In the following half month, Duke buried himself in the laboratory, focused on magic research.

Besides the materials exchanged from the Black Sail Treasure Vault, he also bought several related books to learn some theories and methods.

As half a month passed, the prototype of the magic was gradually perfected, and Duke named it Sand Guardian.

Sand Guardian is an automatic defense and counterattack system that can independently defend and counterattack once constructed successfully.

Even if Duke were in a coma, he could automatically summon yellow sand from the Yellow Sand Crystal to protect himself.

The most basic defense and counterattack do not require any consumption of magic power, but if one wants to enhance the strength, it requires infusion of magic power, which then consumes magic power.

Duke valued defense quite highly, so he constructed such a magic.

Many wizards also choose defensive magic, as having defensive capabilities without consuming magic power is crucial.

This ensures that even when you are at the end of your resources, without a trace of magic power in your body, you can still have basic defense capabilities.

Since this is a Level 1 Magic, Duke conducted very detailed and rigorous testing and calculations, gathering a large amount of data to optimize and iterate the magic model multiple times.

Duke did not strive to perfect the magic model; it just needed to function without significant issues.

Anyway, once becoming an Official Wizard, further optimization and adjustment of the magic model could still be done.

Duke also spent a hundred contribution points to have Selene review the Sand Guardian model. After listening to Duke's thoughts and ideas, Selene seriously examined the model and provided many valuable suggestions.

A hundred contribution points for consultation is not cheap, but Duke believes it was worth it.

As a wizard with rich academic research experience, Selene helped Duke avoid many detours and potential pitfalls.

He also admired Duke greatly; as an ordinary Wizard Apprentice, progressing to this stage by self-effort is truly a significant accomplishment.

After Duke improved the magic model, Selene reviewed it for him three more times, all without extra charges, purely out of helpfulness.

Selene indeed has a wealth of experience. Although he dislikes war, he is very experienced in magic research, always able to sharply point out Duke's problems.

Over the past half month, under Selene's guidance, Duke gradually completed the Sand Guardian magic model, making it a true Level 1 Magic.

As a Level 1 Magic, Sand Guardian has a complexity far exceeding sub-level magic, reaching N27.

For ordinary Wizard Apprentices, understanding this magic model is impossible without a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge.

After preparing the Level 1 Magic, preparations for the advancement to Official Wizard were completely finished.

Duke originally had over thirteen hundred contribution points, now only two hundred fifty-two remain.

Purchasing Water of Asu and other magic potions, buying knowledge materials, consulting Selene, etc., all added up to a significant expenditure of contribution points.

The contribution points Duke just earned on the Beastman Plane were nearly depleted.

...

On Academy Island, inside the Meditation Room.

Duke spent two days adjusting his state, getting himself to the most perfect and stable condition, with a peaceful mind.

After drinking the Spiritual Power Stabilizing Potion, he picked up a light yellow Water of Asu and drank it in one go.

Similar to the Dawn Potion and Dawn and Dusk Potion, the Water of Asu is for catalyzing the promotion process, but its potency is much stronger.

Once the Water of Asu entered his stomach, the contained energy spread, permeating his entire body.

Duke's body temperature instantly rose, quickly approaching fifty degrees, and every cell in his body trembled vigorously.

A large amount of free energy particles flooded into his body, integrating into every corner.

At this time, Duke drank the Tihorn Potion and Gaia Potion to maintain bodily stability and prevent loss of control.

The soaring temperature increase decreased significantly, starting to fluctuate around fifty degrees, maintaining a relatively stable state.

The bodily changes were one aspect; meanwhile, a major transformation was occurring in his mind.

In Duke's mind, centered around the Skill Tree, the space was constantly expanding, with some threads beginning to appear.

These threads are manifestations of Spiritual Power. The promotion to Official Wizard requires transforming one's Spiritual Power into a gaseous state, marking a Level 1 Gaseous Mage.

Only when Spiritual Power reaches a certain degree can it be substantively transformed into a gaseous state.

If Spiritual Power is insufficient, this step cannot be completed, which is why the promotion threshold is set at fifty Spiritual Power points.

The advancement process to Official Wizard is relatively slow, requiring considerable time.

The Water of Asu continued to play its role, with gaseous Spiritual Power constantly emerging in his mind.

Leaning on the effects of the Spiritual Power Stabilizing Potion, Duke maintained clarity of mind and consistently monitored his body's condition.

He noticed that the medicinal effect of the first Water of Asu had mostly been consumed, with its effectiveness gradually diminishing.

However, the promotion process was not yet complete, as the gaseous transformation of Spiritual Power in his mind had not been fully realized.

If the promotion process halted at this point, it would cause irreversible effects on the body, making further promotion extremely troublesome.

Duke immediately picked up the second Water of Asu and drank it down in one go. The effect of Water of Asu diffused throughout his body again, continuing to catalyze the promotion process.

From this, he could see that his aptitude was indeed average. Wizard Apprentices with good aptitude could promote to Official Wizard with only one Water of Asu, or even without assistance from Water of Asu.

The more Water of Asu consumed, the lower the wizard's aptitude is represented.

However, Duke did not care about this. He knew his aptitude was not good, but it did not affect his continuous progress.

The progress was not fast, but each step was solid and powerful.

With the effect of this Water of Asu, the speed of Spiritual Power's gaseous transformation in his mind gradually accelerated.

Just then, the surrounding scene suddenly changed.

Raising his head, Duke found himself surrounded by skyscrapers, standing at the roadside waiting for the traffic lights, with countless office workers waiting to cross the road behind him, their faces filled with fatigue.

In a moment of trance, he smiled and reached into his trouser pocket, predictably finding a pack of cigarettes inside.

Duke pulled one out, held it in his mouth, but realized he had not brought a lighter.

A blond young man nearby seemed to notice Duke's predicament, pulled out a lighter, and handed it over.

"Thanks." Duke smiled as he lit the cigarette in his mouth, exhaling smoke, reclaiming that familiar feeling.

After savoring just two puffs, he summoned a ball of flame that incinerated the cigarette in his hand completely.

The large flame caused panic among the crowd, with people around scattering in terror, looking at Duke as if he were a monster.

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