CH393 - CH394

CH393

Obtaining a second-level spell is relatively easier, as the Land of Dawn doesn’t strictly regulate this aspect, and it’s often impossible to completely control the flow of such knowledge.

Spells, being a form of knowledge, are relatively easy to disseminate, so strict regulation is often not enforced.

Even if you acquire a second-level spell, you must have the ability to learn it.

However, Rule Keys are unique entities, very scarce and easily controlled.

Even in the Land of Dawn, Rule Keys are extremely valuable and rarely make their way to the Barren Lands.

This is why no second-level wizards have emerged from the Barren Lands over the years.

If they do, it’s only after reaching the Land of Dawn that they become second-level wizards.

Helag thought about it and realized he could obtain a Rule Key through Seranthiel’s channels.

Once his historical contribution points reach 3,000, he can apply for a Rule Key, pending approval.

Helag felt his chances of approval were slim due to his lack of seniority.

However, there was no rush. Checking his communication stone, his current historical contribution points were 1,870, with 1,600 remaining.

He still needed over a thousand points to meet the minimum requirement for a Rule Key application, requiring time to accumulate.

Moreover, Helag couldn’t advance to a second-level wizard immediately; he had just become a crystallized wizard and needed time to accumulate mental power.

He couldn’t rush the process of advancing to a second-level wizard.

During the advancement process, the strength of the mental power crystal is crucial.

If the crystal isn’t strong enough, it might break under the pressure of a second-level spell model.

If the crystal breaks, even if he survives, he can no longer be a wizard.

For someone on the brink of becoming a second-level wizard, becoming an ordinary person is a cruel fate.

Thus, the crystallized wizard stage is vital, and wizards must ensure their mental power crystal is strong enough.

Most crystallized wizards push their mental power to the limit before attempting advancement.

This opportunity comes only once in a lifetime; failure is not an option, as it leads to irreversible consequences.

Therefore, most crystallized wizards approach advancement with great caution.

Helag was no exception; he intended to fully develop his mental power before attempting advancement.

Though slower, it ensured stability.

He desired rapid growth but understood the dangers of haste; recklessness was not an option.

Helag examined his newly formed mental power crystal, knowing it had a long way to go before reaching its limit, so he wasn’t in a hurry.

Helag then considered the second issue: choosing a second-level spell for advancement.

There are many types of second-level spells, with a vast selection.

Helag wasn’t worried about acquiring one; he could exchange for a second-level spell from Seranthiel’s secret vault or purchase one elsewhere in the Land of Dawn.

With enough magic stones, obtaining a second-level spell wasn’t a concern.

Helag needed to decide which type of second-level spell to choose.

Typically, most crystallized wizards choose a spell aligned with their specialization.

Only if their specialization is particularly niche would they choose another type.

Specialized spells indicate a high affinity with that energy type, making it easier to sense corresponding rule power.

However, Helag had no such limitation; he originally specialized in dark energy.

After absorbing the royal elf bloodline, he became a universal specialist, able to quickly learn any spell type.

Helag considered time and space spells as optimal choices.

Few wizards choose these due to their rarity, especially time spells.

Additionally, few specialize in time or space, as these are rare attributes, unlike common ones.

Moreover, time and space spells are complex and difficult to master.

Correspondingly, time and space rules are elusive and hard to grasp.

Most prefer a safer path to becoming a second-level wizard; choosing time or space is risky.

Helag decided against these, acknowledging the high risk.

He could study them after advancing, without complicating advancement.

While pondering, Helag glanced at his spatial ring.

He remembered two stone tablets inside, with the second’s content unreadable with his current mental power, likely a second-level spell.

Helag realized the first tablet contained high-potential spells like Great Dark Heaven, so the second likely held something valuable.

If possible, he might decode the second tablet’s spell, using it for his mental power crystal.

A spell solidified in the crystal is akin to an innate spell, requiring no magic or incantation, essentially an innate ability.

Helag retrieved the large tablet; the room’s high ceiling accommodated it.

He avoided looking at the second tablet’s content, as prolonged exposure could harm his mental power.

“Deep Blue, how long to decode this tablet’s content at 30% daily magic consumption?” Helag asked.

[Analyzing…]

[Estimated 397 days.]

“Over a year…” Helag pondered, then instructed Deep Blue to begin decoding.

This estimate was based on 30% daily magic consumption, but it could be faster.

During idle times, he could increase magic consumption to speed up decoding.

Of course, during busy times, he’d maintain or pause consumption to stay in top condition.

Decoding the tablet wasn’t urgent; it shouldn’t disrupt daily life.

After instructing Deep Blue, Helag stored the tablet, ensuring it remained unseen by others.



CH394


Helag took out his communication stone and sent a message to Pruis: “I’ve advanced to a crystallized wizard.”

He remembered that advancing to a crystallized wizard would likely improve his benefits.

Currently, Helag’s monthly salary was 1,000 magic stones, set when he first arrived in Silvermoon City based on his abilities.

With each advancement, his salary would increase slightly. While it might seem insignificant to Helag, it was better than nothing.

“You’ve advanced to a crystallized wizard??” On the other end, Pruis was shocked by the message.

If he didn’t know Helag well, he might have thought it was a joke.

Pruis knew Helag had been meditating at home for the past two years, not leaving Silvermoon City or taking any missions.

He assumed Helag was taking a few years off after surviving the life-threatening experiences in the polluted zone.

For wizards, three years is a brief period, and taking a break is common.

Pruis hadn’t expected Helag to focus entirely on compressing his mental power and advancing to a crystallized wizard so quickly.

In his view, Helag would need at least 20-30 years to reach this stage, which would already be considered fast.

“Just lucky,” Helag replied.

“…”

Pruis: “You think I haven’t advanced to a crystallized wizard? There’s no luck involved in this.”

Every crystallized wizard painstakingly compresses their liquefied mental power until they succeed.

Helag laughed, “I heard advancing to a crystallized wizard improves benefits?”

“Those benefits aren’t much. A crystallized wizard gets only 1,500 magic stones a month. Instead of focusing on that, think about earning more contribution points to prepare for advancing to a second-level wizard,” Pruis advised.

“That’s stingy, only 500 more magic stones for a crystallized wizard,” Helag commented.

“With so many wizards in Seranthiel, who could afford high basic benefits?” Pruis explained.

As a large wizard organization, Seranthiel had countless wizards.

Helag’s 1,500 magic stones were unconditional, as long as he was alive.

This meant even if he did nothing, he’d still receive 1,500 magic stones monthly, though few wizards would choose to do nothing.

With so many members, the expenses were substantial.

Helag wasn’t concerned about the magic stones; he just wanted to inform Pruis of his advancement.

In an organization like Seranthiel, with so many members, resources were limited and prioritised for the most outstanding members.

If Helag kept quiet, he’d miss out on resources, slowing his advancement.

Resources came in many forms, including opportunities.

Helag replied, “I’m also worried about contribution points. If you have any good leads, don’t forget me.”

“Don’t worry, if there’s a good mission or something, I’ll let you know,” Pruis assured.

Helag’s rapid advancement to a crystallized wizard showed his potential.

For an organization like Seranthiel, the method of improvement wasn’t as important as the final result; excellence garnered more attention.

Helag asked, “How many contribution points are usually needed to exchange for a Rule Key?”

He wanted to know the exact cost; 3,000 points was just the threshold, but the exact exchange rate was unclear.

Pruis replied, “It varies. Different Rule Keys have different prices, and they change over time. You should prepare at least 4,000-5,000 points, and it depends on approval.”

“What’s the approval criteria?” Helag inquired.

“Approval checks if you’re trustworthy, ensuring you’re not an Abyssal cultist or an infiltrator. It also considers your contributions to Seranthiel, which is crucial.”

“Typically, if you’ve made significant contributions, approval isn’t an issue,” Pruis explained.

Helag asked, “What counts as significant contributions?”

“It’s hard to say, no set standard. Usually, it’s doing something important for Seranthiel,” Pruis said.

Helag felt this might be challenging; with his current abilities, he couldn’t accomplish much, being just a first-level crystallized wizard.

“When you have time, come to city hall for registration to update your benefits,” Pruis suggested.

After talking with Pruis, Helag pondered how to earn contribution points.

So far, his points were mostly from dealing with Abyssal cultists; other methods were too slow.

Most Seranthiel members advanced slower than Helag, earning points through routine activities, usually having enough by the time they advanced to second-level wizards.

Helag’s rapid advancement meant his points couldn’t keep up, making them seem scarce.

Helag sighed; it couldn’t be rushed, so he continued meditating.

Abyssal cultists weren’t encountered daily, so urgency was futile.

Helag left his meditation room, finding Reese in the kitchen, wearing an apron and checking a pot of soup.

She learned various cooking skills to prepare meals for Helag.

Reese, a noble from the Terchy family, had never done such tasks before, but learned for Helag.

Helag hugged Reese from behind, softly saying, “I’ve advanced to a crystallized wizard.”

Reese dropped her spoon into the pot, turning in surprise, “You’ve advanced?”

Helag hadn’t shared his progress, so Reese didn’t know when he’d reach this stage.

In Reese’s mind, it would take many years to become a crystallized wizard.

The Terchy family had crystallized wizards, but all were over a hundred, some two or three hundred years old.

Helag, at just 24, was exceptionally young.

A crystallized wizard in their twenties would be extraordinary in the Barren Lands.

In the Land of Dawn, it wasn’t as remarkable, but still marked him as a prodigious talent.

In the Land of Dawn, talented individuals from various wizard organizations, supported from a young age, could advance to crystallized wizards in their twenties or thirties, even becoming second-level wizards.

But they had unique advantages and exceptional talent to achieve such feats.

Helag, from the Barren Lands, achieving this was truly remarkable.