Chapter 322: King of Illusions

Luo En stood quietly in the center of the workshop, feeling the subtle changes in his body and spirit after transferring to Enchanter.

Although spiritual power only increased from 5.58 to 5.68, and magic power from 4.8 to 5.0.

This seemingly tiny increase of 0.1 and 0.2, but for him, it was a huge leap.

This kind of improvement was a qualitative change of exponential level.

He raised his right hand slowly, touching an ordinary iron nail on the workbench.

Under the action of the newly acquired special bonus of material perception, this seemingly simple iron nail instantly exposed astonishing complexity.

He could "see" the tiny defects inside the iron nail that were invisible to the naked eye, as well as the natural path most suitable for energy flow.

"This is the essential change brought by career job transfer."

A look of satisfaction flashed in Luo En's eyes, but soon returned to that calm analytical state:

"Not a simple numerical increase, but an upgrade of the entire perception system.

It's like changing from only being able to hear sound to being able to distinguish the subtle differences of every musical note."

But what truly excited him was the creative inspiration brought by "Creator's Blessing."

In this special state, his thinking seemed to

Those knowledge domains that originally seemed unrelated could now be found to have ingenious connection points, and countless possibilities intertwined and collided within his mind.

Luo En walked toward the weapon rack and took out the scattering projectiles he had previously used to deal with the chaotic spirits.

These iron balls, the size of a pinky finger, only had basic activation runes engraved on their surfaces.

Although they had played a role in the battle against the chaotic spirits, the effect was far from satisfactory.

Simple explosions and disturbances had truly limited lethality against that type of high-level abyss creature.

"Now let me see what changes the advanced 'Enchantment Enhancement' skill can actually bring."

He activated the newly acquired 'Guidance' trait, and the engraving tool in his hand seemed to have a consciousness of its own.

The complex runes that originally required holding his breath and focusing to engrave now became as smooth as flowing water.

As the engraving knife slid across the surface of the iron ball, Luo En could clearly feel the subtle resonance produced within the metal with every contact.

It was not destruction; this was a certain deep-level "communication."

It was as if he were asking in what way the material itself most wished to carry energy.

Under the guidance of 'Material Perception,' he discovered many details inside the iron ball that were previously completely undetectable:

The density distribution in certain areas presented a spiral structure, naturally suitable for constructing energy circuits;

Some seemingly random impurities were actually distributed according to specific patterns.

If utilized properly, they could produce unexpected energy amplification effects.

Even the shift in the iron ball's center of gravity contained physical properties that could be utilized.

"So that's how it is..."

Luo En gazed thoughtfully at the iron ball in his hand:

"Materials are never dead objects. Every piece of metal, every grain of sand, has its own 'personality' and 'preferences.' A true enchanter cannot force materials to obey; one must converse with them and find the balance point between each other."

He chose the path with the least stress and best conductivity and began to engrave the first layer of runes—the energy conduction network.

The effect of 'Enchantment Enhancement' appeared immediately.

The runes that could originally only form simple energy channels on the surface were now able to penetrate deep into the material, forming a three-dimensional energy network.

Every rune line was no longer a simple surface carving, but a structural reorganization reaching the molecular level.

Even more magically, when Luo En engraved the runes, some spontaneous changes began to occur inside the iron ball.

Those natural energy channels began to actively adjust their direction to coordinate with the newly constructed rune network;

Tiny impurities began to rearrange themselves, forming natural energy nodes.

"This is... the material's active cooperation?"

Luo En stopped his movements and carefully observed this unprecedented phenomenon:

"'Creator's Blessing' not only improved my creative ability but also allowed me to stimulate the material's own potential. This is no longer enchantment in the traditional sense, but a deeper level of... creative act."

With the help of this creative inspiration, Luo En designed an unprecedented combination of amplification runes.

The ingenuity of this design lay in its ability to absorb the surrounding environmental magic power at the moment of explosion, forming a chain-reaction-style energy amplification.

The linkage effect of multiple professions also began to take effect.

The alchemist's harmonization of various elements allowed the runes to perfectly fuse with the projectile's metal structure, eliminating potential repulsion between different techniques;

The potion master's mastery of proportions ensured the optimal ratio of energy distribution, allowing every rune to exert its maximum effect;

The primal wizard's 'Radiation Field' provided a stable energy environment for the entire enchantment process, avoiding interference from external magic power fluctuations.

The engraving of the second layer of runes was even more complex.

Luo En had to add functional modules for power amplification and precision guidance without destroying the first layer of the energy network.

This required extremely delicate control techniques; any tiny deviation could cause the entire system to collapse.

But with the help of the 'Guidance' trait, this high-difficulty operation became controllable.

His engraving knife seemed to possess precognitive ability, always automatically adjusting the angle and force at the moment a deviation was about to occur.

Even more magically, the engraving knife seemed to be able to 'perceive' the energy distribution of the first layer of runes, automatically choosing the most suitable path for the construction of the second layer.

The design of the third layer of runes was the most complex part.

Luo En had to engrave resonance runes on the projectile that could coordinate with 'Mental Blast.'

These runes not only had to carry mental attacks but also had to be able to amplify and guide the attack effect, transforming pure mental impact into destructive power capable of causing physical damage.

During the engraving process of the third layer of runes, 'Creator's Blessing' began to exert a deeper level of influence.

Luo En discovered that he could improve some common rune combinations, which were designed entirely based on an intuitive understanding of the essence of energy.

When the triple enchantment was nearing completion, the three different enchantment effects began to fuse with each other, forming a unified composite system.

This fusion was not a simple superposition, but an organic integration.

The energy conduction runes provided a stable energy supply for amplification and disturbance;

The amplification runes magnified the power of the mental disturbance several times over;

The mental disturbance runes, in turn, guided the explosion energy to form a more precise lethality.

The three originally independent systems were now like different organs of a living body, supporting and enhancing each other.

Luo En held his breath and carefully completed the final few strokes of the runes.

Inside the projectile, a complex structure similar to a biological neural network had formed.

It could actively perceive surrounding hostile mental fluctuations and adjust its attack mode according to the target's characteristics.

"The effect of 'Creator's Blessing' far exceeds expectations; if this fusion technology were applied to larger-scale projects..."

He did not continue this line of thought; a certain instinctive alertness told him that some ideas were best not expressed too clearly.

The test results were shocking.

Luo En threw the projectile toward the test target in the corner of the workshop.

That was a specially made device used to verify weapon power.

The moment the projectile left his hand, Luo En felt its abnormality.

The trajectory that should have flown in a straight line began to adjust subtly, as if it were actively searching for the best attack angle.

Even more eerily, he could feel the projectile 'thinking'; it was a vague but definitely existing consciousness fluctuation.

When the explosion occurred, the power was nearly double that of before the improvement.

But what was truly surprising was not just the increase in power; the complexity of the explosion mode had also improved to a certain extent.

This was not a simple release of energy; it had already presented itself as a strategic, multi-layered attack sequence:

First was the physical shockwave, destroying the target's outer defense;

Immediately followed by the mental disturbance wave, interfering with the target's consciousness and reaction ability;

Finally, energy erosion, continuously weakening the target's defense and vitality.

"This attack mode..." Luo En frowned as he analyzed the test results:

"It can cause damage on both physical and mental levels, and it possesses a certain 'learning' ability."

He began to calculate the feasibility of mass production; not all iron alloys possessed this special internal structure.

"It seems I need to find more materials with similar characteristics,"

Luo En formulated subsequent plans in his mind.

But the greater excitement in his heart truly stemmed from his deep understanding of the 'Three-Phase Unity' effect.

If this composite technology could be applied to larger-scale projects.

For example, the creation of an active magic sword, or the comprehensive upgrade of the mobile workshop, what kind of effect would that produce?

The sky was already dark, but Luo En's research enthusiasm was rising ever higher.

He looked at the starry sky outside the window; the night in the Central Land was still brilliant.

Those distant stars seemed to be celebrating his breakthrough, emitting encouraging light.

After organizing the newly made projectiles, he began to think about tomorrow's arrangements.

The associate professor-level authorization granted by Cassandra meant he could access many secret materials he previously could not consult.

Regarding the advancement conditions for 'Ancient Alchemists,' as well as those strictly confidential intelligence reports on the deep layers of the abyss.

These were all knowledge he urgently needed.

"Tomorrow I will go to the forbidden knowledge area of the library,"

He formulated a detailed plan in his mind:

"First, consult the materials related to ancient alchemists to understand the specific job-change requirements and risk assessments.

Then, study the advanced techniques of astrology, especially how to safely conduct stargazing rituals.

Finally, if time permits, I also need to learn about detailed intelligence regarding the seventh layer of the abyss and the areas below it."

Thinking of abyss exploration, Luo En couldn't help but think of the substitute puppet he had deployed in the Sea of No Light.

That puppet had now existed independently in the abyss for several days.

If everything went smoothly, it should have already collected a large amount of valuable information and materials.

"Such a clone capable of independent thinking and remote control. Not only can it replace me in executing dangerous missions, but it can also conduct research and exploration in multiple locations simultaneously."

The night grew deeper; Luo En finished processing the final experimental records and prepared to go to bed.

But as he lay in the sleep pod, preparing to enter a state of rest, a subtle sense of discomfort began to emerge deep in his consciousness.

This was not ordinary fatigue or stress; to be precise, it was more like some kind of subtle... pulling sensation.

He had just wanted to force himself to wake up, but he discovered that his consciousness was sinking uncontrollably, as if being dragged by some invisible, enormous force into the abyss.

The surrounding reality began to twist and deform.

The metal walls of the sleep pod flowed like melting candles, and the patterns on the rune stickers began to twist crazily, just like a group of living snakes struggling desperately.

The air itself became viscous, and every breath felt like swallowing some kind of liquid with life.

Finally, reality completely dissipated.

In its place was a dizzying, strange landscape.

Countless floating islands of varying sizes rotated slowly in iridescent light, each island displaying a completely different, counter-intuitive ecological environment.

Some islands were shrouded in eternal spring, but those flowers grew human eyes that blinked incessantly;

Some islands were purely crystal structures, but glowing blood flowed inside the crystals, beating rhythmically;

Still others looked like enormous living organs, their surfaces covered in skin that breathed, rising and falling rhythmically with a heartbeat that transcended understanding.

"Welcome to my domain—Fairyland, young practitioner of the three phases."

A voice suddenly erupted in his consciousness; it was not through his ears, as the voice directly tore through the defenses of his mental core.

Just this method of contact made Luo En feel as if a mountain range were pressing down on his soul, and every thought became sluggish and painful.

Even more terrifying was that he could feel his consciousness structure being 'examined' by some indescribable existence, like a bacterial specimen placed under a microscope.

But thanks to the training from 'The Star-Eater's Babble' and the Time Hound, he had already become accustomed to quickly becoming calm in desperate situations.

"You are..."

Luo En struggled to maintain his sanity; although his spirit was almost crushed by this contact that exceeded his load, he still attempted to analyze:

"Establishing a consciousness link through dreams, possessing an independent plane domain... you are the 'King of Illusions' mentioned in Lan Si's notes."

"It seems you have already guessed my identity. Being able to maintain logical thinking under such pressure, your mental resilience exceeds my expectations."

The King of Illusions' voice carried a hint of... an emotion that was hard to tell if it was praise or amusement:

"When I sensed 'Creator's Blessing' awakening within you, I knew I had to have a direct exchange with you.

After all, for hundreds of years, you are the first young wizard to simultaneously cultivate the three mainstream wizard arts to such a height."

His voice carried a certain weariness, as if he had witnessed too many rises and falls.

Luo En could feel the weight of time within it; it was the sense of vicissitudes that only an existence that had lived through a long time would possess.

The surrounding pressure lightened slightly; clearly, the other party was deliberately controlling the intensity of his pressure.

But even so, this exchange still made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

It was like an ant being forced to converse with a human; the enormous gap in life levels made every consciousness contact full of danger.

"'Creator's Blessing'..."

Luo En struggled to organize his chaotic thoughts:

"What is the source of this power? Why did it awaken because of the fusion of these three wizard arts?"

The King of Illusions' voice became even more profound, as if coming from the source of time:

"'The Creator,' as the second of the four cornerstones, after the 'Progenitor' promulgated the 'Grace' decree, also set some operational rules for this universe.

One of these rules is: when intelligent beings reach a certain height in the field of creation, they will receive the blessing of the universe itself."

When the term 'Creator' was mentioned, the entire Fairyland exuded an atmosphere that was almost pious.

The surrounding scenery began to fluctuate slightly; those strange islands seemed to be responding to this name from the beginning of time.

"The three-phase unity of potionology, alchemy, and enchantment represents a certain mastery of the three basic levels of creation, transformation, and improvement; this achievement triggered the ancient blessing mechanism."

Hearing this, Luo En's heartbeat began to accelerate.

If what the King of Illusions said was true, the potential value of this power... was almost immeasurable.

"But there is one point I must also remind you of."

The King of Illusions' tone suddenly carried a strong warning:

"In this universe, there exist some special ancient entities.

They are extremely sensitive to any fundamental changes in reality."

A more terrifying illusion suddenly descended, and Luo En felt his consciousness almost completely disrupted.

In the illusion, he 'saw' some vague images.

Those were memory fragments from the depths of time, displaying certain ancient existences that transcended understanding.

They had no fixed form, or rather, their forms themselves were a distortion of reality.

Some looked like enormous machines composed of geometric figures, and every operation would rewrite the physical laws of a space;

Others were pure aggregates of concepts, where the mere act of 'being observed' was enough to cause the observer's consciousness to collapse.

(End of chapter)