Return

Punk, who had just advanced to Journeyman Level (level 5), began greedily studying journeyman spells on his way back to Konola City. However, he soon keenly realized that although journeyman spells were theoretically merely upgraded versions of apprentice spells, and their Spell Structures should logically have followed the same lineage as long as one had mastered the fundamentals, that was not the case in practice. Punk discovered that because journeyman Spell Structures had to carry more mana and unleash greater power, they were at least twice as complex as apprentice Spell Structures. Even with the system's help, learning spells was still far more difficult than learning apprentice spells!

Even more troublesome was that Punk discovered the number of journeyman spells in his inherited knowledge had greatly diminished. Thinking of the outrageously expensive prices on the journeyman spell exchange list he had seen at the Mage Guild... he began to feel fortunate for the wealth of knowledge his parents had left him. At the Mage Guild's prices, most traveling mages, or wild mages, would have to spend vast amounts of time and effort even if they wanted to exchange for spells. This was precisely why so many traveling mages knew only a few common, inexpensive spells.

But mages with inheritances were different. Joining a mentor's school merely made one a candidate for the inheritance; before truly becoming an inheritor, one still had to pay for cultivation resources. These "academy mages" could learn a great many spells, allowing them to greatly strengthen their spells through various combinations. For example, combining Grease and Fireball could produce an effect comparable to Explosive Burst, while consuming only one-third of the latter's mana. Academy mages could also learn all kinds of precious and powerful spells for free, and they mastered many rare spells and even unique secret arts. Their methods could be called inscrutable and unpredictable. By comparison, traveling mages could generally learn only a few very common ordinary spells. Their methods were limited, their knowledge narrow, and the spells they knew were not powerful. Even if they had plenty of combat experience, they would still be at a disadvantage against equally outstanding academy mages, not to mention that the latter had powerful backing—their mentors!

Punk realized that his parents might have been fortunate traveling mages. In the memories they had passed down, the higher-level the knowledge, the less there was. The journeyman-level knowledge was barely sufficient, but by Formal Level, it began to fall short. How could anyone possibly succeed in charging toward Legend with so little knowledge?

Punk felt that he needed to plan for the future. Although he still had quite a long way to go before reaching Formal Level, it would be too late to panic once he truly advanced. Therefore, once he returned to Konola City, Punk planned to begin asking around to see whether any Formal Mages intended to take apprentices, so that he could get an early start.

"But all that can wait until I've settled down."

Punk sighed softly. After returning to Konola City, his most urgent task was to exchange for the formula for that Alchemy Potion and get his Alchemy Workshop running. Although high-level professionals did not care about something as trivial as money, and truly precious secret arts could not be bought with money, at least at Journeyman Level, money still carried considerable influence.

For Punk, time spent learning knowledge and putting it into practice always passed quickly. In his own perception, he had barely walked a few steps before he could already see the distant outline of Konola City. Yet the system informed him that he had spent three days crossing the wasteland!

During those three days, Punk was not disturbed while researching new spells. The wandering beasts fled as soon as they sensed the pressure brought by Punk's Journeyman-Level Soul Level. How would they dare approach him to cause trouble? Thus, Punk returned to Konola City with ease!

This time, when Punk entered through the side gate, the old man was so shocked that he forgot to ask for registration. Professionals had powerful memories, and even Apprentice Level professionals were no exception. Formal Level powerhouses could even achieve photographic memory with ease. The old man clearly remembered that this young hooded mage had only been Apprentice Level when he last entered the city. He had gone out for just one week—nine days in Faerun—and returned as a Journeyman-Level powerhouse. Since when had advancing in level become so easy?

Punk paid no attention to the old warrior standing off to the side, looking as though his entire worldview and outlook on life had been shattered. What puzzled him more was why, after only a week away, all of Konola City seemed to have changed styles. And what was with this overwhelming natural atmosphere?

On the sides of houses facing the rising sun throughout the streets and alleys, people had painted a design using cheap green dye. Although the impoverished residents, whose artistic skill was clearly lacking, had rendered the designs rather abstractly, it was still possible to make out a crop seedling. The seedling design had been embellished and exaggerated, but Punk still recognized it as the sprout of Wavy Wheat, a staple crop commonly grown throughout the Faerun plane because its stalks grew in winding curves. Punk also saw that everyone wore wreaths woven from leaves and broad-bladed grass on their heads. Girls who cared about their appearance had decorated their wreaths with a few small flowers. Many people had changed into green coats and trousers, and their conversations held far more laughter and cheer. The various green seedling-shaped paintings and ornaments gave the entire city a vibrant sense of life. The atmosphere of the whole city had changed.

Punk did not think too deeply about it. He planned to ask a shopkeeper while eating his fill after handing in his mission. He did not ask passersby. Dressed as a mage, he found that pedestrians would detour around him from far away. If he casually grabbed someone on the street to question them, he might frighten them away or even cause a disturbance. Now that Punk wanted to find a Good alignment mentor, he rather needed the reputation of being "kind and approachable."

However, when Punk passed a shop, he stopped. It was the barbecue restaurant where he had bought roasted meat before. The grilled meat there truly was delicious. Even though the influence of his Primordial Elf bloodline meant that he was not particularly "moved" by meat, he still fondly remembered the tender, juicy steaks and the fragrant sauce with its perfectly balanced saltiness.

When Punk entered the shop, he saw the enthusiastic uncle. The uncle had been about to greet the customer, but when he noticed it was a young mage, he remembered that this mage had bought roasted meat from him last time. After all, as the owner of a barbecue shop and an ordinary person, he could count the professionals he had received on one hand. Although this mage always wore a hood and revealed only a smooth, pale chin, the barbecue uncle still remembered Punk!

"Haha, young mage, thank you for coming to support my little business again," the barbecue uncle said familiarly.

Punk did not respond to him. He merely ordered a serving of roasted meat in an indifferent tone, then said nothing more. This left the uncle awkwardly scratching the back of his head and giving a stiff laugh.

Only after the roasted meat had been placed on the table did Punk ask the barbecue uncle about the changes in the city in a low voice.

At first, the barbecue uncle looked somewhat surprised. Then he suddenly put on an exaggerated expression of realization and said to Punk, "Young man, I can tell at a glance that you're from out of town. It's the middle of Tendergrowth now, and the entire Kingdom of Kamos region is celebrating the Verdant Festival!"

The festival is coming, so everyone, celebrate with some votes and bookmarks!

Feel free to join the group: 548859662