From Baron to Lord

ps: Chapter 1, requesting monthly votes, flowers, evaluation votes, and self-subscriptions. Several.

Chapter 202: Golden Mask, Philosopher's Stone! (2 Requesting subscriptions, self-subscriptions, and monthly votes!)

"Knight's Mask. After crafting the knight's armor and sword, we originally intended to use the remaining materials to create a helmet for you, but considering that helmets are slightly cumbersome, and you are already a Golden Knight, the importance of a helmet has diminished. So, we changed our approach."

Copperbeard smiled slightly, "We thought, since you also have the identity of a mage, we specially crafted a Golden Mask. Would you like to try it, sir?"

Allen looked at the golden mask Copperbeard handed over, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. It's just wearing a mask anyway.

This mask only covers half of the face, the upper half. Allen quickly put it on.

Instantly, Allen felt a special force envelop his head.

"This is?!"

Allen's eyes widened.

"A mental barrier? And a mental amplification effect?"

Allen raised his eyebrows slightly. This kind of thing can already be called a magic item.

Allen didn't expect such a surprise.

"This is a secret forging technique of our tribe. It uses the only Philosopher's Stone powder I brought with me, combined with your dragon-type metal materials, to achieve the current effect."

Copperbeard revealed a hint of pride, but also a hint of heartache in his eyes.

"It can actually amplify my mental power by about ten percent. Hiss, this mask is enough to drive Archmage-level mages crazy!"

Allen said in amazement. You must know that after reaching the Archmage level, except for the initial rapid growth period, the growth of mental power becomes extremely difficult!

If he wanted to rely on cultivation alone, even with Allen's high magical talent, he would need 10 million experience points to advance, and he could only gain 10,000 experience points per day.

In other words, even with Allen's heaven-defying talent, it would take a thousand days to advance.

Not to mention others. It is impossible to advance without decades or even hundreds of years.

In many cases, those old, immortal mages break through to the Archmage level with excitement, and then can never improve, whether in comprehending the power of rules or increasing mental power.

Only a very few have the talent to continue to move forward.

In this case, the preciousness of a magic item that can improve the mental power of an Archmage is self-evident.

Even the lowest-level magic item that amplifies the mental power of low-level mages can be auctioned for tens of thousands of gold coins, let alone an Archmage-level magic item?

Allen didn't expect that in addition to a perfect set of knight's armor, there would be such an unexpected surprise.

Allen felt that the most valuable thing in this set of knight's armor was this mask.

He simply couldn't put it down.

"Sir, are you satisfied?"

Copperbeard asked with a smile.

"Satisfied. Copperbeard, what did you just say? Philosopher's Stone powder? What kind of precious material is that?"

Allen wasn't stupid. Copperbeard had just said that it was the addition of Philosopher's Stone powder that produced this effect.

Dragon-type metal allowed the knight's armor to have enhanced defense and withstand more magic array carvings, but it could not amplify Allen's mental power.

But the Philosopher's Stone could amplify Allen's mental power, and Allen could even feel a special force in the mask that could help Allen nurture his mental power.

This effect is simply heaven-defying.

With such a good effect, Allen was naturally interested in the so-called Philosopher's Stone.

When Copperbeard heard that Allen seemed interested in the Philosopher's Stone, he couldn't help but show a wry smile: "Sir, the Philosopher's Stone powder is a treasure passed down from generation to generation in our tribe. The refining method has been lost, and we know very little about it. We only know that it is a treasure that seems to have a huge effect on mental power and soul. Now, the last powder has been used to create the Golden Mask for you."

Allen couldn't help but feel a little regretful when he heard this. How many precious knowledge has been lost due to the sudden decline of ancient civilizations?

The alchemical bomb is one of them. He didn't know if this Philosopher's Stone was also like that.

But Allen quickly cheered himself up. He had gained enough today, and he couldn't be too greedy. Maybe he could obtain a large amount of Philosopher's Stone in the future?

Moreover, even if the dwarves didn't know the news or knowledge of the Philosopher's Stone, what about Saint Cecilmina in the sea?

Allen hummed a little tune and returned to the castle, taking out the knight's armor and knight's sword he had placed in his item bar. As for the Golden Mask, Allen decided to carry it with him.

This thing is too precious.

After adjusting his mood, Allen rested for a while and went to the underwater temple.

"Cecilmina, I have a question."

Allen immediately said as soon as he arrived at the underwater temple.

"Yes, what is your question, Allen?"

Saint Cecilmina asked softly.

"I want to ask about the Philosopher's Stone…"

Allen asked directly.

"Philosopher's Stone?"

Saint Cecilmina was obviously stunned for a moment, and then her tone became a little serious.

"Yes, I want to know about the knowledge of the Philosopher's Stone."

Allen said very sincerely.

"I don't know much either. The Philosopher's Stone is the pinnacle masterpiece of ancient alchemists. They call it an incredible thing, a treasure that even gods would be greedy for."

Saint Cecile Mina's tone was somewhat solemn: "Because the Philosopher's Stone is another element that transcends magical elements."

Allen's expression brightened upon hearing this. As expected, he knew that this mysterious Ocean Singer knew some information about the Philosopher's Stone. "What element?"

Allen was slightly expectant. He possessed heaven-defying magical talent. Although Saint Cecile Mina said that the Philosopher's Stone was another element that transcended magical elements, perhaps he could also sense it?

That was also a possibility.

"A spiritual element, or rather, a soul," Saint Cecile Mina said with some gravity.

"Spirit? Soul?!"

Allen was dumbfounded. What did this mean? Could it be that spiritual power was also considered an element?

Why was he unaware of this concept?

Magical texts had never recorded such a thing.

Perhaps his knowledge was insufficient, but Allen instinctively felt that this was an incredible matter.

Spiritual power element? Even as a Saint-level Archmage, although he could sense the intangible spiritual power forming a misty spiritual force in his mind after being compressed.

But this was merely a concept of perception. This concept did not objectively exist. It was only your perception telling you that your spiritual power had undergone a qualitative change. In reality, his spiritual power was still ethereal. It had only changed from being imperceptible to being perceptible.

This was completely different from magical elements, which were objectively existing elements. The difference was too great.

Perhaps after further compression, spiritual power might break through the concept of perception and become a substantial element, but how terrifying would the cultivation level need to be to achieve that?

Or perhaps, alchemists had other methods to extract spiritual power, compress it, and materialize it into matter?

ps: Chapter 2, asking for monthly tickets, flowers, evaluation tickets, subscriptions!.

Chapter 203: The Bloody Philosopher's Stone, the Steel Fist Territory's Actions! (3 Seeking subscriptions, self-subscriptions, monthly tickets!)

Allen was shocked by the essence of the Philosopher's Stone, but he was also puzzled.

Assuming that the Philosopher's Stone was indeed solidified spiritual power, how terrifying would the cultivation level need to be to achieve this?

And would a powerhouse capable of doing this extract their own spiritual power to make a Philosopher's Stone, or…

Allen felt a chill run down his spine. Spiritual power was the foundation of a mage. Extracting one's own spiritual power was undoubtedly suicide. And if one didn't want to commit suicide but still wanted a Philosopher's Stone…

This meant killing others and extracting their spiritual power.

This was a fact that even Allen found incredibly cruel.

"I think you should also realize what the appearance of the term 'spiritual power element' represents."

Saint Cecile Mina's tone was filled with solemnity.

Allen frowned slightly. If Saint Cecile Mina wasn't lying, then this Philosopher's Stone, the so-called pinnacle masterpiece of alchemy, was probably filled with a strong bloody scent.

"If the Philosopher's Stone is made from human spiritual power…"

Allen suddenly had a headache. He still had a Golden Mask in his possession. Who knew if it was a Philosopher's Stone made from human souls?

No wonder it could amplify spiritual power. This thing was essentially spiritual power.

"It's not just human spiritual power that can be used. Any creature can be used, but human spiritual power is purer than that of other creatures, making it more suitable for making a Philosopher's Stone. Of course, there is also a creature in this world whose spiritual power is even purer than that of humans."

Saint Cecile Mina continued.

Allen raised his eyebrows slightly. There were actually creatures more suitable for making Philosopher's Stones than humans?

But he quickly realized and two words escaped his lips: "Dragons?!"

Saint Cecile Mina did not deny Allen's words. Only dragons, these almost perfect creatures, met the requirements.

"No wonder most people think alchemists are evil. These guys actually coveted other people's dragons?"

Allen was speechless. He could be sure that this group of alchemists had definitely been suppressed. Anyone who coveted other people's dragons, as long as they were found out, would definitely become mortal enemies, the kind where it was either you die or I die.

Perhaps the knowledge of the Philosopher's Stone might have already been suppressed and lost.

Allen didn't have too many extravagant hopes.

He quickly changed the subject. The two chatted for an afternoon. When it was almost evening, Allen returned to Skywolf Castle.

He cultivated his battle aura for a while, then had dinner, took a bath, and went to sleep holding Lucy.

The peaceful life only lasted for three days. Three days later, Allen received the news that Duke Ryan had left the royal capital, taking four marquises north.

Allen looked at the time. There were only a few days left. The old king should be taking his last breath now.

Duke Ryan's departure at this time should be to prepare to go north to see the old king for the last time, right?

Allen frowned slightly. The Duke's departure from the Ryan Duchy meant that the only person who could suppress the Second Prince had left.

"Grandpa Edward, has Princess Leisha returned?"

Allen asked the old butler beside him.

"Not yet, sir. Her Highness hasn't returned for several days. Could she have encountered danger?"