hapter 72
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Craig looked at Linda and said, “Linda, you’re new here and junior to us. As your senior, I don’t have much to offer, but this is a small token from me.
“Hope you don’t think it’s too shabby.”
Rafael nodded, too. “I kept half for myself, which is plenty. My main path is body cultivation, so a bit of Rainbow Stone is enough for me. The rest is yours.”
Linda didn’t know what to say. She felt too shy to even open her mouth.
She’d hardly ever been in a situation like this before.
Usually, she was the one handing things out to others.
It was the first time anyone had ever gone out of their way to find the Rainbow Stone she needed and actually gave it to her.
Linda hesitated.
‘Can I really accept this?‘ she wondered.
Linda hesitated for a long moment, then shook her head, looking conflicted. “I…”
But at that moment, Laura stood up, walked a few steps away, and made a quick sign with her hand.
Reaching into her Void Ring, she pulled out something. With a heavy thud, a massive boulder, over thirty feet tall, appeared right in the middle of the Hermit’s Sanctum.
Laura said, “Don’t fight over it. There’s plenty for all.”
Linda just stared at him, lost for words.
Craig and Rafael’s eyes lit up. “Right, we almost forgot about this one.”
They rushed over to Laura, pointing at the massive Rainbow Stone. “Look, this is our haul.”
Laura glanced at Linda. “Your stone? Leave it to me, Linda. I’ve got it all sorted.”
Linda couldn’t help but laugh.
Everyone was in high spirits.
Claudio fixed his gaze on Linda, then suddenly set two items right into her hands.
Linda was taken aback.
“Wait, let me see!” Rafael shouted, rushing over.
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He took a look at what Linda was holding and blurted out in surprise, “Whoa, that’s Cinnabar Essence Stone, and this other one is Lightning–Struck Wood Stone.
“They’re all over three hundred years old.”
Rafael sucked in a sharp breath. “These are treasures one can’t even buy at the Mystic Exchange, no matter how much one pays. Claudio, where did you even get these?”
Claudio definitely didn’t pick these up in the Veil.
If stuff like that was lying around in the Veil, the Abyssal Coven would never let rookies go in and hunt for
treasure.
Just one look, and one could tell these two stones were top–shelf. Even a small sect would treat them as family heirlooms. But the real deal was that these were priceless for inscribed magic users.
Only those who practice inscribed magic could unlock their full potential.
“Just happened to find them,” Claudio said offhandedly.
He glanced at Linda. “I can tell you’re serious about inscribed magic. These don’t do me any good. If you want them, take them.”
Rafael slid to his knees beside Claudio, hands pressed together with a sycophantic smile. “Hey, Claudio, I could use one, too. Got any extras?”
Claudio said coldly, “No, just these two. If she doesn’t want them, I’ll just throw them away.”
Rafael pleaded, “Just toss them into my arms. Quick.”
Linda clutched the two stones to her chest. “No way. These are from Claudio. I have to put them to good use.”
Claudio nodded, eyes lowered. “Mm.”
Rafael groaned in regret,
He thought, ‘Man, if I’d known Claudio had this kind of treasure, I would’ve buddied up to him ages ago. Is it too late now? Can I still make it?‘
Linda glanced over at Rafael. “Speaking of the Mystic Exchange, can I ask you for a favor, Rafael?”
Rafael looked surprised. “Eh? What do you need?”
*****
At High Sanctum of Archmagi, Azure Spire.
Ever since Coleman moved into Azure Spire and became its master, the whole mountain had never been this
dead silent.
Everyone was on edge, walking on eggshells. Nobody dared to raise their voice.
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And at Misty Lake, usually the liveliest spot with laughter and chatter, not a soul dared to utter a word this time.
Rayford had come several times and even prescribed medicine, but Toney kept insisting he come back.
Seeing Toney’s injuries, Rayford snapped, “I’ve told you a hundred times. You’re going to end up useless if you don’t let your body heal.
“Even if you’re tough, you can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”
Toney’s eyes were bloodshot. “I’m fine, but look at Marietta. Her Gilded Core… It’s gone.”
Rayford’s tone was stiff. “I’ve told you. Once the Gilded Core is gone, there’s nothing I can do.
“I’m a medical cultivator, good at tending to the body and some healing arts, but with injuries this bad, I’m not the one you should be calling.”
Toney choked up. “But we don’t know who else to turn to. Master Coleman is still in closed–door cultivation…”
Rayford’s brows knitted together. “Toney.”
His sudden shift to a serious tone made Toney look up, a bit lost.
Rayford pressed, “Back when Marietta’s cultivation was ruined, you didn’t act like this.”
Toney froze up.
Rayford stared hard at Toney, and could see how lost and unsure he looked. With a heavy sigh, Rayford said, “I’ve watched you all grow up. Back then, you guys were never like this with her.”
His hands went cold. “She’s not like the rest.”
Rayford blinked, not quite getting it. “What do you mean?”
Toney said, “She’s a genius. She can do anything, and she’s good at everything. No matter how hard the technique, she gets it after just a few words.
“For the stuff other people would die for, she just grabs it like it’s no big deal.
“The Cleansing Basin that everyone was desperate for? She just let it go, because she never needed that kind of thing anyway.
“She’s not like anyone else.”
The more Toney spoke, the more convinced he sounded. He looked at Rayford as if he was trying to prove was right by saying it out loud.
Toney spoke slowly, stressing every word, “She’s… She’s dazzling. She outshines everyone.”
Rayford stared at Toney, dumbfounded, as if he couldn’t believe Toney would actually say that. But as he thought about it, a chill ran down his spine. “Is that it? Are you all jealous of her?”
he
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Toney couldn’t admit it. He muttered, “No.”
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But the more Rayford thought about it, the more a chill crept down his spine. ‘If this isn’t straight–up jealousy, what else could it be?‘ he wondered.
Rayford never would’ve guessed that, behind the friendly and united face Azure Spire showed the world, there was all this hidden drama going on.
Rayford probed, “And Matthew…
“He thinks the same way, too?”
Rayford wondered if Matthew could really be like that.
Toney hesitated, lips pressed tight. “I don’t know, but what I do know…”
His voice was barely audible. “Even Master Coleman is jealous of her.”
Rayford was left utterly stunned.
However, there was no trace of humor in Toney’s eyes. He was deadly serious.
“A fifteen–year–old Gilded Core cultivator… that’s too dazzling. A genius like Linda shines too brightly,” Toney
muttered.
Rayford remained in a state of shock the entire way. He still hadn’t recovered his wits when he was dragged to the entrance of Misty Lake.
It took Rayford a long time to snap out of it. He went to check on Marietta, but nothing had changed.
Her Gilded Core was gone. He was powerless to do anything.
Rayford wanted to leave, but Toney wouldn’t let him go, begging him to do something. But before he could say anything, an indifferent, cold voice interrupted, “So it is jealousy.
“Figures. A bunch of mediocrities ended up with a genius in your midst. No wonder you’re scared. She was never meant to be one of you anyway.”
A crisp, cold sound that had no business echoing on Azure Spire rang out abruptly.
Before Rayford and Toney could even process what was happening, someone stepped out of thin air. He was so breathtakingly beautiful, it was like he wasn’t even from this world.
Rayford and Toney stared, dumbfounded. ‘Who is that?‘ they both wondered.
From the main peak not far away, a stern, commanding voice boomed, “Who dares trespass on the grounds of the High Sanctum of Archmagi?”
The man glanced up, his tone cool and indifferent. “Mack Dunlap.”
Rayford’s face went pale.
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“It’s him,” he blurted out.
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‘Mack Dunlap, the one who slaughtered his entire clan. Madman Mack Dunlap!‘ Rayford’s heart raced as the realization hit him.
AD
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.
