Chapter 327: Heart

Luo En sat alone at the desk, with dense notes and charts spread out in front of him.

The knowledge obtained from the Forbidden Library wandered in his mind like a poisonous snake.

He stroked his temples, which were still throbbing with pain.

But the pain did not stop his thinking; instead, it stimulated a stronger desire for exploration.

"Lady Lady Ailan, help me brew a pot of strong tea," he said without looking up: "Tonight's research will be very long."

The tree spirit drifted over from the corner, her branches swaying gently:

"Master, you have been working for ten consecutive hours; your body needs rest."

"Physical fatigue is temporary, but missing the moment when thinking is clearest is a permanent loss,"

Luo En said without looking up: "My mental state is currently at its best, just right for complex logical deduction."

Lady Lady Ailan was silent, her branches trembling slightly.

She could feel the increasingly heavy... cold aura on her master.

But she said nothing, just silently went to prepare the tea.

Luo En refocused his attention on the materials in front of him.

The advanced conditions of the three professions formed a complex three-dimensional structure in his mind, with each node representing different possibilities and risks.

"Potion Professor..." he drew the first branch line on the paper with a quill:

"This is the easiest for me to achieve at the moment, and Potion Master is the first profession I transferred to, and the accumulation is the deepest."

【Potion Professor (Three-Star) Advanced Conditions:

1. Prerequisite profession—Potion Master (Two-Star) √

2. Potion skill reaches expert level (Current Proficient 126/300)

3. Must create at least one original potion formula

4. Need to cultivate at least five professional Potion Master-level students】

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of the "gift" Lady Lady Lady Ailan gave him before he went to the Central Land—the formula for Heart's Dew.

Although he had had some conflicts with his mentor recently, the piece of parchment was still carefully preserved by him; after all, knowledge itself was not wrong.

"I remember the specific ingredients are..." Luo En closed his eyes, and those details reappeared in his mind:

The main material is "Spirit Infant Tears," which needs to be extracted from the eye sockets of special newborns who have just died.

It is said that only at the moment when the purest life passes away can this essence with anti-pollution characteristics be produced.

Auxiliary materials include "Nightmare Silk," a special spider silk that can only be found in the fourth layer of the Abyss, coming from giant spiders that feed on nightmares.

These spider silks can bind and purify pollution components in the spirit.

The most critical catalyst is "Blood of Repentance," which must come from criminals who sincerely repent but cannot obtain salvation.

This blood contains strong spiritual purification energy, but the collection process requires the subject to remain conscious in extreme pain.

"The 'Spirit Infant Tears' required by the original formula are too extreme and very difficult to obtain now."

Luo En analyzed coldly:

"But if 'Newborn Beast Tears' are used as a substitute, combined with appropriate energy conversion spells, it should be able to achieve a similar effect."

"As for 'Blood of Repentance'... the blood of those members in the Abyss exploration team who are severely mentally polluted but not yet completely mutated may have similar characteristics."

He recorded these thoughts in his notebook: "Need to further verify the feasibility of this substitution."

Then, on the basis of substitution, gradually add his own original parts.

This process of slowly filling in is much easier than creating a formula out of thin air.

"If the formula innovation based on 'Heart's Dew' can succeed, the next step is to consider the issue of student cultivation."

He thought of Li Si's eyes full of thirst for knowledge, and Herman's keen insight when discussing theories.

Both young people had the potential to become excellent Potion Masters, but they needed more systematic guidance.

"However, in this upcoming turbulent era, how long can they maintain their innocence?"

Luo En's thinking turned to deeper questions.

The ideology of the Conquest Faction was spreading within the Crystal Spire, and that fanatical desire would sooner or later infect everyone.

Li Si and Herman could still be excited for pure knowledge now.

But when they truly came into contact with the dark side of the wizard world, could they still maintain this original intention?

"Forget it, these are not problems I need to consider."

He shook his head and refocused his attention on the plan in front of him:

"I only need to ensure they master enough skills; as for how they use these skills... that is their own choice."

While thinking, a slight sound came from the crystal pool at the corner of the table.

The little sea Sea Sea Siren Dai'er turned over in her sleep, her silver hair floating on the water surface shining under the magic crystal lamp.

Her transformation had lasted for several months, but the progress was much slower than expected.

"Dai'er's evolution also takes such a long time..."

Luo En stared at the tiny figure: "The acquisition of power is never achieved overnight."

Lady Lady Ailan drifted over with a teacup, the steaming heat filled with a faint herbal fragrance:

"Master, what are you thinking about?"

"Thinking about the passage of time," Luo En took the teacup, the temperature of the tea was just right:

"Although the lifespan of a wizard is quite long, the truly valuable research time is very limited; every breakthrough requires years or even decades of accumulation."

"By the time I become a high-level wizard, it might be countless years later.

By then, my peers will either have died in some experiment, gone missing in Abyss exploration, or... become completely different existences."

He took a sip of tea, his voice carrying a kind of indifferent foresight:

"Only truly powerful individuals can maintain themselves in the torrent of time."

"However..." seeing the loyal assistant in front of him, Luo En's tone became peaceful again:

"Before that, I need to ensure that every step is solid enough, and this process cannot be separated from the help of you, Dai'er, and Ink."

Withdrawing his gaze from the graceful back of the tree spirit as she left, he turned his attention back to the advanced path of alchemy.

【Alchemy Master (Three-Star) Advanced Conditions:

1. Prerequisite profession—Alchemist (Two-Star) √

2. Alchemy reaches expert level

3. Need to successfully refine a 'semi-perpetual motion' alchemy device (self-operating for fifty years or more)

4. Need to complete one 'Life Reconstruction' experiment】

The requirements for an Alchemy Master were even more demanding, especially the "semi-perpetual motion device."

"The energy core problem of the mobile simulated combat device has not been completely solved."

Luo En opened the design drawings:

"Akesa's soul fragments and that Heart-Devouring Stone opened from the gambling stone shop can only be said to be temporary substitutes; relying solely on them is far from enough to maintain stable operation for fifty years."

He took out the alien technical materials provided by Cassandra.

Those theories from the "Mechanical Federation" and "Biological Factory" opened his eyes.

"Energy integration technology... integrating energy from different sources into a unified driving force."

He carefully studied the technical details in the materials, and began to construct a blueprint for the semi-perpetual motion device in his mind.

The key to this device lay in establishing a sustainable energy cycle, allowing the system to absorb energy from the outside while maximizing the use of internal energy conversion.

"If soul fragments are used as the core, Heart-Devouring Stone as the energy converter, combined with alien 'cycle enhancement' technology..."

Luo En began to draw a new design scheme on paper:

"Theoretically, a self-sustaining energy system can be created."

He drew complex energy circuit diagrams on paper, with every line precisely calculated.

This design involved multiple advanced fields such as time magic, space folding, and energy conversion, but Luo En believed he had the ability to master these technologies.

The key was to solve the problem of energy loss.

Any mechanical device will produce energy loss during operation, and the accumulation of this loss will eventually lead to the system stopping.

"Unless..." a bold idea emerged in his mind:

"Unless the system itself possesses the ability to 'grow'."

Just as he was immersed in thought, a slight sound came from the corner of the lab.

"Ink" squirmed slightly in the recovery tank, the silver patterns flickering with a faint light, as if responding to the master's thinking activity.

"You feel it too?" Luo En asked softly, although he knew the slime couldn't answer.

To his surprise, the squirming of "Ink" became more obvious, and those patterns began to form some regular patterns.

This change indicated that the slime had a higher sensitivity to the surrounding magic fluctuations.

"Interesting... it seems your potential is greater than I imagined."

He walked to the recovery tank and carefully observed the state of "Ink."

In the field of vision of "Extraordinary Identification," he could see subtle structural reorganization happening inside the slime.

Those Abyss factors were fusing with the original biological tissues, creating brand-new possibilities.

The observation of "Ink" gave him inspiration for the growth of his own device.

The autophagic slime not only doesn't consume itself during operation, but strengthens itself by devouring external materials.

If this characteristic could be applied to mechanical devices...

"Let the device become an organic growth system, not a rigid mechanical structure."

Luo En's inspiration flashed, thinking excitedly:

"This way it can not only maintain itself, but also become more powerful over time."

This line of thought completely went against the philosophy of traditional alchemy, but it was precisely this breakthrough innovation that could allow him to reach the level of an Alchemy Master.

"As for the Life Reconstruction experiment..."

His gaze fell on "Ink" again.

This life he created with his own hands was slowly recovering in the recovery tank.

Data from the Franka blood sample incident showed that it possessed far greater adaptability than expected.

"If the Abyss adaptability of the Preserved Strain bloodline could be safely transplanted..."

Luo En thought of that near-dangerous experiment.

The complex energy structure contained in Franka's blood almost caused "Ink" to collapse completely.

But that experience also made him realize the true value of the "Preserved Strain" bloodline.

"If more Abyss creature characteristics can be successfully fused, 'Ink' will not just be an experimental assistant."

He took out several biological sample materials collected from the Abyss Observation Station and began to plan a fusion scheme:

"Sand Sea Hunter's perception, Ecological Straw-Cloak Insect's adaptability, Corrosive Insect's decomposition... through the harmonizing effect of the Preserved Strain bloodline, theoretically, fusion with less loss can be achieved."

"The key lies in finding the correct fusion method. Direct contact is obviously too dangerous, but if through gradual adaptation..."

After thinking about the Alchemy Master path, Luo En turned his attention to the most dangerous and tempting Rune Expert:

【Rune Expert (Three-and-a-half-Star) Advanced Conditions:

1. Prerequisite profession—Enchanter (Two-and-a-half-Star) √

2. Enchanting and Runology both reach proficient level 3. Need to create your own special runes

4. Master 'Flesh Rune' technique】

"Flesh Rune..." he looked at his right hand, which had once fused with the substitute puppet:

"The essence of this technique is to make runes and living tissues reach perfect unity."

Traditional enchanting only involves engraving runes on the surface of objects, while Flesh Runes directly integrate runes into the flesh and blood of living organisms, making runes a part of life.

The danger of this technology is self-evident.

Any slight carelessness could lead to uncontrollable mutations in the experimental subject, or even complete loss of humanity.

As for the requirement of creating his own special runes, there was currently a clear clue:

"Starlight Runes... a rune system capable of resonating with the stars."

His thoughts were full of enthusiasm: "Combined with my astrology and 'Whispers of the Star Eater,' this will be an unprecedented innovation."

From the time he was an apprentice, he had established a deep connection with ancient existences in the starry sky.

"Whispers of the Star Eater" is not just a meditation method, but a way of communicating with higher-dimensional existences.

"If I can create a rune system that resonates with the stars, it can not only enhance the effect of astrology, but also provide additional amplification for the cultivation of meditation..."

When drawing various rune sketches on paper, Luo En suddenly realized an important problem:

"Do these three professions... really need to be developed separately?"

This thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

He thought of the various special bonuses he had related to this.

Especially the "Three-Phase Integration" characteristic, and the fusion effect brought by "Creator's Blessing."

"Pharmacology, alchemy, enchanting... the boundaries between them may not be insurmountable."

Luo En drew a brand-new concept map on paper, reintegrating the core elements of the three techniques:

"Pharmacology provides understanding of the essence of materials, alchemy provides means of transformation and creation, and enchanting endows items with extraordinary characteristics..."

"If these three are truly fused, I can create unprecedented extraordinary items."

The imagined fusion device began to take shape in his mind:

An alchemy device capable of automatically dispensing potions, with amplification runes engraved on the surface.

The interior stores various preset formulas, and can even make real-time adjustments according to the user's physiological state...

Of course, this is just an extremely crude prototype, and there are still too many imperfections.

"Teaching, experimentation, creation... these three processes themselves are a complete cycle."

Luo En's thinking became clearer and clearer.

He realized that the true meaning of "Three-Phase Integration" might not be simple skill superposition, but rather that he should establish an organic knowledge system.

Just then, the two memory crystals he had deliberately placed at the corner of the table suddenly emitted a faint light.

They seemed to be responding to Luo En's thinking fluctuations, and the energy textures on the surface became more active.

"Bought these two memory crystals from the 'Wisdom Collection' of the observation station a few months ago, but haven't had time to analyze them in detail; let's analyze them today."

This was also one of his scheduled agendas.

Luo En picked up the emerald green memory crystal: "Maybe I can obtain some valuable experimental data."

He activated the historical research skill, and his mental force extended like silk threads toward the memory crystal.

The moment his consciousness touched the surface of the crystal, the surrounding reality began to twist and blur.

It was a corner of the fourth layer of the Abyss, a weird forest made of flesh and blood.

The main trunks of the "trees" were thick blood vessels and muscle tissues, covered with moist skin.

The ends of the branches were not leaves, but eyeballs that kept rotating.

The owner of the memory was a member of a five-person exploration team.

Luo En could feel his inner tension and fear, but also the curiosity unique to explorers.

The team leader was an experienced middle-aged man named Martin.

He was scanning the surrounding environment with a magic detector, his expression focused and vigilant.

"The magic fluctuations in this area are very unstable," Martin said in a low voice: "Everyone stay alert, do not disperse."

The wizard apprentice in the team, a thin young man, frowned and looked at the eyeball trees: "These things... they are watching us."

"Nonsense, of course they are watching us."

The only female member of the team sneered; she was a bloodline knight: "The question is what they want to do to us."

Initially, everything went smoothly.

The team cautiously traveled through the flesh-and-blood forest, avoiding areas that looked particularly dangerous.

But Luo En, through the perspective of the memory owner, noticed a subtle change.

The eyeball trees did not release direct attack means, but a kind of extremely weak mental influence.

This influence was too subtle to be detected.

They did not try to control the consciousness of the intruders, but were quietly... adjusting their emotions.

At first, it just made people feel slight unease and suspicion.

The team members began to doubt each other's behavior and showed impatience with the leader's instructions.

"I think we are wasting time here," the female knight complained:

"Those samples are everywhere, why must we go deep into the center of the forest?"

"Because the most valuable materials are usually in the most dangerous places," Martin explained patiently: "You should know this truth."

"Captain, maybe she's right," the male apprentice also echoed from the side: "We have collected enough specimens, no need to continue taking risks."

As time passed, this subtle mental influence began to intensify.

The team members became increasingly irritable, and their trust in each other gradually disintegrated.

Luo En carefully observed this process.

"This kind of step-by-step erosion influence is quite worth studying," he analyzed in his heart:

"Not using forced control, but amplifying the negative emotions that already exist in the target; it is more hidden and harder to guard against."

Deep in the forest, a particularly huge flesh-and-blood tree began to emit a stronger influence.

Blurred human faces appeared on its trunk; those faces seemed to be telling some sad story.

A young explorer named Tang Mu was deeply attracted by these faces.

He saw his dead father, his childhood playmates, and all those he missed.

"Tang Mu!" Martin's voice came from very far away: "Don't look at those illusions!"

But Tang Mu was already completely immersed in memories.

The mental influence released by those flesh-and-blood trees made him unable to distinguish the boundary between reality and illusion.

What was even more terrifying was that other team members also began to show similar symptoms.

The female knight saw the lover she lost in her first Abyss exploration, and the male apprentice saw the mentor killed by Abyss creatures.

"This... is not real!" the male apprentice held his head in pain: "They are all dead!"

Martin realized the danger; he began to activate mental defense runes, trying to dispel the influence of the illusions.

But it was too late; the forest's mental attack had penetrated deep into everyone's consciousness.

What happened next surprised even Luo En.

Those flesh-and-blood trees did not attack while the explorers were confused; instead, the explorers began to kill each other.

Under the influence of mental distortion, they began to view their companions as threats and friends as enemies.

The female knight lost control first; her sword pierced the chest of the person closest to her.

"You are not the real Tony!" she roared crazily: "The real Tony wouldn't look at me like that!"

Before dying, the male apprentice released an explosive spell, dragging both the female knight and Martin into it.

Subsequently, the situation collapsed rapidly under this mutually destructive spell, and the entire team was completely destroyed in just a few minutes.

Tang Mu was the last person to wake up.

When the illusion dissipated, what he saw were the broken corpses of his companions, and those flesh-and-blood trees were greedily absorbing the scattered blood.

The memory ended abruptly here.

Luo En slowly opened his eyes, his face without any emotional fluctuation.

He just quickly began to record the observation results in his notebook:

"Mental induction trap, using the target's memory and emotions as weapons.

The attack method is indirect but fatal, leading to internal strife by amplifying negative emotions."

He paused and continued writing:

"This mechanism has extremely high value for the psychological resistance training of simulation devices.

If a similar environment can be reproduced, it can provide targeted anti-illusion training for users."

【Historical Research (Proficient) EXP +1】

【Current progress: Historical Research (Proficient 26/100)】

Luo En was satisfied with the result of this analysis.

Although the memory itself was full of tragedy, the technical information contained within was extremely valuable.

As a researcher, his duty was to extract useful knowledge from all phenomena.

It was very late, but Luo En's spirit was still excited.

Today's gains were pretty good.

Not only were there inspirations for professional development paths, but also technical inspirations obtained from memory crystals, all of which provided new directions for his research.

"Need to see Eve tomorrow, might also meet Cassandra."

He looked at the time; it was already midnight: "Maintaining the best state is more important than forced work."

After tidying up the desktop, he carefully stored all the materials.

"As long as the method is correct, everything is just a matter of time."

Luo En turned off the magic crystal lamp.

The night wind happened to blow through the window lattice at this time, making a slight wailing sound.

That sound sounded as if it were mourning for something that had passed away.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 328 =====