Visari finished reading this general treatise on the extraordinary, completely engrossed. Being cautious by nature, he truly loved these strange and insidious witchcraft spells.
A Wizard is a profession that relies on knowledge and learning. The books on the shelf were excellent resources for Visari to improve his strength. He pulled out several beginner witchcraft books related to flesh and blood transformation and studied them ravenously.
"Knock, knock, knock" A series of knocks on the door woke Visari. He immersed his mind in sensing the heavens and earth through the star phase, realizing he had unknowingly studied for seven hours.
"Come in!"
The door was gently pushed open, and the Steward walked in holding a blue invitation card with gold embossing.
"Master, Viscount Lister of the Lister Viscount Territory has sent someone to deliver an invitation, inviting you to attend a banquet at the Lister Viscount Territory three days from now."
Visari narrowed his eyes. It seemed the time had come to integrate into the local noble circle.
The gap between the nobles and commoners in the Nobai Kingdom was so vast that nobles were bound to have many privileges. This banquet was his opportunity to obtain the privileges he deserved.
"Has the Viscount Lister's envoy left?" Visari grabbed a quill pen from the table.
"Not yet, I have him entertained in the mansion's hall," the Steward replied respectfully.
"Alright, that's good. I'll write a reply letter, and you bring him to the study in a moment." Visari pulled out a sheet of letter paper from the table and began writing the reply.
After finishing writing, Visari put it into an envelope and sealed it with sealing wax.
"I extend to you greetings as sincere as the crescent moon, Baron." The envoy placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head respectfully.
"Mm, dispense with the formalities. Since it is the Viscount's invitation, there is no reason for me not to go. Envoy, please give this reply letter to Viscount Lister and convey my wishes for his good health."
Visari smiled and handed the envelope to the envoy.
After watching the envoy depart, Visari turned to ask the Steward, "How far is the mine from the manor?"
The Steward looked up at the sky and replied, "It's about a three-hour journey. Master, if you were to go inspect it now, you probably wouldn't be able to return until the latter half of the night."
Visari shook his head, "Let's wait until tomorrow then. The Ghoul is a very valuable thing, with great potential to be unearthed."
Early the next morning, Visari, accompanied by the Steward and several servants, rode horses to the mine.
A Moor walked out of the mine entrance and greeted Visari and his party.
Walking into the mine, what came into view were the Ghoul mine slaves working below the high platform. Their mole-like claws were extremely advantageous for digging.
As dark carrion-eating creatures, Ghouls only needed to rest for two hours at noon each day. As for food, giving them some rotten animal offal was sufficient.
To Visari's surprise, apart from himself and his party who had just entered, there wasn't a single living person in the entire mine.
Visari said in surprise, "Where are the managers here? Where did they go?"
The Moor shook his head, "Ghouls are bound by a tribal oath and cannot develop the will to resist. Coupled with the fact that they don't slack off, there were originally only a few people here."
"Later, after the leader (the original servant) returned to the Royal Capital with two guards, I was the only one left here to manage it."
What a fully automated workshop. Visari muttered to himself inwardly. But the necessary procedures still had to be followed, and Visari still placed a Blood Curse on this Moor.
Standing on the high platform, watching the Ghouls below working continuously, Visari narrowed his eyes.
"How do you usually manage things? It's almost impossible for one person to sort so much ore, isn't it?"
The Moor nodded in agreement, "Normally, the ore is collected by the Ghoul leader, loaded into carts, and sent to us."
"Before, it had some minor movements, but ever since its offspring were sent away, it has been very docile."
Visari nodded. He naturally couldn't be bothered to deal with this leader. "Someone, go down and find the Ghoul with the lowest efficiency, tie it up, and bring it back to the manor. I have a use for it."
After instructing the servants to tie up the Ghoul, Visari turned to ask the Moor, "Besides the Ghouls, is there anything else worth noting in this mine?"
The Moor thought for a moment and replied, "The mineral here is ordinary iron ore; precious iron essence has never been dug up. The surrounding plants are also very common. If I had to say, there's a type of poisonous moss inside the cave. If a Ghoul accidentally eats it, it will faint for an entire day."
Visari's eyes lit up. If this moss were improved, it might be usable as an anesthetic. After instructing the servants to dig some up with soil, Visari returned to the manor with two major experimental subjects.
"Hmm, the research on the moss will have to wait until the experimental equipment is customized, but the research on the Ghoul can begin now," Visari muttered to himself. (Cannot write in detail)
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time to attend the banquet. Visari emerged from the dark basement, took off the white linen robe he was wearing, and faint, fine bone fragments could be seen slipping from it.
After changing into a proper suit, Visari's originally gloomy demeanor became elegant and composed.
Visari brought the invitation card, got into the only remaining carriage in the manor, and drove towards the Lister Viscount Territory at a speed that was not fast but sufficiently elegant.
Considering the long journey, Visari, sitting in the carriage, began to study a new witchcraft: Flesh and Blood Substitution.
As the name suggests, the effect of this witchcraft is to construct a flesh puppet with the exact same flesh and blood aura as oneself.
The flesh puppet can endure curses on one's behalf, and if one suffers injuries difficult to heal on their own, such as a severed limb, they can absorb this flesh puppet to construct a prosthetic limb.
After being promoted to Star Initiator, Flesh and Blood Substitution also has a higher-level version—Outer Body Incarnation.
The incarnation can transform into any form and move freely within the range of the star phase's influence.
For Visari now, the greatest use of Flesh and Blood Substitution is not transferring curses, but serving as an experimental subject with information identical to his own for research.
Extraordinary experiments applied to oneself only yield the best results when one uses oneself as the subject.
Flesh and Blood Substitution solves the core pain point that one only has one life.
The carriage's speed gradually slowed. Visari reached out and lifted the blackout curtain on the carriage door, and Viscount Lister's mansion appeared before Visari's eyes.
This was a fortress built entirely of greyish-white megaliths, with Viscount Lister's family banner hanging on the tower.
Visari handed the invitation letter to the servant standing respectfully beside the door. After a simple check, the servant opened the gate.
Visari slowly walked into the Viscount's castle. This banquet was held to welcome Visari, and the surrounding new and old nobles would all attend.
Nobles could bring their favorite sons, nephews, and descendants, but Visari, being alone, had no choice but to attend the banquet by himself.
As soon as he entered the hall, Visari saw four nobles sitting by the banquet table.
As soon as Viscount Lister, who was sitting in the main seat, saw Visari, a sense of closeness stemming from the same bloodline welled up in his heart.
"Hahahaha, welcome, my compatriot. Come, sit next to Qiao."