Kael smiled faintly. "You could say that." His battle with Einar had indeed been a decisive victory, yet Einar remained one of the most formidable geniuses Kael had ever encountered—a true rival on his path to becoming an Archmage.
A talent like Einar's defied conventional understanding. He was capable of staggering breakthroughs at any moment. The slightest complacency from Kael, and Einar might swiftly close the gap between them.
At Kael's confirmation, Suo Mo'er's lips parted slightly, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Einar is here in Emerald City too," she revealed. "I heard he came specifically for the Continental Rankings selection. He's already defeated several of the city's top experts and has reached the 11th-tier..."
Kael nodded indifferently, unfazed by the news.
"By the way, Senior Sister Suo Mo'er, what exactly is the Tower of the Void?" Kael's curiosity lay elsewhere. He'd heard of the tower's legend but knew little of its purpose.
Suo Mo'er's expression brightened. "The Tower of the Void is the most renowned magic tower in Emerald City. Legend says it was jointly constructed by a dozen supreme powerhouses of antiquity. For millennia, it has served as a testing ground for innate potential—even Archmage Orlando and the Elven King Yu Luo left their names upon it. It's a monument to three thousand years of prodigies."
Awe flickered through Kael's heart, followed by an irresistible yearning.
"If it records geniuses across three millennia, earning a place there must be nearly impossible," he mused aloud.
"Of course," Suo Mo'er agreed. "Only the top five hundred are inscribed. Every name on that tower belongs to a peerless talent."
Their conversation continued, with Suo Mo'er detailing Emerald City's intricacies while Kael absorbed every word. His understanding of the Tower of the Void deepened.
The tower was a place of profound mystique, its existence intertwined with Emerald City's status as the continent's holy land of magic. At its summit lay the "Void Ranking"—a list bearing five hundred names, a roll call of history's greatest geniuses. For three thousand years, luminaries like Orlando and the Elven King Yu Luo had etched their legacies upon it...
These figures were all once Archmage-level powerhouses!
Kael couldn't help but feel a growing anticipation for the Tower of the Void...
The next morning, as the sun rose in a clear sky,
Two women stood at the base of the estate's magic tower. One was Suo Mo'er, and the other, slightly younger, stood beside her. The younger woman was quite beautiful, her body thrumming with refined magical energy—clearly no slouch in terms of strength.
"Senior Sister, do you really believe this Kael defeated Einar? Or is he just boasting?"The girl pouted, giving a light sniff. Her name was Shasha, another disciple of Qilin's—in fact, the youngest. Though her current strength peaked at the 9th-tier, her magical prowess was still commendable. Now, however, skepticism colored her tone.
Suo Mo'er smiled. "Shasha, don't underestimate Kael. Yesterday, I took special note of his power—it's unfathomable, certainly no weaker than mine."
"What? But Senior Sister, you're a 10th-tier peak expert! Master even said you have the potential to become an Archmage!" Shasha's eyes widened, her pink tongue darting out in disbelief.
Suo Mo'er was her idol—the most outstanding among Qilin's disciples, one of Emerald City's most celebrated geniuses, and a 10th-tier peak powerhouse who dominated her peers. To hear that Kael might surpass her? Shasha's first instinct was denial.
With a faint shake of her head, Suo Mo'er chided gently, "This world is vaster than you imagine, Shasha. Countless geniuses exist—never look down on anyone." This trip to the Tower of the Void was also Qilin's way of broadening Shasha's horizons. Though her talent was exceptional (second only to Suo Mo'er's among their peers), she still had much to learn.
Grumbling, Shasha muttered an "Oh," though her expression remained dubious.
Just then, a breeze swept through. Kael's figure blurred like the wind, the fleeting glimmer of his Wings of the Storm God vanishing as he materialized before Suo Mo'er and Shasha.
"Senior Sister Suo Mo'er, my apologies for the wait! And this is...?" Kael glanced at Shasha.
After introductions, Suo Mo'er nodded. "Let's go. The Tower of the Void awaits."
Kael fell into step beside them as they departed.
The Tower of the Void loomed in southern Emerald City—a soaring monolith, one of the city's tallest and most striking landmarks.
Throughout the journey, Shasha's gaze kept drifting to Kael. What began as curious glances soon turned into outright staring, as if he'd sprouted three heads and six arms.
"Miss Shasha, why do you keep staring at me?" Kael felt slightly unnerved by her intense gaze and couldn't help but ask.
Shasha's cheeks flushed faintly as she retorted, "I wasn't staring!" Yet Suo Mo'er's earlier words had piqued her curiosity, and after a moment, she couldn't resist probing further. "So… where do you think you'll rank on the Void Ranking?"
Her tone wavered between skepticism and intrigue.
"Hard to say," Kael replied modestly. "The continent is teeming with geniuses, and the Void Ranking spans talents from antiquity to the present. I have no idea where I might place."
Shasha snorted. "At least you're self-aware. Breaking into the top 100 would make you famous across all three continents, while the top 10 are reserved for those with the potential to become Archmages! If you can even crack the top 100, you'd already be among the elite of elites!"
Her assessment wasn't wrong—but she had no inkling of Kael's monstrous aptitude.
Kael merely smiled, unbothered by her attitude, which only made Shasha purse her lips and huff in dissatisfaction.
Watching their exchange, Suo Mo'er stifled a laugh. She knew her junior sister's mischievous temperament well, but thankfully, Kael took it in stride.
"We're here!"
Before them loomed an azure magic tower, ten stories tall and sharp as a blade. Surging waves of dense magical energy radiated from it, crashing over them like a tidal force—enough to make one's heart race.
"This is the Tower of the Void!" Kael's eyes gleamed as he scanned the base, where a sea of people—thousands strong—had gathered.
"So many participants…" he murmured, impressed.
Suo Mo'er chuckled. "Naturally. The tower opens only once a year, so it draws massive attention. Plus, with the Continental Rankings selection underway, talents have flocked to Emerald City. Everyone wants to test their mettle here."
"Makes sense," Kael agreed.
"The tower's rule is simple: no one over thirty-five may enter. So what you're seeing is essentially the cream of the crop—the youngest geniuses from all three continents."
Kael nodded, his gaze sweeping across the base of the Tower of the Void—when suddenly, he froze.
There stood an all-too-familiar figure.
The man had fiery red hair, a towering frame with broad shoulders, and most strikingly, eyes that faintly glowed with a crimson hue. As Kael's eyes landed on him, the man seemed to sense it instantly, turning to meet his stare.
"Einar!" Suo Mo'er gasped, recognizing the distant figure.
Indeed—it was Einar, the very same man Kael had once battled!
Spotting Kael, Einar's eyes narrowed. He stood motionless, cold as steel, before suddenly calling out, "Kael... You came too?!"
The moment Einar spoke, dozens of onlookers who'd already noticed him now fully turned their attention his way. Even among this gathering of geniuses, Einar stood out—his every move commanded attention.
"It's the Holy Son of the Sanctum, Einar! He's here... That guarantees him a spot on the Void Ranking!"
"Kael? You mean the one who defeated Einar?"
Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowd.