Chapter 214: Developing the Foundation

"Meow, Sunan!"

Amy's keen senses were as sharp as ever, immediately detecting Sunan's arrival. In an instant, the little creature vanished from its spot and reappeared on Sunan's shoulder.

"Meow, did you go to the wizard tower again?" Amy asked, licking its paw.

Sunan chuckled, "I just activated the Elemental Pool today. The energy there is more abundant than at the Dragon Skeleton Tower. You and the Hidden Dragon can rest there from now on."

The Hidden Dragon, having walked over, roared excitedly at this news. Since evolving into a true dragon, it had become highly sensitive to energy particle concentration, finding it intolerable to stay outside. It mostly remained in Dragon Forest, occasionally visiting the Elemental Pool to enjoy the high-energy environment. The prospect of an even more concentrated energy source was thrilling.

In contrast, Amy, less dependent on energy particle concentration due to its lower power level, was nevertheless delighted. "Yay, finally, we can live in the wizard tower again, meow!"

Before its long slumber, Amy had lived in a wizard tower and fondly remembered that environment. While Dragon Forest was nice, it couldn't compare to the comfort of a wizard tower.

Sunan's curiosity piqued, and he asked Amy about its master's wizard tower.

"My master's wizard tower?"

"I think it was a large wizard tower, very spacious and roomy, meow!"

As expected of a True Spirit descendant, even their wizard towers were large.

Suddenly, Sunan remembered something and asked, "What level wizard was your master?"

"Meow, my master was a third-level wizard."

"But before I went to sleep, my master seemed to be advancing to a True Spirit wizard, meow."

A True Spirit wizard!

Sunan mused over the thought.

Due to their genetic heritage, True Spirit descendants have a much higher chance of becoming True Spirit wizards compared to ordinary wizards. With abundant resources and guidance from their elders, two or three out of ten typically succeed in becoming True Spirit wizards.

Though the numbers seem small, they're remarkable compared to ordinary wizards, where perhaps one in a thousand might reach that level.

Over a thousand years have passed; it's possible Amy's master has already become a True Spirit wizard.

"I want to see the wizard tower!"

With a child's enthusiasm, Amy quickly urged the Hidden Dragon to head towards the wizard tower.

Sunan shook his head with a smile and, after some thought, teleported to his laboratory.

With the aid of Tower Spirit No. 1, his research on talent crystal models should progress more smoothly. He planned to consult more literature for inspiration.

As for the type of the second talent crystal model, Sunan had already decided.

The first model, 'Liquid Metal,' was a balanced approach of offense and defense.

For the second and third talent models, it would be ideal to have one focused on extreme defense and the other on extreme offense.

Considering he already had several offensive methods, the second talent crystal model would prioritize defense.

After much deliberation, he chose the wizard tool [Forbidden Zone] as the base model.

The invisible field of [Forbidden Zone] not only provides all-around defense but also exerts gravitational suppression on nearby enemies—weakening the enemy is another form of defense.

Limited by materials, [Forbidden Zone]'s power was capped at its current level.

But if it were improved and transformed into a talent crystal model, its power could be further expanded and strengthened.

Sunan eagerly anticipated the final product.

Time flowed by like grains of sand slipping through fingers, silently passing.

Starlight Calendar 1291, Month of Blossoms (May).

Ten years had passed since the unification of the continent by the Starlight Empire.

The scars from the war had long healed, and people returned to their peaceful lives.

Under the Emperor's reformist policies, the empire thrived, developing rapidly.

The citizens, especially those at the bottom of society, felt the changes most acutely. Their improved lives led them to genuinely support the empire's rule.

For some observant individuals, the most noticeable change was the increasing number of knights seen in daily life.

Previously, knights were either nobles or noble followers, holding a status much higher than ordinary citizens.

Now, there were many knights of common birth.

This change was even more pronounced in the military.

Previously, a skilled squire could be an officer, but now even the lowest-ranking officers needed to be knights.

Knights were becoming increasingly common.

While the observations of the observant were mere speculation, the detailed data in the report before Sunan was concrete.

In the past four years, knight academies across the empire had graduated over twenty thousand knights.

The number of squire-level graduates was in the hundreds of thousands.

Including the Star Alliance's seven knight academies and the empire's dozen royal knight academies, the number of knight graduates approached forty thousand.

—The Star Alliance's seven knight academies alone had graduated over ten thousand knights in four years.

In the past, such numbers would have been unimaginable.

But now, it was commonplace.

Had the majority of the Star Alliance's Dragon Blood Fruits and Dragon Blood Potions not been allocated to the runic knight corps, the seven knight academies, and the royal knight academies, and only a small amount to ordinary knight academies, the number of trained knights could have doubled.

Sunan shifted his gaze to another report.

Written by Rose, it detailed a newly developed fruit-type magical plant.

This magical plant enhanced constitution, but its effect was much weaker than Dragon Blood Fruit, only about a fifth as effective.

To be honest, calling it a magical plant was a stretch.

However, its effects aside, this fruit had low environmental requirements for growth.

It could be cultivated in the current conditions of the Starlight Continent without the need for energy-gathering arrays.

Sunan saw this as its most valuable trait.

It meant the fruit could be grown outside magical plantations, even by ordinary people.

If widely promoted across the empire, it could alleviate the shortage of Dragon Blood Fruits and Dragon Blood Potions to some extent.

Without hesitation, Sunan approved the report for submission to the Emperor, recommending large-scale cultivation. He also awarded Rose a substantial contribution for her work.

Notably, Rose named this fruit the Star Fruit.

The significance of the Star Fruit was immense.

With it, the Starlight Empire could train more knights.

Sunan never believed that solely focusing on personal strength or the Star Alliance's development was sufficient.

While this approach might yield short-term gains, it was shortsighted in the long run.

The Starlight Continent was his foundation.

Strengthening and developing this foundation simultaneously increased his own resources, allowing him to progress further in the future.

This was why he wholeheartedly supported Kyi's reforms.

The spread of basic education, the establishment of knight academies, and more reform policies subtly enhanced the Starlight Continent's strength.

The stronger the continent, the greater the benefits he, as its de facto ruler, could reap.

"Unfortunately, there are no magic stone mines on the continent, otherwise developing magical energy technology could enhance basic technological levels."

Magical energy technology refers to the application of magic stone-powered machines, including magic stone lamps, magical energy carriages, magical energy ships, and magical energy weapons for civilian and military use.

The two prerequisites for developing magical energy technology are abundant magic stone mines and a strong wizarding civilization (with enough wizard apprentices and formal wizards).

Currently, the Starlight Continent lacks both prerequisites.

The latter can be achieved gradually over time.

But for the former, unless an elemental resurgence occurs with a long period of recovery and accumulation, it remains unattainable.

As for using the cube to synthesize magic stones, Sunan hadn't even considered it.

Once magical energy technology spreads, the vast number of magic stones required for the continent would be astronomical, far beyond what he alone could supply.

After approving the documents, Sunan stretched and left the study.

He was currently in the under-construction wizard tower.

Since the Elemental Pool was established, he had been conducting his training, studies, and affairs there.

Compared to the Dragon Skeleton Tower, the energy particle concentration here was more comfortable.

The spatial planning of the wizard tower was still being perfected, with only about a third completed.

It's worth noting that Sunan attempted to construct another Elemental Pool during this time and synthesized it with the original.

The result was a combined Elemental Pool with effects increased by about 1.2 times, much to his delight.

"At this rate, four to five small Elemental Pools should synthesize into an Elemental Pool comparable to a medium one."

With these thoughts, Sunan arrived at the experimental area.

The expansive area housed over two hundred laboratories, each requiring arrays to prevent experimental energy explosions from destroying them and affecting other areas.

This task alone would take seven to eight months to complete.

And it's just one part of the spatial planning.

"A long road ahead."

By the time Sunan finished his work, evening had arrived.

Glancing at the twilight sky, he felt a sudden urge to eat.

Since becoming a wizard, Sunan had largely abandoned eating.

Even decades or centuries without food wouldn't leave him hungry.

Simply absorbing the ambient energy particles sufficed for his sustenance.

However, Sunan occasionally indulged in gourmet meals.

It was one of his few remaining pleasures.

Of course, only the daily recommended dishes from the Starlight Academy and Dragon Skeleton Tower cafeterias, made from rare materials with special effects, met his standards.

For this reason, Carolina had arranged a private dining room for him at the Dragon Skeleton Tower cafeteria.

As usual, Sunan had just settled in when Carolina, tail swaying, entered, followed by a procession of water elementals bearing platters.

When the elementals set down the dishes and lifted the lids, a mouthwatering aroma filled the room, saturating every corner.

Sunan's gaze lingered on one platter, his expression shifting slightly.

"Is this... Emperor Shrimp?"

"Yes, Master," Carolina replied with a smile.

She knew that identifying the dish's origins wouldn't be a challenge for her knowledgeable master.

Emperor Shrimp were fierce marine creatures, growing over five meters long with formidable claws, a broad diet, and few natural predators. Their powerful limbs made them formidable opponents.

In the ocean, even junior knights wouldn't dare confront an Emperor Shrimp head-on.

As Sunan knew, Emperor Shrimp were deep-sea creatures, seemingly only found in the Rainbow Sea.

His eyes scanned the other dishes.

Sure enough, Rainbow Prawns, Rainbow Clams, Coral Fish, and Dragon Whale Meat were all specialties of the Rainbow Sea.

The Rainbow Sea's resources were bountiful, home to the world's largest coral reefs and a treasure trove of delectable seafood.

Carolina had prepared a Rainbow Sea seafood feast for him today.

Sunan smiled, gesturing for the water elementals to leave, and invited Carolina to sit.

"Let's eat and talk."

Carolina hesitated briefly before her face lit up with joy. Carefully, she moved to her seat, coiling her tail on the chair, and sat down to Sunan's left.

Sunan sampled the Emperor Shrimp, nodding in satisfaction before addressing the main topic.

"How's the exploration of the Rainbow Sea progressing?"

Carolina respectfully reported, "We've established five city-states in the Rainbow Bay and are in the process of land reclamation to build three islands as transition points for deep-sea exploration. However, interference from deep-sea nagas, sirens, and sea monsters has slowed progress."

She glanced cautiously at Sunan, noting his leisurely enjoyment of the meal without any sign of displeasure, and continued:

"I've dispatched additional troops to Rainbow Bay and issued orders to Starlight Academy for magical ships and underwater puppets. Sheman and Corey are also preparing to lead teams to the Rainbow Sea. With their assistance, we should soon see breakthroughs in exploration."

The deep sea was the domain of marine tribes and sea monsters. No matter how formidable a ship, it was no match for these creatures at sea.

Thus, humans had only ever dominated the land, with no nation daring to venture into the Rainbow Sea.

Even the mighty Star Alliance faced challenges and resistance in the Rainbow Sea, still confined to its periphery.

But Carolina believed that with increased resources, the Star Alliance could overcome the current obstacles in the Rainbow Sea.

She had prepared this feast, hoping to use the opportunity to appeal to her master.

She was confident he would understand.

Indeed, after hearing her report, Sunan glanced at her with a knowing smile and said:

"I'll have the academy cooperate with you, and you can freely allocate Star Alliance resources. The only requirement is to make swift progress in the Rainbow Sea."

With only about four years left until the opening of Falling Star City, it was crucial to establish a foothold in the Rainbow Sea.

The forces established there might prove invaluable in the search for Falling Star City.

--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/LegendaryTL

Thanks!