"Lord, what do I get?"
"Jie-jie-jie, I have authority. I can let you purchase my master's meditation method at twenty percent of the price."
Ethan was stunned for a moment.
"Lord, you mean Lord Jade Shadow's Myriad Forest Meditation Method?"
"Jie-jie-jie, kid, you've got some knowledge." The Energy-Eating Insect's wings fluttered twice on his head. "How about it? That's a meditation method worth a thousand magic crystals. Tempted?"
Ethan's mouth twitched.
"Um, Lord."
"Hmm? Speak. Don't be so hesitant."
"Actually, I participated in the infiltration mission."
"Oh? And?"
"Um, the infiltration mission."
"Yes, I know it's the infiltration mission. And?" The Energy-Eating Insect's tone had already begun to turn impatient, and its six legs pressed harder into his hair, as if urging him.
Ethan said carefully, "Cough, the mission reward includes the eligibility to purchase the meditation method at ten percent of the price."
The insect on his head froze.
The interior of the shield fell so silent that one could hear the air flowing.
Several breaths passed before the Energy-Eating Insect finally reacted. Its wings stopped vibrating, and its six legs pulled out of Ethan's hair before settling back in. Its mouthparts opened slightly and then closed.
"Um, cough, well, I have other rewards. Wait, wait."
Ethan stood there with a respectful expression on his face, though his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
It was obvious that this Second-Tier lifeform was currently very embarrassed.
He didn't rush it and just stood there quietly. The legs of the insect on his head poked at his hair unconsciously, as if using the movement to hide its embarrassment.
After a while, the Energy-Eating Insect thought of something, and its wings began to vibrate again.
"Jie-jie-jie, I've got it, I've got it." Its voice returned to its previous tone, though its speaking speed was half a beat faster than before. "I know an old fellow in the academy who is unrivaled at making Wizardry Tools; his quality is top-notch. How about this—the task remains the same, and I'll introduce you to him when the time comes. You provide the main materials, and I'll have that old fellow make the Wizardry Tool for you. How does that sound?"
"A Wizardry Tool?"
"Yes. As long as you bring the main materials, I'll cover everything else needed to make it."
"Any quality?"
"Any."
Ethan did not hesitate.
"Deal, Lord. I accept this task."
"Jie-jie-jie, good, good, good." The Energy-Eating Insect shifted its position on his head, finding a comfortable posture for its six legs to nestle in. "Since things are a mess right now, I won't make it hard for you. Ten years. I'll give you ten years. As long as you can fill this gourd within ten years, it'll be enough."
"In that case, thank you, Lord."
"Jie-jie-jie, kid, don't make promises you can't keep." The Energy-Eating Insect's voice lowered slightly. "Keep in mind that the landing battle has just ended, and there are still large numbers of Amons natives who haven't been cleared out. The countless natives of this world have the chance to counterattack at any time. While they're useless against high-level Wizards, they are still fatal to little ones like you."
Ethan looked up. "Lord, if I don't take a chance when presented with an opportunity, how can I ever succeed?"
The top of his head went quiet for a moment.
"Oh?" An unidentifiable tone entered the Energy-Eating Insect's voice. "Jie-jie-jie, fine. I'll be waiting."
The shield dissipated soundlessly.
"By the way, little apprentice. That gourd isn't for just any water. Don't think about trying to fool this lady with water from some random river."
Ethan put the gourd into his ring. "Don't worry, I still want to live a bit longer."
"Jie-jie-jie, that's good."
The Treant guard led Ethan through the main gate on the ground floor of the Wizard Tower.
The corridor behind the door was wide enough for a dozen people to walk side-by-side, its walls covered in glowing vines.
A pale green light seeped from the vine leaves, making the entire corridor look as if it were submerged underwater.
Ethan walked behind the Treant guard. The Energy-Eating Insect on his head shifted its posture, its six legs shuffling in his hair a few times before settling back in.
Treant guards stood every few steps along both sides of the corridor, their dark green leaves standing up simultaneously as Ethan passed.
"Is that Lord Energy-Eating Insect on his head?"
"Why is Lord Energy-Eating Insect crouching on an apprentice's head?"
"What's that apprentice's background?"
"But this apprentice feels very comfortable."
"True, I really want to snuggle with him."
"Huh? Luksa, there's something wrong with you."
"You're annoying."
"Tch!"
At the end of the corridor was a set of double wooden doors.
The doors were five meters high, constructed entirely of dark cyan wood, with dense runic patterns flowing across the surface.
The light of the runes gradually brightened as Ethan and the guard approached, turning from dark green to emerald, and then from emerald to pale gold.
The Treant guard stopped before the door, raised its arm, and pressed its palm against the runic core in the center of the door panel.
The runic patterns on the door panel lit up simultaneously.
A pale gold light spread from the core to the edges, creeping along every line and outlining a complete energy circuit diagram on the door.
The door slid open soundlessly.
The room behind the door was not large, about fifty square meters.
Inside was only a single small bookshelf, with books as thick as heavy ledgers scattered across it.
The surfaces of the books were covered with a thin, translucent light membrane.
Within the membrane, countless tiny runes flowed slowly, and every pulse sent a faint energy ripple into the air.
"Apprentice Ethan Leo, what knowledge do you wish to claim?"
"Multiple Spellcasting and Overlapping Wizardry Release."
The guard took the book down and turned around. "This knowledge involves the division and synchronized control of multiple mental powers. The information density is extremely high. Are you sure you want to read it now?"
Ethan reached out.
"This one."
"High-level knowledge can no longer be contained within knowledge crystals. The contents of the book come with inherent information pollution. If a Third-Tier apprentice forces themselves to read it, they will suffer a mental sea shock at best and cognitive distortion at worst." The guard turned and beckoned toward the door. "To prevent accidents, three First-Tier guards are in place."
Heavy footsteps came from outside the door.
Three Treants, each over three meters tall, arrived. Their wooden bodies were covered in dark gold patterns, and the dark green leaves on their heads swayed slowly.
On Ethan's head, the Energy-Eating Insect shifted again. "Jie-jie-jie, little apprentice, high-level knowledge is no joke. If you can't handle it later, these three fellows will stop you immediately. Don't force it."
Ethan flipped open the book.
The dense text on the pages flooded into the depths of his consciousness the moment his eyes met them.
Every character exploded in his mental sea, turning into a massive flood of information.
An ordinary person would be overwhelmed just by looking at a single line of text.
Ethan flipped a page.
Then another.
The room fell silent, save for the sound of turning pages.
The guard's leaves suddenly stood straight up.
The dark green leaves of the three First-Tier Treants at the door also stood straight up at the same moment. They exchanged glances, their wooden fingers tightening slightly.
The Energy-Eating Insect poked half its body out from the top of Ethan's head, its compound eyes bulging.
"Jie?"
It couldn't be blamed. After all, even if a Third-Tier apprentice read like Ethan was doing, they would suffer a mental sea shock and would need at least a decade or so to recover.
Even among anomalies, no one possessed Ethan's speed.
After all, this was high-level knowledge.
One shouldn't think it was only two tiers higher than basic knowledge; the information density and pollution levels were worlds apart.
Rate on N.U.
