Chapter 275

"Self-inflicted."

Lin Ke felt no pity for Luo Ken at all.

The situation has come to this purely because Luo Ken lacks a clear self-awareness.

Serin Sage never tried to win Luo Ken over; she always stated her attitude directly and never hid her affection for Paro.

It has always been Luo Ken clinging to his fantasies, unwilling to give up.

Bitter wine entering the throat brings heartache; everything is self-inflicted.

Having fallen to this state, no one will pity him; everyone will think it's only natural.

"Let's disperse."

After saying that, he didn't bother with the three witches who, once they had put their minds at ease, started to watch the fun; Lin Ke headed straight back to his assigned lab.

The test results for the new version of the Empowerment Potion have just come out, right on time.

After reviewing all the test data, Lin Ke was quite satisfied overall.

With the 'Alchemy Specialization' and 'Material Specialization' talents, plus solid potion-making knowledge and ability, Lin Ke hit the mark and directly brewed the potion he wanted.

Striking while the iron was hot, Lin Ke followed the formula and brewed eight batches of the new Empowerment Potion as backups.

The defining feature of this version is that it serves only as a medium, containing no transplantable abilities itself.

Therefore, it is not meant to be injected or consumed to grant the user one or more witchcraft-like abilities.

Lin Ke took four pieces of bovine magical beast hide carrying the transplanted flesh talent stripped from Luo Ken, took four doses of the new Empowerment Potion, and applied each dose to the hide, soaking the sealed transplanted talent marks.

Thus, the four carriers of the transplanted talent were fully processed and can be properly stored.

When needed, just take them out and use them.

After finishing, seeing that it was late, Lin Ke left the experiment building and returned to the villa.

Mo Li had already returned from the branch outpost for a while, and even dinner was ready.

"You must be tired; let's eat first."

Without rushing to ask about the teaching and research group's emergency handling and results, Mo Li chose to first let Lin Ke feel the warmth of home.

"Hmm."

At this point, whether tired or not, just accept the arrangement.

Moreover, Lin Ke accepted it gladly.

Being able to eat hot, steaming meals at home is a kind of happiness.

After finishing their meal, the two went to the study to drink tea and chat idly.

Without Mo Li asking, Lin Ke voluntarily detailed what had happened in the teaching and research group.

The point is not Luo Ken's reckless deed, nor the process of rescuing him.

Actually, it lies in the idea of possibly founding a school, and in having already taken two steps toward realizing that idea.

After hearing Lin Ke's account, Mo Li didn't care about Luo Ken's gossip, pondered for a moment, and asked seriously: 'What if the recipient has no transplantable talent to strip, or isn't even a body-cultivation wizard?'

"This question gets to the heart of the matter."

Lin Ke looked at Mo Li with great appreciation and smiled: 'This is exactly why I chose to reconstruct a version of the Empowerment Potion.'

Mo Li suddenly realized: 'Since the new Empowerment Potion can serve as a medium to treat the magical beast hide carrying the transplanted talent, it can likewise serve as a medium to treat the recipient's skin, putting it in a special state to facilitate inscribing the transplanted talent or witchcraft-like abilities.'

"That's roughly the idea."

Lin Ke neither refuted Mo Li's speculation nor fully endorsed it.

Because the specific procedures, Lin Ke hasn't fully worked them out yet.

Everything must wait until the third and fourth steps of the plan to realize the carrier-based concept are completed, with cases and data, before it can be finalized.

Setting aside this academic topic, they chatted a while longer, then each went back to their room to rest.

As usual, they did deep meditation before sleep.

His self-created Great Cosmos Meditation Method yields remarkably good effects after advancing to second-level wizard.

It's not just about meditation efficiency and progress; there are also extra gains.

In the sea of consciousness, the solar system's structure is no longer merely a conceptual rune pattern.

Beginning with liquefied mental power, it starts to transform the substantive rune structure.

Between the solar system structure in the Great Cosmos Meditation Method and the solar system simulated by the Small World, the existing resonance and connection have become ever tighter.

Especially after the Small World underwent a thunderbolt baptism and the sun in the sea of consciousness absorbed the light, clear gases from the radiation source.

Their relationship faintly shows a trend toward developing into 'one dark, one light, mutually internal and external.'

This trend makes Lin Ke eagerly anticipate the results once the transformation is complete.

Unfortunately, the radiation source that can promote insectoid individual evolution is uncommon in the wizard world.

Almost all insectoid-related resources have been monopolized by the beast-tamer wizards of the Northern Territories.

No one knows where Dean Freist obtained the insectoid mother nest seed he gave Lin Ke.

Lin Ke has already ordered a batch of radiation sources through the academy's channels, but the delivery date is still far off.

Thus, the sun in the sea of consciousness, mainly formed by the wizard world's will being favored, still needs a long wait before it can evolve further.

Meditation ended, Lin Ke lay down and fell asleep.

The next day.

Lin Ke and Mo Li went to their respective classes as usual during the day.

At noon they took time in the laboratory given by Dean Frister, staring at each other's long-term research and experiments required for their courses, confirming all data.

In the evening they went to the laboratory of the Sage Serlin's Potion Teaching and Research Department, advancing the progress of the work assigned to them.

Shaliya, Aila, and Tina each likewise have a lot of things to keep them busy.

In the whole pharmacology teaching and research section, only Luo Ken, who fortunately got promoted to third-level wizard, is the most idle.

It's unknown whether he promptly reported to the academy the news of his successful promotion.

In the education system of Ruiwo Si Si Academy, apprentices study at the primary academy; after promoting to first-level wizard they pursue advanced studies at the advanced academy; after promoting to second-level wizard they continue training at the academy's main campus.

Each time a promotion is completed, there is a corresponding study arrangement.

Likewise, third-level wizards also need to study at the academy's main campus, but for a shorter period—only half a year.

After the half-year advanced training ends, they will be dispatched to the various Sage Legions for practical drills.

In other words, Luo Ken's successful promotion actually reduces the time he can stay at the academy's main campus.

Is this considered a kind of evasion?

On the way to the office, Lin Ke suddenly had this thought.

He then suppressed his miscellaneous thoughts and walked into the office.

Just as he sat down, before work began, Mo Li said, 'Ba Ke and Lin En have sent a message saying they have already chosen a wedding gift for Asande. How are your preparations?'

'It won't cause Asande to lose face.'

Thinking of the wizard device he was crafting, Lin Ke smiled and kept it a secret.

'Virtue!'

Mo Li gave Lin Ke a sideways glance, withdrew her intention to stay a bit longer here, and headed to her own office.

Lin Ke also didn't try to stop her, letting Mo Li have a little temper.

After seeing Mo Li off, Lin Ke immediately focused on work, pulling up the data he had collected during his free time and read it carefully.

These data are somewhat related to Lin Ke's ideas.

Over so many years, with so many wizards, it's not that every possible path has already been tread.

At least there exist similar, comparable explorations, research, and experiments.

The preserved data and literature have very high reference value.

Just as Lin Ke was carefully reading the data and literature, Sage Serlin and Wizard Renee suddenly returned from the fairy world to the academy's main campus and came straight to the teaching and research building's laboratory.

Shaliya, Aila, and Tina's first action was to give a comprehensive report of what happened yesterday.

After hearing it, Sage Serlin and Wizard Renee each reacted differently.

'Serves him right!'

Wizard Renee directly spoke mockingly, 'This person always fails to understand himself and often does such reckless things.'

'Renee.'

Sage Serlin called out, giving her a reminder to stop speaking further, though he also did not blame her.

'You two go get busy.'

After instructing Aila and Tina, Sage Serlin said to Shaliya, 'Take me to see Luo Ken.'

Aila and Tina respectively saluted Sage Serlin and Wizard Renee, then withdrew. Shaliya led the way, bringing Sage Serlin and Wizard Renee to the underground third level, observation room.

Through the one-way glass, they saw Luo Ken leaning in the corner, like a sculpture, devoid of any vitality.

Wizard Renee had little reaction, merely sighing in her heart, 'Reckless people do reckless things; by sheer luck he actually made it to third-level wizard.'

Sage Serlin, however, furrowed his brows slightly, his mood complex.

Over these years, she has looked after Luo Ken quite a bit, for a simple reason.

More than ten years ago, Paro Sigema, who was then a third-level wizard and the commander of the main regiment of a certain Sage Legion, needed a body-refining wizard to undertake the assault duty of a certain special squad.

Shortly after being promoted to first-rank wizard, Luo Ken, who had come from the advanced academy for an internship, stepped forward and switched to body-refining wizardry.

Sage Serin had once promised then to solve the shortage of body-refining potions needed by body-refining wizards.

Unfortunately, time was tight, the task heavy, and research fields did not overlap; Serin wizard failed to develop a qualified potion that year, and could only have Luo Ken purchase generic body-refining potions on the market that carry toxic side effects.

This matter has always been like a thorn stuck in Sage Serin's heart; she believes Luo Ken's character and conduct have changed, becoming ever more brainless and reckless, and she bears some responsibility.

Thus, seeing Luo Ken now, Sage Serin's mood is not very pleasant.

But she had listened to Renee's advice a few days ago.

Since she now needs to put pressure on Paro to make him pursue her in return, she must straighten out her own interpersonal relations.

There must be no ambiguous spots, lest they arouse suspicion.

Everything else doesn't matter; Luo Ken, who is by her side, must definitely dispel his delusions.

Renee wizard's remarks yesterday, although all true, were actually rather excessive and indeed hurt Luo Ken's self-esteem.

But it was done with Sage Serin's approval, not Renee wizard acting on her own.

Its purpose is precisely to dispel Luo Ken's delusions.

Judging from the present situation, Renee wizard's words have had a very good effect.

Sage Serin, with a complex mood, carefully examined yesterday's data records and the measures taken by Lin Ke, and her attention was instantly diverted.

The more she looked, the more startled she became; the more she looked, the more she felt Lin Ke's handling was full of ingenious ideas.

She couldn't help but ask curiously: "Lin Ke, did you tell us yesterday what exactly you did?"

"No."

Saliya replied truthfully: "He didn't say, and we didn't ask. Even if he had said and we had asked, we might not have understood."

"Alright."

Sage Serin thought about it; indeed, that's the case.

Just from the surgical video, Sage Serin could only understand the operational part.

As for the deeper meaning behind it, she has not yet grasped a clue.

Renee wizard then said: "Just call him down and let him explain it to you in person."

"That's right."

Serlin Witch nodded, tilted their head, and glanced at Sallya.

"I'll go right away."

Sally immediately understood, turned and went upstairs.

Not long after, Lin Ke arrived at the third-level underground observation room.

Serlin Sage was playing back frame by frame the video of Lin Ke's operations from yesterday, studying it intently.

"Lin Ke, I asked you to come because I want to hear you explain these operations you performed yesterday."

Sensing Lin Ke's arrival, Serlin Sage rewound the surgical recording to the beginning and spoke earnestly.

"Hmm..."

Lin Ke organized his words, then detailed from the cause of Loken's abnormality, to the two treatment methods, and the concept triggered by transplanting the severed bodily talent, explaining everything in detail.

Witch Renee listened, and was greatly shocked.

If Lin Ke's concept could truly be realized and be promoted on a large scale, she felt the witch world was about to undergo an innovation similar to that of the "Intelligent Machine Witch."

Even if the scale and influence are far inferior, the stir it would cause would still be very large, at least within the western coast region.

Moreover, this is both Linke Grand's personal honor and would greatly increase the influence of Serlin Sage's Pharmacology Research Group.

After all, the conception and realization of this idea took place entirely within Serlin Sage's Pharmacology Research Group!

As a member of the research group, she, Renee Clark, could also benefit greatly from it.

Just thinking about it is quite exciting.

Serlin Sage thought seriously for a while, then asked: "What are your plans for the next steps?"

Lin Ke tilted his head to look at Loken, who was sitting dazed in the corner of the isolation room, and said: "If he is willing, I would first transplant the severed bodily talent back into him."

Upon hearing this, Serlin Sage pondered, then said: "I will ask Loken to see if he is willing."

After saying that, Serlin Sage opened the communication system between the observation room and the isolation room, and explained the fact that Loken's transplanted talent had been severed, as well as the possibility of re-implanting these talents.

She did not mention Lin Ke's concept, merely asking whether he would be willing to accept an experimental attempt.

"Come on."

Even upon hearing Serlin Sage's voice, Loken's eyes remained lifeless, and he replied dully, "I agree."

Serlin Sage ended the communication, looked at Lin Ke, and asked: "What preparations are needed?"

Lin Ke replied: "Normal preparations will suffice."

After that, Serlin Sage's Pharmacology Research Group quickly sprang into action.

All preparations for the surgery were completed at extreme speed in a very short time.

Loken lay on the operating table, his limbs and forehead bound, yet he refused deep anesthesia.

Lin Ke acted as the lead surgeon, with Serlin Sage and Mo Li as assistants, while Renee, Sallya, Ella, and Tina observed.

"Begin."

After a brief remark, Lin Ke clenched his right hand in the air, focused his mind, and the "scalpel" reappeared.

This time, the "scalpel" did not stab straight into the heart, but lightly touched the skin surface, following the shape of the bodily talent "Rapid Self-Heal" imprint, and punctured hundreds to thousands of tiny holes through the epidermis.

The long-unused "Innovation-tier Minor Mist Rain Technique" finally received Lin Ke's favor.

An entire bottle of the new version of the "Empowerment" potion turned into minuscule mist droplets, which permeated the punctured skin openings.

After the potion mist droplets filled the holes, they sequentially formed connections, creating a complete circuit.

The right-hand-held "scalpel" vanished; with a hook of his index finger, the beast fur bearing the bodily talent "Rapid Self-Heal" floated up to Loken's chest.

The imprint on the beast fur aligned perfectly with the circuit of potion mist droplets on Loken's chest skin.

Lin Ke lightly tapped the beast fur with his right hand, shaking loose the talent imprint that had first been sealed by the True Spirit Witch's sorcery and then treated with the new version of the "Empowerment" potion.

Almost simultaneously with the fur being shaken, a connection formed between the two applications of the new "Empowerment" potion using different methods.

The "Rapid Self-Heal" talent imprint followed this connection, merging into Loken's chest at near-light speed and entering his inner heart.

On the chest skin, a faint pattern appeared.

Having done these, Lin Ke nodded to Serlin Sage.

Serlin Sage understood, compared the test results, and confirmed the difference in Loken's self-healing ability before and after the surgery.

"Success."

After the comparison, Serlin Sage briefly said.

This made Lin Ke quite exhilarated.

So far, the implementation of his concept has proceeded very smoothly.

In one go, Lin Ke transplanted the remaining three bodily talents back into Loken, one by one.

None failed; all succeeded.

Moreover, it did not trigger an "immune rejection" response from the newly awakened talent against the transplanted bodily talent.

"Success!"

Lin Ke watched as the surgery ended, and, under Serlin Sage's arrangement, came to the isolation room where Loken was undergoing various examinations, thinking to himself:

In the future, after further refining the related theory and practice, expanding the sample size, conducting statistics, and obtaining data.

A concept called "Construct," and a school called "Construct Witch," might first spread in the Revo Soth special zone and even the western coast.

The worst possible outcome would be that Lin Ke's attempt to found a new witch school fails, yet he opens up a profession called "Constructor."

Anyway, no matter how you put it, Lin Ke stands to gain enormously.

In short, he's winning big time!