In the Roland Empire, Fireball Spell was the introductory spell for Magic apprentices.
But even the most talented apprentice needed at least a month of meditation to sense the fire element.
Only then, through tedious Incantations and gestures, could they barely conjure a flame the size of a ping pong ball.
Yet, Wu Liang did it instantly! Without Incantation!
How was this possible?
Even a Great Magus couldn't do that, could they?
Moreover, in the Roland Empire, Mages were noble and mysterious beings, each holding an honored status.
She never imagined that this Barbarian Leader was actually a Mage!
"This is just the most basic Trick."
Wu Liang flicked his wrist, and the Fireball Spell in his palm instantly extinguished; his control over Magic Power was extremely precise.
He looked at Annia's distraught appearance and said indifferently:
"Now, do you still think you are qualified to negotiate terms with me?"
Annia shook her head distractedly, muttering to herself:
"Monster... you are a Monster..."
"I don't care what I am."
Wu Liang walked up to her and looked down at her.
"Annia, your Talent far exceeds mine."
"With just a little guidance, your potential will be limitless."
He walked to the side of the Bathtub, squatted down, and looked directly into Annia's eyes.
"Now, I give you a choice."
Wu Liang's voice was full of temptation.
"Submit to me and work for me."
"I will extract all the knowledge of magic in your mind and teach you how to truly control power."
"I will make you the most powerful Mage in this world."
"I will establish a Magic School, and you will serve as the Headmistress."
"You will be responsible for selecting children with magic potential in my Tribe, teaching them, and forming a Magic Legion that belongs to me."
"Imagine, Annia."
"You will then be a Magic Mentor revered by tens of thousands, a Powerhouse who controls lightning and flame."
"Doesn't this future appeal to you?"
Annia stared blankly at Wu Liang, surprised that this man would say such things to her.
Powerhouse, Magic Mentor, Magic Legion... these words exploded in her mind like heavy bombs.
She looked at Wu Liang, her expression extremely complicated.
After a long time, she finally spoke softly:
"I... what should I do?"
Wu Liang smiled.
"It's simple,"
He reached out and gently lifted Annia's chin.
"The first step is to formulate a Test Plan for me that can effectively screen Magic apprentices."
In the following period.
Under Wu Liang's careful guidance and repeated nightly assaults, Annia became completely attached to him.
There was no other reason.
This man, he was truly amazing.
She stopped seeking death and became submissive and clingy.
Wu Liang was very satisfied with this change.
He gave Annia a private, clean house, equipped with all necessary daily necessities, paper, and pens.
Annia dedicated herself entirely to formulating the Screening Plan for Magic apprentices.
She locked herself in the room, writing and drawing tirelessly.
Three days later, a detailed plan was placed on Wu Liang's desk.
"Hmm, not bad."
Wu Liang flipped through the Roland Empire Script on the paper and nodded.
The plan was divided into three steps.
Step one, Preliminary Selection.
Everyone touches a Crystal containing weak Magic Power; those who can make the Crystal glow faintly are deemed talented and proceed to the Review Selection.
Step two, Review Selection.
Testing the Affinity of the selected candidates for different elements.
Using magical beast crystal cores of different attributes, observe which element they can activate and assess their Affinity Level.
Step three, Final Selection.
Wu Liang and Annia personally interview the candidates to examine their temperament, comprehension, and other comprehensive qualities.
"The idea is good, but there are two problems."
Wu Liang said, pointing to the plan.
"First, we don't have Crystals containing Magic Power."
"Second, we don't have magical beast crystal cores either."
Although there are Magic Beasts in the Great Desolate Mountain, they are concentrated near the Elves and Orcs.
The Great Desolate Mountain and that area have always kept to themselves, never interfering with each other and having no contact.
The people of the Great Desolate Mountain Tribe would not easily approach that area.
It's too dangerous.
So the current situation is: we have neither this nor that.
Annia's face fell: "Then... what should we do?"
"If we don't have it, we'll make it."
Wu Liang's answer was simple and direct.
He looked at Annia.
"I will teach you a basic Rune Enchantment, allowing you to infuse your own Magic Power into ordinary Quartz Crystals to create Magic Power Testing Crystals."
"As for the magical beast crystal cores..."
Wu Liang smirked.
"It's time Akomann took the Black Rock Army out for some training."
"I will have her lead people deep into the Great Desolate Mountain to specifically hunt powerful Magic Beasts that possess Crystal Cores."
Annia listened, dumbfounded.
Manufacturing Magic Items?
Specifically hunting high-level Magic Beasts?
When this man said these things, it sounded like child's play, far too easy.
Wu Liang ignored her thoughts, and under his guidance, Annia began her first Enchantment.
Wu Liang had her sit cross-legged and follow a special Meditation Technique to sense and guide the Magic Power within her body.
Annia quickly entered the state.
Magic Elements danced cheerfully around her body, rushing into her in droves.
Her Total Magic Power was increasing at a terrifying speed.
"Concentrate your spirit, separate the fire element, and engrave it onto this Crystal according to the Rune Circuit I taught you."
Wu Liang's voice sounded like a spell in Annia's mind.
Annia took a deep breath and cautiously manipulated a strand of fiery red Magic Power.
Like an invisible carving knife, it slowly traced lines on the transparent Quartz Crystal in front of her.
The process was difficult; she was drenched in sweat and pale, nearly failing several times due to loss of Magic Power control.
When the final stroke was completed, the ordinary Quartz Crystal suddenly lit up with a red glow, and the temperature of the entire room seemed to rise slightly.
"Success!"
Annia collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, but her face was filled with excitement and joy.
"How do you feel?"
Wu Liang pulled her up from the floor and handed her a cup of warm water.
"I... I feel like I'm about to collapse from exhaustion, but... but I'm so excited!"
Annia was ecstatic.
"This is just the beginning."
Wu Liang looked at her.
"Only when you can manufacture a hundred such Crystals in one go will your first phase of training be considered qualified."
Annia stuck out her tongue, but there was no fear in her eyes, only enthusiasm.
According to Wu Liang's plan, everything was progressing steadily.
Annia continuously manufactured Magic Power Crystals; her Enchantment technique became more proficient, and her Magic Power control grew more precise.
Meanwhile, Akomann led a thousand-person Hunting Squad composed of the most elite warriors to the area rarely accessed by others.
The Magic Beasts there possessed the ability to manipulate magic, making them far stronger than ordinary Fierce Beasts or wild beasts.
The battle to subdue the Magic Beasts was exceptionally fierce, but fortunately, the Black Rock Army was well-equipped and powerful.
Although they suffered some losses, their harvest was substantial.
Batches of precious magical beast crystal cores, along with various rare Magic Materials, were continuously transported back to the Tribe.
At the same time, another Great Project, one capable of changing the entire appearance of the Tribe, welcomed a historic breakthrough.
Inside the Military Workshop's Forging Workshop.
The atmosphere was extremely tense at this moment.
Everyone's eyes were focused on the huge Steel Monster in the center of the workshop.
This was a massive Boiler, connected to complex copper pipes and a peculiar piston rod structure, looking extremely cumbersome.
This was the first steam engine that Suina, leading the most elite Artisans of the entire Military Workshop, had finally built according to Wu Liang's Blueprints, after months of effort and countless failures.
"Have all the connections been checked? Are you sure the seals are okay?"
Suina looked serious, her eyes fixed on the steam engine.
"No problem, we checked three times! Absolutely no problem!"
Chief Steward Wula, the Artisan standing nearby, answered loudly.
"Good!"
Suina took a deep breath, looked at Wu Liang standing nearby, her eyes filled with nervous anticipation.
"Begin."
Wu Liang nodded at her.
"Ignition! Add Coal!"