Chapter 212: Slime Splash Advancement

Since returning from the Bloodline Altar, Daier's changes were not only reflected in her strength but even her temperament had undergone a clear transformation.

Her demeanor had become more elegant, and her voice carried a kind of indescribable allure—this was the talent unique to pure-blooded sirens beginning to manifest.

"I need some of your... special secretions."

Luo En said straightforwardly: "The kind of liquid that is highly corrosive."

Daier was stunned, and then her cheeks flushed slightly: "Are you talking about my saliva?"

"To be precise, the highly acidic liquid secreted deep in your salivary glands."

Luo En explained: "As far as I know, pure-blooded sirens can control the nature of their saliva, freely switching from ordinary saliva to strong acid."

Daier lowered her head, her fingers twisting together uneasily: "This is a bit embarrassing..."

Her voice was as light as a mosquito's, but Luo En still heard it clearly:

"This kind of secretion is a very private thing for us sirens... usually only used for hunting or... or..."

She didn't continue, but her face had already turned red to the roots of her ears.

Luo En raised his eyebrows, suddenly realizing that he might have touched upon some taboo or custom related to the Sea Sea Siren race.

But the research at hand was clearly more important.

"This is for an important spell research."

His tone was calm: "If you really feel uncomfortable, I can consider other avenues."

Daier took a deep breath and looked up:

"No, I am willing to do anything for the master."

She asked cautiously: "How much... do you need?"

"About this much." Luo En gestured the size of a small bottle: "Filling this capacity is enough."

Daier nodded, her face still flushed: "Please give me a container; I need... to be alone for a moment."

Luo En took out a special small glass bottle from his pocket and handed it to Daier.

This kind of bottle was made of special materials capable of resisting the corrosion of strong acid.

"Thank you." He said softly: "This is very important for my research."

Daier took the bottle and walked quickly to a corner of the training ground.

A few minutes later, she returned holding the glass bottle filled with more than half of milky white liquid, her eyes drifting, not daring to look directly at Luo En.

"Here you go... this is my... secretion."

She handed the bottle to Luo En, her head lowered until it almost touched her chest.

Luo En took the bottle and observed the liquid inside carefully.

In the sunlight, the liquid glowed with a faint blue light, looking slightly thicker than ordinary liquid, but the fluidity was still very good.

"Thank you very much, Daier." Luo En said sincerely.

The little Sea Sea Siren nodded hurriedly:

"You're welcome, Master. If you need more... I can provide it at any time."

Luo En smiled slightly and turned back to the laboratory.

Daier breathed a sigh of relief, watching the back of her master as he walked away with complex eyes.

Returning to the laboratory, Luo En immediately began the experiment.

He carefully dripped a drop of Daier's secretion onto a wooden board.

The moment the liquid touched the wood, it made a "hissing" sound.

The surface of the wooden board was rapidly corroded into a deep pit, with the edges showing a charred black color.

"The corrosiveness far exceeds my expectations..." Luo En muttered in surprise.

The corrosion speed and intensity of this acid were even greater than most strong acids he had come into contact with in the school laboratory.

And what was even more magical was that this liquid seemed to carry certain magic characteristics, not only corroding physical structures but also interfering with magic structures.

Luo En began to try to integrate this acid into the spell model.

Unlike simply injecting substances into a completed spell construction.

The application of a true spellcasting medium is to integrate the characteristics of the medium substance during the process of constructing the spell model, making the two form a perfect resonance.

He first constructed the basic framework of "Slime Splash" in his mental world, and then integrated his understanding of acid characteristics at key nodes.

This was a delicate and complex process, requiring a deep grasp of both spell structure and medium characteristics.

Accompanied by the injection of mental power, a ball of liquid glowing with ghostly blue light gradually condensed in Luo En's palm.

Compared to the original slime, this liquid was more condensed, and the luster was sharper, as if it contained some kind of dangerous power.

"Go!"

Luo En waved his hand, and the liquid shot toward the wooden dummy like an arrow from a bow.

"Ssh!"

The moment the liquid hit the target, it made a teeth-grinding sound.

The surface of the wooden dummy was rapidly corroded into a pit the size of a bowl, with light blue smoke rising from the edges, and a pungent odor permeated the air.

"The effect is much better than expected." Luo En exclaimed softly.

This improved spell not only had a faster attack speed but also had a qualitative leap in corrosiveness.

But he was not satisfied with this.

"If I could further adjust the spell structure, perhaps I could develop a variant for range attacks..."

Luo En opened his notebook and began to draw the new spell model.

His idea was to divide the acid spell into three forms:

The first is the "Acid Ball" he just tried, which has high speed and strong corrosiveness, suitable for precision strikes against a single target.

The second is "Acid Rain," spreading the spell energy to form acid raindrops covering a certain range;

acid of moderate concentration can corrode the enemy's skin and equipment, reducing their combat capability.

The third is "Acid Mist," completely vaporizing the liquid to form a poisonous mist;

thereby obstructing the enemy's vision while causing continuous damage.

For the next few hours, Luo En immersed himself in spell improvement.

He adjusted the spell structure again and again, fine-tuned energy distribution, and tried different casting methods.

The development of the "Acid Rain" form was relatively smooth.

Luo En only needed to add a "diffusion node" at the end of the spell to disperse the originally condensed acid into countless tiny droplets, falling from the sky.

Tests showed that the attack range of this form could cover a circular area with a diameter of about five or six meters.

Although the single-point corrosion power was not as good as the "Acid Ball," the range effect was quite considerable.

The development of the "Acid Mist" form encountered some difficulties.

Vaporizing the liquid completely required additional energy conversion nodes, and controlling gaseous substances was much more complex than controlling liquids.

After many attempts, Luo En finally found a relatively stable structure capable of maintaining the acid mist effect for about one minute after casting.

When the last test was completed, he looked at his results with satisfaction.

The wooden dummy had been almost completely corroded, with only the base barely supporting it.

"Three new forms of 'Slime Splash': 'Acid Ball,' 'Acid Rain,' and 'Acid Mist'."

Luo En whispered to himself: "Each has its specific application scenario."

What satisfied him most was that these three forms shared the same basic spell structure, and could be flexibly switched by making slight adjustments when casting.

This meant that when he practiced, no matter which form he focused on, the experience points would increase:

【Current progress: Slime Splash Advancement (Proficient 5/100)】

The prompt on the translucent panel made Luo En smile slightly.

An inconspicuous basic spell, after integrating a special spellcasting medium, had evolved into three powerful variants.

This is the essence of the wizard's path—endless exploration and innovation.

"Next step, perhaps I can try more types of spellcasting mediums." Luo En pondered, his gaze falling on the various materials on the shelf.

The poison glands of those terrifying poisonous creatures, the abyssal substances collected in the Bloodline Altar, and even his own Red Blood Flying Dragon bloodline...

Each could become a medium for strengthening spells.

This success also gave Luo En a lot of inspiration.

The application of spellcasting mediums is not limited to enhancing existing spells, but can also endow spells with brand-new characteristics.

Mastering this technology is crucial for developing a personal spell system after becoming an Official Wizard in the future.

Night fell, and only the faint light of a few magic crystal lamps remained in the workshop.

Luo En organized the research data of the day and put it into a special experimental log.

These experiences would become the cornerstone for his further progress.

Once fully stored in the consciousness library, he would destroy them directly.

Walking out of the laboratory, Luo En looked up at the starry sky.

Those distant points of light seemed to be telling him something, just like the mysterious whispers in "Whispers of the Star Eater."

"There is still a long way to go..."

………………

On the third morning, Luo En got up early and completed his daily practice.

When he walked into the dining room, Li Li Liya had already prepared a sumptuous breakfast, clearly having recovered her spirit.

A plate of golden, crispy bread slices, spread evenly with peanut butter;

a few eggs fried just right, the yolks slightly set but still maintaining a hint of fluidity;

and several slices of fragrant roasted meat, the edges slightly crispy, the middle maintaining a juicy pink.

A steaming cup of black tea was placed next to Luo En's usual seat, the tea a deep amber, emitting a subtle fragrance.

"Teacher, good morning."

Li Li Liya bowed slightly, her purple-black long hair neatly coiled behind her head.

Although there was still fatigue in her eyes, her gaze had returned to its usual agility, no longer filled with the fatigue and worry of the past few days.

Luo En nodded and sat down at the dining table: "How do you feel today?"

His tone was flat, but Li Li Liya heard the concern in it.

"Very well, thank you for your concern." Li Li Liya answered softly, a slight blush on her face.

Her slender fingers twisted slightly together, clearly still embarrassed about her loss of composure over the past few days.

Luo En observed her calmly.

Li Li Liya's "Diligence Makes Up for Lack of Talent" talent was truly a magical gift.

Like an inconspicuous vine, it grew quietly under day-after-day cultivation.

Recently, her progress had become more and more obvious; from that timid candidate apprentice at the beginning to the senior who could now independently complete complex potion refining, the transformation was astonishing.

Especially in the two areas of meditation and potionology, she was undoubtedly far beyond her peers.

"I have some things to do today; I plan to go to Lady Allen's herb shop."

Luo En took a sip of tea; the tea was sweet, which was the taste he liked.

He looked at Li Li Liya calmly: "You will come with me."

Li Li Liya was stunned, the teacup in her hand trembling slightly, and the tea almost spilled.

Since becoming Luo En's apprentice, Li Li Liya had been to the herb shop for him several times.

But each time it was just to deliver items or pass messages, and there had never been an opportunity for in-depth communication.

For her, although the old woman's words were harsh, she still gave her shelter at the most critical moment.

"Is there any problem?"

Luo En asked flatly, his gaze like a calm lake, without any ripples.

Li Li Liya looked into her teacher's deep eyes and realized that this was not a casual suggestion, but a decision already made.

She quickly adjusted her emotions, straightened her back, and nodded: "No, teacher. I am very happy to accompany you."

Her voice returned to calm, but her heart was churning.

What did returning to the herb shop mean?

Was the teacher going to return her to Lady Allen?

Had she done something wrong recently that made the teacher dissatisfied? Or...

Luo En nodded slightly, continuing to enjoy his breakfast as if he hadn't noticed her anxiety.

But in reality, he could clearly perceive the changes in Lilia's emotions.

Those eyes, often lowered, were currently flickering with unease and confusion.

But it was indeed necessary to bring her along this time.

If he decided to attempt that dangerous but freer path of advancement, many preparations needed to be arranged in advance.

And Lilia, whether as his first official student or as a potential stock with special talents, needed her future planned early.

After breakfast, Luo En and Lilia set off for the market.

Last night's light rain had washed away the dust that never dissipated from the Black Mist Forest, and a damp, fresh scent permeated the air.

The market was bustling as usual, with vendors loudly hawking various goods, from ordinary daily necessities to rare magical materials.

A dwarf merchant was showing a set of shimmering alchemy tools to a group of apprentices;

Several alien women in linen robes were peddling all sorts of unheard-of spices and herbs;

And there was a merchant who was almost indistinguishable from a human, only his skin was pale blue.

He was carefully taking a crystal pulsing with a faint glow out of a box, drawing a wave of attention from those around.

Several members of the enforcement team in dark robes were patrolling the crowd.

Their stern faces and the magic staves at their waists silently declared their authority; these people maintained basic order but also added a touch of tension to the market.

"It's been a long time since I came to this market."

Lilia said in a low voice, her gaze sweeping over the familiar stalls, a flash of nostalgia in her eyes.

Before coming to Luo En's workshop, she had to come to the market almost every day to purchase various supplies for Lady Lady Lady Ailan.

Most of those stall owners knew her, and some would even specifically save some fresh goods for her.

"Do you feel busier in the workshop?" Luo En asked casually, his eyes scanning the crowd.

Ever since the bloodline altar incident, his vigilance had been higher.

Although it looked calm on the surface, who knew if the forces of the "Abyssal Eye" had already infiltrated every corner of the school?

"No, teacher, I enjoy my time in the workshop."

Lilia's voice became soft, a warm light flashing in her eyes:

"Learning new knowledge, helping you organize experimental records, and taking care of little Daier together with Sister Lady Lady Ailan... all of this makes me feel fulfilled."

She had a sincere joy on her face when she said this; that sense of satisfaction from the bottom of her heart made her whole person seem to radiate a soft light.

Passing through the bustling crowd, they arrived at that inconspicuous herb shop.

The shop's outer wall was already somewhat mottled, and the bronze wind chime hanging on the door frame swayed gently with the wind, making a crisp sound.

The dust accumulated on the windows made it impossible to see inside, adding a touch of mystery to the shop.

The moment the door was pushed open, a familiar herbal scent rushed toward them, mixed with subtle sour-sweet and bitter notes.

The dim light and densely packed shelves inside were the same as ever, with various bottles and jars of different shapes neatly arranged on the shelves.

Some contained brightly colored liquids, while others held dried herbs or powders.

Lady Lady Lady Ailan was hunched over, sitting behind the counter, her thin fingers quickly flipping through a thick ledger.

Those dark green eyes, which always revealed a touch of bitterness, were focused on the numbers and symbols, looking completely immersed in her own world.

Hearing the doorbell, the old woman didn't even look up, her voice rough:

"Not open for business today; come back tomorrow if you have something."

"My lady, it's me." Luo En said calmly, his voice not loud but carrying a presence that could not be ignored.

Lady Lady Lady Ailan looked up abruptly, a flash of strange light crossing her dark green eyes the moment she saw him.

Then her gaze shifted to Lilia beside him, the corners of her mouth curling into a meaningful smile: "Oh? Brought your little student along?"

"My lady." Lilia also bowed her head, her voice soft.

"Hmph, don't just stand there like a fool." Lady Lady Lady Ailan snorted coldly, but a softness that was hard to detect appeared in her eyes.

She stood up with difficulty, leaning on her cane, pretending as usual to have trouble moving, and walked toward the inner room, saying without looking back:

"Follow me; there are too many ears outside."

Luo En and Lilia exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

A flash of familiar light crossed Lilia's eyes; this was a path she had walked countless times, only today the feeling was a bit different.

Walking past the counter, Lilia habitually reached out to take the teapot and tea caddy placed to the side.

Her movements were natural and fluid; this was an action she had repeated countless times.

"Is the lady still the same as usual?" She asked Lady Lady Lady Ailan softly, her voice filled with familiarity.

Lady Lady Lady Ailan didn't seem surprised by her proficiency, only nodding:

"The little girl has a good memory. But don't rush to make tea today; there are more important things to discuss."

Lilia obediently put down the tea set and followed the two as they continued forward.

But a flash of disappointment crossed her eyes, like a traveler returning to an old place only to find everything had changed.

Passing through a narrow corridor, Lady Lady Lady Ailan led them to an inner room that had never been open to the public.

This was a simply furnished living room, with a mahogany round table and several carved chairs that looked ancient placed in the center.

The bookshelves along the wall were filled with various ancient texts and pharmacopoeias.

The gilded text on some of the spines was already blurred, proving their great God God Age.

In the corner of the room, an exquisite alchemy device was operating slowly, emitting a faint humming sound.

Blue liquid flowed slowly through transparent pipes, and every few seconds, a drop of solution would drip into the central collection bottle, like the pulse of some life.

On the windowsill sat several plants with strange shapes, their leaves showing an unnatural deep purple, shimmering slightly in the sunlight.

Lady Lady Lady Ailan confirmed that the doors and windows were closed, and snapped her fingers casually.

A faint energy fluctuation rose from every corner of the room, forming an almost invisible energy barrier, isolating the entire room from the outside world.

"Now we can talk with peace of mind."

Lady Lady Lady Ailan's voice suddenly became much younger, and that originally old and hunched body also began to change before Luo En and Lilia's eyes.

The wrinkles smoothed out, like ice melting under the sun;

The hunched back straightened, and the thin body filled out;

That face, originally covered in God God Age spots, regained its luster, and the hooked nose became small and pert.

In the blink of an eye, a beautiful woman with pink-purple long hair replaced the original old woman and stood before them.

Luo En had already seen this form of Lady Lady Lady Ailan many times, but Lilia was so shocked she couldn't speak, her widened eyes filled with disbelief.

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't make a sound.

The girl subconsciously took a step back, nearly bumping into the bookshelf behind her.

"My-my lady?" Lilia's voice trembled, unsure if she should believe what she was seeing.

Her brain raced, trying to connect this beautiful woman before her with the bitter old woman she knew so well.

"What, scared?" Lady Lady Lady Ailan said with a smile, her voice melodious, a world apart from her usual raspy tone:

"Didn't expect your bitter landlady to have a side like this, did you?"

"Is this your true appearance, my lady?" Lilia asked cautiously.

The tremor in her voice had lessened significantly, replaced by a hint of curiosity.

The pink-haired witch raised her eyebrows:

"Not entirely; this is just the state during the peak of magic fluctuation, a kind of 'reversion' that cannot last long."

A flash of imperceptible regret crossed her eyes as she said this, but she quickly returned to calm.

Lady Lady Lady Ailan gestured for the two to sit, and she herself sat elegantly in the main seat, completely devoid of her usual roughness:

"Come, let's have a good talk."

Lilia acted quickly according to instinct.

The young girl walked quickly to the cabinet in the corner, took out an exquisite tea set, and skillfully began preparing tea.

She knew what tea Lady Lady Lady Ailan liked, at what time, and how much sugar to add; everything was carved into her memory.

"Lilia, go to the backyard and help me tidy up the herb field."

Lady Lady Lady Ailan said suddenly, her voice soft but not allowing for rebuttal: "Those night-glow grasses need trimming; you should still remember how to handle them."

Lilia's movements paused, then she understood that this meant Lady Lady Lady Ailan wanted to talk to Luo En alone.

She nodded obediently, put down the freshly brewed tea, and walked toward the door: "I'll go right away."

Walking to the door, she paused and looked back at Luo En, a hint of unease and confusion in her eyes.

Luo En noticed her gaze and nodded slightly to signal that she could leave with peace of mind.

Only then did Lilia breathe a sigh of relief and turn to leave the room.

After Lilia left, the room fell into silence.

Lady Lady Lady Ailan picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and nodded with satisfaction.

Even after such a long time, Lilia still remembered the flavor she liked.

For some reason, this detail made a hint of warmth surge in her heart.

"A good student." She said suddenly, her fingers tapping the table lightly; that was her habitual action when thinking:

"She should possess some kind of special growth-type talent, and combined with your teaching, the speed of her progress is very surprising."

(End of chapter)