Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

The evergreen fortress, like warm jade, sheltered Chen Lin, yet also carried an invisible weight.

The symbiotic research in Glenn Wizarding Lab, the visitation rights to Ella granted by Wizard Lina, and the initial trading channels established with Carlos opened up a crack for his survival and growth.

Beneath the seemingly peaceful order within the barrier, undercurrents surged. Chen Lin's use of the Seed of Origin became more diversified; he could not only analyze information but also collect data, thereby deducing and optimizing action plans based on his own understanding.

Using Glenn's access to the Level 3 plant-based spell model library, he eagerly studied the guidance of life energy, the construction of purification arrays, and the essence of plant-based defensive spells.

Each time he participated in a "stability test" in the laboratory, he carefully guided the Bloodthirsty Vine to absorb and fuse the energy of specific magical plants under the cover of the Seed of Origin, attempting to break through the mental barrier of a fourth-level wizard apprentice.

The process was painful and secretive, like drawing nourishment from the tip of a knife, but the sense of power emanating from the depths of the Bloodthirsty Vine patterns on my right arm, and the increasingly refined perception in my spiritual sea, all proved that this path was correct.

Visiting Ella was a daily routine for Chen Lin, but also a heavy burden.

Inside the Pure Life Chamber, the radiance of the Fountain of Life still shone brightly, but Ella's condition was like a candle flickering in the wind.

The spread of iron-corroding fungi is forcibly slowed down by the powerful purification energy of the barrier, but the characteristics of ice erosion and decay make the hyphae more stubborn and more erosive.

The wizard Lina and her team tried various methods, with little success. The process of consciousness anchoring and uploading was agonizingly slow; Ella's remaining self was as if sealed by a thick layer of ice, struggling to breathe under the corrosive influence of the abyss and the undead.

Unfortunately, there is no suitable channel for collecting malevolent energy inside the barrier, and the Seed of Origin is already struggling to suppress the symbiote. Otherwise, the Seed of Origin's special ability might have improved Ayra's condition.

Chen Lin stood beside the crystal platform, the Seed of Origin operating at full power, analyzing the complex energy conflicts within the cocoon of light.

He could clearly "see" the life torrent of the barrier and the abyssal pollution and necromantic frost within Ayra's body forming a fierce tug-of-war, while the faint resonance of the Blood-Eating Vine, like an ominous shadow, appeared and disappeared in the energy turbulence.

He presented his findings—the potential stress response of fungi to specific negative energies—to the wizard Lina again, and used the Seed of Origin to simulate several possible energy stimulation schemes.

Lena's gaze was serious and complex; clearly, this idea had caught her attention, but it also carried enormous risks. She needed more detailed arguments and higher-level authorization.

Leaving the oppressive Pure Life Chamber, Chen Lin spent more time in the public areas of the stronghold—the library, the training ground, and the Emerald Shade Market, where he could see reality most clearly.

He was no longer merely a trader, but rather a calm observer, using the Seed of Origin to analyze the rules governing the barrier's operation and record information that might be useful to him.

The phenomenon of lending was more widespread and more complex than the Allen case he had initially encountered.

At an inconspicuous enchanting materials shop on the edge of the market, he saw a young man in a faded apprentice robe branding a parchment scroll that shimmered with the light of a soul contract with trembling hands.

He borrowed 30 magic stones to buy a minor elemental affinity potion in an attempt to improve his mediocre elemental perception talent.

The contract terms were harsh: for the next ten years, 70% of all his mission rewards would go to the shop owner, and he would be required to perform arduous material processing work within the shop. The young man's eyes were filled with desperate desperation and a thirst for power. This was a high-stakes gamble, trading his future for a slim hope; the loser would utterly perish.

However, at the high-level spell model rental area in the center of the barrier, Chen Lin saw a completely different scene. A calm and collected fourth-level wizard apprentice with sharp eyes was talking to a middle-aged wizard dressed in a wizard's robe.

The wizard held a contract in his hand, the terms of which also involved a huge loan of magic stones, but the conditions were much more lenient: the borrower only needed to repay the principal and a low interest rate within five years, during which time he had to report his spell learning progress to the wizard regularly, and after passing the trial, he would be given priority to join the wizard's research team.

The wizard's eyes held a scrutinizing gaze, yet also a hint of anticipation for investing in the future. When the fourth-level wizard apprentice signed the contract, his expression was solemn rather than desperate, clearly viewing it as an aid rather than a shackle.

"See that? That's the 'balance' of the barrier." A slightly hoarse voice sounded behind Chen Lin.

He turned around and saw Carlos standing beside him, a professional smile on his face, but with a shrewd insight into the ways of the world.

"For most mediocre people, loans are a noose that squeezes out surplus value, draining their time, energy, and even their souls. But for true seeds..."

He gestured towards the fourth-level wizard apprentice, "Loans are investments, chips that wizards bet in advance. They provide resources, knowledge, and connections in exchange for future rewards—a powerful follower or a valuable research result."

Chen Lin remained silent.

The Seed of Origin compares and analyzes Carlos's words with the rules of the Barrier, and the conclusion is cold and clear: the order of the Hand of Life is not fair, but an efficient resource selection and allocation mechanism.

The lower-level apprentices are the fuel that keeps the organization running, the middle-level personnel are the backbone of mission execution, while the real geniuses and potential talents are carefully cultivated and used as weapons or assets to compete for higher-level interests.

The loan system is a direct manifestation of this mechanism at the economic level.

"So, what about me, Mr. Carlos?" Chen Lin turned his head, looking directly into the pharmacist's eyes. "In your eyes, am I fuel, a backbone, or... a weapon worth investing in?"

Carlos's smile deepened, tinged with amusement: "Chen Lin, you're an interesting variable. You have potential, even extraordinary potential." He paused, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over Chen Lin's right arm, "but the 'Thorn Garden' mark on you is too deep; it's causing you considerable trouble."

"Investing in you? That's very risky. But..." he changed the subject, "high risk often means high reward. What do you need? Seeds of the Peacebloom? Or... something more advanced?"

Chen Lin didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "I heard that the stronghold will hold a grand apprentice trial in six months?"

Carlos's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Oh? You're quite well-informed. That's right, the Southern Region Wizard Apprentice Ten-Year Trial is a grand event for the entire Southern Region wizarding world! It's spearheaded by the Wizarding Council and jointly organized by various organizations."

The location is the Tower of Trials of All Things, deep within the Void Corridor, a place said to be the legacy of an ancient wizarding civilization, a self-contained space containing countless opportunities and dangers.

He lowered his voice, with a hint of seduction:

"This trial is crucial for the Barrier and for all participating apprentices! First of all, the trial ranking is directly related to the allocation of public resource areas in the Southern Region over the next ten years, such as elemental mines, magical plant secret realms, and the right to explore ancient ruins, etc.! As one of the main participants, the higher the ranking of the Hand of Life, the bigger the pie it will receive!"

Therefore, the organization will fully support promising apprentices, providing contribution points, magic stones, equipment, and even high-level spell models... as long as they can improve their strength and bring glory to the organization in the trials, resources will be plentiful!

"Secondly, for individuals, this is an opportunity for a meteoric rise! The Trial Tower not only contains rare materials and ancient knowledge rarely found in the outside world, but also legendary artifacts that can rebuild one's foundation and heal the wounds of the soul! More importantly, as long as one performs exceptionally well in the trials, regardless of background, one may be noticed by a high-ranking wizard or even a legendary being, taken as a disciple, and rise to the top in one step!"

Carlos's tone was inflammatory.

"As for the contribution points reward, it's quite generous, but that's just a bonus! Finding a single ancient relic in the Trial Tower is worth far more than ten years of hard work accumulating in the Barrier!"

Chen Lin's heart skipped a beat! A miraculous object that heals the wounds of the soul!

This is exactly what Ella needs!

Her core consciousness was being eroded by both abyssal fungi and necromantic frost; the purification of the barrier could only delay the damage, not cure it.

The wondrous artifact within the Trial Tower may be the only hope!

"Regarding Senior Sister Ella's situation... if we could have that kind of rare item..." Chen Lin's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

Carlos nodded knowingly and patted Chen Lin on the shoulder: "I understand. Ella... was once the pride of the Bulwark. What a pity. The Trial Tower is indeed rumored to possess sacred artifacts capable of purifying souls and reshaping the origin of life, but whether you can find them depends on your skills and fate. However..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his eyes sharpening.

"With your current strength, a peak third-level apprentice? You'd be considered mid-to-lower tier in the trials at best. Monsters roam freely there, the competition is brutal, and elite apprentices from various organizations, even descendants of some reclusive old monsters, will appear! Without the strength of a fourth-level wizard apprentice, you'll just be cannon fodder!"

He took a step closer, lowering his voice even further:

"You need to improve quickly! I can get you the seeds of the Tranquilizing Flower, guaranteed to be top quality. But that's not enough! You need a more powerful mental energy tempering potion formula, more sophisticated protective spells, and even... some trump cards that can save your life or turn the tide in crucial moments! I have access to all these things. But the price..."

He rubbed his fingers together, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Chen Lin looked at the shrewdness and greed flashing in Carlos's eyes and sneered inwardly, but his face showed seriousness and contemplation: "I need time to consider, and I also need to... prove my worth."

He didn't agree immediately, but instead steered the conversation back to the deal. "The last Moonshine Moss deal went smoothly. This time, I need at least three Seeds of Tranquilizing Flower, with plenty of vitality. In addition, I also need some Soul-Gathering Grass and Moonstone Powder, of good quality."

Soul-Stabilizing Grass is an auxiliary material for stabilizing the mind, while Moonstone Powder is the basis for making simple mental protection amulets.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Carlos's eyes, but he quickly regained his smile: "No problem! The seeds of the Tranquilizing Flower are controlled substances, so it will take some time and... extra cost to get them. The Soul-Gathering Grass and Moonstone powder are easy to obtain."

As usual, you have to pay a deposit first, or... exchange it for goods of equal value?" He was hinting at the mutated magical plant that Chen Lin had cultivated.

Chen Lin took out a small jade box from his pocket, inside which were two Moonlight Moss plants that he had carefully cultivated and that emitted a faint moonlight.

"This is the deposit." Chen Lin pushed the jade box forward. "Pay the balance once the Tranquilizing Flower seeds arrive. I need the Soul-Gathering Grass and Moonstone powder now."

Carlos took the jade box, opened it, and his eyes immediately lit up with surprise!

He carefully sensed the energy fluctuations of the Moonlight Moss, his smile growing even warmer: "Apprentice Chen Lin, you always bring surprises! It seems this Moonlight Moss has a high yield. No problem! Soul-Gathering Grass and Moonstone Powder will be prepared for you immediately! The Tranquilizing Flower Seeds will definitely be delivered to you within three days!"

The transaction was completed, and Chen Lin left Life's Breath with the materials.

Instead of returning to his residence, he walked toward the notice square in the center of the wall.

A huge magic crystal panel has been erected there, and it has begun to scroll through information about the "Southern Region Ten-Year Apprentice Trial".

A large number of apprentices gathered in the square, discussing animatedly, with an atmosphere that was both lively and tense, filled with anticipation.

"Have you heard? The contribution point reward for this trial is three times that of previous years! If you can get into the top 1,000, you'll be directly rewarded with a custom-made apprentice-level magical artifact!"

"Top 1,000? Dream on! How many geniuses are there in the Southern Region? We'd be lucky to even make it into the top 100! The key is the opportunities inside the Trial Tower! Last time, someone brought out a 'Dragon Blood Fruit,' which directly allowed a Level 3 apprentice to break through to the peak of Level 4!"

"Sigh, it's a pity that at least a level three apprenticeship is required to apply. I'm still a little short..."

"Senior Brother Aiven is definitely going to participate! He's already at the peak of Level 4, and it's said his mentor has given him a lot of resources; his goal is to be in the top 100!"

"Top 100? That means at least formal wizard-level combat power, right? What was our Bulwark's best result last time?"

……

Chen Lin stood at the edge of the crowd, his Seed of Origin operating at high speed, recording every piece of information scrolling on the crystal plate and analyzing the conversations of the apprentices around him.

[Trial Name: Ten-Year Trial for Southern Region Wizard Apprentices]

[Organizer: Southern Region Wizarding Council]

[Location: Void Corridor - Trial Tower of All Things]

[Timeframe: Six months later]

[Application Requirements: Applicants must be under 30 years old and possess mental strength that meets the Level 3 Apprentice standard (organizational certification required)]

[Trial Formats: Survival Challenge, Secret Realm Exploration, Mission Racing, PvP Battle (Specific rules will be announced before entering the tower)]

[Reward System:]

1. Organizational Contribution Points: Awarded based on individual ranking and contribution to the organization's points system.

2. Magic stones, potions, and materials: Rewards are given in tiers based on ranking.

3. Spell Models/Knowledge Inheritance: High-ranking players can exchange for advanced or rare knowledge.

4. Magical Artifacts/Rare Items Rewards: The top 1,000, and top 10 players will each receive corresponding level treasures.

5. Special Opportunities: The Trial Tower contains ancient relics and rare materials, which can be obtained on your own.

6. High-ranking wizards take notice: Outstanding individuals may be chosen as apprentices by legendary beings.

The rewards within the Hand of Life are also very generous:

Those who successfully register during the trial preparation period will have their contribution points exchanged for resources increased by 50%. Evergreen Barrier will establish a special loan fund (interest rate lower than the market level, requiring mentor guarantee and future contribution as collateral).

An internal selection competition was launched, with the winner receiving additional resources and guidance from high-level wizards.

During the trials, the mentors and factions of those who make outstanding contributions to the team will receive organizational resource rewards.

Chen Lin's gaze was fixed on the rumors surrounding the special opportunity and the miraculous object that could heal the soul's trauma.

The Seed of Origin, combining information gleaned from Carlos and the apprentice's discussions, quickly deduced:

[Target: Ella's Soul Repair]

[Requirement: High-level Soul Purification/Reshaping of Rare Items]

[Possible source: Deep areas of the Myriad Trials Tower (Ancient Purification Temple? Fragment of the Fountain of Life? Fruit of the Ancient Tree of Souls?)]

[Difficulty to obtain: Extremely high (requires venturing into dangerous areas and encountering powerful guardians or competitors)]

[Prerequisites: The host must have reached the level of a fourth-level wizard apprentice and possess the ability to independently explore and combat risks]

At the same time, he also noticed the "special loan fund" and "internal selection competition" within the barriers.

This confirms Carlos's statement that the barrier is concentrating resources to cultivate promising players and exert its efforts to compete for a share of resources in the southern region.

Those gifted students favored by their mentors will receive far more loan support and resources than usual.

"This is investment..." Chen Lin understood.

He looked at the group of four-level wizard apprentices in the center of the square, surrounded by a crowd and full of vigor. They were emanating powerful energy fluctuations, clearly indicating that they had received special training from the organization.

They are the weapons of the barrier, the blades in the struggle for interests, and may also represent the future of the barrier.

For Chen Lin, an outsider bearing the mark of the Thorn Garden and with dangerous Blood-Eating Vine coexisting within him, obtaining equal resources and support would be an impossible task.

Unless... he can prove that he has a value far exceeding that of ordinary people, making it worthwhile for the barrier to place a heavy bet on him!

Back in his relatively quiet residence, Chen Lin spread out the Soul-Gathering Grass and Moonstone powder he had just purchased. Instead of immediately starting to make a spiritual talisman, he focused his mind on the Seed of Origin.

[Current Status Analysis]

[Host Level: Peak Level 3 Apprentice (Mental Power Threshold)]

[Symbiotic state: Blood-devouring Vine (stable, full of energy, requires breakthrough stimulus)]

[Core Objective: Advance to Level 4 Wizard Apprentice within six months and qualify for the trial]

[Secondary Objective: Obtain the Trial Tower Soul Healing Artifact]

Resource acquisition methods:

1. Regular tasks/contribution point redemption (low efficiency).

2. Trade with Carlos (cultivation of mutated magical plants, which requires cost and time).

3. Strive for qualification for the organization's internal selection competition and receive preferential treatment in resources (must demonstrate exceptional value or be associated with a powerful mentor).

4. Utilize special loan funds (requires collateral and guarantees, high risk).

"We need to make an action plan," Chen Lin thought to himself.

In the short term, it is necessary to use the seeds of the Tranquilizing Flower to break through the bottleneck of mental power, and combine the resources of Glenn Laboratory to try to break through to the fourth level of wizard apprentice.

At the same time, we can obtain more materials and knowledge about mental potions through Carlos's channels.

Next, we need to consider cultivating more high-value mutated magical plants such as "Sun Vine" and "Shadow Moon Flower" to exchange for key resources, such as protective spell models and life-saving trump cards.

Try to reach higher-level wizards, preferably masters of potions and magical plant cultivation, to demonstrate the unique value of the Seed of Origin in magical plant cultivation and gain their attention.

After all, the analytical capabilities have already been demonstrated, and only by attracting the attention of many people can investment be obtained, and it is important to avoid being exploited by a high-level wizard and becoming a pitiful guinea pig in the laboratory.

Finally, the long-term goal is to participate in the organization's internal selection competition, strive for victory, and obtain a special resource package for the trial and guidance from a high-level wizard. This includes in-depth research into the Trial Tower's intelligence and developing targeted exploration plans.

The plan took shape in his mind. Chen Lin's eyes were sharp as knives.

In six months, he must break through from the peak of level three to the elite of level four, and accumulate enough capital and trump cards to fight his way through the cruel trials and seize the hope of saving Ella!

He picked up the Soul-Gathering Grass, his fingertips swirling with faint spiritual energy, and began to extract its essence according to the optimized formula from the Seed of Origin.

The moonstone powder in his palm was guided by the power of the Seed of Origin, outlining tiny runes.

He must arm himself to the teeth before the dawn of the trial arrives.