C19 Treasure 2
Shih Wen stood motionless before the warehouse as soldiers filed inside. It took ten robust soldiers to heave a single metal box out, a testament to its immense weight. Twenty soldiers managed to carry out two boxes, neither of which was locked. Yet, they remained sealed, their mere shape and the complex formations etched upon them suggesting they were impervious to tampering. Such stringent security indicated the contents were exceedingly precious, and indeed, the soldiers were unable to open them. All eyes turned to Shih Wen, for clearly, he alone had the ability to unlock these magically fortified chests.
Placing his hand on one of the chests, Shih Wen grappled with the challenge posed by the protective formation. Extracting the rare magic metal was an arduous task, but within five minutes, he had 'devoured' the lid, revealing its true contents—crystal boxes. He lifted one out and upon opening it, was taken aback to discover a Super-grade spirit stone of the metal attribute. The stone's hexagonal prism shape and the starry nebula swirling within its semi-transparent core were mesmerizing. Shih Wen had not anticipated finding such a treasure. Though theoretically valued at ten thousand Black Crystal Coins, no one would part with a Super-grade spirit stone for such a sum. Possessing one, a Mage could effortlessly draw out its spiritual force.
With a Super-grade spirit stone, a Mage's cultivation speed could skyrocket by at least tenfold, and the frequency of the Great Circulation could nearly double. Effectively, this meant a Mage's cultivation speed could increase by twenty times, making the Super-grade spirit stone the pinnacle of resources for any Mage's practice.
The chest contained a hundred crystal boxes on the first layer, and judging by the height, there seemed to be ten layers. This meant there were a thousand Super-grade spirit stones within. Each stone was valued at ten thousand Black Crystal Coins, making the contents of this single chest worth a staggering ten million. If all the chests held Super-grade spirit stones, the total value in Black Crystal Coins was unfathomable. The soldiers dared not dwell on the figure, yet they meticulously inspected each box. After verifying the contents as superior-grade metal spirit stones, there was no need for further checks. They simply tallied the chests. A lance corporal, unable to contain his excitement, approached the resting Shih Wen and exclaimed, "Sir, there are one thousand and seventy-four chests inside!"
Shih Wen gave a nod and declared, "Each soldier will receive ten spirit stones; the rest we'll leave behind. We couldn't carry them off even if we wanted to."
He then proceeded to unlock five more chests, ensuring every soldier got their share of ten super-grade spirit stones. While these stones were less effective for martial artists, they could still boost cultivation speeds by three to five times—a lavish use of resources, but Shih Wen wasn't concerned. Freebies that couldn't be taken along were better used than left for others to enjoy. Now, with the soldiers feasting on scarce Gold Spirit Fruits, wielding super-grade spirit stones, and clutching super-grade Vital Energy Pills, their cultivation speeds were bound to soar. The lowest-tier Vital Energy Pill was Level Four, allowing them to surge to that level with virtually no impediment, and at an impressive rate at that.
The three Lance Corporals distributed the spirit stones with great enthusiasm. Each stone was worth ten thousand Black Crystal Coins, totaling a staggering one hundred thousand per soldier—a fortune by any measure. The soldiers were overjoyed, having not only survived a dire predicament but also having savored the rare Gold Spirit Fruit, acquired top-tier spirit stones, and likely to lay hands on precious magic metals. They all knew that if they could make it back home, each would possess a substantial fortune.
During cultivation, keeping spirit stones on one's person allowed for the absorption of their energy, hastening progress. Treating the stones like invaluable treasures, the soldiers wore them close. With the aid of the super-grade stones, their cultivation speed was nothing short of astonishing. Ordinarily, they'd be reluctant to use even the low-grade stones, which were valued at ten Black Crystal Coins each. Intermediate stones fetched a hundred, advanced ones a thousand, and the highest-grade a whopping ten thousand Black Crystal Coins. With each tier's value increasing tenfold and a single Black Crystal Coin equating to a hundred gold coins, it was clear why even the most basic spirit stone was considered a costly asset, especially when their monthly stipend was a mere seventy gold coins—not even enough for one Black Crystal Coin.
Shih Wen refrained from opening the remaining warehouses, suspecting that they too held their fair share of treasures. However, his current need wasn't for wealth but for a substantial quantity of rare magic metals, essential in the refining of mini formations, which required copious amounts of both metals and non-metals, particularly the 87 types of rare magic metals.
Content to stay put for the time being, Shih Wen planned to remain until his food supplies dwindled. The safety of this place was a comfort, but more crucial was acclimating to the local gravity. Without doing so, he'd return to the Empire as weak as a convalescent, listless in all endeavors.
While idly sitting in a pavilion, pondering how to adapt to his surroundings and become a formidable Mage, Shih Wen watched the soldiers harvest ripe Gold Spirit Fruits from underground. They also removed the spoiled fruits, enriching the roots of the towering trees with the decaying matter—a task that Shih Wen assumed would take several days.
To his surprise, in under an hour, the soldiers had cleared a space. It was here that Shih Wen's tent and alchemy lab were promptly established, creating an improved setting for crafting extraordinary magic equipment.
Shih Wen devoted all his time to perfecting the mini formations over the next two days. When he wasn't practicing his craft or eating, he was intently refining the formations, managing to complete twenty each day at an impressive pace. He absorbed the metal with care, wary of puncturing the half-meter-thick metal wall. What lay beyond it was a mystery, but the radar indicated the presence of creatures teeming with energy. These beings, each containing a significant metal component, varied in size—with the smallest being as large as a cow and the largest stretching over thirty meters in length. Should they burst into the square, their presence would undoubtedly be more formidable than that of any Orc.
Shih Wen sensed that the transfer center was becoming increasingly unsafe, yet he had no immediate intention to relocate. He steered clear of the metal wall where animal activity was detected, unwilling to risk bringing calamity upon the soldiers who had narrowly survived. Shih Wen vividly remembered the pre-attack headcount: twenty thousand logistics and support troops, reduced to a mere seven hundred survivors. Following the wolf attack, those who were gravely injured and immobile perished under the predators' jaws. It wasn't for lack of trying to save them, but they were too widely dispersed; only those with minor or no injuries managed to regroup and fend off the wolves. Ultimately, 312 individuals rallied behind Shih Wen and relocated—a survival that was nothing short of miraculous.
Once the square was cleared, Shih Wen observed the soldiers as they commenced their training—a unique practice for warriors akin to the cultivation of spiritual practitioners. They were enveloped in a faint white glow, indicative of absorbing Spiritual Qi and Universe Power and converting it into battle energy. A warrior's body served as a vessel; to hold more battle energy, they needed to increase the number and vitality of their cells.
This was the reason for their imposing stature; hence, Shih Wen noted that each soldier was taller and more robust than the last. The cultivation of battle energy was the key, with higher levels correlating to greater height and bulk. Shih Wen couldn't fathom the stature of the most advanced warriors, but during the attack, he had witnessed a colossal warrior standing at three and a half meters tall—akin to a walking tank.
In the presence of such might, the Orcs were as helpless as infants. Post-attack, the tally of Orcs slain by this single warrior exceeded four hundred. Shih Wen could only imagine the warrior's formidable prowess.
Each soldier had ingested a Vital Energy Pill, a prized asset that could propel a warrior up one to three minor levels within three to five days; those with exceptional talent might even advance four to five levels. The soldiers' ranks were notably high, most having reached the pinnacle of Level One, which was the extent of Shih Wen's understanding of warrior progression. He had yet to encounter a Mage and was unfamiliar with how their levels were displayed. However, according to the lance corporal, one had to reach Level Two to earn that rank within the Iron Wall Legion—a standard for ordinary warriors without connections. As for an apprentice like Shih Wen, his appointment as deputy captain upon arrival spoke volumes of his distinguished status.
The Gold Spirit Fruit inherently offers tremendous benefits for cultivation, and the ones found here are evidently far superior to those found elsewhere. During cultivation, the faint white glow that usually envelops the body is nearly imperceptible. However, after consuming the Super-grade Vital Energy Pill and Gold Spirit Fruit, coupled with donning a Super-grade spirit stone, this glow transforms into a brilliant milky white. It becomes so radiant that it draws in spiritual Qi and Universe Power at a rate more than twenty times the norm. This remarkable increase in energy absorption has further invigorated the soldiers in their cultivation efforts.
