[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-not-goblin-slayer":3,"chapter-i-am-not-goblin-slayer-i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-166":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Am Not Goblin Slayer",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1030820,1343,"Chapter 166: Magical Items","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-166",166,"\u003Cp>\"Why did you stop?\" Gauss turned back to see Aria standing still, her face alternating between pale and purple, and asked in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me make this clear first - I absolutely won't eat dirt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Neither would I.\" Gauss shook his head with a chuckle. \"What are you thinking about all day?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two approached the dirt mound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer inspection, the small earthen hill emitted no foul odor, only the slightly acidic scent of fresh soil. The dark brown, nearly black earth appeared exceptionally fertile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This soil seems perfect for growing vegetables? Too bad we're not farmers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Gauss retrieved two small shovels from his Storage Bag's tool set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though nothing valuable was visible on the surface, this was still an Elite monster's remains - they had to dig to check for anything special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pair began searching through the small dirt mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transparent crystal faintly glowed with a pale blue light, resembling a gem or quartz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This should fetch a good price...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss cast [Identify Spell] on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Crushed Mud Statue Core]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grade: Common Magical Item (White Tier)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Description: This core once served as the Mud Statue's power source. Though damaged, it retains some magical research value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It contains faint earth-element mana, usable as supplementary material for minor magical rituals or alchemy, especially for spells and applications involving earth, defense, or shaping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skilled craftsmen could polish it into ordinary magical jewelry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its value would be higher if intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The identification succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gauss didn't dwell on regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low-level Elite monsters typically only yield White Tier materials worth 1-10 gold coins, and not every kill produces loot. Getting anything was already a pleasant surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his estimation, this Mud Statue should have been Challenge Level 2, theoretically requiring a team of level 2 professionals to defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their relatively easy victory was thanks to Aria's [Entangling Roots] perfectly countering the creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, given the Mud Statue's massive health pool, even Gauss would have struggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gauss, can you identify this too?\" Just as Gauss was cleaning the core crystal, Aria's voice came from the other side of the mound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since learning Gauss knew [Identify Spell], she'd become extra vigilant, frequently asking him to examine suspicious objects to avoid missing valuable materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching, Gauss saw a lump of pure white clay resting in dark brown soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Aria's expectant gaze, he cast [Identify Spell] on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the clay began glowing white in his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Magical Soil]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grade: Common Magical Item (White Tier)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Description: A clump of magical clay separated from the Mud Statue's remains, containing a trace of pure earth-element energy. Transformed by long-term core exposure, it retains energy essence even after the statue's destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can serve as supplementary material for alchemy or enchantment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usable as casting material for earth-element spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When mixed into soil, gradually improves quality for cultivating low-tier magical plants or herbs with special soil requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can be shaped into containers or experimental vessels, potentially with special effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is indeed a magical item.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss shared the identification results with Aria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he felt some surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rarely did a single monster yield two magical items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the half-ogres Gauss hunted most during Winter Hunts - they never dropped magical items, at best yielding organs, weapons or armor as ordinary materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the Maze's special feature?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with the silver brick found earlier, today's earnings should easily surpass double-digit gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was beginning to understand the Maze's appeal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pair dug through the mound for quite a while longer, continuously identifying unearthed objects, but after the Magical Soil, no more special magical items appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only uncovered branches, stones, bones, or heavily rusted metal tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss collected some ordinary soil for potted plant substrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two magical items could either be sold or commissioned into useful tools after leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surveying their surroundings, Gauss noted the fading light - it was getting late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From morning travel to midday Maze entry, through exploration and defeating an aggressive Mud Statue, both felt exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They found a relatively sturdy ruined building, thoroughly checked the area for monsters, set up [Alarm], then lit a campfire and pitched their tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening by the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As flames flickered, Gauss intently studied the mental map in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The illuminated areas formed a winding line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the entrance stairs to the grand hall, then eastward deeper into the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having followed minor monster trails without clear objectives, their current position wasn't far from the hall - about an hour's walk back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they didn't seem close to reaching the Maze's first layer edge. This labyrinth was larger than Gauss anticipated, and according to guidebook descriptions, it would keep growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What an incredible underground world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early next morning, the pair rose promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The campfire had completely died out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Packing their gear, they resumed exploration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using his mental map, Gauss avoided already explored areas to increase monster encounter chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The buildings seem denser here?\" Aria observed the continuous ruined structures ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe some village ruins?\" Gauss speculated uncertainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Maze contained special energy that slowed time's erosion, preserving structures from lost civilizations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though now dilapidated, their mere survival demonstrated the Maze's incredible power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like many adventurers have visited here.\" Gauss noticed several extinguished campfires near buildings, evidence that multiple parties had reached this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, that's unfortunate.\" Aria sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing these ruins, she'd hoped to find more silver bricks or treasures like yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with others arriving first, the chances of valuable finds decreased significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's look around anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though likely thoroughly searched, there might still be overlooked treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two followed a stone path into the ruined village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, buildings covered in vines, branches and roots exuded strong natural energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Careful - someone was recently active nearby.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss activated [Message], his voice directly reaching Aria's ears while pointing at freshly crushed leaves on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>",979,"2026-06-03T09:23:13.439Z","2026-06-03T09:23:16.563Z",1,"novelbin.me","c9a80d273172f2491293d68f3c0f4ba5726883ff0a8dadbe4f7cbc3b70f7f36a","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-167","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-165",414,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-not-goblin-slayer-cover.jpg"]