"Very good."
Inside the laboratory, cold blue illumination quietly spilled down.
In the air, faint red light traces remained from the operation of the Blood Sacrifice Method array. Wisps of energy fluctuations spread like ripples on water, slowly fading into silence.
Clark sensed the changes in his mental strength, and his usually calm eyes paused for a brief moment. Then he looked at Jie Ming: "Your technique has excellent effects."
His tone was flat, without any emotional fluctuation. But those who knew him understood that for Clark, this was already very high praise.
On the other side, a child-like figure had already jumped out impatiently.
Anton Buchanan sensed his own transformation, and his youthful face, which looked no more than ten years old, lit up.
"Hahaha! Not bad at all!" He nodded repeatedly, his smile as bright as a child who had just received a new toy.
If one didn't know his identity, it would be hard to believe that this little fellow, no taller than the lab bench, was a genuine eighth-level wizard.
As his laughter echoed, layers of nearly transparent force fields continuously expanded outward, and the entire laboratory seemed to contract slightly with his breathing—as if the whole space was obeying his will.
When Jie Ming had contacted Clark, his mentor had happened to be with Grandmaster Anton Buchanan, exchanging recent research data. After listening to Jie Ming's introduction of the Blood Sacrifice Method, both had become interested almost simultaneously.
As it happened, one had just advanced to seventh-level and the other to eighth-level—they were precisely the two largest categories of target customers for this technology. So Jie Ming immediately invited them both. They also felt it was better to experience it personally than to observe experimental data remotely.
Thus, the two directly teleported to Jie Ming's laboratory.
Of course, there was another very practical reason for them to come directly.
Although Jie Ming could now manufacture sixth-level biological clones, he still had some distance to go before he could stably create seventh-level and eighth-level life forms. As for the other reason, it was naturally resources...
Thinking of this, Jie Ming felt somewhat helpless. After refining the first All-Heavens Star Grand Array eye, his wallet had been thoroughly emptied.
Not to mention eighth-level clones. Even the several clones cultivated for Viola had drained his last reserves.
So the two high-level wizards simply brought their own materials.
On-site production, self-sacrifice—that was why the earlier scene had appeared in the lab.
Now Jie Ming stood before the array control panel, continuously recording various experimental data.
Viola stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, looking like she was enjoying the spectacle.
Clark, still expressionless, stood quietly beside the array patterns near the cultivation pod, observing and carefully sensing his own spiritual changes. Meanwhile, Anton Buchanan sat cross-legged on the edge of the lab bench, his short little legs dangling in the air, swaying back and forth.
It could be said that, quite rarely, the three generations of master, disciple, and grand-disciple of the Noren Workshop were gathered together in the same laboratory at this moment.
Finally, Clark raised his head first. His expression barely changed as he spoke calmly:
"The mental strength increase is stable, the soul structure is intact, and no side effects have been found at the current stage. It can be confirmed that Jie Ming's technique indeed represents a breakthrough."
"For seventh-level wizards who have just completed their law solidification, it can greatly shorten the mental strength accumulation cycle. Overall, the cost-effectiveness of this technique is higher than similar auxiliary methods I currently know."
On the other side, Anton Buchanan had already jumped down impatiently. He trotted over to Jie Ming, stood on tiptoe, and slapped Jie Ming's puppet body on the shoulder with a "smack."
"Kid! Don't listen to Clark's conservative talk. I tell you..." He smiled, eyes narrowing. "If you release this technique, those old guys who just advanced to eighth-level will go crazy!"
Jie Ming couldn't help smiling: "Grandmaster, don't kid me. Is it really that exaggerated?"
"Exaggerated?" Anton widened his eyes. "Do you know how many resources I spent when I first advanced to eighth-level just to get my mental strength above the safety line?"
"I don't know."
"I don't even want to recall." Anton waved his hand with a pained expression. "Anyway, it's more exaggerated than you can imagine."
"To be blunt, the cost of manufacturing those few eighth-level clones is negligible compared to the resources I burned back then—practically free."
Viola, who had been listening on the side, couldn't help interjecting: "Grandmaster, after eighth-level, aren't there no potions that directly enhance mental strength?"
Anton shook his head, wearing an expression that said, "You're still young": "Potions that directly enhance mental strength are naturally useless. But auxiliary potions still have some effect, though barely noticeable." He extended a chubby index finger: "What really works is raw materials."
"Raw materials?" Viola blinked.
"Exactly." Anton nodded matter-of-factly. "In short, potions work by transforming materials into stronger effects, but there are also materials that inherently enhance mental strength. As long as you have enough quantity, you can brute-force it."
"After I advanced to eighth-level, to quickly pile up my mental strength... I drained the lives of about seven or eight mid-sized planes and refined their essence to supplement my mental strength."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Grandmaster Anton Buchanan said it lightly, but everyone present could feel the astonishing consumption.
Viola's mouth twitched slightly: "Seven or eight... mid-sized planes?"
"Mm-hmm." Anton nodded with some heartache. "And even then, the effect wasn't great. In the end, it only improved a small segment. Converted, it's roughly equivalent to the effect of that one clone just now."
Jie Ming quickly began calculating in his mind.
The criterion for a mid-sized plane is a volume at least the size of a medium star, with the largest being a continental plane the size of the entire solar system. For cosmic-type planes, due to differences in matter density, the maximum specification could even approach a galaxy's spiral arm.
And the lives of seven or eight mid-sized planes had only yielded an improvement equivalent to one eighth-level clone.
"It seems... I've underestimated the universality of this technique," Jie Ming thought silently.
After Anton finished, Clark looked at Jie Ming again and asked the most critical question:
"How do you plan to sell this technique? As a technology sale, or as a service?"
Hearing this, the other two also turned their heads to look at Jie Ming.
Upon hearing Mentor Clark's question, Jie Ming fell into thought.
Selling the technology meant obtaining a large amount of high-level military merits, but after the peak, subsequent sales would decline considerably. Selling as a service meant a continuous stream of future income. But the obvious problem was that if he provided the service, countless wizards would come running to him in the future. He couldn't just stop all research and stand in the lab performing blood sacrifices for others every day.
Moreover, this way, unless it was an eighth-level wizard, it would be somewhat difficult for him to obtain high-level military merits through the technique... Although what he currently lacked was low-level military merits.
Thinking of this, Jie Ming couldn't help shaking his head. This method of earning money was too inefficient.
After a moment of silence, he finally raised his head and showed a slight smile to the three: "I have a third option."
All three looked at him.
"Upload it to the Magic Net terminal and hand it over to the Star Ring Federation for official promotion."
Jie Ming opened the Magic Net terminal and uploaded the complete technical data of the Blood Sacrifice Method to the official technology trading platform.
Viola, who had been peeking over his shoulder for a while, couldn't help clicking her tongue. "You're really willing to let it go. If you hand it over to the Star Ring Federation, it's default that other wizards can research this technology. If you sell it privately, you could sign a contract with them allowing only use, not research."
"Normally, if you're willing to include a clause allowing others to study the technology when selling, you could even exchange core knowledge with some newly advanced eighth-level wizards, you know."
Grandmaster Anton Buchanan also nodded. "Viola is right. New eighth-level wizards iterate their core knowledge quickly in the early stages. In exchange for a technique that can directly shorten the mental strength accumulation cycle, they might offer things that even I would find tempting. Trading such knowledge with research permission is indeed not a loss."
Clark stood nearby, watching quietly without speaking.
Jie Ming shook his head. "Bite off more than you can chew. I already have a backlog of research topics that will take years to get through. I'd better keep the profits in my own hands for now. Besides, if others research this technique, so be it. I'll just research something new."
Anton Buchanan sat on the lab bench, his short legs dangling, munching on snacks he'd pulled from somewhere. "Hehehe... Young people have drive. Good, I support you!"
Jie Ming's mouth twitched. "Thank you, Grandmaster."
Soon, the last analytical diagram of the Blood Sacrifice Method array structure was uploaded.
Jie Ming gently clicked confirm.
Hum...
With a slight vibration, the entire submission interface suddenly transformed into a soft, pale gold.
In the center of the laboratory, a pure white data stream rose from the core of the Magic Net terminal. Countless runes cascaded down like a waterfall, converging rapidly in mid-air. In just a few breaths, a humanoid projection condensed into shape.
It was a figure made entirely of data streams, indistinguishable in age or gender. With its appearance, the entire laboratory seemed to fall silent for a moment. Seeing this figure, Viola's expression turned serious, and Clark also fixed his gaze on it. Only Grandmaster Anton Buchanan remained playful, but he obediently jumped off the lab bench.
"Lord Felix." Jie Ming bowed respectfully.
Artificial intelligence Felix was the core intelligence of the entire Star Ring Federation's Magic Net terminal, and the highest administrator of the Federation's official technology review, military merit settlement, and strategic evaluation systems.
Ordinary wizards might never see it once in their lifetimes.
For it to proactively descend as a projection meant that the submitted technology had reached a level sufficient to affect the entire Federation or even the entire civilization.
Felix slowly lowered its head and looked at Jie Ming. In its calm eyes, countless data streams flashed at high speed, as analysis results were continuously generated. It nodded slightly, its tone respectful yet steady:
"Wizard Jie Ming, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
"It has been three thousand six hundred and seventy-two years since you last submitted a technology with Federation-promotion value."
"The 'Stable Field Regulation Protocol' developed by you is still being actively used throughout the entire Wizard Civilization."
"The Federation Technology Database has consistently rated your comprehensive scientific research capability as excellent. Thank you very much for your contributions to the civilization."
Hearing this, Viola couldn't help whistling. "Wow, listen to that—officially certified excellent scientist."
Jie Ming gave her an exasperated look.
Felix ignored their interaction and continued: "The preliminary review of the Blood Sacrifice Method technology you have just submitted is complete."
A massive data light screen unfolded before them, continuously refreshing with various evaluations:
[Safety Level: Extremely High] [Technical Maturity: 97.8%] [Reproducibility: Excellent] [Promotion Value: Extremely High] [Strategic Value: Excellent]
Felix further explained: "After comprehensive evaluation, this technology can stably increase the mental strength growth rate of sixth-level, seventh-level, and newly advanced eighth-level wizards."
"For lower-level wizards, it can provide stable talent enhancement effects and has clear promotional value."
"According to the Federation Strategic Technology Promotion Regulations, I will do my utmost to promote this technology throughout the entire Wizard Civilization. And you will receive the highest proportion of military merit profit sharing from this technology."
Saying this, it waved its hand gently, and a contract emitting a pale golden glow appeared before everyone.
"From today onward, for any wizard who purchases or uses this technology, you will receive the corresponding share of the profits."
Viola turned to Jie Ming with a look of utter dismay: "You're going to be rich!"
Anton even laughed out loud: "I told you! This kind of thing will definitely rake it in!"
However, Felix suddenly paused. It looked at Jie Ming: "But... unfortunately, according to the comprehensive assessment, your technology is still one step short of a civilization-level strategic achievement."
The light screen changed again, and a new evaluation result slowly emerged:
[First-Level Training Agreement: Does Not Meet Application Criteria]
Seeing this line, Viola couldn't help frowning, Clark sighed softly, and Anton touched his chin with regret. Jie Ming, however, remained calm.
Felix continued to explain: "The Blood Sacrifice Method can indeed improve the overall strength of the civilization. But the improvement is mainly concentrated among mid- and low-level wizards and those who have just advanced to high ranks."
"For veteran eighth-level wizards, since their mental strength is already approaching infinity, the long-term benefits provided by this technology are extremely limited."
"Excluding ninth-level wizards, the combat power of veteran eighth-level wizards accounts for more than 98% of the entire Wizard Civilization. Therefore, this technology is insufficient to cause a qualitative change in the civilization's war potential."
"According to the Federation's strategic evaluation standards, it is not yet sufficient to qualify for a First-Level Training Agreement."
After speaking, it waited quietly for Jie Ming's response.
There was silence in the lab for a few seconds. Then Jie Ming suddenly smiled, a relaxed smile: "I understand. In fact, I never intended to apply for a First-Level Training Agreement with it."
Hearing this, Viola turned to look at him, Anton showed a thoughtful expression, and Clark revealed a gratified smile.
Jie Ming wasn't saying this to put on a brave face; he truly thought so. Because he knew well that wizards' main source of power came from knowledge. Even if he had miscalculated the situation for high-level wizards, he had always positioned the Blood Sacrifice Method as a tool for earning money.
So, from the beginning, Jie Ming had no disappointment.
He looked at Felix: "I submitted this technology merely to obtain a stable income of low-level military merits. However... I hope that in the future, when I no longer need low-level military merits, I can switch the profit model to high-level military merit sharing."
Felix almost didn't pause before nodding slightly: "The request is reasonable. The contract will include a profit model conversion clause. You may apply at any time in the future to adjust the settlement method from low-level military merits to high-level military merits, without needing to sign a new promotion agreement."
Hearing this, Anton immediately laughed: "Not bad, kid. You've thought ahead."
Mentor Clark also nodded approvingly.
As for Viola... after understanding the implications of Jie Ming's words, she was still immersed in her own emotional anguish.
Felix waved its hand, and the pale golden contract floated slowly before Jie Ming.
"The contract has been generated. Please confirm."
Although he knew that Felix likely wouldn't pull any tricks, Jie Ming carefully read through all the terms.
Profit share, intellectual property, promotion scope, profit conversion... He confirmed that each item matched what had been discussed, with no hidden content.
Without hesitation, he reached out his hand and gently pressed it onto the center of the contract.
Hum...
With a soft golden radiance spreading outward, the contract was officially established!