Translator: AnubisTL
After settling into Golden Harbor, Jieming began planning his next steps.
Now free from the constraints of contribution points, he quickly identified two primary objectives:
First, to collect rare and difficult-to-obtain materials from the wizard world, particularly those found in pure "wizard cultivation vessels" like the Noren Workshop.
Second, to conduct in-depth research on the Divine Power Faith Network of the Elosia Plane—a resource of immense value to any wizard, arguably the most precious asset in the entire plane.
To facilitate his research and secret experiments, Jieming decided to purchase a suitable residence in Golden Harbor.
Through an intermediary, he quickly identified his target: a luxurious villa on the city's outskirts, owned by a minor noble planning to flee.
"Lord Jack, your discerning eye is truly remarkable!" The real estate agent, a short, stout man with a handlebar mustache, beamed obsequiously, wringing his hands.
"Dawnlight Manor is one of Golden Harbor's rare gems! Its expansive grounds and exquisite gardens are unparalleled. Though Baron Garcia is eager to sell quickly, driving down the price, its true value far exceeds market rates!"
Jieming calmly glanced at the property blueprint, which was plastered with glowing descriptions and featured an exquisite rendering of the villa.
Golden Harbor's strategic location near the northern border, at the intersection of several nations, had fueled its prosperity.
However, under the shadow of the Planar War, many Golden Harbor nobles were now desperate to liquidate their assets and seek refuge in the south and west.
This gave Jieming a wide range of options for his purchase.
"Enough with the flattery," Jieming said, his voice low and commanding, leaving no room for argument. "I only need to know the minimum price and how quickly the formalities can be completed."
The broker stiffened under Jieming's imposing aura, a flicker of fear crossing his plump face.
But upon hearing Jieming's next words, his demeanor instantly shifted to obsequiousness. "Yes, my lord! The minimum price is three thousand gold coins. Given the current tense situation, if you can pay in full upfront, I can persuade Baron Garcia to reduce the price by another two hundred coins. As for the formalities... they can be completed as early as this afternoon! I guarantee the fastest possible service, with absolutely no delays on my part!"
"Three thousand gold coins. This afternoon. Completed." Jieming immediately produced a heavy pouch of gold coins and placed it heavily on the table.
The "gold" of the Elosia Plane differed slightly in composition from the gold commonly found in the wizard civilization, but it posed no challenge for a wizard skilled in alchemy.
Even though his alchemy skills couldn't directly alter the particle structure of matter, he could easily extract a massive amount of gold coins from any nearby mine using alchemy.
"Yes! Yes, my lord! Rest assured!" The broker beamed, bowing deeply as he accepted the heavy bag of gold coins.
Despite the bag's weight straining his arms until the veins bulged, he refused to let go, as if fearing Jieming might change his mind.
He had never encountered such a generous and powerful client before.
He even vaguely suspected that "Lord Jack" was no ordinary adventurer, but likely a "black glove"—an operative planted in Golden Harbor by some mysterious family or organization. After all, who else could casually produce such a vast sum of gold coins?
Within hours, Jieming had obtained the property deed to Dawnlight Manor, becoming its new owner.
Stepping into the spacious living room, he surveyed the exquisitely carved walls and furnishings with satisfaction.
With this stronghold secured, he could begin his grand renovations.
Given enough time, he could even fortify the manor to repel third-tier creatures.
As for the materials needed for the renovations and the equipment for his research...
Jieming retrieved several Space Expansion Pouches, carefully inspected them, and smiled with satisfaction.
These Space Expansion Pouches were a rare benefit for newcomers.
Space rings, which ignored all environmental rules and spatial differences, required sixth-tier space attribute wizards proficient in alchemy to create. However, simple space expansion magic could be accessed by third-tier wizards.
The wizards had been invading the Elosia Plane for quite some time and had naturally adapted to most of its unique rules. Crafting storage pouches was therefore relatively straightforward.
Since merit points were no issue, Jieming simply purchased several of the largest Space Expansion Pouches before leaving, along with multiple sets of research equipment.
Moreover, after thoroughly studying the local spatial rules, he realized that beyond space pouches, there were even more crucial applications to be explored.
"I should have stored it in here..."
Jieming reached into one of the pouches and quickly retrieved a small ruby.
"Found it! The Universal Space Expansion Core. Oh, right, I remember this villa having a basement..."
Using alchemy to scan the entire villa, Jieming quickly located the basement entrance.
Opening the wooden door, he wrinkled his nose at the musty, moldy odor emanating from the basement.
With a wave of his hand, Jieming used alchemy to gather all the mold and dust into a single sphere.
Even the bricks of the basement walls automatically smoothed themselves, becoming as polished as mirrors in an instant.
He casually dismantled the rotting wooden door, retrieved a large metal slab from his space pouch, and quickly shaped it with alchemy into a multi-ton metal door.
After installing the door snugly into the basement entrance, Jieming nodded in satisfaction.
"We can add more security measures later. For now, let's focus on expanding the space."
He easily opened the metal door and leaped down. Surveying the cramped basement, Jieming retrieved a complete set of equipment and a runic array from his space pouch.
After installing the apparatus in the basement, he placed the ruby into the core's central slot.
Hum...
A low, resonant hum, almost indistinguishable from the basement's silence, filled the air.
Geometric patterns materialized on the core's surface, and the ruby suddenly erupted with a steady crimson glow, like a heart awakening.
The core smoothly levitated out of its housing and drifted toward the center of the basement ceiling, stopping an inch below.
"Anchoring coordinates, confirming dimensional reference frame..." Jieming muttered, reciting the parameters he needed to set as he used his mental power to connect with and adjust the core.
As the entire apparatus activated, the metallic runes etched into the basement walls and floor seemed to melt and spread, quickly transforming the entire space into a silvery-white expanse.
Now!
With a subtle mental command, he initiated the spatial "shaping."
The core shuddered violently—not a physical tremor, but a spatial agitation caused by the core's power drawing upon the very fabric of space.
An invisible ripple, powerful enough to instantly disorient any sentient being with heightened senses, erupted from the core and surged outward in all directions!
It was like dropping a stone into water—but the stone was reality itself.
When the ripple reached the surrounding walls, floor, and ceiling, there was no collision.
The metal-covered surfaces suddenly flowed like liquid mercury, their rigid physical structures being kneaded, stretched, and expanded by some higher-dimensional force.
Accompanied by a strange, deep rumble that sounded like countless grains of sand grinding together, Jieming felt his vision begin to distort and warp.
The ground beneath his feet seemed to be gripped by an invisible giant hand, expanding steadily and irresistibly outward and downward.
The walls, once within arm's reach, were pushed back as if by an unseen force, shattering and reassembling his sense of space in an instant.
The smooth metal surfaces stretched before his eyes, their textures elongating into thread-like strands. These strands then blurred and dissolved into the expanding void.
The oppressively low ceiling above him rose slowly like a curtain being drawn upward, higher and higher.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
The sound of rushing air grew distinct, not the howl of wind, but the turbulent rush of outside air filling the sudden vacuum created by the expanding space.
As if a valve had been opened, the stagnant air began to circulate, rapidly diluting the dampness and musty odors.
Jieming stood still, feeling the ground beneath his feet moving steadily.
The expansion didn't last long. After a few breaths, the omnipresent spatial ripples stabilized, and the strange tearing friction sounds vanished, leaving only the core humming softly.
Like a miniature sun suspended overhead, it radiated a steady, gentle light.
The basement had been completely transformed.
The previously cramped space that had pressed against his body had vanished, replaced by a vast, square hall, at least the size of a football stadium by his estimate.
The walls had receded into the distance, their height now sufficient to suspend complex instruments without feeling oppressive.
The oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere had vanished, replaced by a sense of liberating spaciousness.
"Excellent, excellent! This will be my laboratory from now on!" Jieming examined the spatial stability, nodding with a satisfied smile.
"Next... I'll install the elemental pool first."
After settling into Dawnlight Manor in Golden Harbor, Jieming focused his efforts on renovating the basement.
However, he hadn't forgotten his primary objective. The laboratory wasn't fully operational yet, preventing him from initiating research on the Divine Power Faith Network. Still, he could begin collecting special materials in the meantime.
Over the next few days, during his downtime, Jieming stopped holing up in the adventurer's guild gathering intelligence. Instead, he delved into the city's arteries, immersing himself in the raw, everyday life of its people.
Each day, he varied his routes, wandering through Golden Harbor's streets.
Sometimes he'd venture into bustling markets, listening to the vendors' hawking cries and customers' haggling.
Other times he'd sit by the docks, watching stevedores sweat as they hauled cargo, the salty, fishy tang of the sea wind filling his nostrils.
He even mingled with the all-night crowds in the slums during the quiet hours of the night, listening to drunken ramblings and witnessing the raw, unfiltered struggles of life's underbelly.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (𝗪𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗥𝗗) on the Site till Ch214. (94 Chapters Ahead)
💲Read upto Ch151 for ABSOLUTELY 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀! ℕ𝕠 𝕃𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕟
⚡15 Novels | 9.1k+ Chapters | 15.2M+ Words [𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦]