Chapter 1233 - Shock

“Take a look, I just checked the video record of the entire day. That Mafa Merlin only recorded data during the first few hours. Afterwards, he remained in the same position and attentively watched the crystal without moving. Do you know what that means...”As soon as he finished speaking, an Artisan immediately grabbed the crystal ball and started rapidly watching what happened during the day. And sure enough, he corroborated the previous statement.

Everyone suddenly became speechless. Zeith attentively watched the crystal ball, his gaze somewhat heavy.

“At the start, it took him five hours to research the first rune. His research method wasn’t too different from an ordinary Artisan. But afterwards, he started using another method to research.

“In addition to buffing himself with Sharp Mind and Berserk Transformation, he also used a support spell I can’t recognize which allowed him to increase his speed several times. That new supporting spell ought to be preventing most of the side effects from Berserk Transformation and allow his mind to stay in a permanent roused state.

“But this isn’t enough... He didn’t record any key data, that shows that his research method is different from ordinary Artisans. What does he use to record and calculate that huge amount of data?

“The core mysteries and data can’t be taken out with a Magic Tool... Was it a Magic Conducting Rune? But I don’t recall a Magic Conducting Rune with such formidable computing power...”

Zeith frowned and sunk into contemplation. The other Artisans quickly followed suit, but no one could figure out the answer.

The intense discussion lasted for half an hour, but no one could figure it out.

Zeith ended up massaging his head before saying, “We don’t need to discuss it, this is a good thing for us in the end if Mafa Merlin researches even more runes. The data from these runes would have to be given to our Starry Sky College. This would be a huge help to our study of that mysterious crystal.

“After so many years, our research of that mysterious crystal had already reached a bottleneck and could hardly move forward. Sh*t, no one could figure out why those runes become harder and take longer to study as we make more progress.

“Pay careful attention to this Mafa Merlin and put aside one crystal ball to record the process of his research. Focus on him, but don’t spy on him outside of the crystal research. Whether we can make a breakthrough in our research may depend on Mafa Merlin this time...”

Lin Yun didn’t know that the Starry Sky College’s Artisans already speculated that he had already researched more than three truth runes based on the question he had asked. Lin Yun had now returned to his own room and was sleeping very soundly. He rarely went to bed lately.

As he grew stronger, his body always remained at its peak, and even when he was exhausted, he only needed to close his eyes for a few minutes to recover to his peak condition. But he had to sleep for no less than six hours this time.

This was inconceivable for a Heaven Mage. Heaven Rank powerhouses turned into another species after undergoing the Extraordinary Transformation. As long as they weren’t seriously injured, they wouldn’t need to sleep, they wouldn’t starve or end up exhausted under normal circumstances. They would forever remain at their peak.

Not to mention, Lin Yun had come out of the Gate of Rebirth. His body had been completely reconstructed and he had followed the most perfect path to complete the Extraordinary Transformation.

Even if that was the case, he still needed to sleep six hours. As he was sleeping, his soul started its fastest transformation and evolution since he advanced to the Heaven Rank. His mind power was also rapidly strengthened, both the quality and the quantity frantically rose.

This were the benefits of completing the Extraordinary Transformation by following a perfect path. No one knew how great and how numerous the benefits of going through the Gate of Rebirth were. The only thing that was certain was that there would be a huge increase in potential. But the rest was unknown. No one knew because there was no record of this.

And now, the hidden benefits started appearing. Extremely high endurance, recovery speed, rapid strengthening.

Any other 1st Rank Heaven Mage that dared to release a dozen Berserk Transformation in a row, and remain in that berserk state for a continuous ten hours, would have already suffered serious damage instead of just feeling tired.

...

After waking up on the next day, Lin Yun felt that his mind had become a lot stronger, while his mind power was already a lot tougher. Even his mana and Extraordinary Power had slightly improved. His comprehension of laws also became a lot stronger and he could faintly feel the fluctuations of the surrounding space.

This was a completely sealed space after all, being able to feel the spatial fluctuations meant that this place’s secrets might already not be that secure.

Lin Yun was somewhat surprised by this change.

‘Were the truth runes’ benefits that amazing? Only one day to get such a huge increase in power? Or was that caused by the use of Berserk Transformation and Steel Heart? It could even be because I used the Magic Array on the truth runes...’

A series of conjectures flashed in Lin Yun’s mind but he instantly shelved these conjectures aside. He was short on time, he only had half a year to research the truth runes. After that, he might have to wait ten years to see the Whisper Crystal again.

After waking up, Lin Yun immediately started researching the truth runes. His research speed was a lot faster since he had developed a good technique. He ended up researching five runes.

Ten days rapidly passed. Lin Yun had returned to his resting place and the few Artisans of the Starry Sky College were gathered together, looking at the recorded scene in the crystal ball. They all looked like they had seen a ghost.

An Artisan pointed at the scene within the crystal ball, his eyelids twitching madly as if he had seen something unfathomable.

His voice sounded somewhat rash as he said, “This is already the 10th day, yet he looks just like before. He seems to be blankly staring into the mysterious crystal, but I counted, his gaze moved away from the crystal a total of five times. According to the study of the past few days, he would fully research a rune before pausing for a bit and writing down a symbol on the sheet of paper.

“In other words, he might have already researched five runes today. His speed is really absurdly fast...”

Zeith took out a few sheets of paper with some crucial pieces of data recorded on them.

“The data here is what Mafa Merlin has recorded for the past few days. Through calculations, I figured out that these pieces of data are pointing to some truth runes’ core data. It adds up to a total of 50!”

The few Artisans looked at those key pieces of data in horror.

So many years passed, and their research data on truth runes already piled up into a library. The mysteries contained within every truth rune might be different and when everyone researched them, the path they took would be different.

But one thing wouldn’t change, some of the core parameters of every truth rune wouldn’t change. No matter the development, that kind of core parameter had a fixed value.

And it was the key data to every truth rune. As long as this was comprehended, the mysteries within every truth rune would be a lot easier to comprehend.

Without fully comprehending those core parameters, the mysteries contained within a truth rune wouldn’t be of much help, even if it was already researched.

As for the Starry Sky College’s Artisans, they had already reached a bottleneck and couldn’t continue their research. It could also be said that their research speed was too slow and it would take them a few years or a decade to completely research a rune.

They started inviting outsider Artisans to join in the research to gather even more data without having to sink a huge amount of time researching the truth runes’ mysteries. This was a stable and profitable business, the Starry Sky College would earn more and more benefits that way.

Ever since they obtained the Whisper Crystal, many years had passed. And even after so many years, it was the first time they saw fifty runes being researched within ten days, this frightened Zeith and the others.

“Aside from Mafa Merlin, how is the research speed of the other Artisans? It could be that the runes appearing on the mysterious crystal were on the simpler side this time...”

This was an inquiry made by a calm Artisan, but everyone took it seriously. The runes were appearing before everyone, thus, if everyone was able to study the mysteries of the runes faster, it would normalize Lin Yun’s speed.

Another Artisan next to him had a strange expression as he took out a crystal plate. A large amount of data pertaining to the Artisans’ research was recorded on the crystal plate.

“Reed Mosh, 7 truth runes in 10 days. Kate Mosh, 8 truth runes, in 10 days.

“Gurrig, 10 truth runes in 10 days. Albert, 11 truth runes in 10 days. Ars, [...]

“In the end, the one who comprehended the most truth runes, aside from Mafa Merlin, is Albert...”

This new information terrified even Zeith. But as the one with the highest status, he could only appear calm.

“Mafa Merlin came in contact with the truth runes for the first time. His speed was a bit faster early on. It’s not the first time Albert came. Being able to research 11 truth runes in 11 days is considered quite good.

“Keep observing Mafa Merlin and use three crystal balls to record everything he does.

“No, don’t record him inside his resting place. It’s for the best if such a terrifying guy isn’t annoyed.

“Right, is Mafa Merlin really only in his thirties?”

After Zeith finished speaking, a few Artisans froze. The youngest among them was already over 500. Heaven Rank powerhouses had long lifespans, and at 500, even a 1st Rank Heaven Mage was still at his peak.

Everyone had only paid attention to alchemy matters and no one cared about his rank. After all, all those who came here were Artisans, and aside from a rare exception like Gurud, they were all Heaven Mages.

“Sir Zeith, you must be joking, right? That Mafa Merlin is in his thirties? I heard that he was a retired Patriarch...” An Artisan exclaimed.

Anyone would be in disbelief if they heard that.

They all had strange expressions while another Artisan looked over the intelligence they had.

“The profile says that Mafa Merlin is only 32 this year and is a Peak 9th Rank Archmage with outstanding fighting abilities. He can burst out with power comparable to a 2nd Rank Heaven powerhouse.

“Moreover, he isn’t an ordinary Artisan, the Magic Staff and Magic Tool he wields have been crafted by none other than himself. This shows that he is proficient in refining. He also possesses a puppet army and has a Peak Level 39 puppet following him, showing that he is proficient in puppeteering.

“In the Raging Flame Plane, he displayed formidable achievements in the field of arrays, but it is written that the field he is most proficient in is actually potioneering...”

That Artisan remained silent after saying those words, his hands were shaking. This was too scary. Everyone had only paid attention to the truth runes and no one checked anything else. Their Artisan brains were all filled with truth runes.

They saw Artisans every day. This time, there were twenty guest Artisans, no one would pay special attention to an Artisan’s identity.

But now, the group was stunned.

Zeith was surprised, “What? The intelligence says that he is only a Peak 9th Rank Archmage? Is the intelligence wrong?”

“No, there is no mistake. This was checked when he came to Neverwinter City. Moreover, Mafa Merlin had a fight with Layford Jackson during that time. Although he was powerful, he hadn’t possessed Extraordinary Power as he lacked the Extraordinary Transformation step...”

Zeith’s expression kept fluctuating and his hands were shivering. He took a short breath before saying, “Alright, I understand. Mafa Merlin had gone out for several days after coming to Neverwinter City. He must have completed his Extraordinary Transformation during that time. What a terrifying guy. He completed the Extraordinary Transformation in the Odin Kingdom and not far from Neverwinter City.

“Yet, our intelligence didn’t hear a single bit of news. Such a terrifying guy. When I saw him, he was only a few meters away from me, yet I clearly felt a powerful and still Extraordinary Power on his body. It was far more powerful than ordinary Heaven Rank powerhouses’.

“But his control over his power is incredible. I could even feel spatial power on his body, stopping everyone from sensing him. Even I can’t sense how powerful he is, I can only feel that he is terrifying.

“That Jackson idiot actually provoked this kind of person... Mafa Merlin could already force a tie before he could reach the Heaven Rank. But he has already advanced now, and if there is no surprise, getting rid of Layford is highly possible.

“Pay attention, you can’t let the Jackson Family’s idiot go too far. I don’t want him to die here, nor do I want to see Heaven Rank powerhouses fight here.”

Zeith gave a cautious command, and a crystal ball started focusing on Layford.

The few Artisans had strange expressions. Even if they were Artisans who would risk their lives for alchemy and didn’t care much about mages’ ranks, they were intimidated...

A Heaven Mage in his early thirties, and according to his profile, he had wasted several years in vain. In other words, he was a terrifying genius that used less than thirty years to advance to the Heaven Rank. He was also an all-rounded Artisan. This wasn’t something a human could achieve...

Zeith sternly gave an order before turning and leaving the conference room, unable to hide the shock on his face. He couldn’t close his mouth, and his hands kept shaking, he was terrified.

‘Damn, a 30 years old Heaven Mage Artisan, is that guy the reincarnation of a God?

’30 years old, damn, at thirty I was still self-satisfied because I advanced to the Archmage realm. My entire family was celebrating back then and even Heaven Rank powerhouses personally appeared.

‘Hell, that guy really reached the Heaven Rank at 30? How could such a monster appear in the Andlusa Kingdom. The Starry Sky College’s best record was reaching the Heaven Rank in 188 years under normal circumstances. And the fastest record for becoming an Artisan in one specific field was 106 years.

‘But the youngest person to become both a Heaven Mage and an Artisan did so in 380 years...

‘Yet that scary Mafa Merlin did that in his thirties. Moreover, the speed at which he researches the truth runes is too terrifying.

‘A monster, he is a pure monster. As long as he doesn’t die, the Starry Sky College might end up having to look up to him in a few hundred years.’

As he thought of this, Zeith suppressed this train of thought to the bottom of his heart and turned to look at the other Artisans and specifically warned them to not leak any information, because in the information passed to the Starry Sky College, Lin Yun was still considered a 9th rank Archmage...

It might just be one step, but the gap was as huge as Noscent’s continent itself

Zeith wanted to report this matter to his superiors, but as he thought about it, they were mainly relying on their Artisans identities this time. Matters unrelated to truth runes were temporarily shelved aside and would have to wait until the end of the gathering.