Chloe’s voice carried a hint of expectation:
"I’ve been at the observation station for quite a few months now, Grandma Leia might start to worry, and..."
At this point, her tone became more formal:
"I need to return to the Astrology Association to focus on writing academic papers. If the prophecy results can be systematically organized, they could be published in the Divination Journal and might even draw higher-level attention."
"Moreover, the library at the Astrology Association houses some ancient tomes I couldn’t understand before. With my current theoretical foundation, I should be able to gain more insights from them."
"A wise choice." Ron nodded in agreement:
"Systematic organization of academic results indeed requires a quiet environment and abundant reference materials."
"As for me..."
Uphemia shared her plans, her tone carrying a certain resolve:
"I’m considering going below the third layer of the Abyss, perhaps as deep as the fifth layer, the ’Sea of Darkness,’ to further train my bloodline puppets. The practical environment will also help in enhancing my magic power."
The reason she hadn’t mentioned was that Aiden’s long-term silence left her deeply uneasy.
Rather than continuing to wait at the observation station, it was better to take the initiative and search for new opportunities in the Abyss.
"If you plan to go to the Abyss fifth layer..." Ron mused aloud: "You might consider meeting ’Eye of the Abyss’ Nari."
This suggestion made Uphemia’s eyes light up.
Recently, Nari’s feats in the Chaos Arena, though not widely spread yet, had already been heard by those well-informed, including her crushing defeat of the ’Mad Bite’ and the ’Nightmare Queen.’
Almost everyone writing relevant intelligence had updated Nari’s information to the dominant Apostle of the fifth layer, surpassing a typical Apostle by one tier.
"Would she be willing to help me?"
Thinking of this intelligence, Uphemia asked uncertainly:
"We haven’t had any contact..."
"Just mention my name to her," Ron replied simply:
"Nari is actually quite easy-going, as long as she’s not provoked, she’s generally friendly.
Besides, she has one of the richest bloodline specimen libraries in the entire Abyss, which would greatly aid your bloodline studies."
Of course, he didn’t mention that due to Nari’s level of affection for him, anyone he recommended would receive rather good treatment.
This information made Uphemia’s heart race.
She certainly wouldn’t doubt the weight of Ron’s recommendation.
Although she was escorted back by the Blood Tear Duke after completing the mission last time, she, sensitive to Abyssal energy, could still sense a strand of pure chaos aura on him.
A dominant Apostle’s bloodline specimen library...
If she could access Nari’s collection, it would surely greatly enhance her research.
"Well then..." Chloe said softly: "Looks like we’ll be parting for a while."
Their gazes briefly met in the air.
"Stay in touch." Ron was the first to stand up: "Hope we can all meet at the summit someday."
"Meeting at the summit, wisely put!"
Uphemia’s eyes sparkled as she stood up:
"Looking forward to the future where we all have enough power to gain true freedom."
"Mutual encouragement, common progress." Chloe stood as well, extending her hand in agreement.
Their hands gently clasped in the air, completing this simple farewell ritual.
Neither overly sentimental nor falsely promised, only a rational agreement based on real benefits and a certain trust among them.
This is a Wizard-style friendship—rational, restrained, but able to play a significant role at critical moments.
After Chloe and Uphemia left one after the other, Ron stood alone in the reading room, gazing at the three empty teacups on the table.
"Hopefully, next time we meet, those two will both be alive and well."
He no longer clung to notions of unwavering beginnings.
Such notions, under the current turbulent situation, felt like mere dreams.
Being able to live smoothly and gain some growth in strength was already his greatest hope for these two allies.
......
Meanwhile, at a distant void junction.
In the Hall of Eternity, the crystal sacs in the specimen library, usually silent as death, began to glow one after another.
This phenomenon spread like a chain reaction, extending from the outer chambers all the way to the core region.
Whenever a chamber lit up, its occupant would awaken from deep slumber with a confused, alert look.
Silver-eyed youth Karen was the first to notice this anomaly.
His Dialysis Eye glimmered subtly in the chamber fluid, trying to capture the unsettling information flow in the air.
"This collective awakening... was last seen at the end of the Third Era when the ’eternal plague’ swept the continent."
His voice carried evident confusion:
"What exactly happened?"
The chamber holding scaly elder Varian lit up, runes on the dragon scales beginning to glow softly.
His heterochromatic eyes showed intense vigilance:
"Did you feel it? That... shudder from the conceptual level."
Jellyfish Woman Mola’s tendrils moved uneasily in the chamber fluid, each able to sense different frequencies of energy fluctuation:
"Something’s wrong, seriously wrong. It feels like..."
She paused, her tendrils constricting:
"Like someone is ringing a warning bell over our heads."
As more chambers lit up, the specimen library began to echo with the voices of the deceased Great Wizards from years past, engaged in lively discussion.
These voices converged, resonating like echoes in an ancient cathedral, reverberating layer upon layer in this supreme Wizard hall.