Chapter 215: At the Time of the Star Ring Convergence

"Alright, there is no need to be so cautious when you speak anymore."

Lady Ailan lifted her teacup and took a light sip:

"I am merely fulfilling the duty of a guide; the true path is still one you must walk yourself."

Her gaze became deep and distant, as if she were looking at some far-off place that only she could see:

"Every true wizard needs to find their own path. Whether it is the traditional route or the True Path, the ultimate goal is to transcend the mortal and touch true knowledge."

"I believe that with your talent and perseverance, you will certainly be able to carve out a path of your own."

Luo En was silent for a moment, then looked up:

"Then, regarding astrology and timing, is there anything else I need to pay special attention to?"

"There is indeed." Lady Ailan nodded, her expression turning solemn:

"Breakthroughs in meditation methods cannot be performed at any time, especially for the True Path, which requires choosing specific astrological alignments."

She waved her hand gently in the air, and a star map appeared out of thin air, composed of countless points of light that rotated slowly:

"According to the astrological calendar, there are three 'Star Ring Convergences' every year, which are the magic power peak periods that occur every four months. At such moments, not only does the concentration of magic power reach its peak, but the channels connecting to high-level existences also open slightly."

On the star map, several specific star points suddenly lit up, forming a peculiar ring-like structure.

"The last convergence was over half a month ago, and the next one will not be until three months from now—to be precise, at midnight ninety-seven days from today.

At that moment, the 'Hermit Star' and the 'Annihilation Star Cluster' will form a special alignment, which is the best time to attempt the True Path."

Luo En calculated the time in his heart as he listened, his eyes flickering with the light of calculation.

Three months. With his current cultivation speed, plus the bonus brought by *The Star-Eater's Whispers*, and the efficient meditation after the Time Guardian pocket watch cleared the corruption... the time should be enough.

And if everything goes smoothly, he can completely finish the "Demon Hunter" job change before then and obtain some additional spirit attribute bonuses.

This value might not be much, but for sprinting toward the 4.9 critical point, it is an indispensable key aid.

He is currently at a little over 4.5, and there is still a significant gap to the critical point.

And the later the meditation method improvement goes, the slower it becomes; the attribute bonus brought by the Demon Hunter job change is undoubtedly the most reliable way to improve.

"The time should be sufficient."

He nodded slightly, his face calm, but his heart had already begun to calculate the specific follow-up action plan.

The pink-haired witch looked at him meaningfully, a flash of understanding passing through those deep green eyes:

"I don't know what special means you have, but any shortcut method has its limits and costs. I hope you are fully aware of what you are doing."

"There is one more thing I must warn you about."

Her voice suddenly became serious and cold, like hard ice sliding across glass:

"Once you enter the promotion environment of the True Path, every challenge you face is real."

"What do you mean?" Luo En frowned slightly.

"I mean exactly what I said." Lady Ailan's gaze was like a torch:

"If you die in that spiritual environment, your physical body will also be destroyed. This is not an ordinary spiritual test, nor is it an illusion in meditation, but a real confrontation with a high-level existence."

Her volume was low, but every word was like a hammer:

"Countless geniuses have remained forever at the threshold of promotion because they underestimated this point. High-level existences will not pity the loser; they will only use them as a supplement for energy, and they won't even leave you your soul."

Luo En did not respond immediately, his face as calm as water.

Lady Ailan's warning was by no means alarmist.

The reason the True Path is so dangerous is precisely because the cost of failure is too heavy—it is not simple death, but the complete end of existence.

"I will be extra careful." He finally said, his tone containing both certainty and caution: "Once I find that the situation is not right, I will immediately abort the attempt."

Lady Ailan shook her head, seemingly not entirely satisfied with his response, but she did not say anything more.

She knew that this choice could only be made by Luo En himself in the end.

Light footsteps came from outside the door, and Li Liya knocked on the door gently:

"My Lady, the night-light grass in the backyard has been trimmed, I... may I come in?"

There was a cautious probing in the girl's voice, for fear of disturbing the conversation inside the room.

Lady Ailan looked at Luo En, and seeing him nod slightly, she replied:

"Come in, little girl. The serious business is already finished."

Li Liya pushed the door and entered, her gaze shifting between Luo En and Lady Ailan, her hands nervously twisted together.

Her gaze finally rested on Lady Ailan, clearly still somewhat unaccustomed to that young and beautiful face.

Lady Ailan looked at her, a subtle light flashing in her eyes: "Speaking of which, I have one more question I want to ask."

She turned to Luo En: "Have you considered the placement of this little girl?"

The sudden question made Luo En slightly startled; he had indeed been thinking about this issue, but he did not expect Lady Ailan to point it out directly.

"I am preparing to head to the Crystal Spire."

He said frankly, without concealment and with no need for concealment: "With Li Liya's current abilities, I am afraid it will be difficult for her to adapt to the environment and rhythm there."

Upon hearing this, Li Liya's face turned pale instantly.

But she quickly controlled her expression, just lowered her head and stood silently.

That subtle reaction naturally did not escape the eyes of the two people present.

"So you intend to just give me the student you have already cultivated?"

Lady Ailan raised her eyebrows, her tone carrying a hint of teasing: "This is actually a bargain for me; I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor."

Li Liya was clearly confused by this sentence, looking at the two of them uncertainly.

She did not understand why they were suddenly talking about her again, and she did not dare to interrupt casually.

"I know this is a bit abrupt."

Luo En said softly: "But I believe that you, My Lady, can give her more appropriate guidance than I can."

Lady Ailan gave a light hum, her gaze turning to Li Liya, and a rare hint of softness flashed in those deep green eyes:

"To be honest, I quite like this little girl. She knows what tea I like, remembers all my quirks, and knows how to keep quiet when I am in a bad mood."

She reached out and tidied Li Liya's scattered hair, her movements carrying a hint of imperceptible pity:

"Compared to those geniuses who only know how to talk big, this kind of steady personality is more reassuring."

Li Liya looked up in surprise, her eyes full of unbelievable light.

She had never thought that this once-strict shopkeeper would evaluate her like this.

If the thought of being sent back had made her heart turn to ash before, then Lady Ailan's words at this moment at least gave her a glimmer of hope to look forward to.

"Then, do you have any objections to Li Liya staying here with you?"

Luo En asked, his voice as calm as if he were discussing some unimportant craft detail.

"Objections?" Lady Ailan chuckled:

"To have such a diligent apprentice help me manage the herb shop, I couldn't ask for more. What's more, her special talent will surely be an important asset in the future."

As she said this, she glanced at Luo En:

"You also know that things like 'Grace' are better the purer and more lasting they are. Although this girl's talent looks plain, it wins in durability and stability; in the long run, it is much stronger than some flashy talents."

Watching the interaction between Lady Ailan and Li Liya, a burden in Luo En's heart finally landed.

The issue of Li Liya's placement had always been a matter he had to handle properly, and now it seemed that this might be the best destination for her.

Although he had a certain degree of appreciation for this diligent apprentice, he was also rational enough to understand that the path he was about to embark on was full of danger and uncertainty,

and Li Liya's abilities limited the possibility of her following him.

Rather than putting her in danger, it was better to hand her over to Lady Ailan, who could provide a more stable environment.

"It's getting late." Luo En stood up, his face without much expression, his voice flat: "My Lady, thank you for your guidance and help."

Lady Ailan nodded: "Remember what I said, be cautious and careful, do not be too hasty."

The two bid farewell to Lady Ailan and walked out of the herb shop.

It was late, and the dark, cloud-covered sky heralded the coming rain.

There were few pedestrians on the street, and the atmosphere seemed particularly dull.

Walking on the way back, Luo En could feel Li Liya's silence.

The girl walked half a step behind him, her gaze always lowered, clearly thinking about something.

A silent awkwardness permeated between the two, as if some words were hanging in the air, but no one dared to speak first.

"Li Liya." Finally, Luo En broke the silence: "I need to talk to you."

The girl stopped and waited quietly for his next words.

Luo En turned to look at her, wanting to explain his decision, but didn't know where to start.

An unprecedented hesitation made him frown slightly.

To his surprise, Li Liya spoke first: "Teacher, you don't need to explain."

Her voice was very light, but surprisingly calm, different from her usual cautious tone:

"I had already guessed that you were planning to leave me with Lady Ailan, and I also understand why you did so."

Luo En was slightly startled: "You had already guessed it?"

Li Liya nodded, a somewhat forced smile appearing on her face:

"According to your growth speed, a student like me really can't keep up; I will only become a burden to you."

She raised her head slightly, her eyes flickering with a bit of stubbornness, rather than the disappointment Luo En had expected:

"Actually, I had long anticipated that this day would come. From the moment I first entered the workshop and you showed those amazing spells, I knew that the gap between us would only grow larger."

Luo En looked quietly at the tall girl in front of him, a rare and complex emotion surging in his heart.

While he had prepared many words of explanation and comfort, the other party had already seen through everything.

This understanding and acceptance instead caused a subtle sense of guilt to rise in his heart, but it was quickly forcibly smoothed over by him.

"I don't want you to feel guilty or troubled because of me." Li Liya continued, her voice becoming firmer:

"Staying by Lady Ailan's side might indeed be the best choice for me. She is an amazing wizard, and... she doesn't seem as cold and mean as she appears on the surface."

The words revealed the girl's open-mindedness, but Luo En could catch the slight moisture in the corners of her eyes, as well as her clenched fists.

Just at this moment, the dark clouds in the sky seemed unable to bear the moisture within them any longer and began to release fine threads of rain.

Luo En took two rain capes out of his storage bag and handed one to Li Liya:

"Put it on, it looks like it's going to rain harder."

Li Liya took the rain cape and draped it over herself with practiced movements.

How many such days had there been? The girl had actually always been standing quietly by his side, preparing everything that might be needed.

Her presence was not strong, but she always filled various needs just right, like a shadow blending into the background.

"Do you remember the weather when we first met in the workshop?" Li Liya asked suddenly, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.

Luo En was slightly startled, then recalled the scene that day: "Clear skies for ten thousand miles."

"Yes, clear skies for ten thousand miles." Li Liya repeated softly, looking up at the gray sky:

"That day the sun was bright, and I stepped into the workshop for the first time, full of anticipation and nervousness. But every time I returned to the herb shop, it was always drizzling, just like now."

Luo En didn't know how to respond and could only walk side by side with her.

The rain grew heavier, hitting the rain cape and making a dull sound, as if some unspoken emotion was pouring out.

"I want to tell you." The girl's voice sounded particularly vague in the rain: "I will not give up just like this."

She stopped and turned to look Luo En straight in the eyes.

Rainwater slid slowly along the edge of the rain cape, forming small puddles at her feet:

"I know it's because I'm too weak that I've become a drag. But I will work harder until one day I can catch up to your footsteps."

At that moment, Luo En saw a kind of obsessive determination in the girl's eyes.

She was no longer that submissive girl who was always lowering her head, but a practitioner who had found her own path.

This transformation of will was surprising, as if some long-hidden flame had finally begun to burn.

The rain formed a blurred curtain around them, seeming to make the boundaries between the past and the future hazy and uncertain.

"Let's go back quickly." He finally just said this, raindrops weaving into silver threads between them: "The rain is getting heavier."

Li Liya nodded and followed his pace.

………………

After returning to the workshop, Luo En did not stop to rest.

Instead, he went straight to the training ground and began high-intensity spell practice.

Time waits for no one; he must complete all preparations before the "Star Ring Convergence" arrives.

Proficiency in spells is crucial for becoming a formal wizard, especially for the True Path he chose, which requires at least three spells to reach the mastery level.

Currently, his "Sonic Oscillation" and "Ring of Radiance" are both quite close to a breakthrough, missing only the last few experience points.

"Must overcome the final obstacle." Luo En frowned, his eyes flickering with calm determination.

He stood in the center of the training ground, took a deep breath, and began to construct the spell model for "Sonic Oscillation."

Spiritual power flowed like mercury in the space of consciousness, forming an extremely complex energy structure.

"Sonic Oscillation" looks relaxed and easy when released, and one can strike out sonic ripples with a wave of the hand, but in reality, its internal spell structure is exceptionally delicate.

To form vibration ripples in the air that are both invisible and capable of causing substantial damage,

it also requires injecting spiritual power into every node according to a specific frequency and intensity.

Luo En adjusted the parameters in the spell model again and again, trying to find the best way to distribute energy.

Every micro-adjustment requires extremely high spiritual power control ability, and a slight carelessness would lead to failure.

Sweat slid down his forehead and soaked his collar, but his gaze remained focused, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

After many attempts, the translucent panel finally gave a bit of feedback:

【Sonic Oscillation (Proficient) Experience +1】

【Current Progress: Sonic Oscillation (Proficient 98/100)】

And outside the training ground, Li Liya saw the red sign hanging on the door and sighed softly before walking back.

She prepared to put the already cooked meal back into the warming compartment.

………………

During the days of continuous intensive training, Luo En closed his eyes, his spiritual power flowing through his body like a trickling stream.

"Focus attention." He whispered to himself, constructing the spell model with his hands in front of his chest.

With the injection of spiritual power, the surrounding air began to twist slightly, and a circle of ripples almost invisible to the naked eye spread out from his hands.

Luo En controlled the frequency and intensity of the ripples, letting them intersect and overlap in various complex ways to form a specific interference pattern.

"Still missing a little." He frowned slightly, fine beads of sweat already seeping out on his forehead.

The continuous output of spiritual power made him feel slightly exhausted, but he did not stop to rest, instead beginning to try more complex frequency combinations.

The ripples no longer spread in a single direction but formed a structure similar to a stereo sound field, capable of launching attacks from multiple angles simultaneously.

A full hour passed, and the progress bar still remained at those last two points.

This kind of bottleneck is very common, especially at the critical moment when a skill is about to break through.

Luo En was not impatient, continuing to try various different frequency combinations, hoping to find a breakthrough.

After countless attempts, the translucent panel finally gave feedback:

【Sonic Oscillation Experience +1】

【Current Progress: Sonic Oscillation (Proficient 99/100)】

"Just the last bit left." Luo En whispered to himself, his voice containing both excitement and pressure.

The last step is often the most difficult.

Just like his basic sword art, which also stagnated at 99/100 experience points, unable to break through the final bottleneck.

In this situation, simple repetitive practice can no longer bring progress; it requires insight and innovation into the essence of the spell.

He closed his eyes and began to sort out all his understanding of sound waves.

Sound waves are a form of energy transmission that propagates through molecular vibrations in a medium (such as air).

Normal sound waves can only exert weak pressure on the surface of an object.

But "Sonic Oscillation" can interfere with the material structure at the microscopic level, causing substantial damage.

This is because the sound waves in the spell are injected with a special magic power frequency, capable of resonating with the inherent frequency of the material, thereby amplifying the amplitude and achieving a destructive effect.

Wait... resonance?

Luo En's thoughts suddenly froze on this keyword.

Resonance is a physical phenomenon where, when the frequency of an external force approaches the natural frequency of an object, the amplitude of vibration increases sharply, and the energy transmission efficiency improves significantly.

However, his previous "Sonic Oscillation" did not seem to have fully utilized this principle.

He had been trying to increase destructive power by increasing energy input, while ignoring the possibility of adjusting the frequency to achieve the best resonance effect.

Once this thought emerged, it was like a seed quickly taking root and sprouting in fertile soil.

However, to verify this idea, he needed to observe a real resonance phenomenon as a reference.

Suddenly, he remembered Dai'er's siren song ability—that special sound wave capable of directly affecting the target's mind.

"Dai'er!" Luo En called out through the spiritual link, his voice carrying a rare urgency.

Before long, the little siren walked lightly into the training ground, her golden eyes full of curiosity and anticipation: "Master is looking for me?"

"I need you to demonstrate your siren song ability."

Luo En said straightforwardly, his voice calm and focused: "Not aimed at me, but at that stone."

Dai'er looked suspiciously at the solid stone block Luo En pointed to, but still nodded obediently:

"Okay, Master. But... what is the use of this? Stones don't have minds to be confused."

"Just treat it as an experiment." Luo En replied briefly, his eyes flickering with cold calculation light.

Dai'er took a deep breath and began to chant.

Those were not syllables that any human language could describe, but a kind of ancient siren spell.

The sound contained subtle rhythms and beats, like the rising and falling tides, both regular and full of changes.

As the chanting continued, fine vibrations actually appeared on the surface of the stone block, as if countless tiny ripples were flowing on its surface.

Luo En observed intently, while simultaneously using spiritual power to perceive those vibration patterns that the naked eye could not capture.

Through this dual perception, he discovered that the sound waves emitted by Dai'er did indeed produce a certain level of resonance with the stone block, although the effect was limited.

This discovery was like a bolt of lightning, instantly lighting up the inspiration in his heart.

So that's it... the reason the siren's song can affect matter and mind is because they can precisely capture the "natural frequency" of the target, and then adjust the frequency of the sound waves they emit to achieve the best resonance effect.

This is like a key finding the perfectly fitting lock—when the frequencies match completely, the efficiency of energy transmission increases geometrically.

"Thank you, Dai'er."

Luo En nodded in thanks, a rare smile appearing on the corner of his mouth: "You can go back now."

Dai'er looked curiously at the stone block, then at Luo En, her golden eyes full of confusion.

But she still nodded obediently and left the training ground.

Luo En sat cross-legged on the ground again, closed his eyes, and began to completely reconstruct the spell model for "Sonic Oscillation."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 216 =====