Nightfall Town

Within the Angra Ring Mountains, Shadowmoon Tower Academy occupied only a very small area.

Across this entire region, besides Shadowmoon Tower, there were three other major wizard organizations.

Within the vast surrounding mountains and the endless forests below, who knew how many resource-rich lands lay hidden.

Some were places where magical herbs grew, while others were ancient inheritance ruins.

For ordinary wizard apprentices, venturing deep alone in search of treasure was almost certainly a death sentence!

Ian followed the route in his memories along a faint forest path. After walking for about half an hour, the number of people on the road gradually increased.

Most of them were dressed like Ian and were Low-Level or Intermediate Apprentices living in the wilderness forests.

Before long, he arrived at the nearest gathering point, Nightfall Town.

Ian had only come here a handful of times over the past two years, and he felt an inexplicable fear toward the place.

He followed the crowd through the gates, and a wave of clamor immediately washed over him.

Without drawing attention, he surveyed his surroundings and observed everything in sight.

In front of the shops lining both sides of the street hung banners bearing strange patterns, seemingly the emblems of families or organizations.

Various bizarre stalls filled the sides of the bluestone road.

"Fresh Ghostface Flowers! Only 50 fragments each! Come quick if you want them!"

"Come take a look! What beautiful Purple Fox Skins!"

"Fresh Magic Powder! Double the potency, and supplies are running low!"

As Ian walked along, a chaotic and unpleasant mixture of smells invaded his nostrils.

There was the stench of people's sweat, the bitterness of roasted herbs, and the rank, fishy odor of beast glands...

He noticed that most items at the stalls were priced in magic stone fragments.

Magic stone fragments were the smallest currency used in transactions between wizards. One magic stone was equivalent to 100 fragments.

Occasionally, a few red-clad figures passed through the crowd.

The vivid red stood out sharply amid the sea of gray. Wherever they went, they seemed like floodwaters and savage beasts, making the crowd scatter away.

Red robes were the mark of Advanced Wizard Apprentices.

In this remote region, Advanced Apprentices rarely came here. They generally only appeared in settlements or towns near the High Tower.

After browsing for a while, Ian gained a rough grasp of the prices.

He stopped walking, his gaze drawn to a stall that occupied more than half the passageway.

The stall owner was an old woman, her thin, shriveled body wrapped in a dark red robe.

Various dried and fresh magical herbs were spread before her, bundled together and casually laid across a carpet.

The Moonlight Grass in particular still had dew on some of its leaves.

There were also Snake-Tongue Flowers, Starlight Moss, Withered Blood Vine...

These were all low-grade magical herbs. Ian recognized most of them, but he had not expected the market to have so many.

"How much is the Moonlight Grass?" Ian could not help asking.

"Thirty magic stone fragments per stalk. Buy more and you'll get a discount. Need any?"

The old woman's voice was hoarse, and her miserable green eyes stared straight at Ian.

Ian felt uncomfortable under her gaze. He shook his head and turned to leave.

"Kid, don't ask around if you aren't buying anything. You're disrupting my business. Hmph!"

As soon as the old woman finished speaking, an immensely powerful energy fluctuation surged from her body.

In an instant, Ian's hairs stood on end as he sensed an intense threat of death.

This person is definitely an Advanced Wizard Apprentice. Kenna cannot compare to her at all.

Ian hurriedly apologized in a low voice and left in a miserable hurry.

The people here are far too overbearing. I can't even ask a price?

After that, he no longer had the mood to keep looking around and headed straight for a proper Magic Potion Shop in town.

The Magic Potion Shop not only carried a rich and complete selection of ingredients, but also all kinds of finished potions.

Following his memories, Ian entered a clean-fronted shop with a green leaf symbol on its sign.

A huge wizard lamp hung from the ceiling, casting soft, bright light throughout the shop.

"Hello, what does the customer need?"

A girl in a green robe walked over to greet him.

However, two small pointed ears protruded from her head.

Ian concealed the surprise in his eyes and took out a list.

"How many magic stone fragments would one set of these materials cost?"

The girl took the list, glanced over it once, then raised her head to look at Ian.

"One set of the materials listed costs 80 magic stone fragments. If you purchase more than fifty sets, you can get another five fragments off."

Ian's list contained the complete ingredients for an Awakening Potion.

He was not worried about exposing himself. Every year, countless wizard apprentices studied Potion Studies, so it was nothing unusual.

"Give me ten sets. How much is one Awakening Potion?"

The ingredients here were much cheaper than what Simon had sold him, and he did not have to worry about adulteration either.

His hatred for Simon grew a little deeper.

After buying the ingredients, he asked about the price of the Awakening Potions in the nearby display case.

"Six magic stones each. Does the customer need one?"

"Isn't it five magic stones?" Ian was startled.

"These are brewed by this shop's Potion Master. Their quality is guaranteed, and their effects are somewhat stronger than those outside."

Ian carefully examined them through the glass. They were not much better than the ones he brewed himself.

It seemed this Potion Master's brewing skill was not particularly high either.

After leaving the Magic Potion Shop, he spent some more gold coins to buy provisions, preparing to head straight home.

As he crossed the square, he saw a broad notice board erected at its center. It was surrounded by people looking up at the information posted on it.

Ian stepped forward and saw that it was filled with all kinds of tasks.

"Long-term collection of Magelight Leeches. Ten magic stone fragments each. Contact address: XXX."

"Team forming for Hotbend Canyon. Hunt Blazing Fire Rhinos. Experienced members only. Guaranteed harvest of no less than two magic stones per trip..."

"Explore Misty Swamp, gather Vampiric Demon Vine seeds, and hunt Earth Demon Dragons while you're at it..."

Ian narrowed his eyes. Blazing Fire Rhinos and Earth Demon Dragons were all Magic Beasts.

Before becoming magically altered, most had been ordinary ferocious beasts that had mutated after being eroded by Magic Power.

Though they had not yet reached a formal rank, they possessed certain innate spells and were extremely vicious.

Looking at the dangerous tasks one after another, and their meager rewards—some offering only a few dozen magic stone fragments—Ian sighed inwardly.

The previous owner's family sent at least twenty magic stones every two months to cover his studies and expenses.

"I truly was blessed without knowing it!"

At that moment, Ian deeply felt his family's wholehearted support and earnest expectations.

At the same time, he became even more vigilant. Simon would definitely not let such a "fat sheep" go easily.

But now, he was no longer the blank-slate apprentice he had been before.

Once I break through, I won't have to keep hiding at home like a ground rat!

On the way home, Ian remained as cautious as ever. Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened.

His experience in town this time had greatly shaken him. He made up his mind that he would not leave home until he became an Intermediate Apprentice.

In the days that followed, Ian became like a wound-up machine. During the day, he desperately practiced wizardry; when tired, he read books and brewed potions; at night, he took medicine and meditated.

He now only needed four hours of sleep a day and still remained full of energy.

Day after day passed, and Ian's overall strength grew rapidly.

[Star-Moon Lower Meditation Method Proficiency +1]

[Lesser Frost Ray Proficiency +1]