Chapter 78 - 77: New Magic (4)

Chapter 78: Chapter 77: New Magic (4)

"Alright," Gaode said helplessly. Without needing to ask further, he understood it was due to knowledge monopoly.

Even if the authorities were willing to open a loophole to sell magic formulas, it would only be a small one. The ruling class would never truly price and sell all magic formulas openly. Magic with immense destructive power, in particular, was on the restricted list and strictly not for sale. To truly learn those precious magics, one still had to join a large mage organization or work for the authorities.

Gaode muttered in his heart, "This is cutting off the path for wild mages..."

But it was the same in any world. Just like in the cultivation world, the spells loose cultivators could buy were low-level ones that prominent families and sects looked down upon. To learn advanced spells, one still had to join a sect.

"How much are they?" Gaode asked.

"A 0th Ring magic formula is 6 gold coins each, and a 1st Ring magic formula is 25 gold coins each. It’s a flat rate, no bargaining," the young receptionist said in a soft voice.

"[Detect Poison], [Magic Tricks], [Switching Technique], and [Communication Skill]. I want these four magic formulas." Gaode wasn’t surprised by the steep prices. He pointed them out in the booklet while counting out 24 Sean gold coins from his pouch and pushing them toward the receptionist.

He was currently only a First Class mage apprentice, still a long way from becoming a 1st Ring mage, so there was no rush to buy a 1st Ring magic formula. Not only would he have no use for it right now, but the price of 25 gold coins was also far too exorbitant. However, learning the specific effects of some 1st Ring magics through the booklet’s entries was an unexpected gain.

"Please wait a moment." The brown-haired woman collected the gold coins and walked away in her low-heeled leather shoes.

A moment later, she reappeared with the four magic formulas. However, instead of handing them directly to Gaode right away, she pulled out two standard documents from a drawer under the counter. She picked up a pen and wrote rapidly across them, SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE. Then, taking out a stamp, she stamped both documents forcefully before handing them over.

"Please fill in your details. If there are any issues with the magic formulas, you can use this voucher to have us handle it for you."

Gaode thought, "Oh, there’s even a receipt. As expected of an official channel. Even if it’s not perfect, at least the formalities are in place..." He took the two standard documents and found that they listed the specific names of the magic formulas he had purchased, the date of purchase, and the amount paid. Additionally, the few blank lines at the bottom were for his personal information.

Finally, at the very bottom, there was a line of tiny text: "Magic formulas purchased from this Association are strictly not for resale."

Gaode picked up the quill on the desk, filled in his name as "Google Ditu," and pressed his fingerprint onto the paper. There were two vouchers; the buyer and the seller each kept one. After putting away the voucher with Gaode’s fingerprint, the brown-haired woman finally handed him the four magic formulas:

[Detect Poison] (Prophet, 0th Ring):

You can determine whether a creature, an object, or a 5-foot cubic area is poisoned or poisonous. If you are familiar with the toxin, you can identify its exact type through this magic. This magic can penetrate obstacles, but 1 foot (about 0.3 meters) of solid rock, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt can block it.

[Magic Tricks] (Transformation Series, 0th Ring):

You create one of the following magical effects within a 10-foot casting distance:

You create an instantaneous, harmless sensory effect, such as a shower of sparks, a puff of wind, faint musical notes, or an odd odor.

You instantaneously light or snuff out a candle, a torch, or a small campfire.

You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot.

You chill, warm, or flavor nonliving material no larger than 1 cubic foot for 1 hour.

You make a color mark, a symbol, or a small sign appear on an object or surface for 1 hour.

You create a non-magical trinket or an illusory image that can fit in your hand.

If you cast this magic multiple times, you can maintain up to three distinct non-instantaneous effects simultaneously, and you can dismiss such an effect as an action.

[Switching Technique] (Transformation Series, 0th Ring):

You can open or close (your choice) a door, chest, box, window, bag, bottle, or other container. If anything obstructs the opening or closing action (such as a latch on a door or a lock on a chest), the magic fails. Additionally, this magic can only open or close objects weighing less than 30 pounds (about 14 kilograms). Therefore, doors, chests, or similar items designed for enormous creatures will exceed the magic’s capability range.

[Communication Skill] (Transformation Series, 0th Ring):

You point your finger toward a creature within 120 feet and whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can hear. You can cast this magic through solid objects, but you must be familiar with the target and know it is beyond the barrier. Magical silence, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood can block this magic. This magic does not require a straight line to transmit messages; it can freely travel around corners or through openings.

These four tricks couldn’t provide Gaode with any substantial combat power boost, but every single one of them was highly practical. [Detect Poison] went without saying—whether for daily life or wilderness survival, it was a divine skill. High-Ring Mages probably had ways to immunize themselves against toxins, but to a mage apprentice, poison was still quite lethal. Mastering this trick ensured that as long as he was careful enough, it was nearly impossible for him to be assassinated with poison. And putting everything else aside, having [Detect Poison] at least guaranteed he wouldn’t eat poisonous mushrooms in the wild.

[Magic Tricks] was an equally practical magic. It had many effects, and more often than not, its upper limit depended on the mage’s imagination. Even ignoring the rest, the flavoring effect alone made [Magic Tricks] worth the price of admission.

He thought, "Using Water Creation Skill to make water and then [Magic Tricks] to flavor it... doesn’t that mean I can drink ’magic coke’ anywhere, anytime?" Thinking of this, Gaode couldn’t help but marvel again at how wondrous magic truly was.

The same applied to [Switching Technique] and [Communication Skill]; both were extremely flexible and practical tricks. [Switching Technique] could be used to avoid traps, remotely operate mechanisms, or aid in infiltration. [Communication Skill] enabled encrypted conversations in specific situations, with its most classic use being communication between teammates during combat.

After leaving the Bremen Mage Association with a bountiful harvest, Gaode once again took a public carriage back to the Camond District.

However, he didn’t head straight home. Instead, he went to the workshop street and custom-ordered a cloth banner embroidered with a carving knife and magic rune patterns, intending to hang it outside his door when the time came. Afterward, he visited a nearby market and bought enough wheat bread, root vegetables, and meat to last for three days. For Gaode, eating out was ultimately just an occasional luxury; he still had to cook for himself most of the time.

In addition, Gaode spent 4 silver coins to buy a one-pound tin of Sri Lanka black tea. This black tea had a rich flavor, carrying a fresh citrus aroma and a sweet aftertaste. It was a mid-grade tea. The reason he was willing to spend the money wasn’t just to pair it with his daily breakfast; it was mainly because he needed something to serve when guests visited.

Having accomplished all this, Gaode finally concluded his busy day and returned to his house at No. 437.