Chapter 140: External Expansion, New Member Candidates
The matter of having Xie Man and Cole assist, as mentioned by Su Nan, was naturally about opening new Magical Plant Gardens.
After advancing to the Second Level Wizard Apprentice realm, the two had a basic grasp of manipulating Energy Particles and were ready to learn how to set up Magic Arrays.
Once they mastered the relevant techniques, they could begin establishing Magical Plant Gardens.
With two new helpers, Su Nan no longer needed to run around and could focus his energy back on cultivation and research.
Year Starlight Calendar, 1257, Winter Zither Moon (January).
Spell Training Room.
Su Nan casually waved his hand, and nine Magic Missiles shot out simultaneously, blasting a humanoid target a hundred meters away into pieces.
In the next moment, a scarlet beam of light, swift as an arrow, struck another target, melting it into molten iron.
Looking at the scattered fragments and iron on the ground, a satisfied smile appeared on Su Nan's face.
After a year and ten months, he had finally mastered this Metamagic technique!
The ability to cast spells without reciting incantations significantly increased his actual combat capabilities.
While other Wizard Apprentices could cast one spell, he could already unleash two or three.
From this day forward, he was a true human artillery platform.
After a moment, Su Nan snapped out of his joy, his eyes flickering with contemplation.
"Which Metamagic technique should I train next?"
Besides Instant Spell Casting and Silent Spell Casting, there were other Metamagic techniques to consider, such as Spell Lengthening, which increased casting distance; Spell Delay, which extended the duration of spell effects; Spell Expansion, which increased the area of effect of spells; and Spell Construction, which improved control over spells, allowing each one to exert its maximum effect.
Su Nan had a total of five Metamagic techniques to choose from at the moment.
After careful consideration, Su Nan finally chose Composite Casting.
For him, spells were currently more of an auxiliary effect in battle, like his commonly used Levitation Spell, Mirror Image Technique, and Lightness Spell, among others.
In terms of attack and defense, he primarily relied on Magic Items, High Rune Gems, and Magic Pattern Cores.
"Compared to those, the power of the Second Circle Spell was somewhat lacking.
Thus, rather than opting for the other four Metamagic Techniques that enhanced Spell effects, choosing Composite Casting was more advantageous. This would allow for greater Spell combinations in battle, enhancing tactical flexibility.
Having made his decision, Su Nan immediately set it into motion.
[Completed one practice of Composite Casting, 『Composite Casting』 training progress +0.01%]
Composite Casting and Instant Spell Casting were among the two most challenging Metamagic Techniques.
Su Nan estimated that mastering this technique would take at least a year or two.
"At this rate, perhaps I will have mastered all the Metamagic Techniques before I advance to Wizard."
If that were the case, Su Nan figured he would likely be the first Wizard Apprentice in the history of the Starlight Continent to master all Metamagic Techniques.
With seven Metamagic Techniques at his disposal, he would probably have no equal among Wizard Apprentices in a simple Spell clash.
After briefly envisioning the future, Su Nan calmed his excitement and left the Magic Training Area.
He had not been back in his study long when a knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Karolina and Red Widow entered.
"Master!"
The two women bowed in greeting.
Su Nan glanced at them.
Ever since Red Widow joined his command, there had been a noticeable change in dynamics, and the two seemingly engaged in some kind of friendly rivalry.
Su Nan observed it all, but as their competition neither hindered development nor productivity—and in fact, it had indirectly increased efficiency—he chose to ignore it.
Under their planning and management, the three city-states of Lake of Gloom, Matu, and Olsen had reached a stage of stable development.
The garrison strength of Olsen had also been addressed.
Afterward, Su Nan adjusted the task system of the Base, lowering the task rewards for refining Golems and increasing the rewards for producing Magic Mithril. This strategy aimed to encourage Apprentices to accept the latter more frequently.
It wouldn't be long before he gathered enough materials to refine Mithril Golems.
"Master, here is this month's financial report." Karolina respectfully handed over a stack of papers."
Su Nan took the report, flipping through it quickly, his gaze shifting slightly.
“How is it that production is down two-tenths compared to last month?”
Karolina quickly replied, “Master, we currently have four mines that are nearing depletion, resulting in a significant drop in output. It’s predicted that they will cease production in about two months. The output of the remaining three mines has also clearly decreased. Only the six newly developed mines are maintaining their production levels.”
Su Nan frowned slightly but remained silent.
The reason the initial seven mines had provided such substantial profits was largely due to the Clay Golem's astonishing mining efficiency. However, this had also led to a rapid depletion of the mine reserves.
It was fortunate that the first batch of mines had lasted until now.
“How is the exploration of new mines progressing?” Su Nan asked Red Widow.
After stabilizing matters with Matu and Olsen, he had instructed Red Widow to organize an exploration of the surrounding areas in search of new mines.
“Reporting, Master, we’ve discovered two new mines within a hundred miles. Preliminary exploration indicates that one is a Small Iron Mine and the other is a Small Copper Mine.”
Red Widow bowed slightly, revealing a patch of pale skin on her chest that glowed dazzlingly under the light of the magic lamp.
Karolina, standing next to her, looked on with a hint of disdain.
Foolish harlot, you don’t understand Master at all. If Master were interested in such things, would you even have a chance to perform?
As expected, Su Nan didn’t take notice of Red Widow’s little display and was lost in thought.
“Two small metal mines are better than nothing,” he mused.
“It’s a pity they aren’t Silver Mines,” he added, feeling a twinge of regret.
Among the four mines nearing depletion, one of them happened to be a Silver Mine. This meant that until a new Silver Mine was found, the pace of Mithril accumulation would undoubtedly slow down considerably.
“Once the other Silver Mine has finished being mined, I wonder if I can gather enough to refine the Secret Puppet.”
“It would be best to find new mines.”
Having made up his mind, Su Nan looked up and instructed the two women, “Increase manpower, expand the search area—we must find more mines.”
Karolina and Red Widow's hearts skipped a beat.
The Underworld was nothing like the surface; dangers lurked everywhere. No one knew what threats were concealed in the darkness. A powerful monster or an entire clan could be entrenched in any given cave.
The previous factions, Lake of Gloom, Matu, and Olsen, had attempted to expand their territories, but the process resulted in such heavy losses that they were forced to abandon the idea.
Expanding their exploration range now would likely lead to similar problems.
Despite this, Karolina and Red Widow did not hesitate. They agreed without delay.
On one hand, they dared not disobey Su Nan's orders; on the other, they had faith in the Golem Legion's capabilities.
The power under Su Nan's command now far surpassed that of Lake of Gloom, Matu, and Olsen combined. They were already qualified to expand outward.
In fact, even if Su Nan had not brought it up, Red Widow and Karolina would have inevitably proposed similar suggestions after a few more years.
"Master, rest assured, I will handle this matter perfectly!" Karolina declared with determination.
Red Widow, a step behind, silently cursed and quickly pledged her loyalty as well.
"I will not disappoint Master!"
Late at night, moonlight streamed through the window, cloaking the small house in a delicate layer of white.
Su Nan opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the long table. He noted that only six people were present tonight.
Besides himself, there was Night Owl, who always attended the gatherings, along with Red Heart, Rose, Scepter, and Undead.
Black Forest had not joined this meeting.
And Traveler was, as always, nowhere to be seen.
Looking at Traveler's empty seat, Su Nan felt a slight pang of regret.
He truly wanted to meet Traveler; perhaps he could trade for valuable information about the Underworld.
After a few brief pleasantries, the gathering shifted to the trading process.
Due to the scarcity of resources, not everyone could bring high-value items to each meeting; most of the time, it was just ordinary materials.
Su Nan was the only exception.
In recent trades, Su Nan had stopped merely using Magic Stones to buy items. He had begun offering First Order Potions and Alchemy Magic Items for trade as well.
After all, relying solely on Magic Stones for trades felt monopolistic, inevitably leaving others a bit disgruntled.
Regardless, a small First Order Potion and Alchemy Magic Item were inconsequential to him.
His Base Number 1 storage was still brimming with plenty of items.
After several trades, the items that Su Nan was offering had become the most coveted at the gathering.
This time, Su Nan still focused on various Wizard Codices, rare materials, and Soul Crystals.
However, he now had over thirteen hundred Wizard Codices in his collection, and the residents of the Secret Forest Hut could hardly produce any that didn't overlap with his.
Consequently, his gains in this area had sharply declined recently.
After the trade session, Su Nan hadn't acquired many rare materials, but the ten Miniature Soul Crystals he obtained from the Undead were particularly valuable.
Su Nan had also approached the Undead previously, attempting to purchase the technology to create Soul Crystals.
However, the Undead had refused without hesitation.
He could discern between a single feast and daily meals.
The Undead's greatest advantage in trades at the Secret Forest Hut was their "product," the Soul Crystals. If they were to trade the corresponding technology to Su Nan, given his demonstrated foundation and strength, he could potentially produce large quantities of Soul Crystals for the next gathering.
At that point, not only would the Undead lose Su Nan as a high-quality trading partner, but their edge in the gathering trades would also disappear.
Anyone with sense would understand what to avoid in such a situation.
Su Nan anticipated this and wasn't disappointed by the rejection.
If he were in the Undead's position, he wouldn't part with such crucial technology either.
Once the trade concluded, Night Owl raised his hand, signaling for everyone to pause.
"I have something to share with you all."
"I've found a Level Three Wizard Apprentice. After some preliminary investigation, their qualifications align well with the ideals of our Secret Forest Hut. I propose we invite them to join us, and I’d like to hear your thoughts."
The crowd was slightly taken aback.
Scepter chuckled and remarked, "That's odd. In the past, we’d only find a new member every seven or eight years, or even ten. Why has it become so frequent lately?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Su Nan.
After all, the latter had only joined the Secret Forest Hut about four years ago. Discovering a new potential member so quickly was indeed surprising.
Level Three Wizard Apprentices weren’t easy to come by, like cabbages found on the side of the road.
These individuals were often hidden behind various factions, making them difficult to contact.
Night Owl shrugged and said, “I was fortunate. I stumbled upon his existence while investigating someone else.”
Red Heart asked, “What’s the situation with this person?”
Night Owl replied slowly, “Old rules apply. I can't share specific details, but I can give you a general idea.”
“In terms of strength, he recently escaped from Saulo's grasp, which should be enough to attest to his abilities.”
The moment these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed.
“Saulo? To escape from Saulo means this new member's strength can't be underestimated,” Scepter said thoughtfully.
The others nodded in agreement, their expressions serious.
Su Nan raised an eyebrow in surprise and used a communication technique to ask Rose, “Saulo? Who is that? From everyone else's reaction, he seems very powerful.”
Rose glanced at Su Nan and replied using a communication technique, “Saulo is the founder of the Eternal Life Society. I haven't seen him personally, but I've heard he’s extremely powerful—having once single-handedly killed a Fourth Circle Legend Exotic Beast.”
A Fourth Circle Legend Exotic Beast!
Su Nan's gaze sharpened.
That level of strength was indeed formidable!
Within Level Three Wizard Apprentices, they would belong to the top tier.
It was surprising that the Eternal Life Society had such a strong expert.
Despite their aggressive actions, they had managed to move freely within the Starlight Continent for so many years. The Eternal Life Society clearly had some tricks up their sleeve.
“To escape from Saulo, that person must be at least at the Third Circle Legend level,” Red Heart mused.
“There's no doubt about his strength,” Rose nodded slightly.
Secret Forest Hut only invited Level Three Wizard Apprentices to join, but not just any Level Three Wizard Apprentice could become a member. There were strict requirements regarding strength.
If Su Nan hadn't killed Herb, showcasing his immense power, Night Owl wouldn't have invited him to join the Secret Forest Hut.
“Seeing that no one had any objections, Night Owl continued, ‘As for resources, that individual from a certain royal family has no shortage of valuable items on hand, so there’s no need to worry about a lack of goods for trade.'
'And I don’t need to elaborate on their conduct; I trust you all understand.’
Generally speaking, those hailing from royal families or noble lineages tend to act with greater discipline and are less likely to cause disasters or large losses of life.
After all, they have their own interests to consider.
Their style of conduct aligns well with the principles of the Secret Forest Hut.
‘Now, let's proceed with the vote.’ Night Owl scanned the room. ‘According to the rules, if the votes exceed two-thirds, the proposal passes.’
Scepter immediately responded, ‘I have no objections.’
Red Heart added, ‘Agreed.’
Rose and Undead quickly expressed their support as well.
Naturally, Su Nan wouldn’t oppose either.
Having another trade partner was beneficial.
‘Alright, with six votes in favor, the proposal passes.’
Night Owl finalized the matter.
Though Black Forest and Traveler were not present, six votes already exceeded the required two-thirds, so there was no need to seek their opinions.
‘Next, I will contact that individual and extend an invitation. Please await my good news.’
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