From Wizard Apprentice to Conqueror of Myriad Worlds

The effect of this Magic Potion was an even more pleasant surprise.

[Description: This Magic Potion contains the Spiritual Power of the Deep Red Soul Rose. It can permanently increase Spiritual Strength and, for a certain period of time afterward, slightly enhance the effect of Meditation.]

[Quality Rating: Excellent. Experimental comparisons show this Magic Potion’s potency is 25.6% higher than that of a standard Deep Red Heart Potion, while its side effects are reduced by 52.8%.]

[Efficacy Rating: Experiments show that within one month of consumption, Spiritual Strength can increase by 0.06–0.07. For six to eight months after consumption, Meditation effectiveness will see an additional boost of 13% to 18%.]

The two Magic Potions, placed side by side, offered the most direct comparison.

Mo Ning felt deep down that his decision to join the Deep Red Rose Laboratory had been an exceptionally wise one.

He found the Magic Potion’s side effects quite interesting.

[Side Effects: This Magic Potion can cause the user’s skin to turn deep red, with a high probability of rose-like patterns appearing. There is also a chance of itchiness, which can be suppressed by applying Ice Dew Ointment. These side effects will last for six to eight days.]

The corner of his mouth twitched into a smile as he pictured it. "If anyone saw me like that, they’d probably think I was a monster."

Mo Ning’s gaze swept over the dazzling assortment of bottles and jars, and he smiled with delight.

He was absolutely certain that the fruits of his recent labor surpassed the accumulated progress of the vast majority of First Level Apprentices.

Especially since over half were high-quality Magic Potions, it was an achievement even Second Level Apprentices would struggle to match.

BUZZ—

A faint vibration from his Secret Technique Whisper gently pulled him from his swirl of elation.

Anya’s message had arrived.

[The Steel Bamboo Plantation will officially open at eight o’clock sharp. The entrance is at the Mysterious Secret Hall of the Quiet Forest. Shall we go now?]

Mo Ning glanced at the Magic Energy Clock on the wall and replied with a single word:

[Sure!]

He was now sitting on a veritable fortune: over four thousand Black Tower Points. It was a sum that would drive any other Apprentice mad with envy.

He wasn’t particularly interested in the paltry rewards offered for the plantation’s tasks.

He was, however, interested in the Spiritual Plant itself—Steel Bamboo—and was willing to go just to see what it was all about.

Mo Ning walked to the full-length mirror and quickly adjusted his blue robe before reaching out to push the door open.

At that moment, the hour hand pointed exactly to eight.

Anya’s timing was impeccable.

As expected, a familiar coolness emanated from his Guiding Ring as lines of information were silently etched into his mind:

[Permission Notification: Serial Number 7-118-256, Mo Ning.]

[You have been granted temporary access to the Steel Bamboo Plantation. The entrance is located on the southeast side of the Mysterious Secret Hall of the Quiet Forest.]

[As of today, the plantation is offering a large number of tasks to newcomers. Complete them to earn Black Tower Point rewards.]

[Please Note: The Steel Bamboo Forest is a non-combat zone. Any unauthorized use of Witchcraft will be met with severe punishment.]

Mo Ning pushed the door open a crack, and a wave of noise flooded in, instantly filling the entire hallway.

"Hurry up! If we’re late, all the good tasks will be gone!"

"Praise the academy! Finally, a chance to earn some Black Tower Points!"

"I’m down to my last eighty points! You need Black Tower Points for everything in this academy. I hope the tasks aren’t too difficult!"

The corners of Mo Ning’s mouth curved up slightly.

’Hoping the tasks aren’t too hard?’

He silently added, ’I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.’

According to Anya’s information, the simplest task inside the Steel Bamboo Forest was clearing away Black Moss.

The name "Black Moss" sounds like a type of moss, which might lead one to believe it’s a simple job of wiping and washing.

In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

It wasn’t moss, but tiny black nodules that grew on the surface of the Steel Bamboo.

This stuff was like a kind of stubborn "skin disease."

Once a single nodule appeared, more would sprout around it. They would grow packed together so densely that, at a glance, they resembled a layer of black moss.

Black Moss would greatly slow the growth of Steel Bamboo. If it became too widespread, the plant would stop growing altogether.

And Steel Bamboo was particularly susceptible to Black Moss—over sixty percent of the plants would be afflicted by it. It was as common and unavoidable as a person catching a cold.

What was more troublesome was that once Black Moss appeared, it was guaranteed to return. It was only a matter of time.

That’s why it had to be cleared away on a regular basis.

And there was only one way to remove it: grinding.

The process involved using a special grinding stone to wear away the hard nodules, little by little.

Unfortunately, these nodules were even harder than the Steel Bamboo itself, making it an incredibly physically demanding job.

From what Mo Ning understood, about half of the current batch of newcomers had already awakened their Qi and Blood Power, officially crossing the threshold to become "Warriors."

This was because those with Spiritual Talent also had a distinct advantage when practicing Body Refining Techniques. They had more precise control over their bodies and a keener Perception of their Qi and Blood.

That was why the proportion of Warriors among the newcomers was so high.

But even for Warriors, grinding away Black Moss was a considerably arduous job.

Mo Ning passed through the hallway and stepped into the small plaza.

Morning light spilled down from overhead, coating the gray flagstones in a faint golden layer.

His gaze flickered, and he saw two young women standing in their usual spot, looking like a pair of flowers as they waited expectantly.

Mo Ning gave a slight nod in greeting.

And in return, he witnessed two flowers bloom.

Anya’s lips curved into a gentle arc, like a pear blossom in early spring.

Reina, on the other hand, broke into an unreserved grin, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth as the little cowlick in her hair bobbed along.