Chapter 493 - 463: Silver Radiance City

Chapter 493: Chapter 463: Silver Radiance City

But the golden text did not halt due to Roland’s confusion.

[Requires: 14 Power, 30 Agility, 12 Spirit, Level 3 Life Perception, Trait: Animal Companion, 3/3 Full Level Long-Range Weapon Skills, 3/3 Full Level Short-Range Weapon Skills, 3/3 Full Level Deceitful Skills, Tame a member of a non-human race to become a ’partner’ (0/1), and with this ’partner,’ jointly kill 100 hostile targets (0/100).]

Roland fell into deep thought as he stared at the golden inscription flowing in his vision.

’In this era’s common understanding, the [Ranger] is an undisputed Extraordinary Profession. Why would the system classify it as a High Tier Profession?’

While he pondered this, Roland recalled something Avril had said before.

The content of *Path of the Forest Speaker*, though it shared similarities with the modern Ranger legacy, contained numerous secrets that weren’t even mentioned in ancient Elven texts.

This helped him start putting the pieces together.

’Perhaps the Ranger legacy of this era is incomplete. It might only retain a basic framework, just enough to barely meet the requirements for an Extraordinary Profession, but has lost the complete path to higher tiers.’

At this thought, Roland’s gaze fell back to the word ’Ranger’ on the tome’s cover.

He had originally thought this was just the Crystal Era’s name for a Ranger, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case...

In the system of legacies, perhaps *this* ’Ranger’ was the true Extraordinary Profession for this path.

After reaching this conclusion, Roland began to carefully examine the specific requirements for the [Ranger] Profession.

The Attribute requirements were, of course, no issue.

The various Weapon Skills, thanks to the [Body as Martial] Trait, were all met.

And the three Deceitful Skills had already reached Full Level back when he took up the [Wanderer] Profession.

The only remaining condition was...

’Tame a member of a non-human race and form... a partnership with them?’

Seeing this requirement, Roland turned his attention back to the Chapter in the book about "Wilderness Language".

According to the tome, a true Forest Speaker could use an ancient Secret Technique to establish a spiritual bond with intelligent creatures that went beyond mere Taming.

The book described this contract not as a master-servant relationship, but as an equal pact built on a foundation of mutual recognition.

The Caster would need to achieve a soul-level resonance with the target creature through a special spiritual connection, forming a continuous Energy cycle.

This process required both parties to be completely willing; any attempt at coercion would cause the contract to fail.

It was worth noting that the tome specifically emphasized this.

"This contract is a two-way bond. Your partner will share some of your traits, and you will inherit some of its natural tendencies."

’In other words, after forming the contract, my ’partner’ and I can share each other’s Traits, thus increasing our strength...’

When he first saw the taming requirement, Roland’s first thoughts were of Black Wind and Squirrel Qiao.

He had already established a deep bond with these two partners, so forming the contract would be a piece of cake.

But after noticing the records in the tome about sharing Traits, he couldn’t help but hesitate.

Especially since this explanation was followed by a crucial line of warning.

"Remember: A Ranger can only form this contract with one non-human creature in their lifetime."

’I can’t verify if this rule is true, but what if it is...’

Simply forming a contract with Black Wind or Qiao just to meet the Profession’s requirements would be far too rash.

After all, they didn’t have any combat abilities or special talents themselves.

’Forget it...’

After weighing his options again and again, Roland gently shook his head.

He was already strong enough to protect himself.

Although the Traits and resonance bonuses granted by the High Tier Profession [Ranger] were certainly considerable, there was no need to rush.

Coincidentally, he was already planning to find a new mount after leaving the Aiselon Continent. It wouldn’t be too late to carefully select a suitable ’partner’ then.

Having made up his mind, Roland set aside his plan to take up the [Ranger] Profession for now and refocused his attention on the Chapter in the tome about "Natural Step Rhythm".

"A step like wind brushing leaves, a shadow that shifts with the light."

The opening verse pointed to the essence of this skill.

Unlike the clever trick of hiding in the Shadow with [Shadow Dance Form], Natural Step Rhythm required a deeper level of integration.

Following the book’s instructions, he first tried to feel the "breathing" of his surroundings.

"Close your eyes and focus your spirit. Use your heart as your eyes and perceive the rhythm of all creation."

Roland walked out of the cabin and placed his palm lightly on the deck, trying to capture the subtle vibrations produced by the Shell Ship as it sailed through the Star Realm.

His active [Life Perception] allowed him to quickly capture this regular pulse, as if the entire ship were breathing gently at a specific frequency.

"Guide the rhythm into your body, and transform it into your steps."

He stood up and tried to incorporate the perceived rhythm into his steps.

The first few steps were coordinated enough, but as he deliberately controlled his breathing and movements, that subtle resonance broke again.

"Do not force, do not control. The way of nature lies in yielding."

The warning in the tome made him realize the problem.

The instinct for control, honed through long-term combat, had instead become the biggest obstacle to achieving Natural Resonance.

He readjusted his mindset, no longer trying to lead his steps, but letting himself become a part of the environment.

When the Shell Ship turned slightly, he swayed with the movement.

When the stellar wind of the Star Realm blew past, the corners of his clothes fluttered with it.

For a few moments, he almost felt himself about to merge completely with his surroundings...

Yet, at the very instant he was about to succeed, the vigilant instinct trained by long-term combat would always unconsciously rise, pulling him back from that mystical state to reality.

"A mind like still water, a body like a drifting duckweed."

He silently recited the proverbs from the book and continued trying to relax his mind.

But whenever he was about to completely let down his guard, his body’s instinctive reaction would be to unconsciously tense his muscles, destroying that rare harmony.

After several hours of practice, Roland finally stopped and sighed softly.

His footprints were still clearly imprinted on the deck; he was clearly still a long way from the Realm described in the tome.

Stopping and gathering his focus, Roland reviewed his recent attempts and gradually understood the key issue.

Besides the hindrance of his own muscle memory, the recently awakened Skill [Life Perception] was even more critical.

It formed a complementary whole with "Natural Step Rhythm".

Only by accurately perceiving the Life Rhythm of all surrounding things could his steps resonate in sync with them.

Just as the tome said.

"He who does not know life cannot merge with it."

’It seems...’

Roland mused thoughtfully.

’Once the Level of [Life Perception] increases, practicing [Natural Step Rhythm] might just fall into place.’

Just as his thoughts were flowing, Duraga’s rough voice echoed through the cabin like a clap of thunder.

"Mates! We’re here!"

With this shout, the boundless curtain of the Star Realm was suddenly torn apart.

The Shell Ship slid smoothly into the rift. After a brief moment of dizziness, Roland slowly opened his eyes.

The scene before him made his breath catch.

It was no longer the boundless wasteland from his memory, nor were there any signs of the broken walls and ruins of the past.

A magnificent, towering city stood between heaven and earth like a miracle.

Even looking down from high above, his view could only take in the tip of the iceberg of this colossal structure.

Silvery-white metal and fluorescent blue crystal intertwined to form an endless complex of buildings. Soaring spires pierced the clouds, and domes shimmered with a dreamlike radiance under the faint daylight.

Time in the entire city seemed to have frozen.

Every archway, every covered bridge, remained astonishingly intact.

’Is this... Silver Radiance City?’

Roland unconsciously took half a step forward, his fingertips lightly touching the porthole window.

This city of Legend, praised in the ancient texts as the "Gem of the Era," was now displayed before him in a form that surpassed all imagination.