Chapter 111: Chapter 111: An Outlandish Concept
A silence fell over the group.
Finally, Black Forest cleared his throat and said, "I happen to have a design blueprint for a special type of puppet, but it's not for a flying type. Are you interested?"
"Can I take a look first?"
"Of course."
Taking the blueprint from Black Forest, Sunan opened it and was momentarily taken aback.
The top of the blueprint bore the name of the puppet: Gem Golem!
This peculiar name immediately piqued his interest.
As he examined further, his expression grew curious.
Different golems are usually named based on their primary material.
For example, a steel golem is made primarily from steel, and a stone golem from rock.
Throughout the existence of wizardry, wizards have experimented with countless materials for crafting golems, some of which are quite bizarre, including flesh, bones, and even enchanted ropes and scrolls.
The variety of materials is vast and diverse.
However, using gemstones as a material was something Sunan had never heard of before.
It's not that gemstones aren't suitable as a material; the main issue is their cost!
Wizards, regardless of what they create, always consider cost-effectiveness first.
Whether it's a magic item, puppet, or potion, no matter how potent its effects, if its cost far exceeds its inherent value, then the item is a failure.
For this reason, no one had ever thought of using gemstones to create a golem.
Yet the author of this blueprint dared to tread where others would not.
Their concept involved constructing a golem body primarily from diamonds, supplemented by various gemstones, and then inscribing it with a certain number of second-circle spells. By leveraging the techniques of the 'Gem Spell' school, the gemstones would amplify the spell's power, creating a gem golem capable of casting multiple spells.
One must admit, this idea is quite innovative.
A golem constructed mainly from diamonds would have an incredibly hard body, likely surpassing even adamantine golems in durability.
Using gemstones to enhance spell power is also a clever notion.
With gemstone amplification, spells cast by the gem golem could rival third-circle spells in power.
A golem with an indestructible body, capable of casting spells as powerful as third-circle ones, would possess combat capabilities that even most level-three wizard apprentices might not match!
However, upon closer consideration, two glaring flaws in this concept become apparent.
The first is the difficulty in crafting.
To inscribe second-circle spells within a golem, enabling it to cast spells, is even more challenging than permanently enchanting a second-circle spell on a magic item.
With Sunan's level 4 [Magic Item Creation] skill, he failed several times before successfully enchanting a second-circle spell on a robe. Inscribing such spells would likely require dozens to hundreds of attempts to succeed.
If even Sunan finds it challenging, other wizard apprentices surely would as well.
Others don't have the abundant resources Sunan has to practice and enhance their magic item creation skills.
For most level-three wizard apprentices, reaching a level 2 standard in [Magic Item Creation] is already considered highly talented.
Moreover, to utilize gemstones to amplify spell power, the creator must possess knowledge of 'Gem Spells.'
However, this knowledge has long vanished from the Starlight Continent with the disappearance of the Gem Spell school.
Finding someone to teach this knowledge is currently impossible.
The second flaw is, naturally, the cost.
Creating a gem golem would require gemstones likely measured in tons, with a final cost potentially reaching hundreds of thousands or even millions of gold coins.
Even the wealthiest wizard couldn't sustain such an enormous expenditure.
Even if one could scrape together the funds for crafting, spending so much just to create a golem slightly stronger than the average level-three wizard apprentice?
Only someone incredibly extravagant would do such a thing!
Even in a future where Gem Bugs can mass-produce gemstones, Sunan wouldn't waste them on such endeavors.
To him, this blueprint is practically impractical.
In fact, according to the author's notes, they only conceptualized the gem golem and never actually crafted one.
After reviewing the blueprint, Sunan contemplated for a moment and then asked Black Forest with a playful tone, "What do you want in exchange for this blueprint?"
"Three magic stones. How about it?"
Black Forest was aware of the blueprint's impracticality, so he set a particularly low price for a puppet blueprint.
After some thought, Sunan agreed.
While the blueprint's idea was far-fetched, it wasn't entirely devoid of learning value.
By thoroughly studying it, he might design a new puppet based on it.
With the last transaction completed, the gathering came to an end.
As they parted, Black Forest waved to Sunan and said with a smile, "Player, if you're interested in puppets, I have another rare puppet blueprint. I'll bring it to the next gathering."
Sunan was slightly taken aback but nodded, "I'll look forward to it."
Time flew by.
As the month of Summer Field arrived, the sun hung high in the sky, and the weather turned particularly hot.
At the base.
Shaman had just left the potion lab when he bumped into Adil coming out of the room opposite.
They exchanged glances and shared a small smile.
"Are you making potions too?"
"Yeah, after spending so much time, I finally succeeded in making my first Lesser Dragonblood Potion."
Adil shook the potion bottle, the red liquid inside swirling gently.
As part of the first batch of students to join the base, Shaman, Corey, and Adil had all learned to create zero-level potions.
However, Shaman and Corey progressed faster, having already mastered the more challenging zero-level potions like Lesser Dragonblood and Lesser Vitality Potions.
Adil, on the other hand, was slower, only now managing to produce a Lesser Dragonblood Potion.
"Potion-making isn't all there is to being a wizard apprentice. Don't worry too much about it."
Seeing Adil's dejected look, Shaman searched for comforting words but only managed this awkward line.
Surprisingly, Adil chuckled.
"Don't force it. I know myself well enough. My talent isn't as good as yours or Corey's. I'll probably just remain a level-two wizard apprentice."
"But you and Corey might advance to level-three wizard apprentices!"
Shaman grinned but said nothing.
Advancing to a level-three wizard apprentice required constructing nine star rings.
It had taken him over three years to not even finish his third star ring, so nine felt like a distant dream.
"I heard the new Knight Academy started enrollment recently?" Adil brought up another topic.
"Yes," Shaman replied, smiling. "When I visited Old Roger the other day, he mentioned many people were joining the enrollment."
If there was one regret Shaman had about the base, it was the lack of students from backgrounds similar to his.
Most students came from middle-class families or were noble children.
He struggled to find friends who shared his perspective.
This wasn't to say the others were unfriendly.
Adil and Ethan, for instance, never looked down on him and were always warm and friendly.
But their differing backgrounds meant their worldviews varied, making deep connections challenging.
The newly established Knight Academy was said to only recruit students from commoner and farmer backgrounds, who would join the base's knight guard after graduation.
This meant the base wouldn't be populated solely by those from middle-class and noble backgrounds.
From a distance, laughter suddenly reached them.
Turning, Shaman saw a group of young people walking toward them, led by Ethan, with whom he was on good terms.
The group soon noticed Shaman and Adil, waving greetings.
"Senior Shaman!"
"Sister Adil!"
Adil greeted them with a smile and asked, "What's got you all in such high spirits?"
Ethan laughed, "Nothing much. Skinner finally mastered his first spell, so we're all happy for him."
Skinner, one of the second batch of students at the base, was the youngest among them at just thirteen, with a clean, fair appearance that made him well-loved and cared for by everyone.
"What spell is it?" Adil asked, smiling at Skinner.
"Mage Hand!"
Seemingly eager to impress Adil, the most popular senior, Skinner's face flushed with excitement as he prepared to demonstrate, but Shaman quickly stopped him.
"Hold on."
Shaman pointed to a tree not far away.
A red-eyed raven perched on a branch, its deep eyes fixed on the group.
Realizing the situation, Skinner quickly closed his mouth, startled.
After the third batch of students joined the base, regulations were implemented to manage the increased numbers, with strict rules enforced. Violators faced penalties like confinement and contribution point deductions.
One such rule prohibited casting spells outside designated areas like the spell practice zone and labs, with violators penalized through point deductions.
For Skinner, losing points was a painful prospect.
Coming to his senses, he thanked Shaman.
"Don't worry about it," Shaman waved it off with a smile. "Just remember to be careful next time."
The atmosphere relaxed again.
After a few more exchanges, Ethan and the others left, heading for the spell practice zone.
That had been their destination.
"What are your plans now?" Adil asked.
"I'm going to check the mission board and take on a few tasks."
"Coincidentally, I was planning to take on some tasks too. Let's go together."
The two headed to the warehouse, greeting Miss Gree, who was sunbathing, before heading to the mission board.
To their surprise, Corey was there too.
Noticing Shaman and Adil, Corey nodded briefly in greeting, then continued scanning the board.
Shaman approached to see several new tasks listed.
Tasks like feeding minerals to the Gem Bugs, collecting the pure gemstones they produced, enchanting the Twin-Blade Spider's forelimbs, and crafting stone golems.
Over a dozen new tasks had been added.
"Did you hear about the new camp built in the northern forest?" Corey suddenly asked.
"I heard," Adil replied.
Shaman nodded too.
They had long known about the discovery of a mineral vein in the northern forest, which connected to an entrance to the Underground World and a city-state ruled by Man-faced Lions.
The newly established Camp 1 was reportedly for monitoring the city-state.
The source of this information was none other than Lady Amy.
Lady Amy often shared new insights and occasionally recounted the teacher's adventures, adding a bit of excitement to their otherwise monotonous training.
"Lady Amy told me the teacher plans to wage war against the Man-faced Lion city-state."
Shaman and Adil were taken aback.
But upon reflection, this seemed to have been foreshadowed.
For instance, all gemstones collected from the Gem Bug nest were sent to Camp 1, likely for crafting stone golems.
The new task of crafting stone golems on the board was evidently for this reason.
"I'm planning to ask the teacher to let me join the war," Corey's statement was surprising.
"Join the war?"
Adil and Shaman exchanged surprised glances.
"Isn't that too risky?"
"Yeah, that level of warfare isn't something we can participate in."
The soldiers in such battles would either be Man-faced Lions with strength approaching a knight's or knight-level stone golems and Twin-Blade Spiders.
There were even grand knights and legendary knight-level combatants!
A level-one wizard apprentice in such a war could easily face death with the slightest mistake.
"Exactly, meow. It's too soon for you to consider joining a war."
A familiar voice sounded, and Adil felt a light weight on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Amy's snow-white feline form.
"Lady Amy!"
Amy licked her paw and lazily said, "A level-one wizard apprentice can barely handle a couple of knights. You might manage in a human war, but against Man-faced Lions, you'd be heading to your death."
"Wait until you're at least a level-two wizard apprentice."
Corey frowned, "Lady Amy, I just want the teacher to let me take this opportunity to earn more contribution points and accelerate my growth. Besides, battle might help me break through my bottleneck."
"That sounds like something a dark wizard would do," Amy tilted her head, waving a paw. "Do as you wish. I can mention it to Sunan, but don't get your hopes up."
A hint of joy flashed across Corey's face. "Thank you, Lady Amy!"
"What about you two?" Amy turned to the others.
Adil shook her head.
Her spells were mostly supportive, with none suitable for combat. Going to war would be akin to suicide.
Shaman also shook his head.
He wasn't as fixated as Corey on rapidly gaining power.
He enjoyed his current situation, learning new knowledge daily and feeling his progress.
The process of gradually unveiling the mysteries of the world was something he found deeply absorbing.
He preferred a steady, methodical approach over hasty advancement.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone