"What beautiful scenery! Just looking at it is an enjoyment in itself!"
There was a unique gleam in Leilin's eyes.
In the past, he had been afflicted by the Ten Thousand Serpents Curse, forced to fight against fate, risking his life by venturing into the Inferno World and dancing on the edge of a blade. He had never had the leisure for such idle pleasures.
But now, having completely shed the bloodline curse and even ascended to the half-seventh rank, the lifespan granted by his own Law Body alone was estimated to exceed one hundred thousand years.
With so much time at his disposal, Leilin—who had previously been forced to rush forward without pause—finally had room to breathe.
The reason he had so carefully prepared to get the bilateral trade arrangement off the ground was precisely this.
Before, he could barely sustain himself—how could he have thought about others?
But now, with far more leeway than before, Leilin finally had the chance to consider the development of the Ouroboros Ring and the Farell Family, among other things.
"I imagine that once we swallow up this share of the利益, as long as we manage it well, it'll be enough for the sorcerers of the Ouroboros to enjoy for several thousand years… and then there are the minor troubles on the Central Continent…"
Leilin stroked his chin.
He planned to spend roughly ten years tidying up the affairs of the Central Continent—and indeed, the entire surface layer of the
After all, according to the verbal agreement he had reached with Enosite before, this was precisely the territory he was responsible for.
Even if he made some moves, the subterranean existences would likely not bat an eye.
"In their view, the so-called surface Wizard World is not only minuscule in area and lacking in resources, but it doesn't even produce anything beneficial for Law-level beings. Among its Wizards, there are only a few at the sixth rank—it's a backwater. Tossing it to me is nothing. After all, Enosite directly and secretly dominates the first through fourth subterranean layers, each one equivalent to an entire surface world…"
Of course, the other party's willingness to do this might also have been because Leilin had not yet fully ascended—a way to lighten his burden.
"That suits me perfectly. The planet's deep core is somewhere I'll go, but not now. And with the surface fully under my control, there's a great deal I can accomplish…"
…
Three days later, in front of the Thunder Bird Holy Land.
Numerous members of the Leias Family, along with high-ranking Wizards dispatched by the Arthur Empire, stood under the leadership of Im and Arthur, gazing with reverent eyes at the figure at the forefront.
Leilin was long accustomed to this and simply carried on discussing matters with Agnes.
"How is the organization-building going?"
"Quite well!" Agnes pushed back the hair behind her ears. Having changed into women's clothing, the sharper angles of her face had softened considerably, as though she wished to highlight her feminine appeal.
"In terms of manpower, both the Leias Family and the Arthur Empire have granted me significant autonomy and support. That said, I'd still prefer to use my own people!"
Agnes spoke with crisp efficiency. "For instance, this Trexus—he's the second-in-command of a subterranean organization called the Shadow of Duoro. He just overthrew his superior and brought the entire Shadow of Duoro over to our side. His earth-elemental Wizardry is quite good, and he has some organizational experience. He's been a great help!"
"Oh?" Leilin's spiritual power swept out in an instant, and everything about Trexus—the person Agnes had pointed out—was laid bare before his eyes with nothing hidden.
"To recognize our strength in such a short time and then brazenly seize power to defect—that shows decent judgment…"
Unfortunately, that was all there was to it. No matter how clever the man's schemes might be, in the eyes of Leilin and Agnes, the best he could earn was a passing evaluation.
Before an absolute碾压 of power, all cunning and stratagems lost their meaning.
"As for these matters, you and
"Now, let me completely reshape these ruins! The current layout is entirely unsuitable as a trade base!"
Leilin's entire body floated in midair, like a god descending from the heavens. A terrifying majesty descended in an instant, causing many low-ranking Wizards to faint on the spot.
"Hsss hsss… I am the Devouring Sovereign! King of Chaos and the Void!!!"
The phantom of a Taglian Winged Serpent—equipped with devilish wings, a fearsome horn, and a pair of sharp claws sprouting from its abdomen—manifested itself and let out a thunderous roar.
A unique wave of spiritual energy transmitted itself into the heart of every Wizard present.
"The Devouring… the Devouring Lord? Is this the power that lord commands?" King Arthur murmured, dropping to his knees first. It was born of an intense yearning for the ultimate expression of his own path, and under his lead, the Wizards behind him fell to their knees in a dark mass.
"Gift—Devouring!"
Then they heard Leilin's calm voice from midair.
Crack! An invisible, terrifying maw seemed to tear through the void, and then everything about the ruins vanished…
Whether it was the protective formations the ruins had originally carried or the years of sealing and reinforcement applied by the Leias Family, none of it served the slightest purpose.
No lightning! No flames! No backlash from the ruins' mechanisms! As though the ruins had never existed at all.
The ground split open in a vast, neat rectangle. Seen from above, the entire ruins had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a terrifyingly deep pit—as if something had simply bitten it away.
"The Devouring Lord!" "The Devouring Sovereign!"
The faces of numerous Wizards went blank with astonishment, while some of the younger Wizards' pupils burned with fanaticism as they shouted out.
"All superfluous external structures have been annihilated—only the sealed passage remains!"
Deep within the pit, a dim gate of light slowly materialized, carrying an air of solitude.
"I say—let there be soil!"
Leilin spoke calmly, and then the entire earth surged. The ground layer shuddered violently as massive quantities of soil writhed upward, filling the entire pit. The power of a Law-level existence was godlike and utterly terrifying.
"In a single thought, move mountains and fill seas! Is this the power of a seventh-rank Law Wizard?"
Leilin was quite satisfied with his newfound command of law. Through his comprehension and utilization of laws, he even experienced the illusion that he himself was the world.
"All things are, in truth, composed of and influenced by laws. And through my Devouring Law's influence and control, even manipulating less than one percent of other laws' power—combining them together is enough to produce a qualitative transformation…"
There was a look of intoxication in Leilin's eyes.
If Wizards of the first through third ranks were merely extraordinary beings of formidable power, and the fourth-rank realm of Morning Star, Radiant Moon, and Blazing Sun granted the ability to raze cities and topple kingdoms, then the seventh rank—the realm of a Law-level existence—meant walking alongside the world, gazing down upon all living beings like a god above.
The light of eternity seemed to have already begun to appear before Leilin.
"I decree! All things that exist shall endure for eternity!"
Leilin's voice seemed to carry holy radiance, spreading across the scarred landscape below.
Rumble, rumble, rumble! Brand-new buildings surged up from the earth one after another, surrounding the spatial passage at their center and forming the shape of a grand triumphal arch.
The greenish stone structures shimmered with dazzling light.
"This is… a composite effect of Permanent Fortification, Fortitude Runes, and
A white-haired Wizard wearing thick reading glasses trembled as though struck by a fit, tears of pure bliss forming in his eyes. "Is this the ultimate of Wizardry—the power to directly manipulate the source of law itself?"
"I decree! All seals shall decay—only the passage between the two sides shall be eternal!"
Crack-a-lack! The luminous archway erupted in magnificent colors. The seals upon it crumbled layer by layer until, at last, the gate of light expanded continuously, seeming to merge with the entire triumphal arch and radiating brilliant luminescence.
"A spatial passage reinforced by my law power, even under overloaded daily operation, can be maintained for at least several thousand years…"
A blue shimmer flickered through Leilin's eyes, and the information registered in his mind instantly.
Having attained control over law, his cognition was now in no way inferior to the so-called ultimate optical computers of his previous life—if anything, it surpassed them.
Only the Chip, which had followed Leilin all along and fused with his soul while also gaining tremendous benefits, could exceed his brain in computational power.
The trembling of the earth continued as buildings kept surging upward, transforming this place into a Wizard city in the blink of an eye.
"From now on, this shall serve as the headquarters of your organization. As for a name—let's call it 'White Phosphorus City,' shall we?"
Leilin smiled as he spoke to Belinda, and he immediately noticed a bright gleam flash in her eyes.
At Agnes's command, the throngs of Wizards surged into the city, beginning the more detailed modification and relocation work.
As for Leilin, accompanied by Belinda and Agnes, he made his way to the center of the space-time gate.
"You're not coming back with me?"
Leilin looked at Belinda. These sisters had long since accepted him, and even Agnes harbored similar feelings—it was merely a matter of time.
"No! I won't go! You have a wife back there, don't you?"
Belinda bit her lip, looking thoroughly stubborn. "I'm staying here—in the city you built for me—guarding everything that belongs to you!"
Leilin had long since guessed at Belinda's feelings, but this also suited his wishes.
"As you wish! From now on, this place belongs entirely to you. Even surface-level factions, once they arrive here, must follow your directives!"
Leilin nodded, then stepped through the space-time gate.