Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 534 Clarifying the Path Ahead
From Prologis's perspective, the other party was, after all, a powerful lord, and backed by a formidable figure like Tyranitar.

More importantly, the other party is not pursuing the same path of departmental promotion, and is not competing with us for the same opportunities, thus reducing the conflict of interest.

Over time, they developed a certain rapport.

On this visit, the other party happened to be free. In his private study, a wizard with the appearance of an ordinary middle-aged man and a long black beard chatted with the visitor with great interest about some special techniques of the Transmutation School.

For example, multiple transformations and revitalization.

"It is true that there are multiple spells in the transformation system, and the effects are stacked. Many components and materials with extremely demanding properties must be processed and refined through this method."

"Of course, you can also use a wish-making spell, which works even faster."

As he spoke, Pros took a sip of tea and casually told a corny joke.

"What about flesh and blood tissue? After being transformed into inorganic matter and then reactivated by magic, can this tissue become a living prosthesis for the recipient?"

Zhang Yuan proposed a suggestion, which was also a question he had accumulated after observing a series of operations by his teacher recently.

"How could that be? If it were that convenient, wouldn't rare items like the Moonhound Statue be commonplace by now? Why would mages bother developing golems? Wouldn't it be better to just revitalize petrified creatures?"

Zhang Yuan was not surprised when his idea was rejected; he simply listened quietly to his senior's insights.

"The transformation of matter is not irreversible, but you cannot expect matter whose form and properties have been distorted several times by arcane energy to retain all its original characteristics."

"The more intricate and sophisticated a structure is, the harder it is to preserve, and life is precisely the most delicate and refined of all."

"Those who have been petrified can be restored."

"It can be restored, but what if that unfortunate man's statue is transformed again?"

Pros chuckled and began to tell a classic joke circulating among mages:
"There was once a clever fellow who set his sights on the treasure of an old red dragon, but he was too weak and could not deal with the dragon's claws and flames by normal means. After thinking it over, he came up with a 'brilliant' idea."

Having roughly guessed the ending of "Little Clever Kid," Zhang Yuan still listened with some curiosity.

"He used sequence magic to combine three transformation spells into one: transforming into an animal rat, transforming into a fire elemental, and using the Shadow Charm to create the Shadowflame Rat Transformation, which combines evasion, resistance to fire, and shadow concealment."

"Guess what?"

"Scratched to death by a giant water elemental cat from the heavens?"

Pfft~ Cough cough!

Pros almost choked on his tea.

"You are just as interesting as the teacher said."

The senior apprentice wiped the water droplets from his beard somewhat awkwardly, looking at Zhang Yuan with a wry smile:

"What the hell is this 'Celestial Water Cat'? How did you even come up with that?"

"Hehe, just saying, don't worry about it. I guess it's some kind of fatal consequence caused by the incompatibility of element properties during the transformation process?"

"indeed,"

Pros, regaining his composure, nodded:

"The consequence of forcibly distorting the body is turning the subject into a living bomb. Although it's uncertain whether this actually happened, it's a well-known anecdote. Makzzaro's inspiration for his self-destructing beetle came from this story." "But there are still successful cases, right?"

"Of course there are, but I must tell you that it is not a realm you can comprehend right now. It requires high-level spells or divine magic that combine factional connections."

Prologis's words were clearly meant to persuade, but Zhang Yuan was not so stubborn as to refuse to listen to reason. He followed the conversation and discussed other topics until late at night before finally being teleported back to the high cliff.

Research, reflection, literature review, seeking help, experimentation and verification, and occasionally checking on the territory's condition.

The mage seemed to have transformed into a spinning top, swinging back and forth between the academy and the territory.

With his lecturer title and mentorship, Mr. Zhang could rightfully exploit all the college's resources, including books, documents, experimental equipment, and of course, the most important human resources.

Fortunately, he didn't manage to fleece anyone. The fair and benevolent Master Zhang chose to treat everyone equally, and even Balas occasionally received visits from him for advice.

The next two months were spent in this busy and hectic pace, with only a short break at the beginning of the new year when we held a large bonfire party to celebrate the festival with the people.

The last month of the year and the deep winter month have passed one after another, and the hands of time have quietly turned to the second month of the 1367DR year.

At the end of the month of Winter Claw, Zhang Yuan finally emerged from this near-full-capacity operation.

Having gone through a long and adventurous journey and taken on the heavy responsibility of building up the territory, everything is now on the right track. He can finally take this opportunity to devote himself to research and organize all his knowledge and thoughts.

Whether it's the shortcomings exposed while assisting the mentor, or the accumulated questions and assumptions, they are all like grains of sand in your shoes on the road to arcane magic. Quickly remove them and set off lightly.

Today, having chosen to put down his books and mark a comma in his studies, the monk rose from his desk, opened the window, and looked out from the top of the castle. The rare warm winter sun shone into the quiet study, bringing a hint of spring or an approaching harbinger.

He felt somewhat full.

This is not about satisfying one's appetite, but about the fulfillment that comes from spiritual cleansing.

Whether it was his research and observation at Gaolibao or his arduous training after returning to the North, what he gained was not only the accumulation and updating of knowledge, but also his increasingly clear, resilient and sharp thinking, which was refined by the tide of knowledge and the sparks of inspiration. He even got closer to the Magic Network as a result.

Then,

It's just one last kick away from the goal!

Now that he had been promoted to level 12 mage and was standing at the final threshold of becoming a high-level spellcaster, Zhang Yuan thought to himself.

No one can say for sure when he will take that step, but he no longer feels the pressure and repression he had before. After clarifying his path forward, all the doubts and uncertainties about himself have vanished.

Assurance about something that has not yet happened is the substance of belief.

No one can guide or plan the way forward; the person involved must figure it out and pursue it themselves.

In the process of exploring the Transmutation and Necromancy factions, the strange collision and convergence between the schools of thought ignited a torch, illuminating the doorway shrouded in mystery not far away.

This is not some obscure or unorthodox path. Necromancer alchemy is a broad and promising road, but Zhang Yuan himself had not focused his attention on it because he had not accumulated enough knowledge and experience in the necromancy faction.

Of course, this does not mean that he will abandon the two schools of magic he is most comfortable using: spellcasting and energy manipulation.

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(End of this chapter)