https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-19-Potion-Effects-and-Spell-Experimentation/13535087/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-21-Terrifying-Neighbor-Lurking-Danger/13535095/
Chapter 20: The Scatterer – Time is Running Out
Chapter 20: The Scatterer – Time is Running Out
Peering through the crack in the door, Luo En spotted a familiar figure staggering past—the merchant-born candidate apprentice An Di, who had arrived at the Black Mist Jungle around the same time as him.
Normally timid and fidgety, the boy was now clutching a pile of books with frantic determination, sprinting toward the library.
"Another one grasping for last-minute breakthroughs", Luo En mused, shaking his head.
Such scenes had become increasingly common recently. As the assessment deadline loomed closer, candidates without confidence in passing were either resorting to forbidden methods like Luo Ke and Ai Mi Li, or burying themselves in study like An Di.
But neither path usually ended well.
"Steady progress is still the way to go", Luo En thought, gazing at the Stimulant Potion in his hand.
Though his current pace lagged behind the higher-star-class prodigies, this was merely the beginning of his journey. Every step he took would be solid, every improvement tangible. With time, he'd accelerate past them all.
Resolving to make the most of the potion's effect, he returned to his bed to resume cultivation. Time was precious—wasting even a moment was unthinkable.
………………
As Luo En finished his meditation and was catching his breath, laughter echoed through the corridor.
"That necklace is so gorgeous—it must’ve cost a fortune!" a female voice drifted in through the door.
"Not really—it was all gifts from my master. Speaking of which, did you hear what Ma Kusi Lord is researching lately?"
Cracking his door slightly, Luo En silently observed. Down the hallway, several apprentice servants were chatting. Though their voices sounded unfamiliar compared to the last group, their elaborate attire and jewelry marked them as far more privileged than ordinary attendants.
"Ugh, not everyone gets that lucky", one sighed enviously.
"I heard that new arrival—the one who 'broke through' last month—used special channels too."
"Shh, keep it down. Honestly, I heard the same—apparently it only took three days!"
"Seriously? I thought he came from the Black Market side…"
"Let’s not get too detailed, but I heard several new merchants have arrived recently, buying rare materials."
Their conversation flowed casually, yet every word carried calculated implications. Luo En noticed faint lamplight seeping through the cracks of closed doors—those still struggling for breakthroughs were clearly eavesdropping.
"Hey, you know that one who visited the Black Market traders two days ago?"
One servant whispered suddenly, "I heard—"
"Stop! This talk is better left alone", another interrupted hastily. "But honestly, those merchants do have powerful items."
"Yeah, supposedly their effects are incredibly fast. My master said that as long as dosage and timing are properly controlled, especially during—"
The dialogue triggered Luo En's memory of encountering flamboyantly dressed female servants lingering at market intersections yesterday while leaving the Herbal Medicine Shop. Their inquisitive glances now seemed deliberate—scouting for potential targets.
These attendants were clearly well-trained. Choosing crowded spots to loudly discuss "special channels", their vibrant appearances and captivating voices naturally drew attention. Every detail was meticulously designed to make desperate candidates believe they’d found a "reliable source."
"What underhanded methods", Luo En muttered.
Growing up in Lord Lalf’s estate had made him intimately familiar with such information manipulation. Once, subordinates vying for his father’s favor had similarly seeded advantageous rumors in strategic settings.
But in the Black Mist Jungle, the consequences were far graver. Here, a wrong decision didn’t just mean losing rank—it could cost lives.
The servants continued chatting idly as they moved away, leaving behind sparks of gossip that now smoldered like embers on dry tinder across the Dormitory Area.
"How insidious", Luo En scoffed.
The "three-day breakthrough" example they referenced was none other than the mutated Luo Ke. Yet their account conveniently omitted the tragic end, emphasizing only the potion’s effect. For those facing dead ends, this was an irresistible temptation.
"Three months is simply too short for some", he sighed, watching the darkening sky.
As time dwindled, the hopeless would grow increasingly desperate. And these whispers were pouring oil onto fire.
In just days, several candidates had already taken reckless risks. Luo Ke and Ai Mi Li were merely the beginning—more would inevitably follow this doomed path.
It wasn’t hard to guess who orchestrated these rumors or how the Black Market merchants connected to the powers behind them.
In this cutthroat world, the weak would always be prey. Whether becoming test subjects or enslaved servants, for some people, it was simply another hunting game.
"I need to grow stronger faster—I won’t let myself be manipulated like this", Luo En inhaled deeply, refocusing his resolve.
Slamming his door shut, he returned to his seat. Though the distant chatter faded, the ripples from those planted rumors still spread.
He could hear pacing from Darend’s room next door—the neighbor obsessed with noise-based techniques had clearly been affected too. Normally absorbed in experiments and indifferent to outside affairs, Darend had finally been stirred from his focus.
"Time truly is running out", Luo En felt the pressure rising within.
(End of Chapter)
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