Chapter 727: Chapter 369: Ghost Light Association
Just like Ronan said, Anand is the true “genius”.
He actually thought of attempting to find a common connection among the movements of stars, the ebb and flow of tides, and the flow of energy… and express it in the form of rune formulas, thereby achieving mutual derivation of various rules.
Even if an average wizard thought of it, it would be difficult to accomplish, because it requires observing and recording the trajectory of each star, the impact of energy tide changes on the earth’s surface in different situations…. then organizing and summarizing possible rules from a massive amount of data, repeatedly verifying, deducing, calculating….
It is too complex; even with the help of existing astrological knowledge, achieving this requires an incredibly staggering talent and patience.
Ronan doesn’t know how much time and effort Anand spent on this, perhaps it all began when he was just a young wizard.
What Ronan did was nothing more than relying on his insights from studying the “Ancient Star Book” for so long, understanding the ancient star map recorded in the “Ancient Star Book”, and making the final additions and summaries to Anand’s nearly completed findings.
He possesses the “Ancient Star Book” and is proficient in Star Disk Calculations, like holding the general outline of wizard astrology, yet lacks the corresponding foundational knowledge, while Anand’s situation is exactly the opposite; the two of them form a perfect complement in a very unique way.
Anand’s formula greatly aids Ronan’s insights from the “Ancient Star Book”, functioning as an indexing method and tool that can significantly boost Ronan’s understanding of the “Ancient Star Book” and higher-level Star Disk Calculations.
The key is that it also provides Ronan with an excellent line of thought; he can continue deducing along this first completed formula.
Ronan applied the formula and tried it slightly, already feeling a tremendous improvement in comprehension speed, all of which will eventually reflect on the proficiency level of the panel.
The formation of the “Star Force Field” brought Ronan an unexpected surprise, but due to the presence of the Astronomical Society group, Ronan temporarily could not carefully comprehend and ponder its mysteriousness and changes.
During the ensuing journey, Ronan unexpectedly noticed a subtle change in the Astronomical Society’s five people’s attitude towards him.
Anand pulled Ronan to chat for several hours every day about astrological topics, which was not surprising, as Ronan had helped him complete the formula, and now in Anand’s mind, Ronan had evidently become a “kindred spirit and a predecessor” in astrology.
What truly surprised Ronan was that Aiwen and the others, on the forward journey, consciously or unconsciously always kept him securely protected at the center of the entire team, as if they had already considered him as some type of “core” existence.
…
In the dimly lit ruins, a transparent, twisted brightness quickly passed through the narrow waterway, continuously approaching.
A figure emerged from the light, walking while removing an invisible cloak.
“How is it?”
Aiwen looked at the person approaching head-on, speaking with a slightly solemn expression.
The latter replied in a low voice, “A lot, particularly a lot, almost filling up the path ahead… What I saw included Fifth-rank Terror Beasts and Corpse Demons, about four or five of them…”
Everyone present held their breath for a moment, then someone muttered under their breath, “Damn! Did we just catch these guys having a party here?”
“Aiwen…”
Several people habitually looked towards Aiwen, but the latter merely shook his head slightly, then cast his gaze towards a certain handsome young man wearing a Crystal Crown, exuding noble temperament, at the center of the team.
The young man was lowering his head, leafing through a thick book filled with star and moon patterns, and a slender, gray-haired youth stood beside him like an assistant, both of their gazes fixed on the book pages, occasionally whispering to each other as if not hearing the conversation among Aiwen and the others.
“Misha…”
Aiwen approached, the crowned youth lifted his head and spoke gently, “What’s the matter?”
Aiwen briefly recounted the current predicament of the team, then awaited the other’s decision with a heavy expression.
“Five Fifth-rank…”
The youth appeared thoughtful, scanning slowly over the several wizards of the Astronomical Society before finally landing his gaze on a female wizard at the edge of the team, possessing a noble demeanor and alluring appearance.
“I can try my best to hold two. But they cannot be Terror Beasts…”
The woman casually said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Terror Beasts were a type of physically robust and highly spell-resistant lizard monster commonly seen in the waterways, referred to as Terror Beasts by the Astronomical Society, and one of the demons trickling in from the Otherworld.
“I…”
Aiwen, hearing the woman’s words, also wanted to express something, opening his mouth but unable to articulate.
The five of them together could not restrain even a single Fifth-rank monster.
“Then think of another way.”
The young man seemed unconcerned, calmly waving his hand.
He then took out a star map from the space ring, calling someone beside him, “Help me re-evaluate a new route.
Let’s try to bypass this section ahead.”
Upon hearing “detour,” Aiwen’s eyes lit up, hope momentarily appearing on his face.
All the members of the Astronomical Society fixed their eyes on the handsome two individuals, watching them continuously deduce and calculate against the star map. As time ticked away, anxiety and tension began to permeate among the few people, with only the beautiful woman maintaining an indifferent demeanor.
Aiwen and the others knew how intricate, complex, and arduous the Route Calculation was.
During this trial action, they didn’t know how many times they had seen Anand looking like he was about to tear his hair out with worry, and every time the calculation ended.
After who knew how long, the two finally stopped their exchange. The young man looked up, seeing multiple pairs of eyes focused on him in surprise, and asked, “Why did you stop?”
Aiwen opened his mouth, “New route…”
“Oh, right.”
The young man shook his head, “I almost forgot about it.
The new route has long been calculated. I thought I had already told you…”
The young man said as he casually tossed over a newly inscribed Rune Stone and then lowered his head again, concentrating on the contents of the pages before him.
The gray-haired young man, Anand, leaned in like a fanboy beside the young man, sometimes unable to suppress his voice filled with admiration and excitement.
“Why didn’t I think to calculate from this angle…”
“Mi… Misha, you are truly the most talented person I’ve ever seen…”
Aiwen didn’t know what to say for a moment, shaking his head helplessly, and with the new route map, he resumed directing everyone forward.
A while later, when the group emerged from another waterway, the Astronomical Society wizard responsible for scouting returned excitedly, wearing an Invisible Cloak, and reported good news to Aiwen: “We’re back on the original route… now those damned things are right behind us…”
The nerves of the Astronomical Society members, tense all the way, finally completely relaxed, and under the light emitted by the surrounding Elemental Life, the disdainful and contemptuous expression on Heather’s face not far away was clearly visible.
Aiwen offered a bitter smile. Compared to Heather, their group indeed seemed somewhat “lackluster.”
Aiwen was beginning to understand why someone as outstanding as Heather would become such a loyal follower of Misha.
What seemed like insurmountable challenges to them were effortlessly overcome by others as if with no effort at all.
Is this the difference between people?
Aiwen instinctively glanced at the young man in the center of the team, his expression complex, as he called everyone to continue on the road.
“That’s it for now, Anand.”
Ronan closed the pages, handing them back to the gray-haired young man beside him: “Let’s call it a day.”
The young gray-haired man, looking unsatisfied but nodding nonetheless, hugged his book as he walked aside, “I need to digest this well…”
Ronan’s expression was calm, habitually using the Deep Knowledge Crown to check the surroundings through the vision of the Elemental Guard.
In his mind, the knowledge of Astrology flowed rapidly like a stream.
The exchange between him and Anand was like a process of mutually absorbing “nutrients” — he gained basic knowledge of astrology from Anand, while Anand obtained his understanding of the ancient star maps.
Of course, from Anand’s perspective, this process felt more like he was unilaterally receiving Ronan’s “guidance.”
During this period, Ronan gained significantly; the [Star Force Field] had completely stabilized, the expert-level Star Disk’s calculation progress was advancing rapidly, and he even began to derive the second group of “Anand’s formulas.”
More complex and refined than the first group.
“At the current pace, in about three to five days, we should smoothly arrive at the entrance of Quivada Oasis…”
Ronan checked the calculated route map, calculating silently in his heart.
The first stage of this “Trial of the Stone of Destiny” should have pass techniques.
The Keldim Ancient Star Map is the key item, from which the operation and flow patterns of the energy tide within the waterway can be deduced, offering many ways to avoid areas densely populated by monsters within the waterway, finding the safest route into Quivada Oasis.
Ronan had been experimenting with this, and facts proved that indeed, he led the Astronomical Society members along the way without encountering a single Fifth-rank demon in direct conflict.
Just as he was thinking, “Swish swish swish——”
Urgent footsteps came from the front.
The Astronomical Society wizard responsible for scouting quickly returned, unable to even remove his concealing tools, so only a flurry of humanoid transparency could be seen speaking: “There are people ahead!
A Level 5 Wizard leading… looks like someone from the Ghost Light Association.”
Another wizard participating in the Trial of the Stone of Destiny?!
Competitors!
Upon hearing this news, the members of the Astronomical Society tensed up immediately, their gazes instinctively all turning to Ronan in unison.
Unknowingly, Ronan had become the leader of this temporarily assembled team; someone with exceptional talent, regardless of the circumstances, finds it easier to gain respect and trust from others.
“Take me to see.”
Ronan’s eyes glimmered slightly, his face showing no fluctuation, as he quietly beckoned everyone to follow.