Chapter 56: The Trajectory of the Stars

Shadowwood Library.

In the first-floor hall, the crystal globes on the ceiling emitted a bright yet gentle light. Sparse figures browsed through books, some diligently taking notes.

Lin Wei only glanced around the first-floor hall, pondered for a moment, then headed directly upstairs.

“Now that I’ve become Mentor Selas’s assistant and have a fixed income of magic stones each month, there’s no need to be so frugal…”

Originally, Lin Wei had planned to save his magic stones for emergencies and wait until he received his next month’s benefits before paying to read the higher-tier books. But now, as Selas’s assistant with a new source of income, there was no longer any need for such austerity.

He ascended to the second floor.

The second floor of the library was much smaller than the first, with many seats left empty in the middle for apprentice sorcerers to study or peruse books. Only at the two far ends of the floor were there two separate book repositories.

Lin Wei headed to the right—the “General Knowledge” section.

In Lin Wei’s view, understanding the background and hidden truths of the sorcerer’s world was far more important at the outset than delving into specialized knowledge.

“One magic stone…”

Before him was a thick, imposing tome, encased in a transparent cover and placed on its own pedestal. Paid books were different from the free ones; each had its own display stand.

“Origins of the Southern Coast of the Xingtong Continent?”

He shook his head and turned away. Having grown up on the Western Coast, and now having taken the great ship to the central region of the Xingtong Continent, there was no need to spend a magic stone on the affairs of the Southern Coast.

As Lin Wei walked, he examined the information on each display stand.

“Hm?” His eyes suddenly brightened.

“‘A Catalog of Sorcerous Meditation Methods (Special Edition)’… This could be interesting…” Lin Wei subconsciously thought of his own Sacred Light’s Shadow. “I wonder if my meditation method is mentioned here?”

He glanced at the book’s price, his jaw tightening involuntarily. “Two magic stones for six hours… Even a general knowledge book is this expensive. In the world of sorcerers, knowledge truly is both power and… wealth.”

With a crisp clap, Lin Wei drew two pitch-black magic stones from his belt and pressed them onto the transparent energy cover.

The instant the stones touched the cover, it shimmered and rippled. The stones vanished as if sinking into water, and at the same time, the energy barrier faded away.

If it had been another apprentice, they would have immediately started reading, wasting not a second. But Lin Wei was unconcerned; he possessed the Intelligent Sphere Core, and six hours was more than enough for him.

He first cradled the “Catalog of Sorcerous Meditation Methods (Special Edition)” in his hands, feeling the texture of the paper, before issuing a mental command.

“Sphere Core, record and organize the contents of this book, then transmit them directly into my mind.”

“Recording… Organizing… Beginning transmission… Transmission complete.”

Strands of knowledge, neatly arranged by the Sphere Core, slowly surfaced in Lin Wei’s consciousness.

To an outsider, Lin Wei’s eyes looked somewhat blank, as if he were lost in thought.

“Special sorcerous meditation methods truly are rare…” Lin Wei sifted through the knowledge in his mind. “Hm?!”

A look of genuine surprise flashed across his eyes.

“Stellar Trajectory… One of the three great meditation methods of the Xingtong Continent…” Lin Wei subconsciously muttered, “It was derived from a certain mysterious prophetic meditation method, which could ‘capture fragments of the future world’ through writing…”

Stellar Trajectory?! Sacred Light’s Shadow?!

Lin Wei was almost instantly certain that the “mysterious prophetic meditation method” mentioned was none other than the Sacred Light’s Shadow he now practiced!

“To think that the origins of Sacred Light’s Shadow are so mysterious—even the renowned Stellar Trajectory, one of the three great meditation methods of the Xingtong Continent, was derived from it…” A sense of pressure crept into Lin Wei’s heart. “If Sacred Light’s Shadow is exposed, then for me, there’s only one possible end—death.”

Yet Lin Wei smiled faintly, his expression a touch grim. “If merely capturing written fragments of the future is enough to be called a top-tier sorcerous meditation method, then what is the value of Sacred Light’s Shadow, which can directly capture images? Count Lamo, you truly gave me a priceless gift without realizing it.”

“Perhaps… I’ve found the reason why Felinsoya feels something special toward me…” Lin Wei’s gaze cleared. He closed the book and gently placed it back on its pedestal.

As the book was returned, the luminous energy cover reformed around it, sealing it once more.

Lin Wei’s face stiffened, his brow furrowing. “If my guess is correct, Felinsoya has already practiced Stellar Trajectory… Because Sacred Light’s Shadow is the progenitor of Stellar Trajectory, she feels an instinctive affinity toward me.”

Suddenly, a vague sense of danger welled up within him. A certain possibility flashed through his mind, and a cold gleam appeared in his eyes. “If Felinsoya suspects that the meditation method I possess is the source of Stellar Trajectory, then…”

A faint killing intent emanated from Lin Wei, but it vanished in an instant.

“No, it’s not the time yet.” For a brief moment, Lin Wei truly felt murderous intent toward Felinsoya, but after a split-second’s thought, he regained his composure. “Not yet. Her background is too mysterious—a girl from a mortal kingdom, how could she possibly possess one of the Xingtong Continent’s top meditation methods? Not everyone has had my experiences; the odds are too slim…”

“Besides, for now it seems Felinsoya hasn’t discovered anything or tried to test me. Perhaps I’m still safe.” When it came to matters of life and death, Lin Wei could not afford carelessness. “Still, having a ticking time bomb nearby is hardly reassuring…”

“I need to wait for the right opportunity to deal with this problem once and for all!”

His fists clenched, his eyes steely with resolve.

At that moment, Lin Wei had lost all interest in further reading. Just as he was about to leave, a low voice sounded behind him.

“Lin Wei!”

It was a young man in sorcerer’s robes, of ordinary appearance but exceptionally tall. He covered his mouth, as if aware that speaking loudly in a library was uncivilized.

“Qison?”

Lin Wei recognized the tall youth before him—a fellow student of the same rank, possessing fourth-grade aptitude, and one of the most gifted among the few remaining apprentices.

Qison walked up to Lin Wei, clapped him warmly on the shoulder, and beamed with enthusiasm. “You’re here for the paid books too?”

Lin Wei nodded.

“These books are so expensive—the library’s practically a vampire!” Qison grumbled, then leaned in with a mysterious air. “Lin Wei, did you know? Felinsoya has already broken through to First-Rank Sorcerer Apprentice.”