Chapter 229: Welcome to the World of Wizards
[Unknown Energy Particle Eruption] [Energy Level: 22] [Danger Level: Highly dangerous; immediate action advised]
"An energy intensity of 22!" Innocent exclaimed, taken aback. "This is Wizard-level energy intensity!"
Fleming and Donohan were equally shocked to hear this.
Wizard-level energy intensity? Could it be a Master from Sunan?
But that didn’t seem likely. If it were a Master from Sunan, Star Eye wouldn't have issued a warning.
Just as Fleming was about to speak, Innocent appeared to have realized something, his face displaying a complex mix of surprise and envy.
"Mentor?"
Innocent snapped out of his thoughts, waved a hand to signal their need for calm, and then sighed with a conflicted expression.
"It looks like the Star Alliance is going to have another formal wizard."
"Which cultivation room is it?"
[Cultivation Room 803, used by Scepter.]
"So, he’s advanced to Wizard."
A smile crept onto Su Nan’s face, though he wasn't entirely surprised.
Among Rose, Scepter, and Traveler, it was clear that Scepter was the most likely candidate to advance to Wizard.
In fact, being able to reach Level Three Wizard Apprentice during this Elemental Desert epoch would mark one as a genius with the potential for Wizard Aptitude, even in the prosperous era of Wizards.
Not to mention Scepter and the others, who were among the elite Level Three Wizard Apprentices.
If they hadn't joined the Star Alliance so late and hadn't lost so much time, they would have advanced to Wizard long ago, given their aptitude.
Fortunately, they had finally broken through, and their patience had been rewarded.
"I wonder how Rose and Traveler are faring?"
Tower Spirit 1 continuously monitored the entire Wizard Tower. There was currently no activity in the cultivation room where Rose and Traveler were, but their life auras were still present, indicating they were alive and likely still cultivating.
However, given the time, it should only be a matter of a decade or two before they emerged.
The brief eruption of energy from the breakthrough soon subsided. Su Nan waited patiently for several days until Scepter finally emerged from his cultivation room, at which point he teleported before him.
"Seeing Scepter, vibrant and full of energy, with an aura now even more restrained and profound, Su Nan smiled slightly and said,
"Welcome to the world of Wizards."
"Thank you!"
Even after several days had passed, Scepter's face still bore an unmistakable smile of joy. His long-held goal had been achieved in a single day, and even with his usual composure, he couldn't help but feel excited and thrilled.
Fakado and the others soon arrived, and the moment they saw Scepter, they knew their guess had been correct, their faces revealing deep envy.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master Scepter!"
"Congratulations to Master Scepter on advancing to Wizard!"
The crowd offered their well wishes, their words now infused with respectful titles.
Once someone broke through to become a Wizard, they were no longer on the same level as those who were merely Level Three Wizard Apprentices. It was essential to maintain respect and reverence when addressing a Wizard, and this was a requirement for every Wizard Apprentice to uphold.
After the brief exchanges of congratulations, everyone understood that Su Nan and Scepter had important matters to discuss, so they wisely took their leave.
"How do you feel?" Su Nan asked.
Scepter replied with a complex expression, "I think I finally understand what you meant when you said there was an upper limit to Energy Particle concentration. I do feel a certain discomfort now."
Su Nan responded, "This place is relatively good, after all; we are still within the effects of the Elemental Pool. Once you leave Long Lin and go outside, you certainly won’t want to stay for long."
The excitement and elation Scepter had felt from his advancement to Wizard had significantly diminished, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but sigh.
"The impact of this Starlight Continent environment on Wizards is too significant. Even with the Elemental Pool, the speed of cultivation will be reduced to an appalling rate."
Su Nan wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment. Even the Large Elemental Pool had a very limited effect on improving meditation efficiency.
If it weren’t for the method of synthesizing Elemental Crystal Cores and absorbing Divine energy, it would have been impossible for Su Nan to advance from First Level Vaporization to First Grade Crystallization in just sixty years.
Relying solely on the benefits of the Elemental Pool, it would have been uncertain to reach First Grade Crystallization even after seven or eight hundred years. Even with the addition of fourth-tier Crystal Soul Potions, it would still take at least three or four hundred years to break through.
If the environment of the Starlight Continent never changed, Su Nan estimated that Scepter would never advance to Second Level Wizard in this lifetime."
"Breaking through to First Grade Crystallization before the end of one's life would already be quite remarkable.
Su Nan can generously place the Elemental Pool buff and Crystal Soul Potion in the exchange list for others to redeem with contributions, but the Elemental Crystal Core is an exception.
This item is currently insufficient even for his own use, so naturally, he cannot share it with others. Perhaps when the Divine energy of the Elemental Crystal Core substantially diminishes in its effect on him, he might consider adding some to the exchange list.
"Don't worry, this situation won't last long; it will gradually improve," Su Nan reassured.
Upon hearing this, Scepter paused and hesitantly asked, “Improve?”
"Now that you have advanced to Wizard, it’s time to share some important information."
Su Nan patted Scepter's shoulder and began recounting the Wizard Expedition from a thousand years ago, explaining how conditions would gradually improve in the future.
Previously, as a Level Three Wizard Apprentice, Scepter would have found this information useless, only leading to unnecessary complications. But now that he is a Wizard, the pinnacle of combat strength in the Star Alliance, he is more than qualified to learn the truth.
This was also meant to provide him with a glimmer of hope so he wouldn't feel doomed to never reach Second Level Wizard and consider giving up.
After listening to Su Nan's words, Scepter was momentarily dazed.
He had never imagined that such a strange truth lay concealed behind the Starlight Continent.
All of this was somewhat beyond his comprehension, giving him the feeling of stepping into a completely new world.
However, once he regained his senses, Scepter's heart swelled with joy.
This also meant that in about six hundred years, the Starlight Continent would revert to its original state, allowing him to cultivate normally.
With the resources from the Star Alliance, he might even have the chance to reach even greater heights and advance to Second Level Wizard!
Noticing Scepter’s invigorated expression, Su Nan smiled and brought up another matter.
"Are you interested in becoming the Dean of Starlight Academy?"
"Dean?" Scepter was taken aback.
"That's right. The position of Dean has remained vacant because there hasn’t been a suitable candidate. But now things are different; you’ve advanced to Wizard and are fully qualified to take on the role."
Scepter hesitated for only a moment before nodding in agreement."
The position of Starlight Academy's Dean within the Star Alliance was significant, and he could access more resources, so he naturally wouldn’t refuse the role.
After chatting for a little while longer, Su Nan departed.
As he watched Su Nan leave, Scepter's gaze flickered slightly.
Before advancing to Wizard, he couldn't fully grasp Su Nan's true strength; it felt as if the other was shrouded in a layer of mist, unfathomable.
He had initially thought that after breaking through to become a Wizard, the gap between him and Su Nan would shrink somewhat.
However, the reality exceeded his expectations.
Standing before Su Nan, he still couldn't discern the other's power.
The only noticeable change was the immense pressure emanating from Su Nan.
It was similar to an ant being unable to sense the terror of a human, while a three-year-old child could already grasp the strength of an adult.
From this perspective, it seemed the gap between him and Su Nan might have indeed lessened slightly.
Thinking of this, Scepter couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.
Calming his mind, he turned and walked toward the teleportation hall, preparing to head to the Warehouse Area to exchange for the Crystal Soul Potion to assist in his cultivation and stabilize his realm.
He also sought the Wizard Tool, which he had long coveted, and now he could finally exchange for it.
But first, he needed to accumulate enough Contribution Points.
The price of the Wizard Tool was not cheap!
The news of Scepter's advancement to Wizard quickly spread throughout the Star Alliance, creating quite a stir.
It also greatly encouraged the group of Wizard Apprentices.
Scepter's advancement undoubtedly demonstrated that advancing to Wizard was still achievable in the current Starlight Continent!
As for Su Nan, he couldn’t be considered a target at all.
There was only one Su Nan in the Starlight Continent, and anyone who thought they could become the second Su Nan would only be laughed at.
Not long after, Su Nan, with a grand wave of his hand, appointed Scepter as the first Dean of Starlight Academy, entrusting him with the management of all Academy affairs.
While serving as Dean, Scepter also took on part of the responsibilities related to producing the Crystal Soul Potion and refining the Mithril Golem.
With his assistance, the workload that had been pressing down on Su Nan was finally alleviated somewhat.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the year 1362 of the Starlight Calendar arrived.
Month of Thunder (April).
Su Nan finally succeeded in synthesizing the Large Elemental Pool.
With the boost provided by the Large Elemental Pool, the filling progress of the Talent Crystal Model increased by 0.11% in just one month, almost twice as fast as before.
【Talent Crystal Model Filling Progress: 22.31%】
"Not bad; at this rate, the Talent Crystal Model will be filled in at most sixty years."
A satisfied smile appeared on Su Nan's face.
It was worth the effort for him to create more than a dozen Small Elemental Pools to synthesize the Large Elemental Pool; the effect was indeed significant.
With a thought, Su Nan summoned the three-dimensional holographic model of the Wizard Tower.
【Wizard Tower: Starlight】 【Level: Small (Construction Progress 62.68%)】 【Current Remaining Energy: 88.22%】 【Intelligent Assistant Life: Tower Spirit 1】 【Facilities: Elemental Pool (Large/Reinforced), Central Crystal Energy Transmission System, Living Area, Warehouse Area, Laboratory Area, Training Area, Meditation Area, Planting Area】 【Servants: Clay Golem × 130】 【Defensive Devices: Mystic Lock Defense Energy Field (Medium/Reinforced)】 【Combat Devices: Spell Turret Type II × 118, Disintegration Cannon Type II, Golem Legion (Mithril Golem × 823, Tentacle Puppet × 2, Secret Puppet × 4)】
Examining the data provided by Tower Spirit 1, Su Nan nodded to himself.
The Mystic Lock Defense Energy Field had already been reinforced to Medium; the next step was to continue its reinforcement to Large.
He estimated that he would need to manufacture another ten or so Small Mystic Lock Defense Energy Fields to synthesize to the Large level.
This was no small task.
However, the workload was secondary; the real limiting factor for progress was the consumption of funds.
Currently, the majority of the Star Alliance's annual income was invested in the construction of the Wizard Tower. Even so, he still couldn't use it freely.
If it weren’t for the limitations of funds and materials, the construction time of the Wizard Tower could be shortened by at least three points.
The Spell Turret Type II was still under successive construction. Su Nan delegated part of the workload to the Scepter, asking him to manufacture the original version of the Spell Turret, which Su Nan would then synthesize.
"Thanks to Scepter, the manufacturing speed of Spell Turret Type II has significantly increased. The recently developed Disintegration Cannon Type II synthesizes a full eight original Disintegration Cannons, and its power far surpasses that of Spell Turret Type II!
Su Nan tested it using a Tentacle Puppet. Even a mere graze resulted in the Tentacle Puppet losing half of its body! If it had been hit head-on, annihilation would have been the certain outcome. This power is unquestionably enough to eliminate any Level One Wizard in seconds!
The real question is, what will be its effect against a Second Level Wizard? Su Nan estimates that its chances of instantly killing a Level Two Vaporization Wizard are still quite high. A Level Two Liquefaction Wizard would likely suffer severe injuries at most.
A Level One Wizard piloting a Small Wizard Tower can still stand against a Second Level Wizard. His enhanced version of the Small Wizard Tower should have no trouble taking down a Second Level Wizard.
However, there are issues with the Disintegration Cannon Type II. Its energy consumption is extraordinarily high. When equipped with a Large Elemental Pool, a single shot consumes 12.83% of its energy. After just a few shots, the Wizard Tower risks running low on energy.
Using a Small Elemental Pool would likely result in the entire Wizard Tower breaking down after a single shot. This weapon isn't suitable for a typical Small Wizard Tower, and even a Medium Wizard Tower would face challenges. Without a Large Elemental Pool, it simply cannot cope with the energy demands of Disintegration Cannon Type II.
Even with a Large Elemental Pool, it cannot function as a regular weapon and should only be reserved for final battles. Fortunately, Su Nan originally intended for the Disintegration Cannon Type II to serve as a weapon of last resort, so this limitation isn't a concern.
For regular battles, there is already Spell Turret Type II available.
"The power of Disintegration Cannon Type II undoubtedly exceeds that of the Plasma Cannon. I just wonder how it compares to the Pulse Cannon," Su Nan pondered.
Lize possesses the design schematics for the Plasma Cannon, but the primary materials needed for its construction, including Element Source Crystals, have yet to be resolved. Fortunately, with the Disintegration Cannon Type II at hand, it's sufficient for now.
The Golem Legion remains under construction and is far from complete, mainly due to the insufficient quantity of Mithril Golems and Tentacle Puppets."
Mithril Golem
With Scepter's help, the progress has accelerated significantly.
However, the Tentacle Puppet can only be refined by Su Nan alone. Scepter's Puppet Crafting skill level is not yet sufficient to refine a Wizard-grade puppet.
“These are all the combat devices; in addition to those, there is the Levitation Ring and the Tower Spirit.”
There's no need to elaborate on the Levitation Ring. It is currently still gathering materials, primarily a large amount of Mithril. Su Nan intends to manufacture this device last.
As for the Tower Spirit, Su Nan initially planned to refine three: one for daily operations, one for combat command, and one as an experimental assistant. For instance, the first Tower Spirit would handle daily operations.
“Now that we have the Legendary Soul Crystals available, let's refine the Tower Spirit designated as the experimental assistant first.”
Su Nan quickly laid out his main tasks for the upcoming period and then estimated the time and progress required.
“Before the year 1400 of the Starlight Calendar, the Wizard Tower should be completed.”
Thinking about soon possessing his first complete Wizard Tower, Su Nan couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
With the Wizard Tower, and as long as he advances to a Second Level Wizard, he would not fear even a Level 3 Wizard.
The Wizard Tower and the Star Alliance are his greatest sources of confidence in facing the Gloomy Throne in the future.
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