Chapter 46
‘Did I just hear that right?‘ Matthew wondered.
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The girl was slender, her face veiled, but she was taller than the one he remembered. Her eyes were colder, and her gaze was icy and distant, even when she looked at him.
Matthew thought, ‘No, this can’t be right.
“This definitely isn’t Linda.
‘Linda was gentle and sweet, always with a soft smile on her face.
She was the most thoughtful and caring student at Azure Spire. She’d never say anything so biting and provocative.
But Matthew found himself unable to look away from her. The resemblance was uncanny. She was almost a mirror image of Linda.
Homer said, “Of course, we can open this door. Matthew is the head student of Azure Spire.
“He knows all there is to know about seals and Enchantments. We brought him here specifically to break the ward on this door.”
Craig and Rafael exchanged a glance, then turned their eyes to Matthew.
Then, they gave a heavy snort. “So what?”
Everyone knew that Coleman, the head of Azure Spire, was a dual master of sword arts and Enchantment arts.
Though he was at mana Transcendence, he could go toe–to–toe with people at the level of Void Phase without breaking a
sweat.
So, of course, his students would inherit his mastery of Enchantments.
Homer had definitely picked the right guy.
Matthew was the most skilled in Enchantments among Coleman’s seven students besides Linda.
Linda gave Matthew a faint, almost mocking smile. “So, the High Sanctum of Archmagi is after the treasures in the Cloud Cave, too?”
Matthew winced at her words. “There’s a Wood–Fire Spirit inside. I’m getting it for my friend, Marietta.”
Matthew turned to Homer and said, “That’s what we agreed on.”
Homer replied quickly, “Of course. We won’t get in your way.”
Linda snorted. “If I’m not mistaken, your friend has Water Affinity. What do you even want a Wood–Fire Spirit for?”
Matthew’s expression turned cold as he stepped forward, his aura flaring and forcing Linda to give ground.
He said, “I want it, that’s all you need to know. Why should I explain myself to you?”
Linda didn’t bother to reply. Laura stepped up, planting herself protectively in front of Linda.
Laura met Matthew’s aura head–on, refusing to back down.
But Matthew wasn’t backing down. His eyes bore down with intimidating force. When he unleashed his full presence, it sent
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Chapter 46
a chill down everyone’s spine.
“Peak Gilded Phase.” someone gasped.
Matthew was just one step away from the Astral Sovereign Form
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Someone thought, ‘He might have already reached the Astral Sovereign Form. He’s just suppressing his cultivation for Marietta, so he can help her find the treasure!
Feeling Matthew’s power, Homer and the others were both awed and relieved. It was clear that Matthew was the top dog among everyone who’d entered the Veil this time.
They were just thankful they hadn’t pissed him off. As for Linda and her group, though, it looked like trouble was coming their way.
“I saw their group last night. Looks like they’re from the First Unity Coven,” someone whispered.
“First Unity Coven? I thought they hadn’t joined the trials in over a hundred years and got booted from the top three organizations,” another person asked.
“Yeah, that’s them,” someone else confirmed.
“I heard their organization collapsed ages ago. These guys might have joined them recently. They are probably not worth mentioning,” someone else added.
But nobody dared to chime in on that last part. If they were really that weak, they wouldn’t have the guts to go head–to–head with Matthew.
Laura was at the Late Stage of the Gilded Phase. She was only slightly weaker than Matthew.
Laura frowned, her palm twitching as she was about to summon her sword and step up.
But Linda gently placed a hand on her shoulder, her voice soft and reassuring, “Laura, I’m fine.”
Linda met Matthew’s eyes, steady and fearless. “Since we both want the Wood–Fire Spirit, we shall see who comes out on top in the end.”
Matthew sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “You want to compete with me?”
Linda’s face stayed calm. “No need to throw punches. Let’s see who can break the ward on this door the fastest. First one wins the Wood–Fire Spirit.”
Matthew laughed, almost incredulous. “You seriously think you can challenge me in Enchantment?”
Linda replied coolly, “That’s right. Maybe I’m biting off more than I can chew, but I’d like to learn a thing or two from you, Matthen. So, do you dare?”
Matthew frowned.
O
He’d originally set out to find Marietta and Toney, but Homer had pulled him into this mess. The Wood–Fire Spirit was no ordinary treasure.
If he could get it, maybe it would be just what Linda needed. That was the only reason he bothered coming.
Linda’s Gilded Core had been taken from her, making her path in cultivation much harder.
But if she got her hands on the Wood–Fire Spirit, Matthew felt that at least she could still
However, he didn’t expect to run into such a reckless girl.
pursue the way
of the Apothecary.
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Chapter 46
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In Matthew’s memories, he refused to believe that Linda jumped off that cliff and died because they’d let her down.
He kept convincing himself that if he just cleared every obstacle for her, she would come back.
“Alright, I’ll take that bet,” Matthew said.
“You’re on,” Linda shot back..
Suddenly, Homer’s eyes lit up. “Isn’t this bet a little too one–sided? The Wood–Fire Spirit was already Matthew’s prize.
“Whether you showed up or not, it belonged to him. Now, because of you, he’s spending extra time here. Shouldn’t you show a little sincerity and put something valuable on the table?”
As he spoke, he tried to cozy up to Matthew by taking his side.
Matthew didn’t object.
He was interested in seeing what Linda would actually offer.
Linda had plenty of loot tucked away in her Amethyst Band, but she couldn’t risk taking any of it out and tipping Matthew off.
If she did, he would know right away she’d been to the Ram–Head Valley.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. With a flick of her wrist, she produced something from her Amethyst Band.
Everyone stared at what Linda was holding, barely hiding their scoffs. “Seriously? You think a Third–Class Apothecary Green is enough to trade for the Wood–Fire Spirit?
“We are talking about the holy grail for any Apothecary!”
Linda was holding a Jewel Lily.
This flower was great for nourishing and refining the Gilded Core, perfect for anyone still struggling to stabilize their power.
For someone like Matthew, who was already at the Late Stage of the Gilded Phase, it wouldn’t do a thing.
But it would be useful for Marietta.
Marietta was using Linda’s Gilded Core, and the transfer had been forced, so the impact was significant for her.
Even though the Barber family and Azure Spire had used rare treasures to help her, she still experienced a lingering sense of stagnation whenever she tried to train.
If the Jewel Lily was refined into Lily Pills, Marietta could take them to strengthen and stabilize her Gilded Core.
It was the perfect remedy for her situation.
So, no matter what Homer and the others were saying, Matthew was determined to get the Jewel Lily. He was even surprised to be offered that.
Linda shot him a mocking look. She thought, ‘I knew it.
‘Whenever Marietta is involved, Matthew will lose all sense.‘
“So, Matthew, is this Jewel Lily good enough for you?” Linda said
“It’ll do,” Matthew replied.
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Chapter 46
Once he agreed, Linda put the flower away. “So, who gets to go first?”
Matthew said with a shrug, “You just showed up, so you go first.”
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Linda glanced up at him with a playful smile. “Matthew, if I go first and crack this door open before you do, how does that work?”
Everyone cracked up at her comeback.
Someone snorted, “You know we’ve been stuck here for three days, right? None of us could even budge the wards on the Cloud Cave.
“You are a rook who is only at the mana–Stoking Phase. Do you think you can just stroll in here and break it?”
Someone else scoffed, “Bet this is your first time out in the real world. You still think you’re back at that crummy First Unity Coven of yours.”
Linda paid no mind to the mocking laughter around her. She simply looked at Matthew.
Matthew said calmly, “There are three wards here. You take the first, I’ll handle the second.
“Whoever finishes fastest gets to open the third. Once it’s open, the winner gets first pick. and nobody else gets to argue
about it.”
“Deal,” Linda replied.
With that, Linda strode confidently toward the Cloud Cave.
Homer and his crew snickered, full of mockery. “What a disgrace
“If I were her friend, I’d haul her out of here before she embarrasses herself any further, instead of letting her mess around.”
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