But this requires a vessel capable of bearing soul fragments, a container that can safely coexist with pollution energy.
Ron’s gaze unconsciously turned to the soul steel on the shelf, as a bold and crazy idea gradually took shape:
If a special "activated" magic sword were to be forged using soul steel, and part of his soul fragments were to be infused into it, allowing the sword, rather than the human, to "awaken"...
Moreover, since the soul is connected, is it possible to then channel all the spiritual contamination produced by his meditation into the sword, thus once and for all solving the problem of spiritual contamination?
Even using the spiritual contamination to nourish the magic sword’s growth in reverse, turning it into a "furnace" that incinerates pollution and transforms it into his pure strength!
Instead of relying on the pocket watch’s reset ability to repeatedly purify, which ultimately is not a long-term solution.
"However, at this stage, it’s still too risky."
Ron shook his head, interrupting his own thoughts:
"Take it slow, more research and preparation are needed."
This idea is too radical, involving the manipulation of the soul, and any mishandling could lead to soul trauma.
He needs more information, more experimental data, to further consider this possibility.
Ron stood up, walked to the window, gazing at the gradually brightening sky.
The recent experiment on the energy isolation layer achieved some preliminary progress, but there is still a long way to go before actual application.
"Step by step, securely," he repeatedly warned himself in his heart.
.........
The atmosphere in the Black Mist Jungle became unusually heavy.
The busy figures once seen in the school’s Central Square were no longer there, leaving only patrol teams of Law Enforcement Officers, watching every passing apprentice with vigilant eyes.
"Don’t look around, keep your head down and walk."
An older Elementary Apprentice whispered, pulling on his companion’s sleeve.
They walked briskly through the avenue, avoiding eye contact, relaxing only after turning into a secluded path.
"All fieldwork assignments have been canceled, my Magic Stone Fragment quota for this month is only a third of what it was."
The older apprentice cursed:
"If this continues, even basic subsistence will become an issue."
"You’re actually better off."
His companion sighed:
"Randall is worse off, he tried to sneak out of the school to collect rare herbs the day before yesterday and was caught red-handed by the Law Enforcement Team. He’s still in the Detention Room now."
Since Oliver defected and prompted the school’s crackdown on the "Eye of the Abyss," the entire school had become like a pot about to boil over, calm on the surface but turbulent underneath.
Everyone could feel the unprecedented oppressive atmosphere.
More seriously, the sharp reduction in Magic Stone allocation.
No fieldwork assignments mean no extra rewards from completing commissions;
No collection permits mean no chance to search for valuable materials to sell on their own.
The income source for most Elementary Apprentices was cut off abruptly, making life suddenly difficult to manage.
The Central Hall has received dozens of apprentices seeking loans in recent days, but there’s a limit to how many they can help.
The situation at the marketplace was even worse.
The once-flourishing shops were now deserted, with many vendors simply closing and taking a break.
Those vendors who continued to persist had already increased their goods’ prices multiple times over.
"The price of bread has increased tenfold, why don’t you just rob us!"
A skinny Candidate Apprentice shouted angrily.
The bread vendor shrugged:
"It’s not my fault, the material prices have gone up. I can’t do business at a loss, can I?"
"It’s all because of that damn Oliver!"
The skinny apprentice spat on the ground:
"If he hadn’t defected, we wouldn’t be in this situation!"
This wasn’t the first person to blame their hardships on Oliver.
In the eyes of many apprentices, Oliver was not just a traitor but the main culprit behind their difficult living conditions.
If he were here, he might have already been torn to shreds by the angry apprentices.
In the temporary camp for law enforcement stationed outside the Edge Forest, the atmosphere was even tenser.
"Did the third squad discover any abnormal situations?"
Law Enforcement Captain Rein Koester asked with a frown to a scout who had just returned.
"Reporting to the Captain, no traces of Oliver or other Awakened have been found."
The young Middle Apprentice replied respectfully:
"However, near the stream at the northeast corner, some strange black slime was discovered, samples have been collected and brought back."
Rein nodded: "Send it to the Alchemy department for analysis. Also, strengthen the night patrol, report every two hours."
"Understood, Captain."
The Law Enforcement Captain turned and looked into the depths of the Edge Forest, a trace of worry in his eyes.
Since Oliver’s defection, more than five Law Enforcement Officers have gone missing, including Norris among them, a number of Middle Apprentices.
This is not just a serious loss of personnel but a blatant challenge to the school.
"The defectors must be apprehended and brought to justice."
Rein murmured to himself, a fierce look in his eyes, as this was a mandatory task set by the school’s higher-ups.
.........
In the following days, Ron’s research entered a whole new phase.
He was no longer content with a simple metallic isolation layer and began trying to replicate the same effect on different materials in hopes of finding the most suitable vessel.
Wood, crystals, fabrics, and even some biological tissues were all meticulously tested by him.
Each material reacted uniquely.
Some could maintain isolation effects for longer periods, some could carry more types of energy, and some could either enhance or weaken the isolation strength under specific conditions.