Wizard: I Can Refine Everything

"My Lord, the military expansion has been successfully completed."

In the Secret Realm, Frank handed the latest expansion report to Richard. Richard flipped through it slightly, a hint of surprise on his face.

"How could it be so quick? The Abyss War ended only thirty years ago. Even if the people don't harbor aversion or resistance to war, they shouldn't be so joyful."

The data showed that the Miracle Sect's expansion plan proceeded without a hitch. The recruitment offices were almost trampled flat by the God-given goblins eager to enlist. In many regions, there were even extreme cases of suicide due to failing to be selected.

"My Lord, thirty years is already quite a long time. Without becoming a cultivator, a goblin would be remarkably long-lived to reach sixty years. Moreover, the harsh environment during the Abyss War did significant physical damage to ordinary goblins, lowering their average lifespan to just thirty-five years during the war.

Those who experienced the Abyss War and didn't become cultivators, are likely mostly gone now."

Richard paused for a moment, suddenly realizing his own blind spot.

He had adapted to the lifestyle of long-lived species; to him, thirty years was just a brief rest. But for these short-lived goblins, thirty years constituted most of their lifetime.

"This is good then, as long as there's no civilian resistance."

In any world, one can't rely on conscription to form an excellent army. In low-force battlefields, faith is as crucial a quality as martial strength.

A soldier voluntarily stepping onto the battlefield and one forced at gunpoint are two entirely different outcomes.

"Is there anything else?"

"No, there isn't."

"If not, get back to your duties."

With a wave of Richard's hand, Frank retreated of his own accord.

Back in the laboratory, Richard pulled a magic book from his pocket. Looking at the contents of the book, he grumbled, "The fusion of Rule Body... quite complicated."

This magic book contained the Rule Body construction method taught by the Crown Throne of Physique. As a Wizard on the physique evolution path, Richard's Rule Body couldn't be limited to a Soul Carrier; he must go further, merging the Rule Body with his flesh to construct what the Crown Throne of Physique called a Rule True Body.

But the word "fusion" was easy to say, and implementing it in reality was very complex.

Rules are a magical power. Without energy and matter, standalone rules are useless. But when they contact energy or matter, it's a mysterious power akin to Stone to Gold.

Matter fused with rules inevitably undergoes changes.

For instance, matter fused with the Fire Element Rule will naturally attract fire elements. If Richard fully integrates the Radiation Rule into his body, his body will inevitably emit radiation, just like that Fuel Ring from before.

But doing so has a significant issue: Richard's body might not withstand it.

After merging the Radiation Rule, his cells would undergo constant radiation bombardment. While Richard isn't a stone, he's still a living being; even as a Great Wizard, he's still a living being.

This radiation impact may not affect him in the short term, but over time, it will undoubtedly affect the normal renewal of Richard's cells, akin to water dripping through stone.

Furthermore, this radiation isn't generated from nothing. To emit radiation, matter must be consumed; otherwise, it would be a perpetual machine.

A perpetual machine does not exist, at least not within the truths uncovered by wizards.

So after merging the Radiation Rule, Richard's body would constantly endure depletion. If the depletion were just of the cell membrane, it might be manageable, but if the Life Core were depleted, the entire cell would be doomed.

Thinking it over, Richard became increasingly convinced that his Radiation Rule wasn't suitable as a Rule for the physical Rule Body.

The Radiation Rule was naturally designed for Soul Carrier-type Rule Bodies.

"Must I give up the physique path?"

A thought crossed Richard's mind.

If he gave up the physique path, his Radiation Rule would shine in the Shape-shifting School. The Great Wizards of the Shape-shifting School strain themselves to enhance their energy manipulation skills, whereas Richard only needed his spiritual power to grow, and his energy control skills would become increasingly precise.

"My master, what troubles you?"

The voice of the World Mushroom suddenly sounded in Richard's ear. Richard's laboratory was within its body, and even without paying special attention, it could see Richard's every move.

Richard had been troubled by the book's contents for over a month.

"Nothing much, just pondering the future path," Richard casually replied, "I have two paths available: abandon the physique evolution and follow the pure spiritual evolution path; or give up the Radiation Rule and pursue the physique evolution path."

"Why give up? I think these two paths can coexist."

The voice of the World Mushroom was filled with confusion. It had gained a considerable amount of evolution knowledge from the offshoot of the World Tree. To it, Richard's choices could entirely coexist.

"But I need to construct a Rule Body," Richard said with a headache, "The Radiation Rule is inherently unsuitable for constructing a Rule Body with a physical carrier... you should know what a Rule Body is, right?"

"Yes, I naturally have it."

"... Huh?"

The World Mushroom was unfazed by Richard's astonishment as it dug through its memories, extracting information deemed useless.

The World Tree's evolutionary data was abundant, leading the World Mushroom to have a considerable pile of useless material after obtaining what it sought.

"My master, I believe you should first use other rules to forge the Rule Body and then incorporate the Radiation Rule as a new rule within it. This Composite Rule Body can significantly diminish the rule's impact on material, and... this seems like the proper path. To become a Fifth Level creature, constructing a Composite Rule Body is a must."

The World Mushroom's response made Richard freeze in surprise.

Indeed, why doesn't he just forge the Rule Body using other rules?

Rules are incredibly precious to others, but for him, as long as he collects enough rule items and refines them, he can gather them.

He still had several bodies whose rules hadn't been refined.

As for Soul Power... now that he had become a Great Wizard, his soul could recover just like his physical body. Even Ulysses, whose soul was shattered, managed to become a World Master. Surely, he could gradually recover after consuming Soul Power.

With this thought, Richard suddenly felt he saw a broad expanse ahead of him.

He hadn't used the Miracle Furnace for so long; he nearly forgot he had such a valuable treasure.

Now that he was a Great Wizard, shouldn't the Miracle Furnace undergo some changes as well?

To mention a power Richard only used once, after becoming a Wizard, he could move the Miracle Furnace, but the movement range was limited to within his soul.

As his spiritual power increased, moving the Miracle Furnace became increasingly easier, though the range remained confined to his soul.

Now that he's become a Great Wizard, whether the Miracle Furnace can be used as a weapon or not, its range of movement should at least extend to his Rule Body.

Richard's heart stirred, and the Miracle Furnace appeared within his Soul Space. Its sudden appearance shocked Richard.

Once dull and gray, the Miracle Furnace now shed its gray surface. It appeared as if the flames inside were too intense, burning deep red. On its exterior, ancient characters shimmered with a golden light, exuding a dignified aura.

"Did this change occur when I ascended?" Richard speculated in his heart. But regardless of when it happened, the change was indeed real.

With a thought, Richard began moving the Miracle Furnace within his Soul Space. As he moved it, new information emerged before him.

[Oh my unacquainted successor, congratulations on finally taking your first step.]

[But remember, everything destiny gives comes with a hidden price tag.]

The cryptic messages presented caused Richard's heart to feel uneasy. This information hinted at a plot using him as a pawn.

Particularly, the phrase about destiny's gifts being marked with prices secretly made him shiver.

Had he been progressing too smoothly all this time?

From the moment he became a Wizard Apprentice, his luck seemed to have taken a turn for the better.

When encountering danger, he'd always narrowly escape, gaining benefits in every venture, and his strength skyrocketed continuously.

If all of this was arranged by someone, what price would he have to pay?

The unknown fear plunged Richard into anxiety as he wandered aimlessly in the Secret Realm, numerous thoughts tangled in his mind like a ball of yarn.

"Calm down! Calm down!"

Richard slapped himself, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.

He had consistently ignored a question: where did the Miracle Furnace come from? It couldn't have just appeared because he was a transmigrator.

From the current information, it seems he was chosen by the Miracle Furnace. Why it chose him might be linked to destiny.

Or perhaps, the Miracle Furnace choosing him is a part of destiny.

Destiny is the Curse School's most forbidden study direction, and all Curse Wizards are extremely secretive about it.

After pondering for a moment, Richard exhaled suddenly, somewhat self-deprecatingly saying, "Richard, oh Richard, what are you worried about? You, such an ordinary guy, have now become a Great Wizard. Whatever it wants you to do, you should just calmly do it."

What's happened has happened; all he could do is accept reality.

Life must go on.

Burying his distress and fear deep within, Richard began examining the Miracle Furnace. The Miracle Furnace still couldn't leave his soul, but the flames within it could be harnessed.

With a thought, Richard conjured a golden flame from the Miracle Furnace, igniting it at his fingertips.

In the next moment, the entire Secret Realm trembled violently.

"My lord, quickly put away that flame!"