Gloomy Eye Meditation Technique

Back at his residence, Charles began studying the thick volume of the Abyssal Grimoire.

This was clearly very basic material, but even so, Charles was already completely engrossed in it.

He also opened Wu Duo Duo Mall and found Loran's shop within it.

Isata First-Ring Wizard Loran:

Loran's Lesser Flame Demon Bloodline: 2,000 Soul Coins

Loran's First-Ring Wizard Cultivation Insights: 1,000 Soul Coins

Loran's Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice Abyssal Grimoire Cultivation Insights: 30 Soul Coins.

Compared to other wizards, Loran had no fewer goods in her shop.

From the shop, it could be inferred that Loran possessed the bloodline of a Lesser Flame Demon.

And if Charles bought it, what he would be buying would still be Loran's version of the Lesser Flame Demon Bloodline.

By that logic, bloodlines purchased from wizards were certainly less pure than those purchased from demons.

This time, Charles bought Loran's cultivation insights on the Abyssal Grimoire for Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices.

It was equivalent to directly obtaining Loran's study notes, allowing Charles to get started with the course more quickly.

Charles still had more than four hundred Magic Stones on hand, so he also began considering changing his meditation technique.

From Loran's shop, he could see that she used the Gloomy Eye Meditation Technique.

This meditation technique clearly suited Abyssal Grimoire Studies well, and Charles had the same intention.

Before cultivating it, however, he still planned to ask Loran for advice.

He first went to Fenny's Hand and found the price for this meditation technique: one hundred and fifty Magic Stones.

Then, during the next class, he stood up and asked Loran, "Teacher Loran, I've recently wanted to change my meditation technique. Do you have any recommendations?"

Loran answered with almost no hesitation, "I have meditation techniques for sale here. There are three options suitable for you. It depends on which one you choose."

Charles was taken aback, then asked, "Teacher, please tell me."

Loran introduced them. "The three meditation techniques are the Pain Meditation Technique, the Gloomy Eye Meditation Technique, and the Chaotic Touch Meditation Technique."

"The prices of the three meditation techniques differ. The Pain Meditation Technique is the cheapest, costing only one hundred Magic Stones. Gloomy Eye costs one hundred and thirty Magic Stones, while Chaotic Touch costs two hundred."

"The meditation effects of the three techniques are similar, but their meditation processes differ, and so do their results."

"For the Pain Meditation Technique, before meditating, you need to lash your back with thorny whips."

"By tormenting the flesh, you elevate the spirit and improve the meditation's effect. The harsher the torment and the more intense the pain, the better the meditation effect."

"For the Gloomy Eye Meditation Technique, you need to consume the eyeballs of living creatures to improve the meditation's effect. The stronger the creature, the greater the improvement its eyeballs provide."

"The Chaotic Touch Meditation Technique is the most expensive, and its meditation effect is also the best. But during meditation, a random number of tentacles will grow from your body. The longer you meditate, the longer those tentacles grow."

"The process of growing tentacles produces pain and an aching itch. Once meditation ends, the tentacles retract again, bringing more pain."

As he listened to the three meditation techniques, Charles's eyelids twitched wildly.

Compared with the Basic Meditation Technique, any advanced meditation technique clearly came with all sorts of different requirements and side effects.

The Pain Meditation Technique was already outrageously twisted, practically a self-torturer's favorite.

The Gloomy Eye Meditation Technique was not much better. It required eating eyeballs. If he ate too many of them, would he start wanting to eat eyeballs whenever he saw them?

Who would have thought that you, Loran, with those thick brows and big eyes, secretly loved eating eyeballs?

And lastly, Chaotic Touch—was that even something a human should cultivate? Was he supposed to cultivate himself into an octopus?

With a bitter expression, Charles asked, "Teacher Loran, does every advanced meditation technique have these additional cultivation requirements and side effects?"

Loran nodded. "That's right. All advanced meditation techniques are like this."

"Power... comes at a price."

Charles sighed inwardly, but he had no better choice. He immediately said, "Teacher, I'll take the Gloomy Eye Meditation Technique."

Loran nodded. "A good choice!"

Loran tossed a scroll to Charles and, in passing, deducted one hundred and thirty Magic Stones from his Magic Stone card.

No matter what, Charles had more or less made up his mind before making the purchase.

Buying from Loran had unexpectedly saved him a little money.

Fenny's Hand really was a black-hearted organization. Even brothers got harvested like leeks, huh!

The lecture continued. Having made a sale, Loran was clearly in a good mood, and her explanations became more detailed as well.

Once the class ended, she left the classroom directly, leaving behind the three students.

Charles's other two classmates were a man and a woman.

The male apprentice stood up, walked over to Charles, and took the initiative to introduce himself. "Charles, I'm Joseph!"

"We're both studying in Teacher Loran's class. Let's exchange pointers more often in the future!"

Faced with Joseph's goodwill, Charles immediately replied, "No problem!"

The other female apprentice stood up and gave a disdainful snort. "Two pieces of trash, and you dare talk about exchanging pointers?"

With that, she strode out of the classroom.

Charles and Joseph looked at each other.

Joseph explained, "Don't take it to heart. She's Jody, an apprentice from a wizard family."

"I heard she's already close to becoming a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice, so..."

At that point, Charles understood.

Jody was clearly born into true nobility, which was different from someone like Charles.

Charles could only be considered nobility from a mundane dynasty, while Jody had been born into a wizard family.

Compared to her, Charles's family background was not even worthy of carrying Jody's shoes.

After all, people from backgrounds like Charles's were countless in Isata.

Charles smiled. "I understand. What about you, Joseph? Your family is...?"

Joseph shook his head with a smile. "My family isn't worth mentioning. My grandfather is only a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice, and he basically has no chance of advancing to become a wizard. Our household can't even be considered a family here."

Yet Charles did not dare look down on Joseph after hearing that.

Though they were both apprentices, the gap between First-Rank and Third-Rank was not small.

Having no hope of advancement meant there was no need to continue investing resources into advancing. Instead, the Magic Stones earned could all be used elsewhere.

For example, to strengthen combat ability, or to pave the way for younger generations.

Charles said somewhat enviously, "Joseph, your family's circumstances are quite good too! It's truly enviable!"

"With your grandfather supporting you, you'll surely become a wizard very soon!"

No flattery ever pierced through skin; saying a few nice words cost Charles nothing right now.

Sure enough, the still-young Joseph's smile became even brighter after hearing Charles's words.

After all, before Charles had arrived, Jody had crushed him from beginning to end.