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...
Two months passed.
Now, beneath a black hood, Leylin with his long golden hair framed a sharp, unassuming face—one of the many disguises he had adopted on his journey. (Image)
A sturdy black horse carried him along the dirt path toward Jersha Province, a wooden chest securely fastened behind him.
His journey had been profitable but treacherous. He had found small Magi gathering points and trading sites, selling potions discreetly to avoid attracting dangerous attention.
Yet, greed was an insidious thing.
More than once, foolish acolytes had waylaid him, seeking an easy fortune. They were no match. Their corpses became fuel for his Soulbound Devour, their essence merging into him, strengthening his spiritual force. He had only spared two—one was the ambusher, the first soul bind he performed.
And the other, a Level 2 acolyte, whom he had spent considerable effort defeating. The rest had simply perished under his might, their deaths feeding his power.
But not all encounters had been so easy.
One night, a Level 3 acolyte, leading a group of followers, had attempted to trap him. If not for the A.I. Chip's detection, Leylin might have been forced into a brutal battle. Instead, he evaded them, his speed and intelligence saving him from a foolish risk.
Through these trades, he acquired a few precious materials, and many books on specialised Magi knowledge, greatly enhancing the data bank of the A.I. Chip.
In these past two months, he finally recorded all the Shadow, Dark and Soul Element spell models he purchased previously. He then completely obliterated the contents of the book.
This lightened his luggage tremendously.
After selling a huge portion of his potions and getting rid of those bulky spell books, Leylin could fit all of his belongings into one chest.
"A.I. Chip, stat update!" Leylin ordered.
[Leylin Farlier: Knight. Level 2 Acolyte. Summon—Level 1 Acolyte, Level 2 Acolyte. Strength: 4.9, Agility: 5.3, Vitality: 4.4, Spiritual Force: 5.6. Magical Power: 5. Magical Power is in synchronization with Spiritual Force. Status: Healthy.]
'Killing Level 1 or Level 2 acolytes gives me minimal increase in strength, agility and vitality. It's probably because my overall stats for all of them are considerably high. Only my spiritual force has increased but even that's slowing down as well." Leylin can only gain spiritual force growth after devouring Level 2 Acolytes, at least. For now he didn't want to risk fighting a Level 3 Acolytes hence his growth has shunted somewhat.
Fortunately his aptitude and soul attributes are an excellent match and his growth rate through elementary meditation techniques is still possible.
Jersha Province.
A land known for its hidden Magi. It was a place where outcasts, criminals, and rogue Magi gathered, avoiding the grasp of the larger academies. And at its center lay Ellinel Market, a black market controlled by the Redbud Family, one of the three great powers supporting Abyssal Bone Forest Academy.
As Leylin neared the small ruined village hiding the market's entrance, he noted its sickly population. The faint radiation of magical energy polluted the air, unseen but unmistakable to his senses. These people were already dying, slowly withering away as their bodies failed under the invisible poison. In a decade, this place would be nothing but a ghost town.
He rode through the desolate streets, stopping before a crumbling brick hut.
Knocking lightly on its corroded door, he waited.
A moment later, a chilling voice answered.
"Who are you?"
"A wandering acolyte, here to enter the market."
The door creaked open, revealing a black-robed figure. His eyes were cold, predatory—Leylin instantly recognized the aura of a killer. This man had slaughtered his own kind before, and it showed in the way he stood, in the way his fingers rested on the hidden one-time-use magic item at his belt.
The A.I. Chip's scan confirmed it.
A Level 3 Acolyte. Armed. Dangerous.
"Market rules," the man intoned, his voice devoid of emotion. "Any fights inside will be considered an attack on the Redbud Family."
Leylin gave a slight nod. "Understood."
"Good. One magic crystal for entry."
Leylin tossed him the payment without hesitation.
The black-robed figure tapped the fireplace behind him. With a mechanical groan, the stone swung aside, revealing a hidden staircase descending underground.
Leylin stepped inside. The fireplace closed behind him, plunging the passage into dim torchlight.
He walked carefully down the narrow staircase, feeling the pressure of earth above him. After several meters, the passage widened, revealing Ellinel Market in full view.
It was enormous.
A vast cavern stretched before him, larger than several football fields combined. The ceiling, dotted with stalactites, shimmered with strange minerals that emitted faint, ghostly light.
At its center stood rows of grey stone buildings, forming the market's core. Wooden huts surrounded them, serving as smaller stalls. Here and there, makeshift tents and carts housed wandering Magi merchants.
Leylin observed the variety of figures milling about.
Official Magi in black or white robes—a sign of their alignment.
Acolytes in grey robes, moving warily under the watchful eyes of stronger beings.
Oddly dressed Magi, those who had abandoned conventions altogether, wearing exotic and strange attire.
The air buzzed with whispers, hushed trades, and unspoken threats.
Leylin adjusted his robes, ensuring his disguise held firm.
His objective here was simple: Buy the Lowian Teachings book and purchase some slaves.
Then, he would move on.
"Sir, do you need someone to show you around? I only charge 1 magic crystal!"
The marketplace was chaotic with vendors shouting, exotic items being displayed on wooden stalls, and a mixture of scents—both pleasant and revolting—wafting through the air. A group of scrappy boys and girls crowded around Leylin, their eager faces hopeful for a quick job.
Leylin swept his gaze over them, his keen senses evaluating their strengths. Most of them were ordinary Level 1 Acolytes, but one stood out—a pink-haired girl, her small frame radiating a faint trace of stronger energy that most Level 1 acolyte around her.
"You," he said, pointing at her. "Take me to Gandor's Grocery Shop."
The girl's eyes widened in surprise but quickly lit up in excitement as Leylin tossed her a magic crystal. She caught it with nimble fingers, her face breaking into a grin.
"Thank you, sir!" she chirped before motioning for him to follow.
As they walked through the bustling streets, the girl occasionally pointed out notable landmarks—an apothecary rumored to sell potions brewed from Sabres blood, a weaponsmith's shop specializing in reinforced blades. Leylin remained silent, absorbing the information.
After a few twists and turns through narrow alleyways, they arrived at a decrepit storefront wedged between two larger buildings.
"We're here," the girl announced.
Leylin stopped at the door and glanced at her. "Wait outside. I'll need you to take me somewhere else after this."
She nodded quickly and stepped back as Leylin entered.
Inside Gandor's Grocery Shop
The shop was in utter disarray. Shelves leaned dangerously under the weight of dust-covered artifacts, unmarked vials glowed faintly in random corners, and piles of parchment lay scattered across the counter.
Despite the mess, Leylin noticed one key detail—no counterfeit products. That meant the shopkeeper was either highly skilled or highly paranoid.
"Who?"
A voice rasped from behind the counter. Moments later, an old man shuffled into view, his body hunched and his skin shriveled as if he had dried up over the centuries. The way he moved made it unclear whether he was alive or some sort of animated corpse. (Image)
Leylin stepped forward. "I wish to gather the latest intelligence regarding the acolyte markets near Extreme Night City of the Poolfield Kingdom."
The geezer's lips didn't move, but his voice still echoed through the shop. "Same old rules. You must purchase something first."
Leylin sighed. "Alright, pick something then."
The old man let out a dry chuckle. "Hehe, seems like you're well-informed."
Leylin crossed his arms, he was well aware that the old man was quite quirky, erratically choosing himself what his customer would be buying. No wonder business is dud.
"I make it a point to know who I do business with. Just hurry up, I have other matters to attend to."
The geezer turned, his bony fingers rummaging through a wooden shelf that creaked ominously under the weight of forgotten relics.
"I found it!" he declared, pulling out a blackened scroll.
Leylin took it, his expression impassive. The scroll was frayed at the edges, and strange characters covered its surface. It looked ancient, but Leylin knew better than to take things at face value.
"This is a fragment of The Great Magus Serholm's spell," the old man proclaimed, eyes gleaming. "I'll sell it to you for only 1,000 magic crystals—an absolutely worthy deal!"
Leylin smirked. He had expected this. This was the old man's trick—peddling supposed 'ancient inheritances' to gullible customers.
"A.I. Chip, scan."
[Beep! Confirmed: Carbon dating, document comparison analysis shows this page is composed of human skin! Belongs to: Lowian's Teachings: 89.5%, Blue Cobalt Rare Book: 56.5%, and Serholm's Writing: 21.7%]
Leylin feigned interest for a few moments before looking back at the geezer.
"This is a remnant of Lowian's Teachings. At most, it's worth seventy magic crystals."
The old man flinched, his expression briefly betraying shock before settling into one of mock disappointment.
"Even if it is Lowian's Teachings, this assuredly belonged to Sir Rookmanst, a Rank 2 Magus! Just two years ago, this same fragment was sold for 700 magic crystals!"
Leylin snorted. "That's irrelevant. The insights penned here are from when he was still an acolyte. The complete teachings should have over 100 pages—this one has barely twenty."
"I stand firm in my offer. Seventy is the highest I'll go."
The old man grumbled, his face twisting through several expressions before he suddenly let out a dry laugh. "Hahaha! Today's weather isn't bad!"
Leylin remained unfazed.
"Alright, I never expected to meet such a well-informed customer." The geezer sighed dramatically. "Fine. Seventy it is."
Leylin placed seven middle-grade magic crystals on the table, securing the page. This wasn't just some worthless relic—inscribed within it were the instructions to craft the Fallen Star Pendant, a magical artifact he had been seeking. Though deciphering it required an official Magus, Leylin knew the A.I. Chip could break the code over time.
"A.I. Chip, how long will it take to decode this page?"
Leylin felt the derelict page of the Lowian's teachings. Although it was made from human skin, Leylin still wrapped it well and kept it within his robes.
[Beep! Analysis in progress! No comparable code found in the databank. Will require conjecture...Estimated time to completion: 83 days 22 hours!]
The geezer scooped up the crystals and, swallowed them whole. His throat bulged grotesquely as he consumed them one by one.
Leylin raised an eyebrow. "You eat magic crystals?"
"I require a lot of energy," the old man groaned. "If you gave me another 1,000, I'd complete my physical body's restructuring…"
Leylin waved his hand dismissively. "Tell me about the Magus markets around Extreme Night City and the powerful acolytes there."
The geezer's eyes gleamed. "Ah, information… Now that is a trade I enjoy!"
Magus Markets of Extreme Night City
The half-dead geezer spoke at length, describing four smaller Magus markets near Extreme Night City.
Rimeveil Market – Located in the northern district, this market specialized in rare elemental ingredients. It was overseen by the Frostwood Family, who controlled the trade of ice-based herbs.
Bloodshade Bazaar – A dangerous, lawless gathering place for rogue acolytes. Run by the Crimson Vultures, an underground faction that dealt in blood magic and cursed objects.
Twilight Exchange – A highly restricted market only accessible through invitation. Operated by the Nightweaver Syndicate, they focused on high-level spell scrolls and ancient relics.
Obsidian Hollow – The weakest of the four but still notable. It was managed by the Blackvine Family, known for their alchemy-based trades, very welcoming to potion masters.
Despite their presence, none of these markets matched the accessibility, resources, and power of the one Leylin currently stood in.
Ten minutes passed before the old man finally wrapped up.
Stepping outside, Leylin found the pink-haired girl still waiting patiently by the gate.
Her eyes brightened when she saw him. "Where to next, sir?"
Leylin smirked. "Somewhere interesting."
He flicked another magic crystal towards her, and she eagerly caught it before leading the way.