Descending the Mountain

Down the Mountain

The Ability Society was managed by a formal wizard. Beneath the formal wizard were six advanced apprentices, over a dozen intermediate apprentices, and countless low-level apprentices.

At this moment, the six advanced apprentices were seated in a meeting alongside the formal wizard, discussing the current situation.

The magic crystal mine undoubtedly belonged to the Ability Society. Even the city lord with the rank of count, the deputy city lord with the rank of viscount, the Link Family, the Aoun Family, and others would have to look to the Ability Society's expression if they wished to meddle. This was an imperial privilege, and also the Ability Society's privilege. With the magic crystal mine, the Duomeng Ability Society's strength in this area would greatly increase.

"You said someone had stayed there for quite some time, yet there were no signs of anyone excavating the site?" Formal Wizard Mosade sat at the head of the conference table, his chin resting on his hands as he asked softly.

The one answering was the advanced wizard apprentice Mike.

"Yes, Teacher. There were traces of a fire and remnants of many animal carcasses. Judging from the bite marks, there should have been two creatures—one human, and one canine-like creature. Our preliminary suspicion is that they were merely hunters. Based on the information we have gathered so far, we cannot determine how they got there. Perhaps they stumbled in by accident, or perhaps they were wizard apprentices. After all, aside from hunters, wizard apprentices can also tame magical beasts."

As soon as Mike finished speaking, Tina, seated below him, said, "There is another point of doubt. We searched the surrounding area and found no path leading up the mountain. In other words, they reached the mountain by some other route. To accomplish that, they would have to be formal warriors, formal wizards, or advanced wizard apprentices with special alchemical equipment."

They placed a stack of photographs before Mosade.

Mosade flipped through the photographs, examined the traces left by those things, and pondered carefully.

The meeting room was deathly silent. No one dared to speak.

After a long while, Mosade said, "How did the questioning of the people at Bianchi Mine go? How long have magic crystal ore slag been appearing?"

Bichi, who was in charge of the matter, spoke up. "I have already asked them. They said it has been about a month. But at first, everyone thought they were merely shiny little stones. No one knew they were magic crystal slag, so naturally no one paid attention to them, and no one came to ask about them. Only a few people took some out because they looked pretty. Those miners are all commoners; it is impossible for them to recognize magic crystals."

Once magic crystal ore had been taken out, there was no telling where it might end up. It would definitely draw the attention of wandering wizards, so the presence of people scouting the mountain could be explained.

Mosade slowly lowered his arms. Wisdom shone in his eyes as his expression turned solemn. "The magic crystal mine is our foremost priority right now. We do not have enough hands in the Ability Society. Since the Link Family, the Aoun Family, and the Lake Family want a share of the pie, give them some work to do. Those who need to build roads can build roads, and those who need to construct bridges can construct bridges. We will deduct the costs from the profits later. Go back and tell them exactly that."

"Yes, Teacher."

Mosade usually did not like handling affairs personally and only listened to reports at regular intervals. The matter of the magic crystal mine was far too important, which was why he had come out to stabilize the situation. These six apprentices all came from different families and factions. They could discuss the preliminary arrangements among themselves; he only needed to keep the overall situation steady.

Just then, Bichi suddenly spoke. "Teacher, a small village outside Duomeng City has been slaughtered. Our people went to inspect it, and every one of them died from viral poisoning. We suspect that a wandering potion-type wizard has come to Duomeng City."

Mosade's gaze sharpened. "Then what are you waiting for? Organize people immediately and capture them. Black wizards who endanger ordinary people should receive the punishment they deserve."

"Yes, Teacher." All six nodded. It was clearly not their first time dealing with black wizards.

The six of them normally oversaw six different areas. Bichi was responsible for strange cases beyond the police's ability to handle, cases related to wizards.

An entire village had died in one go. This was a rather serious matter.

Because of the magic crystal mine, everyone in Duomeng City had been stirred into action. The garrison had originally needed to open a road to the outside, but now they had no choice but to split off half their forces to maintain order.

The whole of Duomeng City looked somewhat chaotic.

Meanwhile, Dole was carefully separating the medicinal solution. Conditions were rather harsh, making this work anything but easy, yet he still completed every step with meticulous precision, without the slightest error.

After searching the mountain for several days, he had gathered all the herbs he needed and began preparing Hallucinogenic Potion.

The procedure for Hallucinogenic Potion was far more involved than those for healing medicine and disguise ointment. First came boiling the ingredients, then filtering and separating the medicinal liquid, then drying it into an extremely fine powder. Even the color could not be wrong. Moreover, every herb had to be handled separately, making the process exceedingly troublesome.

Fortunately, there was no shortage of the main ingredient for Hallucinogenic Potion—hallucinogenic grass—on the mountain, so Dole could waste as much as he liked. Otherwise, merely buying herbs and refining them into medicinal powder below the mountain would likely have cost him a vast amount of silver coins.

Once the medicinal powders had been extracted came dissolving, synthesis, and proportioning. Although the book gave ratios, the effects of each batch of powder differed. He still needed to find the right proportions before he could produce a proper Hallucinogenic Potion.

Hallucinogenic Potion was also an extremely important potion on the path of wizardry. Its greatest effect was to induce hallucinations, and it had two uses. One was external: a tiny amount could knock someone unconscious and plunge them into dreams or illusions. The other was internal: one drank it oneself, improving one's mental strength by resisting the potion's illusory realm. For a qualified wizard, Hallucinogenic Potion was sometimes even more useful than a simple mental-strength potion.

Mental-strength potions could directly raise mental strength, but there was a limit to how much they could raise it. Hallucinogenic Potion, however, could break through one's original limit through various means and continue pushing upward. The two complemented each other.

During the wizard apprentice stage, these two potions were essential skills for every potionology wizard apprentice.

The medicinal liquid mixed and swirled. As a wisp of blue smoke rose, joy immediately surged through Dole's heart. It had worked.

After ten days, he had finally mastered Hallucinogenic Potion.

In his hand was a three-hundred-milliliter beaker, not filled to the brim. At the standard measure of ten milliliters per tube, these Hallucinogenic Potions could be divided into at least twenty tubes—enough to last him many days.

Once he had finished, Dole let out a long breath.

His mental strength had recently grown to the equivalent of eighteen copper coins. He was not far from the intermediate level now and could proceed with the next stage of his plan.

Enter the city and kill.

Originally, he and Bal had guessed that after discovering a magic crystal mine, the Ability Society would thoroughly search the nearby mountain ranges. Strangely, however, they had not conducted a large-scale search. They only searched a small area, then gave up once they found nothing elsewhere. This made Dole breathe a sigh of relief.

However, they had also set up many warning devices nearby. Aside from Bal, Dole did not dare approach.

Bal had also made gains recently. In a more distant stretch of mountains, Bal found another small magic crystal mine. However, it was occupied by a fire sparrow with the strength of a first-level wizard. Yet in Bal's hands, that fire sparrow was hardly worth mentioning. Bal swiftly took over the place, and the fire sparrow that normally strutted about in arrogance became Bal's follower, guarding the area.

The fire sparrow did not know Dole existed, and Dole had never considered going there. Even if he were to move there, he would at least have to wait until he had avenged himself.

Once the Hallucinogenic Potion succeeded, Dole rested for a night. Early the next morning, he called for Bal and prepared to return to Duomeng City. Spring had fully arrived. As they descended from the mountain, the trees were all sprouting tender green leaves, while flowers bloomed everywhere amid the mountain grass, attracting all sorts of creatures that lived on nectar—bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, and small birds.