Chapter Sixty-Eight: Photographic Memory
In a quiet guest room, Soren slowly closed his eyes and began to perceive the Magic Network, which spellcasters commonly refer to as the “magic net.” The magic net is an invisible energy field that exists in many places throughout the multiverse. Its primary function is to assist spellcasters in constructing spell models, then condensing the powers that exist in nature to ultimately form spell slots for storage. Once the spell slots are prepared, they only need a casting action and verbal incantation to activate them, allowing for the quick extraction of nearby energy for spellcasting.
The energy of nature itself is very chaotic and difficult to control, and the lack of the magic net significantly enhances spellcasting capabilities!
Another function of the magic net is to restrict the abilities of spellcasters, preventing those so powerful that even the gods fear them from disrupting the balance of order. It serves to help those with insufficient talent to cast spells more easily while limiting the threats posed by exceptionally gifted spellcasters to the domains of the gods. Overall, the magic net is quite important; without its existence, the number of spellcasters in the world would decrease by approximately 90%.
The belief network of the gods is also connected to the magic net but exists at its highest level, with divine techniques being the power reflected by the Divine Power of Faith. The magic net helps spellcasters control energy; normal spellcasters can access the surface of the magic network.
Meditation.
This is the simplest way for wizards to perceive the magic net. It resembles sitting quietly and does not require any specific posture; the key is to let go of one’s mind and body, gradually forgetting the perception of the body, and then extending awareness to the energy of the outside world. Having successfully part-time, Soren directly bypassed the initial accumulation period of meditation, meaning he didn’t have to spend a long time in meditation like a wizard apprentice before accessing the surface of the magic net.
As his perception gradually expanded, Soren faintly touched an invisible energy field that appeared to be a spider web formed by countless invisible lines. The intersection points between these lines are the spell slots used by wizards. This is the outermost layer of spell slots, used to assist in casting 0-level spells. The magic net is merely a channel for spellcasting; the real power lies within the wizard’s brain, in the constructed spell models.
After successfully connecting to the magic net, Soren stopped meditating.
Meditation is not the primary means by which wizards enhance their strength; their true power lies in the development of their brains. The greatest advantage of meditation is that it helps them gain a deeper understanding of the magic net and extend their comprehension of external energy. “Increase wizard Profession Level.”
Soren did not rush to analyze the spell model but started to elevate his profession level. A higher wizard level would help him access the magic net and speed up the analysis of spell models. The killing experience required for upgrading a wizard’s level is about 50% higher than that of other professions; if it is a part-time job, there’s an additional penalty of about 20% of experience. To reach level 2 as a thief, around 200 points of killing experience are needed, while to reach level 2 as a wizard, over 300 points are required.
“Wizard profession level increased to 2.”
“Acquired 22 * 0.5 points of skill points, health increased by 9 points * 0.5.”
“Acquired 1 point of free attribute.”
The greatest benefit of part-time work is obtaining additional free attribute points; the downside is that it is very difficult to elevate a single profession to a higher level. Initially, many people liked to part-time in four professions simultaneously, but the result of this approach is that unless they successfully slay a god, none of their professions will reach a high level. The first part-time job incurs a 20% penalty on killing experience, the second profession incurs a 40% penalty, and part-time work requires a total of 5000 points of killing experience.
The penalties increase dramatically for the third part-time job, incurring not only a 60% penalty on killing experience but also requiring an additional 10,000 points of killing experience. This part-time penalty applies to all profession levels, meaning that when Soren raises his thief profession level after part-time, he has to pay an additional 20% of killing experience.
Under normal circumstances.
Very few people take on so many part-time professions because part-time work comes with attribute requirements and requires a substantial amount of time.
Even the astonishingly gifted indigenous characters or naturally high-attribute demigods tend to only take on about two part-time jobs; only a few gods will comprehensively take on multiple part-time professions. Part-time work requires more time and energy, which translates into needing to expend more soul energy to convert into killing experience.
Before a profession level reaches 5, the required killing experience for leveling up is not high.
However, starting from the second tier of the profession level, the killing experience needed to enhance strength sharply increases, reaching astonishing levels by the third tier, making it increasingly difficult to upgrade as one progresses. By that time, the enemies in the mortal realm are no longer sufficient: one cannot hope to enhance their strength without delving into the underworld and exploring outer planes.
For example, to advance to a Legendary Domain, one must practically traverse the Abyss at some point.
“Allocate free attribute points to Intelligence.”
Although Soren wished to improve his Agility, considering the impending collapse of the magic net, he decided to prioritize raising his Intelligence to 20 points to avoid completely losing his spellcasting ability in the future. The skill points gained from elevating his wizard level were allocated to Knowledge since mastering spellcasting speed is one of the crucial factors for a wizard, which is influenced by their Knowledge skill points.
“Wizard profession level increased to 3.”
“Acquired 24 * 0.5 points of skill points, health increased by 9 points * 0.5.”
“Acquired one specialty point.”
At level 3, wizards can obtain an additional specialty point, but it can only be selected from the specialties available to wizards. Soren was not very familiar with the enhancing of wizards, so he first examined the casting specialties available to wizards.
“Combat Spellcasting: Wizards gradually enhance their ability through long-term training, so even if attacked in combat, they will not easily have their spells interrupted. As this ability increases, wizards can successfully cast spells even when directly attacked. When this ability reaches a certain level, some part-time wizards can even cast spells simultaneously while in combat. However, this may require compatibility with other specialties.”
“Mobile Casting: Wizards can cast spells while moving under special training; they will not interrupt their spellcasting process while dodging. Furthermore, as the level of the specialty increases, wizards can perform spellcasting while flying and moving at high speeds. This is one of the essential abilities that high-level wizards must master; otherwise, using Flight Spell will lead to spell failure.”
“Spell Control: Wizards can manipulate the spells they cast through mental focus, enhancing the spell’s energy or reducing the spell’s effects. Some summoning spells require control ability to unleash their powerful effects. This specialty is a prerequisite for further enhancing spell power and can only be improved after mastering Spell Control.”
“Photographic Memory: Wizards often possess astonishing memory capabilities. This talent specialty can further increase their memory capacity and enhance their understanding of various knowledge, gradually reaching a point of interrelation. This talent specialty can enhance the training effects of other specialties; if multiple specialties are mastered simultaneously, the speed of mastery can be further increased.”
Perhaps due to having a personal specialty, there was unexpectedly an additional choice for a talent specialty this time.
Soren looked at the specialties available to gain and fell into deep thought.
First, he could forgo certain specialties since he had already acquired the Insight information, which he should be able to master quickly. Next was the specialty that is quite powerful because a wizard cannot continuously maintain distance to cast spells; if attacked while casting, there is a high possibility that the spell will be interrupted. However, having this specialty prevents interruption and passively increases their base skills by 10 focus points.
Then comes the specialty that enhances the ability to cast spells while moving; it is possible to be interrupted when casting and while moving. Especially as Soren learns high-speed movement spells and higher-level Flight Spells in the future, without this specialty, the chance of spell failure could be as high as 50%.
Both are very important specialties.
However, Soren seemed somewhat indecisive in his heart, as he was more inclined towards the talent specialty.
First, it can increase Knowledge; second, it can further strengthen memory and understanding abilities. The additional 10 points of Knowledge are very helpful in mastering spells. More importantly, it belongs to talent specialties that cannot be mastered through training, and Soren knows that with this specialty, he can gain an extra understanding of a special specialty as his Knowledge points increase.
“Scholar: Your Knowledge has become increasingly remarkable; you have at least some understanding in almost any field. With the accumulation of more knowledge, you can connect most things, and your learning speed is several times that of ordinary individuals. This understanding is not limited to knowledge; it extends to various combat skills. You understand how to calculate the weight axis of weapons and maximize their power. However, what you comprehend does not stop there. The accumulation of knowledge has reached your current level and can be directly transformed into true power!” Specialty, Knowledge 250 points.)
………………
Your focus ability can be applied in many areas, such as spellcasting success rates, the speed at which one enters a meditative state, effects during meditation, the chances of recording scrolls, and the success rates for creating staves and extraordinary items, etc. A focused person often gains greater insights when concentrating on a particular matter, which applies even to learning combat skills.
