Chapter 156: Chapter 155: Displaying Talent
「A few days later. Shadow Moon Tower, Outer Tower District.」
The protective Rune on the door of Ian’s small building flashed faintly before returning to normal.
The travel-worn Ian pushed the door open and entered. Gaga flew in at his feet, landing skillfully on a perch in the living room.
He had been away for nearly a month. The house was still tidy, just covered in a thin layer of dust.
Ian placed the Dimension Bag on the table and poured out a few of the materials he had brought back this time, as well as the formula scroll for the [Earth Barbarian Bear Potion].
His gaze swept over the formula, and he recalled the details of his father’s transformation, his expression growing thoughtful.
’The Abyssal Contamination Neutralizer... at its core, it’s also a distortion and harmonization of Rules. But Father’s bloodline transformation was a successful, orderly fusion. The two seem to be opposites, but on the level of Law, perhaps some common ground can be found.’
He walked to the window, gazing at the distant, towering main spire and the faint, busy figures in the gray mist. His thoughts gradually cleared.
His family’s mundane affairs and worries had been temporarily settled. From this moment on, he had to truly plunge into the rules and vortexes of the High Tower.
The Magic Potion Department’s projects, the probing from all sides, the hidden factions...
And the long, real path of a Wizard—it was all waiting for him.
On his shoulder, Gaga preened its feathers, its eyes flashing with anticipation for the "High Tower life" to come.
...
In the Laboratory, Ian secretly activated his [Spirit Devourer] trait to conduct a deep analysis of the contaminated sample.
When he discovered that the chaotic and sparse Rule Fragments within the sample bore a subtle similarity to the Abyssal Law Crystal he possessed, his heart leaped.
’If I can use the crystal as a reference template, my research efficiency will increase dramatically.’
But he was also well aware that in a place with eyes everywhere, revealing his trump card was tantamount to asking for trouble.
Therefore, he only used the panel to repeatedly compare the analysis information with experimental data, slowly exploring and deducing possible Purification paths in his own spiritual world, invisible to others.
A week later, the atmosphere at the project team’s regular meeting was exceptionally tense.
Herman had a solemn expression as he displayed the latest data from their failed experiments.
"Attempt number three hundred and twenty-seven. The Neutralizer’s inhibition rate against the Level Three Contamination sample increased by only 0.3%. The effect is negligible.
At this rate, the project may not be completed before the deadline."
The few Level One Wizards looked at each other, the mood heavy.
Just then, Ian raised his hand. "Witch Herman, I have some ideas."
All eyes focused on him.
Herman frowned. "Speak."
"I’ve analyzed the data from the last hundred experiments. The key to our failure is... we have never managed to touch the ’contract nodes’ of the contamination’s Rule."
Ian walked to the demonstration board and used his Spiritual Power to sketch several intersecting curves.
"Abyssal Contamination doesn’t spread randomly. It permeates along specific Rule veins.
If we can locate the key nodes of these veins and inject Order Contract Energy in a targeted manner, we might be able to achieve localized neutralization, then gradually expand from there."
He displayed a few data models he had deduced. Although they were rough, their logic was clear.
Herman stared at the board, his eyes gradually lighting up.
"Rule veins... contract nodes... Interesting. How did you think of this?"
"During the Demon Hunting war, I observed the Rule distortion of an Earth Hernia up close and gained some insights," Ian said calmly.
"Excellent!" Herman rarely smiled, but one appeared now.
"This line of thinking is worth a try. Wizard Marcus, you will lead a small group to specifically research methods for locating these Rule veins. If you need any resources, apply directly to me."
"Yes."
After the meeting, a few Level One Wizards gathered around him.
"Ian, that’s amazing! You’ve only been here a week and you’ve already caught Mentor Herman’s eye."
"Where’d you read that theory of yours? I don’t remember it from any book."
Ian responded humbly, but he knew in his heart... ’This is just the beginning.’
Just as Ian was gradually integrating into the Magic Potion Department, the probing from the shadows began silently.
That afternoon, just as he was leaving the Laboratory, a Wizard in a grey robe blocked his path.
The man wore a Shadow Element insignia on his chest. His aura was cold and sinister, and he was a Level One Middle Stage Wizard.
"Wizard Marcus?" the Grey-robed Wizard’s voice was hoarse.
"That’s me. What is it?"
"Our dean, Lord Julian, wishes to see you," the Grey-robed Wizard said, his face expressionless.
"It’s about some details concerning your promotion that need to be verified."
Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Now?"
"Now."
"I’m very busy. I don’t have time."
Ian didn’t even break his stride, walking straight past the Grey-robed Wizard. His tone was as flat as if he were commenting on the weather.
The Grey-robed Wizard was stunned, clearly not expecting such a blunt refusal.
His figure flickered, and he once again blocked Ian’s path, his voice tinged with a cold chill.
"Wizard Marcus, this is a summons from Julian Wizard. The details of your promotion need to be verified. It’s a rule of the High Tower."
Ian finally stopped. From beneath his hood, his calm eyes swept over the man’s Shadow Element insignia and the aura that marked him as a Level One Middle Stage Wizard.
"Rules?" His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.
"My promotion has already been registered with the Deacon Council. My recommender is Alevia Wizard.
If Julian Wizard has questions, please have him submit them through official channels to the Deacon Council or my recommender.
A private summons... is not according to the rules."
He was now a Level One Wizard, tenth on the East’s Merit Points list from the Demon Hunting war, and had single-handedly slain a peak Liquidation Wizard.
Furthermore, he was backed by Vice-Dean Alevia.
Facing a Level Two Wizard who had no direct authority over him,
He neither needed to, nor was he willing to, swallow his anger and be pushed around as he had during his time as an Apprentice.
The Grey-robed Wizard’s face darkened, and the air around them seemed to grow colder.
"Are you refusing an inquiry from a Crystalized Wizard?"
"No." Ian lifted his chin slightly, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
"I am refusing a private contact that is against procedure and possibly malicious.
If Julian Wizard truly has business with me, I will await his formal inquiry at the Magic Potion Department Laboratory."
After speaking, he paid no more mind to the man’s ugly expression.
A faint glimmer of Crystal Cones swirled around his body, and a solid, baleful aura—forged in life-and-death battles and from slaying powerful enemies—was faintly released.
He walked around the Grey-robed Wizard, his steps steady, and headed toward the Magic Potion Department’s area.
The Grey-robed Wizard stood in place, his expression flickering with uncertainty as he watched Ian leave.
He had indeed only been ordered to "invite" the man and was not authorized to use force.
What’s more, the man’s attitude and the power he subtly revealed...
...made him realize that this New Wizard was no pushover.
"...I have to report back to Lord Julian."
He muttered to himself, and his figure slowly melted into the shadows in the corner, disappearing from sight.
As Ian walked back to the Laboratory, he sneered inwardly.
’Julian... Is this factional strife? And they’re starting with me?’
Using such petty tricks to probe me... It seems they just want to harass me and test my attitude and bottom line.
He touched the Magic Potion Department insignia on his chest, his eyes cold.
’Still, it’s annoying to be constantly watched by flies...’
