Second-Layer Inscription Structure

The Silver Chip's appraisal function was not actually that powerful. It could only be called comprehensive.

For those who truly wanted to understand the details, it was not detailed enough to provide a complete overview of every category. It only offered broad, generalized descriptions.

Its most useful feature was actually its detailed data—weight, size, internal and external temperature, material details, the units of Origin Matter contained within, and so on.

If normal measuring equipment were used for testing, whether it could be that accurate was one matter. More importantly, it would take a great deal of time.

This was precisely why Ian's alchemical efficiency was higher than that of his ordinary peers.

Beyond that, the Silver Chip could also assist with actions. It could directly draw guide lines within his field of vision. Even someone who was not particularly familiar with alchemy could easily produce high-quality Magic Potions and medicines, so long as they knew the procedure, had sufficient control over their body, and possessed a formula.

That was probably why Hilliard, despite having no foundation in alchemy at all, had been able to effortlessly make a perfect-grade Sand-Armor Apprentice Potion back then—after all, his teacher's foundation was there. He could perfectly replicate any operation he needed to perform.

Ian had not reached that level yet. At the very least, he still had two major thresholds to cross before he could perform alchemy without equipment.

However, he had also developed another entirely new use for the Silver Chip.

That was "recording."

The Silver Chip could imprint the Origin Matter Structure of Magic Potions and use itself as a vessel, replacing Ian's physical body to perform various sublimation arts.

Because the Silver Chip had now fused completely with Ian, inseparable from him, Ian essentially had two bodies... perhaps even more.

The Silver Chip could grow as well.

Over the past four years, the Silver Chip carrier material that had originally extended along with Ian's nerves had gradually dissolved and vanished... but the boy knew that it had not truly disappeared. It had merely transformed into an even smaller form, merging into his cells and even the depths of his genes.

Its recording function had also become stronger.

As long as Ian stared intently at something and tried to memorize it, the Silver Chip would record it and store it in its database.

Moreover, because of their deep fusion, it could even assist in recording the various mist characteristics Ian observed through Precognitive Vision, directly imprinting all sorts of unusual Origin Matter fluctuations and even inscription structures!

It was practically like the auxiliary memory chips from his previous life, except it lacked a friendly, intuitive interface.

When Ian first learned of this, the first thing he did was record all the books in Viscount Grant's alchemy laboratory, as well as the inscription structure of the Alchemical Cannon.

Yes, the Silver Chip itself had no scanning function. Ian had to look at things himself or analyze them with his psionics... while that was rather inconvenient, once something had been recorded, Ian could use the Chip's guidance to reproduce all those recorded inscriptions so long as the basic conditions were met!

"Although the way these Imperial Capital nobles keep calling people country bumpkins is really unbearable, they aren't wrong. Harrison Port really is underdeveloped, and there are no inscriptions here for me to copy and study."

At this moment, Ian picked up Isengard's sapphire bracelet, placed it inside the Suspended Mist Vessel, and activated the instrument.

Under the other boy's wide-eyed, intensely focused gaze, he pretended to carefully examine the bracelet, while inwardly sighing, "In more than four years, I've only inscribed a few basic inscription structures, such as the Alchemical Cannon, Alchemical Musket, Sharpness, and Solidification."

"There's no need to record those things. I can learn them myself."

This was the awkward part of being a genius in the countryside—things that were too simple did not need studying, while things of suitable difficulty were impossible to learn. He was stuck in an uncomfortable middle ground.

This was also why talented people from all over the world gathered in great cities and major powers.

As the Suspended Mist Vessel activated, the Origin Matter fluctuations emitted by the bracelet began to manifest.

It had to be said, it was indeed the finest psionic accessory worn by the young master of a marquis's family.

The instant Ian seriously observed it with Precognitive Vision, his eyes even stung for a moment, as though someone had punched him directly in the eyes with an inscription.

"So complicated!"

Rubbing his eyes, Ian continued observing carefully.

The main body of Isengard's sapphire bracelet was a complete mithril base. Just that single mithril ring was worth nearly a thousand Thalers, not to mention the twelve nearly identical, brilliantly gleaming sapphires set into it.

"Impressive. It's a dual-layer inscription structure."

Even without Precognitive Vision or the Silver Chip, Ian could see the sapphire bracelet's unusual nature—every gemstone contained a complete inscription array, while the mithril bracelet itself was a base circuit that ran through every gemstone array, a Central Nexus that brought all the inscription arrays together under its control.

Within the deep purple, cyan-tinged flowing light visible through Precognitive Vision and the Silver Chip, one inscription after another appeared and was recorded.

But Ian did not pay much attention to that. Following the normal procedure, he used his own Origin Matter to intercept the psionic field emitted by the sapphire bracelet.

"Watch carefully. I'll slow down the movements a little."

As he spoke, he reminded Isengard, who had already bent over to closely observe the situation inside the Suspended Mist Vessel. Then, in slow motion, he demonstrated the changes and precise divisions of his Origin Matter.

In truth, Ian's operating technique had been entirely developed and optimized through his own exploration and deduction with Precognitive Vision, following the guide lines within the Silver Chip.

It was indeed his unique technique, and an exceptionally good one, but without extraordinarily sharp perception and precision, no one could achieve the same results as him.

"So stable!" Isengard had clearly noticed this as well. He watched as Ian's Origin Matter almost effortlessly cleaved open the psionic field emitted by the sapphire bracelet, then extracted a complete cross-section from within it.

—He had completely understood Ian's technique, yet he knew perfectly well that unless he underwent years of painstaking practice, he would never be able to learn it.

"So there really are always greater people beyond oneself... no wonder Teacher always tells me that beyond the Imperial Capital, there is an entire world out there!"

Ian did not pay much attention to the blond boy's delight and slight disappointment. He was conducting a further analysis.

"The main inscription structure is a miniature Nature Psionics field formed by the arrays in the twelve sapphires... much like Sighing Cliff, it can create a field filled with Nature Psionics of a particular attribute."

"A portable miniature psionic sanctuary to assist cultivation? This is worth far more than an ordinary psionic accessory!"

"Hmm, it's fire-attributed... it seems the Elan family's bloodline Inheritance is related to fire? I can ask Viscount Grant about it if I get the chance. It probably isn't any secret."

The white-haired boy pondered carefully, analyzing the psionic cross-section he had extracted.

Then he said to Isengard beside him, "Although its style looks somewhat like a relic of the previous civilization, with all these gemstone-setting structures, it is actually probably an imitation made decades ago based on artifacts from the previous civilization, right? It should be a masterwork."

"Huh, is that so?" The blond boy blinked. He did not know much about it. "My mother gave this to me for my tenth birthday..."

"Oh, then it must definitely be a masterwork."

Talking to nobles is exhausting. Ian silently nodded on the surface, then continued his analysis. "This mithril was made through powder pressing and cast as a single integrated piece, while the gemstones are all naturally formed, pure sapphires. The first-layer inscription circuit uses the natural inscription structures of the gemstones in conjunction with the mithril to form its structure."

In the world of Terra, gemstones themselves were natural carriers for inscription circuits—their crystalline lattices possessed the power to draw upon a portion of Nature Psionics. In other words, they were the most primitive form of microscopic inscriptions, one of the foundational origins of modern inscription studies.

It was said that the creators of inscription studies, the Mountain Folk who lived deep beneath the earth and among mountain ranges, had discovered three incomparably enormous pure inscription gemstones. That discovery had inspired them to establish inscription studies, a discipline devoted to exploring the truth of the world.

In short, the purer a gemstone was, the purer its Nature Psionics, and thus the more it could be utilized—artificial gemstones possessed the same power.

Element Crystals were the result of applying artificial gemstone technology to Origin Matter.

Ian then launched into an extensive analysis, beginning with the purity of the mithril in the sapphire bracelet, the gemstone lattices, and the effects of the first-layer fire-element field. He continued all the way through the bracelet's craftsmanship, the superb skill of the master who had forged this psionic accessory, and the advantages of its detachable array design. Isengard, who had initially wanted to interject with a few remarks and marvel at the accuracy of Ian's conclusion, was left completely stunned.

—Everyone had been happily praising each other. Why had this suddenly turned into a lecture?

"...That is roughly how it works."

At this moment, Ian still felt somewhat unsatisfied.

Honestly, analyzing the sapphire bracelet to this extent was already enough. It could fully be considered the work of a genius.

As for the second-layer inscription structure, he had already imprinted it anyway. There was no need to analyze it immediately; he could take it home and study it carefully later.

For now, he could simply claim that he did not understand it and hide his true abilities. No one would suspect him... rather, that would be more normal.

Thus, he merely shut down the Suspended Mist Vessel with a hint of regret, took out the sapphire bracelet, and handed it back to Isengard. "As for the second-layer inscription structure, I am completely unable to analyze it... it is hidden within the natural lattices of the twelve sapphires, beyond the limits of my ability."

This was perfect.

He thought so himself. He had demonstrated his excellence, yet also shown that there were indeed things he could not do, things beyond his capabilities—the Precognitive Vision had also told him that this choice would earn him more favor.

But Ian had overlooked one thing.

Even nobles would not reexamine the effects of the accessories on their bodies every so often.

"What?"

Isengard raised his head and stared blankly at Ian. The two looked at each other wide-eyed, and the blond boy wore a dazed expression. "The Blue Flame my mother gave me actually has a second-layer inscription structure?"

"What?"

Upon hearing that, everyone else in the apothecary turned their heads as well. Master Gose also showed a startled expression. "That bracelet has a second-layer inscription structure? It didn't have anything like that when I examined it four years ago!"

Most of the others reacted similarly.

Only Patrick, amid his astonishment, looked at Ian with a trace of dark severity in his expression.

To be honest, I still have two chapters in reserve. I've basically released everything else already. Today's chapter was another one I wrote yesterday afternoon, and if I release the remaining two chapters, I will have nothing left at all.

I should still keep one day's worth as a safeguard. Otherwise, if something unexpected happens, the updates will be interrupted.

Sigh, I'll hurry up and write now. I hope everyone enjoys reading. Since it's the month of release, I'll do my best to update a little more. Next month, I'll return to the normal update schedule.

Also, tomorrow, the Book-Eating Monster can finally be slain!