Above The Sky

Chapter 1974 - 14: Machinist Soul Celebrant

"Lately, the counterattack from Fiery Flame Land has been weak, and many media outlets have basically resigned themselves to our actions—Sir, we aren’t going to defeat Fiery Flame Land just like that, are we?"

Silver Peak Castle, the Lord’s Mansion Studio, Chief of Silverpeak’s General Administration, Scott reports to Ian with a puzzled expression about recent work.

As one of the first to follow Ian, Scott has progressed step by step with Ian. Today, he holds a high position in Silverpeak Domain, and his practice along the Arcane Pathway is on track. His counterparts in rank are either Fourth Energy Level or some powerful Spirit Energy User.

But Scott hasn’t let it go to his head. Holding the actual power to manage Silverpeak Domain’s administrative affairs, he works even more steadily. Perhaps this is his innate talent—the more resources he commands, the more agile his thinking becomes, allowing him to accomplish appropriate tasks with appropriate resources.

Indeed, this is a quite remarkable talent. In the realm of administration, the only talent surpassing it is ’being able to get things done without resources’—Scott hasn’t reached that level yet; without resources, there’s no way to cook without rice.

Simply put, without abundance, one can’t play.

It’s already sufficient. Ian is very pleased with Scott’s consistent performance. Without Scott and others like Roland handling the infrastructure and city development of Silverpeak Domain, a lord like Ian, constantly running around, would likely still leave Xia Hui City as a rundown little town.

As a gesture of trust, Ian regards him as someone he can truly rely on, revealing many plans that could change the world and reshape the future.

Unexpectedly, Scott showed no surprise at all. "The great reason you came to this world was to change this turbulent world." Hearing Scott’s calm and sincere words, Ian suddenly realized there truly are people in this world who are his followers... those who follow his path, believe in his creed, and adhere to his tenets.

Not blind faith, but understanding everything about him, only then acknowledging and following the right path.

In fact, within the Supreme Spirit Sect, many have joined primarily because of Ian, with Scott being an especially important leader among them.

Moreover, although Scott doesn’t directly lead the Propaganda Legion, he handles the allocation of funds, and related reports are under Scott’s purview.

In response to Scott’s doubts, Ian simply shakes his head slightly: "It’s still early—Fiery Flame Land is not completely defeated by us, lying down, waiting to die."

"On the contrary, this is their most dangerous moment."

"Scott, we did encounter many snakes in the rainforest before, right? Cut off the snake’s head, and it can still bite, and once it bites, it never lets go. This is akin to Fiery Flame Land’s current state; we need to retract our opinion offensive and ensure Fiery Flame Land’s political situation remains stable."

"Only like this."

Slowly raising his head, Ian looks toward the northwest, seemingly locking eyes with an elder from afar: "He can only feel assured to engage me in a final battle."

This explains why Ian isn’t afraid of other forces becoming immediately alert after he acquired Fiery Flame Land.

Because what he aims to do isn’t act as a pressure-filled conqueror, surpassing Abassalom Mountains to conquer Lower Flame Domain... His intention is to compel the opponent to seek him out for the decisive battle through methods that only the party involved can understand.

Once the Ashen King makes a move, Ian is not the challenger but the one challenged.

"This feeling’s pretty nice."

Sitting on the central throne crafted with Mithril Alloy and Pure Light Crystal, Ian smiles at Scott, who seems deep in thought: "I’ve been an adventurer and challenger for so long, and finally, it’s my turn to be challenged."

"I will use my full power to show everyone... As long as within my territory, for the sake of protecting my people, the power of Ian Silverpeak is unmatched!"

Buzz—the throne beneath suddenly lights up with brilliance, invisible streams of light and data chains connect Ian to the Heart of Terra and the Supreme Spirit Arms, endless data cascades transform into a 360-degree veil of light surrounding him, eventually manifesting as a silver sun behind him.

Eyes slightly open, Ian’s irises reflect a flowing starlight, the very radiance of the computational core within the Supreme Spirit Arms.

Buzz—Buzz—

Invisible vibrations sweep across the entire Silverpeak Domain, even reaching throughout South Ridge Duchy and the entire Terra Continent.

All people governed by the Heart of Terra, all users of Pioneer Space, faintly sense as if someone with a calm and unperturbed expression is watching them, akin to the unfeeling gaze of Azure Sky.

At this point, the growth of Heart of Terra is becoming increasingly substantial. With assistance from Pioneer Space, Silverpeak Domain, and New Continent, its growth speed nearly matches the second ’Fifth Energy Level’s’ pace, while the computational optimization of Supreme Spirit Arms fully showcases Ian’s complex and versatile Heart Light Body and Aether True Body advantage. No matter who the enemy is, or what their cards are, Ian can instantly expose their flaws, locate their weaknesses, and then crush them!

"Hmm."

After sensing that the seat indeed links a person to the core of Heart of Terra, acquiring extreme computational power, Ian satisfactorily nods and rises: "This central throne, if given to someone else, allows them to use 90% of Heart of Terra’s computational power; for me, even exceeding that to draw upon all parallel space-time’s Ian’s computational power with my Heart Light Body force."

"When I’m not present, Adalbert has first access to this throne, and you, Scott, have second access. If Adalbert uses Heart of Terra’s power, morphing into Giant of Light, to the extent that Silverpeak Domain couldn’t defeat the opponent... Scott, then during Adalbert’s struggle with the enemy."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the previously focused Scott suddenly awakens, stands upright, and loudly declares: "I will exert my utmost, burn my soul, and together with Minister Gu Ying, partake in a decisive battle against the enemy!"

"Ridiculous."

Irritated, Ian kicked Scott’s shin, making the Iron Folk show a painful expression. He said in exasperation, "You need to run away with the Heart of Terra! Run, do you understand?"

"Both Adalbert and I are being held back, which means that either Sio and his Green Tide have been dealt with or they are also held up. Why would you need to fight to the death? Just quickly get the core data of the Heart of Terra, those deceased souls, and the Supreme Spirit Arms and leave."

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, Scott was bewildered: "But where can I possibly run to... Just like you said, if you and Adalbert are being held back... then Terra has no place for us to hide."

"Who says so."

Ian moved to the window, opened the automated steel sunshade, and let the sunlight flow into the castle: "Look to the sky."

When Scott came to the window, looking up at the sky doubtfully, Ian calmly said, "When the time comes, take the Heart of Terra to the sun."

"There, is a place more perfect than Terra, a place that can ’endure permanently.’

Leaving behind a somewhat bewildered Scott, who didn’t question the plan itself, Ian slowly approached the so-called ’Central Throne’ he had casually named, and sighed softly.

As of now, he had made all preparations. Even if he didn’t believe he would be defeated, he left plans for that impossible possibility.

The Heart of Terra already has the capability to siphon Origin Quality, aiding in condensing the Origin Structure. If it really reaches beside the sun and waits through long ages, it might truly reform a body that affects the material world with pure Origin Quality—yet Terra no longer has that time, so going to the sun is just the final step.

If all else fails and everything collapses, Ian would trigger an iron element conversion reaction within the Terra star from the Heart of Terra, directly initiating a supernova explosion to create the ’Light Dragon.’

If failure ensues, why not try the Extinction Star Path once more, and see what exactly lies beyond the Cradle—the ’The End’—who knows if he might uncover something this time to prepare for the next Reincarnation?

This, of course, is merely the last-ditch plan of the Silverpeak Domain.

Simply put, compared to other countries’ last resort plans, Silverpeak’s might be more extensive—not just blowing up Terra, but the Terra star.

For now, however, Ian’s task is to prepare for the challenge of the ’Ashen King.’

Beyond this, Ian adheres to one sole creed.

Unite all allies that can be united, defeat all enemies that can be defeated.

Make more friends, and fewer enemies.

"Fae... I have Hua’an, Frost Butterfly, and Frozen Fish speaking for me. By then, hosting a big party with a Fairy Body in Falling Star City, the Fae will at least not oppose me."

"As for the Elves, there’s Anfa and Chairman Yafarda. Even if the attitude of other royal blood is subtle, at least they know that ’Elves’ can be yoked to my Silverpeak Domain’s chariot. What I need to do is serve as the Elves’ final retreat path, and under this premise, engage in healthy competition with them."

"Dwarves... I can link with them through Roland, but the Dwarves have a close relationship with the Azure Sky Royal Court, which perhaps calls for a personal visit."

"As for the Magical Beasts in the Dark Mountain Range, there’s no need for me to seek them out. If they’re wise, they’ll find me on the New Continent, where I will become the Beast King with the Glazed-Glass Dragon. With the New Continent as a foundation, I am the Beast King."

"As for Far Shore Island, as long as we cooperate on the New Continent, Azure Star... should be a well-tempered individual. It might be feasible to explore deeper collaboration?"

Ian didn’t account for the divided Empire and Azure Sky Court, as they are the enemies he must face directly in the future.

As for Whale Song Cliff, Seven Cities Alliance, City of Knowledge, Nine Cold Quiet Mountains, and Steep Ridge Fortress, they have smaller populations and require competition with other major powers to win them over.

Regarding the scattered forces of Holy Mountain, Dragon Island, and the Crystalline Dragon King, Ian has long settled these, not worrying about their meddling.

Now, only one category of organizations could truly unpredictably affect Ian’s grand ambition to conquer the world.

"The Four Great Orthodox Churches."

Ian said lightly, "Indeed, compared to those Kings, it is you who have organizational doctrines, aspirations, and the hearts of the masses below. You can truly influence the pace of my grand enterprise as an ’unpredictable factor.’"

"Even if I were to defeat the Ashen King, as long as the faith of the Aether Arms Order isn’t fully dismantled, the people of the Fiery Flame Land would still harbor doubts about my rule."

"What do you say, Machinist Soul Celebrant, Master Vanal?"

[Indeed]

After a brief silence, an electronic tone resonated quietly: "[As expected, well-considered, Duke of Silverpeak]"

"[A person who plans the world before winning and contemplates the end even before defeat, you are, as expected, destined to be a King of this realm.]"