Chapter 429 - 428: Lively

Chapter 429: Chapter 428: Lively

paused, then added, "It’s mainly just empty and cold, with nothing else there. Every time I go back, I just sleep. When I wake up, I come out to do business."

After speaking, it looked at Seraphina Sinclair pitifully. "Can I stay?"

With someone willing to stay and do chores, Seraphina Sinclair certainly had no reason to refuse.

was overjoyed to get a satisfactory answer. It pulled open a Lightgate, said it was going back to pack its things, and dove right in.

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t even have time to say anything.

She frowned, lowering the hand she had raised. Just as she sat back down at the stone table, intending to draw a few runes...

Another Lightgate lit up inside the mobile cabin.

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’Someone else? Why is it so busy today?’

’Has 001 come back already? Or is it Little Mushroom, stopping by again for some reason?’

Or... ’neither of them?’

As Seraphina Sinclair pondered, her gaze fell upon the Lightgate, waiting for the visitor to emerge.

But unexpectedly, it was as if the Lightgate itself was the guest. Seraphina Sinclair stared for a long time, but nothing came out of it.

She stood up, looked down to smooth out the slight wrinkles in her clothes, and when she looked up again, something was finally coming out of the Lightgate.

Except, this "something" wasn’t a living creature.

Watching a mountain of books painstakingly inch its way out of the Lightgate, Seraphina Sinclair finally understood what was happening.

’Squidward is here to deliver the books.’

’Then... is the flame stored away safely too?’

Seraphina Sinclair had initially found it amusing to watch the books inching out one by one, but after realizing she might get to see the flame, she suddenly found the sight of the books irritating.

Previously, Seraphina Sinclair hadn’t understood the flame’s use or rarity. Only after spending a few hours reading that book did she realize what a treasure she had stumbled upon.

It wasn’t an ordinary flame that could be lit by just anyone with just anything.

In the academic circles of The Black Mist World, it was called Source Fire—this was its only official name.

The origins of the four major professions were all inextricably linked to Source Fire.

Pharmacists used it to brew Potions, Rune Masters used it to burn rune paper, Sealing Masters used it to forge seals, and Engraving Masters used it to inscribe runes.

Without Source Fire, the four major professions would not exist. Without Source Fire, one could not become a Demigod.

This meant that if she could absorb this flame, her attribute points would soar, and the runes she drew would far surpass those created by ordinary Rune Masters.

The book referred to items made by a possessor of Source Fire as Source Fire Remnants.

Reading this, Seraphina Sinclair’s fingers gently traced the three words on the page.

Source Fire Remnant.

’Sounds pretty incredible.’

The book stated that items made by a possessor of Source Fire would carry a trace of its aura.

This trace of aura could raise an item’s quality by an entire level. A whole level!

If Seraphina Sinclair possessed Source Fire right now, the D-level runes in her hand would be gloriously promoted to C-level runes.

The power of C-level Talismans was, of course, self-evident.

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath, watching the books emerge from the Lightgate one by one.

She tried to hold back, but she couldn’t resist personally stepping in and hauling the books out herself.

Seraphina Sinclair moved quickly, so quickly that she couldn’t explain why she was in such a rush.

Perhaps the description in the book was too alluring, perhaps she was too eager to know the flame’s condition, or perhaps she just couldn’t stand how slowly Squidward was moving.

In any case, one book, two books, three books.

She rapidly moved the books away from the Lightgate, stacking them to one side.

The Lightgate was silent for a few seconds.

A familiar figure finally squeezed out. It was Squidward.

He looked the same as always, his tentacles that served as feet a tangled mess. His three eyes glanced at Seraphina Sinclair, then at the pile of books. He seemed to want to say something, but wary of the Door Key in Seraphina’s hand, he silently swallowed his words.

He brandished the object held in two of his tentacles toward Seraphina Sinclair, whose eyes immediately lit up.

The Undying Fire Lamp!

’This must be the Undying Fire Lamp!’

It was a small lamp, pitch-black all over, made of an unidentifiable material.

The body of the lamp was carved with intricate patterns, and a faint light seemed to flow within them. These patterns formed nine squares, and each square now held a flame, a tiny wisp only the size of a thumb.

But Seraphina Sinclair could see clearly that the flames were still burning.

None of these nine flames were ordinary, flickering fires. They were of various colors and burned silently, as if they had been burning since time immemorial, never once extinguished.

Squidward supported the Undying Fire Lamp with his tentacles and carefully placed it on the stone table. His three eyes looked at Seraphina Sinclair in unison, with a hint of seeking praise. "Valued guest, you see, the flame has been stored perfectly intact. This ninth slot is now yours from this day forward."

Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze followed the direction he indicated and landed on the ninth slot.

There, a golden flame burned quietly.

At the heart of the flame was a point of extremely pure, bright gold, so brilliant it was almost blinding.

This was her Source Fire, her Dragon Heart Golden Flame!

Seraphina Sinclair stared at it for a long time before finally looking away.

"Thank you."

Squidward waved his tentacles. "You are too kind, valued guest. It is our duty."

He paused, then added, "Also, these books are the ones we agreed upon last time—our restaurant’s precious collection. They are now yours.

As for processing the dragon... it is simply too large, and Chef 881 is unwilling to let anyone else interfere, so it will require some more time. Once he is finished, he will bring the prepared ingredients to you."

Seraphina Sinclair nodded, her eyes returning to the golden flame. "Can I touch it?"

Squidward’s tentacles stiffened slightly. Their restaurant had stored flames for many people, but Seraphina Sinclair was the first to make such a request.

’But still...’

’She is the one who obtained the Door Key, after all. There must be something special about her.’

Before Squidward came, the other Managers had specifically instructed him to accommodate Seraphina Sinclair’s requests as much as possible. He naturally had no reason to refuse such a harmless question.

"You may. Touching the body of the lamp is no problem, but it would be best not to touch the flame directly. Although it is yours, it does not recognize you yet. With your current strength, you will be burned by it."

Seraphina Sinclair reached out her hand, her fingertip gently landing on the body of the lamp.

The pitch-black lamp felt warm and smooth to the touch, like jade.

The intricate patterns beneath her fingertip grew faintly warm, as if coming alive.

And the golden flame in the ninth slot, as if sensing something, suddenly pulsed, as if in response to Seraphina Sinclair.

Immediately after, the cyan flame in the eighth slot, the crimson flame in the seventh slot, the deep blue flame in the sixth slot...