Starlight Calendar 1269, Month of Flowing Fire (July). War broke out again, and on the second day after the Starlight Alliance declared war, they launched a fierce offensive against the Azure Gold Empire.
Despite having over two years of respite, the Azure Gold Empire, having lost vast territories, had barely regained any strength. From the very start of the renewed assault by the Starlight Alliance, they were forced into a steady retreat.
Azure Gold Empire, Holy Flame City.
The Month of Flowing Fire was originally the time for the annual Flame Festival of the Azure Gold Empire.
However, in Holy Flame City, the capital, there was no sign of festivity, only a cold emptiness.
In the palace, in the study.
The Azure Gold Emperor, having just finished court, returned to his study to find the Staff standing by the window, gazing at the sky outside.
"You finally decided to see me," the Azure Gold Emperor said, his expression dark.
The Staff turned and gave him a long, silent look, then sighed.
"I told you before, I won't interfere in the war between the Empire and the Starlight Duchy."
"Do you intend to watch the Empire fall and the royal bloodline end?" the Azure Gold Emperor demanded through clenched teeth.
With reports of defeat coming in from the front lines and the Empire's collapse imminent, he could no longer afford to consider the other's exalted status in the Empire and adopted an aggressive stance.
Yet the Staff's response was a calm, unflinching gaze.
"I've long repaid the royal family's kindness. The Empire and I are merely in a cooperative relationship now. I'm not responsible for its downfall. I thought you understood that."
The Azure Gold Emperor paused, teeth grinding. "What reward do you want? Just name it. As long as you can save the Empire, I'll agree to any condition!"
The Staff shook his head, saying nothing.
Seeing this, the Azure Gold Emperor's expression darkened further. "If you won't act, then do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"Help me contact other wizard apprentices! I'm willing to pay any price if they'll join forces to deal with Sunan!"
The Azure Gold Emperor had resolved internally that if killing Sunan required emptying the treasury, he would do it.
Once Sunan was dead, the Starlight Duchy would be thrown into chaos, unable to continue the war.
Without the core of the Starlight Duchy, the Starlight Alliance would naturally collapse.
The Empire would gain precious time to recover and perhaps rise again in the future!
As these thoughts raced through the Azure Gold Emperor's mind, he was met with the Staff's pitying gaze.
"Useless. Even if you gathered all the wizard apprentices on the continent, they couldn't harm Sunan."
The Azure Gold Emperor was stunned, instinctively asking, "Why?"
The Staff sighed, his expression complicated. "Sunan has become a wizard."
The Azure Gold Emperor sat in shock for a long moment, as if struck by lightning, his eyes wide.
"A w-wizard?"
"Impossible! How could anyone on the Starlight Continent become a wizard?"
As the ruler of the southeastern region, the Azure Gold Emperor had access to more wizard secrets than most and knew the dire state of the Starlight Continent, where becoming a wizard was nearly impossible!
Faced with the Azure Gold Emperor's shocked questioning, the Staff replied with just four words.
"The Starlight Tower."
Those four words drained all strength from the Azure Gold Emperor.
He slumped into his chair, face pale, eyes filled with despair.
He knew well what being a wizard meant.
As the Staff said, even if every wizard apprentice on the continent banded together, they wouldn't stand a chance against Sunan.
On this continent, a wizard was synonymous with invincibility.
At the thought of having vainly plotted against a wizard, the Azure Gold Emperor found it almost laughable.
"Surrender," the Staff said quietly. "That way, you might preserve a sliver of the royal bloodline."
The Azure Gold Emperor was silent for a long time, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Will the Starlight Duchy allow the royal line to survive?"
"Why wouldn't they? What does the Starlight Duchy have to fear now?" the Staff countered.
The Azure Gold Emperor opened his mouth but had no response.
Indeed.
With a wizard backing them, the Starlight Duchy had nothing to fear.
As long as Sunan remained, no one could shake the Ayanes family.
Even if the Azure Gold royal bloodline survived, it wouldn't affect the Starlight Duchy.
"Very well, the Empire surrenders."
With those words, the Azure Gold Emperor seemed to age years in an instant.
Stripped of the southeastern region's ruler's aura, he looked like nothing more than an old man.
The Staff shook his head slightly, turning back to the window, his eyes thoughtful.
With the Starlight Continent on the brink of upheaval, should he also make some changes?
Dragon Skeleton Tower, Fifth Level.
Xieman exited the workshop, heading for the warehouse.
He glanced at the ten sets of second-level magi-constructs in his spatial ring, a smile on his face.
These constructs, once exchanged for contribution points, would be enough for a bottle of Supernal Potion.
"The sixth star ring is almost complete. With this potion, it should be enough."
Thinking happily, Xieman entered the central hall, teleporting to the warehouse area.
But as he looked up, he saw Artiel and Korey discussing something not far away.
Over a decade had passed, and both Artiel and Korey had celebrated their thirtieth birthdays.
Yet, outwardly, they appeared barely over twenty.
The long-term absorption and improvement from energy particles significantly slowed the aging of wizard apprentices, keeping their bodies in peak condition until nearing the end of their lifespan.
Unless changes in appearance were caused by bloodline fusion or physical modification, wizard apprentices rarely showed signs of aging.
Xieman was no different.
"Artiel, Korey."
Hearing his voice, Artiel turned, smiling brightly at Xieman.
Korey nodded slightly, as aloof as always.
Xieman didn't mind, casually asking, "What are you two doing here?"
He glanced around, surprised. "Why are there so many people today?"
Artiel looked at Xieman in surprise. "You don't know?"
"Know what?" Xieman blinked. "I've been in the workshop lately and just came out. Did something happen?"
Artiel understood, smiling. "The teacher is back."
Xieman froze, then broke into a wide grin.
The teacher had been gone for over two years. Though he'd left a message beforehand, preparing them, his absence left the base feeling aimless, like a ship without a rudder.
Before Xieman could recover from his joy, Artiel added mysteriously, "There's a rumor going around outside. Do you know what it is?"
Xieman rolled his eyes. "Stop teasing."
Artiel didn't mind, smiling. "They're saying the teacher received the Starlight Tower's legacy and became a wizard!"
"What? Really?" Xieman was shocked.
"It seems so," Korey said. "Many people saw the teacher kill fourteen third-level wizard apprentices from the Council of Truth in the northwest region. Alone, in just two or three breaths!"
"Besides a wizard, I can't think of anyone else who could do that!"
Even Korey, usually so indifferent, couldn't hide a hint of excitement and longing.
Xieman stood frozen, his mind a whirl.
Though he'd once imagined the teacher might become a wizard, seeing it happen was still shockingly surreal.
After all, that was a wizard!
The level every wizard apprentice dreamed of reaching!
"Surprising, isn't it?" Artiel sighed. "I was shocked too when I heard. I didn't expect the teacher to take that step so soon."
"The teacher's talent is beyond our imagination!" Korey added.
As Xieman returned to his senses, he cast an odd glance at Korey.
He'd long suspected that, despite Korey's cold demeanor and few words, he held profound admiration for the teacher, almost to the point of blind devotion.
If the teacher were a god instead of a wizard, Korey would likely be a fervent believer.
"Wait." Xieman then realized. "What's this got to do with you all gathering in the warehouse area?"
Artiel explained, "The task hall has posted many new tasks and increased the contribution points for magi-constructs, enchanted weapons, Stone Golems, and Dual-Blade Spiders. Everyone's here to take on new tasks."
Xieman's eyes narrowed, quickly grasping the deeper meaning behind these changes.
"Is the Star Alliance preparing to expand again?"
"Almost certainly." Korey's eyes gleamed. "The Starlight Continent is about to undergo significant changes."
Xieman nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed, with a wizard at its helm, the Star Alliance was now qualified to unify the underground world and the entire Starlight Continent.
Given the teacher's past actions, he would undoubtedly pursue this course.
The changes in contribution points for equipment and golems were clearly preparations for war.
"In fact, besides the tasks, I've heard a rumor," Artiel said softly.
"I heard the teacher plans to establish a wizard academy."
A wizard academy?
Xieman's eyes widened in surprise.
Korey was equally taken aback; he hadn't heard this before.
"Where did you hear this?" Korey quickly asked.
"Lord Amy mentioned it."
Xieman and Korey exchanged glances, their eyes glinting.
If Lord Amy said it, it was likely true.
"But if we're to establish a wizard academy, how will we handle the instructors?" Xieman wondered.
Even if the teacher was willing to teach them personally, an academy couldn't function with just one instructor.
"I don't know," Artiel shrugged.
Xieman felt both puzzled and hopeful.
If the academy came to fruition, it would undoubtedly benefit them as apprentices.
Having instructors to guide their studies would greatly enhance their learning efficiency.
They wouldn't have to struggle alone with difficult problems anymore.
Dragon Skeleton Tower, Sixth Level, Experiment Area.
In a spacious, bright laboratory, Sunan stood at a workbench, placing bottles of Lesser Vitality Potion into his synthesis cube.
After opening a large magical plantation in Dragon Forest's Zone 2, the supply of Silver Moon Flowers had increased significantly, alleviating his concerns.
Especially during his two years in the Starlight Tower, the warehouse had amassed a vast stockpile of Silver Moon Flowers, enough to last a long time.
As more potions were added, the text on the synthesis cube's interface changed continuously, finally flashing with the word "Tier Four."
[Crystal Soul Potion (Tier 4/High Quality), significantly increases mental energy refinement speed and enhances energy particle absorption efficiency. Duration: 182 days, 22 hours. No stacking effect. Requires at least first-level gasification stage and specific mental energy levels (Lower 25.32%/Intermediate 17.88%/Advanced 8.24%/Super 1.02%)]
Sunan nodded in satisfaction.
The Crystal Soul Potion was essentially an advanced version of the Vitality Potion, with enhanced effects but few other changes.
The levels at the end clearly referred to talent crystal levels.
The level of one's talent crystal significantly impacts a wizard's future development, as reflected in potion usage restrictions.
Wizards with higher talent crystal levels find mental energy refinement more challenging, but they face fewer potion restrictions than those with lower levels.
Moreover, with the same mental energy refinement progress, the former's combat power surpasses the latter.
Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
"By this calculation, my current 1.34% refinement progress is roughly equivalent to about 30% for a lower-level crystal wizard."
Sunan's face showed satisfaction.
This was why he pursued high-level talent crystals so diligently; while challenging in the early stages, the long-term benefits were substantial.
Sunan then attempted to synthesize a tier-five potion, only to find the usage restriction skyrocketed to the first-level crystallization stage (Super 24.45%).
"It seems I'll be using the Crystal Soul Potion for quite some time."
Sunan wasn't too disappointed; the combination of the Crystal Soul Potion, Elemental Pool, and divine energy allowed him to cultivate like a normal wizard, unaffected by the Starlight Continent's environment.
That was already quite good; he couldn't ask for more.
He could gradually seek other methods to enhance cultivation efficiency.
Refocusing, Sunan drank the potion on the spot, then returned to the top level to cultivate by the Elemental Pool.
When his mental energy refinement progress increased by 0.01%, twelve days had passed.
"At this rate, it'll take about 300 years to reach the first-level liquefaction stage."
Sunan mused.
Would 700 years be enough to reach the first-level crystallization stage?
If he could find more ways to boost cultivation efficiency, it should be possible.
Shaking his head, Sunan left the top level, teleporting to the fifth-level workshop area.
With the potion issue resolved, it was time to address the wizard tools.
After days of contemplation, Sunan had a preliminary plan.
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