Chapter 30: One Step Away: Ao Li Fu

He carefully checked this information, feeling both surprised and somewhat regretful in his heart.

What surprised him was that he had already completed two of the three transfer conditions for 【Wizard Apprentice】;

What he regretted was that one was still missing—upgrading the zero-ring spell "Slime Splash" to the proficient level.

"Only this one step away..." Luo En whispered to himself.

In fact, he had practiced this spell intermittently before, but because there was no suitable target to release in the dormitory room, he practiced this spell far less diligently than practicing Corona Sword Art.

But even so, the experience of "Slime Splash" was already on the verge of breaking through the "entry" level. It only needed a little more practice to reach the transfer requirement.

If it weren't for the Da Lun De and Ma Ge Si incidents happening one after another, he might have been able to transfer to 【Wizard Apprentice】 directly now.

Luo En began to calculate the next plan:

After getting out of the confinement room, the first priority is to quickly practice "Slime Splash" to the proficient level and complete the transfer to 【Wizard Apprentice】.

The information on the panel shows that 【Wizard Apprentice】 has bonuses in spell experience acquisition and spiritual power recovery.

This happens to form a complement with the specialties of 【Knight Attendant】 and 【Potion Apprentice】, which can create more powerful linkage effects.

"Three professions developing in parallel..." Luo En tapped the table lightly with his fingers:

"This can maximize the advantages of the panel and form a virtuous cycle."

He imagined the possibilities of the future:

The spiritual power accumulation and magic affinity bonuses provided by 【Potion Apprentice】 can accelerate the growth of 【Wizard Apprentice】;

And the magic growth and spell ability of 【Wizard Apprentice】 can complement the physique enhancement of 【Knight Attendant】, finally realizing a powerful combat force of three-in-one.

"As long as I can successfully complete the transfer, when I go to perform apprentice identity recognition and initial resource allocation, the potential shown should be more..."

Just as he was thinking deeply about future planning, a burst of footsteps suddenly came from the corridor, interrupting his thoughts.

That kind of footsteps was very special, light and rhythmic, carrying a kind of indescribable elegance and oppression, not something ordinary apprentices could have.

Luo En immediately became alert, collected his thoughts, and focused his attention on perceiving the external situation.

An extremely disgusting, twisted spiritual fluctuation that made his scalp tingle suddenly broke into his perception range.

This unknown spiritual fluctuation was full of decay and eeriness, just like the sound of hundreds of maggots wriggling in rotten meat, but at this moment, they were all converted into spiritual feelings.

What is even more disturbing is that this fluctuation seemed to be heading straight for the confinement room where he was.

Luo En couldn't help but tense his body, his spiritual power instinctively shrinking into a spherical defensive posture to alleviate the discomfort in his heart.

He scanned the surroundings and noticed that the surveillance devices like eyeballs in the corridor were all operating normally, which made him feel slightly relieved.

In this kind of public area with surveillance, nothing too excessive should happen.

Thinking of this, he had already roughly guessed the identity of the visitor, definitely someone related to his unlucky "neighbor."

Ma Ge Si's confinement room was not far away. In the past, when he was practicing, he could occasionally hear Ma Ge Si cursing the terrible food in the confinement room.

Sure enough, before long, a figure walked slowly from the corner of the corridor.

Through the ventilation grille

His skin was so fair it was almost sickly, glowing with a lustrous sheen under the dim lights of the corridor.

Most eye-catching was the deep blue gemstone badge hanging on his chest—that was the mark of a high-level apprentice.

Behind this unknown visitor, Ma Kusi followed closely and timidly, his head hanging low like a stray dog.

That appearance was a stark contrast to his usual arrogant and overbearing attitude, even appearing somewhat pitiful and humble.

"Luo En Ralf?" The black-haired man stood before the confinement room door and asked in a strange tone, his voice surprisingly gentle:

"Nice to meet you, I am Oliver, Marcus's older brother."

Luo En felt a chill in his heart; it was indeed that high-level apprentice who specialized in curse spells.

"I've heard much about you." After nodding politely, he answered the other party cautiously, striving to make his own voice sound calm and ripple-free.

A smile that could be called perfect appeared on Oliver's face, revealing a row of neat white teeth: "I apologize to you for my younger brother's rude behavior."

As he spoke, he reached out and pulled a bunch of keys from his robe, easily opening the lock of the confinement room:

"As an apology, I have already spent magic stone fragments as the cost to secure an opportunity for your early release."

Luo En raised an eyebrow, pondering secretly in his heart.

In the Black Mist Forest, there was indeed a rule that magic stone fragments could be used to reduce confinement time; the price was roughly ten magic stone fragments to reduce one day.

But he had never considered this option; for one, he was reluctant to part with those precious magic stone fragments, and for another, although the conditions of the confinement room were simple, basic living needs could be met, and he could practice with peace of mind.

"Thank you for your kindness." Luo En said neither humbly nor arrogantly, while observing Oliver's every move.

He did not immediately step out of the room; there were actually some trigger-based magic arrays inside the confinement room.

On one hand, they prevented those inside from escaping, and on the other, they prevented visitors from pulling any tricks; now, these arrays had instead become his protective shield.

The performance of this Oliver before him was perfect; his speech and manners were refined, and he wore a gentle smile, like a true gentleman.

But it was precisely this overly perfect facade that made him feel vigilant; how could a high-level apprentice who could stand out in this Black Mist Forest be a kind soul?

"No need to be so polite." Oliver waved his hand: "This younger brother of mine is always doing annoying things; it really gives me a headache."

He turned and gently patted Ma Kusi on the shoulder, appearing intimate, but Luo En captured the momentary stiffness and fear in Ma Kusi's body.

"If you don't feel satisfied, you can teach him a lesson now as you please."

The smile on Oliver's face remained unchanged, yet a trace of elusive light flashed in his eyes: "I wouldn't mind at all."

Luo En was vigilant in his heart; he glanced at the cowering Ma Kusi and shook his head: "No need. Since you, as his older brother, have already apologized, then this matter is over."

"Your tolerance is admirable." Oliver exclaimed, taking the opportunity to seamlessly transition the topic to the part he was most interested in:

"By the way, I heard you have been researching sonic spells recently? That project of Dalunde's?"

Here it comes! This sentence made alarm bells ring in Luo En's heart.

It seems his research in the confinement room was not entirely confidential, and even this high-level apprentice had heard of it.

"Just out of curiosity, just researching it casually." Luo En answered cautiously.

"The most important quality of a qualified wizard is tireless pursuit; it seems you also possess such a good quality."

Oliver nodded with a smile, yet his true intent was revealed, mixed into the flattering rhetoric:

"Sonic waves and curses actually have commonalities; both influence the target silently through special means. Perhaps we can exchange ideas when there is an opportunity in the future."

(End of chapter)