Chapter 362: Chapter 77 Funeral
After dealing with the issue of the Holy Tree Elf, Richard imdiately began to inquire about the specifics of the Secret Realm. The World Mushroom answered all his questions in detail.
The expansion of the Secret Realm this ti, in addition to increasing its area by several dozen tis, also brought Richard more than a dozen animals from Otherworlds, as well as dozens of Demonized Plants.
However, it was a pity that among these creatures, there were no intelligent beings, and the Demonized Plants did not include any rare species.
Besides the creatures, the expansion of the Secret Realm also brought Richard two small mining veins, as well as so special minerals from Otherworlds.
The World Mushroom provided Richard with two samples of ore from the veins. As an Alchemy Wizard, Richard imdiately recognized the minerals contained in these two veins.
“This is Demonized tal, quite a common thing,” Richard discarded one of the samples, then looked eagerly at the other.
“But this one is different. If I’m not mistaken, this should be Jabir tal.”
Jabir tal, an extrely tough type of tal that repels magic. Because of its strong resistance to Void storms, it is commonly used as the main material in the alloy shell of Floating Cities.
This tal, a strategic resource, has to be handed over to the Truth Council for developnt by the conqueror of any world in which it’s discovered.
Therefore, it’s rarely seen on the market.
“Master, is this kind of ore important?” asked the World Mushroom suddenly.
“It’s not just important, it’s precious! This tal is basically unavailable for purchase,” Richard replied with so excitent.
“I see. If you need it, Master, I can make the vein grow larger.”
“Great… huh? What do you an by ‘grow larger’?” asked a sowhat puzzled Richard.
“I can promote the birth of this kind of ore, making the reserves in this small vein richer.”
The World Mushroom’s voice remained dull, but to Richard’s ears, it sounded as thunderous as roaring thunder.
“You, you, you… You can synthesize ore?” Richard asked, incredulous.
“Not synthesize, promote. The Secret Realm where this vein was born has already been integrated by .
Thus, I understand how this vein ford and developed.
And since I can also control the environnt and rules of the Secret Realm, naturally I can promote the growth of this vein.”
After hearing the World Mushroom’s explanation, Richard felt a slight disappointnt.
So it can’t synthesize minerals, then.
If it could, he would really be free of material constraints.
“I see, what is required to promote the growth of the vein?” Richard asked casually.
If promoting the growth of the vein didn’t co at a great cost, he wouldn’t mind having a larger vein at his disposal.
“Promoting the vein growth will slow down the expansion of the Secret Realm.”
“By how much?”
“That depends on how quickly you need it. Once my roots fully spread, the Secret Realm could expand by approximately thirty acres a day.
If we were to promote the vein growth, that number would need to be reduced by at least a quarter.”
“Forget it, forget it,” said Richard, shaking his hands in dismissal.
To him, the importance of Jabir tal was currently limited to research.
Due to the regulation of this tal, it was nearly impossible for Richard to sell it on the market. Also, for the sa reason, there were virtually no alloy formulas for this tal available.
It would be a difficult task for Richard to use it in production.
To hinder the growth of the Secret Realm for sothing of so little use would be folly, and Richard would not commit to such foolishness.
“According to what you’ve said, you can promote the growth of the vein. So, does that an that for all the Secret Realms you’ve integrated, you can promote the growth of their veins?”
“Theoretically, yes.”
Richard nodded thoughtfully.
The World Mushroom’s ability to promote vein growth was simply astounding.
If he could integrate more Secret Realms containing rare alchemy materials, he might truly achieve material independence in the Material World.
However, this thought was just a fleeting one in Richard’s mind, quickly discarded like trash.
To integrate such Secret Realms with rare veins, he would inevitably have to beco a Great Wizard.
But as a Three Rings Wizard who was just over four hundred years old, the distance to becoming a Great Wizard was far too great. Such early desires could only lead to frustration.
After asking about the other information regarding the Secret Realm, Richard had a preliminary understanding of it.
But as for how to develop it further, Richard had no clue at present.
Based on his current thoughts, he still planned to use the Secret Realm as an Alchemy Workshop.
As for the rules of exploration… Richard felt it was better to first solidify his Second Ring foundation.
He might currently be the weakest Three Rings Wizard in the history of the Wizard World, not even close to comparable.
A week later, dressed in a black robe, Richard, Jolod, and many high-level mbers of the Black Tower Wizard Academy, ca to the premises of the Clear Frost Academy.
At the premises, wizards from many Academies gathered outside the morial hall, quietly waiting with the Clear Frost Academy wizards for the coffin to begin its journey.
The funeral of a wizard doesn’t have a very fixed form, but the general process basically consists of three stages.
In the first stage, the mourning guests gather outside the morial hall. The coffin of the deceased is carried out by the departed’s relatives, friends, or others who were close to them.
In the second stage, both the coffin and the guests proceed along the sa path into the graveyard, and then, under the watchful eyes of the many guests, the coffin is interred.
The third stage is the ti for rembrance. During this stage, relatives and friends of the deceased take turns speaking, without restrictions.
The speeches could be for reflection or to share amusing stories from the life of the departed.
Richard stood outside the morial hall, and since he was a Three Rings Wizard, he could stand at the very front of the crowd along with many other Academy officials.
Soon, the bell tolled.
Four wizards clad in white robes carried a coffin out from the morial hall.
These four were the Deputy Dean of Clear Frost Academy, the Legion Commander of the Clear Frost Legion, Vladimir’s wizarding partner, and his student.
With sorrowful expressions, they shouldered the coffin and then, step by step, they walked toward the graveyard.
For wizards, the weight of this coffin was far less than the profound sorrow it represented.
Following the hearse, nurous guests ca to Vladimir’s gravesite.
This old wizard had chosen his final resting place within the public cetery of Clear Frost Academy, where many of Clear Frost’s predecessors were buried.
This old wizard, who had devoted his entire life to the legion, had chosen not to leave the legion even in death.
The four wizards placed the coffin into the pre-dug grave and then sealed the pit with shovels.
Silence, still silence.
Throughout the whole process, not a single wizard made a superfluous noise.
As the grave was sealed, led by a wizard from Clear Frost Academy, every wizard attending the funeral placed a flower in front of the tombstone.
These flowers, bizarre and varied, all bore significance of mourning in the wizards’ eyes.
With all offerings of flowers complete, the funeral entered its final phase—speeches.
The first to speak was the Legion Commander of the Clear Frost Legion, who stepped forward before the tombstone and bowed slightly to the gathered wizards.
“To be honest, before Master Vladimir lay down to eternal rest, he specifically instructed to keep the funeral simple. He preferred a quiet ceremony, to avoid the ridicule of his old rivals at his graveside.
But obviously, I did not heed his advice.
All of you must have heard of Master Vladimir’s temperant.
He was quick to anger.
If it were any other ti, had I disregarded his wishes, he would have barged into my office with a sour look on his face, then used all his wits and ans to ensure I fulfilled his request.
This gave an opportunity.
I thought that if I didn’t follow his wishes for the funeral, maybe this irritable master would climb out of his coffin to storm into my office and berate my actions.
But my experint failed.
Master Vladimir truly has passed away for good, and my office door will never again be burst open by a scowling old wizard.
This seems like a matter for celebration.
However, as I gazed joyfully at the neat door of my office, I suddenly froze.
For years, I had complained about that old wizard’s lack of courtesy and disrespect for his superiors, simply because he was more senior.
But as I look back, I realize he was right every ti.
He tirelessly used his wisdom to help the legion beco better.
I always overlooked this fact.
And by the ti I recognized it, it was sowhat late.
This was my negligence, my fault, and I should apologize to Master Vladimir, but unfortunately, he can no longer hear .
So here I can only say one thing—Master Vladimir was the finest Master of Arms I’ve ever known.
His achievents shall forever be inscribed in the legion’s annals!”
…
The speech segnt lasted for a full half day, with each wizard familiar with Vladimir having their say, even Richard made a short speech, reminiscing about the old wizard who had provided him with trendous help.
After the speeches, Clear Frost Academy hosted a banquet at their residence, and the majority of the guests who were not in a hurry stayed behind.
“Excuse , are you Master Tosio?”
In a corner of the hall, Richard held a cup of wine and greeted a forlorn wizard.
Tosio lifted his head, his face streaked with tears. He looked at Richard, feeling a sense of familiarity, but couldn’t quite rember where he had seen him before.
“I am, may I ask who you are?”
“I’m Richard, one of the heads of Richard Jolod’s Comrce. I also gave a speech at your ntor’s funeral today.”
Hearing the na Richard, Tosio was first startled, then beca sowhat flustered as he stood up.
As a White Wizard, the na Richard Jolod was thunderously familiar. As an ergent Wizard Comrce, their produced Magic Support Vehicles had been deployed on several battlefields and received unanimous praise from various legions.
But why would such a big shot be seeking out a minor wizard like him?
“Sorry, sorry, I was too grief-stricken at the funeral and really didn’t pay attention to the speaking guests. I hope you can forgive .”
Richard waved his hand to show it was unnecessary.
“No need to be nervous, Master, I understand such things.”
“Then what do you require of ?” Tosio asked cautiously.
He rembered that Vladimir had ntioned so connection with the chief of Richard Jolod’s Comrce.
But as the saying goes, ‘death extinguishes life,’ and while Vladimir was alive, that connection existed. But now that he was dead, could it still hold?
Richard smiled at him and said, “There’s no need to worry, Master. Master Vladimir has done a great favor. In the Red Sun World, he once asked to look after his students after his passing.
Now that he has laid down to rest, I feel it is ti to fulfill my promise.
May I ask which area of study you specialize in?”
Hearing Richard’s explanation, tears flowed from Tosio’s eyes once more.
He had not expected that his old teacher would still care for him, his foolish student, even in death.
Tosio wiped away his tears, replying with a choked voice:
“Master, my research focus is on Enchanted Architecture, such as construction of battlefield fortresses and Wizard Towers.”
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