Elemental Well, Crystallized Scorpion Lion

Wizard Eric had once mentioned during a casual chat with Buck:

"At the apprentice stage, you learn the knowledge summarized by those who came before and build standard models."

"But once you become a formal wizard, you need to start thinking: why is this model constructed this way?"

"What principles lie behind it?"

"Is there a method better suited to yourself?"

"This process is called Spell Enlightenment, and it is the key distinction between wizards and spellcasting tools."

Those words were deeply imprinted in Luo Lin's mind.

He began consciously studying every spell and researching every energy diagram. Whenever he drew a formation, he was no longer satisfied with merely knowing how to do it, but pursued why it had to be done that way.

This process slowed his learning progress once more, especially as the proficiency of the various knowledge and spells on his panel increased even more slowly.

But Luo Lin knew that his foundation was being tempered to an extraordinary degree of solidity.

His interactions with Lina remained shallow, consisting of occasional meetings and simple conversations.

Lina seemed very interested in the various planting experiments he had begun after acquiring Darkgold Wood at the Graymarsh Trade Fair. Once, she had even specifically come to his stone house to inspect the crude Nourishing Formation, clicking her tongue in amazement.

"You really do always come up with something new."

"If this thing could be mass-produced, those factions specializing in cultivating magical plants would probably fight over it."

Lina circled the thriving Moonlight Orchid.

"It's only a preliminary attempt. Its effects are limited, and the source of the Darkgold Wood is unknown, so it can't be replicated."

Luo Lin answered honestly.

"True enough."

Lina nodded, then said excitedly.

"But it's really interesting!"

"It's much more interesting than fighting and scheming all day."

"Did you know? Kyle has nearly come to blows with people from the Firmrock Society recently over a spot on an exploration mission to Glimmer Mine."

Luo Lin neither agreed nor disagreed.

He had no interest in disputes between apprentices. All he wanted was to accumulate knowledge in peace.

During their next few chance encounters, Kyle Silverglow's gaze remained cold, but he no longer made verbal provocations. It seemed he had tacitly accepted Luo Lin's existence.

After this peaceful life had continued for some time, an academy announcement shattered it.

In one month, the academy would open a competition for Elemental Well meditation privileges, available to all Third-Rank Apprentices.

The so-called Elemental Wells were several natural energy convergence points within the academy. Reinforced and guided by formations, meditating within them was far more efficient than using even an advanced meditation room.

They were particularly effective for comprehending energy particles and purifying mental power.

Each opening offered an extremely limited number of places, which had to be won through competition.

The moment the announcement was released, the Third-Rank Apprentices throughout the academy became restless.

This was a rare opportunity to accelerate their cultivation and perhaps even touch upon the threshold of becoming a formal wizard.

Luo Lin was tempted as well.

He had been stuck at [Basic Meditation Method (Mastery 98%)] for a long time. Perhaps the environment of an Elemental Well would allow him to break through to the perfect level in one stroke.

Moreover, the environment of an Elemental Well would certainly be of great help in understanding the structures of energy particles.

The method of competing for the privilege was to complete a designated high-difficulty mission.

Collect ten crystallized stinger cores from Crystallized Scorpion Lions.

Crystallized Scorpion Lions were pack-dwelling magical beasts that lived in the treacherous mountains near the academy. Most possessed the strength of Third-Rank Apprentices, while their leaders approached the level of formal wizards, making them extremely dangerous.

The mission had to be completed alone. Teaming up was forbidden to ensure fairness and test individual strength.

The mission was difficult, but its rewards were equally enticing.

Besides the Elemental Well meditation privilege, completing the mission itself would earn a reward of 1,000 contribution points.

Luo Lin barely hesitated before immediately heading to the mission hall to accept it.

He knew it was dangerous, but he had confidence in his own strength and preparations.

Besides, such a challenge was excellent training in itself.

After accepting the mission, Luo Lin began making intense preparations.

He carefully studied the academy archives on Crystallized Scorpion Lions, learning about their habits, methods of attack, and weaknesses.

Crystallized Scorpion Lions possessed astonishing defensive power. The crystalline shells covering their bodies in particular had strong resistance to both physical and energy attacks.

However, their abdomens and joint connections were relatively vulnerable. Their tail stingers were their strongest means of attack and contained the cores of their power.

Luo Lin inspected his equipment.

The Bone-Spike Dagger, several high-quality Stamina Recovery Potions, two spare Lesser Mental Boiling Potions, and several experimental potions he had concocted himself with powerful corrosive or paralyzing effects.

As for spells, Acid Spray was effective against crystalline shells, Weak Force-Field Armor had to be maintained at all times, and Mage Hand could be used to restrain and disrupt them.

In addition, he had specifically spent 500 contribution points to buy a one-use Lesser Elemental Shield scroll as a final trump card to save his life.

Once his preparations were complete, Luo Lin made no announcement. One morning, he left the academy alone and headed toward the treacherous northern mountains.

This was the first time he had truly left the academy's safe boundaries and faced the dangers of the wilderness alone.

The air carried an aura of freedom and danger. He knew that this mission was not merely for competing over resources.

It was also an important test of the results of his more than half year of arduous cultivation.

After leaving the boundaries of Shadow Crow Holy Tower Arcane Academy, the energy particles in the air seemed to become much more active and chaotic.

The harsh winds unique to the Karugusha Highlands carried sand and dust as they swept over Luo Lin's gray apprentice robe.

He adjusted his breathing and extended his mental power slightly, sensing his surroundings.

This was his first time entering the wilderness outside the academy alone. Though he was only in the relatively familiar outskirts of the northern mountains, its danger could not be compared to that within the academy.

According to the maps and records, Crystallized Scorpion Lions usually inhabited dry caves or canyon regions deep in the mountains.

Luo Lin did not choose to venture straight in. Instead, he carefully searched along the mountain outskirts for traces of scorpion lion activity.

For example, gnawed animal bones, distinctive scratch marks on rock walls, or faint crystalline fragments contained within their droppings.

He moved slowly and with exceptional caution.

Weak Force-Field Armor remained active at the lowest level, continuously consuming mana at an acceptable rate.

His mental power swept over the path ahead like invisible feelers, probing for possible traps and hidden predators.

On the first day, he found no traces of Crystallized Scorpion Lions. He only encountered some ordinary mountain creatures and several low-threat magical beasts.

He easily dealt with a Shadowstripe Leopard that tried to ambush him with Acid Spray, testing the spell's effectiveness in actual combat.

That night, he found a sheltered rock peak and set up a simple warning formation.

This was one of several practical little tricks he had recently learned from Basic Formation Analysis.

The formation consisted of several rune-inscribed stones. Once a creature entered a certain range, it would send him a mental warning.

Though crude, it could provide the most basic security.

On the afternoon of the second day, Luo Lin finally found several large lizard skeletons that had been gnawed completely clean beneath a steep slope.

Fine crystalline powder remained on the skeletons. It was precisely the trace left behind by Crystallized Scorpion Lions.

His spirits rose as he searched upward along the slope.

As he went deeper, the terrain became increasingly rugged, with jagged rocks forming a complicated maze.

A faint stench, like a mixture of sulfur and metal, began to fill the air.

Luo Lin became even more cautious, lightening his steps as he slowly advanced under the cover of rocks.

At a narrow pass, he stopped.

A rustling scraping sound came from ahead, accompanied by low roars like clashing stones.

He cautiously poked his head out and saw three Crystallized Scorpion Lions tearing apart a freshly captured rock goat on a relatively flat patch of gravel beyond the pass.

This was Luo Lin's first time seeing these magical beasts with his own eyes.

They were slightly smaller than ordinary lions, but their bodies were covered in irregular, multifaceted crystals that reflected a cold gleam in the dim light.

Their limbs were powerful, their claws and fangs sharp. Most striking of all were the tails raised high behind them. Their tips were not venomous stingers, but fist-sized crystal cores that constantly flickered with unstable energy.

Those were the mission targets: crystallized stinger cores.