Taking the first step is inevitable, but where that first step leads is a question that requires careful thought.
After careful consideration, Ryan decided to make Gouya Temple his first gateway to truly interacting with this world.
First, it was safe;
Second, it was safe;
Third, he could get more information from the Masters there.
In a world where information spreads inefficiently, a person's age is almost directly proportional to the amount of information they possess.
The age and status of the Masters undoubtedly made them among the most learned individuals in this land.
Although in the background story they once served as a backdrop for Wei, their only purpose being to highlight Wei's power, to the point where they didn't even have names before being directly written off.
But Ryan felt that the Masters were not as useless as they were portrayed in the background story.
To put it simply, while their power was limited and they couldn't execute certain things, they could absolutely talk your ear off with endless theories.
To some extent, they had already entered an invincible realm.
Regarding Ryan's request, Wei readily agreed without hesitation.
He had been plotting how to draw Ryan into Gouya Temple; he hadn't had the chance before, but now that the other party had taken the initiative, how could he refuse?
Even if Ryan didn't join after going, with his talent, he might spark intellectual fireworks with the Masters.
Even if the spark of art only appeared for an instant, it could still illuminate the world a thousand years later.
To ensure that sparks would be generated, Wei set the date for Ryan's visit three days later.
Gouya Temple regularly held art exhibitions, and three days later happened to be the day of an exhibition.
......
Watching Wei's figure gradually swallowed by the setting sun.
Ryan stood at the entrance of his treehouse, resting his chin on his hand, pondering Wei's parting words.
"Introduce a friend to me..."
"Why just one, and not a group?"
Ryan suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for Wei.
This guy had been living under the title of successor for so many years, and he only had one friend?
He, a boy from the seaside, had made quite a few 'friends' in the past two years.
Although most of them were girls, and they all had some kind of wicked idea about him.
But that's how friends are.
In his previous life, Ryan even wanted to be his friends' dad.
What kind of friend doesn't have wicked thoughts!?
But, thinking about it carefully, it didn't seem strange.
Who would be willing to risk dying at any moment to be friends with Wei?
This friend, who could live for so many years, must have some serious skills.
Hiding his pity for Wei and his respect for the unknown friend deep in his heart, Ryan turned and walked into his treehouse.
All things in Ionia have spirits.
This was not only reflected when they beat Ryan up but also in all aspects.
As if sensing Ryan's imminent departure, the treehouse was exceptionally gentle tonight.
There were no sudden cracks in the floor, nor any withered branches suddenly reaching out.
The leaf curtain at the entrance hung its head, and the vines by the window drooped their hands.
It was like a good friend who had silently accompanied him for many years, immersed in the atmosphere of farewell.
Ryan keenly noticed this change.
He didn't walk inside but sat down on the threshold, reaching out to pinch a drooping leaf nearby.
The leaf was somewhat withered and yellow.
Or rather, the entire treehouse, in the eyes of Ionia, was considered underdeveloped.
And what caused all this was Ryan.
Dark Magic is not dangerous for the host, but its nature makes it instinctively snatch magic from its surroundings.
The main reason Syndra was sealed by the First Land in the background story was that she would often drain the magic of an entire region with her attacks.
Magic in Ionia can be seen as a natural resource; both the magical devices created by Ionia and the continued existence of trees and lakes depend on it.
Syndra's way of using Dark Magic was to dig up Ionia's roots.
If she were allowed to continue like that, then ten Noxus would not cause as much damage to Ionia as she alone.
It was precisely because he knew this that Ryan had been learning to control Dark Magic more precisely for the past two years.
Although his magic power was small, the advantage was that it allowed him to gradually master this power.
If he truly had a sudden outburst like Syndra, perhaps... he would become like Syndra, subtly becoming a slave to violence under the influence of absolute power.
Think of Superman from another universe.
With his super brain, every choice he made revealed a clear stupidity, which was enough to show how much superpower affects the brain.
However, even the most precise control only reduces the impact.
Ryan looked at the underdeveloped branches and leaves, preparing to use some moving words to maintain this rare tranquility, but the branches and leaves broke free from Ryan's hand first, and then gently rubbed his shoulder twice.
This change surprised Ryan a little.
Given the First Land and the nature spirits' aversion to him, feeling sad at his departure was already a pleasant surprise.
But now... the nature spirits were actually comforting him?
Ryan subconsciously looked out at the sea; logically, the changes here would directly affect Syndra on the other side.
Moreover, the benefits of this change were far greater than appeasing nightmares.
"But, why have you suddenly become so good?"
Ryan lowered his head and asked the leaves.
Foolish people, after gaining benefits, will indulge in enjoyment.
And smart people will look for ways to do it again.
But the leaves did not respond to Ryan.
It just lay quietly on Ryan's shoulder.
Ryan stared at the treehouse, but his mind was racing.
When all possibilities were eliminated one by one, Ryan, who had been troubled for a long time, could only attribute the change to his idea of trying to save Ionia, which caused its attitude towards him to change.
Although the First Land could not read his thoughts, it was not difficult for it to perceive the good and evil in his heart.
Perceiving good and evil is an innate ability of elemental spirits.
Ryan, who had figured out the answer, felt a little regretful, but this regret only lasted for two seconds before being replaced by another emotion.
Although this method could not be replicated, what was gained for free was the sweetest!
He wondered what tonight's dream would be like.
Ryan, longing for the dream (benefits), briefly had a 'tender moment' with the treehouse before leaving it again.
About five hundred meters south of the treehouse, there was also a reef area.
All things in Ionia have spirits, but spirits, like people, have fools and idiots.
These reefs were undoubtedly the fools.
They would not react much to the outside world, making them the most suitable place for a temporary base and for communicating with Dark Magic.
Before receiving benefits, Ryan had to keep his emotions in a stable state, otherwise, a sudden increase in Dark Magic would cause him to lose control.
And to keep himself absolutely stable, he took some measures.
Ryan walked to an inconspicuous reef, skillfully moved a movable reef, revealing the scroll inside.
These scrolls were all good things Wei had taken from Gouya Temple, and their waterproof effect was excellent.
It is very difficult for a modern person to survive two hours in a world without internet, games, anime, or novels.
And the reason Ryan could persist for two years was not because of his mental Perseverance, but because...
He learned painting magic from Wei!
What is painting magic?
It's the ability to materialize the things in your mind with magic, achieving an experience ten thousand times more real than a holographic projection.
Wei used it to paint floods, fires, and flowers.
And Ryan's mind had hundreds of gigabytes of content.
As long as he wanted, he could create a game here that was almost ninety-nine percent Restore physical sensation, touch, and visual effects, as well as... other entertainment works.
One could only say that in this Lay Waste seaside, he possessed unimaginable joy!
Ryan's fingers flipped through one scroll after another, and finally, he chose a scroll with the number starting with ipz.
Spreading out the scroll, he muttered words like "Help me cultivate!" while sinking his consciousness into it...