Chapter 129

Busyness and Soul Crystallization

Lucy had been swamped lately, even more so than during the intense period when she first joined the Tower of the Four Sages.

But accompanying that busyness was an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

Her schedule was packed tight: six uninterrupted sandglasses of meditation each day; mornings immersed in studying classics at the Star Law Institute’s library; afternoons assisting Master Theodosius in his laboratory; and evenings dedicated to research on flesh constructs.

On top of all that, she still had to find time to delve into live dissections.

If Olivia hadn’t taken the initiative to help her tend to the living specimens in the Abyss of Nightmares, Lucy might have needed to split herself in half just to manage everything.

The collection of books at the Star Law Institute was ten to a hundred times more valuable than those at the Tower of the Four Sages.

Not only did it house tens of thousands of witchcraft models and anatomical notes, but it also included hundreds of meditation techniques and legacy doctrines.

Lucy was like a parched sponge, greedily absorbing these fresh streams of academic nourishment.

It wasn’t until a month and a half later that she finally completed the foundational accumulation of her new knowledge and embarked on a new round of dissection experiments.

“System.”

【Name: Lucy Felicia】

【Rank: Trainee Apprentice (Mental Strength: 56.3)】

【Meditation Technique: Bramble Loop Meditation II】

【Witchcraft: Basic Magical Trick, Basic Ring of Resistance, Advanced Magical Energy Storage, Advanced Screech of Agony, Advanced Venomous Fang, Advanced Phase Wing Leap, Intermediate Ultrasonic Shockwave, Basic Fractured Crystal Reverse Scale Shield, Intermediate Thousand Faces, Radiance of Precious Metal】

【Skills: Devouring Contamination Potion (Advanced), Silverleaf Awakening Potion (Intermediate), Darkness-Gazing Drops (Intermediate), High Elvish (Beginner), Judgment of Truth and Falsehood, Soul Scent, Malice Lure, Soul Devour】

【Equipment: Gear Staff (+2° magical energy), No. 3 Alchemical Scalpel of the Midnight Dissector, Impact Staff (+3° magical energy), Anti-Divine Contamination Bark Garment, Key to the Abyss of Nightmares (Unique), Nightwalker Robe, Black Cat Broom, Wraith Essence, Ark of the Styx】

【Contamination Value: 12%】

【Academic Points: 1268】

It had been a while since she last opened the system. Compared to her initial impoverished state upon first crossing over, her current setup could be described as nothing short of luxurious.

As for the 1,268 academic points, part of them had been earned during her travels, but the bulk came from her time as Master Theodosius’ assistant over the past month and a half.

As the pinnacle figure of the anatomical school on the Wizard Continent, Theodosius’ laboratory housed over ten thousand high-grade enchanted organ specimens.

More than a tenth of the anatomical notes in the library originated from the master himself, illuminating the path for those who came after.

Following his example, Lucy also transcribed her own notes and stored a copy in the library—including her research on live dissection.

If what Master Theodosius said was true—that witchcraft was a distributary of the great river of laws—then each piece of research and every recorded note would help make that tributary all the more surging and powerful.

In that case, she was simply doing her small part.

Number: NO·21

Scientific Name: Degenerated Dragonkin Second Atrium

Dissection Date: Morning of March 1st, Year 3041 of the Wizard Era

Organ Source: Degenerated Dragonkin Heart from Mentor Fernando’s Anatomical Laboratory

Morphological Description: Surface covered in a hardened layer; interior composed of honeycomb lattice; remnants of dragon blood present within the chamber.

Aberrant Reaction: Upon contact with moonlight, the lattice would automatically restructure into a miniature Reverse Scale Shield array capable of reflecting portions of magical energy.

(Magical Vein Diagram)

Core Magical Veins: Fragmented dragon-scale patterned magical vein network.

Application Directions:

1. Enhancement of the Fractured Crystal Reverse Scale Shield.

2. Construction of reflective witchcraft models.

【NO·21 Degenerated Dragonkin Second Atrium】

【Commentary: A standard dissection experiment】

【Academic Points Earned: 1268 → 1318】

This degenerated dragonkin heart had been a token of apprenticeship from Fernando to Lucy.

Back when dissecting the first atrium—specimen NO·6—Mentor Fernando had taken the lead, and she had merely assisted.

Today marked her first time personally dissecting this “dragon heart.”

All in all, it went quite well. The results could be used as an upgraded magical pattern for the Fractured Crystal Reverse Scale Shield, giving it a limited rebound effect.

Lucy spent several days integrating the witchcraft model, then used 200 academic points to upgrade it.

【Intermediate Fractured Crystal Reverse Scale Shield (Tier-1)】

Having completed the witchcraft modeling, Lucy had just exited the Abyss of Nightmares when she heard a knock at the door.

She opened it.

Standing outside was a hunched elderly woman leaning on a cane.

She wore a floor-length black robe, supported herself with a staff, her hair was ashen white, and her skin sagged with age—she looked exactly like the kind of old witch from a fairytale who would offer poisoned apples to a princess.

And indeed, she was holding a fruit basket in her hand.

"Miss Lucy, I’m Amira Iverson." The hoarse voice rasped like sandpaper. "Master Theodosius should have mentioned me."

"Yes, Witch Amira," Lucy replied, bowing slightly.

Amira Iverson—an advanced witch of the Soul School.

A few days earlier, Theodosius had indeed mentioned that the Soul School was very interested in the two laws: "Soul Scent" and "Malice Lure," and that someone would be visiting soon.

She hadn’t expected the visitor to arrive this quickly.

"Is now a good time?"

"It’s an honor. Please, come in."

The residences assigned by the Star Law Institute to witches and apprentices were individual villas, spacious enough to host several guests without feeling crowded.

While the old witch was settling in, Lucy quietly lifted the cover of the fruit basket.

Thankfully, there were no apples inside—only a few fruits glowing with a bluish-gray shimmer, their surfaces wreathed in faint energy ripples.

"These are… Profane Fruits! That’s a bit too extravagant."

Profane Fruit was a high-grade ingredient and one of the primary materials used in potionology to concoct advanced mental strength potions.

Its value was no less than that of a Tier-4 lifeform specimen.

The wrinkles on Amira’s face softened into what resembled a blooming chrysanthemum. "It’s only proper. I’ve come this time to discuss the Law of the Soul. You know how our Soul School has been stuck at a bottleneck for far too long."

As a high-contamination school ranked alongside the School of Oddities, the Soul School remained in a precarious position on the Wizard Continent due to the World Ruler, the Sleeper, still holding divine authority. It had yet to produce a single Star Ring Wizard.

"Please rest assured, Witch Amira. I’ll share everything I know. It’s just..." Lucy hesitated slightly. "I don’t come from the Soul School, so I’m afraid..."

Amira offered a strained smile. "Miss Lucy, your willingness to cooperate is already a great help to us." The old witch suddenly shifted the topic. "By the way, I heard from Master Theodosius that you’ve encountered some soul-related troubles yourself?"

Lucy's eyes lit up. "A friend of mine absorbed several million Ghostface Trees… You could think of it as the soul of a god-crafted Tier-2 lifeform. It’s been over half a year, and she’s still in a coma. Is there any way…?"

"If it were a full-fledged witch, soul-absorbing potions might accelerate the process. But since your friend is merely an apprentice..."

Witch Amira narrowed her eyes in thought for a moment, then pulled a crystal ball from her spatial tool. "This is a Soul Crystal—it can temporarily store excess soul energy. It should help your friend regain consciousness sooner."

Cradling the life-saving crystal in her hands, Lucy felt a flicker of hope for Talia’s awakening.

As for the remaining soul energy, it could be absorbed slowly once her mental strength improved in the future.

"Thank you so much, Master Amira!"