chsdbacks Chapter 625 Strange and Restrictive
Chapter 625 Strange and Restrictive
Jemin acted with exceptional speed.
After all, the matters concerning the Purgatory Sulfur Plane had already been arranged.
After advancing to the peak of the Void Refinement stage, he spent a lot of time stabilizing his realm, organizing his internal grotto-heaven, and optimizing the efficiency of the incense and divine path.
All preparations that could be made in advance have been completed, and we are ready to leave at any time.
Jemin walked to the teleportation array and entered the dimensional identifier code from the mission details.
The spatial fluctuations instantly engulfed him.
When the scene before him came back into focus, Jemin paused for a moment.
He stood on a huge teleportation platform, with a semi-transparent glass floor beneath his feet. Countless tiny points of light flowed slowly inside, like a solidified galaxy.
The platform is suspended in mid-air, with no supporting structure around it, yet it is as stable as a rock.
The world outside the platform is so beautiful it seems unreal.
This is a "miniature" dimension.
Jemin quickly realized the meaning of the word.
It's not that the plane itself is very small, but rather that everything in this plane exhibits an extremely refined "miniaturization" characteristic.
The undulating terrain in the distance resembles a meticulously sculpted bonsai, with the proportions of the mountains and rivers just right. Every tree and every flower seems to have been sized by the Creator, presenting a perfect visual balance.
The sky was a pale amber color; there was no sun, but a soft, omnipresent light illuminated the entire plane.
The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance, the temperature was just right, the humidity was perfect, and even the wind seemed gentle.
Jemin spread his mental energy to sense the ecological structure of this plane, and the more he sensed, the more alarmed he became.
A perfect closed loop.
This is an ecologically self-sufficient world.
Energy input, matter circulation, life reproduction... every step is precise to the point of being almost a mathematical formula.
There is no waste, no redundancy; every element is in its proper place, playing its proper role.
This doesn't seem to be a naturally formed plane.
This is more like a work of art.
"Miniature Glass Garden..." Jemin recalled the name in the mission description and felt that the name couldn't be more fitting.
The teleportation platform flashed continuously, and new figures kept appearing.
Jemin observed his surroundings discreetly.
The first group of wizards gathered in twos and threes. Some were talking in hushed tones, some were resting with their eyes closed, and some, like him, were observing this plane.
His gaze swept over the energy fluctuations emanating from the wizards, and his heart sank slightly.
Level 6.
Level 6.
Still at level six.
Looking around, the wizards who could teleport here at this time were basically all high-level beings of level six or above.
The energy fluctuations emanating from them were so intense they were almost tangible. Some of them didn't even need to deliberately release their pressure; simply by standing there, the surrounding elements would involuntarily gravitate towards them.
Jemin looked down at himself.
Level 5.
His position stands out conspicuously in this circle.
But upon further reflection, he felt relieved.
This competition for a spot is all about reaction speed. He was able to stand out among many competitors because of the information processing capabilities of the Destiny System and the extreme reaction speed of his true form.
With these two factors combined, his neural reflexes are no slower than those of a Level 6 being, and in some aspects, they are even faster.
But the other wizards didn't know this.
All they knew was that a level 5 wizard had secured a spot and was standing here.
Jemin could sense that the gazes directed at him from around him now carried a more scrutinizing tone.
The high-ranking wizards looked at him with subtle expressions, neither contempt nor hostility, but rather a cautious scrutiny, as if they were assessing an item of uncertain value.
Wizards are all intelligent people.
They knew very well that those who were able to come to this teleportation platform were people who had genuinely secured a spot.
For a level 5 wizard to stand out from so many level 6 or even level 7 competitors, it's either because they're incredibly lucky or they have some hidden trump cards.
In this circle, "good luck" is often also a reflection of ability.
Jemin remained unfazed, standing quietly in place, letting those gazes sweep over him.
He did not deliberately hide his rank, nor did he actively release any pressure to prove anything.
In this situation, any unnecessary movements are a negative.
The flashing frequency of the light on the teleportation platform began to decrease.
Most of the slot holders have already arrived.
These people stood loosely together, maintaining a subtle distance from each other, forming social circles of varying sizes.
He didn't join any of them, but instead chose a spot near the edge of the platform, where he could see the entire platform clearly without feeling isolated.
Just then, a figure appeared in the center of the platform.
There was no fluctuation, as if the face and body had always been there, only previously obscured by some force, and now allowed to be revealed.
"Voidweaver" Austin.
Eighth-level Grand Wizard.
Jemin's pupils contracted slightly, and his mental energy instinctively tightened to its limit.
Faced with an existence of this caliber, as a matter of basic courtesy, he did not use his mental power to perceive the other party, but only used his five basic senses to observe.
Austin looked like a middle-aged man, tall and thin, with an ordinary face, wearing a dark gray wizard's robe without any decoration.
His hair was silver-gray, neatly combed, and his eyes were a very pale blue, like a diluted sky.
But what really bothered Jemin was that, unlike the other level eight wizards he had ever met, he couldn't sense this person's presence at all.
Austin was clearly standing on the platform, only a few dozen meters away from him, but Jemin couldn't catch any information about the man.
No, it's even more thorough than that.
"Power projection, or a clone?" Jemin wondered to himself. "It seems he's temporarily tied up with something."
The power level of an eighth-level wizard is what it is; unless there is a special law of concealment or deliberate concealment, their presence can never achieve this effect.
Jemin couldn’t even be sure if Austin was looking at him.
That person's gaze was as calm as a glass of water, without any focus, yet it seemed as if he was simultaneously observing everyone present.
"Gentlemen."
Austin spoke up.
The voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of every wizard present clearly, as if he were speaking right next to you.
The platform fell silent instantly.
"Thank you all for responding to my bounty." Austin's tone was flat, devoid of pleasantries or small talk, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself. "Before explaining the mission, I need to confirm one thing..."
He paused, his light blue eyes sweeping across the room.
"As you've all probably noticed, my dimension is rather... sophisticated. I hope you'll keep that in mind during the missions to come."
These words were spoken lightly, but Jemin keenly caught the underlying warning.
Austin didn't say more, but the mere presence of an eighth-level archmage was the greatest deterrent.
No one would be foolish enough to run wild in a private dimension of an eighth-level being.
"Now, let's get down to business."
Austin waved his hand, and a huge 3D projection appeared above the platform, displaying a structural diagram of a certain plane.
"A few years ago, when I was conquering a plane, an accident happened."
He spoke of it casually, but for an eighth-level great wizard to describe something as an "accident," Jemin didn't think it was really that easy.
"I created a gap in that dimension, which should have repaired itself quickly. But within the extremely short time the gap existed, several special phenomena seeped in and infected my... backyard."
When Austin said the word "backyard," Jemin clearly sensed a slight change in his tone.
If he had been stating the mission background in a businesslike manner before, when he mentioned the "back garden," this level eight wizard finally revealed a hint of...heartache.
"This is the dimension we are currently in."
Austin's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone still calm, but what lay beneath that calmness made all the wizards present unconsciously tense up.
"What I need you all to do is, without damaging this plane or affecting the normal survival of the creatures on it, find those special rule phenomena that have infiltrated and resolve them."
The projected images switched, displaying several distorted and bizarre forms that were difficult to describe in words.
Those things had no fixed shape, and their colors constantly changed beyond the visible spectrum. Just one glance at the projection made Jemin feel a slight itch in his mental energy.
"These special rule phenomena are unique to the plane I am currently conquering. They are deeply connected to the laws of nature and can be considered, to some extent, 'activated pathological rules'."
"Based on the local indigenous people's naming convention, this peculiar phenomenon is called 'wei' (meaning 'strange' or 'weird').
Austin's explanation is concise and precise.
"They themselves have research value—that's one of your rewards. You can keep the anomalies you've dealt with as loot. In addition, after the mission is completed, I will open the entrance to that anomaly dimension, where you can go to capture, process, and study those anomalies without damaging the overall structure of the dimension."
Jemin sensed a slight unease in the air around him.
For wizards... especially high-level wizards, the allure of an unknown, special existence deeply connected to the laws of nature is irresistible.
Wizards are researchers and seekers of knowledge at heart. When faced with unknown laws and phenomena, the urge to unravel the mysteries is almost etched into the soul of every wizard.
"but."
Austin's two words were spoken softly, yet they were like a bucket of cold water poured on everyone's enthusiasm.
"I have three restrictions."
He held up one finger.
"First, you are not allowed to cause widespread damage to my plane. The flowers, trees, mountains, and rivers here are all things I have carefully cultivated over a long period of time. If anyone manages to blast a crater in my garden..."
He didn't say what the consequences would be, he just smiled faintly.
That smile silenced all the wizards present for a moment.
"Secondly, this plane is inhabited by a large number of ordinary people. In the process of solving the anomalies, you must do your best to ensure their survival. I do not accept reports of large-scale civilian casualties."
Austin's tone became a bit more serious here.
"I know that everyone here may be used to acting freely on the battlefield, but this is not a battlefield, this is my home."
"Those ordinary people may not have much power, but they are still citizens of the wizarding civilization. If your actions result in the deaths of a large number of civilians, the public contract will make you pay for it without my intervention."
These words were spoken bluntly, but none of the wizards present raised any objections.
Public contracts are no joke.
That was the bottom line rule that the wizarding civilization had maintained for countless years, and anyone who violated it would face punishment.
Even a level eight Grand Wizard wouldn't dare challenge the authority of the public contract.
"Third," Austin said, holding up his third finger, "considering the first two restrictions, the energy level you can output during the mission will be significantly limited."
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Jemin immediately felt an invisible force enveloping the entire plane.
That seems to be a kind of... "constraint".
It's like putting up a "No Noise" sign in a room. It's not about pinning you down and preventing you from moving, but about making you understand that there are some things you can't do here.
"Specifically, any spell that exceeds the level three cap in a single cast will be automatically blocked by the rules I've set," Austin explained. "Of course, I hope you understand that this isn't targeting anyone in particular, but rather to protect this plane."
A low murmur arose on the platform.
Jemin could understand the reactions of those high-ranking wizards.
For beings accustomed to "washing away the earth with laws and evaporating continents" at the drop of a hat, limiting output to level three or below is like asking pilots who are used to flying star destroyers to suddenly use tweezers to pick up ants.
suffocated.
I feel extremely frustrated.
But looking at the unreal miniature glass garden around them, and then at the eighth-level Grand Wizard standing there, no one dared to say a word of "no".
Jemin didn't seem to feel anything.
It could even be argued that limiting the output energy level is actually more advantageous for him.
Those high-level wizards who are used to large-scale, powerful attacks will find it quite uncomfortable to use their modified physical strength, as they will be restricted in their actions.
Thanks to the cultivation system, Jemin is better at controlling himself, which allows him to leverage his strengths.
Austin waited a few seconds to allow the wizards to process the information before continuing.
"If there are no objections, the mission will begin now. I will send a detailed map of this plane to your private channels, and the suspected areas of the strange phenomena have been marked. You are free to team up or act alone. The loot belongs to the discoverer; I will not take a cut."
He paused, then slightly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing the first expression that resembled a "smile".
Good luck to everyone.
As soon as he finished speaking, the wizards on the platform dispersed.
Some immediately formed teams and left, some transformed into streaks of light and flew away into the distance, while others stood calmly in place studying the map.