Activation

Chen Chuan did not follow immediately. He stayed where he was, watching the direction in which the red-robed apprentice had disappeared.

The library's spiral corridor wound through several turns, and the apprentice was soon completely out of sight.

He looked away and headed straight for the lending desk.

"I'd like to borrow three books: Animal Spirit Communication, Basic Botany, and Fundamentals of Potion-Making," Chen Chuan said to the old man behind the counter.

The old man looked up, studying Chen Chuan over his wooden glasses before glancing at the student card in his hand. "New students may only borrow basic books. Animal Spirit Communication is an advanced textbook. You must be at least a second-class apprentice to borrow it."

Chen Chuan was slightly disappointed, but quickly changed his request. "Then I'll take Basic Botany and Fundamentals of Potion-Making."

The old man nodded and swiped the student card through a wooden device. Two faintly glowing books detached themselves from the vines on the shelves and floated over to the counter. "The loan period is three days. Please remember to return them on time."

"Thank you." Chen Chuan took the books and left the library.

By the time he returned to the villa, it was completely dark. Chen Chuan sat in the moss-covered area in the center and opened Basic Botany.

The text on the pages unfolded as he read, and brief illustrations occasionally appeared, showing the structures and properties of various plants.

Partway through, Chen Chuan went to the cafeteria and ate dinner.

After returning to his dormitory, Chen Chuan read Basic Botany for a while longer, then checked the time.

Analysis target: Tree of Life Meditation Method: Apprentice Section (time remaining: 5 minutes).

Chen Chuan quietly closed the book.

He sat cross-legged on the vine bed.

He waited for the analysis to finish.

Chen Chuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

Analysis of the Tree of Life Meditation Method complete.

Tree of Life Meditation Method: Elementary Part Lv1. (1/100).

Suddenly, a warm current of power surged from within him. The Seed of Life seemed to have completely fused with him.

With a thought, Chen Chuan directed his awareness inward, and the complete framework of the Tree of Life Meditation Method appeared clearly before him.

Following the method's instructions, he guided his spiritual power into the green pattern on the back of his left hand.

The pattern unfurled like a living thing, and a faint green light flickered on the back of Chen Chuan's hand.

That green light was a wisp of magic power Chen Chuan had generated himself.

Chen Chuan held back his excitement and, following the meditation method's instructions, guided the wisp of magic power up his arm until it formed the blurred outline of a seed in his chest.

Is this the resonance with the Seed of Life that the meditation method describes? Chen Chuan marveled inwardly.

The moment Chen Chuan saw the seed's outline, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had successfully changed his class to wizard.

Although he was only a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice, the lowest rank, ordinary people outside could already address him as Lord Wizard.

There were three requirements for becoming a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice.

First, reach 20 points of spiritual power.

Second, successfully learn a meditation method and generate a wisp of magic power.

Third, resonate with the Seed of Life.

As long as the Seed of Life within his body resonated with the Seed of Life Meditation Method, its various special effects could be activated.

With a thought from Chen Chuan, his status panel appeared.

Crimson System · Host [Chen Chuan]

Class: Life Wizard

Physique: 6.7

Agility: 6.6

Spirit: 22.00

Rank: Third-class apprentice

Skill: Tree of Life Meditation Method: Elementary Part Lv1. (1/100).

Talents/Active: Light of Wisdom, Seed of Life.

Seed of Life (activation trait): A Seed of Life with the activation trait, once nourished by the core power of a plane.

Effect 1 · Vitality Solidification: Your physique and agility are anchored to your spiritual power, granting them an additional boost. (Current bonus: 25% of spirit)

Effect 2 · Life Magnetic Field: The Seed of Life emits a continuous life magnetic field, increasing your physical recovery. Plants within the field grow faster and improve in quality.

Effect 3 · Abundant Energy: Your magic power recovery speed is doubled. Your Seed of Life can store additional excess magic power (1x). When you actively activate this effect, your magic power will be fully restored.

Sure enough, Chen Chuan found that his physique and agility values were already nearly seven times those of an ordinary person.

Those were only numbers. His overall physical capabilities surely far exceeded what the numbers suggested.

As Chen Chuan marveled, he noticed a mirror standing in the corner, its frame woven from intertwined vines.

The mirror reflected his appearance. In his eyes, a faint green halo now ringed the edges of his once-black pupils, like two deep pools.

"Is this a change brought about by the Seed of Life?" Chen Chuan gazed at himself in the mirror.

Chen Chuan raised a hand and gently touched the mirror. The cool sensation reached his fingertips in sync with the image in the mirror.

He tried blinking, and the "him" in the mirror did the same, but the green halos seemed brighter.

After grinning foolishly, Chen Chuan withdrew his hand and turned toward the moss-covered area in the middle of the living room.

He crouched down and placed his palm against the ground, sensing the life energy flowing through the soil.

The moss seemed to sense his approach and trembled slightly. Several tender green shoots grew rapidly around his fingertips.

"Life magnetic field..." Chen Chuan murmured thoughtfully.

He tried concentrating, spreading his awareness slightly, and the surrounding plants began growing visibly faster.

A seedling that had been only an inch or so tall quickly grew to half-height under his gaze, its leaves unfurling and giving off a faint green glow.

Chen Chuan immediately understood that, unless he deliberately controlled it, the life magnetic field would spread evenly through the space roughly ten meters around him.

He could control its range and effects according to his needs.

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the villa door.

"Hello, is anyone there?" A soft female voice came from outside.

Chen Chuan stood, walked to the entrance, and cautiously pulled the door open. A girl of about fifteen or sixteen stood outside, wearing a gray robe. She had long, emerald-like hair and eyes as clear as lake water, and she was nervously rubbing her fingers together.

"And you are...?" Chen Chuan asked in confusion.

The girl's eyes lit up when Chen Chuan opened the door. "Hello! I'm Lili, a reserve apprentice. I'm a new student too. I saw you go out this afternoon, and since we're neighbors, I thought I'd come say hello."

"Neighbors?" Chen Chuan lifted his gaze slightly and saw the open door of villa 228 next door.

Lili nodded shyly, her emerald-green hair swaying gently with the movement. "Yes, I live in number 228. I saw you in the cafeteria just now and thought you looked familiar, so I came over to see if we could get acquainted."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly.

"That's right, but I only enrolled recently. I'm still getting used to the place."

"Me too!" Lili's tone grew noticeably more relaxed. "By the way, what courses did you choose? I just signed up for Basic Botany and Elementary Meditation Techniques yesterday, but the teacher said classes don't start until tomorrow."

"I chose Basic Botany and Elementary Meditation Techniques too," Chen Chuan replied with a smile, noticing that the nervousness in the girl's eyes seemed to have eased somewhat.

"Great! We can attend classes together." Lili clapped her hands happily, her emerald hair bouncing with the movement. "But I'm more interested in animal communication. It's a shame I can't sign up for it yet."

"Animal communication?" Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow, recalling the books he had seen in the library.

"Mm, I want to learn to talk to animals." Lili's eyes lit up. "I've loved all kinds of little animals since I was young. They can always sense my goodwill."

"Animal communication really is a fascinating skill." Chen Chuan nodded. "I saw some books on it in the library, but apparently you have to be at least a second-class apprentice to borrow them."

Lili's eyes lit up. "You saw them at the library too? That's great! I was worried it would be difficult to figure everything out on my own. By the way, have you noticed how unusually responsive the plants at the academy are?

"When I first arrived, the vines outside your window even greeted me!"

Chen Chuan was slightly surprised. "The vines greeted you?"

"Mm, they touched me gently," Lili said excitedly. "I tried responding, and they swayed even more happily."