Chapter 18
On the way down the mountain, Laura used Spell–Bladed Flight to carry everyone.
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She explained to Linda that Byron had sent them out so she could get to know the nearby mountain ranges and the First Unity Coven.
And also because, after so much cultivation, they deserved a break.
Craig chatted the whole way, and Linda listened attentively. Even though Craig had already reached the Gilded Core stage. he was still hitching a ride on Laura’s sword.
Linda asked, “Craig, with your cultivation, shouldn’t you be able to fly on your own by now?”
Craig gave a sheepish grin. “Yeah, I could, but I still don’t have my own Soul–Bound Rapier, so flying’s not really an option for me yet.
Laura and Rafael both shot him a look. Craig glared right back at them. ‘I’m not wrong, he thought. ‘It’s not really a sword anyway.
Laura said, “Even though the First Unity Coven isn’t all about sword cultivation, by tradition, every new student must select a Soul–Bound Rapier from the Spire of Blades.
“After that, you gotta feed it with your own aura and vibe to make it yours. This is both an inheritance of the sect’s legacy and a fulfillment of our ancestors‘ wills.”
The First Unity Coven passed down not only its principles but also its blade spirits from generation to generation.
Linda asked, “So every apprentice has to pick a sword, no exceptions?”
“Yeah,” Laura replied. “Whether you’re into inscribed magic or working with a gilded core, everyone has to do it. Once Rafael passes his trial, he’ll also choose his own sword, just like you.”
Rafael said, “Maybe I should start thinking about who I’ll ask to be my teacher when the time comes.”
Craig retorted, “Don’t even bother. You’ll be lucky if anyone’s willing to accept you.”
Rafael was left speechless. Craig added, “But honestly, you should start tempering your body as soon as you can.
“While the elders are still around, they might take notice of you during your Trial of Conscience. If they’re all off in seclusion, you’ll really be out of luck.”
“For real?” Rafael said.
“Yeah, Craig replied. “They are always busy, and some of them go into seclusion for ten years or more. You really think they’ll even remember you exist?”
Rafael muttered under his breath, “If they don’t want me, I don’t even care about staying here anyway.”
The others paid no mind. They knew he was just a flip–flopper, always changing his tune, Laura set them down about a mile outside the city,
“The sects have a rule,” Craig said. “Whenever we pass by an ordinary town, we’re not allowed to use Spell–Bladed Flight inside unless it’s really urgent
He continued, “So we don’t freak out the townsfolk. So, Linda, we’ll walk into the city.”
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“Alright,” Linda said. The four of them started walking toward the city together. Before entering the city, they all began pestering Rafael for a loan.
Rafael gritted his teeth. “When Kermit told you to take Linda down the mountain, didn’t he give you any luster shards?”
“Nope, they replied.
“What about your monthly stipend?” Rafael asked.
Craig answered honestly, “He said this year’s stipend won’t be handed out until the end of the year, so we don’t have any right now.”
But Craig figured the real reason was simple. They were just out of luster shards.
Honestly, they only ever needed luster shards when they went down the mountain. Craig shrugged it off.
Everything they needed for daily cultivation was already up on the mountain. They never lacked anything.
“It’s just a quick borrow, not like we’re never paying you back, Craig said.
“Don’t you know that once you lend something around here, it’s gone for good?” Rafael shot back.
“Nope, Craig said. Despite Rafael’s reluctance, once they were in the city, he was the only one among them with any shards, so he had to foot the bill.
Linda fiddled with the Mystic Silver–Leaf in her Infinite–Expansion Satchel. Over the past month, she had cultivated some in her courtyard.
She had picked a batch before coming down. She figured she could sell them for some luster shards.
Noticing her silence, Rafael asked, ‘Hey, Linda, you don’t need any?”
Linda smiled. “I’m good for now.”
But when Laura and Craig heard her, they dumped all the luster shards they had snatched from Rafael into Linda’s hands. ‘Keep these.”
Linda was speechless. Seriously, I don’t need these at all, she thought. She had her own stash of luster shards.
But with their enthusiasm, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. Just like that, Linda instantly became the richest one out of all four of them.
Rafael, who had been cleaned out, was left speechless. ‘So what am I, chopped liver?‘ he grumbled inwardly.
Craig led Laura and Linda into the city, chatting as they walked. “All the towns scattered around these mountains are under the First Unity Coven’s protection.
They pay luster shards to the city lord’s office, and then the city lord sends a portion up to the sect.
Whenever something crops up that they can’t handle themselves, it’s our job to step in. Sometimes, Laura and I come down together to lend a hand.”
Linda asked, “Isn’t this kind of thing usually handled by the outer–circle apprentices?”
Craig bought two bags of walnuts, handing one to Laura and the other to Linda.
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Chapter 18
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He said, “Our sect’s pretty small, so we don’t split into outer or inner circles. If there’s trouble, even the elders will come down to deal with it.”
Just as Craig finished speaking, Linda and Rafael spotted a familiar figure. It was Byron.
Byron was carrying a sword over one shoulder and hauling ten sacks of grain past them.
Craig blinked. “Byron?”
Byron remained straight–faced. “Out for some fun, huh?”
“Yeah, just showing Linda around, letting her get a feel for the place,” Craig replied.
“Alright, have a good time,” Byron said. Then, as if something occurred to him, he pulled an mana pouch from his chest and handed it to Linda.
Byron said, “You should buy yourself a few new outfits, sweetheart. Don’t always dress like some old nun.” Then he glanced at Laura. “You too.” With that, he walked off.
Linda stood there clutching the mana pouch Byron had handed her, and inside were a full hundred luster shards. Meanwhile, Byron kept hauling cargo.
“Does he do this kind of stuff all the time?” Linda asked.
Craig shrugged, “Not always. If any feral beasts show up around here, Byron’s the one who handles them.
“But a few years ago, when he was looking after Laura, he went full beast–slayer mode. He cleared out every single troublemaker within a hundred miles.
“Ever since then, for three years straight, not a single feral beast has had the guts to come anywhere near First Unity Coven’s turf.”
He continued, “With nothing left to hunt, Byron just finds grunt work to keep himself busy.”
“But doesn’t the city lord’s office pay tribute in luster shards?” Linda asked.
“Yeah, but it’s still not enough to cover the sect’s expenses,” Craig replied.
Linda remembered how they had to soak in the Cleansing Basin every few days, and realized where all the sect’s money
went.
Those basin resources alone weren’t something one could buy with shards easily.
And the healing potions Laura and Craig gave her were the kind one could never find for sale anywhere.
In other words, if they sold those potions, they could make a fortune. But Craig and the others never even considered it.
They were sitting on a mountain of treasure and didn’t even realize it. However, one person would surely notice.
Linda looked at Rafael. Rafael felt a prickle under her gaze. “Hey, what’s with the look?”
Linda asked, “Rafael, do you still have any of those injury ointments Craig gave you?”
Rafael went through more injury ointments than anyone else. Since he always ended up the most banged up.
Hearing that, Rafael instinctively clutched his chest. “Yeah, I’ve got some. What do you want?”
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“You could totally sell those for luster shards, right?” Linda asked.
Rafael gave a sheepish grin. “Yeah, I could. But there’s no need.”
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Linda understood. Using such rare ointment for shards would be a waste. But Mystic Silver–Leaf was different.
Linda glanced at the apothecary next door. “Let me check it out real quick.” Laura and Craig moved to join her.
Linda waved them off with a smile. “You guys go explore the town. No need for a whole crowd.”
But Rafael, curious, hurried after her. Inside the apothecary, Linda went straight to the counter and inquired about the price of Mystic Silver–Leaf.
When she heard it was ten stalks for a single luster shard, she calmly took out a thousand leaves from her satchel.
The shopkeeper froze for a moment. Linda had already counted them. “Double–check if you want.”
“Miss, I can’t buy these at ten stalks for a luster shard,” the shopkeeper said.
Linda frowned. “Can’t buy them? Why?” That price was fair enough. Linda had sold Mystic Silver–Leaf before, so she knew the going rate.
If he refused now, Linda wouldn’t suspect her goods were inferior. Clearly, the shopkeeper just didn’t want to do business
with her.
Before Linda could respond, Rafael stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves and shielding her behind him. “Hey, what’s your problem? Trying to pick on her?”
In a low voice, he added, “Relax, I’m way ahead of you in cultivation. I’ve got your back.”
Linda was speechless. ‘It’s not like we’re facing a life–or–death situation here,’ she thought.
The shopkeeper hurriedly waved his hands, looking almost panicked. “No, you’ve got it all wrong.
“These Mystic Silver–Leaf aren’t just regular stock. These are premium grades. The price? It’s ten times higher than normal. One Luster Shard per plant.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
