Chapter 98: Intermediate Magic Potion (4th Update)

Chapter 98: Intermediate Potion (Fourth Update)

In the afternoon, Livi arrived early at the mountaintop overlooking the Shadowed Valley.

Looking down, he saw that the forest within the valley had vanished—crude wooden huts now crowded the space below.

Over twenty thousand orcs were crammed into the narrow valley.

Soldiers guarded the valley’s entrance.

After its transformation, the Shadowed Valley had become a natural prison.

Patrols also moved along the mountaintop.

Livi did not approach too closely.

Cloaked in invisibility, he hid among the trees and shadows.

"More than twenty thousand orc soldiers—nearly one-tenth of Maple City’s entire population."

"What does Oz intend to do with so many orcs?"

Livi pondered.

"Did you hear? The orcs sent away yesterday were shipped off to the Kovada mines."

"Forcing these orc slaves to dig ore without pay—now that's a brilliant idea."

"There are still over ten thousand orcs here. When will they be moved?"

"Another riot broke out yesterday. Someone got injured—almost dragged into the valley by the orcs."

"These orcs are nothing but filth. They should all be exterminated!"

"This is such a pain. If it weren’t for these orcs, we wouldn’t have to patrol this cursed place. I can’t even go home."

...

As five o’clock approached, a figure appeared atop the mountain.

Tanya wandered about, searching for the mysterious mage.

When she passed near Livi for the second time, he finally noticed her.

He sent his shadow servant to conduct the trade.

The shadow darted swiftly from the undergrowth, a wisp of darkness closing in on Tanya.

Sensing movement, she tensed instantly, drawing her magical shortbow, ready to fight.

The shadow rose from the ground, shaping itself into humanoid form.

Seeing this, Tanya relaxed slightly.

She glanced around. "You won’t come out yourself to make the deal?"

"The master sent me," the shadow replied.

Tanya said no more, accepting the answer.

She pulled out a coin pouch, opened it, and showed its contents to the shadow—though she wasn’t sure if it could even see.

The shadow had no discernible face, just a shifting silhouette obeying Livi’s will.

It extended a hand, revealing a glowing core.

Tanya stared at the magic core in the shadow’s grasp, hesitating.

She couldn’t confirm whether it was truly a magma beast’s core—she’d never seen one before.

After a moment’s pause, she handed over the pouch.

The shadow took it, then passed the core to her.

Whoosh!

The shadow dissolved into fragments, vanishing before her eyes.

Tanya gazed at the spot where it had stood, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

Ordinary nightmares couldn’t move freely in the physical world without a host.

Yet this shadow seemed unbound by such limits.

Was there something special about it?

Or did the mysterious mage possess some secret means of granting freedom to dream-born creatures?

She shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Lowering her gaze to the yellowish core in her hand, she felt the dense energy pulsing within—and exhaled in relief.

Good. The mage hadn’t lied.

This further proved his strength.

From afar, Livi watched as the shadow returned, coins secured, then slipped silently down the mountain.

The shadow veered off in another direction first, only circling back after leaving the valley, rejoining him in the woods.

He opened the pouch and quickly counted the contents.

A smile spread across his face.

"One hundred and eighty gold coins—secured!"

With this sum, many things now lay within reach.

Purchasing potions, learning new spells, acquiring magical gear… Livi desired so much.

Back at the Mage Tower, he went straight to the treasure vault on the third floor.

He had intended to buy a minor potion—but then his eyes fell upon the intermediate potions nearby.

A flicker of hesitation, then resolve.

A minor potion lasted seven or eight days.

An intermediate one would last at least half a month—its effects far superior.

But the price was steep: twenty merits per bottle.

After a brief pause, he took one.

Rummaging through the vault, he found a cluster of Tranquility Vines—a small clump priced at six merits.

Leaving the third floor of the mage tower, he returned to his chambers.

Levi consumed the intermediate potion to begin his cultivation.

The intermediate potion differed slightly from its primary counterpart.

Primary potions required the user to carefully gauge the dosage themselves.

An intermediate potion was drained in a single gulp, its efficacy enduring to aid cultivation for a considerable period to follow.

It belonged to the category of long-acting elixirs.

Entering a state of deep tranquility, he visualized the crystal and immersed himself in meditative cultivation.

Levi soon felt the astonishing potency of the intermediate potion.

His cultivation speed quickened remarkably.

Three hours later, the session came to an end.

It was already nine o'clock in the evening.

Levi opened his eyes, and several lines of script materialized upon the floor.

[Mage Hand (Rank 0, Grand Mastery)] 1890/8000

[Crystal Meditation Technique (Rank 1)] 1086/10000

[Fireball Spell (Rank 1, Minor Mastery)] 3342/10000

[Invisible Armor Spell (Rank 1, Minor Mastery)] 500/10000

[Great Dream Roaming Heaven Technique (Rank 1)] 110/10000

[Shadow Tentacle Spell (Rank 1, Initiation)] 416/1000

[Ice Arrow Spell (Rank 0, Proficiency)] 420/2000

[Rock Breathing Technique (Initiation)] 723/1000

Levi swept his gaze over the progress of the Crystal Meditation Technique.

The results were stark, yielding thrice the efficiency of his usual cultivation.

Closing his eyes, he closely sensed the abundant mana swelling within himself.

His cultivation could now be considered reasonably accomplished; he was currently capable of casting six Rank 1 spells.

Compared to before, his mana had increased by nearly fifty percent.

Up to this point, Levi had been practicing the Crystal Meditation Technique for less than a month, and the pace of his growth was by no means slow.

With his meditative cultivation concluded.

Levi rested for a brief moment, then lay upon the bed to execute the Great Dream Roaming Heaven Technique, plunging into the realm of dreams.

He continued to grind for experience.

The passage of time within the dreamscape was one and a half times faster than in reality.

Training the Mage Hand to absolute perfection could be shortened by three or four days.

Over the next few days, Levi threw his entire being into grinding the Mage Hand spell.

The situation in Maple Leaf City was shifting rapidly, though it bore little impact on Levi, who remained safely ensconced within the mage tower, dedicated to his quiet cultivation.

In the span of three days, Guze came to find Levi thrice, each time warning him that both the interior and exterior of Maple Leaf City were perilous at present, urging him to minimize his excursions.

The experts dispatched by the Kingdom of Marchill had already arrived in Maple Leaf City.

Naturally, they did not carry the kingdom's name in an official capacity.

Before relations were completely severed and open war declared, all conflicts were merely framed as personal grievances between individual practitioners.

The experts from the Kingdom of Marchill stirred up trouble everywhere within Maple Leaf City, attempting to disrupt its stability and exert pressure on Oates, rendering him unable to focus on the grand undertaking of founding a nation.

On the night of the fourth day, Levi was still cultivating the Mage Hand within the dreamscape.

A sudden flash of profound enlightenment struck him, and a torrent of comprehension welled up from his heart.

In an instant, he thoroughly understood the underlying principles of the Mage Hand.

The Mage Hand had attained perfection.

[Mage Hand (Rank 0, Perfection)] 0/∞

Having mastered it comprehensively, he fully grasped the structural mechanics of the Mage Hand.

Levi began attempting to deduce the "Telekinesis" spell.

Having cultivated the Mage Hand for so many days, he had long since decided upon the direction for the subsequent spell's deduction.

The most crucial element was—speed!

For the sake of stability, the Mage Hand sacrificed far too much speed.

Speed is power!

Only with sufficient speed could the true might of Telekinesis be unleashed in battle.

On the other hand, it also meant the speed of escape.

Only by being fast enough could one flee successfully.

Tomorrow at seven o'clock, updated on time.

(End of Chapter)