Chapter 009: Progress

This is what Xiao Hong constantly yearns for at all times

It is now late at night, and on Xiao Hong's desk, various books are piled high, totaling more than twenty volumes. Initially, there were pharmacopoeias, and later, detailed explanations of magical rune materials.

Countless strange and peculiar thoughts emerged incessantly

It seems feasible. Xiao Hong murmured to himself, then, not daring to pause for too long, he gently closed his eyes, relaxed his entire body, and began to continue using the breath training method to train his control.

As the sun sets in the west and the sky darkens, Xiao Hong, leaning against the creaking wooden chair, continues to fiddle with the two mysterious magic-patterned beads in his hand

The thought of reaching Level 2 of mastery, which would allow him to create magical runes and harness higher-level runes, filled Xiao Hong with a sense of excitement throughout his entire being, making him eager to practice another round immediately; however, this was no longer permitted

It seems that it should be sufficient. Xiao Hong, who tried to calm his mind as much as possible, secretly murmured to himself. Estimating time has always been one of Xiao Hong's strengths, a skill cultivated during his time in the fourth level of the mine.

This time, the improved incense burned for a full half hour, representing a threefold increase compared to before. The smoke produced from the slow combustion can also be fully absorbed by Xiao Hong, preventing it from dissipating into the air and being wasted

The pressing priority at present is to procure the materials necessary for crafting magic patterns. Essential among these are the engraving knife and the stone carrier. As for the pattern liquid, it must be specially produced by oneself, which is also a relatively important test for the pattern maker

As the incense in the wooden box turned to ashes, half an hour had passed, and at this moment, Xiao Hong's control power had increased to 202.

Approaching the desk, Xiao Hong stuffed a few red safflower fruits into his mouth and picked up a book on the creation of magic runes, delving into it. He had read such books before, but back then it was merely out of curiosity; now, however, it was entirely a form of preparation, as he aimed to record all the knowledge points regarding magic runes as thoroughly as possible

The bark of this tree was originally used for relieving coughs and expelling phlegm; however, the book describes that the bark of this plant burns very slowly, and the smoke produced from its combustion can absorb a significant amount of oxygen

Fifteen minutes later, the incense had already burned halfway, and within Xiao Hong's body, the control power had derived 195 strands.

Subsequently, Xiao Hong did not delay any further and sat at the head of the bed in the same manner as yesterday

Xiao Hong's expression appeared quite focused, with his brows slightly furrowed and his lips perfectly parted, as he tried to suppress the turmoil within. This time, it was highly likely that he would reach the second level of the Tamer. For Xiao Hong, this would undoubtedly represent a transformative breakthrough. Once he reached the second level, he would not only be able to control higher-level magic patterns but also learn to create the magic patterns he needed.

Because training the control will also consume the internal control, there is not much control left in Xiao Hong's body. Moreover, Xiao Hong is well aware that one should not seek quick success; it is now necessary to give the body a period of adjustment.

Slowly opening his eyes, although there was still a slight dizziness in front of him, it was much better than before. This time, after half an hour, Xiao Hong's control had increased by fifteen units, now reaching 15 and - 8 units.

In the blink of an eye, a day has passed. Throughout this day, Xiao Hong did little else, dedicating almost all of his thoughts to the transformation of the fragrance. In the morning, he scoured for materials, and in the afternoon, he began to formulate and develop.

Placing a piece of cotton cloth underneath, he carefully took the fish soup off the campfire, gently blew on it, and took a small sip. Instantly, a slight warmth spread through his somewhat cold stomach, and his mind, which had been tense from contemplation, began to relax a little.

Regarding the matter of the ore, Xiao Hong is not overly concerned. He can casually extract a few pieces from the mine, bring them back, and after cutting and polishing, they can be used. However, what Xiao Hong needs most right now is a complete set of carving knives. These knives are manufactured through a special process and can transmit the force to the ore.

In terms of the current effects, it is quite good; there is no accumulation of smoke in the body, which is the most important aspect

While carefully observing the intricate patterns above, one speculates about their purposes. However, the complexity of these patterns is overwhelming. With Xiao Hong's current understanding of magical runes, he is unable to fully comprehend the significance of every twist, every intersection, and every curve within the patterns, as if each holds a profound meaning, much like gazing into the vast and boundless night sky, deep and captivating.

After igniting the incense, Xiao Hong could clearly see that the burning speed of the incense had noticeably slowed down, and the originally gray smoke had transformed into a light blue color

The prescription has been completed, and Xiao Hong's internal energy is nearly exhausted, causing him to directly hold the pencil tip and fall asleep on the desk.

What exactly are these two magic pattern beads used for? Xiao Hong continued to murmur to himself while looking at the book, his gaze fixed on the two magic pattern beads. With one hand, he casually picked up a red flower fruit from a small bowl and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it with great enjoyment

With each breath, the faint blue smoke would seep into Xiao Hong's nostrils

Completely achieved the level of Rider Level 2

As the breath entered his body, Xiao Hong could clearly feel that the smoke within him was no longer as restless as it had been yesterday; instead, it was somewhat milder and carried a hint of freshness

At the current pace, it is expected that it will take only three to four days to advance to Level 2 of mastery

On the scrap paper on the desk, there are densely recorded herbs and materials. Whenever he finds something useful, Xiao Hong diligently notes it all down, using them as clues to attempt to construct a reasonable line of thought to achieve his objectives

In the blink of an eye, three days have passed, and Xiao Hong has already acquired 188 strands of control within his body. During this time, he also visited the forest once more to gather some herbs

Then, take out a piece of wood and continuously slide the tip of the knife over the surface. In fact, creating magic patterns requires a specialized carving knife, which allows the internal control power to be transmitted intact into the magic patterns. It is impossible to achieve this with ordinary tools.

The hand holding the pencil tip also began to continuously write and draw on a fresh sheet of grass paper

By 3 PM, the improved fragrance had finally been created. The original fragrance's exterior was now enveloped in a thick layer of white substance, resembling stuffed noodles, arranged in a plate the size of a palm.

Undoubtedly, this is the truest voice of Xiao Hong's heart.

Burning slowly, if it is tightly wrapped above the incense, reducing the contact between the incense and the air, could it not promote the slow burning of the incense? The smoke contains a large amount of oxygen, so could we find a way to extract the oxygen from the smoke... With such a discovery, a series of ideas began to swirl continuously in Xiao Hong's mind

A full half hour had passed, and Xiao Hong had thoroughly maintained the necessary calmness. Now, what Xiao Hong should consider is how to create magic patterns and continue to enhance his control.

Soon, the fish soup suspended over the campfire began to boil and emit a sizzling sound, while the tender aroma of the fish soup gradually wafted through the air

There is nothing strange about this; it has been mentioned before that willpower is the source that supports physical strength and energy. As willpower improves, physical strength and energy naturally increase.

Xiao Hong's family possesses a vast collection of books, diverse and peculiar, encompassing all kinds. It can be said that on the day of graduation from the academy, Xiao Hong will be waiting at the academy gate, picking up any book he encounters as long as it is not a duplicate. The older the book, the better, as new books often signify that they belong to students merely passing time, containing little in the way of notes on key knowledge points, and offering limited references.

What he is doing now is singular: to cure what others perceive as an incurable disease and to live well.

Suddenly, just as Xiao Hong was about to put down his book and prepare for sleep, he unexpectedly discovered a material called the bark of the Baiying tree in a book titled "Interesting Uses of Materials".

At this moment, having finally succeeded, Xiao Hong found it hard to believe for a moment. After repeatedly confirming through his breath several times, he leaped up from the bed, opened his arms, clenched his fists, and exclaimed: "I did it! I will not sit idly by in the face of illness! I can finally create magic patterns with *Tu* *Shu*!"

After finishing the fish soup along with the fish meat, Xiao Hong's mental state also experienced some recovery. He then stood up and extinguished the remaining embers of the campfire with soil. Xiao Hong returned to his room, sat down at his desk, and continued to search through various books, attempting to find a method to achieve his previous ideas.

After a brief outburst of celebratory emotions, although his heart still fluctuated, Xiao Hong had already calmed down. After moving his body a bit, he found that he felt considerably lighter than before, and his energy seemed to have increased a little.

At this moment, Xiao Hong was sitting upright on the worn wooden bed, his eyes slightly closed, with a bamboo tube fixed between the incense and his nostrils by a makeshift stand.

Certainly, the value is considerable. Previously, Xiao Hong had heard Li Le mention it. The cheapest ones, it is said, cost at least several dozen silver coins. In addition, various other items are required, such as graphite, magic pattern bags, and so on.

Three full hours had passed. Xiao Hong wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally formulated a brand new prescription once again. The required materials consisted of only five types, all of which were very common items. As for the Bai Ying tree, it goes without saying that there was one not far from his home.

Success. Slowly opening his eyes, Xiao Hong gazed at his hands, murmuring to himself, his expression a mix of excitement, joy, and a hint of bewilderment that came from being caught off guard

Xiao Hong is merely practicing the feel of carving patterns by doing this

Once upon a time, the ability to create his own magical patterns and heal his own ailments was an immense desire for Xiao Hong. Unfortunately, during that period, the ravages of illness and the pressures of life rendered this small dream seemingly unattainable