Blackrock Town

Luo Lin focused on consulting every record related to the stars.

Whether it was the rudiments of astrology, observation notes left behind by ancient stargazers, or obscure spell concepts involving the summoning of astral creatures or the use of stellar power, he read and recorded them with voracious hunger.

The [Efficient Scholar] specialty and the [Literacy] spell made his learning efficiency exceptionally high.

He systematically filled in his knowledge of stellar studies. Although the library contained no direct records of the Star Source Meditation Method, this peripheral knowledge greatly helped him understand the nature of Starforce, the symbolic meanings of different stars, and the connection between celestial phenomena and energy tides.

At the same time, he delved deeply into materials concerning the solidification of innate spells.

He found more detailed descriptions in the library of the Origin Ink, Spatial Dust, Elemental Heart, and other materials Wizard Stone had mentioned.

Origin Ink was not a single material, but a collective term referring to special spiritual liquids capable of perfectly carrying and imprinting a wizard's spiritual origin mark.

Common bases included the blood of Nightmare Beasts, the juice of Moonlight Narcissus, dissolved soul crystals, and so on. Every one of them was extremely rare and required complex refining processes.

Spatial Dust, meanwhile, was crystalline dust naturally precipitated in regions where spatial structures were either exceptionally stable or exceptionally unstable, containing faint fragments of spatial laws.

It could usually only be obtained from certain ancient demiplanes, near spatial rifts, or through artificial refinement by wizards proficient in spatial spells.

Elemental Hearts were more straightforward. They were cores formed when a certain elemental energy became highly condensed and gave birth to a trace of weak spiritual origin. For example, the mass of Water Elemental Essence he had obtained in the secret realm could actually be considered the embryonic form of a Water Elemental Heart, but its quality and completeness were still far from sufficient for solidifying an innate spell.

The rarity of these materials made Luo Lin deeply realize just how difficult it was to solidify a powerful innate spell.

It required not only strength and opportunity, but also vast accumulated resources.

Besides consulting records, Luo Lin also began trying to use his newly acquired power for research and practical experiments.

In the temporary laboratory provided by the academy, he attempted to further optimize his spells.

Based on his deeper understanding of energy particles and ancient runes, he began working on improving [Corrosive Orb].

He tried incorporating a trace of Starforce's properties into it, hoping to improve its penetration and stability.

The process required extraordinarily precise control. Many experiments ended in failure, and he had even nearly caused a small-scale energy disturbance. Yet he enjoyed it immensely; every failure deepened his understanding of the essence of power.

He also resumed studying the several dark metal plates he had brought back from the secret realm, each etched with complex three-dimensional runes.

After advancing to an Official Wizard, his perception had increased tremendously, and he finally sensed that these metal plates seemed to be components of an exceptionally precise energy lock or information storage device.

They could absorb ambient free energy on their own to maintain basic operation, and their internal rune structures were astonishingly complex.

He tried many methods, including simulating different energy frequencies and injecting Starforce, but none could activate or crack them. He could only set them aside for the time being and wait for a future opportunity.

During this period, he also kept an eye on the various information and trades circulating within the academy.

Using some relatively unimportant materials acquired from the secret realm, Luo Lin exchanged them through the academy's internal channels or trusted intermediaries for several useful items:

A small bottle of reasonably good Dragonblood Ink,

Several grams of Void Sand said to have come from a collapsed demiplane. It contained faint spatial power and was a poor substitute for Spatial Dust that could be used for research.

And the latest intelligence on the inner regions of Deathwhisper Marsh, where traces of Soulflame Flowers were suspected to have appeared.

These gains could not directly solve his problem with innate spell materials, but they pointed him in the right direction and gave him some capital for preliminary research.

Baha also adapted to its new identity as a first-ring magical pet.

Its intelligence seemed to grow further alongside Luo Lin's advancement. It could now conduct more complex communication through their mental link and even express some simple thoughts and emotions.

Luo Lin began teaching it more refined scouting and support techniques, while trying to combine its Dark Insight with his own Starforce perception to develop new coordinated tactics.

Time flew by amid fulfilling research and preparation. At last, a notice from the Administrative Tower arrived:

His assignment location had been confirmed.

It was an outpost in the Blackrock Mountains in the continent's northwest, bordering the Whispering Plains.

That place lay at the intersection of the Shadow Crow Holy Tower, several local wizard families, and the nomadic tribes of the plains.

The situation was complicated. It produced many kinds of metal ore and several unique wind- and earth-element magical plants, while also facing potential threats from plains monsters and various factions.

It was a typical frontier outpost where opportunity and risk coexisted.

Luo Lin was quite satisfied with the arrangement.

The environment of the Blackrock Mountains differed from the Black Forest he was familiar with. He would have access to new resources and challenges, and Deathwhisper Marsh was not too far away, making it convenient for him to search for Soulflame Flowers later.

Before leaving the academy, he visited Eric and Wizard Stone once more and informed them of his destination.

The two wizards each gave him some practical gifts:

Wizard Eric gave him a small jar of carefully bred Message Bugs. These insects could transmit brief mental messages over a certain distance.

Wizard Stone gave him a copy of his latest research notes on the application of energy particle fields.

Carrying the academy's deployment documents, the gifts from his two mentors, and the research results and information he had gathered during this time, Luo Lin set off once more.

This time, he was no longer an ignorant apprentice, nor a patrol member carrying out a mission. As an Official Wizard, he was heading for a new land to build his own achievements, pursue higher knowledge, and gather the precious materials needed to solidify his unique innate spell.

Riding in a sturdy carriage arranged by the academy and pulled by docile beasts of burden, Luo Lin left the core territory of the Shadow Crow Holy Tower and headed northwest toward the Blackrock Mountains.

The journey was long. He crossed dense forests and rolling hills until, at last, the outline of a towering, desolate mountain range appeared on the horizon.

The Blackrock Mountains lived up to their name. Most of the range was made of glossy black stone, with sparse vegetation that gave it a cold, rugged appearance.

The air was filled with dust and a faint scent of metal and wind erosion.

His destination was not deep within the mountains, but a small town on the eastern foothills at the edge of the range.

Blackrock Town.

It was the Shadow Crow Holy Tower's primary stronghold in the region and an outpost for trade and exchanges with the Whispering Plains.

The town was much larger than Gray Tower Outpost, but it still carried the rough atmosphere of a frontier settlement.

Most buildings were constructed from locally quarried black stone, squat and sturdy. There were not many pedestrians on the streets, but he could see people dressed in all kinds of attire:

Academy personnel in gray robes, adventurers and mercenaries clad in leather armor and carrying weapons, and merchants from the Whispering Plains wearing distinctive ethnic clothing.

Luo Lin's arrival did not cause much of a stir.

While the posting of an Official Wizard here was not common, it was hardly unheard of.

The person responsible for receiving him was the town's administrator, a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice named Old John. He had been here for over twenty years and knew the local situation inside out.

Old John respectfully led Luo Lin to his residence.

It was a two-story black-stone house with its own small courtyard, located in a relatively quiet part of town.

Although the house was simple, it had enough space, and its basement had been converted into a basic spell laboratory. It was very suitable for Luo Lin, who needed to conduct independent research.

"Lord Luo Lin, this is your residence and laboratory."

"I generally handle the town's daily affairs. Unless something arises that cannot be decided or requires martial support, I will not disturb you."

"These are maps of the terrain around the outpost, resource distribution maps, and information on the factions that require attention."

Old John handed over a stack of documents, his manner humble and attentive.

Luo Lin nodded and accepted the materials.

He was very satisfied with this relatively free arrangement.

"Thank you. I need peace and quiet for my research. Do not disturb me unless necessary."

"Understood." Old John bowed and withdrew.