Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1644 - 1637: Different Paths to the Same Goal

Chapter 1644: Chapter 1637: Different Paths to the Same Goal

As long as a policy is implemented for a sufficient period, subtle changes will inevitably occur, and eventually, quantitative change leads to qualitative transformation.

The civil official system that has been promoted for over a century has similarly brought new changes to the martial-oriented East Continent.

Specifically, the state clans and prominent local families finally ceased viewing cultivation as the sole path to prominence. Reading and becoming an official emerged as an alternative.

They attempted to encourage family members who could not engage in cultivation to pursue scholarly paths, waiting for appointments by the Imperial Court to jurisdictions within their states or counties. In name, these officials served the central government, but in reality, they were helping their families solidify local order.

However, the sophistication of civil governance is unmatched by martial governance, and the Cabinet of the Dongsheng Empire could not overlook these covert intentions. As a response, they introduced the "State Clan Non-State Appointment" system, directly severing such aspirations of these prominent families.

In the eyes of the Advance Team, the greatest contribution of the Wen Family to Kyushu was their role in driving societal progress.

This is no mere jest; it is something they have tangibly experienced.

The Wen Family implemented a series of policies across Kyushu, mostly to test the boundaries of the Wu Family and gradually push forward their own advantages. Yet it is undeniable that these policies have indeed advanced the civilization of Kyushu.

There is a detail that may have been overlooked: prior to the establishment of the Dongsheng Empire, Kyushu’s empires were unequivocally slave-based civilizations. In its early years, the Dongsheng Empire was no exception.

It was due to the influence of the Wen Family, through over a century of painstaking efforts in policy promotion, that Kyushu’s social systems were forcibly shifted, transitioning the Dongsheng Empire into a feudal era.

The feudal era of the Dongsheng Empire lasted only a short while, and precisely because of its brevity, traces of the slave system can still be distinctly observed.

For these reasons, the Advance Team harbored a natural affinity for the Wen Family.

While perhaps none of them were saints, and their policies were tailored for personal interests, these initiatives undeniably propelled societal progress. This indelible truth was the primary source of the Advance Team’s favorable view of the Wen Family.

The Advance Team had no intention of overturning existing structures; rather, their aim was to correct prevailing injustices. But as long as someone could introduce reforms, however minor, they would fully support them.

With that interlude concluded, the Advance Team resumed their methodical routine, helping the children of Huayu Ting learn magic.

Unlike cultivation, learning magic is an incredibly dry and tedious process at the outset. Unless possessing innate talent or a deep passion for magic, few can endure the preliminary foundational coursework.

In essence, learning magic resembles studying books; its primary method involves rote memorization. Spells must be memorized, and Runes must be committed to memory.

To ensure absolute accuracy of Runes, sometimes a simple Rune requires an entire month to complete. If even one error arises during this period, an additional seven days is added.

While in Haiya Academy, members of the Advance Team frequently experienced such hardships. Many even developed a sense of resistance.

Nonetheless, such strictness had its benefits—despite Hu Daoke’s objectively weak aptitude for magic, he mastered a substantial number of spells and Rune designs. Though he could not compare to Tangmo or Baiyue, he was more than sufficient as a teacher for the children.

The month-long grueling course was incredibly taxing for the children. During this time, Tangmo and Baiyue rigorously demanded that they memorize new spells and Rune designs daily, accompanied by examinations to ensure mastery.

However, the pain yielded worthwhile gains. Under the tireless guidance of the two teachers, the three children quickly mastered numerous spell and Rune designs, effectively qualifying as magic apprentices.

In truth, at this stage, the teachers’ tasks were mostly complete; what remained could only be achieved through the children’s personal practice and refinement.

For magic, unlike cultivation, there aren’t stringent requirements on body meridians. Magic emphasizes proficiency; with smooth spell chanting and quick reflexes, one essentially gains the ability to protect oneself.

The profound transformations in the children brought immense satisfaction to Tangmo and Baiyue. As graduation gifts, they each presented the children with one of their spare magic wands, allowing them to channel magic through spells rather than merely engage in learning.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Huayu Ting observed the children’s transformations and thus devoted even greater effort to Feng’s training. Her foundation was solidified; her sole shortcoming was likely her insufficient Qitian reservoir, which was inadequate for driving high-output spells.

Put simply, her "battery capacity" was too limited to sustain high-energy consumption outputs.

Thus, Huayu Ting resolved to fully assist her, directly helping her breakthrough.

She prepared for Feng the materials needed for her own impending Golden Core Realm breakthrough. These materials were all extraordinarily valuable, items that Huayu Ting had painstakingly gathered over a long period.

Yet now, she willingly passed them to Feng to aid her breakthrough—not for any other reason than gratitude for the Advance Team’s assistance in completing the children’s magical practice.

Tangmo and Baiyue were fortunate enough to witness the breakthrough ceremony, held atop a mountaintop flatland carved by hand. The terrain featured upright stone pillars engraved with intricate circular Runes sprawled across the ground.

The moment Tangmo saw these Runes, she instinctively exclaimed, "Isn’t this a gathering magic array?"

In the Otherworld, spell Runes and their designs are identical; no separation exists between the systems of the East Continent and Western Continent. Thus, anyone who studied the Western Continent’s Rune Magic Circles could recognize East Continent’s Magic Array designs.

Still, residents of the East Continent did not call them arrays but referred to them as "formations." For example, the array before them was called the Ascension Array.

It seemed the East Continent’s breakthroughs were refreshingly straightforward, entirely unopposed to the girls’ imagination. All involved high-intensity magical infusion to break through the Dantian.

Such processes, however, were utterly forbidden for mages; they inevitably led to death, without exception.

Mages of the Western Continent utilized a non-centralized meridian network, unable to withstand intense magical infusion, let alone suffer damage. In contrast, East Continent residents employed a centralized meridian network, enduring high-intensity magical infusion—even willing to sustain damage without issue.

Whenever Tangmo and Baiyue dwelled on this, they envied Feng immensely. After all, East Continent residents could also learn magic, but Western Continent residents could not engage in cultivation—a reality that felt inherently unjust.

While they wrestled with these thoughts, Feng had already followed Huayu Ting’s instructions, sitting cross-legged in the center of the array, adjusting her breathing, and focusing her inner energy.

She donned the wide robe Huayu Ting had prepared for her, as it was said that all breakthroughs involved bloodshed. Feng could only replace her garments to complete the ceremony.

To witness Feng’s transformation firsthand, the rest of the Advance Team—aside from Luo’er—gathered at the site, prepared to deal with any mishap.

"Listen closely: I will help you breakthrough. You need only clear your mind and concentrate—leave everything else to me. Understood?" Huayu Ting, clad in an equally wide and ornate robe, spoke while adjusting her breath.

"Understood!" Feng earnestly nodded.

"Excellent." Huayu Ting nodded in satisfaction and retreated backward.

The array measured over twenty meters in diameter, and within its bounds, apart from Feng, nothing existed—not even a fallen leaf. All members of the Advance Team, Huayu Ting included, stood outside the array to observe, never crossing its perimeter.

Once activated, the array would fill with flowing magic energy; any disruption could lead to Rune disorder. On this, residents of both the East and West Continents learned unforgettable lessons.

Thus, when the array was initiated, apart from the central figure, the entire formation was to remain entirely empty, its surroundings devoid of any interference.

The stone pillars bore engraved designs and were inlaid with magic crystals. Its structure was almost indistinguishable from a Western Continent Magic Circle save for one detail: the abundance of magic crystal resources in the Western Continent allowed for extravagance in their usage.