"You already know it's an unreasonable request, yet you still ask?" Olinda glared at Roy in annoyance. "You're such a presumptuous guy!"
Roy replied, "You don't need to worry about me coveting anything from you, because I've already been promoted to an Elite Apprentice."
"What?" Olinda was startled by the sudden revelation.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
Roy no longer concealed his spiritual power, fully manifesting its refined and condensed quality.
In an instant, the objects in the room trembled—tables, chairs, teacups, papers, pens, and books—all seemed to quiver under an inexplicable aura.
This was indeed a power far beyond that of an ordinary advanced apprentice!
"Alright, but you must swear that you'll only take a look and not covet it!"
After some hesitation, Olinda finally agreed.
"Fine, I swear… Wait, what are you doing?"
Roy responded, but was taken aback when he noticed Olinda starting to undress.
As her robe slipped off, the lace underwear beneath was revealed, and her delicate shoulders emerged like water flowing over stones.
Roy couldn't help but ask, "Is that thing really hidden on your body?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Olinda shot him a glare, then unfastened her underwear, exposing a human face growing on her chest.
"What… is this?"
Roy's gaze was instantly drawn to it, his brow furrowing as he stared intently at the palm-sized face.
"I don't know either. I just picked up a piece of flesh that had drifted out of Chalkland, and it ended up parasitizing me. Over time, it grew into this grotesque form!
At first, I was terrified and searched everywhere for information to understand what it was.
But even now, I still have no clue."
"Does it feel any different having this thing on your body?"
"Not for now. It doesn't hurt or itch.
But I always feel that letting it grow like this will definitely lead to trouble…
I've tried cutting it off, but I'm afraid of potential side effects, so I didn't dare act recklessly."
Olinda explained with a hint of helplessness.
"That's true. Without understanding it fully, it's best not to act rashly."
At that moment, Roy suddenly felt a faint stinging sensation in his brow.
A translucent, illusory panel appeared.
[Alchemy Talent Acquiring (90%→91%)]
Just this much?
Are you kidding me!
Roy was momentarily stunned.
But upon reflection, this was actually a detail worth delving into.
Even if this thing was far inferior in quality to the Thunder Demon Eye or the heart Olen had once obtained, the amount of Inherent Essence it could grant him shouldn't be this little.
"Could it be related to Olinda's Life Energy?
Its energy is shielding this face, so the amount of Source Essence it can grant me is limited.
For now, I can't tell whether I need to get closer to it or touch it…
I can't just treat her like a Stitched Monster and dig out her heart, can I?"
Roy snapped out of his thoughts and gently touched the face, testing it.
The texture felt like a hard tumor, almost like wood or stone.
But…
There was no new progress!
This thing seemed to have completely lost its effect.
"Alright, you've seen it. Do you know what this is and how to deal with it?"
Olinda, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, shrank back slightly and began to dress herself.
"At first, it wasn't obvious, just the size of a bean. I thought it might be a tumor."
"I'm really sorry, but I don't have any knowledge about such things," Roy admitted honestly.
"If you don't know, then why were you touching it?" Olinda's expression turned cold.
"I was just curious," Roy shrugged.
"Hmph!" Olinda wasn't sure if he was telling the truth.
"If I get a chance to learn more about this in the future, I'll try to let you know."
After some thought, Roy made a solemn promise.
"If I don't die during my trip to Chalkland, I might have the opportunity to advance to a Wizard.
At that time, stepping into the Star Sea and being appointed to a position will elevate me to a completely different level. Things I don't know now might become clear.
Besides, I might also get some information from Olen. I'll find a chance to ask him for you."
Olinda's expression softened upon hearing this.
...
From then on, Roy completely abandoned any thoughts of making progress outside and focused more of his energy and attention on Chalkland.
He continued to craft various consumables, preparing Blackening Potion, Mind-Calming Calamus Water Perfume, Enchanted Gunpowder, Orchard Curse, and other potentially useful items.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed, and it was now December 11th.
Everyone set off on their own and arrived at the designated location on the evening of the 11th, waiting for the Dark Star in the Sky around 3 a.m.
The area near the small valley had already gathered many insiders, fearless individuals like Renien and his group, who swarmed in, filling the place with over a hundred people.
Among them, even a few from other Wizard Towers were lurking in the distance, not immediately approaching.
They were like hyenas, wanting to get a share of the spoils but also wary of the Wizard Towers and the rules of the Wizard World itself, not daring to openly compete.
"Those guys..."
Roy also noticed them.
When people from Nickmansha appeared nearby earlier, he had a vague premonition that other Wizard Towers had also set their sights on this lucrative opportunity.
However, the Seven Towers Alliance had its own rules. Even if Chalkland exploded, it was still the property of the Okmi Wizard Tower, and only those within Okmi had the right to handle it.
Those Wizards were still following the rules and didn't dare to come in full force.
Of course, this was also because the Great Wizards of the Okmi Wizard Tower hadn't all died yet.
Whether they survived the experiments or were far away on the Other Side of the Starry Sky, battling in other worlds, they still maintained enough deterrence.
After watching for a while, Roy turned his gaze to Sophia.
The tall senior was bringing Celine along, arriving right on time.
Not long after, a massive celestial body, like a comet, streaked across the distant sky.
Dark Star in the Sky...
In Astrology, the Astral Void was trembling, marking the beginning of the "Week of Demonic Nature," which was favorable for the reproduction of Magical creatures and the ebb and flow of spatial tides.
Above the hills ahead, a massive rift opened, like a demon opening its eye.
In Roy's astonishment, Sophia reached out and took his wrist, and together with Celine, they leaped into the air, enveloped in Mana, and flew towards the dark rift.
Several others also took flight, leaving Renien and the others dumbfounded as they watched them soar away.
"This... this this this..."
Over 95% of the people were completely stunned!
They rolled up their sleeves, meticulously planned, and were willing to risk their lives, daring to face great dangers...
Yet, this treasure hunt was doomed before it even began!
The sky, towering thousands of meters high.
They simply couldn't reach it!
(End of Chapter)