Another World’s Versatile Crafting Master c1-1074

by Zhuang Bifan

  "Let's hear it—the reason behind your asking me to come over," Lin Li asked directly as he pulled out a rattan chair and sat on it. He did not believe that Kevin asked him to come over simply to chill together. He could tell just by looking at Kevin's expression. If there wasn't anything on, would he ask Lin Li to come over at such a late hour?

  "Felic, you… do you have any way to help a person whose mana had collapsed recover?" The expression on Kevin's face seemed to be rather restrained.

  "Help a person whose mana had collapsed recover?" Lin Li was stunned. Mana collapse was not a small matter. For a mage, it was the same as receiving a death sentence.

  Back at Jarrosus, Lin Li saw it happen once with his own eyes.

  Cromwell had the power of a level-14 Magic Shooter back then. Even if Lin Li had Element Surge and broke down his staff, Lin Li would have had to use a lot of effort to defeat if it hadn't been for his mana collapsing at the last moment.

  As to why his mana collapsed, it was due to that level-18 spell.

  With Cromwell's power back then, forcing out a level-18 spell was the same as courting death. It was especially so after Lin Li's gold rod had touched him and disintegrated that weird magical crystal. That level-18 spell instantly became a death knell. The amount of mana required for a level-18 spell was a terrifying number. Even the current Lin Li would not dare to think about it, not to mention Cromwell from back then.

  Mana collapse was just like that. It was due to the forced usage of immense power and the fact that mental strength could not handle the pressure, resulting in the loss of control of immense mana. That then resulted in the bite of mana.

  "Who would be so unlucky?" That was why Lin Li felt it weird. Other than Cromwell, which other mage would do something so stupid?

  To exaggerate a little, it was the same suicide.

  "A friend…" Kevin was rather soft.

  "Do I know him?"

  "No, no, no, you don't know him."

  "Oh…" Lin Li nodded his head; for some unknown reason, he felt that Kevin looked rather fl.u.s.tered. However, after thinking about it, with Kevin's honest character, he would not have lied to Lin Li. In that moment, he did not care too much about it. He looked rather awkward as he said, "This issue is more complicated, let me think of a way."

  "Ok." In fact, even if Lin Li did not say it, Kevin also knew that this issue was very complicated. He was a mage himself—although his level was not high, he had also received at least ten years of magic education. How would he not know the implications of Mana Collapse?

  However, this time the person that had mana collapse was somebody that needed to be rescued. He had to grab onto every shred of hope. In fact, when Lin Li said "think of a way" instead of immediately saying "I can't do it", it had already made him overjoyed…

  "Wait for a while…" Lin Li rubbed the area in between his eyebrows as he was having a headache.

  Lin Li knew of a way to recover from mana collapse…

  But this method was the same as not knowing it. It was too difficult to carry out.

  Among the guru level of pharmaceutics recipes, there was a potion called the Elemental Arche.

  Elemental Arche used a stalk of Black Lotus as the main ingredient and then it used rare herbs such as Heart of Corrosion and Leaf of the Origin Tree. Once concocted, it could fuse all of the mana together in an instant and go through a purification that was like filtration. During purification, the mana that was in disorder could then return under the control of mental strength.

  This was the real recipe of the guru level. Once it had been made, it could allow a Magic Shooter break through to the Archmage realm. Even if the user was a powerhouse that stepped into the Archmage realm, it could also help him raise his mana by several folds.

  The problem was…

  This potion was not something somebody normal could concoct.

  There was no need to mention the Heart Of Corrosion. One had to enter the Demon Abyss because there was no other place that produced it. If the hammer, Mr. Connoris, was willing to cooperate, then there would be a slight chance. As for this Leaf of the Origin Tree, it could be considered impossible. Lin Li had never heard of anyone obtaining this herb during his time at the Endless World—so much so that nobody knew where it grew. The only thing Lin Li knew about it was that several guru level potions required it…

  Even if Lin Li's Ring of Endless Storm had everything, it only had the Black Lotus—just one of those ingredients. The other things could not even be found.

  In conclusion, it was rather troublesome…

  Lin Li shook his head and placed this issue aside. Sometimes when it came to herbs, it was not something you could have immediately.

  "Oh, yes. Kevin…" Just as he was about to return to his room, Lin Li suddenly remembered something. "During the battle with Shadow's Nest, did you manage to get some magical equipment?"

  "I guess so…" Kevin's face seemed to be uncertain. He did not understand why would Lin Li suddenly mention this.

  "Did you bring it over?"

  "No, it's all at Jarrosus…"

  "…"

  Speaking to Argus in the alley in the evening made Lin Li realize something immediately. Wasn't the Marathon Family conforming to external forces with immense wealth and backing? Furthermore, Argus also said that the Marathon smithy had coincidentally shipped out a large batch of magical equipment in the last ten days.

  Where had this shipment gone? Lin Li was fifty percent sure that half of this shipment had gone to Shadow's Nest.

  It was only the Marathon Family that could produce hundreds of pieces of magical equipment effortlessly, and it was only them that could order a force like Shadow's Nest around. The dots were connecting.

  As to why he'd asked Kevin about that batch of equipment, it was because Lin Li wanted to see if he could discern who exactly was it that made it through the characteristics of the forging handicraft.

  Unfortunately, Kevin had not brought them.

  It would not do to let Kevin describe it. Other than a true blacksmith, an average person would see the same things in an equipment. It could be either a sword, a knife, or an armor. At the very most, they had some magical attributes. Only a true master blacksmith could see who made them through the traces of craftsmanship on the equipment.

  It seemed like he would have to wait for Argus' reply…

  "Oh, yes!" Yet it was at this moment when Kevin smacked his forehead and took something out from his pocket. "This. I found this on a bandit from Shadow's Nest!"

  "What is this?" Lin Li frowned and stretched out one hand to take the item for a look. This thing looked like an incomplete dagger. The handle had been destroyed by fire magic, leaving behind only the blade made from refined iron. Lin Li tested it out on the rattan chair and found it much sharper than he'd expected.

  "I've obtained this dagger from a bandit." When Kevin said this, his expression seemed to have some sort of lingering fear. "At that time, I was entangled with a level-8 warrior. This bandit took that chance to sneak behind me and backstabbed me with this dagger. I thought I was dead then. The dagger easily pierced through the Frost Shield and stabbed me in the back… If it wasn't because of Uncle Gerian's timely actions, I'm afraid I would not have the chance to come to Alanna…"

  "Element Annihilation!" When Lin Li heard this, he immediately realized that Element Annihilation attribute must have been added to this dagger. With the usage of equipment with such handicraft, it would easily pierce through Frost Shield and injure a mage.

  "Kevin, do you know how much such equipment does Shadow's Nest have?"

  "There should be fifty or so…" Kevin's face was rather ghastly. "This time, we've lost a total of 40-odd mages. At least ten were stabbed in the back and killed when the Frost Shield was split apart. Based on these numbers, Shadow's Nest should have at least fifty or more of weapons like this…"

  Lin Li nodded, and did not question further, but was calculating something quickly in his mind. Now, he wa
s ninety percent sure that this incident had been orc.h.e.s.trated by the Marathon Family. Element Annihilation was a handicraft that only high-level blacksmiths could master. Furthermore, the forging process was rather complicated. It required a lot of time. Other than the Marathon Family, Lin Li could not think of any other forces that could supply that much equipment with the Element Annihilation attribute.

  Chapter 213 - People From The Pharmacists Guild

  After discussing about those matter, both of them chatted for a while more. They chatted until Lin Li was rather tired, when he returned to his room. Before he left, he again reminded Kevin, "The issue about your friend's mana collapse, let me think of a way first. It may require some time, but don't worry, just be at ease and wait in Alanna. I will definitely think of a way for you before returning to Jarrosus."

  When Lin Li left Kevin's room, Mason and Orrin were already asleep. Sean was nowhere to be seen for the whole day. Today was even worse—he did not even come back at night. However, after Lin Li shook his head, he did not care about that fella anymore. Anyway, he now had the power of a level-10 warrior. Additionally, he had the brute force similar to that of a magical beast. As long as he did not get into too big of a trouble, he should not be at a disadvantage…

  Sean did not return, and Lin Li slept on his own bed.

  It was unclear whether it was because he had been sleeping in the living room for too long, but when he lay down on the soft bed, Lin Li slept very well. He slept all the way until the next day when the it was already late in the morning before he got woken up by a series of knocks on the door.

  "Who is it that's so early and not letting me sleep…" Lin Li mumbled while getting out of bed. He rubbed his sore neck while going over to open the living room's door.

  Who knew that when he opened the door, he instantly saw Macklin with a face full of distress and disgust. "Are you a pig…"

  "What is it…" Lin Li yawned. His face was out of sorts as if he would not have enough sleep no matter how much he slept. Thinking about it carefully, he had been exhausted during this time. From Alanna to the Fire Plume Ridge, and then from the Fire Plume Ridge back to Alanna. The whole journey was a few days long; furthermore, there were so many hideously messy issues in between. Nobody would be able to tolerate it.

  "F*ck, you really will turn into a pig if you continue sleeping. You forgot about the thing I reminded you about yesterday. Do you even have any memory at all?" Macklin was furious; he nagged away for a long time before realizing that this fella had really forgotten it. Hence, he gritted his teeth, and reminded, "Pharmacists Guild!"

  "Oh, yes, the Pharmacists Guild…" After hearing Macklin's reminder, Lin Li finally remembered. He had really forgotten about it…

  "You can forget such a big thing… do you dare to have bad memory again?" After Macklin finished nagging, he started to press him. "Hurry, pack up and leave. Don't dawdle anymore. The Pharmacists Guild's carriage has been waiting for you for a long time."

  "Understood." This time, Lin Li did not talk back. He obediently went back to his room and changed. This issue could not be neglected; he had to attend it just based on his relationship with Old Grimm, not to mention what the Pharmacists Guild was like. He had owed him too big of a favor previously at Jarrosus. If it weren't because Old Grimm mentored him for such a long time, the victor of that battle would still have been unknown…

  "Felic, don't blame this old man, me, for being such a grumbler. Such an opportunity is hard to come by. Please keep a low profile after going there. Don't clash with others randomly, like when you're at the Guild of Magic. Balbo, that old man, is not as easy to deal with as Aldwin. Furthermore, those pharmacists are not people that can be pushed around like Madrick…"

  While Lin Li was changing in the room, Macklin was nagging constantly outside.

  Even though he was nagging, Lin Li understood what he meant.

  It was to warn him that after going to the Pharmacists Guild, he had to be obedient and not create trouble.

  "I know, I know, I know…" Lin Li nodded his head while wearing his robe.

  The Robe of the Void that Macklin had given him the other time had already been shoved into the legendary magical beast's mouth when killing the Salamander with poison. Lin Li also only returned to Alanna yesterday, so he did not have the time to purchase a new one. He could not find a suitable robe today, so he had no other choice but to wear a Rune Robe.

  The Rune Robe produced by the Mannes Family was not good enough when compared to Alanna Guild of Magic's Robe of the Void. Although it couldn't be seen from its appearance, the magical wave emitted from the robe was definitely a world of difference. It was not at the same level.

  "You're wearing that?" Macklin looked at the Rune Robe that Lin Li was wearing and immediately frowned. "Didnt I give you a Robe of the Void last time?"

  "I lost it at Blackhills Town…"

  "Wastrel!" Macklin scolded harshly before becoming anxious himself. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? How am I supposed to get you a new one at such short notice…"

  "Don't worry, wearing this won't be embarrassing, either." Lin Li pouted, and thought to himself, Back when I wore the Robe of Wrath, I could go anywhere. What else do you want now that I am already dressed like a gentleman? Surely you don't mean that the Pharmacists Guild would not allow me to enter because I'm dressed like this?

  "Forget it…" Macklin thought about it, but he could not come up with a better idea. The Robe of the Void represented status within Alanna Guild of Magic. Even if Macklin wanted to get a new one, he would to apply through the standard procedures. Now that the people from the Pharmacists Guild were already waiting outside, where would he get the time to apply for it? How could he give the one he was wearing to the fella and then run out n.a.k.e.d?

  Just when Lin Li walked into the guild hall, he saw two unfamiliar faces waiting there.

  These two people, who looked like they were in their thirties, were wearing a gray robe each. There was a thick scent of medicine coming from their robes. It was a very glaring sight amidst all of the mages within the guild hall.

  "Hello, Mage Felic." Once Lin Li entered the guild hall, both of them greeted him with respect.

  "Hello." Lin Li nodded his head as if greeting them. "Are you both from the Pharmacists Guild?"

  "Yes, Mage Felic. Guild Master knows that you just came to Alanna, and was worried that you might not know the way to the Pharmacists Guild, so he sent both of us here. Can we leave now?"

  "Yes, we can."

  The three of them exited the guild hall, but at the entrance, Lin Li met someone familiar.

  "Good morning, Mage Sarsen." Ever since he'd returned from the Shadowglen, Lin Li only saw Sarsen once during the banquet. After that, he had never seen a trace of him. It was only yesterday when he'd returned that he heard Macklin say that this fella's strength had improved tremendously. He was highly possibly going to be his biggest challenge in the upcoming finals.

  Of course, back then Macklin did not know that Lin Li had already broken through to the Archmage realm.

  In fact, Lin Li did not really care whether it was a challenge or not.

  He did not have any relation with Sarsen. The only time both of them were in contact was when they fought the Lich together back at the Shadowglen.

  However, other than being slightly proud, Sarsen was not a nasty person. Coupled with the fact they'd once fought together, it would not be right to not greet him.

  "Good morning, Mage Felic. Such a coincidence? I seem to recall Mr. Macklin saying that you went on a long journey a few days ago. How was it, was it a pleasant journey?" Sarsen was more warm-hearted. Once he saw that it was Lin Li that greeted him, his usually uptight face displayed a rare smile.

  That was how Sarsen was, an uptight look. It was not really that he was that proud.

  It was just that he was more straightforward. He was born in Nightfall City, where the strong fed on the weak. In that chaotic city, power was everything. For Sa
rsen, those that were weaker than him were people that he did not have to care about. If those with strength had met his approval, he would let down his attitude and start making friends.

  For example, this Mage Felic in front of him. It was obvious he was somebody to be associated with.

  He was younger by a fair bit, yet had immense power. It was especially so during the battle with Macklin at the colosseum. It made Sarsen look up to him even more.

  Sarsen would always be more warm-hearted towards such people.

  "It's boring to stay within the guild so I went out for a look…" Lin Li's reply was perfunctory.

  "Haha…" Sarsen laughed, he knew that it was a perfunctory reply, but he only casually asked. He did not expect the other party to reply. Once he saw the other party's perfunctoriness, he naturally did not push it. He just brushed off the topic with a 'haha'. "Oh yes, Mage Felic, are these two your friends?"

  "This…" Lin Li scratched his head. He'd only just realized that ever since he'd left the guild hall, he had not asked for their names yet. In that moment, he did not know how to introduce them. He only vaguely replied, "They are from the Pharmacists Guild…"

  "Pharmacists Guild!" Sarsen was surprised after hearing it.

  Sarsen received the most traditional education for magic. Ever since he was young, his mentor constantly stressed that potions were the lifeline for mages. They could restore mana, heal wounds, and even help break through bottlenecks to attain an even greater power.

  The wonders of pharmaceutics had been pervading his mind constantly. As for the Sarsen back then, he had always thought that pharmacists were a god-like existence.

  Till this day, he even remembered that his mentor once said, "If you have a pharmacist friend, you will become the happiest mage."

  As for after he grew up, he witnessed the miracles of pharmaceutics time and time again. The perception ingrained during his youth had now been rooted even deeper in his mind.

  Once he heard that those two were from the Pharmacists Guild, Sarsen was in daze. Even when he spoke, he was stuttering. "Nice… Nice to meet the both of you. My name is Sarsen, I… I am Mage Felic's friend."