Change, the Eastern Wizard Alliance, Earth-Vein Wind Saliva, and the Start of a War of Annihilation!

[Four Symbols Codex—Four Symbols Chakra Chapter reached Master Level; talent increased by 2,500.]

[Talent: 40,200 → 42,700]

"Finally reached Master Level."

In the Meditation Room, Ian closed his eyes and felt the changes within himself.

He could now sense the Four Symbols Chakra everywhere except its innermost core, where his brain lay.

His Master Level proficiency let him perceive it in the finest detail.

That allowed him to draw on more mana, more quickly.

Its compatibility with the Four Symbols Furnace had improved enormously.

But reaching this point had cost Ian a vast amount of resources and a full year of his time.

"A year already."

Ian left the Meditation Room and went to his study. Standing by the window, he looked outside.

Red Scale flew through the sky, several meters larger than before, his scales glossier. In the distant botanical garden, Iron Thorn seemed to have grown taller too, its vines enveloping the entire grounds.

Dozens of Wizards served him across this stretch of land. Some tended the plants, while others handled the cleanup.

Ian felt the extraordinary power brimming within him.

A sense of satisfaction welled up.

The past year had brought immense gains.

In Alchemy,

several of his Alchemy spells were now approaching Expert Level.

He had also mastered a Master Level Resonance Rune Array and had even refined it once.

A year ago, he had changed how he used Principle Insight, and the project's progress had raced ahead.

Just four months later,

he had obtained the first version of the Resonance Rune.

Ian swore it was the most incomplete spell he had ever studied. Calling it riddled with holes would have been praise.

The number of times it needed to be completed had shocked him, too.

Twenty in all.

At the time, Ian had