East Capital Enchantment Guild, besides managing enchanters and organizing enchantment tasks, is also a sacred place for learning about enchantments. The Guild Library itself is a staircase of progress.
After discovering this, Ivan spent much of his time exploring the vast ocean of knowledge in the library.
He had recently learned that, categorized by effects, there are many types of runes sorcery arrays including resource, protection, sacrificial, illusion, tracking, energy gathering, mutation-inducing, offering, sealing, cursing, strong negative effects, and more.
There are also less common ones, such as Combined Attack Sorcery Array, Gravity Sorcery Array, and others.
There are also taboo types, the legendary “Soul Sacrifice,” “Cage of Greed,” “Life Stealing,” “Soul Transfer,” and so on.
The more he learned, the more Ivan realized the complexity of enchantments and runes, and felt his own inadequacies.
As time passed day by day, his knowledge in runes and enchantments became more comprehensive, and his scholarship grew significantly.
One day, Ivan heard some news and went back to the research lab to inquire about it from Mendenez.
“Sorcerer Ivan, you certainly wouldn’t visit without reason. Tell me, is there something you want to know?” After exchanging pleasantries, Mendenez asked first.
“You know me well, Elder Mendenez.” Ivan was not ashamed to admit it.
“Haha, are you asking about Sorcerer Barny’s news?” Mendenez pointed at him jokingly and laughed.
“Correct, I heard Sorcerer Barny wants to recruit a few assistants to further develop the Flashing Token. Is that the case?” Ivan asked. He was currently exploring space abilities through his alter ego, Locke.
For him, Sorcerer Barny’s recruitment to research the Flashing Token was a rare opportunity.
“Sorcerer Barny said that the transfer of the Flashing Token is too random, posing a great risk. He wants to find three guild elders to help rectify the existing issues and, once the issues are resolved, to promote it through the guild to benefit the entire sorcerer world,”
Mendenez didn’t hold back and directly shared what he knew, clearly looking forward to it.
“Do I need to apply?” Ivan quickly asked.
“Just mention it to Sorcerer Barny, and I can pass on a message for you, or you can propose yourself,” Mendenez slightly shook his head, then added, “However, he will probably choose someone he knows well or a famous elder.”
Ivan understood his implication; his own reputation in the guild was not prominent, so it was unlikely for him to be chosen.
Despite this, Ivan still asked him to inquire on his behalf.
“Sorcerer Barny said thank you for your kindness, but he already has someone in mind.” Soon after, Mendenez got a reply, bringing an expected outcome.
“I see.” Ivan was somewhat disappointed.
“Sorcerer Ivan, do not lose heart. With your talent, as long as you continue your research step by step, you will eventually reach the heights of Sorcerer Barny.” Mendenez consoled him.
Ivan was his recruit into the guild, and naturally, he hoped that Ivan would rise step by step, even making a name for himself worldwide.
“I hope so.”
Being rejected was a new experience for Ivan; to say he wasn’t somewhat troubled would be impossible.
It seems, he needed to initiate his own projects soon. Without fame, things are difficult. He had been in East Capital for a while and had not yet received any serious invitations, which said a lot.
He could either follow the rules of Five Leaves Spear to stir things up, or apply for enchantment research in the guild.
After careful consideration, Ivan made a decision.
The next day, the guild received a research proposal titled “High Probability Enhancement of Apprentice to Sorcerer—In-depth Development of Magic Stones and Magic Copper,” requesting a substantial amount of magic copper for research purposes.
Not long afterward, Vice President Angus called Ivan for a discussion.
Ivan hurried over, but on his way to the sorcerer tower, he encountered Mendenez.
When he got close, Mendenez grabbed him and pulled him to the side.
“Sorcerer Ivan, I admit there was a joking element to what I said that day, you mustn’t take it seriously,” Mendenez said earnestly.
Ivan understood; he was referring to the idea of deceiving the guild for resources.
“You’re overthinking it; I am quite confident about the proposal I’ve applied for. I wouldn’t engage in anything so disgraceful,” Ivan replied with a half-smile, not taking offense at the suspicion.
In fact, he had completed his research on Moon Pincer Peninsula already; otherwise, how could Justine and Cody have become sorcerers?
The reason he applied for such a project was to make a name for himself in one fell swoop while using the guild’s resources to further enhance the Black Magic Wind Fire Array and to refine the Black Magic Wind Fire Pearl again.
This move was a normal operation for an enchanter and had nothing to do with ‘scamming resources’.
“Really?”
“Really.”
After triple-checking and seeing his resolute response, Mendenez finally let go of his hand.
“Off you go, Sorcerer Angus is waiting for you. Once you convince him, the project is basically a success, and no one else will make things difficult for you,” Mendenez said as he set aside his worries and walked away.
Mendenez apparently hadn’t told Angus about the incident that day. When Ivan met Angus, the latter merely asked him a few questions about the project. Seeing his fluent responses, Angus approved his application on the spot.
However, the project application still required the approval of another Vice President.
According to Mendenez, as long as Sorcerer Angus agreed, the rest would just be a formality; no other Vice Presidents would snub Angus’s face by making things difficult for someone applying for a research topic for the first time.
Three days later, without additional inquiries from others, the project application indeed passed.
Upon receiving the notification, Ivan collected a large amount of raw materials from the Enchanters Guild’s secret vault, including a considerable amount of red magic copper and gray magic copper, which made him repeatedly marvel at the guild’s richness.
However, if the research project failed, he definitely wouldn’t get such a good deal next time.
In the following days, he devoted most of his thoughts to researching the Black Magic Wind Fire Array and the Windy Fire Bead.
…
Time, like a blade, had swiftly cut through two years.
Rapid Wood Tower, enchantment workshop.
“I’ve reached the limit.”
Looking at the runes sorcery array he had set up, Ivan nodded with a smile.
With the guild’s support, after so much time exploring, he had enhanced the Black Magic Wind Fire Array to 25 runes bundles, crossing the threshold of an intermediate runes sorcery array.
Not long ago, he had refined the Black Magic Wind Fire Pearl and successfully engraved 24 runes bundles on it.
Both were intermediate runes sorcery arrays; the difference between 24 and 25 bundles was not noticeable. Compared to the original, the Black Magic Wind Fire was more targeted in dealing with spiritual bodies and had significantly improved in restraining spiritual power.
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In contrast, the potency of his Black Magic Hand had further increased and had also become more versatile.
However, once the Black Magic Wind Fire Array reached 25 runes bundles, the efficiency of enhancements slowed down, forcing him to temporarily cease working on it.
[Enchantment Skill Experience Point +3]
[Enchantment Skill: lv9(174/5000)]
Ivan glanced at the Academic Prodigy panel. Sure enough, even the growth of experience points had slowed down.
The period of learning and exploration had boosted the experience points of several disciplines, especially Enchantment Skill, Runes Skill, Energy Particle Skill, Meditation Skill, Study of Planes, and Curse Skill.
Among these, Enchantment Skill had advanced to level 9, becoming the second level 9 discipline after Knight Breathing Skill.
Energy Particle Skill had reached level 7.
Naturally, he had received one level 9 Light of Wisdom and one level 7 Light of Great Wisdom.
However, during this period, he had also used one Light of Wisdom and one Light of Great Wisdom. Hence, the Academic Prodigy panel still listed four Lights of Wisdom and five Lights of Great Wisdom.
“Sorcerer Mendenez must have been waiting for a long time. I’ll organize everything and give him an answer in a few days, and give the guild a satisfactory explanation as well,” Ivan thought.
He was satisfied with this round of research.
He stretched lazily and slowly walked to the adjacent room.
The room seemed empty, save for a large pool in the middle, which was filled with vines nearly spilling over the edge.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the pool actually contained a type of root that looked indistinguishably like rock in its color.
“I am curious to see how long you can grow.”
Ivan approached the pool, casually beckoning a few vials of darker ‘Yellow Rock Water’ to fly toward him and pour into the pool one by one.
These were medicinal liquids he had refined using low-grade Earth-type element crystals.
Cultivating the Pan Iron Root had become a small pleasure during his leisure time.
The Pan Iron Root was indeed peculiar, seeming as if it could stretch indefinitely. However, when it was cut off, the severed piece would lose its original vitality and hardness.
Moreover, under his continuous cultivation, the Pan Iron Root had formed a rock-like outer shell.
It felt as if it was about to shed its skin.
This made Ivan enjoy cultivating it even more so he had specifically carved an Earth-type Energy Gathering Array around the pool. The array and the medicinal liquids worked together to enhance the process.