Chapter 284

After his "pocket workshop" was officially set up, he had moved from the original temporary suite to the current two-story small building.

It must be said that the residence he carefully built has a sense of intimate thoughtfulness and familiarity in every inch, which in turn has improved his work and cultivation efficiency significantly.

And by the time Luo En finished his routine spell training and various chores, it was already afternoon.

Through the permission badge he gave her, the tree spirit had already collected the relevant information Luo En wanted.

"Master, the Crystal Spire does provide mentor channels to purchase rare materials, but the price is somewhat uneconomical..."

Ailan said softly, her branches curling a piece of crystal film toward Luo En.

"This is the material list and procurement channels I have organized, based on the latest quotes queried from the internal resource network."

Luo En scanned the information floating on the film, his brows slightly furrowed.

The crystal film detailed the dozen or so basic materials and three core catalysts needed to cultivate autophagy slimes, and the prices marked next to each item were staggering.

"Six hundred magic stone fragments for one standard unit... even the basic materials are this expensive."

He whispered to himself, his fingers tapping on several special materials on the film:

"These abyss materials are even more outrageously priced; 'Void Mucus' alone costs two or three hundred."

It is a world of difference compared to the mass-produced basic slimes he bought from the slave trader at the time.

But thinking about it carefully, it is understandable; after all, the ones sold by the other party were the lowest-end mass-produced products, basically only enough for one-time use.

And this kind of privately cultivated slime is not only more suitable for experimental modulation.

Just in terms of service life, as long as there is no catastrophic explosion caused by overly outrageous mixed modulation, a slime should have no problem being used for a year or two.

"In terms of price, it far exceeds the budget you set for me before." Ailan nodded:

"However, I found an alternative channel.

The quarterly material exchange meeting at the Abyss Observation Station starts next week, and there will be many original samples brought back by explorers, and the price might be about 30% lower.

You might be able to obtain some through Wizard Reynolds's channels."

Luo En nodded thoughtfully while continuing to browse the list.

Cultivating autophagy slimes is a necessary path for him to become a modulation master, but funds are indeed tight right now.

Although the school's contribution points have arrived, he does not want to use these precious contribution points to exchange for these most basic experimental resources.

"Let's wait until the review meeting is over before making a decision."

He finally said, while picking up a bottle of modulated nutrient solution and handing it to Daier, who was looking at him expectantly, as dinner:

"Today I plan to perfect the simulation combat device; keep the material list for now."

"Has your device entered the final debugging stage?"

Ailan asked softly; as a capable assistant, she had been observing every step of this important project's progress from the side.

"Yes, the core has reached over 95% stability." Luo En's face showed expectation: "Today I can conduct the first complete experience."

After letting Ailan go about her business, Luo En walked straight to the laboratory on the second floor.

This is his carefully arranged private workspace.

Compared to the crude workshop during his time at the Black Mist School, the level of equipment here is a world of difference.

In the center of the laboratory, the device half a person tall is emitting a soft blue light.

Its appearance has changed significantly from before—more compact, exquisite, and it has lost the roughness of the early prototype.

The runes densely covering the surface are extremely precise, and every mark has been carefully calculated to form a complete, efficient energy circulation system.

The core of the device is still that transparent crystal ball, with Aksa's soul fragment suspended inside.

But now, that fragment is no longer a blurry mass of energy, but has formed a miniature tiger-man silhouette; although only the size of a fist, it is lifelike.

Luo En walked around the device slowly, carefully checking every energy node and connection line.

"Energy circulation is stable, nodes show no signs of overheating, core soul fragment activity has reached standard levels..."

He whispered to himself, while using his spiritual power to probe the subtle energy changes inside the device.

After so many days of nourishment and improvement, the device has far exceeded the first version of the plan.

By introducing the Crystal Spire's advanced alchemy theory and redesigning the energy collection and utilization system, the device's energy efficiency ratio has nearly doubled.

"Preparing to attempt the first connection." Luo En took a deep breath and activated the auxiliary seat next to the device.

This is a specially made meditation chair, covered with a thin layer of magnetite skin.

It can automatically adjust body temperature and blood circulation when the user enters a deep meditation state, preventing physical discomfort caused by prolonged meditation.

He sat down on the chair, placed his hands lightly in the specially made grooves on the armrests, closed his eyes, and began to adjust his breathing rhythm.

As spiritual power slowly flowed into the device, a strange pulling sensation came.

It was as if something was gently pulling his consciousness, taking it away from the shackles of the flesh.

Unlike a general meditation experience, this feeling is more direct and more real.

It is as if the soul has truly left the body and stepped into another dimension.

The darkness before his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a scene that was blurry but gradually becoming clear:

A wide circular arena, almost identical to the one he experienced at the Black Mist School, but with more refined details and a more realistic atmosphere.

He gently clenched his fist and then relaxed it, feeling the contraction and relaxation of his muscles; all sensory experiences were as clear as reality.

"Welcome back, human." A low and familiar voice came from behind.

Luo En turned around and saw a tall tiger-man standing at the other end of the arena.

Aksa's image is more realistic than last time, with his fur gleaming with a natural luster in the sunlight.

Cold light flickers in his amber eyes, no longer having that stiffness peculiar to simulated modeling.

"Master Aksa, I trust you have been well." Luo En nodded slightly.

"It seems my feeling was correct; your aura has become more powerful."

The tiger-man weapon master walked closer slowly, looking Luo En up and down:

"You already showed rare talent when we parted last time, but now... you are filled with a more profound power."

Luo En nodded slightly: "I have advanced to a formal wizard."

"So that's it." Aksa suddenly realized, deep respect flowing in his eyes:

"No wonder you could reconstruct this training space so perfectly. I feel my consciousness being nourished, repaired, and even more complete than before. Truly an amazing achievement, human."

"I am very happy to see you again.

You may not know, but my choice of you as the core of the simulation combat device was a result of careful consideration."

"Oh?" The tiger-man's eyebrows raised slightly, showing curiosity.

Luo En paced slowly in the arena:

"We had a good conversation last time, and I also asked you about your willingness, and you expressed your willingness to provide help. This kind of voluntary cooperative relationship often produces better results."

He paused for a moment and looked into Aksa's eyes:

"But what I am most interested in is that as a weapon master, you represent a career development path that I am extremely interested in."

Surprise appeared in the tiger-man's eyes, and he shook his head in disbelief:

"I see, you not only want to train here, but also want to try to become a weapon master?

Such a choice... really doesn't look like something a wizard would make."

"Multiple development paths promoting each other would be better, wouldn't they?" Luo En smiled slightly without explaining too much.

"Indeed." Seeing this, Aksa just nodded:

"Your thinking is broader than most humans.

However, before discussing this topic, I am still curious about what your current strength is exactly?

Would you like to understand each other through actual combat like last time?"

Luo En gently extended his right hand.

With a flash of silver light, a long sword appeared out of thin air in his palm.

This sword has a simple but exquisite design and emits a cold, biting light; it is a training sword he specially customized for himself after coming to the Crystal Spire. The "ironwood sword" that accompanied him through his difficult apprentice period has been sealed away, serving only as a memory.

Seeing this, Aksa also drew the greatsword that was almost as tall as a person from his back.

The blade is covered with ancient and mysterious shamanic prayers, each representing some kind of special bonus.

The current Aksa is not the castrated version from the crude simulation device at the Black Mist School.

"Last time you showed amazing combat talent, which thoroughly satisfied me."

The tiger-man weapon master took a combat stance, his amber eyes flashing with excitement:

"This time, let me see what height you, who have become a formal wizard, can reach!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Aksa had already rushed toward Luo En like a golden lightning bolt.

The greatsword drew a dazzling arc, aiming straight for his head.

This strike was swift and precise, containing the explosive power and ferocity peculiar to tiger-men.

However, to Aksa's surprise, Luo En did not even make an obvious dodging movement.

He just leaned slightly to the side, like a reed swaying gently in the morning breeze, making that powerful strike miss completely.

Just as Aksa's greatsword swung through the air, the long sword had already struck straight at the tiger-man's throat like a silver lightning bolt.

Aksa instinctively raised his sword to block, but was half a beat slow due to being off-balance.

His keen combat instinct allowed him to adjust his posture in time, but the tip of the sword still lightly touched his fur, leaving an imperceptible mark.

"Broke through the defense on the first move."

Luo En retracted his sword and thought silently:

"It seems that after becoming a formal wizard, my reaction speed and physical coordination have indeed undergone a qualitative leap."

Aksa narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming more serious:

"Don't get too complacent, human. This is far from my full strength."

The tiger-man launched another attack, this time with more ferocious movements, attempting to break through Luo En's defense from different directions.

However, no matter how Aksa changed his attack route, Luo En could always foresee his intention half a step in advance, whether dodging or blocking, responding with ease.

The elevated spiritual perception after advancement allowed him to predict the direction of the attack from the micro-movements of the opponent's muscles and changes in their eyes.

Coupled with the insight brought by the "Sharpness Exposed" trait, every one of Aksa's attacks was as if it had been rehearsed in front of Luo En in advance, having no effect at all.

The exchange lasted for about ten minutes; Aksa's movements became faster and faster, and his attacks became more and more violent, but he was never able to pose an effective threat to Luo En.

In contrast, every one of Luo En's counterattacks was precise and efficient, cutting into the opponent's defensive gaps like a scalpel.

"Enough!" Aksa suddenly stepped back two steps and raised his hand to signal a stop:

"Your progress... exceeds my imagination."

"If you add those spells you are good at, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to last one round."

Just as he was about to continue saying something.

The greatsword in the tiger-man's hand suddenly began to show fine cracks, then shattered like glass, turning into countless light spots and dissipating in the air.

"Even the simulated weapon can't withstand your power?"

Aksa said with a bitter smile: "It seems I have no value to you anymore."

Luo En shook his head:

"No, you misunderstood. I came to find you not just for sword training. As I said before, I am very interested in the career path of a weapon master."

Aksa's eyes were full of confusion; clearly, he had only taken Luo En's previous words as perfunctory remarks:

"Hmm? You are already a formal wizard, yet you still want to go far and pursue this path that focuses on physical power?"

"Multiple routes developing simultaneously, promoting each other."

Luo En explained calmly:

"The wizard's path focuses on spirit and magic power, while the weapon master focuses on the ultimate exertion of body and technique. The two complement each other and can make up for each other's shortcomings."

Anyway, physical training is now handed over to the "substitute puppet," so opening up one more path does not affect the progress of his wizard system.

Aksa still couldn't figure it out, but he could only agree:

"If you are truly interested in pursuing this path, I will tell you everything I know."

It's not like he could refuse, after all, the soul fragment is already in the other party's hands.

As Aksa's voice fell, the scene of the arena began to change.

The surrounding stands gradually faded away, replaced by an open grassland.

In the distance are rolling mountains, and several strange moons hang in the sky, emitting a soft light.

"This is... the sacred land of the beast race?"

Luo En looked around and recognized this mysterious place he had seen described in ancient books.

"Yes, this is the most important inheritance place of our clan, and also the place where weapon masters undergo their final test."

Aksa's voice carried a trace of nostalgia:

"I will explain everything about weapon masters to you in detail here."

Aksa stood up slowly, placed his thick tiger paws on Luo En's shoulders, and led him to a circular stone platform in the center of the grassland.

"We beast people call this the 'Inheritance Ring.' Countless generations of weapon masters have received training, tests, and inheritance here."

Luo En's palms brushed over these runes, feeling the accumulation of time and the pulse of power.

"Becoming a weapon master is not just the accumulation of techniques, but a sublimation of bloodline and will."

Aksa's voice was low and powerful: "This is a path completely different from you wizards."

The tiger-man weapon master sat in the center of the stone platform, signaling Luo En to sit opposite him.

"Back to the topic, to become a qualified weapon master, you specifically need to meet the following conditions."

Aksa extended a thick finger:

"First, the physique must reach the level of a superior warrior, specifically manifested as:

Being able to shatter a rock with a diameter of two meters with bare hands;

Being able to engage in sustained combat while carrying a load more than three times one's body weight;

The flexibility of joints throughout the body must reach an activity angle of at least 120 degrees."

Luo En silently evaluated these standards in his heart.

According to the current body-forging results of the substitute puppet, he had long since completely exceeded this standard.

"Secondly, weapon proficiency..."

Aksa held up two fingers:

"Must be proficient in at least three different types of weapons.

These weapons must have different characteristics and combat styles, such as swords, staves, and throwing weapons, and cannot all be similar long weapons or short blades."

Luo En nodded slightly.

This requirement is indeed a bit harsh, but it is also reasonable.

A true weapon master needs to be able to exert the best strength in various combat environments.

"Third, and most importantly, combat intuition."

Aksa's eyes became exceptionally sharp:

"This is not an ability that can be acquired through deliberate practice, but an instinctive reaction refined from countless life-and-death battles.

You must be able to sense the direction of killing intent before the blade moves; and perceive the opponent's flaws the moment they make a move."

Speaking of this, the tiger-man weapon master stood up, a sharp short blade appeared out of thin air in his hand, and he threw it at Luo En like lightning.

The blade drew a silver arc in the air, with a speed that was outrageous.

However, Luo En seemed to have expected it, and his body tilted slightly.

The short blade grazed his ear and finally plunged deeply into the ground behind him.

"Very good, your combat intuition is already quite keen." Aksa nodded with satisfaction:

"This might be an additional benefit brought by your wizard cultivation. The improvement of spiritual power can indeed help perceive the battlefield environment and sources of danger."

(End of chapter)