Chapter 204 – Mobile Fortress Mage Tower, Dragon Knight on the Horizon

The construction requirements for the Intermediate Mage Tower are extremely high.

In addition to the prerequisite structure ‘Elementary Mage Tower’, it requires several basic materials, 20 Soul Crystals, 500 units of common-grade Black Iron Stone, 50 units of rare-grade Bronze Crystal, and one rare-grade treasure Elemental Orb each for fire, thunder, earth, wind, and water.

Furthermore, it requires the outstanding-grade treasure ‘Superpower Core’.

The cost is extremely expensive.

However, no matter how expensive the cost is, even if it means bankrupting themselves, many Lords would still build the Intermediate Mage Tower.

This is a comprehensive structure that includes various living facilities, research facilities, and… powerful defensive capabilities.

Once the Intermediate Mage Tower is built, even if its Rank is not high, it can roughly annihilate ordinary General-level powerers.

It greatly enhances the territory’s security.

Providing Isloria with a research environment is just a bonus—rather, she is the only one in the entire territory who can utilize the research functions of the Intermediate Mage Tower.

Thinking of this, Mu Yuan immediately began purchasing.

This was also a massive undertaking.

As he upgraded his territory to Level 3 and advanced to the ‘Town Lord’ Rank, he could now transport outstanding-grade treasures from Blue Star into the Eternal World.

However, the cross-border fee… was akin to cutting flesh.

If there were no other options, it would be one thing, but when alternatives existed, Mu Yuan couldn’t just waste a sum of Soul Crystals. The poor should know how to be frugal.

He activated Plan B.

He had Sophia search the forum for sellers listing the Superpower Core treasure and contact them. Soon, Sophia brought him good news.

“There are none in Stone Ridge Town, but one of the sellers listing it is in Boulder City. I’ve already negotiated with him, and he said if we pick it up in person, he can lower the price by three percent. What do you think, Boss?”

“Agreed.”

The price was much cheaper than buying from Blue Star, and it saved on cross-border fees—no, twice—since materializing Soul Crystals into reality also required a cross-border fee.

The only difficulty was picking up the goods in person.

Traveling across cities in the Eternal Continent to retrieve goods was not an easy task.

But,

He had the pickup General Dolai.

After transforming the Shapeshifting Badge into a pair of Wings of Wind, General Dolai soared into the sky. In just half a day, Dolai returned to Tianyuan.

Another half day later,

Rumble—

With the joint efforts of over a hundred residents and elite troops, the Intermediate Mage Tower was quickly completed, and…

This pure white tower, over twenty meters tall, slowly rose into the air—it flew!

「Intermediate Mage Tower (Outstanding)」

「Description: A comprehensive structure integrating living, research, and defense functions. The lower levels are living areas, the middle levels are research areas, and the top is the central control room. Specific functions to be explored independently.」

Although the Mage Tower hovered in mid-air, it had a traction capability.

Mu Yuan didn’t need to fly himself; his entire body slowly floated upward until he landed on the platform in front of the pure white tower’s main door.

He pushed the door open and entered.The interior of the tower was far more spacious, seemingly employing a degree of spatial technology. It featured facilities such as a reception hall, dining room, ballroom, small garden, and multiple bedrooms, surpassing the tiny rest area of an elementary mage tower by more than tenfold.

It was even more luxurious than the City Lord’s Mansion.

As he looked down at the mansion below, Mu Yuan suddenly felt the City Lord’s Mansion had lost its appeal.

The middle floors were equipped with various research instruments. Mu Yuan glanced at a few and vaguely recognized some from materials he had previously studied.

Isloria, who had come up to tour the tower with him, was practically glowing with excitement.

“This is an elemental centrifuge!”

“This one is a spell imprint device!”

“This set is called a spell camera—it can solidify dynamic spells into static forms!”

“And this… is a spiral scanner that can perform full-body examinations!”

“Hiss—”

Each set of equipment was equivalent to a rare treasure.

And these were merely the standard accessories of an intermediate mage tower.

Thinking of this, most of Mu Yuan’s previous resentment over the tower’s exorbitant cost dissipated.

He listened to Isloria’s explanations with admiration.

In truth, Isloria was seeing these for the first time herself.

She had only learned about these devices from study materials during her spare time, always envying them and dreaming of saving enough wages to purchase a set from Boulder City someday. Never did she expect to see them with her own eyes, let alone touch them.

“Ahem, Lord…”

She spoke in a soft, pleading tone.

Mu Yuan broke out in goosebumps.

“Speak properly.”

“Could I borrow these devices? You can make any requests, like… private photos of Sophia and Daisy, perhaps?”

Mu Yuan shot her a sidelong glance: As if it’d be that easy.

Realistically, no one else in the territory could operate this equipment, but since Isloria suggested he could make demands…

Time for a workload super-doubling.

Coincidentally, he had some ideas that needed the right person to realize.

For instance, mimicking the ‘Grievance Absorption’ talent of wraiths to develop detection radar with similar but broader-range capabilities.

Or, drawing inspiration from the treants’ ‘Root Spirit Draw’ ability to create ‘Wood Spirit Essence’ that promotes plant growth.

And also…

Et cetera, et cetera.

Mu Yuan rattled off over a dozen ideas without pausing for breath, then looked at Isloria.

“Aren’t these exactly your specialties?”

Isloria opened her mouth, wishing she could travel back in time to stitch her own lips shut two minutes prior.

But she couldn’t refuse.

Bodily research happened to be her greatest expertise.

Upon seeing these expensive devices, Isloria’s initial research desire was actually focused on herself. She desperately wanted to understand the differences between epic-tier beings and ordinary lifeforms. She’d previously considered scraping bone powder from the Undead General or condensed fluid from General Dolai, but ultimately decided such research should begin with the field she knew best—humans.

And what specimen could be more suitable than herself?

She had conducted self-research and self-modification in the past. Now, with her Starlight Avatar, self-study became even more convenient. Even if surgical accidents occurred during research, Laney could always revive her. The research environment was practically perfect.

She grew excited just thinking about it.

Though now she’d have to postpone slightly—the Lord’s proposed concepts were equally fascinating. The more she pondered them, the more feasible they seemed.Moreover, since it’s the Lord’s task, materials like treants and wraiths would surely be abundant.

They’d have to obediently cooperate with his research.

Not bad at all.

Hohohohoho—

Seeing Isloria’s foolishly gleeful grin, Mu Yuan knew his plan was highly feasible.

Truly worthy of this Lord.

He had many more schemes in mind.

For instance, using the wraiths’ ‘Sin Eye Prison’ skill to construct a special illusion realm for tempering willpower. Even if it couldn’t forge Willpower Light, gradual honing might one day achieve qualitative transformation through accumulated quantity.

This was worth attempting.

With these thoughts, Mu Yuan ascended to the Mage Tower’s top floor, approaching the control panel. His fingertips brushed across it, sending ripples of shimmering light cascading outward.

「①: The Intermediate Mage Tower can simultaneously launch six homing Spell Missiles, with the operator capable of fine-tuning their trajectories.」

「②: The Intermediate Mage Tower can move freely and generate an energy shield with considerable defensive capabilities, covering a maximum radius of one hundred meters.」

「③: The Intermediate Mage Tower possesses detection abilities, capable of sensing anomalous energy fluctuations within a ten-kilometer radius. This function requires specialized spellcasting personnel for configuration and adjustments.」

Integrating offense, defense, and detection, the Intermediate Mage Tower stood as a remarkably comprehensive Miracle Building.

If its mobility and flight speed were enhanced, it could even serve as a mobile fortress-palace.

Impressive!

No wonder it’s often said that possessing an Intermediate Mage Tower could attract numerous spellcasting talents.

Both the Mage Tower and Icy Spirit Cold Pool had been fully constructed.

The Equipment Blanks had been delivered to Master Li, who was currently researching the most suitable equipment to forge.

The only remaining task was…

A prop glowing with pale blue luminescence, resembling a lottery ticket, materialized in his hand.

Private Recruitment Scroll!

It offered two options: Random Recruitment and Designated Recruitment.

Random Recruitment likely had higher success rates for target agreement, but would probably only summon one-star excellent wild troops.

Designated Recruitment required sufficient information and Face Fruit.

Mu Yuan’s memories drifted back to the Festival Grounds.

Many top-tier Heroes had remained uncommitted to any Lord then.

Among them, Holy Light High Priestess Windsor was the most sought-after. Though Mu Yuan already had a Holy Light High Priestess, this Windsor Hero could continuously train nuns… Mu Someone felt somewhat tempted.

Unfortunately,

Holy Light High Priestess Windsor was an Eternal Hero, not existing in the present world, thus ineligible for Private Recruitment Scroll usage.

The remaining choices were limited.

After brief contemplation, Mu Yuan selected a specific target.

Activate!

「Prompt: Confirm designated recruitment of Dragon Blood Valkyrie·Xiliu? This selection cannot be reversed.」

「Yes!」

The recruitment scroll burst into brilliant flames.

Before Mu Yuan, light abruptly dimmed, surroundings vanishing into featureless gray mist.

Within this hazy, isolated space, a valiant female figure materialized abruptly.

At first glance she appeared vigorous, but closer inspection revealed scars covering her crimson armor, her posture slouched with hanging arms, exhausted listlessness.

Only after two or three seconds did she belatedly react, “Huh? Where is this? Oh, recruitment? Recruiting what?”

Mu Yuan: “…”Did he choose the wrong target? This Dragon Blood Valkyrie seemed even less reliable than Dolai.

He could only step forward and say, “We provide food and accommodation, with excellent benefits including…”

The Dragon Blood Valkyrie Xiliu’s gaze focused on him. After staring blankly for a long moment, her expression shifted from confusion to certainty, then to tearful eyes.

“Boss, please take me in, woohoo!!”

He hadn’t even finished listing the benefits.

「Prompt: You have successfully recruited ‘Hero · Xiliu’.」

——

「Hero · Xiliu」

「Class: Dragon Blood Valkyrie (Outstanding Three Stars)」

「Rank: Second Tier Level 8」

「Talents: Red Dragon Bloodline, Dragon Roar」

「Skills: Flame Breath, Flame Slash, Dragon Claw, Dragonkin Mode, …」

「Strategic Skills: …」

「Others: …」

Xiliu’s stats weren’t particularly impressive, likely because she had been wandering without receiving systematic training or education.

But it didn’t matter.

Her potential ranked among the very best of all heroes, coupled with her pure Dragon bloodline.

And Dragons… meant boundless future prospects.

Second update…

(End of chapter)