Chapter 44: Unlocking the Mirage Sea Secret Chamber, The Points-Grinding Field Begins!

The bell signaling the end of class rang out, announcing the conclusion of the morning’s courses.

Luo Miu had just closed his textbook when he saw Ibuki Rei and “Kafnir” almost simultaneously rise from their seats and exit the classroom, one after the other.

There was no exchange of words throughout, yet a tacit understanding passed between them.

“Seriously, they’re really going off to discuss things with the guys… Such initiative for work?”

Luo Miu felt a surge of satisfaction at Ibuki Rei’s quick action.

Kafnir’s capabilities needed no further mention—just having him there put everyone at ease; with him around, there’d be no issues.

One handled logistics and cash flow, while the other was none other than Prince Russell himself.

With this combo, Luo Miu could lie low and win by doing nothing all over again…

“Sir Luo Miu.”

Contrary to her usual self, Annie took the initiative to walk over:

“According to yesterday’s observations, Sylvia Valentin has already started purchasing all the materials on your list in large quantities, just as you predicted.”

“And it seems she’s begun focusing her efforts on acquiring Silver Bell Marrow Solution.”

“Got it.”

Luo Miu didn’t even bother to turn around.

“Keep monitoring her. Don’t get discovered.”

This was also part of the plan—no problem at all.

“Understood…”

Annie hesitated for a moment, then added:

“It’s all for His Highness Kafnir.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

That sudden statement nearly made Luo Miu laugh out loud.

The whole “saying one thing but doing another” bit—what a classic taste of this game world.

Whatever. As long as she did her job well, it didn’t matter what she said.

“Keep up the good work with surveillance—His Highness is sure to praise you eventually.”

Having finished assigning tasks, Luo Miu didn’t linger any longer and left the classroom straight away.

The Ankat Alchemy Workshop was off-limits for now; even fleecing needed to follow principles of sustainable development.

Fortunately, the academy still had a public alchemy workshop open to all students.

Though its equipment was nowhere near as refined or high-end as Ankat’s fully customized gear—in fact, it was downright crude by comparison—it was more than enough to handle the low-grade materials he used as bait for buying sprees.

Inside the student alchemy workshop, people bustled about, busy with their own affairs.

Luo Miu found an empty corner, swiped his badge, and activated a private alchemy station.

He laid out the materials he had previously swept up at low prices, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

“Let’s begin. Let’s see how much return this investment of a few hundred points can yield.”

The Talent Tree’s synthesis mode activated.

Familiar QTE prompts flashed one after another in his mind.

His hands became blurs, operating on the alchemy table with precision and efficiency.

Threads of mana guided powders and liquids as they collided and fused in the magic circle, releasing dazzling light.

[Perfect]

····

Now that Luo Miu was familiar with the patterns, first-tier alchemy cards were no challenge at all.

A string of perfect ratings made the entire alchemy process flow as smoothly as a work of art.

As the glow faded, cards emitting a gentle radiance rose and hovered above the table.

[Experience Card · First Tier (Excellent) Crafted Successfully]

[Experience Card · First Tier (Excellent) Crafted Successfully]

……

Half an hour later, all the low-grade materials on the alchemy table had been consumed.

In their place were ten excellent-quality experience cards.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Luo Miu absorbed all of the experience cards.

A torrent of experience points surged in an instant.

[Level Up! Current Level: Tier 3]

[Talent Tree Function Unlocked: Tier 2 Alchemy]

[Talent Tree Function Unlocked: Tier 3 Assassin Universal Skill · Gale Step]

[Talent Points x4]

[Gale Step: Consumes a small amount of mana to dash a long distance in a designated direction, capable of passing through certain magical barriers.]

“It’s here!”

Luo Miu’s plan finally acquired its last crucial piece.

He allocated the four talent points into [Tier 3 Gale Step], [Tier 2 Silence Card], [Tier 2 Blast Card], and one point in [Material Sense].

Luo Miu quickly tidied up the alchemy station and left the workshop, heading straight for the academy library.

The library was so quiet that the only sound was the soft rustle of pages turning.

Luo Miu ignored the students immersed in the sea of knowledge, heading unerringly to the third row of shelves in the history section, guided by his memories from the game.

“According to the storyline, it should be right here…”

He stretched out his hand, brushing slowly across the cold, hefty shelf.

Under the effect of [Material Sense], he clearly felt a faint ripple of mana beneath his fingertips.

This was the place.

It was an almost undetectable magical illusion, disguising a small patch of space as part of the bookshelf.

According to the normal flow in the game, you’d have to buy an expensive “True Sight Potion” from the alchemy shop to see through this illusion.

But for a veteran who had read every guide, plus the Talent Tree system, Luo Miu now had a far simpler, more direct solution.

He stepped back two paces, and mana began to surge within him.

“Gale Step!”

The next moment, his figure became a blur, accompanied by the sharp whoosh of slicing wind, as he crashed headlong into the seemingly solid bookshelf.

A sound like shattering glass echoed through the air.

The scene before his eyes twisted and distorted; the bookshelf vanished, replaced by a narrow passage stretching into pitch darkness.

At the end of the passage, on an ancient stone pedestal, lay half of a metallic key emitting a faint glow.

Luo Miu stepped forward and picked up the half-key.

[Obtained “Mirage Sea Secret Chamber Key (Incomplete)”]

The moment he took the key, the other half-key surfaced from his system storage.

[Detected “Mirage Sea Secret Chamber Key (Incomplete)” x2]

[Would you like to combine them?]

“Yes.”

The two half-keys turned into streaks of light, merging midair.

In the end, instead of forming a physical key, they fused into a golden brand that seared itself deeply into Luo Miu’s mind.

[“Mirage Sea Secret Chamber” unlocked]

[Effect: The holder may at any time enter the Mirage Sea Secret Chamber for a trial via mental link. The first completion each day yields a point reward.]

Done!

Luo Miu forcibly suppressed his excitement.

He found an empty reading room, sat down, and closed his eyes.

He activated the brand in his mind.

A tremendous force yanked his consciousness away, plunging him into a boundless void.

When he opened his eyes again, he stood in a circular arena formed entirely of pure white light.

[Welcome to the Mirage Sea Secret Chamber]

[Please select your trial difficulty: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced]

“Let’s see if the system can function here first.”

Cautious as always, Luo Miu made his selection.

“Beginner.”

As soon as he spoke, light converged at the far end of the arena, forming a figure identical to himself.

It was his phantom duplicate, possessing the exact same stats and skills as him.

“System Inventory.”

With a soft command, the familiar branches of the Talent Tree appeared before his eyes.

The inventory interface actually showed up in his field of vision!

In the game, upon entering the Mirage Sea Secret Chamber, all external items were sealed; players could only rely on their own skills to fight.

But now…

“As expected of a cheat—it’s turned the trial ground into an ATM for me!”

Gazing at the version of himself across the arena, Luo Miu couldn’t help but laugh.

“Without the Talent Tree, an assassin really is nothing but a nobody!”

“You’re an assassin—I am an alchemy assassin!”

Fight? What’s the point?

He retrieved a card from the inventory—the Tier 2 Wind Blade he’d seized from an opponent during the class placement exam.

“Farewell, other me.”

He poured mana into the card.

A sharp green wind blade instantly formed, slicing through the air with a screech and severing the phantom cleanly at the waist. The illusion dissolved into points of light and faded away.

[Victory!]

[Congratulations on clearing the trial for the first time. Reward: Points +10]

A line of golden text floated quietly in front of Luo Miu.

It then transformed into an energy wave, surging into his academy badge.

His account updated—ten points credited in an instant.

“A self-generating points mine… In two weeks, that’s at least one hundred forty points I can grind out…”

Luo Miu quickly tallied up his earnings.

This upgrade had cost him about forty points’ worth of materials.

Nothing to be done—his alchemy was always one tier lower than his main class; otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to brute-force his experience bar with so many cards.

Not to mention the fifteen points he’d advanced to the trio of Kaixia’s group…

Expenses had soared above fifty, a far more generous plan than the penny-pinching of other squads.

But then again—

With material prices soaring thanks to Sylvia’s buying spree, plus the windfall from extorting black market merchants…

His net profit had already reached over two hundred.

And he could keep farming the secret chamber after this!

“Other people have to scavenge trash for a hundred days to get this many points. I rake them in within a single day. Capital really is the ultimate game.”

Letting out a long breath, Luo Miu smiled:

“Good thing I’m an old hand at this.”

Hiss.

Why did his eyelid twitch a bit?

And his right eye, no less…

“Superstition is pointless.”

Luo Miu shook his head.

It’s just getting started. There’s no way he’d overdo it so much he’d beat Sylvia nine to one, right?