Mental Power Surges

Chapter 28: Mental Power Surges

"Gulp!"

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one go.

The potion, Light of Wisdom, slid down his throat and into his stomach. The cool sensation jolted him awake.

No!

It wasn't the taste.

His mind had genuinely become sharper.

Karl, within the Divine Domain Fragment, his eyes flickered. He closed them, silently sensing, and simultaneously activated his Meditation Method.

Mental Sea.

The restless, surging waves of the past had become much calmer under the potion's effect. This meant the efficacy of his Meditation Method would increase significantly.

If one were to compare self-awareness to a seed, then the Mental Sea was the fertile soil containing nutrients.

And the Meditation Method...

was what allowed the seed to absorb the soil's nutrients, take root, and sprout.

Until self-awareness completely occupied the Mental Sea, bringing about a fundamental transformation from the inside out.

In the past, the Meditation Method's operational efficiency was low due to the influence of distracting thoughts. Now, how much higher was its efficiency?

"Seven times!"

"After taking the potion, the efficiency increased by at least sevenfold."

"And it's not just the Mental Sea nourishing the mind; the potion itself also has the effect of strengthening Mental Power."

"It must be the Necromancer Dust. Hibel mentioned that many ingredients in these kinds of magic potions originate from the soul..."

One day later.

Karl looked at the status panel before him.

Physique: 0.78

Mental Power: 0.98

His physique had increased by 0.01 compared to a few days ago.

However, this was unrelated to taking the potion and was instead the result of continuous training and his Breathing Technique.

Mental Power...

"0.02!"

In one day, his Mental Power had directly increased by 0.02. At his previous pace, this would have taken nearly a month.

Even with his prior accumulation, this was still incredibly impressive.

Karl muttered to himself:

"No wonder Hibel wanted Necromancer Dust so badly. The difference in progress with or without potion assistance is like night and day."

Another day passed.

Physique: 0.78

Mental Power: 0.98

His Mental Power increased by another 0.01. However, Karl could clearly feel that the potion's effect was becoming negligible.

"Two days, an increase of nearly 0.03."

"With my methods, one portion of Soul Powder can be used to brew two portions of Light of Wisdom. I currently have thirteen portions of Soul Powder left."

"That's enough for the short term!"

If he were to give the Soul Powder, or Necromancer Dust, to Hibel, with her skills and professional equipment, she could brew three to four portions of Light of Wisdom from one. However, that would expose him, so it was not an option.

"With increased Mental Power, the casting speed will correspondingly increase, and the power of the Lesser Force Field will also grow."

Karl stretched his limbs and added:

"It's also beneficial for practicing swordsmanship."

This point was not very apparent within the Divine Domain Fragment.

Strengthening Mental Power would increase one's control over their physical body. However, within the Divine Domain Fragment, control was already perfect, making the difference imperceptible. Only upon returning to the real world would one truly feel the gap.

"No wonder Miles, despite never having practiced swordsmanship, could suppress a Knight Squire with just a rapier."

"The Mental Power of an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice allows him to control his body more precisely and move faster."

"A Senior Wizard Apprentice, even without practice, likely has better physical conditioning than an ordinary Knight Squire. That's why my teacher, Adolf, can still move as swiftly as ever despite his age."

"Swish!"

He retracted his sword, Karl's expression turning solemn.

Immediately after...

combat skill--Gale Slash!

Four afterimages!

Four afterimages were unleashed at once, plus the greatsword itself made five, which was not weak for a Knight Squire.

This was the first time Karl had unleashed four afterimages outside of a Divine Domain Fragment.

*

*

*

Black City.

The snowflakes, mixed with unknown black dust, finally stopped falling, but the sudden drop in temperature froze the accumulated snow on the ground into ice.

Even guests, as Knight Squires, had to change into thick robes here.

"Uncle."

Aya leaped out from a crack in the ground:

"We're here."

Behind her, the boy named Xiao Nan, whose physique was comparable to a grown man, still followed.

Unlike their first meeting.

This time, the boy Xiao Nan didn't wrap himself up tightly but revealed his youthful face.

After several transactions, a certain level of trust had been established between them.

"Heh heh..."

Xiao Nan scratched his head, a silly smile on his face:

"Uncle."

"Mm."

Karl's expression was blank:

"Did you bring the goods?"

"We brought them." Aya nodded eagerly, gesturing for Xiao Nan to take the package off his back, and said:

"Seventeen portions of Soul Powder, six gold items, jade artifacts, and a few books, but we couldn't buy any Breathing Techniques."

"Seventeen portions." Karl frowned slightly:

"So little?"

As for not buying any Breathing Techniques, he wasn't surprised; after all, there had been no clues in the previous transactions.

He had gradually gotten used to it.

Moreover, he already had the Poison Wolf Breathing Technique; collecting other Breathing Techniques was just a habit, not an urgent matter.

"This..." Aya forced a smile:

"During the Month of Severe Winter, few people are willing to come out, and as for experts... I can't reach them yet."

"But it will be better next month."

Karl looked up at the sky and accepted the explanation. He reached back and pointed:

"The goods are inside. Besides some food, there are also the two healing potions you wanted."

Aya's eyes lit up.

Every year during the Month of Severe Winter, due to food shortages, a large number of people often died in Black City.

The price of food would also skyrocket.

Although Karl had also raised his prices, not by much. The difference in price between them was already a huge profit for her.

Not to mention the rare healing potions.

"Uncle."

Taking out the items from the package, Aya's beautiful eyes flickered:

"What do you want these gold items for?"

"To play with, to collect." Karl examined the golden statue in front of him, estimating its price in his mind:

"Problem?"

"No, no." Aya waved her hands hastily:

"I thought you could go out."

Go out?

Karl's eyes narrowed.

Indeed.

These items are worthless in Black City, but they can fetch a good price outside. Deliberately collecting them gives the wrong impression.

Could it be that he can leave the city?

That's why he's collecting these things?

"No."

Karl said slowly:

"If you have a way to leave the city, you might as well tell me."

"Yes."

Aya nodded heavily:

"I'll definitely tell you first, Uncle."

"Huh?"

She suddenly turned her head, a look of uncertain surprise on her face.

"There's movement!"

"Indeed."

Karl also looked grave, and at the same time, he was slightly surprised by Aya's perception, finding it remarkably sharp.

He had only just noticed it himself.

"Let's leave first."

BOOM!

Before he could finish speaking, the distant footsteps suddenly turned into a deafening roar, accompanied by flying snow and rising dust.

"Goron, you can't escape!"

"Aargh!"

Roars and clashes mingled, and the chaotic footsteps grew closer.

"Go!"

Karl's heart sank. This kind of commotion was unlikely to be caused by a Knight Squire, and it was equally dangerous for him.

WHOOSH!

Aya called out to Xiao Nan and jumped towards the dark underground hole.

Their strength was not great, but their movements were agile. Having lived in Black City for years, their perception of danger was even sharper.

With the help of the extensive underground tunnels, escaping would be easy.

It was Karl, on the other hand, who had never been underground and had limited visits to Black City, making him unfamiliar with the surrounding environment.

Not long after running out, his path was blocked by three figures.

"I'm just a passerby."

Karl raised his hands high, signaling that he meant no harm:

"Could you let me pass?"

His response was an arrow flying towards him.