One month later, on a certain day.
Randall was invited to his apprentice's dormitory.
"Please take a look, ntor."
After greeting him, Ivan led the ntor into his apothecary lab and pointed him towards a mulberry wood cabinet on one side, where a mulberry-colored cocoon hung at one corner.
Once the Silkworm Queen had grown to a certain extent, it unprecedentedly began to spin silk, and within half an hour, it ford a fist-sized cocoon, wrapping itself inside.
"I feared disturbing the Silkworm Queen and could only ask you to co, hoping you could take a look for ."
"Cut the nonsense, kid. Just how far has it grown? Don't tell you have no clue." Randall's expression was serious as he scrutinized the cocoon in the corner.
"I know, I know, I've been watching the whole ti. Based on my estimates, its strength is at 5.3 graduated degrees, agility 5.7, body constitution 5.5. The error won't exceed 0.05 degrees, I guarantee it."
Ivan replied, not without worry. He had originally thought that the rapid wood silkworm, like humans, would undergo a tamorphosis when so aspect of its dataset approached or exceeded 6 degrees, but the Silkworm Queen had suddenly started spinning a cocoon.
He had sensed sothing and hurried back from the enchantnt workshop. By the ti he returned to the dormitory, the Silkworm Queen had already begun cocooning, not giving him the chance for detailed communication.
Facing such a situation for the first ti, he felt truly uncertain, thus he invited Randall, the academy's top Insect Control Master, for assistance.
"It's quite normal; their limits aren't the sa as ours," Randall remarked, finding nothing amiss.
"Do I need to do anything?" asked Ivan.
"What you did just now was correct. At such tis, one mustn't disturb the little one. As for the rest, it has to get through on its own. You've already done what's needed."
Randall withdrew his gaze, dismissing any other ideas he might have had.
Unlike humans, insects' tamorphosis tends to end one of two ways: they either progress further or die during the process. Outsiders cannot intervene.
"You may as well keep it company. Having you nearby will help the little one feel secure during its transformation."
"That's all we can do then."
After Randall left, Ivan didn't return to the enchantnt workshop and stayed in the apothecary lab as suggested.
The entire colony depended on the Silkworm Queen; should anything happen to it, the rapid wood silkworm population might face extinction—it was no wonder he was so cautious.
"Listen up, no one is to disturb the Silkworm Queen, or I'll make sure you go hungry."
"Also, keep a good watch and don't let anything co and ss around."
Ivan issued a strict order to the other rapid wood silkworms. By now, many of these little creatures had grown considerably. Apart from those born recently, nearly three hundred had gradually learned the Insect Breathing thod.
Within the rapid wood silkworm colony, the Silkworm Queen undoubtedly had the best potential and grew the fastest. Next were the five that had first grasped the Insect Breathing thod, their agility nearly reaching 5 degrees.
It was unclear whether their limits were the sa as the Silkworm Queen's. Ivan surmised that they might be slightly less exceptional since the Silkworm Queen was truly unique.
[Knight Breathing Skill Experience Point 3]
[Knight Breathing Skill: lv6(506/2000)]
[Biology Expertise Experience Point 1]
[Biology Expertise: lv4(65/1000)]
Throughout the process of the rapid wood silkworms learning the Insect Breathing thod, Ivan, who had been closely observing their growth, also benefited greatly. His Knight Breathing Skill had reached level 6, and Biology Expertise had reached level 4.
Besides the Small Light of Wisdom, he had acquired another level 6 Light of Wisdom and a level 4 Light of Great Wisdom.
Currently, his Academic Prodigy panel still has Light of Wisdom: two level 5, two level 6, and three Light of Great Wisdom.
anwhile, he had observed each of the three Raw Stone Array Discs in rotation, researching more deeply step by step. His rune line completion had risen from 96% to 97%, and this progress was without using any Light of Wisdom.
With the preliminary accumulation nearly complete, he was just about to start using the Light of Wisdom to accelerate the comprehension process.
However, this had to wait until after the Silkworm Queen's tamorphosis.
...
Days and nights alternated; the Silkworm Queen's ergence from the cocoon took longer than Ivan had anticipated, with Randall visiting almost every two days during this ti.
Heidi, concerned about potential problems on his end, also found ti to drop by in the evening.
"Ivan, why haven't you gone to the enchantnt workshop? Did my mother say sothing?"
"You're overthinking, Sorceress Madeline is busy all day; she has no ti to bother with an apprentice like ." Seeing a nervous Carl, Ivan took him straight into the apothecary lab, pointed to a group of rapid wood silkworms, and said:
"Look here, one of these little guys is about to undergo tamorphosis into a Level 1 creature. This period is crucial; I need to stay here to guard in case of any changes."
"Silkworms?" Carl blinked in disbelief.
"Correct, a special type of silkworm. Don't be fooled by their size; in terms of speed, you might not keep up with them," Ivan said earnestly.
"Really?" Carl's eyes widened.
"Yes, but rember to keep it a secret," Ivan insisted.
"I—I can't believe I'm less capable than a worm." Carl, convinced Ivan wouldn't lie to him, looked at the sowhat inactive rapid wood silkworms, and a wave of frustration washed over him.
"Carl, it's not just one."
"No need to remind ."
Carl stared at the rapid wood silkworm for a good while, looking at it from all angles, and the more he looked, the more pleasing it beca.
It wasn't until a while later that he reluctantly took his leave.
Back ho, while spending ti with Heidi, Carl blurted out absently, "Do you think it's too late for to switch to the Black Beard Chapter now?"
"What?"
"Nothing, just thinking out loud."
"Have you been to Ivan's and seen the impressive insects he's bred, and now you're thinking of raising a bunch yourself?" Heidi knew her brother too well, she could tell what he was thinking with just a glance.
"You think it fits too?" Carl's eyes lit up.
"Pfft, don't be silly."
Watching her brother's befuddled reaction, Heidi couldn't help but laugh. After a mont, she soberly reminded him, "Carl, rember that the 'Frosty Sea Drum' of our Lidia family is the best, other ditation thods have so issues."
"Issues?"
"Minor issues, that's what grandma said. Rember not to let it slip, or you'll be in trouble."
Under Heidi's repeated emphasis, Carl could only promise to heed her advice, and his thoughts of changing his ditation thod dissipated.
Day after day passed, and in Ivan's perception, the presence of the Silkworm Queen grew fainter, leaving him unsure whether it was a good or bad sign.
Finally, on the twelfth day of cocooning, the mulberry wood-colored cocoon began to change color, as the vitality within was rapidly drawn out.
Accompanied by a soft crack, the entire cocoon trembled, and the silk turned slack in an instant.
A wood-colored silkworm erged slowly, and it was none other than the Silkworm Queen.
"Doesn't seem like there's much change."
Seeing that the Silkworm Queen was unhard, Ivan let out a long breath of relief; these days had been more nerve-wracking for him than his own advancent.
Compared to before, the Silkworm Queen had grown an extra three to four centiters in length and looked a bit more proportionate. Its wooden body gained so light blue rune lines, but other than that, there didn't appear to be big differences.
"Nnngnnn."
At these words, the Silkworm Queen imdiately beca unhappy, opened up its aura, and revealed its full strength; it had been habitually hiding its presence.
After so communication, Ivan discovered the Silkworm Queen had beco smarter, its wisdom had increased, making communication much clearer and easier.
Strength: 6.0, Agility: 6.8, Body Constitution: 6.2
The strength had increased, and there were significant changes in the body's values. Its ability to hide its presence had also improved, making it one to watch.
Ivan thought speechlessly that apart from agility, he was no match for the Silkworm Queen in terms of body constitution, and at that mont, he empathized with Carl's feelings.
Looking into the cause, that jar of royal jelly had played a crucial role. Was the ntor being too partial to the rapid wood silkworms?
Setting that aside, the Silkworm Queen had developed a special ability — Power of Crowd Control.
The na was given by Ivan, a curious ability, which allowed other rapid wood silkworms to reintegrate back into the Silkworm Queen's body, to beco one. This way, it could borrow the strength of the other silkworms and even transfer any damage it took onto them.
"Not bad at all, this ability has a lot of potentials."
In front of the eager Silkworm Queen, Ivan did not skimp on his praises.
It wasn't just talk; If the other rapid wood silkworms also advanced to level 1 creatures and tamorphosed special abilities, the integration through the Power of Crowd Control would likely result in a substantial combat power.
However, there was one condition: the abilities of the other rapid wood silkworms had to be practical.
Randall ca over in a hurry upon hearing the news, and it didn't take long before he left, thoroughly satisfied.
Two days later, the first five rapid wood silkworms that comprehended the Insect Breathing thod cocooned themselves, entering the phase of tamorphosis, and Ivan could only continue to keep watch in the apothecary lab.
As expected, these five rapid wood silkworms hadn't reached the threshold of the Silkworm Queen, with the highest agility value being only 5.2 on the scale; it was uncertain whether they would overco the current challenge.
Fortunately, they didn't disappoint Ivan. Ten days later, they all erged from their cocoons on the sa day.
After testing, the intelligence of the five rapid wood silkworms had also increased.
The five silkworms birthed three abilities: two with Simulated Shape Skill, two with Simulated Breath Skill—all simulating abilities of other living beings—and the last one transford with a peculiar ability, akin to photosynthesis.
None of the abilities were combat-oriented, which, admittedly, was in line with the nature of the rapid wood silkworm species.
Ivan had anticipated this scenario and wasn't disappointed. In his view, their success in surviving the tamorphosis was already remarkable; one couldn't be too demanding.
"These little guys are now Level 1 creatures, their physical quality on par with mine. The energy they emanate should et the requirents. It's ti to expand the Blackbeard Crown mark."
With one, ca two, and with two, three; six Level 1 rapid wood silkworms had been brought into existence at this point, and there would surely be more to co. This path to increasing chances of promotion was well-worn by him.
Ivan believed that ntor Randall's calculations were correct; thus far, his chances of successful advancent had reached seventy percent.
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