Chapter 185: Dark Dragon Crystal Acquired

Clang... clang...

Clang... clang...

The densely interwoven sounds of forging hammers and the clash of extraordinary weapons and armor flow like a river of notes amid the thick source‑energy steam.

Finally they merge into the nearby steam lighthouse, resonating with it.

The dwarves' own forging and the steam tower lamp achieve an ecological cycle by resonating with the steam source energy.

This scene gives Ta Ke, who is waiting in the backyard of Bajins' shop, a slight insight.

"If my Ecological Magic Net can, even when inactive, intersect and interact with the internal spell sequences of the ecology using the Steam Wizard Sequence as its core,"

"Then... my Ecological Magic Net will be in a constantly active cycle at all times."

"That would be far better than me having to actively trigger it to complete the cycle."

"From the Demon King seal site in Lamor, the cycle of absorbing the Demon King Sequence's traits can be applied here."

"The internal cycle is equivalent to a Demon King Sequence, albeit only in the form of a magic net."

"But its strength will be far greater than a simple Ecological Magic Net."

"After all, a Wizard Ecological Magic Net is merely a cycle of source energy and the wizard's own power."

"And... once a Demon King Sequence ecology breeds within it, the cycle is no longer just source energy; it also incorporates the wizard's own extraordinary traits."

"Constructing a Demon King ecology is still very difficult."

"But before my SSS‑grade Extraordinary Talent, building it slowly still holds great hope of success."

"Once successful, it would enormously aid my wizard ecology."

"Moreover, I could use the Demon King Sequence cycle to strengthen my Steam Wizard Ecology's traits."

Feeling the accumulated learning, mastery, and settled knowledge foundation begin to take effect, Ta Ke smiled gently.

The wizard's path is thus forged through continual learning, accumulation, mastery, and exploration.

Combining one's own means and abilities, one constantly expands, advances, and climbs higher rungs on the extraordinary sequence, ultimately attaining the Master Hall!

Just as Ta Ke was pondering,

a fluctuation in the living‑room barrier of Bajins, not far away, arose.

Ta Ke immediately gathered his mind.

After receiving Bajins' magical letter, Ta Ke had lunch and then leisurely hurried over.

Noticing Bajins entertaining guests, Ta Ke quietly began waiting in the courtyard.

"Squeak!"

As the door opened.

A tall Saintland nobleman stepped out with light, rhythmic steps.

He wore a black wide‑brimmed top hat, a well‑tailored brown suit, a silver‑chain pocket watch on his chest, and carried a red‑blood‑wood ceremonial staff.

Even the interlacing of his steps and the staff's tap on the ground were exceedingly elegant and refined.

Noble etiquette permeated his very bones.

"That material, I entrust to you, Lord Bajins," the nobleman said, slightly pinching his hat brim as he bowed toward Bajins.

"Lord Earl, rest assured, it is my honor to serve you,"

"Since the family council has already approved, there will be no mistake on my part,"

Usually coarse Bajins now forced a pretentious aristocratic tone, though his voice remained rough and his gestures somewhat comical.

The noble, addressed by Bajins as "Earl Lawrence," turned and left.

As for Ta Ke standing aside, the Earl nobleman did not glance at him at all.

After Earl Lawrence had completely departed,

Bajins finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

In the corner, Ta Ke's eyes narrowed slightly.

"The Steam Sequence exerts astonishing pressure while absorbing a certain special soul power,"

"It vaguely possesses two powerful extraordinary sequence traits,"

"What a strong Fourth‑Tier Earl,"

"Moreover... during this period, many strong Saintland figures have gathered,"

Ta Ke pondered silently.

During this time, Ta Ke alone, in the taverns of Lamor Long Street, encountered many formidable extraordinary beings.

And today, the Fourth‑Tier Earl he met was terrifyingly powerful.

Just as Ta Ke was about to greet,

but saw Bajins turn and head inside.

"Since when does a forge master not need eyesight?"

Ta Ke said lightly.

At that moment, Bajins suddenly looked toward Ta Ke's position.

"Brother Andre!"

His tone suddenly rose, then remembering something, Bajins quickly lowered his voice.

"Come in quickly!"

Entering the house, Bajins swiftly activated the barrier.

Then he let out a long breath and laughed.

"Brother Andre, the Third‑Tier Lord‑Level Dragon Crystal, our family council has agreed to give you in advance,"

"And as exchange, for each Ash Cycle you must help our family forge two leader‑level materials, each guaranteed to be safe and harmless,"

Of course, the proper reward can't be without yours.

"No problem!" Ta Ke nodded.

Ta Ke came today specifically for this matter.

After thinking, Ta Ke added.

"But boss‑level materials are limited to Fourth Tier and below."

Ba Jinsi heard that and laughed loudly, "Haha."

"Even if Brother An De Lie wants to forge higher‑grade boss‑level materials, they're probably hard to find; those rare materials are too scarce."

Fourth Tier is already within the realm of intermediate extraordinary beings.

The number of such extraordinary creatures is already low.

Add to that the humans' years of relentless killing.

Nowadays, living Fourth Tier bosses are already rare.

While feeling around the storage bracelet, Ba Jinsi quickly began to speak.

"This time, the family council's agreement was largely thanks to the Count Lao Lun Si just now, who played a big role."

"Oh?"

Ta Ke looked outward and then laughed.

"It's probably too late to thank them now; of course, such big figures don't care about the gratitude of us small folk."

"Brother An De Lie, if even a transcendent genius like you is considered a small person, then us, who only know how to carry a hammer, probably aren't even ants."

"The Count Lao Lun Si's family holds power and influence within the Principality."

"The Principality Duke of the Lao Lun Si family once, together with the Grand Duke Sai Li Ang Si, expanded the current territory of the Sai Li Ang Si Principality."

"And their family is unprecedentedly strong."

"The Fourth Tier Count Ao Si Lin·Lao Lun Si just now is the foremost transcendent genius of the Lao Lun Si family in recent years."

"He possesses dual‑sequence traits: Steam·Wizard·Pastoral sequence."

Wizard!

Pastoralist!

He is also of the Steam sequence.

Ta Ke nodded slightly.

A Fourth Tier Steam dual‑sequence genius will certainly be cultivated as a priority by his family.

No wonder Ta Ke feels the other's pressure is extremely strong.

"Our Dwarf family's business heavily relies on the Lao Lun Si family."

"This time, Count Ao Si Lin·Lao Lun Si learned that our family sells Perfect‑grade elite materials and came specifically to make a request."

"Otherwise, the family council might not have approved Brother An De Lie's petition."

During the discussion, Ba Jinsi took out a blood‑red small box that was clearly beginning to scale.

"This is a Dragon Crystal from a Third‑tier Lord‑level dragon."

As Ba Jinsi's words fell silent,

Ta Ke already sensed the brutal, bloody, cruel will of the dark dragon within.

Ta Ke, eyes slightly narrowed, exhaled lightly.

What Ta Ke had pondered for a long time finally fell into his hands.

If the Angel trait increases the depth of Ta Ke's Steam Wizard sequence,

then this Third‑tier Lord‑level Dragon Crystal raises the height of Ta Ke's sequence.

The stronger the foundation, the farther one can go in the future.

Immediately, Ta Ke carefully stared at the Dragon Crystal before him.

After a moment, Ta Ke couldn't help but shake his head.

"The item is a good item."

"But after ingesting it, one must directly confront the soul‑will of a Third‑tier dark dragon."

"That is no different from courting death."

Ta Ke does not know what happens when a Third‑tier dragon dies.

But this Third‑tier Dragon Crystal is completely permeated by the dark dragon's will.

Although it is Lord‑level material.

Calling it a 'happy sudden‑death little passage' is not a problem at all.

"Otherwise, would those old guys even bring it out?"

Ba Jinsi laughed.

"That's true!"

Ta Ke had guessed earlier; now that the item is in hand, it is exactly as he expected.

Overall, Ta Ke is still very satisfied.

Third‑tier Lord‑level material.

Across the whole Saint Land, how many are there?

After obtaining the item, Ta Ke negotiated with Ba Jinsi for a while.

Ba Jinsi handed Ta Ke the 46,000 magic gold from last month's elite material sale, plus two Fourth Tier boss‑level material batches.

Carrying all that, Ta Ke silently slipped into a back alley of Dwarf Street and vanished.