Acid Missile

The wizard's smile sent a chill down Charles's spine.

The densely packed scales on his face wriggled along with his smile.

Earlier, with his head lowered, Charles had not seen clearly. Now that he looked again, he saw that it was not just half the wizard's face that was covered in scales—quite a few black scales covered the skin of his body as well.

The wizard continued, "I'm very pleased that you advanced to a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice aboard the ship."

"So you have a reward. Choose one of these three zero-ring spells as my reward to you."

As the wizard spoke, three tiny scrolls rose from the table before him.

The scrolls flew before Charles and unfurled on their own, allowing him to see their contents.

Charles hurriedly bowed. "Thank you for your reward, my lord!"

Then he began examining the three zero-ring spells.

The three zero-ring spells were:

Zero-Ring Spell: Acid Missile

Zero-Ring Spell: Corpse Fly Cloud

Zero-Ring Spell: Twelve Cough Technique.

The scrolls also contained brief descriptions of these zero-ring spells.

Acid Missile: Fires a missile containing acid. Upon striking an enemy, it explodes, splashing acid that corrodes the target.

Corpse Fly Cloud: Summons a small swarm of flies carrying rotting disease, which lasts for a period of time.

Twelve Cough Technique: Casts an effect on an enemy, causing them to cough twelve times in succession.

Judging from their names and descriptions alone, these three spells were all very simple and weak.

Of the three, Corpse Fly Cloud was the most physically disgusting.

If used at a crucial moment, Twelve Cough Technique could also produce excellent results.

The best value for the cost was probably Acid Missile.

The other two had neither lethal nor swift killing power.

But Acid Missile was different. It was the only one with effective ranged killing power.

After a brief turn of thought, Charles decided which one to choose.

He said to the wizard, "My lord, I choose Acid Missile!"

The wizard nodded. "Not a bad choice."

The other two scrolls rolled themselves back up, while Acid Missile flew into Charles's hand.

"Tear the scroll, and you will obtain the method for learning this spell."

"You may leave."

The wizard began dismissing him.

"Yes, my lord!" Charles hurriedly bowed, then slowly backed out.

Just then, Wuduo's notification sounded in his ear.

"Ding!"

"New merchant discovered!"

"The merchant has listed new goods!"

Suppressing the urge to check immediately, Charles returned to his room before opening Wuduo to take a look.

Sure enough, a new merchant had appeared.

Isata Academy First-Ring Wizard: Hoover.

Isata again. It seemed that Wood and Hoover both came from Isata Academy.

Charles opened Hoover's shop and began browsing its goods:

Hoover's First-Ring Wizard Cultivation Insights: 1,000 Soul Coins.

Hoover's First-Rank Wizard Apprentice Cultivation Insights: 150 Soul Coins.

Hoover's Second-Rank...

Hoover's First-Ring Spell: Crow Divination Cultivation Insights: 1,200 Soul Coins.

Hoover's First-Ring Spell: Malice Intuition Cultivation Insights: 1,300 Soul Coins.

Hoover's...

There was still a long list below, but Charles no longer wanted to scroll any further.

The first-ring and zero-ring spells Hoover knew filled a long list.

And none of them were cheap. Given Charles's current wealth, even looking at them twice felt like a sin.

Holding the spell scroll in his hand and thinking of the spells Hoover knew, Charles vaguely felt that something was off.

At that moment, Molly looked curiously at the scroll in Charles's hand. "What is that?"

Charles did not hide it from her. "It's a spell scroll bestowed by the wizard."

"Every person who advances to a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice should get one."

The curiosity in Molly's eyes deepened at those words.

Charles asked, "How much longer until you become a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice?"

"It's still too dangerous for you to stay on the upper levels without becoming an apprentice. Don't go out anymore. I'll bring you food."

Molly froze for a moment. But thinking of what she had seen today, she shrank her head. "If things go smoothly, I might need another half a month. If not... then it's hard to say..."

Charles's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then quickly relaxed.

In any case, bringing Molly up here already meant he had done all he could.

Looking at the scroll in his hand, he felt as though there were a thread in his mind, yet he could not grasp it no matter how hard he tried.

He thought for a long while before a flash of inspiration struck him. He hurriedly asked Molly, "Do you remember which academy on the Wizard Continent they said we were going to when we were tested?"

Molly looked confused, but after thinking carefully, she said, "I think they said we were going to White Mountain Boros Academy. I heard it's one of the top wizard academies on the Wizard Continent!"

"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking about that?"

The chaotic thoughts in Charles's mind seemed to be struck by lightning at that moment, becoming crystal clear in an instant.

He remembered fragments from the previous Charles's memories. It seemed he too had heard that they were going to White Mountain Boros Academy, and had eagerly boarded the ship.

Though he had not known where White Mountain Boros was or what kind of academy it was, he had still boarded the sea vessel.

But now Charles thought of the two merchants aboard the ship: Wood and Hoover.

Their names had absolutely nothing to do with White Mountain Boros Academy.

What the hell was Isata Academy!?

Thoughts surged through Charles's mind, but he concealed the change in his mood and said, "Nothing. I was just curious. It's nothing now."

"Hurry up and cultivate. Especially that Mental Power Potion—drink it as soon as possible. One day earlier is better than one day later."

Though Molly was still somewhat puzzled, she nodded.

Looking at the scroll in his hand, Charles finally understood why he had always vaguely felt that something was wrong lately.

The wizards' exploitation of newcomers like them.

Their lack of concern for the safety arrangements of the middle and lower levels after danger arose.

The attitudes of the older wizard apprentices toward the female companions who were not wizard apprentices.

The spells Wood and Hoover knew—things that sounded foul just from their names alone.

All those scattered clues connected into a single line, and only then did Charles understand.

They would probably never reach White Mountain Boros Academy. They were headed for Isata Academy instead.

This place was likely no land of kindness!

But there was no use overthinking it. Charles took a deep breath and tore the scroll apart. The scroll activated instantly, and a string of runes entered Charles's mind.

He began learning the spell, while beside him he could still hear Molly retching after drinking the Mental Power Potion.

"Bleurgh! Bleurgh! Bleurgh!!"