Chapter 142: Engraving Runes

Chapter 142: Engraving Runes



On their way back, Bern Wizard's expression was complex, and he sighed softly, "The Beast Tide hasn't completely retreated, and there are still many dangers lurking near the market. Can't we take a break?"

"What?" Karl turned to look at him, "Do you think the Andrews are behind this too?"

"No..." Bern Wizard gave an awkward laugh, "The four great families have formed an alliance and sworn an oath. They can't harm each other, or it will backfire."

"So it's definitely not the Andrews."

His words were somewhat insincere.

Karl smiled, knowing that the pact between wizards was indeed binding, but the Andrews wouldn't be foolish enough to take direct action.

They could achieve the same result through others.

"Let's not talk about these bothersome matters," Karl waved his hand, "Podor Restaurant is reopening today, and I heard they've prepared many exquisite dishes with discounts. I'll treat you to a meal."

"Oh!" Bern Wizard's eyes lit up. He wasn't interested in much else, but he was particular about food and drink, "In that case, I won't be polite."

"Haha..." Karl laughed, "We're neighbors, and I'll be bothering you often in the future. There's no need to be so polite. I've just become a wizard, and there's a lot I don't know. I'd like to seek guidance from Bern Wizard."

"Of course, of course," Bern Wizard smiled, "Exchanging with Karl Wizard will also benefit me, especially in the art of alchemy..."

"I'm also interested in runes..."

"Does Karl Wizard want to engrave runes? It's not easy, and it will hinder your cultivation. I only started trying to engrave runes when my cultivation progress stalled."

"Knowledge is never too much."

"You're right."

Runes.

A technique to replicate spells onto specific materials, allowing even wizard apprentices to activate second-circle spells.

For wizards, runes are dispensable.

Firstly,

The second-circle spells activated by runes are usually less powerful than those cast by wizards themselves, making them inefficient for combat.

Secondly,

It's too wasteful.

After all, even a cheap rune costs two to thirty magic stones, equivalent to a month's worth of work.

Few wizards engage in rune engraving.

The reasons are as follows:

Troublesome!

Engraving a rune takes more than a month, with a chance of failure, and even the fastest process takes seven to eight days.

It's a complex and tedious process.

Not profitable!

The materials for runes aren't cheap, and with all the effort and time invested, the selling price isn't high.

Working for others or hunting magical creatures yields more magic stones, making it unprofitable for wizards.

Hinders Cultivation!

While rune engraving can enhance spell control, it doesn't contribute to cultivation progress.

Instead, it wastes time and hinders cultivation.

Therefore, only wizards with no clear path ahead would engage in rune engraving, doing so to save their descendants or for sale.

Many wizards in the market can engrave runes, but few rely on it for income.

"Runes, potions, artifacts, puppets..."

"These techniques are all valuable, worth a wizard's lifetime of study, but they don't increase cultivation."

After a few drinks, Bern Wizard relaxed and spoke with a slight drunkenness, "If you spend ten days or half a month engraving a rune, you might earn a fortune in magic stones, but you'd waste your cultivation time. It's not worth it for a wizard with true potential."

"Karl..."

"You're still young and a Sixth-Circle High Tower wizard. Your future achievements will surely surpass mine, so don't waste too much time on this and ruin your future."

"Yes," Karl nodded, his eyes thoughtful.

"Bern Wizard is right."

After a satisfying meal, the two returned to the shop, their bodies filled with the aroma of alcohol. The sky had completely darkened.

A few days passed.

News arrived from the High Tower.

The Beck family announced their withdrawal from the Leipzig Market's management team.

As compensation, they received several storefronts and a mine that originally belonged to the Cape family.

Karl, who received this news, wasn't surprised. The few people killed on the outskirts of the market during the ceremony were all core members of the Beck family.

Their deaths were a heavy blow to the family.

Among the three great families, the Beck family had the shallowest foundation, with only four official wizards, making it difficult to command respect.

Withdrawing was a wise decision.

However, it was unclear how the other families would react to this move.

After sending the message, Karl picked up a broken rune that was placed on the table and examined it closely.

He had obtained this item from Bern Wizard, but it couldn't be sold due to its defects.

The engraved spell was a well-known second-circle fire spell—Chain Fireballs.

Karl's attention wasn't on the rune itself but on the cracked material of the rune.

"Flame Jade!"

Deep in thought, Karl's figure flickered as he teleported to the Divine Realm Fragment and then to another location through it.

"Aya."

Karl descended from the upper floor, realizing that the magic carpet wasn't on him. He called out to the figure in the study, "Help me call a ship. I need to go to Flame Island."

"Yes."

Aya put down her book and nodded in agreement.

...

The sea breeze brushed against Aya's hair as she looked towards the dark island ahead.

Her youthful cheeks, once outlined by time, now showed signs of maturity.

Her once delicate skin had become rough.

And reading,

seemed to be slowly transforming her demeanor.

Flame Island!

"Uncle."

"Last year's volcanic eruption on Flame Island altered the island's terrain. Many places that once existed are now gone."

Aya turned to look at Karl, "But there are people on the island who can guide us."

"Is there anyone here?" Karl looked ahead, his eyes scanning the island.

"Who's on the island?"

"Due to the volcanic eruption, we brought out quite a few things from below, including firestones that can ignite objects." Aya explained.

"There are several caravans in Swift City that specialize in trading firestones, and they also sell basalt and volcanic ash."

The cooled and solidified lava after a volcanic eruption forms a type of rock called basalt.

The island was covered in a thick layer of volcanic ash.

Volcanic ash is rich in nutrients and is a rare resource for the barren Swift City to cultivate food.

"Really?"

Karl slowly nodded.

"The eruption destroyed everything, but it also brought new life. Nature is truly wondrous..."

"We don't need a guide; let's go straight up!"

The two didn't choose to land on the gentle slopes of the island but disembarked near the volcano.

Aya, now a knight, was agile and could move on the steep slopes as if they were flat ground.

The two leaped onto the island, walking and stopping intermittently. Karl occasionally picked up things from the ground and examined them carefully.

The island had clusters of plants that had adapted to the harsh environment and were struggling to survive among the rocky peaks and soil.

Scattered among them were some dark red stones.

"Are these firestones?"

Karl picked one up and squinted to examine it.

"Yes."

Aya nodded.

"Firestones vary in quality. The one in your hand is a superior grade; it's easy to strike sparks from it."

"Hmm..."

"Arrows made from it can even ignite upon hitting their target, causing secondary damage."

"Firestones!" Karl nodded. "The elemental arrangement within them is fascinating, somewhat similar to... Nature's creations are truly wondrous."

Putting away the firestone, the two continued on their way.

Hmm?

As they approached a pile of rubble, Karl's steps halted, and he waved his hand.

Apprentice Wizard's Hand!

His vast spirit power transformed into an invisible giant hand, pushing the rubble away with a mighty force.

Underneath, a grayish-red stone was revealed.

"Huh?"

Aya looked surprised.

"Such a large firestone?"

"No."

As they approached, she caressed the surface of the stone and shook her head lightly.

"It's not a firestone."

"It's not a firestone; it should be called flame jade." Karl squatted down, his expression complex as he caressed the stone.

"What a pity..."

"The quality is too poor!"

Flame jade is the most common material for crafting fire shields, especially after volcanic eruptions.

The reason Karl asked Bern Wizard about crafting shields was because of the resources here.

In this other world, he was the only wizard, and it would be a shame not to explore the resources here.

The flame jade in his hand was the size of a washbasin, with a rough surface covered in pits and numerous cracks.

This type of flame jade couldn't be used to craft runes.

For engraving magic models, the interior of the rune must be smooth and seamless, with no obstructions.

Although the quality was poor, it proved that flame jade existed here, which was good news.

"Let's go!"

Karl retracted his gaze.

"Let's keep looking ahead and find something similar."

"Okay."

Aya nodded and suggested, "Why don't we split up and search?"

"That's fine." Karl agreed.

By evening, the two reunited.

Karl's hands were empty, but Aya's backpack was filled with a large bundle.

"Rumble..."

Opening the backpack, a pile of stones with red spots fell to the ground.

Karl squatted down and rummaged through the stones, picking out three of varying sizes and sweeping the rest aside.

"These three are barely acceptable."

He took one of them and handed it to Aya.

"Tell the people on the island that I'll purchase this type of flame... flame jade for one hundred God's Grace coins each."

"If the size is larger and the quality is good, the price can be negotiated."

"Yes." Aya took the flame jade and nodded.

"But, Uncle, these things are mostly near the top of the mountain, so ordinary people will likely have a hard time finding them."

"No need to rush." Karl waved his hand. "This isn't urgent."

Indeed, it wasn't urgent.

The flame jade they had found so far was of average quality and couldn't be used to craft first-grade runes, but it could be used to practice zero-circle spells. For Karl, even with the absolute rationality bestowed by the Divine Realm Fragment, the success rate of crafting first-grade runes was still close to zero, and he needed to accumulate more experience.

Just like with God's Grace.

Flame jade was a long-term business for Karl.

This active volcano could be shared between two large families in the Magic Forest, but now, it was all his.

Even if he had to force the issue with materials, he could still create a master of rune crafting.

Later, at his residence, Karl entered his room and took out several pieces of flame jade from his storage pendant.

His gaze lingered on one piece, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Evil gods are still gods. The pirates on Flame Island, influenced by the evil god's consciousness, underwent mutations, and the island itself was also polluted."

"This pollution is hard to judge as good or bad, but it has caused changes in the quality of some flame jade."

Holding up the piece of flame jade, he continued, "This flame jade should be considered high-quality. It can be exchanged for quite a few magic stones."

"In this other world, there are too many treasures waiting to be discovered."

"With my previous lack of strength, I'm now a wizard in a world where second-tier beings are almost non-existent. It's time to explore the secrets hidden in the mysterious seas without being too cautious."

Based on his careful exploration over the years, there were likely no second-tier beings in this other world, except for a few.

The Abyssal Giant Squid, with its third-tier bloodline, had only first-tier peak strength.

It seems that there is an invisible restriction that prevents the existence of a second-tier entity.

"The formation of minerals is a complex and slow process, often requiring millions or even hundreds of millions of years."

"Time is the great creator!"

"However, the existence of the Astral Plane is equally magical. It can cause ordinary materials to undergo wondrous changes and even accelerate the formation of minerals..."

Tuesday.

Mineralogy class with Rhune Wizard.

As a wizard from the Sixth Circle Tower, her foundational knowledge far surpasses that of others.

From the formation and classification of minerals to the influence and changes caused by the Astral Plane, as well as the practical applications of various mineral substances.

In just a few lectures, she can make everything crystal clear.

Her classes have always been the preferred choice for many wizard apprentices.

"Rhune Wizard."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Karl, sitting below the stage, asked a question:

"Is there a certain pattern to the distribution of mineral veins?"

"Yes."

Rhune Wizard, a kind-faced old woman, nodded and smiled:

"Mineral exploration is a specialized branch of this profession. Are you interested in this aspect, Karl Wizard?"

"Because of the Beast Tide, several mountains in the Magic Forest have collapsed, and I heard that the mineral veins underneath have been exposed." Karl explained:

"So I'm curious to ask."

"To understand the formation of mineral veins, we need to know the environment of this area millions of years ago." Rhune Wizard nodded:

"If this area was a forest millions of years ago, then there is a possibility of various mineral resources..."

"But how can we know what an area looked like millions of years ago?"

"This involves knowledge of archaeology..."

Karl nodded while taking notes.

The knowledge of wizards is as vast as the stars, and he is just a beginner with too many unknowns to comprehend.

After class.

"Karl."

Rhune Wizard packed up her teaching materials and handed him a piece of paper:

"If you're interested in minerals, you can find these books to read. These are the foundational books of the Tower, and it only takes a few magic stones to make a copy from Daniel."

"Thank you." Karl's eyes lit up as he took the note:

"I'm truly grateful."

"You're welcome." Rhune Wizard smiled lightly:

"I also hope that someone will follow the same wizard's path as me, so it'll be convenient to exchange knowledge later."

"By the way, I heard that a Swirl Spirit Butterfly appeared in the outskirts."

"I heard that too." Karl nodded:

"The Swirl Spirit Butterfly is essential for refining the Knowledge Potion, and the Knowledge Potion can help wizards break through their boundaries."

"The Andrew Clan has sent people to catch it."

"Andrew..." Rhune Wizard frowned.

"What's wrong?" Karl asked:

"Does Rhune Wizard want it too?"

"Of course." Rhune Wizard nodded:

"I've been stuck in the middle stage of wizardry for decades and couldn't advance to the late stage. My lifespan is almost over."

"Sigh!"

She sighed and walked towards the exit:

"I hope the Swirl Spirit Butterfly isn't a hundred-year portion."

An ordinary Swirl Spirit Butterfly can be used to refine the Knowledge Potion, while a hundred-year portion can refine the True Knowledge Potion.

The True Knowledge Potion can help late-stage wizards break through to the Second Circle Wizard, and countless people will go crazy for it.

Second Circle Wizard,

Can support a century-old family in the Magic Forest!

Back at the apothecary, Lance was still absent.

"Karl."

Sasson paused his work:

"The wizard pharmacist Hem couldn't endure the pain and passed away at home yesterday. I've contacted a new medicine supplier."

"Mhm." Karl nodded:

"Remember to send condolences on behalf of the apothecary at the funeral. You've been doing a great job during this time..."

Sasson has been handling most of the procurement of medicines, the refining of Beast Pills, and the accounting for sales.

It must be said.

He is very responsible and has relieved Karl of many worries, allowing him to not have to be at the shop every day.

"Sasson."

After some thought, Karl took out a shattered Wizard Crystal and placed it on the table:

"As you can see, this is a shattered Wizard Crystal, but shattering doesn't mean it can't be used."

"This Wizard Crystal contains a Stellar Wizardry spell called Burst Crystal. If it were intact, it would be worth over a thousand magic stones, but now that it's shattered, I plan to sell it for a hundred magic stones."

"Do you have any thoughts on this?"

Sasson's eyes lit up.

A shattered Wizard Crystal can affect the user's understanding of the knowledge within, but there's also a small chance of completely inheriting it.

The amount inherited depends entirely on luck.

A hundred magic stones isn't expensive, and he can easily buy it to resell or have a wizard proficient in Stellar Wizardry repair it.

In any case,

This is a great deal.

"I'll take it!"

Gritting his teeth, Sasson nodded firmly:

"But I don't have that many magic stones right now. Can you give me a day to gather them, Karl?"

Not even a hundred magic stones? Disappointment flashed in Karl's eyes.

However, he also knew that Sasson's situation was the normal state for a wizard apprentice, and he himself was the odd one out for once having possessed over a thousand magic stones.

"Alright!"

Putting away the Wizard Crystal, Karl nodded:

"Find me in the backyard at this time tomorrow."

"Yes."

Sasson's face was filled with excitement.

...

In the following days, everything seemed to get back on track.

With the withdrawal of the Beck Clan, the remaining two great clans and the Andrew Clan seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding, and no more incidents occurred to fuel people's imaginations.

Although the Beast Tide had ended, there were still many magical creatures and legendary beings lingering on the outskirts of the market, requiring a thorough cleanup.

During this process, it was inevitable that some wizard apprentices would be injured or even die, but there were also those who benefited from the situation and advanced to become wizards.

On the other side.

Karl gathered some information about volcanic mineral veins and had Aya deliver it to the merchants in Swift City, also increasing the price for purchasing Flame Jade.

(End of Chapter)

More people flocked to Flame Island in search of treasures, leading to the continuous discovery of suitable Flame Jade.

Karl, too, began attempting to refine runes.

Months passed.

"Boom!"

With a muffled sound, a piece of Flame Jade in Karl's hand shattered instantly, turning into useless waste.

"Failure!"

"Record!"

His eyebrows raised, and the floating goose quill and magical paper in the air moved closer to each other on their own.

"The spell circuit should be executed in one go. If not, there are only three nodes where you can pause."

"The quality of the Flame Jade will affect the success rate..."

"Before refining, you must inspect the interior of the Flame Jade to check for cracks and ensure that the engraving path of the spell circuit is clear."

"Continue!"

Karl sat cross-legged on a cushion, with various red jades and low-grade runes he had refined piled beside him.

Among them,

There were even two first-grade runes! These two runes were refined by chance, and for now, they couldn't be considered his true skills.

"The Chain Fireballs First Rank Spell is composed of three Zero Circle Spells, and I already mastered two of them. With the addition of successfully refining hundreds of low-grade Fireball runes and the Divine Realm Fragment's rational blessing, I still can't refine a first-grade rune..."

"Indeed, I don't have the talent in this area!"

To be honest,

If other wizards saw him wasting materials like this, they would probably vomit blood on the spot.

With so many Flame Jades, it would be enough to cultivate a qualified First-Grade Rune Master. After all, other wizards would be extremely cautious with each refinement, waiting until their spirits were fully replenished before attempting another. They wouldn't dare to refine one after another like Karl.

However, without considering the material consumption, Karl's proficiency in rune refining had greatly increased, especially when refining only one type of rune.

Half a month later,

Karl looked at the rune in front of him, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Success!

The rune was barely passable, with a reddish hue and an integrated spell circuit within. The flame essence was condensed.

Chain Fireball Rune!

Moreover,

It was a high-quality rune, but not because of Karl's refining skills. Instead, it was due to the quality of the red jade.

"It's roughly equivalent to a mid-level wizard's spell, much stronger than what I can cast myself."

"Wait... I didn't construct the Chain Fireball in my psychic sea."

"Hmm."

"With my current abilities, the success rate of refining the Chain Fireball has already reached twenty percent. Continuing will only slow down the progress."

"I have ten first-grade runes, which is enough."

Finally, he checked his data panel.

Name: Karl

Constitution: 5.9

Spirit Power: 66

Source Quality: 0.8

Level: Legendary Knight, First Rank

Abyssal Bloodline Fusion Rate: 30%

The source quality came from the sale of Frenzy Potions during this period, with one pill worth four Great Providence.

However, for Karl at this moment, the ratio of source quality to numerical value has reached 4:1, making it insignificant whether he exchanges it or not.

Instead, the bloodline fusion rate hasn't increased, and the refining of Blood Pills has become a pressing matter.

At Swift City Castle.

The Blasphemy Knight, Ana, was still polishing her sword.

Her hair had changed again, now silver-white, and her eyes had turned deep and dark.

"Guardian."

Seeing Karl coming down from the tower, Ana looked up:

"I sense a familiar presence approaching Swift City. Perhaps... the Sanctuary can't wait any longer."

Her purpose in coming to Swift City was twofold: to protect Karl and, more importantly, to bring him back to the Sanctuary.

However,

She questioned the Sanctuary's orders and lacked the confidence to take Karl by force, so she hesitated to act.

With the delay, the Sanctuary decided to take matters into their own hands.

"I don't plan to go to the Sanctuary," Karl shrugged, "at least not for now."

"Then..." Ana lowered her head, "this time, they might use force."

"Is that so?" Karl wasn't concerned, as he had nothing to fear from a Second Rank opponent. He casually asked, "Whose side will you take?"

Ana remained silent.

Then, she knelt on one knee, leaning on her sword and lowering her head:

"You are the will of the gods, not to be blasphemed."

"Ana," Karl sighed, "you're the Blasphemy Knight!"

"Forget it!"

He waved his hand:

"Aya has already reached near Crocodile Island. Let's head there too. As for the Sanctuary... we'll deal with it after we return."

As he spoke, he waved his sleeve, and the magic carpet refined by Enid flew out and landed in front of the two.

As they stepped onto the carpet, it trembled slightly and then soared into the sky at an astonishing speed.

Standing on the one-meter-square carpet, Ana was initially startled but soon realized that despite the carpet's incredible speed, she was unaffected. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Another divine technique?

...

Over a hundred li away from Swift City, several dark shadows were sprinting on the rugged mountain road, their speed rivaling that of galloping horses.

Even a Great Knight would pale at the sight of them.

Legendary!

And there were several Legendary Knights!

"Hmm?"

One of them suddenly stopped.

As he halted, the others instantly froze, as if someone had pressed pause.

Their abrupt transition from rapid movement to complete stillness was seamless, with no impact on their actions.

"Strange?"

Beneath the hood, a pair of hawk-like eyes gazed into the distance:

"Two Blasphemy Knights' auras?"

"Besides Ana, who else is in Swift City?"

"Never mind!"

"The Blasphemy Knights are just the first batch of experiments. Although they turned out well, their rationality makes them difficult to control completely. The second generation is the real perfection."

As he spoke, he smiled at the few 'people' beside him.

Please collect!

End of Chapter.

Chapter end