Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Eve's eyes. She carefully examined Li Ang's rather slender build, then pondered for a moment before saying:
"Something that directly changes one's physical appearance? No, there isn't. What wizards pursue is the elevation of spiritual power and control over magic. The form of the body is not the focus."
She paused, then continued explaining, "There are potions that enhance strength, such as the Giant's Strength Potion and the Dragon's Rage Potion, but their effects are short-lived and their side effects are considerable. They are mainly used by combat wizards when they are fighting for their lives."
As her closing remark, Eve offered her own suggestion:
"If you need inspiration, or wish to find directions for improvement from existing formulas, the Faction Library may have what you need. The library is on the sixth floor. Your badge allows you to borrow books."
"Thank you for your guidance, Mentor." Li Ang was delighted. As long as he had a general direction, things would be easier.
At that moment, Li Ang remembered the novel he had brought. Somewhat apprehensively, he took the handwritten manuscript from his robes.
"Mentor Eve, these are some stories I wrote in my spare time. I thought you might be able to use them to pass the time..."
Eve's gaze fell upon the stack of manuscripts, and an extremely complicated expression flashed across her face. She swiftly took the pages, set them aside without even looking at them, and deliberately hardened her tone with a mentor's authority.
"Li Ang, your talent and time should be spent on potions and meditation. Do not waste them on such... irrelevant matters."
Seeing this, Li Ang looked alarmed and hurriedly bowed.
"Yes, Mentor. I will certainly remember your teachings. Then I shall take my leave first."
Only after watching Li Ang leave somewhat dejectedly and carefully close the door behind him did Eve slowly pick up the stack of manuscripts.
The expression on her beautiful face shifted several times before she finally sighed and muttered softly, "It is the thought that counts, at least."
She leaned back into the sofa and opened to the first page.
At first, her brows were slightly furrowed, as though she were reading with scrutiny and indifference. But soon, her brow relaxed, and her gaze was drawn in.
When she read about the protagonist, Xiao Yilisha Yanfeng, suffering a decline in cultivation and being humiliated by her snobbish fiancé, who came to break off their engagement, a distinct flush of anger actually appeared on Eve's fair cheeks.
She unconsciously clenched the manuscript and cursed under her breath, "Bastard."
When she saw the young girl stubbornly swear, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—don't bully a poor young girl," Eve nodded unconsciously, her eyes filled with approval...
After leaving Mentor Eve's quarters, Li Ang immediately wiped the disappointed look from his face. It seemed Mentor Eve really liked the gift; otherwise, why would she have kept the manuscript?
Next, he would take a look around the Faction Library. Hopefully, he could find something useful. Following Mentor Eve's directions, Li Ang first returned to the third floor, then took the stairs up to the sixth.
The entire sixth floor housed only one facility: the Faction Library. Its heavy doors stood open, and the sight inside made Li Ang hold his breath slightly.
The library's interior was far more spacious than it appeared from outside. Dozens of enormous bookshelves, each several people tall, stood in neat rows within.
The shelves were densely packed with all kinds of books, while soft light spilled from Magelight Lamps embedded in the sides of the bookshelves and the ceiling.
The library was exceptionally quiet. Only the faint rustling of pages and breathing came from a long table somewhere inside, where several Apprentice Wizards in brown robes sat reading.
Li Ang walked to a massive crystal panel at the entrance and pressed his badge into a groove beside it.
In an instant, countless book listings appeared on the crystal panel. Li Ang quickly browsed through them according to his needs, and soon several titles caught his attention.
Comprehensive Herbal Properties
<Leyline Mineral Deposits: An Analysis of the Properties of Medicinal Ores and Crystals>
<Medicinal Extraction and Processing of Magic Beast Materials>
"These will do for now." Li Ang memorized their section numbers, then searched for the corresponding shelves. Before long, he found the right one.
The Comprehensive Herbal Properties he needed should have been stored on the highest shelf of this row.
He looked up and was considering whether he needed to find a ladder when the dark stone floor beneath his feet suddenly glowed faintly, simple rune outlines appearing across its surface.
Then, the one-meter-square slab of flooring lifted him smoothly and silently into the air, stopping right in front of the thick, brick-like Comprehensive Herbal Properties.
"Pretty convenient." Li Ang praised it inwardly as he reached out and took down the heavy book.
After returning to the ground, he placed the book on an empty cart nearby, then pushed the cart onward to search for the other two books.
Just as he pushed the book cart through the towering rows of shelves, craning his neck to compare the labels on the spines while searching for Leyline Mineral Deposits, a female voice filled with obvious displeasure and irritation suddenly sounded behind him. It was crisp, but deliberately lowered.
"Hey! You're blocking my light. Move."
Li Ang jumped in fright. There should not have been anyone nearby, so he quickly turned around, only to find no one behind him.
"Who?" he asked in a low voice, instinctively looking around. The nearest people were all more than ten meters away.
Could it be some magical creature raised within the tower? Or... a ghost? But how could a level-one magical creature like a ghost appear in the tightly guarded Wizard Tower library?
Just as Li Ang secretly gathered his spiritual power, prepared to cast a Breeze Technique the moment he encountered danger, he suddenly felt a kick against his shin. It was not particularly hard, but it was unmistakable.
"Look down, you rude human who looks like a skinny stick!"
The voice rang out again, this time with even more anger.
Li Ang lowered his head at those words and finally discovered the source of the voice. A petite figure, only reaching his waist and standing around 1.2 meters tall, stood there with her hands on her hips, glaring up at him indignantly.
The girl had bright pink, medium-short hair, and her emerald-green eyes were currently blazing with fury.
She wore a well-fitted brown Apprentice Wizard robe. Pinned to her chest was a badge depicting a cauldron surrounded by several emerald-green leaves.
Li Ang had seen that badge before. It was the symbol of Mentor Karin's branch, and it was the most common badge in the faction.
The girl keenly caught the direction of Li Ang's gaze as he assessed her height. She was so angry that she nearly jumped up to punch his knee.
"What are you looking at? Have you never seen a dwarf before? You ignorant human."
She puffed out her small chest, trying to appear more imposing, and announced in a deliberately haughty tone:
"Listen carefully, human. I am no ordinary dwarf. My name is Shandrameya Maxwell, princess of Ironforge. Show me some respect. Now apologize for your stupid obstruction and your rude gaze, then kneel and kiss my boots. Only then will I consider forgiving you."
Before you continue