Chapter 185

Liyue sat up from the experimental table, carefully moving her fingers, and was surprised to find that she could control the length of her nails at will.

When she concentrated, the claws could even extend to twice their original length, forming sharp weapons.

Even more surprisingly, when she controlled them further, a faint purple light began to shimmer on the claws; that was a sign that the toxin had been activated.

"This is so... unbelievable." Trish exclaimed, her eyes flashing with excitement:

"You not only completed the toxin fusion, but also gave her the ability to control the toxin!"

Liyue tried to retract the claws, then extended them again.

This process was smooth and natural, without any discomfort.

"Thank you, Mr. Ralph."

She revealed a rare smile: "This power... will allow me to better protect my master."

"Your bloodline potential is far more than this."

Luo En assessed: "If there is an opportunity for a more comprehensive bloodline activation, you might display more surprising abilities."

As he spoke, he packed all the various leopard-woman tissue samples he had "conveniently" collected during the bloodline modulation process into storage vessels.

This was also one of the reasons he agreed to this bloodline modulation; monarch bloodlines must have great research value.

The brown-haired girl also turned around at this time, preparing to find the magic stone purse, turning a blind eye to Luo En's small actions.

Just as Luo En finished storing his collected samples and was preparing to perform a final check on the leopard woman, a powerful magic fluctuation suddenly came from outside the door.

That sense of oppression made the air become stagnant, as if an invisible, viscous substance had been suddenly injected.

Even for a high-level apprentice like Luo En, he felt a palpitation.

This was the "radiation field" unique to formal wizards.

The door opened silently, and a figure in a white robe drifted in like a ghost.

"It seems the progress is going very well." A hoarse voice sounded.

The voice was as harsh as metal rubbing against metal, yet it carried a majesty that could not be ignored.

Luo En looked up to see Corinna draped in a white robe, wearing that familiar, exquisite mask on her face.

"Mentor." Trish immediately stood up to greet her, her tone carrying obvious awe.

Luo En also bowed respectfully: "My lord Corinna."

"No need for formalities."

The white-robed wizard's gaze swept between Luo En and Liyue, finally resting on the leopard woman's claws, which had completely changed.

"Interesting improvement." She evaluated, her voice revealing a trace of imperceptible appreciation:

"Much more complex and effective than I expected. Toxin guidance and structural remodeling—this level of technique is already equivalent to a professional modulator; Maxim's eye for talent is indeed good."

Luo En's heart stirred, sensing some abnormality:

"My lord Corinna, is there something you specifically need to tell me?"

"Hehe, you are very sharp."

The white-robed wizard tilted her head slightly and chuckled, the eyes behind the mask flashing with mysterious light:

"You guessed correctly; it is precisely because I learned of your unusual interest in the abyss that I specifically arranged for Trish to invite you over."

"As for Liyue's bloodline modulation..." Corinna continued, her voice calm to the point of being almost indifferent:

"If you hadn't displayed this level, I had intended to ask Maxim to do it himself. He is an old friend of mine, and when it comes to research involving the abyss, he is an expert."

Luo En felt alert; the situation before him was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

A formal wizard showing special attention to a high-level apprentice often means some special task or test is quietly unfolding.

"My lord Corinna is also interested in abyss research?"

He asked cautiously, trying to figure out the other party's true intentions.

"Not 'also interested', young man, but 'once obsessed with it'."

Corinna's voice carried a trace of imperceptible bitterness:

"However, your performance just now indeed far exceeded expectations. This fusion technique is already approaching the level of a senior modulator. Liyue's value has greatly increased, which is worth paying some extra remuneration."

As she spoke, she took a complete magic stone from the inside of her robe and handed it to Luo En:

"This is your modulation fee."

Luo En took the magic stone, feeling the pure energy contained within it.

A complete magic stone is more valuable than a mere hundred magic stone fragments, enough to purchase a single-person residence in the Black Fog Jungle.

"Now, please come to my laboratory for a moment."

Corinna turned and walked toward the door: "There are some things that need to be discussed in private."

She turned to Liyue and Trish:

"You two go and rest first; I have some things to discuss with apprentice Ralph alone."

The two nodded respectfully and then left the room.

Luo En followed the white-robed wizard silently, passing through several winding corridors, and arrived at a room half-hidden in the shadows.

Corinna lightly touched a rune on the door frame, and the heavy stone door slowly opened inward.

The room was dimly lit, with ghostly blue magic crystal lamps flickering on the walls, illuminating various strange instruments and devices.

"Come in." She signaled for Luo En to follow.

Luo En clutched the silver pocket watch in his arms and let the "Thousand-Change Phantom" on his body awaken.

A slight sense of unease rose in his heart; if Corinna wanted to harbor any malice toward him, she probably wouldn't use such a troublesome method.

And as Luo En stepped inside, the stone door closed automatically, and the defensive array in the room quietly activated, isolating all magic fluctuations and sounds from the outside world.

Corinna went straight to the only chair in the room and sat down, crossing her legs, with a corner of her white robe revealing a beautifully curved calf.

She watched Luo En standing three meters away from her, not feeling offended, but just chuckled and got straight to the point:

"No need to be so nervous. I heard that you are very interested in the abyss, even going so far as to spend a large sum of money to purchase parts of the manticore's tissue from that duel. This unusual interest in the abyss reminds me of myself when I was young."

Her words carried an inexplicable emotion, seeming like nostalgia, yet also like a warning.

"Pursuing knowledge is the nature of all wizards."

Luo En responded cautiously: "And the abyss, as a realm full of unknowns, is naturally intriguing to explore."

"But not all exploration is harmless."

Corinna slowly raised her hand, reaching toward her mask:

"Some truths, once seen, can never be forgotten."

As she spoke, she slowly removed the mask, revealing her true face underneath.

Luo En instantly felt a palpitation.

The silver-haired witch's face was not at all like that of a normal human.

It was a severely distorted face.

The skin appeared unnaturally pale, almost transparent, and one could see the wriggling blood vessels beneath.

The left cheek was covered with scattered silver scales, extremely similar to those on Maxim, but covering a wider area.

The right eye had completely turned into an ellipsoid, without a pupil, with only constantly changing light patterns flowing on the surface.

The lips were almost non-existent, replaced by a crack that ran almost across the entire lower half of her face, revealing strange teeth that did not conform to human physiological structures as she spoke.

Even with Luo En's current psychological endurance, this sudden visual impact still made him involuntarily take a step back, his fingers subconsciously clenching.

Corinna noticed his reaction but did not show any displeasure.

On the contrary, she seemed accustomed to this reaction.

"No need to panic, apprentice Ralph."

She said calmly, her voice still that harsh metallic rubbing sound.

But now Luo En could see that this was because her vocal cord structure had completely mutated:

"This is the greatest gift the abyss has left me; unless I advance to a Great Wizard, it can never be erased in this lifetime."

Luo En looked away, feeling a chill crawl up his spine the more he looked.

This degree of distortion far exceeded the silver scales Maxim had displayed.

He quickly controlled his reaction and returned to his usual calmness: "You are also an abyss explorer?"

"Indeed."

Corinna nodded: "Maxim should have already mentioned his experience to you; at that time, I had just advanced to a Morning Star wizard not long before. We were members of the same exploration team and entered the sixth layer of the abyss, the 'Labyrinth Domain', together."

Her crossed legs swayed slightly, she restrained some of the radiation field on her body, and signaled for Luo En to come closer:

"That exploration cost us a painful price. Out of twenty team members, only the two of us returned alive, and as for our current situation, you have already seen it."

Luo En cautiously approached to within two meters of Corinna and listened carefully.

This was a rare opportunity to hear the true situation about the abyss from another person who had personally experienced it.

"But it was precisely this exploration that made my spiritual power growth rate far exceed that of ordinary people."

Corinna continued, that silver eye flashing with strange light:

"My spiritual power aptitude was only fourth-rank star, but I reached the Morning Star-level critical point at less than fifty years old, which is almost impossible on a normal meditation path.

Many wizards who are unwilling to go to the abyss to explore, even if they meditate hard for a lifetime, would only reach my current level."

She stroked the scales on her face, her expression complex:

"But the price is what you see here; once the curse of the abyss is tainted, it can never be completely eliminated.

It will become a part of you, constantly reminding you of the reality of that experience."

Luo En nodded slightly: "But you still seem to think this exchange is worth it?"

"The answer to this question depends on everyone's pursuit."

Corinna's voice became even deeper:

"For those wizards who yearn to break through conventional limits and seek higher realms, the abyss is a shortcut, but it is also a path full of thorns."

She suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, I heard that you are practicing a special meditation method?"

Luo En was startled, but his face showed no fluctuations:

"Yes, a set of gem-level meditation methods taught to me by Lady Ailan."

"'The Star-Eater's Babble', right, hehe... this meditation method is almost known to everyone among the formal wizards of the Crystal Spire."

Corinna directly stated the name, catching Luo En off guard:

"'The Star-Eater's Babble' is a prerequisite entry method for a Crown meditation method. This kind of meditation method that leads to higher levels can often help practitioners accumulate spiritual power faster, but it will also accelerate the accumulation of spiritual pollution."

Her voice carried a warning:

"More importantly, this meditation method will make you more susceptible to the curse's influence after entering the abyss. And to cultivate to a higher level, you must also enter the abyss to seek a breakthrough, which is exactly why I specifically asked to meet you today; we have all formed an unbreakable bond with the abyss."

'The Star-Eater's Babble' actually has such hidden dangers? Damn it, Lady Ailan had never told him about these before; could it be...

"You don't have to think of Lady Ailan too badly; meditation methods can actually be changed after advancing to a formal wizard, and it is easier to switch from a high-level meditation method to a lower-level one; the opposite is somewhat difficult."

Corinna spun the mask in her hand and explained lightly:

"Lady Ailan perhaps just felt that your potential was higher, so she took you straight to the goal."

Luo En was silent for a moment, digesting this information: "You want to give me some warnings?"

"Not just a warning, but also an opportunity for you to give careful consideration in advance."

The silver-haired witch continued:

"Everyone has the right to choose their own path, but this choice should be based on a full understanding of all possibilities."

She pointed to her distorted face again:

"If you want to climb to a higher level, this might be what you look like in the future, or perhaps even worse."

The witch raised her scale-covered fingers and slowly swept them through the air:

"The abyss gives power, but also brings curses. Those pollutions and distortions will accompany you for a lifetime like a shadow."

"However, thanks to the 'favor' provided by Trish, the pollution and distortion on me are much better than before. This is also the reason why I will try my best to cultivate her; the 'favor' brought by an excellent student is far better than any healing potion."

Corinna looked toward the west side outside the wall and continued:

"I plan to return to the Crystal Spire in the Central Land after Trish advances to a high-level apprentice and completes this bloodline altar trial. The resources and research environment there are far superior to this peripheral school."

Her gaze turned back to Luo En:

"With the talent and progress speed you have shown, I believe that in the near future, you will also step through the gates of the Crystal Spire."

When Trish becomes a high-level apprentice, she will be taken directly to the Crystal Spire instead of competing with them for the "key" potion promised by the school?

Luo En was a bit confused and just wanted to ask something.

Corinna saw his expression and probably guessed what he was thinking:

"It seems you just advanced to the top ten of the sequence, and no one has notified you of the hidden details yet."

"The candidate wizard sequence is held every ten years, but the key potion required to break through to a formal wizard is only allocated one bottle by the Crystal Spire in the upper echelons."

Her voice carried a rare emotional fluctuation:

"Waiting bitterly in the peripheral school or going to the resource-rich Central Land as soon as possible—this choice is not difficult. The sooner Trish breaks through to a formal wizard, the sooner she can bring me greater 'favors', which is beneficial to both of us."

Luo En secretly noted this key information.

Once every ten years, one bottle of key potion; this means that in each candidate wizard sequence, only one person can obtain the opportunity for a formal breakthrough.

During the chat, Corinna also revealed more information about the Crystal Spire, as well as some suggestions for the upcoming bloodline altar trial.

This information was undoubtedly a precious reference for Luo En.

When the conversation neared its end, Corinna put the mask back on, covering up that terrifying, distorted face.

"Your bloodline modulation technique and potionology are both quite excellent."

She said, her voice returning to that metallic calmness:

"If there is an opportunity in the future, I don't mind having deeper cooperation with you. Of course, provided that you can stand out in the Crystal Spire."

After saying this, Corinna turned around, and the tightly closed stone door automatically opened at this time.

Luo En bowed respectfully to take his leave; as he walked out of the underground level, he felt the burden on his shoulders become a bit heavier.

Arriving at the foyer, the brown-haired girl was waiting for him, her eyes full of complex emotions:

"It seems the teacher told you many things."

Luo En nodded without replying; he had no interest in small talk at this moment.

"Then go back early; it's getting late." Trish saw him to the door and said softly:

"Your performance today was truly stunning, Luo En. I think... I underestimated you before."

Luo En smiled indifferently: "Then let's cooperate well together in the bloodline altar."

"Hmm... you have always been a reliable companion."

Walking on the way back, his thoughts kept recalling Corinna's distorted face and the secret information she revealed.

The temptation and danger of the abyss, the double-edged sword effect of special meditation methods, the scarcity of resources and competition in the candidate wizard sequence... these were all realities he had to face cautiously.

(End of chapter)