustomed to this kind of diversion treatment.

Under the gaze of everyone, Luo En had no choice but to follow the inspector to a gorgeously decorated separate channel.

It was a dedicated channel paved with deep red carpet, with waiters in silver dresses standing on both sides, ready to provide help at any time.

The entrance to the channel was inlaid with shining golden runes, and a strange floral fragrance permeated the air, making one feel refreshed, obviously a special channel prepared for VIPs.

Standing at the end of the channel was a middle-aged woman in a shining silver robe. Her light-colored hair was coiled into a complex bun, dotted with a few tiny magic crystals.

She wore a complex star ring emblem on her chest, indicating her high status in the administrative system of Dawn Port.

"Wizard Ralph, welcome to the Central Lands."

The female official bowed elegantly in a wizard salute:

"I am Melanie, the reception supervisor of Dawn Port. According to the information transmitted by the system, we have prepared an exclusive reception process and temporary residence for you."

"My entourage and luggage are still on the airship."

His voice did not reveal any emotional fluctuations, but naturally revealed a kind of majesty.

"We have sent people to assist, you don't need to worry about these trifles."

Melanie's smile was like a spring breeze, without any artificiality:

"If you don't mind, I can take you to visit Dawn Port first, and then head to the temporary residence prepared for you. Before determining the subsequent itinerary, you can rest there and adapt to the magic environment of the Central Lands."

Luo En turned to look at Lei Lei Nuozi, who was passing the inspection at this time, seemingly accustomed to this kind of diversion treatment.

"Can my companion Wizard Lei Lei Nuozi come together?"

He asked in a flat but irresistible tone.

Melanie's eyes flickered slightly, her gaze moving rapidly between Luo En and Lei Lei Nuozi in the distance, seemingly judging the relationship between the two.

Then she smiled, her posture becoming a few points more respectful:

"Of course, this is your right. Primal Wizards enjoy specific priority and invitation rights in Dawn Port, which is also our respect for your status."

She turned to Lei Lei Nuozi and made an inviting gesture:

"Wizard Lei Lei Nuozi, it is an honor for you to join our tour group. The Port Authority has completed the rapid verification of your identity information."

Lei Lei Nuozi walked over quickly, and he gave Luo En a meaningful look:

"It seems you have already started to learn to use your privileges..."

A teasing smile appeared on the corner of the man's mouth:

"The influence of a Primal Wizard is even greater than I imagined. Usually, this kind of treatment can only be enjoyed by those Moon-Sun level or above wizards."

The subsequent itinerary was arranged flawlessly.

A luxurious flying carriage pulled by six phantom-winged beasts was already waiting under the mooring tower.

Luo En keenly noticed that this kind of carriage did not seem common in Dawn Port.

Passing pedestrians stopped to watch, with amazement and envy in their eyes, obviously this was a special means of transport prepared for VIPs of very high status.

When Luo En and Lei Lei Nuozi boarded the carriage, Melanie briefly introduced the origin of this means of transport:

"This is a 'Cloud Shadow' type ceremonial carriage, usually only prepared for core members of major schools or special VIPs. The carriage body is made of moonlight crystal, which can fine-tune the internal environment according to the passenger's mood to ensure a comfortable journey."

Her voice carried a hint of imperceptible pride:

"The design and production of this carriage come from the craftsmen of the Crystal Spire. It is said that each one requires an enchanter to spend nearly a year to carefully craft it. There are less than ten in the entire Dawn Port."

The carriage rose slowly and began a city tour.

Looking down from high altitude, the layout of Dawn Port was even clearer—the entire city indeed presented a precise radial structure.

With the huge square in the center as the core, twelve main roads extended in all directions like sunlight, each pointing precisely to a specific direction.

"That is the 'Heart of Dawn' square."

Melanie pointed to the open area shimmering with light in the center:

"It is not only the geographical center of the city, but also the hub of the entire energy network. The tower in the center of the square can sense any magic fluctuation abnormality within a hundred miles and is a core component of the city's defense system."

Luo En calmly activated "Extraordinary Identification" and carefully observed the tower.

The tower body was densely covered with defense runes of different systems, each layer flashing with energy fluctuations at different frequencies, forming a multi-redundant defense and monitoring network.

This complexity far exceeded any defense structure Luo En had seen before, and some rune patterns even exceeded his cognitive range.

"This level of defense system..."

Luo En calculated in his heart:

"It requires at least an Alchemist Master to participate in the construction to achieve such a precise structure and coverage. The foundation of the Central Lands is indeed far beyond the edge schools."

"Dawn Port is not only the gateway to the Central Lands, but also one of the most important trade centers."

Melanie continued to introduce:

"Every year, more than ten thousand airships or large sailing ships enter the Central Lands through here. Races and professionals from all over the Huan Yuan Continent live in the city, which is a veritable extraordinary melting pot."

The flying carriage circled over the main areas, allowing Luo En to overlook various characteristic neighborhoods and buildings:

"Sage Street" is the gathering place for magic potionists and alchemists, with various bookstores, alchemical equipment shops, and small research institutes on both sides of the street, and the air is filled with the mixed scent of various potions and materials;

"Crystal Wall Area" is the residence of some wizards, where the buildings are all built of priceless energy-gathering crystals, shimmering with dazzling light under the sun;

"Sunset Square" is a paradise for artists and performers, where various magic performances and rare art transactions take place, and the strange melodies of sub-human musicians echo in the air;

There is also the "Elemental Valley" specially designed for elemental creatures, where the environment can be automatically adjusted according to their needs for temperature, humidity, and magic concentration, allowing those races with special environmental requirements to live comfortably...

"This level of prosperity..." Luo En assessed secretly:

"Just the rare materials that can be seen everywhere here would have to be listed as treasures in the Black Fog School."

The flying carriage finally stopped in front of an exquisite building in the west district of the city.

This was a three-story independent villa, with an elegant and majestic architectural style.

The front yard had a small garden, where various rare flowers grew, emitting a faint fragrance.

The entire building was shrouded in an almost invisible energy barrier. Luo En could feel that it was a privacy protection spell that could block most magic detection from the outside world.

"This is the 'Emerald Courtyard', a temporary residence prepared for distinguished guests like you."

Melanie said respectfully:

"The courtyard is equipped with basic alchemical laboratories and meditation rooms, which should meet your basic needs for a short stay."

Luo En nodded to express his gratitude, while already beginning to calculate how to most effectively use this unexpected preferential treatment.

A temporary residence meant he could carry out some necessary preparatory work before deciding on the next step.

"Wizard Lei Lei Nuozi, where do you live?" Luo En turned to ask Lei Lei Nuozi.

"My residence is in the East District, about an hour's flight from here."

Lei Lei Nuozi replied, suddenly patting his head as if remembering something:

"By the way, do you want to exchange communication emblems?

In a few days, I will go to the Abyss Observation Station to report at the Dawn Port station. If you are interested, you can go with me to learn a little bit."

Luo En thought for a moment and nodded in agreement:

"I am indeed very interested in the Abyss Observation Station, but my itinerary is still a bit uncertain. If I have time, I will contact you with the communication emblem."

The two exchanged the magic imprints of the communication emblems.

After seeing Lei Lei Nuozi off, Luo En turned to Melanie:

"If it is convenient, I would like to know about the registration process in the Central Lands and possible academic exchange channels. As an outsider, I hope to integrate into the academic environment here as soon as possible."

Melanie nodded respectfully:

"Of course, respected Wizard Ralph.

In fact, as a Primal Wizard, you have the right to submit an application directly to the 'New Star Reception Office' of the School Alliance, and they will arrange suitable introducers and necessary resource support for you."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 259 =====