A spacious study.
The bright candlelight flickered slightly, casting long shadows on the walls.
Sunan sat behind the desk, engrossed in reading the "Extraction and Transformation of Green Chameleon Abilities" in his hand.
The chameleon is named so because it can change its body color anytime according to environmental changes.
This physiological change is mainly completed through the regulation of the plant nervous system, expanding or contracting the pigment cells in the skin.
And Green Chameleon's color-changing ability is several levels stronger than ordinary chameleons, almost invisible.
Even standing in front of an ordinary person, it is difficult to observe with the naked eye.
The author of this book extracts the Green Chameleon's color-changing ability for modification and enhancement, then transplants it onto humans, enabling them to acquire similar abilities.
It has to be said, this idea is quite imaginative.
However, in Sunan's opinion, the practical level of the modified ability is really not high.
Firstly, this ability in essence is merely changing the external form based on the environment, and no matter how fast the change process is, it requires time, inevitably leading to slight latency.
People with less sensitive perception might not notice, but Wizard Apprentices will definitely detect anomalies.
After all, this ability is only applicable against ordinary people or Knights, and of no use at all to Wizard Apprentices, with quite a gap compared to true invisibility.
And true Invisibility Skill is Tier Two Magic, which Level 3 Wizard Apprentices can learn and master.
Hence, only those with no hope of advancing to Level 3 Wizard Apprentice will attempt this ability modification.
Moreover, physical modification is not something that can be carried out casually.
The human body is one of the most malleable bodies—after all, many wizard physical modification experiments use human bodies as samples—once undergoing physical modification, if later encountering better physical modifications or blood fusion, trying again will become exceedingly difficult.
Thus, many wizards (apprentices) do not mind modifying themselves, but they proceed with great caution.
If Sunan were to choose, he definitely wouldn't modify himself with such a color-changing ability.
Nonetheless, this book still holds considerable reference value for similar experiments in the future.
Putting away the book, Sunan took out the energy rune parchment scroll, unfurled it flat on the table.
Pausing, he opened the drawer and took out a few gemstones placing them on the table.
The reason why Energy Runes require Level 3 Wizard Apprentice to cast is that it is completely composed of energy particles, demanding extremely stringent control over energy particles from the caster.
Level 1 Wizard Apprentices who can only sense energy particles, as well as Level 2 Wizard Apprentices who only have preliminary control ability, naturally cannot use it.
However, if an energy rune is given a carrier, enhancing its stability, then even Level 2 Wizard Apprentices with poor energy particle control ability can use energy runes.
Many players in the past relied on this method to cross levels and use energy runes.
Suitable carriers for energy runes are few, and gemstones are one of them.
"But in this way, energy runes become one-time consumables, consuming a gemstone each time used, enough to feel a pinch."
Sunan picked up a gemstone, scrutinizing it under the candlelight.
That being said, if mastering a powerful combat technique means consuming some gemstones, it's worth it.
Even Count Storm was critically wounded near-death by an assassin, this world is far more dangerous than he anticipated.
To ensure his safety, it's better to have more combat techniques.
"First, read and master this technique, then immediately create energy rune gemstones after advancing to Level 2 Wizard Apprentice!"
Having made a decision, Sunan immediately focused his mind, concentrating on reading the content on the scroll.
...
Time flies.
Five days later.
The learning progress of Puppet Refining finally reached 100%.
Simultaneously, a Puppet Refining skill appeared on Sunan's panel.
At the laboratory door, Sunan looked at the room's complete set of brand-new puppet refining equipment, nodding silently.
After returning from Black Stone Mine, he had copied the equipment design drawings, letting the town's blacksmith help forge the equipment.
A few days ago, the equipment was already completed and delivered to the laboratory.
Today, having smoothly mastered the Puppet Refining skill, he could start attempting to refine the Black Rock Leopard.
Ninety percent of the Black Rock Leopard's body is Black Stone Iron, which is one of the main materials.
Another key material is the energy core.
In this regard, Sunan chose gemstones as the energy core.
After all, he doesn't possess soul crystals nor has the skill to create them.
Even if he did, he couldn't make them now.
Soul crystals, as the name implies, are crystals formed by condensed souls.
Their raw materials are purified souls.
To make a lowest-grade soul crystal, at least thousands of ordinary human souls are needed.
Or dozens of Knight souls.
In any case, Sunan can't achieve this at present.
He could only use gemstones as the energy core as a compromise.
With complete experimental records and skills already mastered, Sunan successfully refined a Black Rock Leopard on his first attempt.
Unexpectedly, the Black Rock Leopard could be placed in the synthesis magic cube.
[Black Rock Leopard (Puppet/Junior Knight Level), a puppet creation made from Black Stone Iron, capable of stealth within the Black Stone Iron vein, can supplement energy and recover injuries through swallowing Black Stone Iron.]
"It seems non-living objects can all be used for synthesis and upgrades using the magic cube."
Sunan nodded silently.
This way, he could use the Black Rock Leopard to synthesize more powerful puppets.
As for the description's 'ability to stealth within Black Stone Iron veins', Sunan had seen it in Anger MacLaine's experimental diary before.
Originally, it had disappointed him, as he had always thought Black Rock Leopard had a rock-like stealth ability.
"True enough, if it did have rock stealth ability, then it wouldn't just be a low-tier puppet."
Shaking his head, Sunan looked at the leftover Black Stone Iron in the corner.
"To refine one Black Rock Leopard requires about five tons of Black Stone Iron, and gemstones can be chosen from cheaper types, the total cost comes to about thirty-eight Gold Coins."
So much money could buy two or three quality warhorses.
Yet considering combat effectiveness, obviously, the Black Rock Leopard is more cost-effective.
"Forget it, I'll leave the money issue to my brother to worry about; I'll just focus on refining puppets."
High-tier puppets can automatically absorb energy particles in the air to supplement energy and heal injuries, but the Black Rock Leopard evidently does not have this ability, hence it can only achieve similar effects by swallowing Black Stone Iron.
However, given the current energy particle density in Starlight Continent, Sunan reckons even if he manages to refine a high-tier puppet, it probably won't be able to absorb sufficient energy particles from the air.