Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

Before the first light of dawn had dispelled the dampness and chill of the mossy corridor, Chen Lin had already boarded the ferry bound for the Bone Swamp.

This is a bizarre raft woven from huge, decaying skeletons and tough swamp vines, exuding a strong smell of preservatives mixed with the smell of bones.

The boatman was completely covered by an oilcloth cloak, with only his cloudy, lifeless eyes showing.

The ferry glided silently on the black river, which was as thick as ink. Twisted, withered trees on both banks stretched like ghostly claws toward the leaden sky. The air was filled with the smells of decay and sulfur, as well as a kind of unsettling, faint wail.

After a long day's journey, the ferry docked at a muddy shoal that reeked of foul odors.

The boatman pointed his bone cane into the depths of the thick fog and uttered a few hoarse words: "The land of decaying bones, we've arrived, disembark." He then remained silent, standing at the bow of the boat like a statue.

Chen Lin stepped onto the soft, sticky black mud, sinking deep into his calves with each step.

The gray miasma that permeated the air seemed to have a life of its own, coiling around us with icy dampness and a chilling aura that corroded our spiritual power.

He immediately activated the Moonshine Moss Purification Amulet sewn into the lining of his cloak. A faint silver glow spread out, dispelling some of the approaching miasma. At the same time, he took a drop of the Breath of Clarity potion, and a cool sensation instantly flowed through his brain, resisting the pervasive mental erosion.

Looking out, the Bone Swamp resembled an endless expanse of rotting entrails.

What may appear to be flat mud may conceal a swamp of quicksand that could swallow everything.

Decaying plant roots and the skeletons of unknown creatures lay half-buried in the mud, emitting a phosphorescent glow.

Eerie-colored, slimy, man-eating flower buds appear and disappear in the mist; thorny vines covered in sharp spikes hang down like nooses, releasing a nerve-numbing poisonous mist upon contact; giant fungi exude a sweet, putrid smell, and inhaling their spores will trigger terrifying hallucinations.

The wind carried countless subtle, distorted howls and murmurs, the resentment that had settled in this place, constantly trying to penetrate the minds of the living and incite madness.

Deep within the swamp, in the area where necromantic energy was most concentrated, the silhouette of a plant radiating a mesmerizing, eerie blue light could be faintly seen—that was his target. The space around it seemed to be slightly distorted, emanating an alluring yet deadly fluctuation.

Chen Lin carefully followed the map provided by Ella, activating his full mental perception. The Seed of Origin continuously analyzed the surrounding environment, alerting him to potential traps and energy nodes.

However, danger does not always come from the obvious.

As he carefully circled around a pile of corpses that reeked of a strong stench, the seemingly solid black rock beneath his feet suddenly came to life!

[WARNING! High-energy life reaction! Analysis: Swamp Lurker (Mutant Slime/Undead Symbiote)]

【Characteristics: Poor physical attack effectiveness, immune to most toxins, core is undead crystal, vulnerable to strong light and purifying energy】

The silt, disguised as rock, instantly liquefied and expanded, transforming into a gigantic maw made of viscous black mud, silently engulfing Chen Lin! The mud contained sharp bone fragments and corrosive acid, emanating a nauseating aura of death!

Alarm bells rang in Chen Lin's mind, but his reaction was incredibly fast! He didn't dodge; instead, he stomped his foot, instantly channeling his mental energy into the mud beneath his feet!

Lesser Vine Entanglement Technique!

The miniature magic circle inscribed on the sole of the boot and the stored vine seeds were activated simultaneously. Several tough snake-patterned vines broke through the mud and instantly wrapped around the swelling body of the lurking creature in the mud. Although they could not cause any real damage, they successfully slowed down the speed at which it closed up!

At the same time, his right hand shot out like lightning and pressed hard on the area where the core undead crystal of the lurking swamp was located, which was faintly visible and emitted a pale white light!

Blood and Qi replenish each other!

A dark golden blood aura containing his own life essence and the purifying energy of the moonlight moss pierced into the infiltrator's body like a high-pressure water jet!

This is the optimal response provided by the Seed of Origin, specifically targeting the characteristics of those lurking in the swamp. The reverse output of blood and qi replenishment is extremely effective!

"Sizzle!"

Like boiling oil poured onto snow! The dark gold blood energy clashed violently with the death energy of the undead, erupting with a piercing corrosive sound!

The lurking creature in the swamp let out a silent, soul-piercing scream, and its massive mud body trembled violently and disintegrated!

The light from the undead crystal at the core dimmed instantly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chen Lin suddenly pulled out his right hand, leaving a burning pain from the corrosion on his palm, but the wound was healing rapidly under the innate blood and qi replenishment.

Without hesitation, he took out the antidote and applied it to his injured palm. At the same time, he smashed a piece of bone that had been soaked in concentrated moonshine sap into the dim undead crystal.

"Snapped!"

Bone fragments shattered, unleashing a burst of intense purifying light! The undead crystal, as if encountering its nemesis, shattered with a crack!

The massive swamp lurker lost all support, turning into a pool of foul-smelling mud and sinking into the swamp.

Chen Lin was breathing heavily; the brief exchange had greatly depleted his mental and physical strength.

But the results were immediate:

[Successfully eliminated the swamp lurking creature (mutant)]

[Absorb Evil Energy +15]

[Item Obtained: Fragment of a Broken Necromancer Crystal (Contains pure necromantic energy, which can be analyzed for use in necromancy-related knowledge)]

He quickly collected several larger crystal fragments, the Seed of Origin suggesting that these were materials for making certain special potions or magic arrays.

More importantly, this encounter validated his skillful use of the [Blood Qi Regeneration] talent and the effectiveness of the purifying power in restraining the undead.

On the third day after venturing deeper into the swamp, Chen Lin finally approached the first marked growth point of the Nightmare Lily.

It was a small island floating on the dark, stagnant water, made up of countless tangled plant roots and decaying skeletons. In the center, three nightmare lilies, emitting a mesmerizing blue light, were about to bloom, surrounded by a hallucinogenic pollen mist that was almost tangible.

As Chen Lin put on the specially made breathing mask with an embedded filter and a sobering agent, preparing to approach and collect the sample, a cold, malevolent mental energy suddenly locked onto him!

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

Several icicles radiating cold air shot out from the thick fog behind him like venomous snakes, aiming straight for his back and legs!

The attack angle was tricky, clearly a long-planned attack—to restrict movement and kill in one blow!

Chen Lin instantly became alert! The Seed of Origin had already warned of the presence of abnormal residual energy nearby.

He suddenly rolled to the side, the ice spike grazing his cloak and shooting into the mud, instantly freezing a large area!

Three figures emerged from the mist. The leader was a young man with a sinister face and venomous eyes. His robe was embroidered with three silver stars—the peak of a third-level apprentice. Malcolm, one of Derek's former loyal followers!

The two men behind him were also level three apprentices; one held a knife, and the other had an unstable flame flickering in his hand.

"I knew you'd show up, you piece of trash!" Malcolm's voice was full of resentment.

"Derek lost his hand because of you and was ultimately executed by the Dean! Instructor Icethorn is about to emerge from seclusion. You won't leave the swamp alive. Use your life and that damned Bloodthirsty Vine to pay for your brother's death!"

Chen Lin's heart sank.

Icethorn! Derek's mentor, a high-ranking mentor known for his protectiveness and ruthlessness.

It seems that the remnants of Derek's faction have not given up and have been secretly following him, waiting to make their move in this dangerous place where the academy's rules cannot restrain them!

"Enough with the nonsense!" Malcolm grinned maliciously, clasping his hands together to gather terrifying icy energy. "Freeze, scum! Frozen Prison!"

A powerful frost field instantly enveloped the area where Chen Lin was located, and the mud under his feet visibly froze into solid ice, attempting to completely imprison him!

At the same time, two other people pounced from the left and right, their blades flashing and flames blazing!

Faced with three enemies of equal or even stronger level surrounding him, a cold glint flashed in Chen Lin's eyes, and he no longer concealed his intentions!

"roar!"

On his right arm, the dark golden blood-devouring vine patterns instantly came to life!

The vine phantoms surged, carrying a violent blood aura and a ferocious roar, fiercely lashing out at the blade light attacking from the left!

"It's Bloodthirsty Vine!" the apprentice, who was conjuring a fireball, shouted a warning.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out! The apprentice wielding the sword was whipped by the powerful vine shadow, his hand split open and his long sword nearly slipping from his grasp!

At the same time, Chen Lin swiftly flung out two dark green balls with his left hand—a snake-patterned vine paralysis poison mist bomb!

"Pfft!" The poisonous mist exploded instantly in front of the Fireball Apprentice and Malcolm on the right! The pungent, paralyzing poisonous mist filled the air!

The fireball apprentice froze, and Malcolm's Ice Prison spell was forcibly interrupted!

Taking advantage of the moment, Chen Lin exerted force with his feet, and the frozen ground shattered under the immense power amplified by his blood energy! He shot forward like an arrow, not retreating but advancing, heading straight for Nightmare Lily!

"Stop him!" Malcolm roared, forcefully dispersing some of the poisonous mist, and an even thicker ice spear condensed!

But Chen Lin's goal was not fighting at all!

He rushed to Nightmare Lily, activated the Seed of Origin to its fullest extent, and activated the Moonlight Moss Amulet!

With hands covered in a rich, purifying silver glow, she precisely and swiftly severed three budding flowers along with parts of their roots, placing them into a specially made, isolated container! The entire action was completed in one fluid motion!

"You're asking for it!" Malcolm's ice spear was already at his back!

Chen Lin suddenly turned around, and the phantom of the Bloodthirsty Vine on his right arm reappeared. But this time, he did not take the hit head-on. Instead, he picked up a few pieces of rotten bone mud left behind by the lurking swamp creatures, which exuded a strong aura of death, and slammed them hard at the ice spear!

"boom!"

The ice spear collided with the necromantic sludge, causing an energy chaos and explosion! The shockwave sent Chen Lin flying and temporarily blocked Malcolm's view!

Taking advantage of the momentum, Chen Lin rolled and landed in an even denser fog filled with hallucinogenic pollen!

Without hesitation, he activated the stealth array drawn on his cloak, and at the same time poured a bottle of Lesser Life Essence Concentrate into his mouth to replenish his energy. His figure quickly disappeared into the misty fog and the intricate forest of skeletons.

"Chase him! He can't have gone far!" Malcolm's furious voice came from behind, but he was clearly also wary of this area.

For the next few days, Chen Lin wandered like a ghost deep within the Corpse Swamp.

He used the swamp's complex environment and the Seed's analytical abilities to constantly evade Malcolm's team's pursuit. At the same time, he was also carrying out a deeper mission:

Using his analytical and purification abilities, he successfully collected four Nightmare Lilies that met the requirements. Vivian requested three, so he collected one extra as a backup.

Beside a stagnant pool where necromantic energy had accumulated, he discovered a special grayish-white moss that could absorb and store necromantic energy—the Undead Moss. The Seed of Origin deduced that it had the potential to interfere with energy detection, and he collected a large quantity of the Undead Moss for future use.

In some places where powerful vengeful spirits dissipated, he collected several fragments of vengeful spirit crystals that were even purer than before, containing intense negative spiritual energy.

At the same time, he hunted down several lone swamp beasts corrupted by necromantic energy, using their flesh and blood to temporarily feed the restless blood-devouring vines on his right arm, maintaining a delicate balance.

It's a pity that no magical plants that would benefit Ella were found.

Using the collected undead moss, resentment crystals, and the unique energy environment of the swamp, combined with the power of the Seed of Origin, he began secretly preparing something:

A special powder is made by grinding the dead moss into powder, mixing it with pollen from the hallucinogenic Nightmare Lily, and fragments of resentment crystals.

The Seed of Origin hinted that detonating it in a specific way could generate powerful mental interference and a chaotic energy field, especially effective against targets tracked by mental imprints. He carefully sealed this powder in several bone tubes.

Several of the largest resentment crystal cores were specially treated with moonlight moss purification fluid and their own blood, which was full of the life force of the blood-devouring vine, to form an extremely unstable energy crystal.

The Seed of Origin indicated that the explosion effect of this crystal was complex, widespread, and difficult to control and eliminate. This thing was currently useless, but Chen Lin had a gut feeling that it would come in very handy in the future.

Instead of relying on paper maps, he imprinted the detailed terrain, energy nodes, danger zones, and possible escape routes of the Bone Swamp—such as the entrance to the hidden underground river flowing towards the periphery of the Pale Woods—into his spiritual sea through the Seed of Origin.

On the last day of the seven-day deadline, Chen Lin, like a traveler returning from hell, covered in foul-smelling mud and dark red bloodstains, appeared at the rendezvous point at the edge of the swamp.

Malcolm's team also emerged battered and bruised. Their eyes were filled with resentment and a hint of hidden fear as they looked at Chen Lin. After several days of chasing Chen Lin in the Death Swamp, they not only failed to kill him, but also lost one of their men due to the swamp traps, and were also greatly exhausted.

The ferry area is now under the jurisdiction of Thorn Garden, and they cannot possibly harm Chen Lin, who has just completed his mission, repeating Derek's mistake.

The ferry slowly sailed away from the Bone Swamp. Chen Lin leaned against the cold, skeletal gunwale, looking back at the deathly land shrouded in gray miasma, his eyes cold and profound.

Vivian's mission was accomplished, but a greater crisis was just beginning.

With the Icethorn Mentor about to emerge from seclusion, Ella's symbiotic crisis is imminent. As for himself, the Bloodthirsty Vine pattern on his right arm, after absorbing the essence of the swamp's ferocious beasts and necromantic energy, seems to have become even more profound, faintly revealing a more ferocious aura. This has created a more intense conflict with the purifying silver light of the Moonlight Moss within his body. Seven days of fighting have greatly reduced the suppressive power of the Seed of Origin.

In his arms, besides the three sealed Nightmare Lilies, there were also Undead Moss Powder, Resentment Crystal Bomb Embryos, and... a spiritual imprint about a hidden underground river route leading to the outskirts of the Pale Woods.

Upon returning to the Thorn Garden, he will complete the quest and gain a temporary respite.

Chen Lin's escape plan has finally made substantial progress in his death journey through the Bone Swamp, and the seed of escaping the Thorn Garden has taken root and sprouted.