Chapter 68: Second-Level Wizard Apprentice

Just as everyone’s attention remained fixed on Finiel, Lin Wei had already left the dining hall. No one noticed the faint trace of mockery on his face.

“With this, I should have left a deep impression on Lilithin…” Lin Wei smiled softly. “And, an elder’s descendant who delivered himself right to my door—what an unexpected surprise…”

Although Lin Wei approached Lilithin for the bloodline of the elder’s descendants, he still chose the most reliable method so as not to arouse suspicion. During his confrontation with Finiel today, Lin Wei not only used the Eye of Shadow, but also knocked down Finiel’s follower with a single blow. Everything he did was not some petty jealousy between youths, but was meant to make a profound impact on Lilithin’s mind.

As for Finiel, he was a completely unexpected gain. When Lin Wei first planned to approach the elders’ descendants, he had weighed his options with utmost care—he had to get close to them in a way that would not attract attention, and he would only approach one; otherwise, if someone connected the dots and discovered his intentions, he would be in enormous trouble.

Previously, Lin Wei had worried that having only Lilithin’s bloodline would be insufficient to unravel and purify its mysteries, but now Finiel had presented himself. Lin Wei didn’t care whether his relationship with them was hostile or friendly. As long as he could make contact and establish a connection, obtaining their blood would become much easier.

Lin Wei glanced into the distance.

The fragments of sunlight filtering through the dense branches had grown dim.

“It’s getting late…” Lin Wei mused. “I’d better return to my room. Tonight, it’s necessary to attempt a breakthrough to a level-two wizard apprentice…”

…

Inside Lin Wei’s room.

“Core, shut down the five senses.”

Lin Wei’s consciousness slowly sank into a pitch-black space.

“Third rune fragment, begin meditation.”

Deep within his consciousness, two complete rune fragments lay quietly to one side, while on the other, an illusory fragment began to condense, shimmering with light.

“Condensing the third rune fragment, the bridge between a level-one and level-two wizard apprentice, is so much more difficult than the previous two…”

Lin Wei had already tried many times before. Even with the help of the intelligent core, he’d not succeeded. There were other factors at play, too; during this period of study, Lin Wei had focused more on practicing the Eye of Shadow and the study of biological mutation, relaxing his efforts on developing his mental power.

“Core, replay the dynamic image of the perfect condensation of the third rune fragment once more.”

Lin Wei issued the command in his mind.

A pale blue screen appeared in the sea of his consciousness.

As he studied the display, Lin Wei simultaneously constructed the third rune fragment.

“Perhaps this time I’ll succeed…” Lin Wei thought to himself.

The third rune fragment flickered with starlike points of light; its overall structure grew more stable.

“It’s done!”

A wave of delight surged through Lin Wei.

The third rune fragment quietly appeared within his consciousness. He could clearly feel the resumption of his mental growth.

“Core, restore the five senses!”

Lin Wei’s heart was a little impatient.

In a daze, he sensed his thoughts becoming even clearer.

“Core, bring up my physical stats!”

[Lin Wei, Nolan Mountains; Strength: 16.5; Agility: 16.7; Constitution: 16.4; Mental power: 4.1; Skills: Fencing; Hammer Technique; Wizard Meditation: Shadow of Holy Light; Sorcery: Eye of Shadow]

“My mental power increased by 0.2… The first meditation on the third rune fragment shows an obvious effect.” Lin Wei smiled in satisfaction. “As for the other physical attributes… aside from a 0.1 increase in constitution, there’s been no change. It seems that after reaching the human limit, even wizard meditation can hardly further enhance the body.”

“But it doesn’t matter. As long as my wizard power increases, that’s enough. The gap between the body and the extraordinary is truly vast…”

Lin Wei could distinctly sense that as his mental power grew, so too did his reserve and the quality of his witch power.

“With this, using the Eye of Shadow again will be deadlier than ever. So-called great knights who have developed their body to the utmost are no match for me.”

Even someone like Lin Wei, who had developed his physical attributes to the peak and advanced as a great knight, could only match the combat power of a level-one wizard apprentice.

Now, as he advanced to level-two, Lin Wei’s understanding of his own strength deepened even further.

“What of third-tier talent?” A steely glint flashed in Lin Wei’s eyes. “Even Felincia, with fifth-tier talent, probably can’t match my training speed… The intelligent core truly is my greatest asset.”

He paused, frowning slightly.

“However, my advancement must not be made public. If it’s known that a third-tier talent surpasses a fifth-tier in training speed, unnecessary trouble will follow.” Lin Wei calculated carefully. “Fortunately, with the Shadow of Holy Light, the super-meditation method that can foresee the future also carries the effect of blocking others’ divination and detection. Otherwise, even my previous advancement to level-one apprentice would have been impossible to hide.”

“But the degree of concealment is probably limited. I might be able to hide it from an ordinary official wizard like Seres, but if it’s Gres or an elder of the academy, it would fail…” Lin Wei analyzed his situation with caution. “I must continue to act carefully and avoid these dangerous figures as much as possible.”

Lin Wei shook his head and rose, stretching his body.

“The next step is to strengthen my bond with Lilithin…”

…

The next day.

Lin Wei walked along the path to Seres’ laboratory.

During his time as Seres’ assistant, Lin Wei had learned many things with the help of the intelligent core, and his displayed talent had earned him Seres’ wholehearted approval. Now Seres treated Lin Wei as the most responsible kind of teacher, eager to impart all his knowledge, in total disregard of the wizard’s usual principle of equal exchange.

Yet all this would come to nothing; Lin Wei was destined to defect to Fangs of the Blood Shadow.

“Lin Wei.”

A familiar voice called from behind.

It belonged to a man with long, ink-black hair, his face furrowed like ravines.

He was the very wizard who had brought Lin Wei and the others to the academy—the one in charge of the Shadow Forest, Lorna.

“Mentor Lorna.” Lin Wei greeted him gently.

Lorna walked up, patted Lin Wei’s shoulder, and smiled with a hint of meaning. “Very good, Lin Wei. Among all the new students from the western coast, you and Felincia have pleased me most.”

Just as Lin Wei was about to offer a polite reply, Lorna quietly said something that made Lin Wei’s pupils contract in an instant!