Facing the hatched sub-dragons that failed to inherit Ice Frost Dragon Glam's ice abilities, both Sauron and Saruman felt somewhat disappointed.
However, with over a hundred sub-dragons born, they were satisfied with the quantity.
These sub-dragons harbored evil spirits within them, making them more intelligent and dangerous than ordinary sub-dragons. They could understand complex commands, even engage in certain levels of thinking and planning, and coordinate with each other.
These newly born dark sub-dragons showed cunning intelligence in their eyes under their internal evil spirits' influence. Knowing Sauron was their master, they bowed in submission directly.
Seeing the sub-dragons' intelligence, Sauron nodded and instructed Saruman.
"Breed more sub-dragons quickly. I'll use dark magic to rapidly mature them. Within a year they'll have combat capability. Then we can have sub-dragon legions assault Rohan and Gondor and help you reclaim Isengard!"
Hearing Sauron's words, Saruman was immediately delighted. His obsession was reclaiming Isengard and taking revenge on Kael, Gandalf, and others.
Now that Sauron would help him reclaim Isengard, he was naturally very eager.
But then he frowned. "Why are you so urgent this time? Willing to expend power to rapidly mature sub-dragons?"
"Didn't you previously say we needed to slowly accumulate strength? Why suddenly attack Rohan and Gondor? And help me reclaim Isengard?"
In his impression, Sauron had always been someone who planned before acting. Whether corrupting the Númenóreans, causing Númenor's sinking, or disguising himself as the gift-giver Annatar to trick elves into forging Rings of Power, he was always very patient.
Why this uncharacteristic urgency?
This puzzled Saruman greatly.
Sauron didn't hide from Saruman, saying directly, "My target this time isn't Rohan or Gondor, but Isengard."
"Isengard? What do you want to attack there for?" Saruman asked in shock.
As for Sauron wanting to help him reclaim Isengard, Saruman didn't believe it at all.
After all, Sauron wasn't one to help others. If he wanted to help reclaim Isengard, he wouldn't wait until now and certainly wouldn't be so urgent.
"Because I sense something will be born there that can help me reshape my physical form!" Sauron revealed shocking news.
"What?!" Saruman was incredulous after hearing this.
Something that could help Sauron reshape his physical form?
"Is the One Ring there?" The only thing Saruman could think of that could help Sauron reshape his form was the One Ring.
In the Second Age, Sauron corrupted the Númenóreans, causing divine punishment and Númenor's sinking, with Sauron's physical body destroyed then.
But Sauron recovered his form through the One Ring, making a comeback in Middle-earth.
This was why during the Last Alliance war, when Isildur used Narsil's broken blade to cut off Sauron's finger wearing the One Ring, Sauron was utterly defeated and his body perished.
Sauron shook his head, his voice full of desire and excitement.
"Not the One Ring, but a treasure not yet fully born. That starlight projection at Isengard is being used to complete that treasure."
"Though Galadriel stripped away my sight to spy there, with just one glance I foresaw that treasure. A red gemstone containing immortal power."
"I have a premonition it can give me a permanent physical body. I'll regain strength and directly sense the One Ring's location!"
Could such a thing really exist? Saruman could hardly believe it.
But as a fellow Maiar, Saruman knew their intuition and premonitions were never wrong.
"That Black-Robed Wizard has truly given me a tremendous surprise!" Sauron gazed west as if seeing Orthanc Tower's scene, his tone determined. "This time we must obtain that treasure about to be born, at any cost!"
At Isengard, atop Orthanc Tower, Mercury's starlight descended like a pillar into the seven-pointed star formation, drawing endless stellar power into the mithril furnace where it merged with the "Raven's Head" under dragon blood fuel flames.
With stellar power's addition, the furnace's flame temperature mysteriously dropped to freezing point. Though still burning vigorously, it emanated a cold temperature.
Simultaneously, Galadriel activated Nenya, the Ring of Water's power, continuously pouring water elements into the furnace.
The flask's black substance absorbed Mercury's power and water elements, gradually crystallizing into white powder while a jasmine-like fragrance escaped the sealed flask and furnace.
Smelling this aroma, Kael felt soul tranquility wash over him, as if his soul was being nourished.
The soul wound left from creating his Horcrux slowly healed.
This effect was even more potent than Hildórien's fruit, directly affecting the soul and causing gradual soul growth.
Kael was overjoyed, immediately breathing in the surrounding fragrance.
Fortunately, these aromas were contained by the outer seven-pointed star formation, preventing wasteful dissipation.
Mercury's appearance was brief, less than two hours. As the eastern sun rose, Mercury gradually disappeared into the starry sky.
But the seven-pointed star formation had channeled sufficient Mercury power. Even without Mercury's illumination, starlight still blazed within the formation.
Under dragon blood fuel's refinement, it continuously merged into the flask, causing more white crystals to form from the black substance while releasing a soul-penetrating jasmine fragrance.
Kael absorbed this fragrance, feeling joy as his soul slowly grew, but inevitably various desires arose.
A voice from his heart seemed to tempt him. Open the furnace, take out the flask, and absorb more fragrance to strengthen his soul.
Outside the formation, Arwen saw Kael frowning as if struggling with something. Worry crossed her face.
"Grandmother, what's happening to Kael?"
Galadriel shook her head. "The Philosopher's Stone creation process is itself a trial. He's experiencing soul metamorphosis, needing to resist inner greed and temptation to succeed."
"How long will it take?" Arwen frowned slightly.
"Until the furnace's contents complete the transformation from 'Black Stone' to 'White Stone,' fully completing this stage."
Days passed as the flask's black substance became increasingly white, releasing an ever stronger fragrance.
Kael in the formation faced stronger temptations requiring resistance.
Without Galadriel nourishing his body with Nenya's power, Kael would've collapsed from exhaustion or hunger long ago.
Finally, after 21 days, the furnace erupted with intense fragrance.
This aroma permeated the seven-pointed star formation, making Kael feel immersed in a jasmine flower sea filled with jasmine fragrance.
Though formless and substanceless, the fragrance seemed to penetrate his soul, causing visible soul growth.
The soul fragment gap left by his Horcrux was completely repaired and restored, giving Kael a complete soul again!
But while gaining this tremendous opportunity, Kael also endured immense pressure as countless greedy desires swarmed, trying to break his mental defenses and make him desire's puppet.
These desires weren't external corruption like Sauron's but amplified inner desires impossible to resist conventionally. Only through desperate suppression.
Kael maintained Occlumency with the Crown of Wisdom while continuously deep meditating, barely maintaining rationality and thought without being influenced by various desires.
When all the black substance in the flask transformed to white, the fragrance suddenly ceased.
Kael opened his eyes, waving to extinguish the dragon blood flames, then bare-handedly retrieved the double-necked flask from the furnace.
Despite burning so long, neither the furnace nor the flask had a high temperature. Rather, they felt coolly refreshing.
The flask contained silver-gleaming white powder like condensed starlight, still emitting a faint jasmine fragrance when approached.
This completed the Philosopher's Stone's second stage. The "White Rose" phase, also called the whitening stage.
This white stone could cure diseases as a life-saving holy medicine but couldn't yet transmute gold.
"Congratulations, Kael! Your Philosopher's Stone is half complete!" Galadriel smiled, congratulating him.
Kael sincerely thanked Galadriel. "Thank you, Lady Galadriel. Without your help, I couldn't have completed this stage's transformation."
During this period, Lady Galadriel had remained throughout, continuously channeling water elements with Nenya's power. Tremendously helpful.
Galadriel accepted his thanks, smiling. "Also, congratulations on your soul becoming purer and stronger!"
Speaking of this, Kael couldn't help smiling with joy.
Through the Philosopher's Stone's whitening stage, his soul not only became complete again but also grew significantly.
If his previous soul strength only slightly exceeded ordinary people's, his current soul strength completely matched elves like Arwen and Legolas.
Elves like Arwen accumulated such soul strength through thousands of years of experience.
But Kael achieved further soul purification and sublimation in just twenty-one days accompanying the Philosopher's Stone's whitening transformation.
No wonder Nicolas Flamel was unknown before creating his Philosopher's Stone, showing no amazing magical talent.
But after creating the Philosopher's Stone, he became a powerful great wizard.
Obviously, like Kael now, he gained mental and soul metamorphosis during the Philosopher's Stone creation, enabling his sudden rise as a famous great wizard.
Nearby Arwen noticed the exhaustion in Kael's eyes, saying caringly, "Kael, you haven't slept for nearly a month. Don't rush the Philosopher's Stone. Get some good sleep first."
Kael felt mentally excited, shaking his head reassuringly. "Don't worry about me, Arwen. I don't feel tired and can persist longer."
But Galadriel sided with Arwen disapprovingly.
"Though Nenya's power prevents physical and mental fatigue, souls grow weary without long rest. Listen to Arwen and rest well."
Since Lady Galadriel the elder had spoken, Kael naturally complied.
After personally seeing off Lady Galadriel, he slowly fell asleep to Arwen's melodious elven singing.
But before consciousness faded to darkness, he thought about the Philosopher's Stone's next stage.
The next stage was called the "Solar Wheel" phase, also known as the yellowing stage.
In this stage, he needed to wait for Saturn to appear while adding earth elements to transform white stone into yellow stone.
The earth element source was the Arkenstone, Heart of the Mountain, so for the yellowing stage he wouldn't need external help.
But according to astronomical calculations, Saturn would next appear in three months.
So during this time, he had sufficient opportunity to prepare for the Philosopher's Stone's next stage.