Dongbo Xueying quickly slung the ‘Flying Snow Divine Spear’ weapon case onto his back, and pressed the mechanism button on the side with his right hand. In an instant, two spear sections emerged from the top of the case. Dongbo swiftly grabbed both spear sections with both hands, pulled them out from behind, and then thrust them backward into the case, locking them in with a sharp click.
“Brother, that was so cool!” Qing Shi’s eyes sparkled immediately.
“You’ll be even cooler when you become a mage,” Dongbo Xueying smiled at his younger brother.
“Haha, this weapon case was specially customized by me,” the middle-aged man in the purple robe was in a good mood after finally selling a product he had kept under wraps for years. “There are several other mechanisms on the side. When you’re out adventuring, ropes and other items can also be stored inside the case.”
The weapon case was lightweight yet capable of storing many items.
It also allowed for the rapid storage and retrieval of heavy and long weapons.
“Customized separately?” Dongbo Xueying asked with a smile. “The maker of the Flying Snow Spear didn’t provide one? That seems odd.”
Some alchemical mages, after crafting a weapon, would also prepare accessories, often with exquisite packaging.
Yet this spear’s weapon case was added separately?
Dongbo Xueying was quite curious about the spear’s origin.
Because the creator must have known how precious this spear was. Logically, its price should have been astronomical! Yet this shop owner, Earl Quan, had sold it to him for merely eighteen thousand gold coins, further piquing Dongbo’s curiosity about the spear’s origin.
“Don’t worry, now that I’ve bought it, I won’t regret it,” Dongbo Xueying added.
“Hmm…” The man in the purple robe hesitated for a moment before saying, “Brother Xueying, I won’t hide anything from you. While I was traveling and doing business, I once met an old beggar who ate and drank at my place without paying. I suspected he was no ordinary person, so I let him stay. Three years later, he built a furnace and forged this spear, saying it was to pay for his food and drink, and then he left. I was so excited at the time, realizing I had truly met a powerful figure, so I immediately sent it for appraisal. After several appraisals, it was found to have a slight snow-like illusion effect but no particularly special auxiliary functions. Fortunately, it can withstand considerable force and was rated as a second-tier alchemical weapon.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly.
…
After purchasing the weapon, Dongbo Xueying and the others went to visit the great mage, Bai Yuanzhi.
“The great mage’s residence is at the end of this alley,” Zong Ling pointed ahead to a rather narrow alley.
“Dismount, everyone else wait here. Uncle Zong, Shitou, let’s go in,” Dongbo Xueying said.
Dongbo Xueying held his younger brother’s hand and walked along the old alley.
“I didn’t expect Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi to reside outside the noble quarters, but instead in such a remote place,” Dongbo Xueying remarked.
“The noble quarters are too noisy; this place is more conducive to focused research,” Zong Ling added.
They reached the end of the alley.
There stood a vast estate, its gates tightly shut. Dongbo Xueying personally stepped forward to knock.
“Whoosh!” The gate opened, and a short-haired youth asked in confusion, “Who are you looking for?”
“From Xueying Domain, Dongbo Xueying, here to visit the Great Mage,” Dongbo replied.
“Are you that Spear Demon?” The youth exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered his mouth.
“Disciple, who is it?” Voices of other young boys and girls came from inside the estate.
“Master is currently in seclusion studying and must not be disturbed. Lord Dongbo, you might have to wait half an hour,” the youth quickly explained. “Once Master comes out, I will immediately relay your visit, but I dare not let you in now.”
“Fine, no rush,” Dongbo said.
Dongbo Xueying was very patient.
…
Half an hour later.
Bai Yuanzhi wore a loose white robe, his skin wrinkled, and his long black beard reached his belly. He was already over ninety years old. He looked at the black-clothed youth sitting before him, the youth carrying a weapon case on his back, and secretly felt astonished. He could sense a sharp aura emanating from the young man, clearly not an ordinary spear expert.
“Great Mage,” Dongbo Xueying was quite humble.
“What is it? Please speak quickly, I have much to do,” Bai Yuanzhi said directly.
“Since the Great Mage is so straightforward, I’ll be direct too,” Dongbo said. “My younger brother will turn ten after the New Year. He is extremely gifted in magic, and I hope he can become your disciple.”
“Taking a nominal disciple is not difficult; it just requires some conditions,” Bai said casually.
“No.”
Dongbo Xueying gently shook his head. “I hope my younger brother can become your personal disciple!”
“Personal disciple?” Bai Yuanzhi frowned. “Although I am already over ninety, among Star-ranked mages, I am not considered old! I still wish to advance further in the path of magic, so I will not easily waste too much energy. So far, I have only accepted one personal disciple. Taking your brother as my personal disciple… it’s not impossible, but I have two requirements. If you can meet just one, I will accept your brother as my personal disciple.”
Dongbo Xueying said, “Please, Great Mage, tell me.”
“I urgently need a magical beast material—’Heart of the Silver Moon!'” Bai Yuanzhi’s eyes gleamed. “It must be the heart of a fourth-tier magical beast, the ‘Silver Moon Wolf King!’ And it must be fresh, preserved for no more than three days.”
“What’s the other requirement?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“The heart of the Silver Moon Wolf King, and it must be fresh?”
Too high a demand.
“The other condition is money,” Bai Yuanzhi sighed. “All sorts of research costs money, and earning money is not easy. If you can offer fifty thousand gold coins, I can take another personal disciple!”
In the entire Yishui City, even among the nobles selling their territories to raise funds, only a few could come up with fifty thousand gold coins!
And territory is the foundation of nobility. Those truly able to come up with fifty thousand gold coins were extremely rare.
“Okay, I understand,” Dongbo Xueying stood up.
Bai Yuanzhi sighed.
He knew his demands were too high.
“Within a month, I will come back to you, Great Mage, either with the Heart of the Silver Moon or fifty thousand gold coins,” Dongbo Xueying stood up and said.
Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi was taken aback.
He agreed?
A spark of excitement arose in Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi.
“I’ll be waiting for you, my Lord,” Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi also stood up, much more courteous now. His first personal disciple had been the child of a deceased friend, and without sufficient conditions, he truly didn’t want to waste his energy. The conditions he set were so high that no noble in Yishui City had ever agreed to them. But Dongbo Xueying agreed!
“Goodbye, Great Mage, no need to see me off.”
Dongbo Xueying stood up and walked out.
Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi stood by the window, watching Dongbo Xueying holding his younger brother’s hand walking out of the estate, with Zong Ling, the six-armed silver-haired serpent demon, following closely by their side.
“It seems this young lord is no ordinary person,” Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi smiled slightly.
…
“Brother, how did it go?” Qing Shi asked hopefully.
“It will take some time after the New Year to know the result,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “Don’t worry, Qing Shi. The Great Mage will probably accept you as his disciple. Just wait a little longer until after the New Year.”
Yet Dongbo Xueying was secretly calculating in his mind.
Within a month, he needed to obtain either the Heart of the Silver Moon or fifty thousand gold coins…
He had given himself a generous timeframe, which should not be a problem. However, he decided to wait until he succeeded before telling his younger brother. He couldn’t boast to his brother just yet.
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