The courtyard gate slammed shut, cutting off prying eyes from the outside.
Lin Mu eagerly arranged the three pieces of equipment on the stone table at the Viewing Platform.
[Skill Book: Bone Shield]. (LV.20, Necromancer only, learning requirement: 40 Intelligence.)
"I'm still three levels short."
He set it aside for now.
He couldn't learn the skill, so naturally he couldn't modify it with his talent either.
His gaze then fell on the staff made entirely of ghastly pale bones.
[Bone Staff] (LV.21, Orange) Attack: 120–150 Intelligence: +25 Special Effect 1: Reduces mana cost by 14% when casting skills. Special Effect 2: Increases the starting health and defense of all your bone-type summons by 10%.
"This is practically the perfect base, tailor-made for me—a massively superior version of the Withered Wood Staff!"
The corners of Lin Mu's mouth curled into a satisfied smile.
To other people, its two effects might seem flashy but impractical.
To him, they made it a top-tier item with twice the potential for modification.
Without hesitation, he activated his talent.
"Change 'reduces mana cost by 14%' to 'reduces mana cost by 94%'!"
"Change 'increases the starting health and defense by 10%' to 'increases the starting health and defense by 90%'!"
The gray orb embedded in the staff instantly blazed with light.
Both modification commands took effect at once!
[Bone Staff] (LV.21, Orange) Attack: 120–150 Intelligence: +25 Special Effect 1: Reduces mana cost by 94% when casting skills. Special Effect 2: Increases the starting health and defense of all your bone-type summons by 90%.
"Not bad. Once my daily uses refresh tomorrow, I can max it out."
Lin Mu nodded with satisfaction and put the staff away.
Finally, he turned his attention to the Space Ring he'd been looking forward to most.
[Damaged Space Ring] (LV.25, Orange) Agility: +15 Special Effect: [Void Blink]: Consumes 80% of maximum mana to teleport instantly to a designated location within a 12-meter radius. Can be used once per day.
Mana cost, teleportation range, number of uses.
He wanted to modify every one of them.
But he could only choose the two most important ones for now.
This time, he planned to go big!
A reckless idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
"Change 'within a 12-meter radius' to 'within a 12-li radius'!"
"Change 'can be used once per day' to 'can be used ji times per day'!"
"Hm?"
Lin Mu furrowed his brow.
The description on the ring blurred, but only half of it was reshaped.
The outrageous range modification had succeeded.
Twelve li—nearly six kilometers of teleportation range.
That was more convenient than any form of transportation!
But the modification to the number of uses had failed.
The character "ji" hadn't been successfully imprinted.
"Could it be because, in Blue Star's current language and mathematical system, 'ji' is just a concept, not a specific unit of quantity they recognize?"
"Even back on Earth, the values of these ancient units of quantity varied across different periods."
Puzzled, he tried again.
"Zai."
Failed.
"Zheng."
Failed.
"Jian, gou, rang, zi, gai, jing, zhao..."
Lin Mu tried all the units representing enormous quantities that he could remember, one by one.
Without exception, they all failed.
"It looks like this talent's modifications have to follow some kind of underlying logic currently in use in this world."
Thoughtful, he finally gave up on his wild idea.
"Fine. I'll settle for the next best thing."
Lin Mu didn't feel particularly disappointed.
"Change 'can be used once per day' to 'can be used a hundred million times per day'!"
This time, the blue gemstone on the ring burst into dazzling light!
After the description blurred, it finally reshaped successfully!
[Damaged Space Ring] (LV.25, Orange) Agility: +15 Special Effect: [Void Blink]: Consumes 80% of maximum mana to teleport instantly to a designated location within a 12-li radius. Can be used a hundred million times per day.
"It worked!"
As Lin Mu looked at the new description, his heart pounded.
"What's the difference between a hundred million teleports a day and unlimited teleports?"
"Who the hell would have the time for that many?"
Feeling the vast spatial fluctuations emanating from the ring, a whole new idea opened up in his mind.
"Damn, how did I never think of changing the units before?"
"My Silent Black Stone Necklace has a perception range of 99 meters..."
Without a second thought, Lin Mu took off the necklace.
[Silent Black Stone Necklace] (LV.5, Blue) Constitution: +2 Special Effect: Increases perception range by 99 meters.
"Change 'increases perception range by 99 meters' to 'increases perception range by 99 li'!"
As he hoped, the necklace's description changed.
[Silent Black Stone Necklace] (LV.5, Blue) Constitution: +2 Special Effect: Increases perception range by 99 li.
As soon as he finished the modification, Lin Mu put the necklace back on.
His perception spread out in an instant.
Ninety-nine li—almost fifty kilometers!
It would take half an hour to drive that far on the highway.
Lin Mu didn't try to control the direction of his perception.
It spread out in a circle, instantly covering all of Shengjing Academy.
It continued to expand until it reached part of Shengjing City.
The instant Lin Mu's perception spread out,
several powerful auras suddenly erupted within the academy—and even from Shengjing's city defense department.
"Who dares to run wild in Shengjing Academy?!"
A furious shout rang out like a thunderclap.
It came from the direction of the Administration Building, shaking the clouds and mist before the Viewing Platform.
Realizing he'd caused trouble, Lin Mu immediately pulled back his perception,
and the next second,
two figures tore through space.
They appeared in the courtyard of Cloud Viewing Residence almost simultaneously, surrounding Lin Mu.
Leading them was the white-haired principal, whose aura was unfathomable.
Beside him stood the disheveled old man who should have been dozing at the entrance to the Treasure Vault: Elder Sun.
Elder Sun was no longer the least bit lazy.
His cloudy old eyes gleamed sharply.
Like two invisible swords, they seemed ready to dissect Lin Mu from head to toe.
"Was that mental perception just now your doing?!"
Before Lin Mu could speak, the white-haired principal added,
"If Elder Sun hadn't helped shield you from that person's mental attack, you might already be lying here."
It seemed the two of them hadn't come to cause Lin Mu trouble after all.
Cold sweat trickled down Lin Mu's back. He hurriedly thanked them.
"Thank you for stepping in, Elder Sun, and thank you for protecting me, Principal Bai! I was careless!"
"You! Lin Mu! My name is Zhou Pingxia! What's with this 'Principal Bai' nonsense?!"
Principal Zhou was so furious that his white hair quivered and he could barely get his words out.
"Hahaha! Little Zhou, looks like you've finally gotten a taste of your own medicine!"
"Lin Mu, I like you, kid. How about coming with me?"
After poking fun at Principal Zhou, Elder Sun extended an invitation to Lin Mu, clearly interested in taking him on as a disciple.
Zhou Pingxia was secretly startled. He immediately urged Lin Mu,
"Lin Mu, say yes—quickly!"
But Lin Mu pretended not to hear him.
"I'm used to doing as I please, and I'm not accustomed to being under anyone's thumb. I appreciate your kind offer, Elder Sun."
"You! Lin Mu! Do you know how many geniuses have begged Elder Sun to take them on as disciples over the years? And you turn him down just like that!"
Zhou Pingxia was furious again.
"Forget it. This kid has his own path to follow. We can't force him. Since there's nothing wrong here, this old man will head back to watch the gate."
After saying that, Elder Sun vanished without a trace.
He came and went in a flash.
Before you continue