Whispering Forest

Shandra Meiya was clearly familiar with this place. After getting out of the carriage, she led Li Ang straight into a wand shop called Wisdom and Arcana.

The walls of the shop were covered with all kinds of wands. They varied in length and material, each giving off different elemental fluctuations.

A shopkeeper wearing gold-rimmed glasses came up to greet them. At a glance, he noticed the family crest on Shandra Meiya's chest as she walked in front.

Clearly, the shopkeeper recognized the crest. His tone immediately turned fawning.

"Two honored guests, what may I get for you?"

"Pick out a wand for him." Shandra Meiya pointed at Li Ang.

Upon hearing that, the shopkeeper immediately adjusted his glasses and studied Li Ang closely.

A moment later, after finishing his assessment, the shopkeeper said, "Please wait a moment," then hurried into the back room.

The moment he entered, Li Ang began observing the wands in the shop.

[Alderwood Wand: Lv0, requires 1 point of mental power to bind]

[Obsidian Short Staff: Lv0, requires 10 points of mental power to bind]

[Silver Fir Longstaff: Lv0, requires 5 points of mental power to bind]

Just as he had expected. Through his recent binding and upgrading, Li Ang had discovered that the more advanced a facility or piece of equipment was, the more mental power it required to bind—and correspondingly, the higher the requirements for future upgrades.

For him, then, the most cost-effective choice was to buy the cheapest basic wand and rely on his cheat to upgrade and enhance it.

Just then, the shopkeeper emerged from the back room with a black wooden box in his hands.

He took two quick steps over to Li Ang, respectfully opened the black box, and introduced its contents as he displayed them.

"This wand comes from Whitewater City and is the proud work of wandmaster Brownie. Its shaft was made from the body of a Level 3 Magic Beast, a Six-Headed Tree Demon, and its tip is set with a wind-element magic core. Though you have affinities for both wind and water, this wand is absolutely suited to you."

The introduction piqued Shandra Meiya's interest. She asked with great curiosity, "How much is it?"

An uncontrollable delight immediately appeared on the shopkeeper's face.

"In answer to your question, honored guest, this wand only costs two gold coins."

"The price isn't bad." Shandra Meiya nodded, then looked at Li Ang and asked for his opinion.

Clearly, if Li Ang was satisfied as well, she intended to buy the wand.

The price made Li Ang secretly click his tongue. Then his gaze fell on a wand that looked rather plain.

It was roughly as thick as an adult's finger and around twenty-five centimeters long. It was entirely black and appeared to be made from some kind of wood.

[Windhawk Wand: Lv0]

[Status: Can be bound]

[Binding cost: 1 point of mental power]

"I'll take this one." Li Ang picked up the wand. It felt light in his hand, and it was quite compatible with his wind affinity.

Somewhat disappointed, the shopkeeper quoted the price. "The Windhawk Wand costs only twenty silver coins, but are you certain you want this one? Its effect is very ordinary. It can only slightly reduce mental power consumption."

Shandra Meiya also looked at Li Ang in confusion.

"Sir Li Ang, you needn't consider the matter of money. A king is never stingy toward a knight loyal to her."

Her words made Li Ang blush a little. After all, he had just been thinking about how to run away in the future.

"This one will do. I like this wand better."

Without waiting for Shandra Meiya to react, he swiftly took out twenty silver coins and handed them to the shopkeeper.

Seeing how resolute Li Ang was, she did not try to persuade him further. She merely nodded.

"As long as you're satisfied."

After paying, Li Ang immediately bound it.

[Binding successful]

[Current effect: Slightly reduces mental power consumption while casting spells]

[Lv1 effect: Wind-element spell power increased by 10%; mental power consumption while casting reduced by 1%]

[Upgrade requirement: Mental World Magic Starlets reach 1; consume 5 points of mental power]

Without hesitation, Li Ang invested another 5 points of mental power to upgrade it.

[Upgrade successful]

[Windhawk Wand: Lv1]

[Current effect: Wind-element spell power increased by 10%; mental power consumption while casting reduced by 1%]

[Lv2 effect: Wind-element spell power increased by 20%; mental power consumption while casting reduced by 2%]

[Upgrade requirement: Mental World Magic Starlets reach 2; consume 10 points of mental power]

This time, Li Ang did not choose to continue upgrading. They were about to explore the Whispering Forest, and he needed to keep his mental power fully stocked.

After purchasing their equipment, the two took another carriage to the Griffin Airport within the city.

Inside the airport, a massive airship was docked at a platform. Six majestic griffins were harnessed to its prow, letting out clear, ringing cries from time to time.

This was a large passenger airship on the route to Obsidian City. The Whispering Forest was merely its first stop. The fare was not cheap, costing twenty copper coins per person.

Shandra Meiya once again displayed the generosity of a princess. She walked up to the ticket window, pointed at herself and Li Ang, and said, "Two tickets to the Whispering Forest."

Then she pointed at her warhammer and shield, which needed to be checked separately. "And these too."

The ticket clerk glanced at the exaggerated warhammer and enormous shield, then quoted the price without changing expression.

"Forty copper for two passengers, twenty copper to check the weapons, sixty copper in total."

Shandra Meiya seemed long accustomed to such treatment. From the money pouch that seemed bottomless, she took out another silver coin and placed it on the counter.

The two boarded the airship, found their seats, and began waiting for takeoff.

As the seats gradually filled, the airship slowly rose into the air. The six griffins spread their enormous wings and pulled the airship toward the northwest.

Li Ang closed his eyes and seized the time to enter meditation, restoring the mental power he had just expended.

By the time the airship began descending and the broadcast announced that the Whispering Forest stop was about to arrive, his mental power had returned to its peak with the help of the [Acceleration Pocket Watch].

The airship landed smoothly on a platform outside the forest. After retrieving their checked equipment, the two disembarked together.

Shandra Meiya took the lead into the dense woods. Sunlight streamed through the treetops onto her body, making her look rather dazzling—in the literal sense...

She naturally walked at the front of the group, gripping the enormous warhammer in one hand alone.

Her other hand held a kite shield before her. Her eyes vigilantly swept the surroundings, making her look every inch an experienced vanguard.

Li Ang followed several steps behind her, holding his newly bought Windhawk Wand as he surveyed the surroundings.

"Sir Li Ang, be careful." Without turning around, Shandra Meiya gave him a quiet warning, a trace of sternness in her voice. "Though this forest is cleared regularly, some pesky little things are always impossible to root out."

"Understood, Your Highness."

Li Ang replied, but his gaze was drawn to a small blue grass beside him that emitted a faint glow.

This was companion grass to the Tranquility Flower. Though its medicinal effect was far inferior to that of the Tranquility Flower, it was still an auxiliary ingredient in several calming potions.