Badge in Azure

Saleen continued to have his reservations even as he allowed Aini’s servants to depart along with Sharman. Upon entering Qin, what they encountered at Phoenix should not happen again. Even if they were to meet with danger, they should be limited to skirmishes only. There was no harm bringing along another one-hundred servants.

Servants that came from noble families were typically well-trained. This time around, they would not have to spy on Sharman but just keep a record of the things that she did after departing. Sharman was heading towards the borders of Qin, which was where Luolan and Laiyin Duchy intersected. The situation there was complicated so it was probably safer to have more men by her side.

Saleen’s target was Holy Rock City and he did not expect any trouble along the way. The person he was meeting was Joey. If Joey had intended to harm him, no matter how many people Saleen had with him it would be useless. It was just like how Fycro managed to coerce him into signing the bond with him. He was in Metatrin City with all his men by his side, but none of that mattered the moment Fycro appeared. Even the Three Kings were not able to detect Fycro.

Naturally, the security in Guderian City was heightened to guard against Phoenix. Although the noble families of Solar City had bowed down to Qin, that did not mean the other noble families in other cities had no intentions of rebelling.

Compared to Metatrin City, Guderian City did not awe Su too much. He was still very envious. If the subcontinental plane was as majestic as this, they would have a much easier time fighting against the Asmodians.

The number of mages on the subcontinental plane was few and far between, the presence of magic in Guderian City was so strong that even the bricks in the city had been refined by magic apprentices. If the subcontinental plane wanted to build a city as strong and sturdy as this, they would have to gather the resources of most countries. Over in Qin, this was just one of the cities located at its borders.

Passing through Guderian City proved to be a breeze. Aini had his Clyde clan badge and he was leading fifty guards; one white-robed mage, one gray-robed mage, one warrior, and a female servant. To all the soldiers that were patrolling the streets, Aini’s group was a common sight in the city.

Although the Clyde family only held an Earl position, it had a glowing reputation in Qin. Naturally, no soldiers would suspect anyone from the Clyde family of harboring any ill-intentions towards Guderian City.

As the soldiers courteously allowed everyone to enter the city, one of Aini’s bodyguard stuffed a handful of silver coins into the soldier’s hand. The soldier did not decline. This was just how the members of the four big families went about doing things. If it were someone else, the soldier might not have dared to accept.

Since the Qin empire has dedicated so much effort and resources into the battle on the western front, they could not pay any attention to Metatrin City. They did not even send any spies there. Saleen and company rested for a day in Guderian City. While they were there, they managed to sell a batch of magic nuclei for ten-thousand gold coins. Then, they set off again.

After leaving Guderian City Aini changed everyone’s horses into skeletal warhorses. He was a grade-5 death mage and there was no reason to hide it. Death mages and element mages stood as equals in the Qin empire. Tanggulasi empire declared that they would be capturing and killing all death mages. Qin viewed death mages on even friendlier terms since Tanggulasi empire was now their common enemy.

This time, the company was led by Aini. There were fifty-five of them in total and they were traveling at full speed on skeletal warhorses. Skeletal warhorses could travel at a speed of sixty miles an hour and this was potentially dangerous for those that were below the level of swordmasters because they could be severely injured if they crashed into a tree. On the other hand, mages could still protect themselves with magic shields.

They made sure that they kept their speed to a maximum of fifty miles an hour. Within the group, Narnia was the only one who had a slightly frail physique. Although she trained every day, she was still no match for the swordsmen. Saleen and Aini took turns to boost her with spells so that she could keep up with everyone.

Saleen boosted Narnia with Chunlins spell while Narnia also cast potence spell on herself. The combination of these two spells allowed Narnia to possess great strength along with high endurance.

Aini boosted Narnia with power of the dead. Combined with her skeletal warhorse, the effect was similar to that of the element spell.

Not before long, the group had traveled five-hundred miles. After traveling for ten days consecutively it was time to choose a suitable location to set up camp and take a break. Holy Rock City was ten-thousand miles away from Guderian City. Saleen was satisfied that half of the journey only took ten days of traveling.

After setting up camp, Saleen did not practice his spells. Like everyone else he took out his cooking utensils and prepared to make a fire and cook some food for himself. Narnia rarely saw Saleen not practicing his spells whenever he had the chance. She had thought that Saleen was a young mage that would be practicing his spells every moment he could find instead of slacking off like now.

Saleen saw the confused look on Narnia’s face and said, “At my level, it is useless to practise with the elements any further. If I want to advance, I cannot use that stupid method anymore.”

Narnia was shocked and said, “You are going to advance again?” Although she considered herself to have known Saleen for some time, it had only been a few years after all. Saleen was still a grade-2 mage back then, and now he was actually preparing to advance into a sorcerer.

“How can that be? To advance into a sorcerer, I will need to build a magical tower and gather even stronger power, otherwise everything will be for nought.” Saleen thought to himself, “There is a theory that the six elements’ space could also function as a magical tower, but it was only applicable for sorcerers. I am not very talented so it would be nearly impossible for me to advance to a sorcerer without the help of a magical tower.”

Thinking back, Saleen realized that the principles of elements could be found everywhere in Joey’s residence if one cared to look. The courtyard alone was a shape-shifting magical tower. Even someone like Joey was no exception so what made Saleen think that he could go against the rules?

Narnia sniggered and said, “If it is useless, then what are you still training so hard for?

“Because your grade is not really related to your fighting abilities.” Saleen said casually. At the same time, he was setting up a metal stand and preparing magic powder beneath it.

Narnia was familiar with what Saleen was doing. By mixing a certain amount of charcoal with magic powder, the temperature of the flame could be lowered which would allow it to burn for a longer time. This magic powder was originally used for refining metals. Now that they were being used to roast meat, if one was not careful, the meat could easily turn to ashes.

“You already own a wealth of resources, what do you need fighting abilities for?” Narnia could not understand Saleen’s thinking. As a mage, the most important thing was to grasp the crux of spells. Fighting should be left to the soldiers and not mages.

“Maybe it’s just a sense of insecurity. In this era that we are living in many batches of combat mages will appear soon. Narnia, you should try to learn more too. Your phoenix spell was pretty impressive.”

Narnia blushed and said, “Although they were all bandits, I still feel a bit disgusted to have killed so many people.”

“Is that all it takes to disgust you? What if they were God’s disciples?”

Narnia was stunned for a moment and said, “That is not the same. Bandits are still humans, but God’s disciples have already sold their souls, so they are just an empty physical body.”

“But bandits are also humans that have sold away their souls. Anyway, enough of this. I rarely see you using combat spells. What else do you know?”

“I am similar to the Viscountess, mostly… I know fire element spells that I have learned from the Master. I have also picked up lifestyle spells of the other five elements so there would not be an imbalance.”

Saleen nodded. He specialized in water element spells. To balance his sensitivity towards the other five elements, he relied entirely on his water spells by manipulating them into imitating the other elements. Without balancing his sensitivity towards the other five elements, he would have difficulties advancing to sorcerer. During this period of time, he began to follow the notes that Joey had given to him. The notes clearly described Joey’s understanding of the elements. Saleen had already clearly understood the process for interchanging the six great elements. He was not a sorcerer yet so the number of spells he could use to imitate the other elements were limited.

“Saleen, the Viscountess has asked me to carry out a task when we reach Holy Rock City. I have no intentions of hiding it from you.”

“Oh? Tell me then.” Saleen knew that Narnia was telling the truth since she did not turn her back against Aini.

“Actually, the Viscountess is still under the control of Holy Rock City in name. Over there, we have a Duke’s mansion. The things that happened at Bitter Water Prefecture must be recorded into a case report and a copy must be submitted to Holy Rock City.”

“Are you saying that we are going against the rules by going to Holy Rock City?”

“Of course not, you are not the Viscountess’ subordinate. Once we are there, we will need to split up so that I can settle some of the things over at the Duke’s mansion.”

Saleen finally understood. He smiled and said, “I promised Lex to guarantee your safety. We will leave together.”

What Saleen had just said lacked a little validity. If Safilos came after him, there was no way Saleen would be a match for him. The only way was if Aini released his floral death creature. Even a golden grand swordmaster would have some difficulties killing a floral death creature. Saleen also possessed his clan badge so that was another way to kill a golden grand swordmaster.

The only problem was whether Aini would be willing to go against the Prince of the empire for Saleen.

Going to Holy Rock City, Saleen’s only concern was the Prince. Others might not know, but he was fully aware of how powerful a golden grand swordmaster could be. Although there was only a difference of one grade between golden grand swordmaster and silver grand swordmaster, this grade was like how a sorcerer was also one grade apart from a grand mage. The difference was huge.

Narnia laughed happily. She ignited the magic powder and began to roast the fresh meat once there was flame. Saleen was the first man that she had fallen in love with. Even before she had the chance to confess to him, she already understood that this man would never belong to her. As a mage, there was no way she would share someone else with others.

Narnia’s character was not like Sika’s, where she could afford not to care about status and reputation.

It was still an incredible feeling when the man she loved said that he would guarantee her safety.

“Someone is coming!” Su whispered to Saleen.

“Caravans.” Aini pointed at the slope and said, “There is fountain water here. Big-scale caravans will not be able to bring along large supplies of potable water so they will usually set up camps at certain fixed locations.”

There was indeed a sighting of fountain water below this hill. If this was not the countryside of Qin, it would have become a place where beasts would gather, making it extremely dangerous.

Aini’s words soon came true. From a distance away, a gigantic caravan approached gradually. Saleen’s icy sight could not detect where the caravan ended.

Saleen looked at this caravan and suddenly sighed, “I finally understand why there are people that will choose to become bandits. There are so many wagons here, if they were robbed…”