Early the next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Robb was abruptly awakened by a series of urgent yet not forceful knocks at his door. This reflexive alertness was a habit ingrained during his time at the Reyne Estate, where unexpected visits from his father were not uncommon.
"Robb, are you up?" came Andrey's slightly hoarse voice through the door.
Robb was about to respond when Andrey quickly added in a hushed tone, "Don't make a sound. That lunatic Darude next door has been experimenting with sonic spells; any loud noise might set him off."
Opening the door quietly, Robb was taken aback by Andrey's disheveled appearance. The usually immaculate prince had messy hair, bloodshot eyes, and his typically pristine apprentice robes bore several scorched marks.
"Your Highness, what happened to you?"
"Shh," Andrey gestured for silence, indicating they should leave the dormitory area first.
Once they had walked a fair distance, Andrey exhaled deeply. "Don't ask. I had a mishap while working on an enchantment last night."
He pulled out a fragment of a magic stone, illustrating his point. "I blew a hole in the wall next door. Repairing the runes cost me ten fragments. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I might have been turned into lab material."
Robb understood the implication—within the Black Mist Forest, any "accident" could be an excuse for wizards to requisition someone as experimental material.
Andrey retrieved a crumpled notebook from his pocket, flipping through it rapidly. "This incident reminded me: the first use of Scorching Oil Essence requires a suitable location."
He glanced at the sky. "The sun is just rising—perfect timing for body tempering."
The two proceeded along a secluded path. The morning chill carried a faint stench of decay, characteristic of the Black Mist Forest. Passing a cluster of bioluminescent fungi, Andrey slowed his pace. "These are markers left by pathfinders. They fade in sunlight, which is why wizards use them for navigation."
After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at a clearing. Several dilapidated stone pillars stood askew, their tops etched with indistinct runes. Andrey patted the nearest pillar, releasing a cloud of dust. "The Black Mist Forest isn't vast, so abandoned wizard experiment sites like this are common. Such places are usually avoided by magical creatures and aberrations, making them relatively safe."
In the morning light, the runes occasionally emitted faint glows. "Despite their damaged state, these runes still help suppress magical fluctuations."
He crouched to examine the ground. "Countless test subjects died here back in the day. The floor tiles have absorbed various energies, turning them this peculiar color."
Robb noticed the ground indeed had a strange bluish-gray hue, not painted on but seemingly seeping from within, as if the tiles themselves were cursed.
"Because of that, this place is actually safe for us."
Standing up and dusting off his hands, Andrey motioned for Robb to sit on the central bluish-gray stone platform. "Strip down to your underwear."
"What?" Robb hesitated, instinctively clutching his clothes against the morning chill. Was he misinterpreting the situation? Back in the kingdom, he hadn't heard of the thirteenth prince having such preferences.
"Don't overthink it," Andrey rolled his eyes. "I'm not one of those perverted mentors who prey on handsome boys. Scorching Oil needs to be applied directly to the skin, especially on certain key..."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "According to wizards, they're called acupoints."
"Did this knowledge come from another world?" Robb asked while unbuttoning his shirt.
Much of the occult knowledge here had complex origins, mainly because wizards were keen on absorbing supernatural knowledge and cultivation systems from other worlds.
"I'm not sure," Andrey shook his head. "Our royal archives claim this breathing technique was inspired by the Sun God. But rather than worrying about its origin, focus on the task at hand."
He opened his notebook, meticulously verifying details. "Records indicate the first body tempering should target the heart, spine, and major joints. The sequence is crucial; any mistake..."
At that moment, a system prompt appeared:
[Detected usage of—Extraordinary Item—Scorching Oil
Upon use, the first body tempering will commence, initiating the transition to the combat profession—Knight Squire.]
[Combat Profession—Knight Squire (One-Star)
Upon transition:
Attribute Growth:
Magic Growth (One-Star)
Constitution Growth (Two-Star)
Mental Growth (Half-Star)
Unlocks Professional Skills—Basic Swordsmanship, Breathing Body Tempering
Special Bonuses:
Slight increase in skill experience gain related to martial techniques
Slight improvement in physique training efficiency]
[Transition Requirements:
Constitution attribute reaches 0.5 √
Complete one breathing technique body tempering]
[Warning: The first body tempering will determine the base attributes of the knight profession]
[Note: Detected Alchemy Apprentice profession; class synergy can be triggered, granting additional benefits]
"There's indeed class synergy," Robb lowered his head, a slight smile forming.
This synergy effect was one of the game's most enticing features. Players invested significant time and money to discover the optimal class combinations.
Now, with unlimited class slots, Robb's potential was boundless. The stacking of attributes, complementary skills, and growth bonuses across different extraordinary professions would become his unique advantage.
In the game, players could hold a maximum of three professions simultaneously. Robb's potential now was limitless.
Given enough time, he could maximize the effects of profession synergy, constructing a perfect growth system.
This might be his greatest asset in this perilous world.
Robb snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Andrey, who was intently studying his notebook, ensuring every detail was correct.
This meticulousness reminded Robb of last night's "almost blew up the dorm" incident.
In this dangerous world, even the smallest mistake could be fatal.
"Alright," Andrey finally closed his notebook. "I need you to pay full attention to every word I say. During the application of the oil, you might feel intense heat, even hallucinations."
His tone turned particularly serious. "No matter what happens, don't struggle or move. Once the oil penetrates your body, it will start affecting your meridians. The process must be completed fully; otherwise..."
Robb nodded, sensing the gravity in Andrey's words.
This wasn't just a simple body tempering—it was a pivotal decision shaping his future path.
"To ensure you're prepared, I'll give you a heads-up before starting."
Andrey picked up the bottle of Scorching Oil, pouring some into his palm.
Robb noticed the pale golden liquid began to emit a strange glow upon contact with air, accompanied by a faint sulfuric scent.