paranoianovel Chapter 16 [Elemental Well], Crystallized Scorpion
Chapter 16 [Elemental Well], Crystallized Scorpion
During a casual conversation with Buck, the wizard Eric once mentioned:
"The apprenticeship stage involves learning the knowledge summarized by predecessors and building standard models."
"But once you reach the level of a formal wizard, you need to start thinking about why this model is constructed this way?"
What's the principle behind it?
"Is there a more suitable way for me?"
"This process, known as magical enlightenment, is the key to distinguishing wizards from spellcasting tools."
These words were deeply imprinted in Rowling's mind.
When he began to consciously learn each spell, study each energy diagram, and draw each magic circle, he was not only satisfied with "how to do it", but also asked "why do it this way".
This process slowed down his learning progress again, especially the improvement of his proficiency in various knowledge and spells on the panel became much slower.
But Luo Lin knew that his foundation was being honed to be exceptionally solid.
His relationship with Lina remained at a superficial level, consisting of occasional encounters and simple exchanges.
Lina seemed very interested in the various planting experiments he conducted after finding Dark Goldwood at the Ash Marsh Trade Fair. She even made a special trip to his stone house to visit the simple nourishing magic circle and marveled at it.
"You always manage to come up with new ideas."
"If this thing could be mass-produced, those schools that specialize in cultivating magical plants would probably fight tooth and nail for it."
Lina circled around the thriving moon orchid.
"This is just a preliminary attempt, with limited results, and the source of Dark Gold Wood is unknown, making it impossible to replicate."
Rowling was telling the truth.
"Too."
Lina nodded, then spoke with great interest.
"But it's very interesting!"
"It's much more interesting than fighting and scheming all day long."
"You know what? Kyle almost got into a fight with the Rock Society recently over a spot on a mission to explore the Glimmering Mine."
Rowling neither confirmed nor denied this.
He had no interest in the rivalry among apprentices and only wanted to focus on accumulating knowledge.
In their subsequent encounters, Kyle Silvershine's gaze remained indifferent, but he refrained from further provocation, seemingly acknowledging Rowling's existence.
This peaceful period lasted for a while before being broken by the college's announcement.
The academy will open a competition for the qualification to meditate on the Elemental Well for all third-class apprentices in one month.
The so-called "Elemental Wells" are several natural energy convergence points within the academy. After being reinforced and guided by magic arrays, meditation in them is far more efficient than in advanced meditation rooms.
It is especially effective for perceiving energy particles and purifying spiritual power.
Each time the event opens, the number of slots is extremely limited and must be obtained through competition.
As soon as the announcement was made, the third-class apprentices in the academy immediately became restless.
This is a rare opportunity to accelerate one's training and may even help one reach the threshold of becoming a formal wizard.
Rowling was also tempted.
He has been stuck at the Basic Meditation Method (98% proficiency) for a long time, but perhaps with the help of the Elemental Well environment, he can break through to the perfect level in one fell swoop.
Moreover, the environment of the [Element Well] must also greatly benefit his understanding of the configuration of energy particles.
The way to qualify is to complete a designated, high-difficulty task.
Collect ten crystallized manticores from the tail stingers of a manticore.
Crystallized manticores are social monsters that live in the treacherous mountains near the academy. Their strength is generally at the level of a third-class apprentice, and the manticore leaders are even close to the level of formal wizards, making them extremely dangerous.
The task must be completed solo; teamwork is prohibited to ensure fairness and to test individual skills.
The task is difficult, but the rewards are extremely tempting.
In addition to the qualification to meditate at the [Elemental Well], completing the task itself will also reward you with 1000 contribution points.
Without much hesitation, Rowling immediately went to the mission hall to accept the mission.
He knew it was dangerous, but he was confident in his abilities and preparations.
Moreover, this challenge itself is an excellent form of training.
After accepting the mission, Rolin began intensive preparations.
He carefully studied the records of crystallized scorpions in the academy's database to understand their habits, attack methods, and weaknesses.
The crystallized manticore has amazing defensive capabilities, especially its essence shell, which is highly resistant to both physical and energy attacks.
However, their abdomen and joints are relatively vulnerable, and their tail stinger is their strongest point of attack, containing the core of their power.
Rollin checked his equipment.
A bone spur dagger, several bottles of high-quality stamina recovery potions, two spare bottles of minor mental energizing potions, and some experimental potions that he had concocted himself with strong corrosive or paralyzing effects.
In terms of spells, [Acid Splash] is an effective means of dealing with the crystallized shell, [Weak Force Field Armor] must be maintained at all times, and [Mage's Hand] can be used for restraint and interference.
In addition, he also spent 500 contribution points to buy a one-time [Low-level Elemental Shield] scroll as a trump card to save his life.
Once everything was ready, Rowling left the academy alone one morning without making a fuss, heading towards the treacherous northern mountains.
This was the first time he had truly left the safe zone of the academy and faced the dangers of the wilderness alone.
The air was thick with a sense of freedom and danger; he knew that this mission was not just about seizing resources.
It is also an important test of the results of my hard work over the past six months.
……
Once outside the area of the Shadow Raven Holy Tower Academy, the energy particles in the air seemed to become much more active and chaotic.
The harsh winds characteristic of the Karugsha Highlands swirled sand and dust, ruffling Rolin's grey apprentice robes.
He adjusted his breathing, slightly projected his mental energy, and sensed his surroundings.
This was his first time venturing into the wilderness outside the academy alone. Although it was only the relatively familiar northern mountain range, the level of danger was incomparable to that inside the academy.
According to maps and data, crystallized manticores typically inhabit dry caves or canyons deep in the mountains.
Instead of venturing directly into the mountains, Rolin carefully searched the outer perimeter of the range for traces of manticore activity.
For example, gnawed animal bones, distinctive scratches on rock walls, or tiny crystalline fragments contained in their excrement.
He moved slowly and with extreme caution.
The [Weak Force Field Armor] maintains a minimum level of operation, consuming a steady but acceptable amount of mana.
Mental energy, like invisible tentacles, swept across the path ahead, probing for potential traps and lurking predators.
On the first day, he found no trace of the crystallized manticore, only some ordinary mountain creatures and a few low-threat mutated beasts.
He easily dealt with a Shadow Leopard that tried to ambush him using [Acid Splash], testing the effectiveness of the spell in actual combat.
At night, he found a sheltered rocky peak and set up a simple warning array.
This is one of the few practical tips he recently learned from "Basic Magic Circle Analysis".
The magic circle consists of several stones engraved with runes. It sends a mental warning to any creature that enters a certain area.
Although rudimentary, it provides the most basic security.
The following afternoon, Rowling finally found several large lizard skeletons, cleanly gnawed, at the foot of a steep hillside.
The remaining fine crystalline powder on the skeleton is a trace of the crystallized manticore.
He perked up and began searching up the hillside.
As you go deeper, the terrain becomes increasingly rugged, with jagged rocks forming a complex labyrinth.
A faint, metallic odor began to fill the air.
Rowling became more cautious, slowing his pace and advancing slowly under the cover of the rocks.
He stopped at a narrow pass.
A rustling, grinding sound came from ahead, accompanied by a low, hissing sound like stones colliding.
He cautiously peeked out and saw three crystallized scorpion lions tearing apart a newly captured ibex on a relatively flat, rocky clearing behind the pass.
This was the first time Rolin had ever witnessed such a monster.
They are slightly smaller than ordinary lions, but their bodies are covered with irregular, multifaceted crystals that refract a cold light in the dim light.
With strong limbs and sharp claws and teeth, the most striking feature of them is the high-curved tail behind them, which, instead of a poisonous barb, is a fist-sized crystal core that constantly flashes with unstable energy.
That is the mission objective: the tail needle crystal core.