Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Metamagic Technique

At this rate, the remaining Spiritual Power deficit was only about forty points. With his current average daily growth of nearly 0.6, he could meet the requirement in just over two months.

If he had items that boosted Spiritual Power, like Evil Illusion Potions, it would take even less time.

’My physique is also about to reach the Senior Grand Knight level.’

Pei Ze marveled inwardly.

The Power of Rules he’d gained from a single trip to the Realm of Truth was worth over half a month of his training.

’If I could go just one more time, it wouldn’t be long before I meet the standard for condensing a Spirit Crystal.’

Snapping out of his joy, Pei Ze issued three consecutive task commands.

[Task 1: Analyze Will Rune No. 23. Estimated time required: 98 days]

[Task 2: Improve the Fireball Technique’s spell model. Estimated time required: 85 days]

[Task 3: Improve the Magic Missile’s spell model. Estimated time required: 82 days]

’With nearly ninety points of Spiritual Power, a single acceleration can cut the task time by thirty-seven or thirty-eight days. On average, I can construct a Will Rune or improve a spell every two to three days.’

Pei Ze couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion at the thought.

It takes an Official Wizard several months to improve a One-Ring Spell, yet for him, it only takes two or three days. That speed was truly frightening!

As his spiritual strength increased, the abilities of the Eye of Omniscience grew more and more terrifying.

’I wonder how powerful it will become in the future. It’s truly something to look forward to.’

’I don’t have to report in for three days. I need to use this time to make some preparations.’

The mission was a month long, so he had to stock up on enough food for Wuyu and Xiaoyi.

In addition, Pei Ze also planned to concoct some Vigor Potions and Blood Boiling Potions, just in case.

「Early Morning」

A faint morning mist had yet to disperse, and the entire Outer City remained shrouded in tranquility.

Pei Ze stood before the garrison gate, gazing at the City Guard Army headquarters located in the Outer City’s North District.

The City Guard Army was primarily responsible for maintaining order in Chenxi City, which included hunting down and eliminating heretics.

The main body of the City Guard Army consisted of Knights and Wizard Apprentices.

Besides the City Guard Army, Chenxi City also had two more famous legions: the Silver Light Legion and the Golem Legion.

These two legions were primarily responsible for foreign campaigns, including battles with other Wizard Cities and expeditions to other planes.

Both legions had numerous Wizards in service, representing the apex of Chenxi City’s military power.

There was also a Slave Soldier Legion, composed mainly of Diluo Barbarians and including a small number of elves, gnomes, and Goblins.

The Slave Soldier Legion was relatively mobile; their main purpose was to go wherever manpower was needed.

As far as Pei Ze knew, the vast majority of graduates from the Knight Academy joined the Silver Light Legion and the City Guard Army.

Only those who lacked strength or wished to avoid being tied down would become mercenaries or adventurers.

After showing his Apprentice Badge at the entrance, Pei Ze entered the garrison without any trouble.

A soldier then led him to the reporting room.

In a somewhat dim office, a gray-robed, white-haired old man was hunched over, writing at his desk.

Hearing a sound, he looked up and sized Pei Ze up and down.

"High Tower Academy apprentice, here for the encirclement operation?"

"Yes," Pei Ze replied, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

’According to the Eye of Omniscience, the man was just a Third-level Wizard Apprentice—the same as him.’

"What’s your name?"

"Pei Ze."

Hearing the two words "Pei Ze," the old man’s expression shifted. He gave him a deep look, and his tone softened considerably.

"That will be all. Go to the hall next door. Someone there will arrange your assignment."

"Thank you."

Pei Ze left the office. After a quick look around, he easily found the hall.

Upon entering the spacious, well-lit hall, he realized a large crowd had already gathered—at least four or five hundred people by his estimation.

Only a few dozen of them wore the gray robes signifying a Wizard Apprentice. The rest, without exception, were clad in mail, plate, or leather armor, each with a Sword and Shield Badge pinned to their chest.

’People from the Knight Academy!’

Pei Ze raised an eyebrow.

’Why are students from the Knight Academy here?’

The number of Knight Academies in Chenxi City far surpassed that of the Wizard Academies; there were more than thirty in all.

Each year, about a month after the Wizard Academies concluded their admissions, the Knight Academies would begin to enroll new students.

Their student body came from two primary sources.

First, they recruited from across the city. Anyone with citizenship between the ages of sixteen and eighteen who passed a simple test could enroll in a Knight Academy.

Second, there were the washouts from the Wizard Academies.

Every year, the four major Wizard Academies dismissed large numbers of students who lacked any aptitude for wizardry and couldn’t even become First-level Wizard Apprentices.

To the Wizard Academies, these people were nothing but unqualified failures.

But to the Knight Academies, they were an excellent pool of recruits.

Over ninety percent of these washouts ultimately transferred into the Knight Academies.

"Pei Ze."

Just as Pei Ze was pondering this, a pleasant and familiar voice suddenly reached his ears.

He looked toward the sound and saw Gu Lin, smiling and waving at him from more than ten meters away.

"You’re here, too?" Pei Ze asked as he walked over.

Hearing this, Gu Lin put her hands on her hips. "Who are you looking down on? I’m a Third-level Wizard Apprentice now, you know!"

Pei Ze glanced at the girl, unsurprised.

Gu Lin had already been on the verge of a breakthrough. Now, twenty days after the end of the trial, her promotion was hardly a surprise.

"Are you here for the merit points, too?"

"Of course." Gu Lin shrugged. "There’s plenty on the merit point redemption list that even I’m drooling over. I definitely can’t pass up an opportunity to earn some."

Seeing Pei Ze’s unconvinced expression, Gu Lin said resignedly, "It’s true I come from a prominent family, but that doesn’t mean I can have any resource I ask for."

"There are so many people in my family’s younger generation, and every one of them needs resources. I get a larger share because my aptitude is good, but it’s not as abundant as you might think. When it’s time to earn something for myself, I have to go out and earn it."

Pei Ze could see Gu Lin was telling the truth, so he nodded and said no more on the matter. Changing the subject, he asked, "Where is the merit point redemption list?"

"It’s right over there," Gu Lin said, pointing behind Pei Ze.

Pei Ze turned around and noticed a wall in the back of the hall covered in densely packed text, which looked as if it had been scorched on by fire.

Redeemable Items (Stock), Merit Points Required

Tier Two Witchcraft Artifact (1), 3,000 Merit Points/each

Tier One Witchcraft Artifact (8), 800 Merit Points/each

Realm of Truth Slot (2), 2,000 Merit Points/each

Blood Demon (2), 500 Merit Points/each

Ten Thousand Flowers Fairy (3), 450 Merit Points/each

Elven Vassal (Legendary Knight-level) (2), 500 Merit Points/each

Elven Vassal (Peak Grand Knight-level) (15), 180 Merit Points/each

Barbarian Vassal (Legendary Knight-level) (10), 400 Merit Points/each

Barbarian Vassal (Peak Grand Knight-level) (54), 130 Merit Points/each

Steel-armored Giant Beast (Mount, Senior Grand Knight-level) (100), 80 Merit Points/each

Glimmer-grade Magic Items (20), 60 Merit Points/each

Transcendent Potion (100), 50 Merit Points/bottle

Evil Illusion Potion (100), 50 Merit Points/bottle

Endurance Potion (100), 30 Merit Points/bottle

Dark Stone (200), 10 Merit Points/stone

...

The dazzling array of redeemable items made one’s blood boil with excitement.

Magic Items, potions, familiars, vassals... the list included almost every kind of resource a Wizard Apprentice could possibly need.

It even included precious Magic Items like Witchcraft Artifacts, which only Official Wizards were qualified to possess.

Even someone as composed as Pei Ze couldn’t help but salivate, wishing he could go slaughter heretics and earn merit points right this second.

"Tempting, isn’t it?" Gu Lin’s lips curved into a sly smile. "Now look at the other side."

Pei Ze looked in the direction she indicated. Another wall was also covered in the same scorched-looking text, but this side detailed the rewards for killing heretics.

Priest, 3,000 Merit Points

Frenzied Drinker, 1,000 Merit Points

Demon Cultivator (Peak Grand Knight-level), 50 Merit Points

Demon Cultivator (Senior Grand Knight-level), 40 Merit Points

Demon Cultivator (Middle Grand Knight-level), 30 Merit Points

Demon Cultivator (Junior Grand Knight-level), 20 Merit Points

Demonized (Peak Knight-level), 3 Merit Points

Demonized (Senior Knight-level), 2 Merit Points

Demonized (Middle Knight-level), 1 Merit Point

...