Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree

Duke gathered all the incoming magic stones and calculated the total.

The West Coast Giant Rock Commerce Association and Black Sail each contributed nearly one billion, totaling about two billion.

The East Coast Star Dome Commerce Association contributed four billion, and Thorn Holy Tower contributed eighty million.

The Brian family from the Golden Continent contributed three billion, while the seven forces from the Scavvy Continent each contributed tens of millions, totaling about two billion five hundred million.

From the Central Islands, the Arcane Master Association contributed one billion five hundred million.

From Florence Continent, the Giant Rock Commerce Association symbolically contributed ten million.

The channel from the affiliated plane didn’t have an upfront authorization fee, but the Arcane Master Association promised to share at least one billion annually.

With all the authorization fees added up, Duke had gained a total of fifteen billion magic stones.

Fifteen billion.

As Duke stared at that number, he remembered that a year ago, he only had one billion five hundred million magic stones.

Now, there was an extra zero behind that number.

He knew this was not the end, just a beginning.

Most of those magic stones would turn into energy wells, into proficiency in the Elemental Holy Body, into various resources, becoming stepping stones on his future path.

...

For the next month, Duke virtually had no time to rest.

Although the authorization contracts with various forces had been signed, subsequent details needed repeated confirmation.

The Star Dome Commerce Association needed to adjust the channel divisions of four regions on the East Coast, the Brian family wanted the authorization range on the Golden Continent to be expanded a bit, and the seven forces on the Scavvy Continent were having conflicts over distribution rights, requiring Duke to mediate.

Every day there were new issues for him to handle, every day there were new letters for him to reply to.

He had to temporarily set aside the cultivation of the Elemental Holy Body, barely visiting the Light God Court.

During the day he negotiated with various representatives in the meeting hall, at night he replied to letters, reviewed contracts, and checked accounts in his study.

Occasionally, when he had a brief moment of leisure, he would only lean back in his chair, close his eyes for a short while, and then continue working.

He knew this period was transitional, once all parties had streamlined their channels and paved the way, they wouldn’t need him to personally take charge of everything.

A month later, the busiest time finally passed.

That evening, after concluding talks with people from the Scavvy Continent, Duke prepared to return to his dormitory.

The night was deepening, and there were few pedestrians on the corridor bridge.

He walked along the familiar route to the dormitory area, his steps slower than usual, mingled with a touch of fatigue.

As he passed through Zone 7 Plaza, he felt someone watching him.

That gaze held a cautious, hesitant attention.

He turned his head and saw a young witch standing by the stone pillar at the square’s edge.

Lis.

She wore a simple gray-blue magic robe, with tiny flame motifs embroidered on the collar symbolizing the Tower of Ashes.

Her deep chestnut hair was loosely tied behind her, with a few strands hanging beside her ears.

She stood there, holding a thick book in her arms, her gaze landing on Duke, her lips slightly moving, as if wanting to say something, yet no sound came out.

Duke stopped. "Lis."

Lis was slightly startled, as if she hadn’t expected him to greet her proactively.

Her eyes brightened for a moment, then became a bit embarrassed, her fingers gently rubbing the book’s spine.

"Mr. Duke... Have you finished your work?" Her voice was light, tinged with caution.

"Yes." Duke nodded, "Long time no see, how have things been lately?"

Lis glanced down at the book in her hands, then lifted her head with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"About the same as before, just came out of the library, passing by here... Didn’t expect to meet you." She paused, seemingly wanting to say something but swallowing it back.

Lis hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

"I saw your article in the Arcane Mage Monthly, the automatic meditation... It’s really impressive." Her voice was soft, yet sincere, "Back when I was sitting next to you on the airship, I felt you were not an ordinary person. Didn’t expect you would come so far, so quickly."

Duke looked at her and nodded, "You’re not bad either, it’s not everyone who can pass last year’s year-end assessment."

Lis was momentarily stunned, then shook her head with a wry smile.

"Me? I’m just a minor figure from the Tower of Ashes, staying here is already a stroke of luck." She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously sliding on the book’s spine, "During last year’s year-end assessment, I only barely passed, ranking quite low. This year I have to earn another thousand contribution points, or else I’ll be eliminated."

"Believe in yourself, you can keep going." Duke said.

Lis was startled.

"As long as you continue to work hard." Duke’s tone was calm, not as if he was comforting, but more like stating a fact. "The opportunity to stay here doesn’t depend on background, but on strength. You’re still here, which means you have that strength."

Lis opened her mouth slightly, her eyes becoming slightly red.

She lowered her head, blinking hard a few times, then lifted her head with a smile.

That smile was no longer the cautious, slightly embarrassed smile, but a more genuine, slightly steadfast smile.

"I will strive harder, Mr. Duke, I definitely want to stay here."

Duke nodded, "Give it your all."

He turned, continuing towards the dormitory area.

Behind him, Lis’s voice floated on the wind.

"Thank you, Mr. Duke!"

...

After finishing this busy period, Duke was eager to begin his own cultivation, which was most important.

The cultivation of the Elemental Holy Body required energy wells to accelerate progress, regarding the purchase of energy wells, Duke directly entrusted the Star Dome Commerce Association.

The Star Dome Commerce Association’s channels were even more efficient than he expected.

Duke merely mentioned needing energy wells casually, and the reply came the same day, ten Level 1 Energy Wells, including wind, earth, water, and fire, delivered to the Central Islands within two days, total cost one billion magic stones.

This price was nearly at cost, the Star Dome Commerce Association didn’t plan to make money off this transaction at all.

Duke looked at the quotation, hesitating for a moment.

Previously, he needed to shop around for a single energy well, trying to save as much as possible.

Now, ten energy wells were directly delivered to his doorstep, the price so low it made him feel embarrassed.

This was the change in status and position.

Two days later, the ten energy wells arrived as scheduled.

Duke moved them all into the Light God Court, setting them up on the wasteland.

Ten energy wells, complete with four elements, but light and dark still absent.

This was as he expected, energy wells of light and dark attributes were rare, difficult to find in the market as ready stock, only slowly accumulated in the Light God Court.

He rearranged those twelve energy wells, eight for regular use, four reserved.

Eight energy wells operated simultaneously, energy from six attributes entwining within the Divine Court like a precise alchemical device.

Duke sat cross-legged in the center of the energy wells, closed his eyes, and began cultivating.

For the next three months, his life became extremely routine.

During the day he occasionally handled matters related to automatic meditation or received visiting commerce association representatives.

At night, he entered the Light God Court, absorbing energy from the wells, refining his flesh.

At the Six-Ring Tower, he enrolled in various courses, quickly meeting this year’s requirement of one thousand contribution points.

Additionally, Vera’s gathering occasionally convened, and Duke intentionally brought Lis in, introducing her to everyone.

With Duke’s current influence, naturally, no one looked down on Lis, instead offering much assistance.

This provided Lis with significant convenience, allowing her academic journey here to proceed more smoothly.

She was very grateful to Duke, but Duke didn’t dwell on it, seeing it as merely lending a casual helping hand.

Days flowed steadily like water, but each droplet moved forward.

Three months later, one night, Duke sat cross-legged in the center of the energy wells, cultivating the Elemental Holy Body.

The energy within surged like tides, flowing through his flesh, settling in his bones, condensing in his muscles.

A dark golden sheen emerged beneath his skin, making his muscle lines more defined, his bones denser, even his breathing deeper and more forceful.

When the last trace of energy was absorbed, his body trembled suddenly.

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