Surveillance and Counter-Surveillance, Storm Weaver

"It will take about three months to get back to the 'Elemental Magic Ring' from here."

On the back of the giant bird aircraft, beside the fountain pool in the Bonsai Garden, the Dawn Wizard named Cooper paused, then spoke meaningfully, "'Silver Falcon' airship is not slow, but the Central Continent is much larger than you imagine. I think you have already realized this on your way here."

Ronan's eyes flickered, his lips pursed slightly, but he remained silent.

Cooper smiled, pointed to the beautiful garden villa in front of him, and said, "You'll have to stay here for the next three months."

The house has a special communication array; please contact us anytime if you need anything.

Without giving Ronan a chance to refuse, the wizard Cooper adjusted his robes and, along with the red-haired wizard named Lumian, turned and walked out of the garden.

The two stood at the garden gate, separated by a semi-transparent magic circle, smiling and waving goodbye to Ronan. In the blink of an eye, they vanished like snowflakes melting and evaporating under the scorching sun, disappearing without a trace.

The enormous bird-shaped aircraft flapped its hurricane-like wings, scattering countless streams of light, and flew towards the clouds.

The process was exceptionally smooth, with no noticeable bumps or jolting.

Ronan walked through the charming little garden in front of him toward his house.

Upon entering, she immediately saw ten figures kneeling respectfully before her. They were all women dressed as maids, ranging in age from twelve to thirty-six, with different temperaments and even different races.

When people sing the name of Ronan, they each have their own unique accents, some soft and gentle, others cool and aloof, enough to satisfy most people's fantasies about the opposite sex.

A blonde girl with a full bust and an oval face stepped forward and led Ronan on a tour of the entire house.

Ronan only noticed the horse's lower body hidden under the woman's wide pleated skirt when he heard the crisp sound of hooves. She was actually a beautiful young centaur girl.

The room was as spacious as a palace, with bright and soft light hanging from the crystal chandelier overhead.

Ronan stood on the soft carpet that covered the entire bedroom, calmly surveying the impeccable surroundings before him.

He slowly walked to the wall, pressed his hand lightly on the rouge-colored surface, released it, and gently rubbed it, seeing some fine fluorescent powder fall from his fingertips.

"Is this the wizarding school you wanted to join?"

Alazan's voice slowly echoed in Ronan's mind. In their time, different wizarding factions were usually distinguished by "schools".

"It seems they value you highly."

Ronan didn't respond immediately, but stared at the wall in front of him. After a moment, he spoke softly, "Don't you think their attitude towards me was a little too polite?"

"Isn't this a good thing?"

There was no emotion in Alazan's voice.

Ronan shook his head and said calmly, "As two Level Four Wizards have already Dawn, you were stood up by me, a junior of the Mist rank, in such a harsh place as the Blazing Flame Realm for two whole months. Yet, when we finally met, the smiles on your faces were brighter than the tulips blooming in the Fairy Plain."

"You underestimate the patience and composure a Level Four Wizard should possess."

"This is no longer your era."

Ronan answered calmly, then a glint of white light appeared in his eyes.

These white lights grew out of his eyes like vines, weaving lifelike eye patterns on his forehead where his eyebrows meet.

Under the "Eye of Truth," Ronan re-examines the entire room.

The runes Rune Array hidden under the wall plaster and embedded in the wall slowly came into view, densely packed and covering almost every corner of the room.

Ronan slowly released his mental energy, and some magic arrays began to light up.

The mental energy easily [Penetration] the wall, extending into the garden outside the house. As it spread further, it was firmly blocked by an invisible energy wall.

Ronan reached out and gently touched a magic circle in a certain spot in the room a few times, his lips moving slightly as if he were talking to someone.

A moment later, the magical eye on Ronan's forehead dissipated. He sat cross-legged on the spot, closed his eyes, and meditated, while inwardly engaging in further communication with Alazan.

"This room contains more than thirty different surveillance arrays, and the [Protection] arrays outside the room cannot be opened from the inside out."

"... I possess a Spell Inheritance that is very important to them. I made a deal with a powerful figure above them, exchanging the inheritance for the cultivation resources I need to advance to Dawn and beyond."

"A very reliable friend of mine once told me that the important person was someone who was extremely particular about the principle of 'equivalent exchange'."

In my mind, he shouldn't have treated me like this... at least, he shouldn't have treated me like this before even seeing me in person and my lineage..."

After Ronan finished speaking, he quietly "looked" at the Golden Ladybug representing Alazan's soul, which was perched on one of his Spiritual Power Crystal.

"You're worried that the reason you're receiving such preferential treatment now is because you'll suffer even greater losses in the upcoming formal transaction... and what you gain may be far less than you expected."

"If that's all there is to it..."

Ronan calmly replied, "Then I don't need to worry so much."

Alazan was silent for a moment, then said, "Now that you've made up your mind, what do you need me to do?"

"It is truly a relaxing and pleasant experience to communicate with such a wise elder as yourself."

Ronan thought for a moment and said, "After you took me away from the Hall of Spirits Space of Hall of Spirits Space, you showed me the scenes that occurred within it."

"You want me to help you monitor those two Level Four Wizards?"

Alazan raised his voice slightly, sounding somewhat surprised and displeased.

"You can do it, right?"

Alazan silent again.

Within the Consciousness Space, the light of the Spiritual Power Crystal shone faintly, and the golden ladybug remained motionless, as if asleep.

After an unknown amount of time, Alazan's voice rang out.

"Kid, you should know best what state my soul is in right now. I'll help you."

"I know."

Ronan calmly interrupted Alazan, saying, "In fact, I've been preparing all along, waiting for you to make some not-too-excessive requests of me at the right time."

"Call--"

Ronan heard the sound of Alazan exhaling.

With his eyes closed, he clearly saw a beautiful Golden Ladybug crawl out from between his eyebrows and then silently merge into the void.

"Actually, I didn't want to establish the foundation for our future relationship like this."

The Golden Ladybug left, and Alazan's voice sounded somewhat distant, carrying a slight sigh.

"But like you said, this is no longer the era I was familiar with."

"In fact, you don't need to value your so-called inheritance so much. Having obtained the 'Spirit Heart Amber,' you already stand above the vast majority of wizards in this world, and I have many similar inheritances."

Ronan listened to Alazan's rambling, melancholic voice without offering any response.

Finally, at some point, some blurry images popped into his mind.

Ronan's spirits lifted slightly as he saw a scene where Elemental Magic Ring wizard named Cooper was sitting in a high-backed chair, playing with a blue crystal ball while quietly flipping through a wizarding book in his hands.

Ronan's mind stirred, and he quickly released his mental energy. When his mental energy touched the [Protection] Rune Array outside the garden again, Cooper in the picture immediately seemed to sense something, and his eyes moved from the wizard book in his hand to the crystal ball.

He squinted and stared at the crystal ball that suddenly shone brightly for a long time, until Ronan withdrew his mental energy and put the crystal ball down in his hand without expression.

Ronan's eyes flickered, and his gaze shifted to another scene.

The scene depicted Lumian, another Fire Magic Wizard from the Elemental Magic Ring. He was standing in front of a huge, transparent crystal tank, intently watching the mating and reproduction of several red crystal-shelled beetles inside. In just a few breaths, the scene before Ronan's "eyes" disappeared.

Then Alazan's voice rang out.

"I can't keep an eye on those two for you for an extended period; I can only guarantee to alert you if they make any unusual moves."

"That's enough."

Ronan nodded and said softly, "Thank you."

Alazan didn't reply. Ronan noticed that a portion of his Soul Power was being slowly absorbed into his body.

Knowing that Alazan's surveillance system needed energy replenishment, he ignored it.

In the Hall of Spirits Space, Ronan "burned" nearly ten years of his soul lifespan to test Evaqu's trials.

However, this part of his soul's lifespan was completely restored after he completed one session of the "Spirit Heart Amber".

The increase in soul concentration brings lifespan as one of the benefits. If Ronan continues to study the Spirit Heart Amber, it is foreseeable that his lifespan will far exceed that of ordinary wizards.

This is also a major reason why Alazan was able to become the longest-lived shaman of the Hall of Spirits.

With Alazan keeping an eye on things for him, Ronan felt much more at ease.

The only thing he needed to consider next was how to quickly escape from this seemingly exquisite "cage" should something really happen that was detrimental to him.

Ronan calmed his mind and, while thinking, entered into the practice of the [Primordial Star Meditation Technique].

Ronan stood on the balcony of the second floor of the garden villa. Dozens of meters away from him, outside the energy [Protection], thunder roared like a waterfall and a gale swept up sand and dust, like an ancient demon that had broken free from its seal, tearing everything in the world apart.

Thick Black Cloud completely obscured the Sky Dome, lightning flashed like silver snakes weaving through the clouds, and tornadoes of all sizes ravaged the earth. Ronan saw an enormous, deep blue vortex, like the Eye of the Sky. Within that vortex, purple lightning formed the shapes of giant birds and dragons, roaring and howling. The "Silver Falcon" airship traversed this devastating scene, braving countless lightning bolts and storms, rising and falling like a petrel piercing through the clouds.

Despite the protection of the Rune Array, the maids living in the house still huddled in various corners, trembling with fear.

Fear of thunder and storms is an instinct for most creatures, and even Ronan felt a slight thrill when faced with them.

"That's the entrance to the Storm Realm."

Cooper, with his refined and aristocratic demeanor, walked up from behind Ronan. Pointing to the enormous, deep blue vortex in the distance, which seemed to remain unchanged in size no matter how long the "Silver Falcon" flew, he said softly, "Don't be fooled by our apparent proximity; we are actually much farther away than you imagine. As long as we don't get close to the eye of the storm, we are safe."

After traversing this area, it will take another two weeks or so before we reach the 'Elemental Magic Ring'.

Ronan nodded, then suddenly asked, "How long will it take to completely traverse this area?"

"It also takes about half a month."

Cooper replied that he was extremely friendly to Ronan, always had a smile on his face, and every word he said was like a breath of fresh air.

"Is the Storm Realm dangerous?"

Ronan's gaze never left the distant Eye of the Storm, showing an intense curiosity about it.

Don't try to challenge it.

Cooper patted him on the shoulder and said softly, "The Storm Realm is a gathering place for wind and electric Elemental Lifeform, and it has existed for a very long time."

At the heart of the Storm Realm dwells an incredibly powerful Elemental Lifeform form, known to some as the 'Storm Lord' and others as the 'Storm Weaver'. It is said that a level six Dawn Wizard once perished there.

"Storm Weaver, Level 6"

Ronan's eyes flickered, and he murmured to himself.

Cooper looked at him and said with a smile, "I know you've always been dissatisfied with the magic circle outside the garden, thinking that we're imprisoning you, but the truth is quite the opposite. It's a means specifically set up to protect you. The place you're in now is the safest place on the entire "Silver Falcon" Airship, without exception."

The dangers in the Central Continent are sometimes beyond your imagination; you never know where they might suddenly appear or in what form. Do you understand what I mean, Damien?

"Clear."

Ronan took a deep breath and nodded.

Cooper shook his head, then suddenly said, "By the way, Damien, could you show me again that thing you got in the Helamus Talent Competition?"

Ronan hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Of course."

He took out a glass armlet that reflected the luster of the starry sky from his Space Ring and handed it to Cooper.

"How wonderful!"

Cooper looked at the armband Ronan offered him, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, as if he wanted to reach out and touch it, but forcibly restrained himself.

No matter how many times I watch it, I can't help but be deeply attracted to it.

Cooper murmured his admiration, then reluctantly looked away from the armband.

"Keep it safe, Damien. It's not time to take it out now."

Cooper suddenly became serious, looking at Ronan with a solemn expression, and instructed him word by word, "Remember my words, Damien."

From this day forward, never show it to anyone lightly, not even within the Elemental Magic Ring. You have no idea how many people in the Central Continent covet Helamus's Magic Controller Legacy."

Ronan nodded slightly, his expression hardening, quickly put away the armband, and earnestly said to Cooper, "Thank you!"

Cooper shook his head, then smiled and said.

"Alright, I won't disturb your rest any longer."

If you need anything, feel free to contact me, or Lumian; he's also someone you can trust.

"Yes, Lord Cooper."

Cooper waved goodbye to Ronan and walked out of the garden.

Some light storms and thunder fell like raindrops on the exposed metal deck of the "Silver Falcon" Airship, and Cooper strolled among them, all the lightning and gales disappearing around him.

His smile gradually faded until he reached a certain spot at the stern of the airship, casually picked up a short, horn-like object, and said indifferently to the horn's mouth, "Come here to me."

"That's about right. We should get ready to make our move."

After he finished speaking, he looked up, squinted, and gazed for a while at the center of the raging thunderstorm in the distance.

Then he turned and walked in another direction.

"Your tea, sir."