"First of all, regarding myself, you can consider me as a basic intelligence that has originated from an artifact."
The Transformer began to explain:
"Additionally, I need to gain soul energy by killing creatures to recharge, which is also why that persona had been running a robbery gang in Lizard Alley."
Ron nodded, which was in line with his speculation.
"Because regular hibernation is necessary, and maintaining a mercenary team also requires significant funding."
The Transformer continued: "Therefore, my savings are not much, totaling only ten complete magic stones. Now, they are all yours."
An unexpected fortune of ten magic stones! It was enough to make him overjoyed.
The Transformer pointed to the storage chest Ron had brought back earlier:
"Besides the magic stones, there’s a special item you can use."
Curiously, Ron opened the storage box capable of fully isolating the magical energy fluctuations of objects, inside which lay a piece of deep silver-gray metal about the size of a palm.
"What is this?"
Ron carefully picked up the metal block, feeling the mysterious energy contained within.
"Soul Steel." The mechanical voice of the Transformer carried a hint of awe:
"An extremely rare extraordinary material, weapons forged with it possess remarkable malleability, able to freely change shape according to the holder’s needs."
Ron’s eyes widened: "How valuable is it?"
"Difficult to measure." The Transformer replied:
"In the Dwarf City-States Alliance, this piece of Soul Steel could buy a city. Even using magic stones as a unit of measurement, it’s hard to accurately price."
Ron carefully placed the Soul Steel back into the storage box, already contemplating how to utilize this precious material.
"Furthermore, regarding the Sands of Time." The Transformer continued:
"They are indeed the key material to activating the Time Guardian Pocket Watch. But real Sands of Time are extremely rare and can only form in areas where the flow of time is abnormal."
"And the small bottle I gave you was collected over many years. It’s enough for preliminary experiments, but to fully activate the pocket watch, more will likely be needed."
Ron carefully returned the Soul Steel to the storage box, his thoughts turning to the issue of the Sands of Time.
He gazed at the small bottle of golden sand grains that shimmered with a strange light, his mind flooded with countless questions.
"I have many questions about the Sands of Time. First, how do they actually form?"
The Transformer seemed to anticipate this question:
"This question involves some information you might have heard."
"Did you recently hear about the ’Bloodline Altar’?"
Ron’s eyebrow raised, not expecting the Transformer to bring this up:
"I have heard of it. It’s said to be a mysterious place situated in an exotic realm crevice around here."
"It’s not just a mysterious place."
The Transformer’s mechanical voice deepened:
"The Bloodline Altar is actually a time projection of some ancient world, a fragment of history that has been solidified. And the Sands of Time are time traces formed in such a special environment."
Ron’s eyes lit up: "Are you saying these Sands of Time were obtained from the Bloodline Altar?"
"Precisely, each time the Crystal Tower and Black Mist School open the Bloodline Altar, the previous persona would secretly send subordinates to try to collect the time fragments scattered during the opening process."
Its mechanical voice carried a hint of helplessness:
"But it is by no means an easy task. Each operation consumes considerable manpower, and the harvest is extremely limited. The small bottle of Sands of Time in your hand is the entire accumulation over the past decades."
Ron thoughtfully observed the golden sand grains in the bottle.
Under the light, they presented a flowing texture, as if each grain encapsulated countless minute time fragments.
"What exactly is the situation with this Bloodline Altar? Can you describe it in detail?"
The Transformer expressed regret:
"Regrettably, I know little about the specifics of the altar. As a rare antique, I am confined to a small area around Lizard Alley, unable to personally visit that exotic realm crevice."
"I can only rely on descriptions from the subordinates who occasionally escaped back, and..."
The Transformer paused: "And that horrifying aura that spreads here each time the altar is opened."
"Horrifying aura?" Ron keenly picked up on the term.
The Transformer’s form seemed to tremble slightly:
"It is an overwhelming pressure that can make all living beings tremble. Even at a great distance, it still makes me instinctively fearful... That is the aura belonging to a Dark Sun Level Wizard."
A trace of doubt flashed in Ron’s eyes: "Dark Sun Level? I’ve never heard of such a classification."
"That is the tier division beyond Official Wizard."
The Transformer explained: "According to the increasing order of power, they are Morning Star Level, Moon Level, Dark Sun Level, and further up is the domain of the legendary Great Wizard, which is beyond my understanding."
Ron silently absorbed this information, his understanding of the Extraordinary World deepening once more.
"The strongest in the Black Mist School is only the Deputy Dean, who is said to have reached the Moon Level."
The Transformer continued to add: "And every time the Crystal Tower sends a Dark Sun Level Wizard to personally lead an expedition to the Bloodline Altar."
"Just how destructive is a Dark Sun Level?" Ron couldn’t help but ask.
"Judging purely by destructive power, a Dark Sun Level Wizard using Super Magic Techniques could easily evaporate the sea within a near-thousand-mile radius, or directly sink a medium-sized landmass."
The Transformer’s voice carried a hint of awe:
"If that Dark Sun Level Wizard from the Crystal Tower truly exerted all their power, this region containing the Human Kingdom and many alien race territories would likely turn to ashes in an instant."