The New "Forge" Camp

"What an impatient man."

Ian frowned inwardly, but remembering Sterling's instructions, he remained calm.

"Master Copperbeard, I need to check the inventory list. Also, every type of material requires an authorization slip from Wizard Sterling or Captain Hank..."

"An authorization slip? I fought my way here from Ziluo and nearly lost my life, and I still need some damned slip?" Copperbeard's voice grew even louder.

"These materials are for reinforcing the camp's overall defenses. If we waste time and the defenses aren't ready before Crimson attacks, will you take responsibility?"

"Copperbeard!" A deep voice cut off the dwarf's roar.

Hank had appeared at the warehouse entrance at some point, his expression stern.

"Wizard Sterling has given his orders. All supplies must be collected according to procedure. I've already brought the authorization slip."

He handed the slip to Ian. "Prepare the materials for Master Copperbeard according to the list. The camp has its rules, so please understand. Reinforcing the defenses is of utmost importance!"

Copperbeard snatched the slip, glanced over it, then stuffed it back into Ian's hands.

"Hurry up. My time is precious."

Ian accepted the slip without another word, turned around, and began searching for the materials according to the list.

There was plenty of Ash Moss and Century Ironwood Sap in stock, but the warehouse only had seven portions of Earth Vein Crystal Powder.

"Master Copperbeard, there are currently only seven portions of Earth Vein Crystal Powder."

Ian took out the materials and placed them on a nearby table.

"Only seven portions? What kind of garbage warehouse are you people running?" Copperbeard's dissatisfaction nearly overflowed.

"Forget it. Seven portions it is. They'll have to do for now. You, Potion Master brat, I remember this stuff can be refined from Earth Vein Stone together with Acid-Eroding Vine Sap, right?"

Ian nodded. This was relatively advanced potion knowledge that Rune Masters generally did not understand, but this dwarf seemed to be an exception.

"Within three days, I want the remaining three portions. The purity must at least meet the standard, or it'll affect the Rune Magic Conductivity."

Looking at the dwarf's wide, glaring eyes, the joy Ian had felt from his recent breakthrough faded somewhat, and his heart gradually calmed.

This Rune Master might truly be skilled, but with such an impatient temperament, he would probably cause plenty of trouble in the future.

Ian slowly took a breath and replied calmly.

"I'll look through the relevant refinement methods and do my best."

"Do your best? I need you to get it done."

Copperbeard gathered up the materials, turned, and strode away.

Hank watched Copperbeard's departing back and shook his head helplessly.

"That's just his temper. His skills are genuinely excellent. I heard the Defensive Rune Array he personally set up withstood three fierce Crimson assaults. If there hadn't been a traitor inside who destroyed the Rune Core, they should've held out until reinforcements arrived."

"A traitor? Who was it?"

"A Crimson infiltrator. He was killed on the spot, but he seemed to have come from a small family nearby. Keep an eye on those family wizards in the future."

"I understand, Captain Hank." Ian nodded.

Of course, he understood the importance of the camp's defenses and was willing to cooperate, but being ordered around by that dwarf still left him somewhat uncomfortable.

As the camp's population grew and its relationships became more complicated, internal dangers would grow as well.

He pushed those thoughts aside and looked at the remaining materials in his hands, his gaze settling on the Earth Vein Stone and Acid-Eroding Vine Sap.

"Refining Earth Vein Crystal Powder... perhaps Insight's special effect can come in handy."

Ian put away his concerns, and his eyes sharpened once more.

First, he needed to deal with this unexpected task and complete the Limit Break of Crystal Energy Barrier as soon as possible.

Then he would accelerate his accumulation of Contribution Points, exchange them for the resources he needed, and continuously grow stronger.

After this camp merger, even greater dangers would arrive.

Only strength was the foundation for dealing with every unexpected change.

The next morning, the camp no longer had its usual gloom.

A team of more than eighty people arrived at the "Forge" Camp through the morning mist.

Nearly all of them were Wizard Apprentices. Most wore weary expressions and damaged robes, while quite a few bore injuries.

The eyes of some apprentices still held the terror of defeat, along with grief over the companions they had lost.

These were the remnants who had retreated from Ziluo Logistics Camp.

Their composition was somewhat complicated. There were combat personnel who had withdrawn from the front line, High Tower apprentices, and members of wizard families who had gathered from nearby.

Leading them was a powerful middle-aged female wizard with a stern expression, dressed in a dark blue wizard robe.

Her left sleeve hung empty, yet the Magic Power fluctuations around her remained enough to make one's heart tremble.

Wizard Sterling had long been waiting at the camp entrance. Upon seeing the female wizard, he gave a slight nod.

"Elinor, you've worked hard." They both belonged to the High Tower and naturally knew each other.

"Sterling." Elinor's voice was hoarse and deeply exhausted.

"The Ziluo Frontline... is gone!"

Sterling already knew the news. The collapse of the Ziluo Frontline had caused the logistics base to suffer devastating casualties without any preparation.

"It's enough that you made it out alive." Sterling's gaze swept over the team behind her.

"The 'Forge' Camp welcomes you."

Another leader from the group stepped forward and bowed to Sterling. "Wizard Sterling."

This man's nickname was "Iron Anvil," and he lived up to the name. He had a sturdy build, dark skin, and hands covered in calluses and burn scars.

He was an Alchemist and Craftsman skilled in repairing and producing Wizard Tools and defensive fortifications.

"We brought twelve crates of standard magic stones, seven crates of various mid- and high-grade materials, and..."

He paused, his voice low. "Three damaged Rune Ballistas. If Copperbeard can repair their runes, perhaps they can be deployed again."

A sharp light flashed in Sterling's eyes. "Rune Ballistas? Good. Copperbeard is reinforcing the camp's defensive runes right now. I'll have him take a look later."

The merger work quickly began. High Tower apprentices were absorbed into the core ranks, while family wizards were assigned to patrol teams and defense groups.

Supplies were inventoried and stored away, the wounded were sent for treatment, and the camp's scale nearly expanded by half.

The total number of apprentices in the camp also rose to more than four hundred, already comparable to a small frontline outpost.

Sterling also assigned Ian to guide several newly arrived Intermediate Potion Masters.

They already had some foundation and took on part of the potion-brewing work themselves.

With the camp population increasing, Ian's potion tasks increased as well, and his training time was correspondingly compressed.

Although Ian seemed to be under suddenly increased pressure, he was somewhat excited inside. More tasks meant more Contribution Points.

Thinking about the good things in the warehouse, Ian was filled with motivation.

That day, after finishing all his brewing and guidance work,

he took a Limit Break version of Awakening Potion and began meditating.

After his breakthrough, his meditation time had increased by another two hours. However, most people at this stage could only endure it bitterly, with extremely low meditation efficiency.

Training at the Advanced Apprentice stage involved first gradually strengthening the eighteen smaller runes from before.

Once they were the same size as the original nine Will Runes, one could then outline fifty-four more Will Runes, eventually forming a more complex cluster of eighty-one Will Runes.

Time slowly passed, and the sky gradually darkened.

[Star-Moon Lower Meditation Method Proficiency +1]

An hour later, Ian stopped meditating. Seeing that his proficiency had only increased by one point, disappointment appeared in his eyes.

"Meditation efficiency has dropped a lot."

This was something he had expected long ago. Ordinary Advanced Apprentices had already given up on this kind of low-grade potion.

Only he was still using it with the Limit Break version. If he fully committed to meditation, he could still gain around eight proficiency points a day, but it took up too much time.

If he wanted to save time, he could only spend Contribution Points to exchange for some [Concentration Potion] for training.

Furthermore, the lower-tier meditation method could no longer keep up with his current realm. After the Limit Break, he would see whether he needed to replace it.

He looked at the two skills on the Status Panel and lowered his head in thought.

[Spirit-Awakening Potion: Proficient (216/400)]

[Crystal Energy Barrier: Mastery (795/800)]

The supportive effect of Spirit-Awakening Potion was not very good, so he decided to stop brewing it in the future.

As for the crystal shield, it only needed the final five points of proficiency before it could break through.

A brand-new Limit Break special effect would be born!