Chapter 132: Dawn Star Rank, Moonlight Rank, Dusk Sun Rank

Chapter 132: Dawn Star Rank, Moonlight Rank, Dusk Sun Rank

"First, regarding myself, you might consider me a self-generated fundamental intelligence within an artifact."

Shapeshifter began explaining.

"Additionally, I must harvest soul mana by slaying creatures to recharge. That’s why my previous persona operated the robbery teams in Lizard Alley."

Luo En nodded. This aligned with his suspicions.

"Because of the need for periodic dormancy and the significant costs of maintaining mercenaries..."

Shapeshifter continued, "My savings are limited—only ten complete Mana Stones in total. They’re yours now."

Ten Mana Stones! A windfall that sent waves of joy through him.

Shapeshifter gestured toward the storage chest Luo En had retrieved earlier:

"Beyond the mana stones, there’s a special item you can use."

Curious, Luo En opened the chest—a mana-sealed containment box that completely insulated internal mana fluctuations. Inside lay a deep silver-gray metal slab roughly the size of a palm.

"What is this?"

Cautiously, Luo En lifted the metal, sensing its mysterious mana essence.

"Soul Steel", Shapeshifter’s mechanical voice carried reverence.

"An exceptionally rare transcendent material. Weapons forged from it possess extraordinary malleability, capable of freely shifting forms according to the wielder’s will."

Luo En’s eyes widened. "What’s its value?"

"Beyond measure", Shapeshifter replied.

"In the Dwarf City-States Confederation, this piece of Soul Steel could buy an entire city. Even using Mana Stones as currency, its worth would be nearly impossible to quantify."

Carefully returning the Soul Steel to the chest, Luo En’s mind raced with possibilities for this precious material.

"Regarding the Time Sand", Shapeshifter continued,

"That was indeed the key material to activate the Timekeeper pocket watch. But true Time Sand is extremely rare—it only forms in regions where time flows abnormally."

"The small vial I gave you was collected over years. Enough for preliminary experiments, but likely insufficient for full activation of the watch."

Luo En placed the Soul Steel back, his thoughts shifting to the Time Sand issue.

He stared at the tiny vial containing golden grains shimmering with strange light, endless questions swirling in his mind.

"I have many questions about Time Sand. First—how exactly does it form?"

Shapeshifter seemed to anticipate this.

"This involves information you might have encountered before."

"Have you heard of the Bloodline Altar recently?"

Luo En’s eyebrows lifted. He hadn’t expected Shapeshifter to bring this up.

"I’ve heard whispers. A mysterious location supposedly hidden within an Exotic Rift nearby."

"Not just mysterious", Shapeshifter’s mechanical tone darkened.

"The Bloodline Altar is actually a temporal projection of an ancient world—a frozen fragment of history. Time Sand forms as residual traces of time within such unique environments."

Luo En’s eyes brightened. "You mean your Time Sand came from the Bloodline Altar?"

"Precisely. Whenever the Crystal Spire and Black mist School open the Bloodline Altar, my previous persona secretly deployed agents to collect scattered time fragments during activation."

Its mechanical voice carried resignation.

"But this was never easy. Each expedition consumed vast resources, yet yielded minimal results. That vial you hold represents the entirety of several decades’ worth of collection."

Luo En studied the golden grains under the light, their flowing texture resembling captured moments of time.

"Can you describe the Bloodline Altar’s specific circumstances in detail?"

Shapeshifter responded with regret.

"Unfortunately, my knowledge is limited. As a Rare Relic, I remain bound to this Lizard Alley region, unable to personally visit the Exotic Rift. I can only rely on fragmented reports from surviving agents… and"

Shapeshifter paused.

"The terrifying aura that spreads here every time the altar activates."

"Terrifying aura?" Luo En seized the term.

Its form briefly trembled.

"A pressure capable of making all living beings tremble. Even across vast distances, it instills instinctual fear… the presence of a Dusk Sun Rank mage."

Luo En’s eyes flickered with confusion. "Dusk Sun Rank? I’ve never heard of this classification."

"It’s the tier system for breakthrough Full Mages", Shapeshifter explained.

"In ascending order: Dawn Star Rank, Moonlight Rank, Dusk Sun Rank. Beyond that lies the legendary Archmage realm, exceeding even my understanding."

Luo En absorbed this information, his perception of the supernatural world expanding once more.

"The strongest in Black mist School is supposedly Fuyuanzhang, reaching Moonlight Rank."

Shapeshifter added, "But the Crystal Spire always sends a Dusk Sun Rank mage to personally lead expeditions to the Bloodline Altar."

"How much destructive power does a Dusk Sun Rank mage possess?" Luo En pressed.

"Purely in terms of destruction, a Dusk Sun Rank mage using Overmagic Techniques could evaporate ocean surfaces across a thousand-kilometer radius or sink medium-to-small landmasses."

Shapeshifter’s voice trembled with awe.

"If such a Crystal Spire mage truly unleashed full power, this entire region—including human kingdoms and numerous exotic race territories—would reduce to ashes in an instant."

Luo En inhaled sharply.

Such power surpassed his wildest imagination. If Dusk Sun Rank could obliterate continents, how unfathomable would an Archmage—existing beyond that critical life disparity—become?

Like the legends—crushing stars, manipulating galactic systems?

This only solidified his belief in the Bloodline Altar’s value. For such formidable beings to personally escort it, the altar must contain unparalleled opportunities.

"Since the Crystal Spire values the Bloodline Altar so highly, I must find a way to secure entry", Luo En declared resolutely.

Shapeshifter affirmed,

"With your innate talent, potential, and current resources, obtaining a spot isn’t impossible. But even entering the altar requires caution. A site guarded by Dusk Sun Rank mages will pose dangers of equal magnitude."

After a pause, Luo En asked,

"Regarding Time Sand—do you know the best way to use it to activate the pocket watch?"

"I only know it’s a key material, but the activation method…" Shapeshifter shook its head.

"You’ll need to discover it yourself. However, since the Timekeeper pocket watch has already shown an initial reaction to you, I believe you’ll find the right path."

Luo En lifted the vial, studying the golden grains within, his thoughts spiraling.

Obtaining more Time Sand from the Bloodline Altar—fully activating the Timekeeper pocket watch—would become one of his primary goals moving forward.

"As a fully-edited auxiliary program, I will do everything within my capacity to assist you in uncovering the truth of this world, locating more Rare Relics, and unlocking their powers."

Luo En nodded, his gaze lingering on the Time Sand and the storage case concealing Soul Steel on the worktable. Already, plans for the next phase of action were taking shape in his mind.

With the Bloodline Altar's activation window approaching, he needed to accelerate his preparations to ensure absolute readiness for the impending opportunities and challenges.

Shapeshifter patiently answered all his questions before adding casually:

"I can perceive the general presence of other Rare Relics within a certain radius. If I detect any, I'll inform you."

"Alright, I'll enter hibernation now. Master can summon me directly whenever needed..."

With that, Shapeshifter dissolved into a pool of silver liquid, reattaching to Luo En's skin before quickly entering standby mode.

Now resembling an almost imperceptible membrane, it perfectly concealed itself beneath his epidermis.

Luo En took a deep breath, looking at the storage case and Time Sand on the table. A faint sense of satisfaction swelled within him.

Today's gains had exceeded all expectations. Not only had he acquired powerful protective and camouflage abilities, but he'd also collected the critical materials needed to activate the pocket watch, along with the priceless Soul Steel.

...

Over the following days, Luo En immersed himself in researching the Time Sand within the workshop's most secretive laboratory. Carefully experimenting with various activation methods, he sought to unlock additional functions of the pocket watch.

"According to the Transcendent Perception analysis", he muttered, fingers caressing the black gemstone on the pocket watch, "the device requires 'time' attribute mana matching for charging to unlock new capabilities."

He first attempted the most direct approach - sprinkling Time Sand directly onto the pocket watch's surface. Nothing happened. Next, he tried inserting the sand into the internal mechanical structure. Still ineffective.

"Perhaps some kind of medium is required?"

His gaze shifted to his own fingertips. Last time activation occurred after his blood dripped onto the gemstone, and he'd sensed the pocket watch possessed some form of awareness rather than being a completely inert object.

Determined to test his hypothesis, he carefully pricked his fingertip with a small knife, letting a single drop of blood fall onto the prepared Time Sand.

The moment blood touched sand, the golden particles suddenly surged with activity, sparkling like miniature stars. His blood appeared to contain special properties.

"There's a reaction!"

Reinvigorated, Luo En quickly applied the blood-infused Time Sand onto the pocket watch's black gemstone.

The gemstone's surface instantly flared with eerie red light, like a starving beast finally catching the scent of blood. The pocket watch began emitting a faint hum as its internal gears accelerated.

A sudden chill ran through Luo En's heart, as if countless tiny needles simultaneously pricked his chest. Yet the sensation wasn't painful - rather, it carried an uncanny intimacy, as though the pocket watch was forging a deeper connection with him.

[Time Sand detected.]

[Mana absorption in progress...]

[Current mana capacity: 15/15]

"It's working!" Luo En's eyes lit up at the interface prompt. Hastily retrieving more Time Sand, he repeated the procedure.

Each subsequent application intensified the humming sound while the black gemstone burned brighter.

[Mana absorption in progress...]

...

[Current mana capacity: 20/20]

...

[Current mana capacity: 30/30]

[Mana sufficient. New function unlocked: Time Stasis.]

As the final batch of Time Sand was absorbed, the pocket watch underwent a subtle transformation. Intricate patterns emerged across its previously plain dial, while the black gemstone now glowed with tiny star-like markings forming a miniature constellation ring.

"Time Stasis", he whispered the new function's name, excitement rising within him.

This clearly represented vastly enhanced power compared to the simple state reset function.

[Time Stasis: Temporarily freezes target in a special stasis state, completely immobilizing movement and weakening defenses.

Mana consumption: 10 units per second

Activation phrase: "Bite the second hand!"

Effective range: Below Archmage class]

Luo En inhaled sharply, struggling to contain his astonishment. Being able to freeze entities below Archmage level meant even formidable Dusk Sun Rank mages - beings capable of reshaping mountains with a gesture - would leave him a fighting chance.

But this power required testing.

He retrieved a transparent glass cage from the lab shelf, containing several experimental white mice. Carefully selecting one, he placed it on the worktable while clutching the pocket watch, synchronizing his spiritual energy with its resonance.

"Bite the second hand!"

As the activation phrase formed in his mind, a sharp black beam erupted from the pocket watch's gemstone, striking the sniffing white mouse.

Instantly, the mouse froze mid-movement, like being trapped in transparent amber. Its lifelike posture - tail raised, front paws lifted - remained completely motionless, even breath seemingly stilled.

[Time Stasis activated. Mana consumption in progress.]

Luo En held his breath, gently prodding the mouse with a thin rod. Surprisingly, the creature still reacted to stimuli, emitting faint squeaks despite its immobility.

"So this ability only restricts movement and offensive capabilities, rather than complete temporal stasis."

After releasing the effect, he observed the mouse's recovery.

[Time Stasis Released. Total mana consumed: 10 units.]

The mouse immediately resumed activity, though visibly startled as it frantically darted around before Luo En carefully returned it to the cage.

"Consuming 10 mana units per second with current capacity of 30 - maximum duration of 3 seconds", he calculated. "But even 3 seconds could be decisive in turning the tide of battle or escaping danger."

Gently stroking the pocket watch, he felt its mysterious power pulsing within. The Timekeeper's Pocket Watch was growing stronger, though this might only scratch the surface of its full potential.

This realization sparked new plans. Within his mental library, he opened a fresh shelf for organizing future objectives:

"First, next week visit the slave merchant to purchase various exotic race embryos. This bloodline formulation research is crucial for perfecting the Chimera Bloodline and Ai Lan's evolution."

After a moment's reflection, he continued recording:

"Second, accelerate spellcraft and alchemy research, especially completing the Radiant Halo and Soul Steel application studies. Improve my school evaluation to ascend ranking within the Backup Mage Sequence, establishing foundation for obtaining Bloodline Altar participation."

"In half a year, no matter what, I must ascend to High Apprentice level to access greater resources and privileges."

Luo En opened his eyes, taking a low breath. Time was pressing, but he already possessed a far better starting point and resources than most apprentices. The infinite career slots advantage was increasingly evident, with synergies between professions enabling remarkable progress across multiple fields.

Coupled with the Timekeeper Pocket Watch and Shapeshifter's Skin - two powerful Rare Relics - and the imminent bloodline formulation research...

"The path has been laid. Now I need only walk it steadily..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end