https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-20-The-Scatterer-Time-is-Running-Out/13535088/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-22-The-Giant-Brain-A-Beast-s-Desperation-/13535096/
Chapter 21: Terrifying Neighbor, Lurking Danger
Chapter 21: Terrifying Neighbor, Lurking Danger
Luo En was eating in the Dining Hall when snippets of conversation from a nearby table of candidate apprentices drifted into his ears:
"Did you hear Darend bought that drug?" a lanky guy with shoulder-length hair asked in a hushed voice.
"What drug? The brain-boosting one?" his companion replied, eyes widening.
"Yep. He said he needs it to complete his sound wave magic concept..." The long-haired one nodded, his expression a mix of shock and disdain.
"Is he insane? Countless people have tried that and failed..."
A third person snorted, shaking his head.
"With his meager spiritual energy, using that drug will just turn him into a monster."
Luo En had been chewing through his tasteless black bread while thinking about alchemy revisions.
But as he heard Darend's name, he furrowed his brows and put down his tray.
In the past few days, Darend's lab experiments had become increasingly quiet. Luo En had assumed the mad researcher had finally hit a bottleneck and decided to take a break.
Now it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Lately the Dormitory Area has been unusually quiet. I hope I'm not thinking the worst..."
He muttered to himself, glancing at the half-eaten black bread in his hand before losing his appetite completely.
Thinking back, when he first arrived at Black Mist Jungle, he and his neighbor Darend had been quite familiar.
His first meal here had been eaten at the same table as Darend.
"My family's from Cedar City in the northern Black Mist Jungle."
Back then, Darend hadn't been as strange and irritable as now. That somewhat plump teenager had stirred his beet soup while softly introducing himself:
"Our family has been musicians for generations, performing for nobles and composing symphonies."
His eyes had sparkled when mentioning music:
"Can you imagine, Luo En? Music isn't just sound—it's a wave of energy, a resonance of the soul. Since childhood, I could sense the relationships between different notes, their rhythm, their power..."
Luo En remembered politely nodding at the time, not fully understanding Darend's passion.
"My spiritual aptitude isn't high enough even for Fifth Class Star. I was nearly desperate on my way here."
Darend stirred his soup, voice sinking as he seemed oblivious to the cooling food in his bowl:
"But on the first day of school, I saw an opportunity on the bulletin board."
He lowered his voice conspiratorially:
"Besides the standard spiritual energy test, the School offers another ascension path—perfecting a wanted magic concept. If you can develop a half-finished spell into a practical technique, you can still earn the qualification to stay."
"I found a perfect topic matching my specialty..."
Darend's eyes had shone: "Sound wave conduction of spiritual energy fields. The moment I saw that title, I knew it was made for me."
In the following months, Darend had indeed thrown himself into this research.
Luo En occasionally glimpsed his room through the door—equipment and notes piled high, strange symbols and musical charts plastered on the walls.
For the first two months, Darend had regularly tapped various metal utensils, sometimes releasing odd tones, then cursing and starting over.
Back then, Luo En often complained to Andie about his neighbor's noise disrupting his meditation.
But about a month ago, Darend started growing increasingly frustrated.
His research had hit a dead end—no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make sound waves actually affect spiritual energy fields.
"The problem is my spiritual energy is too weak", Darend had once grumbled to Luo En. "If I could just get stronger, I'd break through this barrier."
In recent days, those sounds had grown fewer.
At first, Luo En thought Darend had finally given up. But yesterday in the Public Bath, he noticed Darend's eyes flashing with an almost insane light. His yellowish complexion and emaciated frame shocked him—he'd lost so much weight he looked skeletal.
"Are you alright?" Luo En had asked casually.
Darend looked at him and smiled—a disturbing, unsettling grin. "Alright? Of course I am... I'll succeed soon, Luo En."
Without another word, he left without looking back.
Now that he thought about it, Darend had already shown abnormal signs then...
As this realization hit, Luo En wiped the last bit of sauce from his tray with bread, forcefully shoved it into his mouth, then walked toward the wash area.
Perhaps... he should be cautious around his neighbor from now on. He thought as he washed his tray.
Back in his room, Luo En opened The Basic Meditation Manual and resumed meditating. Today, he could still manage some extra practice.
Though he'd already expended much energy, the Stimulant Potion's effects had kept his spiritual state at a high level.
[Basic Meditation Started]
This time, he tried integrating Madame Ellen's teachings into his meditation.
Instead of simply sketching runes, he focused on feeling the natural flow of spiritual energy.
Whenever the energy encountered resistance, he gently guided it along the most natural path—like an experienced helmsman harnessing water currents rather than fighting them.
In his consciousness space, the rune formed by three arcs began faintly glowing.
Unlike its former rigid shape, the rune now seemed alive, subtly vibrating with the fluctuations of spiritual energy.
[Special Effect Triggered: Rhythm Resonance—Meditation effectiveness slightly increased]
[Basic Meditation Experience Points +1]
[Basic Meditation Experience Points +1]
[Basic Meditation Experience Points +1]
...
[Today's training limit reached. Recommend rest.]
Luo En opened his eyes. Though slightly less than when using Stimulant Potion alone, his gains were still significantly higher than at the beginning.
"It seems 'rhythm' really is the key."
He murmured, jotting down today's insights in his notebook.
His notes had become quite comprehensive—from initial scattered observations to a relatively systematic theory now.
After organizing his notes, Luo En picked up his practice wooden sword and began the foundational moves of Solar Corona Swordsmanship.
Though lacking a professional instructor, he could refer to Andie's notes for gradual progress.
Each sword swing synchronized with the rhythm of Solar Corona Breathing Technique, achieving a subtle balance between movement and breath.
As his practice deepened, he found this coordination becoming smoother, his movements more fluid.
[Foundational Swordsmanship Experience Points +1]
[Foundational Swordsmanship Experience Points +1]
[Foundational Swordsmanship Experience Points +1]
...
The sky's color had gradually darkened when Luo En tidied his room, put down the wooden sword, and took off his clothes to lie down for a brief rest.
Just as he was about to drift into sleep, a strange sensation suddenly surged in his mind.
An indescribable vague intuition—as if someone or something was observing him.
Suddenly, a bizarre sound came from the neighboring room. It fluctuated between high-pitched and low-pitched, like someone or something—struggling in pain.
(End of Chapter)
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