Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

Richard took the card and left after expressing his gratitude.

With the knowledge from the Pioneer Civilization, he indeed had an interest in exploring the path of physical enhancement. Since the Garon Club wasn't a society, he could consider joining.

Back at his wizard tower, Richard immediately began preparing for bloodline alchemy.

He purified the bloodlines, drew the alchemical array, and prepared the nutrient potions.

After finishing the preparations, Richard took out the bloodline for his third alchemical attempt.

This bloodline was from the Nethermare, a creature extinct in the wizard world but still surviving in small numbers in other planes, albeit as hybrids.

The Nethermare possessed the ability known as Shadow Traversal, allowing it to traverse within shadows over a limited range, akin to a restricted form of short-distance spatial jump.

Placing the purified bloodline onto the alchemical array over his heart, Richard prepared for the fusion.

This time, however, the fusion process felt surprisingly mild.

Richard only felt a slight warmth in his chest, followed by a comforting flow spreading through his body. Although his mana was significantly depleted during the process, he experienced no major reactions overall.

"Is it because my physique is too high? Or perhaps the Body Adaptation has developed my life core?"

Once the fusion ended, Richard activated the bloodline.

With a thought, he instantly appeared in a shadowed corner of his lab.

"Impressive ability," Richard said with satisfaction.

The mana cost for this ability wasn't too high, roughly equivalent to casting a Heart of Annihilation, yet its effect was remarkable.

Though Shadow Traversal had limitations, its minimal magical disturbance made it invaluable both on the battlefield and in executing covert missions.

After completing his third alchemical bloodline infusion, Richard wasted no time and proceeded with preparations for his final bloodline alchemy.

The final bloodline was from the Magic Dwarf, a creature without particularly special abilities but known for its sheer strength and high resistance.

Magic Dwarves had strong resistances against various elemental and physical damages, as well as toxins. Upon reaching adulthood, these resistances would undergo a qualitative leap.

Had wizards not emerged, Magic Dwarves might have become the premier race beneath dragons.

Unfortunately, the wizard's rise relegated them to a slave race under wizard dominion.

For this bloodline fusion, Richard again experienced no intense reactions.

The fourth bloodline alchemy was at a wizard's level, which should have produced some reaction. The absence of such suggested that the diminishing fusion reactions were likely tied to his Body Adaptation developing his life core.

The development of the life core allowed his cells to more readily accept foreign bloodlines.

Feeling the surging power within him, Richard suddenly felt an urge to fight.

"Is this the battle impulse? No wonder the Garon Club built an arena."

Taking a deep breath, Richard suppressed the urge. As a wizard, he had to restrain his primitive instincts and let reason guide his actions.

This was a key distinction between wizards and native races.

With the completion of his four bloodline alchemies, Richard had fully realized the Black Knight bloodline alchemy formula he had obtained from the ciphered notes.

However, Richard did not intend to stop his exploration of bloodlines there.

The knowledge from the Pioneer Civilization gave him a deeper understanding of bloodlines, prompting him to plan an upgrade of the Black Knight bloodline formula.

While physical evolution and spiritual evolution each had their merits, powerful creatures often needed only time to naturally reach a third-tier existence—such as the dragons Richard had encountered. For wizards with less innate bloodline strength, physical evolution provided the benefit of avoiding the soul's dark night during ascension.

In contrast, spiritual evolution required wizards to endure a soul's dark night with each ascension.

However, the downside of physical evolution was evident in its slow pace and the significantly higher difficulty of breaking through bottlenecks compared to spiritual evolution.

Within the wizarding community, spiritual evolution was the mainstream method of ascension. Based on Richard's personal experience, he also leaned towards spiritual evolution.

Yet, if physical evolution could precede one's development, no wizard would willingly face a soul's dark night.

...

Boom! Boom! Boom...

In the arena, two grotesquely transformed wizards were brawling.

In the stands, wizards of various shapes and forms cheered them on excitedly.

"That's it! El, use your Oscillation Fist!"

"Bazak, where's your Gale Spike? Use it!"

"Dodge left, dodge left! Oh no!"

Walking among these wizards, Richard felt a sense of bewilderment.

Were these truly wizards?

They seemed no different from ordinary people.

By this time, twenty years had passed since Richard completed his bloodline alchemy. During these two decades, Richard focused on studying alchemical machinery and the knowledge left by the Pioneers.

The insights from the Pioneer knowledge greatly inspired Richard, leading him to develop a wizardry known as Combat Liberation, in conjunction with Body Adaptation.

This spell was still in its infancy, designed to forcibly accelerate physical evolution by subjecting the body to combat stress and magical stimulation, thereby enhancing physical growth.

This was why Richard had come to the arena, intending to join the Garon Club.

Passing through the audience, Richard found the bald wizard in a white robe who had given him the card.

"Jimmy, are these wizards all members of the club?"

Jimmy took the card Richard handed over and patted the seat beside him.

"Sit down, friend! Let's talk after this match ends."

In the arena, a wizard clad in scales and wielding mantis-like scythes as arms roared, his flesh swelling to become a three-meter-tall scaled giant.

Opposite him, a golden-maned, four-armed lion-headed wizard was not to be outdone, releasing a dense blood mist as his body expanded.

The arena's atmosphere reached a fever pitch, with demi-human slaves carrying silver trays through the stands as wizards tossed magic stones onto them, loudly cheering for their favored gladiator.

Richard frowned.

"Is this gambling?"

"Go! Go... What did you say?" Jimmy turned to Richard.

"I asked if this is gambling—betting on which of them will win."

"Of course!"

As they spoke, the two behemoths in the arena collided.

The scaled giant surged with mana, and even the slight magical fluctuations stirred elemental breezes within the arena. The golden-maned giant was even more outrageous, his four arms crackling with runes and wrapped in thick purple lightning, resembling a thunder god incarnate.

Boom!

The scaled giant was sent flying, twin charred holes in his abdomen. Meanwhile, the golden-maned giant had only two arms left!

His arms that clashed with the scaled giant had been blasted into a mist of blood!

Jimmy floated from the stands into the arena, announcing the match's result to the audience.

"I declare! Bazak is the winner of this duel!"

"Oh! Bazak! Bazak! Bazak..."

The wizards in the stands erupted in cheers, some so enthusiastic that they cast spells in celebration.

Sitting among them, Richard felt somewhat out of place.

Half an hour later, the arena returned to its usual quiet.

Jimmy sat beside Richard in the stands.

"So, what do you think of the duel?"

"From a combat perspective..." Richard recalled the scenes of the gladiators' battle. "It was impressive. Their mastery over mana and flesh is far beyond mine.

But there's something I don't quite understand."

"Go on."

"Why make the battle public? It seems like the wizards have become performers for others," Richard frowned.

"Why not?" Jimmy countered. "The audience is all wizards too—who's more noble than whom?

Some prefer the thrill of secretive truth-seeking, while others relish the spotlight.

It's all about personal preference.

Besides, gladiators need treatment, and the arena needs maintenance. Those all require magic stones. The club members can't cover all those costs themselves."

Richard was left speechless, pondering for a moment before asking:

"Do all club members have to participate in the matches?"

Jimmy laughed, shaking his head. "Of course not. As I said, some like the secretive pursuit of knowledge."

Then, he shifted the topic.

"So, are you interested in joining the club?"

"I intend to."

"Let's have a match," Jimmy's eyes lit up.

Richard was taken aback. Why a match all of a sudden?

Jimmy floated into the arena. "A match will help me gauge your level so I can match you with opponents of similar strength within the club."

With that, Jimmy unleashed an impressive wave of mana. If Richard's senses were accurate, Jimmy was a third-circle wizard.

"Come on, the arena's empty now—just the two of us." Jimmy laughed, inviting.

Seeing this, Richard didn't hesitate, leaping into the arena.

Jimmy shed his white robe, revealing a gleaming, muscular physique. With Jimmy's sunny smile, a word inexplicably popped into Richard's mind.

Philosophy.

Jimmy opened his arms, magical runes lighting up on his skin:

"Use all your strength, but stick to physical combat—no spells."

Richard took a deep breath, black scales emerging from his skin, covering his body in an instant.

After his four bloodline alchemies, the black scales could now withstand seventy energy-level attacks, their color deepened. Additionally, his bloodline transformation no longer involved bodily expansion but increased muscle density instead.

Richard speculated, somewhat maliciously, that this was due to the Magic Dwarf bloodline.

Regardless of the reason, the increased muscle density had indeed enhanced Richard's strength and agility.

Seeing Richard's transformation, the runes on Jimmy's body brightened.

As a third-circle wizard, Jimmy's extensive combat experience allowed him to estimate Richard's current strength.

Boom!

Richard's silhouette flickered, and a black fist appeared before Jimmy.

Jimmy didn't dodge, taking the punch squarely on his forehead.

"Impressive strength."

Jimmy adjusted his jaw, finding Richard's punch heavier than expected.

Seeing Jimmy so unfazed, Richard unleashed his full power, his right arm's muscles swelling as he threw another punch.

Boom!

The punch's speed surpassed the sound barrier.

The impact's shockwave whipped up a cloud of dust in the arena.

Boom, boom, boom!

Jimmy stepped back three times, leaving three deep footprints in the arena's magically reinforced floor.

As the dust settled, a dark bruise marked Jimmy's chest.

"Good punch. That was at least five hundred energy levels just with physical force. Your control over flesh is remarkable," Jimmy praised.

Richard stood in place, feeling every cell in his body cheer, his condition unparalleled.

This was a prime moment for evolution!

Taking a deep breath, Richard beckoned to Jimmy.

"Master, could you show me your strength?"