Star Federation, Tianshu City.
This city is the capital of the Star Federation and one of the most powerful orderly cities in the world.
It isn't built on the ground; instead, it floats above the clouds, defying gravity.
With a perfect mechanical structure and a diameter of over 300 kilometers, Tianshu City represents the pinnacle of current technology. However, it's not the only remarkable city in the Star Federation.
Nearby lies another sky city: Star-Moon City.
This is the second sky city in the Star Federation, but unlike the Mechanical Sky City, Star-Moon City has a natural aesthetic. While it doesn't rely on technology for its suspension, it magically hovers at the same altitude as the Mechanical Sky City.
This is the Magic City.
The two cities, thousands of miles apart, oversee and protect the entire Star Federation.
The distance between them also delineates the Star Federation: the south embraces technology, while the north leans toward magic.
In this world, the relationship between the Alchemist Sage and the Legendary Wizard is notably cooperative—akin to a master-disciple bond.
Just as the Swordmaster of Dawn trained the Berserker, the Alchemist Sage mentors the Mage.
Both outstanding descendants leverage their exceptional talents to forge a brighter future for the Federation.
But there's a difference: the Berserker from the Star Federation is even more formidable than Dawn's Berserker.
The Alchemist Sage is a seventh-level legend, while the legendary wizard has reached the eighth level—and he is still young and growing!
"Those wonders have inspired me. I believe magic should evolve. We need more advanced forms of magic."
In the center of Tianshu City, within a magnificent palace, a male half-elf lounged in a mechanical massage chair. With white hair and a heroic demeanor, he spoke lazily.
Opposite him sat an elderly man with a white beard, while a near-human robot prepared a cup of emerald green tea for both.
The tea exuded a breath of life, and just inhaling its aroma seemed to rejuvenate one's spirit.
The old man sighed, slightly exasperated. "What are you planning? And I taught you to maintain proper etiquette."
Although Noel scoffed at the notion, he sat up straight. The chair behind him automatically adjusted to maximize comfort.
"Why are you acting like those old elves? The old order has crumbled. What good are rituals now? But I genuinely plan to overhaul the magic system."
"Current magic has form but no substance. That's a waste of talent. Those magicians need to relearn everything."
A spark ignited in Noel's clear eyes. "The system I'm developing will be far more advanced than traditional magic!
Take the fireball spell, for example. If we only learn specific magic circuits and rely on our own magical power to activate them, we're merely mastering a rigid release method. We only grasp the form."
He took a sip of the Life Flower Tea and continued with enthusiasm, "But mine is different. To cast the Fireball spell, I just need to understand its composition and principles. With a bit of mental and magical energy, I can guide the fire element to release a fireball of equal power with minimal effort."
"Most importantly, the learning model I've created doesn't require high levels of magical talent. Even fortune tellers and alchemists can wield this magic. It's a breakthrough!"
"Even if a wizard loses their magical power, as long as they possess a fundamental understanding of space, they can traverse this unstable realm with just their mental power and reach their destination safely."
"Watch!"
He was the guardian of this federation and its strongest spellcaster, yet before the old man, he resembled an eager child, demonstrating his ideas with sparkling eyes.
He didn't use a staff or mobilize magical energy, nor did he summon mental power.
A few subtle syllables escaped his lips, and the vibrations of his voice seemed to warp the space before him. He reached his hand through the distortion and pulled out a cup of tea.
The old man's hand, poised to grasp his own cup, froze as he noticed the second cup in the half-elf's hand.
The Alchemist Sage, Chu Ao, regarded his exceptionally talented disciple with a mix of pride and silence. As an alchemist mechanic, he had raised this gifted magician, but he never anticipated that in less than five hundred years, Noel would amass such extensive knowledge.
The space manipulation just demonstrated was achieved through sound vibrations, allowing him to identify a fracture in space and retrieve the cup of fragrant tea.
While this may not seem difficult, it required a profound understanding of spatial dynamics.
Chu Ao pondered for a moment before asking, "Have you considered that what you're demonstrating may be beyond the grasp of 90% of people? Even some golden mages might struggle with this."
"Just teach them," Noel replied nonchalantly. "I'll instruct those gold masters, and they can pass it down. It'll be a step-by-step process."
"As long as they grasp this knowledge, the talent required won't be high."
His eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at the old man. "I'm even thinking of naming this special magic after you—Arcane! What do you think?"
Chu Ao frowned thoughtfully and inquired, "What's the path to growth?"
"Spirit is the primary skill; magic is secondary," Noel smiled. "It's similar to how a mage advances, but Arcane magic leans more toward knowledge. As long as the knowledge is sufficient, its power will far exceed that of a mage who relies solely on magical patterns!"
"Look."
Noel extended his hand, his fingertips gliding through the air. Subtle magical fluctuations resonated in the void. Soon, his fingers grew warm, leaving shimmering patterns in the air.
Pointing at a robot, the pattern rapidly expanded, and a massive fire dragon materialized, charging toward the robot. However, with a wave of mental power, it merely coiled around the robot without causing harm.
He extended his other hand, summoning a similar magical force. This time, the energy formed a clear magic circuit.
As the circuit solidified, a fireball emerged and struck the fire dragon.
The dragon opened its mouth and swallowed the fireball whole, yet it slowly dissipated after circling.
"Do you see? With the same magical energy and fireball technique, I can use my spirit to guide natural elements to gather, while traditional magic relies directly on magical power to unleash flames. There's an essential difference!"
Noel's excitement was palpable. "Forget it; I shouldn't have come here just to seek your approval. I've made my decision. I plan to promote Arcane magic, establishing it as a profession on par with that of a mage!"
Chu Ao sighed, slightly exasperated. "Let's start with scholars, but don't enforce it. This model has been attempted before, albeit for physical fitness rather than as a profession."
"Huh? Really?" Noel was taken aback, his bright eyes reflecting confusion. "How come I didn't know? It sounds remarkably similar to my idea."
Chu Ao smiled knowingly. "Wonders emerge from another world. They often treat this realm as a game, naturally bringing knowledge from their world here. There's no shame in that; knowledge is exchanged constantly. Without communication, how would new ideas arise?"
Noel felt a bit embarrassed, his cheeks flushing. "Fine, I admit that they came up with the name 'Arcane,' and I borrowed it because it resembled yours."
He raised three fingers, as if to emphasize his point. "But I promise, I only heard a phrase about leveraging knowledge to manipulate magical power, and that inspired this entire system!"
Chu Ao regarded the half-elf with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. This elf had always led a charmed life, resulting in a somewhat simplistic personality.
Just as he was about to speak, a soft mechanical voice interrupted.
[Dear Mr. Chu Ao, the wonder Unos you are following has left a message in your mailbox: You have a letter from the Dawn Federation, requesting a meeting with you.]
"The Dawn Federation?" Noel exclaimed, recalling something. "Is the powerful swordsman who visited us over four hundred years ago from the Dawn Federation?"
Chu Ao chuckled. "I didn't expect you to still remember. You were quite young back then."
"That sharpness is something I will never forget! He is my goal, and one day, I will surpass him!" A fierce determination ignited in Noel's eyes.
At that time, there had been only one legend in the Star Federation. He had witnessed the Sword Saint defeat the Abyss Lord—a foe that Chu Ao had struggled against—with a single sword strike. How could he forget the sensation of facing such overwhelming power?
"Bring him over," Chu Ao said, recalling the Sword Saint. Considering the passage of time, that formidable warrior was nearing the end of his life. Was this letter a plea for assistance?
Buzz!
A subtle vibration in the air signaled a stable transmission wave. An elven player wearing a monocle and a white coat materialized before the two.
Legendary wizards could set up exceptionally stable teleportation arrays, and so could alchemist sages.
Thus, the Star Federation's support speed was undoubtedly the swiftest among the three federations. They required only one portal from the capital to the border.
In other federations, such capability was typically reserved for mages or divine magicians above the gold level.
"Greetings, City Lords." Unos bowed slightly, performing an elegant salute.
He executed the elven ritual with grace.
Demacia often referred to him as a genius for successfully creating a spaceship in this game.
In the real world, he was a super academic master, but a car accident had robbed him of his former brilliance.
However, this game granted him a new life, allowing him to pursue his interests while enjoying the gameplay.
He had watched Wei Lu's live broadcasts and was conducting a similar stream. When Wei Lu requested he contact him, he agreed without hesitation, not expecting any rewards.
He and Wei Lu sensed that in future versions, the three federations would inevitably establish diplomatic relations, and this could be the beginning of that alliance.
Admiration shone in Chu Ao's eyes. This wonder was unlike any other. He was deliberately nurturing it to see how far it could go in this world.
As for the wonders spiraling out of control, there existed forces to prevent them from becoming infinitely powerful, ensuring they wouldn't truly go rogue.
"A letter from the Dawn Federation? Will you use your network to deliver it?" As Chu Ao spoke, a third seat emerged from the metal floor, and a third robot stepped out of the wall to provide one-on-one service to the guests.
"Yes, my friend sent me some pictures, and I printed them out," Unos replied, pulling out a thick stack of photos from a space device. The stack was half a meter thick, requiring him to hold it carefully to prevent it from toppling over.
Each photo was densely covered with text, showcasing diverse topics, with many alchemical inscriptions replacing some of the words.
These alchemical glyphs were beyond the comprehension of their players' panels.
Thus, when players read these texts, it felt as though they were deciphering a book written in a foreign language, with not a single sentence making sense.
Chu Ao had no apprehensions that this knowledge transfer would be in vain, as one side was the Lord of Dongwu City, nearly at the pinnacle of power, while the other was a direct conduit to the top.
"Thank you for your hard work. This is excellent news. I haven't heard anything from there in quite some time," Chu Ao said with a smile, accepting the photos with his mental power.
He casually glanced at two of them, and suddenly, the relaxation in his eyes vanished, replaced by shock. He stood up abruptly, his aged hands trembling.
Noel looked at Chu Ao in surprise; he had never seen him lose his composure. He, too, stood up and examined the photos.
The myriad patterns gave him a headache. It wasn't that he didn't recognize the words, but the bizarre layout was too confusing—no paragraphs connected logically.
Moreover, after only a couple of glances, the photos abruptly vanished. Chu Ao's solemn voice broke the tension: "How many people have seen these?"
"They were sent by Bai Yi, the Lord of Dongwu City, at the request of the Wonders of the Dawn Federation. I came here directly after receiving them. They didn't pass through any third party," Unos replied with a smile.
Chu Ao's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You've done an incredible service this time! What do you desire in return? I can grant you anything!"
As he spoke, he calmed himself, then asked, "Can I ask you to help me relay some information? I can use the same method."
"Of course, it would be my honor," Unos replied, a rare excitement illuminating his face.
It seemed he and the Guards were correct; this incident marked the beginning of the Federation's connection!
Chu Ao regained his composure, settling into his seat. He looked at Unos and smiled. "Please wait a couple of days. I need to prepare now. I will have someone contact you about your reward. Just tell me what you want."
Unos paused, bowing slightly. "Then I will take my leave for now."
Chu Ao nodded as he watched Unos depart. He couldn't resist pulling out the photos to scrutinize the words again, his earlier calmness giving way to renewed agitation.
"What is this?" Seeing Chu Ao's expression, Noel could no longer contain his curiosity and asked.
Chu Ao's eyes sparkled with joy as he pointed at the photos. "A stepping stone that allows me to enter the forbidden zone!"
(End of this chapter)