Chapter 155

The wind is howling outside, but the research in the workshop, carried out day and night, makes Luo En feel both exhausted and fulfilled.

Clearly, in this extraordinary world, true security can only be obtained by mastering power.

At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight spilled through the window onto the floor of the workshop laboratory, Luo En put down the alchemical tools in his hand.

He rubbed his shoulders, which were sore from six consecutive hours of work.

On the workbench in front of him, dozens of metal plates were neatly arranged, each engraved with a different arrangement of runes.

Some had already oxidized and discolored, while others retained their original luster.

"After so many attempts, there is finally progress." Luo En whispered to himself, carefully picking up the last metal plate.

The rune arrangement on this special alloy had subtle differences from the dozens of previous attempts.

In previous experiments, Luo En had tried various rune combinations, but none had achieved the ideal isolation effect.

Some runes caused the metal to overheat and melt, some made the metal extremely fragile, and others simply could not form a stable energy field.

But this last piece—the metal plate marked Ψ-23—showed delightful characteristics in testing.

When Luo En injected two mutually repulsive energies into it, the metal plate successfully isolated them into two completely independent areas without any leakage or interference.

Luo En picked up a specially made glass rod and carefully touched the runes on the left side of the metal plate.

The metal immediately emitted a faint blue light, but this light was limited to the left half, while the runes on the right remained in a completely inert state.

"The energy isolation layer is theoretically feasible."

Luo En recorded the observation results in detail in his notebook:

"But the duration still needs to be improved."

He looked at the hourglass hanging on the wall; the isolation effect of this metal plate could only be maintained for about five minutes after activation, which was far from enough for practical application needs.

Luo En opened the thick notebook on the table, which was densely packed with detailed data and reasons for failure from previous experiments.

Every failure brought new insights, and every mistake paved the way for the final success.

"The key to the isolation layer lies in the arrangement of the runes, not the runes themselves."

Luo En muttered to himself, his fingers sliding over the lines of small text in the notebook:

"It's like building a dam; the way the stones are placed is more important than the stones themselves."

This research on the metal isolation layer stemmed from the information he had read in the library some time ago about dark wizards.

Those ancient documents mentioned that during the awakening process, dark wizards would gradually be eroded by polluted energy, leading to personality distortion.

But at the same time, Luo En noticed a detail:

A small number of dark wizards were able to maintain their sanity for a considerable period and even continue to grow stronger.

They often wore some kind of special amulet or equipment, or used other special means to create a "buffer zone" to slow down the direct impact of pollution on the soul.

"If a perfect isolation layer could be created..."

Luo En pondered, a cautious light flickering in his eyes:

"Theoretically, it should be possible to completely separate two energy fields so they do not interfere with each other."

This idea sparked his interest in isolation layer research.

The pursuit of power must always remain calm and rational; Luo En never thought of directly embarking on the path of a dark wizard, as that represented irreversible distortion and madness.

"Power is only valuable when it is in a controllable state." This was the creed engraved in his consciousness library.

Luo En checked the parameters of the Ψ-23 metal plate again and carefully placed it into a specially made wooden box.

Then he took another notebook from the shelf, with the words "Soul Steel Data" written on it.

During the school-wide martial law of the past week, in addition to various daily exercises, he had been working in parallel on two research lines:

On one hand, the energy isolation layer experiment, and on the other, the preliminary analysis of that precious soul steel.

These two studies seemed unrelated, but in Luo En's plan, they would perfectly combine at some point in the future.

The characteristic analysis of soul steel was exceptionally complex.

This mysterious metal had extremely high plasticity and magic conductivity, but it was also extremely picky, seemingly able to "perceive" the operator's intentions and abilities.

Luo En had already spent dozens of hours trying to establish preliminary "communication" with this piece of metal, letting it gradually adapt to his spiritual power characteristics.

"If the principle of the isolation layer could be successfully applied to soul steel..."

He gently stroked the rare metal that shimmered with a silver-gray luster:

"Perhaps a brand-new alchemical item could be created, possessing unprecedented characteristics."

But he was not yet entirely sure what specific implement it would be.

Luo En was not the type of person to act on intuition alone; every step had to be based on sufficient research and rigorous experimentation.

He closed his eyes, letting his exhausted brain rest for a moment, but his thoughts drifted involuntarily to the records he had seen in the library.

"... The awakening process is essentially a process of merging with polluted energy. As the degree of awakening increases, they gain increasingly powerful erosion capabilities, but at the same time, they pay the price of their sanity."

Luo En recalled those textual descriptions while thinking about a question that would seem almost heretical to a normal wizard:

Is it possible to obtain the power of a dark wizard while completely avoiding its negative effects?

Theoretically, if the awakening process could be restricted to an external container rather than within one's own soul, perhaps direct personality erosion could be avoided.

But this required a carrier capable of bearing soul fragments, a container that could safely coexist with polluted energy.

Luo En's gaze turned involuntarily toward the soul steel on the shelf, and a bold and crazy idea gradually took shape:

If he used soul steel to forge a special "activated" magic sword, introduced a part of his own soul fragments into it, and let the sword, rather than the person, "awaken"...

And since the soul was connected, would it then be possible to conduct all the spiritual pollution generated by his meditation over to it, thereby solving the spiritual pollution problem once and for all?

He could even use the spiritual pollution to conversely nourish the magic sword's growth, turning it into a "furnace" that calcines pollution and converts it into his own pure power!

Instead of relying on the pocket watch's reset ability to repeatedly purify, which was not a long-term solution after all.

"However, this stage is still too risky."

Luo En shook his head, interrupting his thoughts:

"Take it slow; more research and preparation are still needed."

This idea was too radical and involved operations on the soul; the slightest carelessness could lead to soul trauma.

He needed more information and more experimental data before he could further consider this possibility.

Luo En stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gradually brightening sky.

This energy isolation layer experiment had achieved preliminary progress, but there was still a long way to go before practical application.

"One step at a time, steady and solid." He warned himself repeatedly in his heart.

………………

The atmosphere in the Black Mist Jungle had become unusually dull.

The bustling figures of the past were no longer in the school's central square, leaving only squads of patrolling enforcement officers, watching every passing apprentice with vigilant expressions.

"Don't look around, keep your head down and walk."

An older primary apprentice lowered his voice and tugged at the sleeve of his companion.

They walked quickly across the main road, eyes straight ahead, only relaxing after turning into a remote path.

"All field missions have been canceled; my magic stone fragment quota for this month is only one-third of what it used to be."

The older apprentice cursed:

"If this continues, even basic survival will be a problem."

"You've got it better than most."

His companion sighed:

"Randall had it worse; he tried to sneak out of the school's collection point to gather some rare herbs the day before yesterday, was caught red-handed by the enforcement team, and is still locked in the confinement room."

Ever since Oliver defected and triggered the school's crackdown on the "Eye of the Abyss," the entire school was like a pot of water about to boil, with undercurrents surging beneath the calm surface.

Everyone could feel that unprecedented oppressive atmosphere.

Even more serious was the sharp reduction in magic stone rations.

No field missions meant no extra rewards from completing commissions;

No collection permits meant no way to find valuable materials to sell on their own.

The income sources for most primary apprentices were suddenly cut off, and life immediately became strained.

The central hall had received dozens of apprentices coming to borrow money in recent days, but the number of people who could be helped was limited after all.

The situation in the market was even worse.

The once-prosperous shops were deserted, and many stall owners simply closed their doors.

Those vendors who were still holding on had more than doubled the prices of their goods.

"The price of bread has gone up tenfold, why don't you just rob me!"

A thin probationary apprentice roared in anger.

The bread stall owner shrugged:

"You can't blame me for this; material costs have gone up, I can't run a business at a loss, can I?"

"It's all because of that damn Oliver!"

The thin apprentice spat:

"If it weren't for his defection, things wouldn't be like this now!"

This was not the first person to blame their suffering on Oliver.

In the eyes of many apprentices, Oliver was not just a traitor, but the culprit behind their difficult lives.

If he were here, he would probably have been torn to pieces by the angry apprentices long ago.

In the temporary camp of the enforcement team stationed outside the edge of the forest, the atmosphere was even more tense.

"Did the third squad find any abnormal situations?"

Enforcement Captain Lei Nuozi asked a scout who had just returned, frowning.

"Report, Captain, there are no traces of Oliver or any other awakened ones."

The young intermediate apprentice replied respectfully:

"However, near the creek in the northeast corner, some strange black mucus was found, and samples have been collected and brought back."

Lei Nuozi nodded: "Send it to the alchemy department for analysis. Also, strengthen night patrols and report the situation every two hours."

"Yes, Captain."

The enforcement captain turned and looked toward the depths of the edge forest, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

Since Oliver's defection, more than five enforcement officers had gone missing, including several intermediate apprentices like Nuo Lisi.

This was not just a serious loss of personnel, but a blatant challenge to the school.

"The defector must be captured and brought to justice."

Lei Nuozi whispered to himself, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes; this was a mandatory mission assigned to them by the school's high echelons.

………………

Over the next few days, Luo En's research entered a brand-new stage.

He was no longer satisfied with a simple metal isolation layer, but began trying to replicate the same effect on different materials, hoping to find the most suitable carrier.

Wood, crystal, fabric, and even certain biological tissues—he tested them all in detail.

Each material had its own unique way of reacting.

Some could maintain the isolation effect for longer, some could carry more types of energy, and others could enhance or weaken the isolation strength under specific conditions.

"The material itself is like a language."

Luo En wrote in his notebook:

"Each material has its own unique 'grammar'; understanding their characteristics allows one to continuously 'output' complex magic 'vocabulary' using them."

In this stage of the experiment, he found that crystals with good magic-affinity characteristics performed excellently when carrying isolation runes, often being able to sustain the isolation effect for several hours.

But this type of crystal also had its limitations: it was fragile and difficult to process.

Luo En constantly modified the rune design, adjusted the energy input method, and recorded every tiny change and reaction.

This was an extremely delicate task, requiring patience and precise control capabilities beyond the ordinary.

"There are no shortcuts."

He often reminded himself:

"Only sufficient experiments and data can support a true theory."

After countless attempts and failures, Luo En finally successfully engraved a complete isolation rune system on a specially treated crystal.

This crystal could simultaneously accommodate three different energy fields and completely isolate them without interference.

More importantly, this isolation effect could last for up to a week.

【Alchemy Experience +1】

【Alchemy Experience +1】

【Alchemy Experience +1】

……

【Current Progress: Alchemy (Proficient 36/100)】

For him, the two important projects of researching soul steel characteristics and the energy isolation layer were themselves the best ways to promote the growth of alchemy.

If this isolation technology could be applied to more complex alchemical items, perhaps a "safe container" could truly be created to store and isolate dangerous energy or substances.

And according to the records in "Magic and Steel: The Secrets of Magic Sword Forging," magic swordsmen need to seal a part of their own soul into the sword when forging a master sword.

This process is extremely dangerous; if handled improperly, it will not only lead to low-quality magic swords but may also cause irreversible soul damage to the practitioner themselves.

"If an isolation layer is added to the magic sword..."

Luo En pondered, quickly sketching a complex sword-shaped structure in his notebook:

"Theoretically, it could more precisely control the soul introduction process and reduce the risk of backlash to the main body."

In the days that followed, he began to devote more time to the study of soul steel.

The biggest difference between soul steel and ordinary metal lies in its affinity for magic and the soul.

Through continuous guidance of spiritual power, Luo En gradually became familiar with the "personality" of this mysterious metal.

Yes, soul steel seems to have characteristics similar to a living thing, which is also the origin of its name.

It reacts differently to different types of energy input, sometimes cooperating, sometimes resisting.

"It's like taming a beast."

Luo En thought to himself: "It requires patience, respect, and a firm will."

In the "dialogue" experiment with soul steel, he realized that this metal seems to be able to "remember" the types and patterns of energy it has been in contact with.

If he inputs spiritual power in the same way for three consecutive days, by the fourth day, the soul steel becomes more compliant and accepting.

"This 'memory' characteristic might be the key to why soul steel can be used for magic swords."

Luo En speculated: "It can remember the user's spiritual characteristics, forming a unique resonance."

【Alchemy Experience +1】

The research on soul steel caused Luo En's alchemy skills to steadily improve.

His spiritual power control became more refined, allowing him to perceive tiny energy fluctuations that he had previously ignored.

This improvement was directly reflected in his other synchronously improving projects, including potion research and spell practice.

But as the research deepened, Luo En increasingly felt that relying solely on alchemy might not solve all problems.

Especially when he considered the dangerous field of soul operations, he needed knowledge and support from other areas.

"It's time to consult my other 'expert'." Luo En made up his mind.

He walked to an isolation array in the workshop, ensuring that no one could see or hear the upcoming conversation.

Luo En concentrated his spirit, gently touched his arm, and awakened the mysterious existence covering his skin—the Skin of the Shapeshifter.

A wisp of silver liquid separated from the surface of his skin and condensed into a blurry human outline in the air.

"What are your orders, Master?"

The shapeshifter's voice was like metal rubbing, carrying a kind of mechanical indifference.

"I want to know more about your isolation capabilities."

Luo En got straight to the point, his voice calm and restrained:

"Specifically, how do you completely isolate external spiritual detection? Does this isolation also apply to internal energy leakage?"

The shapeshifter was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing information.

"My isolation capability stems from my material structure."

It finally replied:

"I am composed of a special shapeshifting material that can form a perfect energy barrier at the microscopic level, blocking any form of energy exchange or information transmission."

Luo En nodded and continued to ask:

"Can this barrier act in both directions simultaneously? For example, preventing both the entry of external energy and the leakage of internal energy?"

"Yes, Master." The shapeshifter confirmed:

"My barrier is bidirectional and can completely isolate the interaction between internal and external energy. This is also why I can perfectly hide the host's true aura and even disguise myself against existences below the level of a Great Wizard."

This answer made Luo En's eyes light up.

If the Skin of the Shapeshifter could truly provide this bidirectional isolation, then it might be the key to solving the problem of safely separating soul fragments.

"If I want to use your ability to isolate two independent soul spaces so that they do not affect each other, is this theoretically feasible?"

Luo En asked cautiously, a light of thirst for knowledge flickering in his eyes.

The shapeshifter's outline fluctuated slightly, seemingly in thought.

"Theoretically feasible, but there are limitations in practice."

It finally replied:

"My current energy reserves can only maintain basic concealment and disguise functions. To achieve complete isolation, especially long-term stable isolation, more energy and a higher active state are required."

"Do you mean advancing to the state of 'Glorious Legacy'?"

Luo En keenly captured the key point.

"Yes, Master. Only after fully advancing to 'Glorious Legacy' can I provide sufficiently powerful and stable isolation capabilities to meet the high standards required for soul operations."

Luo En pondered for a moment: "Then, what conditions are needed to complete this advancement?"

"Soul energy." The shapeshifter replied directly:

"Pure, high-quality soul energy. My current charging is at 99%, and only the final 1% is needed to complete the advancement. But this last 1% requires particularly pure soul energy; the souls of ordinary creatures can no longer meet the requirements."

Luo En nodded, opened his profession panel, and carefully checked the detailed information about the "Skin of the Shapeshifter."

【Rare Antique: Skin of the Shapeshifter

(Activated, 99% charged)】

【Effects:

1. Charge by devouring living souls

2. Consume energy to simulate the image and partial abilities of a specified target

3. Isolate spiritual power detection and enable the wearer to possess a seamless disguise】

【Special Note:

After reaching 100% charge, the "Skin of the Shapeshifter" will advance to "Glorious Legacy," gaining more powerful abilities.

Including but not limited to complete isolation, multiple energy barriers, high-level simulation, etc.】

(End of chapter)