Airship

Civilian spirit cards are more widely used than arcane spirit cards, and among civilian spirit cards, the most numerous are Spirit Storage Cards. Unless one wishes to return to a primitive lifestyle, no household can do without a Spirit Storage Card.

Spirit Storage Cards store very stable Spiritual Power.

Spiritual Power is ever-changing, but only Spiritual Power that can be stably and continuously output can be called "Spirit Energy."

The high-energy spirit crystals contained within spirit ore are the most suitable source of Spirit Energy. This is simpler and more convenient than refining it from a Spirit Spring, and the reserves are vast.

"The Pioneer War can't start for so long, it must be that the higher-ups are still playing political games," the Spiritual Apprentices listening to the Spirit Society's public class discussed.

Though called apprentices, most of them were already middle-aged, having worked in various industries for many years. Their experience far surpassed that of ordinary people, and they analyzed matters with great insight.

"If it were just a Medium Spirit Spring, a simple Pioneer War would suffice, but it's different with spirit ore."

"Indeed. The new nobles who will be enfeoffed after the Pioneer War probably won't be able to swallow it all."

"So many Mercenary Groups have moved in recently. I've asked around carefully, and it feels like every Mercenary Group has someone backing them. Take the Sword Shield Mercenary Group, for example; they're backed by the Flamingo Family from Liehuo Town... The Flamingo Family is said to have a Great Arcane Mage overseeing them!"

Only Arcane Mages of 4-Ring and above can be called Great Arcane Mages.

"Never mind these Mercenary Groups. Just look at the CBD Spirit Ore Company; so many important figures in Chen Jiao City have invested in it."

"Actually, if you ask me, the more major powers involved, the better. The more people there are, the safer it is. We're just running a small business in Snakehead Town, so we can follow along and make a little extra."

"I'm afraid that's not necessarily true."

"Boss Gongerfu, do you have a different opinion?"

Gongerfu was the owner of a potion shop on First Vertical Street. He was quite wealthy and held considerable prestige among the Spiritual Apprentices.

He shook his head and sighed, "I'm a few years older than you all. I participated in the last Pioneer War at the Black Snake Lair from beginning to end... Too many things are unclear now. You just need to know one thing: yield when you should, don't be stubborn."

"What do you mean by that, Boss Gongerfu? Are you saying someone is going to come and steal our business?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?" Gongerfu didn't want to say more, only hinting, "In short, during the initial chaos, protecting yourselves is most important. It's not too late to think about getting rich after things stabilize... Of course, this is just my personal suggestion."

Someone jokingly responded, "Boss Gongerfu, are you afraid we'll steal your chance to get rich, and you're deliberately telling us to withdraw first, haha."

Many people echoed the laughter, erupting into a fit of giggles.

Gongerfu didn't get angry and smiled, "You guys really can't hide anything from me."

The public class had ended, and everyone was chatting and joking. It was impossible to tell if anyone took it seriously. Duke mingled with the crowd, listening to various rumors for a while. When most people had dispersed, he also left the large classroom.

However, he had understood Boss Gongerfu's words.

It was nothing else.

Laying low was his principle. He could touch upon great power by steadily developing himself in obscurity. Why risk it by thinking about getting rich quick?

Mid-September arrived, and more and more Mercenary Groups gathered in Snakehead Town, leading to a severe decline in street safety.

Street brawls, harassing women, and dining and dashing became common occurrences. The roads leading to adventures in the wilderness were also frequently subject to robbery.

The Black Snake Family's patrol guards and the town's security team were finding it increasingly difficult to maintain order.

However, the airship routes between Chen Jiao City and Snakehead Town had not yet been affected. All route vehicles were accompanied by Great Knights, who could effectively deter troublemakers from outside the town.

"Boss, the tickets have gone up in price," Levin said, holding three tickets.

"I know."

Duke frowned, increasingly dissatisfied with life in Snakehead Town.

The benefits of the Pioneer War had yet to materialize, but prices were rapidly rising and safety was rapidly declining. Merchants and residents around the streets were already complaining bitterly, but they couldn't change reality.

Fortunately, he had stocked up on goods earlier, and coupled with the booming business of Arcane Card repairs, Little Sam's Card Shop had made a considerable profit in the past half-month.

Duke's funds had now accumulated to fifteen gold dragons.

After deducting the nearly five gold dragons for a shipment of goods, he still had ten gold dragons to spend freely. He wanted to buy a 0-Ring Spiritual Plant that could regulate spiritual energy. The 0-Ring Earth Orchid he kept at home couldn't regulate spiritual energy. He had been cultivating it daily with breathing techniques but hadn't seen any signs of spiritual energy regulation.

"Sigh, a 0-Ring Spiritual Plant for ten gold dragons might be obtainable, but the effect will definitely not be good... 1-Ring Spiritual Plants are too expensive... Cultivating extraordinary power is truly difficult."

He was already doing well, after all, not everyone could own their own shop.

Yet, he still lacked cultivation resources.

This showed how arduous the cultivation of others must be, which was also why many Spiritual Apprentices who relied on elixirs remained stagnant their entire lives.

Just then, Harper suddenly shouted, "Boss, Levin, look quickly, it's an airship!"

Duke looked out the car window at the sound and saw a massive airship, somewhat resembling a Kirov airship, slowly descending towards an open space not far from the station.

It was nearly three hundred meters long and over fifty meters in diameter, truly an aircraft carrier.

Its outer shell gleamed under the morning sun.

It was clearly constructed with integrated Spirit Gold.

This was a fortress capable of traversing the wilderness and crushing spirit beasts if encountered.

On the side of the airship's hull, a line of black characters was painted: Elvin Mage Tower - Sunset.

"It's so beautiful!" The passengers in the Black Beetle Car all got out to admire the behemoth. For many residents of Snakehead Town, they might never see an airship in their lifetime.

Duke was naturally no exception.

He had taken planes a few times before transmigrating, but this airship before him was much larger than a plane. Its massive body gave off a strong sense of oppression, making people feel awestruck and insignificant in comparison.

"I really want to ride an airship once," Levin said with a simple sigh.

Harper shot him down, "Your entire year's salary isn't enough to buy a ticket for an airship... But the Boss can definitely afford it."

Duke, not wanting to flaunt his wealth, didn't respond to that.

Instead, he asked a familiar Boss, "Why is an airship coming here? Boss Winston, do you know where this Elvin Mage Tower is from?"

"I don't know, but we'll be seeing airships often from now on."

"Because of the Pioneer War?"

"That's for sure. More important people will be coming to our Snakehead Town from now on. Important people won't ride Black Beetle Cars; they'll definitely ride airships... Airships are great – safe and stable. I also heard that the interiors of airships are extremely luxurious, like a royal palace!"

Although the Seven Towers Federation had a system of enfeoffed nobles, it had long abolished the imperial system, and there were no royal palaces.

Some countries outside still retained their imperial systems.

The airship had already landed steadily. Several luxury cars bearing the Black Snake Family's insignia could be seen speeding over to greet it.

There were many knights on horseback providing security around the area, so it was impossible to see who the Black Snake Family's convoy was meeting.

When the Black Beetle Cars honked their horns, the passengers who had been observing the airship returned to their vehicles. Duke also withdrew his gaze.

It's just an airship.

He would have one sooner or later.