During the Academy War, Richard obtained research materials on Yuris Black Crystal from Leicat.
This ore, which possesses immense energy, was seen by Richard as the hope for popularizing Personal Armor.
However, in subsequent research, Richard discovered that due to the founder's death, this technology was not mature, and many aspects of it had significant issues.
Relying solely on the materials Leicat provided to create a Power Furnace was nothing short of a pipe dream.
Moreover, although Yuris Black Crystal contains vast energy, converting this energy into a stable power source is a troublesome process.
Although Richard is a Third Circle Wizard, his knowledge reserves are only equivalent to that of an ordinary Second Circle Wizard. Additionally, the owner of this research material was a Wizard from the Evocation School. To perfect and optimize it, a deep accumulation of knowledge in the Evocation School is necessary.
Therefore, over the years, Richard did not prioritize the optimization of Yuris Black Crystal in his research. He only collaborated with Ellie for a while before setting it aside.
But he didn't expect that Ellie had been continuing this project.
No wonder Ellie had borrowed some Magic Essence from him recently.
"Did you figure it out?" Richard couldn't help but beam with joy. "This is a double blessing."
"Double blessing?" Ellie asked, puzzled. "Did your research succeed again?"
Richard chuckled, "More or less. You'll see it soon."
...
The two went downstairs together to Ellie's laboratory.
Richard hadn't visited Ellie's lab much before. Today, he noticed that Ellie had partitioned a hemispherical room with metal in the lab.
There was a small window in the wall of the room, blocked by an enchanted crystal, likely an observation window.
As they approached the window, they saw a metal platform inside the room, on which was embedded a thumb-sized black crystal—Yuris Black Crystal.
As an Alchemist Wizard, Richard immediately recognized that the metal platform beneath the Yuris Black Crystal was extraordinary.
Many disciplines in the Evocation School and Alchemy School overlap.
The foundation of Wizards lies in runes, and the energy rune studies of the Evocation School are precisely the disciplines that the Alchemy School cannot avoid.
This also allows both sides to understand each other's Wizard research to some extent.
Ellie's metal platform was inscribed with a large number of runes, and she had used a technique called multi-layered Rune Array stacking, engraving multiple Rune Arrays at different positions in three-dimensional space, thereby achieving a three-dimensional Magic Array.
Through this method, a Wizard can condense a giant Magic Array onto a small platform.
"Impressive, Ellie. When did you learn this skill?" Richard turned to Ellie, praising her with some astonishment.
He knew this technique too, but using it requires a high level of Alchemy and advanced rune studies.
Even he could only achieve five layers of stacking at present, but under Richard's energy vision, Ellie's platform had stacked twelve layers of Rune Arrays.
Ellie glanced at Richard and feigned a sigh, "Well, isn't it because someone, full of ambition, handed me the materials and then washed his hands of it? I had to learn the skills myself to help him perfect and optimize this technology."
Richard didn't feel embarrassed by the question and turned his gaze back to the metal platform.
"Let's start it up and see."
Ellie took out a crystal ball and fiddled with it for a moment. Soon, Richard noticed that the energy within the metal platform began to gradually increase.
Immediately after, an energy field burst forth from the metal platform. Under the influence of this energy field, the Yuris Black Crystal began to emit a dim glow, and streams of uniform energy flowed through the magic conduits into the energy storage rune array beneath the metal platform.
"Great! This is perfect!" Richard exclaimed with excitement. "This is more than enough!"
But after his initial excitement, Richard suddenly thought of something and turned to ask:
"Ellie, how did you handle the decay radiation from this thing?"
Ellie smiled mysteriously and then pulled out another crystal ball from her pocket, tapping it once.
In the next moment, the metal platform ceased operation, and the Yuris Black Crystal calmed down.
Ellie pulled Richard aside, and a beam of dark gray light shot out from the enchanted crystal at the observation port.
Ellie walked to the window and explained to Richard, "The decay radiation released by the Yuris Black Crystal is absorbed by the rune array in the room and stored in this enchanted crystal.
Doesn't this seem familiar to you?"
Richard suddenly realized, "Isn't this the same principle as my evolution light device?"
The so-called evolution light device Richard referred to was the apparatus he used to collect blue flame radiation during his enhanced cell experiments.
Ellie's device for collecting decay radiation operated on exactly the same principle as his.
"Hehe, it's not just the same principle," Ellie said with some pride. "My rune array has been optimized, making it more efficient and less energy-consuming than yours."
"Impressive, truly impressive," Richard praised sincerely.
As an Alchemist Wizard, his knowledge of energy runes was not much inferior to that of a typical Shaping Wizard. The fact that Ellie could improve upon his rune array design suggested that her expertise in rune studies was indeed superior to his.
After the demonstration, Ellie pulled out a thick, black leather-bound magic book from her pocket.
"Here are the design schematics for the rune array. Take a look and see if you can condense it onto magic equipment. If not, I'll see if I can make further modifications."
Richard looked at the magic book, scratched his head, and said somewhat sheepishly, "This... doesn't seem quite right, does it? After all, this is your research. Taking it without paying anything seems to violate the principle of equivalent exchange."
"Huh?"
Ellie looked at Richard, puzzled.
Although she had optimized the technology, without the original technology Richard had provided her, she certainly wouldn't have been able to achieve this level. Moreover, Richard hadn't made her sign any soul contract; she was free to pass this technology on to her students or others.
Overall, it seemed that Richard had exchanged an old technology she hadn't seen before for an improved new technology.
This was quite in line with the principle of equivalent exchange.
But before Ellie could argue, she heard Richard continue, "But this technology is really useful to me, and I can't just not take it.
Ah, they say only life and knowledge are priceless. As a small wizard who can't afford magic essence, it seems I'll have to repay with 'life'."
Listening to Richard's emphasized pronunciation and his teasing smile, Ellie, even if she were a bit slow, could tell that Richard was teasing her.
"Alright! Now that you've reached the Third Circle, you dare to tease me!" Ellie's face flushed slightly as she glared at Richard. "I'll have you know, I've been training my physique a lot lately. You might not win tonight!"
...
With the optimized technology, the path to creating the Power Furnace became much smoother.
Ellie's Rune Array was already quite refined, but without the Pioneer One Rune, there was still room for improvement.
Richard spent two months optimizing the Rune Array further. Compared to Ellie's version, Richard's optimized array had two fewer layers, equivalent to one-sixth fewer runes.
After completing the optimization, Richard began transforming these Rune Arrays into suitable components. Meanwhile, in the Secret Realm, hundreds of Fire Lizard craftsmen worked overtime to design Personal Armor that would match the Power Furnace.
Not a single mistake, not a single misstep, not a single flaw—everything was perfect!
To design the appropriate Power Furnace, Richard specifically returned from the Garon Wizard Academy to the Tower of Truth to seek guidance from his senior sister Anna, who specialized in Alchemy Machines.
Over the years, Anna had also broken through to become a Second Circle Wizard. Her status in the Alchemy Gear Society had risen accordingly, and her expertise in Alchemy Machines far surpassed what it once was.
Currently, she had been hired by Jolod as a technical consultant for the Richard Jolod Commerce Guild, specifically responsible for addressing alchemical technical issues in the guild's products.
This wasn't nepotism; it was Jolod's recognition of Anna's capabilities.
Returning to the Tower of Truth and seeing the familiar black Wizard Tower, Richard couldn't help but smile.
He stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
Ding-ding-ding…
Soon, a demi-human servant opened the door and ushered Richard inside.
Anna's appearance hadn't changed much after her promotion to the Second Circle. The only difference from her First Circle days was the layer of active metal on her body, now adorned with many golden patterns.
"My dear junior brother, what brings you here today?" Anna, dressed in a black Wizard Robe, sat lazily in a chair in the reception room.
On her unaltered, delicate face, two dark circles under her eyes looked as if they had been drawn with charcoal.
Although Wizards have robust bodies, prolonged lack of rest and meditation can still cause issues.
"Senior sister, you really need to take care of yourself. Look at how pale you are," Richard said with concern.
Anna waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing serious. I know my body well. Let's talk about your problem. I've worked on many Power Furnaces, so I should be able to offer some help.
Even if I can't, our vice president is currently at the Tower of Truth. His expertise in this area surpasses mine.
If I can't help, I'll take you to him."
Richard expressed his gratitude. "Senior sister, you're too kind."
"Not at all," Anna rubbed her eyes and sat up straight. "The Dragon Alchemy you taught me has been a tremendous help.
I still haven't properly thanked you for it."
After Anna became a Second Circle Wizard, Richard found an opportunity to teach her Dragon Alchemy.
But unexpectedly, after Anna mastered Dragon Alchemy, she quickly integrated it into the bio-metal she was crafting, enhancing the metal's performance several times over.
This earned her the favor of the president of the Golden Gear Society, granting her the opportunity to become the vice-dean of the Everchanging Gear Academy.
Richard modestly said, "That's all due to your own capabilities, senior sister. I was just a catalyst."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they quickly got down to business.
Richard detailed the issues he was facing to Anna, which included not only design problems with the Power Furnace but also several concerning the Personal Armor.
Anna swiftly provided solutions to most of these problems.
Only a few required her to consult with some of the society's veteran Wizards.
While solving these problems, Richard also refined his design. After three months of hard work, he finally completed the first version of the Power Furnace.
He named it the Anna Obsidian Power Furnace, or simply the Obsidian Furnace.
"Not bad, this design is quite refined. The remaining issues are minor and won't affect the overall quality."
Anna looked over Richard's design with the satisfaction of an examiner, and Richard breathed a sigh of relief.
"Since you, Anna, haven't found any issues, I can rest easy."
With that, Richard carefully stored the blueprint Anna handed back and pulled out a Crystal Ball from his pocket.
Inside the Crystal Ball, a highly complex rune flickered faintly.
Anna frowned slightly, somewhat annoyed, "What are you doing? Do you think I would take your money?"
"Hey, Anna, take a closer look at this rune," Richard said with a hint of mystery.
Anna took the Crystal Ball in her hands and examined it closely. Upon closer inspection, her expression turned to one of shock.
"This is! This is the complete Heart of the Mountain rune!"
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