Chapter 258: The Wizard of Wubei
A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
But if the wood is strong enough, even the wind cannot shake it.
For Ronin, now was not the time to expose his strength—survival was the priority. However, when the moment came to reap benefits and establish dominance, even if he chose to remain in the shadows, his subordinates needed to showcase their abilities.
Hiding one's shortcomings too much could mean missing opportunities.
Summoning his familiar attribute panel, Ronin allocated all his attribute points. His Silver Knight progress was now maxed out, while his Magician level had reached 76/2000.
In addition, his accumulated resources during this period granted him 1999 energy essence points.
"It's been a while since I've improved your strength."
Ronin gazed at the three men standing before him.
Over time, each had improved through their own efforts:
Mikan: Silver Knight (31/1500)Elrond: Chief Mage (380/2000)Rydar: Silver Knight (649/1500)
Among them, Rydar had grown the fastest, his arrogant nature driving him to push his limits.
Mikan, despite his gold-tier potential, had a noticeably slower cultivation speed.
When the three heard that their lord intended to enhance their strength, they exchanged glances and smiled.
They were all extraordinary beings—growing stronger was their common pursuit.
"You should have heard about my grandfather Rulans' condition. Right now, only an eighth-level magician with light attributes can save him. So, in the coming period, I will focus on improving Elrond's strength."
Elrond bowed deeply. "My lord, I will not disappoint you."
Both Rydar and Mikan glanced at each other, their expressions tinged with envy. They understood—saving Ronin's grandfather took priority, which meant Elrond's growth was essential.
"However, that doesn't mean I will neglect the two of you."
Ronin smiled. "Wubei still needs combat power. So, Rydar, Mikan—you will also receive enhancements. But since Rydar's combat prowess and potential are higher, I will prioritize his growth."
Rydar thumped his chest. "I will not let you down!"
Mikan, though a bit disappointed, accepted the decision. He knew his talent was lower than the others, and his lord was making the most practical choice.
"Mikan, you were the first to follow me. I appreciate your steady and patient nature." Ronin reassured him. "Though you're behind for now, we have plenty of time ahead. There's no need to rush—focus on steady cultivation."
Ronin was not merely consoling him—there was still a long road ahead.
Mikan knelt on one knee, visibly moved. "It is my honor to serve you, my lord. I will not let you down!"
Ronin gestured for him to rise, then distributed the energy essence as planned:
Mikan: 28 pointsRydar: 351 pointsElrond: 1620 points
Mikan's strength improved only slightly.
Rydar's progress soared to 1000/1500—by his own estimation, he could now hold his own against a Golden Knight in a one-on-one duel.
The biggest change, however, was with Elrond.
Eyes closed, he absorbed the immense surge of energy. A moment later, he opened them, and a bright light flickered in his gaze. An aura of serenity now radiated from him.
"Congratulations, Elrond. You are now a Wizard."
Becoming a Wizard was a massive leap from his previous level.
First, his mana had liquefied, significantly increasing the amount of magic he could store. If he had previously been able to cast Aurora Shadow only once, now he could unleash it ten times.
Moreover, Wizards could enhance the power of ordinary spells.
This meant that his healing magic would be far more effective, and offensive spells like Punishment and Holy Judgment would also see a significant boost in power.
"This is all thanks to you, my lord."
Elrond knelt, his voice filled with reverence. "May the Light be with you."
"You're sounding more like a charlatan." Ronin chuckled.
"A charlatan?" Elrond looked puzzled.
Ronin laughed and changed the subject. "Tell me, what did you gain after your promotion?"
Elrond took a moment to recall.
"My lord, I did not recover many memories of my past life this time—only fragments related to treating patients. However, one scene stood out… it resembled the strange beings we encountered in the mysterious valley."
Ronin raised an eyebrow. "You mean those unkillable creatures from Natalia's group?"
Elrond nodded. "Yes. In one memory, I fought an enemy that couldn't be killed conventionally. But by piercing their body and flooding it with immense extraordinary power, I was able to turn them to ashes."
Rydar and Mikan looked equally astonished.
They, too, had past-life memories, but they had gained nothing new from their recent power-ups.
"Could it be that those beings in the valley are ancient creatures who have existed since your past life?" Ronin mused.
Considering Carlos' age, this implied that Elrond and the others had lived at least a thousand years ago.
Ronin chose not to dwell on it for now. More answers would come as their levels increased.
"Besides that, what about your magic?"
"Yes, I can now use a new spell—Strong Healing. I also recalled a method to craft an Explosion Potion."
Ronin's eyes lit up.
Strong Healing was a sustained recovery spell. Though it required considerable mana, it was immensely powerful—capable of saving even someone with severed limbs.
Ronin himself had once used a Strong Healing Spell Scroll to save Wiggins, who had nearly died from a severed leg.
"I know this magic—it's incredibly effective!" Ronin said excitedly. "What about the Explosion Potion?"
"It allows a Knight to temporarily boost their strength by 50% for one minute. However, afterward, they will be weakened for an entire day."
The three knights in the tent were stunned.
They knew how terrifying a 50% power boost could be in battle.
"This potion is incredible!"
Rydar considered his own strength. "With my current level, if I take it, I might even be able to defeat a mid-tier Golden Knight!"
"Even with the one-day debuff, one minute of extra power could turn the tide of battle," Mikan added in awe.
"Can we produce it now?" Ronin asked eagerly. If possible, this could be a game-changer in the upcoming war.
Elrond shook his head. "Sir, the potion requires several ingredients—one of which is 500ml of fresh blood from a Level 6 bear, tiger, lion, or ape—a powerful and violent beast."
That amount of blood wasn't much, but hunting such a monster was no easy task.
Suddenly, an idea struck Ronin.
"What about dragon blood?"
Elrond hesitated. He knew Ronin had a dragon, but… using dragon blood for alchemy? That was unheard of.
"I'm not sure. I don't recall dragon blood being mentioned as an ingredient… but it might work."
"Wouldn't it be wasteful to experiment with dragon blood?" Mikan asked cautiously.
"We don't have many options," Ronin shrugged. "I'll discuss it with Carlos. Knowing his temperament, he shouldn't be that stingy. If we can get the blood, what about the other materials?"
"That depends on whether they are sold in Boulder City."
Ronin nodded. "We'll check when we reach the city tomorrow. If we can gather the materials, let's try making a batch before the war begins."
"Understood, my lord."
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