Chapter 17: Spiritual Catalyst Trap

"What news?"

"It is said to have been received from a merchant who claims to provide 'special channels'." Andre's tone carried a hint of unease:

"Recently, this kind of news has been circulating widely among the probationary apprentices. Those merchants claim to have ways to significantly boost spiritual power in a short period."

Luo En's heart stirred: "So, Luo Ke was taken in?"

"No, it's worse than that."

Andre shook his head, "Those prohibited drugs can indeed boost spiritual power in the short term, but the price is..."

He did not finish, but Luo En had already imagined the twisted flesh and the constantly trembling eyeballs.

"I heard that these merchants seem to have wizards supporting them behind the scenes."

Andre continued, "They need a large number of experimental subjects, and those desperate probationary apprentices are the best targets."

Luo En suddenly became alert. In that case, was Luo Ke a prey pre-selected by someone from the very beginning?

Then he associated this with the fact that just after Luo Ke had an incident, people were whispering about it nearby, and it was still about the special channel for obtaining spiritual catalysts. It was truly too coincidental to be normal.

"So, I came to warn you," Andre's voice became extremely solemn, "No matter what kind of temptation you receive, do not try those things of unknown origin."

"Rest assured, I'm not that stupid." Luo En smiled reluctantly: "Haven't I already found the correct path now?"

Andre nodded with a hint of relief:

"Indeed, your talent in potion-making has even been recognized by Master Huo Huo Erte, and your practice of the 'Corona Breathing Method' is also going smoothly..."

"But having said that," he suddenly changed the subject, "How do you plan to deal with Princess Yi Fu's teaching today? She is notoriously strict."

"As for that..." Luo En glanced at the notes on the table, "I have already reviewed the parts about simple potions in 'Fundamentals of Potion-Making'."

He picked up a notebook filled with dense notes and casually demonstrated his understanding of medicinal materials:

"And the practical operation at the herb shop yesterday gave me a new understanding of many materials."

Andre took the notebook and flipped through it, a look of surprise appearing on his face:

"Did you summarize all of these yourself? Even the reactions and habits of rare medicinal materials are recorded in such detail..."

Just then, a chaotic commotion suddenly came from outside, mixed with a few suppressed exclamations.

"Someone else..." Andre's expression instantly turned gloomy, and even his tone, which he always tried to keep elegant, became hoarse.

The two looked at each other; a commotion appearing at this time often meant that someone who had reached a dead end had chosen that path of no return.

"Go check the situation?" Luo En asked hesitantly.

Andre's fingers unconsciously rubbed his collar, a habitual action when he was in a dilemma.

But in the end, he nodded slowly:

"Go, it's better to take a look, but be careful to keep your distance. At times like this, those white-robed wizards who lack experimental materials will always 'visit' on time."

When the two reached the end of the corridor, a group of people had already gathered. Although it was not yet dawn, those who could live here were clearly not truly lazy.

Unlike the Luo Ke incident in the morning, this time everyone tacitly kept their distance, as if fearing something.

Under the flickering magic crystal lamp, Luo En saw a twisted figure curled up in the corner.

The morning light shone through the window lattice onto that once exquisite female face, but at this moment, it was hideously terrifying.

"It's Emily..." It was unknown who recognized her first.

This name made Luo En's heart tremble.

Yesterday afternoon, he had seen this daughter of a duke. At that time, although her clothes were disheveled, she was still wearing a luxurious silk dress and a gemstone necklace around her neck.

This noble girl, even though her status had changed to someone else's slave, still maintained the elegance of a noble.

And now...

Emily's face had not only become unrecognizable, but her body was also twisting in a way that defied common sense. That expensive silk dress had been soaked through with sweat, clinging to her skin and outlining eerie contours.

It seemed that something was wriggling inside her, making her originally slender figure become strange and twisted.

"I heard she went to the room of Ma Ge Si apprentice just a few days ago..." a female apprentice whispered.

"Heh, Emily wouldn't be content; she has always dreamed of becoming a primary apprentice..."

"Isn't that so? Thanks to the magic stone fragments she got by selling her body, she could afford the 'spiritual catalyst'."

"Tsk tsk, what a pity. I remember how proud she was when she first arrived, saying things like 'even if I become an experimental subject, I will stay here', but now look at her..."

The discussion stopped abruptly. A tall figure in a white robe had appeared at the end of the corridor, and a contemptuous cold snort came from under the mask.

"Another poor wretch who doesn't know life from death."

The white-robed wizard's voice was devoid of any emotion: "It just so happens that I am researching a new transformation formula recently and lack suitable test subjects."

He casually waved an invisible ripple, trapping Emily, who had already begun to mutate, preparing to take her away.

Following the white-robed wizard's rough movements, the girl's originally exquisite facial features also twisted and deformed under the binding pressure, and the gemstone necklace dug deeply into her gradually swelling neck.

Just then, she struggled slightly and raised her head to look at the apprentices watching.

Luo En noticed that those large eyes, which were once as beautiful as clear gemstones, were now covered with bloodshot veins like spider webs.

In that sea of blood, one could vaguely see some strange object constantly reorganizing.

"Save... save... woo..." she tried to make a sound, but only garbled whimpers could come from her throat.

The wizard was somewhat disgusted and reached out from his robe to take out a potion glowing with an eerie light: "It seems I have to make you behave..."

"Let's go." Andre grabbed Luo En's arm: "It's better not to watch the scene that follows."

The two had only walked a few steps after turning around when a shrill scream came from behind, mixed with a hair-raising low moan, as if it came from the very bottom of the abyss.

After returning to the dormitory, Luo En could not calm down for a long time.

Everything that happened today was too heavy. From Luo Ke, whom he saw last night, to Emily now, they were all reminding him of the cruelty of this world.

"Must improve strength as soon as possible..."

In this dark and cruel world, strength is the foundation of standing firm.

Whether it is to survive or to keep oneself from becoming a piece of meat on the chopping block of those white-robed wizards.

He opened his notebook and continued to study the characteristics of medicinal materials.

He was about to receive guidance from Princess Yi Fu, and he had to be fully prepared.

(End of chapter)