Chapter 236: Pocket House Technique

Chapter 236: Pocket House Technique

Luo En was thoroughly satisfied with their performance. These two capable assistants each had unique strengths, skillfully sharing a significant portion of his workload in both research and daily affairs.

Just as all preparations were complete, a deep, rumbling roar echoed in the distance, like the growl of an ancient behemoth. Luo En raised his head to look. At the far edge of the horizon, the earth suddenly surged upward, and waves of earth-yellow Mana Fluctuation twisted into swirling vortices in the air.

Next, buildings began rising as if lifted by an invisible hand, emerging from the Soil. Their outlines sharpened, while walls and rooftops rapidly took shape.

"That's..." Liliya gasped, her eyes widening in astonishment as she momentarily forgot her inspection task.

"The School's Temporary Relocation Zone." Luo En calmly explained, his eyes flickering with academic curiosity. "Earth mages are using 'Fossil to Mud' and various construction spells to build temporary shelters for evacuees. These spells reorganize the underground mineral and rock structures, creating habitable complexes within moments."

As the Vulture Dragon rapidly approached the Temporary Relocation Zone, Luo En could now clearly observe the miraculous sight of buildings rising from flat ground. With each caster's movement, the ground trembled as beams of earth-yellow light erupted from below.

The Soil and rock flowed and reshaped under mana's guidance, reorganizing into walls, rooftops, and foundations as if alive. Row after row of simple yet structurally solid buildings were rapidly taking form.

Luo En watched intently, his mind already dissecting the construction principles and mana flow trajectories of these spells. This kind of practical knowledge was often more valuable than theoretical teachings, especially for a mage like him who thrived on interdisciplinary applications.

"It might not look refined, but it's more than practical", Luo En mused, both analytically and appreciatively. He admired the School's efficient crisis response capabilities as much as he analyzed the spellwork academically. At this pace, they could complete housing for all evacuees within days. The earth mages' value was most evident in times like these.

Scanning the new structures, his Transcendent Perception ability revealed clear mana flow pathways within the buildings. Though simple and somewhat rough on the surface, the internal structures were clearly meticulously designed. The mana flow patterns showed these buildings weren't just habitable—they bore defensive and structural reinforcement magic arrays capable of repelling common Abyss contamination.

"Luo En!" a familiar voice called from behind, tinged with urgency.

He turned to see Madame Ellen flying toward him on a broomstick, the very image of a classic old witch from fairy tales. But what intrigued him more was the small wooden box floating behind her—about the size of a palm, its surface carved with intricate runes. These runes pulsed with a strange rhythm, their faint glow creating a mesmerizing pattern.

"Madam, what's this?" Luo En asked, his eyes gleaming with academic curiosity as he studied the box.

Madame Ellen's face broke into a rare smile of satisfaction. "I've come to show you something interesting. After all, as your mentor, I should leave you with a memorable parting gift."

This expression was so unusual on Madame Ellen that Luo En's curiosity about the floating box intensified. The old woman usually maintained a composed demeanor, rarely displaying such near-flaunting enthusiasm.

When they reached a clearing near the Temporary Relocation Zone, she gently placed the small box on the ground. From her robes, Madame Ellen withdrew a silver key etched with runes matching those on the box. It shimmered with a faint blue glow in the sunlight.

She inserted the key into an almost imperceptible keyhole on the box's side.

"Watch closely", she whispered, then turned the key.

The box emitted a faint glow as its runes lit up one by one, forming a flowing halo. Suddenly, the box's lid popped open, releasing a dense surge of mana that condensed into a semi-transparent sphere in the air.

This mana felt completely different from ordinary energy fluctuations—denser, older, as if carrying an indescribable weight of time. The sphere rapidly expanded, revealing a fuzzy outline that sharpened into focus—Madame Ellen's familiar Herbal Medicine Shop! Complete down to every brick and timber, identical to the original—the dilapidated porch, the timeworn window frames. Even the strange, nameless plant at its entrance was perfectly replicated.

With a soft "pop", the sphere burst, leaving the Herbal Medicine Shop solidly standing on the ground as if it had always been there. The entire process left no smoke, no mana ripples—silent to the point of disbelief.

"This..." Luo En's eyes widened with rare astonishment, his usual composure momentarily slipping. "Spatial Folding Technique? Some form of Transformation? Or perhaps Dimension Crossing?"

His mind raced through possibilities, trying to analyze what he'd just witnessed. This spell clearly exceeded his current knowledge, touching on deeper spatial principles than he'd ever studied. This very unknown was the perfect catalyst for his insatiable curiosity.

Madame Ellen smiled, her emerald green eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "A bit of both, yet neither entirely. This is the Pocket House Technique—a ancient spatial spell that can shrink and expand buildings while perfectly preserving their internal structures and contents. It's perfect for someone like me who moves frequently but refuses to abandon the comforts of home."

Her voice carried a note of pride, clearly pleased with this spell. "Imagine—no matter where you go, you can always bring your little nest. Isn't that convenient?"

Luo En's eyes sparkled with intense academic interest, barely concealing his admiration. For an exploring mage constantly on the move, this spell was undoubtedly priceless. No more worries about shelter, no need to adapt to new environments when arriving somewhere new. Not to mention the security and privacy of personal belongings—conveniences beyond monetary value.

"Madam, may I study this spell under you?" He finally blurted out, his voice carrying rare eagerness. As he asked, he instinctively reached for his Mana Stone pouch at his waist, preparing to pay the tuition.

In his years as an apprentice, seeking knowledge from Madame Ellen always required payment in Mana Stones—a conditioned reflex now. However, Madame Ellen waved him off, halting his movement.

Luo En felt a flicker of surprise at her gesture. He knew Madame Ellen had always valued knowledge dearly, never offering it freely.

"Put away your Mana Stone. I won't charge you for this."

A playful glint danced in Madame Ellen’s eyes as her lips curved into a faint smile:

"You're a Full Mage now. Our relationship has become much more equal. Besides, this spell itself isn't particularly rare or complex, contrary to what you might imagine."

Luo En raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised. "But its effect seems remarkably practical."

"The difficulty doesn't lie in the spell itself."

Madame Ellen pushed open the door of the Herbal Medicine Shop, gesturing for them to follow:

"It's the construction materials used in the building. That's the real secret."

Stepping inside the Herbal Medicine Shop, a familiar scent of medicinal herbs filled the air, as comforting as ever.

The layout remained exactly as before—every item in its proper place, as if nothing had ever been moved.

"It must be constructed using materials with spatial traits to allow such spatial expansion and folding."

Madame Ellen explained with scholarly precision:

"Ordinary materials would shatter or deform under such manipulation, unable to maintain structural integrity."

Luo En immediately noticed faint glimmers at the corner of his vision, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

Activating his "Transcendent Perception" skill, he saw intricate manapatterns hidden within the shop’s walls and floors, forming a complex stabilizing array.

The patterns were arranged in nearly perfect symmetry—both fixed and flexible, maintaining the building’s structural stability during spatial transformations.

"These materials..." Luo En mused aloud as he touched the wall, sensing subtle energy fluctuations beneath his fingertips.

The sensation was strange, as if the wall simultaneously existed in multiple micro-spaces. Each touch triggered faint spatial resonances.

"Black Sand Essence from the Abyss, Blood Crystal Stone, twisted wood from the fourth layer, and a small amount of Void Iron."

Madame Ellen listed them with the familiarity of an expert:

"Each material possesses certain spatial traits. When specially treated and woven together, they form a structure highly compatible with spatial magic."

Hearing these names, Luo En felt a spark of recognition. He had read about these materials in the Abyssal Life Compendium.

"Black Sand" could spontaneously form micro-wormholes.

"Blood Crystal Stone" could store and release spatial mana.

"Twisted Wood" came from the fourth layer's ecosystem that defied natural laws, with fibrous structures resistant to spatial distortion.

And "Void Iron" was a rare metal capable of maintaining stability across different spatial states.

All of these were precious resources obtainable only through Abyss Exploration, whose risks and challenges were self-evident.

"So to construct such a dwelling, the first requirement is—"

"To conduct an Abyss Exploration."

Madame Ellen finished his sentence, her emerald-green eyes fixing him with a complex gaze that balanced warning and encouragement:

"As you've already realized, this is the true difficulty—and the true value."

Luo En fell into contemplation, sensing the subtle pull of fate. From the destruction of the Bloodline Altar’s seal, to the emergence of the Throne Seed, and now this spatial spell—it all seemed to guide him toward a single direction: Abyss Exploration.

Since arriving in the Central Lands, this had become an unavoidable task. It wasn’t just for materials to build a portable dwelling, but also for Void Iron needed to forge a Vitality-Infused Mana-Forged Sword, along with various other unique Abyss substances.

Yet recklessly plunging into the Abyss was extremely dangerous—especially now that he knew the Supreme Apostle had taken an interest in him.

His mind turned to a more cautious strategy—conducting preliminary exploration through his Puppet Substitute.

Since reaching 50% Charging, he could already control the puppet up to 100 meters away from his body, and that distance was expanding at an astonishing rate—now reaching several kilometers.

This meant he could explore safely from afar, gathering intelligence and resources while minimizing personal risk.

"Perhaps I should first send my Puppet Substitute to explore the shallower regions of the Abyss."

Luo En mentally outlined his plan:

"Once the Puppet’s Charging reaches 100% and I complete the advancement of Glorious Legacy, my maximum control range will significantly increase. That would be the time to attempt deeper exploration."

His thoughts extended further—combining his Puppet Substitute with a Vitality-Infused Mana-Forged Sword.

Using a Demon Hunter Form puppet as a vessel, fusing it with the traits of the Mana-Forged Sword might create an entirely new combat system.

Such a combination could enhance his ability to restrain Abyssal Creatures while safely acquiring more precious resources.

"You seem lost in deep thought. What's on your mind?"

Madame Ellen’s voice interrupted his musings, her emerald eyes gleaming with knowing wisdom.

Luo En offered a small smile, no longer hiding his plans:

"Just considering future Abyss Exploration. Since various high-tier materials can only be obtained there, this path is inevitable. But thorough preparation is essential—it's far more dangerous than the Black Mist Jungle."

Madame Ellen studied him with a meaningful glance, approval mingling with concern in her eyes:

"Caution is good, but don't let excessive caution cause you to miss opportunities. The Abyss is both perilous and full of potential—the key lies in finding the right balance."

She walked to the counter and retrieved a folded piece of parchment from beneath it, its surface glowing faintly.

"This is a simplified map of the first to third layers of the Abyss. Although its structure constantly transforms, certain key areas remain relatively stable.

I drew this during my own exploration years ago—some details may have changed, but the overall framework should still be accurate. It might aid your future explorations."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end