Chapter 212: Transportation Issues

Ace walked slowly to the high platform in the hall and stood firm. He was dressed in a black magic robe embroidered with gold threads, wearing a white collared shirt underneath. His figure was tall and lean. The hexagram badge on his chest flashed, his eyes were piercing, and he exuded a scholarly air.

He waved his arm, activating the Soul Spell Advanced Magical Trickery from his Soul Sanctuary. Numerous festive blue ribbons appeared on the hall’s dome, and many fresh flowers appeared out of thin air. A crystalline Mana Crystal flower sprouted on the chest of each apprentice, pinning itself there.

Ace looked around at the apprentices, observing their surprised expressions, and said with satisfaction:

“My apprentices, I have heard that in less than a month, a harbor has risen from a primitive natural bay, and a paved avenue stretching 15 kilometers now connects Nightlight City and the harbor.

This is a remarkable achievement. You used your wisdom and your Magic to independently create a miracle. This is a miracle of Magic, a miracle of ours.

Magic is the primary productive force. Magic changes lives, and you are the executors of Magic, the subjects of Magic. It is because of you that we have this magical castle, the beautiful Nightlight City outside, the extensive paved avenues, the western dam, the northern mining area, and now the eastern harbor district!

You have proven with your actions that we Wizards are a different kind of supernatural force. We pursue truth, we respect knowledge, we develop production, we change lives, and we have created a brand new city!”

As soon as Ace finished speaking, Daina stood up. Her figure was slender; after a few years, she was no longer the green girl she once was. She applauded fiercely, looking at Ace with a flushed face.

Other apprentices also stood up and applauded. For a moment, the hall was filled with a joyous atmosphere. Afterward, Ace walked among the apprentices, greeting them warmly and chatting with them.

“I remember you. You are Caruso, once a brave gladiator. I heard that in this month, you converted nearly 100,000 stone bricks and developed unique usage techniques for the Lesser Mud-to-Stone spell. We Wizards need down-to-earth and hardworking people like you, who can love ordinary work, strive for excellence in ordinary work, and discover the extraordinary within the ordinary. I admire you very much.”

Ace had long understood the situation of every Wizard Apprentice based on the Grimoire’s records and praised them specifically.

The lean Caruso was initially excited. As Ace praised him, his face gradually flushed, and the scar on his face rose and fell with his emotions. When Ace finished, he said excitedly:

“Respected Lord Torch-Bearer, you understand me so well! I love the work of Mud-to-Stone. In the future, I will produce more bricks for the territory and develop more convenient spell improvements and usage techniques!”

Polina, standing beside him, widened her eyes, looking at Caruso in disbelief. Is this the same Caruso I remember, who complained a hundred times a day about the boredom of the Lesser Mud-to-Stone spell and invented a series of little tricks just to slack off openly?

Polina’s big eyes were filled with confusion and incomprehension.

Two days later, after the apprentices rested for a day, Ace led them to the primitive jungle located not far downstream from the dam and upstream from the city.

Daina, proficient in Mana Crystal Shaping, and Ollie, proficient in Lesser Wind Blade and other Wind Element spells, led groups of apprentices to begin rapid logging.

Because Ollie initially saved points to exchange for a Grimoire for Arno, she didn’t learn other spells but focused on researching Wind Element spells. This focus gave her many unique ideas about the use of Wind Element spells, especially the application of Lesser Wind Blade, which no other apprentice could match.

For rapid logging, both Mana Crystal Shaping and Lesser Wind Blade were viable. Ace let the apprentices choose freely according to their wishes. Every apprentice could learn one spell for free and receive guidance from Daina or Ollie. Meanwhile, Ace rewarded Daina and Ollie with corresponding Social Practice Points based on the headcount.

“To log rapidly, the key lies in creating high-pressure Wind Blades and vibrating them quickly. This requires the application of the Pressure Rune and Cutting Rune. The most difficult part is creating a high-pressure, thin, and sharp Wind Blade. For this, what we need is repeated practice.”

Ollie stood in a clearing, explaining in detail to the apprentices who wanted to learn Lesser Wind Blade.

On the other side, Daina was teaching apprentices who wanted to learn Mana Crystal Shaping how to quickly create Mana Crystal weapons. As for this logging task, it was simple for her: just creating a thin and sharp Mana Crystal saw would suffice.

Ace notified everyone through the Grimoire that several new Lesser Runes had been added to the Rune Library, including the Lesser Shaping Rune just created by the mirror image.

After receiving Ace’s notification, Daina and the others tried adding the Shaping Rune to the Mana Crystal Shaping spell. As expected, it greatly simplified the preparation work and significantly improved shaping efficiency.

Daina looked at the apprentices who had already started logging with Mana Crystal saws, but her eyes showed hesitation. As the Wizard Apprentice who developed the Mana Crystal Shaping spell, Daina discovered the limitations of the Shaping Rune. Although it greatly simplified the micro-manipulation involved, the range of shaping was also restricted.

She found Ace and raised her doubts: “Teacher Ace, the Lesser Shaping Rune indeed greatly simplifies Mana Crystal Shaping, but it seems to have significant limitations in expression. How can this be solved?”

Ace looked at Daina, his thoughts suddenly drifting back to his life at the Ace Estate. He hadn’t spoken to Daina like this for a long time, nor had he seen his parents for a long time. He came back to his senses and smiled at Daina:

“This problem actually doesn’t need solving. The appearance of the Shaping Rune is only for rapid spellcasting and rapid production. If you want to pursue precise shaping and greater power, you still need to use your own intention to shape, like you do.

However, most Wizard Apprentices do not specialize in this spell, nor will they specialize in the future. They are the reason for the existence of the Lesser Shaping Rune.”

Looking at Ace’s smile, Daina’s doubts were resolved.

Worthy of Lord Ace. The depth of his thinking far exceeds mine!

Daina couldn’t help but think.

Time flew. In less than a week, logs were piled as high as a small hill.

“How are we going to transport so many logs? Lord Ace said the sailing ship needs to be launched next month. There isn’t enough time!”

Caruso looked at the hill of logs and couldn’t help but sigh.

“Even rolling them along the paved avenue would take a lot of time and effort.”

Another apprentice echoed.

“Perhaps we can use Lesser Airiness to make them lighter?”

A young female apprentice suggested.

“But the effectiveness of Lesser Airiness is limited. It reduces weight by at most 30%. It doesn’t fundamentally solve the problem!”

Caruso questioned.

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