I Made Up Forbidden Spells, and They Actually Worked?
Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Massive Reward Surge!

When is a person at their strongest?

When they want for nothing!

Dean Bruce had been debating how to spark Herbert Jones' interest in magic.

Unexpectedly, the opportunity fell right into his lap!

If he could get Herbert interested in learning that magic, he could easily teach him more later on.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Dean smiled and asked, "Feels pretty amazing, doesn't it? Would you like to learn how?"

"Yes!"

Herbert nodded eagerly, grinning widely. "My body's already strong, so if I can learn that magic, I'll be tougher than stone! No one's magic would be able to hurt me!"

"..."

Dean chuckled. "That magic is pretty basic. I have even more powerful ones. Interested?"

"I'm not!"

To Dean's surprise, Herbert shook his head vigorously. "I don't need any other magic! I just like using my fists!"

Dean Bruce's mouth twitched as he finally realized that he had said the wrong thing.

What he said earlier would work on normal people.

Most people always want more powerful magic and would never turn it down.

But unfortunately, Dean Bruce hadn't anticipated that Herbert Jones wasn't exactly normal. Upon closer inspection, he realized that Herbert had a slightly dull look about him.

To put it nicely, Herbert was simple, with a clear sense of what he wanted and completely uninterested in anything else, no matter how powerful.

In that moment, Dean Bruce's head began to ache.

This kind of person was much harder to persuade than any so-called smart person.

No matter what you said, he only had one goal in mind!

Taking a deep breath, Dean silently called out to the system:

"System, if I teach someone magic that I've already mastered, will I still get any rewards?"

Ding!

"Response to host: Teaching a new individual an already mastered spell will yield 50% of the usual reward. However, the host will not gain the tenfold strength and insight bonus tied to the original disciple's progress. The strength and insight increase remains bound to the original learner."

"For example, if the host first teaches Joan Michelle to master 'The Compassion of Heaven and Earth,' the host will receive tenfold the power and insight whenever she improves. This benefit will not transfer to future students learning the same spell."

Seeing the prompts, Dean Bruce couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

No tenfold rewards, and the base rewards were halved.

But that was still acceptable to Dean.

After all, he'd already successfully taught the magic, so it was almost like passive income—rewards for little effort.

And besides, once someone mastered a single spell, could they really resist learning more?

With a slight smile creeping across his face, Dean Bruce quickly formed a plan. Looking over at Herbert Jones, he asked with a grin, "I can teach you the magic to make your body as tough as stone. But how do you plan to thank me?"

In the world of Meze, there was no such thing as a brother-in-law being obligated to help out for free.

So Herbert Jones didn't mind Dean Bruce asking for something in return. In fact, it made him feel like Dean was genuinely serious about teaching him.

After a moment of thought, Herbert responded, "When I was a kid, I once found a cave with a special spring inside. After soaking in it, my body became super strong! Even a Grand Magus can't take a punch from me up close."

"If you teach me magic to make my body even tougher, I'll take you there. It'll make you even stronger too!"

Hearing this, Dean Bruce's breath caught for a moment.

He hadn't expected such an unexpected bonus.

A spring that could enhance physical strength? That was a treasure!

However, looking at Herbert now, Dean couldn't help but wonder: after all these years, was the spring still there?

With this thought, Dean gave Herbert a curious look.

Herbert scratched his head. "What's the matter? You don't believe me?"

"It's not that," Dean replied. "It's just that so much time has passed. Is the pool still there?"

"It's still there!" Herbert nodded vigorously. "I go soak in it almost every month!"

"Have your family ever used it?"

Dean Bruce asked in surprise, "Is it really inexhaustible?"

"No, I never told anyone!"

Herbert Jones replied in his usual, honest manner. "The first time I entered that cave, I met an old man who said I shouldn't bring anyone there unless it was a special situation. My family's doing fine, and they don't really need that kind of thing to strengthen their bodies."

"I figured you're working on your physical strength too, and since you're willing to teach me magic, I thought I'd show it to you."

"..."

Hearing this, Dean Bruce couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Herbert Jones and Lina Jones were like two extremes.

One looked serious but was truly simple and kind-hearted, while the other appeared sweet and innocent but was as cunning as a snake, ready to devour anyone who misstepped.

Refocusing his thoughts, Dean Bruce said calmly, "There's no rush to go to that place. Let's finish up here first. I'll teach you the magic now."

As he spoke, Dean Bruce adopted a serious tone, lowering his voice: "Swift as the Wind, Steady as the Forest, Fierce as Fire, Immovable as a Mountain, unpredictable like shadows, Move like thunder!"

"Immovable as a Mountain?"

Herbert Jones seemed to fixate on that phrase. Scratching his head, he asked, "So, if I stay still, my body will become as hard as a rock?"

"Uh…" Dean Bruce's lips twitched. Just as he was trying to figure out how to explain the deeper meaning behind that line in the simplest terms, Herbert Jones had already closed his eyes and stood perfectly still, not moving a muscle.

Seeing this, Dean Bruce was speechless.

Sometimes, being too straightforward wasn't a good thing.

[I guess I'll explain it to him later.]

Dean Bruce thought with a sigh, deciding to observe the training room a bit instead.

However, just as he turned away to take in his surroundings, he felt an unusual energy ripple through the air.

Snapping his head back around, he saw something incredible. Herbert Jones was glowing with a faint yellow light.

Crack… crack…

Soft, crisp sounds echoed as a layer of rock-like skin began forming at Herbert's feet, slowly crawling up his legs.

In just a few breaths, his entire body had transformed into something that resembled stone, yet he still radiated life. Not only that, but an immense, terrifying strength was emanating from his now stone-covered body.

"Ding!"

The system's familiar chime rang in Dean Bruce's ear, making his eyes widen in disbelief.

"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully guided Herbert Jones in mastering the high-level spell Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain. The spell has mutated and advanced into the ultra-high-level spell Thousand Mountains Fortress."

"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have earned 300 Supreme Mage Points, 1 ten-draw lottery card, and gained tenfold strength and understanding of the spell Thousand Mountains Fortress."

"What the...?"

Dean Bruce was completely stunned. He couldn't believe that Herbert Jones had not only managed to comprehend the spell but had also mutated it into an Ultra-High-Level spell. On top of that, Dean had gained a powerful new spell and a slew of rewards.

300 Supreme Mage Points—several times more than he'd earned before.

And a ten-draw lottery card. If his luck held out, this could lead to significant upgrades.

[Wait a second... This guy is so straightforward, and yet he was able to comprehend magic so easily? Dean mused to himself. And it even evolved into an Ultra-High-Level spell?]

[If that's the case, maybe I should just start teaching magic to a bunch of fools!]

Muttering to himself, Dean Bruce calmed down and abandoned the idea.

Herbert Jones wasn't foolish.

He was just simple and sincere, with a heart of pure innocence.

Moreover, his talent for training was exceptional.

Meeting someone like Herbert was rare enough. Dean Bruce knew it would be difficult to encounter another talent like him.

Now, he only hoped Herbert Jones would be willing to learn more magic.

Buzz—

Crack—

As Dean Bruce was lost in thought, the stone covering Herbert Jones' body shattered, and Herbert stretched, grinning widely. "Hehe, you really didn't lie to me! After activating that spell, my defense has more than doubled. Magic that used to hurt me can't even scratch me now."

"You're a good guy. I'll make sure my sister marries you!"

"..."

Seeing this handsome face speak such words in that tone, Dean Bruce felt like his mind was about to split in two.

But since Herbert Jones was still valuable, Dean Bruce had no choice but to endure it.

With a smile, he said, "Herbert, would you like to learn another spell? One that will make your body even stronger?"

"Really… it can make me even stronger?"

Herbert Jones, feeling the improvements, finally seemed tempted.

Just as Dean Bruce was about to continue his persuasion, a crisp system notification echoed in his ear.

"Ding!"

"System notification: Congratulations to the host for teaching Nicholas William to successfully comprehend the high-level spell Slumber of the Dead. You have earned 80 Supreme Mage points! You have also received 3 lottery tickets! Congratulations, the host has gained tenfold power and understanding of the Slumber of the Dead spell!"

"System notification: Due to Nicholas William's continuous comprehension of spiritual magic, the host has been rewarded with the Mind Refining Millstone!"

"..."