Published at 20th of July 2026 6:20 am

Chapter 3023: Power

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Elder Shu did not expect that Xingye had already gone to find Lucia and invited him over.

Perfect!

Elder Shu had many doubts in his heart, especially regarding the three people introduced by Night Tree No. 10, as he urgently needed to get information about these people from Lucia.

Even though Lucia could cling to the rules of the Starry District and refuse to speak, just like when he voluntarily left the Starry District before, understanding a person doesn’t necessarily require words.

Elder Shu had his ways to extract information from Lucia.

And since Lucia wanted the Starry District to exist long-term within the Bilun Tree Court, he would certainly cooperate.

Elder Shu was eager to "exchange" with Lucia, but before he could speak, Xingye, who brought Lucia, glanced at Elder Shu and then took a quick look at Vay in the distance.

As a seasoned partner, even if Xingye said nothing, Elder Shu immediately understood.

He bowed to the Black Earl: "Lord Black Earl, please forgive me as I must take an early leave. I will have Gailuo and Shayina accompany you."

Black Earl: "You don’t need to concern yourselves with me."

Elder Shu quickly shook his head; no matter what, they couldn’t leave the Black Earl alone. This figure was crucial to the future of the Birlos Family.

"Gailuo, Shayina, come here." After calling Gailuo and Shayina over, Elder Shu issued orders to them using the Mind Ribbon.

Although Elder Shu didn’t have much confidence in Gailuo, the "empty-headed," he trusted Shayina, who was intelligent, and felt assured with her presence.

After giving instructions, Elder Shu once again expressed his apologies to the Black Earl, then, along with Xingye and Lucia, retreated into the shadows to discuss matters.

Outside, only Gailuo, Shayina, and Vay remained.

Though Gailuo’s personality was reckless, he understood the weight of the Noah Family’s chieftain. Facing the Black Earl, he didn’t dare say a word; he just stood aside, gazing at the dilapidated arena in silence.

Shayina was much better than Gailuo; she could converse with the Black Earl smoothly. However, the Black Earl seemed uninterested in her topics; after she spoke at length, he merely replied with a simple "Oh." Despite Shayina’s eloquence, facing an uncommunicative Black Earl left her at a loss.

Moreover, in this smoke-laden and bloody night, she truly didn’t know what topic could make the atmosphere a bit less awkward. Out of options, she could only speak awkwardly about trivial matters.

However, Shayina didn’t know that the Black Earl’s brief responses were not due to her topics. It was simply because Vay was also speaking to him mentally.

Compared to Shayina’s aimless chatter, the Black Earl would prefer answering Vay’s inquiries.

Since returning to Bilun Tree Court, Vay’s doubts had grown increasingly numerous.

He’s curious why Bilun Tree Court was attacked and about various gossip concerning the Birlos Family.

The Black Earl had no answers for the former for now, but he knew something about the Birlos Family.

The first question Vay asked was regarding "Gailuo."

Vay found it confusing, the relationship between Gailuo and that Dress, why, despite being from the same family, they seemed like enemies, even targeting each other at this time.

Such questions, even with the Black Earl’s backing, Vay dared not bluntly ask in front of Gailuo; thus, he could only inquire secretly in his mind.

"The power struggle," the Black Earl said calmly.

"Power struggle? Fighting for what power?" Vay was somewhat puzzled.

"The Birlos chieftain," the Black Earl answered directly.

Upon hearing the answer, Vay was even more baffled. This answer seemed too cliche, resembling a clash between nobility.

Having already advanced to Transcendent, how could they still be involved in such conflicts?

Black Earl: "Wizards indeed don’t all care about ’ambition,’ but the majority care about ’interest.’ As for ’power,’ authority precedes interest; mastering power leads to interests. Therefore, power struggles are not uncommon in the Wizards’ Realm, especially in these prolific wizard families."

At this point, the Black Earl paused: "In fact, from a certain perspective, I quite envy the Birlos Family. At least, there are still those willing to fight for power..."

Looking at the Noah Family, aside from him, the others were all lazy. Though the Black Earl knew there were reasons for this, his junior members were so intimidated by him that they lost the ambition even to compete for power, leaving him helpless.

His organ avatars indeed held hidden tactics, but that didn’t mean he completely gave up on these juniors.

As long as they could take that step, the Black Earl would naturally grant them maximum freedom, even allowing them to enter the sequence for inheriting the chieftain position.

However, currently, none of the juniors had such ambition.

Because the Black Earl understood this, he hid tactics within his organ avatars. These tactics could even cost the juniors their lives.

This was intentional by the Black Earl.

Since they’re unwilling to revitalize the family, then he’ll have to bear the pressure. And the juniors’ lives become the fuel igniting the Black Earl’s progress.

Of course, this sounds like the Black Earl sacrifices juniors to elevate himself. But in reality, he rarely executed such operations, and it’s not the case.

Overall, the Black Earl still loves his juniors, yearning for their flourishing. Therefore, truly being ruthless to take their lives is nearly nonexistent; most juniors lead themselves to their demise.

These words, naturally, the Black Earl wouldn’t tell the juniors; he sincerely hoped they’d muster the strength themselves.

Currently, among the juniors, the Black Earl sees no one showing potential for revitalization. However, he’s not anxious; he has plenty of time and can afford to wait...

Moreover, this time, he exchanged considerable Noah Family Empty-hearted People’s information from the Wise Sovereign, which might surprise him with the descendants of these scattered clan members.

On the other side, Vay naturally understood the Black Earl’s suggestion. He now actually harbors a slight wish to advance, especially seeing the current Dox, his desire to advance intensified.

However, wanting him to vie for power, Vay still balks.

Compared to power, isn’t his Divination house attractive? Isn’t hanging out with Dox alluring? If he could catch the last train with Dox and grab the idol’s thigh, isn’t that enticing?

Returning to the Noah Family for power struggles? He’d rather not.

Vay deliberately ignored the Black Earl’s concerns about the Noah Family’s prospects and continued to ask about the Birlos Family: "If it’s for the fight for the patriarch position, then Gailuo and Dres do indeed have the possibility of opposing each other. But I see that ’Xingye’ patriarch, he isn’t that old, is he? Why would he need to step down so soon?"

"Indeed, his age is not old." The Black Earl paused, speaking in a tone full of meaning: "But he has higher pursuits."

It is true that Xingye is the patriarch of the Birlos Family, and his strength is also the first on the surface within the Birlos Family, dignifiedly at the peak of the Second-level Wizard. Yet, he is not satisfied with this; he wants to go further.

Xingye longs to step into the grand hall of the Third-level Wizard.

However, not everyone can step into such a grand hall; it requires a ticket to enter.

And the "ticket" for a Third-level Wizard, that is the advanced conditions.

There are two fundamental conditions: First, energy must continue to reach the peak of a Second-level Wizard; Second, step onto the path of True Knowledge.

Xingye has already met the first condition, but the second condition, he still has not fulfilled.

Xingye has been lingering at the gates of the True Knowledge Wizards for over three hundred years, yet he has gained nothing.

According to some intelligence obtained by the Black Earl, Xingye had announced more than thirty years ago his intention to resign from the patriarch position, to travel to a broader world, and pursue the path of True Knowledge.

From that day on, visible and hidden power struggles began to occur within the Birlos Family.

As for why Xingye made this announcement thirty years ago, the Black Earl also had speculation. Because at that time, the Starry District officially moved into the Bilun Tree Court, it is very likely that Xingye made an exchange with the "Preacher" then, preventing the Didia Family from encountering any opposition at the Bilun Tree Court.

And the exchange the Preacher could offer Xingye was naturally... prophecy.

Perhaps, Xingye learned the opportunity for his advancement from the prophecy, which is why he announced his resignation from the patriarch position, decisively setting out on a journey beyond the domain.

But after all, this is just speculation, the only visible fact is that indeed thirty years ago, the Birlos Family began to experience chaos.

And after thirty years of power strife.

Most competitors have vanished, and the remaining competitive force are only the two deputy patriarchs. So now, it’s speculated that the next patriarch will be born from the two deputy patriarchs.

Gailuo and Dres are the two deputy patriarchs of the Birlos Family.

Conflict, even hostility between them, is all too normal.

Upon hearing this, Vay roughly understood the relationships: "I see..."

Black Earl: "Since you’re interested in the power struggles of the Birlos Family, who do you think will ultimately seize the position of patriarch?"

"I’m not interested in their power struggle, just curious, curious..." Vay muttered softly.

"Following your curiosity, who do you believe will become the patriarch?" The Black Earl still casually asked.

After contemplating for a moment, Vay said, "It seems like Gailuo is too impulsive, perhaps it’s Dres?"

Although Vay disliked Dres’s sarcastic demeanor more, the position of a patriarch couldn’t be handed to a reckless person.

Black Earl: "Isn’t Dres impulsive? Publicly targeting Gailuo in front of so many people is also an impulsive act."

Thinking about it, Vay agreed that in terms of impulsiveness, the two of them are pretty much equal.

But with that in mind, both Gailuo and Dres seem unsuitable for the role of patriarch.

Unable to come up with an answer, Vay straightforwardly asked the Black Earl: "My lord, who do you think it might be?"

Black Earl: "My opinion is, if it really is limited to these two, then the high probability is Gailuo. Yet, in any matter, there might be a turn of events until the moment of conclusion."

"One can’t rule out the possibility that a new contender may emerge at the last moment to compete for the patriarch position."

Vay: "If there’s a change at the last moment, this patriarch selection is far too haphazard..."

"What I speak of, about the patriarch position being circumscribed to the two deputy patriarchs, is merely unofficial news; it could just be propaganda devised by some contender. Who knows what’s in the minds of the core hierarchy of the Birlos Family?" the Black Earl said calmly: "Moreover, it’s ultimately Elder Shu and the current Xingye patriarch who truly decides the patriarch position. Before they declare otherwise, everything remains uncertain."

Vay pursed his lips, murmuring: "So what you said is as good as not saying anything?"

The Black Earl chuckled coldly, not responding further.

Vay coughed twice and began asking other matters. Besides being interested in Gailuo and Dres, he also showed interest in the previously mentioned Night Tree.

"Night Tree?" the Black Earl did not conceal, stating directly: "A similar intelligence organization, managed by Elder Yue."

Considering the way Night Tree appeared previously and their conversation with Elder Shu, Vay had guessed that the other party might be responsible for intelligence. Such intelligence organizations are not uncommon in major wizard families and organizations.

Including the Noah Family, which also has subordinate intelligence teams.

"Elder Yue? Speaking of which, among the Birlos Family members who came to the Garden Labyrinth ruins today, it seems that Elder Yue is the only core member absent, right?"

Vay had previously heard about the structure of the Birlos Family from the Black Earl.

Tree, Sun, Moon are the three elders of the Birlos Family. Among them, Elder Shu is the Great Elder, and he holds a very special place in the Birlos Family.

Because all previous Elder Shu have served as patriarchs of the Birlos Family.

The position of Elder Shu is a post-retirement reemployment.

Thus, in terms of prestige and power, Elder Shu is no less than the patriarch, perhaps even greater.

And Elder Sun is the Second Elder, with responsibilities not known to Vay, only heard that he oversees the Merchant Organization. Presently, Elder Sun remains at the Garden Labyrinth, even when the Bilun Tree Court suffers an attack, he hasn’t come over.

Elder Yue is the Third Elder, previously Vay only knew she was a female, and nothing else. But now it can be confirmed that she manages Night Tree, and since Night Tree is an intelligence organization, it’s quite possible that Elder Yue is responsible for diplomacy-related duties?

However, these matters aren’t significant. Now, Vay suddenly mentioned Elder Yue because he thought of something.

"If Elder Yue remained at the Bilun Tree Court, it shouldn’t be that she turns a blind eye when this side is under attack, right? Plus, listening to the conversation between Night Tree No. 9 and Elder Shu before, it always felt like this Elder Yue deliberately drew away quite a bit of the Birlos Family’s high-end combat power." Vay murmured under his breath: "Could it be that this Elder Yue is in league with the attackers? Did she purposely draw away the Birlos Family’s combat forces, causing the Bilun Tree Court to be weak and powerless in the face of attacks?"

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