The
If there had still been survivors from the Misty Forest, constantly filing complaints and rallying support, there might have been some slim hope — after all, the Alliance of Nature had cultivated connections for so long, and there were bound to be academies with mutual interests and friendly ties.
But
As a result, there was far less resistance on these matters.
This was also one of the reasons why Leylin had to destroy the Misty Forest headquarters — beyond just concealing the truth about the Frozen World.
Now that the general direction had been settled, everything that followed went much more smoothly.
Logan said directly, "In that case, the Joint Conference will handle it accordingly. Additionally, the remnants of the Misty Forest should be taken over by an academy!"
"Don't worry. Once I return, I'll have them prepare the evaluation for mid-tier academy status right away. But what about the Joint Conference?"
Leylin asked. The Eastern Domain's Wizard Joint Conference convened once every twenty years, and it had only just passed.
"That's no problem! The nine Executive Council members can approve an exceptional promotion — though there will still need to be a formality at the next Joint Conference." Logan waved his hand dismissively.
"Then that settles it!" Leylin immediately returned the favor. "I'll also contribute my share of strength in the coming wave of the Dark Beast Tide and the threat of the
Upon hearing Leylin's assurance, Logan burst into hearty laughter, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out noticeably.
"Well then, Leylin — as a newly advanced Second-rank Wizard, you must have many new insights and inspirations regarding your own Path. We can have a wonderful exchange!"
Logan's smile broadened even further. With a wave of his hand, the metal table surface indented, and two cups of steaming beverages rose to the surface.
"It would be my great honor. I actually have quite a few questions about Meditation Methods that I'd like to consult you on, Lord Logan!"
Leylin said with a faint smile, lifting his cup.
Several hours later, Leylin finally took his leave from Logan. After he departed, the metal house immediately transformed — four massive metallic legs extended outward and slowly moved off in a different direction.
Meanwhile, Leylin himself wore a smile at the corner of his lips, his mood excellent.
This time, he had not only resolved the lingering threat in one stroke. Wizard Logan's experience and knowledge had been incredibly useful to him. Due to his rapid advancement speed, Leylin had indeed lacked a deeper understanding of the Second-rank tier — particularly a profound comprehension of the Path.
Though these things may seem unimportant, they would undoubtedly cause him enormous trouble when a Third-ranked Wizard condensed their "qualia point."
And now, there was an opportunity to remedy that.
Moreover, Leylin's extensive knowledge and the rich accumulation of experience from another region had left Logan genuinely astonished. The benefits he had gained were no less than what Leylin had received.
……
After Leylin returned, the forces of the Alliance of Nature launched yet another wave of rapid expansion. Before long, all the remaining remnants of the Misty Forest had been absorbed, with signs of the Alliance even subtly spreading into the surrounding territories.
As for these moves, the executive committee members of the Joint Council turned a blind eye. In the end, they even issued a public ruling, announcing that the Alliance of Nature had been promoted to a mid-tier academy, leaving many Wizards dumbfounded.
Having gone through this period of development, the Alliance of Nature had broken through from a declining small academy all the way to the pinnacle of a mid-tier academy! After all, with Leylin — a Second-rank Warlock — holding things down, that foundation alone far surpassed many mid-tier academies.
However, Leylin naturally knew Logan's bottom line.
The nine great academies dividing up the Dark Eastern Region among themselves was already the limit. The remaining resources were not enough to support the birth of another great academy, and Leylin had no intention of doing so. Thus, the Alliance of Nature's expansion finally came to a halt, entering a phase of consolidation. That made many Wizards breathe a sigh of relief.
Truth be told, this round of expansion by the Alliance of Nature had been far too aggressive — it was essentially built entirely on Leylin's personal martial suppression, which meant the foundation was extremely unstable.
But as long as they weathered this period and fully digested all the gains, their overall strength was bound to advance yet another step!
Xirling, the nominal head of the academy, was busy to the point of being invisible throughout the day.
As for the surface-level powers, they meant nothing in Leylin's eyes, so he had delegated them all. Xirling, being the original academy leader and having a close relationship with Leylin, had received a very large share of them.
She was now filled with nothing but gratitude toward Leylin.
The Alliance of Nature had risen to glory once again under her leadership, even far surpassing its former heights. Surely her mentor would be very gratified if they knew!
Leylin paid none of this any mind. Once the situation had been roughly stabilized, he sequestered himself at the Alliance of Nature's headquarters, immersing himself in the analysis of advanced Meditation Methods and his own meditation practice.
Whatever resources or materials he needed, he merely had to give an order to his subordinates, and they would be collected and delivered immediately. As a result, Leylin grew ever more reclusive.
He could clearly feel that his previous progress had been far too rapid, and he needed time to properly consolidate. Thus, he chose to lie low.
And time passed, bit by bit, almost without being noticed.
……
Three Years Later, Dark Extreme North, Border Region.
On the outskirts of a small town stood a modest wooden cabin, its walls hung with the hides and pelts of various game, drawing envious glances from many who passed.
The townsfolk who walked by would often wave and exchange smiles with the mistress of the house through the walnut railings.
"Good morning, Jenny!"
"Good morning, Aunt Via!" Jenny had long since grown into a mature woman, her face carrying the added charm of a young wife, as she exchanged a few pleasant words with the auntie.
Once Aunt Via had gone on her way, Jenny looked down at the coarse linen dress she wore, then at the basket of rough wheat bread in her hands, and a dazed expression crept across her face.
"
Jenny murmured to herself — ever since the clan's defection, when she and Velin fled here together, taking on the alias Jenny, it had already been a year or two, hadn't it?
Back then, the two of them had decided to defect, and to escape the pursuit of the Augustus clan of the Sunvine, they had fled far and wide, encountering who knew how many dangers along the way. Fortunately, Velin was already a Great Knight, having reached the peak of mortal strength, and Jenny herself possessed the bearing of nobility and was a First-rank Apprentice. After shaking off several waves of pursuers and navigating through countless natural perils, they had finally crossed the boundary and, against all odds, arrived here.
Though this small town lay on the border of the Dark Extreme North in a very remote location, it was at least relatively safe — no one had come looking for them here.
"It's just that..." Jenny clenched her teeth silently. Her father's vengeance! And her own hatred! Was she just going to let it all go?
A flood of tangled memories surged through her mind, and she unconsciously clenched her fist, until a voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"I'm back! Look what I've brought!" Velin was dressed in hunter's garb with a large wooden bow strapped to his back, and he raised the clay jar in his hand with a flourish.
"Butter! This is the finest butter! I traded a grey-fang snake for it. Spread it on bread, and even nobles can't enjoy it regularly!"
"Oh, you!"
Jenny rolled her eyes and ushered Velin inside the cabin.
The cabin was small but fully furnished, and thanks to Velin's strength, even while keeping a low profile, they lived far better than the average person.
As for their current life, Velin was naturally quite content with it, but Jenny still seemed to harbor other thoughts.
Only after the door had been shut tight did Jenny turn around with a somewhat serious expression.
"We have to leave."
"Leave? Why? It's great here!" Velin looked somewhat confused, then his face tightened. "Could it be that people from your family have tracked us down?"
"No! It's war! The Dark Beast Tide is about to erupt, and on top of that, the Dark Elf Empire may launch an attack!"
Jenny wore a bitter smile. "You go out hunting all the time — haven't you noticed anything?"
"Now that you mention it! I guess that's true!" Velin scratched his head. "There are way more dark creatures outside now. Once I was chased by a giant wolf the size of a mountain for an entire day!"
"Now you understand! When the Dark Beast Tide hits, border towns like ours are the most vulnerable. A few too many beasts and we'll be overrun. We have to migrate inland — even to the capital. That's the safest place!"
"But!" Velin scratched his head again. "I'm worried about our identities…"
"This is the Northern Domain. The Augustus family may have deep connections in the Eastern Domain, but their influence here is very weak. Don't worry, there shouldn't be much trouble!"
Jenny tried to reassure him, though she herself had little confidence. Normally it should be fine, but when you factored in the mysterious abilities that Wizards possessed, she wasn't so sure.
But even so, they had to move!
Jenny understood all too well how terrifying the Dark Beast Tide was. Velin was merely a Great Knight, and even with her as a Second-rank Apprentice, they would only be swept away!
Yes, under the pressure of survival and the drive of vengeance, Jenny had advanced to Second-rank Apprentice over these three years, barely able to cast some Zero-level Spells.
"Fine! I'll do whatever you say!" Velin smiled with his usual honest, good-natured look. "But can we leave in a couple of days? Uncle Veya's birthday is coming up — we should at least wait until after the celebration before we set off!"
Uncle Veya and his wife were a couple in the town who had been a great help to Velin and Jenny when they settled here. So no matter what, Velin wanted to stay until after the birthday, celebrate it, and then leave.
"Two days — that's fine!"
Jenny bit her lip. Large-scale wars required a great deal of preparation, so two days was practically nothing.
But, most unfortunately, sometimes the world has its own unexpected turns of events.
And the wheels of history in the Dark Extreme's Northern Domain had already begun to turn.