Other than the Warrior Enlightenment Potion's effect, Michael started to notice the effects a combination of specialized body refinement techniques, Energy Nourishing Pills, and Body Strengthening Pills had on his Summons.
The Archer's Agility and Dexterity increased as they completed the first stage of their body refinement technique. They grew more nimble and were able to release arrows much faster than before without affecting their accuracy.
The Knights, on the other hand, used body refinement techniques that enhanced their endurance and stamina to act as the guardian protecting everyone at the frontlines. Contrary to them, the Berserkers' focus was raw physical strength. As long as they could hit hard enough to eliminate their enemy with a single strike, nobody would be able to harm them!
After everyone had witnessed the potency of the Warrior Enlightenment Potions, and the effects of the Energy Nourishing Pill and the Body Strengthening Pill the demand for them increased drastically. Unfortunately, Michael couldn't find enough resources to supply every combatant with those precious medicines. In fact, most of his ingredients were still growing in the gardens. It would take a few more weeks before the ingredients were ripe and ready to be harvested.
"What's the easiest way to procure more seedlings, seeds, and ripe ingredients? They're overpriced back home…but if I want to nurture everyone before the Zentika Empire strikes, I'll have to accept the horrendous prices…" Michael mumbled to himself.
Michael didn't hear much about the Zentika Empire after the Lord Rift. However, that worried him more than occasional groups of Adventurers barging into the Untamed Jungle. He would have loved to encounter a bunch of Adventurers instead of the silence coming from the Zentika Empire.
One way or another, Michael was certain that Senator Keltos was unwilling to give up the Untamed Jungle. After the warfare with the Jungle Expedition, other Senators of the Zentika Empire's Council were likely to have found a new target in the Untamed Jungle. Some must consider Michael a lethal threat – or so Michael thought.
One way or another, it was a fact that Michael would encounter the forces of the Zentika Empire eventually. Therefore, he had to prepare himself and his people for the inevitable.
"How about I ask our Elders?" Lilica enquired.
She looked intently at him and locked eyes when he turned to her.
Lilica had heard what Michael mumbled to himself. Thus, she decided to offer her suggestion.
"You want me to ask the Forest Elves? That might actually work better than asking others. No. It will definitely work better," Michael responded, pondering over her words after Lilica pointed out the obvious.
Contrary to the human territories that were void of flourishing nature, every single inch of territory under the Forest Elven's control was related to nature, and its wonders.
"But would they be willing to trade rare ingredients with me? The Elders must be quite happy with the current trade, and it's not like I can give them the Spirit Armaments produced by the Relic of Draka in exchange to the rare ingredients," Michael pointed out, mostly to himself rather than Lilica.
However, Lilica didn't seem to be too worried about that.
"The Elders don't like owing favors, just like any Forest Elf. That means the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team still owes you something for the Soultraits you've given us. Unfortunately, it's hard to put a price-tag on Soultraits since it's the first time we heard that it's possible to harvest Soultraits the way you're doing. We cannot do that on our own, which means that they might be rather easy to procure for you, but they're invaluable for the entire Forest Elven Tribe," Lilica answered, indicating to Michael that they had not forgotten about the benefits they'd obtained from him.
She further added reassuringly, "Furthermore, the Elders feel that they're gaining much more than you from the exchange of Agriculture blueprint against Armaments. The blueprints they hand over have been stored for decades, if not centuries, and they're essentially useless to the Forest Elves. The Elders have been worrying about overcharging you, especially after we, the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team, gained new Soultraits for free. You didn't ask us to pay you for the Soultraits, after all."
Michael listened intently. He tilted his head a little and wondered if Lilica was twisting the truth in his favor to make him feel better.
'I gave you the Soultraits to strengthen you against the Jungle Expedition, and to ensure that you guys won't run away once the 50,000 members of the Jungle Expedition enter the Untamed Jungle.' Michael sighed inwardly.
It was good that Lilica considered him a good guy, but the reality was a little bit different. He had been in dire need of the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team's help at that time. Thus, he exposed his power and revealed additional Soultraits. Even if Lilica and her team had wanted to leave, the Forest Elven Elders would have held them back, forcing them to support Michael.
He knew the value of Extraction, and that the Forest Elven Tribe would want to make use of it after getting a glimpse of its power. That was only obvious.
If they could procure Extraction by killing him, they would have probably tried it already. To their misfortune, only Michael was able to extract Soultraits. Even the mythical treasures created by the Will of the Origin Expanse couldn't extract Soultraits. At least, Michael hadn't heard about anyone obtaining such a treasure yet.
"Either way, the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team still owes you something, and the Elders want to be of more help as well. I think you understand their intentions," Lilica said, throwing him a knowing gaze, "Either way, you should make use of it if you want to grow your forces rapidly. The Pills and Potion recipes we found in the Lord Rift are extraordinary, and we should make use of them as much as possible before it's too late."
Lilica's words warmed Michael's heart and he felt glad seeing that Lilica was not solely focused on the benefits she could provide her tribe, but also thought about Michael's territory. Lilica wanted his territory to prosper and develop. Michael had been noticing that for a while now. It was really nice to see.
"In that case, do you know what the Forest Elves need more than our Armaments? It might be nice to receive rare ingredients for a low price, but I doubt that anyone will be happy if I demand low rates for a long period. If I take rare ingredients in addition to agriculture blueprints in exchange for the same Armaments I will feel guilty, and the Elders will feel like slapping me in the near future," Michael said, looking at her with a small smile.
"The Elders will be happy to help you develop your territory faster. Developing your territory means that the Underground Forging Hall expands, after all. More blacksmiths with a higher star rating means that you'll trade high-level armaments of good quality with our tribe. We're in need of those armaments, much more than you can fathom," Lilica revealed, a trace of concern shining in her eyes.
Michael nodded. He was curious why the Forest Elven Tribe had so much trouble procuring Armaments, but Lilica and the other Forest Elves had never been willing to tell him more. All they said was that there were multiple reasons and that it required the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team to emerge far away from everyone else before the Forest Elven Tribe could start procuring Armaments made out of metal.
That had been bothering Michael for a long time now. He thought that their problems were related to potential enemies located all around the Forest Elven Tribe's territories. Michael was not certain about that but he imagined that the Forest Elven Tribe had many enemies around them, who were probably blocking their transactions with other races.
But then again, that was just a thought that had flashed through his mind one night. He couldn't be certain.
After Lilica offered to use the ingredients harvested in other Forest Elves' territories, they began to work out a proper plan. He first wrote down the ingredients they required to mass-produce Warrior Enlightenment Potions, Energy Nourishing Pills, and Body Strengthening Pills.
Lilica left the Origin Expanse to speak to her Elders. She had to find out how many ingredients they could produce every month, how much Michael had to pay for them – including the discount – and how many batches Michael's Alchemists could produce with the ingredients.
Several days passed quickly as they worked on it and soon there was only one day left before they would also be in Meku.
Michael spent most of his time in the Origin Expanse dealing with the Forest Elves, trying to solve quarrels between the Starless Summons and sparring with Tiara and the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team.
Most spars ended up with Michael winning – even if it was by hair's breadth. Tiara and the EmeraldLeaf Adventurer team quickly adjusted to his tactics, forcing Michael to change his strategy in every battle. Their teamwork improved with every spar, and they forced Michael into the corner more often as time progressed.
The pressure weighing down on Michael was terrific, but it was exceptionally useful. He grew more accustomed to his Soultraits, and he learned a lot about the hidden potential of some of his Soultraits. Comprehending more about his Soultraits increased his combat prowess naturally. New ways to use his Soultraits opened to Michael, and he used them without hesitation to learn more and more.
His days in the Origin Expanse were exceptional, just like his progress with Sacred Rectification and Pandemonium's Requiem.
All while using the Body Strengthening Pills and Energy Nourishing Pills to accelerate his progress with the body refinement technique, Michael learned how to control origin energy more precisely, and how to absorb the energy in his surroundings at a faster rate.
His territory developed rapidly, his people grew stronger, and Michael, as a Lord and an Individual, grew stronger as well.
At the same time, his mastery of most techniques increased rapidly, resulting in a drastic boost in Michael's confidence.
He had never felt so ready and pumped up to face his human competitors, the Berserkers, and the Warlock Centaurs.
