According to the traditions of the Central Continent, a high-level Meditation Method should have at least four layers, allowing a
The Eye of Komoin only had four layers, placing it at the very bottom of high-level Meditation Methods. Leilin naturally hoped that the Chip could deduce and supplement the remaining layers.
The issue of bloodline shackles was something Leilin had been trying to solve ever since his promotion to Morning Star.
The deduction of Meditation Methods was also a crucial part of this effort. The Wings of the Sun was likewise a Meditation Method for bloodline warlocks, with a full six complete layers—it should prove immensely useful in perfecting the Eye of Komoin.
There was also the Son of the Sun bloodline, which he could attempt to purify. Although the Oakheart family had confirmed that all bloodline vitality had been lost, Leilin still had some confidence in restoring it.
The ancient Son of the Sun—a creature that could reach the sixth rank upon reaching adulthood, and was even the stellar sun among numerous small worlds—was the highest-grade bloodline Leilin had obtained so far.
"With it, those bloodline experiments can finally be initiated..."
After his promotion to Morning Star, many of the ancient bloodline experiments, as well as things like the Star Gate, could now be completed independently. Leilin wished he could pour all his time into them.
But the next day, he still carved out some time to meet with envoys from the Psychic Circle and the Wind Wolf Den.
On the Central Continent, bloodline warlocks were not limited to the Ouroboros Ring alone. Other organizations and families that carried ancient bloodlines had formed a massive alliance.
However, the last time, all three Morning Star warlocks of the Ouroboros Ring had been ambushed and gone missing, drastically reducing the organization's value. Naturally, they had not waited for reinforcements from those allies.
Leilin understood this well. After all, even when rescuing allies, one needed to confirm the other side possessed sufficient strength—otherwise, one would only drag oneself into disaster.
Furthermore, the bloodline warlock organizations were not all on friendly terms with one another. There were disputes among them as well, and a loose warlock alliance covenant held no real binding force.
Of course, after Leilin's promotion, all of that changed. Especially after he demonstrated formidable strength, those former allies had rushed to mend their relations.
The Psychic Circle and the Wind Wolf Den were the two largest bloodline warlock organizations that had maintained friendly ties with the Ouroboros Ring.
"Heh heh... Lord Leilin is so young—truly beyond my expectations!"
Upon meeting, both warlocks were visibly shocked by the abundant Life Energy emanating from Leilin.
Wizards certainly did not determine age by appearance. Most had their own unique methods of sensing it.
But from any angle, Leilin was remarkably young. He bore none of the scent of decay that clung to Wizards nearing the end of their lifespan, who, despite maintaining youthful appearances, carried the stench of rot within.
"Heh heh... Please, honored guests!"
Leilin now wore a platinum-magical artifact outer robe, lending him an even more dignified air. The leadership bearing he had cultivated from once ruling over the Dark Poles domain, along with his unique aura that put people at ease—like a gentle spring breeze—was truly compelling.
At the same time, while these two envoys were shocked by Leilin's age, Leilin himself was secretly startled.
Because from these two envoys, he sensed the same singularity fluctuations—clearly, both of these individuals were Morning Star-level warlocks!
"It seems these two organizations are taking this matter very seriously!"
Thinking this, the smile on Leilin's face grew even warmer as he invited the two warlocks to sit on the sofas in his room. Frey brought in three cups of coffee, greeted the three with an elegant curtsy, and quickly withdrew.
"Oh, I haven't asked for your names yet!" Leilin said with a smile.
"Oh! Look at me! I was so stunned I forgot to introduce myself. How rude!" A Wizard whose face was covered with countless tentacles—resembling a giant octopus head—slapped his own forehead with one tentacle. "I am
"Lord Paul!" Leilin nodded in acknowledgment, his expression turning serious.
The bloodline inherited by the Psychic Circle belonged to a truly bizarre creature—the Psionic Devourer! Legend had it that this creature not only possessed a unique psionic system but also delighted in devouring the brain matter of intelligent beings, wielding the eerie ability to peer into the minds of others.
What drove countless bloodline warlocks to tear their hair out was that Psionic Devourers were not bloodline creatures at all! Yet that original Psionic Devourer warlock ancestor had somehow forcibly integrated the Psionic Devourer's abilities into his own bloodline and passed it down through inheritance, forming a unique branch of bloodline warlocks.
This branch was called the "Mind Warlocks," possessing their own distinct power system that leaned heavily toward mental attacks—making them nearly impossible to guard against.
Thinking of this, Leilin found himself gazing into the other's eyes.
Set atop that massive octopus head was a pair of grey, misty eyeballs—without pupils, like the dead eyes of a fish.
But the moment their gazes met, Leilin felt his inner self go hollow, as though his outermost layer had been torn away, exposing him completely before the other party.
Hummm! The singularity within his body resonated with a deep hum, and a sweep of his soul power immediately dispelled the discomfort. Leilin grew slightly wary but still returned a courteous smile.
"I am Philip of the Wind Wolf Den. Greetings, Lord!" The other warlock had the appearance of a middle-aged white man, with thick fur covering his face and body, and a pair of straight sideburns hanging down along his jaw.
Compared to the Mind Warlocks, the Wind Wolf Den was a conventional bloodline warlock organization. It inherited the ancient bloodline of the wind wolf, granting extraordinary affinity for wind element particles.
Moreover, the Wind Wolf Den was a long-established bloodline warlock organization on the Central Continent, maintaining excellent relations with other warlock groups—deeply rooted and firmly entrenched.
"Lord Philip! And Lord Paul!"
Leilin nodded. "It is truly my great honor that you both could attend my ceremony..."
The first encounter left both Leilin and the other two warlocks fairly satisfied. Though nothing deeply substantive was discussed, it marked a good beginning.
However, Leilin's good mood did not last, because the news these two warlocks brought was far too staggering.
"Jupiter's Thunder?"
Having unexpectedly learned from them the identity of the mastermind behind the targeting of the Ouroboros Ring, Leilin's expression turned grave.
Though he had not been well-versed in the workings of these circles before his promotion to Morning Star, he had heard of this organization that was infamous across the continent.
Compared to powers like the City of Sin and Blue Mountain City, Jupiter's Thunder was far more vast—dwarfing even the Ouroboros Ring by a wide margin.
It was a shadow that blanketed the entire continent, more akin to a thieves' guild. It frequently took on assassination contracts and bounties, and reveled in instigating wars for profit.
The reason it could operate so brazenly was that the power backing it was a Brilliant Moon-level Wizard!
A Brilliant Moon Wizard—a fifth-rank Great Wizard—was even rarer and more powerful than Morning Stars. The entire Central Continent might not have more than twenty of them. Aside from the handful of Dawn Sun Throne holders, it was these Brilliant Moon Wizards who carved up the continent among themselves.
Hearing that the Ouroboros Ring had drawn the attention of such a figure, even Leilin felt a chill creep down his spine.
Paul and Philip exchanged a glance, and upon seeing that Leilin remained composed, they nodded with satisfaction.
"Rest assured—as allies, we will also provide a certain amount of support. At the very least, that Brilliant Moon Wizard will not personally move against you..."
"So that means if other Morning Star Wizards from Jupiter's Thunder come after me, I have to handle them all on my own?"
Leilin's eyes nearly rolled back in his head, though his face took on an expression of gratitude: "Then I am truly thankful..."
In truth, he strongly suspected these two organizations were employing a strategy of borrowing a tiger to drive off a wolf. It was entirely possible that they themselves had drawn Jupiter's Thunder's ire, and were now hypocritically pushing the Ouroboros Ring to the front lines while feigning support.
Of course, he was no naive child. He would not simply believe whatever these two Morning Star warlocks told him—his own investigations were essential.
This was quite straightforward. Though he had been unfamiliar with those particular Morning Stars beforehand, he had already recorded their fluctuation signatures. With more Morning Star samples to compare against, identification would be simple.
He even had the Blue Mountain King as an insider—gathering any intelligence he needed was trivial.
Thinking of the Blue Mountain King, Leilin's previously sour mood finally lightened, and he began looking forward to his promotion ceremony.
...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several enormous fireworks exploded in midair. The headquarters of the Ouroboros Ring had been completely repainted and restored, with every trace of the previous battle damage erased. Even the roadsides were lined with fresh flowers and colorful ribbons.
Guests from other organizations across the Central Continent wore sincere smiles as they were guided by Ouroboros Ring warlocks toward the city center.
A grand palace had been hastily constructed there for Leilin, and the celebration would be held within.
To curry favor with the only Morning Star warlock in the organization—and the future patriarch of their own family by marriage—the warlocks of the Blood Snake Family had spared no effort. They had arranged the entire celebration with meticulous care, and had generously laid out lavish wines and delicacies, many of them unique resources of the Wizard world capable of enhancing Spiritual Power and meditation effects. These were now spread out as though they cost nothing, immediately drawing gasps of admiration and envy from the crowd.
Numerous guests gathered together, yet naturally fell into several dozen small circles.
The bloodline warlocks and Wizards constituted two large circles, and within those, further subdivisions formed based on strength, rank, closeness, and other factors—creating over a dozen smaller clusters.
The warlocks and Wizards conversed like gentlemen and ladies of the highest society, polite and gracious, raising their glasses from time to time in shared toasts. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious—completely at odds with the fact that some among them, only days ago, had been red-eyed with the intent to annihilate the other side...