《Wizard: Fusing Everything》 Chapter 1 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Urgh¡­Blargh.¡± A thin figure knelt on the ground, in a pool of blood, and vomited profusely. Corpses and flames were everywhere. ¡°Urgh, what a b*llshit transmigration. Such shitty timing¡­ Where¡¯s my tissue?¡± Lin Suo wiped his mouth, his eyes filled with despair. The blue and white striped hospital gown he was in looked completely out of place on the battlefield. In just a short moment, he had already accepted that he had transmigrated. After all, what else could he do other than accept it? That aside, he shouldn¡¯t stay in this place any longer. He had to leave. Who knew when the people cleaning up the battlefield would arrive? Lin Suo forced himself to stand up and swept his gaze across the bodies that had died tragically. There were blonde hair, blue eyes, armor, and swords. There were also the corpses of many horses and arrows. It was completely different from his black-haired, black-eyed Asian face. This group of people had colorful hair. It was unknown if they had dyed it. Lin Suo picked up a cross-shaped longsword from the side. Using its crutch as support, he staggered out. He was in a car accident last month. His right leg was fractured, three ribs were broken, and his internal organs were bleeding. He had used up all his savings and was finally rescued. Unexpectedly, the car accident did not take his life away. Instead, after lying in the hospital for a month, he passed away while he was taking a dump. There was a delay in transmigration. D*mn it! The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. His original body had transmigrated, and his appearance was different. He couldn¡¯t speak the language nor communicate with the people here. How could he survive on the battlefield? Ah! How would he live? He didn¡¯t have a single cheat or instruction. F*ck! Earth Imperial Gate Lin Hu Tao Suo: Save me. Just as he was lamenting about the blessing of fate in his heart, strands of golden threads came out of nowhere and surged into his body. This feeling. It was as if something had entered the depths of his soul. In the blink of an eye, it disappeared. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­¡± Lin Suo did not feel anything different. He stopped and began to study the details of his body. However, he still didn¡¯t feel anything. ¡°Please don¡¯t give me false hope¡­¡± At this moment. Lin Suo¡¯s vision went black and he fell to the ground, unconscious. In a pitch-black space. It seemed to be in the depths of his sea of consciousness. A Rubik¡¯s cube was floating in the center, emitting golden light. The virtual body that he had transformed into didn¡¯t seem to have any senses. His thoughts were stagnant, and he could not help but reach out his index finger to touch the golden Rubik¡¯s cube. In an instant, golden light surged. Endless information flowed into his mind, but Lin Suo could not remember much, or rather, he could not remember anything at all. Only a few words were left. Myriad synthesis. Whenever there was a synthesis, there would be something to gain. Whenever one practiced, there would be progress. ¡­ Outside, the sound of horse hooves could be heard. A fully armed cavalry team had arrived at the battlefield. The leader was nearly two meters tall and had bulging muscles. He was extremely terrifying. When he saw the corpses on the ground, he shouted in anger. ¡°Matic, hurry back to Chardin! Inform Count Seth that the border guards have been ambushed by the d*mn Woodlanders. Requesting backup.¡± ¡°The rest of you, clean up the battlefield. Find survivors and weapons to bring back to the camp. Burn the bodies on the spot. Don¡¯t miss anything.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Knight.¡± This 100-man team moved quickly and cleanly. Even though they were wearing heavy armor, it did not affect the swiftness of their movements at all. It was obvious that they were elites. Before sunset, the corpses on the battlefield were all dealt with. There were nearly a thousand corpses, and thick black smoke was rising from them under the burning flames. There were heavy casualties. The so-called Woodlanders were not savages. They were well-equipped and well-trained, but their master was the Count of the Woodlands. The armor had the family symbol of three trees on it. The Counts of Woodland and Seth were located at the border of the two kingdoms. They were both border guards and had conflicts with each other. Local wars were common. However, this was the first time they had suffered such casualties. It was very likely that the other side had chosen to go all out. Upon realizing that, the leader of this vanguard team, who had come to investigate, was angered. At this moment. A cavalryman ran behind the captain. ¡°Lord Gray, there¡¯s a survivor. He doesn¡¯t look like one of us, nor does he look like a woodlander.¡± ¡°Bring him here.¡± The person who fainted was Lin Suo. He had been mentally attacked by the Rubik¡¯s cube and had been lying in bed for a day without waking up. Gray frowned as he looked at Lin Suo, who was wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Upon noticing that Gray did not speak, the cavalryman boldly guessed. ¡°Sir, is this guy a spy from another country? It¡¯s indecent to wear so little.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. You just know nothing?¡± Gray¡¯s eyes widened like copper bells. He reached out and pulled up Lin Suo¡¯s hair, which had grown a lot due to his hospitalization and said, ¡°See for yourself.¡± ¡°Black hair, black eyes, exquisite facial features, small stature, revealing clothes, and exquisite fabric. These characteristics are obvious enough, right?¡± The cavalryman exclaimed. ¡°A citizen of Dandong?¡± ¡°Lord Gray, could this be a wandering merchant from the Dandong Empire who had entered the battlefield by mistake? We can¡¯t afford to offend them.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, kid. Take him away and take good care of him. When he wakes up, tell him that the Woodlanders stole his goods. When Count Seth¡¯s army comes, send a team to Chardin¡¯s embassy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to remind you how to do it, right?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The cavalryman also chuckled. ¡°The Dandong Empire is not to be trifled with. The Woodlanders are like squirrels in their nest. They actually dared to attack the traveling merchants from Dandong. Don¡¯t even think about existing anymore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand. You may leave.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± The unconscious Lin Suo, who could not even speak their language, was assigned the identity of a traveling merchant from Dandong without his knowledge. To a kingdom, an empire was the absolute ruler. The two countries were not of the same size at all. The Dandong Empire had developed commerce, and there were many merchants who traveled around the world to earn wealth. Its advanced equipment and industrial system brought powerful military capabilities, exquisite food, cloth, and new small items. These were all the trends that the nobles of the kingdom pursued the most. Therefore, traveling merchants of Dandong were extremely popular in the various kingdoms and empires. They brought things with the characteristics of the Dandong Empire to the world. They also held a large amount of wealth and contributed to the development of the Dandong Empire. Their status was respected, and most of them had titles. The title of nobility of a kingdom might not be recognized by the empire. However, the various kingdoms would not dare to deny the title of nobility of an Empire. After all, there was such a big difference between them. The Dandong Empire was also extremely united and protective of its own people. If there was no reasonable explanation for the incident of the traveling merchants, countries that were involved would be classified as a wasteland. No merchants were allowed to enter. This was an economic and military punishment. The former did not require any price and was a welfare policy for the Dandong merchants. The latter required the affected merchants to contribute hundreds of millions of wealth to the empire as military funds. They encouraged the commercial economy and harvested wealth without restraint. Not only was this kind of behavior not resisted but it was also supported by Dandong merchants. To them, it was the lowest price to pay. There was nothing better than this in the world. Chapter 2 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ The next day. Vanguard camp. Lin Suo woke up from his bed in a daze, looking confused. His mind kept reminding him about the Rubik¡¯s cube. ¡°Myriad Synthesis, a gift from the Rubik¡¯s Cube? Or the ability it originally possessed¡­¡± ¡°The price is¡­¡± ¡°Energy, any type of energy.¡± ¡°Then biological energy should work too.¡± Biological energy, such as stamina and nutrition, were all within his range. Lin Suo thought about it for a moment and felt a little tempted to try it out. Although this cheat was not as powerful as he had imagined, it was still pretty good. At least, it was better than nothing. In addition, the Rubik¡¯s Cube seemed to be able to scan his body in detail. ¡°Scanning!¡± The golden light shone on his skin and moved from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. A virtual interface appeared in his field of vision, presented to him in the most convenient form that Lin Suo could understand. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: None] [Skill: None] [Art: None] [Status: Inferior Health, Bone Damage, Weak Internal Organs, Shocked ¨C Recommended treatment plan ¡ý] ¡°Amazing. There¡¯s even a treatment plan. It¡¯s not bad.¡± He tapped it open and took a look. Most of the suggestions were to have a good rest. There was also a prescription for consolidating the foundation, but he did not know much about the herbs. After sizing up the environment inside the tent, Lin Suo quickly realized that he had most likely been saved by the party who was cleaning up the battlefield. Usually, the ones who cleaned up the battlefield were the victors. ¡°A kind person.¡± Touching his shriveled stomach, Lin Suo could not find his slippers. He could only step on the ground barefoot and see if there was anything in the tent that could be used to experiment with his talent. As the name implied, the myriad synthesis required at least two things. Furthermore, it would be best if there was a certain logical relationship between the two items so that he could predict the final item produced by the synthesis. Of course, these were all his guesses. He still had to conduct experiments to confirm them. There were not many things in the tent. There was a basket on a wooden table and two boxes stacked on the side. Lin Suo walked over and opened it. There was jerky and flour inside, and another box contained some clothes and a few pieces of animal skin. The hospital gown he was wearing had long been stained black and red with blood, and the back was see-through. Seeing the coarse cloth that suited this world, although it was prickly, Lin Suo found that it was still better than wearing bloodied clothes. Just as he was about to change into it, he stopped. Should he try synthesizing it? He did as he thought. He took off his clothes that reached his butt and bared his upper body. He then took out a beast skin and a coarse cloth shirt. ¡°Combine!¡± Threads of golden light spread out from his hand and soon covered the three of them, fusing into a jelly-like object. In a moment he broke through the frost and came out. Lin Suo shook his hands and straightened it, and a thin, knee-length windbreaker appeared in his vision. It was a blue and white striped leather jacket with a few pockets inside, but it was stained with blood. It smelled bland and had no buttons. The style was very similar to a modern windbreaker, but the design was a little strange. The lower hem of the windbreaker was still tattered, as if it had been cut by a sword. ¡°Although it¡¯s different from what I imagined, it¡¯s not that bad.¡± He put on the windbreaker. The windbreaker actually automatically shrunk according to his body size until it fit him perfectly. It was very magical. At the same time, he felt that he could destroy this creation with just a thought, seemingly because of his talent in synthesizing all things. He wore it happily. He also combined the pants and underwear of the patient¡¯s gown, which are the same type of clothing, and added the animal skin into a special style with blue and white stripes. As there were no clothes under the windbreaker, he had even synthesized a cloth shirt to wear inside. Despite a few times of synthesis, the energy consumed was not that heavy on him. Lin Suo was at ease. Furthermore, he could use his consciousness to guide the style of the synthesized clothes. Other than the fact that he could not change the color, it was as fun as teasing people in a game. As for the shoes, he couldn¡¯t make them without a model. Still barefoot. ¡°Cough cough!¡± At that moment, a cough suddenly came from outside the door. Lin Suo quickly looked over and saw a burly man who was a head taller than him, at least 1.8 meters tall, walking in. Brown hair, square face, prominent brow bone, deep eye sockets, buttocks, and chin, typical Caucasian. He watched him turn around and reveal a strange smile. ¡°Blabber, blabber.¡± Lin Suo was confused. He thought to himself, ¡°Thank you, I don¡¯t understand at all.¡± Under such circumstances, he did not dare to speak at all. He could only nod to show that he understood. ¡°Yes, yes, yes, you¡¯re right.¡± He was clearly being treated kindly, or else he wouldn¡¯t be sleeping in a tent. Thus, pretending to agree with him was a good choice. Doron was curious about this Dandong man¡¯s reaction. He repeated it again. ¡°I¡¯m a member of Count Seth¡¯s vanguard team under the Magma Kingdom. Your items were stolen by the despicable woodsmen. We saved you.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, you¡¯re right.¡± Lin Suo thought as he nodded. ¡°Are you hungry? Do you need to eat?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± ¡°Captain Gray will come to see you later. Do you have any requests?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Doron was speechless. This Dandong man was probably a fool. Of course, even though he thought so, he could not say it out loud. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lin Suo¡¯s bare feet and the open box in front of him. He instantly realized something. ¡°Please wait.¡± Lin Suo watched as he hurried in and out. After a while, Doron returned with a pair of exquisitely crafted military boots. With a fawning expression. ¡°Respected traveling merchant, these are our best military boots. It¡¯s for you.¡± Lin Suo took it and put on his boots happily. He sighed in his heart. The people here were really honest and kind. He saw Doron standing there, waiting for his answer. Lin Suo stepped on the ground and jumped a few more times. He smiled in satisfaction and nodded. Doron was speechless. Say something. Helplessly, he ran out again, this time directly to Captain Gray¡¯s tent. ¡°Lord Gray, Lord Gray, the Dandong man has woken up.¡± He rushed into the tent. Inside, the charming scene between the captain and the chef made him gape. His eyes widened. What a red butt, tsk! Due to inertia, Gray couldn¡¯t hold back his slap. The slap was so loud that it reached the heavens. ¡°Doron, you b*stard! Get out of here! Get out!¡± Doron scrambled and ran out with a red face. He stood at the entrance of the tent, not knowing what to do. Fortunately, Gray came out after putting on his clothes and pinched the back of Doron¡¯s neck. His mouth was wide open, and his saliva flew everywhere. ¡°Huh, tell me, do you want to die?¡± ¡°Do you want to die?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Doron mustered his courage to retort. ¡°Lord Gray, the chef is Ark¡¯s mother. Although Ark isn¡¯t in our vanguard team, he won¡¯t let it go if he finds out.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°You stupid pig! If you didn¡¯t come in, do you know? Huh, let me ask you if you haven¡¯t come in, will anyone know?¡± Chapter 3 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ After shouting, Gray suddenly said in a sinister tone. ¡°Do you want me to silence you?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Doron¡¯s legs were trembling in fear. He closed his eyes as if he was waiting for death. Seeing this, Gray spat angrily. His arm, which was thicker than Lin Suo¡¯s waist, threw Doron a few meters away with a casual swing. ¡°Come here, silly thing. What did you want to say just now? Say it again.¡± Doron swallowed. He continued. ¡°Lord Gray, that Dandong man has woken up, but there¡¯s a problem. He doesn¡¯t like to talk. Perhaps it¡¯s because of my low status that he found me not worthy for him to speak.¡± Gray nodded. The Dandong people were as proud as the elves, and they were considered an outlier among humans. However, no matter how poor or humble their trading partners were, they would buy their goods. They were a very contradictory group. It was reasonable for the Dandong man to choose not to talk to Doron. Perhaps he had been treated like this in the past. Hence, he would only speak to someone like Count Seth. The people of Dandong valued titles very much. For example, if a viscount of the Dandong Empire traveled to various places to do business, his servants would usually be in charge of the transaction. The nobles of the kingdom had to be one rank higher than him before they would talk to him in person. Empire Viscount = Kingdom Count Empire Count = Kingdom Marquis Something like that. He, Gray Seth, was only a vassal of Count Seth. He was given the surname of the main family and was conferred the title of knight, a lord. He was still below the rank of a baron, and he was simply an unranked noble. ¡°I have a headache.¡± Gray thought for a moment. His vanguard team did not bring many supplies. Most of them were food and clothing, so he did not want to humiliate himself. ¡°Doron.¡± ¡°How about this? I won¡¯t go over.¡± ¡°Ask the cook to prepare a meal for the man of Dandong. Also, go and look for Barcella. Doesn¡¯t he like to read picture books? Send some of the books to that person to pass the time.¡± ¡°Wait for Count Seth to come over and speak to him.¡± ¡°Alright, this subordinate understands.¡± Gray was speechless. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°Um, the chef is in Lord¡¯s tent. I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°Get in!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Doron shivered and quickly went in. ¡­ As for Lin Suo, immediately after Doron had left, he combined his shoes with the animal skin. The main purpose was to change the appearance of the shoes. He was not used to wearing such ancient western military boots. He changed them into modern military boots. Although the material was a little inferior, it was already very good for moving in the wild. His outfit could be considered a fashion trend in the Western Fantasy World. If it was in the modern world, it would be like a lunatic running out of the hospital. Everyone would be afraid of him. The blue and white stripes were too intimidating. He used his synthesis talent again and again. Although the energy consumption was very small each time, he was a little tired after accumulating a little. He couldn¡¯t help but yawn. He was hungry, but he didn¡¯t dare to run around. He was just about to eat some jerky to fill his stomach. Who knew that the fellow who had just left would come again! This time, he held a tray in his hand. On top of it was a jar filled with the fragrance of meat and a stack of books. Lin Suo¡¯s eyes lit up. He sat in front of the wooden table with a straight face and did not speak, pretending to be mute. Having his thoughts influenced by Gray, Doren felt embarrassed to speak as his status was much lower than Lin Suo¡¯s. He put down the things, bowed, and left. Lin Suo was stunned. ¡°Did he misunderstand my identity?¡± ¡°Is it the fabric of the clothes, or is it because my skin is too tender?¡± After thinking about it, Lin Suo realized that, even though he lived in the modern world, his skin condition was much better than these people¡¯s. This was proof of his extraordinary status. Only nobles could raise him fair and fat. Unfortunately, he could not understand the language, so he did not think too much about it. Anyway, this situation was a good thing. Lin Suo took a wooden spoon and scooped a few mouthfuls of the warm mushroom soup with meat sauce. He instantly felt comfortable. He noticed the book beside his meal. He immediately became curious. Should he try to learn their language by himself? Flipping it open, he realized that it was an adult book from this world. The pictures and texts were extremely detailed, and even the hair was drawn clearly. It was even colored and looked like a master¡¯s painting! What a pity. If the artist had the ability, he could have drawn anything, but an adult book. ¡°Impressive.¡± There were a total of five books, and each of them was old. The edges were yellow, and some of the papers were still stuck together. While thinking about the purpose of these adult books for the soldiers to bring them along¡­ What was the use for it, and how useful was it? He instantly shivered. He almost threw it out. On second thought, he felt a little reluctant. ¡°Should I try synthesizing it?¡± After drinking another mouthful of meat soup, Lin Suo tried to combine the five books using his fusion talent. A golden light flashed. The 5-in-1 super thick version of an adult book was born. At the same time, a strange thought appeared in his mind. After he used his talent to synthesize anything, he would have complete control over it. Their life and death are determined by him. As for textbooks and knowledge items, they seemed to have even more wonderful uses. Lin Suo picked up the tome and slapped it on his forehead. Immediately, the book disappeared and fused into his mind. Waves of strange memories appeared and were mastered by him. He opened his mouth and let out a strange and dry language. ¡°A pretty, fair, and delicate princess?¡± ¡°In Chinese, this sentence means a beautiful lady?¡± ¡°What a long phrase. So that¡¯s how it is. A language master. If I had this, English wouldn¡¯t be so difficult to learn.¡± Lin Suo did not feel that there was anything wrong with the adjectives he had learned from the adult book. Instead, he was pleased with himself. He used the Rubik¡¯s cube to scan his body again and found new changes. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: None] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common Language (20/100)] [Status: Inferior Health, Bone Damage, Weak Internal Organs, Hunger, Exhaustion¨CRecommended treatment plan¡ý] ¡°So this language is called Padoron Common Language.¡± ¡°I finally understand a little. I should be able to fully grasp it if I synthesize more books.¡± He finished the meat soup in the earthen jar. Lin Suo had expended too much energy and fell into a deep sleep on the bed. ¡­ Late at night. An intense battle cry woke Lin Suo up. Outside the tent, a figure flickered, and blood splattered everywhere. Screams and howls could be heard everywhere. ¡°Cut off the horse¡¯s legs!¡± ¡°What the hell¡­¡± Feeling that he had become a master of the language, Lin Suo was terrified when he heard the voice, but he felt that the meaning was strange. ¡°Get him down there? Tsk~¡± He took a deep breath and couldn¡¯t help but touch his butt before hiding under the bed. The soldiers were all 1.8 meters tall. It was better for him to not go out and cause trouble with his small arms and legs. It was better to stay put. After an unknown period of time, the sounds of fighting outside quieted down. Lin Suo lay under the bed, his face covered in sweat. He sneaked to the edge of the tent, opened a gap, and observed in secret. During the day, the group of soldiers who treated each other with courtesy had silver-white armor with a unique pattern of swords and axes. What he saw now was a group of soldiers wearing black rattan armor with three tree symbols on their chests. ¡°I¡¯ve lost¡­¡± ¡°How unlucky.¡± Lin Suo hammered the ground furiously. Although he had the fusion talent given by the mysterious Rubik¡¯s cube, he had spent the entire day experimenting with the fusion of similar items and only managed to gain the experience of being able to control the produced outcome. He fell asleep from exhaustion. Chapter 4 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ Who knew that this would happen at night? He did not know what the enemy soldiers would do to him, so he could only hide under the bed and pray silently. Not long after. The tent was opened and a few soldiers walked in. They carried away two storage boxes happily. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t conduct an in-depth search of the tent. All Lin Suo heard was, ¡°Great Woodland Knight, capture them alive.¡± He was worried. After that, a few more waves of people came in to look for money. However, other than the two boxes that had been taken away, Lin Suo¡¯s tent was practically empty. The soldiers left while cursing. He still did not dare to go out. It was only when he heard the neat sounds of horse hooves going far away that he crawled out from under the bed and panted heavily. It was obvious that this team had been ambushed. Perhaps it was a planned encirclement. The enemy did not want to let anyone go, so they chose to attack at night. Lin Suo did not understand the situation and could only make a guess. He then crouched down and sneaked out as stealthily as possible. The fire was raging, and many tents were burning. All the clothes, armor, and weapons on the bodies that fell to the ground were taken away. Even the horses were taken away. There was no movement at all. Lin Suo was relieved. After taking a few steps, he suddenly sighed. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± The corpse lying on the ground was the soldier who had given him the picture book and food during the day. He did not know his name. However, he could feel his goodwill. ¡°You died just like that. I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t help you.¡± Lin Suo crouched down and closed his eyes. He searched the camp for some jerky and carried them with him. Unfortunately, his weapons were all snatched away. He didn¡¯t know which direction he was heading to. He was really in a very difficult situation. He could only take one step at a time. Just as he was about to leave in the opposite direction of the enemy, his body suddenly stopped. He looked at the horse¡¯s corpse on the ground and was tempted. ¡°Why don¡¯t I try synthesizing it?¡± Lin Suo was not feeling well and needed to recuperate. Unfortunately, he landed on the battlefield and finally encountered a kind-hearted army, but his safe place was quickly stolen by the enemy. It would be difficult to leave this war zone on foot. He wanted a vehicle. The synthesis might not solve the problem, but there was no harm in trying. ¡°Let me think. If you want to use a horse corpse to make a carriage, it¡¯s definitely not realistic to bring it back to life. ¡± ¡°It needs mechanical power. A pedal?¡± ¡°This should work.¡± Lin Suo did not need a large vehicle. He wanted to synthesize a horse-shaped bicycle. There were logs everywhere in the camp, so he dragged them over and piled them up randomly. As for why he wanted the horse carcass, it was mainly because he wanted to use the horse bones to make a bicycle frame. With only two wooden wheels, it already looked like a prototype, hence he felt that this idea was very feasible. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. Just as Lin Suo was about to activate the synthesis, he felt insecure about the rate of success, so he dragged the corpse of another horse nearby and stacked them together. ¡°I don¡¯t think I will succeed on the first try. I just want to have some hope.¡± ¡°Synthesis!¡± Golden light shot out from Lin Suo¡¯s palm and enveloped the pile of items. Then, something strange happened. The flesh and blood melted and fused with the wood. Golden light spread out, and the soil and stones on the ground fused into a strange pile of meat paste. Crackling sounds rang out. Lin Suo was dumbfounded as he tried his best to control his fusion talent, which went completely out of control. However, it was useless. Horse carcasses, wood, mud, stones, tent cloth. Things that were not even close to each other were forcefully fused together. The disharmony slowly became harmonious. It even began to make sense. Lin Suo¡¯s face grew paler as the fusion consumed a large amount of energy from him. Finally, a mutated vehicle was born. The two horse carcasses fused together. In the middle was a wooden base with a seat on it. In front of the seat was a control panel with a steering wheel, brakes, and an accelerator. The two horse corpses were wrapped in a layer of mud armor, and their heads had turned into rocks. White bones extended out from their belly, connecting to the steering wheel and the pedal. There were wooden hooks on the back, and there were ten bags made of tent cloth, five per horse. They were temporarily empty. This was too ridiculous! Lin Suo¡¯s chin almost dropped to the ground, and his voice trembled. ¡°A b-biological war chariot?¡± According to the feedback from his talent, this thing was like a normal horse. It could store power in its stomach by eating grass. Of course, it could also eat meat and high-energy food. As long as it was within a thousand meters, it could be summoned with a thought. He memorized this magical formula. Lin Suo placed his hand on the abdomen of the horse on the left. He could not feel the warmth of the blood or the pulse of life at all. After studying it for a while, he sat on the seat and stepped on the accelerator. The way to drive the biological chariot was similar to driving a car, but the experience was average. After all, it was still running on eight legs. Although it bounced back and forth, it was much faster than a bicycle. He rode his horse around the camp a few times. Only then did Lin Suo stop. He let it go to the nearby area to graze on its own while he took out the cloth bag and searched for two bags of dried meat. Only then did he drive the mutated chariot and retreat in the opposite direction. His synthesis talent was more powerful than he had imagined. It could make the unreasonable reasonable. He had created a biological war chariot that even the evil gods would shake their heads at. It had great potential. In addition to the fusion of the same species, through this experiment, Lin Suo also found that it was possible to fuse mutants, corpses, and items together! What about the living body? Lin Suo looked at his thin arm, then at the soldier¡¯s corpse that was as strong as a cow, and shuddered violently. There was no need. Unless he was forced to a dead end, synthesizing his own body was too strange. The most important thing right now was to find a way to find a book and fill up the progress bar of Padoron Common Language. Only by truly learning this language could he communicate with others. While also, being able to understand the situation in the vicinity and plan for the future. Along the way, thick white smoke rose from the horse¡¯s butt like a chimney as it carried Lin Suo at full speed. The sun was high up in the sky. He fell asleep in a daze. He remembered that he had fainted after instructing the biological vehicle to retreat along the main road last night. The energy required to synthesize the two-horse chariot was too great. There was no other way. Now that he woke up, he was still a little tired. However, they were finally far away from the battlefield. Feeling extremely hungry, Lin Suo ordered the two-horse chariot to graze by the roadside while he took out a bag. After hesitating for a moment, he activated his fusion ability. After combining a few times, there was only one piece left. It was a giant piece of jerky that was as thick as an arm and half the height of a person. Combining similar items can increase the quality of the item. He couldn¡¯t tell the specifics. After taking a bite, Lin Suo was instantly full. His cheeks flushed, his body felt warm, and white smoke rose from the top of his head. ¡°I overdid it!¡± Lin Suo exclaimed in surprise, but he felt satisfied. Although this thing was very nutritious, he could not eat too much with his physique. He could use it to replenish his energy after synthesis. It was much faster than his own recovery. Long-term reserves could be considered. The nearby vegetation was lush and there were many trees, but he did not dare to go deep. There were many poisonous insects in the jungle. He was afraid of death and did not have any weapons in his hand. This was a chaotic war. He had to prepare some weapons. Thus, he drove the two-horse chariot and found a short forest nearby. Chapter 5 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ He began to break the tree trunk and collect the materials. The small trees here were as thick as a thigh and thinner than a wrist. One could break them with a single kick. He collected a bundle. Then, he moved some rocks and prepared to make a carriage and a spear. Firstly, with this weapon, he could sleep, and secondly, it could be used to protect his own safety. Anyway, the two-horse chariot could be driven automatically. As long as the instructions were not too detailed, they could be executed perfectly. It was very convenient. ¡°Synthesis!¡± ¡°Synthesis!¡± ¡°Synthesis!¡± In the small forest, a faint golden light flickered continuously. When Lin Suo was tired, he would take a bite of the super nutritious jerky and continue working. Before long, a four-wheeled wooden carriage was formed. It was two meters long and one meter wide, and there was a small step inside. There were also two rattan clasps at the door. He put on two stone spears and used them as he pleased. These materials that met the requirements seemed to be another way of synthesis. As Lin Suo thought about it, it would head in a certain direction. According to conventional logic, it would become a normal item. The reason why it didn¡¯t conform to the norm and became something as strange as a two-horse chariot had to do with specific materials. He summoned the Chariot. Lin Suo fastened the carriage to the base of the driver¡¯s seat. The evil god¡¯s carriage was ready! He sized it up with satisfaction. After feeding some super nutritious jerky to the horse as a power source, Lin Suo set off leisurely. Along the way, he would occasionally get out of the car and pull out a bundle of thatch by the roadside. After a few times of synthesizing, he combined the thatch into one, just like the dried meat. It was too extravagant for his carriage to eat meat. So for now, he fed it very nutritious grass and hang the rest on the horse. After another day of traveling. At dusk. The surrounding forest started to become sparse. In the distance, there seemed to be a grassy plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. Standing on the roof of his vehicle, Lin Suo held his palms together and looked into the distance. The beautiful scenery of the sky made his heart throb a little, and then he sighed with emotion. ¡°I hope I don¡¯t encounter any wild beasts¡­¡± ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, it¡¯s better not to travel at night. This wilderness looks dangerous.¡± After taking a bite of jerky, Lin Suo was full. He felt even more parched. He hadn¡¯t drunk water for a day and a night, and he was feeling very thirsty. He planned to wait until tomorrow morning to take a sip of the morning dew before he entered the wilderness. Night fell. He lay on the wooden floor of the carriage, feeling extremely parched. He wanted to take a shower and was thirsty. Thud thud thud thud thud thud. ¡°Don¡¯t f*cking jump! Stay quiet.¡± Thud thud thud thud thud thud. Lin Suo rolled up and pulled out the sharp stone spear at the door. He looked around vigilantly. He saw a group of cavalrymen charging toward him with torches in their hands. ¡°Damn it!¡± Should he run? Wait, just as Lin Suo was about to step on the accelerator, he stopped. Under the light of the fire, the pattern of the sword and axe on the chest of the cavalrymen was very obvious. They were in cahoots with the people who saved him. Lin Suo had no money and no strength now. He did not know much about the otherworld. At worst, the biological carriage would be snatched away if he did not expose his synthesis talent. In fact, he could even borrow the tiger¡¯s might. In this era, smooth skin and clothes made of extraordinary materials were natural disguises. Since he had done this before, he might as well put down his weapon and stand on the carriage as if it didn¡¯t matter. He didn¡¯t say anything and pretended to be an expert. ¡°Phew~¡± The 12-man cavalry team surrounded Lin Suo. Fortunately, they did not draw their swords. However, they were a little surprised by the strange two-horse chariot and did not dare to approach it. The captain arrived shortly after. He looked at Lin Suo and then at the biological carriage covered in mud armor, and was shocked. A legend he heard from Count Seth made him get off his horse and kneel on one knee. ¡°Respected Lord Wizard, I¡¯m sorry to have stopped you. We¡¯re the cavalry of Count Seth, and we¡¯re rushing to the border battlefield to provide support. ¡± ¡°Are you with the despicable Woodlanders?¡± Lin Suo was dumbfounded. He wasn¡¯t very good at the common language and could only understand half of it. Apologies, support, help, woodland, and so on. Any more and he wouldn¡¯t understand. The captain was very polite and greeted him with a big bow when they met. However, Lin Suo did not have any red packets to give him. It was not the New Year yet¡­ Lin Suo nodded and did not say anything. Seeing this, the squad leader ordered the surrounding team members to make way and not allow them to draw their swords. He then rode his horse away. He should have gone to inform the leader. Not long after, a carriage with golden patterns came from afar and stopped in front of them. A middle-aged man with brown hair, wearing armor and a red robe crawled out of the entrance. He was nearly 2.2 meters tall. Lin Suo felt his scalp tingle. He was almost roaring in his heart. ¡°Are the people here all monsters?!¡± It was Count Seth. Magma Kingdom, Snow Province, the master of Chardin. When he saw Lin Suo, he did not sense any supernatural waves. It was obvious that he was not a wizard. However, this strange carriage was not something that ordinary people could own. Lin Suo looked very similar to the Dandong people. Count Seth asked tentatively. ¡°Are you a traveling merchant from Dandong?¡± Lin Suo only understood the word ¡°traveling merchant¡± because there was a story about a traveling merchant and a princess in the picture book¡­ Hence, he nodded decisively. He pointed in the direction they came from and berated. ¡°Despicable Woodlanders.¡± Learn and apply. He didn¡¯t know how to use the word despicable, but from the tone of the captain¡¯s words, it probably wasn¡¯t a good word. Those with the image of three trees, the sword, and the axe on their armor were clearly the enemies. It was right to scold the enemy, no matter what the word was. As expected. Hearing Linsuo¡¯s scolding, Count Seth smiled kindly. ¡°It seems that you have been treated unfairly in the barbaric Woodland Kingdom. Don¡¯t worry, I, Count Seth, will definitely avenge you.¡± ¡°Chery, Argos, and Rand, pass down the order to set up camp. I want to have a long talk with this friend from Dandong.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± ¡Á3. Lin Suo did not know how many soldiers Count Seth had brought with him, but he roughly estimated that there were at least 3,000 of them. They were all well-equipped cavalrymen. One person and two horses traveled through the night. They were all very tired. ¡­ In Count Seth¡¯s tent. Lin Suo sat below, and the short table in front of him was filled with all kinds of food. Roasted meat, mushroom soup, white bread, skewers, and so on¡­ It was much better than the jerky. He did not stand on ceremony. Immediately he swallowed down the food, looking extremely hungry. Count Seth was very satisfied. The more miserable Lin Suo was, the higher the possibility of the Dandong people taking revenge on the Kingdom of Woodland. After eating and drinking to their hearts ¡®content. Count Seth spoke. ¡°How should I address you?¡± Lin Suo was stunned. He roughly understood what he meant and gave himself a Western-style name according to the environment. ¡°Rhine.¡± Count Seth nodded and raised his glass. ¡°Sir Rhine, your goods were stolen by the Woodlanders. Would you like to go to Chardin? That¡¯s my territory. The embassy opened by the Dandong Empire should be willing to help you go back.¡± ¡°Do you need me to send a team of people to escort you over?¡± It was too long, so Lin Suo didn¡¯t understand. He could only nod, but he was not stupid. He was in urgent need of books, so he could use synthesis to learn the language. It did not matter if he did not understand. Judging from Count Seth¡¯s expression, he must have good intentions. ¡°I need some books to pass the long night.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Count Seth agreed readily. After Lin Suo finished speaking, he organized his words and could not say anything good. He could only draw a big picture. ¡°When I return to a safe place, I will repay you and Chardin. ¡± Chapter 6 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ Little did he know that Count Seth was waiting for this sentence. He immediately toasted. He had a forthright and magnanimous appearance. After Lin Suo left, Count Seth instructed someone to send the book collection he had brought with him to Lin Suo. It contained the extraordinary cultivation method of knights. This thing was not precious among the nobles. It was used to train knights, and the quality was relatively low. The true rulers of this world would always be the Magi. Meditation techniques that belonged to Magi were what the nobles valued. The Magma Kingdom did not have a way to train Magi, but there were still palace Magi. Moreover, the Dandong Empire was said to control more than one magus force. The difference between empires and kingdoms was not only the difference in territory but also the difference in the strength of their Magi. In his eyes, Lin Suo¡¯s appearance and attire indicated that he was a Dandong citizen. As long as he bore a grudge against the woodlanders, Woodland would definitely be destroyed in the near future. After Lin Suo took revenge and left, the entire Woodland would become his territory. Naturally, he would not be stingy with helping Lin Suo. As for why he never suspected his identity¡­ The main reason was that only Dandong people looked like this. Secondly, Lin Suo¡¯s carriage was very strange. He was not a magus, and the fact that he could buy such a carriage proved that he was a traveling merchant. ¡°Although Rhine is quiet, he will definitely not let go of the woodlander who hurt him.¡± ¡°Hahahahaha.¡± In a good mood, Count Seth drank until dawn. Meanwhile, on Lin Suo¡¯s side. He also happily synthesized the books that Count Seth had given him. There were a total of twelve books. After combining them into one, he slapped them onto his forehead, and the book disappeared. A large amount of complicated information appeared in his mind. His progress in the Padoron Common Language was immediately full, and the entire entry glowed green. Then, the progress bar refreshed and started from the beginning. When it was full, it glowed blue again, and the progress continued to increase. ¡°This is¡­¡± Without waiting for him to be puzzled, the Rubik¡¯s Cube transmitted the relevant information to his mind. So¡­ Whether it was [Skill] or [Art], it could be strengthened after learning. At first, it was white, then green, blue, purple, gold, and red. There were a total of six enhancement levels. The Padoron Common Language had suddenly increased to +3, which meant that Lin Suo had reached the peak of the language. Derivative applications, ancient applications, grammar, and vocabulary were all extremely clear. It even affected his handwriting. When he wrote in this language, he would become extremely skilled, and every word would be beautiful and elegant. ¡°So, strengthening is¡­to break through the original limit.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a language, the area of influence after breaking the limit will expand horizontally and deepen.¡± ¡°Wait a minute¡­What is this?¡± The book had disappeared as raw material, but its content would not disappear. Instead, it was grasped by Lin Suo at the same time. Quantum Reading! Among the books that Count Seth had given him, there were geography magazines, biographies, travel notes, military books, and so on. However, these were all trivial matters. The most important thing was this. ¡°Moon Plate Breathing Technique? The path of a knight¡­Extraordinary power!¡± ¡°I see.¡± The case was solved. The soldiers were all tall and burly. It turned out that they had cultivated a supernatural cultivation technique, which was the breathing technique. Lin Suo was overjoyed. According to the information, the path of an Extraordinary Knight was a power created by the Magi. In the beginning, it was to provide a certain level of protection for the sorcerer apprentices. Later on, it spread and formed different noble classes in the mortal world. With power, one would naturally rule over the weak. One country after another was formed. They attacked each other and snatched people and resources to strengthen their countries. Magi had also gone from not entering the world at the beginning to getting themselves involved with the world. They began to guard the mortal countries, collecting mortals with the qualifications of magi, and bringing them to the territories with abundant magic energy for teaching. Magic potions, intelligence, labor, and resources were fed back to the Magi from the mortal world. After enjoying the benefits, the Magi paid more and more attention to managing the mortal world. Gradually, the current situation was formed. The general situation of the world was presented to Lin Suo in such a manner. It was unexpected, but it was also exceptionally exciting. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: None] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (20/100)] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common Language +3 (5/100)] [Status: Inferior Health, Bone Damage, Exhaustion- Recommended Treatment Plan¡ý] ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± Slapping things onto his forehead could allow an unfamiliar skill to start from (20/100) without having to spend time learning it from scratch. Lin Suo immediately tried. The Moon Plate Breathing Technique sounded like a breathing technique, but there were actually many other movements that were practiced together with breathing. Lin Suo was a little rusty at first, but his movements became more and more familiar, and he slowly became familiar with them. The moonlight outside the tent somehow penetrated the thick cloth and shone on his sweaty body. It was sparkling and smooth, and it seemed to merge into his body along with his movements. Not long after. From the last move. Lin Suo panted heavily, his face filled with joy. It was really different! Although the Moon Plate Breathing Technique wasn¡¯t of high quality, it was almost self-taught under the control of ¡°eating books¡±. The effect of the first training was very obvious. He had directly stepped into the first realm of the knight¡¯s extraordinary path. Knight attendant! Not only had his old injuries healed, but his sub-healthy state had also disappeared. His strength and physique had also become much stronger. He was full of energy! Moreover, since energy was currently the only source of consumption for him to unleash the power of synthesis, the more energy he had, the better. He opened the scan results of his information. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Knight Attendant (2/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (25/100)] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common +3 (5/100)] [Status: Healthy] There were also changes in the level column. He had truly grasped extraordinary power. Unfortunately, there were only five stages in the Knight¡¯s path. Knight Attendant ¨C Low-level Knight ¨C Intermediate Knight ¨C Superior Knight -Ultimate Knight. This path focused on developing the strength of the human body. Nonetheless, humans had their limits. For sorcerers, any psychic spell could instantly kill an Ultimate Knight, even though the original intention of creating this path was to protect the weak sorcerer apprentices. However, gradually, there was another layer of meaning. Through the ranks of knights, one could control the mortal kingdom! That was one of the reasons. There were definitely other reasons, but Lin Suo was not sure. Count Seth was an Ultimate Knight. His strength was so great that he could crush rocks and break steel swords with his fists. Count Seth was already an inhuman monster. It was hard to imagine what kind of power a real Magus possessed. To mortals, an Ultimate Knight was the pinnacle. As for taking another step forward, he would have to develop in the direction of the inhuman¡­ It was not something that Lin Suo could come into contact with. However, the mysterious Rubik¡¯s cube not only gave him the wonderful power of synthesis, but it also gave him the power to farm for experience and power, which would definitely improve with practice. The progress of the Moon Plate Breathing Technique had increased by 5 points during his first practice. Chapter 7 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ Although the improvement might gradually slow down, as long as one could see the improvement, it was difficult to give up. This kind of motivation was an unimaginable help to ordinary people. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just farming? Transcendence power! This world is awesome!¡± Lin Suo clenched his fists excitedly. The Rubik¡¯s Cube could allow the abilities that had been completed to break through the limit again. White, green, blue, purple, gold, red. Five chances. No matter how trashy the breathing technique was, it should have become a top-notch breathing technique after breaking the limit five times. It would definitely not be a problem for him to reach the Ultimate Knight stage. People were always especially excited when they had good news. It was the middle of the night, and the moonlight was just right. It was good for practicing the Moon Plate Breathing Technique. As Lin Suo munched on the super nutritious jerky to replenish his nutrients, he worked out like crazy. In just one night, he had undergone earth-shattering changes. The next day. The overly excited Lin Suo finally faced the consequences. He was exhausted. He finished two large bags of super nutritious jerky and drank a jar of water. With faint dark circles under his eyes, he scanned his body. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Knight Servant (12/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (51/100)] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common Language+3 (5/100)] [Status: Healthy] Leveling up was relatively slow, but his proficiency increased rapidly. He would be able to complete the first limit-breaking enhancement in two to three days at most. The higher the level of the breathing technique, the faster his Knight Attendant stage could improve, and the better the training effect. The two complemented each other. It was too suitable for him. As soon as they left the tent, Count Seth led a group of soldiers over. He reeked of alcohol and probably had not slept the entire night. No one knew what he was doing. When he saw Lin Suo, he was stunned. ¡°Sir Rhine, you haven¡¯t cultivated the Moon Plate Breathing Technique, have you? You already have the breath of moonlight¡­¡± There was nothing to hide about this. After all, he was still thin and weak yesterday. Today, he became full of vigor and vitality, especially his essence, energy, and spirit. The change was the most unique. ¡°Yes, Count Seth. The danger I experienced this time made me realize that power is only considered power when it is in my own hands, so I tried to learn it.¡± ¡°The low-level breathing technique is indeed very simple.¡± The corner of Count Seth¡¯s mouth twitched. No matter how simple it was, it was impossible for him to advance overnight! The cavalrymen in his territory would need at least a year to prepare from scratch, and then it would take another three months for them to officially start training and advance. After advancing to a low-level knight, it would take about three years to train a batch of elite soldiers. Countless resources were consumed along the way. Who could advance in one night? Count Seth quickly came back to his senses and complimented. ¡°Sir Rhine is very talented. I believe that you will become an Ultimate Knight in the near future.¡± ¡°This is Matic. The 12 knights he leads are all Low-level Knights. They will escort you back to Chardin. He will also lead you to the Dandong embassy and help you communicate with them.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Lin Suo was confused. Yesterday, he was still a dabbler, but today, he was already a grandmaster in the common language of Padoron. He finally understood. As for the inside story, he only knew half of it. Although he was a language master now, he was a slacker who only knew yes. After listening to an English essay, would he remember what he had heard yesterday the next day? Even if he had become an English master overnight, he still wouldn¡¯t be able to remember. However¡­ Dandong Embassy¡­ Thanks to the twelve books on geography, he had a basic understanding of Dandong. He seemed to have understood something. He immediately repeated what he said yesterday without batting an eyelid. ¡°I, Rhine, thank Count Seth for your help. After I returned to Dandong and contacted my family, I will return to Chardin one day!¡± ¡°Damned Woodlanders!¡± Count Seth smiled and echoed. ¡°Damned Woodlanders!¡± ¡°Hahahahaha.¡± The two fellows with their own ulterior motives miraculously reached an agreement. In order to show enthusiasm for Chardin, Count Seth waved his hand and gave him a set of knight armor and a knight¡¯s sword. There were four boxes of food and one box of medicinal herbs to treat minor illnesses. There were also some living supplies. This was in consideration of the journey back to Chardin. If it was not urgent, it would take three to four days. These were all necessities for the journey. The twelve accompanying knights¡¯ appetites were huge. Lin Suo was a little hesitant about following them. The golden light that mainly used the power of synthesis was more conspicuous. On the way to Chardin, he would definitely have to study it. It was inconvenient to have people around. However, Count Seth didn¡¯t feel assured about letting him travel by himself. Finding the right path would not be tough for Lin Suo, after all, it would be strange if he got lost on such a big road. In the end, after Lin Suo¡¯s reasonable explanation, the number of accompanying knights decreased from twelve to one. Intermediate Knight, Matic. This fellow was also destined to run errands, but he was quite lucky. It was said that he was a member of the Vanguard Team that Lin Suo had been in previously. Gray¡¯s Vanguard Team had already been surrounded and wiped out by the Woodlanders. He had gone to deliver the message and luckily survived. Now, he was following Lin Suo back and arranging a series of trips for him to Chardin. This man had a bitter expression on his face. He still did not know the news of the vanguard team¡¯s destruction. Lin Suo did not tell them. This was because it was really hard to explain why an ordinary person like him was still alive when the entire knight squad was destroyed. He had no choice but to not say it yesterday. The language barrier was a big problem. It was hard to explain. He was afraid that he would expose himself and endanger himself. If he didn¡¯t say it today, it would be too late. It was just like how he couldn¡¯t explain why he had learned the common language of Padoron overnight. The situation was different. If he was proficient in their common language yesterday, he would have told them the truth. It all came down to fate. He couldn¡¯t figure it out. Lin Suo got into the two-horse chariot, while Matic rode on his own mount. Under Count Seth¡¯s gaze, they set off for Chardin. At this stage. Lin Suo gave himself a few missions. One was to find a way to become a Magus. The second was to continue researching the power of synthesis. The third was to increase his proficiency and increase the level of his Knight¡¯s Strength. Combined with the new knowledge in his mind, the Dandong Empire was indeed a suitable place for him. The Dandong people looked very similar to him. They both had yellow skin, black hair, and black eyes. He could also find a way to become a Magus. He had to go. Mission 2 and 3 could be done anytime and anywhere. Therefore, if they could hurry and reach Chardin as soon as possible, then go to the Empire through the Dandong embassy. This was the best choice. On the other hand. The two-horse biological tank looked deformed. Lin Suo planned to sell it when he arrived at Chardin. Such a rare vehicle would definitely be able to accumulate a large number of initial funds and lay the foundation for his future career. On the way. Lin Suo and Matic chatted casually. He was the one who asked, and Matic answered. Some of Chardin¡¯s customs, prices, vassals, and so on¡­ Lin Suo was curious about many things. Chapter 8 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ In this way, the journey was smooth sailing. He would travel during the day and train his breathing technique at night. The Moon Plate Breathing Technique had successfully broken through the limit once, and the training effect was becoming more and more obvious. The progress of the Knight Attendant had also reached 54 points, and he was still halfway from advancing. Three days later. The sight of Chardin slowly appeared. Before entering the city, there were many manors and orchards along the way. It was not uncommon to see carriages, horses, cattle, sheep, pastures, and fields. Surrounding the city to store farmland, stationed troops on the border. Count Seth was quite ambitious. Although the people¡¯s lives were not rich, they were not as numb and depressed as the characters he had read in novels in the first half of his life, as if the world was only dark and miserable. ¡°To live¡±, these 2 words represented the land of mortals in this era, and this was a rare good lord. Lin Suo did not comment on right and wrong. He had just gotten out of danger, and he would only be free when he left Chardin safely. The walls of Chardin were nine feet tall, built with boulders and witchcraft mixture. According to Matic, the first Count Seth spent a huge sum of money to buy a large amount of witchcraft mixture from the merchants of Dandong eighty years ago. Using the strength of a knight to move the huge rocks took nearly five years. That was how such a huge city was built. The resident population was as high as 300,000. Other than the Count of Woodland, other merchants would pass by here. Just the customs duties alone would earn them a lot of money. The city was heavily armed with weapons and equipment, and there were large iron ore resources nearby. After a hundred years, it had become one of the five major cities of the Magma Kingdom. The Tec Knights were a well-known transcendent army. They were powerful. The woodlanders who dared to initiate the battle were not as powerful as Count Seth, but the word ¡°Woodland¡± was just as its name suggested. There were many mountains and trees at the border, and there were Transcendent Magical Beasts. The woodsmen were like fish in water, like horse bandits, changing places with a shot. If he could snatch, he would. In terms of strength, he was no match for Count Seth. For him to be so arrogant this time, he probably had some sort of confidence. Those with discerning eyes could tell at a glance. Lin Suo did not say much. The more he understood, the less he said. After all, being weak meant having no right to speak. It was good to just watch. Interfering meant courting death. With the mysterious Rubik¡¯s cube, the path of indifference suited him best. In the future, when he went to the Dandong Empire, it would be like a thin layer of ice. It was a good time to get used to it in advance so that he would not have a problem with his mentality and harm others. Matic was quite famous in the Chardin army. This included Gray¡¯s Vanguard Team, who had always been tasked with raiding within the borders and had a good reputation among the people. He followed Lin Suo into the city. Following the arrangements, he moved into the embassy outside Dandong. The person in charge of this place was an official from Dandong. Naturally, he was in charge of a tourist merchant like Lin Suo who had been robbed. This diplomat had black hair and black eyes. He looked mature and handsome. He had the appearance of an Asian and was very friendly. Seeing this, Lin Suo exclaimed in his heart. He had finally found a familiar person. Unfortunately, his name was still in the western style. Banquet. Lin Suo received a certain standard of treatment. The legendary arrogant Dandong people were very polite to him. ¡°Rhine Lin, your name is really strange. As far as I know, there¡¯s no Lin family in our homeland.¡± ¡°Hehe, Brother Karl, you must be joking. I¡¯m just a commoner. How can my surname be considered a family name?¡± Lin Suo poured the wine and downed it in one gulp. His face was bitter. ¡°Old Brother Karl, I wanted to borrow the Empire¡¯s reputation to risk coming to this foreign country to earn some hard-earned money. Who knew that there would be barbarians like the Woodlanders who are not afraid of the Empire¡­¡± ¡°Fortunately, Lord Karl is here in Chardin. Otherwise, Count Seth might not have saved me. ¡± The middle-aged man, Karl, was all smiles. He did not reply and arranged for him in a few words. ¡°Brother Rhine, you must be tired. I¡¯ll ask the servants to prepare water for you. Rest as soon as possible. ¡± ¡°I will arrange for someone to send you back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you, Brother Karl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. We¡¯re family.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Lin Suo thought instantly, ¡°As if I will believe you, old man, you¡¯re very bad.¡± Lin Suo walked out of the door, his expression turning cold and a little anxious. He was too naive just now. After hearing him introduce himself, Karl¡¯s attitude instantly changed, but on the surface, he looked very polite. When he returned to his room, he had indeed prepared water for him to bathe in. However, this thing was cold. ¡°Sigh, being penniless has its difficulties.¡± ¡°Am I insensible?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the money!!¡± Lin Suo cultivated under the moonlight, and his body just so happened to be steaming hot. He took a shower and felt comfortable all over. After being followed by Matic for a few days, he had not found a chance to use his synthesis talent. Now that he was separated from him, he could think of a way to try to synthesize the formula. The accumulation of initial funds could only be done by selling the horses. Presumably, there would be people who were interested in this kind of mutated species. The power of synthesis. Lin Suo temporarily divided them into two categories. When similar items were combined, the final product would not change much. It would only be enhanced in terms of quality and could slightly control the appearance. It was called [Overlapping Compound] by him. Knowledge books were also under this category. However, they had the magical function of ¡°eating books¡±, and the principle behind it was unknown. The other type was the strange style of the corpse. The process was uncontrollable and the outcome was unpredictable. It was called the Evil God Compound. For example, a two-horse biological chariot. The next step was to develop a synthesis formula that was in line with the logic of the world, such as Cattle tendon + hardwood + rope, according to logic, the result could be a bow, a whip, or a horse pole. However, it couldn¡¯t be stewed beef tendons, roasted wood, or hanging ropes. This type of synthesis still needed to be experimented on. At present, he had only gained some results when he synthesized the carriage. He was preparing to call it [General Knowledge Compound]. There was even more content and development. In fact, compared to the power of synthesis, he was more interested in the proficiency setting. No pain, no gain. Since ancient times, the Chinese had been particular about this. Relying on mutation was too unreliable. It was better to use it with caution. He fell asleep in a daze. The next day. As expected, although Karl was handling the procedures for him in name, he actually went to some noble lady¡¯s mansion. He didn¡¯t even ask for his household registration and identity certificate. Why would he care? It seemed that he would not let him go until he squeezed some benefits out of him. Considering the war between the frontline and the woodlands. Lin Suo was not in a hurry. If he wanted to go to Dandong to obtain the Magus inheritance, he had to have money. It was best if he had something that the Magi wanted. Only then would he have the confidence to find a channel to buy it. It was good to stay here. He would not be mistreated. Early morning. Lin Suo sat on the control panel of the carriage and drove towards the carriage that Matic had introduced to him. Things are precious when they are rare. Not to mention the only one. Lin Suo used his eloquent tongue to argue with confidence, but it was useless. The last sentence was that this was something made by a Magus. It can¡¯t be sold cheaply. Great disrespect. With a change of hands, it went from 10 gold coins to 100 gold coins. The gold and silver that mortals circulated were actually very useful to wizards. Many things used gold powder as a material. 100 gold was enough for a mortal family to eat and drink for more than ten years. Chapter 9 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ The currency in circulation was usually copper coins and silver coins. The exchange between these two coins was done in decimals, but the price of gold fluctuated. Sometimes, it could be exchanged for 15 silver coins, and sometimes, it could only be exchanged for 8 silver coins. Lin Suo exchanged 50 gold coins for 524 silver coins. He purchased a large amount of jerky to prepare for his breathing technique. Afterward, he went to the pharmacy and bought a lot of medicinal herbs, which were mainly used to nourish the blood and organs and refresh one¡¯s mind. It was a medieval Western-style pharmacy. However, it was simply not a place for a human to stay for long. Most of them used external medicine, knives, hand axes, and other bloodletting and amputation tools. The shelves in the room were filled with bottles and jars. Each bottle either contains ground herbs or prepared medicine. It was a one-stop service for buying medicine and seeing a doctor. Lin Suo went to a few shops before he managed to find a few herbs that he recognized. The main thing was that he found mint. This thing was refreshing and suitable for those who were planning to stay up late. The effects it could bring would help him break through the Knight realm as soon as possible and strengthen his physical strength in order to protect himself. According to the principle of [Overlapping Compound], the super-concentrated mint liquid was even more stimulating than essential balm when applied to a person¡¯s chin (human). As such, Lin Suo had to endure for three days and two nights. He did not eat for more than three minutes and did not take more than one minute to poop. He solved his personal problems at the speed of light and overloaded his body with training. This kind of training method would definitely be wasted by ordinary people, but Lin Suo was different. The synthesized tonic had made him full of energy and nutrients, and he needed to digest them. In addition, with every practice, there would be progress. It made his body seem to have no upper limit, and he absorbed the excessive nutrients like a hungry man. In such a short period of time. He had made a significant change in his stats. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Intermediate Knight (1/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique +4 (3/100)] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common Language +3 (5/100)] [Status: Healthy] The strength of an Intermediate Knight was already extraordinary. Lin Suo could easily break through the wall and jump nearly two feet high with all his strength. His muscles were firm and smooth. His height had also increased, reaching an average of 1.8 meters. He finally did not have to look up and stare at others. His exquisite features became a little rougher and more masculine. It was very much to his liking. He had only spent 10 Gold Coins and put in a lot of effort to make the changes in the past few days, and the results were gratifying. It was the Moon Plate Breathing Technique, and it was now the fourth time it had been strengthened. The technique was already at the golden level. If it was to turn red again, it would reach its limit. Without the advantage of a high-level cultivation technique, the speed of cultivation would be much slower. Now, he was no longer in a hurry. After a good day of rest, he began to think about getting a ¡°new¡± identification from Karl. The ¡®old¡¯ one was lost on the battlefield, and he wanted to make up a perfect story. He still had to eat books. ¡­ Two days later. Chardin Private Bookstore. He had already sold the blue and white striped leather windbreaker. Wearing that outfit had always made him feel an inexplicable sense of shame when others looked at him. He was wearing a different style of tight-fitting clothes with a black robe on the outside. He did not look bloated, but rather a little thinner¡­ There weren¡¯t many Chardin Books. It did not involve any supernatural powers and was mainly based on stories, biographies, and travel notes. Of course, there were also some functional books on pharmacy and identification. Lin Suo had visited almost all the bookstores, but he did not gain much. According to the classification. The storybooks written in the common language of Padoron were stacked together by him. There was actually a small bug in his ability to consume the language books. As long as it was something that he had never seen before, eating it would increase his proficiency. Unlike the Moon Plate Breathing Technique, even if he copied it again and combined it with other books, he would still be able to use it. It didn¡¯t give any feedback on his proficiency. There were a total of 30 books in the first base, and Lin Suo estimated that he could break through to the maximum level in the Padoron Common Language and fill the progress bar. There were a total of eight books in the second base, all of which were on pharmacy, medicine identification, pharmacology, and some prescriptions. They were considered medical books, but they were not rigorous enough. Bloodletting therapy was almost regarded as a divine technique by them. The degree of truth becomes confusion, the truth is mixed with falsehood, and the falsehood is mixed with truth. There were only two books in the third base. The difference was that they were written in elvish. Elves. When he thought of that word, the image of a long-legged lady with blonde hair and pointy ears naturally appeared in Lin Suo¡¯s mind. It was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people! The Elves generally did not live together with humans. However, in the Magus World, it was a different situation. Elven Magi were proficient in nature sorcery and controlled plants and the power of life. They were very powerful. Moreover, elves were long-lived species. Over time, there would always be some old monsters left in the race. Almost no one wanted to bear the risk of becoming enemies with them. These two books recorded the difficult adventures of a half-elf ranger. After all of them were synthesized and condensed into three books. Lin Suo ate them one by one, and a large amount of knowledge immediately appeared in his mind. He sorted them out one by one, and when he woke up, it was already the next day. ¡°Scanning¡± [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)]] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Intermediate Knight (3/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique +4 (7/100)] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common Language (red/extreme), Elven Language (50/100), Medicine +1 (34/100)] [Status: Healthy] The situation was very good. After rubbing his slightly aching head for a while, Lin Suo ate a meal of nutritious jerky and went out again. Karl had been thoroughly investigated. He was lustful, greedy, arrogant, and despotic, but he did not bully the commoners much. The ones he bullied were the small nobles. Moreover, he especially liked beautiful women. As for why he didn¡¯t oppress the commoners, it was naturally because there was no profit to be gained. The act of snatching the wives of commoners was extremely rare in this world. It was not as common as in novels. Because the commoners did not have much money to spare, the first choice for a wife was not her appearance, but her physique. For those who were good-looking, their fathers would usually send them to noble families to work as maids and earn a commission. He had already made some kind of preparations. If the family was a little worse off, there would be quite a lot of prostitutes who would be taken away from their families. These were mostly mercenaries from other places. If they were taken back to their hometown, there would not be a strange situation where the neighbors would have deep interactions with their wives. Prostitutes from this kind of family background were quite beautiful and appealing. However, the nobles still rarely took a fancy to them. Lin Suo contacted a brothel keeper today and asked her to find two good-looking foreign prostitutes. He was going to bring it to the hotel so that Karl could have some fun and get rid of his suspicions. After all, the proof of identity could only be verified with his help. Leaving with no other choice, Lin Suo pinched his nose and spent the money. At night, Karl had only been in the house for five minutes. Lin Suo had just made himself a cup of tea and had not had the time to sit down. Karl walked out happily. Karl, the quick gun, really lived up to his reputation. ¡°Brother Karl.¡± ¡°Brother Rhine.¡± Lin Suo took out the money pouch that he had prepared beforehand and stuffed it into his arms without batting an eyelid. ¡°Brother Karl, I¡¯ve been away from home for almost a year. I want to go back as soon as possible. Would you like to help me?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Karl rolled his eyes and weighed the money bag. Chapter 10 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡­ ¡°They came in quite handy.¡± Karl muttered in his heart as he thought of the two elegant beauties from the Ancient Frost Kingdom. Seeing that both he and Lin Suo were from Dandong, Karl didn¡¯t ask for more. He smiled a few times. Unbeknownst to him, Lin Suo also heaved a sigh of relief. If flattery didn¡¯t work, this person was insatiable. Perhaps, Karl would become an assassin who only sought fame and not profit. After all, it was better for young people to be honest. If he continued to be resolute, he would be able to prosper. Lin Suo was not willing to take the risk. Currently, the most important thing for him to do was to adapt to the rules. When he was fully fledged, he would be free one day. Moreover, he was not the type to cause trouble. ¡­ Half a month after landing, Lin Suo left Chardin for the Dandong Empire. Although Karl was greedy and lecherous, he was still quite efficient. It had only been three days since the last bribe and he had already helped Lin Suo complete all the procedures. Everything was there, prepared and genuine. As for his birthplace, Lin Suo chose a remote fishing village in the Dandong Empire to make it easier for him to fabricate his identity. He also explained that he did not know much about the etiquette and rules of the Dandong people. In Dandong. As a famous business empire. Everything could be bought with money, including the meditation techniques of the Magi! However, considering these techniques were circulating outside, they were definitely not something good. Nevertheless, Lin Suo did not mind. Even if the techniques were not that good, he could make them into something good. This was not a problem, his main problem was money. If he wanted to make money, he had to achieve stability in these four things: food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Earning money from the nobles could be done through entertainment, medicine, antiques, and jewelry. At the same time, he could obtain a certain social status. Buy a meditation technique and cultivate in peace. As for joining a Magi organization, Lin Suo basically had no chance of doing so, as he had a detailed understanding of it. Magi organizations generally started to nurture qualified apprentices from a young age. They did not want people like Lin Suo, who was considered too old. Lin Suo did not think that it was important whether he had the talent or not. Eating books could guarantee that he would learn meditation techniques. The characteristic of improving with practice meant that even if he didn¡¯t have the aptitude to become a magus, the Rubik¡¯s Cube could still use the method of heaven¡¯s reward to make him a magus. It was just a bug. It was fine as long as he got used to it. On this day. Sitting in the carriage arranged by Karl, Lin Suo was penniless. Other than dried meat, there was nothing else in his luggage. He didn¡¯t even have a few pieces of clothing. He still had about 30 gold coins left, but most of them had been stolen by Karl, which made him very sad. However, he really did not have a choice. After the carriage passed through the Magma Kingdom¡¯s Snow Province, the ride became much smoother. They passed through three kingdoms, big and small, and the total journey took up to a month. Apart from the coachman and two knight-level guards, there was no one else. It was said that the three of them were not doing well in the embassy and were ostracized to send him off. They did not plan to go back to Dandong. The customs clearance documents and identification documents were all in Lin Suo¡¯s hands. As long as they entered the border of the empire, they would separate. Lin Suo had seen Dandong¡¯s map and had already decided on a destination. He kept a low profile throughout the journey and never showed his face in public. However, he would go out at night and walk around the nearby barren mountains or forests. He would use his medical skills to collect herbs and grind his proficiency. He also collected some raw materials and started to develop the [logic synthesis] plan by himself. He never slacked off on his training as a Knight. He trained during the day and trained at night, sleeping only four hours a day. He could be called an ultimate model worker. Even the two young knight attendants were itching to see it. They followed him for a few days, but they didn¡¯t feel any effect. Their bodies became sorer and sorer, and they finally lay flat. Lin Suo turned a blind eye to this. They didn¡¯t have much of a relationship. They had their own lives, and the reason why they came together was because of the entry documents. Under such circumstances, as time passed. Lin Suo had improved a lot. The Moon Plate Breathing Technique was a relatively low-level breathing technique, but it was better than average. If it was the normal version, cultivators would be mediocre compared to those of the same level. Lin Suo¡¯s Enhanced Limit-Breaking Upgraded version was definitely one of the best in the same realm. Strength, Agility, and Constitution were all improved. His body was getting stronger and stronger, and he was full of energy every day. It was easy for him to kill a cow with a punch. With more energy, the consumption of the synthesis would be smaller. (Canyon Relativistic Theory). He only felt tired after synthesizing ordinary items dozens or hundreds of times a day. His ability was mainly used to synthesize super nutritious jerky. Occasionally, they would encounter some wild beasts, and he would be the one to kill them. Having trained his close combat skills, this person had become sharp and capable at a speed visible to the naked eye. After a month-long journey, he had become a little more experienced and mature. He kept himself clean and tidy by taking daily showers on the way. Finally. After a month, they arrived at the Dandong Empire! ¡°Scanning¡± [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Superior Knight (12/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red)] [Skill: None] [Art: Padoron Common Language (red), Elven Language (50/100), Medical Knowledge +2 (69/100)] [Status: Healthy, Vigorous] After breaking through to the Superior Knight level, he was now in a vigorous state. In layman¡¯s terms, he could persist for seven days and seven nights without sleeping. Moreover, this was the limit he could mentally endure, meanwhile, his body could go beyond that amount of time. Other than these. In the middle of the night, he had also figured out quite a number of prescriptions. First, he planned the medicinal combinations with his medical skills and knowledge. Then, he used the method of [Logical Synthesis] to directly make medicine. Then, the method of [Overlapping Compound] was used to make an enhanced version. It could stop bleeding and heal injuries, strengthen one¡¯s yang, refresh one¡¯s mind, and replenish one¡¯s body. He prepared a large bag of all kinds of medicine. They were all common herbs picked on the road, but after being synthesized, the medicinal efficacy was several times stronger. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t take the medicine. Only a knight¡¯s body could withstand the effects of the medicine. It seemed to have some similarities with the potions that Magi refined. It could be considered a trick. However, there was a limit. Lin Suo had once continuously synthesized a tonic, adding in 100 common herbs to reach the limit. The limit of [Overlapping Compound] was 100! A hundred portions of the medicinal power accumulated, but it still did not produce any kind of transcendence power. It was only enough to make him bleed from his nose. If he diluted it and used fifty stalks to synthesize it¡­ He should be able to sell it for a good price to a noble family, but long-term supply would easily attract attention. Before he obtained the Magi¡¯s meditation technique, he would have reached the Ultimate Knight stage. It was hard to say if he had the ability to protect himself. A Psychic Spell could kill an Ultimate Knight. Therefore, concealing one¡¯s strength and developing wretchedly was the right path. At the border of the Dandong Empire. After submitting the document and verifying it. The three of them went to the nearest town together before parting ways. In the Dandong Empire, the majority of the people were Asians. However, there was no lack of outsiders. Fair skin, dark skin, and even beastmen, goblins, and elves were not uncommon. This was all thanks to the opening of the country. Dandong was the most multi-racial empire on this continent. Merchants of all races could be found here. Chapter 11 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After wandering around the small town for a day, Lin Suo bought numerous local miscellaneous books and devoured several in one go. Gradually, Lin Suo became well-acquainted with the local customs of Dandong. Considering everything, aside from the capital, which was an expensive place to live, the place with the most concentrated Magi atmosphere was a coastal city called Koster. According to rumors and travel notes, this Marina City was jointly ruled by three Magus forces, who often collaborated to exploit the nearby marine resources. Occasionally, they would also set out on long voyages. Koster boasted a considerable harbor and numerous shipping companies, which made it an ideal place for development with its advanced transportation and abundant resources. In this era, due to the existence of the Magi, who did not hide from ordinary people, technological advancements were slow, with almost no room for survival. However, many bizarre industries blossomed instead, which greatly enhanced Lin Suo¡¯s imagination, such as growing pure natural clothing from plants, a tree with sausages tied to it, tree people cleaning the city, and the colossal beings who were construction experts, among others. Magi revered truth and pursued it. They were like scientists in a fantasy world who studied any extraordinary power and liked to trace it to its origins. For Magi, knowledge equaled strength. Powerful Magi must possess vast reserves of knowledge, and every official Magi was a learned scholar. As Lin Suo learned more about Magi, his desire to become one grew stronger. By boarding a ship, modified to travel on the sea from some kind of life form, Lin Suo arrived in the coastal city of Koster after seven days of travel. Wearing an oval-brimmed hat, carrying a handbag, and wearing a clean black waistcoat, Lin Suo disembarked from the octopus-like submersible bio-ship. Compared to the octopus ship behind him, the two-horse carriage that initially seemed novel was nothing. After all his travels, Lin Suo felt that he had broadened his horizons by coming somewhere where Magi were prevalent. Pitch-black fishbones shaped like the number seven stood by the roadside, each adorned with a quartz crystal capable of absorbing sunlight. They stored energy during the day and provided illumination at night. The city¡¯s main streets were wide enough for five carriages to travel side by side, and the ground was paved with seamless blue stone slabs that were also adorned with bright and colorful fish scales. The city was vibrant and colorful, dazzling to the extreme. The buildings and shops on both sides of the road each had their unique style. There were fruit shops run by Elves, made entirely of wood and entwined with numerous vines. Daffodil-like white flowers bloomed on the vines, exuding a fragrant scent. There were also Goblin-styled houses selling products resembling technology. Still, they were alchemy technology, entirely different from modern technology. The shops were decorated with many gears, and two colossal beings stood at the entrance to attract customers. Shops run by Half-beasts were mostly restaurants, supplemented by butcher shops and seafood stores, decorated with a wild and unconventional style. Along with the exquisite human-style architecture, the entire Marina City of Koster was a sight to behold at every step. Lin Suo was both surprised and excited. He immediately found a guide and listened to the other party¡¯s introduction while heading toward the official department. His identification was still the one from Karl. It needed to be modified if he wanted to reside in Koster for an extended period. Fortunately, he appeared like a Dandong local and faced no difficulties. He had been worried for quite a while when he first arrived, seeing the corpses of Westerners everywhere. But now, he felt relieved. After some time of completing the registration procedures and paying additional money, he received a local ID card immediately. The name ¡°Rhein Lin¡± was engraved on it, along with the address of his ¡°hometown¡±, a small fishing village. Lin Suo paid the guide five copper coins and was led to an all-inclusive inn that cost one silver coin daily. It was expensive but not as pricey as he had imagined. It was probably because Koster had many sea merchants coming and going, so the inns took on a high-volume, low-margin strategy. Like a transit station in a commercial center, the inn always had full occupancy. Lin Suo booked a room for three days. After putting away his luggage, he went out. There was no better way to learn than through personal experience. After conducting a field investigation, Lin Suo gained a basic understanding of the city. First of all, the three major Magus forces and the Empire¡¯s official department were the whole ruling class. Rather, due to the three Magus forces being concentrated here, the Empire¡¯s officials were disadvantaged. The city was divided into six areas: The upper city district which was inhabited by nobles and wealthy people (Dandong merchants all had noble titles), the administrative district which was occupied by officials, the Meike district which was inhabited by a mix of foreign races and humans (mix-blood area), the Phil Administrative area as occupied by the social elites and commoners, the coastal area occupied by the poor and fishermen, and finally, the wharf area. Ranked by land area, from largest to smallest: The upper city district, Meike district (mixed-blood area), Phil Administrative area, wharf area, coastal area (slum), and administrative district. The area size didn¡¯t necessarily indicate quality. In the coastal area, gangs were rampant, and self-taught wizards who captured the helpless poor for spell modification experiments were many. The mix-blood area had numerous racial organizations, and due to the innate talents of the various races, it was also considered a significant force in Koster, wielding transcendent power. With its various trade unions and shipping associations, the wharf area had connections to the commoners and elites of the Phil Administrative area, usually backed by influential people and not to be trifled with. As for the upper city and administrative districts, hardly anyone would dare to cause trouble there. Overall, the Phil Administrative area and the mix-blood area were the most suitable for Lin Suo to reside in. The former was safe. With Superior Knight-level strength, it would be enough for self-protection. In the meantime, the latter was convenient for him to get in touch with the culture and specialties of various races. It was the most suitable place for practical learning or exchanging information. However, his assets were still 99% short of affording a house, so accumulating wealth was his top priority. As for the three major Magus forces, apart from their names, Lin Suo had yet to find any secrets, not even the location of their headquarters. All he knew was that they were respectively the Evening Bell Church, White Tower, and Marine College. On the other hand, he had heard about the relatively well-known self-taught wizards in the city, but it was just a small harvest. Initially, Lin Suo planned to conquer these otherworldly people with traditional crafts. Unfortunately, the restaurant business was monopolized by the Half-beasts. They were unlike the brutal Beastmen but still inherited incredible physiques. Coupled with some magical enhancements, they were pretty powerful. There was also the presence of Magus forces behind them, making it difficult to get into the business. Selling medicine was his secondary option, but a specific power also monopolized the industry. Selling small quantities of potent aphrodisiacs, nutritional supplements, or trauma medicines wouldn¡¯t bring any trouble, but if he tried to accumulate wealth on a large scale, he would undoubtedly be dealt with. Lin Suo thought it through and realized that almost all profitable businesses in the city were monopolized by various local forces. If he were to seek cooperation proactively, he feared that the inequality between the two parties would lead to forced sales and purchases. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t even provide the necessary formula, which would put him in a difficult position. Sitting on the edge of the bed in the inn, Lin Suo sighed. With no connections or power, it was challenging to establish himself in this stable area. He had no choice but to resort to relying on his cheat. He was forced to do so. He had no other option but to toughen up and be black-hearted for once. Chapter 12 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Suo had been wandering around various antique shops, purchasing fake antique pieces from the Elves at a low price. As for how he determined that the antique was fake, he only needed to pretend to be ignorant of the Elven language and express his admiration for their culture. With that, almost all shopkeepers would fall for his act and sell him fake antiques. He had visited over ten antique shops and spent five gold to ultimately acquire 38 pottery ancient elven jars in various conditions and with different appearances, all fake. Lin Suo smiled evilly and synthesized many Elven language books he had bought from elsewhere, which he then consumed. Elven Language +3 (6/100). Foreign language rapid learning technique! Unfortunately, this technique could only be applied to language learning. Lin Suo¡¯s Enhanced Limit-Breaking also reached +3, which was the purple grade. At this point, he was as proficient in the Elven Language as the Padoron Common Language such that he could effortlessly apply various idioms and allusions. He could also perfectly use the most authentic Ancient Elvish, starting from the syntax, vocabulary, and habits. Then, with Overlapping Compound, he enhanced the quality of the fake antique jars, modified their details according to his wishes, and add traces of time to make them look more genuine. He made them appear yellowed and discolored, adding dirt deep into the ceramic texture to make them almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The antique pottery jars he made with great effort even had epitaphs written in Ancient Elvish, indicating that the item was used for worshipping the Elf Mother Tree. He also added a hidden symbol of the royal family to make it a ¡°bloody profit¡± surprise for the buyer. ¡°Perfect!¡± Lin Suo thought as he examined the perfect antique. He then disguised himself as a traveler passing by on a boat. After that, he went to the antique shop that had previously tricked him into buying a nine-piece set of ancient Elven artifacts. The name of the shop was ¡°Uncle John¡¯s Antique Shop¡± and the owner was an extremely greedy man. It was because of this that Lin Suo targeted him with a slight sense of revenge. Lin Suo lowered the hem of his cap and made his voice dry and coarse before knocking on the old and classic wooden display case. Old John, who was wearing single-lens wooden-framed glasses, got up from the counter. The moment he laid eyes on the antique pottery jar, his impatient expression changed instantly. He became fascinated and approached the jar to examine it closely. ¡°The pattern, font, painting, and even the epitaph¡¯s inscription style all match perfectly,¡± Old John murmured. ¡°How much do you want for it?¡± Lin Suo¡¯s eyes flickered, realizing Old John didn¡¯t recognize him. Without saying a word, he gestured with his hand, showing a five. Old John immediately flew into a rage, his voice like that of a sharp and impatient child. ¡°50,000 gold? That¡¯s too much! This antique of yours isn¡¯t exactly flawless. The clay used doesn¡¯t look like premium star clay, and the color is not pure enough. The gold spots have already turned black, though it may be due to the corrosion over time. Still, real star clay has gold spots like gold and is difficult to remove. This antique¡¯s condition is not perfect enough and not worth that much.¡± Lin Suo silently noted this point and kept quiet about the fact that the deep black spots in the pottery were dirt, not the result of decay¡­ In a hoarse voice, he asked, ¡°So, how much are you willing to pay?¡± Old John hesitated for a moment before reducing the price by a zero. ¡°5000?¡± He suggested. Five thousand gold coins were very close to Lin Suo¡¯s desired price. After all, selling it for 50,000 was just a fool¡¯s dream. Even ancient Elven antiques were not that valuable. Their values were at most 20,000 to 30,000 if they were in perfect condition. If it were a royal ritual implement, then the price would exceed 100,000. Given Old John¡¯s greedy nature, he would make a massive profit at this price. Lin Suo did his best to fight for a better price, and they finally agreed to a final price of 10,000 gold coins. And this was only because Lin Suo accidentally knocked over the jar did Old John ¡°happen¡± to catch it and ¡°happen¡± to see the royal symbol at the bottom. The latter then changed his words and gave Lin Suo an anonymous gold voucher that could be exchanged for gold coins at any bank within the Dandong Empire. This was a policy implemented by the Empire¡¯s merchants to control the Empire¡¯s wealth, invest in various industries, and slowly withdraw their capital when they began to profit. It was a no-loss investment supported by policies. Plus, it was a government-run sector that was operated by trusted officials, so it had never been in the red. As such, the Empire grew increasingly richer. It was said that soon, the Empire would introduce paper money to recover gold and silver to enrich the treasury. Returning to the topic, no matter where one was, if one successfully sold an antique, the money could usually sustain one for quite a few years. After completing this transaction, Lin Suo wasn¡¯t planning on continuing in the short term. In Uncle John¡¯s Antique Shop, Old John took out a magnifying glass and carefully examined the jar inch by inch, quite reluctant to let it go. He could easily resell it at ten times the buying price with his connections, making a whopping 90,000 profit. This was already more than his entire antique shop was worth. He sneered at the foolish idiot who didn¡¯t recognize the value of the ancient Elven royal ritual implement and sold it cheaply, feeling extremely pleased with himself. Suddenly, he sniffed the jar and found the scent familiar. He had smelled it somewhere before. He was sure it was in his shop. ¡°What could it be? How strange¡­ Wait a minute!¡± Old John bent down and took out a fake Elven antique jar from under the counter that he planned to wholesale. He sniffed it suspiciously. ¡°D*mn b*stard! I¡¯ll kill you! Ahhh!¡± By the time he dashed to the nearest back and presented the familiar string of digits, the staff kindly informed him that the account had been emptied. At that point, he staggered. He had thought of reporting the matter to the arbitration committee, but in an instant, his wrinkled face relaxed. He did not go! Instead, he made a trip to the florist, purchasing various flowers. He then went to the pharmacy and bought herbal powders, becoming inexplicably cheerful with light and bouncy footsteps. All this while, Lin Suo had secretly changed his outfit and was carrying two tote bags as he observed Old John¡¯s changes from beginning to end. He understood that there was room for improvement in the scent and texture of the jar. The next day, Lin Suo spent another night in the inn. Then, after hiding half of his gold coins and bringing half of them with him, he went to the housing department. With Rhein Lin¡¯s identity, he bought two properties, one in the Phil Administrative area and the other in the mix-blood area. The former would be a safe house and sealed off after stockpiling supplies. The latter would be used for permanent residence in the bustling city, where he would make acquaintances and conduct business. The whole process took 5,000 gold coins. Before he could even warm the gold coins up, they were gone. That being said, the money came easily, so Lin Suo didn¡¯t feel anything. The house in the mix-blood area was an antique-style three-story building. He planned to use the first floor as a bookstore to establish his identity as a language master. The second floor was temporarily set up to practice breathing techniques, and the third floor was his personal living space. With money in his pocket, everything went on smoothly. It wasn¡¯t until half a month later that he established a foothold on the street and got to know some people. The bookstore officially opened, and classic books from various races were available. Lin Suo even made some movable type molds and bought papers from a factory to create books. Aside from spending some money on sample books, the other books were all self-made. While doing so, he conveniently learned the Orcish language, noble etiquette, Common Aquan, and more. Chapter 13 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Since Lin Suo didn¡¯t lack money, it was easy to max out his language knowledge. After his second red-grade skill, Elven Language, had been maxed out, Lin Suo began to pursue the path of fusion. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Superior Knight (41/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red)] [Skill: None] [Art: Language guru (including Elven, Beastmen, Human, Sea tribe, and other languages), medicine +2 (92/100), noble etiquette (20/100)] [Body Condition: Healthy, energetic] Being a language guru didn¡¯t just mean that all the languages were fused. Rather, it was a change in foundation. With this, he could smoothly translate languages and could even split up idioms, saying each word in a different language. The creativity was endless. As for noble etiquette, Lin Suo learned it in preparation for his future. This skill couldn¡¯t be improved by just ¡°eating¡± books. It required an improvement in proficiency in practicing, which was similar to the skill of medicine. He simply took note of his everyday behavior and his noble etiquette proficiency in practicing was improving by the second. It wouldn¡¯t take long for him to max it out. If he wanted to interact with other races in a friendly and cooperative manner, he needed to learn and follow the customs and etiquette of the respective races. That being said, he had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush. After everything was settled, Lin Suo resumed his reclusive lifestyle. As for Meditation Techniques, several chambers of commerce had them, and even the three major forces sold apprentice-level Meditation Techniques openly. However, the prices were apparent. They were extraordinarily expensive. Apprentice-level Meditation Techniques were sold for 100,000 gold coins. As for Meditation Techniques that could be used even after one became an official Magi, they were no longer sold for gold coins but another currency called magic stones. He heard that magic stones were the currency between Magi and were very valuable. They were closely related to Magi cultivation. After spending some time in Koster, Lin Suo finally learned about the headquarters of the three major Magus forces. They weren¡¯t in the city. The city was just an ¡°agency¡± that was convenient for accepting benefits and bribes. The sea islands outside the city were the Magis¡¯ headquarters. He heard that it was due to environmental issues, but the islands were known to be extremely helpful for Magi cultivation. The transcendent ocean monsters in the sea also provided the Magi with additional training opportunities for their side jobs. As such, the resident Magis in Marina City were only advanced Magi apprentices but were still quite powerful. The tavern that Lin Suo often visited was the main source of his knowledge on much secret news. Although they had been exaggerated to a certain extent, if he scaled down the news he heard, it was still quite trustworthy. On the other hand, the cost of running Rhein Bookstore was low, so Lin Suo made a profit of about five gold coins every day. Knowledge was a luxury item only the elite could afford. Of course, commoners would sometimes come and buy a book or two, usually basic books that were akin to teaching materials. The customer flow was not very big. However, those who dared to enter the bookstore would usually buy something. A 20-page book with no illustrations would be priced at 3 silver to 1 gold, with a slight fluctuation in price. Every day, he could sell about 5 to 6 books, which was quite a relaxing life. Now, his monthly profit was around 80 gold. Books were valuable, so some would not buy another a long time after they had bought one. As a result, the fluctuation in his earnings was quite big. If he wanted to seriously run a business, he needed some cheap and common books, like magazines, comics, newspapers, novels, illustrations, and so on. The newspaper was in the hands of the news press and the government, which left no room for private businesses. Meanwhile, making comics and magazines was too time-consuming. As such, Lin Suo intended to introduce novels into his business to generate a stable income. Still, for now, he was not in a rush. It depended on whether it would be a success then. Even with his current earnings, it was enough to afford a lavish lifestyle. That being said, if he wanted to purchase Meditation Techniques, he needed a windfall. At the end of his second month in this world, he joined the antique guild and paid a hefty membership fee to attend his first auction. The event¡¯s highlight was an ancient Elven antique jar, a royal ritual implement. It started with a bid of 50,000 gold coins and was ultimately sold to a wealthy buyer for 110,000 gold coins. Watching from the side, Lin Suo felt his mouth turn dry and a greedy desire rose, which he quickly exterminated. The antique industry was too complicated. He wanted to make huge money, but not to that extent. Being a high-quality forger of antiquities was quite a good option too. From what he saw, Old John¡¯s connections in the trade were excellent. To think the latter could even sell fake goods in the auction. As expected of an old shop that had some connections and fame. However, just roping Old John in was not secure enough. In places like auction houses, they may have unique identification methods. Even if the item¡¯s surface was perfect, the trace of time was simply non-existent. If a Magi checked the antique, the result would be hard to say. As such, selling fake goods to individuals would be a safer option. The best place to sell would be in the antique market on the streets. Many who thought they had an extraordinary eye for antiques would be looking for bargains there. With a rough plan, Lin Suo prepared to execute it carefully. At this point, he continued to purchase knowledge handbooks only sold to guild members from the antique guild to gain more profound and systematic knowledge of the trade. In the blink of an eye, another month passed. In Rhein bookstore, on the main street of the mix-blood area, Lin Sua was in a small compartment on the first floor. He prepared some fruits and vegetables and mixed them with his homemade mayonnaise to make a bowl of fruit salad. Unfortunately, few foods in this world suited his taste. The restaurants¡¯ meat and beer were expensive and distasteful. As a result, he had to worry about his food at such a young age. Fortunately, he had the magic cube to help him out. Even though his culinary skills were zero, after a month of practicing relentlessly, he had successfully achieved limit-breaking enhancement once. With that, he had become a chef that surpassed most of the cooks in Koster. After months of experimenting with the magic cube¡¯s limit-breaking enhancement, Lin Suo had temporarily summarized three rules: Firstly, abilities of the same kind can be fused once they reach the red grade, making the ability stronger. Secondly, limit-breaking enhancement mainly enhanced the advantages of the original skill. For instance, the benefit of the Moon Plate Breathing Technique was its comprehensiveness, but its quality was too low, so the ¡°comprehensiveness¡± was a joke for most people. But for him, he could make it genuinely comprehensive and top-notch. Thirdly, his mind would automatically gain additional knowledge with each limit-breaking enhancement. Recently, he learned about knife skills, seasoning production, heat control, and so on. These newfound skills helped him significantly in his process of self-learning culinary skills. ¡°It¡¯s almost ready,¡± Lin Suo washed his hands in the first-floor kitchen, then carried the large plate of fruit salad to the guest area of his study. Sitting there was a young girl with pointed golden ears, burgundy-colored eyes, fair skin, smooth long legs, and stunning features that were eye-catching. Lin Suo casually glanced at her and sat down across from her on the couch, acting quite serious. She was an Elf and also the owner of the neighboring fruit shop. Despite her youthful appearance, she was 160 years old. Elves were one of the longevity species, and their lifespan could reach 500 years. However, not all Elves were qualified to be Magi. Those who lived in Koster were typically the descendants of lower-level elves who had migrated here to make a living. This Elf, on the other hand, was somewhat special. Chapter 14 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°No matter when I come, your place is awe-inspiring,¡± Valia exclaimed as she looked around and took another bite of salad with a happy expression. ¡°Yum, it¡¯s good.¡± Lin Suo¡¯s Rhein bookstore had gone through a month of renovation. He had devised a new stable Logical Synthesis plan, and made many pieces of the furniture himself, like the sofa, coffee table, and glassware. He used his power of syntheses to cheat in every aspect of his life, making the place look at least 50% modern, which suited his habits. Placed in Koster, a bustling port city with heavy human traffic, his place was average compared to other transcendent buildings in terms of attractiveness. ¡°Valia, I heard that the Language of Nature family had Magis in the past?¡± Lin Suo asked, with his intentions clear. After some probing and investigation, he realized another problem: If he went to a professional Transcendence items store and bought Meditation Techniques that were owned by the three great Magus forces, he would easily attract the attention of self-taught wizards. Koster may seem prosperous, but the bloody dealings in the dark were equally abundant. Just in this period, Rhein Bookstore had been demanded to pay a protection fee by five different racial gangs. Under the circumstances that he didn¡¯t fully understand their backgrounds and was still tentatively trying to make a living, he held the grudges in his heart for the time being and decided to endure it. He had money. The important thing was safety. Plus, it was very easy for Magis to deal with knights. Even if one cultivated to the Ultimate Knight level, one was but a stronger ant. There was a well-known saying in the commoners¡¯ society: All misfortune is brought by the inability of the victim. This was an undisguised law in this transcendent world. After looking into Valia¡¤Language of Nature for half a month, Lin Suo believed that the rumors were real. Valia most likely had an Elven organization backing her. Otherwise, the fruit shop wouldn¡¯t be so stable. ¡°Oh? Do you also want to become a Magi?¡± Valia¡¯s question was one that almost everyone in this era would ask. When an ordinary person talked about Magi, it was usually either for medical treatment or to seek knowledge. Lin Suo appeared healthy and robust, so it was apparent that his interest wasn¡¯t due to any medical issues. ¡°That¡¯s right. I want to become a Magi, but the Meditation Techniques outside are too expensive.¡± Valia nodded in agreement and revealed a secret Lin Suo didn¡¯t know. ¡°Mr. Rhein, if you have the aptitude to become a Magi, it¡¯s best not to learn the Meditation Techniques publicized by the three major forces. The Dusk Meditation Technique of the Evening Bell Church is prone to make one fall. Once it happens, it¡¯s irreversible. The corpses of fallen Magi are excellent materials for the Life Modification School. Every year, many corpses flow into the Evening Bell Church.¡± Lin Suo was shocked. He shuddered as he gained more understanding of the Magi in this world. ¡°The Pure White Meditation Technique of the White Tower and the Deep Sea Meditation Technique of the Marine College both have major flaws, but their factions have specialized methods to address those flaws. Unfortunately, self-taught wizards don¡¯t have such resources,¡± Valia said between bites of salad. ¡°To my knowledge, any Meditation Technique without side effects is reserved for official Magis and cannot be purchased with gold coins. You came to the right elf by asking me, Mr. Rhein.¡± Lin Suo was taken aback. ¡°Ms. Valia, you mean¡­?¡± ¡°The Language of Nature family has produced more than one official Magi. I! Valie¡¤Language of Nature, am also an advanced Magi apprentice!¡± Looking at the smug Elf, Lin Suo felt uneasy. This was different from what he had learned. It seemed that it wasn¡¯t a good thing to trust the information he gathered too much either. As a hundred-plus-year-old Elf, even with a slow growth rate, Valia couldn¡¯t be as naive and adorable as she appeared, right? If a human were her age, even their bones would¡¯ve rotten. Should he disguise himself? Lin Suo scrutinized himself. Wealth? Average. Combat prowess? Average! No matter how he thought about it, only by disguising himself with his language guru identity could gain benefits. This was it. He adjusted his tone and asked, ¡°Ms. Valia, how can I obtain a suitable Meditation Technique?¡± Hearing this, the Elf paused for a moment before frowning and speaking hesitantly, playing her role perfectly, ¡°Um¡­ well, the family¡¯s Meditation Technique cannot be passed on to you. If you truly want one, I can introduce you to the nature association.¡± ¡°Oh, wait!¡± Valia¡¯s eyes lit up, and she asked in Ancient Elvish, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a language guru? The nature association has recently discovered an Ancient Elven ruin. There are many inscriptions there that need to be translated. If you do it, it should not be a problem for you to get a Meditation Technique with minimal side effects.¡± Lin Suo¡¯s eyes lit up as well. It was indeed as he suspected. He became even warier of the Elf, who was quite the actress. He replied in Ancient Elvish, ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Thank you, Ms. Valia.¡± ¡°As expected, you know Ancient Elvish! You¡¯re quite good at it too, better than an Elf like me.¡± Lin Suo simply smiled. After Valia finished her meal, she rubbed her belly and supported herself on the wall as she exited. Then, Lin Suo sat behind the counter, his mood dark and brooding. He thought he had everything covered and had his investigation had been carried out secretly. Still, something happened. It turns out he had ended up finding a force that had designs on him. ¡°Nature association, huh¡­¡± Lin Suo tapped his index finger on the table. He really shouldn¡¯t have allowed himself to be ¡°noticed¡± by others. With this, he became more alert and warned himself to be even more careful from now on. After that, he scanned himself and saw his progress in the last month, which gave him a slightly increased sense of security. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Rank: Superior Knight (93/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red), Original Beast Training Method+2 (23/100)] [Skills: None] [Arts: Language guru (red), medicine+3 (21/100), noble etiquette+1 (18/100), Art+1 (32/100)] [Body Condition: Healthy, energetic] ¡°I¡¯m almost at the Ultimate Knight level. If I work hard for another week, I should be able to break through.¡± He had acquired the new breathing technique from one of the antique guild¡¯s exhibits. It was inscribed in ancient Orcish language on a broken stone tablet that the guild had collected. It was an unexpected discovery. According to the inscription on the stone tablet, the Original Beast Training Method was a method used by the Beastmen to improve their physical abilities in an era when Magi had not yet been born, around one hundred thousand years ago. The Modern Knight Training Method used by present-day knights was actually derived from the ancient traditions of the Beastmen and improved by Magi. The effects were similar, though the Original Beast Training Method was more primitive and savage. Every time he practiced, Lin Suo felt his blood boil and his desire burn. That being said, the results were also better, comparable to the top modern breathing techniques, and even surpassing them in some ways. If he achieved limit-breaking enhancement five more times, he might even be able to reach the unknown level beyond the Ultimate Knight, becoming a pioneer on the path of the knights. Even if he couldn¡¯t reach that level, the fantastic reactions from the fusion of the red grade may be able to do it. This was the only method he could give himself a sense of security in the current stage. As long as it wouldn¡¯t kill him, he would practice it to death. As for Valia¡¯s matter, since he had agreed to her request, he would also need to be prepared. Chapter 15 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Nightfall. A secret room on the second floor of Rhein¡¯s bookstore was filled with various materials such as herbs, machinery, animal carcasses, and numerous jars and bottles, some of which contain green viscous solutions or particular animal organs like eyeballs, sheep¡¯s testicles, ox heads, and the like. It¡¯s like a template of an evil scientist¡¯s laboratory. These were all the synthesized products of Lin Suo¡¯s experiments. Many were derived from ordinary materials that underwent multiple syntheses and reached the synthesis limit. They each had super effects in a specific aspect. Lin Suo took out a glass jar from a hidden compartment. The jar contained a bunch of incense sticks, each about the length of a finger. He considered them one of his best research results. He called it the ¡°Fainting Agent¡±. Its fainting effect was so strong that even with his physique, he would pass out in less than a second just with a whiff of it. An ordinary person who smelled it wouldn¡¯t even wake up in a week. He knew because he had experimented with it on gangsters he found in the coastal area (slums), which almost starved them to death. Magi specialize in mental power and magic energy. Their bodies were usually not that strong. That being said, Lin Suo estimated that their resistance to the Fainting Agent was not low either. However, as the saying goes: If the quality is not good enough, increase the quantity. After taking them all out, he inserted them one by one into a smoking pipe hidden in his sleeve, which was also specially designed. It contained one of his failed products, a pinch of black gunpowder. As a modern person with the power of synthesis, although he didn¡¯t understand the principles, he initially wanted to synthesize a gun. Unfortunately, he had failed to synthesize even the most basic gunpowder since its power couldn¡¯t meet his expectations. As such, firearms also became a fantasy. However, the failed black gunpowder could be easily ignited with a flint and used with the Fainting Agent incense, making it a powerful tool. After adjusting the trigger mechanism a bit, Lin Suo sat back at his desk. He held a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and made some adjustments with his tools. The next day, he had just finished making breakfast and brought it down to the first floor. He was about to start eating when Valia came from next door, bending down to look at him on the sofa with a smile. ¡°Rhein, what are you eating? It smells so good.¡± Lin Suo rolled his eyes as he thought to himself, ¡°Please add ¡°Mr.¡± before my name. We are not that close.¡± ¡°Fried eggs! If you want some¡­¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Valia sat down as if she was at home, took the porcelain plate over, and took a big bite. Lin Suo¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Miss Valia, strictly speaking, eggs are also a kind of meat.¡± Everyone knew that Elves worshipped nature and were vegan. It wasn¡¯t that they couldn¡¯t eat meat. It was just that after their bodies adapted to veganism, eating meat afterward would easily cause nausea¡­ ¡°I was just about to say, if you want some food, I can prepare a vegan dish for you.¡± Lin Suo shrugged. Valia¡¯s face turned white instantly due to psychological effects. She dumped Lin Suo¡¯s food like trash and picked her throat in disgust until she vomited the fried eggs she had just eaten. Lin Suo was speechless. He hadn¡¯t even eaten those eggs yet! He moved away from the garbage can and sighed helplessly. He could only take a piece of jerky from the storage cabinet and gnaw on it. If things went as he expected, he wouldn¡¯t have time to make breakfast again. Once Valia regained her composure, she apologized and explained why she had come over. ¡°Mr. Rhein, the nature association wants to see you for a test. If you pass and translate the Ancient Elvish for them, it should not be a problem for you to get an official Magi-level Meditation Technique.¡± ¡°Got it, let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Suo swallowed the jerky in a few bites and drank a glass of water before setting off with Valia. The nature association was a racial organization created by the Elves who lived among humans. Its influence spanned the entire Padoron continent. As a famous business port city, Koster naturally had a branch of the organization. Lin Suo¡¯s knowledge of the organization was not very deep. Still, he was prepared for the worst-case scenario of uncovering earth-shattering secrets that could lead to his untimely demise. The core ideology of this organization was probably to protect the environment and promote symbiosis with nature. The Elves were most likely advocates of peace that were preaching to the other races to not hunt excessively and destroy the environment. The Elves loved peace and nature, so it was only normal for them to have this ideology. However, individuals within such organizations may vary. Even back on Earth, some environmental protection organizations use the guise of ¡°protecting the environment¡± to pursue their selfish interests. Various foundations claim to be charitable, but ultimately, their ultimate goal was to accumulate wealth. Lin Suo believed that such institutions and organizations were not initially created with such intentions. A few innocent ones were bound to be involved, and lumping them together was unfair. However, since his life was at stake, he preferred to err on the side of caution, as this is the only way he could live comfortably and securely. The Koster branch of the nature association was located in the mixe-blood area, bustling with people. The entire building resembled a giant tree trunk without a crown or roots. It stood straight at the side of the street with a sign hanging on it. It was nearly five-ren tall, truly magnificent. The deeper in he went, the more activity bustled around him. With that, Lin Suo felt more at ease. More people meant that the safety of his life was guaranteed. After all, he is still a ¡°Dandong person¡±. In the Dandong Empire, even commoners of Dandong were considered above others. Even if one dies, it will attract the attention of the city hall. There were precedents for such incidents. As the Dandong Empire¡¯s commerce developed and the environment became more open, many other foreign races entered the territory, each with their motives. In the past, many foreign races, mainly the Beastmen, had regarded the Dandong people as weak and easy to exploit, seizing their wealth at will. As a result, they were exterminated. Now, on Padoron Continent, only Half-beasts and enslaved Beastmen existed. All pure-blood Beastmen had tattoos on their faces that indicated their identity, and the status of the entire race was simply low to the ground, unable to cause any more trouble. On the other hand, Half-beasts were different. They possessed some beast features, but they originated from another continent. Different from Padoron¡¯s Beastmen, although they had also faced oppression, they survived that and their current status was normal on the surface. The Dandong Empire has stringent laws but was exceptionally lenient towards its people. There was a nobility redemption bill, where if a noble committed a crime, they only need to pay a fine to walk free. Of course, this only applied to less severe cases. Plus, such a bill was invalid if the victim was another Dandong noble or commoner. It was simply designed to oppress outsiders. It was vicious, and Lin Suo liked it. After he learned the Meditation Technique, his next plan was to buy a title to protect himself. He did not want to oppress others, nor did he want to be oppressed. Having atitle would be very convenient for his self-protection. He followed Valia into the nature association and went to the fourth floor, entering a classical room. He sat there while Valie went to find the person in charge after asking him to wait alone for a while. Before long, an elderly Elf with white hair and a scraggly beard walked in, supporting himself with a walking stick. He spoke to Valia in Ancient Elvish, ¡°Little Valia, is this the language guru you brought? A young and handsome human?¡± ¡°Granpa Antlers, Mr. Rhein speaks Ancient Elvish better than I do. Just let him try.¡± ¡°How is that possible? He¡¯s so young and the language is hard to understand. Could it be that you¡¯ve been¡­¡± Seeing that the situation was developing in a strange direction, Lin Suo hurriedly stood up. Chapter 16 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Grandpa Antlers, I believe that talent is very important in language learning. Since you have a lofty virtue worthy of respect, I believe you will not make the mistake of judging a book by its cover and miss the chance to solve the problem.¡± Antlers Faner was surprised and asked, ¡°You really do know Ancient Elvish? Where did you learn it?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Lin Suo couldn¡¯t say he learned it by studying the regular Elven Language and suddenly becoming proficient in Ancient Elvish, right? ¡°It was taught to me by a Magi.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Antlers nodded, accepting this explanation. After all, Magi were known for their vast knowledge. He was also an Elf Magi, but his aptitude was terrifyingly low. Even with the long lifespan of Elves, he had not broken through to become an official Magi. He had only relied on time to reach the peak apprentice level. In fact, all longevity species had this problem. Even with exceptional aptitude, their cultivation of transcendent power was still very slow, unlike humans who could improve faster. ¡°You¡¯re quite fluent. Since you have confidence and Valia introduced you, I¡¯ll let you give it a try. If you succeed, I¡¯ll handle the matter of the Meditation Technique for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Antlers.¡± Antlers Faner glared, ¡°Kid, call me Guild Master Antlers.¡± Having failed in being shameless and trying to get closer to him, Lin Suo didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all. He simply changed the way he addressed the other party while he thought in disbelief, ¡°To think he¡¯s the branch¡¯s guild master.¡± It seemed that Valia¡¯s identity couldn¡¯t be underestimated. The Language of Nature family didn¡¯t sound like an ordinary family either¡­ However, since the Elf hadn¡¯t overreacted with his straightforwardness, it could only mean only two things. Either the translation work was essential to them so that they could tolerate his behavior, or they were genuinely kind and didn¡¯t mind him being rude. As he pondered, Lin Suo followed the two of them to a quiet room on the fifth floor. ¡°Rhein, wait a minute.¡± With that, Antlers Faner went out again and returned with a tray holding a large, dark-colored book. Beside it were gloves, tweezers, magnifying glass, a notebook, and a pen, all ready and prepared. ¡°Be careful when you turn the pages.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Lin Suo put on the gloves and curiously studied the ancient book. The cover was mostly decayed, making it impossible to see the name or pattern. The first page was also in shambles, with marks of fire and insect damage. Most of the words were separated, and the description in the middle was missing, requiring inference based on the context. ¡°This is the royal secret language?!¡± Lin Suo exclaimed in surprise. The Ancient Elves were typically matrilineal and the royal family members were all women. Male royal family members did not have inheritance rights. Currently, although the Elves had reformed, they had lost their once-powerful strength and knowledge inheritance. The royal secret language was a code language designed by the Elf Queen herself. It was naturally encrypted. If one wanted to translate it, one had to find the direct descendant of the Queen. After so many years, the risk of the language being lost was extremely high. Using the Queen¡¯s secret language that was passed on from mouth to mouth was too easy to make the language lost. Lin Suo had a cheat and could decipher it, but he couldn¡¯t say it aloud! The more he read, the more shocked he felt. The contents at the start were just standard, the usual chronology of history. But later on, it was all about pollution, corruption, the Mother Tree falling, monsters, disasters, and so on. If the book hadn¡¯t been severely damaged, the contents should¡¯ve been decipherable combined with the context. Lin Suo flipped another page, and his eyes lit up. It was a rare page that was complete. Moreover, it recorded an elven spell. Stage-one spell ¡°plant control¡±. It recorded the spell model construction, magic ring condensation steps, auxiliary cultivation methods, effects, and all sorts of details. It was developed by the Wild Roar Family and had the potential to control nature. This was a treasure. Although Lin Suo wasn¡¯t a Magi yet, it didn¡¯t prevent him from memorizing it and copying it down when he got back. If he mastered it by devouring the book, wouldn¡¯t that be great? Just as he memorized it and wanted to continue reading, Antlers¡¤Faner couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore. The latter snatched the secret classic away with his old hand and said in an unpleasant tone, ¡°Boy, do you understand what¡¯s written above?¡± Lin Suo shrugged. Even the orthodox Elves didn¡¯t understand, so how could he? But for the sake of the Meditation Technique without side effects, he still revealed some information. After thinking for a moment, he said in a low voice, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be the legendary royal secret language of the Elves.¡± ¡°Secret language?¡± Antlers and Valia looked at each other, their eyes blank, obviously not knowing what he was talking about. Lin Suo sighed. He pointed to the symbol in the book cover¡¯s lower right corner. ¡°The royal mark, you recognize it, right?¡± The two nodded together. ¡°Look at the symbol in the middle. It¡¯s about twenty degrees off from the normal royal mark. This represents an extinct Elven royal family.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Lin Suo was speechless. Were they Elven, or was he Elven? He could only remind them, ¡°Pay attention to the color of the mark, and the curvature of the symbol¡¯s end. What is it like?¡± Valia murmured to herself, ¡°A light-colored mark¡­ The curvature¡­ It¡¯s like a¡­ A moon! Are you saying it¡¯s the Luna Royal Family?¡± Lin Suo nodded in satisfaction. ¡°But¡­ The Luna Royal Family was destroyed by the Magi 90,000 years ago. The Magi, who worship truth, do not allow the existence of Gods. Even the God of the Moon died at the hands of the Magi, let alone the Elven royal family who worshiped the God of the Moon¡­¡± 90,000 years? Lin Suo was incredulous. This book had lasted for 90,000 years? That was ridiculous. The Gods had been exterminated? Tch¡­ What?! The Gods had been exterminated?! Although Lin Suo¡¯s linguistic knowledge was much richer than most people, he was not well-versed in history. All he knew was that this symbol represented the Luna Royal Family. He needed more time to study history. No wonder there were no religions in this world. It turned out that the Gods had been annihilated. The Magi were mighty. He was brainstorming, but in the outside world, only a few seconds had passed. Taking a deep breath, Antlers asked tremblingly, ¡°Young man, the Luna Royal Family was destroyed long ago. Do you understand the words in the book?¡± Lin Suo shook his head decisively, ¡°No.¡± The Deerhorn¡¯s face froze, and he questioned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that it¡¯s the Luna Royal Family¡¯s secret language? How can you not understand it?¡± ¡°Guild Master Antlers, if you return to your homeland and check the books, even you will recognize this symbol. As for the Elven royal family¡¯s secret language, it¡¯s passed down orally. Mistakes can occur even among those with the same surname, and the meaning can completely differ.¡± ¡°Let me calculate for you. Since the Luna Royal Family was destroyed 90,000 years ago, how many Elven royal families have there been? The Luna Clan, Eternal Forest Clan, Sunstrider Clan, Bloodthorn Clan, Windtalker Clan, Nightborne Clan¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Antlers glared at Lin Suo, who had unknowingly stood by the window and was enjoying the cold breeze. He was furious. Lin Suo smiled and was not afraid of causing trouble. With his language guru ability, the number of Elven royal secret languages he knew represented the number of Elven royal families there were. ¡°And now¡­ the High Elf Clan! No one can understand the royal secret languages except for the direct descendants.¡± Chapter 17 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo paused and gave Antlers time to calm down. As proud as they were, the Elves had always viewed changing regimes as shameful, unlike humans with a tradition of changing Emperors once every few years. Rebellions were as common as eating and drinking. To only have had a handful of royal families in ninety thousand years was already an exceedingly small number. If it were humans, that number would have to be multiplied by tens of millions. Provoking Antlers Faner was a calculated decision that Lin Suo had made to create an image of himself that was very knowledgeable about Elf history. Meditation Techniques only represented the path, not the means of a Magi. Moreover, it was also a test. He wanted to determine whether this branch guild master was genuinely kind or just pretending. After all, if he would get a Meditation Technique from him, he needed to know the other party¡¯s true nature. If he didn¡¯t, he would be very hesitant to actually practice the Meditation Technique even if he got his hands on it. Although this move was risky, it was also the fastest way to see a person¡¯s true nature. Plus, he wanted to establish a no-nonsense and disdainful attitude toward lying. If he didn¡¯t understand, he would just say it straight. He said it out and clear, not even fearing provoking the guild master, expressing his stance of first establishing dignity before providing help. This would prevent future troubles. This move had more benefits than drawbacks. It all depended on what Antlers chose to do. At this point, he was already standing by the window. Worse comes to worst, he could just jump out onto the streets. Given his Superior Body-level body, that was easy-peasy. Even if Antlers had the guts, he wouldn¡¯t dare to kill a Dandong person in front of everyone. After all, it would cost him his life. After a while, Antlers¡¯s heavy breathing calmed. His anger disappeared, and he returned to his usual calmness. On the other hand, Valia had been quiet all along. As expected of someone cunning. She could even endure such situations. Valia looked bewildered at the situation and finally realized that something was off. She was about to help Lin Suo say a few words, but Antlers spoke first. ¡°Rhein, you seem to have a solution?¡± It seemed that he hadn¡¯t lived for so long in vain. He finally realized that he could ask. Lin Suo was still leaning by the window. ¡°Yes. Not all members of the Elven royal families are fools. They knew that if they continued to pass down the royal secret languages like this, it would lead to bigger problems in the future. Therefore, a kind of royal artifact was born.¡± ¡°The symbol of power? The Elven royal family¡¯s symbol!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. As long as you find the Moon Stone, which symbolizes the Luna Royal Family, and uncover its secrets, you can understand the scriptures. Now, do you understand?¡± Antlers took a deep breath and respectfully bowed to Lin Suo. Scholars were always respected. Even the proud Elves would show the highest respect to scholars. Lin Suo quickly returned the bow with a traditional Elven gesture. This argument was just a minor issue. He didn¡¯t come here to make enemies. He just wanted to probe the other party. He would only give them a clue. He didn¡¯t want to participate in translating the scripture. It was better to stay away from danger. After all, even bits and pieces of the remnants of the scriptures had been enough to make him fearful. As the guild master of the natural association branch, Antlers must have a big secret in finding such a book and investigating it with such care. He had already gained a good harvest with the stage-one spell. Soon after taking away the remnants of the scriptures, Antlers returned with a few scrolls. ¡°Mr. Rhein, these are the official Magi-level Meditation Techniques that humans can learn without side effects. Pick one.¡± That was fast. Without hesitation, Lin Suo checked each one carefully. Antlers had brought a total of four official Magi-level Meditation Techniques: Round Pupil Meditation Technique, Blaze Meditation Technique, Scorpion Meditation Technique, and Storm Meditation Technique. As he looked at the four official Magi-level Meditation Techniques, Lin Suo felt the urge to take them all. The names of the Meditation Techniques represented a particular attribute bias. For example, Magis who practiced the Blaze Meditation Technique and Storm Meditation Technique would find it much easier to learn fire and wind spells. However, this did not affect the learning of other elemental spells. According to the introductions, Lin Suo ultimately chose the Round Pupil Meditation Technique. Although the difficulty was great, it could help immensely in the activation of mental power, and the quality of the mental power would also be better at the same level. He was not afraid of difficulties but worried that the Meditation Technique was not powerful enough. The more powerful the Meditation Technique, the stronger it would be when he achieved limit-breaking enhancement and upgraded it to the extreme. It would be far superior to the same level. The activation of mental power involved breaking through the official Magi level, which was not written in the manual. After Lin Suo selected his reward, Guild Master Antlers took the liberty of giving him a Magi manual. It recorded some knowledge that every Magi must know and information about the Magi world in Koster. It was very beneficial for him. The guild master was a good person, after all. Having misjudged the other party, Lin Suo apologized in his heart. Adhering to the principle that whoever could benefit them was to be respected, the three parted ways, forming an ¡°unresolvable bond¡±. Valia saw him off at the association door and then ran back in. Lin Suo went home alone. After hanging the ¡°Close¡± sign for Rhein¡¯s Bookstore, he began to study the Round Pupil Meditation Technique. A Magi¡¯s aptitude was determined by two aspects: The strength of one¡¯s innate mental power, and one¡¯s affinity for magic energy. Never mind his mental power. Although Lin Suo had no means to test it, with his experience of being the ¡°God of staying up late¡± while still not dead, it shouldn¡¯t be too low. At the very least, his mental power¡¯s resilience and toughness should be extreme. As for magical energy, it involved the natural power of this world. The sky had its phenomenons and the earth had its lines. Everything had its signs. Wherever the power of nature was abundant, they usually had magic energy ley lines and magic stone mines. The ley lines were just like the spiritual veins in cultivation novels. It was just that magic energy was a product of fusion from all sorts of attributed power of nature. It was produced by nature but had no attributes. It was like a black sheet of paper that could be manipulated by anyone. Unfortunately, this did not include humans. Longevity species like dragons and elves naturally possess magic energy in their blood and could absorb magic energy. Ten thousand years ago, before the era of the Magi, it was the world of the longevity species. With the weak body of humans, they couldn¡¯t absorb magic energy at all. They would die on contact without exception. Therefore, the pioneers of the path of the Magi, also known as Prometheus, imitated the breathing of the magic spirits (a certain soul-bodied race) and focused on developing their mental power. Then, they interfered with reality with their mental power, studying the elements and the principles behind the birth of fire. Ultimately, they constructed spell models in their minds which resonated with the magic energy in the air, and successfully controlled the power of fire. This was the history of the Magi. It was common knowledge that every magus must know. Prometheus brought knowledge to his peers, giving birth to many fire Magi who built Prometheus Towers in desolate lands, studying elements and beasts, and even observing Gods. After generations spanning thousands of years, the three major Magi schools were gradually formed, namely the Elemental School, the Contract School, and the Charm School. At this time, the first official Magis were born. They discovered that when their mental power reached a certain level, they could fine-tune the magic energy and absorb it into their body, transforming themselves into longevity species. At the same time, they changed the defect of spells such that the power of spells would no longer be influenced by the concentration of magic energy in the environment. In just a few thousand years, the Life Modification School emerged. They stole the bloodline power of longevity species and used it for themselves, becoming extremely prominent. The strength of the Magi became increasingly powerful. To change the status quo of humanity, they raised their blades against all intelligent creatures that enslaved humans. Following the footsteps of truth, their strength increased. Until eight thousand years later, the powerful Magis could even annihilate Gods! The schools evolved from three to four and then to the present day, with eighteen mainstream schools. The Elemental School of the past split into the Nature School, Astronomical School, Magic Energy School, and so on. Chapter 18 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The manual did not record specific cultivation methods, only the general history and current situation of the Magi world. According to the manual, the Padoron Continent was not the most prosperous place for the Magi civilization. There were many other places that were stronger and more fascinating than here. It was hard to imagine. Lin Suo sighed and put down the manual. Although history was magnificent and possessed an epic-like beauty that made people yearn to transmigrate over and be a member of that era, one should remember that any path leading to the pinnacle was never smooth. Who would remember the names of those forgotten and buried outside the annals of history? All in all, one must keep their foot on the ground. Lin Suo finally understood why the Magi forces did not stay in bustling Koster but chose to go to the islands. It must be because of the problem of magic energy concentration. Never mind the Magi apprentice stage since it was only related to mental power. However, once one broke through to become an official Magi, also known as a stage-one Magi, one had to cultivate in a place with high magic energy concentration and absorb magic energy so that one could modify one¡¯s body. Doing so could increase one¡¯s lifespan and allow one to release spells through one¡¯s power instead of relying on the environment. Lin Suo didn¡¯t know much about official Magi cultivation, but one thing was clear to become a Magi apprentice. He needed the Enlightening Flower to strengthen his mental power so that it could break through his physical limitations before he could begin meditation. Lin Suo did not bother with that and just used the cheat. He simply took a piece of blank paper and synthesized it with the scroll that recorded the Mediation Technique. With that, he successfully obtained a scroll that was the product of Logical Synthesis. Then, he slapped the scroll on his forehead and it turned into a streak of light before disappearing. With this, he mastered the Meditation Technique instantly, starting with 20 points of proficiency in practicing. Once it reached 100, that would mean that he had fully mastered the Meditation Technique. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that even cheating won¡¯t work.¡± That day, Lin Suo meditated for three hours after familiarizing himself with the technique, depleting his mental energy and passing out on the spot. The next day¡­ ¡°Ouch¡­¡± It hurt a little. Lin Suo stood up shakily and looked at himself in the mirror. His face was so pale he didn¡¯t even look alive. He hurriedly went downstairs and took out the peppermint essence that he often used to when he stayed up late. It was similar to the super nutritious jerky such that it possessed the effects of refreshing the mind and nourishing the spirit. He applied some to his philtrum and drank fifty milliliters, which finally made him feel better. He couldn¡¯t take too much of this stuff because it would irritate his teeth and throat more than swallowing ice cubes. ¡°Scan!¡± [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Superior Knight (93/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red); Original Beast Training Method +2 (24/100); Round Pupil Meditation Technique (21/100)] [Skill: None] [Art: Language guru (red), medicine +3 (26/100), noble etiquette +1 (21/100), culinary skills +1 (40/100)] [Status: Healthy, mentally tired, overworked] ¡°I haven¡¯t entered the path of the Magi yet¡­ And my body condition is deplorable.¡± He thought momentarily and realized that it was only natural. Devouring the book would only allow him to learn the technique, which was nothing. Ultimately, the reason for his not being a Magi yet was the lack of the Enlightening Flower. One¡¯s mental power had to break through the limits of the physical body for a Meditation Technique to play its role in strengthening the mind. But what about Prometheus who did not have the Enlightening Flower? They were either born with powerful mental power or they had found alternative means. As a new-age artificial magic plant that assisted humans in becoming Magi, the Enlightening Flower considerably lowered the required mental power aptitude for becoming a Magi. Affinity with magical energy only concerned the official Magi. During the apprentice phase, innate mental power was the primary factor. According to the manual, the Enlightening Flower was priced at a hefty 100,000 gold coins, like Meditation Techniques. Plus, it was an essential product for beginners, so it was always in shortage. On the surface, only the shops of the three major Magus forces and the court Magi stationed in the city hall have them in Koster. For self-taught wizards, the Enlightening Flower was an invaluable treasure and a necessary tool to train as apprentices! However, within orthodox Magus forces, it is not highly valued. Lin Suo estimated that the nature association likely had a considerable supply, and he should be able to obtain it at a lower price from them. He still had to earn gold coins. After all, many ordinary quality magic potions could be purchased with gold coins. If the Enlightening Flower was unavailable, he would delve into pharmacology and use the Overlapping Compound principle to create an upgraded and enhanced version. It was time to leave. The exquisite fake antique had long been prepared. After monitoring Old John for a month, the other party still hadn¡¯t been in trouble. Either his connections were strong or his forgery skills are exceptional. ¡°Bang, bang, bang~¡± Lin Suo was startled by the sudden visitor and quickly reached for the smoking pipe in his sleeve as he neared the stairs. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Rhein. Grandpa Antlers sent me to give you a gift.¡± Valia, huh¡­ ¡°Coming!¡± He hurried over and opened the door to see the young Elf Valia standing there. Her slightly curled golden hair was loose. The setting sun¡¯s residual light illuminated her face and her wine-colored pupils showed a hint of innocence as she blinked. So beautiful¡­ Bah! A seductive woman trying to corrupt his mind. After a disdainful sneer, Lin Suo¡¯s breathing became slightly heavy. Was his desire getting to his head? No, no, no, the important thing here was the gift. Could even an unlucky guy like him have a day where things went his way? Valia lifted the lid of the basket in her hand. ¡°Look, it¡¯s the Enlightening Flower. Grandpa Antlers asked me to bring it to you. He said you must be struggling and thought it might help. Remember, if we need your help in the future, you can¡¯t refuse!¡± Damn, it! She was blatantly using a favor to manipulate him, but why didn¡¯t he feel any repulsion or disgust? Perhaps it was because Valia intentionally presented herself as innocent and genuine while saying those words. She had used the tactic of ¡°casual disclosure¡± to win trust and gratitude. An impressive tactic! Well done, Valia, and well done, Antlers. As for him¡­ He would take it. A gentleman could occasionally partake in unexpected opportunities as long as no one finds out. Ever since Lin Suo transmigrated over and acquired the mysterious magic cube, he always had a nagging feeling that some would seek to harm him. As a result, he was cautious as he could ever be. Plus, this world was indeed hazardous, so his cautious personality became even more so. Then, he treated Valia to a meal and snagged some premium fruit from her shop. This transaction was really worth it. Meanwhile, in the nature association, Antlers Faner sat on a wicker chair, looking worried. ¡°I hope little Valia didn¡¯t let anything slip¡­ I hope not.¡± Having lived for so long, Antlers was different from the Elves who excelled at scheming and plotting, but he did have some experience. After reflecting on Lin Suo¡¯s behavior after everything was settled, he concluded that the other party had deliberately provoked him. The Enlightening Flower was a gift to repair their relationship and a ticket to bring Lin Suo on board. The Luna Royal Family from ninety thousand years ago was not well-known among the higher Elves of today. Through a spell, Antlers has contacted an old friend from his hometown to help search for information in the Ancient Tree Library. One day passed but he had no results. This showed Lin Suo¡¯s genuine ability since he could recognize the Luna Royal Family¡¯s symbol. There will undoubtedly be times when they need his help in the future. Unfortunately, Antlers didn¡¯t know that Valia had spoken so openly about it. However, it was also because of this that Lin Suo didn¡¯t feel disgusted. Instead, he considered it a fair exchange. Chapter 19 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Late at night, in the secret room on the second floor of Rhein¡¯s bookstore. Lin Suo didn¡¯t dare to synthesize the Enlightening Flower casually since he only had one. But he wouldn¡¯t do nothing either. He took a light blue petal, one centimeter of the stem, and a leaf, leaving the main flower untouched. Using logical deduction, he guessed that the petal was the most potent. After combining it with peppermint extract, he obtained a hundred-milliliter bottle of light blue liquid that had changed from green to blue. Then, he took the essence of the bitter root and mugwort, both ordinary medicines with calming effects. After extracting and synthesizing those two essences more than ninety times, he obtained an Overlapping Compound. Following this, he synthesized the two liquids together, reaching the hundred-time limit of syntheses. Finally, he obtained a bottle of transparent blue reagent. He repeated the process twice, using the stem and leaf respectively as the primary ingredients. With that, he obtained three bottles of reagents with colors ranging from transparent blue to light blue to pale as water. Hesitating momentarily, Lin Suo drank the lightest-colored reagent in one gulp. As soon as he swallowed it, he felt a cool stream of air rushing to his mind. Dimly, he seemed to see a darker space. ¡°Is that the consciousness sea?¡± It should be. But in Magi terms, it was called the ¡°mental power space¡±. He seized the opportunity and quickly drank the Enlightenment Reagent made from the stem since the one made from the leaf was too weak. Suddenly, there was a silent thunderclap as if a bolt of lightning had suddenly descended into his mental power space. He could see a thin white mist that he could control but was difficult to disperse. At the center, something seemed to be hidden. As the effect of the second Enlightenment Reagent dissipated, Lin Suo was expelled from the mental power space. He tried again, this time with the petal-made Enlightenment Reagent. This time, he saw a wisp of blue smoke rushing straight into his mind, landing in the mental power space, coloring the pale white mist blue. It felt like the heart beating vigorously. Beating and contracting rhythmically. After a few breaths, the mental power mist rapidly expanded, and the blue color disappeared. With that, Lin Suo woke up from cultivation. His mental power hadn¡¯t reached the limit of breaking through the body. Still, the Enlightenment Reagent undoubtedly had the effect of increasing mental power. There were eight petals on one Enlightening Flower. He was prepared to experiment and make comparisons. The stem and leaves had poor effects. Added, they should be equal to one petal. In that sense, with one Enlightening Flower, he could make nine bottles of reagents that had almost the same effect. The study of concocting magic potions was the main school of thought that the Magi would join through the mastery of alchemy. With that, they could create magic potion reagents that had special effects. Lin Suo naturally had such thoughts as well. He believed that with the power of synthesis, the essence he produced must have some sort of a special effect. Then, he could combine them with the Enlightening Flower¡¯s petal as the primary medicine. He wouldn¡¯t have to learn alchemy, He could just take a shortcut with syntheses. Whether it would work or not, he would know by trying. If it was feasible, it would be another source of income. ¡­ One night passed, and Lin Suo was quite satisfied with the experimental results. Of the nine bottles of Enlightenment Reagent, he had consumed five bottles, plus the one he drank, to complete the enlightenment. The remaining four bottles, if added by another bottle, would almost be equivalent to one Enlightening Flower. This was the charm of syntheses and the study of magic potions. If not for using one herb as two, the study of magic potions would not have been created. Compared with the ancient magicians who used herbs casually, every gram of material was finely calculated nowadays. Lin Suo uses his cheat to synthesize, thus he did need to pay attention to the details. As long as the logic was reasonable, anything could be synthesized. ¡°Scan!¡± [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Superior Knight (93/100); Beginner Magi apprentice (1/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red); Original Beast Training Method +2 (24/100); Round Pupil Meditation Technique (25/100)] [Skills: None] [Art: Language guru (red), medicine +3 (26/100), noble etiquette +1 (22/100), culinary skills +1 (41/100)] [Status: Healthy] ¡°Great!¡± Is this what it feels like to be a Magi? Lin Suo closed his eyes and could still sense everything within one meter clearly. Apart from the lack of color, there was no discomfort. It¡¯s like the spiritual sense of a cultivator. Mental power detection was an instinct of anyone who entered the path of the Magi. The Enlightening Flower was generally used for ordinary people to have their mental power breakthrough physical restraint. After that, it was useless. It was not because of resistance, but because of the flower¡¯s name. This was an artificial magic plant. It was prepared explicitly for apprentices, being gentle and effective enough. After using it, one¡¯s mental power will resist being enlightened again. Lin Suo had drunk five bottles of the Enlightenment Reagent and never felt any resistance, perhaps because the enlightenment had yet to be completed. Now, it was time for the final verification. After swallowing another bottle, Lin Suo entered a meditative state. The Round Pupil Meditation Technique refined his mental power at a slow but high-quality pace. He could not confirm the quality of his mental power, so he could only focus on taking it slow, step by step. This time, the blue flow of energy again fused into his mental power mist, providing a relaxed and comfortable sensation throughout his body. It was effective! Although the effect was low, it was still a method to improve his cultivation speed. Whether it was due to the Enlightenment Reagent being a magic potion or the power of syntheses, it was good enough if it was effective. Lin Suo felt satisfied watching the level progress bar increase by one point. He could increase one point of proficiency in practicing by meditating, and if he took a bottle of the Enlightenment Reagent every day, he could increase it by another point. With this, in at most 50 days, which was less than two months, he could break through to become an intermediate Magi apprentice. It was as fast as a rocket! However, obtaining a supply of Enlightening Flowers would require him to take some shady measures. Other than that, with mental power, he could now learn spells. At his current level, he could only learn apprentice-level spells. There were currently only two ways to do so. He could buy from the shops of the three major Magus forces or ¡°beg¡± from the nature association! However, he feared getting too indebted and caught in the Elven race¡¯s vortex. It was time to go to Old John and see if the other party was interested in the fake antique business. The bookstore remained closed today. Lin Suo took out the Overlapping Compound made of sheepskin, cowhide, and pigskin, a human skin mask. It could conceal his real appearance. Coupled with the Overlapping Compound method, it allowed him to ¡°sculpt¡± his face as he liked, which was one of his research results. The human skin mask was not as mystical as the legends said. The claims that it was thin as cicada wings were just bullshit. On the contrary, it was pretty thick, like a silicone mask. It could fill his facial features, changing his brow bone, forehead, chin, and so on. It was like a hood that felt smooth to the touch, with natural warmth. Even after putting it on, his blood vessels and hair follicles would still be visible. No ordinary person would notice any flaws if he paid attention to not exposing the area between his neck and hairline. Lin Suo pinched the extra cheekbones and couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡°It¡¯s much more realistic than a silicone mask and feels better too.¡± Done with his face, he put on his coat and hat. Handbag in hand, he also put on a mask and sunglasses, then added a scarf to look like a patient with a skin disease. After that, he left through the back door, avoiding pedestrians and taking only small alleys. Not long after, he arrived at ¡°Uncle John¡¯s Antique Shop¡±. ¡°Bang, bang, bang~¡± The familiar sound of the counter knocking made Old John get up from his recliner. He was speechless to see that the visitor was all covered up, to the point that not even a hair could be seen. It was as if the latter was here to deal with stolen goods. Chapter 20 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Are you selling native products?¡± Native my ass! Lin Suo didn¡¯t hesitate to speak frankly, ¡°Last month, at the auction of the antique guild, someone sold an Elf royal family ritual implement which was only a clay pot.¡± Old John was shocked, and his skinny body trembled with fear, but it only lasted for a moment. ¡°Why are you telling me about this?¡± ¡°I sold you that item,¡± Lin Suo said shocking words. ¡°You¡­?!!¡± Old John jumped up in fright but quickly made excuses, ¡°It¡¯s not my business. I gave it to someone else and I wasn¡¯t the one who submitted it for auction either.¡± ¡°The authenticity of that thing is clear to us. Do you have any interest in long-term cooperation?¡± Old John shook his head like a rattle-drum. ¡°Give it up! I, Old John, run an honest antique business and never sell fake antiques. In terms of that clay pot, you deceived me! Leave now, or I¡¯ll call the enforcement team.¡± Lin Suo stared at him straight-faced, his right hand grabbing a metallic object on the counter. ¡°Uncle John¡¯s Antique Shop¡¯s decades of reputation¡­¡± Creak~ ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ possibly¡­¡± Creak~ ¡°Cooperate¡­¡± Clang! ¡°Pleasant cooperation!¡± Lin Suo smiled. He dropped the balled-up metal jewelry and shook John¡¯s hand, revealing his pearly whites. ¡°Pleasant cooperation.¡± Although forceful repression is good, it would not last. Ultimately, it would depend on the benefits. Lin Suo placed his handbag on the counter and unlocked it. ¡°No matter how much you sell, give me 50,000 gold coins monthly. My people will contact you later. No selling in the auction, only retail. How about it?¡± When Old John heard 50,000 gold, he instantly felt dizzy. But when he saw the dozen or so exquisitely crafted ¡°antiques¡± in the handbag, he was stunned. This was because, with his level of antique identification, even he couldn¡¯t tell the problems with these antiques. The distress technique was superb, these antiques looked like the real thing. There were antiques from Elves, Beastmen, Sea tribe, humans, and all sorts of other races. Each had its unique features. This was a super team! He had to hold on tight to the other party! When Old John returned to his senses, Lin Suo had already disappeared. Only a note was left on the table, scribbled with the location, date, and instructions on proceeding. Yes, Lin Suo only planned to meet with Old John once. In the future, they would agree on a location where he would hide the antiques and leave immediately after. When Old John needed them, he could just go and get them there. This way, it would be much safer. This era has no surveillance cameras, so this setup was already perfect. With his soon-to-be Ultimate Knight strength, Lin Suo believed that he was no inferior to others if he brushed up his reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance awareness. If anyone wanted to mess with him, they would need to at least be an official Magi. With the pitifully short mental power detection distance of the Magi apprentices, they could hardly detect him. Plus, there were no resident official Magis in Koster. Doing illegal things required boldness and attention to detail. Upon returning to the study, Lin Suo removed his disguise and resumed his handsome and noble appearance. He sat behind the counter, flipping through pharmaceutical books while wearing his self-made gold-rimmed glasses. The cultivation time for the Meditation Technique every day was limited. Forcefully meditating would only exhaust one¡¯s mental power space. As the saying goes, ¡°Too much is as bad as too little¡±. During the day, other than keeping an eye on the bookstore, Lin Suo spent his time improving his various skills and arts¡¯ proficiency in practicing. Today, he had yet to acquire a single ability that could be classified as a skill. He estimated that he would probably soon get a knight combat skill or a Magi¡¯s spell. He was also working to get the money to get those skills. As far as he knew, the price of apprentice-level spells was not high. It was far less valuable than items such as the Enlightening Flower or Meditating Techniques. For instance, in White Rose which was operated by Koster¡¯s White Tower, the most expensive apprentice-level spells were defense-oriented. They could reach a limit of 100,000 gold coins. In comparison, attack spells only cost 30,000 gold coins while practical spells ranged from 30,000 to 80,000 gold coins depending on the effect. Of course, this was only the price for apprentice-level spells. No one would sell stage-one spells. Even if the commercial industry of Dandong was highly developed, those spells were still nowhere to be seen on the markets since it was a matter of foundation inheritance. The Dandong Empire¡¯s gold coins were only the size of a fingernail, and they were not pure gold but a mixture of other metals. In the Magi¡¯s alchemy, many items used gold and silver powder as materials. Therefore, although gold coins were a common currency, they also had a specific material value. If the value of gold powder were converted into magic stones, the refined gold powder from 100,000 gold coins would be sufficient to exchange for ten magic stones. However, no one was willing to trade so much gold powder, which was useless in such amounts. As such, the estimated value would be much lower. Plus, gold coins were currency. The market would be short of that money if one used them to refine gold powder. Doing this once or twice would be fine, but doing it repeatedly would lead to problems. Issues related to the Empire¡¯s control of gold coins were also involved. Other than illegal private transactions, there was no other place to exchange gold coins for magic stones. That being said, it was already good enough to be able to buy spells with gold coins, and there was nothing to be dissatisfied about. Lin Suo had his eyes set on some apprentice-level spells, but unfortunately, he needed more funds. The fake antiques could only be sold slowly. It was best to sell them to passing ships or individual merchants in the ports of Koster to ensure their wide distribution. This would reduce the likelihood of the deceived customers finding the source. It was already an absurd profit to get fifty thousand gold per month. Even nobles could not earn this much. As expected, dealing in luxury goods was a tax on intelligence. However, to purchase a spell, his funds were still very much lacking. Lin Suo thought about it and decided to use the Enlightenment Reagent to test the waters. However, he couldn¡¯t sell it himself. He needed a trustworthy agent who could handle the matter so that if something happened, it couldn¡¯t be traced back to him. Before that, he needed to solve the problems of obtaining the Enlightening Flowers and satisfying his cultivation needs. ¡­ A few days later, Valia came, as usual, to scrounge for food. Walking into the Rhine Bookstore with her hands behind her back and bobbing her head, she asked, ¡°Rhein, Rhein, what are we eating today?¡± To be honest, Lin Suo was sick of vegan food at this point. Every time Valia came, he had to accompany her and munch on fruit salad, and he had eaten enough. He hid the just-made pig shoulder, then picked up a cucumber-like vegetable and cut it into small strips. ¡°Spicy cucumber mixed with sweet melon¡­¡± It was a legendary salty, sweet, and spicy taste, with a crunchy texture that most people couldn¡¯t handle. Unfortunately, Valia liked this taste and often brought ingredients over herself. ¡°Yay!¡± The Elf simply sat on the sofa and didn¡¯t budge, so Lin Suo could only speed up and make another few normal fruit salads. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Thank you, I won¡¯t be polite then!¡± The Elf¡¯s cheeks bulged, making her unable to speak clearly. ¡°By the way, Rhein, why do you like to eat Elven food? People like you are scarce.¡± Lin Suo¡¯s face turned black. He took a bite of the apple and it tasted like wax to him. After a while, when Valia finished eating and drinking her fill, Lin Suo immediately put down his fork. ¡°Valia, how¡¯s the matter with the seeds of the Enlightening Flower?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Giving them to you is no problem, but you¡¯ve already completed your enlightenment, so why do you need the seeds? Besides, the magic energy concentration in Koster is too low to sustain the Enlightening Flower.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 21 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°I¡¯d like to give it a try.¡± ¡°Okay then, give me ten thousand gold coins, and I¡¯ll get you ten seeds.¡± ¡°Are they available at the nature association?¡± ¡°Yes, Grandpa Antlers has a magic energy garden with over fifty Enlightening Flowers. There shouldn¡¯t be a problem getting ten seeds.¡± Lin Suo¡¯s mouth twitched. Why didn¡¯t she say so earlier? Ten thousand gold coins¡­ He couldn¡¯t afford it. ¡°Uh, Lia¡­ I¡¯m just a bookstore owner. I don¡¯t have that much money right now. Can I give you two thousand as a deposit and pay you the rest over this month?¡± ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll pay for you first.¡± A rich lady¡­ He wouldn¡¯t have been so unwilling to see her if she had revealed her true identity earlier. ¡°Thank you.¡± Valia was stunned. Looking at Lin Suo¡¯s sincere smile, her pretty face turned slightly red. ¡°Well, then¡­ I¡¯ll leave first and come back to see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°O¡­¡± Valia ran out like a gust of wind. Lin Suo was speechless, finally uttering an ¡°okay¡± from between his teeth. ¡°She¡¯s so strange. Sometimes she¡¯s cunning as a fox, and other times she¡¯s so innocent it¡¯s unbelievable¡­ Forget it, and I shouldn¡¯t dwell on it. Having an Elven friend is pretty good.¡± One day later, Lin Suo successfully obtained the seeds of the Enlightening Flower. He then set up a sunny garden on the third floor. Although Magi apprentices couldn¡¯t absorb magic energy from the air, they could interfere with the movement trajectories of magic energy with their mental power. In his spiritual vision, small dark blue light spots were in the air. They were magic energy. Although the concentration of magic energy in Koster was low, it did not mean it was nonexistent. With magic energy present, Lin Suo could capture it through his mental power. With all the necessary conditions met, the plan to create artificial magic stones progressed smoothly. With the magic energy light spots and ordinary jade stones as materials, and using the principle of Logic Synthesis, he made artificial magic stones. The process was smoother than he expected. In just one week, the whole sunny garden was surrounded by magic stones which were placed on the walls, floor, and ceiling at a distance of every half a meter. This caused the density of magic energy to become incredibly high. He had used a total of 96 artificial magic stones. Unlike natural magic stones, the magic energy in the artificial ones could not slowly restore after consumption and they were also prone to shattering. Lin Suo wasn¡¯t quite sure of the underlying principles. Before he learned whether there were items like his artificial magic stones in the Magi world, he couldn¡¯t use them in the outside world. The loophole was too big. The soil in his potted plants was the extreme product of a hundred rounds of synthesis from high-quality black soil he bought. Using them to plant the Enlightening Flower should not be a problem. After planting the Enlightening Flower seeds, Lin Suo sealed the sunny garden before collapsing onto his bed, utterly exhausted from the week¡¯s work. While the consumption of synthesis power was insignificant, using it repeatedly drained him mentally. After his physical energy was exhausted, it started consuming his mental power. Once that was depleted, he would lose consciousness. Come to think of it, he had yet to experiment with synthesizing two transcendent items. He had only touched the matter lightly, like synthesizing the petals and stem. He imagined that the consumption would be even larger¡­ He decided to wait it out. After he got two spells, he would then try and see if spell models could be synthesized. If that was possible, could the natal magic circles of stage-one Magi also be synthesized? As he drifted off to sleep, Lin Suo wondered about the future possibilities. When he woke up, it was already the second day. Days passed by, one after another. His life was very regular. During the day, he managed the bookstore to disguise himself, meditated, took the reagent to improve his mental power, and enhanced his proficiency in practicing in various skills and arts. At night, he practiced the knight¡¯s breathing techniques, striving to break through to the Ultimate Knight level as soon as possible. He only slept when dawn was approaching. It was said that after reaching the peak of the knight level, there would be a certain degree of increase in lifespan. Among the information on his body condition, as shown by the magic cube, the bracket behind his age indicated his maximum lifespan. Now, it was 72! This number would allow one to be considered long-lived in modern times, but compared to Valia, one was just a premature child. Who wouldn¡¯t want to be one of the longevity species? It was too enviable. In a blink of an eye, it was already January. It had been four months since his arrival, and today marked the fifth month¡¯s beginning. Koster¡¯s weather was gradually getting colder. As it was winter, the clothes of the passers-by became thicker. Standing in front of the window, Lin Suo admired the lively scene of people coming and going and immersed himself in the familiar atmosphere of humans. Then, he went to the sunny garden as usual. The growth period of the artificial magic plant, the Enlightening Flower, was very short. It could usually be harvested in about three months. It had only been just over a month since he had planted the seeds, but his Enlightening Flowers had already started to self-pollinate. The seeds would fall into the soil after the flowering period. Each plant could produce 3 to 5 seeds. As a result, the flower would no longer have the effect of enlightenment, but it was customary to have pros and cons. Lin Suo only planned to pick five plants, while the rest would continue to be planted. Increasing the number of Enlightening Flowers was not a dream. Besides, five plants could already produce 45 bottles of Enlightenment Reagent. It was enough for him to use, and he could accumulate 15 bottles, find an opportunity to sell them, and earn money. For the Enlightening Flower to grow so fast, Lin Suo had also paid a considerable price. Twenty-one pieces of the artificial magic stones had shattered in the growing period, and he would replace every broken piece. Though, synthesizing was an effortless task. It was just that even after a month, his knight level hadn¡¯t broken through yet. The further he went, the slower his progress became. Every day, there was only a 0.0x point increase. He suspected that it was because he was close to the limit of the path of the knights. The path was easy when others had walked it before, but as it got narrower, it was only a given that it became more challenging to walk through. When he broke through to the Ultimate Knight level and fused the breathing technique, thus opening up a path that nobody had ever walked before, it would undoubtedly take more time. Nonetheless, this was not a huge issue. After all, he had a cheat. He only needed to take it slowly. Any progress, no matter how small, was better than none. ¡°Scan!¡± [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis ] [Level: Superior Knight (99.1/100); Apprentice Magi (42/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red); Original Beast Training Method+4 (86/100); Round Pupil Meditation Technique (89/100)] [Skills: None] [Arts: Language guru (red), medicine (red), noble etiquette+3 (61/100), culinary skills+3 (9/100)] [Body Condition: Healthy] ¡°I¡¯m almost done with all my learning¡­ I should be able to reach the Ultimate Knight level when the Original Beast Training Method reaches the red grade. What else should I learn? The art of sea navigation is a must since I¡¯ll have to go out to sea in the future. Should I learn blacksmithing?¡± Lin Suo pondered. Although he was a modern person, his knowledge of many things was only superficial. Learning blacksmithing would enable him to utilize the power of synthesis better and find ways to control the synthesis result more precisely. Once he formed a skill with blacksmithing, he would understand many things each time he achieved Enhanced Limit-Breaking. As long as he understood some principles, he could probably even synthesize and construct high-tech products. Mobile phones and computers were out of the question since they are beyond the scope of blacksmithing. However, firearms may be possible. He would have to find time to try it out. He looked at his synthesized mechanical watch and realized it was already noon. It was time for Old John to pay him. ¡°It¡¯s the time of harvest.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 22 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio In Behemoth Restaurant located on 106th Street in the Phil Administrative area of Koster¡¯s business port, Lin Suo entered without any disguise, just like a regular diner. He quickly and efficiently checked for any tailing or stalkers before settling at a table near the window. He ordered a fish fillet, fish soup, two meat patties, and a beer mug, then leisurely enjoyed his meal. The taste of the Behemoth Restaurant was passable but the portion was absurdly large. The meat patties were f*cking half a meter in diameter and a thickness of half an inch. It was specially prepared for knights with big appetites. The stronger one¡¯s physique, the more food one must consume daily to replenish energy expenditure. Lin Suo¡¯s staple food was synthetic, which allowed him to quickly fill himself up with just a few bites while containing all the necessary nutrients for the body in excessive amounts. He would have been as round as a ball without his daily overloaded exercises. After finishing his meal, he paid 1.9 gold, feeling shortchanged. Lin Suo left the restaurant feeling annoyed. When he passed by a flower bed, he casually grabbed at it, and a black handbag which was quite heavy appeared in his hand. After successfully returning to Rhein¡¯s bookstore, he swept the bag with his mental power and found 50,000 gold coins, not more or less. There was also a note at the bottom which read ¡°2¦Ï?¦¤¦Å¦Ê¦Å¦Ì¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ï¦Ô¡±. ¡°Oh, you even know Elven Language.¡± Old John had left a message for Lin Suo regarding the next delivery time. There were still a few days left, so Lin Suo wasn¡¯t in a rush. Right now, he needed to purchase the spells he had longed for. He knew that having only a high level of attainment wasn¡¯t enough. He needed to have the means to apply it. It was just a pity that the psychic spells he wanted to learn were contraband, not sold on the market, and strictly prohibited. It was forbidden for self-taught Magi to sell psychic spells. As a result, he had to settle for something else that could serve as a jack-of-all-trades. Never mind being bad at everything, but not being ordinarily comprehensive was his worry. Lin Suo raised his head to look at the six-floor white tower, which was called the ¡°White Rose Spells and Supplies Shop¡±. It was affiliated with the White Tower. The shop was staffed by three advanced Magi apprentices who were quite strong, so he needed to be cautious. He donned the standard gray robe that self-taught wizards wore, which covered the upper half of his face, and a black half-mask to protect the lower half. It was common for self-taught wizards to hide their identities. Aside from well-known self-taught wizards who were experts in their particular fields and needed to show their faces for business purposes, most self-taught wizards were like sewer rats. Because they learned apprentice-level Meditation Techniques with side effects, their bodies had mutated to varying degrees, which was another reason they concealed their true appearances. That being said, those with strong willpower and exceptional talent would experience less mutation. When the White Rose shop assistant saw Lin Suo enter, he gave him a contemptuous smile and muttered, ¡°Disgusting rat.¡± Although the other party¡¯s voice was low, it was loud enough for Lin Suo to hear. It was intentional. He couldn¡¯t understand why they would dare to act this way. In novels, the main characters were often mocked and ridiculed when they buy something, but that was understandable since the shop had a great background and the culprit with backing simply mocked a weed outside. But, the other party was just an ordinary person! To think he was so brave just because he was working at White Rose? One should know that self-taught wizards were almost all heartless killers. Lin Suo narrowed his eyes and looked at the person, noting the playful glint in the latter¡¯s eyes. A wave of anger surged within him. He was a self-taught wizard as well. The only difference was that he was lucky enough to obtain an official Magi-level Meditation Technique from Valia. As a result, before breaking through to become a stage-one Magi, he didn¡¯t need to worry about the problems with the Meditation Techniques, nor did he have to worry about body mutations. How dare this ordinary person humiliate him like this? Either the other party was a fool, or he had someone to rely on. Lin Suo reminded himself that the store belonged to White Tower. If he took a step back, peace could be withheld¡­ Bang! Lin Suo put the bag of gold coins on the counter and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Stone Mud Transformation and Mud Stone Transformation, I want them both.¡± These two spells were apprentice-level and functional spells that couldn¡¯t be applied in combat, so they were inexpensive. Their price as a set was just nice, 50000 gold coins. But, the spells were also called¡­ ¡°The construction set?¡± The ill-mannered shop attendant began to chatter again. ¡°A rat is a rat, after all. Which construction site do you want to go to and lay foundations? Twenty years of hard work and you can¡¯t even get one magic stone. Why not come to White Tower and be an experiment subject¡­¡± ¡°Give them to me,¡± Lin Suo interrupted, knocking on the counter to get the attention of others. With this, the shop attendant quickly took out two books, not brave enough to ruin the White Tower¡¯s reputation in public. The spells sold to self-taught wizards were only common goods that were circulated wildly, so there were no security measures. Anyone could learn them. That being said, the risk was extremely high if someone wanted to learn from the self-taught wizards at a lower price. Due to body mutations, most self-taught wizards had some psychological problems. Perhaps just for fun, they would intentionally sell faulty and incomplete spells at low prices. If one recklessly studied them, one could end with a mild mental illness or even die from bleeding out of the seven orifices. At least legitimate stores belonging to the mainstream forces guaranteed authenticity. These were all bloody experiences, included in the comprehensive pamphlet Antlers had given him. Hence, Lin Suo had some understanding. This was also why he never considered getting spells from other sources. Once he got the goods, Lin Suo left the store immediately. When the shop attendant saw him leave while suppressing his anger, he took a seashell from his pocket. Then, he brought it close to his lips and whispered in a low and humble voice. ¡°Lord Sala, another rat has taken the bait. His mental power fluctuation is not strong. He¡¯s only a beginner Magi apprentice.¡± If Lin Suo heard this, he would instantly understand that it was all on purpose and just an entrapment. Back at Rhein Bookstore, Lin Suo sat on the couch and did not look at the spells. Instead, he furrowed his brows and was deep in thought. F*ck. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Could he tolerate this? No way! At night, the fully-equipped Lin Suo perched on the roof of a building at the exit of an alley. According to his physical investigation in the afternoon, he received reliable information. The foul-mouthed employee from White Rose lived in the Phil Administrative area and would pass through this alley every day after work. He wouldn¡¯t feel happy if he didn¡¯t teach the other party a lesson. Of course, the honest and humble Lin Suo never thought about killing anyone. He only wanted to rob the other party, pull out a few of his teeth, and break his genitals and a few fingers. If the other party had a wife, he could also¡­ Forget it. His target was coming. In the distance, the foul-mouthed brown-haired man wearing a White Rose employee uniform was walking over. Lin Suo smirked wickedly. He was about to pull the trigger on the Fainting Agent spray he had set up when his expression suddenly froze. Thanks to the physical fitness of the Superior Knight level, his eyes were not as limited by the darkness as an ordinary person¡¯s. He could see almost everything within a hundred meters, although not as clearly as during the day. Just now, he saw a figure on the roof of the other end of the alley. The figure was like him, wearing a night suit. The other party had also sneaked a glance at the shop attendant just now and just happened to be noticed by him. ¡°Someone with the same thoughts?!¡± Lin Suo¡¯s eyes brightened, and he stopped all movement, ready to watch the show. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 23 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The shop attendant swaggered into the alley, with one hand behind his back and his eyes lowered, appearing to be completely unguarded. However, he was actually taking in everything around him. Lin Suo looked on thoughtfully. As he reached the end of the alley, the shop attendant let out a disappointed sigh, ¡°The damned rat didn¡¯t fall for it.¡± The black-clad individual lying in ambush at the other end of the alley also jumped down, his expression gloomy. ¡°Matt, give me an explanation.¡± Hearing this, the shop attendant immediately became flustered. ¡°Lord Sala, I didn¡¯t expect this rat to be so cunning. Perhaps he is well aware that he is weak and doesn¡¯t dare to make a move against me, especially since I work at the White Rose. Most self-taught wizards don¡¯t dare to mess with me. This was a mistake on my part, which wasted your time. I will compensate you.¡± ¡°Hmph. It¡¯s best that you do.¡± Lord Sala, the black-cloaked Magi, snorted coldly, clearly displeased. From the scales covering his exposed cheeks, he looked like a self-taught wizard with a physical deformity. Lin Suo furrowed his brow. After running through today¡¯s events in his mind, he gained a clear understanding of their plan. ¡°Cooperating with a self-taught wizard to set up an entrapment, huh? Targeting self-taught wizards like me who are easily angered and not very strong?¡± It was clear from their demeanor that they had succeeded more than once. Lord Sala hadn¡¯t noticed Lin Suo, so he didn¡¯t conceal his mental power fluctuations. He seemed to be an intermediate Magi apprentice, and his mental power was particularly active, not far from breaking through to become an advanced Magi apprentice. The gap between Magi apprentices wasn¡¯t very pronounced. If the other party wanted to make a fatal strike without being discovered by the surrounding residents, he had most likely mastered psychic spells. Psychic spells were not available to self-taught wizards, but they were not banned from being sold to other large Magus forces coming from outside Koster. On the contrary, if the forces had a close relationship, even the stage-one spells could be exchanged, let alone the apprentice-level spells that were only treated as commercial goods. Matt was a shop attendant at White Rose. If a group of apprentices led by Magis from other regions came for an exchange activity, he would most likely sell psychic spells to the other party¡¯s apprentices. This created an opportunity for action. ¡°How wicked. This way, I won¡¯t feel guilty about killing both of you at all.¡± With that, Lin Suo secretly triggered the mechanism. Today, the Enlightenment Flowers planted in the sunny garden had fully ripened, and Lin Suo picked five of them. He had used one of them to develop a powerful Fainting Agent. The principle of the Fainting Agent was actually quite simple. It was not a poison, but a type of incense that provided a huge mental power boost. When Lin Suo first synthesized it, the main ingredient was peppermint extract, which he developed for the purpose of staying up late to increase his proficiency. The icy feeling could freeze a mortal¡¯s soul into a popsicle. However, it only had a moderate effect on Magis who had strong mental power and opened up the mental power space. So, at the time, he thought it would probably be useless on Magis. Today, he added an Enlightenment Flower to the synthesis formula and the enhanced effect was so great that even he couldn¡¯t handle it. He would faint within a few breaths. The only reason he set it up was to prevent any accidents from happening. Since he came with the mindset of making someone a corpse, he would naturally ensure that everything would go smoothly. Who would have thought that he would end up with another life to collect? Indeed, experiencing certain things was the only way to truly understand them. Lesson learned! Standing in the alley, Matt suddenly shuddered, noticing that the fog had rolled in without warning. Living in a harbor town came with this annoyance, though it was rare for the fog to roll in during late autumn. ¡°Brrr, it¡¯s so cold. Lord Sala, let¡¯s head back now. I¡¯ll bring your compensation to you tomorrow.¡± The black-robed Lord Sala paused and felt a tingling sensation in his forehead. He activated his mental power detection and realized something was amiss. The clear images he normally saw from detection were now blurred as if they were frosted over. Wait¡­ ¡°Shit! This fog¡­ bad¡­¡± With a thump, Lord Sala collapsed to the ground frankly, unconscious. The entire process took no more than three seconds. At the side, Matt stood completely still, frozen, his eyes losing their luster. Lin Suo donned a filter mask, crafted from artificial magic stones which contained magic energy that could effectively resist the mental power in the fog. Then, he came down from the rooftop. As expected, Matt¡¯s soul simply vanished since he couldn¡¯t contain that much mental power. He had died instantly. If a transcendent magic potion related to mental power was used on ordinary people, most of them would end up the same. Lin Suo cautiously approached the black-robed Magi and pulled out a small throwing knife from his pocket. He gave it a quick flick, and it lodged itself straight into Sala¡¯s forehead. With this, the other party was dead as dead can be. Relaxing a little, Lin Suo meticulously searched Sala¡¯s body. The spoils were meager: two real magic stones and two money pouches. There were no books on spells, which was normal for someone who had come out to kill. However, Sala had a Meditation Technique book that caught Lin Suo¡¯s eye. ¡°Moon Snake Meditation Technique? Makes sense. For you, the Meditation Technique is your foundation. Even if it¡¯s just an apprentice-level Meditation Technique, carrying it with you all the time is explainable.¡± Lin Suo flipped through the pages nonchalantly. A Mediation Technique like this which had side effects was usually an apprentice-level Meditation technique. However, there seemed to be something wrong with this Moon Snake Meditation Technique. Lin Suo¡¯s expression turned bitter. He had a feeling that he had landed himself into trouble¡­ During the cultivation of the Moon Snake Cultivation Technique, the blood of a monster named the Moon Snake was required. At the same time, the cultivation would also cause the Magi¡¯s transformation into a half-human, half-snake form. If one could break through to become an official Magi, one would then possess the Moon Snake bloodline and its innate strength. This type of Meditation Technique was originally spread by the Life Modification School. Later, it was discovered that although using this shortcut to modify one¡¯s bloodline before becoming a stage-one Magi could accelerate one¡¯s strength and cultivation speed, it had irreversible and serious effects on the soul and psyche. While bloodline could be modified, soul modification had always been a difficult problem for Magi. With the rigor of the ancient Magi, such ¡°experiment leakage¡± should not have occurred. However, the wonder of fate lies here. Various coincidences made it inevitable. By the time the Magi of the Life Modification School noticed, such defective Meditation Techniques had already spread throughout the continent. As such, they could only find ways to improve it for generations. The side effects were reduced, and the Meditation Techniques were neutered to prevent the possibility of the cultivator breaking through to become an official Magi. In this way, the apprentices who accidentally learned such mediation techniques would never fully mutate into monsters simply due to an increase in strength. In recent years, some malicious individuals had intentionally sent such Meditation Techniques to the hands of the self-taught Magi, having them learn and thus nurture more apprentices. When the time was ripe, it would be an opportunity to harvest monster materials. ¡°Wow¡­.¡± Recalling the Magi handbook given to him by Antlers and comparing it to some details of the Moon Snake meditation practice, he could be sure that this was a special Meditation Technique that had not been neutered. The culprits were modifying the bloodlines of others and harvesting humans as materials. And now, he had killed someone¡¯s target in advance¡­ It was very dangerous. ¡°This can¡¯t do. I need to deal with the corpses first.¡± With that, Lin Suo removed all the mechanical traps in the alley and used an Enlightening Flower to gather the spreading Fainting Agent. The two had a complementary relationship and could attract each other. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 24 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo had prepared the Enlightening Flower as one of the means of cleaning up the scene. He did not expect to really use it, but fortunately, he had prepared it. Carrying two corpses, Lin Suo jumped onto the rooftop and erased the traces, scattering odor-eliminating powder everywhere, as well as on himself and the corpses. The product was made of a unique combination of medicinal powder and seaweed powder. It had a unique smell of the sea, which was the best in eliminating smells in coastal cities. It was initially just a flavor enhancer though¡­ The wharf area late at night was quite quiet. Many ships of various styles were moored. The atmosphere now was not suitable for appreciating the scenery though. Lin Suo pulled out a small bottle containing a corrosive green liquid from his waist. ¡°Corpse-dissolving solution!¡± It was an Overlapping Compound specially researched, formed from a combination of the digestive juices of a flytrap, spider, and livestock, as well as concentrated sulfuric acid, putrid corpse fluid, and others. With the power of synthesis and no shortage of money, Lin Suo had many weird things on him. Anything he could possibly use, he had brought them with him today. The ones that weren¡¯t needed for the moment were placed in a secret compartment. The issue was not a huge one. After stripping the clothing off the two corpses, Lin Suo poured the corpse-dissolving solution on them, and the two overlapping corpses immediately emitted thick white smoke. The stench was overwhelming. Lin Suo quickly stepped back. This was his first time using the solution to dissolve human corpses, and he didn¡¯t expect the smoke produced to be so much more than doing the same on a mouse. Fortunately, it was nighttime. After three minutes, the corpses by the dock were corroded and only left behind a transparent liquid that smelled fragrant. The corrosion did not damage the stone dock. Then, Lin Suo wiped the liquid off with the clothing of the two corpses. With a spark, the clothes burned intensely as if he had poured oil on them. Lin Suo threw them into the water while he couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the corpse oil made from human corpses is too disgusting, I wouldn¡¯t have burned it.¡± After a few seconds, he nodded in satisfaction when he saw that see the flames of the burning clothes, like the corpse oil extracted from mice, were not extinguished by the water. He sprinkled another packet of powder and left after a few turns. ¡­ With a loud yawn, Lin Suo woke up from his three-meter-wide and four-meter-long soft bed. He forced himself to get up and took a small green potion from his bedside table, applying it to his philtrum. ¡°Ah! Refreshing! Another energetic day.¡± Lin Suo temporarily hid the Moon Snake Meditation Technique in a forest outside the city, fearing the person who provided this Meditation Technique might have a tracking method. He would only choose to learn the Meditation Technique once he could be sure the magic cube could eliminate its side effects. In any case, the Round Pupil Meditation Technique was enough for him to use for a long time. If not for worry about being manipulated by the nature association, he wouldn¡¯t have gone to the White Rose Spells and Supplies Shop to buy spells. He was still too weak. ¡°Today, let¡¯s practice spells. As expected of spells that come in a set, they¡¯re quite extraordinary.¡± He went to a small room on the first floor where only cleaning tools were kept. Before starting, Lin Suo scanned himself. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (72)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Superior Knight (99.3/100); Beginner Magi apprentice (46/100)] [Transcendence: Moon Plate Breathing Technique (red); Original Beast Training Method +4 (90/100); Round Pupil Meditation Technique (96/100)] [Skill: Mud Stone Conversion (20/100)] [Art: Language guru (red), medicine (red), noble etiquette +3 (61/100), culinary skills +3 (9/100)] [Body Condition: Healthy] Mud Stone Conversion was the spell he learned from eating the books. It was only an apprentice-level spell and should not have any attack or defense capabilities. However, because of the spells¡¯ perfect compatibility, they could be automatically fused even without reaching the red grade. The additional information in his mind showed that even though it was just a functional spell, it had some other abilities. ¡°Mud Splatter!¡± Lin Suo used the spell model in his mental power space to resonate with the magic energy in the air. Thirty seconds later, a mass of purple-black mud floated in front of him, wriggling irregularly. With a splat, it was smeared on the ground. Lin Suo was speechless. It was as he expected, not much use. As expected of a construction set spell. That being said, it was still quite suitable for digging a basement, creating a larger safe house and laboratory. That was his intention in the first place. Hopefully, there will be some improvement after he achieved Enhanced Limit-Breaking a few times. Lin Suo¡¯s other abilities were also on the verge of a breakthrough, and he felt that he could complete the breakthroughs one after another in the next week. By then, he would be more powerful and could learn an attack-type spell instead. Oh, he still needed money. Furthermore, the casting time of thirty seconds must be explained from the principle of spell casting. The learning and casting of spells could be divided into several stages. Constructing a spell model ¨C injecting mental power ¨C resonating with the magic energy in the air ¨C completing the casting. This was for the average Magi apprentice. Apprentices of the Charm School could reduce casting time through charms and gestures. Even beginners could cast spells in a few seconds. Comparing the two, the Charm School undoubtedly had more advantages. That being said, when proficiency in practicing reached the maximum, spells could be cast instantaneously. It would be the same for charm apprentices and regular apprentices. Not to mention formal Magi. Even if they have not learned it, they could understand the principle of apprentice-level spells and complete the casting in a second. As for constructing spell models, the manual described it as difficult, but Lin Suo did not feel that way. He just copied it, synthesized it into a book cover, and then ¡°ate¡± it by patting it on his forehead. It was that easy. This is how unreasonable he was as a scholar. Lin Suo guided his mental power and kept communicating with the spell model. Every thirty seconds, the ground would abruptly sink about a meter, which was the effect of the Mud Stone Conversion. Koster¡¯s underground was a sewer. It was all made up of complete rocks, and without a doubt, it was the work of the Magi. Lin Suo deliberately avoided the sewer system. He opened up a passage from the crevices straight to the depths of the earth. The soil was squeezed to the side, turning it into green-gray rocks, and after going down eight meters, Lin Suo felt that it was almost enough. Controlling the spell, he constructed the rocks into a staircase. After going down another ten meters, his mental power was exhausted, and he had no choice but to meditate to recover on the spot. After three days of not opening Rhein Bookstore, a vast stone chamber of 500 square meters at a depth of 100 meters below ground level had been completely formed, entirely composed of dark-green rocks. The walls are as thick as ten meters. In addition to twelve load-bearing columns, there was a passageway connecting the sewer system, a second passageway connecting his material storage room in the Phil Administrative district, and a third passageway connecting the inland outside the city. A fourth passageway lead directly to the seabed but had yet to be opened. The fifth passageway led to the Rhein Bookstore above. The word ¡°safe¡± seemed to be engraved on Lin Suo¡¯s exhausted, pale face. Rubbing the stiff corners of his eyes, Lin Suo temporarily returned to the surface. According to the time, the task he entrusted to Valia should have been completed. In terms of the mental power detection of Magis, beginner apprentices had a detection range of only 1 meter, intermediate apprentices 5 meters, and senior apprentices 10 meters. Official Magis, on the other hand, had a detection range of at least 100 meters. The specific figure depended on the strength of the soul and not the amount of mental power. Mental power was like electricity while the soul was the machinery. Given the maximum limit of the machinery, even if one had a vast amount of electricity, it did not matter. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 25 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo had asked Valia to help him find items that could help him hide from mental power detection. Direct blocking wouldn¡¯t work though, since others would find a huge space that had no mental power at all with a scan, which was a blatant lie. It was better to hide and make the space exist in substance like the soil. At this point, he could see that Valia was truly¡­ innocent! She was so dumb it was endearing. She was not a b*tch posing to be pure. As a result, his attitude toward her changed and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of guilt. He had assumed too much! Before he asked her for help, he had looked into it. Although Valia was more than a hundred years old, the psychological maturity of Elves had nothing to do with their age. From the books he had read, Elves had a lifespan of about 500 years. Only in the last ten years of their lives would they age quickly. As such, they could be considered to be eternally young. According to the history books, the Dandong people¡¯s history of prosperity started with a 16-year-old boy obtaining a wealth of millions of gold from a three-hundred-year-old Elf with just a few toys from the human world. It was ridiculous. The matter reached the ears of the Dandong people, and being shrewd, they scammed many Elves, obtaining huge wealth. Thus followed the rise of the Empire. After obtaining benefits from conducting business, their direction of development thus changed drastically. In the end, the Empire became the current commerce-military Empire. Back then, the one who had been scammed the worst was the Language of Nature family. Legend had it that even an ¡°old grandma¡± of 480 years old had been deceived into paying for a human in a brothel. It was just tragic. Tragic beyond compare. Unfortunately, just one family was not powerful enough to take revenge. Plus, the transactions between families were done through established contracts. Even if one party made a play of words, the Elf Queen could not say anything about it. As a result, they could only retaliate in secret, instead of directly starting a war. This was the history from a millennium ago. Perhaps humans had already forgotten about it, but for Valia ¡¤ Language of Nature, it was simply a two-generation story. Maybe some Magis of the Language of Nature family from that era were still alive now. Yet, to think she could still hold such tremendous goodwill towards the humans of Dandong¡­ Her innocence and kindness were instinctive, seemingly ingrained in her bones. Humans were, indeed, despicable creatures. Recalling the contents of the books he had read over the past few days, Lin Suo couldn¡¯t help but sigh with emotion. After covering the entrance that led down to the safe house, he showered and drank some peppermint essence. With that, his eyes brightened. He had enough time to prepare a table of vegan dishes and waited for the agreed-upon time. Two o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Creak~ Ding, ling, ling! As the wooden door was pushed open, the sound of wind chimes resonated in his ears, and Lin Suo greeted the Elf with a friendly smile. ¡°Lia, have a seat.¡± ¡°Wow! Rhein, you¡¯re so kind. You made so much delicious food.¡± ¡°I knew you were hungry. Let¡¯s eat first and then discuss business.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm~¡± The Elf with ruby eyes smiled and under her fine hair was smooth and tender skin. One could see two hundred percent of the vitality of youth in her. Compared to her, Lin Suo, who was young as well, had pale skin and dark circles around his eyes. Even if he had taken some ¡°stimulants¡±, he still looked lazy and nihilistic. If one didn¡¯t know, they would think he had been kidnapped by five ladies and forced to have sex in bed¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t look very well, Rhein.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been busy lately. Eat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After a satisfying meal an hour later, Valia recounted the task that Lin Suo had asked of her. ¡°I had to put in a lot of effort to get this, but unfortunately, there isn¡¯t much of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright. Can you tell me what happened?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Valia touched the pendant on her chest, and a white stone appeared in her hand. A spatial storage equipment¡­ He wanted it so much! ¡°This is the Stone of Earth, a rare mineral that can deceive mental power detection. I¡­ I¡­ I only managed to obtain one.¡± Lin Suo nodded, not blaming her. One was enough. Valia didn¡¯t take it that way though. She thought he was not speaking because he was disappointed. ¡°Rhein, the Stone of Earth is very rare and used mainly by official Magi to build meditation rooms. Generally, only a small room can be built. You also want it to build your own meditation room, right?¡± Valia was a little annoyed at this point. ¡°My things have all been taken by my sister. Otherwise, I could have dismantled the meditation room at my house and given the Stones of Earth to you.¡± Lin Suo¡¯s lips twitched. There was no need for that. He wasn¡¯t a mosquito and didn¡¯t suck blood. Valia was like moonlight, seemingly possessing some mysterious purification power that could always dispel the darkness in his heart. Perhaps, this was her innocence. It was great. Taking the Stone of Earth, Lin Suo detected it with his mental power to feel its effects. Indeed, it was inconspicuous, but like soft soil, it could be sensed, carrying a hint of earthy smell. ¡°Lia, do you know how the Stone of Earth works?¡± ¡°The principle¡­¡± Valia tapped her chin with her index finger, pondering momentarily before brightening up with a beautiful smile. ¡°Grandma once told me that the Stone of Earth is an earth elemental crystal, but its elemental strength is very loose, just like soil. With many Stones of Earth, one can shape a quiet and sturdy magic domain. Once magic energy enters the domain, it can never leave. As such, it is usually used to make the meditation rooms of official Magis. In addition to hiding from mental power detection, it can also isolate the various elements in the air. In fact, now is the perfect time for you to start accumulating Stone of Earths. By the time you break through to become a stage-one Magi, you should be able to build a meditation room¡­¡± Lin Suo took a deep breath. The crystallization of the earth, huh¡­ It seemed that the so-called meditation room was likely built underground. In that case, he needed to disguise a small basement room to avoid exposing the more hidden areas below. ¡°Understood, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Rhein. You treat me to delicious meals daily, and your food is much better than my sister¡¯s.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± After a brief chat, Valia happily left, leaving Lin Suo feeling a bit guilty about his growing debt. Soon, Lin Suo began researching the Stone of Earth. Its texture was like softened brass, with a whitish color and a unique magic energy structure within. It seemed somewhat like a spell model, just that it was more natural, without any artificial traces. Trying to cheat using the power of synthesis to make an artificial Stone of Earth as he did for the artificial magic stone was somewhat problematic. The problems had to be solved step by step. He purchased many ores that could be bought with gold coins, primarily consisting of earth elements. These ores all had a faint reaction to magic energy, The official Magi didn¡¯t think much of them, and they were only suitable for apprentices. Among them, orichalcum was the main ore he bought. Using mental power, Lin Suo captured earth elements in the air. If magic energy was the fusion of all elemental forces, then earth elements were secondary separations. They were more widely distributed than magical energy. Simply injecting them into the orichalcum was useless. Only with the power of synthesis could individual elements be thoroughly fused into the orichalcum. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 26 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio This kind of action was more taxing and exhausting than making magic stones, but the reason was unknown. It took him two days to make a piece of orichalcum that was filled with earth elements, though it was now no longer orichalcum. Instead, it had become the real earth elemental crystal! The next step was to transform it into the Stone of Earth. Lin Suo¡¯s first choice was naturally to use the elements inside to simulate a natural model, but the problem was that the Stone of Earth contained magic energy while the man-made orichalcum contained earth elements. It was not realistic to continue the synthesis. Just making this earth crystal had already used up the upper limit of running the synthesis 100 times. He would see the effect first. Even if it was a semi-finished product, it should have some effect. Lin Suo was stunned for a moment when he saw the result of probing the earth crystal with mental power that was only one meter long. It was useful! To think the earth element fluctuations it gave off were even more realistic than that simulated from the Stone of Earth. It was literally like a handful of yellow soil. However, its ability to isolate the elements had disappeared and it had no magic-energy-storing effect. Rather, it was a strange product that could gather the power of earth elements. This was it! Due to the research and development work, he had delayed the daily improvement of his proficiency in practicing for a few days. After the earth crystal took shape, Lin Suo returned to his normal life. It was just that apart from training, he would also work overtime to produce earth crystals, which further reduced his sleep time. He only slept three hours a day. It was all thanks to the Enlightening Flower¡¯s essence and the peppermint essence that he managed to pull through the schedule. A week later, in the underground training ground of Rhein Bookstore. He had divided the place into two areas. Half of the area was used to store a large number of synthetic materials and experimental equipment. The other half was used to cultivate breathing techniques and spells. The breakthrough to the Ultimate Knight realm was imminent. After this breakthrough, the Original Beast Training Method should be able to reach a red grade and participate in fusion as well. Glowing white Night Shining Pearls shone on Lin Suo¡¯s sweat-drenched body. His muscles moved as his veins bulged and his bones cracked. Scorching blood flowed through his entire body as if it had a life of its own. It circulated in his body endlessly. His proficiency in practicing jumped from 99.9 to 100. Fortunately, it was not a product of Temy. If his proficiency in practicing became 99.91 instead, he would have vomited blood. At the crucial moment, Lin Suo felt an itch in his throat and he spat out a large mouthful of black blood. There were even some bone fragments, dead meat, and blood clots mixed in the blood. They should be the injuries and hidden injuries in his body from the car accident. After he vomited, he felt his entire body relax. After breaking through to a new realm, the path of a knight had come to an end. The familiar progress bar didn¡¯t appear again. He had expected this. It was time to try fusing breathing techniques and see if he could create something new and create a new path. After a while, the red words disappeared and a new breathing technique appeared. ¡°Primitive Moon Monster Breathing Technique?¡± It was obtained from the fusion of the primitive monster and Moon Disk. It was indeed quite suitable for him, but the proficiency in practicing was quite¡­ indescribable. [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (102)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Ultimate Knight (1/50); Beginner Magi Apprentice (83/100) [Transcendence: Primitive Moon Monster Breathing Technique (red); Round Pupil Meditation Technique +1 (3/100)] [Skill: Mud Stone Conversion (98/100)] [Art: Language guru (red), medicine (red), noble etiquette +3 (86/100), cooking +3 (87/100)] [Body Condition: Health, peak physical body] His lifespan had increased by 30 years. The satisfaction was unprecedented, and his motivation to work hard was even greater! It was just that the Primitive Moon Monster Breathing Technique¡¯s total proficiency in practicing was only 50 points. According to the fact that 100 points represented a major realm, it was still not mature enough. In other words, Lin Suo needed to collect a few more breathing techniques with different characteristics to perfect the overall breathing technique. In addition, during this period, he had to make a breakthrough in his Meditation Technique, which would bring about a large increase in the realm¡¯s proficiency in practicing, enhancing the cultivation effect. The Apprentice-level spell, Mud Stone Conversion, was about to undergo its limit-breaking enhancement for the first time. He wondered what additional effects it would have. Well, he would just see it then. It would only be a matter of a few days anyway. He now had four pieces of earth crystals. After melting them, they were more than enough to cover a small cubicle of ten square meters. Though, it would take a long time to cover the entire underground space. That being said, the fake meditation room on the first floor was not urgent. First, he would use earth crystal to coat the passage which led downward. After all, official Magi rarely wandered around Koster, and an apprentice¡¯s detection limit was only ten meters. It was best to hide the passage first. After breaking through to the Ultimate Knight realm, Lin Suo¡¯s physical body had reached the peak of the human body. He had tried it before and was able to lift a boulder that weighed about five tons. He couldn¡¯t measure the limit of his explosive power though, afraid of breaking his hand. But in terms of speed, he only needed 1.5 seconds to travel a hundred meters. He was so fast that he was just a blur. This even included the starting time. He had become was extremely powerful. The most incredible thing was his endurance. He could move his waist 30,000 times continuously without feeling tired. With great tools, killing intent naturally arose! His other aspects had also improved greatly, such as his reflexes, dynamic vision, sense of balance, sense of direction, flexibility, and so on. However, the improvements were not as exaggerated as the increase in his strength, constitution, and speed. If others performed a sneak attack on him, Magi apprentices would probably be beheaded in one move. It was no wonder that the Magi had developed to use apprentices as guards. It was very awesome. At this point, the human body had reached its limit. Some official Magi had undergone bloodline modification, and so could knights. However, without sufficient mental power and soul strength, one could easily die. For the time being, Lin Suo did not know the further path that would be presented after the syntheses. If possible, it would be better to be human. After all, his original intention of cultivating the path of a knight was to protect himself. Now, he also had endless consumable energy to offset the cost of activating the synthesis talent, so it was hard to give up. The power of being a Magi was still better. From now on, he would have to focus on the cultivation of the Magi and supplement it with the strength of a physical knight. The path to Heaven was right in front of him. The path of the knight could be used as a hidden power. It could be used at a critical moment to surprise the opponent. After Lin Suo planned his path, he began to practice the Mud Stone Conversion spell until night fell. At that point, Lin Suo turned into a glutton. He was only satisfied after stuffing himself with ten pieces of super nutritious jerky. One had to know that each piece of super nutritious jerky was synthesized from 100 pieces of jerky, and it was extremely nutritious. It was equivalent to him eating a thousand pieces of jerky that were as thick as a thigh for just one meal. It was ridiculous. Even a landlord would become a beggar at this rate of food consumption. He had to think of a way to get some meat that contained more energy. ¡­ At the same time. On the mountain peak in the center of the isolated island, there was a huge bell tower. Along the ridge were manor-style houses which each occupied a large area. There were also many public buildings like the library, cafeteria, training ground, teaching building, and so on. Private buildings were like the Magi towers, aquariums, magic potion gardens, strange beast halls, and so on¡­ It was all-encompassing. This was one of the three great Magus forces in Koster, the Evening Bull Church. They were different from ordinary Magi organizations. Usually, Magis prohibited Gods from spreading their beliefs and regarded Gods as materials and enemies. Any Magi who defected to the Gods would be called a fallen Magi. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 27 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio This kind of thing would happen from time to time. It usually happened to Magi who were stuck in their realms, reached the end of their lives, desperately craved power, or had their loved ones or children die. The Evening Bell Church was somewhere in between. They sought the power of dusk, claiming to be searching for the truth in the dusk! Padoron¡¯s United Magi Association didn¡¯t care about such borderline behavior. As long as one didn¡¯t believe in the God who controlled dusk, promoting a certain term would not be rejected. Similar ones included the sun, night, life, death, and so on. In the beginning, Magis relied on the corresponding Gods to control this kind of power. Through dissecting, understanding, and exploring the principles at the molecular level, they imitated and ultimately brought forth new ideas, using what they had to release new power. Dusk was one of the powers of the ancient Gods. The Evening Bell Church¡¯s slogan was great and all, but their actual use of the power of dusk was almost negligible. It was considered a small fry, not worthy of being monitored by Padaron¡¯s Magi Association Headquarters. Today, in a manor of the Evening Bell Church, three official Magi had secretly gathered. The leader¡¯s face was covered with pale and delicate snake scales, just like the deceased Sala. If Lin Suo saw him, he would be 99% sure that this person was the mastermind. Among the bloodline modification plans, the gentler ones used Meditation Techniques, while those who wanted to get quick results would simply change their blood and marrow while using spells to reduce the rejection reaction. The side effects were relatively large and there was a chance of death. This person was obviously using a gentler method. As an official Magi, cultivating bloodline modification would not cause any changes in the spirit and soul. It would only change the physical body. One would need the corresponding resources. For example, the monster, Moon Snake! The three of them who were gathered at night more or less had some strange parts on their bodies. One had an extra pair of arms, while another had an extra tail. The leader said in a low voice, ¡°Sala is dead. The Moon Snake Meditation Technique was taken away by someone and I can¡¯t sense it anymore. Even its smell has disappeared.¡± The four-armed Magi was probably from the school of charms. His throat had also been modified, making his voice hoarse and unlike a human¡¯s. ¡°The death of the Moon Snake¡­ When did this happen? Did something happen to the Deep Sea Rulai? Right, where¡¯s my Swamp Lizard? According to the time, they will break through to become advanced apprentices in the next few days and meet the requirements for harvesting. Since something has happened at this critical moment, could it be the people from Marine College?¡± The leader frowned in confusion. ¡°Your Rulai and lizard are both fine. The culprit shouldn¡¯t have only attacked the Moon Snake.¡± ¡°Hiss~ Did you offend anyone recently?¡± ¡°Repa?¡± ¡°It should be him.¡± ¡°Humph, damn it. Isn¡¯t he just a descendant of the Behemoth family of the North Sea? How dare he be so arrogant.¡± ¡°I heard that Reipa has a younger sister, and she¡¯s currently rushing to Koster. I remember that the underground of the Salt Marsh has monsters¡­ ¡± ¡°You mean the nest with venom and wyrms?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Hmph, then let¡¯s have a match with him. Do you have any advanced apprentices that have yet to be exposed?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. I only have more than 300 rats left. They¡¯re all advanced goods. I can¡¯t use them recklessly.¡± ¡°A thousand magic stones.¡± ¡°Keke, I have a snake demon, advanced¡­¡± Under the night sky, three official Magis were plotting against a Magi from a prominent family. In the city, in the bedroom on the third floor of Rhine Bookstore, Lin Suo held the Moon Snake Meditation Technique that was tightly wrapped in earth crystal liquid. After the liquid solidified, it was like see-through amber. As he had sufficient materials, Lin Suo painted every page with crystal liquid. He flipped through the book slowly. Ever since he had started synthesizing the earth crystals, he had taken some time to go outside the city and dug out the Moon Snake Meditation Technique again. After painting it with crystal liquid, he began looking into it. After all, it was an official meditation technique. It was a pity to leave it buried just like that. Therefore, he dug it out again and usually placed it in a small cubicle on the first floor of the basement. It had been more than half a month since his last breakthrough. The underground space was perfectly covered with a layer of earth crystal liquid, eliminating the hidden danger. Mud Stone Conversion breakthrough +1, and had been upgraded from white to green. Sure enough, there were new ways it could be used. A large number of lines and mysterious magic patterns appeared in the spell model in Lin Suo¡¯s mental power space. The ¡°countdown¡± when casting spells had been abandoned and he had reached the point where he could instantly cast any spell he wanted to. The +1 extension spell was the Earth Spear or better described as earth spikes. Some were made of mud while some were made of stone, and they protruded out of the ground. They were all controlled by his thoughts. Other than thorns, the Earth Spear could also be shaped into swords, bricks, horses, and so on. As long as there was magic energy in the air, the spell could be cast. Therefore, Lin Suo developed stone walls, mud arrows, and others. It was just that they were all shot out from the ground and could not be used when he went to sea. He had done a lot of experiments in this area, and the conclusion was unquestionable. He was not afraid of the spell having drawbacks for the time being, but he was worried that when the spell reached +5, it would have other drawbacks. Either way, he could take it slowly now since there was no hurry. He was quite awesome too, having developed a construction site spell into an all-rounded spell that could attack, defend, group attack, and kick ass. The development of his spells was on the right path. Now, the second month¡¯s profit from selling antiques was about to be transferred into his account, and he could start learning his second apprentice-level spell. With this, it was only a matter of these few days before he became an intermediate Magi apprentice. Lin Suo put down the Moon Snake Meditation Technique. For the time being, he did not want to practice this. After all, Magis could only use one Meditation Technique, and it was difficult to even change it, let alone cultivate more than one at the same time. If he wanted to fuse them, the most stable way was to fuse the same kind of techniques. Fusing meditation techniques and breathing techniques was not reliable at all. Therefore, he had to wait until the Round Pupil Meditation Technique reached the red grade. Then, he would try to cultivate the second meditation technique. If it didn¡¯t work, he would think of another way. Following this, he went downstairs, then made himself dinner and ate it clean. After that, Lin Suo put on his disguise, which included the human skin mask, black robe, odor-eliminating powder, concealment powder, Fainting Agent, and so on before going out. He went straight to the black market that a scoundrel friend had introduced him to seven days ago. Sewer Black Market. It was jointly established by the well-known rouge Magi and advanced Magi apprentice, Udil the Violent Bear, who was skilled in the transfiguration charm of becoming a brown bear, and Marian, an advanced Magi apprentice who was proficient in making magic potions. The former was in charge of martial strength, while the latter was in charge of deploying magic potions that were attractive enough to gather the rogue Magis from Koster and the nearby towns to come and trade. There weren¡¯t many people in this black market, only about a hundred of them. Most of the transactions were done through barter. Ever since he learned about this place, Lin Suo¡¯s Enlightenment Reagent had come in handy. They were selling crazily in exchange for all kinds of extraordinary materials and magic stones in the Magi world. His current net worth was over 20 magic stones, making him the upper class among poor farmers. The most attractive thing about the Enlightenment Reagent, other than its effect of enlightening ordinary people, was that it could speed up meditation and cultivation. Lin Suo lifted the tent that was set up next to the wall and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Ms. Marian, this batch has a total of 30 bottles of Enlightenment Reagents. The same price?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Marian looked like a white-haired old Dandong granny with a single horn on her head, probably due to the mutation of her Meditation Technique. Seeing that Lin Suo had come to sell goods for the third time, she could not help but ask, ¡°Sir, are you really not selling the formula for the Enlightenment Reagent?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 28 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°No, it¡¯s not for sale.¡± Sell it? Sell his ass. Lin Suo didn¡¯t even know the formula. Could the power of synthesis be replaced? It was too difficult! The main reason he sold it so brazenly and was unafraid of others coveting it was due to the flaws of the Enlightenment Reagent. It was only useful for beginner Magi apprentices, and its value was not as great as imagined. The profit was less than one-tenth of this small black market¡¯s total earnings. Therefore, working with Marian was the best choice. She could also help him get rid of the self-taught wizards with evil intentions. After receiving 20 magic stones and 50 pounds of orichalcum as payment, Lin Suo casually put the magic stones in his pocket while the orichalcum was put into his handbag. Then, he left and started browsing in the wide sewer. There were a lot of materials here, and almost all of the people here were Magi. Everyone chatted and listened to the deeds of powerful people in the outside world. It was very enlightening. It could be considered his second source of information other than the tavern. When he walked past a stall, Lin Suo suddenly stopped in his tracks. ¡°How much is this stomach?¡± The stall owner immediately introduced, ¡°This is the stomach of a Swamp-swallowing Frog from the Fiend Salt Marsh. It was a big guy that was not easy to kill, took me a lot of effort.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of this stomach?¡± ¡°Storage. Look at the bags on the backs of those Magi. Many of them are made from the stomachs of Swamp-swallowing Frogs. They have a certain spatial property, though they don¡¯t reduce weight. For example, this stomach should be able to hold about a foot of objects. Any more and it will burst. It¡¯s best that the items don¡¯t weigh more than 200 pounds.¡± ¡°Understood. Do you accept the Enlightenment Reagent?¡± The stall owner¡¯s eyes lit up. In the recent black markets, Enlightenment Reagents had almost become a must-buy cultivation resource for beginner Magi apprentices. It was a hard currency. ¡°Yes!¡± Seeing that the stall owner had agreed so readily, Lin Suo made another request. ¡°Sure, but you have to tell me the habits and weaknesses of the Swamp-swallowing Frog.¡± ¡°You want to hunt them yourself?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The stall owner thought for a moment and decided that there was nothing to hide. After all, the Fiend Salt Marsh was a place that self-taught wizards in Korster often went to. They would usually get the fiend materials here. Since many knew about it, there was no need to hide. ¡°It¡¯s like this¡­¡± The transaction was completed, and Lin Suo was very satisfied. After shopping around, he bought the leg of a giant horned black goat and the corpse of a three-eyed octopus, mainly as food. These creatures were different from monsters and fiends. Monsters possessed intelligence and spirituality and could cast spells. Fiends were all strange creatures with mysterious origins. Legend had it they appeared 300 years ago when the celestial bodies met. Even at the current age, the fiends from the other world had yet to be exterminated. As for the three-eyed octopus and the giant horned black goat, they were mutated from native creatures and had the characteristics of ordinary wild beasts, so they were also called magic beasts. Their bodies were infected by magic energy, and some parts could be used to make potions. For example, the giant horn could be ground into powder. Lin Suo did not buy these parts since he was only buying the creatures for food. Excluding those parts, they were very cheap. After walking around for a while, Lin Suo left the black market. As expected, two more self-taught wizards were following him. Lin Suo could not care less. As soon as he left the entrance of the sewer, those guys who tried to cross the line were stopped by Udil the Violent Bear¡¯s men. Lin Suo made a few turns in the city for a while before going to retrieve the 50,000 gold he had earned this month and returning to the bookstore through the back door. He was in a good mood, humming a tune while preparing dinner. Cucumber salad, fungus salad, boiled meat slices, fried pork ribs, steamed sea fish, crab meat porridge, sea emperor pot, grilled eel, and others. The dishes occupied a large table. Fortunately, Koster was a developed commercial port. Spices and condiments from all over the continent could be bought here. In addition to Lin Suo¡¯s culinary skills, he could mix the most suitable seasonings. Doing this, once, twice, or even thrice a day could also be considered to add some spice to life, making it full of flavor. The only pity was that the staple food here was wheat, and most of the rice was wild rice that tasted ordinary. As a native of the Chinese Dynasty, Lin Suo got himself an entire piece of land for his own use in agriculture. It shouldn¡¯t be a big problem to get some high-grade rice and plant them. He would do this when he was free. There was also the matter of the title. Lin Suo secretly decided that after buying some spells, he would start saving up. A bookstore was not enough to get into contact with the Dandong nobles. The ¡°aptitude¡± was not enough. Therefore, he needed to develop other industries as support. Time always flew by when he thought about things. In the meantime, he ate his fill like wolves and tigers, thinking that he would make mutton hotpot and grilled octopus tentacles for dinner. At night, when he was cooking, a familiar ¡°ding ling ling¡± sound rang out. Before Lin Suo saw who it was, he heard the other party¡¯s voice that was crisp like a yellow oriole chirping. ¡°Rhein? Rhein?¡± Helpless, Lin Suo put away the lamb leg and octopus at lightning speed. He then took out some fruits and started cutting them. The small kitchen on the first floor was not big. After a short while, half of a beautiful blonde head with two big eyes appeared at the doorway. Her eyes were filled with joy. ¡°Rhein! Are you having a vegetarian feast again? Is there a share for me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In the blink of an eye, in the sofa area on the first floor. The table was laid with vegetarian dishes. Lin Suo sat at the table and was not in the mood to eat, so he took the initiative to chat. ¡°Lia, what¡¯s the matter today?¡± ¡°Oh, It¡¯s Grandpa Antlers. He said that he found some clues in the ruins that he excavated earlier and asked if you want to go with him¡­¡± Hearing this, Lin Suo lowered his head and pondered. He still felt that he did not have a strong background. Since he did not lack anything, it would be better for him to lay low before he became an official Magi. In the future, when he had enough experience and strength, it was not too late to seek more benefits then. Now that the other party was of a higher status, if he took the initiative to go over, he would inevitably be thought of as someone who wanted to cling to him. There were factions in the Nature Association, and the people of Dandong were more sensitive too. So it was better to give up first. With the magic cube, he would be able to make a name for himself sooner or later. The legendary opportunity was not that important to him. He didn¡¯t have any bottlenecks during breakthroughs, and he had nothing to ask for. The most suitable path for him was to walk step by step, following the way he liked. Hence, he rejected the invitation. Valia was his only friend, so she more or less understood him. Seeing this, she did not say much and ate to her heart¡¯s content. Recently, she had been sending him fruits every day. There might be something between the two of them, but it was still too early to talk about any romantic feelings. At least, Lin Suo did not have such feelings yet. The feud between the Language of Nature family and the people of Dandon was nothing to Valia, but the family behind her was most likely concerned. Now, Guild Master Antlers was in the middle, acting as a contact. Once the matter of the Luna Royal Family¡¯s remnant scriptures was over, his relationship with the Language of Nature family would probably end there. Then, he could try to communicate with the family behind Antlers¡¤Faner. Of course, these things would have to wait until he had status and broke through to become a stage one Magi. Only then would he not be in the grasp of others. After sending the elf girl away, Lin Suo sat for a while before locking up. He walked into the kitchen and took out the two sets of ingredients he had bought during the day. He frowned. ¡°They are transcendent materials, after all. Why don¡¯t I try synthesizing it¡­¡± In the laboratory 100 meters below, Lin Suo learned from previous experience and prepared to add another material, the Enlightening Flower, to see if the power of synthesis could really create life. ¡°Synthesize!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 29 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After the golden light, Lin Suo¡¯s face twitched and his fingers trembled as he looked at the ¡°thing¡± in his hands. ¡°What the f*ck is this?!¡± He could not be blamed for losing his composure. It was just that the product of synthesis was too evil. The original eight-petal Enlightening Flower had turned into the eight tentacles of an octopus that were covered with the short fur of the black goat and a few tufts of curly hair. He was speechless. The stem and leaves were also wrapped in flesh and blood, with black hairy leaves growing on them¡­ The stamen was filled with the face of the three-eyed octopus. Because its eyes had been dug out, the eye sockets were dark, like the mask of the Grim Reaper in Scream. The pale octopus skin was covered with short black fur as well. Even the God of Evil would shake his head. Most importantly, the eight tentacles began to sway as if they were truly ¡°resurrected¡±. ¡°A plant with extraordinary vitality + living creature corpses = strange half-plant, half-living meat plant¡­¡± Lin Suo usually had a vague idea of the result of syntheses. Just like when he was synthesizing clothes at the very beginning, he understood that he had absolute control over the synthesized object. No matter how far away it was, as long as he wanted to, he could destroy the synthesized object. Similarly, the clothes he synthesized could automatically match his body shape, which was wonderful like it was born that way. He had the same confidence toward the octopus flower. It was still ¡°alive¡±, so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem to plant it in the underground Night Garden. It was just that in addition to the magic energy and normal soil nutrients, it also needed to eat meat. Its effect was derived from the Enlightening Flower. Upon consumption, it had the wonderful effect of increasing mental power and expanding the mental power space. The first effect was so-so, but the second one was quite rare. It was hard to find. Lin Suo felt that it had something to do with the three-eyed octopus. As a native mutated sea magic beast, the three-eyed octopus could release acid rays mainly through its third eye. The octopus¡¯s development of its ¡°numerous¡± allowed it to utilize magic energy to master spells and skills. It was very smart, and because of this, the self-taught wizards who survived on the sea rarely hunted three-eyed octopuses. Most of them were hunted by academic Magis. ¡°I¡¯ll plant it first. In the future, I¡¯ll buy a whole corpse and try to synthesize it.¡± At first, Lin Suo was very resistant to such Evil God Compounds. After all, it was too disgusting to use corpses in syntheses. However, if there was a profit to be made, he had to develop it well. Since the Enlightenment Reagent was no longer useful, he could change it to the Black Octopus Reagent to expand his mental power space and increase his cultivation speed. On the other hand, the Evil God Compound could always conjure ¡°out of thin air¡± things that could barely be considered living. He could consider developing it into puppets, colossi, undead, and so on. After all, he was alone. Without any security around him when he left the bookstore, he would be diffident. He should do something evil and use it as a backup force. That night, Lin Suo stayed up late as he did every day and made a plan. [1. Meditate with all my might and breakthrough to become an intermediate apprentice.] [2. Train Mud Stone Conversion hard and strive to reach the +2 blue grade, as well as develop more uses.] [3. Buy new spells, purchase three-eyed octopuses, and plant a new species, the black octopus flower.] [4. After my strength is upgraded, go to the Fiend Salt Swamp to gain experience and increase combat experience. This will prevent me from panicking and getting into trouble when I end up in fights with others in the future. Secondly, hunt Swamp-swallowing Frogs, harvest their stomachs, and try out the stacking method to make my own spatial equipment. This way, it would be much more convenient for me to go out.] [5. Open more businesses on the surface, become a qualified Dandong merchant, and buy a title to protect myself.] The fifth plan was left at the end. He had to first think about what business he wanted to do, then plan how to expand it and build connections. After making a plan, he arranged the order. Lin Suo¡¯s daily routine became increasingly fixed. This time, he did not go to White Rose to buy spells. Instead, he went to the platform under Marine College, Deep Sea Mutants Society. A few advanced Magi apprentices were in charge here. Lin Suo had come prepared, so he quickly picked some popular spells that he liked and returned home. In the basement, Lin Suo read, and in the blink of an eye, he had learned the spell and obtained 20 proficiency in practicing points. This time, the common spells he chose were Magical Hand and Underwater Breathing Technique. They were both apprentice-level spells and were only average in power. Living by the sea, the Underwater Breathing Technique was a necessity for almost everyone, so it was very common. Its effect was very good. Every time it was cast, it could last for three hours. It was one of the good tools for Magis in water. The Magical Hand was also extremely common. It allowed one to construct a blue arm from magic energy that could replace a Magi¡¯s hands in taking things, assisting in life, and so on. The grip strength of the Magical Hand was only 100 kilograms while its fist strength was slightly stronger, close to 300 kilograms. Unfortunately, such power could only be used against ordinary people. It couldn¡¯t even deal with a knight. That was why it was just a daily life spell. These two spells were convenient, coupled with the fact that they were popular, thus the sales were excellent and the prices were not low. He only managed to buy two spells with 50,000 gold. In addition, the antique market had been a little saturated recently, so he might not be able to earn as much as 50,000 gold next month. This saturation wasn¡¯t referring to the real market. Instead, it was referring to the saturation of Old John¡¯s network. He had fooled almost everyone who could afford the antiques. Unless he opened up new connections, it would be difficult to find someone he could trust in a short time to introduce ship merchants to buy. At this point, he could either pull people into the business or develop slowly. He would deal with this matter after he returned from the Fiend Salt Swamp. ¡± I¡¯ve learned the new spells, so I¡¯ll practice them for another week before setting off to experience real battles.¡± In the blink of an eye, a week passed. ¡°Scan.¡± [Lin Suo] Age: 19 (102) [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Ultimate Knight (3/50); Intermediate Magi apprentice (4/100) [Transcendence: Primitive Moon Monster Breathing Technique (red); Life Breathing Technique +1 (85/100); Thunder Breathing Technique +1 (79/100); Round Pupil Meditation Technique +2 (48/100)] [Skill: Mud Stone Conversion +2 (9/100); Magical Hand (86/100); Underwater Breathing Technique (74/100)] [Skills: Language guru (red), medicine (red), noble etiquette +3 (91/100), culinary skills +4 (7/100), the art of sea navigation (60/100)] [Body Condition: Health, human limit] During this period, his plans had been completed perfectly. He successfully broke through and became an intermediate Magi apprentice, and his mental power detection range increased to five meters. In addition, Mud Stone Conversion had successfully broken through to the blue grade, which produced another derivative spell, which Lin Suo called Ground Wave. It was a movement skill that could turn the ground under his feet into waves and instantly push him ten meters away. This was a rare movement skill, and he really liked it. In terms of breathing techniques, he found two more that were quite useful. With his Ultimate Knight realm, his proficiency in practicing increased very quickly, and he completed two consecutive limit-breaking enhancements. When those breathing techniques were upgraded to the red grade, they might be able to perfect the following path of Ultimate Knight. The study of the art of sea navigation was also put on the agenda. He became more and more knowledgeable and life was very fulfilling. It was just quite tiring, though. Staying underground for a long time without sunlight caused his skin to become a degree paler while his eye bags were dark. With natural smokey makeup, it was a little difficult to look presentable. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 30 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo prepared a large number of self-made tools, bottles, and jars. The stomach that Lin Suo had previously bought from the black market was tied around his waist. After cleaning it, it did not look ugly. Rather, it looked like a leather pouch. When he put on a black cloak, no one could tell where it was. It was his first time going out to train and seek battle. Everything was prepared. He also found a place halfway in the direction of the Fiend Salt Swamp and used earth crystals to build an underground safe house. Inside was a large number of living supplies, medicine, and so on. If anything happened, at least he would have a place to hide. He was so careful because he learned from the handbook given by Antlers, as well as the many shocking stories he heard from the black market. After planning everything he could, only then did he set off. Wearing the human skin mask that had the characteristics of a Woodlander, Lin Suo leisurely set off in the direction of the Fiend Salt Swamp. In the vicinity of Koster, other than the three great Magus forces that occupied islands with high magic energy and were self-sufficient, the other high magic energy environment was the salt swamp. As the product of the condensation and fusion of natural elements, magic energy had extraordinary effects. It required some unique characteristics to be produced. One was the underground magic vein. The second was the artificially-created special creation that gathered all elements, such as the elemental pool in all Magi towers. The third was the corpses of official Magis. After their deaths, the corpse would automatically transform and form a miniature magic vein. Its effect was similar to an elemental conversion device. The fourth was a certain treasure. The fifth, and also the most important point, was the dimensional rift! This thing first appeared in the Magi World three hundred years ago when the celestial objects intersected. Not only did it bring fiends but also a new source of magical energy. After the dimensional rift was produced and magic energy condensed, the Fiend Salt Swamp was formed due to the mutation of land which was caused by the large number of fiends living there. Although there were no magic veins, the place naturally had the ability to generate magic energy. As time passed, the Fiend Salt Swamp was born. If disregarding the dimensional rift causing fiend attacks, it was actually a good thing since the place had fed a large number of self-taught wizards. It was also from then on that Koster attracted a large number of Magi to gather and develop the city. The three great Magi forces of today heard about it and settled down here as well, developing until now. Currently, every family had more than two digits of official Magis, which made them quite powerful. This time, apart from hunting the Swamp-swallowing Frogs, Lin Suo also had the intention of digging some soil to bring back home. After all, cultivation environments had to be perfected step by step. If others dug the soil, it might lose its magical properties over time, but Lin Suo¡­ He had even created artificial magic stones. There was no reason why he couldn¡¯t make a special creation that had the ability to gather magic energy. 30 kilometers to the north was where the Fiend Salt Swamp was. Fiend hunting activities were in full swing every day. Halfway through, Lin Suo checked the safe house before arriving at a camp near the salt swamp. The camp had existed for a long time. It was built 300 years ago and its name had been changed countless times. Every time the fiends went berserk, the camp would be completely destroyed, so at this point, they didn¡¯t bother to give it a name anymore. Every riot would cause heavy casualties. However, the Magis did not care. After all, a perfect hunting ground could be used for a long time, enough for generations to harvest. Even if they had the ability to clear it, they were unwilling. The density of magic energy was of no concern to the apprentices. Only official Magis needed it, so the one guarding the camp was an official Magi from the three major forces. If a self-taught wizard wanted to enter, they had to buy a ticket. It took Lin Suo half a day to get there. He had to study the environment first. Coming to a new place, he had to at least know the environment well. Otherwise, if an accident happened, he would not even know where to escape. The camp was built in the shape of a hashtag, surrounded by a six-ren stone wall, which was eighteen meters high. A group of mortals lived there, serving the Magis. In terms of currency, they did not accept gold coins. Magic stones and bartering were the main methods. In the middle of the ¡°hashtag¡± stood a 16.5-ren (50-meter) tall tower. Even before entering, one could see a huge creature sitting cross-legged at the top! The creature had red hair and bloody eyes, reaching a height of nearly one ren. He was wearing a black robe, and his back was bulging, outlining the lines of his arms. His muscles were bulging, and it was a spectacular sight. Lin Suo glanced at the creature and quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again. It was obvious that the ¡°giant¡± was an official Magi stationed there. The other party¡¯s four arms were either obtained through modification or he possessed a special bloodline that made his body different from ordinary people. It was very likely that he was a close combat wizard. It was no wonder that no one studied the path of knights when they reached human limits. In Lin Suo¡¯s impression, Magis were similar to wizards such that they were long-range cannons! Now, it seemed that the development of close combat Magi had also reached its peak. If Gandalf was born here, he would probably be able to create a Flashing Muscles Style¡­ Shaking his head, Lin Suo shook the ridiculous thoughts in his mind away. He obediently paid 3 magic stones for the entrance fee and successfully entered. The guard gave him a map of the salt swamp. The ticket did not exist in name, and the money was actually a fee to buy the map. It was just that it was too expensive, and he felt his heart ache. The Fiend Salt Swamp covered a very large area, 46 kilometers horizontally and 31 kilometers vertically. It was larger than the entire Koster. It was divided into underground and aboveground areas. Self-taught wizards were forbidden from entering and exiting the underground. If one sneaked in, no one would stop one. However, the result was often not good. Basically, those who sneaked in went missing. There was no news of any survivors. The aboveground area was divided into five fiend habitat areas, namely the Swamp-swallowing Frog, Horrifying Crocodile, Rust Corrosion Python, Decay Worm Dragon, and the Cave Spider! There were safe paths opened up by the Magus forces in the five habitat areas. It was not 100% safe, though it reached about 60%. On the safe paths, one would not be easily attacked by fiends. It could be considered a benefit brought by the ticket. If one wanted to sneak in without using the main gate and thought that one could take advantage of the Magus forces by remembering the relatively safe paths, one would be gravely mistaken. The map that one bought was actually a form of proof. Once an intruder was discovered, he would be executed immediately. On the other hand, the safe paths would change according to the changes in the fiend territory. It would be updated every day, and occasionally it would mark the birth of an official Magi-level fiend in a certain place. If one didn¡¯t wait for the Magus forces to clear those new fiends, one would most certainly die upon encountering those fiends. The real-time information on the changes in the salt swamp day and night was worth the ticket price. Realizing this, Lin Suo no longer felt heartache over the magic stones he had spent. He began to study the Swamp-swallowing Frog¡¯s habitat. The fiend¡¯s adult body was comparable to a Superior Knight, and it knew two types of bloodline spells, namely Corrosive Mud Bullet and Tongue Arrow, both apprentice-level spells. If one knew psychic spells, even apprentice-level ones would make it much easier for one to deal with the Swamp-swallowing Frog. Unfortunately, self-taught wizards couldn¡¯t learn it since no one would sell such spells to them. While thinking about the hunting plan, Lin Suo strolled around the camp. While he was at it, he bought some unique resources that could be used in the salt swamp, such as herbs to dispel miasma, powder to hide one¡¯s aura, and feces powder of advanced fiends to prevent sneak attacks by fiends. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 31 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo had prepared all of this too, but he had never been to the salt swamp before, so he did not know how effective they would be. As such, it was better to buy a set of products that had been tested over time to be foolproof. After thorough research, Lin Suo set off. He could see some Magis along the way. Most of them were self-taught wizards who were very wary of others. They would give a warning when others got within 20 meters of them. Only the academic Magi were in groups. Apprentices from the Evening Bell Church, the White Tower, and the Marine College often formed teams to train or complete missions issued by a certain Magi in the salt swamp. They ran errands for the big shots and collected materials. Most of them knew one or two psychic spells and were very difficult to deal with. If one encountered an arrogant and domineering one, they would just kill you if they wanted to. After doing so, they would even be protected. As a result, they were naturally not liked by the self-taught wizards. Lin Suo acted cautiously. He had gained a lot of knowledge along the way, experiencing the ways of the Magi world and its culture of the strong preying on the weak. His mentality became increasingly cautious. Even if he encountered a group of academic Magi beating up a lone Magi, coveting the materials and potions collected by the other party, he would turn a blind eye. He had to hold back for the time being until it was his time to shine before he could do whatever he wanted. On the afternoon of the first day, Lin Suo arrived at the Swamp-swallowing Frog¡¯s habitat and hid in a crooked old tree. He stared at a group of academic Wizards a hundred meters away. They wore blue robes with badges that had wavy patterns. People from Marine College! There were two men and one woman, and spell models bloomed in their hands, the special effect looking much like magic arrays. ¡°Vortex Water Blade¡¤Strangle! ¡± With a growl, a miniature blue water tornado rose from one of the boy¡¯s palms, instantly enveloping the poor Swamp-swallowing Frog. It was like an attacking python, extremely fast. The only female¡¯s eyes lit up with a purple light that represented psychic spells, and she chanted a charm. After a while¡­ ¡°Spiritual Impact!¡± An invisible shockwave blasted through the air, creating a ring. The struggling Swamp-swallowing Frog that was the height of half a human let out a miserable howl and immediately withered. The last person was probably in charge of keeping watch and checking for flaws. If the two of them failed in their sneak attack, he would make a move to salvage the situation. It was standard academic combat theory. The battle seemed a little awkward. The Spiritual Impact should have hit the enemy first. The lady¡¯s charm incantation was a second too slow and lagging. ¡°Poor frog, it got its ass kicked,¡± Lin Suo muttered in his heart. ¡°Two seconds!¡± The apprentices of Marine College were mainly from the Charm School. The casting delay was not high, but two seconds was enough for him to dash from a hundred meters away to the female apprentice¡¯s side and instantly behead her. As long as he could deal with the most threatening psychic school apprentice, killing the other two would be a piece of cake. ¡°They dare to come out even if they can¡¯t instantly cast spells? Don¡¯t tell me they really think that psychic spells are invincible¡­¡± The urge to kill and rob gradually rose from the bottom of his heart. Lin Suo¡¯s hands itched to make a move, and it took him a while to extinguish the thought. ¡°The property of the academic Magis are all in the territory of their respective forces. Even if I kill them, I won¡¯t be able to learn any psychic spells. Forget it.¡± Cautious! Be cautious! Lin Suo secretly warned himself not to be careless. This was the way for humans. They would face many temptations on the road to growth. Some could overcome them, but some chose to indulge. He was talking about the readers. Stop reading novels in the middle of the night and rest early. ¡°Self-discipline, bottom line!¡± Lin Suo did not have high expectations for himself. After all, this was the Magi world, and it was enough for him to have a clear conscience. ¡°There¡¯s no enmity between us, so I won¡¯t mess with you guys. Let¡¯s go kill the Swamp-swallowing Frogs.¡± Shaking his head, Lin Suo looked around for a while more before he got down from the tree and changed directions, preparing to start his first hunt. ¡­ Lin Suo¡¯s legs were submerged in the mud as he crouched in the bushes. Not far away, an adult Swamp-swallowing Frog was lying on the ground, its chin bulging. Fiends had a mysterious thirst for flesh and blood. Although it looked ugly but cute, it could kill people faster than a cavalry charge. If it was placed in a crowd, it would be a matchless killing machine. This was his twelfth target, and today was the third day of hunting. Other than the first time, when the Stone Spear¡¯s aim had been slightly off, the rest of the battles went smoothly. After many battles, Lin Suo gained some experience, mainly in the training of spell coordination. He had to be familiar with the things he would major in the future. He quietly put his hands together under the bushes and chanted whatever he wanted to cast. ¡°Stone Spear! Stab!¡± Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, a stone spear shot out diagonally from the ground and stabbed into the frog¡¯s back. Lin Suo exerted strength in his core and rushed out with a whoosh. His kick was merciless, and as he flew up, he slashed with his battle axe. At the same time, his heel was like an iron hammer as it smashed down rapidly. The Ultimate Knight realm made his body extremely strong. The frog¡¯s head exploded from the heavy blow, and its bones and flesh flew everywhere. To be honest, it would be faster to use the power of a knight to launch a sneak attack. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he wanted to train his spell-casting, he would have already been on a killing frenzy. Lin Suo took out a small knife and cut open the frog¡¯s stomach, perfectly avoiding the stomach sac with Stone Spear. After taking it out, he synthesized it immediately with the stomach hanging on his waist under his coat. ¡°Including the original one, this is the thirteenth synthesis. The space has been expanded to five meters long and two meters wide. The load has reached one ton. Not bad.¡± After a while, Lin Suo frowned. ¡°I still can¡¯t control it with my mental power. It seems that I have to add other materials to synthesize spatial equipment.¡± Carrying the half-man-tall frog corpse on his shoulder, Lin Suo looked around and quickly left. In a flash, he arrived at a small poisonous swamp. In the center of the swamp stood a rock. He easily jumped behind the rock. Mud Stone Conversion activated and he quickly sank into the ground. In the blink of an eye, a fifty-square-meter underground space appeared in front of him. The walls were wrapped in amber-like earth crystal liquid that had solidified, making it very safe. The thirteenth frog corpse was thrown into the pile of meat. The frogs¡¯ meat was not as good as that of a normal bullfrog. It had a rancid smell and was difficult to swallow. He didn¡¯t eat them either. He brought them back because he didn¡¯t want them to go to waste. After all, fiends¡¯ corpses still had some value. ¡°The strength of the stomach is enough for now. I¡¯ll think of a way to find some other materials to synthesize it. It¡¯s still inconvenient if I can¡¯t control it with my mental power. Now, let¡¯s try corpse synthesis.¡± Lin Suo came to the corner where the corpses were piled up. His palm emitted a large amount of golden light as he synthesized all the frog corpses together. When the golden light dissipated, a human-sized giant Swamp-swallowing Frog appeared in front of him. Its eyes were bright, and its chin was bulging. It looked like a living creature with life energy fluctuations. Lin Suo¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Resurrection?¡± After careful inspection, he was disappointed again. The frog looked like it had been resurrected, but it was not as he had expected. There was a hidden hole in the stomach of this giant Swamp-swallowing Frog, just enough to fit one person. Lin Suo explored the frog¡¯s body and found that it was empty. The white bones formed the ¡°cockpit¡±. A frog¡¯s brain wrapped in flesh and blood hung on its neck. It could be controlled by mental power connection, just like a flesh puppet. ¡°Strong!¡± It was just that its body was a little big. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 32 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio As soon as this thought appeared in Lin Suo¡¯s mind, the Swamp-swallowing Frog ¡°car¡± quickly shrank to its normal size, but the interior remained spacious. It seemed that frog¡¯s spatial characteristics could not be taken away even if its stomach was removed. It had given him a biological mecha! ¡°I have to remember this formula. It¡¯s the perfect disguise. As long as there are enough corpses of the same kind, I can use Overlapping Compound to get this. There shouldn¡¯t be too many flaws on the corpses and it¡¯s best if it¡¯s a giant fiend or a small one with spatial characteristics.¡± Lin Suo¡¯s mental power connected to the frog¡¯s brain, and he piloted the creature to move around. The feeling was perfect! It would be even better if it was used for a sneak attack. Suddenly, Lin Suo recalled his first Evil God Compound, the two-horse biological chariot! At that time, perhaps because there weren¡¯t enough corpses of the same kind, the syntheses had automatically absorbed wood, stones, tent cloth, and other things. This frog mecha also needed to eat, just like a real living thing. It could be controlled with a thought. This matter should not be exposed for the time being. Although there might be similar things in the Magi world, he was not strong enough, so it was better to hide. Lin Suo closed his eyes and began to sense all his synthesized creations. Three seconds later, he sensed the position of the two-horse chariot, he willed it to disappear. With that, the first bio-mech in the Magma Kingdom was silently destroyed, turning into dust. The hidden danger was eliminated. As the buyer, he had enjoyed himself for half a year with 100 gold coins. It was worth it, taking it as a purchase of experience. ¡°Thinking about it now, there are only four stable synthesis formulas that are the most valuable at the moment. Biological mecha, earth crystal, artificial magic stone, and black octopus flower.¡± All three types of synthesis, namely Overlapping Compound, Evil God Compound, and Logical Synthesis, had representative works. This half a year had not been in vain. ¡°Let¡¯s go out and try the effect of the frog mecha.¡± Just as Lin Suo was immersed in his new creation, on the other side of the salt swamp, in the territory of the Cave Spider, a four-armed monster with the lower body of a snake and the upper body of a woman crawled out from the depths of the swamp. Its black hair reached the ground and covered the two pale, indecent objects. It had four eyes on its face that were as red as blood. Its snake body was covered in red and yellow scales, and its mental power fluctuations were especially powerful. This was a monster produced from a fallen human Magi apprentice. It possessed low intelligence and could cast spells. They were widely distributed in the coastal area of Koster, and were known as ¡°Rulai¡±. Of course, the people preferred to call her the Snake Demon! Judging from the mental energy fluctuations, it was just a step away from becoming an official Magi. It was very strong. After the Snake Demon came out, it stuck out its scarlet tongue. After locking onto a position, its two-foot-long body disappeared into the swamp. At the campsite, the strong Magi sitting in the middle of the tower suddenly opened his eyes. The corners of his mouth curled into a sinister smile. ¡°Little sweetheart, so it turns out you are about to break through. No wonder you did not respond for a long time. After this matter is settled, it¡¯s your turn¡­¡± Swish¡­ The Magi licked his lips and the desire in his red eyes intensified. ¡­ ¡°Croak!¡± ¡°Frog Charge!¡± Lin Suo roared excitedly in his heart. He was in the mouth of the frog mecha, and the moment it charged, he put his hands together. The ground suddenly surged like waves and brought over a wild frog who had a confused look on its face. With a punch, a hole was opened in its head. With a pull, the corpse appeared in the cockpit as if it had been swallowed by the frog mecha. ¡°Twenty-eight. The Swamp-swallowing Frog is not guarded against its own kind. It¡¯s very efficient to sneak attack like this. I¡¯ll kill two more to get a whole 30 stomachs. Synthesizing 30 times should be enough. When the time comes, I¡¯ll go to the Cave Spiders¡¯ habitat to take a look.¡± The Cave Spiders built their nests in the center of the swamp. The silk they spat out had extremely high corrosion resistance and waterproof properties. In addition, they were born with the Spiderweb Technique, and as a result, their spider silk was a very good material. If it could be synthesized and strengthened, and then combined with the spatial stomach, Lin Suo had a very good guess that it could create real spatial storage equipment. After four days in the salt swamp, Lin Suo packed up his belongings and hid them in the stomach pouch, leaving the frog mecha in the underground safe room. He would come back in the future, so he could just leave it here. He had left a total of 17 corpses of the same species, which weighed more than 15 tons, as food. In a motionless state, it was enough to sustain the frog mecha for three years, or even longer. It was not suitable to operate the frog mecha in the Cave Spider area. At that time, getting a spider mecha would be the right thing to do. He also had to build a safe room there. After all, survival was above all else! At noon, Lin Suo returned to the camp and updated the map before returning to the salt swamp from another direction. In the Cave Spiders¡¯ habitat, Lin Suo crouched on the ground, using Mud Stone Conversion to open up a path and search for the location of the Cave Spiders¡¯ den. He felt that something was wrong. ¡°It¡¯s quiet, not as noisy as the Swamp-swallowing Frog area. Something¡¯s wrong¡­¡± Cautiously, Lin Suo sank a hundred meters underground and quickly constructed a safe house where he could hide. The construction spells were very fast. Then, using the periscope principle, he outlined a Z-shaped tunnel and observed the situation on the ground. The first special lens (obtained from syntheses) could absorb light and would not reflect flash points. However, it was very troublesome to use and the image reflected was very dim. Lin Suo observed for a long time but did not see anyone. This was not normal. A large number of Magi apprentices wandered around the Fiend Salt Swamp every day, and the Cave Spider silk was a good material for making robes. There was no reason that there was no one. For an overly quiet environment, either the area was suppressed by the aura of some creature that even the insects did not dare to make a sound, or a highly toxic creature had appeared and killed all living beings in its path. Neither of the two guesses was good news. Fortunately, Lin Suo was patient enough. He had also prepared sufficient supplies, so he simply lived underground. He meditated every day, cultivated breathing techniques, and improved his spell proficiency in practicing. Three days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Lin Suo observed the situation on the ground as usual. Fortunately, he finally saw someone. It was a team of two men and one woman from Marine College. They were acquaintances. ¡°I can rest assured now¡­¡± Then, Lin Suo, who had just heaved a sigh of relief, froze. In the blink of an eye, the three people who were chatting and laughing just now seemed to have their heads cut off by some sharp weapon. In less than a second, the three heads rolled down neatly, seen from the screen of the periscope. Blood spurted out of their neck rapidly. Seeing this, Lin Suo felt as if his heart was about to jump out of his chest. Run! He had to leave! Something must have happened! Lin Suo did not hesitate at all. He put away the ultra-long periscope, filled the soil, and continued to dig down. He only started digging in another direction after he had gone a thousand meters deep. He used Mud Stone Conversion along the way, and the progress was very fast. When he was thirsty, he would drink water. When he was hungry, he would eat. When his mental power was exhausted, he would meditate to recover. When there was insufficient underground air, he would cast the Underwater Breathing technique and plunge his head into the water, which allowed him to hold on for three hours with one breath. Along the way, he did not forget to sprinkle the odor-removal powder. After some time, he might have advanced a few thousand meters, or maybe tens of thousands of meters. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 33 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo only heaved a sigh of relief after digging into the sea. He quickly floated to the surface of the water and rested for a while. Then, he went into the water to deal with the hole entrance and turned it into stone to block it tightly. Only then did he leave. At this point, he could use his art of sea navigation knowledge to confirm his location. Finally, after three days of full-speed travel, he returned to Koster safely. He crawled into the underground safe house, and instantly fell asleep. ¡­ From a branch of the North Sea¡¯s Behemoth family, Olivia Behemoth, a stage 2 Magi and biological sister of Reipa Behemoth, had come of age a few days back and came to the White Tower to look for Reipa. She had brought the contracted beast that her family had given her, the North Sea Giant Slug, all the way to the south. While resting in a small town, she heard about the existence of Decay Worm Dragons in the Fiend Salt Swamp near Koster. That was her pet¡¯s favorite food, and the salt swamp was under the rule of her brother, Reipa¡¯s, faction. Thus, after staying for a day, Olivia Ann arrived at the salt swamp camp. After paying the entrance fee, she followed the map and headed toward the territory of the Decay Worm Dragon. Coincidentally, it was adjacent to the territory of the Cave Spiders since both creatures lived underground all year round. Most of the battles were also underground. While Olivia was hunting the Decay Worm Dragon, she unknowingly entered the lair of the Cave Spiders. Surrounded by a sea of spiders, she had no choice but to order the Giant Slug to dig a hole. As they fought, they suddenly entered a natural passage. The passage was very narrow, and a strong magic energy aura came from the other end. Olivier instantly revealed a look of joy. ¡°An underground ruin?¡± What she didn¡¯t notice was that there were reddish-yellow snake scales at every interval of the passage. In her joy, she ordered the three-foot-long North Sea Giant Slug to seal the entrance of the passage with a bloodline spell. She then headed towards the underground ruin. Not long after, dozens of Venom Wyverns broke out of the ground. They were a type of sub-dragon that looked very similar to a real dragon. It was just that they were only two feet and were much thinner. Their entire body was yellow-green. After they flew out of the ground, they spat out a large amount of poisonous breath filled with anger. White smoke rose from the corroded ground and at a speed that was visible to the naked eye the ground sank by a large margin. Every adult Venom Wyvern had the power of an advanced Magi-Apprentice, and their leader was at least at the level of an official Magi. Olivia¡¯s recklessness had caused him to encounter a great disaster. She could only continue to dig down, but at this point, her body was in a very bad state. There were traces of corrosion everywhere on her face and body where pustules were starting to grow. She looked terrible. She could only let the Giant Slug take her deeper underground. ¡°Damn it.¡± On the other side, in the campsite tower, the four-armed Magi¡¯s expression did not look too good. ¡°Damned Snake Demon, you only managed to lure her for a while. Damn it!¡± Snake Demons possessed low intelligence. Generally speaking, once they were controlled, they were no different from wild beasts and could be easily controlled. There was clearly something wrong with this Snake Demon. After attracting the Cave Spiders, there had been no movement. Now, he could not even sense its location or aura. The four-armed Magi began to use the tower genie to enlarge the range of his mental power detection. When he saw the various corpses that had been strangled by the spider silk in the Cave Spider¡¯s habitat, his expression darkened to the extreme. There were apprentices from Marine College and the White Tower, just none from the Evening Bell Church! What explanation was there? Did the Snake Demon have such high intelligence? An invisible haze shrouded his mind, and his mood was terrible. Had the Moon Magi schemed against him? Or did that old lizard betray him? Just as he was thinking about the conspiracy theory, a new underground tunnel appeared a thousand meters underground, and a strange yellow amber covered the walls of the tunnel. It looked like the escape route of some creature. Olivia fell into the tunnel and was seriously injured. One arm was left with only white bones. The giant North Sea Slug stretched its body and squeezed in. It grew from three-ren to five-ren-long like a white snake. Then, it turned around and spat to seal the mouth of the hole. When the hole leading in was blocked by steel-like rocks, Olivia finally heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Hiss hiss!¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± The sudden movement made the two wary. Soon, a four-armed Snake Demon that was two-ren tall crawled over from the corner. The aura on her body had reached the limit of an apprentice. Olivia couldn¡¯t help but gasp. She was screwed! Why did she run around today? Today was her unlucky day! Just as she closed her eyes and waited for death, unexpectedly, the Snake Demon didn¡¯t attack. Instead, she left behind a scroll wrapped around her hair and quickly left. Olivia and her beloved maggot, bah, beloved slug looked at each other. She picked up the scroll and started reading it. The more she read on, the worse her expression became. ¡°Slug, let¡¯s leave this place quickly. We¡¯ll find Brother Reipa first and then settle the score with these people.¡± ¡°Slug~¡± .. Strictly speaking, Olivia had been implicated in the aftermath of Lin Suo killing Sala. However, if it were not for the sake of sufficient benefits, the Moon Magi, the four-armed Magi, and the old lizard would not have attacked Olivia. Reipa must have done something that affected their interests. Otherwise, a mere Sala was not worth angering the stage 2 Magi Reipa! No one knew about this for the time being, but the scroll recorded how the four-armed Magi had persecuted the self-taught wizards, as well as the damage he had done to her, Olivia Behemoth. This was a provocation to the Behemoth family. She would not let go of that stage one Magi. Olivia walked along the passage for a long time. If it wasn¡¯t that the Giant Slug was fast enough, she might have given up. Her body grew increasingly weaker, and her mind became dizzier and dizzier. Her broken body was in urgent need of treatment. When she reached the end of the passage, the stone wall she saw almost made her break down on the spot. Fortunately, the Giant Slug told her that the sea was on the other side of the stone wall. Otherwise, if this place was a dead end, she would have the heart to commit suicide on the spot. ¡­ Koster, Rhein Bookstore. The long-awaited, long sleep made Lin Suo feel refreshed. As for whether his wretched escape from the scene had hurt his dignity¡­ No. Dignity? Only when there were outsiders would there be dignity. One had to survive first to even have dignity. He was timid. If he saw something wrong, he would run! There was nothing wrong with it! No one saw it anyway. Moreover, after digging a hole, he did not need to pay again to enter the salt swamp in the future. As long as he was careful enough, he could sneak into the fiend horde to ambush and kill them, obtaining materials. The danger was not high. He was delighted just thinking about it. After quickly washing up and changing into new clothes, Lin Suo prepared to live on the surface for a while to adjust his frightened mind. He needed some time to relieve his mood. ¡°Then tonight¡¯s dinner¡­ A barbecue feast! Fish balls, fish steaks, prawns, mutton kebabs, beef kebabs, butter, lamb kidneys, roasted lamb legs, and a few grilled buns, hmm¡­ Don¡¯t forget the raw garlic!¡± At night, out of the back door of the bookstore, in a small courtyard that was only 30 square meters, Lin Suo was lying on a rocking chair with a kettle in his hand, next to the open barbeque rack. Beside him, two Magical Hands were busy marinating the materials, flipping them, blowing the fire, and cutting vegetables. ¡°Hmm, as expected of a daily life spell. After breaking through to +1, not only did the structure of the arms become much more refined, but I can even conjure two of them. If I had known earlier, I would have worked harder to advance it. What a pity, what a pity¡­¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 34 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo lay down shamelessly. He opened his mouth, and a skewer was delivered to his mouth. He took a bite of meat and garlic. If he was thirsty, he would have juice. If he was tired, he would have advanced elven fruits. The two Magical Hands had a clear division of labor. One was in charge of barbequing the food while the other fed Lin Suo. Even if the Gods came, he wouldn¡¯t change his life! In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. After enjoying life for a few days, everything returned to normal. Lin Suo adjusted his body condition and returned to his stable and pleasant cultivation life as if nothing had happened. A hundred meters underground, in the Night Garden. After moving from the sunroom to the depths of the underground, Lin Suo used the luminous stone to replace the sunlight for illumination. The main function of the luminous stone was to absorb dark elements and emit them in the form of light. It could only illuminate and could be considered a substitute for Koster¡¯s fishbone street lamps. It was also a man-made product. Although it did not have much value, the principles contained within it had great analytical value. The utilization of the vast elemental power of nature had always been an indispensable research direction in the Magi world. On this basis, the luminous stone and sunstone were only small items. The elemental pool, colossus core, earth essence energy source, and other energy cores were the culmination of the results. Just like how magic energy could not be absorbed by humans in the beginning, elemental power had always been a prerequisite for the synthesis of magic energy! If one were to use the method that official Magi used to absorb magic energy to absorb elements, it would cause serious elemental contamination. For example, absorbing large amounts of fire elements would cause the Magi¡¯s body to combust until it turned into ashes. Absorbing a large amount of earth elements would cause the body to be petrified. Absorbing a large amount of wind element would cause a wound that could not be healed to appear on the body, resulting in the extremely terrifying result of bleeding to death. Absorbing any element, be it individually or in combination, would cause very serious elemental pollution. On the other hand, magic energy was the combination of all elements. It was a rather special type of energy that was multifunctional! The elemental spells of Magis could transform magic energy into elemental power through a spell model and then use it to cast spells. This was the meaning of the existence of spell models. Contract spells, summoning spells, and psychic spells did not belong to this category, but they could also be cast through magic energy. The more one studied the path of the Magis, the more profound one would find it. For some, the more they learned, the more they felt that they were shallow and ignorant because the ocean of knowledge was endless. On the other hand, the more some learned, the more they felt superior. They would think that others were just so-so and that everything in the world was in their hands. The two most typical factions in the Magi world were the diligent and the arrogant. They could represent almost all Magi. It was somewhat similar to the Dove faction and the Hawk faction. Lin Suo could barely be considered a rat. If he thought a little higher of himself, he could be considered an opposition party. The next development of the Night Garden was of utmost importance. After breaking through to become an intermediate Magi apprentice, the daily increase in Meditation Techniques had dropped to around 0.5 points. Even though the number was getting smaller, the amount of improvement he received each time he meditated was far greater than when he was a beginner apprentice. The total progress was only 100 points. It didn¡¯t seem to have changed much, but the quality was far better than before. If he meditated properly, it would take him 200 days to break through to become an advanced Magi apprentice, which was more than half a year! Don¡¯t think it was slow. It was actually very fast. Look at Guild Leader Antlers. The old elf who had lived for almost 500 years was not far from the grave was now only an advanced Magi apprentice. He was not even a peak apprentice. In this aspect, he was considered to be burdened by his bloodline and aptitude. It was more than a hundred times more difficult for him to improve than humans. In explanation, the requirement for a human to become a Magi was 1 point of innate mental power. After the artificial magic plant, the Enlightening Flower, was developed, the standard dropped to 0.8 points. In contrast, elves were born with the bloodline of the longevity species. They were born with the ability to absorb magic energy, but their mental power was suppressed by the magic energy. To become a Magi, they needed 5 points of innate mental power aptitude! Even if they could use the Enlightening Flower, they would still need 4.8 points. This requirement was almost impossible for a human child to fulfill. However, after the Magis exterminated the Gods, the bloodline power of many longevity species was coveted and suppressed. Their innate ability to cast bloodline spells was plundered and stripped away. From generation to generation, the ability became weaker and weaker. It was said that ancient elves could live for a thousand years. Back then, the world was not dominated by Magis. Now, to not be destroyed and change the current situation of the race¡¯s weak strength, many longevity species followed the philosophy of joining the opponent if they couldn¡¯t win. They utilized the advantages of their bloodlines to research the path of the Magis. With that, the longevity species gradually revived and regained its strength! This was also the beginning of the phenomenon of racial mixing in the Padoron Continent. Therefore, during the apprentice stage, the longevity species¡¯ Magis were usually the strongest and had an innate advantage. When they became stage one Magi, most human Magis would look for powerful bloodline power to transform themselves. This was also the origin of the 18 schools in the Magi world. They couldn¡¯t just watch their potential opponents grow stronger! There were eighteen schools of thought, and many were actually split from the Life Modification School. For example, dragon bloodline Magis could control the power of dragons. Elven Magis controlled the power of life. Demon Spirit Magis controlled darkness and soul power. Meanwhile, the Elemental School was split into fire Magis, ocean Magis, weather Magis, thunder Magis, and so on. Lin Suo¡¯s understanding of the history of the Magi world became increasingly profound, to the point he felt like he was about to gain the ¡°historian¡± skill. Coupled with the ¡°language guru¡± skill, he could pry into the past hidden in the river of time through archaeological activities. Personally, he was quite interested. After all, if he didn¡¯t learn about the history and heroic epics after coming to a Magi world and only knew to fight and kill, wouldn¡¯t life lose a lot of fun? ¡°The Black Octopus Reagent can be synthesized using the formula of the Enlightenment Reagent. It¡¯s also very helpful for intermediate apprentices in meditation. The time needed to break through should be shortened by one fold, which is about three months¡­ I¡¯ll take it slow.¡± Only by being content could one live happily every day. The Night Garden had expanded to 50 square meters, taking up a quarter of the underground space. It was placed in a corner. Hundreds and thousands of artificial magic stones were placed there. The density of magic energy was extremely high, suitable for the growth of magic plants. For the time being, there were only two crops, the Enlightening Flower and the black octopus flower. Collecting was fun too! As he sighed, Lin Suo spent a few days setting up the garden. He could not get his hands on too many corpses of the three-eyed octopus in a short time, so he could only wait for the Sewer Black Market which was held once every two weeks to restock. As for the octopus¡¯s big eyes, he was not rich enough to purchase in bulk. He had to save some money first. Besides, he still owed Valia a huge sum of money¡­ Right, the special soil he collected from the Fiend Salt Swamp had been synthesized a hundred times and turned into another material. A very precious material! The mud became dust before crystallization! In the end, it produced a material called the Super Magic Dust. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 35 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio This thing was not a brand-new creation. It had long existed in the Magi world and was very expensive. According to the intelligence manual given by President Antlers Faner, Super Magic Dust was a breakthrough material. It was used by peak apprentices to break through and become stage one Magis. To advance from apprentice to official Magi, there were two most important points: Mental energy activation and physical body magic adaptation! Super Magic Dust was an artificial material used for the second point. It was said that only Magis with Magi towers could make it. They were produced in the Elemental Pool and could be sold for a price as high as 50,000 magic stones. Self-taught wizards had no way to buy it, nor did they have that much money. It was incredible to be able to obtain Super Magic Dust through the synthesis of magic energy soil. Of course, this was not ordinary magic energy soil. How could soil that could produce magic energy be ordinary? If not for the fact that the magic energy in the soil would gradually dissipate after leaving that special area, the salt swamp would have long been dug empty. The synthesis of this thing consumed a lot of energy. The reason why Lin Suo had been lazy for so many days was mostly because of it as its syntheses would often exhaust his ¡°endless¡± energy and mental power. He treated the Super Magic Dust as a strategic resource reserve and did not dare to sell it at all. After all, he was afraid of death. Moreover, it was a little out of his range now, and he could not use it for the time being. As such, he had no plans to go to the salt swamp again, for the time being. At the very least, it would not be too late for him to get some soil when he broke through to the peak apprentice level and was only one step away from becoming an official Magi. ¡°Sigh¡­ Even if I can get gold, I don¡¯t dare to sell it. I can only sell antiques to make a living.¡± ¡­ The next day, Lin Suo dressed neatly, wearing a small hat and holding a cane in his hand. He slowly walked towards the headquarters of the antique guild. The monthly membership fee that Lin Suo paid was as high as 1,000 gold. Naturally, his treatment improved. With his knowledge of words thanks to this ¡°language guru¡± skill, he was almost 100% accurate in appraising ancient books. As for the antiques with epitaphs, they were a no-brainer. He could tell if they were real or fake just by the depth of the epitaphs. He had already decided to enter the antique business so that he could enter the business circle of the Dandong nobles and merchants, at least on the surface. This time, he was planning to use the connections he had made over the past few months to buy some precious antique appraisal books. The accuracy of the common goods on the market was too low. He had already tried eating books, but even after eating 20 of them, he still could not obtain the skill of ¡°antique master¡±. This was very telling ¨C there was too much fake content in those books. Those cunning old foxes carried out the policy of obscuring the people too well. Plus, Dandong was full of nouveau riche. Harvesting these people¡¯s wealth was all too easy. Antiques were valuable in prosperous times, while gold was valuable in troubled times. Currently, the Dandong Empire was at its peak. It wasn¡¯t too late to enter the industry. Of course, he would not come into contact with Old John himself. The first contact was also the last. He could not mess around with his connections. The right way was to let it develop slowly and steadily. Now, Lin Suo was sitting in the VIP room and had just taken a few sips of tea. The tea of the Dandong Empire was more like milk tea, too sweet, with a lot of creamer and sugar added. He was not used to it at all. Unwilling to give up, Lin Suo picked up the cup for the third time. At this moment, the vice guild master of the antique guild walked in. When he saw Lin Suo, the rich and knowledgeable big shot, he immediately beamed. ¡°Good day, Mr. Rhein. Welcome to the headquarters. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Lin Suo nodded and smiled. ¡°Vice Guild Master Colin, I need some real books on antique appraisal. Do you have anyone who can recommend them?¡± Colin was a middle-aged elite with a physical body at the Intermediate Knight level. It was said that he came from a certain family in the imperial capital. Koster¡¯s antique guild could be considered a private property established by him. As for why he was the vice guild master, one would know if one asked the guild master who had the same surname¡­ ¡°Treasured books.¡± Colin was deep in thought. ¡°Mr. Rhein, you want to open an antique shop in Koster, right? That would require more professional knowledge.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If¡­¡± ¡°We do have them, Mr. Rhein. Please wait for a while.¡± Interrupting Lin Suo¡¯s words, Colin quickly walked out and returned with a stack of papers, which he placed on the table. ¡°Mr. Rhein, these are the members of the antique guild who collect precious books. The first three have more than ten books in their collections. According to what I know, only one of them is staying permanently in Koster at the moment. He usually stays in the imperial capital of the Empire.¡± Lin Suo frowned. Such books were like treasure catalogs. They were all detailed introductions of the treasures of the various races in history. The original intention was to prevent fraud, so they paid great attention to the description of details. In the hands of an antique dealer, they would naturally become the basis for appraisal. Other than ordinary treasures, there were also records of a large number of extraordinary treasures. It had to be said that the Dandong merchants had a very keen sense of business. These books could be passed down as family heirlooms. Since those people could have those books in their possession for such a long time, they must be from Magi families¡­ Power was the way! It was a little troublesome. As if he could see Lin Suo¡¯s distress, Colin teased, ¡°Sir, don¡¯t you want to ask who is the only one left in Koster?¡± Lin Suo looked at him in confusion. ¡°Could it be you?¡± ¡°You are amazing.¡± ¡°It really is you?!¡± Staring blankly.gif What?! Colin thought for a moment and said. ¡°I¡¯m from the Fire King family in the imperial capital. This is not a secret in Koster. Due to certain matters, I¡¯ve almost never returned over the years. As for the ancient books I mentioned, you don¡¯t have to worry about their authenticity. They were all collected by me in Koster these few years. Ordinary people don¡¯t know what they are, but how can I not know? Once I meet someone who knows what they are, I can definitely be able to sell them for a high price.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need money, I need a way.¡± Lin Suo closed his eyes and pondered. It was already very obvious at this point. ¡°When did you find out?¡± Colin smiled humbly. He had been observing Lin Suo for some time. Even if Lin Suo did not take the initiative to ask, it would not be long before he would take the initiative to ask for a deal. ¡°About a month after you joined the guild, I accidentally overheard something when that elven lady came to look for you.¡± Lin Suo was speechless. ¡°Alright, tell me your offer first.¡± ¡°I have five Sea tribe ancient books, which contain a lot of secret knowledge. There are also two Beastmen tribe books and one from the Elves tribe, as well as about twenty-three incomplete books. Due to the severe damage, many of them are incomplete. They cover the knowledge of treasures of various races and were all brought by merchant ships.¡± Lin Suo was very tempted, but it was not enough! He shook his head. ¡°Seeing me, you should understand that this is an official Magi-level Meditation Technique. You can¡¯t buy it in places like the Evening Bell Church, the White Tower, or the Marine Academy.¡± Colin gritted his teeth and raised the bid. ¡°Another 100,000 gold coins?¡± Seeing that Lin Suo still did not say anything, he bet all his money on it. ¡°I have an antique shop with a 30-year-old reputation. I opened it when I first started. I¡¯ll give it to you as well. How about it?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Lin Suo smiled and extended his right hand. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 36 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Outside the guild, the official transaction time was set to be one day later. Although the Round Pupil Meditation Method was obtained from the nature association, it was not the meditation method of the elves. As such, there was not a big problem even if it was leaked. No one said he could not pass it on to others back then either. The gold coins and the shops would determine whether he could buy a noble title. If he could borrow the power of the Empire and become a member of the upper class, the benefits for the future would be obvious. Secondly, those ancient books that recorded extraordinary items were all things that he needed sooner or later. No loss! It was a bloody profit! Of course, from Colin¡¯s perspective, he had also made a bloody profit! He had exchanged all his wealth and savings for an official Meditation Technique that had been kept secret by human Magis. It was something that could be passed down for generations too. Even if he did not have the talent now, he could pass it down from generation to generation. There would be a day when he could leave the Fire King family and establish his own Magus force. He wanted to move out of his existing force while Lin Suo wanted to become a force himself. It was a mutually beneficial, win-win cooperation! ¡­ Time passed. A month after he made the deal with Colin, Lin Suo was wiping his body with a towel when he said, ¡°Scan.¡± [Lin Suo] [Age: 19 (102)] [Talent: Myriad Synthesis] [Level: Ultimate Knight (15/50); Intermediate Magi apprentice (39/100) [Transcendence: Primitive Moon Monster Breathing Technique (red); Life Breathing Technique +4 (3/100); Thunder Breathing Technique +3 (91/100); Round Pupil Meditation Technique +2 (75/100)] [Skill: Mud Stone Conversion +3 (45/100); Magical Hand +2 (10/100); Underwater Breathing Technique +1 (6/100)] [Skills: Language guru (red), medicine (red), noble etiquette +4 (13/100), culinary skills (red), the art of sea navigation +1 (5/100), historian +1 (46/100, including appraisal, identification, interpretation, geography, maintenance)] [Body Condition: Healthy, above human limit] He had improved in all aspects, and he had also obtained another Art, becoming a historian, which had many abilities, making him more knowledgeable. Mud Stone Conversion had been upgraded to level 3, corresponding to the purple grade. It was no longer a simple change in form. Instead, it gave Lin Suo the ability to create things after resonating with the magic energy in the air using a spell model. It rid of the drawback of the skill that he could not cast spells without soil or stone. It was more like a grade 1 spell now. Lin Suo estimated that after it reached the +5 red grade, it might really become a stage 1 spell. He didn¡¯t practice the Underwater Breathing Technique much. After it broke through to the green grade, the time he could remain underwater was doubled, reaching six hours. It was the same for the Magical Hand. He could now condense four hands instead of two, meaning he had two more waiters. With this, he could arrange for the dishes to be washed and the house to be cleaned. The end of the first month of winter was also the beginning of the seventh month since Lin Suo came to the Magi world. Other than occasionally staring at the bright moon in a daze, he had completely adapted to life here. Tonight, the city was not very peaceful. Magi apprentices who looked like refugees stepped on the waves as they came from the sea. They were all quite in a sorry state. Looking at the clothes and badges they were wearing, they should be the apprentices of the Evening Bell Church. There were a total of twelve people leading them. Some were flying in the sky, some were floating on blankets, some were riding eagles, some were riding flying horses, some were riding flying insects, and all sorts of strange people. These people should be the twelve official Magis of the Evening Bell Church. Not long after reaching the coast, the people from the White Tower and Marine College also arrived. Their people were not as flustered as the Evening Bell Church. Lin Suo lived on the third floor. Although it was not high, he could still see the situation by the coast. His facial features were almost scrunched together, and his bad feeling grew stronger! ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ My career has just started. I haven¡¯t finished bribing my targets yet.¡± On the coast, the leader of the Evening Bell Church was a stage 5 Magi. The five magic rings of different colors around him emitted magical light, and their pressure was extremely great. At this moment, his expression was very ugly. ¡°Lady Rose, why didn¡¯t you inform us when the White Tower and Marine College joined forces to resist the wave of deep-sea polluted creatures? ¡± Lady Rose was also a stage 5 Magi. She had white hair and blue eyes, a graceful figure, and perfect curves. She was a mature lady, sexy and elegant, and very eye-catching. The difference was that her magic rings that were upgraded from models were all green, and they were all plant-type and life-type spells. ¡°Dusk Magi Alderi, it seems like you don¡¯t understand the situation. Hehe, let Sir Reipa of Marine College tell you.¡± On the other side, a person walked out from the Marine College team. He had blond hair and a handsome face. He looked to be in his early thirties. He had the charm of a mature man and the vitality of a young man. Reipa Behemoth! A stage three Magi. When he walked out, he nodded inadvertently, his expression mocking. ¡°Alderi, didn¡¯t you notice that one of the higher-ups of the Evening Bell Church is missing?¡± ¡°Red-haired Jaro (the four-armed Magi)¡­ Where is he? Have you seen him?¡± Alderi asked his companions nearby in a low voice, but they all shook their heads. A newly advanced stage one Magi had actually gone missing? Reipa continued, ¡°He¡¯s already dead. He died in my hands!¡± Ripples came from Reipa¡¯s hand, and a huge red-haired head appeared in his palm. He threw it to Alderi. This made Alderi¡¯s face turn ugly. His expression was vicious and furious. ¡°Do you want to start a war?¡± ¡°War?!¡± Reipa shouted, ¡°I think it¡¯s your Evening Bell Church who wants to start a war with my North Sea Behemoth family! Olivia, bring that Demon Snake here!¡± ¡°Okay, big brother.¡± Olivia Behemoth was the pitiful lady who had, unfortunately, been attacked in the face by the Venom Wyverns a month and a half ago. Now, her face had returned to normal, and there were no signs of corrosion. She had a heroic appearance, a flat chest, and an arrogant expression! In her hand, she was holding the special Snake Demon who had given her information. Behind Reipa, a light purple magic ring lit up, and the Demon Snake immediately roared uncontrollably. Its skull was flipped open, revealing its pink brain. Then, its memory turned into an image that was projected in the middle of the three parties. Back when it was still a human, to the time it had been chosen by Red-haired Jaro¡­ Then it cultivated the Mediation Technique and mutated into the Sanke Demon¡­ Every detail of its memory was displayed in front of everyone. The conspiracy and plans even vaguely pointed out the Moon Magi and the old lizard of the Evening Bell Church. ¡°Alderi, what do you have to say?¡± Reipa¡¯s expression was indifferent. In fact, he had already communicated with the family¡¯s Magi who had arrived in Koster last night, and they were ready to make a move at any time. ¡°Hand the Moon Magi and Venom Lizard Magi over to me, and there¡¯s still a chance to turn things around. After all, Olivia hasn¡¯t died yet.¡± Olivia Behemoth¡¯s expression was a little unwilling, but Reipa gave her a look and she quickly calmed down. Alderi turned around and looked at the Moon Magi and Venom Lizard Magi in the team. His expression calmed down, and the coldness in his eyes seemed to be able to freeze the two of them to death. The two of them, who had only half-participated in the conspiracy, weren¡¯t worried. After all, it was all done by Jaro. At most, they had guided him with words. With that, they walked out confidently. ¡°Reipa, I know you¡¯re proficient in soul and psychic spells. You and I have some conflicts, but I can guarantee that I¡¯m not involved in this matter.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 37 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The old lizard echoed. ¡°The Moon Magi is right. Although Red-haired Jaro has a good relationship with us, we only share our experiences in harvesting materials. The Moon Magi and I can swear upon the Origin that we didn¡¯t participate in the plot against Miss Olivia.¡± Origin referred to this world. Anything that happened in the world could not escape the records of the Origin. Everything had traces! Swearing to the Origin with one¡¯s true soul was indeed a practical method. As soon as these words were said, not only did Reipa not feel ashamed of accusing others, but he was even a little speechless at the childishness of the two. His lips moved silently. Lady Rose and the dean of Marine College, Whale-taming Magi, made a move at the same time. More than ten official Magi appeared as well. Their strength ranged from stage 2 to stage 4, and the leader was also a stage 5 Magi. In addition, there were official Magis from the White Tower and Marine College. Their numbers formed a crushing situation. Seeing that the Moon Witch and the old lizard were still in a daze, Alderi could not hold it in any longer. ¡°Idiot! Do you still not understand? It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s you or not. The Behemoth family just wants a righteous reason, let alone if you really did it!¡± The old lizard was a little flustered as he responded to the sudden large number of spell attacks. ¡°No way! We can swear to the Origin! ¡± ¡°***!! Are you an idiot whose head was chewed off by a squirrel? You are even more stupid than maggots! You are the ones who handed the sword to them. Damn it! If it weren¡¯t for you, the Dandong Empire would have protected the Evening Bell Church! You are sinners!¡± The benefits were alluring. After all, there was the Evening Bell Island, a land of magic energy, that the Fiend Salt Swamp and the Evening Bell Church had cultivated and strengthened for three hundred years! The knowledge, potions, wealth, and even apprentices they collected were all resources. In the general orientation of the Dandong Empire, foreign forces were not allowed to attack domestic forces. After all, there were many small organizations like the Evening Bell Church that would provide a large number of resources to the Empire every year. However, if the organization itself was courting death and a hungry wolf from a foreign force found an opportunity, the Empire would also choose to turn a blind eye. The weak and smart could be protected, but if the organization was stupid and ignorant, nothing could save them. The White Tower and Marine College made the same choice. The Behemoth family of the North Sea had their roots in the North Sea, and they would leave after the battle. Why not take something they could pick up for free? Leipa¡¯s branch was like a big tree that had grown many branches and leaves. They had many strategic goals. If necessary, he could seek the support of the family. However, after this battle, the family would withdraw, leaving at most one or two people to help him. After dividing up the Evening Bell Church, Leipa¡¯s branch of the Behemoth family would be able to occupy the church¡¯s place and take root. It could also form a stable source of resources. Every year, they would transport resources to the family as a return of favor for this attack. Even so, such resources given to only the two of them, Reipa Behemoth and his sister Olivia Behemoth, were still an incomparably large amount. It was enough for him to cultivate to the level of a stage 5 Magi. It was a bloody profit! The rumbling explosions lasted the entire night, illuminating the entire Koster as if it was daytime. In this battle, the dock area was completely destroyed, and countless ships were lost. Alderi escaped, and the eleven official Magis either surrendered or died. A large number of apprentices escaped. The Moon Witch and the old lizard died without a complete corpse. The moment the battle began, Lin Suo went underground and used his periscope to observe the situation on the surface. He didn¡¯t want to go out at all, nor did he have any thoughts of making a fortune in the chaos. He only watched. He knew how to read lips, and after doing so a little, Lin Suo roughly understood what had happened. Combining his experience with the memories of the Snake Demon, it was easy for him to come up with a logical conclusion. The original reason for today¡¯s battle was because he killed Sala¡­ This was simply ridiculous! It was ridiculous to the extreme! The butterfly effect! Awesome! ¡­ After the war, a portion of the civilians in Koster had been killed in the aftermath of the battle. As for the strength of the official Magis, Lin Suo could be considered to have a glimpse of it from a limited perspective, and he had a rough idea of it. They were on completely different levels. In a battle between official Magi, there was an endless stream of various types of spells, all kinds of tools, wands, contracted beasts, and bloodline transformations. It was simply an eye-opener. This was especially so for the magic ring, which was refined from the spell models. It was like a divine ring floating behind a Magi. Every time an official Magi cast a spell, he would use the magic ring to convert magical energy. With that, he could almost instantly cast all the spells of the corresponding attributes that he mastered. Furthermore, if the spell corresponding to the magic ring could be combined with other magic rings, it could release a more powerful combination spell. A four-story building could be instantly burned to ashes by a single golden fireball. It was terrifying. The division of the Magi schools also came from this. Combination spells! An ability that could only be mastered by stage 2 Magis! Among them, the elemental Magis were quite experienced in this aspect. Self-taught wizards had no future. The lack of knowledge would be the biggest obstacle to their paths forward. Lin Suo observed for the entire night. The periscope had its limitations and he could not see everything clearly. It only allowed him to see a portion of the battle scene in the air. That being said, he had still gained something. Today was the third day after the coastal battle royale. The news of the escape of the dusk Magi Alderi had spread like wildfire in the Magi world. Lin Suo had always judged others from the worst perspective. Three stage-5 Magis besieged a stage-5 Magi who had advanced from a self-taught wizard, but the latter actually managed to escape. The inside story behind this was intriguing. The story of Alderi¡¯s growth was widely circulated in Koster, and it was extremely legendary. This was because he had grown from a beggar to where he was today. One had to admit that his talent was amazing. Unfortunately, without the guidance of a great teacher, he lacked proper Magi knowledge. After he condensed the magic rings, his compatibility was very poor. His strength was almost at the bottom of the same realm. The Evening Bell Church thus came into being. The power of dusk could affect his magic rings and turn them into dusk spells. Until now, his problem had not been solved, but the Church was gone. 300 years of hard work had turned to naught overnight. The situation was like this, and there was no way to reverse it. ¡­ At the same time, the higher-ups of the White Tower, Marine College, and the Behemoth Family gathered to discuss how to divide the inheritance of the Evening Bell Church. As the people involved, Reipa and Olivia were also there. However¡­ ¡°Lady Rose, Master Whale-taming, how do you explain Alderi¡¯s escape?¡± Lady Rose twisted her slender waist and placed her heavy chest on the gorgeous wooden table. Her tone was seductive. ¡°Magi Reipa~ We didn¡¯t want that to happen either.¡± Reipa gritted his teeth. They were all old and shrewd monsters with meticulous thoughts. If Lady Rose hadn¡¯t blocked the trajectory of the family elder¡¯s spell, Alderi would¡¯ve already died from the ice ball¡¯s attack. Now, he had escaped. After the family elder left, with such a powerful enemy having his eyes on him in the dark, it would be very difficult for him to truly gain a firm foothold in Koster. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 38 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Seeing that Reipa didn¡¯t speak, Lady Rose and the Whale-taming Magi looked at each other. Needless to say, they had the same thought. In terms of power, the White Tower and Marine College were no match for the North Sea Behemoth family, but when the main force left, Reipa was only a stage 3 Magi. They could get more benefits from him. Alderi would not let this kid off either. At that time, it would become a battle between a crazy beast and the Behemoth family. They only needed to use a few tricks to obtain a large number of benefits. Reipa was helpless. Ultimately, he was not strong enough. He and his sister did not have enough power in the family either. As such, he could only nod and leave the negotiation to the family elder. However, this way, the resources he had to hand over to the family every year would reach 70% of his total income. If he had settled the matter himself, he would¡¯ve only needed to hand over about 50%. Through telepathy, also known as voice transmission, the three stage-5 Magis soon reached a tacit understanding. The Evening Bell Church¡¯s island would be given to the two local forces while the salt marsh that originally belonged to the Evening Bell Church would belong to Reipa. Of course, the knowledge on Evening Bell Island had to be copied and brought back to the North Sea Behemoth family by the family elder. The other two forces also had to pay two million magic stones each to obtain permanent ownership of Evening Bell Island. The rest of Evening Bell Church¡¯s properties and some of the apprentices were also given to Reipa. It seemed like Reipa had earned a lot, but in fact, it was only so-so. The most valuable property was the Evening Bell Island. This was the foundation of a Magi force. It took hundreds of years to strengthen the land to have extremely dense magic energy. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the deep-sea polluted creatures.¡± Speaking of the deep-sea polluted creatures, the elder of the Behemoth family left with his men. They were not locals anyway, so it had nothing to do with them. Reipa¡¯s safety would be reported by the two local forces to the court Magis of Koster to guard. As long as they were willing to pay, it was not a problem to ensure their safety within the city. No matter how crazy Alderi was, he wouldn¡¯t challenge the order of the Dandong Empire. After all, the Dandong Empire had a legendary Magi that was above stage 9! Even the Five-colored Evil Dragon wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly. As for the deep-sea polluted creatures, they were the products of the fallen old Gods. After the ancient Magis killed the Gods, they sealed a part of their corpses in the deep sea. Over the years, the Sea tribe and some marine creatures were contaminated by the death radiation emitted by the Gods¡¯ corpses, and thus they mutated into monsters that only knew to pursue death. To lure the Evening Bell Church to gather at Koster¡¯s coast, Reipa had lured a large group of deep-sea polluted creatures over through the secret feed of the North Sea Behemoth family, making them completely occupy Evening Bell Island. It would take some time to get the island back. Moreover, there was a curse from the Gods on the polluted creatures. This curse was named ¡°Eternal Drown¡±. The longer one stayed with the deep-sea polluted creatures, the easier it was to be infected by the curse. It would be caused one¡¯s bloodline to mutate and lure Magis to fall. The final result was to become a powerful monster that would forever belong to the deep sea. Those who were cursed could often hear the call of the deep sea, which was very eerie. The power of curses could be considered a variant of psychic power. Its origin could no longer be traced. The deep-sea polluted creatures were not strong and could be handed over to Magi apprentices. The problem was pollution. Once these polluted creatures died, they would explode like a bomb, and their flesh and blood would fly everywhere. Touching the flesh and blood would cause one to be infected by the curse, Eternal Drown. It required purification spells to cure, which was very labor-consuming. The situation simply couldn¡¯t be solved in a short time. And now, Evening Bell Island belonged to the White Tower and Marine College. As such, Reipa shook his head and did not answer. He simply followed the elder¡¯s footsteps and left. He still had other things to discuss. Moreover, it was impossible for him to return to the Deep Sea Academy to cultivate, so he needed a special mystical item to create a magic energy room for himself. Such a mystical item could only be found in the family. Lady Rose and the Whale-taming Magi looked at each other. Back then, they had a good time luring their targets. Now, it was really troublesome to deal with them. However, paying a huge price to get the island was worth it. Not only was there Alderi¡¯s Magi Tower (including the elemental pool), but there was also a magic potion garden, a beast garden, a meditation room, a library, and so on. There were all kinds of facilities and equipment that could be used to increase one¡¯s strength. The Behemoth family only needed a copy of the knowledge inside. In other words, the Evening Bell Island was now an empty treasure trove. It was indeed their duty to deal with the polluted creatures. ¡°Are there any apprentices who are proficient in purification spells among our apprentices?¡± ¡°There are a few who have mastered Water Purification, but not many. What about you?¡± ¡°I also have some apprentices who can purify evil. Shall we start cleaning up now?¡± ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll send official Magi to lead the team in turns, rotating every month. It¡¯ll take at most a year to clean up.¡± ¡°Then gather some self-taught wizards too. The risk of purifying the polluted creatures is too high. Let the self-taught wizards go for a few rounds first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After a few words, they set a general direction. Following this, the two of them were in a heated discussion about how to divide the interests of the island. Just now, they had joined hands, but now, they were at each other¡¯s throats. There was no need to be surprised. This was normal. ¡­ Rhein Bookstore. Lin Suo¡¯s life was leisurely and stable. He often communicated with Valia and learned more about the secret information of the Magi world. He went to the Sewer Black Market every seven days to sell Enlightenment Reagents and buy a large number of materials. During this process, both gold coins and magic stones were consumed in large quantities. His savings were almost emptied. The antique shop that Colin had transferred to him was indeed not bad. It made a profit of about two thousand gold every month. It also had fixed customers and channels to receive goods. Lin Suo made a trip there and eliminated Old John and his group from the list of acquisition targets. Then, he couldn¡¯t care less about them, as he still had the contracts and labor contracts. These minor characters could not affect him. Besides, he hadn¡¯t mingled around for nothing. After staying in Koster for so long, he had gotten to know a few people from all walks of life, mostly ordinary people. Other than entrusting a regular customer of the bookstore to find a professional shop owner for him, he rarely cared about the shop. Because he was proficient in many languages, the quality of the books was high, and it was opened in a mixed-race area, Rhein Bookstore¡¯s business was much better than before, and his monthly profit reached 500 gold. The illustrations and fabricated stories that he added were very attractive to these foreign races who had never seen their hometown before! For example, the story of the Beastman Thrall, the explosion of the Night Elf¡¯s Well of Eternity, the Legend of the Goblin Merchant Caesar, the Night of Beheading ¡­ The book printing equipment was placed on the second floor. With the help of the Magical Hand, he could mass produce while improving his proficiency in practicing. It was simply invincible. The industries on the surface had taken off. The next step was to expand the antique shop or open a new business. When his monthly profit reached more than 10,000 gold, he would have the ticket to become a Dandong noble. At that time, the noble merchant circle would take the initiative to invite him to a certain banquet. As for the counterfeit goods industry behind it, it had already been exhausted and there was no way to earn any more money! This matter could not be exposed either. Who knew how many nobles of Koster had bought his fake goods? His monthly income from that had dropped from 50,000 gold to less than 5,000 gold. Old John was at his wit¡¯s end. At this point, his network had been exhausted, and he was no different from selling bulk goods. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 39 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Lin Suo had already decided to cut off this line, whitewashing himself and turning onto righteous paths. The expansion of the antique shop required the help of Vice Guild Master Colin. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem since they had a good relationship. On the other hand, he planned to broaden his source of income. This time, he had his eyes set on the food industry. He wanted to develop paddy rice. The soil in the coastal areas was not suitable for growing them, but he could cheat with the power of synthesis. Barren soil could be synthesized into humus soil, wild rice could be synthesized into high-quality rice seeds, and if there was time, he could also research food crops that contained magic energy. He needed to find enough wild rice to do this, which he entrusted to a Half-beast adventurer who lived next door. The other party should be back in at most a month. On this day, after completing his daily training and improving the Magical Hand¡¯s proficiency in practicing, Lin Suo went to Iron Hook Tavern to gather information as usual. Iron Hook Tavern was owned by a retired female captain from Dandong. A section of her elbow was missing, where she wore a classic pirate iron hook. She had black hair and brown eyes. She was a very beautiful human female. Even mums would gasp at her beauty when they lay eyes on her. Lin Suo¡¯s evaluated her as a ¡°ripe peach¡±. He did not come here often just because he had any thoughts about her. He was simply here to get information. Moreover, she was a rare Ultimate Knight. Other than Count Seth, whom he had met back then, this was the second Ultimate Knight Lin Suo had met. The imagined situation where Ultimate Knights were everywhere did not exist. The reason why he had such thoughts was fueled by his knowledge of the Ultimate Knight¡¯s status in the Magi world ¡­ In short¡­ It was quite special. Iron Hook Tavern. Lin Suo pushed the door open and entered. There were not many customers in the tavern during the day. A waiter served him while the captain stood behind the counter, wiping glasses. ¡°Sister Tifa~¡± ¡°Little brother Rhein, you¡¯re here again.¡± Lin Suo smiled and ordered a cup of Inferno. This was the rum of the sea and just the name was different. Every time he saw Captain Tifa, he could always recall some things in the 3D zone and that familiar phrase. [Claude, I¡¯m sorry ¡­] Every time he heard it, Lin Suo would refute that it was time to add the word ¡°again¡±. If one were to say that the Elf, Valia, was like the moonlight brimming with youth and could always bring him peace of mind, Captain Tifa was like a passionate fire. If he didn¡¯t take a look at her each day, he would be dispirited for the entire day. Yum¡­ Wildflowers were so fragrant~ Captain Tifa was 40 years old this year, but her Ultimate Knight level had the effect of extending her lifespan. Her muscles were strong and taut due to years of training and no traces of time could be seen on her. Strangers would only think that she was only in her thirties, the prime age. After drinking a mouthful of Inferno, Lin Suo began to talk naturally about what had happened recently. The chaotic battle on the coast! Tifa was much more sensitive to this information than him. She quickly told him that the White Tower and Marine College were recruiting self-taught wizards. And God knows if it was because of their conscience, but they had released two apprentice-level spells for free. Those spells were Water Purification and Evil Purification. All Magi who joined could obtain those two spell books, but they would need to participate in the clean-up of the Evening Bell Island after learning them. The forces would pay the Magis in advance with the spells and some magic stones as a reward. Lin Suo asked curiously, ¡°Sister Tifa, why does Evening Bell Island need to be cleaned and purified?¡± ¡°Oh, I heard that some of the deep-sea polluted creatures came ashore. The battle with the Evening Bell Church some time ago caused many of the apprentices of the tower and the academy to be injured. That¡¯s why they handed the matter over to the self-taught wizards to deal with.¡± Tifa spread her hands and pretended to be speechless. ¡°However, with an official Magi leading the team, it should be authentic.¡± The corner of Lin Suo¡¯s mouth twitched, and his gaze involuntarily fell on Tifa¡¯s hooked hand. With her intelligence, she was really lucky to have only lost an arm. To be able to make a miser suddenly offer a generous reward, it was obvious that there was something fishy going on. Regarding the deep-sea polluted creatures, he should ask the down-and-out rich lady, Valia, about it. Lin Suo hurriedly finished the glass of Inferno, then flicked a silver coin and said goodbye. ¡°This is for you. I¡¯ll come again next time.¡± A young waitress who was close to Tifa said teasingly, ¡°Boss, is Mr. Rhein interested in you?¡± Tifa stared suspiciously at Lin Suo¡¯s back as he left and shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m already so old. Moreover, that little guy seems to be a Magi. Every move he makes gives off a different feeling. He seems like a noble.¡± The young waitress¡¯s eyes lit up. Tifa warned sternly, ¡°Even if he¡¯s interested, it¡¯s just for fun. He won¡¯t take responsibility. Don¡¯t be impulsive.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡­ After Lin Suo came out, he was prepared to go directly to Valia. On the way back, he ¡°coincidentally¡± met a self-taught wizard who was engrossed in the contents of the book in his hand. Unknowingly, the latter walked into a dark corner. Good heavens, the other party looked like a thief. He had to be punished! After a while, Lin Suo was staring intently at a book he was holding. There were two big words written on the spine of the book: Evil Purification. (He didn¡¯t kill the self-taught wizard.) ¡­ Nature Fruit Shop. Lin Suo read a few pages of the spell book and casually put them into his waist pouch (made from the stomachs of Swamp-swallowing Frogs). He would eat it directly when he got back. Why did he need to read it? Valia¡¯s fruit shop had three floors, and she often lived on the third floor. Lin Suo was right across the street, so they were very close. They often visited each other. There was another Elf girl in the shop. She was mainly responsible for daily restocking, performing transactions, cleaning¡­ Either way, Valia was a hands-off boss. ¡°Cece, where¡¯s Lia?¡± The waitress rolled her eyes at him angrily. She was not a member of the Language of Nature family, but she had heard of the feud between them and the Dandong people. Seeing her Young Miss like this, she was somewhat exasperated at the other party¡¯s failure to live up to expectations. Lin Suo was used to the attitude and asked again. Cece could only say helplessly, ¡°Miss has gone to the nature association¡­¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Suo smiled and was about to say goodbye when he suddenly turned around and said, ¡°Next time, you can come to my place for dinner with your young miss. See you later.¡± Cece wanted to say something but Lin Suo had already left. She could only sulk. ¡°Who wants to eat your broken food, miss¡­ Gulp ~¡± On the other side, Reipa and Olivia Behemoth had been extremely busy accepting the inheritance of the Evening Bell Church these past few days. After a certain Snake Demon played its role, its soul was destroyed on the spot by Reipa, and it was thrown away as a vegetable. It simply disappeared after the chaotic battle that night. He didn¡¯t think much of it though. Perhaps it had been crushed by the shockwaves of the spells. Olivia didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit sorry for the Snake Demon who had helped her either. Now, if the two of them wanted to gain a firm foothold in Koster¡¯s coastal and inshore areas, building a relationship with the Dandong authorities was just one of the things they needed to do. The Elves were also a force that could not be ignored. As long as Alderi was not dead, they could not leave the city. Wanting to take over the benefits of the salt swamp was a fool¡¯s dream then. The Fiend Salt Swamp was guarded by official Magis on a rotation system from the three Magus forces. If they didn¡¯t go, how could they get any benefits? Nature association. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 40 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Antlers Verder and Valia¡¤Language of Nature sat together, while Reipa and Olivia Behemoth sat opposite them. The Language of Nature family was once one of the founder families of the association. Although it had declined, it still had some power. Guild Master Antlers had become a branch guild master who had worked his way up through experience. He had relied on his background a little, but his strength was enough to guard the city branch. After all, there was no need for him to fight. It was fine as long as he knew how to manage. The Behemoth siblings came to ask for help. As such, Antlers dragged Valia along and let her make the decision. Even if the Language of Nature family had declined, they still had many official Magis. It was a deal, after all. ¡°How much are you willing to pay?¡± The Behemoth siblings looked at each other. The elder brother, Reipa, would lead the transaction. ¡°Ten percent of the Fiend Salt Swamp¡¯s gains.¡± Antlers frowned. ¡°It¡¯s a little too little.¡± Reipa spoke frankly, ¡°Guild Master Antlers, you can¡¯t say that. Let me calculate it for you. The gains from the Fiend Salt Swamp are calculated daily. It consists of the entrance fee to gain map information, monster materials, official Magi-level monster resources, and crystallized rotten wood.¡± ¡°Not only do the self-taught wizards in Koster go there, but most of the self-taught wizards within a radius of 300 kilometers would choose to go to the salt swamp. The traffic is about 3,000 people. The members of the White Tower and the Marine Academy, whether it¡¯s for training or completing missions, would usually do so in the salt swamp as well.¡± ¡°After I took over the Evening Bell Church¡¯s share, I didn¡¯t send any apprentices to harvest materials, so my total share increased from 35% to 50%. The rest is for the Tower and the Academy. With this, the daily profit of the salt swamp can reach about 50,000 magic stones. 10% of it is 2500 magic stones per day, which is 75000 magic stones per month. This is not a small number.¡± Reipa was right. However, one had to note some things. The daily profit couldn¡¯t possibly be so stable every day. Besides, official Magi-level monsters did not appear every day. Usually, only one would only be born in a month, and occasionally two would appear. For materials of this level, it was relatively easy to sell the entire corpse for 10,000 magic stones. Crystallized rotten wood was a tree resource that could only be found in places like the magic energy salt swamps. For the sake of sustainable development, it could not be harvested every day. Therefore, Reipa was talking about the highest profit. In reality, the actual gains might need to be reduced by 20,000 to 30,000 magic stones. It would be more stable if he were to pay around 40,000 magic stones a month. If they could earn 750,000 magic stones a month from the Fiend Salt Swamp alone, it was obvious how rich the three Magus forces were after so many years. It was no wonder that the North Sea Behemoth family took this opportunity to intervene. In the long run, Reipa¡¯s branch of the Behemoth family would develop sooner or later. Antlers Faner and Valia looked at each other. Hearing this calculation, they were tempted. After all, it was only sending official Magi to guard the place. Battles were few, and if there were any, it was only against the official Magi-level fiends born from the surface of the salt swamp. Now, Reipa was willing to pay such a huge price to pull the Language of Nature family into the same boat by tempting them with profits. When he was developed, it would be a different scene. Guild Master Antlers thought for a moment. ¡°Magi Reipa, I¡¯ll contact the Language of Nature family about this. I¡¯ll give you a reply in three days.¡± ¡°Alright, then I wish us a happy cooperation.¡± Antlers nodded. Although he said he would consider it for three days, everyone knew that the opportunity to split the cake was rare. The success rate of the deal was ninety-nine percent. Varya would watch and be a witness. She would write a letter with Antlers and send it to the Forest of Elves where the family was. When Lin Suo arrived, he happened to see Antlers sending Reipa and his sister off with a smile. Lin Suo knew the two of them, but they did not know him. He was a little curious, but he didn¡¯t interfere. Only after he became an official Magi and obtained the qualifications to join the Magi Union would he be considered to have truly gained a firm foothold. ¡°Lia.¡± ¡°Rhein!¡± Valia welcomed him happily. ¡°Why are you here? Is there something you want to talk to me about?¡± Lin Suo paused before saying casually, ¡°You¡¯re smart.¡± Seeing the two of them so intimate, Antlers snorted coldly and felt indignant. ¡°Rhein, you¡¯re just in time. I need your help with the Luna Royal Family¡¯s matters.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± He followed the two of them upstairs. As Lin Suo walked, he asked questions about the deep-sea polluted creatures, and he soon received an answer. The seal of the ancient Gods¡¯ remains, the source of pollution, and so on. Moreover, the curse of Eternal Drown on the deep-sea polluted creatures was one that could not be removed. Even the Magis above stage nine could not do anything about it. This surprised him. He couldn¡¯t help but sneer in his heart. As expected, those forces had bad intentions and were sending the self-taught wizards to their deaths. The matter regarding purification was true though. The danger of Eternal Drown was that it infected through flesh. Once one came into contact with a polluted creature¡¯s flesh, one would definitely be inflicted by the curse! Where there was a gain, there must a loss. Since the curse was so powerful, the deep-sea polluted creatures were extremely weak. Any spell could kill them. Purification spells could then be used to dispel the curse seeds buried in their flesh. No wonder the White Tower and the Marine Academy would use the polluted creatures to drive the people of the Evening Bell Church away. It was like a mop that had feces, or someone who had tuberculosis. Who would want to come into contact with it? Lin Suo could not help but ask as they went up another floor. ¡°Can apprentice-level purification spells also purify the seed of the Eternal Drown curse?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. However, it¡¯s slow. It can be considered a flaw of this curse. It is endowed with unparalleled infectious and incurable characteristics, so it must be much weaker in other aspects. The world won¡¯t allow a perfect curse to exist. ¡± The beauty of flaws? Lin Suo¡¯s imagination ran wild. Could he use the power of synthesis to cheat and create something perfect? ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± While he was thinking, Guild Master Antlers brought him to the same room on the fifth floor and impatiently took out an exquisite box. The box was engraved with many Ancient Elvish words. This time, it was not a secret language passed down by word of mouth, but slang from a certain elven region! Lin Suo could not help but be speechless. Elves also had slang? Wow¡­ He could indeed understand it. After all, his identity as a language guru was not just for show. ¡°This box¡­¡± Lin Suo put on his gloves and observed the box carefully. Soon, he put down the box and sighed, ¡°It really is something from the Luna Royal Family.¡± Guild Master Antlers revealed a look of joy. ¡°Mr. Rhein, can you understand?¡± Lin Suo nodded then shook his head. ¡°I have an idea, but I still need to study them to understand them completely.¡± ¡°Oh? What do you mean?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, this should be something from the Moon God Island. According to the Luna Holy Scripture, the Moon God Island is the origin of the Moon God Elves. I¡¯m afraid this is the only place in the world where we can find the Moon Stone. Where did you get this?¡± Antlers was deep in thought and did not seem to hear him. Valia quickly replied, ¡°We bought it from a Moon Elf.¡± The Elves had experienced the rule of more than ten royal families. Because of the different powers they believed in, the meta-magic bloodlines in their bodies constantly changed. There were Moon Elves, Wood Elves, Dust Elves, Blood Elves, and many other species. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible.