A Wizard’s Secret

“Snap!”

A clear sound suddenly rang from the white light. Immediately, the light began to slowly dissipate. The two pendants were now completely merged as one. The two halves mirrored each other and looked just like a bowknot.

“This… What’s this?”

Merlin reached out and grasped the bowknot formed by the two pendants. His Mind Power quickly extended into the bowknot.

There was a simple Concept contained within the bowknot. With a simple inspection, Merlin instantly understood the function of this brand-new bowknot casting tool.

The brand-new bowknot casting tool was a rarely seen Enhancing casting tool. By themselves, the two pendants were casting tools of a simpler type.

For instance, the Bell Pendant that Merlin possessed was only capable of storing and casting spells. On the other hand, the merging of the two pendants had formed a brand-new casting tool, and it was a valuable Enhancing casting tool.

Merlin was shocked to the core. He instantly thought of the Assembled casting tool of the legends. This was during the era of the Molta Empire 3600 years ago, when some powerful alchemists had fabricated a new type of casting tool. They would assemble a few individual casting tools to produce new formidable casting tools.

However, present-day alchemists had strayed from this path. There were not many alchemists who would follow this tradition and fabricate extraordinary casting tools. Instead, they would rather spend more energy creating mighty Alchemy Creatures.

Therefore, most of the current alchemists were unable to fabricate this sort of Assembled casting tool.

The two pendants that Merlin had obtained were, in fact, an Assembled casting tool, which was even rarer! Based on the simple Concept contained in the bowknot casting tool, Merlin found that this casting tool, formed by the two pendants, was a relatively simple one. Once the true Assembled casting tool that Wizard Bell had fabricated was completely assembled, it would be a powerful item which would become the envy of even Great Wizards.

Merlin was only able to calm down after a long time. He flipped the bowknot-shaped casting tool over and found that the name “Bell” was inscribed at the back in the Molta language.

Merlin had never heard of this Wizard Bell, but Bell was able to fabricate an Assembled casting tool like this one. Moreover, once the individual casting tools were gathered to form a new casting tool, it would be something that even powerful Great Wizards would fight over for. Wizard Bell was undoubtedly a Great Wizard as well as a highly accomplished Great Alchemist in the field of alchemy.

Merlin closely examined the Enhancing casting tool but was unsure about its capacity. He only knew that this casting tool would only enhance one spell, so the first thing to do was to pick a good spell.

Merlin currently possessed Zero- and First-level spells. Naturally, there was no need to consider the Zero-level spells. As for the First-level spells, there were only Defensive spell, Guardian Monument and Offensive spell, Furious Flame in Merlin’s Awareness.

For Offensive spells, Merlin would construct the First-level spell, Thunderlight Ball sometime in the future, so it seemed a waste to use the Enhancing casting tool on Furious Flame.

If he used it on Defensive spell, Guardian Monument, it would have become immensely useful in the face of danger. Having considered this point, Merlin’s mind was almost made up.

However, Merlin soon thought of another point. He had the strengthened version of Guardian Monument. The strengthened Guardian Monument was already at the pinnacle of First-level spells and approached the standard of Second-level spells. If this Enhancing casting tool could enhance the spell, would it not magnify the strengthened version of Guardian Monument?

Having thought of this point, Merlin could not wait to test this out.

“Guardian Monument!”

Merlin consecutively cast a few Guardian Monuments, and then cast the strengthened version.

The strengthened Guardian Monument left its unique imprint in the Enhancing casting tool. With a flip of his hand, an Earth-type elemental crystal stone appeared.

The Enhancing casting tool would not function without a cost. It would use up a great number of elemental crystal stones. Merlin was using the casting tool to enhance an Earth-type spell, so it would need Earth-type elemental crystal stones.

“Guardian Monument!”

Merlin immediately cast the strengthened version of Guardian Monument through the Enhancing casting tool. In a flash, a murky radiance appeared and enveloped Merlin. Giant stone tablets emerged before him.

Even Merlin could distinctly sense that these stone tablets contained a frightening strength. This had far surpassed the category of Second-level spells and had even reached the Third-level.

With the Enhancing casting tool, Merlin’s strengthened Guardian Monument was comparable to even Third-level Defensive spells. This casting tool had, in fact, increased the spell’s power by more than a full level, which was now at the standard of Third-level Defensive spells.

“Good, good! This is a truly powerful casting tool!”

Merlin’s face revealed his glee. He had previously looked at a few casting tools in the Resource Tower. Although he liked them, they cost too many contribution points.

In Floating City, Sterling House had an imitation robe like those worn by members of the Dark Magic Region, but it cost a thousand elemental crystal stones and was also inordinately expensive.

However, now he possessed such a powerful Enhancing casting tool. In terms of value, it was more precious than the robes or other casting tools, such as the magic staffs.

Moreover, this Enhancing casting tool was an Assembled one. If he could one day recover the other individual casting tools, he would be able to assemble them into a casting tool that was brand-new and even more powerful.

An ancient Spell Caster like Wizard Bell was able to fabricate such a marvelous casting tool. He was a true alchemist, largely different from the present-day alchemists who had wandered off track.

Of course, perhaps the current alchemists would not think that they had strayed from the path, but instead, regard it as a new path they had forged in their journey of studying alchemy.

Merlin put away the strengthened version of Guardian Monument. After that, he cast a few ordinary Guardian Monuments but found that if the Enhancing casting tool remained inert, the might of the spell was a First-level as usual.

Merlin knew that if he wanted to utilize this Enhancing casting tool in the future, he could only cast the strengthened Guardian Monument. In an instant, the spell’s power would be increased to that of a Third-level spell. This would be his trump card, and would never have to use it unless as a last resort.

Furthermore, using this casting tool would use up many Earth-type elemental crystal stones. In the short moment that Merlin had cast the strengthened Guardian Monument, he had depleted two such stones.

Even if the average roaming Wizard had obtained this Enhancing casting tool, they would not be able to use it. If Merlin had not acquired the wealth of the silver-haired old man, the cloaked man Wizard Vyksa, and Wizard Neil, he would be coming up short at this moment. He would have found it hard to take out even just one or two elemental crystal stones.

“Elemental crystal stones… Looks like I’ll have to think of a way to earn some of those!”

Merlin muttered as he kept the casting tool. He was no longer in the Dark Magic Region. In that organization, what was most valuable were contribution points. With contribution points, one might exchange them for various potions, spells, or casting tools at the Resource Tower.

On the other hand, elemental crystal stones were crucial in the outside world. Without them, one could not even obtain the basic potion materials one wanted.

For instance, when Merlin wanted to acquire the materials for Blueberry Potion and Phantasmal Magic Potion, he needed a tremendous amount of elemental crystal stones. Without the stones, it was a challenge to get enough potion materials.

Merlin mulled things over, thinking of obtaining more elemental crystal stones. Based on his circumstances, it was certain that the only thing to do was to prepare potions in bulk to be sold to earn some stones.

This plan was also very feasible. Since he had the Matrix, the success rate of his potion preparation was higher compared to average apothecaries.

In addition, once Merlin had mastered the skills of preparing a particular potion, his success rate would be even higher.

Therefore, preparing potions for sale was currently the only way for Merlin to quickly earn a great number of elemental crystal stones.

Nevertheless, there were many factors involved in preparing potions for sale such as what were the best-selling potions in Floating City, which potion materials were cheaper, his channel of distribution, and so on. These were issues Merlin would need to consider. If he was just relying on himself, he would never be able to comprehend all of these in a short time.

Merlin did not plan to quickly earn elemental crystal stones just by working hard all by himself. He thought of Wizard Vladi from before.

Wizard Vladi had immersed himself in potion research. He had lived in Floating City for many years, so he would have known a lot about potions. Seeking his assistance would surely save Merlin much trouble.

With this in mind, Merlin immediately left the room and headed to Wizard Vladi’s residence.

Merlin recalled the route that Wizard Burton had led him through previously. Gradually, Merlin arrived at where Wizard Vladi was staying – it was still the same quiet courtyard.

As Merlin entered the courtyard, he saw that the door was shut tight as before. However, his Mind Power perceived that there were waves of burning energy inside the house.

It seemed that Wizard Vladi was preparing his potions once again. Merlin knocked on the door, gently calling out, “Wizard Vladi, it’s Merlin here. I have something to ask you!”

“It’s Wizard Merlin? Please, come in quick!”

From inside the house, Wizard Vladi’s elderly voice rang out. His tone seemed to be filled with excitement.