Lei Lin immediately issued another command to the Chip.
"Task initiated! Beginning simulation experiment. Subject data backup in progress…" The Chip whirred into action at tremendous speed, projecting a three-dimensional phantom before Lei Lin — a faint, ghostly image that was unmistakably his own likeness.
The Chip could not only collect and analyze massive quantities of data, but could also construct simulated experimental subjects to attempt breakthroughs, thereby yielding precise probabilities and figures. This meant Lei Lin didn't have to rely on rough estimates and experience like other Wizards, or simply gamble on luck!
This was one of the reasons why his breakthroughs always went relatively smoothly.
"Ding! Simulation experiment complete! For the subject to break through the Third-level Vaporization bottleneck, Spiritual Power must reach at least 240, along with 400 grams of Corroding Lizard bloodline essence, three portions of Purple Leaf Serpent Scale Fruit, and a complete set of standard Vaporization wizard formations for the breakthrough attempt! Success rate: 86.9%!"
The Chip projected a set of data before Lei Lin's eyes.
"Nearly a ninety percent chance — that's more than enough!" Lei Lin clenched his fist tightly.
Other Wizards, lacking the Chip's precise calculations, could only roughly gather materials that might aid their breakthroughs. If they managed to secure even better than a fifty percent success rate, they would count themselves fortunate — how could they ever hope for probability predictions accurate to a decimal point?
Lei Lin had a feeling that the Chip, having fused with his soul through the process of time-space traversal, seemed to have gained terrifying enhancements alongside his own continuous progress. Its processing capacity far exceeded any cutting-edge processor from his previous world.
In fact, if he were to place his current Chip back into his former world, it would be the absolute pinnacle of technology — there would be no way to manufacture another one like it.
"The Corroding Lizard bloodline essence and the Purple Leaf Serpent Scale Fruit — both are fairly common auxiliary materials that Warlocks use during breakthroughs. They're available on the exchange screen, though the prices are steep. But I can still afford them!"
Having spent three years working as an Apothecary and accumulating savings, plus borrowing a large sum of contribution points from Senior Brother
"After this, I'll need to return to my territory to attempt the breakthrough and oversee the construction of the
Lei Lin thought silently to himself.
The Wizard Tower being built alongside the Black Castle was his true foundation on the Central Continent. Though he had spent most of the past three years preparing potions, he had never slackened on the Wizard Tower's construction.
Moreover, now that the main structure was complete, the remaining tasks — installing the elemental pool and calibrating the wizard formations — would have to be handled personally by Lei Lin. The other Warlocks could only assist with peripheral tasks. He would not let them get anywhere near the core secrets.
"Third-level Vaporization power should be sufficient to activate Fourth-level wizardry scrolls. I could even go to my master and purchase a Construct Animation scroll! It would serve as the intelligent core for the entire Wizard Tower. Let's hope Master doesn't name too outrageous a price…"
Lei Lin mused idly to himself as he searched through the information on the screen to make his transactions.
Though he appeared somewhat absent-minded, under the Chip's fearsome assistance, everything he selected turned out to be of the finest quality, and the Vaporization wizard formation was obtained without a hitch as well.
However, during the handover, he also received news that made him frown slightly.
"Miranta and
Lei Lin asked with some curiosity. Those two were Third-level Vaporization sorcerers. With the boost from their bloodlines, their effective strength should be rated several levels higher. For them to end up seriously injured was genuinely puzzling.
"Apologies. That’s classified! I couldn’t get any information!"
The merchant Lei Lin was dealing with was a gaunt-faced Wizard, a shrewd smile on his face. He wouldn’t dare offend Lei Lin, who was his major customer. Previously, selling the high-grade
"However, it’s said that while exploring some ancient ruin, they were ambushed by an unidentified force! For this, the Second Elder flew into a rage and went out personally, vowing to find the culprits..."
The Wizard leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice as he spoke.
"I see!" Lei Lin nodded. The transaction was soon completed.
For him, he would soon be returning to his territory for secluded cultivation. Asking had just been a bit of idle curiosity. No matter how much turmoil unfolded here, it wouldn’t reach him anyway.
……
Black Castle.
The massive fortress was now complete. The entire main structure was built from hard granite blocks, and afterwards, earth-element wizardry had been lavishly used to reinforce it, sealing the gaps between the stones and forging the entire castle into a single, unified mass. From the outside, Black Castle looked solemn, majestic, and imposing, exuding an air of authority. This was the core of power in Lei Lin’s domain.
Having undergone this reinforcement, the castle could certainly stand for a thousand years. The Grand Marshal, Alexander, had even declared after inspecting it that, given a thousand men, he could repel an attack by over fifty thousand elite soldiers—though, of course, this only applied within the mortal realm.
The interior was lavishly appointed. Cashmere carpets covered the floors, silver goblets and golden candelabras were visible everywhere—a display of opulent wealth that many a royal palace couldn’t match.
If an ordinary mortal lord had used such things, it would likely have invited criticism and envy, perhaps even attacks from jealous neighbors. But when the lord here was a powerful Wizard Master, none of that mattered.
Lei Lin’s own strength was enough to make anyone with malicious designs despair. People would only praise the greatness of their lord and harbor no covetous thoughts toward the castle at all.
"It looks like Royce and Alexander have managed this place quite well!"
Lei Lin strode slowly into the castle.
He deliberately surveyed his surroundings. Much of the land had been developed; giant windmills turned slowly, and some farmers were clearing weeds from the fields.
These were mostly the slaves he had purchased last time, along with a portion of the local populace.
During the construction of the castle, a number of outstanding slaves and serfs had been rewarded with commendations and land, settling down here to form a fairly prosperous settlement.
Patrolling soldiers and Knights mounted on tall horses could occasionally be seen riding along the roads.
Royce and Alexander, whom Lei Lin had appointed to manage political and military affairs respectively, had poured their hearts and souls into the local infrastructure, thanks to the incentives of titles and fiefdoms. At least in Lei Lin's eyes, the place was beginning to resemble a proper Marquis's castle.
"Master, welcome home!"
The moment he approached the main gate, Gubler hurried over. He was now dressed in butler's attire and looked quite spirited, with Royce and Alexander following behind him.
"Mm! Well done!" Lei Lin gave a faint nod, acknowledging Gubler's work.
He hadn't simply handed all authority over to the two of them — he had kept Gubler stationed here as well.
Although he was certain that Royce and Alexander wouldn't dare to betray him, corruption and embezzlement were probably inevitable. But as long as Gubler was present, they wouldn't dare overstep their bounds too far, and that was enough.
"Master! The latest statistics have been compiled. On your domain, there are now a total of thirteen thousand five hundred and seventy-two soldiers, and the total population..."
Gubler hadn't finished his report before Lei Lin raised his hand and cut him off.
"Write that up in a report and submit it later. For now, come with me — I want to see the construction progress of the Wizard Tower!"
For Lei Lin, his investments in Black Castle and the surrounding territory were probably not even one ten-thousandth of what the Wizard Tower demanded. He naturally didn't pay much attention to this place — a quick scan of the documents with his Chip later would give him a rough idea.
"At once, Master!" Gubler followed along with a look of complete certainty, while Royce and Alexander exchanged glances and could only smile wryly.
Not far from Black Castle, on a hillside, the area had already been transformed into a massive construction site, with all manner of workers laboring away.
Since what was being built was a Wizard Tower, ordinary human slaves could not be used. For certain special construction materials, ordinary humans were entirely powerless — not to mention the contamination caused by prolonged contact with such materials. Even with the Purification Tower, ordinary human slaves would likely be wiped out in an incredibly short time.
"Hurry up! Keep working! Or there'll be no alloy rods for dinner tonight!" A young man who looked like a warlock waved an iron whip in his hand, shouting commands in an alien language.
Several warlock apprentices, and even full-fledged warlocks, served as supervisors and designers on the site, driving the strange slaves to work.
These slaves were tall and broad, with gray-white, hardened skin that resembled a layer of stone-like hide.
These were the Stonekin — a race of stone-bodied people. Lei Lin had once obtained a set of documents written in the Turing language within the secret realm of the ancient Soul-Slaying Sect. Among them were records left by Stonekin craftsmen.
The Stonekin were a humanoid species. Born with immense natural strength and possessing a petrified skin defense equivalent to an innate Wizard spell, they were tough and resilient in the extreme. They were a favored breed of construction slaves among the ancient Wizards, and many of the buildings within the Soul-Slaying Sect — even its teleportation arrays — had been built by Stonekin.
The language used by the Stonekin was the same Turing language the young wizard had spoken — extremely difficult to pick up. Of course, for a Wizard, none of this posed any real problem.
The Stonekin race had already gone extinct in both the Dark Realm and the South Coast, but Lei Lin never expected them to still exist here in the Central Continent! And being sold as high-grade slaves, no less!
For the sake of his Wizard Tower, Lei Lin could only grit his teeth and purchase a large batch of Stonekin slaves. Naturally, this was yet another massive expenditure!
"Master!"
Lei Lin's arrival naturally drew the attention of the wizards present. Before long, a strikingly handsome young wizard approached Lei Lin and bowed respectfully.
Somewhat surprisingly, his voice was incredibly aged — a stark mismatch with his outward appearance.
"Rise, Pike! How is the construction of my Wizard Tower coming along?"