The Wizard of Truth: Starting with Analyzing All Things

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, the heavy metal gates of Darkmoon Academy slowly rose with the sound of winches, revealing the vast and dangerous world outside.

Luo Wei stood in the middle of a guard squad of five **Advanced Apprentices**, carrying a standard workshop gathering basket on his back, containing a specially made jade shovel, a crystal bottle, and some basic antidotes and healing potions. His expression was calm, but his heart was filled with vigilance.

The captain of the guard was a burly man with a scar on his face and sharp, hawk-like eyes named Barton. His mental strength fluctuations were among the best of the advanced apprentices, nearing their peak. He glanced at the group, lingering particularly long on Luo Wei, the only intermediate apprentice, and spoke in a gruff voice:

"Mission objective: On the outskirts of the Dark Forest, near 'Moon Creek Valley,' collect twenty Moonlight Mushrooms and fifty portions of Silverleaf Grass. Remember, it's the outskirts! No one is allowed to venture into the interior of the forest without authorization! What's inside is beyond our capabilities." His tone was authoritative and unquestionable. "I am Barton, the captain of this mission. Follow my orders on the way. If you encounter danger, prioritize your own safety, send a signal, and await support. Understand?"

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, including Luo Wei.

The group quickly left the protected area of ​​the academy castle and entered a vast primeval forest filled with a faint miasma—the Dark Forest. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, with only scattered spots of light filtering through the thick canopy. The air was filled with the scent of humus and the low murmurs of various unknown creatures.

As Luo Wei followed the group at a brisk pace, he subtly activated his [Low-Level Energy Vision]. In his vision, the forest was teeming with life, yet it also concealed countless faint and subtle energy fluctuations. Some plants emitted a soft, moon-white glow, some yellowish-brown orbs of light moved slowly underground (possibly some kind of burrowing creature), and even some birds hovering in the treetops, carrying faint wind element fluctuations.

Like a sponge, he greedily absorbed the energy and information of this primeval forest, enriching the database of the Book of Truth. At the same time, he remained constantly vigilant, sensing whether that familiar, chilling shadow energy would appear.

Captain Barton, with his extensive experience, chose a route that avoided several areas with unusually chaotic energy fluctuations, areas likely inhabited by powerful monsters. Along the way, they only encountered a few low-level, rock-like "Armored Boars" and a group of "Ghost-Faced Spiders" with paralyzing venom, all of which were easily dealt with by the guards. Rowe didn't even have a chance to fight.

After about two hours of trekking, they arrived at their destination—Moon Creek Valley. It was a secluded valley nestled between two low hills, with a clear stream, shimmering with a moonlit glow, flowing through it. The valley was slightly brighter, and large patches of silvery-white leaves, known as "Silverleaf Grass," grew there, along with scattered "Moonlight Mushrooms," resembling small umbrellas and radiating a soft moonlight, growing under some shady, damp boulders.

"Disperse and collect in pairs, don't leave the area! Stay alert!" Patton ordered.

Lovi teamed up with a seemingly more composed **advanced apprentice** to begin harvesting. Silverleaf was relatively easy to handle; simply pull it up by the roots, keeping the roots intact. Moon mushrooms, however, required careful shoveling from the roots with a jade shovel before sunrise, when the moonlight energy on their caps was at its peak, and then storing them in a specially made crystal bottle to prevent energy loss.

Luo Wei's movements were precise and efficient. His mental strength helped him easily locate the plant with the most abundant energy, and the harvesting process was smooth and effortless. The senior apprentices in his group watched with a hint of surprise in their eyes.

However, just as the gathering mission was halfway through and most of the materials had been acquired, a sudden change occurred!

"Whoa—!"

A shrill, violent wolf howl suddenly came from the dense forest on one side of the valley! Then came a second, a third... one after another, rapidly approaching!

"Warning! It's a pack of Bone-Eating Wolves!" Captain Barton's expression changed, and he shouted sharply, instantly drawing his enchanted longsword from his waist. The other guards also immediately put down their gathering tools, quickly moved closer together, formed a defensive formation, drew their weapons, and surged with mental energy.

Luo Wei's heart skipped a beat. **Bone-Eating Wolves** are common pack monsters found on the outskirts of the Dark Forest. They are usually led by a wolf king who is **close to the peak of a low-level monster (equivalent to the peak of a high-level apprentice)**. The individual strength of each wolf is about **between a mid-level apprentice and a high-level apprentice**, but they are numerous and ferocious. Their claws and teeth carry a corrosive dark energy that can erode bones, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

Whoosh whoosh!

A dozen gray figures darted out of the woods like ghosts, surrounding Luo Wei and his companions. These Bone-Eating Wolves were as large as calves, with rough fur, their eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty green light, and saliva dripping from their gaping mouths, corroding the grass with a hissing sound. The wolf king, the leader, was even larger than the others, with a tuft of eerie dark red fur on its forehead, exuding an even more powerful and ferocious aura.

"Prepare for battle! There are quite a few of them, don't get scattered!" Barton roared, his body radiating an earthy yellow light, clearly indicating his expertise in defensive witchcraft or combat techniques.

The battle erupted instantly!

The guards unleashed a barrage of attacks, fireballs, wind blades, and ice spikes clashing with the charging Bone-Eating Wolves, creating violent explosions and roars of energy. Captain Barton, at the forefront, wielded his longsword with immense force, cleaving away the Bone-Eating Wolves attempting to breach the defenses.

Luo Wei did not rush forward rashly. He calmly observed the battlefield, while the Book of Truth began its high-speed analysis.

**[Target Analysis: Bone-Eating Wolves (Pack)]**

**[Energy Attributes: Darkness, Corrosion.]**

**[Structural weakness: The lower back is relatively vulnerable, and energy flow is poor at joint connections.]**

**[Attack Patterns: Pounce, Bite; Claws and Fangs are imbued with a 'weak corrosive energy field'.]**

**[Wolf King's Special Ability: Suspected 'Bloodthirsty Roar' (temporarily increases the pack's aggression and speed).]**

The moment the information flooded his mind, a Bone-Eating Wolf broke through the wind blade interception of a teammate in front, opened its bloody maw, and pounced on Luo Wei, who seemed to be the weakest, with a stench!

The senior apprentice in the same group cried out in alarm, but it was too late to come to the rescue.

A cold glint flashed in Luo Wei's eyes. He did not choose to use the optimized [Miniature Blazing Flame] or [Water Manipulation]. He recalled his experience of successfully constructing an "energy channeling field" last night, as well as the concept in the stone tablet that "energy channels lie in resonance".

A bold idea arose.

Instead of retreating, he raised his right hand to meet the onrushing Bone-Eating Wolf. His mental focus was intense; he no longer constructed fixed spell models, but instead attempted to sense and simulate the fluctuations in the wolf's violent dark energy and corrosive energy field as it pounced!

This is an extremely dangerous attempt, like dancing on a knife's edge! A miscalculation could result in a backlash from its energy field; a successful simulation, however, could...

Just as the Bone-Eating Wolf's sharp teeth were about to touch his arm, Luo Wei's mental energy frequency suddenly adjusted to an extremely subtle opposite phase with the corrosive energy field attached to the wolf's teeth!

hum!

A low, almost inaudible thud.

The ferocious expression on the Bone-Eating Wolf froze instantly. The corrosive energy field that was attached to its sharp teeth, which should have been invincible, was violently consumed and vibrated when it came into contact with the invisible, resonant force field in front of Luo Wei's palm, just like a stone thrown into the water!

"Snap!"

With a crisp sound, it wasn't that bones were breaking, but rather that the hardest fangs of the Bone-Eating Wolf, due to the instantaneous disruption and backlash of its own energy field, developed fine cracks from the inside and then broke off!

"Woo!" The Bone-Eating Wolf let out a painful howl, its attack abruptly halted. The immense inertia caused it to fall to the ground, blood streaming from its mouth, staring at Rowe in terror.

This scene stunned everyone who witnessed it, including Captain Barton, who was preparing to take a hit to rescue Rowe!

Barehanded... he shattered the fangs of the Bone-Eating Wolf?! What kind of witchcraft is this?!

Luo Wei himself was somewhat surprised; the effect was even better than he had expected. This initial application of the "reverse resonance field," although extremely small in scope and short in duration, consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy, yet its power was astonishing!

Without pausing, taking advantage of the moment when the Bone-Eating Wolf fell to the ground and howled in agony, a condensed pale fire line (an optimized version of the Micro Blazing Flame Spell) accurately shot into its relatively vulnerable waist, instantly severely injuring it.

"Well done, Rowe!" Captain Patton roared, both surprised and delighted, boosting morale.

However, the wolf king was enraged. It raised its head and let out an even more ferocious roar, its dark red fur seemingly dripping blood. The eyes of the other Bone-Eating Wolves around it instantly turned crimson, and their speed and strength noticeably increased!

"Watch out! The Wolf King has used Bloodlust!" Barton's expression turned grave.

The battle intensified. A guard's arm was slashed by a wolf's claw; his leather armor was instantly corroded, the wound turned black, and he groaned, his movements slowing considerably.

Luo Wei's eyes narrowed. He noticed that after the wolf king unleashed its bloodthirsty roar, the energy fluctuations of the tuft of dark red hair on its forehead were unusually active and connected to the energy field of the entire wolf pack.

"The core...is there!"

He took a deep breath and concentrated most of his remaining mental energy. Instead of attacking the wolf king's body, he tried to construct a "field" again—this time, targeting the tuft of red hair on the wolf king's forehead!

He simulated the fluctuations of the wolf king's bloodthirsty energy field, but applied an extremely subtle, high-frequency reverse interference!

"Awooo—!"

The wolf king, who was directing the pack's fierce attack, suddenly let out a piercingly mournful howl. Its massive body stiffened abruptly, then convulsed violently. The tuft of red fur on its forehead dimmed at a visible speed, even emitting wisps of black smoke! The bloodlust effect it had applied to the pack instantly ceased!

The wolf pack fell into chaos, and their offensive weakened considerably.

"Great opportunity! Take it down!" Captain Patton was not about to miss such a golden opportunity. He roared and led his teammates in a counterattack.

Deprived of its bloodlust and inexplicably mortally wounded, the wolf king was no longer able to mount an effective resistance and was quickly killed by the concentrated fire of its guards. With the alpha wolf dead, the remaining Bone-Eating Wolves immediately lost their will to fight and scattered into the dense forest, howling in agony.

The battle ended, leaving the valley in ruins, filled with the stench of blood and the burning smell of energy.

The guards, all more or less injured, looked at Luo Wei with shock, gratitude, and a hint of awe. This seemingly only mid-level potion apprentice had actually mastered such a bizarre and powerful ability!

Captain Barton walked up to Rowe, patted him heavily on the shoulder, and said with a complicated look in his eyes, "Kid... what did you just use? I've never seen anything like it before."

Luo Wei's face was somewhat pale, his mental energy exhausted. He forced a smile and said, "A little... mental energy interference technique, which happens to be somewhat effective against monsters that rely on group energy connections." He used vague language again.

Patton gave him a deep look, but didn't press for details. He simply said in a low voice, "Thanks to you this time. Mission accomplished, we'll return immediately! This place is not safe to linger!"

The group quickly gathered the collected materials and valuable parts of the wolf king (such as crystal cores and claws), helped the wounded, and left Moon Creek Valley.

On the way back, Luo Wei recovered his mental energy while reflecting on the battle he had just fought. His first practical application of the "Reverse Resonance Field," though crude and extremely energy-consuming, undoubtedly opened a new door for him. This was not merely an optimization of witchcraft, but a leap forward in his understanding and application of the nature of energy.

However, a lingering doubt remained deep within him. Was this attack by the Bone-Eating Wolves a coincidence? Or... was it related to that shadow and this sudden gathering mission?

Just as they were about to emerge from the dark forest and could already see the outline of the academy castle, Rowe's [Low-Level Vision] once again detected something unusual.

In the shadow of an extremely tall ancient tree in the distance, a figure in a dark cloak, almost blending into the environment, silently watched the direction they had left. The energy fluctuations emanating from that figure were not the cold energy of shadow, but rather a strange fluctuation that was more obscure, carrying a sense of "observation" and "recording".

If not a cultist of the shadows, then who is it?