Chapter 515 - 209: I Didn’t Mean to Show Off...

"That won’t be necessary," Flanta said with a smile. "Even at the price from our last transaction, I still make a bit of a profit. You probably don’t know this, but the ones you made before sold for as much as one hundred and twenty gold pounds a bottle."

’That high?’

Wei’en remembered that the normal price for a perfect-grade bottle was one hundred gold pounds. He hadn’t expected people would still buy them at a twenty percent markup.

"After all, perfect-grade Abnormality-Suppressing Potions are rare, even in our Blood Spirit School."

"In that case, let’s do as you say."

"Thank you very much for your help, His Excellency Faceless," Flanta said in a solemn tone, bowing deeply. "If you ever need anything in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Wei’en just smiled, not paying much mind to the promise. For him, it was a small effort, and he wasn’t losing anything either.

However, Flanta’s experience served as a reminder: exploring ruins was important, but trustworthy teammates were even more so.

Otherwise, if they found something truly valuable in the ruins, it would likely attract the covetous eyes of those with ulterior motives.

This was something he absolutely had to guard against!

"Actually, there is something I’d like to ask your help with."

"Ask away, Your Excellency!"

"It’s about the Judgement Saintess. If possible, I need detailed intelligence on her. I was wondering if you might be able to provide it."

’The Judgement Saintess?’

Flanta was taken aback for a moment. ’Since when did the Ghost Soul School start paying attention to the Holy Professionals of the Dawn Church?’

"No problem, I’ll go back and sort it out right away. In fact, ever since the Judgement Saintess re-emerged from the Holy Sanctuary, quite a few people have come to buy intelligence on her."

"Oh?"

"After all, her personality is quite foul. Many people on the Eastern Continent are keeping a close eye on her movements," Flanta said with a small laugh.

"Then I’ll leave it to you."

As he spoke, Wei’en glanced at the dark figures around them.

Even though he and Flanta were on the outskirts, it hadn’t lessened the other Wizards’ focus on him.

Just then, Tren Mage and Nana Mage, who were on the altar, finished their conversation.

Following the established procedure, Tren stepped forward and began, "Welcome, everyone, to the Tower Gathering. I am Tren of the Ghost Soul School. I trust you’ve all received the last research report on the Extraordinary traits of Mutated Mages, so I won’t repeat it."

"I will now announce the theme of this gathering—a study on the rune fusion of the Elemental Magic, the Blink Spell!"

’Blink?’

Wei’en raised an eyebrow, his gaze toward Tren Mage turning playful.

He had reason to believe the emergence of this topic was inextricably linked to his performance during the Caster incident.

As far as he knew, within the major Research Centers of the Ghost Soul School, there were still many research institutes whose main projects were the Blink Spell (Death God) and the Corpse Explosion Skill (Death God)...

"As you all should know, not long ago in the Caster City State..."

’Of course...’

Wei’en watched helplessly as Tren Mage recounted the events of that night, even using a slew of exaggerated adjectives to describe his performance.

For example, a once-in-a-millennium Wizard genius, whose achievements in runology were unprecedented, and so on.

"...and as for the Blink Spell used by that Wei’en Mage, I’m sure you’ve witnessed it. Tonight’s gathering will revolve around studying the runic structure of that Magic."

"However, before we begin our exchange, please allow me to give a grand welcome to a Great Mage who has joined us, His Excellency Faceless! Please, come to the stage and offer us some direction on this topic."

’Huh, is it starting already?’

Wei’en looked at the silent applause from the surrounding dark figures. ’This kind of welcome is really unnecessary.’

It felt like a horde of Vengeful Spirits welcoming a new accomplice...

His gaze then fell on Tren Mage, who was also from the Ghost Soul School, and he walked straight up to the altar.

"My apologies, Senior Faceless." Seeing him approach, Tren Mage explained in a low voice, "If Nana Mage hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have asked you to come up here like this."

Despite her words, she felt a bitter pang in her heart.

’To think that Faceless, who took the initiative to exchange contact information with me last time, was also a Wizard of the Ghost Soul School... If I had known, I never would have let such an opportunity slip by.’

"It’s fine."

Wei’en replied calmly, his crimson eyes sweeping over all the dark figures present.

Despite the restrictions of the Nightmare Realm World’s rules, the envy and fervor in the gazes of these illusory dark figures were hard to conceal, reflected clearly in his eyes.

He still remembered that the last time he came here for a Wizard gathering, his Origin Power was on par with theirs, and even much lower than some of the other Wizards.

And this time, he was invited to speak as a Great Mage...

This made him sigh internally. ’It’s not that I want to show off; I just really can’t get out of it!’

"The Blink Spell, as one of the most commonly used spells by Elemental Mages, offers self-evident advantages in combat across all sorts of environments."

Wei’en didn’t give a long-winded speech. Instead, he got straight to his understanding of the Blink Spell. "I have also seen the effects of the Blink Spell as used by that Wei’en Mage. It’s safe to say his fusion and modification of that Magic Rune has reached an unfathomable level."

’Hmm, this is a bit like tooting my own horn...’

"To achieve the same effect without a clear direction would be exceedingly difficult. And as it happens, I have some thoughts on the matter..."

’Thoughts?’

The gazes of the surrounding dark figures grew more focused. If not for the lack of pen and paper, they would have probably started taking notes already.

This was the understanding of a Great Mage on Magic Runes!

"First, the rune for the Blink Spell has some inherent flaws. It..."

Before Wei’en could continue, a few Elemental Mages from the Spiritual Mystery School below grew restless.

"Hmm?"

"Flaws?!"

"How is that possible?"

Wei’en fell silent. ’It seems Wizards have unshakable faith in their established traditions.’

"Quiet!"

At that moment, Tren Mage and Nana Mage walked up, staring at the few Elemental Mages.

"Shukri, Dillon, I expect you to maintain a basic level of respect until Faceless Mage has finished speaking!"

"Our apologies, Nana Mage."

"Sorry..."

Seeing this, Nana Mage’s expression softened slightly. She turned to Wei’en and said, "Apologies, Faceless Mage. Please, continue."

"Mm."

Wei’en nodded, but his gaze had turned somewhat icy. He snorted, "Don’t doubt it. Everything I say tonight, you can go back and verify for yourselves."

"Apologies, Your Excellency. Please forgive them."

"..."

The vast majority of the dark figures were not Elemental Mages, and they were equally displeased with the outburst from those few Wizards from the Spiritual Mystery School.

"Returning to the topic at hand, as I just said, the Blink Spell has certain flaws."

Originally, Wei’en had only planned to mention one, but seeing the stubbornness of his audience, he raised the number to three—exactly half the total number of flaws he had discovered.

Moreover, he also hoped to use this opportunity to verify a certain theory of his!

"One, in the Blink Spell’s recursive structure, it’s missing a line used to reduce Spiritual Power consumption. Its position is from the left corner to the central star ring."

"Two, the actual effect of the Blink Spell—that is, its distance—can be increased by twenty percent under the same power level. The specific method involves the core node at the intersection of the upper and right corners of the star ring, which needs to be prefixed..."

"Three, and this is what I consider the most fatal flaw..."

The expressions of those few Wizards from the Spiritual Mystery School, as well as Nana Mage, all changed.

’Reducing Spiritual Power consumption, enhancing the spell’s effect...’

’Is this for real?’

’To think someone could study the runic structure of the Blink Spell to such a degree!’

’If these flaws are real, and the Wizards of our Spiritual Mystery School were to correct them, the increase in our power would be more than just a little...’

’So, just who is this His Excellency Faceless?’