Swallowing the Stars: Starting with Panlong

Chapter 23: Necromancy

Life at Ernst College returned to a peaceful and fulfilling state.

But after returning from the Monster Mountain Range, Lin Yun almost never went to class again.

It wasn't that he was being lazy, but rather that the level of a seventh-level mage far exceeded the scope of the academy's curriculum. Although Ernst Academy was the premier magic academy on the continent, its courses were primarily designed for mages of levels one to six. For magic above level seven, the academy only opened its advanced magic library to a select few outstanding students, and there were no dedicated instructors to teach it.

Moreover, Lin Yun cultivates all seven elements simultaneously. There isn't a single instructor in the academy who can teach him.

So he made a decision—to skip classes and focus on his cultivation. As long as he passed the year-end assessment, the school would not interfere with his freedom. Besides, having already reached the level of a sixth-level mage, he could apply for graduation at any time, so even if he didn't go to classes, no one would bother him!

Lin Yun's schedule is now more packed than before.

Every morning, he would practice Qi-gathering techniques and basic swordsmanship on the back mountain to maintain his warrior training. In the mornings and afternoons, he would study the magic books he obtained from Morton's spatial ring—level seven spells of the Light, Wind, and Lightning elements, level six to nine spells of the Dark element, as well as a large number of works on necromancy theory.

At night, it's time for stone carving. Stone carving not only hones his mental strength but is also a way for him to relax his mind. When the carving knife cuts across the stone surface, and stone chips fly, he doesn't need to think about anything; he only needs to focus on the work in his hands.

Beibei would stay by his side every day. Sometimes it would doze off on a tree branch, sometimes it would catch insects in the grass, and sometimes it would bring back a wild rabbit and place it in front of Lin Yun, chirping to show off. Lin Yun would stop, build a fire, roast the rabbit, and the two of them would share it.

Days passed by like this.

Three months later, Lin Yun mastered the level 7 Light magic "Holy Light", the level 7 Wind magic "Wings of Wind", and the level 7 Lightning magic "Wrath of Thunder". "Holy Light" has a huge range and is a wide-area magic that is effective against undead creatures; "Wings of Wind" can condense a pair of wind element wings on his back to achieve brief flight; and "Wrath of Thunder" is the strongest single-target attack magic among the level 7 Lightning magics!

He didn't have any level seven spells for water or fire at the moment, so he could only continue using level six magic. However, with his level seven magic power reserves across all seven elements, level six magic could still unleash power far exceeding normal levels.

He wasn't in a hurry to learn dark magic spells. Dark magic couldn't be used openly in the academy, and his understanding of it wasn't deep enough yet; he needed more time to digest it.

The most energy-consuming is necromancy.

Delin only had a superficial understanding of necromancy and couldn't offer him any substantial guidance. He could only rely on himself—studying those necromancy books again and again, trying to decipher the mysteries of the rules of death between the lines.

"The core of necromancy is the soul," Lin Yun wrote in his notes. "The seven elemental magics cultivate mental power, manipulating the elements of heaven and earth through mental power. Necromancy, on the other hand, cultivates the power of the soul, acting directly on the soul itself."

He continued, "Necromancy has three main branches. The first is necromancy—summoning undead creatures from the underworld to fight for you. The second is necromancy—forcibly binding the souls of the dead to corpses to create undead such as ghouls and zombies. The third is soul attack—directly attacking the souls of enemies."

Each of these three branches requires extremely profound soul power as support. Compared to the other rules, the rules of death delve the deepest into the study of the soul, so the requirements for the soul are also very high.

For necromancers, the growth of soul power can only be achieved through three methods: the natural growth of the soul, the tempering of the soul, and absorbing the souls of others.

Absorbing the souls of others—this is the most cruel method of necromancers, and the main reason why they are considered heretical by the Church of Light. Powerful necromancers can use secret techniques to refine the souls of the dead, absorbing their soul power to rapidly increase their own soul strength. However, this method is extremely risky; the absorber's soul will be corrupted by the resentment of the dead, losing its sanity and ultimately becoming a deranged, murderous maniac.

Lin Yun does not plan to take this path for the time being.

He chose the first and second options—the natural growth of the soul and the tempering of the soul.

Stone carving is a form of indirect tempering of the soul. And the soul attack he experienced in the Monster Mountain Range, which was blocked by the small cauldron, also passively tempered his soul. This made his perception of soul power even more acute.

"What exactly are the rules of death?" Lin Yun often pondered this question in the quiet of the night.

He searched through all the books on necromancy, but the answers he found were all abstract. The rules of death were not something that could be intuitively perceived like the laws of elements; it was a more fundamental existence—all things have birth and death, and death is the end of life, but also the beginning of another form.

Necromancy is the use of the power of the rules of death to build a bridge between life and death.

"I might need a more intuitive way to perceive the rules of death," Lin Yun wrote in his notes.

His gaze fell on the black stone tablet in the spatial ring.

The Stone Tablet for the Inheritance of Necromancer Magic.

Delin had said that the stone tablet contained the core inheritance of necromancy, including insights into the rules of death, methods for summoning the undead, and techniques for soul attacks. One could begin receiving this inheritance simply by probing their spiritual energy into the stone tablet.

However, the process of transmission is uncontrollable. The necromantic magic within the stone tablet will actively flow into the soul, and in this process, the recipient will experience the baptism of the rules of death. It is an extremely painful experience, and the soul may be corroded by the power of death.

Moreover, the process of inheritance generates a strong aura of the dead, which is easily detected by light-element mages.

"I can't receive the inheritance at the academy," Lin Yun thought to himself.

Although Ernst Academy is an independent magical institution, it was built with funding from the Church of Light. Most of the Light magic instructors in the academy have intricate connections with the Church of Light. If the aura of the undead were to leak out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He needs a place that is remote and secluded enough.

Monster Mountain Range.

It's a remote place, far from any town, and he's quite familiar with the terrain. If he can find a sufficiently secluded cave to receive the inheritance, he shouldn't be discovered.

"It's decided." Lin Yun closed his notebook and stood up.

Beibei jumped down from the branch next to him, perched on his shoulder, and chirped twice.

"Beibei, we want to go to the Monster Mountain Range again," Lin Yun said.

"Chirp chirp!" Beibei patted his cheek with her little paws, looking like "no problem".

That evening, Lin Yun told Lin Lei about his plan.

"You're going to the Monster Mountain Range to receive necromancy training?" Linley's expression was somewhat grave. "Isn't that too risky?"

"Receiving the inheritance at the academy is even more risky," Lin Yun said. "Once the aura of the dead is sensed, I'm finished."

Lin Lei was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Then go ahead. I'll keep an eye on things at the academy for you. If anyone asks, I'll say you're in seclusion in the back mountains."

"Okay," Lin Yun said.

Delin floated out of the Panlong Ring and hovered in front of the two.

"I can't help you with the inheritance of necromancy," Delin said with a hint of helplessness. "My understanding of the rules of death is less than what you've read in those books. You need to be careful."

"I know," Lin Yun said.

"There's one more thing." Delin's gaze fell on the small bronze cauldron on Lin Yun's chest. "When you were attacked by a soul last time, this cauldron saved you. During this inheritance, if you encounter danger, it might intervene again. But don't rely on it; it's not a power you can control."

Lin Yun nodded.

He touched the small bronze cauldron on his chest, feeling its slightly cool touch.

He still doesn't know what the little cauldron is. But it has saved him twice—the first time was during a plane crash, and the second time was during Morton's soul attack.

Perhaps it will save him a third time.

The next morning, before dawn, Lin Yun quietly left the academy.

He didn't go through the main gate, but instead climbed over the wall behind the mountain and followed a hidden path towards the Monster Mountain Range. Beibei perched on his shoulder, her little head turning this way and that, warily observing her surroundings.

Morning mist hangs over the mountains and forests, and the distant mountains appear and disappear in the mist.

Lin Yun took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

Ahead lies the Monster Mountain Range.

Ahead lies the legacy of necromancy.

Ahead lies an unknown road.

He didn't know what would happen during the inheritance, whether his soul could withstand the baptism of the rules of death, or whether he would be corrupted by the aura of the dead.

But he had no way out.

To become stronger, you must take risks.

Lin Yun touched the small bronze cauldron on his chest, and a strange sense of peace welled up in his heart.

"Let's go, Beibei."

"Chirp chirp!"

The figures of a man and a mouse disappeared into the mist of the mountain forest.