Teaching the fourth-tier advanced Meditation Method — this was absolutely a sign of truly being brought into the inner circle.
Though this Meditation Method required a warlock bloodline and was completely useless to outsiders, it was still an extremely valuable thing.
Seeing the other party accept him so candidly, Leilin felt a stir in his heart and also swore an oath.
At his level, even casually spoken words carried extraordinary weight.
"In the time to come, I will do my best to pass on what I know to you. As for how much you can learn, that will depend on your diligence and fortune..."
Gilbert said.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Leilin bowed his head deeply in respect. He knew full well that as a Morning Star
This also showed that Gilbert held high expectations for his future. And regardless, this period of time would not last long!
And precisely because of that, the opportunity was all the more precious!
After that, Leilin came to Gilbert's place every day to receive instruction in foundational academic knowledge. Though Leilin had already studied most of it, the academic content from the South Coast and the Dark Polar Region differed slightly from the understanding of the Central Continent. What Gilbert needed to do first was correct those differences in perspective.
Even knowledge he already knew took on a different dimension when re-explained by Gilbert, allowing Leilin to learn even more.
Furthermore, Gilbert opened up part of his personal library for Leilin to browse freely. Many of the historical texts and miscellaneous knowledge related to wizards were essential material to commit to memory.
"Introduction to Other Planes!"
"Spatial Linkage Knowledge!"
"Research on the Starry Gate!"
Under the Everburning Flames illuminating the library, Leilin's expression was devout and focused — the expression a true researcher should wear.
"Oh? You're interested in interplanar travel?"
"Yes! Teacher!" Leilin nodded in confirmation. The reason ancient wizards had been so powerful was that they had plundered the accumulated knowledge of countless worlds, continuously enriching their own research. And Leilin naturally wanted to learn from them.
"Interplanar travel is extremely dangerous, but also extremely tempting. Once successful, it represents the resources of an entire world!"
Gilbert sighed, pulling over a long bench to sit down. "As it happens! Today I'll tell you about the Central Continent's research in this area!"
It seemed the Central Continent had long been conducting similar research? Leilin's interest was piqued, and he immediately perked up his ears, adopting a posture of attentiveness.
"First, you need to understand the concepts of planes and worlds!" Gilbert thought for a moment, seemingly considering where to begin.
"The multiverse is vast and boundless. Even at the zenith of the Wizard World, its farthest reaches had never been explored. Surrounding the Wizard World, countless other worlds exist. Planes are smaller worlds — if the Wizard World is the sun, then planes are tiny stars! But no matter how small a plane may be, its area far exceeds your imagination..."
"In the different worlds and planes live all manner of extraordinary beings. Some have histories far older than the existence of wizards, and have even created several brilliant civilizations. Other worlds are mere collections of concepts and wills, containing no flesh-and-blood creatures — only terrifying entities of chaotic thought..."
"The ancient wizards conquered these worlds, studied their power systems, and plundered their resources, thereby creating the most glorious wizard civilization..."
"And the foundation of interplanar travel is the Starry Gate! In wizard theory, the Starry Realm is the highest point of the multiverse we inhabit, and the core of all dimensions, time, and space! Through the Starry Realm, the Wizard World can connect to any world!"
"So! What you're saying is that the Starry Realm is essentially a transit hub connecting the various worlds and planes!" Leilin thought for a moment, then said.
"If you want to understand it that way, you may! But the mysteries of the Starry Realm are far from something we can fully explore. When dealing with it, you must maintain reverence!" Gilbert smiled, then added with a note of warning.
"Yes! I understand, Teacher!" Leilin nodded to show he had taken it to heart.
"During the exploration of opening Starry Gates, dangers also abound. Some wizards, having rashly entered unknown worlds, were besieged by numerous dangerous creatures and perished. Even more terrifying were the curses brought back from other worlds, which sometimes spread throughout the entire Wizard World..."
"Of course, overall, wizards still held overwhelming superiority over other worlds — until they encountered that particular world."
"Was it the powerful world that fought against us in the Ancient War of Conclusion?" Leilin had seen vague references to this in ancient texts from the Dark Polar Region.
"Yes!" Gilbert's voice carried a note of gravity.
"The ancient wizards conquered powerful plane after powerful plane, bringing countless beings to their knees, even enslaving them. The tremendous victories and glory had made them lose themselves, and greed drove them to frantically attack new worlds, completely ignoring the dangers within — until they encountered that world..."
"What kind of world was it?" Leilin couldn't help but ask. He knew only that the world was enormously powerful, but no specific details had ever been mentioned.
"It was a world with a multi-layered plane structure, one that had grown to full maturity. Many small planes were even attached to its periphery, and its outermost layer was a crystal barrier system!"
As a fourth-tier Morning Star Wizard of the Central Continent, Gilbert naturally possessed greater knowledge of such ancient secrets.
"That world contained numerous powerful beings — even many seventh-tier and eighth-tier wizards... Of course, they didn't call themselves wizards there. They called themselves —
"Gods?"
"Yes! And so we came to call that world — the 'World of the Gods.' Though the other side was immensely powerful, the Wizard World at that time was also at its most prosperous period in antiquity. The resources of the Gods' World were so abundant that ancient wizards coveted them greatly. The paths of those gods, in particular, held tremendous reference value for our high-ranking wizards. So those terrifying seventh-tier and eighth-tier wizards immediately launched war against the gods..."
"What happened after that, you already know." Gilbert looked at Leilin.
"Yes! Mutual devastation! The ancient wizards fell one after another, even bringing the ancient era to an end. Our side was forced to seal off every Starry Gate, causing the entire Wizard World to decline!"
"Mm. In my view, our Wizard World and their Gods' World are actually two halves of a funnel, with the Starry Realm as the connecting point, while the other planes and worlds are merely decorations between us!"
Gilbert shared his own perspective.
"Because both sides' strength was roughly equal, the gods on their side didn't fare well either. It's said that their strongest — the Supreme God — suffered irreversible injuries and fell into eternal slumber. As for the other gods, countless among them perished, in what came to be known as 'the Dusk of the Gods'..."
"So... the wizards of the modern era discovered this and immediately reopened the Starry Gates for interplanar travel!" Leilin ventured.
This also explained why the Central Continent was so much more prosperous than other regions.
"At first, it was just a Morning Star Wizard acting on his own initiative. After discovering no traces of the Gods' World invading and no lingering consequences, other Morning Star Wizards followed suit..."
Gilbert said with a bitter smile.
On the Central Continent, if you didn't advance, others naturally would — and then push you aside. Since someone had already used the Starry Gates, emerged unharmed, and reaped massive resources, how could other wizards possibly hold back?
"After a period of tentative interplanar exploration, we finally received news about the World of the Gods. Their outer crystal barrier system seemed to have undergone even more hardened reinforcement, rejecting all outsiders, and had entered a deeper state of seclusion..."
"Upon receiving this news, all the wizards of the Central Continent collectively breathed a sigh of relief, and threw themselves into even more enthusiastic interplanar exploration. Gradually, they recovered a measure of the ancient glory — even producing several sixth-tier Wizard Sovereigns..."
Gilbert offered his final summary.
Leilin nodded. He now possessed a comprehensive understanding of the Central Continent's rise and fall and the ancient war. At the same time, his heart was filled with anticipation for interplanar travel.
"Could the world I came from also exist somewhere in the boundless multiverse?"
A faint spark of hope suddenly surfaced in Leilin's heart.
By this point, he had already merged magic and technology, forging a path entirely his own. Even if another wizard obtained the accumulated knowledge of the technological world, he need not fear being immediately surpassed.
Moreover, the extraordinary fortune of his soul fusing with the Chip through space-time traversal was not something just any wizard could replicate. The probability was astronomically low — even if others attempted it, the result would invariably be the complete annihilation of their soul.
"However, as your teacher, I must give you a reminder — at your current level, studying this kind of material is still too early!"
Gilbert pressed down on the Introduction to Other Planes resting on Leilin's hands.
"Only upon reaching the Morning Star rank can one barely begin explorations of other worlds."