Chapter 207

Lady Yi Fu smiled slightly: "No need to be so polite; you can now be considered the only student I recognize. Besides, I have always admired those who can break conventions and find their own path."

She paused, a strange light flashing in her eyes:

"Moreover, I can tell that you are not the type to be content with being bound. Are you?"

Luo En met Lady Yi Fu's gaze, and from those emerald eyes, he seemed to see a certain understanding and tolerance.

"There is one more thing," Lady Yi Fu continued:

"I have a method to advance to a formal wizard without relying on the school's universal 'key' potion. Although the risk is greater, it is also freer. If you are interested, after Valen leaves in a while, you can come to the apothecary to find me."

Luo En's heart stirred.

Becoming a formal wizard is the ultimate goal of every apprentice, and advancing without relying on the school's key potion means greater freedom.

"I will consider it," he nodded solemnly.

Lady Yi Fu smiled, and for once, her smile lacked that sharp, biting quality: "Let's go, let's leave this place together."

Luo En nodded and followed Lady Yi Fu toward the exit.

On the way, Lady Yi Fu mentioned an interesting topic:

"By the way, Luo En, have you ever thought that for those with special soul talents, soul contracts might have different effects?"

A flash of surprise crossed Luo En's eyes: "You mean?"

"Just a guess," the pink-haired witch smiled mysteriously:

"After all, in this world, rules often have unexpected flexibility, especially for those with extraordinary talents."

Her words were pointed, making Luo En wonder if Lady Yi Fu had already seen through his secret.

But regardless, this conversation gave Luo En a new line of thought:

Perhaps he could utilize the characteristics of his "dual soul" to obtain resources from the Crystal Spire by signing a contract, while not being completely bound by it.

In this way, he could maintain good relationships with some mentors who had provided him with guidance, while also maintaining a certain degree of freedom.

Of course, this would require deeper research and preparation, but it was at least a feasible direction.

As the two gradually moved away, the crystal structure within the Bloodline Altar began to collapse, signaling the end of this trial.

For Luo En, this was not the end, but the beginning of a new journey.

The strengthening of his bloodline, the advancement of his substitute puppet, the duel with his clone, Lady Yi Fu's secret, and that mysterious "Abyssal Eye" organization.

Every factor was pushing him toward a broader world, and he was ready to face it all.

………………

At the exit of the Bloodline Altar, Valen was waiting anxiously.

When he saw the figures of Lady Yi Fu and Luo En appear near the portal, his tense face finally relaxed.

"Finally back," Valen breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze first sweeping over Lady Yi Fu.

Confirming she was uninjured, he then turned to Luo En: "Apprentice Luo En, it seems you have successfully completed the trial."

Luo En nodded in acknowledgment: "Thanks to Lady Yi Fu's help."

Valen nodded slightly without saying more.

He could feel the changes in Luo En—his aura was more stable, his magic flow was smoother, and his bloodline power had also significantly improved.

This was the result of the Bloodline Altar trial, and it looked quite effective.

"What about that intruder?" Valen turned to ask Lady Yi Fu.

"Self-destructed," Lady Yi Fu answered briefly, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes:

"He called himself 'Mr. Holy Disc,' a member of the 'Abyssal Eye,' and the mastermind behind Oliver. Just as I was about to interrogate him, he chose self-destruction."

Valen frowned:

"The Abyssal Eye... their courage is growing. First Oliver and Cynthia, and now this 'Mr. Holy Disc.' It seems we must strengthen the investigation within the Black Fog School."

Lady Yi Fu nodded:

"Their infiltration is more serious than imagined. That Mr. Holy Disc must have disguised himself as a mentor, developing power within the school for a long time and cultivating pawns like Oliver."

Valen's expression became more solemn: "This matter must be reported to the School Alliance. The ambition of the Abyssal Eye clearly goes beyond this; they may be planning a larger conspiracy."

Luo En listened quietly to the conversation between the two wizards, occasionally organizing the information in his mind.

Interestingly, this mysterious figure known as "Mr. Holy Disc" had actually set his sights on him.

This made him both vigilant and curious. Why would he become a target of the Abyssal Eye?

Was it just because he showed extraordinary talent, or had they detected some deeper secret?

Regardless, this meant he had to be more cautious, increase his vigilance, and guard against potential threats.

"Luo En," Valen suddenly turned his attention to him:

"Your performance in the trial was impressive. Even your clone displayed astonishing power, which shows your potential far exceeds that of an ordinary apprentice."

Luo En responded modestly: "I just did my best."

Valen smiled slightly: "No need to be modest; talent is a wizard's most precious asset, and you clearly possess extremely rare potential."

He stared at Luo En, his eyes flickering with a certain expectation and calculation that was hard to hide.

"Your potential far exceeds that of an ordinary apprentice, and you would even stand out among the elites of the Crystal Spire."

The man's voice was perfectly controlled, expressing appreciation without appearing overly eager:

"If you are willing, I can introduce you to several outstanding mentors in our faction. They have unparalleled attainments in elemental studies, alchemy, and extraordinary biology, which I believe will be of great benefit to your growth."

Valen had already outlined a perfect blueprint in his mind—not only guidance from top mentors but also several outstanding and attractive marriageable juniors.

Through marriage, the Crystal Spire had gained countless geniuses.

In his view, this kind of transaction was mutually beneficial, with both sides gaining what they needed.

However, just as he was about to further elaborate on these "favorable conditions," a strong sense of warning came from his side.

Lady Yi Fu's gaze was like a knife, mixed not only with a warning but also with a substantial threat, making Valen swallow the second half of his sentence.

He coughed lightly and quickly adjusted his strategy:

"Of course, if you are interested, you are always welcome to come to the Crystal Spire for further study and advanced training through the Black Fog School's channels. After Elliot and I finish the last few tasks, we will return to the Central Land in about three days."

Three days was likely the time needed to finish the cleanup related to the Bloodline Altar.

Elliot, who had been standing behind Valen, stepped forward at this moment.

That pair of unusually large ears twitched constantly, as if capturing the slightest energy fluctuations in the air.

Luo En had already noticed through "Extraordinary Identification" that this seemingly strange feature was actually an extremely rare perception talent, capable of "listening" to information that ordinary people could not perceive.

"Luo En Ralph, I've heard much about you."

Elliot's tone was gentle, but the scrutiny in his eyes made Luo En alert: "Seeing you in person is indeed more impressive than hearsay."

He took out an exquisite silver badge from his pocket, engraved with a complex network of runes.

Luo En sensed that the badge contained a complex communication array, with an energy structure so precise it was astonishing.

"This is a special personal magic badge, a common communication method between wizards and high-level apprentices."

Elliot explained: "Unfortunately, the conditions in the Black Fog School are limited, so it hasn't been widely circulated, just as academic journals are not popular here either."

Luo En took the badge, feeling the exquisite magic structure within, and couldn't help but secretly admire it.

The production of such small objects seemed simple, but the energy transmission principles involved were extremely profound.

This was the level of research on auxiliary tools by the major powers in the Central Land, far beyond what a remote school like the Black Fog School could compare to.

"If you come to the Central Land, you can contact me directly through this."

Elliot's tone became a bit more sincere: "I am very willing to make friends with a genius like you and provide help within my capabilities."

Luo En put the badge into his inner pocket and nodded in thanks, his expression calm:

"Thank you for your kindness. If I have the opportunity to go to the Central Land, I will certainly visit."

Seeing that everything that needed to be said had been said, Elliot consciously followed Valen away, as they still had other things to attend to.

Lady Yi Fu, standing to the side, cleared her throat:

"Luo En, you should know that the flow of time inside the Bloodline Altar is different from the outside. In fact, two full weeks have passed outside."

"Two weeks?" Luo En was startled, his brows furrowing slightly.

He quickly calculated the possible impacts—the daily operation of the workshop, experimental progress, delivery of potion orders...

"You had better return to the workshop as soon as possible," Lady Yi Fu's tone softened slightly: "I'm afraid someone is still waiting for you to return."

She gave Luo En a meaningful look and added:

"Remember, come to see me after Valen leaves. There are many things I need to tell you; it is very important."

Luo En nodded in agreement, his thoughts already flying back to the workshop.

He couldn't help but worry about the condition of Li Li Liya and Ailan, especially Li Li Liya, that girl who was always cautious about everything; she must have been terrified.

After saying goodbye to Lady Yi Fu, Luo En and Daier did not linger and walked quickly toward the workshop.

On the way, he keenly noticed the subtle change in the school's atmosphere.

Many apprentices looked at him with more awe, and even members of the enforcement team spontaneously saluted him.

"It seems the news has spread," Luo En thought to himself, but he didn't care about this superficial respect.

In his value system, power was the only constant currency.

And the greatest value of this currency lay in its ability to exchange for more knowledge and resources, helping him further strengthen himself.

The opinions of others were merely a reaction to power and had no substantive meaning.

When Luo En and Daier finally reached the door of the workshop, the door was suddenly flung open.

Li Li Liya stood at the entrance, looking heartbreaking—her eyes were red and bloodshot, as if she hadn't closed them for a long time;

The long-term worry and fatigue had left obvious marks on her face, and her originally neat hair was now messy.

The moment she saw Luo En, Li Li Liya's eyes turned from disbelief to joy, finally dissolving into uncontrollable tears.

She had originally wanted to remain composed, like a qualified apprentice offering a respectful greeting, but the long-suppressed emotions broke through at this moment.

"Master! You're finally back!"

Her voice choked, and she gripped her sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force: "We almost thought..."

Ailan also appeared at the door quickly, her elegant face also filled with surprise.

Although she was better at controlling her emotions than Li Li Liya, the flickering in her eyes and the slightly trembling vines also exposed the turmoil in her heart.

"Master! Daier! Thank goodness, you are both safe and sound!"

The tree spirit stretched out her vines, gently but firmly pulling Luo En and Daier into the workshop.

Her vines wrapped around their arms with a protective tenderness, as if confirming that they had indeed returned unscathed.

"Everyone, calm down," Luo En tried to keep his voice steady to soothe the two women who were clearly losing control of their emotions:

"We are perfectly fine; it's just that the time flow inside the altar is different from the outside, so we were a bit later than expected."

Li Li Liya looked up, holding back her tears, trying to regain a shred of reason:

"We were so worried... There were many terrible rumors circulating in the school, saying that something went wrong with the Bloodline Altar, and even that some apprentices were trapped inside forever... and Lady Yi Fu and Lord Huo Huo Erte had already returned before you..."

Her voice trembled slightly, and her face was pale; it was clear she had been in a state of high tension these past few days.

"Those were just rumors."

Luo En shook his head gently, his tone carrying a rare softness to alleviate the girl's anxiety:

"The Bloodline Altar is indeed dangerous, but not invincible. In fact, not only did we successfully complete the trial, but Daier also gained a bloodline upgrade because of it."

The little sea siren immediately puffed out her chest proudly: "That's right! I'm a 'Pure-Blood Sea Siren' now! Look at my eyes!"

Only then did Li Li Liya notice the change in Daier.

Her originally purple-blue eyes had turned a pure gold, and subtle scale patterns had appeared on her skin.

Her entire temperament had taken on a new look, exuding an extraordinary aura that combined nobility and purity.

"That's truly amazing!" Li Li Liya exclaimed, her emotions stabilizing slightly.

Ailan's gaze keenly captured the changes in Luo En.

Compared to Daier, Luo En's changes were more introverted but also more fundamental.

His aura had become purer and more powerful, his energy flow was smoother, and his bloodline fluctuations were more harmonious.

"Master, your bloodline has also been upgraded, hasn't it?"

The tree spirit asked softly, her vines gently rubbing against the floor of the workshop, a habit she had when thinking.

Luo En nodded slightly, neither deliberately hiding it nor explaining in detail:

"Indeed. Although this experience was dangerous, the gains far exceeded expectations."

He looked around, noticing that everything inside the workshop was in perfect order, even tidier than before he left.

An enticing aroma wafted through the air, causing his stomach to protest ungratefully.

"I smell the scent of food."

Luo En sniffed the air, his tone carrying a hint of expectation: "Could it be that you have prepared dinner?"

Li Li Liya immediately came to life, as if she had found her role again:

"Yes! After we received the news, Ailan and I prepared a welcome feast! It's best eaten while hot!"

The dining room had been newly arranged, and the table was filled with all kinds of delicacies.

From special fruits and vegetables grown by Ailan herself to various meat dishes carefully prepared by Li Li Liya, there were even several seafood dishes that were Daier's favorites.

Every dish exuded an enticing aroma, appealing to the eyes, nose, and palate.

Luo En sat at the dining table, tasting the first bite of stew, and immediately felt a warm current spread from his stomach to his whole body.

This feeling came not only from the deliciousness of the food itself but also from an indescribable sense of security.

In this workshop he had built with his own hands, he could finally relax his vigilance slightly and not have to be on guard against various potential threats at all times.

"What exactly is the inside of the altar like?"

Li Li Liya asked impatiently, her eyes shining with a thirst for knowledge: "There is very little recorded in books, mostly just guesses."

Luo En tasted the fruit wine in his glass, thinking about how to describe this experience.

He didn't want to overemphasize the danger, lest he make the two women more worried; nor did he want to reveal too many details involving his core secrets.

"The interior of the altar is divided into several zones. The outer periphery is heavily influenced by the abyss, with a complex and changing environment where various aberrant creatures run rampant."

Luo En could only briefly describe: "I temporarily teamed up with Yi Fu and Huo Huo Erte and reached the core area together. They left first, and I completed the final trial."

Daier interjected excitedly:

"The battle was super intense! Master used that puppet to defeat a powerful enemy, and I dueled with my own clone, eventually gaining a bloodline upgrade!"

"A clone?" Li Li Liya tilted her head curiously.

"Yes, the altar generates a clone of every participant."

Luo En explained: "Defeating your own clone allows you to gain bloodline strengthening. And Daier achieved the breakthrough of 'pure-bloodization' in this way."

"And that puppet is...?"

"It's the prize won at the gladiatorial games, the substitute puppet."

Luo En's tone was calm, but a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes: "It did indeed play a key role."

By praising the efficacy of the substitute puppet, he avoided more details about the clone.

Especially that terrifying existence that had absorbed all the other clones and almost reached the level of a formal wizard.

The fewer people who knew about this level of information, the better.

Ailan was thoughtful:

"That is why I could feel that subtle change in Master's aura... not just a bloodline upgrade, but a deeper transformation. It seems that some power of the Bloodline Altar resonated wonderfully with Master's own characteristics."

Luo En nodded calmly.

Ailan's observation skills were as keen as ever, which was one of the reasons he appreciated this tree spirit assistant.

She could not only perceive the appearance but also intuitively touch the essence, yet she would not interfere or question too much.

"Ailan is right," Luo En admitted: "The Bloodline Altar did indeed bring me a special transformation, not just an increase in power, but a deeper understanding of my own bloodline characteristics."

He could feel that the two bloodlines within him, the Chimera and the Red-Blooded Flying Dragon, had become purer and more harmonious, no longer clashing as they had before.

The flow of bloodline power was smoother, and the efficiency of energy utilization had also taken a qualitative leap.

The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually became relaxed, with everyone sharing their respective experiences.

Li Li Liya detailed the workshop's operations during this period—order processing, material procurement, account management, everything was in perfect order;

Ailan introduced several new types of medicinal herbs she had cultivated in the garden, one of which, the night-glowing fern, seemed to have a special effect of stabilizing spiritual power.

Daier also rambled on about the various strange sights inside the altar, and although she embellished them, they were vivid and interesting.

(End of chapter)