Chapter 338: The Wizard King's Gift

Luo En slowly opened his eyes, feeling the final trace of the lingering resonance of time power deep within his consciousness.

The silver pocket watch clicked shut, emitting a faint sound; those fragmented, polluted memories from the Apostle had been thoroughly purged.

In the instant the time power cleansed his consciousness, he had deliberately preserved an extremely faint thread of mental energy.

This connection was as thin as a strand of hair, hidden deep within his post-cleansing consciousness.

Like a nearly invisible thread in a vast ocean, it maintained the most basic sensory link with the substitute puppet.

"A connection of this level won't bring too much risk of pollution, and it can be severed at any time."

He calmly analyzed the pros and cons of this decision in his heart:

"Attempting contact more often is like a vaccine, allowing my mental structure to gradually adapt to the pressure of the abyss environment."

This idea did not arise out of thin air.

Luo En had observed that those explorers who had long-term contact with low-concentration abyssal aura often possessed stronger resistance than those encountering it for the first time.

Although long-term contact leads to the accumulation of pollution, moderate exposure can indeed train one's mental defense capabilities.

And because he possessed the pocket watch, he didn't need to worry too much about the issue of pollution accumulation.

"The key lies in controlling the dosage and intensity."

He checked the status of this faint connection:

"I must maintain monitoring capabilities without exceeding the safety threshold."

Through this thread-like mental connection, Luo En could vaguely perceive the basic situation of the environment surrounding the puppet.

This included how the Apostle stored the puppet, placing it into a treasure vault, and how it cautiously conducted probes, among other things.

Just then, a notification appeared on the sealed door indicating a visitor was requesting entry.

After receiving his permission, the door slid open, and a young assistant walked in.

"Wizard Ralph, I am Sara, responsible for guiding you through the various facilities in Sector C."

Sara clearly rarely encountered figures of this level, her voice trembling:

"If it is convenient for you, I would like to take you on a tour of Sector C."

"Of course, thank you for the trouble," Luo En responded politely.

Walking out of the laboratory, Sara began to introduce the management system of Sector C in detail, her tone becoming more professional:

"For ordinary researchers, there are strict management procedures every day."

She pointed to a row of detection devices on the corridor wall:

"All personnel must undergo mandatory mental pollution testing at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

These devices can precisely measure the concentration of abyssal factors in the consciousness; once the safety threshold is exceeded, one will be immediately sent to the purification room."

Luo En observed those complex detection devices.

Each device was composed of multiple rune arrays, capable of analyzing mental states from over a dozen different angles.

"Movement routes are also strictly restricted," Sara continued:

"Ordinary researchers can only operate in designated areas, and every departure requires an application for a route permit.

The use of experimental materials must undergo three levels of approval, including material application, safety assessment, and usage supervision."

She led Luo En to the work area, where the situation inside could be seen through an observation window.

A middle-aged researcher was cautiously handling a small piece of abyssal crystal, his every movement recorded by multiple camera instruments.

Beside him, two supervisors were on standby, ready to respond to unexpected situations at any time.

"For safety reasons, any experiment involving abyssal materials must be conducted under supervision."

Sara explained: "During the experiment, researchers cannot act alone, and all data will be uploaded to the central database in real-time."

In stark contrast to this strict management was the privileged treatment Luo En enjoyed.

"And you have been specially approved by the Tower Master and Professor Youteer, possessing a completely different level of authorization."

Sara's tone carried obvious envy:

"Independent laboratory and living areas, routine exemption from inspection, direct resource application channels... these are treatments only enjoyed by the supervisor level."

After Sara led him to the living area and took her leave, Luo En began to set up his mobile workshop.

"First, I need to release the seal on the compressed space."

He carefully checked the various rune nodes on the suitcase:

"This compression technology uses the principle of space folding; when unfolding, I must ensure there is sufficient stable space around."

He activated the first layer of the unsealing sequence, and the suitcase began to emit a faint blue light.

Subtle distortions appeared in the air, as if reality itself were being slowly stretched.

"Energy output is stable, spatial tension is normal."

With the lifting of the second layer of the seal, the suitcase began to undergo drastic changes.

Its volume grew geometrically, while the internal spatial structure began to rearrange.

Those originally compressed equipment and instruments unfolded one by one like blooming flowers.

The tree spirit, already released, began to skillfully operate various instruments on the side.

"The magic circulation system is normal, the rune array is operating stably, and the environmental shielding effect is good."

The most complex part was the establishment of the security system.

Luo En needed to connect the workshop's defense network with the main system of the observation station while maintaining relative independence.

"You also have a certain level of control authorization for this system, allowing you to initiate isolation procedures when danger is detected."

While adjusting the control panel, he explained the working principle to Ailan:

"If an experiment goes out of control, the entire workshop will complete a lockdown within three seconds to prevent the spread of pollution.

Although it will activate automatically most of the time, I fear accidents, so I need you to pay close attention."

Just after the workshop was basically set up, Luo En did not relax his surveillance of the puppet's situation through that mental thread.

"The energy has been flowing slowly and steadily..."

He analyzed this phenomenon in his heart:

"It seems the puppet was not only not destroyed by the abyssal environment, but is actually influencing the surrounding energy flow to a certain extent."

"Everything has been installed, and Daier's crystal tank is also in place."

Ailan's voice pulled his attention back to reality:

"Master's mobile workshop has completely integrated into the observation station's environment and can begin normal use."

Luo En nodded, took out Franca's blood sample, and prepared for a more in-depth analysis.

………………

Night fell, and most areas of the observation station entered a dormant state.

Only some necessary monitoring systems were still running silently, maintaining the basic life activities of this biological building.

Luo En set up a dedicated meditation area in the new workshop, utilizing the high-level isolation equipment provided by the observation station to create a mental space completely free from interference.

"It's time to plan the cultivation progress."

He sat slowly on the rune meditation chair and began to activate "The Star Eater's Whispers" to enter a state of deep study.

His consciousness sank into that familiar star-sea world, where two already-lit stars emitted steady light.

The deep purple radiance of the Hermit Star represented insight and perception, while the silver-white light of the Scholar Star symbolized wisdom and understanding.

Their resonance had already formed a stable energy circuit, providing continuous enhancement to his thinking ability.

Luo En calculated his current cultivation status in his heart:

"To complete the activation, I still need to light up the Observer Star; this is the final link and also the most difficult one."

He turned his attention to the last unlit star in the constellation.

The Observer Star was located at the apex of the Wisdom Constellation, emitting an indifferent and omniscient aura, like a giant eye monitoring everything.

Unlike the relative gentleness of the previous two stars, the Observer Star felt more dangerous and unpredictable.

"The difficulty of lighting this star is clearly higher."

He activated astrology to carefully perceive the position and state of the Observer Star:

"And the risk is also greater; it requires extremely cautious handling."

When establishing the connection, Luo En encountered strong resistance.

A will beyond understanding was scrutinizing him, a feeling like being stared at by countless eyes simultaneously.

Under this scrutiny, he felt every one of his secrets being seen through, every weakness being identified.

"According to the current cultivation speed, it should still take quite some time to fully light it up."

He calculated carefully in his heart:

"And reaching the Moon-level standard in other aspects will also require time to accumulate, though it should be achieved slightly faster than the meditation method." The standard for a Moon-level wizard is not merely an increase in power, but a requirement for a qualitative leap in multiple aspects:

The first requirement is the composite spell circuit.

It requires integrating the "Mental Power Shunting" technique into daily spellcasting.

When casting a primary spell, the remaining mental power will automatically shunt into auxiliary spells, forming an energy network of mutual enhancement.

Regarding this point, because of Yi Fu's continuous instruction, coupled with the advanced trait bonus of "Micro-structure Adaptation," he was only one step away from achieving the goal.

The second requirement is the Mental Shock Grid.

This is an advanced application of "Mental Blast," requiring the upgrade of mental attack capability from a single impact to a multiple-grid attack.

Luo En's practice of multiple blasts had also begun early, ever since that "Time Hound" incident.

Coupled with having a suitable reference template from peeking at the historical projection of "Clock King" Erica.

Now, the distance to completing the basic requirement for Moon-level advancement—the double blast—was not far.

The only relatively troublesome thing was the control matrix of the radiation field.

The radiation field of a Moon-level wizard is no longer a single energy overflow, but a multi-layered, multi-functional control system capable of dividing the radiation field into different functional layers as needed.

It requires passing the "Field Separation and Fusion" technique to allow the radiation field to expand and contract like breathing, switching freely between different ranges and intensities.

This belongs to the category of "water-grinding" effort, and currently, it can only be polished by time...

"According to this standard, I need to formulate a detailed plan to break through to the Moon-level."

Luo En began to construct a specific cultivation plan in his mind:

"The progress of 'The Star Eater's Whispers' can be accelerated through star-gazing rituals;

The control of spells and radiation fields is currently envisioned to be strengthened through training in a simulated environment constructed within the simulation device..."

Besides this, deep cultivation of the meditation method might also bring more serious risks of alienation.

He recalled the true danger of "The Star Eater's Whispers" mentioned by Lady Ailan:

Every deep connection with the stars would cause him to be influenced at a deeper level.

"I must find a way to establish a more perfect self-protection mechanism."

This balance is the greatest challenge on his future cultivation path.

"One year, break through to the Moon-level."

Luo En set a clear goal for himself:

"Other research is to assist the rapid breakthrough of the wizard level, and the breakthrough of the wizard level can, in turn, feed back into the progress of other research; a complete growth cycle must be formed."

When he ended his meditation, that faint thread connecting to the puppet transmitted an abnormal fluctuation again.

This time the feeling was clearer; it seemed the puppet was experiencing some kind of "feeding" process.

"According to my previous intentional guidance, that Apostle should have already begun attempting to establish a deeper connection with the puppet."

Luo En recorded this discovery in his heart:

"This interaction is much faster than I expected; it seems it can no longer wait..."

………………

Deep in the Sea of No Light on the fifth layer of the abyss, "Eye of the Abyss" Nari was experiencing the most exciting moment of its life.

It used its most delicate tentacles to cautiously touch the surface of the puppet, like a loving mother caressing an infant.

This contact was filled with unprecedented gentleness, forming a stark contrast to Nari's usual violent image.

"What a wonderful texture..."

Nari's giant eyes were filled with curiosity.

The tips of those tentacles possessed extremely sensitive sensory organs, capable of detecting the most subtle changes:

"Not like ordinary wood, nor like metal or stone... more like some kind of... living substance?"

The puppet's "skin" presented a warm and moist texture, with extremely fine patterns on the surface.

Under Nari's careful observation, these patterns were actually flowing slowly, like a living vascular system.

What shocked it even more was that the puppet was actively absorbing the high-density radiation energy that Nari was unconsciously overflowing.

Those originally chaotic and disordered abyssal factors would automatically arrange into regular spiral structures upon contacting the puppet, and then be slowly absorbed into the interior.

"Simply... a treasure of the abyss..."

Nari's voice was filled with disbelief:

"I have never seen such a phenomenon... Is it purifying the pollution radiation around me?"

In its long life, it had seen countless creatures completely eroded by its own unconscious actions.

Whether they were powerful wizards or fragile mortals, uncontrollable mutations would occur when contacting the Apostle's power.

But the puppet before it was not only not eroded, but was actually changing the nature of the abyssal energy itself.

Even more magical things happened.

When the puppet absorbed enough abyssal energy, it began to emit a special fluctuation that Nari had never felt before.

This fluctuation was like a gentle spring breeze, caressing Nari's chaotic consciousness.

Under the influence of this power, Nari felt the first complete "favor" feedback in its life.

"This... this feeling..."

Nari's voice trembled, and one of its secondary consciousness nodes was stabilized in this feedback.

The chaos and pain temporarily receded, replaced by an unprecedented tranquility.

"Peace... serenity... is this the feedback that other Apostles spoke of?"

Black liquid surged from the giant eyes; those were tears of excitement and gratitude.

After thousands of years of lonely waiting, it had finally found a "child" that might succeed.

This discovery made the monster roll around in the treasure vault in excitement.

Its huge body swam around in the space like a dolphin in heat.

Countless tentacles danced in the air, and the eyes on the walls turned along with them.

The entire treasure vault was infected by this carnival emotion.

"My baby... my most precious baby..."

Nari whispered in its gentlest voice, a tone like a new mother speaking to an infant in a cradle:

"You have finally come... I have waited for so long, so long..."

It began to formulate a detailed "nurturing plan," just like a new mother, flustered but full of expectation.

"You must be hungry, right? I have many delicious things in my food reserves..."

Nari began to rummage through its storage, trying to find the most suitable "food" for the puppet:

"This is too hard... this is too sour... this is too bitter..."

And in order to provide the best environment for the puppet, Nari began to rearrange its treasure vault again.

It moved its most precious collectibles to the position closest to the puppet.

Including that still-beating heart and those glowing soul fragments.

"These are all my most beautiful collectibles, and now they all belong to you."

Nari carefully adjusted the energy flow within the treasure vault, creating the most suitable "growth environment" for the puppet.

It wove its tentacles into a soft nest, lined with the most precious "Brain Jellyfish King" membranes.

These membranes were not only comfortable but could also regulate the surrounding energy concentration.

"This way you will be very comfortable..."

Nari circled the puppet, its giant eyes filled with the radiance of maternal love:

"From now on, this is your home; I will protect you, take care of you, and give you the best of everything..."

Although its appearance was terrifying, what Apostle Nari displayed at this moment was undoubtedly a pure and primitive maternal instinct.

That protectiveness toward its young, expectation for growth, and longing for the future were all perfectly embodied in the actions of this ancient monster.

It began to plan a more detailed care scheme, ensuring its "child" could grow up healthy and happy.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 339 =====