Wizard: Starting with Dealing with Magical Plants

Chapter 36 Concentrating on Crystal Mine Seeds, Crystal Cluster Mountain Demon

Having clarified what he needed for the future, Luo Lin's pace of life quickened again, and his goals became more focused.

He was no longer satisfied with routine patrols and resource collection, and began to actively seek opportunities for breakthroughs.

Rowling first turned his attention to the interior of the outpost.

Using his accumulated contribution points and reputation, he frequently visited the logistics department and mission hall, carefully reviewing those dusty mission files involving exploration of high-risk areas or collection of rare materials.

He pays particular attention to information related to keywords such as "concentration crystal" and "elemental essence," and he doesn't overlook even the slightest clue.

Meanwhile, through Captain Holm and other familiar patrol members, Rolin inquired about the experiences of his colleagues who had made discoveries or encountered special events deep in the Black Forest.

When pieced together, these fragmented pieces of information can often outline the general situation of certain dangerous areas.

Bach became his most important assistant.

Baha's three pairs of eyes played a crucial role when undertaking reconnaissance or exploration missions.

The Obsidian Eye can detect areas of abnormal energy in advance, the Dark Silver Eye can see through some simple environmental camouflage and trap cards, and the Dark Gold Eye's warnings of danger have repeatedly helped their team avoid powerful monsters lurking in the shadows.

Rowling and Baha's teamwork became increasingly seamless; often, a single glance or a subtle mental fluctuation was enough for them to understand each other's intentions.

During a quest to explore an abandoned crypt that supposedly bore traces of ancient wizarding activity, Bahamut's Dark Silver Eye discovered a side chamber concealed by illusions.

There was no direct transmission of magic spells, but some incomplete experimental notes were found.

The notes, written in ancient grammar, describe a material called luminous dust, which is said to have the property of stabilizing mental frequencies.

A thought struck Luo Lin, and he linked this message with the spatial dust.

Although glimmer dust sounds like a low-grade substance, the underlying principles may be the same, providing him with a reference for understanding the properties of materials for innate spells.

In addition to using outpost channels, Rowling also began to cautiously access more covert information networks.

Through a special contact method left by Mason, he spent a considerable amount of contribution points to purchase several pieces of information about the approximate locations and entry conditions of several known black market strongholds within the Black Forest.

These strongholds are usually controlled by powerful wandering wizards or complex organizations. They are highly mobile and dangerous, but occasionally they do manage to sift out good stuff that is hard to find outside.

Rowling also made a special trip to visit the senior apprentice named Old Jack.

With no hope of promotion, Old Jack's mindset became much more peaceful.

Instead of directly asking how to obtain the meditation method, Rowling discussed with him the properties of various materials and their possible production locations, and exchanged his own potions and a small amount of contribution points for Old Jack's years of accumulated experience and knowledge.

From Old Jack, Rowling learned that Soulflame Flowers typically grow in peculiar regions where negative energy and life energy intertwine.

Pure elemental essences can only be formed in extreme environments where elements are either extremely active or extremely stable.

While this information couldn't directly solve the problem, it gave Rowling a more concrete understanding of the characteristics of the required resources and the possible environments in which they might exist, thus avoiding a blind search.

In terms of self-cultivation, with the support of the perfect-level meditation method, Luo Lin continuously purified his mental power, which had reached its limit.

He could sense that although the total amount of his mental energy could not be increased, its density and activity seemed to be slowly improving, making it run more smoothly.

Rowling devoted more of his energy to in-depth research into ancient scrolls and existing spells.

The ancient scroll about improving rock-like skin gave him new inspiration.

He was no longer content with simply optimizing the [Weak Force Field Armor], and began to try to combine that concept of emphasizing structural stability with Professor Stone's microscopic particle manipulation to explore the possibility of building more efficient protection.

This process was full of failures, but each attempt deepened his understanding of the energy structure.

He also had some initial ideas about his future innate magical abilities.

Based on his profound understanding of acid-corrosion spells and feedback from Bahamut's Dark Insight attribute, he tends to choose a spell that combines corrosion, penetration, and perhaps even a slight interference effect.

Rowling began to consciously collect material information related to these properties and, using Bahamut's abilities, attempted to analyze the energy characteristics contained within different materials in preparation for the future production of primordial ink and the search for the heart of the elements.

However, opportunities are often accompanied by risks.

During a reconnaissance mission, based on a clue provided by Old Jack, to a remote valley suspected of containing a vein of Concentrating Crystals, Rowling's team encountered an unprecedented crisis.

A strange mist that could slowly erode mental power permeated the valley, and Baha's Dark Gold Eye issued a continuous and strong warning.

They had just discovered several seemingly high-quality exposed crystal seedlings when they were surrounded by a group of crystal cluster mandrills that had undergone violent mutations due to long-term erosion by the valley environment.

These mandrills are not only incredibly strong, but their skin is also covered with hard energy crystals that make them highly resistant to magic. What's more troublesome is that they seem to be able to teleport short distances through the mist in the valley.

They were put on the defensive from the very beginning of the battle.

The squad's formation was instantly broken, and Captain Holm was entangled by two mandrills, facing imminent danger.

Another team member's shield was torn apart by the mandrill's crystal claws, and he was seriously injured.

Luo Lin made a decision instantly.

He ordered Baha to take to the air, using his line of sight to direct the scattered team members to move toward him.

At the same time, the Corruption Orb didn't hesitate to target the strongest of the two mandrills besieging Holm.

boom!!!

The dark green energy ball exploded in the mandrill's chest, and the highly corrosive energy instantly melted away a large portion of its crystal armor, revealing the charred flesh beneath.

The mandrill let out a painful howl and froze.

Holm seized the opportunity, roaring as he broke free from the other mandrill's grasp and rejoined Rolin.

"This can't go on!"

"There are too many of them, and this ghostly mist is draining our mental energy!"

Holm gasped for breath, his stone shield already riddled with cracks.

Luo Lin's gaze swept over more and more of his surroundings, his crimson eyes appearing and disappearing in the mist, and then he looked at the few Concentration Crystal seedlings on the ground that emitted a faint blue light, his mind racing.

"Captain, cover me for ten breaths! I have a plan, but it takes time!"

"Roland said quickly, and at the same time began to mobilize all his magical power, and his mental power began to operate at an unprecedented speed."

Holm, seeing the resolute glint in Rolin's eyes, gritted his teeth:

"Okay, I'll trust you this once!"

He roared, and his body shone with a bright earthy yellow light. He slammed the stone shield into the ground, forming a temporary barrier that temporarily blocked the mountain demon's attack.

Luo Lin closed his eyes, pushing the perfect meditation technique to its limit, and his mental sea seemed to boil.

Instead of constructing any known spell models, he attempted to forcibly combine some characteristics of the [Corrosion Orb] with the energy channeling method of [Gentle Breeze Cleansing], based on his research on the energy structure of ancient scrolls and his own understanding of acid properties.

Lorin wants to create a temporary, large-scale acidic energy interference field!

This is an extremely risky move, forcibly fusing two different types of spell models. A slight misstep could lead to an energy backlash.

But at this moment, there is no other choice.

He pressed his hands lightly against the ground, and his immense magical power, mixed with highly concentrated spiritual power, surged into the ground like a flood breaking through a dam, and rapidly spread outwards along a specific frequency.

In an instant, the ground within a radius of tens of meters centered on Luo Lin trembled slightly, and the eerie mist in the air seemed to be stirred by an invisible force, turning into a faint, ominous dark green.

A powerful energy field, carrying a corrosive and chaotic quality, suddenly formed.

The crystal cluster mandrills within the area immediately let out chaotic roars. The light from the energy crystal clusters on their bodies became flickering and unstable, their ability to move was severely hampered, and their movements became sluggish.

This temporary acidic interference field, while lacking any direct offensive power, greatly weakened the mandrills' advantage.

"Now's the time! Break through!"

"I can't breathe!" Roland cried out, his face pale. This had almost drained all his magic power and most of his mental energy.

Holm and the other team members were greatly encouraged. They seized the opportunity when the mandrill was in disarray, concentrated their strength and charged in one direction, finally tearing open a gap!