Free Web NovelChapter 534: Chapter 459: The News
Ten years later.
Walking out of the space folding test field specifically for testing the [Void Step], Jeming took the data screen handed to him by the Black Giant Priest, his gaze quickly scanning the densely packed test parameters on it.
Limit of movement speed, energy consumption curve, stealth status’ shielding rate against various detection means, environmental adaptability data...
From the statistical data, the modified Void Step’s various indicators have all been met, even slightly exceeding the anticipated model.
"Not bad." Jeming nodded, a satisfied expression on his face.
Compared to the complex modification process, involving a large amount of conceptual knowledge absorption of the [Ruins Armor], the modification of [Cause and Effect Tracing Technique] and [Void Step] is much more "straightforward."
The former focuses more on information capturing and trace analysis, coincidentally, the Wizards are most adept at data analysis, so the modification poses no difficulty.
The latter focuses on space phase switching, energy synchronization, and stealth algorithm optimization.
Coincidentally, Jeming is quite outstanding in space knowledge and energy switching knowledge, so modifying the Void Step didn’t take much effort.
With the rich experience accumulated from modifying the Ruins Armor, coupled with a deepening understanding of the Spiritual Qi Law and Wizard Rune system, Jeming becomes increasingly adept in subsequent modification work.
In just ten years, these two mechanisms with unique spells have been successfully transformed from the Cultivation Immortality System to new composite spell models driven by wizard energy and performance-enhanced.
Thus, for offense, there is "Fire Extinction Divine Light," for defense, there is "Ruins Armor," for reconnaissance, there is "Cause and Effect Tracing Technique," and for movement, there is "Void Step."
A basic system covering the main combat dimensions is thus initially established.
Jeming estimated the time in his mind.
"Less than fifty years remain until the eighty-year war deadline mentioned by Professor Clark back then," he pondered, "The time is still ample. Once the Profound Gang Red Dust Barrier is upgraded, perhaps I can study one or two auxiliary or more targeted spells or witchcraft artifacts to further enrich the means."
With this thought, he returned to the core laboratory and opened the Magic Network Terminal.
This time, his search keywords are "Power of Faith," "Nature of Wish Power," "Mental Debris Aggregate," "Conceptual Pollution," and other related knowledge.
To safely utilize that "Incense Fire Toxin" to upgrade the Profound Gang Red Dust Barrier, merely relying on the records of Incense Fire Divine Dao in the Great Dao Book Pavilion and the foundation of previous research on the Divine Power Faith Network is slightly insufficient.
He needs a more comprehensive and cutting-edge understanding of the concept category "Power of Faith" within the Wizard World’s cognitive system and research status.
What surprised him was that on the Magic Network Terminal, the theoretical research, characteristic analysis, historical application cases, and other knowledge materials regarding "Power of Faith" were unexpectedly "affordable."
Jeming was prepared to spend High Level Military Merits but found that most of the relevant knowledge could be purchased with just Low Level Military Merits.
Of course, this "affordable" is relative.
Deep research reports, experimental data of high application, and analysis models of certain special faith phenomena are still expensively priced, often costing tens of millions or even hundreds of millions in Low Level Military Merits.
But such prices are not much of a burden for Jeming now.
"It seems that in the mainstream recognition of the Wizard Civilization, although ’Power of Faith’ is an indispensable source of power, especially prominent in certain civilizations or systems, its research value and application universality seem to be less emphasized compared to laws, souls, time, and space and other core fields..." Jeming analyzed quickly while browsing the directory and summaries.
This is not entirely a bad thing.
At least he can quickly build a knowledge framework about the Power of Faith at a relatively affordable cost, sufficient to support him in safely handling and applying the "Incense Fire Toxin."
Considering the previous research foundation on the Divine Power Faith Network, Jeming does not need to purchase a complete set of knowledge from low to high.
He tapped his fingers, ready to bulk order dozens of pieces of Power of Faith knowledge that he had filtered out, covering different angles and levels.
As he carefully checked the last few paper abstracts related to "Purification of Faith Impurities and Dangerous Characteristics," a prompt for an urgent communication request suddenly popped up in one corner of the Magic Network Terminal’s screen.
Requester: Viola.
Jeming’s heart stirred slightly, and he immediately opened the communication.
Viola’s face appeared on the screen, her expression was serious, with a look of gravity that Jeming hadn’t seen for a long time, completely devoid of her usual laziness or occasional mischievous amusement.
"Jeming," she got straight to the point without any pleasantries, her voice low, "The war time has been set."
Seeing her expression, Jeming knew the news probably wasn’t good and directly asked, "Earlier than expected?"
"Yes." Viola nodded, "The latest confirmed message, the time point ultimately coordinated by the Star Ring Federation... is quite a bit earlier than our worst internal estimates."
She paused and stated a specific number: "Twenty-five years later. Official coordination for the war will start."
"Twenty-five years?!" Jeming couldn’t help but frown deeply.
This suddenly cut down over twenty years of preparation time!
For wizards who often plan and accumulate over centuries or millennia, twenty years is not long, but it is enough to disrupt many carefully laid plans and rhythms.
For him personally, many research projects that were originally scheduled later... such as further deducing new spell modifications and optimizing cannon fodder legions, have to be shelved or significantly downsized.
All resources must be concentrated to prioritize the final perfection of core combat forces.
And Jeming’s situation is relatively good in this regard.
It’s essential to understand that the wizard’s methods are diverse.
Some wizards do not excel in regular combat magic or general techniques but require long-term preparation, specific environments for cultivation, or temporary construction of large-scale war machines, special ecological legions, one-time strategic arrays, etc.
These methods often have great power or have miraculous effects in specific fields but have long preparation cycles and poor flexibility.
The sudden advancement of war times is undoubtedly the most significant blow to this group of wizards.
And yet, these "big move type" or "specialized type" wizards often play a crucial role in decisive moments or tactical aspects of the frontline battlefield.
The final decision of the Star Ring Federation to settle on a noticeably early time point is definitely not without purpose.
This means that in prior games, the Tower of Annihilation and the Chaos Secret Sect have exerted more significant pressure.
The opposing side opting for this choice indicates that their war preparation period is shorter and they incline toward early decisive battles.
This indirectly confirms that the enemy began targeted war preparations earlier than Nolun Workshop.
"Has the war zone been determined?" Jeming suppressed his thoughts and asked another key question.
"Yes, it has." Viola’s expression didn’t relax with this question’s answer but became more solemn, "The battlefield designated by the Star Ring Federation is a super-large abandoned plane specially modified and provided by them."
Upon hearing the term "super-large abandoned plane," Jeming immediately understood why Viola’s face looked so grim.
Super-large planes are rich in resources, and their laws are relatively stable and complete, rarely being wholly "abandoned."
When labeled as "abandoned," it usually means that its core resources have long been exhausted.
The environment may be extremely harsh or highly unstable, possibly having undergone some catastrophic trauma.
Provided and "modified" by the Star Ring Federation, with an emphasis on "super-large"...
This almost certainly means that this battlefield is a special product forcibly assembled and solidified from fragments or remnants of multiple abandoned planes by the Federation using technology.
The intention is clear—providing a sufficiently vast arena that can withstand the battles of high-tier wizards while maximizing the deprivation of the combat parties’ ability to "utilize battlefield environmental resources."
In such a battlefield, common battlefield techniques like local material quick array setups, catalyzing local organisms to form support, and absorbing plane energy to replenish consumption would suffer greatly.
The comparison between both sides will focus more on their carried resource reserves, instant combat power, and hard-core tactical execution abilities.
For Nolun Workshop, this is obviously not an advantageous condition.
Though Nolun Workshop’s wizard numbers uniquely lead among the three major wizard influences, when faced against the other two wizard influences at once, it is still the weaker side.
Aside from the Eighth Level Wizard tier’s combat power being barely on par, other same-level combat forces are basically at a numerical disadvantage.
"A hard-fought war of attrition... is indeed not good news." Jeming frowned even deeper.
This suggests that the war’s intensity and resource consumption may far exceed the initial estimates.
"That’s the situation." Viola’s voice carried a hint of fatigue, but her eyes remained sharp, "The Professor asked me to inform you to be ready. Everything should prioritize enhancing instant combat power and ensuring survival ability."
"I understand." Jeming responded in a deep voice.
The communication ended, and the light screen darkened.
The laboratory remained silent for a moment.
Jeming stood in place, looking at the unfinished Power of Faith knowledge purchasing interface on the terminal screen, his eyes flickering.
The urgency and anxiety he felt from the information quickly calmed within him.
With the situation already at this stage, worrying is futile.
The only option is to do his utmost and make the best use of the remaining twenty-five years to arm himself to the teeth.
"Fortunately, the core spell modifications are already completed." He pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes regaining a calm and focused look, "The preliminary combat system is ready. Although the total combat power is significantly lower than initially anticipated, the real-time combat power won’t fall short much. However... the upgrade of the Profound Gang Red Dust Barrier must be prioritized immediately."
He no longer hesitated, his fingers quickly operating on the light screen, confirming the purchase and payment of all the knowledge regarding Power of Faith he had just filtered out.
