Chapter 28: Combinations of Scriptures · Part 1
After reporting to his mentor, Xia Zuo returned to the grand hall of the castle. A reddish-brown copper pendant hung from his chest—a pass for the post-natal affinity students within the castle, crafted by the professors of Artificer Arts.
The castle hall appeared to be nothing more than stone pillars and beams of light. However, due to their low spiritual affinity, they couldn't perceive the elemental glow, lacking guiding flashes to direct their paths.
The three new students of Poisonous Alchemy received special care; temporary wooden signs indicating their locations were hung on the walls of the hall.
They found the wall leading to the dormitories, pressed their hands against it, and the copper pendant trembled slightly. The wall shifted aside, revealing ascending steps.
The castle boasted numerous rooms, each freshman having their individual single-room dormitories with attached bathrooms.
Xia Zuo's dormitory was labeled ESP03003—Eastern sector, southern side, Poisonous Alchemy department, 3rd floor, Room 003.
The room was minimally furnished, dominated by white and natural wood tones—beds with canopies, a somewhat empty wardrobe, and bookshelves.
Facing the door were a study table and louvered windows. On the bedside table lay three sets of school uniforms and a copy of "Castle Regulations."
After a shower in the bathroom and donning the standard Nightstar robe, Xia Zuo sat at the bedside flipping through "Castle Regulations," authored by Administrator Dim.
Apart from common rules like no loud disturbances, fighting, or carrying weapons into the castle, Dim emphasized his elemental servants spread throughout the castle, except within the dormitories—a space left private for the students.
For now, let's trust Dim's words.
Lying on the soft mattress, Xia Zuo first enjoyed the sunlight and swaying branches outside the louvered window before delving into his thoughts.
After reporting to Mentor Kurov, a wealth of information poured in through the guidance system; it was the perfect time to review it.
"Host's identity has changed, character template updated."
【Personal Template】
【Name】 Xia Zuo
【Gender】 Male
【Age】 15 years and 11 months
【Identity 1】 Fire Breather → Mage
【【Identity Level】 Mage Servant
1. No additional experience bonus for Fire Breather identity actions.
2. 95% decrease in experience for civilian identity actions.
3. Unlocked new identity bonus effect: "Combinations of Scriptures."
【【Promotion Conditions】
1. Raise resistance in all four elements to 5%.
Or, complete the four branches of alchemy exams at the academy.
2. Obtain entry-level meditation technique from mentor and successfully meditate once.
3. Absorb an element using meditation.
Upon meeting all conditions, you will be promoted to Apprentice Mage.
【【Identity Bonus】
【Combinations of Scriptures】
Upon discovering a scripture, related "Combinations of Scriptures" will unlock.
Remembering all scriptures in the same combination earns an additional experience reward.
【Identity 2】 Poisonous Alchemist
【【Identity Level】 Apprentice Level
Drinking homemade poison grants an additional 10% to 50% experience boost.
【【Promotion Conditions】
Pass Mentor Kurov's poison-making trial to become an entry-level Poisonous Alchemist.
【【Identity Bonus】
Drinking homemade poison elevates corresponding elemental resistances and grants a trace of will attribute.
【Hometown】 Rosak
【Level】 LV.9
【Experience】 230/1000
【Health】 45/45 (Healthy)
【【Base Healing Rate】
0.1 points/minute (6 points/hour)
【Resistances】
【【Fire Resistance】2%
【Strength】3
【Agility】2
【Endurance】3
【Vitality】14
【Perception】4
【Willpower】3
【Spirit】2.8
【Charisma】4
【Free Attribute Points】0
【Character Talents】:
【Undying Body】, 【Emergency Measures】, 【Fire Resistance·Level 4】, 【Fire Breathing Mastery·Expert】
【Character Skills】:
【Discernment】, 【Nightstar Kingdom Greetings Etiquette】
【Knowledge Repository】:
Several books, knowledge on alchemy, and information recorded through discernment.
Xia Zuo was intrigued by the "Combinations of Scriptures." Any boost in experience acquisition efficiency had to be given the utmost priority.
He opened his mind and accessed the "Knowledge Repository," finding "Alchemy Linguistics."
Among all encountered books, this one yielded the most experience.
【Scripture Name】 Alchemy Linguistics
【Scripture Grade】 Monumental Heritage
【Memory Reward】 30 experience points, 0.5 willpower attribute points
【Combination 1】
Continental Linguistics, 2/?? (Memorized "Alchemy Linguistics" and Universal Language).
Upon fully memorizing this combination, the experience reward remains unknown.
【Combination 2】
Alchemy Linguistics · Nightstar School, 1/5.
Upon fully memorizing this combination, earn 15 experience points.
【Combination 3】
Alchemy Linguistics · Demon-Hunting School, 1/??.
Experience reward unknown.
【Combination 4】
Mages' Mandatory Scriptures, 2/3
(Memorized "Alchemy Linguistics" and "Introduction to Meditation")
Reward: 6 experience points.
【Combination 5】
Basic Poisonous Alchemy Course Material, 2/7
(Memorized "Alchemy Linguistics" and "Isolation of Toxins")
Reward: 22 experience points.
【Combination 6】
Basic Potion Alchemy Course Material, 1/5
Reward: 15 experience points.
【Combination 7】
Alchemy General Knowledge Course Material, 2/25
(Memorized "Alchemy Linguistics" and "Isolation of Toxins")
Reward: 80 experience points.
Xia Zuo gazed blankly at the ceiling, mentally organizing all the known "Combinations of Scriptures."
Understanding how Mage Servants gained experience, he refocused on his mental attribute.
Currently at 2.8 points of spirit, he needed 6.2 more to reach the minimum threshold of 9 points to perceive elemental glows. Since his encounter with elemental affinity detection and arrival at the castle, he'd spent over 450 hours incessantly reading scriptures, boosting his spirit by 1.3 points.
To bridge the 6.2-point gap would require at least 2000 more hours of reading.
When Kurov handed the copper pendants to the new students, he also provided the schedule for the upcoming year.
From 7 AM to 9 AM daily was Professor Jade's Alchemy Linguistics class. Followed by Alchemical Studies from 9 AM to 12 PM, such as Madame Morton's dissection classes.
Lunch break was from 12 PM to 1 PM.
The time after 1 PM was allocated by the various mentors.
Xia Zuo needed to stay in the Poisonous Alchemy area until 8 PM.
Saturday mornings were for Alchemical Studies. The rest of the day and all of Sunday were designated as free time for the freshmen.
Considering if attending classes only yielded experience without enhancing spirit attributes, realistically, once classes began, his daily reading time would be limited to under 4 hours. At that rate, it would take 500 days to reach 9 points in spirit.
To swiftly boost his spirit, he had to level up promptly, allocating his free attribute points to spirit.
This brought him back to maximizing experience efficiency.
Having free attribute points on hand would help him stay unruffled in any situation!
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