Another World’s Versatile Crafting Master c1-1074

by Zhuang Bifan

  Unfortunately, Rina was neither Gerian nor Macklin. Not only did she listen to Lin Li speak, she even paid full attention to his words…

  "Actually, Ujfalusi had been my servant many years ago. But, a catastrophe turned him into what he is now. Paladin Rina, although Ujfalusi became an Undead creature, he had never injured any human before. You saw it yourself just now. He has always been protecting Black Clouds Town too. If not for his swift reaction along with Norfeller, Black Clouds Town would have turned into debris…"

  "But, he is still an Undead creature!"

  "So what if he is an Undead creature? To me, he is more upright than many humans. Even though I was once his master, Ujfalusi is still incredibly loyal to me. How can his kind deed of stepping out to help when Black Clouds Town got attacked be overlooked due to his status as an Undead creature? Miss Rina, are the teachings of the Brilliance Shrine like this? That's too disappointing…" Lin Li's agitation grew as he talked. Then, he ended his conversation with Rina by waving his sleeves coldly before walking away. He did not care if Rina was still the guest of the Tower of Dusk.

  Rina stood by the crystal ball in a daze. She had been baptized by the Fire of Judgement the day she was born. She was brought up in an environment that berated Undead creatures as the root of evil, and was taught to eliminate every one of them. She thought that only the pure Fire of Judgement could redeem them from their sins after they turned into ashes. In reality, that was what Rina had been doing. Ever since she'd become a Judge Paladin, she killed countless Undead creatures.

  Yet, when the young mage that even Mentor Englos respected just told her how Undead creatures could be upright and loyal to their masters, and stand out for the innocent common folk, Rina's firm belief started to waver. The scene at Black Clouds Town tonight was still fresh in her memory.

  Unfortunately, being immersed in her deep thoughts, Rina did not notice the smirk on that righteous young mage's face when he turned his back…

  Goddammit, lucky that I've escaped. Otherwise, it'd be the end if she were to ask further. I have to send this woman away as soon as possible. It will be troublesome if she is to stay at the Tower of Dusk every day. If the Brilliance Shrine discovered that I'm related to that darn Immortal King, wouldn't they treat me like a pagan and burn me to death?

  After experiencing so many coincidences, Lin Li could tell that that damn Immortal King should be a mighty Undead creature, or even the leader of an Undead faction.

  Actually, it was not hard to guess it. From Alanna to the Demon Fall Valley, and from the Demon Fall Valley to the Breezy Plains, everything related to the Undead race was always linked to the Immortal King. From the ghosts in the Shadowglen, the Vampire in the Dark Age, the Legendary Assassin's Heaven's Wrath… If Lin Li still could not guess it, he should just kill himself by crashing into a piece of tofu.

  It was no laughing matter. Yes, the Brilliance Shrine could tolerate normal Necromancers, or even allow Englos to be friends with Sendros, but once things concerned a certain leader of an Undead faction, such as the three Undead Lords at the Shadowglen, it would be hard for the Brilliance Shrine to explain itself if they didn't do anything. At that time, they would not have the support from the Supreme Council anymore…

  While Lin Li was grinning internally, he entered the meeting room of the guild. He saw that Gerian had been sitting there for quite a while.

  "Say, what do you need my help with?" The fatso sat there arrogantly as he rested one of his legs high on the table, just like how he would in Jarrosus Guild of Magic.

  "Just a small matter…" Lin Li replied mysteriously. He went over to lean toward Gerian's ears, and whispered, "I feel like killing the other Crimson Python…"

  "Goddammit!" Gerian exclaimed, and nearly sprang out of his seat. "Little bastard, did you lose your mind?"

  Chapter 376 - Dragon's Tongue

  "Why are you so agitated? It's just the Blackstone Mountains, and not a mountain of swords…"

  "Damn, are you feigning ignorance?" Gerian asked in a rage. "Do you know what kind of place the Blackstone Mountains are? There's no other place more dangerous than that within 500 hundred square miles of Doland. That's right, you have two powerful servants with you who can defeat the Crimson Python, but do you know that you are not going to encounter only the Crimson Python in the Blackstone Mountains? There are mightier beasts out there. I've heard that there's even a black dragon at the summit of the Blackstone Mountains…"

  "…" Lin Li rubbed his nose. "I say, Sir Gerian, how could you believe such a childish rumor? The black dragon at the summit of the Blackstone Mountains is just a story used by the common folk to scare their children. If a black dragon was really there, wouldn't the other magical beasts pee their pants in fright and escape? Do you think there are so many beasts that can withstand the presence of a Wyrm?"

  "Of course I know…" Gerian replied as he flushed. "Anyway, I don't care whether there are any black dragons or not. Don't you just have to admit that the Blackstone Mountains are a dangerous place? Although you and your men could kill a Crimson Python, don't think that you could treat Legendary beasts like big cabbages. If you really travel to the Blackstone Mountains, I fear that you might not even know how you die…"

  "Hehe, I really have high confidence that I'm able to kill the Crimson Python if I find it. Do you want to bet?"

  "Sure, let's bet! Do you think I'm scared of you?" replied Gerian. Then, he suddenly realized he might have agreed to it too hastily. He knew that Lin Li was a coward who treasured his life so much that he could wear his armor everywhere he went. On top of that, Lin Li had a lot of tricks up his sleeves too. Any minor move of his could create an impact that could result in a heart attack. It was dumb for him to agree to the bet. What if luck were to allow Lin Li to slay that Crimson Python? I can't admit defeat. No, no. I shouldn't bet with him…

  Since Gerian's face was very thick, he revoked his promise very quickly. "But, never mind. At such an age, there's no point for me to bicker with a youngster like you…"

  "…"

  Gerian stood there and thought for a moment. He could not hold his curiosity anymore. "Hey, fella. Are you really confident to do that?" Gerian whispered.

  "Of course…" Lin Li pursed his lips unhappily. Then, he stared at Gerian weirdly, which made the latter feel really awkward. "Since when did you see me doing things I'm uncertain about?"

  "Erm…" Gerian hesitated. He could not remember any instance that the fella did something lacking solid assurance. Many times, the things he did seemed impossible and absurd, but could always bring about stunning results as though everything was in his grasp…

  "Actually, I've always wanted to visit the Blackstone Mountains. Apart from killing the other Crimson Python, I have another motive…"

  "What motive?" Gerian asked curiously. His eyes lit up.

  "I'm sure you know more about the origin of the Crimson Pythons than I do. Although they are descendants of the prehistoric magical beasts, the blood they inherited will only allow a few of them to undergo mutation. The rest will be like the usual Crimson Pythons that have not much difference as compared to normal magical beasts."

  "Yeah, I know that," Gerian said and nodded his head. There were some mutated Crimson Pythons that would have an awakened blood lineage. It was that small amount of inherited blood from the prehistoric magical beasts that would turn them into Legendary beasts. Once their lineage had been awakened, the Crimson Pythons would gain a massive amount of energy and break into the Legendary-realm. That python just now had to be a mutated one to have such a terrifying power…

  "If the other Crimson Python also has an awakened lineage, we are going to hit the jackpot…"

  "What jackpot?" Gerian asked in confusion.

  "You are an experienced mage. I believe you know more about Crimson Pythons than I do, right? Crimson Pythons usually travel with their partners. Unless it is under a special circ.u.mstance, they would certainly not separate from each other. Do you still reme
mber what that special circ.u.mstance is?"

  "Damn, how could I not remember that only male pythons would leave the nest to search for food when the female pythons lay eggs? Wait… Lay eggs…?

  "I say, fella, are you thinking of stealing their offspring? Let me tell you, it's impossible! Crimson Pythons are terrible beasts that only know to kill and create destruction. Even if you manage to catch a young python, you might not even be able to tame it. Many people had the same intention as you, and were all swallowed by a python on a random night while they were asleep!"

  "Rest assured. How would I be interested in young pythons? Although their parents are Legendary beasts, it does not mean they are too. As long as their lineage has not awakened, they are still normal level-18 magical beasts. They're not worthy of me taking that risk…"

  "What do you want then?"

  "I want to find a herb that only grows in the nest of Crimson Pythons to create a potion. It is called the Dragon's Tongue…"

  "What potion?" Gerian pricked his ears upon hearing the mention of a 'potion'. He still remembered the Arcane Magic Potion auction at Jarrosus…

  "A potion that can turn people into Archmages…"

  "WHAT THE?!" Gerian's jaw nearly fell off from shock. How can one become an Archmage so easily? That is a status that requires innate talent, good luck, the guidance from esteemed mentors, and decades of mundane practice of magic!

  Gerian stared at Lin Li for quite a while. He was even considering the possibility that the child in front of him had turned into a dumb kid after the trauma caused by fighting the Crimson Python. What is he blabbering about? If there is really such a potion, why are there not many Archmages in the Anril World?

  "You don't need to be surprised. It is not easy to get ahold of this potion, after all. Apart from the Dragon's Tongue, we also need many other valuable herbs, such as Black Lotus and the fruit of the M.o.a.na tree. To gather these ingredients, we will need at least a few hundred of thousands. The most important thing is, although the potion can bring plateauing Magic Shooters up to the level of an Archmage, they will not be able to progress further in the future.

  "This status of an Archmage needs to be exchanged with one's potential in life. Also, the process of creating this potion would not be as easy as creating the Arcane Magic Potion in Jarrosus…"

  "Is there really such a potion?" Gerian asked in excitement. He did not expect that fella to be so serious as he talked about it. After reflecting on Lin Li's ability in pharmaceutics, he recalled that Lin Li was a freak who could cure the collapse of mana. Gerian could not help but believe that Lin Li could really create a potion that could turn people into Archmages.

  "Yeah…" Lin Li nodded firmly. "But, the Dragon's Tongue only grows dead inside the caves of two mutated Crimson Pythons. Only their awakened blood can expedite the growth of the real herb, and the time it matures will be around the time the eggs are laid by the female python…"

  "I understand it now…" said Gerian. It is no wonder this fella insisted that he wanted to go to the Blackstone Mountains!

  "But, before that…" Lin Li paused. "I have to make clear who exactly was the one who lured the Crimson Python to Black Clouds Town. The Blackstone Mountains are 200 kilometers away from Black Clouds Town. A simple hatred would not cause the Crimson Python to chase someone for such a long distance. This is crucial information. The magical beasts in the Blackstone Mountains are not scary at all. I fear that there are other people like me who have their eyes on the Crimson Python which has just laid its eggs. It would be really troublesome then…"

  "You suspect that it is related to that Mayor Alexir?" asked Gerian. Now, he finally understood why this fella did not have any strength to walk when he was at Black Clouds Town. It was because Felic had a long conversation with that Alexir.

  "Just a tentative suspicion. We will know the details when Norfeller returns."

  The weather the next day was great. Lin Li was lying in his recliner on the balcony of his room, basking in the morning sun as he read a magic book leisurely. When he flipped to the fifth page of the book, Lin Li saw a black bat flying from afar. It stopped at the railings of the balcony, and transformed into a young man wearing a black cape.

  "How is it, Norfeller? What did you find out last night?"

  "The appearance of that Crimson Python is really related to the son of Mayor Alexir." Norfeller's report was very straightforward. He took no more than 30 minutes to tell Lin Li everything he saw the day before.

  Yesterday, Norfeller transformed into a bat and hid in Alexir's house. He heard the anxious fence-sitting mayor urging his son to leave Black Clouds Town immediately. Apparently, Alexir feared that if the fact that it was his son who was the cause of the appearance of the Crimson Python, he would lose his position as the mayor.

  Chapter 377 - Recognition

  As compared to the trembling mayor, Granger was relatively calm. According to Norfeller, the level-14 Warrior was not anxious at all. He even laughed when the mayor urged him to escape.

  "What is there to be scared of? I've done well luring the Crimson Python away. Boss Gregory promised me that he would groom me as long as I did my part well. Hehe, now that my efforts were recognized by Boss Gregory, it really doesn't matter whether you are the mayor of this town anymore. Why don't you go to Aminya and live a luxurious life with me…?"

  "He really said that?" Lin Li said as he frowned.

  "Yes, Master."

  "Alright…" Lin Li nodded before closing his eyes slowly. Although it seemed as if he was resting his eyes, the smirk at the corner of his lips screamed that this young mage was planning to kill.

  At the start, Lin Li had only thought that this Granger had attracted the Crimson Python to Black Clouds Town by accident. Initially, Lin Li had thought Granger could still be forgiven—although it was a dumb act, Granger had had no intention to harm anyone. Hence, when he sent Norfeller to spy on them, he was just expecting to find out what exactly attracted the python over. He did not have any intention of doing anything to Alexir's family.

  But now, it seemed that it was not like what he had thought. Since Granger had admitted himself that his act of luring the Crimson Python away from its nest was an achievement, it implied that he'd known about the deadliness of the python long before he did it. It meant that he had an ulterior motive in attracting it to Black Clouds Town!

  Black Clouds Town was such an isolated town, with less than a thousand people living in it. There were even instances where the tax officials from Doland would forget to visit Black Clouds Town for taxes. A fool would know what would happen if an agitated Legendary beast were to dash into such a small town. It would not take more than half a day for the entire Black Clouds Town to turn into ashes under the python's flames of rage.

  And it was due to Granger's selfish hope to get recognized by that darn Boss Gregory…?

  Lin Li had never seen himself as a righteous man, but he was certain that he would not partake in something that would implicate a thousand lives like that…

  "It seems like this Granger is a more promising man than his dad…"

  "Master, do you want me to get rid of him?" Norfeller asked. After being with Lin Li for quite a while, Norfeller knew that every time Lin Li had that expression, it meant that he already had plans to kill…

  "No, no…" Lin Li shook his head, and stood up from the rattan chair. He walked to the side of the balcony slowly, and looked at Black Clouds Town beneath him. "I have a sudden urge to know which boss' recognition is more important than the lives of a thousand… Norfeller, call upon Ujfalusi. I have something for him to do."

  "Roger."

  Shortly after Norfeller left, there was knocking on Lin Li's room door.

  "Enter, Ujfalusi." The magical wave of a Lich was quite special—it was always a suffocating death aura. Lin Li did not need to think much to conclude that it had to be Ujfalusi who was knocking on his door.

  The door creaked open. It was indeed Ujfalusi who stepped in
to the room. He was in his usual torn and tattered black robe; his wide cape covered his head very nicely, leaving two balls of green ghost-fire on his face that caused him to emit an extremely eerie vibe.

  "Master, I heard from Norfeller that you wanted to see me?" Ujfalusi bowed and stood very ingratiatingly in front of Lin Li. Although he was standing before a very young master, he did not dare to show any sign of disrespect or arrogance. It was not only due to the fact that they had signed a soul contract, but also because of Ujfalusi's knowledge that this young master had a terrifying strength within him.

  The young master had used the same energy as the force in the bell tower in the ruins of Syer Town. He took little effort eliminating the Humerus Domain and destroying the powerful Humerus Wyrm.

  That was a true Humerus Wyrm! Ujfalusi knew that it was impossible to defeat the Wyrm by himself. His ability to summon it was all due to a miraculous encounter a century ago, when he added his scent into the soul of the Wyrm. It was this very scent that allowed his level-20 ability of a Lich to summon the similarly level-20 Humerus Wyrm…

  The Humerus Domain of a level-20 Lich, together with a level-20 Humerus Wyrm, was child's play before this young master. He could remember how the young master had turned everything to dust with a ray of light. After becoming an Undead creature, Ujfalusi was afraid of very few things, yet he was really fearful of this young master.

  "Have a seat." Lin Li smiled after seeing the two balls of ghost-fire in the Lich's eyes.

  To be honest, after returning from the ruins of Syer where he signed a Soul Contract with Ujfalusi, Lin Li could still not trust Ujfalusi fully, at least not as much as he trusted Norfeller. Unlike Ujfalusi, the blood oath Norfeller had with Lin Li was initiated by Norfeller, without the presence of any threat. On this basis, Lin Li felt that Norfeller genuinely wanted to follow him.

  As for the Soul Contract with Ujfalusi, it was not signed willingly. It was signed when they were at the ruins of Syer, where Lin Li threateningly held his sword at Ujfalusi's neck. Now that his powers hadn't yet recovered, Ujfalusi naturally would be very respectful to himself. But, what would happen after he regained the power he lost and his status as a Legendary Lich? Lin Li could not be certain that he would be as obedient as he was now…