Chapter 45

The progress on the last two runes was a bit more difficult than Luge had thought, but only a bit.

However, he felt it wasn't the normal difficulty of mastering runes, but rather Spiritual Power; he analyzed that perhaps his Spiritual Power had grown too fast during this period. Essentially, the process of trying to master one Meditation Method Rune after another was a way of training Spiritual Power; the growth speed of Spiritual Power and the progress of the Meditation Method influenced each other. If there was anything special during this period that might have caused an influence, it was that piece of gray Translucent Crystal Stone, which caused his Spiritual Power to surge a bit; he really looked down on this bit of external help.

While Meditating, he remembered he still had a Storage Bag that the Half-Man had helped open that he hadn't checked, but once he got busy he overlooked it again. Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice was already right before his eyes; he was full of drive. Aside from eating and sleeping, he just buried his head in Meditation training Spiritual Power. Monotonous and boring yet enjoyable, he persisted in continuous effort, which instead brought his heart peace. Watching himself progress bit by bit, he would even feel a faint sense of satisfaction.

"Today should do it."

He stuffed Worm Meat into his mouth in big mouthfuls. To not delay time, and also to experiment, these past two days he had started trying to eat the Meat Worms in the Bedroom Space. These Fat Meat Worms were collected along with the soil paving the ground when he went to the Worm Ravine last time; after several days they were still alive, and eating them there was no change in texture, nor did he get diarrhea.

Simply finished a meal.

He lay down for the first time in a long while and spaced out; spacing out was also a high-end, technically difficult way to relax.

Good thing he had mastery, and it was mastery of the core technique.

That was: not thinking of anything in his head.

Simple meal, simple spacing out, eating a few pieces of ice; he felt he had already simply adjusted well, and then once again entered a Meditation state.

All the runes needed to construct the second Magic Mark had already been mastered.

The previous several attempts had all been close to success, but always fell just a tiny bit short.

He felt this time should succeed, and moreover inexplicably certain; it was a feeling, feeling he could already do it, as if there was a voice in the bottom of his heart.

Six new, six old, twelve different Magic Mark Meditation Method Runes, outlined and constructed in sequence. Spiritual Power consumed steadily, serving as flesh and blood in another sense of meaning for the newly born runes to take shape. Outlining twelve runes in one go was a test of both his Willpower and control over Spiritual Power; there could not be a shred of waste, not a shred of hesitation. The runes constructed by the Meditation Method would slowly dissipate with the passage of time before forming a Magic Mark; as the number of required runes increased, the difficulty of Promotion would also grow.

If the construction speed was too fast, it was easy to make mistakes, easy to over-consume; but if he pursued stability too much, by the time he constructed the tenth rune the first might already have begun to dissipate, and he would still face Failure. For a First-Rank Apprentice to reach this extent, relying solely on their own Meditation Method cultivation training, Spiritual Power could be said to be just barely enough, allowing not a shred of waste or mishap.

At this moment he was like a simple existence in this world without distractions — a weed or stone; the difference was that in Meditation he would continuously outline runes; aside from that, he was no different from when spacing out.

The eleventh rune took shape in the blink of an eye. One final step away from Promotion to Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice. This Promotion speed of his was extremely rare even in Kalu's Diary — at least faster than the self-proclaimed genius Kalu, and who knew if Kalu had any bragging mixed in.

The previous two attempts had failed to grasp that degree; when outlining the twelfth rune, the first runes began to dissipate. This process of repeatedly trying to construct a Magic Mark was also a meticulous training of control over himself and his Spiritual Power. No matter how powerful the power, if it could not be wielded as easily as one's own arm, it did not belong to oneself.

The twelfth rune was the most complex, like stepping up a tier; from it one could also judge what the runes leading to the third Magic Mark would be like.

This time his grasp of the degree was extremely good; he felt not a shred of fatigue. From the first rune everything went smoothly; every allocation of Spiritual Power, every connection of steps, was that natural. The mistakes made in previous attempts, the problems encountered, were all subconsciously corrected and avoided one by one. By the twelfth rune everything proceeded orderly without the slightest fluctuation or change, still that swift and steady, and it had to be so — only then could he succeed.

Boom—!

Twelve runes, finally able to appear simultaneously in this illusory world of the Spiritual Power Space.

They were like old friends who had long known each other yet could never all gather together.

Noisy and clamorous, drawing ever closer, forming a strange spectacle; they mutually repelled and mutually entangled, gradually迎来 the most critical moment.

The Spiritual Power Space trembled along with it, but far less intensely than when he first became a Wizard Apprentice from nothing; perhaps because his Spiritual Power Space was already much more stable than back then.

A new Dark Red Magic Mark emerged in the Spiritual Power Space, slightly longer than the first Magic Mark, parallel and side by side with it. Several Spell Models were currently revolving and drifting around them.

Another illusory small canyon, or rather like claw marks left by a fierce beast with only two claw tips.

He thought for a moment, mobilized the Magic Skin Technique's Spell Model to approach the Magic Mark for Empowerment, and stored the empowered phantom in the second Magic Mark — that is, the second Temporary Spell Slot.

Choosing Magic Skin Technique wasn't just because it was the only spell he mastered that could let him take a beating; there was also consideration for the Abyss trip. This damage-taking spell would then become a Disguise spell in disguise; one more chance for instant Casting without waiting or consumption would undoubtedly be much safer.

He opened his eyes, letting out a long breath.

One breath recalled all manner of distractions; from weed and stone he turned back into a lively Kobold.

He blinked and suddenly thought: it seemed ever since becoming a Wizard Apprentice, his first Temporary Spell Slot had never been swapped; every time he used it up he would promptly Replenish a Bull Strength.

Suddenly becoming a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice, but in this desolate place, he could only eat some tasteless Shaved Ice to celebrate.

But he was very satisfied.

Next, simple rest, then pick a spell to try out the new limit on Casting times, so he would have a clear idea of his own strength.

He finished the Shaved Ice and came to the Cave Wall.

He wanted to do an experiment first: with stronger Spiritual Power, try to open that Door.

Before, he had felt he might be able to open a stable Spatial Door that could be fixed for a period of time, but it would be very strained; now that he had become a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice, it should be easier, letting him possess this Door that could freely enter the Abyssal Bedroom Space.

This was also Preparation for stealing Dragon Blood. He could open this Door that allowed entry and exit at any time in advance; once an accident occurred, he could Immediately hide inside.

As for coming to the Cave Wall to do this attempt.

That was merely for the convenience of concentrating his mind; after all, imagining opening a Door in a wall or such was easier to psychologically convince himself.

There were still some things to prepare. After being able to open the Door proficiently, he still had to think of a way to break open that strange dragon's skin; even a mosquito sucking blood has to stick its mouth in first.

As a Door panel like light and illusion gradually manifested, a burst of anxious footsteps also came over.

Aijin?

He, not yet very proficient at opening the Door, barely concentrated his spirit to complete the last bit; a Space Fragment Door over one person tall was successfully constructed.

He wiped away the nonexistent sweat on his forehead.

Just right to invite Aijin to go in and take a look together, he thought.

Cautious as he was, seeing the Fat Meat Worms fine after several days, he had already planned to go in himself for a visit.

"Brother Luge, Old Gold Tooth, his Light Silk has grown so long," the person not yet arrived, Aijin's voice already came from around the corner, followed by her anxious face. "Those things suddenly got brighter and brighter. He wouldn't let me come Disturb you. He said you're definitely doing something very important. But he hasn't been able to eat anything for a long time..."

(Chapter End)