The hall fell silent after Selyara's words. The elders exchanged glances, silently weighing the value of her favor. The Palace Master, seated atop the crystalline throne, narrowed his eyes slightly as if trying to see through her. Still, he nodded after a moment of thought.
"That is a considerable offer. In fact, there is something we could use your help with. So, we will honor your request. We'll arrange for a teleportation formation to take you to the Sky Sage Empire. It may take a few hours to prepare." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
Selyara offered a polite nod. "Thank you for that."
"You'll remain our honored guests until the formation is ready," the Palace Master added. "Please, rest within the Guest Cloud Pavilion."
After that, an attendant respectfully led the group away.
Inside the Guest Cloud Pavilion, after the attendant left, everyone gathered.
"What do you think the Palace Master wants from me?" Selyara frowned slightly, a trace of unease flickering in her eyes. She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever the Palace Master wanted her help with was anything but simple.
Alex felt the same. Although he had no idea what exactly the Palace Master needed from Selyara, he had a strong hunch that this matter was definitely related to that forest.
After contemplating for a moment, Alex turned to Selyara and Aurelius. "Why don't you two stay here and assist them with whatever they need. I'll take Elyndra to the Sky Sage Empire. There's something important I must take care of there. Once I'm done, we'll return and leave together."
Then, turning to Aurelius, he added, "This world is one of the high-level worlds, with thousands of Death Domination Stage warriors scattered across the globe. I promised to bring you to a high-level world, and I've fulfilled that promise. Crystal Cloud Palace is among the top powers in the Immortal Heaven World. You can try to join them. If you're interested, Selyara can discuss the matter with the Palace Master on your behalf."
For a moment, a spark flashed in Aurelius's eyes. He had nearly forgotten about their agreement. Now that he thought about it, becoming a member of the Crystal Cloud Palace was far more advantageous than wandering from place to place with Alex. The opportunities, resources, and guidance available here would undoubtedly accelerate his growth.
Actually, Alex had already thought things through. He intended to obtain the Stone of Immortality, and the fewer people who knew about this treasure, the better. That was why he decided to bring only Elyndra with him. After all, Elyndra was his contracted beast spirit. She was bound to him by soul. Unlike Selyara, whose intentions he could never fully grasp, Elyndra was someone he could trust without question.
"I think you are right. I've decided to stay here and try to enter the Crystal Cloud Palace."
Aurelius finally made a decision after thinking for a while.
As for Selyara, she also agreed to stay here and help those people one time.
When the Palace Master, Grand Elder, and the other elders learned of Selyara's decision, they were overjoyed. Truth be told, the task they intended to accomplish required an immense amount of power. With Selyara's strength combined with their own, they would come remarkably close to achieving their goal. Her decision to stay behind and assist them was like finding a divine flame in a frozen world.
Before long, Alex and Elyndra used the teleportation formation and disappeared.
╠ Sky Sage Empire – Starlink Arrival Hall ╣
There was a vast, dome-shaped building at the heart of the Imperial City of the Sky Sage Empire. Its exterior was made of shimmering golden stone that glowed faintly under the sunlight, and its surface was engraved with runes and arrays. This place was none other than the Starlink Arrival Hall, the main teleportation hub that connected the Sky Sage Empire to all the major empires, sects, and super forces across the Immortal Heaven World.
Inside the hall, the ground stretched out like an endless field of white jade. It was polished so clean that it reflected everything above. Rows upon rows of massive teleportation formations were carved into the floor, glowing softly in shades of blue, gold, silver, and purple. Each formation had unique patterns carved into its surface.
There were hundreds of such formations, and every few seconds, one or more of them would flicker with blinding light. With each flicker, sometimes lone travelers and other times groups of warriors appeared.
An enormous number of resources is needed to activate and use even one of these formations.
The entire hall was buzzing with activity. Palace attendants in sky-blue robes could be seen moving quickly, guiding the arrivals, checking their tokens, or escorting them to other formations. There were also guards stationed throughout the hall, their eyes scanning the crowd for anything suspicious.
In the center of the hall, there was a giant floating crystal orb, suspended by glowing chains of light. It constantly projected information about incoming and outgoing teleportations. Names of places, estimated arrival times, and unique formation codes were shown on this hovering screen for all to see. Many cultivators could be seen glancing at it as they searched for their next destination.
It was within one of these teleportation formations, flickering with soft white light, that Alex and Elyndra appeared.
As the light faded, the two of them stepped off the platform and looked around.
"This place is huge, and there are so many people." Elyndra blinked in amazement as she looked around.
Alex silently agreed. He had seen many teleportation formations before, but nothing compared to the scale and majesty of the Starlink Arrival Hall.
Soon, they began walking toward the exit.
As they stepped outside the hall, the true grandeur of the Sky Sage Empire's Imperial City unfolded before them.
They could see towering buildings of jade and crystal lining both sides of a wide, stone-paved road. The entire city was bustling with vitality.
And yet, despite the hustle and bustle, everything was well-organized. The people respected the rules. The guards were sharp and watchful, and the laws here were enforced with unquestionable strength.
Elyndra was overwhelmed by the sight of it all, so she hurriedly clung slightly to Alex's side.