The Star Alliance had established spatial portals in every city-state, seamlessly connecting its vast territories.
These numerous portals allowed for unprecedented efficiency in both resource transportation and troop deployment.
On the same day the battle at Tarren City concluded, the corpse of the Spiderling was delivered to Su Nan's laboratory.
---
After some effort, Su Nan successfully extracted divine energy from the corpse.
"Eight standard units of divine energy—far more than the Dusk Bell Striker or the Multi-Winged Creature ever yielded," Su Nan remarked with satisfaction.
As a divine offspring, the Spiderling's body contained significantly more divine energy than ordinary divine creatures.
However, its limitation lay in being a one-time harvest, unlike the sustainable extractions possible with creatures like the Dusk Bell Striker.
A trade-off, but a worthwhile one.
---
After purifying the extracted divine energy of any faith contamination, Su Nan immediately absorbed it.
Upon checking his status, he noted a 0.66% increase in his spiritual refinement.
"Not bad. That's equivalent to over two years of cultivation," Su Nan muttered with a slight smile.
If every Spiderling could provide a similar yield, his progress in spiritual refinement would accelerate substantially.
"It seems we can't rush to capture Magus Spider City just yet."
---
Since first learning about the Spiderlings, Su Nan had toyed with the idea of "sustainable development."
Now, with confirmation of the Spiderlings' significant benefits to his spiritual refinement, the idea could finally be realized.
If the Spider Queen was intent on sending him "supplements," it would be ungrateful to refuse.
Magus Spider City could become a renewable resource node—a divine energy farm, so to speak.
---
Returning to his study, Su Nan summoned Carolina.
"Send the orders: increase pressure on the dark elves and extract as much of their war potential as possible, but do not capture Magus Spider City."
"Additionally, ensure that the corpses of Spiderlings are preserved intact and sent to the laboratory immediately," he added.
Carolina paused momentarily, her expression briefly puzzled.
Applying pressure without taking Magus Spider City? What was the reasoning?
The second half of Su Nan's statement, however, brought clarity.
Magus Spider City was being turned into a resource point.
"Understood, Master," Carolina responded respectfully.
---
"What of the Red Widow?" Su Nan inquired further.
"The First Army has advanced to the northwestern frontier. Commander Core has requested material support, and the Red Widow is currently coordinating logistics for that front," Carolina replied.
---
The Star Alliance now had two medium-sized golem armies after their recent expansion: the First Army, led by Core, and the Second Army, co-led by Xieman and Artir.
While the First Army pushed toward the Northwestern Domain, the Second Army advanced toward Magus Spider City.
The First Army had largely subdued the border regions between the Southeastern and Northwestern Domains, officially pushing the frontlines into the Northwestern Domain.
This left Magus Spider City as the final unconquered area in the Southeastern Domain under the Star Alliance's expanding control.
Such dominance had not been seen in the underground world for over a thousand years.
Even the city-states of the Northwestern Domain had begun forming alliances to resist the Star Alliance's might.
---
"What is the current situation in the Northwestern Domain?" Su Nan asked.
Carolina replied, "Most city-states have united to form an alliance they call the Falling Star Alliance."
"Falling Star Alliance?" Su Nan's expression turned amused before he quickly returned to seriousness. "Shift the focus of our military efforts to the Northwestern Domain. Magus Spider City can wait."
If the capture of Magus Spider City was no longer an immediate priority, resources could be reallocated to dismantle the Falling Star Alliance.
---
Xieman and Artir soon received Su Nan's orders.
Reading the directives on the parchment, they exchanged puzzled glances.
"This feels like a siege without an assault," Artir mused. "Why hold back?"
Xieman, ever the thinker, replied, "It likely has to do with the Spiderlings. Perhaps they hold significant value for Teacher. He may want as many of their corpses as possible."
"Wouldn't it be simpler to just capture Magus Spider City and eliminate all the Spiderlings at once?" Artir wondered aloud.
Unaware of the Spiderlings' creation process, neither of them fully understood the order's intent.
But understanding wasn't necessary.
"If it's Teacher's command, we follow it," Xieman concluded, unrolling a detailed map of the Southeastern Domain.
---
This map, painstakingly drawn by the Star Alliance, had proven invaluable in their expansion campaigns.
On it, the territories of the Star Alliance and the dark elves were clearly marked.
Compared to the vast swathes under Star Alliance control, the dark elves' domain was a mere corner.
Xieman traced a circle around the outskirts of the dark elf territory.
"While we can't take Magus Spider City, we can capture its surrounding settlements. This will reduce the pressure we face and escalate the dark elves' sense of crisis," he suggested.
Recalling the directive to "maximize the dark elves' war potential," Artir nodded in agreement.
---
Starshine Year 1272, Spring Awakening Month (March)
After nearly twenty years of bloodline refinement, the Hidden Dragon had finally taken the last step to evolve into a true dragon bloodline.
---
In Zone 3 of Dragonwood, Su Nan gazed up at the soaring Hidden Dragon with a satisfied smile.
---
Following its ascension, the Hidden Dragon's body had expanded again, now exceeding 50 meters in length with massive wings. Perched on the ground, it resembled a small mountain.
Its head had fully transformed into a dragon's visage, complete with curved horns and fiery red scales.
However, unlike most dragons, the Hidden Dragon retained its lizard-like gait, a holdover from its earlier forms.
---
To Su Nan's delight, the Hidden Dragon had also awakened two new abilities:
1. Spell Sharing
This unique ability allowed spells cast on Su Nan to also affect the Hidden Dragon, provided they remained within range.
For example, casting Featherlight on himself would simultaneously enhance the Hidden Dragon.
This ability significantly bolstered the Hidden Dragon's combat capabilities.
2. Flame Mastery
As expected, the Hidden Dragon had gained absolute control over fire, augmenting its already formidable arsenal.
---
With Invisibility, Phase Shifting, and Flame Mastery, the Hidden Dragon now possessed three pseudo-magical abilities.
Combined with its natural draconic traits—high magic resistance, immense physical strength, flight, dragon's might, and breath attacks—it was now a match for a full-fledged wizard.
---
Su Nan had recently sparred with the Hidden Dragon, using neither enchanted items nor engraved gems.
Even then, he could only barely suppress it.
Once it fully adapted to its new power, Su Nan estimated that their matchups would likely end in a stalemate without his trump cards.
"True dragon bloodlines are indeed exceptional," Su Nan marveled.
Though its bloodline could no longer evolve further, Su Nan planned to accelerate the Hidden Dragon's growth through synthesized dragon blood.
Dragonwood's abundant resources ensured there would be no shortage of materials for this endeavor.
Looking toward Zone 2, Su Nan noted the steady progress of the Dragonwood Expansion Project, confident that in a few centuries, it might even yield another true dragon.
Su Nan estimated that he could only manage a draw against the Hidden Dragon in its current state.
"True dragon bloodlines are indeed extraordinary," Su Nan mused with admiration.
However, after evolving into a true dragon, the Hidden Dragon's bloodline concentration had reached its limit.
Like most dragons, further growth would depend on the passage of time and natural accumulation of power.
Even while sleeping, dragons could grow stronger—albeit at an agonizingly slow pace.
Yet, their near-immortal lifespans compensated for this gradual growth.
Even the lowest-tier chromatic dragons lived well beyond a thousand years, with their strength increasing proportionally to their age—a universal truth across the multiverse.
The Hidden Dragon naturally inherited these advantages.
But Su Nan wasn't one to rely solely on nature's pace.
Although further bloodline enhancements were impossible, biological modifications using dragon blood could still amplify the Hidden Dragon's strength.
With his synthesis ability, Su Nan could create dragon blood, using it to accelerate the Hidden Dragon's power development.
This required significant quantities of high-quality sub-dragon blood—a resource Dragonwood had in abundance.
Su Nan's gaze shifted toward Zone 2.
The Zone 2 Modification and Sub-Dragon Bloodline Enhancement Project was already underway, with initial progress completed.
Zone 2 had been reactivated and now housed nearly a thousand high-tier sub-dragons.
As these were not true dragons and their population was relatively small, Zone 2 only occupied 28.33% of the optimal energy circulation within Dragonwood.
Currently, less than 10% of Dragonwood's energy overflow remained unused, a reserve Su Nan intended to save for future experiments.
Every day, high-tier sub-dragons were brought to the laboratory for bloodline refinement procedures.
Although the improvements were incremental, the overall bloodline concentration of the sub-dragon population in Zone 2 was steadily increasing.
Su Nan estimated that in four or five centuries, this effort might even produce a true dragon.
While progress in the refinement project was slow, a recent development had captured much of Su Nan's attention.
Three days ago, the Starlight Empire declared war on the neighboring Snow Lion Principality, launching a massive invasion across the border.
This act triggered an immediate and forceful response from the surrounding nations.
Although the Starlight Empire had only targeted one principality, its actions stirred up the entire Southeastern Continent, prompting nearly every nation to form a united front against it.
A war of unprecedented scale erupted across the region, dwarfing even the conflict between the former Auric Gold Empire and the Starlight Empire.
Almost every nation joined the alliance, recognizing that the Starlight Empire's ultimate goal was to unify the Southeastern Continent.
Allowing the empire to conquer them one by one would inevitably lead to total annexation.
Understanding the principle of "mutual destruction if divided," no country was willing to face such a fate alone.
Yet amidst this chaos, one nation stood apart.
The Thornflower Principality announced its submission to the Starlight Empire, becoming a duchy within its vast territories.
The principality's decision surprised many, but not Su Nan.
"Was this Rose's handiwork?" Su Nan speculated.
Only Rose could have persuaded the Thornflower Principality to surrender.
Having joined the Star Alliance, Rose likely recognized its immense resources and unmatched potential. She may have convinced the Thornflower royal family to yield in order to preserve their bloodline.
Only those with sufficient status within the Star Alliance, with access to deeper knowledge, could truly understand the colossal strength and development potential of this organization.
When Su Nan inquired, Rose simply said, "It was the logical choice."
"It was indeed the right decision," Su Nan remarked with a faint smile.
The Starlight Empire had grown strong enough to conquer the Southeastern Continent without relying on the Star Alliance's golem armies.
With its current power, the empire could crush any resistance, securing unification by sheer force.
From the moment war erupted, the outcome was all but certain.
A resounding dragon's roar shattered Su Nan's thoughts.
Looking up, he saw the Hidden Dragon soaring across the skies above the academy, its massive wings casting vast shadows over the ground.
Its proud roar and dramatic flight quickly drew the attention of the students below, their exclamations of awe echoing throughout the campus.
After showing off with several laps around the academy, the Hidden Dragon finally descended, landing gracefully by Su Nan's side.
Lifting its head, it let out a few triumphant cries.
Su Nan chuckled. "I know you're thrilled, but take it easy. You'll need a long time to recover if you overexert yourself."
As a high-tier lifeform comparable to a wizard, the Hidden Dragon was still affected by the environmental constraints of the Starlight Continent.
Its power had significantly diminished, and overexertion led to slow recovery times.
Even within the energy-rich Dragonwood, th
e effects were only mitigated, not eliminated.
The Hidden Dragon lowered its head slightly, signaling its understanding with a soft growl.
Su Nan smiled, said no more, and teleported back to the laboratory in Dragonspire Tower.
If his timing was right, a new Spiderling corpse should be arriving shortly.
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