“I can’t go to the Walker Family’s market anymore. After all, I have just sold a number of potions there!”
Leylin mentally called up the map and located his current position.
“From the academy to Eastwoods Province, I have to travel through 5 other provinces. I can sell potions along the way. At best, I can only sell potions until Jersha Province.
On the map, the Jersha Province was midway to his destination There were two more provinces separating Eastwoods Province from it.
If he were to sell his potions all the way to Eastwoods Province, wouldn’t that mean giving away his itinerary and purpose? Leylin wouldn’t be so foolish as to do that.
Although he sold his goods along the way, others may not be able to discover it. After all, the trades done every day were numerous. Leylin, however, would rather be a little more cautious in safeguarding his tracks.
As for Jersha Province, it was in the central region of Poolfield Kingdom and was accessible from all sides. Other people would not be able to guess Leylin’s destination at all.
“En!” Anyway, there is still time. If it’s necessary I can reroute to further locations. In any case, I must be careful never to reveal my identity!”
Leylin looked the points marked as Magi gathering spots and entered into deep thought……
Two odd months passed.
On a path to Jersha Province, a sturdily built black horse carrying a wooden chest and a black robed man could be seen cantering along.
The black robed man had bright red hair, and was extremely handsome.
This was naturally Leylin in disguise.
Ever since that time, as Leylin journeyed, he found some Magi gathering points or some small scale trading sites time to time, where he sold the potions he brewed.
As he only sold a few each time, he did not attract the avarice of other experts. Occasionally, some foolish acolyte blinded by greed would waylay him, but they were completely not his match at all. The most dangerous instance was when a Level 3 Acolyte brought a group of other acolytes to surround him. Still, Leylin managed to evade them with the help of the A.I. Chip’s detection capability.
Through these trades, he acquired a few precious materials, and many books on specialised Magi knowledge, greatly enhancing the data bank of the A.I. Chip.
In these past two months, he finally recorded all the Shadow and Dark Element spell models he purchased previously. He then completely obliterated the contents of the book.
This lightened his luggage tremendously.
After selling a huge portion of his potions and getting rid of those bulky spell books, Leylin could fit all of his belongings into one chest.
According to his projections, he could simply travel with a knapsack after selling the remaining potions.
“I have underestimated the popularity of potions. Right now, I have amassed over 2,000 Magic Crystals. If not for purchasing information and other miscellaneous items, I might have gotten over 2500 Magic Crystals!”
Leylin stretched his hands and felt around his robes. A sack of hard texture travelled to his hands. He could not help but smile.
“Fortunately, there are high-grade Magic Crystals in this Magus World. One piece can be exchanged for 100 ordinary Magic Crystals. Otherwise, I would have a problem carrying all those Magic Crystals……”
“A.I. Chip, stat update!” Leylin ordered.
[Beep! Leylin Farlier, Level 2 Acolyte and Knight. Strength: 2.7, Agility: 2.8, Vitality: 3.0, Spiritual Force: 4.6, Magical Power: 4.0. Status: Healthy] The A.I. Chip’s voice intoned.
“En! Strength and Agility increased. This is the result of continuous stimulation of my internal Knight energy. After it stabilises, I can begin to gradually take on the next phase of Knight’s training. This should raise all my stats to at least 3! As for Spiritual Force, it only increased a little. This was the only return I got after a number of life and death situations. Magus training, as expected, is only going to get more and more difficult!”
Leylin sighed and mentally projected the map again.
On the huge map, Jersha Province was in the central region of Poolfield Kingdom. There were many small Magus families here.
Although this was the capital of a regular human kingdom, it attracted all sorts of travellers, many wandering Magi, and even criminal Magi.
These Magi, because of their radical opinions, or some other matter, were exiled from their previous association, faced with persecution, or even put up on bounty lists. They turned into wandering Magi, often making them very dangerous people.
“In Jersha Province, it just so happens that there is an extremely huge Magus market controlled by the Redbud Family, one of the three big families supporting Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. I will definitely be able to obtain the latest news here!”
In these past two months, Leylin had secretly made inquiries about the various news related to the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy. However, the information he got were all rather vague. He only knew that it was at war with some factions to its west. As for its opponents, and how the academy was faring, everything was extremely hazy.
“We’re here, Ellinel Market. I’ll sell my remaining potions and ask about news of the academy before resuming my journey.”
Leylin decided.
……
In a tiny village’s ruined wharf.
“If not for the intelligence report, I would never have believed that the first Magus market in the Poolfield Kingdom would actually be hidden underneath a regular human village”.
As Leylin scanned the village’s surroundings, a lifeless atmosphere greeted him.
“The Magus market should be below here since there are signs of occasional radiation emanating from it. The villagers above are also definitely sickly, where some might even die suddenly. How would they be able to flourish? I’m afraid after a dozen or so years, this village would become another ghost town!”
Leylin adjusted the grey robes on his body and covered his facial features, before coming to the entrance of a hut made of bricks.
The corroded door let out a dull noise as Leylin knocked lightly.
“Who are you?” An icy voice sounded from inside.
“I am a wandering acolyte, who wishes to have a look at the market!”
* Creak! * The large door opened and revealed a black robed figure.
Leylin was shocked; he felt murderous intent oozing from the black robed figure. This may be a very obscure concept but if one killed too many of their kind, they will definitely be different from others. The feeling that this black robed figure gave Leylin was that many experts of the same level died in his hands.
“As expected of a large market, even the guard is so fierce!” The black robed figure emitted the energy waves of a Level 3 Acolyte. He even carried a one-time use magical item. It could not escape the A.I. Chip’s detection though.
“No matter if it’s your first time or not, I will enumerate the rules. Any fights inside the market will be deemed as a provocation by the Redbud Family.” The black robed figure said icily.
Only then did Leylin notice the Redbud insignia on his sleeves.
“I understand!” Leylin nodded his head.
“Alright, the fee would be 1 Magic Crystal!”
After Leylin paid the entry fee, the black robed figure tapped lightly on the fireplace, and steel machinery rumbled. The fireplace swung to the right revealing a flight of stairs going downwards.
“Even the style is reminiscent of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy!” Leylin shook his head.
After entering the tunnel, the fireplace swung shut, and the passage dimmed once more with only a few lamps dimly glowing in the depths.
Leylin descended the stairs. After he felt he had gone a dozen metres underground, a huge cavern emerged.
The market was extremely huge. It was the size of several football fields. The ceiling was studded with some kind of stalactite that made Leylin wonder if they were natural.
In
the middle of the market, buildings built using grey rocks were lined up in a row. Surrounding them was a circle of wooden huts. As for the street stalls, they were actually rather sparse.
Magi and acolytes wore robes of various colours; white, black, and grey-robed people could be seen stepping in and out of the shops.
Leylin began to understand the rules of the Magus World a little better.
Normally, official Magi would either wear black or white, and acolytes would wear grey. White represented the factions that were more peace loving, for example, the healing arts and the like. As for the black robes, they leaned more towards combat, and their dispositions were rather strange too.
Of course, these are the conventionally attired ones. There were also some Magi who wore various odd looking costumes that were rather bizarre.
WMW Chapter 51 - Lowian’s Teachings
“Sir, do you need someone to show you around? I only charge 1 Magic Crystal!” Clamored the little boys and girls who crowded around Leylin.
“No need for that!” Leylin immediately refused.
After visiting a lot of markets, he found out that these guides did not require that much payment. Some of the families controlling these markets even provide free guides to help patrons move around.
The first time he entered a market, he gave a little boy a Magic Crystal. This was a huge deficit for him.
As for ordinary markets, they were considerably smaller. Circling for a few times would be enough for anyone to become familiar with the place. There were even signs around. So under normal circumstances, patrons do not require guides at all.
Leylin casually strolled inside the market. Later, he walked towards the largest Potion’s Shop.
“Greetings Sir!” A white-bearded geezer smiled and bowed.
“I wish to sell a batch of potions. Their prices may be a little high!” Leylin was extremely direct.
“Please follow me!” The old geezer was startled. He immediately brought Leylin to a small booth at the back.
After closing the door, Leylin felt the energy waves generated by an isolation spell formation.
“Our shop extends confidentiality towards our guests. Moreover, we also employ the best safety measures……”The white-bearded geezer smiled as he explained.
“Not bad!” Leylin nodded his head, being able to avoid the crowd was extremely beneficial to him.
There were two sofas within the booth, and between these was a small wooden table with two hot piping drinks on it.
“Please have a seat!” The geezer gestured.
Leylin sat down and reclined on the sofa. He lifted the cup and sniffed lightly, “Powder of Tillan Beans with black pearls added, very beneficial for an acolyte’s meditation!”
“Your achievements in Potioneering have left me speechless!” The old geezer’s eyes widened in shock.
“Thank you. I have been inside an experiment lab for a year until now working on something important. Please appraise these potions for me!”
Leylin handed over a sack to the old geezer.
The old geezer opened the sack, and immediately cried out, “Eh?!”
In the sack was the remainder of Leylin’s potions, each and every one of them glowed resplendently.
“Please wait a minute!” The old geezer took out a monocle and placed it over his eye.
After what seemed like half an hour, the old geezer looked a little exhausted and rubbed his temples after he put the monocle away.
“37 hemostasis potions, 45 antidotes, silence potions……These potions are all of good quality and have been preserved well. I can give you 900 Magic Crystals for them!”
“Very fair!” Leylin gently nodded his head.
The old geezer then stored the potions for safekeeping and counted out 9 high-grade Magic Crystals which he handed over to Leylin.
“Sir, you must be a Potioneering Master? Please keep this; you will be able to enjoy a 10% discount on items and services in our shop. We can also offer a higher price for other potions you may have……”
The old geezer said as he presented a purple card to Leylin with both hands.
Leylin glanced at the card and then pocketed it swiftly, “I’ll keep that in mind!”
The old geezer then sent Leylin off. As they bade farewell, Leylin casually asked, “As you know, I’ve just finished my experiments. Are there places where I may inquire about the latest news on the Poolfield Kingdom?”
The old geezer stared blankly for a while before answering, “If you wish to learn some secrets and the latest intelligence, Gandor’s Grocery Shop would be your best choice. Although his temper is a little wacky, but he’s the most informed……”
According to the old geezer’s direction, Leylin came to Gandor’s Grocery Shop.
As he entered, the things inside the shop were very untidy, and various items were lying around. There were even many that the A.I. Chip could not identify.
One thing stood out though, no counterfeit products were inside. This piqued Leylin’s interest.
“Who?” A voice sounded from behind the counter. Following which, a geezer, who appeared as if he was on the brink of death, popped out from behind it.
“The geezer from the Potion Shop recommended this place to me. I wish to gather the latest intelligence regarding the Poolfield Kingdom.
“Same old rules, only after buying an item in my shop will you will be able to obtain information from me.” The half-dead geezer lips did not move but a mysterious voice could be heard from him.
“Alright! I’ll simply pick anything I fancy!” Leylin wanted to pick an item at random.
“No can do, it is I who will choose for you!” The half-dead geezer sniggered.
“No wonder business is so bad here!” Leylin rolled his eyes, “Go ahead then!”
The half-dead geezer rummaged through a shelf at the back of the shop. The wooden shelf made a creaking sound. It looked like it would collapse any moment. Leylin was even worried about him since the shelf looked like it could collapse at any moment.
“I found it!” The half-dead geezer took a black coloured scroll from the shelf.
On this scroll were characters that Leylin did not recognize at all. Its corners were extremely frayed and looked like mice had chewed on it.
“This is a fragment of The Great Magus Serholm’s spell. I’ll sell it to you for only 1,000 Magic Crystals, an absolutely worthy deal, what do you think?” The half-dead geezer eyes glittered.
“This could even be the inheritance of The Great Magus Serholm! Perhaps, you could advance to high-level Magus after you buy it……”
Leylin was left speechless as he took it in his hands.
“A.I. Chip! Scan!”
[Beep! Confirmed: Carbon dating, document comparison analysis shows this page is composed of human skin! Belongs to: Lowian’s teachings: 89.5%, Blue Cobalt rare book: 56.5% and Serholm’s writing: 21.7%]
“There exists something like this? A.I. Chip, what is the strength of the geezer opposite me?”
Warlock of the Magus World 1-596 Page 41
