Chapter 110: Choice (Part 2)

Merlin urgently needed a powerful mental meditation technique to significantly enhance his mental power. To become a stronger spellcaster, mental power and spell models were the most essential.

Without a strong foundation in both, one's path to advancement would be hindered, just like Lorinka, whose mental power was sufficient but unable to build stable spell models, preventing her from becoming a First-Level Spellcaster.

While Merlin didn't need to worry about building stable models due to the help of the "Matrix," his slow mental power growth remained a bottleneck, limiting his overall strength.

The meditation techniques in Old Man Aita's spell notes were too basic, with limited effect. Merlin had long desired a more advanced technique but had never had the opportunity to acquire one.

Now, however, there were hundreds of mental meditation techniques available on the bookshelves before him.

Merlin quickly scanned the collection, skipping the low-level meditation techniques. Above them were intermediate and high-level techniques.

However, the high-level techniques required an astronomical amount of contribution points—nearly a thousand for each, which only underscored their rarity in the Dark Spirit Domain.

Thus, Merlin focused on the intermediate techniques, which also came at a steep price, starting from thirty points.

His ten contribution points were nowhere near enough.

"Only ten points… far from enough."

Merlin frowned. Thirty contribution points wasn't an impossible goal, but accumulating them would take time—time that he couldn't afford to waste, given his already limited mental aptitude. A single delay could snowball into a significant setback.

Merlin's gaze drifted back to the bookshelves. Without sufficient contribution points, he couldn't even access the contents of these techniques.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He recalled Mage Leo's offer of three free Level-0 spells.

Level-0 spells in the Tower of Myriad Forms typically required five points or less. If he could exchange three such spells for an intermediate meditation technique, it would be equivalent to around fifteen contribution points. Adding in the ten points awarded to new members, that would give him a total of twenty-five.

"Twenty-five points… close enough to thirty. I could try asking Mage Leo if he'd allow me to exchange the spells for a meditation technique."

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. He didn't linger further and left the Tower of Myriad Forms, heading straight back to Mage Leo's tower.

※※※

Returning to the tower, Merlin found Lorinka inside, who smiled when she saw him.

"Have you chosen your spells, Mage Merlin?"

Without directly answering, Merlin asked, "Is Mage Leo upstairs?"

"Unless something urgent comes up, he's usually in his room. You can go up."

Merlin nodded and activated the rune on his ring, instantly transporting himself to the tower's top floor.

"Mage Leo?" he called softly from outside the door.

"Come in," came Mage Leo's voice as the door slowly opened, revealing a tired-looking Mage Leo.

"So, which spells have you chosen?" Mage Leo asked impatiently.

Carefully, Merlin replied, "Mage Leo, I'd like to forgo the three Level-0 spells and add my ten contribution points in exchange for an intermediate mental meditation technique. Would that be possible?"

"Hmm? You want a meditation technique?" Mage Leo's blood-red eye on his forehead blinked and emitted a faint glow.

Despite having seen Mage Leo's eerie appearance before, Merlin still felt a shiver of unease.

After a long pause, Mage Leo finally replied, "So you've already built three spell models… Fine, I'll give you an intermediate mental meditation technique. But remember, spell models constructed outside of the Dark Spirit Domain are often unstable. Even if your mental power is enough to support a First-Level spell model, be cautious in constructing one."

Mage Leo's words carried a hint of concern, though he clearly didn't hold high expectations for Merlin's potential. He likely doubted that a wandering mage without formal training could have stable spell models.

"You'll agree to it?" Merlin asked, slightly surprised by how easily Mage Leo had conceded.

"Take it. I've written down an intermediate meditation technique on this page."

Mage Leo handed him a piece of paper, filled with carefully transcribed instructions. Merlin quickly glanced over it, recognizing it as a meditation technique he had long dreamed of acquiring.

He couldn't believe his good fortune. Mage Leo hadn't even taken his ten contribution points, and when Merlin looked up at Mage Leo's intimidating face, he found it slightly less frightening.

"Alright, off you go. I have an important experiment to conduct. Unless it's urgent, do not disturb me."

Mage Leo impatiently gestured for Merlin to leave.

Merlin looked at the closed door of Mage Leo's room and shook his head in resignation. It seemed it would be a while before he could speak with Mage Leo again.

Still, obtaining an intermediate meditation technique was his biggest gain since entering the Dark Spirit Domain.

"Mage Merlin, have you chosen your spells?"

Lorinka appeared unexpectedly in the tower's top floor.

Merlin nodded. "I decided to forgo the Level-0 spells and asked Mage Leo for an intermediate mental meditation technique instead."

"Oh? An intermediate meditation technique? That requires at least thirty points." Lorinka's face showed a trace of envy as she added softly, "Mage Leo isn't so bad, really. He just doesn't have the patience to teach us spell model construction."

Merlin agreed inwardly. Despite his short time with Mage Leo, he had already grasped the mage's personality—straightforward and highly dedicated to his own cultivation, but not inclined to teach.

"By the way, what's the story with Mage Leo's eye?" Merlin asked in a low voice. The blood-red eye on Mage Leo's forehead was undeniably eerie, casting a terrifying aura over anyone who saw it.