"This person strikes with such brutality. We must not provoke them lightly," said the leading woman in purple.

  She looked at the gruesome corpses on the ground, frowning deeply."In the coming days, everyone must act with restraint, avoid unnecessary conflicts, and not bring trouble upon themselves."

  No sooner had she spoken than two arrogant voices rang out from a distance:

  "Audacious! Lunar Sanctum dares to kill our people from Void Spire. Such a crime deserves the complete annihilation of the Sanctum!"

  "Exactly! This is a blood debt! I will report to the Voidmaster immediately and mobilize forces to crush Lunar Sanctum!"

  The five purple-clad figures followed the voices and saw the leading two of Void Spire echoing each other, clearly placing the blame for the murders on them.

  The people of Lunar Sanctum clenched their teeth in silence. This was clearly being framed.

  The young Voidmaster of Void Spire suddenly raised his hand, stopping those about to report, wearing a broad, magnanimous smile.

  "In fact, Lunar Sanctum still has a chance to reconcile. If your Archmagus marries me, we would become allies. There is no need for a fight to the death."

  He knew in his heart that such a ruthless style of attack could never have been the work of these female mages of Lunar Sanctum.

  But that was irrelevant. He had long wanted to seize the resources of Lunar Sanctum and now could use the death of an apprentice as leverage.

  "Shameless scoundrel!" They trembled with anger."We will never bow to you Void Spire!"

  The five women in purple stopped confronting Void Spire and turned to flee toward Lunar Sanctum. Staying any longer would likely trap them completely.

  The young Voidmaster watched their retreating figures and laughed arrogantly."You cannot escape! In a few days, I will personally go to Lunar Sanctum!"

  He did not order a pursuit. What he wanted was the entire Lunar Sanctum, not just these few women.

  Meanwhile, Ryan rode the sled hound and found a hidden cave on the outskirts of the forest.

  "sled hound, after so many days, I really missed you." Ryan jumped off, patted its head, and pointed at its paw."Give me your paw, help me out."

  The sled hound obediently extended its front paw. Ryan held the blade near the paw and gently scraped it. Sparks flew down the blade, landing on a prepared pile of dry grass.

  "It's so convenient having you here. Finally, no more striking wood to start a fire." Ryan watched the flame ignite and smiled in satisfaction.

  He leaned against the sled hound's fluffy body, roasting by the fire, stroking its neck, and tapping the top of its head.

  Every time Ryan's hand touched its head, the sled hound shivered. The memory of Ryan crushing an enemy's skull had left a deep psychological scar.

  "Don't be so scared. I'm not going to eat you." Ryan smiled helplessly, closed his eyes, and opened the Grimoire shop in his mind. The daily refreshed items always brought surprises.

  【Grimoire Shop Today's Refreshed Items:

  Beast Essence: 888 Magic Origin Value, greatly increases affinity with beast-type magic.

  Magic Scroll: 350 Magic Origin Value, allows a single use of Frozen Bind.

  Magic Amulet: 120 Magic Origin Value, blocks one magic attack from a Journeyman Mage or lower.

  Flame Enchantment Powder: 80 Magic Origin Value, temporarily adds fire damage to a weapon.

  Beast Ration: 50 Magic Origin Value, quickly restores the magical pet's stamina.

  ……】

  Ryan scanned through the Grimoire shop list. The first five items were either far beyond his budget, such as the 888 Origin Value Beast Essence, or offered little help for his current needs.

  Then he saw the sixth item:【Perpetual Magic Kettle: Price 100 Magic Origin Value, built-in infinite water enchantment, can summon pure water at any time, suitable for daily drinking and magical experiments】.

  "That's it!" Ryan clicked purchase without hesitation. With this kettle, not only could he solve his drinking water problem, but he also wouldn't have to worry about sourcing magical water for his training in the future.

  【Successfully purchased Perpetual Magic Kettle, 100 Magic Origin Value deducted, remaining Origin Value 325.】

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  A metallic kettle appeared in his hand. When he gently shook it, he could hear the sound of flowing water inside, yet there was no visible movement of liquid. This was the hallmark of the infinite water enchantment.

  Ryan rubbed the kettle, thinking: I'll save the remaining 325 Origin Value for now. Once I reach 1000, I can try my luck at the advanced lottery. He had heard that the 1000 Origin Value lottery contained purple-quality magical items, and maybe he could get one.

  For the next seven days, Ryan rode sled hound, heading toward a small town on the forest's edge.

  On the morning of the seventh day, the outline of the town finally appeared. To Ryan's frustration, sled hound refused to move further once they reached the outskirts. It had a natural wariness toward places crowded with humans, especially since it could faintly sense the presence of beast hunters within the town.

  Ryan gave sled hound a gentle kick on its rear, and the dog immediately bared its teeth and ran.

  Ryan entered the town alone. The scene was completely different from the desolate forest. Stalls lined both sides of the street, and merchants' calls rang out in succession:

  "Fresh Moonlight Berries! Improve beginner magic affinity, only 5 low-level magic crystal coins!"

  "Freshly baked bread! Mixed with fire element powder, keeps you warm all day!"

  "Magic Apprentice Recruitment! Pass the basic element test and join the academy!"

  The bustling street was filled with ordinary people in rough clothing and beginner apprentices in simple magic cloaks.

  Ryan's gaze fell on a bread stall with steam rising from the loaves. His stomach growled. After days of eating roasted beast meat, he was craving ordinary food. He approached and said to the vendor:"Two loaves of bread, please."

  The vendor, a bearded man, pointed at the sign in front of the stall:"One loaf 2 bronze coins, two loaves 4 bronze coins."

  Ryan took out a red magic crystal, intending to buy the two loaves. To his surprise, the vendor looked at it, frowned, and waved his hand:"I only take bronze coins. I don't want that rock you have!"

  Ryan froze for a moment, then laughed wryly:"Do you even know what this is? This red magic crystal could buy you 300 loaves of bread!"

  The vendor thought he was causing trouble. His face darkened:"Stop talking nonsense! I've been selling bread in this town for over ten years and have never seen a stone used as money! Get out, don't disrupt my business!" He even picked up a rolling pin, as if to chase him away.

  "Hostile and clueless," Ryan muttered, turning to leave. He realized most of the town's mortals did not recognize magic crystals. Only those who had true exposure to magic understood their value.

  He wandered through several other shops and stalls, selling cloth, tools, or food ingredients. Everyone who saw his magic crystal insisted it was just a worthless stone. Some even assumed he was a conman and directly forced him out.

  "Looks like I'll have to find someone who's had contact with magic," Ryan sighed, his gaze falling on a boy around seventeen or eighteen years old.

  "The boy, I see that your bones are extraordinary. You must be a magical prodigy."

  "Really? Master, please accept my bow!" The boy knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Ryan, blood seeping from his forehead.

  This sudden action left Ryan frozen on the spot, almost dropping the magic crystal in his hand.

  "What are you doing?" Ryan quickly reached out to steady him."I just wanted to exchange for bronze coins. I never said I would take you as an apprentice! And your magical affinity is too weak."

  He had no desire to gain an apprentice for no reason, especially since the boy seemed a little out of his mind.

  Ryan turned to leave, but the boy clung tightly to his leg.

  "Master, you can't leave me!" The boy held onto his leg, refusing to let go."A prophet said that the first person I meet when turning right out of this alley will be my magical mentor! You must be that mentor!"

  Ryan finally realized that the boy had been misled by the prophet.

  The boy continued explaining that he had met a prophet wearing a black hood in the alley, who gave him a free prophecy:"Turn right out of the alley, and the one who recognizes value will be your magical opportunity." When the boy tried to ask more, the prophet had vanished from the enclosed alley, frightening him into running out.

  To the boy, Ryan represented the opportunity described by the prophecy. Moreover, although Ryan looked young, the boy believed he might be a rejuvenated Grand Magus. Following him meant not only learning magic but also solving his basic needs for food and shelter, which was the boy's true motivation.

  "I really am not your mentor! Let go of me!" Ryan pushed the boy away, wildly swinging the leg he was holding, but the boy clung like chewing gum, refusing to let go.

  "Fine, I'll take you on!" Ryan, out of options, forced a serious expression."Stand up."

  The boy immediately released his grip and excitedly climbed to his feet.

  Before he could even stabilize, Ryan darted off like the wind, disappearing around the street corner.

  "Master! How could you trick me!" The boy stared at the empty street, squatting down like a child, crying with snot and tears, drawing the attention of several passersby.

  Once he finished crying, he stood despondently and walked toward the outskirts of the town, still holding onto a faint hope that he might encounter Ryan again.

  Meanwhile, Ryan leaned against a wall at the corner of the street, gasping for breath."That scared me to death. How did I run into such a lunatic?"

  He patted his chest, ready to continue searching for a place to exchange bronze coins, when he suddenly froze.

  On a nearby street, a figure was slowly walking by. Ryan recognized her immediately. It was Evelyn!

  His heart jumped to his throat, cold sweat trickling down his back. Only seven days had passed, and he had already run into her again.

  "Please don't see me, please don't see me…" Ryan silently prayed and turned to run. After two steps, however, he couldn't resist glancing back.

  Evelyn was standing in front of a toy stall, holding a Clockwork Doll, clearly intrigued by this magical toy for mortal children.

  "Good eye, miss!" The vendor, a middle-aged woman, smiled and explained,"This Clockwork Doll not only produces pleasant sounds but also soothes children's emotions. Only 5 bronze coins, perfect for personal use or as a gift."

  Evelyn shook her head slightly, placed the Clockwork Doll back on the stall, and continued walking. She didn't dislike it; she simply wasn't used to showing interest in childish things.

  Ryan hid in the corner, watching her walk away, muttering in his mind,"It's just a magical Clockwork Doll. Buying it won't cost me any flesh."

  But muttering aside, Ryan didn't dare linger. If Evelyn noticed him, with her temper, she would definitely question him about the Stockings.

  He quickened his pace, running toward the inn in the town center while keeping an eye over his shoulder, fearing that the obsessive boy might catch up.

  Finally, Ryan spotted the inn. He pushed open the door, rushing inside and called out to the person behind the counter:"How long can I stay here with this magic crystal?"