Chapter 437: The Valezig Ruins

Chapter 437: The Valezig Ruins

Soon, Ren effortlessly completed the remaining steps and reached the final drying stage.

"Sir Ren, it's done. With the current weather conditions, it will take about two days to fully dry this sheepskin," Old Henry said, stroking his beard with satisfaction.

At the same time, he glanced at the dozens of apprentices nearby and secretly thought to himself, "If any one of them had even half the ability of Lord Ren here, my leatherworking legacy would truly be passed on and flourish."

"Hmm? Does it need two days to dry?" Ren asked, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Two days seemed too long; he had planned to complete the job change today.

"Yes, but Lord Ren, we can learn the subsequent techniques first, such as lacquering and crafting," Old Henry explained, not understanding why Ren had suddenly frowned.

"No, I might have another way," Ren said.

Hmm?

The temperature and humidity in the Imperial Capital definitely required two days to dry the leather!

For a moment, Old Henry couldn't quite comprehend Ren's intentions. How did he plan to dry the leather?

Suddenly, a scorching air formed around them, and the moisture on the sheepskin in Ren's hand began to evaporate visibly.

"This... this is Sorcery!"

"Is Sir Ren a Wizard?!" Old Henry was stunned.

Dressed in a noble hunting outfit, he hadn't realized that Ren was also a wizard.

"Using Sorcery to dry leather? That's quite extravagant!" The young apprentices nearby were all shocked by the sight, and their hands paused in their work.

But after his initial surprise, Old Henry shook his head slightly.

In reality, he wasn't convinced that using Sorcery for drying was a good idea. Even a Tier 1 Wizard would find it extremely challenging to control the temperature of their spells.

For example, a fireball with thousands of degrees of heat would need to be cooled down to sixty or seventy degrees to dry raw leather, which was incredibly difficult. Apprentices and Wizards from the Snyder Family had attempted this in the past but failed.

The drying process required precise temperature control. It was like boiling an egg; higher temperatures didn't necessarily mean faster cooking.

However, what Old Henry didn't know was that Ren was casting a Fire Sorcery spell, 'High Temperature Field', which had a lower temperature compared to other fire-based spells.

Combined with Ren's mental control as a Tier 3 Crystallization Wizard, he skillfully managed the temperature, quickly drying the raw leather.

Old Henry's eyes sparkled as he witnessed this remarkable display of temperature control. It was truly exceptional!

"It's done, Lord Ren," Old Henry said a few minutes later, wiping his hands after examining the dried sheepskin with awe.

As the ten pieces of sheepskin were processed, the system prompt sounded:

[Host promotion conditions for Leatherworker detected: 1. Leather Apprentice level 3 maxed out; 2. Agility 5 points, Strength 5 points, Constitution 5 points; 3. Craft any ten qualified finished leather items. All conditions met. Promote to Leatherworker? Yes/No]



[Note: After promotion to Leatherworker, the new Leatherworker profession panel will replace the original Leather Apprentice panel.]



Clearly, there was no need to deliberate on the decision to promote. Ren immediately chose "Yes!" without hesitation.

[Ding! Promotion successful!]



[Promotion to Leatherworker successful! Strength +1, Agility +1! Obtain Leatherworker core skill: Leather Processing lv1]



[Leather Processing lv1 (Passive): Due to your frequent leather processing, the success rate of leather processing is increased.]



Leather Processing?

Well, that was a classic skill enhancement for leatherworking.

At that moment, the original Leather Apprentice panel disappeared, and a new Leatherworker panel emerged, also a blank slate.

Below the panel was a brand-new icon border, which glowed slightly.

Ren immediately focused his attention on the icon.

The icon depicted a person vigorously shaking leather inside a circular stone vat.

Below the icon was a line of small text:

[Core Skill: Leather Processing lv1 (Passive)]



Leather Processing lv1 (Passive) Effect: Increases the success rate of leather processing by an additional ten percent.

"Lv1 increases the success rate by ten percent? It's better than nothing," Ren thought to himself, nodding slightly.

He wouldn't waste his precious skill points on leather processing.

"Master Henry, let's continue with the next steps," Ren said, feeling good as he turned to Old Henry, who was carefully examining the leather dried by 'High Temperature Field'.

"Oh! Yes, Lord Ren, I was observing the Sorcery you just displayed, and it seems different from regular Fire Sorcery. The temperature wasn't too high, and the air currents were quite intense."

"It's the perfect Sorcery for accelerated drying! Old man, you don't know how to talk," Ren replied.

Suddenly, Old Henry remembered Sir Luther's previous reminder, and he realized that the young man before him wasn't just an apprentice but a powerful individual like Sir Luther.

Commenting on his Sorcery as ideal for leatherworking was clearly impolite and offensive.

"It's alright, Master Henry. Focus on improving your leatherworking skills. It's admirable that you dedicate yourself to a craft," Ren said, not minding the unintentional offense, especially since Henry was so focused on his work.

"Lord Ren, shall we continue with the next steps or take a break?"

"Let's continue, Master Henry."

"Alright, Lord Ren. Let's proceed. For the finished leather, we'll apply lacquer to prevent insects and rot, and it also extends its lifespan."

"Different lacquers have different effects," Old Henry explained as he led the way.

Lacquering was another smelly step in the process.

However, this step was also no challenge for Ren, as the most difficult part of this process, the precise mixing of lacquer ingredients, was a task that a Legendary-tier individual like Ren could easily handle.

Next, they would use different leather materials to craft specific leather items.

Ren had finally reached a level of understanding that an ordinary person would consider the work of a leatherworker.

Typically, a leatherworker would specialize in a specific niche, such as boot-making or leather armor crafting, and become an expert in that field. This was similar to the blacksmithing profession that Ren had previously encountered, where one could specialize in swordsmithing or armorsmithing as they progressed.

"Lord Ren, which part of the crafting process interests you the most?" Old Henry pointed to the various leather armor pieces hanging on the walls of the workshop and asked.

Ren scanned the wall, quickly spotting a leather coat that seemed to promise a higher experience reward.

"I'll make this embroidered leather coat," Ren decided.

The coat had intricate embroidery on its surface, but Ren was confident in his skills. He had encountered similar techniques in his tailoring days, and the runes used in the embroidery were even more complex.

Based on Ren's previous experience, crafting chest armor with intricate craftsmanship often yielded higher experience rewards.

"This embroidered leather coat is of medium difficulty, mainly because the embroidery on both sides is time-consuming and labor-intensive," Old Henry explained, observing Ren's expression.

Normally, this type of coat would be a challenge for a novice leatherworker who had been practicing for years. However, Old Henry didn't think it would be too difficult for Ren, who had only started leatherworking a few hours ago. So, he began to teach him.

Within a short time, Ren was hands-on with the crafting process. When the coat was finished, the system notifications sounded:

[You have crafted an embroidered leather coat and gained related insights!]



[You have learned a new skill - Crafting Embroidered Leather Coat]



[Your skill in crafting embroidered leather coats has improved. Experience gained: +12]



[You have successfully crafted an embroidered leather coat. Leatherworker experience gained: +10]



Old Henry rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he examined the smooth and elegant embroidery lines on the coat. Even he might not have achieved such perfection.

Fortunately, a powerful individual like Lord Ren wasn't going to compete with them for their livelihood. Otherwise, they would all be out of work! With such generous experience rewards, it took only two hours for Ren to level up his leatherworking skill from Lv1 to Lv4 (690/1000), earning him an additional 3 Attribute Points and 3 Skill Points.

With these points, he now had a total of 9 Attribute Points remaining, ensuring he could sustain a high-intensity battle in his fourth form.

He also had 8 Skill Points left, only 3 points short of the 11 needed to upgrade his new Sorcery, 'Sawtooth Ring,' to Lv12.

It was already nearing noon.

After some thought, Ren bid farewell to Old Henry, saying he would return the next day.

In the afternoon, he planned to visit the Bishu Armament Academy and meet with his mentor, Mogaro.

Recently, his psychic crystallization speed had far exceeded expectations, indicating that it was time to focus on the advanced meditation technique of the fourth level of Steel Heart.

Bishu Armament Academy Headquarters.

Mogaro's Office.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mentor Mogaro, with an unusually serious expression, said, "Ren, your timing is perfect. I was just about to send Audrey to find you regarding a very important matter."

"Please, Mentor, go ahead," Ren replied, straightening his posture.

"It's about the Steel Heart meditation technique's fourth level, which I mentioned to you before. We now have a lead on it."

"Oh? That's great news!" Ren's face lit up with a smile.

He understood that Mentor Mogaro's serious expression likely meant they had encountered some difficulties in the process.

As it turned out, this was precisely the matter Ren had intended to inquire about.

"After some initial exploration and confirmation, the Academy is confident that there is a more than 50% chance of finding the complete legacy of this meditation technique within the Valezig Ruins," Mogaro explained.

"However, the ruins are highly dangerous. Based on the remaining sorcery arrays and puppet demons, we believe this site was a primary stronghold of the ancient Valezig Academy."

"Even with only the outer areas explored so far, our leader, Master Moriah, sustained minor injuries during the process."

"Oh, right, Ren, you haven't met Master Moriah yet, have you? He's been occupied with this exploration for the past six months," Mogaro added, tapping his forehead.

The correct version is available at 69 Book Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar.

"Initially, there was a military exploration team assigned to this task, but they withdrew two months ago due to other missions. Now, the Bishu Armament Academy is solely responsible, so Master Moriah has been busy over there."

"Mentor, I haven't had the honor of meeting Master Moriah," Ren acknowledged.

No wonder the leader of their Academy had been so elusive.

"However, Ren, Master Moriah is aware of your joining the Academy. I informed him a long time ago. Moreover, as a Metal Sorcery Wizard, he is delighted to have you in the Academy," Mogaro said with a smile.

"By the way, returning to the matter of the ruins, the current challenge is entering the core area. According to Master Moriah's conclusion, we need a rare treasure called the 'Ancient Tree Heart' to break through the remaining protective sorcery arrays."

"The Ancient Tree Heart? Isn't that a treasure produced by the Elves?" Ren asked, recalling a record he had read in ancient books.

"Indeed, and it shouldn't have been a significant issue," Mogaro confirmed, nodding.

"Since the Valezig Ruins are near Ferdinand Forest, we can still obtain this treasure through some underground trade channels with the Elves."

"Hmm, it's right next to Ferdinand Forest?

Ren was taken aback by the revelation. He never expected the location of the ruins to be near Ferdinand Forest.

"Indeed, but the issue is that at least two different cult forces have been spotted near the ruins. Additionally, there's a situation with the elves. The person who was supposed to be in contact with our academy has suddenly gone silent." Mogaro furrowed his brows.

"Is it because of the cults?" Ren asked, his brows slightly creased.

"Most likely, but we're not entirely sure about their objective yet. It could be the ruins or the elves." Mogaro nodded, explaining the situation.

This was the reason he sought out Ren, as he knew his disciple was an Imperial Tempered Gold-ranked Swordmaster with extensive combat experience and knowledge of various cults.

"Mentor, I understand your intention. You want me to ensure the safety of the ruins' exploration, right?"

"Yes, and it's no laughing matter. You're the strongest Metal-type fighter we have."

"Mentor, I have no issues on my end. I think it would be better if the Swordmaster Headquarters issue this as a mission."

Ren's first choice would be to find the original Steel Heart Meditation's Fourth Level, if possible.

"That's wonderful!" Mogaro exclaimed, his face beaming with joy.

"I'll inform the Master about the situation later. By the way, Ren, when can you depart?" Mogaro asked with a smile.

"Mentor, within two days?" Ren replied after a moment's thought.

He needed to inform the headquarters about this matter first. At his level, leaving the imperial capital of Temuril required prior notification.

Additionally, he planned to further enhance his Leatherworking skill, aiming to accumulate 11 Skill Points. With that, he could directly utilize the new Sorcery 'Sawtooth Ring' in combat.

"Great! That's fantastic!"

Half an hour later, Ren returned to his mansion and finished his meal. Soon after, his dedicated contact, Lady Olenna, paid him a visit.

In the study, Lady Olenna praised her superior, "Lord Rayen, Lady Tatia told me about your outstanding performance in the Secret Realm. It was truly remarkable."

"Thank you. Although there were some issues along the way, I managed to handle them," Ren replied with a slight smile.

"Lord, I have a few updates to report."

"First, some good news. Due to His Majesty the Emperor's ongoing recovery, the Senate has decided to postpone the investiture ceremony for counts and above. The exact date will be announced later."

"However, your appointment as a count has been approved, and the Investiture Committee should visit your mansion within the next couple of days."

Ren nodded, acknowledging the information.

"Secondly, on the day before yesterday, when the Dragon Valley Secret Realm opened, several suburbs of the imperial capital Temuril were attacked by cultists. Although they were eventually defeated and purged, it was discovered that their ultimate goal was to enter the Secret Realm."

As Olenna narrated, Ren nodded in agreement.

So that's how it was connected.

"The Goddess of the Abyss's incarnation was injured and left after being besieged by the Empire's Guardians, but the Red Dragon, Tassa, companion of Her Highness Menia, was severely wounded."

"Oh? Are you sure it was Her Highness Menia's dragon?"

"The Intelligence Department at headquarters has confirmed it without a doubt."

"I see," Ren said, recalling the red dragon scale Menia had given him, which indeed belonged to Red Dragon Tassa.

He wondered if he should pay a visit.

"As for the third matter, cult activities have intensified. Last time, you mentioned keeping an eye on several provinces near Ferdinand Forest. The situation there seems unusual."

"According to local intelligence, several powerful cultists have entered Ferdinand Forest with their teams, presumably targeting the elves."

"Hmm? Please elaborate," Ren said, raising his brows and straightening up.

This information corroborated what his mentor Mogaro had told him.

"Since Ferdinand Forest is where the elves gather, according to the agreement between the Empire and the elves during the Empire's founding, we cannot enter casually. Therefore, the exact intentions of these powerful cultists are unclear."

"But according to the analysis in the Intelligence Hall, the dominant cult among them is an ancient cult organization called the Mother Tree Sect. Their conflict with the elves dates back thousands of years."

"As for the other cult organizations, they were likely invited by the Mother Tree Sect."

"How long has this situation been going on?"

"The Mother Tree Sect's activities in Ferdinand Forest probably started several months ago, but they were discreet. The other cult organizations' movements into Ferdinand Forest have been more recent, occurring over the past few days."

Upon hearing this news, Ren stood up and began pacing in the study.

His concern at the moment wasn't the ruins but Anna. It seemed that the injury of Anna's aunt, Lady Delanna, wasn't an accident but an attack or continuation of aggression from the Mother Tree Sect.

In that case, Anna's situation didn't look optimistic!

Should he send the Arida Sisters to Ferdinand Forest immediately? No, that wouldn't be wise!

If the sisters' identities as high-ranking members of the Serpent Sect were exposed, it would likely attract the sect's madness.

Apostasy was already unacceptable in the Goddess Church, let alone in a cult. They would likely face the death penalty! The sisters might not only fail to save others but also endanger themselves.

"Has headquarters made any decisions regarding Ferdinand Forest?" Ren asked, stopping his pacing.

"It's still in the discussion phase. Since the elf ambassador in the capital hasn't requested aid from the Empire, headquarters ordered the provincial divisions to intensify intelligence gathering."

"Contact Captain Tatia and tell her I want to go to Ferdinand Forest."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end