Chapter 266 - 23: Fame Spreads, Magic Pattern Drone (2)

Chapter 266: Chapter 23: Fame Spreads, Magic Pattern Drone (2)

Of course, this was just a reminder, not a mandatory rule.

If someone with no foundation insisted on paying the Black Tower Points, the lecturer certainly wouldn’t refuse.

The course cost 15 Black Tower Points, and the lecturer was a Third Level Female Apprentice named Lola.

Courses for First Level Apprentices generally cost over 10 points, and participation was entirely voluntary. Any Apprentice capable of teaching a course had some real skill, and the content had to be substantial. Otherwise, no one would show up for the next class.

Lecture Hall No. 26, which Mo Ning entered, was a stone hall situated on the surface of a placid lake.

The lake was so vast its shores were out of sight, and a gentle breeze stirred countless fine ripples across its surface.

The lakeland breeze, carrying a hint of moisture, brushed against his cheeks, and the air was exceptionally fresh.

There were fewer people attending the course than Mo Ning had expected—only about thirty or so.

The instructor, Lola, was a Female Apprentice with her hair in a topknot. Her figure was petite and delicate, and a faint silver Magic Pattern was branded onto her right cheek. The whole look left quite a deep impression.

Branding Magic Patterns onto one’s body to increase personal strength was not an overly rare method.

However, the branding process was often accompanied by immense pain.

The pain wasn’t just physical. The integration of the Magic Pattern’s power into one’s Spiritual World also caused a severe spiritual shock. The risks were considerable, so not many people actually did it.

The fact that Lola could successfully brand a Magic Pattern on her face was proof enough that she possessed a will stronger than that of an ordinary Apprentice, as well as a foundation in Magic Pattern Study far beyond the average level.

To put it plainly—she was a truly tough individual, the kind who was ruthless even with herself.

It was the first time in Mo Ning’s life that he had seen an Apprentice with a Magic Pattern branded on their cheek, so he couldn’t help but stare for a few extra moments.

Lola immediately caught his gaze.

The Female Apprentice glanced at him a few times. The Magic Pattern on her cheek shifted from faint silver to a bright silver-white as she smiled and asked, "You’re Mo Ning, right?"

Mo Ning was slightly taken aback but nodded. "Yes."

He knew he had gained some small measure of fame in the academy, but he hadn’t expected a random Third Level Apprentice to recognize him on sight.

The surrounding crowd turned to stare at him in unison, and the Apprentices instantly memorized his face.

Lola pointed to the Magic Pattern on her right cheek and explained, "This is the ’Fula Magic Pattern Group.’ It significantly increases the speed of one’s thoughts."

Mo Ning instantly understood.

He had read a classic text on Magic Patterns, so he naturally knew that a combination of multiple Magic Patterns was called a "Magic Pattern Group."

A collection of multiple Magic Pattern Groups was called a "Magic Pattern Array," but that was usually within the research domain of Official Wizards.

A Magic Pattern Group that increased thought speed might seem like a mere support tool, but its applications were extremely broad. It was useful for research and could also provide significant assistance in combat.

Reacting 0.01 seconds faster than an enemy could very well change the tide of battle.

Lola then revealed why she recognized Mo Ning. "I read your paper on the divinatory significance of Steel Bamboo Black Moss. Your arguments were brilliant and gave me a great deal of inspiration."

Her next words made Mo Ning the true focus of the class: "To write such a high-caliber paper as a newcomer... you’ve left an extremely deep impression on me."

The gazes from the surrounding Apprentices instantly shifted, filled with intense emotion.

Writing a paper as a newcomer—and one that even a Third Level Apprentice praised—was no different from a fairy tale to them.

To say they were "a little shaken" would be an understatement of the tidal wave of shock crashing through their minds.

Naturally, the Apprentices in the Lecture Hall carved the name "Mo Ning" deep into their hearts, as if with a chisel.

Lola’s next sentence stated her intentions plainly: "Mo Ning, if the opportunity arises in the future, perhaps we could collaborate on a research project."

Mo Ning smiled and replied, "Of course!"

He couldn’t help but recall something Nasha had said, which Anya had relayed to him:

’Only a Third Level Apprentice can truly appreciate how despair-inducing the Wizard’s Ring—that is, the fourth Spirit Ring—truly is.

’The vast majority of Third Level Apprentices will come to a profound realization within ten years of their promotion: they can never overcome this hurdle on their own.

’That’s why they’ll try every means possible to seek external help, never letting a single opportunity for collaboration slip by.

’After all, to these thick-skinned folks, it’s just a matter of asking. What if they succeed?’

Nasha had also added a warning, again through Anya:

’So don’t be fooled by the status of a Third Level Apprentice. In essence, they are a flock of lost sheep who can’t find their way and lack the ability to do so.’

Clearly, Lola was one of those "thick-skinned folks" Nasha had been talking about.

Soon, the Female Apprentice began her formal lecture.

"The most primitive Magic Patterns were born in ores naturally rich with powerful Spirituality. The Spirituality within them would occasionally erupt, attracting immense Magic Power.

"In extremely rare cases, the Magic Power would gather according to specific patterns, leaving behind strange marks on the ore’s surface.

"And those marks are what we call Magic Patterns.

"Simply put, the essence of a Magic Pattern is the specific law contained within Magic Power, and they often hold immense strength.

"The Spiritual Magic Patterns covered in this class are a relatively abstruse part of this field..."

Lola’s lecture was officially underway.

Mo Ning took out the [Pen of Contemplation] and quietly activated the item with his Spiritual Power.

The pen stood up on its own and began to glide rapidly across the surface of the scale pattern paper, its speed a great deal faster than the [Magic Pen Technique].

Just yesterday afternoon, he had successfully overcome the trial of the Knowledge Resentful Spirit within the pen, gaining complete control over it.

The Knowledge Resentful Spirit’s level in Divination was roughly equivalent to a Second Level Apprentice, and he had dealt with it easily in just five minutes.