Chapter 211: A New Goal

Sunan took a sip of his tea, savoring the flavor before responding calmly, "Strictly speaking, a fourth-ring legendary knight is the pinnacle for human knights."

Kyi furrowed his brow but quickly understood, his expression shifting slightly. "You mean, beyond that, one transcends the human level?"

Sunan nodded approvingly, "To break through beyond the fourth-ring legendary knight, there are two paths."

"The first is to take the path of semi-elementalization, becoming an Elemental Knight."

"The second is to undergo bloodline fusion, becoming a Bloodline Knight."

Kyi's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "What's the difference between the two?"

Sunan explained, "Elemental Knights gain significantly enhanced control over elemental forces. Their semi-elemental bodies are nearly immune to physical attacks and have increased resistance to energy attacks, essentially making them an enhanced version of the fourth-ring legendary knight."

The key difference between legendary knights and grand knights is the awakening of elemental power. Thus, Elemental Knights are fortified legendary knights with semi-elemental bodies.

"The specific abilities of a Bloodline Knight depend on the bloodline they fuse with."

"However, whether Elemental or Bloodline, their life form fundamentally changes, and they are no longer considered human."

"In terms of lifespan, while they don't match formal wizards, Elemental and Bloodline Knights live longer than third-level wizard apprentices, typically ranging from 150 to 200 years."

Kyi listened, his eyes shining. Power was secondary; the key was lifespan.

Who wouldn't want to live longer?

Advancing to an Elemental or Bloodline Knight could grant him several extra decades of life, a tempting prospect.

"How can I advance to an Elemental or Bloodline Knight?" Kyi asked eagerly.

"Through biological modification," Sunan replied.

Both semi-elementalization and bloodline fusion cannot be achieved through training alone.

Like wizard apprentices, these paths require biological modifications and the use of potions.

However, modifying oneself as a wizard apprentice is relatively easier.

This is partly because wizards have a greater understanding of their own bodies and partly because the power level is lower.

For example, some wizard apprentices in the Immortal Society have achieved semi-elementalization and bloodline fusion, but their power level remains at the third-ring legendary.

However, modifying a fourth-ring legendary knight at the pinnacle of mundane knights necessitates the intervention of a wizard.

And it must be a wizard with advanced proficiency in biological modification techniques.

Thus, in the era of wizards, Elemental and Bloodline Knights were often followers of a wizard or belonged to a wizard faction.

"So, you..." Kyi didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

Sunan shook his head. "My biological modification skills aren't up to standard yet."

To modify knights into Elemental or Bloodline Knights, a [Biological Modification] skill level of at least 5 is required. Sunan was currently at level 4, with progress just over one-third complete.

Seeing Kyi's disappointment, Sunan reassured him, "Don't worry. In ten years or so, my biological modification skills should meet the requirements."

He frequently enhanced the physical and bloodline capabilities of the Hidden Dragon and occasionally participated in the Dragonkin bloodline enhancement project. Although the growth of his [Biological Modification] skill was slow, he would reach level 5 in a little over a decade.

"Besides, you'll need time to push your strength to the limit of the fourth-ring legendary knight."

Kyi realized this as well, his spirits lifting. He quickly asked, "Which path do you think is more suitable for me?"

Sunan considered, "Elemental Knight training is heavily dependent on the environment. Given the current energy scarcity on the Starlight Continent, Elemental Knights face too many limitations. Bloodline Knights are a better choice."

"Fortunately, there are several high-tier Dragonkin bloodlines in Dragon Forest. If you're interested, you can choose one as your future fusion bloodline."

"What about the Hidden Dragon?"

Kyi had witnessed the transformation of the Hidden Dragon into a true dragon, and its terrifying presence left a lasting impression.

"A fourth-ring legendary knight's physique can't handle the dragon bloodline," Sunan shrugged.

Bloodline fusion isn't just about choosing the strongest option.

It depends on compatibility with one's physique and the body's strength.

Dragons are beings comparable to formal wizards, and a fourth-ring legendary knight couldn't withstand the physical evolution following bloodline fusion.

Hearing this, Kyi felt a twinge of disappointment but quickly regained his enthusiasm.

"Looks like I'll need to tour Dragon Forest a few times."

With the discussion on knight progression concluded, Sunan shifted to another topic.

"Do you remember when you asked me about the Starlight Tower?"

"Of course," Kyi nodded.

At the time, he was puzzled about why Sunan had attacked the Starlight Tower, but Sunan had been vague, and Kyi didn't press further.

"I didn't explain it then because I didn't want you to worry, but now that the Empire has unified, it's time to tell you."

Sunan's serious tone made Kyi instinctively adopt a solemn expression.

Sunan briefly recounted the return of wizards after seven hundred years and the matter of the [Dark Throne].

Upon hearing it, Kyi was stunned, his mind blank.

He had heard Sunan mention the Elemental Wasteland and the thousand-year expedition of wizards across the multiverse, but he didn't know these wizards would return to the Starlight Continent after seven hundred years.

This was an incredibly significant event!

In comparison, the Empire's unification seemed trivial.

It took Kyi a while to process the shocking news, returning to his senses with a furrowed brow.

"What will happen to the Starlight Continent once those wizards return?"

Sunan understood his concern, shaking his head. "According to the rules of the wizarding world, the Starlight Continent is already my exclusive plane. Unless they want to make an enemy of me, other wizards generally won't attempt to meddle with the Starlight Continent."

Kyi sighed in relief but soon wore a worried expression again.

"What about the [Dark Throne]?"

A force with thousands of wizards was unimaginable to Kyi.

What kind of immense, terrifying power must such a force possess?

The thought was terrifying!

"Don't worry too much. If necessary, we can align ourselves with a wizard faction opposed to the [Dark Throne]."

Sunan reassured him, adding:

"But fundamentally, we need to enhance our own strength."

"In the coming days, I plan to build a wizard tower. I'll need the Empire's full cooperation."

"No problem," Kyi agreed without hesitation.

However, his emotions were mixed.

The information from Sunan had profoundly impacted his understanding.

Previously, the multiverse was more of a concept to him.

But after hearing Sunan's account, he realized the vastness of the multiverse.

In comparison, the Starlight Continent was a mere speck of dust.

Initially, after unifying the continent, Kyi felt a sense of unparalleled pride and confidence, but now that pride had been shattered, replaced by a sense of personal insignificance.

Compared to forces in the multiverse existing for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, the Starlight Continent still had a long journey ahead.

Yet, after lamenting, Kyi's fighting spirit reignited.

He had felt a sense of emptiness after achieving his goal, but now a grander objective lay before him.

Though he might not live to see the wizards' return, he intended to strengthen the Empire as much as possible for its future continuity.

Observing Kyi's changing expressions, Sunan nodded subtly.

His brother's willpower was stronger than expected. He had worried Kyi might be anxious after learning about the [Dark Throne], but it seemed he needn't have been concerned.

Starlight Calendar 1282.

This was the most peaceful year on the Starlight Continent.

With the Empire unifying the continent and swiftly quelling scattered rebellious forces, the continent stabilized, entering a period of peaceful development.

In the Month of Thunder (April).

The Emperor decreed the establishment of knight academies across the Empire.

Aside from a few royal knight academies for the nobility, most knight academies were open to the public, treating the middle class, commoners, and peasants equally.

Anyone passing the entrance exams had their tuition fees waived.

Additionally, the Empire began promoting and popularizing basic education, establishing numerous affordable basic academies accessible even to commoners and peasants.

While many commoners and peasants felt pressured by life and hadn't considered sending their children to school, many more were genuinely delighted and excited by the policy.

This was because literacy was a primary condition for participating in wizard aptitude testing.

Thanks to years of imperial propaganda, even the poorest peasants knew becoming a wizard was the fastest path to transcending social classes and becoming a person of status.

Passing the aptitude test meant rising to prominence.

Wizards were respected even by nobles.

For the struggling populace, wizards represented a beacon of hope amidst hardship.

Though the odds were slim, it wasn't impossible.

Even if their child failed the aptitude test, literacy would be a bonus when applying to knight academies.

These advantages greatly reduced resistance to implementing basic education.

Though widespread basic education would take a long time to fully establish, it was off to a good start.

Beyond knight academies and basic education, more decrees were issued, demonstrating the Emperor's resolve for reform.

Many nobles were taken aback.

They had assumed that after unifying the continent, the Emperor would lose his ambition and indulge in luxury, or at least abandon his progressive mindset.

To their surprise, the Emperor was more industrious than ever.

It was unexpected.

Only a few close to the Emperor, like Braid and Joton, vaguely understood that these changes were linked to Lord Sunan.

Dragon Forest, Starlight Academy.

Central Clock Tower, the residence and training site for mentors, and the tallest building in the academy.

From the top floor's expansive platform, one could overlook the entire academy.

Watching the bustling students below, Facado couldn't help but feel moved.

In the blink of an eye, he had been at the Starlight Academy for over half a year.

The more he stayed and learned about the academy, the more astonished he became.

He had never imagined such a model for training wizard apprentices.

No, it wasn't that he hadn't imagined it; reality's constraints had prevented him from conceiving it.

After all, their family's resources were barely enough for themselves, let alone for training others.

"Incredible," Innosent remarked. "Where does the Star Alliance get so many rare resources?"

"Perhaps from the underground world. The Star Alliance did unify the entire underground world," another apprentice, Tulio, suggested.

The mention of this prompted further reflection.

When they first learned that the Star Alliance had unified the entire underground world, they were stunned.

That vast, mysterious underground world, full of dangers, powerful creatures, and countless settlements, had been conquered!

They had always tread carefully when entering the underground world.

Yet this formidable place had been unified by the Star Alliance!

Realizing this, they understood the Star Alliance's immense power.

Their desire to join Starlight Academy only grew stronger.

Seeing the resource list available to academy mentors from the scepter, the four instantly resolved to join.

A dazzling array of third-tier potions, twilight-grade magical items, adamantine golems, rare metals, and magical plants.

Facado suddenly felt that the Russell family, with its millennia-old wizard heritage, seemed as impoverished as beggars before the Star Alliance.

Had he known about the Star Alliance's resources earlier, he would have immediately brought the Russell family into its fold, avoiding entanglement with the alliance.

After his thoughts wandered for a while, Facado refocused, turning to his family members.

"What are your thoughts?"

Innosent shrugged, smiling. "What's there to hesitate about? With such an opportunity, it'd be foolish not to seize it."

"Exactly." The other two nodded in agreement.

Facado chuckled, "Then it's decided."

He had high hopes for Starlight Academy's future.

The academy was destined to become a cradle for training wizard apprentices.

Perhaps in the distant future, the Starlight Continent would enter an era of wizards.

During this time, he would witness this era's arrival as a mentor at Starlight Academy.

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