Chapter 211: New Goal
Su Nan picked up his black tea, took a small sip, savored it for a moment, and then replied calmly, "Strictly speaking, the Fourth Circle Legend represents the pinnacle of the Human Knight."
Ke Yi frowned slightly but quickly understood, his expression shifting subtly. "So, anything beyond that is beyond human capacity?"
Su Nan nodded in approval and said, "To break through the Fourth Circle Legend and reach a higher level, there are only two paths one can take."
"The first is to walk the path of semi-elementalization and become an Elemental Knight."
"The second is to embrace Bloodline fusion and become a Bloodline Knight."
Ke Yi's eyes brightened, and he eagerly asked, "What are the differences between these two?"
Su Nan explained in detail, "An Elemental Knight will experience a significant increase in their control over Elemental Power. The body of someone who has undergone semi-elementalization is essentially immune to physical attacks, with greatly enhanced resistance to energy attacks. They can be considered an enhanced version of a Fourth Circle Legend."
The primary distinction between a Legendary Knight and a Great Knight lies in the awakening of Elemental Power.
Thus, an Elemental Knight can be viewed as a Legendary Knight whose abilities in all areas have been augmented and who possesses a semi-elemental body.
"However, regardless of whether one becomes an Elemental Knight or a Bloodline Knight, their fundamental life form has changed, and they can no longer be regarded as human."
"Moreover, in terms of lifespan, while Elemental Knights and Bloodline Knights may not live as long as Formal Wizards, they certainly surpass Level Three Wizard Apprentices, typically enjoying lifespans of one hundred fifty to two hundred years."
Ke Yi's eyes sparkled with excitement as he listened.
The increase in strength was important, but the key advantage was the extended lifespan.
Who wouldn't want to live longer?
If one could advance to an Elemental Knight or a Bloodline Knight, gaining several extra decades of life would be the most appealing benefit.
"Then, how can one advance to an Elemental Knight or a Bloodline Knight?" Ke Yi asked impatiently.
"Through biological modification," Su Nan replied.
Neither semi-elementalization nor Bloodline fusion can be achieved through cultivation alone.
Like Wizard Apprentices, these two methods depend on biological modification, in conjunction with potions.
The key difference is that the transformation for Wizard Apprentices is relatively easier.
This not only stems from a better understanding of one’s own body but also from their lower power level.
"For example, even a few Wizard Apprentices from the Eternal Life Society, despite achieving Semi-Elementalization and Bloodline Fusion, have power levels only at Third Circle Legend. However, to modify a Fourth Circle Legend that has already cultivated to the peak of a Mortal Knight, a Wizard's intervention is required. Furthermore, this Wizard must possess a certain level of proficiency in Biological Modification technology.
Thus, in the Wizard Era, Elemental Knights and Bloodline Knights essentially serve as followers of specific Wizards or belong to particular Wizard Factions.
‘Then you…’
Ke Yi didn’t express it outright, but the implication was clear.
Su Nan shook his head and replied, ‘My Biological Modification technology hasn’t reached the required standard yet.’
To modify an Elemental Knight or Bloodline Knight, the Biological Modification skill must be at least level 5. Currently, he is only at level 4, with the progress bar lagging behind by more than three points.
Seeing Ke Yi's disappointment, Su Nan added, ‘Don’t worry; in about ten years, my Biological Modification technology should meet the requirements.’
He occasionally strengthens Hidden Dragon’s body and Bloodline, and he participates in the Sub-Dragon Bloodline Enhancement Project. Although progress in Biological Modification is slow, he still expects to hit level 5 in a little over a decade.
‘In addition, you’ll need time to raise your power to the limit of Fourth Circle Legend.’
Ke Yi nodded, and a joyful expression returned to his face. He quickly asked, ‘Which path do you think is more suitable for me?’
After contemplating for a moment, Su Nan replied, ‘The cultivation of an Elemental Knight is highly dependent on the environment. Given the current scarcity of energy on Starlight Continent, pursuing Elemental Knight would be too restrictive. It’s better to opt for Bloodline Knight.’
‘There are plenty of high-level Sub-Dragon Bloodlines in Long Lin. If you’re willing, you can choose one to fuse with in the future.’
‘What about Hidden Dragon?’
Ke Yi remembered witnessing Hidden Dragon after its evolution into a dragon, and the terrifying pressure it exuded left a deep impression on him.
‘A Fourth Circle Legend's physique can’t handle Dragon Bloodline,’ Su Nan said, shrugging.
Bloodline fusion requires careful consideration as it’s not simply a matter of choosing the strongest one. The compatibility with one’s own physique, as well as the strength of their physical body, must be taken into account.
Dragons are beings comparable to Formal Wizards; a Fourth Circle Legend simply cannot withstand the physical evolution that occurs after Bloodline Fusion.’"
Hearing this, Ke Yi couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment, but he quickly perked up again.
"It seems I need to make a few trips to Long Lin for a look."
After discussing Knight’s advancement, Su Nan changed the subject, steering the conversation to another topic.
"You asked me about the Tower of Stars before, do you remember?"
"Of course," Ke Yi replied, nodding.
At the time, he had been puzzled by Su Nan's sudden attack on the Tower of Stars. However, Su Nan had been vague about the details, so he had wisely refrained from asking further questions.
"I didn’t tell you then because I didn’t want you to worry too much, but now that the Empire has achieved unification, it's time I share it with you."
Noticing the seriousness in Su Nan's tone, Ke Yi’s expression became solemn.
Su Nan proceeded to briefly recount the tale of the Wizard’s return seven hundred years later and the matter of the Gloomy Throne.
Upon hearing this, Ke Yi was stunned, his face blank.
He had heard Su Nan mention the Elemental Desert and the events of the Wizard Expedition and the Multiverse a thousand years ago, but he hadn’t realized that the Wizard would return to the Starlight Continent after seven hundred years.
This was undoubtedly an extremely significant event!
In comparison, the Empire’s unification of the Starlight Continent was practically nothing.
After a long moment, Ke Yi finally digested the shocking news and snapped out of his daze. His brow furrowed as he asked,
"Once those Wizards return, will the Starlight Continent..."
Su Nan understood his concern and shook his head. "According to the rules of the Wizarding World, the Starlight Continent is already my exclusive plane. Unless they want to make an enemy of me, other Wizards will generally refrain from interfering here."
Ke Yi breathed a sigh of relief, but his expression soon turned worried again.
"Then what about the Gloomy Throne?"
A force composed of thousands of Wizards was something Ke Yi had never imagined.
What kind of immense and terrifying power would such a force wield?
It was chilling to contemplate!
"There's no need to worry too much. If things really escalate, we can align ourselves with a Wizard faction that opposes the Gloomy Throne."
Su Nan reassured him before adding,
"But the most fundamental thing is to improve our own strength."
"In the coming days, I plan to construct the Wizard Tower, and I need the Empire's full cooperation."
"Ke Yi, no problem," he agreed without hesitation.
However, his mood was somewhat complex.
The information he received from Su Nan today had profoundly impacted his understanding.
The Multiverse had previously been nothing more than a concept to him.
But after truly listening to Su Nan's account, he realized the vastness of the Multiverse.
In comparison, the Starlight Continent was merely an insignificant speck of dust.
Previously, after the Prosperous Star Empire unified the Starlight Continent, Ke Yi had felt a sense of self-importance and pride. But now, that pride had shattered, replaced by a deep acknowledgment of his own insignificance.
Compared to the forces in the Multiverse that had existed for tens or even hundreds of millions of years, the Starlight Continent clearly had a long way to go.
Despite this, a burning fighting spirit ignited within Ke Yi's heart.
He had initially felt a sense of emptiness after achieving his goal and had lost motivation to strive for more. But now, a grander objective lay before him.
Although he most likely wouldn’t live to see the return of the Wizard, he resolved to do everything possible to strengthen the Empire so it could continue to thrive in the future.
Noticing the change in Ke Yi's expression, Su Nan nodded almost imperceptibly.
His older brother's will was much stronger than he had expected. He had worried that Ke Yi would become anxious upon hearing about the Gloomy Throne matter, but it seemed he had been overthinking.
Year 1282 of the Starlight Calendar marked the most peaceful year in the Starlight Continent.
With the Prosperous Star Empire uniting the continent and swiftly suppressing sporadic rebellious forces, the situation had completely stabilized, entering a period of peaceful development.
In the Month of Thunder (April), the emperor issued an imperial decree to establish Knight Academies in various parts of the Empire.
Apart from a few Royal Knight Academies exclusively for noble disciples, the vast majority of Knight Academies were open to the general public, treating the middle class, commoners, and farmers equally.
As long as one could pass the entrance exam, all tuition and miscellaneous fees would be waived.
In addition, the Empire began to vigorously promote and popularize basic education, establishing numerous primary schools among the common people. The tuition fees were low, making it affordable even for ordinary citizens and farmers.
Although many commoners and farmers, burdened by the pressures of life, had no intention of sending their children to school, a growing number of people felt genuine joy and excitement about this policy.
This was largely due to the fact that literacy was a primary requirement for participating in the Wizard Aptitude Test.
After years of advocacy from the Empire, even the most impoverished farmers understood that becoming a Wizard was the fastest way to transcend social classes and gain importance.
Passing the Aptitude Test meant soaring to the heavens in a single bound.
It was well-known that Wizards were influential figures whom even the noble lords dared not slight.
For the common people at the bottom of society, Wizards represented a glimmer of hope amidst their difficult lives.
Although the chances of success were slim, it was not completely impossible.
Even if their children ultimately failed the Aptitude Test, being literate would still provide an advantage when applying to the Knight Academy.
It was precisely because of these benefits that the resistance to the popularization of basic education diminished significantly during its implementation.
While the large-scale promotion of basic education would still require a long time, at least there was a promising start.
Beyond the Knight Academy and basic education, more decrees were issued one after another, demonstrating the reformist resolve of the mighty emperor to the world.
This development surprised many nobles.
They had believed that after unifying the continent, even if the Emperor did not lose his ambition and become obsessed with pleasure, he would lack the same drive and determination.
Who would have thought that the Emperor would become even more diligent and strive harder than before?
It was truly unexpected.
Only a few great nobles close to the Emperor, such as Brad and Jordon, had a vague understanding that all of this was connected to Master Sunan.
In Long Lin, at Starlight Academy, there stood the Central Clock Tower, the residence and cultivation place of the Mentor, and the tallest building in the entire Academy.
From the open platform atop the Clock Tower, one could clearly overlook the scenery of the entire Academy.
As Fakado watched the students bustling about below, he couldn't help but show an emotional expression.
In the blink of an eye, he had been at Starlight Academy for half a year.
The longer he stayed and the deeper his understanding of Starlight Academy grew, the more astonished he became.
Before this, he had never imagined such a model for nurturing Wizard Apprentices.
No, it wasn't that he hadn't thought of it, but rather that the reality of their situation made it impossible for him to even consider such a thing.
After all, their own family members lacked sufficient resources; how could they possibly spare any for cultivating others?
"Incredible," Innocent sighed. "Star Alliance—where on earth did they acquire so many rare resources?"
"Perhaps they collected them from the Underworld. After all, Star Alliance has unified the entire Underworld," suggested another Wizard Apprentice, Tulio.
At this mention, the four of them sighed again.
When they first learned of Star Alliance's unification of the entire Underworld, their eyes nearly popped from their sockets.
That was the vast and boundless, deep and mysterious Underworld, a place filled with countless dangerous areas, powerful and terrifying creatures, as well as various city-states and tribes lurking about.
Even when they occasionally ventured into the Underworld, they had to exercise extreme caution.
And yet, such a terrifying place had actually been conquered and unified by Star Alliance!
The moment they learned of this fact, they realized just how terrifyingly powerful Star Alliance had become.
Their desire to join Starlight Academy grew stronger with each passing moment.
When they saw the list of resources that the Academy Mentor could exchange for, presented by Scepter, the four of them almost instantly resolved to join Starlight Academy.
The dazzling array of Tier 3 Potions, Shimmering Magic Items, Mithril Golems, various rare metals, and rare magical plants made Fakado suddenly feel that the Russell Family, known for its thousand-year heritage and deep foundations, seemed no different from a beggar compared to Star Alliance.
Had he known from the start that Star Alliance possessed such abundant resources, he would have led the Russell Family to join them outright; why waste time flirting with Allied Forces?
After allowing his thoughts to wander for a while, Fakado finally refocused his gaze and turned to his three clan members.
"What are your opinions?"
Innocent shrugged and laughed. "What is there to hesitate about? Such a great opportunity is right in front of us. If we don't seize it, that would be foolish."
"That's right," the other two nodded in deep agreement.
He chuckled, "Then it's decided."
He felt very optimistic about the future of Starlight Academy.
This academy was destined to become a cradle for nurturing Wizard Apprentices.
Perhaps, in the distant future, the Starlight Continent would usher in an era of Wizards.
For now, he would be able to witness the arrival of this era as a mentor at Starlight Academy.
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