Linde sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the secret room, the embers of the fireplace casting a faint glow on his face, which was closed but seemed to be in a trance.

The overwhelming sense of information from the enhanced "deconstruction halo" has subsided, replaced by an unprecedented and wondrous "sense of extension".

With a slight thought, he no longer limited himself to using his mental power to perceive the subtle ripples of the magic net within the secret chamber, but instead tried to... merge into it.

Like a drop of water joining a torrent, his mental tendrils, guided by deep analysis, precisely captured the robust and stable energy flow emanating from the massive magic network node of the Black Rock Territory's Bokou Ruins, as thick as a main vein.

Immediately afterwards, he felt himself being "sucked" in by a gentle yet overwhelming force!

There was no tearing sensation, no dizziness, only a smooth feeling of high-speed gliding.

His consciousness seemed to transform into a pure stream of information, speeding along the "highway" of the magic network, which was composed of pure energy and laws.

All around him were bizarre and indescribable sights—distorted bands of colored light, shimmering torrents of runes, and energy vortices that seemed to rise and fall like stars… This was a manifestation of the structure within the magic network, incomprehensible to ordinary people, but with the help of deep analysis, Linde could vaguely perceive the grand logic behind its operation.

"As expected... the main roads between large nodes are the 'highways'," Linde realized.

He tried to extend his mental reach to those tiny, intricate nodes that branched off from the main road, like a spider web.

As expected, a strong sense of "blockage" and "rejection" came over me.

Those tiny veins simply couldn't contain the spiritual consciousness he was currently converging, which was equivalent to the authority of a large node.

Forcing your way in is like trying to stuff yourself into a straw; not only will it be futile, but it could also cause localized disruptions or even backlash in the magic network.

He decisively gave up the attempt.

"Then let's see how far I can go..."

Linde turned his "gaze" toward the direction where the main road of the magic network extended.

The magical network structure of the continent of Tiel became clearer thanks to his enhanced understanding.

He chose the East—a vast and mysterious region he had never set foot in, only known about from maps and legends.

Mental energy swiftly traversed the main artery of the magic network, blurring the sense of time.

He didn't know how much time had passed—perhaps a few breaths, perhaps longer—before he "arrived" at the next node in his perception, a node large enough to accommodate his mental existence.

The mind and consciousness seemed to pass through an invisible curtain of water, instantly "descending".

What lies before us is no longer a locked room, but a completely different world!

He seemed to be suspended high in the sky, looking down at a vast, boundless, and vibrant primeval forest.

The towering trees resemble a green ocean, their canopies stretching endlessly.

The air was filled with an intense, pervasive sense of life and the fragrance of damp earth, while strange roars and bird calls could be faintly heard in the distance.

A great river, winding like a silver dragon, rushes through the jungle and flows into a vast, misty lake in the distance.

Along the edge of the lake, there seem to be scattered traces of buildings, coexisting harmoniously with the forest.

"Is this...the Eastern Territory? Deep within the 'Emerald Forest'?" Linde judged based on his geographical knowledge.

This is the place where the elves have lived for generations, as described in the book. Although it is not the location of the Elf Royal Court, it is still very mysterious to humans.

This place is more than ten thousand miles away from Blackrock Territory! Yet he arrived in an instant!

"Test the power..." After the novelty comes a strong urge to verify.

He focused his mind on a bare, black, hill-like boulder at the edge of the jungle below.

"Water creation technique." A basic magic trick was uttered.

However, this time he did not use his own magic, but directly used the huge magic network node that he was "occupying" at this moment to call upon the vast magic network energy gathered by the node itself!

Buzz!

Above the giant rock, the air instantly became humid and sticky.

Without chanting or gestures, a giant water sphere with a diameter of over ten meters materialized out of thin air!

It is no longer a clear trickle, but a deep blue body of water containing immense magic, radiating amazing water element fluctuations, as if a small lake has been lifted out of thin air!

Boom!

The water balloon crashed heavily onto the giant rock, creating a deafening roar!

Water splashed everywhere, like a waterfall cascading down, instantly submerging the giant rock and even carving out a sizable puddle around it. The force of the impact was so great that nearby ancient trees shook violently, their leaves falling like rain.

"Hiss..." Linde himself was startled by the power.

This isn't just a "water-making spell," it's practically a "flood spell"! The energy boost from the magic network node has fundamentally changed this basic spell, increasing its power by more than a hundredfold!

"Ignition!" he tried again.

This time, the target was a relatively open clearing in the woods.

boom--!

A massive fireball, over three meters in diameter and blindingly white, appeared out of nowhere! The intense heat it emitted instantly distorted the surrounding air, scorching the vegetation below!

The fireball hurtled down, triggering a violent explosion! Flames shot into the sky, forming a small, brief mushroom cloud, leaving a charred crater in its wake, with the soil around the edges even molten into glass due to the intense heat!

Its power is equally astonishing! Moreover, its casting range... completely ignores the limits of his physical mental strength; as long as the magic network node can cover it, he can attack!

"Range, power, ignores distance... even casting speed is almost instantaneous!"

A sense of control, indescribable, welled up within Linde.

This is practically a strategic-level strike capability! Once a large magic network node is locked, it can transform into a mobile turret with an extremely wide coverage area and immense power!

He was in high spirits and tried out a few spells that he had learned in his spare time.

"Wind Blade, Water Tornado..."

Every spell cast was exhilarating, and every spell's power far exceeded expectations.

Linde felt as if he had become the master of the energy of this world, and could cause changes in the celestial phenomena with every move he made.

However, just as he was immersed in this almost divine sense of power, a sudden change occurred!

Rumble—!

Below, in the shallow waters near the edge of the vast lake, the silt suddenly began to churn as if boiling! A colossal creature slowly rose from the murky water!

That was... a giant tortoise!?

But its size completely overturned Lind's understanding! Its carapace was not smooth and round, but covered with jagged and ferocious dark green bone spikes, each as huge as a battering ram!

The turtle's shell itself is covered with a thick, slippery, sticky moss and seaweed, with broken vines and driftwood hanging from the edges.

Its head was enormous, its skin as rough as rock, with deep wrinkles, and its two dim yellow eyes, like millstones, were burning with furious flames as it stared intently at the area where Linde's mental power had "descended".

Clearly, Lind's unbridled magical fluctuations and spell bombardment had thoroughly disturbed and enraged this overlord slumbering at the bottom of the lake!

The giant tortoise let out a deep, thunderous roar, the sound waves creating huge waves on the lake!

"This is... a legendary magical beast?!"