Chapter 176: Chapter 116: Shattering Soundwave, Magic Engraving, and Spell Slots

Pei Ze then bought another batch of One-Ring Spell models, including the Appraisal spell he planned to master.

The Blood-colored Vine from Gong Xinghe was still in his dimensional bag, waiting to be appraised.

"Do you buy materials here?" Pei Ze asked the attendant.

She quickly replied, "We do, my lord. We have professional appraisers to ensure a fair price."

Pei Ze nodded and handed a dimensional bag to the attendant.

"Trade all of this for Magic Stone Coins. Also, I need twenty sets of these materials."

Pei Ze handed her a list.

On it were the materials needed to craft the Soul Guard Potion.

The attendant respectfully agreed and quickly arranged for someone to handle it.

The large firm was extremely efficient. In less than half an hour, everything was settled.

After deducting the cost of the spell models and materials, over thirteen thousand Magic Stone Coins and the items were handed to Pei Ze.

By the time Pei Ze walked out of Taolin Pavilion, the number of Magic Stone Coins he had had surged to over twenty thousand.

’No wonder they say Wizards make money at an astonishing rate.’

Pei Ze couldn’t help but sigh to himself.

However, he also knew this was a one-time windfall from the numerous congratulatory gifts he had received.

Opportunities like this were rare.

Besides, while twenty thousand Magic Stone Coins sounded like a lot, it could be spent as easily as water flows.

To say nothing of anything else, the sheer amount of metal combinations needed for Silver Star’s next evolution would cost a fortune.

Not to mention, once his current supply of Resonance Potions ran out, he would have to buy a large quantity of materials to craft his own.

’There’s never enough money.’

Pei Ze shrugged, hailed a carriage, and headed back to his residence.

...

「Star Realm Calendar, Year 14523, July 14.」

It was his third day in the Inner City.

The number of visiting Wizards had finally dwindled, allowing Pei Ze to sit down and catch his breath.

’It’s not easy living up to the title of a genius.’

Pei Ze let out a long sigh.

Most of the visitors were Wizards from the East District, though of course, there were also many from the Wizard Clans.

The latter group mainly wanted to recruit him into their clans, offering many generous terms to do so.

However, Pei Ze politely declined all of them.

He didn’t even plan on joining the Gu Family or the Yin Family, let alone the lesser Wizard Clans.

As for the Silver Light Legion, he figured Mo Weng had put in a word for him, as no one from there had come to bother him.

’Even Wizards can’t avoid socializing.’

With a sigh, Pei Ze went to his Magic Laboratory, sat down, and summoned the Eye of Omniscience.

Spell Extension and Spell Duration had finished analyzing.

He had now mastered six metamagic techniques.

Silent Spell, Quickened Spell, Composite Spellcasting, Spell Extension, Empowered Spell, and Spell Duration.

Pei Ze was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

From what he had learned these past few days, Level 1 Wizards typically only mastered one additional metamagic technique beyond Silent Spell and Quickened Spell, for a total of two or three.

After all, each metamagic technique required a great deal of time and effort to master.

Usually, only a Second-level Wizard could master all six metamagic techniques.

In other words, his progress with metamagic techniques had already far surpassed the vast majority of Level 1 Wizards.

’Only a Wizard who has mastered all the metamagic techniques can be considered a proper cannon.’

Pei Ze smiled faintly and turned his thoughts to his new spells.

Yesterday, he had entered all the spell models into the Eye of Omniscience. He just had to pick a spell, and he could begin analyzing it immediately.

Without much deliberation, Pei Ze quickly decided on the first spell he would learn.

"Omniscience, analyze the Shattering Sonic Wave spell model."

Shattering Sonic Wave was an area-of-effect damage spell. It could emit a high-frequency sonic wave, damaging all living and non-living things within the range of the sound’s propagation.

The closer to the Caster, the greater the damage.

This spell was somewhat similar to Wail of the Banshee.

Of course, the damage was nowhere near comparable.

Wail of the Banshee could even inflict soul-level damage, whereas Shattering Sonic Wave was only effective on a physical level.

However, among Two-Ring Spells, Shattering Sonic Wave was considered one of the more powerful ones.

[Task created. Analyzing Shattering Sonic Wave spell model. Estimated cost: 0.2 energy.]

Just as Pei Ze had expected, the cost of learning a new spell was now pitifully low.

Without hesitation, with a mere thought, he instantly completed the analysis of the new spell model.

’Next up is modification.’

"Omniscience, modify Shattering Sonic Wave."

[Task created. Modifying Shattering Sonic Wave. Estimated cost: 2.2 energy.]

A faint smile touched Pei Ze’s lips.

’Not bad. The cost isn’t too high.’

He unhesitatingly spent some Spirit to accelerate the process, completing the modification in an instant.

’Next is Engraving the Spell.’

Pei Ze calmed his mind, focused his concentration, and slowly closed his eyes, beginning his first Magic Engraving since his promotion.

A Wizard’s Spirit Crystal was a peculiar object.

Although it had the appearance of a polyhedron, it wasn’t a polyhedron in the truest sense, nor was it even a physical entity.

Each of its crystalline facets was not a simple ’face,’ but a small space of consciousness.

The so-called Magic Engraving was, in fact, the process of inscribing a spell model into this space of consciousness, creating a resonance with one’s Spirit. This would greatly reduce consumption and increase power when casting.

It was worth mentioning that after a successful Magic Engraving, it was possible to change it to another spell. However, this process was laborious and time-consuming; swapping an Engraving Spell in the middle of a battle was utterly impossible.

To some extent, Magic Engraving was a bit like the rumored "spell slots."

It was said that in some Divine Planes, Divine Spirits like the Magic Goddess existed.

They used the Magic Net to grant their followers the ability to cast spells, but with a daily limit on castings called "spell slots." Furthermore, their followers had to prepare their spells in advance at the crack of dawn each day to be able to use them in combat.

Of course, Magic Engraving was far more practical and powerful than spell slots.

There was no need to prepare spells in advance, and even without an Engraving Spell, one could still cast spells—they would just cost more and be a bit weaker.

It was no wonder that Wizards held the followers of the Magic Goddess in such contempt, making no effort to hide their disdain when mentioning those so-called Mages.

His mind completely immersed deep within itself, Pei Ze merged the constructed spell model into a crystalline facet, smoothly completing his first Magic Engraving.

Opening his eyes, he glanced at the wall clock and saw that nearly fourteen hours had passed.

’This took even longer than using a Resonance Potion.’

Pei Ze sensed the depths of his mind, a thoughtful expression on his face.

He didn’t necessarily have to engrave spells onto all thirty-two crystalline facets right now.

Nor did he have that many spells that needed engraving.

The main purpose of Engraving a Spell was to reduce its cost in combat.

Aside from the spells frequently used in combat, the other utility spells used in daily life didn’t need to be engraved at all, as it would be a waste of a facet.

’For now, I’ll engrave some commonly used combat spells. I’ll save the rest for when I find other suitable spells in the future.’

’Or I can wait until I break through to the Crystallization Stage and engrave Three-Ring Spells then.’

Pei Ze quickly made up his mind.

Stretching lazily, Pei Ze got up, left the Magic Laboratory, and went to the backyard garden.

A petite, cyan figure was flitting about the garden, having the time of its life.

Ever since arriving at the residence and seeing its castle-like luxurious environment, Xiaoyi had been like a child who had discovered a new world, spending all day flying around and exploring every corner of the estate.

Pei Ze was happy to let the little one play by itself, saving him from being pestered all day.

"Eee eee!"

Noticing Pei Ze’s arrival, Xiaoyi circled in the air once and waved and shouted excitedly at him.

Pei Ze smiled and waved back, but another thought crossed his mind.

’After I’m done with the Magic Engravings, maybe I can set up a flowerbed in the garden specifically for growing rare plants.’

The more Pei Ze thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Through the Eye of Omniscience, he had already mastered a great deal of knowledge on cultivating rare plants, so he was perfectly capable of doing so.

As long as he completed the initial planting, he wouldn’t have to worry about tending to and watering the flowerbed later. He could just buy a few elf or pixie servants to take care of it.

’It’s settled then. As soon as I have some free time, I’ll arrange it.’