Chapter 1263 Manuscripts <TOC> Chapter 1265 Stargazer of Mysteries
Next page password is bold portion: Dr-zu6hOchu
Translator: SumTLMan
As Sanders and Nisi were engrossed in their dialogue, the conversation abruptly paused when the door opened, revealing Angel stepping out.
Nisi quirked an eyebrow, gazing at the slim volume in Angel’s grasp. “It seems you’ve made a choice,” he remarked.
Nodding, Angel responded, “Indeed.” The book meticulously detailed the nurturing methods of certain mysterious magic insects. Softworms fall under the terrestrial insect category, a subgroup related to invertebrate creatures. Angel hoped to find related topics and subcategories within.
“What are you looking to find?” Nisi probed.
After a contemplative pause, Angel admitted, “There’s a wealth of knowledge in this volume I’d love to uncover. To be frank, not just this, but the contents of other books arouse my curiosity as well.” Yet, Angel also grasped the invaluable nature of knowledge. For Nisi to share such a rare legendary archive was already a gift. Being overly greedy could likely draw ire.
With that in mind, Angel curbed his desires, requesting, “I’d like to see from the bottom half of the eighteenth page to the top half of the nineteenth page. Specifically, the section on invertebrate creatures.”
A mere page in its entirety.
After hearing the request, a glint passed through Nisi’s eyes. Sharing a knowing look with Sanders, he finally nodded. “Given our rapport with Sanders, it’s yours for a thousand magic crystals. Do you agree?”
Was a thousand magic crystals steep? Absolutely. For many, including some formal wizards, such a sum wasn’t trivial.
However, to acquire a page from a legendary wizard’s manuscript for a thousand magic crystals felt like a steal! Angel had even braced for a price in the tens of thousands. Though that would have stung, the manuscript’s value justified it.
“Agreed,” Angel responded without hesitation. A thousand magic crystals for this page seemed an irresistible bargain, even if it didn’t specifically address the Softworm nurturing method.
After completing the transaction through a bone card, a mysterious glow flashed across Nisi’s hand as he unfurled the book to the specified page, unsealing the requested content.
Once the book was returned, Angel promptly delved in. He had initially presumed that the information on a single page might be concise, perhaps lacking the details on Softworm cultivation.
But upon closer inspection, the page held a trove of knowledge beyond imagination.
It wasn’t mere words that conveyed the information but rather an unknown method that, through the intricate patterns on the page, poured a vast amount of data directly into one’s mind. If transcribed traditionally, the insights from this single page could fill over a hundred.
By the time Angel had absorbed the flood of knowledge, he found himself outside Soul Valley, alongside Sanders.
With the meticulousness of a clockwork mechanism, Angel steered the Gondola with some initial disorientation. It wasn’t until the brisk wind from the heights brushed against him that the fog in his mind began to clear, giving way to coherent thoughts.
“How goes it? Found the nurturing method for the Morphing Softworm?” inquired Sanders, only after ensuring Angel’s eyes were regaining their spark.
Taking a moment to sift through the influx of information that had recently bombarded his mind, Angel responded, “There wasn’t anything specifically about cultivating the Morphing Softworm. However, it did mention ways to Enhance the Probability of the Worm Mother hatching specialized species.”
Sanders didn’t delve into the specifics, satisfied that Angel had achieved something. If they could harness this knowledge to nurture the Morphing Softworm, it would be groundbreaking. After all, shape-shifting is one of the fundamental spells every wizard should master.
“If we can learn the shape-shifting spell by grafting the skin of this Softworm, it would save us an immense amount of time, which could then be utilized in the exploration of other spells and theories,” mused Sanders.
However, compared to other revelations Angel brought, like the Wilderness of Dreams, this seemed almost trivial. As such, Sanders maintained his stoic demeanor.
“The details inside are invaluable. While the Dreamweaver Ant is a variable, it isn’t the only one. Solely relying on it to stimulate the Worm Mother might not guarantee success,” Angel excitedly babbled, listing several magical materials and insects which could affect the Worm Mother’s egg-laying process.
“This venture would’ve been impossible without the guidance of Mentor. Without you, I’d be completely lost regarding the Softworm’s cultivation. And, I doubt Lord Nisi would’ve offered such a humble price of a thousand magic crystals,” Angel added, a touch of gratitude in his voice.
However, Sanders’ face bore a curious expression. Nisi had confided in Sanders earlier: if Angel chose ten pages or less, the cost would range from ten thousand to a hundred thousand magic crystals. If it exceeded ten pages, Nisi wouldn’t deal with Angel due to the overwhelming flow of information.
Sanders had later posed a question, “What if he chooses just one page?”
Nisi hadn’t believed that Angel would limit himself to a single page, given the vast knowledge within those manuscripts, much of which was esoteric and hard to come by elsewhere.
“If he chooses just one page, I’ll charge only a thousand magic crystals. Moreover, I can continue offering him knowledge trade from those books in the future.”
As it turned out, Nisi had miscalculated.
It wasn’t that Angel lacked ambition; he was acutely aware of his own boundaries. He understood that in varying contexts, one’s desires should have constraints.
Sanders chose not to enlighten Angel about Nisi’s pricing strategy. He only cautioned him, “If you ever think of borrowing those books from Nisi again, be prepared with at least ten thousand magic crystals in hand.”
With a nod, Angel perceived that Nisi’s genuine valuation might indeed be ten thousand magic crystals. Though a bit steep, the knowledge within those books truly bore immense worth. Perhaps, when funds are more abundant in the future, Angel could entertain the idea of striking a deal with Nisi.
What Angel remained unaware of was that his choice on this occasion paved the way for future dealings with Nisi. A shade more greed might have shut down all subsequent transactions.
The Gondola swiftly neared the Eternal Tree. At that juncture, Sanders beckoned Angel to momentarily halt.
“I need to make a brief sojourn to Star Island and seek counsel with Maya,” having imparted this, Sanders nodded towards Angel, subsequently pivoting to soar towards the direction of Star Island.
Once Sanders had taken his leave, Angel originally intended to return to Phantom Island. However, after a moment’s contemplation, he shifted course, directing the Gondola to descend towards the ground.
…
After some time, a seemingly despondent middle-aged man entered the underground market.
This man mirrored Angel’s visage from when he journeyed back to the Old Land Continent aboard the Cloud Conch. His venture into the underground marketplace was spurred by a desire to acquire magical materials and insects mentioned in the Iscariot manuscript — components capable of instigating variations in the Worm Mother. Concurrently, he also aimed to reunite with an old friend, David.
The shift in appearance was a simple stratagem to sidestep any unnecessary complications.
Well-aware that the Promi Alchemy Shop didn’t offer magical insects, Angel first headed to the insect marketplace. The offerings here were mostly of the lower echelons. However, insects that could impact the Softworm Mother, while scarce, did have their common variants.
Moreover, there existed insects that could influence the Dreamweaver Ants. Should these ants undergo a change, the Worm Mother would inevitably follow suit. Perhaps, under such altered circumstances, the Worm Mother might birth a Morphing Softworm.
Wandering leisurely, Angel would make a purchase upon spotting a suitable magical insect. His interests weren’t confined solely to these insects — anything that caught his fancy was a potential buy.
Before long, having traversed the insect marketplace and glimpsing an array of peculiar magical insects, a contented Angel made his departure.
En route to the Promi Alchemy Shop, Angel noticed an unusually bustling atmosphere in the underground market that day. This influx of patrons wasn’t particularly evident in the offbeat insect market, but upon stepping onto the main street, a sensation of being jostled in a sea of people was palpable. While not exactly elbow-to-elbow, the throngs of people forced Angel to reduce his pace, meandering alongside the crowd in a deliberate march forward.
As Angel rounded a bend, he noticed an area thronged with people. Upon closer inspection, he discerned an apprentice sitting atop an exotic flying carpet with various items displayed before him.
“Is he setting up a street stall in mid-air?” Angel thought, recalling that street vendors typically set up in open markets. “Ah, no, it’s not really on the ground, so perhaps it’s better termed a ‘flying stall’?”
This ‘flying vendor’ had a myriad of items on offer, including many alchemical weapons that caught the eye. These artifacts lured the crowd, with many eager to bid for them.
Interestingly, Angel found the alchemical weapons quite familiar, especially their curves, lengths, and design — they closely resembled modified Japanese katana.
Judging by Angel’s keen observation, although these alchemical weapons weren’t of the highest grade, they had achieved a pinnacle within the mundane realm. The crafting method, however, differed from Angel’s own.
This observation led Angel to deduce that these refined katanas weren’t the work of David.
David’s katanas, although different in effect, shared a similar crafting technique with Angel’s. These displayed swords, clearly modeled after the katana, not only retained their efficacy but also showcased the skill of the imitator.
Rather than being irked by the imitation, Angel admired the craftsman’s ingenuity.
From the surrounding chatter, Angel gleaned that David had recently shifted his focus to studying other alchemy blueprints. Consequently, his production of katanas had dwindled, leading to a surge in imitations in the market. However, only a few were truly exceptional, and this vendor was evidently among the best.
For apprentices, a well-suited weapon can significantly enhance their prowess, especially when embarking on perilous adventures, making it indispensable. Hence, the fervor and intense bidding for these katanas from the gathered students were hardly surprising.
Though Angel wasn’t particularly interested in these katanas, his attention was drawn to a parchment lying next to them.
Chapter 1263 Manuscripts <TOC> Chapter 1265 Stargazer of Mysteries