Chapter 393: Ritual Locks and Witches

Besides Xia De, the other students were formal students studying at the academy, wearing unified black robes as uniforms.

Professor Garcia simply welcomed Xia De, and then officially began the lecture. Of course, he first explained the assessment requirements of this course and explained the course report that needed to be submitted at the end, which was 12 inches (about 30.4cm) long on parchment.

Xia De originally thought that taking such a professional course early would be difficult to understand, but after Professor Garcia officially began the lecture, he discovered that this course was just a very preliminary explanation of the strange supernatural ability of "ritual locks".

The ring warlocks who chose this course were all planning to learn ritual lock-type miracles or spells in the future, or at least had this intention. Relatively speaking, Xia De's understanding of the course itself was stronger, because he had truly used ritual locks more than once.

This kind of basic course was very helpful to Xia De, not only Professor Garcia's explanation of the application of spatial miracles, which made Xia De have more ideas about the application of abilities and his own system planning. More importantly, he couldn't find information about mystical abilities of this kind anywhere else, so even though he had used ritual locks many times, this was his first time having a systematic understanding of this kind of ability.

The reason why ritual lock-type abilities are precious is because this requires the user to create and superimpose a space on top of the extremely stable space of the material world. Within the closed space, the power of the ritual lock user will be greatly enhanced, and can even suppress those powerful and terrifying relics to a certain extent.

And besides the comprehensive enhancement of oneself, different ritual locks will grant users different abilities according to their nature.

For example, Xia De's 【The Little Match Girl】 granted Xia De the ability to use four limited wishes. So far, he had used the ritual lock completely twice, the first time using four wishes to save the little girl's family, and the second time using four wishes to win a card game.

Ritual locks can be produced by miracles and spells, and can also be produced by large-scale rituals. It's just that the consumption of ritual-type ritual locks is huge. To use Professor Garcia's metaphor, it's only a little cheaper than a god-descending ritual. And spell and miracle-type ritual locks not only require the ring warlock level of the user, but also require extremely strong talent.

This is not something that can be successful with money and effort, as high-ring miracles have strong requirements for spirit runes, talent, and luck.

Even a thirteenth-ring warlock, only a few possess ritual locks. And within the entire St. Byrons Comprehensive Academy, only four people possess

Of course, this does not include Xia De, as there are four people. They are the librarian, Miss Daniste; the dean of the Academy's ace major, the School of Library Management; an eleventh-ring student from the School of History who is currently preparing to graduate; and Professor Garcia, the vice dean of the School of History.

Speaking of this, Professor Garcia's face revealed a rather self-satisfied expression. But the students all thought this was normal, because if they were standing in the professor's position, they would likely reveal the exact same expression.

"Professor! Then are Echo-type abilities ultimately using the four elements to influence space, thereby creating space, or are they using one's own thoughts and spirits to construct an imagined world?"

This was a question Xia De raised as the class was nearing its end. Professor Garcia was very satisfied with this question and suggested that Xia De use it as the content for his final paper:

"Strictly speaking, both ideas you proposed are correct. The Ring-Ringed Ringed Shushi system itself is about intelligent life relying on spirits and the four elements to influence this world; it is just that the manifestation of Echoes is relatively unique."

"Then Professor, is it possible for a fully formed Echo to change due to changes in the user's own soul? For example, can a Ring-Ringed Ringed Shushi who has lost control still exert the original power of their Echo?"

Xia De raised another question. The last time 【Gluttony】 influenced 【The Little Match Girl】, it made him realize this issue.

Professor Garcia frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded gently:

"Abnormal changes in the soul will affect all miracles, after all, the Life Ring itself is a part of the soul. The topic I am currently researching is whether, if a Ring-Ringed Ringed Shushi masters two miracle Echoes, these two Echoes will influence each other. This is also an important research direction for how one's own consciousness interacts with miracle power, similar to your question."

He considered for a moment:

"I can explain this part of the content in tomorrow's class, but Mr. Hamilton, I think you really could try to start considering constructing an Echo-type ability from now on and choose suitable spirit runes; you are very talented in this regard."

Professor Garcia had always appreciated Xia De; after all, Xia De's performance had always been excellent.

"No problem, Professor. I am currently considering an Echo related to the Enlightenment element."

Xia De took the opportunity to say this, so that when he reached a high ring, it would be convenient to explain the origin of his Echo.

It was exactly nine o'clock in the evening when the class ended. When Xia De stood up from his chair, the cat Mia was standing on the sofa looking backward, watching her own cat tail, which was wearing a ring, swaying constantly.

Seeing Xia De stand up and stretch after sitting for a long time, the cat immediately ran over, wanting him to hold her.

After playing with Mia for a while, before Xia De could find his notebook to record the content of the class just now for easy review, the carriage stopped downstairs at number six.

When he went out to eat in the evening, Xia De had written an urgent letter to Miss Galina and sent it directly from the post office. Calculating the time, it was about this time that Miss Galina would have sent the carriage after receiving the letter.

It was just that when Xia De put on his clothes and went downstairs, he discovered that not only was the maid Tifa in the carriage, but Miss Galina was actually there as well.

"You actually came in person?"

Xia De was very surprised and invited the duchess to come in and talk.

"I didn't come into the city for your business. I went to Yodel Palace today to handle some matters, and it just so happened that the servants at the manor sent over your letter. Xia De, what happened to you again? Could it be that you found another bottle of immortality elixir?"

The duchess joked. After following Xia De upstairs and seeing the chair and water basin placed there, she knew he had just been in contact with Saint Byron.

"It is like this, I recently obtained an interesting alchemy formula, but this requires your help."

Xia De had originally not intended to tell anyone about the alchemy item for detecting witches. But encountering the carriage of the Aurora family today gave him a great sense of crisis. His own alchemy level was not considered high, and coupled with the need for a witch's hair, he changed his mind and sought help directly from Miss Galina.

"An alchemy formula?"

The duchess asked in surprise; she knew Xia De would not disturb her for such a small matter.

"Yes, it is related to witches."

Xia De handed the formula he had copied onto paper in advance to the duchess, and after Miss Tifa received permission, she had already entered Xia De's kitchen to prepare black tea for the two of them.

The two sat down on the sofa. Mia seemed to have great hostility toward Miss Galina; even when placed on Xia De's lap, she would occasionally meow at the witch.

Miss Galina frowned as she looked at it:

"Hmm?"

The red-haired witch looked up at Xia De, her expression somewhat serious:

"Detective, where did you get this?"

"Although I would like to use the excuse of 'buying it from a mysterious person in the black market,' I don't like to lie, so the answer is that it is inconvenient to answer, but I can guarantee that the formula is fine."

Miss Galina nodded and placed the sheet of paper on the coffee table.

It just so happened that Tifa walked over with a teapot, preparing to pour tea for the two. The red-haired witch weighed her words, her golden eyes examining Xia De's face:

"Xia De, perhaps you really do have a destiny-bound entanglement with witches."

Xia De immediately shook his head:

"No, no, I don't want to have any entanglement with troublesome witches... except for you."

Realizing the inaccuracy in his words, he corrected himself immediately, his peripheral vision catching the corner of the maid's mouth curling into a smile as she bent over.

Miss Galina raised an eyebrow:

"The merman immortality elixir from a few days ago, and now this kind of lost thing, even the Council has only heard of it. I really suspect whether you have found the tomb of the witches of the Fifth Era."

"I wish I had; I heard that the witches of the Fifth Era liked to use gold, silver, and other precious metals as funerary items."

Xia De shook his head regretfully and then asked:

"Speaking of which, is it the Sixth Era now?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course, it is the Sixth Era now. Detective, have you lost control?"

The witch asked in surprise, and the black-haired maid also cast a concerned look.

"No, no, no, I was just asking casually. Let's get back to the point. I have prepared all the materials for making this item, only missing a witch's hair. Miss Galina, I hope you can help me make one. The formula can be shared with you, but I hope you won't share it with others in the Witch Council."

Xia De said, and then saw the duchess opposite him reveal a mocking expression:

"Detective, why would you think I would share this item with them? Of course not. This kind of good thing, where I can find them but they don't know I can find them, of course, I have to keep it for myself."

Xia De stroked the cat lying on his lap, feeling that the relationship between the thirteen witches of the Council was even more complicated than he had thought.

Miss Galina reached out and picked up the paper on the coffee table, folded it in half, and handed it to her maid:

"It looks like I'll have to stay up late tonight. Tomorrow morning, at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, I will have Tifa send the finished badge to you."

"That would be great!"

A smile appeared on Xia De's face; he had thought it would take several days, after all, the formula was truly complicated.

"Then what do you need, Xia De? I took your formula, so I must give you something. Helping you make one is not comparable to the value of the formula itself."

The red-haired witch asked Xia De with a smile. Xia De thought for a moment, and although he really wanted to say he wanted gold pounds, he thought of another matter:

"The ritual of 'Sea Sending Back,' I hope you can help me find information about the Sea Sending Back ritual through various channels as much as possible... especially the content regarding the ritual steps of the cultists in the final stage of the ritual."

The information from the Academy and the Church might not be complete. An organization like the Witch Council might even have unexpected gains. For the sake of the possible "Evil God power," paying with an alchemy formula was completely worth it.