The next day.
Santos and the other members reported Somlei's provocation to the Golden Shadow Society.
But in the end, the Society dismissed it as a personal grudge and gave no further response.
…
That afternoon.
Lynn returned to his residence. After a brief session of meditation, he gradually calmed his mind.
Since the Society doesn't intend to act, I'll have to rely on myself… Not that I ever expected them to deal with Somlei for me anyway…
Tomorrow, perhaps I should meet with Mardo to discuss a plan against him.
Closing his eyes, Lynn began peering into the principles of his meditation method.
With his current rate of source energy recovery, he could attempt an "Insight" once a week.
And it had already been three weeks since his last insight into the White Crow Swordsmanship, meaning it was time again.
It was worth noting that the last two times he had chosen to focus on his meditation method.
Overall, his mastery had improved somewhat, and his cultivation speed had increased, yet the progress bar on the light screen still displayed only Beginner.
Hopefully, after this attempt, it will finally advance to Proficient.
After a long while, Lynn opened his eyes.
The first thing he did was check his condition, and then a smile appeared on his face.
Though the world outside was in turmoil, his efforts had not been in vain.
Thinking back, ever since advancing to a wizard apprentice, he had set aside time for meditation every single day, no matter how busy he was.
Not once had he wasted a day.
And after all this persistence, along with three rounds of insight
The Hossens Apprentice Meditation Method (Third-Rank) had at last advanced to the level of Proficient.
Closing the light screen, Lynn immediately seized the momentum and sat down to meditate again.
An entire afternoon slipped away in cultivation.
When Lynn finally opened his eyes, a faint glimmer flickered in his pale gray pupils.
With this newfound proficiency in meditation, it felt as if he had crossed a subtle threshold.
He summoned the light screen and examined it carefully, and soon spotted the difference.
The progress of my Third-Rank apprentice cultivation has finally broken past 20%… and my source energy has risen by 0.1, reaching 0.6?!
Without a doubt, the increase in source energy stemmed directly from his advancement in wizardry.
In theory, the fastest way to advance would be to use every single Insight on meditation methods or on arts like White Crow Swordsmanship that strengthen my source energy. That way, my realm would grow at maximum speed.
But in reality… There are always more complex factors to consider.
Leaving the meditation chamber, Lynn didn't rest.
He gathered some tools for constructing magical arrays and went to a corner of his residence, where he began inscribing intricate patterns onto the floor.
Ever since repairing the magical array at the Greenvine Restaurant that day
He had not only been promoted to a Second-Rank member, but was also allowed to select any two apprentice-level magical arrays from the Golden Shadow Society's library.
What he was currently working on was one of those arrays.
It was called Gray Hands Mire, a defensive magical array that could be inscribed onto any stone structure.
As its name suggested, the array transformed the ground and walls of the building into a viscous mire, while conjuring grayish-white hands to strike at intruders.
Lynn had chosen this array partly because it came as a complete system in three stages corresponding to Third-Rank through First-Rank strength.
Each stage increased in difficulty, making it an ideal practice project for learning and honing one's craft.
It was the only array in the Golden Shadow Society's library with such a feature.
Of course, beyond practice, Lynn had chosen it for another reason, preparing to deal with Somlei.
As for the other array he had redeemed, it was the Lambiel Skiff, a large flying apparatus suitable for First-Rank apprentices.
Lynn hadn't chosen it for any special reason, only because this piece of knowledge held the greatest value.
Of course, its difficulty was also not low.
An hour later, Lynn straightened his back and looked at the portion of the array he had drawn. A sense of reassurance settled in his chest.
Perhaps this time, I might be able to construct the Second-Rank version of the Gray Hands Mire?
The most basic Third-Rank version of the array, Lynn had already successfully laid down several times.
It was far simpler than the array at the Greenvine Restaurant or the long-dormant knowledge of the Black Moon Wizard Tower.
But the Second-Rank Gray Hands Mire was still somewhat challenging for him at his current level.
After a brief rest, Lynn was just about to continue when suddenly, one of the arrays he had placed at the doorway of his study was triggered.
Recently, he had set up Gray Hands Mire arrays in many parts of his residence.
Besides its defensive function, this array also acted as a detection and warning system.
Lynn's heart skipped a beat. He turned sharply, instinctively casting a Minor Wind Shield while activating the Silver-Wrist Sword.
A gray-robed man appeared in sight. He looked somewhat disheveled, struggling against the array at the doorway as he said,
"Don't be alarmed… Lynn…"
While pulling his feet free with effort, the man produced an oval-shaped badge.
Golden in material, engraved with the image of a humanoid silhouette wreathed in mist.
That was… the badge symbolizing a First-Tier member of the Golden Shadow Society?
"My name is Daniels Lunt, a First-Tier member of the Society. I came in secret, on behalf of Lord Golden Shadow, to deliver a message to you."
"What message?" Lynn did not lower his guard, his voice steady as he edged toward the window.
Daniels paid no mind. Finally freeing himself from the mire array, he sighed in admiration.
"I've never seen a wizard apprentice with your level of skill in arraycraft."
Shaking his head, he looked at Lynn and got to the point:
"Lord Golden Shadow wishes you to know the Society has not abandoned you. For certain reasons, however, we must keep a low profile for the time being.
"At the same time, after the Autumn Hunt, Lord Golden Shadow will require you to undertake a very important task."
"What task?"
"Lord Golden Shadow didn't say. But it won't be anything detrimental to you," Daniels said with certainty. He then handed over a wooden box, his tone tinged with envy.
"Inside is a magical tool personally crafted by Lord Golden Shadow: the Golden Shadow Pendant. Even a Third-Rank apprentice can use it to invoke the Lord's signature spell, Golden Mist Form.
"Of course, the power will be greatly diminished, no more than the strength of an upper-tier Zero-Ring spell.
"But it will still allow you to transform into a golden mist, reducing most common forms of damage, while granting you high-speed flight and the ability to slip through narrow gaps!"
Hesitantly, Lynn took the box. Inside lay a sapphire pendant, its gem etched with intricate patterns and faint traces of golden light flickering within.
"Lord Golden Shadow also said this counts as an advance payment, while at the same time giving you some means of self-preservation in the days ahead."
Lynn still had many questions he wanted to ask, but Daniels merely shook his head and said:
"That's enough. Accepting the pendant means my task is complete.
"I don't know anything more. I'll take my leave now."
-support me in Patreon for more chapter, 145+ chapters in there
patreon.com/AetherTL