Chapter 14: New Spells (Part 2)

Gao De took the yellow parchment offered by Yom and quickly scanned its contents.

The spell list contained five 0-level spells: [Acid Splash] (Conjuration, 0-level) — fires a small acid globule at the target, with an initial maximum range of 25 feet (approximately 8.5 meters).

You must make a successful ranged touch attack to hit the target; the acid globule deals acid damage.

The acid from the globule dissipates after several seconds.

[Resist Spells] (Abjuration, 0-level) — channels mana into the target (which may be yourself) to increase the target’s spell resistance, reducing damage and effects from spells; one casting lasts one minute.

[Blade Ward] (Abjuration, 0-level) — trace a warding sigil in the air with your hand to gain resistance against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from weapon attacks.

[Ray of Frost] (Evocation, 0-level) — fires a cold blue-white ray at the target in a ranged spell attack, with an initial maximum range of 25 feet.

If it hits, the target suffers cold damage and its speed is reduced.

[Read Magic] (Divination, 0-level) — allows you to decipher magical writing on objects: books, scrolls, weapons, etc., that cannot be read by ordinary means; such deciphering typically does not activate the magic contained within the writing.

Furthermore, once you have cast this spell and deciphered a particular piece of magical writing, you may thereafter understand that same writing without needing to cast Read Magic again.

“Well? Satisfied?”

Gao De forcibly suppressed his excitement and looked up with a blank expression.

Satisfied. Very satisfied!

How could he not be satisfied? Yom’s spell list contained not just one but two of the offensive spells he most needed.

But the most important principle in any deal is never to let the other party see your satisfaction — otherwise, you’ll only invite inflated prices.

“A couple of these spells are acceptable, barely meeting my needs — though the number of spell formulas is rather limited,” Gao De replied, half-complimenting, half-criticizing.

“It’s not few at all. For a wizard apprentice, mastering all five spells would take at least one or two years,” Yom muttered.

Gao De pretended not to hear Yom’s muttering and asked bluntly: “How much do you want for one spell formula?”

“Three roosters,” Yom held up three fingers.

“Too expensive. I’ll pay no more than one gold coin per spell formula,” Gao De frowned slightly, cutting Yom’s price in half — and then some.

“In the official Wizard’s Guild, the average price for a 0-level spell formula is six gold,” Yom immediately emphasized.

“You said it yourself — that’s the official price. If your price isn’t clearly better than the official one, why would I buy from you? Not only would I be breaking the ban, I’d be taking huge risks — after all, how do I know if your spell formulas are even real?”

“Two gold and ten silver,” Yom fell silent for a moment, then spoke at last. “I’m a native of Hogen City, I live right here — I can’t run away. So at least on the authenticity of the formulas, I offer real assurance — far more than you’d get from some random trader.”

Gao De glanced at Pierre, who had been watching the whole exchange.

Pierre, ever shrewd, nodded and said: “Yom is indeed from Hogen. He’s lived here his whole life and never left.”

Gao De’s heart stirred. If Pierre wasn’t lying, then Yom’s formulas did carry some guarantee of authenticity.

After all, monks may flee, but the temple stays put — Yom wouldn’t risk fleeing his hometown over a deal worth less than ten Xien gold coins.

In that case, paying a little more wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

“Sell me three spell formulas as a bundle — fixed price: six gold coins.” Two gold and ten silver had already reached Gao De’s limit, but he chose to haggle further.

“This is already my lowest price,” Yom gritted his teeth.

“What a pity,” Gao De shook his head, handed the list back to Yom with crisp finality, and turned to leave the shop — his expression utterly calm, his heart pounding with tension. Will he call me back?

He knew full well that if he missed Yom, he wouldn’t easily find another willing to trade spell formulas with him in the near future.

And Pianpian Gao De was running out of time.

Unfortunately, his funds were tight — so every silver coin saved mattered.

After all, this was just a trial.

Gao De had already prepared his fallback: if Yom didn’t call him back before he left Pierre’s store, he would turn around with a look of defeated speculation and say: “Alright, sir, two gold and ten silver — you win.”

Face won’t feed you, but thirty silver coins can buy many meals.

One step, two steps, three steps — Gao De was about to step out of Pierre’s general store when Yom’s weary voice finally called out behind him.

“Wait…”

Gao De turned to face Yom.

“Fine. Six gold coins. You win. If only I weren’t short on cash right now…”

Perfect! Whether in his past life or this one, his first-ever negotiation had succeeded so well — he was truly gifted.

Gao De praised himself fiercely in his mind, then smiled calmly: “Sir, this should be called a win-win.”

His mood was truly good — the smile was genuine.

“Which three spell formulas do you want?” Yom asked.

“Acid Splash, Ray of Frost, Resist Spells,” Gao De had already decided.

With his current finances, three spell formulas were his limit.

First, two offensive spells were mandatory.

Of the remaining three formulas, Read Magic could be ruled out — not because it was inferior, but because Gao De didn’t need it yet.

He needed spells that boosted his combat power.

Between Blade Ward and Resist Spells, both were abjuration spells, but they protected against different damage types — one against magical resistance, the other against physical resistance.

Against the hypothetical enemy, Sage Seda, Resist Spells was clearly the better choice: an elderly mage wouldn’t pull out a longsword to duel you, would he? Though he’d paid thirty silver less than he’d hoped, six gold coins clearly fell within Yom’s acceptable range.

He swiftly pulled out three thin booklets — the three spell formulas Gao De had chosen.

Hand over money, hand over goods — Gao De also took out six gold coins and completed the transaction with Yom.

After receiving the money, Yom greeted Pierre and left immediately — he had waited for Gao De too long and was eager to return home.

“Thank you, Mr. Pierre,” Gao De, thoroughly satisfied, expressed his gratitude.

“Paid to do a job — it’s only fair. No need to thank me. On the contrary, my little business still depends on your future patronage,” Pierre smiled as always.

Ten three-leaf silver coins meant little to him, but saying a few words required no effort and brought profit — Pierre was more than happy.

(End of Chapter)