Translator: AnubisTL
Despite his confidence in his preparations, Jieming dared not be careless or underestimate the eerie otherworld that had silently consumed a million wizards along with the first wave of reinforcements.
In the final moments before his departure, he raced against time to make his last enhancements.
He poured a vast amount of mental energy into refining another batch of high-purity liquid adamantine, further infusing it into his protective magical treasure, the Profound Astral Red Dust Barrier. He hoped it would buy him even a few more moments of resistance against unknown spiritual erosion.
Next, without a moment's rest, he prioritized engraving the newly mastered space teleportation technology onto the cores of more Black Giants. This work was extremely delicate and mentally taxing, but he knew it might be the key to preserving these precious combat units in a critical moment.
Simultaneously, he began screening his forces.
Though his internal space had expanded to the size of a modern metropolis, it held too much: massive automated factories, mountains of raw materials, the fifth-tier large elemental pool occupying the core position, and the "nest" responsible for reshaping the Black Giants... The space remaining for the Black Giants to reside in had become exceptionally precious.
The Black Giants were colossal. A typical third-tier adult stood over twenty meters tall, resembling a mobile five- or six-story building. Higher-tier individuals grew exponentially larger.
After meticulous calculations, Jieming determined the maximum number of Black Giants he could transport. He had to ensure all other functions remained operational and retain a certain number of "Shuttle Hunters" to handle complex environments like aerial and naval warfare. Ultimately, he could only take just over fifty thousand of his most elite Black Giants.
After over a century of breeding and evolutionary devouring, the two Level 5 Black Giant Leaders had still failed to break through their bottlenecks. However, the number of fourth-tier Black Giants had already surpassed the one-hundred-thousand mark. Jieming carefully selected only the absolute best among them to bring along.
Finally, the day of the gathering arrived.
Jieming performed a final check of his condition. After confirming everything was in order, he made the necessary arrangements for the Purgatory Sulfur Plane and the laboratory, ensuring the Incense Divine Path would operate automatically in his absence.
Then, taking a deep breath, he stepped into the teleportation formation leading to the rendezvous point.
With a flash of light, Jieming materialized in a plaza within Noren Academy No. 147.
A first-tier wizard, who had been waiting there, confirmed his identity and respectfully guided him toward another, even larger teleportation formation, its runes far more complex than the last.
The moment he stepped into the array, a powerful spatial tug yanked at him.
When his vision cleared, a wave of sound—a mixture of countless mental power fluctuations and low-pitched murmurs—hit him like a physical force.
Jieming's gaze swept the area, and he found himself in a vast, open space.
All around him, teleportation formations lit up like a beehive, one after another, as figures stepped out of them.
Above and below, as far as the eye could see, the space was nearly filled with wizards.
The crowd flowed like a tide, endless and steady.
Jieming immediately followed the instinctual movement of the crowd, quickly making his way toward the perimeter to clear space for subsequent arrivals.
With a flicker of his body, he ascended into the air, finally able to take in the entire scene.
Below him stretched a cold, metallic floor that extended to the horizon. Above, a simulated sky spanned the heavens.
He understood instantly—he had been teleported directly to the "Ship" Plane.
He carefully sensed the wizards around him, his heart tightening. The average level here was terrifyingly high—everyone was at least third-tier! Among them were fifth- and sixth-tier existences radiating immense pressure.
What made Jieming even more vigilant was that even the third-tier wizards around him gave off a distinct sense of threat. There was no doubt about it: every single person here was an elite among elites, far from being mediocre.
Meanwhile, the other wizards were also quietly observing their "companions." When their eyes met, there were no pleasantries, only scrutiny. A silent tension filled the air.
A few minutes before the scheduled assembly time, the teleportation formations scattered throughout the area finally began to fade, one by one. No new figures appeared.
Jieming scanned the endless sea of people. He estimated that the number of wizards gathered here must be close to one million!
"One million elites..." Jieming's expression grew even more grim.
The scale of this second wave of reinforcements underscored the Federation's commitment to the fallen wizards. It also highlighted the immense value and peril of the target plane, which had clearly reached a level of criticality that demanded such an overwhelming force.
Jieming could only imagine the consequences if this second million-strong elite force also fell. The number of wizards trapped on that plane would swell to a staggering two million, most of them elites. The subsequent rescue operation would be unimaginably massive.
His intuition proved correct.
Soon after, a soul-shaking pressure descended without warning.
Figures materialized on the high platform at the front of the assembly area.
A single glance made Jieming's eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
There were over a hundred seventh-tier wizards.
They stood there in serene silence, yet the aura they naturally exuded distorted the very light around them, making it impossible to look directly at them.
And before this group of seventh-tier wizards stood a dozen-odd figures, their presence so overwhelming it felt tangible. They were like mountains, like abysses. A mere glance from them made Jieming feel his own insignificance and fragility.
Eighth-tier wizards!
And over ten of them!
Jieming's heart hammered against his ribs in sheer terror.
If this level of power were to strike in unison, not just a single plane, but even a vast cluster of them would be incinerated in an instant!
At their head stood an eighth-tier wizard whose face bore an ancient, timeless quality, and whose eyes seemed to contain the birth and death of countless star systems.
He made no move to introduce himself. Instead, his figure slowly ascended into the air, hovering above the million elites below. His voice, though calm, resonated with absolute clarity in every wizard's mind.
"We are about to arrive at the target plane. After registering, you should have received the relevant intelligence and are aware of the anomalies ahead. Therefore, I am here to explicitly state the Command Center's bottom line..." He paused, his tone brooks no argument. "Ten years."
"If, after ten years, you still fail to send back any useful information, we will no longer wait. We will forcibly intervene."
His gaze swept over the silent crowd below as he continued, "However, a forced intervention would meet unpredictable resistance. The plane itself could violently reject us or even collapse, making casualties inevitable. Considering these risks, the Command Center has decided to grant you all one final choice."
"If you feel this battle is beyond your strengths, or if you have any doubts, you may leave now. No one will hold it against you."
As his voice faded, a brief silence fell over the vast gathering platform.
A million wizards calmly weighed their options.
Moments later, figures silently turned away, stepping back onto the teleportation formations they had arrived on. With flashes of light, they vanished one by one.
In the end, more than thirty percent of the wizards chose to leave.
Jieming and the others who remained watched them depart in silence. There was no clamor, no mockery—only rational contemplation.
As wizards pursuing the Truth, they knew that recognizing one's own limits and avoiding unnecessary risks was also a mark of wisdom.
Staying required courage and confidence; leaving required self-awareness and reason.
Both were expressions of the Wizard's Dao.
(End of the Chapter)
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