Chapter 350: Auxiliary Enhancement Potion

Roning cared little about the missing eighty-five points of energy essence.

Today was the sixth; eight more daily check-ins would suffice to make up the sum.

His attention was fixed instead on the effects of the "Auxiliary Enhancement Elixir" Erlong had acquired upon his breakthrough.

"It is a magical concoction capable of bolstering a knight's inner strength," Erlong explained.

"I can dilute this elixir, rendering it suitable for knights of Gold rank and below."

A sudden brilliance lit Roning's eyes.

The path of knighthood was traditionally a solitary trek of self-discipline; he had yet to witness any knight force a breakthrough by relying on rare drafts or sheer wealth.

This auxiliary elixir of Erlong's promised to forge a new vanguard of masters for the North Territory.

"How many doses would it take to elevate a man from Intermediate to Advanced rank?"

"It is difficult to say with certainty."

Erlong shook his head slightly. "It depends entirely upon the individual's capacity for absorption and their resistance to the brew. Generally, it is best employed at the very precipice of a breakthrough."

He paused, perhaps finding his description imprecise, and added, "One may use it routinely, of course, but if it is consumed like daily bread, its efficacy will inevitably wane."

Roning nodded. "I understand."

His idle fantasy of shattering bottlenecks simply by downing a few draughts was shattered, yet the potion remained an invaluable treasure.

Countless men remained stranded at a single realm for a lifetime, unable to break through by their own cultivation; this elixir offered them a precious glimmer of possibility.

"Are the ingredients required for this elixir exceedingly rare?" Roning inquired.

"Indeed," Erlong replied without a moment's hesitation.

"It demands Blazefire Grass, Dreamdew Blossom, Mana Crystal Dust, and the Essence of Pure Water."

"Blazefire Grass causes a knight’s battle qi to surge and turn tempestuous, while the Dreamdew Blossom serves perfectly to neutralize its violence. When these two are combined with Mana Crystal Dust ground from mana stones, along with the Essence of Pure Water purified by a high-tier water-attribute magus, and bound through specific methods and sequences, they can awaken a knight's latent potential and elevate his strength."

Roning frowned as he listened.

The crystal dust and the water essence were manageable enough; the former could be purchased, and the latter could be safely entrusted to Jennie.

Yet he had never so much as heard of Blazefire Grass or Dreamdew Blossom.

It stood to reason that materials used to brew such high-tier elixirs would not be commonplace.

"When you find a moment, compile a catalog of the required materials. Remember, you need only detail their appearance, characteristics, and ideal growing environments. Leave out the specific brewing process."

Roning instructed, "In this way, we can assist you in the search."

Erlong and his peers ought to dedicate their energies to research; the task of foraging for ingredients could be comfortably left to Pearson and the others.

Suddenly, the image of Miroslav came to mind.

As the overseer of the Silva Mana Chamber in the Wushan Territory, the man undoubtedly possessed far greater stores of information than those at the Horse City branch.

Rulans's birthday was fast approaching at the turn of the year; if Roning were to cross paths with him at Castle Wushan, he might well seek his counsel.

Next, Roning questioned Erlong regarding his magic and his recovering memories.

Upon ascending to the rank of Archmage, Erlong had mastered a new spell: "Light Burst," an advanced evolution of the Light Binding art.

Put simply, he could manifest solid chains of light elements to ensnare his foes, and then detonate those very chains to inflict considerable explosive damage.

This was a welcome reinforcement to Erlong’s combative prowess.

Combined with the instant-cast Flash and Punishment spells, the present Erlong was no longer someone a common knight could easily manhandle.

As for the awakening of his past.

Roning had always suspected that Erlong and the other two shared some profound connection with this world, which was why he constantly sought more information through their returning memories.

Alas, his wishes had remained unfulfilled until now.

Yet it was not entirely without harvest; at the very least, a specific geographical name had surfaced in this latest recollection—the Fiery Canyon.

After a brief exchange, Erlong took his leave.

Roning leaned back against his cushioned chair. With a magus of Erlong's caliber present, magic elixirs would become a cornerstone industry for the North Territory, perhaps proving even more lucrative than silk and porcelain.

However, assembling a production line for magical elixirs demanded too many specialized professionals; compared to silk and porcelain, the undertaking was vastly more difficult.

After pondering the matter of the elixirs for a time, Roning redirected his attention to Erlong’s upgrade.

Though the system allowed him to elevate their latent talent, the consumption of energy essence had risen accordingly.

"To raise a magus's aptitude from the seventh rank to the eighth requires an additional forty-five hundred energy essence. For a knight, according to the one-and-a-half-times rule, it should demand three thousand points. And Macken's aptitude stands at only the sixth rank."

Which meant that to transform Macken into a Silver Moon Knight, Roning would need to elevate his talent twice.

Though the combined energy essence for these two advancements might roughly equal a single upgrade for Erlong, it still amounted to four or five thousand points.

If such a vast sum of energy essence were invested entirely into Ruidar, the returns would undoubtedly be grander.

After all, Ruidar possessed a ninth-rank Radiant Sun aptitude, free from any additional consumption penalty.

After careful deliberation, Roning adjusted the priority for strengthening his three followers.

Once Erlong attained the rank of Magus, the bulk of the energy essence would be channeled into Ruidar first.

As for Macken, the very first knight to pledge allegiance to him, Roning intended to raise his strength to the Meteor rank.

Silver and Gold ranks were no longer enough to command true awe; only at the Meteor rank could one truly dominate a region.

By then, the North Territory would boast four extraordinary individuals above the seventh rank—a terrifyingly formidable elite force.

Roning believed that so long as he reinforced his mid-and-low-tier forces, his grand ambition would be entirely within reach.

Knock, knock.

A soft rap sounded at the door, and Bella stepped inside. "My Lord, Youssef wishes to see you."

"Bid him enter at once!"

Roning rose to his feet with a welcoming smile.

Youssef was not only a gifted advanced magus, but behind him stood Viscount Sandro of Lingchuan City. To have such a man offer his allegiance was even more rare than Viscount Marvin sending his second son, Rogner.

Moments later, the elegantly attired Youssef entered, clad in his magus robes.

"I have just learned of your return from Teacher Erlong, and have come to pay my respects,"

Youssef bowed slightly. "Greetings, Lord Earl."

"It is the honor of the North Territory to attract a talent such as yourself,"

Roning smiled warmly. "Have you taken Erlong as your master?"

"From Teacher Erlong, I have learned many techniques that were never taught to me at the magic academy."

Youssef spoke of his research into magical potions with an almost pious devotion. "I am deeply grateful for my family's decision to send me to the North Territory; otherwise, I would have missed these insights entirely."

From these words, it was clear that Youssef's arrival was not his doing alone, but a collective decision of the Levi family.

It seemed that many within the Wushan Territory now viewed Roning as its future master.

"This is a letter from my father to you," Youssef said, presenting a parchment.

Roning took it and began to read intently.

Sandro’s letter was not long; the first half was filled with flattery—words like “young and accomplished,” “dashing and formidable,” and the like.

In the middle, he briefly introduced Yousuf, so that Luo Ning could properly train him.

Finally, he emphasized with particular care that if the Ubei Domain suffered from food shortages, Lingchuan City could supply grain at low prices.

It was a most amicable letter.

Luo Ning folded it neatly and returned it to the envelope, then smiled at Yousuf and said:

“Thank you, Viscount Sandro, for your trust in me. I shall cherish this friendship from the Wushan and Rivi families, and I hope you find in Ubei Domain the knowledge and strength you seek!” (End of chapter)