Chapter 223: Arrival
Chapter 223: Arrival
The midnight Workshop lay in absolute silence, broken only by the steady gurgling rhythm of the alchemy furnace's lava core—a sound like the heartbeat of some ancient beast.
Luo En sat cross-legged at the center of the Meditation Chamber, slowly opening his eyes as the golden-red glow in his pupils faded back to normal. He inhaled deeply, feeling the currents of spiritual energy flowing through his body.
He was now teetering on the edge of a critical threshold, like a river on the verge of breaching its banks, needing only the final drop of rain to tip the balance.
【《The Murmuring of the Star Devourer》Experience Points +1】
【Current Progress:《The Murmuring of the Star Devourer》(Proficient 295/300)】
"Still five points to go", Luo En murmured, his eyes flickering with a mix of anticipation and caution.
As he began to rise, a strange sensation suddenly prickled his spine.
It felt as though countless tiny ants were crawling up his back, or as if a piercing gaze had speared through walls and air to stab directly into his soul.
Luo En instinctively tensed every muscle, his Demon Hunter knights' keen perception activating in an instant.
His senses, sharpened beyond human limits, latched onto every fluctuation in the surroundings.
Yet the danger remained maddeningly elusive—neither fully present nor entirely absent.
It was like a phantom breeze, vanishing the moment you tried to grasp it.
"Someone's watching me?" Luo En narrowed his eyes, rising slowly.
His fingers brushed the silver pocket watch at his waist, the cold metal grounding him slightly. Whatever the threat, this remained his final safeguard.
His other hand grazed the inner side of his left arm—the resting place of Thousand Shifting Shadows.
This fully advanced "Glorious Legacy" had become one of his most powerful aces.
Outside the window, the Black Mist Jungle stretched under moonlight, its depths unnaturally shadowed. The mana crystal lamps illuminating the School's central district glowed dimmer than usual, as if the entire jungle had been smothered under an invisible shroud.
The sensation of being watched lingered, intangible yet undeniable.
It unsettled him more than open hostility—like being targeted by some incomprehensible entity whose very existence defied detection.
Luo En exhaled sharply, pushing the unease aside. The day of the Stellar Ring Convergence approached, and he couldn't let this vague disturbance derail his final preparations.
Stepping out of the Meditation Chamber, he noticed the mana crystal lamps lining the corridor had dimmed as well, casting the Workshop in a sickly yellow haze.
In the main hall, Liliya was carefully sorting fresh herbs, her head lifting at his footsteps. A faint smile touched her lips.
"Master, your meditation ended?" she asked softly, though exhaustion edged her voice.
Luo En nodded, glancing at the herbs. "These were gathered today? Their quality seems mediocre."
Liliya sighed, setting down the bundle. "The outing was anything but smooth. Market vendors are disappearing, and the herbs available lack freshness."
She looked up, worry flickering in her eyes. "Master, the School's atmosphere feels... off lately. Fewer apprentices venture out, and even the bustling Market has grown quiet. I passed the slave merchant guild today—it was completely abandoned. Not even a guard remained."
"Abandoned?" Luo En raised an eyebrow. That was unusual.
The slave merchant guild had long been one of the Black Mist Jungle's busiest hubs, its gates rarely still even during the School's strictest lockdowns.
Now, it had vanished entirely. No coincidence.
"Any other anomalies?" he pressed.
Liliya hesitated. "The Enforcement Teams patrol more frequently, but... it's not like they're searching for something."
She searched for words. "It's more like they're guarding against something. When two squads meet, they verify each other's identities with extreme caution."
"Guarding..." Luo En repeated the word, his unease deepening.
With less than two weeks until the Stellar Ring Convergence, the School's tension had reached a fever pitch.
This deliberate suppression of all external activity felt like a preemptive strike against some looming catastrophe.
"Any reactions from within the School?" he asked calmly.
"Mentors have locked themselves away. Even Mentor Soren, usually so visible, has vanished." Liliya's voice dropped. "And I heard Fuyuanzhang activated additional Protective Formations around the School, even unsealing some alchemy artifacts kept in storage."
Luo En's frown deepened as he pieced together possibilities.
This abnormality had no random cause. Either an external threat loomed, or the School itself teetered on the brink of upheaval. Either way, both scenarios likely tied to the impending Stellar Ring Convergence.
"You've done well", he said, nodding to Liliya—rare praise in his usually terse tone. "For now, limit your outings. If you must leave the Workshop, ensure Ai Lan accompanies you."
Liliya's eyes brightened slightly. Gathering intelligence for Luo En might be the most meaningful contribution she could make within her limited scope.
"Two weeks..." Luo En muttered, his gaze darkening.
The convergence drew closer, and his meditation neared its breaking point.
At this critical juncture, any variable could derail his breakthrough attempt.
"I must accelerate preparations", he resolved, turning toward the laboratory.
The prickle of unseen eyes still clung to him, an invisible thread binding him to some unknown presence.
Back in the lab, he glanced at the overcast sky beyond the window, his brow furrowing.
The sensation remained, but he'd learned to shelve it for now—focusing instead on the task at hand.
"Continue yesterday's experiment", he muttered, pulling out the Record Book and flipping to the latest page.
The pages brimmed with dense notes and symbols, every margin crammed with meticulous observations.
This represented his entire dedication to the "Flowing Barrier"—from its initial conceptualization to his current mastery's edge.
Following Hayaek's teachings, one advanced application of the Flowing Barrier—"structural differentiation"—was an intricate technique.
It required constructing multi-layered defense systems within the barrier, each layer possessing unique functions and traits.
This structure wasn't mere layering—it was an organic synergy, each layer supporting and reinforcing others through specific mana channels.
"Begin with the foundational model." Luo En closed his eyes, entering the spirit world.
Within his consciousness space, a barrier model formed slowly from pure spiritual energy.
The structure initially formed as a simple sphere, but soon began to stratify and differentiate, growing increasingly complex.
The outer layer gleamed with a steel-like luster, symbolizing robust physical defense.
The middle layer shimmered with star-like radiance, representing the mana conversion system.
The innermost layer flowed like water, constantly transforming to adjust the entire structure and redistribute mana.
Each layer connected through hair-thin mana channels, forming an intricate network.
These channels served as bridges for mana and information transfer between layers, while also enabling the Barrier to adapt its defensive strategies against external attacks.
"Theoretical model construction complete. Initiating actual transformation."
Luo En opened his eyes and gently tossed the Chimera medium material before him.
The Chimera medium hovered midair. As Luo En infused it with spiritual energy, it began layering according to the preset model.
But the process proved far more challenging than anticipated.
Mana distribution and flow patterns in each layer required precise calculations. The slightest miscalculation would collapse the entire structure.
The first attempt: the outer layer barely formed before the middle layer collapsed due to uneven mana distribution.
The second attempt: all three layers formed, but the mana channels were too fragile to withstand mana flow.
The third attempt: the structure stabilized for several seconds before disintegrating from imbalanced mana between inner and outer layers.
"Where’s the problem?" Luo En frowned, then closed his eyes again, recalling Hayaek’s demonstration memory.
Through countless spirit replays, he gradually identified his mistake—not the model itself, but the method and sequence of mana input.
Hayaek’s demonstration didn’t construct all three layers simultaneously.
He first solidified the outer layer, then built inward layer by layer, finally establishing the mana channels between layers.
"I see." A spark of realization flashed in Luo En’s eyes as he adjusted his strategy.
This time, he constructed a sturdy outer layer first, allowing it to fully stabilize before building the middle layer.
Each layer reached basic stability before extending inward.
Once all three layers formed, he carefully constructed the mana channels between them, creating a cohesive organic system.
"Success." Luo En murmured, gazing at the three-layered Barrier floating before him.
This Barrier appeared thicker and more complex than the standard version.
Intricate mana patterns flowed across its surface, while internal mana flow pathways formed a sophisticated network, resembling a miniature mana circulation system.
"Testing strength."
Luo En activated the laboratory’s attack simulation device. A barrage of mana projectiles and physical shocks surged toward the Barrier.
This time, the Barrier performed exceptionally.
The outer layer absorbed most physical impacts, the middle layer converted and redistributed mana attacks, while the inner layer continuously adjusted the mana distribution, keeping the Barrier at optimal condition.
"Effectiveness is significant, but mana consumption exceeds expectations", Luo En noted with a furrowed brow.
"Need further optimization of mana flow pathways to reduce unnecessary losses."
He meticulously inspected the mana channels’ distribution and flow patterns, discovering redundancies and cross-interferences causing inefficiencies.
He began redesigning these pathways to allow mana to flow the shortest distance with maximum efficiency.
【Flowing Barrier Experience Points +1】
【Current Progress: Flowing Barrier (Proficient 97/100)】
"The second phase experiment is also nearly complete." Luo En stretched his slightly fatigued body.
"Next is the 'active counterattack' function experiment."
According to Hayaek’s recorded demonstration, the "active counterattack" required constructing specific mana protrusions on the Barrier. These would automatically trigger attacks upon enemy contact.
This phase demanded extra caution, as improper mana control might turn the "attack spikes" against the user.
Luo En carefully set several key nodes on the Barrier’s surface, each connected by delicate mana channels leading to the core control nexus.
This design ensured attacks triggered only when external threats appeared, preventing friendly fire.
After several adjustments, the function matured.
When simulated attacks contacted the Barrier, dozens of sharp mana spikes instantly emerged, piercing the attack sources with precision.
【Flowing Barrier Experience Points +1】
【Current Progress: Flowing Barrier (Proficient 98/100)】
"At this rate, breakthrough to mastery is just a matter of time."
Luo En glanced at the interface prompt, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
...
When the Holy Disk returned to the surface world, he immediately sensed the Apostles’ power waning.
His body rapidly reverted to its original form, mutated parts retracting but retaining traits stronger than before.
"Truly astonishing power."
He murmured, feeling the presence of the "Throne Seed" within.
The seed rested in a special sac inside him, emitting faint but unsettling energy fluctuations.
Each fluctuation tempted him irresistibly, as if he could activate the seed at any moment to gain unimaginable power.
But he refrained. Magus’s warning still echoed in his mind:
"Power is temporary. Even with this power, you’d still struggle against a true Dusk Sun Rank mage."
The Holy Disk surveyed his surroundings, confirming his location.
He stood at the edge of the Black Mist Jungle, about half a day’s journey from the School’s central area.
But he had no intention of venturing directly there.
Even bolstered by the "Throne Seed", he couldn’t guarantee surviving the swarm of Full Mages, especially anomalies like Ai Lun.
"Observe first, identify objectives, then act."
He muttered, crouching to scoop soil from the ground, slowly scattering it before him.
The soil formed a specific pattern in the air, then began glowing, becoming a miniature positioning magic array.
"Luo En Lalf." The Holy Disk whispered the name, dripping a drop of his blood into the array’s center.
The blood spread rapidly, forming a line pointing toward a direction in the School’s central area.
"I found you."
A note of pathological excitement laced the Holy Disk’s voice as his fingers caressed his chest—the Throne Seed’s location.
"Successor of the Throne, let’s see if you’re truly as special as Magus claims."
As he spoke, his body began transforming. His skin turned pale, almost translucent, revealing writhing veins beneath.
His eyes shifted to a peculiar gray, pupils vanishing into vortex-shaped patterns.
His outline blurred, as if ready to dissolve into the surroundings—a special camouflage ability from the Apostle’s blessing.
His form gradually faded, merging completely into the Black Mist Jungle’s shadows.
Only a faint, almost imperceptible laugh lingered in the silent forest.
(End of Chapter)
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