Two months slipped away like sand through his fingers as Benjamin lost himself in research.
In the underground laboratory beneath the estate, all manner of strange energy fluctuations never ceased. Every successful experiment further refined Benjamin's theoretical framework.
Meanwhile, the continued renovation of the "Golden Garden," transformed from the ruins of Golden port, proceeded in an orderly fashion. It had already begun to take shape, even exceeding Benjamin's expectations.
Driven by monetary incentives, the remodeled residents labored day and night, gathering morning Hundred Flower Dew for Benjamin and maintaining the garden's vitality.
Just as Benjamin had wished, their social structure had also begun to take shape, centered around labor and trade.
Their everyday joys, sorrows, anger, and pleasures; their pursuit of material things; their longing for life—all flowed together like tiny streams, gathering into sparse yet pure currents of Mortal Aura.
Absorbed by the special rune array Benjamin had set deep within the garden, it flowed continuously into the Talisman Seal within his dantian.
That day, as Benjamin inspected the garden and planned its next stage of renovation,
Amy and Victor's arrival at the Wizard Camp disrupted his relatively peaceful research life.
"Benjamin! So you've been hiding out here!" Amy's voice was as crisp and lively as ever.
She wore a light apprentice robe. At some point, her brown hair had quietly turned golden, its strands gleaming beneath the sunlight.
Victor appeared far more composed. He stood tall and straight, though a trace of barely perceptible weariness lingered in his eyes.
"You're back?" Benjamin smiled. He was genuinely happy to see his companions again after so long.
"Yeah. We've been running ourselves ragged for months and can finally catch our breath." Amy complained, "It feels like my father and mother always have endless things to do. It was hard enough