With the aid of the gravity training chamber and various resources, Jie Ming’s cultivation progressed at an astonishing pace.
His physical tempering and soul refinement advanced in tandem, with clear progress each day, his improvements palpable.
However, not all paths were so smooth.
In his research, Jie Ming recently noticed his studies on the Divine Faith Network slowing imperceptibly, now mired in an indescribable bottleneck.
His underground laboratory, once filled with data models and analytical runes related to the Divine Faith Network, now seemed stagnant.
This complex energy flow, born from the plane and naturally gathering mortal faith, was like a vast starry sea.
Initially, he could easily discern its surface tides and currents, but delving into its core to unravel its underlying logic and laws met with unfathomable resistance.
Jie Ming knew he could push forward with sheer determination.
But he estimated the time required would be astronomical.
He had tried countless analytical methods, constructing thousands of simulation models, yet only scratched the surface.The Divine Faith Network was a grand bridge connecting mortals and deities, a meticulously crafted construct rooted in the plane’s deepest rules.
It wasn’t merely energy transmission but involved souls, beliefs, causality, and higher-dimensional laws.
At his current level as a first-rank wizard, analyzing such an entity was akin to a mortal trying to unravel the universe’s mysteries.
Jie Ming calculated that fully understanding the Elosia Plane’s Divine Faith Network, at his current efficiency and with available data, would take thousands of years.
And those millennia would only yield thorough understanding. Converting it for his use or replicating a similar energy system would require another immeasurable span.
Faced with this problem, Jie Ming had few solutions.
Such core knowledge was rarely sold, and even if it were, it would likely demand high-level military merits—far beyond his means.
Today was the day Jie Ming delivered this month’s batch of Mortal Dust Potion to Mentor Clark.
Carrying two vials shimmering with seven-colored radiance, he arrived via teleportation array at Clark’s office in Noren Academy.
Clark took the potions, habitually scanning them with his mental energy. A satisfied smile spread across his face.
But then, he sensed a trace of irrepressible anxiety and fatigue in Jie Ming’s mental fluctuations.
“Jie Ming, you seem troubled lately?” Clark asked calmly.
His voice, though emotionless, carried a penetrating insight.
Jie Ming didn’t conceal anything. He detailed his bottleneck in researching the Divine Faith Network and his astronomical estimate of the time required.
After listening, Clark merely nodded, his deep eyes showing no surprise, as if he’d anticipated this.
He stood, gesturing for Jie Ming to follow.
“Come with me,” Clark said without elaboration.
Jie Ming hesitated but followed instinctively.
They stepped into a small teleportation array in the office’s corner.
A soft white light enveloped them, and a fleeting sense of spatial distortion passed.
When his vision cleared, Jie Ming found himself in an entirely different world.
This wasn’t the cold, rigid laboratory of Noren Workshop but a vibrant land.
A gentle sun shone overhead, lush grass spread beneath his feet, and a babbling stream flowed nearby.
“This is my personal plane,” Clark’s voice sounded. “We’re in my private residence and research base.”
Jie Ming understood—this was Clark’s personal laboratory within his wizard tower.
Surveying his surroundings, he saw the laboratory embedded in a floating crystal island, surrounded by elemental runes with flowing energy, grand and mysterious.
“Mentor…” Jie Ming began to ask why he was brought here.
But Clark was already walking ahead. “Come, I’m treating you to a meal today.”
Clark led Jie Ming from the laboratory through a neatly trimmed tree-lined path to a grand architectural complex at the floating island’s center.
It was an opulent mansion.
The main structure was a majestic palace of white marble and golden runic stones, elegant yet imposing.
Its towering spires pierced the clouds, each tile shimmering with faint energy.
The expansive courtyard was filled with exotic plants from other planes, their forms and colors varied, some glowing faintly or emitting invigorating fragrances.
A clear lake encircled the mansion, its surface a mirror reflecting the palace, with unknown amphibious creatures frolicking in the water.
The palace’s grand doors, embedded with magic crystals, sensed Clark and Jie Ming’s approach and slowly opened.
Entering, Jie Ming found the interior vast, with a soaring domed ceiling adorned with magical murals of swirling stars.
To his surprise, the welcoming staff and servers in the dining hall were clearly not human from the wizarding world.
They varied in form.
There were “lizardmen” covered in scales, dressed in refined guard uniforms, looking exceptionally elite.
Blue-skinned “horned” maidens with gem-like eyes and small horns carried trays, moving with silent grace.
There were even petite “flower sprites” with translucent butterfly wings, circling in the air, scattering specks of starlight.
Despite their diverse appearances, these beings displayed high intelligence and disciplined etiquette.
“These are my ‘servant’ races,” Clark explained, sensing Jie Ming’s curiosity.
Pointing to a lizardman pulling out a chair, he said calmly, “I allow these races to live in my plane, providing them shelter and stability. In return, they offer combat strength, forming servant armies to assist me in conquering other planes.”
“This is common among high-tier wizards,” he continued. “You can do the same—find oppressed races in other planes, offer them protection, and let them thrive in your plane. When you need power, they’ll become your most loyal servant army.”
Jie Ming nodded thoughtfully.
He was familiar with such practices; wizards had limited ways of handling natives, and he’d heard such rumors before.
But this was his first time seeing servant races in practice.
“So, theoretically, every high-tier wizard is a complete war system,” Clark concluded. “The wizard and their plane’s wizard tower form the high-end combat force, artificial beings or bio-beasts serve as elite mid-tier forces, and these servant armies are the vast, foundational low-tier forces.”
“A high-tier wizard alone can conquer other planes or sustain long-term colonization.”
Jie Ming envisioned the scenario, awestruck.
They sat, and a lavish banquet began.
The table was laden with delicacies from various planes.
The foods were bizarre—jumping black meat, glowing fungi, blue fruits resembling eyeballs—but all exuded enticing aromas.
Jie Ming cautiously tasted one and his eyes lit up. Despite their odd appearances, they were extraordinarily delicious.
Rich in texture, with lingering flavors.
More importantly, these specially treated foods greatly benefited the consumer.
Each bite sent a cool energy seeping into Jie Ming’s body, nourishing his mental energy and subtly strengthening his physique.
Noting this silently, Jie Ming realized that while these foods’ enhancement effects were less immediate than potions, their cumulative impact from daily consumption could be significant.
He decided to incorporate these exotic delicacies into his daily diet as a cultivation supplement.
During the meal, Clark inquired about Jie Ming’s progress on the Divine Faith Network.
Jie Ming detailed his bottleneck, stuck at studying the surface-level energy transmission.
After learning Jie Ming had only grasped a fraction of the network’s surface knowledge, Clark shook his head with a helpless expression.
Without a word, he rose and entered an adjacent study.
Moments later, he returned with a small bag radiating spatial fluctuations and handed it to Jie Ming.
“This is my research manuscript on the Divine Faith Network,” Clark said calmly. “It’s from another plane, not Elosia, but since all laws share a common origin, it should inspire you.”