Wizards begin with Occlumency.

I can't afford to gamble.

The person in charge does not have the qualifications or the resources to gamble on Dean Forrest's claim, which is an exaggeration.

Since we can't afford to gamble, we must make a decision: believe or not believe.

Within a very short time, the person in charge made a decision: "Don't mention this to anyone else. I will report it immediately. As for how the higher-ups will handle it, I will not make any guarantees or promises to you."

"certainly."

Dean Forrest nodded and readily agreed, then changed the subject, "However, it is impossible for my Rivoss Academy to remain unprepared when we know danger is imminent."

"What do you want to do?"

The person in charge immediately asked nervously.

This is a matter of great importance, and those in charge cannot help but be nervous.

If the great sage Michel hears the news and, in his haste, makes an even worse choice, causing the promising situation to fall apart overnight, the person in charge will be guilty of a grave offense.

"It's not about what I want to do, but what I've already done."

Dean Forrest, completely disregarding the tension of the person in charge, slowly said, "The moment I received the news, I had all members of our advance team from Rivosos Academy prepare for any contingencies. If things don't go smoothly, no matter the outcome, we'll make those who have designs on us break a few teeth."

After saying that, Dean Forrest immediately ended the encrypted video call.

Many things cannot be achieved simply through good discussion; sufficient pressure must be applied.

Dean Forrest believed that if he could delay or shift the blame, the person in charge of internal affairs would definitely choose to delay or shift the blame.

Because reporting the matter of the Great Sage Michel's defection to the Celestial Civilization to the Supreme Council, whether true or false, is very likely to bring no benefit.

There are too many stories of people being forced to drink three cups of wine as punishment.

Great Sage Michel is a Level 9 Great Sage, and a Level 9 Great Sage whose lifespan is nearing its end.

Faced with the questioning or even condemnation of the Supreme Council, as long as the Great Sage Michele can swallow his pride and seek the understanding of the five saints of the Supreme Council, all his mistakes will not be mistakes.

There is even another possibility.

That is, the five saints of the Supreme Council of the Wizarding Civilization were actually pleased to see the great sage Michelle successfully ascend to the heavenly court of the immortal civilization.

As long as the Great Sage Michel doesn't actually turn against the wizarding civilization.

Even if the Great Sage Michelle wanders between the civilizations of immortals and gods and the civilizations of wizards, and sits on the fence between the Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council.

The five saints of the Supreme Council would compromise for the greater good.

In conclusion, the person in charge of internal affairs was already involved the moment they connected with Dean Forrest via encrypted video call.

Moreover, the situation is extremely difficult.

In order to escape this difficult situation, even if he didn't want to, the person in charge had to follow the path pointed out by Dean Forrest and report it to higher authorities.

Therefore, Dean Forrest hung up the communication with complete confidence.

However, simply notifying the internal head of the Supreme Council's office in the parallel universe does not mean that Dean Forrest and the Rivoss Academy can rest easy.

Even if it is true that the Great Sage Michel has defected to the Celestial Court of the Immortal Gods, the Supreme Council should still handle the matter with caution.

If things could be resolved quietly and without anyone noticing, that would be ideal.

Stability is paramount.

However, this outcome is in the interest of the Supreme Council, but not in the interest of the Rivosos Academy.

What interests best align with Revoss College?

Of course, it was the death of the Great Sage Michel and the division of the Great Sage Michel's Tower that meant that Rivosos Academy had one less mortal enemy.

Therefore, Dean Forrest ended one encrypted video call and immediately initiated a new encrypted video call.

This time, the people being contacted were not just one, but three.

Having something that others don't has is enough to make me secretly happy.

It's easy to feel jealousy when others have something that I don't.

There are four Level 9 Great Sages who have entered the parallel universe from the Wizarding Civilization, including Great Sage Michel.

Although the other three level-nine sages were not nearing the end of their lives like Sage Michel, they each had their own reasons for giving up the possibility of advancing to sainthood in their own universe and coming to a parallel universe to gamble on a chance.

A hope for promotion.

and so……

Why should the Celestial Civilization support the Great Sage Michael instead of one of the three of them?

this is a problem.

Of course, Dean Forrest also considered the possibility that the Celestial Civilization Court might have secretly supported more than just the Great Sage Michel.

After a moment's consideration, Dean Forrest stopped speculating on the matter.

Whether or not the Celestial Court of the Immortal Gods supports other level-nine Great Sages is irrelevant to the Rivosos Academy.

There is only one thing the Rivosos Academy should consider: preventing the ascension of Archsage Michel.

Bringing his thoughts back, Dean Forrest focused on waiting for the three encrypted video calls to connect.

While Dean Forrest was waiting, Lottesnow, who was traveling alone, had already arrived at his destination.

A saint is a saint; many of their methods are beyond the comprehension of wizards below the saint level.

Even though Lotesno is only a reincarnation of a saint, he does not yet possess the full power of a saint.

However, at a certain cost, Lotesno is able to use some of the abilities of a saint.

Through a series of methods that even sage-level wizards and grand sage-level wizards could not comprehend, Lotesnow traveled from the border of the Immortal God Civilization, which would take nearly two months to reach by the highest-grade starship, to the Celestial Master's Mansion located in the heart of the Immortal God Civilization's territory.

"Long time no see, Saint Lotesno."

Master Xu Jing was already waiting outside the Celestial Master's Mansion. Upon seeing Lotesno, he immediately greeted him and then gestured, "The Ancestral Celestial Master has already prepared tea and is waiting for the arrival of the Sage in the hall."

Following Master Xu Jing's lead, Lotesno walked into the Celestial Master's Mansion, saying as he went, "Master Xu Jing, I have a question, but I don't know whether I should ask it or not."

"Sage, please speak freely. If Xu Jing knew this, he would certainly not dare to conceal it."

Master Xujing replied with a smile, making a promise.

"In that case, I'll ask."

Lotesno nodded, then asked, "What exactly is your Celestial Master's Mansion planning? I don't quite understand your Celestial Master's Mansion's scheme. You've spent so much energy on my cheap older brother, Link Grand, but it seems you have no other purpose than to keep him constantly being ordered around, busy and running around, without any clear goal for him to be busy or running around."

After listening to Lotesno's words, Celestial Master Xu Jing thought for a moment and asked in return, "Could it be interpreted that the Sage is genuinely concerned about Wizard Link Grand?"

"That's one way to understand it."

Lotesno readily acknowledged this, then added, "After all, in terms of blood relations, he is my elder brother in this life. Considering the twists and turns of my reincarnation, the bond between us is incredibly deep. You know, we who manipulate fate or are manipulated by fate value these things very much. In your immortal civilization's terms, it's called 'inheritance and retribution,' or in the Buddhist terms that have long since vanished into the river of time, it's called 'cause and effect.'"

"Bearing burdens is bearing burdens, and cause and effect is cause and effect; the two are not the same. Furthermore..."

Master Xu Jing's expression turned solemn as he corrected him, "Buddhism did not perish in the river of time; it simply separated from the immortal and divine civilization and became its own distinct system."

After a pause, Celestial Master Xujing sighed helplessly: "The idea of ​​the Dharma-ending Age was actually first proposed by Buddhism."

"Is that so? That's a secret I've never heard of before."

Lottesno let out a sigh.

Master Xu Jing shook his head: "It's not really a secret, it's all old news, it's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore."

"Very well, it's just in time to ask Celestial Master Xujing to enlighten me before I meet with the Ancestral Celestial Master."

Following up on Master Xu Jing's words, Lotte Snow returned the topic to Link Grand.

"it is good."

Master Xu Jing agreed, then said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, our Celestial Master's Mansion has no other requests of Wizard Link Grand."

"Nothing more to ask for?"

"I ask for nothing more!"

"Really? I don't believe it!"

"If the sage does not believe, then this humble Taoist need not say more. No matter how much I say, the sage's disbelief is simply disbelief."

After a brief exchange, Lottesno learned a secret from Master Xujing, but his questions were not answered directly.

We had arrived at the main hall where the Celestial Master was located.

This must be Master Xu Jing's strategy: stall.

Lotesno didn't press for details, but simply gave Master Xujing a deep look before stepping into the hall.

The main hall was as quiet as when I last visited.

The only difference is that, besides the Celestial Master, there is another person sitting in the main hall.

Lottesno recognized the man at a glance, and a cold smile appeared on his face.

"Grandmaster, it's been a long time."

Lotesno shifted his gaze from the man, greeted him with a smile, and then asked, "I wonder what urgent matter brings the Grand Master to invite me here so suddenly? I just rushed to the war zone of the advance team of Rivosos Academy with my cheap older brother, and we were preparing to help the advance team defend against the attack from the Great Sage Michel."

"Please sit, Your Holiness."

The Celestial Master did not respond directly, but pointed to the prayer mat on his left and said kindly, "If you have something to say, sit down and we'll talk."

As he spoke, the Celestial Master picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea.

Lottesno raised an eyebrow, readily agreeing, and sat down on the futon, facing the other person.

According to the etiquette of the immortal civilization, a virtuous person should reside on the left.

At the Celestial Master's place, Lotesno sat to his left, where he was even more honored.

The other person was also aware of this, but didn't harbor much resentment.

"Come, try my tea ceremony."

The Celestial Master picked up his teacup and gestured to those on either side.

Lottesno and the other person were very obliging and immediately picked up their teacups, lightly clinking them together in a gesture.

The manners were polite enough, but the etiquette seemed somewhat incongruous.

It resembles neither the rituals of a divine civilization nor the rituals of a shamanic civilization.

However, these were minor details, and none of the three people present paid much attention to them.

They each took a small sip of tea, put down their teacups, and the conversation officially began.

The Celestial Master spoke first, saying, "The reason we are able to sit together today is purely for mutual benefit."

Looking around and seeing that the two guests had no objections, the Celestial Master continued, "My interests are very simple: to ensure that the Celestial Master's Mansion safely weathers the crisis of the Dharma-ending Age. As for the interests of the Sages, they can explain themselves. As for the Great Sage Michel, it's also very simple: to ascend to the rank of Sage before his lifespan ends, or to cultivate to the rank of Celestial Venerable with the help of the Heavenly Court."

"Oh……"

Lottesno suddenly let out a sneer.

Why is the saint laughing?

The Celestial Master paused his conversation, feigning surprise as he asked.

"It's nothing, I just thought of something funny but insignificant. Please continue, Grandmaster."

Lottesno stopped smiling and gave a perfunctory reply.

The Celestial Master smiled, unconcerned about Lotesno's petty mood, and turned to another guest, the Great Sage Michel: "Today, it was the Great Sage Michel who approached me, saying he wanted to have a frank conversation with Saint Lotesno in person, which is why I urgently contacted Saint Lotesno. Now that you two are both here, please communicate between yourselves."

As soon as he finished speaking, the figure of the Celestial Master disappeared from the main hall.

However, both Lottesno and the Great Sage Michel knew that the Celestial Master could hear any conversation that took place in the main hall if he wanted to.

The Celestial Master's Mansion is the home ground of the Celestial Master.

Looking at the pale hair and aged face of the great sage Michel, Lottesnow really wanted to laugh.

However, out of respect for the rank of a ninth-level Great Sage, Lotesnor suppressed his laughter.

As for treating them with courtesy...

Sorry, Lotte Snow can't do that.

It should be noted that the one who most disrupted his reincarnation plan was not Link Grand, but the great sage Michel before us.

Furthermore, this great sage Michel in front of us even wants to seize the position of the prophetic wizard saint.

Lottesno may not smile, but that doesn't mean he's willing to speak.

The main hall fell silent after the Celestial Master left.

Finally, it was the Great Sage Michel who broke the silence, speaking in a hoarse voice:

"Saint Lotesno, the past is the past."

I failed to seize the position of the prophetic wizard saint, but I also lost all my life's work as the price.

Now, I accept the aid from the Heavenly Court of the Immortal Civilization for no other reason than to survive.

Today, I asked the Celestial Master to meet with Saint Lotesno for a chat. I just want to ask the Saint to stop thinking about killing me and give me a quiet environment for advancement. Is that alright?

I have voluntarily exposed my weakness to the Sage; I beg the Sage's forgiveness.

However, during the nearly two-month journey in the starship, Lotesno was extremely bored and couldn't stand Link's insulting gaze, so he would occasionally harbor murderous intent towards the Great Sage Michel.

The killing intent of a saintly being was enough to transcend the endless void and descend upon the great sage Michel.

This feeling certainly doesn't reach the terrifying level of having a sword hanging over your head and about to fall at any moment, but it's very much like having a thorn in your back.

After the Great Sage Michel realized that the source of the murder was Lotesnor, he first contacted the High Council, hoping that the High Council could mediate between them.

The High Council agreed and put it into practice, but failed.

Lotesnow refused to communicate with the Supreme Council.

Left with no other choice, the great sage Michel was willing to expose himself and had to ask the Celestial Master's Mansion to act as a mediator to resolve the matter.

Therefore, the Great Sage Michel was unaware that, prior to this, Lotesnow already knew about his defection to the Celestial Civilization.

Being kept in the dark is exactly the case. (End of Chapter)