Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 223 Divine Journey | Metamorphosis

But there was no time to worry about that right now. The red, black and green specks that appeared on the altar were like mist reflecting light, or like colorful fireflies.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan was like a giant magnet, swallowing and sweeping all the flowing light and fireflies around him into his body.

As this process unfolded, the system notified him that his energy points had increased by nearly 700. Before he could react or feel joy, Zhang Yuan, having absorbed all this primal power, fell into a deeper state of meditation or even a state of spiritual wandering.

He felt his spiritual sea expanding infinitely, almost giving him the illusion of escaping the prime material plane and entering the etheric or astral plane.

It's obviously an illusion; it's just a cognitive mismatch resulting from his rapid mental growth—in other words, he's become arrogant.

This illusory power could not last. In an instant, Zhang Yuan's senses were pulled back from the sky, as if a drifting kite had been brought back to the ground by its string.

When consciousness returned, I was back in my physical body on the material plane.

It feels like a lifetime ago!

Sensing the changes and differences within himself compared to before, Zhang Yuan immediately opened his attribute panel.

Owner: Zhang Yuan
Race: human

Identity: Auto Chess Messenger
Class: Blademaster (Level 5) / Mage (Level 7)
Age: 25
Faction: Absolutely Neutral

Strength: 19 (Hill Giant Strength Belt +3)

Agility: 15 (Speed ​​Boots +1, Vera's Blessing +1)

Constitution: 20 (Vera's Blessing +1)

Intelligence: 20
Intelligence (Perception): 17 (Necklace +2, Beven's Leaf of Concealment +4)

Charisma: 12
Weapon Specializations: Longsword - Advanced, Dual Weapons - Advanced (Beginner - Advanced - Master - Grandmaster - Grandmaster)
Combat Specializations: Evasion, Rolling, Agile Attack, Dual-Weapon Combat, Dual-Weapon Mastery, Dual-Weapon Attack, Dual-Weapon Defense

Spellcasting Feats: Armored Spellcasting, Hand-Free Spellcasting, Magic Insight, Scroll Drawing, Spell Penetration, Spell Specialization: Conjuration, Spell Specialization: Evocation, Spell Specialization: Transmutation, Combat Spellcasting, Silent Spellcasting
Skills: Spirit Slash, Basic Alchemy

Spell slots: First Ring: 14 (doubled by the Ring of Sorcery), Second Ring: 7, Third Ring: 6, Fourth Ring: 5 (Intelligence bonus +3)

Intelligence, perception, and charisma all increased by one point each, which was a huge bargain. The only price to pay was shifting to an absolutely neutral faction. It was worth it!

Moreover, Rome wasn't built in a day, and my previous actions have more or less influenced the changes in my own faction.

Since arriving in Faerûn, although he still adheres to his bottom line, he has indeed lost much of his reverence for order, and his behavior has become much more "flexible".

It's hard to define whether this shift is right or wrong. People's behavior and stances are always inseparable from their environment, and it's only natural that external factors influence internal needs.

Zhang Da Guanren never considered himself a saint or a moral exemplar; perhaps it was only in this world that a side of him, usually suppressed, was finally revealed. If he agreed to absorb that abyssal source power, would his current attributes become even more explosive?
However, after just a fleeting thought, Zhang Yuan shook his head and banished the idea from his mind.

That said, Mr. Grando is such a kind-hearted person!

They give away attributes, credits, and even beautiful women; they're incredibly generous.

Unfortunately, the great demon, who had paid too high a price and lost even his initial capital—or perhaps the lesser demon or even the abyssal worm, Mr. Grando—could only embark on another epic journey of starting from scratch and would be unable to fulfill the glorious position of transport captain for a long time.

He glanced at his stats again with satisfaction, and they were vastly different from when he first arrived in Faerûn.

While there may have been some unexpected gains like today, those were only minor and insignificant. The main success initially came from personal effort and progress.

Not to mention the physical training and growth, just a few days after advancing to the intermediate mage level, his stagnant intelligence attribute finally crossed the threshold of 18 points, and now it is as high as 20 points.

With more spells, stronger effects, and greater confidence and assurance, the existence of the chess piece system means that one day, it won't be a pipe dream to have an army all by oneself.

Coming back to his senses from the joy, Zhang Yuan looked around. The people around him were still immersed in celebration. Although what had just happened was quite a long time, it was only a few moments.

At this moment, Galas was still talking to Sokohu and the Moon Elf's messenger. Sensing Zhang Yuan's gaze, he turned around, gave him a meaningful look, and then ignored him.

Feeling uneasy, Zhang Yuan led his team out of the main hall, following a temple servant, and returned to the guest room where they had stayed the previous night, perhaps sensing that the other party had already noticed something.

"Chanem, we'll be going now!"

Nancy took the storage bag handed to her, carefully placed it in the inside pocket of her clothes, and said goodbye with a mix of reluctance and annoyance.

Looking around, apart from Rick and Morty, the two carefree optimists, the rest of the companions all wore undisguised sorrow and bewilderment on their faces.

Since the Canaan Squad was established, they have overcome many obstacles and dangers to finally reach the Northland. If it weren't for the mage in front of them and their captain, their fate would probably not have been so optimistic, let alone the fact that they arrived at Waterdeep City almost unharmed.

Now that they have to part ways temporarily, they suddenly realize that the young man in front of them, who is only their junior or even their apprentice, has become the backbone that they unconsciously rely on.

"I'll only be in Cloud Peak City for a week. You might not even have sold all those goods by the time I get back," the mage reassured everyone, feigning nonchalance.

"Everything else is fine, just don't lose the communication crystal, otherwise I won't be able to find you. Also, the storage bag, that's most of our team's wealth."

Seeing Nancy nod and show an unusual seriousness, Zhang Yuan smiled and turned to Lawrence: "No one knows these things better than you, so please help me out."

"Alright, enough already. You're making such a big deal out of just one week away. Are you guys putting on a play?" The old man next to him couldn't stand it anymore and pointed at them. "Go on, the teleportation portal has already been set up for you."

Looking in that direction, on a high platform not far away, there was a circular archway, gleaming with silver light. The door was inlaid with gemstones and decorated with numerous runes that were interconnected to form a complex pattern. Light flowed and flickered within these loops.

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(End of this chapter)