Chapter 69: Beast Pills

Chapter 69: Beast Pills

Vitri City's terrain is higher in the south and lower in the north.

The further north and closer to the coastline, the thicker the water vapor and the muddier the ground.

The powerful and influential reside in the higher southern area, while the slums and fishermen live near the water.

This is a vast city!

Its expanse is comparable to several Black Cities.

The population is so vast that it's difficult to count.

The Herb Market is the closest marketplace to the coastline, with streets stretching for miles filled with vendors.

Every day,

the amount of sea cargo traded here could fill over a hundred fishing boats.

Some of it is consumed in Vitri City, while the rest is transported to other regions by merchants.

After reuniting with Aya and the others and a brief introduction, Karl arrived at this market.

Next, they needed to survey the environment and plan for the future.

"The lord of Vitri City is the legendary Knight Sodan, said to have the bloodline of Duke Ferdinand."

Aya led Karl forward, explaining as they walked:

"A hundred years ago, Lord Sodan slew the Abyssal Whale in the Endless Sea, widening the sea route, which led to the prosperity of Vitri City."

Only a legend could live beyond a hundred years!

So Lord Sodan's strength was beyond doubt.

"The lord has no more than a hundred guards and has not established a city guard in the city."

"Everything here is free!"

"No taxes, no officials, no oppression, which is why this place is known as the Free Harbor."

Aya's tone was somewhat excited.

Having grown up in the Black City, she had seen countless City Guards oppressing ordinary Mine Slaves.

There was no freedom in the Black City!

That's why, after experiencing the 'environment' of the Free Harbor, she felt a genuine sense of relief.

Especially after hearing about Lord Sodan's legendary deeds, she deeply admired him.

What a great figure,

to abandon power and return freedom to the common people!

"Apart from some people getting infected with the Water Plague, this city has almost no drawbacks!"

Mentioning the Water Plague, Aya's excited expression turned solemn.

"Is that so?"

Karl's expression remained unchanged as he calmly spoke:

"What are your plans from now on?"

"To survive in the Free Harbor, we must be familiar with swimming, and we're currently learning how to dive." Aya smiled bitterly:

"It's not easy to learn!"

"Actually, we might be used to living underground in the Black City and don't have a natural affinity for water."

As if recalling some gruesome scenes, her face showed helplessness, but she quickly shook off the thought:

"We were planning to get a boat and see if we could make a living from the sea, but now that you're here, Uncle, we might try our hand at business."

"Business?" Karl suppressed the ripples in his heart and bowed politely:

"I have some resources to sell, which might be valuable in the Black City, but here, with its abundant resources, it might be difficult to stand out."

"Let's open an apothecary!"

"An apothecary?" Aya's eyes lit up:

"Uncle's potions are incredibly effective. If we open an apothecary, we'll surely attract patients."

"Hmm."

Karl nodded:

"Making potions is not difficult as long as we have enough materials. You can read, so you'll pick it up quickly."

He needed a base in Vitri City to conveniently source witchcraft materials, but he couldn't stay there permanently.

He needed an assistant.

Moreover, as she was learning about potions, opening an apothecary would be beneficial for her potion-making practice.

Aya clenched her hands, unable to hide her excitement.

Learning to make potions would be like having the capital to establish themselves in the Free Harbor.

"Uncle."

She took a deep breath:

"I won't let you down!"

"We're here!"

As they spoke, they stopped in front of a shop with four storefronts. Aya quickly stepped forward:

"We have an important customer, call your boss!"

"This is the Dragon King's Guild shop. Whatever you want to buy, they can get it."

As she spoke, a peculiar expression appeared on her face.

Karl quickly understood what that expression meant.

"Here." Hearing the call, a lady in a fish-scale soft armor came out and bowed to Karl:

"I'm Susan, the owner of this shop. The goods might not be complete, but I'll do my best to meet the customer's needs."

The lady's soft armor was extremely tight, covering only her vital areas, leaving the rest of her body exposed. It was somewhat similar to the bikini Karl remembered.

Smooth fish-scale armor pieces extended from her chest to her hips, shimmering with her every move.

Her bold clothing style, graceful figure, and blue eyes left a deep impression.

Even passersby couldn't help but stare, no wonder Aya's expression was so peculiar.

Wearing a bikini to attract customers was indeed...

very unique!

"Karl." Karl suppressed the ripples in his heart and politely bowed back:

"I'd like to sell a few Spell Seals."

"Oh!"

Susan's eyes lit up:

"Please take a seat. I don't know what kind of Spell Seals the esteemed customer wants to sell, as each type has a different price."

Karl didn't respond and directly opened the package.

"Rattle..."

Seven Spell Seals scattered on the table.

"Night Vision, Earth Listening, Iron Wall, Wind Repulsion..." Susan, being the shop owner, was well-informed.

She carefully counted each Spell Seal.

"Eight hundred Blessing Coins for Iron Wall and seven hundred for the others, totaling five thousand Blessing Coins. What do you think, customer?"

"Five thousand? That's quite a sum."

The price was similar to what Karl had seen in other places.

Karl neither agreed nor disagreed, but he took out a Blessing Coin, his curiosity piqued. "I once read about a Blessing Coin the size of a fist in a book. I wonder if it's real?"

"You're referring to the Great Blessing Coin," Susan smiled. "The Great Blessing Coin is a divine artifact, and the Blessing Coins we have now are crafted in its likeness."

"Ah, the Great Blessing Coin! A name that truly lives up to its reputation. I've only heard of it, and it's said to be a collector's item for the truly powerful."

Karl changed the topic. "If I wanted to acquire a Spell Seal, do you have any recommendations, Miss Susan?"

"Oh!" Susan's beautiful eyes sparkled as she sized Karl up. "The most common and powerful Spell Seals are Steel Body, Eagle Eye, and Swimming... I'd recommend Swimming."

"Once you refine this Spell Seal, you can swim freely in water like a fish. It's especially useful in Free Harbor."

"What a pity!"

Susan spread her hands. "The Swimming Spell Seal is highly sought after and usually traded among acquaintances. Steel Body and Eagle Eye might occasionally be available in shops."

"If you truly desire it, I can apply to the merchant guild. I'll notify you immediately if there's any news."

"As for more powerful Spell Seals, they are not sold privately."

"Do you have any now?" Karl asked.

"No," Susan shook her head. "Not only Swimming, but Steel Body and Eagle Eye are also unavailable."

"Then forget it." Karl shook his head and sighed. "I'm a knight. Do you have anything that might be useful to me?"

Knight?

Susan's spirit stirred.

She stood up and circled the shop, gathering a few items and placing them before Karl.

"Storm Seahorse Blade!"

Susan held up a curved blade and spoke solemnly. "In the Endless Sea, there's a creature called the Storm Seahorse, which can freely navigate through storms."

"This blade is refined from the horn of a Storm Seahorse. With the aid of Battle Aura, it can unleash a miniature storm when swung."

"The price is three thousand Blessing Coins!"

She waved it gently, and a gust of wind shot out, flying several meters before slowly dissipating.

This is a good one! Karl's eyes lit up, but he also felt a hint of regret.

If a wizard skilled in enchanting artifacts had refined it, the blade's power would be far greater.

"Phantom Fish Trident!"

Susan picked up a trident about a foot long and waved it lightly, revealing a graceful technique.

"It's said that the Phantom Fish has dragon blood, but I'm not sure if that's true. However, it can change its size like a dragon."

"This trident does the same."

"Snap!"

She thrust it forward, and the foot-long trident suddenly grew larger and longer, transforming into a nearly three-meter-long giant.

"When fighting, a sudden lengthening of the weapon can turn the tide of battle. The price is three thousand eight hundred Blessing Coins."

Karl shook his head. In his opinion, this was less useful than the Storm Seahorse Blade. The sudden lengthening of a weapon was only effective against weaker opponents. True powerhouses possessed exceptional battle reflexes, making it less likely to be of use.

Moreover, the so-called "sudden" change wasn't that fast.

"Jellyfish Pearl."

Susan held up a pearl and introduced it. "This pearl is produced inside the body of a ghost jellyfish. Grind it into powder and consume it to heal most injuries."

"Fifty Blessing Coins each!"

Lastly, she opened a wooden box the size of a palm.

Karl's eyes flickered.

Inside the box were bird egg-sized meat pills, dark in color, with a faint meaty fragrance.

"Beast Pills."

Susan spoke up. "There are many factions in Free Harbor that can make Beast Pills, but the quality of our Dragon King Merchant Guild's Beast Pills is unparalleled."

"These Beast Pills are refined from exotic beast meat and are beneficial for knights' cultivation. Three Blessing Coins each."

"There's also another type made from high-quality exotic beast meat. Each pill costs two hundred Blessing Coins, but we're currently out of stock."

Karl leaned forward, and with her permission, he gently picked up a Beast Pill and examined it closely.

No mistake!

It was the same as the box of pills carried by Hal, the captain of Black City's City Guard.

However, there were some subtle differences.

"What's the difference between Beast Pills made from high-quality exotic beast meat and those made from ordinary exotic beast meat?"

"The difference is huge!" Susan laughed. "The effects are vastly different. However, high-quality Beast Pills are too potent for ordinary people. Instead of tempering their bodies, it can be harmful."

"Hmm..."

"High-quality Beast Pills are darker in color, have a lighter taste, and if you taste them carefully, you'll notice a hint of sweetness."

Karl's eyes sparkled.

No mistake! The box he had was indeed high-quality Beast Pills!

Soon, Susan bid Karl farewell with a smile, and as he left, someone approached her.

"Who is he?"

"Haven't seen him before."

The newcomer shook her head. "That little girl is named Aya. She fled from Black City with her group, which includes a young man named Xiaonan. He has the potential to become a knight."

"Having the potential to become a knight doesn't guarantee that he will become one," Susan said, a smile playing on her lips.

"Karl..."

"Let's try to win him over. A true knight is worth the effort and cost."

"Yes." The person responded:

"I will investigate his background."

"Hmm."

Susan slowly nodded.

Sebel, having become acquainted with the creation of enchanted artifacts, had few opportunities to try it himself.

Even the records about it in Andrew’s library were scarce.

Upon hearing that Karl was looking for information on this topic, Sebel showed great enthusiasm and recommended a few books.

He said,

If Karl found something useful, he could share it with her, and she would be more willing to buy things of value.

The insatiable curiosity of a mage apprentice was a necessary trait.

Books like "Volume One: Draconic Materials in Witchcraft," "Speculation on the Influence of the Astral plane on the material world—by Second Circle Witch Granthar," "Exploration of the Wonders of the Ferro Empire," and "The Life of a Legendary Blacksmith"...

"Places close to the Astral plane are more likely to produce creatures or materials with special abilities."

"Such places are also beneficial for the practice of mages."

"Very few dragon descendants are reproductively isolated, and those with dragon blood are bound to have special abilities. Their bodies can be used as materials for the creation of enchanted artifacts."

"The Kolon Clan’s Flame mountains are rich in various fire-attribute materials; there is a wind cavern in Duke Sak’s territory that is suspected to be related to the legendary wind spirits... beneath the black swamp, there are spiritual creatures..."

In the office of the law enforcement, Karl browsed through thick books and couldn’t help but think:

"Knowledge is also a form of wealth."

Before this, he didn’t even know what the astral plane was, and even now, he wasn’t very clear, only knowing it was a different facet from the material world, and much of the knowledge of witches was related to it.

As for witchcraft materials, they were also divided into various categories.

Just for dragon descendants, there were seven-colored dragons, ancient dragons, half-dragons, and so on...

"In the eyes of witches, most extraordinary powers are abilities that comes not astr of the astr from the Astral."

"Certain special regions, due to their proximity to the Astral plane's projection, have a high probability of containing creatures with special abilities in certain areas."

"Hmm..."

"Isn’t this a spirit vein?"

"Places close to the Astral plane are spirit veins, the closer the more abundant the spiritual qi, and the faster the cultivation speed?"

Karl touched his chin, pondering.

"Karl!"

A familiar voice sounded:

"Looks like you really plan to be a scholar in the future. What book are you reading this time?"

Kerry walked over, flipping through the book:

"Blacksmith?"

"Studying anatomy no longer?"

"Studying." Karl closed the book:

"There is an old saying in my hometown, ‘many skills do not weigh you down, there is always a time when they come in handy.’"

"Is that so?" kerry shrugged:

"I’ve only heard another saying: carrying ten iron swords is not as good as holding a single spear."

"Specializing in one thing is better!"

"Hmm..."

While speaking, his gaze was fixed on the book cover, suddenly he felt dizzy and his eyes blurred.

After several deep breaths, he recovered.

"Seem I am really not suitable for studying."

Kerry shook his head:

"Even just reading is as uncomfortable as being drunk, serious study would probably cost me my life!"

Karl chuckled.

The book in his hand was imbued with a faint dizziness spell, causing discomfort for those without a talent for witchcraft.

This was also to prevent commoners from knowing certain knowledge, conveniently selecting those with witchcraft talent.

"Karl!"

Coming back to his senses, kerry softly opened:

"Do you have money on you?"

"Hmm?"

Karl frowned slightly, asking:

"I heard you borrowed money from quite a few people recently?"

"Who said that?" kerry's complexion changed, he angrily indignantly:

"Such a loose mouth, and I do repay!"

"Hmm..." Karl chuckled, shaking his head, not continuing to pursue:

"Tell me, how much did you borrow?"

"This..." kerry hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Sixty pounds, after this period, I will definitely repay you."

"Sixty pounds?" Karl raised an eyebrow.

The sum wasn’t much for him, but knowing the other’s family situation and that he was about to leave signo city soon, borrowing money was surprising. If it weren’t for knowing kerry’s character, he would have thought the other was borrowing money without intending to repay.

"K arl"

Kerry was hesitant, but finally took out eight gold coins from his pocket:

"Eighty pounds, the extra twenty pounds are my regards, but can you tell me what you need the money for?"

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" kerry hastily took the gold coins, hurriedly placing them in his bosom:

"Rest assured, I won’t do anything bad, and once the matter is resolved, I will explain to you."

Without waiting for Karl to speak, he hurriedly left.

Watching kerry leave, Karl gently shook his head, then shifted his gaze back to the book in his hand. He didn’t sense any deceitful emotions from kerry.

Perhaps, he was indeed about to do something right.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end