Chapter 57: The Eyes of Shadow

“Level One Wizard Apprentice?” Lin Wei feigned surprise. In truth, he had advanced to Level One Wizard Apprentice even faster than Felin Soya.

Qisen nodded, a hint of envy in his eyes. “No wonder she has a fifth-tier talent. It's only been half a month since she entered the academy, and she's already broken through. I suppose her next step will be to begin practicing wizardry.”

Lin Wei replied offhandedly, “Perhaps she started studying wizardry even before entering the academy?”

Qisen chuckled softly. “How could that be? Wizard meditation techniques are far too precious to be passed around outside the mainland.”

Lin Wei smiled noncommittally and said nothing.

“Oh, by the way, Lin Wei, did you know that in the next few days, the new students from the South and North Coasts will be arriving at the academy?” Qisen seemed to be privy to every bit of gossip.

The Shadow Forest drew students not only from the West Coast, but also the South Coast, North Coast, East Coast, and Central Domain. However, the selection times for the East Coast and Central Domain were offset from the other regions—they started half a year earlier.

Lin Wei nodded politely, uninterested in Qisen's news.

Sensing Lin Wei’s indifference, Qisen’s eyes shifted slightly. “Lin Wei, once we’ve both advanced to Level One Wizard Apprentice, shall we team up and take on a mission?”

In the Shadow Forest, both full-fledged wizards and apprentices could publish tasks through the academy’s task department, offering rewards for their completion. Seles had recruited his laboratory assistant through such a method.

Lin Wei nodded lightly. “We’ll see if the opportunity arises.”

Qisen scratched his head awkwardly. “In that case, I’ll be off.”

Watching Qisen leave in disappointment, Lin Wei’s lips curled with a trace of contempt. “If I hadn’t secured the position of Seles’s laboratory assistant, perhaps I’d be considering tasks to earn magic stones just like him. But wizard tasks are hardly as simple as they seem. Now that I have the chance to be a laboratory assistant, there’s no need to put myself in danger.”

“I’ve been a Level One Wizard Apprentice for half a month now. The second rune fragment is nearly stabilized. Next, it’s time to consider studying wizardry…” Lin Wei thought as he walked, a wry smile appearing on his face. “But practicing wizardry also requires purchases. Magic stones… I really need to find another way to make some money.”

...

Time flew by. A month later.

Shadow Forest, Biel Street.

This was the marketplace for wizard apprentices and full-fledged wizards to trade goods, one of the most important locations in the Shadow Forest.

Lin Wei stepped into a narrow room.

“Looking to buy a wizardry model?” The voice was raspy.

Lin Wei stopped. The speaker was a man in his forties or fifties, with thick hair like a cap and deeply sunken eyes that gave him a sinister appearance.

“Yes, I want to purchase a wizardry model,” Lin Wei replied crisply.

“Level One Wizard Apprentice?” The man scrutinized Lin Wei.

Lin Wei nodded again, then added, “I want a shadow-type wizardry model.”

Just a week ago, Lin Wei had dispelled the shield of Holy Light Shadow that concealed his true strength, openly revealing his Level One Wizard Apprentice status. Seles had been thoroughly astonished yet again.

The man casually grabbed a yellowed ledger and tossed it in front of Lin Wei, seeming utterly unconcerned whether the customer left.

Lin Wei showed no annoyance, gently opening the old book.

A dazzling array of wizardry models met his gaze.

“Touch of Shadow: Condenses shadow elemental particles into a hand, wielding powerful destructive and disruptive effects. Price: 20 magic stones.”

“Shadow Flame: Requires innate fire attribute talent, unleashes corrosive flames. Price: 25 magic stones.”

...

Lin Wei frowned, flipping through the wizardry models page by page.

“Hm?”

Just as he was about to finish the book, one model caught his eye.

“Shadowed Eyes: The power of shadow elements condenses in the pupil in a highly precise and complex arrangement. When making eye contact with an opponent, it disrupts or even damages their brain domain. Requires high-intensity mental power. Price: 35 magic stones.”

“Highly precise, complex arrangement… high-intensity mental power…” Lin Wei’s eyes sparkled with contemplation. “It seems tailor-made for me…”

He was right. The intelligent core allowed him to perform high-precision tasks, and Holy Light Shadow, as a special meditation method, granted him mental strength far above his peers.

“I’ll take this one!”

Lin Wei spread the yellowed book before the man, pointing to Shadowed Eyes.

The man looked at Lin Wei in surprise, a half-smile on his face. “You could choose another wizardry model. The operation of Shadowed Eyes is far more difficult than you imagine.”

Lin Wei shook his head. “This is the one.”

The man didn’t object. He fetched a pale green crystal ball from the cabinet behind him and said, “Thirty-five magic stones.”

...

Lin Wei’s room.

“A wizardry model worth thirty-five magic stones—let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint me,” Lin Wei muttered, feeling the pain of his expenditure.

He had spent all last month’s remainder, this month’s salary, and his talent stipend to purchase Shadowed Eyes, leaving him with only two magic stones.

Staring at the pale green crystal ball, Lin Wei began to channel his mental power.

“External information influx detected. Would you like to organize and summarize?”

The mechanical voice of the intelligent core echoed in Lin Wei’s mind.

“Yes!”

He responded almost reflexively.

“Information input in progress…”

Lin Wei exhaled in relief. When the information from the crystal ball poured in, his head felt as if it would explode. Fortunately, the intelligent core took over, sparing him the torment.

“Input complete. Decoding wizardry model… Estimated time: 19 minutes 27 seconds.”

With the completion announcement, the crystal ball in Lin Wei’s hand instantly shattered. This was a mechanism to prevent buyers from reusing wizardry models—once the information was transferred to the user’s mind, the crystal ball would self-destruct.

“Good, the wait won’t be long.” Expectation shone in Lin Wei’s eyes.

Minute by minute, time passed.

“Decoding complete! ‘Shadowed Eyes’ transmission commencing… Transmission complete!”

Instantly, Lin Wei’s mind was filled with knowledge he had never possessed before.

“No wonder the intelligent core is so formidable—it even prepared the optimal training plan for me. For other wizard apprentices, sorting through this information would take half a month, let alone beginning cultivation.”

A satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Lin Wei’s lips.