Chapter 407: Foundation

"Who are you looking for?"

Airuisi felt curious, really wanting to know who could easily arrange for Lin Ke to return after the Supreme Council suddenly tightened control over the two-universe passages; what kind of divine being this person must be, so extraordinarily capable.

There's nothing that can't be told to others.

Lin Ke neither hedged nor concealed; he frankly said, 'I sought Xu Jing Heavenly Master.'

'Xu Jing Heavenly Master?'

Airuisi was quite surprised: 'Why would you think of looking for him? Will he help? I thought you would look for Luotesinuo.'

Lin Ke chuckled and said, 'Since avoidance is impossible, let's not avoid it at all and meet it head-on.'

'What do you mean? I didn't understand.'

Airuisi frowned slightly, looking somewhat puzzled, then shook their head and said, 'Forget it, you don't need to explain. I already know a bit about your affairs; I don't want to get involved—it's too troublesome.'

'I also don't want to drag you into this.'

Lin Ke expressed his sincerity, speaking from the heart, certainly not deceiving.

Regarding this, Airuisi thought it was very good and could easily accept it, without putting on a brave front, and immediately asked, 'When are you leaving?'

'Right away, I'm just coming back to pick up something and, by the way, find someone.'

'What thing? What person?'

'The thing isn't important; the person is.'

'Meidiqi Sage?'

'Meidiqi Sage.'

Having received an affirmative answer from Lin Ke, Airuisi's expression turned somewhat strange.

When they first arrived at this outpost together with the advance team from Ruowosi Academy, there was also a six-person team belonging to the Supreme Council.

Meidiqi Sage was precisely the leader of this six-person team, a sixth-level sage; the mission was unclear, but it was highly likely to follow Lin Ke nearby to investigate some matters.

However, Luotesinuo suddenly sent a meeting request, causing Lin Ke to embark on a journey accompanying Luotesinuo to seek stars and a beam of light, thereby leaving the six-person team behind.

Strange things then happened one after another.

The six-person team was left behind, yet they weren't in a hurry at all.

First, they left the Ruowosi Academy outpost without haste, then conducted covert activities for a while, investigating some matters.

It's unknown whether the six-person team managed to clarify what they wanted to investigate, but on the day Airuisi was injured—that is, yesterday—the six-person team returned to this outpost.

The day after the six-person team returned, Lin Ke suddenly came back to the outpost, specifically asking for Meidiqi Sage by name.

To say these are all coincidences with no secrets—Airuisi would absolutely not believe it.

However, Airuisi did not continue investigating.

Whether it's a coincidence or whether there are secrets, it's all Lin Ke's own business.

If Lin Ke needs help, and she has the ability to give help, that's another matter altogether.

Thinking this, Airuisi ceased the desire to continue chatting with Lin Ke.

Let Lin Ke get on with his business; she also needs to go rest and heal her wounds.

Those damned fellows—already dead beyond death, not even leaving corpses.

Otherwise, Airuisi would definitely dig those fellows up and kill them hundreds of times over.

Where couldn't she be wounded?

They had to blast her chest, making her look so ugly!

When saying goodbye and turning to leave, Airuisi couldn't help but grit her teeth.

Lin Ke watched Airuisi leave until he could no longer see her figure, then set out to find Meidiqi Sage.

The two of them had actually not contacted each other beforehand.

However, based on some channels, Lin Ke knew that Meidiqi Sage was waiting for him at this outpost.

In fact, Meidiqi Sage was indeed waiting for him here; the channel providing the information had not failed.

At least for now, it hasn't failed.

Who knows what will happen later?

Just as Lin Ke and Meidiqi Sage successfully met, Xu Jing Heavenly Master had already figured out why Lin Ke was looking for him.

'Heh...'

Chuckling lightly, Xu Jing Heavenly Master put down the contact device given by the Supreme Council and knocked on the door.

'Come in.'

A voice came from the room: that of Zu Heavenly Master.

Xu Jing Heavenly Master pushed the door open, then sequentially greeted Zu Heavenly Master and Luotesinuo, who were drinking tea and chatting, before saying, 'Linke Grand Wizard has sent me a request, asking me to step forward and communicate with the Supreme Council to prioritize arranging his use of the two-universe passage to return to the wizard civilization.'

'Oh?'

Zu Heavenly Master chuckled, then lifted the teacup, slightly covering the corner of his mouth where a smile lingered.

Luotesinuo's expression remained unchanged; likewise lifting the teacup, they took a light sip of tea.

Xu Jing Heavenly Master continued, saying, 'I intend to accompany Linke Grand Wizard to the wizard civilization; Zu Heavenly Master, what do you think? Sage, what is your view?'

'I won't look.'

Luotesinuo said coldly, 'This is your business; it has nothing to do with me.'

'I think it's fine.'

Zu Heavenly Master's voice followed immediately, as gentle as ever: 'This time going there happens to be just right to push forward the progress of our immortal god civilization's stationing.'

'Yes, Zu Heavenly Master.'

Xu Jing Heavenly Master agreed, then performed the salute again and departed, bowing.

After watching the door close again for a moment, Zu Heavenly Master turned to Luotesinuo and asked, 'How is Xu Jing?'

"Heavenly Immortal bearing."

Luotesinuo gave his frank opinion without hesitation.

"Why be a Heavenly Immortal rather than a Heavenly Venerable?"

Zu Tian Shi asked curiously, then added an explanation: "Disciples of the Celestial Master's Manor can cultivate immortality or divinity; if they can obtain the Dao fruit, it makes no difference whether they are Heavenly Immortals or Heavenly Venerables."

Luotesinuo smiled but did not answer.

Many things need only be mutually understood; being too hypocritical or spelling everything out makes it boring.

The Celestial Master's Manor indeed offers two paths, but if Xu Jing Tian Shi can walk the immortal path, why choose the divine path?

Obtaining the Heavenly Immortal Dao fruit brings tranquility and freedom; even if the Celestial‑Divine Civilization's degenerate age is ultimately inescapable, one can still go to the universe where the Wizard Civilization resides and continue to roam at ease.

If one obtains the Heavenly Deity Dao fruit, although it does not completely bind one to rules/laws as the hostile deity civilization's gods do in the Wizard Civilization, it is only relatively free.

Facing the degenerate age, aside from resisting to the end, one cannot lightly shift course.

Given the talent, ability, and status displayed by Xu Jing Tian Shi, how could he possibly take the divine path?

Even if Xu Jing Tian Shi himself wanted to take that path, Zu Tian Shi would not allow it.

Zu Tian Shi seeing Luotesinuo's demeanor, said nothing more and quietly drank tea.

The room was utterly tranquil.

Xu Jing Tian Shi, however, was busy.

Lin Ke's request can be granted without impropriety, but it must not be agreed to too hastily.

Some necessary postures still need to be put on display.

Without hastily replying to Lin Ke, Xu Jing Tian Shi released his mount and rushed toward the entrance of the inter‑universal passage.

If Luotesinuo's three purchased starships are the top‑tier foreign‑trade edition of the Celestial‑Divine Civilization's starships, then Xu Jing Tian Shi's mount is the top‑tier personal‑use edition of that civilization's starships.

Within less than three hours of receiving Lin Ke's request, Xu Jing Tian Shi had already arrived at the Ruowosuosi Academy outpost.

Lin Ke had just finished a private discussion with Mei Di Qi Xian Zhe.

The two fully exchanged opinions and demands on many matters, reaching some consensus, discovering some disagreements, and then making some agreements. Regarding these consensus, disagreements, and agreements, Lin Ke's attitude was extremely serious and earnest.

As for the attitude of Mei Di Qi Xian Zhe and the forces and important figures behind him, Lin Ke will not guess; he will judge based on subsequent events and changes.

Empty words aren't proof, right?

"Grand Wizard, we're heading off first; wishing you smooth sailing ahead."

At the Ruowosuosi Academy outpost spaceport, Mei Di Qi Xian Zhe, about to board a starship with five crew members, sincerely offered Lin Ke a blessing before boarding.

"Thank you, Mei Di Qi Xian Zhe."

Lin Ke responded with thanks to Mei Di Qi Xian Zhe's blessing, then watched the six‑person team's starship depart the spaceport.

"Grand Wizard, long time no see; how have you been lately?"

Having just disembarked from the starship, Xu Jing Tian Shi deliberately waited a moment before coming over to greet.

"Xu Jing Tian Shi, hello."

Lin Ke first replied, then said, "You should know how I've been lately, Xu Jing Tian Shi; there's no need for me to say more."

"Sorry."

Xu Jing Tian Shi remained silent for a moment, then uttered a word full of apology.

"There's nothing to apologize for."

Lin Ke took it in stride, then shifted the conversation: "I wonder if Xu Jing Tian Shi could help me with this—let me have priority passage through the inter‑universal channel, as I have urgent business to return to the Wizard Civilization."

"Of course."

Xu Jing Tian Shi immediately gave an affirmative reply, then said, "Coincidentally, I also have business over there; I wonder if Grand Wizard would be willing to accompany me."

"Of course."

Lin Ke replied in the same wording.

"We're just leaving like this?"

"We're leaving just like that."

After a brief exchange, the two reached agreement.

Lin Ke first stowed Luotesinuo's top‑tier foreign‑trade edition starship, greeted Airuis, then boarded Xu Jing Tian Shi's top‑tier personal‑use edition starship.

The outward appearance and interior décor of the two versions of the starship are actually identical, completely the same.

The key lies in the core components—for example, the engine, the attack module, the defense module… as well as the assisting control tower spirit, or, according to the Celestial‑Divine Civilization, the artifact spirit.

After a brief glance, Lin Ke no longer paid attention to these details, and once inside the cockpit he sat quietly.

Talking more leads to more mistakes.

Unless Xu Jing Tian Shi brings up a topic, Lin Ke must reply with a few sentences; otherwise, Lin Ke is unwilling to speak more.

Xu Jing Tian Shi noticed Lin Ke's state, was quite considerate, poured a cup of clear tea, and also had no intention to chat.

Under intelligent navigation mode, the starship departed the spaceport, following Xu Jing Tian Shi's preset course toward the inter‑universal passage.

Airuis was correct.

The Supreme Council suddenly tightened control over the inter‑universal passage.

According to the agreement between the Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council, all channels under the Supreme Council's jurisdiction are in a closed state.

However, this does not affect Xu Jing Tian Shi.

He travels via the channel administered by the Celestial‑Divine Civilization, which is not only smooth but also exempt from inspection.

Thus, after shuttling through the inter‑universal passage, Lin Ke returned to the universe where the Wizard Civilization resides.

Before the starship's sway from traversing the inter‑universal passage had steadied, the will of the Wizard World descended.

Generally, when a Fourth‑Tier Sage advances to Fifth‑Tier, the Wizard World's will does not show much reaction.

Only under special circumstances does it descend again, and then, depending on the situation, it bestows favor or patronage.

What Lin Ke received was patronage, and moreover the highest tier among the various levels of patronage.

In an instant, Lin Ke's figure disappeared from within the Void Tranquil Celestial Master's starry sky flying vessel.

The Void Tranquil Celestial Master had the opportunity to stop it, yet throughout the whole process took no action.

Only after Lin Ke's figure disappeared did he switch to manual piloting mode, thereby stabilizing the starry sky flying vessel's condition more quickly.

Under the Wizard World's Will's entwining, Lin Ke crossed an unknown number of light-years of star field in an extremely short time, returning to the Wizard World's mainland.

After landing and steadying his feet, Lin Ke discovered that the place the Wizard World's Will had brought him to was not the mainland continent, but an unnamed reef in the Storm Sea.

Generally speaking, the area of such reefs is not large.

The rock beneath Lin Ke's feet was especially narrow, the portion protruding above the sea surface only enough for one person to stand on.

However, Lin Ke currently had no leisure to lament or investigate why this reef's area was so small, nor the reason the Wizard World's Will had deliberately brought him here.

This, although important, is not the most urgent.

The most urgent matter at present is only one thing: completing the promotion from fourth-rank sage to fifth-rank sage.

The ever-revised, never-finalized 'Great Cosmos Meditation Method' once again 'automatically' matched Lin Ke's current state, self-optimizing and iterating.

The star system manifestation within the sea of consciousness added new changes and progress.

Within the 'Sun', Konelinea, who had incarnated as a three-legged golden crow, was still snoring loudly; but upon sensing the change that allowed her to enter and exit Lin Ke's sea of consciousness at any time, she slept even more contentedly.

Having thoroughly refined the 'Heavenly Dao' of the Immortal Martial World, Flandre immediately popped out, pursing her lips, whiningly calling out 'Master', and then began to patter down small pearls.

The Immortal Martial World is Lin Ke's natal world, not bad, and also situated near the junction of the Immortal-God civilization and the Wizard civilization's universes, not bad.

However, Lin Ke's desire to transfer the people and things of the Immortal Martial World into the Immortal-God civilization's universe is nearly impossible to achieve while remaining below the rank of a Great Sage.

Flandre had not seen her Master for a very long time, nor had she spoken to him.

If she were not always the Master's natal world—that is, the boundary spirit of the Immortal Martial World—she would have thought the Master no longer wanted Flandre.

After dropping a few small pearls for a moment, Flandre, who had grown considerably, sniffed, forcibly restrained her emotions, and with a swish passed through Lin Ke's sea of consciousness to return to the Immortal Martial World.

For a wizard to advance from fourth-rank sage to fifth-rank sage, besides the regular increases in spiritual power, magical power, and sorcery, more importantly is the sublimation of the natal world.

Before becoming Lin Ke's natal world, the Immortal Martial World's upper limit had already been that of a fifth-rank sage.

Now, riding the wind of Lin Ke's promotion and the highest-level patronage of the Wizard World's Will, he achieved a breakthrough in one go, raising the upper limit to that of a sixth-rank sage.

As a boundary spirit, Flandre has many things to attend to.

"Long time no see, Flandre."

The brief and smooth promotion concluded; Lin Ke finally had some free time, and at once greeted Flandre, "Master now has a matter requiring Flandre's full cooperation."

"All right, Master."

Flandre sweetly agreed, "Flandre will certainly not disappoint Master."

"Master believes in Flandre."

After the words fell, Lin Ke shared with Flandre what he was about to do next.

Having confirmed that Flandre fully understood, Lin Ke immediately sprang into action.

A point of faint light seeped out from between his brows, slowly drifting down onto the reef beneath his feet.

The faint light, like amber still flowing within, revealed a miniaturized yet exceptionally clear Immortal Martial World.

From then on, the Immortal Martial World was thoroughly bound to the Wizard Civilization World.

Lin Ke was also thoroughly bound to the Wizard World's Will.

The Constructed Wizard School now had a foundation.

It was beginning to sprout.