Apocalyptic Sequence

Chapter 28 The Secret Scholar

The Mystic Sequence grants three extraordinary abilities.

I learned from Xiao Yu that extraordinary individuals in the first stage of the sequence usually only have one or two extraordinary abilities.

It can only be said that the esoteric scholars truly deserve their unique status, possessing more extraordinary abilities than those from other paths.

Lu Fan focused his mind on the "Extraordinary Abilities" section, and in an instant, extraordinary knowledge condensed in his mind, telling him about the specific effects of the three abilities.

[Lockpicking]: Using extraordinary abilities to open locked doors. In occult terms, doors also include cages, prisons, and even walls no thicker than a certain limit. The higher the level of lockpicking skill, the more advanced the locks (the thicker the walls) can be opened.

His first extraordinary ability is lock picking; he can open all kinds of locks, and even open doors where there are no walls.

[Tricks]: The host has mastered various tricks and can skillfully use spell-like abilities. The higher the level of the trick, the more powerful the spell.

The second extraordinary ability is magic tricks, the same as the main abilities of the [Apprentice] sequence.

Different extraordinary sequences may overlap in certain areas; clearly, there is some overlap between apprentices and occultists.

【Arcane Eye】: When the host activates the Arcane Eye, they can divine the past of objects. If the Arcane Eye is activated during battle, the host can clearly see the flow of the enemy's spiritual energy and thus find their fatal weakness.

The third extraordinary ability is the Arcane Eye, which can both divine objects and assist in combat, making it an all-around extraordinary ability.

Although the three extraordinary abilities are not explicitly listed as primary or secondary, judging from their effects, the Arcane Eye should be the core, as it is the core ability of an arcane scholar, while the other two are relatively secondary.

I still have over 2100 experience points. Which ability should I upgrade?

Lu Fan did not hesitate. Since the Eye of Secrets was a core ability, it should be upgraded first.

"upgrade!"

Lu Fan infused his experience into the Eye of Arcane Arts, spending 1400 experience points to upgrade it to level 10.

The level 10 Arcane Eye is far superior to its previous versions in both divination effects and combat support.

Furthermore, upgrading Extraordinary Abilities to Level 5 and Level 10 does not grant the acquisition of new abilities; it only enhances the original base stats. To acquire new abilities, one must advance their class to the second rank.

With over 700 experience points remaining, Lu Fan decided to retain them for future ability upgrades.

After being promoted to Mystic Scholar, in addition to gaining three extraordinary abilities, a new notification popped up on Lu Fan's panel.

[Hint: You have been promoted to Mystic Scholar, all attributes +3 points!]

[Hint: Your inventory space has been upgraded; its current volume is 5x5x5 cubic meters!]

All attributes +3 points? Lu Fan was pleasantly surprised when he saw the notification.

This is a huge improvement. You should know that when he practiced the Black Tiger Blade Technique to level 15, he only increased his strength by 3 points and his constitution by 2 points. The +3 to all attributes also includes agility and intelligence.

It's easy to imagine how huge the boost from +3 to all attributes is.

After the attribute upgrades, Lu Fan's character panel looks like this:

Host: [Lu Fan]

Extraordinary Profession: Mystic (Sequence 1/Role Progress 0%)

Attributes: Strength 12, Agility 9, Constitution 11, Intelligence 9, Charisma 10

[General Skills]: Circuit Repair (Lv.1), Computer Technology (Lv.1), English (Lv.2), Chinese Language (Lv.4), Black Tiger Blade Technique (Lv.15)

[Exceptional Skills]: Lockpicking (Lv.1), Trick (Lv.1), Arcane Eye (Lv.10)

Experience points: 750

With all attributes around 10 points, it's equivalent to twice the attributes of an average person. Keep in mind that attribute improvement isn't linear; every single point in an attribute can bring a huge boost.

In terms of attributes alone, the Mystic Scholar is far superior to other sequences.

As far as Lu Fan knew, advancing from the apprentice sequence to the first sequence only improved brain memory and thinking ability, commonly known as intelligence enhancement; other attributes were not significantly improved.

In addition, Lu Fan was slightly concerned about the "performance progress" suffix of "Mystic Scholar". What is performance progress? Does it refer to the degree of digestion of the secret medicine? Once the performance reaches 100%, can one advance to Sequence Two?

There are still many unsolved mysteries on the panel, which should be related to the decryption task.

To find out this, Lu Fan had to acquire extraordinary knowledge from various channels as much as possible and rely on that knowledge to complete the decryption task.

Finally, promotion sequence one also increases backpack space.

This is fantastic news, meaning that Lu Fan's backpack space can be continuously upgraded.

As Lu Fan advances to Sequence Two, Sequence Three, or even higher sequences in the future, his backpack will continue to expand until it is large enough to accommodate airplanes and tanks.

Lu Fan had already fully experienced the convenience of the spatial backpack. Moreover, the spatial backpack could hold sealed items, and those sealed items with negative status effects would not trigger negative effects after being placed in the spatial backpack.

It can be said that the space backpack is one of Lu Fan's most important trump cards.

Opening his spatial backpack, Lu Fan saw the expanded space. He had originally filled it halfway with food, but now, with the upgraded space, the food only occupied less than a third of the original amount.

After turning off the panel, Lu Fan prepared to go to the Affairs Bureau again.

Although he had advanced to the level of a Mystic Scholar and no longer needed the Apprentice's Secret Medicine, Lu Fan was still prepared to spend 10,000 military merit points to exchange for the Apprentice's Secret Medicine combination and extraordinary materials from the Affairs Bureau.

Because he was preparing to impersonate someone in the 'apprentice' sequence.

After all, the only way to obtain his secrets was of great importance, and Lu Fan did not intend to expose it, lest others covet his secret scholar sequence and try to kill him to steal the treasure and extract extraordinary characteristics from the corpse.

Therefore, Lu Fan still went to the Affairs Bureau.

The staff of the Bureau of Affairs received him, and when they learned that he was going to exchange for the secret medicine, they showed an envious expression and served him with great respect.

At present, those who are qualified to exchange for the secret medicine are extremely rare within Silvermoon Fortress.

"Mr. Lu Fan, this is your secret medicine formula and extraordinary ingredients."

"Thanks."

Lu Fan carefully put away the secret medicine formula and glanced down at it.

[Apprenticeship (Sequence 1)]

Main ingredients: 1 zombie brain core, 3 ladybug shells.

Additional ingredients: 20 grams of minced ginger, 100 grams of pure water, and three hairs from a scholar (a doctoral degree).

As expected, the secret medicine formulas for the apprentice sequence are somewhat similar to those for the scholar sequence, since the two do have some overlap in their extraordinary fields.

Therefore, the secret medicine recipes also have certain similarities, all of which require the use of zombie brain nuclei.

Lu Fan tossed the extraordinary materials into his spatial backpack, then hesitated for a moment, pondering whether to give the apprentice's secret medicine to Han Xueyan so that she could advance to become an extraordinary one.

"Let's wait a while longer, otherwise it would be too strange for Han Xueyan to be promoted to apprentice right after I received the secret medicine."

"Moreover, if I give the apprentice the secret medicine to Han Xueyan, I will definitely have to prepare a portion for Tang Rou as well."

"After all, you have to treat everyone fairly."

Lu Fan pondered silently as he made his way back to his private room.

But then they saw a packed dinner on the floor outside the door, steaming hot.

There was also a note left by Han Xueyan on it—

[Remember to eat on time (heart.jpg)]