Then Augusta raised her hand and made a light stroke across the star chart, marking out a large swath of data.
"Also, from the elemental radiation spectrum analysis, the earth element concentration inside the plane far exceeds standard values, and the overall elemental activity is extremely high. Based on these elemental characteristics, it should be a large transcendent civilization with numerous supernatural lifeforms, and the plane's rules should lean more toward the material." Jie Ming stared at the information on the light screen, calculations racing through his mind.
If that were the case, this plane should have a tier-7 civilization—with more than one seventh-tier lifeform.
Even by the standards of Noren Workshop's war records in recent years, this was a considerable level of strength.
But that suited him even more.
"It seems your Augusta family really is lucky, actually finding such a resource-rich plane."
The fact that the plane could nurture seventh-tier lifeforms, and more than one, meant its resources were plentiful.
For Jie Ming, the real excitement was that only opponents of that caliber would let him field-test his Talisman Imprint Rune Artifacts in actual combat. He raised his head and looked at Augusta on the light screen. "Then, for the detailed coordinates of this plane, how long would it take to calculate them?"
Augusta thought it over before giving an estimate. "Based on what the family has told me, a complete calculation of the detailed coordinates will take about five more years."
"So slow?" Jie Ming was somewhat surprised.
Calculating plane coordinates was indeed grueling work, but it shouldn't take that long.
An ordinary tier-6 logistics wizard could normally finish it in a year or two. Augusta shook her head regretfully. "I'm not clear on the specifics. It seems the interference is rather heavy, but I don't know what's causing it either."
"Is that so..." Jie Ming stroked his chin thoughtfully.
But then...
"It's fine. Five years is fine—not too long. It'll give me time to prepare in advance." Jie Ming smiled.
After all, his Talisman Imprint Rune Artifacts would take time to mass-produce.
In the meantime, he could also upgrade and reinforce his Return to Ruins Armor, refining his combat system further.
Even if his external puppet got blown to pieces in the current situation, it wouldn't matter much; but since he would one day complete the Mustard Seed Contains the Dao True Body Art, preparing early wouldn't hurt.
The greatest advantage of those cultivation-system spells was that their power rose along with his rank.
All he needed to do now was use his tier-6 knowledge to rebuild them, boosting their output multipliers. At that thought, Jie Ming smiled and nodded to Augusta. "Then I'll see you in five years. I look forward to fighting side by side."
Augusta's lips curved up almost imperceptibly. "See you in five years. Then you can see the new power I've grasped."
"I'll be waiting in anticipation."
"You definitely won't be disappointed!"
The communication light screen went dark, and the laboratory returned to silence.
Jie Ming thought for a moment, then checked the reserve in his material repository. As he purchased the missing materials, he mobilized the Creation System to start manufacturing new Talisman Imprint Rune Artifacts.
He had originally thought nothing else would happen during those five years.
Unexpectedly, a year later, an urgent academy meeting notice appeared on Jie Ming's Magic Net terminal.
He glanced at it—Dean Avery Knight had sent out an emergency assembly notice.
"Odd..."
Jie Ming's eyes shifted slightly. He first arranged all his ongoing experiments, then changed into a wizard robe. Using the teleportation permission granted by the emergency assembly notice, he went through the teleportation array to the academy conference hall.
Entering the hall, his footsteps paused momentarily, because there were far fewer people in the meeting room than he had expected.
In the immense circular conference hall, only about a dozen figures were seated.
Taking a closer look, all of them were full wizards at tier 6 or above.
Seeing Jie Ming enter, several tier-6 wizards gave him slight nods of acknowledgment.
Augusta remained in her usual seat, arms crossed, resting with her eyes closed. Hearing his footsteps, she only opened her eyes to glance at him and nodded slightly in greeting.
The tier-5 resident wizards who usually managed the various research projects were nowhere to be seen.
The entire meeting room was much quieter than usual.
Jie Ming immediately sensed that today's discussion was probably out of the ordinary.
He had no sooner sat down than Viola popped up beside him. "Junior, you're late!"
"When the notice came, I was in the laboratory. I just needed a moment to organize things."
Jie Ming explained, then asked, "What's going on?"
Viola cupped her chin, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth. "I... don't know!"
Jie Ming: "..."
Viola looked at him and laughed. "But don't worry. It's an urgent notice, not a mandatory summons, so it's probably just some trouble. Nothing serious."
"True." Jie Ming slowly nodded.
As the two talked, a figure appeared out of thin air on the podium up front.
It was Dean Avery Knight.
Seeing the last tier-6 wizard take his seat, he gave a light wave of his hand.
Hum...
In the center of the conference hall, a light screen slowly unfolded. Countless dots of light swirled in the air, eventually condensing into a vast partial map model of the Endless Chaotic Void.
Everett's voice was low. "I've called only you here today because what I'm about to tell you is not yet suitable to be publicized."
One sentence made the entire meeting room fall silent.
Everyone's gaze converged on the projection.
Everett reached out and tapped. A region at the edge of the projection suddenly lit up.
According to the markings on the projection, there should have been no plane there.
The light screen displayed the observed image of that region—a rolling mass of grey-black that continuously churned and expanded.
Even as a mere projection, it exuded an indescribable sense of oppression, as if, through the light screen, one could feel that fathomless devouring intent.
"Not long ago, an advance scout station on the edge of the Noren Workshop's sphere of influence discovered an unusual phenomenon in the Endless Chaotic Void."
"After preliminary assessment..." Everett paused briefly. "It should be a Wonder of the Endless Chaotic Void."
Many people's expressions shifted in the meeting room.
A Wonder.
This was what the Wizard Civilization called those so-called special disasters—phenomena beyond normal circumstances, so vast in scale that they could affect an entire region of the void.
Every Wonder almost always meant trouble... and resources.