Chapter 318: Cultivation
Chapter 318: Cultivation
Linen had no intention of altering his meditation technique.
Firstly, the Viper Academy's meditation method was more than sufficient for his current apprentice-level abilities.
Secondly, modifying the technique would cause unusual mental fluctuations, potentially arousing suspicion from others.
Even without alterations, Linen's exceptional comprehension skills allowed him to rapidly advance his cultivation in a short time.
"As expected..."
"The owner of this physical body not only has mediocre talents but also lacks intelligence, making him utterly unremarkable on the path of wizardry."
After attempting the meditation technique and comparing it to his memories, Linen couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.
It was full of errors and inconsistencies!
His past cultivation practices could no longer be described as mere memorization; it was as if he had been carved from the same mold.
However, while the meditation technique remained the same, the person was different.
The mentor who taught this technique only shared his personal experiences without instructing apprentices on how to correct their practice.
Perhaps...
That was part of the paid curriculum.
Linen recalled that during his time at the academy, some apprentices would use their family's magic stones to request extra lessons from mentors. Many of these students passed the academy's exams, indicating that the mentors were willing to teach but only to those who could afford it.
"No wonder his cultivation is so low; he's inflexible, rigid, and unable to adapt," Linen sighed helplessly.
Did those without talent have any hope of mastering wizardry?
With resources and connections, even the talentless could succeed, as many lacked the opportunity to cultivate.
Without these advantages...
Linen could only conclude that he was unsuitable, just like the original owner of this body.
"Let me be the one to change your destiny!"
With this thought, he focused his mind, and the meditation technique rapidly spun in his mind, gradually adjusting to the state of his physical body.
His mental energy, which had long stagnated, began to increase at a visible rate.
Despite the impressive progress, Linen remained unimpressed.
To illustrate with numbers, increasing from 0.1 to 0.2 was a mere doubling, but what did that truly mean?
In front of a genuine wizard, it was still a trivial matter to be crushed.
"I need to master a powerful spell or two."
Recalling the dangers faced by his original self and the various scenes from his memories, a sense of urgency rose within him:
"After so many years, I've finally obtained a body that can stay on the Calim Continent. I must not ruin this opportunity."
"Wizardry..."
Searching through his memories, he finally settled on a spell taught at the academy, a touch spell that required physical contact to cast.
Zero-Level Spell: Boiling Blood!
This spell caused the target's blood to rapidly boil, inflicting pain and hallucinations.
The most terrifying aspect was that those who died from this spell would have their blood boil, turning them into a scorching liquid.
Its strength lay in its devastating power, capable of affecting even Great Knights and Legendary Knights.
However, its weaknesses were equally apparent: slow casting, inability to interrupt, complex spell model, and the necessity of close proximity.
"How foolish!"
Linen shook his head gently:
"This spell requires close proximity and has a slow casting time, which is why few apprentice wizards choose to cultivate it."
"But they don't realize that the creator of this spell didn't intend it for others; it was meant for personal use."
Boiling Blood was similar to a knight's battle aura, capable of temporarily enhancing one's physical strength.
Aside from some slight exhaustion after casting, there were almost no side effects.
A technique that could double one's strength would be considered a divine skill among knights' battle auras, especially since it was just a Zero-Level Spell with minimal mental energy consumption.
The reason he believed a knight created this spell was that he himself was a knight, and not just any knight but a Fourth Circle Ancient Knight!
...
Half a month later...
Linen stood before a full-length mirror, examining the reflection of the young man within.
His silky golden hair resembled the finest silk, and his chiseled features seemed carved by a master craftsman. Standing at one meter and eighty-five centimeters, his slender build was graceful, and his natural good looks could fetch thirty magic stones.
This wasn't his own judgment, but the price set by a madam from the red-light district of Vire Town. As long as Linen was willing to sign a bondage contract, she would pay immediately.
Some customers had a strong aversion to bodies modified by bloodline witchcraft and were willing to pay extra for natural ones.
"Heh..."
Linen gently touched his flawless face and chuckled, pushing open the shabby wooden door and stepping out.
His residence was located on the outskirts of the town, not quite in the slums, but the environment wasn't very welcoming.
It had just rained, and the ground was muddy with clear wheel tracks. He had to walk carefully along the wall.
As he reached the central area of the town, the environment changed drastically.
The marble-paved ground looked natural, the streets were spotless, and the street vendors bustled.
Linen subconsciously looked up.
The Wizard Tower! Three wizard towers hovered silently in the sky above the town, and a faint aura of might permeated the air.
If it weren't for Linen's unique soul, he wouldn't have noticed the strangeness in the air.
"Little Linen!"
The owner of the apothecary shop, still charming, winked at Linen and said with a smile, "You haven't come by in a while."
"I've had some issues recently and have been recuperating," Linen smiled, not lowering his guard due to her attitude.
In his memory, this owner had rejected his potions several times and wouldn't make an exception just because he looked good.
"During my free time, I've been studying potion-making and recently crafted this Tranquil Potion."
"Oh!"
The owner straightened up, revealing her graceful figure, and casually took the potion, her eyes lighting up slightly.
"Tsk tsk..."
"Qualified!"
"It seems you have a talent for making potions, Linen. It's much better than your witchcraft training."
She put down the potion and took out a few scattered magic stone fragments from the drawer.
"Five magic stone fragments."
"No need for money," Linen shook his head lightly.
"I want to exchange them for materials to refine the Tranquil Potion. Aunt Mandy, can you give me a discount?"
"Um..." Aunt Mandy pursed her lips.
"An aunt can't give discounts, but a sister can."
"Sister Mandy."
"Hehe..." Aunt Mandy smiled.
"Twenty percent off. This is a discount for loyal customers, and I'm giving it to you because you're such a good listener, Linen."
Of course.
The materials weren't very valuable, so a discount wouldn't hurt.
After thanking her, Karl packed up the materials and left the shop, also buying some food with the remaining money he had.
...
In a nearby tavern on the second floor, Jeff, a bearded intermediate wizard apprentice, put down his drinking bowl and looked around for his companions.
"Call those two dogs over."
"Yes."
Soon, the timid Green Pups came up to the second floor and bowed to Jeff.
"Master, you called for us."
"Hmm."
Jeff's eyebrows furrowed.
"I paid the money. Why aren't they dead?"
"?" The Greenhound Elder blinked, looking confused.
"Master, what do you mean?"
"Slap!"
As soon as he finished speaking, two venomous snakes emerged from under their feet and whipped the faces of the Green Pups with their tails like whips.
The force was so great that it tore their skin, and they fell to the ground, screaming and wailing.
"Shut up!"
Jeff's face turned gloomy.
"Linen!"
"Why is that little apprentice still alive?"
"Linen?" The elder covered his face with one hand, blood seeping through his fingers as he struggled and cried out,
"Impossible. We killed him."
"Did you see him die with your own eyes?" Jeff stared at them.
The two hesitated.
"The dagger pierced his heart. Although he was still breathing when we left, it's impossible for him to survive," the younger one cried out.
"Master!"
"We wouldn't dare lie."
"Heh..." Jeff coldly said,
"You didn't lie, but did my eyes deceive me?"
(End of Chapter)
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