Amelia's news made Kael's eyes light up. "The old man finally has news?" For days, Ethan had been holed up in the Tower of Hope, utterly engrossed in studying the magic crystal cannon—the elderly mage was having the time of his life.
Ethan had always been obsessed with alchemy. Now that he'd gotten his hands on a genuine dwarven magic crystal cannon, he'd refused to let go, tinkering relentlessly.
But this obsession had borne exceptional results.
Ethan burst out in a frenzy, his laughter booming when he spotted Kael. "You brat! I've finally cracked it!"
His words sent a thrill through Kael. The magic crystal cannon research was complete.
The old mage looked like a wreck—his once-magnificent robe (worth at least tens of thousands of gold) was now riddled with holes, his hair disheveled, and his appearance downright slovenly.
Typical Ethan.
Kael smirked. Given the old man's exhilaration, the breakthrough had to be significant.
"Master, you've deciphered the cannon's principles?" Kael asked eagerly.
"Damn right! Few in the Three Continents rival my alchemical expertise. If I couldn't figure it out, no one could!" Ethan declared with unshakable confidence.
He wasn't wrong. Ethan's alchemy was peerless. The magic crystal cannon—a pinnacle achievement of dwarven technology—would've remained a mystery to anyone else.
"The cannon's structure is fiendishly complex," Ethan explained, "but its core component is a device called an 'Arcane Converter.' This thing transforms magic crystals into artillery fire. Its material is exceptionally rare—it must withstand extreme heat, requiring a unique alloy."
He gestured emphatically. "The Arcane Converter is the linchpin. I suspect only 'Solarite' would suffice. Problem is, while Solarite isn't expensive, it's vanishingly scarce…"
Solarite. Kael nodded. True, this heat-resistant metal had limited applications, keeping its price low—but its rarity made procurement a headache.
After a moment's thought, Kael turned to Amelia. "Have Finn reach out to merchant guilds from the Gui Empire. We'll buy any Solarite they have in stock."
With Solarite secured, mass-producing magic crystal cannons would become possible. Though rare, its affordability made bulk acquisition a strategic bargain.
Old Ethan beamed, clapping Kael's shoulder. "Kid, get me that Solarite, and I'll have these cannons rolling out faster than you can blink!" Rubbing his hands eagerly, he practically vibrated with anticipation.
Kael nodded. Only after repeated assurances did Ethan finally depart, cradling the cannon prototype like a treasured child.
Watching the old mage's retreating figure, Kael chuckled before summoning Lone Wolf.
"Gather the territory's most elite soldiers—immediately." The order left Lone Wolf momentarily baffled.
Elite soldiers?
Militarily, no one in Rafay City surpassed Lone Wolf's leadership. He knew every squad's capabilities intimately. Though unclear about Kael's intent, he swiftly mobilized the troops.
Within moments, 500 soldiers stood assembled—including high-ranking officers like Jett and Finn.
Kael mentally calculated. With ample serpent-blood potions prepared, this force's collective strength could ascend to new heights.
"You're here to receive a gift—one vial per soldier, brewed from a Level 10 beast's blood." Kael's voice, amplified by magic, reverberated across the field.
Awe rippled through the ranks. Potion from a Level 10 beast? For ordinary soldiers, this was manna from heaven. Their eyes blazed with excitement—even Finn and Jett couldn't suppress their exhilaration.
Winged serpent blood—a rarity among rarities. This wasn't just beneficial; it was transformative.
Kael unveiled ten massive glass containers. The blood, now refined, bore no trace of metallic scent—only an herb-infused aroma that perfumed the air.
Kael, now enhanced by the Life Tree's transformation, found the Winged Serpent Blood redundant—it was of little use to him. However, the others were far from as extraordinary as Kael and thus regarded the Winged Serpent Blood with great anticipation.
Fortunately, with ten large jars of Winged Serpent Blood at his disposal, Kael ensured everyone received a share.
The ten jars were quickly distributed. Finn, Amelia, and the rest drank it down, immediately feeling a surge of heat spreading through their bodies as their battle aura involuntarily began circulating...
In mere moments, the effects of the Winged Serpent Blood took hold!
"So hot—this potency is terrifying," Finn gasped, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as his clothes quickly became drenched.
The soldiers were no exception, sweating profusely with flushed faces, their bodies seething as if a wave of heat expanded and contracted, darting wildly within them.
"Close your eyes. Focus. Stay calm." Kael's voice boomed like thunder in their ears, sharpening their minds and dispelling distractions.
"Absorb every drop of this energy—you won't get a second chance!" Kael commanded.
The five hundred soldiers, along with Amelia and the others, began frantically channeling the Winged Serpent Blood's power.
Their battle aura surged violently, and soon, a radiant glow enveloped the soldiers—a sign of their advancement.
These troops, handpicked by Lone Wolf, were mostly at levels four or five, leaving ample room for growth. With the Winged Serpent Blood's aid, breaking through was no great challenge.
Amelia, Finn, and the others, however, showed little significant progress, with only minor breakthroughs here and there. This was hardly surprising—even Kael, despite his extraordinary encounters, found major advancements difficult. A single jar of Winged Serpent Blood, though precious, couldn't compare to treasures like the Water Dragon's Legacy or the Millennium Ice Soul.
Before long, everyone had fully absorbed the Winged Serpent Blood's energy, their strength noticeably enhanced.
The most dramatic improvements were seen among the elite soldiers. Lone Wolf had meticulously selected these five hundred for their combat prowess and unwavering loyalty to Kael, making them ideal candidates for cultivation. After consuming the Winged Serpent Blood, their physiques underwent remarkable refinement, and without exception, they all reached around level six in strength.
"Such potent effects!" Lone Wolf was overjoyed. Kael had significantly enhanced the soldiers' strength. Though Kael himself, now transformed by the Life Tree, found the Winged Serpent Blood redundant—offering little additional benefit—the others were far from his monstrous level and thus eagerly anticipated its power.
Fortunately, with ten massive jars of Winged Serpent Blood at hand, there was enough for everyone.
The jars were swiftly distributed. Finn, Amelia, and the rest drank it down, immediately feeling a surge of scorching heat erupt within their bodies as their battle aura involuntarily surged into motion...
In mere moments, the Winged Serpent Blood took effect!
"So hot—this potency is terrifying!" Finn gasped, sweat pouring from his brow as his clothes quickly became drenched.
The soldiers were no exception—each one dripped with sweat, their faces flushed red, their bodies seething as waves of heat expanded and contracted, darting wildly beneath their skin.
"Close your eyes. Focus. Stay calm." Kael's voice thundered in their ears, sharpening their minds and scattering distractions.
"Absorb every drop of this energy—you won't get a second chance!" Kael barked.
The five hundred soldiers, along with Amelia and the others, began frantically refining the Winged Serpent Blood's power.
Their battle aura raged violently, and soon, a radiant glow enveloped the soldiers—the telltale sign of advancement!
Lone Wolf had handpicked these troops, most of whom were around levels four or five—low enough that their potential for growth was immense. Under the Winged Serpent Blood's influence, breaking through came easily.
Amelia, Finn, and the others, however, showed little major progress, with only occasional minor breakthroughs. This was hardly surprising—even Kael, despite his extraordinary encounters, found major advancements difficult. A single jar of Winged Serpent Blood, though precious, couldn't compare to treasures like the Water Dragon's Legacy or the Millennium Ice Soul.
Soon, everyone had fully absorbed the Winged Serpent Blood's energy, their strength noticeably enhanced.
The most dramatic improvements were seen among the elite soldiers. These five hundred were already the cream of the crop—handpicked by Lone Wolf for both their combat prowess and unwavering loyalty to Kael—making them ideal candidates for cultivation. After consuming the Winged Serpent Blood, their physiques underwent remarkable refinement, and without exception, they all reached around level six in strength.
These soldiers were already the finest of the elite—now, they were a force that could serve as any nation's trump card.
Though only five hundred in number, their combat power was absolutely terrifying—each one might as well be worth ten ordinary warriors!
A satisfied smile spread across Kael's face.
"By the way, I also forged a batch of armor," Kael said with a faint smile.
He retrieved over a dozen sets of armor crafted from Winged Serpent scales and distributed them to Finn, Amelia, and the others. Nearly all of the high-ranking members of the Laphie Territory received one of these serpent-scale armors—even Grace, who handled administrative affairs.
Grace, being the young princess of the ancient Empire of Gui, held a noble status, and Kael naturally prioritized her protection as well.
With this, the strength of the Laphie Territory underwent a monumental leap. Both its high-ranking officers and soldiers had achieved a dramatic improvement.
Kael exhaled inwardly, then clenched his fist. He had already prepared the Winged Serpent's Gallbladder and the Carefree Water—he was ready to attempt a breakthrough to Level 10!
That's right. If he succeeded in reaching Level 10, he would no longer have to fear the Reynolds Family!