Translator: AnubisTL
For Jieming at this stage, this spell was exceptionally well-suited.
It didn't directly enhance his combat abilities, but it dramatically improved his research efficiency, indirectly accelerating his mastery of higher-level powers.
Jieming theorized that the awakening of this spell was likely due to his prolonged immersion in research, having devoted nearly all his energy to exploring and deciphering knowledge.
His Ring of Truth had materialized his core needs and deepest understanding into this spell called the "Universal Eye."
In the following period, the birth of the Universal Eye opened a grand gateway to the depths of truth for Jieming.
With this auxiliary spell, his already efficient research speed surged dramatically, as if he had boarded a high-speed train.
Armed with Mentor Clark's manuscripts on the Divine Power Faith Network and the Universal Eye's penetrating insight, the once-daunting research became far less obscure.
For a time, Jieming was completely immersed in this state of deep research, unable to extricate himself.
Apart from brief periods of rest and essential cultivation, he spent nearly all his time in the laboratory, his mental power surging through the ocean of knowledge like a tidal wave, drawing upon its boundless wisdom.
He felt his understanding of the Divine Power Faith Network accelerating at an astonishing rate.
Yet, less than a year later, this peaceful and productive research life was shattered by a sudden crisis, forcing Jieming to break free from his near-trancelike state of concentration.
The reason? The Mortal Dust Qi, his most prized resource, had begun to fall short of production targets!
As he gazed at the two bottles of magic potion shimmering with iridescent light, Jieming's expression darkened.
He had long anticipated a decline in Mortal Dust Qi production, but he never imagined the drop would be so drastic.
In truth, the decline had begun the moment he took charge of this group of indigenous people.
However, as time passed, the downward trend became increasingly pronounced.
When he tallied the month's output, he was shocked to discover that the collected Mortal Dust Qi barely met the minimum raw materials required to refine his two monthly Red Dust Magic Potions.
This revelation struck Jieming like a thunderbolt.
The Red Dust Magic Potion was currently his primary source of stable merit points, and more importantly, it was his key bargaining chip for securing assistance in constructing a seventh-tier elemental pool!
He immediately channeled his mental power deep into the Golden Garden, meticulously examining the status of every talisman seal that absorbed Mortal Dust Qi.
Regrettably, and as Jieming had anticipated, the seals showed no signs of malfunction.
"Sigh... I never imagined this day would come so soon..."
With a sigh, Jieming left his laboratory for the first time in ages and ascended to the highest level of his mansion, gazing down upon the endless sea of flowers below.
At the periphery of the floral expanse lay the cities gradually established by the indigenous people over the years.
These mortal cities remained bustling and prosperous, their inhabitants living out their lives with birth, aging, illness, death, joy, sorrow, love, hatred, and all manner of social activities unfolding in orderly fashion.
On the surface, everything appeared normal, without a hint of abnormality.
Yet Jieming knew all too well that something fundamental had silently shifted.
Mortal Dust Qi was an exceptionally unique conceptual material. Its very essence stemmed from the complex concepts generated by human social activity, including but not limited to faith, emotions, culture, ideological clashes, and more.
It was born from the flourishing of civilization and the intense interplay of living beings' free will.
The reason for the sharp decline in Mortal Dust Qi production within Jieming's Golden Garden—a domain under his control—was precisely this conceptual shift.
"It seems the Noren Workshop has been working tirelessly these past years," Jieming sighed helplessly. "They've likely transformed nearly the entire Ellosia Prime Plane by now."
He recalled the conclusion he'd reached during his time at Noren Academy: planes controlled by wizards generally failed to generate Mortal Dust Qi.
The reason was simple: under the wizards' management, the entire living environment of the plane had subtly shifted from a "society" to a "farm."
Superficially, wizard-controlled planes appeared unchanged, save for their enhanced stability and harmony.
To maintain stability and maximize resource production, wizards often optimized the plane's social structure, eliminating internal strife, ensuring ample food and water, and even eradicating diseases.
From a mortal's perspective, such a society would undoubtedly be considered a golden age of peace and prosperity.
However, conceptually, from the moment a plane fell under wizard rule, all social activities became dependent on the wizards' "supply" for sustenance.
Human survival no longer relied on personal struggle and the natural evolution of society, but rather on the wizards' order and bestowals.
Moreover, the wizards had even reserved an upward mobility path for the planes under their control: becoming a wizard.
This "nurtured" stability, while eliminating turmoil, had inadvertently stifled the very essence of what a "Society" should be.
People no longer needed to compete fiercely for survival or fret over the uncertainties of the future. All conflicts and contradictions were quelled by the wizards' order.
This conceptual "stability" and "harmony," though bringing material abundance, had deprived Mortal Dust Qi—the conceptual material—of its fundamental breeding ground: the conflict, struggle, and creativity born from free will.
Jieming wanted to do something, but a wave of helplessness washed over him.
He believed he had already minimized his interference in the lives of the Golden Garden's indigenous people.
Aside from the initial restoration of order and some necessary transformations, he hadn't treated the residents as mere livestock to be penned up, as other wizards did.
He allowed them to preserve their culture, pursue love freely, even quarrel and brawl, as long as it didn't disrupt the overall order.
Yet the wizards, as beings who controlled countless planes, still possessed overwhelming resources.
Even Jieming's self-proclaimed meager "charity" provided the indigenous people with far more resources and a more comfortable environment, transforming the communities around the Golden Garden into a thriving "Society."
This very reason had caused his own "control" to erode the concept of "Society" itself.
His existence, and the wizard order he represented, fundamentally altered the Golden Garden's concept of "production site."
The output of Mortal Dust Qi continued to decline sharply year after year, from initially being more than sufficient to barely maintaining supply, until this year, when even the raw materials for two bottles of Red Dust Magic Potion per month could no longer be gathered.
This was no small matter!
The primary reason the high-ranking wizards of Noren Academy's alchemy department had agreed to refine a seventh-tier large elemental pool for him was because they had witnessed his ability to earn merit points through the Red Dust Magic Potion.
The two bottles of Red Dust Magic Potion per month weren't just for repaying his debts; they also served to showcase his technical skill and potential.
If he cut off the supply now, securing another opportunity to have someone refine a seventh-tier large elemental pool for him in the future would become virtually impossible.
His entire planar transformation plan would be indefinitely postponed.
The solution to this predicament, at its core, was actually quite simple: find a new "Society."
"It seems... it's time to start another war."
To find a society not dominated by wizards, he would have to leave the Elosia Plane, perhaps even leave the planes controlled by wizards altogether, and take the offensive.
To venture into primordial planes yet untouched by wizardry, to seek out new civilizations and extract the Mortal Dust Qi he needed.
Though many research projects remained unfinished, though he had only just escaped the research frenzy sparked by the Universal Eye...
Jieming had no choice but to depart early and wage war on other planes.
In his view, participating in the Planar War was actually a perfect excuse.
After all, the Planar War was a shared duty of all wizards, a crucial means for the wizard civilization to maintain its power and expand its influence.
As a wizard of the Noren Workshop, actively participating in the Planar War was entirely "politically correct."
Since it was a shared duty of all wizards, Clark and Clark's mentor should understand his temporary suspension of Red Dust Magic Potion production during his war service.
This explanation was far more reasonable and acceptable than simply claiming "I've run out of Mortal Dust Qi."
This way, he could not only secure new sources of Mortal Dust Qi but also buy himself a significant amount of time. A true win-win!
Jieming swiftly made his decision and immediately contacted Mentor Clark through the magic net terminal.
"Mentor," Jieming said calmly, striving to maintain a normal demeanor, "I'm preparing to initiate a new Planar War."
At the other end of the communication, Mentor Clark remained silent for a moment, seemingly slightly surprised by Jieming's swift decision.
However, he didn't press for an explanation, simply replying with a concise and resolute tone, "Very well. You wouldn't have had much time to rest before your next campaign anyway. Coincidentally, the Noren Workshop has recently initiated new planar expansion projects. I'll arrange a suitable target for you."
"Understood, Mentor. Thank you for your assistance." As he spoke, Jieming seemed to remember something. "I'll deliver this month's two magic potions to you shortly. As for the potions I missed during the war... I'll craft them upon my return from the frontline."
Clark suddenly looked up at him, a playful glint in his eyes. Only when Jieming felt cold sweat prickling his back did Clark slowly nod. "There's no rush. We can discuss it after you return from the frontline."
"Yes, sir..."
After ending the communication with Mentor Clark, Jieming couldn't help but wipe away nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
He took a deep breath, and the burning flame of battle rekindled in his eyes.
While research and exploration were undoubtedly important, the acquisition of knowledge and control over resources remained the eternal pursuits of wizards.
After years of relentless work, he truly needed to test the fruits of his research.
(End of the Chapter)
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