106: Crystal mine

Linn didn't wait long; after waiting on the plateau for about half an hour, Dolia notified him to open the gate. That familiar light gate quietly expanded once more, and the massive figure of Wind Wing flew out steadily from within, landing before Linn with a posture even more composed and respectful than before.

"Master, the tribe has been initially settled and is extremely satisfied with the environment of the 'breath of life'," Wind Wing reported proactively.

"Very good." Linn nodded, then patted Xiao Qing, who was standing quietly beside him. "You go in first to visit your tribe." With a slight thought, he communicated with the Demiplane. A soft silver glow enveloped Xiao Qing, and the spiritual horse gave a light neigh before turning into a stream of light and vanishing into the portal hidden in Linn's palm.

Then, Linn turned his gaze to Wind Wing. Without needing words, Wind Wing immediately understood and submissively lowered its majestic body. Its back, broad as dark gold clouds, was enough to carry a person steadily. Linn leaped up lightly and sat firmly at the base of Wind Wing's neck, where the feathers were thick and tough, naturally forming a suitable area for riding.

"To the Slumbering Sea of Forests, the Crystal Mine you guard," Linn commanded.

"Yes, Master. Please sit steady," Wind Wing responded mentally, then suddenly flapped its wings!

"Boom!!"

A powerful current of air exploded outward with it as the center, kicking up a circle of dust. In the next second, this overlord of the Sky had transformed into a dark gold sharp arrow, shooting straight into the northern Sky! Its speed was far beyond what Xiao Qing could achieve running on the ground. A strong sense of being pushed back hit him, and the wind howled in his ears like something physical. However, a soft, pale green wind element barrier naturally circulated around Wind Wing's body, blocking most of the wind pressure for Linn on its back, leaving only a heart-pounding experience of extreme speed.

The scenery of the Northern Highland Plateau below rushed backward. The grayish-white rock walls and sparse vegetation shrank instantly. Wind Wing displayed its true speed as a Fifth Rank Sky King. In almost dozens of breaths, it had bypassed the towering main peak, and the vast "Slumbering Sea of Forests" ahead, shrouded in pale blue and milky white mist, rapidly approached.

Near the edge of the forest, Wind Wing's speed slowed slightly, but it still maintained an agility far exceeding ordinary flying creatures. It glided at a low altitude, its wings dispersing the mist as it skillfully wove through the tall ancient trees, following an invisible safe path deep into the forest. Linn could clearly feel the environment around him was exceptionally active.

After just a moment, the view ahead suddenly opened up, and that dazzling Crystal Mine appeared in a forest clearing.

Wind Wing landed smoothly at the edge of the clearing and folded its wings. Linn leaped off the Griffin's back, his gaze immediately drawn to that brilliant "river of stars." He didn't delay and walked quickly to the nearest cluster of crystals.

He crouched down to investigate carefully, his fingertips brushing over the translucent surface. The pure and active elemental energy, in terms of concentration and quality, was indeed on par with the high-Rank "Magic Crystals" he knew, and even more "vibrant." Different colored crystals corresponded to different elemental attributes, and the energy levels varied significantly with size and purity.

"Such scale and quality..." Linn stood up and surveyed this incredible mine, already having reached a conclusion. He looked at Wind Wing, who was following by his side: "I heard people mention before that Shattered Star Island is a legend formed by falling stars?"

Wind Wing replied respectfully, "Yes, Master. According to ancient legends, a burning star fell into the sea, and its fragments became islands, hence the name 'Star Shatter'. These crystals... perhaps they are formed from the residual core energy of that star. Their power is pure and dazzling, indeed similar to the power of stars."

Linn nodded slowly. This speculation was reasonable and perfectly explained the anomaly of this place. Immediately, an even more impactful thought exploded in his mind, making his eyes instantly turn burning hot.

"Fragments of stars, core energy..." he murmured, his gaze sweeping over this brilliant legacy once more, as if seeing another form they would take after being awakened.

"Wind Wing," Linn's voice carried a strange rhythm of excitement and calm, like someone discovering a Treasure Trove, "You only knew how to absorb its dissipated energy, but you never thought that elemental crystals of this grade are the perfect cores for constructing powerful Sharp Weapons of war."

"Sharp Weapons... of war?" Wind Wing was confused.

"Exactly." Linn pointed to a head-sized deep blue crystal cluster with strong fluctuations, "Using such crystals as energy cores, supplemented by precise Magic Circles and alchemical structures, one can create a 'magic crystal cannon'. It can highly compress and condense violent elemental energy for ultra-long-range destructive strikes. The power of a single shot is enough to turn a fortified city to dust, vaporize a legion in an instant, and even... pose a fatal threat to high-level creatures."

Wind Wing's dark gold eyes suddenly contracted, reflecting the brilliant light of the crystals, yet filled with shock. The "Foundation" it had guarded for countless ages actually contained such terrifying potential?

"Of course, this requires extremely high technology to release potentially dangerous energy safely and controllably." Linn quickly returned to rationality, "But the strategic value of this mine is already immeasurable. It will be one of the sturdiest shields and sharpest spears for the Star Sea Territory in the future."

He turned, his tone decisive: "This place must be classified as top secret immediately and strictly controlled. Later, order your subordinates to leave a team of Griffins to guard it, waiting for the Star Sea City army to come and take over."

"I obey your command, Master! Actually, guarding it isn't that important right now. In my knowledge, there is no longer any race that can pose a threat to you, Master!" While taking the order, Wind Wing also told Linn that besides their tribe, there were no other powerful forces on Shattered Star Island.

Linn nodded. "We'll return to Star Sea City first." Linn made a decision, his eyes flashing with the light of planning. "This matter must be discussed with Henry Great Master immediately. The armament and defense blueprints of the Star Sea Territory must be rewritten because of this 'Crystal Mine'."

He mounted Wind Wing again. This time, the dark gold king carried its master into the Sky, soaring south at an even faster speed toward the center of the Star Sea Territory. The gale howled in his ears, but Linn's thoughts were faster than the wind. Various ideas about how to use this "windfall" to forge the territory's iron fist were already surging like a tide.

Xiao Qing's speed was already not slow, but this return journey actually took only a little over two hours. At the same time, Linn secretly felt lucky; for the sake of this Crystal Mine, the Griffins had always kept a low profile, otherwise, destroying the Star Sea City during its Early Stage of establishment would have been easy.

When Linn arrived above Star Sea City riding Wind Wing, the patrolling soldiers picked up their weapons as if facing a great enemy. Clay, who was on patrol, gave a cry of surprise:

"The Lord is back! The Lord has succeeded!"

The fact that Linn went alone to subdue the Griffins was not a secret, and now it seemed he had succeeded.

Intense cheers erupted from Star Sea City!

"Long live the Lord!"