Chapter 33: Fifteen Gold Coins and a Mysterious Crystal Flower

Chapter 33: Fifteen Gold Coins and the Mysterious Crystal Flower

When Li Wei heard this, astonishment flickered across his face.

"War is about to break out?"

Gu Ze nodded. "Judging from all available intelligence, the likelihood of war is very high."

"Do we need to prepare for anything?" Li Wei asked.

"Not really," Gu Ze replied. "Staying within the mage tower is safer than anywhere else.

But take note—if Maple City joins the war, we might be forced to leave the tower and head to the battlefield.

Apprentices may still escape conscription and remain behind, but you're now a probationary mage.

If the tower is summoned, you must fulfill your duty and fight for it."

Li Wei nodded, understanding.

A faint sense of urgency stirred in his heart.

Gu Ze smiled. "Don’t be too anxious. Given your talent, the senior mages may not risk sending you into battle.

Even if summoned, they’ll likely station you in a safe rear position. No need to worry."

Li Wei smiled back. "Yes, I understand."

Yet deep down, he had no intention of leaving his fate in others’ hands.

He meant to seize control of it himself.

"Tomorrow is the first of April. I hope Starlight Literary Society brings me a surprise."

Back in his room, Li Wei pored over numerous books about the Markeer Kingdom.

He now had a decent grasp of its history.

Markeer lay on the northern frontier of the Human Empire, constantly clashing with neighboring orcish kingdoms.

A skirmish every three years. A full-scale war every ten.

Lady Leina’s ancestors had earned their hereditary viscount title through battlefield valor.

That night, after finishing his cultivation, Li Wei stared at the empty vial before him and exhaled deeply.

After a month of relentless training, his magical power had grown rapidly—he could now cast twenty-eight fireball spells consecutively.

Using potions daily had made one month of practice equal to four months of ordinary cultivation.

Time saved.

The only cost was gold—vast amounts of it.

Still, few could afford such a method.

Even seasoned mages hesitated to push themselves so hard.

Potion-assisted cultivation accelerated progress, but also intensified strain on the mind and spirit.

Prolonged use led to anxiety, irritability, and an inability to focus.

Most probationary mages used potions sparingly, allowing time between sessions to recover.

But Li Wei felt fine.

No unbearable pressure.

Each time cultivation ended, seeing his progress advance turned stress into motivation.

He grew eager for the next session.

Gradually, he had adapted to this pressurized, accelerated path.

The next day, Li Wei arrived at Starlight Literary Society.

Editor-in-Chief Gus personally greeted him.

“Please, sit, Mage Li Wei.”

Gus gestured politely.

He had already learned from Jimmy that Li Wei had become a probationary mage.

To ordinary folk, a probationary mage was already a true mage.

With a warm smile, Gus said, “Mage Li Wei, last month we distributed your novel *Dragon Knight* to towns like Polar Night City, Blossom City, and Frostland Town—and the returns were substantial.

Just days ago, the president of the Fortune Basin Merchant Guild contacted our director directly, proposing to carry your book even farther through their traveling traders.

Next month, their caravan will depart, expected to return to Maple City near the end of summer.

For smoother cooperation, Starlight Literary Society wishes to authorize their traders to print and sell *Dragon Knight* abroad. Does this meet with your approval?”

Li Wei naturally agreed—it benefited him.

“No problem. I only write. Sales and distribution are entirely your responsibility.”

Hearing this, Gus beamed.

He’d been afraid Li Wei would refuse.

Jimmy approached, carrying a wooden box. Gus took it and placed it before Li Wei.

Li Wei looked surprised, eyeing the box curiously. “What’s this?”

“The payment for last month’s manuscript,” Gus said, “and some gifts from devoted readers in other towns.”

Li Wei opened the box. Inside lay several letters.

He skimmed them—mostly fan letters, expressions of admiration, requests to meet him in person.

In one letter from Blossom City, his fingers brushed against something hard.

He pulled it out—a crystal flower.

Gus gasped. “A crystal flower from Blossom City? Could this be from the city lord himself?”

Li Wei unfolded the letter inside.

It was brief—praise for his novel, a desire to meet.

The crystal flower was offered as a token. The sender wished Li Wei to come to Blossom City, bearing the flower.

Li Wei wouldn’t travel that far without reason.

He tucked the flower away and turned to Gus. “What’s special about this crystal flower?”

“Not much,” Gus replied. “But it’s said to be the emblem of Blossom City’s lord. Anyone carrying it receives the highest honors in the city—that’s why I thought this letter might be from the lord himself.”

Li Wei frowned. “You don’t know who wrote it?”

He flipped through the letter again—no signature.

Strange indeed.

He glanced at the crystal flower, suspicion stirring.

“I’ll leave it in the mage tower later. Better not keep it on me.”

Even if there were issues, let the owner of the crystal blossom take it up with the Mage Tower.

Li Wei finished reading the letter, found no reader’s tip, and shook his head.

Rather than a crystal blossom, he’d much prefer readers slip a gold coin into the envelope.

He glanced at the money pouch inside the box; when he picked it up, it felt heavy.

Opening it, he couldn’t help but look surprised.

"Fifteen gold coins—so much!"

Gus smiled and said, "Thanks to the Winter Festival last time—after attendees returned home, they spread word about *Dragon Knight*. So whenever we arrive in towns now, people rush to buy the next volumes."

Li Wei grinned. "That’s wonderful news."

Carrying the box, he left Spark Literary Society and headed back to the Mage Tower.

He placed the wooden box containing the crystal blossom into a drawer in his study.

Li Wei sensed no magical elements from the flower, which made him hope it was merely an ordinary object.

Yet caution could never be discarded.

He couldn’t truly believe someone would gift him the crystal blossom—the symbol of Feihua City’s lord—just for writing a novel.

Still, he couldn’t rule it out entirely.

So rather than discard it, Li Wei chose to bring the blossom back to the Mage Tower.

With the newly acquired gold, he hurried to the treasure vault on the third floor of the Mage Tower to top up his account.

Spending nine gold coins, he exchanged them for nine contribution points.

Adding the one point from his monthly stipend, he now had ten points total—enough to purchase two vials of basic magic potion.

He kept six gold coins aside for emergencies.

If next month brought another fourteen gold in royalties, he might finally attempt to buy a new spell.

(End of Chapter)