Chapter 170: Synthesis Conception, an Unprecedented Model

The magic core's formidable power, with its balance of offense and defense, makes it undoubtedly the best choice for a talent crystal's original model—at least among Sunan's current resources.

In fact, since he first fused with the magic core, Sunan has had a vague plan forming, which only recently became clear.

The magic core itself is constructed from a vast number of runes, akin to a talent crystal model, as both are fundamentally aggregates of runes. Thus, modifying it into a talent crystal model isn't excessively difficult.

More importantly, the magic core can be infinitely upgraded and enhanced.

With enough time, Sunan can use the magic core as a sample to create an upper-level talent crystal model.

For Sunan, who lacks access to formal wizards and resources on the resource-poor Starlight Continent, this is undoubtedly the best outcome.

He suspects that on the current Starlight Continent, only the three major wizard legacies might possess the methods to construct mid-to-upper-level talent crystal models.

But with the Starlight Tower not opening for another six years, he doesn't plan to wait that long.

Moreover, if the Starlight Tower doesn't contain an upper-level talent crystal model, he would waste several years of time.

Considering all this, choosing the magic core as the original model is clearly the best choice.

The second step in constructing a talent crystal is building the model itself.

Generally, the higher the talent crystal model's level, the more runes it contains, and the construction difficulty increases exponentially.

Even the simplest lower-level talent crystal model contains between 800,000 to 1,000,000 runes, far exceeding the magic core.

With such an astounding number of runes, the construction time is naturally measured in decades.

For mid-level and upper-level talent crystal models, even more so.

In fact, many wizard apprentices, after meeting the star ring and mental strength requirements, get stuck at this stage, never completing a talent crystal model before their life's end.

However, there are ways to shorten the time needed to construct a talent crystal model.

The wizarding world has various potions to accelerate the construction of talent crystal models.

Basically, any potion that enhances meditation efficiency can aid in this process.

"I have Divine Blood Amber and Transcendent Potion, which should speed up the construction of a talent crystal model faster than usual. However, constructing a talent crystal model before the Starlight Tower appears is unlikely."

Given that it's an upper-level talent crystal, the difficulty is several times higher than a lower-level one.

Completing it within ten years is already considered fast.

Unless there are other potions to boost construction speed.

If it were a lower-level talent crystal model, it could be completed before the Starlight Tower appears.

"Speaking of which, I wonder if talent crystal models can be synthesized?"

Sunan's eyes suddenly lit up.

The cube can only synthesize tangible items, and like the magic core, a talent crystal model is composed of runes, lacking the rare metals as a carrier, so he's unsure if it counts as tangible.

"It's worth a try."

After pondering for a while, Sunan quickly devised a plan.

Since constructing an upper-level talent crystal model before the Starlight Tower opens is impossible, he might as well first construct a lower-level talent crystal model using the magic core as the original model and see if it can be synthesized.

If it fails, at worst, he'll have wasted a few years, which can be seen as experience for constructing an upper-level talent crystal model.

But if he succeeds, it could lead to something greater than an upper-level talent crystal model—an unprecedented talent crystal!

The benefits for his future wizard path are immeasurable!

"It's worth trying!"

Sunan made up his mind.

The third step in constructing a talent crystal model is crystallizing the model.

Wizard apprentices need to inject mental strength into the constructed model, filling it until it crystallizes.

This process also requires a long time, often measured in years.

After all, a wizard apprentice's mental strength is minuscule compared to what's needed for model crystallization.

The entire process involves repeated cycles of injection-recovery-injection-recovery of mental strength.

The only way to shorten this process is by using special items to accelerate mental strength recovery, thus reducing time.

For this, Sunan has already planned ahead.

He currently possesses a very suitable item—Golden Apples!

After consuming a Golden Apple, one gains the miraculous effect of unlimited vitality, instantly restoring physical and mental strength to peak condition, with the effect lasting about an hour.

He reckons this hour should be enough to fill an upper-level talent crystal model.

"By next year's Month of Rejuvenation, I should be able to construct the seventeenth star ring. After that, I'll construct the eighteenth star ring and raise my mental strength to 60 points, allowing me to begin constructing the talent crystal model."

"Before that, I need to create the model."

Sunan exhaled deeply. He had a busy time ahead.

Creating soul crystals, crafting iron golems, synthesizing new second-circle legendary puppets.

Extracting blood from the winged creature to study bloodline marks and divine energy extraction.

Creating a talent crystal model.

Each task requires a substantial amount of time.

Additionally, training cannot be neglected.

Sunan foresaw a hectic schedule for himself.

"The formation of the third small golem army must also be prioritized."

Sunan glanced at the space rings before him.

Despite the various unexpected developments during the ambush on the Immortals, it was mostly a smooth operation with extremely bountiful rewards.

Excluding the winged creature, the seven space rings alone had a combined value exceeding 500,000.

After all, their original owners were all among the best third-level wizard apprentices, each possessing significant wealth.

With this wealth, the funding gap for forming the third small golem army was significantly reduced.

Leaving the control center, Sunan returned to his study and summoned Carolina and the Red Widow.

"The Magic Rune Knights stationed at Giant Eye City can withdraw."

Sunan casually instructed, then continued, "Report any new tribes or city-states discovered to me immediately."

Carolina nodded, then asked, "Do you have other plans, Master?"

Sunan didn't hide it: "I need a large number of souls to create soul crystals."

Carolina and the Red Widow understood immediately.

Both were ruthless individuals who saw no issue with using living souls to create soul crystals.

If they knew how to extract souls, they would've done it themselves.

Soul crystals are valuable items.

After inquiring about the progress of exploration and finding no issues, Sunan dismissed the two and left Dragon Forest for Base No. 1, heading straight to the palace.

When he found Kyi, he was practicing martial arts.

Even as the ruler of a nation, Kyi hadn't neglected his training, diligently practicing breathing techniques and martial arts daily.

With ample Dragon Blood Fruit, he had broken through to become a second-circle legendary knight two months ago.

At just thirty-one years old, being a second-circle legendary knight was unmatched on the Starlight Continent.

However, at this stage, further rapid advancement with Dragon Blood Fruit required sixth-level Dragon Blood Fruit.

The entire magical plantation's yield in one cycle wasn't enough to synthesize one.

Moreover, one wasn't enough; it required long-term consumption.

Consequently, Kyi reduced his intake of Dragon Blood Fruit.

Even if Sunan could supply it, he couldn't afford to spend so much on it.

As long as he could ascend to a third-circle legendary knight within six years, in time for the Starlight Tower's opening, there was no rush.

"Here."

When Kyi finished training and approached, Sunan tossed him a sigil stone and a potion.

Kyi caught them steadily, glanced at them, and smiled with joy.

Sunan had previously mentioned the ambush on the Immortals, and seeing these, Kyi immediately understood the stone was the Starlight Tower key, and the potion was the Dawn Potion.

After a moment, Kyi asked, "What about the Immortals?"

"From today, the Immortals no longer exist on the Starlight Continent," Sunan smiled slightly.

"That's great!" Kyi beamed.

The Immortals were a grave threat to any nation's ruler due to their unpredictability.

Their demise was undoubtedly beneficial for the entire southeastern continent.

"There's another matter I need to discuss with you."

Sunan relayed what Rose had told him.

After listening, Kyi pondered for a while, then said solemnly, "That's a good suggestion."

"The Azure Gold Empire's recent actions have been increasingly blatant, almost openly preparing to move against the Duchy. While I'm not afraid, going against the Empire alone is challenging. Even if we eventually defeat the Empire, other nations might benefit from our struggle. It's better to seek allies and take the opportunity to annihilate the Empire!"

The Azure Gold Empire, after all, had been the southeastern continent's hegemon for centuries, with deep foundations. Even with the Star Duchy's Black Rock Cavalry and golem army, they couldn't guarantee victory over the Empire.

Having other nations share the burden is advantageous.

Moreover, even if they conquered the Azure Gold Empire, the Star Duchy's current size couldn't absorb it all. Sharing some benefits to reduce war losses was a sensible trade.

Sunan nodded, saying nothing more.

He was merely passing a message; how to proceed was up to Kyi.

As for surface warfare, aside from dealings with the Star Duchy, Sunan had no plans to intervene.

His focus was on enhancing his power and expanding the Star Alliance, leaving no room for surface conflicts.

With him and the Star Alliance as a backing, the Star Duchy needn't fear defeat.

"If war with the Azure Gold Empire breaks out, I'd like to hire a golem army from you," Kyi said.

Sunan considered and agreed.

He planned to form the third small golem army soon, so dispatching one to support the surface wasn't an issue. It could also generate some revenue to alleviate financial pressure.

In the following time, Sunan became busy.

After personally exterminating several native tribes and a city-state, he amassed a large number of soul crystals and began mass-producing iron golems and synthesizing them.

Synthesizing a second-circle legendary elite iron golem required six iron golems, costing about 9,000 gold.

Including spell permanence and enchantment, the total cost was only 12,000 gold, saving 10,000 gold compared to a high-level stone golem of the same level!

Using only iron golems and elite iron golems to replace elite and high-level stone golems in a small golem army could save around 300,000 gold.

Constructing a small golem army costs about 700,000 gold.

This meant saving over 40% of costs!

The wealth Sunan gained from the ambush on the Immortals was enough to construct a small golem army.

This was the greatest benefit of mastering soul crystal creation!

Sunan decided to cease synthesizing elite and high-level stone golems, replacing them with iron golems.

Subsequently, Sunan attempted to use iron golems to synthesize a third-circle legendary puppet. The final cost was 78,000 gold, over 20,000 more than an adamantine golem.

"As expected, synthesis costs are much higher."

Shaking his head, Sunan decided to stick with crafting adamantine golems.

Now he could create soul crystals himself, only lacking magical adamantine.

In the modification district, inside the laboratory.

Sunan carefully controlled the blood with a mage hand, drawing the final blood trace on the back of his hand.

With a flash of blood light, a new bloodline mark was formed.

Looking at the crimson mark on his hand, Sunan smiled in satisfaction.

He had crafted this bloodline mark using the winged creature's blood, allowing him to control air currents and unleash countless air blades instantly.

The winged creature had used this very move to kill Red Heart, showcasing its formidable power.

"Another trump card."

Under the light, Sunan's palms bore bloodline marks on both backs.

One was the Death Knell Mark, the other the Air Blade Mark.

All five Death Knell Marks had been used up in the previous operation, and Sunan had only recently redrawn two new ones.

The Air Blade Mark, being newly developed, had only one.

It would take a long time to gather enough blood to fill both hands with bloodline marks.

"Although this will slow the absorption of divine energy, I have two divine beings now, so absorbing double the energy will soon make up for it."

During this period, Sunan hadn't neglected studying the winged creature's divine energy and had already extracted it.

The only issue was that the divine energy was tainted by the beholder's worship, carrying a trace of belief power.

Although very faint, it was still a contamination.

Using the cube to synthesize and purify it was necessary before absorbing.

This extra step extended the absorption time.

Nonetheless, with the additional divine energy from the winged creature, his mental strength should reach 60 points faster than anticipated.

-------

Happy New Year Everyone! May this year bring you joy, peace, and prosperity. Cheers to new beginnings! 🎉🍻🎊