Chapter 170: The Profound Earth Element
Rhett sat down, ready to fully enjoy the banquet.
"Yiya!"
He heard the unconscious babbling of a baby, and his heart stirred. Turning to Taylors, he asked, "Taylors, have you decided on a name for my grandson?"
"Of course, Father. After much consideration this afternoon, I finalized the name before the banquet." Taylors set down his wine glass and looked at the baby in his arms. "His name... will be Abel Green."
"Hmm, it's a lovely name. I hope Abel grows up strong and healthy!" Rhett nodded gently, playing with Abel for a while before he mentally pulled up the system panel.
He glanced at it:
Head of Family: Rhett Green
Second Generation Members: Tuck Green, Relay Green, Taylors Green
Third Generation Members: Dick Green, Kares Green, Kazena Green, Abel Green
Text Simulation
Real Simulation
Fate Points: 147
Seeing the increasing number of members listed, Rhett felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Multiple joyous occasions had accumulated, creating a warm and lively atmosphere at the banquet. Laughter filled the night.
After the banquet, Rhett spent some time chatting and laughing with a few of his followers before finally retiring to his room in the castle.
By then, the cold wind had gradually calmed.
Click.
The last gust of wind just happened to close the window.
Rhett lay on his bed, staring at the dark ceiling, reminiscing about his comfortable little home, and briefly allowed his mind to relax.
Half an hour later, his eyes refocused as he began contemplating a pressing matter.
"Now that I've returned to my territory, and everything is stable, all I need to do is wait for the official granting of the new territory and the development of the Dark Marked Eagle branch. Those tasks won't be too difficult. But during the last simulation, I learned that in June this year, a Sand Spirit will appear in the Death Swamp of the Reim Kingdom and will be obtained by a lucky Earth Knight. If I don't find a way to get it, I'll regret it..."
After a brief period of thought, Rhett outlined his development plan for the year. All that remained was to verify it in a simulation.
With a slightly anxious heart, Rhett activated the system.
[Do you want to start a text simulation? Each year simulated consumes 5 Fate Points.]
"Yes, simulate one year."
Calendar Year 475, December 10: You handed over the formula for Black Raven's Grief to Henk, who was shocked and vowed to work hard to successfully create it as soon as possible. That same day, you arranged for Unika to study the basics of alchemy under Henk's guidance for a set time each day.
Calendar Year 476, January 3: An important guest arrived in your territory—the Grand Duke Blue Diamond, who conducted the ennoblement ceremony, granting you the title of Earl in the Kingdom of Kinlun. Your request to have your territory moved to the vicinity of the Dark Marked Eagle branch was approved. Due to your remarkable achievements, your status as a fifth-tier Mage, and the undeveloped lands in the Southwest Frontier, your request for territory expansion was granted—you will retain Eagletown while also establishing a new territory near the Dark Marked Eagle branch. The Grand Duke stayed in your territory for three days and treated you with great respect. You seized the opportunity to ask him about the profound laws, and he generously explained them to you. Before leaving, he extended an olive branch, proposing a match between his granddaughter and you. You politely declined.
January 4: You finalized your plans to move the territory and began leading a large group to the Dark Marked Eagle branch.
January 7: You encountered a third-tier Dark Marked Eagle fleeing in panic from a third-tier White-headed Eagle. Upon seeing the White-headed Eagle, unpleasant memories resurfaced, and you rushed in, slaughtering the White-headed Eagle and driving the Dark Marked Eagle back to its original path.
January 18: You arrived at the outskirts of the Dark Marked Eagle branch.
January 19: You located the cave of the Violent Earth Bear and, after clearing it, unearthed the remains of a fifth-tier Earth Knight and his treasures. You collected the Ring Tower's letters and potions and erased all traces from the cave.
January 21: After three days of on-site investigation, you decided to establish your new territory on a plain three kilometers from Ice Crystal Lake.
January 22: You visited the Dark Marked Eagle's old nest at Lone Peak and planned to plant various dark element plants nearby to feed the Dark Marked Eagles, returning periodically to monitor them.
January 23: You left your territory and set out for the Reim Kingdom to find the Sand Spirit. Before leaving, you informed your followers about your plans to cultivate a Dark Marked Eagle group, instructing Henk to plant dark element plants near Lone Peak.
January 27: A second-tier Purple-crowned Python descended the mountain and attacked lumberjacks building wooden houses. It was slain by Makoff, who was guarding the area.
January 28: While flying on Firecrest, you encountered a fifth-tier Purple Gold Wind Eagle in the skies over the White Mouse Mountain Range. After a brief skirmish, both sides realized the other was formidable. The Purple Gold Wind Eagle turned and fled, and you did not pursue, continuing your journey to the Reim Kingdom.
January 29: News of your promotion to fifth-tier Mage and your elevation to Earl spread across the entire Southwest Frontier.
February 3: Deputy Commander Ambiru passed through your territory with a battalion, coincidentally encountering a pack of low-tier Firemane Hounds descending the mountain. After killing them and hearing that you were absent, he left with regret.
February 5: While flying on Firecrest, you encountered a fourth-tier Waterlight Green Bird in the skies over the White Mouse Mountain Range and easily defeated it.
February 15: Bozak came to apologize. Although you were not in the territory, Ryllis tearfully apologized to Taylors.
February 18: A person in your territory was found to have moderate knight talent.
February 21: A second-tier Mage and two first-tier Mages came to seek your patronage.
March 1: You safely arrived near the Death Swamp of the Reim Kingdom and temporarily stayed in a nearby village. That night, you learned from the villagers that the weather around the Death Swamp had become unusually dry, with frequent sandstorms that plagued nearby villages. You cleverly asked the villagers if there was a pattern to the sandstorms. They informed you that every half month or so, sandstorms would randomly occur within the swamp or in nearby areas.
March 2: The information you gathered piqued your interest, leading you to believe that the sandstorms might be a sign of the Sand Spirit's presence. Early in the morning, you began patrolling the Death Swamp's perimeter, flying back and forth at high altitudes, searching for any trace of the Sand Spirit.
March 8: Lawrence broke through to the first-tier knight level, surpassing expectations. His rapid progress was recognized as a top-tier fighting talent.
March 11: With the hard work of the orc laborers, the new territory's construction was nearing completion, and most of the inhabitants of Eagletown had gradually relocated to the vicinity of the Dark Marked Eagle branch.
March 15: Half a month had passed, and you found nothing in the Death Swamp.
March 19: You sensed a unique earth element aura and were overjoyed. You immediately flew over on Firecrest, only to find an elderly man in a green robe standing at the center of a sandstorm, holding a staff aloft with a devout expression. However, when the sandstorm ended, nothing happened. The old man, briefly stunned, noticed your presence and, in a fit of rage, unleashed the power of a Grand Mage, attacking you without warning. In a desperate move, you revealed your status as an Earl of the Kingdom of Kinlun and claimed to be on a special mission. The old man, seething with anger, restrained himself and offered you a deal: leave and never set foot in the Death Swamp again, and he would spare your life. You agreed on the spot.
March 20: You stayed in a nearby village and did not leave.
April 3: When another sandstorm erupted deep within the Death Swamp, you rushed to investigate. Along the way, the green-robed elder caught up with you and killed you with a single Earth Spike spell.
Rhett narrowed his eyes after reading through the simulation.
This time, the simulation had not gone well. Arriving in an unfamiliar kingdom, he found that someone else was also targeting the Sand Spirit—and that someone was a Grand Mage of the earth element.
"And a Grand Mage at that?" Rhett muttered, frowning. "This is quite troubling..."
But then a wave of doubt rose in his mind.
"How did that Earth Knight, despite the interference of a Grand Mage, ultimately gain the favor of the Sand Spirit?" Rhett pondered, squinting his eyes.
He had a strong sense that there was a hidden secret behind this.
After all, he knew that each elemental spirit had unique characteristics. Whether it was their abilities or how they chose their masters, there were differences!
So, the way Snow Spirit chose Relay as its master could only serve as a reference—it might not be directly applicable!
Rhett narrowed his eyes, deciding to run another simulation, this time to observe how the Earth Knight managed to bond with the Sand Spirit.
Once again, he activated the system.
[Do you want to start a text simulation? Each year simulated consumes 5 Fate Points.]
"Yes, simulate one year."
Calendar Year 475, December 10: You handed over the formula for Black Raven's Grief to Henk, who was shocked and vowed to work hard to successfully create it as soon as possible. That same day, you arranged for Unika to study the basics of alchemy under Henk's guidance for a set time each day.
Calendar Year 476, March 1: You safely arrived near the Death Swamp of the Reim Kingdom and temporarily stayed in a nearby village.
March 2: This time, you didn't rush to observe the sandstorms but instead focused on monitoring the area for signs of Earth Knights.
March 26: You found a fourth-tier Earth Knight at the outskirts of the Death Swamp and began trailing him.
March 28: The target you were following left the Death Swamp.
April 3: When another sandstorm erupted deep within the Death Swamp, you resisted the temptation to investigate.
April 13: Vanessa became pregnant.
April 14: You noticed another sandstorm forming and, out of curiosity, cautiously approached the area. However, when the sandstorm subsided, the Sand Spirit did not appear.
April 29: While drinking in the Tartar Village tavern, you overheard a group of adventurers discussing their upcoming expedition to the Death Swamp. Among them were a second-tier Earth Knight and a second-tier Earth Mage, sparking your interest.
May 1: Tuck broke through to second-tier knight.
May 20: Count Nilo visited your territory. Upon learning you were absent, he left a letter and departed with regret.
June 23: You quietly followed the adventurer group for nearly two months, during which three members perished, leaving only three survivors. Both the second-tier Earth Knight and Earth Mage remained.
June 27: On this day, the adventurer group encountered a third-tier Black-armored Giant Lizard. The second-tier Earth Mage and second-tier Fire Knight died one after the other, devoured by the beast. Just as the Earth Knight was on the brink of death, a sandstorm suddenly swept in, scaring off the Black-armored Giant Lizard. You watched in excitement as the sand settled, revealing a shifting, indistinct figure emerging from the dunes. The Sand Spirit enveloped the Earth Mage's corpse before entering the unconscious Earth Knight's body.
June 28: With the Sand Spirit having chosen a master, you left the Death Swamp and prepared to visit Ring Tower, intending to deliver the letter and gather information on bloodline potions.
July 6: You arrived at Ring Tower and handed over the letter regarding the pursuit of the traitor to a steward. The letter was forwarded to the higher-ups, attracting the attention of an Alchemy Master who invited you for a private discussion. You entered Ring Tower and shared everything you knew with the Alchemy Master, who introduced himself as Niru. However, since you had already consumed a bloodline potion, he did not offer any tangible rewards. Nevertheless, you managed to learn that Ring Tower had stockpiles of high-level and even Saint-level bloodline potions, though they were not for sale.
July 7: You explored Ring Tower and deduced that the high-level bloodline potions were likely stored in the space artifacts of Ring Tower's elite members. This realization left you disappointed.
July 8: You left the Reim Kingdom.
July 19: On your return journey, you encountered a fierce battle between a sixth-tier White-scaled Frost Serpent and a sixth-tier Lightclaw Red-eyed Wolf over the Boro River. Both were high-level bloodline potential beasts, unleashing devastating waves of power. You fled in panic, but Firecrest was unfortunately killed.
July 25: Late at night, your territory received an unexpected visitor—Vordelger, accompanied by an Alchemy Master.
July 26: Early in the morning, Relay escorted the Alchemy Master to the Dark Marked Eagle's old nest at Lone Peak, where they discovered dozens of Dark Marked Eagles circling the mountain. The Alchemy Master was ecstatic and noticed traces of human care nearby. After Relay explained, the Alchemy Master was greatly impressed. Relay revealed your plan to establish a Dark Marked Eagle breeding ground at Lone Peak, focusing on cultivating the Dark Marked Eagle Tuck had tamed into the lead eagle, thus controlling the nest. This would allow a steady supply of Dark Marked Eagles for the Alchemy Master in Frost City to use in developing a potion against the Draconians. The Alchemy Master was so pleased that he gifted you an Alchemy Handbook.
August 4: Taylors broke through to first-tier Mage.
August 10: Taylors gained insight from the Alchemy Handbook and successfully crafted a low-tier poison, becoming a certified Alchemist!
August 15: Relay also gained insight from the Alchemy Handbook, successfully crafting a low-tier poison and becoming a certified Alchemist!
August 17: With the help of the Alchemy Handbook, Unika became an Alchemy Apprentice.
August 23: Willow, while working in the blacksmith shop, experienced a stroke of genius and successfully forged an Apprentice Sword, becoming a certified Apprentice Blacksmith.
August 29: Vides broke through a long-standing bottleneck and advanced to third-tier knight!
September 7: A small beast horde, led by a fourth-tier Frost Tiger, moved into the Dark Marked Eagle branch. You noticed but did not intervene.
September 19: You and Taylors left the territory again, heading to the White Mouse Mountain Range.
September 26: While traversing the White Mouse Mountain Range, you encountered a severely injured fourth-tier Ice Mouse. You saved it, but it died from its wounds after giving birth. You entrusted the Ice Mouse cub to Taylors.
October 1: Armando broke through to Apprentice Knight.
October 3: Snow Spirit Nina awakened, pushing Relay to the peak of second-tier Mage.
October 7: A high-tier orc leader arrived at the Gorge Frontline, reversing the tide of battle in favor of the orcs.
October 8: Leon broke through to Apprentice Knight.
October 15: Willow advanced to first-tier knight.
November 7: A fifth-tier Shadow Tiger and its pack invaded the Dark Marked Eagle branch. You gathered all available forces in your territory and fought a fierce battle, ultimately killing the Shadow Tiger while allowing the remaining beasts to escape.
December 3: While practicing magic in a small valley within the Dark Marked Eagle branch, you encountered a tall woman from Black Star who you had met once before. After saving her, she revealed that she was being pursued by an evil alchemy organization, likely members of the Blood Spirit headquarters. She fell unconscious from her injuries after sharing this information.
[Text simulation ended. Would you like to continue?]
"No."
Rhett reflected on the latest simulation, his eyes gradually clearing.
Although the trajectory had shifted this time, he wasn't worried.
After all, his primary goal was to find a way to bond with the Sand Spirit, and the simulation confirmed the method was feasible.
Even though this simulation missed the opportunity to win over Vordelger, that wasn't a major concern. Rhett's focus was entirely on the Sand Spirit.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, pondering, "So, the Sand Spirit requires the corpse of an Earth Mage to bond, before entering the body of the chosen knight?"
"Hmm, it shouldn't be difficult to obtain the corpse of an Earth Mage, especially if I choose from some irredeemable criminals. The only question is, does the Sand Spirit exclusively bond with knights? Could a Mage also meet the criteria? And does unconsciousness play a crucial role in the bonding process?"
Rhett crossed his arms behind his head, frowning slightly.
After a moment, he decided to run another simulation to verify whether this method would work.
He activated the system once more.
[Do you want to start a text simulation? Each year simulated consumes 5 Fate Points.]
"Yes, simulate one year!"
Calendar Year 475, December 10: You handed over the formula for Black Raven's Grief to Henk, who was shocked and vowed to work hard to successfully create it as soon as possible. That same day, you arranged for Unika to study the basics of alchemy under Henk's guidance for a set time each day.
Calendar Year 476, February 26: You safely arrived in the border city of White Pumpkin in the Reim Kingdom, where you killed a gang member and took his body with you.
March 2: You arrived near the Death Swamp and set up camp in a desolate area.
April 13: Vanessa became pregnant.
April 14: You arrived early at the site of the sandstorm and, finding no one else present, approached on your own. You placed the Earth Mage's corpse on the ground and lay down beside it. The drifting sand gradually settled, revealing a vague figure that swallowed the Earth Mage's corpse before hesitantly entering your body. You successfully bonded with the Sand Spirit. Congratulations!
April 15: After bonding with the Sand Spirit, you gained a mysterious understanding of the earth element. While sensing the earth element, you detected a faint, unusual presence, but it remained elusive, as if something was missing.
April 17: As you prepared to leave the Death Swamp, the Earth Grand Mage confronted you again. Enraged, he attacked, and you were severely injured. In your final moments, your mind became eerily clear, and your mental power entered a strange state. A mysterious essence of the earth element, channeled through the Sand Spirit, manifested before you. You briefly transformed into sand! With this power, you narrowly avoided the Grand Mage's deadly strike, but you couldn't evade the second Earth Spike, which pierced your skull. You died.
"Ah!"
Rhett exhaled deeply and sat up from his bed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He paced back and forth in the room, muttering, "This time, the simulation succeeded! Not only did I bond with the Sand Spirit, but I also gained a profound understanding of the earth element?"
The thought filled him with exhilaration.
Rhett paced the room, his mind racing. "Which earth element essence allows for transformation into sand? I can't wait to find out."
"In a few days, the Grand Duke will arrive, and I'll seize the opportunity to ask him!"
Having confirmed that his plan to bond with the Sand Spirit was solid, Rhett turned his thoughts to the other events in the simulation.
He settled back into his chair, gazing out the window at the moon.
"But it seems there's nothing particularly noteworthy in this simulation. Most of the trajectory remained unchanged."
"Except for encountering that Black Star member, the tall woman, who mentioned being pursued by an evil organization connected to the Blood Spirit headquarters. It seems like this warrants further investigation."
However, this event was still a year away, and Rhett had ample time to prepare. There was no need to worry prematurely.
In high spirits, Rhett retrieved a half-bottle of blueberry juice from the upper left corner of his desk, along with a crystal goblet beside it.
He conjured two round ice cubes and poured the purple-blue liquid into the glass.
Raising the glass to the moon, he elegantly took a sip.
The following morning, Rhett awoke from his meditation.
With sunlight streaming through the window, he retrieved a Blood Source Pearl from his pocket and pulled out twenty-four bottles of Aurora Potion from under his bed.
Activating the system, he issued a command.
[Do you want to start a real simulation? Each day simulated consumes 1 Fate Point.]
"Yes!"
Ripples spread through the air as Rhett's focus sharpened. He swiftly uncorked the Aurora Potions and drank them, channeling the meditation technique to absorb their effects.
As each potion was refined, Rhett only felt a faint enhancement in his mental power—barely noticeable after just one dose.
But after refining all twenty-four bottles, he felt the cumulative effect—subtle yet significant.
Finally, Rhett took out the Blood Source Pearl.
The real test had arrived!
Holding the crimson pearl in his palm, it radiated a sinister glow.
Rhett swallowed it whole, and it instantly dissolved into a torrent of powerful but chaotic energy, crashing through his mind like a raging waterfall.
At the same time, a sinister, blood-colored energy didn't surge upward but instead dispersed throughout his blood vessels and organs.
Though faint, it felt like needles pricking his body.
Rhett's body trembled as he endured the discomfort.
With his enhanced mental power, he could faintly sense a unique energy slowly draining his life force—a subtle yet potent force.
Half an hour later, as the turmoil within him subsided, Rhett exhaled deeply, standing before the mirror to see his slightly aged reflection. He shook his head.
[Real simulation ended. Choose one attribute to retain.]
[1. Constitution]
[2. Dou Qi]
[3. Mental Power]
"I choose mental power!"
As the simulation ended, Rhett looked into the mirror again and saw his youthful appearance restored.
Smiling faintly, he ran the simulation fifty more times before leaving his room.
He headed to the alchemy lab on the fourth floor, where Henk was sitting at a corner desk, writing. Rhett's approach was anything but subtle, prompting Henk to look up and set down his pen.
"Hmm, good morning, Lord Rhett!" Henk greeted with a smile.
Standing in the doorway, Rhett glanced left and right down the hallway before entering and locking the door behind him.
"Huh? Lord Rhett, what are you up to?" Henk asked, puzzled by Rhett's mysterious behavior.
"It's something important," Rhett replied. After a moment of contemplation, he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Henk.
"Oh?" Henk's eyes lit up as he took the paper and carefully unfolded it three times until it was fully spread out.
At first, Henk glanced at it casually, but soon he let out a soft "hmm?" His interest piqued as he saw the densely packed text and intricate illustrations. The mysterious and complex content seemed to draw him in like a whirlpool.
Henk's expression grew increasingly serious, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His breathing slowed.
Then, gripping the paper tightly, he held his breath.
His face showed confusion and deep thought.
Finally, he inhaled sharply, carefully folded the paper, and looked at Rhett. "Lord Rhett, this alchemical formula... I can barely comprehend it, but I can tell it's for an incredibly potent poison!"
"The alchemical methods and unique processes described here are astonishingly innovative. I'm deeply impressed! But I must ask, where did you get this formula?"
Rhett smiled, amused by the irony. "Hmm, didn't you help me get this in the simulation?"
But of course, that was information from the simulation, so Rhett didn't say it aloud.
Meeting Rhett's gaze, Henk pondered for a moment before speaking again. "This formula, though it's a low-grade potion, its potency and complexity are unlike anything I've ever seen! I'd guess that only something like Black Raven's Grief could have such an effect—or perhaps another potion I'm not aware of."
Rhett's smile didn't waver as he finally replied, "What you're holding is indeed the formula for Black Raven's Grief."
Gasp!
Henk inhaled sharply, his eyes widening. He quickly unfolded the paper again, examining it closely.
After a moment, he nodded in realization. "Oh, I see! No wonder I couldn't think of another potion with such a deadly effect—it's Black Raven's Grief!"
"Now that I think about it, the combination of properties and ingredients does match Black Raven's Grief's characteristics..."
His realization seemed a bit belated, but Rhett understood. After all, Black Raven's Grief wasn't just any potion. "Indeed, and I'm entrusting it to you, hoping you'll master it as soon as possible. Once our rangers start using Black Raven's Grief, their combat effectiveness will surely soar!"