Reading

The Wilderland Empire's Compendium of Magical Materials was nearly as thick as Ang's palm was long. Without even looking at its contents, the book alone made it clear how extensive its records were. Ang had taken five Glowstones with him, one of which had been thrown in by the clerk. In other words, Ang had spent 210 gold waks on a book and received five Glowstones worth five gold waks as a bonus.

After returning to the inn, Ang did not immediately open the book. Instead, he first took out the Glowstones and examined them carefully. He drew the curtains in his room, plunging it into darkness. After his eyes adjusted, the Glowstone in his hand gave off a faint white glow, like phosphorescence, with only a thin layer of dim light. Under ample light, Glowstones appeared milky white and had nothing particularly eye-catching about them. Many mages and alchemists used them as catalysts.

Ang placed the Glowstone on the table and carefully observed its surface and internal structure. Its surface was smooth, while a strange halo faintly shone from within. Ang could sense that when he held the Glowstone, the Qi force within his body seemed more active, but he still could not explain why.

After observing the Glowstone, Ang decided to rest briefly before beginning his study of the Wilderland Empire's Compendium of Magical Materials. This book was not only his investment, but also an important tool for his future exploration of the magical world. Ang secretly resolved to make full use of it, further improving his magical knowledge and skills in preparation for the future.

There was an old saying on Blue Star: "You may not have eaten Land Pig meat, but you cannot have never seen a Land Pig run." This saying fully illustrated the importance of experience and knowledge. Many times, as long as you knew more than others, you had more opportunities than they did.

Thinking of those words, Ang felt even more strongly that he needed to learn more and broaden his horizons. So, he opened the heavy Wilderland Empire's Compendium of Magical Materials. The first passage that met his eyes caught his attention:

"May knowledge bring you new experiences. Know the world, know all things, and ascend to the pinnacle of magic."

—Compiled by the Wilderland Mage Guild, published by The Empire's First Newspaper

The message was concise yet profound, as though encouraging every reader to use the power of knowledge to explore the unknown, understand the mysteries of this world, and ultimately achieve greatness on the path of magic.

Ang was deeply moved by those words, feeling a powerful sense of purpose and thirst for knowledge. He began carefully reading through the book. It contained detailed records of the origins, uses, and special properties of all kinds of magical materials, as well as valuable information about magical creatures and plants. Every page was like a door leading into a New World, leaving Ang dazzled.

Using what he had seen and heard since arriving in this world, Ang studied by comparing it with the book. He remembered that among the warhorses he had seen in the Logistics Regiment were Green Mane Horses and Black Mane Horses. These two breeds were born from crossbreeding Earth Scale Beasts with Quater Horses, and they were the most widely used warhorses throughout the human empire. Green Mane Horses were renowned for their speed and endurance, while Black Mane Horses were famous for their strength and defensive power.

The upgraded version of a Black Mane Horse was the Quater Scale Horse. Its entire body was covered in scales, making it a true magical beast. Not only did it possess formidable physical strength and defense, but it could also use Wind Magic and Earth Magic.

Ang remembered seeing such an exceptionally imposing Quater Scale Horse before. It had been the mount of Meredith, commander of the Allied Forces. Whenever he saw Meredith directing battle from atop the Quater Scale Horse, its majesty and domineering presence left a deep impression on him.

By comparing the book's descriptions with his own observations in the Logistics Regiment, Ang deepened his understanding of these magical creatures.

Ang found a detailed introduction to foul spirits in the book. When he saw the illustrations, the foul spirits he had encountered could not help but rise in his mind. The book mentioned that the foul spirits Ang had seen were called the Tutadaron Foul Spirit clan. These foul spirits possessed terrifying appearances and immense strength, and were one of the Abyssal Races lurking in the darkness.

The book also described several other kinds of foul spirits. Although Ang had never seen them himself, the detailed text and illustrations gave him a preliminary understanding of their characteristics. Foul spirit tribes were collectively known as Abyssal Races of the darkness, a title that reflected both their terrifying status in this world and the abyss-like threat they posed.

One characteristic of the Tutadaron foul spirits especially caught Ang's attention—Black Magic Mark Skin. This skin was covered in intricate magical markings and possessed extremely high magic resistance and powerful defensive properties. The book mentioned that Black Magic Mark Skin was a precious material for crafting superior Enchanted Armaments, highly sought after by high-level mages and warriors. It could be used not only to make armor, but also inlaid into weapons to improve their magical effects and durability.

As Ang read this, he felt a strong sense of interest and awe. He recalled his battles with the foul spirits. Their skin had indeed felt almost impossible to pierce, and now he understood that it was because of their Black Magic Mark Skin.

Through the book's introduction to foul spirits, Ang gained a deeper understanding of this world's dark forces. He realized that foul spirits were not merely enemies on the battlefield, but threats hidden deep within this world.

Through this book, Ang learned of many new materials, covering the two major categories of metals and minerals. Metal materials such as mithril, Red Copper, Wilder Alloy, and fine gold each had different characteristics and uses. Mithril was widely used to make magical weapons and armor because of its exceptional magical conductivity. Red Copper was renowned for its high strength and durability, making it an ideal material for forging sturdy equipment. Wilder Alloy was a material made by mixing several metals together, combining lightness and strength, and was suitable for crafting advanced armor. Fine gold was the rarest and most precious of all metals, possessing extremely high magic resistance and durability, making it the first choice for top-tier equipment.

In addition, the book introduced many minerals with energy-related properties, such as Glowstone, Black Fire Stone, Qi Stone, and Elemental Gems. Ang was holding a Glowstone in his hand, and he was particularly excited by this. According to the book, Glowstone was formed when transparent stone was infused by the Light Element over a long period of time. This material could be processed through high-temperature catalysis or ground into powder for wet extraction. Its primary uses were smelting other materials and setting up magic arrays, making it a relatively basic but widely useful magical material.

Black Fire Stone was an ore containing the Fire Element and was commonly used to make fire-element magical weapons and armor. Qi Stone was a carrier of the Wind Element and could be used to create lightweight, fast magical equipment. Elemental Gems were crystals formed from condensed elements and were important materials for crafting high-level magical items.

Through the book's descriptions, Ang learned that these materials were not only important in crafting equipment and items, but could also be extracted and processed through different methods to unleash even greater potential. For example, Glowstone could release more Light Element through high-temperature catalysis, enhancing the effects of magic arrays; Black Fire Stone, meanwhile, could increase the power of fire-element equipment through specialized smelting techniques.

Ang felt the importance of knowledge. He realized that he still had much to learn and explore when it came to magical materials. This book gave him a new perspective, allowing him to see more possibilities and challenges. Although his immediate goal was to return to the Grand Duchy of Tan'anster, Ang also understood that on the road ahead, mastering more knowledge and skills would be the key to facing all kinds of difficulties and enemies.

After roughly skimming through the book, Ang realized that the best way to fully understand and remember its contents was to memorize them by comparing them with real objects. Whenever he encountered a material or creature, he could use the book's descriptions and illustrations to remember their characteristics in detail. This method of learning through direct comparison would not only deepen his memory, but also improve his ability to identify different magical materials and creatures.

Ang felt that although he still had plenty of time, he could not afford to miss opportunities to learn and improve. After returning to Tan'anster, he planned to follow his original plan and enroll in the Warrior Academy for further study, improving his combat ability even more. At the same time, he also intended to test his magical talent. After all, he could now sense the presence of magical elements, which meant he might possess the potential to become a mage.

Ang's first day in Maple Sugar City passed in fulfillment and study. What he had gained from the bookstore filled him with confidence and anticipation for the future. Though much remained unknown and many challenges lay ahead, he believed that as long as he continued learning and working hard, he would surely find his own path in this world filled with magic and battle.

Ang left the inn and looked out over Maple Sugar City's busy streets and bustling crowds, a powerful sense of purpose rising within him. He knew that whether it was the path of a warrior or the pursuit of magic, he had to keep moving forward, explore more unknown territories, and face more challenges. Throughout this process, knowledge would be his strongest weapon, while determination and courage would be his most dependable companions.

And so, during his final days in Maple Sugar City, aside from necessary rest, Ang spent almost all his time in the inn reading the Wilderland Empire's Compendium of Magical Materials. He believed that this book would become an important guide for his future magical studies, opening up an even broader magical world before him.