Chapter 75: Spread of the Disaster

"Is this the Dragon Blood Fruit?" 

Key gazed at the baskets overflowing with red fruits, his eyes nearly sparkling with excitement.

"Does this really have effects equivalent to one-third of a lower-tier Dragon Blood potion?" 

Sunan smiled slightly, "Would you like to have someone try it?"

"No need, you and I both know it's effective," Key chuckled heartily.

He wasn't questioning Sunan's integrity; he was simply too exhilarated. 

The supply of lower-tier Dragon Blood potions had not kept pace with the rapid expansion of the Blackstone Cavalry, significantly slowing their growth. 

Even with the entire territory's support, the Blackstone Cavalry currently numbered only around three hundred, with knights comprising about two-thirds of that number.

They were still quite far from Key's goal of forming a fully knighted army.

He had been dreaming of Sunan producing a substitute for the lower-tier Dragon Blood potions sooner.

Fortunately, this issue had finally been resolved.

With this batch of Dragon Blood Fruits, the stagnated Blackstone Cavalry could finally accelerate its expansion once again!

Standing behind Key, Bred, Jodan, and Stally shared the same joy.

They all understood what the Dragon Blood Fruits represented.

With this, the military strength of the Shimmering Territory could experience another wave of rapid expansion!

"By the way, here, take this."

Sunan tossed a Dragon Blood Fruit to Key.

Key instinctively reached out to catch it, puzzled. "What is this?"

"This is a specially crafted Dragon Blood Fruit. After consuming it, you should be able to break through and advance to intermediate knight status," Sunan explained.

In fact, this was a synthesized Dragon Blood Fruit made from over a hundred Dragon Blood Fruits.

If converted into lower-tier Dragon Blood potions, it would be equivalent to about three or four high-quality potions.

Upon hearing Sunan's words, Key's spirit lifted. He carefully stored the Dragon Blood Fruit, preparing to find a suitable moment to consume it later.

Such a valuable item should not be wasted recklessly.

It was best to practice the breathing technique immediately after consumption to achieve optimal absorption.

Regaining his composure, Key smiled and said, "I've already issued a decree. From now on, all children over the age of twelve in the territory will undergo talent evaluations. Those with wizard apprentice potential will be sent to the base for your training."

After a pause, Key hesitated before adding, "Could you lower the standards for selecting wizard apprentices?"

It was simply too few to have only three wizard apprentices emerge from such a large territory.

Sunan shook his head. "The minimum requirement is the ability to read introductory books."

He wished he could select more apprentices as well.

However, the standards were rigid, and he felt helpless.

Those without wizard potential could do nothing beneficial at the base; they could only perform menial tasks, which the clay golems were already handling.

Ultimately, the selection and training of wizard apprentices was a lengthy process that could not be rushed.

Given the current population of the Shimmering Territory, having a qualified apprentice emerge every two or three years would be quite impressive.

Unless the territory significantly expanded to acquire more land and population, there would be no notable increase in the number of apprentices in the short term.

Listening to their conversation, Jodan couldn't help but glance at Stally, sighing as he quietly remarked, "I really envy Corey's position as Lord Sunan's student. Why can't my boy have that kind of talent?"

Mentioning his son made Stally's usually serious expression break into a proud smile. 

He felt immense joy when his son was identified as having wizard potential.

If his son could become a powerful wizard like Sunan, the McKinney family might thrive and grow into a true noble lineage.

Seeing Stally's contentment, Jodan felt a pang of jealousy, contemplating whether he should have more children.

"My youngest will turn twelve next year; I'll let him participate in the evaluations," Bred said, looking hopeful.

With Stally's son as an example, all the knights in the Shimmering Territory were eager for their children to become wizards.

Key, oblivious to the whispers of his three subordinates, shifted the conversation back to another topic.

"The situation in the Frostflower Province is worsening. It's not just Silver Ridge City; Beastization Syndrome has begun to spread to other towns."

Sunan was taken aback. "Didn't the Marquis of Frostflower dispatch troops to suppress it?"

"I've heard that during the suppression, several dozen knights in the army were infected, which caused the situation to deteriorate rapidly. The troops sent to suppress the outbreak suffered heavy losses. I suspect the Marquis of Frostflower is overwhelmed right now."

Sunan's lips twitched slightly.

Beastization Syndrome typically came at the cost of complete loss of rationality, resulting in a power surge, akin to a permanent state of rage.

If knights were infected, it was normal for their combat power to rise by one or two small ranks.

If peak knights were infected, their battle strength could even soar to rival that of intermediate knights.

Dozens of infected knights would be enough to challenge a fully armed cavalry regiment of a thousand soldiers—just the thought of it was headache-inducing.

He couldn't help but wonder how the commander in charge of the suppression had allowed the situation to escalate to this point.

Seeing Sunan's confusion, Key continued, "The commander in charge of the suppression has been dismissed by the Marquis of Frostflower. The new commander is Lord Yorn, a seasoned general who has fought alongside the Marquis for many years and is also a legendary knight. With him in charge, the Beastization disaster should be suppressed quickly."

Key spoke with confidence.

After all, legendary knights were the pinnacle of power in the Principality of Starlight.

With such a powerful figure involved, suppressing a group of irrational infected individuals should be a straightforward task.

In fact, all the nobles aware of the situation shared similar thoughts.

However, the unfolding circumstances took everyone by surprise.

In the year 1251 of the Starry Calendar, during the month of Spring Dawn (March), legendary knight Yorn was besieged by thousands of infected individuals in Yulan City, ultimately succumbing after a fierce battle. 

The elite cavalry regiment accompanying him was annihilated.

When the news broke, it sent shockwaves throughout the Principality of Starlight, drawing the attention of countless nobles to the Frostflower Province.

In the following month, during the month of Thunder (April), the Beastization disaster spread at an astonishing rate.

Throughout the Frostflower Province, nearly every town was afflicted with Beastization Syndrome, except for the central city of Frostflower City.

The origin of the disaster, Silver Ridge City, had been reduced to ruins.

Neighboring Hulan Province, Red Leaf Province, and White Tower Province quickly established border checkpoints to prevent citizens from the Frostflower Province from entering their territories.

Later that month, the Marquis of Frostflower requested assistance from the capital, seeking reinforcements.

In the following month, the Grand Duke of Starlight sent troops to the Frostflower Province to begin suppressing the infected individuals.

In an instant, the entire Principality of Starlight seemed enveloped in an air of uncertainty and impending turmoil.

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