Chapter 217: 001: Spring

Another spring has arrived, marking the first spring under the new order.

All things awaken, vitality flourishing. Trees sprout tender green shoots, their leaves shimmering crystal-like under the sunlight. Colorful flowers bloom with enchanting fragrances, attracting butterflies and bees to dance gracefully among them.

A brook babbles as it flows by, its crystal-clear waters revealing the bottom, dotted with floating tender green leaves while fish joyfully swim below. Sunlight filters through the treetops, casting dappled splashes of light, draping this mysterious forest in an air of dreamlike fantasy. Everything seems so harmonious and beautiful, as though immersed in a magical fairytale world.

At the center of the forest, Lynch is testing his latest creation.

Clay Puppet.

After witnessing the wonders of the rock giants in the Blood-colored Battlefield, Lynch found himself deeply intrigued. He had deliberately collected some materials back then and, upon returning, sought out various resources. Finally, not long ago, he managed to replicate it—

The Golden Key, redeemed using a Blood Crystal, had recently been delivered to Lynch, enabling his smooth entry into the Golden Key Library to absorb its knowledge. Detailed blueprints of the clay puppet from the Blood-colored Battlefield were fully recorded in the library.

[Detailed Blueprint of Clay Puppet Construction]

This was Wizard-level knowledge, incomprehensible for ordinary apprentices, let alone mastering its contents. But Lynch was different.

By now, he had already read every book in both the copper and Silver Key libraries. All apprentice-level knowledge within the Shadow Tower had been honed to its max skill level, and he had also absorbed every piece of Wizard-level knowledge recorded under the Silver Key.

With a solid foundation built from abundant basic knowledge, studying high-level Wizard knowledge was a natural progression for him, posing little difficulty.

Especially with the assistance of the system attributes.

Over the years, his continuous study of magical knowledge had awakened several new attributes, such as [Magic Master].

Attribute: Magic Master.

Magic Master: Due to mastering extensive basic magic knowledge, you have essentially grasped the fundamental laws of magic in this world. This enables you to learn advanced knowledge seamlessly, even without guidance.

Attribute Effect: You can comprehend any complete First Ring knowledge.

With this attribute aiding him, Lynch could grasp Wizard-level knowledge effortlessly even without a mentor, allowing him to thoroughly study the detailed blueprint of clay puppet construction.

After reading it multiple times, his skill level quickly surged, mastering it in no time.

[Detailed Blueprint of Clay Puppet Construction lv1]

Thus, Lynch wasted no time gathering the relevant materials and promptly began his work. Although his newfound skill wasn’t entirely perfected yet, resulting in a few failures midway, he still managed to complete the creation.

At this moment, standing in the forest’s center, Lynch gazed at the towering figure before him.

It stood around five meters tall, its entire body formed from massive stone blocks, aligned to resemble a humanoid shape. It bore some resemblance to the Hellfire from an old game Lynch had played on Earth called [Magic Beast].

Unlike Hellfire, however, it lacked the fiery flames engulfing its body—a technical challenge Lynch had yet to overcome but planned to tackle later.

Even without extraordinary power, the Hellfire was already incredibly formidable.

Attributes: Strength 66, Agility 58, Constitution 68.

An engineered creature at Great Knight Level!

Compared to Lynch’s earlier creation, Iron Armor Little Treasure, these attribute values were equally impressive.

Lynch drew his Great Sword to test its abilities. Its terrifying power proved undeniable. A single punch sent him flying backward, even while employing his full defensive force. And remember, Lynch was truly a high-level Knight.

This sheer attribute strength alone could easily overpower many high-level apprentices.

Lynch intended to test its maximum attack capabilities a few more times, but just then, Avery’s concerned yet slightly annoyed voice rang out from behind:

“Honestly, is it really necessary to use such brutal methods for testing?”

Avery approached from behind, her gaze filled with distress as she scolded Lynch, whose arm was nearly mangled. “Are you an idiot? Test it properly; why let this thing hit you? Couldn’t you have it fight some magic beast instead? Fool!”

Lynch chuckled, “You gain deeper insights into its design flaws only by confronting it directly. This way, you can identify areas for improvement more precisely.”

Avery sighed, “I have no words for you. Whatever.”

Despite her words, she quickly cast a spell to heal Lynch’s injured arm. A milky white glow enveloped his arm, akin to sunlight shining upon it, and within moments, the distorted limb returned to normal.

Lynch grinned, “Having a wife skilled in healing isn’t bad at all—quick recovery after injuries.”

Avery rolled her eyes. “Next time, treatment comes with a fee.”

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, landing on the maiden’s face, highlighting the faint blush blooming on her cheeks.

Gazing at the beautiful girl before him, Lynch felt a strange yet pleasant sensation.

When he first met Avery, she had left an impression of strong independence and the cold aura of a goddess. Later, as they spent time together, he discovered that even goddesses had moments of quirkiness. And once they were truly together, Lynch realized that the goddess didn’t differ much from other girls—she was just as clingy.

These days, whatever Lynch did, she was nearly always by his side—whether gathering materials, hunting demons, or even testing the clay puppet like today.

While she mostly refrained from interrupting his work, she would silently observe. When Lynch succeeded in his projects, she would share his joy, and when he encountered setbacks, she would soothe his frustration.

Initially, Lynch hadn’t given their relationship much thought, but as they grew closer, he realized having such a companion was quite delightful.

The only minor drawback was her identity.

With her family ties and obligations, she often had to attend to family matters, leaving them apart for long periods. Additionally, their differing social strata and ecological niches posed potential challenges in future matters of marriage…

Well, that’s a concern for another time.

For now, Lynch was content with their current dynamic—it made him feel comfortable.

So, this is how life unfolded: cultivating magic, acquiring knowledge, and spending joyous days with Avery.

A spring passed like this.

Time moved on.

Several springs quietly came and went.

And Lynch’s long-consolidated strength finally showed signs of advancement.

Though it was just a small leap… it marked…

A transcendence of one full level!

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