"Nothing really gets past you!"
Logan said with a bitter smile, "The situation in the Central Domain isn't great right now, and you know why. The
Lei Lin was somewhat familiar with the situation.
In the Dark Polar Domain, the guardians of the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Domains were generally chosen from among the more powerful Second-rank Wizards, but the Central Domain was different.
It was the heart of the entire Dark Polar Domain, so the
But according to intelligence, the Guardian's lifespan was gradually nearing its end, and in recent decades, he had completely ceased to show his face.
It was even possible that the Dark Elf Empire's offensive and the restless stirrings of the Dwarves and Goblins were all triggered by this very reason.
"You..."
Xi Ling clenched her fists, her face flushed red with anger, as the implications finally sank in.
If it had been during the old days of peace, migrating to the Central Domain would have been a wonderful chance for evaluation and promotion — but what about now?
The Dark Elf army in the Eastern Domain had barely been driven back, and it was supposed to be the time to enjoy peace.
Yet the Central Domain, having lost the support and buffering of the Northern Domain, was seeing an endless flood of Dark Elves and enemies pouring in from the north — the situation was far worse than in the Eastern Domain!
Inviting people to go there at a time like this? Wasn't that just looking for fighters and cannon fodder?
Xi Ling nearly spat out a curse, but then she remembered that before her sat a Guardian with the strength of a Second-rank Wizard, and she barely swallowed her words — though her expression was far from pleasant.
"The Central Domain used to be shielded by us on all four sides — steady as a mountain, safe and peaceful. It was the top choice for settling down, but now it's become a battleground on every front. Logan, is this really how you mean to do me in?"
Lei Lin remained silent, and a bitter smile eventually crept onto his face.
"I know! But..." Logan hesitated.
"First, I can tell you this is an order issued by the Realm Guardian himself, calling on the four domains to support the Central Region. And regardless of what the other major schools do, my school will answer the call and march into the Central Region!"
Logan stood up and performed a solemn bow toward Lei Lin, bending so low his head nearly dropped below his knees.
"Lord Lei Lin! For the Dark Polar Domain, for all of humanity, I hope you will come and help me!"
In that instant, Lei Lin seemed to see a light shining from the old man Logan.
This expression was so moving that even Xi Ling was visibly affected.
"Hah..." Lei Lin frowned deeply, appearing to be lost in thought, while on the other side Logan and Xi Ling didn't dare breathe loudly, afraid of interrupting his train of thought.
"I'll go!"
After a brief moment, Lei Lin gave his answer. Logan's face immediately lit up with joy, while Xi Ling grew anxious, wanting to say something, but Lei Lin cut her off: "However, I have a few conditions!"
"Name them!" Logan's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"First! The resources and seats previously promised by the Central Region — not a single bit can be short!" Lei Lin raised his index finger as his opening condition.
"That's guaranteed. Resources and treatment befitting a major school. If those brats dare skim even a little, I'll kill them first!" Logan's words were laced with killing intent. And during wartime, the Guardian did indeed hold such authority.
"Good! In addition. I need to retain my territory and seats here in the Eastern Domain!"
Lei Lin raised another finger.
"You want to keep a way out? Fine! I agree! Everything for the sake of humanity!" For this request, Logan only paused for a moment before agreeing readily.
"Everything for the sake of humanity!"
Lei Lin secretly chuckled. He had long known that the Central Region would be where everything reached its end, and his previous plans would have to be carried out there. So he had already been thinking about making the move to the Central Region.
Retaining resource points here was naturally to completely monopolize the Frost Ice Cavern. If Logan refused this demand, then everything would be over — Lei Lin wouldn't hesitate to walk away from the deal altogether, since he would never let anyone else lay a finger on the Frost Ice Cavern.
And right now, he didn't mind putting on a little performance.
Sure enough, Logan was truly moved. Many of the major schools he had visited before had made excuses to refuse this same request.
After all, Wizards were rational beings who had to look out for themselves and their subordinates.
The Central Region was currently filled with danger — how could it compare favorably to the Eastern Domain?
"Lord... Lord Lei Lin, the Dark Polar Domain will remember your contribution!"
Logan looked thoroughly gratified, stepping onto his metal life-form and hastily departing. From the looks of it, he still had many more schools to visit.
"You... My Lord! How could you—"
The moment Logan was gone, Xi Ling burst out in agitation.
"I've already made my decision. Besides, you can choose to stay here if you like. Either way, this territory in the Eastern Domain will remain ours. Going to the Central Region is just a gamble — if we fail, it's no great loss. But if we succeed, the Alliance of Nature becomes a major school! A major school in the Central Region! Isn't that what you've always dreamed of?" Lei Lin looked at Xi Ling with a faint smile.
"But... what about your safety?" Xi Ling knew perfectly well that the Alliance of Nature's rise was built entirely on this man's formidable strength. Without him, she didn't dare let her thoughts go any further.
"Don't worry about my safety. I'm not about to walk into a death trap. And as for my strength — don't you trust that?"
Lei Lin spoke slowly.
Xi Ling nodded, and a sudden calm settled over her heart. As the person who had the most contact with Lei Lin and the closest relationship with him, she understood better than anyone the unfathomable depths of his power.
Sometimes he showed only the tip of the iceberg, and even that was enough to give her a suffocating sense of terror.
"Good! Pass down the order — select a group of Wizards and apprentices. We set out in ten days!"
Lei Lin issued his command.
"Yes!" Xi Ling bowed and withdrew. The Alliance of Nature was now Lei Lin's autocracy — once he made a decision, no one could object.
Thanks to his firm control, though there was some initial unrest, the mobilization order was dispatched in orderly fashion.
Though many apprentices feared the warfare of the Central Region, there were just as many Wizards and apprentices eager for adventure, for resources, and for advancement.
As for those few high-ranking officials? Their lives were held in Lei Lin's palm — where was there any room for willingness or unwillingness?
Ten days later, a massive convoy set off on the road to the Central Region.
At the mouth of the Alliance of Nature's canyon, Xi Ling stood in her purple robes, watching the convoy slowly move forward until it finally vanished beyond the horizon.
For reasons she couldn't fathom, Lei Lin had left her behind here.
"Please come back alive," she prayed silently in her heart, then turned and walked back inside the Alliance of Nature.
"School Master!" Several full Wizards and apprentices hurried to bow. They all knew the relationship between Xi Ling and Lei Lin, and she was also the nominal School Master — none of them dared be remiss.
Seeing this scene, though her heart felt a little empty at first, another kind of strange emotion soon rose from the depths of Xi Ling's soul.
"Rise! The dark elves of the Eastern Domain have withdrawn. Many resource points they previously occupied are now vacant — this is our opportunity!"
Xi Ling's voice rang out, noble and icy, making it impossible for anyone to meet her gaze head-on.
"A woman like this needs to be left alone for a while before she becomes interesting!"
On a luxurious carriage drawn by an earth dragon, Lei Lin stroked his chin, a flicker of wicked amusement curling at the corner of his lips.
A woman like Xi Ling only bloomed into her most captivating form when nourished by power — which was precisely why he had deliberately left her space and authority.
He was confident that when they met again, she would not disappoint him.
Besides, what he was heading to the Central Domain for was something big. Xi Ling's strength wasn't up to par, and he was in no mood to bed her at a time like this, so he had simply set her aside.
"The Central Domain…"
Lei Lin silently turned over the intelligence he had gathered about the Central Domain in recent days.
It was the heart of the entire Dark Pole Region — densely populated, with more large academies than any other domain. And what was even more terrifying…
"The Realm Guardian…" Lei Lin sighed.
The position of Guardian was typically reserved for the most powerful Wizard available.
He had met the Eastern Domain Guardian Logan several times, and his strength was roughly comparable to Lei Lin's own. Which meant that the Realm Guardian was likely a truly fearsome existence even among Third-tier Wizards. If not for the fact that the man's lifespan was nearly spent, Lei Lin would never have dared pull this kind of stunt right under his nose.
The convoy rolled steadily forward. Wandering dark beasts and bandits alike dared not approach to challenge it. Upon spotting the banners from a distance, they scattered and fled.
The bandits had sharp enough eyes to recognize this as a Wizard's convoy, and the dark beasts could sense the overwhelming aura radiating from it — none of them were foolish enough to court death.
As a result, the journey was remarkably peaceful.
Along the way, the Alliance of Nature convoy also linked up with several mid-sized academies, and even a few small ones.
They had actually answered the call as well, intending to travel to the Central Domain to lend their support.
However, upon recognizing the Alliance of Nature's emblem, the heads of these academies immediately came forward to pay their respects and humbly proposed traveling together.
After all, the name of Linley of the Alliance of Nature had already spread far and wide — he was a Second Rank Wizard! With him standing guard, they could surely reach the Central Domain without any trouble along the way.
"Although there are a few idealists among them, most of them are just opportunists gambling on their ambitions!"
After meeting with these people, Linley remarked coolly.
Nevertheless, he nodded and agreed to their requests. The numerous convoys merged together, forming an even larger caravan that surged toward the Central Region like a great river.
Since the Wizards all possessed the Eternal Radiance spell, the convoy had no need for torches.
Giant Sun Stones were mounted atop the carriages, and smaller patches of shadow were lit up by Radiance spells, illuminating the entire surroundings of the convoy with brilliant light.