Watching Li Shaolin descend the magic tower, Seokreitus seemed to have a meaningful glint flash through his eyes. But Li Shaolin was too delighted to notice. With the Noggenfogger Potion, his Skeleton Warrior might finally be able to show itself in public. He had also acquired a Space Belt, and it was even bound to him. He would never have to worry about his belongings going missing again. Naturally, he failed to notice the Archmage's unusual expression.
The female gnome servant opened the door, handed him a tray of bread and a map, then shut the heavy stone door again.
Outside, the Clay Golem was circling the well. The thing seemed incapable of staying still. According to Seokreitus, this kind of golem was an earth elemental summoned by eastern warlocks using the power of the earth, and it had not appeared for many years. He had advised Li Shaolin not to let it show itself before ordinary people, lest it cause unnecessary trouble. But if Seokreitus learned that he could summon Skeleton Warriors too, what expression would he make then?
He put the land deed for Fargodeep Mine and the gold coins from selling the Malachite into the Space Belt. Only then did he feel at ease. Spreading out the map the gnome servant had given him, he looked closely and found a small path marked beside Azshara's Tower, leading directly to the Official Road. After getting up and looking around, he indeed spotted a weed-covered trail winding along a fallen Elwynn Ancient Tree.
Munching on bread as he followed the path, he soon saw the white gravel-paved Official Road ahead.
He dismissed the Clay Golem and stepped onto the road. Where should he go? Back to Goldshire? Li Shaolin could not help hesitating. In Elwynn Forest, Seokreitus could monitor his every move through the Crystal Ball at any time. If the man ever discovered his Skeleton Warrior, who knew what might happen? Besides, according to his memories, traveling elsewhere at level eight was extremely dangerous. If something went wrong, that would be bad. Should he go to Eastvale Logging Camp and find Jack and the others?
Just as he decided to head for Eastvale Logging Camp, he heard hoofbeats drawing closer. Amid the flying dust, a woman in red came galloping toward him on a Red Horse, her flaming hair streaming behind her!
"Whoa!" The woman actually stopped beside him, leaped down from the horse, took out a silver-white emblem, and tapped the horse's forehead with it. The Red Horse vanished in a flash of white light!
"Amazing!" Li Shaolin gaped, too stunned to react.
"Hey, handsome, I'm talking to you. Sorry for the trouble, but do you know where Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch is?" The woman wore a Red Robe that matched her light-red hair. She looked twenty-seven or twenty-eight, valiant and dashing.
"Uh, let me check for you." He did not know the location, but he had just gotten a map. It should be marked on there.
He unfolded the map and gave it a quick glance. Sure enough, beneath Azshara's Tower was a large tract of land marked Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch.
"Hey, handsome, your map is pretty detailed. It even has the names marked. Where did you buy it?" The woman in red gave it a curious look and asked in surprise.
"Well... beautiful lady, it's not for sale. A friend gave it to me," Li Shaolin hurriedly explained.
The woman looked him up and down, then said with a smile, "Handsome, you're a class-holder, right? You look like you're around level seven or eight. Come help your big sis with something, will you?"
Though a beauty had invited him, his life mattered more. Li Shaolin cautiously asked, "Help with what? Is it dangerous?"
"Hehe, not dangerous. I'm a level ten warlock, and I'm currently learning to summon a Voidwalker. I need to retrieve a necklace from a traitor in Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch. That traitor is only level ten, so he's no match for me. The trouble is that he recently joined the Defias Brotherhood. So, how about it? I'll give you five gold coins once it's done."
"Damn, that generous?" Li Shaolin was startled. He immediately patted his chest and said, "Beautiful lady, say no more. Old Li is definitely taking this job." Though he owned a mine now, it would be a while before it brought in income. Better earn more money in case of emergencies.
"Fine, but let me make this clear. We're only forming a temporary party, so you handle the heavy and tiring work. And don't even think about taking advantage of me, or I'll teach you a lesson!" the beauty said fiercely.
"Hehe, sure. How about adding one more gold coin?" Li Shaolin grinned ingratiatingly and immediately tried to push his luck.
"Fine, I'll add it!" This beauty apparently came from money and did not care about such things. She nodded at once.
And so, the temporary two-person party bound for Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch was formed. After introducing themselves, Li Shaolin learned that this beauty was actually Aili Eberlock, daughter of Duke Aerol Eberlock, the administrator of Town of Dusk. No wonder she was so wealthy and generous.
Li Shaolin led the way, gripping an Infantry Shortsword in one hand as he hacked through thorns and brambles along the trail. Aili summoned her demon servant, a Hell Imp, and followed behind him with a staff set with a Black Gem in one hand. The gem radiated waves of dark power. One look told him it greatly amplified shadow spells. Top-tier stuff!
"Um, beautiful Aili, how did that horse of yours just disappear? That was amazing," Li Shaolin said idly as he chopped his way forward. Aili was easygoing by nature, so she answered him readily.
"You country bumpkin. Amazing, right? Jealous, right? Sigh, you just don't understand." Aili laughed and scolded him a few times before continuing, "Once class-holders reach a certain level, they gain the ability to Seal Mounts. Like me, you can carry your mount around using an emblem. It's really convenient. And inside a Sealing Emblem, the mount doesn't need food or water. It's like it's asleep, and even injuries slowly recover. Amazing, right?"
"It... really is amazing. What I want to know is, can you seal one at level ten?" Li Shaolin felt something was off. That change was far too drastic. As for the Sealing Emblem, didn't it serve the same function as his Book of the Dead?
"Well... my emblem is a specially made family heirloom. It doesn't require a certain level." Aili spoke softly, a little embarrassed.
"Damn it, a family heirloom!" Li Shaolin immediately felt it was terribly unfair. He was a transmigrator, so why had he never come across such high-end gear? Still unwilling to give up, he asked, "Can other people ride horses, then?"
"Are you stupid? Do you even need to ask that? Of course they can. They just don't have Sealing Emblems. If you want to buy a horse, Eastvale Logging Camp up ahead sells them. As for an emblem, wait until your class level reaches twenty. And if you want one of these specially made ones, it costs at least one thousand gold coins to craft." Aili explained.
"What's so great about a thousand gold? Once my mine starts making money, I'll buy two—use one and throw the other away!" Li Shaolin declared fiercely.
"Tch, what a crude vulgarian. You should know that one person can only own one emblem. And what mine are you talking about?" Aili looked down on him for a moment, then asked curiously.
"That mine... well..." Though Li Shaolin liked to show off, he still felt it was better not to reveal anything about the mine. If too many people learned of it and word leaked out, what if someone robbed or kidnapped him?
Just as he hesitated, a shout rang out. "Ha!" A burly man wearing a Red Linen Mask charged out with a blade in hand.
"Where did these two little brats come from? Hand over anything valuable you've got, now! Oh, hehehe, this little chick isn't bad. Come here, let uncle give you a hug!" As the man spoke, he had already reached them.
With a cast of Detection, the man's details were immediately revealed before Li Shaolin: Defias Bandit, level 8.
Hearing the man harass her, Aili flew into a rage. As she chanted, blazing flames rose from both her hands. At the same time, the Hell Imp screeched, "Is this really necessary?" Its two claws also burst into flame.
With a roar, the man swung his blade at Aili! He clearly knew she was a spellcaster and could not be allowed to cast freely from the rear. But Li Shaolin was not just standing around. She had promised him five gold coins, after all. He raised his Infantry Sword, and with a sharp clang, blocked the short blade. "What tremendous strength!" His hand sank under the impact, and he nearly failed to hold the blow.
At that moment, sizzling sounds rang out. With a boom, the man was engulfed in roaring flames. A small fireball shot from the imp's hand and struck his chest with a bang.
"Ah!" The man let out a furious howl. The flames on his body made even Li Shaolin feel the heat, and he quickly stepped back two paces. Two Fangs condensed into being, flashing white as they struck the man in the waist. Just as he narrowly dodged away, Aili cast another spell. A black skull appeared above the man's head, and he lost control of his steps, stumbling wildly through the woods—Fear Spell! Then two crimson lights converged and descended upon him. With a wave of Aili's hand, a blue beam shot out, continuously drawing something from his body. It was actually draining his soul!
The string of movements flowed like clouds and water, completed in one breath. Li Shaolin watched with complete exhilaration. He had not expected this girl to be such an expert. She was carefree too, and the daughter of a duke. She'd make a pretty good wife!
Bang! The man fell backward, and the flames on his body went out. Strangely, those flames had not burned any of the surrounding plants or tree trunks. They were different from a mage's flames. Could it be a warlock's Soul Sacrifice?
"Hey, are you a warrior or a mage? You're useless. I look down on you!" Aili said.
Before you continue