Lina's Invitation

Time slipped quietly by amid busy, fulfilling research.

In the blink of an eye, more than three months had passed since Luo Lin had passed the assessment.

Winter had long since ended, and the Karugusha Highlands had entered its brief, dry spring.

Yet the atmosphere within Shadow Crow Holy Tower Arcane Academy had not softened because of it. Competition remained everywhere.

Luo Lin's life had settled into a new, more intensive rhythm.

Like a greedy sponge, he madly absorbed every piece of knowledge available within a Third-Rank Apprentice's authority.

The library's third-rank section had become the place where he spent the most time.

He no longer confined himself to any single type of book, instead reading broadly.

Basic Formation Analysis taught him how to use specific materials and spiritual guidance to draw permanent or temporary formations with various effects.

They ranged from simple alarm formations to small-scale elemental gathering formations.

One Hundred Exercises for Fine Spiritual Power Control provided many small techniques for tempering spiritual power. Though tedious, after persisting for a long time, Luo Lin's control over his spiritual power had indeed become much more proficient.

Illustrated Guide to Common Extraordinary Creatures of the Alvado Continent (Apprentice Edition) broadened his horizons and gave him a preliminary understanding of the world beyond the academy.

Through frequent use, the proficiency of the [Text Comprehension] spell steadily rose to Beginner 65%. Both his speed and accuracy in deciphering unfamiliar writing improved considerably.

This made it much easier for him to read books containing annotations in ancient languages, Elvish, and even small amounts of Draconic.

As for potion-making, the Basic Potion Material Energy Atlas materials opened by Wizard Eric had opened the door to a new world for him.

He no longer merely knew that Moonlight Moss possessed cold, yin-like properties. Through the atlas, he could "see" that its internal energy structure tended toward stillness and soothing effects.

He also came to understand that Shadow Fungus's faint mental stimulation came from several unstable nodes in its energy structure that could easily trigger spiritual power resonance.

Luo Lin began attempting more in-depth potion experiments.

Rather than merely improving known formulas, he tried combining several mild low-level materials according to the compatibility of their energy atlases, hoping to create a new potion that could slightly enhance concentration.

The failure rate was extremely high. Out of more than a dozen attempts, perhaps only one or two would produce a faint effect, and even those were highly unstable.

But he never grew tired of it, treating every failure as a process of accumulating data and eliminating wrong options.

His assistant work in the laboratory also allowed him access to more strange and unusual materials, enriching his "material library."

His contribution points continued to flow in and out at a tremendous rate.

He earned a steady seven hundred contribution points per week, but the expenses for advanced meditation rooms, incense, body-tempering potions, and knowledge were equally enormous.

His total contribution points fluctuated between 4,500 and 5,500, like a pool of living water that constantly flowed in and out.

The figures on his panel were changing noticeably more slowly than before:

[Host: Luo Lin]

[Attributes:

Spiritual Power: 3.9

Mana: 39/39

Constitution: 1.7]

[Spells: Mage Hand (Proficient 99%), Acid Spray (Beginner 75%), Weak Force-Field Armor (Proficient 50%), Text Comprehension (Beginner 65%)]

[Mastered Knowledge:

Basic Meditation Method (Mastery 98%)

Basic Rune Identification (Beginner 58%)

Basic Magical Botany (62%)

Basic Potion Material Processing (Professional 25%)

Analysis of Common Cantrip Model Structures (Proficient 55%)

Elemental Particle Contact Configuration Theory (Beginner 12%)

Basic Formation Analysis (Beginner 5%)]

Among them, [Basic Meditation Method] in particular had been stuck at Mastery 98% for nearly two weeks. He was always just one final step away from the Perfect level.

Luo Lin could feel that this was not merely a matter of understanding the meditation method itself. It also involved a deeper awareness and control of his own spiritual sea, something that could not be rushed.

His mana grew in tandem with the gradual increase in spiritual power, maintaining a ratio of one to ten.

That afternoon, after Luo Lin finished extracting mucus from a batch of Crystal-Silk Worms in the laboratory, he did not leave immediately.

He had recently developed a strong interest in combining energy atlases with material processing and was trying to optimize the formula for a [Decontamination Potion] commonly used to clean experimental equipment.

He hoped to improve its cleaning efficiency or grant it some additional property, such as a faint disinfecting effect.

This was not particularly profound research. It was more like practice and the pleasure of testing an idea.

He was carefully mixing several basic solvents according to the proportions he had designed when a slightly teasing voice suddenly came from beside him.

"Yo, our busy Luo Lin. Since when have you cared so much about washing bottles?"

Luo Lin looked up and saw that Luna Sharp had somehow appeared beside his workbench.

She was not wearing an apprentice's gray robe today, but a set of dark leather armor suited for movement. Two short blades hung at her waist, making her look neat and capable.

"Senior Lina."

Luo Lin nodded in greeting.

After several chance encounters and brief conversations in public areas, the two could be considered acquainted.

Lina seemed somewhat curious about his rapid rise and solitary habits, and she would occasionally come over to chat with him like this.

"Just call me Lina."

She waved a hand and leaned closer, curiously examining the oddly colored mixture Luo Lin was preparing.

"What are you making? A new poison?"

"I'm trying to improve the [Decontamination Potion]."

Luo Lin answered calmly, his hands never stopping as he precisely added another extract.

"Improving the [Decontamination Potion]?"

Lina froze for a moment, then could not help laughing. Her eyes curved into crescents.

"You really are... interesting."

"Everyone else is desperately researching offensive spells or potions to improve spiritual power, while you're here studying how to wash bottles more cleanly?"

Luo Lin did not mind her teasing and replied seriously, "The basics are important."

"Besides, understanding the reaction principles of these basic materials helps with understanding more complex potions."

Lina's smile faded as she nodded thoughtfully.

"That's true. No wonder Wizard Eric thinks so highly of you."

She paused and changed the subject.

"Oh, right. There'll be a small apprentice trade fair over at Gray Marsh at the beginning of next month. I heard that some good things from outside occasionally show up there. Want to go take a look together?"

"If you keep burying your head in research alone all the time, you'll turn into an idiot."

Gray Marsh was an unofficial trading area tacitly permitted within the academy. It was fairly remote and filled with all sorts of people, but one could indeed sometimes find things unavailable in the mission hall or legitimate shops.

Luo Lin considered it.

He had always avoided too much social interaction, but he also felt it was necessary to stay in touch with outside information.

Besides, he wanted to see whether he could find any rare materials with unusual energy atlases.

"Sure. What time and where?"

he asked.

"I'll let you know when the time comes."

Lina seemed quite pleased that he agreed.

"Don't worry, we're just going to look around. We won't cause trouble."

After saying that, she winked at Luo Lin and left the laboratory like a gust of wind.

Luo Lin shook his head and returned his attention to the potion in his hands.

This improvement seemed to be having some effect. The color of the mixture gradually stabilized, releasing a faint, fresh scent similar to mint rather than the harsh chemical smell from before.

Several days later, Luo Lin encountered Kyle Silverglow again in an advanced meditation room.

This time, Kyle unusually took the initiative to speak.

"Luo Lin?"

His voice carried a hint of lofty scrutiny.

"Senior Kyle."

Luo Lin responded calmly.

"I heard you've been getting rather close to someone from the Sharp family lately?"

Kyle's tone was flat, but there was more to his words than met the ear.

Luo Lin frowned slightly. "Just ordinary conversation."

"That would be best."

Kyle said indifferently.

"Some people are beyond your reach."

"Focus on improving your strength. That is the proper path. Don't waste your thoughts on crooked schemes."

After saying that, he ignored Luo Lin and closed his eyes, entering meditation.

Looking at his back, Luo Lin understood.

It seemed Lina had some background, and Kyle was either warning him not to entertain improper thoughts or showing off his own status.

He had no intention of becoming involved in the class divisions and factional disputes among apprentices, but trouble always seemed to find him on its own.

He did not take Kyle's words to heart and continued his meditation.

Yet today seemed especially ill-fated. His spiritual sea could never reach its optimal state of calm, and the membrane leading to perfection remained stubbornly resilient.