Chapter 558 ·Magic Scroll

Compared ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍to the 【Fragment of the Law of Beauty】, which had already reached a comprehension rate of forty-one percent, Janna’s primary study—the 【Fragment of the Law of Growth】—had only just reached thirty percent so far. Meanwhile, her comprehension of the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】 was a pitiful five percent.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reason the progress of the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】 was so low was not because Janna wasn’t diligent, but because she had yet to find a place where she could freely wield the Authority of Withering.

Unlike ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the “positive force” of the 【Fragment of the Law of Growth】, which could make all things flourish, the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】—which caused all life to decay and even absorbed energy in reverse from the living—was far more “negative.”

Therefore, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if Janna were to unleash the power of the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】 carelessly in any forest, there was a high chance she would be denounced by druids or green elves who held an extreme reverence for nature.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was precisely because of this that, in order to better comprehend the Authority of Withering, Janna planned to wait until the natural ecosystem within 【Zoe Star】 stabilized. Then, she would use the more than a thousand trees she had planted inside as an experiment to test the power of Withering—

Thinking ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of this, Janna unconsciously sank her consciousness back into the Sea of Spirit and extended a spiritual tendril toward the bud on the Witch’s Tree that represented the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】.

【Law of Withering: The Origin of the Cycle】

Looking at the brief description about the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】, Janna, who had already learned the relevant knowledge about the 【Fragment of the Law of Growth】 from Eunice–Gale, could roughly infer how to elevate her understanding of the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】.

【Growth】 represented spring, while 【Withering】 represented winter. Beginning with spring and ending with winter, if Janna wished to further comprehend the power of the 【Fragment of the Law of Withering】, she would need to make the natural ecosystem within 【Zoe Star】 circulate in a seasonal cycle—completing the alternation of the four seasons and forming a complete loop of “inhale—exhale—inhale—exhale—.”

Accompanied by the steady rhythm of her breathing, Janna gradually reined in her scattered thoughts, settling her mind once more into a state of deep meditation.

At the same time, emerald-green light particles swirled continuously around her, converging at the center of her brow—flickering dimly and releasing a faint glow.

The next morning.

“Zzzt—”

With the sound of a spark flickering to life in the fireplace, Janna—who had been immersed in deep meditation—slowly opened her eyes.

“It’s the President’s scroll!”

Seeing the identical scroll in the fireplace that she had seen the previous night in her dream, presented by the 【Dream Demon Witch】, Janna marveled at the other party’s efficiency. She swiftly used 【Hand of the Witch】 to retrieve the scroll from the flames.

“Didn’t the President say a messenger would deliver the scroll to me? Why was it sent through a Spark Sprite instead?”

Originally wanting to see what kind of strength a Third-Rank Wizard’s messenger possessed, Janna could only suppress her curiosity for now and turned her attention toward the scroll in her hands.

“There really is a confidentiality contract.”

Unfolding the magic scroll, the first thing Janna saw was a confidentiality contract imprinted by the 【Witch Sect】.

The main content of the contract required every member not to reveal the knowledge within the scroll. The binding power of the contract lasted two hundred years—twice that of a high-grade confidentiality contract lasting one hundred.

Without any hesitation, Janna walked over to the workbench beside her bed, sat down, and quickly picked up a quill pen to sign her name on the contract.

The moment Janna finished signing, the contract was validated. The seals that had previously concealed the contents of the magic scroll were immediately lifted.

“【Contract】 truly is a most extraordinary power.”

Sensing the peculiar magical fluctuations emanating from the scroll with her heightened perception, Janna couldn’t help but marvel at the wonder of the 【Law of Contract】.

The 【Law of Contract】, as a 【Primary Law】 spanning multiple planes, was currently under the control of the 【Lord of the Spirit Realm】.

As a wizard apprentice who specialized in both the Plant and Summoning disciplines, Janna was deeply interested in exploring the knowledge related to the 【Law of Contract】.

However, all knowledge pertaining to the 【Law of Contract】 was sealed within the 【Spirit Realm】. Ordinary wizards could barely perceive the changes of its power through the mere phenomenon of “contract,” let alone comprehend the Law associated with it.

Thinking of this, Janna recalled the White Cat Tifa, who taught 《Advanced Contract Studies》 at the White Tower.

During its self-introduction, White Cat Tifa had said that it was once human but had been cursed, forcing it to remain in its current feline form.

It even boasted that all knowledge related to “Contract Studies” was child’s play to it—and that if anyone wished to consult it about the 【Law of Contract】, it could answer anything.

At that time, the moment Janna heard those words, she had gone straight to find White Cat Tifa after class. But when she asked her questions, the other party acted as if it had completely lost its memory—unable to answer a single one.

“Hopefully, when the next session of 《Advanced Contract Studies》 begins, it will remember what it once said—”

Shaking her head helplessly, Janna redirected her focus to the magic scroll and began reading its contents intently.

“‘The Method of Harvesting Threads of Desire’—”

From Yoya–Bauhinia’s words yesterday, Janna had already learned that there were three ways to collect 【Threads of Desire】: Desire Fishing, Memory Extraction, and the Siphoning Ritual.

The first method, Desire Fishing, required the collector to set up a Desire Magnetic Net beside the 【Sea of Obsession】 to capture some “stray” 【Threads of Desire】.

The second, Memory Extraction, required the collector to dive into the 【Sea of Obsession】, seek out the consciousness of an intelligent being near death, and extract its most intense obsession.

The third, the Siphoning Ritual, required the collector to use the 【Threads of Desire】 to trace back and lock onto a plane with the strongest emotional energy, then draw from the collective will and intense desires of its civilization to absorb the overflowing emotional energy—completing the capture of the 【Threads of Desire】.

The scroll in Janna’s hands not only provided detailed introductions to these three methods but also taught her how to craft a magnetic net for harvesting desire—an enchanted witch’s tool refined through the energy of the “Immaterial Law.”

“To craft the 【Cage of the Thought-Weaver】, the required materials are fragments of a Star-Marrow Container, nerve cords of a Void Jellyfish, and the Tears of a Siren…”

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