Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

Latest plot update: Click to follow.

Before dawn, the starlight faded.

The edge of a cliff.

Ian stood in the morning breeze, his dark gray robe fluttering in the wind.

He took one last look in the direction of the Shadowmoon Tower.

"Let's go."

"Gah!"

The cackle on his shoulder let out a clear, melodious cry and leaped off.

The moment it landed, its body swelled up in the wind!

Its deep feathers shimmered with iridescent black light, and its wings spread out like the night sky, instantly exceeding fifteen meters in wingspan, casting a huge shadow on the ground.

But this is not the end.

A ghostly light flickered in Gaga's eyes, and a low gurgling sound came from her throat.

Since it digested the Eternal Shadow Shard obtained from the Protoss ruins.

The original deformation is liberated once again!

"Gah!"

A suppressed groan.

Gaa's wings expanded again!

Twenty meters, thirty meters, forty meters!

Finally, a pair of colossal wings, capable of blotting out the sky, fully unfolded, reaching an astonishing wingspan of forty meters, with a dark, light-devouring luster flowing along the edges of the feathers.

A sudden gust of wind arose!

The rubble on the cliff edge was swept up, and the branches and leaves of the moonlit forest swayed wildly.

Gaga raised its enormous head, its heterochromatic eyes flashing with a cold and proud light in the morning light.

Peak of a first-tier extraordinary creature!

It is only one final bloodline transformation away from the second stage.

Ian lightly touched the ground with his toes and landed steadily on Ga Ga's broad back.

The texture was no longer like feathers, but more like some kind of cold, metallic scales, each scale containing terrifying shadow energy.

"To the port."

"Gah!"

It let out a long, piercing cry that seemed to split the clouds and shatter rocks, and then suddenly flapped its wings.

boom!

The shockwave exploded, and the rocks at the edge of the cliff instantly crumbled.

Its massive body displayed incredible agility and speed, shooting out like a black arrow released from a bow.

The clouds were easily torn apart, and the mountains and rivers rushed past beneath our feet.

The wind howled in his ears, but Ian's pale golden crystallized force field had already been deployed, isolating him from all wind pressure.

This speed...

It was almost twice as fast as when he flew by himself.

Level 2 wizards are already quite fast, but when Gaga unleashes his full power, he almost reaches subsonic speed.

"Not bad." Ian gently stroked Gaga's neck.

"Of course!" The creaking sound came clearly through the wind, carrying a hint of pride.

"I'm really strong now!"

It paused, then asked softly, "Ian, are we really not coming back?"

Ian remained silent for a moment.

"Maybe much later."

The sound was very soft, scattered in the wind.

Gaga asked no more questions and focused on flying.

It knew Ian's character.

Once a decision is made, there's no going back.

Half a day later.

The westernmost point of the continent of Anoria, along the coast of the Endless Sea.

On the horizon, a majestic port city appeared.

"Anchor of the Voyage" by Wilt.

The city wall is over a hundred meters high and is made entirely of dark gray deep-sea rock, with dense protective runes engraved on its surface.

Inside the port, dozens of wizard airships of varying sizes were moored, their hulls shimmering with different colored energy lights.

The most eye-catching feature is the giant lighthouse in the center of the harbor, which is 300 meters tall.

A ten-meter-diameter deep blue crystal floats atop the tower, emitting stable spatial anchoring fluctuations that guide ships on their voyages.

"We've arrived." The altitude decreases.

Ian stood on its back, looking down.

The port was bustling with people, and wizards dressed in colorful robes came and went.

Most of them were symbols of outlying island forces he didn't recognize.

The aura was mixed and powerful.

He could sense seven or eight auras from a level two crystallized wizard.

"Gah gah, land outside the city," Ian ordered.

"clear."

With a fold of its wings, the giant bird swooped down toward a deserted forest outside the city.

The moment it landed, its body shrank dramatically, returning to the size of a fist-sized black raven, and it landed on Ian's shoulder.

Ian then raised his right hand and gently wiped his face with his five fingers.

The muscles and bones made a slight crackling sound.

The facial contours changed, the bridge of the nose became higher, the corners of the eyes lengthened, and the skin tone became slightly darker.

Three seconds later, the mirror spell revealed the face of a strange and ordinary middle-aged male wizard.

He wore a dark gray robe, and his aura was still at the early stage of level two crystallization.

It's neither too high nor too low; it's just the right level of "having some strength but not being particularly eye-catching."

"Let's go."

He strode toward the city gate.

The interior of Wirth Harbor is more bustling than it appears from the outside.

The streets were lined with various shops selling potions, materials, witchcraft tools, and even a slave market.

The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and wizards whispering among themselves blended together to create a unique symphony.

The air was filled with the smell of the sea, the scent of medicine, and various magical fluctuations.

Ian's goal is clear.

He walked along the main street for ten minutes and stopped in front of a three-story stone building.

Above the stone building's entrance hangs a huge silver-blue sail emblem.

Giant Sail Trade Alliance.

The largest cross-sea trading organization on the East Coast, it is said to be backed by a powerful force in the Central Continent, and it specializes in the shipping routes between the East Coast and the Central Continent.

Ian pushed open the door and entered.

The lobby is spacious and bright, with light screens displaying various flight routes and timetables on the walls.

Seven or eight wizards were consulting at the counter; most of them were first-level wizards with solidified auras.

Ian walked straight to the innermost VIP reception area.

Just as they reached the edge of the area, a senior apprentice in a silver-blue uniform strode forward with a professional smile on his face.

"My esteemed wizard, how can I help you?"

"I need to buy a ticket," Ian said calmly. "The spaceship to the Central Continent."

The apprentice's smile remained unchanged: "Do you have an appointment or have made a reservation in advance?"

"no."

"I'm sorry," the apprentice shook his head, his tone still respectful.

"Tickets for the next 'Leap Forward' cruise sold out six months ago. You can register to reserve a cruise six months from now, but..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "There are a lot of people in line; it will take at least two or three years."

Ian didn't say anything.

He simply raised his head slowly.

hum!

A subtle yet solid crystallization force field quietly spread out from him.

The force field was weak, only covering a radius of ten meters around it.

However, the pressure from the transformation of a second-level wizard's soul essence caused the air to freeze slightly.

The apprentice's face turned deathly pale instantly.

My body involuntarily took a half step back, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

The other wizards in the hall also sensed something was wrong and turned to look.

His eyes held surprise, curiosity, and apprehension.

A level two crystallized wizard is already considered top-tier combat power on the East Coast.

You will be respected everywhere.

"I want to see the person in charge here." Ian withdrew his force field, his voice remaining calm.

"Yes, yes!"

The apprentice, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, turned and ran quickly to the back hall.

One minute later.

A middle-aged male wizard dressed in a silver-blue robe walked out from the back hall.

He was of medium height, with a refined face and deep eyes, and his body emanated a similarly solid crystallized force field.

Level 2 Wizard.

"I am Derek, the head of the Port of Wilt, the Great Sail Alliance."

He walked up to Ian, bowed slightly, his posture respectful but not servile.

"How shall I address you?"

"Grey Moon," Ian said, uttering a fabricated pseudonym.

"Lord Greymoon," Derek gestured, "please come with me, let's talk inside."

He turned and walked toward the back hall, with Ian following behind.

After passing through a soundproof barrier, we entered a quiet reception room.

The room wasn't large, but it was elegantly decorated.

The bookshelves against the wall were filled with nautical charts and transaction records, and a faint scent of ink wafted in the air.

"Please sit down." Derek sat down at the tea table and poured tea for himself.

The tea is pale golden in color and exudes a warm and nourishing aroma.

"Golden Leaf Emerald Tea, produced in the 'Emerald Forest' of the Central Continent, has a soothing effect on mental energy."

Ian took the teacup and took a small sip.

The warm tea, once swallowed, transforms into a cool, refreshing energy flow, gently nourishing the spirit.

It's definitely a good product.

"Lord Greymoon wishes to purchase tickets for the 'Leap of Faith'?" Derek asked bluntly.

"Yes."

"To be honest," Derek put down his teacup and sighed.

"The tickets are indeed sold out."

"The Leapfrog is the latest generation of transoceanic airship of the Giant Sail Alliance. It adopts the latest space stabilization technology of the Central Continent and is also equipped with a brand-new defensive rune array."

"Its speed is 30% faster than old-fashioned airships, and it's also safer."

"So every time tickets go on sale, they are all pre-booked by various factions."

He paused, looking at Ian.

"But... it's not entirely hopeless."

Ian raised an eyebrow: "What method?"

"Raise the price." Derek held up one finger.

"We have reserved five 'emergency compartments' specifically to deal with unexpected situations."

"But these cabins are priced... at three times the normal ticket price."

"How much is the regular ticket price?"

"Medium-sized independent cabin, 330 high-grade magic stones."

Ian's eyes flickered slightly.

Three hundred and thirty high-grade magic stones.

Even for a first-level wizard, this is a considerable sum.

Many level one wizards' entire fortune amounts to only around a thousand high-grade magic stones.

"Three times is equivalent to a thousand high-grade magic stones."

Derek added, "And there's an additional condition."

Tell me about it.

"If we encounter a crisis during the voyage... I mean, if," Derek emphasized.

"The ship's crew will invite all Level 2 wizard passengers to lend a hand."

"Of course, we will pay the corresponding compensation."

"But if you refuse... your ticket will be void, and you will never be accepted again."

Ian lowered his head and pondered, weighing the options in his mind.

One thousand high-grade magic stones.

He can afford it.

The spoils looted from the two second-level wizards of the Crimson Court and the Withering Council included nearly two thousand high-grade magic stones.

Not to mention the large amount of materials and witchcraft tools.

But what he needs to consider is...

"What kind of crisis?" he asked.

"It's hard to say," Derek shook his head. "The Endless Sea is too vast."

"Our route is a relatively safe waterway, but we occasionally encounter space turbulence, deep-sea monsters, and even... pirates."

"pirate?"

"Yes." Derek's eyes were serious.

"There are several notorious pirate groups on the endless seas that specialize in plundering airships that cross the ocean."

"Their leaders... are at least at the peak of level two, and may even be level three archmages."

Ian nodded slowly; this was about what he had expected.

The endless sea is fraught with danger.

"I agree," he finally said.

A hint of joy flashed in Derek's eyes.

"A wise choice."

He stood up and took out a palm-sized, silver-blue token from his desk drawer.

The token is engraved with intricate runes, and a tiny spatial anchoring crystal is embedded in its center.

"This is a passenger token for the middle class on the 'Leapfrog'."

"Half a month later, at six o'clock in the morning, we boarded the ship at the No. 3 pier of the port."

"The token serves as both identification and cabin key."

Ian took the token.

It feels cool to the touch, and you can feel the stable internal spatial fluctuations.

"In addition," Derek added.

"Private duels are prohibited on board, and two level-three archmages from the Giant Sail Alliance are stationed there."

"During the voyage, there will be a fixed daily meal service, and you can also order meals for a fee."

"Every ten days, a small trade fair is held on board, where passengers can freely trade items."

"The journey takes about three months, depending on the weather and waterway conditions."

"Understood." Ian put away the token.

He took a leather bag from his dimensional ring and placed it on the table.

The leather bag was opened, revealing a neatly arranged thousand high-grade magic stones.

Each piece radiates pure energy fluctuations.

Derek scanned the area with his mental energy and confirmed it was correct.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Graymoon."

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Ian stood up, ready to leave.

As they reached the door, Derek suddenly spoke.

"Is this your first time visiting the Central Continent, Lord Gray Moon?"

"Yes."

"Well... good luck." Derek's voice carried a hint of complexity.

"The central continent is completely different from the east coast."

"It's bigger and more prosperous there, but also...more brutal."

"Thank you." Ian nodded and pushed open the door to leave.

After leaving the Giantsail Alliance, Ian did not linger in the harbor.

He walked along the street for twenty minutes and found a secluded hotel on the west side of the port.

The inn was small, a three-story stone building, with vines climbing all over its exterior walls.

The boss was an old wizard in the first stage of liquefaction, with gray hair and cloudy eyes.

Ian asked for the innermost room on the top floor.

Pushing open the wooden door, the room was small but clean and tidy.

A bed, a desk, a chair, and a simple washbasin in the corner.

The window faces the sea outside the harbor, where you can see the endless blue ocean in the distance.

After Ian set up a soundproof and warning barrier, he took out several items from his dimensional ring.

A dark gray bone dagger, its surface engraved with the emblem of the Withered Council.

A black staff entwined with vengeful spirits, and several witchcraft tools stained with a dense aura of death.

They were all seized from the wizards of the Withered Council.

These items cannot be sold directly.

It's too conspicuous.

The things that have withered the council are a hot potato on the East Coast.

But the materials inside... are very valuable.

Ian sat down cross-legged, his right hand resting lightly on the bone dagger.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the pale golden crystallized core slowly rotated.

The "Spirit Devouring" special effect of the Bloodline Purification Technique slowly activated.

An invisible suction force emanates from the palm.

On the surface of the bone dagger, wisps of gray-black death energy were forcibly stripped away and flowed into Ian's palm.

The deathly aura was cold, viscous, and carried a strong sense of negative emotion.

Despair, resentment, madness...

However, under the devouring and transformation effect of the [Soul Devouring] property, these negative emotions are quickly purified and stripped away.

Only the purest "essence of death" remains.

One drop, two drops, three drops...

Finally, all the death energy condensed into three drops of dark gray liquid, each the size of a thumb.

Suspended in Ian's palm, it emanated a pure and intense energy of death.

Pure essence of death.

This is a top-tier material for crafting certain special potions or practicing death-based witchcraft.

In the central mainland, it should fetch a good price.

Ian took out three specially made crystal bottles and carefully divided the essence into portions.

Then move on to the next item.

Time passed in silence.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually darkening.

The port lighthouse lit up, its deep blue beam sweeping across the sea, guiding ships sailing through the night.

Ian finished processing all the witchcraft tools and put away the refined materials.

He walked to the window and gazed at the endless sea in the distance.

The sea is vast and boundless.

At the edge of the horizon, where the sea meets the sky, a few bright stars can be faintly seen.

That's the direction of the central continent.

The voyage lasted about three months, with more than twenty level-two wizards traveling with them.

Two level-three archmages guard the area.

There are also unknown crises...

Ian slowly clenched his fist.

The joints made a slight popping sound.

Beneath the skin, the jade-like texture shimmered with a subtle glow, and faint golden star patterns were faintly visible.

The formidable physique of a level two wizard, tempered by the [Forge Tempering Technique], and blessed by the Protoss...

He is now strong enough to withstand ordinary level two witchcraft.

But not enough.

In the central continent, the fourth-level morning star is merely the backbone.

Level 5 Radiant Moon, Level 6 Bright Sun, and even the legendary Level 7 True Spirit...

The road ahead is still long.

"Ian," Gaga emerged from the shadows and landed on the windowsill, "Are we really going to take that big ship, Gaga?"

"Um."

"Can't you just fly there yourself?"

"The Endless Sea is too far," Ian shook his head. "Even at your speed, it would take you several years to fly at full speed."

"Moreover, the sea is fraught with danger, and without the protection and resupply of airships, it would be difficult to arrive safely."

"Oh..." Gaga nodded as if she understood but not quite.

It looked out the window at the sea, a hint of longing flashing in its small eyes.

"What's the Central Continent like?"

"I don't know," Ian answered truthfully.

"But the tower master said that it was once the core of the wizarding civilization."

"Bigger, more prosperous, and more dangerous."

"Oh..." Gaga was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up.

"Will we become stronger?"

"Yes." Ian's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"We must become stronger."

"We must become stronger."

Although the path of a wizard is never smooth.

Outside the window, the night was deepening.

The lighthouse beams cast long streaks of light across the sea.

Like a road leading to an unknown distance.

Ian looked away and sat down cross-legged on the edge of the bed.

Close your eyes.

Within the spiritual realm, the "Starry Sky Ritual" began to operate.

The pale golden crystallized core slowly rotated, drawing cold star energy from the void to temper the spirit and soul.

There are still two weeks until we board the ship.

He needs to seize every moment to elevate his level of understanding.

Be prepared for anything that may happen.