Chapter 543: First Meeting

"There's still no movement from Philip I, is there?"

Li Mochen looked at the intelligence summary submitted by Clark Banfield, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Even though the defense line of the Bloodwing Grand Duchy is on the verge of collapse?"

"If Mr. Brayden really met with an accident, then I suspect they likely won't act rashly at this time."

Banfield sat across from Li Mochen. "The Bloodwing Grand Duchy certainly doesn't want to yield at Rochelle Gorge—that would open the Bloody Lands to us and push the Federal Congress to approve the military's cleanup plan, which they must prevent at all costs. Boss, the Bloodwing Grand Duchy doesn't think much of our Rising Sun Group. From what I've gathered, their high-ranking officials generally believe that the Bloodwing Grand Duchy alone can defeat us, so they're not taking the alliance with Philip I seriously. The latter likely wants to use these bloodkins to test our mettle. If the Bloodwing Grand Duchy wins, or even reaches a stalemate, Philip I will certainly take advantage. If they lose, he can seize the initiative. So I think the demigod war at Rochelle Gorge is unavoidable."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Li Mochen gave an ambiguous smile, thinking he should urge Michael Wood and the others to step up their efforts.

"And what about the source of the Bloodwing Grand Duchy's artillery and missiles? What does the FBI have to say?"

"The FBI and CIA haven't been diligent, Boss. When it comes to the Wiltonshine family's civil war, they've shown their usual incompetence."

Banfield shrugged, showing no mercy to his former colleagues. "The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, however, have been pursuing it vigorously. They've found some leads that have the Cleo siblings panicking. They were recently summoned for talks at the NSA's Atlanta branch. I think it'll still be hard to convict the three siblings, but they've already offended a large number of military personnel. And from the looks of it, we've cut off the Bloodwing Grand Duchy's arms supply; the intensity of their artillery fire at Rochelle Gorge has dropped significantly."

With that, the discussion of the dark world's war situation came to an end. Li Mochen instructed Banfield to continue monitoring the Bloodwing Grand Duchy and Philip I, then set the matter aside for now.

He spent a little time on the daily operations of Rising Sun Corporation. The integration of Atlantic Intercontinental Bank had entered a critical phase, and the national expansion of Rising Sun Appliance Retail Company had begun two weeks ago, after the second round of financing led by Brooks Dante was completed. The hundreds of billions in the company's accounts were enough for management to spend freely.

Nanette Drew was spending lavishly, having acquired nine television stations since taking office, initially forming a television network. With Southern Cable Television, American Political News, and Georgia Sports Television as its mainstays, her 'Rising Sun Television Broadcasting Company' had quickly gained 36 million subscribers, a stunning achievement that shook all of America.

This vast television network platform was also beginning to exert a magnetic pull on local stations.

Ms. Drew was trying to integrate some of the high-quality stations, investing in them and bringing them into the 'Rising Sun Television Broadcasting Company' network to increase quality programming and influence—which would further attract subscribers. Her goal was to boost the network's subscriber count to 50 million in the shortest possible time.

Recently, Ms. Drew had also planned to spend billions of gold shields to buy the broadcast rights of old films from MGM and other studios, establishing two 24-hour movie channels.

But that required money—lots of it. The textbook orders won by Rising Sun Media, the royalties from 'Rage War King' (only nine volumes published), and the new subscribers were far from enough.

However, Li Mochen's 'Atlantic Intercontinental Bank' was not an ATM; most of the bank's funds were still in the hands of the Benedict family.

Li Mochen had to personally approach major banks for financing to coordinate funds for Rising Sun Media. Fortunately, the company's current potential and momentum were impressive; many large banks, including Star Flag Bank, were willing to provide financial support. The interest rates were also favorable, with an annual rate of no more than 11%.

—Even Li Mochen's own 'Atlantic Intercontinental Bank' could not offer better terms.

Li Mochen did not get too distracted by business. His main focus was on the mythical artifact his secondary body was forging—the key to ensuring his invincibility in the upcoming battle over the next few months, and his top priority.

The accident involving Anthony had slightly disrupted his original plans, forcing Li Mochen to invest more energy into this artifact.

But with the tens of thousands of strands of merit energy unexpectedly obtained from the Dragon Tomb as a safety net, Li Mochen was confident.

Additionally, a demigod-level external elixir was also in the works. Li Mochen had long had a target in mind, but previously lacked the confidence to kill it; now, he simply had no time.

It was at this moment that the president's specially appointed envoy finally arrived in Atlanta.

He was George Mattiola, a five-star 'Special Attack' general, a demigod from the noble family 'Violet,' who had served in the military for many years and wielded great power. His identity, status, and personal influence were sufficient to mediate the conflict.

Li Mochen did not meet with General Mattiola immediately, nor did he attend the welcome party for him. Conshuri could handle the reception; as chairman of the Wiltonshine Group, Conshuri was Mattiola's counterpart.

Meanwhile, Li Mochen had arrived on the West Coast of America, at Stanford University—

...

It was a twenty-four-story magic tower floating in the sky above Stanford University.

Li Mochen paused for a moment before the dazzling tower, then stepped inside. Upon entering, he was teleported to a library on the 17th floor.

Bether Eastin was already waiting for him—an elderly man in plain, unkempt attire. Dressed in a suit and wearing glasses, he looked like an ordinary professor, not the honorary chairman of the New World and Old World Magic Associations, the chosen of the Magic Goddess, master of nine forbidden spells, and the world's most powerful mage.

But when he looked up from the thick book and turned his gaze to Li Mochen, the sharp, penetrating light in his eyes made Li Mochen feel as though the old man had seen through him completely.

And Bether Eastin's first words to Li Mochen caught him completely off guard.

"The Goddess asks me to inquire: Are you willing to become her chosen, Andrew?"

Li Mochen's expression tightened, knowing that the Magic Goddess was confirming friend or foe.

"No."

He answered decisively. "I will not become any god's apostle, Professor Eastin."

"An expected answer."

Bether Eastin smiled. "Then how about this: the Magic Goddess Church's assistance in exchange for your standing by in the matter of Anthony? The divine authority you wield, Andrew, poses no threat to the Goddess."

Li Mochen shook his head again. "I don't think breaking promises is a virtue. Anthony has helped me a great deal."

"So you would go against the Goddess even at the cost of everything? Then I must admit, Anthony has found a good friend. I hope neither of you will regret it."

Bether Eastin shook his head and walked straight to a long table. "Sit down, Andrew. Don't mind the earlier questions. As the Goddess's chosen, it was my duty, not my personal will. Fortunately, our first meeting is not on the battlefield."

"So, Professor, you are certain to participate in the battle over Anthony?"

Li Mochen's heart sank. Bether Eastin—this was not an opponent to be taken lightly. He wondered what Anthony would do to resolve this.

"Of course. I have no choice. My earlier compromise has left me at others' mercy."

Eastin smiled bitterly, then said solemnly, "I already know from Anthony why you've come. An ancient dragon-level fantasy dragon armor—a piece of imaginative craftsmanship. But what will you offer in exchange for my help?"

Faced with this man, the chips Angela had prepared were far from sufficient.

The three divine knowledge domains Angela possessed and the mythical materials worth tens of billions of gold shields might be important to Anthony, but Bether Eastin likely wouldn't value them.

"I had prepared some things, originally to ask Anthony for help. But now—Professor Eastin, why don't you tell me what you want from me?"

"A valuable promise!"

Bether Eastin spoke bluntly. "I believe you've heard from Christie Brad that my lifespan is nearly over. But after death, I do not intend to enter the Magic Goddess's divine realm. Before that, I have spent a thousand years preparing a forbidden spell that will allow me to reincarnate in this world, preserving my current talents, similar to Buddhism's 'cycle of rebirth.' So, Andrew, do you understand what I want?"

Li Mochen's gaze sharpened. "I will ensure your safety during the casting of the forbidden spell and protect you from the influence or coercion of the gods until your next life reaches your current level."

He believed Bether Eastin's spell would not require outside assistance, and given the mage's talent, if not for the Magic Goddess's early suppression, he could now rival the gods.

"But Professor Eastin, forgive my frankness: a mere fantasy dragon armor is not worth such a commitment from me."

This was different from Anthony's case. His status and position had changed, so his price was naturally different.

To a humble ant, a little help is worth remembering for a lifetime. But a well-fed human would not be grateful enough to risk life and death for a design fee.

Bether Eastin's enemies were not limited to the Magic Goddess.

"I can only say that this fantasy dragon armor will benefit your little girlfriend far more than you imagine. I've heard a bit about Michelle's situation and can guess what he's doing. He has lost his reason—"

Bether Eastin stopped short, not delving deeper. "But of course, I want my future protector to have the strength to truly shield me from all interference. As you can see, my life is at its end, and I have no other desires. Apart from some useful knowledge, wealth, fame, and power mean nothing to me. So I will do my best to help you with anything except fighting and inheritance. From today until my death, you may come to me with any questions—magic, divine authority, physics, biology, history, conflicts among the gods, and so on. I will also assist with magic arrays and artifact design to the best of my ability. I dabble in alchemical potions as well, though I'm certainly no match for your magic consultant. You even have permission to enter this library at any time, read and copy its contents—all books here are fully open to you. I believe that for someone like you, this is the most valuable asset."

"Knowledge is priceless!"

Li Mochen nodded, acknowledging the point. "I can give my word. Do we need to sign a contract?"

Bether Eastin shook his head with a smile. "No need. Contracts can hardly bind a high-ranking god. If you haven't reached that position in this world before my death, I will be disappointed."

Li Mochen hesitated slightly. "And about Anthony? Is there anything you want to tell me?"

He was hoping to learn from Eastin, the 'insider,' about the Magic Goddess Church's deployment for the upcoming battle.

He held little hope, given Eastin's status as a chosen, which would limit him in this regard. But Eastin began speaking fluently: "Andrew, Anthony's true enemy is Thomas Milan, the current god of alchemy, machinery, and craftsmanship in America. Seven hundred years ago, he relied on his alchemy to gather faith and ascend to godhood among the immigrants. At that time, the immigrants were ignorant, and many Native Americans were deceived by him. After becoming a god, he has held this divine seat for seven hundred years, subsequently acquiring the domains of machinery and craftsmanship, preventing over a dozen demigod mages skilled in alchemy from successfully taking the step to condense a divine spark."

"In fact, the alliance between Thomas Milan and the Magic Goddess is not solid. So the Magic Goddess Church will not commit too much force. The Goddess is generous; if Anthony agrees never to set foot in the magical domain in the future, she might even offer him some protection."

"So I believe Anthony will ultimately overcome this peril. Your strength will not be defeated by Thomas Milan."

"Generous?" Li Mochen raised an eyebrow in confusion. "That word seems inappropriate? From what I know, she hasn't even granted you a demigod position."

"It seems you have misconceptions about the Magic Goddess. That is my fault."

Eastin smiled bitterly. "In fact, I became her chosen not because of coercion, but because she protected me. I have explained this more than once."

Li Mochen nodded slightly. He had indeed heard such claims, but Eastin's current state was suspicious.

"As for divine domains, she once prepared the law domains of 'Magic Power' and 'Magic Knowledge' for me, but I refused them both. Isn't that generous, Andrew? I sense your curiosity."

"Of course I'm curious."

Li Mochen nodded. "Magic Power and Magic Knowledge are undoubtedly powerful laws, especially in modern times. You could easily become a high-ranking god, even a major deity."

In this magical world, the domains of Magic Power and Magic Knowledge were indeed important.

Especially the latter; if it evolved into the law domain of 'Knowledge,' the potential would be limitless.

Like faith domains, law domains' power depends on their number. In this age of information explosion and universal education, the 'Knowledge' domain had immense potential. Moreover, no powerful god currently occupied the path of 'Knowledge.'

Bether Eastin—the mage who had almost single-handedly shaped modern science—was certainly qualified.

Thus, the Magic Goddess's treatment of Eastin was indeed generous.

"But to me, it was a constraint. To go further and last longer on the path of divinity, the ancient god's position is essential, especially for a path like 'Knowledge.' Yet a chosen cannot become an ancient god."

Estandin explained: "Lust, love, strife, war—these conceptual deities are some weak, some strong, but they all share one trait: as long as 'creatures' exist, these behaviors are inevitable. Take lightning, earth, fire, ice—even if humanity goes extinct, these natural phenomena still exist. However, knowledge is not a necessity. And the world we inhabit might well return to chaos due to a war among gods. In observing the star worlds, I have seen many such examples, so a foundation that prevents me from falling is essential."

"So, as you see, the reason I have come to this point is actually due to my own ambition. In fact, just for the reincarnation spell I mentioned, I lost fifteen hundred years of lifespan. You should know, in this world, the lifespan of a mage demigod is very long. As long as they suffer no major injuries or practice forbidden arts, mage demigods can easily live five to six thousand years, especially a chosen one like me—"

"I understand."

Li Mochen smiled. He too was an ambitious man. On matters concerning his own path, he was also unwilling to compromise, so he could understand Estandin's thoughts.

The next few questions he asked were all related to magic.

Recently, he had encountered many doubts and difficulties regarding several forbidden spells and some runic knowledge, which he had been unable to resolve. Today, he took the opportunity to seek advice from Estandin.

Only after an hour did Li Mochen reluctantly take his leave. Professor Estandin had answered every question without reservation, showing no impatience. But Li Mochen did not wish to delay the man's time in designing the Fantasy Dragon Chariot for Angela, so he forced himself to leave.

After all, time was pressing; he could not be sure when Michelle would go mad, so the sooner this equipment was forged, the better.

However, before Li Mochen left, Estandin gave him another great gift.

"This is—"

Li Mochen looked at the crystals before him, each the size of five human heads and of various colors. They were all as smooth as jade, radiating powerful magical light.

"Elemental Cores?"

The key was—these were all demigod-level Elemental Cores!

Li Mochen stared in shock at Bessel Estandin across from him, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Anthony told me about your 'External Elixir.' It is a very奇妙 method that allows one to possess cultivation and mana beyond their current rank ahead of time. So I guessed that you must now need a more powerful 'External Elixir.' They should meet your requirements. The Eastern world believes that wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—the five elements—can give rise to all things. I have verified their theory. So these five Elemental Cores will surely help you. It is worth mentioning that since I obtained them, they have been frozen in time and space for future need. So theoretically, they are still very fresh."

Estandin's lips curled slightly, as if satisfied with Li Mochen's shock: "I heard that in the East, when a disciple enters a sect, the master gives a greeting gift. Consider this my gift to you in advance."

Li Mochen smiled wryly: "There is indeed a greeting gift, but the problem is, I haven't prepared any tuition. And these items are far too precious."

Estandin laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Don't worry too much, A-Mo. Anthony calls you that, right? I once roamed the elemental planes in the Astral Realm for over a hundred years. So what is rare and precious to you is effortless for me. Besides, just a few elemental demigods—to me, they are no different from rabbits. These single-attribute fellows are easily countered. If you feel unworthy, A-Mo, then use them as soon as possible to climb higher. I am looking forward to it—"

"The God of Machinery and Craftsmen, Thomas Milan, is not a troublesome opponent for you. The real test will come after you become gods. A-Mo, the times have changed. A new war of the gods is about to begin."

"War of the gods?"

Li Mochen's eyes also turned serious as he asked thoughtfully: "Professor Estandin, have you foreseen something?"

"Isn't it obvious? In this era, there are many things that never existed before. Television, movies, the internet, new media, pop music, arcade games, and the explosive growth of trade, finance, and so on—these concepts will inevitably give birth to a host of new deities. The pantheons may be slow to react at first, but they will certainly not give up this ground. The god-kings, who have been focused on projecting their existence into millions of worlds, will now turn their attention to our world. This will become a battlefield. An apocalyptic war of the gods may be imminent—"

Estandin's gaze was cold: "I am not sure if this is the legendary 'Twilight of the Gods' or 'Age of Dharma's End,' but we must be prepared. However, Andre, this will also be your opportunity."

Li Mochen's expression was grave. He knew that the kings of the gods in this world, such as Zeus and Odin, might not be native deities of this world but projections and avatars of 'god-kings' from other worlds.

This also meant that the rumored 'wounded,' 'sleeping,' or even 'fallen' gods could awaken from history at any time.