"Hurry up! We need to deliver these supplies before nightfall!"
Inside the prosperous Shining City, a transport convoy rumbled steadily across the clean bluestone road. The rhythmic clatter of wagon wheels echoed between the tall buildings, mingling with the distant chatter of residents finishing their day's work. Pedestrians instinctively stepped aside to make way, for accompanying the convoy was a fully armed escort squad. Their armor gleamed in the golden afternoon sunlight, and the heavy footfalls of disciplined soldiers created an atmosphere of quiet authority.
Most striking of all were several burly warriors marching at the front. They were clad head-to-toe in polished plate armor—clearly Sir Knights of the Shining Territory. Their imposing presence alone commanded respect from every passerby.
"Shining City really is different," Jorton said with a wide grin as he rode near the convoy's center. He admired the orderly rows of buildings on both sides of the street. "Compared to this place, Blackstone City will always feel a bit like the countryside."
Shining City's architecture bore a distinct resemblance to ancient Roman style—majestic stone structures, grand pillars supporting spacious facades, and uniform arches that created a sense of strength and solemnity. Smooth bluestone roads stretched through the city like clean arteries, with flowers and ornamental plants neatly arranged along the edges. Even the drainage system was sophisticated: not a foul smell lingered anywhere, and the streets remained dry and spotless.
The residential buildings were equally impressive—orderly, elegant, and built using refined techniques that Blackstone City simply could not match.
Several Knights beside Jorton nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with nostalgia and emotion.
"When we followed Sir Rune and moved to Blackstone City, I honestly thought we wouldn't return to Shanguang Territory for years," one of the Knights said with a sigh.
"Agreed. At one point I even wondered if we'd ever see this place again," another added. "To think we'd come back so soon…"
"It's all thanks to the Lord and Sir Magus," a third Knight said sincerely. But then he frowned slightly. "Still, I don't understand… why did Sir Magus choose to live outside the city? The inner castle is far more comfortable. Why move to such a desolate place?"
Before he could continue, Jorton abruptly kicked his horse closer and glared at him.
"Watch your mouth! Don't spout nonsense," he snapped. "The Baron and his brother have an excellent relationship. Besides, Sir Magus has no interest in noble titles. He's going to become a Wizard, for goodness' sake!"
"Then why not cultivate inside the city?" someone asked, still puzzled. "The environment is safer. The lifestyle is better. There are no beasts wandering around. What's the point of moving away?"
Jorton's expression softened slightly as he shrugged.
"I heard Sir Magus is planning to build a base outside the city. Something about a Magic Plant Garden and a Puppet Factory. Apparently those facilities require a lot of land, and the city obviously can't provide that much free space."
He pointed toward the wagons behind them.
"Everything we're transporting today is construction material for his new base."
The group of Knights exchanged glances; some nodded slowly in sudden understanding. But many clearly still didn't grasp the details of what a Wizard's base needed. Seeing their blank expressions, Jorton waved impatiently.
"Stop overthinking it. We just follow Sir Magus's instructions. A powerhouse like him has his own plans—we're not qualified to speculate."
All the Knights quickly agreed. Magus was a figure who commanded both awe and respect. His decisions weren't something ordinary soldiers needed to question.
The convoy passed through the last stretch of urban district and exited through the massive city gates. Beyond the fortified walls lay the vast plains to the north of Shining City. After traveling another four or five kilometers, the group finally spotted their destination.
A broad plot of land had been completely cleared; the earth had been leveled and divided into sections. Numerous workers were laboring diligently. The sharp ringing of pickaxes striking stone resounded across the area. Wooden scaffolding had been erected, and piles of lumber and stone were neatly stacked nearby. Dust rose into the air as dozens of laborers moved rhythmically, determined to finish the work assigned to them.
Jorton spotted Magus standing on a nearby hillside. The young Wizard was scanning the ground with a contemplative expression, as if searching for something invisible to everyone else.
"Sir Magus, the Lord asked me to deliver the cargo," Jorton said respectfully as he hurried over.
Magus nodded slightly. Without wasting words, he summoned a steward to handle the inventory and inspection. Then he drew out a neatly written scroll and handed it to Jorton.
"These are the materials I'll need for the next shipment," Magus said. "Give this list to my elder brother."
"Of course, Sir."
Curiosity getting the better of him, Jorton glanced at the list before folding it away. He recognized many items—crystals, refined brass, purified silver. But one entry puzzled him.
Clay.
Clay? For making ceramics?
But Jorton knew better than to ask unnecessary questions. He bowed again, mounted his horse, and led the escort team back toward the direction of the city.
Once the convoy was gone, Magus continued surveying the terrain. He had embarked on an ambitious project the moment Shining City was secured. With the territory stabilized, he finally had the chance to begin building what every aspiring Wizard dreamed of: his own base.
A Mage without a private sanctum could not cultivate in peace. Whether for meditation, experimentation, spell research, or the development of magical flora and constructs, a dedicated space was essential.
Many Wizards built impressive Wizard Towers—magnificent structures filled with enchantments, laboratories, and libraries. The strongest among them, the True Spirit Wizards, could even construct legendary Floating Cities.
Magus, unfortunately, could not afford either. His resources and influence were still too limited. But he could at least create a comprehensive base of his own.
A proper Wizard's base needed several key facilities:
– A Meditation Area
– Spell Cultivation Chambers
– Experimental Laboratories
– Residential Quarters
– A Pharmacy and Potion Workshop
– A Magic Plant Garden
– A Magic Item Crafting Hall
– A Puppet Factory
– Warehouses and Storage Facilities
– And many auxiliary structures
Such a base would be larger than most villages. The cost of construction alone could easily reach tens of thousands of gold coins.
Luckily, Magus had prepared for this. Before leaving Blackstone City, he had brewed a large batch of potions and entrusted them to the Fire Fox Merchant Guild for sale. The advance payment he received was enough to fund the initial stages of construction.
But money wasn't the only concern.
What Magus sought at the moment was something far more important—an Earth Vein Node.
Deep beneath the surface of every world flowed primal magical meridians—networks that carried natural elemental energy. These convergence points were known by many names: Earth Vein Nodes, Elemental Branches, Mana Nodes…
Regardless of the terminology, the essence remained the same: they were centers of natural energy.
If a Wizard constructed a large magic array atop an Earth Vein Node, it would provide a continuous mana supply to his base. That would drastically reduce energy consumption and operating costs. Without such a node, powering facilities like the Magic Plant Garden, Magic Item Workshop, or Puppet Factory using magic stones alone would be impossible—even if the entire Shanguang Territory contributed all its income.
Unfortunately, the Starlight Continent's elemental density had been severely depleted over the years. The energy provided by Earth Vein Nodes was a mere shadow of what it once had been.
Even with a fully activated node, the energy output would probably only sustain the base's daily operations. Anything beyond that—such as powering a Mana Crystal Forging Furnace—would require additional magic stones.
Which meant Magus had to stockpile a substantial number of magic stones before the base's construction was completed.
After nearly half an hour of searching, Magus finally stopped. His eyes brightened.
"There you are."
The Earth Vein Node lay directly beneath the flattened hillside, exactly where he needed it. He breathed out a long sigh of relief. With this, the most critical requirement for his base was settled.
His gaze drifted back down the slope to look at the bustling work site below. Dozens of laborers were sweating as they hauled timber, smashed rocks, and dug trenches for the foundation. Their pace was steady, but even so, Magus couldn't help frowning slightly.
"Using only manual labor is far too slow," he murmured. "To build this base within a reasonable time frame… I should produce a batch of Clay Golems."
Clay Golems were simple but incredibly durable constructs. Despite being made from common materials, they possessed nearly a ton of physical strength. In large-scale construction projects, one Clay Golem could easily perform the work of a hundred humans.
More importantly, Clay Golems did not tire, did not require food or rest, and only needed a stable energy supply and periodic maintenance. They could work uninterrupted for years if handled properly.
That was precisely why most Wizards preferred using Clay Golems as laborers and assistants.
"They require simple materials, consume minimal energy, and are extremely easy to maintain," Magus said to himself. "They're the perfect choice for labor. If I create just ten Clay Golems, the construction speed of the entire base will increase dramatically. I'll also save a tremendous amount of gold coins on labor costs."
Beyond construction, Magus still had to consider personnel. A Magic Plant Garden required caretakers who understood magical botany. A Magic Item Workshop needed apprentices familiar with runes and enchanting principles. These roles demanded more than basic literacy—they required specialized training.
"Cultivation, spell proficiency, potion-making, golem crafting, personnel training, base building…" Magus sighed faintly. "I really will be busy from now on."
But deep within his eyes, a glimmer of excitement flickered.
Because everything he planned—every brick laid, every array constructed—was a step toward the future he sought.
A future where he would stand not as an ordinary practitioner…
…but as a true Wizard of the world.
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