Chapter 186: Dream World Communication Technology

Leaving the Black Tower Wizard Academy, Richard immediately returned to the Tower of Truth.

After a century, Richard's residence at the Tower of Truth had expired. However, his wizard tower at the Black Tower Wizard Academy's community remained unoccupied, thanks to Jolord's oversight.

Back at his tower, Richard noticed two small graves in the backyard, marked with names he didn't recognize. Perhaps those were the names of Number One and Number Two.

Not dwelling on it, Richard quickly found Ellie, and they spent some intimate time together. Afterwards, Richard renewed his century-long lease with the tower's managing wizard.

The rent for the Tower of Truth was quite reasonable, costing a thousand magic crystals for a hundred years, or ten per year, equivalent to ten thousand magic stones.

After paying the rent, Richard bought two subhuman slaves. Returning to his tower, he met with Anna and Chucks to assure them he was fine.

Having completed these tasks, a week had passed since Richard's return to the Tower of Truth.

In his wizard tower, Richard organized his research materials.

First was the Mother Insect God's flesh, or rather, the god-possessed and deified flesh of the mother insect.

Richard had seen a war report from Ellie detailing the Hive World's expedition, noting that the Mother Insect God temporarily elevated the mother insect to a world master level through unknown means.

Thus, Richard's Mother Insect God fragment could only yield the mother insect's bloodline, not the deity's.

This flesh held little value for Richard, apart from its adamantine and bloodline properties.

The mother insect's bloodline might allow Richard to create a lower-tier mother insect. As for the adamantine, while precious, it paled compared to the bloodline.

He decided not to extract adamantine from the fragment.

Besides the Mother Insect God fragment, Richard had specimens of the Mother Insect Guard, Sacrificial Insect, Warrior Insect, and other Hive World creatures.

These specimens were valuable for research. Studying their energy cycles, muscle structures, life structures, and unique internal substances could yield insights.

Moreover, Richard could understand these better than fumbling with the Forerunner Crystal.

Then there was the Forerunner Crystal and the Dream World Communication Technology.

Although the Dream World Communication Technology was partially missing, the extracted portion contained the fundamental principles, easing Richard's research.

These could significantly advance Richard's energy manipulation skills.

After gathering these, Richard opened the secret realm, retrieving two mushroom types produced by the World Mushroom.

His and Jolord's joint wizard guild lacked a signature potion. Though Jolord was working on it, Richard wanted to contribute.

Creating a signature potion would ensure a steady income of magic stones.

Faced with these research goals, Richard felt a mix of happiness and anxiety.

"Where should I start?"

Richard's finger hovered over the items, like an emperor choosing a concubine.

Finally, his finger settled on the Forerunner Crystal.

"I should develop the Dream World Communication Technology first. While Bones is loyal now, that could change."

...

The Dream World Communication Technology was intricate and incomplete. Fortunately, the extracted part contained its foundational principles, simplifying Richard's research.

To communicate between the material world and the Nightmare World, a solid information reception point in both worlds was crucial, with a well-established connection.

The Forerunners created the crystal communication devices Richard saw in the Nightmare World to achieve this.

However, Richard couldn't utilize the Forerunner's devices.

But he had a better alternative.

"A soul seed as an information reception point should suffice," Richard mused.

Back in the material world, his connection with the soul seed remained strong, though a transparent barrier seemed to separate them. He couldn't control the nightmare body or share senses.

The Forerunner's technology offered a way to breach this barrier.

"With an information reception point, everything else is manageable. The next step is compressing mental messages and using a mental amplification device to transmit them across dimensions."

However, the Forerunner's technology differed greatly from wizardry. Only the theoretical part was usable, lacking the industrial base for implementation.

Thinking this, Richard noted the technologies he needed to adapt and potential solutions in a notebook.

"Mental message compression device—soul wizards might have similar technology; maybe I can trade for it."

"Mental amplification device—the Forerunners used crystals for this. I might replicate it with a rune array."

Having written this, Richard closed the notebook and took out a stack of business cards from his magic pouch.

These cards were from the Mother God's Hall operation, including a few soul wizards, which might help him.

After browsing through them, Richard selected five cards.

These were free wizards, unfamiliar with Richard, reducing the risk of suspicion during exchanges.

Using the addresses on the cards, Richard began visiting them one by one.

...

"Twelve floors up, residence 569, Soul Wizard Vladi."

Richard confirmed the address before a sinister wooden house, reminiscent of a fairytale villain's abode.

"This is it. I hope he can help."

Mental message compression wasn't as simple as Richard expected. The previous three wizards he visited lacked this technology and hadn't even heard of it.

Mental messaging, a quick communication method among wizards, was mainly used for short-range encrypted conversation.

For long distances, wizard communication crystals perfectly replaced mental messages, with magical microwaves offering even greater security.

Thus, few soul wizards studied mental message compression. If any did, it was likely a side project.

Knock, knock, knock.

Creak.

The door opened, revealing a gaunt, hollow-eyed wizard in a black robe.

"Who are you?"

The black-robed wizard seemed confused.

Richard presented a card: "Wizard Vladi, we fought together in the Hive."

Seeing the card, Vladi frowned, extending a skeletal hand from his robe—it resembled a claw more than a hand.

Vladi pressed his middle finger to his temple, stirring it. After a moment, his eyes cleared.

"Oh, Richard, right? Sorry, my old problem flared up again."

Vladi apologized, inviting Richard in and preparing a quality pot of magical tea.

"I experimented on my soul years ago, causing some damage. My memory often fails, but I always keep a journal, so don't worry about me forgetting."

Vladi poured two cups of tea, then sat across from Richard.

"What can I help you with?"

Richard sipped the tea, its rich aroma invigorating his mind.

Good tea.

Richard then stated his purpose:

"Vladi, I'm seeking knowledge on mental message compression. Do you know any wizards familiar with this?"

"Mental message compression?" Vladi frowned. "It's quite niche in the soul school. After long-range communication crystals appeared, few studied it."

Richard remained silent, having heard this from the other wizards.

"But you came to the right person."

"Oh?" Richard felt a thrill. "You possess this knowledge?"

Vladi nodded. "My ancestor researched it, developing a prototype. But when long-range communication crystals emerged, it was shelved as reserve knowledge."

"Can we trade?"

Richard's eyes gleamed. Connections truly paid off. He'd found such a rare technology.

Vladi sipped his tea, speaking leisurely:

"We can trade, but know it's just a prototype. You'll need to refine it yourself."

Though Richard's robe lacked school insignia, Vladi discerned he wasn't a soul wizard.

To refine the technology, Richard would need to study soul school knowledge from scratch.

Richard nodded. A prototype sufficed; he wasn't commercializing it. A bit of hassle for personal use was acceptable.

"What do you need? Or should we exchange knowledge?"

Richard's inquiry was typical in wizard trades, where knowledge wasn't the only currency. Magic stones, alchemical materials, magic items, and favors were all viable.

Vladi rubbed his temple wound, saying:

"Knowledge, or... have you studied the Hive World's Sacrificial Fungus?"

"Sacrificial Fungus?"

"Yes, it's useful to me. Have you researched it?"

Richard eyed Vladi, pulling out a modified version of the Sacrificial Fungus from his magic pouch.

"How about this?"

Vladi's eyes lit up at the fungus.

Its soul-nourishing aroma promised significant benefits.

He tasted it, a cool sensation spreading through his body to his soul.

His old experimental injuries showed signs of healing!

Incredible!

He'd spent countless magic stones trying various treatments with no success. Only the Sacrificial Fungus from the Hive World offered relief.

Yet Richard's fungus actually healed his injuries!

Vladi opened his eyes, firmly asking:

"How much of this do you have?"

Richard replied calmly:

"As much as you need."

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