Chapter 122

"Is this altar... a gateway to another world?"

Luo En tried hard to control the excitement in his voice, but the light in his eyes was hard to hide:

"If there really is a stable alien rift in the Black Mist Forest, what a precious resource that would be."

Trish looked at his suddenly enthusiastic expression, a knowing smile appearing on the corner of her mouth.

"You seem particularly interested in the concept of 'another world', Luo En."

She said with a hint of teasing:

"But I must disappoint you; the so-called alien crack is not the complete and vast alien world you imagine, at most it is just a residual image projection produced during world collisions."

Luo En's enthusiasm cooled significantly: "You mean..."

"A true complete alien world is a field that only formal wizards and even great wizards are qualified to enter and explore."

Trish's tone became solemn: "Like us apprentices, just approaching a true cross-border channel, we would be strangled by the surrounding dimensional turbulence, with both body and soul completely shattered."

She looked at Luo En's completely calmed expression and added:

"But don't be disappointed; even if it's just a crack, the extraordinary resources and special structures contained within are enough to make large forces like the Crystal Spire extremely interested. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why they established the Black Mist School to guard here."

"So that's it." Luo En quickly adjusted his mood: "Then, what exactly is the function of this altar?"

"This altar possesses magical power."

Trish's eyes shone brightly again:

"It can help bloodline activation and tracing, making it easier for people to break through the limitations of the bloodline and evolve toward a more ancient and pure form."

Hearing the word "tracing", Luo En's heart jumped suddenly.

Isn't this exactly the core function of his previous "tracing" characteristic?

If he could borrow the power of the altar, perhaps he could make the copied bloodline ability more powerful and pure...

"This altar..." Luo En tried to keep his tone steady: "Can everyone enter?"

Trish shook her head, her expression becoming a bit regretful:

"Of course not; the quota is extremely limited, and it must be approved by the school's high-level officials. As far as I know, the Black Mist School only has five quotas each time, and the rest of the quotas are given to the Crystal Spire."

Her gaze flickered with expectation, and her voice carried a hint of imperceptible tension:

"However, considering your recent rise speed, especially the disclosure of special talents like 'Medicine-Body Resonance', and successfully entering the candidate wizard sequence... I think you are very likely to get a quota."

This remark was both information sharing and a hint—if Luo En obtained a quota, Trish hoped to form some form of alliance relationship with him.

After all, in this unknown and dangerous environment, having a reliable companion was undoubtedly a huge advantage.

"This altar... how often does it open?" Luo En asked the key question.

"It usually opens once every five years." Trish replied:

"The opening time this time will be more than half a year later. This is also why Instructor Kelinna has intensified my training recently; she believes that I need to raise my strength to a certain level during this time to withstand the test of the altar."

"Test?" Luo En raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Trish's expression became serious:

"It is said that the Bloodline Altar is not just a place, but will also give different trials according to the qualifications and potential of the entrants."

She added softly: "In the past, some people died because they couldn't withstand the trial, so the school's review of the quota is extremely strict. Everyone selected must show sufficient potential and value."

Luo En fell into deep thought.

This was undoubtedly a huge opportunity, but it was also accompanied by huge risks.

However, with the various means and hole cards he currently mastered, especially having a life-saving artifact like the Time Guardian pocket watch, his grasp of dealing with risks was quite large.

"Thank you for your reminder, Trish." He finally said: "This information is very important to me."

"It's nothing." Trish smiled, a flash of cunning in her eyes:

"We are fellow countrymen, it's only right to look after each other. And, if we can both get a quota, we can also look after each other in the altar."

Her expression became soft, carrying the shyness and expectation unique to a young girl:

"What I worry about most is the danger that may be encountered during the altar trial; if there is a reliable companion like you, I will feel much more at ease."

Luo En smiled slightly; this invitation had both a utilitarian side and sincerity.

Trish, as one of the few peers in the candidate wizard sequence and having the origin of fellow countrymen, was indeed an ideal candidate for an ally.

"If we can both get a quota, we will definitely look after each other."

He promised.

This answer seemed to satisfy Trish very much, and her face bloomed with a bright smile:

"Great! I hope we can both get this opportunity."

She lowered her voice again and added mysteriously:

"Instructor Kelinna is very interested in you, especially your 'Medicine-Body Resonance' talent. If you really get a quota, she might personally provide you with some guidance, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Then I will definitely cherish it."

Luo En responded on the surface, but was extremely vigilant in his heart.

The two chatted about recent learning experiences and school anecdotes, and the atmosphere became relaxed.

Luo En found that Trish seemed more cheerful and lively than before.

The original reserve and coldness were reduced by a few points, and there was more of a vibrant vitality, perhaps also influenced by the activation of the forest elf bloodline.

"After a while, the candidate wizard sequence will hold a quarterly meeting, at which all sequence members and the main instructors and vice-deans in the school will attend."

At parting, Trish exhorted again: "Instructor Kelinna will also attend, which will be an important opportunity for you to show your value."

"I will prepare well." Luo En nodded: "I also wish you greater progress in bloodline activation."

Trish nodded with a smile, and Liyue bowed respectfully to Luo En.

Luo En watched the two leave until their figures disappeared at the end of the path in the Black Mist Forest, then withdrew his gaze and turned back into the workshop.

"Bloodline Altar... Tracing Power..."

His eyes flashed with thoughtful light: "This may be an excellent opportunity for me to further purify my Red-Blood Flying Dragon branch bloodline."

Back in the workshop, Xiang Ailan was still organizing the tea set Trish had left behind.

"Master." Her vines swayed gently: "The energy on her makes me feel both close and afraid; why is this?"

"According to ancient books, tree spirits and forest elves were once close partners; the bloodline memory sleeping in your body may have perceived this."

Luo En explained: "As for the fear... perhaps it is because a trace of moon elf component is mixed in, and the royal family has natural pressure on the lower-level existences in the same chain."

He looked thoughtfully at Xiang Ailan's gradually humanized body and suddenly had an idea:

"Xiang Ailan, if there is an opportunity to activate the deeper bloodline in your body, would you like to try? There may be some risks."

Xiang Ailan's vines trembled at an unprecedented frequency, and the light of expectation flashed in those green eyes:

"If it is a ritual presided over by Master, I am willing to try any possibility."

Luo En felt a warmth in his heart and raised his hand to gently stroke Xiang Ailan's vines:

"I will do my best to help you, just as you have always helped me."

The news of the Bloodline Altar provided him with a clear time node—more than half a year later, exactly one year after his graduation.

In this limited time, he must maximize his strength.

He looked up at the calendar, and a flame ignited in his heart.

"More than half a year, not a long or short time." He muttered to himself:

"In this time, I must make my value completely prominent and become one of those five quotas."

Night fell, and the workshop was still brightly lit.

A figure was busy in front of the experimental bench, the desk was piled with various ancient books and notes, and the plan on the wall was densely filled with arrangements for the next more than half a year...

………………

"The key to energy solidification lies in frequency resonance..."

Luo En's fingers slid gently over the yellowed pages of the thick ancient book, his eyes absorbing every detail without stopping.

Since he started learning alchemy, he had developed the habit of setting aside at least two hours every day to study theory.

A corner of the workshop had long been set aside by him as a specialized alchemy research area.

Unlike the neat and orderly layout of the potion area, it looked quite chaotic here:

Various strange-looking devices were scattered everywhere, semi-finished alchemy products were carefully stored in special containers, and the walls were covered with energy flow diagrams and elemental affinity tables he had drawn himself.

"Three cycles, nine-fold rhythm, twenty-seven seals..."

Luo En muttered, while sketching complex rune structures in his notebook.

The energy storage technology taught by Tang Pusen last week was extremely exquisite, but the explanation in class was ultimately limited.

To truly master this technology, Luo En had to consult a large amount of supplementary information and make attempt after attempt in practice.

He picked up an ordinary stone on the table, his fingers gently stroking its surface.

In the eyes of ordinary people, this was just a gray stone without any characteristics, but Luo En could feel the faint earth-system energy contained within it.

"Let's start."

Luo En took a deep breath, wrapped his hands around the stone, and began to guide his mental power to build the storage array.

This was his seventh attempt this week; the previous six had all ended in failure—either energy leaked or the structure collapsed.

But this time, with the experience of the previous failures, plus the sudden inspiration last night, his operation was more precise and smooth.

Mental power wove a complex energy network around the stone, layer by layer, seamlessly.

"Three cycles..." Beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, but his hands were as steady as a rock:

"Rhythm..." The energy network gradually solidified, and the stone began to emit a faint glow:

"Seal!"

The moment the last seal was completed, the stone suddenly lit up, and the energy inside was perfectly stored, forming a stable energy core.

"Success!" Luo En couldn't hide his excitement, carefully checking every detail of the storage structure.

Unlike previous attempts, this energy core was extremely stable, without any leakage or fluctuation.

[Alchemy experience +1]

[Breakthrough! Alchemy (Introductory 50/50) -> Alchemy (Proficient 1/100)]

[Obtained additional characteristic: Resonance (Efficiency of perception and control of extraordinary energy increased)]

This breakthrough came so naturally, as if it were the best reward for his dedicated study during this time.

Luo En could clearly feel that his perception of energy had become more acute, and his control was more precise, as if he had suddenly gained a pair of eyes specifically for perceiving energy in the dark.

He couldn't wait to call out his profession panel in his mind:

[Profession transfer conditions met:

1. Alchemy (Proficient) √

2. Complete one alchemy √]

[Whether to immediately transfer to — Alchemy Apprentice?]

"Confirm." He muttered in his heart.

A familiar warm energy flow surged from his heart and spread to his whole body, but the feeling this time was slightly different from before.

The energy seemed purer, and the flow was more orderly, like water flowing through precise calculations.

[Transfer successful!]

[Obtained profession: Alchemy Apprentice (One Star)]

[Basic attribute improvement:

Mental 3.6 -> 3.7 (+0.1)

Magic 1.5 -> 1.6 (+0.1)]

[Profession special bonus: -

Perception of fine molecules slightly increased

Ability to grasp material characteristics slightly increased]

[Obtained profession skill: Material Analysis (Introductory)]

The attribute bonus obtained after the transfer was already very small, but this was also reasonable.

After all, this belonged to his bug-exploiting behavior, and he was already very gratified to have an improvement.

What's more, for attribute improvements in the later stages, perhaps every 0.1 difference would be better than countless times before.

Luo En waited for the new profession skill to appear, but unexpectedly, the panel displayed a special prompt:

[Detected profession linkage: Potion Master + Alchemy Apprentice]

[Stability slightly increased when performing potion refining and alchemy]

[Skill fusion triggered:

Herb Identification (Proficient) + Material Analysis (Introductory) -> Extraordinary Identification (Proficient 1/100)]

Luo En widened his eyes.

This was the first time he had encountered a situation of skill fusion, clearly a special interactive effect produced by two similar professions.

Immediately afterward, a cool sensation flowed through his eyes, and his vision suddenly became unusually clear.

Not only that, when his gaze fell on surrounding objects, he could instinctively perceive their material composition, energy structure, and even production craftsmanship.

He picked up an ordinary stone, and just by looking at it lightly, he could distinguish that it contained trace amounts of iron elements.

It was formed about three hundred years ago by a volcanic eruption, and he could even feel the faint magic resonance hidden inside.

"This is Extraordinary Identification..." Luo En's heart was full of amazement.

This new ability clearly far exceeded the original herb identification, no longer limited to herbs and potion materials, but extended to almost all extraordinary substances.

The basic analysis ability of alchemy and the precise identification of pharmacology were perfectly combined, creating a special insight that was almost "looking directly at the essence".

He couldn't help but recall those professional appraisers in the black market; even the most senior appraisers needed various tools for assistance and often only specialized in one type of item.

And now, he could perform all-round extraordinary material identification with the naked eye alone.

"No wonder I haven't heard of any full-time 'appraiser' extraordinary profession..."

Luo En thought thoughtfully:

"The combination of potion master and alchemist can itself form an effect far superior to a full-time appraiser."