Chapter 225 Spellcasting Commission and Material Processing

"Mr. Xia Nan, I am s—so sorry!" Molly said, panting in the spacious meeting room.

Just three seconds earlier, Xia Nan had heard hurried footsteps approaching from the hallway. They abruptly slowed outside the door, and the young woman pushed it open gently, seemingly afraid of disturbing him.

A fine layer of sweat beaded on her pale skin, sticking her short blonde hair to her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Molly lowered her head slightly, her face full of apology.

"The alchemy shop on the second floor doesn't have any Purification Potions in stock. I asked the gentleman in charge of sales, and he said our Rivervale Town Adventurer Association is a bit remote, making restocking difficult. The sales volume for purification-related potions is also relatively poor—nowhere near as popular as products like Healing Potions and Resistance Potions."

"On top of that, there are no Lycanthrope tribes near the Misty Forest. We might not see a single Lycanthropy infection for years, so the corresponding Purification Potions were removed from the restocking list a long time ago."

Hearing this, Xia Nan felt disappointed, but his emotions didn't fluctuate much. After all, ever since he made the Lycanthrope investigation quest his goal, he had used his free time to browse the shop himself and found nothing.

He had just hoped that Molly, as an Association staff member, might know of some channels he didn't.

Now it seemed she was powerless to help as well.

"What about scrolls? Does the Association offer corresponding spell scrolls for exchange?" he asked.

"Yes, sir. We do."

Molly immediately looked up at his question, though a hint of hesitation lingered in her reply.

"Mr. Xia Nan, I checked everything for you," she said.

"For a spell scroll capable of completely and safely clearing the Lycanthropy curse without leaving any lingering issues, the most reasonably priced option in the Association is the 3rd Circle 'Remove Curse'."

"And the exact price?" Even though Molly's expression already suggested the number might be a bit steep, Xia Nan still harbored a sliver of hope as he asked.

"It is... 500 gold, sir."

"A single scroll recording the 'Remove Curse' spell requires 500 gold coins or the equivalent Points to exchange."

It wasn't a lot—it was just his entire current savings.

Oh, and he might still fall a dozen or so gold in debt.

After returning from Nym City, Xia Nan's little treasury had already hit rock bottom due to the final payment for the Bone-Bound Iron Greaves and the expenses of restocking gear like the Plate-Chain Composite Armor.

Later, he followed the Sea Thorn Squad on quests for a month and a half, finally managing to drag his savings back up to nearly five hundred gold.

Now, if a single scroll was going to wipe out his life savings, truthfully, Xia Nan was reluctant to part with the money.

He had, of course, understood the exorbitant prices of special consumables like magic scrolls beforehand, and he had even fantasized about buying a few to keep on him as trump cards once he became rich.

But now, being forced to spend hundreds of gold coins to buy a consumable item that would vanish after a single use truly made his heart ache.

Unaware of Xia Nan's inner thoughts, Molly simply explained the reason for her earlier hesitation.

"Mr. Xia Nan, I don't mean to offend, but I still want to give you a reminder." The blonde girl raised her head slightly, looking at Xia Nan with caution.

"Using a 'Remove Curse' magic scroll to purify Lycanthropy... might not be entirely worth it."

Molly's reminder was incredibly apt.

Due to its long history and terrifying infectivity, Lycanthropy was considered one of the most horrifying curses in the world. However, it had to be acknowledged that its incubation period was extremely long. Even ordinary people who had never received training could hold out for a long time if they had strong willpower, only succumbing to beastification at the very end.

Meanwhile, a "Remove Curse" scroll was often used during urgent, fierce combat to dispel and counter curses cast by enemies to control the user. It could be called a key item capable of turning the tide of battle.

Using it just to treat Lycanthropy was indeed somewhat of a waste.

On the other hand, on the Aifala Continent, due to various factors like crafting materials, the complexity of spell models, and the required reserves of magical knowledge, those mid-to-high circle spell scrolls could usually only be used by Spellcasters themselves.

However, when it came to scrolls recording 1st to 3rd Circle spells, most other Class Holders who lacked spellcasting abilities could still trigger and release them.

Because of this convenience and their excellent utility in combat, items like magic scrolls were far more expensive than consumables like potions.

Among them, the 3rd Circle Spell "Remove Curse" was part of the most expensive batch of scrolls in its tier due to its specialized nature.

Even veteran Adventurers who had worked in the field for years couldn't just casually pull out 500 gold.

According to Xia Nan's understanding, if he really wanted to exchange for this scroll, he should be able to use a ratio of "1 Point = 30 gold coins" to pay with a mix of Points and gold, allowing him to retain a portion of his savings and avoid going completely bankrupt.

But currently, completing Association commissions was the only way to obtain Points. They could also be used to exchange for various items and tools that couldn't be bought on the open market at all, including professional combat techniques, secret intelligence, and Rare materials. Their true value was much higher.

Xia Nan also wanted to save up more Points to exchange for the combat techniques he would need for his future class advancement.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to touch the meager amount of Points currently sitting in his Association account.

Regarding this, Molly also proposed a few other solutions:

The first option was to wait for the alchemy shop to restock from their headquarters.

In fact, because of the Lycanthrope tracks that recently appeared near the forest, the chief alchemist stationed at the Rivervale Town Association Branch had already added Purification Potions to the next restocking list a few days ago.

Once they arrived, with Xia Nan's discount as a Class Holder, the price shouldn't be too expensive. It was estimated to be less than half the cost of the Remove Curse scroll, something an ordinary Adventurer could barely afford.

But the downside was that it required a long wait. The goods might not even arrive before Midsummer.

The second option was to commission the Alchemists Association directly.

This was highly efficient and fast.

Of course, the prerequisite was having the gold coins ready.

Moreover, the vast majority of alchemists wouldn't accept an order for just one or two bottles of a potion at this level. They generally worked in batches. Adding it all up, the price would be even more expensive than a magic scroll.

As for the final option—

It was to post a commission on the second floor, hiring a Spellcaster who had mastered the relevant spell to remove the curse for Xia Nan.

This method was the cheapest and the fastest to show results.

The catch was that it required a bit of luck to bump into a suitable mage who was either short on money or had time to spare.

Beyond that, if there really was no other way, he could take a trip to Nym and seek help from the Clerics at the Moon Goddess Church there.

According to the teachings of the "Maiden of the Moon," they might even clear the curse for Xia Nan completely free of charge.

It was just that the journey would take more than half a month, which was too long. And if things didn't go as expected, it would take another ten to twenty days to return, posing a risk of the Lycanthropy breaking out.

That could only be treated as a last resort.

To sum it up, Xia Nan really only had two choices.

Spend money, or spend time.

"Tell you what, put up a commission for me to find a Spellcaster who has mastered 'Remove Curse' type spells. Set the duration for... seven days," Xia Nan instructed Molly.

If, after seven days, he still hadn't found an affordable method to purify the curse, he would just bite the bullet, stop dragging things out, and buy the scroll directly for five hundred gold coins.

This amount of money did seem like a lot, but if he was a bit lucky, he could earn it back in a few months without needing to go into debt.

And considering that Buck had been infected with Lycanthropy during the Hunting Day, and it still took a while after he returned to Nym before the curse finally broke out.

There were definitely dozens of days between those two events.

Moreover, the onset of Lycanthropy was inherently a gradual process. He hadn't even felt any whispers or inexplicable bestial desires yet, so he was clearly still in the initial stages.

With his physical fitness and mental resilience as a Class Holder, he would only be stronger than Buck, never weaker. It was only seven days; he could completely afford to wait.

"Sigh, gold coins..." Xia Nan murmured as he walked along the crowded streets after saying goodbye to Molly.

His dark eyes swept over several Adventurers by the side of the road. Seemingly having just returned from an adventure as well, every member of this four-person squad was slightly injured, with blood-soaked bandages wrapped around various parts of their bodies.

Right now, they were carefully sharing a freshly bought Healing Potion, each taking a sip and passing the bottle around.

Seeing this, a thought sparked in Xia Nan's mind.

If he really wanted to make money, his newly acquired Tears of Spring Breath might be a way.

The three daily uses of "Lesser Healing" certainly weren't as good as a Healing Potion, but for relatively ordinary injuries, the effects were still quite impressive.

He estimated that if he set the price at 15 to 20 gold coins per cast, there would definitely be Adventurers willing to pay.

That way, he could earn up to forty-five gold in a single day.

In half a month, he would have made back enough gold for a magic scroll.

The more he pondered it, the brighter his eyes became.

Xia Nan even felt eager to give it a try, as if a path to fortune lay right in front of him.

Suddenly, he thought of something else, and his train of thought ground to a halt.

He shook his head imperceptibly.

"No, the risk is too great," he murmured.

Wealth moved people's hearts. He was just an ordinary Level 15 Class Holder, yet he had suddenly grasped such an incredible ability, one akin to a "money-making machine."

Leaving aside the big shots, among the thousands of Adventurers living on the edge of a blade in Rivervale Town alone, those squad organizations with Transcendent Tier strength would absolutely not sit still.

No, even if they were of the same tier, as long as a slightly larger group came, he wouldn't be able to handle it at all.

Until he possessed absolute strength or a backing patron, it was better to dispel such thoughts. He could only use it for himself.

Otherwise, he would only repeat what happened in the forest outside Nym City, where the Greysword adventure group ambushed him for his Bone-Bound Iron Greaves.

Of course, he could still use it to make some money from acquaintances.

For example, the three members of the Sea Thorn Squad who were currently recovering from their injuries.

The "Spring Pulse Cleansing" on the Tears of Spring Breath was a Fourth Circle Spell. In a short period, it even possessed the mighty power to regenerate severed limbs.

Used on the three of them, it would definitely cure them instantly.

But similarly, the possibility of exposure still existed.

Even if it was just a rechargeable piece of equipment, it was still enough to make people jealous.

"I'll wait a bit longer," he decided.

Currently, Cash and the others' injuries were steadily improving, so they didn't need this kind of high-tier spell for now. If there really was an emergency, it wouldn't be too late to use it then.

Casting aside his thoughts, Xia Nan kept walking. It wasn't long before he arrived at a familiar intersection.

Looking down the street, the doorframe of the Green Grass Crucible shop was a bit dilapidated, but the wind chimes hanging at the entrance still rang crisply.

"Lady Edwina, I've come to turn in my previous commission."

Stepping into the shop, Xia Nan immediately spotted the halfling proprietress mixing potions behind the counter and called out.

"Oh? It's Xia Nan." Hearing this, Edwina, wearing her Rimless Glasses, looked up. Seeing it was Xia Nan, a smile appeared on her face. "It seems your trip to the forest this time went rather smoothly. Not only did you return in one piece, but you also got your hands on the commissioned materials."

"Thanks to the information you provided, Lady Edwina, along with that bottle of beast-repellent powder. Otherwise, I really might not have been able to find that place," Xia Nan smiled modestly, taking out a few large cloth sacks he had prepared in advance from his storage space and gently placing them on the counter.

"Here are the firefly garlic vines you needed. Twenty-three stalks in total, please count them."

Edwina set down the glass bottle in her hand, wiped her hands, and untied the sacks.

A pungent garlic smell mixed with the earthy fragrance of soil instantly spread out, but as an alchemist, she acted as if she couldn't smell it at all. Instead, a look of satisfaction appeared on her face.

"Very good. The vitality has been preserved exceptionally well. It seems you were very careful when harvesting them."

Edwina inspected them carefully and nodded. She then reached out with her chubby little hands and flicked the beads on a nearby abacus a few times.

"According to our previous agreement, one stalk of firefly garlic vine is two silver coins, so twenty-three stalks makes forty-six silver."

"Also, since you overcompleted the commission, I can't be stingy either. I won't charge you for that intel and beast-repellent powder from before, and I'll personally throw in an extra gold coin to round it up."

With that, she counted out five shining gold coins and six silver coins from the cash box under the counter and pushed them in front of Xia Nan.

"Then thank you very much, Lady Edwina," Xia Nan said.

Even though it was just a one-gold bonus, Xia Nan accepted it with great appreciation.

For him, with his wallet currently so deflated, even one extra gold coin was a good thing.

With the transaction successfully completed, Xia Nan didn't linger. After a few brief pleasantries, he left the Green Grass Crucible.

Watching Xia Nan's departing back, Edwina pushed the Rimless Glasses up the bridge of her nose, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.

"This kid... the aura around him has grown much stronger. It looks like his harvest from this trip to the forest was definitely more than just these firefly garlic vines," she murmured.

As an experienced alchemist, her perception of scents far exceeded that of ordinary people. Even though Xia Nan had deliberately concealed it, that faint, lingering bloody scent belonging to a powerful monster still hadn't escaped her nose.

"And that obscure aura, somewhat similar to the abyss... interesting," she mused.

The corners of Edwina's mouth curled into an amused smile. She then turned around and continued fiddling with the bottles and jars on the counter.

On the other side, Xia Nan didn't head straight back to the tavern after leaving the potion shop. Instead, he turned into a secluded alleyway.

He still had some matters to attend to.

During this journey in the Misty Forest, he had killed quite a few monsters. Aside from the proof needed to submit quests and those firefly garlic vines, he had actually collected a messy assortment of other materials.

Such as hobgoblin hide, poison sacs from certain venomous insects, and—a few associated ores.

Although the Adventurers' Association also purchased these things, they usually pushed the prices very low.

To sell them for a good price, he had to go to the black market or find merchants who specialized in this kind of fringe business.

After several twists and turns, Xia Nan arrived in front of a dilapidated house that didn't even have a signboard.

Rap, rap, rap—

He knocked on the wooden door to a specific rhythm.

A moment later, a pair of bloodshot eyes peered out through the crack in the door.

"Who is it?" a hoarse voice rasped from behind the door.

"Sea Thorn," Xia Nan answered, giving the squad's name.

The door creaked halfway open, revealing a scrawny older man.

He looked Xia Nan up and down before stepping aside to clear the way.

The light inside the room was dim, and the air was filled with a strange smell—a mix of spices, blood, and some unknown grease.

"Long time no see, Greysword. I heard your squad ran into major trouble recently?" The old man walked behind a desk piled high with clutter and lit a pipe for himself.

"Just bad luck," Xia Nan replied, not wanting to dwell on the topic, and tossed a few small packages onto the table.

"Take a look at these. What kind of price can you offer?"

The old man puffed out a cloud of blue smoke and unhurriedly untied the packages.

When he saw the few associated ores, a sharp gleam suddenly erupted from his cloudy eyes.

"This is... void residue from a Phase Spider's nest?!"

The old man's voice became a bit shrill with excitement, not even bothering to pick up the pipe that dropped onto the table.

Xia Nan's heart skipped a beat, but outwardly, he remained impassive. "You recognize this stuff? How much is it worth?"

In truth, he himself didn't know what it was. He had just casually pried it from the nest after killing the Phase Spider.

The old man took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the excitement in his heart, and picked up his pipe again, taking a deep drag.

"Greysword, oh, Greysword. You've hit the jackpot this time."

With his withered, branch-like fingers, he gently stroked the gray, dusty stones as if he were caressing peerless treasures.

"To those Spellcasters who delve into spatial magic, this stuff is an invaluable treasure."

"I'll offer one hundred and fifty gold!" The old man gritted his teeth and quoted a number.

Xia Nan secretly rejoiced, but a faint sneer of disdain appeared on his face.

"Old man, are you trying to dismiss a beggar? Since it's an invaluable treasure, you're only offering a hundred and fifty gold? It seems I'd be better off going to Nym City and asking a major trading company."

With that, Xia Nan made a show of packing up the bundle.

"Wait! Wait!"

The old man hurriedly pressed down on Xia Nan's hand, sweating profusely in anxiety.

"Two hundred gold! That's the absolute highest I can go! You know as well as I do that I'm taking a huge risk with this. If the Association finds out, my old bones will be buried right here."

Xia Nan stared into the old man's eyes for quite a while until the other party guiltily averted his gaze, and only then did he slowly release his grip.

"Deal. Plus these poison sacs and hides—two hundred and twenty gold in total."

The old man breathed a sigh of relief. Although his heart ached for the two hundred-plus gold coins, compared to the potential profits these void residues would bring, this bit of money was nothing at all.

After quickly completing the transaction, Xia Nan left the black market thoroughly satisfied, clutching the heavy coin pouch.

With this unexpected windfall, he had just about gathered enough money to buy the 'Remove Curse' scroll.

Even without taking on any commissions, he could resolve the hidden danger of his Lycanthropy.

"Mr. Xia Nan, I'm v-very sorry!" Molly panted in the spacious meeting room.

Just three seconds ago, Xia Nan had heard hurried footsteps outside the door. They abruptly slowed as they approached, and the young woman gently pushed the door open, seemingly afraid of disturbing him.

Her short blonde hair clung to her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, damp with fine sweat that had beaded on her pale skin. Molly kept her head slightly bowed, her face full of apology.

"The alchemist shop on the second floor doesn't have any Purification Potions in stock. I asked the gentleman in charge of sales, and he said our Rivervale Town Adventurer Association is relatively remote, making restocking difficult. Furthermore, sales of potions related to Purification Potions are quite poor—nowhere near as popular as Healing Potions or Resistance Potions," she explained.

"On top of that, there are no Lycanthrope communities near the Misty Forest, and we rarely see even a single case of Lycanthropy infection in years. Because of this, the corresponding Purification Potions were removed from the restocking list many years ago."

Hearing this, Xia Nan felt disappointed, but his emotions didn't fluctuate much. After all, ever since he had set the Lycanthrope investigation quest as his goal, he had used his free time to search the shop himself and found nothing.

He had just been hoping that Molly, as an Association staff member, might know of some channels he didn't.

Now, it seemed she was equally powerless.

"What about scrolls? Does the Association offer exchanges for the corresponding magic scrolls?" Xia Nan asked.

"Yes, sir, we do," Molly immediately raised her head at his question, but a hint of hesitation crept into her voice.

"Mr. Xia Nan, I checked everything for you."

"For a magic scroll that can completely and safely remove the Lycanthropy curse without any lingering side effects, the most reasonably priced option in the Association is the 3rd Circle spell, 'Remove Curse'."

"What's the exact price?" Xia Nan asked, clinging to a sliver of hope, even though he could already tell from Molly's expression that the number might be a bit steep.

"F—500 gold, sir."

"A single scroll containing the 'Remove Curse' spell requires 500 gold coins, or the equivalent in Points, to exchange."

It wasn't a lot—it was just his entire life savings.

Oh, and he might even end up in debt by a dozen or so gold.

After returning from Nym, paying the final balance for the Bone-Bound Iron Greaves and the expenses for his Plate-Chain Composite Armor and other supplies had nearly emptied Xia Nan's little treasury.

Only after doing quests with the Sea Thorn Squad for a month and a half had he painstakingly managed to drag his savings back up to nearly five hundred gold.

Right now, if a single scroll was going to wipe out all his savings, to be honest, Xia Nan was reluctant to part with the money.

Before this, he had naturally understood the exorbitant prices of special consumables like magic scrolls, and had even fantasized about buying a few to keep as trump cards once he was rich.

But now, having to actually cough up several hundred gold coins to buy a consumable item that would vanish after a single use pained him far too much.

Unaware of Xia Nan's internal struggle, Molly simply explained why she had seemed so hesitant.

"Mr. Xia Nan, I don't mean to offend, but I still want to remind you," the blonde young woman said, lifting her head slightly to look at him with caution.

"Using a 'Remove Curse' magic scroll to purify Lycanthropy... might not be entirely worth it."

Molly's reminder hit the nail on the head.

Although Lycanthropy was considered one of the most terrifying curses in the world due to its long history and extreme infectiousness, it had to be admitted that its incubation period was exceptionally long. Even ordinary people who had never received any training could hold out for quite a while if they had strong willpower, only transforming at the very end.

On the other hand, a "Remove Curse" scroll was often used during intense, urgent battles to neutralize and counter curses applied by enemies to control them. It could safely be called a crucial, tide-turning item.

To simply use it to cure Lycanthropy was indeed somewhat of a waste.

Furthermore, on the Aifala Continent, due to various factors like crafting materials, the complexity of spell models, and the required reserves of magical knowledge, mid-to-high circle magic scrolls could usually only be used by Spellcasters themselves.

However, when it came to scrolls recording 1st to 3rd Circle spells, most other Class Holders who lacked spellcasting abilities could still trigger and release them.

Because of this convenience and their excellent utility in combat, items like magic scrolls were far more expensive than consumables like potions.

Among them, the 3rd Circle spell "Remove Curse," due to its unique nature, was in the highest price bracket for scrolls of its tier.

500 gold. Even veteran Adventurers with years of experience couldn't just casually pull that out.

Although according to Xia Nan's understanding, if he really wanted to exchange for this scroll, he could choose the "1 Point = 30 gold coins" conversion rate. By using a mix of Points and gold, he could keep some of his savings and avoid going completely bankrupt.

However, completing Association commissions was currently the only way to earn Points, and they could be used to exchange for Class combat techniques, secret intelligence, Rare materials, and other items that couldn't be bought on the market at all. Their actual value was much higher.

Xia Nan also wanted to save up more Points to exchange for the combat techniques he would need for his future tier advancement.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to touch the meager amount of Points currently sitting in his Association account.

In light of this, Molly also proposed a few other solutions:

The first was to wait for the alchemist shop to restock from their headquarters.

In fact, because of the Lycanthrope tracks recently discovered near the forest, the head alchemist stationed at the Rivervale Town Association Branch had already added Purification Potions to the next restocking list a few days ago.

Once they arrived, with Xia Nan's Class Holder discount, the price shouldn't be too expensive. It was estimated to be less than half the price of the Remove Curse scroll, something an ordinary Adventurer could barely afford.

The downside was that it required a long wait. The goods might not even arrive before Midsummer.

The second was to order a custom batch directly from the Alchemists Association.

It was highly efficient and fast.

Of course, the prerequisite was having enough gold coins.

Moreover, the vast majority of alchemists wouldn't accept an order for just one or two potions of this caliber; they almost exclusively worked in batches. Adding it all up, the price would be much more expensive than even a magic scroll.

As for the final option—

It was to post a commission on the second floor, hiring a Spellcaster who knew the relevant spell to remove the curse for him.

This method was the cheapest and fastest.

The catch was that it required a bit of luck to happen upon a suitable mage who was either short on money or had time to spare.

Beyond these, if he truly had no other choice, he could make a trip to Nym and seek help from the Clerics at the Moon Goddess Church.

According to the teachings of the "Maiden of the Moon," they might even clear Xia Nan's curse for free.

However, the journey there would take more than half a month. It took too long, and if things didn't go as planned, the return trip would take another ten or twenty days, risking a Lycanthropy flare-up.

It could only serve as a last resort.

To sum it up, Xia Nan actually only had two choices.

Spend money, or spend time.

"How about this: help me post a commission looking for a Spellcaster who knows 'Remove Curse' or similar spells. Set the duration for—seven days," Xia Nan instructed Molly after thinking for a moment.

If, after seven days, he still hadn't found an affordable way to purify the curse, he would just bite the bullet, stop dragging it out, and buy the scroll for five hundred gold coins outright.

This amount of money certainly seemed like a lot, but with a bit of luck, he could earn it back in a few months without going into debt.

And considering that Buck had been infected with Lycanthropy on Hunting Day, and it still took a while after he returned to Nym before the curse finally flared up...

Dozens of days had definitely passed in between.

Moreover, the onset of Lycanthropy was a continuous process. Right now, he hadn't even heard the whispers or felt the inexplicable bestial urges; he was clearly still in the initial stages.

With his physical fitness and mental resilience as a Class Holder, he was only stronger than Buck, not weaker. It was only seven days; he could completely afford to wait.

'Sigh, gold coins...' Xia Nan sighed internally as he bid Molly farewell and walked out onto the bustling street.

His dark eyes swept over several Adventurers by the roadside. They seemed to have just returned from an adventure as well; every member of the four-person squad was nursing minor injuries, with blood-seeping bandages wrapped around various parts of their bodies.

Right now, they were carefully sharing a freshly bought Healing Potion, each taking a sip and passing the bottle around.

Seeing this, Xia Nan couldn't help but get an idea.

If he really wanted to make money, his newly acquired Tears of Spring Breath might be a way.

Three daily casts of "Lesser Healing" certainly couldn't compare to a Healing Potion, but for relatively ordinary wounds, the effect was still quite good.

He estimated that if he charged 15 to 20 gold coins per cast, there would definitely be Adventurers willing to pay.

That way, he could earn forty-five gold in just a single day.

In half a month, the gold for a magic scroll would be made back.

The more he thought about it, the brighter his eyes shone.

Xia Nan even felt eager to give it a try, as if a path to sudden wealth was lying right in front of him.

But then something else occurred to him, making him pause.

He shook his head imperceptibly.

"No, the risk is too great."

He had a bit of a reputation in Rivervale Town; a little digging would reveal that "Greysword" was a melee swordsman, and he had never displayed any healing abilities before.

To suddenly start playing healer would inevitably be abrupt, making it easy for people to realize he was using an equipment effect to heal others.

Tears of Spring Breath was absolutely top-tier, even among blue-grade gear. If put on the market, it would sell not just for four figures, but perhaps even five.

A Fourth Circle Spell like "Spring Pulse Cleansing Heal" that could be used once a week wouldn't lack appeal, even to Transcendent Tier powerhouses. If, for a mere five hundred gold coins, he let observant people spot the clues and brought trouble upon himself, it would be a classic case of penny-wise and pound-foolish. The loss would far outweigh the gain.

It was better to honestly keep it close to his body and use it as a trump card.

He pondered over ways to make money.

Before he knew it, Xia Nan found himself standing in front of an exquisite little wooden cabin. Its outer walls and eaves were heavily decorated with creeping vines and green plants, making it look like a giant bush from a distance.

The roadside signboard clearly bore the words "Green Grass Crucible."

Pushing the door open and stepping inside, the unique, fresh fragrance of herbs flooded his nostrils with every breath, instinctively lifting his spirits.

Behind a dark brown counter laden with colorful bottles and jars, a gentle, slightly plump woman with long curly hair and Rimless Glasses was looking at him with a smile.

"Xia Nan?" The shop owner, Lady Edwina, let her gaze sweep over the claw marks on the front of his armor. Her tone carried a hint of surprise. "It seems your latest quest wasn't a walk in the park, was it?"

Since transmigrating, he had been living in Rivervale Town for nearly a year. While he couldn't say he was close friends with the owners of the shops he frequented, they were at least familiar enough to call each other by name.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Edwina, Xia Nan took a few small jars from his belt pouch and handed them over.

These were suspected poisons he had looted from Veris's corpse.

"Hmm... a small jar of bat blood, seemingly eroded by negative energy, mixed with some corrupted steel dust unique to the Underdark."

"These two bottles should be a mixture of phosphorescent Myconid spore powder and gray dwarf furnace slag, laced with a few drops of Phase Spider venom."

Her glasses glinted slightly in the warm light of the cabin as Edwina carefully examined the small jars in her hands.

"How do you want to handle these?" she asked.

"If you're looking to sell, I can offer you a slightly better price than the market rate."

"If you want to use them yourself, that's fine too. We're acquaintances, so I won't charge you an appraisal fee. Just smear the poison from the jars onto your blade, but remember to clean it off promptly. If used for prolonged periods, the negative energy in the poison might affect your weapon's sharpness."

"How much for them?" Xia Nan decisively asked for a price upon hearing that using them might negatively impact his weapon.

"21 gold, how about it?"

"Deal."

Having done quite a bit of business with this gentle, liquor-loving lady before, he knew her quotes were relatively fair with little room for haggling, so Xia Nan didn't waste his breath.

Instead, he reached into his pouch again and pulled out an oval item that resembled an eyeball.

It also came from the Half-Drow Veris. It was the very mind-control item she had used as a trump card to launch a surprise attack on him, which had in turn accidentally triggered the counter-effect of his [Gaze into the Abyss].

One could clearly see a look of pleasant surprise flash across Edwina's face the moment Xia Nan pulled the eye from his bag.

After getting his permission, she took the eye and inspected it meticulously.

Then, her initially surprised expression gradually cooled, and a trace of regret appeared in her eyes behind the lenses.

"This should be a special item crafted from the tentacle compound eye of a [Spectator Beholder], a dangerous monster from the Underdark."

"Under normal circumstances, it should hold enough controlling gaze charges for three or four uses."

"Unfortunately, the eye you brought is completely out of charges. As a one-time consumable, there's no way to recharge it, either."

"And since it has already been processed, its value as a monster material has greatly decreased."

"If you plan to sell it... I can offer 32 gold at most."

Green Grass Crucible was listed in the Adventure Manual and was a highly reputable shop in town, deeply trusted by countless Adventurers.

She wouldn't ruin her own reputation over such a paltry sum.

Right now, this item made from a Spectator Beholder's eye had lost all its reusable value. Keeping it on him was useless, so selling it for gold coins was naturally the best choice.

He nodded, closing the deal.

Another thirty-two gold coins in hand.

That made 53 gold in total. Added to his savings in the bank, it was just enough to exchange for a magic scroll containing "Remove Curse."

Beyond that, he still had three pieces of equipment left to process, including the Tide-Surge Lure Pole.

He hoped to get a good return on them.