Chapter 438: Chapter 381: Advancement and Banquet
In an instant, all conversation ceased, the experimental glow dimmed, and the contemplators lifted their heads.
Whether the Seventh Level beings seated above or the newly inducted apprentice below, everyone instinctively straightened their spines.
Every wizard in attendance restrained all unnecessary energy fluctuations around them, their gaze unanimously fixed upon the seemingly small figure beside the master seat.
The hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop, even breathing was intentionally suppressed to a minimum.
For fear of any slightest noise, interfering with the one who had closed his eyes, his breath starting to resonate faintly with the entire plane—Anton Buchanan.
An invisible and grand rhythm was emanating from his small body.
This rhythm was not sound, nor was it pure energy resonance.
It was more like the pulse of "rules," the breath of "existence."
Initially faint like a heartbeat, it quickly intensified and spread out, like ripples cast by a stone thrown into a still lake, surpassing the confines of the hall, extending to the grasslands, sweeping across mountains...
Ultimately, covering the entire plane housed by the high tower!
Everyone could "hear" this rhythm clearly; it echoed directly in the depths of the soul.
Following this, an indescribable feeling of "awkwardness" surged like a tide over the hearts of all living beings.
Not pain or oppression, but a deeper dissonance rooted in cognition and instinct.
It’s as if a familiar song suddenly went off-key, or foreign elements mixed into the air one relied upon, with the ground beneath seeming both familiar and strange.
"Ow!!"
"Scree!!"
"Hiss!!"
In the grasslands of the plane, the varied and free-range giant beasts were the first to become agitated.
Roaring and charging restlessly, or anxiously tearing at the ground, as if sensing some tectonic shift in the world’s foundation but unable to comprehend, instinctively venting their unease.
Jeming was alarmed by this pervasive feeling of "awkwardness" across the plane.
Is this what the scene is like during a High Tier Wizard’s ascension?
Such resonance during ascension alone directly affects the entire plane?
At that moment, he heard Professor Clark’s deep and clear explanation, directly transmitted into his ears, along with Viola and Anger’s:
"Do not panic. This is the law that the master controls, undergoing ’alternation’ and ’solidification’ with the inherent laws of the plane. He is attempting to imprint his ’principles’ into the fundamental rules of this plane."
"This is a necessary process for ascending to the Eighth Level, the master’s power is sufficient. Successfully performing law solidification during this special state of ascension means he can independently perform law solidification even when not in this state."
Law solidification!
Imprinting one’s law into the plane’s foundation!
Jeming was shocked to realize where this awkwardness stemmed from.
Although mentioned in conversations with Professor Clark before about the solidification abilities of Eighth Level Wizards, that was more inclined towards immunity against Ninth Level beings modifying the world.
Now, Jeming has finally gained a direct sense of the terrifying might of the Eighth Level Wizard!
This is no longer merely "utilizing" or "guiding" laws but directly "modifying" and "defining" the rules of local areas!
No wonder Nolun Wizard can ignore the Space Anchoring Force Field set by Helios and Morpheus and teleport freely, because in front of an Eighth Level Wizard, such "blockage" seems laughable, like lines drawn on a beach.
Jeming also finally understood that the so-called "law solidification" of Eighth Level Wizards is essentially a truncated version of the authority of Ninth Level creatures.
Everyone modifies the world; it’s just that Ninth Level creatures modify a broader "extent" and "degree," while Eighth Level can only modify along the laws they master!
"Carefully perceive this rhythm," Professor Clark reminded, "this is a perfect opportunity to observe the essence of law alternation, beneficial for your future."
Jeming immediately focused his mind, activating the All-Purpose Eye witchcraft to the utmost, immersing all his mental faculties in the pervasive grand rhythm, attempting to capture the mysteries within.
However, the rhythm was extraordinarily profound, like a mirage.
He could distinctly perceive its existence, feel its "influence" on the entire plane, yet found it hard to parse specific law information from it.
It was like an epic sung in an unknown language, its melody magnificent, heart-stirring, yet incomprehensible.
He stole a glance at his mentor Clark, as well as the upper figures like Nolun Wizard, Augusta, Dionysus.
Finding each immersed with focused expressions, eyes glittering with wisdom, evidently deeply engaged with the law insights revealed by the rhythm, gaining substantial benefits.
He then looked at the surrounding Reks and other Third and Fourth Level Wizards, noticing most wore expressions like his own, faces showing some confusion and distress, evidently perplexed and at a loss.
’My understanding of the laws is still not deep enough, thus it’s hard to directly draw nourishment from this level of law alternation.’
Jeming immediately understood the key.
Just like a primary school student cannot comprehend the derivation process of university-level calculus, when one’s realm is not high enough, forcing understanding is futile.
Although a bit disappointed, he did not give up.
He no longer tried to "understand," but instead, he fully focused on "memorizing"!
He used the "All-Purpose Eye" to frantically record every tiny frequency change in the rhythm and engraved this unique "feeling" produced during the alternation of laws with his soul.
These "data" that cannot be understood now might become the critical key for him to breakthrough in future stages.
Just as Jeming was fully focused on memorizing, the grand rhythm permeating the plane suddenly intensified!
Buzz!!!
Like billions of strings being plucked to the highest pitch simultaneously, or as if the rules of the entire plane were forcibly tightened in this small area!
An indescribable, terrifying pressure seemingly from the plane itself suddenly descended!
Thunk! Thunk!
Inside the hall, many wizards below the Fourth Level turned pale and couldn’t help but stagger back.
Some even directly knelt on one knee, barely able to support themselves.
Even Jeming felt a tremor in his soul, as if it were gripped by an invisible giant hand, making it difficult to breathe, and he had to exert all his effort to operate the Body Refining Technique to stabilize his position.
Only wizards of the Fifth Level and above could maintain relative composure under this pressure, but their expressions were also extremely solemn.
And just at the moment when the rhythm and pressure reached their peak—
High above, Anton Buchanan’s childlike body underwent an astonishing transformation!
His short stature suddenly swelled like being inflated, bones cracking like thunder, muscles bulging, and the blood vessels under his skin squirmed like writhing dragons.
The simple black wizard robe on his body was instantly stretched tight, then adapted and transformed under its tremendous power.
In just a few breaths, the seemingly harmless child disappeared, replaced by an elder over two meters tall, with an incomparably robust and stalwart build!
His hair and beard bristled, with dense silver long hair draped over his shoulders, the equally silver mutton chop beard covered the lower part of his face like a lion’s mane.
His exposed upper body sculpted with clear-cut muscles was filled with an explosive sense of power, his chest covered with dense silver chest hair, emanating a primitive, ancient aura as if capable of tearing stars apart with bare hands!
Immediately, the rhythm and pressure that had reached the peak swiftly receded like the ebbing tide and calmed down.
The awkward feeling in the plane also gradually disappeared, replaced by a sense of being more "solid" and more "orderly," as if this plane had gone through a thorough refining and strengthening.
This meant the law solidification was completed...
The promotion was successful!
"Congratulations, Master/Professor/Lord Anton, on your promotion to the Eighth Level!"
After a brief silence, deafening congratulations erupted inside the hall, filled with sincere admiration and joy.
Professor Clark, observing the successfully promoted and greatly transformed mentor, also felt a touch of emotion flash in his eyes as he explained to the three slightly stunned students beside him:
"Don’t be surprised. The law that the mentor controls involves ’life cycle,’ ’form regression,’ and ’source of power.’ His usual child-like form is a convergence and sedimentation that helps him understand the origin of the law of ’life.’ At this moment, what is revealed is his form at the peak of ’power,’ corresponding to the full release of his law power, aligning more closely with his law’s ’cycle’ at its peak stage."
Jeming understood upon hearing this.
"Life cycle, form regression, source of power... It indeed sounds that the master’s laws are closely related to the concepts of life and death cycles, rejuvenation, and that’s why he undergoes such an astonishing transformation."
High above, Anton Buchanan, who had reverted to his elder form—no, now the Eighth Level Wizard Anton Buchanan—slowly opened his eyes.
Those eyes, once as black as a child’s, now flickered with specks of white light, seemingly containing the profound truth of the birth and extinction of stars, the withering and thriving of all things.
He felt the new endless power surging within him, tightly connected to the entire plane, and a satisfied and majestic smile appeared on his face.
"Hahaha! Good! I’ve never felt this good before!" His loud voice thundered like a storm, causing the hall to buzz and hum, "Fellow kin, juniors, today marks my promotion to the Eighth Level, truly a moment of great joy! Let’s feast! Celebrate!"
He waved his mighty hand, and the alchemical spirit light flooded the entire hall.
"This place shall be the banquet hall!"
In an instant, the scene within the hall began to rapidly change.
The giant stone pillars were overgrown with lush spirit vines, emitting a soft glow; the ground turned into streams flowing with divine nectar, and a pleasant fragrance filled the air that invigorated the spirit; magnificent long tables and chairs appeared out of thin air, instantly laden with various rare fruits and energy-rich delicacies and wines.
Many of the feast’s dishes were rare treasures Jeming had never heard of or seen.
The crowd present, naturally, would not refuse; they took their seats gladly.
