Wizard: Building a Cultivation Family from Scratch

Gordon knew all this, but it was precisely because the mine had never received much attention that it was so valuable.

After all, if the effects of the "Primordial Stone" were widely accepted by wizards in this world, then it wouldn't be the Roland family that would be doing so now.

Gordon didn't explain further, but instead said:

"Bring me the map of the Hoover family's former territory."

Orianna was prepared. She quickly pulled out a roll of parchment and carefully spread it out on the desk.

As Gordon said, this is a simplified map of the Hoover family’s former territory.

It marks the locations of a series of important places, such as castles, villages, roads, rivers, and mills.

Orianna pointed to the north side of the map and said:

"This is the location of the mixed crystal mine."

Gordon followed her finger and saw that the mine was located on the northern edge of Blackwater Valley, quite a distance from the Roland family's castle, and not even very close to the Hoover family's castle.

There are only two small villages and an old road leading to the mountains around the mine.

Geographically speaking, it was not particularly convenient, which explains why Baron Hoover did not allocate more manpower to it.

However, from a security and privacy perspective, this is extremely suitable.

Gordon nodded in satisfaction and continued looking at the map, asking:

What are the associated buildings in this mine?

"building?"

Oriana paused for a moment, somewhat not understanding what the other person meant.

However, she quickly looked down and flipped through the account books, then, referring to the map, said:

"Besides a few places for workers to rest, there is also an abandoned workshop."

"An abandoned workshop?"

Orianna nodded:

"Yes. It seems that more than a decade ago, Baron Hoover invited several mineralogists, as well as a wizard apprentice from the Red Keep School who was skilled in alchemy, to study mixed crystal minerals."

It is likely that Baron Hoover was not satisfied with simply selling ore, but wanted to extract something of greater value from it... Therefore, they built a small workshop next to the mine to screen ore and store samples.

However, the wizard apprentice later concluded that the mixed crystals weren't particularly valuable, so Baron Hoover stopped investing in them, and the workshop gradually fell into disrepair.

Gordon was pleasantly surprised by Oriana's words.

He was originally struggling with where to use the opportunity to upgrade the family buildings.

Now it seems the answer is right in front of us—this abandoned workshop is the perfect natural setting.

To the outside world, it can continue to exist under the name of a mining workshop, so that even if someone discovers in the future that the Roland family is processing mixed crystals there, it will not seem too abrupt.

Internally, however, it could become the Roland family's first true "cultivation stronghold".

  

Benefiting from its proximity to the mixed crystal mine, Gordon could easily transform it into a dedicated location for crafting artifacts, processing spirit stones, and creating even more enchanted equipment.

Thinking of this, Gordon slowly leaned back in his chair and said:

"From now on, do not allow anyone to access that mine."

Gordon said, "The Hoover family's castles, estates, mills, and other such things can be handed over through normal procedures, but the mine must be handled by me separately."

Orianna paused for a moment, then nodded emphatically:

"I understand. Ancestor, what should we do next?"

Gordon looked at the map, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"Tomorrow morning, let's take Granger and a few reliable members of the Blackwater Knights and go to this mixed crystal mine ourselves."

……

The next morning, the entire Blackwater Valley was shrouded in a thin layer of white mist. The damp mist rose slowly from the depths of the valley, spreading along the hillsides and woodlands, making the distant roads indistinct.

Outside the Roland family's castle, a small team was ready to go.

Today, Orianna was dressed in a black hunting outfit suitable for riding, her smooth golden hair tied into a ponytail hanging down her back, and she wore a thick cloak over it. At her waist hung a basic magic weapon infused with two layers of [Breakthrough] restrictions.

This artifact was not made by Gordon, but by Orianna herself.

Over the past period of time, Orianna has not only raised her own realm to the third level of Qi Refining with the guidance of Gordon and the superior cultivation technique "Tai Xu Yang Ling Jing".

At the same time, thanks to his special destiny of being able to "understand ten things from one," he successfully mastered the basic knowledge of the cultivation technique of "weapon refining."

Even without Gordon's help, Orianna can now reliably craft magical artifacts on her own.

Behind Orianna was Granger, the old knight riding a tall gray warhorse.

Since the Roland family began expanding their army, the old knight has hardly had a good night's sleep.

After all, he is the best candidate to train newly recruited soldiers in the entire Roland family.

Furthermore, with the addition of several new extraordinary knights, a high-ranking knight like the old knight Granger is needed to keep them in check; otherwise, Orianna alone would definitely not be able to control those guys.

However, even so, the old knight showed no signs of fatigue.

Because he knew very well that the Roland family was currently reviving thanks to the mysterious knight's support.

But it is precisely at times like these that danger often arises.

After all, rapid expansion will inevitably attract attention from the outside world, and a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Moreover, Granger still had no idea what to do with the mysterious knight named Gordon Valentine.

He found it hard to imagine why such a mysterious and powerful figure who could use witchcraft would come to this remote and impoverished place to support the Roland family, and why Oriana would trust him so much...

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at the tall figure at the very front of the group, whose entire body was encased in silver-white knight armor.

Gordon was riding on horseback, a black cloak draped over his armor, and a wide hood covering most of his helmet.

After a period of adjustment, he has gradually gotten used to appearing in front of outsiders in this way.

At least to outsiders, he is now just a silent, powerful, and mysterious family knight, not a skeleton that crawled out of the graveyard.

Aside from the three of them, the entire team consisted of only three other members of the Blackwater Knights and a few guides familiar with the roads of the Hoover family's old territory.

After all, the official purpose of this trip to the mixed crystal mine was simply to inspect the minerals transferred by the Hoover family. If the scale of the operation was too large, it would easily arouse suspicion.

Looking at the azure sky and the people around her who had stopped what they were doing and looked up at her, Orianna suddenly felt a strange emotion.

Once upon a time, she, along with many playmates, would play, chase, and frolic in this open space in front of the castle.

But in the blink of an eye, he had become the nominal lord of the entire Blackwater Valley, and even a superhuman capable of crafting enchanted equipment...

The difference was significant, yet it captivated her greatly.

Thinking of this, Oriana straightened up and looked at the winding path that led into the distance.

Then, she took a deep breath and ordered, "Let's go."