Thorn's Touch

Chen Chuan pushed open the wooden door of Omomo's Magic Equipment Shop, and the wind chime hanging on it gave a clear jingle. The shop was much brighter than the potion hut. All kinds of wands and runic shields hung on the walls, while glittering magic accessories filled the display case in the center.

"Can I help you?" A girl in a blue robe looked up from behind the counter. Her long golden hair gleamed in the sunlight, and she wore a professional smile.

"Just looking," Chen Chuan replied, sweeping his gaze over the equipment on display.

"Please, take your time," the blue-robed girl said with a slight nod. "Call me whenever you need anything."

Chen Chuan walked over to the wand section and gently brushed his hand over several wooden wands. Even the cheapest cost ten magic stones, and they were only basic models for ordinary apprentices.

He noticed an unremarkable black wand in the corner. Fine vine patterns wound around its shaft, and its price tag read forty-five magic stones.

"Is there anything special about this wand?" Chen Chuan asked, pointing to the black wand.

The blue-robed girl followed Chen Chuan's gaze, and a trace of appreciation flashed in her eyes. "Thorn's Touch is handmade here in our shop, crafted by fusing century-old ebony with life vines. It strengthens the user's connection with plants, making it easier to cast life magic."

Chen Chuan lightly touched the wand, and a faint warmth flowed into his fingertips.

He could sense what seemed to be a tiny life pulse beating slowly inside the wand.

"Its price..." Chen Chuan asked tentatively.

"Forty-five low-grade magic stones. No bargaining," the blue-robed girl replied briskly. "But if you have suitable materials, we can consider a trade."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then gave up on it. He did want Thorn's Touch, but he wasn't in urgent need of combat equipment yet.

He would use the money and materials he had to look into a side profession, then buy equipment once he'd earned some money.

After apologizing to the blue-robed girl, Chen Chuan turned and left Omomo's Magic Equipment Shop.

People came and went along the commercial street, and Chen Chuan wandered aimlessly with the crowd. The twenty-five low-grade magic stones in his pocket felt faintly warm, reminding him how short-lived this wealth would be.

He passed a stall selling magic scrolls, where the owner was enthusiastically demonstrating a flame spell rune to a customer. Blue flames danced on the talisman paper, drawing gasps of amazement from the onlookers.

Chen Chuan stopped, his attention drawn to an inconspicuous stall.

The stall consisted of an old cloth spread out with a few unremarkable objects scattered across it. Its owner was an elderly man in a straw hat, his head bent as he repaired a worn leather scroll.

"Young man, interested in old books?" The elderly man looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his cloudy eyes beneath the straw hat. "These are all treasures I found in the academy ruins."

Chen Chuan's gaze fell on a brown-covered book in the corner of the stall. The edges of its pages had yellowed, and the large words "Harvitt's Basic Theory of Potions" were faintly visible on its cover.

"This notebook looks quite old." Chen Chuan crouched down and carefully picked up the old book.

The elderly man's eyes lit up. "You know your stuff, young man. This was written by the famous potion maker Harvitt himself three hundred years ago. It records many lost potion formulas."

"Can I take a closer look at what's inside?" Chen Chuan opened the book and found that the paper was rough, but the handwriting on it was exceptionally clear.

"Go ahead," the elderly man said, rubbing his hands together. "Make me an offer."

Chen Chuan looked through the pages and found that they contained not only basic potion-making methods, but also some techniques for extracting plants.

However, some of the later content was already missing.

The elderly man leaned closer for a look and lowered his voice. "I heard Harvitt researched a life-extending potion in his later years. There might be clues in this book. It only costs twenty low-grade magic stones now—a real bargain. If you manage to develop a life-extending potion, you'll strike it rich."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then stirred his mind.

All-Spell Analysis activated.

Analysis target: Harvitt's Basic Theory of Potions (time remaining: 6 hours and 55 minutes)

It worked. Looks like I can get some knowledge for free in the future.

That saved me another batch of magic stones.

Chen Chuan put the old book down without betraying any emotion.

"Ah, it really is good, but I'm not very interested in potion-making. I'd better leave this chance to strike it rich to someone else."

With that, Chen Chuan turned and left without hesitation.

The elderly man was still waiting for Chen Chuan to haggle, but this young man didn't play fair.

He had run off into the distance in an instant, leaving the elderly man behind, still trying to get a word in.

"Are all newcomers this cautious these days? I hadn't even finished my sales pitch."

Chen Chuan heard the elderly man's complaint from afar, but it was no longer his concern.

Chen Chuan continued down the commercial street, but his thoughts lingered on the old book.

All-Spell Analysis had successfully obtained knowledge of potion-making, but he still needed to plan how to turn it into actual profit.

He needed to find a way to make use of this knowledge without revealing his true level.

The smell of freshly baked bread drifted over from a street corner, and Chen Chuan realized he was a little hungry.

He stopped in front of a simple food stall.

He was surprised to see that the single-person afternoon tea set on the sign, consisting of a loaf made with magic wheat and a cup of Augu cow's milk, cost a whole low-grade magic stone.

But the warmth rising from the food helped him relax a little.

His growling stomach convinced Chen Chuan to splurge this once.

Before long, the aroma of wheat spread through his mouth as he ate the bread. Chen Chuan leaned against a wooden post at the stall and sipped the warm milk.

It really was different. Eating it made his body feel warm, and his magic power flowed a little more smoothly.

As expected of magic food.

The bustle of the commercial street gradually faded away, leaving only the stall owner's calls and the customers' murmurs.

"Young man, is this your first time on the commercial street?" The stall owner was a middle-aged man with a stubbled face, who was turning the next batch of bread with iron tongs. "Judging by that gray robe, you must be a reserve apprentice."

"Mm." Chen Chuan nodded and finished the last of his bread.

"I did just enroll not long ago." Chen Chuan set down his empty cup, took two magic stones from his pocket, and placed them on the stall. "Sorry for the trouble, but could I have another afternoon tea set to go?"

The stubbled man's eyes lit up as he took the magic stones. "New apprentices are all like that, careful with their spending. But you reserve wizards will be able to make money soon. Once you become official apprentices, you can take on a few tasks for a steady income."

Chen Chuan took the fresh bread and milk without replying. He noticed several people talking quietly in the distance, and one of them was Professor Hailey.

"Look, that lady in the green robe over there is a professor at the Life Academy," the stall owner said, following Chen Chuan's gaze. "Professor Hailey Godwin. She's greatly respected and feared at the academy."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly, but grew more wary. It seemed meeting the professor on the commercial street was no coincidence; perhaps she was observing him too.

"Thank you for the information." Chen Chuan stood up, preparing to leave the stall.

"Wait," the stall owner said, suddenly lowering his voice. "You seem like a decent fellow, so let me give you a warning. The commercial street may be lively, but some stalls are specifically there to swindle newcomers. Take that old man selling ancient books, for example. Most of his goods are fake. Only someone with a truly discerning eye can find a treasure among them."

Chen Chuan nodded. This was consistent with his earlier judgment. He was about to leave when he saw Professor Hailey looking in his direction, her gaze seeming to linger on his face for an instant.

Chen Chuan calmly straightened his gray robe and tucked his pouch of magic stones farther inside. He decided to return to the dormitory first and plan his next move.

The remaining twenty-three low-grade magic stones had been hard to come by. Although he still had some materials he could exchange, there was no need to do so in the short term, and he had to budget carefully. Perhaps he could go to the library and consult some materials on side professions, finding a way to earn money without drawing attention.

As he left the commercial street, Chen Chuan caught a glimpse of the old-book seller talking to a mysterious person. The person wore a gray robe different from the academy uniform, with a peculiar emblem embroidered on the chest.

Chen Chuan quickened his pace and disappeared onto the academy's tree-lined avenue.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadows. His figure stretched across the stone-paved path, finally becoming part of the vast and mysterious world of the Wizard Academy.