After gaining a rough understanding of the Dendro Dragon's situation, Nolan prepared to go check on it. He turned to the girl beside him and asked:
"Want to come along and see a giant dragon?"
He was hoping to invite Faruzan along, to see if there might be another chance to raise her affection.
"No, I'll stay here and study how to control the Primal Constructs," Faruzan shook her head.
Under normal circumstances, she would have been interested in seeing a giant dragon, but right now, researching how to control the Primal Constructs was more important to her.
"Alright then. I'll come back later and take you home."
Nolan didn't press the issue. After all, checking on the Dendro Dragon wouldn't take much time.
He left one "Lumine Sword God" behind to continue restraining the "Semi-Intransient Matrix of Overseer Network," and instructed the Abyss Herald to teach Faruzan how to operate the Primal Constructs.
Then, he had Aether and that Abyss Mage take him along, using the teleportation network to travel to the Dendro Dragon's location.
To the southeast of the Desert of Hadramaveth, the wind carried drifting sand, and even the sky was shrouded in gloom.
A massive silhouette lay hidden within the sandstorm—this was the Dendro Dragon known as Apep.
Nolan and the others appeared atop a distant sand dune, gazing at the dragon from afar and feeling an overwhelming presence.
Activating his Golden Eye of Condemnation, Nolan looked ahead:
[Level: 115]
Huh. Even after being corrupted by Forbidden Knowledge for thousands of years, it was still level 115. Did that mean that at its peak, this dragon could rival the highest-tier ancient gods?
Nolan stared at the Dendro Dragon in astonishment. No wonder his brother-in-law had taken an interest in it—this Dendro Dragon was far stronger than Dvalin.
If the issue of Forbidden Knowledge could be resolved successfully, it would be equivalent to having a top-tier god standing on the Abyss Order's side.
That would be a massive boost to the Abyss Order's overall strength.
Thankfully, Nolan had discovered their plan in advance. Otherwise, who knew what kind of chaos Aether might have caused after gaining such a powerful subordinate?
"Insignificant human, why do you disturb my peace!"
A thunderous voice echoed through the air. At some point, the Dendro Dragon had raised its head, its crimson eyes—like burning flames—fixated on them.
"Hello. Judging by how you look, it seems you're having a hard time. Want me to help? I can solve your corruption problem,"
Nolan waved politely, smiling as he spoke.
"Arrogant nonsense." Apep, the Dendro Dragon, did not believe that a problem it had failed to resolve for so many years could be solved by a mere human.
"Don't think I don't know what you've been doing these past few days—setting up formations nearby, trying to capture me. Hmph, aren't you underestimating a dragon a bit too much?!"
The pressure released by the Dendro Dragon grew even more terrifying, and its massive tail whipped straight toward Nolan and the others standing atop the dune.
"Don't think you can humiliate me just because I'm weakened!"
Tch—so it thought he was with his brother-in-law's group. Nolan wanted to explain, but the enormous dragon tail had already swept over!
Wait, that impulsive?
Staring into the Dendro Dragon's crimson eyes, Nolan gained a bit of understanding.
It seemed that Forbidden Knowledge and long years of "erosion" had already affected the Dendro Dragon's temperament.
The fact that it had held on for this long meant it had truly struggled with everything it had.
Nolan did not hesitate. He used Lisa's affection skill to freeze its movements.
Then he summoned several gigantic spiritual threads, each comparable in size to the Dendro Dragon's tail, and slammed them straight into its head.
After enduring the torment of Forbidden Knowledge for so many years, the Dendro Dragon was already extremely weakened. Faced with a materialized spiritual attack, it was instantly knocked unconscious.
[Defeated A Powerful Enemy. Obtained 652,485 Adventure EXP.]
Seeing the EXP notification, Nolan's face lit up with joy. As expected of a level 115 existence—he gained over six hundred thousand EXP in one go.
Looking at the fallen Dendro Dragon, Nolan didn't delay. He first set up a "Command Seal," just in case anything unexpected happened.
After that, he used Shenhe's affection skill to purify the Forbidden Knowledge corruption from the Dendro Dragon.
Then, he employed the Golden Windwheel Aster Barrier to heal its body and soul.
With that done, the Dendro Dragon was mostly recovered. After a short period of rest, it would likely be able to return to its former peak.
He then woke the Dendro Dragon, preparing to give it something to do.
While it was in disbelief at having been cured—and even more incredulous that it had been controlled by a mere human—Nolan instructed it to guard the desert.
This also served as a temporary job for it. If there was something more suitable for it to do in the future, he would call on it then; if not, that was fine too.
As long as it didn't turn into a demonic dragon and destroy the world, that was enough.
With the Dendro Dragon matter settled, Nolan had Aether gather the nearby Abyss Heralds and Abyss Mages, then knocked all of them unconscious and placed "Command Seals" on them.
They had all come to assist in capturing the Dendro Dragon. There were quite a few of them—two Heralds and four Mages.
Afterward, Nolan returned to the secret realm with Aether. By this time, Faruzan had more or less figured out how to control the Primal Constructs.
The two of them then prepared to return to Aaru Village.
Considering that this secret realm served as a factory for producing Primal Constructs, abandoning it outright would be a shame.
Moreover, now that there was a method to control the Primal Constructs, they could produce more of them and have them patrol alongside soldiers.
That way, there would be no fear of monsters—they could simply command the Primal Constructs to fight.
This task was handed over to the Abyss Order. After all, they had research experience in this area, and there was a high chance they could get the factory running again.
Otherwise, the Abyss Order wouldn't have valued this secret realm so highly—highly enough that even their leader had been captured.
Nolan smiled faintly and looked at Aether.
His brother-in-law's gaze looked like it could spit fire—clearly, whatever affection he had toward Nolan was already deep in the negatives.
If negative affection levels existed, Aether's feelings toward him were probably at least minus five or six levels by now.
Nolan didn't mind. After arranging everything, he prepared to return to Aaru Village with Faruzan, bringing along the "Semi-Intransient Matrix of Overseer Network" as well.
Since Faruzan wanted to study it, frequently traveling out to the desert would be inconvenient, so he planned to take it back to the Akademiya instead.
After all, once Faruzan figured out how to control the matrix, she had already installed a non-hostile program.
That way, even at the Akademiya, there was no need to worry about it attacking others.
Because of this, Faruzan gained a bit more affection toward him:
[Faruzan Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 600 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.9 (300/900)]
Nolan looked at her affection level, now close to max. It seemed he only needed to gain affection one more time.
Perfect—his affection skill still hadn't been given out yet. If he found a reason to give it to her now, it should push things to max level!
As Nolan temporarily stored the "Semi-Intransient Matrix of Overseer Network" into the Void Star Sea, he thought for a moment and said to Faruzan:
"Come to think of it, if you had come to this secret realm alone, it would've been pretty dangerous. How about I help you boost your strength a bit, and give you a few life-saving abilities as well?"
He explained how his own energy could enhance her strength, and also introduced skills like "Interstellar Travel" and "Divine Maiden's Purity".
This secret realm was full of Primal Constructs and Abyss Heralds—if she had come here by herself, she would probably have died in the desert. Even hiring an adventurer team might not have saved her.
Being able to grow stronger and gain survival abilities was naturally a good thing.
However, she wasn't a greedy person. Giving away so much for free meant Nolan definitely had some motive.
After thinking for a moment, Faruzan looked at him and asked:
"Then what do you want from me in return?"
Nolan smiled, boldly taking Faruzan's hand.
"What could I possibly ask for when it comes to protecting family? If there is anything, it's just wanting you to be safe."
"W-What… family? You really are harboring those strange, weird thoughts!"
Faruzan's face flushed red. She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, only to realize she couldn't break free at all.
She had already suspected earlier that Nolan might be interested in her—otherwise, why would he care so much about her affairs?
Now it was obvious.
"So? Are you taking it or not?"
Nolan chuckled softly, pulled Faruzan into his arms, wrapped her in an embrace, and at the same time bestowed the harmonizing energy along with several affection-based abilities.
Smiling slightly, he said:
"Ah, there's no way to refuse anymore~"
Faruzan's affection toward him was already close to max. At this level, Nolan could act much more boldly.
With such high affection, as long as he didn't cross any bottom lines or do anything outrageous like slaughtering or pillaging, it was basically impossible for her to dislike him.
"You bastard!"
Warm, gentle energy flowed from every place where Nolan touched her, making her feel as if she were being held in a hot spring.
Faruzan felt more embarrassed than anything else.
[Faruzan Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 660 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.10 (MAX)]
Seeing the notification pop up on the character panel, Nolan immediately understood—Faruzan was another classic tsundere, all mouth but honest at heart.
With his embrace and the abilities he had given her, she really did develop more affection toward him.
This time, it was truly maxed out. As expected, he would gain another affection skill.
[Through sincere feelings and unwavering effort, you have deeply intertwined your fate with one that originally had no intersection with yours. From this moment on, the maiden's destiny star shall shine alongside yours. Ability acquired: Flourishing Imaginary Realm.]
As Nolan anticipated, the character panel continued to display a new message.
Just as expected—a new affection skill, named "Flourishing Imaginary Realm." Could it be another ability similar to the Fairytale Wonderland?
Nolan continued holding Faruzan, letting her struggle lightly without loosening his grip.
If she truly disliked it, she wouldn't merely struggle half-heartedly like this. Continuing to hold her was far more in line with what she actually wanted.
Curious, he opened the affection skill he had obtained from Faruzan:
[Flourishing Imaginary Realm: Deploys an invisible wind domain, releasing endless "Wind of the Unthinkable." The maximum range is equal to the sum of both users' levels (in kilometers). Enemies swept by the Wind of the Unthinkable will suffer reduced neural reaction speed, dulled thinking, and decreased memory. Allies affected will gain corresponding enhancements to these attributes. All effects scale at a percentage equal to the sum of both users' levels.]
After carefully reading the skill description, Nolan was somewhat surprised.
Faruzan's affection skill wasn't like Sucrose's Wonderland Space ability at all—instead, it was more like… a mental debuff aura?
Enemies swept by the "Wind of the Unthinkable" would have their reaction speed, thinking ability, and memory reduced. Wasn't that essentially a "brain-debuff aura"?
Honestly, it sounded pretty interesting.
Of course, who counted as an "enemy" was determined by Nolan's own perception.
Meanwhile, allies would receive corresponding boosts. It even felt like a perfect support ability for learning and research.
The domain's range was the sum of Nolan's and Faruzan's levels—in kilometers. That was a huge area.
If they unleashed the "Wind of the Unthinkable" within the Akademiya, wouldn't all the scholars suddenly become much sharper thinkers?
Research results would surely come much more easily.
But then again, the Akademiya had research projects, and so did Liyue and Mondstadt. Inazuma and Fontaine were no different.
Even if he stayed with Faruzan, they could only cover at most two locations with the Wind of the Unthinkable—it wasn't possible to benefit all scholars everywhere.
And once relations with Natlan and Snezhnaya improved, it would be even harder to take everyone into account.
Besides, Nolan couldn't possibly stay in Teyvat forever just to act as a support buff for scholars.
Faruzan herself, however, was also a scholar.
While conducting her own research, she could activate the "Wind of the Unthinkable" and allow everyone around her to benefit together.
Nolan felt it was absolutely necessary to have several nations jointly build a super-massive academic complex, the kind that covered more than 200 square kilometers.
Gather all of Teyvat's top scholars there for research, fully utilizing the effects of the "Wind of the Unthinkable."
That way, Faruzan alone could provide buffs to all of Teyvat's elite scholars.
After all, she would just be activating it while doing her own research—it wouldn't cause her any inconvenience.
As for whether it was really necessary?
The combined level of Nolan and Faruzan already provided more than 180% enhancement, and once Faruzan grew stronger, reaching 200% was basically guaranteed.
A twofold boost to thinking ability was no small matter.
Take a scholar like Lisa, for example. If she were researching a difficult mathematical problem, it might normally take her ten days to work it out.
Would doubling her thinking ability simply reduce that to five days?
Of course not.
Thinking ability encompasses many aspects—not just raw calculation speed, but also inspiration and insight.
The scariest thing when researching a difficult problem is losing direction—when your thoughts just won't turn the corner.
But once inspiration strikes, any problem has the potential to be solved.
As long as there's a direction, walking forward will eventually yield results. Even a wrong direction can still produce valuable insights.
As long as the mind can keep turning, the research path can continuously be corrected.
That's why improvements to thinking ability can't be measured so simply.
With the "Wind of the Unthinkable," scholars' research efficiency would definitely explode in the future. The significance was enormous.
Building a dedicated super-massive academic complex for this was absolutely worth it.
Nolan immediately shared this idea briefly with Nahida, Ningguang, Jean, Focalors, and scholars like Lisa.
(End of Chapter)
RedX43's Note:
➤ Want More? Get up to +25 Extra Chapters on Patreon!
➤ [email protected]/RedX43
➤ +400 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter Drop!
➤ Thanks for reading! 🙌