Kael smiled as he looked at Zorath the Silent, which actually made Zorath the Silent feel a little embarrassed. The truth was, Zorath the Silent had arrived long ago but had simply been observing the battle from the sidelines.
However, Kael could understand. After all, he had never demonstrated his strength in front of Zorath the Silent before, so it was only natural for Zorath the Silent to have some reservations. This conflict between the Sacred Council and the Holy Temple was of immense importance, forcing Zorath the Silent to proceed with caution.
But after witnessing Kael's power, Zorath the Silent was visibly reassured.
Zorath the Silent patted Kael on the shoulder and said, "Brother Kael, our people and those from the Holy Temple are already gathered on the island at the center of the Thousand Moon Lake. Let's head there now!"
Having seen Kael's strength, Zorath the Silent's address for him had also changed—now calling him "Brother Kael," as Kael had earned the right to be considered his equal.
The Thousand Moon Lake was located at the very heart of the continent, at the intersection of the three great landmasses, and was renowned as the most picturesque region on the continent.
The outer perimeter of the lake was a dense forest spanning hundreds of miles, filled with trees of all sizes—from shrubs barely waist-high to towering ancient trees, countless in number. Now, the forest was heavily guarded with layer upon layer of checkpoints. Aside from the various factions from the three landmasses, no one else was permitted entry.
And this was merely the outskirts of the Thousand Moon Lake.
The true heart of the lake lay on the island at its center.
The Thousand Moon Lake was vast, its waters so clear one could see the bottom. A perpetual mist hovered over the lake's surface, giving it an ethereal, dreamlike quality. With Zorath the Silent leading the way, Kael was able to avoid getting lost—after all, the lake's expanse was simply too enormous.
The area around the lake also radiated a unique concentration of magical elements. The density of elemental energy here was extraordinarily rich, making it an ideal place for cultivation.
Currently, the island at the center of the Thousand Moon Lake served as the dividing line. To the west lay the encampments of the Holy Temple and its allied factions, while to the east were the forces of the Sacred Council.
Zorath the Silent led Kael swiftly toward the island at the lake's center. From above, the island resembled a crescent moon, its terrain not densely forested but flat and open. At a glance, one could easily distinguish the clearly divided camps of the Sacred Council and the Holy Temple.
"By the way, brother, you'll soon be meeting the Grand Speaker," Zorath the Silent murmured in a low voice. "But even within our Sacred Council, some still doubt your strength. Be prepared for that."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Zorath the Silent sighed and grumbled, "Damn it, you know how it is. The Sacred Council has twelve High Councilors, and I—well, I'm just one of them. Among them, opinions are mostly split into two factions. One faction, led by me and Mia of the Temple of Oversight, fully supports you representing the Sacred Council in this battle. The other faction is led by Bjorn of the Temple of Magic..."
"Bjorn is a heavyweight in the Council, but the old bastard's cautious to a fault—a stubborn mule who has his doubts about you," Zorath the Silent complained.
The Sacred Council had already suffered three consecutive defeats at Einar's hands. Another loss, and they might as well pack up and leave. Given the stakes, it was no surprise the higher-ups were being extra careful.
"Of course, I have no doubts about your strength, brother. Dealing with those old fossils should be a breeze!" Zorath the Silent had full confidence—Kael's battle against the Crystal Tower's forces had proven everything.
The two soared through the sky and soon arrived outside the Sacred Council's encampment.
The camp was massive, housing thousands. Enormous tents stood like mobile palaces, yet the entire area was eerily silent, with hardly a sound to be heard. At its heart was a pale-gold pavilion—the Sacred Council's stronghold at the Thousand Moon Lake.
Beside the pavilion, dense mist swirled, formed by concentrated magical elements, shrouding the camp in an aura of intimidation.
Within these grounds were figures whose mere footsteps could shake the entire Southern Jara Continent three times over.
"What a grand spectacle. So this is where the strongest of you humans gather?" The little kitten let out a soft snort from its perch on Kael's shoulder, its eyes gleaming as it surveyed the camp. With its keen senses, it could easily discern the dense, mysterious aura surrounding the area—some of which were so profound that even the kitten couldn't fully grasp them. Truly unfathomable.
Kael patted the kitten's head and smiled. Grand Speaker Berg was undoubtedly one of the most powerful figures on the continent. Kael had met him once before, but back then, his strength had been insignificant—like an ant before a giant. At the time, Berg's true power had been beyond his comprehension.
But now… things were different.
"Mind your words later," Kael reminded the kitten.
Not that he needed to. The little creature was already unusually cautious, clearly aware of the extraordinary nature of this place.
"Let's go, brother!"
Zorath the Silent led the way, and Kael took a deep breath before following him into the pavilion.
Upon entering, Kael couldn't help but marvel inwardly. The interior was far more expansive than he had imagined—almost labyrinthine, with hidden chambers and countless magical illusion arrays.
If anyone were to barge in here without knowing the path, they would inevitably lose themselves in these illusions—even a powerhouse above the tenth rank would be no exception!
Kael was both awed and impressed. Though the outside world often claimed that the Sacred Council was being suppressed by the Holy Temple, its true depth of power was undeniably terrifying.
Finally, Zorath the Silent brought Kael to the heart of the encampment. There, over a dozen formidable figures sat in solemn silence, their auras restrained yet unfathomably deep, sending a chill down Kael's spine.
But the one who drew Kael's attention the most was the man seated at the very front—Grand Speaker Berg.
At first glance, Berg appeared to be an unremarkable middle-aged man in his forties, seated upon a golden reclining chair. His features were ordinary, but his clear, gentle eyes held Kael's gaze with quiet intensity.
Those eyes were calm yet vast as the ocean, capable of encompassing all things. Under their gaze, it seemed any lie in the world would be effortlessly laid bare.
"Zorath the Silent greets the Grand Speaker."
"Kael greets His Excellency the Grand Speaker."
Kael and Zorath the Silent promptly bowed, bending slightly at the waist in the traditional mage's salute—a custom of the Sacred Council.
This was Kael's first time meeting the Grand Speaker in a formal setting, as well as his first encounter with the Council's High Councilors. Every one of them stood among the strongest of the strong. Even the usually unruly kitten remained uncharacteristically subdued, not daring to act out.
As Kael studied the assembly, they too scrutinized him. His clear, unwavering gaze drew silent nods of approval. An ordinary person would have been overwhelmed by the sheer presence of so many powerhouses, reverent to the point of nervousness—yet Kael was entirely different. Regardless of his actual strength, this composure alone was commendable.
"No need for formalities," the Grand Speaker said warmly. "Zorath the Silent has surely briefed you on the current situation at Thousand Moon Lake. As the foremost talent of our Sacred Council's younger generation, you are qualified to represent us in battle."
He began with praise for Kael.
At that moment, a stern-faced man in black robes—a formidable mage in his own right—stepped forward. "Grand Speaker, I find it inappropriate to have Kael fight!"
The moment he spoke, Zorath the Silent shot Kael a meaningful glance. Kael immediately understood: this was Bjorn, the High Councilor from the Temple of Magic whom Zorath had mentioned earlier.
The Temple of Magic was one of the most influential factions within the Sacred Council, and Bjorn himself wielded significant authority.
Bjorn's gaze swept over Kael as he continued, "Though Kael is a member of our Sacred Council, he has remained obscure until now, and his strength is unproven. Einar's power, on the other hand, is undeniable—even ordinary tenth-rank experts are no match for him."
His words weren't a direct attack on Kael, merely a statement of fact. Several in the tent nodded discreetly in agreement. Indeed, Einar's strength transcended the younger generation; even seasoned veterans struggled against him.
Zorath the Silent, however, chuckled. Having brought Kael here, he naturally stood by him. "What everyone here may not know," he interjected, "is that just moments ago, seven youths from the Crystal Tower—including Roland and Gavin—provoked Kael. He defeated all seven with just two spells."
"What?!"
The assembly froze, unable to suppress their startled exclamations.