A Wizard Seeks Truth, Not Immortality

When it comes to what is most valuable in a sorcerer’s legacy, knowledge is undoubtedly one of the answers.

Su Nan suppressed his excitement, quickly walked to the bookshelf, and scanned the books with his gaze.

“Composition Studies”, “Material Studies”, “Life Energy Structure”, “Basics of Enchanting Runes”, “Principles of Puppet Mechanics”, “Fundamentals of Puppet Construction”, “Puppets and Golems”.

Over eighty percent of the books were related to golem creation.

It was clear that the owner here had a profound love for this art, to the point of obsession.

No wonder they could create a golem like the Iron-eater Beast.

I just don’t know where this sorcerer apprentice went afterwards?
Su Nan had a vague idea, pondered for a moment, then turned to the desk.

The surface of the solid wood desk was covered in a thick layer of dust, empty. Su Nan opened the drawers below. The first few drawers were completely empty, with only the last drawer containing two diaries, a ring, and two boxes.

Su Nan took out the topmost diary and opened the cover.

The slightly yellowed first page contained only a few lines.

[Anger McLean, recorded in Star Calendar 1124.]

Star Calendar 1124, which was about 125 years ago.

“The Blackstone Mine district reported sightings of the Iron-eater Beast, which seems to have been more than a hundred years ago.”

Su Nan mused, continuing to flip through the pages.

The diary’s paper material was unknown, yet it remained intact after so long.

[Star Calendar 1124, April 12th]

[Today, I completed the exploration of the Blackstone Iron Ore Vein. As I guessed, this vein is very rich, providing ample materials for my golem experiments. It’s good news, indeed. I’ve decided to build a lab within the mine to be my future retreat.]

[Star Calendar 1126, February 8th]

[Made a breakthrough in the Blackrock Panther experiment! It won’t be long before I successfully create my own golem!]

“So that’s what the golem is called, the Blackrock Panther.” Su Nan raised an eyebrow.

[Star Calendar 1127, March 15th]

[Hahaha, I succeeded! I finally crafted my first Blackrock Panther, my unique golem. I am indeed a genius!]

[However, the Blackrock Panther’s combat capabilities are still lacking, falling short of formal knights. There are many improvements to be made, and I need more combat data.]

[Just as there are many knights outside, I’ll let them serve as opponents for the Blackrock Panther. Lucky fellows.]

[Star Calendar 1128, June 10th]

[Improvement experiments went smoothly. The Blackrock Panther now possesses strength comparable to junior knights. Unfortunately, the timid lord abandoned this mining area, so I need new targets to provide combat data. Perhaps the Black-scaled Lizardmen in the north might be a good choice.]

Most pages in the diary contained only a few lines.

And the time span was relatively large, with the shortest interval exceeding half a year.

The subsequent content mostly revolved around the progress of Blackrock Panther improvement experiments.

Occasionally interspersed with meditations, spell learning, and material collection outings.

From the text, it wasn’t hard to see that this sorcerer apprentice named Anger was somewhat arrogant and reclusive, disliking outside contact.

Notably, he was still a level three sorcerer apprentice.

In the elemental desert, the resource-poor Starlight Continent, advancing to a level three sorcerer apprentice before a century is indeed a testament to Anger’s genius and justifies his pride.

However, as he aged, Anger gradually shifted his focus from golem research to cultivation, with a visibly more agitated and lost tone in his diary.

[Star Calendar 1162, September 20th]

[The increase in spiritual power seems to have hit a bottleneck, with no significant growth for more than half a year. Maybe I should seek outside assistance.]

[Star Calendar 1163, January 4th]

[Lucky break, found a formula for an Illusory Potion. If I can make the Illusory Potion, it should solve the issue of stagnant spiritual power!]
[Starlight Calendar, Year 1165, May 19]

[Damn it! Why can’t I find all the materials on the formula? I clearly found the growing places as recorded in the book, so why can’t I? Could the book’s record be wrong?]

[Starlight Calendar, Year 1167, February 6]
[So that’s it, elemental loss, sharp decline in energy particle concentration, the continent we are on has become a barren land. No wonder I haven’t encountered other wizard apprentices for so many years. No, I will not just give up like this. If I can’t gather the materials, I’ll try other substitutes. I refuse to believe I can’t solve the problem with my wit!]

[Starlight Calendar, Year 1169, April 4]

[Experiment failed.]

[Starlight Calendar, Year 1170, February 9]

[Experiment failed.]

(Repeated records of experimental failure)
[Starlight Calendar, Year 1192, March 16]

[It’s no use, no matter how much you extract and purify low-grade materials, they can never reach the level of substituting high-grade materials; this potion cannot be successfully made!]

[Damn it! I’m not reconciled!]

The following dozen or so pages are filled with various resentments and curses towards the world, and bitterness, frustration, and despair for an unseen path ahead.

Until after the Starlight Calendar, Year 1200, Ang seemed to awaken, his words regaining calm.

[Starlight Calendar, Year 1200, December 3]

[I can feel vitality gradually fading away, it seems I won’t live much longer.]

[Undergoing biological modification might allow me to live longer, but that’s not my forte, and I don’t want to turn myself into something neither human nor ghost just to survive, or perhaps it’s because that kind of modification would completely shatter my hope of becoming a wizard. If I can’t ascend to a wizard, what’s the use of living longer?]

[A wizard pursues the truth, not immortality.]

[Starlight Calendar, Year 1202, May 5]

[Death is approaching, I seem to be able to smell the decay of my body.]

[The good news is, I’ve discovered the legend of the Stellar Tower in an ancient book. It’s said to be the legacy left by ancient wizards, maybe there I can find a way to become a wizard, this is my only hope now.]

[I’ve decided to search for the whereabouts of the Stellar Tower!]

Stellar Tower!

Su Nan showed a hint of emotion.

In his scarce memories concerning the previous life’s game, the Stellar Tower seemed to be one of the only three wizard legacies on the Starlight Continent in version 1.0!

Not like the laboratory left behind by an apprentice wizard as it is now, but a true legacy left by a real wizard.

It was the last bit of goodwill left by the wizards who had gone on an expedition to the multiverse a millennium ago.

One doesn’t even need to think to know that such a place must have a great deal of precious knowledge and materials.

If one could find the Stellar Tower, ascending to a wizard would no longer be a problem!
Su Nan was filled with excitement, hurriedly turning to the next page, but was greeted with a blank page.

“That’s it?”

Su Nan continued to turn the pages, but what followed were all blank.

It was obvious that after Ang McClean went out to search for the Stellar Tower, he never returned.

Who knows whether he eventually found the Stellar Tower?

Su Nan guessed the answer was most likely no.

Otherwise, in these fifty years, the laboratory wouldn’t still look untouched.

Thinking of this, Su Nan couldn’t help but feel some regret.

With Ang McClean’s talent, he would certainly have become a powerful wizard if born a millennium earlier in the age of wizards.

Unfortunately, he was born in the wrong era, and ultimately could only bide his time, dying with unfulfilled desires.

“A wizard’s barren land, huh.”