Lady Corinna, Alchemical Resonance

After leaving the workshop, Robb headed straight for the school's library.

The "Bloodline Modulationist" mentioned by the merchant yesterday had greatly piqued his interest, and now that he had an assistant at the workshop, he finally had time to pursue deeper research.

This might just be the key to solving the current bottleneck with the bloodline activation potion.

On the way, he unexpectedly ran into Lia.

The instructor of the Mental Stability Techniques class seemed to have just left the teaching district, a trace of fatigue on her face. She looked surprised to see him.

"What a coincidence, Apprentice Robb," she greeted him. "Since we've bumped into each other, I might as well inform you: Erik and I have scheduled your special test for this week. Be sure to prepare well."

"Thank you for the arrangement, Lady Lia," Robb replied politely, glancing at his skill panel:

[Progress: Spell Construction (Novice 48/50)]

[Progress: Mental Disruption (Novice 45/50)]

He should be able to reach Adept level before the test, meaning he wouldn't have to worry too much about passing.

"I've been training hard, I won't let you down."

"You've been performing quite well," Lia nodded slightly. "But I've noticed in recent classes, your shared insights didn't seem to resonate with others. Let me remind you: true teaching is not just about displaying knowledge, but sparking inspiration in others."

Robb's heart tightened. He took her words seriously.

He had indeed tried to share his meditation insights during class to gain more "Blessings," but with little success.

It seemed obtaining Blessings was far more difficult than he thought, it required inspiring others to genuine insight, not just dumping information on them.

"I'll remember your advice," Robb said sincerely. "I'll try to better understand the other apprentices' needs, rather than just show off what I know."

After parting with Lia, he recalled a casual chat he had with Mira during class last week.

The thin female apprentice had mentioned Karl and the chubby apprentice Robb had met when signing up for the course, they'd taken a mission on the edge of the forest and hadn't been heard from in days. They were likely dead by now.

"Struggling to survive or quietly dying… Seems like those are the only two options for the weak here."

A sense of urgency surged in Robb's chest. "If I don't keep getting stronger, I'll end up like them sooner or later."

He unconsciously picked up his pace.

The library looked as humble as ever from the outside, but inside, it housed a vast ocean of knowledge.

The same elderly, gray-robed guard stood at the entrance. Robb had heard the guards rotated monthly. Upon seeing Robb, the man nodded slightly and stepped aside.

"What are you researching today?" the old guard asked, more friendly than last time but still wary.

"Information on bloodline modulation and dryad species behavior."

Robb answered straightforwardly, hiding nothing.

In this place, pursuing knowledge wasn't suspicious, unless it touched on forbidden topics.

The guard raised an eyebrow, his beard twitching slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. But he said nothing more, only gestured toward the guidance crystal:

"Start from the third tier of the guidance crystal. It'll lead you to the relevant sections. Just be aware, some bloodline modulation materials are restricted."

Robb nodded and approached the dark brown crystal pillar at the center of the library.

Placing his palm on its surface, he silently thought the keyword: "Bloodline Modulation."

Runes on the pillar lit up with a soft blue glow, and a trail of light points formed in the air, guiding him to a specific area.

Following the light, Robb arrived at a zone shrouded in a faint blue light curtain.

"Please verify identity." A message appeared on the barrier.

Robb pressed his Potion Maker insignia against it. After a few flickers, part of the light curtain dissolved, opening a narrow passageway just wide enough for one person.

Apparently, this was a restricted-access area.

Passing through, Robb found the shelves inside even older than elsewhere, filled with ancient, elaborately bound books, many chained in place with enchanted locks to prevent removal.

At one shelf, he found a few introductory volumes on bloodline modulation.

Unfortunately, the deeper materials were off-limits to someone of his current clearance.

"Fundamentals of Bloodline Modulation," "Introduction to Supernatural Bloodlines," "Cross-Species Bloodline Grafting Research"…

Robb selected several valuable-looking books and sat at a nearby table to read.

The content in Fundamentals of Bloodline Modulation was eye-opening:

Bloodline Modulation is an ancient and arcane art, rooted in the understanding and manipulation of life's essence. Unlike simple genetic engineering, modulation alters the deepest energetic imprints of life, those that determine fundamental traits and abilities…

…The earliest known modulation dates back to the end of the Divine Age of the First Era, said to be pioneered by a sea witch named Isazul Tear.

She attempted to purify the bloodline inherited from an ancient river-god, and eventually succeeded in extracting pure life energy and sealing it in a specially designed container…

Robb was completely absorbed, forgetting the passage of time.

Modulation was far more complex and systematized than he'd imagined.

Especially the techniques for extracting and preserving bloodline factors, these gave him immense inspiration.

"So it's not just about mixing or fusing, it starts with breaking down different bloodlines into their most basic components, and then reconstructing them in specific ratios…"

[New Skill Acquired: Supernatural Biology (Novice)]

Robb quickly jotted down the key insights, eyes gleaming with excitement.

But just as he was deeply engrossed, a powerful magical pressure suddenly pressed down on him like a suffocating weight.

Robb looked up sharply, to see a figure in white robes standing near a bookshelf, watching him with interest.

She wore an elegant white mask, with only a pair of deep blue eyes visible.

Silver-white hair cascaded from either side of the mask. Her white robe outlined a graceful figure but carried no hint of allure, only an otherworldly, untouchable presence.

She seemed like a spirit from the depths of a frozen tundra, cold, aloof, and transcendent.

It was Corinna, Talisa's mentor, and the white-robed sorceress who had brought Robb from the kingdom to the Black Fog Forest.

Seeing his old "recruiter," Robb felt a chill run down his spine.

He instinctively stepped back and returned the book to the shelf, only to realize that kind of reaction might provoke suspicion.

Suppressing the urge to flee, he bowed respectfully, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

But Corinna's voice cut through the air like metal scraping metal:

"Apprentice. Look up."

The voice was raspy and harsh, as though her vocal cords had been permanently damaged.

Robb raised his head slowly to face the cold white mask, forcing his expression to remain neutral.

"Oh… I remember now. You're Robb Reyne, aren't you?"

Her voice echoed from multiple directions: "You came here with Talisa, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," Robb answered respectfully.

Corinna drifted closer, her robe billowing as if it were alive.

"Interesting. The defective six-star with almost nonexistent Spiritforce has already become a professional potion maker… and an Intermediate Apprentice."

There was a tinge of genuine surprise in her tone: "I recall during testing in the Kingdom of Farwynd, your spiritual signal was so faint I assumed you'd be the first dropout among the seed batch."

She had seen through him. That magical pulse earlier had clearly scanned him and confirmed his promotion.

Robb stood frozen, unsure how to respond.

The radiation field around her burned his skin like needles. Every second felt like an eternity.

"Relax, child."

Sensing his fear, Corinna's tone softened slightly: "That stuff about dissecting your brain if you failed the trial, that was just a scare tactic. Your brain was so ordinary back then, it had no research value for me."

Robb let out a silent breath of relief, until she chuckled beneath the mask: "But now, seeing how fast you've advanced… I'm starting to grow curious about your brain again."

A bolt of terror shot from Robb's scalp to his toes, his mind racing for a response.

Should he keep pretending to be normal? Admit he was different? Or just make a run for it?

"Relax. Just a joke,"

Corinna said with another chuckle. "Talisa always says I have an awful sense of humor. Besides, Lady Elena once helped me, I wouldn't harm someone under her care."

Still, Robb stayed silent, unsure how to avoid more trouble.

"You seem unaware of your own special talent, don't you?"

Corinna's eyes locked onto him, as if trying to read his very soul.

"Special talent?"

Robb repeated, confused. He did have one, but wasn't sure if it matched what she meant.

"Interesting. Your growth has been far too abnormal. I initially assumed someone was secretly guiding you. But now, I see you genuinely don't know what you possess."

Corinna nodded, as if confirming something internally.

She turned and pointed toward a secluded part of the library: "You should take a look over there. There's a book titled 'Register of Special Talents.' It might help you understand your uniqueness."

A beam of light shot from her fingertip, landing on a translucent screen nearby.

The screen shimmered and became slightly more transparent.

"I've granted you access. Knowing yourself is the most important lesson on any apprentice's path."

Her tone carried a cryptic undertone: "I'll be watching your growth, young Alchemist."

With that, she vanished into the stacks like a ghost in the snow, leaving Robb standing alone, confused and unsettled.

He hesitated briefly, then decided to follow her suggestion and investigate the book.

She had already noticed him, there was no point in hiding anymore. Better to learn the truth.

He passed through the light barrier and approached a pedestal in the center, where a large, striking tome lay.

The cover shimmered with metallic luster, etched with intricate runes.

"'Register of Special Talents'..."

Robb read the title aloud, heart pounding.

Carefully, he opened the thick book. A wave of ancient, mysterious scent washed over him, like a thousand years of history carried in the air.

The first page held a short preface:

Special talents are the most precious gifts on the path of transcendence.

They do not depend on bloodlines, tribes, or even the constraints of the Akashic Records.

They are born from the turn of fate's wheel, a miracle amidst countless possibilities…

…Special talents are innate. They cannot be taken or stolen.

They are bound to the soul's deepest core.

Even if the soul is severed or possessed, the talent still belongs only to its original bearer…