I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

Time becomes blurred in the Arcane Wasteland.

Li Wu didn't know how long he had been here; it could have been a month, two months, or even longer.

The only thing he could perceive was that his understanding of the cryptic text was deepening rapidly.

In the first month, he completed the basic learning of the grammar framework.

Erling's lingering will condensed forty years of research into a system, from the most basic master-slave relationship and nested structure, to higher-order recursive combination and conditional triggering, and finally to the ultimate adaptive syntax, a programming method that allows the arrow to automatically adjust its effect according to the environment.

Li Wu absorbed this knowledge like a sponge.

His learning speed surprised even Erling's will.

"Your comprehension speed... is abnormal." This was Erlin's assessment at the end of the first month.

"My intelligence score is close to 30,000," Li Wu said.

"No, it's not just a matter of intelligence," said Erling's Will. "You have a natural affinity for the ciphers, as if... these things were always meant for you."

Li Wu did not respond; he simply continued studying.

In the second month, he began his challenge of the thirty-six towers.

Each tower is a deep trial within a secret text; the trial is not about combat, but about understanding.

The Tower of Blaze requires him to sense every detail of energy transformation amidst a sea of ​​fire, until he can precisely control every molecule of the flame.

The Tower of Condensation requires him to survive in a constantly compressing space until he can use his will to defy the laws of physics.

The Tower of "Domains" requires him to define space in a void and create a complete domain from nothing.

The understanding of the corresponding cryptic text increases significantly with each tower you pass.

Li Wu spent two whole months passing through twenty-four towers.

His comprehension of the secret texts underwent a qualitative leap; he now understood all fourteen secret texts more than 95% of the time.

I have mastered the ten new secret texts and my comprehension rate has reached over 80%.

In the fourth month, Li Wu began to try the five-word combination.

It was a success on the first try.

He created a five-character arrow – Blazing + Increase + Domain + Condensation + Absolute.

"Absolute" is a secret text he obtained from the champion's treasure chest, meaning "isolation and absolute".

When it is added to the combination of the Burning Star and Returning to Nothingness Arrow, its effect changes fundamentally.

Originally, targets within the area of ​​the Burning Star Return to Ruins Arrow could still escape; if they were fast enough, they could leave the area before it collapsed.

However, after the addition of "Absolute", the domain became absolutely closed.

Nothing can leave from the inside.

"The name of this arrow..." Li Wu looked at the dark red singularity in his hand, which was more intense than before, "Burning Star Return to Ruins - Desolate Domain".

Erling's will remained silent for a long time.

"Do you know what this arrow means?"

"It means that anything trapped inside will die one hundred percent," Li Wu said.

"Yes," the voice said, "this is no longer a skill. This is a death sentence."

Li Wu dissipated the arrows and continued researching the next combination.

In the fifth month, he passed the thirtieth tower.

The remaining six towers correspond to the six ciphers that he understood the least.

The concepts of these six secret texts are extremely abstract, and even with Erlin's guidance, Li Wu still needs a lot of time to digest them.

But he did not give up.

The sixth month.

Li Wu stood on the top floor of the last tower—the "Source" Tower.

The meaning of "Source" is "origin and essence". It is the most core of the Thirty-Six Secret Texts and represents the root of all things.

The trial is simple: create an arrow using "Source".

Li Wu closed his eyes and focused his mind.

He felt the meaning of "source," origin, essence, the beginning of everything.

When he opened his eyes, a pure white arrow had materialized on the bowstring.

There was no fire, no lightning, no frost.

Only pure, primal energy.

A system notification sounded.

Congratulations on passing the trial of the Tower of Source!

[The comprehension of the "Source" secret text has been improved to 92%!]

You have conquered all thirty-six Mystic Towers!

[Achievement Unlocked: Complete All Secret Texts (First Place)]

[Reward: Title "Master of Mystic Texts", +5% comprehension of all mystic texts]

Li Wu looked at the data on the panel.

All 36 secret texts were understood by more than 80% of the total, with 18 of them exceeding 95%.

Although his level did not increase, his strength leaped forward!

"You did it," Erling's voice rang out, carrying a sense of relief. "Six months. You accomplished in six months what I've accumulated over forty years."

"That's not enough," Li Wu said.

"What?"

"There are still six towers that haven't reached 100% completion."

"...You're too greedy," the voice said. "One hundred percent isn't something you can achieve through learning alone. That requires sudden enlightenment, it requires a stroke of luck."

"I know," Li Wu said, "but I will continue."

Erling's will remained silent for a moment.

"You should go back now."

Li Wu looked up.

"A long time has passed outside," the voice said. "Your companions are waiting for you."

Li Wu thought for a moment. Six months, according to the time flow rate of three to one, means two months have passed outside.

two months.

Hua Zitong should have already upgraded the guild to level five, as for the city-building token...

"You're right," Li Wu said. "It's time to go back."

"Before you go," said Erling's Will, "I have one last thing for you."

A golden light condensed from the void, transforming into a thin book, which landed in Li Wu's hand.

[Erlin's Grammar Notes - Complete Version (Mythology)]

[Type: Knowledge Item]

[Effect: Records the lifelong research on cipher grammar by Erling, the founder of Arcane Archery. Reading it permanently grants the passive ability "Grammatical Intuition," which will automatically suggest the optimal cipher arrangement when constructing arrows.]

Li Wu put the notebook into his backpack.

"Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome." Erling's will grew weaker. "I'm just fulfilling my mission. Go, successor. Use your bow to change this world."

The sound completely disappeared.

Li Wu stood atop the empty tower and glanced out the window at the Arcane Wasteland.

The light from the thirty-six towers still flickers, and the inscriptions on the ground continue to flow.

But there's nothing left to teach him here.

Li Wu turned around and walked down the tower, arriving at the teleportation array in the center of the wasteland.

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the teleportation array.

A white light appeared.