Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

The core meeting at Cui Ding Pavilion ended near dusk, and Chen Lin returned to the secret room in Qing Teng Workshop, which was filled with the scent of herbs and metal.

His fingertips brushed across the cool, shadowy thorn ring, the restrained dark gold patterns seeming to echo the burning sense of urgency within him.

Twenty days from now, the gates of the Myriad Trials Tower will open, and the road to the Purification Temple will surely be filled with unknown dangers.

"Teamwork requires division of labor..." Chen Lin sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his spiritual sea.

The cold roots of the primordial seed spread, sorting through the information gathered at the meeting.

His own role—the core of control and the guarantee of concealment—means that he needs to withstand tremendous pressure in the complex, ever-changing, poisonous, and demonic environment of the Corruption Garden, especially when encountering emergencies or needing to conduct rapid reconnaissance.

"Individual ability is ultimately limited. I need more 'eyes' and 'shields'."

Chen Lin's gaze fell on the parchment shimmering with magical light in the dimensional bag—a custom-made magical artifact exchange voucher (high-level).

This would have been a perfect opportunity to craft a powerful offensive or defensive piece of equipment, but at this moment, an idea that better suited his current needs and could better leverage his unique strengths began to take shape in his mind.

"Consumable puppet".

Chen Lin whispered, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Scouting, covering the rear, drawing fire, or even carrying malicious drugs for self-destruction attacks... they will be extending vines, controlled sacrifices."

This idea did not come from nowhere.

During his studies at the Barrier, he was exposed to basic puppet construction and the principles of energy cores. Although his knowledge was far less profound than that of his mentor Evelyn, who specialized in these areas, his unique ability to analyze the Seed of Origin and his symbiotic characteristics were enough to open up a new path.

More importantly, he possesses several advantages that are difficult for others to match:

The Seed of Origin can accurately analyze material properties and energy loop efficiency, optimize structure, and improve puppet performance and stability.

The symbiote that fuses with itself can give rise to mutated blood-devouring vine seeds. The vines that grow from the mutated blood-devouring vines are flexible, flexible, and have a certain resistance to toxins and mental pollution, making them excellent biological materials for making the main structure, transmission components, and even neural networks of puppets.

The crystallized evil thoughts obtained from the Land of the Dead and refined by the Seed of Origin contain highly condensed negative spiritual energy.

Not only does it have a high energy density, but its ability to induce biological panic and interfere with mental perception makes it effective in passively driving away wandering creatures in the Shadow Corridor and Corruption Garden environments, where it is also relatively easy to replenish.

Based on long-term experience using Moonshine Moss, combined with optimizations from the Seed of Origin, it is hoped that the purification field can be miniaturized and integrated into the core control node to combat the mental pollution and abyssal aura of the Corruption Garden.

The high-level custom magic artifact certificate allows him to obtain top-tier material quotas and expert-level processing assistance from the Barrier Arcane Workshop, addressing his shortcomings in precision manufacturing.

"Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting."

A resolute gleamed in Chen Lin's eyes.

Chen Lin did not rush to take action, but first conducted a high-intensity simulation and deduction in his mental sea with the help of the Seed of Origin.

The puppet must meet the following core requirements:

In normal exploration mode, it needs to be small in size, able to move flexibly in various terrains, have basic environmental perception, and be able to transmit information back.

In combat, it needs to be quick to activate, have a rapid reaction time, be able to pre-program self-destruct, and be able to carry a small amount of malevolent drugs or paralyzing toxin atomization devices to interfere with the enemy's judgment.

At the same time, considering the consumable nature of puppets, cost control is necessary, and they can be produced in large quantities.

In terms of morphology and structure: The Seed of Origin quickly simulates various forms such as spiders, snakes, birds, insects, and small humanoids.

Ultimately, a centipede-like structure that combined the stability of a spider's chassis with the flexibility of a snake's body emerged.

The main body is a multi-segmented, flexible snake body, providing turning flexibility and a certain climbing ability;

It is equipped with six pairs of short but strong appendages on the bottom, providing fast ground movement and some obstacle crossing ability;

It has mental energy sensors all over its body and head.

Driven by the crystallization of evil thoughts.

The Seed of Origin deduced a highly efficient energy conversion array model that can stably convert malevolent energy into pure magical energy to drive the puppet's activities, and reserves an "overload detonation" interface.

Miniaturized mental command receiving and processing nodes.

The core challenge lies in isolating the mental pollution from the corrupt garden from interfering with the command signals.

Chen Lin thought of the purifying force field of moonlight moss.

He deduced that by integrating the optimized moonshoe moss powder into the protective layer of the core node, a weak and continuous purification barrier could be formed.

Meanwhile, the transmission of instructions employs encrypted, subtle mental fluctuations that are of the same origin as the original seed.

The plan is to use the lowest-end enchanted crystal shards, a simple alchemical filter, and a miniature "mental pollution warning tentacle" based on the sensory properties of the mutated blood-devouring vine.

The mutated blood-devouring vine was selected as the main material.

The original seed deduced the optimal induction and pretreatment scheme:

It is grown in a specific nutrient solution to achieve its maximum flexibility, then soaked in a solution mixed with trace amounts of refined gold powder and a solidifying agent, and finally baked to set its shape.

The mutated blood-devouring vine, after this treatment, possesses the toughness, lightness, and certain energy conductivity of biomaterials, while also having hardness and stability close to that of metal.

The motion design is a simple combination of levers and gears, which requires precision machining in the workshop and is driven by treated, mutated blood-devouring vine fiber bundles as "tendons".

The Seed of Origin optimizes transmission efficiency and reduces energy loss.

It was late at night when the simulation ended, and Chen Lin's mental energy was greatly depleted, but a clear framework had been formed.

He compiled all the simulation results and then organized the structural diagrams, material lists, and energy loop models into a detailed scheme description.

Early in the morning, Chen Lin headed straight to the secret workshop in the core area of ​​the barrier, carrying the plan and the customization voucher.

This is a massive building filled with the sounds of machinery and magical glow.

He was greeted by a senior master craftsman from the workshop, an elderly man with gray hair and wearing a fine monocle, named Barton.

Master Barton was initially surprised that Chen Lin chose to create consumable puppets instead of powerful magical artifacts, but after carefully reading Chen Lin's well-structured and uniquely conceived plan, a glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes.

"Interesting... Using active plant materials as the main body, driven by evil crystallization, and a micro-purification field to resist interference... Young man, your idea is very bold, and your integration strategy is very clear."

Master Patton commented,

"The materials are fine, and the reserves at the barrier are sufficient to support it."

In terms of processing, high-precision etching and circuit curing are handled by my team to ensure the stability and miniaturization of the energy circuit.

However, you need to handle the processing of biomaterials, the final assembly and debugging, and the mental imprinting of the core control nodes yourself.

The workshop only provides standardized processing services.

"Understood, thank you for your support, Master." Chen Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

The most difficult problems of materials and precision machining have been solved.

He submitted the list immediately.

Master Barton was extremely efficient. That afternoon, apart from the mutated Bloodthirsty Vine seeds that needed to be induced, all the other materials and processed core components were delivered to the Green Vine Workshop.

Chen Lin immediately began the process of stimulating and pre-processing the mutated Blood-Eating Vine.

He set up a temporary cultivation area in a corner of the workshop, prepared nutrient solution according to the simulation plan, and promoted the growth of a large number of mutated blood-devouring vines, while simultaneously soaking, baking and shaping them.

The air was filled with a strange smell, a mixture of plant sap and metal hardener.

The construction of core components is crucial to success or failure.

Chen Lin carefully connected the processed metal core, which was etched with a precise transformation array, to a small, fingernail-sized crystal of evil thoughts that had been purified twice by the Seed of Origin.

He personally guided the crystal with his mental power to ensure perfect coupling between the energy interface of the crystal and the magic array, and sealed it with specially made insulating material to prevent energy leakage from interfering with other components.

Finally, it was branded with the mental command interface for starting, stopping, and self-destructing overload.

Next comes the construction of the control core, which is the most time-consuming step.

Chen Lin took out the micro-instruction processing metal substrate that had been processed in the workshop, and used a special alchemy adhesive to evenly embed the purified moonshoe moss powder into the reserved slots.

After the powder is embedded, he needs to use his own moon shadow essence and spiritual power as a guide to activate the purification properties contained in the powder, forming a stable, weak but lasting purification force field in the core of the substrate.

This process requires extremely high mental control precision and patience; the slightest carelessness can lead to instability in the force field or powder failure.

Chen Lin spent most of the day and failed several times before finally succeeding in building three stable control cores.

Finally, there's the production of the perception module, which is relatively simple and is completed with the assistance of workshop apprentices.

Preliminary assembly begins.

Chen Lin combined the metal skeleton reinforcements and gear transmission assembly that the secret workshop had processed with the main body of the mutated blood-devouring vine that he had prepared.

He carefully embedded the energy core and control core into the core compartment reserved in the middle of the snake's body, and connected the drive tendons and sensory module circuitry.

A rudimentary but structurally complete centipede-like puppet appeared on the workbench, about a foot long, with a dark green, metallic sheen throughout.

Debugging is key to finding and resolving problems.

Chen Lin activated the energy core.

A faint, slightly chilling flow of magic flowed smoothly into the transmission system, and the six pairs of appendages began to move rapidly, while the snake's body also began to bend and twist.

However, a problem was soon discovered: the magical flow driven by malevolent energy would cause slight erosion when passing through the mutated blood-devouring vine tendons, and long-term operation would lead to a decrease in the strength of the fiber bundles.

Chen Lin immediately used the Seed of Origin to scan and analyze, and quickly deduced a solution: to coat the surface of the tendon fiber bundle with an extremely thin protective coating made of a mixture of curing agent and moonshoe moss powder.

After the improvement, energy transmission is stable and erosion is significantly reduced.

Chen Lin issued a faint directional spiritual command through the Seed of Origin.

The control core received the command, and the purification field worked stably, effectively isolating the low-intensity mental interference that Chen Lin had deliberately created.

The command was executed accurately, but the response time was about 0.5 seconds slower than expected.

Chen Lin further optimized the instruction processing loop and made slight etching adjustments, successfully reducing the latency to less than 0.1 seconds.

Next came environmental simulation tests, testing simulated poisonous miasma and simulated mental pollution. The enchanted crystal could reflect the intensity of energy fluctuations, the alchemical filter could change color to indicate abnormal air composition, and the mutated blood-devouring vine tentacles would tremble slightly and send a warning signal to the control core when near the source of mental pollution.

The results have largely met expectations.

Finally, the self-destruct program was debugged.

Chen Lin activated the preset self-destruct program.

The energy core was instantly overloaded, and the simulated evil crystal energy exploded in the sealed test container, forming a small-scale mental shockwave. At the same time, the preset neurotoxin was successfully atomized and released.

It is very powerful and can cause chaos in confined spaces or dense biomes.

The first prototype, "Shadow of Thorns - Prototype," has been successfully tested!

Although it is a bit rough, all the core functions have been implemented.

Next came the intense mass production phase.

Chen Lin solidified the optimized plan and material handling process.

While continuing to cultivate and process the mutated Blood-Eating Vine materials, he began mass production based on the prototype with the assistance of workshop apprentices.

Thanks to the optimized standardized processes of the Seed of Origin and the high-quality core components provided by the Mystic Workshop, production efficiency far exceeded expectations.

By late on the fourth night, twenty "Shadow of Thorns" puppets were neatly arranged on the worktable, like twenty lurking vine snakes, gleaming with a cold luster under the lamplight.

The final step: Imprinting mental power.

This is the key to giving the puppet a "soul" and establishing absolute control.

Chen Lin sat cross-legged in front of the twenty puppets, his mental energy highly concentrated.

The golden roots of the Seed of Origin sway in the sea of ​​spirit.

He separated strands of pure spiritual energy, mixed with his own will imprint and a trace of the aura of the Seed of Origin, and like the most precise carving knife, imprinted them one by one into the depths of the control core of each puppet.

The branding process is slow and costly. Each brand requires Chen Lin's full concentration to ensure its stability and uniqueness, preventing external interference or loss of control within the Corruption Garden.

After branding was completed, he established a subtle, extension-like connection with these puppets, enabling him to clearly perceive their state and location and issue commands instantly.

After the branding was completed, Chen Lin was pale and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

But his eyes were bright and full of expectation.

He conducted a final tactical rehearsal:

As soon as the command was given, a "Shadow of Thorns" was activated. Its three pairs of appendages swung rapidly, and its snake body twisted nimbly, silently darting along the ground into the pile of miscellaneous items in the workshop.

Chen Lin closed his eyes and sensed the information flow fed back by the puppet. He "saw" the outline of the obstacles, "smelled" the changes in the concentration of the simulated poisonous miasma, and "felt" the location of the preset mental interference source.

The information was transmitted clearly.

A puppet is commanded to rush at high speed toward a predetermined target area, activating a pre-programmed sequence that causes it to self-destruct upon approach!

The shockwave of malevolent energy and mental interference spread within the protective barrier, while a pale purple paralyzing mist permeated the air.

The effect was significant enough to throw the pursuers into a brief state of confusion and paralysis.

After replacing and repairing the puppet that had just executed the self-destruct command, Chen Lin carefully examined it in front of him.

"It's done!" Chen Lin breathed a sigh of relief, a satisfied smile appearing on his tired face.

These twenty "Shadows of Thorns" will become his silent sentinels and loyal henchmen in the Corruption Garden, greatly increasing the team's survival rate and the likelihood of mission success.

Of course, he didn't forget to have Master Patton custom-make some easily damaged core components for later repair and replacement.

He placed twenty of them into a specially made dimensional bag with internal buffer compartments and a weak isolation array.

Five days, racing against time, giving it our all.

From concept to mass production, the Shadow of Thorns was born.

They lack dazzling brilliance, yet they embody Chen Lin's wisdom and determination in forging a path through thorns amidst dire circumstances.

Looking at these quietly dormant little creatures, Chen Lin felt even more confident about his upcoming trip to the Trial Tower.

He turned his gaze to the workshop window, where the glowing moss emitted a soft and constant light, and fell into deep thought.