CH181
With these Magic Energy Crystals, Helag could save a lot on future expenses.
The only issue was that he couldn't easily convert them to currency or use them yet, so he had to store them for now.
He also had various potion and spell materials. Helag recognized most potion materials, estimating their value at over ten thousand magic stones.
Some spell materials were unfamiliar, making it hard to estimate their worth. He planned to show them to Brack later to see how many magic stones they could fetch.
Beyond material gains, the most crucial aspect was validating the power of his bloodline mark.
In the Death Swamp Ruins, where the world's will was weaker, Helag could unleash some of his bloodline mark's power.
His body became covered in a metallic black sheen, transforming into a creature form, significantly boosting his stats.
This was despite the suppression from the wizard plane's world will.
Without such suppression, Helag felt he could wield unimaginable power.
Helag glanced at his left palm, sensing the energy nearly full.
However, even if the planar coordinate energy was full, he couldn't recklessly venture into the abyss.
The Barrens might have second-level wizards at most.
In the abyss, he might encounter a creature like the toad with fourth or fifth-level power.
Who could withstand that?
Helag's previous visits were lucky, with the toad rescuing him.
If he had been a bit later, he might have died in the abyss.
Though he could use the bloodline mark's power there, Helag doubted it would match the toad's level.
In the abyss, teeming with powerful beings, his strength was insufficient.
Helag was also concerned about the toad's identity.
Though the toad had been friendly, it was due to its amnesia.
Helag's aura was familiar to the toad, but its nature was unclear.
If the toad remembered, it might not remain a friend.
Next time, the toad might devour him.
Helag pondered these issues, cautious about entering the abyss, unwilling to go lightly.
"Let's continue training."
Helag shook his head, dismissing distant thoughts.
His priority was steady progress in training.
He looked at the starry night sky, entering a meditative state.
***
Two months later.
Helag opened his eyes, calm and composed.
He'd spent the past two months in stable training.
Helag sold some items from the Death Swamp Ruins, earning ten thousand magic stones.
He kept the rest, not selling everything.
"Next is slowly entering the liquefaction stage."
Helag completed meditation on the twentieth star, his mind filled with gaseous spiritual power.
The next step was compressing this power into a droplet of liquid spiritual power.
This was a long and arduous process, with many never progressing past it.
Helag was patient, beginning the liquefaction process.
He felt a slight headache as he started.
Compressing spiritual power was painful, not everyone could endure it.
Helag's breathing became labored, less steady than before.
After a while, he stopped compressing.
This process couldn't be rushed, only taken slowly.
Helag ceased compressing, meditating to adjust his state.
He didn't want to harm his mental sea by rushing, which would be counterproductive.
In the coming period, Helag's spiritual power would stagnate.
Before reaching the liquefaction stage, his spiritual power couldn't grow, having reached the gaseous stage's limit.
The time to reach liquefaction varied for everyone.
Some might take a year or two, others decades.
Some might take centuries or never reach it.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window.
Helag rose from bed, stretching.
Shatia stood at the door with a basin of hot water, a towel inside.
Helag's routine was regular, ending meditation at this time, with Shatia waiting outside.
"Come in," Helag said softly.
Shatia entered, wringing the towel and handing it to him.
After a simple wash, Shatia asked, "Are you hungry, sir? I'll make noodles."
Recently, Shatia had learned to make noodles, guided by Helag.
With ample flour, she quickly mastered noodle-making.
Helag tasted them, suggesting adjustments, and now they were similar to those from his past life.
He usually had noodles or pastries for breakfast.
Helag shook his head, "No noodles, let's try your buns."
Shatia had just learned to make buns, and Helag hadn't tasted them yet, something he hadn't eaten in ages.
"Yes, sir, I'll steam the buns," Shatia replied efficiently.
As Helag ate breakfast, Brack arrived.
"Mr. Brack, what's the matter?" Helag asked.
Brack looked serious, hesitant to speak.
Sensing something amiss, Helag asked, "Is there a problem?"
For Brack to be so tense, it had to be significant.
Brack sighed, "There's something I don't know if it's good news for you."
"What is it?" Helag asked curiously.
Brack explained, "The Land of Dawn is recruiting, seeking formal wizards under sixty."
Helag was stunned, not expecting this news.
The Land of Dawn recruiting?
Helag wondered if it was a rumor; why would they recruit in the Barrens?
Seeing Helag's surprise, Brack said, "I found it unbelievable too, so I investigated."
"The Land of Dawn plans a major invasion of the Elven Plane, needing many people. Since invading a plane takes time, they need as many as possible, so they're recruiting in the Barrens."
CH182
Helag pondered, "Why only formal wizards under sixty? Wouldn't recruiting crystallized wizards enhance combat strength more?"
Formal wizards under sixty are typically at the liquefaction stage, with few crystallized wizards at that age.
This requirement effectively excludes all crystallized wizards from the Barrens.
Crystallized wizards are much stronger than gaseous or liquefied wizards.
For an invasion of the Elven Plane, the stronger the participants, the better.
The Land of Dawn's restriction seemed odd.
Brack explained, "Crystallized wizards like me are usually high-ranking. If we leave, many organizations in the Barrens would lose key members."
"Moreover, the Land of Dawn is planning long-term. Wizards under sixty are young enough to be developed. Older wizards have little potential left."
Helag questioned, "Wasn't it strictly forbidden for Barrens wizards to enter the Land of Dawn? Why the exception now? Is there something fishy?"
Helag recalled the Death Swamp Ruins, where the Land of Dawn used Barrens wizards as tools, as seen with the planar rift's sealing array.
Invasion of the Elven Plane requires many people, but also presents huge opportunities.
An entire plane's resources are unimaginably rich; such a boon wouldn't likely fall to Barrens wizards.
Helag was skeptical, doubting the Land of Dawn's goodwill.
Brack nodded, "It's strange, but the temptation is too great. Many will go, even knowing the risks."
Helag fell silent.
Brack was right; Barrens wizards knew there were risks.
But joining the Land of Dawn was an irresistible lure.
Joining meant no longer being stuck at the crystallization stage, with a chance to become a second-level wizard.
Joining posed some risk, but formal wizards had faced many risks in life.
For them, it was worth the gamble.
It might be their only chance to join the Land of Dawn.
With the Land of Dawn opening the Elven Plane, they needed many people.
Once they fully conquered the Elven Plane, the gap between the Land of Dawn and the Barrens would widen.
Then, there might never be another chance to join the Land of Dawn.
"Are many enrolling?" Helag asked.
"Yes, nearly everyone eligible has enrolled," Brack replied.
Helag's mind raced with thoughts, asking, "Is it just under sixty? No other conditions?"
He was puzzled; the Land of Dawn had always restricted Barrens entry.
Every wizard organization had many formal wizards under sixty.
If that was all it took, becoming a formal wizard meant joining the Land of Dawn.
Who would stay in Barrens wizard organizations? Everyone would leave.
Brack said, "Enrollment isn't direct entry. There's identity verification and testing."
"Testing? What kind?" Helag asked.
Brack shook his head, "Details haven't been revealed. We just got the news, and Augustus Academy hasn't said."
"With such few conditions, the test must be tough," Helag concluded.
He was sure the Land of Dawn wouldn't let so many Barrens wizards join.
But the enrollment conditions were simple, with few restrictions.
The selection would happen during testing.
The test would be difficult, eliminating many.
Brack nodded, "We think so too. I came to ask if you want to enroll. If you do, the Terchy family can help. With us, your identity check won't be an issue."
Helag said, "Sign me up."
Like others, Helag couldn't pass up the opportunity.
Despite knowing the risks and complexity.
Helag knew joining the Land of Dawn was the best way to grow stronger quickly.
Previously, he had no way into the Land of Dawn.
With this chance, Helag wouldn't miss it.
Moreover, Helag knew the Death Swamp Ruins had a hidden danger.
Time was short; he had to grow stronger fast.
If the planar rift had issues and he was still struggling as a first-level wizard, he'd lack self-preservation.
Helag guessed the test would be hard but not designed to kill Barrens wizards.
Those enrolling were young Barrens wizards; the Land of Dawn had no reason to eliminate them.
The Land of Dawn aimed to control Barrens stability.
If young wizards died, the Barrens would lack manpower for a long time.
Barrens wizard organizations needed new blood to function.
The Death Swamp Ruins required sacrifices every decade; without people, the array couldn't operate.
So the test would be hard, but not to kill them.
Helag's thoughts raced, concluding the test wouldn't be fatal.
If not fatal, he had hope of passing, so he decided to enroll.
Brack sighed, "I knew you wouldn't miss this chance. I wasn't sure if telling you was good."
Helag smiled, "Don't worry, Mr. Brack, I'll be cautious."
"Yes, if you join, the Terchy family will rely on you," Brack said.
Helag nodded, "If I join, I'll help however I can."
The Terchy family hoped Helag would join the Land of Dawn.
If Helag entered, the Terchy family would have a connection to the Land of Dawn.
That alone was invaluable.
The Terchy family's concern was if Helag died during testing, their investment would be wasted.