The Wizard of Truth: Starting with Analyzing All Things

Barton's overwhelming strength displayed in the public duel was like a boulder thrown into a turbulent lake. The ripples on the surface quickly subsided, but the undercurrents beneath the surface intensified abruptly. Barton naturally understood the warning conveyed by Rowe. He tempered his brilliance, devoting more time to the closed-door training arranged by Master Walter for the "Lava Rift" demiplane. His aura became increasingly deep and restrained, like a volcano suppressed before an eruption.

However, the Discipline Tower's "attention" had waned. Lowe could clearly sense a subtle increase in the frequency and depth of the "scanning" not only of Barton, but also of him and the entire small surveillance network. It was a more covert, more patient scrutiny, as if a hunter were confirming every exit of its prey's lair.

Under this pressure, Luo Wei became even calmer. He knew that the more critical the moment, the less he could afford to lose his composure. He methodically carried out his "compliant" astrological research, spending most of his time in the public area on the first floor of the library, perusing those basic classics. His notes were filled with "reasonable" deductions about the relationship between stellar orbital energy tides and rune structures, flawlessly portraying the image of a diligent, focused, and "limited-progress" apprentice.

But deep within his consciousness, the turbine of his thoughts was spinning at high speed. Fragments of information that Lena had transmitted through that fragile yet effective network of trust had triggered his heightened alertness.

According to Lina's observations, a few apprentices (non-Grey Tower members) skilled in tracking, concealment, or spatial perception have recently exhibited subtle abnormalities in their behavior. They seem to be undertaking some undisclosed short-term missions, frequently entering and leaving the mission hall, and exchanging items primarily related to long-term infiltration, environmental resistance, and mental protection. More importantly, Lina's unique perception allowed her to detect an extremely faint aura emanating from these individuals, originating from the same source as the Discipline Tower's Lawful Words, but colder and darker, similar to the "Heartmark Potion" she had previously sensed, yet even more ancient and profound.

These signs, pieced together, point to a disturbing possibility—the Discipline Tower may be secretly mobilizing and training a group of people specifically for external infiltration and reconnaissance. What is their target? Is it the remnants of the Gray Tower? Or… some target outside the Academy related to the "Origin Project"?

Meanwhile, Lilith's research also made a breakthrough. She successfully deduced an extremely obscure energy resonance model from the legendary characteristics of the "Red Horn Star" and the complex components of the "Heart Scar Potion." She discovered that the unique, slowly decaying starlight fluctuation frequency of the Red Horn Star, after some complex alchemical transformation, could produce a weak "resonance stripping" effect on specific energy structures containing abyssal aura or highly ordered lawful energy! Although the effect was extremely weak and required precise guidance and a carrier, it undoubtedly provided a theoretical possibility for the possible "unmonitoring" or "countering lawful energy" in the future! She silently passed this highly encrypted research note to Luo Wei through an "accidental" collision.

Current status: Rowe (Peak Intermediate Apprentice)

•

Strength assessment: Stable realm, profound knowledge accumulation, information processing and disguise abilities have reached their current limit.

•

Situation: The Discipline Tower's monitoring has been upgraded, external undercurrents are surging, Barton's trial is imminent, and his own investigation is hindered in the forbidden zone of the Tower of Slumber.

•

Psychological state: Extremely calm, patiently lying in wait, integrating information from all sides, and looking for an opportunity to break the deadlock.

•

Key clues: The Tower of Slumber (where the Starry Whispers linger), the Crimson Horn Star (the guiding gate), external movements of the Discipline Tower, and the Lilith Resonance Theory.

•

Action plan: Await the opportunity to remotely explore the Tower of Sleep and provide full support for Barton's trial.

All the clues ultimately pointed to the heavily guarded Sleeping Tower area, now occupied by the Gray Tower. The hint from "Whispers of the Stars," coupled with the possible external movements of the Discipline Tower, gave Luo Wei a strong premonition—the Sleeping Tower, the place where the storm first arose, was likely about to become the eye of the storm again! The Discipline Tower might be planning a major operation targeting the remaining forces of the Gray Tower, or some secret operation within the tower!

He had to find a way to obtain information from there! But approaching directly would be tantamount to suicide. His only possible reliance was the gray stone slab, the incomplete "Node Resonance" technique, and Lilith's theory of "Red Horn Star Resonance." If the Tower of Slumber was indeed, as he suspected, an important node in the ancient "information network," then perhaps he could probe for clues from afar by using a specific frequency to create an extremely faint resonance.

This is an extremely bold and dangerous plan. Any proactive probe of external nodes could be like lighting a torch in the dark, instantly revealing one's location and special abilities.

Just as Luo Wei was weighing the pros and cons and struggling to make a decision, a "variable" that he had been looking forward to for a long time, but which also made him uneasy, finally arrived.

Master Walter officially announced that, after evaluation, Barton has qualified to undergo a practical trial in the demiplane "Lava Rift." He will depart in three days, personally escorted and supervised by Master Walter. The trial will last for one month.

Upon hearing the news, Lowe was startled. A month is enough time for many things to happen. Barton's departure would deprive the team of its most powerful immediate combat force, but it might also draw some of the Discipline Tower's attention, creating an opening for Lowe's covert operations. More importantly, if Barton successfully advanced to a formal wizard, the team's strength would experience a qualitative leap.

This is a crisis, but also an opportunity.

On the eve of their departure, the team members held a very brief secret gathering under the cover of a brief energy disturbance created by Master Walter. The location was an abandoned old warehouse on the edge of the academy, with a huge background noise of energy.

Without many words, all communication was accomplished through eye contact and subtle, pre-arranged gestures.

Barton patted Rowe's shoulder heavily, his meaning unspoken. He handed Rowe a one-time use "Exploding Flame Amulet" imprinted with a wisp of his own original battle aura; this was the strongest protective measure he could leave behind.

Lilith gave Rowe and Lina the newly developed, more potent but also more unstable "Soul-Protecting Fragrance" advanced version, as well as several types of "Chaotic Dust" used to interfere with energy detection in emergency situations.

Lena then whispered to Rowe a simple diagram of the apprentice's recent abnormal behavior that she had drawn based on her senses, as well as some extremely subtle and unnatural "folds" in the energy of the space surrounding the academy that she felt.

Rowe then shared with Lilith a simplified and encrypted version of his work, which combined the characteristics of ancient nodes potentially associated with the Tower of Slumber with Lilith's initial resonance theory. He hoped she could continue to refine the theoretical support from a pharmacology perspective after Barton's departure. He also gave Barton an improved version of the "Silent Heart" beacon, agreeing to attempt to activate it once a month to report that everything was safe, unless it was an emergency.

The gathering was brief and silent, a heavy pressure hanging in the air. Everyone understood that the coming month would be a pivotal period that would determine their fate.

On the day of bidding farewell to Barton and Master Walter, the academy square was not crowded, but Rowe could sense several subtle yet powerful mental signals sweeping across the scene. The Discipline Tower was closely monitoring this departure. When the light from the short-distance teleportation array illuminated and Barton's imposing figure disappeared within it, Rowe felt as if a piece of his heart had been emptied.

The biggest variable has already been thrown.

In the days that followed, the academy seemed to return to its usual tranquility. But Rowe knew this was merely an illusion. The Discipline Tower's surveillance focus appeared to have shifted, but their attention to him hadn't diminished; it had simply become more covert and patient.

He suppressed the urge to immediately probe the Tower of Slumber, knowing he had to wait for the most opportune moment—a moment that would best conceal his energy fluctuations.

This opportunity quietly arrived seven days after Patton left.

In the dead of night, a rare and powerful magical tide, covering the entire Darkmoon Mountains, arrived as scheduled. This is a natural phenomenon that occurs every few years. During the tide, the magical energy in the world becomes violent and chaotic, severely interfering with all energy detection and communication spells. Even the monitoring array of the Discipline Tower will be greatly reduced in effectiveness.

It's now!

Luo Wei, who was lying in wait in the residence, had already adjusted himself to his peak condition. He took a deep breath and lit the advanced version of Lilith's specially made "Mind-Cleansing and Spirit-Protecting Fragrance". A cool and strangely invigorating aura spread out, briefly strengthening his mental defenses and interfering with the monitoring connection at the soul level.

Immediately afterwards, he pressed his hands to his chest and fully activated "Energy Signature Simulation" and "Information Disguise Layer" to minimize his presence. The energy fluctuations blended perfectly into the background noise of the raging magical tides outside the window.

Finally, he connected with the gray stone tablet in his sea of ​​consciousness, concentrating his mental energy to guide the incomplete "node resonance" technique, and attempting to incorporate Lilith's theoretical concepts about "Crimson Horn Star Resonance" into it. He couldn't simulate the light of the Crimson Horn Star, but he could try to simulate the frequency characteristics of its decaying fluctuations!

His target was the distant Tower of Slumber!

This is an extremely risky move with a very low success rate.

One failure! His mental strength felt like it had hit an invisible, thick wall, and he was violently bounced back.

Two attempts, failed! The interference from the magical tides was far greater than expected, and the frequency was difficult to lock onto.

Three times, failed! A sharp pain shot through his soul, and the monitoring mark seemed to be showing signs of awakening.

A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Luo Wei's mouth, but his eyes remained sharp. He couldn't give up! This might be his only chance!

He squeezed out his last bit of mental energy, pushing the "Heart of Analysis" to its limit, and with the help of the faint light from the stone slab, he forcibly captured that extremely faint spatial ripple in the tidal fluctuations, which was vaguely related to the direction of the Tower of Slumber!

It's now!

He suddenly focused all his thoughts, like the finest probe, along the ripples he had captured in that instant, and pierced into the distance!

Om-!

A faint, almost imperceptible, resonance, seemingly emanating from the depths of the soul, resounded! Success! In that instant, he seemed to pierce through endless space, perceiving the blurry scene of the Tower of Slumber!

The scene was brief and chaotic:

A towering, shadow-shrouded tower… several ominous dark red spots seemed to emanate from its surface… the space around the tower began to distort abnormally… a powerful, chaotic, and malevolent consciousness was awakening and roaring within the tower… faintly, several golden lights of law seemed to flicker outside the tower, as if setting something up… but deeper still, there was an even more subtle, ancient fluctuation, originating from the same source as the stone slabs, seemingly wailing…

The scene abruptly ended! A powerful backlash struck, and Luo Wei coughed up a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground, his mental energy completely exhausted.

Almost simultaneously, the gray stone slab in his arms began to vibrate violently like never before! It was no longer a gentle resonance, but a powerful warning and urgent intent! A chaotic stream of information, mixed with fragments of the tower's imagery, forcefully flooded his mind, finally settling on an image—deep within the tower's base, a pulsating, dark heart, bound by countless shadowy chains! Embedded at the heart's core was a familiar, faintly glowing black information stone! It was the same piece he had obtained and then submitted after the Shattered Star Mountains! Above the heart, a faint, ethereal key-like image, composed of starlight, seemed to float!

"The Key to the Star Speaker?!" Lowe was horrified!

Then, the stone slab conveyed a final, clear message:

"...Node...will open...'door'...key...to prevent...or...escape..."

The communication ceased there, and the light on the stone slab dimmed, as if it had exhausted its power. Luo Wei, too, fell into a coma due to the complete depletion and backlash of his mental energy.

In his final moments before falling into a coma, only one thought remained crystal clear:

The node of the Tower of Slumber is about to be activated! The "door" is about to open! The Discipline Tower's goal is that "key"! We must stop them, or... escape before it's too late!

The storm is at the door.