Chapter Fifty-Four: The Inner World of the Disc

Returning to the familiar place—the Solar Sanctuary, the Tower of Sunlight.

Aurelia and Lorne-Song followed Patrick back to the Tower of Sunlight, where Quellinthus had already prepared everything early in the morning.

"Welcome back, Chief Patrick. I have prepared clothing, food, and hot water for your convenience," Quellinthus said respectfully.

"Thank you," Patrick nodded, heading to his chief's office. Lorne-Song had already gone to the room Quellinthus had readied, intending to freshen up before meeting Patrick.

Only Patrick and Aurelia remained; the atmosphere was subtly tense. Aurelia asked nonchalantly, "You seem to have gained quite a lot this time. How did you learn the secrets of Uldaman?"

"Adventurers. Lorne-Song mentioned before heading to the Badlands that Uldaman is a Titan relic. He and those dwarves had already explored it once, but lacking enough hands, they returned intending to recruit more people for the journey."

"In such a short period, you've already reached the sixth circle. You ventured into the Badlands, fought fiercely with the Dark Iron Dwarves for the Titan's secrets. Are you so desperate to advance, or is there some secret in your heart?" Aurelia traced circles on the table with her slender fingers.

"To seek the truth of the world and pursue the essence of arcane magic is the ideal of every arcanist. I am merely doing what a mage ought to do," Patrick replied.

"Is it just that? I sense you harbor secrets deep within," Aurelia said, her gaze lingering on Patrick with intrigue.

"It truly is only the pursuit of arcane ideals. We all gained much in the Badlands," Patrick quickly shifted the topic, meeting the elven woman's eyes.

Aurelia studied him for a moment, then a smile blossomed on her face. "Indeed, I filled two backpacks with gold coins. The harvest was considerable."

Seeing her demeanor soften and the smile return, Patrick relaxed as well. "Our gains in Uldaman were substantial. My magical pouch is packed with gold coins."

After crossing into this world, Patrick discovered that a single gold coin used in Silvermoon City was equivalent to ten thousand copper coins. Unlike the previous life where monsters dropped the odd piece of silver, here, mainstream transactions used silver and copper coins. Gold was not as abundant as in games; there was no rampant inflation.

"Gold may be tempting, but what I value more are the Titan's core arcane secrets. Though I didn't obtain them this time, acquiring Norgannon's Platinum Disk is no small reward."

In truth, the main prize this time was the Platinum Disk of the Titans. Norgannon's mastery of arcane arts is unmatched by mortals—even legendary mages pale in comparison. With this disk, Patrick's arcane research would be greatly aided.

Since absorbing the four Platinum Disks, an arcane vortex formed around Patrick. The surrounding arcane energy seemed drawn in, slowly converging near him. The scent of magic on him grew stronger, the azure glow in his eyes deepened to indigo, and the dense, almost tangible arcane aura was something Aurelia greatly enjoyed.

...

"The mastery of arcane depends on your mental strength. Without the command of mind, arcane is meaningless. Though you've obtained Norgannon's Platinum Disk, you lack sufficient mental power to read and comprehend the Titan's secrets within—it is truly a waste," a certain great mage appeared again to dampen his spirits.

"The spiritual world is the most direct manifestation of a mage's will. Mortal minds condense into souls; the soul's strength grasps, drives, and understands arcane. Every arcanist seeks the guide within their soul, and those who succeed invariably become world-renowned archmages. Power stems from the soul, and the soul arises from the mind."

Finding the primordial strength hidden within one's soul is easy to say, painfully hard to do. Patrick was now at the intermediate level of the sixth circle; after absorbing the Platinum Disk, arcane power flooded his sea of consciousness. With skillful use of sixth-circle metamagic techniques, his mana and arcane control had almost touched the threshold of the seventh circle.

"In truth, the runes engraved on those Platinum Disks are the crystallization of the Titans' arcane wisdom. The combination of runes and circuits, with arcane energy flowing gently along them, all testify to the Titans' formidable creations."

With a thought, Patrick conjured four miniature Platinum Disks in the air, orbiting him like satellites. The disks shimmered, and the arcane particles nearby seemed drawn in, slowly gravitating toward them.

The four disks could expand or shrink, their size changing at Patrick's will. The engraved runes and circuits covered the disks in seemingly chaotic patterns, yet in reality, they were precisely ordered and neat.

Relying on these four disks, Patrick continually gathered arcane energy from his surroundings. Allen benefited as well—the abundant pure arcane energy stabilized her soul. A soul bereft of a body, if unable to maintain some stability in reality, would inevitably fade into nothingness.

The Platinum Disk descended slowly. Patrick extended his consciousness to touch the runes upon its surface. Sensing his mind, the disk radiated dazzling light, as if it had long awaited this moment.

In an instant, Patrick's spirit was drawn into the disk, entering a unique space.

"This... This is the inner world created by the Titans?" Patrick gasped in awe.

Now, Patrick found himself in a space beyond comprehension. All around, arcane energy had become tangible, and the concepts of space and time seemed absent. Fragments of arcane runes drifted through the air.

Within the Platinum Disk's internal world, Patrick felt the might of arcane magic. Here, space was woven by arcane, rules were shaped by arcane, even forms themselves were composed of arcane...

Arcane power can mend space, open portals, fuse and master energies of higher magnitude—such as space, time, matter, and even soul. It is the Titans’ key to exploring the universe, the ladder to ascend its heights.

Runes floated toward Patrick, each representing a piece of knowledge, each a manifestation of arcane magic in the real world. All the data gathered and organized by Uldaman over the years was hidden within these runes.

The kingdom of Quel'Thalas has achieved its highest arcane mastery—just as Norgannon said. The kingdom's school of spellcraft: manifesting objects, creatures, or energies, explaining everything through arcane, and wielding arcane to control all, including space and time.

Finding the most essential part of one's soul, using its pure power to command and employ arcane, to grasp its true meaning.