Chapter 99: Vadira’s Letter

His eyes suddenly fell on Vadira’s pouch.

He took it and pulled out all the things inside.

Many green, red, and golden stones spread out from the pouch. They were translucent with color.

Moon took one in his hand in confusion.

[They are Sikimon stones.]

Moon was amazed.

He had never seen this Sikimon stone. He saw Siki, which were coin-like stones. But definitely not like this one.

[They are pure Sikimon stones. Many people call them Sikimon hearts. They are 100 times more valuable than the ones outside. The outside Siki is made from this stone. So when they transfer a huge amount, they basically give Sikimon stones, not Siki.]

Moon rubbed the stone.

Then he looked at the colors, similar to his pills, and had some idea of what it could be.

"So they are low, mid, and high grade? Like spirit stones?"

[Hm. They are. Green is low, red is mid, and gold is high.]

Moon put them inside his storage and checked the rest of the pouch’s contents against the boulder.

Since he was sorting out his inventory, he wanted to see everything clearly.

Beside the Sikimon, there was a black token.

It had nothing on the surface design. Only the name, "The Citadel of Phantoms," was etched into the back with silver lines.

Moon raised his brows. "A token for the academy?"

[Ah, that’s indeed a recommendation for The Citadel of Phantoms!]

"Why did he send it? Does he want Marina to enter the academy? But she is wolfless."

[The Citadel of Phantoms doesn’t recruit through spirit tests. They only take students either directly by any master or by recommendation. It’s very secretive.]

Moon tucked it away and pulled the next item from the pile.

It was a strange, ancient beast-skin parchment with a small, jade key tied to the corner.

The map on the parchment didn’t show Malong City or the Black Sea, but another secret realm, ’The Abyss Secret Realm.’

A small, folded note dropped out from the map.

Moon unfolded it.

The hasty handwriting was definitely from Vadira. Moon had seen it before.

’Moon, the great witch, or should I say an Immortal, the great calamity upon Monalis Celestia?

Whatever you are, only you can help me at this point.

Hide Marina for me.

Not for eternity, but until she reaches adulthood.

She can protect herself by then. The token is something she needs. But the map is for you.

Trust me, this map and key can evoke fights among the packs.

So you understand how precious this is?

If it’s not enough to exchange for your help, I also promise you three requests.’

Moon’s fingers tightened around the note. This didn’t sound like hiding a wolfless little girl at all.

Vadira could be a traitor and be slaughtered with his whole family, but Moon felt like there was something else he could not pinpoint.

He kept reading the next part.

’Don’t give her to her mother.’

Moon’s brows twitched hard. This is exactly what he had planned.

This Vadira may have guessed earlier.

’Her mother’s wolf was destroyed and sealed from giving birth to her; they can’t co-exist.’

Moon’s brows furrowed. He didn’t expect this at all.

’Maggi may still want to keep her, but don’t let her. It will only bring her death closer. This is my request. I trust you not because you are reliable, but because we both are the same.

An extraterritorial being, the great calamity upon Monalis Celestia.’

The letter ended.

And Moon sat frozen.

The last line was a huge blow for him.

An extraterritorial being?

Vadira?

No way.

He never sensed Qi or a familiar aura.

He looked at the Moon Goddess, who silently vanished into the air.

And Moon knew this was also included in her "not enough XP" category questions.

Suddenly, he felt a lump in his throat.

He had left Marina in the courtyard. Although there were people, she was still unguarded. And if she had something related to the extraterritorial, then she could be in danger at any moment.

But he needed to settle down and also think about his next move.

First of all, he needed to raise his power.

He took a deep breath to calm his mind. Then he started to sort out the other things. The beast cores, all the Siki, leach, stones, and herbs; he sorted them out one by one.

He didn’t touch the chest the brothers left with him. But he knew there were also many valuable things. But for now, he has enough spirit stones from the Lupine Palace that he could use.

He doesn’t need to touch his mother-in-law’s possessions yet.

When sorting out things, Moon’s mind wandered around. Since Emma has a spirit stone, is she also considered extraterritorial? But she is a wolf. She gave birth to five scum bug wolves!

When he finished sorting, it was already dusk.

Moon felt hungry, but it was such a waste of time to go eat.

Moon thought for a moment, then took out his black cauldron.

Using an Earth-grade cauldron to practice seems like too much of a waste, so he refrained from using his bronze cauldron.

Then he took out the ingredients to refine some fasting pills.

This was a low-level pill. It can be of mortal grade and gradually rise to a high level.

Perfect for his practice.

Before, when the packs were chasing them down like wild dogs, he was in a hurry and directly refined the poison removal pill just to save their lives.

He didn’t have the time to build his foundation. But now, he wants to do the basics.

His soul power was still that of a mortal grade, and he couldn’t keep running like this. He needed to focus on his own progress.

He looked at the withered lilies and sighed. Next time, he must take all the lilies inside his storage.

With a soft flick of his finger, a tiny amber fire spark flew out from his tip, glowing with a mix of orange and emerald green.

The spark entered the cauldron’s heating chamber, making the lines along its belly hum with a low warmth.

Moon looked at the amber fire and Leo, who was currently sitting on a branch and leisurely flicking his tail, as a deep sigh left his throat again.

Moon was not a passionate type, but now that he needed essence, he felt like he was becoming outrageous and lewd.

His ears burned with shame, and he looked away.

’What was I even thinking!’

[Thinking when he will grow up.]

This time the voice was not from the goddess, but Lupine.

"Ugh!" Moon jolted on the spot.

"Why are you peeking at my thoughts? That’s unethical."

Lupine flew out. ’I was not peeking at your thoughts. You are saying them aloud in your mind.’

"Really?"

"Yes, try not to say them aloud."

Moon didn’t really know how he could not utter things in his mind.

Looking at his foolish, exasperated face, Lupine chuckled, "Block your mind."

"Hmm."

Moon now knew what he meant. But thinking, and every time making sure it was not thinking aloud, was really tough work.

He ignored Lupine and looked at the ingredients he got from his mother’s storage.

He still needed to research this world’s herbs.

So, he would start with his mother’s herbs.

For a mortal-grade fasting pill, the ingredients were simple: dried grain grass, sweet roots, and a single seed of a sun-withered date.

They were low-level, mortal-grade.

With a gentle nudge, he sparked the fire, heating the cauldron. His hands made a seal and controlled the heat within it. Then he threw the grain grass inside.

Sizzle.