Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

I'm currently reading Chapter 267, "Fragments of Stars," on the novel by Cola, completely engrossed and unable to tear myself away.

Not long after Ian’s cabin door closed, there was another knock at the door.

Knock knock knock! The rhythm is steady.

Ian turned around and scanned the doorway with his mental energy.

It's Derek.

The leader of the Giant Sail Alliance had a calm demeanor and a friendly smile on his face.

Ian hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and opened the door.

"Grey Moon Wizard," Derek bowed slightly, "Lord Herbert requests your presence in the upper deck."

He paused, then added, "To thank you for your help earlier."

"Now?"

"If it's convenient for you."

Derek stepped aside to make way and gestured for them to proceed.

Ian nodded and walked out of the cabin.

Gaga emerged from the shadows and landed on his shoulder, its heterochromatic eyes warily fixed on Derek.

Derek smiled, said nothing more, and turned to lead the way.

The two walked one after the other in the metal corridor, their footsteps echoing in the empty passageway.

The doors of several cabins along the way were slightly ajar.

A series of gazes pierced through the crack in the door and landed on Ian.

Envy, jealousy, curiosity, fear...

Complex emotions mingled together, like an invisible net.

Ian remained expressionless, his steps steady.

His mental energy flowed like mercury, taking in every gaze, every breath, and every subtle movement.

The door opposite was ajar, and Edel stood inside.

The dark blue robe made her face look even paler, but her eyes were bright.

Seeing Ian pass by, she nodded slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved into a very faint smile.

That was a kind smile.

Ian glanced over and nodded in response.

Fifth compartment on the right.

The door was tightly closed, but one could "see" the figure inside using mental perception.

Collins Hawkwood stood by the porthole, his back to the door, while Elder Grey Vulture sat in a soft chair, his eyes closed in rest.

Neither of them made a move, but Ian could sense it.

Collins remained aloof, maintaining the air of a spoiled young master.

But the hostility is gone... at least not for now.

Ian secretly guessed, "Perhaps, it's a temporary restraint after weighing the pros and cons."

This reflects the cunning and pragmatism of scions of wealthy families.

Ian withdrew his senses and continued forward.

Other compartments.

Most first-level wizards lowered their heads and lowered their eyes, not daring to look directly at each other, while the gazes of second-level wizards were more complicated.

There was scrutiny, curiosity, and also a hidden sense of apprehension.

After all, a level two wizard who can instantly cast thirteen forced anchor spells is no ordinary character.

Many escape techniques are related to spatial attributes, and Ian's sorcery is very effective against these kinds of trump cards.

After reaching the top floor, Derek stopped.

Ahead was a dark silver metal door, thick and heavy, with intricate protective runes engraved on its surface.

The runes flowed with a pale blue light, exuding the aura of a level three archmage.

"arrive."

Derek stepped aside, gesturing for Ian to go in by himself.

"Lord Herbert is waiting for you inside."

Ian nodded his thanks and reached out to push the door open.

The door slid open silently, and warm light rushed in.

The cabins on the top floor are several times more spacious than those on the upper floors, resembling an extremely luxurious villa.

The ground was covered with a dark red monster-themed carpet, which was soft and silent underfoot.

The walls are inlaid with luminous crystals, as soft as moonlight.

In the center sat a large crystal table, behind which sat Herbert, an elderly man in a gray robe.

He was looking down at a scroll when he heard the door open and looked up.

"Grey Moon Wizard, please have a seat."

Herbert put down the scroll and pointed to the high-backed chair opposite him.

His voice was gentle, yet carried the majesty characteristic of a third-level archmage.

Ian walked to the chair and sat down.

Gaga squatted on the back of the chair, its little eyes looking around.

"Thank you for helping me just now."

Herbert got straight to the point, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

To dare to expose one's trump card in front of everyone, and not be afraid of Fu Ling's retaliation, shows a remarkable level of confidence.

"If you hadn't intervened, the threat posed by the Floating Spirits would have been even greater."

"It's my duty," Ian said calmly.

Herbert smiled.

"It's our duty? Others don't think that way."

He picked up a cup of hot tea from the table and pushed it in front of Ian.

The tea has a delicate aroma, carrying a calming floral scent.

Is this your first time visiting the Central Continent?

"Yes."

"Which faction do you want to join? Or... is there a family recruiting you?"

Herbert's tone was casual, like he was chatting, but Ian sensed a recruiting intent in his words.

Giant Sail Alliance is one of the top merchant guilds in the eastern part of the Central Continent.

It is said that in addition to several fourth-level Morning Star wizards, there is also a fifth-level wizard in charge.

With abundant resources, its influence extends to seventeen cities in the eastern border.

For many second-level wizards, Ian being personally recruited by Herbert was an incredible opportunity.

But Ian paused for two seconds, then said, "It's not decided yet."

He didn't reject it outright; if the offer was good, he would consider it.

A knowing glint flashed in Herbert's eyes, and he nodded.

"A wise choice."

He stopped asking questions and started talking about other things.

We talked about our experiences in the Rift Valley, the situation in the Eastern Frontier, and the rumors surrounding some ancient ruins.

Ian listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words, and the topic gradually shifted to cultivation.

"Your witchcraft... is it based on the gravitational system of stars?"

Herbert suddenly asked, his gaze falling on Ian.

This wasn't an attempt to probe Ian's background; it was just a routine inquiry.

Ian nodded in agreement.

Herbert's eyes flickered slightly, and he tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Gravity...no wonder."

He took a small wooden box from under the table and pushed it in front of Ian.

The wooden box is dark purple, with fine sealing runes engraved on its surface.

Herbert opened the box. "This is your reward."

The box was lined with black velvet, and on the velvet lay a silver fragment the size of a fist.

The fragments were irregular in shape with jagged edges, as if they had been torn apart by a tremendous force.

The surface is covered with fine cracks, and liquid silver light flows deep within the cracks.

Inside, countless points of light slowly rotate, like a miniature galaxy.

"Star Core Fragment"

Herbert's voice was calm, but every word carried weight.

"The core remnants of the fallen star were nurtured by the ley lines for thousands of years after they fell into the wizarding world."

"For wizards with the Star attribute, it is a top-tier resource for accelerating the transformation of spiritual power into elements."

Ian's gaze fell on the fragments, and in his mental sea, the [Seed of Stars] trembled slightly.

A wisp of silver light flowed across the pale golden surface of the crystal.

Resonance... an intense, almost overflowing resonance!

"This fragment..."

Ian looked up at Herbert.

"It must be quite valuable, right?"

"Of course," Herbert nodded, speaking frankly.

"A single ordinary elemental crystal costs only a few hundred to a thousand high-grade magic stones."

"But star core fragments... are occasionally auctioned by the major merchant guilds in the Eastern Territory, with a starting price of at least five thousand magic stones."

He paused, then added, "And it's priceless."

"Many level two wizards with star attributes are willing to go bankrupt to exchange for one."

Ian's eyes narrowed slightly; he understood.

This is the reward for what I just received, but this fragment of starlight was overpriced.

Ian still needs to pay the difference.

"How much do I need to pay?"

Herbert smiled, his eyes gentle.

"You just killed a Floating Spirit, and according to the alliance rules, you should receive a basic reward of about 500 high-level magic stones."

"In addition, you prevented large-scale casualties, so you'll receive an extra thousand. That's a total of one thousand five hundred."

He pointed to the fragment in the box, "I'll give you four thousand high-grade magic stones for this fragment."

"You need to replenish 2,500 high-grade magic stones, or materials, witchcraft tools, or potions of equivalent value."

Two thousand five hundred high-grade magic stones.

For an ordinary level two wizard, it's really not easy to take it out all at once.

But Ian did not hesitate; he took out a bunch of things from his dimensional ring.

Several witchcraft tools looted from Bazar, Silas, and others.

Some unusable materials, such as Silas's dagger and [Mirror Shard] remnants.

There were also a few spare [Starlight Potions], piled up on the crystal table.

The energy fluctuations are complex, but the value is not low.

Herbert glanced at it, his mental energy acting like invisible tentacles, quickly assessing the situation.

After a moment, he nodded.

That's enough.

He gathered the things on the table and pushed the wooden box toward Ian.

"The fragments are yours."

Ian took the wooden box; it was cold to the touch, and the silver light on the surface of the fragments shone through the velvet cloth into his palm.

It's like holding a small piece of the starry sky in your hand.

"Thank you." He put away the wooden box and stood up.

Herbert also stood up and saw him to the door.

"If you encounter any trouble in the Eastern Territory, you can come to the Giant Sail Alliance to find me. The initial treatment may be lower."

But I believe that with your excellent performance, you will eventually succeed.

Ian bowed slightly. "Thank you, Wizard Herbert. I will seriously consider it."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the cabin.

Derek and the others waited outside the door. When he saw him come out, he gestured for him to come in.

The two returned the way they came, their gazes in the corridor still complex.

But Ian no longer cared.

Derek returned to his cabin door, said goodbye, and left.

Just as Ian was about to push open the door, the door to the next cabin opened.

Adele stood inside the door, her gaze calm, but a hint of tension and anticipation lurked deep within.

"Grey Moon Wizard," she said softly.

"Is there something you need?" Ian stopped and looked at her.

Adele paused for two seconds, then took out a thick roll of parchment from her sleeve.

The paper roll was bound with dark gold thread and the Just family crest was branded on its surface.

"This is the information I've compiled." She handed over the roll of paper.

"Information regarding several rivals within the family, as well as the major powers in the Eastern Territory."

"Perhaps... it will be of some use to you."

Ian did not answer immediately.

He looked at her pale face, her straight back, and the deep weariness and resilience hidden in her eyes.

Herbert's offer to recruit him flashed through his mind, and he weighed the options carefully.

"Joining the Giant Sail Alliance might not give you a high position for now; you'll probably only be in a ship crew or something similar, and you'll know nothing about the internal power dynamics."

The crisis is uncontrollable, and time is not free.

The Just family owned three city-states.

There are also within reach the remnants of the Eternal Shadow, the manuscripts of the Abyss Clan, and even possible fragments of the star core...

And even further away... the Starlight Origin Divine Liquid, a divine artifact that only a level four Morning Star Wizard could possibly access.

These are snippets of information that Herbert inadvertently let slip during the conversation just now.

All of these require a fulcrum.

A springboard into the top circles of the Central Continent.

At present, Adele may be the most suitable stepping stone.

Silence spread through the corridor.

Only the low hum of the spaceship's engines could be faintly heard through the metal bulkhead.

Finally, Ian reached out and took the parchment scroll.

"Provide medical support when you need it, and publicly take sides."

"But..." He paused, looking at Edel.

"I only do what I am capable of. If something endangers my life, I will step down."

A light suddenly shone in Adele's eyes!

That was the light of hope that had been suppressed for too long.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her excitement, but her fingertips still trembled slightly.

"That's enough." Her voice was a little hoarse, but firm.

"Thank you, Graymoon Wizard."

Ian shook his head. "It's just a deal."

After speaking, he pushed open the door and entered his cabin.

The door closed behind them.

In the corridor, Adele stood still for a long time.

She looked down at her hands, her fingertips still trembling slightly.

Then, she slowly clenched her fist, turned around and walked back to the cabin, her back still straight.

But her steps... seemed a little lighter.

Inside the cabin, Ian sat on a soft couch and opened a wooden box.

The star core fragments lay on the velvet cloth, shimmering with silver light.

He picked up the shard; it was cold and heavy to the touch, like holding a miniature star.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the Seed of Stars trembled violently!

On the pale golden surface of the crystal, a dazzling silver light bursts forth from the depths of the cracks.

Like a thirsty traveler finding a clear spring.

Ian no longer hesitated.

He sat cross-legged, holding the fragments in his hands in front of his chest, and activated the [Starry Sky Ritual] at full power!

hum!

The surface of the fragment suddenly burst with silver light!

Countless tiny points of light emerged from the fragments, like a galaxy pouring down, and flowed into Ian's brow.

Deep within the sea of ​​the spirit.

The pale golden crystallized core spun violently, frantically devouring the surging stellar energy.

With each wisp of energy absorbed, a silver streak appeared on the crystal's surface, and the stars on it shone a little brighter.

Like star trails branded.

The progress of transforming spiritual energy into elements is starting to accelerate rapidly!

0.12%...0.15%...0.18%...

The speed is more than ten times faster than usual!

Occasionally, fragments of "fallen memories" would remain among the debris and flood into his consciousness.

Ian "saw" the birth of a star...

It condensed from a chaotic nebula, ignited in the gravitational collapse, burned for billions of years, and illuminated the void.

Then comes extinction.

As the star's core fuel runs out and gravity becomes unbalanced, it first expands outward, with the outermost matter constantly escaping...

After reaching a certain equilibrium, it began to collapse inward again, exploded... and fragments were scattered into the endless void.

Birth and destruction.

The manifestation of the rules of gravity.

Ian was immersed in this realization, and the silver light in his mind grew brighter and brighter.

The star trail patterns on the crystal surface are becoming increasingly clear.

The progress of elementalization is steadily increasing.

0.2%...0.25%...0.3%...

"At this rate, by the time we reach the Eastern Territory, we'll have completed 10% of the elementalization..."

This is by no means a pipe dream.

Ian slowly exhaled, his eyes reflecting the silver light of the fragments.

When mental energy is elementalized, the power of witchcraft increases by 100% for every 10% increase.

This is an incredibly powerful amplification, ultimately resulting in a level two wizard who has completed full elementalization.

It will have an absolute crushing effect on beginner and intermediate wizards.

"But... that's just the state of an ordinary wizard, not me."