Chapter 369: Middle Stage of the First Circle

"Usually, how are these foul-smelling water salamander larvae given to you, and how often do you hand them over?"

After making up his mind, Gao De's heart was instead relaxed.

His gaze swept over these seven Embroidery Nail Gang members, and he suddenly remembered this matter.

The foul-smelling water salamander larvae being transported to the Ma Ke Ke district must have a handover process.

Once the handover time arrives, the Embroidery Nail Gang will find that these seven people cannot be found.

And Gao De definitely cannot let the Embroidery Nail Gang discover that the matter has been exposed; he must come with a heart to catch them off guard.

But wanting to deceive the world, at least with his current strength, he cannot do it, so he can only act before the next larva handover.

"You say it." Gao De designated the first man who woke up.

The man's already pale face turned even paler, and he said tremblingly: "Because this matter is not suitable for too many people to know, so usually the handover is done by Aldrich boss himself, who brings the foul-smelling water salamander eggs to us together with the culture medium..."

"We are responsible for hatching them, and then after they grow a bit, we put them into the water area..."

"As for where Aldrich boss got these foul-smelling water salamander eggs... I don't know."

"Under normal circumstances, every half a month, Aldrich boss will send a batch of foul-smelling water salamander eggs... The last handover was five days ago."

Because of the injury, the man spoke intermittently, having to pant for breath halfway through, but at least he explained all the important joints one by one.

He looked up somewhat timidly to observe Gao De's reaction, fearing that Gao De would be dissatisfied with something.

As a result, he found that Gao De was strangely in a state of deep thought.

What is this doing?

Gao De was expressionless, but in fact, he was full of joy in his heart.

A moment ago, he was still thinking that it would be best to pull the battlefield to the water area, but he didn't know how to start.

In the water area, first, Tuanzi can also contribute, coming to a two-on-one.

Second, as a Hai Shao Bing mage, even if he is just an apprentice mage, he is definitely more proficient in water area combat.

Not to mention anything else, when he really can't beat them, relying on the Hai Shao Bing exclusive spell 【Ocean Touch+】, he also has a great opportunity to escape safely.

Just like without mastering 【Ocean Touch】 and capybara assistance, it is difficult for Hai Shao Bing mages to complete the water beast clearing mission.

Even if Aldrich is a second-circle mage, without mastering corresponding spells, wanting to catch him in the water area is definitely not an easy thing.

And now...

No need to think about this problem in detail.

Aldrich will send himself to the door!

And there are still ten full days until the next handover.

This time is enough for him to complete a series of preparations such as upgrading and changing equipment.

Heaven, earth, and people are all occupied.

It is simply a monstrous wealth tailored for him.

Under the dim and flickering light.

Iron Embroidery Tavern, a small tavern belonging to the Embroidery Nail Gang's industry.

Even though it was late at night, the Iron Rust Tavern was still filled with strong alcohol and noise.

The second-in-command of the Embroidery Nail Gang, Aldrich, wearing a well-tailored black leather armor, leaned somewhat lazily on a wide chair specially prepared for him by the tavern.

He put his left leg on his right leg, one hand playing with the wine glass in his hand, and the liquid in the glass swayed slightly with his movements.

This is the drinking utensil that nobles like. To be honest, he still prefers to use a beer mug, fill it up, and then drink it in one gulp, which is truly enjoyable.

Using this kind of wine glass, he always feels he can't drink enough.

However, since upgrading to a second-circle mage, even if he doesn't like it or is not used to it, Aldrich still forced himself to "follow the trend."

A second-circle mage, no matter what, is considered a figure! Must pay attention to one's words and deeds!

Surrounded by a group of flattering gang members, laughter and cheers rose one after another.

And in the center of the tavern, there was a simple stage.

A dancing girl wearing a thin dance skirt was dancing gracefully accompanied by the sound of a lute, occasionally throwing flirtatious glances at Aldrich.

Aldrich seemed not to notice, just sipping the wine in the glass carelessly.

Occasionally, he would look up directly and drink the wine in one gulp, then casually hand the empty glass to the bartender waiting behind him, signaling the other party to fill the glass.

Suddenly, a burly man squeezed out of the crowded crowd and leaned over to Aldrich's side, whispering two sentences.

Aldrich raised his eyelids and stood up abruptly, "Follow me."

He took the burly man and walked toward the backyard of the tavern, then entered one of the rooms.

As soon as the door was closed, Aldrich's face sank, and he no longer saw the leisure and pride just now.

"You mean this time it's Spirit Marrow, not Spirit Burning Liquid?" He suppressed the emotion in his heart and confirmed.

The burly man hurriedly took out a bottle made of spiritual energy crystals from his bosom and handed it forward.

"Boss, this is what they gave."

The bottle contained three drops of viscous silver-blue gelatinous substance.

"They said that two of the auxiliary medicines needed to prepare Spirit Burning Liquid could not be supplied, so they could no longer provide Spirit Burning Liquid in the future and could only use Spirit Marrow as remuneration. However, as compensation, they gave an extra drop of Spirit Marrow." The burly man said with difficulty while looking at Aldrich's increasingly ugly face.

"Extra... extra..." Aldrich was almost laughed at by anger, "Yes, one drop of Spirit Marrow as the main medicine can prepare one portion of Spirit Burning Liquid, but the problem is, we have no way to turn Spirit Marrow into Spirit Burning Liquid. What's the use of giving this extra drop of Spirit Marrow?"

"Don't tell me I can swallow Spirit Marrow raw? I can't bear the toxicity contained in it!"

Aldrich scolded while pacing in the room, seemingly thinking.

Nothing else, Spirit Burning Liquid is too important to him.

If it weren't for the help of Spirit Burning Liquid, he wouldn't have been able to upgrade his circle and become a second-circle mage.

And after upgrading his circle, Aldrich felt more and more that his talent was limited, and the progress of his cultivation became more and more difficult, almost imperceptible, and he could only count on Spirit Burning Liquid.

But after waiting for this half a year, what came was not Spirit Burning Liquid, but Spirit Marrow?

How could this not make him angry and anxious.

"I worked hard for them, did I don't know how many dirty jobs, waded through I don't know how much muddy water, and even offered tribute every year. As a result, the promised Spirit Burning Liquid has now turned into Spirit Marrow... Auxiliary medicines cannot be supplied... Hehe, joke, even if they really can't be supplied, they don't know how much Spirit Burning Liquid they hoarded during those years of Spirit Marrow Fever. Would they be short of these two portions for me?"

"Boss, could it be that they are afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble..." The burly man said carefully.

Aldrich was stunned, "What do you mean?"

"Look, they all followed the agreement to give boss you Spirit Burning Liquid before, but it happened to be after boss you upgraded to a second-circle mage that it turned into Spirit Marrow..." The burly man didn't finish his words, but the meaning was very clear.

Hearing this, Aldrich didn't pace anymore, stood in place, narrowed his eyes, seemingly thinking.

After a long time.

He came back to his senses, sat down at the table in the room, and beckoned to the man, "You step back first."

After the burly man left, Aldrich was lost in thought for a while, and then slammed his fist on the table.

"Damn, I did so many dirty jobs for you, and it's so difficult to get two bottles of Spirit Burning Liquid. If you really force me, I will risk going to jail and confess everything you have done. Let's see if you regret what you did today!"

After venting, Aldrich felt physically and mentally exhausted.

Because he knew that he definitely couldn't do such a thing.

And the other party was exactly sure of this point, so they were so unscrupulous.

The sun was fierce, giving the cold month a trace of warmth.

Gao De walked out of a magic medicine shop located in the center of Lagos City.

In his hand, he was carrying a set of three small bottles of magic medicine he had just bought, costing 40 Jin Quehua coins.

This is not cheap.

However, he is still wealthy now, so Gao De paid this money very easily.

The discipline of magic medicine is actually very particular about adapting to local conditions and acting according to circumstances.

Because the supernatural materials and magic plants produced in each region are different, and even vastly different.

If a magic medicine master sticks to one inherent formula, that will only be a dead end.

Therefore, the magic medicine systems in different regions, like artistic schools with different styles, often present huge regional differences.

Even between Lagos City and Doen City, which belong to the Bairuo County and can be reached by airship in half a day, the differences in magic medicine types are very large.

In Doen City, the more famous cultivation auxiliary magic medicines are Clover Paste and Green Vine Magic Power Potion, both of which are prepared with two magic plants produced locally.

And in Lagos City, the most famous cultivation auxiliary magic medicine is "Micro-light Moss Liquid."

A magic medicine prepared with local unique micro-light moss as the main material.

That is the three small bottles in his hand.

Compared to Clover Paste, the effect of Micro-light Moss Liquid in assisting cultivation is not so superior, and the price is instead a notch higher.

Of course, this also includes the reason why the White Fish Magic Medicine Shop sells at a low price to gather popularity.

However, Micro-light Moss Liquid also has its own advantages—the output of raw materials is relatively high, so the magic medicine itself is not limited in purchase, and basically you can buy it if you have money.

Unlike Clover Paste, which also requires snapping up and limited purchase.

For Gao De, who currently has needs, this is undoubtedly a gospel, otherwise he would have to run around for cultivation auxiliary magic medicine.

Carrying the Micro-light Moss Liquid, Gao De went to a nearby art hall again and spent 10 gold coins to rent a third-rank cultivation room for two hours.

This price is consistent with Doen City.

—Rune studies pay attention to consistency, and the price of cultivation rooms built mainly with magic arrays naturally will not have much difference.

After paying the money, entering the room, and starting the cultivation room array, Gao De took out a bottle of Micro-light Moss Liquid and drank it all.

Subsequently, he immediately sat cross-legged, five hearts facing the sky, entered a meditative state, and operated the "Green Wood Longevity Scripture."

The extremely pure magic power flowed in his body like substance.

These magic powers did not run around in disorder, but moved slowly along each meridian in Gao De's body. With the operation of the Green Wood Longevity Scripture, they finally gathered into a magic power vortex above Gao De's lower abdomen, that is, the mana pool, and rotated constantly.

The vortex carried a powerful attraction.

Every rotation could drive and pull more magic power to gather, helping Gao De condense the 40th drop of liquid mana.

Compared to the magic power introduced into the body autonomously, this magic power from the magic medicine, besides being more concentrated, was also purer, milder, and had no impurities, and did not need to spend too much effort to refine.

Gao De's mental power was concentrated, trying his best to absorb more medicinal power before the medicinal effect overflowed.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Suddenly, Gao De's expression changed slightly, showing a trace of joy that was difficult to suppress.

He keenly captured the sign that the 40th drop of liquid mana was about to condense.

Originally, according to his anticipation, even if he drank magic medicine to assist cultivation, it would take four or five days to break through.

But he didn't expect that the medicinal power of Wolf Blood Ginseng was extraordinary. Under the previous absorption, there was actually a tiny part of the surplus in some hidden and inconspicuous magic meridians in his body.

Because the location was too hidden and closed, Gao De couldn't detect and absorb them under normal circumstances, and these medicinal powers would slowly overflow over time.

But under the powerful siphon effect brought by the magic power vortex formed by the Micro-light Moss Liquid now, they were awakened and smoothly introduced into the magic power vortex, injecting a brand new powerful power into Gao De's breakthrough, thereby helping him save these three or four days of time.

In one go.

A quarter of an hour later.

The magic power vortex in Gao De's body gradually stopped rotating and returned to calm.

But at the very bottom of the magic power vortex, a drop of liquid mana condensed from pure magic power had already appeared, crystal clear, flashing with clear light.

With a tick.

This drop of liquid mana smoothly and lightly fell into the mana pool below that had already accumulated 39 drops of liquid mana.

40 drops of liquid mana gathered together, and in an instant, the mana pool flashed with light.

Middle stage of the first circle achieved!

It was also at this moment that a strange new power surged into Gao De's mind from bottom to top, surging and surging.

Like a thunderclap, it directly made his heart and mind shake, buzzing.

This is the mental power breakthrough brought by the improvement of the mage rank, and it is also one of the very limited channels for mages to improve their mental power limit.

Nourish, fuse.

This new power, like a spring rain that moistens things silently after the awakening of insects, merged into his soul.

Strengthen.

His soul, under the fusion of this power, became more and more tenacious and was strengthening.

The whole process is said to be mysterious, but it actually happened in an instant, unlike the condensation of liquid mana, which requires water-grinding effort.

The next second, the new power merged into the soul completely.

The improvement of the mental power limit had been completed.

Gao De calmed his excited mood and used the ability of "Precise Perception" to confirm his current state.

Mental power: 199

From 186 to 199.

In fact, from the early stage of the first circle to the middle stage of the first circle, the improvement of the mage's mental power limit value is 33, that is, 100 to 133.

But Gao De's situation was special. His mental power in the early stage of the first circle had already reached 186 after drinking Enduring Zhenbing water and experiencing two feedbacks from Yujia Te Xila.

It was even more powerful than the mental power of a late-stage first-circle mage.

And 199 was the limit value of the mental power of a first-circle mage.

Therefore, this breakthrough only increased his mental power value by 13, stuck before the limit value of 199.

It seems like a loss, but Gao De understands that the improvement of mental power is like the improvement of strength, the higher it goes, the more difficult it is.

This bottleneck is naturally encountered as early as possible, and the more opportunity there is to break through.

Slightly calming his excited mood, Gao De opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.

Nolan Calendar 9656, Fog Frost Month (October) 20th, circle upgrade successful.

Nolan Calendar 9657, Ice-sealing Month (November) 24th, breakthrough to the middle stage of the first circle.

Total time taken: 394 days.

This progress, even if placed in the Jin Quehua Dynasty, is top-notch!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 370 =====