Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

Ian touched the space between his eyebrows, and the slight warmth emanating from the contract mark clearly told him that it was all real.

The World Tree Azshara, the world of Exoc, the transformed origin, pointing directly to the sixth level of meditation...

Ian slowly exhaled, a glint of blazing gold flashing in his eyes.

Why shouldn't he take this deal?

The next morning, just as Ian finished meditating, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard door.

Two figures stood outside the door.

On the left is Azshara from last night's dream. Now she's wearing a moon-white elven dress, and her long hair is braided into an exquisite style. She looks no different from any other moon elf.

Her emerald green eyes were crystal clear in the sunlight as she smiled slightly at Ian.

And the one on the right, judging from his attire...

Ian's pupils contracted slightly.

This is a female moon elf.

Ian's gaze fell on the person on his right.

She was a female moon elf, taller than Azshara, nearly two meters tall.

She wore a silver-white elven royal robe, embroidered with intricate star, moon, and ancient tree patterns, and a small silver crown ribbon on her forehead, exuding an aura of extraordinary nobility.

She simply stood there, not deliberately emitting any aura, yet the light in the entire courtyard seemed to be directed towards her.

Silvermoon Elf Queen, Moonlight Guardian, Level 5 Radiant Moon Seraphine.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Elven King, and greetings, Lady Azshara."

Ian bowed slightly, performing a standard wizard's salute, his tone calm and respectful.

Serafina's eyes fell on him, her gaze lingering for a moment on Ian's brow.

"No need for formalities, Your Excellency Marcus."

Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying a natural sense of detachment, yet without arrogance.

"Azshara has informed me of the pact, and the Silvermoon Elves will remember this kindness since you are willing to help."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Gaga, who had just woken up.

The little guy sensed that vast and unfathomable aura, its feathers instantly bristled, it shrank its neck, and subconsciously moved closer to Ian.

Azshara stood beside Serafina, winked at Ian, and a hint of a smile flashed in her emerald eyes.

She was still wearing that moon-white long dress, her long hair braided, looking like an ordinary moon fairy girl.

But Ian knew that this "young girl" was the core of the entire deal.

"Please come in." Ian stepped aside to open the courtyard gate, and Serafina did not refuse, entering the courtyard first.

As Azshara walked by, several tiny moonflowers quietly sprouted from the ground, their leaves swaying gently with her steps, scattering starlight.

This is the World Tree, where every word and action triggers the manifestation of rules.

The three people and one bird entered the living room of the stone house.

Serafina did not sit down, but stood by the window, gazing at the pale purple crack outside.

"I've already informed Karendil." She didn't turn around.

"He will cooperate with you to temporarily stabilize the spatial structure at that point when you enter the rift, reducing the risk of crossing it."

"But once you're inside, everything depends on you."

Ian nodded. "Thank you."

After a while, Serafina turned around. "According to the contract, this is part of the advance payment."

She took out a silver scroll and a bright green branch.

The branch is about a foot long, with natural, regular patterns on its surface, exuding a strong sense of life.

"This is the complete [Moon God's Codex], enough for you to advance to the fifth level of Radiant Moon." Serafina handed over the scroll.

Ian took the scroll with both hands; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, with a strange sensation, like caressing flowing moonlight.

The silver threads on the scroll surface unraveled automatically, transforming into countless tiny moonlight runes that flowed into his brow.

A vast amount of information unfolds in the sea of ​​the mind.

Unlike the vast starry sky imagery of the [Starry Sky Festival], the [Moon God's Codex] focuses more on the transformation of void energy, the tempering of the soul, and the analysis of dream rules.

There are six levels in total, each corresponding to detailed cultivation methods, rule insights, and a matching witchcraft model.

Ian quickly scanned the contents of the first four floors, feeling reassured that he had completed half of his mission.

"As for this branch of the World Tree..." Serafina handed over the emerald green branch as well.

"It has been nurtured by Azshara with its original essence for thousands of years, its internal rules are stable and its energy is abundant."

"As for whether you can nurture it to adulthood, that depends on your personal methods."

Ian solemnly accepted the branch, and the moment he touched it, a warm and powerful life force surged into his body through his arm.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the blazing star core trembled slightly, resonating with a kind of "yearning" towards this branch.

A message appears silently on the panel:

[High-purity World Tree essence branch detected. Refine it?]

Ian silently nodded no, carefully storing the branch deep inside his dimensional ring.

The upfront payment for this deal has far exceeded expectations.

"Thank you, Ms. Azshara."

Serafina nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Gaga beside her. "Are you planning to bring it with you when you enter the world of Exoc?"

Ian was silent for a moment, then reached out and rubbed Gaga's little head.

The little guy was staring at the lingering moonlight in Serafina's palm, his little eyes sparkling.

"No." Ian pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"It's too dangerous there. The swarms of insects are endless, and there are also high-level insectoids that can distort space."

"Although Gaga has great potential, it's only at the mid-stage of the third tier right now. Facing that kind of environment..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Gaga suddenly turned its head, its silver-gray pupils staring at Ian, its feathers bristling.

"Ian! I want to go with you!" The little guy's voice was filled with anxiety and reluctance.

"I can help! My Shadow Leap can detect danger, and Ominous Eyes can warn of impending danger..."

"I know," Ian interrupted, gently stroking the squeaky feathers with his fingers.

"But this time it's different. Exoc is the Zerg's home turf. The rules have been altered, and the shadow environment may be extremely thin or even distorted."

"Your talent is there, but you might not be able to utilize even 30% of it."

Gaga opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't say anything.

In the past few days, it has seen too many Morning Star Wizards and even sensed the aura of a Level 5 Radiant Moon.

That vast, unfathomable power ignited its deepest desire to "become stronger," pushing it to its peak.

It didn't want to be a "burden" anymore; it wanted to truly help Ian.

Azshara suddenly chuckled, her emerald eyes curving into crescents. "Little one, want to get stronger?"

Gaga immediately turned to look at her, nodding her little head vigorously like a pecking at rice, "Yes! I really want to!"

"Then why don't you... stay with me for a while?" Azsara walked up to Gaga, squatted down, and picked Gaga up.

Her smile was pure and warm, and the little one immediately quieted down.

"While I was traveling through the void, I collected some nice 'gadgets,' including some shadow-attribute materials that should be very useful to you."

She stretched out her finger, and a faint emerald green halo appeared at the tip.

Inside the halo, one could vaguely see several translucent black feathers with constantly twisting edges, as well as a mass of shadowy matter that kept changing shape.

Gaga's eyes widened instantly; the shadowy fluctuations emanating from those materials were purer and more ancient than anything it had ever seen.

"Follow my lead..." Azshara tilted her head, revealing a seductive expression.

"You might be at the peak of level three by the time your master returns."

At the peak of level three, Ga Ga's breathing became rapid.

It's only at level 3 mid-stage right now, and there's still a long way to go before it reaches the late stage.

If there were enough top-tier resources, plus guidance from this lovely girl...

Gaga turned to look at Ian, her eyes filled with longing and conflict.

Ian looked at it, weighing his options in his mind.

Leaving Gaga with Azshara is indeed the safest and most profitable option.

The opportunity to be personally guided and nurtured by a level 5 World Tree is extremely rare.

Moreover, Azshara needs him to bring back the source, so there's no reason for her to harm Gaga.

"Do you want to stay?" Ian asked softly.

Gaga lowered its head and scratched at Ian's collar with its little paws.

Complex and intense emotional fluctuations were transmitted through the soul connection.

Eager to become stronger, not wanting to hold anyone back, reluctant to leave Ian, yet worried about him being alone...

"I...I want to become stronger." Gaga finally raised her head, her silver-gray pupils gleaming.

"I don't want to be hiding behind you next time we're in danger. I want to... actually help you."

Ian was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded and reached out to hold Gaga in his palm.

"Then you shall follow Lady Azshara and train diligently, and you are not allowed to slack off."

"Mmm!" Gaga nodded vigorously, nuzzling Ian's fingers with her little head. "Ian, you must be careful and come back safely."

"I will." Ian rubbed its little head and handed it to Azshara.

Aysara took Gaga and held it in her arms. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of it."

Serafina nodded slightly. "The Silvermoon Elves never mistreat their friends."

Ian glanced at Gaga one last time; the little guy was nestled on Azshara's arm, gazing at him expectantly.

He turned his gaze to Serafina. "When can I enter the rift?"

"Anytime is fine." Serafina gazed out the window with her pale white eyes.

"Karendir will personally open a passage for you, allowing the energy tides of the barrier and the rift to reach a temporary equilibrium point, where the space is most stable."

"Let's go then."

In front of the weakest point in the barrier at the core area of ​​Silvermoon Highlands.

Ian stood before the Moon Barrier, his dark gray robes fluttering slightly in the wind.

Serafina and Azshara did not reappear; only High Priest Karendil stood beside him.

The fifth-level high priest held a moonstone staff, his light purple eyes fixed on the distance, and there was a circular gap about three meters in diameter on the barrier's light membrane.

The barrier energy at the edge of the gap attempted to repair itself, but was constantly eroded by the surging void energy.

Through the gap, one can see a distorted and chaotic void behind it, and even faintly hear the hissing of swarms of insects.

"Are you ready?" Karendil's calm voice came through.

Ian nodded, the laws of gravity and thermal energy flowing silently around him, his stellar core divine body ready to materialize at any moment.

"Remember, once inside, immediately conceal your presence."

Karendil raised his staff, and the moonstone at its tip burst forth with a dazzling silver light.

Karendil raised his staff, and the moonstone at its tip burst forth with a dazzling silver light.

"The rules of the Exoc world have been largely corrupted by the Zerg hive, making them extremely sensitive to non-Zerg life."

"If you are exposed, you may attract an attack from the entire world's swarms of insects."

"Understood." Ian took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the depths of the gap.

Karendil said no more, and pointed his staff forward. The barrier energy at the edge of the gap suddenly solidified, forming a stable circular channel.

Inside the passage, the turbulent void was forcibly pushed aside, revealing a straight path.

"Good luck," Karendil's voice sounded from behind.

Ian took a step forward, his figure disappearing into the passage. The next second, the gap was filled back with pale purple energy.

The barrier continued to rotate slowly, attempting to repair the breach.

Karen Deer stood still, a complex expression flashing deep in his eyes.

"I hope it works..." he muttered to himself, then turned and left.

The platform fell silent again, with only the rustling of the wind.

Inside the tunnel, Ian felt himself falling downwards.

The surroundings were distorted dark purple light and shadows, and the spatial structure was extremely unstable, with tiny cracks constantly appearing and closing around him.

Outside the passage, the presence of countless insectoid creatures roamed: Mighty Peaks, Swift Beasts, Bone-Eating Insects, Shadowwing Insects...

Like an endless tide, surging in the void.

"This swarm of insects, and it's just one mother nest—it's terrifying!"

Soon, a glimmer of light appeared ahead, revealing an even larger, twisting, dark purple crack.

The entrance to the world of Exoc.

Ian concealed all his aura, his gravity rules were restrained to the extreme, and his figure, like an inconspicuous gray shadow, silently slid into the crack.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

The dark purple void vanished, revealing a desolate, ravaged land.

The sky was a murky dark red, covered with fine purple cracks; the earth was cracked, mountains collapsed, and rivers dried up.

The air was filled with the distinctive acidic smell of the Zerg, and in the distance, there were rows of purplish-black nests built from Zerg secretions.

Countless insect shadows wriggled around the nest, their hissing sounds rising and falling, and further away, faint flashes of energy explosions could be seen.

That was a stronghold where the native inhabitants of the world of Exoc were still resisting.

The panel vibrated silently the moment Ian landed.

[A deviation in the rules of the Exoc world has been detected. Rule information is being collected...]

[World Suppression: Slight]

[Hive consciousness scan detected... Blocking... Blocking successful]

Ian looked up at the broken and dangerous world, a flash of golden light in his eyes.

"Well then... let's begin."

With a swift movement, he vanished like a ghost into the shadows of the ruins.