Chapter 152: Individual Preparations

Chapter 152: Individual Preparations

Magic Forest

Tower.

On Friday afternoon, Daniel Wizard conducted an open lecture, primarily focusing on the theoretical knowledge of constructing Wizard Towers.

"The Wizard Tower, along with the meditation technique, is a groundbreaking product of its time," Daniel began.

"Before the Wizard Towers, wizards on the battlefield could only provide auxiliary support and decapitation."

"With the Wizard Towers, each wizard becomes a fortress in battle, capable of playing a decisive role."

Daniel, dressed in his pristine white wizard robe, spoke with a rare fervor: "Within the Wizard Tower, wizards can unleash power far beyond their normal state and fear no army's charge."

"Additionally, the ability to communicate with the Star Realm and connect with the earth's veins allowed wizards to truly step forward during the Gods' War."

"Of course, constructing a Wizard Tower is no easy task. Even the most basic Insight Eye requires several tens of thousands of magic stones."

"Today, we will introduce the Insight Eye. Without it, a Wizard Tower is as good as blind, and the Piercing Eye is the most accessible Second Circle Spell for wizards and wizard apprentices alike."

"..."

The sound of a bell rang out.

Daniel paused in his explanation, and with a gentle wave of his staff, the teaching materials retracted on their own.

"Those going to the temporary market, gather downstairs. Those not attending can leave."

"Yes!"

The apprentices and wizards listening to the lecture stood up, bid farewell, and left. Some gathered in groups, discussing something.

"Karl."

Today, Omar did not wear his wizard hat, and his golden hair was casually draped over his shoulders. He approached Karl and asked,

"Are you going to the market too?"

"Mmm," Karl replied, his face showing concern. "I don't have enough magic stones..."

Indeed, he didn't have many left.

Over the past few days, he had carefully taken stock of his resources, and he had a mere seven magic stones left.

His supply of beast pills, magical items, and potions was almost depleted, leaving only a pile of practice runes.

Whether it was acquiring resources from other worlds or gathering materials to build a Wizard Tower, magic stones were essential.

This temporary market, jointly organized by the Tower and several major families, was not an opportunity to be missed.

"Me too," Omar nodded. "Fortunately, I still have some stock left. I hope to find suitable buyers at the market this time."

"Sigh!"

"If only I had Daniel's vast knowledge. Just by teaching, he wouldn't have to worry about magic stones."

"It's not the same," Karl explained. "Daniel's lectures are open to the public, not just for Tower disciples. Anyone with a good relationship with the Tower can attend. The more people who listen, the more magic stones earned."

If Daniel only taught Tower disciples, the earnings would be meager, and it would waste his time.

Without the Tower's mandatory requirement for senior wizards, few would be willing to teach.

Conducting open lectures was no easy task.

Among the Tower's wizards, only Daniel had the qualifications to do so.

"Omar," a wizard who had descended from the tower addressed the crowd. His gaze rested on Omar as he spoke, "Your mentor, Bella, has already gone to the market. Follow me, and the rest of you, come along."

"Yes," Omar replied.

The others gathered in the square outside the Tower.

Daniel took something from his body and threw it to the ground. Accompanied by rising white smoke, a luxurious carriage appeared in the middle of the square.

The carriage was crafted from rosewood, with many parts covered in luxurious gold foil. In the sunlight, it shimmered with a faint golden light, exuding an air of nobility and authority.

The carriage was not pulled by horses but by four horned goats.

Spirit Ram Carriage—a unique construction of the Sixth Circle Tower, boasting First Rank Mid-Stage defense capabilities.

Daniel approached the carriage and patted it gently. With a piercing sound, the carriage slowly extended backward.

Soon, the two-section carriage transformed into a train-like structure with multiple compartments, each accommodating two people side by side.

"Board!"

Karl and Omar boarded one of the compartments.

Accompanied by the goats' bleating, the unique train soared into the sky, flying toward the distance.

...

The temporary market was jointly organized by the Tower and several major families, taking place at the site of the former Mulan Bazaar.

The family that once ruled the bazaar was destroyed by the beast tide, leaving the market in ruins, but the local residents had not perished.

Many struggled to survive.

The choice of this location for the temporary market aimed to attract wizards from all over, expelling the strange creatures that had gathered there, and facilitating subsequent management.

As a temporary market, it lacked the formalities of a regular one, and Daniel had specifically instructed them not to wander around and to prioritize safety.

The Magic Forest was never short of wizards willing to take risks for profit.

New Arrival:

For several days, Karl diligently followed the crowd, observing the market environment, rising with the sun and resting with the moon.

On the fifth day, in the evening, as dusk settled, the rugged road was muddy, and the overgrown branches and abandoned houses severely obstructed the view.

Karl had changed into a tight-fitting knight's outfit, wearing a fierce-looking mask. A broadsword hung at his waist, and his aura was sharp, indicating a seasoned warrior.

His appearance, aura, and mental fluctuations had been altered, making it challenging even for Second Circle Wizards to see through his disguise.

After several days of observation, Karl had become familiar with the environment, and his companions were well-acquainted with the surroundings.

Many of the items Karl carried were not suitable for public display, and if he wanted to sell them, he would have to do so discreetly.

As he ventured further, he approached the former residents of the Mulan Bazaar.

In the ruins, wooden houses were rebuilt, and people could be seen rummaging through the debris.

Useful items like clothing, utensils, and weapons were collected, while useless things like corpses were discarded to the side.

Putrid bones piled up along the road, attracting scavenging insects, and a foul stench permeated the area.

The locals had become accustomed to this, and some even secretly hid fresh blood and flesh.

Cannibalism! There were always those who couldn't resist in times of desperation.

As Karl walked, his expression remained unchanged. He had witnessed countless gruesome scenes, and his emotions were as calm as ever.

Crossing the residential area, the muddy ground turned into stone slabs, and the houses on both sides gradually became newer and taller.

This was the newly built trading area.

Temporary shops set up by the major families, including the high tower, were all located here. However, Karl's destination lay further ahead.

Under the night sky, numerous street vendors lined the road, selling a bizarre and diverse array of goods.

Some sold food like grain and fish, while others offered weapons such as swords and spears. There were also stalls selling various wizardry materials and magical items.

Among the stalls were scattered tents, and Karl lifted the curtain to enter one of them.

From the outside, the tent didn't seem large, but three people could barely fit inside. Once inside, the space suddenly expanded, measuring about ten square meters.

Spatial wizardry!

Only those of the second rank and above could master such wizardry, but some special tools also possessed similar capabilities.

For example, the pendant around Karl's neck.

"Welcome!"

Inside the spacious tent, a female wizard sat cross-legged, holding a crystal ball, and greeted him with a smile.

"What would you like to buy or... sell?"

"Exchange!" Karl was concise, taking out a staff and wizard's robe obtained from Marianne and placing them in front of him.

"I'd like to exchange them for a defensive heritage artifact."

His spiritual power was progressing slowly, and he hadn't yet completed the construction of his third wizardry, Thunder Wings. Additionally, as he wasn't following the path of plants or life, these items wouldn't be of much use to him.

The key issue was that they couldn't be exposed to light.

It would be better to exchange them for something more practical.

"A life robe and a matching staff," the female wizard touched the items in front of her and smiled.

"A robe in this style should belong to a female wizard, right?"

"Of course, I don't inquire about the origins of items."

"A defensive heritage artifact..."

"I have two."

She flipped her hand, and two items appeared.

A talisman and a bracelet.

"A first-rank inferior heritage artifact - Energy Talisman. It can release an energy field, significantly reducing the impact of physical and wizardry attacks. However, it's not very effective against shadow and darkness-based wizardry."

"A first-rank superior heritage artifact - Hexagonal Bracelet. It can release a hexagonal crystal defense wizardry, capable of withstanding first-rank advanced wizardry. But this item is defective and may only last a few uses before becoming useless. Still, it's a first-rank superior heritage artifact, so if you want to exchange for this, you'll need to add a thousand magic stones."

As expected!

The items were still in her hands.

Karl's heart stirred, but his voice carried a hint of displeasure.

"Both of these heritage artifacts have obvious damage, especially the Hexagonal Bracelet. I doubt it will last even a single use!"

"Customer," the female wizard smiled and shook her head.

"Even if they're damaged, they're still heritage artifacts. The items you brought, no matter how good, are just advanced magical items."

"Advanced magical items' rank doesn't necessarily represent their true value," Karl shook his head. "These two items are a set, made from excellent materials. The crafting technique might not be sophisticated, but their value isn't any less than a first-rank inferior heritage artifact."

"Well, the same potion, even with identical effects, will be more expensive if crafted by a master alchemist than one bought from a regular stall," the female wizard said without anger, shaking her head. "That's the power of reputation."

"And everyone knows the difference between magical items and heritage artifacts. They're not the same."

"Moreover..."

She leaned forward and smiled.

"We also take a certain risk when dealing with items of unknown origin like yours."

"..." Karl pursed his lips.

"The Energy Talisman, plus an additional hundred magic stones. That's my bottom line. If you agree, we have a deal!"

The female wizard's beautiful eyes moved, her gaze shifting from Karl to the life robe and staff in front of her.

She was well aware of the temptation this set of magical items held for a life wizard. To exchange it for a damaged heritage artifact...

After some thought, she slowly nodded.

"Deal."

"Good," Karl breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on his face. "Do you have any Will-o'-the-Wisp Mud here?"

"This second-rank material will probably only be available at the auction in half a month," the female wizard shook her head.

After the transaction was complete, the female wizard watched Karl leave, then remained silent for a moment before suddenly speaking.

"What do you think?"

"There's something off about this guy," a cold voice echoed from the corner. "He's dressed like a knight, but he's trading items only a wizard can use. There must be a proper wizard behind him."

"Oh!" The female wizard raised her eyebrows.

"Why didn't you suspect that he might be a wizard himself, disguised as a knight to deceive us?"

"Hmph!" The voice coldly responded.

"The dense battle aura within him makes it hard for me to breathe, proving he's a legendary knight, and a powerful one at that. It can't be faked."

"Is that so?" The female wizard pondered.

"Should we..."

She made a gesture.

"It's best not to," the voice in the corner said as the shadows shifted.

"The wizard controlling such a legendary knight must be formidable. No need to invite trouble over a damaged heritage artifact."

"It's still early in the market, and there will be more wizards coming later, so there will be plenty of opportunities and targets."

"That's true," the female wizard nodded, discreetly putting away the spell she had intended to cast.

Outside the tent, Karl breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the aura that had been lingering around him dissipate.

He knew this place wasn't very safe, but he hadn't expected to be targeted by someone on his first visit.

Fortunately, his objective had been achieved.

He patted the energy talisman in his pocket, feeling a sense of security, and continued on his way with a slight smile.

An hour later, Karl arrived at the Axe and Sword Magic Shop, run by the Order of the Mystic.

He chose this shop for two reasons. First, they had what he needed, and second, as one of the four major powers on the Calim continent, the Order of the Mystic offered more reliable prices compared to the stalls outside. Even if the items were a bit more expensive, it was worth it for the quality.

After all, they were one of the four major powers, and although there were scoundrels like Lance, it was still a relatively safer choice.

"Welcome, sir. What can I help you with?"

As Karl entered the shop, a dwarf barely over half a meter tall with round eyes greeted him.

It was said that many wizards in the Order of the Mystic were skilled in bloodline magic and often hired outsiders to work for them, and it seemed to be true.

Karl thought for a moment and asked, "I want a first-rank rune."

"A first-rank rune," the dwarf blinked, "Please follow me to the second floor, sir."

The salesperson on the second floor was also a dwarf, but a female one, heavily made up with bright colors.

However, it was likely that only a minority would be able to appreciate the dwarf's aesthetic.

"Sir," a female dwarf with a large flower on her head ran up to Karl and handed him a catalog filled with text.

"These are the first-rank runes we have for sale, but most of them are not in stock and will require some waiting time."

Karl nodded.

As the manager of the Tower Pharmacy, he was familiar with this process. Most of the runes sold by the Order of the Mystic were also crafted by outsiders.

He scanned the catalog and paused at one particular entry.

"If I don't have enough magic stones, can I exchange items for the rune? I've also crafted some runes myself."

"Of course," the dwarf nodded.

"However, we do charge a fee for our services. You should understand that running a shop incurs various expenses."

"For the same rune, an item exchange will require an additional twenty magic stones. If it's a different rune, our wizards will determine the value."

"I understand," Karl said, relieved. "I want a first-rank, mid-grade Void Tentacle rune!"

Void Tentacle!

A first-rank control spell.

It could instantly restrain individuals within a hundred-meter radius, applying powerful forces to hinder the target's movement and adding negative effects like weakening and slowing.

The Chain Fireball was powerful, but too slow. It was convenient against large legendary creatures, but not so much against agile legendary knights or wizards.

To hit the target, one must restrict their movement.

"Sir," the dwarf hurriedly said, "The Void Tentacle rune is a special type, and its value is three times that of a regular first-rank, mid-grade rune."

"We only have one in stock right now."

"That's fine!" Karl nodded and flipped his hand, taking out four first-rank, mid-grade Chain Fireball runes from his storage space.

"Four for one, is that enough?"

"Yes, yes, that's enough!" The dwarf's eyes lit up. "I'll get it for you right away."

Karl nodded, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes.

These four first-rank, mid-grade runes had taken him a long time to accumulate. They were gone in the blink of an eye.

'It's a pity that even the Order's shop has almost no first-rank, superior runes. Otherwise, I'd definitely buy one.'

'With the talisman and rune, it's time to find Lev.'

'No!'

'Before that, let's use the rune to exchange for some items.'

...

In a foreign world, at the Dark Market, Lev, the Cathedral Acolyte, was on one knee, greeting a guest who had traveled from afar.

"Elder Seven."

Lev looked up, his face filled with fervor. "I've found the Guardian's location."

"Good," Elder Seven removed his round hat and nodded. "You did well. After your companions failed their mission, you didn't act recklessly. Instead, you sent a message for help. This isn't cowardice; it's prudence."

"Yes, Elder," Lev bowed his head. "I suspect the Guardian has been influenced by the Demon God and has betrayed us. Evidence suggests that he has been reluctant to visit the Cathedral and has been gathering information about the Demon God in Swift City. Moreover, the Black Sword, Milia, has also been spotted nearby."

"With Borken's strength and six Blasphemy Beasts, he can only win if he joins forces with the Black Sword."

"The Black Sword..." Elder Seven mused and asked, "Has the Guardian already reached the Legendary rank?"

"Most likely," Lev nodded. "From the investigation in Swift City, Guardian Karl's strength is clearly superior to that of a peak Great Knight."

"However, he didn't use any Sacred Techniques, but instead, he seems to possess several Supreme Spell Seals."

"Legendary!" Elder Seven's eyebrows furrowed. "Does the Goddess favor him so much?"

As a Cathedral Elder, he was well aware of the difference between mastering the Colossal Breath Technique and advancing to the Legendary rank through it.

For the former,

all it took was a single encouragement from the Goddess.

But for the latter,

it required the Deity to bestow their power!

For centuries, the Deity had never bestowed their power upon the Cathedral in centuries. Why would they favor an outsider so much?

Blasphemy!

Elder Seven couldn't think like that! He took a deep breath, steadying his fluctuating emotions, and his eyes narrowed.

'Even if the Guardian has become a Legendary Knight, it's not a problem. The Sacred Technique I possess is the perfect counter to the Colossal Breath Technique.'

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end