Starlight Calendar Year 1269, the Month of Flaming Meteor (July).

The war erupted once again. On the second day after the Starry Alliance declared war, they launched a fierce offensive against the Cangjin Empire.

Despite having over two years of respite, the Cangjin Empire, which had lost vast territories, had not gathered much strength. Facing the advancing Starry Alliance, it was defeated at every turn from the very beginning of the war.

Cangjin Empire, Holy Flame City.

The Month of Flaming Meteor used to be the day the annual Flame Festival was held in the Cangjin Empire.

However, as the capital of the Empire, Holy Flame City now showed not a trace of festivity, but instead was cold and desolate.

The palace, study room.

Having just concluded court, the Cangjin Emperor returned to his study. Pushing open the door, he saw the Wizard standing by the window, gazing out at the sky.

"...You finally decided to see me." The Cangjin Emperor did not look pleased.

The Wizard turned around, casting a deep glance at him and sighed.

"I have already said, I will not interfere in the war between the Empire and the Starry Principality."

"Are you just going to watch the Empire fall, and the royal bloodline perish?" The Cangjin Emperor gritted his teeth and questioned fiercely.

With successive defeats reported from the front lines and the Empire facing imminent destruction, he disregarded the Wizard’s lofty position in the Empire, adopting an aggressive stance.

However, all he received in response was the Wizard’s calm, unruffled gaze.

"The royal family’s kindness to me, I’ve long repaid. The Empire and I are merely in a cooperative relationship now; I am not responsible for the Empire’s downfall. I thought you were always clear on this."

The Cangjin Emperor was momentarily speechless, gritting his teeth as he said, "Tell me what reward you want, anything you say, I’ll agree to it as long as you can preserve the Empire!"

The Wizard shook his head, saying nothing.

Seeing this, the Cangjin Emperor’s face turned even darker, speaking in a heavy voice, "Since you do not intend to intervene, then at least do me a favor!"

"What favor?"

"Help me contact other Wizard Apprentices! I am willing to pay a great price, as long as they are willing to join forces to help the Empire deal with Sunan!"

The Cangjin Emperor secretly resolved that as long as he could kill Sunan, he was willing to empty the national treasury.

Once Sunan was dead, the Starry Principality would inevitably fall into chaos, unable to continue the war.

And with the Starry Principality losing its core, the Starry Alliance would naturally collapse as well.

The Empire would thus gain more breathing space, and perhaps there would be an opportunity to rise again in the future!

The Cangjin Emperor’s mind raced, but he was instantly confronted with the Wizard’s pitying gaze.

"It’s useless. Even if you gather all the Wizard Apprentices on the continent, they won’t be able to harm Sunan one bit."

The Cangjin Emperor was stunned, instinctively asking, "Why?"

The Wizard sighed with a complex expression, saying softly, "Sunan has already ascended to a Wizard."

The Cangjin Emperor was stunned for a long while before he understood the meaning of the Wizard’s words; his entire being felt as if struck by lightning, his eyes wide open.

"Wiz-Wizard?"

"How is that possible?! How could anyone on the Starlight Continent ascend to a Wizard?"

As the overlord of the southeastern region, the Cangjin Emperor had more access to the secrets of Wizards than others, and he knew the current predicament of the Starlight Continent, where it was nearly impossible for anyone to ascend to a Wizard!

Faced with the Cangjin Emperor’s shocked questioning, the Wizard merely replied with four words.

"Starlight Tower."

These four words instantly drained all the strength from the Cangjin Emperor.

He slumped into a chair, face pale, with an expression of despair in his eyes.

The Cangjin Emperor knew very well what a Wizard meant.

Just as the Wizard had said, even if all the Wizard Apprentices on the continent were gathered together, they wouldn’t be a match for Sunan.

On this continent, a Wizard was synonymous with invincibility.

Reflecting on his earlier thoughts of dealing with a Wizard, the Cangjin Emperor suddenly found it laughable.

"Surrender." The Wizard said softly, "Doing so might preserve a trace of the royal bloodline."

The Cangjin Emperor remained silent for a long while, speaking in a hoarse voice, "Would the Starry Principality allow the royal bloodline to continue?"

"Why would it not? What does the Starry Principality have to fear now?" The Wizard retorted.

The Cangjin Emperor opened his mouth, but could not refute.

Indeed.

With a Wizard backing the Starry Principality, there was nothing to worry about.

As long as Sunan was around, no one could shake the Yanest Clan’s status.

Even if the Cangjin royal bloodline was left, it would have no impact on the Starry Principality.

"...Very well, the Empire surrenders."

With these words, the Cangjin Emperor seemed to age significantly.

Shedding the mantle of the overlord of the southeastern region, he now looked like a frail old man.

The Wizard slightly shook his head, turning once again to look outside the window, with a contemplative look in his eyes.

The Starlight Continent was on the brink of a major change. Should he also make some changes?

...

Dragon Remains Tower, Fifth Floor.

Sherman left the workshop, preparing to head to the warehouse.

Glancing at the ten sets of second-level Magic Pattern Armor lying in his Space Ring, he couldn’t help but show a slight smile.

Once these Magic Pattern Armors were exchanged into Contribution Points, it would almost be enough for a bottle of Superpower Potion.

"The construction of the Sixth Star Ring is just a little short of completion. With this Superpower Potion, it should just about do it."

Thinking happily, Sherman entered the central hall and teleported to the warehouse area.

As soon as he looked up, he saw Attila and Cole in the distance, discussing something.

Over a decade had passed, and both Attila and Cole had celebrated their thirtieth birthdays.

But judging by appearance alone, both looked no more than in their early twenties.