Chapter 161: Three Phases Unified

Luo En stared at the parchment spread across his workbench, the complex arrangement of runes and intricate ritual procedures causing his heart to surge.

"Soul Imprint."

This was the ritual recorded in the ancient tome he had purchased from Tang Pusen, specifically designed to strengthen the connection between the user and Soul Steel.

The ritual pattern appeared simple, but it actually contained countless subtle points of equilibrium.

The position, angle, and stroke order of every single rune had been precisely calculated to form a perfect energy circulation system.

"Such exquisite construction."

Luo En was nearly obsessed as he studied every detail, letting time slip away unnoticed.

He suddenly realized that with his long-term accumulation of knowledge across different fields, his comprehension ability seemed to have undergone a qualitative change.

In particular, the advanced trait "Wide Learning" he had gained after his Alchemy reached Mastery a few months ago allowed him to show astonishing performance in integrating knowledge from various disciplines.

Coupled with the "Conception" trait he had just broken through to, this bonus to creative thinking was like adding wings to a tiger.

"The bonus effects of the two traits are unexpectedly powerful."

Luo En insightfully observed:

"That I can understand this kind of ancient ritual to a certain extent while still an apprentice, and even foresee the principles behind it, is by no means ordinary. It seems my snowball has been rolling larger step by step under the bonuses of various categories."

Complex theories that previously required repeated reading to understand could now be grasped at a glance;

Techniques that once required dozens of experiments to master could now often be understood by analogy within the first few attempts.

This accumulation of insight was like a snowball rolling larger and larger, granting him creativity and comprehension far beyond what an apprentice stage should possess.

Luo En turned to the other side of the workbench, where the silver-gray Soul Steel lay quietly on a special tray, its surface gleaming with a cold luster.

After nearly a month of "dialogue" and breaking-in, the Soul Steel had initially adapted to his Qi fluctuations, becoming more obedient and sensitive.

But to reach a state of perfect compatibility, this ancient "Soul Imprint" ritual was still required.

"According to the ancient records, a standard ritual consumes a massive amount of spiritual power and may even cause a certain degree of life force loss to the practitioner..."

Luo En frowned in thought, his gaze shifting back and forth between the Soul Steel and the ritual diagram.

At this moment, a bold idea formed in his mind—

"If I integrate the energy conversion array from modern alchemy into the ancient ritual, could I significantly reduce the consumption?"

Once this idea was born, it spread rapidly like a prairie fire.

He picked up his pen and began drawing an improved version of the ritual diagram on another piece of parchment.

The core parts of the traditional Soul Imprint ritual were preserved, with every ancient rune that interacted directly with the Soul Steel kept intact.

But on the periphery, Luo En added a circle of modern alchemical runes specifically responsible for the efficient collection and conversion of energy.

These runes were arranged into a precise closed-loop system capable of recycling stray spiritual power, significantly increasing overall efficiency.

Several hours later, the design for the improved Soul Imprint ritual was initially completed.

Luo En carefully checked every detail to ensure there were no logical errors or energy incompatibilities.

"Theoretically, this improved ritual should reduce consumption by nearly half while maintaining the core effect."

He looked at his work with satisfaction and began preparing the materials needed for the actual operation.

According to the ancient records, the Soul Imprint ritual was best performed under specific celestial phenomena, usually during a full moon.

And tonight was an ideal time.

Luo En looked out the window; the night was deep, and a bright crescent moon was slowly climbing into the sky.

"Everything is ready."

He carefully placed the Soul Steel in the center of the ritual and used special silver powder to draw the complete improved ritual diagram on the floor.

The runes emitted a soft silver light under the moonlight, and the entire ritual array was like a living work of art, breathtakingly beautiful.

Luo En took a deep breath, stood outside the ritual circle, and began to activate the array.

His spiritual power acted like a precise scalpel, injecting into the ritual array along the preset path.

The silver powder runes immediately lit up with a faint glow, initially just a pale cyan-white, then gradually turning into a bright silver, and finally reaching a dazzling white-gold radiance.

Energy flowed along the complex paths, producing specific resonances and conversions as it passed through each node.

Luo En could clearly perceive that the energy that should have dissipated was successfully intercepted by the modern alchemical runes on the periphery and redirected back into the main cycle.

"The effect is even better than expected."

He smiled slightly and continued to maintain a stable output of spiritual power.

As the ritual deepened, the Soul Steel in the center began to undergo visible changes.

Its color became deeper, as if it could absorb the surrounding light;

Its surface began to ripple slightly, like a pool of living water;

More miraculously, it seemed to begin producing a certain rhythm, as if it possessed its own "heartbeat."

When the ritual reached its critical stage, Luo En did not hesitate to prick his finger, letting three drops of blood fall onto the surface of the Soul Steel as a primer.

The blood was absorbed without a trace the moment it touched the metal.

Immediately after, countless tiny runes appeared on the surface of the Soul Steel—the manifestation of Luo En's spiritual imprint.

These runes were arranged in a unique pattern, forming a "code" that only Luo En could decipher.

As the last bit of energy was injected, the light of the entire ritual array gradually dimmed, finally returning to ordinary silver powder lines.

But the Soul Steel had completely changed its appearance—its color was deeper and heavier, and its surface flowed with a subtle luster, as if it were liquid metal with life.

Luo En carefully picked up the Soul Steel and immediately felt an unprecedented sense of intimacy.

This metal was no longer a cold inorganic object, but had become an existence capable of resonating with him.

Just by touching it lightly, he could feel the energy flowing within the Soul Steel, as clear and direct as feeling his own pulse.

Even more surprisingly, when he tried to guide the Soul Steel to change shape with his spiritual power, the metal's reaction was several times more sensitive than before.

He only needed a simple thought, and the Soul Steel could immediately transform into the basic shape he wanted.

"How magical."

Luo En watched as the Soul Steel in his hand constantly changed forms according to his will:

One moment it was a small knife, the next a coin, and then it transformed into an exquisite little bird.

Through this Soul Imprint ritual, he had completed his compatibility with the Soul Steel to a certain extent.

The next steps only involved figuring out how to shape it into a magic sword blank, which would undoubtedly be an extremely long process...

But for him at the moment, through this improvement and practice of the "Soul Imprint" ritual,

his comprehension of Alchemy had reached a whole new level.

【Alchemy (Proficient) EXP +1】

【Breakthrough! Alchemy (Proficient 100/100) → Alchemy (Mastery 1/200)】

【Additional trait advanced:

Resonance → Three Phases Unified

(The linkage effects between wizard skills such as Alchemy, Potion-making, and Enchanting will be strengthened to a certain extent)】

An unprecedented sense of enlightenment rose in Luo En's heart.

The essence of Alchemy was not just the transformation and reorganization of matter, but a deep understanding and communication with matter itself.

【Alchemist (2-Star) advancement conditions met:

1. Basic Alchemy reached Proficient √

2. Alchemy reached Mastery √

3. Extraordinary Identification reached Proficient √

4. Independently completed the production of more than three types of primary alchemical items √

5. Successfully improved at least one existing alchemical item blueprint √】

【Whether to immediately promote to — Alchemist (2-Star)】

Luo En was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected the final condition—improving an existing alchemical item blueprint—to be met through his improvement of the Soul Imprint ritual.

He confirmed in his heart without hesitation: "Yes."

A warm current surged from the bottom of his heart, rapidly spreading throughout his body.

It was similar to every previous job promotion, yet with subtle differences.

This time, the energy was deeper, carrying a certain ancient rhythm, mysterious and heavy like an ancient inheritance.

His perception instantly improved, and the molecular structures of surrounding objects seemed to unfold before his eyes;

ordinary tables, chairs, walls, and utensils all became composites made of countless tiny particles, each with its own unique structure and energy characteristics.

Even more miraculously, he could not only see these structures but could intuitively understand how they formed, how they changed, and how they could be transformed and improved through Alchemy.

【Promotion successful!】

【Obtained profession: Alchemist (2-Star)】

【Basic attribute improvement:

Spiritual Power: 3.8 → 3.99 (+0.2)

Magic Power: 2.1 → 2.55 (+0.45)】

【Special bonuses:

1. EXP acquisition speed for Alchemy-related skills increased by a medium amount

2. Material perception ability improved

3. Control ability over material changes improved by a medium amount】

Every promotion brought substantial ability improvements, and this promotion was equally profound.

Luo En took a deep breath, feeling the changes in his body and spirit.

It was indeed harder to improve the further one went, but despite this, the 4.0 spiritual power standard line required for a High-level Apprentice was only a step away.

The only pity was that this breakthrough in spiritual power level seemed to rely solely on meditation to push forward, and the High-level Apprentice was undoubtedly a critical node.

【Skill linkage detected: Alchemist + Wizard Apprentice + Potion-maker + Bloodline Knight】

【Obtained linkage bonus:

1. Energy extraction efficiency during alchemy increased

2. Material essence extraction rate increased

3. Energy conversion efficiency of reactions increased】

Luo En looked at the various linkage bonuses, feeling somewhat satisfied with the vigorous growth of his own power.

This was the snowball effect brought about by multiple professions:

The cultivation of different paths not only did not interfere with each other but to some extent formed a perfect complement, causing his overall strength to undergo a qualitative leap.

The linkage effect seemed to go beyond this; after all, when he advanced to Potion-maker, skills had advanced.

And when he became an Alchemy Apprentice, two skills had fused with each other.

So the next step should be —

【Skill linkage detected: Potion Refining (Proficient) + Alchemy (Mastery)

→ Material Transmutation (Proficient 30/100)】

Following the prompt on the transparent panel, a brand-new set of knowledge and insights instantly flooded into Luo En's consciousness.

"Material Transmutation," as a fusion skill, not only inherited all the advantages of Potion Refining and Alchemy but also achieved a breakthrough sublimation in its essence.

Luo En couldn't wait to test this new skill.

He picked up several materials on the workbench and began to concoct them casually.

To his surprise, the Potion Refining process, which previously required precise measurement, strict temperature control, and complex procedures, now became exceptionally smooth.

He only needed intuition to precisely grasp the best dosage and timing for adding various materials.

It was as if every substance was actively "talking" to him, telling him how they should be combined and transformed.

The complex procedures that originally required dozens of steps were significantly simplified.

This wasn't because any links were omitted, but because the "Material Transmutation" skill allowed him to handle multiple steps simultaneously and optimize them in real-time.

In just half an hour, a bottle of "Sobriety Potion," which would normally take several times longer to complete, had perfectly formed.

And when Luo En picked up this potion, he discovered another astonishing aspect:

The quality of this potion far exceeded the highest level he had been able to refine before.

The purity of the liquid, the stability of the energy, and the durability of the effect had all reached an unprecedented height.

"Truly... this feeling is just too great."

Luo En then quickly took out a piece of ordinary crystal and attempted to extract an energy crystal.

This was a basic alchemical technique used to seal specific energy within a crystal to create the basic materials for various alchemical items.

In the past, this process required at least two hours of delicate operation and had to rely on complex guiding devices and specialized alchemical instruments.

But now, he only needed to concentrate his spirit, hold the crystal in both hands, and guide the energy to flow along a specific path.

In just ten minutes, a perfect "Fire Element Crystal" had formed, its energy concentration and stability far exceeding any product that could be bought on the market.

"Material Transmutation."

Luo En whispered, his eyes flashing with surprised light:

"This is by no means a simple addition of two skills, but a brand-new form of ability."

He suddenly recalled the clues previously mentioned by Tang Pusen and Lady Ailan:

The Ancient Alchemist, that legendary profession that unified three major wizard skills.

"Potion-making represents the combination of medicine and energy; Alchemy represents the transformation of matter and structure."

Luo En organized his thoughts:

"Then the third major wizard skill is the communication between runes and energy — Enchanting!"

Tang Pusen had once obscurely mentioned that the true Ancient Alchemist mastered these three core skills and could create miracles beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Luo En summoned the books from the Consciousness Library and quickly recorded these connections:

"Potion-making — Medicine and Energy — Partially mastered (Potion-maker 2-Star)

Alchemy — Matter and Structure — Partially mastered (Alchemist 2-Star)

Enchanting — Runes and Energy — Not yet mastered (???)"

He thought again of the new advanced trait he had just obtained: Three Phases Unified.

"Three Phases Unified," Luo En whispered to himself: "is the Ancient Alchemist..."

From the current linkage effects, it seemed that once he finally mastered all three core skills, a more astonishing comprehensive skill might be produced.

Perhaps that was the key to reaching a higher level.

"Enchanter," Luo En whispered to himself: "said to be an existence even rarer than a Bloodline Modulator."

He recalled the various self-activating arrays and persistent devices he had seen in the school; these were inseparable from the rune effects meticulously engraved by Enchanters.

Ordinary apprentices and formal wizards who were not proficient in Runology could only copy mechanically, unable to understand the underlying principles.

Even he himself was like this, knowing the result but not the reason, only able to simply copy existing runes and unable to improve them according to needs.

The result was that these imitations were often low in efficacy, short in duration, and prone to unstable side effects.

However, the runes engraved by true Enchanters were worlds apart from these imitations.

It was said that runes left behind by a professional Enchanter could still function even after decades, while ordinary imitations might fail within a few months.

Enchanters could understand the essential principles behind runes, not only able to copy existing runes but also able to create brand-new rune combinations according to specific needs.

They could even integrate their own will and spiritual imprint into the runes, making their effects more powerful and lasting.

"To complete the path of the Ancient Alchemist, Enchanting is an indispensable link."

Luo En firmly wrote this goal in his notebook.

But the problem was that there were almost no formal wizards in the Black Fog Jungle who specialized in Enchanting, and the opportunity to systematically study this field was minimal.

All clues pointed to one place — the central fertile land where the Crystal Spire was located.

That was the center of the entire Origin Continent group, said to have a more complete wizard system and richer extraordinary resources.

The Crystal Spire was not only one of the most prosperous extraordinary gathering places in the Origin Continent group but also a treasure trove of various rare extraordinary knowledge.

It was said that there was a complete Enchanting department there, specifically cultivating specialists in this rare profession.

"It seems the path ahead is clear."

Luo En closed his notebook, his eyes flashing with firm light.

Promoting to Alchemist was not the end, but a necessary path to reaching a higher level.

The legend of the Ancient Alchemist undoubtedly showed him a more magnificent possibility.

But there were still the Potion Professor and Alchemy Master advancements ahead, as well as the most core Enchanter; these might all have to wait until he reached the level of a formal wizard to be realized.

Three Phases Unified, perhaps that was the ideal state he wanted to achieve...

(End of chapter)