Maple Sugar City

Along the way, Ang not only dealt with several beast attacks but also learned a great deal from the caravan members' conversations. A caravan member named Jim told him that the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster was actually only a province of the empire; in the empire's official terminology, this region was called "Tanaster Province." Ang was puzzled by this and asked Jim why everyone he had met referred to it as the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster.

Jim explained that this was because the Grand Duke of Tan'anster tacitly permitted the title, and perhaps the Tan'anster Family had plans of their own. At that, Jim did not delve any deeper into the subject. Ang guessed that the Grand Duke might hope for Tan'anster to become a truly independent nation, ruled by the Tan'anster Family.

Although the topic piqued Ang's interest, he quickly realized that such political matters were still far removed from his current life and goals. He refocused on the task at hand, concentrating on protecting the caravan while continuing to absorb experience and knowledge from Jim and the other caravan members.

Jim was an experienced merchant who had traveled far and wide and seen much of the world. He told Ang that the empire's various provinces differed greatly in culture and economy, each with its own customs and specialty goods. Jim also mentioned that Maple Sugar City was a prosperous trade hub, especially famous for its abundant maple sugar resources, and one of the caravan's major destinations.

Ang found this information novel and interesting, realizing that his understanding of this world was still very limited. Through Jim and the other caravan members' accounts, Ang gradually gained a deeper understanding of the empire's vastness and diversity. He decided that when he had the chance in the future, he would travel more, see more, and learn more truths about this world.

As the caravan traveled, Ang gradually formed deep friendships with Jim and the others. They shared stories, discussed what they had seen and heard, helped one another, and faced the various challenges of the journey together. Through these experiences, Ang not only broadened his knowledge and experience but also became filled with anticipation and confidence for the future.

At last, after several days of travel, the caravan reached the outskirts of Maple Sugar City. Ang bid farewell to the caravan members and thanked them for their help and companionship. Jim spoke highly of Ang's strength and character, saying that he hoped they would have the chance to meet again in the future.

Ang also sincerely thanked Jim and the caravan members, promising that if he had the opportunity, he would certainly return to Maple Sugar City to visit them.

Upon entering Maple Sugar City, Ang felt the city's prosperity and bustle. He knew this was a crucial step in his return to the Main Plane.

As the center of the Maple Sugar Plane, Maple Sugar City held more strategic significance than defensive value. There were no towering city walls, and the overall layout was circular. At its very center stood the Plane Teleportation Array, with four broad roads radiating outward from it and leading directly beyond the city.

These roads were sensibly designed for two-way traffic, with each direction wide enough for five carriages to travel side by side. Ang noticed that every road had personnel specifically assigned to direct carriage traffic, ensuring everything remained orderly. Notably, people and goods did not use the same passageways; each had dedicated routes to prevent confusion and congestion.

From afar, Maple Sugar City's overall layout was impressive. Around the central Plane Teleportation Array, buildings were arranged in neat layers, forming a bustling commercial district centered around the array. Shops stood side by side, hawkers' cries rose and fell without end, and the entire city brimmed with life. People traded and lived here, busy yet orderly.

Ang marveled at Maple Sugar City's prosperity and order, especially at the various shops and stalls lining both sides of the roads, selling all manner of rare treasures, magical materials, and daily necessities. He quietly felt fortunate that he had found a reliable caravan and arrived safely in this city. Here, he could not only accomplish his goal but also encounter more novel things and further enrich his knowledge and experience.

Standing on Maple Sugar City's broad streets, Ang took a deep breath and felt the city's clamor and liveliness.

Ang first went to the Plane Teleportation Array administration office to complete the necessary procedures. The office was separate from the array itself. Ang presented his identification and discharge papers. After verifying them and checking the schedule, the administrator told him that there would be a teleportation to the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster in three days, and it would only be available in the morning.

After paying the teleportation fee of 10 Gold Wack, Ang received a palm-sized badge as proof of teleportation. The administrator told him that only those holding a teleportation badge could use plane teleportation. Afterward, Ang began searching for an inn near the array, so that it would be convenient for him to teleport on the morning of the third day.

After some searching, Ang finally found an inn relatively close to the array, but he discovered that lodging in Maple Sugar City was far more expensive than in Wolf City. Two days' accommodation actually cost 20 Gold Wack, giving Ang a new understanding of Maple Sugar City's prices. Still, the price included unlimited meals, which offered him some small comfort.

After putting his luggage in his room, Ang found that the inn's facilities were no more upscale than those in Wolf City, though the environment was reasonably comfortable. Considering the upcoming plane teleportation, he decided to rest well over the next two days while taking the opportunity to learn more about Maple Sugar City.

Over the next two days, Ang visited the various districts of Maple Sugar City and saw more of the wondrous things this world had to offer. He noticed that Maple Sugar City was not only a strategic center but also a place full of vitality and opportunity. Its countless shops and stalls dazzled him.

Ang knew that he was about to embark on a new journey, and he was full of anticipation for the future. Although his studies and experiences in Wolf City had already benefited him greatly, he knew there was still much more knowledge to explore and master.

While browsing the shops of Maple Sugar City, Ang discovered a milky-white stone that felt warmly comfortable in his hand. A shop clerk told him it was Glowstone. When Ang held the Glowstone, he felt his qi force stir restlessly. He suppressed the qi force within him and asked the clerk about its price. The clerk told him that a standard piece of Glowstone cost 1 Gold Wack and was about the size of an adult's fist.

Ang did not understand why his qi force reacted to Glowstone, but he decided to spend 1 Gold Wack on a piece to try it out. The clerk added that if the Glowstone turned gray, it only needed to be left under direct sunlight to restore its milky-white color. Ang then asked about its other uses. The clerk explained in detail that Glowstone was a basic magical material with a wide range of applications: it could increase furnace temperatures during smelting, improve the effects of potions during brewing, and enhance elemental permeability when constructing magic arrays. In short, Glowstone had many uses.

Seeing that Ang knew little about Glowstone, the clerk recommended a copy of the Wilderland Empire's Compendium of Magical Materials. He explained that the book contained every magical material in the Wilderland Empire, covering magical beast species, magical minerals, ordinary minerals, and magical plants. It was a comprehensive encyclopedia commonly kept by mages. However, it was quite expensive, costing 210 Gold Wack. Ang had less than 750 Gold Wack left on him, and the expense pained him greatly.

Seeing Ang's reluctance, the clerk told him that if he bought the book, he would also receive four pieces of Glowstone for free. Ang hesitated before asking whether this book was available only here. The clerk replied that other shops had similar books, but none could compare to theirs in completeness. This book was the empire's latest publication, and there were definitely only limited copies on the Maple Sugar Plane. Buy early and enjoy it early; its price might rise in the future.

Ang wrestled with the decision for a while before finally choosing to buy it. He counted out 210 Gold Wack from his money pouch and handed them to the clerk. The clerk wrapped up the book and Glowstone, telling Ang that he would be glad he had made this decision. After seeing Ang out, the clerk was delighted. This sale alone would earn him nearly 10 Gold Wack in commission. Moreover, the clerk knew the contents of the book very well. Clerks in magical material shops like theirs needed to understand many things; besides selling materials, they also purchased them. If they were unfamiliar with the materials, they could easily cause losses for the shop. Being well versed in magical materials was a basic skill in their line of work.

After leaving the shop, Ang looked at the book and Glowstone in his hands with mixed feelings. He knew that although this expense was enormous, it might also be an important investment. Over the following days, Ang planned to carefully study the Wilderland Empire's Compendium of Magical Materials so that he could better understand and make use of magical materials.