The Energy-Eating Insect's six legs went limp at the same time.
“Sister, how many magic crystals does all this cost in total?”
The Tower Spirit remained silent for a few seconds, presumably calculating.
“Seven hundred and eighty-three magic crystals. With ten percent interest, you will owe eight hundred and sixty-one magic crystals and thirty magic stones in twenty years.”
The Energy-Eating Insect froze completely on the spot.
Only after a long while did it slowly fly up and land back on top of Ethan's head.
“Fine.”
The word squeezed out of its mouth dryly, as if it had been ground back and forth between its teeth several times.
The Tower Spirit's phantom flickered slightly, likely in amusement.
“The contract has been recorded. Pay it off within twenty years, or the interest will double if overdue.”
The Energy-Eating Insect didn't say a word.
It huddled on top of Ethan's head, its six legs tightly gripping his hair, the vibration frequency of its wings slowing down until it was barely perceptible.
Ethan could feel the bug's body on his head trembling slightly.
The Tower Spirit gathered the crystal boxes into a gray storage bag and handed it to Ethan.
“Both the primary and auxiliary materials are ready. Once the cross-world teleportation array is established, just have that dead bug take you to the academy to find that old guy.”
Ethan took the storage bag and tucked it into his storage ring.
“Thank you, my Lord.”
The Energy-Eating Insect flew up from his head, its voice muffled. “Alright, alright, let's go, let's go. If we don't leave now, I'm afraid I'll cry.”
It waved a foreleg at the Tower Spirit, its six wings vibrating simultaneously as it flew toward the door.
Ethan followed behind it and walked out of the warehouse.
Just as he took two steps, the Tower Spirit's voice echoed from behind.
“Dead bug.”
The Energy-Eating Insect turned its head.
“Drink less nectar and save some money.”
The vibration frequency of the Energy-Eating Insect's wings suddenly accelerated, and its tone went sky-high.
“None of your business!”
With that, it whooshed out of the corridor and vanished around the corner.
When Ethan walked out of the Wizard Tower, the bug on his head was still muttering.
“Seven hundred and eighty-three magic crystals. Eight hundred and sixty-one magic crystals and thirty magic stones. Twenty years. How much is my monthly allowance again? Three magic crystals? No, it seems to be two point two magic crystals? Did Master give me a raise last time? I can't remember...”
The more it muttered, the more depressed it became.
Ethan stood on the paved path outside the Wizard Tower, turning his head to glance at the bug on his shoulder that was still doing math.
“My Lord, the contract is already signed. Just doing the math won't help.”
The Energy-Eating Insect's muttering paused.
“Cut the crap, as if I didn't know that.” It poked Ethan's forehead with a foreleg. “Easy for you to say. You're not the one in debt.”
It flew up from his shoulder, hovering in midair, its compound eyes staring at Ethan's face for several seconds.
“But then again, you're just a Third-Tier Apprentice. Where did you get the heartwood of the World Tree? Don't tell me you got it yourself.”
Right after saying that, the Energy-Eating Insect waved its foreleg. “Forget it, you don't have to say anything. Just pretend I was talking nonsense. A wizard's secrets are not to be pried into. Alright, it'll take another half a year for the cross-world teleportation array to be built. Go tend to your own business first. Once the teleportation array is open, I'll come find you.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
...
Half a year.
This timespan was neither too long nor too short for those in the Wizard World.
For those old apprentices who had been stuck at bottlenecks for many years, half a year was no different from the blink of an eye.
For those apprentices stirring up trouble in Amons World, it was barely enough time to make a grueling journey and then execute a single operation.
But for Ethan, this half-year flew by faster than all his previous time combined.
After all, the magic crystals and tens of thousands of magic stones he had accumulated over this half-year, along with all the looted spoils in his storage ring—potion ingredients, minerals, magical beast bone armor, Amons weapons and armor, and other miscellaneous items—had been entirely exchanged for knowledge, leaving absolutely nothing behind.
Seven volumes of Intermediate-level knowledge and nearly a hundred volumes of basic knowledge, covering more than a dozen fields such as microscopic energy particle control, wood-element wizardry model conformation, outworld plant taxonomy, magical beast anatomy, and alchemy material compatibility contraindications.
Seven alchemy recipes, each at least two grades higher in quality than the Spirit-Refreshing Potion and Ignis Paste.
There was also a large collection of Amons World's native knowledge texts. From their energy application methods to the runic structures of their Priest system, he had bought everything available.
In addition, he spent a large sum of magic crystals to purchase a First-Tier spell model: Thorn Blood Armor.
【Thorn Blood Armor】
【Attribute: Wood】
【Base Defense: 3,000 degrees】
【Base Contact Reflection Damage: 200 degrees per hit】
【Casting Time: 10 seconds】
【Effect: An offensive and defensive evolution branch of Wood Armor. The armor is woven from highly resilient blood-colored wood fibers, with inch-long poisoned wooden thorns growing evenly across its surface. When subjected to melee impact, physical collision, or a close-range hit by an energy beam, the wooden thorns will automatically launch and pierce into the target, inflicting a corrosive wood poison that slowly disintegrates the target's flesh and energy shield. The armor is linked with the caster's superficial nerves; upon being attacked, it automatically contracts along the direction of the force to disperse impact, while the counterattack angle of the thorns adaptively adjusts to the direction of the attack, leaving no defensive blind spots. Base duration is 1 hour, during which new thorns can be grown and damaged parts repaired by supplying mana.】
Coupled with the non-stop Elemental Torrent Body Refinement Technique, it could be said that Ethan had not rested for a single day.
Let alone sleeping, he had not even closed his eyes once.
He would only stop when his mental power was on the verge of exhaustion, using a meditation method to recover.
Even so, such high efficiency was only possible due to the massive boost from his passives.
If a First-Tier Wizard were to learn all of this?
Within half a year?
Ha, they wouldn't even finish in ten years.
Right at this moment, the rune near his right ear suddenly vibrated.
“Hehehe, little apprentice, the cross-world teleportation array is complete. Come to the Wizard Tower.”
The Energy-Eating Insect's voice came from the Wizardry Tool, sharp and carrying a hint of distress.
It was likely still dwelling on the debt of seven hundred and eighty-three magic crystals.
The gates of the Wizard Tower were wide open, and the Tower Spirit's phantom hovered at the entrance, her pale green silhouette rippling slightly in the air.
“You're here.”
Ethan bowed. “My Lord.”
“The dead bug is waiting for you upstairs. Go on up.”
Ethan walked through the corridor and went up the stairs. The Energy-Eating Insect was perched on the banister at the landing, its six wings drooping listlessly, the light in its compound eyes much dimmer than it had been half a year ago.
Seeing Ethan approach, its wings vibrated a few times as it flew up and nestled comfortably on top of his head.
“Hehehe, kid, you look a bit different.” One of the Energy-Eating Insect's forelegs scratched around in his hair. “The energy particles around you are more stable, and your mental fluctuations have retracted quite a bit. Haven't been slacking off these past six months?”
“I've been learning some things.”
“Hmph, acting all mysterious.” The Energy-Eating Insect poked half its body out from his head, its compound eyes hanging upside down to face him. “You brought the heartwood and the auxiliary materials, right? That old guy has a terribly weird temper. If you forgot the materials, he'll throw both you and this bug right out.”
...Wait, who refers to themselves—or rather, a fellow bug—like that?
Of course, Ethan could only grumble internally. He quickly replied, “I brought everything.”
“That's good. Let's go.”
Rate on N.U.
