"And what about that noble title and the territory? What's that about?"
Leilin hurriedly asked.
"Well, any official
From Robin's explanation, Leilin learned that the membership ranks within the Ouroboros Ring actually operated on the same noble title system!
Divided into five tiers—Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron—a First-rank Wizard was granted the title of Baron, a Second-rank Wizard became a Viscount, a Third-rank Wizard became a Count, and here there was an exception: Comoin Giant Serpent Wizards who reached the Third rank were directly awarded the title of Marquis! Leilin couldn't help but sigh that discrimination existed everywhere—at least he was part of the privileged class, not the discriminated one. As for Fourth-rank Wizards, they were Dukes!
And the noble titles were directly tied to status and privileges.
Within the Ouroboros Ring, there were three Dukes, who together formed the Elder Council, known respectively as the Grand Elder, the Second Elder, and the Third Elder, holding supreme authority over the entire Ouroboros Ring!
There were differences within this system as well. If one possessed the Comoin Giant Serpent bloodline or the Horal Black Serpent bloodline, the title evaluation and territory assignment proceeded quickly and easily. But for someone with the Manxter bloodline, things were much more difficult. For example, Gubule—although he could be granted the title of Baron, the paperwork still hadn't been completed, and as for territory, that was even further off!
But Leilin was different! He was a pure-blooded Comoin bloodline Wizard! Moreover, he was the student of the Third Elder, Duke
Robin didn't take Leilin directly outside. Instead, he headed toward the basement. This was Duke Gilbert's previous instruction—to have Robin show Leilin something.
"Leilin, have you ever seen the magic of a Morning Star Wizard?"
As they walked, Robin chatted with Leilin from time to time.
"The magic of a Morning Star Wizard? Of course not!" Leilin's spirits suddenly rose. "Is that what we're going to see?"
In the legends, a Morning Star Wizard could move mountains and fill seas with a wave of their hand, unleashing devastating power capable of destroying heaven and earth! At the thought of this, Leilin's heart began to race with excitement.
"I didn't think you had. And Teacher Gilbert believes that only after witnessing a Morning Star Wizard's attack will you gain some understanding of the path ahead!" Robin's face was lit with a smile.
"I just hope it doesn't scare you!"
"How could it?" Leilin laughed in disbelief. Before, maybe it could have. But he had previously received partial bloodline memories from that Morning Star-level scorpion man in the Ice World, and had even witnessed an ancient mythological-level battle firsthand. Nothing could scare him now.
"Let's hope so!" Robin said with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. He and Leilin didn't leave the villa but instead headed into the basement area.
Clang! After opening an iron gate, an enormous and complex labyrinth appeared before Leilin's eyes.
"This is the Lost Labyrinth—a formation that we Central Continent Wizards particularly favor. It can serve as a gatekeeper and defensive force..." Robin explained. "As the teacher's student, we have access to the first and second levels. As for deeper levels, the teacher hasn't granted us access yet!"
He then stood in front of Leilin, smiled toward the labyrinth's entrance, and said, "Open!"
Click! Click! A layer of stone crumbled away, and a massive vertical eye emerged from the labyrinth's wall.
"Remember, this is Master's other student, Leilin! From now on, his access here is the same as mine!"
"The master has already given instructions!"
A spiritual imprint emanated from the giant eye. Leilin understood—this was the labyrinth's core, a being similar to a formation spirit.
The giant eye focused on Leilin, and in an instant, a gentle field enveloped him, making his body tense.
Fortunately, the field carried no offensive power. It merely circled around Leilin, extracted a trace of his aura, and then withdrew.
Whoosh! The labyrinth parted, revealing a corridor with different small doors on either side, each marked with various labels and categories.
"This is where the teacher's true laboratory and storage rooms are. The villa above is just a disguise! Follow me!" Robin strode into the corridor, with Leilin close behind.
"Here!"
After walking for nearly five minutes, Robin pulled open a door and stepped inside.
Leilin glanced at the nameplate on the door as he entered: "Visual Data Storage Room!"
Inside the chamber, the lighting was exceptionally dim. Rows of crystals glowing in various colors sat on wooden shelves, each radiating its own dazzling brilliance.
"Crystal Number One! This is it!" Robin picked up a fist-sized red crystal from the far right of the shelf and pressed it into a recessed platform at the center of the room.
"This is a Projection Crystal. We generally use it to store precious visual records—things like major experiments or powerful combat demonstrations..."
Hummmm! Once the magic array activated, the other light sources in the room dimmed almost to darkness.
And the red crystal on the pedestal blazed with an intensified glow.
Blinding light washed down!
Leilin found himself standing on a small hillside. Green grass spread outward in all directions, and a black beetle flew past in front of him.
Leilin reached out and grabbed at it, but the beetle passed straight through his palm and reappeared on the other side.
"A three-dimensional holographic projection? It's already quite close to the Chip's field simulation!" Leilin marveled inwardly that whether it was science or magic, at the highest levels, there were certain commonalities.
"This was a classic battle in the history of our Central Continent! This is the attacking side!"
Robin appeared beside Leilin and pointed eastward.
The image zoomed in, revealing a human city. Outside the city walls, massive legions stood in formation, radiating an aura of solemn authority.
What surprised Leilin most was the composition of the legions—they were composed entirely of official Wizards! Not a single ordinary person or Knight among them!
"This is the 'Hammer of Thorns,' modeled after the ancient Wizard legions! Every member is an official Wizard. Squad leaders are Second-rank Wizards, and the Legion Commander and Deputy Commander are Third-rank Crystallized Wizards. They can also execute large-scale fire magic in unison! The coverage area is enormous, with an average power exceeding 470 degrees!"
Robin explained in detail.
At this moment, two Wizards flew out from within the Hammer of Thorns legion. The fluctuations of their aura far exceeded Leilin's and Robin's, and they radiated an enormous killing intent—the unmistakable bearing of warriors tempered through countless battles. This same bearing could be traced even in the ordinary members of the Hammer of Thorns.
Leilin knew that this kind of unwavering confidence and courage was built upon victory after victory. Every time this legion crushed an enemy stronghold and trampled over the bleached bones of the defeated, their confidence grew a notch. They even absorbed the resentment of the fallen, amplifying the power of their magic!
This was the ancient way of legion warfare!
After the two Hammer of Thorns Wizards flew out, they shouted toward the city, their words being little more than demands for surrender.
On the city walls, there was nothing but a single solitary figure.
"This is the other party in this battle—Morning Star Wizard, Lord Caso, the Flame Controller!" Robin's voice carried a note of reverence.
Leilin studied this Morning Star Wizard carefully. The Wizard named Caso appeared as a middle-aged man, wearing opulent golden robes trimmed with gold, with a fiery red jade band across his forehead.
Facing an entire ancient Wizard legion, Caso showed not the slightest hint of fear. Instead, he began to berate them, essentially warning that if they didn't withdraw immediately, they would bear the consequences.
When negotiations broke down, the entire Hammer of Thorns legion immediately roared into action. Powerful and intricate magical fluctuations linked them together through the magic array, converging upon the two Third-rank Crystallized Wizards hovering in midair. Even as a recording, the terrifying fluctuations it emitted made Leilin's expression change!
Facing this kind of ancient legion, the only thing he could do in his current state was flee—and even then, success was far from guaranteed.
And at this moment, on the city wall, the Flame Controller Caso finally moved.
Ring after ring of magical light blazed to life across his body.
First came a red spell, its energy fluctuation at the First-rank level. Then a Second-rank spell...
This kind of halo lit up across his body four times in total, and when the final spell activated, it radiated a fluctuation far more powerful than a Third-rank spell.
"Fourth-rank magic?" Leilin looked at Robin.
"Just wait—the real show is about to begin!" Robin stared at Caso without blinking, his face filled with indescribable envy and anticipation.
"Stupid Wizards! Today I will show you how the majesty of the ancient Morning Stars was established!"
Caso delivered his righteous warning.
Then, a slender energy fluctuation cascaded and amplified across his body, seeming to undergo a qualitative transformation, reaching a degree that terrified even the two Third-rank Crystallized Wizards on the opposing side.
"First-rank Innate Talent Spell—High-Temperature Field!"
First, a layer of high-temperature force emanated from Caso's body, instantly spreading outward and blanketing the entire area.
"Second-rank Innate Talent Spell—Flame Attachment!"
Next, tiny sparks of fire materialized in the air.
"Third-rank Innate Talent Spell—Lava Terrain!"
Vast quantities of flame adhered to the ground, transforming it into fields of molten lava.
"Fourth-rank Innate Talent Spell—Meteor Descent!"
Accompanied by Caso's thunderous shout, meteor after meteor materialized from the sky.
"Combined Ancient Morning Star Killing Move—World-Destroying Fire Rain!"
When the four innate talent spells merged, they seemed to trigger a reaction akin to nuclear fusion, producing a transformation so terrifying it defied imagination.