Chapter 104: Constraints
Early eighth tier... mid-eighth tier... high eighth tier—the arcane energy continued to surge, flowing endlessly into Patrick’s body, as if the very essence of the arcane held a will of its own, ceaselessly pouring into him.
Within his body, the arcane energy gradually transformed. The runes signifying his power's ascent flickered, and the very fabric of the surrounding space began to be replaced by Patrick’s spiritual force.
Pure soul power, entwined with the transcendence of arcane energy, brought forth vivid images from the outside world—the hopes and prayers of the surrounding elemental spirits—all vividly alive within his mind.
At the seventh ring, one begins to comprehend the rules of the world; spiritually, an arcanist can influence the material reality.
At the eighth ring, one starts to alter the laws of the world; the material existence of the surrounding reality becomes subject to the caster’s spirit. Change, transformation—everything lies within Patrick’s mere thought.
Arcane energy, like spiritual force, began to ascend slowly, yet it felt as though a shackle bound Patrick’s rank tightly at the eighth tier, forbidding further ascension. Nonetheless, the arcane energy from the outside world continued to pour into him. His spiritual force grew ever purer, but his consciousness seemed overwhelmed, overloaded by the arcane energy filling him. This rapid expansion caused beads of sweat to break out on Patrick’s brow.
This sudden occurrence left Patrick puzzled. Why was this happening? “Is it just my illusion? I feel a strange limitation upon me.”
[It is not an illusion. The limitation is real.]
“Why so? Why do the world’s laws bind me so tightly?”
[Under the complete laws of the world, breaking beyond the mundane is exceedingly difficult. The ninth tier marks the starting point of the transcendent. It requires not only power surpassing the ordinary but also the recognition of the world’s will. Though you have absorbed Nogannon’s arcane energy once more, broken through your limits, and your arcane energy now surpasses the eighth tier—indeed, even rapidly approaching the threshold of the ninth—unfortunately, you have yet to find your own path, the true essence and fundamental guidance of your soul.]
Could it be the secret hidden deep within the soul? The spiritual pursuit nestled in one’s innermost heart? Only by finding one’s own arcane path and completing the spiritual transcendence can one earn the recognition of the world’s will.
Within the spiritual realm, Patrick sensed the thoughts of the surrounding lives—they possessed their own emotions: love, sorrow, joy, revulsion. Their true feelings were directly reflected upon their souls, impossible to fake.
Patrick clearly noticed Aureliana’s visible anxiety. She knew he was crafting new spell constructs on the sixth floor. Edonis, Quillintis, and the others were also somewhat nervous and uneasy, unsure of what had transpired on the top floor.
Theresta and Liadryn, who resided permanently in the Sunlight Tower, were equally perplexed. Theresta, an exceptional spellcaster, could sense the arcane fluctuations within the mage tower growing stronger and more intense, as if someone had broken through their limits and reached a new pinnacle. Liadryn, though also a spellcaster, wielded the power of holy light and could only perceive the rise and fall of spiritual force within the tower.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens looking up at the crystal atop the Sunlight Tower saw the once-blue arcane glow shift to a silvery-white, like the sun in the sky, casting light and warmth upon the earth. The scent of arcane energy drifted with the crystal’s radiance, filling all present with a serene delight.
Entering the eighth ring, the world seen through Patrick’s eyes had transformed greatly. It was no longer merely observing the flow of energy, spatial distortions, or the curvature of the world—all these were clearly within his grasp.
Arcane energy accompanied his breath, followed his thoughts, and pursued all things.
Arcane power was the foundation of Patrick’s strength. Upon this foundation, he would begin to peer into the secrets of the soul, uncover the true structure of Azeroth, and the powers governing space and time—all irresistibly pulling him onward.
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Sensing the massive dissipation of arcane energy from the chief chamber on the sixth floor, Aureliana swiftly arrived with Edonis, Quillintis, and the great cat Regba.
Finding Patrick safe within the secret chamber, they did not disturb him. Aureliana remained on the sixth floor to watch over him while the others returned to their respective duties.
After a long while, Patrick regained his composure. The arcane energy overflowing from his eyes had completely transformed into a dense, pure, and lucid silver—a hybrid energy born from his ascent through the arcane.
His body still floated in the air, but the principle behind his levitation had changed dramatically. Previously, defying gravity involved one of three methods: spatial deconstruction and reconstruction, altering gravitational principles, or performing antigravity work. Now, having reached the eighth ring, Patrick could directly use arcane energy to nullify the concept of his own gravitational constant; Newton’s law of universal gravitation ceased to apply to him.
Seeing Aureliana, Patrick said, “The rune combination was successfully completed.”
Aureliana, not lingering on other matters, keenly perceived that Patrick seemed to have broken through some barrier and thus boldly asked, “Have you ascended to the eighth tier?”
“Yes, I have.”
Receiving Patrick’s affirmation, the elven woman nearly leapt with excitement. The eighth tier was the ticket to the core power circle of the Quel’Thalas kingdom and the smallest price of admission. Other professions required major special achievements to enter the Silvermoon Council; as for becoming an executive council member, no other profession had yet succeeded.
Though King Anasterian had long transcended the mundane and achieved legend, administrative power in Silvermoon City was held by the Silvermoon Council. The king only held the Sunwell’s ownership and the arcane priesthood rights.
Developing into a high-tier mage was the simplest way to gain critical power in Silvermoon City. Reaching the seventh ring automatically made one a council member; advancing to the eighth ring granted a seat on the executive council. Compared to other suppressed professions, this was the most straightforward and convenient path to prominence.
“This is incredible. It feels like just yesterday we were fighting together in the Life Forest, yet in the blink of an eye, you’ve reached the eighth ring,” Aureliana said, slipping into memories.
In truth, she had already thought Patrick remarkable at the seventh ring. In Silvermoon City, he had reached the level of the venerable Windrunner patriarch.
But less than a year had passed, and he had advanced from the seventh to the eighth ring. Thinking of the masters long entrenched in the Silvermoon Council, the elf smiled genuinely. Compared to Patrick, those masters seemed insignificant.