Chapter 148: Another Front Line

However, Patrick could do nothing about this either. After all, such was the reality of the nation. If he were to attempt to reform it now, it would be tantamount to making an enemy of the entire elven race.

Currently, Patrick still focused primarily on elevating his own strength. Gaining a deeper understanding of arcana and truly mastering it was the correct path.

"What a pity. For now, I can only rely on the mimetic effects of arcana to simulate spatial force; I haven't yet completely mastered the power of space itself. As a high-tier energy, compared to arcana, mastering its principles and application is exceedingly difficult. Is there any good method for me to completely master high-tier energy?" Strength was the ultimate truth.

Alyn fell into contemplation for a moment, as if having perceived something.

[I must point out two errors in your statement. First, wanting to fully master the power of space requires reaching the demigod tier. However, reaching the demigod tier is merely the beginning, a mere glimpse across the threshold. To gradually master the powers of space and time, one must at least attain the realm of a virtual god—a level like that of Norgannon—to barely be able to use spatial force freely.]

[As for those who can thoroughly master tier-zero energy, among the entire multiverse, probably only the Old Gods have completely achieved it. Their mastery of soul force places them at the very forefront of the entire cosmos. Nor have you ever heard of anyone who, after being corrupted or controlled by the Old Gods, managed to recover their true self.]

Indeed, once completely controlled by the Old Gods, there was no turning back. The soul no longer belonged to oneself, and the existence of that physical shell no longer represented one's own will.

In primordial times, even the Titans at the virtual god tier were no match for the Old Gods. Had it not been for the infighting among several Old Gods, whether the Titans could have emerged victorious would have been an open question. This alone was sufficient to prove that in the realm of soul force proficiency, the ancient gods stood unrivaled across the entire universe.

[Second, you harbor certain misconceptions regarding the classification and ranking of energy tiers, which has led to deviations in your way of thinking.]

Hearing this, Patrick's expression shifted slightly. His fundamental conceptual understanding had been wrong, leading to deviations on his path of advancement—this was a major issue.

[First of all, have you ever considered why these three energy tier classifications are designated as 0, 1, and 2, rather than 1, 2, and 3?]

Patrick offered his own perspective: "No, I haven't. Aren't higher numbers supposed to represent lower energy tiers? Tier zero is already the lowest number, so it naturally belongs to the highest-grade energy."

[The first sentence is correct: the larger the number, the lower the energy tier. But that highest-tier energy, tier zero, holds a much deeper meaning.]

[Zero is the dividing point between positive and negative numbers. The identifier zero also embodies the concept of "absolute nothingness." It is precisely because of zero that positive and negative infinity have a corresponding midpoint. Therefore, in the concept of energy tiers, tier-zero energy signifies that these energies compose this physical world of reality. Without tier-zero energy, the physical world of reality would exist in a state of "absolute nothingness."]

"According to the concept of energy classification, it is time, space, soul, and matter—these four items that constitute the reality of the world. All four are indispensable; they are interconnected and complement one another, which is why they are defined as the highest-grade energy."

[However, it is not as you imagine—that upgrading an energy tier allows tier-one arcane energy to elevate into tier-zero spatial energy. The primary principle of tier elevation is utilizing arcana to control and alter space. This process consumes a vast amount of arcane energy, and the resulting spatial effect produced at the end is spatial force.]

[Furthermore, regarding the method of distinguishing between tier-one energy and tier-two energy, it simply depends on whether an energy can simulate the effects of other energies. Arcana can create the practical effects of fire elements—that is, generating the actual process of combustion. The Holy Light can also ignite holy flames; however, the effect of these holy flames is not the oxidation-reduction chemical reaction of combustion, but rather the regularized energy of the Holy Light beginning to erode and reshape unordered matter.]

[By the same token, the lightning effect created by the power of nature is no different from the lightning found in the natural world. Therefore, arcana, the power of nature, and fel energy are defined as tier-one energies, whereas earth, fire, water, wind, the Holy Light, and shadow are defined as tier-two energies.]

Patrick remained somewhat confused, his understanding of energy tiers growing hazy once more. "So, understanding energy tier relationships purely through numbers is incorrect?"

[Yes. In fact, apart from these basic energies, the types of energy can also be categorized into three types: regularized, neutral, and chaotic. The four elements belong to the neutral type; the Holy Light belongs to regularized energy; shadow belongs to chaotic energy; arcana and the power of nature lean toward the regularized side of neutral; fel energy leans toward the chaotic side of neutral; while space, time, matter, and soul are completely neutral energies.]

[These three grades of energy do not have a progressive or regressive relationship with one another. Rather, they are connected to one another, and those numerical representations are not merely mathematical concepts, but symbolize that zero is the origin, followed by tier-one energy and tier-two energy, functioning like a coordinate system. If you wish to classify them even more meticulously, you can specify positive one and negative one to denote whether an energy's attribute is regularized or chaotic.]

"..." Having listened to Alyn, Patrick finally squeezed out a sentence: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

[...] Alyn fell silent as well, before finally retorting: "You didn't ask. How was I supposed to know that you didn't truly understand the concept of energy tiers?"

Fundamental knowledge and concepts were of the utmost importance, because these basic elements constantly governed one's judgments, and one's path of arcane cultivation was woven together from these ordinary concepts.

"Turns out I haven't even touched the truth of arcane energy yet."

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The Ghostlands.

"General Sylvanas, Morningstar Tower has fallen. The trolls have established a camp called Zab'Suril near Morningstar Tower. All surviving defenders are retreating; after crossing Lake Elrendar, they are temporarily resting at Sunwatcher Village."

When the scout who had gone out to gather intelligence returned to report to Sylvanas, it was actually already too late. This time, the trolls had mobilized almost in their entirety, led by their chieftain Zul'jin, leaving only Witch Doctor Malacras and a few priests to guard Zul'Aman. The bulk of their forces had set out, cooperating with the orc troops to advance toward the center of the Ghostlands. The trolls hoped to launch a direct assault into Eversong Woods and retake the lands lost several millennia ago.

This troll offensive was stronger than all previous probes and attacks, and Sylvanas felt the pressure immensely. Yet the duty upon her shoulders prevented the elven woman from slacking for even a moment; she wholeheartedly desired to drive out these savage trolls and protect all elves.

"I received news from the floating city. The trolls' major move is related to those orcs invading us. They have already formed an alliance and are marching on Eversong Woods in two separate fronts," Sylvanas deduced after reading the letter given by Alleria.

The letter informed Sylvanas that the floating city had neutralized the orc threat and was temporarily safe. Now, it was necessary to ascertain the movements of those trolls in order to formulate a countermeasures in advance.