On the way back, Wizard Burn wore a complex expression and murmured in a low voice, "The beast tide hasn't completely receded yet. There are still many dangers lurking near the market. Can't we take a break?"
"What?" Carl turned his head. "Do you also think the Andrew family was behind this?"
"...No," Wizard Burn replied with an awkward smile. "The four great families ford an alliance and swore an oath not to attack each other, or they'll suffer a backlash. So, it definitely wasn't the Andrew family." He sounded sowhat insincere.
Carl smiled. Wizard alliances indeed possessed strong binding power, but the Andrew family wouldn't be foolish enough to act directly. They could achieve their ends through others.
"Let's not dwell on these troubling matters," Carl said, waving his hand. "Bodor Restaurant is reopening today. I heard they've prepared many exquisite dishes and even have special discounts. I'll treat you."
"Oh!" Wizard Burn's eyes lit up. He wasn't very interested in other things but was quite particular about food and drink. "Then I gladly accept."
"Ha-ha..." Carl laughed. "We're neighbors, so I'll inevitably be bothering you often. There's no need to be so formal. Besides, I've just beco a Wizard and have much to learn. I'd like to ask for your guidance, Wizard Burn."
"Of course, of course," Wizard Burn replied with a smile. "Discussing things with you, Wizard Carl, is also beneficial for , especially regarding refining Potions..."
"I'm also very interested in Seals..."
"Do you want to craft Seals, Wizard Carl? It's not easy, and it can delay your Cultivation. I only began trying to craft Seals when my own Cultivation had stalled."
"One can never have too much knowledge," Carl said.
Wizard Burn nodded. "That's true."
Wizard Burn then elaborated on Seals.
Seals are a technique that replicates witchcraft onto specific materials, allowing Wizard Apprentices to invoke One-Circle Witchcraft. For Wizards, Seals are optional.
First, the One-Circle Witchcraft invoked by Seals generally lacks the power of witchcraft cast by Wizards themselves. Using it against enemies often isn't worth it.
Second, they are too costly. After all, even the cheapest Seal costs twenty or thirty Magic Stones, equivalent to a month's hard work.
Very few Wizards craft Seals. There are several reasons for this.
One: They are troubleso. Crafting a Seal is slow, taking over a month with a chance of failure. Even the quickest attempt takes seven or eight days. It's a complicated and tedious process.
Two: They are not profitable. Seal materials aren't cheap, and considering the painstaking effort involved, the money earned isn't much. Working for others or hunting Magic Creatures earns more Magic Stones, making Seal crafting unprofitable for Wizards by comparison.
Three: It delays Cultivation. While crafting Seals can enhance control over witchcraft, it doesn't benefit one's Cultivation. Instead, it wastes ti that could be spent on Cultivation.
Therefore, it's usually Wizards with dim prospects who craft Seals, either to protect their descendants or to sell them. At Leipzig Market, many Wizards can craft Seals, but few rely on it to earn money.
"Seals, Potions, Artifact Refining, Puppets..." After a few drinks, Wizard Burn relaxed and began to speak with a drunken slur, "These techniques are all very good and potentially worth a Wizard's lifeti of study, but they don't improve Cultivation. You might spend ten days or half a month crafting a single Seal. Even if you earn a good amount of Magic Stones, as I sotis do, it's still a waste of ti that could be spent on genuine Cultivation. It's not cost-effective for a truly talented Wizard."
"Carl..."
"You're young and a Wizard of the Six Rings Tower. Your future accomplishnts will surely far exceed mine. So, please don't waste too much ti on this and spoil your prospects."
"Yes," Carl nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "Wizard Burn is right."
Full and content, the two returned to their shops in a drunken haze. By then, it was completely dark.
「Several days passed.」
A ssage ca from the Tower. The Beck family declared their withdrawal from the managent team of Leipzig Market. As compensation, they received a few storefronts and a mine that originally belonged to the Cape family.
Carl wasn't surprised when he received this ssage. The individuals murdered outside the market on the day of the ceremony were key mbers of the Beck family. Their deaths were undoubtedly a severe blow to the family.
Among the three great families, the Beck family had the weakest foundation, with only four Official Wizards. They also found it challenging to command respect. Withdrawing now was a wise decision.
It remains to be seen how the other families will react to this, Carl thought.
Putting the ssage away, Carl picked up a broken Seal from the table and examined it ticulously. He had obtained this item from Wizard Burn. Because it was defective, it couldn't fetch a good price. The witchcraft replicated inside was a fairly well-known Fire Elent One-Circle Witchcraft—Chain Fireball.
Carl's interest wasn't in the Seal itself, but in its cracked material.
Fire Jade! he realized.
Deep in thought, his form flickered, and he arrived at the Divine Domain Fragnt. From there, he traveled to the Otherworld.
"Ayala."
Carl descended the stairs. Rembering the Magic Flying Carpet wasn't with him, he addressed the figure in the study, "Arrange for a ship for . I need to make a trip to Fla Island."
"Yes." Ayala put down her book and nodded.
「...」
The sea breeze tousled Ayala's hair as she squinted at the dark island ahead. Her once youthful cheeks had gradually matured with the passage of ti. Her tender skin had also turned rougher. And reading, it seed, had gradually altered her deanor as well.
Fla Island.
"Uncle," Ayala said, "last year's volcanic eruption on Fla Island changed the geography here. Many places that once existed are now gone."
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