After finalizing the design, Richard was in no rush to mass-produce it.
The machines in his Alchemy Workshop were currently dedicated to producing parts for the Magic Support Vehicle. If he wanted to switch to producing Personal Armor, Richard would have to undertake a significant overhaul of these machines.
Moreover, producing such equipment now would be of little use.
During wartime, military expenditures are less noticeable, but in times of peace, they become glaringly obvious.
At present, Richard had not received any concrete news about the Plane War, so producing armor in advance would be a waste of money.
Equipment isn't just about production; it requires maintenance as well.
Setting aside the matter of armor for the time being, Richard's life returned to its usual tranquility.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a century had passed.
In the laboratory, an evolution light apparatus emitted a faint blue beam, enveloping a piece of flesh.
Behind the beam, a strangely enchanting blue flame burned quietly within a crystal dome.
Under the beam's irradiation, the cells composing the flesh quickly began to disintegrate. The tissue fluid, along with the cellular debris, turned into a pool of pus that dripped continuously from the flesh.
Suddenly, the blue light vanished.
A slender tendril of magic power reached out and plucked a small piece of flesh from the mass.
"Finally, success. It was worth the effort to use this primordial blue flame as the radiation source," Richard murmured.
Standing before the experiment table, Richard carefully fused the piece of flesh, held by the magic tendril, into his body.
This was the sixth generation of Enhanced Cells. For this single cell, Richard had experimented for nearly seventy years. Ultimately, he was forced to extract the primordial blue flame from the Secret Realm and upgrade the evolution light apparatus to achieve success.
After securing the sixth generation of Enhanced Cells, Richard sighed softly, "Ah, as my physique improves, obtaining Enhanced Cells becomes increasingly difficult."
From the fourth to the fifth generation, it took him nearly thirty years. And from the fifth to the sixth generation, it took him seventy years.
If he were to aim for the seventh or eighth generation, the time required would likely be even longer.
However, compared to other Wizards, his progress was still remarkably swift.
After five iterations of cell enhancement, Richard's physique had reached 250 points. If he could complete the sixth generation of Enhanced Cells, his physique might increase by another five or six points.
With the experiment successful, Richard tidied up the experiment table and, for the first time in a long while, left the laboratory.
Outside the Wizard Tower, the city of Jibei was thriving.
After years of development, Jibei had grown into a metropolis accommodating nearly two million people. Although it paled in comparison to the academy cities in the central regions of the Wizard World, built by the White Wizards and housing populations exceeding ten million, in the far north, Jibei was the most prosperous city.
The district Toshio had built long ago had been demolished, and buildings of various styles had risen in the city center.
In the sky, small airships adorned with shop advertisements cruised above the city. On the ground, alchemy-powered vehicles and horse-drawn carriages shared the same roads.
Thanks to Jibei's prosperity, resources from the far north—such as furs, timber, and medicinal herbs—had finally gained the attention of merchants from the mainland.
Numerous airship trading companies had incorporated Jibei into their trade routes, further stimulating the city's growth.
In the eyes of the Snowfield People, the northernmost city had now become a dreamlike city, a God Kingdom on earth.
Richard flew above the city, gazing at the prosperous scene below, when a sudden sense of unfamiliarity flashed through his heart.
Over the years, he hadn't paid much attention to the development of the northernmost city.
His impression of it still lingered from the last major expansion period, the scene he witnessed upon his return from the Mountainous Secret Realm.
After more than a century of development, the city had gradually transformed into something he no longer recognized.
"The power of mortals should not be underestimated, alas, it's just a pity," Richard sighed softly.
Although the power of mortals was not insignificant, in a world with extraordinary powers, these mortals were destined to remain as mere subordinates to the supernaturals.
Just as Richard was sighing, a presence instantly caught his attention.
He shifted his gaze towards the direction of the Garon Wizard Academy, where a streak of light was rapidly approaching the northernmost city.
"A Third Circle Wizard? Which Third Circle Wizard would come to the north... Stio! Long time no see!"
Richard, initially puzzled by the streak of light, recognized the wizard's true appearance through the light as it drew closer, his Dragon Eyes piercing through the outer glow.
Soon, the light stopped in front of Richard, revealing Stio with his iron-gray skin.
Stio looked Richard over, somewhat astonished, and said, "Richard, your progress is truly remarkable! It's only been a little over a hundred years, and your physique has improved so much.
If I wait another one or two thousand years, you might just become a Great Wizard."
Richard laughed in response, "Well, I'll take your kind words. When I become a Great Wizard, I'll invite you to be the Vice Dean."
After a few more jokes, Richard welcomed Stio into the Wizard Tower.
"You didn't give me a heads-up about your visit. I don't usually have any guest tea on hand, so you'll have to make do with what I use to stay alert."
In the reception room, Richard casually pulled a bottle of black liquid from his pocket and handed it to Stio.
Stio took the bottle, glanced at it twice, then directly tossed it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing both the bottle and the liquid.
As soon as it entered his stomach, a look of surprise flashed across Stio's face.
"Wow, what is this stuff? It's so potent."
Stio felt that after swallowing the liquid, he was more alert than ever, even more so than after meditation.
"It's an extract from a Magical Plant I cultivated myself, a hundred and thirty times more toxic than Sweetheart Poison. Just half a milliliter is enough to kill a First Circle Wizard. But for us..."
Richard pulled another bottle of extract from his pocket and drank it all in one gulp.
"It's just a refreshing drink."
"Impressive, impressive, I've learned something new," Stio replied in amazement. "I never thought such a neurotoxin could be used as a stimulant."
As they sat down, Richard spoke first, "Stio, you seem to be in such a hurry, it doesn't look like you're here just to visit.
What's the matter? Did something happen?"
"Haha, you've got me," Stio laughed. "I'm planning to buy something at the Tower of Truth. By the way, you probably haven't heard yet, but our academy is likely to embark on an expedition in a few years. You'd better start preparing during this time.
It is said that the world we are heading to this time is extraordinary. Around that world, exploring Wizards have discovered many things resembling the remnants of Floating Cities.
"The world we're going to this time is most likely the battlefield of a war between The Lost Ones and some civilization. Who knows what kind of monsters are hidden there."
Upon hearing this news, Richard was startled.
"Such important news, and the academy didn't notify us in advance?" Richard said with some anger. "I haven't heard anything about this war until now."
"Hey, don't get too excited," Stio laughed. "Our academy usually releases news five years in advance. I just happen to live inside the academy, so I'm a bit more informed."
"So that means I still have at least five years."
"Right."
Richard leaned back in his chair, his mind in chaos.
But he quickly calmed down. He still had at least five years, and during that time, he definitely needed to do something.
The battlefield of the pioneers must hold immense dangers, and as a Third Circle Wizard, once he joins the war, he will undoubtedly be sent to the most perilous frontlines.
The war command won't assign Richard to a battlefield suitable for Second Circle Wizards just because he's young.
"Phew, that's some explosive news," Richard sighed, looking gratefully at Stio. "When we get back to the academy, I'll treat you to a meal."
Stio laughed heartily at that. "Haha, that sounds great. But you better be prepared; if you're treating, I'm going for the most expensive."
Soon after, Stio left.
After seeing him off, Richard immediately entered the Secret Realm.
Since war is imminent, he naturally needs to be fully prepared.
In the Alchemy Workshop, Fire Lizard workers were processing rough components with Alchemy.
The workshop had expanded several times, and now there were nearly two thousand Fire Lizard workers in this Alchemy Workshop.
Ten production lines were operating simultaneously, solely to provide parts for the booming Magic Support Vehicle trade.
"Kallion! Sulina!"
Richard's voice called out, and the two Fire Lizard foremen emerged from the workshop.
"Sir, what do you need from us?"
"Stop production. These machines will all be moved to the Crimson Sun World later."
"What?" Kallion was startled and quickly asked, "What's happening, sir?"
Richard looked at him and replied in a deep voice, "War is coming, Kallion.
War is coming!"
...
The preparations for the workshop's relocation were quickly completed. As a Third Circle Wizard, Richard could now fly without any Spells, relying solely on energy manipulation.
With the aid of some wind element Spells, Richard's speed increased dramatically.
Traveling day and night, Richard made it from the far north to the Tower of Truth in just three days. For a First Circle Wizard, it would have taken at least half a year.
Through the portal of Frost Academy, Richard once again arrived in the Crimson Sun World.
...
A team of Fire Lizards carried a huge furnace out of the Mystic Realm Rift, followed by a Fire Lizard craftsman approaching Richard.
"Sir, this is the last machine."
Richard nodded: "Good, restore the production line as soon as possible. I'll give you three months to train a batch of qualified workers on the New World Island."
"Yes, sir."
After centuries of development, New World Island had undergone significant changes. Although the Red Sun Gold-Vein Stone veins in the Crimson Sun World had long been depleted, thanks to the existence of the permanent fief, Richard's teleportation array still remained. The Fire Lizards could purchase various resources from the Wizard World through the channels of Richard Jolod's Merchant Guild.
This ensured that New World Island was not lacking in resources.
Moreover, since there were limited entertainment options on New World Island, the artistic atmosphere had become quite rich.
Even the Fire Lizard Warriors were influenced by this trend, refining their combat skills to be more precise and elegant.
Richard flew in the air, looking at the well-organized New World Island, and couldn't help but praise: "Akala, Azuhan, you've managed this place quite well over the years."
"All thanks to your assistance, Lord Richard," Azuhan said calmly.
After being humiliated by Richard, Azuhan finally faced the harsh reality—the Fire Lizards lived better under Richard's command.
With Akala's support, he had once again become the leader of New World Island.
Richard shook his head slightly: "Don't be modest. Resources alone can't accomplish anything. I also have a city in the Wizard World, and managing a city is quite taxing."
The two Fire Lizards remained silent, waiting for Richard to continue.
"I came here not only to move the workshop but also to do one more thing."
"Please go on," Akala said respectfully.
"Do you remember the contract we signed?" Richard looked at the Fire Lizard Warriors in the training ground and spoke unhurriedly.
"Now, it's time for you to pay the blood tax."
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