Several hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.
When the Magic Network Terminal lit up, Benjamin was sitting cross-legged in the center of the quiet chamber, cultivating as usual.
Pale gray radiance slowly curled around his fingertips. Strands of Spiritual Power circulated along his hand seals, condensing in his palm into a faint gray handprint that seemed almost unreal.
It was the fluctuation of the Void Ashes Return-to-Origin Hand.
Over these past hundred-odd years, his life had been exceptionally regular.
Every day, he practiced the Void Ashes Return-to-Origin Hand, refining his understanding of the laws of time; he supplemented his knowledge of Level 6 and above Runology, Spatiology, and Alchemy; then, at intervals, he remotely checked the progress of forging the array nodes throughout the Celestial Star Array through the Incense Divinity Path.
Other than that, there had been no messy distractions.
Even Viola, busy remodeling her own Wizard Tower, had not come to his laboratory for a long time to mooch food and drinks while tossing a few teasing remarks his way.
This period of time had been so tranquil for Benjamin that it almost felt luxurious.
Just then, the Magic Network Terminal gave a gentle vibration.
Benjamin casually glanced at the light screen as the gray handprint at his fingertips slowly dispersed.
There was only one name on the screen: Bert Vera Augusta.
The message was even simpler, consisting of just one short line: I'm back.
Benjamin could not help smiling. "After so long, you've finally returned."
Several hundred years had passed since Augusta left.
According to the trial standards set by her family, it was about time for it to end.
Conquering a complete plane might have been an almost impossible task for an ordinary Level 5 Wizard, but for that woman, it had never