The Synthesis Wizard

Starlight Calendar 1256, Autumn Twilight Moon (October).

The chill in the air was becoming quite noticeable, hinting at an earlier snowfall than usual this year.

In the meditation room, Sunan sat cross-legged on the floor, slowly opening his eyes, a flash of joy passing through them.

The fifteenth star ring, successfully constructed!

"Just three more to go."

Sunan took a deep breath, calming his excitement, and opened his status panel.

**[Sunan Arnest, Human Male]**

**[Spirit 48.03 / Constitution 43.77]**

**[Skills]**

- Star Ring Meditation Lv16 (23/3,000,000)

- Potion Making Lv4 (8,345/10,000)

- Biological Modification Lv3 (3,025/6,000)

- Golem Crafting Lv5 (374/20,000)

- Magical Item Crafting Lv4 (5,031/10,000)

"Three million proficiency. At the current pace, it should take about two years."

"But if I can use divine energy to boost my spirit growth, the speed might increase."

Sunan's lips curled into a slight smile.

The remaining three star rings should be completed within ten years.

Then it would just be a matter of spirit and talent crystals.

Looking further, among the four skills, [Golem Crafting] had advanced the fastest, standing alone at level 5.

After all, Sunan had been fervently crafting various golems in recent years, rapidly increasing his proficiency.

In contrast, Potion Making had slowed, as most low-tier potions were now crafted by apprentices at the base, with Sunan only handling synthesis. Less crafting naturally meant slower proficiency growth.

The same was true for Magical Item Crafting and Biological Modification, with practice becoming less frequent.

Especially the latter, which was mainly used for enhancing the bloodlines of the Hidden Dragon and Death Knell Striker, showing minimal proficiency growth.

Nonetheless, to reach these levels in four major skills as a wizard apprentice was unparalleled on the Starlight Continent.

Other apprentices didn't have the wealth of resources he did for practice.

Stretching, Sunan retrieved the Trading House key, waiting patiently until he felt it activate.

He immediately activated the key, entering the Forest Cabin.

Tonight marked the quarterly Forest Cabin gathering.

The new member hadn't attended the last meeting due to other commitments, but they were expected this time.

Upon opening his eyes, Sunan scanned the surroundings, spotting the new member.

The newcomer wore a gray robe, subtly marked with enchantment runes, indicating it was a magical item.

The robe obscured their body completely, leaving only a face covered by a plain white mask exposed.

The other Forest Cabin members subtly observed the new member.

After a moment, seeing no one else entering, Night Owl began the meeting.

"First, let me introduce our newest member, the ninth wizard apprentice of Forest Cabin."

Night Owl turned to the gray-robed figure in the white mask.

"As per our rules, all members' true identities are confidential and must not be disclosed. For convenience, we each have a codename. Please choose yours."

The gray-robed figure pondered briefly, then said, "Call me Hunter."

As Hunter's deep voice fell, the word 'Hunter' slowly appeared on the table before him.

"Welcome to the group, Hunter."

Night Owl smiled slightly.

"Now, let's commence tonight's transactions."

The familiar trading process followed.

Aside from Black Forest and Traveler, all members were present, bringing out items for trade.

Hunter observed the process quietly, soon noticing the wizard apprentice called Player seemed to have an abundance of resources.

Not only did he offer numerous first-tier potions and alchemical magical items for trade, but he also used the rare magic stones when purchasing from others!

Judging by the others' nonchalant reactions, this wasn't a new occurrence.

Noticing Hunter's surprise, Scepter, seated nearby, chuckled, explaining softly, "Player is the wealthiest among us, with vast resources. Since he joined Forest Cabin, our group's trade has risen several levels."

"I see."

Hunter glanced at Sunan in surprise.

Sunan, noticing his gaze, turned to nod slightly.

Hunter quickly returned the nod in acknowledgment.

He could tell the others held Sunan in a certain esteem.

This likely wasn't just due to his resources, but also his strength.

A wizard apprentice with deep resources and formidable power.

Hunter concluded internally.

The trading proceeded swiftly, with Hunter participating twice, purchasing a potion from Sunan and two sun grasses from Rose.

Soon, it was Hunter's turn to offer items.

To everyone's surprise, he presented a stone inscribed with runes.

Sunan's face beneath the mask turned slightly curious.

Under the group's puzzled gazes, Hunter spoke meaningfully:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a key."

"A key to the Tower of Stars!"

At this, everyone except Sunan was taken aback.

"One of the three great legacies, the Tower of Stars?"

"Is it real?!"

"Do you know where the Tower of Stars is?"

Even Night Owl couldn't help but look at Hunter in astonishment.

Who would have thought Hunter's first trade in Forest Cabin would involve such a significant item!

Granted, if Hunter's claim was true.

As if anticipating this, Night Owl showed a contemplative look.

Scepter was the first to recover, speaking gravely, "How can you prove your claim?"

Hunter seemed prepared for this, calmly stating, "I can make a vow contract."

Hearing this, the group had no further doubts, their eyes fixed intently on the rune-inscribed stone.

The Tower of Stars!

One of the only three wizard legacies on the Starlight Continent!

It's said that entering it offers a significant chance of becoming a formal wizard.

In the resource-scarce, element-deficient Starlight Continent, this is almost the only hope for advancement for third-level wizard apprentices!

"The Tower of Stars opens every twenty years, its location random each time. Only those with a key can locate and enter it. As far as I know, the next opening is in ten years."

Listening to Hunter, the group's eyes grew brighter.

"Name your price," Remains rasped, unable to hide his eagerness, his gaze fixed on Hunter. "What do you want in trade?"

Hunter didn't speak, instead looking at Sunan.

At this, the group's hearts sank.

They nearly forgot Player was present!

If he wanted the Tower of Stars key, none of them could compete!

To their surprise, Sunan shook his head, "I'm not interested, you can trade."

Hunter was momentarily stunned.

He'd hoped to leverage the Tower of Stars key for a hefty gain from Sunan, but the latter didn't play by the rules.

Was he truly uninterested in the Tower of Stars?

That couldn't be!

Who could be uninterested in the Tower of Stars among third-level wizard apprentices?

Hunter was baffled.

Rose, Scepter, Red Heart, and Remains were also puzzled, unable to fathom Sunan's lack of interest.

Only Night Owl remained unfazed.

He had figured it out.

"The Tower of Stars, the Starlight Duchy, heh, so there's a connection between them. I used to think it was just a coincidence in names."

Coming to his senses, seeing Player truly uninterested, the group rejoiced.

Without Player's involvement, their chances of obtaining the Tower of Stars key increased significantly.

Hunter, though disappointed, had no choice but to say, "My first choice is potions and gems. Other items will be considered based on value."

With that, Remains quickly made the first offer:

"One thousand gold worth of gems, plus five micro soul crystals!"

The others weren't far behind, each voicing their price.

"Two bottles of calming potion, plus two thousand gold worth of gems!"

"Three thousand gold worth of gems!"

The prices soared.

This was likely the most competitive trade in Forest Cabin's history.

Everyone seemed determined to acquire the key.

Sunan sat calmly, watching the five bid against each other.

If possible, he wanted the Tower of Stars key.

He already had one, but it could be given to Ke Yi.

But seeing Night Owl and the others' determination, willing to pay a high price, he refrained.

If acquiring the key came at a hefty cost, he preferred not to.

After all, letting Ke Yi enter the Tower of Stars was to obtain the life-extending Dawn Potion. If he entered later, he could secure one for Ke Yi then.

Compared to vying for the Tower of Stars key, Sunan was more curious about how Hunter acquired it.

As far as he knew, only Evans had the Tower of Stars keys.

"Could Hunter know Evans? Or did he take it from Evans?"

"Come to think of it, Night Owl mentioned Hunter escaped from the Immortal Society's Saulo. Is there a connection?"

Various possibilities crossed Sunan's mind.

At this point, the bidding for the Tower of Stars key concluded.

Ultimately, Scepter won the key with thirteen calming potions and gems worth 6,200 gold.

Sunan wasn't surprised by the outcome.

Before he joined Forest Cabin, Scepter was the most generous member.

If he guessed correctly, Scepter's royal lineage from the Azure Gold Empire explained his generosity.

The Azure Gold Empire was the most powerful nation in the southeastern continent, bar none.

Calming potions, a meditation aid, were worth about 300 gold each.

In total, Scepter spent nearly 6,600 gold for the Tower of Stars key.

A hefty price.

Yet Scepter seemed pleased with the result.

Rose, Red Heart, and Remains looked disgruntled.

But lacking the resources, they had no choice but to accept.

Sunan glanced at Hunter.

If he was willing to trade the Tower of Stars key, he likely had another, perhaps more.

Perhaps similar trades would occur in the future.

Frost Moon (November).

Snowflakes dotted the land.

This year's snow indeed came early.

Compared to the biting cold and fierce winds above ground, the underground world merely grew cooler.

In Lake U City, manticore warriors still roamed the streets bare-chested.

In Base 2, laboratory.

The large workbench was filled with numerous test tubes, each containing 100 milliliters of blood drawn from the Death Knell Striker.

"This should be enough blood."

Sunan murmured, inserting the blood into the cube, eyes fixed on the synthesis interface.

As more blood was added, the concentration of the synthesized blood increased.

59.13% 64.79% 71.34% 84.11%

With less than eight test tubes remaining, the blood concentration finally surpassed 100%, and the information abruptly changed.

**[Screeching Terror's Blood, Purity 1.25%, contains 1 standard unit of divine energy. Injecting into the body has a very low chance of fusing with Screeching Terror's bloodline, with a high chance of rejection, potentially leading to death. The stronger the constitution and spirit, the higher the fusion success rate, and the lower the rejection risk.]**

"Success!"

Sunan was overjoyed.

As he suspected, divine energy could be synthesized from the blood without enhancing the Striker's bloodline concentration.

Though the divine energy was minimal, it validated his method.

Sunan immediately extracted the divine energy and absorbed it.

Unlike divine energy from deities, this naturally generated divine energy lacked faith power, avoiding faith pollution, making it pure for absorption.

After absorbing it, Sunan checked his panel, noting a 0.25 increase in spirit.

"Not bad!"

Sunan smiled, satisfied.

With only 1 standard unit of divine energy, far less than what he extracted from divine remains, a 0.25 spirit increase was commendable.

The key was sustainability.

As long as the Death Knell Striker lived, he could continually draw blood, artificially creating divine energy, providing a consistent means to increase his spirit.

"About eight months' worth of blood yields 1 standard unit of divine energy."

"On average, an additional 0.37 spirit per year."

"No, that's not right. Spirit becomes harder to increase over time, so subsequent growth should gradually decrease."

"Even so, it will significantly shorten the time needed to push my spirit past 60."

Sunan thought of the Striker in the detention area.

Given its valuable contribution, he'd move it to a more comfortable environment later.

Living in a dark cell and constant bloodletting would surely lead to depression.

Of course, strict security was still necessary.

With the adamantite golem currently unused, it would guard the Death Knell Striker.

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