Information on Kenna's Team

"Ian." Kenna offered a smile, the creases around his mouth far deeper than before. "We've returned."

"Come in quickly." Ian hurried to invite them inside, though his heart sank.

Judging by their appearance, this past period had been anything but easy.

"Where... have you been for these three months?" Ian asked.

Kenna and Robert exchanged a glance, their faces etched with bitterness.

"Following your advice, after we left Nightfall Town, we first went to the Scorching Canyon in the southwest, and later drifted to the edge of the marshes in the south. But no matter where we went, we felt like someone was trailing us."

Wade gulped down a large mouthful of tea and took over the conversation. "We only found out later that those following us weren't from the Shadow Society, but the Crimson Court!"

Ian's pupils constricted.

Robert reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of parchment, spreading it across the table.

It was a map sketched with rough lines, with large areas marked in red.

"We met another group of apprentices while fleeing on the road near the marshes, and we exchanged maps with them."

Robert pointed at the map. "The conflict between the Shadowmoon Tower and the Crimson Court has escalated into a full-scale war. A month ago, a massive battle broke out on the Falling Star Plains. It's said that dozens of advanced apprentices from both sides were killed, and a formal wizard from the Shadowmoon Tower was severely wounded and fled."

Monica added in a low voice, "We also heard that the Crimson Court is currently planning a surprise attack on the rear of the High Tower, though we don't know which directions they're targeting."

Kenna looked at Ian with a solemn expression. "Ian, Nightfall Town is one of the outer strongholds of the High Tower, and... on our way back, we heard people asking about the Starleaf Apothecary."

The room fell silent, and Ian lowered his gaze.

"Do you know who it was?"

Kenna couldn't be certain. "The source of the information was very vague, but it sounded like someone from a bloodline wizard family. I heard Nolan owed them a debt of magic stones a while back."

Ian's heart skipped a beat. "What is the name of that family? How strong are they?"

Kenna looked a bit embarrassed. "I don't know their strength, only that it is the Osborne Family."

"A bloodline wizard family?" Ian already had his suspicions, but he couldn't be sure.

Over the past two months, the Starleaf Apothecary had sold quite a few Rock Bear Potions; perhaps someone else was simply making inquiries.

Wade's expression was heavy. "Ian, this area is also within the range of the red zone on the map, and it seems there are remnants of the Shadow Society active here as well. You need to be careful."

Ian was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"It seems that quiet cultivation is no longer an option."

He stood up and looked out at the pitch-black night outside the window, his eyes gradually sharpening.

"You've returned at the right time. I have a batch of precious resources on hand that can significantly boost your strength in a very short time. All of you are suitable candidates!"

The eyes of Kenna and the others brightened.

"But in exchange," Ian turned around, his gaze sweeping over the four of them.

"I need you to be my eyes and ears. Help me collect all information regarding the war, as well as... any intelligence regarding people asking about me."

He needed to know what the outside world had become.

He needed even more to guard against the individuals and forces that might be lurking in the shadows.

Since the war had already begun, it was no longer possible for anyone to stay out of it.

And the strength he had accumulated over these two months gave him the confidence to face the war head-on.

The next morning, Ian invited Kenna and the others into his room.

"I thought about it for a long time last night." Ian got straight to the point, placing four Rock Bear Potions on the table.

The blood-crystal-colored potion shimmered in the light, with golden threads swimming joyfully and highly actively within.

"This is a new potion I've concocted, called the Rock Bear Potion."

Ian watched the longing in their eyes, nodded to himself, and began to explain the potion's effects.

"It is an extremely rare bloodline potion that can allow someone to possess the strength of an advanced apprentice in a very short time!"

Kenna and the others stared at the potions on the table, their breathing quickening.

With war approaching, no one wanted to be weak.

"As I said last night, I intend to give each of you one as an investment in you."

"Ian, this is too valuable..." Kenna tried to decline, but the longing in his eyes could not be hidden.

"This is not a gift," Ian said, waving his hand to interrupt.

"I need a reliable information network, and you are the people I trust most. Taking these potions will also greatly enhance your safety."

He paused, his tone becoming serious. "There is one point I must make clear: this potion cannot be used alone. It must be paired with a neutralizing potion, otherwise there is a risk of bloodline mutation or demonic transformation."

"A neutralizing potion?" Robert frowned. "That stuff is expensive and hard to buy."

"I know." Ian nodded. "There is a neutralizing potion called Tranquil Water, which costs 300 magic stones per vial."

"300 magic stones?!" Monica exclaimed.

For all of them, that was an astronomical figure.

"You will have to find a way to come up with those magic stones yourselves," Ian said.

"However, I can advance you a portion of the magic stones as operating funds, but the bulk will have to rely on you. Or, you can wait until you have saved enough before taking the potion."

Kenna exchanged glances with his team and finally gritted his teeth. "We will find a way to get the magic stones. Leave the intelligence gathering to us."

Ian nodded in satisfaction, handed the four potions to them, and advanced them 200 magic stones as startup capital.

After they agreed on how to relay information—using the Starleaf Apothecary as a base—they would report back periodically.

After seeing them off, Ian began to think about his own situation.

He still had a few potent versions of the Rock Bear Potion on hand, but he didn't intend to take them yet.

He wanted to wait until both his Bloodline Refinement Technique and the Rock Bear Potion had broken through their limits, then take the limit-broken, enhanced version!

"I really look forward to seeing how much my strength will improve by then!"

Unfortunately, the proficiency of these two skills increased slowly, and they could no longer keep up with the ongoing war.

His thoughts stirred, and he remembered the incomplete formula.

"It just so happens that Alivia has a lecture tomorrow."

Ian checked his schedule. "I should go."

Early the next morning, Ian set off and took a carriage to the Shadowmoon Tower.

Along the way, he looked through the carriage window, carefully observing the atmosphere.

It was indeed much more tense than before; patrols of advanced apprentices could be seen everywhere.

Arriving at the teaching area again, the atmosphere was also completely different from before.

The apprentices rushing through the corridors mostly wore heavy and worried expressions, and their conversations inevitably revolved around the war and the Crimson Court.

Ian arrived at Classroom 1, Potion Studies Zone 2, and entered after showing his wooden badge to wait.

The classroom was still packed, almost entirely with people in red robes; the few in gray robes stood out starkly.

He had come here many times over the past two months to attend lectures and had gained a great deal of knowledge.

Even his proficiency in Basic Potion Identification was nearing its limit.

Although it wasn't a combat skill, it could slightly condense his mental energy after breaking its limit, which was a nice bonus.

At the same time, he had learned about Alivia's status.

In the Shadowmoon Tower, Alivia's attainments in potion studies ranked in the top three!

Her strength was even more terrifying; it was said she was on the verge of breaking through to become a First-Level Wizard!

"Perhaps the hope of completing my Water of Balance lies with her."