Chapter 194

Inside a spacious conference room in the central tower of the Black Mist Jungle, five candidates for the wizard sequence stood before Vice Dean Hayek and several mentors, their expressions solemn.

"You five have been selected to participate in this Bloodline Altar trial." Hayek's voice was steady and dignified:

"This is both an honor and a challenge. The environment within the altar is complex and fraught with danger, but it is equally filled with infinite opportunity."

Luo En and the other four—Trish, Holt, and two other sequence members he was less familiar with—stood in a row, their bodies straight and their expressions focused.

"Considering the unique nature of the trial, the school has decided to provide each participant with necessary equipment support."

Hayek waved his hand, and Mentor Suo Lun stepped forward, holding five exquisite velvet bags.

"These are space bags specially crafted by the school," Suo Lun explained while distributing them:

"Each can hold approximately five cubic meters of items, far exceeding the capacity of ordinary spatial equipment."

Luo En took the soft, deep-blue bag, feeling the peculiar energy fluctuations radiating from it.

The bag looked ordinary and was only the size of a palm, yet it could hold so many items; it was truly a rare strategic resource.

"Of course, this high-grade equipment is the property of the school," Hayek added, his gaze sharp:

"After the trial ends, the school will collect thirty percent of the value of any items you retrieve as a usage fee. This is a reasonable exchange."

Luo En examined the space bag in his hand carefully, already weighing his options.

This equipment was indeed precious, but a thirty percent "tax rate" was certainly not low.

"There is another option," Suo Lun continued:

"You may also choose not to use the space bag provided by the school and prepare your own equipment entirely. Of course, this means you will lose this convenience, and any items brought out from the altar will belong entirely to you."

After the meeting concluded, the five individuals left to prepare their own equipment.

Luo En headed straight for the school's trade center, a clear plan in mind.

The trade center was located on the east side of the school, a semi-circular white building where various resources were traded frequently.

Luo En navigated the bustling crowd with ease and arrived at a counter labeled "Rare Material Exchange."

"I need blood crystals," Luo En said straightforwardly to the staff member behind the counter:

"The smallest size."

The person was an elderly woman with graying hair, but her eyes were exceptionally sharp.

She looked Luo En up and down, seemingly evaluating the reliability of this young apprentice.

"Blood crystals?" She raised an eyebrow, "Those aren't ordinary goods, young man. Even the smallest specification costs two complete magic stones."

"I know the price." Luo En calmly took out the two complete magic stones he had prepared from his pocket:

"I require perfect quality; any flaws are unacceptable."

After the transaction was completed, Luo En returned quickly to his workshop.

Two magic stones made him feel a bit of heartache, but for his upcoming plan, this investment was necessary.

"Spent so many magic stones again..."

Luo En looked at the thumb-sized dark red crystal in his hand and sighed softly: "Magic stones really don't last long."

Inside the workshop, Luo En quickly entered the laboratory and began preparing to craft his own space bag.

Blood crystal is an "abyssal substance" unique to the first layer of the abyss and is also the core material for making spatial equipment, containing natural spatial folding properties.

The process of crafting a space bag essentially involves guiding the spatial energy out of the blood crystal and fixing it onto a specific carrier.

He took a piece of high-quality sub-dragon hide and cut it into the appropriate shape according to a specific pattern.

"This process is much simpler than I imagined," Luo En muttered to himself while skillfully drawing complex runes on the sub-dragon hide:

"It's even easier than making alchemy bombs."

The key lies in the layout of the guiding circuits and the construction of the initial space.

The blood crystal itself has spatial attributes; one only needs to establish the correct energy-guiding path and activate it through a specific alchemical reaction to form a stable, small sub-space.

Luo En's fingers nimbly refined several rare alchemical materials into their most suitable state, precisely dotting them onto the key nodes on the surface of the sub-dragon hide.

The "Material Transmutation" skill played a huge role at this moment, allowing him to intuitively perceive the interactions between materials and precisely control every reaction step.

Three hours later, a small dark brown bag lay quietly on the laboratory bench, with flickering rune patterns faintly visible on its surface.

He carefully reached his hand into the bag's opening and felt his arm enter an invisible space, far exceeding the range that the bag's external dimensions could hold.

"Success!" Luo En's eyes revealed a look of accomplishment: "The capacity is one-third larger than what the school provided."

He took out his pocket watch to check the time.

There were less than twelve hours left until the official opening of the Bloodline Altar, and he needed to step up his remaining preparations.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Black Mist School's administration tower, Tang Pusen stood in Hayek's office holding a thick document.

"This is my observation report on Luo En Ralph."

Tang Pusen handed the document to Hayek, his voice calm but his tone carrying clear admiration: "I believe you should see this yourself."

Hayek took the document and quickly flipped through it.

As he read deeper, his brow gradually furrowed, and a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Alchemy bombs? He successfully crafted alchemy bombs?"

Hayek looked up at Tang Pusen, his tone filled with disbelief:

"This kind of technique usually requires at least ten years of alchemy study to master."

"Not only that," Tang Pusen added:

"He also successfully crafted a space bag. As far as I know, he just exchanged for a blood crystal at the trade center; he must have intended to craft spatial equipment himself."

Hayek was silent for a moment, placed the document on the table, and tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

"This young man's alchemy has reached the level of a professional alchemist, and his speed of progress far exceeds the norm."

He pondered and said: "This doesn't seem to align well with the 'Medicine Body Resonance' talent recorded in his file."

Just then, the office door was knocked on lightly, and then the figure of Valen appeared at the doorway.

"Excuse me, Hayek."

The Dark Sun Wizard smiled gently: "I've come to retrieve some historical data on the Bloodline Altar."

"Master Valen, please come in." Hayek stood up immediately to welcome him, while Tang Pusen consciously bowed and left through a side door: "As it happens, there is something I would like to consult you about."

Valen walked into the room, his gaze falling on the document on the table, seemingly having sensed something from Hayek's expression.

"Is it about that young member in the sequence?" he asked softly.

Hayek briefly introduced Luo En's situation, specifically emphasizing his astonishing performance in alchemy, potionology, and bloodline modulation.

"Recently, he has not only been able to craft alchemy bombs but has also mastered the technique for crafting spatial equipment, and all of this was accomplished in just a few months."

Hayek concluded: "This speed of progress is unprecedented in my teaching career."

A flash of rare surprise crossed Valen's eyes; he took the document and browsed through it again carefully, his expression gradually becoming deep.

"Interesting... very interesting."

The Dark Sun Wizard said slowly:

"This kind of comprehensive extraordinary talent reminds me of some even rarer talent types... 'Polymath,' 'Enlightened One,' 'Eye of Wisdom,' or perhaps even 'Hand of a Hundred Arts'..."

"Are you saying... he might possess these talents, which are even rarer than 'Medicine Body Resonance'?" Hayek asked in surprise.

"Very likely." Valen nodded:

"Especially 'Hand of a Hundred Arts,' a talent that allows the holder to quickly master any skill they come into contact with; it is one of the most precious among the second-tier talents."

The room fell into a brief silence, both men thinking about the implications of this discovery.

"Regardless," Valen finally broke the silence:

"Such a genius cannot be missed. Hayek, I suggest adding him to the priority observation list."

"It has already been arranged," Hayek responded:

"If he truly possesses such a rare talent, the upper echelons of the Crystal Spire will inevitably take an interest in him."

A flash of keen light crossed Valen's eyes:

"Yes, such talent should serve a broader stage."

He paused for a moment, his voice becoming even deeper:

"I have a suggestion—when he approaches the threshold of a formal wizard, do not easily grant him the 'Key Potion,' even if his hope for advancement is higher than the first in the sequence."

"You mean..." A flash of realization crossed Hayek's eyes.

"Yes, have him sign a lifelong service soul contract with our Crystal Spire as a condition for obtaining the 'Key Potion'."

Valen said calmly: "Such a genius must be tightly bound to our Crystal Spire."

Hayek pondered for a moment and finally nodded in agreement:

"I understand, Master Valen; I will closely monitor his development."

………………

The day for the opening of the Bloodline Altar finally arrived.

On the huge plaza in the central area of the school, a circular stone platform that was usually inconspicuous had now become the center of the ritual.

Around the stone platform, complex magic array patterns emitted a deep blue light, and a kind of ancient and mysterious energy fluctuation permeated the air.

Valen stood in the center of the stone platform, with Hayek and several other wizards beside him.

Surrounding them were dozens of apprentices who had come to observe the ceremony.

Luo En and the other four candidates stood at specific positions on the edge of the magic array, each with a small magic array node in front of them, connected to the large central array.

The ten apprentices from the Crystal Spire had also taken their places; their attire was significantly different from that of the Black Mist School apprentices:

More exquisite robes embroidered with complex runes, and they wore various fine alchemical equipment on their bodies.

Some of them had skin that exhibited a metallic luster, some had eyes that flickered with strange runes, and others had arms that seemed capable of extending and deforming.

These were all manifestations of bloodline alienation, showing that they had already undergone various degrees of self-modification.

Although these apprentices from the Central Lands behaved politely and showed no signs of contempt.

Luo En could still sense an innate sense of superiority from their demeanor and speech—that confidence and composure born from long-term residence in a resource-rich environment.

"Don't be nervous," Trish's voice came from beside him:

"We've all agreed to find each other and form a squad after we get inside."

Luo En just nodded: "I have made full preparations."

He patted the space bag he had crafted, which was filled with various potions, alchemical tools, and emergency supplies.

Holt also walked over, his expression solemn:

"I heard this trial is different from usual and may involve deeper levels of abyssal influence; everyone must be careful."

Valen's voice suddenly sounded across the plaza, clear and powerful; he did not use any amplification spells, yet everyone could hear him perfectly.

"The Bloodline Altar originates from a captured fragment of a special space."

The Dark Sun Wizard's voice carried a power that could calm people down:

"Because of a plane collision, it has a certain connection to the abyss, but it does not belong entirely to the abyss. This unique nature makes it an ideal place for bloodline purification and trials."

Valen walked slowly toward the center of the magic array and continued to explain:

"After entering the altar, you will be randomly dispersed into different areas. There, you will face various challenges—the entanglement of vengeful spirits, attacks from abyssal creatures, and milder abyssal curse effects."

His gaze swept over every participant:

"Your goal is to traverse these obstacles, reach the central area of the Bloodline Altar world, and complete the final trial. Only by passing the trial can you open the exit, or trigger the badge I gave you to teleport away, which would be considered an automatic withdrawal. The content of the trial is different every session, and this time is no exception."

Luo En listened carefully, keeping every detail in mind.

"You might be curious why formal wizards do not participate in such trials themselves."

Valen seemed to see through the questions of many people present:

"This is because of the rules set by the Great Wizard who captured this space fragment—the Bloodline Altar is only open to apprentices who have not yet reached the level of a formal wizard."

He explained:

"On one hand, the bloodline enhancement effect within the altar is almost negligible for those at the formal wizard level;

On the other hand, this is also a gift to the younger generation, a manifestation of a certain 'ancient rule.'

Therefore, existences that have reached the strength of a formal wizard cannot pass through the spatial channel connecting to the altar."

Luo En was thoughtful; this explained why such precious resources were specifically reserved for apprentices.

This was both a legacy and an investment in the future of the young, and that Great Wizard could also obtain a steady stream of "favors" through this.

"Now," Valen's voice became solemn: "The Bloodline Altar trial officially begins!"

As his voice fell, the stone platform in the center of the magic array suddenly emitted a dazzling blue light.

Beams of energy light extended outward from the center, connecting to the nodes where each participant stood.

Luo En felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and everything in his field of vision began to twist and deform.

His consciousness seemed to be stretched, twisted, and then thrown into a boundless void.

In this void, he vaguely saw a huge crack, deep and dark, radiating a heart-palpitating aura.

That was the entrance to the abyss, and the dark, chaotic aura coiled out from it, spreading toward him like countless tentacles.

Luo En felt an indescribable sense of oppression, as if an invisible force was trying to invade his spirit and bloodline.

This was the curse of the abyss, trying to leave a mark on him.

"Resist... must resist..."

Luo En muttered in his heart, while mobilizing all his mental power to build a defensive barrier.

Just as he was about to be swallowed by the darkness, a ray of light suddenly appeared from the other end of the void, like a path of life, guiding him in the right direction.

Luo En rushed toward the golden light without hesitation, feeling his consciousness being pulled violently, and then...

Amidst a whirlwind, his feet finally touched solid ground.

(End of chapter)