Chapter 472: Three Drops of Spirit Marrow

In terms of thickness, the Second-Class Merit exchange list differs little from the Third-Class Merit exchange list.

This indicates the two are similar in quantity; the difference lies only in quality.

Gao De’s primary focus remained, as always, the category of spell formulas.

He first skimmed the table of contents and quickly spotted the distinction:

The spell formulas on the Third-Class Merit list were all common spells, and none exceeded the third circle.

The Second-Class Merit list, however, allowed exchange for fourth- and fifth-circle spell formulas.

Moreover, the first- and second-circle spells listed on the Second-Class Merit list were all rare spells.

From this, Gao De could reasonably deduce the rank of spell formulas on the First-Class Merit list:

Rare fourth- and fifth-circle spell formulas.

Including the 【Spell Permanency】 he most needed, it was highly likely to appear on the First-Class Merit list.

Whether sixth-circle spell formulas existed was uncertain.

That rank was too high; according to Gao De’s guess, the entire Sea Sentinel might not even have a single sixth-circle mage, and if any did, there would be few.

His thoughts flashed rapidly as he turned to the spell pages and carefully reviewed the listed first-circle rare spells:

【Know Thine Enemy】, 【Legendary Marksman】, 【Long-Range Shot】, 【Abstention from Food】.

Altogether, there were over a dozen, each requiring exactly one Second-Class Merit for exchange.

This was the terrifying depth of the Sea Sentinel—or the Jin Quehua Dynasty.

Gao De’s primary goal was still offensive spells, but plans rarely outpace change: a particular non-offensive spell appeared, and he couldn’t look away.

【Spirit Berry Spell [Rare]】 (Alteration, First Circle):

Up to ten berries appear in your hand; during the spell’s duration, each berry is infused with magic and provides the nutritional equivalent of a full meal for a medium-sized creature.

Upon consuming a berry, you also gain a minor healing effect; no more than eight such healing effects from the Spirit Berry Spell may activate within any 24-hour period.

Any berries created by the spell lose their potency if not consumed within 24 hours of casting.

【Merit Required for Exchange: Second-Class Merit ×2】

An unbeatable logistical spell; paired with 【Create Water】, it enables true self-sufficiency.

It offers exceptional nutritional and economic value, with a minor healing bonus as a bonus.

A perfectly flawless first-circle spell.

Likewise, the merit required to exchange for the 【Spirit Berry Spell】 is double that of other rare spells.

But no matter: even if it cost five or ten times more, he must acquire this spell.

Huh~

Gao De closed the Merit Exchange List.

His overwhelming feeling now: the Sea Sentinel had too many good things—and he wanted even more; his merit was utterly insufficient!

No wonder Mei Liya had told him back then that Sea Sentinel mages were fiercely eager to take on missions, so most missions had to be “snatched” up—intensely competitive.

Just having this exchange list before you was like a potent stimulant, enough to make everyone work themselves to exhaustion.

For instance, Gao De now felt a strong urge to take on missions and earn merit.

He suppressed his restlessness and selected the treasures he wished to exchange:

【Spirit Berry Spell】 (Second-Class Merit ×2), 【Magic Missile】 (Third-Class Merit ×4), 【Weighted Blade】 (Third-Class Merit ×3), 【Relentless Pursuit】 (Third-Class Merit ×2).

Four spell formulas total, requiring: Second-Class Merit ×2, Third-Class Merit ×9.

He currently possessed: Second-Class Merit ×3, Third-Class Merit ×2.

Ten Third-Class Merits could not be combined into one Second-Class Merit, but one Second-Class Merit could be broken down into ten Third-Class Merits.

Of course, once broken down, you could not later recombine ten Third-Class Merits back into the original Second-Class Merit.

Once broken, no returns or exchanges.

After this exchange, he would have Third-Class Merit ×3 remaining.

Gao De thought for a moment, then selected from the Third-Class Merit list another offensive spell requiring exactly three Third-Class Merits.

【Witch Arrow】 (Evocation, First Circle):

A blue energy spear, wrapped in shattering magic, is launched at a single creature within spell range, performing a ranged spell attack.

If it hits, the target takes lightning damage, and a persistent lightning arc forms between you and the target; during the spell’s duration (one minute), you may deal an equal amount of lightning damage to the target every six seconds through this arc.

If you perform any other action, the spell immediately ends.

Additionally, if the target moves beyond the spell’s range or gains full cover from you, the spell ends immediately.

A uniquely powerful offensive spell; theoretically, its total potential damage could reach eleven times that of a standard first-circle spell.

Of course, only in theory.

Most opponents won’t stand still and let you zap them continuously.

Five spell formulas total, exactly exhausting all the merit he had just earned.

Sea Abyss White Tower, Supply Office.

“Master Gao De, are you certain? Second-Class Merit is rare—in our Sea Sentinel, I’ve never seen anyone break it down to use as Third-Class Merit.”

Upon hearing Gao De’s exchange request, Master Neil couldn’t help but warn him.

Second-Class Merit was hard to obtain; it required not only strength but also a touch of luck—not something you could simply earn on demand.

This was the first time he’d ever seen Gao De use merit this way.

When merit was insufficient, everyone else simply worked harder for another month or two, completing missions to earn more.

Breaking down Second-Class Merit to use as Third-Class Merit? Only a wastrel would do that.

“I see you’re exchanging for spell formulas. Mastering a single spell takes at least half a year—even if you’re gifted, it still takes two or three months, right?”

“So why rush? Why not first exchange for the 【Spirit Berry Spell】 and 【Relentless Pursuit】, and wait until you have enough Third-Class Merit to get the other three?” Master Neil offered his advice.

Under normal circumstances, his suggestion was reasonable.

But unfortunately, Gao De was not “normal.”

“No, this is fine,” Gao De insisted.

He knew how valuable Second-Class Merit was—but he didn’t care.

In his view, converting merit into combat power immediately was the correct choice.

Increased combat power would help him earn greater merit later.

“I’ll earn more Second-Class Merit soon,” Gao De grinned at Neil’s puzzled gaze, offering a brief explanation for his actions.

Neil had been about to say more, but hearing this, his words stuck in his throat.

He wanted to say Second-Class Merit wasn’t that easy to get.

But then he remembered: Gao De had only joined the Sea Sentinel three months ago, and this was his first mission—yet he’d already earned three Second-Class Merits.

For Gao De, perhaps it really wasn’t that difficult?

“You’re...” After a moment of silence, Old Neil raised a thumb to Gao De, seriously: “I look forward to your future performance.”

He meticulously recorded Gao De’s exchange request.

“Items like magical plants require time to procure, but spell formulas are simpler,” he said, pushing the exchange form toward Gao De: “Check it over—if everything’s correct, sign here.”

Gao De glanced at it, confirmed accuracy, and signed his name.

“Wait a moment,” Master Neil retrieved the form, pressed a button on his desk, and moments later, another staff member hurried in.

“Master Neil.”

“Please send this for approval. Thank you,” Neil handed the signed form to the staff member.

About twenty minutes later, the staff member returned with the form.

This time, a seal had been stamped in the lower-right corner.

“Master Neil, Captain Merick has stamped and confirmed it.”

Neil took the form, thanked the staff member, carefully placed it in his drawer, then rose, opened a hidden door, and entered the treasure vault behind.

Not long after, he emerged carrying the five spell formulas Gao De had requested and handed them over.

With the spell formulas in hand, Gao De immediately visited every magical material shop in town to purchase the primary and auxiliary ingredients.

“A pinch of moonstone powder, one portion of rootless water, a segment of purple berry root, one mistletoe sprig... a segment of lightning-struck wood... a shard of white crystal... a pinch of iron-engraved stone powder, one portion of earth-crystal fluid.”

The five spell formulas required a total of twenty-one distinct materials.

Even in the bustling Dun, where resources were exceptionally abundant, Gao De had to visit three shops to gather them all.

Among them, lightning-struck wood and earth-crystal fluid were rare, low-tier materials with scarce supply—priced 30–40% above standard, costing another 226 Jin Quehua coins.

He then bought a small pot and returned to his “dormitory”—Sea Sentinel dorms did not include kitchens.

Using the small pot, Gao De “cooked” all five spell potions and drank them all at once.

【Life Span: 15/335】

【Spirit Power: 200】

【Mana: 40 drops liquid】

【First-Circle Origin: 4】

These were Gao De’s current base stats.

A rather awkward issue:

His First-Circle Origin was insufficient.

Previously, thanks to Phoenix’s Hunter Mage, Gao De had quickly gained nearly twenty points of First-Circle Origin.

With such a “fortune” in hand, he’d grown careless.

Any first-circle spell, once mastered, was simply:

"Add!"

Then, he now finds himself in a dire state of primal deficit.

"Take a short break to consolidate, then get back to missions—no lying around," Gao De decided.

To others, the main purpose of missions is to earn military merit.

But for Gao De, while earning military merit, he’s also accumulating primal energy—two gains combined, that’s a total win.

The more you do, the more you win!

Entering the meditation chamber, Gao De began his daily routine: cultivation and constructing the magic nerve network (taking pills).

After finishing, it was mealtime. He stepped out, ate at the "dining hall," then headed straight for the Collingwood Art Hall.

Going on missions is excellent for practical combat training.

It also helps identify weaknesses or gaps needing reinforcement, allowing him to plug holes and refine his combat system.

What Gao De most needed to improve right now was "sword technique."

He didn’t need advanced sword technique—just reaching the "beginner" level would significantly boost his combat power.

For sword technique, beginner level isn’t too hard to achieve.

The cost-to-benefit ratio is extremely high.

The Collingwood Art Hall naturally had sword technique instructors.

To most people, sword technique was considered a relatively elite social activity and skill training.

But that was for ordinary people.

Sword technique was ultimately non-magical, so tuition wasn’t expensive—just five silver dragons per class, lasting one to two hours.

According to the sword instructor, mages possessed precise perception and far superior bodily control, making them naturally gifted in learning mundane arts; under normal circumstances, about a hundred classes would suffice to reach beginner level.

A hundred classes, at most, cost fifty Jin Quehua coins—too good a deal.

No need to think twice—just learn it!

Half a month passed quickly.

Through Gao De’s diligent "consolidation," the construction progress of Li Oumeng’s magic nerve network had surpassed the halfway mark.

The spell models for his five newly acquired spells, given his breakthrough-level mental strength, had all been fully constructed.

But due to his current scarcity of primal energy, Gao De reverted to frugal habits, temporarily allocating points only to his most valued spells: [Divine Berry Spell] and [Magic Missile].

[Divine Berry Spell+]:

Additional: Berries created by this spell will exert strong attraction toward animals.

[Magic Missile+]:

Additional: If all three missiles strike the same target, they generate a force shock, pushing the target back a short distance.

Magic Missile gained a control effect; Divine Berry Spell’s applicability expanded further—both were substantial upgrades.

With two primal points remaining, Gao De reserved them for rare spells he might learn in the future.

Always keep some in reserve.

Avoid the regret of encountering the spell you most want to upgrade during your most primal-starved years, with nothing left to spend.

Meanwhile, amid his busy cultivation, Gao De completely renovated Laoharlin’s Grocery, hired staff, and finally opened his long-planned magic material shop yesterday.

This was his first business in Duoen City, and his first publicly declared asset in the Jin Quehua Dynasty.

A modest magic material shop.

"Walmart Magic Material Shop."

That was the name Gao De gave it.

Not for parody.

People are like this: when you arrive in a strange place and can’t easily return home, you always want to create familiar things there, adding echoes of your homeland.

But Gao De currently had few connections in Duoen City and no access to stable, discounted magic materials.

Thus, Walmart Magic Material Shop was only in trial operation, primarily buying magic materials, especially tree seeds and magic tree seeds.

As a new shop with no regular customers, business was dismal.

Of course, Gao De wasn’t in a hurry.

As long as the shop helped him acquire tree seeds, it had already achieved its purpose.

Everything else was just a bonus.

If it grew big, that was a pleasant surprise; if not, it didn’t matter.

For now, this was fine—even if it lost money.

When he returned to the Northern Frontier next time, he’d bring a large shipment of magic materials and focus on polar magic materials—a new market niche—that might make it thrive.

Knock knock.

As usual, after finishing his daily cultivation, Gao De was about to head to the Art Hall for sword technique class when someone suddenly knocked on his door.

Gao De opened the door.

Outside stood a mage in Sea Sentinel uniform, older, looking stern.

"Officer, are you here for me?" Gao De asked.

—He was currently a Second-Class Apprentice Mage, the lowest of the low; everyone was an officer to him.

"Mage Gao De, I am Sergeant Lu Ping, sent here by Lieutenant Merick with one matter."

As he spoke, he pulled from his pocket an exquisitely crafted crystal vial and offered it to Gao De.

Through the transparent vessel, Gao De saw three drops of thick, silver-blue gel-like substance.

"What is this...?"

Gao De reached out and took the vial, puzzled.

"This is Spirit Marrow... Mage Gao De, you rendered great service during the Marco Water Beast incident. By regulation, after the Sea Sentinels raided the Embroidered Nail Gang and seized all their assets, a portion is set aside as an additional reward for you," Sergeant Lu Ping explained patiently.

(End of Chapter)