Chapter 4: Soul Faction
Among the four factions, the leader of the "Arcane Faction" was Mage Sage Seraphilia. Besides her disciples, she also commanded the strongest garrison legion of Arcane Eternal Star. Those were not spellcasters, but monsters modified jointly by the "Soul Faction" and the "Mana Faction."
The reason Seraphilia controlled this monster legion was that, over the past few decades, she had managed the "Black Maple Courtyard." In other words, nearly one-third of the Black Maple Tree's yield was distributed by her.
This also led many spellcaster families to go to great lengths to send their younger generation to the "Arcane Faction" to become disciples of Mage Sage Seraphilia.
Of course, this was also related to Mage Sage Seraphilia's teaching ability. Being one of the three great mentors of Arcane Eternal Star was no empty title.
With titles such as Arcane Faction Leader, Black Maple Courtyard Administrator, and one of the Three Great Mentors, Seraphilia had long become one of the highest-ranking figures of Arcane Eternal Star. Of course, above her was the Supreme Being, an unshakable absolute authority, a peak that no number of titles could challenge.
Among the four factions, aside from Seraphilia's "Arcane Faction," the remaining three were not to be trifled with either.
The leader of the "Elemental Faction" was Frostwind King. With him as the leader, one could imagine how good the reputation of the "Elemental Faction" was.
Besides being the leader of the "Elemental Faction," the "Void Great Library" of Arcane Eternal Star was also under Frostwind King's jurisdiction.
As for the remaining two factions, the soul figure of the "Mana Faction" was Dean Guya. This one was the dean of "Zhongshi Academy." Many spellcasters of Arcane Eternal Star had once been his students.
The last faction was the "Soul Faction," led by Yuwen Gewu, more commonly referred to by others as the old hag, Soul Lord.
The Great Clock Tower under Yuwen Gewu's jurisdiction seemed ordinary, but in reality, all soul-related resources were stored there. That's right, all the Soul Crystals and Soul Crystal Cores of Arcane Eternal Star were kept there.
Before this one took over the Great Clock Tower, Soul Crystals and Soul Crystal Cores at Arcane Eternal Star had long been in a state of extreme scarcity. After this one took over, although they were still scarce, they became barely sufficient, and in recent years, there had even been surpluses.
In short, the four faction leaders each managed an extremely wealthy department or region, or served as the dean of "Zhongshi Academy."
In Su Xiao's view, this trip to Arcane Eternal Star seemed to be an invitation from the star itself, but which faction was actually courting him remained uncertain.
Which faction to lean toward would depend on which one offered more at the time.
It would be foolish not to accept such benefits. As for signing contracts or similar things, setting aside Su Xiao's expertise in this area, what did contracts signed by Holy Flame Alchemist have to do with him?
As for which faction to befriend later, the old strategy applied: see which of the four factions gave the most. After all, he was here to freeload. As long as he didn't reveal anything suspicious, there was no need to worry about other aspects.
First, eliminate Frostwind King. From Wind Prince, one could see the nature of his father. Frostwind King would most likely not participate in this kind of competition; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to manage the Void Great Library.
Among Dean Guya, Soul Lord, and Seraphilia, Su Xiao favored Seraphilia the most. In this round, the management rights of the "Black Maple Courtyard" had rotated to Seraphilia. That was a Black Maple Tree dozens of meters tall, which gave an idea of how many resources Seraphilia currently controlled.
However, befriending Soul Lord's side was also a good choice. As a three-technique grandmaster, Su Xiao was desperately short of Soul Crystal Cores.
As he pondered this, the train gradually stopped. Su Xiao continued to rest with his eyes closed. Only after all the other passengers had disembarked did he get off with Beini.
A magnificent scene over a thousand meters high, like a spatial vortex, lay ahead. Around this dark purple spatial vortex, golden lines faded into the air. This was the "Gate of Law," the only way to enter Arcane Eternal Star.
Figures clad in full-body armor engraved with mana patterns stood before the Gate of Law. Most of these figures were ten meters tall, with only a few between 1.8 and 3 meters. They were responsible for checking entry permits for the Gate of Law or invitations to the Arcane Festival.
These were not spellcasters. With the pride of spellcasters, they would never handle such tasks as guarding the "Gate of Law" themselves. Instead, they commanded servants completely controlled by mana power to serve as guards here.
Several groups were already queuing in front of the "Gate of Law," waiting for their invitations to be checked so they could enter.
Seeing this, Su Xiao chose a line and began to queue, though the line was indeed quite long.
Time passed minute by minute. Half an hour later, a familiar figure jogged over from a distance and finally stopped beside Su Xiao. It was the short-haired girl he had met yesterday, a disciple of Seraphilia.
"Holy Flame Sir, what are you doing?"
"Queuing."
"You don't need to queue. Just go straight to the front."
The short-haired girl vigorously scratched her short hair, her little brain unable to keep up with this alchemy master's thinking.
"Lead the way."
"Huh? Oh! Okay."
The short-haired girl began to lead the way, quickly reaching the base of the Gate of Law. Su Xiao stepped onto a teleportation array, and the short-haired girl activated it. Vaguely, Su Xiao heard a startled cry and the short-haired girl shouting: 'No way!!'
The next moment, Su Xiao appeared on a vast open ground. The ground was paved with smooth square stones, each several meters in diameter, swept spotless.
Not far away, a row of mana guards, each ten meters tall, stood in a line, all staring at Su Xiao.
"You are?"
A male spellcaster sitting atop a mana guard's head spoke. Around him, several fist-sized mana balls slowly revolved. His eyes were completely black, with no distinction between pupil and sclera, leaving a deep impression.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He simply tossed the invitation in his hand to the other party. The black-eyed spellcaster caught it, his eyes first showing confusion, then a stunned expression as if a pie had fallen from the sky.
"You are... Holy Flame Alchemist?"
"Yes."
"I am Lu'en from Zhongshi Academy. I've long admired your reputation. I never thought I'd have the chance to meet you today."
Lu'en was both bewildered and astonished. In the days leading up to the Arcane Festival, every part of Arcane Eternal Star was quite interesting, yet he had been assigned by the academy to guard this non-open "Gate of Law."
He had thought it would be an extremely boring task, but Lu'en never expected that the alchemist they were supposed to vigorously court at this Arcane Festival would suddenly appear before this "Gate of Law," which should have had no visitors.
Using his brain, Lu'en knew it was someone from Mentor Seraphilia's side who had misadjusted the teleportation device when picking up the guest. The only one capable of such a blunder, besides Green Gillian, Lu'en couldn't think of any other sandbag from that side who could cause such a mix-up.
Or rather, Mentor Seraphilia taking Green Gillian as a disciple was one of the unsolved mysteries discussed among the younger generation in recent months. How could such a serious mentor take on such an apprentice?
"Holy Flame Sir, are you thirsty? I have wine. If you're hungry, I also have snacks."
Lu'en wasn't trying to laugh; he simply couldn't help it.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. Just then, a shout came from a distance.
"Sorry!!"
The short-haired girl ran at full speed. When she got near Su Xiao, she executed an emergency stop and then slipped.
"..."
"..."
Neither Su Xiao nor Lu'en spoke. Lu'en even lowered his head, covering his face with one hand, as if to say, this sandbag isn't from their Arcane Eternal Star.
"I'm sorry, I misadjusted the teleportation device."
The short-haired girl, Green Gillian, expressed her apology with extreme sincerity.
"What's your name?"
Su Xiao spoke. Hearing this, Green Gillian's heart trembled. She subconsciously thought that this Holy Flame Alchemist would complain to her mentor later.
"My name is... Lu'en."
Green Gillian's latter part was a bit quiet. After speaking, she guiltily turned her head slightly.
"Damn it!"
Lu'en, sitting on the mana guard over ten meters away, had good hearing. He angrily said: "Her name is Green Gillian. She's Mentor Seraphilia's apprentice. She lives in the lakeside dormitory."
Hearing this, Green Gillian closed her eyes in despair.
"Oh? Green... Gillian."
Su Xiao looked Green Gillian up and down before telling her to lead the way.
Green Gillian tentatively asked: "Holy Flame Sir, you won't complain to my mentor, will you?"
"No."
"Really? You're such a good person. Let me tell you, I was just too nervous..."
Green Gillian gradually returned to her previous lively state and began to lead the way.
"Holy Flame Sir, look, that's our Arcane Eternal Star's tallest 'Mana Tower,' over 1200 meters high. If any thief dares to attack, one blast will reduce them to nothing."
Green Gillian pointed at the towering "Mana Tower" in the distance, having already transformed into a little tour guide.
"My mentor said earlier that when you arrived, she would take you to visit 'Silver Moon Lake.' My mentor... mentor, mentor!!"
Green Gillian suddenly stopped because she had forgotten that her mentor was still waiting at the 3rd "Gate of Law" to personally welcome Holy Flame Alchemist.
At that moment, Green Gillian felt the world darken, and her life darkened too.
"Holy Flame Sir, compared to visiting 'Silver Moon Lake,' we should visit the 'Gate of Law' first."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak, just stopped walking.
Over ten minutes later, in front of the 3rd "Gate of Law," under the extremely anxious guidance of Green Gillian, Su Xiao stopped here.
Su Xiao came behind a group of spellcasters ahead. These spellcasters occasionally gazed at the Gate of Law ahead. The ones at the front were even holding welcome banners, though the banners were crooked, as they were still in the preparation stage.
"Why isn't he here yet?"
"Not sure. Calculating the time, he should have arrived."
"We've been waiting since morning. Seraphilia really knows how to order people around."
"Shut up, you lazy Elemental School guy."
The hundred or so spellcasters, both male and female, whispered among themselves. Being in Arcane Eternal Star, with their perception at its most relaxed, they didn't notice that a figure had already sat down on the steps at the back, with Green Gillian beside him looking like she was about to die.
The scene became extremely surreal. At the very front, Seraphilia, wearing a gold-white robe and staring at the Gate of Law, gradually furrowed her delicate brows. Normally, the guest she was to welcome should have arrived half an hour ago, but hadn't. Not only had the guest not come, but the apprentice she had sent to the other side of the Gate of Law hadn't returned either.
This gave Seraphilia an ominous premonition. She suspected that Holy Flame Alchemist might have been assassinated or something. After this thought appeared, she decided to go outside the Gate of Law to check.
"You few, come with me to..."
Just as Seraphilia shifted her gaze, she saw the figure sitting on the steps behind the crowd, and beside him, Green Gillian, whose soul seemed about to float out of her mouth, on the verge of ascending.
Seraphilia squinted, looked carefully, then signaled the waiting spellcasters to disperse.
After all the welcomers had left, Seraphilia stepped forward and said: "Holy Flame Sir, welcome to Arcane Eternal Star."
"Mm."
"Holy Flame Sir has traveled a long way. Would you prefer a quiet residence, or to be neighbors with other distinguished guests?"
"With the others."
"Alright."
As Seraphilia spoke, the ring on her little finger glowed faintly. The next moment, everything around suddenly changed.
The scent of water vapor and grass appeared around them. Dozens of meters away was a lakeside dormitory. Though called a dormitory, it was actually quite luxurious. More importantly, this was one of the student accommodation areas of "Zhongshi Academy," so safety went without saying.
"This time, all distinguished guests are settled here. Holy Flame Sir, choose a room."
Seraphilia raised her hand, and several room keys appeared, floating neatly.
Su Xiao randomly chose one, then looked at the endless lake and asked: "This lake has a unique aura. What is it?"
"This is Silver Moon Lake."
"Oh."
Su Xiao walked toward the lakeside dormitory. Going up to the third floor, passing through a corridor with windows on one side, he used the key to open the door.
Seeing this, Seraphilia, who had brought Green Gillian here, said: "You must be tired from the journey. I won't disturb Holy Flame Sir's rest."
Leaving these words, Seraphilia left with Green Gillian.
The door behind him closed. Su Xiao looked around the room's layout. The carpet was spotless, the furnishings antique, the curtains thick. Drawing the curtains plunged the room into complete darkness. The bathroom and toilet were separate, and there were two bedrooms.
Su Xiao sat on a single sofa. As he had expected, Arcane Eternal Star didn't conduct layer-by-layer inspections, but that didn't mean there would be fewer subsequent probes.
Moreover, the girl named Green Gillian seemed to do some silly things, but if viewed differently, this might also be a form of testing.
In a serious setting, anyone would stay alert. But when faced with a coincidence that was both amusing and somewhat magical, most people would let their guard down for a moment.
After a while, Su Xiao stood up. He took off his coat, tossed it on the sofa, and went out into the corridor to gaze at the lake outside the window.
Silver Moon Lake.
If he said this lake, filled with moonlight aura, had nothing to do with Silver Moon Wolf, Su Xiao absolutely wouldn't believe it.
"Meow."
Beini on Su Xiao's shoulder called out, meaning she had just heard someone open the door of the adjacent room. It seemed another guest invited by Arcane Eternal Star had arrived.
Just then, the door of the adjacent room opened. A figure in a light-colored long dress walked out, glanced at Su Xiao, then headed toward the staircase in the middle of the corridor.
Su Xiao continued to gaze out the window. He felt that, compared to Arcane Eternal Star's welcome ceremony, the neighbor he had encountered now was even more peculiar. Living next door to him was actually the Goddess of Fortune.