Chapter 170: What Is Magical Energy?

"Magical Energy, Extreme Ice Finger!"

Merlin gazed at the bold Moltaic letters on the page, a strange sense of awe washing over him. It was as if the golden words on the page pulsed with life.

"What is magical energy? Could it be a type of spell?"

Frowning, Merlin pondered the unfamiliar term. Even during his time in the Dark Arcane Order, he had never come across the concept of "magical energy."

Just as he was about to turn to the next page, he heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats. Moments later, a wave of black-armored riders arrived before him—led by none other than Lord Wilson and his heavily armored knights.

"Merlin, are you alright?"

Lord Wilson quickly approached, scanning Merlin from head to toe.

Merlin put away the book, shaking his head slightly. "Father, I'm fine. What about Earl Salin and the others?"

Lord Wilson's gaze shifted to the bodies of the fallen mages on the ground. Clearly impressed by his son's power, he found himself wondering just how strong Merlin had become.

"Earl Salin is leading the army to pursue the fleeing troops of Lebis City. It seems he aims to take this opportunity to annex the entire Lebis City State."

Lord Wilson's guess was close to the mark. This decisive defeat had left Lebis's forces scattered, unable to mount any resistance against Salin's advancing army.

Merlin, however, was indifferent to the fate of Lebis. His concern had only been to lift the siege on Pugasi City. Now that the crisis was over, the rest was for Earl Salin to handle.

"Let's go home, Father. Earl Salin can handle the aftermath."

With that, Merlin mounted his horse and returned to Pugasi City.

---

After the battle, Pugasi City was brimming with excitement as word spread of the victory over the Lebis City State. People cheered and celebrated in the streets. Even within the Wilson manor, Merlin noticed the maids' smiles of pure relief and joy.

Once in his chambers, Merlin instructed his servants not to disturb him. Alone, he took out the mysterious book he had found in Hegal's ring.

He had already read the first page, where he was introduced to the concept of "magical energy." He was intrigued yet mystified by this term, so he turned to the second page, hoping for clarification.

The second page indeed contained a detailed description of magical energy, so Merlin read on carefully.

"Magical Energy, also known as Pandora's Magic Energy, is a mystical force born from a fusion of spellcraft, alchemy, sigil-crafting, and potion-making."

"Extreme Ice Finger—an ice-based magical energy technique. Requirements for cultivation: a Level One spell, Solid Ice, and a rare ingredient, the Hundred-Year Frost Core."

Merlin continued reading about Pandora's Magic Energy. The book did not elaborate on its effects but mentioned that the Extreme Ice Finger, once mastered, had a formidable freezing effect.

The details were vague, but Merlin had a sense that the spell's freezing power was remarkable.

Extreme Ice Finger was divided into two stages. The first stage required only the Level One spell Solid Ice and the Hundred-Year Frost Core. However, the second stage was significantly more complex, requiring a Level Four ice spell and a Thousand-Year Ice Essence.

Both the Hundred-Year Frost Core and Thousand-Year Ice Essence were materials Merlin had never encountered.

Coincidentally, the spell Solid Ice was exactly what Merlin had intended to construct next; he simply lacked sufficient mental energy to do so.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Merlin organized his thoughts. Pandora's Magic Energy and the Extreme Ice Finger he had found in Hegal's belongings were undoubtedly extraordinary. If he ever came across the Hundred-Year Frost Core, he might consider cultivating this technique.

With a deep breath, Merlin cleared his mind and resumed his meditation.

---

A month later, Earl Salin's forces conquered the entire Lebis City State, expanding his realm two or threefold. Pugasi City was now a formidable city-state in its own right.

In his moment of triumph, Earl Salin honored his promise to Merlin by promoting him from baron to viscount and bestowing the title of baron upon Lord Wilson.

This dual noble status was rare in Pugasi and marked the prosperity of the Wilson family. What had once been an outsider clan had now become a family of influence within Pugasi.

During this time, Merlin stayed at the Wilson manor. By day, he spent time with Avril and Sherris, and by night, he focused on concocting potions.

Merlin was preparing to craft the Illusionary Magic Potion, a rare and potent mixture. The materials he had found in the silver-haired elder's ring were only enough for two doses, and he feared wasting them on failed attempts.

Upon leaving the Dark Arcane Order, Merlin had realized just how scarce magical resources were in the outside world. Even basic alchemical ingredients were hard to come by.

Tonight, Merlin decided to proceed with the Illusionary Magic Potion, hoping it would accelerate his mental power growth. He also had materials to make Blueberry Potions from Wexa's ring, enough for several doses.

"Let's begin with the Illusionary Magic Potion!"

He activated the Matrix, which guided him through the potion-making process. As a seasoned potion-maker, Merlin followed each step carefully, but maintaining the exact temperature proved challenging.

An hour passed, then two.

Finally, Merlin completed the first batch, but a Matrix scan confirmed it was a failure. With only one set of materials left, he attempted again. Fortunately, the second try succeeded, thanks in part to luck.

"Success!"

Elated, Merlin turned his attention to the Blueberry Potions, which were simpler to concoct. Despite this, the success rate was low; after fifteen attempts, he had only three successful doses.

With no more ingredients, Merlin moved on to consuming the potions. His first dose was the Illusionary Magic Potion. Within moments, he felt a surge of energy, as if his mental power was expanding.

The effects were similar to his first experience, bringing a wave of discomfort that gradually subsided. In just a few hours, Merlin's mental power had increased by around 20%.

The Blueberry Potions had a milder effect, but three doses combined rivaled the Illusionary Magic Potion's potency.

All in all, Merlin's mental power had grown by nearly 50%, putting him in a position to consider constructing another Level One spell.

"It's time to decide which spell to construct next."

Taking a deep breath, Merlin began examining his collection of Level One spells, determined to select the one that would offer the most immediate advantage.