"Stuck at 90%! This is so frustrating…"
Roy couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
However, having confirmed his speculation, he quickly regained his enthusiasm.
He had truly obtained the Inherent Essence!
"This is a Demonized Organ from an Artificial Lifeform! It seems to be at least at the Wizard level!"
Raymond didn't know what Roy was thinking, but he was equally thrilled.
He turned to Roy and tentatively asked, "How should we divide this?"
The remaining intermediate apprentice behind him, slightly nervous, tightened his grip on his bone staff, adopting a defensive stance.
Roy glanced at them and said, "Don't worry, I keep my word."
"Your honor truly keeps his promises!" Raymond exclaimed, whether out of provocation or genuine respect, he praised repeatedly.
Roy remained calm, "I just wonder, what do you plan to choose?"
"Of course, this heart!"
Raymond watched Roy's expression closely, relieved when Roy didn't react negatively.
He quickly added, "If you're willing, I can compensate you with Magic Stones and some materials, but I'm not sure how to price it…"
"Ha, materials at the Wizard level are of first-tier quality. Even a single piece like a Demonized Organ holds significant value.
It must be worth at least tens of thousands!"
Roy said meaningfully.
"I can't come up with over ten thousand at once," Raymond pondered slightly, "But knowledge is priceless. I can make up the rest with Wizardry knowledge."
"That works too," Roy agreed.
He had been planning to save up for a big purchase recently—a Storage Wizardry Artifact costing at least ten thousand Magic Stones.
He had been thinking about this for some time. If he wanted to venture into Chalkland for treasure, such an item was essential and had to be bought before December.
After some discussion, Roy decided to let Raymond give him 7500 Magic Stones. Combined with the savings from refining Magic Stones using the Blackening Potion over the past few months, he could make the purchase immediately.
The shortfall would be compensated by a Necromantic Wizardry technique that Raymond knew.
Raymond agreed to everything, promptly making a verbal agreement, settling the deal.
As he was injured, he demonstrated on the spot.
"The Wizardry I want to give you is called the Necromantic Life Absorption Technique, also known as Life Absorption…
It's a secret technique that converts Wizardry Energy into life force for self-healing or similar purposes."
"Life Absorption? In some folk tales, when a Wizard saves someone, they require the supplicant to offer their life as a price, using a similar power."
Roy recalled some dark fairy tales or fables he had read in the library.
In those stories, there were often scenes where someone sacrificed their life to save a loved one.
The Spellcaster usually played the role of the villain, but in reality, casting such spells did require certain sacrifices.
As they spoke, the surviving intermediate apprentice brought over his companion, placing the severed leg beside him.
Raymond felt a bit sorrowful, saddened by his companion's death.
This was his beloved friend, a trusted companion…
After composing himself, he chanted an incantation, and a faint glow flew from the deceased's body, captured in his palm.
Roy watched as Raymond placed his hand on his injured leg, adjusting the broken limb and pressing firmly.
The severely damaged leg, which would have left an ordinary person permanently disabled, miraculously reconnected.
Then, it began to heal at a visible rate.
Raymond didn't waste the life energy that was continuously draining and decaying from the deceased, slowly absorbing it into his body. Even his noticeably depleted mana recovered somewhat.
"This spell can even replenish mana?"
Roy was greatly surprised and decided to look into it thoroughly after returning.
"Indeed, what we in the Wizard World call Wizardry Energy is known as mana or Mana in the outside world.
These terms vary, and there might be subtle differences, but fundamentally, they all represent the surplus of spirit and soul.
Many people often separate flesh and spirit, but in some theories of the Necromancy school, they are two sides of the same coin.
If mastered, it can replenish the spirit, and naturally, restore mana."
Raymond then explained in detail.
This Life Absorption, in its initial stages, can only be used to replenish life energy.
After mastering the basics, it can even replenish the spirit.
When truly understood, it can be used to enhance attributes, strengthen the body, and serve as a cultivation skill!
Some Necromancy Wizards even use it as a regular supplement!
It can be said to be an exceptionally fundamental Wizardry in the Necromancy system.
However, there is a cost to this, such as incompatible life energy, various impurities, and thoughts mixing into one's flesh.
Over time, one might even turn into a monster similar to a Stitched Monster.
To show his sincerity, Raymond took out a notebook: "These are the materials I referenced when learning this Wizardry, and it also contains some of my personal insights.
It's said that after truly mastering this Wizardry, there are accompanying high-level secret techniques, the famous Soul-Seizing Art."
"Soul-Seizing Art? That's not something you can master at this stage, and even if you did, you wouldn't teach it to me, right?"
"Correct, if you're interested in the subsequent derived Wizardry, you'll have to find it yourself."
Roy nodded, checked it briefly, and then put it away.
...
After the transaction was completed, they didn't linger and immediately went their separate ways.
They had originally cooperated to deal with the Stitched Monster, and now that they had each gotten what they needed, staying far away from each other was the safest!
What Roy didn't know was that Raymond quietly returned with that intermediate apprentice.
After observing for a while, he summoned several monsters shrouded in black mist, with terrifying appearances, which devoured the Stitched Monster's corpse cleanly.
In the darkness, the figures of those monsters resembled human bodies but were hunched, exuding an astonishing amount of dark energy.
"This is a huge gain. The life energy this monster possessed, even after being mostly burned, still amounts to dozens of people!
Moreover, many of these were bodies of low-level Knights and even intermediate Knights, as well as Chalk Soil!
That Okmi apprentice had no idea that this is what we truly needed!"
Raymond said with a hint of excitement to his companion.
What they also didn't know was that Roy went to a secluded place and, through Meditation, once again confirmed the progress displayed on the illusory panel.
"Although it's only 90%, it's still the greatest harvest..."
At that moment, he suddenly tilted his head to listen.
A Wandering Soul Messenger, resembling a wi
ll-o'-the-wisp, quietly appeared—it was Niya delivering a message.
"Olen has gathered a few people and headed out, possibly towards the Gale Hills!
If you're over there, be extremely careful!"
(End of Chapter)