Either the method to obtain the Origin wasn't through killing... or those insects were simply too weak to provide any Origin.
After all, before the "Human" entry, there was a Same Tier classification: 0th Ring. To obtain a 0th Ring Origin, it was highly likely that he could only get it from a 0th Ring creature. Elan was a Mage Apprentice. According to the Mage's Same Tier classification, she was a 0th Ring Mage, which happened to be exactly what was needed to provide the Origin.
The latter possibility was obviously much higher.
He couldn't arrive at the correct answer through mere speculation; he had to experiment. In the Medicinal Garden, besides the Mage Apprentices, there happened to be another kind of 0th Ring creature.
The [Gray-eyed Mouse], commonly known as the little gray mouse, might be so weak that it was completely at the mercy of others. However, in terms of the Same Tier, it was truly equal to a Mage Apprentice—both belonged to the 0th Ring. This was because the Gray-eyed Mouse carried an extremely thin trace of Earth Vein Creatures' bloodline.
This meager bloodline didn't grant them any Extraordinary Ability, nor did it give them the formidable strength of true Earth Vein Creatures. Yet, it was enough to elevate them beyond the ranks of ordinary animals into the 0th Ring category—even if there were deep disparities within the 0th Ring itself.
With his speculation confirmed, the next steps naturally fell into place. Killing seven people would be difficult, but killing seven little gray mice would be effortless.
Gaode immediately took action. He grabbed another healthy little gray mouse from the iron cage.
The creature kicked its tiny legs vigorously in Gaode's grip, letting out sharp SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK sounds. But it was all in vain, much like a fragile young girl unable to resist an impending assault.
Gaode scrutinized the little gray mouse carefully for a few dozen seconds. Only after confirming that there were no changes on his interface did he silently extend his other hand toward the creature, which had seemingly grown accustomed to being held and stopped struggling.
With a crisp SNAP, the little gray mouse instantly fell silent.
The next moment, another dot of light lit up inside the gemstone.
Origin:
0th Ring—[Human] (1/7), [Gray-eyed Mouse] (2/7)
"Sure enough, death is a prerequisite, though I wonder if they strictly have to die by my hands for it to count," Gaode muttered in his heart.
He could leave that to be verified later; there was no rush for now. The most pressing matter was obtaining his first complete Origin. He set down the dead little gray mouse, his gaze sweeping over the others in the iron cage, completely unaware of what awaited them...
Little gray mice were hardly valuable, and regular losses were common. Even if seven of them died in a single day, no one would bat an eye. Coupled with Gaode's eagerness to discover the effects of the Origin, five more little gray mice promptly sacrificed their tiny lives.
Soon after, the interface updated.
Origin:
0th Ring—[Human] (1/7), [Gray-eyed Mouse] (7/7)
At this moment, that Crescent-shaped gemstone remained perfectly suspended at the very center of Gaode's Magic Star Sea, completely motionless. However, inside the gemstone, there were now seven blinking dots of light. The six dashed lines had also turned into bright, solid ones. Together, the dots and solid lines formed an inseparable model, slowly rotating like the Big Dipper in a breathtakingly beautiful display.
"Come on, let's see what you're really capable of," Gaode said to himself in his mind.
At the same time, he shifted his attention to the Magic List, focusing on the two Tricks he had mastered. A tiny yellow plus sign was flashing next to each of them. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to test it out on the Repair Skill.
[Repair Skill] (Transformation Series, 0th Ring):
This Magic can repair a single break or tear in an object you touch, such as fixing a broken chain, a key snapped in half, a torn cloak, or a leaking wineskin.
As long as the damage or break is no larger than one foot in any dimension, you can mend it without leaving a trace.
This Magic can physically repair a magical item or a piece of Mechanical Armor, but it will not restore the Magic on such objects.
...
Gaode once again used his mind to lightly tap the yellow plus sign next to the Repair Skill.
"Add point."
A transformation occurred instantly. Within the gemstone, the complete Big Dipper representing the [Gray-eyed Mouse] Origin stopped spinning. Instead, it began to flow, swimming right out from inside the Crescent gemstone. They moved toward the Magic Model representing the [Repair Skill].
The so-called Magic Model was the foundation upon which a Mage cast Magic. It was composed of Stars within the Magic Star Sea, looking very much like a constellation made up of individual stars in the vast universe. However, while the lines connecting typical constellations seen in books were artificially drawn to help observe and understand their structure, the lines connecting a Magic Model were very real.
Guided by a Magic Formula, a Mage would use their Spiritual Power to draw in Stars within the Magic Star Sea. Using their Spiritual Power as a scaffold to anchor the Stars in place, they would construct a Magic Model made of Stars. Once a Magic Model was successfully built, it meant the Mage had gained basic mastery of that Magic, allowing them to cast the corresponding spell through the Magic Model from then on.
The structure of every Magic Model was entirely unique—in fact, the variations were drastic. They had incredibly strict requirements for the number of Stars, as well as the distance and direction between them. Even the slightest error would result in failure. Therefore, mastering a Magic was an extremely difficult and time-consuming endeavor. Under normal circumstances, it took hundreds or even thousands of failures to successfully construct a Magic Model.
And now, the target of the Big Dipper was this Magic Model, arguably the most important thing to a Mage.
The Big Dipper moved rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it crashed into the Magic Model of the [Repair Skill].
It wasn't an explosive, world-shattering collision. In the next second, Spiritual Light flickered as the seven blinking dots of light seamlessly settled into place as if returning home, merging perfectly into the Magic Model.
"This is..."
To Gaode's astonishment, the originally complete [Repair Skill] Magic Model seemed to undergo a second blooming after the dots of light merged into it. It began to sprout new branches; at certain nodes, it extended outward, generating new lines and Stars.
The entire process was incredibly stable and natural. Some nodes extended a single line and a Star, while others extended more. Yet, none of these changes disrupted the original foundational structure of the Magic Model. Even though only seven dots of light had been added, the number of Stars that extended from the [Repair Skill] Magic Model was far greater than seven. It generated a total of thirteen new Stars before coming to a halt.
The Big Dipper had completely disappeared, and the [Repair Skill] Magic Model settled back into tranquility, showing no further changes.
As he looked at the transformed Magic Model—one that now looked drastically different from the theoretical [Repair Skill] model—certain information instinctively surfaced in his mind.
This information told Gaode that the new Magic Model in front of him was still the 0th Ring Transformation Series Magic, [Repair Skill]. Its effects remained the same: to mend minor damages on a target object. However, compared to the original Repair Skill, it now had an additional property.
When cast using the new Magic Model, the Repair Skill would not only mend a magical item but also restore the Magic originally imbued within it.
It seemed like a minor change on the surface, but Gaode was far-sighted enough to realize the truth. He understood clearly that this was a qualitative sublimation. In the terminology of the world before he transmigrated, this process was a "Skill Enhancement." And this enhancement wasn't just a simple numerical boost; it was a higher-tier mechanical upgrade.
Some changes had also occurred on the rudimentary information interface.
Origin:
0th Ring—[Human] (1/7), [Gray-eyed Mouse] (Used)
Magic:
0th Ring—[Mage's Hand], [Repair Skill+]
...
Under the effects of the Origin, the 0th Ring Magic [Repair Skill] had transformed into [Repair Skill+]. Correspondingly, the yellow plus sign next to its name had disappeared.
[Repair Skill+] (Transformation Series, 0th Ring):
This Magic can repair a single break or tear in an object you touch, such as fixing a broken chain, a key snapped in half, a torn cloak, or a leaking wineskin.
As long as the damage or break is no larger than one foot in any dimension, you can mend it without leaving a trace.
This Magic can physically repair a magical item or a piece of Mechanical Armor, but it will not restore the Magic on such objects.
Bonus: While repairing a magical item, you will also be able to restore the Magic imbued within it.
...