Chapter 61: Clay Golem
Jorton was very efficient, delivering the materials Su Nan needed the next day.
Su Nan immediately had the workers move the materials to the temporary laboratory that had been built, and then set about preparing to create the first golem.
The main material for a clay golem is clay – a type of soil with very little sand, but high in clay content, making it difficult for water to pass through. It also has good plasticity.
To create a clay golem requires approximately 0.5 tons of clay, plus a small amount of silver, crystal, and most importantly, a soul core.
The lowest level clay golems can use gems as soul cores, but this results in golems with extremely low intelligence, capable of performing only simple tasks.
For example, cleaning an area, carrying things, or hitting someone.
In his previous life, Su Nan had created many clay golems. Now, revisiting his old craft, he quickly became familiar with the process.
After half an hour, a clay body about 2.5 meters tall had appeared on the wide workbench.
The clay golem’s chest was still open, revealing the complex magical inscriptions inside.
Su Nan placed the engraved gem inside, then closed the cavity and began to chant the spell.
The final step in creating a golem is to activate it, to give it life.
As the spell echoed, the surrounding energy particles suddenly became active, gathering from all directions at incredible speed, rushing into the clay golem’s body.
Elemental magic from the earth vein node flowed in as well.
Under the influx of energy, the clay golem’s body gradually changed. A vitality completely different from that of a flesh-and-blood life form was being born and growing within the clay body.
The whole process lasted for over ten minutes.
Then the magic gradually subsided, and the energy particles gradually returned to calm.
Sussus!
The clay golem on the workbench suddenly moved. Then its large, sturdy body sat up, its stiff face staring blankly at Su Nan.
“It’s done.”
Su Nan’s face lit up with joy, pointing to a box nearby.
“Move the box outside.”
“Yes, master.”
The clay golem responded with a dull voice, then jumped down to the ground with a thud.
Its movements were slightly clumsy, but it quickly adapted and moved the heavy box outside with ease.
Su Nan nodded silently.
Clay golems were very useful laborers. They were also very energy-efficient.
A full charge would allow them to work for four or five days straight.
When their energy was nearly depleted, they could be quickly recharged by entering the earth vein node’s connection formation.
The best workhorses you could ask for!
“The most expensive material in making a clay golem is the gem. The clay, the small amount of silver, bronze, and crystal, are all worth very little.”
“The cost of making a clay golem is only about ten gold coins. In the long run, it’s more cost-effective and more efficient than hiring workers.”
Su Nan immediately decided to create ten clay golems in the next two days to complete the construction of the base as soon as possible.
As for iron golems, he would wait until the puppet factory was built to manufacture them.
After all, metal golems require higher technical skill and equipment.
Clay golems, on the other hand, can be created with a simple workbench.
Time flew by, and it entered the month of Revival.
The snow melted, and the fields began to show a hint of springtime greenery.
With the addition of 10 clay golems to the project, the construction speed of the base increased dramatically.
Heavy stones that required the combined efforts of several workers to carry could be moved by a single clay golem, leaving the illiterate workers dumbfounded. �
Kei came to visit several times. After witnessing the work process of the clay golems, his eyes lit up.
“These things are natural pack animals!”
Kei immediately began to think about forming a clay golem pack animal corps.
Even after learning that the cost of a clay golem was over ten gold coins, he didn’t give up.
“No matter how expensive these things are, they’re not as expensive as the Blackrock Cavalry Corps. But their improvement to logistical capabilities is revolutionary.”
“If we use these things to form a pack animal corps, the logistical pressure during battles will definitely be greatly reduced!”
Su Nan, unable to escape Kei’s persistence, agreed to supply him with a batch of clay golems after the base’s manpower needs were met.
It’s worth mentioning that after taking back Shining Light Territory, Kei immediately stopped the external supply of Blackstone Iron due to the significant increase in the territory’s income.
The Blackstone Iron produced in the Blackstone Mine Area was only supplied internally to Shining Light Territory, to arm the army and expand the Blackrock Cavalry Corps.
Expanding military power was still the top priority for Shining Light Territory.
After all, there was still a Duke Goldrock on the border, eyeing them greedily.
To expand the Blackrock Cavalry Corps, the first problem they faced was that the supply of lower-grade dragon blood potion couldn’t keep up.
Shining Light Territory only had 60 or 70 Black Scale Lizardfolk captives, and the amount of blood that could be extracted each month was limited.
The resulting amount of lower-grade dragon blood potion was far from enough to support the rapid expansion of the Blackrock Cavalry Corps.
Kei worried about this constantly and had discussed it with Su Nan several times.
Su Nan had also considered many solutions to this problem.
For example, extracting blood from the Infiltrator Dragon.
The Infiltrator Dragon’s bloodline concentration was far higher than that of ordinary Black Scale Lizardfolk.
It alone could provide more blood materials each month than the entire group of Black Scale Lizardfolk captives.
However, after much thought, Su Nan ultimately rejected this idea.
If he continued to extract blood from the Infiltrator Dragon, it would inevitably greatly reduce its bloodline concentration enhancement speed.
This was unacceptable to Su Nan.
Helping the territory grow was important, but his own strength improvement was equally crucial.
Ho Chi’s appearance had served as a reminder.
Although the current Starlight Continent was an Elemental Desert, there were many hidden powerful individuals.
A mere one-ring legendary knight like Ho Chi had forced Su Nan to consume nearly thirty rune gems to eliminate him. If a more powerful enemy appeared, he might not even be able to escape.
Therefore, for his own safety, his strength improvement could not be slowed down!
After careful consideration, Su Nan finally came up with a feasible solution.
That was to find a substitute for lower-grade dragon blood potion!
Considering the future expansion of the Blackrock Cavalry Corps, this substitute must be able to be mass-produced and also be inexpensive.
This ruled out potions.
After much thought, Su Nan finally set his sights on magical plants.
Although there were no magical plants in his memory that met his criteria, that was fine. If they didn’t exist, he would cultivate them himself.
With the Synthetic Magic Cube in his possession, he had a natural advantage over other wizard apprentices in cultivating new magical plants.
“I already have some ideas about the potion. Give me some time, and I’ll figure out a way to solve it,” Su Nan said.
Kei had great trust in his younger brother. Upon hearing this, his expression immediately relaxed.
Then, Kei suddenly remembered something and asked Su Nan, “You said before that you wanted to recruit apprentices from the territory. What’s that about?”
“After this place is built, there will be many places that require specialized personnel to maintain. I plan to train them myself and see if I can find some potential wizard apprentices.”
Hearing the last sentence, Kei immediately perked up.
Blackstone City had been able to rapidly develop and ultimately retake Shining Light Territory because of Su Nan, a wizard apprentice.
Facts had proven how important a wizard apprentice was to the development of a territory.
If the territory could produce a few more wizard apprentices, that would be a tremendous blessing!
Thinking of this, Kei immediately patted his chest and promised to handle everything for Su Nan, ensuring it would be done perfectly.