Chapter 198: Chapter 93: All-New Gameplay, Star Realm Gate
It was as if he’d feel cheated if he didn’t find three to five faults with Zorn’s Steam Tower every time he visited.
"Master Siboru."
Zorn offered a brief acknowledgment.
The Old Wizard, Siboru, carefully surveyed Zorn’s Steam Tower before speaking.
"Senator Zorn, the progress on this Steam Ceremony Tower of yours is a bit too slow."
"You must understand, the great wave of steam stirred up by the power of Saintisman’s Steam Spirit Realm is astonishingly powerful."
"If you don’t pick up the pace, and the steam tide surges in... if you can’t hold it back..."
"Ogrande City’s entire investment will go down the drain."
"After all..."
His gaze fell upon the various steam-powered industrial buildings surrounding the Steam Ceremony Tower.
"After all, Ogrande City’s steam industry is very powerful."
For once, Master Siboru didn’t seem to be nitpicking Zorn.
"I’ll expedite the construction of the Steam Ceremony Tower as quickly as possible, Master Siboru."
Zorn replied after a moment’s thought.
"Mm."
The Old Wizard nodded, about to turn and leave.
Just as Zorn thought he was actually leaving, the Old Wizard took the opportunity, while Zorn was off his guard, to rapidly list several problems with the Steam Ceremony Tower before hastily departing.
This left Zorn stunned and speechless.
’And here I thought the nitpicky Old Wizard wasn’t going to find fault with me today!’
A short while later, a roar of fury erupted from another tower not far away.
"You damned old bastard, stay away from my tower!"
"I don’t need your useless suggestions!"
The shouts were mixed with waves of Steam Spiritual Energy.
Zorn saw the Old Wizard’s Spirit Body fleeing with his head in his hands.
The scene attracted the gazes of many other Tower Guardians.
’That meddlesome Old Wizard is just digging his own grave. What harm could he possibly intend!’
Zorn refocused his attention on his Steam Ceremony Tower.
There was, of course, a reason his Steam Ceremony Tower was being constructed so slowly.
’The power of Ogrande City’s steam industrialization is far more robust than the data I previously obtained.’
’Clearly, the numerous steam industrial districts have concealed a massive amount of their steam power.’
’And those small workshops are just as restless. They’re all secretly pumping out massive outputs. Who knows where they’ve established their own powerful industrial districts.’
’After these last few days of adjustments and tests, it should be able to perfectly accommodate the full power of Ogrande City’s steam industrialization.’
’Ogrande City possesses such robust steam power.’
’In that case... the stability of the planned 13-level Steam Ceremony Tower will be even greater than I anticipated.’
’By then, its defensive power will likely be far stronger than even that of the core 36-level Steam Towers.’
With these thoughts in mind, Zorn devoted himself completely to the construction of the Steam Ceremony Tower.
This time, his construction efficiency was noticeably faster.
In about half a day, Zorn completed the entire construction of the second level.
At this point, Zorn stopped, not continuing on to the third level.
’I’ll let the entire framework run for half a day. If there are no issues, I’ll continue with this structure, building one level every two days or so.’
’By the end of March, the 13-level Steam Ceremony Tower will be complete.’
’The ceremony is set to begin in mid-April, so there’s plenty of time.’
He exited the Steam Spirit Realm.
His Spiritual Consciousness slowly returned to his body.
He paused for a moment in thought before the Steam Arch.
Composing himself, Zorn arrived before the Star Realm Gate.
After examining it for a moment, he slowly pushed against the Star Realm Gate with one hand.
A look of delight spread across Zorn’s face as he pushed.
The powerful resistance from before now gave way with ease.
’The Star Realm Gate is finally open.’
The Star Realm—the battlefield of the most powerful experts.
A place the mighty must enter.
Countless powerful beings explore the Star Realm, searching for mysterious resources, seeking opportunities for breakthroughs, and even hunting other powerful entities.
But by the same token, the Star Realm is also exceptionally dangerous.
When you hunt others, you... will also be seen as prey by more powerful beings.
Those who can enter the Star Realm are, at a minimum, Middle Rank Level, with powerful Sequence Spirituality.
Only by reaching the Upper Rank Level can one roam the Star Realm for extended periods.
However, the trajectories of time and space in the Star Realm are chaotic.
The only thing that can be recorded are coordinates.
One’s own coordinates, and the coordinates of one’s Sequence Spirituality after entering the Star Realm—these must be carefully managed.
Once you lose your coordinates in the real world...
...you will be completely and eternally lost in the Star Realm.
For those not powerful enough, becoming lost in the Star Realm is essentially a death sentence.
Even Upper Rank Powerhouses, if lost in the depths of the Star Realm, cannot escape an eventual demise.
Most powerhouses make ample preparations before exploring the Star Realm.
You may be powerful, but there is always something more powerful than you in the Star Realm.
And that is one of the first rules a novice entering the Star Realm must remember.
One must remember that even Zorn’s ship, the *Legendary*, met its end in the Star Realm, and he only survived by using his reversion ability.
But for Zorn Corick, the one and only World-level BOSS, the Evil Spirit Wizard, to appear in this entire story arc...
...a journey into the Star Realm was not so dangerous.
The reason was simple.
Resurrection!
Possessing the power of Resurrection, Zorn Corick could return by dying, even if he became lost in the depths of the Star Realm.
Even the "Forbidden Grounds of the Star Realm" that powerful Upper Rank Powerhouses dared not touch, the terrifying Storm Star, the disorienting Eternal Realm, and others...
...Zorn could explore them all, relying on his powerful Resurrection Ability.
As a major BOSS Sequence, he was fated to become the vortex of his era.
He would be besieged by countless factions.
But a naturally powerful and special BOSS Sequence also granted him advantages that ordinary Extraordinary Sequences could never hope to achieve.
After all...
...the powerful Resurrection Ability of the Evil Spirit Wizard Sequence was one of the main reasons so many factions coveted it in the original timeline.
By capturing Zorn Corick, they could dismember, research, or even absorb him. Once they mastered the power of Resurrection...
...they would have all the insurance they needed to step into the Star Realm again.
But in this Ogrande City story arc...
Zorn had rewritten the fate of the Evil Spirit Wizard.
Furthermore, the other two beings with Resurrection Power—the Evil Spirit Divine Mage and Duke Mu Huo...
...had both been dealt with and brought to heel by Zorn.
The power and terror of the Evil Spirit had become known, but the power of Resurrection had not been overtly displayed.
This gave Zorn an astonishing margin for error when it came to "traveling the Star Realm."
As he gazed at the Star Realm Gate, a flood of crucial information surfaced in Zorn’s mind.
’My Holy Witch Spirit Body is extremely stealthy right now, and my five Resurrection charges are all stable.’
’There’s no problem with going to the Star Realm.’
’Besides, to truly explore the Star Realm, even a seasoned veteran has to die a few times.’
Lost in thought, Zorn rubbed his palms together.
Zorn’s very spirit couldn’t help but tremble with anticipation.
’The "Starship sailing" gameplay... that’s a whole new revolution from the mid-to-late game arcs!’
’If I want to get my hands on all that treasure, it all comes down to how well I can pilot a Star Realm Ship.’
’And with a major BOSS Sequence and five resurrections, I’ll be an absolute hegemon when it comes to sailing the Star Realm.’
Zorn’s train of thought paused for a moment.
’I need to find the Lost Starship Ruins as quickly as possible, complete the chain quest there, and be the first to obtain a Star Realm Ship.’
’A Star Realm Ship is the number one priority for any effective exploration of the Star Realm.’
’Without a Star Realm Ship, a single expedition could take half a month, a full month, or even several months or years.’
’If my Spirit Body returns empty-handed during that time, all the time I spent is basically wasted.’
’But with a Star Realm Ship, I can anchor it in the Star Realm, locking in its coordinates.’
’The next time, my Spirit Body can descend directly to the Star Realm Ship’s coordinates.’
’With a Star Realm Ship, every entry into the Star Realm will be at the same location.’
’Without one, I have to start from my World every single time.’
With that thought, Zorn pushed the gate open and stepped through!
