Chapter 231: Hooked
Chapter 231: Hooked
The cultivation of a Second Circle Wizard primarily relies on sensing and absorbing Celestial Realm energy to enhance their mental energy.
There are numerous techniques involved in this process.
Simply following the methods of a First Circle Wizard and attempting to forcefully use mental energy is highly inefficient.
This was the reason for Karl's slow progress.
'Fortunately, I organized the trade fair; otherwise, who knows how long it would've taken to find the right path on my own.'
'The path of a Wizard...'
'Exchanging insights with fellow travelers is essential!'
With this thought, Karl, within his Wizard Tower, sensed the vast Celestial Realm and absorbed its energy according to the techniques.
Every Wizard aspires to possess their own Wizard Tower without exception.
Putting that aside...
Without a Wizard Tower, sensing the Celestial Realm solely through one's own efforts is not only challenging but also slow in progress.
With a Wizard Tower, it's like having a shortcut, and cultivation becomes incredibly smooth, as if aided by divine intervention.
Moreover!
'My Wizard Tower is of the Second Rank. Cultivating here, my speed is likely several times that of an ordinary Second Circle Wizard.'
'Not only that...'
'I also have a Divine Realm Fragment!'
The Divine Realm Fragment within his Mental Sea also aids Karl in absorbing Celestial Realm energy to enhance his mental energy.
Thus...
He has two sources for cultivation.
And each source progresses at several times the rate of an ordinary person, making the combined progress even more astonishing.
Tenfold!
Karl's cultivation speed is ten times that of a regular Second Circle Wizard, perhaps even more.
'A Second Circle Wizard's lifespan is five hundred years. Typically, by the time one advances from the First to the Second Circle, they are already over a hundred years old, leaving less than four hundred years.'
'Based on my estimation, a Second Circle Wizard would need to cultivate without eating or drinking for a century or two to reach the intermediate stage.'
'After becoming a Second Circle Wizard, one must learn the corresponding knowledge, construct Second Circle Wizardry, build a Wizard Tower, maintain a Wizard family, and it's not feasible to abstain from eating and drinking...'
'Hence, the vast majority of Second Circle Wizards are in the early stage, with very few reaching the intermediate or advanced stages. Even if they do, it's usually at the age of three or four hundred, unless they come from powerful Wizard families like the Sixth Circle Tower.'
'As for me...'
Karl's eyes lit up:
"Ten years!"
"In just ten years, I can become an intermediate Second Circle Wizard, and even reach the peak within a century."
The future looks promising!
There's nothing more to say; it's time to grind!
Thanks to the success of the first trade fair, especially the various valuable items Karl showcased, the second trade fair three months later attracted nearly twenty participants, including a late-stage First Circle Wizard.
Unfortunately, to Karl's surprise, the Wizard suspected to be associated with Fire Demon Vaelis did not show up.
Three more months passed.
Karl had successfully raised the ranks of Thunder Wings and Thunder God's Wrath to the Second Rank.
The speed and agility of Thunder Wings significantly increased.
Thunder God's Wrath could now negate Third Rank death judgments and weaken Fourth Rank death judgments, providing immunity.
Additionally, it offered great resistance against mental attacks.
Furthermore,
Karl had fully mastered the Second Circle Wizardry—Water of Life, and was making progress in constructing the Second Circle Wizardry—Thousand Ridges Shattering Ice.
He was also getting closer to completely mastering the Dream Orb.
Once he achieved that, he could control his exit from the Dream Bazaar and fly away with the Dream Orb.
No!
Wherever Karl went with the Dream Orb, the Dream Bazaar would follow.
In summary...
He had become a genuine early-stage Second Circle Wizard.
Not only had he mastered the corresponding Wizardry, but he also possessed a Second Rank staff, a Wizard Tower, and various trump cards like Oddities.
The third trade fair saw a surge in attendance, with fifty participants creating a bustling atmosphere.
"We can charge an entrance fee for the next trade fair," Karl instructed Evelyn.
"Charge five hundred magic stones as an entrance fee for anyone who wants to participate. We don't want just anyone coming in."
"Look, even Wizard apprentices are here. What can they possibly afford?" Evelyn exclaimed in surprise.
"Five hundred magic stones... isn't that a bit too much?"
As a First Circle Wizard herself, she was well aware that five hundred magic stones were not a small amount for a Wizard.
At the very least,
it wasn't a sum one would spend on a mere entrance ticket.
After all, not every Wizard who attended could find suitable items to purchase. If they didn't, it would be a waste of five hundred magic stones.
"Too much?" Karl scoffed.
"Those who come to the trade fair don't care about the five-hundred-stone entrance fee.
The more they pay, the more they value what we offer."
"I've repelled the Sixth Circle Tower, ensuring absolute safety for all participants, without questioning their identities or backgrounds. Plus, there's a wide variety of Wizardry materials available for trade..."
"And you think five hundred is too much?"
"I'll tell you, from now on, not only will everyone receive five hundred magic stones, but there will also be a limit on the number of people. A maximum of thirty-six people, and once we reach that number, no more entries will be allowed. After three months, there will be a queue..."
Evelyn was dumbfounded.
Is this feasible?
"Master," she dared not question him, but spoke softly, "Why limit it to thirty-six people?"
What specific meaning did this number hold?
"I'm happy to do it!" Karl spoke up, "And don't worry, in addition to the number of people and the entry fee, those who want to join will also have to prove their worth!"
"Prove their worth?"
"Yes!" Karl nodded, "If they don't have five thousand magic stones, they shouldn't bother coming, or they should have something of value worth five thousand magic stones."
"This is just the beginning. In the future, the starting price will be ten thousand magic stones!"
"I want to create a top-tier trading event in the Magic Forest, not some place where any Tom, Dick, or Harry can just waltz in."
Karl became increasingly excited as he spoke, his words flowing without pause; Evelyn, on the other hand, felt more and more uncomfortable, her face filled with embarrassment.
She felt that her master's idea was too far-fetched and even more so, a pipe dream.
"Alright," Karl waved his hand, "You can go now."
"Okay!" Evelyn heaved a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and quickly retreated.
...
The owner of the Dream Bazaar was 'Conn', and Karl, with a slight change in appearance, once again appeared at the trading event.
However, this time he mingled with the crowd as a participant.
"Friend," he said as he approached a private stall and crouched down to examine several items laid out on the ground.
He picked up one of them, "How much for this?"
"This is a Third Circle creature, a flame demon's whip. It can change size and ignite flames, providing a significant boost to fire wizards." The merchant looked up and smiled, "It's on sale now for just six thousand magic stones!"
"Hmph..." Karl scoffed, "If it's truly a flame demon's whip, six thousand magic stones is a bargain, even sixty thousand wouldn't be too much."
"But this is just a magic item woven from flame grass, not even a heritage magic tool..."
"Fifty magic stones!"
"You're trying to rob me!" The merchant's face changed, but he didn't continue with his outrageous demand, "How can this not be considered a heritage magic tool? Three hundred magic stones, no less."
"Fifty magic stones," Karl insisted, "Not a single stone more!"
"Two hundred!"
"Fifty!"
...
"Fine, you win," the merchant sighed, "Fifty it is. Take it."
"Thank you," Karl smiled, reaching out to take the flame whip and giving it a few experimental swings.
"Friend," the merchant reminded him, "Flame grass is half-insect, half-plant. So, before it's fully refined, don't keep it in your storage space for too long. Take it out to air it from time to time."
"I understand," Karl waved his hand and strolled away.
He continued browsing the trading event, making several purchases of various magical materials.
In just one day, he spent nearly two thousand magic stones.
'This should be enough to lure them in, right?'
On the other side, the merchant packed up his goods and approached a wizard who was inspecting the stall items while holding a piece of grass in his mouth.
"Tas!"
"The items have been sold."
"Mhm," Tas nodded, "I saw. It's probably a Nature School fire wizard. Seems like we have some connection."
"Yes," the merchant whispered, "That person is wealthy and bold in their actions. Doesn't seem like a wandering wizard without any backing."
Wandering wizards are usually very cautious and don't act as carefree as that person. Their attitude isn't as relaxed either.
"Maybe..." Tas thought for a moment and smiled, "It doesn't matter. He's just one of the targets. Let's keep looking."
"Yes."
The merchant bid farewell and left.
(End of Chapter)
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