Chapter 91: The End of a Warlord

The month of Shuo Hua has passed in the blink of an eye, and spring has transitioned to early summer.

Within the base, the planted flora begins to radiate a captivating green, with flowers blooming throughout the gardens, ushering in midsummer.

In the alchemy room, Sunan stands before a broad workbench, observing a freshly concocted potion. The pale purple liquid inside the bottle brings a satisfied smile to his face.

**[Transcendent Potion (Tier 3/Inferior): Upon consumption, the user enters a transcendent state, enabling the body to slowly absorb ambient energy particles continuously, while significantly enhancing mental activity and energy particle absorption rate. Duration: 53 days and 9 hours. Cannot be stacked. Requires a mental power of 30 or above.]**

Compared to the Super Potion, the Tier 3 Transcendent Potion is undoubtedly more potent, offering a 24-hour passive meditation state. Though passive meditation has a lower efficiency than active meditation, the long duration makes the cumulative effect quite substantial.

Additionally, it retains the ability to boost mental activity and the rate of energy particle absorption, meaning active meditation efficiency remains high.

"Let's test its effects."

Sunan uncorks the bottle and consumes the potion in one gulp, then sits cross-legged on the floor to meditate. Over five days of continuous testing, he gains a comprehensive understanding of the potion's effects.

"The Star Ring Meditation Method can increase proficiency by about 1,500 points per day, roughly a 50% increase in efficiency compared to the Super Potion."

"At this rate, I should be able to construct the tenth star ring in about a month."

Sunan nods in satisfaction. A 50% efficiency boost is impressive, especially considering this is just an inferior Tier 3 Transcendent Potion. A superior Tier 3 potion would yield even greater results.

The key factor, however, is the materials.

Synthesizing one bottle of inferior Tier 3 Transcendent Potion consumes about a quarter of the latest harvest of Silver Moon Flowers. Thanks to the improved Silver Moon Flowers, the effects have greatly increased. Otherwise, it would have required the entire harvest to synthesize just one bottle.

"The growth cycle for Silver Moon Flowers is about 100 days, while the Transcendent Potion's duration is 53 days. This means I'll need two bottles per growth cycle, which is half the yield."

"The remaining half must be used to make Lesser Active Potions and Active Potions for the apprentices to exchange at the base."

After some calculations, Sunan realizes the Silver Moon Flowers are insufficient. Each increase in potion tier demands exponentially more materials. To synthesize a superior Tier 3 Transcendent Potion, nearly two-thirds of a harvest would be required.

Although the superior potion lasts over 70 days, the yield still falls short unless he reduces the supply of Lesser Active and Active Potions.

While feasible short-term, long-term reductions would slow the apprentices' growth, hindering the base's development.

Sunan hopes the apprentices will grow quickly to alleviate his burden of making low-tier potions and crafting low-tier puppets.

The best solution is to establish a new magical plant garden. However, due to energy particle concentration issues, the new garden must be far from the base, necessitating personnel for cultivation and defense.

Defense can be managed by deploying a squad of stone golems or having Key station soldiers there.

The real challenge is finding cultivation personnel. The base's garden is managed by flower spirits, with apprentices occasionally helping. A new garden would require the 'recruitment' of more flower spirits or similar otherworldly beings, which is not immediately feasible.

Whether suitable helpers can be summoned depends on luck.

"Creating a magical plant garden will require substantial gold, so it's best to wait until the war in the Golden Rock Province ends."

"Additionally, it will take considerable time to establish the garden, during which I can continue summoning otherworldly beings to find suitable candidates."

"Fortunately, the mental power requirement for mid to superior Tier 3 Transcendent Potions is high, so I'll stick with inferior potions until the new garden is operational and my mental power meets the threshold."

Setting aside these thoughts, Sunan temporarily puts the matter on hold and begins studying spellbooks.

With the aid of the Transcendent Potion, his speed in learning second-circle spells has increased significantly.

At the current rate, he estimates mastering a second-circle spell in about fifty days.

The progress in segmented casting training is also steadily advancing, and Sunan expects to master the technique within the year, allowing him to begin training in metamagic techniques.

While Sunan diligently improves himself, the war in the Golden Rock Province rages on.

With the Blackstone Cavalry and Golem Legion as their trump cards, the Shimmering forces crush the Golden Rock Coalition on the battlefield, forcing them into a rapid retreat.

In just a month, all noble territories, except for the Marquis of Golden Rock's, have fallen without exception.

The once-mighty Golden Rock Coalition has been reduced to a solitary figurehead.

This astonishing turn of events has left many observers speechless.

Though the eventual victory of the Shimmering forces was anticipated, none expected such a one-sided outcome.

It is clear to all that the Marquis of Golden Rock's defeat is inevitable.

The once-anticipated war has lost all suspense.

Under the scorching sun of the month of Summer Long, the oppressive heat mirrors the tense atmosphere within the lord's manor in Golden Rock City.

Particularly in the study, servants tiptoe in fear of provoking the marquis and meeting the same fate as those hanged in recent days.

Inside the study, silence reigns.

Casper stands by the window, observing the haggard face of the Marquis of Golden Rock with a complex mix of emotions.

Two years ago, the marquis was vigorous and full of dark hair. Now, wrinkles crease his face, his hair has turned gray, and his spirit visibly wanes.

Even a legendary knight has succumbed to such pressure, reflecting the immense strain he's endured recently.

Who could have foreseen, two years ago, that a once-dominant marquis would fall to a mere baron?

Especially considering that four years ago, this baron was indirectly exiled to the borderlands due to the marquis, living on the brink of survival.

In just four years, their circumstances have completely reversed.

In retrospect, the development of these events seems so surreal that one might question if it's all a dream.

But Casper knows it is not a dream.

All of this is because of a wizard named Sunan.

It is his existence that has propelled Blackstone City to grow at a staggering pace, becoming the behemoth it is today.

The chief priest was right; wizards are indeed creatures beyond ordinary comprehension!

With that realization, Casper feels a wave of dejection.

The more formidable Sunan becomes, the slimmer Casper's hope of reclaiming the Divine Blood Amber from him.

It was the loss of the Divine Blood Amber that led to his demotion from being the head of the Stone Bell City outpost, now relegated to errands under Priest Joris.

As Casper's mind wanders, the Marquis of Golden Rock finally breaks the silence, his voice hoarse.

"What brings Priest Joris here?"

Sitting across, Joris leisurely sips his tea and smiles. "I've come on behalf of the church to inquire if you still have confidence in resisting the Shimmering forces."

Casper's lips twitch slightly.

He notes that Priest Joris uses the word "resist" rather than "defeat."

Clearly, Joris is fully aware that with the marquis's current state, defeating the Shimmering forces is a fantasy. Maintaining a stalemate would be an achievement in itself.

The Marquis of Golden Rock gives Joris a deep look, expressionless. "Even if I say I have confidence, would your church believe me?"

Joris pauses, then shakes his head.

"Even if you manage to fend off the Shimmering forces, once Sunan acts, your fate is sealed."

The marquis's eye twitches, his silence speaking volumes.

Since losing contact with Heb and learning that the Beastization crisis in the Frostflower Province had halted, he knew Heb's fate was grim.

What he couldn't comprehend was how even Heb was no match for Sunan?

That young man had been a wizard for no more than four or five years, while Heb was an experienced wizard over a century old!

Facing such an enigmatic opponent like Sunan, even the battle-hardened marquis couldn't suppress a sliver of fear.

He had no rebuttal for Joris's words.

"You didn't come here just to tell me this, did you?"

Joris replies, "Our church initially collaborated with you, hoping you'd rise to power and control the Starlight Principality, aiding our growth."

"But that plan has failed."

"Fortunately, we have other means."

The marquis senses an ominous premonition. "What means?"

"We've located Heb Gilman's laboratory in the Frostflower Province and discovered the weaknesses of the Beastization infectees. Offering this knowledge to the grand duke will earn us substantial rewards. What do you think?"

The marquis's pupils contract, his face darkening completely.

Realizing Heb's demise, he'd sent people to locate Heb's lab to find a way to control the Beastization infectees.

Success would grant him the leverage to rise again.

Yet the Starfire Church was quicker, finding the lab first.

Now, he truly has no way out!

"Of course, that alone may not suffice, so I've come to borrow something from you."

Joris's smile widens.

Just as he finishes, the marquis suddenly springs into action, launching himself towards the wall beside the window like a cannonball.

In the next instant, he crashes into some invisible barrier, rebounding and rolling several times before coming to a stop.

Ignoring the pain, he looks up, horrified to find the familiar study replaced by an expansive starry sky.

Countless stars dot the surroundings, with a brilliant Milky Way spanning the cosmos above, majestic and vast.

He feels as though he's standing amidst an endless starry expanse.

What's happening?

Bewilderment flickers in the marquis's eyes.

"There's no need to rush, Marquis. I haven't finished speaking."

Over ten meters away, Joris stands, holding a book, smiling at the marquis.

Casper is nowhere to be seen.

"Don't pretend. You just want my life to curry favor with the grand duke. I doubt there's anything else I have that interests you."

The marquis sneers, his gaze discreetly scanning the book in Joris's hands.

Is it because of that book?

"Glad you understand."

Joris, seemingly oblivious to the marquis's subtle actions, continues, "In reality, we're quite similar, each with contingency plans."

"Like how you secretly collaborated with another wizard to unleash the Beastization disaster without informing us."

The marquis snorts, ready to retort, but then notices his strength and fighting spirit waning.

This starry sky also drains physical and fighting energy!

Realizing this, he ceases speaking, lunging at Joris like a predator.

He passes right through him.

"It's futile," Joris says casually. "You can't harm me here."

The marquis tries several more times, but can't touch Joris.

As time passes, a growing sense of weakness overtakes him, and he collapses to the ground.

"In light of our past cooperation, I'll leave you with an intact corpse."

Joris approaches, gazing down at the marquis with a hint of pity.

The marquis breathes weakly, his voice raspy. "Spare me the act. I'll be waiting for you to join me. Don't forget you're also culpable in the death of Sunan's father. He won't spare you."

"That's none of your concern."

Joris dismisses it with a chuckle.

"As long as we achieve the church's grand vision, a mere Sunan is of no consequence."

The marquis manages a mocking smile, saying nothing more.

The Starfire Church is too arrogant!

Just like he once was.

Had he taken Sunan more seriously, denying him the chance to grow, he wouldn't be in this predicament.

The Starfire Church will follow in his footsteps.

Observing the marquis's changing expression, Joris feels a twinge of irritation, snorting as he presses his palm against the book.

Hum!

Boundless stars surge forward, engulfing the marquis like a tidal wave!

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