Chapter 500: The Secret in Amber

The spirit bug amber still glowed with a golden hue, incredibly beautiful.

However, in the eyes of Cris Truth, it held another layer of beauty: "Viscount, what do you think spirits really are?"

"I've spoken with Granny Truth, and she explained to me the triangular connection between spirit, matter, and magic," Liszt pondered before replying, "I somewhat agree with her understanding that the combination of matter and magic, under specific conditions, creates individual spirit."

"Are you saying that spirits are the result of an unintentional combination between plants and magic, creating spirit and thus giving life to an individual?"

"I believe that whether it's spirits or dragons, they all originate from this," Liszt explained earnestly, as he himself was currently raising a Fire Dragon, giving him a profound understanding of this, "I don't know exactly how spirit comes to be, but I think everything begins with a seed."

"A seed?"

"Plants begin with a seed, sprouting into a flower or a tall tree. Spirits are also grown from a seed, and the birth of dragons, which no one has clearly explained, might also come from a seed. Moreover, humans are also grown from a seed."

Cris was surprised: "How can humans be a seed?"

"This involves human biology... Let me use a frog as an example. Have you seen the eggs laid by frogs in the fields? In fact, those eggs are the creation of both male and female frogs, each egg is a seed, which can turn into a tadpole and then grow into a frog."

Cris frowned, and after a while replied, "Sorry, Viscount, I haven't seen frog eggs."

"Ah."

Liszt smiled awkwardly: "Then you've seen a hen lay eggs, right? In fact, an egg can also be seen as a seed, an ordinary egg is said to have no 'spirit', no soul. This is the same as a plant's seed, but during the nurturing process, it eventually possesses a soul, which must be caused by some way of generating spirit."

"Is it the same for humans?" Cris asked humbly, as she had long discovered that the young noble lord she was attached to had knowledge in certain areas that even surpassed that of a great magician.

"It's the same for humans, but humans are developed in their mother's womb, which is born live. Animals like cows, horses, and sheep are also born live. In fact, no matter what animal or human, they all start as a seed, just basic matter, and the spiritual power is acquired later."

Liszt tried to explain the origin of life as concisely as possible to Cris.

After relating this explanation to spirits and dragons, not only did Cris not understand the relationship between seeds and spirits or dragons, but Liszt himself also became confused, feeling that there really was no connection.

So he decisively switched topics: "You were just asking me what spirits really are, right?"

"Yes."

"I think spirits are a very magical magical creature."

Cris smiled, not sure if she understood Liszt's subtle humor, and began to explain her own understanding: "When I was studying amber, I found that the magic structure wrapped inside the amber is actually a magic circle. And the reason the spirit bug inside still has a magical response is because its magic circle hasn't collapsed."

"A magic circle?"

"Yes, so I think spirits are a special kind of magic circle. Understanding this magic circle allows one to use it to achieve the same magic effects as spirits."

Liszt immediately became interested: "So have you understood it?"

"Sorry, I can't understand... The complexity of the magic circle that constitutes the spirit bug is beyond my comprehension. I think even a mage might not be able to unravel such a complex magic circle. The complex magic circle that a great magician needs to master is already complex enough, and the spirit bug's magic circle is infinitely more complex than that."

"So what use is this amber, and what help does it offer you?"

"This amber might be designed into a magical device alternative to cordyceps, but I don't know how to design it... As for its help to me, inspiring my understanding of magic circles is the greatest help." Cris paused, then said solemnly, "Viscount, I plan to retreat for a few days, trying to advance to the level of a great magician."

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"Not for now."

"Alright, hold onto the spirit bug amber for now, it may provide you with some inspiration when you try to advance to the level of a great magician."

"Thank you."

Cris finally began her journey to become a great magician.

Meanwhile, the tofu development project assigned by the Smoke Mission had yet to yield any results.

Liszt didn’t have much work to do at the moment, but his days were still very fulfilling, so much so that he was busy from morning till night.

Training dogs, honing his skills, and feeding the Fire Drake occupied most of his daily time.

The Fire Dragon's magic power was dwindling day by day, and the volcanic glass mined on Black Horse Island was nearly depleted. The Mini Charmander was growing robustly, eating and drinking its fill before immediately falling into a deep sleep, while continuously excreting impure magic power, helping Liszt's Dragon Aura grow steadily.

The advanced mana manual, *Crimson Sunflare Surge*, was coming along smoothly. Every day, Liszt would soar through the sky, while also pushing the land bird, Loki, to fly.

Loki had stopped growing, clearly indicating that the effects of the bloodline fruit had been fully released, and its abilities had improved significantly.

Based on the loss of magic power, it was now on par with Hiddleston, becoming an intermediate dragon beast.

However, it still only knew the Lightness Technique as its sole magic, and its growing wings were still useless, as it still couldn’t fly.

After returning from his training that day, Liszt followed his usual routine and walked through the glass greenhouse. He loosened the soil, pulled out weeds, and patiently waited for the Potion Seeds to sprout. However, after a week and a half since planting, the Potion Seeds still hadn’t sprouted, and he was losing hope they would survive.

Instead, studying the Sun Script books gave him new ideas.

"The Children of the Sun seem similar to the elves from Western Earth legends—those tall, handsome, forest-dwelling elves who are skilled in archery."

But then he thought of Old Phil, a descendant of the Sun, who didn’t exactly fit the image of beauty.

Then it occurred to him.

The continent where the Children of the Sun lived was probably on the other side of the Devil Sea.

However, the wreckage of the Sky Ship had sunk near Black Horse Island, having already crossed the Devil Sea and the Azure Wave Sea. This indicated that the continent on the other side and the continent he was on had interacted long ago, and the fact that descendants of the Sun could be exiled to the Sapphire Duchy was further evidence.

"Thousands of years ago, there was a human kingdom called the Moon Empire, and on the opposite continent, there was a group of Children of the Sun. One named Moon, the other Sun—could there be some connection? Was the Sky Ship a tool for communication between the different human races of the two continents?"

There was too little information.

He couldn’t draw any solid conclusions.

He lowered his head and continued weeding the soil in the glass greenhouse. The Potion Seeds hadn’t sprouted, but all sorts of weeds were eagerly sprouting instead.

Just then, as his small shovel dug up a weed, he suddenly noticed that beneath the loosened soil, a Potion Seed had been pushed up. The seed had already split open, and a pale green sprout had emerged, lifting it from the soil to the surface, almost ready to break through.

"The Potion Seed has sprouted!"